The Coventrian 2019-2020 Issue 278
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THE COVENTRIAN 2019-2020 ISSUE 278 2019 TO 2020 | 3 Welcome to the 278th edition of the Coventrian What a year it has been… a year of two contrasting halves! Many of the pages that follow would be recognisable to generations of CONTENTS pupils, with reports of autumn and Christmas concerts; a magnificent production ofLittle Women; a Cup run for the U15 XV; and the 49th running of the KHVIII Relay. Alongside HOUSE REPORTS ................................................................. 11 these familiar annual markers sits an astounding lockdown diary, showcasing a term SPORT .................................................................................. 15 of virtual lessons and events as the School responded to the coronavirus pandemic. MUSIC ................................................................................. 29 Pulling together the material for this edition DRAMA ................................................................................ 35 has proved a greater challenge than previous years and my sincere thanks go to all the ART ...................................................................................... 42 pupils, parents and staff for sharing their lockdown experiences, and in particular to Mr DEPARTMENTS .................................................................... 50 Dearden and Mrs Jackson for their efforts to compile this record throughout lockdown. LIBRARY & ARCHIVE ............................................................ 64 My now annual, but no less heartfelt, words LOCKDOWN DIARY .............................................................. 65 of gratitude are once again directed to all those pupils and staff who have contributed CLUBS & SOCIETIES ............................................................. 75 articles, and Mrs Jackson and Mr Schofield for their excellent photography. Final thanks OUTDOOR EDUCATION ....................................................... 80 are reserved for Gus and his team at Ammac Design Ltd for all their assistance, in particular DEPARTING STAFF ............................................................... 90 Beccy, without whose wonderful creativity and endless patience this edition would simply OLD COVENTRIANS ............................................................. 94 have not been possible. Mr Rob Phillips HEADS OF SCHOOL 2019-20 Head Girl Giulia Szubart Head Boy George Gawthorpe Deputy Head Girl Jacqueline Correa Deputy Head Boy Alex Goodwin 4 | THE COVENTRIAN COVENTRIAN FOREWORD 2020 What a 12 months it has been. We started ‘live’. Our whole operation the year full of optimism in September 2019; moved ‘online’. Pupils followed all seated in our newly refurbished ‘Burgess their usual timetable, from home, Hall’ for the traditional start of year assembly. and across a screen – often staring at Exam results had been strong. Extracurricular teachers delivering lessons from kitchen successes were coming in thick and fast; from tables or in their own dining rooms, stoically the routine (but not taken for granted) national remaining committed to the development and success in robotics to the equally routine 1st XV education of their pupils. We had three main rugby win against the arch rivals, supplemented aims: to keep our community safe (mentally with further success in newer ventures such as well as physically), to provide structure as national programming competitions. The and stability at a time of uncertainty, and to academic year progressed very positively; continue the development of the young people unfair. They were replaced by ‘Centre Assessed the superb production ofLittle Women being in our care. a massive highlight, as was the Christmas Grades’, awarded by teachers. And whilst these Our approach wasn’t just limited to academic Concert. might have been on the generous side, surely lessons. Ways were found to hold House Cross this was a small price to pay at the expense of And then things started to get a little Country – competitors running remotely from an alternative whereby thousands of teenagers uncomfortable as news (and a virus) was each other. Online rehearsals continued for were denied passage to the best path forward spreading from the East. Hands were becoming High School Musical. Music performances, to the rest of their life. so dry from being washed frequently that even including ensemble pieces, were brought a stereotypical Yorkshireman started using together with appropriate technological At A level, 48% of all grades received were A* moisturiser. And we stopped shaking hands to wizadry. And weekly whole-school assemblies or A. And a third of all pupils gained grades A* congratulate everyone and started touching continued to be broadcast on YouTube. or A in all of their subjects. At GCSE 90% of all elbows. A school that prides itself on being Imagination and innovation are two intellectual grades received were at grades 9, 8, or 7. It friendly and open had to discourage visitors. characteristics that the school has promoted for is important to remember that the last three some time and they were centre stage during months of these courses did not characterise Of course, what followed will characterise 2020 the lockdown period. the approach and effort of the previous 17 for evermore. School closed the ‘big red doors’ months. These young people worked really (and all other doors) to all but the children of We also played our part in the wider hard over the duration of the course and keyworkers on Friday 20th March. Barring a community. With relatively simple gestures thoroughly deserve congratulation. My hope handful of days for Year 10 and 12 towards the such as providing free parking to key workers is that they are not stigmatised for being the end of the summer term, the ‘big red doors’ using the train station, to more complex class of 2020 or the ‘Covid generation’ but are wouldn’t reopen again for the rest of the operations such as the manufacture and respected for their resilience, fortitude and academic year. distribution of thousands of face visors. We tolerance. They have suffered more than most also stayed open throughout school holidays in this challenging period. The true character and spirit of a community to provide childcare for those keyworkers that is shown at times of adversity. Schools are needed it. Of course, King Henry VIII School must now plot no different. And how the community of a course with a change of Headmaster. It has King Henry VIII School responded to global A real concern was the pupils in Years 13 and 11 been an honour to serve as Headmaster for the pandemic was nothing short of heroic. A whole whose onward educational journey depended last ten years. I leave with a sense of pride for ICT infrastructure was built overnight; using on grades secured at A level and GCSE. They the community which has never been stronger. school equipment but also anything else that had been denied the opportunity to succeed I also leave with a heavy heart and will miss, anyone could find at home to connect. Teachers (or fail) according to their own merit through terribly, the community that has played such a were seen borrowing their children’s ‘gaming the cancellation of external examinations. big part in my own life. King Henry VIII School headsets’ and webcams were firmly clamped They’d also been denied so many other rites remains a very special place. above worksheets. Overnight, we all became of passage: the school prom, the last day at experts on previously unused and unfamiliar school, results day. Their roller-coaster journey Jason Slack software such as ‘Teams’. Whole schemes of lasted all the way until late August after the Headmaster work were rewritten and lesson plans adapted. debacle of ‘calculated grades’ and the mystical Videos were recorded and lessons broadcast algorithm was abolished (rightly so) for being 2019 TO 2020 | 5 NEW STAFF In September we welcomed the following new staff to the School. MR JAMIE ABBOTT MISS MELANIE CUTLER MR ADRIAN BOULSTRIDGE Mr Abbott joined us as Head of Miss Cutler arrived as our new Head Mr Boulstridge brought his History, coming from Lawrence Sheriff of Learning Development. She has considerable experience to the English School where he has been Head of previously worked with Warwickshire Department, having previously been History for the past five years. County Council Specialist Teaching in senior management and more Service where she has advised schools recently a Head of English Faculty at on their learning development provision. Lutterworth College. MR NICK GERBER MR JOSEPH JACKSON MRS SHARON MCCUNN Mr Gerber joined the Maths Mr Jackson joined the PE Mrs McCunn joined the Computer Department. He graduated from Department after graduating from Science Department, having turned Bath University and has since been Cardiff Metropolitan University. Mr to teaching after a successful career teaching Maths at President Jackson will also teach PE in the Prep in industry where she worked as a Kennedy School. School. project leader in coding analysis. MR NICK VEEVERS MRS ANNE CONWAY MR SIMON THURSZ Mr Veevers added welcome additional Mrs Conway joined the PRE Mr Thursz joined the Geography staffing capacity to the ever-expanding Department in a part-time capacity, Department in a temporary capacity, Outdoor Education Department. bringing her considerable experience covering the maternity leave of Mrs to the school. Baker. 6 | THE COVENTRIAN SUPPORT STAFF Miss Sophie Allen.................... SA ...............Sports Centre Supervisor Mr John