January 2018 | No. 46 Abingdon News Exploring Iceland Twenty-eight boys explored Iceland during a A range of geographic topics was covered geography field trip. The boys encountered and highlights included white water rafting, rare geysers, Skogafoss ‘the rainbow glacier walking on Solheimajokull and a waterfall’ and the famous Eyjafjallajokull trip to the stunning Blue Lagoon volcano which last erupted in 2010. Geothermal Spa. ST ANDREWS EDINBURGH Leavers’ Destinations 2017 Classics Chinese Classics In addition to the UK destinations, there were nine places won to study overseas at: NEWCASTLE 45 Biomedical Sciences Oxbridge places Toronto University, Canada Business Management over the last Hong Kong University (2) Chemical Engineering DURHAM Chemistry three years And in the USA: Engineering Foundation Geography Engineering Pennsylvania*, Pepperdine College, Harvard, History History Haverford College, Michigan, Yale Marketing & Management Modern Languages Medicine Philosophy & Psychology* Politics & Economics Politics* LANCASTER Mechanical Engineering SHEFFIELD LEEDS Aerospace Engineering Geography MANCHESTER Bioengineering Geography & History Modern Languages & Economics Medicine Business Management Geography Theatre & Performance Materials Science & Engineering Theoretical Physics LIVERPOOL NOTTINGHAM Ancient History Architecture Chemistry Business Management YORK Economics Medicine Biology French & Politics Linguistics KEELE History Computer Science & Philosophy History & Politics Law & Business International Relations LOUGHBOROUGH Psychology Pharmacy Industrial Design & Technology CAMBRIDGE ASTON BIRMINGHAM CITY Product Design Engineering Business & Management* Civil Engineering Sport & Exercise Science History (2) Business & Politics Law Computer Science Medicine (2) LEICESTER Modern And Medieval Languages English BIRMINGHAM Natural Sciences Ancient History Economics UNIVERSITY OF Geography EAST ANGLIA Geography & Regional Planning Medicine Medicine Pharmacology & Drug Discovery Political Economy Political Science & International Relations READING International Business ABERYSTWYTH & Management Physics Philosophy BRUNEL COVENTRY Mechanical Engineering Industrial Design & Technology Politics Product Design ESSEX HARTPURY COLLEGE Politics Sports Business Management SWANSEA American Studies & History IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON Materials Science & Engineering (2) SURREY Biochemistry Chemistry Chemistry EXETER Mechanical Engineering Business Economics & Medicine* SOUTHAMPTON International Study Physics & Theoretical Physics Aeronautics & Astronautics (2) Economics Economics & Finance Engineering UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON Mechanical Engineering Geography (2) Economics History History Politics & Economics* History & International Relations OXFORD Philosophy History & Modern Languages Chemistry Project Management PLYMOUTH Law Chemistry Mechanical Engineering Physics & Astrophysics Classics LONDON SCHOOL OF Classics & English ECONOMICS & POLITICS Engineering Economics CARDIFF English History Business Management History & German UNIVERSITY OF THE Criminology Mathematics & ROYAL HOLLOWAY Geography (2) WEST OF ENGLAND Philosophy Financial & Business Economics* Medicine (2) Geography Medicine (2) Music BATH Theology & Religion BRISTOL Aerospace Engineering BIRKBECK LONDON CARDIFF Aerospace Engineering Biochemistry OXFORD BROOKES Business METROPOLITAN Economics & Finance Biology History Sport Management Engineering Design Business Administration KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Geography Computer Science WARWICK Computer Science Law Economics Economics (2) English Philosophy Economics English French Politics & International Management History Geography Relations Mechanical Engineering Maths (2) History (2018) Psychology Pharmacology Modern Languages & Economics War Studies Abingdon News University Entries The university applications cycle 2016-2017 was highly successful for Abingdon. We submitted over 185 applications to UCAS, 165 of which were in the Upper Sixth and and the rest were OAs. Most students applied to the ever-popular (and ever competitive) Russell Group universities, with Bath University being a very popular choice too. There were 19 Oxbridge places won (11 to Oxford, 8 to Cambridge). On results day, we found a considerable a student can reject current offers having Many Abingdonians gravitate to London number of universities had softened their received better grades than expected. offer by a grade, however the most popular (Imperial, LSE, KCL and UCL) or to the The other interesting change in recent years courses at the Russell Group universities South West (Exeter, Bristol, Bath) however has been the Apprenticeship Degrees which stuck to their guns. we saw a number of applications to York, are making a big splash in the UK and are Keele, Swansea, Surrey, Lancaster and Clearing is evolving as a true marketplace extremely popular, however their appeal Aston. Engineering in its many guises, with students offering actual (not predicted) is yet to filter through to Abingdonians. Medicine (12 places in 2017), Economics, grades and universities offering actual Certainly some lower sixth boys are making Sciences and the Humanities remain spaces on courses. Indeed it has been noises about considering this degree route, favoured choices for study, with a significant known for some universities to ‘hold back’ but we are yet to see a commitment in this rise in International Relations and Politics some places to capture the students that go exciting direction. courses being selected. through Adjustment, the process by which Nicky King, Director of University Admissions Message from the Headmaster Abingdon students ran summer camps for children in Moldova One of the many highlights of this term was had been teaching and they had learned often out and about sharing their time and hearing upper sixth students reflecting on a great deal from seeing children with so enthusiasm with the wider community. The the time they had spent in Moldova over little enjoying life so much and making the benefits are palpable, providing our pupils the summer. They were the latest to visit most of their opportunities. Finally it was with broader perspectives and keeping this small and relatively unknown country apparent that our students had grown as them grounded but also ensuring that the in eastern Europe, continuing a tradition a result of their experiences and that they school as a whole feels firmly rooted in our first established over ten years ago in had gained a new perspective on their life neighbourhood. back in the UK. collaboration with the charity Agape. I hope you might pick up a sense of this The students had clearly had an A strong sense of service is at the heart of as you read this latest edition of Abingdon unforgettable time, and they had Abingdon life. Be it through the third year News and also that you will enjoy reading relished the opportunities to learn more Community Service programme, the work about the other events of an exciting and about Moldova and to experience the of our Science Ambassadors at Saturday productive term. Science Clubs or regular visits to local culture there. They had formed powerful Michael Windsor, Headmaster friendships with the children that they old people’s homes, Abingdon pupils are www.abingdon.org.uk 3 Abingdon News Marathon Paddle Oxford Varsity Squad Training Oxford University ‘s Varsity squad came into school for their final team training session before the Varsity Match. The University’s Head Coach, James Wade, was appointed the School’s Forwards Coach this summer. The University used the new fitness suite, the hospitality suite for team analysis, and the Waste Court pitch for their final Third year Max Kidd-May completed preparation. Abingdon’s 1st XV had a real treat, taking part in a non-contact training a charity stand up paddleboard from session running in phases of attack and defence. The day culminated in the University Surrey to Fulham covering 36.5km players giving the Abingdon boys some one to one training sessions. over a period of 9 hours. Exploring ATLAS with Minecraft Abingdon School students joined a group of UK teenagers to create an interactive museum of one of the world’s most famous science experiments – the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider – in the virtual land of Minecraft. National Poetry Day Tutor time turned into poetry reading for National Poetry Day alongside poetry related activities and a school-wide competition for boys and staff. The open mic session in the afternoon showcased a wonderful selection of boys’ and staff’s own work as well as their favourite poems. Taking on the House Aahaan Sharma (pictured), a Year 7 pupil, Cameron Butcher and Scott Elkington read a poem he wrote called “Freedom took on their Lordships as part of the Inside Me”. Aahaan was inspired by his English Bridge Union’s annual bridge event grandmother who is a writer and a poet. at the House of Lords. The boys enjoyed The Headmaster recited a German poem a guided tour, followed by duplicate bridge called Wanderers Nachtlied by Johann and afternoon tea on the terrace. Cameron Wolfgang von Goethe and a poem by Clive partnered Lord Harrison of Chester and James called Leçons de Ténèbres. Scott, Lord Skelmersdale. 4 January 2018 Brave and Poor v Cowardly and Rich The first joint Lower School event of the year took place at St Helen’s in the form of a dinner debate. The girls argued for the Third Years explore Haptics motion that ‘This house would rather be brave and poor than cowardly