Celebrating Creativity
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The November 2015 Celebrating Creativity Also in this issue: • RECORD BREAKING EXAM RESULTS • CABARET • COMMEMORATION • CHARLES LEPPER MEMORIAL Photographed by JAK BLACKWOOD JAK by Photographed Published by: Bradfield College, Bradfield, Berkshire, RG7 6AU • www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk Edited by: Stephen Wallace • Photographs: Jak Blackwood, Julia Smith, Stephen Wallace Contact: Editor: [email protected] Bradfield Society: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/BradfieldCollege Twitter: twitter.com/BradfieldCol The N o v e m b e r 2 0 15 Dear Reader, Contents Amongst many great occasions in my first weeks at the College, one stands out for the manner in which it united past, present and future. The celebration of the life of Charles Features Lepper included moving tributes, excellent music and fond personal reminiscences. Exam Results 4 Central to the service in Greeker were readings from Shakespeare from OB actor, Antony Calf and three current pupils. Each p10 Commemoration 6 performance – and performances they were – was memorable. It was especially Rev in Rwanda 10 striking how each pupil in turn rose to the potentially daunting challenge of following the standard set by the previous reader in Julian Wood 18 a true handing down of talent and tradition. It was thrilling to hear how Charles Lepper kindled fires through belief in his pupils and Cabaret 26 exciting to witness how the Greek Theatre remains a crucible in which such fires burn Bradfield Festival 32 strong. p26 On the back of fine summer results, especially at GCSE where new records Lepper Memorial 46 were set, the academic year has started well. I have much enjoyed sampling the wide Bill De Selincourt 52 range of pupils’ talents. This has included musical excellence (with OB support) at Douai Abbey, following the fabulous experience of last summer’s Festival, and impressive sporting achievements from the Girls’ Hockey XI, who have been crowned County Champions, and the Boys’ Football p32 Regulars XI, with only one defeat in ten games. Major whole school occasions such as College News 4 Handshaking, the Michaelmas Goose, House Song and School Photograph have all testified to a happy and united Prep Schools’ Events 16 community. The same has been evident at numerous events for local and feeder Sports 18 schools, which, like the College itself, are regularly over-subscribed. As is clear from the following pages, Performing Arts 25 Bradfield is in excellent shape and very p46 good heart. It is an environment where Bradfield Horizons 42 relaxed good manners and genuine warmth characterise interactions between all ages and where all those who live, work, return Bradfield Club, Peckham 45 or visit will witness both the remarkable abilities and the generosity of spirit of the young. It has been a privilege to take up the OB Affiliated Clubs 50 stewardship of this very special place. Obituaries 52 p52 Bradfield Society 56 Dr Christopher Stevens, Headmaster 3 College News Pupils achieve record breaking (I)GCSE results Bradfield’s pupils secured the College’s best ever (I)GCSE results with over 60% of grades being either A* or A. Nearly half the candidates gained seven or more A*/A grades in their (I)GCSE and (I)GCSEs. Other records were also beaten with 89% A* - B and 98% A* - C grades testifying to hard work across the academic spectrum. Congratulations go to all pupils with special mentions for Nick McDonald who secured 10 A*s and for Joshua Baxter (A), Patrick Davies (F), Antonia Fane (M), Louie Hemmings (D), Tiff Hurren (G), Alex Jones (F), Amy Knowles (M), Julia Merican (J) and Sam Newall (E) who all scored A*s in at least six subjects. Their achievements are all the more impressive against a national backdrop of fewer top grades once more this year. Nick McDonald New Headmaster, Dr Christopher Stevens, greeted the results as follows: “I am delighted that the College has seen such a strong performance in (I)GCSEs this year following good A Level and excellent IB Diploma results. I know the pupils have worked especially hard over the past two years as the College has embarked on a number of new initiatives encouraging them to take more responsibility for their own learning. These results are a testament to all that young people can achieve within a climate of high expectations and with the support of a dedicated and skilful team of teachers. This group of pupils can now build on their success in the Sixth Form having set a high standard for their successors. I am confident that we can do better still in future as we continue to innovate and to put our pupils at the centre of their education, both in and out of the classroom.” Joshua Baxter Patrick Davies Antonia Fane Louie Hemmings Tiff Hurren Alex Jones Amy Knowles Julia Merican Sam Newall College News Michelle Hua Maia Patrick-Smith Eva Ribbink points out of a possible 45 points in the Rebecca Freer-Smith, Spencer Gao, Excellent IBDP IB. Other top IB performers were Alex Lucy Greville, Adam Knowles, Irina and A Level Markides (C) and Sophie Rahn (I) with Nazarkina, Arthur Norman, Jamie 40 points and Benedict Davis (F) with Ostrer and Jenny Walsham. The results 38 points. year group as a whole was also very The Core elements of the IB successful in terms of university In public exams Sixth Form A Level (Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge entrance with a large majority securing pupils secured excellent results with and Creativity, Activity and Service) are their first choice offer. 41% of all grades at A* or A, 74% at central to Bradfield’s aims and values As ever, the pupils proved that A*-B and a 100% pass rate overall. given all they do to prepare our pupils academic success and full commitment These results complemented some for the future challenges they will face. to wider school life tend to go hand- superb International Baccalaureate Eva and Alex were joined by Beth in-hand at Bradfield. Many of the Diploma Programme results, which Higginson (M) and Alexander Simpson College’s top musicians, actors and were well above the international (G) in attaining a notable 3 points in athletes returned excellent academic average with an average points score of the Core, securing the highest marks performances, not least Head Boy 35.3 (the UCAS equivalent of A*AAA). possible. Freddie Parsons, top musicians Imogen Special mentions go to Michelle Hua Overall, more than a third of the Taylor and Jamie Dellimore-Slater, star (I) who achieved 5 A*s and an A grade year group recorded at least three sportsmen Josh Baker and Sam Denehy and to Maia Patrick-Smith (M) who was A*/A grades or equivalent, with other and talented actors Max Mosley and awarded 4 A*s and an A grade – feats performances of particular note Rebecca Wheddon, who also all arguably even more impressive than coming from Edison Chow, Adam recorded at least three A*/A grades or that of Eva Ribbink (K), who scored 42 Clark, Grace Elder, Haply Eyres, equivalent. Alexander Markides Anne-Sophie Rahn Benedict Davis 5 Commemoration Housemistresses who have worked tirelessly on our Commemoration Speeches behalf, to teachers who have always had time for that from the outgoing Heads of extra booster session and sports staff who would always put in the extra mile. We are hugely grateful and School recognise that quite literally we would not be celebrating our successes and learning from our failures without you. “But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Our five years here can be summarised in a single day. Alice remarked. Early morning and breakfast sees us in Faulkner’s, starting new things, testing ourselves in areas we have not seen “Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: before; and then, handing in our CCF boots, we march “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” forwards to break time….and Shell. “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice. In Shell, we use the year, the only one where we do not have to study for major exams, to build alliances and “You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t friendships in our senior houses. We undertake activities have come here.“ like CCF, Duke of Edinburgh, and a whole raft of sports, gaining confidence as we go. Bradfield, from the beginning, asked us to be mad, daring Lunch down in Main School means Fifth Form and for and courageous. It asked us to be willing to paint our own, many of us some real work, solidifying knowledge and personal adventure, to grasp the opportunities that are so competence both academically and on the sports fields. readily available. Our time here has allowed us to develop, Increased opportunities to contribute to the wider build confidence, evolve and grow as individuals. Bradfield Community arise, as well as, rather scarily, a I still remember when I was, rather irritatingly so I choice to be made between A Levels and IB. thought, told by my parents that my school days would At dinner we enter the Sixth Form and increasingly take be the best days of my life. But now they are coming to a up opportunities for more responsibility around the close I realise that there is some truth in the statement. school community. And finally the Upper Sixth at the end Who will ever forget standing in the Greek Theatre of the day, where I would encourage all of you to truly performing “Antigone” in ancient Greek, that rainy cold make the most of your last year at College.