The Grovian 2019 The Grovian 2019 Contents Official Reports 3 - 14 Brontë House 15 - 31 Boarding 33 - 35 Out of the Classroom 37 - 41 Trips and Tours 42 - 55 Performing Arts 56 - 71 Sports Reports 72 - 104 House Reports 105 - 111 Official Reports Headmaster’s Report The latest public examination reforms suggest that we are, in many ways, moving backwards, to learning based on retention, at just the time when we should be shifting our focus to more flexible learning for the It was a huge honour and privilege to welcome to future. Inspection has concentrated on things that are Woodhouse Grove our Prize Day Guest of Honour, Clive easily measurable. This is not what will be needed in Lewis OBE DL. Amongst his many interests and the next twenty-five years, as mundane jobs become achievements, Clive is the Founder of Bridge Builders; automated, and the ability to think creatively, with an organization that works nationally to provide genuine empathy, becomes critical. A broader mentoring and training for boys and girls from curriculum that inspires a love of learning but also disadvantaged backgrounds. In a previous life, I was appreciates and encourages different ways to learn is lucky enough to serve on the Bridge Builders Advisory not impossible, but I fear the independent school Board and have, therefore, witnessed for myself, Clive’s sector will have to fight hard to get this to the top of passion for increasing social mobility and employability our politicians’ education agendas. among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Prior to the introduction of new, tougher, A-level examinations, the Chief Inspector of Schools, Amanda Through the work of the Woodhouse Grove Foundation Spielman, suggested she would challenge teachers not and the School’s partnerships with Royal Springboard to concentrate too much on exam results. She said, and and The One in a Million Free School, the Grove is also I quote, “Schools are getting it wrong if they are no working hard to increase social mobility by widening more than exam factories. A rich education is more educational opportunities in the local area and beyond. important than rising league tables”. This intervention As a former pupil of Woodhouse Grove, one of my seems to me to be the latest move in a debate which primary aims is to make a Woodhouse Grove education has been going on for as long as I can remember. available to as many local children as possible. In this What do we want from our schools; higher grades or regard, Bridge Builders and Woodhouse Grove share a rounded personalities? As parents, most of us want common cause. both, of course. In the ever-changing political landscape, independent I was fortunate enough to go to a school which valued schools are facing unprecedented challenges; the a rich education; one which provided a varied and full nebulous uncertainty of government-driven initiatives; range of opportunities in which each individual could the implications of Brexit; the evermore demanding find their niche. It also provided a safe and nurturing push and pull of inspection and the growing incidence environment in which everyone could discover what of emotional ill-health in our young people all conspire they were not good at. Which, in my case, was not to give us headmasters sleepless nights. difficult. Looking back, I’m glad now, that I found out at Page 4 I am Grovian school what I was bad at, as well as what I was good at. Whether we like it or not, social media has changed Testing is a part of life; we all need to strive against language and the way children see the world. At times, ourselves to discover who we are, and exams are like when dealing with some of these issues in school, I often signposts on the way to a greater goal. The philosopher think that society, as a whole, now requires a new code John Locke, in his book Some Thoughts Concerning of conduct, so that harmful misuse does not prevail. Education, published way back in 1963, argued that, “Of all the people we meet with, 9 parts of 10 are what Today’s children are the first to have the entire store of they are; good or evil, useful or not, because of their mankind‘s knowledge literally at their fingertips. The education”. advent of smartphones means that friends and relatives can easily be in touch with each other In such a rapidly evolving employment landscape, the wherever they are in the world. And social media has ability to anticipate and prepare for future skills also given people a new way to keep up with news, and requirements is not a concept the world of education a platform to express their opinions. has fully grasped. The successful school of the future will regard preparation for work as more important However, it is also the case, that screen addiction is an than preparing its pupils for examinations. Emotional issue of enormous and growing concern to parents and intelligence, reaction to failure, leadership, teachers. Children typically have access to as many as perseverance, resilience and the ability to improvise five different screens at home. On average, they are and adapt on one’s feet, are becoming increasingly spending nearly five hours a day in front of them. important. This is clearly having an impact on the way children As has been well documented of late, soft skills – behave and interact, with potential consequences for personal attributes that enable individuals to interact their mental health. Some experts have likened screen effectively and harmoniously with one another – are addiction to alcoholism, with online stimulation best instilled in schools such as the Grove. For the triggering the addictive release of dopamine in the most part, our young people leave this place as brain. There is also an obvious link between high levels confident and well-formed individuals, not just well of screen use and physical inactivity, which contributes informed ones. to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The Woodhouse Grove School Foundation The Woodhouse Grove School Foundation is a charitable trust formed orf the purpose of organising and coordinating fundraising and development work with a specific and immediate focus on Bursary funding at the School. This funding offers life changing opportunities and also protects the unique ethos of the School. MAKE A DONATION Every gift matters and with your help we can build an even better future for all our Grovians. Your help and support is invaluable and without it, we would not be able to assist the growing numbers of pupils who would not otherwise be able to enjoy a Woodhouse Grove education. Collectively, small contributions can make a big difference. One-off financial donations, legacy giving or regular amounts via standing order—it soon adds up! Here are all the ways you can help make a lasting and meaningful difference: VIA BACS TRANSFER or STANDING ORDER VIA CHEQUE Payments can be made by bank transfer or to set Woodhouse Grove School Foundation Please make cheques payable to Woodhouse Grove up a standing order to the Foundation account: Woodhouse Grove School, Apperley Bridge, School Foundation and send to the Foundation Office. West Yorkshire BD10 0NR HSBC Bank Sort code: 40-02-06 GIFT AID Email: [email protected] Account no: 21352806 IBAN: GB63HBUK40020621352806 If you are a UK taxpayer and eligible for Gift Aid please complete our Tel: 0113 250 2477 Registered charity no: 1176406 gift aid form (found on the Old Grovian section of the School website) Please add your surname as the reference and Visit our Facebook page Old Grovian Association and return to the WGS Foundation office. Completion of this form email [email protected] to let means that we are able to claim an additional 25% from HMRC at no us know of your kind donation. Join us Old Grovian Business Network extra cost to you. If you are a higher rate taxpayer, you too can benefit from tax relief and companies that make a charitable donation can reduce their liability for Corporation Tax using the Gift Aid scheme. I am Grovian Page 5 In seeking to ensure that children strike a sensible community; the building of relationships between balance, parents and schools need to work together. parents, staff and pupils; and the value placed on each That means adults leading by example. According to individual. As President Jimmy Carter once reminded the Office for National Statistics, the average working us, “We must adjust to changing times whilst still parent spends only nineteen minutes a day interacting holding on to unchanging principles”. with their children. Yet on a typical weekday, adults spend six hours looking at screens. Children are well To my mind, community is one of the greatest aware of this hypocrisy, with more than two thirds antidotes to insecurity because it speaks to us of the complaining that their parents spend too much time assurance that we are all in it together. This is what online. As we seek to ensure the next generation makes the Grove such a special place; as the poem appreciates there is more to life than time spent goes, “We are all individuals, yet we are part of hunched over computers and smartphones, we should something incredible”. take a long hard look at our own screen habits. Winston Churchill once said, “To each there comes in On the plus side, in my experience, adolescents are their lifetime a special moment when they are essentially optimistic. They are full of talent and today’s figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the young people are less prejudiced and more principled, chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and with a healthy respect for those of different fitted to their talents.