ST BENEDICT’S
NEWS
BENEDICT’S SCHOOL a
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M ICHA E L M A S TE R M 2 0 1 7
Opening of the new St Benedict’s Junior School – page 3
aling •
London •
W5 2ES
• V 020 8862 2010
M headmaster@stbenedicts.org.uk
F St Benedicts School, Ealing •
L stbenedicts
Dear Parents, It has been another busy and successful term. Impressive music and drama performances have demonstrated our pupils’ creative talents: the Middle and Upper School productions, Life in World War I and Bassett, were poignant and truly impressive, while the St Cecilia and Remembrance Concerts were both of an extremely high standard. In sport, the U13 girls won the St Edmund’s Ware Hockey Tournament, and in rugby the U12 boys won the Middlesex Cup. Duke of Edinburgh’s expeditions and CCF training have provided further opportunities for personal growth and leadership. Our Academic Challenge programme is becoming ever more successful, with a lively Thinking Forum, a series of academic talks and considerable expansion of the Extended Project Qualification. (Almost half of the Lower 6th and 30 pupils in Upper 4th are now undertaking an EPQ.) Finally, the Careers Fair was an outstanding event, drawing upon the professional expertise and first-hand advice of more than 150 companies, parents and Old Priorians, inspiring our students as they begin to discern their future paths. I wish you and your families a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
ST BENEDICT’S NEWS
Andrew Johnson Headmaster
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Our Junior School pupils have been very busy throughout the term. The creative curriculum topics have been embraced with great enthusiasm, with the school trips and workshops being the icing on the cake. The Music Soloists’ Concerts were excellent, and the Nativity plays and Carol Service (still to come at the time of writing) will undoubtedly provide a great deal of pleasure to audiences and participants alike. The School Challenge Quest will enable another group of pupils to share their passion for a range of interesting topics that they have researched independently. The children have been very busy on the sports front as well, representing the school with aplomb in athletics, fencing, hockey, rugby and swimming. Thank you for being so generous in your support of the Advent charities (CAFOD and Live with Hope). We will let you know at the start of the Lent term how much has been raised for these fine causes. I wish you and your families a peaceful and relaxing Christmas and New Year. r
Rob Simmons Junior School Headmaster
Eco Council has raised £1,000 for Fair Trade, which was presented to Joanna Milis, Education Manager, by Laurence Daly-Jones and Conor Dolan (Lower 5th)
The Remembrance Service in the Abbey
Official opening of the new St Benedict’s Junior School Professor Francis Campbell, Vice-Chancellor of St Mary’s University, Twickenham, officially opened the new Junior School at St Benedict’s. Professor Campbell told pupils that they should always remember the three elements of “People, Place and Prospect” at St Benedict’s. People, he said, create the school’s ethos, “which hits you as soon as you walk through the door.” Secondly, the school’s location beside Ealing Abbey is a constant reminder that it is part of the 1,500 year old Benedictine tradition, and that Catholic education is “the largest provider of education world-wide.” Finally, he encouraged pupils to feel excited about their prospects; to “take inspiration from former pupils who have walked here before you, and who are now successful in all walks of life, doing the things they love.” The Junior School Headmaster, Mr Rob Simmons, thanked everyone who had contributed to the successful completion of the new school, and said that it had been a pleasure to be part of the project’s journey, from the initial ideas and plans, through to its successful completion. The walkway linking the old building with the new, he said, was one of the many excellent features, allowing views across west London to one side, and of Ealing Abbey to the other. The new building, designed by van Heyningen and Haward Architects, is an extremely energy-efficient ‘Passivhaus’ construction – one of only a handful of schools in the UK built to this standard. A timber frame provides a high degree of insulation, making the building up to 96% more energy efficient than older school buildings. Air quality and temperature are maintained by using heat recovery ventilation and all classrooms are south facing for good natural light. There is also a home economics room, and direct access to landscaped outdoor learning and play areas.
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Abbot Martin Shipperlee blessed the new building after which Professor Campbell unveiled a commemorative stone. Guests included pupils, parents, alumni, staff and governors, who were welcomed by the Headmaster, Mr Andrew Johnson.
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GCSE This year saw a significant improvement in GCSE results at St Benedict’s, with an increase in the number of A /A* grades to 58.3% – up 7.1% from last year. Performance in the new style GCSEs in English Language, English Literature and Mathematics was also strong: in the new 9-1 grading system, pupils achieved 9-7 grades in 45.9% of papers. This equates approximately to A*/A grades in the old system and represents an 10.7% improvement on last year’s results in these subjects. A number of pupils achieved particularly impressive results: Cerys Edwards and Max Lubowiecki were among just 2000 pupils nationally to achieve grade 9s in all 3 of the reformed GCSE subjects (Maths, English Lit and Lang); they also achieved straight A* grades in all their other subjects. Fourteen students achieved straight A*/A grades, including 9-7 in Maths and English.
Cerys Edwards
2017 RESULTS
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Max Lubowiecki
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A LEVEL Students gained 72.1% A*-B grades at A level, and 37.1% gained A*-A. Fifteen gained straight A grades, including Alvin Lee, whose 4 A*s secured his place at Imperial College, London University, to read Computer Science.
Alvin Lee
VIETNAM Sixth Form Economics and Business A level students enjoyed a trip to Vietnam in October. We began our first day with a walking tour around Ho Chi Minh City, visiting Notre Dame Cathedral and the Independence Palace. In the evening we travelled up the Bitexco Financial Tower, the tallest building in the city. The views from the top were not to be missed and gave us an insight into the city that we would spend the next week in. We visited the British Consulate General, where we learned more about the economic situation in Vietnam. To learn about why Vietnam has changed to such a growing economy really was a valuable experience. Shortly after we visited Ben Thau market, where some simply took in the hustle and bustle of the stalls, while others tried to get the best bargain for traditional Vietnamese hats or other souvenirs. We travelled to the Cu Chi tunnels, where the Viet Cong soldiers hid during the Vietnam War. The tunnels were just
about large enough for us, but we couldn’t imagine living there for several days. We also took a trip to the coast where we swam in the South China Sea! On our final day we took a boat down the Mekong Delta visiting the floating market and a traditional coconut candy producer. For many of us the highlight of the trip was a boat ride on a sampan through mango lined canals that litter the edges of the Mekong River. Sam Symes (Lower 6th)
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Day two began with a visit to one of Ho Chi Minh City’s largest factories, Coats Phong Phu (a thread producing company). Here, the Managing Director talked about the future of Coats and how they aim to deal with a changing market. This was followed by a tour of the factory, which for many of us changed our views on factories in South East Asia. In the afternoon we visited the War Remnants Museum, a harrowing experience that shed light on the horrors of the Vietnam War.
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GERMAN STUDENTS PERFORM DÜRRENMATT’S
DER BESUCH DER ALTEN DAME
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Students studying German gave excellent performances of Der Besuch der alten Dame by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, successfully projecting the play’s heady mix of slapstick and cold calculation, levity and horror.
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Multimillionaire heiress Claire Zachanassian (Audrey Reber) returns to the poverty-stricken town of her youth with a horrific bargain: in exchange for using her immense wealth to restore the town to prosperity, she wants the inhabitants to murder the man who jilted her. Amar Bawa as Alfred Ill portrayed the character’s powerlessness and incredulity at the hypocrisy of his fellow citizens, as the story lurches to its inevitable, chilling conclusion. The whole cast, and their director Mrs Brooks, are to be congratulated on a fine achievement!
CCF
CCF FIELD DAY, PIRBRIGHT Cadets from the St Benedict’s Combined Cadet Corps spent 36 hours in the field at Pirbright Army Training Area, Surrey, in October. Seventy cadets from Upper 4th to Upper 6th conducted low level section and platoon skills, varying from navigation (day and night), section attacks and living in the field (preparing food/shelters). Our senior cadets gained experience towards the Red Star training level, which includes bushcraft, map and compass, marksmanship, public speaking, leadership, citizenship and physical fitness. Red Star qualified cadets are the model for new cadets and demonstrate skills to new recruits.
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RUSSIA HISTORY TRIP TO
In October, pupils from the Upper 5th to the Upper 6th flew to Russia for the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Russian Revolution.
We visited the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad War Memorial and Museum, where we learnt of the hardship and famine experienced by millions during the Leningrad Blockade from 1941 to 1944. Afterwards, a night tour of the city gave us a rounded view of the lively, dynamic and European-like nature of St Petersburg.
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The second day began with a visit to the Cruiser Aurora, a vital battleship used by the Russian naval forces during the Russo-Japanese war. The
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Aurora was also used through the First World War, patrolling the Baltic Sea, and later in the Second World War as a major training ship. Later, we travelled to Finland Station in Lenin Square, where Vladimir Lenin returned on the 16th April 1917 after his exile in Switzerland, to start organising the momentous October Revolution. This is commemorated by a large statue of Lenin just outside the station. We then visited the Hermitage Museum, the largest museum of art and culture in the world, followed by an evening at the Mariinsky theatre to watch a production of Giselle. The traditional choreography that has been passed to the current production derives mostly from early 20th century choreography for the Imperial Ballet in St Petersburg, and reveals the strong connection the city has to this ballet.
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ST PETERSBURG
Our trip to St Petersburg really highlighted the importance to the Russian people of their past. Our tour guide often alluded to the complexity of Russia’s history; how you cannot generalize every person’s experience of a ruler as every individual’s perception of each ruler is different. This became clear from how revered Lenin is today against the more cryptic way in which Stalin is remembered. St Petersburg gave all of us an insight into Russia’s deep history, from Tsarism to Vladimir Putin, and allowed us to experience the fascinating Russian culture. Maddie Tipping (Upper 6th)
MOSCOW Driving around the city we were able to see specific Russian architecture such as Khrushchev and Stalinist buildings. Passing the impressive cathedrals and buildings of significance such as the FSB (formerly KGB) headquarters gave us a visual representation of Russia’s complex history. The absence of windows at the top of this building was an eerie reminder of some of the more gruesome periods of Russian history. Next day, we headed to the sculpture park, housing many of the statues that had been situated around Moscow: towering statues of Stalin as well as the busts of significant Communist figures. It demonstrated that the Russian people do not forget the past, but don’t celebrate it either. In the Russian metro, we were all surprised at the incredibly elaborate chandeliers and mosaics presenting Socialist realism pictures. Not quite the Ealing Broadway station we are used to. In Red Square we were able to visit beautiful cathedrals such as St Basil’s, building on our knowledge of the Tsarist history we had explored in St Petersburg when visiting some of the graves of the other Russian Tsars and the ornate architecture.
The experience of visiting Lenin’s Mausoleum was truly terrifying. Under the watchful eye of the Russian military we were able to quickly walk around the low lit room that held Lenin’s body. This taught us how significant Lenin’s fundamental changes to Russia were, highlighted by how the Russian people still have his body immortalised, contrasting with the removal of many statues of Stalin to the NHVD park. The buildings of the Kremlin were next on the agenda. We saw many of the places Putin now frequents, but also the still existing Communist buildings. The next day we visited the New Tretyakov Gallery which held many examples of Socialist art and how it changed through the period. We saw examples of Communist propaganda and socialist realism, giving us an idea of the kind of lifestyle and culture experienced at the time. On the flight home we were able to reflect on how the history of Russia is still highly significant today, and how the consequences of those events are still evident in Russia’s current government and culture. Dulcie Godfrey (Upper 6th)
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Our third day began with a trip to the Peter and Paul Fortress, founded by Peter the Great in 1703, and used as an execution ground for Bolshevik forces; from 1918 to 1921 at least 112 people including 4 Dukes were killed there. We went inside the beautifully decorated cathedral, now a museum. The Church of the Saviour of Spilled Blood was our next stop, built upon the site where Alexander II was fatally wounded by political activists in 1881. The church was built between 1883 and 1907 under Alexander III. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, the church was ransacked, and closed in 1932, later becoming a temporary morgue during the Second World War for many of those who died during the Siege. We were also able to see the Smolny Institute, the building chosen by Lenin as the main Bolshevik headquarters during the October Revolution. The institute was also the place of Sergei Kirov’s execution, a prominent Bolshevik leader who was allegedly purged by Stalin in 1934. Following this, we visited the Museum of the Political History of Russia, where our guide told us how central these offices were to the events of revolution in 1917. It was a vital planning and coordination point for the Bolsheviks, and we saw much of the Bolshevik propaganda of the 1920s, as well as Revolutionary banners of 1917. There were many temporary exhibitions set up, with memorial rooms such as Lenin’s Study and the Room of the Secretariat of the Central Committee. These provided us with a realistic idea of the lead up to revolution.
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MALAYSIA THE ST BENEDICT’S HOCKEY AND NETBALL TOUR TO
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St Benedict’s Hockey and Netball teams went on a highly successful tour to Malaysia this summer. Twenty senior girls took part in daily fixtures and training sessions. The actionpacked itinerary introduced them to the vibrancy, culture and variety of Malaysia; it included a rainforest trek, white-water rafting and a trip to the Orang-Utan Island conservation centre.
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LORD PATTEN MEETS THE ST BENEDICT’S SCHOLARS Lord Patten of Barnes, alumnus, Patron of the School and Chancellor of Oxford University, attended the annual Scholars’ Evening in November. In his address, he said that he had been “wonderfully happily educated at St Benedict’s”, adding that it had formed his “strong view of what schools should be like.” The evening began with an outline of the Academic Challenge programme at St Benedict’s, given by Mr Stefan Scicinski. This wide-ranging programme, which includes various lively discussion forums, independent research projects and academic talks, is designed to challenge all pupils intellectually throughout the school.
ST BENEDICT’S NEWS
The new Lower 6th academic scholars were presented with their awards by Lord Patten, Abbott Martin Shipperlee and the Headmaster, Mr Johnson.
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Three Upper 6th Patten scholars then gave presentations, in which they explained how their awards had enabled them to develop their academic interests. Matthew Barrett, who wants to study German at university, described how the immersive experience of a two week intensive German course in Vienna had improved his ability to speak the language. Victoria Szymanska, who hopes to study Medicine, spoke about a course for aspiring medics she
had attended at Imperial College. Finally, Aine McColgan gave an inspiring presentation about what it means to be a scholar, encouraging the younger scholars in the audience to be curious, active and independent in their learning and to challenge themselves intellectually at every opportunity – through Oxbridge essay competitions, masterclasses and courses. Aine, who wants to study Natural Sciences at university, had organised a group trip to a lecture on particle physics, given by CERN. She is this year’s winner of Lord Patten’s prize for outstanding scholarship.
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I am delighted to see that St Benedict’s is in such good hands. It has been the greatest pleasure to hear what these young people have been doing and I wish them, and all the other scholars, the very best of luck. Lord Patten
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Lower 6th Academic Scholars 2017 Patten Scholars Fernanda Da Silva Max Lubowiecki Conor Moon Paulina Sienniak Sixth Form Academic Exhibition William Adams Eddie Bannister Emily Baynes Abbot Scholars Phoebe Daly-Jones Jules Dehon Coel Ellis Sam Symes
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St Benedict’s
Book Week 2017
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Pupils throughout the school celebrated Book Week just before half term. A range of activities included author visits, creative writing workshops, times to ‘Drop Everything and Read’, lunchtime storytelling and competitions.
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In the Senior School, Ruth Eastham talked about her book The Messenger Bird, a Bletchley Park wartime riddle. The theme of extreme adventure came next, with Matt Dickinson introducing his Everest Files series. Candy Gourlay talked about her book Shine, an atmospheric tale of a young girl’s muteness and isolation; this contrasted with Tall Story, a humorous story about clashing cultures and sibling relationships. Junior School children attended workshops with enthusiastic author-illustrators – Chloe Inkpen, David Lucas, and Knife and Packer, creators of Badly Drawn Beth.
David Lucas, using his book Grendel as guide, demonstrated to the Junior School how stories in picture books are structured and developed.
Book characters parade
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Chloe Inkpen read from her Zoe and Beans stories, and showed how eyes can change a character’s mood.
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Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold expedition in Snowdonia Nineteen Upper 6th students successfully completed their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award qualifying expedition in September, in the Snowdonia National Park, trekking for 4 days in the Rhinogydd mountains. The Rhinogs are exceptionally rugged, wild and isolated. Mrs Comins, who co-ordinates the Gold expeditions at St Benedict’s, said: “Everyone did brilliantly in extremely tough conditions, with torrential rain turning paths into rivers. They worked as a team throughout, and were the best example of what DofE is all about.”
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DofE EXPED
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They worked as a team throughout, and were the best example of what DofE is all about.
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EDITIONS Forty-two Upper 5th students carried out their Silver practice expedition in October, covering a distance of 37kms over 48 hours. The weather was kind and the temperature on day two rose to the low 70s! This was excellent preparation for the qualifying expedition in June, after their exams.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme is going from strength to strength at St Benedict’s, with record numbers of students aged 13 to 18 taking part. Bronze, Silver and Gold awards consist of different challenges: Skills, Physical, Volunteering, Expedition and, for the Gold award, a Residential activity.
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Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver expedition in the Chiltern Hills
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Classics Trip
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In October, pupils from Upper 4th to the Sixth Form embarked on a trip to Greece. In Athens, we made our way up to Areopagus where Mr Hullis gave a brief history of Athens in the time of the Ancient Greeks. We were awestruck at the views of the Acropolis and the modern city. On the second day we enjoyed sitting in the Theatre of Dionysus, and imagining the many plays that were first performed there, as well as the walk up to the top of the Acropolis. All of us were very enthusiastic about seeing the Parthenon and once again we all loved the views. After lunch, we went to the Agora, and ended the day by going to the National Archaeological Museum. On the third day we travelled over the magnificent Corinth canal to Corinth, where we learned more about the everyday life of the Achaeans. We then went to the ancient site of Epidauros, to visit the Sanctuary of Asklepios, where those with various ailments would pray to be healed. The incredible theatre of Epidauros astounded us all; everyone was truly amazed by the acoustics, which we tested by reading the messenger speech from Oedipus the King. The next day began with a trip to the prehistoric fortress of Mycenae, before visiting Tiryns, where a successful attack would be almost impossible, due to its ingenious architecture. At the Palamidi Fortress in Napflion, we walked down a thousand steps to have lunch in the town, before a long coach journey to Olympia. We woke up to a
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glorious sunrise and speedily made our way down to the site of the Olympic games where we participated in our own Olympic running race. Then we started our own odyssey to Delphi, arriving just as the sun was setting over the valley. After dinner Mr Hullis led us to the Castalian Fountain, where the ancients would wash away their sins
before entering the religious sanctuary of Delphi. This fascinating trip ended with a visit to the stunning monastery of Oisos Loukas, and Cape Sunion, where we encountered the wrath of Poseidon at his very own temple, as the wind and rain pelted down on us. Paulina Sienniak (Lower 6th)
Upper Prep explore the world of ‘Swords and Sandals’ This term’s topic began with a trip to the Verulamium Museum, St. Albans. Handling Roman artefacts, the children were able to imagine what life was like for the citizens of Verulamium. They also learned about the Celts, before the Roman invasion. The wonderful collection of mosaics vividly depicted many aspects of Roman life, from entertainment to burial of the dead, and a short walk up the hill to see the Hypocaust allowed them to see a Roman underfloor heating system.
Everyone designed and made their own Roman coins in Art
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The St Cecilia Concert The annual St Cecilia Concert was an evening of excellent solo and ensemble performances, given by St Benedict’s musicians from Form 3 to the Upper 6th. The programme opened with the St Benedict’s Orchestra, performing Bizet’s Farandole from L’Arlésienne Suite No 2, with great panache and conviction. This was followed by Kate Gibson, singing Gilbert and Sullivan’s Love is a plaintive song. Other solos included Carla Boulter’s crisp performance of Bach’s Gigue (piano); Jack Edis, playing the haunting saxophone Aria by Bozza; and Molly Williams’ expressive performance of Vivaldi’s Cello Sonata No 3 in A minor. Douglas Ashby performed the mysterious Fabian Theory by Westlake on Marimba, with electronic digital delays.
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The ever popular Jazz Choir shimmied their way through White Winter Hymnal (Fleet Foxes), while PAFTIES sang lush arrangements of Something in the way she moves and I dreamed a dream from Les Misérables.
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There was excellent ensemble playing from the Clarinet Ensemble (Boccherini and Brahms); String Ensemble (Corelli); Wind Band (Bill Haley’s Rock around the Clock) and Senior Percussion Ensemble (Monti’s Czardas). The Middle School Percussion Ensemble performed Brazilian composer Rosauro’s
Concerto for Marimba, with Duncan Ashby as soloist. (He performed this, and more, the following day, in round 2 of the Young Musician of the Year competition.) The concert concluded with the wonderful Big Band, playing Shake it off and Billie Jean.
The St Benedict’s Concert Choir gave a moving performance of Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace and Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel in the Abbey Church on November 11th.
GIRLS’ HOCKEY
U9s hockey team
The Junior School girls’ hockey season has progressed well. We have some real talent in Forms 1 and 2, and emerging talent bodes well for hockey at St Benedict’s. The highlight has been in our Junior School tournament. The girls played exceptionally well, but three successive 0-0 draws meant they missed out on a semi-final place on goal difference. The U9s are working hard to enhance their hockey skills, preparing to play some fixtures to show off their skills.
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JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORT RUGBY The Junior School boys have made a good start to the new rugby season, playing a number of competitive fixtures and showing excellent commitment and potential. Amongst the highlights are the performances of the U10s against Eltham College, the U11s playing St John’s Northwood and the development of all boys new to rugby. We look forward to seeing how the U9s perform in their first competitive fixture for the school.
did extremely well, and the combined scores of the boys and girls placed St Benedict’s 3rd overall – an amazing achievement.
Jake Bridge
Jake Bridge won a Gold medal for coming in 1st place in the Year 6 boys’ race. Kara Larkam came in 3rd place in the Year 5 girls’ race, achieving a Bronze medal.
SWIMMING The Junior School swimming squad had another opportunity to meet the Brownlee Brothers at the Willesden Sports Centre, where each of the children participated in a mini triathlon. A mixed St Benedict’s team competed against St Paul’s Junior School, finishing in a draw. Of note was William Curd’s convincing win in the Breaststroke and Thomas Kottler’s win in the Backstroke (both in Form 1). The squad also took part in the London Schools League Heats.
The U11s played in a festival hosted by Haileybury at Allianz Park. Not only did the boys get to play in a Premiership stadium, they were also refereed by a former British and Irish Lion! The boys played some excellent rugby, and special mentions go to David Shenas, Jonny Connery and, man of the day, Felix Brooks.
In October, Ealing Primary School Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country Championships took place at Berkeley Fields in Greenford. There was strong competition, with 35 boys and girls taking part from each school across the borough. Our pupils
ST BENEDICT’S NEWS
CROSS COUNTRY
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ST BENEDICT’S
SENIOR SCHOOL SPORT RUGBY
ST BENEDICT’S NEWS
The Rugby Programme has continued to develop with Mr Higgins, who is a welcome addition to the coaching team, bringing years of experience.
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In total the St Benedict’s Senior School will take part in excess of 170 rugby fixtures, ranging from the U12C team to the 1st XV. The school has already seen noticeable success, with our U15s showing a very strong win over Harrow in the first round of the National Schools Cup, and the new intake of U12s showing huge promise, with wins over King’s College School, Wimbledon and St George’s Weybridge. The 1st XV and U16As also played Seaford College in a floodlit game at Cobham RFC – a unique experience. The U13s won the Middlesex Plate on November 27th, defeating University College School, Cardinal Vaughan, Latymer and Fulham Boys. The team displayed resilience and showed real progress from last year’s festival.
The Middlesex Cup winning U12s team
The U12s won the Middlesex Cup on November 29th defeating Gunnersbury, Haberdashers Askes, Orleans Park, London Oratory and Hampton. The boys maintained high
standards throughout the day and worked hard for each other. It is really pleasing to see our links with London Irish RFC develop, with
GIRLS’ HOCKEY The season has progressed well at St Benedict’s with some excellent performances and memorable wins this year. The highlight was the U13A squad’s victory at the St Edmund’s Tournament, playing 7 matches, winning 4 and drawing 3. There were many outstanding performances, but Natalia McFadzean and Rosa O’Haire were declared joint players of the tournament. Two of our Middlesex Tournament squads – the U14s and U18s – were 1 goal and 1 win from being crowned Middlesex Champions. With growing confidence, we hope to go one step better next season.
NETBALL In true St Benedict’s netball style the girls were thrown in at the deep end with preparations for the Middlesex cup tournament in the first week of the academic year. The 1st VII took to the court, led by their captain Jolie Bediako: an extremely strong pool encouraged the utmost determination, motivation and effort from each of our girls, and it certainly paid off. Not only were the score lines narrower than ever but they came away with a notable victory over Godolphin & Latymer. Sadly goal difference saw the 1st VII placed just below the qualifying schools, but to have achieved so much
so early on is a true testimony to the girls’ commitment.
teams and we have seen the number of girls fencing double since last year.
We are proud to say that U16 Isabella Pye is now a member of the U19 Hertfordshire Mavericks Performance Squad, in addition to playing in the 1st VII squad for Middlesex Cup.
In Epee, Amy Vaughan (Lower 5th), Irene Linares-Perales (Upper 5th), Oscar Linares-Perales (Lower 6th), Marcello Jastrzebski and Lorcan O’Brien (Upper 6th) have become the first fencers to lead a new Epee only squad. While St Benedict’s have dominated the School Foil Fencing scene we are yet to achieve the same success in Epee.
November was the turn of the U15 squad. Joined by some U14s (Grace Aimable-Lina, Tallulah Pilgrim and Juliette Agrotis) the U15s faced the toughest of pools including previous winners St Paul’s, LEH & Godolphin and Latymer. Through wind and rain the U15s played some exciting games with plenty of extremely promising phases of play.
In the Middle School, Catherine Lawson and Dexter Shelmerdine have both brought back silverware in their U14 age category when competing regionally.
FENCING Over 40 team matches have taken place against other schools and fencing clubs, involving more than 130 pupils. St Benedict’s teams have won the overwhelming majority of fixtures this term, with the Foil A team undefeated. The majority of fencers have been training at games to complete their relative fencing level achievements, with fencers aiming to reach level 4 in more than one weapon for the first time. On an individual level, Douggie Ashby is now firmly on the National U20 Squad for Foil and is competing on both the national and international U20 circuit. Alberto Mascioli is comfortably in the top 3 of the U15 national rankings and both he and Duncan Ashby are often making the Foil squad. New school captain Fernanda Da Silva (Lower 6th) has invigorated the girls’
BOYS’ HOCKEY Alex Curtis (Upper 6th) was selected for the USA U18 junior men’s hockey squad in December 2016 and has since been selected for the U21 squad. He has played in Europe, and in the prestigious Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia in October, one of the most important tournaments in the junior hockey calendar. He has just returned from Los Angeles, where the USA squad won overall, defeating Canada for the first time in 10 years!
Top row: Fernanda Da Silva, Douggie Ashby Bottom row: Isabella Pye, Alberto Mascioli
CROSS COUNTRY 24 boys and girls from Form 3 to Upper 5th competed in the Ealing Cross Country. St Benedict’s pupils all performed exceptionally well, particularly the Form 3 boys: George Simpson came 1st, Otto Lawrence 2nd, Samuel Manufor 3rd and Tyler Offiah 5th. Three pupils were selected for the London Youth Games Cross Country at Parliament Hill, on the strength of their performances: Francesca Newbold (Form 3) ran for Hounslow Borough. Oscar Jones (Lower 5th) and Emily Nicholson-Stanwix (Upper 5th) were selected for Ealing.
ST BENEDICT’S NEWS
6 players involved in their Developing Player Programme and a further 2 progressing to their Silver Level of the London Irish Academy Elite Player Development Programme/RFU National Academy.
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Hampton Court Here, the children explored the world of Henry VIII and took part in a drama workshop based on Tudor exploration. “The palace was amazingly well preserved and very beautiful.” “The best thing about Hampton Court Palace was by far the astronomical clock, as it was advanced, accurate and hypnotic.” “Hampton Court is full of rooms. Thomas Wolsey is shown to be rich, by saying, as he built the Palace, that every brick would cost £10.” “I found it fascinating, finding out about all the secrets of the Palace, like the ghost story of Catherine Howard.”
TRAVEL & TREASON TRIPS Forms 1 and 2 have been studying the Wars of the Roses, Tudor England and the Elizabethans this term. Various trips and activities have brought their learning to life.
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All aboard the Golden Hinde Next, they visited the Golden Hinde, the Tudor galleon captained by Sir Francis Drake. The children learned about Elizabethan England, Drake’s circumnavigation of the globe, how the Golden Hinde was sailed, and about life at sea.
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“I was amazed at how big the Golden Hinde was, I didn’t realise Tudor ships were so big.” “It was very interesting learning about the battles Francis Drake had with the Spanish.” “It was interesting learning all the facts about the punishments, such as putting your hand against the wood and having to stand there for 4 hours.”
ST BENEDICT’S NEWS
Some of the musicians from Forms 1 and 2 who performed in the Junior School Soloists’ Concert
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THE ST BENEDICT’S
ST BENEDICT’S NEWS
CAREERS FAIR
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The St Benedict’s Careers Fair, on November 30th, was a huge success, providing a unique opportunity for pupils to explore their possible futures and career pathways.
Quinn (OP10) talked about the grit behind the glamour of a career in theatre, and described their route, via university, from St Benedict’s to professional theatre.
Over 150 companies took part, offering advice and expertise on a range of careers from accountancy to archaeology, music to medicine. Six expert speakers gave presentations on law, careers in academia, creative industries, STEM, theatre and interview techniques. The evening concluded with a keynote speech from Spotify’s Global Agency Lead, Pete Beeney. Devised by the Careers Department and Development Office, this large-scale event drew on the expertise and experience of former students, parents, major companies and national organisations.
For the first time, the St Benedict’s Careers Fair included information and advice on Higher Level apprenticeship and sponsored degrees as alternatives to traditional university routes. A representative from National Apprenticeship Services and six apprentices came to talk about a range of programmes, including Jaguar Land Rover, top law firm Dentons and JLL, a global professional services and investment management company employing 60,000 staff.
St Benedict’s students and parents had a wide choice of presentations to attend. His Honour Judge Robin Bedford gave a unique insight into pursuing a career in law. ‘Careers in the Creative Industries’ was delivered by Bassistry Ltd, who began their presentation with a live musical performance; the company provides award winning music experiences for children throughout the UK, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and the USA. Dr Richard Curtis, former senior lecturer at King’s College, spoke about careers in academia; ‘Women and STEM’ was presented by Professor Barbara Shollock from Warwick University, focusing on engineering, applied science and innovation. There was invaluable advice on ‘How to Succeed at Interviews’, given by media coach Kate Chacksfield. Oran Doyle and Rory
Finally, Pete Beeney spoke about his career path, from a Geography degree to becoming Spotify’s Global Agency Lead. Being open to opportunities, personal growth and his own instincts had led him to the top of one of the world’s most successful companies, he said, rather than “a grand life plan.” Realising that he “didn’t love” the highly paid jobs in publishing and advertising of his early career, he took a risk and a 50% cut in salary to join a new online tailoring business – “an incredible learning experience which gave me the first opportunity to trust my own instincts.” Recognising that Spotify offered further opportunities for personal growth, risk taking and the chance to be “part of the journey”, he joined the company, which now has over 140 million active monthly users and 4,000 employees since its launch in 2008. “The ability to turn up and work hard is of massive value” he told St Benedict’s students, who asked many questions at the end.
“The ability to turn up and work hard is of massive value. Pete Beeney, Global Agency Lead, Spotify
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Development Director Mrs Tara George, Pete Beeney and Head of Careers Mrs Sally Hopgood
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Two outstanding Middle and Upper School drama productions gave audiences plenty to think about, on 22nd and 23rd November. Life in World War I was a moving depiction of life in the trenches and back home, from 1914 to 1918. A cast of 21 girls and boys from Forms 3 to Upper 4th performed a collection of scenes and songs by various writers, including letters exchanged between a lieutenant and his sweetheart, a nurse’s diary of the Somme and Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse and Private Peaceful. Everyone sang and acted to an extremely high standard, with talented individual and ensemble performances drawing the audience in to another time and place. Skilful choreography moved through patriotic fervour and waving off the troops to children’s games and ‘going over the top’ to the scream of whistles. Thoughtful,
sensitive performances, in sepia-tinted light, provided a sombre reminder of the suffering and sacrifice of war, and, with Blackadder at the end, its absurdity. In complete contrast, Bassett asks what we have learned from history, 100 years later. In fact, it screams this question, and many others, from a classroom in Wootton Bassett, as the repatriation of a fallen British soldier quietly takes place outside. An excellent Fifth Form cast conveyed the energy, anger and confusion of a group of teenagers as their Citizenship lesson goes badly wrong: locked in by their hapless supply teacher, they are left to wrestle with the themes of war, adolescence, race and what it means to live in a world of conflict and upheaval. The contrast between the two productions, directed by Mr Gee, created an extremely powerful evening of drama, rich with comedy, pathos, irony, tenderness and impact, with some outstanding, talented performances.
Life in World War I & Bassett
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by James Graham
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ORCHARD HALL
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THE OPENING RECEPTION OF THE NEWLY REFURBISHED ORCHARD HALL
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DEVELOPMENT OFFICE NEWS This term has seen a busy and exciting time for the Development Office. The Careers Fair was a great success thanks to the wonderful support we received from our parents and Old Priorians. We were also very proud to be part of the Richard Baker (OP 59) 70th year celebrations and the institution of the Annual Richard Baker Science Lecture Series. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
Tara George – Development Director
The Inaugural Richard Baker Science Lecture 2017 This term we were delighted to welcome Old Priorians, parents, staff and pupils to the Inaugural Richard Baker Science Lecture in celebration of Richard Baker’s (OP 1959) life-long association with the School as a much loved pupil, teacher and volunteer.
Annual Fund 2017 We will be working hard to deliver these projects over the course of the coming year and are looking forward to hosting fundraising events such as the annual Jazz Soirée and Sports Dinner, which I hope you will consider supporting. Thank you to our families who have generously contributed to the fund so far. Thanks to the generosity of one of our families, we are now in a position to purchase new cricket covers for our second pitch. War Memorial Fund I am delighted to confirm we have now reached our goal of raising £10,000 for the refurbishment of the St Benedict’s War memorial. We have commissioned a solid oak memorial which will be unveiled in the Cloisters on November 11th 2018, the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. Thank you to everyone who has supported the project and, in particular, to our hard working parental committee. Careers Fair Breakfast – Katie Wilmott (OP 02) In September we were delighted to welcome back Katie Wilmott to host our first Careers Breakfast of the academic year. Katie offered our students a detailed insight into a career in Architecture and great advice on the different pathways available into the profession.
Dr Francis Cuss and Mr Richard Baker
The lecture, aptly titled Science Education: more important than ever, was extremely well received and covered many fascinating scientific insights including curing Hepatitis C and harnessing the immune system to treat cancer.
Victoria Szymanska, Upper 6th, opened the evening with an impressive presentation of her EPQ project: To what extent does prenatal music exposure affect the development of a foetus? The Junior School Headmaster, Rob Simmons (OP 1987) closed the evening with a fitting tribute to Richard with the announcement of “The Baker Lab” to honour and commemorate Richard’s 70 years at St Benedict’s.
Forthcoming Events: The Old Priorian Annual Reunion Oxford and Cambridge Dinner War Memorial Lecture: The Remembrance revolution – How the Work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission forever changed the way we remember the War Dead. Annual Jazz Soirée Old Priorian Mentoring & Networking evening: The EPQ, Why Bother? The Old Priorian Annual Dinner
ST BENEDICT’S NEWS
The Richard Baker Science Lectures have been very generously endowed by Dr Francis Cuss MA, FRCP (OP 1972). Francis, a former chemistry pupil of Richard’s, attributes much of his passion for science and his personally satisfying career in medical research, to Richard’s inspirational teaching.
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