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From the Headmaster: M. Turner, M.A.

Newsletter 6 2007-8 March 2008

Dear Parents

I am delighted to have this opportunity to write to you at the end of the shortest second half of the Lent term on record. The phrase ‘quart into a pint pot’ springs to mind!

I thought I would give you a few words of information about the impact of the Charities Act 2006 on independent schools, which seems to have been commanding a large number of column inches in the press, and has been the question raised by many of you when I have been involved in informal discussions during recent parents’ evenings.

As is widely known, is a charitable trust. Our history, stretching back through the Assisted Places Scheme, Direct Grant Scheme, four centuries as the town Grammar School to the original bequest of Abbot John de Blosneville in 1256, amply demonstrates that we have always aimed to provide a rigorous academic education to boys from all backgrounds within our extensive catchment area. Since the abolition of the Direct Grant system in 1976, however, we have been entirely dependent on fees and fundraising as our only significant forms of income.

Recent guidelines issued by the Charities Commission suggest that the tax benefits we enjoy as a charity will no longer be automatic. They will only be available if the charity can demonstrate a public benefit. There is still a debate running as to exactly how a charity can demonstrate public benefit, but we believe Abingdon is extremely well placed to do so. For almost a decade we have means-tested our scholarships, which has allowed us to allocate more funds towards bursaries, to help subsidise places on a basis of need. In addition, we have been very keen indeed to make our facilities available to the local community – the Amey Theatre being an excellent example of this. We have also been energetic in initiating a whole host of opportunities to help support the excellent work that goes on in many of our local maintained primary schools. We are for instance keen to sponsor ‘science days’, classics days and other events which have proved to be extremely popular. This is an appropriate moment to thank the chemistry department for the excellent demonstration they provided on 12 March for children in local maintained schools. Of course we hope that our new Sports Centre facilities, once completed, will prove to be of benefit to the broader Abingdon community as a whole. In addition, we have recently advertised for the first time two 100% bursaries to extend the possibility of boys coming to Abingdon from any socio-economic background. It is also perhaps worth mentioning in passing that in some years the School raises over £50,000 in support of various charities, including our own links with schools in economically deprived areas such as Moldova. Inevitably there will be growing interest as time goes by to see exactly how the Charity Commission works with schools on the issue of public benefit. In the meantime, we have adopted a position of confidence – I hope not complacency – as to where we stand on the issue.

Scholarships and ASEE exams. Over the course of the last few weeks we have conducted our entrance tests for the first year 2008 and scholarship exams for entry to the third year 2008. I am 2 delighted to report strong fields in both cases. The take-up of offers of places at first year has been rapid - we are already full. In the scholarship field, 43 strong candidates from approximately fourteen prep schools have also indicated some excellent potential for the future.

You will also read in the music section about the appointments of music scholars – again, from a very strong field.

Headmaster’s Appraisal. Many thanks indeed to the random 10% sample of parents who were contacted by external appraiser Graham Jones, appointed by the Governors as part of my ‘quinquennial review’. I can report that although I went into the process with a little trepidation, I have come out of it with increased confidence and a great deal of reassurance at the depth of support for the direction that the School is taking at the moment.

Revision leave Fifth year Revision leave begins Saturday 10 May, 5.15 pm Lower sixth Revision leave begins Tuesday 13 May, 5.15 pm Upper sixth Revision leave begins at the start of half term

If a fifth, lower sixth or upper sixth pupil has an afternoon public examination outside the dates for study leave, he may be excused lessons in the morning. Fourth year pupils doing early-take GCSEs may miss the two periods before lunch. Boys who have a morning examination are expected to attend school for the whole of the previous day, for both lessons and other half commitments.

Any boy on the premises during normal teaching times must report to the room(s) designated for revision. For the sixth form this is the upper sixth study hall. Rooms for other year groups will be listed in Lower Corridor. Boys should think carefully about which lessons they would be missing by taking time to revise on the morning of a public examination.

Lower sixth programme after study leave. All lower sixth return on Monday 9 June at 8.30 am, when A2 courses begin. Boys are expected to continue to attend classes in all the subjects in which they have been registered until the end of term. Discussions happen in the final weeks of term to decide on a provisional upper sixth programme for each boy. In some instances this needs to be modified in the light of the examination results received in August. Programmes are finalised at the start of the .

Internal examinations Fourth year Wednesday 7 to Tuesday 13 May inclusive Third year Saturday 14 to Wednesday 18 June Second and first years Thursday 12 to Friday 13 June inclusive

Access arrangements, for those entitled to them, will be in place for all internal examinations (for example by provision of extra time and use of word processors).

Public examination dates and times. A full list of the dates and times of the Summer 2008 public examinations is available on the website: www.abingdon.org.uk and then select examinations timetable from the news menu.

Lower sixth and university visits in the summer term 2008. The lower sixth return from examination leave on the morning of Monday 9 June. For the following ten school days they will 3 pursue A2 courses with the minimum of disruptions from other activities. University visits, which can often take place in holidays or over the half-term break, should be avoided before the end of term, but may be arranged by agreement with your son’s tutor for dates after Monday 23 June. Your son will need to complete an official form requesting the absence more than a week in advance of his proposed visit.

Annual Art Exhibitions. The Art department will be holding a viewing of its annual exhibition of GCSE and Upper Sixth work on Thursday 22 May, 6 - 8.30 pm. We very much hope parents and friends of Upper Sixth and GCSE students will want to come but of course anyone else who is interested would be most welcome. As usual there should be an impressive display of work across a wide range of media: painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and graphics. The exhibition of Upper Sixth work will be on for some time but this will be the only opportunity to see the GCSE displays. For further information please contact [email protected]

Edmund Society Lectures. Forthcoming lectures are ‘Was Shakespeare a Catholic?’ from Clare Asquith (Viscountess Asquith) on Tuesday 18 March, and ‘Divinities and Infinities’ by the Revd John Puddlefoot, Deputy Head (Curriculum) and former Head of Mathematics at , on Tuesday 22 April. All are welcome to attend – at 5.15 pm in the Charles Maude Room.

Law and Ethics Society. The first meeting of this new society took place on 4 March. Its aim is to provide a forum for the Upper School boys interested either in studying law at university, the British legal system or having a career in the law. They will have a chance to listen and talk to lawyers and legal academics from University on a monthly basis.

World Challenge training weekend. Thirty-nine fifth and sixth year boys travelled to Buxton in the Peak District for a training weekend in preparation for the expedition to the Indian Himalaya in July. Despite the cold and windy weather, everyone enjoyed the weekend and learnt many useful skills, including practice river crossings and how to deal with other emergency situations. All the boys performed well. Many thanks to Mr Barker, Mr Brenchley and Mr Cotton for accompanying the boys.

Sixth Form Study Trip to Paris, 16-20 February. Over the half term holiday, fifteen lower and upper sixth boys travelled with Mrs Slatford and Mr Loughe to Paris from the recently opened St Pancras International terminal. They enjoyed a packed itinerary, taking in several places of interest that tied in with the course content of AS and A2 French, whilst managing to visit some of the many popular tourist hot spots of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A similar trip will be run in two years' time.

History trip. The History Department ran a very successful trip to Dublin over the first weekend of half-term. Eleven sixth form students together with Mr Phelan and Mr McGill visited various sights over the three days. The focus of the trip was the Easter Rising of 1916 and the ensuing War of Independence, and the group visited Kilmainham Gaol and the Michael Collins barracks to learn about the conflict. There was also the chance to sample some of Ireland's most famous export at the Guinness Storehouse and to enjoy some traditional Irish music at the famous Temple Bar. The trip was both fun and educational and the students should now have a better appreciation of the complexities of Irish history in the run up to A2 exams.

Scholarships. Following the recent music auditions at Abingdon, the following awards have been made:

Sawbridge Scholarships: 4

Andrew Doll Abingdon (formerly ) Joseph Ereaut Abingdon (formerly Wantage CE Primary School) Anthony Lloyd Abingdon (formerly Middle Barton County Primary School) Jack May Abingdon (formerly Our Lady’s Junior School) Lewis Spring New College School Humphrey Thompson New College School

Exhibitions: Henry Binning Moulsford Preparatory School Jacopo Blumberg The Gerald Chan Queen Elizabeth School, Hong Kong Owen Hallett Our Lady’s Junior School Christopher Mears Abingdon (formerly St Nicolas Primary School) Ian Middleton Abingdon (formerly Goring CE Primary School) Jonathan Moloney New College School William Plumb Hatherop Castle School Charles Pope Magdalen College School Jack Tinker Abingdon (formerly Wantage CE Primary School)

Community Service. On 11 March an Easter tea party was held in the dining room. We were delighted to welcome the residents of Cygnet Court, Old Station House, Lady Eleanor Court and the members of the Older and Bolder group. Abingdon Academicals and the Music in the Community Group entertained them and there was a raffle of Easter eggs. This is the last time that the current upper sixth will organise the party and thanks were given by Mrs MacClellan to them for their marvellous service to the community. The Music in the Community Group have also visited Lady Eleanor Court and Old Station House, and the third year Drama Group performed at Old Station House. John Coleby has been helping at 35 Ock Street, and James Lloyd troubleshoots ICT problems for members of Trinity URC church congregation.

Own Clothes Day raised an impressive £1,500 for charity (for the Afghan Connection, a group of Abingdon charities and Asha, a charity in India that works to improve life in the slums in Delhi). Forthcoming charity events are the Junior Football Competition on Thursday 20 March, the Senior Football Competition on Wednesday 7 May, and Junior Abingdon's Got Talent on Friday 9 May.

Film Unit News. It has been an exciting and successful term for the Film Unit. All current members of the Unit are working at full stretch to deliver their new films in time for the Annual Screening in the Amey Theatre on Thursday 8 May at 7.30pm.

Congratulations to Matthew Copson and Patrick Reece in the fifth year, whose film The Underground Village – a documentary produced last year about the Annesley mining community in Nottinghamshire – has been selected to compete for the £250 prize in the National Young Filmmakers' Award taking place on Saturday 29 March as part of Leeds Young People's Film Festival. Further good news came when we learned that Gravel and Stones, the Film Unit’s recent documentary about disabled people in Cambodia, has been selected for the London International Documentary Festival (LIDF). This is a prestigious festival and a significant honour for the film’s makers. Gravel and Stones will be screened at the Curzon Cinema on Shaftesbury Avenue on Tuesday 1 April at 6 pm. For details of how to secure tickets, please visit the LIDF website (http://www.pocketvisions.co.uk/lidf/) or the relevant page of the Curzon Cinema website (http://www.curzoncinemas.com/). The film has already won praise in high places.

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Finally, a French DVD manufacturer and distributor, Doriane Films, has approached the Unit about the commercial release of the film on DVD in France, so the film that Abingdon pupils, parents, staff and generously helped to make a reality may soon be reaching a very wide audience indeed.

Drama. It has been an immensely busy term for the School’s dramatists, too, with extra-curricular productions for pupils in first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth years. Audiences in the Amey Theatre were treated to the world premiere of a piece created by the performers themselves (Sgt Pepper’s Children), and to another established classic (Lionel Bart’s musical Oliver!). The current third year will be taking part in another new production next term: Teens is another new piece that will focus in a lighthearted way on the perils and delights of being a teenager in the 21st century.

The School’s first drama scholarship was awarded in the week after half term. Joe Westcott, currently a pupil at Abingdon Preparatory School, secured this distinction ahead of a field of very talented young men, and will be coming to Abingdon next September, making the prospects for productions at third year level a really exciting prospect.

Other highlights next term include opportunities to catch the pre-Edinburgh Fringe previews of FxP2 in Trouble! – the last show from our talented trio of maverick comedians, Patrick Appleton, Paddy Gervers and Finlay Taylor, supported by Joe Buckley and Kate Shlugman. Again, details will follow in the drama newsletter at the start of next term.

The exam season for Theatre Studies has already been in full swing. The fifth year GCSE students performed four devised pieces in the Amey Theatre at the beginning of March, and duly impressed the visiting moderators, and in the last week of term the upper sixth will be tackling seven productions of well-known plays in the studio theatre at St Helen’s. These are Dr Faustus, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Art, Under Milk Wood, Closer and Tartarus. For times and tickets, please call the St Helen’s office on 01235 520173.

Finally, Julius Green OA, the theatre producer who helped to secure the Lyric Theatre for A Celebration of Abingdon Theatre in December 2006, has now helped us with another initiative – the inaugural Abingdon Drama Dinner. Initially aimed at our upper sixth Theatre Studies students, the primary aim of this event on Friday 9 May will be to offer our leading actors the chance to talk to professionals from several areas of theatre life about careers in theatre and how to break into them. We hope that this will become an annual event.

Music

Singing Masterclass. On 27 February, a dozen of our top singers took part in a singing masterclass with internationally renowned operatic tenor, Robert Tear. The event was an enormous success and his offer to return for a similar event in future years augurs well for the future of singing at the School.

Oliver! The Junior Drama Club production of Oliver! took place on 28 and 29 February. Congratulations to all those who supported this production, the actors, directors, the technical crew and the musicians who gave up their time to support it.

Pangbourne College Charity Concert. This inter-schools charity concert took place on 1 March. Abingdon sent along its First Orchestra to join seven other schools in a big charity fund- raising event for the Children's Trust, that supports children who have suffered life-threatening disabilities as a result of accident or illness. The concert was a big commitment for Abingdon musicians, many of whom had morning school and sports fixtures beforehand. The First Orchestra 6 played wonderfully well and set a high standard at the start of the concert. More than £5,000 was raised for the Children’s Trust. Congratulations and thanks to you all.

National Chamber Music Festival. We are delighted that five chamber ensembles won through to the semi-finals of the National Festival of Chamber Music. They competed at Wycombe Abbey School and a trio of Adrian Lo (viola), Anthony Lloyd (flute) and Joe Mason (piano) was selected to play at the National Finals in London on Sunday 16 March.

Chapel Choir. The Chapel Choir journeyed to Worcester Cathedral on 6 March to sing Evensong in a service that included Greene’s Anthem Lord let me know mine end.

Associated Board Music Examinations. This term there were four days of Associated Board music examinations, including some eighty candidates, fifteen of them at grade 8 level. We look forward to their results with eager anticipation.

Alexander Technique. We are delighted to announce that the Music Department will have a visiting Alexander Technique teacher from next term. On the same basis as music lessons, Ms Azize Stirling will be giving 30 minute lessons in this technique which promotes an understanding of good body posture and habits, essential to good musical performance. We have some pupils already signed up, but any parents interested in a course of lessons for their son should contact the Director of Music.

CCF. Major David Carson is handing over as Contingent Commander of the Abingdon School Combined Cadet Force in May, to Captain Joss Williams. Many thanks to Major Carson for his excellent leadership over the last seven years.

The CCF has had a very busy second half of term, with a survival training exercise in Wiltshire on the weekend of 7-9 March with 39 cadets attending. This was followed by the field day on 12 March for the whole contingent. They deploy on their Easter Recruit and Ai Cadre Camp on Good Friday (21 March) which runs until Saturday 29 March at Knook Camp on Salisbury Plain with 80 Cadets attending.

Sport

Badminton. After waiting for a number of years we have finally played two neighbours, Cokethorpe and Magdalen College School, as well as the familiar pattern of schools in the area and further afield. B and C teams visited and prevailed nearly as comprehensively as the full strength team did last term. A mostly B and U16 team beat Wellington College. We were able to play mixed matches against schools in Oxfordshire (as usual in combination with St Helen’s School), and U19 boys’ matches against and in the rump of the old Oxfordshire Schools’ League.

The matches against Magdalen College School were at U14 and U16 level for the honour of representing Oxfordshire independent schools against the Oxfordshire State Schools Sports Partnership. This year the Inter-house Badminton Competition was held at the White Horse Leisure Centre in Abingdon. In the Upper School competition, Webb’s were comfortable winners of group A and Older’s won a tight game against Phelps’ 22-20 to come second in the group. From group B, School and Crescent qualified for the semi-finals. Both semi-finals were well fought: Webb’s won 15-14, 15-8 over Crescent, and Older’s came through a nail-biting three set match against School, winning 19-17 in the crucial final set. Webb’s (Jun Tao and Tim Middleton) were the overall winners

7 for the second year in a row, beating Older’s (Alex Smith and Richard Lai) comprehensively in the final.

Cross Country. At the County Championships on 5 February the U17s and U15s won first place in their events over a familiar but arduous course at . While there were exceptional individual performances, it was the collective talent and resolve of each team that really stood out. The U19s' last race saw them scoring a strong second place. A large number of boys were selected to represent Oxfordshire at the All England Race in March.

At the Radley Relays on 7 February the U19s put on a very brave performance in the face of very strong opposition, to score fifth place overall. The U17s ran an excellent race and dominated the field, scoring first place with strong individual performances from Alexander Muir, Thomas Watkins, Tom Foxon and Michel Baumgart. The U15s scored what would have been for them a disappointing second place. Nevertheless, race experience will eventually help them avoid such close calls.

At the Six Schools at Marlborough College on 28 February, the U17s and U15s competed for the second time this term at the classic cross-country course of Marlborough College. Both teams did brilliantly yet again, with exceptional performances from Alexander Muir, who won his division, and Alistair Duff who came third overall in his. Mention should go to George Kaye who ran well in his debut race of the season.

Alistair Duff has qualified for the National Cross Country Championships in Nottingham next weekend, running for Oxfordshire.

Fencing. William Fotherby, who is now entitled to wear the official GB tracksuit, captained the England under 16 team in a home international and won gold. From 4-9 March he competed in the European Under 17 Fencing Championships, held in Rovigo, Italy. It was an excellent competition for him, with over 600 fencers at the event from 32 countries. William fenced well and ended the competition ranked 47th in Europe. He also fenced in the GB team with a good win over Austria. The experience will stand him in good stead for his bid to fence in next year's U17 European and World Championships.

Hockey. The hockey club has enjoyed one of its best seasons on record, demonstrating real strength in depth. The 1st XI have played 9, won 8 in school games, most recently beating Bradfield 5-4 despite trailing 4-1 at half time. The U14s have also secured impressive results and the County title to boot.

Karate. On 16 February Oliver Verdon competed in the South Regional KUGB Karate Championships. He came first in novice to 4th kyu kata, and he also came third in the age 16-17 open belt category kumite (match sparring/fighting). This was a particularly impressive achievement.

Rowing: Schools Head of the River Results. Tuesday 4 March proved to be a fruitful day for the Boat Club, as five of the six crews racing achieved top three finishes in their respective divisions. The 1st VIII produced a strong performance; starting from third place, they quickly overtook hometown rivals Radley and surged to an excellent second place, three seconds behind Shrewsbury and pleasingly one second ahead of Eton. The 2nd VIII felt they had a good row, holding off St Paul’s 2nd VIII, to come in tenth in their respective division.

The J16A eight started with vigour as the first boat in their division and they soon made gains on the King’s Chester crew who went off after them. King’s Chester pulled back on them but Abingdon held off sufficiently to secure the third fastest time, one second ahead of King’s Chester. Eton’s J16s stole 8 the show in the J16 event and laid down the marker as the crew to beat in 80 days’ time at the National Schools’ Regatta. The Eton J16B crew also won their event, with Abingdon’s J16B crew having to settle for third place.

The J15A & B eights raced superbly with the As coming in third and the Bs second in their respective divisions. Their result is even more impressive as they have only been rowing sweep oar for a month and a half due to flooding, in comparison with numerous opposition schools now moving to a three- term rowing programme. Hampton and Westminster shared the honours in the A event, with Abingdon only three seconds shy.

Way Back Home. On Friday 18 April there is an evening of Soul and Fusion, brought to you by Funk Lore and a coalition Big Band. This is Funk Lore’s official leavers’ concert. The show will consist of different styles of jazz ranging from blues and funk to post bop and swing. The event will begin at 7.30 pm in the CMR; drinks will be sold at the bar from 7.00 pm. We hope to create an evening of lively, informal entertainment. The event will be in aid of Emmaus Oxford. Special guests include: Andy Bush, Jeremy Taylor and Kate Hawkins.

Griffen Ball. Tickets are now available for this exciting event, so do make haste and book your table. Special attractions include dodgems, a bouncy castle and a casino, and the evening promises to be every bit as good as in previous years.

Car sharing. TASS is currently exploring the idea of launching a website-based car sharing initiative and would like to gauge the amount of interest that such a scheme would generate. It is proposed that any parents who are interested in sharing lifts to and from School would register their interest via the TASS page on the web site to a central contact who would then 'match' people up who could share. It should be stressed, however, that car-sharing should only be used for those who live off the Abingdon bus route circuit. Anyone who would like to sign up for such a scheme should go to www.abingdon.org.uk/go/tass and register their interest.

Dates for next term: Exeat Friday 2 May, 5.15pm to Tuesday 6 May, 8.30am First year parents' evening Monday 19 May Leavers' Day and Prize-giving Saturday 28 June Griffen Ball Saturday 28 June

In that the term finishes on Maundy Thursday, may I take this opportunity to wish you a happy and peaceful Easter break. Yours sincerely,

Enc. Griffen Ball flyer and ticket order form Music calendar