The Peterite 2016-2017 CONTENTS The Peterite 2016-2017 Issue No. 434 Contents Commemoration 4 Salvete 9 Valete 10 House Reports 14 Visits & Exchanges 34 News, Events & Activities 54 Creative & Cultural 90 Sport 119 Leavers’ Destinations 159 The Peterite 2016-2017 1 From the Head Master The Peterite once again brings together an uplifting and informative collection of images and reports of a year of high activity. During the course of the year we were anticipating the arrival of an Editorial inspection team from the Independent Schools Inspectorate, and they duly arrived in the first week of the summer term. The inspectors found that “all groups of pupils make rapid progress and achieve academic excellence” and “display excellent self-confidence and a commitment to achieve”. Their uniformly positive view of our School was formed by being amongst us for three days. The richness and diversity of opportunity, and the strength and values of our community shone through, as is the case in this magazine, which captures the spirit and events of 2016-2017. Readers and dippers-in will, I hope, sense that “camaraderie is present everywhere”. My warm appreciation and thanks go to all those on the editorial ream and to our meticulous and beady-eyed Editor, Mr Keith Wright, for delivering another wonderful almanac of life at St Peter’s School. 2 The Peterite 2016-2017 EDITORIAL Heads of School Heads of School 2016-17: Samuel Lightwing, Eleanor Caley, Thomas Dowdy and Emma Nelson Editorial This edition of The Peterite magazine marks the end of an era: it is the final issue in a long run for which the bulk of the photography has been done by Mr David Morris. The farewell article by Mr Edwards reveals some of the staggering statistics relating to Mr Morris’s work behind the camera, but the quality and range of the images themselves are much more impressive than the raw figures, and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for the way in which he has captured the spirit of school life over so many years. This edition has been produced with a good deal of assistance from Josh Booth and Hannah Hamilton (Director of External Relations), and I would like to thank them for their significant contributions behind the scenes. I would also like to thank Lauren Watson and David Peach, of Hutton Peach Design Solutions, for once again finding a striking style for the presentation of words and images. Finally, I must thank all the contributors, both pupils and staff, for their faithful recording of the myriad activities which take place beyond the walls of the classroom. Mr Keith Wright Editor, The Peterite The Peterite 2016-2017 3 Commemoration 2017: the Head Master’s address A council in Wales recently put up a bilingual road sign. The – the work of silver-tongued smooth-talkers? Has reasoned English instruction told drivers that they were entering a argument really been supplanted by hectoring bluster and residential area that was unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles. boo-hooray rhetoric? And, if this is the spirit of the times, Native speakers could see that the script underneath, in should we go with the flow; resist it; or step aside? Welsh, read: ‘I am not in the office at the moment. Please At times, the truth seems to have been lost in translation. attach any work to be translated’. Yet, as parents and as educators, we are wired to We live in an age where things are done very fast; and communicate a vision of hope. We want to see our children communicated even faster. The age of Google Translate and walk into their future with confidence. Our vocation is to Wikipedia: an ‘always-on’, data-rich world. ensure that our children are educated to think for themselves; Opinions are swiftly formed - and swiftly communicated. to engage positively with the wider world; to be seekers and They are ‘liked’ and ‘go viral’. Emotions become fact. Facts communicators of truth. Commemoration 2017 Commemoration are half-checked, finessed or ditched in favour of more One of our school’s seven school values asks us to ‘speak with convenient post-truths. conviction and honesty’, and ‘to listen carefully and openly’. We live in a world where Presidents Tweet. True communication only happens when you have something meaningful to say; and when you are truly heard. True In such a world, it may feel as if authentic leadership is an communication is the art of being understood. endangered species: truth a rare bird. When I talk with Peterites, when I see what they do and how Can we still trust the version of events communicated to they talk, I am filled with hope. I believe in them. Educating us? Or is the popular narrative composed of hollow words 4 The Peterite 2016-2017 COMMEMORATION children to be leaders with values is the best way to ensure that the I asked my colleagues to help me with this speech by suggesting world doesn’t end up being run by maniacs. their highlights of the year they responded with characteristic enthusiasm. Gathered together, their submission amounted to 5,627 The academic year began with a government Green Paper that words, which would take around 50 minutes to read. You’ll want me called on the independent sector to do more to create good school to be selective. places and help with social mobility. St Peter’s School is a key partner in the City of York Independent State School Partnership This has been a year of tremendous achievement in the field of which the Green Paper cited as a national beacon of excellence. learning. The class of 2016 delivered some stunning examination Having hosted Saturday masterclasses, and provided Latin GCSE results in August, with over four-fifths of all A-Levels exams passed for pupils from York’s state schools, we are adding Astronomy at A*-B; and over 75% of all GCSE passes at either A or A*. GCSE to our growing portfolio of activities which, it should be We all know that a truly rounded education goes well beyond said, we do because of our values, rather than any external political excellent examination results. The F1 in Schools team reached the imperative. We end the year with a minority government and an national finals at the first attempt, breaking the UK speed record Education Secretary keen to pursue a more collaborative dialogue on the way. Meanwhile the Physics and DT departments entered with independent schools. teams in the Bloodhound rocket car challenge, winning the regional Considering the political landscape now, and the wounded, wild and round. Our Mathematicians continue to dazzle in the United occasionally wonderful beasts that seem to populate it, my mind Kingdom Mathematics Trust Challenge and we became regional harks back to the political giants that stalked the earth when I was champions for the second time in the National Schools’ Challenge. an 18-year-old, and leaving school. John Major, when he was Prime We scooped prizes in Spanish debating and Latin reading Minister, often used to criticise Neil Kinnock, the Leader of the competitions. Our physicists won both the Liverpool University and Opposition, for making long-winded and tedious speeches. They King’s School Chester Physics Olympics. A team of canny investors went on so long because, according to Major, the Labour leader reached the finals of the National Student Investor Challenge. had nothing to say – so he was never quite sure when he’d finished saying it. I shall try to avoid this pitfall. The Public Lecture Series has once again delivered some outstanding intellectual challenge as we hosted big-name speakers including Today is about communicating the values and achievements of the Bernard Cornwell, Ann Widdicombe, and Jonathan Dimbleby – all pupils of St Peter’s School. There is plenty to say. Indeed, when The Peterite 2016-2017 5 COMMEMORATIONEDITORIAL great communicators. The Christmas Science Lectures sparkled with together. A record number of grade eights were awarded this year, energy and over 200 students attended our Philosophy conference. with three pupils also securing diplomas, and one pupil making the The thriving debating programme was extended to include National Youth Choir. The musical diet has been wide-ranging, from competitive public speaking, and Global Perspectives now entails Cabaret and informal concerts to Evensong at Durham Cathedral presentation and communication training. and Westminster Abbey, and of course in this wonderful space. As ever, we are deeply grateful to the Chapter of York Minster for The learning has extended outside term-time. We have seen a allowing us to gather here for our Easter Concert, and today as we Politics exchange to Washington; Art Historians and Classicists mark the 1,390th year in the school’s long history. in Italy; skiers in Switzerland; linguists in Spain; a tennis camp in Portugal; rowers in Belgium and space enthusiasts in Florida. This In sport, the first eleven boys’ hockey team was unbeaten and once summer will see a boys’ rugby tour to Argentina; trekking in Iceland; again crowned county champions. The first eleven football also won a girls’ hockey and netball tour to South Africa; and a rejuvenated all their games: played eleven, won eleven. Our girls’ hockey teams CCF deploy a record number of cadets on annual camp in Sussex. reached the north-east semi-finals at all three age groups; and the The RAF section is flying again – literally and metaphorically – and netballers made the north finals at under-14 and under-19 level. In over 140 pupils are pursuing Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. racket sports, the girls’ squash team won their division of the York Ladies’ League and the boys’ tennis first team made the finals of the The cultural life has been enriched by some remarkable and diverse LTA National Senior Students Competition coming fifth out of 300 productions from Shakespeare to J B Priestley, as well as plenty entries.