THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE SINCE 1891 I THE ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Cover: Concrete and Glass by Daniel von Hanisch Staff Editors and Designer: Mrs GM Webb and Mr JW Pressley With thanks to Miss EJ Newton and Mr D Amis Printed by A3 Design and Print
We inherently believe in widening access and in educating local students in a welcoming, tolerant community where each individual is valued and enjoys a deep sense of belonging.
We encourage the growth of intellectual curiosity, independence, creativity, innovation and habits of learning within a scholarly community through inspirational subject specialists who provoke and stretch the students’ minds and inculcate a lifelong love of learning.
We promote the development of self-discipline and responsibility, spirituality and a personal moral code, and cultivate an ethos where individuals approach life with humour and perspective in a community where traditional qualities of decency, politeness and humility are celebrated.
We nurture an atmosphere of mutual respect between all members of our community, and foster self-respect and self-esteem in terms of physical health, emotional maturity and personal well-being, while establishing lasting friendships in a positive, happy environment.
We develop leadership, teamwork, resilience and life skills through a diverse range of activities where all students, regardless of their talents and attributes, are encouraged to challenge themselves, take appropriate risks and work hard to fulfil their potential.
We collaborate with others, both single-sex and co-educational partners, for mutual enrichment, and encourage a spirit of altruism and charity, a sense of perspective, and a firm belief that we can work in partnership with others to make a difference, locally and internationally.
On 24 November 1992, The Queen gave a speech at Guildhall to mark the 40th anniversary of her Accession. In it, The Queen famously referred to recent events as part of an annus horribilis : a year in which three royal marriages collapsed and a fire destroyed more than a hundred rooms in Windsor Castle. And these were just the events which impacted upon the Royal Family.
As The Queen commented in that speech, “I suspect that there are very few people or institutions unaffected by these last months of worldwide turmoil and uncertainty.” She spoke of the generosity and whole-hearted kindness of people and an increased sense of appreciation for the simple things we have. She championed the importance, especially at times of difficulty, of institutions
adapting nimbly to “the changes and chances of this mortal life”, of remaining “effective and dynamic without losing those indefinable qualities, style and character.”
28 years later, this messaging resonates strongly for us and could have been written as a reflection of the academic year 2019 - 20. It has, indeed, been an annus horribilis with devastating impact on life and livelihoods alike. The RGS has certainly not been exempt and this has, undoubtedly, been an incredibly challenging and demanding time for us all. One may have expected that within this context, this year’s edition of The Guildfordian would be patchy and selective, dominated by the gaps and obstacles. This could not be further from the truth. Our School Values which define who we are could not be more clearly illustrated by the succession
of events that have taken place: the achievements in so many spheres, and the spirit of tenacity, resilience and positivity to make the very best of every situation.
I offer my sincere thanks for the energy and commitment of all those in our community who have been resolutely determined not to beaten by an annus horribilis and have contributed to such a fulfilling and varied year. I would like to express my genuine gratitude to Mrs Webb who has produced such an uplifting edition of The Guildfordian; she has managed to illustrate that, despite the challenges that we have faced, this is a year of which we can all be proud.
Dr JM Cox Headmaster
What university did you go to? University of Exeter.
What luxury item would you take to a desert island? Swiss army knife.
Favourite film? I’m still waiting for that feature film on Industrial Organisation (think it’s a Scorsese).
Which book would you recommend to others? Any peer reviewed academic literature does the trick.
Fun fact? In theory there are more postcodes in the UK than grey squirrels.
In one word, what do you live for? Liberty.
What university did you go to? Loughborough University (loved it there).
What luxury item would you take to a desert island? A surf board. Favourite film? The Deer Hunter
Which book would you recommend to others? Birdsong by Sebastien Faulks.
Fun fact? I proposed to my wife (in 1997) under water while we were scuba diving in the Red Sea!
In one word, what do you live for? Really, one word...it has to be ‘Family’ followed in second place by ‘Today’.
What university did you go to? University of Surrey, and Royal Holloway.
What luxury item would you take to a desert island? Kindle.
Favourite film? Les Choristes.
Which book would you recommend to others? Midnight Children by Salman Rushdie.
Fun fact? The collective noun for ‘giraffe’ is a ‘tower’.
In one word, what do you live for? Music.
What university did you go to? University of Bath.
What luxury item would you take to a desert island? A bow and arrow. First to alleviate the boredom, then to hunt the local wildlife.
Favourite film? The Martian . Matt Damon is a hero of our times and the general feel good nature of the film combined with some interesting science makes it a phenomenal watch.
Which book would you recommend to others? Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. A hilarious satire that spreads the message of the futility of war in a way I’ve never experienced before.
Fun fact? I was once hospitalised by a chicken tikka masala.
In one word, what do you live for? Experiences.
What university did you go to? University of Graz, Austria, which is why I am a supporter of SK Sturm Graz, then Imperial College.
What luxury item would you take to a desert island? I definitely couldn’t live without music, so I would bring a solar powered sound system, with hours of Grunge, Metal and Classical music on it.
Favourite film? The Royal Tenenbaums, directed by Wes Anderson. For a great soundtrack and the way the main characters are introduced. The comedy addresses some pretty serious topics but tackles them skillfully.
Which book would you recommend to others? Killing Commendatore by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. For its mountain setting and the way the characters are developed before the novel takes a turn into the surreal.
Fun fact? I grew up in a tiny village in the mountains of Austria, so yes I do own a pair of Lederhosen.
In one word, what do you live for? Family.
What university did you go to? Oxford University.
What luxury item would you take to a desert island? A speedboat. Favourite film? Gladiator.
Which book would you recommend to others? A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.
Fun fact? My great, great grandfather, Thomas Edmondson, invented the railway ticket machine.
In one word, what do you live for? Family/friends/dog Homer (not really one word!)
What university did you go to? I studied Economics at the University of Surrey.
What luxury item would you take to a desert island? A quad bike to get around and explore the island. Favourite film? Hacksaw Ridge , incredible story of bravery and integrity.
What university did you go to?
University of Paris-IV Sorbonne (BA) - University of Leeds (MMus Performance) - Guildhall School of Music and Drama (Postgraduate Certificate in Performing Arts Teaching).
What luxury item would you take to a desert island? I would bring my piano, or I would get bored!
Favourite film? Intouchables with Francois Cluzet and Omar Sy.
Which book would you recommend to others? Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez. I met her at the Bath literature festival, she is a fascinating author.
Fun fact? The London Symphony Orchestra was booked to travel on the Titanic’s maiden voyage, but they changed boats at the last minute...
In one word, what do you live for? Music!
What university did you go to? Cambridge University (Fitzwilliam College).
What luxury item would you take to a desert island? My Gibson Les Paul. Favourite film? Withnail and I.
Which book would you recommend to others? The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien.
Fun fact? I am double jointed in both shoulders.
In one word, what do you live for? Learning.
Which book would you recommend to others? The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
Fun fact? I once played in a Queen tribute band.
In one word, what do you live for? Food.
The 2019-20 year really was a year of two halves: one half business as usual with all of our Partnership and Outreach programmes in full swing and, pleasingly, a few new enterprises; the other half rebuilding and re-thinking following wholesale cancellation. However, necessity is the mother of invention and I am enormously proud of how our whole community responded to reach-out and help those around us whether making and delivering PPE, recording music performances for care homes, donating devices for Kings College pupils or donating to food banks. As ever, these brief reports do not do justice to each individual project but I hope give a flavour of the scope of our outreach activities which we undertook this year.
TW Shimell, Assistant Head PartnershipsThe RGS welcomed around 600 pupils from local primary schools to take part in a Tudor Experience Day during the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. Pupils learnt about the history of the School in Tudor times, had a visit to the Chained Library and sessions on art, music, weapons and finished by making a movie of their day. There was only one cancellation at the end of the Lent Term due to the outbreak of Covid and we look forward to welcoming the primary schools back soon.
The RGS welcomed 124 children from 32 local primary schools over four Saturdays in November.
This year the Masterclasses expanded from the usual subjects of mathematics, science, technology, modern foreign languages (MFL) and creative arts to include a Humanities stream. This included classes on politics, where the children ran a Mock Election (which couldn’t have been more timely with the General Election looming only a few weeks later), Religion and Philosophy discussed the topic of Humanity, Geography played a game that tasked the pupils with issues of Global Inequality and History explored what it means to be British. This proved to be a hugely popular addition to the Masterclass programme and will be repeated when they are run again.
“My son has loved the Masterclasses. They have given him the opportunity to see how education can be taught in a challenging but fun way and broaden his mind to the topics covered”.
“I enjoyed doing experiments that we wouldn’t normally do in school, like the explosions we did, and I enjoyed learning about DNA, I enjoyed having access to equipment like microscopes”.
“I enjoyed learning new things and recognising what I was capable of”. “I learned lots of different codes and there were some quite challenging word problems”.
Mr Lythgoe and Mr Dudley led the Sports Coaching project at Holy Trinity and Miss Taylor and Mrs Wellard led the Year 9 Kings Maths project. The purpose of these projects is to inspire the participant pupils, to encourage scholarship and enrichment in an extracurricular setting and to provide leadership opportunities for the RGS students who act as role models for the younger pupils in addition to improving their own preparation, presentation and communication skills.
This year, we also expanded the volunteering options for GHS and RGS Sixth Form pupils as part of the General Studies programme. Sixth Form students helped to lead the Primary Technology project, overseen by Mr Kelly, which welcomes Year 6 pupils from local
primary schools to the RGS Tech workshops for a five week programme to design and build a pen pot, make a sensor circuit and, time permitting, make a wooden mechanical device. In other options, students assisted with the Holy Trinity Chess Club and visited the Abbott’s Hospital to speak with local residents and record their oral histories.
“Dear Mrs. Timberlake, Thank you for inviting us to experience your technology workshop we are very grateful. Please pass on our thanks to everyone who made it possible especially Mr. Kelly who taught us many things we had not known before. We had lots of fun constructing all the different tasks. Our personal favourite activity was making our wooden pots. We enjoyed it because of all the friendly people ready to help us create our masterpieces. Thank you for this unforgettable, once-in a lifetime experience. We thoroughly enjoyed this adventure.”
Many thanks, The children and staff at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
During the Lent Term, the same group of RGS students worked with a different set of Holy Trinity pupils in a bid to stretch and challenge all of their primary school mathematics. Mr Jessett provided most of the resources for these sessions, and at times, the sessions even saw Holy Trinity pupils and RGS students working together to solve the problems!
It is extremely rewarding to have the opportunity to harness the RGS students’ enthusiasm and expertise in such a positive way; it also gives us all something to look forward to every Monday afternoon.
As is the case in Monday P8 every year, Mr Jessett and a group of twelve RGS pupils make the trip to Holy Trinity primary school each Monday and help around twenty Year 5 and Year 6 pupils improve their Mathematics. In the Michaelmas Term, RGS students create lessons and resources to help the pupils consolidate and improve their mathematical fundamentals.
This year the RGS hosted the Guildford Maths Competition involing 15 schools in total from both the state and private sectors. This is an event in which schools enter teams of three for each of the First to Fourth Forms. Fifteen schools from Guildford and the surrounding area made the journey to compete, with a plethora of Easter eggs to be awarded as prizes. The students took part in a series of mathematical events testing different skills, such as correctly identifying real-world measurements and units, mathematical puzzles and tangrams and an old Chinese puzzle in which seven common shapes must be arranged to form a given picture. The RGS won the First and Second Form events and placed second in the Third Form event. Congratulations to all those who participated, and a large thank you is owed to all of the Sixth Form students who volunteered to help the Mathematics Department run the event.
Until March, each week during Period 8 (P8) Sixth Form students accompanied by RGS staff either travelled to primary schools or, for the Kings Maths Project, remained at RGS to deliver afterschool clubs.
This 2019 to 2020 has certainly been a remarkable year. The Michaelmas Term started with the charity vote resulting in the selection of Shooting Star , Cancer Research UK and Wateraid as our three charities to support. Nettles House showcased their Gunge the Teacher event, raising over £600 and providing excellent entertainment. Our Comedy Evening was a huge success, compered by Old Guildfordian (OG), Paul Kerensa and our annual Christmas Fair proved to be very popular, especially for the Young Enterprise Companies. Our Krispy Kreme sale and Christmas Mufti Day also helped to raise additional funds. Numerous students from all year groups volunteered at the Fair, whilst our Christmas carol singing at Pilgrim Wood and Albury Care Homes combined with the Christmas Card initiative helped to bring smiles to the older residents. The muddiest ever Working Party took place at Southwood woodland in conjunction with the Blackwater Valley Trust , seeing students from First to Third Form digging (or sinking into!) a new pond.
The Lent Term kicked off with Powell House’s Kahoot Quiz, where students had to guess teachers and prefects from their childhood photos. Representatives from Shooting Star came into the RGS to deliver an inspirational assembly about their work. Many more Junior students participated in our regular care home visits and just before we went into
lockdown, we were fortunate enough to enjoy the Upper Sixth Charity Assembly, streamed to form rooms.
The highlight of the year for me, however, has been the period in lockdown. It would have been very easy to cancel several of the events we traditionally hold yet a combination of creativity and perseverance allowed these not only to take place but to smash all previous fundraising records. The virtual Bake Off was the first of these, organised by Mrs Walker. The virtual run or cycle saw numerous RGS families, proudly wearing kit, raise over £6000 in 24 hours. The Senior Management Team sleep out was even more successful, raising essential funds for Centrepoint. The term ended with a photography competition, organised by Miss Spencer, with contributions from staff, students and parents. All these events helped to foster our spirit of community, altruism and working together for a common goal. Our links with care homes continued through lockdown, with students creating virtual Easter cards, writing letters and sending music recordings to their residents. OG, Nathan Janmohammed also delivered a motivational assembly about his own charity and volunteering work. In one year, the RGS community raised just over £28,000 – as I said at the start of this report, it has been a truly remarkable year.
2019 to 2020 has certainly been a remarkable yearGunge the Teacher Bake Off Winners Virtual Run or Cycle
This year saw the launch of the Interested Motivated and Able Guildford (IMAG) partnership programme. This programme, conceived and overseen by Mr Shimell, enables any pupils from any school in the Guildford 11-19 Partnership to attend events hosted by the member schools. Students book places directly using a central website (www.imag. education) and attend independently. In the Michaelmas Term St Peter’s hosted the inaugural event with 25 pupils attending a Shout Out UK Politics event for Year 9 and Year 10. In the Lent Term, Kings College, in partnership with Children’s Business Fairs, hosted an inspirational entrepreneur event for 26 Year 7 and 8 students. Unfortunately, our other planned events (an Astronomy course, Scholarship Conference and an Apprenticeships Careers event) had to be cancelled due to lockdown.
The GEP is a Guildford-based Multi-academy Trust (MAT) including: George Abbot, Kings College, and Fullbrook Secondary Schools; Boxgrove, Sandfield, Loseley Fields and Guildford
Grove primary schools. The RGS is an associate member of the GEP and our partnership seeks to cooperate for mutual benefit and provide strategic focus for outreach activities. Two examples of our involvement are the Enquiring Teachers Programme and the Kings College Partnership.
Now in its fifth year, the ETP is a pioneering independent-state school partnership between RGS, GEP schools and St John’s Leatherhead which supports staff in conducting educational action research projects during the course of an academic year. The research is supported and guided by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and the projects are published in an annual journal. Mr Bradford commented:
“Great teachers are learners. Great schools preserve tradition whilst evolving to stay current. Action-research projects approach educational research with that same healthy tension. They seek to explore, to test, to find out what works better and why. I find myself inspired by their motivation for positive change, and by the individual teacher’s determination not to accept the status quo but to pursue a solution to their problem. It is precisely teachers like these, who are committed to learning and are empowered to improve their practice through action-research, which makes a good school, great. The success of these Enquiring Schools projects is important and it is evidence of an alternative means by which to develop schools: from the classroom-up rather than from the top-down. It shows that
one informed, passionate and dedicated teacher can affect positive change in their institution.”
The Physics Department continued its long-standing support of Kings pupils with Mr Hood delivering the GCSE Additional Physics content for Kings College Year 10 students at the RGS. They travelled over by minibus each week with the Kings College Head of Science. These classes were popular with the Kings pupils, provided CPD for the Kings staff and, crucially, were also effective at raising their attainment. We are hopeful that they will get to sit their exams next year as they move into Year 11.
New this year, the RGS English Department also supported Kings Year 11 pupils with Mr Griffin and Ms Newton providing several enrichment sessions at Kings College aiming to provide stretch and challenge for the more able literature students.
TWS
In an exciting MFL partnership this year, RGS students joined forces with Rikkyo School pupils for a bilingual (English and Japanese) drama performance examining the impact Guildford’s well known heroine, Alice in Wonderland , made in Japan. The main aim of the project was to foster social interactions and cultural exchange between the two schools and it was an added bonus that the final performance was a feel-good flurry of linguistic skill, good natured humour and camaraderie. We look forward to continuing this partnership in future years.
TWS
The Kings Maths Project also ran again this year, and saw a group of eight RGS students enthusiastically planning and delivering GCSE revision sessions to a handful of Kings College Guildford students each week. It is a great opportunity for RGS students to develop their own mathematical understanding, by creating resources and explaining mathematics from the teacher’s perspective. One week the RGS students designed a revision session called ‘Angry Surds’! AWJJ
our partnership seeks to cooperate for mutual benefit and provide strategic focus for outreach activities
Although not well known, a few RGS staff also teach in primary and secondary schools in Guildford on a regular basis. Mr Marchiafava teaches French to Year 5 and Year 6 at Sandfield Primary School as well as also supporting their teaching by generating material which their normal class teacher can use in between the sessions. Dr Patel ran a Science Club at Sandfield in the second half of the Michaelmas Term using a Keeping it Cool project from the Royal Academy of Engineering. The aim was to investigate materials to keep the payload of a solar orbiter cool when in hot conditions and then design, build and test it with the payload of chocolate! Before lockdown, Mr Holland, Mr Richards and Mr Shimell each managed a couple of sessions at Fullbrook School helping with exam preparation for Year 13 Biologists, Chemists and Physicists. Mr Shimell also responded to a need at Guildford County School to cover some Year 10, Year 11 and Year 13 chemistry teaching from March which continued into lockdown. Mr Baker taught a Spanish subject knowledge enhancement course for local MFL teachers on behalf of the GEP and adapted impressively to finish the course post-lockdown.
This year we hosted The MCC Waverley Hub which is for 4 to 48 talented (11 to 15 year olds) state school educated children. These children have been selected from local secondary school and cricket clubs. The sessions ran over a 11-week period and were open to both students and girls.
RCB
In October, in Epsom Square and Epsom Library Mrs Shepherd organised 20 artists and designers to help run six drawing stations with the theme of Drawn to Life. The event had a general garden sub-theme and linked to Epsom Mental Health Week and National Library’s Week. Over 1200 people visited in one day!
TWS
You can read more about the School’s Pass it On activities at : www.rgs-pass-it-on.co.uk
On Friday 31 January, the RGS opened its doors for the annual Careers Convention and welcomed over 450 people to the event. Thankfully the weather was kinder to us than the snow disruption we experienced the previous year, and this helped contribute to a larger turnout and busy atmosphere. We had invited seven other local schools (Guildford County, George Abbot, King’s College, Christ’s College, Peter’s, GHS and Tormead) who were grateful for the opportunity to attend.
Housed in the Auditorium, Great Hall and, for the first time, the Seminar Room over 80 delegates gave invaluable
advice to the students about possible career options. We are very lucky to have hugely supportive OG’s, parents and local contacts who willingly give their time and expertise for this event which ensures that a wide range of careers sectors are covered. It was great to welcome back so many familiar faces and I am so grateful that they were willing to give their time and expertise freely on a cold Friday night in January.
‘the students that came along seemed engaged and interested’
‘so many parents came up to say what a great evening they thought it had been’
‘another excellent convention’
Together with our supporters, principally the Investec International Music Festival and the Community Foundation for Surrey as well as the Southern Pro Musica (SPM), the String Scheme continues to flourish in our primary schools as well as at Lanesborough. Teaching in excess of more than 200 children per week the violin and cello we have also established a continuers’ orchestra (Strictly Strings) which performed at G Live with SPM to a packed house.
As soon as lockdown occurred in March we were determined to keep our education provision going. This was a challenge – across six primary schools there were many differing approaches and platforms to educational delivery; in the end, much of our content was uploaded to private YouTube channels and access was given to the relevant pupils via email and letter.
The String Scheme tackled the immediate challenge of how to tune your instrument with an instructional video –this was to be the most watched clip of them all! This was followed by bite-sized lessons of around five minutes each, at first concentrating on reinforcing what the pupils already knew, but soon branching out into unchartered waters with some more challenging repertoire. Of course, not all pupils took up this opportunity in the same way, but staff at the schools reported weekly feedback
from pupils and parents with many home videos of children playing in the kitchen, the garden and even the garage!
In addition to the ‘lessons’, staff also made short inspirational videos of their favourite pieces of music, or music likely to appeal to children. Tim Callaghan (Co-principal First Volin in the SPM Orchestra) performed excerpts from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Emily Frith (Viola in the English National Ballet) dressed up in her favourite trousers for a rendition of songs from the Jungle Book .
Our World Music partners, Inspire-works provided an online Cajun course which we were able to share with Guildford Grove and Loseley Fields schools. These schools were able to deliver a remote music lesson experience to all of the children in their school – such a valuable resource at this difficult time.
At the other end of the age range, we sent a series of video concerts to some of our care homes in the Guildford Borough. These recordings consisted of a half-hour recital with each piece introduced by the performers; they featured Mrs Newman and Mr Chambers from the RGS staff but also a specially recorded concert of students playing the piano. At the time of special isolation for care home residents, they were received with thanks by the managers and the virtual audience.
Meanwhile, much of our other work continues despite the restrictions placed upon performance. Our String Scheme will be up and running in our schools from the start of September with a new and excited cohort of 90 eager Year Four pupils.
Our lunchtime concerts are planned to continue in a socially-distanced Holy Trinity Church and our young persons orchestra – building on the work of our String Scheme – will be able to run as normal from September and this ensemble will be preparing not only for the Family Concert in G Live, but also for Noye’s Fludde in the Cathedral in July.
the String Scheme continues to flourish in our primary schools as well as Lanesborough
“Strictly Strings at the G Live concert Mr Chambers teaches online for the String Scheme
Philanthropy at the RGS is focused exclusively on widening access to our School and improving local social mobility through the expansion of the RGS Bursary Programme. To do this, we are growing the support of the parents and Old Guildfordians (OGs) who recognise the value of an RGS education and are keen to Pass it On.
The School's long-term ambition is that every boy who earns his RGS place is able to take it up. We are one of only a handful of independent schools in the UK to have set such a goal. The first step is our the Twenty for 2020 Campaign which aims to create 20 transformational new bursary places for 2020. In 2019/20, we were supported by over 700 members of our 10,000-strong community - up from 450 supporters in the previous year. Together they are now funding 18 transformational bursaries.
Combined with support from the School, 70 students benefited from the RGS Bursary programme this year. Half of these bursaries were transformational, offering fee support of 80% or more.
2019 saw our first-ever Giving Day when 432 members of the RGS community
came together online and raised over £132,000 in just 28 hours. Collaborative effort abounded when parents from the Class of 2019 came together to create a bursary in the name of their sons, raising over £68,000 in pledges and creating a 50% bursary. These collective endeavours showed once again the power of many supporters each giving what they can, on a regular basis.
RGS Guildford is a finalist in this year’s UK Social Mobility Awards (School/ College of the Year), in recognition of our work to achieve full merit-based access to the RGS.
Old Guildfordians and the Wider RGS Community
Our alumni relations programme works with a 5,000 strong network of Old Guildfordians, spanning more than four generations, in over 40 countries worldwide.
“RGS connect made it really easy for me to connect with OGs working in an industry that interests me and ask them career advice.”
Lucas Savage OG 2020 Former School Captainrgsconnect.com connects the knowledge, skills and experience of the RGS community. Its key feature is a directory of trusted individuals willing to help with work experience and internship opportunities, careers and university advice, CV reviewing and interview technique - perfect for recently graduated RGS students.
The online RGS community is growing fast with over 2000 users now online - over 80% willing to help. rgsconnect.com welcomes all members of the RGS community.
Its hard to remember life before lockdown and Covid, but this year has been as busy as ever with less in-person reunions and more online activity, including our 2019 Giving Day.
Here is just a snapshot of what some of our OGs have been up to this year:
Nigel Gillingham OG’72 who will take over as president of the Rugby Football Union in 2021.
James Sunderland OG’88 was elected MP for Bracknell in last year’s general election.
Tom Griffiths OG’09 is a Captain in the parachute regiment and participated in the 75th anniversary of Arnhem, as part of a mass airborne display.
Simon Bird OG’03 made his directorial debut with the film The Days of the Bagnold Summer now streaming on Amazon and Apple TV, as well as starring in TV comedy Sandylands on GoldTV.
Nick Stylianou OG’08 Producer at Sky News, was part of the production team who recently won a BAFTA for their coverage of the Hong Kong protests.
Jack Morris (stagename Jack Bardoe) OG’14 has taken the limelight this year performing in Brian Friel’s Translations at the National Theatre and starring in Julian Fellowes’ period drama Belgravia on ITV.
James Delaney OG´14 is the architect behind a new virtual library created and accessed in Minecraft to host articles written by journalists which were previously censored by governments.
Environmental campaigner and nature documentary film-maker James Miller OG’20 has been raising money for homeless charity Centrepoint and organising virtual concerts with the Rainforest Trust , with proceeds going to create the world’s first fully youth-funded nature reserve in Ecuador.
We were sad to say farewell to two RGS alumni this yearMonty Python legend Terry Jones OG’61 and Former England Cricket Captain, Bob Willis OG’68.
Mathematics is a very popular subject at the RGS among students, and we are always striving to keep it this way. As a department we love consistently providing students with stretch and challenge within the classroom, not only to develop their mathematics skills for success in public examinations and beyond, but also to spark genuine interest in the subject and a will to take it further. This can be seen not only in the students’ consistently strong examination results each year in both IGCSE and A level, but also in the number of students opting to take Further Mathematics A level as well as mathematics-related subjects at university.
We also continue to provide mathematical opportunities outside of classroom lessons, including lunchtime Mathematics clubs available to all year groups, Masterclasses and tutoring provided to primary school children, Mathematics competitions (both individual and team) entered each year and a variety of Oxbridge sessions that run over the course of all three terms. We believe Mathematics should be for everyone, and that everyone can enjoy it in some capacity – we certainly do!
Mathematics has had a successful 2019/20, both in terms of individual events and team events.
This year’s Junior Maths Challenge by necessity was the first ever to be taken online. Some higher-than-average results (one can only conjecture as to why this occurred!) across the nation led to our students doing well, but not achieving the colours of certificates they perhaps would have been awarded in previous years. Nevertheless, some excellent scores were still achieved by RGS students and the mathematics was able to continue!
The Intermediate Maths Challenge, taken by Fifth Form students, again saw a large number of gold certificates with those students participating in a
follow-on round. Particular mention must go to Yuvan Raja of 1R, who was invited to participate and achieved the best score in the School (and one of the highest scores in the country!), and as a result was invited to participate in the Mathematics Olympiad for his age group (generally sat by the highest achieving Third Form students nationally). The students taking the follow-on round completed the paper the day school broke up for lockdown, and their papers are awaiting results.
The Senior Maths Challenge, taken by all Sixth Form students studying Further Mathematics at RGS, saw a third of our students awarded a gold certificate placing them in the top 7% of entrants nationally, with four additionally invited to participate in the British Mathematics Olympiad Round 1.This round represents a thorough examination of mathematical ability, accuracy and problem-solving, with entrants providing written solutions to six questions over three and a half hours. Andrew Florescu, Ben Watkins (L6) and Matthew Harris and Adeeb Bisada (U6) were all awarded a merit certificate, an excellent achievement.
In the Team Maths Challenges, schools enter a team of four students to compete in a regional heat, in which students complete various activities such as a cross-number (a mathematical crossword), a shuttle round and a relay round. Our teams always enjoy these
competitions, and this year both our Junior and Senior teams won their regional heats to reach the ational finals. The Seniors placed in the top half of the national competition, which is a great success, and were afforded the chance to hear some top mathematical rapping courtesy of Bobby Seagull. Unfortunately, the Junior National Final was cancelled due to the pandemic but the students put in an excellent show in the regional heat to achieve one of the highest scores in the country.
Opportunities for trips and events were limited this year due to the pandemic, however Mr Black and a group of A Level double mathematicians had the opportunity to enjoy a lecture delivered by popular author and theoretical physicist Simon Singh entitled From Theorems to Serums, From Cryptology to Cosmology... and The Simpsons. Simon Singh himself has featured in The Simpsons television show, as well as writing the popular book The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets
Lunchtime Mathematics Club was available each week to all students this year, in the form of Junior, Middle and Senior sessions. It provides the students with an opportunity to do M athematics purely for fun, and allows them to be stretched and challenged by problems in a variety of different forms.
Oxbridge Mathematics sessions continue to run for a variety of Sixth Form students throughout the year. Keen Lower Sixth mathematicians have the chance to meet very difficult ‘beyond A level’ style problems in STEP I sessions with Dr Jackson during the Lent and Trinity Terms. Upper Sixth students also have regular Oxbridge sessions looking at the even more advanced STEP II and STEP III examinations, in addition to a host of other fiendish mathematics problems set by Mr George and Mr Black. Science, engineering and economics applicants also have the opportunity to attend Oxbridge sessions throughout the Michaelmas Term to develop their mathematical skills in preparation for their university applications and courses.
Unforunately due to the pandemic, we were unable to build on the success of last year’s House Mathematics Competition. We very much hope to have the competition up and running again next year, to give the students a chance not only to tackle some fun and engaging mathematics problems outside of the classroom, but also to win points and glory for their respective Houses! Below is a selection of images from last year’s competition, anchored and coordinated by Miss Ward.
Following on from the success of last year, the Mathematics Department hosted another lecture delivered by mathematician, musician and public speaker, Ben Sparks. This time, the lecture was entitled Magical Maths and had the following enticing synopsis –“Magic and Mathematics have gone together for hundreds of years. The reasoning behind many magic effects is inherently mathematical and logical, and mathematical tools can reveal the secrets if you’re brave enough to use them…” Several other schools came to RGS Guildford to join in with the fun, and the session tackled Mathematics involving, but not limited to, cubing large numbers almost instantly and magic tricks involving the number 1089. The ‘oohs and ahs’ from the audience indicated that many students were clearly impressed with some of the mathematics involved, and audience participation was widely encouraged.
Read more about Mathematics projects in our SERVICE and INCLUSIVITY sections.
When I ask students “So, why do you want to study economics?”, there is usually a pause and then the ‘I’ word – Interesting. “Well sir, I’ve always been interested (there you go) in the world, and economics seems to be all about that”. Fair enough.
Back in 2012 there were lots of interesting things to talk about and apply economics to. On the positive side we had the London Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee . Cue discussions around the ‘multiplier’ and Keynesian ‘Animal Spirits’. More gloomily we were still in a slow recovery from the Financial Crisis of 2008, which was terrible for society but provided a rich opportunity for us economic vultures to pick over. I hoped we would never see the like again, but of course there’s no place for hope in the Dismal Science.
That brings us neatly to the current crisis, the Covid. Popular journalism loves a superlative, and they have been richly applied to this terrible disease: the deepest (economic) recession since the Financial Crisis…since World War II…the Great Depression…the Spanish Flu…the Great Frost…the list goes on and on. Our challenge is to use economics to make sense of what has happened, what kind of policy solutions can be applied, and to understand their consequences. Economics is a science, and requires that we take a calculated approach to our analysis in spite of its ravages to humanity. In spite of the academic interest it has provided us, I hope we will never see the like again.
Nevertheless, the 2019/20 academic year has been a year of full of reasons to be cheerful. Here are some of the highlights:
Transitional A-level classes. The Fifth Form had a tough year, and were all at sea following the cancellation of GCSEs. The opportunity to get cracking with the A Level syllabus was too tempting to resist. We introduced our students to both sides of the course, using Covid as the context, and then got cracking with the course itself. In spite of the unfamiliarity with the subject and not knowing the teachers, our new students rose to the challenge magnificently and each of our online lessons flew by with a barrage of questions (and the odd dodgy haircut).
Research projects. Economics lends itself to extended research projects, but this year set new records in terms of the number of students looking to undertake this with us. Forty-one Lower Sixth students took part in the Independent Learning Assignment (ILA) programme, more than double the (record) number of ILAs taken the previous year. There were some outstanding entries with topics including ‘levelling up’ in the UK, optimising the level of criminality, an analysis of price gouging and whether it is possible to have too much toilet paper. Equally impressive were the twenty-one Fifth Form students who elected to undertake an economics research project in spite of having no previous experience, and we received some exceptional pieces of work on set topics – the Impact of Artificial Intelligence, Nudge Theory, Universal Basic Income and the Death of the High Street. Suffice to say we have very high hopes for our Lower Sixth next year!
Our trip programme was largely unaffected by the pandemic, and we enjoyed our usual trips to Cambridge University for the Marshall Society conference, to Eton for their evening Keynes Society lectures, and to the Mini Factory where we watched a mini being born every 67 seconds. The highlight however was our inaugural trip to Geneva where puzzled physics teachers struggled to understand why we weren’t there to see the Hadron Collider (in truth, we tried to).
Surrey University extended research
We are always keen to find ways to work with our friends at Surrey University and in particular Professor Neil Rickman in the Economics Department. Two of our outstanding Upper Sixth students had the opportunity to take a two-day placement with Professor Rickman studying Econometrics and its Application to Competition Theory. Utkarsh Dandanayak and Cameron
Gardner were a credit to the Department, and Professor Rickman was effusive in his praise. Commenting that they were comfortable dealing with material reserved for third year undergraduate study.
All of this is only possible with an outstanding team of teachers providing their inspiration and support, and this year we had the pleasure of inviting back not just one but two Old Guildfordians to teach – Matt Cornwell and Henry Xuan. Whilst Mr Cornwell has turned to the dark side, accepting an offer to join the Deloitte Graduate Programme, we are delighted that Mr Xuan decided to stay in spite of the many opportunities outside of teaching. With more students electing to study economics we are excited to be welcoming not one but two new teachers for the year ahead – Mr Chapman and Mr Rumble both join us from industry and will be sharing their experiences with us all. So it has been an extraordinary year for us all. You are never bored teaching economics, and this year has proved to be no exception. In times like these I will leave the final words to Joseph Schumpeter, who was particularly regarded for his theories on capitalism and creative destruction:
“Pessimistic visions about almost anything always strike the public as more erudite than optimistic ones”.
Let’s look for those reasons to be cheerful.
2019/20
academic year has been a year of full of reasons to be cheerful
“
This year we had the opportunity to visit Geneva for our inaugural European economics trip. The trip was being planned amidst the turmoil of the Brexit process, and it was a fascinating opportunity to visit a leading economy situated in the heart of Europe, yet independent from the Single Market.
It was first and foremost an academic trip, whose events loosely fell into three separate categories:
We visited the Evian bottling plant to see economies of scale in action. Truth be told this visit almost didn’t happen, as the trip organiser overlooked the fact that the trip took us across the border into France and forgot the passports. Fortunately the contingency plan worked and the trip went ahead. From there we went to Maison Cailler to learn about chocolate production and make our own bars of chocolate, and finally staggered to La Maison du Gruyere to see their 25kg cheeses being made and (robotically) flipped.
We had arranged two visits to Universite de Geneve. The first was to their Management School where their professors provided a talk on corporate responsibility, student activism and studying in Switzerland. The second lecture was from the Rethinking Economics school on Economic Pluralism , and challenged our students to think of economics beyond the traditional neoclassical school.
International institutions
Geneva is home to many, and we visited the Red Cross Museum, the United Nations but then the trip’s highlight –the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Noting this organisation lies at the heart of trade negotiations and the context of our leaving the European Union, we had unprecedented access to those individuals responsible for drafting the Brexit documentation and the new trade relationships. It is easy to forget the turmoil and division within the country that Brexit caused, but we left with a sense of optimism that the skilled individuals at the WTO represented provided a steady hand at the tiller.
DSJW
The editor of ‘Geography Review’, a publication to which A-level Geographers are encouraged to subscribe, had remarkable foresight this year when it published a spring issue that included a feature on ‘Communicable diseases – Twenty-first century threats.’ Sadly, it arrived just a little too late for Boris to take note. Without doubt, Covid will feature in many future case studies as 2020 continues to unfold like something from a geography disaster movie.
Usually we are able to report on a wide range of fieldwork carried out by the Department, but lockdown cancelled several planned trips. Nevertheless, we are happy to be able to include a few trip reports from early in the year. We have also included a review of some of our virtual fieldwork.
The first fieldwork of the academic year saw us take almost 100 students to the River Tillingbourne to prepare for paper 3 of the GCSE exam. After causing some upset to Thames Water in previous years, we shifted our data collection points away from the confluence of the Wey but still had lots of fun wading through the river in Chilworth, Leith Hill and Shere where the local ice cream shop usually profits well from the trip. A few weeks later the Fourth Form were let loose on the streets of Guildford to look at variations in housing across the town.
As part of their A level studies our Lower Sixth geographers travelled to London to investigate the impact of urban regeneration. The students explored the sustainable developments of the East Village, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, and Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs – both areas which were once commonly associated as major problem areas, both socially and economically.
The trip was expertly led by Rob Williamson, a former employee of the London Docklands Development Cooperation (LDCC), who has witnessed first-hand the full transformation of the depressed Docklands area of East London. After exploring the changing land use of both regenerated areas and how London’s changing demographics have affected the type of infrastructure in each location, students were able to assess the effectiveness of both developments. It was an immensely successful trip, and regardless of the bitterly cold weather on the day, the students had an enjoyable trip, topped off by a visit to the culturally diverse Brick Lane, where the team enjoyed a delicious curry!
The Guildford Geographical Association (GA), chaired by Ruth Waters, was fortunately able to run a series of lectures at RGS and Guildford County School, with just the final one cancelled in the middle of March when lockdown loomed. We hosted lectures on Sustainable Development of the Arctic, Disease Dilemmas, the Regeneration of Bracknell and Superpower Geopolitics. I’m very grateful to the committee (which still includes Dick Seymour, who continues to support RGS even in his retirement). This year the Guildford GA has also been able to support some local primary schools with their teaching of geography by providing new classroom resources. We hope that the lecture series will be able to continue in the next few months once restrictions have been eased.
The Seymour Society continued for its second year under the guidance of Matthew Deatker and Asim Beer in the Upper Sixth Form. The society continued to meet most weeks at lunchtime, with a range of talks from students about areas of the subject that had caught their eye, such as Jack Feakes who spoke on the Diffusion of Culture Through Sport. We also welcomed back Mr Seymour one lunchtime to talk about the Changing Industrial Landscape of Guildford.
Read more about Geography activities in our RESPECT Lockdown Section
This year, politics has certainly remained front and centre of much of the current affairs agenda – and the ‘twin peaks’ of Trump and Brexit just keep on giving… Nonetheless, it was going to take something seismic to challenge or even replace these two from the front pages, and Covid has certainly achieved that. With it, has come a political pandemic all of its own – of u-turns, of furloughs, of quarantines, of test and trace, all with a raft of characters helping to shape the political direction and reaction to Covid’s manoeuvres.
At the RGS, Covid curtailed what was already a stellar year of political activity. During the Michaelmas Term in particular, several events were arranged to whet the appetites of A Level Politics students and the wider community alike. First we had Anne Milton in September, only days after she had been deselected by the Conservative Party for opposing a no-deal Brexit – a fascinating and frank question and answer session followed, with the Auditorium filled to the rafters with students from local schools joining a large contingent of RGS students and staff.
In November we had two speakers in –the first an OG, Tom Archer-Burton who, having spoken so eloquently at the Remembrance Service, then gave up his time to talk to politics students about his military career and also his more recent work as a geo-political advisor to the government, with increasing focus on cyber-crime. Our second visitor, whilst not an OG, is nonetheless a current parent – Martin Boon spoke to the Politics Society about his role as a political pollster, what polling entails, and about how it appears to be a far less precise science than it used to be –certainly true when one considers the forecasts for the 2016 Presidential Election and the 2017 General Election.
And all this then led us to December... a Winter General Election to be mirrored here at the RGS. With hustings events and vociferous campaigning, the various proxy candidates did themselves and their teams of advisors proud. There was humility and hubris in equal measure, an apt reflection of the real thing, thankfully without the worst excesses of personal attack and media warfare that the ‘grown ups’ so often resort to. The result, a Liberal Democrat victory for Oliver Taylor, again bore very little resemblance to the real thing!
A new venture this year was a politics presence in the superb Masterclasses programme that the RGS delivers on Saturday mornings of the Michaelmas Term. The timing could not have been better, as we were able to run a mock election too for the primary school students, teaching them about the process, how campaigning works, and who has the right to vote.
We look forward to actively participating in this again this next academic year.
By January, as the Politics Society students turned their attention to mock exams and university plans, our events calendar thinned out, and this was to be completely wiped out by the events of late February and early March. Even with new faces taking over the reins in June, our ability to host guest speakers has been severely curtailed. However, we are very confident that, despite this, the RGS community has probably never been more politicised – be it reacting to A Level and GCSE fiascos, be it reflecting on Covid and our rights, or be it engaging with the complex issue of Black Lives Matter . And so, despite wanting to wish away these many woes (Brexit, Trump, Covid, in no particular order!), they have re-activated political discourse amongst the young, and we can only hope this continues once the dust has settled. 2021, here we come.
Read more in our SERVICE, Masterclasses Section.
Though the Trinity Term certainly didn’t end as we would have liked, it has been another exciting year for the History Department. Ventures outside the classroom were still being packed in up until March, and the quality of work produced for the Fifth Form Research Project, essay competitions and NEA has been consistently impressive. Online learning has provided all pupils with the opportunity to study and interact with History in new and dynamic ways.
In October Fourth and Fifth Form students walked into a brave new world by visiting Munich, as opposed to our usual destination of Berlin. Mr Bass, Mr Holliday, Mr Spouge and Miss Hayes took in some truly incredible and memorable sites over four days including the site of the Munich Putsch, the White Rose Monument, Memorial to the victims of National Socialism and the Munich Chancellory. Students were also able to spend some free time around the beautiful Marienplatz, indulging in local (and some not so local) cuisine before taking in the superb Munich Documentation Centre. In the evening, we had the chance to visit BMW World and imagined what it would be like to buy a glamorous sports car. Wednesday morning was the highlight of the trip, as we travelled 30 minutes to Dachau for an astoundingly touching and memorable tour. We then visited the iconic Olympic Tower, and finished the evening with a bowling competition. Thursday saw a visit to the picturesque Bavarian National Museum and then a much anticipated tour of the Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich FC. The students were a credit to the School.
Having begun a new A Level course concerning Modern Britain and the Crusades, the Lower Sixth visited the Electric Theatre in Guildford to listen to Dan Jones speak his new bookabout the personal and overlooked stories concerning religious conflict in the 11th and 12th centuries. An event run as part of the Guildford Book Festival, Guy Tregear was lucky enough to be chosen to ask the author a question on the continuing problems in the Middle East.
The beginning of 2020 saw the annual Fourth Form pilgrimage across the channel to Belgium. The impressive sites of Notre Dame de Lorette and Vimy Ridge Canadian Memorial highlighted the diverse contribution made in the Great War. At Thiepval Memorial, as well as Tyne Cot Cemetery, a wreath was laid in memory of fallen OGs. This, for many of us, is the most moving and important opportunity offered to pupils in their time at the School. The resting place of, amongst others, OG Wolfe was marked with a reading and a minutes silence.
The Department continues to be commended for the calibre of its A Level coursework – this year was no exception. Alfie Cherry’s To what extent has liberal democracy proven itself to be the ‘End of History’ in Europe and the Americas with reference to the years 1917 to 2018? , Alex Norris’s To what extent was the decline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the period 1697-1795 a consequence of its political decentralisation? and James Pyper’s How Successful was the British governance of India between 1858-1947 in accordance with its aims? were among the pick of the offerings. For many pupils, this is a chance to produce undergraduate level work, and they did not disappoint.
In March the Lower Sixth was fortunate enough to travel to the London Irish Centre and hear renowned author Dominic Sandbrook and Dr Rob Waters of Birmingham University talk about 20th Century British History . The students were particularly engaged with discussions of social change in the 1960s and 1970s, and valued the Q and A time given to quiz the highly entertaining Mr Sandbrook.
We were delighted that impressive entries were once again submitted to the highly prestigious Vellacott and Julia Wood History Essay competitions, run by Peterhouse College, Cambridge and St Hugh’s College, Oxford. Jack Farrant and Omeet Atara deserve special praise for their impressively researched work on Slavery: A catalyst for the American Civil War? and From War to Words: How the UN has changed diplomacy
respectively. However, thesheer number of Lower Sixth historians who submitted impressive essays was incredibly pleasing to see.
Sadly, our annual trips to Battle Abbey, Bodiam Castle and Hampton Court were cancelled due to the Covid lockdown, but the way in which students across the years groups adapted to online lessons was fantastic to see. One of the things especially pleasing in the last weeks of School was the great range of work going on, despite the obvious restrictions. From the First Form through to the Lower Sixth Form, the appetite for historical books, articles, podcasts, documentaries and independent learning demonstrated a genuine love of learning.
The Upper Sixth Form were prevented from taking their final A Level exams, but they leave having made a lasting impression on all of us. They were hardworking, conscientious, forthright and fun, and very much deserve their places to continue studying this wonderful subject at prestigious universities.
The Department continues to be commended for the calibre of its A Level courseworkThiepval Memorial
2019/20 has been an unusual year for Biology, just as it has been for the rest of the School, if not world, thanks to the Covid pandemic.
Although the RGS did not have the opportunity to sit the public examinations, the results achieved were an accurate reflection of the phenomenal progress the students made during their time at the School. Most importantly, all the RGS students have enjoyed exploring the wonderful world of biology.
Many of our usual trips were unable to run – our Second Form trip to Marwell Zoo was replaced with a virtual online safari at Longleat (not as much fun!) and the Lower Sixth trip to Dale Fort in Wales will be replaced with field work in the Surrey Hills this year.
The Fourth Form all carried out individual research projects into pests, inspired by an assembly from Dr Dick Shaw, Director of CABI, an organisation that develops biocontrol solutions to pest problems all over the world. Many of these were outstanding and demonstrated sophisticated research skills which bodes well for these students’ futures.
In addition, James Miller was a finalist in the School’s ILA competition with his essay on why Greenland sharks live for 400 years, and several students completed CREST projects in biological subjects.
Some of our Fourth Formers managed to complete the Royal Society of Biology’s, Biology Challenge competition, before lockdown and they achieved outstanding results – 11 Gold, 7 Silver, 12 Bronze, 9 Highly Commended and 10 Commended awards. Special mention goes to Ferdy Al-Qassab for the highest score in the School. The Lower Sixth did not get the chance to sit their Biology Olympiad but will be able to enter the senior competition next year. The A Level Biologists who took the Senior Olympiad competition won 1 Gold (James Miller), 6 Silver, 6 Bronze, 13 Highly Commended and 6 Commended awards.
We are very proud of the students going on to study biology related courses at university –Faraz Ahmed (Biochemistry – Surrey), Ed Earl (Biological Sciences – Birmingham), James Golding (Biomedical Sciences –Bath), Jonny Gathercole (Archaeology and Anthropology – Cambridge), Will Hand (Natural Sciences – Durham), Ed Long (Veterinary Medicine –Cambridge), James Miller (Biological Natural Sciences – Cambridge), Angus Miller (Medicine – UCL), Ben Stott (Sport and Exercise Sciences –Leeds), Matthew Williams (Natural
Sciences – Bath), Thomas Koide (Biomedical Engineering – UCL), Josh Han (Medicine – Southampton) and Ilhan Mosobbir (Biological Sciences –Warwick). We wish them well.
Atotal of 9,182 students took part in the UK Chemistry Olympiad and we have achieved our best ever results with 11 Gold, 14 Silver and 11 Bronze awards. Indeed, there were some truly exceptional performances particularly in the Lower Sixth, with Salvatore Nigrelli, Andrew Florescu, Nathan Page and Jackie Zhang winning Gold Awards. Alex Thow’s amazing score of 86% in the first round made top 25 in the country. He then spent the next two months preparing hard for the next stage in the hope of gaining the honour of making the National Team. After a display of remarkable chemical talent and scholarship in the second round, Alex got into the top four and was duly selected to represent the UK in the 52nd International Chemistry Olympiad organised by Turkey. This is indeed a rare distinction for a Lower Sixth Form student. Alex did remarkably well in the gruelling five-hour exam paper and achieved a superb score of 83%. He finished 45th in the world and won a silver medal. Alex undoubtedly has a most distinguished academic career ahead of him and we will undoubtedly be hearing about his scientific successes in the years to come.
were awarded ‘beaker cups’ and a trophy based on the benzene ring. They will no doubt be aiming to win the event next year as Upper Sixth students!
The Fourth Form students participated in the RSC Chemistry Challenge this year and they greatly enjoyed working through a series of cryptic puzzles. The top team consisting of Janek Czarnek, Ferdy Al-Qassab, Joe Colton and Boldi Paladi-Kovacs achieved 88% and was placed in Band A.
The Cambridge Chemistry Challenge is the most demanding chemistry exam designed for the Lower Sixth and 6,400 students took the test remotely due to Covid. Alex Thow achieved 58/60, the joint highest mark in the country! Salvatore, Andrew and Nathan were also in the top 3% of the candidates. In total we won one Gold-Star, nine Gold and four Silver Awards.
Representing the UK in the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), despite not being able to travel to the host country, Turkey, has been an incredible experience. Even with the difficulties this year posed, 235 students from 60 different countries around the world competed in the event. The UK team achieved one of its best results to date, one Gold and three Silvers.
During our months of online preparation, we were trained by many great chemists, covering a wide range of fascinating and advanced topics in a relatively short time. Much of what we were taught will be invaluable to me for years to come. It was amazing to be able to talk to other students with the same love for chemistry as myself.
I would urge everyone with an interest in chemistry to take part in events such as the Olympiad and C3L6. They can be great fun to do no matter what your result and if you work hard you might even find yourself flying off to another country to compete in an IChO.
Our team ‘Triene our best but diene inside’ captained by Henry Benett competed in the inaugural Cambridge Chemistry Race. The challenge involved each team trying to solve progressively more difficult chemistry problems and points were awarded according the time taken. They took second place behind the Westminster team. The students
This has been a most memorable year for Chemistry successes.
This year, Sixth Form students have carried out research projects in a number of universities including Imperial College, Queen Mary London, Surrey, Southampton and Vienna.
The breadth of research was impressive and topics studied include: Machine Learning, Photonic Crystals, Coronary Artery Disease, Astrophysics, Adult T-cell Leukemia, Electric Synchronous Machines and Genomics Clinical Exome Analysis.
As usual, we have received some excellent comments from the students’ university supervisors. Selected examples:
“We have had many students and undergraduates for work experience visits, but none in my experience has showed a greater drive to understand both the principles and the detail of our research. His appetite for reading - and understanding - quite difficult research papers was also extremely unusual, especially for someone in the sixth form.”
Professor Charles Bangham, Chair of Immunology, Imperial College
“… demonstrated a high level of enthusiasm from the very beginning… definitely exceeded our expectations. The scientific quality of the project is such that his contribution will likely be part of a paper to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. … if deciding to pursue a career in astrophysics, will definitely make a great scientist.”
“The project was set at a postgraduate level and posed several challenges spanning from the fundamental understanding of the micron-scale interference in periodically structured materials to the development of numerical codes to analyse the propagation of electromagnetic radiation in microphotonic systems. I give my highest commendation to his performance in his ORIS project and it was a pleasure hosting him in my group”
Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of most of the projects arranged for the summer of 2020. However, Third Former, Safi Baloch, should be commended for carrying out a research project during lockdown. He investigated the effects of temperature and pH on the rigidity of chicken bones. Safi’s work has been awarded a Silver CREST Award.
WSLWould it be exciting to carry out scientific research that no one has done before? You can if you participate in ORIS during the summer holiday of your Lower Sixth. ORIS, a new RGS initiative, is an acronym for Original Research in cience. Students need to complete a minimum of two weeks of original research in any area of science at a university or in industry to qualify. The final written reports were assessed by Professor Andy Parsons of the University of York this year. Professor Parsons has won numerous awards for teaching and is a prolific academic author.ORIS Awards winners Dr
Noelia Noël, Surrey University
We welcomed Mrs Lewin as our new technician (also supported initially by Mr Evans, a former teacher in the Department), and welcomed back Mr Royds (after a few years teaching in New Zealand). The Lower Sixth embarked on the Pre-U course, our first cohort to study this exciting and intellectually challenging course. Sixth Form students continued our run of success in various national competitions and for the first time we entered middle school students into the Cambridge Upper Secondary Science competition. But, as with most of school life, this year will be remembered for the events of March 2020 and the transition to online learning – a real challenge for a practical subject. I am immensely proud of the efforts of Physics staff to be at the forefront of this, and to all of the students for rising to the challenge positively and with great creativity.
Scholarship activities are integral to everything we do, with Further Physics now a regular, well-established part of our Lower Sixth offering; this year a record third of the students entered for the AS Physics Challenge received a Gold. Much of this work comes into its own when those students get into the Upper Sixth and sit the British Physics Olympiad, with an excellent set of results this year featuring two students receiving a Top Gold, placing them in the top 100 students in the country and leading to an invitation to the second round. Amazingly, one of those students was Andrew Florescu, the very first Lower Sixth RGS boy to make it that far in the competition, and he even went on to be invited to the third round for the British Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad to compete for a place on the UK team; we can’t wait to see what he achieves when in Upper Sixth. He was also one of four students (a School record) to be invited to the Senior Physics Challenge, ran by the University of Cambridge remotely at the beginning of July, where a total of about 50 students nationally
were given undergraduate level lectures on quantum mechanics based upon how many tough questions they had answered on the Isaac Physics website. Competitions further down the School have also been very successful, with this year a record number of Golds (about half of entries) in the Junior Physics Challenge, and so we look forward to seeing what some of those top students do when they face the Intermediate Physics Challenge next year.
The Go4SET project sees teams of four Third Formers take on an engineering challenge. This year’s team consisted of Joshua Inglesfield, Rishikesh Mistry, Will Munroe, Finlay Sanders and Robert Storey. The project brief Smart Surroundings had team thinking how
the technology around us can be improved. Following an initial period of interviewing various members of staff for possible ideas, the team settled on developing a smart School registration system they called ARMS (Automatic Registration Machine System) . The aim was to design a device that could register a pupil coming into the classroom using facial recognition, thus freeing up the teacher to do other things.
Above left: Go4SET project case
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It has been another productive, successful and enjoyable year in the Physics Department, though not always in the ways we would have thought in September!
This is the first time we have run this project (in conjunction with the other science departments); the aim of the competition is to present an opportunity for budding Middle School scientists to investigate an area of science that is of interest to them.
At the launch in November we had over 20 students interested. Following an initial meeting, five teams were formed; with project titles as diverse as investigating the EMF of different types of homemade batteries and the effect of inflammation on skin temperature, we were ready to begin. After the GCSE mock exams were over, several of the groups started their initial practical investigations.
Lockdown made practical work much harder, however, two of the five teams did manage to finish. Their projects; Investigation of the effects of caffeine on the human body (by Ashley Chan, Dilan K Patel, Laurence Duggan and Teja Vejendla) and Investigating the factors that affect the rate of conversion of recycled paper into ethanol (by Alejandro Scholfield Perez, Cam Allan, Mattie Sutton, Ollie Robinson, Omid Hariri and William Ball), yielded two excellent reports that met the Gold standard and these along with their presentation/ poster were subsequently put forward for consideration for the regional awards. Unfortunately, Covid has meant that few entries were received and so the regional competition has been cancelled but Cambridge confirmed the quality of the two reports submitted and the students will receive Gold certificates.
Read more about the Physics Department in our INCLUSVITY and RESPECT sections.
Poster produced by Omid Hariri, Mattie Sutton, Alejandro Scholfield Perez, William Ball, Ollie Robinson, Cam Allan
Cambridge confirmed the quality of the two reports submitted and the students will receive gold certificates.
The school year began with another set of exceptional GCSE and PreU results, a fitting tribute to the hard work of the students, and with a new arrival in the Department. Mr Foster (OG 2015) joined the team after his Theology and Philosophy degree at Oxford and his PGCE year, bringing all the dynamism and skill that he had shown in his time as a pupil at the RGS. Who knew that by the end of the year so many of our plans would have been laid waste by the Covid, and that our end of year farewell to the much-loved Miss Bains would be, like so much of our teaching, done online via Teams?
The Philosophy Discussion Group gave senior students the opportunity to investigate through questioning and collaborative discussion, developing their philosophical understanding of perennial questions and concepts; whilst The Forum encouraged participants to develop their disputation and debating skills by proposing, defending and critiquing both traditional and their own lines of argument in areas of epistemology, philosophy of religion, ethics and political philosophy.
The Michaelmas Term saw the first ever Religion and Philosophy Masterclass and we welcomed a group of excited and keen primary school children who participated in a morning’s study of religious identity with great success and enthusiasm. Mr Herman-Wilson’s creative and inspired talks and activities led to the children producing some fascinating artwork as well as thoughtful insights into the nature of religious practice.
Whilst the international situation meant the postponement of the Department’s plans to take students in the Middle School to Florence and the Vatican, Pre-U students in the Lower and Upper Sixth were able to attend a day of Theology and Philosophy lectures in London. Delivered by world class academics the students were challenged
by talks on feminist theology, the nature of belief and the afterlife.
The Department’s societies for Junior and Middle School students continued to flourish and to see excellent participation. Puzzle Club made some excellent progress in their work to complete and discuss complex jigsaws of the Blue Mosque and the Sistine Chapel, whilst Mr Foster’s revivied Junior Philosophy Society showcased some superb debate on many of life’s ‘ultimate questions’. Some of the discussions were researched, presented and led by junior students themselves on topics such as Vegetarianism (Woo Kim), the Cosmological Argument (Gabriel Meadowcroft) and Just War Theory (Alexander Gillan), and these were especially enjoyable and thought provoking.
The end of the year saw students in the Fifth Form and Lower Sixth undertaking research projects, and the Department was fortunate to have students completing some excellent work. Matt Scully’s work on the philosophical issues arising from Artificial Intelligence, and Zion Kim’s study of the role of social and economic factors on crime, were standout Fifth Form projects; and Sixth Formers Oliver Walsh and Joe Gibson produced ILA projects that showed the kind of real excellence and insight that RGS students can achieve when given the time and space to undertake their own independent learning.
Who knew that by the end of the year so many of our plans would have been laid waste by the Covid
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Although our school community was dispersed, and many of our usual Partnership and Outreach programmes were disrupted or impossible, the RGS staff rose to the challenge as we sought ways to work with our local communities.
The Headteacher at Guildford County School, Mr Smith, contacted us to express his thanks for the amazing response of RGS families who donated to the Great Guildford County Food Drop scheme which, in association with the Guildford Salvation Army, supported the most vulnerable families in the Guildford area. One RGS boy even organised his whole street to donate!
Following Mr Shimell’s request for device donations for Kings College pupils we were humbled by the whole community response and were able to donate over 50 devices. The Kings Headteacher, Mr McKenzie (pictured above), and his staff were overwhelmed by the generosity of strangers and commented:
We received touching messages of thanks from staff at our partner care homes about the music performances and messages recorded by RGS students for their residents. Pilgrim’s Wood even hosted a special tea party ‘concert’ for all their residents and staff. Thank you and well done to Joseph Ryan (First Form), Angus Scott (First Form), Ayaan Bhagat (First Form), Aidan Crouch (Second Form), Robbie Mackay (Fourth Form), Noah Campbell (Fifth Form), Theo Lakin (Lower Sixth), Christian Moody (Lower Sixth), and Ollie Jansen (Lower Sixth), and especially to Mrs Rathmell for coordinating.
I cannot overemphasise how much of a difference they will make to families… and my certainty in the kindness of people grows ever stronger
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“I cannot over-emphasise how much of a difference they will make to families…and my certainty in the kindness of people grows ever stronger.”
At the start of lockdown, the science departments donated our entire stock of safety glasses to the Royal Surrey County Hospital. Soon after, masterminded by Mr Kelly, the RGS Design Technology Department began to make face visors. In total we provided over 450 free visors to twenty-five different organisations (care homes, pharmacists, vets, physiotherapists, community schemes, hospitals, GP surgeries and schools). Recently, Will Munroe (Third Form), supported by Mr Kelly, has been making ‘no-touch tools’ and attachments using his 3D printer in his garage in response to a request by the owner of a care home for use by staff. The tools enable staff to open doors and press buttons without touching them with their hands.
Throughout this academic year, Mr Baker has been providing Spanish teaching training for Modern Foreign Language staff at Guildford Educational Partnership schools. Lockdown temporarily halted this training, but Mr Baker has moved online and is pleased to say that the coursewillbecompleted.Thishalfterm, Mr Hood is resuming his weekly physics lessons for Year 10 Triple Science pupils at Kings College. Before the school shut down, Mr Shimell was acting as a cover teacher at Guildford County School teaching chemistry to Year 10, 11 and 13 pupils following a member of their staff being on long-term sick leave. Mr Shimell was able to use the expertise developed at the RGS to continue teaching the Guildford County pupils remotely to ensure that they do not fall behind in their studies. The Chemistry Department has also shared resources designed to stretch and challenge Sixth Form pupils with Fullbrook School.
Our wonderful IT team were extremely busy supporting us all during lockdown and we are privileged to have this in-house expertise. To allow others to benefit, Mr Rivers made all of the IT guides and ‘how to’ videos available to anyone via the RGS website. Several other local schools accessed this facility.
Magnificat in B Flat Major under the guidance of Sam Orchard, resulting in another wonderfully uplifting, positive community performance. So much of musical performance and the terminology surrounding it – concert, orchestra, band, choir – rely on musicians coming together to perform; the fact that all these initiatives were done remotely, without a loss of quality, is all the more remarkable.
During half term, Mrs Newman, Mr Chambers and RGS students (Stan Lawrence (Lower Sixth), Solomon Poole (Lower Sixth), Killian Hess (2P), Max Weston (Fourth Form) and James Dicker (Third Form) recorded performances at School for several remote musical endeavours in conjunction with Southern Pro Musica (SPM) orchestra.
Until 2020 a typical physics lesson at the RGS would be quite recognisable to previous generations of our students, give or take a few Powerpoints or datalogging experiments. The pandemic changed all of that and the challenge was on to deliver a high quality physics course entirely online. Particular credit must go to Mrs Odhams and Mr Bradford for getting us all up to speed with Teams and OneNote, allowing us to do all the usual theory work online. But as a department that prides itself on practical work and hands-on experimentation, what of this vital part of our teaching? Staff and students rose to the challenge and I’m pleased to report on a number of ‘home practicals’. Creativity is an often-neglected yet essential skill for the Physicist or Engineer; being forced to adapt experiments to use what you can from what you have at home gave our students a great chance to experience this first hand. The Lower Sixth each undertook an extended investigation to determine the acceleration due to freefall as accurately as possible, and I was particularly impressed by their efforts. Other year groups undertook smaller tasks, including locating your centre of gravity by doing the plank. Some students went the extra mileThomas Thevenon in the Fourth Form impressed with the design and coding of his own ultrasound position sensor. JPH
In a term of firsts for the RGS, the Music Department continued the trend with the remote RGS Chamber Orchestra showing that distance and isolation are simply no barriers to ensemble performances! True to form, the students more than rose to the challenge and recorded their parts for the Bach Double Violin Concerto with Head of Keyboard, Jan Newman, providing the continuo part from the comfort of her living room. It was released into the virtual world in time for the first Holy Trinity Church lunchtime concert in May and was proof of the resilience and talent of RGS musicians. Not to be overshadowed, the pianists then had their chance to show what they could do in the virtual world, performing music that had mostly been learnt and perfected in their online piano lessons. The repertoire was wide ranging and complex, showing how music, despite the technical limitations of the sound quality on Teams, has continued to help to keep the students involved and engaged. Highlights included James Dicker playing Chopin Ballade No. 2, Max Weston with Hindemith Praeludium, Killian Hess with Elizabeth by Parry, Stan Lawrence with Janacek’s In the Mist and Solomon Poole playing Ravel’s Pavane pour une Infante Défunte. In addition, RGS students both past and present joined forces remotely to record Stanford’s
Once lockdown occurred on Wednesday 18 March, I think its fair to say that all of us in the Music Department felt a tremendous anxiety about how we could keep music alive in this new era, as the uncharted waters we found ourselves in meant that everyone – teachers as well as the students - had to learn to do everything we take for granted in completely different and alien ways, and pretty much instantaneously!
However, piano lessons over Teams proved much more effective than I could have imagined and once the dodgy connections and WiFi cutouts became less of an issue, I was taken aback at just how much was achieved in lessons, with the good humour and willingness of the students to fully participate apparent throughout. As we could not perform in the usual way, we decided (with the Headmaster’s permission) to record five of the pianists over the half term so that they could be heard in a virtual setting. The students involved deserve a special mention as they performed complex works with much less support than they would normally expect and yet still played to a very high standard. The pianists involved were Solomon Poole, Stan Lawrence, Max Weston, Killian Hess and James Dicker and the concert, which was movingly introduced by Dale Chambers, was also made available to some of our partner care homes in the area.
The RGS String Schemes, in partnership with the Investec International Music Festival (IIMF), Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS) and Southern Pro Musica (SPM), continued to provide violin and cello tuition to over 200 pupils at St Thomas’, Sandfield and Boxgrove primary schools via online videos. Mr Chambers and his team worked extremely hard to make ‘how to’ videos in addition to weekly teaching sessions which are accessed by pupils on a private YouTube channel. Mr Chambers was also busy with instrument repairs running a busy pick-up service. In addition, Mr Chambers, with backing from SPM, has also arranged for Inspire Works to deliver an online samba project with pupils at Loseley Fields and Guildford Grove primary schools. Then at the end of term we continued to chart new territory hosting remote concerts instead of the usual end of year concerts at RGS to allow all pupils to play ‘together’ –this is no easy feat!
TWS
As is often the case during times in crisis, there has been an outbreak of artistic innovation recently as people have sought creative outlets to express their reflections on the current climate. Poetry has often proved to be the medium capable of expressing complex emotions in a way which instantly captures the zeitgeist of the time. Indeed, many of the world’s most iconic pieces of art have been inspired by writers, authors, painters, musicians whose lives have been dominated by extreme emotion or upheaval. The current times have been no exception and Covid has already been the seed which has stimulated the growth of a number of creative projects. Not surprisingly, our students have been similarly inspired and having studied poems of hope from poets such as Robert Browning and Philip Larkin and poems of death and despair by WH Auden and Dylan Thomas, they put together a fantastic anthology of poems. As Ms Clarkson commented: JWP
“The maturity of the students’ reflection was extraordinary as they interpreted the current situation with no little sophistication and insight. To do this within the medium of polished, structured poetry was all the more impressive.”
Almost three months of eternity, we’ve all been trapped at home;
Anticipating the moment, this pandemic goes and we can roam;
The speech is played on telly, as we sit - we wait - we watch;
To see the measures outlined, what we can do - what we cannot;
His face is painted serious, yet words of hope he speaks;
“The rate of infection is now below one, thanks to the efforts of both you and me;”
He talks about a plan, a way to escape this war;
A potential path to see the life, the one we used to adore;
This life is now attainable, it’s now a light at the end;
But this new path needs to be careful, lest we accidently over-extend;
This new plan will be flexible, a system from one to five;
An indication to inform us, the pace we return to our lives;
With measures slowly easing, former liberties we can assume;
But we still must maintain two metres, else the lockdown shall resume;
This reopening of society, prompts a motto newly revised;
To “STAY ALERT,” “CONTROL THE VIRUS,” and this will now “SAVE LIVES.”
With our annual trip to Dorset cancelled, and other trips cancelled, things were looking a little gloomy on the fieldwork front until we settled the idea of getting our students to run their own fieldtrips. Mr Cowx had the genius idea of running a virtual trip to Tenerife.
Lockdown had some benefits for the Lower Sixth Geographers. No 4.00am start for the coach to the airport. No four-hour flight with less than desirable legroom and those afraid of heights did not have to experience the plummeting drops off the edge of the roads in the mountainous volcanic regions of Tenerife. This year we were going virtually! Through the wonders of Google Earth and Street View the students were able to gain a first-hand insight into the landscape and features of this volcanic island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. This culminated in a detailed study and write up of the landscape around one of the secondary vents Montana Samara. Using a range of secondary data the Department have previously collected, the students completed a full write up and analysis of the spread of Lapilli (small volcanic material). Graphs, picture and detailed ArcGIS mapping all allowed a full picture of the area to be built up. This exercise was also incredibly useful in providing a guide for the write up of their Coursework, which would commence in September. Fieldwork is never inaccessible when you have the wonders of Google at your fingertips.
JCW
Closer to home, the Fourth Form were guided around the River Wey in virtual lessons and visited waterways near their homes to look at flood management;
Undeterred by the restrictions of lockdown, our GCSE geographers were still able to get outside and complete some fieldwork. They came up with their own methodology for measuring the area and composition of their garden using equipment they had access to in their homes. When it came to analysing the data, they made a flood risk assessment based on factors such as size, permeability, drainage and angle of slope. Some gardens scored better than others on this! To conclude, the students suggested ways in which the risk could be addressed in the future, through a mixture of hard and soft engineering strategies. The quality of the reports written was very impressive and definitely unearthed some potential future Environment Agency consultants.
Starved of some more practical elements of Geography due to remote learning, our First and Second Form embraced the opportunity to create some fieldwork investigations of their own during the last few weeks of the Trinity Term. Normally at this time of year the Second Form would undertake a walking investigation of the local area, focusing on geology and ecology; this time the brief was widened to take into account students’ local geographies and interests. A wide variety of topics were studied, from the impacts of soils on the local wine industry to geological considerations when digging foundations. Joe Pontin (1L) particularly impressed with his study of butterflies on Pewley Down, relating this to the underlying soil fertility and
topography. Some students were able to present their investigations online to the rest of the form, which varied in format from videos to PowerPoints, essays to posters. An Oscar-style voting system chose the winners in each class. Well done to everyone for producing an inspiring set of reports!
The Geography Department settled into new routines quite quickly whilst working from home. Unsurprisingly, Mr Cowx kept to a strict cross-country afternoon schedule, Miss Clements cycled to Kent from Woking because she could, and Mr Oliver retreated to Scotland to grow his hair in peace. Mrs Waters spent most of her time trying to steer her children away from guest appearances in lessons and tried to teach the Fifth Form how to make playdough. Mr Witts was busy making video diaries for the Fifth Form whilst learning how to change nappies:
“Baby Max (Joseph Matthew) Witts arrived on Thursday 2 April, just a week or so into lockdown. He really was going to be the ultimate lock down project! Five months later Max and the whole family are still well and I have had the amazing pleasure of spending all five months with him, due to online learning. It has been the best paternity leave possible.”
To keep us on our toes and to help us steer clear of the fridge for a few hours, Mr Fishpool initiated a departmental running challenge from Jon O’Groats to Land’s End. Every member of the team contributed to the total distance of 874 miles in less than a term though we also decided to include Mr Yetman after his excellent performance in the School 5km running challenge. No prizes for guessing which member of the Department clocked up the most miles!
To members of the Upper and Lower Sixth who also agreed to help run a virtual focus group for Royal Holloway Geography Department. The university wanted to test questions that they would be asking young people in the Falklands Islands about their interpretation of space and place in order to create new A level teaching resources using virtual reality. Somehow I managed to find a way to run the session on teams, and I am very grateful to the students who gave up their spare time to join in, and gave really thoughtful responses.
Faced with the prospect of school closure and no access to the library for the foreseeable future, the first instinct of many staff and students was to head to the Library to stock up on books. With hundreds of books being issued each day, the end of ‘normal’ School was very busy for us! Once the School’s doors had closed, we turned our attention to expanding our digital offering and to educating the school community about the wealth of material available online. Many digital publishers and providers were happy to extend free access to their resources to schools, so there was much to sign up to, and we also invested in an e-book lending platform to enable the students to continue reading for pleasure while other sources were closed off.
We continued to help English teachers to deliver ‘Library’ lessons remotely, talking to students about the books they had read to complete the Junior School Reading Challenges, suggesting more books that they would enjoy and demonstrating the e-book lending platform and other digital tools for promoting reading for pleasure. The Lit Quiz Club also continued to run throughout the lockdown period, offering a chance for students to meet virtually to discuss books and maintain a social connection.
Although we were in demand to help students and staff access the material they needed for the Fifth Form and Lower
Sixth independent research projects, and also set up an online discussion of political writing as part of the Upper Sixth Expanding Horizons programme, we also found time to share some fun events, competitions and learning opportunities through our Twitter feed and emails to staff and students, and highlighted individual digital resources via The RGS Today
As the summer holiday approached, it was apparent that we needed to get the library’s books moving again. With the help of the Estates team, we arranged a safe way for students to return books that they had finished with, then took orders and ‘personal shopper’ requests for fresh supplies on a Click and Collect basis, setting up our keen readers for a book-filled summer break.
we arranged a safe way for students to return books that they had finished with, then took orders and ‘personal shopper’ requests
How do you begin to abridge such an epic and iconic novel as Nicholas Nickleby for the stage? The vast array of comic and cruel characters, the interwoven subplots and multiplicity of locations pose a real challenge to anyone trying to present the story as a piece of theatre. David Edgar’s adaptation for the RSC was eight and a half hours long, an immersive, simply staged event that drew audiences in with the power and energy of the stories. RGS’s version was a modest two hours and sadly couldn’t honour all the often hilarious subplots and humorous vignettes of the novel. The dual narratives of Nicholas and Kate were highlighted in the production and we retained the more well-known episodes of the story; Mr Squeers and his ill treatment of the students, the ‘bartering’ of Kate by Ralph with Sir Mulberry Hawk and Lord Verisopht and the saviours of the Nickleby family, the Cheeryble brothers.
The production style focused on fast moving ensemble acting, with actors remaining at the sides of the stage area observing and participating seamlessly into crowds and haunting figures where required. The simple set design with painted silhouetted Victorian figures cleanly and simply captured the world of the play and its people. This stripped back approach fore fronted magnificently the talented young cast as scenes seamlessly segued, moods shifting from light-hearted to macabre in the space of a few seconds. Portable props and furniture coupled with evocative sound and lighting design added to the economy and effectiveness of the production.
actors remaining at the sides of the stage area observing and participating seamlessly into crowds and haunting figures where required
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Credit must be given to the cast drawn from both RGS and GHS for the exuberance and commitment of their performances. Ellis Baker was superb as the sensitive and moral Nicholas, with Esme Thomas playing Kate Nickleby with real flair. Edward Osborough was magnificent as the cold and haughty Ralph, Daniel Cobley captured the grotesquely gargoyle-like Squeers; Joe Field and Ben Cruttwell revelled in the personification of the louche Hawk and aristocratic Verisopht. Charles O’Conor and Ashwin Vishwanath delighted us as the good natured Cheeryble brothers and Alex Vale evoked real pity as Smike. Georgina Henderson-Williams captured the comedy perfectly of Mrs Nickleby whilst the “double act “of Emily Lipscombe as Fanny Squeers and Eloise Gregory as Tilda had the audience hooting with laughter. Hope Taylor-Marsh playing Madeline was beautifully and believably realised throughout her journey from despair to delight.
The ensemble as a whole excelled in capturing the world of the play and it’s people with cameo roles bringing real delight; George Hewitt as the flamboyant Mr Crummles, Luke Galpin as the grasping Mr Gride, Casper Varoujian playing the bluff but honest John Browdie and Ollie Jansen as the hapless put upon Noggs. The play couldn’t have been successful without the commitment and skill of the ensemble cast consisting of Sebastian Norris, Alejandro Scholfield Perez, Alex McKenzie, Vincent Conquest, Ferdy Al-Qassab, Robbie Hill, Ollie Robinson, Ronan Lenane, Benji Chapman, Parus Mehra, Aaron Venter, Beatrice Hughes, Ayeda Majid, Portia Stanistreet and Hebe Poole.
The play was ably and comprehensively supported by an ever-developing technical theatre team. Notable stalwarts were Sacha Meadowcroft, James Turner and Ewan Franklin who were joined by a group of much younger ‘techies’ all of whom I hope we will see in the future!
The Tempest is a play infused with magic, betrayal, love and forgiveness, and even mention of unicorns! These contained the perfect ingredients for a fantastic 2019 junior production in last year’s Michaelmas Term. The RGS was delighted to take part in the Shakespeare Schools Festival at G Live, performing one of a series of unique abridged Shakespearian productions. The talented cast of RGS students took to the imposing G Live stage to produce a breathless, whistle-stop version of Shakespeare’s much-loved play.
The ensemble actors Aidan Alvi, Alexander Evans, Alex Judge, Elliot King, Toby Rathmell, Joel Sellers, Harry Simmons and Jerome Sturridge were excellent in physically embodying the whole world of the play including the waves, weather, ship, forests, caves, magical spirits and baying dogs.
A number of impressive performances included Zac Warham who conveyed the complexity of the protagonist Prospero; James Paterson who captured the compassionate loyalty of Miranda; and Louis Kinsler who had real presence as the insolent and rebellious Caliban. Milo Findji and Charlie Webster showed excellent comic timing as they provided light relief as the jester Trinculo and drunken butler Stephano respectively.
The royal party were superbly portrayed by Laurent Spilstead, Aidan Crouch, James Richardson, Fraser Williams, and Hugo Stelfox who were transported safely to the island by the ship’s Captain Boatswain played brilliantly by Benjamin Pilkington.
The four Ariels Daniel Ward, Ritam Sen, Orlando Meadowcroft, and James Nicholas magically portrayed Ariel, a spirit of the air, who could transform and transport himself at will.
Praise must be given to the chorus, and particularly James Nicholas, who bravely transported the audience to an eerie island setting with atmospheric sound effects and acapella singing.
Finally, the performance could not have run as smoothly without the incredible input from the backstage and technical teams overseen by Joe Field and James Turner and run by Luke Smith (lighting), Archie Rothwell (sound) and James Turner, Ewan Franklin and Jim Reid (mask making). Thanks also to staff who volunteered to help in various roles as chaperones, makeup, costume and musical direction.
a play infused with magic, betrayal, love and forgiveness, and even mention of unicorns!
Our GCSE Drama students excelled in their devised examination with a number of mature, nuanced performances. Their atmospheric play, entitled The Resurrectionists, explored the history of body snatchers in the 19th century. Congratulations to Maximillian Birtley, Ashley Chan and John Gray who successfully brought to live a whole host of unsavory characters who made their money and careers from the resurrection of cadavers.
It is no mean feat to get up in front of a live audience but when that audience contains your peers, teachers, an examiner, and you know that what you are about to perform will directly impact your final grade, it is nerve-wracking stuff! However, our GCSE drama students held their nerve and instead of rushing home as the weekend started on Friday 28 February 2020, they expertly delivered three extracts from The Arsonists , by Max Frisch, a challenging play exploring the ability of evil to spread when good men turn a blind eye.
The students produced polished, slick performances which ably demonstrated development of character, physical and vocal skills, as well as a sensitivity to the content of the piece. The performance contributed to an excellent set of GCSE Drama grades. Congratulations go to Ashley Chan, John Gray and Maximillian Birtley.
The A level specification demands that students have to use a practitioner to influence the work they make. This year Steven Berkoff was chosen, who developed an expressionistic form known as ‘Total Theatre’ that encompasses a very physical, mimetic and bold acting style. Joseph Field and Alex McKenzie embraced the style fully to produce a lively and thought provoking piece entitled M.A.D ; this was an allegory for the Cold War where
two neighbours, unhappy with a rat infestation they blame on each other, create a clay Golem programmed to destroy the other person. The research was fascinating for the students, using knowledge about the Cold War but also learning about the myth of the Golem and then developing a highly stylised physical piece. The students played multiple roles showcasing their acting skills and provided a thought provoking and entertaining piece.
NCM/ SJC
The device allows for the removal of layer lines and the preparation of a model to be painted.
It must have a small desk footprint, be battery powered to allow client to use it without needing it to be plugged in.
It must be intuitive to use/ not require any specialised training to learn how to safely use it.
Final design incorporates interchangeable modules: Ultrasonic knife, Heated blade, sander module.
My goal with this project was to utilise the DT skills I had learnt over the A level curriculum, combined with the knowledge my Commonwealth medallist client has on target shooting, to solve a problem within the sport. The solution I came to, after a long phase of research, was to create a modular target rifle system using modern CAD and CAM methods such as finite element analysis, photogrammetry, and 3D printing. The resulting product not only functioned as a high-performance piece of sports equipment, but also, in my opinion, as an elegant piece of industrial design.
To aid the teaching of fluid dynamics by allowing the teacher to run simple experiments that could be designed by the 1st party (me) or by themselves or a third party. The main purpose of the product is to propel air through a test chamber in which an experiment can be set up. Then the product produces smoke in a controlled fashion and with the aid of lighting the user should be able to see the flow of the air. The product must be designed so that the students viewing the test chamber can see the flow of the smoke (hence the flow of air) easily and from a distance.
Toothbrushes can contain many harmful bacteria on their bristles as they are left on the bathroom surface. This toothbrush holder doesn’t just hold four toothbrushes but kills these harmful bacteria. It kills these bacteria using UV light making the toothbrushes safer to use whilst only taking up a small space on the bathroom surface.
When I saw the word ‘sustainable’ in the coursework title given to us from the exam board to choose from, two things immediately came to my mind: plants and renewable energy. I combined these by making a solar powered light in the shape of a plant in a pot. To further the imagery of a plant I used solar panels to represent leaves, and blue resin to represent water in the plant pot I also used pebbles on the top of the pot to mimic the look of soil. The product works by using the solar panels to charge a battery. This battery then powers an Arduino uno (a micro controller) which monitors the ambient light using a light dependent resistor. When it is dark enough the Arduino turns on the LED strips along the sides.
Bruce BehnMy electronic pill reminder uses a Raspberry Pi Zero to enable the user to enter details of their medication, including time and dosage through the user’s google calendar account from a smartphone or computer and is synced with the device. Text, temperature and weather is displayed in an easy-to-read fashion on the screen so that it is as easy as possible to be reminded of when the user should take their medication and get other information.
My can crusher product turned out well, I think the problems behind how to compress recyclable bottles to reduce space in recycling bins was an interesting problem to look into. It definitely fulfilled my main criteria, especially as it catered to domestic use.
The fact that the project can be assembled from a very reduced size it very effective. Something that I would like to improve is the handle. Although it does allow a variety of ages to use it, the comfort level could be the next part of the project to improve on.
Sam Astles
For my GCSE DT project, I designed and made a fixed height desktop/tabletop fan which is activated/deactivated by a thermostat which can be set to any room temperature. The fan was designed to be portable so that it can be used in different rooms and, although I introduced the concept of cubism to its design to make it unique and interesting to look at, its plain colour allows it to blend in with the interior of most rooms. The fan motor is battery run and most of the electronic components that drive this are inside the base, which has a removable back. The fan parts were made using a laser cutting machine and heat moulded using a strip heater or were 3D-printed. A micro-bit was programmed to act as a thermostat, an electronic breadboard was used to make the circuit and the wiring was soldered to the fan motor. The purpose of this fan was to fit any indoor environment and circulate air effectively within a set temperature range. I enjoyed designing and making the fan and the completed project successfully achieved this.
My project was a knife block, with a locking mechanism activated via a button combination into a Microbit controller. If you input the correct combination a servo motor inside the lid of the block will lock and unlock it. The idea was to prevent the block from being opened by unauthorised users or children. The block is battery powered, and has an access point for the batteries on top of the lid, so that they can be replaced when necessary.
These are my solutions to two of the many items that me and my classmates have worked on during Tech class last year. We each designed and created our items in a style and design of our choice. In the first image you will see a passive amplifier meaning (the box design) which amplifies sound without using any form of electricity. The (one I built was for an iPhone). In the second image you will see a bench that I made using a skate board and two three meter pieces of wood. Thank you for reading my DT project description.
Ethan Slade
For my DT project I had to design and make a passive amplifier. Using Autodesk Fusion 360 I drew an initial CAD design that I printed on our 3D printer, then tested it to find out how well it worked. After finding out that it didn’t amplify the sound very much and would fall over when there was any weight on it, I changed the model to make the speaker holes bigger and reduced its size to make it more stable and print quicker. This version worked much better. For the final iteration I reduced the volume to use less plastic and make it look more attractive.
Jago Halliwell
The Joint Schools’ Chamber Choir continued to go from strength to strength last year with some stunning performances in both the Michaelmas and Lent Term. It was with a certain amount of excitement and a huge amount of pride that the choir made their return visit to Trinity College, Cambridge in November. The setting of the evening service was Stanford’s grandiose and much-loved Service in C major and the Choir handled the musical challenges with aplomb. This was followed by Howell’s beautiful setting of Psalm 42 , Like as the hart , with its sublime melodic lines and its rich, almost intoxicating harmony in the organ accompaniment. This was singing of the highest quality and the large congregation was hugely appreciative. It was fantastic to welcome back Sam Jones (OG19) to accompany the choir on the college’s organ.
In March, shortly before Covid brought the country to a standstill, the Choir ventured to St Albans for their first visit to sing Evensong in the Cathedral. The choice of repertoire, aptly chosen to suit the imposing interior of the building and the solemn period of Lent, included William Byrd’s stunning second setting of the evening canticles and Henry Purcell’s Remember not, Lord, our offences . This five-part anthem, with its torturous chromatic lines and chains of suspensions, was sung with a real sense of drama and poignancy.
An absolutely packed Recital Room was treated to a mesmerising evening of music from phenomenally talented young musicians as one of the most keenly contested finals of RGS Musician of the Year in recent history unfolded.
As adjudicator Jonathan Willcocks –composer, conductor, artistic director, musical director – confirmed, any one of the six finalists could have been declared a worthy winner. With security of technique, persuasive musicianship and the element of performance key in his decision-making process, the bar was not only set high but surpassed. The evening opened with technically-assured and beautifully-controlled performances by Alex Thow, Solomon Poole and Angus Miller on the piano, French Horn and saxophone respectively. An astonishingly assured performance of the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto by Ruben Berstecher was followed by Killian Hess with his wide
ranging and well-chosen programme of recorder music. Finally, Stan Lawrence, trumpeter extraordinaire, delivered a programme including hugely demanding contemporary music by Anthony Plog and his own impressive arrangement of Joy Spring for flugelhorn and piano. In the end, Jonathan had the unenviable task of choosing a winner and huge congratulations must go to Angus Miller as he was awarded the Steynor Prize with special praise for his lovely liquid tones, technical high jinks, real sense of display and communication, energy, and excitement: a worthy winner, indeed.
The School Choir continues to be one of the largest school ensembles. With only a matter of a few days to prepare for its first performance at the annual Commemoration Service in Guildford Cathedral, it really has to hit the ground running. This year the choir did a magnificent job in performing the anthem, Haydn’s The Heavens are Telling, and it was fantastic to see so many members of staff swell the ranks. Later in the term, the two Carol Services provided a terrific platform for the choir. Alongside the mainstay that is music by John Rutter, the carols drew upon the choral works of Peter White to mark his last Carol Service as Director of Music.
The Lent Term saw the choir turn their attention to preparing for the G Live Concert, learning both Orff’s Carmina Burana and Mozart’s Requiem . The Choir was in the final stages of rehearsals when lockdown struck, but they were on particularly top form.
In its only outing last year, the Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Orchard, was on fine form. The programme chosen for the orchestral concert in December included Beethoven’s Egmont Overture as well as Malcolm Arnold’s Little Suite No 2 . The overture is full of musical turbulence and the players were able to capture the exciting changes of mood with real skill. Their performance of Arnold’s orchestral miniature was a real tour de force and its concluding March certainly brought the concert to a rousing conclusion.
The tradition of the RGS performing a lunchtime concert in Holy Trinity to coincide with the monthly Farmers’ Market continues and throughout this year it has been a fantastic showcase for some of our ablest musicians. There have been many memorable performances from students across the entire age range of the School and the concerts continue to be supported by a loyal, as well as hugely appreciative audience.
This year will be remembered for many things, but of course has been dominated – and indeed overwhelmedby the pandemic. As such, most of our usual concerts from March onwards had to be cancelled and sadly, many of our best musicians lost their opportunities to perform. Nevertheless, some events did take place and it was a pleasure to hear the pianists in force in both the junior and senior concerts in November and late February, as well as a lockdown virtual concert from five young pianists in June.
The junior concert, which took place in November, had almost thirty performances to enjoy and as ever, it was fantastic to hear our newest members play as well as hear the progress made by the more established pianists. This
was a real opportunity to hear future talent, such as a new first former, Joe Ryan, who impressively played from memory in a Bach Prelude and Ruvin Meda, a second former, who committed to a very expressive performance of Liszt Liebeslied . Many other enjoyable performances followed, showing promise for the future but the concert undoubtedly belonged to James Dicker who brought the house down with his account of Mendlessohn’s Rondo Capriccioso : simply outstanding.
The senior concert in February took place just before the lights went out, so to speak, and we had an evening where the repertoire played ranged from Haydn to Ginastera. There were outstanding performances from all the participants proving that the pianism in RGS remains at a very high and impressive standard. We were treated to a heartfelt performance from Robbie Mackay (Rachmaninov Elegie ), a beautifully shaped, mature account of the complex Chopin Db Nocturne (Op 27 No 2) from Alex Thow – who was also a recent finalist in the Musician of the Year competition - and to finish, Johnnie Matheson and Stan Lawrence who between them played the entire Argentinian Dances (Ginastera). This was a real feat of technical wizardry (especially in the final movement from Johnnie) demonstrating glissandi, fast compound rhythms and huge leaps on the piano – we were still picking up stray semiquavers from all corners of the room days later!
Read more in our RESPECT Lockdown Section
The year began with a memorable performance of the Classics play, Euripides’ Medea , directed by Ollie Taylor and Joe Field. Ollie Taylor’s performance of the brooding and vengeful protagonist Medea was outstanding. The role of Medea is enormous and challenging in the extreme, and Ollie absolutely nailed it! The rest of the cast ably supported Ollie with memorable performances by Paddy Merritt playing the tutor, Joe Field as the weak and unlikeable Jason, Casper Varoujian as King Creon, Ollie Robinson as the affable Aegeus, Gabriel Meadowcroft and George Hewitt playing the fearful messengers. The students’ performance was brilliant and included some impressive odes in the original Greek by the Chorus, led by Alex Norris. I am immensely proud of the students for producing, directing and acting out this challenging play with such skill and evident enjoyment.
RGS hosted the Guildford Classical Association opening party in September, in which Professor Chris Carey, from UCL, gave a fascinating lecture on the battle of Thermopylae. He brought to life this turning point in the Persian Wars when three hundred Spartans blocked the Persian advance towards Athens and gave the Greeks a chance to prepare their defence. A number of Sixth Form students also gave talks to the Senior Classics Society. Alex Norris gave a detailed insight into the formation of the Delian League and its importance in the growth of the Athenian Empire. Tom McGillivray’s lecture on plagues in the ancient world was very topical and showed how pandemics affected lives in Greek and Roman times. Old Guildfordian, Dan Sutton, returned
and a Man at Charterhouse. This performance of Virgil’s Aeneid , in both English and the original Latin verse, gave the audience a taste of what such a recitation would have been like in ancient times. In the ever popular Junior Classics Society, the students enjoyed watching Classical videos, learning Italian, playing Classical Kahoot quizzes and, of course, eating the refreshments provided.
complex, restored by the Victorians, is particularly beautiful with Bath Abbey in the background. Thank you to Julien Marchiafava for leading the trip.
to RGS to address the Senior Classics Society, giving an excellent talk on the Classical influences that have affected politics in the USA. It was great to catch up with Dan who is completing post-graduate studies at Oxford University. Mr Bush took a group of students to the performance of Arms
In November the whole of the Second Form visited Bath for the Field Day. They visited the Roman Baths which were part of the Roman settlement of Aquae Sulis. The recently refurbished museum gives a fascinating insight of life in the Roman empire, and the bath
Both Junior and Senior students competed in the Guildford Classical Association Latin and Greek reading competition, held this year at Charterhouse. The students and Classics staff had put in a lot of practice to prepare for the competition, and all the students performed beautifully on the day. Alex Norris won both the Senior Greek and Senior Latin category, Casper Varoujian was highly commended in the Senior Latin, and the pairing of Henry Bush and Gabriel Meadowcroft came second in the Latin intermediate category. It is great to see the students taking such delight in performing in front of an audience.
The Department is very proud of its Oxbridge candidates, all of whom were offered places to study Classics at Oxford and Cambridge universities. Ollie Taylor was offered a place at Emmanuel College, Cambridge; Tom McGillivray at Corpus Christie College, Oxford and Alex Norris at St John’s College, Oxford. Very well done for your hard work preparing for the interviews and entrance tests!
My thanks go to both the staff and students for their hard work and enthusiasm, both in and out of the classroom, making this challenging year such a success.
‘It was a busy year for the English department with poetry competitions, House Reading and the inaugural Reading Week to boot. Creativity is at the heart of our endeavours and this year was no exception. Pupils had the opportunity to respond creatively to the theme of Truth on National Poetry and to flex their writing muscles over the Lockdown period with the launch of our Lockdown Lines poetry anthology. Meanwhile, older students enjoyed trips out to The Globe and to Chichester Festival Theatre to marvel at the magic of Shakespeare’s plays brought to life.
The English Department began the year with the launch of the flagship RGS Reading Week. For the whole week students across KS3 were given a reprieve from homework so that they could just focus on a great book. The week was enthusiastically received and will now be an annual part of RGS life, with more students being able to participate in the years to come.
During Lent Term, the Fifth Form saw a production of Macbeth at Chichester Festival Theatre, starring John Simm and Dervla Kirwan. The students were exceptionally well behaved at the theatre, even sneaking in time for some selfies with Richard Wilson who was also part of the audience that day. The staging was slick with lots of wide-open spaces and generous use of projections which, when aligned with the action, allowed for interesting interpretations to the play. It was widely agreed, by staff and the students, that the production really picked up pace in the second half; with the witches’ cauldron scene being powerfully and originally staged.
In March, Sixth Form English students enjoyed a Shakespeare study day hosted by City of London School. Following a morning of academic lectures in the main hall of the school from leading Shakespeare academics, the students headed across the river for a tour of the
Globe theatre. After a number of breakout sessions experimenting with performing key scenes from their A-Level texts, the students had the opportunity to direct a troupe of thespians in performing those same scenes. A brilliantly interesting day was enjoyed by all.
There’s a person I know And every time I’m around them My heart starts to flutter
They remind me of summer And sunny afternoons Long drives during the night Listening to chill tunes
Whenever I’m around them I never want to leave My feelings for the person Are honestly hard to believe
Never in my life before Have I felt this sort of way I want to spend all my time with them Every single day
The only way to describe my feelings The only way I can I think that I’m in love I’m in love with a man
Now you may think that That’s all great That I’m in love with a man But the problem is That I am also a man
If you don’t understand What I am saying here I’m telling you that I am What some may call queer A man and a man Together, in love Well what’s so wrong with that But society
Ayan Chowdury (1C) entered a poem in the age 10-12 Poetry category of the Anne Frank Creative Writing Awards. His poem, entitled Homophobia , received a Commended award from the judges.
Doesn’t agree With gay people in fact It was only a few years ago When people like me could marry And still in some countries Being gay has the death penalty
And that is the reason I haven’t said a word About my true feelings
But love is love Is it not I love with all my being
Why should your religion Say my love isn’t true And that is the message That I leave with you
So what’s the point of spreading hate And why should you discriminate Because if we just respect each other the world would be a much better place.
Read more about the English Department in our RESPECT Lockdown Section
My thanks go to the staff and students for their hard work and enthusiasm, both in and out of the classroom, which have made this challenging year such a successAyan Chowdury (age 12)
In November, three members of the Lower Sixth delivered a games-based session to a group of eager Lower and Middle School students for the Junior MFL Society. The presentation was based around some of the more unusual words in the dictionaries of our core languages, including peculiar German verbs such as ‘bewirtschaften’ (to farm), quirky Spanish nouns like ‘los escalofríos’ (shivers) and bizarre French adjectives such as ‘frappadingue’ (bonkers). The aim was to guess the meaning of each of the strange pieces of vocabulary, with points being awarded for a correct guess or for a suggestion convincing enough for another team to agree. The reaction from the group was really positive, with lots of laughter, curiosity and enthusiasm for languages on show throughout the session.
Christian MoodyThe second event focused on the presentation of French, German and Spanish comics. Casper Varoujian began by looking at some examples of German comics such as the Cynical Max und Moritz comics from 1865 and the comical Wie ich versuchte, ein guter Mensch zu sein by Ulli Lust, which was the 2018 winner for best comic in German. Secondly, Sacha Meadowcroft focused on a few main French comics such as Astérix and Obélix , the very famous cowboy comic: Lucky Luke and Gaston Lagaffe created in 1957 which is still very popular nowadays. Finally, Chan Thilakawardana introduced us to some essential comics from the Spanish speaking world, including , a very funny and sometimes satirical Argentinian comic, and Superlópez which is a parody of superman created in 1973. For each language, we read through a small portion of the comic and we concluded with the opinions of the lower school students who were genuinely curious and interested throughout. AVET
Languages week took place in March and was packed with a range of activities organised for all year groups. This took place in addition to other events organised throughout the year.
The First Form students took part in a Spanish and French singing competition which resulted in 1P and 1L being the overall winners, both songs were performed to a high standard and some students had even prepared a choreography to illustrate their song. The German singing competition was a highlight for the Third Form students and they all did brilliantly when enthusiastically singing die Hände zum Himmel , a classic Oktoberfest song. Mr Lemaire’s group did particularly well as they choreographed their performance.
The Third Form Germanists took part in a gingerbread house competition in the run up to Christmas (or Weihnachten) and a trip to the BFI organised by Dr Creagh. Here the students watched a series of clips from three German films of which family, culture and identity are key themes. Many RGS students were keen to take the microphone, and Adi Gautam bravely went up on stage to perform a dynamic mime!
Many thanks to the MFL Department for all their help with these events, to all the students who took part and congratulations to the winnersGingerbread house competition
For Fifth Form students, this year’s Linguist of the Year competition took place on Thursday 12 March and was another hotly contested affair. Five linguists for each of French, German and Spanish completed demanding grammar exercises, followed by a five minute conversation with the language assistants, Marta Bautista-Cabello (Spanish), Sophia Sieber (German) and Sophia Benmoussa (French). The standard was, as always, very high and the assistants were very impressed by the easy fluency of the candidates. After much discussion, the winners were chosen: Matthew Warner for German, Alex Jones for French and Oli Rathmell for Spanish.
Finally, the caption competition for Sixth Form students was very popular and the winners were George Osborne for Spanish and Theo Lakin for French.
Many thanks to the MFL Department for all their help with these events, to all the students who took part and congratulations to the winners.
AVET / MMC / MLM
On Thursday 21 November, RJR and NW accompanied some Lower Six students to Reed’s for some speed debating in Spanish against Reeds and Tormead. The pacy two minute debates were enjoyed by all and students were encouraged to use good structures and facts to win lolly sticks. Overall, an enjoyable linguistic experience for all!
RJR and NWOn the Tuesday 4 February, RGS was invited to take part in a French debating competition at Whitgift school. This competition takes place every year and is organised by the French Institute in London, so the stakes are very high. A very competent team composed of Theo Lakin, Chan Thilakawardana, Casper Varoujian and Christian moody prepared the three motions diligently. These were: Brexit has taken place, now it is Frexit’s turn, We should ban private schools in order to reduce social inequalities, and In order to save the planet, we should all become vegetarians . The students were able to argue their corner effectively in French and in front of a jury as well. I would like to thank them for stepping outside of their comfort zone and for making the most of this opportunity.
Languages week took place in March and was packed with a range of activities organised for all year groups
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Some much needed refurbishment of the Library over the summer of 2019 has created more space for study and library lessons and a more open feel, and has also given us a new and better designed central issue desk and an interactive screen for teaching and display. With freshly painted walls and new carpet the space is lighter and more welcoming, a great improvement which provides more scope for such activities as hosting ‘Meet the Author’ events, as well as enhancing the experience of the Junior School classes in their weekly reading sessions.
We kicked off the year with a visit from debut author Tom Mitchell to talk about his very funny book How To Rob A Bank. A crowd of students waited to talk to him in the Library and to buy signed books before he spoke entertainingly to the Second and Third Form.
The Michaelmas Term also brought the latest cohort of RGS students, and an array of postcard reviews for our annual First Form competition. Amongst some outstanding entries, it was nevertheless no surprise that Dr Cox selected Angus Scott’s stunning three dimensional review of Philip Pullman’s La Belle Sauvage as the overall winner. Also winning a summer competition prize was Nawon Kim, for his detailed recreation in Minecraft of scenes from Tom Easton’s book Hav3n. As the term progressed, the National Poetry Day theme of Truth inspired some imaginative and thoughtful poems, with Leon Flint, Finlay Sanders and George Hewlett being awarded first prize in their respective age groups.
The announcement of School closure brought a rush to the Library as staff and students alike stocked up with armfuls of reading matter
The Lit Quiz Club continued to meet throughout the year, with a core of committed Second Form and a few new recruits from the First Form taking it in turns to test each other’s knowledge of literature. Travelling to Portsmouth Grammar School for the Kids’ Lit Quiz in November, both school teams scored well with the RGS Team 1 finishing second, just one point behind the heat winners. With everyone present having won at least one prize (including the staff), it was a satisfied group who made their way home that evening. We rounded off the Michaelmas Term with the traditional fiendish Christmas Quiz; it became apparent that some students are merely proxy entrants on behalf of their very keen parents!
Our annual celebration of World Book Day took as its theme ‘Reading Aloud’, encouraging staff to read to the students that they taught that day. As ever there were some imaginative approaches to the task from teachers across the curriculum. We also welcomed author Jon Robinson to School to share his experiences of wrongful arrest and work with offenders which had inspired him to write his Nowhere trilogy , and to lead a lively and challenging workshop with the Scriveners writing club.
The announcement of school closure brought a rush to the Library as staff and students alike stocked up with armfuls of reading matter for who knew how long. As will be seen from our Library in Lockdown feature, however, the Library continued to support teaching, learning and reading in the months that followed. As we return to School in September, there is one permanent change to the Library: after 27 years, Mrs Walsh retired at the end of the Trinity Term. For a full tribute to her long service to the School, see the Valete section of this magazine.
The New Year began with a daily Creative Challenge throughout January, as an antidote to back-to-school blues. Some tutors signed up to encourage their tutees to take part; in particular some wonderful winter haikus were written. There was also some outstanding creativity shown in the responses to the books shortlisted for the Trinity Schools Book Awards. Zac Warham’s model of part of Hadrian’s Wall, complete with Roman soldiers that he had cast himself, not only won the RGS competition, but was also judged to be the best entry from all the participating schools. Sadly the spread of Covid meant that Zac could not attend the TSBA ceremony to receive his prize in person, but his work was admired by all those who saw it, including Tanya Landman, author of the book that had inspired him, Beyond The Wall
Midnight.
Frost skulks through the sleeping streets – slinking, sneaking, stalking; leaving an icy trail in his wake. Wisps of his frozen breath pirouette up to the crepuscular skies, dappled with the white pinpricks of stars, revolving around the gaunt, ashen face of the moon.
Like a spectre, a ghost, a phantom, he darts from field to field. Flamboyant flicks of his frozen hand spawn vines of frost on now-crystallised tree branches; the light trickle of a nearby stream is muffled as it grows a thin skin of ice. The sea of grass before him shivers as each blade becomes an icy spire, glinting in the cold moonlight.
A sigh of recollection escapes his unmoving mouth. Almost as a pardon, he raises his hand to it, ensuring his mouth doesn’t whisper any more frozen secrets to the outside world. But he can’t help himself, the temptation is too overwhelming, like a campfire on a cold evening. He watches the blacks and greys of the world around him blur and mix and reshape, and, almost nauseous, beholds this new landscape.
Frost’s eyes squint at the dazzling sun, sitting proudly in the azure sky. The same trees adjacent to the nearby stream mirror the place he was only a few minutes ago. His perspective is shifted: everything around him seems taller. A childhood memory.
Sitting in the same field, dappled with the first remnants of snow, he looked up and saw the magic of falling snowflakes glistening momentarily as they shimmered in the sun. His childhood self giggled and began to chase them, swatting them with a gloved hand, before raising his palm to his eyes to watch as the snowflakes dissipated into nothingness. An innocent, childlike moment of comprehension that the life of a snowflake was short and sweet. Yet, as the snowfall hastened, the snowflakes did not disappear. One floated on top of another, and another, and another. Snowflakes lived a long life with the company of their own kind.
“If I ever become a snowflake, I want to be with others to live a long, happy life,” he thought aloud, with a child’s high-pitched voice, “The company of others is the most valuable thing in life.”
And the crisp structure of his memory begins to blur and fade. It darkens, darkens, darkens, until the real world around him sets in once more, and he feels so alone, so utterly alone. Frost gestures, with his spindly fingers, to the heavens, and a bedsheet of clouds above him thickens to a blanket, to a duvet – tucking in the world below. Snowflakes flutter down from the grey clouds, scudding across the shadowy, sombre skies, as roofs and chimneys grow a skin of white, fluffy snow – the oblivious world still asleep.
He smiles at his creation, this tapestry of ice, a final token of his existence. His smile doesn’t waver when he, like a solitary snowflake, fades into nothingness.
Glistening snowflakes sprinkle gently through the night, a new day is nigh
Frosty spirits leave, ice-cold hearts transform to gold, the new year brings joy.
Fireworks shoot off into the smoky black sky alive with colour.
Everyone is filled with a sparkling feeling of satisfaction.
Celebrations end, work needs to be done again, the tinsel’s removed.
With clouds all around, the baubles lie all broken, the tree has vanished.
This is so familiar yet so warm: This body, this body I hold here.
I embrace you in your reality; This body, this body I hold here. You are hopeful yet amazed, Amazed and free.
We cannot recall what lay here before this exceptional moment, We have chosen to be here, Hold on.
We cannot recall what lay here before this exceptional moment, We have chosen to be here, Hold on. Stay with me in this secret reality, In this sacred moment I have chosen to be here in.
This body, my body that holds me Serves as my reminder that I am never alone in This body, my body that holds me. In our infinity, pain is merely an illusion.
My body here, my body reminds me of our mortality Hold each other here and remember In our infinity, pain is merely an illusion.
In the jungle of lies, everything is a mystery, opinions twisted, compressed, turned upon themselves in the darkness. Reality itself turned upon its head, tampered with, contorted and changed in the thick dense jungle of lies.
It expands constantly, changing shape, changing form, whatever is necessary to achieve its will. Illusion, delusion, deceit, deception –these are all found in the jungle of lies.
Now truth, a shining light, piercing the thick dense darkness.
Illuminating all it touches, enlightening the shadows of uncertainty that were before. Nothing, in the end, can escape from the radiant touch of truth.
It will uncover the darkest secrets penetrating everything, regardless of time.
Time is not a problem for truth. Like pure water, truth with infiltrate everywhere, even seeping into the mind. Nothing can escape the power of Truth.
Truth is as eternal as time, Yet absent in many, As constant as the coming of season, Though rarer than gold.
Behind one’s veil of darkness, Behind a screen of marble, An iron curtain, a false front Luxury oblivious and pure, A land of extravagance, Of poppies and charms, That hush and subdue.
A life of lies; How sweet it is, A suppression of pain, Of honeyed roses, Of syrupy indulgence. So easy it is to forget, The undying thorns.
The midnight seeds, like bullets etched Into the fleshy crimson petals, The many torn from society, Loathed akin to a blood-shod gash; The many ruthlessly killed, As victims of hate.
How painless, how easy it is, To burrow under a coat of lies.
PRIZE
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES
YR NAME
L6 Christian Moody
DRAMA L6 Ellis Baker
MAJOR SPORT L6 Luke Wyllie
MINOR SPORT L6 William Barnicoat
MUSIC L6 Solomon Poole
SERVICE L6 Charles Bird
AUSTEN L6 Omeet Atara
BECKINGHAM L6 George Sherwin
HAMONDE L6 Ben Watkins
NETTLES L6 Jack Gamble
POWELL L6 Salvatore Nigrelli
VALPY L6 Hugh Jones
PRIZE
YR NAME
U6 James Gray BIOLOGY (ROBINS) U6 James Miller
ART (POWELL)
CHEMISTRY (MELLERSH) U6 Jonathan Wright
CLASSICAL LANGUAGES (BISHOP) U6 Alexander Norris
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY U6 Anithiran Sathananthan
ECONOMICS (LEECH) U6 Utkarsh Dandanayak
ELECTRONICS (LAZENBY) U6 Lawrence Castle
ENGLISH (SIMPSON) U6 Thomas McGillivray
GEOGRAPHY (FEAVER) U6 Thomas Wolfe
HISTORY (GREEN) U6 Oliver Taylor MATHEMATICS (BAILEY) U6 Milo Coombs
FURTHER MATHEMATICS U6 Conor Rajan MODERN LANGUAGES (BROADBENT) U6 Luke Nelson
MUSIC U6 Angus Miller
PHYSICAL EDUCATION U6 Oliver Sweetland PHYSICS (MORDEN) U6 Peter Heylen
POLITICS U6 Charles Kershaw RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY U6 Samuel Cherry
ART U6 Milo Coombs
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES (OG MEMORIAL) U6 Edward Crook
DRAMA U6 James Turner
MAJOR SPORT (PEEL) U6 Harry Foster
MINOR SPORT U6 Matthew Dodds
MUSIC (STEYNOR) U6 Angus Miller
MUSIC (BENTALL) U6 Cameron Gardner
SERVICE
U6 Peter Heylen
PRIZE
AUSTEN
YR NAME
U6 Harry Blanford
BECKINGHAM U6 Harvey Brooks
HAMONDE U6 Matthew Harris
NETTLES U6 Oliver Sweetland
POWELL U6 Jordan Martyn
VALPY U6 Charles Buckingham
OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: ARTS (SIMPSON) U6 Alexander Norris
OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: HUMANITIES (SIMPSON) U6 Utkarsh Dandanayak
OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: SCIENCES (SIMPSON) U6 Conor Rajan
ENDEAVOUR (SELLEK) U6 Alfred Cherry
AMBASSADOR (STRICK) U6 Laurence Zahn
CO-CURRICULAR CONTRIBUTION (YOUNG) U6 Samuel Cherry
SENIOR PREFECT U6 Edward Crook
SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL (BOWEY) U6 Roy Brett
SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL (HARDY) U6 William Perceval
SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL (DANIEL) U6 Lucas Savage
1
PRIZE YR NAME
TUTOR’S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 1 Archie Cowie
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 1 Dylan Fuller
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 1 Ayaan Bhagat
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 1 George Hewlett
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 1 Joseph Millar
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 1 Luke Miranda
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 1 Joseph Pontin
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 1 Sebastian Wellard
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 1 Jiaqi Zhang
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 1 Oliver Cox
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 1 Milo Hyde
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 1 Louis Kinsler
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 1 Yuvan Raja
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 1 Angus Scott
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 1 Abinash Maharajan
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 2 Ollie Billingham
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 2 Aidan Crouch
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 2 Milo Findji
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 2 Aarush Gupta
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 2 William O'Brien
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 2 Lucas Jensen-Mongiello
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 2 Charles Webster
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 2 Marcus Woodhouse
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 2 Zac Warham
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP
Hong TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP
Peasey TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP
FOR
YR NAME
TUTOR’S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 Richabh Das
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 Matthew Fitchie
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 3 Maximus Hackett
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 Dorian Sorrensen
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 Matthew Turner
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 3 William Munroe
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 Kian Moodley
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 Xavier Wallin
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 3 Alexander Jackson
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 James Dicker
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 Adam Zhang
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 3 Gabriel Meadowcroft
TUTOR’S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 George Aspden
TUTOR’S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 Peter Jansen
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 3 Shrey Biljani
TUTOR’S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 Oliver Godkin
TUTOR’S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 3 Oliver Trott
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 3 Billy Papakostas
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 4 Alessandro Harker
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 4 Joshua McGillivray
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 4 Dev Atara
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 4 Benjamin Edwards
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 4 George Hewitt
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 4 Matthew Reed
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 4 Janek Czarnek
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 4 Boldi Poladi-Kovacs
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 4 Henry Hawkes
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 4 James Harper-Jones
TUTOR'S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 4 Max Nickless
TUTORS AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL 4 Aaron Venter
TUTOR’S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 4 Alexander Atkinson
TUTOR’S AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP 4 Joseph Colton
TUTORS
Scholarship, and the use of the word scholar can be traced back to the natural philosophers of ancient Greece. Plutarch writes that Cicero "betook himself to a retired and contemplative life and pursued his studies". A scholar is one who uses their leisure time for learning or possibly the more modernist turn of phrase that of a love of learning. Our programme for Scholarship takes this approach and encourages all our pupils to spend their time wisely and find enjoyment in their learning.
Scholarship, far from being some set of immutable characteristics, is the product of a set of habits of the mind. Habits that are learnt, not endowered, and that every individual within a community of learning should aspire to acquire. Our programme for Scholarship is designed with the singular aim of promoting this mind-set throughout our community.
Academic excellence is at the heart of this programme; we believe that the potential of all students is realised by nurturing a love of learning, by cultivating in each individual the School’s bespoke set of Learning Habits, and by fostering a scholarly mindset.
In practice this is realised through exceptional classroom teaching and a series of annual extended projects and academic competitions some of which have brief reports include in this section.
In thinking about what it means to foster a genuine love of learning a quote from one of my personal favorite mathematicians, Carl Friedrich Gauss sprung to mind:
It is not knowledge, but the act of learning, not possession but the act of getting there, which grants the greatest enjoyment.
Here at the RGS, at the heart of what we do, is a a true and genuine love of learning.
Academic excellence is at the heart of this programme
As always, a genuine buzz of anticipation greeted the finalists as one of the highlights of the year, the Independent Learning Assignment Presentation Evening, showcased sevenminute presentations of the students’ research projects. The finalists –from both the Arts and from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) – presented on topics as diverse as valuing unpaid labour to gecko’s feet, from the biology of ageing to how to spot tax fraud. Despite the distinctive nature of each topic, what the students all shared was a singular passion for their respective disciplines and a maturity of presentation. All those in attendance commented on the staggering complexity of the ideas, ideas which were presented in a way that allowed all the audience not only to access the research but also to capture the energy and excitement which each assignment generated. After much deliberation and agonising, the judges, comprising RGS governors, awarded Tian Fang as winner in the STEM category who quite literally built a jet engine in his shed and Alfie Cherry as winner in the Arts category who spoke on the political ideology of Democratic Confederalism and its implementation in the region of Rojava, north-east Syria. Mr Bradford, Head of Scholarship, commented:
Alfie Cherry
The ideology of Democratic Confederalism, as created by Murray Bookchin and Abdullah Öcalan, provides a radical alternative to societal and governmental organisation. The ideology is rooted in the removal of unjust hierarchy, and the promotion of direct democracy and socio-economic equality. The effectiveness of Democratic Confederalism can be seen in the Rojava region of North-East Syria, with it being successfully practiced by millions of people. The rest of the world will be able to learn from this shining beacon of democracy and equality, and hopefully take part of ideology with them.
Tian Fang
The Royal Grammar School Guildford is the custodian of the most splendid Chained Library featuring unique works of scholarship, including two early editions of Newton’s Principa . As stunning a scholarly repository as it is, it is only appreciated in person.
This Unchained Library is our way of exhibiting unique works of scholarship written by our students, alumni and staff to a much wider audience.
Scholarship is one of our core values; it is what our institution prides itself upon above all else. To read articles written by Students staff and OG’s please visit: www.theunchainedlibrary.com
I walk you through the various versions of the ‘jet engine’ that are commonly found in the world from industrial power plants to military and civilian planes. After laying down the operational principle of how one works, I describe the process of designing and constructing a miniature gas turbine engine. These are commonly found in power stations, albeit a bit larger, and on small RC model aircraft for enthusiasts chasing that authentic jet engine sound.
what the students all shared was a singular passion for their respective disciplines and a maturity of presentation
“Rarely am I speechless but the brilliance of individual scholarship on display tonight has rendered me just that. It is such a pleasure to teach and learn from young men of such considerable talent.’’
Ahugely successful year for the RGS Young Enterprise (YE) programme with one team progressing to the UK Finals for the first time ever.
In January the RGS hosted the Y Factor competition welcoming other Young Enterprise teams from Tormead and Ashcombe schools. The five RGS teams had worked hard to put together a business report, create a trade stand and prepare a four-minute presentation. They were grilled ruthlessly by the judges, both at their trade stands and after their presentations, but came back with some strong opinions and spoke passionately about their products. Fantastic Without Plastic , the branded flask company, were Highly Commended for both their presentations and their trade stand. (There was also an audible gasp in the room when they declared they had made over £6,000 in profits so far). Centauri, the branded slider company, won Best Company Report and Vertex , the GCSE and 11+ guides, won Best Use of Innovation.
of online, remote competitions. Team Vertex were Joint runners up and went through to the Surrey County Finals. RGS YE teams won other awards: Innovation - Jumbo Entertainment MD: Tom Fitchie and Sustainability: FWP - Fantastic Without Plastic MD: Aman Ashfaque. The journey for Vertex is outlined in the article below.
I would like to say thank you to the students for their incredible hard work for many months and hope that they have learnt a great deal about business, team work, resilience and perseverance. I was especially proud of the way they handled, and dealt with, the change in the format of the competitions due to lockdown. Well done for all your achievements.
Enterprise: the application of creative ideas and innovations to practical situations’
students for their incredible hard work for many months and hope that they have learnt a great deal about business, team work, resilience and perseverance
“Fantastic Without Plastic - Flask company Centauri - Slider company
Young Enterprise was undoubtedly a brilliant experience for Team Vertex When we initially started coming up with ideas for a product back in September 2019, we found a gap in the education market. Not a single student-written guide in the exam book market had been written for parents. We used our own experiences to talk to parents about what we wanted going through the examination process, focusing on 11+ and GCSE exams.
From then on, all 10 members of the team dedicated countless hours to researching, writing and proofreading our chapters. It took over a month and a half to complete the first book, 1-9 : A
Parents’ Guide to GCSEs ; but this marked a turning point for our team. From there, we accelerated our plans with one half of the team working on 11+: A Parents’ Guide , and the other half on the selling of our GCSE guide. With both books completed and sent to the printers by early November, it was full steam ahead to sell our guides. Throughout the end of the Michaelmas and Lent Terms, we sold over 200 books throughout Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Sussex.
As our selling success continued, we began to pay more attention to the looming competitions. We were awarded ‘Best Company’ at Surrey Dragons Den in November and ‘Best Use of Innovation’ at the Y Factor in January. Then came the national competitions. We began with the South Surrey Area Showcase where we placed as runners up qualifying for the Surrey Round. In that round, we won ‘Best Overall Company’ and ‘Best Teamwork’, advancing us to the South East Finals. Amazingly, we won the South East Finals too, making us UK National Finalists. We were one of the 13 best companies from throughout the UK, out of the original 1,068, and the first team from Surrey to reach this stage in 17 years and the first RGS team to make it to the UK Finals.
Although Lockdown affected our sales progress, we moved our business online, worked with local and national media and wrote a free chapter to support parents who were home-schooling children at this time. Our journey has been incredible throughout the past year and although we came away from the Nationals empty-handed, we knew we had all given 110% in aiming for success. A huge thank you must go to Mrs Timberlake, Miss Bains and our business advisor Miranda Sharp.
Omeet Atara, MD Team Vertex
Our journey has been incredible throughout the past year
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Young Enterprise Day for the Second Form started with the brief talk from the two Bright Green Enterprise experts and hosts for the day explaining and discussing with us about world issues and crisis that we face to this day in order to introduce what our product should do. However, before any of that we had a challenge which consisted in building the highest tower possible with only a few sheets of newspaper and two minutes on the clock! After some scrambled newspaper, a bit of argument between the team and some hastily built structures, each team managed to make some sort of tower. This being said, the winners of this competition had a tower with a whopping one metre in height! This challenge really helped us to communicate and help each other better and to get to know each other well.
We then got introduced to our main task for the day involving the design of a good, sustainable, ethical product which tackles one of our main global crisis today. This could include poverty, fossil fuel usage, the environment or plastic pollution in the sea. The intention was to be creative and imaginative of what our product should be, but also realistic on how it would function and how much it would cost to make and to sell. The
Great Hall was brimming with ideas, whether that was using ziplines in parks to create kinetic energy and turn it into electricity or turning plastic waste from the ocean into bricks for temporary shelters in poorer countries, or even building an electric plane which would have a really low carbon footprint. After some discussion and negotiation within the teams and some rough sketches, every team came up with a good idea to explore further after taking time to refresh our brain for half an hour.
After break, the prototyping stage began. In order to do this, we used cardboard, tape scissors, rulers, pencils and our own initiative to create it. We took rough measurements of what the dimensions should be and cut it out with scissors carefully before sticking it all together with some tape. Also, we decorated our entrepreneurial designs with pens and markers to make it really stand out.
Before the finale and the promise of prizes if your team was to win, we had the final stage; advertising. We were instructed to create an intriguing TV advert which could include comedy to make it more fun for the viewers. As well as this, we needed to make our presentation to emphasise why our
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product is a good solution, why you should buy it and why you think that your idea should win the competition. On top of that we would all be using a microphone, which would be an exciting new experience for all of us (and also a little nerve racking too!).
Lunch was packed full of people not talking about homework, lessons or even the Rugby World Cup. Instead, they were talking about their products, and explaining them to other groups and showing them how their product could be used. It was interesting to see what other people had done.
We had only a few minutes after lunch to finish up on our work and practise our presentation for its maximum potential. Each group had done well, but had they done well enough? It was time to find out and one by one each group came up onto the stage and presented their work in their own way. After some nervous talking and a lot of clapping from the audience, it was finally time to let the judges (or the ‘Dragons’) decide who was the best group and the true champion out of all of us. The group to win the day was Group 16 (Alexander Evans (2C), Oliver Munday (2E), James Richardson (2L), Archie Rothwell (2L), William Holmes (2P), Alfred Hong (2P), James Trowbridge (2R) and Samuel Thevenon (2R)) with their ingenious idea of
getting power from kinetic energy from a car wheel spinning and giving power to homes to save on electrical bills.
Last of all, I would like to say a big thank you to Bright Green Enterprise for hosting the event and this is from the whole of Second Form as well. We really enjoyed the day and really liked the exciting challenges and the independence and teamwork opportunities you gave us.
Ertan HoltFor the second year running the entire Third Form took part in the Young Enterprise Tenner Challenge. The project was meant to run for four weeks at the end of the Lent Term however this year it was curtailed by the onset of Covid and the necessary arrangements to cease trading. The students thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and once again North Court was a frenzy of selling opportunities at break and lunchtimes. There were some very competitive sales pitches and products ranging from home-bakes, stationery and gadgets.
The first week had a Best Team Logo competition and the Most Profitable Business prize was won by Team Snack Shack having made £207.92 in just three weeks from an initial £10 investment. OLT
“The Tenner Challenge was great. Everyone in my team enjoyed it. For me, it helped me work on my leadership skills and it made everyone better at teamwork. It was fun and competitive and we loved selling our produce. Despite the shaky start (damaged produce) we got on really well. Thank you for making this opportunity available to us as it has valuable life skills.”
“I have found this challenge to be very fun and rewarding. It has taught some basic values of marketing, as well as what it takes to lead a company- the thing I found most difficult was probably the recording of all expenditures and sales, as it is slightly boring, but at the end of the day - no pain no gain!”
Although surfing is viewed as a laid-back sport there is quite a ‘vibe’ out there in the water. It is surprisingly difficult to catch a clean green wave, especially if you don’t live in Cornwall! The best locals train at every opportunity. Period 8 Surfing aims to get the students to a decent standard whereby they can catch clean waves and hence look after themselves safely in the water. This requires a significant amount of commitment and physical training.
The academic side of surfing embraces many disciplines: Fluid Dynamics, Material Science, Meteorology, Sports Science, Business, Geography, Climate Change, Marine Biology and Oceanography to name a few.
The physical side of surfing for RGS students is based around the Field Days in Cornwall and preparing students for that challenge. Below is a summary of those trips.
Field Day 1
Kitesurfing, Dorset: Mr Casale and nine students travelled to sunny Sandbanks and Whitely Bay. Favourable winds allowed the students to learn the rudiments of
the sport during the land-based morning session. The wind picked up in the afternoon making it perfect for the water-based session. The students learned controlled kite drags. Some of this was quite dramatic, as you would expect from anyone trying the sport for the first time. The students had great instruction and finished the day keen for more. By the time we left it was a howling gale with horizontal rain, but a great day was had by all.
A fine and fun weekend was had by all down at Morgan Porth. A medium sized swell was accompanied by onshore winds that made finding the perfect wave challenging. The students rose to the challenge as always led on by the new recruits from the Fifth Form. The group camped on the floor of Morgan Porth Village Hall and enjoyed some fun surf in Newquay as well as on the local beach. The surf instructor’s van broke down near the Mermaid Pub on the second day, but Mr Vickers was there to save the day. He waited patiently with the instructor for help to arrive. Thank you, Mr Vickers, and thank you Mrs Wilson and Miss Clements for running this trip.
Mr Casale and Mrs Wilson took 12 students to Morgan Porth Village Hall. We had a bit of a drive around looking for good beaches and trying to get out of the wind but managed to find some clean waves down on Perranuthnoe Beach and on Praa Sands. We also had a look at the famous Porthleven tube which was small but smoking. A couple of professional surfers were ripping it to shreds. We went to the unusually named Boobies Beach (next to Constantine Bay) on the second day. This is a stunning beach at low tide. Quite a chilly northerly wind made the trip challenging, but the sun came out on both days and the students had a good time impressing their instructors with their skills, their enthusiasm and their determination.
The surf and the weather were fantastic in Cornwall all through March, April, May and June. Sadly, the School was closed whilst complying with Covid lockdown measures.
Forty-four students participated in the programme this year and every Monday Period 8 there are the following activities.Lifesaving, Surfing and Kitesurfing Field Day 2, Porttheleven The Crew
Outdoor Pursuits has remained an ever popular Period 8 option with 120 students from the Year 4 and Year 5 opting for the exciting array of activities. Despite the shortened year, for obvious reasons, we were able to offer a full programme for the first half of the year. The Fourth Form students undertook a rotation between: Archery, Team Tasks, Climbing at Surrey Sports Park, and the ever-popular Cooking – thankfully with no fire alarms being set off this year! The Fifth Form continued the established activities of Mountain Biking around the Surrey Hills, Ultimate Frisbee, a First Aid refresher, Judo and Street Dance! I continue to be amazed at some of the dance routines and hidden talents on display!
The Field Days continue to be an excellent source of fun, and also provide the opportunity to enhance relationships, try new activities, and develop key skills; namely teamwork, communication, leadership, and resilience. Whether it be launching yourself off a platform at Wildwood, trying to master Wakeboarding skills at Thorpe Lake, lighting your own fire to cook ‘fry dogs’, or navigate the quick go-karting track at Daytona Sandown Park – Outdoor Pursuits has it all!
I would like to thank all the enthusiastic staff whose dedication and energy are invaluable in helping to deliver a successful programme of activities. Their support and commitment are appreciated by myself, and of course all the students!
Despite the unfortunate timing of the pandemic, Set Construction this year has been a triumph. The year started off very well with a large intake of enthusiastic students into the set construction team. Despite more people than the year before, there was plenty of work to go around and we got straight into our first main project of the year, the sets for the joint RGS and GHS play Nicholas Nickleby .
The set design was based on images taken from the front cover of the book which involved creating large silhouettes as a backdrop for the play. The first job was to build six giant canvasses as the backdrop for our silhouettes out of a timber structure and canvassing cloth. Once this was done, we painted the backdrops with a mottled grey effect. Then using a projector and the silhouette patterns, we traced the figures onto the canvas and painted them jet black, giving an excellent final finish which worked very well in the play. As a team we worked well to get the job done on time, despite several stressful sessions where it looked like we would never get it done.
After the success of Nicholas Nickleby , we turned our attention to the design, and construction of a scale model of the theatre, which was executed very well and will improve the planning process for future set designs. The next big project we got stuck into was part of RGS’ Partnerships with local primary schools. It was to be a performance of Noye’s Fludde based on the story of Noah’s Ark. The set design needed a giant 20 meters long ark built using a giant canvas ark shape and the central hold of the ark would be build using giant cardboard sheets and a timber structure. We made great progress on the ark, and it was beginning to take shape, however then the pandemic hit and unfortunately the play was cancelled. Whilst we were all disappointed that the show wouldn’t go ahead, when the time is right, it will be great to continue to build the ark and carry on the show!
The skill and passion of the group this year has impressed me and with a bit of luck (and a vaccine) we will be able to continue our success into the next year! Thanks very much to everyone part of the set construction team for their hard work!
Like many sports, it has been an eventful season for cross-country this year. With normally in excess of 20 fixtures it is a sport for both Michaelmas and Lent Terms. Despite many end-of-season cancellations, there are major successes to report. We welcomed Will Barnicoat to the lower sixth and alongside other quality runners in the School, it was a season where hopes of success were realistic rather than wishful thinking.
In February the RGS cross country team of Charlie Kershaw, Ben Fitzpatrick, Sam Perryman, Will Barnicoat, Tom Jones and Andre McIntyre travelled to Coventry to take part in the King Henry VIII relays. This race is the top race in the country and this year attracted some 59 students’ teams. Despite missing the services of Sam Martin, County Champion, who was unfortunately injured the RGS ran with great determination and were the equal of the challenging conditions. The team finished third and the performance by Tom Jones of the Lower Sixth Form was impressive as from 350 runners he had the seventh fastest lap. A brilliant performance by all.
The Kings Trophy at Wimbledon was our first major fixture and hopes were high of success. Unfortunately problems with the course layout meant that Will, who was then leading the race, was directed along a longer route and missed out on a win. In addition Ben Fitzpatrick in the Upper Sixth had an inverted spike in his running shoe, impeding his running and he finished uncharacteristically down the field. It happens!
In early November each year the RGS hosts the Haskell Cup, a major cross-country relay event for teams of four runners. This year it attracted nearly 50 teams representing 22 schools from all over the South East. A new initiative this year was to invite girls’ teams, which proved to be popular with 12 girls’ teams from eight schools taking part This will now be part of the annual event with the girls running the same race as the students but competing for the Perrett Shield. The naming of this trophy is in recognition of Shirley Perrett’s huge contribution to cross country at the
RGS over many years. We all wish her well as she continues to pound the hills of the Surrey countryside. The inaugural race for the Haskell Cup took place in 1954, which the RGS won, but it wasn’t until this year that success came our way once again. The team of Sam Martin, Charlie Kershaw, Tom Jones and Will Barnicoat did not disappoint and won the race in great style. Will himself also took the medal for the fastest individual lap from 200 runners, a course record.
The District Cross Country Championships also took place in November with success across all age groups. As a result, 16 students were selected to represent Guildford District in the Surrey Schools County Championships at Reigate Priory in January. On the day the senior students ran with considerable individual success with Sam Martin winning the Senior Boy’s event in style, becoming County Champion in the process with Tom Jones 2nd. Charlie Kershaw and Ben Fitzpatrick equally ran well and were likewise selected to run for Surrey in later events.
We haven’t always been able to have the full services of Will Barnicoat but for the very best of reasons. He was selected to compete for GB in the under 20 European Cross Country Championships in Portugal in December, GB won Gold! He was also selected to represent English Schools in the World Schools Championship in Slovakia, but unfortunately this was cancelled, as it was in April. On the club front he won the U17 men’s National Cross-Country championship, his name being engraved on the same trophy as Mo Farah.
Not to be outdone the old students also met with success. In the annual inter school’s Alumni Race on Wimbledon Common they won the Senior Men’s trophy with Joe Morwood finishing 1st overall and Gus Cockle second overall.
So, despite a disrupted season and injury, the RGS has continued to maintain its position as one of the leading cross-country schools in the South East. An enjoyable and successful season.
In December, 25 members of the Year Five to Upper Sixth travelled to Les Deux Alpes in France accompanied by Messers Yetman and Rozier for a week of skiing and resort activities. Les Deux Alpes is located at 1650m with skiing to a height of 3600m on the glacier. It has 225 km of piste, to suit all abilities.
Although we were unable to ski on the last day due to poor weather, the skiing for the rest of the week was fantastic and easily accessible from our hotel located next to the lift. When not skiing, the group went ice skating, bowling to name a few of the activities and enjoyed numerous crepes and fondues.
In April, the dry slope ski racing continued with training every Friday night of the Trinity Term at The Alpine Snowsports Centre in Aldershot. This year we had a record number of skiers with twenty-five students taking part in our progressive race development programme, which attempts and succeeds in making our experienced racers faster and turns our aspirant racers into racers. Thank you to our more senior, experienced racers, Marcus Hinton, James MacDonald, Sasha Macdonald and Charlie Aldridge Bate for assisting with the induction of the large group of new team members. Thank you also to Mr Dubois for assisting with transport to Aldershot.
A few months later in June, eight racers travelled up to the Chill Factore snow dome in Manchester, with Mr Yetman and Mr Rozier, to compete in the English Schools’ Indoor Ski Racing Championships.
For many of the students this was their first experience of racing on artificial snow, but a short training session in the snow dome the night before the race helped them adjust to the conditions. On the day of the race the students all performed very well, with the B Team – consisting of James Macdonald, Josh Amor, Joe Brackstone and Max Watkinson – coming ninth, and the A Team – Jack Weeks, Charlie Aldridge-Bate, George Kemkers and Marcus Hinton – finishing third and bringing home some silver-wear for the School. These results were rewarding for all the students, and hopefully made the long drive worth it for Mr Yetman and Mr Rozier, to whom the students were very grateful.
The first full race of the dry slope season takes place in early September, in Southampton, where we had seven
teams selected to race, which is a record number for both us and the event. Both our U14 and U16 A and B teams were placed 4th and 5th in their respective age groups with our U18 Team coming a close second to Reed’s A Team and our U18 B team being placed 4th. There was some superb racing from all our skiers, but special mention of Marcus Hinton, who came 5th overall and Charlie Aldridge-Bate who was placed 8th. Second Former, Jack Weeks, was also placed 17th overall and second in his age group. Charlie Locke from the Second Form and Jake Szekeres from the Third, also had notable performances. Harry Simmons also had a very fast first run, but in the world of ski racing, both runs count and a straddled gate requiring a quick run up back up the hill before coming down added to his time, but importantly, by doing so, gave his team a combined second run.
A week later, half the squad were back at our home resort of Aldershot racing in the Surrey Schools Race – Jack Weeks was placed second in his age group and at the end will come and present his cup to the Headmaster. Harry Simmons had two clean runs and was placed a well-deserved 14th. In the Senior age group, our Team of Marcus Hinton, Jack Weeks, George Kemkers and Charlie Aldridge-Bate were placed Third overall.
In November, our U16 and U18 A Teams were invited to the English Finals in hilly Norwich. Racing took place in some of the heaviest rain and worst conditions that I can recall experiencing at the slope, but our teams battled on, with our U16 Team consisting of Josh Amor, Ollie Burne, Max Watkinson and Jake Szekeres being placed 8th school in their age group in England. Our U18 Team consisting of Charlie, Jack, George and Marcus were placed 6th in England and after competing in the Open Competition were selected to be one of the English representative schools in the British Finals which saw us in Stoke racing against the best schools that Scotland and Wales have on offer. After some exciting racing, our A Team of Marcus, George, Charlie and Jack were placed 8th school in Great Britain, beating our record position the year before.
This report covers some great success for RGS Ski Racing and hopefully that success will continue in the coming years. A huge thank you to Mr Yetman who has, as always, organised the teams, races and training so well throughout the year, and without whom none of this success would have been possible.
Marcus Hinton (Captain of Skiing)
Half Colours for skiing are awarded to students in the Sixth Form, who have represented the School for at least two years, including at First Team level. Commitment to the team, has to match excellent performance. Half Colours had already been awarded to Marcus Hinton and James Macdonald. This year I was pleased to award them to George Kemkers. We don’t often award full colours in skiing, but for his outstanding contribution to skiing over the last five years including Captaining the team to our greatest successes in both the English and British Championships I was pleased to award Full Colours to Marcus Hinton.
At the end of January, 15 students from the First to Lower Sixth Forms flew to Switzerland to take part in the British Schoolstudents’ Overseas ski race event that takes place each year in Wengen. The team consisted of nice mix of Wengen veterans and those new to the event. All the students were already all competent red-run skiers, with varying degrees of race experience from nothing to those in our dry slope A Team who race in numerous events in the UK and overseas throughout the year.
The first two days consisted of race training, with coaches form the local ski race ski, RAKS, led by Hombi Homberger, Ski School Director and Swiss Ski School Demo Team coach, where the students either learned, or fine tuned their technique for skiing both slalom and giant slalom courses. The students all made great progress, also enjoying skiing the mighty Laubernhorn from top to bottom after training ended. This course is well known from the World Cup circuit and had been raced on by them a week before our arrival.
Having completed the training, on race days the students completed course inspection with Yves de Roche, a Swiss Olympic race coach, to help them plan their descent. Challenging conditions were experienced on both race days, with the second day being curtailed as there was too much wind at the top of the Lauberhorn and too much snow further down. We managed, however, to fit in plenty of powder skiing whilst waiting!
Thank you to Mr Payne for co-directing the trip with me and also acting as the required RGS gate judge for each race. Thank you too to the whole Team, ably led by George Kemkers, for their spirit and conduct both on and off the mountain.
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As with many areas of school life the CCF year was somewhat shorter than usual. The Monday Period 8 programme allowed the Senior Cadets to train the new recruits in each section the skills and drills required for the Field Day activities. Pleasingly the Fourth Form Army section all managed to pass their weapons handling test on the cadet rifle, but sadly as Field Days 3 to 5 were all cancelled, they did not get to practise their skills with blank and live rounds as usual. However, we hope to remedy that this year for those moving on to the Fifth Form.
Thank you to all section staff and also the Senior NCO Team, led by Cadet RSM Balazs Rigo for their efforts in making the training that took place run smoothly.
We lost several staff at the end of this year as they moved on to pastures new, either within the School or elsewhere. Thank you to Capt Quenault from the Army section, Lt Nathan and S/Lt Shakeri from the RN Section and our Contingent SSI WO2 Durrands. We wish them well for the future and will miss their contribution.
The Sixth Form Army section spent the day at Longmoor barracks enjoying a range of activities focused on increasing their military skills so that they can demonstrate prowess when training younger cadets later in the year. Training on the L98 general purpose rifle was conducted through live firing marksmanship training on the 25m range under guidance from RCO Capt Black, thanks to assistance from Capt Quenault, Sgt Whicher and Maj Woolcott. Physical technique and stamina were then required as WO1 Durrands (assisted by Mr Griffin) used
his previous career in the Physical Training Corps to inspire the troops around the obstacle course (one Upper Sixth Former claimed the warm-up was the most exercise he had ever done in his life). Finally, the cadets were able to refine leadership and teamwork skills under tutelage from Mr Gough and Dr McEwan.
A contingent of Fifth Form Army Cadets, ably supported by Messers Wright and Presley, successfully completed missions to the conflict zones of Delta Force and Wildwood. The clockwork precision - threatened only briefly by Cadet Dimov’s tardy muster - of the operation run by DSJW enabled the unit to embark upon three sorties at Delta Force, where the unit displayed their killer instincts by enthusiastically neutralizing their comrades at every opportunity. A unit well-camouflaged to the eye, but one which would have posed no problem whatsoever to detection by even the dullest of sniffer-dogs, then re-bussed and decamped to Wildwood where it was taken as high up into the treetops, and out of nose-range of the innocent public, as possible. The students engaged in the day with great spirit and enthusiasm.
The Fifth Form Army section spent the day at Bramshott Common taking part in Ex Op Extender. The blank firing exercise, run by RGS staff and assisted by the Upper Sixth NCOs as ADS, involves the consolidation of their fieldcraft battle skills in a serial which they carry out from initial recce, planning, communication of the orders followed by carrying out the attack. This is a step up from what they have done previously, as they are in control of how they achieve the objective of neutralising the enemy forces. In the end, the sections achieved the objective, although there were many lessons on communication, teamwork and the realisation that no plan survives contact with the enemy.
Tangier Company spent the day at School learning how to safely handle and operate the main cadet battle rifle, the SA80 L98A2. This weapon system is also the mainstay of regular British Forces (and one of the most effective infantry weapons among NATO forces) and cadets became familiar with its operation through a range of practical and theoretical sessions. The training and testing of competence with this weapon is vital as all of their remaining field days this year will be centred around its use, both live firing on ranges and blank firing during fieldcraft exercises. The cadets seemed to enjoy the training and are looking forward to applying the theory in the future. Their day also involved some teamwork challenges where they began to learn about leadership and roles within a group.
A successful day would not have been possible without the excellent assistance of SIB, EKDB and NWG to whom I am most grateful.
The Lower Sixth Army cadets travelled to Nutley in East Sussex for a survival day focused on mushrooms. The morning was spent walking through the picturesque but soggy forest learning how to identify mushroom species and collecting those that are edible. The damp was somehow a surprise to many of our cadets and Freddie Cliffe and Sergey Volkov in particular amongst many other quickly has soaking wet feet inside their designer trainers. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and the students learned lots of information in a very short period of time and they managed to avoid picking up any Death Caps . He fielded lots of enquiring questions from the curious students who were impressed at the varying uses of the mushrooms over and above for food, such as to make a self-adhesive plaster and for fire starting. Good fun was had by staff and students alike even if a few of the question inevitably were about Liberty Caps… In the afternoon using the collected mushrooms the students prepared an genuinely astonishingly tasty mushroom-based pasta dish. Whilst keeping warm huddled around their cooking fires which they had started by catching sparks with a piece of mushroom and using hay as kindling. Well fed we walked back to the transport and departed back to Guildford with much enhance knowledge of the mycology of the United Kingdom and its applications to a survival situation.
Thankfully the high winds of the weekend had blown through during the night and we arrived to a very calm HMS Excellent on Whale Island in Portsmouth Harbour. The day ahead was a first for our section aboard the RN HQ’s largest yacht – a Halberg Rassy 49’. The size of the yacht gives everything a different and more serious feel with teamwork being crucial to successful manoeuvres. Unfortunately, engine failure soon after entering the Solent meant that we were momentarily adrift, but fortune smiled upon us as the wind filled-in to a lovely F3-4 and we set sail. During the day we hoisted, reefed and lowered sails, reviewed man-overboard recovery drills, picked up mooring buoys, practised coming-alongside, refuelled and generally enjoyed cruising in such a powerful yacht. Due to the skills of the Skipper we managed to restart the engine and our day finished without a hitch.
On FD2, half of the new recruits into the RN section spent the day in Southampton being trained to manoeuvre small powerboats as part of the RYA Powerboat L1 course. The students all performed well throughout
and gained their certification and enjoyed their fun, but chilly day on the water.
The Sixth Form RN section were treated to a day aboard a 250 horsepower 8 metre RIB in the Solent. Over the course of the day, everyone had two extended opportunities to take the helm as we made our way over to Yarmouth and back to Southampton. It was impressive to see how with good seamanship skills, everyone was able to take the boat up to its top speed of 40 knots without completely soaking the occupants.
Due to last-minute rearrangements following HQ staff illness, Blue Watch (Fifth Form) did not go kayaking and instead travelled to HMS Excellent in Portsmouth for a day of sail-training aboard the Yacht Bellerophon , a 49’ Halberg Rassey. The day was cold, with a strong Northerly wind and the prospect of rain and poor visibility so our hopes for a good day were low; Strangely very few other boats were out in the Solent! However, the worst of the weather held off or passed us by and we managed a full day of sailing and drills including hoisting sails, reefing, tacks and gybes, anchoring, man-overboard recovery drills and basic navigation. We were also
treated to a fly-by from a RN Merlin helicopter
also listened to radio transmissions from the new aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales
Half of the new RN recruits were hosted for the day at the RN Leadership School in Gosport, HMS Collingwood. The new cadets, ably led by NCO Cameron Gardner, conquered the legendary Collingwood assault course before learning and practising their skill-at-arms on the dismounted close combat trainer.
The new band of NCOs took over the leadership of the RAF Section at the start of the Michaelmas Term, ably led by Cadet Warrant Officers, Alex Norris and Will Kemsley. Alex and Will were excellent leaders of the RAF section. Alex’s area of expertise was drill and leadership, having attended the RAF Leadership Course in the Lower Sixth, and Will’s knowledge of aviation was second to none in the RGS. As a pair, they brought out the best in the cadets and the NCOs, and I thank them for their hard work and enthusiasm throughout the year.
On the regular Monday Period 8 slots, the cadets covered the RAF syllabus, learning topics such as principles of flight, aircraft recognition, meteorology, leadership, history of the RAF and airbases and aerodromes. It is in the Field Days, however, we have the best opportunity to give the students greater hands-on experience and in particular give them the chance to get airborne.
In the Field Days this year the students have experienced the thrill of gliding at Surrey Hills Gliding Club in Caterham. The gliding club has given the students excellent tuition and their first rate organisation has maximised the number of flights the cadets have had. The cadets also visited Brooklands Museum in Weybridge where they looked round the aviation and motor exhibits. The Concorde Experience , which simulates a flight in the supersonic aircraft, was the highlight of the day. A group of cadets enjoyed the unique experience of indoor skydiving at iFly in Basingstoke, while on another occasion they learnt about the history of aviation at the RAF museum at Hendon. The cadets also put their weapon-handling drills and escape and evasion techniques to the test when they went paintballing.
My thanks go to the NCOs and my team of officers, Flying Officers Adrian Woodman and Fiona Wimblett, and Civilian Instructors Gemma Busby and Dewi Eburne for their hard work and enthusiasm throughout the year. Sqn. Ldr. EKDB
Top: On Drill Parade
Right: Cadet Gliding
Bottom Right: Brooklands Museum
Bottom Left: Concorde Experience
During the last 12 months, 60 Bronze, 13 Silver and 11 Gold Awards have been completed by RGS students. There are many others which are nearing completion on the system and probably even more where the students have done the activities, but have not added on to eDofE or request reports from their assessors. This is fine, as doing the activities is more important than the certificate, but it seems a shame not to get the recognition for this that the Award brings.
The Award Scheme added in some Covid relaxation for section requirements this year that will be current until July 2021. Students who have not noted these and taken advantage of them are missing out. They should request to join the DofE Help Team or contact Mr Yetman if they need some advice.
Our programme ended in October this year, Bronze training and Silver and Gold Qualifying expeditions postponed. However, before the expedition season ended we achieved the following expeditions.
Early on a Sunday in late September, 143 students and 16 staff mustered in the Sports Hall ahead of their overnight expedition to the New Forest that all students from the Fourth Form take part in. For those students who are registered and who have completed the required training, this counts as their DofE Bronze Qualifying Expedition. The forest has an extensive network of paths that require the students to keep a track on their progress or risk losing contact with the map. Relocation in the forest can be challenging, with one path junction looking very much like the next.
The students experienced a traditional mix of DofE weather throughout, with light rain, heavier drizzle, some sunshine and a very clear night, which gave a great view of the stars, but was also quite chilly for those who opted for thinner sleeping bags. At times, they saw the forest at its best, lush with vegetation and bathed in sunlight.
The teams made good progress navigating through the forest with all bar one of the 24 teams making it to the finish point on Monday, in good time to board the coach back to School. Having then erected their tents to dry in the Undercroft, cleaned and handed back their trangias, the students could reflect on their 36 hours of self-sufficiency and the development of their leadership, teamwork, resilience and general life skills, which we would sum up in the value of Tenacity.
The DofE silver and gold training expeditions, in The Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons, enjoyed exceptional weather with blue skies and wall to wall sunshine. The Black Mountains introduce the Fifth Year students to navigation in rugged terrain and camping out for multiple nights. The Brecon Beacons allow the Lower Sixthstudents to venture into high mountainous terrain and further develop their navigation by day and night. These students now look forward to their Qualifying Expeditions when they are able to run.
The School is very fortunate to have a number of school staff, who are both well qualified and willing to give up their time to supervise DofE expeditions. This year we lose two expedition stalwarts from the School, but thankfully, both have agreed to return to assist with DofE when required.
When it comes to mountaineering and climbing Mr Armstrong possibly has more outdoor experience than any other staff member at the RGS, although on reflection I think I would have to grade him as an equal mountain master as Mr Cowx. He also had run DofE in his previous school, so he was always going to be a great asset to the DofE Team, although he would be first to acknowledge that some of the nuances of the award may have passed him by. He staffed all expeditions in his time here from Bronze to Gold and ran the Silver Expeditions for many years. I am pleased that we will not be losing his encyclopaedic route knowledge and
ability to operate in all conditions and seem to enjoy the challenge, as he has agreed to return to staff them in the future.
Mrs Perrett joined the School as an experienced DofE Leader having run it in her previous school. Although she was more than happy not to run the Award at the RGS, in a short time she was at the helm, running all aspects of the Award and also our Gold Expedition programme. When we moved DofE out of Monday Period 8, she passed on the DofE Manager role, but continued to run the Gold Expeditions and advise on all areas of the Award. Her cool, calm and adaptable approach, combined with doing everything and anything required to make the best expedition for the students has created amazing opportunities for thousands of our students during her time at the RGS. She also set up the
DofE
We are pleased to keep her on the DofE Team and continue to enjoy the legacy of her years in charge.
At the end of the Michelmas Term the gap at the top of the Cock House Table was only one point. Austen who were defending their win from last year were ahead, but a resurgent Valpy led by Mr Baker and Dr Whall, were hot on their heels after winning the Rugby competition. Valpy were seeking a first House win since 2004 – those that were around then remember those heady days when Valpy was led by the indomitable Mr Hosier.
The Lent Term saw Valpy continue their rich vein of form by winning the Basketball and coming second in the Hockey competitions and quiz. Austen weren’t giving up without a fight and were again crowned winners of the Hockey. This helped Austen regain some of the ground lost to move just two points behind Valpy.
Hamonde were the clear winners of the Chess competition by virtue of them dominating both the Middles and Junior sections. Past Cock House winners have achieved their success by consistent performances even when not winning overall events and this Valpy again did by achieving a second in the Chess. They also won the curtailed Football competition moving a significant four points ahead of Austen. Mr Baker and his Valpy House were now starting to
believe they could achieve a memorable victory. And were they beginning to think, even wish, that an extended Lockdown may indeed be a blessing in disguise. Meanwhile Mr Dubois was fervently praying that lockdown would disappear as quickly as it had arrived.
The year 2020 would be remembered most for the lockdown due to Covid but not even this could prevent the RGS running two competitions. The first of these was the Lockdown competition, where students submitted written pieces, musical performances or artistic work on the theme of Lockdown . There were many superb entries showing the huge range of talent at the RGS, and making the work of the eight staff judges incredibly difficult. They did however arrive at a final verdict - the Junior section was won by James Dicker of Austen and the Seniors was won by Sherwin Balloo of Hamonde. Hamonde also won overall and gained an extra House point due to having the most entries of all the Houses. Mr Casale and Mrs Wilson are starting a campaign for a repeat of this event next year regardless of whether there is a lockdown or not. The final competition of the school year was the Sports Week organised superbly by Mr Cover. There were a huge number of entries - 479 in total, and, unsurprisingly, Valpy topping the list with 109 of these. Nettles were the winners of this final
House event bringing some cheer to Mr Tayar and hopefully providing Nettles with a springboard for next year. The ever-consistent Valpy were second and, significantly, one place ahead of Austen.
The Cock House champion in 2020 was Valpy, a deserved and hard won victory by just 5.5 points from Austen, who must be commended for their sterling performances during the year in defence of their title. Many congratulations go to Mr Baker, Mrs Wilson, their staff team and all the students in Valpy for an impressive year. Well done Valpy!
The Cock House champion in 2020 was Valpy, a deserved and hard won victory
After two successful years on the trot for Mr Dubois and his students, would 2019/20 be the year that Austen House managed to pull a Michael Jordan and Bulls and achieve a 3-peat? The year started well with a win in the double points cross country as well as good performances in the quiz and the basketball. It seemed that Austen’s main competitors this year would be Valpy, who would edge ahead of Austen before we regained the lead in a constant neck-and -neck battle for the lead.
As I’m sure you know, many House events were not able to be completed due to the lockdown and online school. However, due to the innovative ideas of Mr Cover in the PE Department and the Senior Management Team, some competitions were able to be competed online. House Captain, Omeet Atara gave some inspiring Team talks to get the students involved in the Creative Lockdown competition and the Virtual Sports Week. The Austen students got involved in many ways, going above and beyond what was expected of them, with
Austen coming third in the Sports Week and second in the Creative Competition. This gave Austen some valuable points, however Valpy had amassed a larger lead. Without the annual favourites of Mr Dubois like Sports Day and the School Swimming Gala, we were not able to gain back the points needed to claim the Cock House Cup.
At the end of what must have been the most unusual school year in decades, Austen ended up second overall with 55 points, 5.5 behind Valpy who were the eventual winners. Who knows what
would have happened had the year panned out as usual and the Austen students got to show their prowess in athletics, swimming and shooting. Who know if Austen would have achieved the 3-peat. All that is certain is that this will be one of the most memorable years in RGS history and all the Austen students can be proud of the effort they put in, both when in school and from home. A massive thanks to Mr Dubois, Old House Captain, Harry Blandford and the New House Captain, the man, the myth, the legend, Omeet Atara. Hopefully Austen will see many more successful (and we pray normal) years in the future.
Jamie StratfordThis time last year, I was able to look forward with great excitement, to another action packed Cock House Cup competition. After Beckingham’s initial charge through the early stages of the 2018/19 year, we hoped to be able to continue that momentum throughout the whole year this time, and avoid another late fade away. Alas, little were we to know what the future lay in store.
really came to the fore. At a time when students were being asked to separate themselves from ordinary school life, friends and usual activities, I would like to think that the House system was able to provide a degree of normality and connection to the RGS values. I was hugely impressed with the readiness with which the Beckingham students threw themselves into the virtual House events with the same desire and panache they would have demonstrated in School. As the saying goes: The darker the night, the brighter the stars.
I was very pleased with Beckingham’s approach to the lockdown competitions. In this dynamic new arena for House events, the area where we really excelled was in athletics. I was amazed at the amount of students who completed numerous events, racking up fantastic times and scores. In particular, I would like to thank: Dylan Fuller, Luke Miranda, Abinash Maharajan, George Atkinson, Malachy Talty, Tom Bamber and Cam Philp, who all competed in multiple events, coming first in several.
Iwas extremely lucky to welcome a new and dynamic Upper Sixth Team to lead the House. House Captain, Charlie Kershaw was kept on the right track by a crack team of deputies; fellow cross country stalwart Ben Fitzpatrick, Asim Beere and Nick Scott. They showed a real desire to lead the House to new heights of success, and I would like to thank them for their hard work.
The Beckingham game plan, to build a solid foundation throughout the first months of the term, before a final sprint, got off to a strong start. Across the main team sports; hockey, rugby, football, the Beckingham students were able to commit themselves well and returned many excellent results. Our Achilles heel, the dreaded House Quiz, proved harder, and despite some fiendish answering, we were unable to avoid a last place finish. Strong results in table tennis improved the situation, before a return to struggles in Beckingham’s second Achilles heel: chess. All this left us in a strong mid-table position approaching Easter.
Alas, the final events of term were not to be. Many of Beckingham’s key events - shooting, fencing, athletics - were missed. It is difficult to reflect fully upon the impact of lockdown. The main take away for me is that the strength of the House system, while heavily tested,
I could pick out any number of students to thank for their work this year, however, a few mentions are merited. The Prizewinners, Sam Bagley, Jake Ventham, Johnny Kershaw, Thomas Bamber and Jacques Pressley, all went above and beyond for the House and richly deserved their prizes. I would also like to give a special mention to all the Upper Sixth students who finished their House careers in such an unexpected way. Your efforts over the past seven years have been greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank all the members of the staff who gave up time to support the House over the year. Mr Dodd, Mrs Besly-Quick, Mr Herman-Wilson and Mr Bass in particular. Thank you for the support you gave.
After a truncated and unprecedented year, we approach 2020/2021 with a new team, new momentum and new determination for success.
I would also like to thank the great number of people who worked to ensure that the virtual House assemblies went off without issue. It was no mean feat putting these together and I was very lucky to have the help of the new leadership team, George, Chan, Josh and Aman, to make the assemblies the best they could be. A special thanks also to Ronan Lenane, who was our behind the scenes video ‘whiz’. I am looking forward to the quality of our productions ever increasing this year, to will reach Spielberg-esque levels.
Finally one more well done and thank you to the great many people who entered the lockdown’s more creative competitions. Some of the musical entries we had were very impressive and I was astounded at the quality with which some people are able to draw and paint. Beckingham students continue to astound with the range and quality of their skills and I look forward to seeing even more of this in 2020/21.
Last year’s House Captain, Roy Brett, his able Deputies and other right honourable members of the House, namely Sam Cherry, Alfie Cherry, Matt Harris, Hemish Gholkar, Joel Cant, Bashaar Karim, Luke Nelson and Balasz Rigo have led by example both on and off the sports field and I am extraordinarily grateful for their efforts.
This year’s able men of Hamonde are equally auspicious: Ben Watkins, Barney Dunnett and Will Brown. They too have set their targets high and despite lockdown have been active in supporting the House and in driving it forward. They help organise the teams, get the teams on, and participate themselves at the highest level in competition. In addition, Ben Watkins’ motto for the House, inspired by his knowledge of classical literature and scholarly ambitions: Hamonde, aho useo finc redi blemen has yet to be trumped by any other submission for a new House motto. (Do keep the entries coming in though please).
We came first in chess (thanks to Joseph Ryan, Alexei Semikhodski, Joe Pontin, Archie Cowie, Ollie James, Thomas Koshi, Max Hackett, Joe Seth, Woo Kim, Ashwin Vishwanath, Luke Nelson, Ben Perryman, Joel Cant, Lawrence Castle and Ed Wilkinson).
We came first in the Lockdown Competition (Juniors: Wilfred Lingard second, Joseph Ryan fifth, Seniors: Sherwin Balloo first and Stan Lawrence fourth. We also had the most entries of all the Houses).
We came high up in most of the other competitions and apart from a couple of unfavourable refereeing decisions and the unexpected cancellation of events we would have done even better still. Well done, Hamonde.
Our entries in the House Lockdown competition were particularly inspirational and have set the tone for the coming year. Hamonde are capable of everything and will be back on top of the Cock House Competition leader board before you can ever believe. Go Hamonde, go.
Hamonde have raised their game this year. As a House we can be proud of our achievements: third Place in the Cock House Cup, a fantastic result.
One of my first memories from when I joined the RGS, at the start of Third Form, is looking at the list of students in my class. Next to each of our names was our House; these were six different names that I was entirely unfamiliar with. My House colour was light blue, which I didn’t mind; it was certainly better than yellow, and it was called Nettles; it was only in the coming weeks that I realised that it was named Nettles after a benefactor to the School, and not an RGS teacher’s obsession with stinging nettles.
Third Form is a strange time. You’re trying to integrate with a group of people that have already been friends for two years, and it takes a while for you to feel like you are part of the bigger whole that is the RGS. Houses were similar in that regard, except when competing in the House competitions: no-one cared when you joined the School -they only cared about how good you were at whatever it was you were supposed to be doing. So, in a way, House events helped me find my place at the RGS. As I went on through the School I always took part in House Rugby, Cross Country, Sports Day and then a few other House events throughout the year. Rugby was always fun, but Cross Country and Sports Day were when I really got competitive. Over the years these two events became stand out memories of my time at the RGS, and last year’s sports day was definitely a school-career highlight. I felt very privileged to be asked to be Nettles House Captain this time last year, and it is a position that I have thoroughly enjoyed. When I first joined the School in Third Form, feeling like a bit of an outsider, I never would have thought this would be where I ended up. Everyone’s experience of school is full of highs and lows, but I am grateful for just how much I’ve enjoyed my time at the RGS. Of course, long before I reached the Lower Sixth I felt like an integrated part of the RGS community, but taking on the
responsibility of House Captain, as well as my experiences with skiing and rugby, have made me feel as if I have contributed something tangible to this great environment. I am, of course, disappointed to have my time at the School cut short, and it is a confusing time for all Upper Sixth and Fifth Form students alike. I don’t think anyone would have guessed that this is how we would leave, but the important thing is to not let this strange experience overshadow the great memories of life at the RGS. As the days go by it becomes more and more important to try and focus on the best parts of this situation (the silver lining), and if there was one piece of advice I would give any of you, no matter what you are doing, it would be to believe in yourself and to have a positive attitude in life. So, this is goodbye from me, Ollie, James and the rest of the Upper Sixth. We’ve all enjoyed being at the top end of the House, and every one of us has contributed our fair share to Nettles over the years. We’re grateful to Mr Jenkins and Mr Tayar for being such great Housemasters, and I’m sure we’ll be impressed by the evolution of Nettles in the coming years. We’re sad to be leaving like this, but there’s no point lamenting over things we can’t control. Its been a pleasure leading you all this year, and I wish you all the best. I’m looking forward to seeing who will be the next to take on the roles of Captain and Deputy, and I wish them, and all of you, the best of luck in the future. Stay healthy, stay positive, and thank you!
Marcus Hinton, House Captain Nettles
Due to my time at the RGS being cut short prematurely, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect and look back on my time as an RGS boy and a member of Nettles House. I obviously look back very fondly on the last seven years and am truly proud to be Deputy House Captain of Nettles. Overall, I genuinely feel like the attitude of everyone in Nettles has changed for the better, there is a greater drive to compete and an urge to participate; and there is no doubt in my mind that this is down to Mr Tayar’s leadership and enthusiasm which has been infectious from the First Form all the way up to the staff. I will never forget all the memories that I have been so lucky to have made at RGS, especially those coming from this great House. I hope that in the coming years that people continue participating and we get our hands on the House trophy again! You get out what you put in, this phrase encapsulates how I feel about Nettles. Participation is so important, and I urge everyone, from the First Form to the Sixth Form, to get involved and be an active member of the Nettles House. So get involved and make a difference! Thank you.
Ollie Sweetland
In a year of uncertainty, one constant has been the ability of all Powell students to show their enthusiasm and commitment to the House in the entire spectrum of events. The sense of House pride is ever present, and so I have no doubt that Powell has a bright future ahead.
The First Form Dragon Boat Race, a highlight of the House calendar, was unfortunately cancelled due to bad weather. In retrospect, it seems like this was an omen of what was to follow. Cross country in the Michaelmas Term saw some individual successes but overall we finished mid table. However, with a quality second overall in the table tennis competition normal service quickly resumed.
Fortunately, from the start of the Lent Term, the situation had changed. We obliterated the competition in the House Quiz, continuing our tradition of domination in this event. After another strong performance in the hockey, we were making great progress, and with the Trinity Term ahead, always our strongest, we anticipated another high placed finish … or so we thought. As the country ground to a halt, so did our hopes of a top three finish and, deprived of some of our best events, despite the fantastic effort of countless students in the Lockdown competitions, we were forced to settle for fouth place.
All that is left to say is a huge thank you to House Captain Jordan, and Vice Captains, Jack and Max, who, throughout this time, have truly shown all that it means to be a Powell boy. Congratulations to all in Powell for your efforts and contributions, it is abundantly clear that your dedication is never faltering and with our current cohort of enthusiastic students, I have high hopes for the year to come.
Valpy has had a phenomenal school year in 2019/20, winning the Cock House Cup for the first time since 2004, and reversing a sequence of more modest performances in that competition.
There are many possible explanations for this sudden change in fortunes: perhaps this year’s new First and Third Form are especially menacing on the rugby pitch; perhaps the absence of a Swimming Gala this year worked in Valpy’s favour (it has not been our strong suit in my time at the RGS). But I think that the answer is simpler than this: I think that Valpy’s greatest strength, and what drove us to victory this year, is our House’s commitment to simply showing up and having a go. During sports week, Valpy managed to rack up an incredible 109 entries, over 20 more than any other House, and I think that it is this number, more than any other, which says the most about the Valpy spirit.
Even before lockdown, however, Valpy was having a good year. We came second in House Declamation, Chess, Cross-country, Quiz, and Hockey, and even managed to win Basketball, Rugby, and Football. All in all, Valpy students have put in a tremendous shift this year, and they should all be extremely proud – as well as eager to defend our trophy again this year. Just as important as the students’ efforts though, are the efforts of the staff, and any summary of Valpy’s achievements this year
would be incomplete without recognition of Mr Baker, Dr Whall, and the rest of the Valpy team. Without the dedication, enthusiasm, and understanding of these teachers, the Valpy experience would be infinitely poorer; not only would students miss out on the activities which Valpy life involves, they would also miss out on the connection which comes from belonging to a House, whether through in-person House assemblies, termly updates in the Valpy Vulture, and Teams House assemblies, and this would greatly devalue the RGS experience of all students involved.
Well done Valpy – let’s just hope that the next time the Guildfordian mentions a Valpy victory is in 2021, not 2035!
As another busy term comes to an end, so too does the 2019 rugby season. A season which, overall, has been a hugely successful one. From the August pre-season tournaments to last weekend’s final set of matches, the RGS rugby teams have collectively played in close to 230 matches and tournaments, with approximately 400 students representing the School. The fixture list has undergone something of a makeover – several blocks have moved weekends and a few opponents have changed as we endeavour to fine tune and sculpt a varied, worthwhile and challenging fixture card for all involved. Of the 400 students who have represented teams this term, many are at different stages of their rugby development; some have played contact rugby for the first time, lots have made their RGS debuts, plenty have played their final matches for the School, and all have shown great commitment.
As with every season, there have been several standout moments and here are a selection of the highlights:
More teams than ever competed in the
annual ‘Super Friday’ participation fixture. U12A to G teams took to the field against their Judd School counterparts on a fantastic October afternoon at Bradstone Brook.
There were hard fought victories for the U15A team against Peebles High School and a Border’s Select XV as part of the Edinburgh Half Term Tour. Now in its third year, the tour has quickly become a popular, well-established feature of the U15 season.
The pre-season training camp in Bath, laying the foundations for what has been an excellent few months for our senior teams.
The 1st XV’s memorable win over Reeds at Bradstone Brook and reaching the last 16 of Champions’ Trophy for a third season in a row. Making the last 16 provided a unique opportunity to play at Rugby School – the home of rugby, on the very field where the game once began.
Successful end of season U13 fixtures with Guildford RFC as we look to establish better links with our local rugby clubs.
The heroic U15D team performance against Cranleigh. Recovering from an early 15 – nil deficit to eventually win 27 – 22 in dreadful conditions.
And last but by no means least, the 3rd XV’s dramatic 18 - 17 victory over St Paul’s. Harry McIntosh’s long-range penalty, via the post, with the final kick of the match will live long in the memory of all involved that day.
With so many enthusiastic, devoted staff members taking charge of teams, choosing a coach of the year is rarely a straightforward decision and this season is certainly no different. Coach of the year for 2019 is awarded to a member of staff who has managed to take all of his experience of coaching C teams over the years to step up and mastermind a hugely
successful season for the U15B team, at the first time of asking. Congratulations to Mr Baker.
Each year, a huge concerted effort from a vast array of dedicated staff, help to ensure the RGS rugby season is successful and enjoyable for all who participate. To the ground staff, the catering team, our first aiders, physios, duty staff, Mr Yetman, Mrs Pontin, Mr Woodman, Mr Meadowcroft, every team coach, games staff and the PE Department – thank you so much for all of your considerable efforts this term, it is massively appreciated.
The next thank you is in the form of school colours, awarded to selected members of the 1st XV squad, to acknowledge their excellence and significant contribution to the RGS rugby programme over the years.
The following students were awarded half colours:
For outstanding commitment and representation of the 1st XV over the past two seasons, it is my great pleasure to award full colours to:
On the senior pre-season training camp in Bath, to help me better understand what motivated the new cohort of
prospective 1st team players, I asked those in attendance to answer one very simple question; why is it that you choose to play rugby? As I'm sure you can appreciate, in a group of 35 + students, there were a broad range of answers given; some eluded to the physical challenge, others aspire to play at the highest-level possible and many highlighted feelings of pride in representing the RGS. All of these and the many other answers given are completely valid.
There was however, one reason, above all others, that really stood out and featured in virtually every response...... and this was friendship. The opportunity to run out and play team sport alongside your friends is something to be cherished and never taken for granted. Irrespective of whether you win, lose or draw, that feeling of unity and togetherness that you gain from playing team sport is very special and difficult to replicate in other walks of life.
Finally, I would like to thank each and every RGS boy who has committed to the rugby program this term. From those of you who played your first competitive matches to our more seasoned campaigners who feature in every game, week in week out, year after year – Thank you for your considerable time, effort and enthusiasm.
Hockey at the RGS has shifted gears and found a higher level. Looking retrospectively at the season’s results from both the 1st XI and across many of our teams, fixtures that in past years were lost, were this season either drawn or won. I’ve personally witnessed impressive individual and team progress, all thanks to our exceptionally committed and enthusiastic coaching staff.
The 1st XI went into unchartered territory this year. They made it through to the semi finals of the England Hockey, Schools Championships - a first for the RGS Guildford Hockey programme. Well done to all the players and coaches who have worked together throughout this groups time at the RGS. Unfortunately, the side narrowly lost to Reeds 2-3 in the semi-final match. The game, however, was played at a notably high standard and could easily have gone either way. Both teams were fantastic ambassadors for their respective schools.
The U15A team were runners up in the County Cup and before all schools went into lockdown the U16A team had qualified for the Tier 2 National Semi Finals.
On an individual front, several players achieved high level performance hockey through their respective clubs, with 12 of the 1st XI playing Men’s Hockey for local club sides. Congratulations to Finn Cooper who represented Surbiton HC in the National Indoor Hockey tournament; the highest level of senior domestic indoor in the country.
Throughout the School the high number of students choosing to play hockey in the Lent Term is testament to the time and effort that the coaches and staff involved have put into making sure it is both an enjoyable and challenging environment. Thank you.
In the weeks leading up to our tour to Singapore and Malaysia, the excitement to explore South East Asia was infectious. For the first time, RGS Guildford was sending both a football and a hockey group on a school tour together. From Singapore’s shiny streets and night safari to the busy life of Kuala Lumpur and stunning beaches of Penang, the students were treated to once in a lifetime experiences. The two groups of players created the fondest of memories, both on and off the pitch.
The football side of the tour was superb, with outstanding venues, challenging fixtures and welcoming opposition, all creating a genuinely superb experience for everyone involved.
The shock of 90-degree heat and 95% humidity was immediately brought to the fore with a training session on arrival at Hougang United FC’s academy. A fixture later on against the same Singapore Premier League U19 opposition at the Jalan Besar stadium, was a superb experience for the students and really set the tone for the tour. A narrow 0-1 loss remarkably marked the only defeat of the tour for a side that had never played together before this game, also laying the foundations for one of the most successful football seasons in recent years of RGS football.
An impressive side was scattered with emerging Lower Sixth talent with the likes of Daragh Brown and Joey McMurray shining. Joe Geoghegan, in an unfamiliar deep role in midfield, really showcased his talent and Upper Sixth players Nicholas Scott (who would go on to be the 1st XI leading goal scorer) and Captain, James McDougall (who was the Player of the Tour and would also go on to be the 1st XI Player of the Season) really drove the team forward to go unbeaten in all five of the remaining fixtures in Malaysia. Stadiums, culture, ‘worldy goals’, infinity pools and some superb team performances, really did make this
a first-class tour that will remain long in the memory.
On the hockey front, the quality of venues and stadiums we were privileged to play in made for an unforgettable experience. The standard of the opposition was perfect, stretching our students to their limits in the tropical conditions. This tour set the foundation for the most successful RGS outdoor hockey season in recent years. The intensity and passion of South East Asian hockey forced us to step up our energy and focus, which carried throughout the year until that fateful day in March, when the season ground to a halt.
Dan Price scored the goal of the tour in the penultimate game, where he was setup through some creative play from Charlie Vincent. This was not Charlie Vincent’s only show of heroics - playing a number of both football and hockey fixtures to a very good standard. The top goal scorer for the hockey team was Harry Relph, with deadly accuracy from penalty corners impressing the local fans. For reasons not quite understood, Callum Smith, Joel Cant and Christian Moody were the out and out favourites for post-match selfies with the opposition!
The tour could not have gone better on and off the field. The balance of fixtures, cultural experience and the opportunity to help those less fortunate than we, created a memorable tour for all. I do hope we get the opportunity to send our students to this region in the near future.
ARL/CMUThe summer saw the first ever combined, pre-season RGS Guildford Football and Hockey Tour to Singapore and Malaysia. A truly exceptional experience was capped off with very encouraging signs on the pitch as the players put in impressive performances, going unbeaten in Malaysia. These impressive pre-season displays were carried over into the start of the 2019/20 season with the 1st XI winning their first three games, scoring a remarkable 15 goals. Although, the team exited the ISFA Boodles National Cup and the English Schools FA Cup in the early rounds, impressive performances continued as the 1st XI won another five of their next seven games. The defence was becoming increasingly secure, well marshalled by 1st XI Captain Matt Dodds, who had another exceptional year. Vice-Captain (and Player of the Season) James McDougall was superb in midfield and Nicholas Scott and 1st XI new-comer Henry Spence capped off a lethal RGS forward line. Perhaps the most encouraging thing was to see how Lower Sixth footballers such as Joseph McMurray, Duncan Timberlake and Daragh Brown fitted seamless in to the starting XI.
The technical ability on show and the willingness to work for each other were very impressive. Working hard on game intelligence and recognising what was happening in the high tempo of matches were extremely hard work,
but every player developed impressively throughout the season, training hard and regularly analysing their video footage. An impressive performance in defeat in the County Cup Quarter Final against a strong Wilson’s side was followed by another cup quarter-final defeat against City of London in the London and South East England Cup. As the clouds of March and Covid loomed on the horizon, it was fitting that the final game of what was to be a shortened season saw another impressive attacking performance at Bradstone Book as the 1st XI secured a 4-1 win against old rivals Wilson’s.
Although the 2019/20 season will inevitably be remembered for its early curtailment and the worldwide pandemic, as we went in to late March, it had become one of the most successful and enjoyable seasons in recent RGS football history. It was a genuine pleasure to see the ever-increasing standard of the students, with more than 70 footballers representing the RGS in competitive fixtures against schools such as Hampton, Charterhouse and Eton. Throughout all four senior teams, as well as the newly established U15s and U16s, 2019/20 saw some superb performances and some hugely impressive football on
show. Committed and ever improving players combined with knowledgeable and passionate staff, really made the last year a hugely enjoyable season for everyone involved. I would like to thank all the footballers for the effort that they put in and the exceptional attitude and behaviour demonstrated and modelled throughout the season. A massive thank you also goes to Mr Williams, Mr Dodd, Mr Richards and Mr Presley, without whom none of this would be possible. The future for RGS Football really does look very encouraging.
technical ability on show and the willingness to work for each other were very impressive
“
This has been another fine season with the RGS fencers achieving a number of extremely impressive results.
Firstly, the Kamstra brothers must be congratulated for making the national squads. Leo has been selected for the GBR U17 and England U17. Ben has been selected for the England U14. The arrival of Xavier Wallin, twice IAPS Master-at-Arms Champion also further strengthens the fencing at the RGS.
The Surrey Youth Championships was the ‘warm-up’ event to the new year and we achieved two silver and five bronze medals despite several of our top fencers unable to take part due to other commitments.
Xavier Wallin took part in the U17 CEP Paris foil marathon. This is one of the largest and strongest fencing competitions in Europe. He was the ‘smallest’ (his own word!) and youngest
(having just turned 14) fencer at this U17 event. Xavier’s speed enabled him to win half the fights in his poules and he came 146th out of 291 fencers.
The British Schools’ Team Championship was a much-anticipated national event on our fencing calendar and once again proved to be the highlight of the season. Our U15 Foil team consisting of Rishikesh Mistry, Xavier Wallin, Freddie Cheng and captained by Zed Law were determined to capture the title we just missed out on last year. They demonstrated superb technique and team spirit to secure convincing victories against all the other top fencing schools and were deservedly crowned the new National Champions. The most memorable victories were against Eton (won 45-32) and Brentwood (45-26). This is the third consecutive year we won a national team title and we have now finished on the podium in this event for the tenth consecutive years. Ronit Sachdeva and Felix Johnson made their debut in this championship in the
U13 Épée and the team was captained by the talented Ben Kamstra. RGS was undefeated in the poules which included a 45-41 victory against Millfield. We then beat Packwood convincingly in the quarter-final before losing the semi-final to the eventual winners, Hill House A and finished as bronze medallists. The U18 Épée team was captained superbly by Leo Kamstra. Leo has a wealth of experience in major events and has represented England and GBR in numerous occasions. He was joined by Freddie Edgecliffe-Johnson, Freddie Cliffe and Matthew Williams. The team fenced brilliantly and notable victories include comfortable wins against Whitgift A and Sevenoaks. They lost in the final against Millfield and finished as silver medallists.
Unfortunately, the Covid outbreak has ended the fencing season midway and resulted in the cancellation of the Public Schools’ Fencing Championships and the British Youth Championships. Fencing is currently suspended nationally but will hopefully be allowed to resume next term.
Faraz Ahmad Surrey Biochemistry
Alexander Alderton Durham Geography
Nicolas Andrews Nottingham Trent Business
George Ball Oxford, St. Catherine’s Materials Science
Sherwin Balloo Surrrey Automotive Engineering with Foundation Year
Asim Beere Bristol Geography
Adeeb Bisada Durham General Engineering
Harry Blanford Sheffield Mechanical Engineering with a Year in Industry
Ayush Bose Durham Mathematics
Philip Bowler Leeds Philosophy
Arthur Brett Leeds PPE
Alexander Bridle Bath Mechanical Engineering
Harvey Brooks Birmingham Economics
Christopher Brooksbank Nottingham Aerospace Engineering
Charles Buckingham Nottingham PPE
James Burns Portsmouth Sport and Exercise Psychology
Pradeep Buttar UCL Economics
Joel Cant Durham Chemistry
Alexander Carvell Post A Level Application
Lawrence Castle Imperial College Electronic and Information Engineering
Matthew Chan Exeter Flexible Combined Honours
Yingda Chen UCL Economics
Alfred Cherry KCL International Relations
Samuel Cherry Oxford, St. Edmund Hall Psychology and Philosophy
Richard Clayden Bath Spa Furniture and Product Design
William Cluff Bath Business
Niles Cole Durham Politics
Tyler Cookman Exeter English Law and French Law
Milo Coombs Durham Physics
Oliver Coto Edinburgh Spanish and Philosophy
Adam Cowan Post A Level
Edward Crook Nottingham Mathematics (4 years)
Matthew Curtis Newcastle Combined Honours
Utkarsh Dandanayak Post A Level Application
Benjamin de la Court-Wakeling
Cambridge, Downing Natural Sciences
Matthew Deatker Durham Combined Honours in Social Sciences
Hamish Dick Post A Level Application
Matthew Dodds Bath International Politics and Language (Spanish)
Jack Donnelly Nottingham Economics
Sean Donnelly Sheffield Economics
Edward John Earl Birmingham Biological Sciences
Joshua Edwicker Bristol Politics and International Relations
Thomas Eves Bath Economics and Mathematics
Alexander Facey Edinburgh Astrophysics
Yuntian Fang Imperial College Aeronautical Engineering
Jack Feakes Post A Level Application
Sam Finch Leeds Languages and Cultures
Ben Fitzpatrick Post A Level Application History and Management
Harry Foster Birmingham International Business with Language
Ewan Franklin Bath Architecture
Alexander Freeney Warwick PPE
Cameron Gardner Warwick Economics
Matthew Gaseltine Edinburgh Philosophy
Jonathan Gathercole Cambridge, Gonville and Caius Archaeology
Hemish Gholkar Post A Level Application
Nicholas Goatley Durham General Engineering
James Golding Bath Biomedical Sciences
Lucas Goldring Nottingham Economics
Alexander Graham Exeter Law
James Gray Bath Architecture
Luke Grivvell Exeter Modern Languages and Arabic
Joseph Gumbrell Durham Anthropology
Joshua Han Southampton Medicine
William Hand Durham Natural Sciences
Tom Hardy Nottingham Economics with Hispanic Studies
Matthew Harris Durham Mathematics
Patrick Henderson Nottingham Industrial Economics
Maximillian Herridge Imperial College Chemistry
Peter Heylen Cambridge, Corpus Christi Mathematics
Thomas Hill Cambridge, Emmanuel Engineering
Marcus Hinton Durham Modern Languages and Cultures
Sebastian Hockley LSE Management
Alasdair Hopwood Post A Level Application
Aneirin Horvath Loughborough Computer Science
Frederic Howse Nottingham Economics
Charles Hubbard Birmingham Political Science and International Relations
Sean Hunt UCL Urban Planning, Design and Management
Edward James Imperial College Mechanical Engineering
Harry Johnson Durham History
Alfie Johnson Newcastle Economics
William Jordan Durham English Literature
Owen Justice Edinburgh History
Bashaar Karim LSE Politics and Economics
William Kemsley Employment Training to be a pilot
Charles Kershaw Durham Combined Honours in Social Sciences
Thomas Koide UCL Biomedical Engineering
In Kyu Kwon Imperial College Aeronautical Engineering
Winston Laing Warwick PPE
Thomas Lindley Bath Politics with Economics
Thomas Loader Nottingham Trent Audio and Music Technology
Edward Long Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Veterinary Medicine
Freddie Lonie St Andrews International Relations
James Macdonald Leeds Physics
Jordan Martyn Nottingham Natural Sciences
Benjamin McCallion Edinburgh History and Economics
Jack McDonough Newcastle Geography and Planning
James McDougall Bristol Physics
Thomas McGillivray Oxford, Corpus Christi Classics
Patrick Merritt Manchester Drama and English Literature
James Millar Cambridge, Robinson Natural Sciences
Angus Miller UCL Medicine
James Miller Cambridge, Pembroke Natural Sciences
Ilhan Mosobbir Warwick Biological Sciences
Luke Nelson Warwick Modern Languages
Alexander Norris Oxford, St. John's Classics
Joshua Norton Durham Geography
George Osborne Leeds Arabic and Japanese
Jack Paulson Durham Geography
William Perceval Exeter Economics
Thomas Perceval Kent Architecture
Oliver Perkins Cambridge Economics
Dimitri Perricos Warwick Mathematics and Physics
Sam Perryman Durham General Engineering
James Pyper Edinburgh History
Conor Rajan Cambridge, Sidney Sussex Mathematics
Harry Relph Bristol Politics and Sociology
Balazs Rigo Sheffield Aerospace Engineering
James Riley Durham History
Kai Rohde Post A Level Application Business and Managaement
William Rozier UCFB Sports Management
Felix Rumler Durham Law
Anithiran Sathananthan Durham General Engineering
Lucas Savage Dyson Institute Engineering
Nicholas Scott Loughborough English with Digital Humanities
Alexander Shackleton Bath Physics
Jake Simms Exeter Flexible Combined Honours
Anushan Sivanathan LSE Politics and Economics
Jake Sloggett Nottingham Management
Callum Smith Birmingham Materials Science and Engineering
Henry Spence Edinburgh Philosophy and English Literature
Benjamin Stott Leeds Sport and Exercise Sciences
Jack Sweetbaum Newcastle Combined Honours
Oliver Sweetland Bath Modern Languages (French and Spanish)
Oliver Taylor Cambridge, Emmanuel Classics
Samuel Taylor Loughborough Automotive Engineering
Henry Thake Cambridge, Clare Natural Sciences
Alexander Tiplady Sussex Business and Management Studies
James Turner Southampton Electronic Engineering
Lawrence Turner Bristol Engineering Mathematics
Luke Turner Exeter Economics with Industrial Experience
Jake Turner
Cambridge, St Edmund’s English
William Vaughan Cambridge, Gonville and Caius Natural Sciences
Sachin Verma Bath Criminology
Syon Verma Post A Level
Charles Vincent Exeter Business and Management
Daniel Von Hanisch Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Artificial Intelligence
Max Walker Durham Liberal Arts
George Wallbank Bristol Economics
Samuel Warren Durham Mathematics
Etienne Westphal Exeter Civil Engineering
Henry White Exeter Philosophy
Matthew Williams Bath Natural Sciences
Thomas Wolfe Post A Level Application
Jonathan Wright Imperial College Chemical Engineering
Laurence Zahn Durham Philosophy
I am probably one of the least qualified people to write about Stewart, having worked with him for just three terms. Therefore, I will apologise in advance for only being able to touch on some of his many contributions to the School.
Stewart left a post as Head of Chemistry at Skegness Grammar School in 2009 to join the RGS Chemistry Department. This was a good move: warm southern climes better matched Stewart’s warmth of character, and the RGS benefitted immeasurably from his time with us. Notably, Stewart’s amiable disposition made him a splendid man to work with. He was generous and gentlemanly,
always finding time to help students and colleagues with great patience and humility. He was deeply empathetic and seemed always to know the right thing to say to cheer or commiserate, irrespective of his own circumstances. He was also professional and polite, and always quick to volunteer and contribute to the Department – provided whatever he was volunteering for did not involve ICT.
Yet, despite these traits, Stewart was far from inane. A dash of cheeky wit completed the cocktail of his character. Combined with his empathy and patience, such wit made him extremely popular with the students he taught. Indeed, they affectionately modified his initials to “SWAG”, and it is rare that a lesson goes by in which the Sixth Form students who were taught by Stewart at GCSE do not mention him with fondness. When I was a pupil I did not have the pleasure of being taught by ‘Mr Armstrong’, but I remember my peers speaking about him with admiration; Stewart’s appeal was timeless.
Thankfully, the pleasure of Stewart’s company was not restricted to the Chemistry Department, as Stewart’s co-curricular contributions were many and varied. He was an avid climber and enjoyed spending Monday period 8 showing students the ropes at the
climbing wall. No doubt, his asthenic and ectomorphic physique lent itself well to such an exploit. Moreover, Stewart was a stalwart of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, sacrificially giving up countless half terms and holidays to brave the wind and rain of the Brecon Beacons or the Lake District. The many students that Stewart has pointed in the right direction are, I’m sure, forever grateful that he was there.
Stewart also went well beyond his remit academically. His enthusiasm for Chemistry was compelling (current circumstances forbidding the word ‘infectious’), and he put time aside each week to read scientific literature including journals and textbooks. He was someone you could rely on for a scholarly answer to an intricate Chemistry question. It was therefore fitting that while he was at the RGS, Stewart also produced the 13+ scholarship papers.
I am sure that all who had the pleasure of working with Stewart are immensely grateful for his company and contributions over the last ten years. He will be missed, but we wish him a very happy retirement on whichever rockface or mountainside he chooses to spend it. Thank you, SWAG.
EDEand students across the School have benefitted from her care, concern, kindness and good sense in so many ways, but not least as a Form Tutor. Her skill in showing a lightness of touch in handling difficult issues along with her commitment to ensuring that Tutor Time was always used to enhance her tutees personal and social wellbeing was often commented on. So too was the joy and happiness that she encouraged and embodied in all her pastoral dealings.
commitment and creativity was palpable.
After two and a half years of exceptional service to the School and its students Flic Bains has moved on to a very well-deserved promotion as Head of Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at Frensham Heights. In that role she will be setting up the department and introducing GCSE and A-Level Religious Studies for the first time, and will be reunited with Laura Griffiths who left to join Frensham as their Deputy Head Academic eighteen months ago. The two of them will undoubtedly be a formidable team and the department that they create together will surely be a great success.
Flic achieved a phenomenal amount in her relatrively short time at the RGS,
The absolute passion for justice, decency and a sensitivity to the difficulties that others confronted led Flic to be a founding creator of RGS Pride. The whole School community, not just the students who attended Pride meetings and events, have reason to be deeply grateful to her for the tireless work she brought to campaigning, educating and awareness-raising on equality issues. There are students in the School, and who have left whose greater sense of personal happiness and acceptance and self-worth owe much to Flic’s role as a supportive and forceful ally.
Her energies were also brought to bear on Young Enterprise, where she worked with great success with Mrs Timberlake, supporting her and the Sixth Form participants with enthusiasm and wisdom. The joy that Flic took in the success that the students achieved, and her constant urging of them to achieve ever greater things through teamwork,
That Flic achieved this whilst giving such full focus to her lesson preparation, teaching and marking, says much for her stamina as well as her outstanding skill. As committed to her General RE classes as her exam groups, as rightly convinced of the importance of Junior School lessons as preparing Sixth Formers for university, Flic’s ability to explain ideas, engender fascination and enthusiasm in her students was inspiring. Her willingness to set so much time aside outside lessons to help those who needed more support, and to focus on the learning needs of each individual student, unsurprisingly made her not just remarkably successful but very popular.
We will miss her enormously in the Department: she brought a joie-de-vivre to the Base that could improve the gloomiest day. Perhaps her greatest social contribution was her speed of Googling the right answers when the team got through to Eagle Radio’s £1000 Minute quiz in the mornings: that, plus her never-ending knowledge of Boyzone and other 90s pop music were key to supplementing our salaries’ on a number of occasions! We are grateful for her friendship, compassion, wisdom and camaraderie, and wish her the very best of luck in all her endeavours at Frensham.
Sheila Copper joined the Classics Department as a part-time Classics teacher in September 2012. Sheila is a passionate Classicist and her enthusiasm
for the subject inspired her classes to reach their full potential. Her Greek and Latin A Level literature lessons were researched in minute detail and the Sixth Form students consistently raised their game to reach Shiela’s expectations. She helped remodel our teaching of the Oxbridge classes and her contribution to the preparation of these resources and her teaching of the lessons themselves were instrumental in the department’s success at preparing students for the Oxbridge interview process. Shiela likes nothing more than a trip to a good museum, and she staffed many trips to the British Museum, Bath or Fishbourne, often on her day off, where her enthusiasm was infectious and helped the students make the most of their experiences. Shiela was very generous with her time and every year she gave students who were in need extra lessons before School or in
lunch break to ensure that they had the best chance in their exams. The exam results of her classes were excellent and I am sure that her going this extra mile helped push up their grades. Mrs. Shiela always supported the Classics Society and regularly attended the evening and lunchtime talks, even taking notes to pass on any useful information to her classes. Finally, I thank Shiela for her advice to me as Head of Department. She has a wise head on her shoulders and her vast teaching and management experience gave her excellent insight and a quiet word in my ear when a problem needed solving was always gratefully received by me. Thank you Sheila for all your hard work, enthusiasm and generosity and I wish you and Iain a relaxing retirement in the lovely city of Salisbury.
It’s not an easy job hiring Economics teachers. By the time we resorted to Mr Cornwell, graduating with a First class degree from Exeter University, we had scoured the country far and wide in the search of someone with the high standards we demanded.
In his interview Matt was up against other experienced teachers and even
another Head of Department – it might come as some surprise that we offered the role to him (it was certainly surprise to Matt) – but it was a testament to the promise he showed in the classroom and his understanding of the RGS ethos that we wanted to give him a chance. After all, we knew his academics were good, having taught him a couple of years previously. No pressure there, then.
Matt quickly settled into life at school, and formed many close relationships. Mr Xuan proved a strong ally and they learned their teaching craft together. Mr Presley imparted Matt with the kind of wisdom only a more experienced member of staff could give. Mr Mullon helped Matt realise his considerable coaching potential on the hockey field. But it was another area of the school that provided Matt with the kind of satisfaction a career in the City never could – the opportunity to hone his considerable physique in the school gym.
Even though Matt was only with us for
a year, he managed to give others many happy memories. Top of our list was his thoughtfulness, baking a cheesecake for his Department having lost some meaningless football-related wager. On our downside, the cake was almost inedible, and perhaps more significantly Matt wrote his car off trying to stop the cheesecake sliding across the passenger seat on the way to School. Fortunately the car was half-owned by his brother Simon, who many members of staff will remember fondly.
We will all miss Matt a great deal. He had an easy charm in the classroom and proved to be impervious to all levels of mischief. We think he enjoyed his time here (he is a man of few words) and over time hope he will dwell on some of those other big life decisions that he has made and perhaps regretted. Firstly, is a cake more important than a car? Secondly, why admit you support Norwich Football Club when your boss supports Ipswich Football Club. And finally, is a life in the City all it is cracked up to be?
Shirley joined the School back in 2003 having previously been Deputy Head of department at Lord Wandsworth College – where she also ran the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. She fitted in immediately and has contributed almost limitless energy to the life of the School over the years.
Within the Mathematics Department Shirley was a friendly and reliable colleague whom others often asked for advice and that students were delighted
to have as a teacher. As a Tutor her students knew they could depend on her for support and advice and she always went the extra mile. She was tireless in offering students additional support and help with Mathematics, through catch-up sessions for those struggling and extra lessons for those wanting to do additional qualifications off the timetable. She had so many students coming to see her at one point that it seemed as though she was running a supplementary school in mornings and lunch times as an alternative offering to the RGS.
For many years Shirley ran the School’s Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. As a fervent adherent to the discomfort of sleeping in wet tents on stony ground, she was doubtless quite surprised to learn that Mr Yetman’s approach to camping included staff staying in a BandB and stocking up on a full English breakfast before they lectured the students on how to use a Trangia. The highlight of Shirley’s DofE career was no doubt the visit to Buckingham Palace to be presented with an award for running such a successful scheme.
Outside the classroom Shirley was also an avid distance runner and was often to be seen on a games afternoon encouraging the not-so-keen back markers to get a move on. At weekends, when not helping the School team at fixtures, she was raising small fortunes for charity by running individually in the London Marathon (rumours that students could exchange sponsorship for extended homework deadlines are, I am told, unsubstantiated) or making dozens of other teachers join in relay teams for the South Downs marathon. And her running legacy lives on in the recent creation of the Perrett Cup, a trophy for girls’ schools competing in the prestigious Haskell Cup event.
Shirley leaves the School having finally decided to stop teaching (she has prohibited the use of the word retirement) and spend more time with her family but she remains a close friend to colleagues and will be fondly remembered by a generation of students as an inspirational teacher and form tutor. We wish her all the best for the future.
Alex joined the RGS in 2008 as Head of English and he made a great impact not only in the English Department but in many other aspects of school life. Alex cut a dashing and memorable figure around the School, often in his bright red trousers or immaculate Army uniform. He had a great rapport with his
students and his lessons are remembered fondly by his students, both for the academic content and his non-academic discussions as Alex loved to go off topic! He enjoyed, in particular, teaching the more senior students and having wide-ranging discussions and debates with his classes. Always keen to raise the profile of his department, Alex’s poetry recitations in assembly each National Poetry Day were particularly memorable. Occasionally cheeky, and often anything but subtle in their metaphorical connotations, the poems he selected would never fail to have the students amused and enthused about poetry. Alex will be remembered for his courtesy, his support for colleagues both in his department and in the Common Room as a whole, and for his honesty. If you asked him in passing how he was, he would always reply with refreshing honesty, a rare quality! Alex cared passionately for students and staff alike. He was the union representative for the Common Room, and was unfailingly generous with his time whenever
colleagues needed some advice or help. Alex instigated the RGS Pride Society and his involvement and support raised awareness and understanding in the wider community of the School. Alex was a valued member of the CCF Army Section and he willingly took part in Field Days, training the students in field craft and weapons handling. Alex was always good company on school trips and he gave generously of his time in the holidays. I recall a memorable Classics trip to Rome and the Bay of Naples, on which his lively conversation and enthusiasm about the classical sites, made him a firm favourite with the students and staff alike. He has worked selflessly for the benefit of both staff and students in a variety of roles and his generosity of spirit and good humour will be sorely missed by the Common Room. I wish Alex and his family all the best for the future.
It was with great sadness that, deep in lockdown, I received a reference request from Queen Mary’s College in Basingstoke for Ash Shakeri. It was even sadder for me that, when writing down all the positives about him, I knew he would get the job, and I would lose an invaluable departmental colleague and a seriously good friend. So what did I write?
Ash is a supremely intelligent man, whether it be talking about current affairs, about legal issues or even the inanities of popular culture – his ability to cut through the obfuscation, to see the ‘truth’, always made him a superb critical friend. And it was with this same clarity of thought that I was also able to see him teach fantastic lessons week in, week out, enriching RGS students’ academic lives with the highest quality of A Level delivery.
On top of this, Ash is acerbic, witty and perceptive. Our regular 7.30am chats always made the start of the day enjoyable, again whatever the topic. This similarly littered his lessons, with the students in no doubt of his affection for them, often best reflected in him sharing with them anecdotes of his own experiences (funny and sad!), and him allowing them to call him Big Shak on occasion! The very best teachers reveal their personalities to their charges, and I know that Ash’s students always saw the real person in every interaction with him.
Lastly, Ash makes a superb colleague, although perhaps most when you could match his sharp tongue! He was always my first port of call when it came to strategic decisions, and also without fail when I struggled with an IT issue! He was a significant supportive asset to the wider school too, as International Links Coordinator, thereby enabling dozens of students to be taken out of their comfort zones of the ‘Surrey Bubble’ and explore cultures alien to them, most notably in Cambodia; or when taking students in a variety of sporting activities – oh how we laughed when he completed a rugby qualification, but this again meant more RGS students could then enjoy the benefits of team sport.
It is always a cliché to say that ‘their gain is our loss’ – but, for me, this sincerely is the case, and whilst I wish him all the best in Hampshire, I will forever miss his presence over the border from my desk.
Though only at the School for a relatively short time, Dr Thakrey enhanced the musical life of the RGS enormously and she will be greatly missed. She was, of course,
DENISE WALSH
Denise joined the RGS as Library Assistant in September 1993, at a time of new beginnings, as the Mallison Library had recently moved from School Room to its present location at the top of the New Building and had adopted a computerised library catalogue. In the twenty-seven years that followed, Denise was to be a constant, stable point in a sea of change as windows, doors, partitions and librarians came and went around her.
On no fewer than five occasions she had to look after the Library on her own for significant periods due to the Librarian’s long term absence: the entire Michaelmas Term after Alison Hurst’s resignation in 2003, and three terms after Jean Piwowar left the School in 2008. At these times Denise stepped up to the task with great dedication, working during the holidays and taking on tasks above and beyond her usual work, including teaching the
an extremely able classroom teacher with a first rate grasp of the subject, but it was the extraordinary rapport she developed with the students, her willingness to go the extra mile and a real sense that she cared for her students that were the hallmarks of her success. She was only part-time, but it quickly became apparent that she was a key member of the Department and she grasped every opportunity to introduce new ensembles and groups so that as many students as possible would get the chance to shine musically. Under her direction the Senior Wind Quintet gave some outstanding performances and the completely new Swing Band that she formed quickly became one of the School’s most prestigious musical groups. She used every minute of the day to share her love of music with the students. Covid has much to answer for and the
educational landscape has changed beyond all recognition. It was a tragedy that the lock-down in March meant that Dr Thakrey’s most ambitious project, a full staging of Britten’s Noyes Flude in Guildford Cathedral, a performance that would have involved huge forces from both the RGS and the larger Guildford Community, was abandoned. This would undoubtedly have been extraordinary event and a fitting tribute to a remarkable musician and teacher who was with us for far too short a time.
We wish Dr Thakrey and her family all good wishes for the next exciting chapter in their lives as they move to Shanghai where her husband Peter is taking up the role of Deputy Headmaster at Harrow School.
library skills lessons, to ensure that the School continued to benefit from as full a library service as possible. Denise was justifiably proud of meeting the challenge which she was set on these occasions. When I became Librarian in April 2009, knowing that the post had been vacant for a year, I was somewhat apprehensive of what I might find, but Denise had kept the Library running like clockwork.
Despite the occasions when Denise had to take full charge of the Library, however, the work of the Library Assistant is often repetitive: shelving, tidying, covering, labelling and repairing books; checking loans in and out, leading to more shelving and tidying; helping students to find things; troubleshooting the photocopier; and a lot of pushing chairs in. Denise dealt with all these capably and efficiently, while also helping with inquiries, supervising students working in the Library, and familiarising herself with the expanding collection of digital resources.
In her early years at the School Denise was also regularly released from the library and put to a variety of non-Library tasks such as copying handwritten paper sheets of student grades into the School’s new computerised records, entering data from parent surveys and stuffing envelopes with information for OGs. She said later that she enjoyed having the chance to spend a couple of days sitting in in a beautiful room in the Old Building to do such tasks.
All her years interacting with library users meant that Denise retained an encyclopaedic memory of former students and staff; at recent Open Days she recognised more than one father visiting with his school-aged son! This knowledge was invaluable to her work maintaining the School scrapbook, as she sought out and disseminated reports of alumni from around the world, as well as recording school publications of all types for the Archive. As print news became outweighed by digital reports this became more challenging, but Denise adopted ingenious ways of storing less traditional “cuttings”.
Perhaps it is because much of Denise’s work was the essential nitty gritty which is required to keep a Library service running that she is best remembered by many for her imaginative and wholehearted approach to World Book Day. Most people will think that the high point was her appearance as Miss Marple in 2017 - dress, hair and mannerisms were all off to a T and she even answered the phone in character – although her appearance as Mrs Durrell two years later was also superb. She probably would have liked the theme one year to have been her beloved Jane Austen and I apologise for not having made this a reality during her time here. Her retirement will give her the time to do more of the things that she enjoys, and I wish her and Martin every happiness in Eastbourne.
