Worcesterian 2023-24

WORCESTERIAN

RGS

“RGS Worcester provides an excellent all-round education for pupils by developing character, intellect, physical and emotional wellbeing and cultural understanding.” - ISI Inspection

CHERISHING THE PAST, LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

WORCESTERIAN INTRODUCTION

(2023-24)

The academic year 2023-24 saw the success of RGS recognised nationally for academic achievement, digital learning and AI awareness. In the Summer of 2023, our academic results were given an “honourable mention” in the Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’ League table, which saw us leap up the tables and placed RGS Worcester as the top school in the county. In Summer 2024, the results were simply stunning placing RGS Worcester as the top co-educational day school in the West Midlands at A Level. We were even ranked as the 12th best Independent School in the UK in a ranking used by ‘Timeout’ magazine. RGS was also selected as a Finalist for the TES Independent School of the Year Award for the best use of technology. A representative from Apple Education who visited said, “You are doing a fantastic job; I left refreshed and inspired”, and a member of the Department of Business and Trade said that they had not seen what we are achieving in Digital Learning in any other school. We then went one better, awarded Independent School of the Year for, Outreach and Educational Partnerships 2024.

In the Arts, pupils continue to excel, taking full advantage of the outstanding opportunities provided. We have had more plays and concerts than ever before. The annual Choral Concert saw over 350 pupils performing in Worcester Cathedral, and other concerts have ranged from small, friendly events to major set pieces, with professional musicians performing with our pupils. There have been Drama productions for every section of the School, and our musical, ‘Miss Saigon,’ was truly exceptional.

On the Sports pitches, there have been more fixtures than ever before, with pupils playing sports all year round in a very wide range and variety of different sports. Several pupils represented their country and have been given the launch pad by their expert RGS coaches to pursue professional sports careers. Our major fixtures at Sixways Stadium and the University Arena saw more RGS supporters attend than ever before, including RGS selling out its

tickets for ‘Superball’ and having to put out extra seating. At that event, the teams did RGS proud, winning both 1st and 2nd team matches and showing real RGS grit and determination. Our new system for Sport, which sees more expert coaches in each Sport and greater opportunities for them to coach across the School, really came through this academic year, and we are seeing the benefits in terms of the pupils’ enjoyment, participation and achievements. The breadth and range of other opportunities in clubs, societies, the CCF and Duke of Edinburgh Awards and in the House system continued to grow with over 130 activities each week. It is all about finding the activity each pupil enjoys and then the opportunity to take part and see where it takes you. It is this choice and opportunity that makes an RGS education fun, challenging and engaging. It is also the reason why we have seen more applications from prospective parents for children to join RGS in 2024-25.

Finally, the RGS community came together many times over the course of the year to support one another and the community. Our Charity work is extensive, including the incredible Foodbank contributions (over 2,000 items) donated as part of our ‘Giving Day’, which also raised over £150,000 towards our Bursaries appeal. The generosity, support and awareness of others’ needs stand out and show the values of the whole RGS community.

Our pupils’ achievements come down to the commitment of this community working together to provide choice and opportunities. I would like to thank the staff (teachers and support) for all their commitment and hard work, parents for their support, and alumni for their encouragement and engagement. Above all, well done to the pupils – what an incredible year 2023-24 has been!

John Pitt Headmaster, RGS Worcester Executive Head, The RGS Worcester Family of Schools

THE DIGITAL LEARNING PROGRAMME

During the 2023-2024 academic year, the RGS Worcester Family of School’s Digital Learning Programme (DLP) has continued to grow and evolve, tackling new challenges and embracing innovative approaches. Our teachers, pupils, and parents have experienced a wealth of exciting developments as we have enriched our digital learning culture and harnessed technology to enhance educational experiences across our four Schools and beyond.

In September, our remarkable Digital Genius Team welcomed a new group of Year Seven members, who quickly became involved in various projects, including curating our brand-new museum of Old Tech. This initiative provided an engaging way to explore the evolution of technology and its impact on learning and wider society.

Within weeks, the Digital Geniuses were presenting in front of over 75 parents at our DLP Parental Engagement Evenings. They demonstrated tools such as Showbie and Apple Classroom that are key parts of our Digital Workflow. In January, our Digital Genius Team represented all four of the RGS Worcester Schools at the BETT Show in London, showcasing their knowledge of AI whilst presenting at the world’s largest Educational Technology event.

Indeed, a major focus of our EdTech journey this year has been engaging with, and understanding, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Activities have included CPD sessions for staff, AI literacy programmes for pupils, governors and parents, and assemblies for local primary schools to introduce the concept of AI. These initiatives highlight our commitment to preparing our community for the future of AI in education.

This year, we were proud to be shortlisted for the Tes Award for ‘Best Use of Technology’. Our entry emphasised our innovative AI adoption, supported by an AI literacy programme for pupils, staff, and parents. The RGS Worcester Family of Schools’ strategic embrace of AI is evidenced by our teachers’ increasing proficiency, with over 96% now possessing at least a basic understanding of Large Language Model (LLM) AI. Regular AI-related CPD workshops have ensured educators are equipped to integrate AI into their pedagogy effectively.

Our teaching staff made significant advancements in digital education, with many achieving ‘Apple Teacher’ status, reflecting their dedication to professional growth and their expertise in using Apple technologies to enhance learning. Notably, Michelle Parton, Matt Warne, Adam Morgan, and Andrew Webster achieved ‘Apple Learning Coach’ status, further elevating our educational standards.

International collaboration was another highlight, with Director of Studies from RGS The Grange Richard Millard and Director of Innovation, John Jones visiting our partner school, Tongo Senior High, in North-eastern Ghana. This visit marked a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between The RGS Worcester Family of Schools and the Talensi Community Development Foundation. They helped set up donated iPads, impacting teaching and learning in this new environment. They also taught lessons, navigated large class sizes, and facilitated professional development sessions regarding the iPads.

ENGLISH FACULTY

This was another very busy year for The English Department at RGS. Most notably, there were a number of prestigious guest speakers who came to talk to our pupils about books and writing. The year started with the visit of Matt Oldfield, author of the enormously popular ‘Ultimate Heroes of Football’ series. Matt talked to Years Seven and Eight about his inspirations and provided tips for budding writers. Later in the year, Mr Richard Blair, the son of George Orwell, came to School and gave a fascinating talk to Year Eight about his father’s life and work. Year Eight had spent a term studying Orwell’s life and work, so this was a unique opportunity to make a living connection with a truly great literary figure. Mr Blair also judged the winner of the best dystopian novel concept, which was won by Amelia Morris in Year Eight. In the Trinity term, Onjali Q. Rauf gave two amazing talks to Years Seven and Eight, who were completely entranced as Onjali talked about the stories behind her award-winning novels. Pupils from RGS The Grange and Springfield joined in too and dozens of pupils were able to buy copies of Onjali’s books and get them signed. Year Seven also enjoyed a visit from former RGS teacher Mr Owens and his brother, who again performed their version of the story of King Arthur and provided fascinating insights in the life and battle skills of a medieval knight. This was the perfect conclusion to the work Year Seven has completed on medieval literature.

In March, Year Eleven were able to benefit from seeing a professional production of their GCSE set text ‘Macbeth’ performed in the Performing Arts Centre. This was a fantastic event and really provided pupils with further insights into Shakespeare’s dark tragedy. Meanwhile, Sixth Form students attended a study day at The Commandery in Worcester, where they were able to consolidate their knowledge of key texts before the examinations with speakers from Birmingham and Oxford Universities.

Throughout the year, RGS Clubs and Societies were as popular as ever. RGS hosted the regional heat for the English Speaking Union Shakespeare recitation competition, with Ridhima Canchi making it through to the Regional Finals. Literary Society welcomed visits from local author Alison Jean Lester, who shared drafts of her latest novel with ‘Litsoc’ members. There were also several ‘student takeovers’ - sessions run by the pupils themselves- and these covered a host of fascinating topics. There was a trip to Malvern Theatre to watch ‘Frankenstein’ in November, as well as the fourth Litsoc Gothic Tour to London, which took in an array of spooky venues, including The London Dungeons, The Ghost Bus, Jack the Ripper Walk and Highgate Cemetery. This all concluded with an end-of-year celebration trip to the RSC to watch ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’.

As ever, pupils at RGS have been successfully writing and publishing their own work. At Creative Arts Evening, pupils in Year Seven read out their own nature poetry and every pupil published at least one poem in the Year Seven Anthologies. This year, pupils were also successful in national writing competitions. Erin Docherty in Year Nine won 1st Prize in the Worcestershire Competitive Arts Festival, while Emily Pipe gained 3rd Prize. Erin Docherty, Zara Ashfield, Emily Pipe, Ridhima Canchi and Amelie Baynham all had their work published in ‘The Glitch’ minisaga anthology. Huge thanks to all staff in the Department who helped to run and organise these events.

MATHEMATICS FACULTY

A number of new initiatives have been started in the last twelve months that are helping to foster Mathematics beyond the classroom. The first is a fortnightly numeracy task that all pupils engage in during Form Time, with topics to date including Darts, Horse Racing and even Valentine’s Day. The second, Manic Maths, is a weekly session hosted by Dr Ehlers where pupils are introduced to a variety of challenging, and often University level, Mathematics questions. One of the highlights so far was a visit from former pupil Will Osborne who led a session on string theory, which was greatly appreciated by the pupils present.

We have continued taking pupils from Year Ten and Lower Sixth to ‘Maths in Action’ days at Birmingham and Warwick Universities to introduce them to some of the applications of the subject beyond the classroom. Year Ten pupil Gabby Hailwood wrote the following regarding the University of Birmingham event: “From game theory to music maths, and everything in between, our day was full of things you never thought you could know about Maths. An indepth analysis of the popular retro video game Pac-man revealed the answer to the well-known postman problem and Colin Wright fascinated the audience with his juggling abilities and his grasp on the mathematics of patterns and predictions. A session with Ayliean MacDonald was all we needed to whip out our phones and start playing alternate games on chessboards, making links to magic squares. Overall, it was an intriguing and captivating day of Maths!”

For Pi Day this year, a new House Competition was launched, with the task being for pupils to remember the number pi to as many digits as possible. There were many superb entries, but with an amazing memory technique that involved a spreadsheet, matching pairs of numbers to words, and then creating a story in three different ‘worlds’ in order to remember the words, the winner was Dylan Cowling, who successfully remembered pi to 316 decimal places. Our only criticism is that he should have stopped two digits earlier for a more aesthetically pleasing winning number!

Pupils also continued to have a successful year in the UKMT Challenges, with a total of 210 pupils achieving awards across the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Challenges, with 27 pupils qualifying for the follow-on Kangaroo and Olympiad rounds. The highest scoring entries from each year group (starting with Year Seven) were Sean Yang, Dylan Commachia, Joe Cowling, Sihan Fu, Jacob Hartley, Sam Taylor and Dylan Cowling. A special mention must go to Sihan Fu in Year Ten who achieved a very impressive score of 121 out of 135 marks in the Intermediate Maths Challenge, which was the best result by an RGS pupil in recent years and earned him qualification for the Intermediate Olympiad where he achieved a Merit - a fantastic achievement.

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES FACULTY

For our pupils as for us teachers, this year has been the return of the language exchange to the MFL Faculty. Our rediscovery is their first experiences, our re-lived nostalgia is the formation of their first memories. All three languages sent and received exchange pupils this year, to Zaragoza (Spain), Nantes (France) and Emden (Germany). Exchanges are a unique opportunity to experience language and culture in a way no other trip can. At the heart of the exchange is the homestay, the ‘family swap’ pupils essentially undertake. It is a risk, it feels uncomfortable, it is tiring, as you are always focusing on what people are saying, always trying to work out your new environment. But it is the only way to get to know a culture, people, language: to truly live with them. We are extremely fortunate to be able to offer this still at RGS Worcester and we are supremely grateful to parents who worked tirelessly to accommodate and welcome our partner pupils.

In Zaragoza, pupils were ‘wowed’ by daily new experiences: tomato with tortilla for breakfast, bread with olive oil (not butter!), a “sort of cold tomato soup which sounds crazy, but is delicious.” They discovered the history of Zaragoza, the bustle of Madrid, the tranquil beauty of the nearby Monasterio de la Piedra. With their host families they went on a day trip to Barcelona, an excursion to the Pyrenees, a day out at the “best fayre ever”. Above all, they experienced Spain through the eyes of a Spaniard, they built friendships (many of which are going strong today) across the cultural divide, revelling in the wonder of difference that only our recognised similarities can reveal.

In France, pupils began the weekend with their host families, so whilst we were chatting with the locals, they were visiting Paris, staying in holiday homes by the sea, roaring around a go-kart track. The beginning of the week brought a couple of days in school, in which pupils enjoyed perhaps a more relaxed approach to education, nevertheless contributing to presentations in Geography or helping to lead a class in Chinese. Though the exchange, pupils enjoyed the beauty of nearby Tuscan-themed Clisson or the historical depth of Nantes on display at the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, nothing quite matched the birthday crêpe meal and the opportunity to explore all the big brands Birmingham also offers, but in French!

The German Exchange too offered trips galore and that essential shared experience between exchange partners. An amusing guided tour in the harbour town of Greetsiel, meeting the mayor in Emden, or the excitement of the large city of Bremen and the picturesque beauty of nearby Borkum island, all fuelled and furthered the relationships building between the exchange partners as the one explained to the other, as they shared thoughts, opinions and wonder. A final pizza evening best typifies how distinct communities blend together, through the convivial environment of a shared meal.

The exchanges represent the apogee of cross-cultural experience and linguistic growth, but much of what we do in MFL throughout the year shares the same goals and values. The beginning of the year welcomes pupils into the discovery of the foreign through the more light-heated House Pétanque competition and European Week of Languages, in which various events take place, including a gastronomical tour of the continent! As a prelude to the exchanges for pupils from the Lower School, the biannual trip to Cologne made its post-COVID return, sending a packed coach of Christmas market shoppers from Years Eight and Nine into Germany. The stories that stick, the memories that remain are those of surprise and joy at the new, the unknown, and for the pupils, unusual.

Fast-forward six months to the end of year projects MFL runs for all pupils in Years Seven to Nine, and it is these discoveries which are being brought into posters about famous German cities, not the generic tourist information online, but personalised, lived experiences of a different culture. Across the other Lower School classes we ran our annual Market Stall Extravaganza in Year Seven, in which pupils make their own stalls, pretend produce and practise role play dialogues to train them up to do their parents’ shopping when they next go abroad. In Year Eight we introduced a cross-curricular project, exploring the art of famous painters in their own language whilst in their second language pupils indulged in the ever-popular MFL MasterChef competition.

Whilst our pupils turn their eyes most readily to foreign shores, they have really enjoyed sharing their passion for languages with our local primary schools just down the road. February saw our annual Primary School Outreach Day, as ever led and run by our excellent Year Nine Language Ambassadors. We have similarly enjoyed welcoming to the Department our exceptional PGCE student, Océane Rousseau, who rapidly won over all her pupils with her characteristic French élan. In addition, Harrison Keasey, brother to former pupil Loïc Keasey, has been a valuable and big-hearted addition, completing his work experience before going on to complete the PGCE next year.

A year of rebirth and new discoveries, of cultural exchange at home and abroad, we nevertheless look forward to next year, when our Lower School trip programme begins in earnest!

SCIENCE FACULTY

Our planet is in a state of flux. 2023 saw record-breaking heat, a trend that sadly shows no signs of slowing in 2024. Thankfully, carbon-capture technology is on the rise. Leading the way is Mammoth, a facility in Iceland designed to suck 36 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air and trap it underground. This is a step forward, but given humanity emitted 37 billion tonnes from burning fossil fuels, more than carbon capture will be needed. Amidst this and other challenges the World faces, Science continues to push boundaries.

CHEMISTRY

The hunt for extraterrestrial life leapt forward with the James Webb telescope’s discovery of a potential atmosphere around an exoplanet. Closer to home, research into the extinction of Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest primate ever, served as a stark reminder of the need to adapt quickly to your surroundings. As it was in the past, it continues to be in the present and will be in the future.

In the realm of academic competitions, our pupils shone brightly. In the Chemistry national Olympiad, we celebrated our most significant medal haul in recent times. Questions ranged from questions on a strain of bacteria that can produce molecules with the energy density of rocket fuels to sulphur-containing molecules in the atmosphere. Evlyn Smith’s outstanding performance, securing the Gold Award, was particularly noteworthy. The commendable performances of our Silver and Bronze Award recipients also highlighted the depth of talent within the cohort. Evlyn’s achievements, including her exceptional performance in the Cambridge Chemistry competition last year, underscore her potential for future success in reading Chemistry at University.

After securing a respectable 4th place out of approximately 25 teams in Round One of the Royal Society of Chemistry ‘Top of the Bench’ competition, our team of Middle School pupils (Harry Moore, Sihan Fu, Denis Goodwillie-Green, and Arthur Hasling) competed at the Regional Finals hosted by the University of Birmingham. The competition included an hour-long written team quiz followed by an hour-long practical challenge involving an investigation of how the mass of sodium bicarbonate affected the energy change of a neutralisation reaction. The team performed really well, but sadly it was not to be their day.

Throughout the year, our Outreach efforts remained robust. Hosting the CSI Worcester morning session, we provided a platform for over 150 Year Six pupils from local primary and prep schools and delved into the world of forensic science. Witnessing their enthusiasm and engagement was truly gratifying. Moreover, our engagement with Year Six scholarship candidates, offering them hands-on experiences in our laboratories, reinforced our commitment to nurturing scientific curiosity and passion from an early age.

As the academic year drew to a close, we bade farewell to our Upper Sixth scientists embarking on the next chapter of their academic and professional journeys. We expressed our sincere appreciation for their contributions to the Faculty and extended our best wishes for their future endeavours. Their time at RGS has equipped them with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. We look forward to hearing about their continued accomplishments and successes in the years to come.

BIOLOGY

The Biology Department has enjoyed another exciting year, with pupils continuing to excel and demonstrate a genuine desire to understand better the world around us. The Department welcomed a new Head of Biology, Mrs Lloyd, in September who has been impressed by the enthusiasm pupils have displayed.

The Department has continued to offer several supracurricular opportunities. Sixth Form students have been successful in completing the Intermediate Biology Olympiad; achieving medals.

Year Ten pupils were also successful in the Biology Challenge, achieving medals. Success in these competitions is indicative of the breadth of content that is covered at RGS Worcester. These enrichment activities are wonderful opportunities to celebrate the pupils’ passion for the subject beyond the constraints of public examinations.

A dedicated group of Sixth Form students took part in a rat dissection, led by Mrs King. The dissection took place over several sessions and allowed students to improve their practical skills and to gain first-hand experience in studying anatomy.

The annual Field Trip to Nettlecombe Field Studies Centre was organised by Ms Briggs. This was a fantastic opportunity for the Lower Sixth students to experience Ecology in practise and enhance their subject knowledge. Pupils developed their understanding of sampling techniques, estimating population size and identification of species, making the importance of conservation work even more relevant.

The Billingham Society pupils were challenged with extracting their own DNA from cheek cells. All pupils were able to see their own DNA! This reminded us of the importance of the discovery of DNA and how exciting it must have been for Friedrich Miescher to extract DNA for the first time in 1869.

The Department was excited to launch two new competitions in 2023-24 that allow pupils to consider the subject of Biology with an artistic approach. The theme for the Royal Society of Biology Photography competition was ‘Transforming Life’ and asked pupils to capture images to explore the profound changes occurring across our planet. BioArtAttack 2D and Nancy Rothwell Awards were also launched this year. Both are international competitions which allow pupils to combine Art and Science.

PHYSICS

This past year has been marked by excellent academic successes in various Physics Olympiad challenges, exciting STEM opportunities through the Faraday Challenge, and memorable trips to CERN and the University of Birmingham.

The Sixth Form visit to the home of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the world’s leading research centre for particle Physics, was a highlight for all. Inside CERN, students witnessed the technology behind the 27 km-long particle accelerator, learnt about the physics of highspeed particle collisions, and participated in a workshop building cloud chamber detectors to observe sub-atomic particle tracks. Guided by a CERN physicist, they deduced the identities of the particles responsible for the tracks, gaining a deeper

understanding of particle Physics studied at A Level. The trip also offered students the chance to explore Geneva. The United Nations Headquarters, Lake Geneva, and the Red Cross Museum, which feature pages from the original Geneva Convention and compelling stories from various conflicts were memorable excursions.

A trip to the University of Birmingham’s Physics Department for Year Ten pupils, involved them delving into the intriguing realm of Quantum Mechanics and sensing gravity using cold atoms. The visit included pupil activities including building light detectors, touring advanced laboratories, and gaining insights into cuttingedge University research.

In the Senior Olympiad competition, our Lower Sixth students performed admirably, securing a total of 23 awards. Keira Higgins achieved a Gold Award, and a further four Silver Awards were awarded to Alex Goodman, Ivan Innocent, Samuel Taylor and Henry Welsby. Questions ranged from the ancient past and calculating the mass of an Egyptian pyramid. A question using Einstein’s Special Relativity equation was especially challenging. Year Eleven

pupils also shone brightly in the Intermediate competition, amassing 57 awards in total, with Harry Moore and Jacob Hartley distinguishing themselves by achieving Gold Medals.

Further enriching activities were provided by Dr Neil Rowlinson, Head of Physics, who delivered two talks to the Billingham Society: ‘The dark secrets of black holes’ and ‘Explosions’ resulted in an abundance of questions and promoted further interest and discussions in lessons.

Year Eight pupils from RGS Worcester and RGS Dodderhill participated in the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s IET Faraday Challenge Day (FCD). This annual competition introduces pupils to engineering, inspiring them to consider engineering as a career, and helping develop their practical and employability skills, including teamwork, problem-solving and creative thinking. Pupils worked together to design and build a prototype and present their findings. This year, RGS again hosted the competition as an Outreach event for primary schools (sponsored by National Highways and the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund), with a second day for an internal challenge for our pupils.

A team of Year Nine pupils from RGS enjoyed a thoroughly involving, entertaining and eye-opening day at QinetiQ’s Hands-On Science Day. This event allowed pupils to put their teamwork, practical and academic skills to the test whilst competing to solve a variety of STEM-based conundrums. These challenges were based on the problem-solving and logic skills vital to QinetiQ’s activities in the Security and Defence industries. After an exciting competition with five other schools from the region, our RGS team was delighted to achieve first place. It was a joy to see their great problem-solving, speed, creativity and teamwork being rewarded.

This year saw the launch of the ‘STEAM TEAM’. Sixth Form students who excel in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics and who are interested in developments in these fields have joined the team. This team has led several STEAM Cafés, inviting fellow Sixth Form students and Year Eleven pupils to discuss the developments in AI and the Science trip to CERN. Future STEAM Café discussions on Genetics and the value of connecting Art and Design to the traditional STEM fields are currently being planned. Members of the ‘STEAM Team’ have also taken a key role in supporting the Faraday Challenge Days and have volunteered to lead a Faraday Challenge Day early next year.

COMPUTING AND IT

This year, Lower School pupils have enjoyed exploring a range of programming languages, developing their skills by creating their own programmes using block code and industry-standard high-level text-based coding. Year Seven pupils have applied this to programming hardware, specifically the BBC micro:bit computer, as well as tackling the issue of fake news that can be spread online. In Year Eight, pupils have studied the key laws around computer misuse and data protection, as well as exploring artificial intelligence with a dedicated, bespoke project launched in 2024. Before finishing Lower School, pupils continue to be given the opportunity to attain a nationally-recognised qualification through participation in the iDEA (Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award) programme at RGS Worcester.

In the Middle School, the number of pupils choosing to pursue Computer Science studies has continued to rise. In Year Nine, pupils have honed their skills in algorithm creation and applied computational thinking to craft complex programmes. They have also delved into the intricacies of computer networks and cyber security, enhancing their technical comprehension. Their studies culminated with an inspiring trip to Bletchley Park to understand the origins of the subject through the work of the trailblazing codebreakers who were active at the site during the Second World War. Pupils in Year Ten have developed their programming prowess and associated theoretical understanding further. They have embarked on their GCSE Computer Science studies by expanding their knowledge of the binary number system and identifying the key factors that affect computer hardware performance. The Year Ten trip to Legoland in Windsor featured a robotics workshop where pupils worked together to build and programme their wonderful creations. Our Computer Scientists in Year Eleven have consolidated their learning of key topics alongside an examination of the legal, ethical, and environmental issues around the use of technology in society.

The number of students opting for A Level Computer Science has grown too, with our largest Lower Sixth class to date; half of the group were new to RGS this year and impressively 25% of the cohort were female. Pupils have delved into the realm of programme design implementation. In addition, they successfully completed CISCO Networking courses, which have equipped them with industry-recognised qualifications in networking and cybersecurity. Upper Sixth Computer Science students showcased their skillset through the successful completion of practical programming assignments that mirror real-world scenarios. Their impressive NEA projects have highlighted their skills and aptitude in the field.

The Lower School Code Club has remained active throughout the academic year, with pupils exploring various programming environments and investigating artificial intelligence beyond the classroom, honing their knowledge and practical skills. Pupils have participated in a range of activities to foster interest in computational thinking, through the UK Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge and International Hour of Code Week in December, pupils taking part in stimulating programming activities and culminating in the highly competitive Cipher Challenge House event for Lower School pupils. The school has also been recognised as an official supporter of the annual international Safer Internet Day event, as is the case each February. Through dedicated lessons and assembly sessions, the department proactively shared the theme of the need for all of us to take responsibility in being safe and promoting positivity online.

HUMANITIES FACULTY

CLASSICS

tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis. ‘Times are changing, and we are changing with them’. The Classics Department at RGS Worcester continues to evolve with the times, adapt to changing circumstances, and find new ways to teach about the Classical World which are relevant to our fast-paced, modern society. Latin continues to flourish; pupils enjoy learning about ‘Caecilius’ and his family through tried and tested methods like the Cambridge Latin Course in book form, but they are increasingly adept at utilising modern technology to develop their vocabulary, explore the language, and comment on their prescribed texts through digital media. Topics studied in Classical Civilisation, meanwhile, cover topics like imperialism, political ethics, and the danger of the development of autocracy, which students are able to link meaningfully to the events in the world today. Mr Tanner’s Latin shed continues to spread the good word online, while the #RGSClassics handle remains one of the more popular school Classics Department ‘X’ accounts in the country.

On the other hand, we bid a very fond farewell to Mr Tanner, who has served RGS and the Classics Department for over a decade. Mr Tanner has taught thousands of RGS Classicists and Latinists, leaving an indelible stamp on each one through his good humour, kind, supportive teaching style, and his dedication to his subjects. Mr Tanner has taught both subjects at every level in the School, across a dizzying range of topics, and as Head of Department for four years he was responsible for overseeing a growth of interest in Classical subjects.

In July, 48 excited pupils and 5 equally excited teachers departed for Athens, and spent that evening watching the sunset at Cape Sounion, where we visited the Temple of Poseidon. Students got the chance to explore Athens, learning about the cradle of democracy, talking selfies by the Parthenon, and recreating Greek comedies in the Theatre of Dionysus. A particular highlight was our visit to the Acropolis Museum, the top floor of which is set up in parallel to the Acropolis above it, so that visitors can walk around the frieze whilst looking at the real thing. After Athens, a flurry of destinations in the Peloponnese and elsewhere followed: pupils enjoyed a foot race in the running track used during the ancient Olympics, they told each other their fortunes at Delphi, and they took in a spot of Greek dancing at Tolon. The trip was a fantastic way to end the year, and we were very excited to have managed to get abroad again!

GEOGRAPHY

The Geography Department has concluded a highly successful academic year marked by a plethora of engaging activities and enriching field trips, providing pupils with invaluable experiences beyond the confines of the classroom.

During the Michaelmas Term, Year Eight pupils embarked on a fascinating journey to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. There, they delved into the intricate ecosystems of tropical rainforests, all the while honing their map skills through orienteering exercises across the site. Meanwhile, just before the October half term, Year Eleven pupils ventured to Diglis, immersing themselves in the local area to examine the impacts of regeneration first-hand. This excursion, coupled with their previous visit to Carding Mill Valley, equipped them with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their fieldwork application paper.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the Michaelmas term was our exhilarating trip to Iceland. Despite initial challenges such as flight delays and adverse weather conditions, the journey transformed into an unforgettable adventure. From the mesmerising Secret Lagoon to the awe-inspiring Gulfoss waterfall, students were captivated by Iceland’s natural wonders. A thrilling glacier hike on Solheimajokull, coupled with explorations of geothermal energy and Reykjavík’s landmarks, deepened their understanding of Geography in a real-world context. Witnessing the northern lights and engaging in whale watching added a touch of magic to an already extraordinary experience.

During the Lent Term, Lower Sixth Geographers completed a five-day residential trip to the Field Studies Centre in Slapton, Devon. Here, they conducted research for their Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) while immersing themselves in the diverse landscapes and coastal processes of the region. From exploring Totnes for Changing Places, researching infiltration rates for Water and Carbon and investigating coastal management along Start Bay at Slapton Sands, students gained invaluable fieldwork skills and collected vital data essential for their academic pursuits.

Furthermore, the Humanities Faculty introduced an engaging essay competition, showcasing the impressive talents of students such as Matthew Ferris and Jack Staiano, who tackled thought-provoking topics such as migration and climate change with depth and insight.

As we look forward to the next academic year, anticipation is high with the addition of new staff members who will undoubtedly bring fresh perspectives and ideas to our curriculum. Plans are already underway for an exciting field trip to the Azores in October 2025, promising yet another opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the wonders of Geography and expand their horizons.

HISTORY AND POLITICS

With 95% of students gaining A*-B in Politics, 48% of A Level historians gaining A* or A and 69% of our GCSE cohort gaining Grades 9-7, the Department was in a positive frame of mind at the start of the new academic year. Although we were missing Dr Davison while she was on maternity leave, we were lucky enough to have Mr Perry joining the Department for the year. It has continued to be an exciting time – with Politics taking front and centre as elections appeared on the horizon in July in the UK and in November in the USA. The year has been punctuated by some amazing trips as set out below, and our own mock election in June showed politics and politicians campaigning on issues not personal attacks – and was a pleasure to oversee. Sadly, we are saying goodbye to Mr Ager and Mr Perry, and we thank them both for all their inspirational teaching and hard work. We are, though, delighted to welcome Mr Pardoe-Davies into the Department.

Tudor Conference

Jessica Lowe

In November, the RGS A Level History students had the pleasure of attending Hodder Education’s first ‘Tudor Conference’ led by top AQA examiners, Melanie Vance and Keith Milne. After an early morning meet, we travelled down to London for a session teaching students the ideal exam technique for the ever challenging Interpretation question, where the importance of identifying the main thrust of an extract and forming your own opinion as a historian was greatly emphasised. During the post-lunch quiz on Henry VII, RGS dominated the leaderboard with Lower Sixth students in both first and second place. The conference ended with a helpful session on how to write cohesive, balanced top level essay answers. Overall, it was an extremely helpful and enjoyable experience.

Lower Sixth

Year Ten History Trenches Trip

In June, Year Ten History pupils went on a trip to learn more about the First World War, a topic we have been studying as part of our Medicine paper. We went to two different cemeteries in Staffordshire, one for German soldiers and one for mainly New Zealanders. We learnt about the fact that no matter how someone died in the war, where they died or what nationality they were, they were all treated the same in death. We ended the visit by laying a poppy wreath to remember the soldiers who gave their lives so that we could have all the opportunities that we have today. We then visited a replica of First World War trenches at the Royal Staffordshire Museum. This aided us in learning about the illnesses and wounds suffered by the soldiers, such as trench foot and trench fever. We were given a demonstration of the famous Thomas Splint as well as shown the evacuation route for the wounded. Overall, we had an amazing trip and really loved being able to learn and see more of our First World War topic. It really helped us to learn about and respect the sacrifices and dangers that the soldiers went through.

Heidi Porter Year Ten

Mock Election

In an election, RGS Worcester really is Green!

On 27 and 28 June 2024, RGS Worcester went to the polls in its own mock election with candidates from the Conservative, Labour, Green, Reform UK and Liberal Democrat parties.

After assembly hustings led by the Sixth Form party leaders, all of the pupils had the opportunity to vote with turnout a magnificent 90%. Each Year group was treated as a separate ‘constituency’ with its own candidates, giving the parties five seats in total to play for. In the end, Reform UK won two seats, the Liberal Democrat Party were beaten into second place in four of the constituencies and the Conservatives took second in one. However, it was the Greens who were triumphant with three seats in total, thus winning the election as a whole.

As Head of History and Politics, I was immensely proud of all of our students with the whole school engaged with the election. The Lower Sixth students in particular were amazing, really taking on board the need to run a positive campaign and inspiring the candidates in the younger years to campaign. Well done!

Politics Trip

Politics Lower Sixth students visited Washington, DC and New York City for an unforgettable trip filled with iconic landmarks.

In New York they explored Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, and the UN Headquarters. Highlights included a YankeesRed Sox game, visiting the 9/11 Memorial, and panoramic city views from the Top of the Rock and Staten Island Ferry ride.

They travelled to Philadelphia and toured Independence Hall where they were given a citation signed by the City of Philadelphia acknowledging the School’s visit.

In Washington, D.C. they toured the Washington Monument, visited the Jefferson Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. A guided tour of the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress was a fitting conclusion to the trip, highlighting the rich legislative history of the United States.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

The Department started the academic year with another outstanding set of external examination results. Once again, all three courses had done exceptionally well against the national picture. With Business achieving 50% A/A* and Economics at 55% A/A*. The Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Business continued its remarkable success with 85% of students achieving either Distinction or Distinction*. The CTEC has continued to grow in popularity and strength for our students studying in the Sixth Form at RGS.

The Michaelmas term began with a new Business trip for Lower Sixth CTEC students going to visit the Vale Golf club outside of Evesham. This is the case study at the core of one of their units of study. It was great to be shown around by former students, as well as for the current students to have first-hand experience of the business context they would be going on to apply to their studies over the coming months. Michaelmas also saw a new member of the Department; Mrs Moseley, students have been grateful for her passion and energy in the classroom, building on from Mrs Burt who has been away on maternity leave.

The Upper Sixth Economics cohort enjoyed the opportunity in November to have an away day to Flagge Meadow where they joined online the Economics in Action conference. This annual feature in the Department calendar continues to be informative and inspiring. joined online the Economics in Action to the A Level Economics Course. Students were able to hear about topics such as; personal reflections from the trading floors of the 2008 financial crisis, navigating personal finances, the rise of the rentier power, universal healthcare without the NHS and in search of Plan B: degrowth and beyond. At the end of the term, Upper Sixth students had the opportunity to travel to Queen Elizabeth Hospital School in Bristol to compete in the Lancia Consult Future Consultants Challenge. The students were given an insight into working as a management consultant. They were provided with a client brief and tasked with preparing and delivering a fiveminute presentation that explains how they would approach this particular project to experts from this field.

At the beginning of the Trinity Term, the Department were able to host an enterprise day with some of the Year Ten pupils in order to give them an insight into the world of Business and to explore what is a new subject for them.

PSYCHOLOGY

The Psychology A Level Curriculum continues to grow in popularity, with students enjoying learning about schizophrenia, relationships, and aggression. This year, we achieved outstanding results, with over 95% of students attaining A*- C grades and 71% achieving A*-B grades, placing us 12% above the national average in Psychology.

This year also marked our first entry into the challenging ‘BrainBee’ competition, where students tested their knowledge of Neuroscience and deepened their understanding of Biopsychology. We were delighted that one of our students made it through to the National round of the ‘Brain Bee’ competition!

In addition, Lower Sixth students enjoyed a trip to London to visit the home of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, and his daughter Anna Freud, a pioneering child psychoanalyst. Students explored their house and viewed Freud’s famous psychoanalytical couch.They also received a lecture on a Freudian approach to treating Schizophrenia, challenging some of our preconceived ideas about this disorder.

PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION

After celebrating another set of impressive GCSE and A Level results, the Philosophy and Religion Department got back to work. A new year, new pupils and a new member of staff; our new colleague Mr Farmiloe joined us with a wealth of knowledge and ideas to help drive forward academic challenges through teaching the very best of what Philosophy and Religion has to offer.

This year we continued to offer the variety of clubs and trips we began last year including the now annual Philosophy and Religion Department trip to Worcester Cathedral for all Year Seven pupils to help enhance their understanding of Christian beliefs and faith as well as appreciate the incredible and important Cathedral on our doorstep. This included a guided tour, holy communion workshop, a history hunt about King John and a workshop on monastic life at the time of King John. A Level students also had the opportunity to visit both the Cathedral and Freedom Church (a local evangelical church), for question-and-answer sessions with leaders and lay people on their theology, beliefs and practice.

Model United Nations (MUN) has continued to gain momentum and we travelled to Cheltenham Ladies’ College for the first ever MUN debate between the two schools. MUN is the largest political debating and role-playing organisation in the world, enabling our students to practise their leadership, diplomacy and debating skills, taking on issues such as land reclamation and protection of the aquatic environment.

The first ever RGS Humanities Essay Prize also invited entries on a range of topics, with the Philosophy finalist answering whether we can be friends with a robot. This enabled our Sixth Form philosophers to explore the issues of personhood, the meaning of life and the burgeoning applications of Artificial Intelligence.

Furthermore, students were invited to attend a captivating lecture on Personality Disorders by Professor Jackson, providing insight into further study opportunities at the university level. This exposure to advanced topics sparked enthusiasm for future academic pursuits.

The Year Eleven Psychology Club remained popular, with pupils engaging in hands-on activities such as creating visual illusions and conducting experiments into false memories. Finally, we commend all Upper Sixth students for their incredible hard work this year.

ART CREATIVE ARTS FACULTY

For a member of the public to state how proud they were to be a resident of Worcester having viewed our Sixth Form Art Exhibition in Worcester Cathedral in February, was praise indeed. The ideas and inspiration for the wonderful artwork on display stemmed from our annual site visit to the city at the start of the Michaelmas Term. The culmination was our largest exhibition to date and with the kind permission of the Dean and Chapter, we were able to show our talented pupils’ work in the Chapter House. Work on display varied in scale and media and, as always, illustrated the individuality of our artists as well as their bravery in showing their work publicly.

Also looking for inspiration in a beautiful city were Year Eleven artists on their visit to Oxford in preparation for their GCSE examination. The Ashmolean Museum never fails to impress with artefacts as diverse as Samurai armour to contemporary painting, and the Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum provided photographic and sketching opportunities of cultural and natural artefacts.

January marked our Art Week. As well as welcoming sixty pupils from visiting primary schools for a mixed-media activity, the Department also ran a ceramic workshop for our Year Ten pupils. Inspired by the work of The Arts and Crafts Movement, the pupils created beautiful tiles based on birds and fish. We also organised a ‘first’ for the Department in running a print-making workshop for parents. We encouraged a ‘have a go’ attitude and parents left the studio having rediscovered their creative side. A whole school art installation for Central Hall was also created by pupils and staff. It was constructed of over 1,500 origami butterflies flying over the atrium.

In the Lent Term, pupils in Year Ten created a collaborative artwork to mark Holocaust Memorial Day to be exhibited in the Guildhall. This year’s theme was ‘The Fragility of Freedom’ and pupils used the delicacy of tissue paper to create a three-dimensional work based on shoes to signify the indiscriminate nature of genocide.

We were selected to take part in St Richard’s Hospice’s fund-raising campaign and the Lower School pupils have been busy designing a penguin chick for ‘The Waddle of Worcester’ which was revealed in July. Our younger artists took inspiration from mindful colouring pages and designed ‘Vesta’ named after the famous Worcester actress. They have included symbols of the city hidden in the design and we loved seeing it on display in the summer.

At the end of the Trinity Term, we celebrated our artists and their work at the Creative Arts Evening, sharing their talent at the end of another busy, and fulfilling year for the RGS Worcester Art Department.

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

Each year it seems that the Department cannot be busier and fuller than the last; this year being no exception. The projects undertaken also seem to grow in complexity as the pupils push and test design boundaries to the limit.

The Upper Sixth students have very much led by example throughout the year designing and making some exceptional pieces. These have included an extending dining table, folding camping unit as well as a device used to move upwards of 50 litres of water around an equestrian yard. The students have been outstanding with some of the portfolios produced nearing degree standard. Most of the group are going on to further study in Engineering or Design and we wish them well in their future endeavours.

Year Eleven engineers were tasked with the brief of aiding an ageing population in everyday situations. This led to some excellent conceptual thinking with working prototypes produced solving everything from grabbing devices to dispensing the right pills at the right time. Year Eleven Resistant Materials pupils designed and made a plethora of everyday items found around the home and garden. Both groups have demonstrated real creativity, enthusiasm and dedication in all that they have undertaken.

Lower and Middle School pupils have been using more and more CAD and CAM, especially 3D printing with two new printers regularly running throughout the day. Mr Stuart has made real in-roads with developing our 3D printing capabilities, opening up lots of avenues for pupils to prototype and manufacture component parts.

We have had some excellent trips and speakers to broaden the horizon of our pupils over the course of the year. These have included a trip to F1 Williams, Oxford, where pupils were able to see arguably the largest private collection of F1 cars in the world. They were able to race on simulators as well as code autonomous vehicles. We have also been fortunate enough with prominent engineers from the Thrust SSC Land speed record attempt and Mercedes Petronas engine development coming to speak.

Sixth Form student Keira Higgins was successful in gaining a prestigious Arkwright Scholarship: a highly competitive national programme with only the top engineers gaining one.

Greenpower has continued to enthuse the next generation of budding engineers. The culmination of the season saw the team finish 20th out of almost 100 cars at the international final. A new car is being produced by pupils from Years Seven to Lower Sixth with the hope of testing it this season. This car is the culmination of hundreds of hours of work by staff and students. We await its inaugural drive with excited anticipation!

TEXTILES

Once again, we hosted the regional final of the Young Fashion Designer UK Competition. In June, we welcomed talented pupils from across the region to take part in an experience day that included a workshop and portfolio presentation from previous winners who have gone on to develop successful careers in the fashion industry. Sixth Form student Frankie Reed won the Design Category.

The Junior version of the competition, for Years Seven and Eight, also saw impressive performances from RGS pupils. Year Seven pupil Ruby Li received a ‘Highly Commended’ certificate and various design items, while Dylan Hatchett, also in Year Seven, won the Junior competition.

In March, Frankie Reed in the Lower Sixth, was selected as a Finalist in the Fashion Icon National Competition where the theme ‘For the Love of Vivienne’ provided inspiration for the students to research, develop and present a final design idea inspired by the life works of Dame Vivienne Westwood. We were delighted that Frankie was awarded First Place overall, receiving valuable comments from the judges who acknowledged her natural flair for design.

Pupils in Year Ten have enjoyed a visit to The Hive where they took photographs and produced a range of sketches of the modern architecture. Their research provided further inspiration for their own fashion designs and practical pieces, produced as part of the GCSE coursework.

Lower Sixth students enjoyed a trip to London to gather research and inspiration for their forthcoming Personal Investigations. The ‘Unravel’ exhibition at The Barbican and the behind-the-scenes tour at The Royal Opera House were particular highlights. The ‘Fashion City’ historical fashion collection at The Docklands Museum has developed an understanding of garment silhouette, fabrics and the history of fashion design.

All Textiles pupils have enjoyed the opportunity to showcase their work on the catwalk as part of the Creative Arts Evening. With a wide variety of pieces from Year Nine, GCSE and A Level students providing a colourful display as well as showing a broad range of complex skills in pattern cutting, fabric manipulation, pattern and print.

MUSIC

In Music this year the Year Seven and Eight Class Bands have enjoyed playing a new selection of pieces including ‘Love Me Do’, Pachelbel’s Canon and a version of the 12-Bar Blues. Coursework from the GCSE and A Level musicians has been rich and diverse, with drum, electric guitar and bass guitar solo performances submitted alongside flute, vocal and piano pieces. Compositions have ranged from an opening number to a musical and a heart-breaking ballad to GCSE pieces journeying around a haunted house and written to accompany a spy film.

Our usual series of Teatime Concerts have accompanied academic music lessons, offering pupils in each Year group the chance to perform in an informal setting in Perrins Hall. This year has seen excellent performances from all year groups, with more pupil led and pupil accompanied pieces than in previous years. The Sixth Form Showcase in October provided a slightly more formal and extended concert platform for our oldest soloists who gave an entertaining evening of music.

Our Academic Music has once again been enriched this year by concert trips: a minibus full of GCSE Music pupils enjoyed seeing our own Mrs Spencer sing in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, performing alongside the CBSO itself, in a stunning performance of Verdi’s Requiem in September. Then, later in the year, all of Year Seven enjoyed a concert by the CBSO in Symphony Hall. A final highlight this year was ‘RGS Musical Memories’ in October when alumni Mr David Packman and Mr David Parkes kindly shared their experiences of Music at RGS when they were students here in the 1950s.

CO-CURRICULAR MUSIC

Two other highlights of the year came in April with two major concerts in Worcester Cathedral in the same week.

‘Sing Sing Sing’ was this year’s RGS Schools’ Concert, seeing all four RGS Schools, plus a visiting choir from Vermont, celebrate singing together in an uplifting and unforgettable occasion. The evening culminated in a fifteenminute ABBA medley with its encore seeing the whole Cathedral audience standing and singing along to ‘Dancing Queen’. Ivan Innocent’s orchestral arrangement of the jazz standard, which gave the concert its title, raised the roof, as perhaps did Mr Soman’s green jacket. Later in the same week, forty senior singers performed Will Todd’s ‘Mass in Blue’ in the Cathedral as part of an international youth choir, conducted by BBC Symphony Chorus Conductor Neil Ferris. This concert was the culmination of eighteen months of work, including several Saturday rehearsals, and the product was a high-quality, professional concert for all to enjoy.

Perrins Hall has, as ever, presented several major school concerts this year, including two Autumn Concerts and the Spring Ensembles Concert as well as our normal jazz offerings of ‘Christmas With The Big Band’ and ‘Cabaret’. In September, Main Hall showcased ‘RGS Live’, our new concert where pupils from brand new Year Sevens to seasoned Sixth Formers performed pop, rock and contemporary music. With sold out tickets and a super array of bar snacks on offer, this new venture showed that RGS pupils can turn their hand ably to pop and rock music as well as jazz and more classical repertoire.

With more ensembles rehearsing each week than ever before and further performances at Creative Arts Evening, the Commemoration Service, the Carol Service and the Worcester Competitive Arts Festival (where RGS pupils this year won several trophies), RGS musicians have enjoyed a sonorous and successful year.

DRAMA

As the curtains draw to a close on another academic year, the Drama Department proudly reflects on a year filled with creativity, innovation, and outstanding performances across all year groups.

Years Seven, Eight, and Nine pupils embarked on an exciting journey through a revamped curriculum, exploring a diverse range of theatrical forms. From delving into the depths of Shakespearean classics to experimenting with the intricacies of musical theatre, these budding performers showcased their talent and versatility through scripted pieces, devised works, and everything in between.

Meanwhile, Year Ten pupils demonstrated their growing prowess as they successfully completed their devised unit, exhibiting a remarkable level of creativity and originality in their performances.

Year Eleven pupils, with nerves of steel, wowed a visiting examiner with their flawless renditions of scripted pieces, earning accolades for their exceptional performances.

The Upper Sixth cohort concluded their school Drama journey with a resounding success, staging an unforgettable performance of ‘Equus’, inspired by the theatre techniques of Grotowski. Their dedication and commitment were evident in every nuanced gesture and captivating moment on stage, leaving the audience in awe.

Not to be outdone, the Lower Sixth students demonstrated their talent through a devised piece inspired by an extract from ‘Find Me’, also drawing inspiration from Grotowski’s ground-breaking methods. This marked a significant transition as the school embraces the new Edexcel Drama and Theatre A Level curriculum, setting the stage for even greater artistic exploration and growth in the years to come.

From the enthusiasm of our youngest performers to the maturity and artistry of our seniors, this year has been a testament to the creativity, passion, and dedication of our students. As we look ahead to the future, we are excited to continue nurturing the next generation of theatre-makers and storytellers, encouraging a culture where imagination knows no bounds and every performance is an opportunity to shine.

CO-CURRICULAR DRAMA

This year has been another fantastic year in Cocurricular Drama at RGS, leaving behind a trail of unforgettable performances and cherished memories. From captivating musicals to thoughtprovoking plays, the Drama Department has once again showcased the immense talent and dedication of our pupils.

The year commenced in November with the mesmerising Senior Production of ‘Miss Saigon’. Audiences were transported to the streets of war-torn Vietnam as our talented cast and crew delivered a breathtaking performance that left hearts pounding and eyes moist with emotion. Following hot on its heels was the Junior Scholars’ enchanting rendition of ‘A Christmas Carol’, spreading festive cheer and capturing the essence of Dickens’ timeless tale.

March saw the Years Nine and Ten pupils take to the stage in the thrilling whodunnit, ‘Clue’, featuring two casts to ensure every actor had their moment to shine. This was swiftly followed by the Senior Scholars’ bold interpretation of Aristophanes’ classic comedy, ‘The Frogs’, leaving audiences in stitches with its witty satire and impeccable comic timing.

The Drama staff took centre stage with a riveting two-night run of Jim Cartwright’s poignant masterpiece, ‘Two’, raising funds for two deserving charities and demonstrating their own acting ability.

June saw our younger talents shine in the Years Seven and Eight production of ‘Treasure Island’, transporting audiences to a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas. The year rounded off with a flourish as the Drama Spotlight Club treated audiences to two compelling short plays from the National Theatre collection, proving that great theatre knows no age limits.

Throughout the year, pupils had the opportunity to participate in two Spotlight Clubs and a Tech Club, honing their skills and exploring their passion for the Dramatic Arts. Examination students were also treated to unforgettable experiences, travelling to the Royal Shakespeare Company to witness ‘The Empress’ and to the Cheltenham Everyman to enjoy ‘Sister Act: The Musical.’ The Department also hosted two West End veterans who led a full-day workshop with the cast of ‘Miss Saigon’, providing invaluable insights and inspiration.

It has been a monumental year for Drama at RGS, offering opportunities for all to immerse themselves in the magic of theatre and unleash their creativity on stage. As we bid farewell to another incredible year, we eagerly anticipate the adventures that await in the world of Drama at RGS.

SPORT FACULTY FOOTBALL

This academic year began with great excitement as we introduced two-term performance-level Football for the first time. This new model allows for greater focus and development of team strategies against other wellestablished two-term Football schools. We fielded two Under 18 teams and competed against Malvern, Clifton, Marlborough, and Wrekin Colleges, as well as Shrewsbury School. These matches provided a good benchmark and indication of our standing, setting the stage for the Lent term. Our teams were highly competitive, adopting a counter-attacking style when in possession and a successful high-pressing game.

During the Lent Term, our fixture schedule was one of the most competitive in the Midlands and South West. We faced notable fixtures against Malvern College, Princethorpe College, Wycliffe College, King’s School Worcester, Pate’s Grammar School, and Cheltenham College. Our progress and success continued across all teams and age groups. The 1st XI demonstrated that there are no longer any easy games, losing only four matches in six months despite poor weather and challenging pitches. Other highlights included our very promising Under 12s, who secured an undefeated season, and the Under 15s, who produced several particularly impressive performances.

Our standout pathway footballers, Max Pearce, Oscar Greenwood, Maxwell Moses, Theo Houston, and Sofia Stolt have all continued to excel at their respective clubs. Max was selected to represent the ISFA at the National Under 14 level and Oscar was offered a contract with Birmingham City for the next two seasons. Maxwell was selected to play for the FA England Under 16 Team and Theo for the ISFA Under 16 National Team, whilst Sofia played in goal for Worcester City Women’s Pathway to, and victory in, the County Cup Final.

As our Upper Sixth students move on to new opportunities, we wish them the very best and thank them for their character, humour, and commitment across many sports while at RGS. We hope to see some of them return for the Annual Football Alumni tournament held each year.

Finally, many thanks to all the coaches for their efforts. We look forward to the continued development and improvement of our Football programme at RGS.

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

The Girls’ Hockey season was marked by notable achievements across all age groups, with a total of 150 games played and 295 goals scored.

The Under 18 squad, led by captain Teyah Farmer, started their season impressively with a strong pre-season showing, winning three out of four games at a tournament hosted by Malvern College. They maintained this momentum by going undefeated in their first five fixtures and secured a commanding 5-0 victory in their initial National Cup match against Malvern College. Although they faced a narrow 1-0 defeat against King’s School, Worcester in the second round, they fought back to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Severn Shield contest. The match proved to be a great advert for hard, competitive hockey as both teams went toe-to-toe in a tense affair that swung back and forth throughout. The season concluded on a positive note with some strong performances.

Under the guidance of Mr Evetts, the Under 18B team demonstrated resilience throughout their campaign, securing six wins, five losses, and one draw from their 12 fixtures. They began with an unbeaten streak of five consecutive victories but encountered challenges in the latter half of the season due to weather disruptions. Nevertheless, their dedication and contributions, particularly from those who also trained with the 1st team, were instrumental to their successful season.

The Under 15A team excelled with seven wins, three losses, and one draw in their 11 fixtures, advancing to the fourth round of the National Cup before a competitive match against Reigate Grammar School. Meanwhile, the Under 15B team gained valuable experience from their 6 fixtures, securing three wins and three losses, which were crucial for player development towards future aspirations.

Transitioning to 11-a-side hockey, the Under 14 teams showed promising growth. The Under 14A team competed in 12 games, securing four wins, six losses, and two draws, progressing commendably in the National Cup before a challenging match against Bristol Grammar. The Under 14B team also showed determination, winning one out of their three fixtures.

The Under 13 A-F teams played 38 fixtures, scoring 85 goals. The Under 13A remained undefeated in their first five games, and the Under 13B went unbeaten for nine games. Despite a narrow loss on goal difference at the County tournament, the girls gained valuable lessons and are expected to bounce back next year.

The Under 12 A-F teams played 37 games, allowing all Year Seven girls to participate in competitive fixtures. They enjoyed their Hockey with competitive matches against Princethorpe, Hereford, and Solihull, achieving some good wins. We look forward to their progress next season.

Beyond school fixtures, numerous girls distinguished themselves in the Talent Academy pathway, high-level club Hockey, and county games, underscoring their commitment and talent. Special mention goes to Eden Williamson, Isla Goold, and Maddie Lavoipierre for their notable contributions to the Talent Academy.

BOYS’ HOCKEY

On the Boys’ side, our Hockey programme continues to expand, particularly in the Lower School. The season began with an Under 13 tournament at Malvern College, where victories were achieved before a golden goal loss in the semi-final. At the Midlands competition at Rugby School after Half term, the boys performed well but again lost in the semi-finals. The Under 12 Boys also had a positive start at the Midlands finals, winning 3 out of 6 games. The season concluded with a memorable 3-2 victory for the Under 15 team against the formidable Shrewsbury School. This fixture provided valuable experience and a collective effort from Years Eight, Nine, and Ten boys, demonstrating the promising potential for RGS Boys’ Hockey.

RUGBY

Reflecting on this season as Head of Rugby, I am immensely proud of the outstanding achievements and progress witnessed across the School’s Rugby programme. This season has been the most successful to date, boasting an impressive 64% win rate across all age groups. Such success is due to the dedication and commitment shown by our players, staff, and coaches, who have achieved excellent results and elevated the enjoyment levels for all involved.

We are fortunate to have a fantastic Rugby specialist coaching team comprising Aleki Lutui, Matt Kvesic, Matt Jones, and Sam Thomas, whose expertise and guidance have been instrumental throughout the season.

In the Under 12 and Under 13s, the exceptional depth of talent is evident, with many pupils representing the School and consistently gracing the field each week. The Under 12B, Under 13A and Under 13B all enjoyed unbeaten seasons. The Under 13s have grown from strength to strength, exemplified by confident victories over Dean Close, King’s School Worcester, Bromsgrove School and achieving the double over Monmouth School.

The Under 14s and Under 15s enjoyed particularly satisfying campaigns, with the Under 14s progressing to Round 4 of the National Cup after an impressive victory over Reading Bluecoat School. Meanwhile, the Under 15s showed tremendous growth, highlighted by their turnaround from a 51-0 loss to Dean Close last season to a thrilling 27-26 victory this year. The amalgamation of these Year groups, coupled with a strong cohort in Lower School Rugby, promises an exciting future for Senior Rugby at RGS Worcester.

At Senior level, the Rugby programme thrived with substantial participation from the Upper Sixth, enabling us to field strong and experienced 2nd XV and 3rd XV teams. Notable victories against KES Birmingham, KES Stratford, and Collegiate School underscored the robust ethos and culture prevalent in our Senior teams. The season started strongly with a 17-10 victory over Malvern College, though marked by some inconsistencies, the dedication and sacrifices of our players were exemplary.

In the Rugby Sevens season, our Under 14s secured the Shield Trophy at the King’s School Worcester 7s, followed by the Under 16s lifting the Plate Trophy at Warwick School 7s, and the Under 13s clinching 1st place at the Solihull 7s Festival—a testament to our strength across different age groups in the shorter format of the game.

The highlight of the Lent Term was the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s Tournament, where we fielded teams across various age groups. The Under 18s and Under 14s showed strong performances, while the Under 18 Girls 1st VII displayed remarkable consistency with two good wins, including against the previous year’s Runners-Up, highlighting the significant progress in Girls’ Rugby since its inception. The Under 13s capped off the week winning all five of their matches in their waterfall group.

Our achievements also extended beyond the pitch, with notable international and regional selections. Daniel Halkon and Hainelea Lutui represented Scotland Men Under 18s and England Women Under 18s respectively in their Six Nations Festivals. Closer to home, talents like Liam Chadwick, Noah Whitbread, and others from the West Midlands Academy demonstrate the depth and talent within our ranks.

Lastly, the unwavering support from peers, staff, and parents in the stands has epitomised the strong sporting community fostered by RGS Worcester. I am deeply grateful for everyone’s contribution to another superb season of Rugby.

NETBALL

The Lent Term was a standout season for our Netball teams at RGS Worcester, marked by remarkable achievements and memorable moments across all age groups. We proudly fielded 23 teams from A to E and participated in a total of 172 fixtures.

A highlight of the term was hosting a Severn Stars Masterclass, attended by over 70 pupils who benefited from expert coaching by Netball specialists Betsy Creak, Jessica Shaw, and Rebekah Airey. This session provided invaluable insights and skill enhancements for our players, enriching their understanding and proficiency in the game. Additionally, we organised a Year Six Primary Schools Netball tournament, welcoming nine local schools for an afternoon of competitive Netball, fostering community engagement and sporting spirit.

Our Under 12 teams showed real promise and determination throughout the term. The Under 12As secured a commendable 2nd place in their district competition, demonstrating their budding talent and teamwork on the court.

The Under 13 teams had an outstanding season with the Under 13Cs impressive win against a skilful Bromsgrove team. The Under 13As finished 2nd in their district competition only losing one game and achieved an impressive 3rd place in their county tournament, having drawn against Bromsgrove and winning against King’s School.

The Under 14 team showed tremendous competitive spirit throughout the term, finishing as runners-up in the District tournament and securing their place in the county competition. Their determination and passion on the court, embodying values of resilience, graciousness, and teamwork, deserve particular recognition. We eagerly anticipate their continued development in the coming years.

Our Under 15 Netball team celebrated a memorable victory over King’s School Worcester in the first round of the School Sports Magazine competition. This milestone reflected the growth of our Under 15 netballers and also marked a significant chapter in their journey. Their consistent success continued with notable wins against Bromsgrove School, Malvern College, Cheltenham College, and other schools across all four teams, highlighting their strong season.

The Under 16 team demonstrated their talent by reaching the semi-final of the Plate ‘Sisters In Sport’ competition, showcasing their hard work and dedication. Despite narrowly missing out on the final, their performance was a testament to their commitment and resilience both on and off the court.

Our Senior 1st team achieved significant milestones, reaching the Regional semi-finals and securing joint first place in their pool at the Collegiate tournament. They achieved victories over formidable opponents such as Dean Close School, Kingswood School, Bristol Grammar School, and Christ College Brecon. Meanwhile, our 2nd, 3rd, and 4th teams also had a successful term with good wins and competitive matches against Dean Close School, Malvern College, and the University of Worcester. The ‘Superball’ match, played in front of over 1400 spectators at the University of Worcester Arena, was a standout event where both 1st and 2nd teams secured victories over King’s School Worcester, playing with exceptional skill.

Several of our players were selected for county and franchise pathways including Severn Stars and Central Warriors earlier this year, highlighting their dedication and talent. These achievements underscored the ethos of the School’s Netball Programme, focusing not just on skills development but also on resilience, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Overall, the Netball term at RGS Worcester was filled with numerous achievements, special moments, and a strong sense of camaraderie among our pupils. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to grow our Netball programme in the future.

BOYS’ CRICKET

In the Lower School, a strong Year Seven team put together some brilliant performances to round off a successful summer. They had many standout players with bat and ball, but the most thrilling performance was from captain Jonah Bolton who scored 146 not out against King’s School , including 7 sixes leading the team to the Worcestershire Schools Cup Final where they were narrowly beaten by Bromsgrove. Externally, several of the team have represented Worcestershire and Herefordshire this season.

The Year Eight cohort have had another successful season showcasing their developments made in the winter. Standout performances came from Will Terry, Rapha Rae and Yuvi Kang scoring half centuries and taking five-wicket hauls. Rory Knott also took a hat trick against QMGS. Victories against Beaudesert Park School and a nail-biting win against touring side RGS Newcastle were highlights of the season.

In the Middle School, the Under 14 team showed increasing competitiveness, culminating in a notable victory against King’s School, Worcester. Captain Ryan Lategan made a memorable debut for the 1st XI against the Gentlemen of Worcester, producing a commendable performance.

In Year Ten, George Heywood’s consistent scores of 50+ earned him a well-deserved debut for the 1st XI. The remarkable team cohesion bodes well for their future, provided they continue to diligently work on their fundamental skills.

The Boys’ 1st XI had a stellar season, starting with an impressive six-game unbeaten streak that included victories against Bedford, Warwick, and Dean Close. The momentum continued at Bromsgrove, where Freddie Ammonds’ unbeaten 81 guided the team to victory after restricting the opposition to 147 runs. A thrilling win against King’s School followed, highlighted by a crucial 33-run partnership for the last wicket between Callum Butler and Fionn Baker, with Callum finishing on 50 not out. The season also saw a second consecutive win against the MCC and an impressive century from Zak Crowther-Green, culminating in a competitive match with King Edward’s.

The season concluded with the annual RGS Schools festival at RGS Guildford. Although the week saw a mixed record of two wins and three defeats, there were several encouraging performances and valuable lessons learned. Early losses to strong teams, including eventual champions RGS Newcastle and hosts RGS Guildford, provided a tough challenge. However, captain Thomas Odell’s outstanding bowling was a highlight, with remarkable figures of 44 overs, 9 maidens, 113 runs, and 9 wickets, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 2.5.

The team showed resilience, bouncing back with wins against Colchester and Newcastle later in the week. Another major success came with Year Ten pupil George Heywood receiving the Young Player of the Festival (Under 16) award. His superb contributions included scores of 51 against Newcastle and 74 against High Wycombe, alongside some crucial wickets.

With these bright performances, the team looks forward to an even stronger campaign next year.

GIRLS’ CRICKET

It has been pleasing to see so many girls playing Cricket once again this year. Our girls teams have made huge progress on the Cricket field this year. Over the winter, the pupils have benefitted from the 1:1 programme, alongside early morning and lunch time sessions which combined technical developments and match play scenarios. I am pleased to report that the girls have certainly demonstrated their talent on the Cricket field this year.

In the Lower School, they played a mixture of hardball and softball fixtures, including some girls making their full Cricket debut. Elsa Kenkre had several exceptional bowling performances which included a hat-trick in one of the matches. Elsa went on to make her debut for the 1st XI, an astonishing achievement for a Year Eight pupil. The penultimate match of the season against RGS Newcastle saw another Year Eight, Amy Higgins score a superb half century against a strong bowling attack.

For the girls in the Middle School, this season marked a historic milestone as the Under 15 team entered The Cricket Paper National 100 Ball competition for

the first time. Isla Goold and Poppy Parker’s superb batting partnership led the team to an opening victory with a 50-run stand. Liv Evington also made significant contributions with multiple scores of 25 or more in shorter formats. The Under 15 team’s journey continued to the Indoor Regional Finals Day at Edgbaston, where they finished a commendable 4th place, demonstrating a bright future for Girls’ Cricket at RGS.

Similarly, for the Senior School Girls, the 1st XI entered The Cricket Paper National 100 Ball competition for the first time in RGS history. They reached Round 2, where they faced a talented Solihull team. Despite facing some challenging results and weather disruptions this term, the Girls led superbly by our three senior players Keira Higgins, Katy Pitt and Georgia Houston have shown great camaraderie and enthusiasm, achieving notable milestones they can be proud of this season.

It has also been fantastic to host County Cricket once again at Flagge Meadow, with the Worcestershire Women’s Rapids playing there against Oxfordshire in May and securing a decisive victory.

ROWING

Last year’s Rowing season of 2022-23 concluded in spectacular fashion last summer, highlighted by RGS Worcester’s participation at the British Rowing Championships. Lucy Whiteley and Olivia Hodgson excelled, securing a Bronze medal in the WJ16 double sculls and further enhancing the Club’s accolades. Individually, Olivia claimed Silver, while Lucy triumphed in the B final, showcasing their exceptional skills and dedication.

Menna Sutton’s journey was marked by resilience, particularly in the face of challenges in the WJ18 single sculls. Despite not retaining her position in the Welsh team for the Home International Regatta, Menna’s perseverance paid off with a standout performance at the Welsh Beach Sprint Trials, earning her a place in the mixed double.

This momentum continued into this year’s Worcester Autumn Regatta, where multiple victories underscored RGS Worcester’s dominance. This success extended to the Worcester Small Boats Head, where the School’s crews left a lasting impression. Notable performances included Lucy Whiteley’s commanding win in the Women’s J17 Single Scull and Daniel Foster’s triumph in the Open J18 Single Scull. Indoor competitions provided another platform for glory, highlighted by the team’s outstanding performance at the British Rowing Indoor Championships. A standout achievement was the Gold medal won by the RGS Worcester team— comprising Lucy Whiteley, Olivia Hodgson, Daniel Foster, and Jack Hill—in the Mixed Junior Relay event, earning them the title of 2023 British Rowing Indoor Champions.

Olivia and Lucy continued to excel at the GB Rowing Under 19 trials, culminating in a Gold medal at the Junior Sculling Regatta in the WJ17 Double Scull category. The National Schools Regatta marked another milestone, with several RGS Worcester crews advancing to side-by-side racing following successful time trials. Standout performances included the WJ16 Double Scull winning the C final and the Open J18 Coxless Quadruple Scull placing 5th in the C final, demonstrating the team’s competitive edge.

Wins at subsequent Regattas—including Worcester Regatta for the Open J15 Coxed Quadruple Scull and the WJ17 Single Scull, and at Stratford Upon Avon Junior Regatta for various categories—further solidified RGS Worcester’s expertise and depth across different age groups and events.

At Henley Women’s Regatta, Olivia and Lucy did brilliantly to reach the semi-final stage but were beaten by the eventual winners. Their time placed them 3rd fastest out of a field of 30 crews.

Despite a challenging year marked by flooding and adverse weather conditions, RGS Worcester’s Rowers exemplified resilience and excellence in every stroke. Looking ahead, their achievements demonstrate the power of dedication and teamwork in achieving success.

GOLF

The RGS Worcester Golf team began their season in September with an ISGA Matchplay fixture against King’s School Worcester, securing a convincing 3-0 victory. This positive start advanced us to the next round where we faced a formidable Dean Close School side. Despite a closely contested match on a breezy October afternoon, we narrowly lost 1-2, concluding our journey in this year’s tournament.

During the Trinity term, we continued with friendly fixtures against St Edward’s School, Oxford, and a rematch with Dean Close School. With our team expanding to six golfers, it was gratifying to witness the progress of our players throughout the season. Against St Edward’s, RGS achieved a comfortable 21⁄2 to 1⁄2 victory. However, the match against Dean Close School presented a tougher challenge, resulting in a 1-2 loss in our Four-Ball Better Ball matches.

The Trinity term fixtures provided valuable preparation as we look forward to the upcoming ISGA Matchplay Tournament against Solihull School in the Michaelmas Term. We are optimistic about building on our experiences and striving for further success in the upcoming season.

FENCING

Issy Pottinger and Zara Martin-Green continue to be our trailblazers on the national circuit, with both fencing in the Cadet Under 17 Fencing Championships in September, and finishing strongly. Zara then fenced with the British Cadet team in Budapest in October. Emily de Bono from Year Seven took part in the Elite Épée Junior Series 10th place in October and then 7th in November. Closer to home, Matthew Fallows and Emily de Bono both finished well in the Warwick Age Group Épée; Joseph Kington took 3rd place in the Under 15 Boys event and Emily De Bono won the Under 11 Girls event at the Cocks Moors Wood Épée Championships event.

Both Issy and Zara qualified as Level 2 Referees, refereeing the Warwick Age Group Épée and then the Cocks Moors Woods Épée championships, along with Matthew Fallows who completed his Level 2 Referee qualification at the event.

In the Lent term, Joseph Kington and Issy Pottinger won Bronze in the West Midlands Under 16 Épée competition and Emily de Bono won Silver medals in Foil and Sabre and Gold in the Épée in the Under 12 age group. All three qualified for the National Finals (Emily in all three weapons). Finn Bratchell (Under 12), Mathilda Hawkins (Under 14), Edith Wise and Matthew Fallows (both Under 18) also all qualified BYC National Finals, the majority having already competed in the Public Schools Fencing Championships in March.

We revived the two fixtures against King’s Worcester, which were very enjoyable and our fencers acquitted themselves very well. The highlight was the Senior team match in the Lent term, where the team fenced a tactically excellent match to take the win over a very accomplished King’s School team.

We have had to say a temporary farewell to our Elite Épée Coach, James Harris, who has recently become very busy with fatherhood. We are very pleased, however, that he and Nick Chapman have persuaded John Rees, the Welsh National Épée coach, to take over Elite Epée coaching at RGS.

ATHLETICS

The Athletics season began in the Lent Term with numerous competitions across different age groups. The first event of the Trinity Term was an open meeting at Bromsgrove School involving our Years Nine and Ten pupils. This was followed by the Years Nine and Ten girls first meeting at Marlborough College, which featured impressive performances in running, jumping, and throwing.

The highlight of our year was the ESAA Track and Field Cup. We took 54 pupils to this competition, where our Intermediate Boys and Girls (Years Nine and Ten) teams excelled.

Years Nine and Ten pupils also had a successful competition at The Hereford and Worcestershire District Championships. Eight pupils qualified to represent Hereford and Worcestershire at the County Schools Athletics Championships in Stourport. At this event, our athletes won one Gold, one Silver, and one Bronze medal. Special congratulations to Tom Edge and Will Higgs, who qualified for the Mason Trophy inter-county meeting at Northwood Stadium, Stoke to represent Hereford & Worcestershire.

The season culminated in our Sports Days, featuring friendly inter-House competitions. It has been encouraging to see more pupils continuing their Athletics journey at local clubs such as Worcester Athletics Club.

Well done to the athletes and we look forward to building on this success during the next academic year 2024-25.

CROSS-COUNTRY

The 2023-24 season was another highly successful one for the RGS Cross-Country runners, both individually and in team competitions. In early October, Winterfold School hosted a set of races in which our Under 13 teams ran strongly, with pupils grateful that the course at Winterfold featured fewer steep ascents than the previous race at Abberley Hall. Henry Morgan in Year Seven showed his potential in achieving a very credible 2nd place.

Throughout the rest of Michaelmas Term, our focus was on the ESSA Cross-Country cup competition. Following a competitive county round, the Intermediate Boys and Senior Boys team both made it through to the regional final at Bromsgrove School. Against schools from across the West Midlands, the RGS Seniors team ran superbly, with Luke Jones winning the race in an exceptional time of 17:04 for the 5.1km course. Strong performances from other team members Dylan Teasdale, Jacob Bunyan and Noah Dunnett resulted in the team finishing in second place and qualifying for the national final – the second year in a row that an RGS Worcester team has achieved this feat! Following a long journey to Ipswich the team, bolstered by the addition of Tom McMillan, were faced with an arduous course in near-freezing conditions, with a light dusting of snow adding to the challenge. However, they acquitted themselves extremely well against some ferocious competition from the fastest Under-18’s from across the country and can be very proud of their achievements.

Individual honours were at stake in Lent Term, when we hosted the District Championships at RGS The Grange and a large contingent of over 30 pupils represented the School. Notable successes included three Junior Boys finishing in the top 5 of their race, and a strong showing from the Intermediate Girls with 5 RGS runners in the top 12 places. A dozen pupils qualified for the County Championships, where the standout performance came from Lexi Agoston, showing great pace and endurance to become Junior County Champion. Alongside Dylan Teasdale and Luke Jones, she was then selected for the Herefordshire and Worcestershire team for the National CrossCountry Championships. Well done to everyone who took part in Cross-Country this year!

EQUESTRIAN

It has been a very busy year for the Equestrian team. The first competition of the academic year saw Cleo Whitbread, Lilianna Sprigg, Hannah Darby and Lily Smart compete in the Eventers Challenge at Rectory Farm, with all three qualifying for the championships at Hickstead in May.

February brought the Show Jumping County qualifiers at Allen’s Hill and again, this proved to be another successful outing, with Lilianna qualifying for the Championships.

In March, the dressage squad were out competing and with the team bolstered by the inclusion of riders from RGS The Grange and RGS Dodderhill. They won the competition which qualified the girls for the Schools Championships in October 2024 at Addington. Lily competed individually where she won and qualified for the County Championships in May at Hickstead.

At Hickstead, in the Schools Championships, Lily, Hannah and Lilianna competed in the Eventers Challenge. This proved to be a challenging course and all finished with a smile on their faces. Lily also performed exceptionally in the individual dressage, finishing 3rd nationally, and Lilianna delivered a fantastic show jumping round to achieve an impressive 6th place nationally.

Riders have also been out from RGS The Grange and RGS Dodderhill and have done superbly to gain qualification for the Schools Championships at Addington in October.

Well done to all the riders across The RGS Worcester Family of Schools for putting in the time and effort with their ponies to go out and display their talents (and not forgetting their parents for getting competitors to these events!)

The School’s Equestrian team welcomes any riders who are keen to compete at any level. We have varying ages across the School from five years old through to Senior level. It really is a lovely atmosphere and super to see pupils representing RGS out there on the Equestrian circuit.

SWIMMING

In September, we launched the RGS Worcester Swimming Academy, providing elite swimmers access to expert coaching from Mark Hill and Jon Fletcher every Tuesday morning from 6.00am to 8.00am at Perdiswell Leisure Centre. The Academy played a crucial role in preparing our swimmers for the galas throughout the academic year.

The season started with the annual ESSA Regional Qualifier at Malvern College in September. It was a proud moment to see 34 RGS pupils representing their School, with the introduction of B teams offering greater opportunities for showcasing Swimming prowess. The Junior Girls’ team narrowly missed qualifying for the National Finals, finishing 25th in the country. However, there was success for the Inter Girls who qualified in both the Freestyle (20th) and Medley (13th) Relays. At the National Finals, held at the Commonwealth Games pool in Sandwell, the girls performed admirably, finishing 21st and 13th in their heats, narrowly missing out on the final. With another year in the same age group, they are eager to improve upon this achievement next year.

Throughout the year, we expanded our participation in galas, entering for the first time in invitational events hosted by Warwick School and Bromsgrove School. Additionally, we competed in the Droitwich and Worcester City Secondary Swimming Gala during the Lent Term. Pleasingly, we fielded a complete team of 24 swimmers, a testament to our progress, and clinched the overall victory, marking a significant improvement from the previous year.

Our swimmers continue to dedicate countless hours to training both at our Academy and with their clubs. We anticipate further strides in their development and look forward to another successful year of Swimming ahead.

TENNIS

The Under 13 Boys’ Tennis team continued their impressive undefeated streak, securing decisive victories in their league fixtures with remarkable 6-0 wins against both Woodrush and Bromsgrove School. Their exceptional performances throughout the season have been outstanding. These consistent and dominant displays have earned them the well-deserved top spot in their division. The team’s ability to maintain such high standards in every match exhibiting their strong team spirit and commitment.

The Under 15 Boys encountered a tough and highly competitive match against Bromsgrove School, resulting in a hard-fought 2-4 loss. Throughout the season, the Under 15 Boys have demonstrated tenacity and strong teamwork, and they are committed to giving their utmost effort to finish strongly.

In the Girls’ competition, the team progressed to the third round of the Aberdare Cup with a commendable 4-2 victory against St Edward’s School, Cheltenham. This win highlighted their teamwork and individual skills, navigating challenging matches to secure their advancement. They then faced a formidable opponent in Ellesmere College, experiencing a tough 0-4 defeat. Despite the loss, the girls exhibited impressive Tennis abilities in both singles and doubles matches, demonstrating their dedication and potential.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

SPORTS TOURS

The academic year 2023-24 was another excellent one for the RGS Worcester PE Department. At the start of the academic year we had Mr Sekula join RGS and he has brought with him a wealth of knowledge and passion for Academic PE.

During the year, the PE Department organised a range of events, enriching the pupils’ experiences. Highlights included the Sixth Form Academic PE students visiting the University of Loughborough and University of Gloucester. They explored the state-of-the-art facilities and witnessed theory transforming into practise in the Sports Science laboratories. In addition, RGS Worcester hosted an A Level PE conference in partnership with PE Focus for the first time for schools across the country to provide students with a motivational, informative and valuable revision day in preparation for examinations. Another notable highlight included the Year Ten GCSE PE pupils who visited the Careers in Sport event held at Edgbaston Stadium. It offered a unique opportunity to understand a professional sports club and gain insight into various roles and responsibilities.

The number of opportunities for the development of leadership skills has also increased this year. In addition to theory on leadership being delivered in our Academic courses, the Community Sports Leadership Award was delivered for Middle School pupils in Core PE lessons and we saw the introduction of The Sports Leaders Level 3 qualification during Enrichment for the Sixth Form. Furthermore, both the A Level PE and BTEC Sport courses delivered theory on leadership. Numerous opportunities including visiting Prep Schools, running multi skills sessions for local Primary Schools, assisting in Games sessions and leading at Worcester City Sports Partnership tournaments at RGS Worcester gave valuable experiences to develop leadership skills and qualities while allowing students to reflect on the application to theory.

SPORTS TOURS

NETBALL TOUR TRIUMPHS

On the RGS Netball Tour to Malta netballers enjoyed playing against local competitive teams. They played their first match straight after landing in Malta!

On the second day a training session ensured the girls were match ready for their next game against a team which fielded Maltese international players.

A day of rest saw the pupils enjoy a boat trip to Gozo and the chance to explore a hidden cave and swim in the Blue Lagoon. The tour ended with a final day of training and a match, the team playing together with synergy to secure a victory in their last fixture through seamless teamwork.

BARCELONA FOOTBALL BONANZA

The RGS Football Tour saw 35 footballers head to Barcelona. The footballers experienced a rigorous 90-minute training session at the legendary Barcelona FC training ground. Following this, they enjoyed a tour of the FC Barcelona Museum and had the chance to explore landmarks including the Barcelona Olympic Stadium and the scenic Montjuïc Castle. Later in the week, matches against local teams provided thrilling competition. The Footballers also visited RCD Espanyol, where they had a training session focusing on ball possession, and quick shooting drills culminating in a match. Cultural excursions to sites such as La Sagrada Familia and the Barcelona Padel Tennis Centre rounded off the unforgettable experience.

SOUTH AFRICA RUGBY TOUR

Our Under 18 and Under 16 teams took part in a Senior Rugby Tour to South Africa, where they played three matches against local teams. After each match, the teams enjoyed a traditional South African braai with their opponents.

The tour included a visit to the Kayamandi Township, where each pupil donated books to the township’s library. The pupils also took part in an outreach morning with the ‘Be The Difference Foundation’, preparing food for the community and playing games with primary school children.

Other highlights of the trip included a surf lesson and a visit to Boulders Beach to see the penguin colony, a trip to Seal Island, and a scenic drive over Chapman’s Peak, culminating in a visit to Cape of Good Hope’s Nature Reserve and the Cape Point viewing point.

The adventure concluded with two game drives, where the pupils had the chance to see the ‘Big 5’ (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and African buffalo).

Preparing food for the community

Visiting the Cape of Good Hope

Outreach morning with the ‘Be The Difference Foundation’

CAREERS

After a very successful year, the Careers Department has been going from strength to strength. Pupils of all ages visit the Careers Room and are happy making appointments at lunchtime or drop-in to discuss all manner of issues such as where to gain Work Experience to where to find information on studying abroad, what to do on a Gap Year, to which subjects are useful for a career in Law or which careers can a degree in Psychology lead to. All pupils from Year Seven have a Unifrog account and can access the wealth of information Unifrog offers to support the Careers Library although paper resources are often referred to during time in the Careers Room or during guidance meetings. The Careers Room is a space to drop in and ponder on the future and discuss opportunities and possible pathways to provide direction for our pupils after RGS.

I defy anyone to miss the signs coming down from the Main Library which point you in the direction of the Careers Library. It is open all day and is accessible to every pupil whenever they need to use it. It is stocked with traditional resources such as the university prospectuses, literature on different professions and the all-important ‘Careers 2024 Bible’. The space is designed to be welcoming, informative and above all non-judgemental; somewhere that pupils can come to for friendly advice that moves them forward in their decision-making.

This year’s main objective was to expose pupils to various career paths, helping them to understand the opportunities available to them and what steps they need to take to achieve their dream job. Pupils at RGS have a wealth of Co-curricular opportunities involving Sport, Drama, Music, Creative Arts, Debating, Cadets, Duke of Edinburgh to name a few. Helping them to understand the skills they are developing from these experiences and recording them, is another benefit of using Unifrog which they are able to reflect upon. Unifrog is a tool to support their journey through School.

Monthly Careers Seminars continue to appeal to pupils across the board. We aim to offer a broad range of external speakers to deliver these, inspiring our pupils from Year Seven all the way through the School, representative of the changes in the labour market, for example the two seminars based on AI and sustainability. Careers Seminars have evolved into a casual working lunch style seminar where pupils feel relaxed in the environment and fruitful discussions about the highlighted profession occur.

The Department firmly believes that the opportunity to see what is out there is of paramount importance and therefore it has run trips this academic session.

Year Nine saw visits to ‘The Hands on Science Day’ to Qinetiq where we learnt about coding and robots! Year Nine studying Design Technology also had the amazing opportunity to visit a Formula One team to learn all about careers involving STEM and Engineering, as well as seeing the largest private collection of F1 racing cars. Pupils in Year Ten visited the ‘Careers in Sport’ conference at Edgbaston to learn about the breadth of this industry. Sixth Formers studying BTEC Sport or A Level PE visited Loughborough University as part of their sports courses to see the facilities and hear from elite professionals about balancing sport, degree courses and student life. All Sixth Formers were given the opportunity to attend Aston University for a ‘Business Aspirations’ conference or University of Birmingham or University of Nottingham to sample what university has to offer.

All pupils were given the opportunity as part of National Careers week to visit the Higher Education Careers EXPO in February which was held here at RGS with outside exhibitors representing different occupational sectors. We aim to reflect the changes in popular areas and trends therefore many representatives offered Degree Apprenticeships, including Aston Martin, the NHS, Santander and Savills (who are the number one providers for Degree Apprenticeships). Occupational areas represented at Careers EXPO this year included Journalism, Science and Cyber, Engineering and Robotics, Hospitality, Vet Medicine, Chartered Surveying and the West Midlands Heritage Trust for Historic Buildings, Charity work, Dentistry and Medicine, Law, Accountancy and Finance and Allied Healthcare professions including Physiotherapy. This year a large number of higher education representatives attended including 10 Russell Groups as well as the Royal Vet College and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, based in London.

The PSHCE programme for all Year groups has been transformed using Unifrog and includes elements of decision making, self-awareness, advice about all career pathways, and aims to develop the skills required to manage careers. In June, Sixth Form students had the chance to develop their employability skills with CV writing and interview preparation ahead of mock interviews.

All pupils in Year Eleven and the Lower Sixth were given the opportunity for a bespoke one to one career guidance interview with our Careers Adviser, Mrs Williams. The Department is going from strength to strength with new initiatives being developed and delivered to our pupils. The importance of choosing the right career for you is paramount in our message and, although it may well be true that the majority of our students go to University after school, increasingly we are finding that alternative pathways including Degree Apprenticeships are the perfect choice for some.

Whatever the decision, the RGS Careers Department is here to support, encourage, enthuse and engage our pupils to make those life decisions in a friendly and informative way.

EPQ LEARNING DEVELOPMENT

The Sixth Form have once again risen to the challenge of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), with 32 students completing the qualification this year.

The EPQ gives students the opportunity to research their own topic and to produce an artefact or 5000-word essay, and is the equivalent to half an A Level. There has been an impressive breadth and depth of topics explored.

Titles this year have been broad and ranged from: ‘To what extent does Ovid present women as victims in Metamorphoses?’, ‘Was the UK’s 5G ban on Huawei justified?’ and, ‘Do sports stars experience an identity crisis after retiring?’. There were also some fantastic artefact projects, including the creation of a Vogueinspired Georgian Architecture magazine, the complete development and conceptualisation of a play, and even the creation of a Victorian history-based documentary.

All students confidently presented their research findings, and the atmosphere at the Presentation Fair was fantastic, with staff and students engaging enthusiastically with the work on show

The experience of completing the EPQ gives students invaluable skills to take with them beyond RGS Worcester and showcases the immense talents of our students, producing work that would not be out of place at University level.

The spectacles you might be wearing today are based on the design from a pair of ‘temple glasses’ first available to buy in 1728. This 18th Century ‘assistive technology’ is still as relevant today, if not more so, and is also very much accepted as a routine part of enabling someone to participate in society and demonstrate their abilities. At RGS Worcester, we are committed to 21st Century assistive technology as a digital school, embracing all that our Apple status affords us.

Driven by the power of our holistic screening programme which identifies pupils’ needs and crafts a personalised plan to help optimise learning, amongst other aspects we have considered the assistive technology needs of 373 pupils at the Seniors and more than six hundred pupils across the four RGS Schools combined. As such, in 2023-24 the number of pupils typing their examinations or using digital technology to support reading has grown exponentially, as we all come to realise the power of technology to improve our learning outcomes and support the way we work. We have also been exploring the power of Artificial Intelligence to drive our provision further forward.

Alongside more pioneering approaches to support, we have also enjoyed extending our traditional provision to include Lego Club, where pupils have built some impressive structures this year whilst deepening friendships at the same time. It is this level of personal support which we’re able to give that makes the difference to our pupils. In a card this Summer, one of our pupils said, “Thank you so much for the amazing work you’ve done for me. Your hard work never goes unnoticed!” Indeed, this is our wish for all pupils, and we look forward to another busy year in September.

RGS Worcester Debating Society has finished another successful year strongly, with notable team and individual performances across various prestigious competitions as well as within the Society. We said farewell to our outgoing President and Vice-President, Oscar Haynes and Helena Stockford Parsons, who have shown their ongoing dedication to the Society by representing the School in competitions and training the next generation of RGS debaters in the Middles and Juniors respectively. We also thanked all the Upper Sixth leavers who have represented the School and contributed to the Society.

RGS once again built on our excellent record in the Oxford and Cambridge Schools competitions, achieving several 1st and 2nd place finishes across several rounds of Debating. They were unfazed by a challenging range of motions; from complex constitutional arguments around the US presidential election, to the direction of environmental campaigning. Callum Lockett and Katherine McCabe also enjoyed further personal success in these competitions, finishing 9th and 13th on the speakers’ table of the Cambridge Schools regional qualifier out of a field of hundreds.

RGS also advanced to the Regional Final of the ESU Schools’ Mace competition in Cardiff. Year Eleven pupils Hannah Agoston, Joseph Kington, and Orla Hession-Wilson were formidable debaters throughout the competition. They held their own against many experienced debaters and were commended for their immaculate speeches, engaging speaking style, and strong listening and response skills.

ENRICHMENT DEBATING

The RGS Worcester Debating Society has had another tremendously successful year, excelling in the House Debating competition, the ESU Public Speaking competition, and various national and international British Parliamentary and Mace competitions. We have been immensely proud of all of our debaters this year.

BILLINGHAM SOCIETY

The Billingham Society had a very successful year. Michaelmas Term started out with a talk by Mr Soman reminiscing about the ‘Musical Memories’ created at RGS Worcester and students enjoyed the recordings and photos. Another highlight was Dr Rowlinson’s talk on ‘Explosions’, literally ending the term on a bang!

Going into the Lent Term we said goodbye to Mrs Bishop, who oversaw Academic Enrichment and the Billingham Society since 2019. We would like to send her a big thank you for all her hard work making the Billingham Society a success.

In the Lent and Trinity terms, we had talks ranging from ‘Jesus and Antisemitism’ (Miss Smith) to ‘Black Holes’ (Dr Rowlinson), and finally ‘Yoga for Exam Anxiety’ (Miss Ashford). While some sessions left students puzzling over the origins of the universe, we certainly left the final session at peace with the world. Thank you to all the speakers for contributing lectures to this year’s schedule, and to all the students who attended the talks, listened with great interest and asked many insightful questions.

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIPS

The RGS Worcester Family of Schools’ Outreach and Educational Partnerships programme represents the School’s commitment to broadening education and building community connections, both locally and globally. In 2023-2024 the initiative has reached over 1,200 pupils from more than 30 primary schools, offering pupils diverse learning experiences through engaging activities.

From STEM challenges to Olympic-themed sports and inclusive drama performances for New College Worcester (a school for visually impaired pupils), the programme has provided immersive educational opportunities across a variety of subjects.

Pupils take part in skills-building workshops such as kite-making in Textiles and clock-building in Design Technology, encouraging creativity and problem-solving. PE plays a central role, with specialist sports teachers delivering over 20 coaching sessions in the local area, including a popular primary school Hockey programme led by the School’s Head of Hockey, an Olympic medallist. This extensive outreach has brought RGS into the community, dedicating over 100 hours to local assemblies and events.

The School’s facilities have also served as active community hubs, welcoming local groups including the Worcester Warriors Community Foundation and hosting performances from organisations such as the Pauline Quirke Academy and the Elgar Society. Each year, the School hosts the Worcester Competitive Arts Festival, drawing hundreds of young people together to celebrate poetry, drama, music, and singing.

The School continues to serve as one of only two UK centres to host the Young Fashion Designer competition, with Mrs Jo Bishop, the school’s Head of Textiles serving as a judge.

One of the Partnerships Programme’s highlights is an international partnership with the Talensi Community Development Foundation in Ghana. Since 2019, RGS Worcester has been instrumental in supporting Talensi schools by donating over 60 iPads and connecting pupils through virtual meetings. This year, Mr John Jones and Mr Richard Millard travelled to Ghana to provide hands-on teaching and lead professional development, working with classes as large as 72 pupils to enhance technology integration and educational resources.

RGS Worcester pupils also played a key role in the Outreach Programme through the Community Sports Leaders and Sports Leaders initiatives, where Year Ten and Upper Sixth led multisport sessions for Primary Schools, building essential skills in leadership, teamwork, and communication.

Through these impactful partnerships, the School has enriched its pupils’ educational experiences, equipping them with both practical skills and global awareness, ultimately preparing them for success in an interconnected world.

HOUSE REPORTS

The House Competition started with a sense of familiarity as defending champions Wylde won the inaugural Badminton event for the Inters, and took second place in both the Senior and Staff competitions. Whiteladies and Elgar performed strongly in Pétanque, held during European Languages week, before Ottley raised their game by winning a flurry of events, specifically the Pumpkin Challenge over October Half term, Poetry and Senior General Knowledge; as well as the introductory Year Seven AI Art event. It was also the Otters who claimed victory in the Cipher Challenge, with younger pupils demonstrating their code-breaking powers. However, in the final event of the calendar year, Whiteladies backed up their prowess in Rugby and Hockey by winning Senior Dance with some festive choreography, and were rewarded for a consistent run throughout the Michaelmas term with first place overall for the term.

Resuming in the Lent term, Wylde House started 2024 well with a glut of points amassed in E-sports, Junior Board Games and Rowing. Ottley once again won Junior General Knowledge to complete the double alongside their older peers for the second year running. Ottley also took the honours in the Bird Feeder Challenge during February Half term, and followed this up with victory in House Music with their Wales-themed performance that wowed the judging panel. It was Whiteladies however who pipped Wylde to take top spot in Junior House Dance to complete the dance double. All of the Houses shared the spoils in Debating, Table Tennis, Netball and Football, as the competition ramped up. But there was no denying Ottley who stormed into a commanding overall lead in the standings to take the trophy for the Lent term.

The Trinity Term saw Whiteladies and Ottley record victories in the inaugural RGS Giving Days, for the most donations to the Worcester food bank and the Year Eight Active Challenge respectively. Ottley also emerged victorious in the Spelling Bee, while Wylde triumphed in the Rubik’s Cube race event for the second year running. Elgar posted the most entries to take first place in the Litter Pick Challenge over the Half term break. Wylde achieved a double in Tennis, winning both the Junior and Inters events. It was Ottley that took victory in House Mathematics before the final events of the year took place at St Oswalds in Sports Week; Whiteladies finally had something to celebrate as their Lower Sixth boys earned maximum points on the last day of competition but a resurgent Wylde impressed across the piece winning overall in Year Seven Boys, Year Eight Girls, Year Ten Girls and Senior Girls events to take victory for Sports Week and help them claim the coveted Trinity Trophy. Ottley however were relentless in their quest for points on both track and field, and with the others battling for the runners-up spot, the Otters confirmed their position as the overall House champions for the very first time in their history. Very well done to all involved; the House Competition has once again showcased the talents and competitive spirit of the various Houses.

ELGAR HOUSE

The dynamic partnership of Jacob Bunyan and Teyah Farmer as our new House Captains set the stage for an unforgettable year for Elgar House. Jacob, with his passion for sports and exceptional motivational skills, inspired the entire House. Teyah, with her considerable sporting talent, competitive drive, effective communication, and superb organisational abilities, ensured that Elgar House was in very capable hands and a force to be reckoned with.

The year began with remarkable achievements. The Chess team asserted dominance and our Petanque representative showcased exceptional hand-eye coordination across all age groups. Our Rugby teams triumphed in every category, marking the first time a House has achieved maximum points across all Year groups. In the Poetry competition, Elgar pupils delivered eloquent performances, representing the House admirably.

The momentum from the Michaelmas term continued into the Lent term. We started with a satisfying victory in E-Sports before the Rowing event where Elgar House emerged triumphant, with both the Year Seven and

staff teams clinching maximum points. The Pi competition raised eyebrows due to limited participation from Elgar, but Dylan Cowling’s extraordinary feat of reciting 316 digits of Pi single-handedly won the event meaning Elgar finished the Lent term in second place by a narrow margin.

As the Trinity term unfolded, Elgar House celebrated its first triumph in Board Games and secured second place in the Year Eight Active Challenge. The battle for further accolades continued, culminating in excellent performances on the Sports Days. Elgar narrowly missed out overall second place, having to settle for the Bronze. Special recognition goes to our House Captains, whose dedication and efforts have galvanised the younger students and ensured their active participation. Their leadership has been instrumental in our successes. Lastly, heartfelt gratitude to every pupil who has represented Elgar House. Your commitment has been greatly appreciated and has contributed to our collective success. This season has been a triumph for Elgar House, uniting us in shared accomplishments and cherished memories.

WHITELADIES HOUSE

This year, Whiteladies experienced mixed fortunes but demonstrated remarkable resilience and spirit. After a disappointing performance last year, the House made a strong comeback in the first term. Whiteladies showcased exceptional talent in various competitions throughout the Michaelmas term, in part thanks to the leadership of Captains Tom McMillan and Evie Leeds. We emerged victorious in Senior Badminton, Junior Badminton, Junior Hockey, and Inters Hockey. Just two points behind the leaders going into the final event of 2023, Senior House Dance, our spectacular performance brought with it victory overall to take the Michaelmas term trophy.

The Lent term brought challenges, with disappointing results in Rowing and E-Sports. Despite these hurdles, there were highlights, including victories in Senior Netball and Senior Football. In Junior House Dance, the Years Sevens and Eights impressed with their performance, reaffirming that Whiteladies has some of the best dancers in the School. There was great participation throughout the term, one pupil for example learned to solve a Rubik’s cube just three weeks before the event!

The success of the Lower School events can be largely attributed to Tom and Evie. Their dedication and popularity among the younger pupils played a crucial role in providing a supportive and enthusiastic environment. Their presence throughout the year was greatly appreciated and instrumental in our overall success.

The Trinity term was competitive, with Whiteladies leading early with the most food bank donations on Giving Day. Narrow losses in Mathematics, Cricket and Tennis, however, saw our position drop. During Sports Week the other Houses pulled ahead despite the best efforts of our athletes, especially the Seniors who stepped up on the day, with the Boys taking first place and the Girls finishing in second. Overall, a huge thank you to all participants throughout the year, and I am sure we will come back stronger next year!

OTTLEY HOUSE

Ottley started the Michaelmas term sluggishly and didn’t record a victory until Junior Pétanque as part of European Languages Week. With House Captains Alfie Mossop and Josefina Round at the helm and starting to enthuse and inspire their peers, we welcomed Year Seven Otters into the fold and they picked up maximum points in their very first event – an AI Art competition to design a House mascot! Over Half term pupils and staff once again led the House to victory in the Pumpkin Challenge before back-to-back wins in Poetry and Junior Chess. A series of mixed results in Rugby and Hockey meant that the award of the Michaelmas term Trophy would come down to Senior Dance. Despite a fantastic routine, Ottley had to settle for second place in the standings, but with determination to go one better in 2024.

The Lent term at the start of the calendar year saw Ottley perform well in E-Sports and then Rowing in all age categories, including first place for the Senior rowers. Victory in Junior General Knowledge meant that Ottley achieved a double in the event to complement the Seniors who also claimed first place. This was followed by a fantastic performance by pupils in House Music with their tribute to

WYLDE HOUSE

House Captains Harry Pick and Ella Cheney were wonderful leaders of the House throughout the year; they tried their hand at a great range of events, with a willingness to step up and lead by example. Though Wylde experienced a more varied start to the year this time around, the pupils persevered in a closely fought contest. Throughout the Michaelmas term, Wylde continued to excel in the sports events: Seniors won both House Hockey and Benchball, and our Inters teams came top in House Badminton and in Rowing. Wylde also led the way in E-Sports, winning at both Junior and Senior levels. Finally, House Dance had to be a highlight; House Captain Ella really led the way with her fearless acrobatics!

The Lent term saw further successes, with dominant performances in the House Rowing competition and a victory in Junior House Board Games. Another highlight was the House Music event; many well-organised rehearsals went into producing a synchronised and enthusiastic tribute to Wales, which definitely showcased the musical potential of Wylde for years to come. Wylde finished on a high with first place in CCF shooting.

Wales, which resulted in maximum points being awarded by the judges. With further vital points picked up in Football and Netball, Ottley held off the persistent challenge of Elgar to take the Lent term Trophy.

The Trinity term began in the same manner with Year Eight Otters winning the RGS Giving Day Active Challenge and then the Juniors achieving top spot in the Spelling Bee to keep us at the summit of the leaderboard at Half term. With the competition hotting up in the final weeks of the academic year, a win in Mathematics by our Juniors, and pleasing performances in Tennis and Cricket, meant we went into Sports Week in buoyant mood. Victories by Year Seven and Year Nine Girls, alongside athletic prowess in all age groups, secured second place in the quest for the Trinity term Trophy; but most importantly, it was these points that secured Ottley’s overall lead to claim an historic first championship win.

The Trinity term saw Wylde really shine, starting strong with victories in Junior and Inters Tennis and the Rubik’s Cube event. A dominant performance in Sports Week saw Wylde take first place overall, with particularly notable performances from Year Seven boys, and the girls in Years Eight, Ten and the Lower Sixth who all came first in their respective Year groups. The year was rounded off by first and second place in Girls’ and Boys’ Cricket respectively, and this led to Wylde winning the Trinity term Trophy and surging into second place overall. Thank you to everyone for taking part for Wylde this year. Let’s keep up this momentum and make sure we make a strong start to next year!

THE COMBINED CADET FORCE

The CCF world continued to evolve during the year, with plans nationwide aimed at streamlining and improving the efficiency of the Cadet Forces. The 75th Anniversary of the Combined Cadet Force has also been recognised in 2023-24 and it has been interesting to read the old expedition reports from yesteryear. It was definitely a different era! We would love to hear more stories from days gone past. This year we also commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. Cadets Heidi Porter and Charlie Towe from the Army Section represented the Contingent and the School at Claines RBL Service of Remembrance, alongside Major Smith and Mrs Sturdy. We were also able to commemorate former pupils from the School who gave their lives during World War One by having a plaque installed at St Geroge’s Memorial Church in Ypres. Our sincere thanks to the AOOEs who funded the plaque, along with Mr Hallett and Mr MacDonald who ran point in the organisation.

Very sad news reached us in October of the passing of former Contingent Commander ‘Robbie’ Robertson O.B.E. He was an immensely well-regarded Schoolmaster, who played a key role in both the development of the Contingent and also the introduction of the Royal Navy Section at RGS, in addition to significant roles within the School community. Below is an extract from his leaving article in the Worcesterian of 1987.

“He began the Royal Navy Section - none existed when he arrived at the School, and by 1967 had turned it into the thriving organisation which it remains today, with an enviable reputation. Then, in 1967, he became Officer Commanding of the C.C.F., holding the post for a record period of 20 years, indeed, much longer than any other incumbent. His combination of efficiency, drive and humour had meant that he had captained a ‘happy ship’, and one in which his insistence for the highest standard had produced a unit held in considerable esteem and brought much credit to the School. The School was honoured by the visit of the Second Sea Lord, Sir Richard Fitch, on the occasion of ‘Robbie’s’ last Annual General Inspection in 1986. He retires now as the Senior Naval Officer Commanding in the whole Country, and it was above all for these achievements that he was awarded firstly the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 1977, and then in 1987s Queen’s Birthday Honours, the great distinction of the Order of the British Empire.”

THE ARMY SECTION

The October Field Training Weekend required Cadets to adapt to the last-minute cancellation of the traditional Nesscliff trip, as Operational Exercises took precedence on the training area. Thankfully, Top Barn (Lakeside Campus) hosted a series of challenging leadership and adventurous activities over two days. Cadets faced a blindfolded tower climb, afloat activities, and archery, culminating in a demanding team competition that nearly exhausted everyone.

During the April Training Weekend, Cadets encountered Storm Kathleen after a smooth crossing of the Irish Sea. Cadets enjoyed coasteering, high ropes courses, zip wires, target shooting with air rifles, abseiling, climbing, axe throwing, archery, a blindfolded confidence course, and kayaking, where they earned a Paddle Sports UK award

At the end of the year, the Army Section visited Warcop Defence Training Establishment for five days of training and competition. With a new syllabus in place, training requirements differed slightly from previous years, providing a fresh experience for Year Ten Cadets who participated in their first fieldcraft training exercise. After arrival on Tuesday, Cadets completed a weapons handling assessment and were briefed for a 36-hour field exercise. They trained in fire control orders, discrete movement (stalking), range card creation, and sentry duty, enduring a damp and windy night in the field.

The weather improved on Thursday, allowing for a successful stalk assessment for all Cadets. Further instruction included navigation and obstacle crossing, leading up to a closequarter battle paintball lane. On Friday, Cadets participated in a round-robin of activities, including laser shotgun, air rifle, tag archery, command tasks, STEM challenges, and Gun Run training for the final day’s competition.

On the last morning, the Section faced a setback with one Cadet injured before the Gun Run. Demonstrating the RGS spirit, a Cadet volunteered to join the team. After a quick rehearsal, the Section excelled in the Gun Run, delivering a near-faultless performance. Awards were presented during the final parade, with Lance Corporal Euan Marsay-Jones winning the laser shotgun event and Corporal Hopkins leading the Gun Run team to victory by a remarkable 30 seconds. This achievement secured RGS the title of Best Contingent on Camp for the second consecutive year.

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE SECTION

The RAF CCF Section has continued to thrive this year under the leadership of Pilot Officer Webster as Officer in Charge (OIC), supported by flying enthusiast Dr Rowlinson. The first Field Trip of the year was postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, as RAF bases and personnel were involved in preparations for the national events surrounding the Monarch’s funeral.

In October, a group of Senior Cadets took to the skies at RAF Cosford for an unforgettable flying day. This was followed-up in February on a perfect winter’s afternoon, as Year Ten Cadets then had their chance to experience manoeuvres such as loop-the-loops and barrel-rolls! Our fortunate run with the weather did however halt there, with both March and April flying days cancelled due to poor flying conditions on both days.

The March Field Day residential trip to RAF Cosford was a resounding success. Cadets participated in team-building physical activities, providing the Section’s budding leaders with the opportunity to develop their communication and management skills. The Cadets also honed their drill sequences too, demonstrating huge improvements to Senior CCF staff on the parade square. A particular highlight was the unique tour of the technical training facilities, with invaluable insight from staff working on a range of projects on a working station, as well as an introduction to the range of careers available in the RAF.

Before handing over the baton of leadership to the next group of Cadets, our Seniors have devised and delivered sessions for their younger peers. It is immensely pleasing for all involved to witness several Cadets progressing through the ranks to take on increased responsibilities by completing their theoretical and practical training. Thanks to a successful recruitment drive, the RAF Section will be growing again and this positive trend bodes well for the future.

THE ROYAL NAVY SECTION

It has been an excellent year for our Senior Rates who have carried the burden of responsibility well. CPOs White and Silvey have led by example and in P.O. Waites, they could not have had a better support team. Many thanks also to L/S Stubbs, Stockford-Parsons, Day and Waites for all the support that you have given to the Section over the past four years.

The Field Day at HMS Raleigh was a highlight of the year. It was great to see the Section visiting HMS Iron Duke and the Submarine Museum as well as seeing the RN Fleet up close on a harbour tour. The trip to the Isle of Man was also very exciting where the Section pursued a variety of aquatic and adventurous activities.

It pleasing to see several Cadets attended summer courses which varied from a Royal Marine Course to the RN Summer Camp. Further commitment and loyalty to the Section were shown from the four 3* Cadets, who gained the qualifications to become L/S next term. All of the Daedalus Division completed and passed the 2* exam and the same was true with the Echo Division, who all obtained their 1* badge. Night Exercises are back on the menu and with Sailing and Kayaking at Top Barn also being accomplished, the future looks exciting.

For the record we must thank CPO Stroud for helping us develop our drill and dress over the year. Thanks, too, must go to S/Lt Still, for manning her post this year, and to Dr Stuart, our new Officer Recruit.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD

The early expedition season in September started in earnest with Gold and Silver Awards trips near Anglesey and Snowdonia, North Wales and the Long Mynd Shropshire, respectively.

This training weekend provided vital knowledge, experience and confidence to all pupils as they progressed onto greater challenges.

All sections continued with their weekly training programme and continued to enrich themselves through a wide range of sectional activities. Some examples for service, skills and different physical activities have included singing, sports officiating, helping in charity shops and community village stores, mentoring siblings, contributing to online environmental projects, volunteering with local charities, learning to play a variety of musical instruments, ballet, baking, climbing, new languages, drama, caring for animals, as well as a wide selection of sporting activities.

With the Easter weekend falling earlier in the calendar this year our traditional field weekend was moved into the start of the Trinity term. Very wet and windy weather had battered the country leading up to our expeditions, testing the skills and resilience of all pupils. A small Gold Award canoe group journeyed from Hereford to Monmouth, while the large Silver Award group conquered a large area of the Black Mountains. Our Year Nine cohort of nearly 100 pupils applied their training very effectively in the countryside South East of Malvern. This also included cooking and camping overnight for the first time.

Our expedition season was completed successfully with our Year Ten Silver Award groups beginning and completing their journeys in the glorious grounds of Chatsworth House and Ilam House in Derbyshire. A small Gold Award canoe group paddled from Hereford to Monmouth on the River Wye, and our Year Nine’s completed their assessment in and around Malvern and the south Worcestershire countryside. Many have subsequently enrolled creating a record number at Silver Award level. In September, a second slightly larger Gold Award group will also be canoeing, although this time down the River Severn to Bewdley, to complete their Expedition Section.

Many thanks to all our staff and volunteers who happily continue to support and encourage all pupils to embrace the adventurous activities provided.

THE FOUNDATION

Alumni remained connected with the School through the Foundation Office’s extensive annual programme of events and reunions. Alumni were also able to give back by offering support and inspiration to current pupils through the RGS Careers programme. Foundation fundraising initiatives took place to increase the provision of Bursary Awards at the School.

Former pupils of RGS are known as Old Elizabethans (OEs), and September 2023 marked a new chapter in alumni engagement with the first ever Old Elizabethans’ Reunion Weekend. More than 200 former pupils and staff reconnected over the two days to enjoy a Golf competition, tours of the School, Rowing on the River Severn, a lunch for alumni who attended RGS in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, watching the 1st XV play on Flagge Meadow with the culmination being the spectacular OE Reunion Dinner.

The dinner was especially popular with those marking their 20, 30 and 40-year anniversaries of leaving RGS. The range in years of leavers spanned from 1950 to 2023, such is the connection alumni feel with their old school, with some even travelling from as far as the USA and the Cayman Islands to attend.

The Foundation Office continued to build our popular Alumni Professional Networking groups, which meet periodically to enable OEs from across different generations to share professional experiences, collaborate and gain fresh perspectives from those at different stages of their careers. These events are organised by sector such as Finance and Law or Media, Broadcast, Marketing and PR. Several attendees at the Networking group events subsequently inspired current pupils through our Careers programme.

The 2024 Giving Day demonstrated once again the generosity of the RGS Community. 320 donors raised over £152,000 for Bursary Awards at The RGS Worcester Family of Schools, enabling nine new pupils to be offered places from September 2024. Pupils and staff across all four RGS Schools engaged in a range of challenges related to 1291 to support the Giving Day. The 1291 Foodbank Challenge saw the target smashed with over 2,300 items donated to the Worcester and Droitwich Foodbanks.

Alumni have continued to make many amazing impacts in their chosen professions, in sports and in voluntary roles. However, special mention must go to Shona Heath (AOS 1982-92), who won an Oscar in March for Best Production Design in Poor Things, meaning the School now has an Oscar winner in its ranks, which is no mean feat!

CHARITY

The total raised this academic year for charitable causes was £11,113.39.

Our two non-uniform days for BBC Children in Need in November 2023 and Comic Relief in March 2024 raised £4,880.53 in total. Many thanks are due to the brave members of the teaching staff who took part in a Staff Karaoke as part of the fundraising for BBC Children in Need!

The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust was again the Sixth Form’s chosen charity this year and a total of £739.22 was raised through a Christmas Jumper Competition and the annual Staff v Sixth Formers’ Netball match.

Our support for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal raised £655.33 and particularly worthy of note was one of our Ukrainian students, Yurii Khliebnikov, who stood outside selling poppies in all weathers on many occasions.

Our Director of Drama, Mrs Jilly Witcomb, and Mr Jak Garrity, Drama teacher, produced and performed in the play ‘Two’ by Jim Cartwright to raise money for Meningitis Now and Betel UK. A total of £1,458.29 was raised and split between the two charities. This proved to be an extremely successful new venture, and it is hoped that it will become a regular event!

Other charities supported this year included St Richard’s Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Support, Worcester Foodbank, Worcester Snoezelen, Acorns Children’s Hospice, Wooden Spoon and Maggs Day Centre.

The support of parents, pupils, teachers and support staff is crucial to the School’s fundraising efforts and is very much appreciated. We could not do it without everyone’s generosity, so thank you most sincerely.

A WARM WELCOME TO NEW STAFF

RGS welcomed new members of Teaching and Coaching staff for this Academic year.

Dr Iwan Davies joins RGS to take up the position of Assistant Head (Academic). He was previously Head of Middle Years at King’s School Worcester. As well as a PhD from Bath in Chemistry, Dr Davies brings an injection of energy and enthusiasm to RGS. He balances a purposeful and academic approach with good humour, seeking to uphold the high academic standards already cemented at RGS, as well as develop systems and processes to enhance the academic provision. Outside of the classroom, he is known to be quite a fabulous and flamboyant chef, and unashamed to take up the microphone and sing, as demonstrated at this year’s charity Staff Karaoke challenge. We warmly welcome Dr Davies and wish him a very happy career at RGS.

This year, the Philosophy and Religion Department welcomed Mr Max Farmiloe who joined RGS Worcester from Gunnersbury Catholic School in London. Brought up in ‘God’s own county’, Max has a wider family in Ireland and a great love of everything Irish. An admirer of the poet WB Yeats, Max brings a level of literary sophistication to the Department, especially exploring the links between religious and literary narratives. Having studied at King’s College, reading Religion, Philosophy and Ethics, Max’s enthusiasm for the subject is boundless and he brings a sincere and focused curiosity about all things theological with particular interests in Tractarianism, heretical theology, such as the Nestorians and Cathars, and how these have shaped modern theology. It is a pleasure to welcome him to the Department and to the wider School community.

Priya Hasnat joins the Textiles Department from Oldfield School, where she taught across all Key Stages and was solely responsible for implementing and running the Textiles curriculum. Before beginning her PGCE, Priya spent a few years travelling and enjoyed her time teaching at a school in Korea, East Asia. She brings a wealth of experience within Textile Design following her degree at Falmouth University and her time spent in industry where she worked as a freelance designer, producing textile prints for fashion design.

Mrs Jo Moseley joined the Business and Economics Department in September. She has been an exceptional addition to the team bringing her expertise and understanding of the Business world, as well as awareness of our students as she has previously been a SENCO. Her previous roles have been wide and extensive in a range of settings. We are delighted to welcome Mrs Moseley, as a former student of The Alice Ottley School and having worked at RGS Dodderhill, her appointment is a return to familiar surroundings. In her spare time Mrs Moseley enjoys spending time with her family, especially having adventures in her campervan.

IWAN DAVIES

MAX FARMILOE

PRIYA HASNAT

JO MOSELEY

Mr David Perry joined us in September, arriving as the maternity cover for Dr Davison and he very quickly embedded himself in the life of the School. An experienced teacher, his calm manner and hard work soon saw the pupils respond positively to his History teaching. Over the last three terms, he has also supported the School Chess Club and CCF, and helped out with Fencing. As a Department, we have really enjoyed working with him, and we are pleased that, when Dr Davison returns, he is only leaving us to go up the road to RGS Dodderhill.

We welcome Mr Richard Pope into the Computing and IT Department at RGS Worcester as an Early Career Teacher having completed his initial teacher training at the University of Worcester. He has brought with him a wealth of subject knowledge from his Computer Science degree also from Worcester. He is leading Code Club to promote problem-solving and practical coding skills in the Lower School and also assisting with the support of pupils in the Learning Development department. Mr Pope’s expertise in programming will enhance our pupils’ learning experiences and support the development of the subject as an academic option in Middle School and the Sixth Form.

Mr Stefan Sekula joined RGS in September 2023 having taught at Worcester Sixth Form College for the previous eight years. Prior to this he was a Sports Therapist for Aston Villa Academy. Stefan is a keen Hockey player and coach for the Stourport Men’s First Team gaining three back to back promotions as player coach. He also coaches for England Hockey Pathway on the Talent Academy at Stourport as well as assistant coach for England Under 35s and European and World Gold medalist. Stefan’s academic profile is impressive and he has already had a tremendous impact on our GCSE, A Level PE and BTEC courses. He has a keen interest in teaching and learning. Along with being an experienced A Level PE and BTEC Sport teacher, he has been a course leader, a Level 2 BTEC Sport course leader, and OCR examiner for A Level PE.

Mrs Charlotte Skipp joins RGS to take up the position of Head of Psychology from King Edward VI School, Stratford. Her passion and enthusiasm for Psychology has been very evident, with her robust and challenging lessons winning her the reputation as an excellent classroom practitioner. Unashamed of pushing individuals, but also deeply caring and supportive for those who need assistance, Mrs Skipp has quickly earnt the respect of the Sixth Form pupils in her care. Outside of the classroom, Mrs Skipp loves playing Netball and can be found on the courts mid-week. She likes travelling the length of the country (Scotland to Devon), visiting family and friends, and enjoys a good hike up a Munro and has also been known to catch a salmon when fishing in Scotland!

DAVID PERRY

RICHARD POPE

STEFAN SEKULA

CHARLOTTE SKIPP

A FOND FAREWELL

RGS would like to thank the following staff for their contribution to the school and wish them well for the future.

BEN AGER

Mr Ben Ager joined the History and Politics Department three years ago and made a magnificent contribution to the work of the Department. He not only taught History throughout the School, but he also led the teaching of the A Level UK Politics paper for the last two years. Passionate about oracy, he introduced elements of reading tasks into his lessons and always approached Schemes of Work from new angles and with new ideas. He also oversaw the further growth of the School’s Debating Society.

Mr Tom Benham brought with him a wealth of knowledge and experience across various sports, with a particular passion for Cricket, where he excels both as a player and coach. From the outset, Tom made a significant impact on our Girls’ Cricket programme. He worked tirelessly to increase participation in Girls’ Cricket and created exciting opportunities for our leading players.

Mrs Leanne Bennett-Howells, Head of Hockey, spent 14 years at RGS. A driving force behind the Hockey programme, her dedication shaped victories on the field and the character of every player. Leanne’s coaching prowess, motivational skills, and vibrant spirit extended beyond Hockey, leaving an indelible mark on school life. Leanne started as a parttime PE Teacher at RGS Springfield and gradually moved across to RGS Worcester where she taught in the classroom as well as PE and Games. She took on running the BTEC (National Diploma in Sport) from its inception and oversaw its growth and success in providing pupils with an alternative route for Sixth Form.

Mrs Chloe Bishop is taking up a post at her alma mater Bromsgrove School. Throughout her time at RGS, she brought a calm professionalism that inspired and developed a passion for Geography to all of her pupils whether they were in Year Seven or the Upper Sixth, with numerous pupils going on to study Geography at University as a result. Within the wider school community, she was a key member of the Senior and Chamber Choirs as well as contributing to numerous Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions. Latterly, she was involved in academic enrichment assisting in Oxbridge interview preparation and, notably, led the Billingham Society, organising many stimulating lectures for a number of the School’s most academically able students.

Miss Hannah Black’s enthusiasm for Mathematics inspired pupils across all Year groups. She was instrumental in the implementation of the AQA Further Mathematics GCSE qualification with her taking the first group of pupils through the qualification. She was also involved in many Co-curricular activities, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award as well as Dance, and she will therefore be greatly missed at RGS as she moves on to teach closer to home.

Miss Hannah Bone taught across the age groups in the English Department and led the Shakespeare English Speaking Union group. She fostered a love for performing Shakespeare with a succession of talented and enthusiastic Lower School pupils. In each year of Miss Bone’s time overseeing the Shakespeare ESU group, pupils from RGS qualified for the Regional Finals. This is down to Miss Bone’s enthusiasm and unflagging energy. Miss Bone combined her teaching with work for an MA in Shakespeare Studies. She used this knowledge and expertise to add new dimensions to the teaching of Shakespearean Drama within the Department.

CHLOE BISHOP

TOM BENHAM

LEANNE BENNETT-HOWELLS

HANNAH BLACK

HANNAH BONE

JULIAN DEEKS

Mr Julian Deeks devoted six years to RGS as a key member of the Physics department and in the role of Lower School Science Coordinator. His dedicated efforts elevated our Oxbridge preparation to new heights, providing crucial guidance to those aspiring to explore the fields of Physics, the Natural Sciences and Engineering. At the critical time before interview, Julian was always available to offer sage help and guidance to pupils. Under his guidance, the Lower School Science Club thrived as a hub, sparking curiosity and a passion for scientific exploration. From organising a recent link with Cambridge University, where an online seminar engaged pupils with the wider world of the Physical Sciences, Julian always strived to provide opportunities for pupils to develop their minds. His organisation of trips to the Observatory housed at RGS The Grange was also greatly appreciated.

SHAWN JONES

Mr Shawn Jones joined RGS from Priory School in Edgbaston. Shawn initially joined the Geography Department as maternity cover and then remained and made an impact during his time here. Demonstrating dedication, he taught across all Key Stages, sharing his knowledge of Geography. In addition to his teaching duties, Shawn participated in trips including the Iceland expedition. His assistance with Fencing was also a great benefit to the pupils.

ANDREW RATTENBURY

Mr Andrew Rattenbury left RGS as Head of Economics and Business, but in his time taught English, History, and Religious Studies as well. Despite the wide range of subjects and the frequent change of classroom, Andrew was always calm and good-humoured and totally professional. He co-led academic enrichment trips to the United States and was always keen to bring the real world into this teaching. He introduced the Business CTEC course which has been a huge success and is now embedded within the Sixth Form curriculum. He was both well-liked and respected by colleagues and pupils alike, who recognise that he is primarily someone who puts other people first. He has been an excellent Tutor in the Sixth Form. He is leaving us to take on a leadership role within his church, and our loss will be very much their gain.

HUGH SYKES

Mr Hugh Sykes joined RGS in 2005, as Head of Sixth Form. By the start of his second year, merger plans with The Alice Ottley School were announced. After two years in post, the Sixth Form he managed, suddenly became a very different place, but Hugh took this all in his stride. With new ways of academically tracking students, Hugh ensured that they met their targets and achieved levels commensurate with their abilities. He then became Head of Middle School with three Year groups to look after, rather than two! During this time, he also became Head of PSHCE. Hugh found time to run the Lower School Ardeche Water sports trip. Hundreds of alumni have fond memories of those trips. He also coordinated the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. In his later years, Hugh returned to the role of teacher of Biology and the CCF RN Section was very grateful for his help and support in recent times. Hugh is retiring as a teacher but will remain at RGS as a minibus driver.

Ben Tanner taught at RGS for over a decade. In his career at the School, he taught Latin or Classics to thousands of RGS pupils from Year Seven up to A Level in both subjects, sharing his immense learning and his passion for his subjects, and making an indelible impact on each pupil in his care. As Head of Department, Ben grew the number of pupils studying Classical subjects. In addition, Ben served as the School’s Examinations Officer, overseeing public examinations at GCSE and Sixth Form, and was an extremely passionate, enthusiastic sports coach, taking teams in Hockey and Football over the years. His particular interest was Cricket, and he spent many sunny Saturdays with RGS Cricket teams at fixtures, imparting his expertise in, and love for the sport. He will be very greatly missed by staff and students alike: atque in perpetuum, ave atque vale.

Mr Jake Tottman departs RGS Worcester to embark on a new journey in another Graduate Sports Assistant role at Brentwood School. During his time here at RGS Worcester, he enjoyed coaching a range of sports including Rugby, Football, Cricket, and Basketball. He made an impact on our pupils, inspiring them through his enthusiasm and passion.

We would also like to thank Gap Year students Tom Cartwright and Eleanor Fawcett who joined us for the academic year 2023-24 and did an excellent job.

BEN TANNER

JAKE TOTTMAN

STUDENTS SET FOR BRIGHT FUTURES

A LEVEL RESULTS

Students achieved the School’s best ever A Level and BTEC results by students who sat exams with over 90% of A Levels at Grades A* to B. 65% of grades were at A*- A for A Levels. Well over 90% of students achieved a place at their first choice University.

John Pitt, Headmaster, commented, “We have real reason to celebrate at RGS Worcester. Our students have achieved a truly superb set of results. Building on strong results last year, the results have leapt again and our pupils have achieved their University places and their Apprenticeship courses. These are our best ever A Level and BTEC results by pupils who sat exams and we are absolutely delighted. Many congratulations to the pupils who have worked so hard and to our teachers and support staff for their dedication and commitment. Thank you also to the parents for supporting RGS. Well done, everyone!”

Hockey Captain and 1st VII Netballer Teyah Farmer achieved 3 A*s in her A Levels enabling her to continue to pursue her passion for Textiles whilst studying Fashion Design and Technology at Loughborough.

Callum Lockett who was one of the top ranked speakers at the Cambridge Schools Debating and a superb actor, secured a Law Degree Apprenticeship with leading law firm Weightmans based in Birmingham.

England Roses Under 18 Rugby player Ala Lutui will be heading to Loughborough University to study Sports and Exercise Psychology whilst also playing Rugby with Loughborough Lightning. Ala received 2 As and 1 B in her A Levels.

School Captain and Chamber Choir member Catherine Broadbent achieved A*AA and is set to study Theology at Oxford University. Her success is particularly impressive as she achieved this while also starring as the lead in the School’s performance of ‘Miss Saigon’.

Worcester Cathedral chorister Martha Burdon will read Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Cambridge University. Earlier this year Martha sang at the Maundy Service in front of the Queen.

School Captain and Netball Captain, Izzy Thompson achieved a place at Birmingham University to study Psychology after achieving A*A*A*.

Arianne Eddy achieved a place to study Classics at Oxford University. She recently won the Oxford University St. John’s College Classics & Ancient History Essay Competition.

SUPERB GCSE RESULTS

RGS Worcester pupils, their families and staff celebrated a wonderful GCSE Results Day. With dedication, determination, and a commitment to excellence, the pupils of RGS Worcester have achieved superb success in their GCSE results this year.

40% of all GCSEs were awarded at the top Grades 9 or 8, well over 80% of all Grades were 9-6. 5 pupils achieved all 10 subjects at Grade 9 and 1 pupil achieved Grade 9s in 11 subjects. 15 pupils achieved all 9 or 8 Grades and 60 pupils achieved Grades 9-7 in at least 8 subjects. Most impressively, over 98% of all Grades were 9-4.

John Pitt, Headmaster, commented, “I am so pleased for our Year Eleven pupils that they have performed so well and set themselves up for the Sixth Form. We were delighted with our GCSE results last year, but this Year group has set the bar even higher and are also our largest ever Year Eleven cohort. Many congratulations to them and to their parents. Well done to our teachers who have guided them so successfully with their expertise and passion for their subjects.”

Hannah, Isabelle, Orla, Alexandra and Ellen Mae achieved a straight set of Grade 9s in their chosen GCSE subjects

Hannah Agoston, Isabelle Fawcett, Ellen Mae McGettigan, Fynn Butler, Amelia Godfrey, Jacob Harley, HessionWilson, Isabelle Jones, Harry Moore, Keira Mountford,

Alexandra Napier, Arran Niccol, Aryan Peddareddy, Sasha Penlington and Leyla Rashid who achieved all 9/8 Grades.

Debating duo achieved remarkable success at GCSEs: Hannah Agoston achieved 11 GCSEs at Grade 9 and Orla Hession-Wilson achieved 10 at Grade 9.

Triple Twins Triumph

Twins Eden and Ellis Williamson, achieved 20 GCSEs between them with four at the top grade 9. An exceptional Netball player, Eden plays for the Severn Stars pathway. Ellis is a keen Cricketer who plays for the School’s 1st XI.

Twins Harry and Izzy Green also earned 20 GCSEs, with an impressive 12 at Grades 9 and 8. Meanwhile, twins Leyla and Yasmina Rashid excelled by securing 20 GCSEs between them, including 14 at Grade 9 and five at Grade 8.

Sporting successes

West Midlands Academy Rugby player Noah Whitbread achieved ten GCSEs with eight at the top Grades 8 and 9.

Talented Girls’ Hockey and Cricket player, Fynn Butler celebrated after achieving all Grades 9 and 8.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND PRIZES

YEAR SEVEN ACADEMIC PRIZES

Joshua Andrews

James Anderson

Isaac Bishop

Sam Booth

Amber Byng

Emily de Bono

Carolina de Fano

Anwyn Drury

Harry Edwards

Athene Evriviades

Hannes Farmer

Caroline Foster

Isabel Gonnella

Rose Gregory

Jonny Hancock

Lila Harper-Lee

Chloe Hartwright

Isla Hibbert-May

George Jones

Daniel Keetley-Smith

Luka Kendrick

Will Kent

Harry Krick

Daniel Laugharne

YEAR EIGHT ACADEMIC PRIZES

Esme Ammonds

Thomas Barker

Naomi Bayo-Oshunkoya

Molly Bedford

Alice Benbow

Simon Bharath

Freddie Bookham

Sam Cambridge

Xanthe Carrington-Abraham

James Clarke

Dylan Cornacchia

Arabella Davies

Eva Davies

Maya Dworak

Lauren Egginton

Maisie Fackrell

Grace Farmer

Isabella Gabriel

Immy Green

Matilda Hawkins

Amy Higgins

Fleur Higgs

Ethan Jennings

Elsa Kenkre

YEAR NINE ACADEMIC PRIZES

Joseph Agoston

Lexi Agoston

Tori Baker

Amelie Baynham

Maneesh Bhaskar

Ridhima Canchi

Grace Challinor

Beatrice Collins

Poppy Crawford

Olly Flanaghan

Pru Goodison

Denis Goodwillie-Green

Eric Gregory

Isabelle Hardiman

Audrey Hargreaves

Cameron Henry

YEAR TEN ACADEMIC PRIZES

Phoebe Anstey

Gabby Benbow

Bruno Bond Evans

Maisie Chase

Cooper Collins

Rachel Crookall

Laurence Curtis

Molly Dufty

Sophie Fisher

Sihan Fu

Becca Gardner

Julia Gebhardt

Amelia Godwin

Isla Goold

Elliot Gray

Gabby Hailwood

Sienna Heath

Anna Hryhorian

Will Hughes

Emily Jackson

Ruby Li

Tilly Mann

Ellis Mcmullen

Sabreen Mohamed

William Morrissey

Harry Mossop

Raushan Nandra

Nia Ndulue

Tilly Nicol

Oliver Phillips

Neve Pepperdine

Izzy Rankin

Mia Lilley

Izzy Livesey

Sophie Maggs

Michael Mccabe

Elsa Mccrindle

Tom Mcelhannan

Lilah Morgan

Amelia Morris

Edie Nichols

Lila Parker

Phoebe Parkhill

Nicole Penlington

Ciaran Hession-Wilson

Mirin Hutchings

Henry Jarvis

Jemima Lewis

Lily Morton

Aayush Nilak

Emily Pipe

Lucas Pullen

Joe Jenkinson

Zac Johnson

Lucas Jones

Daniel Kilby-Tyre

Emma Law

Catherine Maragos

Callum Munday

Harriet Murphy

Poppy Parker

Emma Pepperall

Erin Reid

Mya Shoker

Seb Steadman

Leo Stoodley

Moin Sultan

Laurie Surtees

Daisy Swatton

Ben Williams

Daisy Williams

Aiden Williamson

Sean Yang

Kate Yurchenko

James Pitt

Jay Reddy

Amba Sanehi

Scarlett Sinclair

Lexie Small

Josh Tipple

Jack Vickers

Immy Warne

Oliver White

Archie Wood

Olivia Southall

Freddie Staiano

Emilia Stevenson

Anna Wardle Grifoll

Cleo Whitbread

Audrey Wise

Issy Pottinger

Jai Sanehi

Rose Savory

Immi Sharp

Maxie Squire

Oscar Ward

Anya Wood

Eva Young

YEAR ELEVEN ACADEMIC PRIZES

Hannah Agoston

Menaal Amjad

Fynn Butler

Martha Colclough

Will Cowley

Noah Dunnett

Aeryn Egginton

Isabelle Fawcett

Rosie French

Amelia Godfrey

Harry Green

Evie Guest

Abigail Haldane

Nest Harper

Jacob Hartley

Hollyanna Hopkins

Bethany Jennings

Isabelle Jones

Joseph Kington

Mary Laney

YEAR ELEVEN ACADEMIC PRIZES

Toby Alexander

Henry Barry

Lucy Bott

Tom Bowditch

Connor Bowers

Isaac Chan

Elizabeth Crookall

Chrissy Cullen

Alexander Cutler Tucker

William Edgehill

James Evans

Matthew Fallows

Alex Goodman

Bella Gray

Lydia Hart

Matilda Haughton

Keira Higgins

Jack Hill

Ivan Innocent

Sophie Jackson

INDIVIDUAL AND SCHOOL PRIZES

THE LOWER SCHOOL ART CUP

Maisie Fackrell

THE LOWER SCHOOL DRAMA CUP

Lilah Morgan

THE LOWER SCHOOL MUSIC PRIZE

Nicole Penlington & Finlay Hilton

THE LOWER SCHOOL DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY PRIZE FOR TEXTILES

Mia Lilley

THE LOWER SCHOOL DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY PRIZE

Tom Mcelhannan

THE LOWER SCHOOL KATHRYN NICHOLLS CREATIVE WRITING PRIZE

Isabella Gabriel

THE LOWER SCHOOL DESIGN TECHNOLOGY PRIZE

Amelia Gutteridge

THE LOWER SCHOOL FUNDRAISING CUP

Max Fenton

Amelie Lockley

Ellen McGettigan

George McMillan

Harry Moore

Keira Mountford

Alex Napier

Sophia Nancarrow

Arran Niccol

Libby Parker

Aryan Peddareddy

Jaimie Lee

Michael Liu

Jessica Lowe

Theo Mason

Gabriel Matthews

Katherine McCabe

Darcey Parry-Jones

Lucas Reid

Sianna Saroop

Lucy Sinnott

THE LOWER SCHOOL PRIZE FOR KINDNESS IN THE COMMUNITY

Esme Ammonds & Will Battle-Welch

THE DANIEL SULLIVAN PRIZE FOR ICT

Michael Mccabe

THE ANDREW WRIGHT MEMORIAL CUP FOR EXTENDED LEARNING INITIATIVE

Lucy Drysdale

THE TIM CURTIS CUP FOR OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE

Jonah Bolton

THE GREENPOWER PRIZE

Lexie Small

JUNIOR YOUNG FASHION DESIGNER AWARDS

Ruby Li & Dylan Hatchett

THE YEAR SEVEN COMMENDATIONS PRIZE

Seb Steadman

Sam Pengilley

Sasha Penlington

Natascha Perry

Leyla Rashid

Freddie Toher

Yasmina Rashid

Ella Wain

Abigail Walter

Noah Whitbread

Ed Young

Jack Staiano

Thomas Suttling

Samuel Taylor

Vikassh Vijithan

James Walklett

Henry Welsby

Grace Williams

Edith Wise

THE YEAR EIGHT COMMENDATIONS PRIZE

Grace Farmer

THE W D WILLIAMS PRIZE FOR ALL ROUND CONTRIBUTION TO LOWER SCHOOL

Amy Higgins

THE FESTIVAL GARDEN PRIZE

Emily de Bono

Xanthe Carrington-Abraham

James Clarke

Caroline Foster

Violet Hunt

Paige Jasper

Sophie Maggs

Tilly Mann

Tom Mcelhannan

Daisy Mees

Immy Merrall-Gill

Josh Tipple

James White

UPPER SIXTH NAMED AWARDS

THE ACADEMIC DRAMA PRIZE

Callum Lockett

THE ACADEMIC MUSIC PRIZE

Anna Jobes

THE ALICE OTTLEY MILLENNIUM PRIZE FOR THE HEAD GIRL

Catherine Broadbent & Isabelle Thompson

THE BENJAMIN LEADER PRIZE FOR ART

Ella Cheney

THE BEVERE ART AWARD

Ella Snow

THE BREWER PRIZE FOR CREATIVITY

Callum Lockett

THE CARTER-DOWNS MEDICAL PRIZE

Luke Jones

THE CATHERINE COWTON PRIZE FOR STRINGS

Poppy Wood

THE CECIL DUCKWORTH PRIZE

Oliver Tibbetts

THE CHARLES MYTTON SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE

Catherine Broadbent, Noah Davison & Annetta Makar

THE CLAINES PRIZE FOR APPLIED PHYSICS

Oskar Matysiak

THE DEBATING CUP

Oscar Haynes & Callum Lockett

THE EDYNBURY CUP FOR BEST ACTOR IN A MALE ROLE

Charlie Raven

THE EMILY JORDAN PRIZE FOR ECONOMICS

James Woolhouse

THE ERIC ORTON PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT

Catherine Broadbent

THE HARVEY CUP FOR THE SENIOR ARMY CADET

Rupert Hobson

THE HEMMING CUP

Evie Smith

THE HILLARD PRIZE FOR PHYSICS

Noah Davison

THE J AND M BURTON HISTORY PRIZE

Charlie Raven

THE JAMES KIMBERLEY PRIZE

Sophie Rouse & Jacob Townes

THE JANET PEARSON PRIZE FOR HISTORY

Lauren Pearse

THE KIRSTY CUBBERLEY ROSEBOWL FOR BEST ACTOR IN A FEMALE ROLE

Catherine Broadbent

THE LEA AND PERRINS INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR BUSINESS

Isabelle Thompson & Zak Crowther-Green

THE MALCOLM YOUNG PRIZE FOR GEOGRAPHY

Annie Hallowell

THE MARGARET MOORE PRIZE FOR LATIN

Arianne Eddy

THE MARGARET SPURLING PRIZE FOR PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION

Joshua Fisher

THE MAYOR’S PRIZE FOR ALL-ROUND CONTRIBUTION

Phoebe Askew

THE MISS CORMACK PRIZE FOR MODERN LANGUAGES

Martha Burdon

THE OLD ELIZABETHANS’ ARTS PRIZE

Charlie Lord

THE OLD ELIZABETHAN’S CREATIVE WRITING PRIZE

Robin Pearson

THE OLD ELIZABETHANS’ AWARD FOR ALLROUND CONTRIBUTION

Teyah Farmer

THE OLD ELIZABETHANS’ AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SCHOOL LIFE

Callum Butler & Tom Mcmillan

THE OLD ELIZABETHANS’ PRIZE FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY

Jasmine Day

THE OLD ELIZABETHANS’ PRIZE FOR GENERAL MERIT OR ACHIEVEMENT

Joshua Fisher

THE OLD ELIZABETHANS’ SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE

Arianne Eddy & Luke Jones

THE PULLINGER PRIZE FOR MATHEMATICS

Noah Davison

THE SCHOOL AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO SCHOOL LIFE

Amy Brinkley

Jake Cartwright

Libby Costello

Archie Davies

George Laney

Alfie Mossop

Darcy Nock

George Norris

Harry Pick

Samual Pledger

Helena Stockford Parsons

Ollie Tibbetts

Charlie Timmington

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR ACADEMIC CONTRIBUTION

Adam Allan

Jack Barnett

Sebastian Chohan

Amy Cound

Emily Crabbe

Lucy Garrard

Nathan Lad

Angus Pepperall

Samantha Ralph

Callum Sharp

Jemima Shaw

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR BIOLOGY

Annetta Makar

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR CHEMISTRY

Evie Smith

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR CLASSICS

Arianne Eddy

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR COMPUTING AND IT

Oscar Savory

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR JAZZ

Noah Davison

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN EPQ

Josefina Round

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING OVERALL CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC

Will Hulbert

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Isabelle Thompson

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR POLITICS

Violet Ashmore

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR PSYCHOLOGY

Katie Mcmurray

THE SCHOOL PRIZE FOR TEXTILES

Teyah Farmer

THE SEAMANSHIP CUP

Helena Stockford Parsons

THE STALLARD PRIZE FOR ENGLISH LITERATURE

Kitty Jenkinson

THE STANLEY WILLIS PRIZE FOR THE PAST HEAD BOY

Callum Butler & Callum Locket

THE STEFAN PORTER PRIZE FOR VOCAL SOLOIST

Martha Burdon

THE THOMAS BLASSON PRIZE

Violet Ashmore, Martha Burdon & Oskar Matysiak

THE VICTORIA WRIGHT PRIZE FOR SCIENCE

Luke Jones

THE W D WILLIAMS PRIZE FOR ALL-ROUND CONTRIBUTION

Jacob Bunyan & Haineala Lutui

THE WAREING CUP FOR OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Ira Bondar & Yurii Khliebnikov

THE WILDE PRIZE FOR DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

Noah Davison

DESTINATIONS FOR LEAVERS

Destinations listed by course in alphabetical order

Studying University

Accountancy and Finance with placement

Accounting and Finance

University of Bath

Keele University (1), Newcastle University (1)

Acting Central Film School

Acting (Musicianship) Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Aerospace Engineering University of Sheffield

Agribusiness Management with placement Harper Adams University

Applied Psychology University of Exeter

Applied Psychology (Clinical)

University of Reading

Architecture Cardiff University

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies University of Cambridge

Aviation Management with Pilot Training

Buckinghamshire New University

Biochemistry University of Birmingham

Business Nottingham Trent University (1), University of Strathclyde (1)

Business Management Swansea University (1), University of Liverpool (1)

Business Management, Accounting and Finance Nottingham Trent University

Business Economics with placement Cardiff University

Business Management, Accounting and Finance Nottingham Trent University

Cancer Biology and Immunology University of Bristol

Chemistry University of York (1), Loughborough University (1)

Classical Civilisation University of Warwick

Classics University of Oxford

Computer Science University of Reading (1), University of Sussex (1)

Criminology Nottingham Trent University (1), University of Liverpool (1)

Dentistry University of Liverpool

Economics University of Nottingham (2)

Engineering Loughborough University (2)

English Literature and Creative Writing University of Warwick

Environmental Science University of Reading

Fashion Design

Loughborough University (2), Manchester Metropolitan University (1), Nottingham Trent University(1)

Film and Creative Writing University of Birmingham

Film Production University of Portsmouth

Finance and Management University of Exeter

Fine Art Cardiff Metropolitan University (1), Loughborough University (1)

Football Business and Media

UCFB

Geography University of Exeter (2), University of Nottingham (1), University of Reading (1), University of Sheffield (1), University of Southampton (1)

German and History University of Warwick

History and Politics

Human Geography

UCL

Manchester Metropolitan University

Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering University of Bath (2)

Studying University

International Business

International Development

International Relations and Politics

Land Economy

Loughborough University

University of Sussex

University of Plymouth

University of Exeter

Law Bath Spa University (1), University of Birmingham (2), University of Exeter (2), University of Liverpool (1), University of Nottingham (1), University of Worcester (1)

Law and International Relations

Law with International Study

Mathematics

Mechanical Engineering

Medicine

University of Liverpool

University of Manchester

University of Bath

University of Nottingham (1), University of Sheffield (1), Loughborough University (1)

University of Bristol (1), University of Exeter (1), University of Nottingham (1), University of Plymouth (1), University of Sheffield (1)

Modern Languages University of Bristol

Paramedic Science

Swansea University

Philosophy Lancaster University

Philosophy and Ethics University of Exeter

Physical Geography

Physics with Astro Physics

Politics and International Relations

Cardiff University

University of Leicester

University of Warwick

PPE Kings College London

Property Development and Planning

Nottingham Trent University

Psychology Oxford Brookes (1), University of Birmingham (2), University of Southampton (1)

Psychology in Education with study abroad

Rural Enterprise and Land Management with placement

Social Science

Sport and Exercise Psychology with placement

Sport and Exercise Science

Sport Conditioning Rehabilitation and Massage

Sport Exercise and Health

Sport Management

Sport Performance

University of Bristol (1)

Harper Adams University

Cardiff University

Loughborough University

Oxford Brookes University

Cardiff Metropolitan University

University of Birmingham

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Sport Therapy Hartpury University

Stage Management and Technical Theatre

Royal Central School of Speech & Drama University of London

Theology University of Oxford

Theology and Religion

Veterinary Science

Gap Year (3)

Degree Apprenticeships (2)

Total: 121 Students

University of Exeter

University of Liverpool (2)

Law with Weightmans (1)

Mechanical Engineering with BAE Systems (1)