Graeme Lawrie's recent appointment to. Buckingham .. Callum Cooke . pitches, the most challenging ......
NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM THE SCHOOL AND ALUMNI
2014-2015
NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM THE SCHOOL AND ALUMNI 2014-2015
CONTENTS Introduction from the Head
1
Augmented Reality in Sennockian 2 Leavers 3 Features Rethinking the nineteenth century curriculum
10
Teaching Geography in a digital world
14
Yoma Education: a national success
A closed world for boffins: the early days of IT at Sevenoaks Learning to code mobile games Old Sennockians in technology
An interview with Maggie Philbin Teaching coding
12 16 18 19 24 26
SPOTLIGHTS Science and Digital Skills Week 2015
28
Les Misérables
30
Founder’s Day
Les Misérables: a director’s view
Behind the scenes of Les Misérables: the orchestra Enrichment Week
A year in Johnsons
29 33 34 36 38
Johnsons in the 1940s
Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award cycling expedition to Skye Medieval History trip to Palermo Neanderthal Project
The General Election
Kent Academies Network (KAN) universities access programme
40 42 43 44 46 48
REVIEWS Academic Review including prizewinners
50
Drama Review
70
Art Review
Music Review
62 80
Sport Review
90
Trips and Activities Review
104
Alumni Review
120
Looking Forward
114
Valete 138 SSC artwork by Oliver Kidd
Dates for your diary
148
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
????© Zak Waters
AN Introduction from the Head Welcome to the Sennockian. This special edition, augmented with digital extras, is a celebration of the many ways in which technology has enhanced our students’ learning at Sevenoaks, and indeed the lives of others. Four Sevenoaks students recently designed and developed an app to assist children with autism and their families and teachers, and were selected from over 700 submissions to win the Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award (iDEA). Throughout the curriculum, all of our students have opportunities to develop invaluable digital skills. Year 8 are now taught to program in Python, and the new Sevenoaks School Certificate in Technology includes units in robotics and digital visual communication. Our IB Psychology classes are currently collaborating online with students in Egypt and Malaysia to gather and share experimental data. The Library offers a huge range of opportunities for online research, from Oxford’s Very Short Introductions to Google Scholar, from the OED to JSTOR. We are also proud to share our expertise and facilities with the wider community, and in March over 10,000 local schoolchildren attended Sevenoaks Science and Digital Skills week, which was opened by HRH the Duke of York. Graeme Lawrie’s recent appointment to Buckingham Palace as an education adviser will further allow us to build a bridge between the digital skills of our students and industry giants like Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft. Every day we use technology to enhance our interaction with our students. It is now common for teachers to receive, verify, annotate and return essays on Firefly (our virtual learning environment) without any paper being involved. My own teaching has benefited from superb resources like the Faber Waste Land app with its audio files of Eliot reading his own poem. These accelerating levels of digital literacy will soon be supported by two impressive new facilities: the
Science and Technology Centre, a visible manifestation of our spirit of innovation, and the new Sixth Form Centre, a state-of-the-art home for our sophisticated and digitally aware IB students. I recently heard Thomas Heatherwick remind his audience that the pencil is also technology, and we celebrate too the virtues of the ancient and the traditional. This generation of students, as my own recent research showed me, can only benefit from a wide experience of resources and interaction, from the printed word to the digital archive, from online engagement to human discussion. It is an exciting time to be a student, and I hope that our excitement will come across clearly as you read this edition of the Sennockian.
The Head and senior prefects, 2014-15
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
1
Augmented Reality in Sennockian Augmented reality (AR) is a live view of a real world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer generated input such as sound or graphics. This edition of the Sennockian is the first Sevenoaks School publication to use AR, enabling readers to interact with it in a new way. Several images and objects in this edition will have an augmented reality function through which the publication will come to life with videos, music or speech associated with the article you are looking at. The relevant images will be clearly labelled with the Blippar logo.
Simply download the free Blippar app on your mobile device. Then frame the tagged image or object in the app’s viewfinder to unlock the associated image. From here you can watch or listen to the digital enhancement or save and share the experience with your friends. The front cover of the Sennockian is an augmented reality image – try starting your app, point your mobile device camera at this front cover and see what happens! Graeme Lawrie
It’s simple 1. Download Blippar from the Apple app store or Google Play. 2. Open the app and hold your device over any image where you see the Blippar logo. 3. Watch or hear the content come to life.
Hover your phone or tablet over this image to view a gallery of images from our production of Les Misérables.
2
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
LEAVERS Leavers 2013
Leavers 2014
Name Degree
University
Khush James
Sanskrit
St John’s College, Oxford
Seb Lowton
Commercial Music Performance
University of Westminster
Xander Bastin
Material Science and Engineering
Imperial College London
Violet Bennett
English
University of York
Christiana Bickley
Geography
University of Exeter
Rex Boulter
International Management
University of Bath
Simon Bowes
Liberal Arts
Queen’s University Canada
Natasha Brandt
Geography
The University of Nottingham
Sarika Breeze
Psychology
University of Exeter
Alexandre Cheneviere
Liberal Arts
The University of Virginia
Brandon Cheong
Economics
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Meggy Court
Arts and Sciences with Study Abroad
University College London
Megan Critchlow
Psychology
Durham University
Arthur Davison
Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence
The University of Nottingham
Robert Edwards
Politics and Modern History
University of Manchester
Natasha Farrant
Sports Science with Management
Loughborough University
Julia Ganis
Geography
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Natalia Gonzalez-Morales
English and Russian
The University of Nottingham
Oskar Goodwille
Politics, Philosophy and Economics
University of Exeter
Saul Greenhalgh
Sport Management
Loughborough University
Philip Gull
English
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Daisy Hale
Anthropology
Durham University
Roberto Hofmann
Natural Sciences
University College London
Katy Hollings
Culinary Arts Management
University College Birmingham
Hanna Jay
English
University of St Andrews
Bernard Lee
Civil Engineering and Construction Management
University of Sydney
Laura Looi
Language and Culture
University College London
Filippo Marangoni
Liberal Arts
University of Chicago
Abigail McKnight
Geography
University College London
Derrick Metuh
Engineering Management
University of Exeter
Firoz Mistry
Liberal Arts
Yale University
Matthew Payne
Zoology
University of St Andrews
Isabelle Piper
Modern and Medieval Languages
Jesus College, Cambridge
Alexander Robbins
Natural Sciences
University of Bath
Sienna Rothery
History
St Catherine’s College, Oxford
Greta Sallusti
Modern Language Plus
University College London
David Scotland
History with a Year Abroad
University College London
Harry Smith
History
University of York
Caitlin Stevens
Medicine
University of Birmingham
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
3
LEAVERS Leavers 2014
Leavers 2015
4
Name Degree
University
Isla Stevens
History
Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge
Michael Thompson
Economics
King’s College London
Jay Trevor
Geography
University of Exeter
Annabel Turnbull
Medicine
University of Exeter
Anton Volkov
Economics and Business with East European Studies
University College London
Alastair Walczak
Chemistry, Biological and Medicinal Chemistry
University of York
Jeremy Yao
Law
St Edmund Hall, Oxford
Abdulla Zaman
History
King’s College, Cambridge
Karan Agarwal
Economics with Business Placement
Durham University
Anna Agnello
Classics
Brasenose College, Oxford
Rory Alexander
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Arvind Arora
Environment and Development
LSE
Segun Awolowo
Law
The University of Warwick
James Bache
Computer Science with Industrial Placement
University of Exeter
Alexandra Baranowski
Natural Sciences
Robinson College, Cambridge
Georgina Barker
Natural Sciences
Durham University
Maria Bassi
Business Administration
University of Bath
Robert Bates
Chemical Engineering
Loughborough University
Freddie Bond
Modern Languages
University of Bristol
Alexandre Bos
Combined Honours in Social Sciences
Durham University
Henry Bowers
Liberal Arts
University of California, Los Angeles
Robert Boylin
International Management and Modern Languages: French
University of Bath
Olivia Brandon
Medicine
Queen’s College, Oxford
Zoe Brandon
Medicine
St Anne’s College, Oxford
Chloe Broom
Geography
University of Exeter
John Bryant
Economics and Management
Keble College, Oxford
Anastasiia Budnik
European Politics
King’s College London
Ken Chan
Liberal Arts
University of Chicago
Alexander Charnock
Economics
University of Exeter
Jonathan Chen
Chemistry
King’s College London
Jacqueline Cho
Human, Social and Political Sciences
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Claudia Chow
Biochemistry
Imperial College London
Nicolas Christodoulou
Medicine
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Alexa Chukwumah
Liberal Arts
Brown University
Emma Clark
Medicine
University of Exeter
Capucine Cogné
History
LSE
Rebekah Collins
Geography and Management
University of Leeds
Daniele Colombraro
Civil Engineering
University of Surrey
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
Name Degree
University
James Cooper
Natural Sciences
Downing College, Cambridge
Maxine Costea
Politics and East European Studies
University College London
Flora Cournane
Veterinary Medicine and Science
University of Surrey
Oliver Cros
Flexible Combined Honours with Study Abroad
University of Exeter
Max Cunningham
Flexible Combined Honours
University of Exeter
Leo Danczak
Biological Sciences
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Henry Davies
Physics
Durham University
Hannah Day
Liberal Arts
University of Virginia
Brando de Courten
Liberal Arts
Georgia Tech
Lucy Delchar
Management with French
The University of Nottingham
Laure Deriaz
Law
University College London
Ciara Desmond
History and Political Science
Trinity College Dublin
Jaime Deverall
Liberal Arts
Stanford University
Salim Dharamshi
Liberal Arts
University of California, Berkeley
Oscar Dial
Liberal Arts
McGill University
Georgia Dochoda
Geography with European Study Abroad
University of Exeter
Kiitan Doherty
Liberal Arts
Loyola Marymount
Daniel Dooley
Business and Management with International Study
University of Exeter
Hannah Durkin
Psychology
University of Bath
Toby Evenden
Flexible Combined Honours with Study Abroad
University of Exeter
Niamh Fenton
Physics
Imperial College London
Ethan Field
Civil and Structural Engineering
Newcastle University
Graydon Flatt
Physics
University of California, Los Angeles
Antonia Foeller
Economics with Business Management
Goethe University Frankfurt
Carmen French
Criminology and Psychology
University of Southampton
Suchika Garg
Medicine
University College London
Nicholas Gerritsen
Architecture
Cardiff University
Loris Gliner
Aeronautical Engineering
Imperial College London
Emily Gray
Psychology
The University of Edinburgh
Alice Grishkov
Psychology
University of Bristol
Emma Gull
Medicine
University of Bristol
Terri Ha
Law
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Siena Hammond
Human Sciences
University College London
Emma Harrington
Medicine
Imperial College London
Amenah Hasan
Arts and Sciences with Study Abroad
University College London
Edward Haynes
Geography
University of Bristol
James Heesom
Electronic and Electrical Engineering with a Foundation Year
Loughborough University
Charles Heighton
Ancient History
Cardiff University
Alastair Herd
Chemistry
The University of Warwick
Claudia Hockey
History
University of St Andrews
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
5
LEAVERS
6
Name Degree
University
Mei Lian Hoe
English
University College London
George Jack
Chemistry
University College London
Sam Jeffreys
Law
University College London
Amber Jeffryes
Biomedical Sciences
Imperial College London
Jason Jiang
Information Management for Business
University College London
Alfred Joarder-White
Chemical Physics with Industrial Experience
University of Bristol
Dylan Johnson
Combined Honours in Social Sciences
Durham University
Shyam Kalairajah
Economics
Magdalene College, Cambridge
George Karl
Information Management for Business
University College London
Alysha Kassam
Social Policy and Criminology
LSE
Emma Kemp
Architecture
Newcastle University
Emma Kerr
Medicine
University College London
Max Kitson
Economics and Management
Balliol College, Oxford
Kantida Koysombat
Medicine
University of Liverpool
Maxi Lampert
International Management and Modern Languages: French
University of Bath
Christian Lane
Human and Physical Geography
University of Reading
Ivan Lau
Medicine
Queen’s University, Belfast
Laura Lau
Biochemistry
Imperial College London
Wing Lau
Business and Political Economy
NYU Stern
Isabel Law
Experimental Psychology
St John’s College, Oxford
Josephine Lerasle
Architecture
Cardiff University
Stefan Lewis
Biomedical Sciences
University of Southampton
Robert Lewis-Davies
Geography
The University of Nottingham
Seva Lobov
Urban Planning, Design and Management
University College London
Angela Loescher-Montal
Liberal Arts
Princeton University
Laura Lyttle
Film and Television Studies
The University of Nottingham
Alex Maguire
Economics
University of Bristol
Toby Manchip
Digital Film Production
Ravensbourne
Veena McCoole
Liberal Arts
Yale University
Samuel McDonald
History
University of Exeter
Anna McGee
History of Art
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Carl-Gabriel McGovern
Medicine
University of Buckingham
Anastasia McLain
Liberal Arts
Middlebury
Charlotte McNally
Classics
Peterhouse, Cambridge
James McQuin
Modern Language and Business Management
University of Manchester
Molly Merson
French and Beginners’ Portuguese
Magdalen College, Oxford
Chidera Metuh
Economics and Industrial Organisation
The University of Warwick
Nelly Morgulchik
Natural Sciences
Churchill College, Cambridge
Daniel Moss
Economics
The University of Nottingham
Justin Murray
Liberal Arts
McGill University
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
Name Degree
University
Maximilian Neubauer
Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Durham University
Alexander Newman
Physics
Durham University
Maximilian Noka
Engineering
King’s College, Cambridge
Caroline Ogilvie
Combined Honours in Social Sciences
Durham University
Matilda Oliveira
Philosophy with Psychology
The University of Warwick
Molly Owen
Psychology
Cardiff University
Nigel Pak
Medicine
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Guy Parfitt
Business Economics with International Study
University of Exeter
Lulu Parker
Modern European Languages and History
Durham University
William Parr
Law
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Jayna Patel
Geography
Queens’ College, Cambridge
Edward Perkins
French and Philosophy
King’s College London
Nicholas Perry
Mechanical Engineering
Imperial College London
Matthew Phillips
Philosophy and Psychology
The University of Edinburgh
Oliver Pickering
Business and Management
University of Exeter
Arthur Poon
Economics and Molecular Engineering
University of Chicago
Kayla Popat
Management
The University of Warwick
Matthew Proctor
Economics with Management
Durham University
Michaela Rakova
Law
University College London
Siddharth Ramesh
Engineering
The University of Michigan
Tasha Reid
Psychology
University of Exeter
Matthew Rice
History
Durham University
James Robson
Liberal Arts
McGill University
Ellie Rothery
Biochemistry
Imperial College London
George Rountree
Philosophy
The University of Edinburgh
Chloe Rouse
Psychology
University of Bath
Ishaan Sachdeva
Business and Economy for Contemporary China
The University of Nottingham
Phillip Sakellarios
Geography
King’s College London
Barnaby Sandeford
Physics
Imperial College London
Akanksha Santdasani
Liberal Arts
Wharton, University of Pennsylvania
Vivianna Siu
Medicine
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Callum Slade
Geography
University of Exeter
Lauren Snyder
Medicine
University of Manchester
Jessica Sparkes
Biochemistry
The University of Nottingham
Margaux Spriet
Geography with Economics
LSE
Daya Srinivas
Politics and International Relations
Columbia University & SciencesPo
Kate Stephen
Psychology
University of Sussex
Emma Tan
Liberal Arts
University of California, Berkeley
Wei Qin Tan
Sustainable Development
University of St Andrews
Siu Teo
Biochemistry with Management
Imperial College London
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
7
LEAVERS
Gap Year 2015
Name Degree
University
Verity Thomson
History
The University of Nottingham
Hannah Tiffen
Human Sciences
University College London
Rachel Tiffen
History
University College London
Diana Urlichich
Psychology
University College London
Ichechi Weli
Engineering
The University of Michigan
Lorna Wightman
Arts and Sciences with Study Abroad
University College London
Jack Winchester
Politics, Philosophy and Economics
The University of Warwick
Laura Winters
Medical Sciences (Neuroscience)
University of Exeter
Hannah Wintersteller
Biology
University of Bath
Abie Witts
Law with Spanish Law
Hertford College, Oxford
Chantal Wong
Classics
Robinson College, Cambridge
Marvin Wong
Geography with Economics
LSE
Kevin Zhong
Mechanical Engineering
Imperial College London
Immanuel Adewumi
Ayesha Hughes
Isabel Baldwin
Sophie Jones
Capucine Barcellona
Rohin Kanji
Nicholas Bell
Hamish Knight
Titus Boeninger
Edwina Low
Thomas Buhl-Nielsen
Amanda May
Hugo Caven
George McGirr
Callum Cooke
Antonia McLennan
Imogen Copps
Otto Newland
Hugh Cornes
Alexandra Norris
Celia Dodds
Olivia Sawkins
Rosemary Donald
Thomas E Smith
Evgeny Dunaev
Catherine Stratton
Kate Edwards
Isabel Urquhart
George Evans-Thomas
Charlie Wager
Alexandra Fellner
Elizabeth Warwick-Champion
Lucy Fenwick
Elle Watson
Oscar Frost
Paul Weeks
Tom Golding
Euan Williams
Isabella Gordon
Daniel Wilson
Abigail Hands
Howard Wong
Edward Hatfield
8
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
F EATURES
Mclek/Shutterstock
Rethinking the Nineteenth Century curriculum
‘It is time to rethink our 19th century curriculum for the future – not in terms of marginal fixes, but from first principles. Global education needs a new goal, a new pedagogy, and a new sense of what is important to teach our kids.’
Marc Prensky, the Bett Show 2015
By its very nature technology changes at an extremely fast pace, and making it accessible to students, staff and parents is an ongoing challenge. Yet it is imperative that we research emerging technologies with a view to embedding the most effective of these into our curriculum. The future of technology in the curriculum is all about access and availability of resources, global interaction and international collaboration. The world of online learning is nothing new to our current cohort of students. They are accustomed not only to interacting with friends on mobile devices, but also to working on collaborative projects with students at other schools – all over the world – in the same way. They expect technological developments to enhance and assist their learning experience. Accordingly our classrooms are changing as the way we teach adapts to the opportunities for increased connectivity and access. With the cloud, the world will be our classroom, encouraging independent learning. We already see this in the ‘flipped classroom’ model – using online resources to help students prepare for lessons at home. Classroom lessons will continue to become more collaborative as digital sharing becomes easier and schools will continue to embrace the future. Some educational experts, however, argue that technology can be a barrier to teaching and learning. They argue that core skills are being degraded by technological revolution, and that students are losing the ability to think for themselves. Some feel that the ease of access to an abundance of information is encouraging our younger generations to avoid learning and rely on these devices to provide the answers they need. Getting this right is a fine balancing act. On one hand we want the students to learn useful skills and concepts, to be able to recall useful information for themselves, and to be able to think in an intelligent way; but on the other hand they need to be prepared for what they will face in the workplace. They need to feel comfortable with technology, not just with what is available now, but to have the ability to pick up new software and hardware as it is developed and released with little effort or concern. We want them to be ‘digital makers’ and have the ability to create software themselves. Our students’ lives will continue to be SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
underpinned by technology and it is important that we equip and support them by integrating it into the foundations of the education we provide. We are in a privileged position to help drive forward the future of digital pedagogy. Director of Innovation Graeme Lawrie has been appointed by the Duke of York to act as the education adviser to work on an initiative promoting digital skills and entrepreneurship in schools and with young adults. He will be working from his office at Buckingham Palace once a week for the foreseeable future. Having become aware of the Duke of York’s interest in digital skills in education, Graeme tweeted the palace to invite HRH to attend our Science Week, and was subsequently invited for coffee to describe his plans. He clearly struck a chord. Graeme’s relationship with the palace staff developed, and he was invited to help them develop their Digital Badges, endorsed and funded by companies, such as Amazon, Barclays and Microsoft. Graeme has spent time with leaders in the corporate world, discussing the skills required by digitally competent employees, and then building badges to support those skills. Students will watch training videos (which the BBC have offered to help produce), carry out a task and, following an assessment, will be issued with a badge of competence in a particular area. Badges currently in development include a computer gaming badge which teaches programming, illustration and story-telling, developed with the help of author and digital entrepreneur Ian Livingstone, and the Barclays Digital Life Skills which teaches business and enterprise skills. It is hoped that there will be over 50 industry-endorsed digital badges by September 2016. The badges have been designed to exploit the motivational benefits of gamification. Students achieve credits, and there are leader boards. We hope that including the badges on CVs will be powerful employment currency. Students can achieve bronze, silver and gold badges and, as with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, they will receive a certificate from the Palace. Digital Badges will form a key part of the Technology curriculum at Sevenoaks from Year 7 onward.
Tim Jones and Graeme Lawrie 11
Yoma Education: a national success iDEA is an annual competition founded by HRH Prince Andrew the Duke of York. It is open to teams of up to four people and all competitors must be aged 14-25 years old. There are three stages, running from October to March, and only the best digital ideas make it past each stage.
Year 10 students Birkaran Sachdev, Malcolm Briery, Cedric Tan and Daragh Massey won the 2015 iDEA technology competition, receiving a £15,000 cash prize to develop their app. The venue was Salesforce Tower, a business tower in the heart of Central London. Six months of hard work and preparation had paid off and this was the last step of our journey, presenting a sales pitch to a panel of six judges for the final stage of HRH the Duke of York’s Inspiring Digital Innovation Award (iDEA). Later that day, we were invited to St James’s Palace in London, where the Duke of York announced that we had won the competition! Our company, Yoma Education, has developed an app to help children with autism, aiding organisation skills and communication between a parent, student and teacher. Above, from left to right: Daragh Massey, Malcolm Briery, Birkaran Sachdev, Cedric Tan at Telefonica Digital, London
12
FEATURES
All four of us study Robotics at school and were inspired by our Technology teachers Mark Jones and Graeme Lawrie to enter the competition with a new business idea. With several months of presentations, videos, meetings and business pitches, the most challenging part was balancing our academic and co-curricular life with the time spent on the app and the competition. Over 700 teams entered and only around 20 per cent of the teams progressed through each stage, until there were just three final winners who each received a cash prize. As 15-year-olds, we were the youngest team in the competition and were up against older, experienced entrepreneurs with university degrees in Design and Business, so we had to work hard to develop our programming, business and salesmanship skills. We developed several prototype versions of our application before creating a functioning version of the app which we showcased at St James’s Palace. The iDEA trust organised several events in business venues across London, including the Barclays Headquarters at Canary Wharf and Telefonica Digital in Soho and we were fortunate to meet powerful and experienced professionals who helped us to develop our business. At the beginning of the third and final stage of the competition, the iDEA initiative introduced us to our team mentor, Alan Greenberg, an ambitious entrepreneur specialising in international business development. Alan was the Director of Education at Apple in Asia 2004-9 and led the team which launched iTunes U in the UK and Europe. He met with us every week during the competition period, evaluating our product and giving us valuable business advice.
In February, we visited the Headquarters of the National Autistic Society, the UK’s largest charity for autism, and met with its CEO, Mark Lever. He was impressed by our product and promised to give us the society’s official support, a vital step in ensuring that our app reaches special education schools, parents and teachers all over Britain. There are 100,000 children diagnosed with autism in the UK, and mobile technology can now help them through the challenges they face in everyday life. We plan to reinvest the £15,000 to refine the app and sell it online. Yoma will receive help from
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
global digital businesses and in the weeks following the competition we met with representatives from Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Barclays and the Nominet Trust. There are also autism research organisations interested in using the data collected by our app to aid their study. The experience has been exhausting, but ultimately very rewarding. We are grateful to our teachers, mentors and school for supporting us through the competition and we hope that they will continue to support the development of our company. Birkaran Sachdev, Year 10
13
Teaching Geography in a Digital World understanding of the relative locations of places. Street View has altered the nature of fieldwork, providing little necessity to travel to physical locations because their characteristics can now be observed and interpreted from a computer screen. Blogging in its variety of guises has created an easy-to-use platform where students can create entries to collate their thoughts as part of a learning diary or comment on and interact with other students from around the world. A good example of this has been our Lower Sixth students who read A Short Introduction to Globalisation during a holiday and use WordPress to log their thoughts and progress. Blogging provides an audience for students’ work whilst also opening up opportunities for public critique and debate.
Paul Turner has written an eBook for teachers exploring the wealth of exciting digital opportunities available to Geographers, from interactive mapping to data collection. If you were to look in a Geography classroom today, you might be surprised by the lack of textbooks on the shelves. As everyone knows, the internet provides unparalleled access to up-to-date information. In the Geography department, we use an app called World in Figures published by The Economist, which allows students to easily access current data associated with all countries. This tool has dramatically altered the nature of class debates; no longer can teachers use outdated examples to illustrate arguments. Another particular example of a shift from old to new is the role of Google Earth in changing the nature of the atlas. Teachers can, within seconds, fly a class to any location in the world, providing students with a much more effective spatial
14
FEATURES
Flipboard is another effective tool for students to curate their own work, acting as an ‘online magazine’. Students can create their own magazine or add articles, web links or videos to a collection focused towards a specific course or year group. This has been a particularly effective tool to engage students in further reading and extension opportunities. Ultimately, students’ learning activities have multiplied with the plethora of publishing opportunities and media now at their disposal. Through Twitter and having attended a number of educational conferences, I came to appreciate the lack of up-to-date technological understanding of many teachers. As a result, I embarked on the task of compiling an eBook, available on the iBookstore, to publicise in a clear and simple fashion a selection of the opportunities available to teachers. Entitled Teaching Geography in a Digital World, the book explores over 26 different resources or teaching ideas which I use day-to-day across my teaching. Following the release of my book, I recently led a workshop at the Geography Association Annual Conference on the use of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) in education. Essentially, APIs are an interface to access big data sets from organisations such as the Met Office and
Ordnance Survey. Last November, I attended the Google Teacher Academy at the Google HQ in London. Passing the course meant I joined an exclusive club of only 50 Google Certified Teachers in the UK and 250 in the world. Some schools have gone so far as to publish all of their teaching materials on iTunes U (an app for collating teaching resources associated with courses run by schools, colleges and universities), whilst others have distributed one-to-one with Apple’s iPads or Google’s Chromebooks. Google’s Drive app has also innovated data storage and productivity programmes, allowing students the possibility of simultaneously collaborating in real time with others, whilst providing unlimited storage. The Geography department has been trialling this resource, and found that it allows staff to collaborate more effectively on teaching resources. A final area of change has been that of fieldwork and primary data collection, an integral element of any Geography course. Working in collaboration with Edina, based at the University of Edinburgh, we developed an app called Fieldtrip GB which allows users to create data collection forms to collect data on mobile devices with an associated geolocation. This has had multiple impacts, speeding up the data collection process and allowing for greater volumes of data to be collected, whilst improving students’ ability to further analyse the data after collection. This tool has been used with great effect on our Year 10 field trip to the River Darent where students explore the variation in the course of the river. In conclusion, it is not one single change but the cumulative nature of all the changes identified above that have inspired revolutionary change in education. Paul Turner
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
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A closed world for boffins: the early days of I.T. at Sevenoaks Right from the word go, I knew I could work with him; his educational targets were refreshing and his demeanour encouraging. He wanted technological development, even though he didn’t understand it – but he did appreciate its potential. Perhaps this was a school which, at least in some part, shared my vision for computers in education, perhaps encompassed a passion for innovation and development or would dare to be different? He concluded with a welcome suggestion: ‘…Well, shall we look round the school and see what computers we have…?’ Some computers already on site; that was a great start. With enthusiasm I followed the Headmaster to meet Ian Lucas, the Mathematics teacher who had been given the task of looking after the computer. THE COMPUTER!! ‘Welcome to Humphrey,’ was Ian’s opening comment as he proudly displayed the one computer, which was an RM380Z.
Peter Ford joined Sevenoaks School to take up the new post of Head of Computing Science. He remembers the transformation of ITC from geeky co-curricular hobby to a practical tool used to benefit everyday educational environments. ‘…There’s a new post being created at Sevenoaks School; a teacher required to be in charge of computing…’
Above: Peter Ford with students
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Had I heard that correctly? Yes, no doubt about it; it was the very early 1980s and computing was on the agenda. Application in; interview secured and a long drive down to Sevenoaks to see the school and this innovative Headmaster Richard Barker. FEATURES
Is this it? I wondered, and asked calmly whether there were any others. ‘Not yet,’ Ian replied, ‘but we should have 12 new RM480Z networked computers available by the time for the new academic year.’ In fact he had joined the Maths department in 1976 with special responsibility for introducing computers into the school. Humphrey came to Sevenoaks in 1977: the first of many. The early computer systems were really only any good for programming and in order to become proficient in programming you had to be able to speak a language of 0s and 1s or IF/THEN clauses. In the early days computers were not there for the vast majority; word processing and spreadsheets for the masses were yet to be invented. It was a closed world for boffins. A PDP11/34 had been donated to the Computing department by Charles Bailey, Director of Time Electronics Ltd and later one of the school Governors. This minicomputer became the domain of the elite – but they kept coming: more and more students who wanted to write computer code. There were after-school voluntary sessions, evening workouts, the formation of a club and a booking system in order to get access to one of the – by then – 12 computers in the department.
the pace of development, however, that no sooner had you placed an order for equipment, it had been superseded. This was a time when head teachers began to realise the potential of ‘Computers in Education’ and were pouring money into this new technology, or at least buying the hardware without fully recognising the need for funding the software development and infrastructure. Many a school failed to get a good return on their investments. The technological invasion was beginning to gather momentum but many teachers feared it would require too much technical expertise. To make matters worse unscrupulous companies supplied software to schools that was wholly inappropriate for their needs.
Over the road was a school initiative which had received many accolades. VISTA was the embryonic Technology department with a philosophy towards education that sought to empower students to believe in their ability. During the 1960s VISTA followed standardised courses and co-curricular activities in electronics, mechanics, basic engineering, electricity and computing. Boys used the Minivac computer, an educational kit for digital circuits, to learn how to devise circuits of their own. By 1971 Sevenoaks was offering after-school classes on computers. Perhaps, I thought, the Computing department should engage in a similar approach to the technology centre? Thus was born the era of competitions with games development, BBC buggies with maze competitions and the early development of word processing as a possible use of computers in other departments. In the early days there was no roadmap. All schools began to catch on to the concept that technology was the tsunami which could either make or break their educational development. Schools bought in to the technology and, for a year or two, were ahead of the competitors. Such was
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Sevenoaks School’s approach was to cream off the best ideas; apply sensible guidelines and use the technology to benefit everyday educational environments. That’s the advantage of being an independent school and many others followed suit. Sevenoaks quickly realised that the ever-developing technology wasn’t there to be formally examined, rather practically used in the classroom by students and staff alike, allowing a new era in teaching philosophy to begin in which education started to move away from the teacher as the centre of the classroom and into an era in which the teacher’s task was to spark imagination and let technology fuel the fire. This was the age of independent learning, researching via the massive volume of information (good and bad) which existed on the World Wide Web; the age that endorsed the maxim ‘Information is everything’. I believe that what we have seen so far is as nothing compared to the next phase in the Technological Revolution which is set to engulf educators. I believe that Sevenoaks is ready for the next rollercoaster ride which will herald a new phase in the computer/education revolution. And, most importantly, I believe that it has the mindset to embrace it with open arms. Peter Ford Head of IT 1983-2013
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Learning to Code Mobile Games
During the Christmas holidays of the Lower Sixth, I decided that I wanted to start creating games for mobile devices. I’d had some previous experience with making apps for computers, but wanted to take my love of coding to a platform where I could easily distribute them to a wider audience, as well as fellow students. Although I had previous experience, creating mobile apps still proved to be a great challenge for me as the coding language initially proved to be quite hard to master. However, having learnt the basics through a few online tutorials, and after countless hours of trial and error, I was finally ready to create my very first game. Although it was by no means a masterpiece, I had uploaded ‘Do This, Do That!’ to the Apple App Store by the end of the Christmas holidays and by May it had reached over 1300 downloads, which I found incredibly hard to believe! Image: Spin Survival Gameplay 18
FEATURES
With each new game, I tried to push myself by setting challenges to achieve with each one. For example, I aimed to entirely hard-code an app, resulting in my third game, ‘Tiny Pixel’, being entirely hard-coded, with over 3500 lines of code. My love for coding flourished throughout the Sixth Form, as I was able to create four games in total during the Lower Sixth, the last of which I created over the summer holidays: ‘Spin Survival’. For this game, I challenged myself to integrate circular elements, therefore making the collision detection logic far more difficult to accomplish. During the Upper Sixth I attended Xcode club, a lunchtime society set up by a fellow pupil, where I was able to teach coding to students who were also interested in creating apps. Now that I have completed my IB, I will be looking to start creating more games, with the ultimate aim of making a fully commercially and financially viable paid game! Hamish Knight, Upper Sixth
Old Sennockians in Technology
Technology in Medicine: Neil Dorward (OS 1983) Neil Dorward BSc, MBBS, FRSC, FRSC(SN), MS left Sevenoaks School in 1983. He is Consultant Neurosurgeon and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. He is a protagonist of endoscopic and minimal access techniques in neurosurgery and spinal surgery. His clinical practice covers neuro-oncology (brain tumours), pituitary conditions and complex spinal surgery. As a Neurosurgeon I operate in a highly technological environment and must understand the workings, capabilities and limitations of these technologies. My education in science and mathematics at Sevenoaks still forms the bedrock of that understanding and is essential to my everyday practice. Above: Tractography brain image
I managed to secure a place at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School, a traditional intimate London SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
campus with strong surgical links. Of all the fields of Medicine experienced at Medical School I found Neuroscience the most fascinating and Surgery the most fun, so was naturally drawn to Neurosurgery. I have now been a Consultant for 15 years and have developed a particular interest in endoscopic central skull base surgery and image-guided instrumented spinal surgery. To be safe, effective and efficient in modern hospital medicine requires the ability to perform a clinical and caring role whilst working intuitively with the technical adjuncts now available, as well as with the many other specialised team members. The impact of technology on the practice of medicine continues to rise at a staggering rate, requiring practitioners to be open to innovation, sufficiently knowledgeable to critically assess new therapies and adaptable enough to absorb the appropriate ones into their practice. In my two decades’ experience many of the surgical 19
Old Sennockians in Technology approaches that were standard during my training are already obsolete. For example, when I started a common, and very demanding, operation was a craniotomy and clipping of aneurysm. Now aneurysms are treated by angiography, passing a catheter tube through the arteries to the aneurysm and filling it with platinum wire so blocking the aneurysm from the inside. This results in an enormous advantage for the patient who takes one or two days to recover rather than a week, and he or she is much more likely to survive intact than with the older open methodology. My own research thesis concerned the development of neuronavigation with integrated endoscopy. This is a method of intra-operative guidance that uses cameras to track instruments and show the tip position and trajectory on the patient’s scans. The system uses optics and physics (two solid state 2D infra-red cameras) and IT mainly, but to use the system properly and safely each surgeon must understand the sources of error intrinsic to this complex system, so must understand how it works and the potential sources of error, down to details of scan non-homogeneity, spatial resolution and time-dependent drift. Even interpreting a MRI scan is not just looking at a picture – full appreciation requires a good understanding of how the image is produced (down to the molecular and even the subatomic level) and what the resultant effect on the biochemistry of each tissue will be, including the changes with time as tissues react and repair. As to the future, the development most likely to make an impact is impossible to guess but we can be sure that the pace of change will only increase. Of potential areas currently evident the most likely seem to be genetics, stem cell technology/neuroregeneration and modulation of the immune system to redirect this against pathology. Whatever the developments, there is no doubt that the practice of medicine will remain fascinating, demanding and intensely rewarding. Neil Dorward
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FEATURES
Apps and start-ups: Robyn Exton (OS 2004) Robyn Exton is the creator of HER, a free social network for women, particularly lesbian and bisexual women, to meet each other through. She was named as one of Management Today’s 35 Women under 35 in 2014 and featured on the recent Channel 4 programme ‘How to be a Young Billionaire’. She currently lives in Silicon Valley where she runs an app-based business. Robyn was interviewed by IB Economics students Cornelia Bentsen and Tanguy Lammerant. Where did your idea for HER come from? I was working at a marketing agency doing brand strategy, and one of my clients there was a dating business. We had some ideas for some cool apps, and the client didn’t ever want to do them because they were a bit too radical. I was then in the pub with some friends, discussing the dearth of lesbian dating websites out there. I knew it would be possible to create something that worked better. Was finding investors and gathering support at the beginning difficult? In the early stages I worked a whole number of jobs and started saving up a fund of money to start it; I had to start the first build, and I learned code, so I would get up at five and work in the morning, then go to work, then I’d go to coding school in the evenings and then work a different job in the night times, so saved up money and learnt the skills to start it. Once you start hitting 1000, or 5000 users, then you can start going to investors and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got something here that might be interesting.’ How has your support team developed? The team’s grown quite organically but really nicely. We tend to find that a lot of people that we hire are users of the app and they’ll kind of reach out to us. For example, we’ve got another team member joining; a Physics PhD student from Princeton. She’s a great queer activist and does a lot of machine learning and data science, and so she has an unusual skillset but will be a great addition to the team.
How do you feel your time at Sevenoaks prepared you for working life? I always think the best thing that Sevenoaks gave me was a very diverse set of friends, which prepared me a for meeting and knowing people from completely different cultures and walks of life. I think Sevenoaks was great for setting you up with really good international networks. What sort of hopes do you have for the future? How are you looking to develop the app? We are currently live in the UK and six cities in the US, and going live across the whole of America. We’ll raise another round of money at the end of it and then we just look to scale it across different countries, so it’s Canada, Australia, South Africa, then we start hitting South America, China, and then back to Europe. How has your company managed to maintain its USP and keep abreast of all the competition?
Do you feel that the industry you’re in is very male-dominated? There’s no denying it, but I think I’m in this very unusual situation where despite it being a very male-dominated industry we are in a very female-dominated niche. In London we run this group called Geek Girl Meetup which is all about women working in tech and we get female speakers every month, so I spend a lot of time with women. One advantage is that I have never pitched to an investor who has expected a man to run this business; everyone knows that a woman should run this business. But a lot of male investors just don’t understand our industry, because they’re never going to come anywhere near it.
A start-up doesn’t fail because of a competitor, you fail because you kill yourselves; you either run out of money or you don’t make smart enough decisions or you don’t do enough to get your users. So generally I’m always happy when one of our competitors is doing well. One of our biggest challenges is showing investors that the female market is a billion-dollar business, and so if there are competitors they’re only going to prove that there are more women out there. What advice would you give to start-up entrepreneurs from Sevenoaks? At school we have a coding club that’s just started up… If you’re going to a coding club, start working on an idea with a friend but don’t have the expectation that it’s going to be the next big thing; rather that it’s something that you’ll enjoy doing for six months, and it might get some legs and it might go somewhere. If not it’ll give you an amazing amount of learning so that the next thing you do will be so much better! Cornelia Bentsen and Tanguy Lammerant, Lower Sixth
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Old Sennockians in Technology analysis of the cyber threats to our national infrastructure: energy systems, transport, telecoms. Rapidly advancing technology is changing the way we live and will have a massive impact on the future careers of Sevenoaks students. The virtual world of the internet is becoming embedded in the real world we inhabit, and in some cases is starting to replace it. There is a light side to this (known as ‘Digital’) but unfortunately also a very dark side (‘Cyber’). Both provide rewarding careers.
Mark Willet/PPL
On the Digital side, there are exciting creative opportunities for young people with imagination and drive to change the way that we work and play to an unparalleled extent. This will involve identifying products that people will want, and Digital and Cyber: Vincent Geake (OS 1980) assembling the technology and a business model Vincent Geake leads Cyber Technology Risk Advisory to deliver these quickly. These will be created by services at Deloitte UK. He studied Engineering then small innovative teams, not global blue chip Geospatial Information Systems at Cambridge and his companies. Many UK universities have an previous roles include Chief Technology Officer at Yeoman ecosystem of technology start-ups into which plc and Chief Information Officer at the Home Office. adventurous graduates can network. I left Sevenoaks with passions for technology and sailing, fuelled by appearances on BBC Tomorrow’s World with the school, and winning the National Schools Sailing Championship. After Cambridge, I set up a technology business with my Professor. Yacht racing occupied all my spare time, and I was selected for the British team just as laptops first appeared on race yachts. My technology background put me in a unique position and I was quickly appointed the youngest ever navigator of a round the world race maxi-yacht. Through the 90s, I ran businesses for a private venture fund focused on optoelectronic technologies, and also raced yachts, winning the world championships with Italy and breaking the Sydney-Hobart race record. I later joined the Team NZ America’s Cup team, heading up technology and IT. Then I was headhunted into the Home Office and started to see the dark side of technology. I became involved in the malicious world of cyber attacks, fighting against dedicated, highly skilled adversaries. We conducted a rather terrifying
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FEATURES
The Cyber side brings the pervasive threat of a cyber-attack which copies, falsifies or deletes information on a company’s IT systems. If that information is the payment instruction to a bank, or the control system for a steel foundry, or a confidential email about a forthcoming merger, then the opportunity for financial crime or malicious damage is enormous. Cyber is becoming a fundamental part of commercial and geopolitical life. While STEM skills are very useful here, the mental agility for lateral thinking and detail analysis is also key. This industry is growing rapidly – defence and financial services companies are the best places to learn – and experience accrued there is invaluable elsewhere. I currently divide my time between the two sides. Now back in the private sector with one of the ‘Big 4’ consultancies, I advise company boards on the management of cyber risk. But I’ve also started a wearables business developing innovative information systems for industrial use and superyachts. My eldest son is at Sevenoaks now and I encourage him, ‘Whatever your interest, pursue it with energy – opportunities will open and you’ll have a fascinating career.’
Rowing the Atlantic: Tom Salt (OS 2001)
Technology played an enormous part in our race. Being sailors, we were very aware of the need for accurate and up-to-date weather forecasts. Our system was incredibly simple: we had an iPad and app which displayed weather forecasts for the sections of the Atlantic we were in, and this was all routed through our satellite phone. It was simple, very cheap, but gave us an incredible edge over the rest of the fleet. In addition, we had a GPS chart plotter, VHF radio, rarely working autopilot and an emergency positioning GPS beacon.
With his teammate Mike Burton, Tom Salt beat 15 international teams to win the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge 2013, rowing from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in 41 days and raising money for charity. Their seven-metre ocean rowing boat was equipped with cutting-edge technology.
Technology and water do not always mix, however. For ten days we were without any power, and were limited to charts and a compass. When the power returned, the 0.25mm piece of copper that had given us satellite connectivity was severed. Communications, weather information and all external contact were gone.
Curiosity was the motivator behind my wanting to row the Atlantic. To date, there have been 600 attempts to row one of the world’s oceans, and more than a third of these have resulted in failure. I had never rowed in my life, and never had the inclination to do so until a very good friend of mine, Mike, suggested we do just that.
We won the race by a week, beating 15 other fiercely competitive teams. I learned an incredible amount, and looking back at the statistics, I know that technology and experience at sea can improve your chances a thousandfold. However a fantastic dose of luck is also required. Losing our rudder, being attacked by a shark, and the hull of the boat being pierced by a marlin are all stark reminders of this.
Mike and I met taking part in a round-the-world yacht race, so we both brought plenty of experience to the table in terms of dealing with rough weather, running a boat, and good seamanship.
What next? Fellow Old Sennockian Ben Spokes and I have set up a race series in the Mediterranean to make open water rowing more accessible to people seeking a serious challenge.
We spent two years planning everything: sourcing Tom Salt a boat, learning to row, getting fit (training twice a day, six times a week), acquiring every ounce of kit from food for 90 days (900,000 kcals worth) to tool Tom and Mike raised over £90,000 for the Generous kits, life rafts and survival materials. We were to be Hearts Foundation, a Romanian charity which helps improve the living conditions of orphaned children. self-sufficient for the entire time. SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
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An interview with Maggie Philbin
Maggie Philbin is a radio and TV presenter, best known for Bang Goes the Theory and Tomorrow’s World, who led the UK Digital Task Force in 2013. She is the founder of Teen Tech, an interactive event on technology and science for teenagers, and is also a patron of the National Osteoporosis Society. Joe Jenne and Chantelle Patience interviewed her during Science Week.
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FEATURES
Why did you establish Teen Tech? I established Teen Tech in 2008 because I was really frustrated at what I saw as a massive disconnect between the potential in classrooms all over the country and companies who were moaning about how they couldn’t get people with the right kind of skills. Part of the problem was that somehow the opportunities at those companies were not well understood. So what I felt was needed was a way of showing students, their teachers and parents what opportunities were out there and the kind of qualities that employers were really looking for. Sometimes the employers themselves aren’t brilliant at articulating what they want, and what they really want are people who are good thinkers, innovative, good at working in teams or have great attention to detail. Obviously it’s great to have a degree as well, but the qualities of the person are not usually mentioned, and so what happens,
Do you think programming should be taught at a younger level? As you know, there have been some changes in the curriculum, and so computing is going to be taught from a much earlier age. I think that students of your age who haven’t done any sort of programming should make sure that they develop digital skills of some kind. In this way you will understand what might be involved, meaning you will be able to ask the right questions, and will know what is possible, and what is a completely crazy thing to ask someone to do. This is a really vital distinction to be able to make. How can we teach people to work well as a group and encourage good business culture in schools and universities?
understandably, is that young people and everyone around them become obsessed with exams, or getting a degree, but actually it’s the other things that you’re learning which will really make a difference. What can schools do to harness the potential that these students may have in non-academic areas and how can they push people to be more creative? One of the answers, and there’s many ways of tackling this, lies in student-driven, project-based work. When you’re doing something that’s your idea, you care more about it and you’ll do far more work. I understand that for teachers it’s hard to find the space to do these things, but I think it’s really important, because it’s these kind of things which can make or break interest in science and technology. People often have the wrong idea about what is involved, and then they discover that it’s about meeting people, having ideas, being quite tenacious, sometimes having to admit that your idea might not go anywhere – those are the qualities that matter. Another thing is that it’s really quite hard for schools to do, as people see these areas as discrete subjects that happen on Over 10,000 local schoolchildren their own, but they’re not, they cut across each attended the 2015 Science Week. other wildly. SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
Part of it comes through practice and understanding that a company is more than a good idea, it’s about creating an environment and a team and a culture which is going to be supportive. There’s a lot of focus on the lack of women in technology, but I think you would find there is a social divide as well in terms of the number of people successfully developing start-ups and taking them forward. It is about helping students in all communities to develop useful connections for business, because the kind of ideas they would come up with would differ greatly, whilst benefiting their communities, so it would work well on every front. How has learning changed in the last ten years? One of the things, particularly in technology and engineering, which happens at the moment, is that the teacher, rather like a Victorian schoolmaster, is seen as a fount of knowledge. We need to be more confident to move to a model where the teacher is an enabler and can guide you, and also perhaps enabling more peer-to-peer teaching within the classroom. Joe Jenne and Chantelle Patience, Lower Sixth
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teaching Coding In addition to this, I plan to offer a structured practical course in programming in an object-oriented language, C++. It will be offered to any interested students, but suited primarily for Sixth Formers. We will take an in-depth look into how programs really work, learning the basic structure of a few simple programs and using this to elucidate some of the overwhelming jargon. We will work with strings and different types of data structures and learn how to plan and structure a program or algorithm. After introducing iterative processes and logical statements, we will move on to working with library algorithms and abstract data types, and will also learn how to manage memory, conduct data validation and verification, how to optimise functions and debug our programs along the way.
Introducing a new practical course in programming.
Computer programs automate billions of routine tasks on a daily basis and we are silently bombarded with the products of computer science: algorithms, machine intelligence, recursion, heuristics and cryptography. At Sevenoaks we fully understand the importance of instilling these vital skills in the Lower and Middle School. In Science classes students are already using computational thought processes, while in the Mathematics department Dan Whiffin runs a coding club for Year 8, in which the students gain an understanding of basic code structure and look at using inputs, outputs and loops in the language Python. In the Middle School, Technology students have the opportunity to apply some of these computational thinking skills to real life problems, using Arduino kits to write simple programs that output instructions to mechanical systems. They also gain a basic understanding of how front-end development in HTML and Java is used in web and app design.
These basic skills will be taught in a problem-solving context and will enable students to develop skills vital to any STEM degree or career. The course will develop ‘big-data skills’, such as extracting and interpolating data from databases, manipulating data structures and defining arrays and subscripting. Students will use Fourier series and power spectra to analyse periodic data, use loops and conditional operators, and conduct analysis of statistical significance. Visual concepts, such as graphing and 3D contour plots, will also be covered. By the end of the course students should be able to design computational abstractions that model the behaviour of real-world physical systems whilst understanding how instructions are stored and executed within a computer system. Learning to write low-level code is by no means simple, but ultimately our students’ world is increasingly being shaped and configured by networked computing. If we are to avoid our students growing up passive consumers of technology, we must become part of the coding revolution. Steff Pestell Jury
SPOTLIGHTS
Science and Digital Skills Week 2015
Sevenoaks School’s sixth annual Science Week, with an emphasis on Digital Skills, was officially opened by HRH the Duke of York.
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The Duke has a keen interest in digital and technological education, is a champion of British Science, Technology and Engineering and is founder of the Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award (iDEA) initiative for young people.
BBC Presenter Maggie Philbin also attended Science Week, to provide insight into future technology. She worked with TeenTech’s Innovation Lab to help pupils better bring ideas to fruition.
While visiting Sevenoaks in March, the Duke met students who had progressed to the final stages of the iDEA initiative, as well as visiting some of the shows and activities for local schoolchildren. He addressed an audience of 400 in the Pamoja Hall before officially opening Science Week.
Over 10,000 local schoolchildren attended throughout the week to enjoy a variety of scientific activities, including robots, space demonstrations, science of the future events, medical trauma live shows, and an array of other lectures and displays by visiting groups such as the Wellcome Trust.
SPOTLIGHTS
FOUNDER’s day
The Head, Katy Ricks, opened the proceedings by highlighting the planned Science and Technology Centre and Sixth Form Centre as an extension of the original vision of William Sevenoke. She also looked forward to the forthcoming Making It exhibition of OS artists. In particular she referred to three designs by Thomas Heatherwick – the new London bus, the Rolling Bridge and the Olympic Cauldron – and used them as metaphors for education: a journey, a connection and a melting pot. The Head then introduced the guest speaker Russell Martin (OS 2008), who presented the awards to this year’s prizewinners. Mr Martin entertainingly outlined the variety of new technologies that have arrived in his lifetime from the mobile phone, the worldwide web, Google, text messaging, Skype and social media. The challenge, he suggested, is no longer how to acquire knowledge but how to evaluate, analyse and apply it. School is therefore now about learning how to think, as processing information to
analyse cause and effect is key to medicine, law, economics, politics and so many other fields. Mr Martin noted the importance of learning from experiences and choosing how to create meaning from those experiences. He therefore encouraged pupils to take the time to think and be thoughtful, consciously choosing what they pay attention to in this busy world so that they could make the most of the possibilities of the modern age and make proud the legacy of William Sevenoke. The final address was given by Nicholas Gould, the Chairman of Governors. Mr Gould thanked Mr Martin for his inspiring thoughts and encouragement, in particular for his advice to take the time to stop and think. Mr Gould then referred to the time that has been devoted to deciding the strategy and direction for the school and preparing for this New Science and Technology Centre. He finished by expressing his gratitude to the staff, to the Governors and to the Trustees of the Foundation for their time and efforts. Geoffrey Stanford
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Les Misérables
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SPOTLIGHTS
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
Make the picture come alive using the Blippar app
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Les Misérables to tears with Fantine’s heartbreaking tale of woe. We were also introduced to the brilliant Anton Mouzykantskii playing Valjean; his vibrant voice mesmerised and enthralled the audience. The most uplifting scene in the first act was our introduction to the innkeeper and his wife. Theodora Mead and Anastasia Spiridonova became the bawdy, crude other half of the sly and devious Monsieur Thénardier, played by Pablo Rozo-Navarro and Nat Robinson. This duo kept us laughing nervously throughout. The musical is notorious for its sad and emotional atmosphere but the raunchy ‘lovely ladies’ in this scene made the audience chuckle. The act ended with a truly inspiring scene of all the singers performing the famous ‘One Day More’. The second act gave Javert (Jonny Chen and Will Strutt) his opportunity to steal the limelight as his moving internal conflict culminated in his tragic suicide. Naqib Rahman became the charismatic inspiring leader of the revolutionaries, Enjolras, leading them to their unfortunate demise. Ed Chambers and Jonny Reading played the emotionally captivating Marius, in love with Cosette, played by the equally brilliant Julia Morris and Frankie Carver. Their love story was one of genuine devotion and passion. Amanda Cottle and Ellie Bayne gave superb portrayals of the tragic Éponine Thénardier, whose love for Marius is unrequited. Alex Huisman and Ben Hancox-Lachman brought us to tears with a In October 2014 the Music and Drama heart-rending death scene after their otherwise departments, supported by the Art and Technology uplifting Gavroche had given us relief in the departments, collaborated in an all-age production darker parts of this epic tale. of Les Misérables, which found itself taken to new But while there were many stars, the fantastic heights in the Pamoja Hall. A cast and crew of 100 orchestra supporting the singers was what really students brought to life the vivid brutality and made the show. The talented musicians created a despair of early nineteenth-century France. firm foundation for this truly captivating The first act started with the ominous and performance. The whole ensemble of both the troubling scene of French criminals working orchestra and the entire cast brought this grand despairingly in a labour camp. Will Watson used spectacle to an end. this opportunity to show off his rich, resonant The final result was a theatrical masterstroke; one voice with which he distinguished himself of the most spectacular, rousing Sevenoaks throughout. Amanda May and Sehee Lim productions in recent years. (doubling the role) brought the audience close
One of the most spectacular, rousing Sevenoaks productions of recent years.
Remi Pfister, Lower Sixth 32
SPOTLIGHTS
Les Misérables: a director’s view
Les Misérables was a popular choice for the first musical production to be staged in the Pamoja Hall. Matt Cook and I started rehearsals with a cast of 75 students – actors who had never sung on stage before and confident singers with no experience of acting. As we got to grips with music and acting rehearsals, the design team swung into action. The Marley Hall was transformed into a massive workshop where Adam Leigh, Operations Manager of The Space, translated our stage design into a three-dimensional reality. Michael O’Reilly, our Artist in Residence, transformed this blank canvas with his own individual flair. Chris Yelf and his team of Technology students began making replica weaponry, a full-size garden gate and turning a rustic cart (bought on eBay!) into a robust peasant handcart which would withstand being crashed during every performance. Audrey Franks and Sara Barufaldi also started the mammoth task of sourcing and creating nearly 200 costumes. Clare Dunn, a professional director, was brought in to help choreograph several of the large group scenes and Nigel Lewis, a lighting designer, was employed. His vibrant use of colour served to brilliantly highlight the actors and costumes. This really added to the professional appearance of the show. We were incredibly lucky to have all these talented individuals, professional and amateur, working behind the scenes – we would not have been able to do a production of this scale without such creative input. SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
As with any performance, much of the glory goes to those in the lead roles. They were dedicated, enthusiastic and understood the expectations that the audience would have of them. It seems invidious to mention just a few when they were all so good, but Anton Mouzykantskii worked tirelessly and set the highest professional standards. He was the only student in a lead role to perform every night, as Valjean was not double-cast. Sehee Lim blew us away with the power and emotion of her voice, Ed Chambers delighted us with his infectious energy and enthusiasm and Anastasia Spiridonovna sought to make her performance (and her hairstyle) bigger and better every night. The chorus of supporting performers are often overlooked, but for me they brought the desperate atmosphere of the 19th century poor to life. Will Watson became our resident Les Misérables expert – he knew every line of the score and would have readily played all the parts if we had let him. Max Cunningham took on several additional roles and discovered a talent for ballroom dancing in the process. The patience and dedication of the orchestra was exemplary. They had a short window during which to learn and rehearse their parts and had to contend with actors making mistakes and directors changing their minds! Thanks must also go to Adam Leigh, who held all of this together, Justine Davies for working on the glossy programme and the super-efficient backstage crew of Annabel Bates, Isla Stevens, technicians, stage crew and make-up artists. Honourable mentions must go to Gavin Henry and Chris Dyer, who did so much of the background organisation and negotiation to enable this project to go ahead. The time commitment for this production was huge, and I have to thank colleagues and parents for their patience in supporting this show. It brought out the best in our students and created a true whole school community feeling. We hope you enjoyed watching it as much as we enjoyed working on it. Penny Hargreaves
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Behind the Scenes of Les Misérables: the Orchestra
Having been taught music classically from quite a young age, I am accustomed to traditional ways of orchestral and solo playing; follow the time signature, read the dynamics and play the right notes. Little did I know that playing in a musical theatre orchestra is arguably more difficult, and so I naively and happily accepted the invitation of being part of the ‘Les Mis’ crew. During rehearsals, I discovered that we are not the main attraction, as opposed to when we might be in a concert. In accompanying the cast, the orchestra undergoes frustrating tempo changes and unusual chord progressions; sometimes there are even notes that are impossible to play.
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The unpredictable nature of musical theatre like Les Misérables is exciting. It is a unique mix of spontaneity and practice. In a classical orchestra, you rehearse in order to play the piece correctly, but in a musical it’s all down to the night, adapting sympathetically to the singers and their changes. The combination of hard work and talent through the main cast, the orchestra, lighting and sound crew and set designers resulted in an amazing production, perhaps the biggest Sevenoaks School has yet seen. Maya Jelf, Year 10
Enrichment Week play Death and the Maiden by Chilean writer Ariel Dorfman to explore the role of art in developing narratives of the past. Oscar Gilbert also explored whether the music of Rage Against the Machine can still play a role in counter-culture, given its popularity as a tune for college marching bands, the epitome of the mainstream. Isabella Wheaton then asked whether the bikini and burka are symbols of liberation or submission, and to what extent each is a result of the male gaze.
We ended the academic year with another Enrichment Week, during which there were no timetabled lessons and students take part in a wide range of activities outside the classroom. This allows students to experience academic subject taster sessions, to enjoy educational trips, to gain leadership, collaborative and time-management skills, and for the Lower Sixth to work on key projects. TOK Enrichment Lectures What do West African Mermaid mythology, New Zealand warrior chants and Rage Against the Machine all have in common? They were among the topics discussed by the Lower Sixth during the Theory of Knowledge Enrichment Week lectures organised by Mr Kunaratnam. Loosely grouped around the notion of cultural relativism, the talks explored the consequences of merging cultures. TOK plays a central part in the school’s international agenda, as it offers the chance to analyse other cultures and also the individual’s own, allowing an exploration of how our personal and shared knowledge might have roots in the inherited traditions we are born or move into. Topics included Adriana Lee’s exploration of the extent to which a Western scientific paradigm can make sense of Feng Shui, using her own dorm room and the Hong Kong skyline as real life examples. Roshan Ruprai, Oscar Gilbert and Christina Hill reprised their Lent term self-directed 36
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The second half explored the development and transmission of myths and rituals over time and across cultures. Eniola Olabinjo and Subomi King compared and contrasted West African myths about Mami Wata to more watered-down stories about mermaids in European literature. Theo Ventura and Tristan Flint discussed the furore over a ‘Flash Haka’ recently performed in a mall in New Zealand, and the extent to which it is in any way faithful, or rather completely disrespectful to the indigenous Maori battle ritual. Emily Robinson then traced similarities between the Ethiopian Suri tribe’s stick-fighting traditions with the ritual violence of street gangs in St Louis. Finally Lottie Doherty finished the event with an exploration of emotions and music through a performance of a Cuban drumming ritual with historical links to Nigeria. The discussion which followed showed that the school’s cultural richness runs deep – and the importance of evaluating our own individual cultures by the same standard against which we judge others’ cultural practices. John Sprague
Languages Day On 24 June 2015 the Modern Languages department organised a taster day designed to broaden younger pupils’ linguistic and cultural horizons, and celebrate the wealth of diversity amongst the student body. The day formed part of Enrichment Week for our own Year 7 pupils, while a group of Year 5 pupils from St John’s Primary School also joined in as part of our ongoing collaboration with local schools.
Lower Sixth students – the vast majority native speakers – set up 16 different stalls to reflect the language and culture of the country they were from. Some, such as the South Koreans, came dressed in national costumes; others, such as the Nigerians, pumped out traditional music from a stereo and taught the pupils their national dance; while yet more stalls offered traditional sweets and cakes that the pupils themselves had made. The younger pupils were provided with a booklet with information about each country, but the focus was entirely on interaction. The Year 7 students had to answer questions, learn typical phrases and get to grips with the pronunciation of a whole host of languages, while being encouraged to ask as many questions as they could think of relating to the country they were learning about. The Space foyer became a true melting pot awash with colour, music, laughter, and the sounds of a dozen languages.
The morning operated on a carousel basis in order to maximise the pupils’ exposure to the greatest possible number of languages and cultures. The three languages chosen for the workshops were expressly chosen as they employ entirely different writing systems: Arabic, Russian and Mandarin. Each session was designed to be fully hands-on, with the pupils quickly learning to identify letters, symbols and characters and then reproduce them on their own – in the case of Mandarin, by painting By the end of the day each pupil had learned to the characters with paintbrushes under the write in three different scripts, interacted with watchful eye of the visiting Chinese calligraphy native speakers of almost 20 languages, and had expert who led the workshop. their eyes opened to the rich linguistic and cultural The centrepiece activity running concurrently with diversity both around the world, and within the these workshops was the Languages Fair which school itself. Dominic Mott took place in the foyer of The Space. Over 30 SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
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A Year in Johnsons
A unique environment, an enchanting Victorian house, 47 talented boys and dedicated staff: the ingredients that make Johnsons such a successful boarding house.
The first time I entered Johnsons seven years ago, I immediately fell in love with the grand entrance, the original wooden floor, the never ending staircase. But more importantly, the warm feeling around the house was overwhelming. No doubt, the same sentiment must be running through the Year 9 boys’ veins on their first day at Johnsons. With eyes wide open, they gaze at their surroundings that will be their home for the next five years. They are all welcomed at the beginning of the academic year by enthusiastic house officials who have the delicate task of introducing them to life in a boarding house whilst also offering reassurance which will enable them to settle in as quickly as possible. New Lower Sixth pupils are also present and equally apprehensive as they are about to start their last two years of boarding and the almighty IB course. The Michaelmas term is particularly hectic. The Upper Sixth are busy with university choices and applications whilst Year 11 are getting ready for the I/GCSE mocks taking place at the
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end of November. The atmosphere in the house is purposefully studious but also relaxed to avoid unnecessary stress. Lots of activities are on offer: a football match at Charlton, ten pin bowling and a trip to watch a West End musical, to name but a few. At the end of term, snooker, table tennis and table football competitions are also organised and led by the Johnsons’ house officials. As the house gets ready for Christmas with its magnificent tree, traditionally decorated by Year 9, we celebrate the festive period in style with a fancy meal in the house with speeches, carols and lots of laughter. A whole term is gone in the blink of an eye. In the Lent term, Upper Sixth boys are busy preparing for their mocks and the final stretch before the real IB exams. The excitement is palpable as university offers start to appear on their UCAS personal account and we all exult as a house at news of the latest offer. We also support them if things do not go their way. The Johnsons boys have always looked out for one another through thick and thin. The Lent term also sees
the most anticipated event of the year: the Valentine’s supper. Sixth Formers, all smartly dressed to impress, are allowed to invite one guest for supper. The younger boys of the house are waiters in livery for the night, eavesdropping whilst serving an exquisite meal concocted by the hosts. The atmosphere is lively and fun. Games are organised so Cupid, alias the Housemaster, can work his magic. The Summer term, although short, is undoubtedly the most frantic. All the boys are revising hard for their exams, just round the corner. Again, Matron’s legendary snacks after school, a balanced diet, enough sleep, lots of support and a little dose of
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
humour help the boys relax and perform well. It is also a very emotional time as we say goodbye to our Upper Sixth boys. To celebrate their last official night in boarding we take them out to London for a karaoke night. Anecdotes, memories and laughter are on the menu with tears of joy and melancholy as one realises how five years have just passed by. The Leavers’ Ball and lunch, once exams are over, is a landmark in a boarder’s life too. As the boys are about to embark on the next chapter of their lives, I remind them never to look back but only forward, remembering that ‘once a Johnsonian, always a Johnsonian’. Sébastien Coquelin
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Johnsons IN the 1940s On a day in September 1945 I remember saying a tearful farewell to my parents and entered into one of the most important stages of my life. New boys were asked to present themselves at Johnsons a day before the rest of the boys. Unlike School House which had a ‘fagging’ system for new boys, we had ‘shadows’. Each of us was allocated to a boy who had been at Johnsons for at least a couple of terms. Those were our shadows and they were responsible for giving us all the information we needed about conforming to the rules and the timetables. My shadow was Alan Kekwick (OS 1951) who did a great job on a rather terrified ten-year-old.
Johnsons was given to the school in 1926 by
Governor and benefactor Charles Plumptre Johnson.
Ian Thomson remembers arriving there 70 years ago.
The timetable was strictly adhered to. The beating of a gong woke us at 6.45am, then there was a mad dash to queue up for cold baths watched by a prefect. We had to swish through the water ensuring that it passed over our shoulders or we had to do it again. Needless to say, the water was freezing. This was followed by dressing and making our bed, which had to be made in a specific way and inspected at regular intervals. There were approximately eight beds to each dormitory, broken down by age groups, with a senior boy in charge of each dormitory. We all had to be in the Junior Common Room by 7.15am to continue our prep until 7.45am, when we stopped for breakfast until 8.15, before the walk to school to be there for 9am assembly. Before leaving Johnsons our shoes were inspected by a prefect for cleanliness and if not up to scratch sent back to clean again. Once we had left for school, if we had left any books or other items on the desks in the Johnsons’ Junior Common Room they were rounded up and the individual concerned fined a halfpenny. If you accumulated 2½d by the end of the week you were beaten on Saturday night. As I was particularly untidy I think I had the record for beatings. The
Above: Cross country cup Right: Ian Thomson Far Right: Johnsons in 1947; the Old Johnsonians reunion 2015
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The first few days were tough and I was very homesick, having led a pretty sheltered life up to then, but as the days went by I began to make friends with Peter Gould (OS 1952), John Morgan-Jones (OS 1951), Bill Nadler (OS 1953) and John Clifton (OS 1953).
SPOTLIGHTS
discipline would seem today to be totally draconian but, on reflection, it didn’t seem to do me any harm. Every Friday evening we could draw out money from our initial investments at the beginning of term, usually about 20 pence for the week. This exercise was conducted in the ‘Silence Room’ so named because Sixth Formers could do extra prep in peace. I think the proudest moment for any Johnsonian was when receiving the award of House Colours. I will certainly never forget mine. Sadly, not for my academic achievements but for winning the Elocution Cup and for Rugby. I played standoff for the school at all levels with Peter Gould at scrum half. Great days. I really enjoyed sport and the house rivalry particularly with School House; as the only two boarding houses we had more time to train so it was unusual not to meet them in the final. Our Housemaster, Ernest Groves, was determined that we should do well in Johnsons’ 21st year and we duly delivered, winning every trophy that was going – even the Music Cup and the Elocution Trophy. Sevenoaks School was renowned for its school plays and I was also proud to have featured in leading roles in productions such as Clive of India, Arms and the Man, Tobias and the Angel, The Miser, and The Pirates of Penzance. Academically I was rather like the British entry to the Eurovision Song Contest – ‘nul points’. Sport came first, academics a poor second. Fortunately for me the people who fashioned my career must have been even more dull-witted than me because I ended up as a Senior Director in a very large corporate company. I enjoyed my school days very much, but on reflection, one of the comments that LC Taylor, a great Johnsonian, made when he became Headmaster that the school should be ‘less Sparta and more Athens’ was probably very accurate. He began the reformation that has put Sevenoaks as one of the top schools in the country, of which I and hundreds of other former pupils are very proud. Ian Thomson, Johnsons 1945-1951
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Gold DUKE of Edinburgh’s award Cycling Expedition to Skye
A new expedition offering the challenge of cycling unsupported around Scotland’s second largest island.
The May half term marked the inaugural cycling expedition for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold award. Eleven Lower Sixth pupils embarked upon the challenge of cycling unsupported around the Isle of Skye. The aim of this trip, and therefore the reason for selecting such a far-flung destination, was to combine the compulsory practice expedition with the qualifying expedition in one trip. This meant that the pupils effectively had the challenge of completing two expeditions in the same week.
The practice element was completed at Oban, and was the chance for pupils to learn how to cycle together safely, with panniers and bike trailers, as well as to learn where each other’s strengths lay. A long drive even further north brought the students to the start of the qualifying expedition where they set off in horizontal rain and high winds. Within an hour, one of the groups had their first puncture. Huddled in a storm shelter, their cold hands endeavoured to get the hole plugged and pressure back into the tyre. This was a long first day, and everyone was drenched. The weather improved over the next three days, and although showers persisted they did not deter the groups from progressing. Both teams completed the full route, and arrived at the final checkpoint on the last day, tired, weathered and damp, but pleased that they had battled through the obstacles and weather to arrive at the finish. Ed Kirby
The Isle of Skye was a beautiful place to spend four days cycling however gruelling the environment it provided. Our journey was certainly not without challenges, as Skye is famous for its iconic jagged landscapes with steep hills, mountains and cliffs en route to our campsites each night making the journey awesome but exhausting. The mood of the team relied very heavily on whether we were ascending or descending. One minute we would be crawling up a zigzagging ridge pass in the pouring rain, spirits down. Yet, when we reached the top the sun seemed to come out and our mood improved as we sped up, downhill to the base of another ascent. By the end every member of the team was proud to recall the obstacles they had overcome, primarily because of teamwork. Joe Jenne, Lower Sixth 42
SPOTLIGHTS
Medieval History trip to Palermo
In October the Upper Sixth Medieval History set travelled to Palermo to gain a deeper insight into the consequences of ‘the other Norman Conquest’ of the late 11th century. This conquest saw a family of mercenary soldiers from the Cotentin peninsular in western France gradually take over southern Italy and the Muslim-ruled island of Sicily, where they established a kingdom which lasted for over 700 years. Over the course of two packed days the group visited twelfth-century Norman castles, cathedrals and cloisters, accompanied by a superb Italian guide who specialised in art history. In addition to her extensive knowledge of the Byzantine, Arabic and Norman history of Sicily, she also introduced the group to the later Bourbon rule of the island and its fate after the Unification of Italy in the 1860s. This provided enriching food for thought well beyond the requirements of the syllabus. The highlight of the first day was a visit to the Cappella Palatina (royal chapel), commissioned by King Roger II in the 1130s to reflect the supposedly seamless fusion of different cultures and faiths under Norman rule. It was a very special experience for the students to stand in front of Byzantine mosaics previously studied in the classroom and gaze upwards to the intricate wooden ceiling, carved by Egyptian craftsmen and painted with brilliant scenes of court life and SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
culture. We then travelled to Cefalù. This small medieval coastal town, 40 miles east of Palermo, contains a superb twelfth-century cathedral which gave the students a further insight into the unique iconography deployed by the Norman monarchy in southern Italy. The next day started with a highly anticipated visit to Monreale Abbey, recently designated a World Heritage site, which sits high on a hill overlooking Palermo and contains golden mosaics covering almost 8000 square metres of the interior. Here the guide explained how it functioned as a symbol of the political and military strength of the Norman monarchy, as well as an expression of the dominance of the Christian faith of the ruling family. Our final visit was to the Zisa Palace, a royal hunting lodge originally set in extensive gardens and recently restored to a standard much deplored by our guide. This provided an interesting insight into the challenges faced by those trying to preserve historical sites in the heart of modern cities. Vanessa FitzGerald 43
Neanderthal Project During the Lent term Dr Jason Hodgson from Imperial College London gave us the opportunity to work with him on a scientific research paper which aims to investigate why Neanderthal mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal DNA became extinct. The students taking part included Sam Aston, Hannah Wentzel, Alex Tam (all Lower Sixth), Ellie Bayne, Toby Flynn and Maya Raman Jones (all Year 11), all of whom have a keen interest in Biology and other sciences. To give a brief overview of the scientific background of the project, mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited whereas Y-chromosomal DNA is paternally inherited. Both types of DNA are haploid (half the number of chromosomes in a normal cell). Neanderthal autosomal DNA (diploid non-sex chromosomes) did not become extinct, since we contain roughly 2.5 per cent Neanderthal DNA. Despite this we contain no Y-chromosomal or mitochondrial Neanderthal DNA. This is the crux of our research. There are many theories as to why this occurred. Potentially upon interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens (humans), human DNA (specifically Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA) became more likely to be expressed. This is because human Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA is potentially more favourable. It is also possible that the population sizes of Neanderthals were too low and the reproduction rate of Homo sapiens exceeded them. However, there are many other theories surrounding this topic.
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The task that we were set was simply to use computer simulations to find out why Neanderthal autosomal DNA stayed on whilst the others didn’t. Jason Hodgson designed the computer model but we needed to uncover the parameters to use. In order to do this, data for the computer simulations needed to be found from existing scientific publications. So far, we have been researching and reading numerous articles relevant to this question. The project is still in progress but we are slowly gathering more information to use in the simulation and thus create a conclusion to this fascinating topic! Interestingly, it has been found recently that modern humans and Neanderthals interbred in Europe. This information has been acquired from DNA within a 40,000 year old jawbone. This is yet another aspect that we will need to consider in our research. But, ultimately this shows that our project is really relevant to current scientific research. Hannah Wentzel, Lower Sixth
SPOTLIGHTS
Jose Angel Astor Rocha/Shutterstock SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
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The General Election Election Question Time
© Jonathan Syer
In April we played host to the five Sevenoaks parliamentary candidates for an Election Question Time. Students from the school’s election committee organised the event, and were delighted when Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary and Conservative candidate for Sevenoaks, confirmed his attendance, along with his four competing colleagues. The debate, which was open to everyone from the local community, was a sell-out and the candidates were treated to a packed and lively audience. Questions from the floor covered the expenditure on the NHS, education policies, the role of grammar schools, and the parties’ views on the UK’s current deficit.
In the months preceding the general election, a committee of Sixth Form students organised a programme of school activities to raise awareness and increase pupil engagement with politics. George Parker Lecture Britain’s Election: Chaos or festival of democracy? George Parker, Political Editor of the Financial Times, came to Sevenoaks in March to give an open lecture on the general election. George engaged with the large audience with warmth, knowledge and humour. It was clear that he was intimately familiar with Westminster and had met all the party leaders on numerous occasions. His short talk was followed by an extended Q&A session which was infused with a profound awareness of the machinations of the corridors of power. The audience was fired up with question after question about the likely election result. The school’s election committee later chatted with George over drinks and nibbles where he was surrounded by engaged students articulating even more challenging questions. Lorna Dolan Above: Election Question Time 46
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Euan Tyndall and I chaired the event. The debate covered many of the main issues in this election, such as Trident nuclear weapon renewal and immigration. With five candidates in the mix, the debate had heated moments as well as light-hearted ones. As the audience left they were able to buy doughnuts, colour-coded by party, from the school’s Charity Action Group. This gave us a rough opinion poll of our audience, giving us an idea of how the candidates performed. Some students were then able to chat with the local candidates. I myself had a lively discussion with Michael Fallon about first-past-the-post voting. We also conducted two other polls at the school. The first was a snap pre-election poll on Firefly to see how students were thinking of voting before any of the school campaigns, and then on election day, a mock ballot that students could vote in to see if opinion had changed. In the lead up to this mock poll, groups of Sixth Form students representing each of the five parties gave speeches in assemblies to present policies and arguments. This final part of our school’s election events was extra special, because it provided students with the opportunity to directly engage with politics as they themselves had to argue the case for their party. Indeed, if they were to make a good case, they had to act like convincing politicians.
The final school mock poll seemingly disproved the idea of a disconnect between the young and the old in their political beliefs. This was because the landslide to the Conservative party in the school poll was even more significant than the actual Sevenoaks constituency result. All in all, the internal election events were a great success for Sevenoaks School. Considering that general elections only come around every five years now that the Fixed-term Parliaments Act is in place, there was tremendous pressure on students to put in a lot of effort into events and campaigning. As a member of the committee myself, I gained a lot of experience in the world of politics and I really deepened my understanding of campaigning as well as organisation. Needless to say, Ms Dolan and Mr Campbell were fundamental to the event’s success, with their dedication throughout the campaign period. Especially when Euan and I were getting nervous before the Question Time debate, they were there to reassure and guide us through what we needed to do. I thoroughly enjoyed this election, and the school’s involvement with it was great for helping me engage more with politics. Euan Williams, Upper Sixth Above: Students with George Parker SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
47 © UK Parliament
Kent Academies Network (KAN) Universities Access Programme speakers foster ambition, motivation and wider interest. Each cohort is supported by undergraduates of Fitzwilliam and Balliol, who mentor the students, teach classes and set goals throughout the year.
At the beginning of the summer holidays we hosted the KAN residential school. Now in its third year, the scheme aims to provide four years of support to help academically bright and ambitious young people in Kent Academies to successfully apply to top ranking universities in the UK. KAN consists of six academy schools and their independent school sponsors: Folkestone Academy (King’s School, Canterbury); Marsh Academy (Tonbridge School); Skinners’ Kent Academy (the Skinners’ Company); Isle of Sheppey Academy (formerly Dulwich College); Knole Academy (Sevenoaks); and the John Wallis Academy (Benenden). The Sutton Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge support the programme. Participating Academies suggest suitable Year 9 students, and an interview panel selects two from each. Residential schools run in the Summer and Easter holidays. These weeks away provide an opportunity to strengthen knowledge of core subjects and also provide the chance to experience a range of subjects and activities that will help the students develop their abilities to debate, research and think critically. Lessons are taught by staff at the KAN schools, and a number of keynote
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This summer, Year 11 students spent the week at Fitzwilliam College being taught either STEM or arts subjects by research students while Year 9 and 10 pupils stayed at Sevenoaks. The pupils and mentors boarded at Johnsons but spent full days on the main campus making use of facilities in and around the Lower School Common Room and play area. Year 10 enjoyed a day at the Royal Academy and National Gallery, trying to decide what makes a picture valuable and learning about some key paintings. Pupils heard inspirational speakers such as triathlete and scientist Dr Danielle Stewart, cultural leader Hilary Carty and Anji Hunter, former special adviser to the Labour Party and director of communications at BP. Deputy Head Co-Curricular Geoffrey Stanford spoke about his ascent of Everest. All the speakers emphasised the value of university education.
A number of Sevenoaks staff were involved in Maths and English lessons, and Charley Openshaw gave Art lessons and Gavin Henry a short Drama course in improvisation. Staff and mentors contributed to a very positive atmosphere, enhanced by the response of the pupils themselves. Kind weather, excellent food and the use of our sport facilities also helped make this a very successful week. The pupils really enjoyed their stay, and are looking forward to returning at Easter. Theresa Homewood
ACADEMIC REVIEW
Academic Review comprises advising, directing, helping, supporting and asking what we hope are the right questions.
Tulpahn/Shutterstock
I’m more concerned about social media than anything else. I think that the hours spent on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, Tickld, Vine and so forth might be better spent reading a book – and worse, I think that the more screen time young people are allowed, the less able they are to process words on a printed page.
I’m writing this on the hottest day of the year so far, and the hottest July day recorded in the UK. As of an hour ago a temperature of 36.7°C was recorded at Heathrow to make today 0.2°C higher than 2006’s record. I didn’t have to leave my desk to find all this out – I used my phone to check the Guardian website, which had just updated following a tweet from the Met Office. I suppose I could have found this out using the computer I’m writing this Review on, but like the students I find increasingly that the smartphone or tablet is usually more convenient. Almost all of our students have access to the internet via smartphone or tablet 24 hours a day. Nationally the penetration is about 80 per cent, and set to peak at 92 per cent around 2019. Five years ago the figure was 40 per cent. A decade ago it was five per cent. This simple fact presents huge opportunities and huge challenges. It is great to be able to find out almost everything at almost any time. Research is made easier, you can get hold of whatever you might want and you’re limited only by your credit card. But students must also be careful – the internet is also a limitless source of distraction and encourages procrastination too. It’s also really easy to cut, copy and paste your way towards trouble if you don’t reference your sources properly, though it’s never been easier to detect plagiarism, either. We don’t know what the effect of all this access to information will have, but we can already see the role of the teacher evolving. We’re no longer the gatekeepers to knowledge – our role now
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We will see. Failing a catastrophe of the kind David Mitchell describes in The Bone Clocks – my tip for the year’s best novel – the internet will continue to be with us and we will continue to find it helpful. If you’ve made it this far down this year’s Review, then I’m grateful and there is probably nothing wrong with your concentration span. But I’d be even more reassured if you’d spend an evening next week with the TV off, with all gadgets out of arm’s reach, reading a book. Just to see if you still can. Tim Jones Academic Deputy Head Public examination results The IB results this year were very good. Thirteen students achieved the maximum 45 points, with 19 securing 44 points and another 22 securing 43 points. A total 104 students gained Diplomas with 40 or more points. At 206 students, our cohort is among the biggest of UK IB schools, and together they achieved the remarkable average score of 39.1 points (ten points above the world average). It remains hard to compare us to other schools as our IB cohort is so large and the level which our students achieve is so high. At Year 11 we received our best ever results. Over 93 per cent of the examinations taken by the 152 candidates were awarded A* or A grades. Over a third of the year group, 54 students, gained ten A*s or more each, and 131 students gained nine or more A* or A grades. All but 18 results out of 1580 examinations were grade B or above, and 74.9 per cent of all examinations were graded A*.
University Entry 2015 There will be 212 university entrants this year from Sevenoaks School to leading universities across the world. Eighty-six per cent took up a place at one of the Russell Group universities. Of these, 31 Sennockians are taking up places at Oxford or Cambridge, while 45 are taking up places at one of the following London colleges: LSE, UCL, KCL, Imperial. Other popular university destinations were Durham, Exeter, Bristol, Warwick, Bath and Nottingham. This year 26 students took up places at top US or Canadian universities, while another eight made successful applications to European or other international universities. One hundred students will read Arts and Humanities subjects, 74 will go on to STEM-related degrees and 38 to interdisciplinary arts and sciences courses. Over 40 students opted to take a gap year, with some holding deferred offers. With the competition for places becoming ever fiercer, this is a tremendous record of achievement, and we wish all our new undergraduates every success in their higher education and future careers. Their destinations are listed at the front of the Sennockian. Wendy Heydorn
Charlene Chau: Highly Commended, Newnham Science Prize, Cambridge: ‘Discuss the factors leading to the present Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa and how to stop its spread.’
Capucine Cogné: Third prize, HSBC/British
Council Mandarin Chinese Speaking Competition.
George Evans-Thomas and Maksymilian Szwajewski: First, French national schools
debating competition.
Grace Elshafei: Second prize, Newnham Philosophy Essay Prize, Cambridge: ‘Women, even when they are not silenced, still have to pay a very high price for being heard.’ Grace was also awarded second prize in the RA Butler Politics Prize, Trinity College Cambridge. Isabella Ghassemi-Smith: Commended,
Robert Walker Prize for Essays in Law, Trinity College Cambridge.
Joe Jenne, Yi Jer Loh and Chantelle Patience: Third place, Schools’ Analyst Competition, Royal Society of Chemistry. Shyam Kalairajah, Max Noka, Akanksha Santdasani and Euan Williams: Third place,
Student Investor Challenge, ifs University College
Amanda Lee: Commended, Peterhouse Vellacott Academic honours board Congratulations to our students who have won awards or commendations in university essay prize competitions and national debating, science and economics challenges. Many student teams have also reached local or regional finals.
Leyla Abbasova: First prize, Corpus Christi College Science Prize: Biochemistry Essay: ‘Exploring the new technique of mitochondrial replacement, its limitations and potential problems.’ Malcolm Briery, Daragh Massey, Birkaran
Sachdev and Cedric Tan: Winners, Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
History Prize, Cambridge: ‘Why was female kingship controversial in the sixteenth century?’
Hugo Sunnucks: Highly commendable,
Trinity College Philosophy Essay, Cambridge: ‘The queues for the Ladies’ are usually longer than the queues for the Gentlemen’s. The queues could be equalised by allocating more space to the Ladies’. So what does fairness between the two sexes require: loos of the same size, or queues of the same length?’
Maksymilian Szwajewski: Runner-up, University of Gloucestershire RPE Essay Competition: ‘Does science give an accurate picture of how the world is?’
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The Languages Curriculum in other languages – most notably Mandarin, German and Spanish – are offered support throughout the school, with bilingual courses in Language and Literature regularly offered to native speakers as part of the IB Diploma.
With recent changes to the Languages curriculum pupils now have the opportunity to choose from seven modern and classical languages from Year 8, while our bilingual provision goes from strength to strength. Following a recent Languages Review, the curriculum has changed to provide more depth, more choice, and more exciting combinations of languages. French is no longer compulsory, and Mandarin has been rolled out in the Lower School, which allows each pupil to tailor their language learning to their own needs and interests. French, German, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish are all offered from Year 8 onwards in addition to Latin and Ancient Greek, while Hindi, Italian, Japanese and many other languages are taught either in the Sixth Form or outside of the timetable. Previously impossible language pairings – such as Mandarin and French, or Russian and German – are now commonplace, with the combined Greek and Latin course remaining a very popular additional challenge for a select bunch of linguists. Another advancement made over the past few years has been our capacity to cater for the 200 pupils who are fluent speakers of another language besides English. Bilingual French pupils are now taught in entirely separate classes to develop their mother tongue, and native speakers
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The Modern Languages department is committed to giving our pupils a real insight into the culture and institutions of a foreign country. We believe this to be an essential complement to a rigorous instruction of the language itself. As such, we offer an extensive range of 15 annual trips and exchanges. Music, theatre and debating also form part of this enrichment, and our debating pairs have won numerous national debating titles in both French and Spanish, demonstrating both linguistic fluency and fantastic interactive skills. Dominic Mott
Modern Languages debating Maks Szwajewski and George Evans-Thomas won the French national schools debating competition, while Rosie Alderton and Tancredi Castellano came third in the regional round. Sevenoaks was the only school with two teams going through the second round, and our teams were praised for their sophisticated grammar and vocabulary, for their eloquence and for being époustouflant! Our teams also did extremely well in the national schools Spanish debating competition, which we hosted. Capucine Cogné and Margaux Spriet reached the final, impressing the judges with their linguistic ability and ideas, but just lost out to Whitgift. A third achievement came in the HSBC/British Council Mandarin Chinese Speaking Competition. It was the first year we have taken part, competing against over 90 schools in the grand final at British Museum. Capucine Cogné, who had spent two fewer years studying Mandarin than the other candidates, impressed everyone highly with her linguistic skills and won third prize – an amazing achievement.
Contemporary Literature Conference Later in the morning, we had the opportunity to talk to the author more generally about being a writer and contemporary fiction, and to consider the novel’s themes in a broader context. Questions on issues such as the changing face of London and the role of money in contemporary society were all answered with originality and insight. Each group was then given a theme relevant to Lanchester and McEwan’s works, such as ‘Class and Status’ and ‘Women and Sexuality’, as a starting point for further discussion. Our debates were always interesting and sometimes intense, every participant defending their own response to the novels.
At the first Sevenoaks Contemporary Literature Conference, Sevenoaks students and their peers from other Kent schools exchanged ideas about literature and contemporary society, and heard from the novelist John Lanchester who spoke about the motivations behind his writing. In October over 80 Sixth Form students from six schools gathered in The Space, excited at the prospect of a day discussing two contemporary novels, John Lanchester’s Capital and Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love. We formed small groups, comprising students from the various schools, and began discussing our initial reactions to both novels. John Lanchester had kindly agreed to be present to speak to us about his novel, and it was fascinating to hear the motivations behind his writing. He talked about the identity of London, about human nature, and about the inspiration behind his portrayal of specific characters. He willingly provided answers to many of the questions prompted by our discussions.
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Having until now treated the two novels in isolation, we began to compare them during the afternoon, and came to realise that two ostensibly dissimilar novels actually addressed many similar themes, though often from different perspectives. Our ultimate aim was to prepare a short presentation for the other groups based on our given theme. Gathered in the Recital Room at the end of the day, the ten groups all gave great performances, each adopting a different presentational approach to engage the audience. One group presented their ideas in a Just a Minute style, having to articulate their responses under time pressure, while others opted for a more traditional panel discussion format. The day was a hugely enjoyable success that gave us the opportunity to meet an acclaimed author, discuss literature and many topical issues, and to interact with like-minded students from many different schools. Anna McGee, Upper Sixth
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Sackville lectures Anne Lonsdale: CARA Anne Lonsdale spoke to the Sixth Form about her work with the charity CARA (The Council for At-Risk Academics). Established in 1933 to provide refuge for academics fleeing Germany and Austria due to Nazi discrimination, the aim of CARA is to ensure that the specialist knowledge and research of academics of all backgrounds can continue to be used by people all over the world. Mrs Lonsdale explained some of the more recent programmes the charity has carried out, for example in Zimbabwe, from where many academics fled in response to violence. Not only did the charity seek placements in other institutions for the academics, but also established a virtual lecture hall at the University of Zimbabwe to stream lectures to students who could no longer attend their classes in person. Consequently, future doctors and medics can continue to receive the education they need to qualify. Although most of us had studied or heard of the work of academics such as Karl Popper (an influential philosopher) or Ludwig Guttmann (founder of the Paralympic Games), we hadn’t realised that CARA found them refuge to ensure that their work could continue. We might sometimes take for granted the idea of academic freedom as we are fortunate to be able to explore and discuss ideas unfettered by political, social or religious oppression. However Mrs Lonsdale reminded us that for many people this is not the case – and how vital the role of CARA can be. Abie Witts, Upper Sixth
Sir William Castell: Wellcome Trust On Tuesday 3 March Sir William Castell LVO, Chairman of Wellcome Trust, came to Sevenoaks to give a lecture entitled ‘New Paradigms in Medicine’. The Wellcome Trust provides over £700 million a year to bright young minds conducting research into Science, Humanities and Social Science with an emphasis on medical research. They have been involved in funding successful research projects such as the Cancer Genome Project in 2002. 54
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At the beginning of his lecture, Sir William drew attention to all the significant achievements in medicine over the past 50 years and how the rate of discovery has been so huge. He began by talking about George Washington’s death in 1799 due to the false belief that drawing blood out of his body would cure his fever. This anecdote emphasised the continuing huge medical advancements that have occurred since this time, especially as the medical community now faces new challenges such as anti-bacterial resistance and disease mutation. He went on to highlight the importance of new research into the area of gene therapy and a greater focus on precision medicine, specific doses and care based on the individual. Overall, Sir William’s talk was extremely fascinating as it gave an insight into the innovative directions in which research is moving to create new treatments, while also highlighting the medical discoveries that have had such importance that we tend to take them for granted today. Meghna Nair, Lower Sixth
Visiting Fellows A group of Year 10 pupils were also put through their paces, learning how to condense organic chemical structures into a skeletal form and then trying to find isoprene units in naturally-occurring terpene and terpenoid compounds. It was wonderful to see the speed with which the pupils grasped these completely new aspects of Chemistry and applied them with almost ubiquitous correctness.
Peter Wothers: Department of Chemistry, UNIVERSITY OF Cambridge In April, Chemistry students were treated to an extended visit from Dr Peter Wothers, Teaching Fellow at St Catharine’s College and the Department of Chemistry at Cambridge. Dr Wothers is the driving force behind the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge (C3L6) and is heavily involved in the International Chemistry Olympiad. Dr Wothers gave a wonderful talk entitled ‘Gods, Devils and Alcohol’ to pupils from Year 10 through to the Upper Sixth. Ostensibly a talk about the use of chemical nomenclature, the talk hinged on the chemical composition of shampoo! It was a whirlwind tour of the history of the names of chemical elements and compounds and it was delivered with masterful wit. The Lower Sixth were given a challenging time during two extension sessions. First, Dr Wothers introduced the technique of NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy and pushed the students to assign spectral peaks to structures mere minutes after being taught the rudiments. The students responded incredibly well and by the end were analysing some complex spectra with seeming ease. In a separate session, a small group of Lower Sixth were asked to mathematically and graphically analyse the wave functions of electrons in different atomic orbitals. This stretched the students to their limits; getting them to plot two-dimensional representations of threedimensional density plots. Once they had grasped the idea, they were quick to come up with working solutions and impressed Dr Wothers.
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Dr Wothers also spoke to some 50 students about studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge and how best to be prepared. They had lots of important questions and it was clear they appreciated his candour and advice. Chris Martin Dr Adam Dennett: CASA, UCL On Wednesday 17 September, Dr Adam Dennett, Lecturer in Smart Cities and Urban Analytics at the Centre for Spatial Analysis (CASA), University College London, visited the Geography department. During his visit, Dr Dennett spoke to the Geography Society, outlining some of the current research carried out at CASA including the use of travel data from Oyster cards to model the impacts of Tube closures in London. Dr Dennett is currently working in collaboration with me on a Royal Geographical Society-funded project entitled CENTRISt (Census Teaching through GIS) to develop innovative teaching resources to better integrate the use of the 2011 Census data in geographical teaching. The materials will go towards the teaching of the Core Project for Lower Sixth Geography students and will be disseminated to schools across the UK. This collaboration will also help to facilitate the development of the department’s teaching of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and quantitative analysis skills, ultimately better preparing students for their Internal Assessment and Extended Essay. We look forward to the continued develop of this relationship with the CASA department at UCL. Paul Turner 55
PRIZEWINNERS Upper Sixth Prizes Anna Agnello Languages Faculty Prize for Latin and Greek
Maximilian Noka
Georgina Barker
Taylor Science Extended Essay Prize; Rowan Landy Award for Contribution to Sport
Guy Parfitt Sport, Exercise and Health Science Award
Robert Boylin
Army Prize; Sportsman Prize
Olivia Brandon
Taylor English Extended Essay Prize
Chloe Broom
Sportswoman Prize
Jayna Patel Taylor Humanities Extended Essay Prize; Humanities Faculty Prize for Geography Akanksha Santdasani
Thomas Smith John Bryant Humanities Faculty Prize; Mathematics Faculty Prize; Science Faculty Prize for Jack Winchester Chemistry Abie Witts Thomas Buhl-Nielsen Mathematics Faculty Prize Alexa Chukwumah Languages Faculty Prize for Spanish Chantal Wong Capucine Cogné Languages Faculty Prize for Mandarin and Spanish; School Captain Prize Rebekah Collins
Navy Centurion Cup
Hugh Cornes
Groves Humanities Prize for History
Leo Danczak
Expressive Arts Faculty Prize for Drama; School Captain Prize; Science Faculty Prize for Biology
Ciara Desmond
RAF Service Units Prize
Jaime Deverall
Best All Rounder Alcock Prize; Science Faculty Prize; Taylor Mathematics Extended Essay Prize
Rosemary Donald
School Captain Prize
Emma Kemp
Expressive Arts Faculty Prize for Art
Max Kitson
Humanities Faculty Prize
Angela Loescher-Montal Humanities Faculty Prize
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Languages Faculty Prize for German Taylor Modern Languages Extended Essay Prize; Humanities Faculty Prize for Philosophy Expressive Arts Faculty Prize for Music
Humanities
Rory Alexander
Expressive Arts; English; Languages Merit Prize for Mandarin
Capucine Barcellona
Mathematics
Capucine Cogné
Humanities
James Cooper
Science Merit Prize for Chemistry
Max Kitson
Languages Merit Prize for Latin Humanities Science Merit Prize for Physics Sport Sport English
Maxi Lampert Languages Merit Prize for French and Latin Wing Lau
Mathematics
Seva Lobov
Science Merit Prize for Design
Veena McCoole
Midge Adams Drama Faculty Prize
Anna McGee
George France English Faculty Prize; Languages Faculty Prize for Spanish and Italian; Taylor Expressive Arts Extended Essay Prize
Molly Merson
Tatersall Humanities Faculty Prize for Alexandra Norris Economics; Languages Faculty Prize for French and Greek Tasha Reid
Otto Newland
Languages Faculty Prize for Russian and Greek
Alexander Newman
Science Faculty Prize for Design
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Service Units Prize for Shooting
Anna Agnello
Rosemary Donald Expressive Arts Faculty Prize for Music; Hannah Durkin Languages Faculty Prize for German and French; School Captain Prize Loris Gliner Emily Gray English Faculty Prize Isabella Gordon Edward Hatfield Humanities Faculty Prize for Dylan Johnson Psychology Alice Little English Faculty Prize
Mathematics Faculty Prize
Upper Sixth Merit Prizes
George Evans-Thomas
Mei Lian Hoe
George France Mathematics Faculty Prize; Science Faculty Prize for Physics
Angela Loescher-Montal Languages Merit Prize for German Alex Maguire
Sport
Nelly Morgulchik
Languages Merit Prize for Spanish; Science Merit Prize for Biology
Verity Thomson
Mathematics Sport Expressive Arts Merit Prize for Drama
Lower Sixth Prizes Leyla Abbasova
Languages Faculty Prize for Spanish; Honorary Academic Scholarship Prize
James Affleck
Yasmin Whiteford
English Faculty Prize
School Captain Prize
Anna Woodward
Science Faculty Prize for Design; Expressive Arts Faculty Prize
Cornelia Bentsen
Humanities Faculty Prize
Lusha Zharova
Languages Faculty Prize for German
Charlene Chau
Mathematics Faculty Prize; Science Faculty Prize for Biology
Oliver Clinch
Sportsman Cup
Sarah Dodds
Sportswoman Cup
Leyla Abbasova Elizabeth Elgar Languages Faculty Prize for Latin and French Rosie Alderton
Science Merit Prize for Biology
Boma George
Languages Faculty Prize for Spanish
Yury Chistov
Mathematics
Oscar Gilbert
English Faculty Prize
Jack Clarke
Science Merit Prize for Design
Theresa Grillo
Languages Faculty Prize for German and Spanish
Sarah Dodds
Humanities Merit Prize for Psychology
Sophie Hazel
English Faculty Prize
Lucy Eifion-Jones
Sport
Eseosa Idemudia
Humanities Faculty Prize
Grace Elshafei Languages Merit Prize for French and Spanish
Eunice Kang
Science Faculty Prize for Physics
Susannah Gordon
English
Tin Lam
Science Faculty Prize for Chemistry
Dong Sung Kim
Science Merit Prize for Physics
Theodora Mead
Expressive Arts Faculty Prize
Alexandre Kleitman
English
Josh Mills
Mathematics Faculty Prize
Amy Mead
Science Merit Prize for Chemistry
Alexander Miranthis
Mathematics Faculty Prize
Alexander Miranthis
English
Danielle Ng
Humanities Faculty Prize
Rupert Moverley Smith Sport
Dabi Olu-Odugbemi
Languages Faculty Prize for Mandarin
Megan Ng
Mathematics
Damian Owerko
Mathematics Faculty Prize
Hamish Oliver
Languages Merit Prize for Russian
Rhea Patel
School Captain Prize
Remi Pfister
Expressive Arts Faculty Prize
Alexander Prior-Wandesforde Languages Merit Prize for Mandarin
Matthew Riches
Languages Faculty Prize for Latin and Greek
Freya Sackville-West
Lower Sixth Merit Prizes
Expressive Arts
Lizzie Roberts
Sport
Freya Sackville-West
Humanities Merit Prize for History
Honorary Academic Scholarship Prize
Pippa Stevens
Expressive Arts; Mathematics
Elizabeth Shaw
Expressive Arts Faculty Prize
Laurel Stewart
English Faculty Prize
Maksymilian Szwajewski Humanities Merit Prize for Philosophy
Hugo Sunnucks
Humanities Faculty Prize for Philosophy; Honorary Academic Scholarship Prize
Cyrus White
Sport
Bibi Wood
Languages Merit Prize for Italian
Maksymilian Szwajewski Languages Faculty Prize for French; Honorary Academic Scholarship Prize Anna Tarasenko
Alexander Borodin Prize
Euan Tyndall
Humanities Faculty Prize for History
Sophie Weller
Service Prize
Hannah Wentzel
Service Prize
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PRIZEWINNERS
Year 11 Prizes
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Year 11 Merit Prizes
Deborah Allen
French
Ollie Banks
Design; Maths
Kate Arkwright
Drama
Ellie Bayne
German
Charlotte Bonner-Davies Geography
Ishaan Bhardwaj
History
Juliet Boobbyer
Midge Adams Drama Prize
Charlotte Bonner-Davies Art
Matthew Collins
Classical Civilisation
Toby Flynn
Classical Civilisation
Clare Cooke
Art
Laura Gilbert
Biology
Toby Flynn
Design
Freya Hall
Geography
Hethvi Gada
Maths; Russian
Cathrine Hogh
Sport
Josephine Hogh
Sport
Isobel Lewis
French
Rachelle Lam
English; Latin; Music
Sehee Lim
Music
Anna Marisina
German
Holly MacAskill
Greek
Joshua Marza
Physics
Daniel Newsome
Russian
Dylan Morris-Jones
Sport
Lydia Parker
Spanish
Rebecca Reiff-Musgrove Biology
Maya Raman Jones
English
Theo Sawkins
Greek
Rebecca Reiff-Musgrove Physics; Chemistry
William Strutt
Best All Rounder Gilchrist Trophy
Charlie Robertson
Drama
Sophie Westbrooke
Chemistry; Spanish
Piers Smith
Sport
Daniel Wu
Bridget Harmer History Trophy
Lucy Thompson
Latin
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Year 10 Prizes
Year 10 Merit Prizes
Phoebe Barker
Biology
Grace Annadale
Classical Civilisation
Cailin de Wet
Russian
Phoebe Barker
Sport
Matilda Denbow
Geography
Malcolm Briery
Technology Robotics
Matthew Emmerson
Mandarin
Katherine Buntine
German
Alicia Gilliat
Sport
Anna Davis
Mathematics
Lucy Goodfellow
Technology Visual Communications; History; Spanish
Matthew Emmerson
Drama
Tiffany Griffiths
Classical Civilisation
Charlotte Foley
Chemistry
Sohan Gwalani
Physics
Nyah Francis
Latin
Maya Jelf
Music
Imogen Gibb
Art
Rhys Joseph
Sport
Emily Golding
Spanish
Pragna Kasetti
German
Amelia Irwin
Music
Anna King
French; Greek
Olivia Kelly
History
Maike Lenz
Latin
Maike Lenz
Physics
Christina O’Brien
Art
Christy Liu
Mandarin
James Scott
Service
Jess Oliver
Biology
Mark Taylor
Technology Robotics
Robert Perry
Russian
Prangan Tooteja
Mathematics
Sophie Rieckmann
Drama
Elise van den Hoek
Chemistry; Drama
Federico Roma
French
Jess Wentzel
Art
Kieran Sassone
Sport
Dominic Wilks
English
Ellen Steiner
Technology Visual Communications
James Todd
Geography
Alice Tyler
Greek
Elise van den Hoek
English
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PRIZEWINNERS Year 9 Prizes
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Year 8 Prizes
Jonathan Buhl-Nielsen
Greek
Flo Adcock
Sport Prize; Merit Prize
Florence Coumbe
French
Oscar Brown
Sport Prize
Isabel De Sousa
English; Russian
Madeleine Brown
Music Prize
Rory Easton
Sport
Laura Holland
Merit Prize
Zoe Eifion-Jones
Sport
Harry Houillon
Sport Merit Prize
Jahnvi Gada
Mathematics
Charlotte Imbert
Academic Prize
Juliette Imbert
Chemistry; History; Latin; Spanish
Tiffany Lau
Merit Prize
Hannah Kang Wolter
Art
Carla Messinger
Merit Prize
Joshua Oakland
Design
Emily Mahoney
Midge Adams Junior Drama Prize
Ben Prior-Wandesforde Mandarin
Emma O’Brien
Academic Prize; Drama Merit Prize
Finn Tyndall
Midge Adams Drama Prize
Rosie Peachey
Sport Merit Prize
Anna van Velsen
Geography; German
Benjamin Pinchuk
Merit Prize
Orissa Welsh
Physics
Michael Presland
Merit Prize
Peter Westbrooke
Music
Ellie Price
Academic Prize
Selina Yan
Biology
Aanya Tanti
Academic Prize
Saskia Ziv-Guest
Schickler Prize
Eleanor Williams
Academic Prize
Year 9 Merit Prizes
Year 7 Prizes
Grace Annetts
Greek
Arthur Adcock
Merit Prize for Sport
Jonathan Buhl-Nielsen
Biology
Ludo Brown
Drama Prize
Stefano Chiappo
Geography
Ryan Chan
Merit Prize
Florence Coumbe
Music
Mika Curson
Academic Prize; Music Prize
Tom Cox
Chemistry
Leah de Wet
Academic Prize
Sophie Dargan
Sport
Christiane Gontarek
Merit Prize
Isabel De Sousa
Art
Sachi Gwalani
Academic Prize
Max Doll
Sport
Sasha Kelly
Sport Prize
Charlotte Foss
Drama
Ella McCarthy
Academic Prize
Juliette Imbert
Physics
Beth Marsch
Merit Prize
Nicole John
Latin
Celia Merson
Merit Prize
Rosalind Joseph
Mathematics
Alexander Milligan
Sport Prize
Hannah Kang Wolter
Design; English; French
Carys Newsome
Merit Prize
Eliza Norman
German
Grace Reeve
Merit Prize for Sport
Tilly Robson
Russian
Amelia Ross
Merit Prize for Music
Sebastian Sjostrom
History
Serena Thomson
Merit Prize for Drama
Ellie Wild
Spanish
Rory Welsh
Academic Prize
Charles Yu
Mandarin
ACADEMIC REVIEW
art review
SSC artwork by Ollie Banks
A Year in the Art department
A celebration of creativity This was a year of diverse creativity in the Art department. The Year 11 pupils immediately set about preparing for the first examination of the new Sevenoaks School Certificate (SSC) in Art. Their final exhibition in June highlighted the greater level of ambition and creative independence demanded by the new course. Work ranged from large scale oil painting to large installations accompanied by audio and video work. The visiting examiner commented that he felt the work more typical of final year IB students rather than GCSE level.
Above: Solero exhibition.
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Michael O’Reilly completed the second and final year of his residency. He has maintained his prolific level of output throughout and his relentless enthusiasm for the power of the painted image has been inspirational. He has been in demand across the campus, especially for his work on scenery and props for drama productions; a convincingly gruesome life-size cow carcass was particularly memorable. He has also made an
AR T REVIEW
impact on various mural projects such as the large Middle School Common Room installation and the recent work in the Health Centre. His valedictory exhibition, Solero, highlighted the breadth of his practice and his sensual, celebratory instincts as a colourist. Above all, his gently supportive nature and the steady discipline with which he develops his work have marked his time in the studios as artist, teacher and colleague. Michael will be much missed although the department looks forward to his replacement, Tyga Helme, from the Royal Drawing School. Her work responds to the landscape through intense observation and energetic manipulation of drawing and printmaking techniques. She will join our other new recruit, Sabrina Shah, who began teaching in the department full-time in September. Another graduate from the Drawing School, she has rapidly established herself as a key member of
IB HL artwork by (clockwise from top left): Rory Alexander, Georgia Dochoda, Emma Kemp.
the teaching team. She set up a drawing club for the Middle School, which quickly grew to become almost unmanageably large. All manner of still-life items are drawn from direct observation and pupils enjoy the lively approach to this most demanding of activities.
The department continues to introduce new processes and techniques. Seva Lobov made a bold proposal for a sculpture for the campus involving large sheets of Corten steel. His piece, Gust, references billowing flags and suggests a strong nod towards internationalism. It has now been installed as a permanent addition to the campus near the Froy Gates. Seva’s ambition is typical of the work our IB artists presented at their final exhibition, underlining their independence and determination to realise individual creative visions. For example, Georgia Dochoda presented a range of imagery, much of it derived from experimental, layered relief prints, although it was her large oil painting Emmanuelle that was shortlisted for the RA Schools Summer Exhibition, one of just 38 works selected from over 2000 submissions. Joachim Fjeldsoe’s work was also shortlisted. Next year, the final IB art exhibition will take place in a large London gallery, which will be an exciting new way to celebrate our students’ achievement.
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Art is proving a popular choice as an IB subject choice with numbers swelled by both by those that enjoy the subject for its own sake, and those who need to develop skills and a portfolio for university applications. Four leavers will be pursuing architecture courses at university and they have channelled much energy into developing a body of creative work that highlights their ability to think creatively and produce high quality visual material.
The department continues to believe in looking at art first hand, and a group of Lower Sixth artists and Year 11 art historians visited Paris in October. A race around the galleries proved insightful, if exhausting, and the group even had time for a cruise down the Seine. Next year, a New York trip is planned for the Sixth Form IB artists to help support the progression of their own creative work. The Making It exhibition will prove a richly inspirational start to the year, providing a platform for the celebration of creativity at Sevenoaks. Charley Openshaw View more of our student artwork
SSC Art exhibition
The Art department, with SSC artwork (detail) by Anna Marisina
Reflections on the Saatchi Prize Isabel Law’s art work Reflections was shortlisted for the 2015 Saatchi Gallery/Deutsche Bank Art Prize for Schools. It was selected for the shortlist from over 20,000 art works and exhibited in the Saatchi Gallery in April. The piece (pictured) is a simple depiction of a bathroom. The simplicity of the technique, printing in layers of semi-transparent ink from cut card, disguises the moody expressive potential of printmaking processes and highlights the creative potential of spontaneous, experimental processes. This year’s judging panel consisted of Lauren Child MBE, writer, illustrator and creator of ‘Charlie and Lola’; Catherine Goodman, Artistic Director of The Royal Drawing Schools; Alistair Hicks, Art Advisor to Deutsche Bank; Nigel Hurst, CEO of the Saatchi Gallery and the artist Richard Wilson, whose work includes 20:50 which is on permanent display at the Saatchi Gallery. Richard Wilson commented, ‘It was a most enjoyable and eye-opening occasion selecting for the Saatchi Gallery Art Prize for Schools Exhibition. I saw each work as an achievement, for they were all linked to fundamental qualities of thinking such as flexibility, ambiguity or unpredictability, and the enjoyment of things hitherto unknown. It is a brave act to exhibit work. Congratulations for this creative display.’ The thoughtfully reflective nature of Isabel’s piece is typical of her bold but sensitive approach to creating art. Over her period studying art as an IB subject, her work has included movies projected on thin layers of gauze suspended from the ceiling of the Drama Studio, large wooden frames that hold fragile fragments of tissue paper onto which are drawn spidery charcoal drawings, and traditional observations made in the life studio. Charley Openshaw
Top: Reflections Below: IB HL artwork by Isabel Law
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AR T REVIEW
DRAMA REVIEW
Drama Review
‘Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.’ (Caliban, The Tempest)
As the year draws to a close, I can still faintly sense some of the sounds and images which have brought the Sackville Theatre so vibrantly to life. It is a strange, almost haunting sensation, as echoes of those varied lives and worlds that inhabited the stage seem to slip away. Caliban’s line above offers reassurance but is also a reminder of how Sevenoaks School drama has been bold, educative and entertaining. This year’s programme has been truly remarkable in terms of participation, ambition and breadth, with a distinct political flavour. Voices have been given to a wide range of powerful issues, and to a great number of student performers. The three main SSTC productions combined with four studio plays have involved over 150 pupils in total. Each has featured a dynamic ensemble and highly
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inventive staging. Each play has told different stories about the abuse of power and the heroism and humanity of ordinary people in the face of violent oppression. Each has carried significant contemporary resonance, championing the belief in personal and social change, and the importance of fighting corruption, greed and exploitation. The Senior Company presented Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good in the Michaelmas term, which explored hope in the face of brutality and celebrated the redemptive power of art. The Middle School’s Lent production of Brecht’s parable The Caucasian Chalk Circle questioned the nature of justice and the precarious validity of the law. One of my highlights was the Lower School’s epic adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm in the Summer term. Forty-two actors
worked closely with a practitioner from Strangeface Theatre Company and pupils and staff from the Art department to bring Manor Farm to life through an amazing range of masks and puppets. The cast showed great maturity learning to perform in a different, challenging style. In the final shocking scene, lines such as ‘more power in less hands’ were both chillingly relevant but also a positive affirmation of how theatre and education have the potential to change things for the better. There have been an unprecedented number of student-directed shows in the OT Drama Studio this year. Each has featured captivity, torture, rebellion, guns and lots of blood (!) and each was a real tour de force and testament to the appetite and ambition of Sennockians. The last studio production this year was the biennial Boarders’ Greek Play. Euripides’ Hecuba was a griping and absorbing evening of theatre. It generated incredible tension and focus, building to the very bloody and shocking blinding of Polymestor and murder of his sons. Thea Mead performed the title role with incredible nuance, depth and conviction; reeling from heart-wrenching grief and despair to explosive vengeance. This was her third major role this year, after appearing as Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables and Nala in Hotel. The VSU Theatre group have been busy exploring and developing material for this October’s Germany Tour Production, The Golden Key, which is based on Grimms’ fairy tales. As part of their service contingent, company members spent the Lent term travelling to local schools leading Drama workshops and helping pupils in Years 4-6 adapt their own Grimms’ story to the stage. This culminated in a mini festival at the end of term where each school performed to each other and their parents in the Sackville Theatre. This was a hugely rewarding experience for all who took part. The popularity of students taking Trinity Guildhall Awards has grown exponentially since they were first introduced in 2010. Around 40 students across all age groups have been entered for exams this year, with six gaining distinctions at Grade 8.
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It has been wonderful to see these students who began at Grade 3 in the Lower School now reaching the pinnacle of the award scheme in Year 11 and the Lower Sixth. In the curriculum, the new SSC Drama and Theatre Arts syllabus has seen its first cohort successfully complete the course. The Devised Public Productions were one of the main highlights: a mini festival, where each of the three sets performed original, diverse material based on dementia, priest holes and the moon landings. Students have found the course challenging and rewarding, particularly in the areas that have demanded greater independence and critical thought. My favourite event this year has been the cross-curricular Year 9 Shakespeare project, which featured every Year 9 pupil. Each of the eight sets performed a 15-20 minute extract from seven different Shakespeare plays (including The Tempest) to the rest of their year group, during a day in Enrichment Week. Some students who have never acted before displayed genuine talent, whilst those with previous experience embraced the opportunity to stretch themselves and develop their craft further. Gavin Henry
Student achievements National Youth Theatre:
Emily Bolton
Daisy Hargreaves
Yash Kothari
Alex Parton
Elise van den Hoek
Youth Music Theatre:
Anton Mouzykantskii
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Our Country’s Good
Exceptional naturalistic acting that highlighted the redemptive qualities of theatre in this shockingly realistic portrayal of the life of eighteenth-century convicts. Our Country’s Good, by Timberlake Wertenbaker, tells the tale of a cargo of convicts and Royal Navy Officers cast away to Australia to set up the first penal colony in the 1780s. In the Georgian era inequality became more pronounced, and the poor were punished brutally for menial crimes, often with the death penalty. The convicts in Our Country’s Good are offered a chance of redemption as the story follows the tribulations they face producing their own play.
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Hanging nooses ominously shadowed the stage, immediately establishing the constant and inescapable threat that the convicts faced. The dim lighting added to an overwhelming sense of dread. This effectively placed the audience into the convicts’ state of mind, establishing empathy straight away. The opening scene was dynamic and dramatic, and the physical ensemble work continued, animating the whole stage for the rest of the play. Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark, played by Yash Kothari and Tom Menges, takes on the challenge to direct and coordinate the play for the convicts. Both Yash and Tom brilliantly captured both the loneliness of Clark, who has left his wife behind in England, and the strong, formal manner he maintains in front his fellow officers. Having auditioned the shy, guilt-ridden Mary Brenham (Phoebe Osler and Isobel Spence) for his starring
role, we gradually see a relationship form between them. The intimate relationship that Yash and Phoebe, and Tom and Isobel, created with such care, became truly enchanting as the officer and convict gradually fall in love. The friendship between Mary and Dabby Bryant (Taba Gibb/ Cecilia Jay), a feisty young woman desperate to return to her beloved Devon, was also engagingly and convincingly portrayed. The dysfunctional relationship between Midshipman Harry Brewer (Freddie Davies) and his lover, the convict Duckling (Annie Stack/Emily Brandon) was also striking. Annie and Emily exhibited excellent comic acting to demonstrate Duckling’s frustration and her deep desire for freedom. However they also starkly contrasted this with a much softer, caring attitude towards Harry. This effectively created a twisted relationship between the pair, which was utterly intriguing to see unfold. Freddie gave an outstanding performance as Harry, socially isolated between the officers and the convicts, and tormented by the ghosts of hanged men. His tremendous portrayal of the spilt personality which overwhelms Harry was unnerving to witness.
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Tina Hill and Lucy Eifion-Jones doubled the parts of Liz Morden and Meg Long, brilliantly establishing Liz as fearsome and gutsy. This aggressive, forceful manner slowly diminishes throughout the course of the production so that, as she faces the threat of hanging, she forms a close bond with her fellow actors. Roshan Ruprai played John Wisehammer, a Jewish convict with a love of words, who uses his role in the play to voice his own interest in Mary. Roshan displayed his wide skill in characterisation, allowing Wisehammer to come alive as a twitchy, nervous yet loveable character. Theo Moverley Smith delivered stunning comic scenes as the stage-struck pickpocket Robert Sideway, bringing a delightful, light-hearted edge to the themes of crime and punishment. Throughout the production process of the convicts’ play, they face the vehement opposition of the Scottish senior officer, Major Robbie Ross. Euan Tyndall completely transformed himself into this brutal, malicious character, giving an exceptional performance, ably supported by Hamish Oliver as Captain Jemmy Campbell. Our Country’s Good was a remarkable production, incorporating superb acting with seamless transitions and unique staging that relied on ropes and sticks. The cast were inspiring in their depiction of the brutalised lives of the convicts and their journey towards redemption through theatre. The directors Gavin Henry and Jim Grant evoked the horrors of the eighteenth-century justice system while also allowing the play to resonate strongly within the context of today’s culture. Chloe Rouse, Upper Sixth
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Animal Farm However it was the generally high standard of performance across the whole cast which impressed the most; the proletariat is an important concept in the ideological battle in Animal Farm and therefore the importance of the ensemble was increased. The use of animal masks throughout the play also emphasised the performance of the cast as a singular whole rather than individuals. The cast was used to present shocking imagery in a poignant way. For example, the sequence where the chickens of the farm were starving themselves because they were being forced to sell their eggs; the chickens threw eggs from the balcony of the Sackville Theatre onto the stage. The use of real eggs created a sense of shock in the audience, and the synchronisation of the cast was key to the element of surprise.
This year the Lower School production was an ambitious adaptation of Orwell’s political classic Animal Farm. The standard of acting in the show was impressive; in particular I found that the sustained focus from the whole ensemble made the production extremely engaging for the audience. The choice of direction and the use of staging emphasised the ideological aspect of the source material; it was a smart adaptation – a challenge for a Lower School play. The difficult source material also highlighted the breadth of talent present in the Lower School. For example, Emma O’Brien, Riccardo Roma and Eleanor Williams were equally astute and perceptive in the role of Napoleon; it is an achievement that it was clear to the audience that each of the actors were playing one role. In addition, all three managed to effectively portray his thirst for power, giving the character a sense of self-justification for all his wrongdoings. Furthermore they collectively showed the progression of Napoleon into a tyrannical ruler with a powerful subtlety. Similarly Eleanor Parton and Jonah Sweidan’s interpretations of Snowball were consistently engaging, offering a clear challenge to Napoleon in both attitude and mannerisms. 74
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The staging and lighting also added to the power of the show, notably when the boulders were being broken by the animals. This was shown on a projector and with the stage empty. Once again, the use of real objects to represent events within the show created a sense of frank reality for the audience, highlighting how the events of Animal Farm may be relevant to our lives. Animal Farm was a hugely enjoyable show that displayed the power of the Sevenoaks School Theatre Company. The innovative use of the Sackville space, the direction and the ensemble performance created a captivating and thought-provoking show. Roshan Ruprai, Lower Sixth
The Caucasian Chalk Circle The production embraced a Brechtian style with gusto, making the audience aware that they were watching a fiction. Minimal staging allowed focus to remain entirely on actors such as Ilya Pecherskiy, who played a charismatic innkeeper, and Ben Hancox-Lachman, who played Grusha’s hilariously cantankerous husband. Many of the scenes were narrated by two storytellers (Matthew Emmerson/Alex Parton and Isabelle Trickey/Tabbi Gault) who encouraged the audience to invest themselves wholeheartedly in the production, despite the theatre-in-the-round staging. Without them the complex narrative would have struggled to flow so seamlessly between characters and locations. Puppetry was also used immaculately by the narrators to the point where the wood and fabric they manipulated really seemed to be as vulnerable as a real child in the final scene. The character of Grusha was brought to life by Elise van den Hoek/Martha Tipper. They made Grusha’s displays of terror and joy convincing and helped to highlight how some individuals maintain hope in the face of harrowing circumstances. Alexander Buxton-Carda and Emily Under the direction of Mr Harvey, Ms Seetharaman Bolton played the Governor and his wife Natella. and Mr Beverley, the Middle School play was an Their reserved yet powerful and obnoxiously astounding production of Bertolt Brecht’s The self-obsessed personae helped to beautifully Caucasian Chalk Circle. The cast of 43 were able to illustrate Brecht’s critical attitude towards effectively embody and communicate the complex disengaged rulers. Masterful characterisation came themes of this epic work with a degree of from Daisy Hargreaves as she clearly defined the maturity that one might only expect from a much contrast between Princess Kazbeki’s obsequious older company. public appearance and her menacing and murderous private thoughts, while the disjointed Set in the Soviet Union around the end of the logic and lewd sentiments of Azdak the Judge Second World War, the play focuses on a young were delivered with perfect emphasis and timing woman named Grusha, a maid to Governor Georgi by Cameron Allan/Finn Tyndall to inject humour Abashwili’s wife Natella. After a military coup, the into their scenes. Governor is beheaded, and Natella flees to the mountains with Grusha in an attempt to save her In conclusion, The Caucasian Chalk Circle served own life and protect her vulnerable child, Michael. to illustrate the immense theatrical talent in the Grusha’s struggle to care for Michael whilst Middle School, managing simultaneously to evading danger was illustrated with marvellous entertain and transfix its audience. conviction. Oscar Gilbert, Lower Sixth
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Hecuba The chorus had the extremely difficult task of remaining on stage for the duration of the play whilst remaining in character. These enslaved women of Troy were the backbone of the play, and set the tone of the performance. From the outset, their moving monologues were enhanced by increasingly eerie songs and music. They supported Thea Mead’s superb performance as Hecuba, the former Queen of Troy. Thea managed to convincingly convey the tragic life of a woman whose situation becomes increasingly more depressing as she gradually loses all members of her family. She created a complex character: an ex-queen who seems firmly in control but whose losses take such a toll that she is driven to breaking point, blinding her son’s murderer, Polymestor (David Edmondson), and killing his two young sons in an act of revenge. This climax to the play was so shocking and so realistic that the audience almost believed Polymestor was truly in agony. The Greek soldiers Odysseus and Agamemnon, played by Adrian Holle/Damian Owerko and Vardaan Mehra respectively, were then required to illustrate the conflicting views and perceptions of Hecuba and the women of Troy during a scene of trial and adjudication. They managed this remarkably well. There was an intriguing contrast between proud, unsympathetic Odysseus and Agamemnon, who sided with Hecuba, whilst helping her to exact her vengeance. In June a cast made up of Lower Sixth students directed by Corrissa Collier delivered three outstanding performances of Tony Harrison’s translation of Hecuba, an ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides following the aftermath of the Trojan War. The production had a modern twist creating parallels with the current political situation in the Middle East. This feeling was made clear from the start with the audience being ushered to their seats by guards in authentic Middle Eastern garb. The atmosphere was reinforced by the intricately designed set which evoked that region.
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The best thing about the performance was the interaction between the entire cast. It was obvious that they had put in a lot of work and it was truly reflected in the final performance. It was a true ensemble piece with everyone supporting one another to create a gripping, tragic play which brilliantly conveyed all the serious messages of loss, war and bloodshed. Phoebe Osler, Lower Sixth
Student directors This year we have seen an unusually energetic group of young directors emerge in the Sixth Form to cast, produce and direct three plays: Punk Rock (Veena McCoole), Hotel (Remi Pfister) and Death and the Maiden (Christina Hill and Roshan Ruprai). Our directors reflect here on their experiences and on what they have learned. Use Blippar to see photos of the play and watch the cast’s Punk Rock trailer, aimed at fellow students, which resulted in a sell-out show.
rehearsal I couldn’t have been prouder of my cast for executing three nights of professional, moving theatre that really hit home with the audience. I am still incredibly grateful for Mr Henry’s mentorship and Miss Bates’s guidance. Veena McCoole, Upper Sixth Hotel For me directing was about harnessing the huge amount of acting talent at my disposal into a single flowing piece of art. Complete responsibility and creative freedom allowed for a dynamic environment in which the actors steered the show just as much as I did. Although it is to date the most difficult and demanding undertaking I have attempted, I would definitely repeat the experience. The pride and excitement I felt while watching my actors dominate the stage was mesmerising. I wasn’t physically on stage with the actors but still felt their passion and emotion, as they sought to do justice to the countless hours of work we put in. Remi Pfister, Lower Sixth
Death and the Maiden Directorial Review
Punk Rock In the Michaelmas term of my Upper Sixth year, I had the pleasure of directing seven of my peers in a production of Simon Stephens’ Punk Rock. With a highly controversial and emotionally intense storyline, the play required a high level of commitment, focus and maturity from everyone involved. As a first-time director, I was initially overwhelmed by the responsibility I bore in comparison to when I was an actor, but drafting rehearsal schedules and planning the set design with the help of a cooperative cast soon became second nature. After two months of intensive
I found co-directing Death and the Maiden a unique experience. We felt a heightened sense of collaboration as the cast, totalling three people, contributed to the direction of the show. We had to construct a collective vision for the production before we embarked on rehearsals and every cast member had to be frank as to whether we were adhering to this vision. Due to this, cohesion was our biggest obstacle to success in the rehearsal process. However the reward of overcoming this obstacle was great: it led to an evenly shared responsibility and sense of ownership over the show; we felt invested and hope this came through in our performance. The collaboration afforded to students is one of the most attractive aspects of self-directing a play. It was a truly rewarding, stimulating and challenging experience. Roshan Ruprai, Lower Sixth
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Hotel In the penultimate week of the Lent term, a student-directed cast of nine Sixth Form students performed a hard-hitting and utterly gripping rendition of Polly Stenham’s Hotel. The play was directed by Remi Pfister and Freddie Davies. Their influence was obvious in every aspect of the performance, from the seamless transitions between scenes of polar intensity, to the acutely choreographed interactions between characters. The work, set on a secluded desert island off the coast of Kenya, is a dramatic thriller in the purest sense of the word. The play presents a dysfunctional British family which has travelled to the island for a break following a widely publicised internet-dating scandal. The play wrestles with the topical issues of intrusion and integrity (whether on an individual, journalistic or political basis). Veena McCoole and Sasha Dulerayn’s performances as Vivienne and Robert respectively were compelling and thoroughly believable. The dynamic between the characters of Ralph (Yash Kothari) and Frankie (Cecilia Jay) was intriguing to behold, as they were able to present their interactions with a fraternal closeness which made the rest of their family appear like strangers. Thea Mead’s performance as Nala was exceptional to say the least. She maintained a threatening physical and vocal intensity which was impressive to behold, but also demonstrated finer nuances of grief and desperation. The performance was engrossing and showcased the great natural ability that many students have and the terrific achievements that result when they are channelled. Oscar Gilbert, Lower Sixth
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MUSIC REVIEW
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Music Review
2014-15 was another memorable year. It remains a mystery that, year on year, our musicians step up to the mark so well and take a remarkable amount of responsibility and ownership of their own creative endeavours.
Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin as well as various bits of Rachmaninov all combining to give us a lovely cultural evening. We have now done Spain, Italy and Russia; suggestions, please for number four.
You will read about Les Misérables elsewhere in this review. From the point of view of someone who was watching from offstage, I have to say that I thought that all the students involved were absolutely incredible. The time and energy put into this quasi-operatic stage work was tremendous, and both Mr Cook and Mrs Hargreaves deserve a huge amount of credit for pulling off such a stunning production. I hope this is the first of many in the coming years.
It is always rewarding to see the pupils perform in public. Apart from the immense value this brings to them in terms of delivering a performance under pressure (never easy whatever the discipline) I am convinced that this is an activity which brings enormous joy to both performer and audience. Performing is always a risk and takes most people significantly out of their comfort zone. However, the opportunity to craft a performance is one which I think participants generally look back on with a sense of pride. This year we have had a record number of people coming forward, with 30 scheduled solo performing opportunities. We even put a short concert on the Friday night before school exams in May. This seems like something of a record to me. These ranged from über-informal concerts in the boarding house social areas to a quite magnificent lunchtime recital in which Chantal Wong and
Another wonderfully enjoyable interdisciplinary collaboration was the joint event with the Russian department. Russian poetry, prose and even folk singing from all the students of Russian (as well as staff and natives!) sat enjoyably alongside all of our major ensembles, who contributed something Russian to the event. There were moments of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition,
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Use the Blippar app to watch some fantastic performances at this year’s Jazz Club Concert.
Rachelle Lam played movements from the Grieg Piano Concerto and Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini respectively.
Society and the Parents’ Choir, both of whom will miss his entertaining rehearsals and precise interpretations. All of the school’s choirs have been in great voice and there have been some wonderful This last concert was organised by Chantal Wong solos from Francesca Carver and George as a fundraising venture, and she arranged for her Evans-Thomas in particular. The girls’ senior and friends in Sennocke to bake cakes to be sold as part junior chamber choirs have contributed to some of the entry fee. It really is quite incredible to see lovely concerts this year and we intend next year so much fundraising across the school, all of it to develop singing within the school at large, and generally initiated and driven by some very build on some of the great work we have recently enthusiastic and creative pupils. For a second year accomplished. running, Russell and Rachelle Lam hosted a musical evening, this year in aid of the Ebola crisis Chris Dyer and in doing so raised over £2500 to take their fundraising total to £5016, which they gave to Medécins sans Frontières. By the time this article goes to print it will be common knowledge that Matthew Cook is leaving us at Christmas to take up the reins as Director of Music at Millfield. We will miss his wonderful, infectious enthusiasm; more of this in the next edition of the Sennockian. This year, he took the baton for the whole of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonelle. This really was a treat for the Choral
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Music at Sevenoaks
A patchwork of Russian culture in November followed by a choral triumph in March. Russia The Music and Modern Languages departments collaborated in a celebration of music, language and history, to ensure that the Michaelmas Music at Sevenoaks concert focused on Russian culture and music. The audience was treated to a patchwork of language, art, popular songs and classical compositions from that country. The concert opened with an arrangement of themes from Russia piano concertos, played by soloists William and Johan Clubb, Rachelle Lam and Lou Warnett, sensitively accompanied by the Foundation Orchestra. The audience was then led on a tour of Russian culture and music, ranging from a language lesson given by Jon Drury to the Wind Band’s exciting rendition of selections from Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky.
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The classical music of Russia was contrasted with more recent popular tunes, such as two folk songs performed by Russian students and the pop song ‘I will never forget you’, sung by Anastasia Spiridonova and Anton Mouzykantskii. In the midst of the vibrant programme, there were some oases of calm, such as Pippa Stevens’s touching performance of Tchaikovsky’s Andante Cantabile, the beautiful poem ‘I heard a voice’ by Anna Akhmatova, read by Diana Urlichich and Anastasia Spiridonova, and the sublime Bogoroditsye Dyevo sung by the Sennocke Consort. Moments that particularly gave a sense of Russia’s unique culture were when one idea was presented through different media. The audience was treated to two interpretations of the traditional Russian
Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonelle The second Music at Sevenoaks took place in the Lent term. Comparatively rarely performed – though perhaps soon to enjoy a well-deserved boost in its popularity, Rossini’s late mass, neither ‘petite’ nor ‘solonelle’ nor especially liturgical in spirit, according to Napoleon III, was, in this performance, a triumph and a revelation.
tale of Baba Yaga: Tchaikovsky’s music for solo piano, expertly played by Tiffany Lau, and Mussorgsky’s ‘The Hut of Baba Yaga’, played by the Wind Band. The end of the concert focused on Eugene Onegin, with the Waltz and Polonaise from Tchaikovsky’s famous opera, and the beautiful original Russian text of ‘Tatiana’s letter’ and ‘Onegin’s letter’ from Pushkin’s novel. The vivacious musical dances contrasted poignantly with the moving sadness of the letters. The evening was hugely successful in providing the audience with a unique sense of Russian culture and music, masterfully compered by Anton Mouzykantskii. Special thanks should go to both the Russian and Music departments, for all their hard work in putting together such a fantastic evening. Isla Stevens (OS 2014)
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The opening Kyrie and Christe impressed at once, the 140 voices of the Sevenoaks School Choral Society and Parents’ Choir singing with remarkable clarity and unity of tone under the meticulous direction of Matthew Cook. We heard the original setting for piano and harmonium (in this case the two pianos of Tau Wey and Christopher Atkinson) and although the choral forces were larger than Rossini seems to have envisaged, the balance between chorus and accompaniment was excellent. Not that it was just accompaniment: the wonderfully imaginative and dramatic piano part had a starring role in Tau’s hands – a number of vividly characterised solo passages, and in the Preludio Religioso even a chromatically adventurous movement to itself. The quartet of soloists each shone in their allotted places: the splendidly operatic Domine Deus for Anthony Dawson’s characterful tenor, the rich bass of Jozik Kotz in the Quoniam, Emily Ward’s soaring soprano in both Crucifixus and the harmonically adventurous O Salutaris – Rossini’s unorthodox additions to the mass. Rossini’s favourite voice, the contralto (Helen Walker) had her finest moments in the alternately moving and thrilling Angus Dei, which ends the work. Here, as in the joyful fugal Cum Sancto which closed Part I, soloists and chorus blended perfectly. The rigour of the stile antico and the warm humanity of Rossini’s more familiar operatic style were both fully realised here – along with rhythmic and harmonic inventiveness – which was a revelation, and an incentive to hear the work again! Paul Harrison
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Alan Adler Concert chamber music followed, where Chantal Wong, Elizabeth Shaw and Lou Warnett played Dvořák’s Piano Trio No 2. The combination of these players’ skill and their commendable interaction with each other provided a real treat for the audience, and provided a superb reminder of the strength of chamber music at Sevenoaks. The first half was concluded by the Sennocke Consort. Always a jewel in the crown of Sevenoaks’ rich choral tradition, their performance was nuanced and hugely enjoyable. Skilfully conducted by Toby Carden, the choir performed ‘Dieu! qu’il la fait bon regarder’ by Debussy, ‘Trois beaux oiseaux du Paradis’, by Ravel, with soloists Francesca Carver, Tabitha Steemson, Naqib Rahman and George Evans-Thomas, and ‘Les Djinns’ by Fauré. The second half of the concert was dedicated to the two largest orchestras in the school. The Foundation Orchestra performed first, with the piece Russia, a skilful arrangement of many of the famous Russian piano concertos by Christopher Dyer. Under his baton, this orchestra, comprised of 88 musicians from Years 7, 8 and 9, rose magnificently to the challenge of accompanying the eight pianists, who all excelled in their contribution to this highly successful performance. They were followed by the Symphony Orchestra, who, again conducted by Christopher Dyer, played the hugely exciting Polovtsian Dances by Borodin. This comparatively short but nonetheless thrilling performance showcased the skill of the school’s The concert began with three pieces by Grieg, performed by the Sevenoaks Strings: ‘The Death of senior musicians and rounded off a highly Åse’, ‘Anitra’s Dance’, and his Scherzo-impromptu. enjoyable evening. Congratulations to all who performed and those who worked so hard to make Their control of Grieg’s ever-popular music was the concert such a success. impressive, and the slow ‘Death of Åse’, in Isla Stevens (OS 2014) particular, was sublime. The Sevenoaks Strings were followed by the Senior Girls’ Ensemble. This small ensemble of girls from Year 10 and upwards has grown in popularity in recent years, and, under the baton of Matthew Cook, their performance of ‘Three Two-part Songs’ by Britten and the spiritual songs ‘This Train is Bound for Glory’ and ‘Steal Away’ demonstrated their impressive close-harmony singing. ‘Steal Away’, originally a signal song among enslaved African people, was particularly moving. An interlude of
The Alan Adler Concert is always a spectacular showcase of the finest musicians the school has to offer, and this year’s was no exception.
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Chamber Music
The Music department at Sevenoaks is an extraordinarily busy place; at all times of the day, before school and into the evening it is possible to hear people practising, groups rehearsing and lessons taking place. A major part of this hive of industry is the chamber music programme which has been growing in stature for a number of years and which involves all year groups from Year 7 right through to Upper Sixth leavers. Students new to the school are guided into groups to suit their age and ability and, with the help of a tutor, they learn repertoire which, for many, goes on into the prestigious Pro Corda National Chamber Music Festival. Our musicians have distinguished themselves for many years at the Pro Corda Finals and Chamber Champions Concerts around the country and at the Wigmore Hall. This year Rachelle Lam, Sehee
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Lim and Jake Parker represented the school as national finalists, performing movements from the Brahms Horn Trio to a packed audience at the Holywell Music Room in Oxford during the Lent term. Later in the year, Lou Warnett, Elizabeth Shaw and Chantal Wong gave a thrilling performance of Dvorak’s G Minor Piano Trio at the Alan Adler concert. All the chamber groups perform in concerts during the school year and a number of them take their music into the community to entertain the elderly in local care homes as well as the Thursday Club held in Sennocke House. Learning to play in a small group gives an unrivalled insight into the art of playing any instrument and forms an invaluable basis for both orchestral and individual playing. Jackie Hendry
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A Musical Career
Elle Watson is a singer-songwriter who has just completed the Upper Sixth at Sevenoaks. She was interviewed in June by Anton Mouzykantskii
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You’ve been an active musician during your school career, so how has it been mixing the two – getting an education and also doing music?
Would you like to study music further or do you think experience covers much more?
It’s been really difficult actually. I joined in Year 7 but I started taking music a lot more seriously when I was in Year 10, although it was still a little bit of a hobby. Then the summer that I finished my GCSEs I got a record deal, so obviously there was a jump up in terms of my music career, but there was also a jump up in the study, because obviously GCSEs to IB is a massive, massive jump, so it became increasingly difficult. Luckily the school gave me a lot of space to be able to do my music, but the record label also gave me a lot of space to just finish my education and get the good grounding that I need.
It depends from person to person. I know people in the music industry who have gone to music college and studied music or music production, but you don’t learn until you actually get out and do it. For example, I’ve had a manager since I was 14, so if my career didn’t take off by the age of 24 I would still have had ten years in the industry, which gives me more experience than another 24-year-old who’s just come out of university doing music production. But it’s different for everyone. One of the most important things in the industry is not what you know, but who you know. It’s a little bit luck-orientated, but it’s also to do with drive.
In terms of music, how did it all start?
What’s the plan for the next few months?
Well I’ve always loved music, and growing up we were always listening to music in our house; my parents love music. I started singing when I was about 12, just for a bit of fun, and then I was just doing the things like school concerts or gigs outside of school, just singing in pubs or at weddings. And then I just thought, actually I really like doing this, and I was a bit sick of always singing covers so I decided to start writing myself. I like to take inspiration from lots of different artists and genres. At school the Music department’s always been fantastic; everyone’s been so supportive.
I’ll be writing songs with different people and spending time in the studio, and then I’ll be upstreaming through a major global record label. The plan is that my music will be released online, very organically, because apparently people like to see an artist develop and have a sense of journey.
In terms of the music industry, have you felt any pressure?
What would be your advice for a creative student who has their mind fixed on something they really want to do in life? We’re in a very lucky situation where we go to a fantastic school and we are getting a very well-rounded education, and we are surrounded by people who are so clever. My biggest advice would be to just stay grounded and don’t constantly compare yourself to others. It’s a cliché but you need to realise what your strengths are and play to them, and not really care about what everyone says.
It’s interesting actually, because I’m in quite a unique position with my label. The label that I’m signed to is run by a globally renowned producer who has been quite influential for lots of different Best of luck. artists. So luckily I’ve been in the situation where Thanks! they’ve been very supportive. To know that I’m working with these people who are very influential puts an added pressure on you because you want to be able to deliver, but I quite like having that pressure, because I feel like I do some of my best work then.
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Anton Mouzykantskii, Year 10
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Music Honours board 2014-15 Grace Annetts
Kent Youth Orchestra
Madeleine Brown
Fiona Pragnell Cup, Distinction and Honours,
Sevenoaks Three Arts Festival
Francesca Carver
National Youth Choir of Great Britain
Mika Curson
Prizewinner, Tunbridge Wells Music Festival 2015
Josephine Gibb
Guest soloist, London Welsh Male Voice Choir
Billy Hill
Featured on Radio 6 performing his folk music
Performed at Glasgow Centre for Contemporary Arts
Released Re-Think, an album, with Ramon Goose
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Meg Ishimitsu
Croydon Young Musician of the Year 2015
Sehee Lim
National Youth Orchestra
Alex Miranthis
One of Bermuda’s ‘students of distinction’ and was invited to be
a soloist in Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto
Anton Mouzykantskii
National Youth Music Theatre
Guest soloist, London Welsh Male Voice Choir
Grace Powell
South London Youth Orchestra
Lou Phillips
National Youth Choir of Great Britain
Jacob Robinson
Kent Youth Orchestra
Amelia Ross
Prizewinner, Tunbridge Wells Music Festival 2015
Elizabeth Shaw
Performed at the Commonwealth Observance Service at
Westminster Abbey in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and
other members of the royal family
Annabel Stafford
Kent Youth Orchestra
Pippa Stevens
Principal 2nd oboe, National Youth Orchestra
Principal oboe, Junior Guildhall Symphony Orchestra
Howarth Oboe Scholar, Junior Guildhall School of Music
Lou Warnett
Prizewinner, Lagny-sur-Marne International Piano Competition
Elle Watson
Recording contract with a major global record label
Peter Westbrooke
Kent Youth Orchestra
Claire Macfadyen (OS 2013)
Music scholarship, Newcastle University
MUSIC REVIEW
SPOR T REVIEW
Sport Review of the Year
Opportunity and Excellence As we approach the end of another incredible year, I would like to draw your attention to the PE and Games department’s philosophy of Opportunity and Excellence, which seeks to promote a positive, lifelong approach to sport and leisure through the provision of a wide choice of activities, and to develop excellence in those who choose to pursue an activity to a higher level. Opportunity
Previous page shows Cossie Lewis, who was selected for the GBR Optimist class squad.
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We believe that each of our nearly 1050 students should be entitled to the same opportunities to thrive no matter what their level or sport of choice. Over the last year we have run over 1000 fixtures for over 125 teams across 18 representative sports. Investment has gone into developing the outdoor sports facilities including the new floodlit tennis and netball courts, the relaying of the Solefields cricket square, the drainage and irrigation of Duke’s Meadow and the installation of the new hockey surface on the top Astroturf. Outreach to SPOR T REVIEW
feeder schools has heavily increased, including highly successful Sport Networking and Talent Identification events. I am immensely proud of our coaching staff in all sports and at all levels. They are totally committed and continually strive to bring out the best in all individuals. Excellence As well as opportunity, we recognise that, for many students, sport is a chance to really excel at the highest level. We believe we have the perfect infrastructure for our top students to succeed. We have launched the Sports Performance Programme for our Sport scholars and our academy sports players, which include Strength and Conditioning (S&C) sessions and lectures. Our scholars are mentored by a PE teacher throughout their school career in order to provide the best possible support. Sport Science has become a key part of the new PE curriculum including Sport, Exercise, Health Science (SEHS) at IB.
Strength and Conditioning, Dynamic Movement Skills (DMS), video and statistical analysis have all been introduced this year. As testament to the hard work behind the scenes, Sevenoaks can boast over 85 county representatives or above, including 20 internationals. There have been countless sporting highlights this year. The sailing teams have had a brilliant year, culminating in selection to represent GBR at the World Championships for only the second time in recent years. Cossie Lewis, Josh Davies and Nicholas Davies have all sailed for their countries. The U14 hockey side were crowned county champions and reached the regionals while the U16 and U18 teams reached the regional qualifiers, which is the first time in the school’s history that three teams have reached this stage in the same year. Cross country had an unprecedented year as all four teams reached the regionals before the intermediate girls’ team eventually finished second at the nationals. This was followed by dominance at the Knole Run where the boys finished third and the girls finished first. A record number of runners represented the county. Netball results were outstanding, spearheaded by the U14 side who were crowned county champions and reached the national finals before winning the international tournament at Disneyland, Paris. The U15 rugby side had an exceptional season reaching the semi-final of the Kent Cup while Kieran Sassone has represented Harlequins. The 1st and 2nd XI football sides continue to dominate, winning the SKIL league for the third year in a row. In swimming, our students won numerous medals at the Kent championships, while Lily Snell is currently number 1 in the country for 50m freestyle and competed at the British Championships, while Emily Das competed at the English Schools’ Championships. In athletics, the inter girls and boys and the junior girls all reached the regional round of the Track and Field Cup while Phoebe Barker and Cameron Roberts have been selected to run for Kent. Tennis continues to dominate at county level while the senior boys team have reached the national finals, and Josephine Hogh and Liam van den Hoek have SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
© MCC
been selected for Kent at U18 level. Cricket one-to-one sessions and the newly formed academy appear to be paying dividends as Sevenoaks enjoyed a record number of centurions (Cyrus White, Rory Easton, Henry Procter, Nick Bett) in one season, and Rhys Joseph, Harry Houillon, Martha Tipper and Ella Roberts have represented the county. James Emmitt
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Football
Increased levels of participation seem to have borne fruit with excellent results at senior level. I’m delighted to say that we managed to retain our status as SKIL League Champions in 2015 in both the 1st and 2nd XI competitions. The SKIL league has continued to grow in stature, and with the The football programme provides a development competition only entering its third year, it has pathway and the current structure promotes expanded to include B team competitions for all progression from an early age, increasing both age groups. It was a shame that we could not improvement of skills and a deepened achieve success within these leagues; some valiant understanding of the game. Each student should efforts and performances in the U15B and U14B be congratulated on their hard work and teams meant that we ultimately just missed out on commitment, which was matched only by that of silverware. The season has included fixtures their coaches. Lower down the school, it’s apparent against some very strong opposition including that we have an array of young, talented Brighton College, Epsom, Tonbridge, Wilson’s and individuals who enjoy their football immensely. Wellington College. Next year will see our 1st and This year has seen many representatives at county 2nd XI participate in the ISFA National Cup and trials and also students gaining selection onto also London regional competitions. youth programmes led by Premiership clubs. Overall, it’s evident that we have enjoyed a One of my aims was to increase participation, successful year of football. Plans are in place for a providing opportunities for all. I’m delighted that proposed junior tour next Easter and it also looks we are making concrete steps towards achieving likely that a Football Academy will be in place for this goal. With roughly 250 players involved and the beginning of the academic year 2015/16. 18 teams competing, it came as no surprise to field Although these plans are in their infancy, it’s clear four teams in nearly all age groups, and even a that exciting times lie ahead for football at 5th XI on a few occasions. Sevenoaks School. Jamie Cullen The season was a resounding success for a number of reasons. Most importantly, good results were achieved on the pitch but, equally, some teams built the foundations for future successes and wore the Sevenoaks badge with pride.
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SPOR T REVIEW
Netball
Netball has reached outstanding heights this year, with exceptional performances across all age groups. The season got off to a great start with the U18s, U16s and U14s all qualifying for the Kent Finals day. After a brilliant round robin tournament the U18s and U14s progressed through to the regional round. With tough opposition and everyone fighting for the top two places in the national finals, the competition was fierce. The U18 squad knocked off some tough opponents but were pushed to their limits, finishing sixth on the day. The U14s put on a fine show with some excellent performances and finished runners-up, securing their place in the national finals in Liverpool. Despite Liverpool welcoming us with chilling winds and freezing temperatures, the girls generated high levels of excitement and energy. After shaking off first game nerves, the girls found their form. With matches played back-to-back the team rolled on and off the court all day. With games running to a strict time limit the pace was furious and the intensity high. Defenders and attackers had to make every pass, shot, intercept and rebound count. The girls fought hard until the final whistle with two defining wins coming against Ripon College and English Martyrs School.
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
They finished a respectable fifth in their pool, winning three, losing four and drawing one. It truly was a performance to be proud of. Having developed the taste for success this team will no doubt be competing at the highest level again soon. Following in their footsteps great success stories came from the junior girls, proving they are equally as talented and can perform on the big stage. The U13 team finished a fine third place in the county tournament, while, keen to impressive their elders, the U12s were crowned Kent Schools champions. To round off a fantastic season three teams travelled to Disneyland Paris to participate in the International Junior Netball Festival. The U14A squad were a force to be reckoned with, competing in the International Challenger Cup. Their fine form and brilliant teamwork was rewarded with the ultimate success of winning the tournament. The Fair Play award was given to the U12s and the overall Player of the Tournament was awarded to Charlotte Jairaj. In individual success, Catherine Brown and Freya Hall have been selected for the London and South East Regional Academy Programmes. The future looks bright for Sevenoaks netball. Astria Nairn 93
Cross Country
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At the same time there was a packed schedule for the juniors and inters whose main focus was the English Schools Cup competition. In the first round at Beths Grammar, we managed to qualify all four teams, junior and intermediate boys and girls, for the regional final for the first time – a fantastic achievement. Regionals were held on our own tough course at Sevenoaks, also for the first time, and after a tough four-day training camp on the The boys’ squad relied mostly on a very dedicated South Downs for all the squad over half term, group of Upper Sixth students who have worked there were some great performances, although incredibly hard and consistently over several years, only one of our teams managed to qualify for the and transformed themselves into a great set of national final – the intermediate girls doing so for athletes. They began the competitive year by the second consecutive year. They went on to taking bronze in the King’s Trophy on Wimbledon finish second – just seven points behind the Common, where against all the major running winners Godolphin & Latymer whom the girls schools in the South East, the team, led home by have subsequently beaten several times. There Matthew Proctor, won team bronze medals for the were also some good runs at the very competitive second year in succession, behind the two best Junior Knole Run, with Shona Oliver being the boys’ running schools in the country – Judd and St highest placed finisher in 30th. The term ended Albans. In the absence of these teams, the boys with a very successful training camp in Lanzarote went on to retain their team titles at Charterhouse where running twice a day really brought on the and Lancing, with some particularly good results fitness of many in the group. coming from Rob Boylin. Overall, this has almost certainly been the most successful cross country season in Sevenoaks School’s history. The girls’ team (comprised entirely of Year 9 and 10 students) regained their Knole Run title and were just pipped to the national intermediate girls title, but perhaps even more impressively the boys secured their first team medal at the Knole Run in over 30 years.
SPOR T REVIEW
The Lent term started with the highlight of the year – the Knole Run. The results were spectacularly good in 2015, with the boys winning bronze (behind Judd and St Albans again) and the girls regaining the winners’ trophy that they missed out on last year. Both results were testament to some really dedicated training over the holidays, and an absolute commitment on the day to run their hardest. It was difficult to top that achievement in the rest of the season but there were many highlights. In particular, a record 15 students were selected to run for Kent Schools following the county championships and of those, three went on to represent Kent at the highest level – the English Schools Championships: Phoebe Barker, Charlie Lindsay and Clara Tyler. At the Henry VIII relays in Coventry all four teams bested their times from last year, highlighting the improvement in the quality and depth of the squad over the last 12 months. Unfortunately, a higher quality of competition meant that the boys slipped to eighth
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
and the girls to fourth overall, but these are still excellent results from probably the most competitive senior fixture in the calendar. This places us amongst the best distance running schools nationally. At the South East Schools Championships at Harrow we also managed to retain our positions from last year – second for the girls and fifth for the boys despite a number of illness and injury problems. Meanwhile the juniors recorded a string of good results, with the girls finishing third at Danes Hill and second at Northbourne Park. Individually, Oscar Brown (Year 8) recorded a superb individual third at the latter race, whilst Sasha Kelly (Year 7) got one over on her older Year 8 rivals by beating them in both races. All the runners and coaches should be immensely proud of a groundbreaking season in which we have become one of the top co-educational schools for cross country in the UK. Alex Patton
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HOCKEY
Above: The U18 squad on tour in South Africa.
The 2014/15 hockey season saw some significant achievements. The U13 squad were runners-up in the annual seven-a-side tournament and finished third in the Kent Tournament, narrowly missing out on a place at the regionals. Both the U16 and U18 squads reached the Kent Tournament final and progressed through to the regional tournament, despite not being crowned champions. It was the U14s who flew the flag for Sevenoaks for the second year running; they were crowned Kent Champions, beating Sutton Valence 1-0 in the final, scoring 24 goals and conceding none. They eased through the first round of regionals but narrowly missed out on reaching the national finals. In July, a 30-strong squad departed for a two-week tour of South Africa to play in the Annual Cape Town U18 International Hockey Festival. As in previous tours, the standard of hockey did not disappoint. The South African teams were physical, skilful and fit, and it was a very good exercise and experience for Sevenoaks to pit themselves against them.
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SPOR T REVIEW
A gruelling schedule of two matches a day meant that the girls had to remain mentally fit and physically and tough. Both teams were young and lacked a certain amount of experience, but were quick to adapt, and responded well to a new style of play and formation that enabled them to make excellent progress throughout the tournament. As a result the B team’s highlights were three narrow defeats to Milnbrook HCXI, Fairmont HS 1st XI and Bellville 1st XI. The A team ended their tour with a draw against Framesby and consecutive wins over La Rochelle and Fairmont. Beyond the hockey the girls experienced Monkeyland and Birds of Eden, and walked with elephants. A fantastic stay in the luxurious Gondwana Game Reserve was other-worldly, the highlight being the evening game drive, a fantastic sunset and coming within 10m of a majestic lion roaring for its mate. Seeing penguins at Betty’s Bay and the sunset on Table Mountain, followed by a traditional African Malay Dinner and drumming experience rounded off a fantastic two weeks. Liz Joseph
Rugby
U16A team by Ian Lindsay
This year the school regularly fielded 12 rugby teams every Saturday, ranging from 1st XV to U14C against schools from the London and South East regions, with junior teams playing during the week in the Lent term. There have been a number of highlights and successes from various teams throughout the season. Team of the year has to go to the U15A, but the 2nd XV, U15C and U13A all had great winning seasons with 70, 75 and 85 per cent success rates. The U16A also reached the semi-finals of the Kent Sevens, being knocked out by the eventual winners.
Dylan Morris-Jones and James Yun-Stevens who were selected for the Kent U16 team, and Oliver Clinch played for Sussex U17. It looks like their success could be repeated in the very near future with the current U13A as they move into the Middle School. They had a fantastic year against some tough opposition. Their style of rugby was exciting and expansive, offloading the ball whenever possible, keeping it alive and moving it wide. With all players in all positions regularly getting their hands on the ball the team consistently ran fantastic tries in from all areas of the pitch throughout the season.
For the third year running the U15 reached the final stages of the Kent Cup competition and throughout their season played some outstanding rugby which was great for all to watch. The success of the team has been recognised throughout Kent and beyond with four of the squad being selected to represent the county: Harry Carley, Curtis French, Kieran Sassone and Tom Walsh. Kieran has since been taken under wing of Harlequins and is now part of their DPP programme. Other county players this year include
With some exciting players and strength coming through we are looking to build on this year’s success with a new intake of players joining us next year and our pre-season training camp in August being run by ex-international players.
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A big thank you must go to all members of staff who help coach the teams and the grounds staff who work so hard to produce and maintain some of the best pitches on the circuit. Sean Holden
SAILING
International success
This was a tremendously successful year for the Sevenoaks sailors. Overall we had 72 Sevenoaks pupils out on the water ranging from complete beginners right up to those sailing at international level and winning national titles. The first team had an incredible year; they finished second overall at the U19 Youth Team Racing Championships in October and went on to win every school event they entered, including the Thames Valley and South East Area Championships in the Summer term. It culminated in them winning the British Schools National and International Championships at the end of June. Sailors also competed at several university and national level events, and in the last week of June six boats raced at Itchenor Schools Week with Ed Haynes and Issy Gordon our best-placed boat, finishing fourth overall in a very competitive field. The U16 team finished fourth at the Junior Team Racing Championships where they were comfortably the top-placed school team, and a number of our younger sailors put in great performances for the senior teams at a number of events. Six of our sailors were selected to represent GBR U19 at the ISAF Team Racing World Championships: Alice Kidd, Oliver Kidd, Hamish Oliver, Issy Gordon, Remi Pfister and James RuddJones; they finished fourth overall narrowly missing out on a medal. Lower down the school we again competed on the RS Feva circuit, sending seven boats to the Inland and Nationals Championships. Matthew Caiger (Year 10) also competed at the RS Feva World Championships where he finished 15th. Other sailors competing on the international stage were Nicholas Davies who represented Switzerland and Cossie Lewis who was selected for the GBR optimist class squad. Andy Cornah
Peter Newton Top: British Schools National Champions 98
SPOR T REVIEW
SWIMMING As a result of winning the 100m freestyle event Lily Snell was selected to represent South East Schools in the National Schools finals in Sunderland. She contributed to the SE Division inter girls team’s third place in the 400m freestyle team race and the 400m medley team race.
Swimming continues to be a strong sport at Sevenoaks, with another successful season. The school had nine home galas and one away gala this year. We produced some excellent performances with several school records being surpassed.
Looking forward to next year we have a strong team to take to the Southern Schools relay competition, from which the top 20 times nationally go to the finals at the London Aquatics Centre. We hope to post some good performances in the 2016 Kent Secondary Schools Championships and the Bath and Otter Cup, a national competition featuring schools from Belfast, Aberdeen and Jersey competing at the London Aquatics Centre. John Yates
County and national successes Congratulations to Lily Snell and Emily Das (pictured) on their recent swimming success.
The Kent Schools Swimming Championships held in January is our main external event. The senior boys retained both relay titles from last year and hope to repeat this again in 2016. The stand-out individual performances were Lily Snell (Year 9) winning the 100m freestyle event and Emily Das (Year 8) winning the 100m breaststroke. The senior boys also competed well. In the 100m butterfly Chris Cheng (Lower Sixth) took silver and Ken Chan (Upper Sixth) bronze, while Nigel Pak (Upper Sixth) won bronze in the 100m breaststroke. The inter boys and senior girls teams also featured heavily in the relays with silver and bronze medals.
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
In January Lily achieved her GB qualifying time (the next level up from national qualification) for the 50m freestyle. She is now ranked first in England for age 14 for 50m freestyle and competed at the British Summer Nationals, in which the top 24 swimmers in the UK participate, and the ASA National Championships, racing in the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke. Emily Das has been selected for the ASA England Talent Development performance. She is ranked seventh in the country for 50m breaststroke and ninth for 100m breaststroke. She broke her fourth county record at the Kent Schools Swimming Championships and competed in the ASA National Championships in the 50m and 100m breaststroke. At the Kent County Championships, Sarah Williams took silver in the 200m breaststroke for her age group, with Emily Das winning gold. Lily Snell broke freestyle county sprint records and won the Junior Cup.
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TENNIS
An exceptional year.
The 2014-15 season was exceptional across all year groups. Our talented youngsters got the year off to a great start when the Year 8 boys and girls Aegon Cup teams qualified for the regional finals in November. The boys progressed to the final to face Reed’s, but despite some determined play they lost comprehensively to finish a very respectable second overall. The girls also put in an excellent performance. Charlotte Imbert, Phoebe Buckland, Sophie Dargan and Orissa Welsh lost 4-2 to Queenswood and faced New Hall in the third/ fourth place play-off. It came down to the final match and Charlotte and Sophie managed to win 10-5 to secure third place overall. Over the winter our teams trained hard and senior captains Liam van den Hoek and Josephine Hogh were rewarded for their hard work when they were selected to represent Kent in the Under 18 county cup teams. In the Summer term all three Kent Inter Schools girls’ teams claimed the Kent title for the third year running. The senior team of Josephine Hogh, Cathrine Hogh, Ellie Knox and Anna King led by example with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Kent College Canterbury. The inter girls team of Sophie Dargan, Orissa Welsh, Evie Williams and Barkat Mehra dug deep against Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar to win 4-2 overall. The junior girls, not to
be outdone, completed the clean sweep of Kent titles with a 5-1 victory over Highworth, a fantastic result for the team of Charlotte Imbert, Christiane Gontarek, Sofia Melamed and Kate Nicholls. The senior boys’ team of Oscar Gordon-Reid, Andrew Johnstone, Matthew Collins and Alex Lenhart also put in an excellent performance on finals day, culminating in a 6-0 victory over King’s Canterbury to retain the Kent title for the third year running. The doubles combination of Josephine and Cathrine Hogh finished the school season off in style by winning the U19 Loveband Shield at the Independent Schools Tennis Association championships. In the summer the senior boys team travelled to the national tennis finals. The standard of play was excellent and we fielded a relatively young team, Oscar Gordon-Reid, Russell Lam, Alex Lenhart (Year 11), Andrew Johnstone (Year 10) and Oscar Brown (Year 8), who deserves special credit for his maturity. All held their own against much older opponents. Over the four days of competition, the team played valiantly against Writhlington School, The Lancaster School, a strong Birkdale School side and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys. Despite spirited performances, there were three losses, although the highlight was a comprehensive 6-0 win over Altrincham. The boys finished 15th overall, a commendable achievement indeed. Charlotte Pearson
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SPOR T REVIEW
Sports Performance Programme Sports Psychology To develop mental toughness we will provide lectures on sports psychology to deal with a missed opportunity, a tough opponent, or simply coping with the disappointment of non-selection. Strength and conditioning Educating, facilitating and monitoring a sport-specific strength and conditioning programme has encouraged our athletes to improve and develop their natural physical attributes. We use both Dynamic Movement Skills and Core Movement Agility schemes to improve athlete movement and have seen significant progress in our athletes’ performance as a direct result.
Supporting and nurturing talented athletes to develop their skills, experience and abilities.
Our Sports Performance Programme encompasses our Sport scholars and our Academy Athletes (talented athletes who were not awarded a scholarship). All current 30 Sport scholars, many of whom compete at county, regional and international levels are currently assigned to one of our sport-specific mentors, who have themselves competed at a high level and can empathise with the pressures and challenges of representative competition. The PE department is fortunate to include a former England Hockey international and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, a former Wales U20 rugby player, an ex-England cricketer and a team racing world champion sailor, as well as national or county players in other sports. Mentors look to develop lines of communication with club, county, regional and international coaches to ensure effective communication of feedback, especially in areas that need improvement. The Sports Performance Programme aims to fully support and nurture all athletes involved in any sport to develop their skills, experience and abilities across a number of crucial areas: SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
Sports Nutrition and hydration Knowing what to eat and drink, and when, is also extremely important when performing at a high level, and athletes are guided in great detail with their sports nutrition. Rehabilitation and recovery Being injury-free and physically robust is a real challenge for young athletes as their bodies develop and grow at such different rates. At Sevenoaks, we aim to educate students in injury prevention techniques and ensure that all athletes recovering from injury follow a structured rehabilitation programme to help get them back to full fitness. We are also developing a new handbook for all athletes to give greater clarity on elements of high-level performance, alongside the designing of individual athlete support schedules. Discovering and nurturing emerging sporting talent is essential but not easy; it is not always the athletes who have played before who show potential. We aim to identify and develop athleticism, dynamism, hand-eye coordination and many other attributes young people may display through a varied sport and extra-curricular games programme. This can greatly improve a student’s confidence and self-esteem, and may just uncover a potential international competitor. Cath Nicholson 101
HONOURS TABLE Sport Level
Name
Sport Level
Name
Athletics
Ben De Sousa
Hockey Kent U14; JRPC U14 (continued)
Grace Annetts Hannah Daly Lauren Tucker Jess Wentzel
Kent U13 JAC
Zoe Eifion-Jones Clara Tyler Orissa Welsh
Netball London and South East Regional Performance Academy
Catherine Brown Freya Hall
U17 Kent Netball Academy
Jessie Oliver
U16 Surrey Netball Academy
Alicia Gilliat
Kent U17
Kent U15
Maxime Robeyns Kieran Sassone
Kent IAPS
Clara Tyler
Kent U13
Hana Yun-Stevens
Kent Schools
Phoebe Barker (U16) national 300m time
Cameron Roberts (U15)
Basketball U13 South East Regional Performance squad
Angus Thomas Hana Yun-Stevens
Badminton
England U13
Rory Easton
Kent U13
Hana Yun-Stevens
Cricket
Dutch Lions U15, Kent U15 Boys Associate Bowling Academy Kent U15 Girls Kent U13 Boys Kent U13 Girls Emerging Squad Surrey District U13 Boys
Nick Bett Rhys Joseph Martha Tipper Harry Houillon Ella Roberts Henry Procter
Curling
England Junior Women
Niamh Fenton
Cross Country Kent
Phoebe Barker Robert Boylin Capucine Cogné Matthew Emmerson Charlie Lindsay Amy Mead Josh Mills Emily Monkhouse Georgina Powell Matt Proctor Margaux Spriet Alice Tyler Clara Tyler Lauren Tucker Carlotta Weitzel
Sprint Duathlon Great Britain U19 Squad
Robert Boylin
Fencing
England U15 Squad
Nathaniel Robinson
South-East U17 Squad
Miranda Stevens
Football
Kent Arsenal Academy
Jamie Campbell
West Kent
Harry Houillon
Ben Williams
Golf
Tom Harrison
SE England U16 Squad
Hockey England NAGS U16; Kent U16 Kent U18 Boys Kent U17; JRPC U17 Kent U16; JRPC U16 Kent U16 JAC Kent U15; JRPC U15
Sophie Holliday Matthew Wilson Georgina Barker Eugenia Carter Hannah Wentzel Alicia Gilliat Lizzie Holder Ellie Knox
U14 Kent Netball Potential Academy U14 Kent Netball Development Academy
Sasha Kelly Grace Reeve
Rugby Harlequins U15; Kent Schools U15 Sussex U17 Kent Schools U16 Kent Schools U15
Kieran Sassone Oliver Clinch Dylan Morris-Jones James Yun-Stevens Harry Carley Curtis French Tom Walsh
Shooting
Cecilia Catuogno-Cal Anastasia Spiridonova
BSSRA England Squad (B team) (D team)
Home Counties Squad v New Zealand; Kent Ladies National Smallbore Rifle Association County League Cecilia Catuogno-Cal Anastasia Spiridonova Kent Ladies Inter County match, Invicta Shield
Cecilia Catuogno-Cal Sophie Holliday Anastasia Spiridonova
Kent County NSRA County Junior League A Team (2nd place in Division) B Team (Division Winners)
Cecilia Catuogno-Cal Sasha Radkovskii Henry Bowers Henry Davies Alberta Leonard
Sailing U19 GBR Team, ISAF Team Racing Worlds Switzerland U15 Optimist Sailing Squad RS Feva GBR squad Optimist Intermediate National Squad Swimming
ESSA U14 ASA England Talent Development Programme
Tennis Kent County Squad 102
Flo Adcock Elysia Kleine Deters
SPOR T REVIEW
Issy Gordon Alice Kidd Oliver Kidd Hamish Oliver Remi Pfister James Rudd-Jones Nicholas Davies Matthew Caiger Josh Davies Cossie Lewis Lily Snell Emily Das Josephine Hogh Liam van den Hoek
TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES
CO-CURRICULAR REVIEW
Another busy year packed with artistic highlights.
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As ever this has been a busy year for the co-curriculum providing opportunities for pupils both to enjoy themselves and to excel in a wide range of fields.
Caucasian Chalk Circle by the Middle School and Animal Farm by the Lower School, not to mention a number of student-directed productions. The Choral Society performed Rossini’s Petit Messe Solonelle and the Symphony Orchestra took on Polovtsian Dances by Borodin. Perhaps the highlight of the musical calendar was an arrangement for eight of our top pianists playing excerpts from Russian piano concertos accompanied by the Foundation Orchestra.
At the beginning of the year the sculpture Thinking Aloud by the Old Sennockian artist Oliver Barratt was unveiled on Claridge Lawn while a sculpture by current pupil Seva Lobov was later unveiled below the Froy Gates. Meanwhile in performing arts the Michaelmas term saw six performances of Les Misérables by two separate casts of lead roles accompanied by an orchestra predominantly made up of pupils. However there were a number of other impressive Drama productions including Our Country’s Good and Hecuba by the Lower Sixth,
In sport there were many fine individual performances at county, regional and national level in a number of disciplines as well as centuries by four pupils in cricket. We had a number of teams reach regional finals in a variety of sports with senior boys tennis, the intermediate girls cross country and the U14 netball team reaching national finals. Perhaps most notably, however, not only did the sailors win the British team racing championships with the B team being placed sixth but the A team went on to represent Great Britain
TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES
at the World Championships where they were placed fourth overall. Something that distinguishes our co-curricular programme is the school’s commitment to service. A conservative estimate was that students gave up 27,000 hours of their time to a variety of local and international causes, while £65,000 was raised from a variety of charitable activities. This year the two main charities supported by the school were Haller and Orpheus.
local parliamentary candidates from all the major parties, including Michael Fallon, the defence secretary. This interest culminated in student parties campaigning in a mock election.
As ever we ran a wide range of academic and enriching trips with more than 40 venturing overseas. These included the majority of Year 7 going to Greece and the majority of Year 8 going to Normandy. New ventures this year were a trek at the end of the Year 10 Geography trip to Iceland, a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award cycling expedition Elsewhere, debating has been growing significantly in Skye and a Chinese study trip to Beijing. at Sevenoaks and teams reached finals at both the Many thanks go to the enthusiasm and dedication Oxford and Cambridge Union competitions. Both of all the staff who continue to make such a wide local and international pupils also took a keen range of activities possible for our pupils. interest in the British Parliamentary Election. George Parker, political editor from the FT, came to Geoffrey Stanford speak and we also hosted a question time for the
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TRIPS AND EXCHANGES MICHAELMAS TERM
Year 7 History
Years 8-9 German
Year 9 History
Year 10 Geography
Study trip to Bodiam Castle Study trip to Aachen Christmas Market Field trip to First World War battlefields, Belgium Field trip to the River Darent
Year 10 Spanish Study trip to Santiago
Year 10 Spanish
Year 11-Lower Sixth Art
Malaga exchange
Sixth Form History
Study trip to Russia
Upper Sixth Economics
Field trip to Prague Field trip to Devon
Research trip to Paris
Upper Sixth Geography
Upper Sixth History
CCF
Army Field Day
CCF
RN Field Day
CCF
RAF Field Day and Air Experience
Cross Country
Junior training camp, South Downs
Cross Country
Senior training camp, Lanzarote
Sailing
RYA Championships, Oxford
Sailing
Oxford Magnum
Shooting
Medieval study trip to Palermo, Sicily
Fullbore Training Weekend, Bisley
LENT TERM
Year 8 Mathematics
Year 9 French
Lyon exchange Study trip to Montpellier
Year 9 French
Year 10 History
Lower Sixth French
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Study trip to Bletchley Park
Study trip to New York and Washington Lyon exchange
Lower Sixth Geography Field trip to Morocco
Lower Sixth Science
CCF
AAAS Conference, San Jose, US RN Field Day, Portsmouth
DofE
Bronze Practice Expedition, Kent
DofE
Silver Practice Expedition, Kent
MUN
BISMUN (Bath MUN)
MUN
THIMUN (The Hague MUN)
Netball
PROMO
Sailing
Wessex Winter Warmer
Sailing
Brunel Badger
Sailing
London Duck
Sailing
UKTRA Championships
Shooting
Fullbore Training, Bisley
Skiing
Lower and Middle School ski tour
Skiing and French
Ski and study trip to Les Menuires
TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES
International Junior Netball Festival, Disneyland Paris Service trip to Rajasthan
SUMMER TERM
Year 7 Classics
Year 7 Geography
Year 7 Physics
Year 8
Year 9-Lower Sixth Mandarin
Year 10 Geography
Year 10 German
Study trip to Fishbourne Palace Field trip to East London Study trip to Herstmonceux Cross-curricular study trip to Normandy Study trip to Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou Field trip to Iceland Ibbenbüren Exchange
Year 10 Latin
Year 10-Lower Sixth Russian
Lower Sixth Biology
Field trip to Greece
Lower Sixth English
Literary tour to Stratford-upon-Avon
Lower Sixth French
Lower Sixth Higher Education
Lower Sixth History
Lower Sixth Italian
Lower Sixth Latin
Lower Sixth Psychology
Study trip to Pompeii and Naples Study trip to Moscow and St Petersburg
Brussels exchange US universities tour Chalke Valley History Festival Crema exchange Study trip to Rome Study trip to Bethlem Museum of the Mind
Lower Sixth Spanish
Santiago exchange
Lower Sixth Spanish
Salamanca study trip
Music
CCF
Army Camp
CCF
RN Training Day, Portsmouth
CCF
RAF Air Experience
CCF
CCF Field Day
Choral Scholars’ trip to Corsagna
DofE
Bronze Assessed Expedition, South Downs
DofE
Silver Assessed Expedition, Dorset
DofE
Gold Assessed Cycling Expedition, Skye
DofE
Gold Assessed and Practice Expeditions, Snowdonia
Hockey
PROMO
Sailing
Sport tour to South Africa Service trip to Mumbai Itchenor Sailing Week
Sailing
BSDRA finals, Rutland
Service
Mulamula service trip to South Africa
Shooting
Shooting Fullbore Schools Meeting, Ashburton
Tennis
YoungSox
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
Fullbore training week, Bisley Coaching week, Newquay Year 7 holiday to Greece
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CCF Annual Review
In an exceptionally busy start to the CCF year, the Year 10 Training Section got straight into full swing with their fun-filled evening exercise in Knole Park, an event which was quickly followed by our main Field Day with the Army section on manoeuvres in Mereworth Woods Training Area, the Navy taking to the waters at Portsmouth and the RAF taking to the air at RAF Wyton and the activity centre at Carroty Wood. This was all a prelude to our Biennial Inspection which took place straight after half term. The Inspecting Officer, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, had a full day viewing a snapshot of the activities we do throughout the year and her glowing report highlighted the ‘excellent Senior NCOs as role models’ as well as the ‘school’s commitment to delivery of a high quality cadet experience’. A major development this year is the construction of a new CCF stores building, range, shooting clubroom and classroom. This was finally handed over in late June and was operational for the start of the new academic year. The Army section, led by senior cadet SSgt Rob Boylin (winner of the Army Prize), also went on exercise in the Summer term to Pippingford Park Training Area where ambushes and section attacks were carried out. The exercise was finished with some more lighthearted but realistic laser battle warfare. The complement of 12 Upper Sixth cadets was one of our largest in recent years, and Sgts Christian Lane and Amanda May joined Rob as the longest serving of these. Year 10 cadet Kieran Sassone passed selection for next year’s cadet 108
expedition to South Africa, and Lower Sixth Sgt Will Griffiths attended the National Cadet Leadership Course. The year finished with the annual camp at Crowborough. An exhausting action-packed week was experienced by the 16 who went. We won two silvers and a bronze medal on competition day, with Sgt Euan Tyndall being awarded Best Cadet and Cdt Grace Annandale Best Year 10. This year we lose a valuable member of the team, 2Lt Dominic Mott, but were joined by Capt Geoffrey Stanford and 2Lt Chris Bates. The Royal Navy section spent further Field Days at Portsmouth using HMS Bristol as a base and managing another trip to the exciting Damage Repair Instructional Unit, as well as undergoing sea survival skills. There was sailing aplenty with the operation at Chipstead Lake in full swing in the Michaelmas and Summer terms, taking advantage of our six new toppers as well as the bosuns, 420s and lasers. Leadership training was undertaken by the Year 11 as they prepare to take on NCO roles next year, and we were joined by SLt Alex Schmaller who quickly completed her officer training in October. The Centurion Cup was won by senior cadet CPO Rebekah Collins. The RAF section entered a new event this year, the SE Air Squadron Trophy where a hand-picked team competed in seven aspects of the RAF syllabus, culminating in the pressurised drill competition. They didn’t manage to oust the more experienced teams from national qualification but did themselves proud and achieved a high standard. Flying trips were more successful this TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES
year with the Grob tutor planes back in action, although our usual station RAF Wyton no longer hosts the activity. One of last year’s cadets, Sgt Katy Hollings, was awarded a place on the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme in Dundee and current Year 11 Adrian del Ser attended the Air Cadet Leadership Course in the summer. Winner of the RAF prize this year was senior cadet Flt Sgt Ciara Desmond. Flying Officer Paul Turner has been a huge asset to the section over the last three years, but leaves for a new post, while Flying Officer Ed Kirby joins us after previous flying training with the RAF. Our Shooting section endured frustration as the building of the new range took the old one out of action for the entire year, but the new eight-lane facility will provide a much better training environment for the shooters. There was a notable performance in the WKRL Prince of Wales Cadet Competition where Cecilia Catuogno-Cal came first in the U16 category and also won the Pairs with Alberta Leonard. The squad were able to get away to Bisley for full-bore training on several occasions in readiness for the Schools’ Meeting and Ashburton Competitions in July in which Tom Smith managed the best result, placed 30th in the Cadet 100 (the top 100 cadets in the country), out of 514 competitors. In Intersection competitions, the RAF took the honours in the Tug of War and ‘It’s A Knockout’, whilst the Army section retained the Gun Run trophy after the closest and fastest contest in years. Lt Col Paul Bassett
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Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
This has been another very successful year for the students. We have had nearly 140 Year 10 students join the scheme at Bronze level. These students have completed their practice expedition around Sevenoaks, where they learned navigation skills, camp craft and teamwork. Those who camped on Sennocke lawn became acquainted with the chimes of St Nicholas’ bells every 15 minutes. The group then went on to do their assessed expedition in the fantastic countryside around Eastbourne and Beachy Head.
Above: Gold Award candidates in Snowdonia on their practice
The Silver section had really good weather for their practice walk which meant all 58 students finished tired but in good spirits. As we departed for their assessed expedition to Dorset it was
expedition.
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TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES
raining! However, once we arrived the rain had passed and the rest of the expedition was done in glorious sunshine. The Gold candidates went to Snowdonia in May for the Lower Sixth to do their practice expedition and the Upper Sixth their assessment. The weather in Wales did its usual thing of being able to capture all four seasons in one day. One group awoke to find beautiful views of the Snowdon Horseshoe and later the same morning strong winds and a rapidly lowering cloud base. Thanks must go to all the staff who give up many hours of their time to run the sections, and also to those who come along to help on the expeditions. Ken Henderson-Thynne
Charity Action Group Every year the Charity Action Group organises activities at school to raise funds for two charities, one local and one international. This year we decided to donate to the Orpheus Centre, near Godstone, an organisation which provides opportunities for young people to be empowered and inspired through the performing arts. We continued to support Haller and in particular its Education Centre in Ngunni, Kenya, which provides for children from slums. Our first event was the Upper School Charity Week in November. There was a talent show, a lively evening with the Improv Society, and scrumptious delights such as waffles, cakes and a Domino’s pizza lunch. During Christmas we held the annual Big Gig, featuring talented musicians from all year groups. It was fantastic to see so many students taking an active role in Middle School Charity Week. Highlights included a coin trail around the campus and an entertaining Mario Kart Tournament.
We are extremely grateful to the teachers of the Art department, who coordinated an online charity sale of their work. The culmination of the week was the Charity Fair held on the Flat: 300 students supported and participated in the Cracker Challenge, Just Dance and a football tournament. Half of the total money raised will help purchase a fully equipped van for wheelchair users at Orpheus, and the other half will fund Haller’s Porridge Programme, which delivers nutritious meals to children studying in the community schools. For both charities, we are proud to say that every pound raised will make a real difference. After the Question Time debate (see Spotlights), the Charity Action Group sold 300 doughnuts. These were iced in various political party colours allowing for a straw poll of sorts to be conducted! Following the earthquake in Nepal, we collected hundreds of bags of clothes, dried foods, sleeping bags and blankets. These were sorted and collected by the cleaning company which looks after GIH, run by a family of Ghurkhas. They had organised a charter flight to take all the donations directly to Nepal. Lower School Charity Week took place in the Summer term. Over £1500 was raised through a talent show, home clothes day, cake sales and various break-time challenges. A barbecue lunch raised money for an education project in Mulamula, South Africa, and a disco was organised to contribute funds to the upcoming hockey tour, also to South Africa. Rachelle Lam, Year 11
FRIENDS OF SEVENOAKS comedy club. The Comedy Night was a hilarious evening, with three professional comedians providing fantastic entertainment to an audience which revealed itself during the evening, much to the comedians’ amusement, to represent, in true Sevenoaks style, an extraordinary array of nationalities. ‘It’s like the United Nations in here,’ commented one of them. This was the first time that FoS had worked with the Sixth Form to put on an event, and the profits from the event went towards PROMO.
The Sevenoaks Striders
The Parents’ Association transforms into the Friends of Sevenoaks School. This year has been an exciting one with the evolution of the Friends of Sevenoaks School (FoS) from what was the Parents’ Association. The primary aim of this new organisation is to provide opportunities for social interaction between parents and staff, both past and present.
To improve levels of contact between parents in each year group, a network of social coordinators for each academic year has been established, who organise termly social events. To date, lunches, drinks parties, meals out, coffee mornings, walks in Knole Park and rounds of golf, amongst other events, have been organised, with many more in the pipeline for the next academic year. I do hope that parents have enjoyed this increase in the opportunities to meet with others from their children’s year.
Using Blippar, hover your phone or tablet over the FoS logo to like the FoS on Facebook.
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In addition to the work of the social coordinators, the committee themselves have hosted a number of successful events, including a Thai-themed New Parents’ Supper which was enjoyed by over 160 parents, mulled wine and mince pies after the Carol Service, our Saturday coffee mornings and New Parents’ Tea. We held a Quiz Night in November which was great fun, especially for the teachers’ team, who had a resounding victory! In June the Sackville Theatre transformed into a
TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES
Our other events have included monthly walks organised by our walking group, the Sevenoaks Striders, which continues to keep both parents and their dogs fit with their monthly excursions around the countryside! Last but not least, the Arts Society run by Jane Holland continues to provide a wonderful variety of outings. This year they ranged from a trip to the Alexander McQueen exhibition, seeing Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe and The Book of Mormon combined with a backstage tour with the show’s conductor and OS Ron Crocker, and a guided walking tour around Sevenoaks with the legendary Bob Ogley (OS 1955). Our main contribution to the school this year has been towards the beautification of the Flat and hopefully many of the pupils have enjoyed using the new furniture. We have also contributed towards funding the Lower Sixth Enterprise Day. I would like to offer my thanks to all of the committee members and the social coordinators who have done a fantastic job of organising such a wide range of activities allowing the parents and staff to enjoy each other’s company. If you would like to become more involved in FoS, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Contact details are provided at: www.sevenoaksschool.org/friendsofsevenoaks. Joanna Newsome Chair, Friends of Sevenoaks
LOOKING FORWARD
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Science and Technology, and Sixth Form Centres
‘Science gives you the power to do what you otherwise couldn’t and to understand what you otherwise wouldn’t.’
Dr Lars Blackmore (OS 1998), Vice President, SpaceX
The Sevenoaks School Foundation was formed in 2004 to support the advancement of the school today and into the future. Over the past decade, the Foundation has supported the development of outstanding new facilities, including The Sennocke Centre in 2005 and The Space Performing Arts Centre in 2010. More recently the Foundation has sought to widen access and increase diversity by funding the provision of bursaries through the school and establishing an endowment. In 2010, £12m enabled us to complete The Space; a beautiful building that has transformed the way we teach and practise the performing arts.
Designs above and on previous page by Tim Ronalds Architects.
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LOOKING FORWARD
In 2013, a bright new common room was added to the Lower School, along with an all-weather recreation area. Across the campus, environmental improvements include the introduction of a vital new parking and drop-off area and a landscaped birch grove at the heart of the school, which in the next few years will be framed by our new buildings. The next project we intend to undertake will be the construction of a new Science and Technology Centre and a new Sixth Form Centre, together representing an investment of £32m. The 7000 square metre design includes laboratories, workshops and multi-purpose spaces, as well as a café, higher education lounge and Sixth Form study and social areas. At its centre, the top-lit ‘hall of science’, lined by exhibits, provides a backdrop for collaboration, exploration and the celebration of science. Science and Technology Centre All students at Sevenoaks School take three sciences at IGCSE and continue to study science to the age of 18, with around 30 per cent studying for single or combined honours in STEM subjects at university. Our vision for the Science building is that it will enable us to inspire curiosity and scientific enquiry, foster specialist and interdisciplinary approaches to science, encourage technological innovation, prepare students for the transition to higher education and a career, support outreach and ensure wider public benefit, and set the highest standards of environmental sustainability. This new, state-of-the-art structure will unite the four core fields of science. As functional as it is iconic, a multi-purpose space will accommodate examinations, lectures, exhibitions and conferences. Students will benefit from an exceptional learning environment. This building will encourage the next generation of intellectually curious, scientifically skilled, technologically adept students. They will emerge highly qualified and ready to take on university courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; followed by stimulating – even world-changing – careers in interdisciplinary scientific advance.
Designs by Tim Ronalds Architects.
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Designs by Tim Ronalds
Sixth Form Centre
Construction and Timing
Architects.
Built for a thriving, international Sixth Form, this world-class facility will help us to implement the IB’s vision, to combine academic strength, broad co-curricular opportunity and a powerful service ethos. In this innovative space, we will cultivate excellent study and research habits and a clear understanding of the 21st century workplace, thereby easing the transition to universities and careers.
Tim Ronalds Architects were appointed in 2014. Staff, students and alumni were consulted and designs are well advanced. In June 2015 we secured planning permission to go ahead with these ambitious new centres. We are now in a position to commence work on the fundraising campaign and appoint a building contractor, and this will take place over the next few months.
Facilities in the new centre will also enable our Sixth Formers to develop the qualities enshrined in the IB Learner Profile. Well-informed and supported, they will instinctively take responsibility for their own learning. Working independently and together they will discover their direction, and their teachers will be perfectly positioned to advise and mentor them.
Construction is due to commence in the summer of 2016 and the new centres will be completed in 2018. As with previous projects, we will endeavour to keep disruption on campus to a minimum, working very closely with the contractor to ensure that impact on your children’s day-to-day school experience is minimal. By 2018 we will have a world-class facility for students, the community and science professionals to enjoy.
Andrew Burton
Take a 3D tour of the new building with our flythrough video. 116
LOOKING FORWARD
THE FLAT
After nearly 50 years as a car park, The Flat becomes a new social space for the school community. The Flat, the level area between The Space and the Dining Hall, was constructed in the late 1960s on a grassy field below the Languages Block, and served as a car park and drop-off area over subsequent decades. As the school has grown, a number of buildings have been constructed around the Flat: the Marley Sports Hall, Aisher Hall, Sackville Theatre and most recently The Space. Numerous events have taken place there, including charity weeks, CCF activities and even the visit of a Spitfire for Science Week.
were completed at the beginning of the Lent term. This means that the Flat has become a largely traffic-free area that is available as a social and relaxation space for students between lessons. The next project in the Masterplan for the development of the school is to build Science & Technology and Sixth Form Centres, as explained on previous pages. Ahead of the major project work, an interim scheme for the Flat has been developed by Tim Ronalds Architects. During the 2015 Easter holiday, 160 silver birch saplings were planted on the Flat and, during the summer, seats, benches and tables were added. Further landscaping of the area will be undertaken on completion of the Science & Technology and Sixth Form Centres in 2018.
Early in 2015 we introduced some changes to the Flat, as part of the school’s ongoing development plan. In order to enhance road safety during the school day, as well as improve access to the school, enhanced car parking facilities at Duke’s Meadow,
We continue to shape a campus for students, teachers and the wider community, that in its fusion of buildings and the natural landscape will inspire learning and enjoyment in original and imaginative ways. Andrew Burton
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Philanthropic Leadership The Head, Governors and Foundation Trustees wish to sincerely thank the following donors for their support of the school over the past year. Marco Alverà
Dennis Filkins
Roger Alwen
Dr Malcolm Fisk
Aleksey and Olga Avanesov
Niall FitzGerald KBE and Ingrid FitzGerald
Duncan and Katya Batchelor Edward and Joanna Bates Sandy Bell Kenneth Blezard Jalil Bongo Omamofe and Nwakaego Boyo Charles Breen Kevin Brooke Cicely Brown John Brown David Cadwallader Oi Man and Jasmine Chan Kui Hei and Ruth Cheng Warren Wang Yan Cheung Timothy and Susan Child Keith Civval Christopher Clapham Simon and Zuraida Clubb Eamonn and Fenella Cournane Nicolas Cristau Matthew Crudgington F Cubbon George Day-Lewis Steve De Bonvoisin Beth Deacon (née Parker) Javier and Leonor del Ser Grant Douglas John and Julia Douglas Alexander Dray Michel and Edmee-Marie Driessen John and Lesa Elgar
Michael and Leila Foeveny Amanda Ford Peter Foreman Ian Friend Friends of Sevenoaks School Robert Froy Ian Galbraith Samuel Gillis and Ilene Hersher Dr Armando Gonzalez-Ruiz and Pilar Gonzalez Michael and Dorotka Griffin Andrew Guest Daria Gurko Sharmila Gwalani Dashnor and Rudina Hallaqi David Hearne Jonathan Hill Gordon Hillier Charity Hirosato Julian Hirst Michael and Johanna Hogan Edward and Angela Holloway Michael Holmes Daisy Honeybunn
Alan Pemberton
Derick and Fiona Walker
Sehyun Kim
Andrew and Heather Phillips
Reverend Christopher Ward
Donald Kings
Kirill and Tatiana Pisarev
David and Sally Knox
Stephen Pook
Richard and Dr Catherine Weber
Yu Yee Benjamin Lam and Dr Virginia Lee
Neil Powell
Chi Wah and Man Yee Lau Charles and Fiona Lane Zoe Lang (née Cowling) Jonathan Lattimer Hung Ho Lau and Yuen Fun Li Vinton Lawrence Dr Nikki Lee (née Chow) Christopher and Teresa Lee Martin and Claire Lewis Gun Lim and Sunghee Bang Olivier Lim and Natasha Foong Yun Bonn and Candy Cheuk Lai Liu Daniyal Magomedov Dr Mark and Caroline Martin William Mason Elizabeth Mayhew Edward McEuen Fund Anton and Rossy McGovern Leonid and Marina Melamed Mark and Ruth Merson Anna Messervy-Evans (née Kerton) Mark Mills and Julie Taylor-Mills James Mitchell Nathan Mode
Marco Previero Gavin Price Nicholas and Akemi Price Kenneth Quinn Alan Radcliffe Ian and Roberta Ratnage Peter Rea James Richardson Andrew and Jane Rigney Nigel and Tatiana Robinson
Robert Sampson Michael Sarkesian and Oksana Mul Lucy Scaramanga Paolo and Francesca Scaroni Christopher Segar Michael and Ulrike Seiters Anthony and Alison Shamash Andrew Simmonds Magnus and Elizabeth Spence Anthony Stevens and Young Sil Yun The late Pauline Stubbs (bequest) Nigel and Isabel Thompson
John Innes
Robert and Ramila Murdin
James Tucker and Cheryl Davies-Tucker
Gordon Kwan Tung Ng
Hidde Venhuizen
Edward O’Neill
Petrus Venhuizen
Christopher Pearson
Dietrich and Annabel von Boetticher
Reverend David and Pat Johnson
John and Veronica Fenton
Michael Joyce
Timothy Peckham
LOOKING FORWARD
Gordon Wheeler Paul and Janette Wilkinson Colin Wilson Graham Wilson Dr Walter and Christine Wintersteller Dr Choi Sum Wong and Wing Kam Mok David Woolgar
Michelle Yong
Professor Philip Ruffles CBE
David Moss FRSA
Mikhail Pecherskiy and Oxana Pecherskaya
Richard and Kate Wheaton
Julian and Beverley Rudd-Jones
Matthew Horton QC and Jane Horton
Dr Andrew Johnson
Wei Shao Wen and Ying Huang
Oliver Wright
Michael and Jessica Morelle
Matt and Katherine Jarrett (née Hardaker)
Timothy and Catherine Welsh
Alexander Roxburgh
David Hooker
Reverend John Ellison
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William and Alison Kendrick
Richard Tobitt
Nicholas Wagstaff Anthony and Patricia Wakeford
Peter and Sara Yeates
ALUMNI REVIEW
Old Sennockians Review The Old Johnsonians also relived their school days during a tour of the boarding house before their annual lunch. It was very nice to see some of them again at the Founder’s Day Picnic which also marked the 50 Year Reunion for the Class of 1965. For our young alumni, the place to be in October was the Blues Kitchen, Shoreditch which proved a very popular ‘Oblique Social’ – a meet-up organised in collaboration with the events company Oblique. Further afield, we held OS and parent drinks receptions in Milan, Hong Kong and for the first time, an OS dinner in Australia.
Our vibrant worldwide community of former students continues to grow, and we are always working to expand the Old Sennockians’ programme of reunions, sporting and social events. During 2014-15 we increased the number of OS events, and with participation reaching new heights we are delighted that more and more alumni are embracing the opportunity to return to Sevenoaks or meet us at events around the world.
Read more about Old Sennockians in the Features, Spotlights and Trips & Activities sections: Old Sennockians in Technology, Founder’s Day, Johnsons in the 1940s, and Friends of Sevenoaks. You can also read articles by Peter Ford (former staff), Steph Pestell Jury (OS 2009) and Isla Stevens (OS 2014) in Features and the Music Review.
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The year began on a sporting note, with the annual rugby sevens tournament on a sunny September Saturday, organised by Alex Smith. As always, there was a great turnout, and congratulations go to the winning team captained by William Gill (OS 2006). The sporting year continued when more than 70 OS returned in May for the eighth five-a-side tournament. Although always fiercely contested, there is an overwhelming camaraderie and we applauded Team Yussuf as winners. This camaraderie was no less evident in the milestone anniversaries celebrated this year. It was a special year for the Class of 2005, returning to a warm welcome at Sevenoaks in February, and the Class of 1995 for their 20 Year Reunion in May. Drinks on the terrace of The Space were followed by a slideshow of photos from both eras which had everyone cringing and laughing in equal measure.
ALUMNI REVIEW
The highlight of the OS social calendar was the Annual OS Dinner, this year at the Grocers’ Hall, recalling the years in which William Sevenoke served as Warden of the Grocers’ Company. Paul Adams (OS 1979) gave a warm and entertaining speech about the occasionally dangerous life of a BBC World Affairs Correspondent to 120 OS and their guests, including many from the Class of 1984 who were celebrating their 30 Year Reunion.
In addition to these regular events in the OS calendar, there were a number of special occasions this year. On 11 November we remembered the nearly 1060 Old Sennockians and masters who served in the First and Second World Wars, including some 115 who died. We were honoured to welcome some OS veterans of WW2 to the unveiling of the Honours Board in their permanent place in the Johnson Library. In another unveiling, Thinking Aloud by Oliver Barratt (OS 1981) was revealed as a striking centrepiece on Claridge Lawn. The sculpture is a fitting emblem of the pursuit of an open-minded approach to thought, a freedom to explore, a confidence that your musings and ideas will be taken seriously and welcomed. We hope, then, that these are just some of the shared qualities of all OS. Katy O’Neill
View the OS events gallery using Blippar
Old Sennockians website: osonline.sevenoaksschool.org
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Old Sennockians Review Alumni in the news William Alexander (OS 1970) has been appointed High Sheriff of Kent from 2015 to 2016. A new sculpture by Sevenoaks artist and teacher Oliver Barratt (OS 1981) was unveiled in Stanley, the Falkland Islands. Professor Sir Jonathan Bate (OS 1976) received a knighthood in the New Year Honours 2015 for services to literary scholarship and higher education. Oliver Beer (OS 2004) won the Daiwa Foundation Art Prize 2015. Professor Kenneth Cheung (OS 1982) is set to become President of the Scoliosis Research Society in 2016. He will become the first non-North American to become President in its history. Adam Curtis (OS 1971) released his documentary Bitter Lake on BBC iPlayer. It sets Britain’s recent misadventures in Afghanistan in a wider context, analysing the shape-shifting nature of modern power with an experimental approach. Jon Drever (OS 1997) was executive producer of Virunga, which was nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Sir Jonathan Evans (OS 1976), former Director General of MI5, became a crossbench peer, nominated by the Prime Minister direct to Her Majesty the Queen, based on his record of public service. Robyn Exton (OS 2004) featured in the Channel 4 documentary How to be a Young Billionaire (see Features).
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Alec Frank-Gemmill (OS 2003) was announced as one of Radio 3’s 2014 New Generation Artists. Brett Goldstein (OS 1998) co-wrote and starred in the award-winning film SuperBob, which premièred at the London Comedy Film Festival. Paul Greengrass (OS 1973) was confirmed to direct the fourth Bourne film and looks set to direct George Orwell’s 1984. The fiction debut of Alex Hourston (OS 1991), In My House, was listed as one of the ‘best of the rest’ in the Guardian New Faces of Fiction 2015. Dr Eleanor Knox (OS 1999) was awarded the Cushing Prize in History and Philosophy of Physics for 2015. Chris Olley (OS 2014) was selected for the GB team at the World Cross Country Championships which took place in Guiyang, China. Go Enrol, founded by Stephen Parkes (OS 2002), was selected by the Duke of York as his Entrepreneur of the Week. Caroline Steinbeis (OS 1998) directed John Ford’s tragedy The Broken Heart at Shakespeare’s Globe. Professor Solomon Tesfaye (OS 1978) was the recipient of the Camillo Golgi Prize for outstanding contribution in the study of diabetes. Ian Walker (OS 1988) skippered Abu Dhabi Racing to victory in the nine-month Volvo Ocean Race and became a Laureus Ambassador, having made significant contributions to the sporting community during his career.
OS SPOR T
First XI (back row) vs. OS (front row)
Following some incisive bowling by Farrant and Nickols the school were then bowled out for only Sunday 21 June was the date for the eagerly 105, resulting in a win for the OS by 17 runs and awaited annual clash between the school 1st XI cricket team and the star-studded Old Sennockian XI. revenge for the defeat they suffered in 2014. Old Sennockians v 1st XI Cricket
The OS batted first with what was described by their captain Charlie Farrant as ‘the best batting line up they had ever had’. Thirty minutes later the OS were 32-7 with Haley, Hulston, Thorpe, Nickols, Kirkpatrick, Ritchie and Farrant all back in the pavilion! The OS finally managed a total of 122 all out thanks almost entirely to the superb innings of Max Wrobel who scored 71 and Josh Parker who blocked it for over half an hour for only five runs. Tristan Flint and Peter Wright shared seven wickets between them for the school.
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
Once again it was a thoroughly enjoyable day and great to meet up with the old boys. Let battle commence once again next year! OS team: K Davey, W Ellis, C Farrant, D Haley, J Hulston, A Kirkpatrick, T Nickols, J Parker, W Ritchie, M Thorpe, M Wrobel, 12th man R Harris Phil Hulston
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OS SPOR T difficult to beat. Up front, OSFC’s top scorer Will McKintosh-White just keeps on scoring, and Jamie Dunnett drives the team forward from midfield. OSFC is also a team of character, spirit and bonhomie. The boys love to play. This year’s Club Man of the Season epitomises everything that is great about a team of Old Sennockians the school is very proud of. Alex Smith
Five-a-side football The Old Sennockian annual five-a-side tournament has now run for eight years and this year’s event was as competitive and enjoyable as the previous Old Sennockian Football Club seasons. We had ten teams in the competition this OSFC’s second season in the Arthurian League year, ranging from the leavers of 2010 to the exceeded their success from last year. A settled leavers of 1994. There were two qualifying groups team that blended youth and experience won of five teams with the top two teams going Division 4 and achieved the final of the Arthurian through to the semi-final. Group A was ‘hotly Cup. This means OSFC have achieved back-to-back contested’ and was won by Matthew Yussuf’s team promotions. Not bad for a team founded two years (OS 2003) with OS 1994 James Fraser’s team ago in the Fire Station pub in Waterloo by Alistair runners-up. Group B was ‘enjoyably contested’ Perry, Mark Thompson and Alex Smith! and was won by Max Schrimpf’s team (OS 2009) OSFC plays at ‘fortress’ Barnes in West London with Will Ellis’s team (OS 2009) runners-up. with league and cup matches every Saturday The semi-finals saw James Fraser’s team and afternoon from September to April. Team captain Matthew Yussuf’s win through to the final. The Alistair Perry has done a fantastic job organising, gruelling series of matches had taken its toll on motivating and ‘formation setting’ over the last Fraser’s team who struggled to cope with Yussuf’s two years and the club’s success is to a large well-managed team who were comfortable success down to his hard work. But, as they say, winners in the end. the game is about players and there is plenty of quality amongst the OS ranks. This season’s Player It was, as always, such a pleasure to see so many of the Year was Adam White, whose calm OS at this event which has a very special feeling authority at the back meant that OSFC are always about it. Alex Smith
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Madrid Sevens 2015 The Madrid Sevens Tournament, viewed as one of the best European Tournaments, celebrated its 25th anniversary in June. The Old Sennockians’ rugby team, the Old Guard, entered two teams into the competition: the Old Guard and The Cavalry. The event was played in Spain’s national rugby stadium in Madrid and teams from all over Spain and Europe competed in this prestigious tournament. The Old Guard consisted of 22 OS players, ranging from this year’s current leavers to the leavers of 2005. Both teams competed extremely well against some very high quality opposition.
The Old Guard started slowly but came back with two excellent wins against Majadahonda RFC and CAU RFC. In their last game against La Choine RFC they lost in the last minute of the final of the Bronze competition. The Cavalry fought valiantly in every game they played, the high point being scoring a try against the Spanish National Sevens champions. Tour Manager Andrew Smith (OS 2006) did a fantastic job putting the tour together and including so many OS in the event. It was also great to see Peter Hill who is retiring this year after 37 years as a coach. Alex Smith Squad: F Bond, S Boughton, J Corneille, J Faddoul, A Gill, S Hill, E Kevis, A Lynne, A McGuire, A Newman, M Newman, J Petit, N Potter, A Ratcliffe, C Roche, J Roche, A Smith, L Upton, H Walker, R Weeks Coaches: Peter Hill and Alex Smith
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Sevenoaks School during the First World War
In November the school rededicated its First and Second World War Honour Boards. Among the names of the dead is that of Old Sennockian George Heslop, son of another George Heslop, our Headmaster 1898-1919. George Heslop had been Headmaster of Sevenoaks School for 16 years when war broke out in August 1914. Among the boys he was a popular teacher, known as the ‘Old Man’. One pupil, EJ King-Farlow (OS 1908), described him as ‘quite a stern disciplinarian but he had a very keen sense of humour and was absolutely just’. He had arrived from Sandbach School, Cheshire in 1898 with his wife, Gertrude, three daughters, Gertrude, Evelyn and Faith, and his only son, George. In 1904, six-year-old George junior began lessons in his father’s school; his time here was only preparatory and in 1910 he entered Lancing College, Sussex. There he excelled at sport and
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according to Wisden was ‘the most promising young all-rounder who had yet to appear in a first-class match’. However, when war broke out in the summer that he left school, he enlisted in the Public Schools’ Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment instead of taking up his place at Cambridge. Rapidly promoted to Captain by May 1915 he first saw action on the Western Front in November of that year. While the younger Heslop was on the battlefields, his father remained in Sevenoaks. There the effect on the Home Front was felt gradually, but by 1915 there was the real threat of external attack from Zeppelin raids, and food shortages were
commonplace. Leslie White (OS 1918), in a letter to his mother, observed that ‘the porridge itself is very nice but as they cannot get any other they put black sugar on it which rather spoils the taste... ‘. The boys remained well-fed, however. Norman Prince (OS 1918) noted that they received ‘three helpings of meat when the rest of the country was going short’. One of the most immediate effects on the school had been the loss of the entire (all-male) teaching staff as they enlisted, even though teaching was a reserved occupation. Only two masters remained, one of whom, Mr French, was remembered by Norman Prince as ‘a very ill man’. They had to be supplemented by Heslop’s two unmarried daughters, Faith and Evelyn, joined in 1916 by a Mrs Collier who taught History. The headmaster’s eldest daughter, Gertrude, was already serving as a nurse in France. The war was never far away: the Last Post and Reveille sounded daily by the fountain at the top of the High Street; soldiers en route to the continent were encamped in Knole Park, Solefields and Bligh’s Meadow; the distant sound of big guns on the Front reached the town on still summer evenings. Over 300 Old Sennockians fought in the war with around 40 being killed. It would be hard to imagine that the pupils would not have been affected by the news of losses (both personal and of alumni) which reached the school regularly. However, the records documenting their lives in this period reveal that they were sheltered from the reality of the atrocities, some even finding the notion of war adventurous.
parent, ‘The War is very cruel. By our post yesterday I heard of the deaths of two more old boys. We schoolmasters have suffered. For though our boys are not of our blood they become very dear to us and something more than friends.’ It was an experience suffered by the majority of public school masters at the time, but Heslop had already suffered a more personal loss. On 6 July 1916 a telegraph from the War Office informed the headmaster of the death of his son George on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Heslop’s statement on the loss is poignant in its simplicity. ‘My boy was killed on the 1st July in the ‘The news on the Western Front seems jolly first ten minutes of the great push. There is nothing exciting doesn’t it?’ wrote Leslie White in March to say. He had a duty to do and it was done,’ he 1917. ‘Miss Heslop usually shows us the news and wrote to a parent. George junior had been leading explains where all the captured towns are a company of men towards the enemy lines at situated…several of our old boys have won the Beaumont-Hamel ‘not minding the shells and military cross [so] there is an extra half-holiday bullets’, according to one of his battalion, when he this afternoon.’ was hit by enemy fire. His comrade Sergeant However, the headmaster was beginning to feel the Valentine remembered that he ‘went down without strain of seeing so many of his former pupils killed a cry and remained absolutely still’. He was 21 or wounded. In September 1917 Heslop wrote to a years old. SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
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Further discomfort hit the family when it took another nine months before George’s body was found and buried: ‘I have just had a letter from the front giving me a full account of the finding and burial of my boy,’ wrote Heslop. ‘That ends long weary months of waiting and suspense.’ The effect of this family tragedy upon the school was disastrous. Numbers were already dropping as Sevenoaks suffered from the effects of poor teaching, physical privations and disrupted routine. George’s death broke his father’s spirit and health and by Michaelmas 1918 Heslop was no longer able to take lessons. His successor, Geoffrey Garrod, recalled that on his arrival in 1919 ‘the school had practically collapsed’. Heslop retired in April 1919; he lived another 18 years with what NC Stenning (OS 1903) described
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as an ‘inconsolable sorrow…the loss in that war, of his only son, of whom he had such ambitious hopes’. Of his daughters, members of the generation of ‘Surplus Women’, two remained unmarried but had careers as a teacher and secretary in the civil service respectively. Evelyn married, but on her marriage certificate the Registrar ignored her wartime role and left the field of ‘profession’ blank. George Heslop (Junior) is remembered on the Sevenoaks School Honour Board, the war memorials in Lancing College and Trinity College, Cambridge and on a simple plaque in St Nicholas’ Church, Sevenoaks: Pro Patria Pro Deo. He is buried at Hawthorn Ridge Cemetery No 1, Auchonvillers. Sally Robbins
Marriages and Deaths Marriages
Deaths
Gemma Baggott (Plender 97) married Kobie van der Westhuizen on 28 February 2015
Victoria (Tiggy) Arconian (Sackville 96) died 28 April 2015
Mark Bell (IC 95) married Whitney Carper on 22 November 2014 Nick Booth (Fryth 82) married Marko Lovrekovic on 29 August 2014 Olivia de Rougemont (2000) married Daniel Crowe on 27 June 2015 Catherine McGarey (Sennocke 2000) married Edward Blake on 13 September 2014 Joseph Munn-Mace (IC 01) married Ning Ma on 10 April 2015
Charles Ayres (Grote 47) died 1 December 2014 Barre Beardmore (Wordsworth 40) died 16 October 2014 John Carrie (Johnsons 50) died 5 October 2014 Graham Davie (Hardinge 52) died 7 May 2015 David (Peter) Davies (Grote 53) died 24 February 2015 Howard Dorey (Wordsworth 49) died 7 January 2015 Simon Evans (former staff 89) died in January 2014 John Guntrip (Fenton 47) died 1 August 2014 John Hogbin (Grote 53) died 10 September 2014 John Malcolm Jaynes (School House 42) died 16 October 2014 David King (Hardinge 49) died 24 May 2015 Donald King (Hardinge 43) died 8 January 2015 Ann Lloyd (former staff 98) died 9 February 2015 Richard Morris (School House 41) died 23 December 2014 John Quinn (School House 51) died 2 April 2014 Kim Stanley Robert Taylor (Johnsons 35) died 25 November 2014 Brian Thompson (Hardinge 48) died 17 October 2014 Guy Wilson (Johnsons 54) died 14 October 2014
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Obituaries to know Dave well will be saddened to hear of his David Peter Davies, known as Peter, died suddenly demise. His son Michael sent me a record of his life ‘Reflection on a Life’ which will be available for all on Tuesday 24 February, at Morriston Hospital, to see at our future reunions. David King died in Swansea. Peter, of Maesycoed, formerly of May 2015 aged 83 and is missed by his friends, Ystlysycoed, Pontarddulais, was the beloved children and grandchildren. husband of Mary, devoted father of Mark, Sian, and her partner John, dear Grandpa of Lloyd, and Clive Hutchinson fond brother of Michael. A family funeral service was held on Wednesday 11 March, in Llanelli. He Donald King 1925-2015 joined Sevenoaks School in 1947 as a day student, An obituary for Donald Charles King (Hardinge leaving in 1952, and pursued a career in farming. 43), older brother of David King, was published Mark Davies in The Scotsman, 4 February 2015. ‘Obituary: Donald Charles King, teacher and Assynt crofter’ is available online at: www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries. David King 1931-2015 David (Peter) Davies 1935-2014
David Frank King – Dave to all his friends – joined Sevenoaks School from Sevenoaks Prep in 1943. He was the younger brother of fellow Sennockians Donald (died January 2015) and Roger (died 2002). Dave was described by his son as ‘a tenacious Latin crammer’ who excelled at cross country, was a good winger for the 1st XV and a member of the school air training corps, and bred silkworms for a hobby. He left Sevenoaks in 1950 and was conscripted to the RAF, taking an interest in studying Radar. He subsequently began lab work and studies at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, going on to work as an entomologist and enjoying a career which took him across the world. He married Sheila in 1955 and they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year. Although in Hardinge, Dave was made an Honorary Johnsonian and will be missed by all those who knew him. His help in tracing many Old Johnsonians and assistance with Barry Daw (Grote) in formulating the West Country reunions was much appreciated. As the Old Johnsonians Founder Member I recall the information received for many of the Old Johnsonian Newsletters was of great interest and much appreciated. I do not believe Dave and Sheila missed one of our reunions and I feel sure our group who had come
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John Quinn 1933-2014 John was born in Sialkot (formerly India but now Pakistan) on 13 January 1933, the only child of Major William Martin Quinn MC, RA. He was at Sevenoaks School (School House) from May 1944 until March 1951, a time of his life he never forgot, especially as Captain of Rugby, and a champion high jumper. He joined the Air Training Corps and was made a Flight Sergeant, which enabled him ‘to order the others about’. His lifelong love of amateur dramatics also began at Sevenoaks under the leadership of the Headmaster’s wife Mollie Higgs-Walker and Mr Carol Forder. He was in several school plays including The Miser, She Stoops to Conquer and The Pirates of Penzance (in the ladies’ chorus!). John had always wanted to follow his father into the Army and left Sevenoaks in March 1951 having passed the Civil Service Commissioners Entrance Exam which gave him entry to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in February 1953 and his military career, which lasted until he resigned his commission in 1970, included regimental and staff appointments in the UK, Germany and Hong Kong. Among these he was Adjutant of 5 Field
Regiment, Royal Artillery in Hong Kong, GSO3, MI2 in the War Office in London, and attended the RAF Staff College, Bracknell.
Brian Thompson 1930-2014
Brian Dennis Thompson joined Sevenoaks School in 1942 as a day boy. Placed first in Wordsworth and then in Hardinge, he was House monitor, In April 1974 John joined the Sultan’s Armed received his XXX Rugby Cap as a member of the Forces in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman on contract where he worked in the Headquarters as DAQMG 1st XV and was awarded the HD Knight prize several times for his essays on ornithology. He left and GSO1 (in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel). In February 1979 he transferred to the Oman Research the school in 1946. My father helped him get a job in the early days, but by the 1950s he had become Department as Controller Administration and a farmer, moving to Brattle Farm, a wonderful old Assistant Director General Support until he left timbered building in Staplehurst, Kent, boasting a Oman in April 1985. moat which still had fish in it. One of the highlights of John’s years in Oman was With his wife, Anita, Brian built up a museum at in August 1980, when, as a former Captain of Brattle Farm housing a huge collection of vintage Rugby at Sevenoaks, he refereed a game of rugby agricultural machinery and farming memorabilia on the all-sand pitch in Muscat between the visiting Sevenoaks School rugby team and the local including rare antique tractors. Alongside this, team. One cheeky Sevenoaks boy approached John and still farming, he started a business restoring vintage cars. He was a founder member of a and said, ‘I believe that this is your last game as local historic vehicle association and drove as a Referee, Mr Quinn, and that you are hanging up chauffeur of a Rolls Royce for weddings. your boots. It doesn’t look to me as if you need boots for this pitch – looks more like a sand dune.’ I remember taking my son to the museum on a few occasions. One day we stopped for a tea break John’s reply was equally succinct: ‘You’ll need and Brian opened the Aga door to reveal two baby your boots alright. Remember where you are and pigs being kept warm. Pigs were big business, but who has the whistle in his hand!’ Silence! But the things change! My son grew up to become a visit was a great success and the Sevenoaks boys museum director, so has Brian to thank for that had a wonderful afternoon beside the Quinns’ early influence. swimming pool, managing to break the diving board in their enthusiasm! Clive Evans (OS 1949) and Sally Robbins From 1990 onwards John and his wife Suzie lived very happily together in Poulshot, Wiltshire, where they both played a very active part in village life. On his retirement John achieved a lifelong ambition by taking an Open University degree and was awarded a First Class BA Honours in Humanities with History. He died peacefully on 2 April 2014 and is greatly missed by his wife Suzie, his children Tessa and Robin, and his grandchildren Ruari and Caiti. Suzie Quinn
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News from Home and Abroad 1940-49
1960-69
David Easton (School House 47)
Ian Brinton (Fryth 68; Head of English 88-91)
David, a retired civil engineering construction manager, has devoted the last year to discussions around the electricity supply crisis in South Africa. Having started work at age 17 and a half at a new Croydon Power Station, and using his long experience, David has suggested that South Africa needs a special new power plant. He writes, ‘We are having power cuts every day and the government invited ideas, so I took up the challenge. Anyone interested can contact me for the technical details, but with many renewable energy plants powered by our extreme sun in desert areas, and from windfarms of course, there is a need for the storage of any surplus energy. The means to do this is by the storage of water on mountains; having pumped the water up during the night it is released during the day, to generate electricity. Many letters have been written; presentations prepared, and successful articles published in the main newspapers. My plans are possibly going to be acted upon, which will be a culmination of many years in the construction field, trying to raise the standards of living for millions of fellow beings in this part of Africa.’
My translation of selected poems by Francis Ponge has just been published by Oystercatcher Press and my edition of Free Verse as Formal Restraint by Andrew Crozier is about to appear from Shearsman Press. I continue to co-edit two literary magazines and am on the committee of three who have been setting up a modern poetry archive at the University Library in Cambridge. I am currently working on a history of post-1950 poets and poetry of Dulwich College.
Simon Fradd (Hardinge 68)
I retired on 30 June 2014 and immediately set off travelling: Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Cuba and a 115-day circumnavigation of South America on a truck. I finished in May with a week in the Galapagos.
Peter Sherrard (School House 48)
The highlight of 2014 was meeting up with my school aero-modeller friend, Sydney Baker (School House 46) after 67 years. We were put in touch with each other courtesy of the OS News. Sydney and his wife Janet were visiting the UK and had rented a cottage in the Cotswolds, so we flew down from Scotland for a reunion. We had both followed careers in aviation; Sydney with Vickers Armstrong and Boeing and I stayed with Rolls-Royce. We will be leaving Scotland after 49 years to live in a retirement village near to our family in Bath; currently in the throes of clearing our house. A shocking experience!
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Ranavir Bose (Park Grange 69) The OS Summer Drinks was a once-in-a-lifetime experience worth waiting four decades for. That I could share this unique moment with a close friend of mine from my PG years, Sean Rawnsley (Park Grange 69) and my wife made it even more precious. Sean was accompanied by his beautiful daughter Emma and to our mutual surprise, neither of us had any difficulty whatsoever in recognising each other. As we still had a few hours to kill before drinks at the Lamb Tavern that evening, the four of us decided on a boat trip on the Thames. A couple of days earlier, my wife and I had visited the school and met the aristocratic Alex Smith (above), who took the trouble and time to show us around the school which brought back
a flood of childhood memories. The get-together at The Lamb Tavern was truly enjoyable as my wife and I got the opportunity to meet the extremely cordial Head Katy Ricks and her husband, and some of the other equally amicable members of the Sevenoaks fraternity like Michael Joyce, Paul Harrison and Katy O’Neill. These splendid memories are still etched in our minds. Thank you Sevenoaks, we hope to meet again soon! 1970-1979
John Mayes (Caxton 71)
Colin Kitchener (Hardinge 70) and I formed a band at Sevenoaks School under a number of different names – usually defaulting to Pig Rider – which was one of the comic highlights of school concerts at the end of the 60s and beginning of the 70s.
Homicidal Cabbage’ and ‘Busted Bedspring Country Honk’) which were performed there. The latter’s name reflected the fact that we were told by Richard Hames, who ended up dancing on the stage during the song’s encore, that anything performed in the Spring Song concert had to be about spring... (that was also why we performed that day as Bob Scratch and his Country and South Eastern Spring Blues Band!) And no, we aren’t reforming the band or going back on the road. We were terrible then, we’d be even worse now.
Matthew Diebel (Caxton 74)
Matthew moved in May 2014 to USA TODAY, America’s largest newspaper. As Senior Editor, he is working to improve headlining and other presentational aspects, both in the paper and online, as well as writing and story editing. The job involves some travel between New York City, At least 20 OS played in the band either at school where he is based, and the suburbs of Washington events, or at university, in pubs or in folk clubs DC, where the owner of USA TODAY, Gannett, is over the next 15 years. We also did a lot of home headquartered. He also helps with presentation at recording during this period, with Colin and I Gannett’s chain of local papers. Meanwhile his carrying on the hobby well into the 21st century. wife, Barbara Zakin, started a new job in early 2015 Our music ranged from heavy rock, to simple as executive director of Rodeph Shalom, a large ballads, with bits of folk, occasional country and synagogue on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. western pastiches, a few sea shanties as well as some prog rock and electronic stuff; the only thing Their children, Lydia (16) and George (14) are hard all our songs have in common is some very strange at work (sometimes) at Hunter College High School, near their home on the Upper East Side. words. We used to say we went from joke folk to Please feel free to get in touch via OS Online. mock rock! Remarkably, in the last couple of years a flattering review of an acetate copy of one of our early recordings appeared in an encyclopaedic music guide. Although we weren’t aware of the fact, this sparked an interest in our music; out of the blue we were contacted both by collectors and, quite incredibly, a record company. As a result (and from our point of view around 40 years too late) Pig Rider had a number of their 70s and 80s recordings reissued in May and July 2015, both on vinyl and CD on the Guerssen label. The albums – The Robinson Scratch Theory, Heterophonies and Bloody Turkey Sandwiches – are also available to download from Apple, Amazon etc.
Gethin Roberts (Sackville 74) Pride was released in September 2014. I was one of the original members of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners and the film is based on the true story of our support for a mining community in South Wales in 1984/5. The main character, Gethin, played by Andrew Scott, is loosely based on me. I also appear briefly in the film as an extra in the closing scenes.
Among the 50+ songs featured on the albums are a number which were written in the practice rooms of the Aisher Hall, and two (‘The Waltz of the
The group has reformed as LGSM 2014 in order to use the interest in the film to try to reinject some politics into the LGBT community, to support trade unionists in current struggles and to raise funds for various projects including a project in Manisa, Turkey, that provides support and employment for women who lost husbands, sons or fathers in the Soma mining disaster last May.
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News from Home and Abroad The film has attracted extraordinary interest since its release, and we have had all sorts of opportunities to talk about the real-life events and our current activities. I introduced the film at the Istanbul film festival, was present at the Polish premiere in Warsaw, and attended a trade union conference in Mexico City where we screened the film for trade unionists from North, Central and Latin America and met with young LGBT activists.
Amir Abidi (IC 78) Tony Andoh-Korsah (IC) and I left the school in 1978 and didn’t meet again until two years ago. Just wanted to share the fact that I’ve met up with Tony a few times now since that first reunion and it feels like we had never been apart! It’s great catching up and learning about some of our friends from the IC.
1980-1989
Peter Donia (Johnsons 80)
Peter has moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and is still working in international healthcare markets.
Tom McLeish (Fenton 80)
Three pieces of news: Julie, my eldest daughter, is getting married in August! OUP published my book Faith and Wisdom in Science which is now already into its third reprint. And finally, I’ve also just accepted an invitation to chair the Royal Society’s Education Committee now that my term as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Durham University is over, although I’m still there as a Professor of Physics.
Iain Neilson (School House 81) After Sevenoaks, I wanted to study Medicine, but had done well only in languages, so took the line of least resistance: I took a year out, half of it in Germany, and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages (German and Russian 2:1 with distinctions for oral proficiency), at the Polytechnic of Central London (now University of Westminster), which led to a career in medical sales, covering Central and Eastern Europe. Having decided on a career change, I am now
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finishing my Bachelor of Science degree in Diagnostic Radiography, at Canterbury Christ Church University, with a view to working in the NHS. The decision to embark on another undergraduate course, exactly 30 years after starting my first degree, was daunting, but I do not regret it. My daughter, meanwhile, is currently studying for her Master of Science degree in Medicine at Newcastle University, and my son is in his second year at Harper Adams University, studying Animal Management and Animal Behaviour. My thanks to my poor wife, who has put up with hardship for the past few years and supported all three of us through university.
Martin Whybrow (Groves 81)
Martin Whybrow stood as the Green Party candidate for Folkestone & Hythe in Kent in the May 2015 General Election. Prior to this, in May 2013, he was elected as the first ever Green Party member on Kent County Council (KCC), where he now resides as a lone Green voice alongside 83 other councillors. He represents Hythe on KCC and still tries to juggle this with his day job as a journalist at his publishing company, IBS Publishing Limited.
Poo Sing Wong (IC 81)
I read Medicine at the University of London and became a Cardiothoracic Surgeon. I am now full time in private practice in Singapore. My son, Howard, joined IC in 2013 and sat his IB exams this year. I enjoyed Leavers’ Day on Saturday 23 May 2015, especially as I can’t remember attending it in 1981, 34 years ago!
Nick Booth (Fryth 82) At the time of writing, Nick is upgrading his civil partnership with Marko Lovrekovic to a full-blown marriage in Brighton on 29 August. In the meantime he’s still based in Bangkok, Thailand, advising the UN Development Programme on conflict prevention, access to justice and human rights in the Asia-Pacific region.
James Cornwell (Caxton 82) To celebrate turning 50, James cycled 1000 miles in nine days from London to Barcelona to prove to himself and the world that it was just a number… and raised £5k for charity to boot.
Patrick Muirhead (Boswell 87) Patrick left a career as a BBC Radio 4 and ITV regional newsreader, opened a country menswear shop in West Sussex then retrained as a commercial helicopter pilot. He now lives with his civil partner in Antigua, West Indies. His day job entails flying tourists around and between the Leeward Islands. At night he still accepts occasional freelance feature writing commissions from The Times and Sunday Telegraph. Mark Whaymand (Wordsworth 88)
Emma Slade (GIH 84) I was lucky enough to visit Bhutan for the 14th time in February, visiting obscure rural parts of the country which are definitely off the beaten track. Inspired to help relieve the poverty and support children in these areas, I am setting up a charity, Opening Your Heart to Bhutan (www.openingyourhearttobhutan.com). It’s a big job starting a charity and working out the logistics of helping in such tucked-away parts of the low Himalayas but I am determined! Anyone interested to know more can contact me via the Development Office. Mark Green (Groves 86) After almost 20 years commuting to London I have finally started a new job in Kent based in Goudhurst. I am a Chartered Surveyor and have joined a small family property company. I will be responsible for property and asset management of retail, office, leisure and residential properties all across the country. I am hoping that working locally will allow me more time with my four children, the oldest of whom has started his journey towards GCSEs. I am also very involved in the church we helped to set up ten years ago.
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After 25+ years of working as a buyer for Habitat, Selfridges and the Fenwick group, and more recently as Senior Buyer for där lighting, I am currently managing my own boutique B&B (chambre d’hôte) called Maison Belmont in the Tarn-et-Garonne department of South West France with my husband Paul. We opened in August – it is certainly a different life to living in London!
Gavin Palmer (School House 89) I continue to work in Corporate Governance. I faced down the Chairman of RBS Sir Phillip Hampton for the third time at an AGM. This time I held him responsible for failing to keep his promise two years ago to investigate bad sections. I required him to investigate or resign and told him how. He investigated and resigned.
1990-1999
Stephen Hale (IC 90) I recently left my role as Deputy Campaign Director of Oxfam International and am now Chief Executive of UK charity Refugee Action. Matt Humphrey (IC 97)
Matt is a photographer and has started a company, Curtain Call Ltd, that is set to make a big impact on the theatre industry when they launch their interactive networking platform, populated by exclusive backstage photography and intimate interviews. Curtain Call is currently crowd funding through Seedrs. For more information visit curtaincallonline.com
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News from Home and Abroad Marco Previero (IC 90)
My recent news relates to a life-changing experience, and more specifically to my daughter Millie’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. Millie was seven when, in 2013, she was diagnosed with cancer in the shape of a rare and malignant brain tumour after losing her eyesight almost overnight. Over the course of the seven months that followed, Millie underwent three brain operations, four months of aggressive chemotherapy and proton beam radiotherapy 4000 miles away from home. Right from the start, I decided to keep a diary that could be shared with Millie if she survived. Dear Millie is that book, and is now out and available on Amazon (and doing adequately well). It has been written in support, and with the blessing, of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity where all net proceeds will go (and the content approved by Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Proton Beam Centre in the USA where Millie received state-of-the-art radiotherapy). Two years on, Millie is doing well. She is back at school in Kent, along with her sister Ellie and brother Luca. She has regained much of her vision and continues to be in complete remission with tangible hopes for a positive long-term outcome.
Alex Hourston née Harris (Sackville 91) My novel, In My House, was published by Faber on 21 May 2015. Lotta Liddell née Hagstrom (GIH 91) Living back in Auckland, New Zealand after our stint in Vietnam and loving it. Our eldest son Oliver is now in his second year at primary school, and Jonathan joined him at primary school this year. I am hoping for some part-time work back in environmental engineering.
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David Tradewell (Johnsons 91) David is now Senior Vice President of Econsultancy in the USA and lives in Brooklyn, New York. When he’s not helping companies with digital transformation, David is still playing the guitar and messing around with vintage valve audio. His big news is that he and his wife Kate have recently become parents. William Henry St John Tradewell was born at St Luke’s Roosevelt in New York in August last year. Mark Bell (IC 95)
Mark Bell married Whitney Carper on 22 November 2014 in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Matthew Davies (also IC 95) made the trip from England to attend the ceremony. Mark is the Director of Advancement at Aspen Country Day School and lives with his wife just outside of Aspen, Colorado.
Tiffany Oatway née Butterworth (Elizabeth 95)
Despite acquiring physical difficulties and health issues as a result of my time in the Royal Navy, I have dedicated the past two years to understanding my limitations better and keeping myself occupied (sane!). My most recent project was saving a historical property in the USA from demolition: with my imagination and my husband Fred’s tireless building skills, we now have a beautiful second home in warmer climes and hope to spend much more time there.
Alice Brooking (Caxton 97) Alice returns after two years in Hong Kong to start teaching at Eton College in September 2015. Patricia de Vries (Sennocke 97) Patricia and Gregor Wright welcomed a daughter, Emer, to their family in October 2014. Big brother Bran was delighted and presented her with a JCB toy.
Chi Lim (IC 97) Chi Lim has been appointed as a full Professor at the University of Technology, Sydney. He is now also a celebrity doctor among the Sydney Chinese circle and hosts various radio and TV medical programmes on a voluntary basis in the Chinese media of Australia. He continues to practise as a specialist medical practitioner in Sydney, and participate in academic and clinical research.
2000-2009
Olivia de Rougemont (2000) I have moved to London and am working as a GP in Bermondsey. I married Daniel Crowe, who is a credit researcher, in June in France. Chris Leithead (Johnsons 01) In April 2014, after six years managing teams for Microsoft UK within Digital Advertising, I relocated to the HQ in Seattle, Washington USA with my wife (Kathryn), daughter (Yasmin, 7) and son (Joshua, 2). Now happily settled, we have enjoyed spending our free time exploring the Pacific Northwest and are looking forward to expanding to explore the rest of the North American continent over time. Coincidentally, working here for the same company and in the same offices is another OS (James Comer, Johnsons 02), so we can have our own mini OS reunions!
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Faith McKellow née Riding (01) Faith is delighted to announce the birth of her son Walter Alfie, born on 19 October 2014. Stuart McFarlane (02) I recently returned from a leadership expedition to Antarctica, where I spent two weeks being led by the first man to walk to both poles, Robert Swan OBE, as part of his organisation, 2041. William Spiller (05)
I’m happy to announce that I’ve passed my finals and will be qualifying as a doctor this year (my degree is an MBBS from the Imperial College School of Medicine).
Lucy Isabelle Draper (06)
I got engaged to Nicholas Impey on Saturday 14 March. We met in Freshers’ Week at Durham University and have been together ever since.
Rachel Ryves (Park Grange 07)
I am working as a Senior Research Assistant with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. I have just been awarded a studentship with the National School of Primary Care Research to work on a PhD exploring the behaviours and attitudes towards treatment and management strategies of people with depression in Primary Care. I am looking forward to the challenge and hope this is the first major step in becoming an academic researcher.
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Claire Berment
John Burger
Claire Berment
John Burger
Having studied English in Paris, Claire went on to complete her PGCE at Oxford and came to Sevenoaks in 2011 as a newly qualified French teacher. Fresh-faced but wise beyond her years, her unassuming and humble nature belies an industrious devotion to her work. Her lessons are meticulously prepared and her students know that she is always available to them. Having taught from Year 7 through to the bilingual Upper Sixth classes, Claire has contributed enormously to the work of the department. French teachers have benefited from her warmth and generosity and she is often at the heart of a debate on the latest idiomatic expression or question of grammatical finesse.
Some people say there are not many characters left in teaching – well there is one fewer left now. The bustling way John Burger the Maths teacher hurries around the campus and strides up and down the stairs of Old School will be missed by the pupils and staff alike.
Claire possesses an innate kindness and is endlessly patient and caring, yet behind this aura of calm there is a boundless sense of fun. As a resident boarding tutor in Park Grange, Claire has enjoyed celebrity status amongst her Year 9 tutees who speak of her with great affection. She volunteered at Valence School where once a week she took a group of Sevenoaks students to help run Boccia training, a sport she affectionately compared to pétanque. Committed to ensuring the experience of her students was as rich and authentic as possible, Claire accompanied a study and service trip to Russia and several trips to Lyon. She also twice ran the successful Lower Sixth Brussels Exchange. We shall greatly miss Claire’s spring-heeled enthusiasm and joie de vivre as she bounces into the Languages staff room each morning with a tuneful ‘Bonjour’ and a smile for everyone. Nevertheless, I am sure that the dulcet tones of her beautiful French will lull her new department into contemplative cooperation. We wish her every success in her new role as Head of French at Bromsgrove School in September. Alannah Russell
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John is one of those rare individuals who see the patterns of numbers, letters, shapes and sequences of mathematics with a clarity and understanding that very few of us can. He must have been something of a prodigy when he left Latymer Upper School as a student and went on to read Mathematics at Cambridge University. John joined Sevenoaks as a Maths teacher in 1997. Having previously been at St Dunstan’s College, he had taken time out to sail out around the world. He is someone who certainly left a mark on Sevenoaks through his teaching, tutoring in the IC and coaching football. John was very much responsible for making girls football an important sport at Sevenoaks and it continues to flourish. There is a certain ‘ring’ to the way pupils say ‘Mr Burger’ when they talk about him. He is interesting, funny, clever and unpredictable which makes him very popular amongst his classes. He confesses that whilst his ability in Maths has got a little worse in recent years, his teaching has actually got better. Many of us will remember John as a bit of a ‘rabble-rouser’. Fiercely passionate about what he thinks to be right and just, he was never afraid to speak out on issues that he felt were important. John did not just put his head above the parapet – he stood on top of it to make his point. John Burger really is a character. We wish him a fulfilling retirement. Alex Smith
As BHM of the Girls’ International House she was unbelievably supportive to all her team. From the most serious problem to the most inconvenient, she always provided a solution. The powerful chord she struck with the girls in her care was most clearly illustrated by the book of comments she received from them only a few years ago, and she is still in touch with many Old Sennockians from GIH. Those same caring and supportive qualities came to the fore in her work as Head of Spanish to such an extent that she found it difficult to say anything negative to anyone in the department. She was prepared to do whatever it took to ensure its smooth running, be it covering for a colleague, taking on an extra duty or being the last to leave. She was similarly hard-working and committed in everything she did as Sixth Form Divisional Head, using to very good effect her wealth of experience and knowledge of the school.
Ruth Greenhalgh Few colleagues on departure leave as big a gap as Ruth. Hardworking, efficient and intelligent, she is loyal, fair, and unassuming in all she takes on. If anyone ever disagreed with her ways, she was exceptional in the intelligent and elegant way she dealt with criticism, whilst always remaining true to her main concern, that of the well-being of the pupils. Daughter of an Irish Ambassador, Ruth studied Spanish, French and Portuguese at University College Dublin. She met Chris in Athens and they came to teach at Sevenoaks in 1993. Ruth was appointed Housemistress of GIH in 1997, and went on to be Head of Boarding, Head of Spanish, Head of Modern Languages, Sixth Form Divisional Head, a member of SMT and Director of Higher Education from 2011-15. It is one of her most marked qualities that, without ever seeking promotion for promotion’s sake, she has been able seamlessly to assimilate new and ever bigger responsibilities. Her objective was always to be of real use.
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As Director of Higher Education, Ruth has exemplified qualities of frankness and utter professionalism. Blessed with a razor-sharp mind, Ruth is an inspirational leader who transforms every department with which she is involved. The students love Ruth, and they know that with her they are in safe and competent hands. Utterly resilient, uncomplaining, hardworking and kind, Ruth embodies the drive, the energy and personal strength that are the envy of all who know her well. Perhaps most striking of all is her brave way of facing difficulties. We will miss her generosity, sincerity, honesty and guilelessness. To all those privileged to work with Ruth, she has offered true friendship in addition to the professional qualities of a colleague. We offer her our sincerest thanks and gratitude for her unparalleled contribution to Sevenoaks and we wish her and her family well in Milan. Celia Duran-Oreiro and Marta Ochoa
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Peter Hill Peter Hill leaves Sevenoaks this year after 39 years and, quite simply, the school will not be the same without him. A talented sportsman himself, he has passed on his skills, drive and enthusiasm to thousands of students over the years. During his time at Sevenoaks he was in charge of athletics, swimming, cross country, girls’ gymnastics, football and squash. He led the PE department as Director of Sport, was the coordinator and mentor for Sport Scholars and, most recently, was Head of Boys Games. He was also involved in sports administration outside the school: he was Sevenoaks District Council sports administrator, organised the Kent Festival of Sport, was the Kent Basketball Association schools liaison officer and organised the South East Run the World event for Sports Aid, which involved thousands of runners. Until relatively recently Peter also taught Geography and in the 1980s was involved in setting up the Geography department’s first overseas field trip.
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With a father in the Services, Peter was drawn towards the CCF and rose up the ranks over 30 years, leading the Army Section and then the Navy Section. He loves all CCF activities, from trips down to Portsmouth with dinner in the Officers’ Mess to teaching the students sailing at Chipstead and training his team for the Gun Run. As with everything else he does, his enthusiasm is for teaching and passing on the skills that he has to the students. After 39 years at the school some of the statistics about Peter are pretty impressive – he led over 70 ski trips, was a tutor to hundreds of students and taught thousands of pupils Sport and Geography. He was an inspiring teacher, a great leader and a caring colleague. He has hundreds of stories about the school, does a great Tommy Cooper impression and is simply great fun to be with. Peter will be sorely missed at Sevenoaks and it is probably safe to say that his like will not be seen again. We wish him every happiness in what is likely to be a very active retirement. Steve Owen
Shari Levine
Dominic Mott
Shari Levine
Dominic Mott
Shari joined the Mathematics department in the September of 2012 whilst still in the midst of completing her studies for her PhD from Oxford. She quickly threw herself into life at Sevenoaks, and her effervescent and bubbly personality was immediately apparent. Shari brought a certain kind of humour to her lessons and made strong connections with many students under her guidance; it was the first time I have seen high fives being given in Mathematics lessons. Having taught across the age and ability ranges Shari was keen to continue to develop her teaching, undertaking her PGCE this year. This included a stint at Knole Academy, a time she will remember fondly.
Given the vast contribution Dominic has made in a bewildering variety of areas, it is scarcely credible that he has only been here for seven years. After reading Spanish and German at Cambridge and teaching briefly at Highgate, he joined us as Head of Spanish in September 2008. His linguistic talent, charisma and self-deprecating charm won over his new colleagues quickly, as did his dedicated professionalism and nuanced but firm leadership style: no less than one would expect from a Sandhurst-trained officer!
Amongst other things, Shari has been a brilliant and dedicated member of the SCR Committee. She is extremely outgoing and performed the role of social secretary in her own distinct way, organising many events including pot-luck dinners, two ceilidhs, drinks events, and the largest Christmas Party we’ve ever had. Shari is tremendous fun, extremely charismatic and is passionate about many things, never afraid to share her views and stick up for what she believes in. While we hope we have educated Shari in some British mannerisms she has most certainly educated us in the ways of a New Yorker. Her humour has lifted us all on many cold winter days. Shari will be missed as a Middle School tutor, as lead contributor to Improv Society and in her role as the organiser of the Pride group. She has championed this group and given pupils a voice where otherwise they would not be heard. Shari has been a fantastic colleague and had a real impact on the lives of the students. She will be greatly missed. Guy Howden
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Dominic will be remembered by pupils as a dedicated, dynamic and inspirational teacher, and by colleagues as a fair, thoughtful and insightful mentor whose door is always open, no matter how busy he is. He rose to Head of the Languages Faculty, having also been elected Chair of Common Room, a sign of the esteem in which he is held. He gave his time generously to support staff behind the scenes, promoting cohesion and harmony. Always keen to broaden his horizons, he has led or accompanied nearly 20 school trips abroad. Closer to home, he has made a huge contribution to sport and CCF, while also finding time for staff football, squash, cricket and golf. His passion for taking care of pupils and colleagues is only perhaps exceeded by his passion for wine, and his annual wine tastings have achieved legendary status! But what we will miss the most is someone who has been a kind, supportive and unswervingly loyal friend to so many of us. It comes as no surprise that Hurstpierpoint have asked Dominic to become their Head of Senior School next year. Our sadness at losing him is mingled with excitement for this next stage in his already stellar teaching career, and we wish him all the very best, as well as offering thanks for his huge contribution to Sevenoaks. Jon Drury
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Gareth Parker-Jones
Sean Reid
Gareth Parker-Jones
Sean Reid
Gareth arrived as Head of History in 2011 with a sharp intellect and a very clear vision for the department. Combining a deep commitment to innovative teaching and learning with a genuine passion for History, he has made a long-lasting impact in a relatively short period of time.
Sean started his second spell in the school in 2011. He is a very passionate historian who is determined to promote academic excellence. He instituted History clubs for the Lower and Middle School, and helped run extension classes for the Sixth Form. He also inaugurated the Bodiam Castle trip and went on the History trips to the USA and Russia. Sean became Gifted and Talented Coordinator, securing two Teaching and Learning awards, as well as being a PGCE mentor for new teachers. It was therefore no surprise when Sean became acting Head of History in January, a role which he has performed admirably.
His belief in the importance of academic enrichment was best demonstrated by his determination to expose our students to top-level historians, resulting in a stream of university academics visiting the school over the past few years to speak on subjects ranging from the First Crusade to the end of the Cold War. Another significant innovation was his introduction of the medieval IB History course in order to offer choice and breadth to both students and also teachers within the department.
Sean is a very talented sportsman and used his skills to coach to the highest standards in the school. He led the 1st XI Football to two consecutive titles in the SKIL league. Sean also coached U15A and U16A Rugby, masterminding In addition he led the very popular weekly the U15A Kent Cup triumph in 2012, our first for extension class for Sixth Formers, introducing them 27 years. to historical concepts and ideas well beyond the Sean has been an outstanding tutor in School confines of the IB syllabus. One result of this has House. His gentle nurturing of the Year 9s mean been the record number of Sevenoaks students we have had a procession of very happy and now applying to study History at university – a highly motivated students coming into SHM. testament to his inspirational guidance and belief Sean’s firm but friendly style meant he was the that History really is the best subject ever! perfect person to organise pizza nights! Within the department, Gareth’s leadership It has been a genuine pleasure working with Sean generated a culture of collaboration and shared over the last four years. His intellect, compassion sense of purpose. He made time to advise and and leadership skills will ensure he will be very mentor colleagues and his dry sense of humour successful as he takes up a richly deserved enlivened many a meeting. His judgements were promotion as Director of Academic Support at respected by all, no matter what their personality Bedford Modern. Sean is the embodiment of the and teaching style. all-round school master and I suspect the true It was no surprise when Gareth accepted the role extent of his wide-ranging contributions will only of Academic Deputy Head at Rugby School and be fully realised once he has gone. He will be we have no doubt that he will continue to be sorely missed in many areas of the school and we highly valued in his new leadership role. We will wish him every success in his new job. miss him both as a colleague and as a friend, Gareth Willis but wish him and his family every happiness for the future. Vanessa FitzGerald
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Tim Soudain
John Sprague
Tim Soudain
John Sprague
Tim started here many years ago as a temporary technician for the Design and Technology department. He soon found he was covering lessons, helping in sessions and generally putting his teaching qualifications to good use. The following year a maternity leave gave Tim the chance to take on some timetabled teaching which led to a full-time role covering a second maternity.
The SCR noticeboard advertised the appointment of John Sprague to the role of Director of IB and Head of TOK a year before he took up the position at Sevenoaks in 2011. With his Harvard Divinity School education, he’d taught in Switzerland and at KCS Wimbledon and came as the whole package. His Californian accent, sharp suit and iPad characterised my first impression of him as a cosmopolitan, digital-savvy and truly international teacher.
Tim has an infectious enthusiasm for the subject alongside a specific passion for food technology and cooking. His food tech club has been a huge success, with several formal dinners cooked and served by the students. Tim became a firm favourite with Years 7 to 9 and his committed and dedicated approach to the practical pieces within the curriculum gave students the opportunity to explore and extend their learning far beyond the schemes of work. Tim has a natural talent in the classroom and his gentle, approachable and friendly teaching technique allows students of all abilities to shine through in practical work and write-ups. Tim swiftly made lifelong friends not just in the department but all over the school. His willingness to help, support and generally ‘be there’ for colleagues will be very much missed when he leaves, but I know he will stay in touch, and this is certainly not the end of his link with Sevenoaks School. The entire department want to wish him luck and we look forward to hearing about his future successes. His students here have been incredibly fortunate over the years to have been taught by Tim as education is certainly his natural calling. Graeme Lawrie
Four years on, Sevenoaks is losing an outstanding teacher whose genuine love of the IB Diploma Programme is tangible. His international outlook inspired him to develop the IB Information Evening. He sat on IBSCA’s steering committee and was Programme Director of the IB World Student Conference in Bath in 2014 and inaugural Lead Editor of the IB Review, a global publication. Sitting in a Philosophy Society seminar on the theologian Kaufmann, the quality of thought and dialogue John inspires in students is second to none. He is fascinated by the craft of teaching and the students love being taught Philosophy and TOK by him. As Head of TOK and IB examiner, John saw a smooth transition when the subject guide changed. He was a founding Co-Chair of the successful Sixth Form Steering Group. He organised the Sevenoaks Lectures, put together two editions of the Prized Writing book of outstanding Extended Essays by Sevenoaks students and he helped create the IB Information Evening and the IB Core Evening, a chance for parents to learn some TOK. He helped with the timetable and was Director of the Centre of Innovation for a year. He was a Sixth Form Tutor and climbing instructor and assisted with DofE walks. He is leaving to join the Tanglin Trust School in Singapore as a teacher of Religious Studies and Philosophy. He is a stellar colleague whose contribution has been exceptional. We wish him well. Wendy Heydorn
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VALETE Paul Turner
Paul Turner
Paul Turner joined Sevenoaks in 2012 to teach Geography. Having studied at Exeter and completed his PGCE at Cambridge, Paul had his first teaching posts at Babington House and Wellington College. He had shown initiative and creativity early on in his career by working as a Geography researcher for Pumpkin Interactive in 2011, writing and sourcing material for Geoweb.tv, and developing the concept of The Geographical Times, a free newspaper for Geography students that he distributed to over 350 schools and organisations around the world. Paul hit the ground running at Sevenoaks and never really slowed down. His most significant curricular contributions were in the use of IT in the classroom (see Features), making full use of a Teaching and Learning Award to develop this strategy. On one memorable occasion he ran a bicycle-powered Sixth Form assembly with a video link to a school in the Maldives. Paul was heavily involved in the 2014 Science and Sustainability Week, coached groups in cross country and athletics, helped students establish Sevenoaks TV to share school events like the Knole Run, was a boarding assistant in Johnsons, and coordinated the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. As an RAF officer in the CCF Paul showed his willingness to challenge students to aim high, raising standards in the Year 10 Training section, entering a group of cadets into the Air Squadron Trophy, and taking a group of 12 cadets on the Nijmegen marches which involved covering the equivalent of a marathon a day for four days. Well liked by all, Paul is focused, organised, hard-working, and passionate in everything he does. He is inspirational in his willingness to push boundaries. We wish him well as he moves on to become Head of Geography at Bedales, with fatherhood imminent. Simon Hall
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JIM WEST Jim West, Sevenoaks School groundsman for 48 years, entered retirement with the words ‘thank you and goodbye’. He was a man of few words, but he possessed both enormous patience and a wide range of knowledge. Sevenoaks-born, and educated at Wildernesse School, at age 15 Jim began work for a landscape gardener and remained there for two years. In 1967 he applied at the youth employment bureau – then in Claridge House – for a job. He was told that Sevenoaks School had a vacancy for a gardener/ groundsman. He applied and met George Alcock, then Deputy Head. George liked him and gave him his chance to learn his trade under the direction of Head Groundsman, Ted Dennington. When he joined Sevenoaks, Solefields was the focus of school sport. Rugby lasted two terms, followed by cricket in the summer. Sport was only played on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and we had fewer pitches on Duke’s Meadow and Park Grange. There was a grass running track, the
Sevenoaks School in the 1960s.
Johnson Library was used as a gym, and in the Summer term most of Duke’s Meadow was used to make hay – a local farmer cut and collected it. The lunches and teas for matches were made by Ted Dennington’s wife on site at Solefields. Seven years later, in February 1975, Jim became Head Groundsman. Paul Downton was Captain of Cricket that summer and Martin Carr was Head of PE and Sport, staying at Sevenoaks for half of Jim’s tenure. Jim, like all groundsmen, wanted his fields, pitches, cricket tracks and outfields to be perfect. As passionately as he prepared the fields, the coaches he had to deal with all wanted to play on them, come what may. But this churned them up and regularly damaged them. Usually such scenarios would become battle territory, yet with Jim they didn’t! Although Jim was passionate about his grounds and pitches, he was always supportive and had rapport with everyone: referees, coaches, spectators and players. Matches involving schools SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2014-2015
from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina occurred regularly. My last memory of Jim’s patience and support was the final match of the rugby season against Barnard Castle School from Co Durham, with whom the Sevenoaks School team competed for the 125 Trophy. He knew this was a special match. Overnight it snowed. Despair, stress, uncertainty! But there was Jim – calm, patient and, as ever, supportive. ‘Don’t worry Mike – the game will be played,’ he promised. And so it was. Just as it was the morning after the Great Storm in 1987 when trees and debris were strewn around the pitch. Several other schools tried to entice Jim away from Sevenoaks, but he turned them down. Quiet and efficient, he always got on with his job for the benefit of the team, the players and the coaches. We wish him all the best as he settles into retirement and has more time for relaxing, sea fishing, photography and walking the dogs! Mike Williams and Chris Tavaré
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VALETE MATRONS Doreen Lillyman Doreen joined as a Matron to Park Grange in 2005, bringing a wealth of medical knowledge from her time as a qualified nurse, including a stint in the Health Centre. Working in the afternoons, Doreen was the first member of staff the girls would see as they walked in the door, the first to ask how their day had been and most importantly the provider of the afternoon snacks! It was this contact time that Doreen particularly loved and in return the girls of Park Grange responded to her warm and friendly approach. They could turn to her for a chat, a giggle and advice. Doreen retired in December 2014 and has been enjoying quality time with her grandchildren. Nichola Haworth
Linda Sulsh
Diana Jones
Arriving at the International Centre in 2005, Linda brought a strong work ethic and exceptional loyalty to her role as Matron. Reliable in every aspect of the job, her allegiance to everyone in the house was outstanding. She took an active role in the wider life of the house, helping to organise and support our social events, and touring prospective parents who would frequently comment on her friendly, warm, reassuring manner. Linda’s first priority, however, was always the welfare of the boys, and she took everything in her stride with good humour. Her contribution to boarding life is woven into the tapestry of the house and the call of ‘Jenna!’, as she hailed her dog, will forever echo down the IC corridors. We wish her a very happy and fulfilling retirement.
After 21 years of unstinting service as Johnsons Matron, Diana is taking her final bow. Born and raised in South Africa, and a qualified nurse, she joined Sevenoaks School in 1994, splitting her time between the Health Centre and Johnsons. Diana became full-time matron in 2004 and has looked after almost 240 Johnsonians (and five different Housemasters!) with equal enthusiasm, care and dedication. Patient and compassionate, she made time to listen to spurned boyfriends, stressed-out Oxbridge wannabes and worried parents. Her wise advice was always highly appreciated. Diana taught the boys invaluable skills from resilience to social decorum. Her naturally cheerful disposition has shone throughout Johnsons and it is undoubtedly why it has become the happy place we all know. It has been an immense privilege to be Diana’s last Housemaster. During tours of Johnsons with prospective parents, I always introduced her as the most important person in the house. The boys, the house staff and I will greatly miss Diana. We wish her a fully deserved retirement, looking after her two beautiful grandchildren. Sébastien Coquelin
Nigel and Elaine Connell
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And we also say goodbye to... Christopher Atkinson Mathilde Bacca Linda Baker Nadia Bouakaz Tom Boyd Victoria Boyd Philip Cole Georgina Corlett Amanda Davis Natalie Farrell Joanne Frost Clive Holway Stefan Knowles Jessica Lanne Stevieray Latham Chloe Leach Jacqueline McKenna Jack Moran Victoria Mort Michael O’Reilly Oliver Roberts Megan Searle Galina Sirenko Manon Toularhoat David Welsher Imogen Winter
A place beyond recess, by Michael O’Reilly, Artist in Residence 2013-15.
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dates for YOUR diary: School and OLD SennockianS Tuesday 1-Thursday 3 December 19.00
Bright, Sackville Prefects Studio Plays, Ordovsky-Tanaevsky Drama Studio
Tuesday 8 -Thursday 10 December; Saturday 12 December 19.00
SSTC Production, Nicholas Nickleby, Sackville Theatre
Friday 11 December
19.30
Crash into Christmas, Pamoja Hall
Monday 14 December
19.00
Service of Readings and Carols, St Nicholas’ Church
Wednesday 16 December
14.30
End of Michaelmas term
Thursday 7 January
08.30
Beginning of Lent term
Saturday 9 January
14.30
42nd Knole Run and 20th Girls’ Knole Run
Saturday 23 January
18.00
OS Rugby Dinner, Sevenoaks School
Tuesday 2 - Friday 5 February
19.00
Year 9 Production, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Sackville Theatre
Friday 5 - Sunday 7 February
19.00
Year 8 Production, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Ordovsky-Tanaevsky Drama Studio
Friday 26 February
18.30
OS 10 Year Reunion Dinner for the Class of 2006, Sevenoaks School
Friday 11 March
19.30
Sevenoaks Swings, Pamoja Hall
Tuesday 15 March
19.30
Music at Sevenoaks Concert, Pamoja Hall
Thursday 17 March
14.30
End of Lent term
Tuesday 12 April
08.30
Beginning of Summer term
Thursday 14 April
12.00
Old Johnsonians Annual Reunion Lunch, The Space, Sevenoaks School
Thursday 14 April
19.30
Sevenoaks School Jazz Club, Sackville Theatre
Wednesday 20 April
19.30
Symphony Orchestra Concert, Pamoja Hall
Tuesday 26 April
19.30
The Alan Adler Memorial Concert, Pamoja Hall
Saturday 30 April
10.00
OS Five-a-side Football Tournament, Sennocke Centre
Friday 6 May
19.00
OS 20 Year Reunion Dinner for the Class of 1996, Sevenoaks School
Saturday 21 May
Leavers’ Day
Thursday 9 June
18.30
OS Summer Drinks, Central London
Wednesday 22 - Saturday 25 June
19.00
Year 7 and Year 10 Production, Norse, Sackville Theatre
Monday 27 June
12.30
Middle School Sports Day
Friday 1 July
09.00
Lower School Sports Day
Saturday 2 July
12.00
Founder’s Day. OS Picnic and 50 Year Reunion for the Class of 1966, Manor House Lawn
Saturday 2 July
16.00
End of Summer term
Friday 2 September
08.30
Beginning of Michaelmas term
All dates are correct at the time of going to press, but may be subject to change. For Old Sennockian events please see the events page of OS Online for the latest information: www.osonline.sevenoaksschool.org
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Blipp this page to give us your feedback. Editorial team: Arabella Stuart, Navaneethan Kunaratnam, Charlotte Hails. Photographs by David Merewether, Jonathan Cole, Susanna Stanford, students and staff, or as credited. Front cover shows the Yoma Education team: Malcolm Briery, Daragh Massey, Birkaran Sachdev and Cedric Tan. Designed by Nick Darke. Printed by Alpha Colour Printers Ltd. www.alphacolour.com
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