Headmaster’s Letter
To Parents
October 2020
Dear Parents Dear Parents Thank you for all your support over the last few weeks. The arrangements resulting from the pandemic have made life here a little different; face coverings indoors, one-way systems and bubbles to name but a few. Pupils and staff have shown remarkable resilience in terms of the way they have responded and this has helped us to keep as much as possible normal.
Contents Page 1
Arrangements Linked to COVID-19 UCAS and University Entry
Page 2
EPQ and HPQ Evening
Page 3
Equality Diversity and Inclusion AJ Boateng (Upper Fifth Swallow’s) Reyan Saeed (Lower Fifth Caswalls) Charlie Croker (Removes Swallow’s)
Page 4
Drama
Page 5
Music
Page 6
Music Eren Pars
Page 7
Message from the Chaplain
Page 8
GCSE and A Level Exams 2021 Marathon Efforts Buses And Finally
Arrangements Linked to COVID-19 When pupils have COVID symptoms, quite rightly parents keep them at home until they have had a negative test result. Please can we ask you not to send children to school with symptoms. I know some parents enjoy being able to eat breakfast in their family bubble in school and we also enjoy this aspect of the community. However, in the current circumstances, we are going to pause this arrangement as a further measure to protect pupils and staff. Pupils are, of course, welcome to continue having breakfast. Please can I remind all parents to wear face coverings on site and also to maintain a social distance from each other.
UCAS and University Entry A reminder that Middle Sixth students’ remaining UCAS applications should be completed and submitted (“Pay and Send” on the UCAS site) by Monday 2nd November. Middle Sixth students who have entered for university aptitude tests at school are also reminded that these will be taking place on 4th and 5th November.
1
EPQ and HPQ Evening
•
Hankou in 1911 and why?
Forty-eight Upper Fifth and Middle Sixth students delivered their Higher and Extended Project Qualification presentations recently. HPQ and EPQ are equivalent to half a GCSE or A level and involve independent research on a topic chosen by the student. The evening was very well supported by other students and topics included: Does photojournalism exploit human emotion to create change and is it vital to our society?
The evening highlighted the value of independent study – congratulations to all involved.
•
• •
• •
How is the behaviour and livelihood of marine wildlife changing due to human impacts?
Will robots take our jobs? To what extent are changes in the cerebellum responsible for autism? How could a formula one car's aerodynamics be used more effectively if there were no rules and restrictions? After devastating fires, how much more successful at urban renewal was London in 1666 than
2
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
AJ Boateng
The School has engaged an outside
Congratulations to AJ who was
organisation to survey pupils and staff
awarded a scholarship for a coaching
about their experiences of racism and
and
inclusivity. There was a very useful
championing ‘Raising Boys’ Rights in
meeting of staff, Governors and parents,
Africa.’ AJ was adjudged the 2020
and the surveys are taking place this
Phenomenal Abrantie (Abrantie being
week and after half term.
Twi for ‘gentleman’), having come top
(Upper Fifth Swallow’s)
developmental
programme
out of all the participants. He now
Reyan Saeed
becomes the Junior Shapers Africa
(Lower Fifth Caswalls)
Ambassador and will assist in projects to
We send our congratulations to Reyan
as a mentor to younger boys. JSA is
who was the top prize winner in the 11 to
raising funds for a resource centre and
15 age category of The British Society
project in Jamestown, Ghana.
support the less privileged, and will act
for the History of Mathematics which is a fantastic achievement.
Charlie Croker (Removes Swallow’s) Congratulations to Charlie who has been selected for the full England Regional Squad to compete in the Faldo Series Tournament in Scotland. We look forward to hearing more about his ongoing success. 3
Drama This term the drama department had
chance to work with a professional,
two days of make-up workshops for
trained actor.
their GCSE students who are taking
Finally, just before half term, the drama
this option. The workshops were
department was very pleased to have
hosted by Rosemary Swinfield, author,
its first performances for over six
make-up artist and highly experienced
months. This is the longest period of
professional in the world of stage and
inactivity since the Drama Centre was
film production. The two days were very
built in 2003. There were five
successful and students were able to
performances spread over two nights
have basic training and show their work
of work created and performed by
in progress to Rosemary.
students around themes such as
Camden People’s Theatre Company
bullying, mental health, knife crime,
also hosted a two hour workshop with
bereavement
the Lower Sixth A level drama class
Audiences were socially distanced and
exploring Stanislavski and his acting
required to wear masks at all times.
techniques. This was a workshop full of
Nonetheless, it was great to have a live
theory and practical work designed to
audience once again, and to see
develop students’ acting skills and their
students performing their own drama to
awareness of stylistics. All the students
such a high standard and with such
seemed to thoroughly enjoy this
enthusiasm.
4
and
much
more.
Music We were delighted to be able to finally deliver our Young Musician of the Year Competition 2019-2020 (postponed from the Trinity Term) at the start of this term. The day was streamed live on the School’s YouTube channel for parents and friends to view the performances of the pupils throughout the day. The adjudicator, Mr Stephen Rumsey, was thrilled with the mature musicianship of all our pupils, commenting that ‘Lockdown seems to have had a palpable impact on the musicianship and maturity of our pupils. Every one of the competitors demonstrated a real grasp for their chosen repertoire and all chose music that stretched them academically and practically’. Needless to say, we were blown away with the standard throughout the day. The final can still be viewed here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWliSfWIR6s&t=5012s The evening brought together a grand celebration where the following pupils competed to win, including a recorded performance from China: The winners were;
Danial Antat – piano
Junior category (Year 7 to 9):
Theo Wong – Double Bass
Winner Joe Mathison – flute, with highly
Amelia Randall – Voice
commended
awarded
to
Amelia Randall – voice Joe Mathison – Flute Overall Winner (Year 7 to 13): Avantika Bharadwaj – piano, with highly commended awarded to Rosie Singha – voice
Avantika Bharadwaj – Piano Jack Murray – Alto Saxophone Oliver Jackson – Voice
The music department has continued with a programme of Evening Recitals, live streamed on Youtube starting with an evening of Vocal Music from the pupils of Mr Steven Swindells, on Thursday 15th October.
Terry Cheng – Piano (Remote) Rosie Singha – Voice Josh Copsey - Vibraphone
5
Music We look forward to continuing our recital series next half term where the following year group bubbles will have the opportunity to perform in our new safe and distanced online setting. All performances begin at 6pm.
• Tuesday 10th November – Lower Fifth (Year 10) Recital evening • Tuesday 17th November – Fourth Form (Year 8) Recital evening • Tuesday 24th November – Upper Fifth (Year 11) Recital evening • Thursday 26th November – Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13) Recital evening Eren Pars The annual Eren Pars memorial football
tragically died from cancer in May 2012,
match took place this week between the
three years after leaving Chigwell. Once
Lower Sixth and Middle Sixth teams. The
again, it was a closely fought contest and
fixture is in memory of Eren who
the winning team was the Middle Sixth.
6
Message from the Chaplain As with so many things in school the
students. A huge amount of food and
usual chapel programme has changed
other items have been donated and this
to accommodate our new way of
will be distributed through our chosen
working. Students still come to chapel
charities over the next few weeks. Thank
each week but now in single year group
you to everyone who has contributed in
bubbles to allow social distancing.
such a generous fashion.
We are no longer allowed to sing but thanks to Mr Ebden and staff from the
The chapel nave was painted during the
music department we have organ or
summer and the chancel and sanctuary
piano music at the beginning and end of
will be re-decorated during half term. To
our services. In general the new
complement the new look our Chapel
arrangements have been positively
Praefect, Jyoti Nag-Chaudhury, has
received and a number of students have
been making sure the brass and
said they appreciate the quieter, more
silverware is kept to a similarly high
contemplative time in chapel.
standard.
taken
these improvements means that our
present and as a result we are donating
chapel looks absolutely splendid and I
our collection of Harvest gifts to two
look forward to the time when visitors
local Charities; Streets2Homes in
can once more step inside and enjoy the
Harlow and The Epping Foodbank. Both
peaceful centre of our school.
of these organisations have been severely pressed to meet the support
With all blessings
needs of local people who find the
also
and votive lights. The combination of all
being faced by so many people at
without
has
responsibility for the sanctuary candles
We are all very aware of the challenges
themselves
Jyoti
basic
The Chaplain
necessities of life. Having highlighted this issue in school we have had an incredible response from staff and
7
GCSE and A Level Exams 2021 Parents of Upper Fifth and Middle Sixth students will have seen that the exams for this year have been delayed with most beginning after the June half term. When we have exact details, we will share them but we understand Ofqual is considering contingency arrangements. Again, we will share details when we have them
Marathon Efforts
And Finally
Congratulation to Mrs Harriet Corey,
I wish all families a very happy and
PA to the Head of Junior School, and
healthy half term and hope that the
Mrs Gill Punt who ran 26.2 miles in aid of
situation related to the pandemic starts
charity and in place of the cancelled
to improve. I look forward to seeing you
London Marathon.
again at the start of November. With best wishes
Buses
Yours sincerely
Where there is demand, we continue to work to expand our bus routes for environmental and convenience Michael Punt
reasons. From January, a new route will operate from Stratford to serve pupils living in and around this area.
8
TERM DATES 2020/21 Michaelmas Term Staff meetings and INSET on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2rd September First day: Thursday 3rd September Half term: Saturday 17th October to Sunday 1st November Term ends: Wednesday 16th December Lent Term Staff meetings and INSET on Wednesday 6th January First day: Thursday 7th January Half term: Saturday 13th February to Sunday 21st February Term ends: Friday 26th March Trinity Term (Easter Day is 4thApril) First day: Monday 19th April Half term: Saturday 29th May to Sunday 6th June (INSET Day Monday 7th June) Term ends: Wednesday 14th July