Jude, er, there's something you ought to know... I'm afraid that's all that's left of him... Lady Gaga and George Bush in shock summit meeting.. Just ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Now, Andrew. Where’s your prep Potts calls Kettles Black. Contents 2 School captains 29 Speech and Drama 68 Golf 91 Prizewinners 2010 3 Headmaster's report 30 Tudor Rose 69 Cycling 92 History: HR Table tennis 4-5 Salvete 32 The Happiest Days of 96 Reels nights 6-7 Speech Day Your Life 70 Ski season 97 Hypnotist night Netball House Reports 34 The Little Shop of Horrors 98 Staff valete 71 Clay pigeon 8 Riley 38 Art 100 Obituaries 10 Freeland 72 Girls' tennis 43 Design & Technology 102 Charities 12 Nicol 73 Boys' tennis 14 Ruthven 48 Cricket 103 VI Form common room 74 Girls' hockey tour 16 Simpson 52 Rugby 104 The Ball 18 Thornbank 55 Football 76 CCF 20 Woodlands The Strathallian 2009-2010 58 Boys' hockey 78 Debating 22 Glenbrae Volume XX No. 10 60 Girls' Hockey 79 Chess 24 Chaplain’s report Editor: E G Kennedy 62 Swim team 80 Kenya 25 Headmaster’s Music Design: Douglas Colquhoun 82 Pipe band 63 Canoe club www.douglascolquhoun.co.uk 26 Headmaster’s Summer Music 84 Duke of Edinburgh's Award House Music 64 Cross-country and athletics Photography: Alaisdair Smith for Art and 86 Strathallian Club 27 Music department 65 Basketball Design Technology: Irene McFarlane: Karate 87 Strathallian news John Brittas and thanks to all staff who 28 Riley Music contributed. Lectures 66 Equestrianism 89 Valete Strathallan School, Forgandenny, Perth PH2 9EG www.strathallan.co.uk STRATHALLIAN 09-10 Over our time at Strath much has changed: refurbished dining hall, revamped swimming Captains of school pool, new IT block, a second astro turf and of course an additional girls’ Boarding House - Glenbrae. These changes reflect the school's "This is a place where people can shine as continued commitment to progressing its grounds and facilities further thus enhancing individuals in diverse groups yet be part of the opportunities available for all pupils. Though it’s easy to forget, amongst all the the special community that is our school" fantastic experiences that we are privileged to enjoy at Strathallan, we are ultimately trathallan brings together a diverse here to study and gain grades to help us and exciting group of people from progress either to further education or many parts of the world and from into the workplace. This is one area that no Sdifferent backgrounds. There can be no parents need to worry about, the work ethic doubt that shared experiences have had a at Strathallan is almost annoyingly high. We massive impact on our lives and will be both are always encouraged to gain the most from fondly remembered and greatly missed. The our potential. opportunities our unique school offers have benefitted us and other pupils throughout the All that remains is to say a huge thank you to school. everyone at Strathallan and to wish the best of luck to everyone still there. This is a place where people can shine as individuals in diverse groups yet be part of Callum Donald and Kirstin Lamotte the special community that is our school. On leaving, we are heading towards new and exciting adventures. It will be sad to go but we have been well prepared for what is next to come. The success of the school owes so much to the hard work of every single member of staff. Our thanks go to all those whose continual help and support have assisted us in so many different ways ensuring that Strath is the dynamic place it is today. The pupils also contribute to this wonderful atmosphere. It’s hard to imagine a school with a friendlier attitude. The friendships we have made here will last far beyond the valedictory service and these relationships will leave us with wonderful memories of our time at Strathallan. STRATHALLIAN 09-10 he theme of my speech at Speech Day last May We continue to increase our charitable activities and was the extent to which extraordinary things were delighted to set up initiatives in Kenya and to re­ T can be achieved in a school where individuals establish the major charity sponsored run this October. and teams ask a lot of themselves and set that as the agenda. Of course, academic work is central to this and has perhaps come into even more stark relief with the level of publicity about the difficulties in securing places Headmaster's Report at university this year. I am pleased to say that the Strathallan Sixth Form responded well to the challenge; the conditional offers received were not markedly Once again, I wish to pay tribute to members of staff different to those in previous years and in the majority who have left us at the end of this year. Jennifer of cases the offers were achieved through some very Hutcheon was Pipe Major at Strathallan from 1994. good examination results. Pupils continue to go to a She set the very highest standards at all times and wide variety of courses and locations; this year slightly produced some outstanding individuals and bands. more went south of the border. In her time Strathallan won all the important solo, band, quartet and trio competitions. Liz Hamilton is a The highlight was again the A level results. In the first consummate professional who set very high standards year of the new A*, awarded to pupils who achieved for all her sets, knows the Chemistry inside out, and also 90% or more in the papers sat for A2 in the final year, presided over real growth of Scottish Country dancing. 23% of all entries were at this new level. There were Many successful ceilidhs are very much testament fifty-eight in total with twenty-five pupils achieving to her patience and enthusiasm. Not everyone finds one or more. We also gained 78% A/B which is our Mathematics easy but George Kitson was to be seen best so far and a 100% pass rate. The Higher results in the Library working patiently with numbers of also saw some significant success and the offering individuals who have particular difficulties as well as of an alternative system continues to provide greater helping the more able. He also spent time on the golf opportunities for pupils to take subjects at levels course, rugby pitch and the badminton court where which are appropriate for them. The GCSE results saw he has supported generations of talented and perhaps us achieve 43% A*/A and 90% A*-C. This year I am not so talented performers. We are delighted that he delighted to say that The Scotsman got our results has now rejoined us as a part-time member of staff. correct although somewhat bizarrely listed the schools And Robert Proctor was a teacher of History, Tutor, in order of the percentage of A’s achieved rather than Housemaster, Second Master, Sports coach, mentor, the A*’s. In the latter we were the top in Scotland, a fact friend, advisor to generations of Strathallians. Crucially recognised once again by the Financial Times. We were Robert is a real School Master and the range of areas in also encouraged by national success in Art, Physics, which he was involved is testament to that. There are Biology and Mathematics competitions which give the many pupils who owe their success and indeed in some pupils the opportunity to challenge themselves outside cases their very survival here to Robert’s passionate, the school context. Crucially also, of course, the School caring interest in their welfare in the classroom, in the was inspected on the six yearly cycle. We achieved House or in the nets. Ivanina Trifonova was with us for one excellent grading, in Learners’ experiences, and a year helping in EAL, and our Gap Year students Sam the other four categories were “very good". The Lead Drummond and Tom Studholme have once again been Inspector described it as “an excellent report hard- huge contributors to the life of the pupils in Riley. earned from a very experienced team". Speech Day gives the opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved throughout the year although there are always some successes to add which are recorded in the second half of the Summer term. This year saw twelve national champions, sixteen Scottish representatives and regional and national success in twenty sports. We have Scottish champions in athletics, canoeing, swimming, judo, netball, equestrian, and hockey, and national representatives in canoeing, swimming, eventing, skiing, rugby, cricket, sailing, rounders, hockey, and tetrathlon. Of course, the success of teams is important and of particular note were an unbeaten swimming team, the boys and girls U18 cross country teams which gained national silver, missing gold by one place, and our girl hockey players who won the Midlands U15 Indoor and Outdoor, U16 Outdoor (there is no Indoor], U18 Indoor and Outdoor My words on new members of staff begin with a competitions which is the full set. In music our Choral belated but formal apology to Louis Dunn who joined us Scholars recorded a CD, featured on Radio Four, and as Head of Modern Languages last year. Unfortunately the Choir sang for the Queen at Crathie and performed Louis was the victim of the mysterious rule that says in the West End, Glasgow in addition to the internal that at least one thing included in a document on concerts. Pupils achieved top levels in diploma and computer transferred somewhere else will always grade exams and Lamda, and the various plays and get lost.