7 minute read
Head Boy’s Speech
Headmaster’s introduction
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.
WORDS BY Ian Silk, Headmaster
The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts
CS LEWIS
Elio Lapore
Deputy Head Boy
Joseph Edwards
Deputy Head Boy
Head BoyHead Boy
HEAD BOY’S SPEECH 2021
Headmaster, 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. 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
Head Boy’s Speech 2021
U12s have been lucky enough to have some matches with BMS alongside one final match against NSB. The U12s are full of talented players and it will be interesting to see their progress next year. The U13 team containing some more seasoned players also had a great few matches with lots of new boys joining the team and enjoying being able to play fixtures again.
For all of our sports teachers, in all sports this year and all years, a huge thank you for inspiring us, and teaching us to win and lose with grace. Moving to the music department; it has been a great year also in the prep school with 193 lessons taking place each week. This term we saw the much loved house music competition return with many stand out performances. A special mention must go to Fraser Morgan, Sam McMurran, Sammy Inman and Harry Townsend who all played exceptionally well. These are also the names of the boys who were chosen to play today and I would personally like to congratulate them all for their outstanding performances.
The house music competition is always entertaining with boys at all levels taking part and representing their house. A big thank you must go out to Mrs Knight who did a brilliant job adjudicating the boys. I have also been told about superb performances by some up and coming stars in the lower year groups; it’s great to hear of such talent coming through the school.
The annual summer concert this year will be in a different form, a documentary. The documentary will contain ensemble rehearsals, ensemble pieces as well as combined ensembles playing together on the astro. Definitely a creative idea and I can’t wait to see the end result. Although many competitions such as the much contested house singing event and the composition competition sadly didn’t happen this year, I hope you can all agree with me that this definitely didn’t affect the level of music produced and played throughout the year.
Moving onto drama. This year the annual Bedford Speech & Drama festival took place in a different form. A virtual form. All 137 boys who took part in the festival had to pre record their videos and then join a zoom call to receive their feedback. As a school collectively we had 16 boys who placed 1st, 30 who came 2nd and 25 who came 3rd. 71 placements as a school is a tremendous achievement and these, and all boys who took part should be immensely proud of themselves. The much loved house drama competition, this year was also presented in a different way or should I say will be presented. Because of bubbling this year, only Year 8 were involved. It was planned to take place before Christmas but unfortunately it had to be postponed. Over the last term all of the houses have dedicated time and effort into relearning their pieces for next week when they will finally be performed. I for one can’t wait to see all of the performances.
Throughout this last week LAMDA exams have taken place with 136 boys participating. We now wait to hear the results but I am confident that once again the boys would have excelled.
I would now like to say a few personal thank you’s. Mr Hooley who from the first day I stepped foot in this school has presented me with endless opportunities to explore and hone new found skills.
Mr Whitwham who has devoted hours of his time training and organising waterpolo matches for our enjoyment. He has instilled in me a competitive spirit and a love for a sport that I didn’t know. Mr Heaney, for both your inspiration in the science lab but also for unearthing a passion for running.
Mr Studd, thank you for your ceaseless encouragement and expertise, you have been a true inspiration.
A huge thank you to all of my form tutors who throughout the years have shown exceptional kindness and supported me on my journey through the prep school. I would also like to thank all of my friends and both my deputies (Elio and Jo Jo) and all the brilliant prefects during the course of the year.
Finally, I just want to say, thank you from me, and on behalf of all of our Prep School boys. I have had the most fulfilling, rewarding 4 years at Bedford Prep School. All of you as teachers have an astounding ability to nurture each individual boy and his talents. I for one am extremely grateful for all the amazing memories I will take with me.
I end by quoting a famous Chinese proverb, ‘A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark’. Bedford Prep School has left a lasting mark on my life.
Prep School Sports day 2020
