8 minute read
SCHOOLNEWS
NEW ARRIVAL
Day and boarding school DLD College London has appointed Dr Sarah Watson as Vice Principal (Academic). She joins from the International School of Geneva, prior to which she was Head of College at King George V School, Hong Kong. Dr Watson said:
“I am excited to have this opportunity to be a part of the wonderful community at DLD College London.” Poetry pleaser
Schoolchildren and Chelsea Pensioners enjoyed a Poetry Together tea party at the Royal Geographical Society. Founder Gyles Brandreth and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall joined the event, which was organised by Dukes Education. Poetry performances were followed by tea and Victoria sponge cake made to The Duchess of Cornwall’s own recipe.
GIRLS' BIRTHDAY
This year is the 135th anniversary of Sydenham High School GDST, which opened its doors to 20 girls in February 1887. Founded by four pioneering women – remembered in the school's House names – Sydenham High overcame early prejudice to grow into a thriving through school for some 700 pupils.
LITTLE SIMZ
Magic flute
King's Ely fl autist Lauren Booth has secured a place at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The Year 11 student is the fourth King’s Ely student recently to earn a place, with two students studying Voice and a further success in Recorder and French Horn.
FAIRYTALE TRIUMPH
Disney classic 'Beauty and the Beast' came to the stage at Gordon’s School, Surrey with three sell-out performances. This whole-school musical, complete with outsized teapots and talking clocks and candles showcased the talent of the school's Drama Department, both on stage and in the production team.
Culinary addition
Hallfi eld School in Birmingham marked the launch of a state-ofthe-art food technology classroom by inviting Michelin-starred chef, Andreas Antona and team of Simpsons Restaurant to the prep. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was followed by a pizza-making session.
WOODLAND CELEBRATION
St Benedict’s has planted 120 trees to mark its 120th anniversary. Wild cherries, supplied by the Woodland Trust, were planted in the school grounds and also at a partner primary school in a ceremony attended by pupils from St Benedict's Eco Society. Parents have donated almost £700 to Restore our Planet’s ‘Trillion Trees’ project.
Co-ed developments
A er admitting girls into Lower Prep and Lower Sixth in 2021, St Columba's will welcome its fi rst cohort of 11+ girls this September. The St Alban's school has opened a new Sixth Form Centre with improved music, sports and IT facilities, along with an additional studio theatre.
YOUNG ENGINEERS
Two Mayfi eld Sixth Form girls have been awarded prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarships. Christina submitted detailed proposals on seabed infrastructure to reduce coastal erosion, while Elizabeth won her scholarship for a computer chip-aided method of reducing cot deaths. They will be sponsored and mentored in order assist them in their projects, university study and career planning.
PHYSICS CHAMP
Tonbridge School, Kent has picked up 'Top in the UK' in the International Physics Brawl, organised by Charles University. Two teams from Upper and Lower Sixth competed in the online global challenge, which tests Physics and problem-solving ability. The Upper Sixth boys also achieved 34th out of 188 teams, placing them among the top fi h worldwide by age category.
HRH DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE
SOMETHING THEY SAID
MALCOLM FORBES
PADDLE SQUAD
Dauntsey's canoeists are training in earnest for the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race – known as the DW and the 'canoeists' Everest'. This 125-mile race over Easter weekend has been held since 1948 and is the longest canoe race in the world. Dauntsey's has entered a team for the past 40 years and this year's squad are fundraising for MIND. The school is dedicated to developing its adventure education curriculum.
Jurassic thrill
Pupils at Felsted School in Essex had the opportunity to travel into a Jurassic landscape using green screen technology and making videos of themselves with dinosaurs, as part of a workshop with a team from Teach Rex. As well as starring in videos that brought prehistory to life, the children had the opportunity to interact with a T-rex called Jam.
CHARITY BOOST
Conifers School in West Sussex is championing three smaller charities that support mental and physical health as part of its ‘pay it forward’ initiative. The South Downs prep will run fundraising and awareness events with men’s suicide prevention charity James’ Place, assistance dog provider Canine Partners and The Sussex Snowdrop Trust, which assists local children with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses.
Top Story
Green theme
Dulwich College held an Eco Week in November just a er COP26 ended to champion both eco awareness and sustainable change. From 'loving our le overs' to reuse and recycle initiatives around the school, it was all hands on deck to create positive change. Students also got involved in practical local improvements for the whole community, including building bug hotels.
CAMP COURAGE
Laura Hall, Head of Queen’s College Prep in Mayfair, has brokered a partnership with the Royal Marines Reserves as part of a revised curriculum. Year 5 and 6 girls have visited Wandsworth Barracks for boot camp-style fitness training, followed by abseiling, shelter building and close combat training. Lt Colonel Oliver Todd said: “They proved themselves to be confident, courageous and, most of all, resilient.”
HEAD ROLE
Katharine Woodcock takes up the role of Headmistress of Francis Holland School, Regent’s Park in September 2022. Currently Head of Sydenham High School, her career includes spells at Oakham School and Queen's College. Charles Fillingham, current Head of Francis Holland, becomes Executive Head of Solihull School.
SCIENCE FORUM
Benenden Sixth Formers and STEM Ambassadors Molly and Annabel hosted a virtual panel discussion about the production of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine with top female scientists who worked on its development. They chaired an event that attracted hundreds of students from Kent and Sussex schools.
SOMETHING THEY SAID
WRITING TALENT
Highgate School student Theo Behe, 14, will publish his story Johnny Recruit this spring with comics publisher Markosia. What began as a school history project has become a graphic novel illustrated by Tom Muzzell. The gripping story was inspired by his great uncle, Bert Houle, a Canadian RAF fl ying ace. Theo says: “He made our family proud, so I wanted to write some fun adventures around him”
Study leader
Dr Elodie Nevin will become the new Director of Studies at St Catherine’s School, Bramley from April 2022. A linguist with a PhD in German literature, Dr Nevin moves into the role with a comprehensive knowledge of the school a er 14 years as a language teacher, Head of German and Oxbridge Co-ordinator.
GLOBAL PROJECT
A Grade 11 student from ACS International School Egham has received a global award to support his project in Rio de Janeiro. Daniel, 17, supplies food and hygiene baskets to over 5,700 families across the city. The award will enable him to expand Project Cestou, tackling some of the systemic issues facing communities in the city.
DRAGON WISDOM
Dragon’s Den star Sarah Willingham visited Roedean in East Sussex to speak to pupils about her own journey to success. The Brighton-based entrepreneur, who spent her twenties expanding Pizza Express and Planet Hollywood before setting up Bombay Bicycle Club, told pupils that she defi ned success as achieving not only her business but also her life goals.
Fencing triumph
Millfi eld fencer Steffi Berndt De La O has won the prestigious International Fencing Epee Cup. The competition took place before Christmas in Dubai. Steffi , a Millfi eld Sports Scholar, was presented with the trophy by The Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Somerset school off ers recreational and competitive fencing to students of all ages and has a purpose-built fencing salle.
SHOWCASE AWARD
Colchester High School has become a Microso Showcase School, one of only 53 in the UK. Part of Cognita group, the school has invested substantially in EdTech skills and devices. Headteacher Gracie Langrick says: “We were especially delighted that Microso recognised how the school’s use of technology has given pupils a ‘voice and choice’ in their own learning”
Time team
The 1st Eight at The Leys School in Cambridge was the fastest crew in the Novices’ time trial at the Fairbairn Cup. Originally organised for the University of Cambridge by Jesus College Boat Club but now open to all comers, this annual race covers a 2,700m course along the Cam between Jesus College Boathouse and Fen Ditton in the ninth week of each Michaelmas term.
SOMETHING THEY SAID
SIDNEY POITIER
Focus
BASSETT HOUSE SCHOOL – A WELL-ROUNDED PREP P . 20
NURTURING ENTHUSIASM AT BASSETT HOUSE, PAGE 20
