Vol. 115 2012 Vol. 115 2012 Olavian Editor: David Craig Old Olavian Editor: John Brown Assistant Editor: Peter Leigh Design: William Dalton 450 Years The modern school hall Front Cover: Opening of the Orpington school, 1968 Contents Contents 3 Headmaster’s Introduction 4 Editor’s Notes 5 School Notes 6 Staff 2012 12 Creative Work 19 Prize Day 30 Sixth Form News 39 Leavers 2012 44 Clubs and Societies 49 Maths & ICT 57 Science 63 English & Drama 71 The Library 79 Music 81 Modern Foreign Languages 87 Humanities 97 Sports 111 Art & Design Technology 119 450th Anniversary Supplement 127 Old Olavian 139 From the Headmaster he theme of my second year as Headmaster of St Olave’s Grammar School was dominated by theT celebrations to commemorate 450 years as one of England’s oldest schools. Our tributes to Henry Leeke, Queen Elizabeth I and other founders included a fine performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the formation of the 450 Parent Choir, a splendid Easter Anniversary Concert, the special Commemoration Service in Southwark Cathedral, and culminated with the fascinating exhibition, including Dr Carrington’s canes which stirred a few memories! The year also concluded with the best public examination results in the school’s history at A level, AS level and GCSE, and a running total of nearly 90 Oxbridge successes over the last 3 years. It was pleasing, if not surprising, that we were ranked as the country’s No. 1 State school with mixed 6th Form at Advanced level, and the 2nd best Boys’ school at GCSE, by The Times and The Telegraph newspaper league tables. Against a backdrop of some of the worst Public Sector funding cuts to hit education since the 1950s, we can be proud that our students have not only achieved these impressive levels of scholarship but have also engaged in international cultural activities from New York to Namibia, ancient Greece to Ecuador, as well as Chess, Fives, Music and Drama at National competitive levels. My thanks go to our Latin Master, Mr Craig, for once again skilfully editing this magazine which, I hope, will provide you with much interesting and entertaining reading. Aydın Önaç Headmaster 4 – Olavian 2012 am very conscious for the need for variety and this year’s Editorial magazine will represent a shift from the norm. What Ihowever has not changed is the constant achievements of our pupils both academically, theatrically, sportingly, forensically, artistically and in numerous other activities. Of these you will be able to read in abundance but there has been a real growth in terms of cultural enrichment especially in the Faculty of Modern Languages with new trips to Spain, Germany and France. It seems that our pupils have been kept very busy in places as far removed as Costa Rica and Botswana. This is not to distract from the very significant academic achievements here at the school but to stress that the school is not merely a place of academic preparation but a provider of vitally important opportunities to enrich their experiences through scholarship and cultural diversity. My hope is that Old Olavians will enjoy reading this magazine and the current students will give some time to reflection on how blessed they are to be at a school of such stature. David Craig Editor About the redesign n September 2012, I was in the unusual position of up with my endless comments, suggestions, requests for being the Assistant Student Editor both for a second change and short deadlines, at the same time as remaining Iyear, and for the issue celebrating the year in which calm and amicable, and producing a brilliant design. the school’s long history was commemorated. When a Thanks are also due to Olly Plumstead, who very kindly friend reminded me that we had previously discussed took some of the photos at extremely short notice. And, re-designing the Olavian, I agreed that this should go finally, thanks are due to all my friends, various members ahead (unaware of quite how much work we would be of staff, and my family, who were, at some point over doing at A2). October, given chunks of the magazine whenever they saw me, and asked for an opinion. Thus it will be noted that this year’s Olavian has been refreshed and re-designed, the order shuffled slightly, and Peter Leigh generally (it is hoped) made more accessible. The photos Assistant Editor have increased in number, the articles span a yet wider range of subjects, we have enlarged the creative work N.B. It may be that some people reading this will section, and it is our hope that this edition will (whether consider that the design is not as much to their taste because of, or despite, the changes!) appeal to its wide as the previous was. The previewers, however, seemed to audience of school pupils, parents, staff, Governors, Old like it. De gustibus non est disputandum! Olavians and others. Huge thanks are due to William Dalton, who has spent so many hours on the re-design of this magazine, putting Olavian 2012 – 5 SCHOOL NOTES 2012 Admissions Olave’s Olympiad, 4 of our students – Antony Barker, Duncan 011-12 was a complicated year for admissions and, Bell, Alistair O’Neill and Thomas Saunders - were following changes to government legislation, we had awarded distinctions, with Duncan gaining a coveted 2to handle admissions for September 2012 as well as Gold medal and an invitation to join the training camp bringing forward the Open Day and application round in Budapest. In the Junior section 9 students progressed for the following year. However, all went smoothly with to the Olympiad round with Bilal Chughtai, Richard continued exceptionally high numbers applying for Moulange and Sachin Savur all gaining distinctions and places. 904 applications were received for Year 7, resulting Bronze medals. At Intermediate level the sheer numbers in an intake from 70 different Primary schools; 432 are impressive, with 92 Gold certificates in the UKMT; external applications to the 6th Form resulted in a total 39 of these progressed to the kangaroo competition and intake, including internal students, of 196. The result was 11 on to the Olympiad round. the maximum number on roll ever for the school of 966. Scholarship Academic Olave’s he pursuit of real scholarship in greater breadth ugust can be a nerve-wracking time for students and depth, through wider intellectual inquiry and parents awaiting the outcomes of public andT subject societies, is an increasing focus. Societies examinations,A but it was smiles all round as St Olave’s in Classics, Politics, History and Film Club also gave excelled, even by its own very high standards, to produce opportunities for students to discover and try out new the best ever results at all levels. At A level 96% of grades ideas, with Jack Bradfield’s film clip featuring in BBC2’s were at A*/B with 34% at A*; 12 students emerged ‘Britain in a day’ and Theo Clifford’s essay being highly with 4A*grades. These results place the school as The commended in the Royal Society’s Young Economist Telegraph and The Times’ No. 1 state school nationally of the Year competition. 6 of our students, known with mixed 6th Form. Those in Year 12 taking AS levels collectively as German Jamboree, translated and self- achieved 87% AB grades – the best results since the published Wilhelm Busch’s Max und Moritz. Matthew examination was introduced a decade ago and up from Burns, Thomas Bridges, Peter Leigh, Christopher 82% the previous year. Self, Timothy Stickings and James Watson not only translated but also reworked each couplet to produce a At GCSE there was a similar story with 87.2% of grades full rhyming version in English. The chosen theme for at A*/A and 53.3% at A*, results which ranked the third issue of the History Magazine was Civil War, with articles on conflicts as long ago as AD69 and as St Olave’s as the 2nd best Boys’ state school nationally, recent as 2011. In addition, a special 450th Anniversary with 96% of the boys also qualifying for the new English supplement included interviews with Mr Burston as the Baccalaureate. 15 students gained at least 10 A* grades, longest-serving member of staff, a study of the school’s with top performer Timothy Adelani gaining 12 A* as artwork and biographies of famous Old Olavians. well as an A* in A level Italian and an A in AS French. Students of all ages have contributed to the production Built on the highest aspirations, all of these results of several issues of The Natural Sciences Society Journal represent a well-deserved outcome from the hard work with articles on Inter-galactic Space-travel, Darwin and of staff and students. Evolution, Vortexes, Climate Change, the Importance of insects and many others. These activities are encouraging An impressive number of students also furthered their our students to broaden their academic studies into areas interests in Mathematics and Science, gaining top of personal interest to levels well beyond the confines of awards in the senior National Olympiads. In the British examination syllabuses. Biology Olympiad 16 students sat the first round, with Thomas Watson emerging with a Gold Medal and 6 others gaining Silver. In the Physics there were 3 Gold certificates, including Duncan Bell and Alexander 6th Form and Oxbridge Grainger who were invited to sit the 2nd round for the top s a free Grammar School we continue to champion 50 students in the UK; Duncan was subsequently invited the idea of social mobility, supporting those from to a training a camp at Lincoln College, Oxford, for the areasA of high social disadvantage to aspire to the very best 15 in the UK.