LIFELENT 2020 Success on the court An unforgettable Hairspray performance Annual Junior Literary Festival Educational partnership with the Mobius Foundation Whitgift Minster Choristers live on BBC One Midnight Mass 1st XV crowned National Hockey Champions Global Citizenship launch for Junior Years and more inside… Hairspray The West End arrives in South Croydon! In December 2019, the West End came to South Croydon with a wonderful performance of Hairspray staged in Big School. Backcombed beehives, styled kisscurls and glittering costume all made this three night sell-out performance a huge hit. With period glitz, nostalgic glamour and toe-tapping numbers, the cast, production team and band, transported the audience back to 1960s downtown Baltimore. The musical (a record-setter which won the 2003 Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Musical for Marc Shaiman) follows teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream of hitting the big time dancing on The Corny Collins Show amidst a backdrop of racial segregation and elitism. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, leading to social change as Tracy campaigns for the show’s integration. A big thank you to all those who pulled this production together, particularly Mr Michael and Mrs Carter who directed the performance, and congratulations to the whole cast, including students from Old Palace of John Whitgift and WAVPA, Whitgift’s Saturday Performing Arts School. 2 WHITGIFT LIFE performing arts Hairspray The West End arrives in South Croydon! ‘With period glitz, nostalgic glamour and toe-tapping numbers Hairspray was a huge hit’ WHITGIFT LIFE 3 ‘Celebrating the power news of poetry to bring National Poetry Day people together’ To celebrate National Poetry Day He performed one of his poems on Thursday 3 October, poetic ‘Getting Older’ from his new rapper and storytelling songwriter, book Reasons to Write Rhymes in Rob Bradley was invited to Whitgift an Upper School assembly. The to inspire students about poetry, poem struck a chord with young reading and writing books, helping and old alike. The students then them to develop their skills and challenged him to freestyle rap enthusiasm. using a random selection of words chosen by them and they were Rob has spent his whole life writing impressed by his clever word-play rhymes and performing around and witty rhyming techniques. the world, from basement clubs in New York to festivals throughout Rob also held creative writing Europe, and collaborating sessions for First Formers and with international artists and Second Formers, encouraging songwriters along the way. students to create poems using rhyme. They then got to perform their work. National Poetry Day created a hive of activity around the School, celebrating the power of poetry to bring people together and to explore how it can be used in reading, writing and performing. Whitgift would like to thank Rob for making his visit such a memorable event. Dorian Fisher Memorial Prize In September 2019, Upper Sixth Former Max Ronte was awarded one of three runner-up prizes for the 2019 essay competition ‘The Dorian Fisher Memorial Prize’, organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). Students studying International Baccalaureate, A Level or equivalent were eligible to apply for this competition. The questions focused on three highly topical areas; free trade, the challenges of an ageing population and the long-standing principle of no such thing as a free lunch. Max’s essay was one ‘A fine and of 366 entries submitted to the IEA, who passed on their thoughtful congratulations on a “fine and thoughtful piece of work, with piece of work, real originality.” Our congratulations also go to Max with real for recieving an offer from Oxford in January 2020, to read originality’ Politics, Philosophy & Economics. 4 WHITGIFT LIFE news Oxbridge offers confirmed for 14 students Whitgift is delighted to announce that 14 Whitgiftians have received Oxbridge offers. They will be reading subjects such as History, Law, Politics Philosophy & Economics, Medicine, Music and Natural Sciences. Headmaster, Mr Chris Ramsey commented “We are immensely proud of the students and their achievements. They have put in an incredible amount of hard work in preparation for the pre-tests and interviews, very strongly supported by their families and the staff here.” A special thank you to Ms Emma Mitchell, who as Head IB and A Level exam success of Higher Education especially supported the students in their At the end of last term Whitgift We are also delighted to have applications. Mr Adam Alcock was pleased to be presented received recognition from The takes over from Ms Mitchell with two awards for our Sunday Times Parent Power, this year, as she moves to success in the International not only as a top performing IB become the School’s Director of Baccalaureate 2018/19. These school, but also being positioned International Baccalaureate. awards, presented by IB league as London’s best performing table consultants, positioned boys’ independent school We wish all the Upper Sixth Whitgift as number one boys’ according to Sixth Form results. Formers the best of luck as school for IB, number 6 overall they continue to work towards in the UK and number 15 in the securing their University Global Top 50 IB Schools. The placements and follow their Headmaster, some staff and career aspirations. students from the 2019 and present day cohorts attended to receive the awards. Whitgift cadets commemorate Trafalgar Night In October 2019, senior cadets contingent standard and the good decisions, won him the who aspires to be a leader. The from the Combined Cadet Force Royal Navy’s White Ensign and battle and cemented his place as night ended with a toast to the (CCF) and Corps of Drums Union Jack. Between courses, an inspirational figure not just ‘Immortal Memory’, before a gathered to commemorate the cadets read dispatches which to the Royal Navy but to anyone rousing set of sea shanties. 214th anniversary of the Battle told the dramatic story of of Trafalgar with a three-course the lead-up to the battle and black tie dinner in the Old Library. Nelson’s mortal injury sustained during the firefight. Trafalgar Night, which is commemorated around the After the loyal toast (made world, celebrates Admiral Lord seated in accordance with Nelson’s victory at the Battle of naval tradition), Lieutenant Trafalgar. After a reception in Bregman, the commanding the Raeburn Library, Sixth Form officer of the CCF’s Royal Navy cadets, alongside Whitgift’s section, described how Nelson’s partner school Thomas More, innovative tactics and powerful joined officers in an Old Library leadership, which included festooned with signal flags, the trusting his captains to make WHITGIFT LIFE 5 newsnews The Nineteenth Symposium In September 2019, Whitgift Since the start of the ideas and thoughts towards hosted the annual Symposium Michaelmas Term, Whitgift different areas of history I ‘The Symposium for Upper Sixth Formers and students worked with a partner would not have sought out students from North London student from NLCS, identifying independently myself.” is designed Collegiate School (NLCS). a topic to discuss from a range to support The Symposium, which is in of disciplines such as science, At the event, students gave its 19th year, is designed to medicine, history, economics, their presentations in pairs independent support independent learning politics and engineering, in and then participated in open by providing students with which they located cutting discussions with a wider learning’ opportunities to conduct and edge research before preparing group. The Symposium is a collaborate in research and learn a presentation on it for the great opportunity to enhance beyond the curriculum. It aims to Symposium. Student, Hamish collaboration skills in preparation promote scholarship by offering McDougall commented, “I really for both university and the students the ability to present, enjoyed the Symposium as it workplace. defend and evaluate ideas. allowed me to explore different Careers Convention The annual Whitgift Careers of the future including Artificial said, “There was a good amount the Convention very helpful and Convention on the evening of Intelligence, Cyber Security and of interest, the boys asked lots interesting. It helped to narrow 12 November was a lively event Global Sport Media. of questions which is really down my final decision on with over seventy advisers, Old positive.” A Lower Sixth Form what I might choose to study at Whitgiftians, parents and friends The advisers commented on student commented, “I found university level.” of Whitgift, offering advice on the high level of interest and a wide range of career sectors enthusiasm shown by the to students in the Upper School students. Jason Bird, Commercial and their parents. Several Solicitor at Beale and Company CAREERS CONVENTION 2019 advisers also gave presentations on the work involved in their job roles and what skills and ‘I found the qualifications were required to Convention build a successful career. As well as traditional careers in Law, very helpful Medicine and Finance, we also had representatives from careers and interesting’ 6 WHITGIFT LIFE sport Hockey It’s been an exciting season for at claiming their first ever place Hockey at Whitgift. in a National Final, followed by a hard-fought game in the finals In Michaelmas Term 2019, the against Dean Close resulting in 1st XI drew with Nottingham the National Championship win. University and then went on to Unfortunately, the U16s could win four back to back matches in not repeat their National wining the England Hockey U18 Tier 1 exploits of last year, despite Competition. This included two playing some brilliant Hockey 12:0 wins against Ipswich and throughout the tournament. The Langley Park and 7:0 win against team finished joint third which is 6:1 in the final.