LIFELENT2018 Our World Cup winner ISI Inspection ‘excellent’ rating A special visit from a FIFA U17 World Cup champion First Form tech whizz goes viral A stellar Government Inspector production An outstanding Autumn Collection concert Trips galore and much more… sport Football’sCallum coming home Old Whitgiftian, Callum Hudson-Odoi, recently highlighted by The Guardian in the ‘60 of the best young talents in world football’ list, enjoyed jubilant celebrations in October, after defeating Spain 5-2 in the FIFA U17 World Cup Final. Following a 3-1 win against Brazil academic development, Callum in the semi-final, England found joined a group of (very excited) themselves facing their old rivals Upper First Form footballers in the closing match, hosted in in the Marlar Halls. Director India. Many of the team had of Sport, Mr Alistair Osborne, featured in the U17 European introduced him to the boys, Championship final, in May, impressing upon them that in when Spain had beaten England addition to Callum’s natural on penalties. England found talent, part of his success to date themselves 2-0 down early in the has been down to his willingness game, but came back after half to apply himself, the respect he time scoring five without reply, shows his coaches, and being with Callum taking the role of a good example to his peers. chief goal creator. Callum was then surprised with a video featuring his sporting Callum joined Whitgift in 2012, highlights whilst at Whitgift. A having been with the Chelsea Q&A session followed, where Academy since the age of eight. he recounted his best memories He played a significant part in of Whitgift (winning trophies!) Whitgift’s Investec Independent and he gave some great advice Schools Football Association to the boys: be well-behaved, (ISFA) Cup glory. In 2013, his work hard, enjoy your football, long-range goal in the final and make the most of the led Whitgift to a 5-0 win. The opportunities available to you. following year, Callum scored a hat-trick, thus ensuring a fourth Callum met up with his consecutive ISFA U13 victory for classmates, now in Lower the School. Callum left Whitgift Sixth Form, and headed to in 2015 – having scored an Edridge Field to enjoy an U13 exceptional 113 goals in three ISFA Round 3 match between years for the School – to pursue a Whitgift and Brighton College. full-time career with Chelsea FC. His presence was definitely a lucky charm for the day: they In November, Callum visited won 7-0! Whitgift to meet staff and boys wishing to congratulate him on his World Cup win. During this visit, after meeting key staff involved in his sporting and ‘Callum took the role of chief goal creator’ Mark Hakansson / Getty Images 2 WHITGIFT LIFE WHITGIFT LIFE 3 news ‘Excellent’ Whitgift The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) carried out an inspection of Whitgift in May 2017. The results were published in June and the School was delighted with the outcome. The Compliance Report required a straightforward pass/fail mark, and we are very pleased to confirm that every area of the School passed inspection. The Educational Quality Report findings serve as a superb commendation for the School, reflecting as they do the outstanding quality of Whitgift’s overall provision. Staff and students can be truly proud of their achievements. Academic Highlighting the superb all-round In the two categories on which ability of Whitgift students, a the School was assessed, we Highlights total of 51 boys achieved 9 A* obtained the top rating of grades or better, of which 19 Excellent, in both the quality Whitgift students had great exam students obtained straight A*s in of pupils’ achievements and success across IB, A Level, BTEC all of their subjects. The strength the quality of their personal and GCSE examinations in 2017. of the year group as a whole can development. It is a testament The IB cohort achieved fantastic be seen by the 90 pupils who to the hard work of all the staff results, the students performing managed to achieve a straight set and pupils at Whitgift that exceptionally well to achieve of A*/A grades. the key findings of the report an average score of 39.7 points. acknowledge not only that pupils’ Luke Hatteland-Dunn and Milo The Headmaster and the achievement is outstanding Basak Whitbread both scored staff at Whitgift would like to across a wide range of activities, the maximum total of 45 points; congratulate all boys on their but also that the relationships of an extra special accomplishment achievement. The boys can be pupils with each other and staff given that last year, only 146 very proud of these results and display a high degree of respect candidates in the world managed we wish them all the very best in and tolerance, also reflecting an this incredible feat. Whitgift their future studies. appreciation of diversity. achieved the top IB results of any all-boys school in the UK The following statement and were 7th best overall in the encapsulates the findings of league tables. the report: “The excellent achievement of pupils is 86.4% of all A Level grades were underpinned by the commitment awarded at A*/B. These impressive of leadership, management results are testament to the and governance to ensuring hard work and determination an environment of ambitious of students and staff, and most expectation which promotes in students were able to secure pupils the desire to aim high and their first-choice university. work for success.” Whitgift will continue to strive for excellence Following on from the Sixth in all aspects of school life. Form results, Upper Fifth ‘Staff and students can be truly Form students achieved an A*/A success rate of 84%, in their GCSE and IGCSE exams. proud of their achievements’ 4 WHITGIFT LIFE WHITGIFT LIFE 5 news Pizza the action Upper Sixth General Studies In the Sixth Form Centre, boys focused on practical ‘life skills’ were ably taught by Mr Peach in the Michaelmas Term. Every and the Maintenance team about two weeks, students have been plumbing, electrics and carpentry. enjoying a variety of activities: After interactive sessions on pizza-making with local company, problems like wiring a plug, boys the Pizza Project; (practising) were given the task of building saving lives on a first aid course; new flat-pack furniture for their self-defence martial arts; and Common Room. various DIY skills with Mr Stuart Peach, Head of Maintenance at In Big School, boys were taken Whitgift, and his department. through vital first aid skills with Nurse Practitioner Josephine Pizza Project delighted the Tyrell. They learnt the basics boys (and staff) with their two of dealing with breaks, critical wood-fired ovens built into a wounds and resuscitation Land Rover. They taught the techniques. students about the dough-making process, from the sourdough The most energetic session was ‘starter’ through to the best reserved for martial arts and part of the session, firing their self-defence. Devon Ffrench pizzas in the oven and then and David Sagoe put the boys devouring them! through their paces. STEM problem-solving The annual Lower Third Form The last challenge was set by to fellow students and staff. We wait with anticipation to see STEM challenge consists of the charity, Practical Action, Head of STEM, Mr Matthew what the remainder of Lower Third Science, Technology, Engineering with the aim of addressing Taylor, announced, “I’m glad to Formers create in the Lent Term.” and Mathematics -based the problems faced by tomato say that the Lower Third Form projects. Half the students in growers in Nepal. Tomatoes students more than stepped up this year group took part over are grown at high altitude and to the challenge of taking on the the Michaelmas Term, and the have to be painstakingly carried technically-complex projects, second half will do the same in down the mountain by hand. The with many staff agreeing it was the Trinity Term. The students boys investigated a variety of the most successful group of were able to choose from a mechanical methods to quickly projects they had seen. Everyone variety of topics: Bridge Building, and safely bring the tomatoes who attended the presentations Chemical Clock, Codebreaking, down a mountain without was able to vote for which they Coin Sorter, Hydraulic Arm, squashing them. deemed to be the ’best project’. Hydro Power, Make Your Own The winner of this accolade was Ecosystem, Raspberry Pi, and The project culminated with all the Hydraulic Arm group, closely Squashed Tomato Challenge. groups presenting their projects followed by Hydro Power. 6 WHITGIFT LIFE WHITGIFT LIFE 7 performing arts In October, Upper Sixth Form students George Jaques, Macauley Keeper and Harry Seager, along with former Whitgiftians Gus Flind-Henry and Byron Easmon, Passion play performed in three sold-out performances of Dilate. The play, by Athenaeum Theatre including Sam Webber and Oscar been a professional actor since (and now at RADA studying enterprising 17-year-old’s first foray – which helps educate young To find out more about Company, is a cautionary tale Nicholson) and soon expanded a young age), have appeared in Technical Theatre), did a fantastic as a playwright came about in 2016 people, parents and schools Athenaeum Theatre Company or about youth drug culture. to welcome other young people numerous Whitgift productions, job as Dilate’s Technical Director. when he wrote Promises – featuring about drug and alcohol issues – to donate to the Daniel Spargo- The company, which focuses with a passion for acting, all aged including Hamlet, Spamalot, George, Macauley and Harry – as to bring the Dilate message to a Mabbs Foundation, please visit on current issues relevant to between 15 and 18.