The Portmuthian, Spring 2024

Contents page

Welcome to PGS New Staff

Department News

Computing

Drama

English

Geography

Languages

Music

Physics

Sport

House News

House Drama

House Music

House Shout

School News

First PGS Girls Rugby Team

World Book Day

Multifaith Room

Year 9 Enterprise Day

CCF Cadets

Years 5 - 7 Trip to Parliament

Ides of March Lecture

Creative Writing

In the Junior School

Toy Swap

Year 1 Pirate Day

Year 6 Senior School Clubs Taster

Year 4 Robots & Sustainability Day

Superhero Day

Southsea Coastal Scheme visit Year 5

Introduction

Greetings to the vibrant and ever-supportive community at The Portsmouth Grammar School.

As we step into the blossoming embrace of spring, it brings me immense joy to introduce the eagerly awaited Spring Edition of The Portmuthian. This edition is not just a collection of words and images; it is a testament to the creativity, passion, and dedication of the incredible individuals who have poured their hearts into its creation.

I am delighted to extend my deepest gratitude to the dynamic quartet of Fola, Sabiha, Dawn, and Sophia Their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts have been the driving force behind bringing this edition to life Each of them has brought a unique perspective, talent, and energy to the editorial process, ensuring that the magazine reflects the vibrant spirit of our school community

The theme for this term's edition is 'Present,' and it goes beyond a mere word – it encapsulates the essence of the diverse experiences, stories, and talents that make up our school As you flip through the pages, you will embark on a journey that captures the present moment, showcasing the achievements, aspirations, and the rich tapestry of life at The Portsmouth Grammar School

The Portmuthian has always been a platform for the voices of our students, and this edition is no exception It is a celebration of the present – a snapshot of the achievements and endeavours that define this moment in time From insightful articles to captivating artwork, each contribution is a testament to the brilliance that resides within our school community I invite you to immerse yourself in the pages of this edition, to appreciate the talents and accomplishments of our students, and to witness the vibrant tapestry of life at The Portsmouth Grammar School Special thanks to all the contributors, whose dedication has made this magazine a true reflection of our school's spirit

As we celebrate the present, let us also look forward to the future with optimism, embracing the opportunities that lie ahead Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you enjoy this edition of The Portmuthian

Warm regards,

Miss Rebecca Champion, Editor-in-Chief, The Portmuthian

Your Editors

Sophia, Fola, Sabiha, Dawn and Miss Champion

Welcome! Welcome!

Mr Richard Bristow Senior Deputy Head

What made you want to work in this school?

It was just such an exciting opportunity PGS is one of those schools that when you walk through the arches you just have such a sense of community, and there’s very few schools in the world that actually have that, and I really felt that on the first day Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and there’s something really powerful about that Plus my surname is in the name of the Science Centre here, which is a bit bizarre

What are you most looking forward to at PGS?

I think the thing I’m most looking forward to is getting to know all the pupils and all the staff. My job here is huge, as the Senior Deputy Head my entire job is basically deputising when the Head

can’t be here, so getting to know people and there’s a lot of people to get to know, is probably the bit I’m most looking forward to

And what have you enjoyed most about working at PGS so far?

I’ve enjoyed teaching and I’ve enjoyed getting to know the pupils and staff Understanding more about what makes them tick, and what makes PGS such a special place for them, so that I can see PGS through their eyes as well is important for me.

What subject do you teach?

I teach music.

What are three books that you would read over and over again?

That is a challenging one! So, this is a bit dark, but I absolutely love reading 1984. I was introduced to it by my English teacher in Year 9, which was ages ago! There’s just so much you can come back to and the language is so colourful throughout it. I also enjoy reading short stories, Graham Greene’s short stories are something that will stay with me for a long time, and Ian McEwan’s short stories are also powerful. I think I’d probably have to add in my guilty pleasure reading, there’s a set of books that Scott Mariani has written, called Ben Hope, and it is basically just ideal holiday reading, because there’s nothing intellectual about them, they’re just really easy to read stories and there’s about 50 of them, so it’s perfect

What would you say has been your most valuable life experience?

I genuinely believe that in life we all have a certain amount of “stuff” that we have to go through Some people have to go through that very early in life, other people go through it much later in life So my most valuable experience would be to always forgive, to not hold a grudge, and to move on There is something powerful in just letting things go, and just having that forward movement that allows you to move onwards in life in whatever regard Linked to that is the idea of passion - if you can be in the position where during your time at school you can really figure out what you ’ re passionate about, that’s a really good place to be and has the potential to set you up for the rest of your life

What made you go into teaching?

I just always wanted to be a teacher, or maybe a pilot When I was making my A level choices, the September 11th attacks in America had just happened, I’d just started my A levels, and I was doing a variety of different sciences I decided then that that wasn’t the right path for me so I switched and did English, History and Music,

a total reverse I do love the sciences, I think there’s something really beautiful about them, but just making that decision was important so that I could be true to myself On reflection I believe initially I felt like I should be following a career path why did I want to become a pilot? I wanted to do it because at the time I believed it was a career that would earn me lots of money That wasn’t the right motivation Instead, I decided I wanted to become a teacher I loved the idea of helping people, of inspiring that next generation It is a privilege to be able to help people every day.

If you didn’t teach your subject, which subject would you teach?

History, one hundred percent.

So what’s your favourite thing about your subject?

For me, music is one of those subjects that links to many different things. You can look at the science behind music, you can look at the history of music, it has a geographical implication. Music takes all these different subjects and works with them and I just think that is really beautiful.

Mr James Valente Head of English

What made you want to work in this school?

I’ve lived in Portsmouth for 5 years now and have always wanted to work here Previously, I spent over 2 hours everyday travelling back and forth to work at a school in Sussex, so when a job became available at a school with a great reputation like that of PGS, and so close to home, I jumped at the opportunity.

What are you most looking forward to at PGS?

It is always fun getting to know new classes, and trying things out in lessons that I haven’t before. PGS has so many facilities and opportunities that I hope to be able to try some of them out! I’m hoping that I can help raise the profile of the English department even further and help to make a real difference to the way we study English here

What are three books that you’d read over and over again?

It’s very hard to narrow down to just three books I have lots of books which I love, but am not sure I could read again and again. Also, they change all the time! I’ll give you an idea of some which I have read more than once below:

1 To Kill a Mockingbird – many of you will have read this book which is about relationships between people of different races, classes and ages in the American South in the 20th century

2 The Lord of the Rings – an absolute classic of the fantasy genre I’m a huge fan of Tolkein’s work and this is one of the few books I’d read and re-read multiple times while I was still at school

3.Naruto – I’m going to cheat and include a whole series here because I’m a manga geek and love to read them any chance I get. Naruto was the series that introduced me to the genre at least 20 years ago.

What has been your most valuable life experience so far?

About 10 years ago, I spent a couple of months working at an orphanage in Southern India While it was a demanding and sometimes difficult experience, it also taught me about how happy and beautiful life can be, even in challenging circumstances

What made you go into teaching?

I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was a teenager I can’t remember what initially drew me to teaching, whether it was the great holidays or my obsession with stationery, but it probably helps that I quite enjoyed my own time at school

If you didn’t become a teacher, what would you have become?

Something related to either sports or journalism, or a mixture of both Owning a bookshop where I didn’t have to deal with the business side of things would also be fun

If you didn’t teach your subject, what subject would you teach?

I have taught a lot of subjects over the course of my career: Sport, Media Studies, PSE, the Extended Project, History, Latin, Maths, ICT, and one appalling lesson teaching a year 9 food technology group how to make bread. Out of all of them, I think Sport and History are two subjects I’d enjoy teaching the most. I did think I was going to study Maths at university for a long time, so it would be fun to try that out – with the younger years!

What’s your favourite thing about your subject?

I feel like in most subjects, if you don’t like it then that’s it. In English, if you don’t like writing, then there’s reading, if you don’t like reading, then there’s the spoken side of it. If you don’t like Shakespeare, maybe you’d prefer modern literature. If you don’t like poetry, then maybe a play is better for you.

English has limitless possibilities because of the range of topics and genres. I hope that students will find their niche in English, even if they don’t love every part of it.

we have also welcomed...

Mr Jack Collins Development Manager

Mrs Claire Brown Healthcare Assistant

Mr Richard Bryant Head of Finance

Mrs Caroline Corker Teacher of French

Mrs Abigail Jones Senior School Receptionist

Mr Matthew Lewin Teacher of Physics

Mr Lewis Miller Evening Caretaker

Ms Emma Marsh Teacher of Psychology

Mr Rory Gillies Gap Year Assistant

Mr Oliver Nolan-Davies Digital Communications & Marketing Officer

Mrs Gemma Monk Minibus Driver

Miss Kate Brooks Library Assistant

FFarewell arewell

Happiest experience at PGS

Sister Claire Brown has been looking after PGS pupils and staff for 15 years as part of the team in the Health & Wellbeing Centre At the end of this term she leaves PGS to enjoy a very active retirement

Over the years at PGS I have been able to join the Brass Band tours The company of Graham Brown and other members of music, Senior staff and the merry group of Junior School teachers on a coach for a solid 24-hours plus with intermittently excited, tired and vomiting children is something not to be missed Water fights were an integral part of any tour and one year in Austria the staff went suitably tooled up with a collection of super soakers The unsuspecting pupils were lined up in front of the coach for a special photo and then on a count of three the staff appeared on the balconies and a drenching took place, good natured mayhem ensued Our thanks to our amazing hotel host who enjoyed the crazy school having fun

Most embarrassing

As a nurse you have seen and heard most things but this tested my professionalism A senior member of staff sought advice following an unfortunate kayaking accident They indicated the area of concern being the upper thigh area However on going behind the curtain I was greeted by a sight not normally seen by staff Advice and reassurance was duly given, but some sights are always remembered

Colleague who inspired

Over the years I have worked with some amazing healthcare professionals and all have influenced the way I treat people. But what is so clear Is that it’s the team you work and share your day with that inspire you. I have been lucky enough to be part of our small team in the Medical Centre at PGS for 15 years appreciate them all.

Most valuable lesson you have learned from your colleagues

Expect the unexpected and keep an open mind Support, advice, humour can come from staff and pupils who you would least expect

Message to the person taking your place

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

What are your next steps

Retirement was once perms and blue rinses but not for me. I am looking forward to spending more time with family and friends. I am a keen walker and have already walked the IOW Coastal Path and a section of Camino de Santiago de Compostella and South Downs Way but there’s so much more to explore.

FFarewell arewell

Some of you may have the misfortune to see me out running (well trotting along) and so I plan to continue this and I am joining friends in a triathlon in June Not sure how stiff the competition will be in the over 60’s section! Hopefully holidays galore already planned, Verona, Argentina and the Amalfi coast this year I could go on but don’t want to inspire jealousy

Will you miss PGS

My three children were at PGS from reception Into sixth form so I have been on the school run for 26 years, so it’s hard to imagine breaking the tie. I guess that’s a miss?

What was the most unexpected you ’ ve had to do as a nurse?

A pupil came the Medical Centre saying they had two metal balls up their nose. A torch suitably positioned confirmed this. Luckily they were not unwell and explained they were magnetic and part of a game and somehow (one has to wonder) one went up the nostril and the other followed. Despite the ever increasing size of magnets supplied by Science Department and tantalisingly close success, a call had to made to the parents who were somewhat disbelieving. A trip to A&E and they were removed and congratulations given on our valiant attempts.

What is the weirdest thing you ’ ve heard in the Medical Centre?

Not weird but rather sweet On a couple of occasions pupils have asked if I am a nun, the sister title can be a little confusing I guess, however all those who know me would agree It’s an easy mistake to make

we also say farewell to...

Mrs Alison Cross, Co-ordinator of Alumni & Career Initiatives, Head of Whitcombe House and Teacher of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Mrs Lynsey Curtis, Junior School Form Teacher

Mrs Louise Dean, Junior School Form Teacher

Mr James Gulliford, Director of the Senior School Play

Mr Matt Oliver, Systems Administrator

Mrs Cindy Peche, Head of Finance

Mrs Joanna Pettitt, Bursar’s PA

Department Department News News

Chemical Olympics

Each year, around thirty of our A Level Chemists take part in the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad competition.

This consists of a tough, 2-hour paper that is designed to stretch even the very best Year 13s. The questions cover topics that are typically studied in the first year of a Chemistry Degree, although some more accessible A Level style material is included too A score of around about 40% is needed to secure a Gold Certificate, with Silver and Bronze awards being available too At PGS we always encourage Year 12s to partake alongside the Year 13s, as many of our Year 12s will score Bronze, Silver or even Gold Certificates Whilst this is a satisfying achievement in itself, it also helps their Chemistry learning more generally and makes a valuable contribution to their UCAS application This year, whilst the highest PGS score was obtained by Year 13 Henry B, one Year 12 pupil, Harry C, also achieved a resounding Gold, scoring substantially over the grade boundary of 30 marks.

Harry commented “Chemistry clubs have been instrumental in my preparation, [because at these] we tackled complex syntheses and [past] Olympiad questions.” This year, for the first time ever at PGS, two Year 11s took part in the competition; Aryan A and Jack G Greatly exceeding our expectations, Aryan scored Bronze and Jack a stunning Gold These were both exceptional achievements, especially Jack’s, as he scored the third highest score out of all the PGS entrants this year. With this Olympiad out of the way, preparation continues for a second competition in June organised by the University of Cambridge; the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge We look forward to another high uptake from our Year 11 and 12 pupils, and to many excellent individual performances.

by Dr M Smith

Computing Challenges

Once again all pupils in Year 3-13 Computer Science classes took part in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge in November This is the fifth year the Senior School have linked together with the Junior School and it is very much embedded year on year

In total 568 pupils took part in the Bebras competition I would like to publicly mention Henry B (Year 13) who scored a very impressive 183/200 in the Elite competition Other notable achievements in the Seniors were Harry D (188/200) and Jack G (184/200) In the Intermediates Joshua J scored an impressive 184/200 so a huge congratulations to you all

In the Juniors competition Freddie S (Year 6) achieved the highest score of 184 beating all of Year 6 and Year 7! Overall 15% of PGS pupils qualified for the next stage which is the Oxford University Computing Challenge. The top 10% of pupils from Bebras in the whole country are invited to take part in the Oxford University Computing Challenge so this clearly shows just how well PGS pupils have done in this competition.

The Oxford University Computing Challenge takes Bebras to the next stage and is an extremely challenging Coding Competition. On Tuesday 16th January all those who qualified in Year 6-8 took part. A huge well done to all that took part and especially to the eleven Year 6 pupils who came up to the Senior School to take part in the competition.

Drama Scholars Head Backstage

At the beginning of the Spring term, all the Drama Scholars from Years 7–13 got on the train to Chichester to spend a day at the world-class Chichester Festival Theatre, with a backstage tour in the morning followed by watching the production of the comedy Noises Off in the afternoon

The backstage tour provided us with fascinating insights into the life of the theatre we were shown wigs and costumes from previous productions, learnt about difficult technical feats needed to create set for certain productions (including an enormous water tank beneath the stage), and stood on the famous Olivier Point, where famous 20th century actor and first CFT Artistic Director Laurence Olivier would have glared imposingly out at early audiences

We then had a Q&A with members of the technical team at CFT, who answered our questions about life working at the theatre and informed us on ways to enter the industry After lunch, we attended the theatre’s matinee performance of Noises Off, a farcical comedy play by Michael Frayn; aside from being hilarious, it was also highly intriguing as a piece of theatre given the tour that we had had that morning the play was divided into three acts, an unconventional structure, and the entire set was turned 180° between acts, providing the audience with a view of both sides of the stage over the course of the play The fact that the characters in the play were also actors in the theatre gave us an interesting if extremely hyperbolic impression of what it was like to be involved in such a production although I’m not sure that exactly served to reassure anyone about entering the industry!

Overall, it was a fascinating experience, and it was nice to be able to spend a day with Drama Scholars all the way from Year 7 upwards, helping to integrate all year groups together

Photo courtesy of Pamela Raith

AMONSTERCALLS

The Year 9 - 13 Production, 20th - 22nd March 2024

Running with English

On 15th March, 18 A-Level English pupils headed to Islington’s Almeida Theatre to watch Yaël Farber’s highly acclaimed production of King Lear, with Danny Sapani in the title role.

After a couple of hours of free time to get dinner and walk around Islington (my group found an independent bookshop, where their ‘blind date with a book’ shelf brought us a lot of entertainment), we arrived back at the Almeida to find our seats, where we would spend the length of the production – which, at three and a half hours, was a duration some of us were dreading slightly

Despite this, however, the performance was absolutely phenomenal: the set was fairly minimal, but incredible, with chains lining the back of the stage through which the actors entered and exited, and different key pieces of set serving as recurring motifs for separate subplots, such as a piano for Edmund’s scenes.

The first scene saw the stage arranged in a ring of microphones not dissimilar to a press conference, which Lear subsequently destroyed in his anger having been shunned (or so he perceived) by Cordelia; an intense atmosphere was created in the famous storm scene, where the chains lining the stage were permanently being disturbed and shaken and several violinists provided an ominous sense of catastrophe and foreboding, with one even lying on the ground as he played teetering high notes towards the culmination of all the chaos. The ending was intimately tragic, with Lear in a nightgown weeping over the death of his daughter Cordelia, Edmund dying in parallel with Goneril and Regan, and Kent’s last line so full of sadness that we were immediately reminded how even those who survived were shaken to their core by what had happened.

Surprisingly, however, the play ended on an almost hopeful note, with the Fool coming back to share Edgar’s final soliloquy: the characters then sang together, singing having been used throughout the play, and it felt like an apt conclusion to the long and often harrowing production

The play having ended at 10:30pm, we all flocked to the entrance of the theatre, and took Ms Hart’s instruction to ‘hurry up so we can get on the final train’ a little bit too seriously as we raced through the streets of London to the tube (an action I’m convinced was only possible because of the adrenaline)

On the tube, we all chatted about the play, sharing what we liked and asking some important questions (why did so many characters feel the need to take their shirts off??), and when we finally got on the 23:32 train back to Portsmouth – yes, we did make it to Waterloo on time with about 20 minutes to spare – we were a mixture of very overexcited and very tired that resulted in a general sense of delirium

Thank you so much to Ms Hart, Mrs Burkinshaw and Dr Webb for such an amazing trip – it's definitely one we will remember for a long time

Surveying the Lake District

The Year 12 Geography group travelled to the Lake District this week to experience their Glaciation case study in reality and to learn, practise and revise techniques for their A level Geography coursework component At approximately a 780km round trip, the journey was long and tiring, but what awaited us was well worth the adventure

GlaciationDay- EasedaleTarn

Our first proper day was by far the best as we had the opportunity to visualise what we have been learning about in class. Our three mile walk from the village of Grasmere up to Easedale tarn involved seeing a roche moutonnée, striations, hanging valleys, moraines, a corrie and even one of Wordsworth's houses! Luckily we left the rain behind in Portsmouth and had clear skies for most of the day, which allowed us to properly appreciate the scenic landscape and picturesque views The day ended with a trip to the famous gingerbread shop, followed by a very useful GIS and data presentation workshop after dinner

KeswickDay- ChangingPlacesMakingSpaces

Although the weather wasn’t quite as pleasant, we headed off to Keswick on day two where we collected a large variety of data to back up our hypothesis that the Lake District is the “Adventure Capital UK”. Lunch at the local Keswickian chippy was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone (especially the pigeons). We concluded the day with a quiz which summarised all of our learning from the door codes to the main building to the height of the tallest peak in the Lake District Congratulations to

the Borrowdale Bros (Piers, Ollie and Charlie) for winning- although we suspect there might have been some cheating

Earth’sLifeSupport Systems- Morning

The third morning was by far the most miserable due to high winds and torrential rain However, this didn’t stop us and we learnt and revised some valuable water and carbon cycle data collection methods, techniques and evaluation points which will be really useful for our coursework.

Conclusion

Even with the tunes of Miss Stewart’s Pink playlist ringing permanently in our ears, the trip was thoroughly enjoyable and everyone involved had a good time We would like to give special thanks to Mrs Knott for giving up her mother’s day to come and join us on our adventure, and of course we’d like to thank Miss Stewart. Despite her… questionable taste in music, the trip wouldn’t have been the same without her

Playing Up Languages

The Onatti Theatre Company French Play - January 2024

Year 10 linguists were entertained and engrossed by this year ’ s play in French performed by the visiting Onatti Theatre Company Two French actors raced around the stage, impressively juggling five roles between them, ably supported by two Year 10 volunteers. The play allowed pupils to listen to authentic French for 45 minutes, with comprehension assisted by engaging props and visuals The experience was ideal preparation for Year 10 and GCSE listening exams allowing pupils to concentrate on listening to French for a sustained period of time. After the play the actors led a Q & A session with pupils asking a range of questions in French about the actor’s background and work by

Rosie L & Indie S

The Onatti Theatre Company German Play - January 2024

Year 9 & 10 Germanists were treated to a humorous play by the visiting Onatti Theatre Company Presented entirely in German, the play was made accessible through a combination of homophones, repetition, clarity of speech and props. The two German actors performed four roles between them, and were ably supported by cameo appearances from a select few pupils. The play, an annual fixture in the MFL calendar, allowed pupils to engage with lighthearted target language for 40minutes. The play presented a perfect opportunity for pupils to sharpen their listening skills, particularly with Year 10’s focus turning to their first attempt at an IGCSE speaking exam at the end of this term

by Mr J O’Meara

We also welcomed our 2024 Spanish Exchange from Marias Gasteiz in Northern Spain Our Spanish pupils from our partner school, Marianistas in Vitoria, have been busy experiencing what the local area has to offer, from the Historic Dockyard to Winchester and meeting the Mayor in Chichester. Our PGS families have given them a warm welcome and we thank them for the hospitality provided, following our visit to Spain last October This is one of a few important relationships we have with schools abroad, providing our pupils with an invaluable linguistic and cultural experience.

Linguistics Olympiad 2024

Through languages such as Jam sai, a Dogon language spoken in Mali and Burkina Faso by about 130,000 speakers, or Komzo, a language spoken in Papa New Guinea by only around 200 people, the Linguistics Olympiad challenges students in pattern recognition and problem solving It’s not a competition that tests your knowledge of these languages, but your ability to look at these languages which you ’ ve most likely never heard of, and decode the underpinning structures and rules.

Some questions give you a few sentences from the target language with their English translation and ask you to translate more phrases from the information you ’ ve been given; other questions are match-ups; and if you ’ re really lucky, you might get a question on a certain language’s number system (you’d be surprised at how many languages use a base-20 counting system ), which are always a pain such joy to decode!

This year, around 1,800 students took part in Round 1 Seven PGS students took part, with a couple earning a bronze award and one who scored high enough to advance to Round 2! The second round is similar to the first in terms of question style and difficulty, with only the addition of having to give an explanation.

Qualifiers of this round are chosen to represent the UK in the International Linguistics Olympiad taking place this June in Brazil

Jiali H, Year 12

Challenging Mathematics

Pupils studying Mathematics in our Extend groups Years 9, 10 and some in Year 11 took part in the UKMT Intermediate individual Maths challenge. This is one hour of problem solving, using Mathematics in ways that is different to what they have seen in the classroom Over 300,000 pupils take part nationally with the top 40% achieving certificates in the ratio of 3:2:1 for Bronze, Silver and Gold respectively.

The top 1,500 pupils get invited to participate in the Olympiad with the next 6,500 pupils in the country get invited into the next round called the Kangaroo and of those, both of which are incredible achievements, putting pupils in the top 2% of pupils nationally. The results are below:

This is a brilliant achievement and so well done to the following for being entered for the Kangaroo rounds:

Eric H, Brandon, B, Kyle M, Joshua J and Akhil R (Year 9)

Hailey L, Olivia D, Tuna L, Eddie H, Monty R and Attish D(year 10)

Oskar C, Aryan A, James M, Sawsense B and Veer K (Year 11)

And a massive well done to the following for being entered for the Olympiad:

Harry D and Jack G (Year 11)

For these next rounds, the top 25% receive a distinction and the next 40% receive a merit.

You may remember that Andrei T and Will T in Year 13 qualified for the Senior Olympiad last term and they both achieved a merit certificate which puts them in the top 0.5% of Mathematicians in the country which is an incredible achievement.

Many congratulations to all who took part

Everywhere

The first musical event of the Spring Term was Changing Voices Evensong at Guildford Cathedral. Our wonderful vocal group for boys whose voices are changing from treble to tenor and bass continue to go from strength to strength The quality and growth in sound, tone and technique is really exciting to hear, and those in the congregation at Guildford Cathedral on Monday 5th February would have experienced this. PGS’s Changing Voice group joined with the Changing Voices of Guildford Cathedral Choir and RGS Guildford for Evensong

Lunchtime Live!

On Thursday 8th February Music scholars from Years 10 to 13 presented an entertaining, varied and polished programme, encompassing everything from Mozart to Ghost the Musical Our versatile musicians gave solo and ensemble performances and were well received by the appreciative audience at the Cathedral.

Jazz Workshop

30 of our budding Jazz Musicians spent a fantastic afternoon on Thursday with the Kate Williams Quartet working on the finer points of improvisation and playing as a jazz ensemble The quartet of Kate Williams (piano), Oli Hayhurst (Bass), David Ingamells (drums) and Gareth Lockrane (flutes) are among Britain’s leading jazz musicians and have a wealth of performing and teaching experience.

During the afternoon the frontline players (trombones, trumpets and saxophones) worked on aural ear training (singing chord changes, improvising and imitating) with Gareth Lockrane (Head of Jazz and the Junior Royal Academy) whilst the rhythm section players worked on the intricacies of playing as accompanists and responding to solo players Following this the musicians split into three smaller jazz ensembles to work on jazz standards Stella by Starlight and Things Ain’t What they Used to Be The groups explored how to make an arrangement of these tunes on the spot, how to vary the feel and mood of the performance to respond to the soloists and how to craft improvised solos over the chord changes. The session ended with a massed performance and improvisation on C Jam Blues

The fruits of the labour were on display in the evening in a performance in the Rotunda The first half featured our PGS musicians performing in their small and large ensembles. The second half was the Kate Williams Quartet, featuring Gareth Lockrane who performed on flute, alto flute, bass flute and piccolo. It was a real privilege to witness such musicianship and artistry close up and was a fantastic way to look forward to the imminent half term! Congratulations to our musicians for real quality work and a huge thank you to Mr Ingamells for masterminding the whole experience

Students’ Collective were national winners in the 2024 Pro Corda National Chamber Music Competition. The group won the Judges Choice Award which was a truly fantastic achievement and they will now be invited to perform at an event at Drapers Hall in London this May

The short masterclass that followed explored the band playing without music to take the level of communication up a further level

The first event after Half Term was House Music, a report on this is later in this edition of The Portmuthian

Evensong with Prebendal School Choir

Our association with Prebendal School, the choir school for Chichester Cathedral, goes back a long way. The annual evensong we sing with the Prebendal Choir is always a lovely occasion, and on Wednesday evening their choir of 24 soprano and treble voices joined Chamber Choir in Portsmouth Cathedral to sing Sumsions quintessentially English setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis along with If Ye Love Me by Philip Wilby. This large group of singers made a magnificent sound and the blend of these voices was impressive on just an hour’s rehearsal.

Spring Concert

The DRT was rocking on Thursday evening to the sounds of jazz ensembles and rock bands. Celebrating the “lighter side” of music, the evening was a real chance to celebrate the significant and diverse talents of our musicians The first half focused on four of our smaller jazz ensembles who have been working on making their own “ on the fly” arrangements of jazz standards, exploring different interpretations (including Take 5 in 4 time!) and developing their improvisation skills It was great to see the confidence with which they perform and the fluency of their improvisation. Fast Track Band made its debut performance; established to train young wind and brass players for Concert Band, their performances of Skyfall and Soul Bossa Nova were lively and the players were clearly enjoying playing as an ensemble. Students’ Collective ended the first half with a virtuosic display of ensemble playing, including breaking out in 4-part a cappella barbershop in the middle of their set!

This year has seen a real growth in the number of pupil-led rock bands, and it was fantastic to hear four of them The four groups each have a distinct identity, sound and style which it is great to see and hear developing. With strong vocals all round and impressive improvising these performances had the audience joining in as well!

Two trombone quartets followed the bands with confident performances of pieces with demanding ensemble skills The evening closed with hugely impressive performances by Big Band Tackling some really challenging repertoire the band gave swinging performances of Ja-Da, When Sunny Gets Blue (featuring beautiful vocals from Eleanor M) and ending with Count Bubba This Gordon Goodwin chart requires real precision from every single player and this performance really brought the house down.

Thank you to all our performers and the Music Department team for such a joyous evening of music.

Gala Concert

After a plethora of musical activities throughout the final weeks of the Spring term, the Gala Concert took place For a couple hours in the evening the cathedral was full of a very diverse range of music performed by the students.

The groups performed a variety of pieces of a large variety of instruments in ranging groups from large orchestras to the wind quintette. A truly enjoyable concert which began with the iconic Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart from the Sinfonietta Orchestra which progressed into the Middle School Band who showed a highspirits rendition of the theme tune from Rocky by Bill Conti.

Moving onto groups of older pupils, we were met with four relaxing movements of La Cheminée du Roi René which was skillfully performed by the Wind Quintet. With a sudden shift from the smallest group of students to one of the largest of the night, the Symphony Orchestra gave an energising performance of the Three Spanish Dances by Moszkowski Following suit from the lively pieces of the orchestra, PGS Brass performed a selection of intricate and famous pieces such as William Tell Finale by Rossini that filled the space with excitement The Concert Band played next and played a couple pieces including the soundtrack of Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves by Michael Kamen that engulfed the cathedral with a vibrant sound. Finally, after the interval, the Chamber Choir and Community Choir sang Vivaldi’s Gloria in D supported by a group of teachers which captivated the audience

Overall this was a spectacular concert which had many high remarks on the way out. The concert was only possible with all the support of the performing students and staff of the music department so a massive thank you to everyone involved

When Particles Collide

Year 12 & 13 visited CERN in Switzerland during the February half term.

The Diary of Shraddha S DAY1

1am: an early wake up! We all hauled ourselves onto the coach leaving at 2pm to the airport. The nattering and light snores were disrupted shortly after we arrived at Gatwick. Half asleep, we shuffled through bag check in and security. Left with a solid hour and a half for breakfast, we went our separate ways to Itsu, Pret and even the lego store - nothing tasty in the last option unfortunately Hopping onto the plane at 7:30, some of us managed to catch a few winks while others were seemingly cranky for the remainder of the day - joking of course to a certain extent 10:15: WE’RE IN GENEVA!!!

Oh, it’s just as cold as England.

And would you look at that, we aren’t allowed to access our rooms just yet - but not to worry! We were able to drop off our suitcases at the lush hotel and begin exploring The chaos ensues Well, not really. As a group, we were very good at following instructions. The teachers kept us safe at all times and even gave us a map. Although only some of us were able to decipher the strange language of map symbols, we were off on our own exploring the wild streets of Geneva

Filled with laughs and witty comments due to the lack of sleep, we ambled over to the main attractions in Geneva including the fountain and old town where we found lunch - I highly recommend a Swiss dog. Some retreated back to the hotel for a nap while others continued to roam the streets appreciating the sunshine finding its way out of the clouds We all met at a pizzeria for some scrumptious pasta and pizza for dinner accompanied by an ice cream treat In the dark of night, we hopped on a tram back to the hotel to chill out and get an early night for we have a busy day tomorrow…

DAY2

Ahh, a solid 10 hour sleep has never been more appreciated; especially when it is followed by the numerous tasty wonders at the breakfast buffet - thank goodness those with nut allergies kept their distance from the tub of Nutella. I think we all lost count of how many times we went up for more food.

Today was the day we moved as a swarm to invade the Geneva observatory Or should I say, today was the day we got lost in the universe of astronomy - excuse the pun - and the stars swarmed us With a passionate uni-student doubling up as a tour guide, we delved into the secrets of the universe and the mind-boggling yet awesome theories the solar system and beyond has to offer us. We even had the opportunity to see a 2m long telescope and receive an explanation of how multiple even larger ones around the world work

With freedom for lunch, we bumbled over to a sandwich shop and then a coop but ended up racing to the museum as the google maps was on driving mode! Huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf, we made a graceful entry into Geneva’s Red Cross museum. Here, we had an audio guided tour of a depiction of events around the world, both past and present that go towards protecting human dignity - something some of us before had taken much for granted therefore it was a truly eye opening experience However, it would never be free from the shenanigans of the boys pressing random buttons on their audio devices

Moving on from the Red Cross museum, we had time to visit the History of science museum - yes, today was a very educational day - and after battling it out with the lockers which would only accept Swiss Francs, we were able to experiment with contraptions that displayed intriguing physics concepts I must say, a large majority of the group were left either dizzy or unsteady on their feet after retreating from the museum.

Wow, would you look at that it is only 3pm and we have hours before dinner - what a perfect opportunity to visit the local chocolatier! Making the 30 minute trek over to a chocolate shop to get some original Swiss chocolate, we entered the store with our mouths practically open What a glorious selection of sweet treats in front of us! Our gazes dropped to the prices

What expensive sweet treats indeed.

Perhaps the local Co-Op will give us a better value for money.

After purchasing chocolates - some ripped-off and some their true value - we headed to the fondue place Mrs Price had kindly booked us for dinner Gosh, did it smell of cheese or what?! Paying no heed to the pungent aroma wafting through our nostrils, we ordered fondues to share between us The dripping cheese and tasty bread slowly stacked up in our stomachs until it was time to head back to the hotel.

Some of us passed a group of Portuguese students who happened to reside in the same hotel as us and had visited CERN the day before; they were terribly curious about life in England including whether it rained everyday except 2 days there - they’re not far off. Back at the hotel, we said our goodbyes to the fellow school and played card games until 12pm - a decision that we would regret with the 6:30am wake up the next day…

DAY3

Today was the day - the moment we had all been eagerly waiting for CERN! Was it worth dragging ourselves out of bed once again though? Well… I’m not sure about that, but it certainly was an interesting day. Starting off with the cheeky breakfast buffet again and packing our suitcases for our departure in the evening, we then hopped on the public transport to the main part of this trip: the particle accelerator at CERN!

WE ARE HERE!!

Oh no, where’s Mrs Price gone?!

Well apparently she couldn’t fit on the tram so now we were stuck waiting the entirety of 15 minutes for her arrival as well as some other students Finally reunited, we made our way into the large dome to reception, taking photos as a group outside We received a guided tour of the science behind the particle accelerator as well as a video depicting how it was made - definitely a lot of metal. We then hopped in a coach to cross the border (who knew we would visit France as well!) and see a life-size model of a section of it The overall experience was exhilarating, only enhanced when we were able to see the three interactive exhibitions displaying different aspects of science including seeing ourselves glow in ultraviolet light, forming a galaxy on fabric in a machine and building our very own star on a screen to name a few.

We then made our way back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and spent the last few moments in Geneva eating delicacies in a crepe shop The journey back was relaxing, with a few conversations in the plane and vibing to music on the coach back to school.

Arriving back to PGS at 1am, it seemed we had gone in a full circle and the three packed, funfilled days of our lives had just been a dream. And in a way, it was a dream - yet it is one none of us are to forget anytime soon.

A full programme of Sport

Hockey

"It has been an action packed term of hockey with regular weekend and midweek friendly matches played by the boys The season was kicked off with the Senior pre-season match versus our returning OPs It was great to see a number of generations reconnecting and playing the sport that they love whilst interacting with our current senior boys.

Notable performances in the Cup competitions have been the Senior boys knocking Barton Peveril out of the EH Tier 2 plate in an exciting penalty strokes sudden death shootout; the U15As came 3rd in the U16s Hampshire competition and the U13As winning their Hampshire Cup and in doing so reaching the regional rounds to be held at Reading Hockey Club They did amazingly well and lost 3-1 in the final against a very strong Hall Grove School. This meant that they narrowly missed out on National finals but can be proud of being in the top 16 in the country

The U16 National squad have been competing in the National EH Tier 1 competition, which is a first for PGS. It has been a pleasure to see boys blending in year groups through the process of representing their school in national competitions as well as in their regular fixtures. This has undoubtedly reinforced a strong sense of unity and community led by the Senior players and in particular Sam K as Hockey captain Sam and his senior squad have balanced two different cup competitions alongside their regular fixtures and have truly left a legacy of community and a desire to perform on and off the pitch with their approach to extra sessions and attention to detail, which has certainly left an impression on the lower years. Hockey at PGS yet again surpassed 200 fixtures in its two terms of girls and boys, with pupils of all ages and abilities representing their school, which is a record to be proud of "

Mr Leach, Head of Hockey

Netball

It has been great to see so many pupils participating and enjoying their netball this season. We kicked off the season with a training session run by OP and Super League player Ashleigh Dekker, which had 58 pupils attending prior to our return to school

Over the Saturday fixtures we have played 97 matches and won 55 of them.

Our U12 A team have only lost one match all season and the U12 B team have not lost a match at all. We have entered 11 teams into tournaments and come away with four overall winners, one second place, one third place, a plate win and a third and fourth place in a vase competition

The U11A & B Netball teams were both runners up at the PGJS annual Netball tournament. The tournament included 20 teams from 12 independent Schools.

Our strength in depth this season has been really pleasing to see and is helping to continue drive our netball forwards. We are looking forward to our 2025 season already!

PGS South Coast 7s

On Sunday 4th of February, we welcomed sixteen 1st VII teams to Hilsea, a total of 190 players attended the PGS South Coast 7s Tournament, this was the 12th season we have been able to put on this tournament and a very proud day for PGS Thankfully, the weather stayed dry but we did have to endure the coastal winds. Regardless of this, all the teams arrived with great enthusiasm and energy There were two competitions, the Shield and the Cup, both produced some tough matches with lots of excellent skills on display, and every team fought hard to top their pools. I was very proud that PGS made it into the Shield semi-final against Dauntseys. Unfortunately, this is where the PGS competition ended, but all respect to the team for making it this far and fighting till the end, showing resilience, humility and respect. Dauntseys were then to face RGS Guildford in the final, the team to lift the Shield and win the tournament was RGS Guildford with a score of 31 – 15

In the Cup tournament matches, all the teams produced some very competitive and fierce matches The semi-finals between Brighton, Millfield, Epsom, and Seaford could have been finals in their own right The outcome of these matches displayed why Brighton & Millfield are among the top rugby schools in the country, with outstanding skills and fast-paced plays Brighton came out on top as the winners of the Cup final 24 – 14

For these tournaments to happen and run so smoothly, there need to be a team of people to help make it work and make the day a success Therefore, a big thank you to all PGS staff and the Referees who assisted in making the day possible and thank you to the parents who volunteered to help. Finally, thank you to all the supporters and players for helping make 2024 yet another successful South Coast 7’s tournament

National Bowl Semi-Finals

We had an important rugby match against Richard Huish in the Bowl Schools Cup National semifinal. We knew it was going to be a tough game, as Richard Huish had a strong record.

The 1st XV travelled to Taunton for the game, and after a good warm-up, we started the match in good spirits George Musselwhite scored the first try in the corner, which was a great achievement for him as a year 11 student in the starting lineup However, Richard Huish responded with relentless pressure in our half, and they quickly capitalised on our mistakes They took the lead into halftime with a score of 29-10. Despite this, our set piece was brilliant throughout the game, with scrummaging penalties and strong lineout steals keeping us in the game. The second half was a real battle, with both sides struggling to make a breakthrough We managed to score a penalty try and get one of their academy players a yellow card, but unfortunately, the opposition kept applying pressure to our line Their number 9 continued to pick and go in attack, putting us on the back foot

Towards the end of the game, Jake W managed to score a try, but it wasn't enough to secure the win. We won the second half, but the game ended with a score of 36-26 in favour of Richard Huish. It was an emotional end for the Upper Sixth players, as it was the end of their over 10-year rugby journey together Despite this, everyone deserves praise for their commitment to the PGS shirt over the years We made some incredible memories, and reaching two semi-finals in two years is an achievement to be proud of. It was a pleasure to be coached by Mr Venter over the last year, and we wish him and Mr Copeland all the best in future years

by Elliot H, Year 13

Squash

The U16 Squash team of Hattie B, Will A, Seb C-A, Rory P, Olly W and Rohan Dreached the National Squash Finals for the second consecutive year, where they ultimately came 6th in the country overall This team of players will all be eligible to enter the same competition again next year, so fingers crossed for another National Final next year!

The U18 team missed out on the National Finals by a whisker Despite beating heavyweight schools like Whitgift School and Winchester College, a 3-2 defeat to Eton College meant we fell just short.

Congratulations to Hattie in Year 10 and Alex in Year 12 who have recently been competing at the highest level for the age groups in squash tournaments both in the UK and in France. Hattie is number 1 in England in her age group and Alex has only lost to the number 1 seeds in recent tournaments - both are great achievements.

Cross Country

Isabella P-W won the Hampshire Cross Country Championships back in January and qualified for the England Schools Cross Country Championships A fantastic achievement

Ski-ing

British School Girl Ski Races - Flaine, France

We each came out of exams and made our way straight to Flaine, France. The relief of having finished GCSE mocks quickly turned into anticipation of the new challenge ahead; British schoolgirls ski races

Training started on Saturday afternoon after having organised all of our equipment (mostly provided by Laura, the resident ski racer) and we were starting easy with a half day. Or so we thought. When warming up, we all quickly discovered that the snow we were skiing on felt more like glass When our coach for the weekend, an ESF instructor named Christian, told us that these were world cup conditions, our hopes fell even further It's safe to say that the first day was a struggle. Despite this, we trained on the giant slalom run until the lifts closed, making the most of the limited time we had before the race.

Sunday was slalom training Laura’s favourite (for some reason) and mine and Lois’ nightmare As amateurs, slalom was so far from what we were used to. Being the most technical discipline, it requires tight turns and ‘fast feet’, as our coach kept repeating. Thankfully, the snow conditions were softening, making this full day slightly easier

Finally, we come to race day Monday morning was giant slalom, followed by parallel slalom in the afternoon (teams of three compete against another school skiing directly next to them on an identical course. First team down wins). Tension rose as we inspected the course for the first time Having made note of technical sections of the run, we made our way to the start of the course Laura started strong, followed by Lois and then me A sigh of relief was breathed when we all made it down the first run. One more to go. We finished well overall with Laura ranking 6th in U18, Lois coming 40th in U16 and me in 38th. After a quick hot chocolate stop, it was on to the parallel We dominated in the first round, but after an issue over technicalities, we were disqualified Outraged and righteous, parents and Christian marched to the office to protest and they saw reason! Parallel was postponed to the next day.

The second day of racing started strong with the slalom. After a solid two runs from all three of us and having faced some fierce competition, Laura finished 5th in U18, Lois finished 38th in U16 and I finished 28th Now to round two of parallel We were all losing hope as the start was pushed back again and again, but finally the competition was underway. Starting strong again, we breezed through the first round thanks to a great advantage from Laura, who skied first. However, our streak was ended early as we faced reigning champions Surbiton in the next round

All in all, it was a successful and fun weekend We worked extremely hard to put this team together and get to Flaine, and were proud of our efforts despite the considerable experience of the opposing schools.

Written by Cecilia C (Year 11)

Guess the Guess the Teacher! Teacher!

This month's Portmuthian Magazine surrounds our special theme – 'Present.' Take a breather from the usual and join the guessing game – 'Spot the Teacher.' Flip through the pages to find candid shots of our amazing faculty members Can you match the faces to the names? Put your knowledge to the test and enjoy a light-hearted challenge Names to spot are:

Mr Ryan, Mrs Neil, Ms Garcia, Miss, Russell, Mr Doidge, Ms Poole, Mr Wickes

House House News News

House Drama crashed in to the DRT with a welcome return to comedy on the 5th February.

There were extended extracts from comic gems such as Derry Girls, Back to Life, The Play That Goes Wrong and The Life of Brian

Latter Housetook the House Drama honours this year. The cast and crew combined to present a disaster on stage with their take on The Play That Goes Wrong.

House Drama once more was an evening full of laughs and all the pupils that took part should be congratulated for their hard work

Almost lifting the roof of the David Russell Theatre, the eight Houses of the Senior School entertained a large audience as the annual House Music battle took place, with performances that included jazz solos, pop ensembles and classical music.

Smith-Hawkey opened the evening with impressive vocal solos from Sasha H taking us to the slopes of Austria with her rendition of "My Favourite Things" and a powerful and emotional performance of "She Used to Be Mine" by Chi-Yee L This was followed by Ben R’s virtuoso trumpet performance of "Carnival of Venice" The audience were then treated to a performance of Indie rock, also featuring Ben R on guitar, and a cleverly arranged medley of ABBA songs by Rufus M. Smith-Hawkey deserve credit for such a strong opening, which set the standard for the rest of the night.

Whitcombe-Summers followed with two impressive piano solos from Luca C and Harry D, who really summoned the spirit of Rachmaninov! Isabel D then sang "I’d Give my Life for You" from Miss Saigon, a performance that particularly impressed the adjudicator. Two enjoyable ensembles followed: Hozier’s Take Me to Church and the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way”, a 2000s classic that elicited nostalgic participation from a few members of the audience.

Latter-Eastwood opened their performances with “Mr Blue Sky”, featuring Mackenzie G on the megaphone! Sam M and Edward G treated the audience to trumpet and saxophone solos, which adjudicator, Rosie Whitfield said reminded her of Ronnie Scott’s. Samuel B’s performance of Chopin’s Minute Waltz was also well received. Latter-Eastwood concluded their performance with a small ensemble playing Stick Season, in which Eleanor M’s vocals were impressive.

Grant-Barton, the fourth House to perform, managed to steal the show Soloist awards were won by Vanessa H for her performance of Einaudi’s Nuvole Bianche, by Narina D for her performance of Chopin’s Nocturne, Op 62 No 2 and by Henry B for his trombone solo, The Acrobat. Vanessa, Narina and Henry deserved their awards for their virtuosity and musicianship. In particular, I have never seen a trombonist entertain an audience so much with a solo!

Not content with winning all the soloist aways, Grant-Barton also won both ensemble awards! The small ensemble was a jazz instrumental of Backroom Politics by Gordon Goodwin, a performance

that featured a lively saxophone solo by Henry X The large ensemble was Michael Jackson’s Don’t Blame it on the Boogie, with enthusiastic singing, lively musicianship and Rocco C’s charismatic dancing.

Grant-Barton won a clean sweep of awards in every category, placing them first in the competition Smith-Hawkey came second, with Latter-Eastwood third and Whitcombe-Summers fourth The audience, however, enjoyed every minute, and thank all pupils involved for putting together such a memorable evening. Despite being a house competition the clear winner was the music and it is a real testament to our PGS musicians that the standard was so high. Our adjudicator, Rosie Whitfield, particularly commented on the level of enjoyment and engagement in music making and was hugely impressed at the standards achieved by all performers; high praise indeed as Rosie is Head of the Junior Department of the Guildhall Conservatoire of Music in London and used to working the most talented young musicians.

Anything the Senior School can do, the Junior School will attempt to do LOUDER! When they took on the challenge of House Shout they were certainly loud.

The performances featured music inspired by Rick Astley, George Ezra, The Beatles and Ghostbusters, the pupils all performed very well with each house doing itself proud.

The winners of the competition, judged by Senior Deputy Head Mr Bristow, were Hudson!

School School News News

Breaking Barriers

The Inaugural Girls' Rugby Teamat The Portsmouth Grammar School

In a historic move that is set to redefine sporting traditions at Portsmouth Grammar School, 2024 marks the establishment of the first-ever Girls' Rugby Team This groundbreaking development not only showcases the school's commitment to inclusivity but also heralds an exciting new era for rugby enthusiasts in the PGS community. The decision to introduce a girls' rugby team comes at a time when the sport is experiencing unprecedented growth among female athletes globally. Recognizing the need to provide equal opportunities for girls to participate in rugby, Portsmouth Grammar School has taken a bold step forward, aligning itself with the progressive evolution of the game

The formation of the girls' rugby team is a testament to the school's dedication to fostering an environment where every student can thrive, regardless of gender. It not only promotes physical fitness but also encourages teamwork, discipline, and resilience – values that are integral to the holistic development of individuals

Excitement reverberates throughout the school as the inaugural team takes shape Trials and training sessions have seen an impressive turnout, reflecting the enthusiasm and passion that the girls bring to the sport. Coached by experienced and dedicated mentors, the team is poised to make a mark on the rugby scene, both locally and beyond

The establishment of the girls' rugby team also opens up opportunities for students to engage in inter-school competitions, further fostering camaraderie and sportsmanship. As the team prepares to compete, it is certain that they will be met with tremendous support from the entire Portsmouth Grammar School community

The introduction of girls' rugby aligns with the broader societal shift towards gender equality in sports It not only allows female students to showcase their athletic prowess but also challenges stereotypes and encourages a more inclusive sporting culture. The ripple effects of this initiative will undoubtedly be felt across the school, inspiring future generations to embrace a diverse range of sports with passion and determination

Searching through the school archives, our editors were lucky enough to make contact with OPs who were kind enough to outline their own experiences with sport at PGS. Oh how times have changed!

‘I’m afraid I rather ducked out of sport when I got to PGS. I was not a hockey player, and not a sailor, and not an athlete. And I don’t remember there being a lot of other choice. I opted for charity work on Wednesday afternoons, which was an option for those of us who were not sporty I spent my Wednesday afternoons in an old folks home for ladies with disabilities - in my case two ladies who were blind. I read their letters, chatted to them, occasionally wrote things for them.’

Samantha Job (OP 1988)

‘I didn’t do any sports while I was at PGS - there was only one of me in my class & I think it was felt it would be too difficult to organise If I had expressed regret at not being able to do anything I’m sure something would have been put in place ’

Alison Dean (OP 1979)

‘In 1988-1990, there were boys who were delighted to reach the Sixth Form and finally have the chance to choose not to play rugby Many of these elected to play hockey and Mixed hockey at PGS was born A sometimes dangerous option, I remember Wednesday afternoons at Hilsea with fondness as we introduced these Hockey novices to the sport Both my sister (1992-1994) and I sport scars on our faces from this era!!!’

Amanda Verny White née Dore (OP 1990)

‘I joined the Sixth Form in 1984 I was in the second or third cohort of girls in the Sixth Form We were in the minority, I think there were about 10 girls in my year Generally my experiences in the school were positive and happy, but the older male teachers didn't know how to deal with girls; we got away with a lot but also experienced a lot of sexism.

My memory of sport for girls was that there was very limited choice We had to select one sport or do community service each term in the Lower Sixth One term I selected sailing, which was fun but I wasn't very good at it I do remember being stranded in a topper in the middle of the harbour!

A not so good memory was asking to be allowed to join the swimming class along with my female friend. The male teacher, who clearly didn't want two girls there, told us he thought we'd distract the boys However a female member of staff said that there was no reason we shouldn't be able to select that class He was not pleased, I remember him lining the boys up along the pool edge and encouraging them to jeer at us as we came out of the changing rooms The following week we arrived really early, so we were in the water before the boys. He got us playing water polo and encouraged a very physical game. After that we made excuses not to attend each week and he happily accepted them (OP 1986)

In All the World a Book

This term we once more celebrated World Book Day!

Developing literacy and oracy, a culture of reading for pleasure where everyone is seen as a reader, and making pupils see themselves as writers and storytellers, is high on our agenda

We have been welcoming back good author friends to the school community to help us do just this. We believe that creating long-term relationships with authors and storytellers helps to give our pupils a real sense that writing is very much a real and tangible profession

On Tuesday, writer, performer, director and educator, Chris Connaughton visited us Year 8 learned tools for writing mystery and suspense stories. He also inspired our year 2s and 3s with a captivating rendition of ‘Alice in Wonderland.’

Chris then headed over to the David Russell Theatre where he performed an academic text and performance exploration of ‘Macbeth’ for year 11 ahead of their GCSE examinations

On World Book Day the pupils and staff of the Junior School dressed up in a fantastic array of costumes to celebrate their favourite books. The same day, we celebrated the power of oracy storytelling with the wonderful Dawn Nelson, an author who inspired pupils from Reception to Year 12 with tales from Norse and Greek myths to local tales and folklore from the land The children showed great enthusiasm as they listened, sung and joined in with call and response

International Women’s Day fell during World Book Week and to mark the day, author Sita Brahmachari spoke to boys and girls in Year 8 with a focus on ‘finding your voice,’ standing up for women ’ s rights, celebrating women as global citizens and being an ally, with a focus on her novel ‘Tender earth’. Sita also captivated Year 6 with an interactive talk discussing the transition to senior school Sita discussed the similarities between the pupils and her literary characters

The week was also full of book swaps and shops, quizzes, book hunts and an extreme reading challenge which saw pupils reading books in all sorts of locations and poses!

Inspiring the Next Generation:

Chris Connaughton's Engaging Talk at Portsmouth Grammar School for Year 8 Students

In a delightful intersection of literature and education, renowned author Chris Connaughton recently graced Portsmouth Grammar School to impart his wisdom and inspiration to eager Year 8 students. The event was an enriching experience, weaving together storytelling, insight into the writing process, and a unique opportunity for students to connect with a professional in the literary world

Connaughton's talk began with a captivating storytelling session, drawing the students into the vivid worlds he has created through his works. With a masterful command of language, he transported the young minds to different realms, sparking their imaginations and kindling a love for the written word His animated delivery and dynamic narrative style kept the students enthralled from start to finish

Beyond the enchanting tales, Connaughton offered a glimpse into the intricate process of crafting a story. He shared personal anecdotes about his writing journey, from initial ideas and drafts to the joys and challenges of publishing By demystifying the creative process, he empowered students to see writing not as an unattainable feat but as a journey of exploration and expression Connaughton’s engagement extended beyond monologue as he encouraged a lively and interactive dialogue with the students. A vibrant Q&A session followed the presentation, during which students had the opportunity to pose questions about Connaughton's books, writing techniques, and the life of an author This interactive exchange fostered a sense of connection and allowed students to appreciate the author as not just a literary figure but a relatable mentor

The author's visit undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the young minds, igniting their aspirations and nurturing a newfound appreciation for literature. Many students expressed enthusiasm for exploring their own creative potentials, inspired by Connaughton's encouragement to embrace storytelling as a powerful tool for self-expression

Chris Connaughton's visit to The Portsmouth Grammar School was a testament to the profound impact authors can have on young minds. Through a combination of storytelling, insights into the writing process, and interactive discussions, Connaughton left an indelible mark on Year 8 students, inspiring them to embark on their own literary journeys Such experiences are invaluable, fostering a love for literature and encouraging the next generation of writers to pursue their creative passions with zeal and confidence

Chris Connaughton's Theatrical Triumph

Bringing Macbeth to Life for Year 11 at The Portsmouth Grammar School

Portsmouth Grammar School witnessed a literary and theatrical spectacle as acclaimed author Chris Connaughton took to the stage to deliver a spellbinding performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth to an enthralled audience of Year 11 students The unique event seamlessly blended the realms of literature and drama, creating an unforgettable experience for all in attendance

Renowned for his literary achievements, Chris Connaughton's foray into the world of performance brought a new dimension to his storytelling prowess. The author's intimate knowledge of the written word was evident as he skilfully navigated the intricate language and thematic complexities of Shakespeare's Macbeth, offering the students a fresh perspective on the timeless classic

The fusion of literature and drama was masterfully executed as Connaughton, usually found between the pages of a book, seamlessly transitioned into the role of a performer. His ability to embody the characters, infuse emotion into the dialogue, and captivate the audience with the power of Shakespearean language showcased a remarkable versatility that left an indelible mark on the Year 11 students The event had significant educational value, offering students a unique opportunity to experience Shakespeare's work in a dynamic and engaging manner. Mrs. Turner, the head of the English department, emphasized the educational benefits, stating, "Chris Connaughton's performance brought Macbeth to life in a way that transcended the classroom It provided our students with a deeper understanding of the play's themes and characters, enriching their literary studies "

For budding actors among the Year 11 students, Connaughton's performance served as a wellspring of inspiration. Witnessing an accomplished author step into the realm of theatre demonstrated the interconnectedness of various artistic disciplines and encouraged students to explore their own creative potentials across different mediums Connaughton's performance was not a mere monologue; it was an interactive experience that encouraged audience engagement. Students were invited to share their thoughts, ask questions, and participate in discussions about the play, fostering a collaborative and dynamic atmosphere.

Chris Connaughton's performance of Macbeth at Portsmouth Grammar School was a triumph, seamlessly blending literature and drama to create a memorable and enriching experience for Year 11 students. The event highlighted the transformative power of storytelling and the interconnectedness of artistic expressions. It served as a reminder that literature, when brought to life through performance, has the ability to captivate, educate, and inspire, leaving an enduring impact on the hearts and minds of the young audience

A Space for Prayer and Reflection

PGS has been lucky enough to have Sabiha, who with the support of Mrs Garcia and Mrs Ryan, took on the task to rejuvenate and reimagine the school's prayer room, a space cherished by the PGS community

With a keen eye for design and a deep understanding of the significance of spiritual sanctuaries, Sabiha embarked on this project with passion and diligence. Drawing inspiration from various cultural and religious influences, she meticulously curated a space that fosters tranquillity and inclusivity Her thoughtful selection of colours, furnishings, and decor elements reflects a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, catering to the diverse needs of the school's students and staff

Through Sabiha's vision and dedication, the prayer room has been transformed into a welcoming haven where individuals of all backgrounds can find solace and peace, enriching the spiritual fabric of The Portsmouth Grammar School

Unlocking New Skills

Year 9 Enterprise Day

On Friday we had an organisation called Unloc come in to school to help us learn new skills and entrepreneurship We had four leaders, and were put into groups of six We were set the task of creating and selling our own brand of sustainable clothing, the profits of which were to be used to help the people of Ghana. Each group considered which eco - materials and ethical production methods to use, presenting ideas from recycling to organic fabrics. The four leaders chose the winning pitch, and despite there only being one winner it was a great day doing something different to the usual Friday timetable and something which was relatable to the ‘real world’ It was inspiring to see everyone care about the environment by choosing sustainable production methods, helping to shape a sustainable future

by Nathaniel G

Cadets Assemble

After such heavy rain, the planned area for the CCF weekend camp in March was completely inaccessible so activities were relocated to school

This did not put a stop to Obstacle Courses being tackled, First Aid taught, climbing undertaken, ration packs bartered and cooked, and Laser Tag meant that Section attacks still took place. The senior cadets demonstrated their resourcefulness in establishing an HQ and in running activities; perhaps the highlight was the ‘kidnap’ of group leaders necessitating junior cadets to step up and recue their respective hostage!! Additionally, the RN Section were being taught SCUBA diving in HMS Temeraire, and the RAF went walking on the South Downs Roll on the May weekend and better weather!

Sophie H in Year 13 is the top CCF cadet in Hampshire; this term she was invited to read out the citations for individuals receiving their MBEs from the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire

Sophie P in Year 12, is one of only three 1st Sea Lord’s cadets, and helped host VIPs at the Royal Albert Hall for the Mountbatten Festival of Music. “The other cadets and I were asked to escort the VIPs, including the Commandant General of the Royal Marines and First Sealord, to their boxes and the reception room, and line the corridor during the intervals,” said Sophie. “I think the most important thing for younger pupils to know, is that CCF opens so many more doors than you expect, and you have

opportunities to meet some really amazing people if you try your best and say yes to everything!”

Sophie H has the responsibility to accompany the Lord Lieutenant (who is the King's representative for the county) to various official engagements, representing the Combined Cadet Force, often partaking in public readings or ceremonial occasions

What have been the highlights so far / is there anything you are particularly looking forward to within the role?

Sophie H: This Monday it was a real privilege to attend the ceremony for those receiving their British Empire Medals in Serle's House, Winchester They BEMs are awarSophie H: ded to those for meritorious community work, and it was great to meet the awardees after I had read out their citations in the official ceremony. At every event I attend, I am able to meet some incredibly important and experienced individuals, who are always happy to impart wisdom (as well as some good anecdotes!) I am looking forward to the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in the summer, for which, I am sure, I will get to go to some very interesting events

What would you say to anyone in Year 8 thinking about whether to do CCF when they start Year 9?

Sophie H: I was not too keen on the idea of outdoor pursuits before Year 9, but thought I would give it a go! I am now here, 5 years later, having completed by Gold Duke of Edinburgh, and taking on roles I did not know I was capable of, such as being Lord Lieutenant's Cadet The CCF has taken me as far abroad as Turkey, been an invaluable personal development tool, as well as offering guidance on what I truly love and want to pursue in the future. I have had some of my best times at PGS on CCF camps with my friends, and I would truly recommend for new Year 9s to get stuck in, even if they do only join for the year

Visiting the Seat of Power

Earlier this term I had the privilege of accompanying a Junior School trip to Parliament, it was an incredibly insightful and informative experience.

The tour began in Westminster hall, the oldest building on the parliamentary estate Westminster Hall as well as being architecturally a magnificent building with its intricate designs and old grand roof, is also steeped in history being built in 1097 under William II. It felt only right to start our tour in the nucleus of modern day governance as we know it, with Westminster Hall over the years having been a venue used by the judiciary, monarchy and parliament

Due to our visit to parliament being on a Wednesday with Prime Minister's Questions being held, we were unable to enter the House of Lords However, the procession of the speaker which we were fortunate enough to witness definitely made up for it. The British parliament is full of tradition and the procession of the speaker certainly highlighted the grandeur associated with parliament. The procession of Lindsay Hoyle was fairly short, but full of symbolism The speaker is preceded by a Doorkeeper and a Sergeant at arms who carries a mace, with Trainbearer, chaplain and the Speakers Secretary following behind One of the reasons for the Speaker's significant entourage was because historically the role of the speaker was a dangerous one.

The lobby in which we saw the procession was brimming with politicians and visitors; in our wait for the procession we saw Jacob Rees Mogg as well as Flick Drummond, previously MP for Portsmouth South, but now sitting as an MP for Meon Valley (On our lunch break we also saw Prue Leith !)

Following the Lobby we went into the House of Lords As a group we were immediately struck by the size of the chamber. It was far smaller than expected, with the intimate setting certain to make discussions far more heated Our tour guide explained the history and construct of the House of Lords It was incredible to be in the room where big reforms and legislations have been amended and debated

Following an enlightening tour of Parliament, Mr Lemieux took us over to the Supreme Court. We saw the contrast between the judiciary and the legislature The Supreme Court, we learnt, is a fairly new establishment opening in 2009 We learnt of the vital role that the Supreme Court has in being the final court of appeal. One of the facts that shocked the group was the lack of diversity in the supreme court judges, perhaps inspiring a few to look into law…

Overall, it was an exceptionally enlightening trip I’d like to extend a big thanks on behalf of the group to Ms Hart for the organisation of the trip and to Mr Lemieux for his insight and informative tour.

Beware the Ides of March

On Wednesday the 13th March, Portsmouth Grammar School welcomed Dr Samuel Agbamu, University of Reading, for the annual Ides of March Lecture The lecture was entitled: Sons of Hannibal: Negotiating the Legacies of Italian Imperialism and Ancient Rome.

Dr Agbamu started his lecture with Appian’s description of the sack of Carthage in 146BC. An act that fits the modern-day definition of genocide He then demonstrated how the war against the Carthaginians cast a shadow over Europe in medieval, renaissance and modern eras Dr Agbamu demonstrated the significance of the Carthaginian wars to the Byzantines, the Crusades, Petrach, the Ottoman Empire and the Fabians.

Most notably, the Carthaginians War was frequently in 1930s Italian Fascist propaganda In a 1936 speech given to crowds gathered in Rome and disseminated in cinemas across the nation, the Fascist dictator of Italy, Benito Mussolini, proclaimed that Italy finally had its own empire And the invasion of Ethiopia was presented as a modern-day counterpart to Rome’s capture of Carthage.

We are very grateful to Dr Agbamu for demonstrating how History is used by propagandists to push their own agenda: a salutary lesson for the 21st century Dr Agbamu is currently writing a book on the reception of Roman history in Italian Fascism, and we look forward to its publication

by Mr Murray, Head of Classics

Creative Creative Writing Writing

‘frostbite blues’ by Alexandra D, Year 10

winter flakes, drift by slowly, coat the paved road with blankets

algid breath, leopard-print gloves, covering my hands but an exposed mouth

icicle coated, stony brick bridge, snowdrop crowds, heads drooped in shame.

hold my heart, loud and alive, warmth, the only thing within our arms

honey glazed eyes, melting the frosted tongues, sharp to the touch and impaling - impales - impaled.

hold my heart, no - really hold my silent, dull heart

for let me tell you: winter love is truly the frostbitten myth

by Melisande N-S, Year 10

and i’d love to remember this verse, breathtaking as it is, and i’ll trust my aching brain because i haven’t yet found the perfect eclectic bookshop reciept or restaurant napkin to scrawl it down on. and i don’t have, to hand, my yellow and black pencil, the dull scratched-up one, that transfers just right what i write with the perfect urgency and tortured genius no, i wouldn’t sharpen her, not for all the world, wouldn’t risk losing the clumsy, thick pencil strokes, lest the genius become equally thin, spidery, and standard

‘Girvan’s Virtue, Viewed from a Distance’ - Dawn S, Year 12

After Jasmine Thomas Girvan Chess queen, rightful ruler of the game of war, oppressed by hands of sycophants, defenders, opponents clamouring to be her The great predestined truth like a battle march in her mind: they are but pawns This is the power struggle of the centuries, and so with the knowledge of her foremothers she crafts a cage, billowing and ballooning round her body like a skirt and with this priceless thread she spins a leaf. She will birth growth from somewhere, in this battle The game is her intelligent design and her weapon is a spindle. Which is it, the fairy tale with the needle, the mighty pinprick? Oh, she knows fairytales. She knows how they began, Cinderella’s sisters slicing off their toes to fit the shoe. Well, you have to do what you have to do She’ll lure you in with golden siren song.

‘On Grief’ - Oscar M, Year 12

they pray for you to catch the light like it’s something you could drop a whole life spent in devotion, painting worship on like glaze to soothe your tender skin, shaped like St Thomas’ body

the residue stuck to my fingers is the residue of holding you tightly all those years ago and when I reach for the sky to catch the tiniest glimpse I begin to smudge

a picture lasting little more than eternity, whilst all else melts to a superficial Byzantine work of art.

now, holding you calls a funeral procession of the whispered hum of wheels and caustic engine crackle a full rotation just to see the grey made white through the kiln

but when I spy through your shiny glaze, I embrace stories of naivety perhaps not as pure as St. Tom, instead a yixing teapot, and the closer I get, the more I can smell the remnants of experience

by Imogen B - Year 12

‘Dust churned and quaked as the rumbling of voices reverberated out across the surface of what had once been a seabed. Cracks bore deep over the desert, punctuated only by amorphous mounds of detritus, the wreckage of spacecrafts so long neglected there was no longer a name for them, and a speck on the horizon As the crevices stretched towards this dot, the echoes grew into chanting until a temple could be seen, half-sunk above the desert Still, a procession continued to pour into it Slipping along the surface of worn stairs, the aliens’ tentacles grappled themselves down towards a vast atrium in the centre of the temple. The sun pierced through what remained of the ozone, blistering down onto the congregation through the open roof of the temple. Thousands could have been gathered there, tens of that, even Yet as they all wailed, circumambulating an altar, they knitted into one squelching mass of limbs

In the centre of the great siphonophore stood a being, alone upon a stage. A pair of tentacles stretched up to a jar mounted on a pedestal in reverence. Curled inside, suspended in formaldehyde, was an octopus Its dull eyes stared out at the masses stewing around it Jar gleaming against the scorching sun, it was impossible to tell where the octopus inside ended and the alien’s reflection began

The being upon the stage’s mouth undulated in ways no human could ever have been hoped to understand as it cried at the crowd “Look upon the foresight of our forerunners, for they have predicted our arrival! Stand in awe of their work and rejoice!”

Vibrations rattled the jar. A hundred minds cheered in unison at the wonders possible by the human hands who seemed to fashion this prophecy from glass and clay. What else could that relic have been but a premonition of things to come? All knowledge of earth’s seas had dried up long before its oceans, let alone its inhabitants The techniques of taxidermy with which the octopus was preserved had been long scorched out of existence, along with all humans, by greed and wrath Yet there the colonial organisms gathered, ignorant to the coincidences that crashed them down onto the scorched planet. Though they saw themselves reflected in the work of those who came before them, they could not see the destruction those hands had ravenged upon the earth.

Wails of reverence continued to raise eddies of dust and sand They danced round the refuse of human and alien hands alike littering the cracked desert, stretching out level and alone

In the In the Junior School Junior School

Great Big Toy Swap

The Great Big Toy Swap took place this term for the children in Reception - Year 2.

The initiative was planned to help our youngest pupils start to think about how they can help our environment Toy swapping is an excellent way to give children new-to-them toys without adding to the toy industry’s growing carbon footprint Reusing toys reduces the need for manufacturing new ones, leading to less consumption and less waste

Thank you to all the children that took part and to all the parents for helping them choose the toys to swap

We Be Pirates!

Year 1 have been going Pirate this term!

They made Pirate cupcakes as part of their DT lessons. They have been working on developing their grating, chopping, and mixing skills, as well as designing and making their product look appealing Year 1 made sure to try to include healthy fruit and vegetables in their cupcake recipe mix.

The finished cakes looked great and tasted even better - they definitely enjoyed eating them!

“I loved icing my cake and choosing how to decorate it” said Elizabeth in 1P

Then they had a whole day going full-Pirate as they dressed up for the day

Moving on Up

Transitioning from Year 6 to Year 7 can be a daunting prospect, as pupils take another step in their educational career. Teachers in the Junior and Senior School have been exploring ways to make this move as smooth as possible

Our Year 6 pupils recently participated in the Junior School’s first ever ‘Co-Curricular Taster Fair ’ The purpose of the fair was to ease the transition between Year 6 and Year 7 The pupils sampled the rich enrichment opportunities they will be able to enjoy in Senior School, such as Wildlife Club, Drama and Maths Puzzles

The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the sessions stating, ‘Wildlife Club was so much fun!’ and ‘Cracking codes was brilliant; it was a great brain teaser.’

The sessions were kindly hosted by several Senior School teachers. This gave our Year 6 pupils the opportunity to sample the vast amount of co-curriculum activities available to them as well as meeting and spending time with their new teachers.

A large thank you must go to all staff involved in running these sessions. Their efforts do not appear to be in vain as one student stated,‘I am really looking forward to clubs in Year 7 now ’

Head of Year 7, Kimberley Leighton-Smith and Junior/Senior School Liaison, Bryony Hart in her role as have worked hard to ensure that there are several occasions for the pupils to familiarise themselves with the Senior School site and meet Senior School teachers during their final year of Junior School.

Ms Hart has organised a variety of events including a workshop with Sita Brahmachari. The children met the author who gifted them each her novel, ‘When Secrets Set Sail’, as a stimulus for grappling with change and the journey into the secondary phase.

Mrs Leighton-Smith delivered a presentation on ‘Life in the Senior School’ in the Middle School Common Room and visited pupils at the Junior School while they were learning to build positive relationships.

Robots & Sustainability

Year 4 started the Spring term off with a challenge putting their minds to how AI and robots impact the worlds we live in and how they can help with sustainability

As part of this, they had a visitor come in to talk about Robots and Sustainability. Chris talked about how the robots he works with were invented and built Year 4 were then challenged to invent their own sustainable robot addressing a global issue.

“I really enjoyed designing and drawing my robot because it let my creative side take over. ” Mia (4S)

“I liked listening to the talk about robots because I am really interested in finding out how they work.” Milly (4S)

Not all Superheroes Wear Capes

Reception and Pre-School spent the day undertaking some serious superhero training. Flapjack making for slow-release energy, racing to save teddy bears in the playground and learning to shoot water at a target were the tasks the Reception children took on.

Meanwhile in the Pre-School they learnt about some of the key traits of a superhero from their group reading, like who would be their side-kick? Then they decorated some very colourful spiderweb/sparkle biscuits

It was a busy day and our superheroes are probably worn out, but we know we are in safe hands!!

Caring for our Coastline

Southsea Coastal Scheme visited Year 5 pupils

The two representatives of the scheme displayed the effectiveness of several sea defences using a manual wave machine, challenging the pupils to think about how the waves would react to different defences.

Southsea Coastal Scheme are building costal defences that will reduce the risk of major flooding for the next 100 years! The project shall be ongoing until 2028 and will make our home a safer place to live, while maintaining all the aspects that make our seafront so unique.

The pupils learned about the project and how sea defences ensure that Portsmouth and other seafront towns remain safe