Autumn 2019

l Leys Learning launch 4 27 l Education and Methodism 8

l South Africa sports tour 13

l Choral music commission 15 life inside

Driving change: embracing sustainability page 3 from the outstanding results Headmaster A level pupils have excelled themselves, with 2019 results markedly Welcome to Leys Life, our snapshot of life here over the past few exceeding those of last year. 53% were graded A* or A (42% last months. year). One in three Leysians achieved three A grades or better (one in four in 2018) while 80% of entries were graded A* - B, an We are as busy as ever, yet amid our purposeful activity we take time to consider what we do and why we do it. increase of 4%. Edward Gunn achieved four A* grades and an A in his Extended Project Qualification. Here we embrace innovation. Our pupils live in a fast-changing world and one He started at Worcester College, Oxford reading Engineering this Autumn. Douglas of our tasks is to prepare them for the challenges they will face. Some things do A, Laura B, Riccardo N, Lizzy R and Jon W all achieved three A* grades. not alter. Our core values endure. We examined these and reflected on them at We were delighted with GCSE results too: 94% were graded at 9-5, 42% at 9-8, the Methodist Independent Schools Trust conference, which we were proud to with an outstanding 21% at the top grade of 9. Nearly two-thirds of the results were host this year (see p8-9). awarded at Grade 7 and above, whilst 41% of Leys pupils achieved nine or more I was reminded of the character and purpose of our education by a letter I recently Grade 7s and above. Victoria R and Isabella R scored the top grade in all of their 11 received from an Old Leysian. Those who attended Speech Day this summer will subjects. Isobel E, Evie G, Matthew H, Edward N and Rory W all achieved eight or recall my references to it. Dr Peter Emerson, whom I met when I invited him to more Grade 9s. school, was here in the late 1930s. Writing his memoir, A Doctor’s Lucky Life in These outstanding results at both levels are a real tribute to the hard work of staff his nineties, he reflected on a time when the spartan living conditions for boys and of the pupils. (The Leys was single-sex then) were very different yet the core values would be Congratulations to all offer holders for places at Oxford and Cambridge. All six met recognised by pupils today. the conditions of their offers so six Leysians have taken up their places this Autumn: Ben Coady (Law, Lincoln College, Oxford); Edward Gunn (Engineering, Worcester, “If anything loaded the dice in the lottery of life for me it was surely my education Oxford); Rachel Macnaghten (Classics, St John’s, Oxford); Lyndsay Williams (Music, at The Leys,” he commented. What had stuck with him were the school’s life Keble, Oxford); Toby Harris (Engineering, St Edmund’s, Cambridge) and Ella Muir lessons of “how to cope with the real world”. He had benefited from an “excellent (English, Newnham, Cambridge). education not just in how to pass exams but how to cope with ad hoc problems”. Paul Crosfield Director of Studies I hope current pupils will, like Dr Emerson, believe their days at The Leys have shaped them in a similar way, imbuing them with resilience, good humour and Leysians featured in this issue come from a variety of feeder schools including: acceptance of personal responsibility as with Dr Emerson. The contents of Leys Life give me assurance that they will. Aldwickbury Moreton Hall Barnardiston Hall Newnham Croft Dame Bradbury’s School Old Buckenham Hall Leys Life is published by The Leys, Cambridge CB2 7AD. Compiled by Mrs. Our pupils are learning to contribute positively to life inside and outside school, Fairstead House Orwell Park Naomi Needs and produced by Dowie. including how to behave responsibly, how to be curious and keen to learn and Glebe House Riddlesworth Hall Halstead Sancton Wood For information about The Leys, please apply their knowledge. Our ‘Leys Learning’ initiative (p4) encapsulates this. Heath Mount South Lee contact the Admissions Office on +44 Holmwood House St Faith’s (0)1223 508904. If you would like to visit The Leys and find out more, you would be most welcome. Howe Green House St John’s College School Leys Life is printed on paper which King’s College School St Margaret’s is totally chlorine free, sourced from Martin Priestley Kingshott Town Close, Norwich sustainable forests with eco-management Maidwell Hall and audit system accreditation. news 3 reducing our carbon footprint

Young people are driving a response to the climate change emergency. Leysians have gone beyond emotive ‘virtue signalling’, taking practical steps Tommy and Sarah introduce the Climate Change lecture to reduce the school’s carbon footprint.

Geography teacher Brigid Eades (below left) has “I don’t wish to be ‘preachy’. Our aim is for this to be potential savings, while periodically the school been appointed sustainability champion with the goal fun. I’m working on a clothes swap for example as completes a voluntary audit under the Government’s of making eco-awareness all-pervasive. By setting fast fashion is a big issue,” she explains. Energy Saving and Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) in up the Sustainability Society, with representatives The School has been involved in the Eco Schools addition to its own annual audit. in each House, she is spreading the message that programme for several years. Led by Andrew Visiting climate change speakers have included small changes in habit make a difference. Harmsworth, Head of Physics, the pupil-led Eco Peter Wadham, Professor of Ocean Physics at the Schools committee has spearheaded efforts to save University of Cambridge, Sir David King, UK and energy and reduce waste. A founding signatory of Commonwealth representative to the United Nations the Cambridge Climate Change Charter, The Leys on Climate Change, and environmentalist Jonathan launched a three-year carbon management policy in Porritt, former chairman of the Green Party and the 2016, reducing food waste, installing solar panels, Sustainable Development Commission. LED lighting and an electric car changing point, and The Healthy Planet Cambridge Schools’ Workshop promoting saving energy. The annual Switch Off saw pupils discussing ‘Food, Health and Climate Fortnight includes an inter-House competition to Change’ ahead of a lecture on the environmental measure and reward pupil energy saving. impact of food by Joseph Poore from the University Director of Facilities, Nathan Keen has introduced of Oxford. Sixth Formers Sarah D and Tommy H monitoring software to track energy usage and introduced the final lecture, held at Trinity College.

rhyme and reason

A poem writtem by Year 11 pupil Immy C has been Planet in Peril published in Planet in Peril, an anthology published The Sun scorches cracks into the surface of the earth, in September. Plane tracks like paper cuts across the sky, The book, backed by WWF and the Climate And there above it all is Satan and his yellow eye. Coalition, includes photography of endangered The livestock faints and the mother weeps As she wraps her child in a scanty shroud, species and delicate ecosystems and poetry to Parched of water, trapped in those dreamlike clouds. promote awareness of climate change issues. Her infant lies in the grey dead dust Thinking about the threats to the natural world The sacrificial son to a world past being saved spurred Immy into reducing her carbon footprint. Where the ground is so dry that she cannot dig “I eat less meat and use less plastic, and I cycle to Her baby’s shallow grave. school!” 4 academic

Leys Learning

The Leys’ distinctive approach to learning has been encapsulated in a new logo.

The School’s Teaching and Learning Committee, comprising teachers and Sixth Formers, spent several months considering pupil expectations and what learning means before a competition was launched to find a suitable logo.

The winning logo was designed by three pupils from Year 7, Year 11, and the Lower Sixth Form.

Geoffrey Howe, Director of Teaching and Learning explains: “The logo is formed of eight cogs spelling out the essential aspects of how pupils apply themselves to learning: Listen, Engage, Analyse, Respect the Geoffrey Howe explaining the graphic and logo for Leys Learning classroom, Never give up, Innovate, Nurture others, “I was impressed by Mr McGill’s relentless evidence- and Grow through resilience and hard work.” Educator Mr Ross Morrison McGill, whose ‘5-Minute Lesson Plan’ is used by teachers globally, joined based focus on what works. Collectively and The logo will appear on exercise books, pupil staff at the start of the new school year. In addition individually we must constantly reflect on what planners and classroom walls. “Learning to learn” to unveiling the mural in the foyer of the Clapham works for us as teachers and our pupils. The session tutorials will teach pupils the deeper meaning of Building, he gave a talk to teaching staff. leaves us inspired to think hard about our teaching Learning. practice, because Ross’ research demonstrates that In thanking Mr McGill, Martin Priestley, Headmaster, rigorous, evidence-based classroom practice has a said he had spent his career in search of underlying positive impact on the outcomes for pupils. At the theories of effective teaching and learning. Mr beginning of a new academic year, I cannot think of McGill’s talk had left everyone with much to think a more inspiring and motivating message.” about, with imaginative, practical and inspiring ideas.

effective education: the evidence Bradley Busch, an expert in how psychological Geoffrey Howe, Director of Teaching and Learning, research can improve thinking and performance, said: “Teachers have been given a copy of the book came to The Leys to talk about his new book, The - it’s an accessible read and offers evidence-based Science of Learning. research to back up many of the things we know or have gut feelings about.” The book, co-authored with Edward Watson, presents seminal studies in education and Mr Busch, a chartered psychologist, has done psychology from the past 60 years and draws out training inset days with teachers and pupils and their implications. spoke at the MIST (Methodist Independent Schools Mr McGill with the Headmaster and Geoffrey Howe Trust) Conference held at The Leys (see pp8-9). academic 5 an element of the unexpected Physics teacher Ali Annett brought an element of surprise to the celebrations of the International Year of the Periodic Table with an installation outside our original Science block, the JJ Thomson Building. Pupils only had to add water for the table to appear on the paving beneath their feet. Ali’s video of how she and colleagues created this installation with a difference has had thousands of views on social media: https://twitter.com/Leys_Academic/status/1099422504584650753

It is150 years since Dmitri Mendeleev formulated the Periodic System. As 2019 has been proclaimed the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements by the United Nations General Assembly and UNESCO, the installation seems a fitting celebration of Mendeleev’s creation. winning le débat EPQ study The extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which Emma L and Ted J (Lower Sixth) pictured right, won offers A level pupils a chance to study a specific the Eastern Region French debating competition, topic in-depth is proving a popular choice for pupils beating pairs from Uppingham, The Perse and seeking to acquire skills for higher education. The Stephen Perse. They then won the semi-final against Gresham’s. Topics debated included the role The fascinating subjects explored in the of women in society, whether culture should be paid presentations included creating software for finding for by the state, and the value of gap years. lost iPads, symbolism in Renaissance painting, the validity of no-platforming in universities and a Emma and Ted competed against a strong pair Freudian analysis of the work of Edgar Alan Poe. from Hills Road in the final, for which they had 20 minutes to prepare for a motion on the role of mobile “The pupils’ passion for their subjects shone telephones in schools. They were declared winners through, one could not help but be swept up by following an excellent debate. their enthusiasm,” said Richard Springall, EPQ Co-ordinator (pictured below). highly debatable He thanked supervisors whose diligent work over 18 months underpinned the achievements of “This House believes that teenagers need jobs not the pupils: Monika Keeble, Kevin Arnold, Helen exams’ was the motion for the final of the Inter- Hynd, Clare Battison, Chloe Emery, Judith Samuel, house debating competition. Rowland Adamson, Sarah Byrne and Anna Hunt.

The motion was proposed by the Granta girls and Moulton (Years 7&8) team. Rania B (Upper Sixth) opened the debate for Granta and Moulton, while Ed P (Year 10) led the opposition for the Barker House team. Adjudicator was Nigel Helliwell, Headmaster of St Faith’s, who said the result was close. Winners were Granta and Moulton.

Anna Garrett, Head of English, noted the two teams had done ‘incredibly well’ to reach the final. Staff felt that those who took part argued effectively, with eloquence and knowledge. 6 news maintaining a fine tradition Congratulations go to Joseph B. who follows a fine Leysian engineering tradition by becoming a 2019 Arkwright Scholar.

Joseph (Lower Sixth), beat hundreds of other applicants to win the prestigious award and receives £600 towards study materials as well as a professonal engineer to mentor him with his studies. He will receive his prize at a prestigious London ceremony this autumn. Joseph, holding the watch he made for his project, with teachers Ali Annett (left) and Nicola Perkins (right).

division winners ..noticeboard.. Senior Prefects Our new Senior Prefects are Walter W (West Old Leysians have marked their 10th House) and Joanna S (Bisseker House), Old anniversary by winning the Whiting and Fidelians who have much in common. As Partners Cambs & Hunts Premier League marathon century Academic Scholars they achieved 10 GCSEs Division Three title. at the highest possible grade last summer, Head Groundsman Matt Pullen has notched up a The side (pictured with scorer Lisa Carter) putting them in the top 4% of candidates ‘century’ of marathon races. comprises former pupils, some of whom are nationally. Both have shown considerable still at university. The club shot from mid-table The 100th race was Northampton in July, watched sporting prowess, playing schools sport to to the top in the second half of the season, by his “understanding” wife Alison and family and a very high level. Joanna represented The finishing 26 points clear of rivals Foxtons II. friends. Matt ran his first marathon in 1993 aged Leys in two successive national schools’ Among younger players was opening 18. Always keen to take up a challenge, he ran 12 hockey finals and also plays for Cambridge batsman Milan Mniszko, studying Geography marathons in 12 days for charity in 2012. City Hockey Club U18 Ladies. She has also at the University of Bristol and captaining “Marathon running is very addictive, I love the buzz!” been part of England Hockey’s Performance their 1st XI. The 21-year-old’s talent was he says. Centre programme. Walter is developing spotted at St Faith’s and developed at The his Rugby with the Northampton Saints Proving that point, Matt went on to run in Berlin and Leys. Academy and is going to be captain of The Chicago in October and is lined up for more. Recent OLs Dante O’Reilly and Andrew Gale Leys Rugby 1st XV this year. also made a big impact during the season. an orchard of inspiration Year 8 pupils found inspiration when they had an open- air lesson in the Orchard at Grantchester, famous for its association with the First World War poet Rupert Brooke. The group walked to the Orchard Tearoom at Grantchester where they learned about the life and work of the author of The Old Vicarage, Grantchester (1912) and The Soldier (1914). After reading his poetry, they composed their own work inspired by the setting, based on one of their senses. beyond the classroom 7 pitch perfect

Business Studies pupils were joined by sixth formers from St Peter’s School, Huntingdon for a conference to inspire tomorrow’s business leaders.

Professor Alan Barrell of The Judge Business School opened with a talk about running an international business. Stephen Marsh, CEO and cold snap Founder of Pinkster’s Gin, explained how the market taken on mobile phones. The quality of images for super-premium gin had developed and how the Caro A (Upper Sixth) has won the produced by modern smartphones is very high. The brand had evolved and extended. Anne Fisher, co- Cambridge Rotary Club’s Photography added convenience of always carrying your phone means you effectively always carry a camera”. founder of Bailey Fisher Executive Search, spoke competition on the theme of the Beauty of about building the teams to power the Cambridge Hannah L (Year 11) was commended for her Nature with this image. technology sector. photograph, taken as part of her work with the school’s Darkroom Photography Club, using Pupils worked in teams to prepare a Dragon’s Caro also distinguished himself in the Cambridge traditional film and printing techniques. Den-style elevator pitch for a competition to sell a Camera Club’s Young Photographers’ Competition, business concept. Pupils’ feedback showed they taking second prize. The winner was Kitty W (Upper Their work was exhibited at the Cambridge Camera found this project pressurising but rewarding: One sixth), who, like Caro, is a member of The Leys Club’s exhibition in The Pitt Building, Trumpington said: “The pitching was the best part because it Digital Photography Group. Street at the end of April. made me think outside of the box, and I was able Andrew Harmsworth, group leader, said: “Although More entries can be seen at @LeysPhotography to show my business studies skills to the judges. I both pupils have digital cameras, the images were Twitter feed. enjoyed how it was related to the syllabus.” Richard Springall, Business teacher and event organiser, commented: “It is envisaged that we will life skills on the design and presentation of an Artificial run the event next year, involving a greater number Intelligence product to teach business enterprise. A two-day Enterprise and Skills Workshop of local schools.” Richard Cobb, Lieutenant Commander of the gave Lower Sixth pupils the chance US Navy (rtd.) explained how US Navy Seals are to explore personal and practical skills selected and trained for teamwork and leadership. essential for the workplace. Ollie Braithwaite of Absolute Defence, showed pupils “This year we included emotional intelligence as ways to keep themselves safe, including identifying it is essential for self-awareness and effective and avoiding threats and talking strategies as well collaboration,” said Nick Robinson, Head of Careers. as simple self-defence techniques. Leadership and business coach Janice Steed led Sarah Campos-Bell, Careers Advisor, looked at the the interactive emotional intelligence session. Pupils ways to make a successful university application. completed a questionnaire then explored ways to improve motivation, performance, productivity and communication.

Winning team: L-R, Lydia A from St Peter’s, and Jack H Professor Alan Barrell, Enterpreneur in Residence and Sofia T from The Leys. at The Judge Business School, used a case study 8 pastoral hosting MIST The Leys hosted the annual conference of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust (MIST), the body responsible for 14 schools across the UK which provide education with a Methodist ethos.

MIST chairman, the Rev Dr John Barrett, former headmaster of The Leys, and over 100 delegates attended. Speakers included Sir Tony Brenton, former British diplomat and Chair of Governors at The Leys and St Faith’s Foundation; online safety expert Karl Hopwood; Cambridge theologian Dr Judith Lieu, psychologist Bradley Busch; and Ian Davenport, CEO of The Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation which promotes social mobility and educational opportunities.

The programme included an address by Old Leysian Matthew Rycroft CBE, Permanent Secretary at the what is a Methodist education? Department for International Development, and a visit to our foundation partner school, St Faith’s. The Martin Priestley, 10th Headmaster of The Rev Alison Walker was guest speaker at the Chapel to put into practice many of service and the after-dinner speaker was former Leys, gave an overview when he welcomed his cherished priorities: the BBC journalist and war correspondent Martin Bell delegates to the MIST Conference. promotion of independence OBE (OL), pictured below with Martin Priestley, of thought, the stress on the Headmaster. The school has come a long way since Cambridge balance between ‘work and Methodists founded it in 1875, when it catered play’, and respect for the The conference discussed the characteristics of Methodist education and the opportunities for for 16 boys from English Methodist families, many individual: “These have survived Methodist schools. of them the sons of wealthy tradespeople and the pressures of modern parental demands and manufacturers from the North of England: “Today’s the changing context of education at The Leys and parents come from a less exclusive religious elsewhere.” background, and selecting a school which caters for The link with Wesley’s Chapel, which remains a particular denomination of Protestant Christianity important, grew from the founding of the Leysian is not as important a criterion to them in choosing Mission in the East End of London in 1886. the right school for their child.” Today, a number of children from disadvantaged However, the Rev William Moulton, the founding backgrounds in the city of London attend The Leys Headmaster, would recognise that the school’s as boarders thanks to Wesley scholarships funded core values were unchanged and that it still sought by a very generous Old Leysian. pastoral 9

national award for Lily’s podcast A Sixth-Former’s powerful podcast on mental health has won a BBC Young Audio and Radio Industry Award.

Lily’s six-minute drama, A Living China Doll, describes her experiences with mental health while at boarding school prior to joining The Leys. The life. It doesn’t just mean looking after people when piece, voiced by drama student Lulu Kelly, conveys they feel a little fragile. That is an important part of it, Lily’s struggle to cope in an environment she found of course, but our conception of pastoral care goes unsympathetic and demanding. “Following John Wesley, we much wider. It’s about providing individuals with The work grew from Lily’s love of creative writing. want Leysians to be the best an environment, and a structure of support, which She met Camilla Byk. co-founder of Podium.me (a makes them feel encouraged, supported, resilient versions of themselves” platform for voices under-25’s) when she was 15. and positive about their lives at school. If that is how Camilla encouraged her to start a blog. Lily wrote they feel, then they can achieve the exceptional. anonymously, “at a time when I was at an all time low, The atmosphere and the ethos of The Leys is a blend confidence-wise.” She only found out her blog had It’s not about having to achieve perfection. Confident of informality and tradition. The Leys is a place in been nominated for the award recently: “I attended human beings understand that to be human is to which education is determinedly about much more the awards ceremony where it was announced that I be characterised by frailty and fragility. Rather, we won - an incredible surprise.” than examination results. Alongside good grades, want Leysians, following John Wesley, to be the best we aim to promote personal and social well-being, Lily joined The Leys as a boarder last year. She aims versions of themselves that they can be – but that to raise people to distinction, to allow Leysians to to study French and Linguistics at university. doesn’t mean being perfect, and it doesn’t mean you flourish and excel. That’s our vision, and we deliver need to be something or someone that you’re not.” “Moving to The Leys was one of the best decisions it via our three foundation stones: ‘Academic’, ‘Wider I have made. I have good days and bad days, but so Curricular’ and ‘Pastoral’. For more on the history of The Leys, see A Methodist does everybody,” she says. These three are absolutely interconnected of course, Education: The Leys Under Moulton and Barber, Lily says her experiences have made her sensitive to but, to follow St Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians, ‘the 1875-1914 by John Harding, former Honorary the wellbeing of others. She aims to help by sharing greatest of these is ‘pastoral’’, because it provides Secretary of the Old Leysian Society, available from her learning. She was appointed Wellbeing Prefect the platform for flourishing in all spheres of school the Development Office (£15 plus p& p). in the autumn term. 10 out & about

a golden day at the Palace

When 19 Leysians visited Buckingham Palace number, as the Earl of Wessex observed. Russ “We had our largest intake onto DofE Gold, with to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards, McAlinden, Head of Outdoor Education and Duke 60 pupils taking on the challenge which is just east goes west they made up half the group! It was an impressive of Edinburgh scheme manager for The Leys, added: fantastic!” building confidence through experience The third Ollie Feast Trust Summer Camp sporting activities.... thank you to everyone involved.” confidence. Every year we see people open up and make new friends whilst overcoming challenges.” offered a week of fun challenges to a Steve Feast, Ollie’s father, said: “This fun and group of 13-15 year olds. challenging programme is all about how we help The Ollie Feast Trust was formed in memory of a grow the right skills and capabilities that instil lifelong former Leys School pupil who died aged 20 in 2015. The Leys hosted the camp, organised with the OFT and four partner schools in the Cambridge area. Helped by sports staff and Sixth-Formers, the 40 young people were encouraged to move out of their comfort zones while tackling activities such as climbing, kayaking, kickboxing rope climbing and archery.

One boy’s parents said: “Our son had a fantastic week. Each afternoon he came home exhausted and told us about the wide range of activities he had participated in that day, the amazing facilities and, “A great way to mix teamwork of course, the food! He enjoyed getting to know all and leadership skills with the other participants and the group leaders. What a a wide range of sporting great way to mix teamwork and leadership skills with activities.” the opportunity to experience a very wide range of out & about 11 Lord Lieutenant Cadet Sgt Archie D of The Leys CCF has been appointed as a Cadet to Mrs Julie Spence, the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire.

Archie, now in the Lower Sixth, is the first member of The Leys CCF to be nominated as a Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet. The position, which is the top accolade a cadet can hope to achieve during their cadet career, lasts for one year. His role will be to represent the CCF in support of the Lord Lieutenant or her deputies, attending events including Royal visits. He is pictured at Queens’ College, Cambridge, in July when Her Majesty had lunch after official visits to the new Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, and the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) in Histon. Archie said: “I am proud to receive this prestigious award of Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for Cambridgeshire. I’m looking forward to serving in this capacity and will uphold the standards of The Leys in upcoming CCF public events and Royal visits over the next year.” clay prey feeling the beat

A group of CCF Cadets tried their hand at clay the little sight at the end of the barrel, bringing the Our CCF Cadets completed the Heart Start First pigeon shooting, as Will H (Year 11) reports: gun everywhere you look and keeping it firm on your Aid course at the Central Camp in July. During cheek. the session they learned about CPR, dealing with In September a group of us went to Long Acre in conscious and unconscious casualties, breaks, We shot at three different stations: one where the Suffolk to go on a clay pigeon shoot. We arrived on a strains and sprains, cuts, burns and bleeding. beautiful and sunny afternoon, and were immediately clay pigeon was coming from behind us, one where greeted by the centre owner’s two lovely Labradors. it came from our ‘2 o’clock’ and one where it got shot Major Russell McAlinden, CCF Contingent up high in the air. Commander, reported: “The CCF has had a very We were raring to go and couldn’t wait to show off busy summer, with cadets on Central Camp, our skills to one another to prove who were the best We were treated to lovely squash and biscuits, sailing courses in Portsmouth, climbing courses in shots. Shooting a shotgun, as I soon found out, is courtesy of Mr. Robinson. On behalf of the cadets, Scotland, sea kayaking expeditions in Norway and nothing like shooting a L98A2 GP Cadet Rifle. We we enjoyed our experience and thank the staff and we even had one cadet on the Canada Exchange learned you have to focus on the target rather than teachers who supervised and instruct ed us. programme.” 12 sport SWIMMING TENNIS strokes of determination prep tournament Swimmer Millie W (Lower Sixth) has won four Now Millie is training for the Dwarf Games in Pupils from The Leys, St Faith’s and Moreton Hall golds and a silver in the Dwarf Sports Association’s Cologne in 2021while studying for A levels. played over 70 tennis matches in a busy morning National Games, been named Cambridge City It is a long way from her primary school days at The Leys. Swimming Club’s Female Para Swimmer of the when Millie, born with the form of dwarfism called Players of similar abilities were put in box leagues Year 2018-19, and won the Roy Burrell Award for hypochondraplasia, underwent several operations to play singles matches with tie-break scoring for overcoming adversity. It has been some year! and spent many months in a wheelchair. Swimming fast-moving games. was important in her rehabilitation, and when she Congratulations to St Faith’s girls who took 1st and joined The Leys in Year 7 she was helped to regain 2nd place in both the A and B Girls’ Leagues, and fitness by Moulton House Housemistress Alyson to The Leys boys who did the same in both Boys’ McPherson. Leagues. Millie is a member of The Leys swimming team helped by swimming coach, Harriet Lee, a former Paralympic swimmer. “My preferred strokes are freestyle and butterfly, which surprises people as most people think they are the hardest,” said Millie. She was presented with her National Games medals by Beijing Gold Paralympian Ellie Simmonds OBE.

CRICKET Cricket: a universal language Teenagers preparing for the Street Child The tournament was staged before the ICC World Cricket Board. Georgia benefited from a bowling World Cricket Cup 2019, the finals of Cup to highlight the charity’s work for young session with England Women’s Cricket Captain people at risk of homelessness. Heather Knight OBE. which were played at Lord’s, trained at Damien said: “The initiative highlights sport as a l Jake L (Year 11) celebrated his birthday in May The Leys. universal language that can bring people together, by hitting his maiden century (total 112) for the no matter what their origin, background, religious U15As. Sports coach Damien Rigden and colleagues beliefs, race or economic status. taught batting, bowling, catching and ground l The regular annual match against the MCC was fielding to youngsters with varying levels of won by The Leys 1st XI. MCC batted first and experience: the Indians had played before while season highlights scored 207. The Leys won by three wickets. the game was new to players from Mauritius, l At the Year 9 Epsom Cricket Festival, Noah T was l The Boys 1st XI beat Oakham in the Regional Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Player of the Tournament. In four innings he scored final, placing them in the last eight schools inthe 299 runs and was dismissed just once. Richard B National HMC T20 Competition. Junior teams (Year 11) had an excellent First XI Cricket Festival enjoyed success with the U15B boys unbeaten. to conclude a successful bowling season claiming 5-27 against hosts Monkton Combe, earning him l There are now 27 girls from Years 9 and 10 a place on the bowling honours board. Will R (Year selecting cricket, with notable talents emerging. 11) scored two half-centuries and Theo A (Upper l Jemaira V (U15) and Georgia W-J (U13) received Sixth) batted in brutal style on the last day, making Spirit of Cricket awards from Cambridgeshire 131, including nine sixes off just 70 balls. sport 13 RUGBY

south african odyssey heads down

Staff took a party of 33 pupils to the The Hockey squad played four matches, won two, Josh Ibuanokpe of Saracens fame was coached Rainbow Nation. James Clark, Director of drew one, and narrowly lost a thrilling fixture against by current Head of Rugby, Simon Thomas as a schoolboy at Dulwich College. Simon took The Leys Sport, said: “A sports tour priority should Edgemead, one of the Western Cape’s top sides. The Rugby squad won four and lost only one match 1st XV to Dulwich College for pre-season training to include time playing fixtures and working against an unbeaten side from Johannesburg.” benefit from a scrummaging clinic run by Josh. hard on the training pitch, and the boys did The boys enjoyed a busy schedule, visiting the Simon commented: “Josh is a great example of themselves proud. National High Performance Centre, coaching someone who has combined education with sporting CRICKET Hockey to township children and presenting Leys excellence. Through hard work and determination, sports kit to the Goedgedacht Trust which works to he has balanced professional sport with attaining a tackle rural poverty. They contributed to the Path Physics degree from Bristol and is now studying for on to Prosperity scheme, danced as a means of his MA. We are grateful to Josh our coaching session; exercise in Township primary schools and tried their the boys gained great insight into scrummaging and hand at African drumming. appreciated just how far aspiring for academic and sporting achievement can get you.” prestigious award for OL Alex Goode (OL) has been named European Player of the Year 2019. The 31-year-old full-back was part of the Saracens team which made a remarkable comeback from 10-0 down to beat Leinster 20-10 in the Champions Cup final. Channel Island champs Panellist Dimitri Yachvili commented: “Goode is very Elizabeth College hosted a short Cricket tour to comfortable technically and truly versatile, he can Guernsey for promising Year 9 players. The Leys make a game-changing difference.” won all four of their matches, with captain Noah Will Hooley (OL), right, has also made headlines in T making three half-centuries. Jack M took five Rugby: the Bedford Blues fly-half played for the USA wickets. in the Rugby World Cup tournament in Japan. 14 the arts art meets science meets life

Leysian art has been exhibited at the Wellcome Lino print of larger crystals placed in the middle to Genome Campus and at Michaelhouse Centre, achieve the effect of magnified crystals.” Cambridge as part of the Protein Data Bank in Works by Leysians Ellie M, Safiyya S, Annabel C, Europe (PDBe) project. The project saw the Granta Chi Io M, Dream R and Maddie A were selected for and Cantab Art Societies work with local schools to display at the Michaelhouse exhibition: Ellie M won create artworks inspired by the molecules of life. third prize and her work has been submitted for the The PDBe maintains a database of 150,000 3-D national NADFAS awards. shapes of biological molecules for research. Pupils chose images of protein structures as thier creative inspiration. Artworks made by Leys Sixth Formers were selected for exhibition and two appear in the PDBe’s 2020 calendar: Issy McM’s picture of crystals (right) is on the cover, while Georgie de G’s image of the human eye is inside.

Sixth Former Issy explained how she created her image: “I etched the interior of a crystal and printed it four times. I then made a Lino print of a magnifying Ellie M glass and printed this on the page, with another Issy M, Crystallisation creative reponses uniting in harmony The Leys Chapel Choir joined forces with the choir were all well prepared and focused. There was to Wesley’s world of Sidney Sussex for evensong at the college’s excellent parental support too, there was standing historic Chapel. room only!” Following a visit to Wesley’s Chapel, House and Under the direction of Dr David Skinner, they Sidney Sussex has a distinctive chapel laid out from Museum in London, Lower Sixth art pupils produced performed Canticles in B minor by Noble. The north to south, not east to west, a result of the Puritan a series of artistic and original responses. anthem was John Rutter’s Gaelic Blessing. design stipulated by its Foundress, Lady Frances Their works included Max Kenworthy, Director of Music said: “Our pupils Sidney, aunt of famous poet Sir Phillip Sidney. this etching of John were on top form. Their Director of Music remarked The Leys Choir has linked up with several Cambridge Wesley in a stained- on the high quality of the singing and thought they college choirs in recent years. glass surround by Kitty J (left); other displays included a plaster sculpture of Wesley’s inkwell entitled The Weight of His Word by James H, and a cup of chamomile tea spilling (Cham- aemilla) by Lizzie Y. the arts 15 special commission for choir

The calibre of the Chamber Choir so impressed Director of Music Max Kenworthy that he commissioned a short piece by a top young composer for them to perform. He turned to film and TV composer Rebecca Dale, whose cousin attended The Leys: “I’d been wanting to commission something for this group of singers because they ‘gelled’ well and their voices balanced nicely. When Rebecca said she would be pleased to do something we explored options. She suggested the Wordsworth lyric poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, which is very popular and well-known. She came to school to hear the choir several times and it took a few months to develop.” The piece, full of daring harmonies, was performed in the presence of the composer at the Leys End of Year Concert at Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden. Rebecca Dale said it had been “a brilliant first performance”: The piece features on a new CD by the Chamber Choir, Earthly and Divine which was recorded in St George’s Church, Chesterton, in July. Max Kenworthy, Director of Music, conducted the choir who he says were “completely professional throughout the process and worked hard to achieve a wonderfully balanced and blended sound”. Guided by producer Callum Ross, they recorded 21 anthems and motets, ranging in style from the High Renaissance to modern. The CD will be released by Priory Records and be available at the School Shop. the spectacle the mood the scene The themes and stylistic presentations of recent teacher Scott Morrison, it featured ducklings in dramas has been both creative and diverse, ranging yellow wellies and other colourful characters. from the colourful and cheery musical Honk! Jr. to an The Year 9 epic The Tales of King Arthur (inset), epic The Tales of King Arthur and a Steampunk-look directed by Cory Pulman-Jones, employed a Shakespearean production. strikingly pared-down, modern look while Year 10’s Honk Jr, inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s fable, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (above), directed by The Ugly Duckling, was played with joyful energy by Stephen Hancock, was set in a Steampunk-inspired Year 7 and 8 pupils. Directed by drama graduate world of cogs and mechinery. Charmian Simmons with musical direction by music Grounds for respect

l The sports fields are used daily by The Leys and St Faith’s and hired out at other times

l The groundsmen’s fondest piece of kit is the 60 year old ‘ittle grey Fergie’ tractor

l The cricket outfield doubles up as the senior rugby pitch in winter

l The Leys has grass tennis courts which are the envy of many other schools.

l Latham Road has five rugby pitches, two grass hockey pitches and one full-size artificial pitch in winter and three cricket squares and an eight-lane grass athletics track in summer.

l-r Shaun Mahoney, Matt Pullen, Danny Church, Ashley Shipp and Malachy Lawton.

AndyMcVinish the grass is greener... here.

almost 30 years and Head Groundsman Matt Pullen He reflected it had been hard yet satisfying work: The Leys is blessed with 50 acres of is just the fourth holder of the position since the “The building of the Sports Hall and the laying of grounds which thrive under the constant 1950s. Danny Church, who joined at a similar time the Astroturf meant moving pitches down to Latham care and expertise of our experienced as Malachy, recently moved to work for Brighton Road. I am most proud of our grass tennis courts – grounds team. and Hove Albion FC where he will tend the club’s other schools are jealous of these and love coming training grounds as well as his own garden. His to play on them because there are so few grass successor is Andy MacVinish, who joins the school courts these days.” from Pembroke College. Completing the team is Whilst the gardens and planters tended by gardener Paying tribute to Danny, Head Groundsman Matt Ashley Shipp, who trained as a groundsman here at Shaun Mahoney provide an attractive display year Pullen said:” When he joined us in 1991 the song at The Leys. round, maintaining the playing fields and courts is the top of the charts was Bryan Adams’s Everything I a big job for the whole team. Sport is an key part Danny joined the team when his stepfather, who Do, I Do It For You and that’s how Danny has been at of school life with playing facilities on two sites, the was Head Groundsman at The Leys, mentioned that The Leys – everything he has done, he has done for main campus and Latham Road, a short walk away. a job had come up. It appealed to Danny as “a nice, us. He’s been an exceptional member of staff: kind, The five-strong grounds team is well-established. outdoorsy sort of job” and he went to work on the helpful, friendly, and always willing to listen. He will Malachy Lawton has worked for the school for playing fields at Latham Road. be greatly missed.” © DOWIE.COM