ContentsArts The Foundation of King Edward VI Headmaster’s Report 2 or The King’s School Hail & Farewell 3 in Macclesfield, Cheshire Arts 7 Founded by Sir John Percyvale, Kt, by his Will dated 25th January, 1502-03 Re-established by Charter of King Edward VI, Sciences 12 dated 26th April, 1552 Governing Body Chairman: Clubs & Societies 17 W A Bromley-Davenport Esq Vice Chairman: R F May Esq School Trips 18 Co-optative Governors: S R Bosworth Esq, OBE, BA, D Litt (Hon), 21 Edgeway, Wilmslow W A Bromley-Davenport Esq, The Kennels, Capesthorne, Macclesfield Variae 23 P F Cotterell Esq, BSc, 30 Barracks Lane, Macclesfield Mrs H D Densem, BA, Old Hall Cottage, Birtles, Macclesfield J D Gartside Esq, BA, CEng, 19 The Mount, Congleton Rugby 26 H R Harrison Esq, 15 Brookfield Avenue, Poynton, Stockport Dr G C Hirst, MB, ChB, White Cottage, Upcast Lane, Alderley Edge Hockey 32 R F May Esq, BA, Long Ridge, Sutton, Macclesfield J K Pickup, Esq, BA, LLB, Trafford House, 49 Trafford Road, Alderley Edge W Riordan Esq, BA, 7 Elm Rise, Prestbury, Macclesfield Cricket 37 Dr J Rosamond, MA, DPhil, 2 Taunton Close, Hazel Grove, Stockport Ex-Officio Governor: The Worship the Mayor of Macclesfield Other Sport Representative Governors Athletics 44 Appointed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Chester Basketball 45 Sir Richard Baker Wilbraham, Bt, DL, Rode Hall, Scholar Green Biathlon 45 Appointed by Cheshire County Council J P Findlow Esq, LLB, Kandersteg, Broad Walk, Prestbury, Macclesfield Cross-Country 46 Appointed by Macclesfield Borough Council Football 46 J K Jackson Esq, 10 Woodlands Road, Handforth Netball 47 Mrs D M Millett, 3 Orchard Crescent, Nether Alderley Rounders 48 Appointed by the Rt Revd the Lord Bishop of Chester G E Sparrow Esq, MC, TD, DL, The Wall House, Birtles, Nr Macclesfield Swimming 48 Appointed by the Council of the Victoria University, Manchester Tennis 49 Professor F M Burdekin, MA, PhD, F Eng, FRS, 27 Springbank, Bollington, Macclesfield Officers of the Foundation Bursar & Clerk to the Governors: Appendices D O Smith, MInstAM, MIMgt 1 Staff List 50 Solicitors: 2 Examination Results 53 Messrs Daniels, County Chambers, 6 Chestergate, Macclesfield Auditors: 3 Former Pupils 56 Messrs Josolyne & Co, Chartered Accountants, Macclesfield 4 Higher Education 57 Bankers: 5 Awards & Prizes 60 National Westminster Bank PLC, Macclesfield 6 Music Examinations 63 7 Sports Results 65 1 Headmaster’s Report match their abilities but who still ap- course, it is desirable that pupils should pear to be doing better than their develop into responsible citizens, but peers, can now be called to account. that has surely been the aim of schools At all levels, now, from Infants to over the years, and it has generally Sixth Formers, King’s School pupils’ been achieved by encouraging respon- progress is monitored in this way. It is sible attitudes rather than lecturing. no longer sufficient to consider only The opportunities to take responsibil- the result; progress and effort are also ity are surely a key element in this. The reviewed. King’s School structure affords this by This brings me to the A Level results giving responsibility from a young age in 1999. These were the best in the and also by having higher expectations history of the school and they were so of sixteen-year-olds than is normal. on two counts. Firstly, those of whom Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions both have we expected top grades duly achieved their cohorts of prefects, their School them: eight achieved five As, nineteen Councils and their Charities’ Commit- British schoolchildren now undergo achieved four and no fewer than thirty tees: experience gained from serving more national tests than ever. Pupils in achieved three. Equally importantly, here is, of course, further developed in state schools compulsorily sit tests at however, if one considers the pupils’ the Sixth Form. seven, eleven, fourteen and sixteen, GCSE scores as a base-line, informa- These attitudes are fostered richly in with the option of further tests two tion is available on the A Level results a wide range of extra-curricular activi- years later. The purpose behind all this of hundreds of pupils nationally over ties, from team games to individual is the laudable one of seeking to ensure the years from the same base-line in sports, from Outward Bound activities that all children reach minimum levels the same subjects, and on this basis no to Community Service. Again the pages in certain basic skills which are the fewer than twenty-four of our pupils which follow will demonstrate how cornerstone of further learning and, scored an average of at least one grade much we value such experiences. therefore, of a full education. It is prob- higher than the national average out- What of the future? The school is ably true that, if pupils are to be tested come in each of their subjects. This is now benefiting from the development and results made public, there will be genuine achievement by individuals. in 1993 of opening the Girls’ Division, greater concentration on these skills. Behind results lies the aim of en- since now, for the first time, the Sixth There are available now, however, couraging pupils to think for them- Form is almost equally co-educational highly sophisticated tests of basic skills selves. This, too, we have addressed at and the pupils have virtually all had which can identify a pupil’s strengths King’s in a number of ways. We have their secondary education at King’s. and weaknesses – and therefore needs been, in the last two years, one of the The effects are enormously beneficial – quickly and accurately. Teaching can pioneer schools in developing the in every aspect of school life. therefore be tailored to concentrate on ‘Thinking Science’ programme devel- The future, from September 2000, specific areas for specific groups, and oped by King’s College, London. The also holds out the prospect of new A progress can be properly monitored aim of this is to encourage pupils to Levels, with more modular examina- over the months and years. This repre- develop their abilities to tackle prob- tions taken both in the Lower and sents both true progress and a genuine lems by concentrating on the process of Upper Sixth. Yet another year of public measure of success for the pupils, moving towards a solution rather than examinations is thus added. There are teachers and schools. the solution itself. Discussion in groups distinct benefits from the proposed Unfortunately, the publication of forms an essential part of the method. changes. There are concerns (national, raw results as a measure of achieve- Initial results are very encouraging and not just local) at the possible impact of ment has no such validity. Results can the programme has had a significant so many public examinations upon be shown to have improved; therefore, impact upon teaching methods at all extra-curricular activities. I hope all it is claimed, standards have risen – or, levels. Consideration is being given to schools will continue to stress the of course, fallen, if the hurdle has been developing a similar programme in benefits of a full education, beyond the lowered. Mathematics teaching. taking of examinations. It is sensible and highly profitable to Besides these, there has been exten- The Former Pupils’ project to up- use computer-generated statistics to sive growth of interest in the school in grade the Memorial Pavilion has now identify individual targets with pupils studying philosophical questions, both been completed, and the facilities are (and their parents) and this is what we in Philosophy itself and in Religious now such that the school can be proud have been concentrating on at King’s Education, where numbers have of them, not merely for the obvious over the past two years. The targets boomed over the past few years. benefits for cricket, but as an area for must be rigorous (pupils do, in fact, Creativity (not easily measured) is meeting in gracious surroundings. The have high expectations of themselves) another key element in a pupil’s devel- school owes a great debt to the Former but should not be the same for every- opment, and I am delighted at the level Pupils who have had the vision and one. ‘This is where you are now: what of interest that is evident in the creative persistence to carry this important is a challenging but reasonable expec- subjects, and in the different areas project through. tation for where you hope to be by within those subjects, both in the cur- So much activity, so many positive next year?’ If this is the basis of discus- riculum and in extra-curricular activi- achievements! I am happy, in my final sion between tutor and pupil, then ties. The pages which follow give some report, to pay tribute to the continued praise can be given where there is indication of how much stress is laid support the school and I have had from genuine improvement, though obvi- on creativity in the school. so many colleagues, both teaching and ously the results will not all be the Beyond the concerns nationally non-teaching, over the years I have same. The converse of this is that able about results, there is talk about bring- been privileged to work at the school. but lazy pupils, whose results do not ing ‘citizenship’ into the curriculum. Of A G Silcock, November 1999 2 Hail & Farewell It did not take Lesley long to realise including walking, skiing and Hail... that Chris’ commitments to school, watersports. He is a Mountain Leader Welcome to those members of staff through Physics and rugby, were such and spends a fair amount of his holi- who joined King’s during the academic that if she did not rapidly develop an days leading walks in the mountains of year 1998-99.