In Proud Remembrance
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LIFELENT2019 In proud remembrance Whitgift celebrates the 100th anniversary of the First World War BBC’s CEO Tim Davie visits as part of Academic Enrichment The School’s extraordinary production of Macbeth England Rugby player Elliot Daly returns Whitgift Minster Choristers sing live on BBC Radio 3 Arminder Dhillon wins award for Dragons’ Den Boot Buddy and more inside … performing arts The Autumn Collection concert showcase an array of musical of the Big Band performing his solo performance in the role is one of Whitgift’s most popular ensembles, including the brass music by Herbie Hancock and of Bruno Mars during Uptown annual events, showcasing the players performing Gonna Fly the Symphony Orchestra playing Funk. Congratulations also to all Autumn Collection range of talent amongst the Now by the Top Trumpts and Dances with Wolves by John Barry the boys who took part and to School’s musicians. What makes Thunderbirds played by the as well as Introduction and Rondo the staff involved in planning and the event a highlight in the Whitgift Brass. The Percussion Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saens performing during the evening. musical calendar is that this is Ensemble gave a vibrant (with violin soloist Luka Perazic). the first and only major concert performance of Quincy Jones’s The Autumn Collection concert in which all First Form boys Soul Bossa Nova. For the finale, the entire First has traditionally been held perform together. Form Choir rose to give hearty in Croydon’s Fairfield Halls The Whitgift A Capella and Soul renditions of the Stevie Wonder which is currently closed for The Corps of Drums provided a Choirs brought energy into hit Isn’t She Lovely and Uptown refurbishment. We are hoping rousing start and being entirely the hall and the boys enjoyed Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno to return there after the venue student-run, celebrated their the opportunity to perform in Mars, supported by the specially re-opens in 2019, allowing for motto “By the boys, for the boys”. front of a large audience. The formed band. Well done to an even larger audience for next The programme continued to instrumental ensembles consisted Fourth Former Joshua Tikare for year’s event. 2 WHITGIFT LIFE WHITGIFT LIFE 3 news Humanutopia workshop In September 2018, throughout the day. These tasks Humanutopia returned to are designed to build confidence, the School to lead a series create happiness and help of workshops with the First with relationships and future Form boys. Humanutopia employability. It was evident the create and run life-changing boys enjoyed working together courses for young people and and making new friends. Another adults in schools and the wider First Former Alex Onyeka said, community. The workshops “What I enjoyed the most was the challenged the boys to open up energy and happiness flooding and think about other people and around the hall.” their circumstances. First Former Joe Mumford commented, “The Founded in 2004, Humanutopia workshop encouraged me to be has worked with over 400 more confident and go the extra schools and their expert mile. I learned about respecting facilitators help young people 2018 Academic Highlights other people’s opinions, the in a relaxing and fun importance of being kind and to environment. We would This year saw excellent results gained straight A* and A grades just be yourself.” like to thank them for visiting in Public Examinations coupled at A Level or Pre-U equivalent. Whitgift again and also to the with a huge range of wider The boys performed team Fifth Form prefects who did an academic success across all A total of 114 Whitgiftians are building exercises which excellent job supporting the areas of school life. going to universities in The became increasingly challenging younger boys on the day. Times top 20 for 2018, which At GCSE, nearly half of new style is a testament to the hard work entries were awarded at the top and determination of students ‘These tasks are designed to build grades of 8 or 9. An impressive and staff. The Headmaster and 32 pupils achieved the top grades staff at Whitgift would like to Upper Sixth Form Symposium confidence, create happiness and possible (9 or A*) in 8 or more congratulate all boys on their of their GCSE subjects and 3 achievements and wish them the For approximately 15 years area. They then had a Q&A help with relationships and future achieved the rare feat of gaining very best in their future studies. Whitgift Upper Sixth Formers discussion, tying different topics top grades in all eleven of their have taken part in an annual together. employability’ subject entries. 95% received GCSE Symposium, which was held at A*–B grades and 22% achieved North London Collegiate School Head of Sixth Form, Mr Thomas Grade 9 which compares with (NLCS) in October 2018. The Burnside commented, “The 4.3% nationally. 95% Symposium is an opportunity presentations covered a for students to develop range of engaging topics, from Fifty pupils in the Upper Fifth A*–B collaborative as well as developmental economics to Form completed the challenging independent research skills. Shakespearean drama. They Additional Mathematics A Level and Pre-U displayed a high academic qualification, with 24 obtaining Whitgift students had been standard which will really the top grade. In the Upper Sixth working with a partner student prepare them for presenting in Form, results in the International 84% at either NLCS or Tottenham undergraduate study. We were Baccalaureate were again Academy since the start of the impressed at their approach outstanding, with an average A*–B Michaelmas Term, identifying to collaboration and the point total of 38 out a controversial or little- professionalism they showed of a maximum of known topic in the field they when presenting their ideas and ‘The Symposium is 45. The A Level and wish to study and preparing a during the Q&A.” Pre-U examinations presentation on it to small groups an opportunity for experienced 84% of peers. The Symposium is also a great of all grades being opportunity for students to students to develop awarded at A*–B; this On the day of the Symposium, the practise skills that will benefit collaborative research rises to 86% when students gave their presentations them not only when applying to combined with the in pairs and then participated in university, but also at university as well as independent IB result. Shintaro open discussions with a wider and in the workplace. Nishijo achieved group focusing on their subject research skills’ a remarkable 7 A* grades and 35 pupils 4 WHITGIFT LIFE WHITGIFT LIFE 5 performing arts news Whitgift House Drama ‘The pursuit of knowledge is what I enjoy about Physics’ playwrights (Fourth Formers, Jack dress and School Captain Ben Godwin and Will Allnutt) trying to Goldby as the dancing alien. come up with an idea for a script Senior Housemaster and English for a drama competition. Whilst Teacher, Mr Dominic Edwards they discussed their ideas, the commented, “Andrew’s House was rest of the cast mimed around a ‘metatheatrical’ success! The them wearing an assortment of boys went all-out in their quest costumes to bring their fantasies for the cup.” to life. This seemingly simple concept worked well dramatically Thank you to both Keith and and allowed the audience to view Jacqueline for supporting the some of the Upper Sixth Form in a evening as House Drama judges wholly new light: Charlie Barber and to all the staff and boys The tradition that is the Whitgift Dodd’s House pre-recording skipping in a full length Edwardian involved in the event. House Drama competition is a their own video clips to segue great start to the academic year between their live performance. for promising actors and those The judges for the night, simply wanting to get involved. acclaimed actors Keith Bartlett This event is unique in the School’s and Jacqueline King, praised theatrical programme, as it is the all eight Houses for both their only one in which no creative input skill and endeavour, but they from staff is allowed. This gives were in agreement with the the boys the opportunity of doing audience that the Andrew’s everything themselves: directing, performance stood out as the rehearsing, choreographing and highlight of the night. providing a technical script. Andrew’s House was victorious The Houses put tremendous with their self-written play, ‘The effort into their plays, with Play’. It focussed on two budding ‘The boys have to direct, CERN trip In the Michaelmas Half Term, immense scale of the project Notably, they learnt more rehearse, choreograph and 33 of Whitgift’s Sixth Formers demonstrated how international about famous physicists of the visited CERN – the European collaboration was necessary to past, such as Faraday, and their Organization for Nuclear Research achieve such a feat. journey to discovering many of provide a technical script’ – in Geneva. The organisation the fundamental laws of Physics operates the largest particle Lower Sixth Former, Gavin Murugan CERN is reliant on. physics laboratory in the world. commented, “One of the first things we were told on our tour of The last excursion was a visit to The students had a guided tour CERN was its modus operandi is the UN Palace of Nations, visiting of the Cryogenic facility and the pursuit of knowledge. For me, the iconic meeting rooms and the control room for the ATLAS the pursuit of knowledge is what I gardens. This was followed by a detector, one of the four main enjoy about Physics.” traditional Swiss meal consisting detectors in operation around of a cheese fondue and an the Large Hadron Collider The staff and pupils also enjoyed opportunity to play a traditional particle accelerator.