HCS Scholars' Journal - Edition 1

hullcollegiateschool.co.uk

The Scholars’ Journal Spotlight on Science, Music; Drama and Sport

Nurturing Potential

Inspiring Subject Passion

Celebrating Talent

CONTENT FOREWORD

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Science

04

Music

06

Drama

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Sport - Hockey

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Sport - Ruby

14 Sport

I am both excited that we are launching the first edition of this Scholars’ Journal and for the opportunity to be its first editor.

The vision of this magazine is to inspire the spirit of scholarship in the school by offering students the opportunity to share their subject passion, experiences and their views on particular areas of interest and talent.

I hope that the journal will showcase the

I would like to finish by appreciating and

creativity of our scholars to other Hull

thanking all my peers who have taken

Collegiate students, parents and beyond.

time to write the amazing articles featured

It is also our hope that the magazine will

in this magazine and everyone who has

motivate current and future Hull Collegiate

worked behind the scenes to make this

students into scholarship.

possible. Enjoy the read.

Overall, the Scholars’ Journal gives the

Rufaro, Year 12

students a sense of ownership and the joy of participating in articulating and shaping the narrative of our school; thereby boosting the morale of the students and the pride we have in our school.

Science Rufaro, Year 12

As a Sixth Form student studying maths and 2 science

Throughout history men and women have questioned

subjects: biology and chemistry, I often face the

our reality and the way things work and have been

question of why I chose to study such difficult subjects.

inspired to investigate and bring solutions. It is

I have taken time to write this article in order to answer

through these questions, discoveries have been made

that question and demonstrate how sciences are

and human advancement has come to be. This is how

important to our way of life.

people came to fathom space travel and discoveries

What is science? According to the Oxford dictionary: “Science is the intellectual and practical activity that covers the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through

such as the existence of space beyond earth’s thermosphere. It is through this questioning of reality that health care science has brought about improved quality of life and increased our life expectancy.

observation and experiment”. Science is broad and can

Science is usually a behind the scene activity. However,

be related to many forms of science, but I’m mainly

during the present Covid-19 pandemic, the importance

going to focus on biology, chemistry and physics.

of scientific research has been recognised. It is scientific

I love these subjects because they inspire me to explore, investigate and question things. Through the sciences, I have learnt that there is more to life what meets the eye and that if you work hard enough to solve problems, you can find solutions. This has sparked my thirst for knowledge and discovery.

research that has guided nations how to respond to the pandemic, develop test kits and to preserve lives. Through scientific data gathering, researchers have been able to model the spreading of Covid-19 and helped in making decisions to tackle the virus.

Without this scientific input, the world would be in a worse situation. The ventilators and PPE (personal

Science helps bring about understanding of how

protective equipment) that were key to saving lives for

things function with clear experimentation and

patients and healthcare professionals, respectively are

observations. One example is that biology helps us

products of science. Scientists have also made strides

understand how our body organs work. Although we

in developing vaccines that will protect people from

cannot see our internal body organs, we can study

future outbreaks of Covid-19.

and learn how they function. Another example is that physics helps us understand how a light bulb switches on and off through the opening and closing of a circuit.

In view of all the benefits that science offers mankind, I consider that choosing science subjects for my A Levels is more than just gaining knowledge. It is also about applying science to everyday life by finding solutions to problems, understanding the world and finding ways to continuously improve it.

Music Eleanor, Year 11

M

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y name is Eleanor.

and Humber area. I am currently

and from school. A few weeks

I am currently in

working towards my grade 8

later, I started the violin. I knew

Pre-Sixth and am

examination on the violin, and

instantly that it was the right

studying for my GCSEs. In June

my grade 4 examination on the

instrument for me. I loved the

2019, I had the privilege of

piano. I also study music theory

beautiful and rich sound that it

being awarded an honorary

at Yorkshire Young Musicians,

made, and it was a lot easier to

music scholarship due to

where I am currently studying

transport than the cello! I study

my exceptional progress

for my grade 5 examination.

the violin with Mrs Penny. She is

and commitment to Senior

I started learning the violin

a very inspirational teacher and

School music. I study the violin

when I was 8 years old. I actually

has helped me to love music.

at school and the piano at

started learning the cello at first

She has also given me so many

Yorkshire Young Musicians, a

but stopped having lessons

amazing opportunities which I

centre for exceptionally talented

just a few weeks later due to it

am very grateful for.

young musicians in the Yorkshire

being very hard to transport to

T

he school has given me many opportunities when it comes to music. From performing a violin solo with the choir and accompanying the choir during the choir tour to Barcelona in October 2019, to performing L’Estro Armonico whilst being accompanied by an orchestra at the school concert

at Hull Minster in March 2019, which was a concert celebrating Antonio Vivaldi’s life. I am currently a member of the Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra, where I am the Sub-Leader of the second violin section. I hope to become a member of the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra in the future.

I

n Summer 2019, I had the amazing opportunity to go on a one week long, intensive summer music course called ‘Pro Corda North’. Pro Corda North takes place every summer at Ampleforth College near York. Attendees get the opportunity to perform in chamber ensembles and string orchestras. It was

definitely one of the highlights of my summer and I can’t wait to go back again this year. I also regularly take part in local music festivals throughout the year. Most recently, I performed in the Cottingham Music Festival which took place in January 2020. I participated in the 15-18 bowed instrument category. Despite being one of the youngest contestants in the category, I finished in 3rd place with my performance of Meditation from the opera Thaïs by Jules Massenet, whilst being against some tough competition and I was over the moon with my position.

I

love all of the extra-curricular activities which the school provide the pupils with. I

participate in Collegiate Chorus, string ensemble and I am the leader of the senior string orchestra. These activities really enrich our education as it provides us with opportunities that are not available elsewhere.

In the future, my ambition is to study at a music conservatoire and become a musician. I am looking forward to studying my A Levels at the school, and I truly believe that with the opportunities that are available at Hull Collegiate School, I will achieve my goals.

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Drama Mollie, Year 9

B

eing a Year 9 Drama scholar is a great honour, because I have been acting and performing since the age of 3 and it is a

great accomplishment to have been recognised in something you work very hard for and have a passion for. I have been in the performing/ acting field for 10 years now and if it wasn’t for performing, I would not be the person I am now.

It has taught me so much, confidence, speaking in front of a large audience, discipline and how life doesn’t hand you anything on a gold plate, you have to work hard for it.

W

hen I was younger the thought of performing in front of a large audience frightened me, I couldn’t imagine myself

doing it. What if I made a fool of myself? What if everyone laughed at me? However, now it is completely different, I love performing and I don’t care what other people think because I am happy. But something still absolutely terrified me, and that was being around people who were better than me. I had become too comfortable; I was around people who wanted to perform just as badly as me and they were a lot better than me as well. Going into an audition room would make me freeze up and envy the people around me, instead I should have stopped worrying that they were more talented and aimed to be better than them.

They weren’t necessarily better than me, but just more confident, and yes, they were probably just as nervous as me but they certainly didn’t show it. Then I realised, why am I embarrassed? Why am I letting people intimidate me? I needed to stop acting cool and just go for it, I didn’t care if people thought I was embarrassing myself because it was going to get me to where I wanted to be. That’s why not long ago I told myself to just let go because my biggest competition was myself.

I wasn’t going to waste my time, I needed to be ruthless

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and determined.

“

Being in the performance industry has taught me to push myself outside of my comfort zone and not take anything for granted

W

atching people perform, especially on the West End really inspired me, especially when I went to see one of my favourite musicals, ‘Hamilton’. I was sitting very close to the stage and it made me see things in a very different way, I could see the

determination they had in their facial expressions and how they just loved performing, which really inspired me. An actress who really inspires me is Meryl Streep, who is often described as the best actress in her generation. She once was told by a casting director that she was “too ugly” to be an actress, this gave Meryl the determination to be an actress and proves that she would not let the rejection affect her.

Being at Hull Collegiate has also helped me, my first big school production was when I was in Year 4 and I was picked to be in the Senior School production of ‘The Sound of Music’ I was extremely honoured to be in this play because it was a Senior School production and I was the youngest person in the cast. This was when I really discovered my passion for acting and performing, it gave me the confidence boost I needed. Another very memorable school production was when I was chosen as Annie in the production of ‘Annie’ when I was in Year 7.

This was probably one of the most enjoyable shows I have ever done. It not only gave me the opportunity to act but to also sing, which is something I have a very great passion for. The school has given me amazing opportunities like these productions and also many more things as well.

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The Golden Moment Evelyn, Year 10

I

t was team GB’s first ever

Argentina and USA in the group

the goal. The final whistle blew –

Olympic hockey final and they

stages. GB faced the yellow

GB had won their first match to

felt that the gold medal await-

and green strip of Australia for

make their mark in the Rio 2016

ed them. However, standing

their first group match. It was a

Olympics. After their strong start

in their way was only the best

frantic one with some crunching

they couldn’t afford any mistakes

team in the world – the Neth-

challenges early on. It set the

against India. After a cagey

erlands. The Netherlands were

tone; it was going to be a battle.

opening period, GB got hold of

looking to make history seeking

The first goal by Lily Owsley

the game late into the first half

a third consecutive gold medal.

proved to be a very important

with an excellent penalty corner

one, as the Australians came

routine which was fired away by

and equalized in the third

Giselle Ansley. Two minutes later a

Danny Kerry’s side had a tough

quarter. It was all level for 10

rebounded effort fell to Nic White

journey to the final where

minutes; however, Alex Danson

who flicked it home. The third goal

they played top teams which

produced an incredible finish

was set up by Lily Owsley so Alex

included Australia, India,

after being squeezed wide of

Danson could put it away.

Route to the final

“

There was silence for a second and then came the noise. Deafening. They had done it – GB had beaten the Netherlands in an Olympic final for the first time.

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It was 2 wins from 2. The next game was massive.

a minor hamstring injury she had sustained in the

Argentina probably had the loudest fans and GB

semi - final. It was good news – she was fit to play.

prepared for the game like it was an Argentinian

One more match to get through. GB stood facing the

home game. There was a hostile atmosphere. GB

reigning champions in their favoured strip (the red

managed to ride the storm and nick a late winner,

kit), their competitors stood opposite them in their

3-2. This meant that GB had topped their group and

away kit- the charcoal and orange strip. The Dutch

in the quarter finals would face the fourth-placed

had bought their fan base along with them, the

team in group A, which was Spain. GB got off to the

atmosphere was deafening. Team GB was on course

best start to put them ahead by 3 goals to nil before

to have its most successful games for over a century,

half time. Spain came back with a wonderful strike

eclipsing even London 2012. It was their time to add

from their main player – Gigi Olivia, but it ended

to the gold rush.

up just being a consolation goal. New Zealand had beaten their rivals Australia in their quarter final draw, it was going to be GB vs New Zealand in the semi-finals. GB knew it was going to be a tough match and New Zealand didn’t disappoint. Arguably, the Kiwis started stronger putting GB under lots of pressure and creating chances. They didn’t take them, though, and the girls in red opened the scoring when the Blacksticks failed to clear their lines from a penalty corner and Alex Danson slotted it home. In the final quarter GB were awarded to penalty flicks when Helen Richardson-Walsh and Lily Owsley were both taken out. They took their chances once more and secured a 3-0 win over New Zealand.

The start to the game was a frantic one, GB knew when playing the Netherlands that there were going to be many periods where they had to just sit back and defend. After just 6 minutes the first big chance came for the Dutch to take the lead. Sam Quek had dived in from behind and not got any of the ball in the circle – it was going to be a penalty flick for the titleholders. All eyes were fixated on Maartje Paumen as she stepped up to face Maddie Hinch. She flicked it – and Hinch palmed it away to safety! It was a huge let off for GB, but back the Dutch came again. They weren’t going to give up their title without a fight.

The Dutch were in cruise control and had another shot deflected wide after just 10 minutes. The girls in

GB knew that holding onto this result that they were

red hadn’t even laid a glove on them yet. Their first

guaranteed the best finish a women’s team had ever

chance came when Sophie Bray dribbled around 3

achieved at the Olympics – the previous bests being

defenders in the ‘D’ and her deflected shot fell to Lily

the bronze medals in 1992 and 2012.

Owsley who poked it across the line. Nine minutes in and it was 1-0. Back the Dutch came. Another short corner. Another chance missed for them. GB had

The Golden Moment The morning of the final on August 19, Helen

made it to the end of the first quarter with a slender lead intact.

Richardson-Walsh ( one of the teams key players and penalty flick taker – due to her cool head ) had a final fitness to see if she was okay to play in the final, after

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S

econd quarter. The Dutch

slid the ball low and hard past

to be non-stop, but the defence

continued to press. GB

Joyce Sombroek (Dutch Keeper).

held firm. Finally, one of those

looked like they had

A fantastic strike! 2-2.

corners were perfectly executed.

weathered another mini storm.

Nevertheless, the high press of

It was only what the Dutch deserved. 3-2. It was not where

the Netherlands meant that they

The Dutch had been everything

GB wanted to be, behind in an

overturned the lay and Kitty Van

that GB were expecting – fast,

Olympic final, the clock ticking

Male was bearing down on goal.

determined and they were

down, but they had come back

Hinch came out. Van Male went

ahead on every statistic except

from two down against them in

wide and fired a world-class

the one that mattered. GB had

the European championships.

reverse stick shot into the roof

handled the Dutch pressure

Could they do it again? Eight

of the net. 1-1. The pressure

well and taken their chances.

and a half minutes left. It was

was relentless. Crista Cullen

Both teams were very much up

a GB short corner. The ball was

received a green card for using

for this game but when that

ping-pong in the Dutch ‘D’, and

an elbow (a green card means

half-time whistle went, the girls

it popped out to Nic White who

the player that committed the

in red ran off to their changing

bunted it towards the goal. It was

foul has a 2-minute sinbin on

room, in contrast the Dutch

almost in slow motion as the ball

the sideline), but the Dutch

girls stood on the pitch for a few

crept over the goal line. 3-3! What

couldn’t capitalize. Another

seconds stunned in awe at how

a final this had turned out to be.

chance came for the Dutch a

they weren’t ahead in this final.

The tension was off the scale. In

few minutes later, this time

Had they given up already?

the closing moments both teams

Paumen smashed it in. 2-1 to the Netherlands. From the restart Cullen found herself in acres of room at the top of the ‘D’ and

Image: Evelyn, Year 10

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Half Time

Third quarter. It was the same pattern as before. More Dutch pressure. Their corners seemed

did everything and anything to win it at the death, but they were heading to penalty shuffles. The final whistle went and as before

Image: Giselle Ansley of GBR

the GB girls ran over to their dug-out and the

cold blood flowing through her veins. 1-0. She had

Dutch girls stood in the middle of the pitch looking

broken the deadlock. Hinch then made a world-class

defeated.

save to deny Lauren Leurink, tracking her run and

In football, penalties are considered a lottery, in hockey, less so. In fact, recent results had shown that they heavily favour the keeper. GB had prepared for penalty shuffles, so they knew things such as where the keeper normally runs out to or if the keeper commits or goes down or not. The Dutch had probably done the same. Back home, the BBC News at Ten had been delayed so the millions who had tuned in could watch the conclusion. Helen Richardson-Walsh was up first but Sombroek stood firm and blocked her effort. Hinch was also able to make a save to keep the score 0-0. Another save from Sombroek denied Danson and then Ellen Hoog also missed her shuffle. Sophie Bray stepped up for her attempt, but she was illegally taken down

leaping to save it. Laura Unsworth was up next for GB. Her first shot was blocked, and her rebound missed the target. It was almost too tense to watch.

The Dutch looked to have finally scored but their effort came off the pot and Hinch was the quickest to react to boot it away from any danger. Was it going to be GB’s night? Hollie Webb stood up and walked very calmly towards the ball. If they scored, they would win. Webb twisted and turned and when the keeper committed, she saw a chance and from the tightest of angles squeezed the ball past the goalie and into the goal. There was silence for a second and then came the noise. Deafening. They had done it – GB had beaten the Netherlands in an Olympic final for the first time.

by Sombroek and GB were awarded a penalty flick which Helen Richardson-Walsh put away with ice

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England Rugby Toby, Year 9

E

England have had many successes in their

stronger and more aggressive/vicious than the

rugby. An exceptional victory was when

opposition team, then you will win. This means an

they beat New Zealand in the World Cup

England training session consists of weight lifting,

semi finals in 2019. They also stand at the top of

shouting and running the ball into contact. How

the six-nation table.

can you score a try if you keep running toward

Their achievement is credited to their systematic ‘crash ball’ style rugby. Although this is a boring, repetitive and predictable style, it is a reliable way of playing that has been effective up to now, but rugby is evolving.

In the past, rugby was a game played amongst local pubs and consisted of overweight, unfit men trying to get a ball over the opposition’s line by any means possible. This style and culture of rugby is still used in the northern hemisphere.

However, in the southern hemisphere they play exciting, expansive and quick offload rugby which is shown to cut up teams in minutes.

thus making their job very simple. Meanwhile the teams in the southern hemisphere - such as New Zealand, Fiji and Australia - are playing training games in which if you get tackled you give the ball to the opposition!

However, England beat New Zealand in their last meeting, this was because they did not play their usual style of rugby, as they went into the game with an ‘all or nothing mindset’. You only need to watch the first two minutes of the game, when England went from one side of the pitch to the other and back and then broke through the middle due to an offload and scored. This is a

Keeping the ball alive is crucial in rugby, it

prime example of how effective this style of fast,

allows you to gain momentum and prevent the

expansive rugby is.

opposition from realigning and reorganising. By not doing this England rely on the opposition to make a mistake rather than their own skill and ability. This means England have little control over their results as it all depends on the opposition making mistakes, as it is very hard to run a ball into someone ‘well’.

Brutality. This is England moto. This almost perfectly sums up England’s old, outdated mindset to rugby, they believe that if you are

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the opposition, with no intention of offloading,

In the next few years I believe that unless England change their mindset and game style of rugby, they will fall far behind the likes of New Zealand, Fiji, Japan and France, who are developing a fast and lethal style.

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What Inspires Me About Sport Helena, Year 10

I

started playing sports from a young age, I was encouraged by my friends and family. However, it was only recently I understood that it ( any sort of sports ) is more than just a game, because sports were among the first, and most high profile spaces to accept people of different ethnicity and colour on relative terms of equality. Many black men and women, and people of

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other ethnicities have fought hard to earn the respect of others to be able to compete/ play in the sport they love.

As well as this many people have admitted that sport has helped them from many mental health issues. Some examples of these athletes are Marlin Briscoe, Hank Aaron, Dame Kelly Holmes.

Briscoe was the first black starting quarterback in NFL

history when the Denver Broncos drafted him in the 14th round of the 1968 NFL Draft. Briscoe has always had high hopes for his future and sport, and many are grateful that he bypassed all the racism and reached his goals.

After his playing days, Briscoe became a successful broker dealing with municipal bonds.

Hank Aaron broke the ‘unbreakable’ career home run record held by Babe Ruth. Aaron was a very successful baseball player, he started his journey in the Negro League with the Indianapolis Clowns and quickly caught the eye of the Boston Braves, who then linked him to a minor-league deal. He finally made his way to the top, and is one of the best black baseball players of all time.

Despite all the racism and segregation due to his colour, he fought and gradually earned his place in the Major League debut in 1954.

Dame Kelly Holmes is a British athlete who specialised in the 800 metres and 1500 metres events and won a gold medal for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Holmes was a young, black woman and when she started running in the Olympic Games many people underestimated her. However, she fought and fought to prove them wrong. A year before the Olympics in Athens took place Holmes was diagnosed with clinical depression, she found herself self-harming and struggling with isolation. Holmes now speaks out about her journey and tries to help any other individuals who feel how she’s felt.

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