SUMMER 2016 www.culford.co.uk
Photograph by: Shaun Scott
Summer Celebration Events Prep School parents and pupils enjoyed an exciting last day before the half term holiday began at their annual creative arts Celebration Day on 27 May. The next day, Culford Senior School held their annual Speech Day with Guest of Honour, Rev Cannon Richard Norburn MBE, President of St Nicholas Hospice Care. Upper Sixth Pupils also enjoyed a fantastic evening at the Summer Ball on the last Saturday in July. Read more on pages 3, 5 and 12…
Summer Productions
Summer Sporting Highlights
Re-live some of our fantastic drama performances from this term…
Discover our pupils’ fantastic sporting achievements on page 10…
Culford Connections is a bi-annual newsletter for Culford School bringing together news from Senior, Prep and Pre-Prep Schools
Prefects Q&A
Culford Senior School Prefects L-R Deputy Head Boy Charlie Schofield, Head Girl Natasha Day, Head Boy James Barley and Deputy Head Girl Ellie Rushforth
5 minutes with… The new Senior & Prep Head Prefects SENIOR What attracted you to becoming a prefect? n Ellie Rushforth: I wanted to have the opportunity to help and support other pupils, particularly those in the younger years. n James Barley: I wanted to be able to regularly push myself out of my comfort zone and enhance certain skills that I think will greatly benefit me later in life. What areas of school life would you most like to influence and are there any particular changes you would champion? n Ellie Rushforth: As a Peer Counsellor and the new Chair of Charity Committee I particularly want to focus on them, as they are both areas that I am passionate about. I want to make support more readily available for pupils who feel they need it by making Peer Counsellors even more approachable. What are your plans after Culford? n James Barley: I would like to go to university to study aeronautical engineering. n Natasha Day: I plan to go to university and study biomedical sciences or forensic science. What are your passions? n Ellie Rushforth: I’m very passionate about charity, which is why I have been part of the charity committee for so long, and have volunteered in a local charity shop and at fundraising events. I am also visiting Malawi this summer, which combines my wish to help other people with my love of travelling.
another big challenge for me as I stepped out of my comfort zone and really enjoyed trying something completely new. n Charlie Schofield: One of my main achievements so far was my team winning CCF Inspection Day during my Upper Fifth year.
What are your hobbies? n Natasha Day: I like playing tennis recreationally and in my free time I also enjoy playing my flute or reading. n Charlie Schofield: I enjoy sports such as golf and cycling.
PREP Why did you want to become a prefect? n Holly Reynolds: I wanted to serve the school and help other children, my teachers and peers. n Dean Hafermann: I have been at Culford since I was three years old and it has given me so many great experiences and opportunities. I wanted the chance to give something back. What do you think is the best thing and the most challenging thing about being Head Girl and Boy? n Holly Reynolds: The best thing is people
have faith in me to represent the school well. The most challenging part for me is reading in front of people, but I’m looking forward to the challenge! n Dean Hafermann: I think the best thing about being Head Boy is the chance to give back to the school that his given me so much.
What are your hobbies and what do you do for fun? n Holly Reynolds: I love sport and I’m often swimming, playing netball or hockey or running. I really enjoy spending time with my friends. n Dean Hafermann: I enjoy anything with a ball, bat or racket. If there is competition, I am up for it. If I’m not in a match or at practice, I will likely be in my back garden hitting a golf ball, playing football or throwing a cricket or baseball. What’s the best thing about Culford Prep School? n Holly Reynolds: Everything! I love all the different opportunities it gives me. Camping out in the woods was fantastic. n Dean Hafermann: The variety of opportunities and enthusiastic teachers who are always willing to help.
Prep School New Head Boy, Dean Hafermann and Head Girl, Holly Reynolds
What would you say was your greatest achievement at school so far? n Natasha Day: One of my greatest achievements so far has been to represent Suffolk and reach the semi-finals at the regional netball tournament with the U19 netball team. Additionally, taking part in the senior musical Les Misérables was
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Culford School, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP28 6TX Email: communications@culford.co.uk www.culford.co.uk
28 May 2016
Speech Day celebrates Culford Senior School pupils’ achievements and showcases their work and the huge variety of extra-curricular activities that they participate in.
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Speech Day
This year guests were able to see a drama performance, a topical debate, a superb instrumental and vocal concert and academic displays of work in Culford’s stunning new £2.2million Library. Outside, guests were able to watch the President’s XI play cricket against the school, enjoy a tennis demonstration by the talented Academy players and participate in a golf competition with Culford’s PGA Professional and Director of Golf, Lawrence Dodd.
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Prep School Celebration Day Prep School parents and pupils enjoyed an exciting last day before the half term holiday began on Friday 27 May. As parents and guardians were invited to join their children, they took part in activities such as ‘Have a Go Lessons’ in Art and Science and ‘What is the BIG question?’ in Religious Studies. They were also able to see first-hand what their children have been learning in a range of subjects by visiting their classrooms, viewing some of their work and taking part in lots of activities, including some flamenco dancing!
New Music Facilities Now Open! Celebration Day also saw the official opening of the Prep School’s new music facilities, which have been re-designed and refurbished thanks to a generous legacy gifted to Culford by a former matron, Mrs Thelma Fretter. The classroom is now fully equipped with iPads to enable work on interactive practical projects and new acoustics and lighting is also in place. Mr Clay, Head of Music at Prep School said:
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Mr David Bruce (nephew of the late Mrs Fretter) with his wife, Wendy, opening the new music facilities at Prep School
“We have created great facilities which help to place us at the forefront of music teaching and encourages pupils to engage with the subject in new ways.”
Culford Prep School celebrated the end of term in July with their annual Prize Giving. The guest of honour was former Mayor of Bury St Edmunds, Patrick Chung, who presented the children with their prizes for academic achievements. After the award ceremony, friends, parents and teachers were able to gather together on the South Front lawns to enjoy a traditional tea in the sunshine.
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Prep School Prize Giving
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The Goblin Next Door Pre-Prep Play
Pre-Prep pupils performed their annual production in July to a packed audience of friends, family and teachers. Sarah Preston, Culford Pre Prep and Nursery Head, said: “Well done to all the pupils who took part – they wowed their audience with an outstanding performance! Many of our pupils will be moving up to Prep School in September, so it was a lovely way to end a fantastic year.”
Nursery Summer Production All of the Nursery children took part in their annual show in July. The pupils told the story of a grumpy bus driver taking children on a trip to the park, the seaside and the farm. All the staff at Pre-Prep & Nursery are so proud of how confidently the children performed and particularly enjoyed the sunglasses song!
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Les Misérables
Senior Play
A sell-out production of the musical Les Misérables Schools Edition, performed entirely by students, was a theatrical triumph in March. Culford’s drama and music department collaborated to produce this musical favourite, complete with a live orchestra, superb sets and lighting, intricate costumes, West-End worthy solos and tight ensemble singing.
Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations Prep Play
Second Form pupils performed a high-energy production of Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations in May. Parents, grandparents, friends, and fellow pupils, filled the audience, to travel on the visual journey of a young boy’s imagination that comes to life!
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CCF Inspection Day 2016 Culford’s Combined Cadet Force held their annual Inspection Day in March. It began with a parade and inspection on the North Front, followed by a variety of activities, which gave the cadets an opportunity to show the assembled dignitaries, parents and visitors all that they have achieved during their training. The visiting Inspecting Officer, Air Commodore Andrew Hall MBE MA RAF, Commander of the RAF Force Protection Force, Commandant General RAF Regiment and Air Officer RAF Police, complimented the cadets on their excellent drill and turn out. The afternoon ended with the awarding of prizes by Air Commodore Hall and in the evening a formal dinner was held in the superb setting of Culford Hall for the Non-Commissioned Officers and their parents and guests. Old Culfordian, Ross McKenzie (2005-2015), produced a video during CCF Inspection 2016. If you would like to watch this, please visit our website: www.culford.co.uk
5 minutes with… The new Head of CCF Sarah Schofield (pictured right) will become the new leader of CCF from September 2016. Sarah said, “I am really looking forward to working with a great team of staff and young cadets who have an abundance of talent and potential. We have new Fourth Formers joining in September and my advice to them would be to approach CCF how I did 11 years ago – by embracing all it has to offer.”
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GCSE Art Our GCSE pupils have been busy this term creating their final exam pieces. These were displayed on Speech Day in May and at the Art Department’s Summer Exhibition in June.
Hannah Brecknell
Jude Everitt
Jintong Li
Hannah Benton
Emily Harris
Art Department Speech Day Display
Royal Academy A Level Summer Online Exhibition Culford art pupil, Jono Le Grice (L6), has been shortlisted in the Royal Academy A Level Summer Online Exhibition; he was selected from over 2,000 submissions in a showcase of Britain’s best young artistic talent. The curators found ‘the quality and diversity of the work really exciting’, and Bob and Roberta Smith RA said: “We loved looking at the breadth and skill of all the entries. Congratulations to all the young artists who submitted works.’’
Will Lettin
Jude Everitt
Art Department Plans The Campaign for Culford launched in 2012 and has already achieved so much for the School, including the new £2.2 million landmark Library which opened in September 2015 and the Foundation Art Gallery, which opened in 2013. The campaign is now turning its attention to the Art Department’s main studio. The vision is to create a stunning new studio space that will be light and airy as well as an inspirational environment for Culford pupils to work in. If you would like to find out more about this project or any aspect of the Campaign for Culford, please contact the Foundation Office on foundation@culford.co.uk or 01284 385310.
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Sporting Highlights Senior: All Four Teams Reach LTA National Finals All four of Culford’s Senior Tennis Teams qualified for the LTA National School Tennis Championships in July. David Hall, Director of Tennis, said: “To have four teams in the National Finals is unprecedented, and I am so pleased that all the hard work that the players have put in has paid off with these results.”
Senior: Jack Qualifies for British Summer Nationals
Senior: Hockey Nationals
Jack Bowyer (14) has been invited to attend the British Summer Swimming Nationals in Sheffield in July. Jack is currently ranked 3rd in Great Britain for his age group in the 50m Butterfly, 10th in the 100m Butterfly and 12th in the 50m Backstroke.
Culford’s U18 1st XI hockey squad competed in the U18 national hockey finals at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. The girls had battled hard to reach this stage, an achievement in itself, and found the two day tournament exciting and challenging in equal measure.
Prep: First Unbeaten Netball Season in 10 Years The U13B Netball Team enjoyed their first unbeaten season in ten years in March. The girls rounded off the Spring term with a 24-7 final win against Norwich School. The team displayed some outstanding shooting throughout the season with Nina and Jennifer Dahl gaining in confidence with every game and notching up an impressive goal difference during the term.
Pre-Prep: Sports Day Pupils at Culford Pre-Prep enjoyed an afternoon of sport in June. The children demonstrated an assortment of skills, including throwing, balancing, striking and jumping. They particularly enjoyed the fun races, dressing up in flowery hats and balancing new potatoes on spoons!
Prep: Top East Runner Culford Prep School pupil Charlie Wakefield (U3) took first place in the East of England after competing in the Great British Cross Country Championships. Up against over 300 top runners from across Great Britain, he not only secured his title as best East runner, but also placed 20th overall, making him the 20th best runner in Great Britain in his age group.
More News! Culford has celebrated so many sporting achievements over 10
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the Summer Term. To discover many more fantastic sporting highlights, please visit our website: www.culford.co.uk and go to News and Events.
Opera in the Park
We were thrilled to welcome over 600 guests to our third Opera in the Park with London Festival Opera on Saturday 18 June. Once again the evening was a sell-out and the sun came out for picnics, Prosecco and sublime music, with generous Opera goers donating over ÂŁ1,300 to St Nicholas Hospice Care. Thanks also go to sponsors: Lacy, Scott and Knight and Audi Bury St Edmunds.
Old Culfordian and Soprano, Florence Taylor (1997-2011) and Philip Blake-Jones, Baritone, performing at Culford
Cheque Presentation to St Nicholas Hospice Care
A Summer of Cricket It has been an exciting first season for Andrew Northcote, Director of Cricket. The U14 XI’s won 3 out of 4 games under the leadership of clear-thinking Captain, Oliver Melville-Ross. The 1st XI also had a brilliant term, winning 8 games, losing 2 and drawing 1. Culford Cricket also started a new chapter this year with the introduction of girls cricket. All 4 Senior Teams will participate in fixtures next year.
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Leavers’ Summer Ball The sun shone on Culford’s Upper Sixth leavers at their Ball in July. The group of 70 included some students who started at Culford in the Pre-Prep, as well as those who just joined for Sixth Form. The leavers enjoyed the evening with their parents, teachers and friends. Some 200 guests were treated to a red carpet entrance and snapped by the ‘paparazzi’ as they made their way to a champagne reception on a gloriously sunny South Front terrace. This was followed by a superb three-course dinner in Centenary Hall which was transformed for the occasion. Everyone partied the night away with music from The Mementos band and a DJ. There was also entertainment from a table magician and a casino, where guests enjoyed having a flutter on blackjack or on the roulette wheel, thankfully with ‘monopoly’ money!
Welcome to our new Fourth Form Senior School enjoyed a fantastic Induction Day in July when many new Fourth Formers were able to meet their teachers and peers ahead of joining the Senior School in September. We look forward to seeing you all again very soon!
Wayne Perrin
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