The Guildfordian_2024

THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE SINCE 1891 I THE ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL

The Future ofAI

FOCUS I ENGAGE I LEARN

oreword

I have to confess that I felt a pang of guilt as I typed into Copilot, Should I ask AI to write the Headmaster’s introduction to the school magazine? Within mere seconds, however, the response came,

“It’s perfectly fine to use Copilot for writing tasks like the Headmaster’s introduction to the school magazine. It can be a smart and efficient way to get started. Copilot can help you draft a well-structured and engaging introduction, which you can then review and personalize to ensure it aligns with the Headmaster’s voice and the school’s values.”

If I needed any convincing or reassuring, this was simply the perfect response! Surely, after all, it is the perfect way to craft a Foreword to a publication which is devoted to AI? And yet, despite a mounting things-to-do list, a nagging sense of hesitation and reluctance made me rethink. On one level there was an attraction of being the first Headmaster in the School’s rich 500-year history to use a professional speech writer and an ‘artificial’ one at that; however, it simply felt wrong. And on reflection as to why, it comes down to the sense of honesty, integrity and authenticity. We speak at length at the RGS about the importance of individuality: each one of us is unique and we should celebrate that distinctive nature. And yet, in contrast, a response to a question like this inevitably results in AI steering us to think along similar lines, to approach things in the same way, to lose something of the idiosyncrasies which define us.

AI is a phenomenally exciting innovation for schools, something with which we at the RGS are embracing and increasingly experimenting. The world our students inhabit is worlds away from thedustytomesofVictorian education and it is all the more exciting as a result. Our young students are embracing technology in a manner unlike any generation before them and the possibilities which lie ahead of them are endless. And that is why this is such an exciting phase and, as this edition of The Guildfordian illustrates, AI is now an establishing, and increasingly established, part of theeducationallandscape.

I offer my sincere thanks to all those who have contributed to such a fulfilling and enjoyable year at the RGS: students, staff, parents and governors alike. I would also like to express my genuine gratitude to Mrs Webb who has produced such an inspiring and varied edition of The Guildfordian; I very much hope you enjoy reading it as much as Ihave.

Dr JM Cox Headmaster

INCLUSIVITY

We remain loyal to our founding principles to educate bright local students, irrespective of background or financial circumstances, and we inherently believe in establishing a culture of diversity and acceptance, and in educating our students in a welcoming, tolerant community where each individual is valued and enjoys a deep sense of belonging.

SCHOLARSHIP

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.

INTEGRITY

We promote the development of self-discipline and responsibility, spirituality and a personal moral code, and cultivate an ethos where enduring qualities of decency, honesty, courtesy, humility and good humour are celebrated.

RESPECT

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.

COURAGE

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.

COLLABORATION

We work closely with others for mutual enrichment, and encourage a spirit of generosity and service, a sense of perspective, and a firm belief that we can work in partnership with others, locally and internationally, to make a difference and have a positive impact on society.

of Opinions

ACADEMIC Round-up from the Departments

A Year in the Library

THE CREATIVE ARTS

Round-up from the Departments 113 HOUSES

Round-up from the Houses

Round-up from the Games Department 138 COURAGE

Co-Curricular Activities CCF 154 SCHOLARSHIP

Prizewinners Academic Scholarships

University Destinations

Business Enterprise Charity and Volunteering Partnerships and Outreach 175 INCLUSIVITY Development and Alumni

CAPTAIN’S FAREWELL Reflection from the School Captain

Cover Illustration by Will Bell 5N

With thanks to Mr JW Pressley, Miss S Morley and Miss JE Marchington

Title pictures by The Photography Society Design, artwork and editing by Mrs GM Webb Printing by Colourgraphic Arts

SALVETE

MRS M AMBRIDGE Teacher of Chemistry

Where did you go to college or university?

I went to three: University of Exeter, University of Southern Mississippi, and University of Bath.

What would the title of your autobiography be? It’s taking me too long to think of a suitable one! Time is of the Essence…

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

Sadly, I’ve not met any famous people or been on TV, but I went to the same College as Horatio Nelson and Steven Fry (although not at the same time, obviously!). That’s about as close to fame as I get.

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. It’s a thoughtprovoking and relatable book based on a character who has the chance to experience her life as if she had made different choices.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

There’s no time like the present!

What is the best advice you have ever heard? Sometimes, it’s better done than perfect.

MRS

LF

DUPONT Teacher of Music

Where did you go to college or university?

Trinity College of Music.

What would the title of your autobiography be? Notes of an Island Girl (I grew up on the sunny Isle of Wight!)

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

As a singer I’ve been lucky to perform with quite a few famous musicians. One of the most fun moments was performing backing vocals for Basement Jaxx.

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

Any Human Heart by William Boyd. The book follows the life story of Logan Mountstuart across the decades of the 20th Century. The storytelling, emotional depth and the adventures Logan had along the way had me hooked!

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

Renaissance Italy would obviously be amazing - the art, architecture and vibrant culture. On the whole though, I’m very happy living in the present!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

Appreciate the present and make the most of each day. Moments with loved ones are the memories that last a lifetime.

MR

JE GAMBLE Teacher of Religion and Philosophy

Where did you go to college or university? Durham University (Grey College).

What would the title of your autobiography be? Finding Meaning.

What is your 15 minutes of fame? Cristiano Ronaldo took a selfie with me.

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

The Thursday Murder Club book series by Richard Osman.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

Pandemic sunrise surfing on an empty Mawgan Porth beach, Cornwall.

What is the best advice you have ever heard? You don't rise to the heights of your goals; you fall to the consistency of your systems. [James Clear, Atomic Habits]

MRS MJ KINGDON Admissions Assistant

Where did you go to college or university?

University of Birmingham.

What would the title of your autobiography be? Tall Stories.

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

Being in the lift at work when the cable snapped and having to be rescued by firemen.

What book or film have you recently read/seen? Wicked Little Letters - comedy and crime - a winner!

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

The building of the pyramids.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

Never look back.

MRS V LEWIS

Teacher of French and German

Where did you go to college or university?

I went to the University of Southern Denmark in Haderslev.

What would the title of your autobiography be? Will England Be the Last Country She's Moved To?

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

I'm still waiting for my moment of fame.

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

Das Leben der Anderen (The life of others). The film is about the police in Eastern Germany, when Germany was still divided and gives you an idea of how the life was back then, plus great actors and actresses.

MR ST MAIDEN Chief Strategy Officer

Where did you go to college or university?

I studied Modern History at New College, Oxford.

What would the title of your autobiography be?

I’m known for my love of food so either A Life in Carbs or Are You Going to Finish That?

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

Standing for photographs outside No.10 when working on a project to help set up the World Dementia Council.

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

Walking the Americas by Levison Wood. Adventure travel on a scale I could never cope with in real life!

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

I would go back to the moment I sat on the train to start my gap year in Australia on the way to the airport. With no plans for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow or after that. Just live the day and create unforgettable memories in an incredible place.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

Do it your way. Your way is the best way YOU can do it, you don't need to copy anyone else.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

VE Day. The sense of relief and optimism for the future must have been incredible.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

Do your best and leave the rest (from my mum).

MRS EC MASON Student Wellbeing Practitioner

Where did you go to college or university?

Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts/Royal Holloway, University of London.

What would the title of your autobiography be?

I’m Not Dramatic, I’m Theatrical

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

At drama school, Richard Wilson was directing our last term show, and chose me to be the person that woke him from his daily lunch time nap.

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

I have recently re-read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens which is my favourite book.

MRS J McMILLAN Teacher of Learning Support

Where did you go to college or university? University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

What would the title of your autobiography be? I Did My Best.

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

I won a creative writing competition when I was 10!

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

Everything Everywhere All At Once - a thought-provoking, intriguing film about an alternate universe.

MISS S MORLEY Exams Officer

Where did you go to college or university?

St Mary's University, Twickenham to study Sports Coaching Science.

What would the title of your autobiography be? The Malteaser

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

Walking into HRH The Queen and not recognising her at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

I would love to experience a show at the Globe back in the early 1600’s (although would not want to experience much else).

What is the best advice you have ever heard? Do things with grace. It costs nothing.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

Jane Austen is one of my favourite authors and I would like to meet her for afternoon tea in around 1800.

What is the best advice you have ever heard? What other people think about you is none of your business!

What book or film have you recently read/seen? Kammy by Chris Kamara.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

2010 so I could change a few decisions I made.

What is the best advice you have ever heard? Be kind to yourself but challenge yourself regularly.

MRS GT NEWMAN

Administrative Assistant to Deputy and Assistant Heads

Where did you go to college or university?

Spent a year studying in France after my A Levels and then started working.

What would the title of your autobiography be? Time for Tea and a Chat?

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

I met the Queen and gave her some flowers.

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

I saw Lee at the cinema recently starring Kate Winslet as WWII journalist Lee Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine.

MR K PATEL Teacher of Mathematics

Where did you go to college or university? University of Southampton.

What would the title of your autobiography be? 888.

What is your 15 minutes of fame? None.

What book or film have you recently read/seen? Oppenheimer - One interesting viewpoint of events from history.

MISS VCF PATERSON Teacher of Classics

Where did you go to college or university? Durham University.

What would the title of your autobiography be? But First, Coffee.

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

I was interviewed on BBC radio about a history experience I helped curate at a local museum.

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

Going Postal by Sir Terry Pratchett. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to laugh while being reminded about the magic of posted letters!

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

The Regency Period - I love all things Jane Austen.

What is the best advice you have ever heard? Treat people as you would like to be treated.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

The age of the dinosaurs, to see the wonders that ruled the earth with no humans around.

What is the best advice you have ever heard? Don't be upset by the result you didn't get, from the work you didn't do.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

Definitely the Library of Alexandria!

What is the best advice you have ever heard? Turn it off then on again.

MISS HM RECORD Teacher of Mathematics

Where did you go to college or university?

The University of Bath.

What would the title of your autobiography be? Worthy.

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

Meeting Neil Patrick Harris and presenting my architectural model to him while working on the design for his House.

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, I couldn’t put it down!

DR PV SHAHOV

Assistant Director of Music and Head of Academic Music

Where did you go to college or university?

Royal College of Music and Royal Holloway University of London.

What would the title of your autobiography be?

Music is for Everyone.

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

Being a guest of BBC Radio 3 In Tune programme.

What book or film have you recently read/seen?

The film Atlantics by the French/Senegalese director Mati Diop; breathtaking images and a beautifully told story.

MR BJK TURVILL

Teacher of Religion and Philosophy

Where did you go to college or university? Oxford and GSA.

What would the title of your autobiography be?

Script to Scripture: My Journey from the Stage to the RS Classroom.

What is your 15 minutes of fame?

When I was interviewed by Brazilian TV about the Queen’s death.

What book or film have you recently read/seen and why would you recommend it? (title and author)

Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro: a heartbreaking exploration of Britain’s class structure.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

1985, I’d go and see Queen performing their set at Wembley for Live Aid.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

You can only ever live in today so stay in the moment and take it one day at a time.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

Paris in the 1910s; so much courageous art and music was created at that time...

What is the best advice you have ever heard? A problem shared is a problem halved.

If you could go back to any moment in time, when would it be and why?

I would watch the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. We can’t work out how they did it, so it would be good to know!

What is the best advice you have ever heard? You only live once.

Daniel Job 3S

The Future of AI in Schools

As Gen Z and Generation Alpha grow up surrounded by technology and AI, it's crucial to educate them about these advancements. Despite their familiarity with smartphones, tablets, and personal computers, many are unaware of what AI is and how it works. Weak AI, the most common type of AI used today, is used in algorithms that predict responses, such as social media recommendations based on user interests. Additionally, AI powers popular smart home systems like Alexa and Siri. By understanding AI, younger generations can better navigate the technology they interact with daily and prepare for the future ahead.

Mrs GM Webb

AI in schools written by AI

Prompt:

Write me a paragraph introduction to AI in schools. Focused on the challenges and opportunities posed. Aim for language suitable for older teenagers.

Certainly! Artificial Intelligence (AI) is like a spark of modern innovation, akin to the ancient myth of Prometheus bringing fire to humanity. In education, AI presents both exciting opportunities and complex challenges. Let’s explore them:

Opportunities:

• Personalized Learning: AI can tailor educational content to individual students, adapting to their pace and learning style.

• Efficiency: Automating administrative tasks allows teachers to focus more on teaching.

• Data-Driven Insights: AI analyzes student performance data, helping educators identify areas for improvement.

• Global Access: AI-powered online platforms democratize education, reaching learners worldwide.

Challenges:

• Equity: Ensuring AI benefits all students, regardless of socio-economic background or location.

• Teacher Training: Educators need digital skills to integrate AI effectively into their teaching.

• Data Quality: Reliable data is crucial for AI systems; poor data can lead to biased outcomes.

• Ethics and Privacy: Balancing data-driven insights with student privacy and ethical considerations. Copilot chat (balanced mode)

Introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) into schools presents a thrilling opportunities for both educators and students. On one hand, AI offers a gateway to personalized learning experiences, enabling lessons to adapt to each student's unique pace and style, thereby making education more engaging and effective. It also opens doors to understanding complex global issues through data analysis and simulation, preparing students for future careers in a tech-driven world. On the flip side, integrating AI into classrooms demands robust digital infrastructure, teacher training, and ethical considerations, such as data privacy and the digital divide. Navigating these waters requires a collaborative effort to harness AI's potential while addressing its challenges, ensuring that it acts as a tool for empowerment and inclusivity rather than inequality.

SchoolAI.com

We asked three year groups to comment on AI:

Have you used AI? If so, what did you use it for and on which sites?

(E.g. Maps and Navigation, Facial Detection and Recognition, Text Editors or Auto correct, Search and Recommendation Algorithms, Chatbots, Digital Assistants, Social Media.)

Y2 Yes, in English lessons when Mr Amis asks me to, and I usually use Perplexity AI or something similar.

Yes, I have used AI to do image generating in DT for our work.

I have used AI in English to help with the work. (With the teachers permission).

Y5 Yes, to help me make a script for a presentation in RE on Chat GPT.

Facial detection to unlock phone and Amazon Alexa.

Yes, I have used Chat GPT as a search engine, even though it doesn't always have accurate answers for the blunt answers it provides. I've also, of course, made use of auto correct and facial recognition software on my phone but I do not think these systems are actually AI.

U6 I have used AI to summarise extracts and to provide inspiration for essay writing.

Face ID, maps auto-correct and Chat GPT. Chatbot.

What positive ways, in which AI could affect education in the future, do you consider to be the most important?

Y2 It could be used to give ideas to teachers and students for important things.

Helping us with things like image generation to help spark ideas in future work.

It can help think of ideas that people would have a harder time with.

Y5 It could help to give ideas on what to write in an essay but not write it for you.

Finding the relevant articles for my work.

The way AI could choose presentation of information to students. e.g. Instead of cherry picking information from a lengthy article AI could create readable list of points depending on what you are looking for.

U6 Saving time, more efficient systems and less human error.

Could help students revision if used effectively. Research tools - initial surface level research.

Create an illustration to show people relying on AI too much. Loss of lower skilled jobs leading to a further imbalance between the rich and poor families. Art Deco style.

Left: Generated in Microsoft Design

Above: Generated in Copilot

What negative ways, in which AI could affect education in the future, do you consider to be the most important?

It could help people to completely cheat on something, such as asking it to write an entire essay.

To cheat during homework.

Students could use it in the wrong way, and be too reliant on it.

If people use it to do their work it won't help you.

A mass use of Chat GPT in essays. It could encourage plagiarism.

Over reliance on AI leads to loss of skills.

Laziness and cheating.

Finding the answers without putting in the work which effects learning.

Create an illustration to show massive use of AI in the future could arguably increase both quality and quantity of labour resulting in an increase of the productive potential of the economy. Industrial futuristic style. No text.

Above: Generated in Microsoft Design Right: Generated in Copilot

What do you think are the consequences of the massive use of AI in the future (not just in education)?

There are goods and bads, the goods being that it could help people in daily life and tasks, and the negatives are that humanity could be sort of consumed by it.

We could become too reliant on it and that when we have to search the internet a bit more for an answer to a complex topic/matter we struggle.

It could help fix big issues in the world, but it can make some matters worse, if it is used for the wrong thing.

Humans become less creative.

People relying on AI too much. Loss of lower skilled jobs leading to a further imbalance between the rich and poor families.

Mass automisation and a lack of human attachment to interests and people.

If someone hacks into the system whole economies shut down.

A shift outwards in long run aggregate supply (LRAS), as a massive use of AI in the future could arguably increase both quality and quantity of labour resulting in an increase of the productive potential of the economy.

Levelling out of skills and removing incentives to work in traditional education systems. Increasing inequality if the Northbound Interface (NBI) is introduced due to failing numbers of human jobs.

Balancing AI's benefits with its potential drawbacks will be crucial in harnessing its full potential to enrich education while maintaining the core values of academic honesty and intellectual growth.

In summary Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming an integral part of the educational landscape, offering a range of tools and applications that can enhance learning and teaching experiences. In English classes, AI like Perplexity AI supports students with classwork, often under teacher supervision, suggesting a collaborative approach to AI-assisted learning. Similarly, in Design Technology, AI's capability to generate images bolsters creative projects, allowing students to visualize and bring to life abstract concepts. The scripting of presentations in Religious Education demonstrates AI's versatility in accommodating diverse subject matters.

In personal use scenarios, AI's presence is evident in daily tasks such as facial recognition for phone security, voice-activated assistants for home automation, and GPS for navigation, showcasing its pervasive influence on modern life. Despite concerns regarding AI's accuracy and ethical considerations, its utility as a search engine and grammar checker underscores its role in streamlining information processing and enhancing communication skills.

The transformative potential of AI in education lies in its ability to tailor learning experiences to individual needs, thereby promoting a more inclusive and effective educational environment. AI's capacity to generate novel ideas can stimulate innovation in educational content creation, encouraging both educators and learners to explore new pedagogical frontiers. Furthermore, AI's efficiency in organizing and summarizing information can aid in research and study, making complex topics more accessible. However, the integration of AI in education is not without its challenges. The ease with which AI can assist in completing assignments raises concerns about academic integrity and the potential for cheating. This underscores the need for ethical guidelines and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that AI is used responsibly in educational settings. Balancing AI's benefits with its potential drawbacks will be crucial in harnessing its full potential to enrich education while maintaining the core values of academic honesty and intellectual growth.

Generated by AI

ACADEMIC

Mathematics

Another busy year for the Department, fresh off a summer that saw 155 GCSE entrants, 82 Further Mathematics GCSE entrants, 116 A Level Mathematics entrants and 37 A Level Further Mathematics entrants, with the most common grade in all qualifications being 9 and A* respectively.

Challenges and Competitions

There was great success in the UKMT Mathematics challenges, which over half a million students take part in nationally.

Our Junior students achieved 46 Gold awards. In subsequent rounds, there were 13 Merits in the Kangaroo and Rajvir Mangat 2S achieved a Merit in the Olympiad.

At intermediate level, students achieved 47 Golds, with six achieving Merits in subsequent Kangaroo rounds, three Merits in Olympiads and Yuvan Raja 5B earning a Distinction, Gold medal and book prize in the Intermediate Olympiad.

In the Senior Challenge, students achieved 36 Golds, with 7 Merits in subsequent Kangaroo rounds. In the British Mathematics Olympiad

(BMO1), William Fish U6-9 and Freddie Weir U6-5 achieved Merits and Yuvan Raja 5B and Henry Franke U6-1 achieved Distinctions. Yuvan then went on to receive a Distinction in the follow-up round (BMO2), a round only around 100 students nationally qualify for!

City of London Freemen’s School hosted the Guildford Schools Mathematics Competition this year, with all of our teams placing in medal positions, and our Fifth Form team winning their section.

House Mathematics also ran again this year, with Mr Baker’s Valpy emerging as overall champions.

Masterclasses

During the Michaelmas term, the Department put on eight sessions for primary school children covering Coding, Fibonacci Numbers, Probability and Number Systems. It was great to see so many young minds doing Mathematics purely for their own enjoyment, and particularly to have a split of 25 girls and 25 boys.

Masterclasses

Lunchtime Clubs

Ramanujan, Noether and Turing Mathematics Clubs rolled on this year, giving the Junior, Middle and Senior School respectively a chance to tackle some challenging Mathematics for their own interest.

Period 8 Maths Primary Project

Can you work out the day of the week for a given date? How can we quickly work out that 117 is composite? How many regular tiling patterns are there? How could you prove this? These were just some of the questions we discussed as part of the Maths Primary Project.

The project sees a group of Fifth and Sixth Form students volunteer once a week at Holy Trinity Pewley Down School. As in previous years, we ran a support group in the Michaelmas Term and some stretch and challenge sessions in the Lent Term. Our students’ sessions were extremely well received and they gained some first-hand experience in teaching and public speaking.

Field Days in the Trinity Term saw visits to some other prep and primary schools in the local area. RGS students showed real enthusiasm and dedication - it was lovely to see them work so well with Year 5 and 6 pupils.

King’s Maths Project

Four Lower Sixth students continued this enrichment project working with a small group of Year 9 pupils from King’s College each Monday, preparing and teaching sessions on GCSE and extension topics. The King’s students were taught in a lively and considered fashion, with some students able to solve even the trickiest of questions.

General Studies

Ben Sparks spoke to the Lower Sixth Form in the Trinity Term during General Studies, debating whether Mathematics is Invented or Discovered and the origins of the Mandelbrot Set. Dr Kurian continued to run a Number Puzzles option attended by both RGS and GHS students.

Mr SG Black - Head of Mathematics

The Answer is A

English

The English Department has been busy this year fulfilling the aims and values of the RGS.

Collaboration

The English Department has worked closely with other schools and departments in our quest to raise the profile of English and get everybody reading. World Book Week 2024 featured book clubs hosted by four academic departments: Art, Chemistry, DT and Geography. Each department promoted their chosen texts and hosted informative discussions. The English Department also offered universitystyle experiences for A Level students in collaboration with other schools. We hosted an A Level Medieval

Literature Lecture with Dr Marilyn Corrie (UCL) on Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale for RGS and Tormead students.

Dr Vikram Visana (University of Leicester) delivered a fascinating lecture on the life of Britain’s first Indian MP, Dadabhai Naoroji in collaboration with RGS History Department.

Dr Robert Stagg (Shakespeare Institute; University of Oxford) spoke to our Third Form, GCSE and A Level students on Shakespeare’s tragedies, Othello, Macbeth and Hamlet, all of which are taught at the RGS. We were very fortunate to host Professor Farah Karim Cooper, Professor of Shakespeare Studies

(KCL) and Director of Education at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, who delivered her lecture on Shakespeare and Race to over 200 A Level students from the RGS, Tormead, George Abbot School, Guildford County School, St Peter’s Catholic School, St Catherine’s Bramley and Notre Dame School.

Dr Marilyn Corrie

Professor Farah Karim Cooper

Diversity and Inclusion

The English Department continues to promote diversity through our curriculum. We ensure that students have the opportunity to study texts by a diverse range of writers and must study a text by at least one female writer and one writer from an ethnic minority background each year. We are proud to be a Penguin Lit in Colour ambassador school, promoting diversity through texts at GCSE and A Level. Our curriculum encourages students to engage with the wider world in an informed and respectful way and enables students to reflect upon their own identity too.

Tormead-RGS English Symposium 2

Student Experience

The English Department continues to fulfil its aims of promoting English outside of the classroom. This year, First Form students were treated to a live production of A Christmas Carol in the auditorium to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Second Form students had a bespoke drama workshop on Noughts and Crosses, a play they had been studying. The Third Form were extremely fortunate to see a modern adaptation of Othello live at the Sam Wanamaker Theatre, London and the Fourth Form saw a production of Macbeth at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, the highlight being Mr Witts on stage as a guest at Macbeth’s coronation dinner! Fifth Form students travelled to London to see a production of The Empress, one of their GCSE set texts, and A Level English students saw a ground breaking production of The Lonely Londoners in Soho. Students in the Lower Sixth attended an A Level conference in London on Poems of the Decade featuring live lectures and performances from poets Simon Armitage, Daljit Nagra and Ros Barber.

Ms TT Wijesinghe - Head of English

Biology

The Biology Department is delighted to celebrate the remarkable achievements and activities of our students this academic year. The dedication and enthusiasm demonstrated by everyone have not only enriched our school but also highlight our commitment to excellence in the biological science.

This year, we were privileged to have all Fourth Form students participate in an engaging and informative medical workshop hosted by Medical Mavericks. This event provided our students with hands-on experience and insights into various medical careers and practices. Through interactive sessions, students explored topics such as medical technology, diagnostic procedures, and the fundamentals of healthcare.

In Dissection Club we explored a range of organisms to learn about their structure and function. Our Sixth Form students provided enthusiastic and interesting sessions for Lower School students; giving them transferable skills to take into higher education and beyond. A particular favourite was the starfish, where students discovered their unique water vascular system and discussed their ability to regenerate.

Our Lower Sixth students excelled in this year's Biology Olympiad, achieving outstanding results. We are proud of the results, as they earned 2 Gold medals, 9 Silver medals, and 8 Bronze medals. This rigorous competition tested their knowledge and understanding of advanced biological concepts, and their success is a testament to their hard work and dedication to the subject. The Olympiad not only challenged our students but also encouraged them to push the boundaries of their scientific understanding.

The Fourth Form students showcased their prowess in the Biology Challenge, with an impressive haul of medals: 13 Golds, 47 Silvers, and 30 Bronzes. This competition, aimed at younger students, assessed their knowledge and comprehension of fundamental biological principles. The stellar performance of our Fourth Form students reflects the solid foundation laid by our dedicated teaching staff and the enthusiasm of the students themselves. Their achievements in the Biology Challenge are a source of great pride for our Department.

The Medical Society has been a vibrant forum for students to present and discuss a wide array of medical themes. This society provided a platform for students to delve into topics such as medical ethics, emerging medical technologies, and case studies of various diseases. By encouraging students to

research and present on these themes, the Medical Society fostered critical thinking, public speaking skills, and a deeper understanding of contemporary issues in medicine. The discussions and debates held within this society have been instrumental in broadening our students' perspectives and nurturing their interest in medical careers. We were also fortunate to welcome back two former RGS students who are now embarking on a medical career, Mr J Doyle and Dr Z Moulder, both of whom were incredibly inspirational for current RGS students interested in medicine.

The achievements and activities of the past year have underscored the strength and vitality of our Biology Department. From workshops and clubs to competitions and societies, our students have demonstrated exceptional commitment and passion for the biological sciences.

Mr S Burns - Head of Biology

Chemistry

RGS chemists have once again achieved some outstanding academic successes. 14,915 students from 1,025 schools took part in Round 1 of the UK Chemistry Olympiad. We achieved another outstanding set of results with 10 Gold, 8 Silver, and 9 Bronze awards.

Olympiad. Freddie Weir and Thomas Koshy were in the top 0.5% of all the candidates in the country. Joel Sellers also achieved Gold, and this was a superb achievement for a Lower Sixth taking the test a year early.

Fourth Years participated in the RSC Chemistry Challenge, and we entered a record of eight teams. The Chemistry Warriors consisting of Nicholas Malandrinos, Ayush Jena, Akshay Wechalekar, and Tom Hargreaves achieved an excellent score of 70.

Alexander Gillan’s score puts him in the top 15 in GBR, and he has been invited to the 3-day Round 2, which was designed to select the national team to compete in the International

We ran our own version of the Beyond Boundaries art competition, which was designed to promote diversity and inclusion in science. Students were given profiles of scientists with diverse backgrounds and were asked to produce a piece of art reflecting the work of one of the scientists. Tom Douthett won the competition with his superb model of an Enigma machine.

Chemistry Olympiad Gold 2024

Alex Gillan Top 15 in Chemistry Olympiad 2024

Model of an Enigma machine by Tom Douthett

A group of Lower Sixth went to Southampton University for a twilight session. Students had the opportunity to carry out experiments in state-of-the-art laboratories and were able to use exciting equipment such as rotary evaporators and infrared spectrometers.

The Chemistry Race was held at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge on 10th February. The competition for places was fierce, and schools from all over the country took part. Each team had to race through a series of progressively more challenging

problems during the two-hour limit. The RGS team MitoC8H11O2Ndria Powerhouses Of Chemistry consisted of Alexander Gillan, Freddie Weir, Tom Postance, Alex Mann, and Sam Thevenon. The formula for dopamine was incorporated into our team’s name as it is about motivation and reward signalling. They achieved an excellent score of 140 and were eighth out of the 99 teams.

We were also very successful in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge. This was the most demanding chemistry exam designed for the Lower Sixth and over 13,000 students took part in the UK. The RGS once again achieved an excellent set of results with 9 Gold, 11 Silver, and 7 Copper Awards. Yuvan Raja came top with his incredible score of 46, and Ronit Sachdeva also got a high Gold. Their scores were exceptional as they haven’t even started A Level. Congratulations to Joel Sellers, Alex Mann, and Sam Thevenon for coming top in the Lower Sixth cohort. Mr WS Lau - Head of Chemistry

Cambridge Chemistry Challenge Gold Awards

Oxbridge Chemistry Race

ORIS

Would 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, an RGS initiative, is an acronym for Original Research in Science. 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.

This year, 17 Sixth Form students have carried out ORIS projects. The work was carried out in a number of universities including Cambridge, UCL, Surrey, Bath, Bristol, Southampton, Edinburgh, and St Andrews. The breadth of research was very impressive and spanned the whole of Science. Topics studied include Neurology, NMR, Computer Science, Cardiology, Aeronautical Engineering, Sodium Ion Battery, and Condensed Matter Physics.

The students have demonstrated extraordinary scholarship and held their own against much more experienced researchers. A selection of the extremely positive feedback we have received from the research institutions are shown below:

“Alex’s final report is, in my opinion, on the level of an initial report from most of our first-year PhD students.”

Professor Malcolm Levitt, Southampton University

“Overall, Joel's contribution to the project was outstanding. He not only advanced the development of the polymer library but also provided valuable insights into the potential complications that can arise in microplastic analysis.”

Dr Maya Al-Sid-Cheikh, Edinburgh University

“Hadi came across as a very engaging, well-read, thoughtful, knowledgeable and intellectual student, and impressed both me and my PhD student who helped supervise his project. He demonstrated an ability to apply his knowledge, grasp new and difficult concepts, and critically evaluate research data.”

Dr Wasim Khan, Associate Professor, Cambridge University

“It was the first time for me to supervise a pre-university student and I think Daniel did an outstanding job! Overall, I was very impressed with his performance and his attitude which was more mature than that of many undergraduate students.”

Dr Mucha-Kruczynski, University of Bath

“Rather than feeling overwhelmed, he makes a start on the tasks he is given. This trait will serve him well and distinguishes him even from among many starting PhD students. I remain optimistic that our work will lead to a publication.”

Professor Earl Barr, UCL

Sam Thevenon doing his ORIS project with Rolls Royce

Sam Thevenon working in a Rolls Royce aircraft simulator

Mr WS Lau - Head of ORIS

Physics and Electronics

2023-2024 was a year of fresh starts in the Physics Department. We welcomed Dr R Sisca and Mr JJ Holland (no relation to Mr LM Holland) to the teaching team. We were also excited to start teaching in our newly refurbished labs, a fantastic upgrade on spaces that were showing their age after over forty years’ service. We welcomed back former colleagues to the Department to “officially” open them, including former Heads of Physics Dr SG Thornhill and Mr A Morden, the latter being recognised for his long service with one of the new labs being named in his honour.

Alongside the daily excellence of teaching and learning, the annual highlights are always trips and competitions. Mr LM Holland and Mr MA Burbidge once again led the team to the Student Robotics competition. The students designed, built and programmed possibly our best robot ever. It performed really well, and over the two days of the competition we amassed the most game points. We made it through to the semi-final, but made a catastrophic tactical error, changing code without testing, and unfortunately did not make it into the final. We learned some valuable lessons and will hopefully return stronger next time round.

Physics staff past and present gather to open the new labs

The student robotics team 2024

At Easter, Mr MRF Royds, Mr MA Burbidge, Dr R Sisca and Mr JJ Holland took a sizeable group of Sixth Formers to Geneva to visit CERN labs. Whilst there, they had a tour of the facilities including seeing a facility that uses a particle decelerator to make anti-hydrogen, and the linear accelerators that form the initial stages of the LHC. We also had much fondue, and took a boat trip to see where Shelley wrote Frankenstein.

At the end of the Trinity Term, Mr MA Burbidge and Mr SH Ling-Winston (Computer Science) took a group of Fourth Form boys on the annual engineering trip. We visited Jodrell Bank, the National Space Centre, RAF Cosford and spent time in Ironbridge. We also visited Alton Towers, which the boys enjoyed almost as much as their evening briefing on the physics of roller coasters.

RGS students continued to gain recognition at all levels of the British

Physics Olympiad competitions. 203 students in the First and Second Forms entered the new Year 7/8 challenge competition, with nearly all earning a Silver or Gold award. At the top end, five boys earned Gold awards in the main Olympiad first round, with Freddie Weir and Yuvan Raja being invited to the second round of both the Physics and Astronomy and Astrophysics competitions, where they also were awarded Golds in both. Freddie went on to be selected for the national Physics Olympiad team, receiving a Gold medal to go alongside the Gold he won last year in the Astrophysics Olympiad. Yuvan was invited to the national Astronomy & Astrophysics team, but owing to a diary clash he was unable to take up the offer.

In all, another industrious and successful year; my thanks to the staff team and all the boys for their efforts. Mr JP Hood - Head of Physics

Zac Warham loves CERN

Computer Science

The Computer Science Department facilitates a number of competitions through the year.

In the British Informatics Olympiad, there were 12 entrants, with Yuvan Raja (L6-9) scoring 90/100 and qualifying for the final round. An excellent performance was seen from Adam Wang (OG24) with 70/100, a small logic error unfortunately costing him a chance at nearly full marks. An honourable mention goes to Mahil Vasanth (U6-9) who scored 34/100.

Yuvan Raja was invited to Trinity College Cambridge for the BIO final round. This involved learning advanced algorithms alongside C++, a selection event to decide the team to represent Britain in the International Informatics Olympiad as well as some time for fun! Yuvan performed to a very high standard at the camp, and whilst missing out on selection this year will have another two opportunities in future years to do so.

Weir (OG24) and Yuvan Raja scoring 48/100 and 46/100 respectively in the first round. This qualified them for the final round of the competition. Here, Freddie Weir (40/45) performed exceptionally well placing second nationally, whilst Yuvan Raja (35/45) was in the top 5-10 students nationally.

The British Algorithmic Olympiad is a new competition in its second year which tests across the spectrum of mathematics and computing, and is probably the most challenging competition of all. Around 30% of students who take the challenge score between 1 and 5 marks out of 100, with a significant number scoring 0!

Eight students participated in the competition this year with Freddie

Each year the entire Third Form participate in the UK Bebras Challenge - computational thinking, alongside 10-15 students from other year groups. The competition tests the students’ ability to think computationally, such as using and interpreting algorithms and problem-solving skills. The School performs well in this competition, with typically around 50% of our students qualifying for the next round - Oxford University Computing Challenge 1 (OUCC1).

In OUCC1, there were some standout performances, with Samuel Millington (4V) being awarded a Distinction and Tom Chertkow (4H), Paddy Cooper (5V) and Marcus Perkin (L6-4) a Merit.

Yuvan Raja scored full marks and qualified for OUCC2.

In the Sixth Form event, Adam Wang scored 53/68 and narrowly missed out on OUCC2, whilst Freddie Weir scored 68/68 and qualified for OUCC2.

In OUCC2, both Freddie and Yuvan performed admirably achieving fourth place nationally for their respective age groups, just missing out on the prize giving ceremony, although both did attend last year!

The Perse Coding Challenge is an excellent opportunity for students to work together, and the room is often lively during the challenge! Eight teams of two students competed in the first round with five teams making it through to Round 2. In Round 2, the team comprised of Yuvan Raja and Ronit Sachdeva (L6-9) together with Julian Zou (4V) were our best performers, reaching the top 100 teams out of nearly 1,000 who competed.

Dr DJ JacksonHead of Computer Science

Success in the OUCC Yuvan Raja L6-9 and Freddie Weir OG24

Classics

The highlight of the year in the Classics Department was undoubtedly the trip to Greece. In the first week of the Easter holidays five members of staff and 46 boys flew off to Athens to explore the ancient sites of Greece. In Athens, we visited the Parthenon and the Parthenon museum, the theatre of Dionysus, the Agora and the National Archaeological Museum, and we also experienced the buzz of the old town of Plaka and the markets around Monastiraki in the evenings. After two days in Athens we moved on to Delphi, famed in ancient times for the oracle of Apollo and for being the centre of the Greek world. The beauty of the site, on the side of a steep and rocky valley above the Corinthian Gulf, and the iconic artefacts in the museum made this visit very special. We then moved on to Olympia where we looked round the site of the ancient Olympic Games.

The site looked particularly beautiful in the Spring blossom, and the excitement of experiencing an earthquake made the visit even more memorable. The next stop was the seaside town of Tolon, our centre for the next two days. We visited the beautiful town of Nauplion, the first capital of modern Greece and were rewarded with amazing views over the sea and mountains from the top of the Venetian fortress. We also visited the palace of Mycenae, the home of King Agamemnon, and Epidauros,

The Parthenon in Athens

The staff on the Greek trip

Mr Bush speaking to the boys at Delphi

The Olympic stadium in Olympia

The view towards Tolon

famed for the best preserved ancient theatre in the Greek world. On the way back to the airport in Athens we stopped at the famous Corinth canal, thus concluding a truly great trip!

In the Summer Term we took a group of over 50 Third Form boys to the Legion exhibition in the British Museum in London. The artefacts were truly amazing, and included weapons, armour and even a surprisingly well preserved 2000 year old legionary’s sock found in Hadrian’s Wall.

The Department hosted two external lectures this year. Dr Andrew Sillet, from Oxford University, gave a fascinating talk titled An Idiot’s Guide To Toppling a Dictatorship which focused on Cicero’s use of rhetoric and humour to undermine Julius Caesar’s dictatorship. Professor Michael Squire, from Cambridge University, delivered a talk on the Classical sites of Athens, which put into context the buildings the boys had seen on the trip to Greece. My thanks go to Dr. Giulia Fanti for running the Senior Classics Society and organising these lectures. The Lent Term saw the Guildford Classical Association Latin and Greek reading competition,

held at St Catherine’s Bramley. The boys enjoyed the competition and the chance to interact with keen Classicists from other schools. Well done to all the boys who took part in the competition!

My thanks go to Mr Callaghan who joined forces with the MFL Department to coach the boys for the Linguistics Olympiad. Junior and Senior boys took part and enjoyed the weekly sessions and a number of boys entered the competition at the end of the year.

My thanks go to both the staff and boys for their hard work and enthusiasm this year, both in and out of the classroom. Particular mention, however, should go to Mr Palmer, who has made a real impact in the three years he has been at RGS. His passion and energy in the classroom, his sense of humour, his enthusiasm,

his organisation of the Junior Classics Society, his volunteering to help in every Classics trip and his leadership of the Classics trip to Greece, will all be remembered fondly. Patrick has been a fantastic teacher and colleague and he will be sorely missed. I wish him all the best at Alleyn’s School.

Mr

The theatre at Epidaurus

Nauplion

Mycenae

Open Day

EKD Bush - Head of Classics

Economics

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in both business and economies has become one of the most significant developments of our time. Companies are increasingly integrating AI to streamline operations, optimise supply chains, and improve decision-making. This transformation mirrors the experience of many students in our Economics classrooms. AI tools, such as research databases and data analytics software, have empowered students to become more productive and efficient in their studies. Whether it’s accessing up-to-date economic data or asking chatbots to filter and summarise real life policy examples, students are experiencing the same technological advancements that are reshaping the business world.

However, with this rise in efficiency comes a warning: while AI can certainly enhance learning and productivity, over-reliance on it can undermine the development of our critical thinking skills. Just as businesses must balance automation with human insight and creativity, students must remember that AI is a tool - not a replacement for original thought. The ability to think creatively, challenge assumptions, and propose novel solutions are all essential qualities for future economists, and these skills are cultivated by grappling with problems directly rather than outsourcing that process to AI.

The Rise of AI Inside and Outside of our Economics Classroom

Institute of Economics

‘A Year of Unprecedented Extra-Curricular Achievement’

The 2023-24 academic year has been the most impressive since Covid, for extra-curricular involvement within the Economics Department. We have witnessed record participation in external competitions, with students pushing themselves beyond the classroom and taking their learning to new heights. Our students have enthusiastically taken part in prestigious events such as the Young Economist of the Year competition, the Marshall Society essay competition, and the IEA Budget Challenge to name but a few.

In particular, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Rhys Gregory, Georgie Paulson and James Davies, who represented us in the IEA Budget Challenge, where they achieved a remarkable fifth place finish out of 240 teams. Their hard work, strategic thinking, and collaboration were on full display, and they made us incredibly proud. Competitions like these not only hone their analytical skills but also encourage them to apply economic theories to real-world problems - a vital experience for budding economists.

This uptick in extra-curricular engagement reflects a renewed enthusiasm among students post Covid, eager to seize opportunities and apply their classroom learning in broader contexts. The willingness to take on these challenges speaks volumes about their passion for economics and their desire to make an impact.

The Importance of External Engagement: Economics Society and Guest Speakers

One of the many ways our students have enriched their understanding of the subject is through continued engagement in the Economics Society. This student-led initiative has once again flourished, providing a platform for intellectual discussion, debate, and collaboration. A key highlight this year was the visit from OG Alex Dawes, Head of Economics at British Airways, who offered fascinating insights into the role of economists within a large multinational corporation and price regulations.

This speaker event was particularly eye-opening for students, reinforcing the idea that the skills developed through studying economics are highly transferable. From aviation to finance to public policy, the analytical frameworks, quantitative skills, and strategic thinking taught in Economics are vital in a range of industries. Such real-world connections provide students with a glimpse into the many career paths that their studies could open up for them in the future.

Mr JD Stratford - Head of Economics

I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Rhys Gregory, Georgie Paulson and James Davies, who represented us in the IEA Budget Challenge, where they achieved a remarkable fifth place finish out of 240 teams.

Geography

As ever, trips and visits are always the highlight of our year in the Geography Department.

We were delighted to welcome back Dipo Faloyin to speak to the First Form about harmful stereotypes that people have about Africa to support our teaching of the first forum unit on Africa which continues to go from strength to strength. The students asked lots of insightful questions and showed a great deal of interest and enthusiasm for this topic.

Once again, we took the Lower Sixth to Dorset where we managed to dodge most of the poor October weather, but the wind and waves definitely put on a good show when we were collecting beach profile data on Ringstead Bay and blustery weather made us cautious in Lulworth when studying Stair Hole. We continue to be looked after very well at the Heights Hotel in Portland and are keeping our fingers crossed that this facility does not disappear after being put on the market this year. The Lower Sixth also enjoyed visiting the London Docklands and Olympic Park under the expert guidance of Rob Williamson, our regular blue badge guide for the last 13 years who is a veritable encyclopaedia of knowledge about this part of London. Many thanks to Mr Fishpool for organising this trip and the subsequent curry on Brick Lane.

Now in its third year, we took a group of 82 Third Form students to the Lakes where we stayed at Grange over Sands. This trip involves daily physical challenges in the FSC grounds,

Grange over Sands

Dorset

a day hiking in the mountains around Coniston to admire the glacial scenery and a day in Ambleside looking at the impact of tourism. The rain in Ambleside was intense, but we were impressed with the boys’ dogged determination to carry on with the mini golf tournament and we were delighted when the sun came out for the cruise onto Windermere. It was definitely an excellent illustration of why there are so many lakes in this part of the UK! Many thanks to Mr Colebrook, Mr Beever and Mr Yetman who helped the Department to staff this trip.

Having concentrated on the local area for GCSE fieldwork, we are planning to go further afield to the New Forest with the Fifth Form in future, and plans are well underway to put this into action.

Mrs Richards goes on maternity leave this year, so we wish her the very best for her time away with the family.

Grange over Sands

Mrs RG Waters - Head of Geography

History

This year has really revealed the importance of History in the education of our young men at the RGS.

The dreadful scenes coming out of the Middle East, at the beginning of the academic year, promoted a lot of discussion amongst the student body. It was apparent that they were being bombarded with polarising images and information, but much of what they were being exposed to were binary judgements, lacking nuance and understanding. This prompted me to deliver a lecture to some of our Sixth Form on the background context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to help provide students with a historical framework in which to navigate these highly complex events. What I tried to highlight in my talk was that it was ok to not be certain of ones view. Not having an opinion, but being motivated to educate yourself on a topic, is a much better trait than offering up an ignorant, unfounded assertion. I hope that this message resonated with the

audience and it is something that we as a school instil in the students.

Continuing with the topic of conflict, our A Level students took part in two history debates with Tormead School. The theme for these debates was on historical issues involving conflict. Students debated the weighty topics of: whether the Shi’a leadership or Sunni leadership are more to blame for their poor relations between the two groups; whether India is the main cause of conflict between Hindus and Muslims; British responsibility for the Irish potato famine; British responsibility for the Balfour Doctrine and its impact on the Middle East. The students showed excellent academic flexibility in preparing their arguments and responding to questions. We hope that these debates will become an annual event in our calendar.

A Level students examining Sixteenth Century Model of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

As part of our new GCSE course, we took the whole Fifth Form to the Old Operating Theatre in London, and the Golden Hinde. This proved a success and something that we hope to continue.

Annually, we have a number of students enter history essay competitions and I am delighted to announce that George Christiansen (Upper Sixth Form) produced a highly commended essay - for the prestigious Julia Wood History prize organised by St Hugh’s College Cambridge - on the failure of democracy in post-Soviet Russia. Furthermore, Joshua Broadbent (Fourth Form) produced a Spirit of Normandy prize winning essay on How Close Did D-Day Come To Failure? These are just two examples of some of the brilliant work produced by the students.

We said farewell to a David Holliday in December who went off to become Head of History at Sir William Perkins School after six and a half years with us. I wish him all the best in this exciting new development in his career. The Department has been delighted to welcome Alison Williams to the team, who has come from Cobham Hall. She has made an immediate impact on the Department, being a fantastic classroom teacher, and resurrecting our KS3 Society which has proved very popular with the boys.

Joshua Broadbent (4N) receiving KS3 Historian of the Year

Two students examining a 12th Century Crusader State coin

Mr JM Davies - Head of History

Modern Languages

French, German and Spanish Speed Debating

On 18 January we welcomed nearly 80 pupils from Reed’s, St John’s, Tormead, St Catherine's and Yehudi Menuhin School for a Sixth Form Topic related Speed Debating workshop. The T floor was buzzing with activity as all pupils discussed a wide range of provocative A Level topic in French, German and Spanish: Express Divorce; The Effects of the Media In Democracy; Latin Music Idols and Their Roles In Today’s Society and Advantages of Marriage.

These topics allowed pupils to put their speaking to the test while thinking on the spot. Every two minutes there was a change of opposition and a new question was launched. It was exciting to hear some heated debates whilst they were conquering new challenges

as they were using a wide range of vocabulary listening to their opponents expressions and points of view.

A huge thank you to RJR, MMC, EJK, GES and our three language assistants Matti, María and Oceane for all their support and enthusiasm. This big event couldn’t take place without their support.

Mrs

N Wilson - Head of Spanish and Extra-Curricular MFL

Speaking Practice Evening

Over 50 Fifth Form Linguists congregated to practise their speaking skills prior to their oral exams in French, German and Spanish. They were ably helped by some of our Sixth Form linguists (Will Hargreaves, Harry Simmons, Henry Bush, Hugo McGuire, Charlie Bourne, Will Bayne, Xavier Wallin). In all three languages, the boys tried the “One minute technique”, developing their confidence whilst speaking about different topics. We then moved onto using more adventurous adjectives when answering questions and some mini debates. Finally, we practised topic questions replicating the exam and encouraging the students to develop their answers. The boys all participated enthusiastically and the Sixth Form were excellent models for them. RJR would like to thank EJK and WJD for running the French and German sections and NW, GES, Océane and Matti for their support in running the sessions.

Onatti Productions

On Wednesday 21 February, the 52 Third Form students of German were treated to an afternoon of German theatre. Regular visitors to RGS, Onatti Productions sent two actors and staging to deliver a slapstick comedy entitled Der Babysitter. The whole show was delivered in German and students had prepared in advance by looking over vocabulary from the script and reading through scenes in lesson time. Thanks to this and the visual nature of the acting, the students picked up the plot and enjoyed the humour of the story.

Although not on such a lofty artistic level as the other theatre outings we run in the MFL Department, this was certainly a popular and well-pitched performance for our very promising group of young Germanists.

Bundesliga top trumps and Germany Quiz

Students from First to Third Form gathered during lunchtime on Thursday to find their inner Beckenbauer, or Klinsmann Matthäus in a game of Bundesliga Top Trumps. They learned and then called the categories in German and after a tight tussle, Jackson Bigmore became the Weltmeister (or at least the RGS Meister). Jackson and his partner Archie Taylor also won the Deutschland Quiz in something of a clean sweep!

Mr WJ Dugdale - Head of MFL

RGS Languages Week

To mark European Day of Languages in late September the MFL Department puts on a week of fun, informative activities which celebrate the diversity of languages and culture not just in Europe, but also beyond. September 2023 included the following highlights:

MFL Cooking at St Catherine’s

On Tuesday 26 September, Mrs Wilson and Mrs Rathmell took our Sixth Form Linguists to St. Catherine’s to enjoy cooking Salmorejo, Quiche Lorraine and Schokoladenkuchen as part of our Languages Week events. Students worked in mixed teams, competing to produce the tastiest and most eye-catching dishes, following recipes in the target language. The results were most impressive, with several prizes awarded. An enjoyable and educational experience!

Mrs RJ Rathmell - Teacher of MFL

German Gingerbread Decorating

In a reference to the delights of German Lebkuchen (translated as ‘gingerbread’ but literally meaning ‘cake of life’), the German Department hosted two lunchtime gingerbread decorating workshops. With five icings and 12 different toppings to choose from, students were given three minutes to decorate their gingerbread person. Some opted for traditional German motifs while others went for maximum sugar overload. Everything was acceptable as long as they were able to repeat the magic phrase "ich liebe Lebkuchen!" All in all, 100 gingerbread people were speedily decorated and even more speedily devoured.

Mrs MM Creagh - Teacher of French and German

The German

“Fest”

During Languages Week Second Form students had the chance to take part in an Oktoberfest party (alcohol free of course!) They seemed to revel in the opportunity to wear traditional German Lederhosen and even a Dirndl. There were also traditional German games and music, culminating in a traditional German dance off. There was a lot of laughter and excitement and even a chance to try traditional Swiss cheese and obviously the ever popular Haribo sweets.

Mr RJA Lemaire- Teacher of French and German

French Café

First Form students enjoyed sampling the delights of a French style breakfast, expertly prepared by the catering team. Sixth Form French students dispensed the food only when asked in French for the specific item and we were very grateful to them for their help. Judging from the queue down the languages corridor, students enjoyed their taste of France!

Mrs EJ Kenyon - Head of French and Mr WJ Dugdale - Head of MFL

ACADEMIC

Lower School French Choir

On a very early Wednesday morning the MFL Drama Society and the Junior School Choir joined forces to celebrate Languages Week at the RGS by tackling some of the most powerful songs of the famous French musical Notre-Dame de Paris, in their original language.

The members of the choir, under the expert guidance of Ms L Wild, delivered a moving rendition of Le Temps des Cathédrales before enjoying the dynamic and dramatic Le Pape des Fous and Les Sans-Papiers.

This truly was a beautiful homage to Victor Hugo’s original story.

I would like to thank both LJAW and OHA for their help in coordinating the two school morning Clubs and paying such a beautiful homage to Victor Hugo’s original story.

Mr J Marchiafava

Extra-curricular Languages

Our wonderful extra-curricular languages team also got involved delivering sessions on Arabic calligraphy, the Chinese Autumn Festival and a celebration of Russian and Japanese culture.

Mr WJ Dugdale

Madrid 2023 Report

As the Eve of All Hallows approached and the weather forecast looked glum and grim, 40 alarm clocks began to ring ...early!

Off to sunnier climes they hoped or at least more temperate, at 3am they gathered to immerse themselves deep into the cultural side of language learning, taking off from Gatwick to Madrid on Monday 30 October, 2023.

The week ahead, clinically planned to a tee (or so the leaders thought), started with a welcome from the native hosts, a delicious sojourn at Madrid’s most famous Churrería St Ginés, to

introduce silky, thick traditional hot chocolate to crispy and light churros, and a stroll through the iconic Puerta del Sol (Gateway of the Sun), brilliant.

The second day, was craftily planned with immersion lessons in the morning which the students were keen to throw themselves into, given the reward on offer in the afternoon: a visit to the new Atlético de Madrid Stadium Civitas Metropolitano, a highlight for the more sport-minded of the group. The day ended with a trip up the Faro de Moncloa, towering 96 metres above the city, it gave a beautiful perspective of Madrid by night.

On All Saints Day, a fitting pilgrimage to Toledo, once the Capital and named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, was undertaken. Laden with significant historical and artistic importance, the entire group thoroughly enjoyed visiting its beautiful Medieval Jewish Quarter, one of the two main remaining synagogues and the impressive cathedral. The city was then thrown into a scenic vista via a train ride around its ancient walls, to finish off another successful day.

On Thursday, a more artistic outing took place, following the morning language lessons, with an entrance to the Reina Sofía Museum, the house of Picasso's famous Guernica and this was further supplemented on day 5 with a

walk around the Palacio Real’s (Royal Palace) luxurious rooms, closed for several days previously due to Princess Leonor’s oath to the Constitution on turning 18. Importantly, this day also witnessed one of the highlights of the week: a visit to a Spanish School, where the students were able to experience and converse with their peers from another country, an experience that was uplifting, enjoyable and hugely valuable from a language learning perspective.

All that remained was to pick up our baggage and head to the airport, but oh, wait a minute, there was still time to visit the Templo de Debod, presented to Spain as a gift of gratitude from the Egyptian people.

A fun-packed week then, but all in Spanish, blending first-hand the pupil’s increasing language skills with an unforgettable cultural experience.

Mrs Rathmell and I would like to thank all the students for their first-class behaviour and enthusiasm and, of course, Mr Casale and Mr Fishpool, whose good humour and support made this such a successful trip.

Mrs N Wilson - Head of Spanish and Extra-Curricular MFL

Academic Physical Education

All students continued to thrive in the classroom, under the stewardship of the Academic Physical Education staff, and benefitted greatly from the vast array of experience of the RGS Sports Department. Thank you to Mr B Dudley, Mr DJ Bartram and Mr RC Black, who continue to contribute enormously, through their programmes, to support the students being assessed in Rugby, Hockey and Cricket. A special thank you must also go to Mrs GM Richards, Mr AR Lowe, Mr SJH Yetman, Mr RD Crewe and Mr JC Witts, for the time they have given coaching and assessing the students in Athletics, Football, Skiing, Swimming and Sailing respectively.

Mr ST Walsh continued to support the athletic performance of our cohorts through the strength and conditioning programme. This undoubtedly greatly enhances the students’ athletic capabilities, and thus assists them in reaching their potential in their chosen practical activities. With 62 students currently opting to take GCSE Physical Education, we were thrilled to welcome Mr BJD Rogers to join Mr JDN Lythgoe, Mr SD Gaynor and Mr GDG Cover on the academic teaching staff. The students spent the year building their knowledge around topics, such as anatomy and nutrition, within the world of physical activity and sport. We were excited to see such growth in the numbers of students opting to take this GCSE Physical Education, with almost one in three boys in Fourth Form now opting to take it as a GCSE option.

As a way of consolidating knowledge, the Fourth Form students completed a project related to one of their fields of study. To the right is an excellent example of one of their movement analysis pieces.

A movement analysis of a Sprint Hurdler - Eddie Wilson (4N)

As the students entered the Fifth Form, they began to examine both the psychology and sociology of sport. In psychology, topics such as arousal and stress management gave students an insight into the pressures around sports performance, and critically, outlined ways in which these pressures can be managed. In the field of Sociology, the students examined the barriers to participation in physical activity and sport, investigating which groups of society are affected, and how these inequalities can be rectified.

This year saw the inaugural visit to the University of Bath Human Performance Centre. Our Lower Sixth Form A Level Physical Education students spent the day administering and being subject to a wide variety of different physiological tests. The use of light gates, isokinetic dynamometers and VO2 max testing equipment, gave the students an invaluable understanding of how components of fitness can be tested in laboratory conditions.

As our Upper Sixth Form cohort move on to life after the RGS, I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their diligence, commitment, and good humour; they have been a pleasure to teach.

Mr JDN Lythgoe

- Head of Academic Physical Education

An isokinetic dynamometer test - George Wilson (L6-4)

A VO2 max test performed on a treadmill - Hayden Amiss (L6-1)

Politics

Each year, the political landscape in the United Kingdom and the USA tends to shape much that happens in the RGS Politics calendar. This year has been no exception, what with a General Election (July 2024) and a Presidential Election (November 2024) taking place.

Obviously the former has been seismic, spelling the end of fourteen years of Conservative (and Coalition) rule, and the commencement of a Labour majority. As will have been the case in many schools, we ran a highly engaging mock election - the candidates who stood, and their campaign teams, deserve considerable credit for how they fought the election, with entertaining and informative posters, superb performances in a whole school hustings, and finally at the ballot box on 4 July. The Liberal Democrat candidate, James Trowbridge (U6-11), won narrowly, relying on the staff vote to finally overhaul the Reform candidate, George Christiansen (U6-12), who demonstrated the art of populist rhetoric with aplomb.

The power of personality politics and post-truth soundbites originally seen ‘over the pond’, now appear firmly entrenched in modern UK politics too - to this end several students submitted essays to the RA Butler Prize (Trinity, Cambridge) exploring the importance of the personal morals of our politicians - James Trowbridge (U6-11) was highly commended for his entry. Another student, Fraser Reed (U6-9) entered an essay for the John Locke Institute Essay Competition, discussing whether there is such a thing as too much democracy, and he was highly commended too. Thankfully, both students challenged these worrying notions of flawed rhetoric to defend the tenets of representative democracy that we place so much trust in.

The US Presidential campaign also reveals much of what is wrong in politics - where lying and money seem to dominate the narrative. RGS Politics students, thankfully, are perplexed by this, and how far it deviates from what the Founding Fathers planned in the 18th Century. As part of the

Department’s ongoing commitment to exploring new methods of teaching, and in keeping with the overall theme of this year’s Guildfordian, we have used AI platforms to enhance learning, both of content but also of ‘political truth’ and where we can find it. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we teach students to critically evaluate where they get their news - and it was a constant delight to see so many Politics students contribute to ‘The 1509’ - in particular, Joshua Inglesfield (OG) and his series of interviews with senior political figures like Simon Case and Jeremy Hunt. It was also a real pleasure to award George Aspden (OG) the Upper Sixth Politics Prize, and that he and so many of his peers are now continuing their political education at university - hopefully they will go on to return morality and truth to our political discourse. Hopefully what they have learned at the RGS will help achieve this - I am optimistic it will.

Mr TJJ Owens - Head of Politics

Religion and Philosophy

The school year began with another set of exceptional GCSE and A Level results, a fitting tribute to the hard work of the boys and their teachers. The personnel in the Department changed again as Mr Wild departed for pastures new after many years of service to Religion and Philosophy, and Mr Galpin moved at the end of his one-year appointment to take on a course in journalism.

The Michaelmas Term saw a fun Religion and Philosophy Masterclass, in which we welcomed a group of excited and keen primary school children who participated in a morning’s study of what constituted a religion, and the symbols and clothing associated with different religious traditions. After some creative and inspiring talks, discussions and activities, the children produced some fascinating artwork as well as thoughtful insights into the nature of religious practice.

The Department’s societies for Junior and Middle School boys continued to flourish and to see excellent participation. Puzzle Club made some excellent progress in their

work to complete and discuss very large and complex jigsaws of the Blue Mosque and the Sistine Chapel, and were clearly the most popular aspect of the Open Days when prospective students and their parents enjoyed talking to the boys about their jigsaws, and helping to add to their completion.

The three Theology and Philosophy Societies led by Mr Galpin showcased some superb debate on many of life’s ‘ultimate questions’. Many of the discussions were researched, presented and led by boys themselves demonstrating an impressive level of both research and presentation skill. Alex Hinton and Oscar York demonstrated exceptional talent debating in the Junior Philosophy Society; Jonty Edmonds and Spandan Sahu were excellent contributors to discussions in Aquinas Society; and Stuart Brown, Gabriel Meadowcroft, and Oscar Trott led and participated in Hume Society with aplomb.

Mr RB Meadowcroft - Head of Religion and Philosophy

The Mallison Library

The year began with an exciting National Poetry Day, when we welcomed the esteemed illustrator and former Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell OBE. The boys were captivated as Chris drew imagined creatures, himself as a child, Mr Wilkes and several students, all projected live onto the big screen. He shared his love of poetry and answered audience questions, then following a lengthy book signing headed to Art, to lead inspirational workshops. His visit prompted some superb entries into our illustrated poetry competition.

Chris Riddell

National Poetry Day - Daniel Aazhwinner - illustrated poem by another

November saw the very first Surrey Children's Writers and Illustrators CWIZZ, hosted in the Undercroft. Ninety-two children from twelve schools joined eight RGS boys for an afternoon of competitive quizzing on a literary theme, author talks, and book signings, all much appreciated by those who took part.

World Book Week was a star-studded celebration of diverse reading, with three brilliant authors visiting. Karl Nova delivered dynamic poetry workshops, William Hussey gave fascinating talks on superstition and witch-hunts, and Catherine Johnson entertained one of the lunchtime reading groups with insights into her historical novel Sawbones.

World Book Week - Karl Nova

Surrey CWIZZRGS Team A

National Poetry Day - Olaf Johnson - winner - original poem

World Book Week Book Fair

The Show Racism the Red Card competition once again inspired thoughtful entries from our students. Aahan Panda won the national Second Prize for his t-shirt design and attended a ceremony at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ stadium.

The tenth annual Trinity School Book Awards took place at Latymer Upper School, where Timmy Hatch was awarded Highly Commended for his illustrated poem inspired by The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater. The TSBA was awarded to Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin, and the Trinity Plus Award went to Lies Like Wildfire by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. After the ceremony, our group

of Second and Third Form students enjoyed an exhibition of student entries and met some of the shortlisted authors. Lies Like Wildfire was also 4P’s choice of class read for 2023-24. To round off the year, they “met” Jennifer Lynn Alvarez via Teams for an after-school question and answer session, followed by pizza.

TSBA Creative Response - Timmy Hatch

Show Racism the Red Card by Theo Patel, Sebastian Broughton, Casper Schmittat, Seth Connold - RGS winner for Art

Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

Mrs TF Farthing - Head of Library

Show Racism the Red Card - Aahan Panda - T-shirt competitionSecond Prize nationally

Bonzai Lee 3S and William Walker 1R

the creative

Throughout the year, our GCSE and A Level students have demonstrated remarkable commitment and ambition, producing diverse and exciting new artworks. We are immensely proud of their ability to independently create such personal and engaged pieces.

In addition to exam preparation, the Art Department has been a hive of activity, with students from both Lower and Upper School participating in lunchtime and after-school clubs. Activities such as Ceramics Club, Photography Society, Art Drop-ins, Life Drawing sessions, day trips, and visits from artists have filled the Department with energy, colour, and creativity.

The highlight of our year, the RGS Summer Art Exhibition, once again showcased the incredible talent of our students. We are delighted to present a selection of this year’s works for you to enjoy.

1. Afra Jamshaid

2. Afra Jamshaid

3. Sam chapman

4. Sam Chapman

5. Haris MacNicol

6. Haris MacNicol

1. Ayaan Bhagat

2. Daniel Hartmann

3. Dylan Fuller 4. Finn Heath

5. Finn Heath

6. Henry Bahaire

7. Jack Myers

8. Jonty Edmonds

9. Laurent Spilstead

10. Oscar Ford

11. Sam Bury

12. Tuan Le

GCSE

13. Will Bell 14. Will Gossage 15. Will Randles

William Morrow

William Morrow

Zaib Hossain

1 First Form Day of the Dead Masks

5. Alexander Jones 3R Cubist Painting

6. Arthur Ford 3P Ceramic Identity Pot

7. Ben Thain 2S Portrait Lino Reduction Print

8. Dan Vovcenco 2L and Owen Maiden 2L Giacometti Sculptures

9. Darii Saveliev 2S Oil Pastel Cupcakes

10. Eshan Toase 3E Ceramic Animal

11. Ethan Song 2S Surrealist Eye Pencil Drawing

12. Freddie Browne 3R Ceramic Ocean Vase

13. Innes Lamb 1L Lino Print

14. George Wiltshire 1P Kandinsky Painting

15. Matthew Boston 2C Manga

16. Max Merriman 3L Ceramic Animals

17. Noah Hazael 2R Giacometti Sculpture

18. Olaf Johnson 1S Collagraph Print

19. Oliver Wynn 1E Insect Tessellation

20. Rory Mitchell 2S Portrait Lino Reduction Print

21. Samuel Webb 2C Celebrity Etching

22. Sam Weight 2E Giacometti Sculpture

23. Sebastian Broughton 2C Leaves Mixed Media

24. Theo Odhams 3E Ceramic Animals

25. Theo Odhams 3E Ian Murphy Inspired Architecture Study

26. Theo Odhams 3E Surrealist Mixed Media Landscape

27. Theodore Turner 1E Insect Tessellation

28. Thibault Amiel 3L White Pencil Mannequin Sketch

29. Thomas Willmott 3E Animal Sculpture

30. Timur Ismailov 2P Manga

31. Tom Douthett 3E Ceramic Identity Pot

32. Timur Ismailov 2P and Milan Zhou 2P Wire Portraits

1. Archie Secrett - L6-6 Winner of the Senior Category

2. Theo Odhams 3E Winner of the Junior Category

1. Ayaan Bhagat 5B Winner of Fourth - Upper Sixth Form manipulated

2. James Kelynack 3E Winner of First - Third Form unedited

3. Josh Jacobs 4P Winner of Fourth - Upper Sixth Form unedited

4. Sebastian Broughton 2C Winner First - Third Form manipulated

Design and Technology

A LEVEL

LOWE MILLS - Room divider

A model of a folding room divider inspired by traditional Japanese sliding doors fused visually with plumbing fittings

YUSUF SHEIKH - Stab-proof vest

A stab proof child’s vest with built in laminated kevlar panels

OSCAR SMITH - Moveable, extending shelter for the homeless

MALACHY DOYLE

Neck strengthening exercise device that fits in a standard doorway

ALEX CHERTKOW - Tool storage

ALEX JOURDAN - key/wallet storage

ANGUS WHYTE - compost rotator

ARTHUR SHIMELL - Drying racks

BENJAMIN AVERY - Bike tools storage device

DYLAN FULLER - Desk tidy

EDDIE BANKS - Bedside table

ELLIOT BUTLER - golf practice system

ETHAN SLADE - Gaming controller storage

EUAN JACKSON - Shoe storage

FINN HEATH - Personal belongings storage

GEORGE FELGER - luxury board game

HENRY MARLOW -

INIGO SCHYBERGSON - Shoe stand

HENRY WATTS - Cufflink storage

JAKE ANTHONY - Hydroponics system

JOHN HALL - Warhammer storage

LAWRENCE BROOKS - Mini golf

LEIL D'SOUZA - Jewellery box

MAX LERCHSTER - AI rubbish sorter

OLIVER COX - Sun protection for cricketers

PETER HALLAS - Cable management impaired storage

TOBY JONES - Bike storage

RITAM SEN - System to hold golf clubs

Sun Protection electronic part

WILL HOPWOOD - Drink reminder

WILL RANDLES - Desk tidy

WILLIAM BULLEN - Pool storage rack

WILLIAM BELL - Pick pocket proof rucksack impaired storage

ZAC DARCY - Bottle storage

WILLIAM MORROW - Jewellery storage

THIRD FORM

Some beautiful examples of metal craft undertaken in the Third Form. All cut out by hand using a metalwork/jewellery making process.

Joshan

Joshua

Rayan

Top left to bottom right: Henry Jones

James Kelynack

Mangat

Broadbent

Majid Sam Ball

Adrian Grieve - distance motor control - A system using the communication features of the microbits to get one microbit to send a signal to another to control a motor. This would be useful for at-a-distance control of environmental monitoring systems: a window could be opened if a room got too hot for example.

Sam McDermott - joystick controlled servo systemA system using a joystick to control by wire the position of a servo motor. This could be the basis of a robotic surgery system. The surgeon is in one location and the movements of the joystick control the movement of the robotic arm in other.

Ben Goldsmith - A geometrically based light made from recycled cardboard.

Noah Wyatt - Motor control via microbit - Using a repurposed chassis, Noah programmed a microcontroller to drive two motors. This could be developed to give full directional control of a small vehicle or product such as a robotic vacuum cleaner.

Chen Liang - Recycled materials light - Table lamp made from recycled bottle and cardbooard.

Ted Edwards-Davies - Lamp made from recycled wood and bottles.

SECOND FORM

The photographs show completed designs for amplifier/speaker systems. The boys came up with such interesting concepts. Callum Cowell’s ceiling hanging amplifier design was probably the largest. Other students attempted to get them to be as small as possible as in the design by Hugh Bayne.

Alex Aylward

Archie Taylor

Callum Cowell

Caspar Edwards-Davies

Hugh Bayne

Hugo Wilson

James Blair

Lucas Buisman

Matt Boston

Max Locke

Seb Broughton

William Boyes

Top left to bottom right: Akram Choudhury

The First Form students produced impressive work on the LED light project. They tackled the challenge of creating decorative desktop lights from various visual perspectives, utilising an array of materials and techniques. Notable designs, such as Labeeb Ahmed's, effectively showcased the light emanating from the desk lamp. Overall, the project was a success.

George Wiltshire

Freddie Cronin

Labeeb Ahmed

Liam Min

Maxime Falkowski

Toby Lay

Oliver!

The big event this year was RGS staging the biennial joint school musical with GHS, having lost our slot due to Covid. The timeless classic Oliver! was slickly and professionally directed by Mr Meadowcroft; this was a joyous production, uplifting and familiar in equal measure and magnificently showcasing the remarkable talent of the young people from both schools. The main role of Oliver was shared between Theo Patel and Jamal Karim, each boy bringing their own unique blend of pathos and longing to the role. Lorcan Read was an animated and deliciously serpentine Fagin with moments of real emotion blended in with his rumbustious solos. William Saunders was frighteningly evil (much to the surprise of many staff seeing him in the role) and his character’s cruel, brooding brutality was portrayed superbly throughout. Harry Simmons as Mr Bumble was delightfully pompous and lily-livered whilst Adrian Groenewald’s interpretation of Mr Sowerbury hit all the right buttons to show the grim, funereal and somewhat sadistic side of the role.

Orlando Meadowcroft created a lovable puppylike Artful Dodger, enthusiastically and energetically bouncing off Fagin’s dour instruction. Sebastian Cunningham, Max Baker and Theo Odhams were strong Senior ensemble members with Sebastian particularly effective in revealing the nasty spitefulness of Noah Claypole. Milo Findji interpreted Mr Brownlow as an avuncular and warm character brimming with concern and kindness and Alex Judge took on several key roles with gravitas and aplomb. Oscar York’s Charlie Bates was brilliant as a young Dodger in waiting with effervescent energy. The Junior ensemble of Ben Birks, Charlie Courts, Orlando Gover, Timmy Hatch, James Kelynack, Vikram Kurup, Rex Morgan, Edward Reid, Rex Ribet, Ben Thain and George Wiltshire were the backbone of many scenes, and each boy created their own individual “urchin” with great success.

The GHS girls were astounding in their talent and professionalism; in particular Nancy played by Fleur C was astounding in the maturity and depth of feeling she brought to the role. Emily W as Bet was also superb in her role, bringing sympathy and charm to the character. Marikit A as Mrs Sowerbury was suitably acerbic and cruel whilst Amy L was brilliantly bossy and sharp as Widow Corney. The female ensemble of Sadie L, Phoebe F-B, Laura W, Sahana G, Zara K, Amani A, and Florence D was really high quality with both the singing and acting, faultless.

The production was supported by many staff and students; the technical team led by Mr Gyford, Production management Ms McClean, Costume Ms Tamblyn, and Front of House Mr Wild. Many more boys supported the production backstage and as ushers and our thanks go to all.

This was a joyous production, uplifting and familiar in equal measure and magnificently showcasing the remarkable talent of the young people from both schools.

GCSE

The GCSE cohort performed their devised pieces in November. The three pieces were imaginative and very different, one was an examination of bodysnatching in the 18th Century done in the grotesque mimetic style of Steven Berkoff, the second a Victorian melodrama and the last piece was a dual time frame play that compared modern day social media “witch trials” with the real witch hunts of the 17th century!

Dedication

St Jude

The students did indeed reveal their capacity for subtle and believable performances.

The scripted performances took place in February with a visiting external examiner (and the chief examiner who commented on how good it was to see “young men able to express emotions”). The four plays from which their extracts were taken were Morgana by Jethro Compton, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time adapted from the novel, Dedication and Suicide Incorporated. The students did indeed reveal their capacity for subtle and believable performances.

Suicide Inc

Morgana

Field Days

Field Day 1: was a trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the theatre collection, everything from Star Wars props to iconic costumes. This was followed by a brilliant backstage tour of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, made all the more special by being in the way of its owner Andrew Lloyd Webber as he entered the building!

Field Day 2: Kerry Frampton from Splendid Theatre led an in depth and highly practical workshop on clowning introducing our boys to techniques and ways of finding hilarity in simple things. This was followed in the afternoon by a stage fighting workshop with Mark Ruddick of Squires Stage Combat. Mark and Kerry have been delivering Field Day workshops many times for us and both are exceptionally skilled in their fields and pass this knowledge and passion onto the boys.

Field Day 3: Ms Tamblyn designed and led a completely bespoke Escape Room/Murder Mystery Day for the boys who absolutely loved it.

Field Day 4: we took both Drama and Technical Theatre boys to see the award winning show Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre. A brilliant evening and thoroughly enjoyed by all despite promenading for nearly three hours.

Such imagination and commitment is a joy to see in school and our thanks go to the external leaders who inspired and encouraged everyone to take part.

Field Day 5: Second Form Mime in a Day - This was a terrific day with the entire Second Form in their House groups engaged in producing five minute 'silent movies'. Each group worked with a mime professional to devise and rehearse their mimed masterpieces. We had brilliant stories emerge; a Hollywood author dreaming up his film script and presenting it to the studio boss, a bunch of holiday makers taking a creepy tour and ending up taking selfies with Dracula, a rabble of bandits blowing up a train and their pursuers abseiling down a cliff. There was an art gallery heist complete with a tunnelled escape from jail, a surprise party for two nonagenarians that turned into a robbery and a wonderful epic adventure where explorers found a treasure map and had to navigate creepy woods, climb a mountain and deal with a host of animals before unearthing a (human) box of treasure!

Such imagination and commitment is a joy to see in school and our thanks go to the external leaders who inspired and encouraged everyone to take part. Oscar statuettes were awarded to boys and the House order was Nettles 1st, Beckingham 2nd, Austen 3rd, Powell 4th, Hamonde 5th and Valpy 6th. My thanks as ever to all the staff help on the day, in particular ATA, GES and ARG as well as our two Lower Sixth Form judges - Milo Findji and Lorcan Read who were fantastic.

House Drama

This year saw an incredible team of Lower Sixth boys enthusiastically and competently directing their House Groups in presenting six extracts from plays. It is such a pleasure to watch (and judge) the competition when all the participants are so engaged and willing to step up and try something that may be out of their comfort zone but nevertheless they do their best. The play extracts challenged each House group in different ways, but the winners on this occasion - Beckingham - led by Milo Findji, did a superb job in staging Gargantua, finding the humour and demonstrating excellent acting skills throughout. Nettles were a close runner up with their assured and well rehearsed piece from The Wrath of Achilles. My thanks go to the House Leaders who as ever help encourage the boys to do their best.

Mrs NC McClean - Head of Drama

MUSIC

Advent Service

Despite only being in its second year, the Advent Carol Service has quickly established itself as one of the highlights of the Michaelmas Term. Taking place by candlelight in the atmospheric setting of Holy Trinity Church, this year’s service felt truly special.

Interspersed with readings and reflections on Advent's meaning, the musical aspects of the service were led by the RGS Schola Cantorum. Structured around the Seven Great Advent Antiphons, the service was dominated by plainchant. Whilst this style of music looks simple on the page, it requires a level of singing that is deceptively difficult to deliver. However, the Tenors and Basses of Schola Cantorum mastered the nuances of the style, performing it with sensitivity and authority. These settings also gave members of the choir the opportunity to perform as soloists and particular mention should go to Orlando Meadowcroft, Daniel Bristow, Ben Pilkington, Thomas McLean, Ralph Moggs and Henry Franke for their accomplished performances and profoundly moving musical delivery. The choral highlights of the service were two works by the contemporary Scottish composer, James Macmillan. His setting O Radiant Dawn is full of fervent longing for Christ. This was singing of the highest quality with careful attention to detail and exceptional musicianship from each member of the choir. The highlight of the service was undoubtedly Macmillan’s setting of the Advent Antiphon. This is characterised by a hauntingly beautiful refrain permeated with quasi orthodox chant. Making use of the available space in the church, the soloist, Oscar Ford, was placed away from the main choir. Oscar deserves particular mention for his outstanding performance here. This was difficult music and to pull it off with such aplomb is credit to his exceptional musicianship and vocal skill, adding to what felt like a very special and compellingly moving service.

Musician of the Year 2024

Established to showcase the astonishing musicianship found here at the RGS, Musician of the Year has gone on to become one of the highlights of the School’s musical calendar. This year’s final, held in Big School, was particularly special as it marked the 25th anniversary of the prize’s endowment by former parents John and Hilary Steynor. Their sons, Matthew (OG 1997), Christopher (OG 2000) and David (OG 2003) were all tremendously active in the Music Department, contributing an enormous amount to the music making at the School throughout their time at the RGS. John and Hilary have continued to support the Music Department, and we are grateful for their generosity and support for this prestigious event. To mark this special occasion, I was delighted to be able to welcome back several previous winners of the Steynor Prize - Thomas Hansell, Emmanuel Bach, Andrew Tyler, and Ed Ball. It was fantastic to be able to welcome them all back to the RGS and hear how music has remained such an important and constant part of their lives.

Following a fiercely contested preliminary round earlier in the term, six finalists made it through to this year’s final - Joseph Ryan (Piano), Thomas McLean (Trumpet), Oscar Trott (Piano), Joseph Howes (Piano), Alexander Gillan (Violin) and Rohan McCauley (Piano). Together they performed a recital that was astonishing, not only in terms of the breadth of its musical programme, but for the outstanding levels of musical accomplishment on display. It was a great pleasure to welcome Professor David Owen Norris to adjudicate. Alongside David’s extensive performing career, having played numerous times at the BBC Proms, the Wigmore Hall and Southbank Centre to name but a few, he is a composer and regular broadcaster on both BBC radio and television. David is currently Professor of Performance at the University of Southampton and a visiting Professor at the Royal Northern College of Music and so was expertly placed to comment on such an impressive evening of music making. Selecting a winner from amongst six exceptional and equally deserving finalists is never easy, but David’s decision was made even harder as each of the finalists tackled such complex music, performing it with dazzling displays of technical accomplishment. David’s entertaining and insightful commentary remarked on the broad aspects of each performer’s formidable technique and musical shaping. However, by the narrowest of margins, he awarded The Steynor Prize to a performer who not only displayed technical prowess, but to someone who gave the most convincing musical account of the music - Rohan McCauley.

Congratulations to Rohan, and to all the finalists who took part; they can each be immensely proud of all they have achieved. Special thanks must always go to Mrs Newman, without whom this event would simply not be able to go ahead. Not only did she provide her usual sensitive and skillful accompaniment to both Thomas and Alexander’s programme, but she alone is responsible for teaching all four pianists in this year’s final. This is a phenomenal achievement. To have four immensely impressive pianists performing at such a high level is a rare thing for any school and is in no small part down to Mrs Newman's inspirational teaching.

Musician of the Year never fails to astonish but for this to be achieved by such a deserving set of finalists made this year’s final very special indeed. Yet again, this incredible concert proved to be an exceptional evening of music making which had the appreciative audience enthralled from start to finish.

Orchestral and Choral Concerts

The Michaelmas Term’s Orchestral Concert took place in late November in the beautiful setting of Holy Trinity Church.

The evening opened with the inaugural performance of Theme for Big Band by Ruvin Meda. Ruvin, currently in the Lower Sixth, studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama every Saturday and is quickly earning a reputation as a gifted young composer. Drawing upon the influence of composers such as Gustav Mahler, the work was written specifically for the RGS Big Band and, under the baton of Miss Wild, the performance was assured and accomplished with players handling the demanding rhythmic passages and tempo changes with confidence. Then followed the second musical premiere of the evening; Concerto for Bass Trombone by Mr White. Initially written for Peter’s godson, this work is challenging in the demands that it makes on both the soloist and accompanying ensemble alike. Scored for soloist and Swing Band, the players skillfully handled the rhythmic complexities of the score, negotiating the overriding rhythmic drive of the outer movements and frequently changing time signatures with ease. The slow middle movement, with its rich orchestration and lush harmonies was a particular highlight of the evening. The first half of the concert concluded with Carnival 2 - a work written by Mr White several years ago to celebrate the strength and depth of piano playing at the RGS. Taking Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens as its inspiration, the work is scored for the same instrumentation as the original but draws upon twelve new species for each movement. From movements such as the opening Dawn Chorus, Commuters, Flies, Jellyfish and Lounge Lizards, this is a work of great creativity, imagination, and fun. With nineteen pianists taking to the stage, this was a fine advert for the impressive level of piano playing at the RGS. Concerto Consort, under the direction of Mr Chambers, provided the accompaniment and responded with great sensitivity to the nuances of the two piano writing at the heart of the ensemble. Particular mention should be made of Oscar Trott who played Peter’s contemporary take on The Swan with poise and sensitivity, and to Mr Callaghan whose Double Bass solo brilliantly portrayed Lonesome George, the last surviving Pinta Island tortoise.

Congratulations to all the pianists whose technical mastery of the instrument received rapturous applause from the audience - James Dicker; Ben Dinenage; Arthur Ford; Alexander Gillan; Michael Goncharuk; Peter Jones; Andrew Kuang; Freddy Masefield; Rohan McCauley; Thomas McLean; Ruvin Meda; Christian Oosterom; Yuvan Raja; Charlie Robertshaw; Ben Robertson; Joe Ryan; Oscar Trott; Nicholas Yang; Julian Zou. Thank you to Mrs Newman for all her hard work in ensuring that the pianists were on top of this challenging music.

The second half of the concert saw the RGS Symphony Orchestra take to the stage with performances of Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute and Beethoven’s Symphony No 5. This is difficult music at the best of times, but performing these works is made so much harder due to their fame and enduring popularity. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is not only one of the most famous in the repertory but is also notoriously difficult. The famous opening few bars of the first movement are incredibly challenging for conductor and orchestra alike, but the well-known opening motif was performed with confidence and an impressive sense of ensemble. The whole symphony is one that moves from darkness to light; from the gloom of C minor in the first movement to the exuberance and triumph of the fourth movement in C major. The players certainly captured both moods in their performance and it was the exhilarating final movement that brought the evening to a close and was met with ovations aplenty. This was an evening of exceptional music making, shining light on the sheer depth and breadth of musicianship that we have at the RGS.

This second major Choral and Orchestral Concert of the year saw us return to Holy Trinity Church at the start of the Trinity Term. In front of a large crowd, the audience was treated to a programme of mostly English choral and instrumental music from the twentieth century.

Under the baton of Mr Chambers, the RGS Symphony Orchestra took to the platform for the first half of the concert and delivered an exceptional performance from beginning to end. The orchestra’s performance was marked by precision, expressive phrasing, and a deep understanding of the music. Their rendition of Britten’s Five Courtly Dances from Gloriana showcased intricate rhythms and dynamic contrasts. Each section - strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion - contributed perfectly to create a depth of sound that was immensely impressive. In Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, the orchestra navigated the neoclassical textures with finesse. The playful character of the suite came alive, and the musicians seamlessly transitioned between the energetic and rhythmically challenging movements to the more lyrical and plaintive movements with ease. The first half of the concert concluded with The Lark Ascending

by Vaughan Williams, which demands both technical prowess and emotional depth from soloist and accompanying orchestra alike. Joseph Ryan’s violin solo soared, capturing the essence of the lark in flight as the orchestra provided a sensitive accompaniment, which allowed the soloist’s artistry to shine.

The second half of the concert saw the combined forces of the RGS School Choir and Concerto Consort, united under the direction of Mr Orchard, perform Britten’s St Nicolas. This cantata tells the story of the legendary saint and the miracles that he performed, and it was an honour to welcome the internationally renowned tenor soloist James Gilchrist to sing the title role. From the hushed notes of the opening movement to the grandiose setting of the two congregational hymns that frame the work, the choir’s diction, blend, and expressiveness conveyed the narrative vividly. Their harmonies resonated within the church, evoking moments of both reverence and joy. The orchestral accompaniment, so skillfully played by members of Concerto Consort, interacted with the choir, enhancing the overall texture, creating moments of both grandeur and intimacy. The tenor soloist’s voice filled the space with a performance that was heartfelt, capturing the saint’s compassion and devotion. His clear tone and emotional delivery left a lasting impression and held the audience captivated from the outset.

It was wonderful also to be joined by the boy choristers of Guildford Cathedral who added a purity and innocence to the proceedings in their depictions of both the young Nicolas and the three pickled boys whom the saint saves from being consumed by a village during a famine. Their angelic voices blended seamlessly with the other performers, emphasising the communal spirit of the concert.

Throughout the evening, the musicians displayed both impressive skill and musicianship of the highest calibre, making this both such a memorable and captivating concert. What truly stood out was the commitment to the music of all involved. The musicians’ passion and dedication translated into a simply stunning and truly unforgettable performance. From courtly dances to soaring larks, the concert left an indelible mark, reminding us of the power of live music to uplift and inspire. A huge thank you, not only to the boys involved, but to the many members of staff who helped make this high-profile and prestigious concert such an enormous success.

Concerto Concert with Southern Pro Musica

The Concerto Concert with Southern Pro Musica has justifiably become one of the stellar events of the RGS musical year, and this year’s performance was no exception. In front of a large audience, four performers (and one composer) took to the stage in what was simply an outstanding display of musicianship. The evening opened with Thomas McLean’s performance of Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani. From the thunderously gothic opening chords to the playful and more lyrical Allegro Giocoso sections, Thomas impressed the audience with his complete technical prowess, leaving them in no doubt that they were in for a very special evening. Oscar Trott’s stylish rendition of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue held the audience captivated from beginning to end. From the opening clarinet glissandi to the closing orchestral tutti, Oscar’s performance perfectly encapsulated the style of the piece with his highly accomplished technique, mastering both the lively syncopated rhythms and more romantic central melodic theme with aplomb. In a first for this concert, the evening witnessed the premiere of a newly commissioned piece composed by Ruvin Meda specifically for this event. Ruvin, who has just been awarded the Young Composer of the Year award at The Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama, is fast establishing himself as a composer to watch out for in the future. His newly composed Concert Overture masterfully combined strong melodic lines, lush romantic harmonies, and outstanding orchestral colours.

These wide-ranging themes and moods were deftly handled by the professional musicians of Southern Pro Musica, and the work received a standing ovation from the audience after its climactic conclusion. Max Bruch’s Concerto for Violin in G Minor has justifiably earned its place right at the heart of the repertoire and Alexander Gillan’s performance of the exquisite second movement reminded us all exactly why that is. Filled with warmth and sincerity, the second movement is the concerto’s jewel and Alex’s singing tone alternated beautifully between the quiet intimacy of the movement’s opening notes to the more bravura passages later in the movement. This was assured and accomplished playing that left the audience enchanted by the sheer beauty of Bruch’s melodic lines. The final performance of the evening came from James Dicker

with his performance of César Franck’s Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra. James has already left an indelible mark on the piano playing at the RGS and his performance of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor at this same concert last year certainly left the audience wanting more. Franck’s work requires the pianist to balance technical prowess with expressive sensitivity, demanding both dynamic contrast and lyrical phrasing. James’s performance did not fail to dazzle the audience with his virtuosity and emotional depth, capturing the essence of this remarkable piece.

With ovations aplenty throughout the evening, the extraordinary levels of musicianship on display from each of the performers was astounding, with each receiving compliments from members of the professional orchestra that had accompanied them so magnificently. One final mention should also be made of the many boys who played alongside their professional counterparts in the orchestra. This is always difficult music and the fact that they were able to do so and to such a high standard is testament to their own musicianship and prepares them well for their own concerto performances in the future.

Joint Schools’ Chamber Choir

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, has stood as place of worship and prayer for almost 900 years. Serving a dual role as both the cathedral for the dioceses of Oxford and the college’s chapel, it has had a long and illustrious history and garnered a reputation for the high quality of its music making since it was absorbed by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey into his new “Cardinal College” in the 1520s. This was the setting for the Joint Schools’ Chamber Choir’s first outing of the year to sing Evensong. George Dyson’s fantastic setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in D major, is both dramatic and highly descriptive and has consequently become a favourite of the Anglican repertoire. The overall feeling in this setting is one of exaltation and this was certainly captured by the exciting performance given by the choir, who were on exceptional form.

This was the choir’s first visit to Christ Church since March 2014, and it was wonderful to be back in such a magnificent building. It was also fantastic to be reunited with Richard Moore, formerly Sub-Organist of Guildford Cathedral, who is now the recently appointed Sub-Organist of Christ Church. Richard accompanied the service with his usual exceptional sensitivity to the requirements of the music and the building; he also gave a wonderful talk to members of the choir who might be considering potential choral and organ scholarships in the future. Special mention must also go to Oscar Ford, who led the choir in the singing of the responses. This role traditionally goes to a senior member of the clergy, but Oscar rose to the challenge and did an outstanding job.

The chosen anthem Save Us, O Lord is probably one of Edward Bairstow’s best-loved works and provided a moment of quiet reflection after Dyson’s jubilant setting of the evening service. The broad and expansive melodic lines were deftly handled by all sections of the choir alike, who maintained both technical control and sense of poise throughout the outer sections, whilst conveying a sense of anticipation and energy in the central fugal passage.

In March the choir made its first visit to Southwark Cathedral. Their sensitive and stylish treatment of music by Byrd, Purcell, and Casals was evident throughout, and the singing was mature, well-focused and beautiful. This was the choir's first visit to Southwark Cathedral and the Precentor was most complimentary afterwards, urging the choir to visit again at the earliest opportunity. Having already sung Choral Evensong several times at St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in recent years, London has become a happy away-day for the Joint Chamber Choir!

Market Day Lunchtime Concerts

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. Notable performances this year ranged from James Dicker’s masterful performance of Ravel’s Une Barque sur L'Océan to a concert given over to chamber music, which saw performances from three of the School’s string quartets. On each occasion the audience was left in no doubt that music at the RGS is flourishing.

Music Competitions

The inclusion of music competitions as part of the House Competition system has seen these continue to go from strength to strength this year. Wednesday 22 November saw the House String Competition take place in front of our esteemed adjudicator, Simon Jones. Simon is currently Head of String Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is a busy freelance musician having performed and recorded with most of the UK’s leading period instrument groups. He performed with, amongst others, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Roger Norrington, and Christopher Hogwood, and at one point he held three principal seats simultaneously. On the previous afternoon, Simon led an inspirational masterclass with some of our most able string players - Joseph Ryan, Alexander Gillan, and Ben Robertson. This was a masterclass of the highest quality, and the boys responded impressively to Simon’s conservatoire level observations and technical advice. At the end of the competition, Simon remarked on the deeply impressive experience he had visiting the RGS, commenting on the sheer depth and breadth of not just the string playing but the sheer amount of music making that he saw going on around the Department over the course of his two-day visit.

In a new addition to the competition calendar, I was delighted to welcome Tim Travers-Brown to adjudicate the inaugural House Singing Competition. Tim is one of the country’s leading countertenors and has performed with some of the foremost period instrument ensembles and choirs. Tim is also a Professor of Singing at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and teaches at Eton College. It was fantastic to see so many boys take part in this competition and to hear singing of the highest quality. Tim commented on how well prepared each of the competitors was and remarked on the exceptional level of performance overall. The winner of the competition was Orlando Meadowcroft with his performance of Ständchen by Franz Schubert. Highly Commended positions were awarded to Ben Pilkington, Daniel Bristow, Benedict Cunningham, and Henry Franke.

In the Lent Term, it was a pleasure to welcome David Campbell, currently Head of Woodwind at Westminster School and an internationally renowned clarinetist, to adjudicate the House Woodwind Competition in February. This term’s Brass Competition was overseen by Alan Thomas, Principal Trumpet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Professor of Trumpet at the Royal College of Music. In another new addition to the competition calendar, the esteemed classical guitarist, composer and teacher Vincent Lindsey-Clark came to judge the inaugural House Acoustic Guitar Competition. Both musicians commented on the impressive breadth and depth of playing in each field.

Masterclasses

It was a pleasure to be able to welcome Paul Harris to the Department in the Michaelmas Term. Paul is a highly respected clarinetist, composer, and author with over 600 publications to his name. He has also developed an international reputation as a music educator and regularly gives workshops and presentations on various aspects of music education worldwide. Paul gave two outstanding talks and workshops to our musicians; in his first session, Paul discussed how best to approach sight-reading. The often-feared sight-reading test is an essential and valuable part of the musical assessment process and Paul’s inspirational approach helped students understand the process, enabling them to develop fluency, accuracy, and confidence. In his second session, Paul gave a performance masterclass, offering feedback on several performances given by members of the group. It is fair to say that Paul was impressed by the exceptionally high standard of musicianship on display. His feedback on each performance was inspiring and left those who were lucky enough to take part with plenty of things to think about.

In November, I was delighted to welcome Mr Tommy Andrews to the Department to lead a woodwind masterclass. Tommy is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist (Saxophone, Clarinet and Flute), composer and educator. He currently holds a chair on Guys and Dolls at the Phoenix Theatre, London. The afternoon saw nine musicians perform and receive feedback from Tommy. Particular highlights were Rohan McCauley’s performance of Poulenc’s Clarinet Sonata and Jasper O’Conor’s rendition of Ravel’s Pièce en Forme de Habanera. There were some impressive performances amongst the boys, and it was great to see them respond so musically to Tommy’s comments.

Hot on the heels of the inaugural House Singing Competition, Tim Travers-Brown delivered a masterclass to six performers who has participated in the competition earlier in the day. Everyone involved received feedback of the highest quality and made terrific progress in a relatively short amount of time. To sing in front of your peers and be brave enough to try out new techniques in front of an audience takes real courage and for each of the students involved to be willing to do so displays a level of musical maturity greatly in advance of their years. For a school without a choral foundation to produce singing of this quality is a rare thing and I am delighted to see that singing is stronger than ever.

In March, Head of Keyboard, Mrs Newman, gave a masterclass in piano techniques specifically aimed at the Junior pianists in the School and was open to everyone who plays, regardless of whether they have their piano lessons at school or externally. Over the past two years, we have held masterclasses for the best pianists, given by eminent performers in the field and whilst these were fantastic, they limit development to those few participants. As a result of broadening the scope, over 40 boys came to the two-hour class, and were keen and willing to participate, coming up to the piano to try out suggestions of how to work on passages that they found difficult and sharing ideas about solutions. The class concluded with a performance of a movement from a complex Beethoven Sonata given by Joseph Howes, who had come to the School in the Fourth Form at Grade 7 level, only to finish his time here by gaining a place at both the Royal Academy of Music and Guildhall to study piano. Jan had wanted to encourage and develop potential talent that perhaps had not yet been identified, and it was extremely gratifying to find that by the end, there were several students previously unknown to her who expressed an interest in coming to have lessons at school and to gain from everything that is on offer here musically.

Schola Cantorum

It was a real honour to be asked to provide a choir for the annual Service for the Judiciary for the second year in a row. This has rarely been the case in the past and is testament to the reputation that the RGS has gained for producing singing of the highest quality. The boys of Schola Cantorum sang so well that they have already been asked to sing again in October 2024. I hope that this link between the RGS and the civic bodies of the town continues to grow in the years ahead.

The students in Schola Cantorum were involved in two high-profile events during the Lent Term. Their first performance was given in the intimate and beautiful setting of St Mary’s Church, where they sang the ancient office of Compline. Alongside the traditional plainchant setting of the service, the choir sang Stainer’s Easter anthem God So Loved the World, which was sung with poise and sensitivity. The service concluded with the congregational hymn The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended, which brought the service to a fitting conclusion.

Schola’s second outing of the term saw them sing alongside Guildford Cathedral Choir in our annual joint evensong at the Cathedral under the direction of the Cathedral Organist and Master of the Choristers, Katherine Dienes-Williams. This was a wonderful experience for all the boys who undoubtedly held their own alongside their cathedral chorister and lay clerk counterparts. Singing Howell’s setting of the Evening Service Collegium Regale as well as his anthem Like as the Hart, the choir were on fine form and rose to the challenge of coping with the Cathedral’s mighty acoustic.

School Choir - Commemoration Service and Cathedral Carol Service

The annual Commemoration Service at Guildford Cathedral is one of the few occasions where we as a whole school community can come together, and I am delighted that music continues to play such a central role in this important event. The choir this year was on exceptional form and their performance of Wood’s

O Thou the Central Orb was particularly rousing. The service now traditionally closes with Rutter’s setting of The Lord Bless You and Keep You, which, once again, was performed to an exceptionally high standard and brought the service to a more reflective close. As the Headmaster wrote in his weekly bulletin following the service, to have rebuilt the School Choir after just two and a half weeks of term is a fine achievement.

The two Carol Services at the end of the Michaelmas Term are always a highlight and something that the members of the choir always look forward to. The evening service this year felt particularly special and, as the Headmaster commented was, for him,

“one of the most beautiful events of my RGS career. It was wonderful to hear the musicianship of the Joint RGS and GHS Choirs, but it was the quality of the RGS Choir which stood out for me. When our young students come together to produce music of such high quality, the world is a better place as a result.”

The Piano Department

On a cold and drab evening in November, the Junior Piano Concert took place in the Recital Room, bringing some much-needed cheer to everyone involved. This is always such a positive event, as it is the first official music event of the School year and offers our young pianists a great opportunity to showcase their talent. We also get to hear the new first and third year boys play for the first time, and this year, similarly to previous occasions, we were treated to performances from close to thirty performers showcasing a wide range of repertoire and standards. The boys acquitted themselves beautifully, showing that despite understandable nerves, they could rise to the occasion and play to the best of their ability, bringing pleasure and pride to the packed room of supportive parents.

Earlier in the day, the House Piano Competition showcased the talents of our Junior, Intermediate and Senior performers. It was adjudicated by Muriel Phillips, a very fine pianist, examiner and former Head of Keyboard at Charterhouse, who had the unenviable task of finding a winner from each of the fully attended classes, which were arranged by standard rather than age. The playing heard was extremely impressive and with repertoire ranging from the Brahms F minor Sonata to pianists just starting out on their musical journey, we had a day filled with inspiring music. Muriel had a wonderful day and made a point of commenting on what extraordinary pianistic ability she had found here at RGS.

The final piano event of the year was held in March, and this time gave the Senior pianists their moment in the sun. Every year I feel deeply proud of the boys and astonished at the standard of playing they achieve, and this year was no exception, but it was particularly poignant this year as we were listening to many of our best Upper Sixth pianists for the last time. Joseph Howes, Rohan McCauley and James Dicker in

particular have been the most wonderful ambassadors for the piano in their time at RGS, and it was a joy to hear them play in such a mature and musically way in their last piano concert. Ruvin Meda gave a performance of the slow movement of a Beethoven Sonata with great feeling, involving the audience in every note, leading to a rollicking performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue from Oscar Trott to bring the evening to a stylish, joyful conclusion. We wish these boys every success - and my own thanks go to each for everything they have contributed to what I hold so dear - the art of playing the piano.

Mrs JE Newman

Wind and Brass Ensembles

The Ensembles’ Concerts throughout the year are the perfect platform to showcase our wind and brass ensembles. These groups are always the most fun and participation amongst the boys has been at an all-time high. Highlights from their performances this year include Eye of the Tiger, In the Miller Mood and Jazz Police. Smaller wind and brass ensembles flourished throughout the year under the direction of Miss Eaton, Mrs Howells and Mr Phelps. The Intermediate Wind Quintet delighted audiences on several occasions throughout the year with performances of works ranging from Beethoven to Tchaikovsky. The Senior Saxophone Quartet honed their skills under

the direction of Head of Woodwind and Brass, Karen Howells, in a performance of a medley of numbers from Bernsein’s West Side Story. The Junior Brass Group has continued to go from strength to strength under the direction of Elliot Phelps. Making their debut back last year, it has been fantastic to see this group continue to grow and develop. Their performances this year have been full of fun, energy and musicianship in abundance.

Contemporary Music

RGS Rock @ The Boileroom

This has been another exciting year for the many rock bands that now regularly rehearse each week at the RGS. Following on from the hugely successful inaugural RGS Rock @The Boileroom last year, our most advanced bands returned to Guildford’s award-winning, nationally-recognised music venue in November and July. Showcasing bands from the Fourth Form and above, a packed house at both events saw groups raise the roof with their covers of tracks by Muse, The Arctic Monkeys, Oasis and The Fratellis to name but a few. The standard of playing was, as always, exceptionally high with each band receiving rapturous applause at the end of each set.

Charity Rock Gig

On Tuesday 18 June, bands from the Second Form through to the Upper Sixth took part in a rock concert in Great Hall to raise money for our school charities. Aptly named The Great Hall of Rock, bands displayed scintillating showmanship throughout the event, expertly warming up the crowd and getting everyone to their feet. The music reflected the students' broad tastes, with covers of songs by Muse, Foo Fighters, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Nirvana, Journey, and Britney Spears (for which Alex Judge donned a beautiful, blonde wig). There was some great musicianship on display throughout the evening, with glittering guitar solos, and instrumental prowess demonstrated on the drums, keyboards and bass. A special moment worthy of mention was the whole-crowd performance of Don't Stop Believing, led by Oliver Southwell. Residents from Abbot's Hospital joined us and were impressed with the talent on display. The event raised over £600 for school charities.

Jazz Night @ The Boileroom

In the absence of an Ensembles’ Concert in the Lent Term, it was a pleasure to return to Guildford’s premiere venue for contemporary music for a new addition to the musical calendar - an RGS Jazz night. Featuring performances from the student run jazz ensemble Oscar and the Trotts, as well as the Senior Saxophone Quartet and the RGS Swing Band, this was an excellent addition to the School calendar. Highlights of the evening included Satin Doll, I’m in the Mood for Swing, and Lazy River.

The standard of playing was, as always, exceptionally high with each band receiving rapturous applause at the end of each set.

Oliver!

At the heart of every successful musical is a band of incredibly talented musicians. Often relegated to a place out of sight of the audience, it can be very easy to forget about them all together. However, the 15 musicians comprising the orchestral band for the show rose to the challenge of mastering Lionel Bart’s deceptively challenging score, not only playing to an immensely impressive standard, but with a real sense of style and sensitivity to the actors on stage. What made this achievement even more remarkable was the fact that many of the players involved were from the Junior and Middle School. This was undoubtedly exceptional playing and many of the emails that I received from members of the audience commented on the outstanding quality of the band. I am delighted to report that they received rapturous applause when the time came for them to take their bow after the final performance.

Hamelin

On the last Monday of the Trinity Term, 175 performers took part in a very special concert at Holy Trinity Church. The concert included the world premiere of Hamelin, a new work created especially for the Music Department of the RGS and RGS Prep by Mr White, former Director of Music. The RGS students were joined by 28 members of the Boxgrove String Scheme Orchestra who also played some additional pieces in the first half of the programme. Hamelin is based on the legendary Pied Piper of Hamelin, and the lead role was played by Oscar Ford (5H), gamely dressed as a hippy! Other soloists included Ben Pilkington (5A,

the Mayor of Hamelin) and Alex Pop (3E, the Priest). Ralph Moggs (5N), Orlando Meadowcroft (5V), Benedict Cunningham (L6-11) and Daniel Bristow (5A) performed the parts of Town Councillors. Over 60 First Form students formed the Chorus of Rats, and they were joined by Schola Cantorum who were the Town Folk of Hamelin and the Chorus of Students from RGS Prep. Students from all year groups played in the Orchestra, together with Mrs Newman, Mr Chambers and Mrs Eaton from the Music Department. This was a wonderful way to showcase the partnership between the two RGS Music Departments and their role within the wider community. A huge thank you must go to Mr White, whose witty and imaginative score captured the hearts of all those that were lucky to hear its inaugural performance.

Joint RGS and GHS Choir and Orchestra Tour

At the end of the Trinity Term, 70 students and staff from RGS and GHS set off on a choir and orchestra tour centred on Segovia, just outside Madrid. Brilliantly organised by Mr Orchard and Mr Jones (GHS), the RGS musical contingent was supplemented by Dr Sisca (RGS Physics), who was just the most congenial, helpful and supportive colleague. The finer points of String Theory were lost on most of us, but not, happily, our tour guide, so everyone was happy! Super concerts in world famous churches and cathedrals, the weather was hot, but not too hot, a happy bunch of students who seemed content to talk to each other rather than have their phones out, and some high-quality music making, directed by Miss Wild and Grayson Jones. If you ever get a chance to go, Segovia is a beautiful and memorable area to explore.

Mr SJ Orchard - Director of Music

Senior Housemaster's Report

Sports Day this year proved to be a turning point in the race for the Hardy Cup, with Beckingham, the victors, mounting what would be a successful charge for overall victory. As one of the only events that involve the whole school community, it really is a highlight in the calendar; and this year we were treated to several new school records - seeing Joe Thorneycroft run the 100m in 10.88 was really something. The RGS also celebrated another record this year, Mr Cowx standing down from Powell after 36 years in charge - only the third Powell Housemaster since its inception in 1963. Taking over when Margaret Thatcher was still in power in 1988, he has led the burgundy House to seven title victories and has cemented his place as the longest serving Housemaster in RGS history. His passion, energy, and scrutiny of the rules will be sorely missed by all, and we are grateful for everything he has done for the House system and

the support shown to all students, both past and present. It was a shame that Powell couldn’t finish with the fairytale ending for Mr Cowx, however, four event victories was a respectable end to the year.

Going into the final event, softball, just 2.5 points separated the top four teams. A very closely fought contest ended with a Beckingham victory, and hence a delighted Mr Rossiter, in his debut season, lifted the trophy during final assembly. Well done to all students for their enthusiastic engagement, whether that be through participating, supporting, or organising. A highlight for me was seeing all these three aspects brought together during the House drama. A lovely competition which mixed students of all ages, saw Lower Sixth directors brilliantly organise rehearsals, and spectators enjoying the fantastic productions. That is what the House system, not simply House competition, is all about.

Mr K Tayar - Senior Housemaster

Au sten

The 2023/24 academic year was a memorable one for Austen House. It was fantastic to see so many boys throw themselves into Hardy Cup competition across the year.

The Michaelmas Term got off to a great start as Ollie George (U6-2) and Seb Seume (5A) brought home top spot in the House Golf competition in the late summer sunshine. In less favourable weather conditions, Austen House performed commendably across the age groups to win the Cross Country competition, with excellent performances in particular from Ollie Burne (U6-4) and James Davis (L6-2).

The Lent Term is always short but intense in terms of Hardy Cup competition and this year was no different. Austen House seemed to take to the indoor racquet sports well, with first place finishes in both the Squash and Badminton competitions. Confirming that Austen isn’t just the ‘sporty House’, we also secured podium finishes in the Music event and Photography, which allowed the House to show off its wide range of talents.

Going into the Trinity Term, the Hardy Cup was on a knife-edge, with four Houses all in contention for the ultimate prize. House Swimming was a

brilliant mass-participation event, and strong performances from new boys Zac Larivé (3T) and Jake Toroscik (1R) proved Austen Swimming is in good hands going forward. The final 12-point competition of the year was Sports Day, which had ‘The Yellow Army’ out in full colours. It was pleasing to witness Zac Tinkler (L6-11) and his Sixth Form leadership team cajole and encourage the younger boys from the sidelines. Special credit goes to Max Merriman (3L) for smashing two school records on the day. While Beckingham House ran out deserved winners of the Hardy Cup, it was a superb effort from Austen to take it to the wire. We go again next year…

My thanks go to Rishikesh Mistry (U6-8), as the outgoing House Captain and his brilliant deputies Berty Chilcott (U6-3) and Oscar de Gentile-Williams (U6-2). Well done on the effort so far, new House Captain Zac Tinkler (L6-11) and his able deputies George Wilson (L6-4), Jack Weeks (L6-11) and Tom Allen (L6-11). Finally, my thanks go to Mr Evans (FCB)for all his efforts as Deputy Housemaster - the boys and I really appreciate what you do for the House!

Mr TE Fishpool, Housemaster

Beckingham

What a year it was for the Reds, bringing home The Hardy Cup for the first time since 2016! It is near impossible to mention all contributions made last year, both individually and collectively.

Christmas saw us bid farewell to our former Housemaster Mr Holliday: despite leading the way in the Hardy Cup when he left, our hopes of holding on to that lead looked crushed as we found ourselves in dead last at the tail end of Lent Term. However, a call to arms in assembly was issued by newly appointed Housemaster, Mr Rossiter, and deputy, Dr Varney: successes in Football, Sports Day, Drama followed, galvanising a gargantuan comeback!

New First Form signings Mobi, Ben N and the Vickers twins, among others, all drove the House forward with brilliant all-round contributions. While Eoghan and Cristiano dominated the swimming and Cole and Bhavya seemed willing to volunteer for the lot. Hardy Cup heroes!

In the Second Form, Matt impressed with his basketball prowess, while Tanush and Caspar’s first ever fencing outings threatened huge upsets. Third Formers Rex and Devansh led the way volunteering across the board, and Fourth Formers Kiki and Jola impressed, as ever, in the same vein. A special mention must also go to Charlie Hart, the deserving Beckingham prize winner after throwing himself into events, stepping up to plug gaps whenever necessary.

Whether it was Ayaan’s amazing efforts in House Art or both the Fourth Form 4x100m relay team and George Vickers breaking respective school records on Sports Day, there were simply too many amazing efforts that day to list.

In House Drama, George, Joshua and Zac gave their all, even having to learn paragraphs of lines on the day; Sixth Formers Milo, Ayad, and Daniel directed superbly - victory was the cherry on top. The following week’s Softball went better, frankly, than any of us expected… So The Hardy Cup was finally ours!

To finish I would like to thank former House Captain Johnny and his deputies Luke and Dorian. Their unwavering, enthusiastic attitudes towards the House were infectious, and went a long way to inspiring us to victory. Here’s hoping we can defend the title!

Tom Bull - House Captain

Hamonde

Coming off the back of a tough second place finish in the Hardy Cup in 2022-2023, the 2023-24 year was a slightly disappointing return to form for Hamonde. There was an unspoken feeling of sadness resonating around the students in dark blue as a result, as the Hardy Cup is not about taking part and being a great gentleman of the sportsfield it is all about winning. Or at least not coming, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th.

Nevertheless, House assemblies continued to be an inspiring beam of light in an ever-darkening worldsome highlights included a beautiful rendition of Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life with lyrics altered to be Hamonde specific coming from George Christiansen, and Sid Rayaprolu having a conversational disagreement with a Second Former after being heckled for an unprepared hustings speech.

House events followed a pattern of either winning or placing in the latter end of the top six depending on the wind direction. Sports Day, at the end of the year, impressed me, with students signing up for activities they had never

tried before - giving it their best shot and getting into the true Hamonde spirit by getting covered in blue face paint William Wallace style.

As the Upper Sixth Form at the time were on study leave, I found myself assisting in the organisation of events and quickly realised just how much work Mrs Wilson and Mr Casale have put in over the years.

The organisational job was made easier by students like Joe Pontin who despite only being allowed to take

part in three events by the letter of the competition, was willing to put himself forward for many more if he was needed, personifying the Hamonde spirit.

All in all, despite realising that in my time in the RGS, I am unlikely to lift the Hardy Cup, there is absolutely no House I would rather be in than the mighty Hamonde.

Ollie James, Hamonde House Captain

N ettles

The 2023/24 year was full of enjoyment for everyone in Nettles, involving a number of commendable individual and team performances. Skilled oratory from Alex Hinton (3R) meant a win in the Junior’s section and for Nettles overall in Reading. In Mathematics, the Middle’s pair of Stirling Gauld (4N) and Aarav Vaish (3S) won their section, and the Senior’s pair of Thomas Dowson (L6-1) and Charlie Locke (L6-1) came second. In Photography, excellent work by Seb Broughton (2C) meant a win the in Junior manipulated. We came second in Cross Country, special mentions to Hugo Wilson (2R), Eddie Wilson (4N), and Toby Earl (L6-5), who won their year groups. In basketball, Nettles won the Middle’s, Senior’s and combined Second and Third Year events

resulting in a victory overall. In Music, Nettles came joint second overall and won in the piano section. Aarav Vaish (3S) and Robin Moggs (3R) won the Junior and Intermediate Piano events respectively, Jonty Edmunds (5N) won the Senior Acoustic Guitar and Akshay Wechalekar (4N) won the Intermediate Strings. In Sports Day, Joe Thornycroft (L6-3) won the Senior 100m and Eddie Wilson (4N), Hugo Wilson (2R) and Sam Foster (1C) all performed brilliantly in long distance events. All the successes of the past year couldn’t have been possible without the leadership team of Alex Jackson, Will Munroe, and Luke Song. They were always encouraging and dedicated towards the House, with some particularly inspiring assemblies from Alex Jackson. Nettles also owes a lot of gratitude to Mr Tayar (KPT), for his relentless efforts towards Nettles and the House system. In the Hardy Cup overall, Nettles narrowly missed out on the top spot, coming second. Nettles can be very proud of this achievement, and the many strong performances set a promising tone for next year.

Mr DT Chapman, Head of House

Po well

Despite finishing 6th overall, Powell House showcased several outstanding performances during the 2023 - 2024 academic year. Powellites excelled in various competitions, securing top positions in Debating, Fencing, Quiz, and Shooting! Additionally, we provided strong competition in Badminton, Mathematics, Squash, Table Tennis, and Swimming.

Powell House secured joint 1st place in House Debating, thanks to the exceptional skills of Spandan and Zac. Their sharp public speaking and critical thinking were on full display, as were the talents of other Powellites across different age groups. Their combined efforts impressed Mr Muchmore from the English Department, who declared Powell joint winners alongside Hamonde across all categories.

Our notable individual achievements include Josh Jacobs from the Fourth Form, who deserves special recognition for winning his section of the House Photography competition with a captivating and thought-provoking image of cherry blossoms above the Hiroshima Dome. In athletics, Stefan Lawson-Foia broke the U15 100m sprint record at Sports Day, and Frederick Duetoft dominated all his

swimming events with outstanding performances in the pool.

Shooting remains one of Powell’s strongest sports, and this year was no exception. With skilled shooters like Shreyas Pasarkar and Josh Jacobs leading the charge, Powell secured a well-deserved 1st Place. Their dedication and precision were unmatched, contributing to another successful year for the House in this discipline.

Sebastian and Valetine Wallin continue their remarkable streak, leading Powell to another First Place finish in House Fencing. Their technical prowess and determination were evident as they showcased their ability to secure yet another accolade for Powell.

A special thanks goes to Mr Cowx, whose leadership, consistent communication, and motivational support were pivotal in keeping Powellites engaged and enthusiastic throughout the year. His efforts fostered a strong sense of community within Powell House, encouraging both participation and enjoyment in every event. We also extend our gratitude to Mrs Rathmell for her unwavering support and warmly welcome our new

Housemaster, Mr Beever, following Mr Cowx’s departure. We wish Mr Beever the best of luck in his new role.

Though the overall standings may not reflect the full extent of our success, Powell House can be proud of its individual and team achievements this year. Here's to continued growth and more victories in the future!

Zac Warham - House Captain

Valpy

The Michaelmas Term got off to a great start with Kush Patel and Henry Wigg securing a second place in Golf for our first House Competition of the year. Wins took place in the House Frisbee and Table Tennis with a clean sweep in all years but the Seniors. This delivered us two wins already which was more wins than we had in the 22-23 season. More positive news came via a great comeback from sixth to third in Chess following a great victory in the Junior section. Success was also seen in the Art competitions as Archie Secrett won the overall Senior Art Competition. A first place in the piano section of House Music was achieved thanks to the ‘99% score’ of Ruvin Meda in the Seniors and first place for Orlando Meadowcroft in the singing section. We headed into Christmas sitting third with more to play for.

We started the Lent Term with a strong third place finish in House Quiz and, although Valpy faced a couple of setbacks throughout the term such as lower results in Badminton, Shooting and Squash, there were still some major notable triumphs such as an overall Victory in House Hockey and

a perfect score from Adam Zhang and James Nicholas in Senior House Shooting as they came first. The House Basketball fate was decided in the Senior competition as Andrew Brett’s men just lost in the final to a strong Nettles team securing a second place overall leaving Valpy in fifth going into the Easter break. However this may seem misleading due to the three points separating second and fifth with Valpy in the lead in House Football at that point.

The Trinity Term started off strongly as we won House Photography pushing Valpy into third position and an outstanding performance from the Valpy boys in the swimming to win overall; special mentions to Andrew Brett for breaking the butterfly open record and Cillian Lee for a dominant Second Form breaststroke swim. On top of this, our Mathematics duo of Sam Thevenon and Kush Patel clinched House Maths with a win in the Seniors as well as two strong third place finishes in House Football and House Cricket leaving Valpy eight points in the lead coming into Sports Day. The cup was heading Valpy’s way,

already being covered in white however, Sports Day had other ideas as we came a heartbreaking sixth despite Kayan Sachdev breaking the First Form Long Jump school record. With more events not going our way with fifth place in House Tennis and Drama, it seemed like a top three finish was out of reach let alone a win. But as the Sixth Form House Softball team united for the last time for this event, they provided Valpy with a parting gift of a third place in House Softball; this secured third in the overall Hardy Cup, a great improvement from last year.

At the end of this year we say good-bye to our Deputy Housemaster Mr Palmer who may have been with us for one year but it has felt as if he has been embodying the Valpy spirit of determination his whole life, we wish him well at his new school. We also wish luck to our new Deputy Housemaster of Mr Holland from Physics. Hopefully this year was a step in the right direction and Mr Baker can lead us one step closer to a Hardy Cup win this year.

Soj Ghosh, House Captain

Hockey

During the Michaelmas Term, RGS Hockey played in various mid-week friendlies against local schools such as Kingston Grammar School, Reeds and Whitgift across many age groups. Alongside this, the 1st XI started their National Title campaign having been moved from the East League (into the West League) which undoubtedly led to fixtures being played much further away, but nevertheless expanded the fixture pool. On top of this, the 1st VI and U16 VI were entered into respective indoor tournaments creating a jam-packed start to the season.

This year, the U14A’s narrowly lost to a strong Reed's side in the first round of the Cup. This brought with it opportunity elsewhere in the form of the Tier 1 National Plate competition, where after an exciting cup run saw RGS victorious in the National Plate Final versus Felstead School.

There have been some notable successes outside of school hockey with Sam Bagley and Ehsan Anwar-Khan (OG’24) being selected for their National Age Group squads. At the Club Indoor National Finals, Sam Bagley, Sam Baldwin, Alex Jourdan, Alex Talbot and Seb Welland finished in second place for Guildford Hockey Club after narrowly losing the final in a Penalty Shootout. Charlie Hart has been put forward for the National Young Umpires Training programme after he was scouted umpiring some county games earlier on in the season. And lastly, congratulations to Peter Jansen (OG’24) who recently debuted for Cambridge University 1st XI. Mr DJ Bartram - Head of Hockey

The U16’s also showcased an impressive season with the A team reaching the last eight in the National Tier 1 competition and the U16B’s not only finished the season unbeaten, but also won all of their Lent Term fixtures.

This year we have had over 400 boys represent the School in over 200 fixtures. Particular highlights have been; 180 First and Second Form boys playing in the annual Super Friday fixture against Guildford Hockey Club, having 128 boys compete in mid-week fixtures against Cranleigh from both the Third and Fourth Form, and managing to field 22 competitive teams during a normal weekend block on a weekly basis. House Hockey saw mass participation with over 550 students representing their Houses from First Form to Fifth Form.

Reeds

Reeds

Super Friday

Rugby

The 2023 RGS rugby season was bookended by cancellations, with extreme heat cutting short plans in the opening weekend while the last two Saturdays were heavily affected by a combination of frozen and waterlogged pitches. Despite these cancellations, it was another successful, action-packed and enjoyable season with high numbers of boys across the School actively engaged in rugby and representing our 20 + teams on a regular basis.

It was a good season for the 1st XV, finishing in the top 50 of the Daily Mail Merit Table for a third consecutive season thanks to noteworthy victories over Epsom College, Abingdon and KCS Wimbledon. In the National Schools’ Cup, the team produced a superb performance in defeat against eventual winners Harrow in the round of 32.

Other season highlights included The U15A team beating Cranleigh by a single point in Round One of the National Schools’ Cup, 90 First Form boys making the journey to Tonbridge to play in the annual ‘Super Friday’ fixture against the Judd School and the U15B team thoroughly enjoyed their involvement in an exciting new RFU law variation initiative hosted by St Paul’s School. We welcomed new opposition onto our fixture list with closely contested blocks against Skinners and Hurstpierpoint, and once again hosted the U12 Surrey Schools’ Festival - a tournament where the RGS U12A’s rose to the occasion, remaining unbeaten on the day.

XV Captain Luke Wyllie (OG21’) played at inside centre for Oxford University in the 2024 Varsity match.

Rugby Sevens - Lent Term 2024

After comfortably winning the shield at the PGS South Coast Sevens, the 1st VII registered impressive victories over Whitgift and Clifton College on a memorable Friday night at the inaugural Ipswich School Floodlit Sevens hosted at Grasshoppers Rugby Club. The 1st VI recorded their best result in more than a decade at the Edwin Doran Surrey Sevens, beating three separate ACE Academies en route to the Quarter Finals where they agonisingly lost in extra time to Wellington College. The U16 Sevens squad beat Hampton, Eton and Brighton College on route to winning the Plate at the RGS Guildford Sevens. At the Rosslyn Park National Schools’ Sevens, the U16’s beat Wellington College 19 - 14 in an epic elimination round match to qualify for day two. Victory over Reading Blue Coats and Tonbridge saw the boys progress to the semi-finals of the plate where their fine run ended against Stowe and Northampton School for Boys. A final ranking of 13th out of 258 schools and a second consecutive season that the RGS U16 squad has reached the latter stages of the National Schools’ Sevens.

Mr BU Dudley - Head of Rugby

Several RGS boys have been selected for representative sides again this season; After initial selection for Hampshire U18’s, 1st XV second row Luke Griffiths went on to represent London and the Southeast before securing a 3-year professional contract with Club Athletique Brive in the French second division. Will Peasey remains involved in the London Broncos rugby league setup and U16’s backrow Harry Chilcott has been retained in the Harlequins DPP squad. Former 1st XV Captain Tom Humphreys (OG23’) signed a professional contract with Harlequins and another former 1st

Football

It has been another hugely successful season, with football at the RGS continuing to grow and impress. Based around the cornerstones of Participation, Progression and Performance; we really have been lucky to enjoy success in all 3. However, is it really luck? In truth, we have been blessed with a determined, committed and talented group of footballers, from Fourth Form to Sixth Form, as well as a dedicated group of passionate coaches.

The Fourth Form footballers have had a superb season, with a squad of over 30 regularly producing their own brand of magic on the AWTA. An unbeaten season without doubt had it’s highlight against Gordon’s, played at Aldershot Town’s stadium, with a superb team performance and some genuinely first class goals.

A strong contingent of Fifth Form footballers have really progressed this year, with a large squad consistently developing (and also managing to put up with the incessant West Ham analogies!)

A superb team performance against Winchester College was an undoubted highlight and special mention goes to Fiyi Adeoshun, who also regularly represented the 1st XI this season.

At Senior level, it has been great to see six U18 sides (as well as an U17 XI) compete for the RGS with the quality

of the football on show being hugely impressive. We have had a record number of fixtures, boys representing the School at football and goals scored (Hayden Christian taking home the Golden Boot with 17 1st XI goals). The 1st XI, led by Elliott Denton, reached another final, this time of the Trinity Cup, and really did embody the Brian Clough view that “if God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he'd have put grass up there”. Above all, the sound of footballs pinging around the AWTA and RGS Footballers enjoying working hard and playing with their friends, really has become the soundtrack to weekday, early mornings. Music to my ears!

Mr A Lowe - Head of Football

Half Colours:

Patrick

Lima-Stoltmann

Ollie Billingham

Marcus Woodhouse

Full Colours:

Hayden Christian

Kian Moodley

Jake Szekeres

Ben Bury

Charlie Walker

Players of the Year:

Elliott Denton

Hayden Christian

Cricket

This year’s cricket season at RGS was one of resilience and standout performances, despite frequent disruptions due to the weather. The First Form, for instance, managed just one match by mid-season.

The 1st XI began the season with a thrilling 3-wicket victory over St John’s Leatherhead, with A. Gupta (U6-3) taking an extraordinary 5 wickets for just 5 runs. This strong start continued with a narrow win against The MCC, led by Tom Bull’s (U6-5) 5 for 15. Although the team then suffered a narrow 1-wicket defeat to Trinity School, Bull’s 91 and Aiden Golding’s

(U6-8) 5 for 32 gave plenty of hope for the rest of the season.

Among the season's highlights was an 83-run win over Lord Wandsworth College, thanks to Golding’s magnificent 88, and Bull’s 99 against St Paul’s, supported by Tom Donnelly’s (U6-2) 46. Henry Amis (U6-11) played a game-changing role in that match with his brilliant bowling. The team also secured a 34-run victory against Gordon's School in the T20 National Cup and a gritty 23-run win over Reed’s School.

Young players like Idris Iqbal (4A), Oliver Pickup (4A), and Harry Griffiths (5N) made their 1st XI debuts, showing great promise for the

At the RGS Cricket Festival, the team bounced back from an early loss to secure a dominant 144-run win over Worcester and a dramatic 1-wicket victory over RGS Newcastle. Despite losing the final match to Lancaster by 3 wickets, Henry Amis shone with 48 runs and 3 for 25, capping off a highly competitive season filled with memorable performances.

Mr RC Black - Head of Cricket

Athletics

Athletics is often seen as being an individual sport, however it takes a team to produce a performance. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than at Sports Day, where passionate cheering by supporters lifts the spirits and plays a vital part in helping the athletes to produce their best. It obviously worked this yearrecords were broken by the following athletes: James Barawitzca (4P, javelin), Max Merriman (3L, hurdles and long jump), Kayan Sachdev (1S, long jump), Stefan Lawson-Foia (4P, 100m), Joe Thorneycroft (L6-3, 100m), Hugo Wilson (2R, 800m) and George Vickers (3P, 800m). Beckingham came out on top, winning by just three points from Austen.

Elsewhere we don’t have to look far to find other impressive performances. Hugo Wilson (2R, 800m), Sam Foster (1L, 1500m) and Peter Dimov (2E, shot) qualified to compete at the National Prep Schools Finals, finishing 4th, 4th and 7th respectively. Sam had earlier in the term knocked a huge 25 seconds off the District Sports 1500m record. And Combined Eventer Max Merriman (3L) is currently ranked Number 1 in the UK for U15 pole vault.

20 athletes in First to Fourth Form came in the top three in their event at District Sports; 12 of those went on to represent Guildford District at the Surrey Schools Champs, in which Joshua Woollett (3L, 200m) and Max Merriman (3L, hurdles) came 2nd, and Eashan Patel (3T, 300m) won Gold, earning him selection for English Schools - the most prestigious age group event in the country.

Our Intermediate Track and Field Cup team excelled themselves at the Regional A Final, scoring 477 points to rank them 20th team in the entire country - a feat never before achieved by RGS in this competition.

This year we have had more fixtures and more athletes competing than ever before. Thank you to everyone who has been involved: all the athletes, Mr D Bartram who has been at nearly every athletics fixture, and also to other staff who have helped out at competitions: Mr D Cowx, Mrs R Rathmell, Mr K Galpin, Mr A Gyford, Mr S Baker, Mr I Rossiter, Mr D Chapman, Mr B Callaghan, all the Games Staff and of course Ms S Foster. What a fabulous team we make! Mrs G Richards - Head of Athletics

Badminton

The Badminton Club on Friday afternoons has continued to be well attended by students across the age and ability range, including national and county standard players. Some turned up to play for a friendly game whist others were keen to get involved in competitive matches. There has been a good cross over of year groups with many of the older players having been willing to share court space and encourage the younger ones to help develop their skills.

Fixtures this season have included Under 16 and Under 19 matches against Reeds and Wilsons. The Under 19 team has been represented by Sid Shirol, Oscar Liu, Chen Liang, Shrey Bijlani, Satvikya Srivastava, Sid Rayaprolu, Denver Zhang and Safi Baloch. The Under 16 team has been represented by Ayaan Bhagat, Julian Zou, Tom Crone, Samuel Bayne, Matt Slater and Akshay Wechalekar.

The Badminton season finished with a series of Inter-House matches. There were four competitions: the Sixth Form competition was won by Hamonde; the Fifth Form was won by Powell; there was a combined Third and Fourth Form competition which was won by Austin and the combined First and Second Form competition was won by Valpy.

There has been a good cross over of year groups with many of the older players having been willing to share court space and encourage the younger ones to help develop their skills.

Mr A Kirkland - Head of Badminton

Chess

Regular lunchtime Chess Club, after school matches and hosting the annual Russell Trophy chess tournament all occurred once again this year.

In September RGS hosted the annual Russell Trophy featuring 120 chess players from nine different schools.

Our 1st VI finished mid-table in Division 1 of a competitive Surrey Schools League and once again qualified for the National Finals, outwitting Tiffin in a nail-biter of a Regional Final. At the finals, the team played valiantly, and, after four rounds, they sat 11th out of 26, with an excellent 4 - 2 victory over St Paul’s School in the Upper Sixth players’ last ever match for RGS. We then made the difficult decision to default round 5 in favour of the Leavers Ball! All players contributed at least one full point to the team over the four rounds (no mean feat at the National Finals).

Our 2nd VI finished 2nd in Division 2 West, consisting of a refreshing number of new faces to RGS Chess. Regulars ranged from First Form all the way to Lower Sixth. Our Third VI also competed in the same league and I hope it was a good learning experience for them.

A huge thank you to Dr Kurian, Dr Jackson and a special thank you to Mr Foster. Without your help and support throughout the year, Chess simply wouldn’t be able to run in the way it does at this school.

RGS Chess bids a fond farewell to its 1st VI Captain Magnus Borissow U6-13, as well as 1st VI regulars Stuart Brown U6-13 (School Captain), James Dicker U6-6 and Rohan McCauley U6-6 all in the U6, who have all been involved in RGS Chess since they joined the school. It has been an absolute pleasure having them on board (no pun intended!) and I hope they continue to enjoy Chess as they move through life.

Mr AWJ Hadley - Head of Chess

All players contributed at least one full point to the team over the four rounds (no mean feat at the National Finals).

Fencing

On reflection, this academic year is arguably the best we ever had in fencing. Lucas Ngai reached number three in England for U14 foil. Ben Kamstra has decided to return to competitive fencing and was rewarded with a Gold medal in the BSTC. Josh Hine, Monty Membery, Alex Song, and Cyrus Choi all won their first medals in the same national event.

One of our big successes this season came in the much-anticipated British Schools’ Team Championships held in Millfield School. The U18 foil team consisting of Xavier Wallin, Rishikesh Mistry, and Ben Kamstra dominated the event, and we retained our title comfortably. Remarkably, RGS has held one or more British titles ever since 2018! The U15 foil team consisting of Valentine Wallin, Josh Hine, Lucas Ngai, and Harry Radforth had

to face exceptionally strong opponents. However, they maintained their courage to win Silver. The U13 épée team also won Silver after comfortable victories against Skinners’, Millfield, and Hill House Y7s. Their speed, courage, and talent made up for their relative lack of competitive experience in épée competitions. One of the referees humorously said that he would be afraid to have Cyrus as an opponent!

A fortnight after the BSTC, we were competing in individual events in the Public Schools’ Championships. Fencing Captain Xavier Wallin continued his stellar form, securing Silver in U18 foil and an impressive 8th place in épée. Lucas Ngai added to our medal tally with a Bronze in U14 foil. Valentine Wallin and Harry Radforth both made the L16 in the same category. Monty Membery was only competing in his first individual event but remarkably made the top quarter. Charlie Locke, who, despite having only a few months of fencing experience, finished in the top half. RGS was also fourth overall in the Hilary Hammond Trophy which is awarded each year to the best boys’ school with 24 or fewer entries.

Lucas Ngai winning Silver in EYC

Xavi Wallin - Silver medallist in Public Schools.

Lucas Ngai

Seb Wallage and Max Lerchster

U13 British Schools' Team Epee Silver medallists

U15 Foil Team in BSTC

During the Easter holiday, Valentine Wallin and Lucas Ngai were fencing in the Challenge Wratislavia in Poland. It is the largest fencing competition in the world for U15s and was a fantastic experience for both RGS fencers. Lucas was seeded 32nd after the poules and earned a bye. He then won his elimination matches convincingly against foilists from the Czech Republic, Turkey, Croatia, Poland, and Hungary before losing to the eventual Lithuanian champion in the semi-finals. This is the first time that an RGS fencer has made

the podium in this international event.

We finish the season in style by taking a clean sweep of medals in the Surrey Youth Team Championships with RGS fencers winning Gold in the U18, U16, and U14 épée. RGS B team also won Silver in the U14 épée. Ayad Safiullah, Max Lerchster, Seb Wallage, Sam Weight, and Albert Adams won their first fencing medals! Lucas also finished the season on a high with a Silver medal in the England Youth Championships. This was the best result achieved by an RGS Fencer in the EYC. It gives me great pleasure to thank our amazing fencing coach, Mr Bengry, for training our fencers

both in the RGS and in Cobham Fencing Club. British Fencing recently honoured his club with the Club of the Year award, recognizing their excellent results and coaching. I must thank Xavier Wallin for being such an outstanding Fencing Captain and congratulate him on his superb results this season. I am also particularly grateful to Leo and Ben Kamstra for coaching and refereeing in competitions and for their unwavering support over the years. I am delighted that Leo has been recently appointed President of the Royal Holloway

Fencing Club.

The future is bright for RGS Fencing as we have such talented Juniors emerging. However, this is also the end of an era as Xavier and Rishikesh will soon be graduating from the RGS. I am delighted to announce that Ben Kamstra has succeeded Xavier as our Fencing Captain and am confident that RGS fencing will go from strength to strength under his leadership. The contributions of Ben and Rishikesh to RGS Fencing has been recognised by the award of half colours and full colours.

Mr W S Lau - Head of Fencing

RGS U13, U15 and U18 Teams in BSTC

U18 British Schools' Team épée champions with coach

U14 Gold and Silver in Surrey Team

Golf

This has been an historic year for the RGS Golf team, comprising of Ollie George, Henry Wigg and Filip Wang. For the first time ever we won the regional knockout competition, with good wins against Charterhouse and Gordon's school, twice. This took us to the ISGA national finals, which took place just after Easter, at the Players Club, near Bristol. This brings together all the regional winners from across the UK, all the best independent school golfers, who play two rounds over the two days, with the best two scores on each day counting. The conditions on Monday were difficult, with heavy drizzle for most of the round. Ollie George and Henry Wigg were one over par and three over par respectively, which put us one shot off the lead, and definitely in the mix.

Thanks too must go to Mr Cover and Mr Presley for driving and supporting over the two days.

In addition, Ollie George won a prestigious golf scholarship to St. Andrew's University, as well as continuing to play representative golf for Surrey and England.

Mr Holland decided to quit while ahead and passed the Head of Golf job to Mr Presley, who is possibly even more obsessed with the game, if that is possible.

Mr L Holland - Head of Golf

Tuesday was dry but a little bit more windy. Both Ollie and Henry played well and RGS finished runners up in the team competition, one shot behind Brentwood School. Ollie George also finished runner up in the individual competition. This was a brilliant performance, and all three players deserve our congratulations.

For the first time ever we won the regional knockout competition, with good wins against Charterhouse and Gordon's school, twice.

Sailing

The 2023 - 2024 Sailing season was a classic. Imagine the sparkling waters of St Tropez, then imagine the opposite, damp reservoirs, rain, wind and then no wind. It was a season that held everything, summarised by our final event Itchenor Juniors where I stood in the front of the rib under my full winter coat trying to shelter from the sideways rain. Mid July in the UK!

Fortunately, the sailing that interspersed this was fantastic. Some epic match racing training in 20+kts at the start of the season, surfing down waves in Weymouth. Really competitive team racing throughout the season. Itchenor

Senior living up to its reputation of actually producing classic sun, sea and sailing, proper glamour conditions. Endless hours at Papercourt Sailing Club putting in the hard training miles. Finals in anything from 3kts to 23kts… the latter pretty challenging. It has always been a packed season.

Across a packed season what has been a pleasure to witness more than the sailing is the development of a rag tag group of RGS students. The transition from peers to acquaintances to friends to best friends. The development of bonds that transverse year groups, which I know from experience will last long after these students have left the walls and corridors of this school, all the way into adulthood. The hours spent in the minibus, sharing boats, tents, and dubious hotel rooms, on the banks of reservoirs and lakes around the country have once again worked their magic in creating the amazing culture that RGS Sailing has. Its hard to sum up on paper, difficult to put into words, but I will leave you with one; fellowship.

More of the same next year please.

Mr JC Witts - Head of Sailing

Itchenor Junior Team and Itchenor Senior Team

Shooting

This year proved to be one of great success for the shooting team, ably led by Captain James Nicholas and Vice-Captain Adam Zhang. Victories were had during smallbore and the postal competitions with Teams B, C and E winning their divisions in the BSSRA; nine of our entrants won medals in the SCSBRA with Teams B and D both winning their divisions too. The final postal results came through and we won both Silver and Bronze in the Ffennell B and Bronze in the Staniforth. During the Lent Term is the Country Life competition where, in the words of the scoring judge, we ‘rather dominated’: Team A beat Charterhouse to the win by 462 points to 457; Team C placed third and Team B won a trophy for being the highest placing second team. The fullbore season started off exceptionally well with a series of victories in the Cadet Target Rifle Competition. Following this was the Schools’ Meet, the RGS came fourth overall against thirty-two other schools which was a great result. The team also won the Cadet McQueen, Bicentennial Bowl and the CCF Cup Trophy. Stirling Gauld and Luke Elliott in Cadet Pair A won their competition, beating Wellington by two points. This particular competition has run since 1889 and is the first time the RGS has ever won it. Individual successes include Adam Zhang winning a Bronze in the Reserve Aggregate; Joshua Myers winning Silver in the Spencer Mellish, as well as Bronze in

the Fox Quaitch where Shreyas Pasarkar won Silver. In the Imperial Meeting competition Bronze bars were won by James Nicholas and Ayaan Bhagat. Shreyas Pasarkar, Benedict Cunningham and Joshua Myers also won multiple Bronze bars as well as Highest Possible Score medals. This was a phenomenal achievement from all of them and the shooting season culminated in August with Ayaan Bhagat going on tour to Jersey with the UKCRT, and Joshua Myers and James Nicholas to Scotland with the BCRT (Athelings). My thanks go to S G Black, E K D Bush, C Mansfield, M Whicher, J Underwood and OGs L Cheek and W Livesey for the exceptional level of commitment they put into the team and for helping them to complete the year with a real sense of achievement.

Ms EA McEwan - Head of Shooting

Skiing

UK Ski Racing

The season began in April, at the start of the Trinity Term with 15 racers regularly training on Friday evenings at Alpine Snowsports in Aldershot. The sessions allow those who are proficient racers to finely tune their skills and those who have never raced before to learn how to get around the gates. Thanks to Mr Scampton for assisting with the transport on some Fridays.

The first race of the year was on snow, indoor in Manchester at the British Schools Indoor Championships in June. We entered 2 teams of 4 with Noah Cobb forerunning. Our Senior Team, led by Captain of Skiing Ollie Burne was placed 4th in the U19 category and our middles team placed 3rd in their age group. Congratulations to Will Judd from the Fourth Form, who individually came 8th in the middles category and Edward Reid from the Second Form who was 12th.

In the Senior category Will Gossage came 7th and Ollie Burne 9th. Some pleasing results in a GB competition.

In September we entered 3 teams in the English Schools Qualifying races in Southampton. We welcomed back Charlie Connolly and Jack Weeks in the Lower Sixth, who had been focusing on GCSE’s last term alongside Charlie Locke who should be commended for training throughout and also First Former Freddie Thompson who answered a call to hands, when due to a rugby clash, it looked like a team might not be viable. After a good day’s racing, Jack Weeks was placed 4th overall with Charlie Locke 9th. This saw our A Team placed 2nd and our Bs 4th both qualifying for the English Finals to take place in Norwich.

A few weeks later, in Norwich after some exciting racing our First and Second Form Team was placed 8th and our Senior Team 7th in each of their categories in England, which is an excellent achievement. On the Sunday, in Norwich we fought hard in the Open competition to make the grade to be selected as one of the English Teams at the British finals in Edinburgh. We were successful, being placed 8th in the British Championships, which is a commendable result.

England School Skiing uses this race series to select for their squad race training camp in Norway and it was particularly good to see Freddie Judd, Max Locke, Will Judd, Jack Weeks, Charlie Locke, Will Gossage, Charlie Connolly, Ollie Burne and Jago Halliwell selected as part of the National Schools training squads, which is the highest number we have ever had invited.

British Schoolboys’ Overseas International Race Event

Following on from our success as part of the Team England delegation competing in the British Dry Slope Championships in Edinburgh some members of our ski race team travelled to Wengen in Switzerland for the British Schoolboys’ Overseas International race event. Teams from across the UK compete in the championships in the alpine disciplines of Slalom and Giant Slalom with schools entering racers as both individuals and in teams.

Before the competition, our racers trained in the shadow of the Eiger, Monch and Jungrau with coaches from the local race academy. The weather

was warm and it felt more like Spring than Winter, but the training lanes held up well for the 3, 5 hour days of intensive training. This was a very useful period of consolidation for our experienced racers and a great introduction for those relatively new to the ski racing world, finishing each day, for those with the energy, with a pacey run down the 4.5km Lauberhorn course, the longest and fastest race piste on the World Cup circuit.

The first day of racing was Giant Slalom with some exciting conditions on the Lauberhorn. The race piste has several key sections all named after World Cup racers who have ended their runs in dramatic style at their named locations. For this event, several competitors left the course at speed and into the safety nets at the S bend before the Russi jump, named after Swiss Olympic Champion Bernard Russi. However, this was not the case for any from Team RGS with all making it successfully down the course on both occasions required by the competition, unlike a quarter of the competitors who did not. At the end of the day’s competition in the U12 Category Ben Birks was placed 10th, in the U14 Category Rory Parker was placed 20th and Freddie Judd 12th. In the U16 Category, Will Judd was 5th and in the U18 Category Charlie Connolly was 23rd, Charlie Locke 8th with Jack Weeks in First Place, impressive in itself, but especially so as he was ahead of many academy skiers who spend their whole season in the mountains.

in the U14s with Will Judd 8th in the U16s. Our U18s did phenomenally well with Charlie Locke 8th, Charlie Connolly 5th and Jack Weeks again an impressive 1st place.

At the presentation, Jack collected the Gold medals and trophies for the U18 Slalom and Giant Slalom and our U18 Team of Jack, Charlie C, Charlie L and Will came second overall for the whole competition, gaining Silver medals in the Sunday Times Cup, which was a pleasing result and out best ever in my 20 years of running the team.

Senior Ski Trip

In December, 19 Fifth and Lower Sixth Skiers accompanied by SJHY and MRFR relocated to our usual resort of Les Deux Alps along with just over 100 skiers on the Junior trip and their staff. We arrived to a Winter Wonderland with fresh snow to resort level. The boys skied in lessons for the mornings and afternoons, with options to free ski within the programme too. The off-slope activities included the usual bowling, quiz and movie nights in the hotel as well as double dinner nights to pizza and fondue restaurants. The boys were fantastic company on and off the slopes and great ambassadors for the School.

MR SJ Yetman - Head of Skiing

The second race day was Slalom, some might say a more challenging discipline. Ben Birks was placed 10th in the U12s, Rory Parker missed a gate in a tricky combination on his second run, so was sadly disqualified, Freddie Judd was placed 12th

Squash

Squash has developed into a popular minor sport and our club is vibrant with enthusiastic new members. Throughout the 2023 - 24 Academic Year we have had some very challenging, yet rewarding, fixtures against Epsom College and Cranmore School in which the matches were officiated by the children themselves, during which, our students conducted themselves with integrity. The discipline and skill learned is a great addition to the sport itself. Cranmore School had a particularly strong seed 1 Junior England squad player, giving Ali Noble the opportunity to rise to the challenge and see what he was capable of. He learned a lot from the match and is now working on building up the rally before going for a winning shot. We also placed two teams into the Epsom College Open Tournament on a weekend in November and our A Team came second place in their category.

House Squash was closely contested this year with just one point separating the top two Houses. Nettles took first place from Beckingham with a win in the Sixth Form category. The students enjoyed the event and were keen to attend Squash Club in next academic year.

Squash will be featuring in the 2028 Olympic Games and I hope that this inspires the next generations to try out Squash and hopefully provides the sport additional funding and recognition. The future is bright for RGS Squash as we have such talented Juniors coming through. I am confident that they will go from strength to strength and hopefully embrace the beautiful sport of Squash beyond our weekly Squash sessions.

Mr CH Wakeling - Head of Squash

Tennis

This has been the best year for RGS Tennis for some time.

Apart from the well-attended clubs on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the very popular pre-season Tennis Camp in Cornwall at Easter, I ran another trip in the summer holidays. Like the Easter trip it was oversubscribed. So, Tennis is clearly a popular sport at the RGS.

In terms of matches played we won roughly 50% which is pretty good considering the oppositions we were up against.

In particular, there were four boys who excelled this year namely: Kieran Kenyon, Gabriel Correia, Ethan Newbold and Ollie Binns.

They played the best quality tennis of any preceding RGS team and also played this in a fine spirit. They were competitive with the best teams in the country and carried themselves on court with charm and aplomb. They have been an absolute credit to the School, the PE Department and to RGS Tennis throughout their years at the School. They were all awarded Full Colours for their contributions.

James Trowbridge will be the Captain of Tennis for the forthcoming year, and I wish him the best of luck.

My thanks to Jonny Thomson (LTA coach), Mrs N Wilson, Mr T Foster, Mr RJA Lemaire and Mr RB King for making this all possible.

Mr JA Casale - Head of Tennis

In

terms of matches played we won roughly 50% which is pretty good considering the oppositions we were up against.

Reuben Bhatti 1R

It can be challenging to distinguish between art that required weeks of effort and random digital creations in today’s world. This image demonstrates that authentic photography still has a place.

Combined Cadet Force

The CCF has had another busy year with a varied Field Day programme supported by our Monday Period Eight (Period 8) activities. As well as our tri-service adventurous training Summer Camp in Wales, we were pleased to introduce an all service Ninja Warrior team challenge, a field gun competition and our advanced CCF extension programme for all, which we call Trident. Whether in the DCCT, on the range or in the Urban Training Complex the enthusiasm and engagement was impressive.

Thank you to SSI Capt Mansfield for looking after the planning and administration and Head of Sections Sqn Ldr Bush, Lt Shimell and Capt Black and their staff teams. Final thanks to Contingent Warrant Officer Harry Shaw for his highly able leadership of the Sixth Form NCO Team.

Lt Cdr (SJH) Yetman RNR, Contingent Commander

Royal Navy Section (RN)

I am very pleased to report that the RGS RN Section has continued to offer a varied and interesting training programme despite much of the provision from the central RN HQ being withdrawn, many afloat assets being out-of-service and the camps and courses programme being largely axed. This has meant that more than usual we have had to ‘adapt and overcome’ which has introduced some new opportunities for the cadets.

Demand for the RN Section is still very healthy with Red and Blue recruit Watches and eight cadets choosing to stay on into Gold Watch for the Fifth Form. Our NCO leadership team continued to be very strong with Cadet Harry Shaw demonstrating such excellent leadership of the RN section that he was deservedly promoted to Contingent Warrant Officer First Class (WO1). Cadet Esa Mitchell seamlessly stepped-up to head the section as Warrant Officer Second Class (WO2) - this was a newly created rank introduced to align the RN section with the Army and RAF sections. Steady support was provided by POs Rex Atwood and Henry Franke along with the enthusiasm of Leading Hands William Bayne, Benedict Cunningham and Zac Warham.

During Field Day 1, the SNCOs assisted the recruit induction programme at Pirbright while Gold Watch blasted around the Solent in fast RIBs undertaking a treasure hunt challenge. Then, during Field Day 2 both travelled to HMS Excellent, for a highlight of the year, to trial the newly developed HQ package in small arms close combat which gave experience of training using the SA80 A2 in the indoor Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT) range and subsequently learning compartment clearing drills using Nerf Guns. An informative and ‘real life’ presentation set the scene for why many regular RN personnel, rather than only Royal Marines, are trained to handle small arms and deploy onto other ships to make them secure looking for people,

Surviving The Compartment Clearing

The DCCT

Mountainbiking

drugs and other contraband. Following, issuing of webbing, helmets and Nerf Guns the cadets learned how to move as a ‘stack’ of four, protocols for door opening and clearing the compartments. The cadets had a great time and subsequently we have purchased our own Nerf Guns to allow training during Period 8 at school. Since we were unable to get afloat during Field Day 3, the Senior cadets enjoyed Mountain Biking at Queen Elizabeth Country Park - another new activity for the RN section.

The Fourth Form cadets engaged with a varied Field Day programme with training encompassing: the recruit induction day at Pirbright Army Camp, gaining their RYA Powerboat Level 1 at Southampton Water Activities Centre; undertaking canoeing and raft-building at Woodmill Activity Centre; gig rowing at Itchenor in Chichester Harbour; and dinghy sailing at Island Barn Reservoir. Additionally, during Period 8 sessions, they all passed their RN swim test at the Spectrum and completed the 1* and 2* basic RN training syllabus and engaged in Field Gun drills and compartment clearing drills.

Another highlight, was the whole section travelling to HMS Excellent to undertake firefighting and damage control training. During the morning the cadets watched a firefighting demonstration, toured the training facility and gained hands on experience of a foam fire extinguisher and fire hoses; In the afternoon they entered HMS Phoenix to experience the exhilaration of the sinking ship simulator: The ship is ‘attacked’ and starts to flood and the team rush down into the rapidly filling room to plug the holes using wood chocks and hammers to stop the ingress.

My thanks to S/Lt Muchmore and Mr Williams for their invaluable assistance running the section this year.

Lt TW Shimell (CCF) RNR

Raft-building Coastal Gig Rowing Dinghy5

Firefighting Training

In 2023 - 24 the RAF section was ably led by Cadet Warrant Officer Scott Swanepoel, who managed his NCO team of Adam Zhang and Gabriel Correia effectively. My thanks also goes to Pilot Officer Busby and Flying Officer Woodman for their help in the Field Days and Monday Period 8 (Period 8) sessions.

In the weekly Monday Period 8 sessions, the NCOs covered the RAF syllabus which included wide-ranging topics including flight simulator training, principles of flight, the history of the RAF, aircraft in the RAF, and aircraft recognition. Flight simulator training has been a big part of the weekly training. We have several cadets who are very keen and proficient on flight simulators, particular congratulations to Josh Jacobs who successfully applied for a grant from the Parents’ Association to buy joysticks.

Field Day visit to RAF Odiham

Chinooks at RAF Odiham

Field Days this year have included a tri-service induction at a local Army base, a field-craft and navigation day at Bramshott Common, a tour of the code-breaking facility at Bletchley Park, a high ropes and paintballing day, and a station visit to RAF Odiham, the home of the Chinook helicopter force. We also took to the air once a term at RAF Benson, where our cadets took part in the RAF Air Experience Flying on the Grob Tutor two-seater aircraft. This was a great opportunity for the cadets to experience the thrill of aerobatics and to take control of the aircraft themselves. We were blessed with good weather on all three flying days.

Sqn. Ldr. EKD Bush

Air Experience

Bramshott Common

RAF Odiham

The Odiham fire section

Waiting to fly in the crew room

Fliers at RAF Benson

Flying in the Grob Tutor

Flying at RAF Benson

Army Section

In the past year, the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Army Section has been a hub of action and learning, engaging in a multitude of military activities that have sharpened skills and fostered teamwork among the boys.

Field Day 1 laid the foundations for our new cadets on a tri service cadet force introduction at Brunswick Camp, Pirbright. Each section took part in drill, skill at arms, field gun, and the obstacle course. The foundation for their future endeavours was carefully laid. Our Senior cadets took part in team building and leadership development at Tangier Wood. Here they learned skills which will help them lead our new cadets.

The excitement continued Field Day 2, where the Fifth and Sixth Form honed their leadership in the field while conducting blank firing scenarios at Bramshott Common.

Not to be left behind, the Fourth Form received an introduction to military skills, including safe handling of the L98 Cadet General Purpose Rifle in preparation for future Field Days. The day culminated in a thrilling Paintball Challenge, where strategy and quick thinking were put to the test.

A standout experience occurred during Field Day 3, as the Army Section deployed to Bramshott Common for Exercise Foundation Tiger. Concepts of camouflage and concealment were explored in depth, along with tactical movement with and without a rifle. These skills were put to the test through blank firing scenarios lead by our Senior Cadets, providing a realistic glimpse into military operations.

Trident Training at the UTC

On the obstacle course

On Patrol

Trident Training

Field Day 4 marked a significant milestone with the 24-hour overnight fieldcraft exercise, Exercise Solid Tiger. Here, the boys faced a fictional enemy, the South Downs Army, threatening the National Park boundaries. Displaying resilience and strategy, the Army Section, part of the UK Cadet Task Force, protected the surrounding villages, engaging in reconnaissance patrols and successfully executing a crucial ambush, ultimately securing victory.

The pinnacle of the year was Field Day 5, hosted at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The boys were put on show for our Bi-Annual Inspection. The inspecting officer watched on as they fired live on the L98, showcasing their exceptional marksmanship skills. Concurrently, they enjoyed a range of background activities, such as laser tag, and axe throwing, all of which added to the adventure and camaraderie of the day.

Exercise Tudor Tiger 2024

Adventure, Challenge, and Growth in the Welsh Wilderness

Eighteen cadets and adult volunteers from the Royal Grammar School Guildford Combined Cadet Force embarked on an extraordinary journey this summer as part of Exercise Tudor Tiger 2024. This dynamic adventure took them deep into the heart of Wales, where they faced a series of exhilarating challenges designed to test their resilience, teamwork, and spirit.

The expedition unfolded in the stunning landscapes of Snowdonia National Park and the Black Mountains, offering participants a multi-activity training package that pushed both their physical and mental limits. From scaling the rugged peaks of Y Garn and navigating the treacherous terrain of Devil's Kitchen, to soaring through the air on Britain's fastest zip line, the cadets encountered the very essence of adventure.

Firing on the DCCT

Axe Throwing

Mountaineering

COURAGE

One of the highlights of Tudor Tiger 2024 was a two-day canoe expedition along the River Wye, where participants braved the elements and worked together to navigate the winding waterways. This journey not only strengthened their paddling skills but also fostered a deep sense of camaraderie among the team. Additionally, the cadets took on the thrilling challenge of gorge walking in the Black Mountains, where they scrambled over rocks, waded through streams, and experienced the raw power of nature up close.

The rock-climbing activities provided yet another opportunity for the participants to conquer their fears and develop a sense of self-reliance. For many, it was their first time scaling such heights, and the sense of accomplishment at the summit was palpable.

Reflecting on the Experience

Cadet Corporal Henry Goodchild remarked, "This expedition taught me more about myself than I ever expected. I learned that I could push through fear and fatigue, and that the support of my team can help me overcome any challenge."

The impact of Tudor Tiger 2024 on both the unit and the individual participants is profound. The cadets returned not just with stories of their adventures, but with a renewed sense of confidence, leadership, and resilience. The expedition fostered personal growth, strengthened bonds within the unit, and equipped the participants with skills that will serve them well in future endeavours.

Tudor Tiger 2024 was more than just an adventurous getaway; it was a transformative experience that will leave a lasting impression on all who took part. As they look back on their journey through the Welsh wilderness, the participants of Tudor Tiger 2024 carry with them the knowledge that they can conquer any challenge.

Thank you to the NCO team, led by CSM Hugh Cruttwell.

Mr C Mansfield - CCF School Staff Instructor

Canyoning

Food at the Bunkhouse

Abseliing on Summer Camp

Outdoor Pursuits

The Outdoor Pursuits (OP) program continues to be a resounding success, offering adventure, learning and camaraderie. The regular Period 8 activities offer a diverse range of options that cater to every student's interests and passions. From the spellbinding magic lessons to the strategic team tasks, students have the opportunity to explore new skills and hobbies. The thrill of Board Diving and the competitive spirit of Ultimate Frisbee are matched by the creativity unleashed in Cooking classes and Street Dance sessions. Construction and Bushcraft teach practical skills, while Judo and various ball sports keep our students active and engaged.

Field Days are the highlight of the programme, providing exhilarating experiences that foster fun and teamwork. Students have navigated the wilderness with Bushcraft, raced down slopes on e-bikes, and experienced the adrenaline rush of go-karting and paintballing. Wakeboarding and water sports are an ever popular summer experience, and this year we were treated to some impressive skills by Harper Williams. The Nuts Challenge has become a muddy tradition that embodies the spirit of adventure and perseverance.

None of this would be possible without our dedicated staff, whose professionalism and commitment have been crucial to the programme's success. The catering team have really lifted the cookery programme; Mr Varney brought international experience to Ultimate Frisbee; and who can forget Mr Foster dominating the inflatable aqua park, or Mr Beever pushing Horseshoe Lake’s staff into the water! The tireless efforts of all the staff have made this such an enjoyable experience for our students - thank you!

Mr K Tayar - Head of Outdoor Pursuits

Harper Williams giving a demonstration at Thorpe Lakes

Dominic Nugent holding on for dear life

Unsuccesfully avoiding the mud during The Nuts Challenge

The 'Birthing Tube' during The Nuts Challenge

The Fifth Form take on Archer Tag for Field Day

Marshmallow time at BigHat Bushcamp

Climbing

I suppose every journey has a beginning. Ours inspired little confidence, with heavy rain and traffic setting a dismal tone as we trundled to Harrison’s Rocks. This picturesque outcrop, however, has an uncanny knack of delivering beautiful weather windows and the RGS crew chanced on a beautiful afternoon of sandstone climbing. The sparse and sloping holds, with fat cracks and grubby top-outs, are unkind to indoor climbers, who tend to wander off the true line. We gravitated towards ‘Long Layback’ - a climb with a hold that stretches almost the length of the route; it is hard to get lost on a route you can probably pick out from space. Topping out of the physical moves, you feel sore enough from the athleticism that you can ignore your lack of technique and route-finding, to emerge feeling like a pro.

Back indoors, the climbers realised that this insouciant disregard for technique is pretty limiting. As the dark cold winter slid by outside, a strange change of vocabulary began to sneak in and the RGS students could be heard talking about smearing, heel-hooks, flagging and dynos. Technique was improving. So too was the general climbing vibe, with the students turning into slightly adrenaline-fuelled, chilled-out climbers.

Later Field Days were stunning. Traversing smaller holds, until gravity sucked you off the white Portland cliffs into the cold blue water, proved good medicine in the hot sun. The group was now tight-knit, with its own easy-going traditions of cake-eating competitions, and it was clear from the camaraderie and the climbing that plenty of progress had been made. By the time the last Field Day rolled around, I wondered if the climbs would be too easy after so much training. Thankfully, a last route of tiny ledges, rough edges and impossibly big moves remained unconquered by the RGS climbers, offering a fitting finale. Despite all our hard work, it seems the journey we began has not yet come to a close.

Mr MRF Royds - Head of Climbing Coasteering

Southern Cliffs

Long Layback

Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh Award remains an important and valued aspect of the Co-Curricular opportunities available to students while at the RGS indeed the DofE Award is often continued long past the Green Gates of RGS once students leave. Our social value contribution this year is an impressive £13,246; this equates to several thousand hours of time given freely to various communities and charities by our students as part of their DofE journey.

Bronze

This year 137 students from a year group of 146 chose to start their DofE journey. The two summer expeditions were undertaken in considerable heat- this required consideration of the intended route as well as additional safety measures being required, to ensue all who participated did so not only safely, but importantly had an enjoyable experience. I am pleased to say that all safely completed their expedition.

The two summer expeditions were undertaken in considerable heat- this required consideration of the intended route as well as additional safety measures.

George GrantProud Chef!

Thomas LindsayProud Chef!

Silver

Expeditions in Fifth Form are always difficult to balance against exam pressures, the students have a significant amount of time between their October training expedition and the Summer assessed, skill fade and growth spurts are the biggest issue they face.

The extra night away is a chance to let off a little steam post GCSE and help reacquaint students with the essential Expedition skills they will need for the next three days under canvas.

As with Bronze all successfully completed the Expedition, with many registering for Gold in the October when they return from the summer.

Gold

The Expeditions take place during some of the most unpredictable of months. A training Expedition in October saw intense rain-fall in contrast to the assessed occurring in April, with bright blue skies and not a single cloud all week.

Gold Expeditions can at times seem a little melancholic, as students come close to completing their award, my hope is that the core memories made stay with them on a lifetime of adventure.

The Expeditions are only possible with the continued support of staff from a wide range of Departments, my thanks extend to - Mr TW Shimell, Mr SJH Yetman, Miss NG Dann, Mr JJ Holland, Mr CS Mansfield, Mr MRF Royds, Mrs TF Farthing, Miss L Eaton, Dr JS Braithwaite.

Mr C Scampton - Head of DofE

Gold Expeditions can at times seem a little melancholic, as students come close to completing their award, my hope is that the core memories made stay with them on a lifetime of adventure.

Beacons Gold Team at the end of their 100km expedition in the Brecon Beacons.

Gwd yr Eira, the 'waterfall of snow'.

Hiking

This years' Period 8 Hiking group, made up of 15 Lower Sixth students plus one intrepid Upper Sixth Former, was an amiable bunch with an impressively fast walking pace. Monday afternoon walks involved a variety of routes which sought to take advantage of all the local footpaths within a two-kilometre radius of the School. We enjoyed strolls across the meadows of Pewley Down, along the River Wey in both directions, up and down The Mount, up to St Catherine’s Chapel and down to Dapdune Wharf, all while taking in as many sights and schools as possible on our local road walks. The selfie challenge around the University of Surrey put the students’ evolving map reading skills to a different sort of test.

Field Days, which really give the Hiking group its name, are always the highlight as we get a proper stretch of the legs and pick up some momentum. This year’s best bits included a hike through Bradstone Brook and Bramley, watching the barges navigate the locks of the Wey, a glimpse of St Paul’s Cathedral from Richmond Park, views of the Devil’s Punchbowl at Haslemere, and a scenic lunch stop at Black Down’s Temple of the Winds, the highest point in West Sussex. We were extraordinarily lucky with the weather which helped keep spirits high and fatigue low. While our step count arguably depended on the leg length of each Garmin user, it’s safe to say we averaged approximately 25,000 steps per hike, fuelled by many a Percy Pig.

A wonderful thing about roaming the countryside is how conversations also tend to roam - from the random to the funny to the philosophical - as friendships are formed and viewpoints (of all types) are shared. As I hand on the baton to Mr Hood after seven years as leader of Hiking, I reflect on how much I have personally gained from walking and talking with students and fellow colleagues. Many thanks to Dr Whall, Mr Presley and Mr Owens for sharing their expertise and company throughout the year.

Dr MM Creagh - Head of Hiking

Enjoying some barge watching along the Wey Navigation

Lunch stop at Temple of the Winds, Black Down

South Downs views from the Haslemere hike

Mountain Biking

The RGS has the good fortune to be situated close to a wide range of areas that are nationally known for cross-country and single track riding. The RGS Mountain Biking Period 8 option, which is available to boys from the Fifth Form and above, takes advantage of this on Monday afternoons and on Field Days, and has now been running for over 10 years. Although the weather seems to be getting wetter every year, the boys this year have continued to ride with commitment and great spirit.

Our weekly Period 8 riding has visited local areas such as St Martha’s Hill, Newlands Corner and areas along the North Downs Way. Field Day trips ran to Swinley Forest, Peaslake and Holmbury St Mary, including a morning of skills training from a local coach that really helped both the boys and staff to reflect on their riding and work on their bike handling skills. We also tested our fitness and endurance with an all-day cross-country ride from school that proved a real challenge to the group. All boys have really progressed as riders this year, whether this means you can now ride 20km without stopping, descend a section of single track with confidence, or get your bike off the ground with style. The occasional fall is to be expected but another year has passed without a serious injury in the group.

There have been a number of boys who have been particularly committed to mountain biking in the School, with Oliver Goodworth and Ethan Newbold having been active members of the group for three years running; they have both left this year and I would like to show my appreciation for all their efforts. Finally, huge thanks to Mr A J Colebrook and Mr C Scampton for their help and company throughout the year.

Dr J S Braithwaite - Head of Mountain Biking

Our weekly Period 8 riding has visited local areas such as St Martha’s Hill, Newlands Corner and areas along the North Downs Way. Field Day trips ran to Swinley Forest, Peaslake and Holmbury St Mary, including a morning of skills training from a local coach that really helped both the boys and staff to reflect on their riding and work on their bike handling skills.

A day mountain biking in the Surrey Hills

Lifesaving and Surfing

September: 17 Sixth Formers hit the waves for three days in Cornwall, or maybe the waves hit them. Day 1: 3 foot belters in Mawgan Porth, our local spot. Lovely. Day 2: Travelled to the Hayle Estuary to find sheltered peeling 2 to 3 foot barrels which would rival Supertubos, Portugal. Picnicked on the beach and rolled back to Mawgan Porth for the Sunday roast. Day 3: 9 foot waves battered the North shore, so we took shelter in Porth. (Normally, Tolcarne would be the best bet, but it can't hold waves bigger that eight foot.)

November: This trip to Cornwall with 15 of the Upper and Lower Sixth Lifesaving group was very tricky as Storm Frederico hit Cornwall at the same time creating uncontrollable waves on the North Coast and resulting in the need to take a further trip to the South Coast for refuge. Nonetheless, we had a great time and plenty of exercise fighting our way into the best waves and enjoying the lovely fresh wind and rain storms.

March madness. Far from it. This is often the best time of year to visit Kernow. Your expectations are lowered by the Surrey winter blues and so when you get onto the Cornish peninsula you are instantly surprised. Bathed by the Gulf Stream's Calidez Mexicana, "Bien. Bien. Todo bien". 13 of the Lifesaving Surfing group attended and were not disappointed. Offshore breezes created a wondrous spindrift that flew backwards off the crests of the breaking waves showering the world behind it with a magical mist and a

mysterious wave created rain. It makes the waves even more beautiful as their elliptical slopes are accentuated by this dramatic display. All the boys excelled and delighted in the zest of the deep Cornish winter in this stunningly beautiful part of the world. McGuire, Binns, Beedie, Postance, Stork, Blackwell and Sanders were very strong in the conditions.

May: An enthusiastic group of Sixth Formers enjoyed a fine weekend of weather and surf. Once the seafret had cleared on Saturday afternoon we were greeted with cloudless skies and three foot waves. Elson, Meade, Postance, Binns and Carney leading the charge, to name but a few. The second day was similar, but the waves decreased to one and a half foot by our last morning and we gave ourselves an extra treat by paddling around to Beacon Cove. The isolation, the scenery, the weather and the colours would make you think you were in the Caribbean.

June: A set of enthusiastic Lower and Upper Sixth Form boys went to Cornwall for three days. The conditions were challenging as always. But the surf coaching, being as ever first rate, allowed all the boys to have a great time. They all managed to get out back on most of the days before getting pounded by the six foot, peaking set waves and the low tide close-outs.

Thanks to Messrs Wilson, Crew and Galpin for their support to make all these trips happen.

Mr JA Casale - Head of Lifesaving and Surfing

Seth Connold 2C

AI consumes the data we give it for use in other ways.

SCHOLARSHIP

Our Scholarship for all programme once again offered a range of events and activities for academic enrichment to students across the year groups. The following provide further insights into some of the highlights from the academic year.

The 2024 RGS Scholarship Conference

The 2024 RGS Scholarship Conference took place on 6 February. It was wonderful to welcome students from the Fourth Form and above, as well as their parents, Old Guildfordians and students from local schools to the Auditorium to listen to a range of presentations on the theme of Breaking Boundaries.

Dr Anjan Dutta from the University of Surrey opened the evening with an introduction to the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence. Dr Ana Dutta, also from the University of Surrey, talked about her work using satellite imaging to monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, encouraging us all to think about the power of data in new ways. Mrs H Tarasewicz, our Head of Scholarship, then gave a presentation about her experiences and learning from her time as a professional triathlete.

After the interval, Old Guildfordian James Miller gave an inspiring talk about his work to raise awareness of Climate Change. In contrast to the typical doom and gloom around this topic, his message of hope and action, embodied in the title of his new podcast series Here’s the Plan, was truly uplifting. Finally, it was an absolute delight to welcome back Dr Elodie Hudson, a former biology teacher at the RGS, who shared her journey through academia, finance, scientific research, teaching and now data science, interspersed with many happy miles on her bicycle. She encouraged the students to appreciate the boundaries provided by school and education, but also encouraged us to imagine beyond our preconceived

limits, and go searching for boundaries to break that we may not even have considered. There followed a panel Q and A session, hosted by members of the Senior Scholars Council. The theme of Breaking Boundaries, which was chosen by the Council, certainly turned out to be an inspired starting point for a fascinating and thought-provoking evening for us all.

RGS Scholarship Conference speakers

Elodie Hudson and James Miller

Scholarship

Junior Scholarship Conference 2024

On 20 November, we were delighted to welcome over 40 members of the First, Second and Third Forms to the Seminar Room for the first ever RGS Junior Scholarship Conference. Much of the credit for organising the event must go to the Senior Scholars’ Council, led by president Alexander Davies (U6 1). The Council were keen to find ways to encourage scholarship among the younger year groups as well as creating an opportunity for older students to share their academic interests and passions with their younger peers. The Junior Scholarship Conference evolved from these discussions. Not only did the Council play a significant role in conceptualising and marketing the event, but also offered their services as speakers.

In total, five Upper Sixth Form students gave presentations on topics ranging from the Origins of Space, to the Superstar Effect in baseball, to Deglobalisation. The presentations were based either on recent research that the students had done for their ILA (Independent Learning Assignment) or ORIS (Original Research in Science) projects, or on topics that were of particular interest to them. Each of the speakers had tailored their presentations to take account of the younger age of their audience, including explaining the expansion of space using the analogy of a blueberry muffin and hand actions to illustrate the hydrophobic properties of amyloid proteins! The presentations were followed by a lively Q&A session, during which the presenters dealt admirably with a wide range of delightfully inquisitive and challenging questions.

Based upon the success of this year’s event, I hope that the Junior Scholarship Conference can become a firm fixture in our Scholarship for All annual programme of events in the future.

The Junior Scholarship presenters

The Junior Scholarship Conference

The ILA/ ORIS Presentation Evening

On 8 November, the annual ILA/ORIS Presentation Evening took place in the Auditorium. For many students in the Sixth Form, their ILA (Independent Learning Assignment) or ORIS (Original Research in Science) independent research project represents one of the high points in their academic journey here at the RGS. These projects are completed during the Trinity Term of the Lower Sixth Form and the authors of the very best submissions are then invited to present to an audience of judges, students, parents and alumni at the ILA/ ORIS Presentation Evening.

This year’s shortlisted candidates certainly did not disappoint. Speaking on a diverse range of topics from historically informed musical performance to hypersonic missiles, and from the failure of the built environment in the Parisian suburbs to the role of economic networks in successful business management, the standard throughout was exceptionally high. The calibre of underlying academic research was evident. However, what was perhaps even more impressive was the fact that all of the students were also able to present their ideas with such confidence and eloquence in front of a sizeable audience.

The unenviable task of deciding two winners fell to our panel of judges: school governor Dr Lorraine Linton, former RGS Head of Scholarship Mr Chris Bradford and our Director of Higher Education, Mr P Dunscombe. After prolonged deliberations, the judges announced Shrey Bijlani (U6-4) and Jasper Morris (U6-8) as deserving winners in the STEM and Arts/ Humanities categories respectively. Shrey’s ORIS project at the University of Bristol investigated pain processing in the spinal cord of rats, while Jaspar’s ILA explored the influence of Classics upon the white supremacist movement. Rohan McCauley (U6-6) and Oliver Godkin (U6-10) were highly commended for their presentations, discussing their respective ILAs exploring smart cities and the role of obesogens in the current obesity epidemic.

The 200 Seconds competition

The 200 Seconds competition is open to all students in the First and Second Forms. The task is to give a speech of exactly 200 seconds long based around the competition’s theme, which this year was The Unexpected. In a further twist, the speech must be accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation of 10 slides, each of which is shown for exactly 20 seconds before transitioning automatically. The students must plan their speech to match the timing of the slides carefully.

This year’s theme prompted presentations on topics ranging from Shrek to space, from AI to atom bombs, and even included a mass-murdering monkey! Following Tutor Group rounds and semi-finals, five finalists were selected to present in front of the entire First and Second Forms, as well as a panel of judges and several staff. Their confident, engaging presentations were extremely impressive. Ishaan Ansar (1P) was awarded the overall first prize, with Sam Low (2E) taking second place overall.

Mrs HE Tarasewicz - Head of Scholarship

ILA ORIS trophy winners Shrey Bijlani (U6-4)and Jasper Morris (U6-8)

The 200 Seconds First Form semi-finalists The 200 Seconds Second Form semi-finalists

Freddie Roberts 2C

I asked DALLE-E to create a representation of itself, and this was the result.

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

First Form 11+ Academic Scholarships

Oliver Ahlin

Eli du Preez

Lucas Owen

Honorary Academic Scholarships

Theo Baker

George Guise

Archie Morris

George Lye

Leo Shaw

First Form 11+ Music Scholarships

Henry Mankabady

Heesung Shin

Toby Stone

Jonas Xie

Ethan Chow

Isaac Grubb Dujun Huang

Ciaran Mackay

Kyrus Ng

Magnus Hansen

Tate Anderson

Sebastian Broughton

Third

Angus Jennings

James Krikorian

Honorary Sports Scholarships

Sam Allen

Alex Aylward

Khalil Aziz

Oscar Davey

Hugo Wilson

SENIOR PRIZE WINNERS

U6 PRIZE NAME

Art (Powell)

Biology (Robins)

Haris MacNicol

Matthew Turner

Chemistry (Mellersh) Alexander Gillan

Classical Languages (Bishop)Jasper Morris

Design and Technology (Carter)Malachy Doyle

Economics (Leech)

Electronics (Lazenby)

English (Simpson)

French (Broadbent)

Geography (Feaver)

German (Magnus)

History (Green)

Stuart Brown

Rex Attwood

Josh Verny White

Henry Bush

Oli Lewis

Adam Wang

Peter Jansen

Mathematics (Bailey) Afra Jamshaid

Further Mathematics

Freddie Weir

Music Oscar Trott

Physical Education

Oscar Lee

Physics (Morden) Gabriel Correia

Politics George Aspden

Religion and Philosophy Gabriel Meadowcroft

Spanish Rish Das

Clubs and Societies (OG Memorial)Andrew Brett

Drama (Blocksidge)

Major Sport (Peel)

Other Sport

Will Saunders

George Aspden

Ollie George

Music Joseph Howes

Musician of the Year (Steynor)Rohan McCauley

Service Henry Florence

Austen

Beckingham

Hamonde

Nettles

James Dicker

Johnny Kershaw

Max Hackett

Kieran Kenyon

Powell Tom Postance

Valpy

SCHOOL LIFE AWARD FOR

Hugh Cruttwell

Outstanding Academic Achievement: Arts (Simpson) Jasper Morris

Outstanding Academic Achievement: Humanities (Simpson) Johnny Kershaw

Outstanding Academic Achievement: Sciences (Simpson) Freddie Weir

Ambassador (Strick) Esa Mitchell

Co-curricular Contribution (Young)Harry Shaw

Endeavour (Selleck) Alex Jackson

Fellowship (Windle) Ben Tabberner

Service to the School [Bowey] Alex Jackson

Service to the School [Hardy)Johnny Kershaw

Service to the School [Daniel] Stuart Brown

L6 PRIZE NAME

Ancient History

Art

Biology (Badham)

Chemistry (Jones)

Classical Languages

Computer Science

James Bowater

Filip Spragg

Jerome Sturridge

Alex Mann

Nicko Lawrence

James Fenwick

Design and Technology (Carter)Thomas Dowson

Economics

Electronics

James Paterson

Mahil Vasanth

English (JF Brown) Leo Saarinen

French (Broadbent)

Geography

German (Magnus)

Harry Simmons

James Davis

William Holmes

History (Knight) Lorcan Read

Mathematics (Stovold)

Further Mathematics

Music

Physical Education

Physics (Brown)

Politics

Charlie Webster

Sam Thevenon

Ruvin Meda

Oliver Brown

Daniel Hughes

James Trowbridge

Religion and Philosophy Ollie Billingham

Spanish

Art

Marcus Woodhouse

Archie Secrett

Clubs and Societies (Hore)Alex Mann

Drama Lorcan Read

Major Sport

Other Sport

Music (Bentall)

Service

Austen

Beckingham

Hamonde

Nettles

Powell

Valpy

George Wilson

Jack Weeks

Jasper O'Conor

George Christiansen

Zac Tinkler

Thomas Bull

Dewi Phillip

William O'Brien

Zac Warham

Soj Ghosh

5 FORM PRIZE NAME

Art Jonty Edmonds

Biology

Chemistry

Classical Languages

Computer Science

Sam Nnabuife

Daniel Ward

Angus Scott

Yuvan Raja

Design and Technology (Binfield)Fin Heath

Drama

English (Davies)

French

Geography

German

History

Louis Pepper

Oliver Southwell

Adrian Groenewald

Peter Hallas

Max Lerchster

Sam Seddon

Mathematics (Gillingham)Ronit Sachdeva

Music

Physical Education

Physics

Religion and Philosophy

Spanish

Oscar Ford

Oscar Robertson

Sam Wilkinson

Cameron Brown

Basil Tahir

Clubs and Societies (Hore)Ayaan Bhagat

Drama

Major Sport

Other Sport

Music

Service

Austen

Beckingham

Hamonde

Nettles

Powell

Valpy

Orlando Meadowcroft

Alex Kay

Fi Adeoshun

Ralph Moggs

Adrian Groenewald

Archie Attwood

Brendan Clarke

Daniel Ward

Alexander Talbot

Spandan Sahu

Oliver Southwell

4 FORM PRIZE NAME

Art

Biology

Chemistry

Classical Languages

Computer Science

Chen Liang

Jola Akin-Olugbade

Siddanth Shirol

Aidan Grieve

Paddy Cooper

Design and Technology (Binfield)Josh Jacobs

Drama

English (Davies)

French

Geography

German

History

Mathematics

Music

Physical Education

Physics

Religion and Philosophy

Spanish

Basti Crutchfield

Andrew Kuang

Percy Fisher

Oscar Crabbe

Krish Amin

Stirling Gauld

Jack Thomson

Stephen Bannister

Ronak Nair

Cam Boston

Leo Hill

Henry Hebburn

Clubs and Societies (Hore)Josh Jacobs

Drama

Major Sport

Sebastian Cunningham

Ollie Krikorian

Other Sport Frederik Duetoft

Music

Service

Austen

Beckingham

Hamonde

Nettles

Powell

Valpy

Ben Robertson

Umun Atara

Ronak Nair

Charlie Hart

Alex Boyd

Chen Liang

George Buchanan

Percy Fisher

JUNIOR PRIZE WINNERS

3 FORM PRIZE NAME

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Fintan Deakin

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Jack Worthington

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School

Archie Munro

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Muhib Ali

Tutor's Award for Scholarship James Guo

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School Fin Burns

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Thomas Dreyer

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Matthew Wall

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School Edward Lefever

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Adrian Bahari

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Thomas Harries

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School

Arthur Ford

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Tom Chertkow

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Shourya Patre

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School

Oscar York

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Michael Needham

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Aarav Vaish

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School

Max Baker

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Samuel Oie

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Kit Walder

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School Toby Beckingham

Art Thibault Amiel

Design Technology Tanush Jami

Drama Oscar York

Sportsman of the YearFinley McHugh

Sporting Excellence Charlie Wareing

Contribution to MusicArthur Ford

Excellence in Music Adrian Bahari

Austen Zac Larivé

Beckingham Rex Morgan

Hamonde Alex Wang

Nettles Freddie Browne

Powell Shourya Patre

Valpy Mo Ben-Othman

2 FORM PRIZE NAME

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Matt Boston

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Oliver Kyle

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School Theo Patel

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Alex Aylward

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Hugh Bayne

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School Jamal Karim

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Cillian Lee

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Alexis Solomonides

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School Tate Brooker

Tutor's Award for Scholarship James Blair

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Rowan Groenewald

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School Timmy Hatch

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Arseniy Makarov

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Joshua Wu

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School Joseph Kinsler

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Rajvir Mangat

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Lamine Sibachir

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School Joseph Young

Sportsman of the YearAlex Aylward

Sporting Excellence Angus Jennings

Contribution to MusicLucas Ngai

Excellence in Music Oliver Kyle Service Leo French

1 FORM PRIZE NAME

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Luke Haran

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Edi Manners

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School

Cameron Sibbald

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Silas Chan

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Harry Millen

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School

Jonathan Windle

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Albert Adams

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Toby Lay

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School

Innes Lamb

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Demir Aras

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Cyrus Choi

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School

Thomas Jacob

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Labeeb Ahmed

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Alex Vickers

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School

Bertie Stevens

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Olaf Johnson

Tutor's Award for Scholarship Nicholas Kasparis

Tutor's Award for Contribution to the School

Sportsman of the Year

Sporting Excellence

Ben Vickers

Mobi AkinOlugbade

Sam Foster

Contribution to MusicNathan Bannister

Excellence in Music Bertie Stevens

UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS

2024 LEAVERS

Alford SamLoughborough Economics with Placement Year

Ali MusaUCL Management Science

Anwar-KhanEhsanOxford Law

Arnold CuanBristol Economics and Politics OG

Aspden GeorgeEdinburgh Politics, Philosophy and Economics

Attwood Rex Southampton Computer Science

Ayles LucasDurham Philosophy

Baloch SafiQMUL Medicine

Baxter CorinBath Biochemistry

Beedie JossSouthampton Artificial Intelligence

Bijlani ShreyUCL Biomedical Sciences

Binns OllieBath Biochemistry with professional placement

Blackwell CalebLeicester Biological Sciences

Borissow MagnusWarwick Philosophy with Global Sustainable Development

Brett AndrewSouthamptonMedicine

Brook AlexUCL Economics OG

Brown StuartOxford Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Burne OllieBath Biochemistry

Bury Ben Oxford Brookes Sport, Coaching and Physical Education

Bush HenryDurham Modern Languages and Cultures (with Year Abroad)

Cade SethBath Mathematics with professional placement

Carpenter BenNottingham Engineering and Physical Sciences with Foundation Year OG

Carraretto LucaWarwick Mathematics

Carson HarryEdinburgh Veterinary Medicine

Chapman SamNottinghamHistory

Christian HaydenBirminghamChemistry

Chilcott BertyExeter Business Economics with Insutrial Experience

Colton JoeOxford Economics and Management

Correia GabrielOxford Physics

Cruttwell HughNewcastle Politics and International Relations

DandanayakNirek Michigan USALiberal Arts

Dargan OliverBath Business with work placement

Das RishWarwick Economics

Davies AlexCambridge Natural Sciences

Day FelixCambridgeDesign

de Gentile - Williams OscarDurham Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Denton ElliottBath International Management and Modern Languages (Spanish)

Dicker JamesWarwick Economics

Doran AlfieSheffield General Engineering with Foundation

Dowdeswell Tom Durham Music

Downey ChristianBath Biology

Doyle MalachyLoughborough Sports Technology

Drew EdwardDurham Economics with Placement Year

Farrant Toby Warwick Economics

Fish WilliamWarwick Computer Science

Fitchie MatthewBath Computer Science and Mathematics

Florence HenryDurham Geography

Franke HenryCambridgeMathematics

Freeman JasperSouthampton Chemistry with year-long industry experience

Game Isaac Post A Level Application

Gander OliverDurham Finance

Ganski JoshBath Business with work placement

George Ollie St Andrews Economics

Gillan AlexanderCambridge Natural Sciences

Glenister WillBath Politics and International Relations with placement or study abroad

Godkin OliverCambridgeGeography

Gonella NidhishLancaster Accounting and Finance

Goodworth OliverLoughborough Accounting and Financial Management

Greenwood RupertCambridge Natural Sciences

Griffiths Luke Professional Rugby in France for Brive RFC

Hackett MaxBristol Aerospace Engineering

Hafiz Adam Post A Level Application

Hargreaves WilliamNottingham Modern Languages

Heatley SamWarwick Law

Hewitt WilliamDurham Archaeology

Hitchcox DanNottingham Accountancy, Finance and Mangement

Honey EdwardWarwick Mathematics

Howes JosephOxford Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular)

Inglesfield Joshua St AndrewsInternational Relations

Inglis James Post A Level Application

Irvin-SellersChaiBristol Mathematics and Computer Science

Jackson AlexBath Mechanical Engineering with professional placement

Jamshaid AfraUCL Physics

Jansen Peter CambridgeHistory

Jayakody Dulain Post A Level Application

Johnstone MattSouthampton Civil Engineering with Industrial Placement Year

Jones Peter SouthamptonMedicine

OG

OG

Kaczor

MaxBath

Mechanical with Automotive Engineering with placement

Kenyon Kieran Imperial CollegeMathematics and Computer Science

Kerr PatrickBristol Politics and International Relations

Kershaw JohnnyCambridge Land Economy

Khan ZachUCL Language and Culture (4 years)

Kim Woo Bath Mathematics

Kim Nawon

King Oliver

Post A Level Application

Post A Level Application

Koshy ThomasOxford Chemistry

Kraus MaxieUCL

Mechanical Engineering with Business Finance

Lee OscarDurham Liberal Arts

Leikis Finn York

Engineering with Renewable Engineering

Lewis OliLSE Geography

Lima Stoltmann Patrick

Post A Level Application

Luther MatBath Business with work placement

Lytle OliverCardiff

Accounting and Finance with a Professional Placement Year OG

Macnicol HarisSheffield Architecture

Majumdar JamesUCL Natural Sciences

Mawdsley Rob Exeter Mechanical Engineering

McCauley RohanCambridge Natural Sciences

McDougall AlexCambridge Natural Sciences OG

McGuire HugoEdinburgh Spanish and Portuguese

McLean Tom Oxford Music

MeadowcroftGabriel

Mills Lowe

Post A Level Application

Post A Level Application

Mistry RishikeshUCL Natural Sciences

Mitchell EsaWarwick Engineering

Moodley KianNottinghamMedicine

Moore DominicNottingham

Industrial Economics with a Placement Year

Morris JasperCambridgeClassics

Munroe WillOxford Chemistry

Newbold Ethan Oxford Brookes Geography

Norris BenedictManchester Ancient History and History

Ong Luke UCL Economics

O'shaughnessyOwenNottingham Politics and International Relations

PapakostasBilly KCL Biomedical Engineering

Patel TianLiverpool Pharmacology

Pegler EthanBath

Peh Johsua

International Development with Economics

Singapore Military Service

Phillips Mateo Kai Bristol Geography with Innovation

Postance Tom Oxford Medicine

Potter Tom Swansea Mathematics and Computer Science with Foundation

Prabu PrahladLeeds Medicine

Pressley Luc Bristol Modern Languages

Qian Jerry Post A Level Application

RobertshawCharlie CambridgeEconomics

Rather SaifaanRHUL Accounting and Finance

Sahota DylanBristol Business and Management with Innovation OG

Sanders FinlayWarwick Computing

Sanmugam SacheinWarwick Management with Placement Year

Saunders WilliamLeeds History

Serpant NayanBath Chemical Engineering with professional placement

Shaw HarrySouthampton Mechanical Engineering

Sheikh YusufBirmingham Mechanical Engineering (Automotive)

Smith Oscar Bristol UWE Architecture

Song Luke Post A Level Application

Sorensen DorianUCL Economics with a Year Abroad

Stockford NedLeeds Computer Science OG

Storey RobertStaffordshire Visitor Attraction and Resort Management

Stork Tom Post A Level Application

Swanepoel Scott KCL Law

Szekeres JakeCambridgeEngineering

Tabberner BenSheffield Aerospace Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year

Tan BrandonCambridgeEngineering OG

Taylor Oliver York Biotechnology

Tharoor ShreyBath Economics

Troman GeorgeDurham Combined Honours in Social Sciences

Trott OscarCambridgeMusic

Turner MatthewOxford Biology

Verny White JoshWarwick English Literature

Walker CharlieNottinghamEconomics

Wallin XavierLSE Economics and Economic History

Wang Adam Imperial College Computing

Wang YuchiCambridge Natural Sciences

Weir FreddieOxford Mathematics and Computer Science

Wigg Henry Post A Level Application

Wilkinson Peter Exeter Natural Sciences OG

Williams JackDurham Combined Honours in Social Sciences

Zabarte SebWarwick English Literature

Zhang AdamUCL Law

Sebastian Broughton 2C and Seth Connold 2C

AI - Consuming Data

This photograph is of a baby ‘consuming’ the data (circuit board). The thought behind the baby consuming the data is a representative of the youth of this generation taking in the new technology. This also reflects how AI consumes the data we give it for use in other ways.

INTEGRITY

Business Enterprise

Celebrating the Success of RGS Schools Business Enterprise Program

This past year has been an outstanding one for the RGS Schools Business Enterprise Program, marking significant achievements and growth for our budding entrepreneurs. With seven teams from the Lower Sixth Form participating in the program, the students displayed incredible creativity, teamwork, and business acumen. Their efforts culminated in successfully selling their unique products at the RGS and GHS Christmas Fairs, delighting customers with electric corkscrews, delicious milkshakes, nostalgic 80's retro sweets, and House bucket hats.

The students thrived in this hands-on learning environment, gaining valuable experience in managing various aspects of a business. They not only worked effectively in teams but also learned how to market their products, negotiate with suppliers, and adapt to real-world challenges. Their success at the Christmas Fairs was a testament to their dedication and the entrepreneurial spirit fostered through the program.

In addition to the Lower Sixth program, this year marked the introduction of the Tycoon Enterprise Project for Fifth Form students. This initiative saw 25 enthusiastic students participate in a series of sessions that combined business theory with practical application. The students visited the Museum of Brands, where they learned about marketing, and were able to put this knowledge to the test with their own ventures during the Lent Term. The culmination of their efforts was seen at the first-ever Student Market Day, an event designed specifically for younger students, where they showcased and sold their products.

This year's success is a reflection of the hard work, innovation, and teamwork of all students involved. The RGS Business Enterprise Programme continues to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, equipping them with skills that will last a lifetime.

Mr JD Stratford - Head of Business Enterprise

Charity and Volunteering

At the beginning of the year, the School community voted for the charities to support this academic year; Surrey Search and Rescue (Local), CRY (National) and Cancer Research Global (International). Over the year, we have run several events to raise funds for these charities. The Comedy Evening and Christmas Fair had a fantastic community atmosphere and the sale of RGS Gin proved a huge success. Peta-Anne Barrow and Jenny Lucas (both current parents) assisted me with the running of the Fair and I am indebted to them for their input.

Christmas Fair

RGS Gin label designed by Aidan Grieve 4B

Carol Singing at Pilgrim Wood

Comedy Evening

In the Lent Term, Mrs KL Sweet ran our annual Bake Off and the Pancake Race and staff-pupil football match brought out everybody’s competitive spirit.

The Trinity Term started with the Second Form Sleep Out, raising over £8,000 for Transform as 35 boys slept outside in the pouring rain. This was shortly followed with the Charity Family Quiz (run by quizmaster extraordinaire Mr M Bailey) and the Charity Rock Gig (organised by LA Eaton). Both were incredibly well supported and it was a pleasure to welcome guests of all ages to these events. Mr RD Crew completed an epic bike ride, cycling 100 miles along the South Downs Way in one day, bringing the total raised to over £20,000.

In addition to our charity events, boys and staff have got involved in a wide range of Volunteering tasks, promoting our School Value of Collaboration. We have held three foodbank collections for the North Guildford Food Bank (thanks to Mr TJJ Owens), two working parties in conjunction with Blackwater Valley, five entertainment events at local residential homes, Carol Singing at Pilgrim Wood, Poetry Together and a Volunteering Tea Party for over 50 guests, where we all enjoyed karaoke run by Joe from Dray Court.

My huge thanks to staff and students for all your input, warmth and enthusiasm for charitable endeavours.

Mrs RJ Rathmell - Charity Committee

OGs at Charity Quiz

Charity Family Quiz

Winners of Charity Family Quiz

Entertainment Event at Pilgrim Wood

Working Party

Second Form Sleep Out

Second Form Sleep Out

Partnerships and Outreach

The RGS has always been and continues to be Guildford’s Grammar School and our meaningful engagement with the community of which we are part is a core part of our ethos, values and educational provision. Despite a backdrop of looming financial pressures, and unlike some other schools who have decided to cut programmes, we have continued to maintain our commitment to all of our existing community Partnership and Outreach programmes, while also supporting new initiatives. Needless to say, none of this can occur without the passionate commitment of our staff and students who so willingly give their time and expertise to create and sustain these opportunities for all - I thank you all.

The West Surrey Partnership (WSP)

In its second year, the WSP started to find its feet with strong leadership by the steering committee and operations group of which the RGS are core members. In addition to establishing sound financial footing and clarifications of aims, the most important actions were the plethora of new events to unite students from across all the schools in the partnership enabling them to learn together. Particularly of note were: A Y12 Sustainability Conference involving over c.80 students; a Y9 SATRO Engineering event for c.100 students; a Y6-7 CWIZZ Literacy Quiz for c.100 students; Lacross taster sessions for Y5-6; Supporting the entries to the Imperial Science and Innovation video competition which saw two Y6 teams invited to the National Final presentations and one WSP team winning the KS2 National Competition; Y5-6 Robotics Club support and competition day; Y5-6 Science lessons for c.180 pupils; Y5-6 Brilliant Book Awards support for book clubs and awards ceremony. We are excited about the year ahead.

The RGS String Scheme

Due to the tireless work of Mr Chambers and Mrs Webb the String Scheme has continued to thrive. The Scheme teaches every Y4 pupil (c.120) at Sandfield and Boxgrove Primary Schools to play the violin or cello through weekly sessions over the course of a year. Twice a year concerts are held for parents which enable every pupil to perform and the end of year concert at RGS is a particular highlight. Additionally, provision is made for those wishing to continue their learning in Y5-6 via group lessons and instrument loan and a continuers orchestra at Boxgrove. This scheme is only possible due to the generous support of the Learning Partners Academy Trust (MAT) and also our principal donors Surrey Hills International Music Festival, the Mila charity and the Sheryl King Trust.

RGS Masterclasses

On four Saturday mornings in September and October, we hosted c.140 Y6 pupils from over 25 different Primary schools for enrichment lessons. Students picked from a suite of six strands: Creative Arts (Drama, Music, Art, Writing); Design Technology; Humanities (History, Politics, Geography, RE); Mathematics; MFL (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Japanese); and Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Forensics). These sessions are to provide opportunities to encourage ‘learning for learnings sake’, to take pupils out of their academic comfort zone, to build confidence and to excite about their upcoming transition to secondary school. Over 30 RGS teaching staff and over 50 RGS Sixth Form volunteered their time to make this wonderful experience possible.

Tudor Experience Days

Most Mondays we provide a day of Tudor themed lessons at RGS for Y6 classes including an introduction to the history of the Tudor school including the Chained Library, a Tudor music and dance session, a Shakespeare Literacy session, a Tudor Games session, and a Tudor Art and Anamorphosis session. This year we hosted c.550 pupils over 18 class visits from 8 different schools.

Learning Partners MAT

The School is an associate member of the local Learning Partners (LP) Multi Academy Trust (MAT). Four of our Leadership Team are Trustees or Governors in the trust. Three RGS staff are deployed to teach in LP schools providing Physics tuition for Y11 Kings College pupils by Mr Holland, introductory Latin classes for Y7 and 8 Kings College pupils by Mr Bush and Mr Callaghan, and French lessons for Y5 and 6 Sandfield Primary School pupils by Mr Marchiafava. Additionally, the String Scheme operates at Sandfield and Boxgrove Primary schools, we continued to support the Chess Club at Sandfield Primary as part of the General Studies Programme, and to provide Stretch and Challenge Maths support for able Y9 pupils from Kings College as part of the Period 8 Programme.

The Guildford 11-19 Partnership

As part of the Guildford 11-19 Partnership, the RGS continued to lead the Interested, Motivated and Able (IMAG) programme - an innovative project, administrated by Mrs Webb, to enable any pupil at member schools to attend a joint programme of academic enrichment events. In 2023-24 we ran over 20 events from 6 different organisations with c.350 students attending over 10 different schools. Visit www.imag.education to know more.

Co-educational Experiences

A whole school priority has been to develop more co-educational opportunities for our boys throughout the School whether academic, activities or social. This year we broadened the range of opportunities and I have been really pleased by the proliferation of activities provided by our staff and colleagues at local girls’ schools and especially Tormead, GHS and St Catherine’s. There are too many activities to mention all of them, but highlights include: Academic opportunities with Sixth Form such as History Debating, English Literature Workshop, and MFL Speed Dating; First and Second Form Field Days with Tormead; General Studies with GHS; Clubs and Societies opportunities such as joint FemSoc/EDI Society meetings, Pride Society, Air Rifle Club, and Table Tennis Club.

Sport such as mixed Cricket fixtures, mixed Sailing, a Swimming Gala joint with St Cat’s vs George Abbot, joint Athletics training and competition with GHS, and girl’s schools invited to the Haskell Cup cross country event; Drama performances such as the Caucasian Chalk Circle with Tormead, and Oliver the Musical with GHS; Joint trips such as the Nepal and Cambodia expeditions with Tormead and the Joint Choir and Orchestra Tour with GHS; Musical collaboration such as the Joint Schools Chamber Choir with GHS; Leadership with joint Prefect training with Tormead; and Social opportunities with First and Second Form Discos, a Sixth Form Winter Formal, and a Prefects Dinner and end of year BBQ with Tormead.

• There are many more examples of smaller collaborations and so to finish here is a small selection of examples:

• Heritage Open Day: This is one of the only occasions when the Tudor Old Building including the Chained Library is open to members of the public.

• Music Market Day Concert: Monthly Holy Trinity church free to members of the public.

• Careers in Finance Seminar and Engineering Seminar: 130 external pupils attended from local schools: Guildford County, Fullbrook, Howard of Effingham, St Catherine’s, St Peter’s, Tormead and Collingwood College.

• English: Two hundred A-Level English Literature students and teachers from local schools attended our English Department’s Shakespeare and Race Studies event.

• Facilities donation: We continued our links with the ‘Big Leaf’ charity to provide access to our all-weather football pitch and gym for their weekly training sessions. Big Leaf work with 16-25 year-old displaced people from any country.

• Eighteen RGS staff act as governors or trustees of other educational institutions in both state and independent sectors and both primary and secondary phases. Mr TW Shimell - Head of Partnerships and Outreach

Cricket Fixtures with Tormead

Tormead-RGS English Windrush Symposium

Sailing with St Cat's

Aryan Hemnani 3P

INCLUSIVITY

Development

Why the Bursary Programme Matters

At RGS, we believe the future will be shaped by brilliant minds, young people equipped with the skills and values to take on the challenges of the 21st Century. That’s why we are committed to ensuring that local boys with great potential but limited financial means can access the exceptional education we offer. Our Bursary Programme provides life-changing opportunities for these students, empowering them to shape the world of tomorrow.

The impact of a bursary extends far beyond the classroom. Many of our bursary recipients go on to become leaders in their fields, from establishing medical centres in Africa and influencing government policy, to founding charities and mentorship networks. These individuals are proof of the lasting difference a bursary can make.

“Your generosity doesn't just change one life; it creates ripples of positive change across society.”

Our Headmaster is passionate about ensuring RGS leads the way with its Bursary Programme. Dr Jon Cox launched the Programme in 2016 with a clear goal: to ensure that any bright, promising student can fulfil their potential, regardless of their family's financial circumstances. The difference we make in education today will create a better world tomorrow. Currently, our Bursary Programme supports 62 boys, 37 of whom receive a life-changing bursary that covers 80% or more of their fees. This financial support opens doors to opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.

Our Road to 2035 campaign aims to double the number of bursary recipients, from 1 in 14 boys to 1 in 7. To achieve this, we have set ourselves an ambitious target of raising £13 million by 2035. To be successful, we will need the support of all our community to help pioneer a new approach in education and ensure that talent, not financial background, determines opportunity.

Many families within our community already recognise and support our ambitions. In the 2022-2023 financial year, 470 families contributed £253,981 to finance means-tested bursaries and to invest in our Enduring Bursary Fund which will provide bursaries in perpetuity.

If you would like to know more on the life-changing difference you can make, please contact our Development Director, Monica Popa mpo@rgsg.co.uk or visit www. rgsroadto2035.co.uk .

Supporters’ Reception

Every year we welcome friends and supporters of the Bursary Campaign to a summer reception. This is our opportunity to thank our community for their commitment and celebrate their collective efforts to provide an equal education to all our students.

Telephone Campaign

Our 2024 Telephone Campaign in April saw 12 of our recent Old Guildfordians call over 500 people within our community to raise awareness and funds for the Bursary Programme.

‘Class of …’ Bursary

One of the most symbolic ways in which families choose to support the Bursary Campaign is by joining the Class of … initiative. This programme allows families from the graduating year to sponsor a young man just starting his RGS journey throughout his 7-year education; a leaving gift that embodies the lasting impact of RGS's community spirit.

The RGS Community

One of the most enduring aspects of an RGS education is that your relationship with the School continues to flourish after you have graduated. As an OG your connection with us provides a lifelong network of friendships and support. We run a busy event programme for OGs and the wider RGS community, celebrating the friendships formed during the most formative years of your life. Whether you left recently or many decades ago, returning to the School always feels like coming home, with stories to share and moments to relive, whether in Guildford, at university, in London, or overseas.

This year, we've enjoyed hosting a wide range of events. Alongside reunions, sporting fixtures, musical recitals and supporter receptions here at the RGS, we hosted two North American receptions in New York and Palo Alto. Our international OG community stays connected no matter where they are.

It is always a joy to welcome back old friends and familiar faces. Whether you live locally or have moved elsewhere in the world please do keep in touch with us and update us on your news by emailing og@rgsg.co.uk.

If you’re a parent, you can join us online at www.rgsconnect. com, our digital platform for the entire RGS community. And for current students, you’ll be able to sign up after completing your A Levels, becoming part of a vibrant and supportive network that spans generations and continents.

Headmaster’s XI v OG XI Cricket Match

The annual Headmaster’s cricket match is a much-loved event that brings together students, alumni and staff for a day of friendly competition and camaraderie. Thank you to Capt. Alex Sweet OG'16 for organising the OG side and congratulations to the staff for securing what is rumoured to be their first win since 2008.

Our North American reunion took in both East and West coast this year with receptions in New York and Palo Alto

Undergraduate Drinks April 2024

Every year OGs and staff enjoy catching up for an informal social in Guildford.

Class Reunions

We host several reunions for former students. Last year’s programme included receptions for students who left in 1960 up until a reunion for graduates from 2004.

Ms H Dixon - Marketing and Development for Alumni

CAPTAIN’S f arewell

It is my pleasure to reflect on another fantastic year at RGS and to express my gratitude on behalf of the 'Class of 2024' for the superb seven years we have enjoyed.

As my time as a pupil of this school has come to an end, I feel bittersweet. The Post A Level lull has provided a wonderful opportunity to reflect with others on what we have cherished most about RGS. One thing that consistently stands out in every conversation is the strong sense of community here. This unity has been particularly evident this year, from large school-wide events like the Connect 4 Cup, which saw well over 100 entries from both staff and students (and was definitely my highlight of the year!), to the small acts of kindness we witness every day in classrooms and corridors.

Additionally, it has been a pleasure to see the prefect team truly embody the School's spirit. They have consistently stepped up with great enthusiasm, volunteering for open days, reflections, marshalling the lunch queue, and everything in between. A particular highlight of this year's prefects' efforts was the work of Malachy Doyle. After delivering a very open and powerful reflection on mental health, Malachy stepped up to give talks and lead discussions on this topic with First Form classes, helping to break down the stigma around what can be a difficult subject to discuss.

Special thanks also go to Tom, Alex, and Johnny, whose hard work and dedication have ensured this year has been so successful, as well as the generous support and advice of the Senior Management Team. I would also like to wish Charlie the best of luck in leading the team next year. As someone who truly exemplifies the kindness that characterises the RGS community, I have full confidence he will do a fantastic job as School Captain.

However, it would be remiss to only mention the work of this year's prefects, as there have been countless ways in which students have worked towards bettering the School. This year saw the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council organise the first RGS-hosted meeting of the Feminism Society, following last year’s events hosted by both GHS and Tormead. The Senior Scholars Council organized and ran a fascinating scholarship conference, and boys participating in sports coaching during Period 8 volunteered to help coach and mentor younger athletes. These examples showcase the breadth of opportunities the School offers and how students seize these chances to give back to the school community.

We are so lucky to be given so many opportunities to develop and thrive, whether in the classroom, on the sports pitch, or wherever one's passion lies. This is thanks to the tireless work of our teachers, who always go above and beyond, as well as the often unseen efforts of all the Support Staff especially in the estates, cleaning, and catering teams.

While I am excited about the future, I will always fondly remember my time at the School and look forward to remaining connected to this special community as an Old Guildfordian.

Stuart Brown - School Captain 2023-2024

Morven Creagh - MFL

VALETE

Having joined us from Godolphin and Latymer school in 2016, Morven Creagh taught and inspired more than two complete generations of German students at RGS. She also got many Lower School sets off to a great start in their studies in French. A superb linguist, supremely organised and well prepared, Morven was a true professional and the stellar results she achieved with her students reflected this.

Morven made significant contributions to the School beyond her languages teaching. She ran the Extracurricular languages and EPQ programmes, ran and accompanied many overseas trips and organised hiking activities on Field Days and in the Monday Period 8 programme.

After four fantastic years at the RGS, Laura leaves us to take on a very well-deserved promotion to Director of Music at Frensham Heights.

Joining us in the dark days of the pandemic, Laura brought her wealth of experience to the RGS, having previously taught at both Wellington College and Peter Symonds College, and quickly became a much valued and respected member of the Department. As a classroom teacher, Laura was second to none. Her lessons were always carefully prepared, consistently of an outstanding quality and delivered with the care and attention to detail that you would expect of such an able colleague.

From the outset, Laura threw herself into the co-curricular life of the Department. Under her stewardship, Concert Band, aimed at Junior brass and woodwind players, excelled and was consistently over 60 players strong from year to year. Laura’s outstanding musicianship really came to the fore here and she took real care to ensure that every member of the group was able to contribute, often spending hours rearranging music and producing instrumental parts so that every boy could perform.

Colleagues in the MFL Department and across the whole school will miss Morven not just as an authority on German grammar, but also as a trusted member of the RGS team, a person to turn to in a tight spot and a great listener. Because of this, we know Morven will make a great success of her next endeavour: training to be a psychotherapist and counsellor. Alongside her studies, she is also going to work as the Early Years co-ordinator at St George’s Medical School, supporting students through the stressful task of training to be NHS doctors. Through them, Morven will bring her positive influence to many 1,000s of people, just as she did in her teaching.

Laura established numerous ensembles throughout her time at the RGS ranging from Woodwind Quintets to Rock Groups and it was her passion for mass participation that has seen the work of the Department expand into all areas and genres. Her work supporting and developing contemporary music at the RGS (including the Charity Rock Gig last term, which raised a sizeable amount of money for the school charities) and her development of high-quality performance opportunities for boys in the Lower School (such as the First Form production of Dracula the musical), has been outstanding and will leave an indelible mark on the RGS.

As a member of the Department, I could not have asked for more from Laura. It was her willingness to always go the extra mile, not only for her own students, but for her colleagues and for the Department that made her such a fantastic part of the team. We wish her all the very best as she embarks upon her new role.

Laura Eaton - Music

Kieran Galpin - Religion and Philosophy

Kieran joined us straight from the completion of his MA in Philosophy at Edinburgh University on a one year appointment to replace John Winterburn, and proved himself to be as successful in the classroom as a teacher as he had been as a pupil.

Kieran taught across the Department’s curriculum from introducing the Junior boys to the nuances of different world faiths to leading A Level students through the complexities of ethical theories and the evaluation of moral dilemmas. In all of this he demonstrated a keen eye for academic detail, a willingness to adopt creative teaching strategies, and an ability to create a rapport with his students that was impressive for a complete newcomer to teaching.

He also embraced the extra-curricular aspect of his role with enthusiasm. His leadership of the three Philosophy Societies saw him encouraging boys from all year groups to engage in, and relish, theological and philosophical discussion, supporting many to develop not just their knowledge and understanding, but also their presentation skills. He also threw himself in to Jon Casale’s surfing trips, contributed to music-making, and became quite the expert at raking the sandpit at athletics meets.

As he leaves us to begin his training course in journalism as the first step in his new career, we wish him well, and thank him for the commitment, hard work and good humour that he brought to all that he did in his year with us.

Craig George - Mathematics

Craig leaves us after 11 successful years at the RGS, performing the roles of Teacher of Mathematics, Deputy Head of Mathematics and as Assistant Head Diversity and Inclusion. Students and staff alike are sad to be losing both his talents and general presence.

Craig taught First Form long addition up to teaching Sixth Form Oxbridge applicants advanced STEP Mathematics and everything in between. He commanded every classroom he walked into and gained respect from all around him not just from his presence, but his knowledge and flair as a mathematician. His neat little handwriting became very distinct to those around the Department and his folder organisation was often equally as

meticulous.

Outside of the classroom, I think many students and staff started to see his true colours when he assumed his role as Assistant Head Diversity and Inclusion (DandI). He took the role not simply because it was a promotion, but because it was something he genuinely cared about, and he continued to care and engage with clubs and events around DandI in the School even after his tenure. Craig also proudly ran the U12B cricket team during his time here, helping many young players go on to ultimately represent the 1st XI.

Craig now moves on to a new challenge at Surrey Mathematics School, taking his waistcoats and calculator just down the road from us. We wish you the very best of luck moving forward; they are lucky to have you Mr George!

Sadaf joined the RGS in 2022 having previously taught in Merchant Taylors’, King Henry VIII (in Malaysia), and Emanuel School. She immediately earned the respect of her students and established a reputation as an excellent classroom teacher. Sadaf took responsibility for teaching the Oxbridge Biological Chemistry lessons and also bravely managed a Junior Rugby team. She was deeply missed by her students

when she went on maternity leave in 2023. However, Sadaf has decided to move back to Malaysia with her family instead of staying in Surrey. She will be teaching in the Alice Smith School. We wish her, Anubhav, and baby Ibby every happiness in the future.

Linia joined the RGS two years ago from a position as Second in Department at All Hallow’s School in Farnham, so we were very pleased to have her expertise in the Department. She quickly settled and showcased an excellent pedagogy, teaching stimulating lessons that the students all enjoyed and making sure to stretch the most able while supporting those in need. Her empathy and human touch meant that students quickly warmed to her and she developed a reputation as being a teacher that all the students wanted for Mathematics. Linia was a natural Middle School Form Tutor as well, keeping students on track and genuinely caring for their progress: the Beckingham team will certainly miss her as she brought support to House events and helped guide students through the transition to GCSEs.

Outside the classroom Linia was a popular and well-liked colleague, always smiling and friendly in the common room and happy to help with events. Her work on the Department’s outreach programmes was invaluable and she helped our individuals and teams enjoy much success in both local and national Mathematics competitions.

Having acquired British Citizenship, Linia sadly leaves us to take up a post teaching in China, nearer her family home in India. All at the RGS will miss her and we wish her, her husband and son all the very best for the next stage in their lives.

Linia Kurian - Mathematics

Sadaf Khan - Chemistry

After six years, Joe left the RGS at the end of the last Academic Year to pursue new challenges. Joe joined us in 2018 and, during his time here, he put in place countless essential processes with A Level of attention to detail that can only be described as deliberate.

When we hire for the IT team, we look for five key qualities: attention to detail, a calm and friendly demeanour, great organisational skills, cycle maintenance skills, and excellent timekeeping. Joe ticked several of those boxes.

Whether it was formatting hard drives, not getting changed in the changing rooms, using Notepad as a database, or reformatting hard drives, Joe quickly became an integral part of the IT team and a good friend.

When it came to his work, Joe’s attention to detail was unmatched. He had a unique knack for spotting the smallest technical fault or the slightest movement of a mouse.

Patrick joined the RGS three years ago straight from his PGCE and made an immediate impact. His passion for Classics, his care and empathy for the students and his desire to throw himself into absolutely everything made him an invaluable member of the Department from the very beginning. His lessons are fast-paced, very well-resourced and keep even the most reluctant boys seemingly on the edge of their seats! Patrick has gladly taken on numerous responsibilities within the Department. He rejuvenated the Junior Classics Society and created several cross curricular sessions which the boys particularly enjoyed. A particular favourite among the boys was Ancient Greek vase painting in the Art Department, which resulted in some amazing results! Patrick has volunteered for every Classics trip available, whether it’s a trip to the British Museum or overseas trips to Italy and Greece. He stepped up to the mark at very late notice and led the Classics trip to Greece this Easter and his organisational skills, his flexibility and his rapport with both boys and staff alike made for a very successful trip indeed. Patrick is very much a team-player and he always shares his good practice and resources with colleagues, and I sometimes have to remind myself that he has only been teaching for three years when he is discussing teaching strategies or sharing a particularly effective lesson in

Joe’s dedication to the RGS was remarkable. In the mornings, he would take any method of transport - no matter how inconvenient or time-consuming - to reach his desk.

Of course, we can’t forget Joe’s passion for a well-crafted cocktail, a skill he honed with as much precision as his BIOS updates.

Joe’s pace of work could best be described as “measured,” but while deadlines were sometimes passed like stations on a delayed train, the job always got done. His calm nature, reliability, and dry humour meant he was great friends with many staff, always willing to offer help or share a smile.

As Joe pedals off into his next chapter, we’ll miss his unique approach to IT, his refusal to compromise on standards, and his ability to stick to his routines - train delays permitting.

A little bit of magic parts with Joe.

Department meetings. Outside the Classics Department, Patrick has had an equally impressive impact. He has been an outstanding First and Second Form Tutor and has made a real difference to his tutor groups over the last three years. He is Deputy Head of Valpy and has thrown himself into the numerous House activities. He has given very generously of his time on the games pitch, coaching U13Cs Cricket and U13Bs and Cs Rugby. He has given up many Saturdays to coach and referee his teams and I know that the Sports Department and the boys he has coached are very grateful for both his sporting prowess as well as his enthusiasm and positivity on the games pitch. Patrick really is the consummate school master. He is passionate about his subject and the boys love his lessons, but he is equally at home on the games pitch, on a school trip or helping with societies. It has been an absolute pleasure having Patrick in the Classics Department. He has been the perfect colleague and friend for all of us in the Department. I wish him well as he moves on to a new post at Alleyn’s School. We will all miss his enthusiasm, his sense of humour, his willingness to help out however busy he is, and his overall positivity. He really is a force for good! I feel proud that RGS in general, and the Classics Department in particular, started Patrick off on what will no doubt be a stellar career as a School Master!

Joe Orkney - IT

Patrick Palmer - Classics

Keith Trim joined the RGS in September 2017 to teach both Art and DT. He arrived with the decision to work part time, after running a very busy Art Department for 15 years in a state school in Frimley. Keith is first to admit that it was his intention to stay at the RGS for just a few years before taking full retirement; however, this decision soon changed when he was met with highly engaged students, smaller classes and the ability to teach a wider curriculum. In the Art Department, Keith’s artistic abilities in 3D launched him into teaching wonderful ceramics, plaster, card and wire projects to Lower School students, creating forms around clever construction techniques. In Covid, Keith’s meticulous organisation and

ability to diversify online sourced the Department with many resources. He was integral to making us feel that ‘we can do this, art lessons can continue!’ We will greatly miss Keith’s level headed, calming presence at the RGS. The thoroughness with which he planned each of his lessons has been instructive to us all and has shown how one’s versatility as a teacher can be enhanced if one is prepared to plan everything out to the depth that is actually required. Keith will be remembered for being the perfect embodiment of the “can do” attitude. He was at all times the most accommodating and positive teacher. We wish him all the best in his retirement where he intends to continue ‘making’, writing and performing in his rock band, cycling, swimming and playing football.

Lorraine joined us as Assistant Director of Music and Head of Academic Music in September 2020 and from the very start she showed herself to be a practitioner of the highest quality. Having studied at the Sorbonne and having previously held positions at both Westonbirt School and most recently as Director of Music at Cranleigh Prep, Lorraine was not only highly experienced, but fiercely academic. This was apparent from the outset when she took on the task of revitalising the curriculum. Her work on the Lower School schemes of work brought the Department into the 21st Century with the incorporation of composition software, allowing every boy to make quick and outstanding progress irrespective of their musical background and level of experience. Lorraine’s work in the Middle and Upper School was outstanding. In particular, she championed composition at the RGS - her work at GCSE and A Level was first rate with many of her students going on to receive both local and national recognition in composition prizes and competitions.

As a key member of the Music Department, a lot of Lorraine’s work took place outside of the classroom. Under her direction, Big Band continued to go from strength to strength, culminating in a phenomenally successful tour to northern Italy last summer. This was, as expected, meticulously planned and well-organised, giving those on tour the most amazing experience and many fantastic memories that will stay with them for many years to come. Lorraine has promoted singing at every level with outstanding work with the Lower School Choir and Barbershop group. Her collaboration with the MFL Department in recent joint ventures has also been a fantastic addition to the Department’s busy schedule. Lorraine has been all that you could wish for from a colleague and as a second in Department, she has been a fantastic support. Throughout her time at the RGS, Lorraine has shown herself to be a consummate professional, showing a real care both towards her students and colleagues alike. We wish her all the very best of luck as she leaves us to become Director of Music at St George’s, Weybridge.

Lorraine Wild - Music

Keith Trim - Art

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