Lord Robert Winston Inspires Audience at Tolkien Lecture
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Spokesman 1 King Edward’s School Newsletter Spring 2017 Lord Robert Winston inspires audience at Tolkien Lecture Professor Lord Robert Winston, renowned scientist and Britain’s packed auditorium with his thought-provoking lecture called ‘Why leading fertility expert, visited King Edward’s School to talk to an bother with science?’ audience of over 400 pupils, parents, Old Edwardians and staff Dr Mark Fenton, Chief Master, said: “It has been an incredible privilege about the importance of being scientifically literate. for us to welcome such a distinguished scientist to the School. Not only The talk, which took place on Thursday 2 March in the Ruddock Hall of did the boys find it a great inspiration, but listening to Lord Winston was the School’s Performing Arts Centre, was the seventh in the Tolkien hugely enlightening and enjoyable for all who attended. Lecture series. Other speakers in the series, named after the School’s “King Edward’s School has a great scientific history, counting two Nobel most famous Old Edwardian, JRR Tolkien, have included Jonathan Coe, Prize winners in its alumni, and it is a tradition which continues, with 26 Sir Hew Strachan, Simon Singh and Alfred Brendel. pupils going to read medicine alone last year. As an IB school, all of our Lord Winston, Professor of Science and Society and Emeritus Professor boys continue to study science for two years in the Sixth Form, so of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London, who pioneered hearing Lord Winston speak so emphatically about the importance of techniques to improve fertility treatments, is passionate about science resonates wholeheartedly with the philosophy of the School and communicating the importance of science to all age groups. The its decision to move to the IB Diploma.” Bafta-winning broadcaster and author of over 20 books enthralled a Inside... Public speaking team through to National Final p5 KING EDWARD’S SCHOOL BIRMINGHAM 2 School news School news 3 Mental health and wellbeing Promoting good mental health is top of the with potentially serious mental health issues. agenda, and awareness in this area has In addition to the school counsellors, who are increased dramatically in recent years – available to allow boys confidential talking A brief word from... not just at King Edward’s, but nationally. therapy, we now have a mental health nurse based in school and a child and adolescent We are keen to not just react quickly when psychiatrist available on a case-by-case The Chief Master issues occur but to put in place as much basis. They are able to diagnose serious preventative support as possible to minimise If you were lucky enough to get hold of mental illness and offer treatment that might the impact of the inevitable challenges boys a ticket for the seventh Tolkien Lecture have taken many months through the CAMHS will face while growing up. you may well, like me, have started system. Parents are involved at every stage to ask yourself what makes someone Recent developments include an introduction at this level and this service has seen great Catering inspiring. Robert Winston’s lecture to mindfulness as part of the Rems curriculum benefits for the boys. broke many of the conventional rules and UMs learning techniques to stay mentally The best way of looking after the boys’ about public speaking, but it was the healthy, which is revisited at regular intervals wellbeing is by educating and promoting a man himself who was inspirational. throughout the School. Over 50 boys from team’s healthy lifestyle and mindset. The incredible Finance Careers Evening, March 2017 Rems and UMs have signed up for the full Kathy Caprino has identified 13 range of sports, activities, and music and .b Mindfulness in Schools project. Similarly, characteristics of inspiring people, but for drama options means every boy can find their an introduction to yoga is now part of the niche and like-minded peers, and therefore five-star me there are three which are unarguable Lower School curriculum and is also available and help explain the ‘Winston effect’: support through friendships. Working in Development as an option for the Upper School. partnership with parents means messages 1) They have forged their own authentic Unfortunately, boys do occasionally find on diet, sleep and digital awareness can be award path and are living out what they themselves struggling with anxiety, stress or delivered at school, but reinforced at home. believe, research or do; they don’t worse and the School is mirroring the national The School’s catering team has been just speak about what fascinates update RDH trend in seeing more young people struggling awarded a five-star rating for food them, they exude it body and soul. The King Edward’s School Birmingham delivered with great charm and erudition by hygiene following a visit from the 2) They derive an enormous sense of Trust is extremely grateful to our Professor Lord Robert Winston, was a most Environmental Health Office (EHO) satisfaction and reward – and spend supporters for their ongoing commitment enjoyable evening and I am sure his visit will at the start of this term. much of their professional time and to the Assisted Places Fund, which now linger long in the memories of all who were KESPA quiz evening Miss Williams, Catering Manager, said: energy – from helping other people, stands at £10.5m. lucky enough to attend. “We are delighted to have been awarded or organisations, grow and flourish. This continued support is helping us to Finally, in summer 2016 an exciting new Questions from quizmaster Nick Plotnek, a level five food hygiene rating and I am 3) They are compelling storytellers who ensure that King Edward’s remains open to all exhibition will open at Birmingham Museum provided a lively evening for many and extremely proud of the team for their communicate something very different with the talent to thrive here, but more needs and Art Gallery that will take visitors on a he was assisted very ably by Jill and a diligence and dedication in achieving this from anything we’ve heard before. By to be done to safeguard the future of the virtual journey back in time to the School team of volunteer runners from Divisions accolade. The School’s investment in sharing their personal failures, triumphs Fund. We will shortly be announcing exciting when it stood on New Street. The Thresholds once again. The challenge during the our catering facilities and the hard work and life stories, they can stimulate future campaign plans and look forward to exhibition, a virtual reality art project by interval this year tested our skills at of my team under our new Head Chef, both our intellect and our emotions. the next stage of our journey. internationally acclaimed artist Mat Collishaw, recognising well-known faces. The Mr Dewhurst, has really paid off. It is will virtually reconstruct one of the UK’s ploughman’s style food was tastefully Robert Winston was still talking in an The Development & OEA Office has held great to get the seal of approval from first major exhibitions of photography, The Harborne Hotshots lived up to their organised by parents and committee utterly compelling way as I strolled a number of events already this year, and the EHO for a facility.” which was held at King Edward’s School name, winning the Light-hearted Quiz members and was well received. with him to his car, long after his I would particularly like to express my The inspectors judge outlets on how in 1839. It promises to be a real testament in January. lecture had ended. I could not help gratitude to the Old Edwardians and parents Many thanks to all who supported this clean, hygienic and well-managed the to the innovation and excellence which feeling a little envious of the driver; who participated so enthusiastically in The Hotshots faced stiff competition from popular event and we look forward to food preparation and facilities at the characterises King Edward’s to this day and he might not have known it, but he recent careers events. Insights given and teams including The Oxymorons, Les seeing you again in the summer. premises are, and benchmark each we look forward to being able to share more had two hours of inspiration ahead. connections made at these events open up Quizerables, May the Fourths Be With Us business against the same criteria. details of the exhibition with you soon. Amy Thompson a range of possibilities and pathways to the and Simply Rej, and winners from previous Dr Mark Fenton Honorary Secretary boys – thank you. The recent Tolkien Lecture, Lindsey Mepham years The Management and The Good, the Chief Master Bad and the Ugly. 4 School news Academic news 5 Commemorating our war dead Young chemists win regional heat In early 1917, the launch of new major 1917, aged 19. Clifford enlisted as a Private Second Lieutenant Arthur Horace Tanfield. A team of four boys is through to the UK offensives, such as the Battle of Arras, in 1914, transferring to the Royal Flying Corps Killed when his aeroplane was shot down by final of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s were taking their toll, as were momentous as a mechanic later that year and was made Leutnant Kurt Wolff whilst undergoing an Top of the Bench competition 2017. political events caused by the strains of an observer in December 1916. operation to photograph the line between In the regional final, which was held in the total war. The Russian Revolution in Quiéry-la-Motte and Étaing on 13 April 1917, Second Lieutenant Herbert Harry Weston University of Birmingham’s chemistry February had brought down Tsar Nicholas II, aged 19.