THE LEICESTRIAN TWENTYEIGHTEEN THE LEICESTRIAN TWENTYEIGHTEEN THE LEICESTRIAN TWENTYEIGHTEEN THE LEICESTRIAN 2018 Contents INTRODUCTION 2 FOUNDATION DAY ESSAYS 50 CLASSICS 32 SCHOOL-WIDE HISTORY 61 EVENTS 4 GEOGRAPHY & RS CREATIVE 35 MUSIC 77 WRITING ART 21 ICT AND DT 67 DEBATING 39 SCIENCE 81 MODERN 71 LANGUAGES ENGLISH SPORT 87 6TH FORM & DRAMA 41 Writers & Interviewers Ella Berman Olivia Hartley Rosalind Rashid Flora Shaw Clara Browne Henry King-O’Reilly Lucy Ring Millie Sian Urjaa Chudasama James Merryweather Sana Sajid Maya Thompson Zain Girach Rahul Patel Benjamin Schwabe Elizabeth Whitby Maria Hancock Freya Patten Molly Sellicks Khadijah Yusuf Cover photos by Katie Siddons THE LEICESTRIAN 2018 Introduction Introduction THE LEICESTRIAN 2018 A Word from the A Word from the Headmaster, Head Boy & the Head Girl C.P.M. King Head Girl, Lucy Ring: I have had the privilege of writing an introduction to the It is hard to summarise my time at LGS as anything other than an simultaneously; school’s magazine for the past seventeen editions. Perhaps eventful series of highs, lows and life lessons, briefly interrupted never to let given this track record and experience you might be expecting something witty and particularly illuminating, but it is likely I by actual lessons. Without doubt my favourite part of my role anyone will disappoint you. This edition of the Leicestrian might be a as Head Girl has been walking around St Nicolas before every borrow a pen assembly, swishing my gown behind me and pretending to be in ‘monster’ publication, but I don’t think I will be saying anything (as you won’t a Harry Potter film. Weekly highlights have ranged from turning which is enormously original or tremendously amusing. It has, get it back); and up at break to find the refectory is selling brownies, to hitting the nonetheless, been a huge honour to have been the Head of how to leave every Leicester Grammar School during a period of great growth gong during late night orchestra rehearsals and Mr Potter taking and significant development. The school roll has grown to be much pity on me before hockey training in the freezing cold and giving piece of homework larger in the time I’ve been its Head and the achievements reflected me a hot chocolate from the PE office. It still baffles me why any until the night before in this bumper edition show how they have expanded and developed teacher would be willing to take a group of teenagers away for a it is due. However, one on an increasingly positive scale. The Grammar School pupils week. But I’d like to thank them as I will have lasting memories thing that even Dr Whittle has not been able to teach me is how go further, achieve more and have greater all-round success of some of the great trips I have been on, such as the Battlefields to sing. I would like to say a massive thanks to all the staff who with every passing year. Once again the Leicestrian gathers together tour, the netball tour to Skegness and the Germany trip. The lows have taught me through the years. I would not be on the cusp a comprehensive record of the pupils’ outstanding achievements have been few and far between: losing two teeth to a hockey ball of heading to university without their input and encouragement. and I thank the editors and contributors for making this edition in Year Eight, the 3:00 am bedtime before every DT deadline, falling I would also like to thank Rahul and the whole senior prefect such a fine read. into a bog during a Music tour to Ireland and occasionally spending team for their constant willingness to help. As well as Mrs Sains more than 60 hours per week at school. However, these have all been and Miss Carter, without whom assemblies would resemble a essential components of my time at LGS and have, no doubt, made me more resilient. stampede. Finally, I’d like to thank my friends: despite all our complaining over the past seven years, we made it through! It is A Word from the Editor, I have learnt a lot of things during my time here: that it never gets especially my friends who have made my time at LGS enjoyable any easier to carry a hockey bag, violin, DT folder and school bag and memorable. Mrs Higginson Head Boy, Rahul Patel: The Foundation Day Essay competition had the topic MY IDEA not there, so I cannot say that I met the man or even glimpsed him. OF A MONSTER this year, which seemed the natural counterpoint Others saw him, though: a police sketch in the newspaper showed Debate and discussion, interpretation or another statistic. The more you know, the more to “My Idea of a Hero”, the title given two years ago. The initial a man with dark upswept hair, wearing a big black coat and looking awareness of current you realise you don’t know. And yet, on the news, in the paper response of many students was to think of Hitler or of childish distinctly vampire-like. He was never caught. The victim had been affairs and political and on social media, people speak with such conviction that you cartoon monsters such as Sully and Mike in “Monsters Inc.” on her way to visit her grandmother in the hospital. An odd engagement are wouldn’t think this was the case. At A-Level you are told that in Other students applied the topic metaphorically to issues of grave coincidence is that the number of times she was stabbed encouraged from essays you have to argue a point, and of course, argument is only concern: guns, animal abuse, pollution and littering, depression corresponded exactly with her age. She went into a coma and died the beginning effective if delivered firmly. However, arguments are only plausible and anxiety. Spiders, I was surprised to discover, are the most four days later. I had done quite a lot of babysitting for the victim’s of your if nuanced. There are two sides to every coin. A lot of opinions monstrous everyday creatures that most LGS students could younger sister and so knew the entire family, who were lovely. time at LGS. are stupid, but no issue is ever black or white, so don’t believe imagine. The challenge is to come up with a fresh angle on the What makes a monster, partly, is the total incongruity between These become subject, such as Keira Beatty in Year 8, who wrote about the fire in what these people were like and what happened to them. somebody who tells you so. Friendships could be ruined simply more prominent Grenfell Tower; or Charlotte Stollery in Year 11, who wrote about the The two-year-old’s bedroom had contained a whole forest of because somebody refuses to think differently and the fact remains as you progress fashion industry. It is also very important that you are well-informed, large plush animals taller than she was. I remember especially a that whoever you are, your knowledge of something will always be and in proportion to as was Maria Telnikoff in U6th form about Polyphemus, or summer evening when the parents walked me to my door because overshadowed by a lack of knowledge. your exposure to Mr Shashank Bandari in Year 8 about mosquitos. Use what you know it was a bit late, and the father challenged me to try to click Allen. They are not only from your own experience, as Charlotte Russ in Year 9 did when my heels in the air as we walked, so that the three of us went important aspects of an education, but are also crucial steeples Relax, enjoy school. Enjoy the fact that you don’t know things, but she wrote about dyslexia. leaping and hopping down the pavements. of a democracy. However, recently I’ve begun to see a problem aspire to do so. Having confidence in your convictions is a good with this. I am a student of Politics and take an interest in current thing. By all means, if you are passionate about something, spread The closest I have ever come to encountering a monster would affairs, but the wealth of information I don’t know on any one the word, but remember the importance of balance. This doesn’t be the person who repeatedly and inexplicably stabbed a teenage issue completely outweighs that which I do understand. The just apply to politics, the same goes for any disagreement, no girl I knew, while she stood on an escalator coming out of the same is true of my school subjects, where there is always another matter how small. A little humility is always important. Toronto subway early one evening, decades ago. Of course, I was 2 3 THE LEICESTRIAN 2018 School-wide Events School-wide Events THE LEICESTRIAN 2018 The St Nicholas Chapel A Coat of Arms for the LGS Trust An Interview of the Headteacher, Mr King by Khadijah Yusuf How did LGS obtain its coat of arms? the school, with each symbol We applied to the College of Arms, which is an independent body representing a significant part whose authority is granted by the Queen. It is possible for anyone of Leicester Grammar School. to apply for a coat of arms, however, not everyone is then granted one. It is only individuals or organisations that are distinguished How long did it take to within their community that are granted a coat of arms. create our coat of arms? The College of Arms are an Please explain the significance of the design.