BROMSGROVIAN 2020 1 BROMSGROVIAN Contents Editorial 3 Headmaster’s Introduction 4 Pre-Prep and Prep Introduction 5 Pre-Preparatory School 6 Preparatory School 20 Senior School 40 Activities 92 Trips and Tours 148 The Arts 156 Sport 184 Staff Leavers 228 2 3 BROMSGROVIAN BROMSGROVIAN Editorial ‘The New Normal’ - a phrase that has Although we were not able to hold sports been banded around by politicians, days in person, perform plays on the medical professionals and the media has Cobham stage or continue with House become synonymous with the coronavirus competitions, The Bromsgrovian 2020 pandemic of 2020. Little did we know, showcases the resilience and ingenuity when the clock struck midnight on 1st of our Bromsgrovian community in ways I January 2020 that our School, along never thought possible when I was writing with many other institutions around the this exact same editorial at this exact same country, would be forced to close and go time last year. From virtual challenges that into lockdown in March for more than saw whole families joining in, and online three months. Even during the School’s assemblies where Prep and Pre-Prep evacuation to Wales during World War children sang their hearts out, to the same Two, Bromsgrove was able to continue ‘as songs they had been singing in School just normal’. Despite all of the challenges that weeks before, to the ways in which our we have faced over these months, and staff were creative and thoughtful with end many of us should remember that we are of year presentations for their leavers. still luckier than most, our Bromsgrove pupils and staff have stepped up to the As Vincent Van Gogh said, “Normality is a challenge of online learning and working paved road; It’s comfortable to walk, but from home. no flowers grow.” And, although it might not have been very comfortable at times, our pupils have certainly blossomed and grown, not only in stature but also in new ways of thinking, working and living. This is the new (ab)normal and you have risen to the challenge. Enjoy this 2020 edition. Megan Griffiths Editor 4 5 BROMSGROVIAN BROMSGROVIAN Headmaster’s Prep and Pre-Prep Headmistress’ Overview Introduction This academic year has been a unique The Year 8 pupils have truly been a In preparation for my Prizegiving speech, I one. Never in my many years of teaching wonderful group of young men and was planning to end with a quotation from What words can close a year that seemed did I ever think schools would be closed women. I would have dearly loved to have Mark Twain for the Year 8 leavers, which I determined to close itself? and that the world would appear to had the opportunity to celebrate their use now: have stopped turning. Yet, despite all achievements with them all in person and Much of Bromsgrove’s charm, not to the turmoil, confusion, anxiety and to tell them what a special group of people “Twenty years from now, you will be more mention its success, lies in its traditional uncertainty, Bromsgrove Preparatory and they have been throughout their time in disappointed by the things that you didn’t rhythms. The familiar, seasonal sequences Pre-Preparatory Schools have continued to the Preparatory School. The loss of our do than by the ones you did do, so throw that tap out a tempo to each successive flourish. The staff embraced new methods annual Prizegiving and Speech Day, in off the bowlines, sail away from safe term. As Spring began to make its of teaching and the pupils have, as I both the Pre-Preparatory and Preparatory harbour, catch the trade winds in your presence felt this year, goal posts came always knew they would, engaged with Schools, is a sad time for our entire School sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” down to be replaced by cricket wickets. their lessons, demonstrated resilience and community. The younger pupils have had Public examinations loomed and revision enthusiastically participated in challenges excellent role models in Year 8 and none I wish the Year 8 leavers every continued commenced in earnest. Summer camps and activities. more so than my outstanding Heads of success. and trips were booked, end-of-year School. Head Girl Isabelle Kavanagh, concerts planned, and thoughts turned Working with children is a privilege and Head Boy Bobby Riley, Deputy Head Jacqui Deval-Reed to prizegiving and the celebrations of there is nothing as important as helping a Girl Teah Petrova and Deputy Head Boy Headmistress of Prep and Pre-Prep Commemoration Day. child to grow as an individual, to develop Darcy Dines have proven to be the most skills that will steer them through life in impressive of young people; they each Then came the global pandemic and, an ever changing world, and to challenge personify a true Bromsgrovian. It has been although Lent finally did give way to the them to make the very most of their unique my pleasure to work closely with them this Summer Term as normal, all else was talents. year and I thank them for their time, hard turned on its head. Momentously, the work and commitment to their roles. national lockdown forced the School to The staff in both schools work tirelessly to close, with lessons migrating online as ensure that every child fulfils their potential; one end-of-year tradition after another that every child enjoys learning and that was wiped from the calendar. No every child is given the opportunity to do public examinations, no prizegiving, no their best and to flourish within a safe Commemoration Day. and caring community. Even during the Summer Term, this has been evident, and It would be easy to dwell upon those The second reason not to consider the Let this issue of The Bromsgrovian stand I thank my colleagues for their care of your losses. To rue the way that the pandemic disruption of the Summer Term as a then, as a testament to tenacity, optimism, children. I am filled with an enormous assaulted our School identity, separating calamity is that it served to highlight the innovation, and empathy. A record of a sense of pride. The family ethos and us at the very moment when we usually very fabric of the School family. Despite singular year in the School’s long history, nurturing environment within Bromsgrove, unite in shared celebration. Easy to focus the challenges that their own families yet one from which we emerged unbowed. and the warmth that everyone associates upon regret, but also shortsighted, for two faced during lock-down, our selfless and Shielded from the pandemic by the best with us, is of immense value. reasons. dedicated teachers focussed upon making of antidotes; unity and the momentum of sure that their pupils lost no ground, 500+ years of educational aspiration. Although our physical time in School this Firstly, disruption in the final term did seamlessly delivering engaging online year has been cut short, The Bromsgrovian not negate all the gains made during the lessons. Our pupils in turn, responded 2019/20 may have been an extraordinary offers a glimpse of the many exciting events rest of the academic year. This edition with remarkable resilience and maturity year at Bromsgrove, but then again, isn’t that the children have enjoyed. Sports of the Bromsgrovian attests to that. It is in their virtual classrooms. And through every year? tournaments, drama productions, concerts, packed with the usual harvest of team their loyalty and generous encouragement, trips out, themed days and art exhibitions triumphs, individual accolades, initiatives our parents supported those endeavours. Peter Clague are just a few. Please enjoy browsing and achievements from every section of Although dispersed and disrupted, the Headmaster through the following pages to see the the School. COVID-19 may have been a School family was drawn even closer wealth of opportunities that your children blight on its final months, but the rest of together, united in our shared ideals. have experienced. the year still produced a bumper crop of success. Just as I encouraged the This busy academic year has now drawn to graduates of 2020 not to allow themselves an end and so we reflect on the memorable to be defined by this unexpected bump in moments we have experienced. We also their educational careers, so too must we say goodbye to our impressive Year 8 ensure that our archives record that the leavers and wish them every success in School’s accomplishments far outnumber the Senior School, and welcome the Year its disappointments. 2 pupils into the Preparatory School for another exciting year. 6 7 BROMSGROVIAN BROMSGROVIAN For our Enchanted Wood topic, the children engaged in various imaginary play activities. They delivered a fantastic performance to parents where they sang beautifully, danced to songs and performed with confidence. In PE, the children developed balance and coordination by using low and high level apparatus, as well as listening and movement skills through our Music and Movement sessions. We have studied growth in our environment and the children have been very keen to plant flowers and seeds to decorate our outside space. During the first half of the Summer Term, our virtual School continued at home. Despite the circumstances, it was wonderful to see so many inventive tasks completed, from making human sundials to creating story bags and rain collectors. The children enjoyed listening to songs and stories and they continued their Nursery learning with enthusiasm. Topics covered during the second half Nursery children began the year talking We celebrated Diwali and listened of the term included Under the Sea and about themselves and their family.