3214 King Eds News and Views
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Spokesman King Edward’s School Newsletter Winter 2013 The new sixth form centre £5m modern languages and science centre opens A new £5m modern languages and science language laboratory. And there is a wonderful least one modern language to IGCSE and, centre, called the Andrew Brode Wing, new space for Sixth Form pupils, too. since the introduction of the International opened in September 2013. Baccalaureate, every boy continues to study “Languages are more important at King a language for two years in the Sixth Form. The development which also incorporates a Edward’s now than ever. Every boy takes at new sixth form centre, has been substantially The school also has an outstanding scientific funded by a donation from former pupil history with two Nobel Prize winners and the Andrew Brode who is the Executive Chairman great tradition continues: this year we have of RWS Holdings and a keen linguist. seen the highest number of pupils ever to go to read Medicine at Oxford or Cambridge.” John Claughton, Chief Master, said: “The gift given by Andrew Brode is of great scale The modern languages and science centre and significance and has enabled us to was officially opened on Wednesday, create outstanding new facilities for science 16 October 2013 by Professor Martin Swales and modern languages, including new a former pupil and Emeritus Professor of Andrew Brode, Professor Swales and laboratories, new classrooms and a new John Claughton at the official opening German at University College London. Inside... Music maestro honoured by Classic FM p8 King EDWARD’s SCHOOL BIRMINGHAM 2 School news School news 3 KES Development & Outreach In October 2013, our 100th school OEA Office update signed up to the outreach programme and by November it had grown to 108. It is clear that the word is getting out among Birmingham’s primary schools that we are keen to support them in challenging their most able pupils, and already this year we have held literacy, chess, science, debating, drama, history and classics events. In November, we invited 100 primary Simon Singh (centre) and boys with their signed copies A brief word from... school teachers into school to develop The Chief Master their skills in teaching Level 6 literacy. One participant said of the session: After three years of teaching Theory Simon Singh: The Simpsons “When I entered the grounds of King of Knowledge in the IB Diploma, Edward’s, I was immediately impressed I now know one big thing: we might with the historic buildings and the pretend to be creatures of reason, and Their Mathematical Secrets politeness of the boys who guided me but we are, in fact creatures of around. I thought that this type of school, emotion. And that’s why passion Have you ever seen something for an Bestselling author, Simon Singh, captivated though impressive, was well out of our matters so much in schools. instant and the next moment it has a full house in the Performing Arts Centre children’s reach. After hearing from the vanished? Has this ever happened to We are not persuaded to study with these revelations. He explained how Chief Master, this notion had completely you during The Simpsons with obscure a subject or play a sport by an the producers of both The Simpsons and changed and I was inspired to come combinations of numbers, symbols and Aristotelian syllogism: we are inspired Futurama were mathematicians and they back to school and explain about the letters in the background? If you’ve ever by the passion of others and the thrill had slipped a myriad of small mathematical opportunities your school could provide seen an episode of The Simpsons called for our children. of doing it. So, from the whirligig of this references into the shows. ‘MoneyBart’, it should have. term I’d like to pick on three moments “My perceptions of King Edward’s With mathematical humour and freeze-frame of inspiration and passion. Perhaps this is a one off occurrence; a single has changed and I hope some of our gags increasing both the comedic and ‘nerdic’ The first was at the opening of the editor’s joke? In fact, no! There are many children get the opportunity to come density of his talk, Singh brought accessible Andrew Brode Wing where Professor other highly mathematical references in The to your school and see what amazing mathematical hilarity to all, for one night that I, Martin Swales spoke with humour and Simpsons and its sister show Futurama, from experiences it has to offer.” Narcissistic, Perfect and Taxicab Numbers to as a mathematician, shall treasure forever. intensity about his love of languages TJMA Members of the 2013 telephone campaign team supposed counter-examples to Fermat’s and their value in this world. The Clement Chan Last Theorem. second was The Tolkien Lecture where The end of December marks the end of During 2013 we also began fundraising for Simon Singh managed to convince our fundraising year and I am pleased to the first ever ‘Leavers’ Assisted Place’ everyone, even the most sceptical report that 2013 has been one of our most supported by parents whose sons left in the and least mathematical, that Maths successful years yet. summer. It has been a great success with must rank amongst the very highest. Over and The Simpsons were an irresistible over £75,000 raised so far, enough to fund Over £3 million has been raised, the majority the past 40 years Phil has proved himself combination. The third was on a recent an Assisted Place for a boy starting here A milestone for Assisted Places, and as a result there are a most capable member of the team, windy Thursday lunchtime when Robbie next year. Over one third of parents pledged currently 53 boys on Assisted Places in possessing the ability to turn his hand to all Ruisi played with such fire and such support and we are hoping to repeat the Phil King reached the milestone of 40 the school. aspects of the trade, whether planting a new delicacy that he reduced many of us initiative again next year. years’ service to the school in October flower bed or preparing a cricket wicket on to tears. The annual telephone campaign in the 2013 and enjoyed a tea-party in his honour Finally, if you have not already contacted us south front. summer raised £275,000 making it one of the in the Chief Master’s study. Schools and school days can’t always and would be interested in offering careers most successful alumni telephone campaigns “I would like to thank Phil for the support be about such moments, but without advice such as careers talks, mentoring He is part of a dedicated eight-strong team of in the UK and 60% of those called pledged he has shown to all the Ground Staff past such moments there would be no point or work placements through our Careers Grounds Staff who have a total of 146 years’ to make a gift. The campaign team was made and present. Phil is presently contemplating in schools like this. Network, contact Sue Dickens via: experience looking after all things green. up of 12 recent and current pupils, including retirement and I know he will be sorely [email protected] or tel: 0121 415 6050. Tamir Ahmed-Choudhury, James Kuo, missed by us all and an almost impossible Phil King (right) with Garry Watson cutting the Garry Watson, who heads the team, said: Nick Porter, Alex Russell and Steven Yang. SML cake in the Chief Master’s study “Of the many unsung heroes here at KES Phil man to replace.” 4 Academic news Academic news 5 On Monday 7 October the Sixth Form gathered in the Ruddock Hall for our third Theory of Knowledge day. It was a privilege Theory of to host Dr Vardy, who has given many lectures to boys taking Philosophy or Religious Studies over the years, and for the whole year group to be able to hear him. Knowledge: In the first part of the morning Dr Vardy considered the problem of knowledge through exploring the thinking of major philosophers starting with Plato and Aristotle. He moved on to consider the Dr Peter Vardy limits of reason and concluded the first session by considering right and wrong. Boys in front of the turbine blades of a Rolls Royce jet engine Dr Vardy then considered the financial crisis and who was to blame and what could be done to resolve it. He pointed out that Adam Smith, the “father of modern economics” also wrote The Theory Visit to the Manufacturing of Moral Sentiments and that this book was always carried by the last Chinese premier. The morning finished with a debate on Technology Centre Euler lecture whether political assassination can ever be justified. After putting forward arguments on both sides a lively debate ensued with many A group of boys in the Sixths and Divisions visited one of the A small but excited group of mathematicians left for the IMA contributions from the floor. world’s leading research centres for manufacturing in September. lectures on Tuesday 15 October. Ahead of us an exploration of Dr Vardy impressed all who heard him with his energy and breadth of the life and work of Euler, one of the greatest mathematicians of The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) represents one of the knowledge. He clearly understood the Theory of Knowledge course, all time. largest public sector investments in manufacturing for many years and able to relate what he said to past essay questions. However, it was is housed in a 12,000 square metre purpose built facility in Coventry.