The Bulletin 247 by RGS Guildford

FROM THE HEADMASTER

As the poet Robert Laurence Binyon wrote in his poem entitled For the Fallen, published in The Times on 21st September 1914, and now synonymous with the spirit of remembrance: “They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

The School provides enduring memorials to ensure we will, indeed, remember them. The board in Big School, individually names the 58 Old Guildfordians who tragically lost their lives between 1914 – 18; a further 96 are recorded on the board commemorating 1939 – 45 in the same historic location. In addition to these very visible records, our annual Remembrance Service provides the opportunity for the School to come together to acknowledge our debt to those who served in the World Wars and in recent conflict, and to reflect upon their sacrifices. This sense of connection becomes ever more important. As the First World War becomes increasingly ancient history for our students and as the number of survivors of that period dwindle, it is all the more critical that our young people understand the significance of the act of remembrance. This message was powerfully brought home by the crosses which were placed on the Headmaster’s Lawn. 58 crosses represented each one of our Old Guildfordians who died in the First World War: the youngest being just 18, the same age as some of our Upper Sixth Form students. These crosses depicted individuals who, as I mentioned to the School at our service, “walked the same corridors as you; had the same dreams and aspirations as you; and whose loss of life was a source of devastation for their friends, families and the School alike.” To recognise the link between generations, the name and age of those who died was handwritten on each cross by a current RGS student.

Against the context of terrible suffering, loss of life and humanitarian crises, as the result of conflict, which continues to dominate our news at the moment, the desire for peace could not be more pertinent. As Lower Sixth Form student Adrian Groenewald, who delivered the address, so eloquently articulated:,

“Today, let us recognise the privilege we have as students of this school and pledge to appreciate this with humility, understanding that we will bear the responsibility, as generations have before us, to uphold the values they sacrificed themselves to fight for, and to ensure that the tragedies of the World Wars are never again repeated.

As we reflect on Reg Oakley [an Old Guildfordian who died in the Battle of the Somme aged just 23] and countless others like him, let us honour not only their bravery in battle, but also their stories, their aspirations, and the everyday lives they left behind.

…walked the same corridors as you; had the same dreams and aspirations as you… “ ”

A moving and very personal service proved thought provoking and emotive for students, staff and Old Guildfordians alike. Despite the famous lines quoted above, it is perhaps the lesser known parts of the same poem by Binyon, however, which resonate for us as a school. The poet notes the youthful tragedy of the war losses: “They went with songs to the battle, they were young, straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow ” This only serves to make the impact of their deaths all the more acute: “They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; they sit no more at familiar tables of home ”

As Adrian concluded in his address: “Therefore may we, as the Old Guildfordians of tomorrow, strive to build a world worthy of the lives they gave, one grounded in peace, in compassion, and in mutual understanding. A world where one day, ordinary people, no matter where they live or what their stories may be, never have to be scarred by the futility that is war. If we cannot do this, we will have failed them.”

As the boards in Big School commemorate and as Binyon said, “We will remember them ”

INCLUSIVITY

SCHOLARSHIP INTEGRITY RESPECT COURAGE COLLABORATION

OUR VALUES

SCHOOL PRIORITIES 2022-2025

Our current RGS school development priorities are Collaboration, Student Experience and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. These priorities are in the final year of our three-year cycle.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

We have focused on responding to student and staff voice, as well as experienced external providers, to inform our strategy which is currently centred around developing a more inclusive curriculum; staff diversity; and providing additional training and support for staff and students with the aim of making our whole community more tolerant and inclusive.

COLLABORATION

We are focusing on four areas: staff collaboration to develop and improve teaching and learning; sharing best practice between RGS and RGS Prep; co-educational opportunities and links for our students socially and academically; and linking with our international schools to provide students with cultural and academic enrichment opportunities.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

This is always an area of continual development; however, our current focuses are on student appearance; the reporting process; academic tracking and reporting; co-curricular participation; literacy; pastoral support; reviewing the Sixth Form curriculum provision; and effective use of student devices and the possibilities that AI offers.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Registration

We continue to be grateful to you, as parents, for your support with registration. Keeping your sons safe and accounted for is always one of our highest priorities. We would ask for your support in the following aspects.

Please always copy in rgs-office@rgsg.co.uk, as well as your son’s Tutor, to any illness, medical/dental appointment or absence requests which are sent to relevant staff members.

In the event of illness, the School must be notified on every day of absence.

We will not authorise absence requests sent in via the student themselves. Communication must come from a parent/guardian.

Permission must be sought from the Headmaster for an absence lasting a whole day or more, with as much notice as possible.

Monday 18 November

Independent Learning Assignment (ILA) and Original Research in Science (ORIS) Celebration Evening in the Auditorium.

RGS Rock at The Boileroom.

Wednesday 20 November

Fourth Form Parents’ Evening takes place online. Junior Piano Concert in the Recital Room.

Wednesday 27 November

Orchestral Concert in Holy Trinity Church.

Thursday 28 – Saturday 30 November

Middle School Drama production, The Canterbury Tales, in the Auditorium.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS

LATEST NEWS

DEBATING

In the first regional heat of the national ESU debating competition, the RGS hosted six schools. The RGS Sixth Form team comprising, Ayaan Bhagat, Cameron Brown and Daniel Ward had to propose a four-day school week, in a debate where they were pitted against Charterhouse School. The students argued with style and enthusiasm, putting forward a number of compelling reasons. The ESU judges were so impressed with both sides that both the RGS and Charterhouse were put through to the next round of the competition.

TRIPS

Over half term, RGS students were involved in trips and expeditions, locally and internationally, of an academic, cultural and adventurous nature. These included: the inaugural Tübingen German exchange trip; the Economics trip to the Netherlands and Belgium; the History trip to Berlin; and the Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh practice expeditions to the New Forest and Dartmoor.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE

RGS MUN V saw the RGS hosting and welcoming approximately 240 students from 20 schools to our annual conference. Numerous complicated and controversial topics were debated throughout the day with rigour and enthusiasm, including: protecting South America’s biodiversity; warfare in Sudan; singleuse plastics; and human rights violations in Chechnya to name just a few. Our students from all year groups, including those new to MUN, conducted themselves admirably, taking the topics seriously whilst also embodying the School’s values of scholarship, respect, courage and collaboration.

SPORTS NEWS

CROSS-COUNTRY

Our Junior and Inter teams participated in the regional finals of the ESAA Cup at Judd School. Our Junior team competed very well in a strong field with Sam Foster finishing second and Etienne Victor finishing fifth (in a field of over 100 runners); overall, our team finished seventh out of 17 schools. The Inter team stayed together as a pack, with the top four finishing almost together in the top 40; George Holmwood was our first runner home to help the team finish ninth.

CHESS

Ronit Sachdeva represented England at the 11th Chessmates International Tournament in Tallinn, Estonia, in a six-nation European tournament. Ronit joined a talented group of players from England for a round-robin tournament featuring six strong teams from Germany, France, Ireland, Estonia, and the Netherlands, all competing at the historic Paul Keres House in Tallinn's Old Town. Ronit had an impressive performance, ending with one win, three draws, and one loss, scoring 2.5 out of 5 while playing on Board 2 for the Under-20 team. England achieved a fantastic second-place finish, winning a silver medal: their best ever result in this competition.

SPORT SHORTS

In other sporting news, the Under 18 ultimate frisbee team continued to develop as they emerged as winners of a highly-competitive tournament in Windsor: the School’s first ever tournament victory. In the final moments of the game, Navin Sivayoganathan secured the points to see them over the line. In table tennis, the RGS team competed in the first round of the Under 13 Table Tennis Cup. The A team won all four of their games, winning the competition and booking their place in the next round of the cup; Flynn Schmittat and Toby Clark remained undefeated throughout.

FOOTBALL

In Round 2 of the ISFA National Cup our 1st XI secured an excellent 3 – 2 victory against Bryanston School with goals from Dennis Dimov, Marcus Woodhouse and Dan Yates

RUGBY

18 RGS rugby sides took to the field in our first competitive matches in four weeks. The Under 14 – 18 teams were in action against Reed’s School, while our Under 12 and Under 13 teams were involved in a closely-contested block with Reading Blue Coat School. It was a highly successful block with just one defeat stopping a clean sweep of victories against Reed’s. Highlights included a 52 – 0 victory for the 1st XV as RGS teams ran in a significant number of tries in all the fixtures: certainly free-flowing, attacking entertainment for the many spectators! The Under 13s and Under 12s continued a successful weekend, also suffering just one defeat against Reading Blue Coat and averaging 35 points per game.