Edition 55 July 2013 SUTTON VIEWS The Voice of Sutton Valence School

Sutton Valence School Strengthens Academic

Focus Speech Day Page 2

Despite already being in the top 20% of schools nationally for value added at A Level, the Senior School is not resting on its laurels.

To maintain academic work at the centre of all Prep School Drama Page 6 we do, the Senior Management Team has been restructured and, from a huge application field, Adrian Wyles has relinquished his role as Assistant Head: Sixth Form to become Academic Deputy Head, from September 2013.

“The staff have been set a challenge”, said Mr Wyles, Ballroom Success Page 10 “to move Sutton Valence into the top 10% of schools in the country for value added. I will be spearheading the move forward, leading and working with Heads of Departments to oversee all of the academic side of the School. I am delighted to have been appointed and am

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Information A member of the United Westminster Schools’ Foundation For information about Sutton Valence School or to request a prospectus, please contact: Registered Charity No. 309267 • the Admissions Office at Sutton Valence on 01622 845206 or email [email protected] Founded in 1576 by William Lambe • Sutton Valence Preparatory School on 01622 842117 or email [email protected]

Sutton Views July 2013 1 Continued from front page

looking forward to the exciting and measure our teaching and learning by how challenging times ahead.” much value we add to each pupil. This measures how well each pupil has performed With the ambition to become the best against their perceived potential and, school in Kent for value added in all areas therefore, allows us to recognise the (academic, co-curricular and community improvements and results of each individual. involvement), Headmaster, Bruce Grindlay Mr Wyles’s appointment heralds a new said, “Rather than rely upon league table chapter in our long and distinguished history positions or the percentage of A* to B grades from which, hopefully, all students stand to to measure our pupils’ success, we prefer to benefit.”

Speech Day

The Very Rev Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, addressing the Senior School

CCF Display Helen Grant MP addressing the Prep School

2 Sutton Views Senior School Speech Day lunch

Prep School prizes Year 1 and 2 Prizewinners

Happy Prep School Prizewinners

July 2013 3 Prep School Sport Sports-mad Head of PE

Tom Davey joined the Prep School after him the opportunity to work as a sports Easter, becoming Head of PE. Many will coach at Yardley Court, Tonbridge, where he perhaps remember that this isn't his first spent four years. experience of the Prep School as back in 2007 and 2008, he was a gap student, By his own admission, he is ‘mad keen’ on working predominantly in Year 3, but also sport, playing football, golf, cricket, tennis working with the games department. and going on many ski holidays. “Since joining Sutton Valence Prep School”, he said, Having completed his A Levels, Tom went “I have been impressed with the ability and on to read Sport Management at Coventry enthusiasm of the children. They have a University. It was here that he began to tremendous attitude towards their PE and become interested in teaching and so took a sport and I hope I can guide and teach them year out to work with us as a gap student. He to improve their skills and enjoy it as much went back to finish his degree, which gave as I do.

of him, Sam gave the Prep School a little Gymnastics taste of what he could do in assembly. Sam Mostowfi, Year 6, took part in the South East Region U13 Gymnastics Championships in June. Despite being the youngest competitor, and two years younger than many, he did extremely well. He finished fourth, narrowly missing third place by 0.1 of a mark! With a bright future ahead

Athletics established and three pupils qualified for the national competition! The IAPS County competition at the Julie Rose Stadium, Ashford, showed the Towards the end of term, the IAPS strength and depth of athletic talent we National Finals then took place in have at the Prep School. Eleven pupils Birmingham and all three pupils competed attended and came home with gold brilliantly against the best in the country. medals for Long Jump, Shot Put and the John Wilson won bronze in the boys Shot girls 1500 metres; a silver in the girls 100 Put, whilst Lauren Vinten in the 1500 metres and a bronze in the boys 1500 metres and Ben Lawrence in the Long metres. Additionally, two School records Jump both finished in the top ten in the were broken, five personal bests were country.

4 Sutton Views Poets in the making?

If poetry is, as Isaac Newton said, ‘a kind of Established in 1991, Young Writers ingenious nonsense’, then both the Prep and nurtures creativity in children and young the Senior School have an array of talented adults, to give them an interest in poetry and and creative pupils. an outlet to express themselves. Said Mr Davenport, Head of English, “Seeing their Wes Magee, the well-known and award work in print will, we hope, encourage them winning children's poet, spent a day at the to keep writing as they grow and become our Prep School before half term, working with poets of tomorrow.” the older pupils in unique workshops and then judging the Poetry Competition for Years 1 to 6.

Mrs Barr, Head of English and Drama said, "The children have all worked so hard, they really have been inspired by Wes and we have heard some brilliant poetry performances. I'm very proud of all of them."

Earlier in the term, ten First Form pupils at the Senior School found out that their poems had been selected to be published in The Young Writers’ ‘Winter Wonders – Icy Delights’ collection.

July 2013 5 Prep School Drama Oliver (Year 6)

6 Sutton Views The Emperor’s New Clothes (Year 2)

July 2013 7 Head of School, Lewis Burnham

Whilst many of you were relaxing and some, I • Chelsea have had nine managers, hope, busy revising over Easter, I was Arsenal’s trophy cabinet remains bare and contemplating what the message of my speech Tottenham are the top team in London, should be. The most obvious theme would and, have been the very important examination • New words added to the Oxford period coming up for a large percentage of us. dictionary include Bling, WAG, OMG, However, I feel you’re all well aware of the Phone Hacking, Cyberthreat, pressures and expectations exams bring. Braggadocious, Bouncebackability and Bucket List. Then it struck me that my seven years at Sutton Valence have all come down to the next Then I began to think: what have I done in my two months. A scary prospect, and I began to seven years at SV and how many items can I tick think: what has happened in the outside world off my bucket list? SV has provided during those seven years, and how has SV opportunities both inside and out of the prepared me to meet the challenges I will face classroom, the combination of which has taught when I leave School? me a number of life skills including teamwork, leadership, consideration, compassion, respect Some of the notable events include: and confidence. • The resignation of a Pope, which hasn’t happened for over 600 years; Many of my best experiences have been • Two of the World’s most wanted men shared with people in this Chapel, and I hope killed – Colonel Gadaffi and Osama Bin this will result in long-lasting friendships. Some Laden; of the most unique events have been made • The first Black American president possible by the CCF. I climbed the highest peak elected; in England, achieving my Gold Duke of • The collapse of the Global Economy; Edinburgh Award; slept in the Belizian jungle • Uprising in the Middle East and rising for five nights, learning many survival tensions with North Korea; techniques, including how to identify a • A nuclear disaster in Japan, categorised poisonous snake through its colouring, by the as severe as Chernobyl; phrase, “if red touches yellow, deadly fellow” • Corporal Beharry made the and visited a local orphanage where we helped youngest-living British recipient of the the staff and entertained the children by Victoria Cross; introducing them to mobile phones and ‘Angry • Global IT development, including 4G Birds’. networks and the expansion of You Tube (apparently, one fifth of the I attended a cadet leadership course and was world’s population viewed the ‘Gangnam immediately labelled by my northern Style’ video); roommates as a ‘Southern Softie” (I got my • The confirmation of the existence of the revenge by being appointed team leader for the Higgs Boson; final exercise) and I was a member of a guard of • A home Olympics; honour at Westminster Abbey.

8 Sutton Views Last summer I was part of the SV team which develop our full potential, contribute positively cycled 460 miles from Margate to Land’s End to the wider world and cross more items off our raising money for Blind Veterans UK and bucket lists along the way! throughout my SV career I have been privileged to represent the School in many sports. However, whilst mankind’s capacity to learn appears infinite, I would like to add a word of I learnt the guitar and drums for two years; caution, supported by a quote from former US however, lack of ability could not be overcome Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld: by effort. ‘There are known knowns – these are things Academically, I have taken advantage of the that we know. There are known unknowns – opportunities available and feel the teaching that is to say, there are things that we know we staff have prepared me fully for the next stage of don’t know. But there are also unknown, my academic career. I regret not being more unknowns. There are things we don’t know we involved with the Drama department, as this don’t know.’ could have helped with my nerves and the delivery of this speech today. However, Finally, I will finish with some words of Shakespeare did come to my aid in providing wisdom from my Tutor, Mr Carr… ‘Go and do the following quote, “We know what we are, but all the good you can, to all the people you can, not what we may be.” in all the places you can, for as long as you can’.

This quote brings me to my conclusion. As I have tried to illustrate, there is a big world outside of these walls. The world is constantly changing, with new opportunities, but also new threats and challenges, as proved by the tragic events of the Boston Marathon.

We all have a part to play and SV provides us with a privileged environment in which we are able to prepare to play our part, developing not only academically, but also as individuals.

Existing and thriving within the SV cocoon, it can sometimes be easy to believe we know all the answers, but outside of SV there are many unknown challenges ahead for all of us. As we move on from SV and those challenges become reality, we can all rely on the knowledge, experiences and friendships we have gained within this community. This will help us all to

July 2013 9 Success in the Ballroom Sutton Valence CCF

Max and Katie Harrison, Second and First Cadet flying high Form respectively, have had a busy and successful year in national ballroom competitions. They are currently well into the top 12 junior couples in the country, which varies a little from week to week, depending on how many competitions all the dancers have completed.

They compete most weekends, but try to limit it to just one weekend away each month. The picture shows them dancing in the ‘Stars of the Future’ competition at the beginning of June, where they reached both the ballroom and the Latin semi-finals. We wish them every success at the British Nationals in November and at the Open World Championships later in Paris, where they have been asked to represent England.

It has been a very busy year for James Aburn, Upper Sixth, in and out of uniform.

As Head of RAF Section in the School CCF, James provides leadership, as well as delivering a varied and interesting training programme for the cadets under his command. Lt Col Wilkinson, Contingent Commander, said, “James is exemplary in carrying out his duties. He is a young man who always puts service before self, both within the School and in the wider community. I was honoured to attend the Air Squadron Day at The Shuttleworth Collection recently where James, who is the

10 Sutton Views Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet of the Year, received academically high achieving, but he is very his Geoffrey DeHavilland Flying Foundation successful in his two passions, music and the Award. ” CCF. On completion of his flying scholarship he received his Silver Wings and after going With 90,000 Air Cadets in the country, Air to Band Camp at RAF Cranwell, was asked to Squadron awards are keenly contested by join the Air Cadets National Concert Band, the Air Sections of Combined Cadet Forces. having also won the highest award for the This is a prestigious award in recognition of course, the Golden Lyre.” Outstanding CCF Achievement. James also plays in the School Dixieland Bruce Grindlay, Headmaster said, “I’m Band, which had Jools Holland guest with delighted that James has been given this them at a recent charity concert, hosted by award; it is a fitting end to his time at School. the Senior School for ABF The Soldiers’ He is an outstanding example of a typical Charity. Sutton Valence student. Not only is he

Open Garden 2013

The sun may not have shone as much as we never have an opportunity to see. Having would have liked, but it dd not hamper the gained approval from the National Garden enjoyment of over 45 visitors to the School Scheme, we are now planning for next year! gardens on 2nd July.

Guy Pullen, Head Gardener, along with his team, Guy, Sarah and Scott, had the borders brimming with colour and impressed with their knowledge of the plants and the history of the gardens. Having toured the main areas around Centre Block, the visitors retired to TC’s for a splendid cream tea, whilst reading through the planting notes and lists of plants.

Many visitors, and staff, were seen heading off to their cars laden with bags of beautiful, healthy plants, which were provided by Stone Green Nursery, owned by the Watkinsons, parents at the Preparatory School.

The afternoon was a great success, Photo courtesy of Mrs Julie Avery (Parent) showcasing an area of the School that many

July 2013 11 Mumma Mia’s Summer Concert

Towards the end of the summer term, the shows followed, including songs from Bates Hall was filled with parents, pupils, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and a teachers, friends and grandparents who were solo performance of Popular from Wicked by treated to a wonderful concert, performed by Sally Roper, parent of Henry and Florence at ‘Mumma Mia’. Raising money for Breast the Prep School. Cancer Care, the mothers’ choir, directed by Sarah Geering, were supported by vocal Throughout the night the audience heard duets from Sasha and Mia Van Diepen ‘Mumma Mia’ perform Shine by Gary Barlow, (Fourth and Fifth Form). Daisy Andrews and Beautiful by Christine Aguilera and Zoe Deighton-Smythe, both Lower Sixth, also Schonberg’s On My Own. The concert performed ‘Pie Jesu’ from Lloyd Weber’s ended with a surprise and very memorable Requiem. performance of Michael Bublé’s Haven’t Met You Yet, where ‘Mumma Mia’ was joined on The Senior School’s Girls’ Choir sang Ave stage by Mr Malcolm Gough, Head of the Verum by Geoffrey Burgon, accompanied by Prep School and Mr Jaques Strydom, a string quartet of David Holmes, Head of teacher! Strings, Annie Pullar, Pavlina Skodova (both Upper Sixth), Anya Livtchak (Second Form) It was an amazing evening of music with with James Aburn (Upper Sixth) on piano. over £1300 being raised on the night for the The two choirs then combined to perform charity. Over the Rainbow. More songs from the

12 Sutton Views History, Design Technology, CCF and Physics is Fun!

When Year 4 spent an Enrichment Day at the Senior School, they had no idea what was in store for them. Arriving in the morning they were split up into groups and set off to their activities.

There was a baffling History Treasure Hunt around the School grounds with Mr Bob Carr, making a name plaque with Miss Clement- Walker in the DT Workshop where they were able to use the laser printer, laminator and drills and were thrilled to take away their unique plaques. Then Dr Lindley showed them the fun that can be had with Physics and introduced them to a floating alien!

After a lunchtime barbecue on BM, the CCF took over with Major Prem Ale and his NCOs putting the children through a series of command tasks to build teamwork and cooperation.

“This has been a fantastic day for the children”, said Mrs Jacobs, one of the Prep School staff who accompanied the children. “Everything was so well organised and the senior pupils who assisted were great. Our pupils have had experiences today they won’t forget in a hurry!”

July 2013 13 Senior School Sport Extract taken from the Headmaster’s Speech Day address:

‘Thankfully, the weather has allowed us to some excellent cricketers emerging play more sport this summer than we throughout the year groups. managed in 2012. Our tennis teams have done well at all levels and it is wonderful to This year we have also managed to make see so many younger players emerging. In greater use of our fabulous athletics track, Rounders the first team has notched up an not only in curriculum time, but also through 88% win rate with the intermediate teams hosting two athletic meets at U14 and U15 recording the biggest differentials this season levels against King’s Canterbury and King’s in matches against St John’s, Leatherhead, Rochester, both of which we won. where the U15s won 33 to 9.5 and the U14s 22 to 8. Swimming continues to grow with club sessions being run on a Monday evening and In cricket, with the new Warmlake pitch up Thursday lunchtime and we hope to extend and running as well as a new square at the this further in September. The number of top of BM, we are now capable of hosting children training is growing and they are five home fixtures on grass wickets. The new getting better with each session. The same nets near the astro have been a huge benefit is true of our senior golfers who are truly and all teams have progressed nicely with becoming a force to be reckoned with.’

Race Walking

Well done to Guy Thomas, Fifth Form, barrier for the first time with a new who competed for England in the Race personal best of 23 minutes 39 seconds, Walking match in Dublin in June. This was giving him a sought after qualifying time for Guy’s second England cap in two weeks, the UK Championships. having first travelled to Holland to compete in the Small Nations match where, in only With an intense training schedule of six his third time walking 10k as an under 20, to ten training sessions a week, Guy has he was only two seconds off his 10k shown great dedication and extreme hard personal best. work fitting this in around his GCSE revision: a typical week leading up to a In Dublin, he was back to his usual competition will involve distances of distance of 5k. This time walking as an between 25 to 30k a week. under 18, he went under the 24 minute

14 Sutton Views French Netball Tour

Our U16 girls joined more than 50 netball U15 player, Lucy Rumgay and U14 pupil, teams at the International Netball Festival Emily Chaney, gave excellent performances during the Easter break. The tour involved a on court against older opposition. Lydia mixture of tournaments, training and Davies displayed her usual exceptional Disneyland thrills. Having won two out of shooting skills and was a brilliant leader of their four matches on the first day, the girls the team. impressively qualified for the Cup Competition. Despite fighting hard, on finals In between tournaments the girls were put day the girls lost their match against Ribble through their paces by England Netball Valley to finish a commendable fifth place. coaches. Anna Baker and Emma Baxter Playing against some of the country’s best excelled in the agility tasks. Betsy Nally aced netball clubs, they were delighted to be a target competition, beating over 160 awarded Best School Team. players.

Kent Netball Academy

Fynley Young, Second Form, has been with the right attributes to attain selected for the U14 Kent Netball excellence. It also provides an opportunity Academy. This is a wonderful achievement for players to be seen by the Regional as Fynley is an U13 player. The Academy Talent Coach and access the regional and is part of the England Netball Excel national screening programme. Pathway, which aims to develop athletes

July 2013 15 Bugsy Malone

16 Compiled and edited by Helen Knott, Development Manager Sutton Views