The Whinchat 2020-2021

Page 5

O C TO B E R 2 0 2 1

INTRODUCTION

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have understood, and shown understanding this year. CS Lewis again: “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.” I particularly enjoy this metaphor, because it refers to two important aspects of teaching. Great teaching allows exploration; it means not forcing pupils down a single path but sheltering them whilst they get a bit lost a bit, and allowing them to

reach up to the canopy feeling for the sunlight in their own way. Great teaching also nourishes dry, parched lands, and allows growth where otherwise it wouldn’t be achieved. This has been harder to achieve this year, but with the community pulling together, we have done the best we could.

Elio Lapore

Headmaster’s introduction

WORDS BY

Ian Silk, Headmaster

Deputy Head Boy

Joseph Edwards

The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts CS LEWIS

Deputy Head Boy

Ben Cutts

HEAD BOY’S SPEECH 2021 Head Boy

H

eadmaster, Governors, Distinguished guests, Staff, Parents and Boys, especially the amazing Year 8s, good morning. I am honoured to be given this opportunity to speak to you on behalf of the boys. It has been another exceptional year at Bedford Prep School albeit a bit different this year. We started the year with a sense of optimism at the prospect of having a normal year of school after so many disruptions last year.

Whinchat 2021_REPRO.indd 3

By Christmas the school, alongside the country, was plunged into lockdown with normal lessons being substituted for online ones. Throughout this period the school and the boys rose to yet another challenge of yet more online learning. However, I feel that as a school we have emerged as a closer unit, with many boys taking up exciting new sports and activities from home. None of this would have been possible without the

dedication, patience and support of our excellent teachers and support staff throughout this diffi cult period. From, 1552 when the school was fi rst founded, Bedford School has experienced a fair number of challenges, the most notable being the fi re that struck the school in 1979, alongside WW1 where 481 boys gave their lives. The last year and a half has been another exceptional test for us all. Over this year,

as before, we have shown remarkable resilience and determination to overcome these obstacles. I know that Mr Silk likes his quotes so I’ll read one now. As a well known American baseball coach once said ‘the difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination’. I feel like this is an apt quote to sum up Bedford school over the past year. Now let me share with you some of the highlights and successes which demonstrate why. Sport is a big part of BPS life and this year was no exception. The highlight of the sporting calendar must be the much-anticipated resumption of fi xtures throughout

the school. However, during the autumn term regular fi xtures were replaced with Ready4Rugby ones with over 100 boys participating every Saturday. Over lockdown many boys took part in the multi-school Roger Banister 1 mile challenge with standout performances from Isaac Raddan winning the U13 category and Berkley Barnicoat winning the U11 category. A special mention must also go to Sam Barnes and Oliver Featherstone who both fi nished in the top three of their respective categories. A huge well done though to all of the boys who took part. The summer term brought the resumption of external fi xtures with cricket and

water polo leading the charge. The U13 cricket 1st team deserve a mention after their superb performance to beat Bedfordshire and then narrowly missing out on beating Derbyshire as well. They also emerged victorious from the inaugural T10 tournament against Bedfordshire County, Haberdasher’s and The Hall School. I must also mention Danny Chapman’s phenomenal batting performances throughout the season for the U13 1st team. Well done Danny, and for his excellent captaincy! Water polo was the other sport that saw some fi xtures with two highly competitive teams in the prep school. Both the U13s and

26/10/2021 15:26


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