Contents The Leicestrian 2016 Contents THE LEICESTRIAN 2016 INTRODUCTION 2 SCHOOL-WIDE EVENTS 4 ART 18 6th Form Writers & Interviewers SCIENCE 29 CLASSICS 36 Aran Abeysundera Hannah Blake Olivia Dann Anna Davies Samantha Haynes Orla Horan DEBATING 40 ENGLISH & DRAMA 45 Georgia Hubbard Michael Kennedy Simran Kotecha Priya Luharia Roisin McCole Holly Mould FOUNDATION DAY ESSAYS 53 HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY & RS 63 William Osborne Amelia Palmer Gabrielle Potts Gabriel Rawlinson Kathryn Tincello Sarah Turner Edward Whittaker MODERN LANGUAGES 77 MUSIC 80 CREATIVE WRITING 88 ICT AND DT 90 SPORT 91 1 The Leicestrian 2016 Introduction Introduction The Leicestrian 2016 A Word from the Headmaster Head Girl, Holly Mould, C.P.M. KING & Head Boy, William Osborne As with so many words in the dictionary we can, I believe, same title by Leo trace the root of the word hero to the Greek and in this Tolstoy. We now, of A Word from William Osborne: case the word heros meaning “hero, warrior”. It follows course, have a further As the A2 exams and the end of that the classical hero is most likely to be considered a extension of the idea life as I know it rush towards me, warrior who lives and dies in the pursuit of honour and of a hero depicted I can say without a doubt that my often is judged by their ability to kill others, be that people as a larger-than-life time as Head Boy has been one or animals. Here I might select Hector, the Trojan prince character in modern of my most surreal experiences. and the greatest soldier for Troy during the Trojan War. It works of fantasy or in comic books. Is Superman so My selection for the role in the seems to me that it is fairly easy to extrapolate from the very different to Hector? Discuss. For me a hero, male first place was a surprise that still idea of a hero in classical literature to identify real life or female, is a person who did extraordinary things in shocks me today, but it has been heroes who perhaps have received medals for bravery their time which caused a positive change in the life of enjoyable from start to finish – when serving in the armed services, or as firefighters, others. Florence Nightingale must have a very strong despite the large amount of ‘quality policemen and policewomen, doctors, nurses and so on. case as does Martin Luther King and, from another banter’ that has been thrown my This time I alight on Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, VC perspective, perhaps the crew of Apollo 11. way from friends as a result of my & Bar, MC, who was a British medical doctor, Olympic I’m not sure I can alight on any hero to be singled out at appointment! The simple change athlete, and British Army officer and one of only three Leicester Grammar School. I do know that this edition A Word from Holly Mould: from sitting in St. Nicholas’ Hall every Monday morning people to be awarded a Victoria Cross twice. captures some heroic efforts to be the best we can be. watching the prefects process in to being the one of As my eight years at LGS draws to a close, it’s incredible I thank the editorial team behind this edition for all their the leaders of that weekly charge really took some The word hero or heroine, in modern times, is sometimes to think how many amazing opportunities this school has hard work to pull it all together to create, not a work getting used to – and the fear that we might mess it up used to describe the protagonist or the love interest of given me. From the Singapore and Malaysia sports tour of pure fantasy but a read which reflects the energy, has hardly diminished since that first time in Year 12! a story, a usage which seems to me to conflict with the to holding the door for the Queen when she officially purpose and very notable achievements of the pupils Mrs Sains has provided support from start to finish; if superhuman expectations of heroism. A classic example opened the school, LGS has provided some unforgettable and staff in this excellent school. it wasn’t for her help the end of term services would is Anna Karenina, the lead character in the novel of the memories. The school plays over the years have always have been a panicked melee of Year 7s trying to find been exceptional, and to say that I was a part of a few of their seats among the reluctant Sixth Formers! I also them is an honour. Yes, at times the school productions want to thank Mr Longson for his help with knowing can be stressful, but in the end you’ve produced a great A Word from the Managing Editor where to stand and what to read in services. I broke performance and got the chance to know so many MRS. HIGGINSON my personal record for lack of organisation this year people from different backgrounds that you never by losing a reading within ten minutes of being given it; would have spoken to before. Sport has played a huge My Idea of a Hero was the Foundation Day essay topic and “A society which emphasises uniformity is one which without his guidance I’d probably have read the wrong role in my school life, and the girls I’ve played netball for this year. Nelson Mandela, Malala, Martin Luther creates intolerance and hate.” He also gave Canadians passage or forgot to come in at least once! My time and hockey with over the years have developed into King and Gandhi were the most popular choices, all our first constitution and, pirouetting sarcastically behind as Head Boy has been focused about a series of major such good friends. We’ve had highs and lows, but we’ve expressing values cherished here at LGS. Queen Elizabeth’s back as she signed the document events, starting with the induction activities for the new permitting this, he signalled colonial defiance more made some great memories along the way, including that The late Pierre Elliott Trudeau, possibly the greatest Prep and Year 7. This was a very odd experience for me, eloquently than anyone else ever. I believe that his hand Denstone match and Gabby’s incredible penalty flick to Canadian of the latter half of the twentieth century, since looking back it doesn’t seem like that long since at the helm stopped Quebec from separating, because Miss. Williamson’s routine to S Club 7’s Reach. was not only my hero, but is someone who continues I was in the same position as the new students! Open he unified the two cultures of Canada, as suggested by to inspire Canadians. Don’t we all revere a leader who I’ve had loads of fun, as well as making friends for life, Day was memorable, and not just because the weather his double name “Elliott Trudeau”. At his funeral in 2000, is charismatic and articulate? He used to treat press but it’s not always been easy. I think I can safely say that was so appalling that it destroyed any umbrellas the news clippings of which my father carefully cut out and conferences like university lectures and tease the everyone in Sixth Form has found the last two years prefects could throw at it! Experiencing Remembrance posted to me in England, Canadians lined the streets journalists with quotations from literature, praising those intense, tough and, at times, frustrating. However, with Day from a different angle was more sobering than usual; waving flags and photographs of our leader and even quickest to recognise them. Wearing a red rose in his suit support from peers and teachers we have somehow I found that being one of those who stepped up to the canoe paddles, as PET was an enthusiastic practitioner lapel always, he was also the first ever to wear sandals to dragged ourselves through it. I have to say a massive memorial in Great Glen felt quite different to just being of Canadian wilderness sports, with posters saying, Parliament in the summertime – shock, horror! People thank you to Will, who has supported and helped me in the service at school, especially as we represented the “Always paddle your own canoe!” in the great Rugged are often so scathing about their leaders, but Canadians throughout the year. I’d also like to thank a few of the entire student body. I’d like to thank Holly for everything Individualist tradition. Although our present Prime adored this man, under whose governance we first teachers: firstly, Mrs Sains, without whom the prefects she’s done as Head Girl – I would never have survived Minister, Justin Trudeau, was born on Christmas day – became openly patriotic, whose initials, PET, were used and Will and I would not have got through a single the year without her superior organisational skills and quite a coincidence, isn’t it? – he has some distance to to signify how much the Canadian media loved him. He service; Mr Rich and Mr King for giving me and Will this cheery outlook. I wish all the best to the next Head go to live up to his father’s reputation. was responsible for broadening Canada’s immigration opportunity in the first place and Dr Fulton for guidance Boy and Girl, Aran Abeysundera and Orla Horan, in their policy, famously saying that all Canadians are immigrants and support throughout the Sixth Form. new roles! 2 3 The Leicestrian 2016 School-wide Events School-wide Events The Leicestrian 2016 Farewell to Mrs Hinshelwood When BBC Question Time Came to LGS How did you get into Learning Support teaching? What do you BY MICHAEL KENNEDY I was an English teacher for many years; however, my sister- plan to do in your in-law’s three children are all dyslexic and I saw how they retirement? struggled – it used to be the case that dyslexia was not really As my husband, who is recognised or understood.