Arnold House Winter Assembly 2013

ASSEMBLYWINTER 2013 From the Headmaster

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o my mind, there is a certain beauty to many of the time-honoured traditions and structures embedded in the workings of the best independent schools, both prep and senior. One such example is the existence of a thriving House system that encourages an allegiance that extends beyond a pupil’s Form or Year group, and in the case of boys appeals to their liking for healthy competition.

Only the other day, Jordan Spiro (AH old boy 2004–12) now at UCS asked me which House I was in when I attended UCS. We were pleased to find that our loyalties lay with the gold insignia adorning our blazers marking us out as Black-Hawkins boys; albeit forty years apart.

So it was no surprise to see today’s generation of AH boys eagerly await news of the House standings in the final assembly of term. House points awarded for effort, courtesy, conduct and wider contribution to the life of the School were combined with points earned from the round of House football matches.

Nelson and Brunel narrowly lead the way at present but it won’t take much for Pitt and Wellington to leap-frog them by performing well in the House crosscountry, drama, chess, rugby and hockey competitions next term. I’m sure the House captains and vice-captains will get the boys fired-up for the battles that lie ahead!

Viv Thomas

Armistice Day Service at St Cyprian’s Church

Celebrating AH’s 108th

Charity Day - Nautical Theme Birthday

Year 1 Nativity Play

Visit by AH old boy, Oscar winner Andrew Ruhemann

Sax quartet performing at the Christmas Concert

Year 5 Methene Bubbles Experiment

Year 6 Learning Binary

Year 8 Trip to Burgundy

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Year 7 Shakespeare

Schools Festival

From the French Department

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he French Department at Arnold House tries to ensure that the boys feel confident and positively supported to develop their French and linguistic abilities. Our aim is to enthuse the boys about French as well as to prepare them for Common Entrance and Scholarship exams. Hopefully, they will be able to build on their experience at Arnold House and develop into confident French speakers in later life.

The boys start learning French in Year 1 with one lesson per week. This increases to reach five lessons by Year 7. The language is taught through a wide variety of techniques which incorporate the most up-to-date technology

all the material that they have learnt and practise their vocabulary relating to shopping, giving directions, café, life, etc...

Year 1 French

Year 8 French

wherever it is appropriate. The boys’ learning is further enhanced by significant spoken French in the classroom and through a wide variety of resources including songs, games, drama, magazines, IT software and language websites on the Internet. One of the French rooms has a set of Chromebooks which are used by the boys from Year 5 to 8 to re-enforce their listening, reading comprehension, writing and speaking skills through ‘Schoolshape’, an online language lab and ‘Quizlet’. When boys need to learn their vocabulary and pronunciation at home they can have access to the Intranet. They can listen to Madame Stones speaking the words in her native tongue from their own bedroom.

In January every year, Year 5 boys spend a day visiting the ‘Europa Centre’ where the boys have the opportunity to consolidate

The ‘Europa Centre’ is a warehouse-style building in Hornchurch, Essex, that has been converted into a mini French town. Group leaders from different French speaking countries lead pupils round previously

Year 8 French

All boys are encouraged to subscribe to the Mary Glasgow Publication magazines to extend their passive vocabulary and give them more diverse and advanced skills practice.

The Paris trip in Year 7 enables boys to see at first hand the beautiful city and all its landmarks which are prominent in the curriculum. They visit Notre Dame, the Musée d’Orsay and The Eiffel Tower among other famous places.

Year 1 French

specified parts of the town (maybe the bakery, the market etc...) where they set up role-plays and other activities to practise the language in an engaging way. Pupils order snacks from the café and watch a French ‘Punch and Judy’ puppet show.

The residential trip to ‘Maison Claire Fontaine’ in Burgundy in the autumn term of Year 8 allows the boys to be immersed in the French language and culture. The boys take part in a busy programme of activities during a whole week. This serves as a very effective revision and consolidation excercise for CE and particularly enhances the boys’ speaking and comprehension skills.

Sophie Stones Head of French

Classics Review

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he study of Classics has been part of the rich educational experience enjoyed in independent schools for centuries, as it is generally recognised as providing a unique educational, intellectual and cultural experience.

With Latin as part of the Arnold House curriculum from Year 5 onwards, and Greek introduced as an optional subject in Year 7, we cover the syllabus required for the Common Entrance examination and scholarship exams. With 70% of the boys achieving A grades, we aspire to academic excellence; this, however, is not our sole concern. Our principal aim is to encourage boys to develop an appreciation of the Graeco-Roman heritage and to fire them with a passion for Classics. A lot has to ASSEMBLY

be said about the benefits of learning Latin and Greek, but we find that our boys upon leaving the school, have a very good linguistic grounding, having learnt how to process linguistic information and improve their language skills. A large number of them take up Classics to GCSE level with considerable success and a healthy number to A level and university. We have very good feedback from the senior schools about their level and progress.

Aside from covering vocabulary and grammar, which is the bread and butter of a boy’s learning, we also examine various aspects of Roman and Greek life and history.

Educational visits to the British Museum are part of the syllabus: we visit the Greek and Roman galleries, linking our teaching of myths with specific artefacts and workshops which then spill over in lessons tailored to build on the visual stimuli.

Years 5 and 6 attend a BM workshop entitled “Looking at Greek Myths” in which we visit Greek galleries and learn how to identify gods and heroes or “read” stories on ancient pots. We have also been fortunate enough to have visited the Pompeii and Herculaneum exhibition with different year groups and have organised mini workshops, where we explored the daily life of Roman citizens. Other such activities include visits to the BM Parthenon gallery and workshops on Greek religion and architecture. Taking advantage of what the theatre scene has to offer, we keep an eye out for productions of ancient drama and plan visits where possible.

books on ancient Greece and Rome, the scandalous life of Roman Emperors, experiences from their visit to an archaeological site, etc. We hope to make Classics a life-enhancing experience for our

boys, one which gives them an advantage in a highly competitive world.

Sophia Panaretou Head of Classics

The Ancient Art Club gives boys the opportunity to build models of ancient structures such as the Colosseum, the Parthenon, a Roman army camp or a Roman villa. While a Myths Club starting next term, is designed to promote interest in Classics with younger boys in Years 3 and 4.

Boys are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning and present to the class topics of their special area of interest:

Year 7 visiting the Pompeii Exhibition at the British Museum

‘Our History, Our House’

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fter two years in the making, ‘The History of Arnold House’ book was launched in September coinciding with the week of the School’s 108th birthday.

With 160 pages, 43,000 words and 230 colour and black and white images, the book tells the story of Arnold House since it was established by Miss Amy Hanson in 1905.

It describes the years of the Second World War, when the school was divided between London and Scotland, as well as the years of post-war change, and brings the story up to date, covering the many scholastic and other achievements accomplished in recent years.

Much of the material has come from the School’s existing archives and interviews with old boys, long-serving members of staff, former parents, governors and friends of the school.

Copies are still available and if you would like to order one please contact Stephanie Miller at smiller@arnoldhouse.co.uk or call 020 7266 6989.

Stephanie Miller Director of Development

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The ‘42 CLub Reunion dinner Will take place on Monday 19th May 2014 at The InterContinental Hotel, Westminster

The dinner is for old boys who are 18 or over.

INVITATIONS AND BOOKING FORMS WILL BE SENT OUT IN THE NEW YEAR.

Obituaries: John Faulkner (AH Member of Staff 1989-2001) first ball he received was a good length ball on off stump. With no effort he stroked it for four through the covers. In that game you could only make 24 plus one scoring shot before you had to retire. On 24 he lazily picked up a ball off leg stump and hit it for 6 before shyly walking off.

Since he retired we did our best to catch up. We may have gone six months without speaking or seeing each other but always got back into ‘the old routine’ in an instant.

Last summer we walked together and chatted and ate and drank and laughed and we will not be able to do it anymore.

He will be missed.

John (far right) and the Father v Sons team 1999

I first met John in September 1989. He had started teaching Geography at the School the previous summer. During the autumn term we became firm friends. We had much in common, a love of sport, the enthusiasm to indulge in a glass of beer or two and to chat away over a pipe of tobacco.

John spent three days a week at AH, staying with his mum on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings before returning to Bladon in Oxfordshire after school on Thursday.

I once worked out that over the course of my teaching career I had spent over a year in total on trips away and John and I must have done much of that together. Those cricket tours and Cumbrian trips are some of my happiest day as a teacher and it was John with his unfailing good humour and unflappability that helped make those times ASSEMBLY

Rick Martin away so enjoyable.

He was an excellent teacher. Kind and patient but with a glint of steel in the eyes that said do not mess with me. I know the boys liked him and appreciated all his efforts both in classroom and probably more, because many boys are like that, his contribution on the games field.

He had a fund of stories but if you spent a lot of time in his company they would come round every so often. You still laughed no matter how many times you heard them.

He had been an outstanding sportsman.

One year, on tour, we played cricket for Keswick staff. He batted about five and shuffled out to the wicket, floppy sun hat pulled tightly over his eyes, borrowed bat, looking as if it was all a bit of a chore. The

Sir John Tavener (AH old boy 1951-58) Arnold House old boy John Tavener was one of Britain’s most celebrated composers.

He was introduced to classical music at an early age and following his time at Arnold House, went onto Highgate where he won a music scholarship before studying at the Royal Academy. He was a deeply spiritual composer and was profoundly influenced by the musical traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church. His ‘Song For Athene’ was performed at Lady Diana’s funeral as her coffin was carried from Westminster Abbey.

He was knighted for services to music in the Millennium Honours list and is survived by his wife Maryanna and three children.

Interview with AH old boys Jamie Sparks and Luke Birch (1998-2005)

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n December 2013 Jamie and Luke, both aged 21, will set off from La Gomera in the Canaries to break the world record for the youngest team to row the Atlantic.

Jamie and Luke last practice row before setting off

It will take around 50 days of non-stop rowing in two hour shifts day and night, burning around 10,000 calories a day. The boys’ ‘fuel’ will be dehydrated food made up with sea-water, desalinated using solar power. Their tiny boat has just one minute ‘cabin’ for shelter and rest, and everything they need has to be carried with them on the boat.

What have you done since leaving AH? Jamie: I went to Harrow where at first I rebelled against the idea of being told what to do 24/7 but then the good old saying ‘when you can’t beat it - join it’ came into play and I had a great five years.

I then went on a gap year and drove from Sydney to Perth before travelling to Indonesia, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia,

before working for the NGO ‘Street Child’ in Sierra Leone in West Africa with Luke.

I am currently taking a year out of Bristol University where I am studying Archaeology and Anthropology.

also I wanted something that would test me to the extent that once I had completed it I would know more about my strengths and weaknesses and maybe where to head career-wise.

Luke: I went to Eton and I am currently a student at Edinburgh University studying for an MA in Human Geography.

Luke: Jamie came on the support boat when I did my solo Channel swim in 2010 and we did some sailing together the following year when we talked about doing something extreme together then he came up with the idea of the row about two years ago. I was ‘in’ immediately

What are your greatest sporting triumphs to date?

Jamie: Playing 1st XV rugby for Harrow in my L6 and U6 years, playing rugby for Middlesex U18s and U20s and beating the USA National U20 side whilst touring with the Independent Schools Barbarians side.

Cycling 1,500 miles from Gibraltar to London in 2012.

Luke: At 18, in my last year at Eton, I swam the English Channel solo. A year of training and on the day, 14.5 hours in cold water in just a pair of Budgy Smugglers! At the time only fifty people aged 18 and under had completed the swim.

What has inspired you to take on the Atlantic Challenge?

Jamie: I have always been inspired by adventurers and my grandparents who lived in Africa and Arabia did some pretty extreme unsupported solo journeys in a 4x4– crossing the Sahara, crossing the Rub Al Kali. I wanted something so huge that it was immediately apart from the rest but

Jamie (L) and Luke (R) in the AH Rugby team 2003

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How have you prepared for the challenge?

Jamie: Other than preparing logistically I have been training in the gym for six months in order to gain 12 kilograms so that I am bulky and strong enough to withstand two months on the ocean in a rowing boat.

The mental side of things is more difficult to train for but the strongest human emotion is will and if you want to do something enough irrespective of what it is you will find a way to succeed.

In the last four weeks I have been talking to sponsors (AHS is a sponsor) who have helped to cover our race costs (which are £80,000), to the media, and assisted on the charity fund-raising side of things. We set ourselves a target of raising £100,000 for Breast Cancer Care (BCC); the total to date stands at £79,000 I believe.

aiming to raise £100,000 for Breast Cancer Care, a charity very dear to my heart as my grandmother died from it and my mother had it last year.

I have also taken up mindfulness meditation to try to keep some perspective on my emotions and some objectivity about how I (and Jamie) are feeling during the row.

Luke (L) and Jamie (R) in the gymnastics team 2003

Luke: We have had to do a lot of courses such as a VHF radio operators course, First Aid at Sea, Sea Survival and the RYA Ocean master navigation. We have also immersed ourselves in the world of ocean rowing, speaking to veterans such as Ian Couch who has rowed the Atlantic twice and the Indian once, and to Charlie Pitcher who broke the speed record for an Atlantic row earlier this year. Physically I have put on about 15kg as we will lose a lot of weight during the row – you might think this is fun but is actually quite tedious eating all day long and never feeling hungry! I was given a rowing machine for Christmas and had it in my room at University so I spent a lot of time on that, I also went to the gym a few times a week and did lots of weights to build up my muscles. We have been using surgical spirits to rub into our hands to toughen them up so we can try to avoid blisters during the row itself.

Our boat was on the estuary at Burnham on Crouch during the summer so we did plenty of rowing there and got to know the electrical, navigation and other systems on board as well as doing some work to the boat such as attaching lanyards(ropes) covering over sharp bits that could cut us, organising mattresses for the cabin.

We also spent a lot of time this summer getting sponsorship proposals together and pitching to potential sponsors to contribute to the costs of the row in return for publicity and social media exposure.

We have had to spend a lot of money on all the compulsory food, medicine and equipment that we have to take with us on the row and it took a lot of time and effort to source, co-ordinate, check and pack everything. Also during the last few months we had a number of fundraising events too (including our very successful day at the AHS football festival in October) as we are

What advice would you give our current boys should they wish to take part in such a challenge in the future?

Jamie: I’d say for all those who want to take on ANY challenge in life – pursue it with all you have and remember that the journey in getting there is often just as important as completing the goal itself.

Luke: Believe in yourself and think big.

Keep active. Get a good team around you!

What are your overriding memories of Arnold House?

Jamie: Gymnastics with Rick Martin and Kate Davies where we frequently journeyed ‘up North’ to compete in competitions – so four or five hour journeys for three minute routines! Kicking a football around in the playground. John Hill’s signature (in joke).

Getting disciplined by Mr Martin. Living down my starring role as Dick Whittington’s mother in the school play for which I received rave reviews. And Headmaster Nick Allen’s quote ‘that not even in the worst excesses of the French revolution did people throw books’ a phrase which I repeated to my mother many times and which she has used on many occasions since.

Luke: Mr Martin playing dodge ball with us. Mr Kerr’s famous half-time football pep talks “pass and move” “pass and move”. Jamie prank-calling Mr Martin and forgetting to withhold his number so that Mr Martin called straight back and could hear Jamie’s voicemail message!!

How has being an Arnold House pupil impacted your life to date?

Jamie: It taught me the importance of good manners. It also gave me the confidence that when I left and started boarding school I could be myself and pursue my interests which I still do to this day. It taught me to respect everyone for who they are and to treat everyone fairly.

Luke: The most important thing at this moment in time is that it brought me and Jamie together as I cannot think of anyone else who I could undertake this challenge with! AHS got me into all sorts of sport – rugby, swimming, athletics and believe it or not Jamie and I both used to get into stretchy leotards and do gymnastics competitions around the country. Music is another great love of mine and I loved the choir, orchestra, jazz band at Arnold House and later at Eton.

Luke and Jamie aim to raise £100,000 for Breast Cancer Care. If you would like to support them please visit www.justgiving.com/2boysinaboat For more information and to follow their progress please go to www.2boysinaboat.com or to their Facebook page.

Luke and Jamie with Viv Thomas

Arnold House School 1 Loudoun Road, St. John’s Wood, London NW8 0LH Telephone: 020 7266 4840 Facsimile: 020 7266 6994 Email: office@arnoldhouse.co.uk Website: www.arnoldhouse.co.uk Arnold House School Ltd (Limited by Guarantee). Registered in London Number 889424. Educational Charitable Trust Number 312725

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