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Cover art: “Self-portrait” by Year 13 Art student, Olivia

COLFEIAN 2022 / 2023 THE CHRONICLES OF COLFE’S SCHOOL AND OF THE OLD COLFEIANS EDITOR: MS L CHAPMAN

WHAT’S INSIDE 5 Board of Governors 6-7

Senior School Staff

View from the Bridge

9-10

The Colfe Sermon

11-12

Charities

13-14

PAFA

15-21

Alumni Relations

22-27

Obituaries

29-31

House System

32-33

Sixth Form

34-35

Careers

36-37

Valete

38-39

Academic Repor t

40-41

IT Developments

42-43

HAMP Librar y

Mathematics

45-52

English

53-58

Science

59-63

Modern Languages

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13 18 31 42

90 64-65

Geography

66-67

Histor y

68-69

Religion & Philosophy

70-71

Classics

72-77

Music

Business & Economics

79-80

Computer Science

81-95

Drama

96-106

Ar t

107

Design & Technology

108-117

Physical Education

118-125

Old Colfeian Spor t

126

Duke of Edinburgh

127-128

Outdoor Education

128

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

129

Par tnerships

130-133

CCF

134-135

RAF

136-137

Ski Trip

138-151

Junior School

101

109 COLFEIAN 2022/23

115 127 136 149 4

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130 145

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

BOARD OF GOVERNORS Richard Russell, Headmaster, Matthew Pellereau, Chairman of Governors, Millie, School Captain 2023/24, Ejiro, School Captain 2023/24, Clare Lennon, Master Leatherseller, ex-officio Governor, Matthew Lawrence, Chief Executive and Clerk to the Company, The Leathersellers

EX OFFICIO The Master of the Leathersellers’ Company Clare Lennon

APPOINTED BY THE FOUNDATION TRUSTEE

CO-OPTATIVE DIRECTORS (APPOINTED BY COLFE’S)

Matthew Pellereau BSc FRICS (Chairman)

Julie Bradley LLB

Daniel Coulson BSc (Hons) MA MRICS (Vice Chairman)

Belinda Canham BA (Hons) JP (Safeguarding)

Serena Cooke Edward Dove Timothy Lister FCA James Russell BA

John Guyatt MA (Oxon) Dr Nicola Jones (Cantab) Joseph Mafe BSc Christopher Ramsey MA (Cantab)

Mark Russell Prof Laura Tunbridge

COLFEIAN 2022/23

SENIOR SCHOOL STAFF

SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

DRAMA

MATHS

Ms N Maher BA (Hons), Acting Dip

Mr A Guy MEng (Hons)

Mr R Russell MA (Cantab)

Director of Drama

Head of Department

Mrs D Sutherland BA (Hons)

Miss C Beale BSc (Hons), MA

Headmaster

Mrs D Graham GRSM LRAM Deputy Head

Mr M Adamson MA (Cantab), FCA Bursar; Clerk to the Governors

Ms M.C. Gilfidder-Bonnar BSc (Hons), LLB (Hons), PGCE Head of the Junior School

Mrs K Bridgman BA (Hons) Director of Admissions & Communications

Mr S Drury BA (Hons), MA Director of Sixth Form, Deputy Safeguarding Designated Person, Head of Business & Economics

Mrs J German BA (Hons) Director of Pastoral Care, Designated Safeguarding Lead

Ms M Schramm BA, MA

Assistant Head of Year 7, Assistant PSHEE Co-Ordinator

Mr R Peters BA (Hons) Theatre Technician

ECONOMICS & BUSINESS Mr S Drury BA (Hons), MA Head of Economics, Director of Sixth Form, Deputy Safeguarding Designated Person

Mr M Cox BSc (Hons) Head of Business

Mr M Amran BA (Hons) Mr C Emmerich BA, MA, MSc Miss K Lindley BSc (Hons) Head of House: Norton

Mr M Poolton BA (Hons), MSc

Director of Studies

Head of Politics

Mrs J Sansome BSc (Hons), MSc

ENGLISH

Director of Teaching & Learning

SENIOR SCHOOL

Mrs K Guy BA (Hons) Head of Department

Digital Learning Co-ordinator

Mrs P Bharat Hirani BSc (Hons) Head of KS3

Dr C Buescu BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD Miss M Collett BSc, MSc Mrs E Cordell BSc (Hons) Mr E Hughes MEng Assistant Head of House: Bramley

Miss K Lindley BSc (Hons) Head of House: Norton

Mrs J Sansome BSc (Hons), MSc Director of Teaching & Learning

Mrs C Santry BSc (Hons) KS4 Co-ordinator

Miss Y Zhang BSc (Hons) Head of KS5

MEDIA STUDIES Mr C Foxall BA (Hons) Head of Department

Miss J Li-Sue BA (Hons), Dip NFTS

Art & Photography

Miss M Schramm BA, MA

Mrs N Gudge BA (Hons) Head of Department Mrs J Burton BA (Hons)

Director of Studies

Head of House: Prendergast, Co-ordinator of ICT and Computing

Miss A Flegg BA (Hons)

Mr J Osei-Tutu BA (Hons), MA

Mr T Cook BA (Hons)

Mr Y Cheung BA (Hons)

Ms S Diamond BA, MA Mrs S Duke BA (Hons) Mr J Hope BA (Hons), MA

MODERN LANGUAGES

Head of House: Beardwood

Mrs D Feddes Mr S Zivanovic BA (Hons) Mrs M Ward BA (Hons) Technician

CLASSICS Mr H Biggs MA (Oxon) Head of Department

Miss H Batten MA (Cantab)

Assistant Director of Sixth Form Academic (UCAS)

Miss A Pettit BA (Hons) Mr R Russell MA (Cantab) Headmaster

Mr D Titcombe BA (Hons) Mr S Wakeham BA (Hons), MA

COMPUTER SCIENCE Mrs K Walsh BA (Hons) Head of Department

Miss C Beale BSc (Hons), MA Digital Learning Co-ordinator

Miss J Li-Sue BA (Hons) DipNFTS

KS5 Co-ordinator KS3 Co-ordinator

Head of PHSEE, Head of Year 7 Media Technician

Mr M Koutsakis MA

Debating Co-ordinator

Head of Department, Head of German

Miss C Norton BA (Hons) Ms M Solley

Ms L Chapman BA (Hons)

GEOGRAPHY

Head of French, Assistant Director of Schools Partnerships

Mrs H Nissinen BSc (Hons), MA Head of Department

Mrs F McAuliffe BSc (Hons) Miss C Shanks BA (Hons) Mr O Snell BSc (Hons), MSc Assistant Director of Studies

Mr W Walker BSc (Hons)

HISTORY Ms O Crummay MSc Head of Department, CCF

Miss M Forbes BA (Hons) KS3 Co-ordinator

Head of Spanish, Editor of The Colfeian

Mrs C Davies BA (Hons)

Mrs E Biggs BSc (Hons), MA

Assistant Director of Sixth Form, Lead Trainer

Mrs J German BA (Hons)

Director of Pastoral Care (Designated Safeguarding Lead)

Mrs N Saba DEUG Mr S Ollerenshaw BA (Hons) Mrs A Lukawska BA Mr R Sanchez Sawa BA, MA Mrs K Thomsen MA Miss G Walton-Green BA (Hons) Ms A Wigley BA (Hons)

Mr F Mashiter MA Mr H Wheadon BSc (Hons)

MUSIC

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

Miss A Coode BA (Hons)

Director of Music

Mrs C Cox BA (Hons)

Mrs S Beard

Head of House: Prendergast

Mr G Sycamore BA, Dip MusEd

Head of Department

Ms Y Bellis, BA (Hons) Mr P Mayes BA (Hons) Ms M Way BA (Hons) Mr C Bradford Technician

Mrs E Chereau Technician

Learning Support

Head of Department

Miss E Bryden BA (Hons) Mrs D Graham GRSM LRAM

Assistant Director of Learning Support

Deputy Head

Mrs S Duke BA (Hons) Mrs C Scanlan BSc

Mr G Sycamore BA, Dip MusEd Teacher of Music, Music Technician

Mrs R Jagger BA (Hons)

Music Administrator

Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant

Ms N Thornhill BA (Hons) Learning Support Assistant

COLFEIAN 2022/23

Mr T Newberry BA (Hons), Dip ABRSM

Ms J Barber BA (Hons)

SENIOR SCHOOL STAFF OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Mrs D McKay BA (Hons)

Major C Cherry BSc (Hons)

Eudaemonia Co-ordinator

Head of Department, Duke of Edinburgh Award

SCIENCE - PHYSICS

PHYSICAL EDUCATION Mrs N Rayes BEd (Hons), EMBA Director of Sport, KS5 Co-ordinator

Mr A Bateson BA (Hons)

Assistant Director of Sport, Master in charge of Rugby

Mr C Barthorp BA Ms R Hughes-Bunn BA (Hons) Mr L Kimberley BSc (Hons)

Mr J Fishwick BSc (Hons) Head of Physics

Mx J Ariti-Alamonte BA Mr M Hillmer BSME MS Miss S Jangra, Meng Mrs J De Bolla Senior Technician

IT Support Technician and Administrator

Mr I Bassett

School Technician & Photographer

BURSARIAL STAFF

Mr M Adamson MA Cantab, FCA Bursar & Clerk to Governors

Ms P Keogh BSc (Hons) Bursar’s Secretary

Mrs C Finch BA (Hons), FCCA

Mrs J Greenshields BSc (Hons), CBiol, MSB

Assistant Bursar

Mrs J Kalaravy BSc

Operations Director

Mrs C Smales BSc (Hons)

Operations Manager

Master in charge of Football, Master in charge of EYFS & KS1 PE

Physics Technician

Miss S Manzi BA (Hons)

Chemistry Technician

Master in charge of Swimming

Mr O Almenoar

Mr M Scobie, BSc, ACCA Mr M Lawrie-Raison

KS3 Technician

Mrs A Ross MA

COMBINED CADET FORCE

Mrs L Moules

Master in charge of Cricket, Assistant Head of House: Prendergast

Mr R Roberts BSc (Hons)

Mrs C Conti

Ms H Russell BSc (Hons)

WO2 A Coyle

Miss A Owen BSc (Hons) Master in charge of Hockey

Mr J Potter BA (Hons)

KS4 Co-ordinator

Miss E Willats-Barrie BA (Hons) Master in charge of Netball, Assistant Head of House: Norton

Mr C Harris BSc

Graduate Sports Assistant

Commanding Officer

SUPPORT STAFF

Mrs P Willis

Mrs A Salmon CSBM Executive Assistant to the Headmaster

Mrs K Bridgman BA (Hons)

Mr M Poolton BA (Hons), MSc

Director of Development

Ms Z Kendrick BA (Hons), MEd Head of Department, Director of School Partnerships

Ms A Rycroft BSc Miss L Wraw BA (Hons) Head of House: Bramley

SCIENCE - BIOLOGY Dr G Zimmermann BSc, PhD

Mrs K McNeill

Mrs N Entwistle BA (Hons) Communications Manager

Mrs H Phipps BSc (Hons) Admissions Manager

Ms E Silk BA (Hons)

Admissions & Communications Officer

Mrs M Tranter BA (Hons) Admissions Officer

Fr S Hall BA, MA (Oxon) School Chaplain

Mrs D Bean BA (Hons)

Head of Biology

Head of Careers

Dr S Ibendahl PhD Mr C Morriss BSc (Hons)

Head Librarian

Head of Student Leadership, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Person

Miss A Pavesi BSc (Hons) Mrs Brooke Smith BSc (Hons), MA

Mrs H Englefield, BA (Hons), Dip Lib Ms E Stephenson, BA (Hons) Library Assistant

Mrs J Cardnell BA (Hons) Archivist

Lead Science Practitioner

Miss H Roberts BSc (Hons)

SCIENCE - CHEMISTRY

Mrs E Fitzpatrick BA (Hons)

Mr T Armstrong BSc (Hons)

Mrs L Banks

Head of Chemistry

Mr J Kiddey BSc (Hons) Dr R Lindsay MSCi, PhD Ms E Moore MChem Mr J Worley BSc (Hons), DIS

Assistant Director of Pastoral Care

SCIENCE - PSYCHOLOGY Dr J Lea PhD, BSc (Hons)

Bursary and Admissions Assistant

Miss L Thompson BA (Hons)

POLITICS

RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY

Bursary Assistant

SPSI

Director of Admissions & Communications

Head of Department

Human Resources

Examinations Officer, Cover Manager Sixth Form Administrative Co-ordinator Office Manager

Mrs M Bassett BSc

Administrative Officer

Mrs J Pickering

Administrative Officer

Mrs G Smereka

Administrative Officer

Mr S Anthony BEng (Hons) Data Manager

Head of Psychology, Master in charge of Work Experience

Mr N Constant

Mrs L Dunster BSc (Hons)

Mr S O’Hara

Secretary to the Clerk to the Governors and Bursary Assistant Development Assistant

Mrs K Bateson School Nurse

Dr N Lawrence MBBS, BSc, MRCGP, DRCOG, DFSRH School Doctor

Mrs K Kashif BEd (Cantab), MACounsPsych, Reg BACP (Accred) School Counsellor

Mr L Almenoar BA Leisure Centre

Mr P Taylor

Premises Manager

Mr A Hammett

Deputy Premises Manager

Mr A Blackmore

Maintenance Manager

Mr L Keswick Maintenance

Mr J Coombes Schoolkeeper

Mr J Hammett Schoolkeeper

Ms S Stone

Schoolkeeper

Mr I Whitlock Schoolkeeper

Mr B Atkins

Head Groundsman

Mr S Bullen Groundsman

Mr B King

Groundsman

Mr J Newton Groundsman

Ms A Jakiene

Catering Manager

Network Technician Network Technician

COLFEIAN 2022/23

VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

The Autumn Term at Colfe’s has started in blazing sunshine which was conspicuously absent during the school holiday. Pupils of all ages are settling into the routines of the new academic year in a spirit of optimism boosted by wonderful results at both GCSE and A level which have consolidated our position amongst the top academic schools in the independent sector. More to the point, I am delighted to report that almost all pupils (97%) in last year’s Upper 6th won places at their chosen universities or degree apprenticeships. Outside the classroom Colfe’s pupils continued to excel. The Senior Choir performed Choral Evensong in Southwark Cathedral, a magnificent and (for Colfe’s) unprecedented event. No fewer than 85 pupils won LAMDA awards in music and drama, all with merit or distinction and a newly arrived Year 7 pupil won first prize in the Dulwich Festival Short Film competition. A number of pupils (boys and girls) played representative football at professional clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Millwall and Charlton Athletic and Colfe’s continued to be well represented in County squads for rugby, hockey and netball. School trips included our first post-pandemic overseas sports tour to South Africa for hockey, netball and rugby teams. The school continued to support 12 pupils from Ukraine through the year as their families continued to adapt to their new lives in the UK. Our ongoing commitment to these pupils continues to enable us to appreciate the global importance of the war in Ukraine and its consequences for us all. With just over 1300 pupils in the school across all ages, Colfe’s is now larger than it has ever been and demand for places continues to grow as we build on the success of recent years. Record numbers are already signed up for the autumn Open Morning later this month. I remain deeply grateful to colleagues, governors, parents and pupils for their ongoing contribution to the enduring success of the school. Richard Russell Headmaster

COLFEIAN 2022/23

THE COLFE SERMON

THE COLFE SERMON It was a very hot day in June when St Mary’s church, the home of Revd Abraham Colfe, welcomed back the Colfe’s School community and friends for the annual Colfe Sermon. Indeed, it was so hot that there was a threat of thunderstorms in the afternoon – a typical English summer of three hot days followed by rain. Importantly we had just completed repairs to our Chancel roofs, costing £250,000, supported by the Leathersellers Company. So, at last, no rain dripping over the altar during services. We followed the recent pattern of inviting all Year 7 pupils and their families, with school choirs and staff, plus friends from the Governing body and the Leathersellers. It was a full house that gathered for prayer and worship with strong singing and beautiful music on the Sunday that once again coincided with Fathers’ Day. The preacher for the Colfe Sermon 2023 was Revd Dan Warnke, Chaplain to Westminster School and Priest Vicar of Westminster Abbey. Fr Dan had himself been a pupil at Colfe’s School in the Sixth Form and had memories of his own attendance at the Colfe Sermon at that time. He was also able to join the congregation of St Mary’s for our 10:00 am sung mass prior to the school service. The clergy and guests processed in to the hymn ‘Christ is made the sure foundation’, which had been sung a few weeks previously at the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey. Fr Dan had also been closely involved in this unique and historic state occasion. Fr Steve Hall, Vicar of St Mary’s and Chaplain to Colfe’s School gave a welcome to all and led the School Prayer, joined by everyone. It is worth reproducing this prayer here: Almighty God, the Father of us all, we praise you for the vision and generosity of Abraham Colfe, the founder of our school. We thank you for other benefactors, and for those who, as teachers and pupils, have helped to establish the fine traditions of the school and crowned it with honour. We ask you to enlighten with your wisdom each generation of teachers and pupils, that they may dedicate their powers of mind and body to your glory and the good of our human race; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Fr Dan had chosen to use the set readings in the Anglican lectionary for the day, the 2nd Sunday after Trinity. The Leathersellers’ Warden Mark Williams read from St Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 5, where Paul argues that it is faith rather than good works that makes us righteous in the eyes of God and that any sufferings in this present life should strengthen our perseverance and hope for eternal life. The Headmaster read from St Matthew’s gospel, chapter 9, where Jesus, seeing the crowds lost and dejected without a shepherd, calls his 12 followers to become disciples, to care for his flock. ‘Proclaim the Kingdom, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers. Take no purse or haversack: you received without charge, give without charge’. In this, Jesus instructs his followers, including us, how we are to bring God’s love to all people. The Junior School choir sang beautifully the John Rutter anthem ‘For the beauty of the earth’, which speaks of the richness and wonder of all that God has given us. The Senior School choir later sang the Nunc Dimittis, the Song of Simeon used every day at Evening Prayer or Evensong: ‘Lord now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people: to be a light to lighten the nations’, from Luke chapter 2, verses 29-32. The ageing prophet Simeon takes the infant Jesus in his arms in the temple in Jerusalem and recognises the presence and salvation of God in this child.

Fr Dan’s Sermon is included in full – our thanks to his generosity in permitting its addition here. The service continued with prayers for the world, our school, our loved ones and all those in need. The final hymn was ‘Lord of all hopefulness’, a beautiful hymn of reassurance of God’s love always present with us, through each day and throughout our lives. Fr Steve gave the final blessing and Year 8 pupil Benjamin Borchevsky played the recessional organ voluntary, Toccata and Fugue in C, anon. St Mary’s church is grateful to receive the retiring collection, some £600, for our continuing appeal and repairs. The Leathersellers Company also offered their annual donation of £500 to the charity of the preacher’s choice. All in all, it was another wonderful Colfe Sermon enjoyed by everyone present. The rain held off long enough for the cricket match to be completed – for once the school’s senior team was defeated by the Old Colfeians. Better luck next year! Fr Steve Hall Chaplain to Colfe’s School and Vicar of St Mary the Virgin parish church.

COLFEIAN 2022/23

THE COLFE SERMON THE COLFE SERMON The Reverend Dan Warnke Preached at St Mary’s Church, Lewisham, on June 18, 2023 Romans 5.1-8; Matthew 9.35-10.8 It is good to be with you this morning, and my thanks go to The Vicar, the Headmaster, and the Master of The Leathersellers’ for the kind invitation to be amongst an esteemed lineage of preachers who have given a Colfe Sermon for over 360 years. Now, I do hope that you’re sitting comfortably, Year 7, because, to my surprise (and possibly yours), the Sermon is, by tradition, supposed to last no less than one hour, during which I need to, in Abraham Colfe’s words: ‘[…] labour earnestly, with the greatest strength, both of mind and of body.’1 So, buckle up. You’re in for the long haul – no, you’re not keen? Fine. Let’s do something a little shorter. Now, much like you, I am many things. Depending on who I am with or where I am, I get called: Dan, Daddy, Reverend, Father, or Sir (to be clear, I am not a Sir). You could also call me an Old Colfeian. And exactly thirty years ago, I sat where you are sitting now. Perhaps it’s just me, but at the time, I sat there wondering why I had to give up a Sunday morning for the sake of going to a place that I had no connection with and certainly no religion that I called my own. Founders Day seemed like a thing you had to do, or perhaps, was something being done to you. A complete waste of time. I don’t think that I would have believed it back then, but I was wrong. I hadn’t really thought about that until recently when I began thinking about being here with you today. Perhaps, in one of my more romantic moments, it made me want to write something of a ‘love letter’ to Abraham Colfe, thanking him for his virtuous seventeenth-century legacy. Particularly having recently discovered that he was ordained in Westminster Abbey, the same place where I now serve. Following his ordination, Abraham soon came here to Lewisham and effectively never left. He cared deeply for the people of this place. He cared how the ordinary folk were treated. He cared about how they lived, how they learned, and how they loved. And having experienced Colfe’s for myself, it seems to me that something of this same DNA of labour and love found its way into the School. I joined Colfe’s in the Sixth Form, having come from quite an ordinary state school. It was pretty rough in that school, and lessons regularly began with conflict – sometimes verbal and sometimes physical. I used to daydream about what it would be like to walk into a classroom where everyone actually wanted to learn. Where the start and end of your day wasn’t about looking over your shoulder but instead looking ahead to all that you might become. But it was just a daydream – until I came to Colfe’s. Colfe’s took me in and gave me a place to belong. The teachers and students were really interesting, and it seemed almost ordinary that everyone wanted to learn and ask questions. And quite soon I found myself amongst people who would become lifelong friends.wRight now, you may not know it, but you are sitting among people who will quite likely become your lifelong friends. And so I would like to say something this morning about being ordinary. But ‘being ordinary’ can often sound a bit dull. You probably think it is, and maybe you’re right. I mean, who wants to be called ordinary? Well, I think I’m ordinary, or at least I hope I am. There’s really nothing that special about me. Perhaps you feel the same. Maybe you even feel a bit like a sheep, just going along with the crowd. Not that I know much about sheep or even what it means to be a shepherd. But last Christmas, I read the autobiography of James Rebanks, a shepherd who grew up on a farm in the fells of the Lake District. Rebanks comes from a lineage of shepherds, and so he knows his sheep. He knows the seasons of their life; he knows where they’ll pasture and where they won’t. His entire life has been shaped and formed by the tapestry of fields and boundaries curated by ‘common’ farmers, over generations, spanning hundreds of years. There’s not much he doesn’t know about sheep.

COLFEIAN 2022/23

Yet far from the romantic fantasy of Wordsworth – where shepherds peacefully wander across the undulating landscape, connected to land and livestock – Rebanks gives the reader a window into the brutal and demanding realities necessary for the flourishing of the flock. Maintaining a farm is sheer hard work and, at times, barely sustainable. And in his own words, he says that he inherited from his family the classical worldview of ‘being a peasant’. He doesn’t mean that pejoratively because he sees himself in the lineage of a noble people who are always ‘just there’ on the land, those who are ordinary, often battered by the elements (and the economy) yet somehow manage to endure. What Rebanks highlights is the way that the everyday necessities of life – the struggles and the failures – show us how the ordinary stories of life can transport us into a world of labour and love. In the Gospel of Matthew, which we heard just now, Jesus is out and about teaching and curing the sick. But it’s a lot, and in a wonderful moment, Jesus asks his disciples to pray that God would send helpers, and in that moment, the mission of the church begins. The disciples’ prayer is answered, and the answer turns out to be quite ordinary, the answer to their prayer is them. This is the ordinariness of labour and love. Perhaps that is why in his letter to the church in Rome, St Paul encourages those who are finding things difficult to remember that ‘suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope’. In the last line of his book, it’s late spring, and Rebanks is returning his flock to the fell. All is as it should be, and he strides through the valley, stooping to cup some of the sweet and refreshing water from the nearby stream. He lays down on his back in the grass – tired but happy – and gazes up at the clouds rushing by, his sheepdogs nestled in beside him, and he concludes: ‘This is my life. I want no other’.2 In a society where many people can so easily end up living a life that they neither want nor understand – where the pressure to achieve or look impressive eats away at who we really are – these concluding words from an ordinary farmer become an extraordinary declaration for our times: This is my life. I want no other. I may be quite ordinary, but I can tell you that this is my life, I want no other. I hope that you might feel the same, but if not, may you know that in this school, you are surrounded by those who can (and will) pick you up when you’re down and see the extra in your ordinary. Amen. 1 Leland L. Duncan, The History of Colfe’s Grammar School, 1652-1952, (University of London Press Ltd: London), 1952, p.35 2 James Rebanks, The Shepherd’s Life: A Tale of the Lake District, (London, 2015). p.292

CHARITIES

CHARITIES Following on from previous years, pupils, staff and parents continued to plough great effort and enthusiasm into their charitable fundraising this year via a wide variety of events, with individuals, groups of friends and House teams contributing, to support a wide range of worthy causes. Overall, we raised a grand total of £23,494.50 as well as donating many goods and items in addition as usual. As ever, I would like to thank everyone who ran an event or contributed in any way to this fantastic effort. Lastly, I would like to express the school’s continued gratitude to The Leathersellers’ Company for their matched funding scheme, now in its eighth year of operation, which allows fundraising pupils to apply for matched funding for their charitable donations from an annual kitty. Pupils submit an online proposal form to The Leathersellers’, detailing their plans and chosen charity, for consideration. This has now led to around £40,000 of donations to school fundraising initiatives in the lifetime of the scheme.

Ormond Street respectively. Overall, the two teachers raised a combined magnificent total of £3536 so well done to them and thank you so much to all who sponsored them. Each academic year, the pupils in our four Senior School Houses continue to choose a charity (or charities) to support for the duration of the year and carry out their principal fundraising during their allotted House Charity Week.This year was yet another great example of how the student House leaders work with each other, younger House pupils, and House staff to ensure that as many people as possible contribute to the fundraising efforts. It was Norton House’s turn to go first and Miss Lindley, Miss Willats-Barrie and the Norton student House leaders organised a week of events ranging from a football tournament to a wheel of fortune, and from a hot chocolate sale to the ever-popular ‘soak the teacher’ – thank you so much to all my colleagues who braved this one for the cause. Overall, a total of £1388 (including Leathersellers’ matched funding) was split between Norton’s two chosen charities – Prospect Burma and Ready Easy.

As Christmas approached, we made our annual appeal for food and essential items to give to projects helping those in need during the festive season. This year, we continued our support of the Helping Hands Food Bank, part of a project called Action for Refugees in Lewisham (AFRIL) run partly by the Church of the Good Shepherd with St Peter, Lee. We also continued our support of the Trussell Trust Lewisham Food Bank. Thanks to the continued generosity of pupils, parents and staff, around £500 of food and items were again collected, split between these two charities and donated via a very full school minibus. We also held our annual Christmas Jumper non-uniform day in aid of Save The Children that raised £1324, with some truly awesome/awful jumpers on display. Lastly, a group of Sixth Form students, supported by Mrs Biggs, decided to invite donations and put together some wonderful Christmas hampers to donate to the residents of Brymore House Care Home (where our Sixth Form prospective medical students, post-pandemic, can now do valuable work

The charitable year kicked off as usual with two events early in September – ‘Jeans for Genes Day’ quickly followed by the ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ for MacMillan Cancer Support. On Jeans for Genes Day, pupils donated money to wear their own casual clothes to school and ended up raising £1400 to help children with life changing genetic disorders. After this, the Sixth Form students, guided by Mrs Biggs, once again organised a large and successful bake sale in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. These cakes also proved very popular with pupils and staff alike and an overall total of £318 was raised (which included a matched funding donation from The Leathersellers’ Company). Later in the term the Sixth Form also organised their annual raffle for The Connection project at St Martin-In-The-Fields, a charity working with the homeless in London. A total of £170 was raised and again The Leathersellers’ Company then matched this, so thank you to them and the Sixth Form fundraising team. As the autumn term progressed, pupils and staff continued to fundraise for a variety of causes. The Year 7 cohort continued their annual fundraising efforts for Children In Need and this, in addition to outdoor pursuits, helps galvanise them as a year group as well as raising money for a good cause. Led by Mr Osei-Tutu and Miss Sutherland, Year 7 put on a number of fundraising events to eventually raise £448 which was then match funded by The Leathersellers’ Company for a grand total of £896 donated. In addition, two members of staff – Mrs Dunster and Miss Roberts – ran the rescheduled autumn 2022 London Marathon for the charities Home for Good and Great COLFEIAN 2022/23

CHARITIES experience to help prepare them for their medical degrees and careers). Thank you to all the students who drove this charity hamper initiative forward, the hampers looked great and were very gratefully received. After Christmas, it was Prendergast’s turn to fundraise via their charity week and they chose to support two charities – Stem 4 (a charity which supports positive mental health in teenagers) and Alzheimer’s Research UK. Miss Li-Sue, Mr Potter and their student House leaders organised a fun week of fundraising that included a raffle, a football penalty shoot-out competition, cake and hot chocolate sales and lastly a ‘pie the teacher’ event (and again, thank you so much to my colleagues who volunteered to subject themselves to this). A lot of fun was had over the course of the week and overall a grand total of £1136, which includes Leathersellers’ matched funding, was split between the two charities. Also early in the Spring term, James (Year 9, Prendergast) embarked on a sponsored 5km park run in aid of the Refuge charity, which supports women and children suffering from violence and abuse. He completed the distance in just over half an hour and raised a fantastic £880 whilst doing so – thank you to all who sponsored him. Also thankful to all who sponsored her was Miss Coode, who ran the normally-scheduled 2023 London Marathon in aid of The Dogs Trust, raising an impressive £1135. Joining her was the ever-willing Miss Roberts, who ran her second marathon of the academic year, again fundraising for Great Ormond Street and achieving a grand total of £2053 this time around thanks to her efforts and her sponsors. In response to the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in the spring of 2023, Colfes’ held an outof-season non-uniform and fundraising day to donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee fund related to this tragedy and £1800 was raised. Later, towards Easter, PAFA organised another highly successful foodbank collection and the school also donated £255.85 to Comic Relief as a result of pupils’ red nose wearing. Lastly, Beardwood House put on their charity week for Greenwich Night Shelter. Mrs Burton, Miss Manzi and their student House leaders organised an action-packed week including donut and cake sales, a fancy dress sponsored fun run, more football matches and another sponge the teacher event (I really must thank all my colleagues again for letting themselves be pelted this year). A good time was had by all and a total (inclusive of matched funding) of £1000 was donated. Seeing the ever-worsening situation in Ukraine, and wishing to support charities involved there, the Modern Foreign Languages department, spearheaded by the tireless Miss Saba, and supported by Mr Newberry’s Music department, decided to put on their own fantastic version of the Eurovision Song Contest to raise money. 15 different countries were represented with pupils performing in that country’s native language. In the end the Judges’ vote went to Louise (Year 13) singing for

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Germany, the audience vote went to Isaac, Josh, Eleanor, Sam and Daniel (Year 12) representing Austria, and the overall winners were sister duo Elena (Y12) and Amelie (Year 10) who took the title for the Czech Republic. Pupils, parents and staff enjoyed a rousing evening of quality entertainment and attendees donated over £1000 on the night. This academic year saw the sad and tragic passing of pupil Harry and all in the school were both devastated by the loss and also determined to honour his memory in as many fitting ways as possible. For example, the School Student Council and Ecology Committee got the go ahead to re-design the Ecology Garden into a quiet reflection space that will bear Harry’s name. Also, many fundraising activities were planned, not only for this academic year but for subsequent ones as well. This year the Swim Squad, led by Miss Manzi, held their annual sponsored swim in Harry’s memory and raised £2017 (including a donation from The Leathersellers’ Company) donated to a charity chosen by Harry’s family that was close to his heart - Folly Wildlife Rescue. Bramley were the last House to undertake their dedicated charity week this year and they chose to support The Encephalitis Society. Miss Wraw,

Mr Hughes and the student House leaders put together a fun programme of events including a huge, sponsored relay race, more soak the teacher (that’s four out of four for my amazing colleagues), an ice cream sale, a nerf gun challenge and dodgeball matches. Overall, they raised £892 (including Leathersellers’ matched funding). Thank you to all involved. Lastly, the pupils from the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee ran their now annual week of fundraising activities in the late Summer term, this time for the Palmyra Relief charity providing prosthetic limbs to children in Syria. Overall, they raised £1027.65 (including a Leathersellers’ Company donation), a brilliant achievement. These fundraising successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts of pupils, staff and parents at Colfe’s, and I would once again like to sincerely thank them all for their dedication to charitable giving this year. I would also like to again thank The Leathersellers’ Company for their continued support of our charitable fundraising via the matched funding scheme. It has been another year of enthusiastic and innovative fundraising by so many and I look forward to more of the same come the Autumn term of 2023. Chris Morriss, Head of Student Leadership

PAFA

WHAT A YEAR FOR PAFA! The Autumn term is always busy with two landmark events; our Fireworks and Xmas Fair, and 2022 was no exception. Our annual Fireworks event held in early October was a sell out as always and, despite the heavens opening just as the first rocket was due to launch, it was a wonderful evening for everyone who attended. The PAFA team are wholly reliant on additional support from our Class Reps, school staff, parents, neighbours and Colfe’s CCF (who did a magnificent job running the ever-popular BBQ) and without them this event wouldn’t go ahead, so a huge thank you to all involved. In December, the Xmas Fair was back after a two-year absence with many of our favourite stalls (such as the tombola and hook-a-bag) proving as popular as ever. Santa was in residence once again and it was wonderful to see so many children enjoying the festivities and magic this season affords. Thanks again to the Class Reps, parents and other school helpers who contribute to ensuring this event is such a success, either by manning stalls, providing donations or helping with set up and close down. The money raised was gratefully received by the Lewisham Foodbank and the Lewisham Donation Hub. The Fireworks and Xmas Fair were the final events run by our hard working outgoing committee, who decided to step down in December following many years of dedicated service and success. The whole school thanks Michelle, Bonnie, Liz and Cosette for their tireless efforts and commitment to PAFA, especially during the most challenging time of the pandemic, and wishes them all well as they continue to enjoy the events as participants rather than organisers. Thank you all again. The baton was handed over to the new committee who started in earnest in January 2023, kicking off the Spring term with their first PAFA meeting and trialling a hybrid meeting to enable more people to attend. The hybrid model has continued with subsequent meetings leading to increased attendance – thanks to everyone who joined and contributed to the meetings, and we look forward to seeing more of you in 2023/24. The team launched a termly newsletter to introduce themselves and provide updates on PAFA events, and asked parents to provide their opinions in a survey to find out what they want from PAFA in the future. Thank you for responding. Slowly but surely these comments and suggestions will be incorporated into future events and initiatives. First to tackle was the Used Uniform sale. Our Used Uniform sales held throughout the year have always been exceptionally popular. Not only do they provide a solid boost to the PAFA funds each term, but they also give parents a much-needed resource to replace and recycle uniform as needed. Much goes on behind the scenes and we were thrilled to be able to introduce photographs and an easier sale platform following feedback from the survey. A really great, quick win and thank you to our wonderful volunteers who help sort, package and store the items! Another PAFA stalwart, the KS2 Disco was a hit once again. A big thank you to our volunteers who manage to survive the glowsticks, pizza and over 200 excitable children for the afternoon. The KS2 Sports Day was supported by our Class Reps and made even more bearable, given the intense heat, by the provision of ice pops by PAFA! What a welcome relief – thank you all. We closed out the Spring term by launching an Easter Trail competition for the children to complete during the holiday. 20 parents who live close to the school volunteered to display a patterned egg in their windows, which the children then had to spot and note down with the lucky winners receiving some chocolate treats! Thanks to all the volunteers and those who took part.

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PAFA

Some new initiatives that were a success in the Summer term included our MAD (Make A Difference) days which included collections of cereals, toiletries and tinned goods. As well as supporting good causes such as Little Village, local food banks and Lewisham Donation Hub, it’s been great that these have prompted conversations with the children about why some people can’t afford such items. Related to this, the last day of term saw a collection of outgrown children’s shoes and wellies, to be donated for other children to wear. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. We also hosted a fun morning activity – a Marshmallow Drive on the Junior School field. The aim was to see how far you could hit a marshmallow with a golf club (adults) or a selection of bats for the kids. The weather was magnificent, and the event was incredibly popular with adults and children alike – you can hit a marshmallow a long way with a golf club if you want to! Congratulations to our winners and thanks to all who took part. Another task was tackling the increasing amount of lost property items with the aim of returning as many things as possible to their rightful owners. A small team are now responsible for lost property, and they sort through the items weekly, returning named items to their owners and placing anything else in a new storage unit in the KS1 playground. This was a huge undertaking and we’re very grateful to the team for taking this on. Please continue to name all your items for a simple return if lost. To round out the term we celebrated our lollypop lady Betty’s 70th birthday, presenting her with a wonderful haul of gifts, cards and flowers thanks to contributions from parents and children from the senior and junior schools, and we let our hair down at the Summer PAFA drinks event in June. Phew! Throughout the year we received funding requests from many school departments (presented at PAFA termly meetings) and, along with Mr Russell and the meeting attendees, approved many items for purchase which the children have been enjoying. These included: - Fender guitar amp to be used by senior school student bands - Role play camping equipment and new bikes and trikes for EYFS playground - Studio lighting kit and Canon macro lens for the senior school art and photography students’ projects - Colfe’s branded choir folders for performances - Outdoor book library sheds for KS1 and KS2 playgrounds - Outdoor play equipment for the KS1 playground - Prizes for inter-school essay competitions - Traversing wall for KS1 and 2 playgrounds Please look out for school communications with details of future events. For more information on PAFA please email pafa@colfes.com PAFA Team Nerida, Suzanne, Sobi, Claire and Harri

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ALUMNI RELATIONS

OLD COLFEIAN SOCIETY 2022 BLACK-TIE DINNER We were delighted on 4th November 2022 to be able to celebrate the Society’s 10th anniversary dinner in the beautiful surroundings of the Royal Blackheath Golf Club. Following drinks on arrival and some words of welcome from our Chairman, Martin Cartwright, the 58 attendees were treated to fine food, fine wine, and a very special musical treat from Colfe’s Year 10 pupil, Amelie, who transported us to the warmer climes of the South Pacific with a stunning rendition of Honey Bun from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical.

Headmaster, Richard Russell, provided an encouraging report on the schools’ immense achievements over the past year and set out his bold aspirations for the future. School captains, Alice and Alex, painted a picture of their experiences at Colfe’s and proposed the toast to the Old Colfeian Society. President, Alderman Gregory Jones KC, responded with his usual eloquence delivering a speech which we all found both inspirational and entertaining.

Thanks to everyone who supported this grand event and especially to the management and staff of the Royal Blackheath Golf Club for their exceptional hospitality. Also singled out for mention are Kathryn and Pamela from the School Development Office, who put together all the arrangements with great professionalism, and Head of Music, Tim Newberry, for leading the musical contributions to a most enjoyable evening.

The evening’s proceedings concluded with the school song, Carmen Colfanum, sung with great gusto (and volume!) by all present.

Martin Cartwright (OC 1962)

Headmaster Richard Russell gives an update about Colfe’s School to the more than 70 people in attendance at the dinner.

AUTUMN SOCIAL AT THE OLD BANK OF ENGLAND PUB More than 40 Old Colfeians gathered together for a chance to meet and re-connect at the Old Bank of England Pub in London on 16th November 2022. The Old Colfeian Society Chairman Martin Cartwright (OC 1962) hosted with representation by Colfe’s Director of Sixth Form Spencer Drury (OC 1988) also in attendance.

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ALUMNI RELATIONS

OLD COLFEIAN SOCIETY SPRING DRINKS AT THE LAMB TAVERN 17TH MAY 2023

Old Colfeians from various year groups gathered together at The Lamb Tavern in Leadenhall Market for food, bites and conversation on 17th May 2023. Headmaster Richard Russell from Colfe’s was in attendance alongside leadership from the Old Colfeian Society committee.

REUNION LUNCHEON AT CHRISTCHURCH SAILING CLUB A lovely private room overlooking the beautiful Christchurch harbour, views as far as the Needles on the Isle of Wight and with sun shining, what can go wrong? And I’m delighted to say, nothing did! On 28th April, nearly 20 alumni, most retired, one or two still ‘in harness,’ two retired staff members, Kathryn McNeill and Pam Willis from the Development Office and Headmaster Richard Russell all enjoyed an excellent lunch laid on by the Sailing Club. Richard gave us a progress report where we were impressed to hear of the academic achievements and the position the school now commands nationally. It was heart-warming to also hear of the welcome given to selected Ukrainian students and the steady progress they were making in their new caring but challenging environment. We started these south coast reunion luncheons in 2003 with the help of Ron Harryman (OC 1956) who lived in Poole at the time, and 20 years later it was good to see him able to attend and join in ‘reminiscing’ the good old days.

Host David Williams (OC 1957) and alumnus Ron Harryman (OC 1956).

With a couple staying in Christchurch for the weekend taking advantage of the many attractive features of one of the most popular holiday towns in Dorset, and a few chatting over old times until past 4pm, the gathering drew to a close with Richard walking to the station to achieve his 20,000 steps target for the day, what an example to the rest of us in more ways than one! David Williams (OC 1957)

Alumnus Alan Nichols (OC 1965) has lunch with former teachers Alan Ward and Ron Impey.

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ALUMNI RELATIONS

CLASS OF 1983 REUNION David Lawrence,Trevor Greenhill and Gary Warner organised a Class of 1983 reunion social, celebrating 40 years since joining Colfe’s School as pupils. Having not seen one another for several years, the class gathered at The Crown Pub in Chislehurst on 24th June for a chance to reminisce and reconnect.

300 CLUB The Old Colfeian Society run The 300 Club, a small-scale lottery of fewer than 300 members. Tickets are £5 monthly. Half the money goes towards monthly prizes for the participants. The other half is awarded to the Old Colfeian Society. At the end of every year, the surplus of £5,000 for the Old Colfeian Society is given to Headmaster Richard Russell to support disadvantaged pupils at Colfe’s. These funds have recently been given to support 8 students to visit the CERN Laboratory in Geneva, and for A level classics students to travel to Rome and Naples. Additional grants have been made for visits in connection with university interviews.

An enormous thanks are given to the generosity of many Old Colfeians who continue to support the 300 Club and the monthly draws. We would of course wish to do more and for every new member an extra £60.00 becomes available to assist scholarship students. If you are willing to help by joining, please email David Ford at OCS300djf@outlook.com and he will respond to you. Thanks are given to David Ford who works so hard to administer the fund and the draws and is supported by Nick James and Pam Willis. By Brian Monk (OC 1958)

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DEVELOPMENT

CELEBRATING A DONATION FOR THE GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT A donation of £7,500 has been made to the Colfe’s Charitable Trust by Peter Dolan (OC 1962) and The Dolan Charitable Trust to boost the study of Geography and

Geology and inspire the next generation of geoscientists. Peter has been an active Fellow of the Geological Society for over 50 years, and the gift was motivated by both his and the Geological Society’s desire to encourage younger generations to join more physical geography and geology professions.

The gift has been ring-fenced to support current pupils, kindle enquiring minds and enhance exploration of physical geography and geology, for example through extended field trips. Peter Dolan studied A level Geology at Colfe’s under the tutorship of his mentor ‘Wo’ Worthington. After continuing geology at university, he worked internationally for a major oil company. Peter went on to live and travel around the world as a principal of several consultancies and to co-found successful exploration companies. Peter said: “Current interest in the geosciences needs to be resuscitated so that suitably interested and qualified young people can ensure sensitive production and use of natural resources for the benefit of global society. In addition, there are many disciplines that can benefit from the geosciences, including those that are crucial for tackling the challenges we face today, from environmental engineering and renewable energy to research into natural disasters.” Head of Geography, Henna Nissinen, said “we are very thankful for Peter Dolan’s generosity. This kind gift will enable us to inspire future generations in a subject which is not only inherently fascinating, but which has such important application. With changing climate and challenges for developing populations across the world, the study of Geography is as relevant to today’s world as never before, while Geology remains vitally important to understanding our Earth and how to ensure a sustainable future.”

LEATHERSELLER SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS FROM GENEROUS BEQUEST

A most generous bequest of nearly £500,000 has been left to Colfe’s School by alumnus Derek Wyles (OC 1946), who passed away in 2021 at the age of 92. The gift will support the Leatherseller Scholarship Programme, which enables the school to award fully-funded means-tested scholarships to outstanding pupils from local state schools joining our Sixth Form. These students continue to achieve at a high level and past scholars have gone on to study mathematics, architecture and Classics at Cambridge, and medicine at Imperial College, London, which is where Derek himself studied science just after the end of the Second World War. Described by his family as a “true gentleman”, Derek joined Colfe’s in 1937 in Form 2. His time at the school was abruptly terminated in 1940

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when the London Blitz necessitated evacuation. He finished his schooling at City of London School, but remained loyal to Colfe’s throughout his life, and was involved with the Old Colfeian Cricket Club for many years, organising the Club’s annual tours to Devon with enthusiasm and efficiency from 1957 to 1980. After serving briefly in the RAF, and finishing his studies, Derek subsequently built a highly successful career in the textile industry, managing the Central Dyeing department at Courtaulds Textiles, one of the world’s oldest and leading textiles companies. Headmaster Richard Russell said: “We are delighted to be able to honour Derek’s memory with his extremely generous bequest to our Leatherseller Scholarship programme which is now well established. A gift of this magnitude makes a real difference as we seek to establish an endowment which will fund the programme in future decades.”

DEVELOPMENT

YEAR 13 EZRAH LOOKS BACK ON HER TIME AT COLFE’S AS A LEATHERSELLER SCHOLAR

After receiving my GCSE results in August 2021, I was thrilled with the grades I achieved and realised I met the requirements to get into Colfe’s. After months of personal statements, interviews and paperwork, I called admissions who confirmed I’d received a Leatherseller Scholarship. Arriving in September was nerve-racking; it was a new school, there were new people, and I had completely underestimated the culture shock I would experience even though Colfe’s was only half an hour away from my old school, Prendergast Vale.

In 2009, the Leathersellers’ Foundation donated generous grants for fullyfunded, means-tested scholarships to be awarded to pupils from local state schools looking to join our Sixth Form programme.Today, these grants are combined with hundreds of donations from our wider Colfeian community to the Colfe’s Charitable Trust, supporting up to 12 pupils annually with these scholarships. If you would like to support more pupils like Ezrah with a donation of your own, please scan the QR code here to visit our online donation page.

Studying biology, psychology and photography has been both a challenging and rewarding experience. Photography, which replaced chemistry after I realised it wasn’t for me, has been my favourite subject to study. It has taught me so many skills like darkroom techniques, studio photography, how to shoot photos with manual settings and presenting skills. Being able to articulate my process of planning, shooting and editing to my teachers has also been very helpful for interviews. Photography has opened many doors for me. It’s made me a more creative person, and I’m more willing to put myself out there to learn more about the creative industry. I’ve also had my work exhibited at an independent gallery in Bermondsey and the Southbank Centre, and I have more planned for the summer. My switch in subjects ultimately sparked my change of focus on the type of career I want to pursue. Medicine had always seemed to be the default choice, so I didn’t think too much into it. But after dwelling on it for a while, and getting advice from head of careers Ms Bean, I realised my interests mesh well with architecture and the built environment. A lot of my art and extracurricular work has been centred on that topic, and it’s brought me a lot of pleasure. So much so that I spent my summer in 2022 at different architecture workshops and summer schools to catch up on my delayed commitment to it. I’m going on to study 3-Dimensional Design and Architecture during my foundation year at Central Saint Martins at the University of the Arts London and then will study architecture at university. Ms Gudge, Ms Feddes, Ms Ward and the entire art department have been so helpful assisting me in my development of my portfolio for university and beyond. They spent their spare time after school introducing me to new mediums like etching and heat transferring photos onto fabric. It has been a real pleasure to work with such a passionate and organised department that puts so much effort into their students and are just genuinely nice people. Their hard work is much appreciated. Joining Colfe’s was not an easy thing to do at first, but now as a Year 13 leaver, I can say that my time here as a Leatherseller Scholar enabled me to learn a lot about myself. I’m excited to have a productive summer holiday, hopefully learning new skills and preparing myself for further education.

Selected from my project ‘Estates’, this piece highlights my focus on documenting interesting social housing projects around London

THE FOUNDATIONS OF COLFE’S SCHOOL ARE BASED ON A WILL The Reverend Abraham Colfe made a commitment to the future when he set up a school in south-east London and, through his extensive will, entrusted its care to the Leathersellers’ Company. Abraham Colfe’s purpose was charitable; his adult life was dedicated to the people of Lewisham, and the Colfeian community remains true to his ideals. Today, many former pupils and friends of the school have already left legacy gifts in their own wills to the Colfe’s Charitable Trust. Legacy gifts can be made in a variety of ways, such as a percentage of an estate or a specific amount. For a confidential conversation about supporting future pupils at Colfe’s School through your will – or for advice as you and your solicitor consider this – you can always contact Kathryn McNeill, Director of Development & Alumni Relations at kmcneill@colfes.com. COLFEIAN 2022/23

ALUMNI RELATIONS

GENERATIONS AT COLFE’S SCHOOL

THE OLDING FAMILY

THE HEWSTONE FAMILY

Enid Olding and her family started as friends of Colfe’s School, when she and her husband Frank were invited to the 1983 School Summer Ball. Now, their family is a key part of the Colfe’s community, with multiple family members educated at the school and Enid acting as an integral member of The Parents’ and Friends’ Association (PAFA) to this day.

The Hewstone family joined the Colfe’s School community in 1933, when Philip Hewstone (OC 1940) started his time at the school. Including Philip, there have now been four generations of Hewstone students at Colfe’s.

Enid and Frank’s son Paul (OC 1991) started Colfe’s in 1984, when Enid and Frank joined PAFA. Paul left Colfe’s to go on to Oxford University, where he studied Biological Science, as well as setting up a Drama group for students. Paul later married Andrea (OC 1991), whom he met at Colfe’s Sixth Form, and who is now a teacher. Alongside being an awardwinning TV director and producer, Paul also created a vineyard with the help of his family, which is owned by Paul and Andrea, Carol and Vic Greenway (Andrea’s parents) and Enid. When Paul was in his 20s, he travelled to Africa but unfortunately arrived during a period of turmoil and chaos for the local area. Due to the danger of the situation, he was advised to go to the British Embassy. By complete coincidence, the man he asked for assistance at the embassy was also an Old Colfeian, who helped him to get home quickly and safely, illustrating the global impact of Colfe’s School. Along came Huw Olding (OC 2020), Paul’s eldest son and Enid’s grandson, who attended Colfe’s Junior School and then the Senior School, before going to Bristol University. Now Evan Olding (OC 2023), Paul’s other son, who followed Huw into the Junior and Senior School, hopes to attend Kingston University this year. The community ties in the family extend even beyond attending Colfe’s as pupils. Enid’s daughter Debbie taught swimming at Colfe’s from 1992-2018 and Enid’s other daughter, Sandra, completed her teaching practice at Colfe’s in 1998.

Philip was a keen boxer and rugby player during his time at the school, earning various medals for his sporting endeavours. During World War Two, he was evacuated to Tunbridge Wells for his safety. Here, he met his future wife, who lived in the house opposite him. Philip later went on to own his own electrical company. Years later, Philip’s son Keith Hewstone (OC 1970) joined Colfe’s in his father’s footsteps. Keith went straight into work at Citibank, where he started as a clerk and worked his way up to the Foreign Exchange Dealing Room. He remained until 1979 and later worked in a Danish bank, as well as other American banks. The connections back to the school didn’t stop there, however. Whilst meeting up with other Old Colfeians for a social event, he met the woman whom he would go on to marry. Keith and his wife had two children. The eldest, Paul (OC 1994), was in the Air Cadets at Colfe’s (now called CCF) and completed his Duke of Edinburgh award. Paul is still in touch with some of his friends who were in the Air Cadets, as well as other peers, who meet up both at Old Colfeian Society events and elsewhere. He took a similar career route to that of his father and entered the banking industry. Paul worked at HSBC and then an American bank, also climbing the ranks to the Foreign Exchange Dealing Room. While Paul’s sister Clare did not attend Colfe’s, she met her husband, who is also a Colfe’s alumnus, through his friendship with Paul. This emphasises how far the Colfe’s community has been a key part of the Hewstone family’s life.

In 2002-2004, Debbie’s daughter and Enid’s granddaughter Kayleigh Hart (OC 2004) joined Colfe’s Sixth Form to study for her A levels, before going to university and then working in marketing. Now, she lives in Australia, where she also teaches. One of the highlights of Enid’s time as a member of the Colfe’s community is accompanying students on Outdoor Pursuits trips (a part of the Senior School’s curriculum) two or three times per year. Not only did Enid help staff member Dave Gardner on these trips, but together they also formed and organised The Mamots. This was a parent group which attended trips such as outdoor pursuits weekends and skiing holidays, where they participated in activities similar to those of student trips. Throughout her years as both a friend and a valuable member of Colfe’s School, Enid has witnessed many changes. She has known four headmasters, as well as seeing both the introduction of girls into the school and the transition of Colfe’s from a grammar school to an independent school. We are grateful for the support of the Olding family, who we view as representative of the long-standing connections we maintain as a school. It is these bonds which enable us to continue to develop the Colfe’s community, giving our pupils the ability to flourish in the environment which they deserve. By Abbie Fox (OC 2023)

Three of the four generations of the Hewstone family pause for a moment at Colfe’s School; left to right: Keith (OC 1970), current pupil Thomas (Y6), and Paul (OC 1994)

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ALUMNI RELATIONS Approximately ten years ago, Paul earned his Pilot’s License. He has always wanted to fly, sharing the same love of aircraft as his grandfather Philip. Now, he is able to fly himself, his wife, and his two children on trips to the coast and even to France this year.

Paul (OC 1994) joins the Old Colfeian Society’s spring social with Phillip (OC 1940) – his grandfather’s – book of plays

Paul remembers meeting up with friends from Colfe’s at The Gipsy Moth in Greenwich on Christmas Eve, where they ran into other Old Colfeians. As an unspoken rule, there was a period of about ten years where the pub was filled with Old Colfeians on Christmas Eve, all within roughly three years of age of each other. Thomas Hewstone (Paul’s son and Keith’s grandson) will move from the Junior to the Senior School this September. When Thomas leaves the school in 2030 it will have been nearly a century since his great-grandfather joined the school in 1933. We appreciate the support of the Hewstone family. It is lovely to see how they have continued to be a part of the Colfe’s community, and how their family history is deeply intertwined with Colfe’s School. By Abbie Fox (OC 2023)

AN UNSCHEDULED FLIGHT ARRIVING AT COLFE’S SCHOOL FIELD

On a sunny Easter Sunday morning in 1955, a seven-year-old boy playing in the Old Colfeian’s field, was amazed to look up to see a light aeroplane circle several times overhead, getting lower each time. The engine note kept changing. He could clearly see that there were two people on board. He ran to the middle of the OC’s field to get a better view, as the plane was now clearly about to land and was making a low approach over the roofs of the Crown Court flats at the top of Horn Park Lane into the longer Colfe’s School field. Things like this simply did not happen in sleepy 1950s Lee. Upwood Road was almost devoid of cars, enabling children to play all day in the road without fear. Colfe’s Grammar School playing field had not been built on, with only the old pavilion at the Lee end - where the Junior School is now situated. In fact, nothing normally stirred at all on most Lee Sunday mornings. Excitedly the small boy ran home and asked his parents if he could go and see what was happening in the other field. No, was the answer! Now the story has been researched from local eyewitness accounts, an article in the Kentish Mercury newspaper and latterly people who knew both the plane and the aircraft. The aircraft was the Miles Hawk Trainer G-AITN, based at Croydon Aerodrome and operated by the Experimental Flying Group. The pilot was Kenneth Atkins, a former Fleet Air Arm pilot and his passenger was Miss Isobel Smith, an operating theatre nurse at Lewisham Hospital. The pilot claimed that due to “engine failure” he had decided to undertake a forced landing into the long and then unobstructed Colfe’s School Field. The newspaper article reported a police car “shadowing the stricken aircraft all the way from the coast road” – surely a bit of journalistic licence! Apparently to check that no illegal aliens had landed – nothing changes. The plane approached at about 40mph with full flaps down, just missing chimney pots and stopped easily. The pilot apparently climbed out and walked over to ask neighbours, who were by now looking over their fences, where exactly had he landed? However, another different account of the story was that his passenger was late back to work after the couple had been away for the weekend and that he had simply found the best airstrip closest to Lewisham hospital – dropped her off and helped her

shin over the locked lower gate – returned to his aircraft attempted a take-off, but aborted it when he knew the field was too short. What the truth was, we will probably never know. Several members of the Experimental Flying Group immediately came to Colfe’s field, as seen in the photo below, seen standing next to the aeroplane parked in front of the old pavilion. The plane remained parked for the rest of the day in front of the pavilion and the pilot was obliged to sleep in the aircraft overnight, apparently in case of souvenir hunters! A local resident from Upwood Road, Mrs Avril Kenward, provided the pilot with a hot flask and sandwiches to sustain him. Next day on Easter Monday, engineers from Croydon came to strip out the passenger seat, drain off excess fuel to lighten the aircraft and also to fit a lower pitch propeller. All of these actions were to assist with shortening the take of run. The chief instructor came from Croydon, taxied the aircraft to the top Horn Park Lane end of the field and then with De Havilland Gypsy engine at full power, released the brakes, rolled quickly down the slight incline gathering speed, the plane then easily took to the air the field climbing and turning south back towards Croydon. A large crowd of locals had climbed over their fences to watch the departure – from the Horn Park end. A fire engine had been put on standby – just in case. The pilot allegedly “left” the Experimental Flying Group over “another issue”, not long after his flying visit to Colfe’s. This incident fired the imagination of the little boy who had seen the plane landing. As a direct result, he became plane mad thereafter. Firstly making models and then becoming a private pilot (and by sheer coincidence) with the Experimental Flying Group; which in 1959 had moved from Croydon to Biggin Hill. By another coincidence, the first civilian plane to land at Biggin in 1959, when it opened up to civilian aircraft was no other than that same Miles Hawk G-AITN of Colfe’s fame. I was that little boy who later went to Colfe’s in 1959 and as result remained a private pilot for over 50 years. Colfe’s playing field and its aerial visitor have lot to answer for. David Shaw – Colfeian 1959-1967. By David Shaw (OC 1967) COLFEIAN 2022/23

OBITUARIES

ABRAHAM, ALAN “ABE”

BOWERN, MICHAEL

CAST, PETER THOMAS

(1959-1967) AGED 75. CLASS OF 1967

(1952-1958) AGED 82. CLASS OF 1958

(1943-1951) AGED 89. CLASS OF 1951

Michael was born in London during an air raid, early in WW2. His father was the chief engineer at the Daily Telegraph in London and had joined the REME during the war. He had a reputation for fairness and a welldeveloped sense of humour. His mother was kind, but was never afraid to speak out if she saw something was not right. Mike seemed to have inherited these qualities. Many people, old and young, have commented on his keen sense of humour, kindness to others and his interest in social justice and computer ethics.

It is sad to announce Alan’s passing on the 2nd March 2023 after a short illness aged 75. Alan arrived at Colfe’s Lewisham in September 1959 and moved to the new school in Lee in 1964. A popular and bright pupil, he excelled in science and mathematics. He was a popular class member, who was a brilliant impersonator of both the voices and mannerisms of many of the teaching staff – especially of Alfred “Horry” Horrocks, Always a funny and optimistic person, he gained many friends at the school and was well known for having many theories and ideas on topical issues, often at odds with others! At Colfe’s he was a member of Junior Players and was a “rocker” in every sense. As the lead guitarist and lead singer of Colfe’s answer to the Rolling Stones, The Mamoods, he got things rocking. His rocker image is exemplified by the photo of him astride his BSA café racer of the era. His bike could be heard approaching Colfe’s from well over half a mile away. He became a highly proficient offshore yachtsman; often during his retirement he would sail his beloved yacht to Europe, with his late wife Maggie and the family on board. He was a keen marathon runner, always raising funds for charity. He left Colfe’s to study Civil Engineering at Woolwich Polytechnic and gained a London University degree, before undertaking a successful professional career. He became responsible for a wide range of major construction projects including roads, bridges, dams, power stations and latterly developing telecommunications infrastructure. Alan retired to Devon and is survived by his son and daughter, Andrew and Liz, and his older and younger sisters, Angela and Phillipa. David Shaw

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Mike attended Colfe’s in 1952-58. Afterwards, he studied Electrical Engineering and worked on the first electronic telephone system which eventually replaced the manual systems at the time. In 1964 he was accepted on a course for Programmers-in-training with the Australian Government. This was at a time when large bureaucratic systems were being stored digitally and he worked on several big projects, including a Public Service Personnel System, the first electronic National Population Census, the introduction of computers in government schools, and the digitisation of maps at National Mapping, for use in meteorology, census, electoral and demographic maps. In 2001 he worked on the first electronic voting system in Australia, the ACT Legislative Assembly election. He was especially pleased with its success, not only because the results were available soon after the polls closed, but because it enabled blind voters to vote secretly, for the first time. In the 1970s he built his own house and spent his spare time skiing. In 1977 he took a week off and skied from Kiandra to Mt. Kosciusko – a tour that was organised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first winter crossing of the Snowy Mountains. Mike never lost his interest in quality management and the ethical aspects of computing. In 2008 he completed a PhD – An Ethical Approach to the Development of Systems for Electronic Democracy. He kept in touch with friends from school and, on a recent trip to England, was pleased to meet up with Stan Wolfson. Of his life, he often said that he considered himself fortunate to have worked in the profession he loved, to travel, and to have good friends and a loving family. Mike is survived by his wife Narelle, daughter Claire, son-in-law William Hawkins, and grandchildren David and Edie.

Peter was a kind and loving man who lived a long, happy and successful life. Peter dearly loved his wife Bridget, his three children, his five grandchildren and of course his six dogs. Peter said he lived his life in thirds. The first third was growing up in the war, going to school at Colfe’s School in Dulwich and university at the London School of Economics, but mainly it was spent playing sport almost every day, usually with his elder brother John. John and Peter were inseparable during their childhoods. They were both gifted cricketers and rugby players. The highlights of Peter’s sporting career were scoring a 100 when he was in his forties and playing in the Twickenham Sevens rugby tournament with his brother. It always gave him ironic amusement that he couldn’t actually remember playing at Twickenham as he took a knee to the head and was knocked out. The second third of his life was spent working at BP where he started as an economist but rose over a 35-year career to be a board director of BP UK. He was very proud of BP and his career, and it was there that he met his future wife, Bridget. He married Bridget in 1961 and quite quickly had three children; Caroline, Tim and Robert, as well as the first of his treasured dogs. He loved having a family and watching his children grow up, go to school, go to university, start their careers, find partners, marry, have children and live their lives. The last third of his life was spent in retirement in Essex, in Cornish Hall End, Finchingfield and Thaxted. His days usually revolved around walking his beloved dogs, doing the Times crossword and having lunch out with Bridget. Then he’d walk the dogs again. And then he might watch some sport. And then he’d walk the dogs just one more time. After a happy 20 years in retirement, time started to take its toll though and around 2015 his wife developed dementia and was admitted to a care home in 2018 and died in 2019. The loss of Bridget plus the loneliness of the Covid lockdowns prompted his move to Ashtead. He left many friends behind in Thaxted but was able to make some new ones

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in Ashtead and it also allowed him to see more of his children and grandchildren than before. Sadly, in December he was taken ill and after 3 months on a downward slope he died painlessly and peacefully.

A poster for Alien with Fowler’s tagline

Fowler’s first novel in which Bryant and May were the lead characters

I am sure Peter would wish to be remembered as a kind person, as a lover of sport, as a lover of dogs but most of all as a caring and loving father to his children Caroline, Tim and Robert and as a caring, loving and devoted husband to his wife Bridget. Rest in Peace, Peter.

EVANS, EDWIN WILLIAM ALFRED (1947-1952) CLASS OF 1954

FOWLER, CHRISTOPHER (1964-1971) AGED 69. CLASS OF 1971 Author of the Bryant & May detective novels, short stories and essays on forgotten writers – including himself Obituary reprinted from The Telegraph: Christopher Fowler, crime writer behind the eccentric series of Bryant and May novels – obituary He began his career in film marketing and came up with the famous Alien tagline, ‘In space no one can hear you scream’. Christopher Fowler, who has died aged 69, was the author of the Bryant and May mysteries, which became treasured as the most wilfully eccentric series in contemporary crime fiction. The books focused on the Peculiar Crimes Unit, a classified branch of the Metropolitan Police headed by two elderly specialists in the arcane and the outré: the cantankerous, shambolic Arthur Bryant and the more soigné and diplomatic John May. One critic described the pair as “the Met’s troubleshooters for the weird and the unnatural – a sort of Ealing comedy X-Files team [who ought] to be played by Alastair Sim and Michael Redgrave”. Fowler first made his mark in the film industry, as co-founder and creative director of Creative Partnership, which became a leading film marketing agency. The tagline he devised for Alien (1979) – “In space no one can hear you scream” – entered the popular lexicon. The work did not fully satisfy his creative impulses, however, and in time hard won from his day job he began to write offbeat horror and fantasy short stories and later novels.

In his second novel, Rune (1990), a mixture of corporate satire and MR James homage, Fowler decided to introduce a pair of “old, troublesome, wayward and faintly disreputable” detectives as secondary characters. The inspiration for their names came when he happened to glance at a matchbox bearing the legend: “Bryant & May – England’s Glory.” Bryant and May would frequently pop up in his books, and in 2003 Fowler promoted them to lead characters in a mystery novel, Full Dark House. He had to leave his long-standing publisher, who declared the idea “unsaleable”, but the series went on to garner a devoted readership, in the United States as well as Britain, and ran to 18 books. Combining a whiff of the supernatural with a distinctively melancholy comedy (“I suppose the worst thing isn’t that there might be nothing after death, but that there might be nothing before it” is a typical Fowler epigram), the novels drew heavily on Fowler’s encyclopaedic knowledge of esoteric London lore. He sought inspiration by seeking out the dwindling spaces where London’s eccentrics could still be found in the increasingly homogenised 21st-century city, and based his plots on a fund of real-life historical tales of “lost paintings, demonised celebrities, buried sacrifices, mysterious guilds and social panics [with] casts of whores, mountebanks, lunatics and impresarios”.

“This goes against the grain of most detective fiction and is the better for it,” enthused The Daily Telegraph in 2007. Indeed, Fowler had little time for much British crime writing, and provoked controversy in 2013 with an article complaining about the preponderance of “doorstops of unrelenting grimness”, and urging readers to “step away from publishers’ current offerings, because, at the present time, the genre has backed itself into a dead end”. He recommended instead the “joyous and playful” detective fiction of the pre-Second World War “Golden Age” – the spirit of which he did more than perhaps any contemporary writer to recapture. Despite his strictures, however, Fowler – a softly spoken, drily witty man who had worked as a model in earlier days and retained his youthful good looks – remained one of the best-loved figures on the crime fiction convention and festival circuit. Christopher Robert Fowler was born in Greenwich on March 26 1953. His mercurial father, Bill, was a brilliant but underemployed glassworker who specialised in making scientific instruments; disapproving of his son’s addiction to books and comics, he once burnt a poetry anthology given to Christopher by a friendly librarian.

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Fowler at the 2013 Crime Thriller Awards in London

However, a publisher caught his appearance and was impressed – “All that terrible mugging, very clever, very postmodern” – and offered Fowler a contract for his first collection of short stories, City Jitters (1986).

RAMEAUX, GEOFF (1980-1987) AGED 54. CLASS OF 1987

Roofworld (1988), a fantasy about communities living secretly on the rooftops of London, was the first of some three dozen novels Fowler published. “In Fowler’s world, reality and fantasy are always dangerously close,” noted the writer Joanne Harris. “Executives make secret pacts with demons, lonely adolescents plot to blow up their neighbourhoods, and prim suburban housewives are subject to creeping neurological meltdowns that culminate in orgies of violence among the cupcakes and tea-towels.” Christopher’s mother, Kath, a legal secretary, encouraged his youthful writing ambitions out of earshot of her husband. He always retained the sense that “displaying imagination … felt like a subversive activity”, and credited this with his tendency to go against the grain of literary fashion. He was educated at Colfe’s School in Lewisham and then worked as a copywriter for advertising agencies such as J Walter Thompson, a job he described as “one level above sewer-toshing”. On the first occasion on which he attended the shooting of a commercial, he sat on an oak desk which turned out to be a polystyrene prop, fell through the black-out curtain and brought it down on the heads of John Cleese and Larry Grayson. He and a colleague, Jim Sturgeon, came up with the novel idea of setting up a marketing agency that concentrated exclusively on films, and founded Creative Partnership in 1979. Sturgeon, a flamboyant figure who crashed glamorous movie parties by claiming to be the director of the most recent Oscar winner for best documentary film – safe in the knowledge that nobody ever knew who that actually was – helped to bring the shy Fowler out of his shell. Fowler recalled that, as the few remaining executives in the moribund British film industry could be found within a single pub in Wardour Street, it was easy to make contacts and find work. They cut their teeth on dire 1970s comedies, and gradually came to the attention of Hollywood. In the 1980s they won the James Bond contract, and their campaign for Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs was credited with helping the film do more than double the business in the UK than it had in the US. In 1984 Fowler published his first book, a humorous squib called How to Impersonate Famous People; promoting it on live television, he found himself unexpectedly obliged to perform various celebrity impressions, for which he had little talent.

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Fowler, who retired from his film marketing work in 2006, was also prolific as a reviewer and had a long-running column in The Independent on Sunday championing unfashionable writers, which formed the basis of his unscholarly but wonderfully passionate and lively study, The Book of Forgotten Authors (2017). He divided his time between Barcelona and a flat in King’s Cross where he wrote in a room in which everything – the walls, desk and chair – was made of glass. Fowler also maintained a detailed blog, which he used in 2020 to keep his readers abreast of the difficulties he found in securing treatment after he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer on the first day of the Covid-19 lockdown. He brought the Bryant and May novels to a definitive conclusion in London Bridge is Falling Down (2021), and followed it with an unconventional guide to his beloved native city, Bryant and May’s Peculiar London (2022). Fowler also wrote two acclaimed memoirs: Paperboy (2009), about his childhood, and Film Freak (2013), on his life in the movie business. A third volume, Word Monkey, encompassing his writing career and last years of illness, will be published in August. He won five British Fantasy Awards, and in 2015 received the Crime Writers’ Association’s Dagger in the Library for his body of work. Chris Fowler is survived by his husband, Peter Chapman.

KEMP, MICHAEL R (1950-1957) AGED 83. CLASS OF 1957

Geoffrey (Geoff) Rameaux was born on the 13th of September 1968 in Sidcup to Desmond and Brenda Rameaux. He attended Wybourne Primary school before attending Colfe’s Senior School in 1980. During his time at Colfe’s he was an avid sportsman, partaking in rugby, cricket and football, representing the school in all three from Year 7 all the way into the Sixth Form, where he played for the first teams. After leaving Colfe’s in the summer of 1987, he would start work 3 days later for Marc Rich in London. Over the next 35 years Geoff worked in the commodity trading industry, which allowed him to travel the world. Despite his frequent travels, his second home was always Colfe’s and Old Colfeians, where he spent countless weekends watching, coaching and playing rugby and cricket. Geoff ’s admiration towards Colfe’s School was passed onto his children, Thomas and Francesca, who attended from the Junior School all the way into the Sixth Form, leaving in 2016 and 2020 respectively. At Old Colfeans he was a player for both the rugby and cricket teams from age 17 all the way to age 53. Alongside this, he also coached various rugby age groups for 20 years, pioneering the mini and junior sections. To continue his legacy there has been a hardship fund created where donations help people of all ages participate in sport who may not have the opportunity due to financial and social barriers.

OBITUARIES

REEVES, DONALD (DICK) (1945-1953) AGED 87. CLASS OF 1953 Dick was born in New Cross on 4th May 1934 and joined Colfe’s in 1946. He was an all-round sportsman especially in rugby and cricket. He played rugby for London University and Nottingham and was captain of Loughborough R.C. He was also a keen golfer until he developed Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). He left in 1953 to study geology and physics at Chelsea Polytechnic. After gaining his degree, he spent a year at Cambridge in research as a geophysicist before going to Canada as a geophysicist. After a few months he came back to get married to me but never returned. Instead, he took a job as geologist in the NCB at Nottingham. After 2 years he joined BPB industries where he developed techniques for bore hole research. They were so successful that BPB set up a separate department. After a while they decided to sell it off and Dick and other members bought it out and set up on their own. This was eventually called REEVES. It eventually was highly successful in the oil and coal industries - not just gypsum. They worked worldwide and set up subsidiaries in America, Canada, Australia, South Africa and other countries. The company was eventually sold when Dick was in his sixties. He died after a few years of gradual illness of PSP in April 2021.

RICHARDSON, JOHN WILLIAM (1950-1955) AGED 83. Class of 1957 After leaving Colfe’s, John worked initially at the Port of London Authority. After completing National Service with the RAF, he joined the New Zealand Shipping Company where he began in the Insurance & Claims department, and to this end studied for the Fellowship of the Chartered Insurance Institute which he qualified with distinction. John was then approached in 1968 to help set up what was to become Overseas Containers Limited, OCL, a shipping company that was shipping goods in 20-foot and 40-foot containers all over the world. At work, John was a diligent worker, contributing in meetings and on international phone calls. Although he rose to become the Head of Insurance & Claims at OCL, he was at his happiest after a sideways move when he was able to specialize in the technical intricacies of law & procedure relating to marine insurance & claims. Through this specialism, John traveled extensively, which he loved, lecturing to agents and manufacturers in India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and every European country. He was clearly very well thought of in his industry, and whilst being employed by OCL (later to become P&O Containers and then P&O Nedlloyd) he was asked by Lloyds of London Press if he would like to write a book on the Hague & Hague-Visby

Rules. After this was a success, two further technical books ‘A Guide to the “Boxtime” Charter Party’ and the ‘Combined Transport Documents’ were commissioned. John retired from P&O Nedlloyd (now Maersk) in 2000, and enjoyed playing bowls, cruising the world with his wife Marjorie and was an active Rotarian and Probus member until his death in April 2022.

SANDERS, REV ROBERT C. (1954-1960) AGED 81. Class of 1960

Lord and also my Aunt Brenda and a while later Uncle David. Cousin Elizabeth messaged me from Germany and said, “where would we be if he hadn’t told my dad about Jesus?!” But an adventurous spirit was apparent. Aged 18 he was determined to attend the Keswick Convention in the Lake District. But it was 300 miles away. No problem. He packed up a tent, clothes, and food, affixed them to his bicycle and cycled the 300 miles there, and at the end of the conference back home again. In 1962, there was an International Conference in Finland near the Russian border, and Robert wanted to join a team to witness there. Aged 21, he had no money to pay for travel but there was a Youth for Christ friend who was a Customs Officer at the docks in London. This friend found a cargo boat sailing for Finland and Robert had a phone call one afternoon to say he had two hours to get on it. After the mission had finished he returned to England on another ship carrying lumber. A year later he went to London Bible College under the principal Dr Kevan. The ‘Old Boy’ recalled trying to learn Hebrew down in the basement whilst he could hear the Underground trains rushing past. There he met lifelong friends Stewart Olyott and Paul Cattermole.

Robert Campbell Sanders, Bob to friends and family, Popsie to others, Dad Sanders to Rosie or ‘the Old Boy’ or pastor to many others, was born on the 4th September 1941 to Jack Campbell McKechnie and Winifred Dorothy Sanders in Chelmsford, Essex. He had four brothers and one sister. He showed mischievous traits from an early age. Despite being unable to swim, he found a galvanised bathtub, and he took it and his brother Donald down to a flooded gravel pit. They both climbed in and set sail paddling out to deeper water, remember neither of them could swim so it didn’t end very well. His mischievous nature continued to come out and it was known for the ‘Old Boy’ to take a bucket of cold water and a bicycle pump up a tree. He would use the bicycle pump to suck up an amount of water and then he would wait for an unsuspecting victim. But in April 1957 an event was to occur that was to change his life around. On the 27th April, he walked into a Youth for Christ meeting in Southeast London. He became born again and knew his sins were forgiven. He walked out of that meeting a brand-new person. He was baptized a short while later in a local church. His new purpose in life was to share the Gospel with all he met and knew. A short time later he led his brother Donald and some friends to the

After completing training at London Bible College he joined the Faith Mission in 1966 running evangelistic meetings among the rural communities of Suffolk. He and his colleagues lived in a caravan and held the meetings in a marquee. Each time they moved on they had to ask local farmers for help with moving the caravan and erecting the marquee. He worked with several colleagues and between October 1964 and June 1966 he participated in 13 separate missions. One colleague, Bob Hulme, says this: I want to say that Bob was a great person to work with and the outstanding memory of those days is of a man whose Salvation worked out at his fingertips. I did not enjoy the best of health in those days, and he always took on the heavy work so that I could carry on the work with lighter duties. The work in the Faith Mission was the beginning of a lifetime of friendship. I, like many, will miss him so much. And even forty years after his time with the Faith Mission he could recall many details of what happened where and how many were saved. Several years ago, he went back to visit some friends in Suffolk, the husband of the couple was gravely ill. The husband said it was through your preaching that we were saved. One Saturday in 1967 he was ordained at Quorn Baptist church by Pastor Cooper and others; he had gained practical pastoral experience alongside Pastor Cooper for six months. A week later he sailed from Tilbury docks on the Thames, upon a postal ship, to South America to work with Andes Evangelical

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Mission in Bolivia, South America. Quorn Baptist Church adopted him as a missionary even though we had moved away over ten years previously. They bore the cost of him journeying out to Bolivia. Folks from Quorn Baptist travelled down to Tilbury Docks to see off their missionary, they were joined by family and friends to wave him off. He was possessed of a zeal to share the Gospel with the South American Indians, descendants of the ancient Incas. He visited tin and silver mines to share the Gospel with the miners; he travelled by motorbike across the altiplano to visit remote churches. We have slides that picture him boarding a rickety boat to cross a river. The Old Boy and the motorbike went up one side of a plank, it tipped up and they walked down the other side into the boat. We even have a slide of him supervising the building of an airstrip for the mission’s plane…wearing a shirt and tie. There in Bolivia, he was to meet the love of his life, Beverley Hales. The courtship was very short and to the point. On the first date, he said: we’re getting married, aren’t we? They were married in Cochabamba. As is law in Bolivia, they were married in a legal office in Spanish first, and then a “religious” service to which most of the mission family attended on the 17th April 1970. The reception was held on the back patio of the Mission Guest House and consisted of curried mince and rice. The wedding cake was dessert. Two children were born in Bolivia, myself and Pam. Sandra Cuthill, a fellow missionary in Bolivia, gives this memory: One thing I do remember about your Dad was that he went out into the streets of Oruro during a military coup, while the rest of us wisely stayed inside. He took photos of some of the buildings that had been shot at! One day there were some visiting missionaries and the ‘Old Boy’ wanted to give them some entertainment. But nothing was to be had. So he procured some dynamite, loaded up a rabbit hole, attached a fuse and lit it. The results were explosive. When they returned to England, I was rushed to hospital with epilepsy which was a trying time for both of them. But the ‘Old Boy’ found work at Seeboard, which is the South-eastern Electricity Board where we used to visit him in the stores as he finished for the day. He recommenced pastoral life in England as an assistant pastor at Coulsden Evangelical Church. The family was living in Woodmansterne and by this point had been joined by Andrew. In 1977 we moved to Horsell Evangelical church where the ‘Old Boy’ was inducted as pastor. He was determined to teach the Bible to everyone and to see people saved and come to know Jesus as

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Saviour. He taught a catechism to the children and YP to help them understand basic truths. At the other end of the spectrum let me tell you about Mrs Bobbitt. She was in her nineties when she was born again. As ‘the Old Boy’ visited her he would ask “where in the Bible are you reading today?” O, I’m reading Romans today. Isn’t that a bit hard Mrs Bobbitt? And the reply would come, my Saviour died for me so nothing is too hard. During this time at Horsell, Jennie was born. After three eventful years, the family moved to Guildford, Surrey. Whilst he was out of the pastorate the family joined in worship at Chertsey Street Baptist Church and the children were sent to Sunday school and YP to give them a good grounding in the Scripture. Several churches were interested in him, including one in the Falkland Islands. And yes, this was very shortly after the 1982 war. One family holiday was to visit Mervyn Langrell and his family in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Mervyn told ‘the Old Boy’ of a nearby mountain called Lugnaquilla. He was determined to climb Lugnaquilla to see if he still had it. He took sandwiches and a flask full of coffee and set off. On the way up he met the Irish army. He arrived at the top, ate his sandwiches and drank his coffee and returned back down to find the Irish army only halfway up. Such was his speed. He told us that he had used a technique of walking learnt whilst in Bolivia. But in a village called Shepshed, a Baptist Church was looking for a pastor. We were taken up to visit and to be shown the new manse. To be introduced to the good folk of the church. In 1985 a friend of long standing was invited to preach at the induction service. Only one instruction was given; preach the Gospel. Many connections were made in the area with other pastors of like mind. A nearby Evangelical Church in Loughborough asked ‘the Old Boy’ to preach at the Good Friday service. Many different fellowships were represented including some from the churches in Shepshed. He preached the Gospel and one girl a few years later testified that that night she heard the Gospel it was like a light bulb had been switched on. But, ‘the Old Boy’ was determined to show his children some of his childhood haunts. So visits to the Nene Valley Railway, Quorn, Woodhouse Eaves, Beacon Hill, Bradgate Park and other places were, if not compulsory, strongly required. On one occasion, in Quorn, we learned that the local lads, in ‘the Old Boy’s’ time had been in the habit of putting halfpennies on the railway line and waiting for a steam locomotive to come along and

squash them. An early interest in steam trains continued and many Saturdays were spent exploring old railway lines and disused tunnels, these adventures also continued on many family holidays. After eight years ‘the Old Boy’ received a call to the pastorate in Deeping Saint James, he was inducted in 1993 and was there for twentysix years. Whilst there, all four children were married. Baptisms of those saved took place, and faithful consecutive preaching through the Bible was complemented by teaching from the Bible. An ever-present at the Thursday night Bible studies and prayer times was the blackboard erected at the front. Upon the blackboard, the prayer needs of the church and further afield were chalked up. Wednesdays saw the caravan taken to the market for evangelism and many Saturdays saw the Pastor involved in the maintenance of the grounds. He actively sought opportunities to take assemblies in local schools. I remember one night him poking his head around the door and saying I’m going out photocopying. I said I can scan that on my computer but he paid me no mind. My Mum held my arm to shush me. When he left she said to me your Dad goes to photocopy but to share the Gospel with the shopkeeper as well. In 2019 he moved to Shrewsbury and for two and a half years he was received by the folk here in Shrewsbury. He delighted in the children’s talks, and during phone calls, he would tell us what he was going to be sharing. Phone calls involved tales of walks around Shropshire, finding the site of a mine disaster and finding out the history and walks across the local battlefield delighted him, even across the border into Wales. Digging and maintaining someone’s garden gave him great pleasure. Sunday dinner with Pastor Gareth Evans was looked forward to and the Wednesday evening prayer meeting was not to be missed. His last sermon two weeks before he was promoted to glory was on the subject of Heaven. He passed into the presence of his Saviour on Wednesday 7th December 2022 to the words: well done good and faithful servant. Let me share one final thought. One family holiday was a sailing holiday around Arran and Bute. One afternoon we anchored in Lochranza Bay. The children and cousins went ashore for ice cream and to explore and returned to the yacht sometime later. They went to sleep that night but when they awoke the next morning, Dad and Grandad were very bleary-eyed. It transpired what had happened; when the yacht was anchored it anchored on a piece of seaweed and when the tide rose the yacht

OBITUARIES

started to float away from its moorings. They had to re-anchor the yacht in the bay during the middle of the night.

Throughout this time, he maintained friendships from childhood and continued living with his parents in Ffinch Street, Deptford.

century years previously. Valerie was by his side to the end, and he died in his bed on 12th September 2022.

An old hymn asks: Will your anchor hold in the storms of life when the clouds unfold their wings of strife when the strong tides lift and the cables strain will your anchor drift or firm remain?

Because Ron was an asthma sufferer, he was not called up for National Service. However his health had improved significantly following the introduction of inhalers and he was able to play sport – which wasn’t an option in his childhood. Ron especially enjoyed playing tennis, and his memoires (available to Colfe’s alumni) showed that in the 1950s he played tennis on a number of Christmas Days at the Quadrant Tennis Club in Catford. Indeed, it was at The Quadrant that he met Cynthia Valerie Jillott, a newly qualified primary school teacher. They married in 1959 in Worthing, where Valerie’s parents lived. The couple soon moved to a new house in Copthorne, Sussex, a village roughly equidistant from their respective parents, and had two children there; Adrian in 1963 and Elizabeth in 1967. This meant a break from tennis, but it didn’t stop Ron taking up both football and cricket locally.

Ron is survived and dearly missed by his wife Valerie, his children Adrian and Elizabeth, his five grandchildren and one great grandchild. His ashes were buried at Wrottesley Park Natural Burial Ground under an inscription “Acta et Verba” - deeds and words.

The last verse asks: Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore when life’s storms are past forevermore? We have an anchor that keeps the soul safe and secure while the billows roll fastened to the Rock which cannot move Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love. What about you, where is your anchor fixed?

SHERMAN, RAYMOND T. (1957-1965) AGED 76. CLASS OF 1965

SOUTHEE, PETER HENRY LEONARD (1953-1960) AGED 81. CLASS OF 1960

TUPPER, RONALD G. (1939-1943) aged 93. Class of 1943 Ronald George Marsh Tupper passed away at the age of 93 at his home in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton after a period of declining health. Ron, as he was always known, was born in a maternity home in Shooters Hill Road, Kidbrooke, on 8th December 1928, the eldest child of Ernest and Ada Tupper. He grew up at 30 Ffinch Street, Deptford, close to the railway line. Ron started at Colfe’s in 1940, at which time the school had moved to Tunbridge Wells as part of the evacuation. He often referred to these days as the happiest of his childhood. However, to support his family, Ron moved back to Deptford in 1943 and left school in 1944. Yet he always knew his education was incomplete, and that he could do better. His first job was as “office junior” at Vitacream in Bermondsey, an artificial cream manufacturer and his next was at Pope’s Solicitors in the City. This firm dealt with large numbers of motoring offences and divorces, and Ron promised himself he would never learn to drive nor get married. Both of these promises were soon broken, however! He took his A levels at evening classes, and eventually studied law part time at the University of London. By now he had left Pope’s and was working at London County Council.

Adrian Tupper

After working in the legal departments at the London County Council, Dorking Town Council, Sterling Winthrop and Bovis Homes, in 1973 Ron and the family moved to Wolverhampton so that Ron could take up a position of Chief Legal Advisor at Tarmac plc, which he occupied until his retirement in 1992. It was as if he had finally found his level as a lawyer and was very happy in that role. He and the family also joined the local tennis club, where Ron enjoyed both the playing and the social side, making many friends. Retirement is never retirement, and despite taking up golf and going on a number of holidays, including a round-the-world tour, Ron volunteered his time to be secretary of Compton Hospice, a palliative care charity near his home. He joked afterwards that when he eventually retired from that, he was replaced by two full time employees. He still played tennis but his mobility suffered when he was in his 70s, and he had to stop, with golf following soon after. Ron and Valerie moved to a bungalow nearby, where they spent ten years before moving into an apartment at Thorneycroft, an independent living development that also offered a degree of care. By now he was unable to walk unaided, but he always kept good spirits and was popular among residents and staff, not to mention family. After a number of spells in hospital for fractured hips and lung conditions he refused to go back, preferring to spend his last days at his home. Indeed by now he was on the receiving end of care from Compton, with whom he had volunteered a quarter of a

COLFEIAN 2022/23

ARCHIVE

This year has seen a steady number of requests for information about former pupils. Sometimes they are for family history research, sometimes information about school days is requested for eulogies at a funeral and sometimes people want to find old pictures of grandad at school for a birthday celebration. Finding the entry in the school Roll Book is my usual starting point.

This is an entry from the Roll Book for well-known author Eric Ambler, who attended Colfe’s from 1918 to 1925. Information such as father’s occupation (usually, unless the father was dead in which case it would be the mother’s name), previous school, date of leaving and destination (sometimes). Occasionally, the boy left early to move on to another location or school. This book and the sequel, which goes from 1928 to 1991, when, I assume, records were moved to computer, are my starting point in researching possible OCs. Other places to look for information about an Old Colfeian’s school days, are the collection of Colfeian magazines. This was founded in 1900 as the magazine for Old Colfeians. There had been several attempts to start a school magazine. The Scribbler in 1839, edited by General Sir George Schomberg, KCB, and John Pratt Wooler, was not a great success, nor were the other attempts; one being stolen from the editor’s jacket and The Park Peeper(!), written by two Colfe’s students, who rather failed in their attempts at journalism. In 1902, Colfensia was founded as a chronicle of school life. It was combined with the Colfeian in 1952, an apt celebration of the 300th year of the school’s existence, and has been a great success at recording the highlights of the school year ever since. It would be much harder to find interesting stories for our enquirers if these magazines had not existed. Other areas where information can be obtained are sporting reports and programmes for plays and musical productions. Sadly, many of our team and class photos do not have the names on them or even the class number, which renders them rather useless. In 2012/2013 we decided to use some money given for improving the archive by Old Colfeian, Richard (Dick) Chambers, to set up a website devoted to the history of Colfe’s School. Dick was a lover of the school and history and had collected and kept photographs, antiquarian books and many other treasures, which, shortly before he passed away, he asked the school to look after. The website seemed to be an excellent way to remember him and to make some of his “treasures” available more widely. They are all kept in school and include a collection of antiquarian books about Kent. One book, “A Perambulation of Kent” was printed in 1596, and written in 1570 by William Lambarde.

Another is “Excursions in the County of Kent” which was published in 1822.

They are all fascinating and we are lucky to have them. We are grateful to have been given other books, such as signed copies of some of Henry Williamson’s novels (and other books), from the estate of F M Manning, who attended Colfe’s from 1907-1912. Old Colfeian Anthony Morley (1961-1967) has donated a large collection of the works of Charles Folkard, a renowned book illustrator, who attended Colfe’s in the late 1890s. My predecessor, Peter Heinecke, organised donations so that the school could acquire a collection of drawings by Folkard, which are displayed in the library. R N Curnow (School Captain in 1905) also left a considerable library of books in his will of 1982, including a first edition of “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom” by T E Lawrence. This is my last contribution to The Colfeian after 22 years at the school. I wish my colleagues well and that Lorraine Banks enjoys her time looking after the archive. Judy Cardnell, Archivist

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HOUSE SYSTEM

HOUSE SYSTEM After Bramley House pipped Prendergast House to the House title last year by the narrowest of margins, the latter were out to go one better this year, and Norton House and Beardwood House were determined to close the gap with the other two Houses, leading to a hotly contested competition.

Thus, staff and pupils took up the challenge on behalf of their respective Houses with their customary enthusiasm. I am, as ever, very thankful to the Heads of House, Assistant Heads of House, House Captains and other student House leaders for all their efforts in organising their teams, as well as to the staff who ran the events and the pupils who participated in them. Thank you to you all. In in end, it would turn out to be another very close result. The House competition kicked off with the annual House Cross Country for Years 7, 8 and 9 with bonus points for House staff runners. This year we were trying out a new course, twice around the main field and then once around the cabbage patch, to avoid the astro-main block gap which is a bit of a choke point. As it is a team competition all participants earn House points and the top twenty placement finishers from each House contribute towards the overall result of the event. This year the individual race winner was Billy (Bramley) but in the overall race it was Norton who were victorious. House Drama was next and student House leaders had been hard at work since July choosing and honing their scripts, planning their staging and costumes and crafting their auditions and rehearsals for the Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils. With the one restriction remaining from the pandemic - external audiences not being allowed to watch the performances live - finally lifted, we were delighted to welcome families of the pupils back into the Beardwood Theatre for what was to be a truly uplifting evening of entertainment. Beardwood’s version of Romeo and Juliet was an emotional rollercoaster with the tragic couple (Fikayo and Natalie) complemented by other characters, for example Elsa’s hilarious Nurse. Bramley put on a light-hearted performance of Monty Python and the Holy Grail with a memorable Black Knight battle scene. Norton gave us a quirky rendition of The Addams Family with some excellent music and singing involved. Chloe was also brilliantly dry as Grandma Adams. Lastly, Prendergast presented an impressive version of Bugsy Malone which balanced excellent musicality with some strong acting performances, such as Isabelle’s portrayal of the titular character. The quality on show was, as usual, superb and each House did itself proud with all pupils contributing excellently to a very entertaining evening. In the end it was Prendergast’s Bugsy Malone that won the day so congratulations to their directors, cast and crew. Prendergast also started the Autumn term very strongly on the sports field and were triumphant not only in Year 8 and Year 9 House Rugby, but also Year 7 and Year 10 House Hockey and, in addition,Year 8 and Year 10 Girls’ House Football. What a fantastic range of sporting victories, Mr Potter looked very happy. Other sporting House competitions that were held included House Rugby for the Year 7s (won by Norton) and Year 8 House Hockey (won by Bramley). Moving into the classroom, the House Maths competition was changed in format and became contested by Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 pupils. After a titanic mental struggle, it was the Bramley team who emerged triumphant so well done to them. Beardwood were again the clear top dogs in House Modern Foreign Languages picking up the win as per last year. The competition once again saw some excellent poetry skilfully crafted in different European languages. Unfortunately for Beardwood, this was their only win of the term and they would have to up their game after Christmas to keep up with the other Houses. Prendergast were also strong off the sports field and took the wins in House DT and House History. Bramley were grateful to Spencer (Year 7) for taking home the Year 7-9 House Chess crown and they also had the winning team when it came to House Geography. All House points accrued by House pupils from subject and pastoral staff, for example for good work, kindness and helpfulness, were also totalled

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HOUSE SYSTEM with Norton emerging with the biggest total. Norton also showed the most consistency in the Autumn term as when they weren’t winning competitions, they were invariably finishing second. Totting up the scores as Christmas approached, it came as no surprise that Prendergast had taken an early and commanding lead of 119 points in the competition with Norton’s plethora of second places ensuring they were placed second overall, with Bramley third a further 79 points behind. There were, however, plenty of points to be played for in the new year. House Music, now fully free of pandemic-related restrictions, moved from the Beardwood Theatre into the Senior Hall this year to accommodate a larger audience of family and friends who enjoyed a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The solo performances were very strong and wide-ranging, from Edie’s (Year 7) excellent performance of Strange by Celeste, to Oskar’s (Year 11) skilled rendition of Czárdás by Vittorio Monti; from Jojo’s (Year 7) thoughtful recital of Merry-Go-Round of Life (from “Howl’s Moving Castle”) by Joe Hisaishi, to Preston’s (Year 7) fine playing of Sonata in C Major by Alessandro Besozz. Following these, the Houses performed their ensemble pieces to a rapturous reception. Beardwood’s Revolting Children from Matilda was sung and played with great gusto and Bramley gave us a good groove in their performance of Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon. Prendergast had a great time during their rendition of Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen and Norton seamlessly knit together a medley of Beatles songs with great skill. This very close competition was won by Beardwood who took a clean sweep of the Solo, Ensemble and Overall trophies. Thank you as ever to all student House leaders who directed their ensembles and to Mr Newberry and Mr Sycamore for running the competition. The Spring term also sees the tireless Miss Manzi organise a range of water-sports-related House competitions. The year group swimming galas are great fun with the traditional finale of the float race firmly remaining a real pupil favourite. Beardwood were triumphant in Years 7, 11, 12 and 13; Norton were victorious in Years 8 and 9; Bramley were the winners in Year 10. Bramley also won both the Year 7 and Year 8 House Water Polo competitions with the pupils thoroughly enjoying a sport that is ever increasing in popularity at Colfe’s. Remaining in the sporting arena, Girls’ House football was put on for Years 7 and 9 with Beardwood winning the former competition and Bramley the latter. Moving indoors, it was the turn of the senior pupils (Years 10-13) to battle it out in a heavily oversubscribed chess tournament, possibly due to the popularity of The Queen’s Gambit on television. There were so many entrants that we decided to split the competition into two age groups, with Aloysius (Year 11) winning for Beardwood and Yonis (Year 13) winning for Norton. Norton also navigated the mind-based knowledge and skills tests of House Psychology the best to claim victory and were additionally triumphant in the accumulation of staff-awarded House Points across the term. The library staff have always been top-notch contributors to the House Competition with their reading events and this year they added to their repertoire with a speed Jigsaw competition for Years 9 and 10, for which there is apparently a world championship, and Norton were again here the winners. Mrs Englefield also announced the winner of the mammoth Year 8 Reading Through Time competition as Beardwood House with the efforts of Verity (Year 8) contributing significantly to the result. Beardwood also won House Debating with some excellent thrust and parry arguments. The Science department runs its House competitions for Years 7, 8 and 9 in the Spring term with different challenges that ask pupil teams to use scientific logic, deduction and skill. In Year 7 and Year 9 it was Bramley who emerged victorious with Prendergast taking the win in Year 8. Thank you as ever to Mr Kiddey and Mrs Smales for running these events. Also in the Spring term, Year 12 teams compete to solve riddles and logic puzzles as quickly as possible in a House Escape Room with Prendergast’s smooth teamwork eventually seeing them to victory. Back on the sports field, the Spring term saw football replace 15-a-side rugby as the main boys’ House sport and Norton kicked their way to winning the Year 7 Competition. Not to be outdone, Prendergast carried on from their strong start to the year by winning both the Year 8 and Year 9 football competitions, as they did last year. In the older years, Beardwood managed to be victorious in the both the Year 10 and the

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HOUSE SYSTEM Year 12/13 events. Netball was a House sporting focus for the girls and Bramley very did well again this year, triumphing in the Year 7, Year 9 and Year 10 competitions with Norton wrestling the Year 12/13 trophy away from them to prevent the clean sweep. Prendergast managed even more victories though, firstly in House Media (and thank you as ever to Miss Li-Sue for running this competition annually) which saw some excellent journalism, both written and in front of the camera; and secondly in House Harry Potter, a quiz expertly run by Ms Chapman and spectated by an enthusiastic audience. Therefore, as we came to Easter it did not come as a surprise that, after sustaining their good start to the year, Prendergast still led the standings by over 100 points from Norton in second who were themselves only 69 points ahead of Bramley. Beardwood, after being significantly behind at Christmas, had also worked hard to successfully close the gap with the other Houses. A frantic race to the finish beckoned in the Summer term – could anyone catch Prendergast? During the Summer term, Mrs Englefield and her library team continued to provide the pupils with lots of fun opportunities to compete. The Year 7 Reading Around The World competition was won by Prendergast and, due to its popularity in the previous term, House Jigsaw was opened up to Years 7 and 8 this term with Prendergast again triumphant. There was also the Battle of the Books quiz for Year 9 and, as per last year, Norton emerged victorious here. In addition, the Modern Foreign Languages department ran their Languages talent contest which had a fantastic display of linguistic skill on show. Congratulations to all participants but especially to the winners from Beardwood House, who also claimed the win in House Classics. Thanks to Mrs Davies and the EDI committee who introduced a new House competition this term, and EDI quiz, which was won by Prendergast. With cricket being the main sport, along with athletics, in the Summer term, competitions abounded. Prendergast won the boys competition, however in the girls’ events, Norton were victorious in both Years 8 and 9 whilst Bramley took home the trophy in Year 10. House Dance saw a good number of very talented entries who not only demonstrated excellent choreography but also a knack of powerfully evoking the theme of the dances. In the end, once both solo and duet dances had been seen, it was Beardwood who triumphed. Thanks to Miss Russell, a full gamut of tennis events saw Norton win in Years 7 and 8 with Bramley taking the crown in Years 9 and 10. In addition to the athletics events run for the House competition at the school Athletics championships, which were won overall again this year by Bramley, the rest of the school remained on the school site for House Competitions Day. Varied activities such as archery, quidditch, space hopper racing, a quiz, human table football and turbo javelin throwing put the pupils through their paces in a fun packed day that culminated with a tug-of-war competition. Overall, Norton won the Year 7 competition, Beardwood won the Year 8 competition and then Bramley steamrollered over all comers to win in Years 9, 10 and 12 – a great collective performance. So, once all these points had been added to the House totals it was clear a very, very close competition had emerged. Unfortunately for Prendergast, their performances in the summer sports were not strong enough to fend off the other Houses and so, after some double-checking due to the tightness of the scores, it was Norton (who hadn’t won the trophy since 2010) who lifted the overall House trophy, winning by a tiny 34-point margin from Bramley. Congratulations to the Norton House student Leaders – Amie, Aurelie, Fred and Will; and also to Head of House Miss Lindley and Assistant Head of House Miss Willats-Barrie. Thank you to all pupils who represented their House in events with their customary enthusiasm, competitiveness, intelligence and sportsmanship. Lastly, as ever, a huge thank you to all staff who organised and ran events in the House Competition this year. Chris Morriss, Head of Student Leadership

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SIXTH FORM

SIXTH FORM It has been another fantastic year in Colfe’s Sixth Form with students performing well academically but also developing socially. I have to start by celebrating our best exam results from any time outside the Covid years (2020-22). With 21% of all A level exams achieving A* grades, the excellence of our Year 13 students shone through. However, I should also mention the outstanding results achieved by BTEC Sport & Exercise Science students in our first year teaching this qualification. The starred distinctions for our students reflected their hard work but also the organisation and commitment of their teachers in this coursework-heavy qualification. With 87% of grades from A* to B almost all our students got to go to the university of their choice, which is always a pleasing finish to the academic year. It was also a great year for the enthusiasm of so many students in new areas. Ms Fitzpatrick enjoyed accompanying the first Colfe’s table tennis team for as long as I can remember. The intra-Sixth Form competitions which took place across the year were enormous fun for everyone who got involved. Well done to Yonis for his victory in the Chess tournament and to Sam and Matthew for their hard-fought victory in the table football competition. I was grateful for Mr Titcombe’s victory in the Staff and Sixth Form Fantasy Football League – the first by a member of staff since it started three seasons ago.

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In addition, the work by students and their staff editors to create Culture@Colfes produced an outstanding magazine, of which everyone could be proud. Lastly, I would like to record my thanks to Mrs Biggs (Assistant Head of Sixth Form – Pastoral) and Ms Fitzpatrick (Sixth Form Administrator).

They both finished their roles in the Sixth Form this year and I am truly grateful for all their hard work and commitment over the years. Their support for students has made a difference to so many individuals and I wish them luck in their new roles. Spencer Drury, Director of Sixth Form

SIXTH FORM

FAREWELL, WITH SADNESS It is with sadness that I write this submission for The Colfeian, as this is my final year in role as Assistant Head of Sixth Form (Pastoral), but also with pleasure as so many positive memories come to mind with such reflection. The role has allowed me to collaborate as a member of a team of superb colleagues who have provided support to all of our Year 12 and 13 students. Such support has been varied and comes in the form of the following: • Guiding students with the challenges that arise as they transition from GCSE learning to the rigours and breadth of the A level curriculum. • Mediating with subject teachers in the face of adversity (ill health, grief, other need). • Ensuring that integration and inclusivity be provided to ensure a happy and successful journey through the Sixth Form. • Engaging in 1:1 reflective meetings to monitor and guide academic attainment, which will serve each student well in their personal endeavours and wishes for their next steps. • Facilitating leadership, super-curricular and co-curricular opportunities to build knowledge, enjoyment, resilience and soft skills. • Being a shoulder to cry on when the going gets tough and teaching students about the importance of ‘The 4 Ps’ (perspective, positivity, planning and physical exercise). Organising and facilitating assemblies that aim to promote independence and resilience have come in the form of presentations from a variety of teaching staff based on a full range of varied topics and current issues. Here are just a few to name: ‘Understanding Disability’, ‘Understanding the Importance of Positive Relationships and Non-harmful Behaviours’, ‘Vegan Life Aged 39’, ‘My Life as a Christian Man’, ‘Women in STEM: What You Didn’t Know’, ‘Orangutans and Eeephants’ and ‘Non-toxic Masculinity’. With this in mind, it has been a genuine pleasure to work so closely with such a broad range of highly talented, entertaining and committed students in both year groups who themselves have not ceased to surprise in the opportunities they seek and accept in order to grow on personal levels. Public speaking presentations from Year 12 students this year have been highly commendable and impressed on a level unmet previously. Topics have included among others, ‘The Power of the tidy bedroom’, ‘What a SMART Target Really Looks Like’, ‘TOKYO Slime’, ‘Body Image’ and ‘Living in a War Zone’. For some, the challenge of standing before their peers and tutors presented an opportunity to focus on developing confidence beyond their comfort zone and this has been a pleasure to observe. To conclude, I give thanks to all the students who have demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills when working as mentors to their younger peers, confidence in leadership when supporting with Outdoor Education trips and who have visibly shown strength in organisation and teamwork when supporting me with all matters connected to Charity Work and Events Management under the guise of the Sixth Form Committee. This year has been as busy as any other and I thank all members who have “done the Makro run” for sweetie purchases ahead of the Valentine Sweetie Sale, danced on stage at the Year 7 Disco, baked cakes for the McMillan Bake Sale, designed Christmas cards for the Christmas Fair and donned fabulous nightwear at our Sixth Form Pyjama Days. The school would not be the same without each one of you and all of your individuality. Thank you and I wish you all the best in your continued studies in Year 13 or for our leavers, the exciting journeys that await you beyond Colfe’s School. I look forward to future reunions as Old Colfeians! Finally, I would like to note a personal thank you to my dear colleagues who have comprised the Sixth Form team, including Mr Drury, Mr Snell, Ms Batten, Miss Fitzpatrick, Mrs Bean and Mrs Kashif, our school counsellor. Thank you for all the support you have afforded me in being able to work so cohesively on behalf of all of our fabulous students! Elizabeth Biggs, Assistant Director of Sixth Form (Pastoral)

COLFEIAN 2022/23

CAREERS

CAREERS Every year is a busy year in the Careers Department at Colfe’s because we work hard to ensure that all students leave having found the best possible next-step option. In the autumn of 2022, it was a bumper year with more than 130 students applying for university places and in spite of the media predictions about difficulties over A level grades and university places, it was fantastic that 95% of our applicants gained places at their chosen universities, including Art Foundation courses, Medical schools and Oxbridge.

We also extend our congratulations to the seven students who gained degree apprenticeships in the face of huge competition. With a debtfree degree, competitive salary and almostguaranteed job at the end of the training, degree apprenticeships were a sought-after option for a much bigger number of students this year. This year students gained places at Barclays, Direct Line Insurance, Jaguar Land Rover, JP Morgan, Lloyds Banking Group, the Metropolitan Police and the National Audit Office.

BI-ENNIAL CAREERS FAIR – MARCH 2023 After going online in 2021 because of Covid, it was good to be able to have our Bi-ennial Careers Fair in person in March. More than 70 parents, alumnae and friends of staff supported us by coming along to talk to students about their careers. On the night there were more than 500 guests, students, parents and staff at the event, making it our biggest-ever Careers Fair.

Theatre, Finance, Fintech, Hospitality/Brewing, Insurance, Investment Management, Law, Media/ Visual Effects, Medicine, Music/Composing, Nuclear, NHS Ambulance Service/Health and Social Care, Physiotherapy, Polic, Product Design and Branding, Property, Psychiatry, Public Sector, Publishing, Reinurance, Retail/ Sustainability, Science, Software Development, Sports, Structural Engineering, Technology, Theatre, Universities

One of the biggest aims of the Careers Fair is to show students that your career journey may not be straightforward.

Most students think that careers are like this diagram on the left, when what is more typical is the diagram on the right: Justin, Jaguar Land Rover Apprenticeship As always at Colfe’s we celebrate the diversity and range of university courses chosen by our students and can truly say that we support every different aspiration. Here is a small flavour of the degrees chosen this year: (The list on Valete gives a full break down of destinations) Ancient History Architecture Artificial Intelligence Civil Engineering Digital Cultures and Media Hair and Make-up for Fashion Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics (MORSE) Music Natural Sciences Philosophy and Economics Social Anthropology Sports and Exercise Science Theology and Religion.

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With this in mind, we asked each contributor to tell us about their A levels, degrees and various careers. This sparked conversations with many students during and after the event and for some it led to the realisation that you do not have to choose a degree that leads to a specific career, unless you are choosing a vocational pathway. This year we specifically put calls out for certain professions to reflect the interests of our students and also to focus on some of the growth industries. The response from the Colfe’s community was fantastic and we had representatives from all of the following industries: Accountancy, Actuarial sciences, Advertising, Anthropology/Museums, Architecture, Auctioneering, Atmospheric Science, Banking, Biomedical Science, Chemical Engineering, Civil Service, Communications and Brand Marketing, Construction, Consulting, Cyber Security, Digital Media Marketing, Energy and Transport, Environmental Science and Climate Change, Fashion/Design, Film/TV/

Old Colfeian Molly talking to a prefect about her career We will be organising our next Careers Fair in 2024 and so if you think your sector is missing on our list, do please get in touch. In addition to the career representatives, we were pleased to welcome the following universities to the Fair: Bath, Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, East Anglia, Lancaster, LSE, Nottingham, Queen Mary, Ravensbourne, Rose Bruford and York. Some of these stands were staffed by old Colfeians and we really love to have them back into school promoting their university. In the Library we were pleased to welcome some associated organisations including The University Guys, Camp America, Volunteering Solutions, Project Trust, EC Careers, Rate My Apprenticeship and Springpod. Finally, as part of the evening programme, a series of talks took place in the Beardwood Theatre and the Recital room, covering

CAREERS Medicine and Cambridge, Gap Years, Apprenticeships, Visual Effects, Personal Statements and Overseas Universities. It was a buzzy and busy evening, with feedback from parents, students and guests saying that it was hugely worthwhile. The Year 10s through to 13s who came along asked great questions and the best comment of the night for anyone working in Careers was: “I didn’t realise that was an option”.

employee Q&A panel session where students had the opportunity to speak with individuals from different areas of the business. We are very grateful to all at BCG Cantor Fitzgerald for this incredible opportunity. Another example of excellent work experience was provided by a partner at Humphreys Law, a small commercial law firm with a focus on technology clients. The placement lasted one week, during which students experienced law firm life and got involved in tasks, ranging from admin to research. The students prepared a presentation for a training session on a topic of interest to them. This was no doubt a scary but valuable experience for them. There were numerous other examples of professionals going out of their way to give our students an invaluable insight into their industries and help them acquire new skills and expertise along the way and we are grateful for all of them. In total, we logged 102 different experiences acquired by students who returned the work experience questionnaire at the end of the summer term. These included not only direct work experience but also industry-specific courses that students signed up onto via Springpod, our online work experience platform.

OLD COLFEIAN TALKS TO STUDENTS

WORK EXPERIENCE (Dr Jerry Lea is responsible for the year 12 work experience at Colfe’s) Year 12 students are expected to find work experience during the school holidays to boost their applications to university / industry. We rely heavily on the generosity of our alumni network and current parents to offer placements for the pupils. This year the wide range of placements included medical diagnostics, IT engineering and consultancy, pharmacy, events and project management, politics, banking, finance and real estate, law, drama, music, finance, accountancy, management consultancy and architecture. Some of these were with Blue Chip companies, such as Arup, but others were in small practices and so offered a more personalized experience. One offer of note was provided by an American global financial services company who provided an insight day to twelve Year 12 pupils, and this was followed up by a week-long work experience program that covered all aspects of a major business. After this, students were encouraged to apply for apprenticeships within the company. The insight day covered business presentations given by brokers, analysts, accountants and marketing people, amongst others. There was then a CV workshop and an

Through various networks, including the Old Colfeians and LinkedIn, we keep in touch with many ex-students and it is always good to welcome them back to talk to current students. This year we were delighted to have Fran Rameaux (Musical Theatre Student, Leeds) back in to talk about applying to Drama Schools, Nikolas Charalambous came in to talk at our Year 12 Forum session about his Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship with Playle and Partners, and Vera Ononagaya (Medical student at Cardiff University) has been a stalwart speaker coming back from Cardiff once again to share her expertise with prospective Medical Students.

PSYCHOMETRIC TESTING ON UNIFROG Unifrog, our university software programme, has recently introduced Psychometric testing as part of their package and we trialled it with our Year 10s this year. Every student took part in the profiling sessions which links aptitudes and interests with a far more detailed list of careers and includes A level suggestions and degree options at 18. This was followed up by a oneto-one careers interview with an independent careers adviser. It is early days for this testing on Unifrog, but we are pleased that we are able to introduce some of the many tools on this platform into the lower years’ careers programme.

Using this tool in the lower years

THE 2022/23 CAREERS’ AMBASSADOR The post of Careers’ Ambassador is now firmly established and this year Zara in Year 13 was a great help and support, particularly at the Careers Fair. We wish Zara every success studying Politics and International Relations at Warwick University.

Zara our 2022/23 Careers’ Ambassador If you would like to become involved in our Careers work, either by talking about your career in school, volunteering at the Careers Fair or through offering work experience, the Careers Department would warmly welcome your support. DBean@colfes.com Fran Rameaux Old Colfeian

Debbie Bean, Head of Careers

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VALETE

SCHOOL LEAVER DESTINATIONS 2023 Degree Apprenticeships Direct Line, Solicitor Jaguar Landrover Software Engineer JP Morgan. Financial Services Lloyds Banking Group Internal audit Police Constable degree apprenticeship Barclays, Senior Risk and Compliance National Audit Office Art Foundation Courses Camberwell school of Art, UAL Central St Martins, UAL Ravensbourne, University of London Ravensbourne, University of London Ravensbourne, University of London Ravensbourne, University of London University Birmingham City University Bournemouth University Cardiff University Cardiff University Cardiff University Cardiff University Cardiff University Cardiff University Cardiff University Cardiff University City, University of London City, University of London City, University of London Durham University Durham University Durham University Imperial College London Keele University King’s College London, University of London King’s College London, University of London King’s College London, University of London Kingston University Lancaster University London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London Loughborough University Loughborough University Loughborough University Loughborough University

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Loughborough University Loughborough University Loughborough University

Art Foundation, (with deferred Film Production degree) Art Foundation (with deferred Architecture degree) Art Foundation Art Foundation Art Foundation Art Foundation Media Production Media Production Biochemistry Business Management Economics Media and Communications Media and Communications Media and Communications Neuroscience Philosophy and Economics Business Management Business Management Mathematics with Data Science Biological Sciences Natural Sciences Theology and Religion Computing Pharmacy with Foundation Year Dentistry European Politics Social Sciences Digital Media Technology Marketing and Design Social Anthropology Business Analytics (with placement year) Economics Economics and Management International Business (with placement year)

Newcastle University Newcastle University Newcastle University Newcastle University Newcastle University Newcastle University Newcastle University Newcastle University Northumbria University, Newcastle Nottingham Trent University Nottingham Trent University Oxford Brookes University Plovdiv Medical University, Bulgaria Royal Holloway, University of London Royal Holloway, University of London Solent University (Southampton) The University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh University of Bath University of Bath University of Bath University of Birmingham University of Birmingham University of Birmingham University of Birmingham University of Birmingham University of Brighton University of Brighton University of Bristol University of Bristol University of Bristol University of Bristol University of Cork, Republic of Ireland University of East Anglia University of Essex University of Exeter University of Glasgow

Mechanical Engineering (with placement year) Psychology with Criminology Sport Science, Coaching and Physical Education Business Management Combined Honours Digital Cultures and Media Economics and Business Management Education English Literature International Relations Marketing and Management Accounting after a Gap Year Architecture Sports and Exercise science after a Gap Year Sport and Exercise Science Medicine Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) with a Year-inIndustry Film, Television and Digital Production Football Studies Geography History of Art and English Literature Law Civil Engineering with professional placement Mechanical Engineering Physics BSc Human Sciences Criminology Engineering Liberal Arts and Sciences Physics Journalism Media Studies Ancient History Ancient History Computer Science Theatre and Performance Studies Music Law Marketing (Including Foundation Year) Philosophy with Study Abroad Ancient History/History

VALETE

University of Leeds University of Leeds University of Leeds University of Leeds University of Leeds University of Leeds University of Leeds University of Leeds University of Leicester University of Leicester University of Liverpool University of Liverpool University of Liverpool University of Manchester University of Manchester University of Manchester University of Manchester University of Manchester University of Manchester University of Manchester University of Nottingham University of Nottingham University of Oxford University of Oxford University of Reading University of Reading University of Sheffield University of Sheffield University of Strathclyde University of Sussex University of the Arts London University of Warwick University of Warwick University of Warwick University of Warwick University of Warwick University of Warwick University of Winchester

Communication and Media Cultural and Media Studies Digital Media Film, Photography and Media Geography Geography History of Art with Cultural Studies Politics Economics Medicine Business Economics Communications and Media after a Gap Year Mathematical Sciences (Foundation) (1+3) Actuarial Science and Mathematics after a Gap Year Biosciences with a Foundation Year Computer Science Computer Science Economics Philosophy Sociology and Criminology after a Gap Year History of Art and English after a Gap Year Politics and International Relations Biomedical Sciences Medicine Business and Management (Marketing) Modern Languages (French/ German/Italian/Spanish) and Economics Accounting and Financial Management Politics, Philosophy and Economics Biomedical Science History Hair and Make-up for Fashion Accounting and Finance Computer Science English Literature Mathematics Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics (MORSE) Politics and International Studies Physiotherapy

Gap Years In addition to the students mentioned above, five students are taking gap years and applying to university in 2024 Employment One student is planning to go straight into employment Leavers from previous years applying to university following Gap Years University of Bath Computer Science Cardiff University Architecture University of Edinburgh German and English Literature Loughborough University Sports and Exercise Psychology University of Manchester Philosophy and Politics University of Newcastle Business Management University of Oxford Spanish and Arabic University of Strathclyde Product Design and Innovation University of Warwick Philosophy and Literature

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ACADEMIC REPORT

ACADEMIC REPORT The first major event of the academic year for exam classes was the November mocks for Year 11s. These were followed by mocks in January for Year 13, and a series of mocks for Years 12, 11 and 13, respectively, spanning from late February to mid-March. Pupils left for the Easter break, armed with specific revision tasks and advice to help them make the most of the three weeks. The exam period started in earnest earlier than ever, with the A level Business and GCSE ML speaking assessments first. The final GCSE and A level exams were both in Mathematics: Further Maths for GCSE pupils on Wednesday 21st June and the AEA (Advance Extension Award) on Tuesday 27th June.

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Term ended for all other pupils and teachers on Friday 7th July, and we left school to enjoy the summer. All year the government promised that grading levels would return to 2019 levels, so we fully expected results to drop significantly from the all-time high levels we enjoyed in 2022. As we received the results for both A levels and BTECs and then, a week later, GCSEs, we realised that while the government’s promise was kept, our results far exceeded our results from four years ago. 2019 was a good year for A level results but this year’s results exceed these at every measure, with 21% A*s and 57% A*-A. Competition for university places was stronger than ever, but 95% of Colfe’s pupils are headed to their chosen university. BTEC results were also very strong, with the vast majority of pupils achieving at least a Merit, with many achieving Distinctions and even Distinction* grades.

One week later, rain fell once more on GCSE results’ day, a good omen as it turns out, with pupils achieving nearly as highly this year as last year – quite a feat, considering that grade deflation for GCSEs was even sharper than A levels. Particularly steep was the fall in grade 9s nationally, 27% compared to last year. Our results, however, are only down slightly from last year’s alltime high, with 35.1% grade 9s and nearly 80% grades 9-7. Like with the A level results, these represent the second highest results ever achieved by Colfe’s pupils. Our congratulations go to all pupils in Year 11 as they start their A level and BTEC courses and to Y13 students who are beginning university courses or apprenticeships, embarking on gap years or entering the job market. My thanks go to all the teachers at Colfe’s, for their dedication, support and encouragement of pupils in the senior school. Melissa Schramm, Director Of Studies

ACADEMIC REPORT

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TEACHING & LEARNING

IT DEVELOPMENTS Over the past year, our Year 7 and 12 students have embraced the opportunities presented by their Microsoft Surface Pros. This has had a positive impact on the way they learn, collaborate, and engage with educational materials. Here are some examples of how these devices have been utilized in various lessons across the school. Collaboration has become seamless and efficient with the introduction of one-to-one devices. In English and History classes, students have worked together on analysis of poems and historical sources using Microsoft OneNote, where they can simultaneously edit and provide feedback on each other's work in real-time. This collaborative approach has fostered a sense of teamwork and improved the quality of their analysis through peer review. Pupils also developed their online research skills through specifically designed activities in History, which built their skills before they attempted their research project.

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In Science lessons, students performed virtual experiments. The versatility of these devices has allowed our students to explore complex concepts and engage in interactive simulations, bringing scientific theories to life. Of course, completing real practicals is important too, and the use of virtual experiments has increased pupils’ confidence when attempting the practical themselves, and has allowed pupils to see practicals virtually, which are not completed live due to time constraints. One-to-one devices have allowed our teachers to personalise instruction based on individual student needs. The devices provide instant feedback via quizzes and access to a plethora of resources at different levels, ensuring that students receive targeted support and challenges. In Chemistry, pupils used their Surfaces to watch interactive videos at home to learn new material which they then applied to challenging questions in class. In Latin, pupils use their Surfaces to revise vocabulary. This is often as part of a carousel which means that pupils spend another part of the lesson working with

their teacher in a small group while others work independently on their Surfaces. In an increasingly digital world, teaching digital safety has become an essential component of education. Students have learned about responsible online behaviour, and data privacy. They have also developed critical thinking skills to evaluate online sources and identify credible information and have developed their IT skills so that they can use technology efficiently and effectively. We are thrilled by the positive impact the oneto-one device rollout has had on our students' learning experiences. The Microsoft Surface Pros have empowered them to become active creators, collaborators, and critical thinkers, preparing them for success in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Next academic year, we look forward to expanding the integration of these devices into our curricula across other year groups. Joanna Sansome, Director of Teaching & Learning

TEACHING & LEARNING

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HAMP LIBRARY

It has been another busy year in Colfe’s Library. Like their predecessors, the 2022 intake of Year 7 students has embraced Library life enthusiastically, and every breaktime sees students reading, doing some homework or research, using the computers, enjoying a puzzle, or working on Surfaces.

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The school’s focus on reading continues, and the Library works closely with the English Department to enable students to access a wide range of both fiction and non-fiction books. Every year, we continue to expand the fiction collection, working on the mirror/window principle: fiction should offer students a mirror of their own lives, but also a window into the lives of others. We have sought to curate the non-fiction collection with the help of academic departments, to ensure that Library resources are relevant to our students and the curriculum – this process will continue. We have successfully migrated to a new Library Management System and look forward to students having direct access to the catalogue via a web app from September, allowing them to engage with the Library’s resources at any time. We appreciated

HAMP LIBRARY the help of students who trialled this system immediately after exams. We look forward to staff being able to direct students more easily to Library resources via online reading lists and we are excited by the many opportunities for the promotion of our excellent fiction collection that the app will provide. We ran the Reading Round the World (Year 7) and Reading Through Time (Year 8) challenges once again, together with the Genre Challenge for Year 9. These challenges are an excellent way to encourage students to discover authors they might otherwise never have encountered, and there is plenty of advice available for those students who are unsure what to choose. We add recently published titles to the challenges each year. Library Club was filled with games and laughter once again and offered new Year 7 students a lovely chance to get to know members of other forms. This year we introduced two House Jigsaw competitions, both of which were fun for everyone involved. Norton won the Years 9-11 competition and Prendergast won in Years 7-8. We were absolutely delighted to qualify for a national book quiz final for the fifth consecutive time! Having won National Reading Champions last year, we were astonished to win the trophy for a second time this year, four points clear of the field. Roughly 550 schools from across the UK took part, and we are very proud indeed of our students. We also took three teams to a South London book quiz, where one of our teams took first place – the Colfe’s name has been on the shield for several years now. Many thanks to all the students involved. Their knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to practising together have been wonderful, and they have been great fun to spend time with. It’s wonderful to work in a school where students are so keen to be involved. Inevitably, the third Battle of the Books house competition was intensely competitive, and was won by Norton, with a very tight race for second and third place. We were glad to have the opportunity of giving taster lessons to prospective new students; every Year 6 student who attended will remember the bit about the dog who ate a book! We are glad to showcase the Library through these taster opportunities, as well as on open mornings and as part of parent tours – reflecting the Library’s place at the heart of the school. The Library itself has seen changes. We said goodbye to Ms Stephenson, who will be remembered affectionately for the care she showed to students in the Library after school each day, and for all her help in running the Library – we wish her well with her new adventures. We said hello to Mrs Carter, who has taken over running the Library after school and whose enthusiasm will make a huge contribution to the development of our new web app and to the Library as a whole. During the summer of 2022 the room was refurbished, and is now light and bright – a big thank you to the team who did the work to a tight schedule. Henrietta Englefield, Librarian

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MATHEMATICS

MATHEMATICS The past academic year has been a remarkable one for the Mathematics department at Colfe’s School. We are thrilled to share with you the incredible achievements, exciting events, and enriching experiences that have taken place within our dynamic community. From captivating field trips to outstanding competition results, our students have showcased their passion for numbers and problem-solving. Join us as we delve into the highlights of a truly exceptional year in Mathematics! Our aspiring mathematicians in Year 7 and Year 8 demonstrated their exceptional skills in the highly anticipated Junior Mathematical Challenge. The event showcased our students’ talents with 20 gold, 46 silver, and 65 bronze awards achieved from 255 participants. Twelve pupils were invited to take part in the prestigious Junior Kangaroo; George, James H, James W, Spencer, Arik (Year 7), Isabel, Michael, Verity, Maxim, Jesse, Sohan, Daniel (Year 8) and James W, Jesse and Verity achieved a merit. A special mention goes to Maggie (Year 8) who qualified for the highest tier competition, the Junior Mathematical Olympiad, and almost secured a merit. Bramley House emerged triumphant in the House Maths Competition, a thrilling event filled with mathematical games and puzzles, run by Miss Collett. The atmosphere was electric as students competed in the renowned “MathsVegas”, a unique twist on traditional casino games. This enjoyable event not only nurtured friendly competition but also reinforced the importance of teamwork, strategy, and mathematical thinking. Our school’s commitment to promoting gender equality in Mathematics was evident in the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls. This prestigious competition provided a platform for talented female mathematicians to showcase their skills and challenge themselves at an advanced level. We applaud all the participants for their dedication and congratulate Saron, Isha, Louise, Lily, Emma (Year 13) and Cerennaz (Year 12) who achieved exceptional results. To foster healthy competition and encourage personal growth, selected students in Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 embraced the opportunity to participate in the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge. This rigorous competition provided an opportunity for our students to showcase their mathematical prowess and problemsolving abilities. Their commitment and enthusiasm in facing the challenges presented were truly commendable with 31 pupils

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achieving a bronze certificate, 42 gaining a silver certificate and 10 being awarded a gold certificate. Leif ’s (Year 11) performance was so outstanding that he was invited to the follow-on round (Pink Kangaroo) and his mathematical prowess was rewarded with a merit. A level Maths and Further Maths students, along with selected Year 10 and Year 11 pupils, were entered into the notoriously difficult Senior Mathematical Challenge. Out of 118 entries, 47 gained bronze, 23 gained silver and the following students achieved gold certificates; Alice, Isha, Mahmoud, Alexios and Ajan (all Year 13). Alex and Damir (Year 13) were also awarded gold certificates as the joint best in the school. Isha, Alex, Alexios and Ajan all performed exceptionally well and were rewarded with a merit in the follow-on round, the Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo. Colfes’ Mathematics department has once again showcased its exceptional talent and mastery in the Hans Woyda competition, a prestigious event among independent schools in London. Our students went head-to-head with formidable opponents from Bromley High School, Eltham College, and St Olave’s Grammar School, and emerged victorious with their outstanding performances. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the brilliant minds who represented our school with utmost dedication and skill. Special commendation goes to Isha, Ajan and James (Year 13), Ahan, Ryan and Jesse (Year 12), Holly, Adrian and Moses (Year 11), Ivan, Ralph and Douglas (Year 9) for their remarkable contributions to the team. Among them, Ahan deserves particular recognition for his exceptional performance in the race round against a St Olave’s Year 12 student. Ahan’s lightning-fast problem-solving skills and remarkable mental calculations in under 30 seconds left everyone amazed. These achievements are a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication. We look forward to continued success in the future. An unforgettable experience awaited our Year 12 and 13 Further Mathematics students at the Maths in Action conference in November. This thought-provoking event, at the Emmanuel Centre, afforded students the opportunity to listen to professionals from diverse fields, including financial services, NASA, microbiology and gaming.

Year 9 pupils embarked on our annual educational journey to the historic Bletchley Park. This enlightening visit not only allowed our students to explore the birthplace of modern cryptography but also provided them with a deeper understanding of the significant role mathematics played during World War II. The trip was filled with interactive exhibits, inspiring lectures, and engaging activities, leaving our students with an enriched appreciation for the power of mathematics. June saw the return of the hugely popular and remarkable masterclass for 32 Year 5 students from Colfe’s Junior School and other local primary schools. Dr Buescu, assisted by Mrs Hirani and our lovely Year 12 Further Maths students, hosted this extraordinary morning bringing mathematics to life. Each school sent along their very best mathematicians to enjoy a morning of mathematical games and problem solving. They started by using lateral thinking to solve matchstick and counter problems. Then they worked in teams to complete four exciting rounds, which involved playing logical games, completing challenges on computers, applying their maths to real life problems and taking part in a maths relay! Each team was supported by a Sixth Former, who helped them understand the challenges and encouraged them to work as a competitive team. The top 3 teams received bronze, silver and gold medals which were presented by Mrs Graham, the Deputy Head. Congratulations to everyone who took part and especially to the winning team who were comprised from Blackheath Prep School and Colfe’s Junior School. The remarkable achievements and memorable experiences in the Mathematics department over the past year have been nothing short of amazing. Our students have showcased their talents, enthusiasm, and dedication to the field of mathematics through their achievements in various competitions, educational trips, and enriching events. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the participants, winners, and dedicated teachers who have made this year a resounding success. As we look forward with great expectation to the public examination results, we are excited to witness the continued growth and success of our budding mathematicians. Antoine Guy, Head of Mathematics

ENGLISH

ENGLISH Like many other departments across the school, in English we started the year delighted by excellent GCSE and A level results, and keen to build on that success. As I write we’re still awaiting this year’s results, but beyond the classroom, I can say that this has definitely been a great year for super-curricular English; Literary Society is flourishing and we’ve joined forces with Modern Languages and Classics to establish a new Linguistics Society – more on this and the myriad of other trips, events and achievements later in this report. While most of what follows will be the words of other members of the department and a tiny sample of the amazing work produced this year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my amazing colleagues for their hard work this year, particularly Mr Cook as KS3 Coordinator, and Ms Flegg who took on the role of KS5 Co-ordinator for Ms Solley’s maternity leave. We were also fortunate enough to find Ms Norton, who joined us as maternity cover and will be staying (or rather, returning once she’s had her own baby). She had some very nice things to say about her first year…

My first year at Colfe’s has been a breath of fresh air. Going from teaching at a comprehensive school for 4 years to an independent school was a huge transition for me and my teaching career. However, within a short amount of time, I realised it was the best decision I had ever made. The students are delightful, with bundles of personality and individuality, but with an aptitude to learn, work hard and succeed. It’s been amazing to build such solid relationships with all of my classes this year and watch them grow and progress. The staff here at Colfe’s are phenomenal, in terms of their support and their friendly culture. My English department specifically from the very onset made me feel welcome and settled within a matter of hours. I feel honoured to be part of such a collaborative team and school community.

Kirstin Guy, Head of English

KEY STAGE 5 REPORT It has been an exciting and varied year for Key Stage 5 English, and we are incredibly proud of the curiosity, independence, and creativity of our students. Literary Society has been a hub of activity with a myriad of fascinating subjects being discussed and debated to aid students’ wider engagement with literature. We were lucky enough to have Alexandra Hyde, published author and lecturer at UCL, visit Colfe’s to deliver a seminar on her debut novel, Violets, and the process of writing. Our budding writers and feminists gleaned much insight about the process and the history behind this beguiling tale of two women taking parallel but opposing journeys through motherhood, love and war. Staff offered engaging and challenging sessions on the Harlem Renaissance, the Origins of the Epic, Instapoetry and the transformation of the romantic hero, and Ms Diamond, our resident published playwright, wowed the students with her gritty observations of American culture and human relationships. Students even took a turn to present and lead on literature that inspires them, with impressive presentations on Caleb Azumah Nelson’s Open Water, Jane Austen’s role as a feminist and even an ode to Taylor Swift’s poetic prowess. Key Stage 5 Book Club allowed students to engage with a plethora of challenging and provocative texts such as Winterson’s Frankissstein and Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun. Our lunch time meetings led to interesting debates and lively discussions. Furthermore, students were hugely moved by a trip to the National Theatre to see The Crucible, and found Sam Wanamaker’s production of Titus Andronicus, with an all-female cast, to be suitably shocking and tragic. Trips to the Rossetti exhibition at the Tate Britain and the performance of Hamlet at the Southwark Playhouse also supported students with their curriculum studies, giving their classwork some real-life context. It has been a fantastic year for Key Stage 5 English, and we are very excited to continue to create a dynamic and diverse environment for our literature students in the next academic year. Alexandra Flegg, KS5 Co-ordinator

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ENGLISH

KEY STAGE 4 REPORT For Years 10 and 11, the focus always seems to be very much on exams, but pupils have embraced opportunities to explore English beyond the curriculum. Two Year 11 classes watched a fantastic production of Othello in January, several individuals have become regulars at Lit Soc and a few even joined the Sixth Form Book Club a year early. Alexiy became the General Fiction Editor for Culture@Colfe’s (see Ms Diamond’s report later) and published some of his poems, while other pupils produced some fantastic fiction writing. The best way to celebrate these achievements is with a couple of examples. Kirstin Guy, Head of English

NOT MY CUP OF TEA (BY SOPHIE)

Midnight. The grandfather clock stood alone in the endless hallway. Its chimes echoed throughout the house, shattering the silence. Intricate teardrops of glass hung loosely suspended above Mrs Keynes, tinkling in the soft breeze that floated through the open window. As she explored throughout the house, the inescapable crimson-red walls intimidated her, inspecting and observing her every move; the rotting floorboards, groaning and moaning, disguised themselves under the dust-thick carpet. The dining room revealed itself, standing in solitude. Remnants of the night before lay around the house, like clues asking to be discovered. Champagne glasses here, cocktail sausage there. Surrounded by shades of blood red and glistening deep gold, a singular teacup rested gently on a deep mahogany tabletop. A soft steam danced elegantly away from the cup; sweet smells of jasmine and juniper enticed her senses, the blend of aromas dragging her in to pull the dainty china cup towards her nose. A slight sniff was all that was needed. The poor woman could no longer hold her weight as she collapsed onto the carpet.

CHALET INSIDIOUS (BY XANTHE)

“Will both of you stop acting like spoilt brats?” slurred my father with blackened teeth. “Each year you ruin the holiday with your...” “I don’t care about this agonizing holiday!” screeched Martina. “The only reason I even came this year was because I felt guilty about leaving the firm.” My mother looked searchingly into her wine glass and Lisa, who had been silent most of the evening, let out a small gasp. The corner of Robert’s mouth twitched almost unnoticeably upwards in a smirk. The fire crackled on. Blood erupted from my cousin’s gaping mouth splattering the wallpaper opposite and painting uncle Robert’s face with Jackson Pollock globules. Her back arched over as if her hair had been yanked by a demon from the depths of the fire as she retched and retched. Amid flying blood and grating screams, my cousin smashed convulsing onto the floor. After three minutes she had died. This was wrong. This was not how Martina was meant to die. She was supposed to leave this Earth pleading for breath underneath a pillow at 1:46 tomorrow morning. I knew this because this was my murder. This was my kill. I had planned it as soon as this year’s ski trip was announced via e-mail three months ago; just after I had discovered Martina had been dipping into the company accounts to fuel her online gambling relapse. This was my chance to prove to the family I was not the useless failure still living with her parents they thought me to be. With Martina gone, my positions at the firm and in my family’s opinions would be fixed until the eventual demise of my parents. This misfortune appears to be my perfect tragic reality. The universe would not allow me the success of hearing my cousin’s strangled gasps as she slipped away, inevitably into Hell, at my hand. Natural causes had prevailed mere hours before my satisfaction was reached. Either this or someone had got there first.

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ENGLISH

KEY STAGE 3 REPORT It has been a busy but exciting year for pupils in our Key Stage 3 English programme. Very soon into their first few weeks at Colfe’s, our Year 7 pupils figuratively relocated to the sleepy village of ‘Oldmere’ and adopted new villager personalities. They had to work together to figure out who murdered Maggie Reid, the unpopular resident actor. Their efforts to get into character meant they were well prepared for the balloon debates in the Spring term, where they were tasked with choosing an influential figure and making a persuasive case for why they should be the sole survivor in a deflating hot air balloon. The debates were heatedly competitive and led to a highly tense final round watched by the whole year group. It seemed only right to reward our Year 7 pupils with a trip to The Globe Theatre in the summer term, where they were treated to an informative tour and a hands-on Tempest workshop with actors. Tim Cook, KS3 Co-ordinator

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ENGLISH Our Year 8 pupils have had an equally varied and fun year which concluded with a ‘Protest Poetry Slam’, where poetic talents truly came to light in a dynamic but immensely impressive final. Congratulations to the joint winners Lily, Turmalina, Maks, Leila and Elizabeth. There were also some fantastically crafted poems that didn’t quite win the audience on the day, but we’ve included them below. Special mention must also be given to an active core of Year 8 writers who have produced some exceptional pieces in our Key Stage 3 Creative Writing Club. This year, we also submitted several entries for national writing competitions and were delighted to hear that five of our students were selected for publication!

Finally, our Year 9 students have worked especially hard this year in order to prepare for the start of their GCSE courses in September, but there has also been ample opportunity for literary enrichment: they embarked on new poetry written by under-represented voices, with poet Mary Jean Chan proving especially popular, and they showcased their independence in the creative writing project, producing varied and mature compositions. All in all, an excellent year!

DANGEROUS PROMISES (BY ESME) A python is gripping my throat. And it’s about to strike. Jet black poison is dripping from its dagger like fangs, stained a yellow from its previous victims. And I am its next. Everything must start off innocent. Just like this snake, really. A pale cream coloured egg dotted with grey here and there. Like a pebble rounded by ocean currents, nothing special yet a small treasure. But then it hatched. A crack down its impeccable hideout, then another and another. Cracks that broke it into tiny pieces, revealing something within - something minuscule, something dark, something alive something harmless, surely? It was something that grew. Something that grew to the size of a worm, a rope, a tree stump, covered in black scale after black scale, each so perfect, so shiny, so deadly. Growing teeth, spitting, hissing, hissing like

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waves, waves crashing into a beach before a tsunami - ominous, irregular, chilling. And now it moves. Heaving its body across the floor, growing still, advancing, advancing on me, amber eyes flickering to a deep scarlet, revealing the true beast. One I did not see. Only now I back away, slowly, slowly, slowly, as if one sudden movement will bring the inescapable future closer. Slow motion. But it’s too fast for me. It’s circling me now, gently snapping its jaws to a drumbeat. Or maybe my racing heart. Knowing the number of beats may be limited. Weighty coil after weighty coil surrounding my body, squeezing my body tighter and tighter the claustrophobia overpowering. I’m frozen. I cannot move. So now we are back to the start. The serpent rears its head. I close my eyes. Don’t make dangerous promises.

ENGLISH

I AM HERE (BY NATALIE]

And the sun rises. And I am still here. However hard I have tried to prevent this. However hard I have kicked and screamed and sobbed and whispered into the night. The waves crash onto the shore. The birds cry in the distance. In short, life goes on. Grief is just love continuing, someone once said to me. This is not what love feels like. You want your pain to be beautiful. You want your suffering to paint a picture and your struggles to be poetry so that you can say hurting had a reason.

In reality it is not. You died in a hospital hundreds of miles away. Write poetry about that. But I am here, and the beach is beautiful. Nobody else is here yet. Later there will be tourists and babies and children and life here. I will go home and wash the sand from between my toes. I can go on living later but I am here and the sky is a million shades of magenta. Life may not be beautiful, but this here and now is. A new beginning. It will be ok.

AUTUMN (BY GEORGE)

The fantastic colours of the autumnal woodland lit up the grey, indistinct sky. The stream ran as always, a constant throughout. It was, albeit, maybe slightly fuller, faster, but the essence stayed the same; a little natural stream running its way down the side of the heather-clad fells into the woods that adorned its lower edges. The boulders disrupted the flow of the stream, but the stream always managed to fight its way past them, moving on down towards its eventual destination. There was nothing to do that could stop it; the stream was an indestructible force. Yet before the stream ended its treacherous journey, it would have to overcome many more miles of woodland. The leaves fell alongside it, being carried along by the gasping wind. The trees they fell from flanked the stream on either side – like a guard of honour. They were yet to reach the season of decimation and desolation, but it would come soon enough. The air had a certain crispness about it, it was hard to explain but it felt like it could bite any moment, covering the rocks, trees, and the stream with a thin layer of ice. But that season had not yet arrived, it was still autumn.

CAN YOU BUY NEW FRIENDS? (BY LEILA) Roll up, roll up, Here are the going prices: Chess nerds, board game nerds selection Price 50p but We’ll take anything honestly Not much all out going for them Super clever kids Homework copying (limited edition!) Possibility But not recommended Stay out of trouble, Stick to the rules £1.00 if you’re lucky £10.00 if you’re not Quote unquote ‘cool’ People, these are Rolled skirts Slick hair Collars turned up £5.00 each These guys are Gold Favoured kids unless Bullies Only way to describe them Great if you are one Or have them as a friend Buy them £3.50 So what’s the going? Are you cool? Nerdy? Smart? Bully? Or do you not care Rather save your money Say, “It doesn’t matter I am what I am You can’t buy your friends.”

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ENGLISH

POETRY SLAM I AM NOT A POET (BY VERITY)

1. I am not a poet. I am a Chaos-tamer, Spirit-chainer, World-painter, Dream-maker. I am the harnesser of the absurd; the voice of the unheard; conserved, yet undeterred. I am the bringer of light and darkness; the in-between, regardless. The sun before it fades; the moon before it wanes; the key for a cage; a blank, blank page. I am the divergent wave of the cosmic sea; the twisting cog of the still machine. From my paintbrush comes a colour, faint but true; subjective: selective yet affective. From my voice comes a melody, implausible and new; distinctive: restrictive yet addictive. 2. I am not a poet. I am the blade of my own sword; the cause of my own downfall. I am a bound weapon: lethal if unchecked, carefully kept. My fear is a secret: bleak but frequent. The commander of an army; the tool of a tyrant. The chosen one of the spoken song: Leader, fighter, soldier, pawn. I am a mirror, a manifesto, a killer, an echo, a shimmer, a shadow. Assassinate, rebel, insurge, dispel: closely guarded, faith discarded. Hidden jewel of evil’s dual – secret creed of vice’s deed – last defense of sin’s pretense. 3. I am not a poet. I am a cartographer: land surveyor, mapmaker – exploration of appellation. I search the lands of unseen hope and hurt to find a piece of concealed, obscured thought. To fly and step and shift, predictable and probable among the impossible. The realms of ink and note, star and revolt; mage and sage – the eternal judge. The salvation of time and space; appreciate the disgrace of an hour or place... Which surely would guide the heights of the skies to a corner of card or into my arms. Winding winds and twisting minds, a long-lost path, two sides aligned. 4. I am not a poet. I am the breaker of the fourth wall, an unending fall, the uprooter of big and small. Code cracker, encrypted attacker, ciphered dagger, legal glamour. Artificial operator of an electronic nature; technological intelligence of a simulated elegance. Phrases of computed data: a complete case of information – a mortal-tainted explanation. Text-based analogy of soul-traced alchemy. Literary transformation from pen to graphic incarnation. I exist metaphysically – a metaphor for treachery and pain; the soul of a pixelated brain. A million to one: destructive, distracted, unproductive. 5. I am not a poet. I am the silence of never – the void of forever – and the declaration of together. I am what is almost expressed, kinetic energetic, the unleashed, unpermitted, unreleased. I am a battle of far and near, of cloud and clear, of spade and spear. I fight with all I dare; with sentiment and care; my punishment a prayer. I would change the world with a turn of phrase: freeze a room with a single gaze. Contort the Earth into my grasp: force the tyranny from their clasp. I would exploit corruption with a solitary action and create a chain reaction. 6. We are not poets. We are your reflection – the heirs of your projection – the advocation of perfection. We watch your lives (ever impatient): obsolete and antiquated, views not rising with inflation. We wait – freeze – for our imminent release; consequential – quintessential. Years of suffocation; we demand our revelation; our well-warranted haven. We repeat the same expressions (your very own successors): the cause of our oppression. And yet we are constrained to duplicate your mistakes: generational heartbreak. We are the Chaos-tamers, Spirit-chainers, World-painters, Dream-makers. But we are not poets.

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CYBERSPACE (BY DAVID)

In cyberspace, darkness finds its way, where shadows hide, behind screens they sway. Words like arrows, piercing deep within, There is a person left wounded, by each cyber sin. Keyboard fighters with poisoned tongues Inflict sorrow and pain, where kindness should’ve sprung Like fresh flowers in spring, You could say which a bee wants to sting. The reality is though those flowers are wilted The tyrants leave traces, their actions reprinted Their bullets blast into buildings made up of 1’s and 0’s Corrupted now is their world, Their population unfurled. In cyberspace, darkness finds its way, Shadows judge and comment on those who are brave, Brave enough to embrace and empathize, Words like swords, each one of them reaps A person is standing here, left to bleed. A small light flickers, seen from a scope The light, it comes from a planet called hope Allies and Friends there are holding onto ropes Ropes that connect and support, Pulling you into the light, Empowering voices and winning the fight. So yes, In cyberspace darkness finds its way, Shadows hide, behind screens they sway, Their words are like arrows, piercing deep within But there is still hope, Hope to change and hope to reconstruct, To rebuild the things we broke, To change the minds of those who we spoke to A change may come, It will take time and patience, but we can rebuild what was broken, Just remember to think before posting.

ENGLISH

LINGUISTICS SOCIETY THE PIT IN MY STOMACH (BY EMILY)

The pit in my stomach It grows by the day It snatches my chances And drags them away.

I can’t speak to others I can’t raise my hand And I can’t just snap out of it When you demand.

This exciting new initiative is run collaboratively by the Classics, Modern Languages and English departments. Keen to shine a light on words in all their forms, The Linguistics Society has been meeting every Friday and discusses a range of topics from child language acquisition to the origins of the English language. Members have commented on the way we are surrounded by language and use it every day however our knowledge about how languages work is often overlooked. A school trip to the British Museum to see the Rosetta Stone emphasised the enduring fascination that languages inspire. More recent developments in the field of large language models such as Chat GTP have made the meetings of the Linguistics Society ever more pertinent. Tom Wilcox

“You don’t know the answer “That’s why you won’t volunteer,” You act like I am Not trying back here. “Freak, Weirdo, Lonely” They jeer Thinking cause I don’t talk I’m unable to hear. The pit in my stomach An endless abyss. I’m not the only one, And I’m reminded of this. They’re under the impression The mere fact this is enough, Little do they know, It only makes it more tough. They seem to think That speaking in this fashion Can act as A substitute for compassion A substitute for empathy A substitute for love As though anxiety Can simply be disposed of. And when even your closest friends Don’t understand You’re stuck, all alone In a baron wasteland. So now they’ve taken Your light from the pit Removing your only Escape from it. Well have I got news for you, For all of you. We will stand up For what is true. The way we are It cannot change And we no longer care If you call us strange. Because we are all Just as strange as each other And it’s about time We stood together. I can’t make assumptions Or speak for everyone, Because we’re all different, But that’s what makes life fun.

DEBATING It's been another fantastic year for debating at Colfe’s. The school Debating Club continues to thrive, with a large Sixth Form contingent attending each week to tackle the topics that matter - this year, motions ranged from the state of the monarchy to reparations and the dangers of AI - and it was great to see some talented new recruits from Year 10, with Grace and Chloe performing particularly impressively against more experienced competition. Competitive debating throughout the school has become a real strength in recent years, and the KS4 House Debating competition in the Spring Term set the tone, with a strong Beardwood team, consisting of Ione, Lora and Amelie, narrowly defeating Bramley in a close final. Perhaps even more impressive was the Year 7 Balloon Debate, in which the finalists - Aki, Gaia, Preston, Jess, Keira, Jess and Naima - spoke with a maturity far beyond their years. Mr Cook's judging panel had a tough decision to make, but ultimately Jess, speaking as Megan Rapinoe, was the unanimous choice - a worthy winner. The highlight of the year, however, was the revived Adam Stuart Prize for Political Debating, in which teams of Sixth Formers (and one fantastic group of Year 11s who took time out from ML GCSE revision - well done, Ollie, Tabi and Fred!) battled it out across two rounds of knock out competition. Like all great competitions, this one had it all - plucky underdogs, a giantkilling in the first round and consistently high-quality debates - culminating in a classic final in front of peers, parents and teachers in the Beardwood, with Josh, Samson and Daniel going up against Millie, Isabel and Maya to debate the motion: “This House believes that government's primary responsibility is to increase the happiness of its citizens”. With a bravura display from both sides, it was almost too close to call, and after much deliberation the judging panel of Mr Emmerich, Ms Kendrick and Mr Drury finally gave their verdict: 2:1 in favour of Millie, Isabel and Maya. What a fantastic showcase for the debating talent at the school, and we hope the first of many! James Hope, Head of Debating COLFEIAN 2022/23

ENGLISH

CULTURE@COLFES Culture@Colfes is a journal we started this year. It is written and designed by students from the Senior School who attend a weekly club, supervised and facilitated by Ms Diamond. Our purpose is to celebrate the cultural life at Colfe’s School. Each issue runs a writing competition for each Key Stage. Here are some pages from the Spring/Summer issue. Sarah Diamond

An Ariel For Our Time Issue #2

Spring/Summer 2023

For example, the audience connect to Othello and Desdemona’s relationship due to their physical bond seen in the movement sequences, where the audience glimpse their “potent sexual connection” (Nick Curtis).

by Edith, Y13 I was so excited to watch The Little Mermaid movie- so much so, that I rushed to the cinema when it immediately arrived in the UK. I loved The Little Mermaid; she was always my favourite Disney princess, ever since I was a little girl…and I was interested to see how they were going to change the movie for an audience in 2023 . I thought the casting of Halle Bailey was perfect due to her voice and her ability to express innocence and strength simultaneously. I believe that Ariel could not have been acted by a big celebrity in Hollywood as now the Little Mermaid mirrors Bailey’s own story within Hollywood: being a part of a whole new life and having new experiences. Additionally, Halle Bailey was the only person who auditioned for the role, as the director, Rob Marshall, asked her to audition after hearing her sing.

What I also really appreciated, was the fact that the story took a more feminist view of the beloved tale. Although the voice of Ariel in the 1992 movie (Jodi Benson), argues that Ariel is not a pathetic figure who just leaves everything she ever knew for a boy (in the first 15 minutes of the movie she expresses her longing for adventure), I would argue that once she becomes human, she only longs for Prince Eric and her quest for adventure ends. However, in the 2023 motion picture, Ariel still has this urge to explore, and the Prince enables her to do this. In this relationship, they help each other to grow, giving each other strength. They both share this longing for adventure, and (unlike the cartoon version, where the story ends with their marriage on a splendid ship), the 2023 version ends with Ariel and Prince Eric on a small wooden boat -ready to set sailventuring into the world together.

Unfortunately, prejudicial and discriminatory comments have flooded social media; Halle Bailey as a black woman has challenged the stereotypical image of Ariel. Many people are trying to back up their prejudicial views by using “historical” reasoning, arguing that Hans Christian Andersen’s ( the original documented writer of the story) mermaid was Danish and white; however, many seem to have disregarded the immense mermaid mythology in African culture. For example, there are characters such as Mami Wata (Mother Water) who is said to be a powerful siren who possesses the ability to bring good luck or great troubles.

Although many would argue that these Disney remakes are simply nostalgia bate (which I would argue is partly true), in an interview, Terry Derry (the author of the Horrible Histories series) argued that stories should be re-visited and re-modelled to become an updated version suited to our time. And that’s why, in my opinion, The Little Mermaid works, because they improved on the story and developed it (unlike remakes such as the Lion King which had little plot and character development from the original film). Therefore, I would recommend this film as a reinterpretation of Ariel – for and of our time.

Graham and Hoggett’s directorial choice to have all the actors keep their accents was interesting and effective. The variety of accents struck me, from Brabantio’s thick Glaswegian accent to his daughter Desdemona’s estuary inflection with glottal plosives. I loved how this enhanced the verse. Overall, I loved this play and even though I agree that Shakespeare isn’t for everyone this definitely is!

Science In

Interlude

ACTION

ChatGPT : How Certain Can We Be?

by Max, Y12

That brief description has been written by ChatGPT, and although it is largely correct, the latter part where is states that the information is reliable is not entirely accurate because multiple times ChatGPT has had significantly incorrect information; however, it often answers questions with the same amount of certainty regardless of how correct the description is. A good example of this is when you provide it with more complicated mathematical based questions. For example, I gave it a physics question on Archimedes' Principle, and it returned with an answer that was over 4 times the size of the correct answer; however, throughout the explanation of the method, it would appear sound to somebody who didn't fully understand the topic.

The Ghost of Sorrow

by Edith and Abbie, Y13

Writers On

Writing An Interview with Abubakar, Y12 What are the main ideas and inspirations behind your winning poem? Abu mentioned reincarnation and language as the two main driving forces behind the poem. Reincarnation is a theme that he often contemplates, whether this is inspired by the media or his philosophy lessons. The poem focuses on a speaker who is griefstricken after the death of their lover, after they have spent their entire lives together. The dead lover has been reincarnated into the language of the speaker through their utterance of the ‘departed name.’ The phrase ‘I speak of your name everyday…’ alludes to the idea that there are inevitably going to be other people who share the same name as the speaker’s dead lover. Once the language dies out, if the speaker stops talking of their lover, so does the era of time that embodies their relationship and the sweet intimacy between the couple. What were you aiming to explore through the language of the poem? Abu pointed out the line ‘not to make you fret but to ensure you don’t forget’, where he uses rhyme to emphasise the language. This stems from his interest in linguistics, which he will study as a part of one of his university degrees, and perhaps due to his love of all types of music. Structure Although the poem is written in a sonnet, partially inspired by Abu’s study of Christina Rossetti’s poetry in his English Literature A-Level, his main objective when considering structure was to delve into all the aspects of language, whilst presenting the poem in a way that stood out.

This resulted in his exploration of syntax and structure, and even his use of parentheses, which he used to represent the parts of language that one might be unable to speak of. The sporadic use of punctuation is due to his desire for the poem to be processed as one long speech, except when punctuation was necessary to emphasise particular moments. The lack of an end stop suggests that freedom of speech never stops and that, despite it being the end of an era, this language will never stop. Abu believes that the poem is not necessarily meant to be read out loud; reading it in your head allows you to picture the story and to feel the emotions, due to the emphasis on language and structure.

Relationship behind the title and the poem The poem inspired the title, rather than the other way around, particularly as Abu has been thinking about the theme of reincarnation for a long timeeven though he wrote this poem in approximately ten minutes. Are there any poets or writers who inspire you? Although none of them directly inspired this poem, William Blake was someone who created his own ethos through poetry, and thus someone who stood out as having a similar idea of concepts in poems. This interests Abu, who intends to continue with his poetry as an aspiring writer.

It walked with a limp in its left leg, with its head bowed low. It looked sort of like a monstrous old woman with old rotting nails and a hunched back – yet also like an elegant young lady with silky back hair, in need of help. As she walked on, a dark shadow remained present under her feet; a topsy-turvy tornado was swirling on her head like a hat. When it lifted its face, it gave the appearance of a crying baby. Its eyes were all black. No sclera. Unhuman. Its black eyes seemed to be made of ink, and it ran down its face like mascara.

by Monet, Y7

Most people run when they see The Ghost of Sorrow’s face, but really, she isn’t scary; like the glass on the beach, she just reflects what she sees in others. She, like most things is transparent, looking for a place to belong, fearing that people may one day see through her. She’s one of the bravest ghosts out there. She carries all of the pain and sadness and negative emotions. She limps because she is overloaded, and one day she will die. She will not be able to take any more pain or sadness or negative emotions, and she will be replaced.

Icarus (Prototype) Icarus had not yet awakened. The fool. If he knew what his choice would lead to, he surely wouldn’t have decided to have one in the first place….He rolled onto his back ,wincing slightly and let out a dry breath that closed up his throat upon arrival. The sky. It resembled the barren land he lay upon in the fact that they were both lacking something; one was clouds, the other life. “No,” he thought to himself. “I am alive and I must continue to live.” Though currently frail in stature, Icarus was strong in mind; he had spent long on this land and the longer he spent he would discover a new rib protruding from his chest. He didn’t bother gritting his teeth while trying to stand up as it would only waste his energy. He knew he had little of it and he needed to find himself a new paradise to escape to. He finally stood atop his two feet and made his first steps through this unfamiliar world, like a new-born who sought adventure. “I must find…” before he could finish that sentence an addax leapt into his line of view, horns spiralling, a white coat overcome by a tan gleaming almost gold in the sunlight and- more importantly- it was enough. The addax hadn’t noticed him yet and he hadn’t noticed he was moving towards it… but he knew why. Behind. He was right behind it. Staring for a moment as if to give a moment of silence. He was sickly but strength made room for anyone of strong will: grabbing its horns, he turned the head of the beast to face the sky, where it would release its plea.

By Joshua, Y12

Eurovision

ChatGPT is an AI that seems human. It is an artificial intelligence-based computer program that is designed to understand natural language and generate human-like responses to text-based inputs. It is one of the largest and most advanced language models available today, with a vast database of information that it can draw upon to generate helpful and informative responses to a wide range of questions and topics. As users interact with ChatGPT, it learns and adapts, improving its responses and becoming more accurate and personalized over time. ChatGPT can be used in a variety of applications, including customer service, education, and entertainment and is a valuable tool for anyone looking for quick and reliable information and advice.

The modernisation of the costumes in Othello aided in making this Shakespeare classic accessible, as Lorma Price’s visual design choices were memorable: from Desdemona’s Croydon face-lifting topknot, large gold hoop earring to Cassio’s grubby adidas tracksuit and remand-home haircut. The crass representation of a workingclass milieu, enhanced by Price’s costume, brought this Othello to life for me.

Another AI developed by the same laboratory is Dall-E 2 (credited for the art displayed here). This is what it produced when prompted with "an expressive oil painting in isometric view of a circuit board, depicted as a cityscape." What do you think of these images?

AI generated paintings

by Abubakar, Y12

On the 10th May 2023, with the aid of the MFL department, Colfes School was transformed into Eurovision. Fifteen countries. One stage. It was a night to remember for all that went, filled with heartfelt ballads and Europop classics performed by students each representing a different country from within the continent. The event was created to raise money for Ukraine and was a massive success on that front with over a £1000 raised, whilst also giving all who came a great time. It started with a bang: a video message from none other than Graham Norton! He personally wished us well and even introduced our hosts for the evening: Millie, Freddie and Myroslava, who kept us entertained all night (especially Freddie with his terrible country-based puns). The video message was a surprise for all -even the group presenting and signalled the start of an extraordinary night of music. We then cycled through many songs from across the continent performed by talented musicians and linguists; many of whom had amazingly only learnt the languages of their songs in the weeks before from Belgium’s 99 Luftballons to Czechia’s Tri Orisky pro Popelku. I admired the bravery of some of the school's youngest members that went up on stage alone, though they were all supported by the audience fully with lots of cheering, flag waving and clapping. The performances were then evaluated by a starstudded panel of judges from Math teachers to subject leads.

We even got to hear from the audience themselves as ‘the boys on the floor’ Javier and Patrick went round asking questions about the acts in the gap between them. The night was ended off perfectly with one final impromptu performance of Dancing Queen by a pair of Year 13s. As the duo didn’t know the words fully, they invited the audience to sing-a-long and it ended with everyone on their feet belting out the ABBA classic. There had to be a winner, or in this case, three! The audience vote went to the Austrian ensemble with their punky rendition of Rock Me Amadeus; the judges voted for Louise in Year 12 for her German ukelele cover of Uberall; and finally, the overall winner of the night was given to sisters Amelie and Elena for their Czechian folksong Tri Orisky pro Popelku. This act deserved the win with their perfectly harmonized singing and amazing foreign language skills (which the MFL were looking out for). There’s already talk of Eurovision next year at Colfes and from my experience, the event is definitely a keeper. A nice break away from the House based competitions that brings us all together for a night of pure entertainment.

Reflections from the End of Year Art Show

Kicking, turning, yelping but he didn’t let go -how could he, to let go was to let go of his own life to -. *Snap*. It had happened. The horns had snapped from it and without second thought he would use it to make known its insides to the outside world. Icarus was made aware of his own vulnerability and dragged the corpse to a cave, strewn with markings, using one of the horns as a walking stick to assist.

Pieces by Sophie Y11, Alice Y13, Emma Y13

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SCIENCE

SCIENCE BIOLOGY

Fly image (below) when viewed under a dissection microscope.

The 2022-2023 academic year began with a set of remarkable exam results for the Biology department. Over 90% of our A level students achieved an A*-B grade in the 2022 exam series, with almost one-third of students achieving a top A* grade. These results are a testament to all of the hard work that went into preparing this group of talented biologists. Not to be outdone, 100% of our Separate Science GCSE Biology students achieved 9-7 grades in their exams with two-thirds of them achieving the top grade 9. It is safe to say that these exam cohorts exceeded our most optimistic expectations. We congratulate them on their amazing results and wish them well in their future endeavours. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions, we were once again able to organise extra-curricular activities for our Sixth Form students. Our Year 12 students had the opportunity to attend the ‘Biology in Action’ lecture series in central London. In this event a group of renowned scientists and science communicators gave talks on recent advances in a variety of biological fields, ranging from gene editing to astrobiology. We chose these talks as they will expose our Year 12 students to topics beyond the confines of the A level syllabus. This was reflected in one of our students’ responses: “The CRISPR lecture stood out to me, it amazed me how we could alter the very essence of what makes us us.”

Sola, AJ and Emma examining their fly crosses Students carrying out fly crosses.jpeg.

Year 12 students attending the Biology In Action lecture series Biology in action The Biology department also ran a new ‘On The Fly’ after-school club in the autumn term. In this short course our Year 13 students had the opportunity to breed strains of fruit flies that carried different genetic mutations. By doing so, they were able to uncover some of the genetic mechanisms that underlie inheritance of specific physical features. Students were involved in sorting flies under the dissection microscopes, setting up the crosses and scoring the physical traits of the offspring that were produced. This had the added benefit of solidifying their understanding of key topics covered in the Year 13 Biology curriculum. Towards the end of the year, Year 12 students took part in two separate enrichment activities. One was the ‘Brain Day’, a one-day neuroscience tutorial presented by Dr Sutton from Medical Biology Interactive. Dr Sutton is an extremely engaging speaker, though the students’ favourite part of the day was certainly participating in the dissection of a sheep brain. In the last week of the summer term, these same students then joined in a ‘walking safari’ at the Knepp estate, which carries out some of the most exciting wildlife conservation projects in the UK. In addition to developing their appreciation of neurobiology and conservation, these activities allowed our students to really delve into some of the key topics they will be learning about in Year 13 Biology. Gregor Zimmermann, Head of Biology The physical appearance of flies carrying ‘white’ mutation Fly image (above) compared to normal flies COLFEIAN 2022/23

SCIENCE

CHEMISTRY As another successful academic year comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to our exceptional students for their outstanding achievements in the field of chemistry. The hard work displayed by every one of them has truly been commendable, including those who sat their end of year exams in Years 9 and 10, our Year 12 students, who have achieved some excellent scores in their GCiEs, and our Year 11 and 13 students who approached their GCSE and A level exams with dedication. Throughout the year, our chemistry pupils have consistently demonstrated their passion for the subject, their inquisitive nature, and their commitment to their studies. They have embraced the complex concepts and the demanding practical work with unwavering enthusiasm. We have run several extra-curricular events this year. In November, our Year 12 Chemistry students embarked on an engaging school trip to the Chemistry in Action Lecture Day. Accompanied by 17 pupils, we anticipated a day filled with excitement, as we delved into the world of chemistry. The event featured esteemed speakers who delivered lectures on various topics. Professor Andrea Sella astounded us with his presentation on "The Quantum Rainbow," unraveling the mindboggling world of quantum chemistry. Dr. Jamie Gallagher eagerly enlightened us with his talk on "Unknown Elements," revealing the mysteries behind unexplored substances. Jess Wade took us on a journey into the realm of "chiral materials," showcasing their unique properties and potential applications. Throughout the day, we were taken from our classroom studies and immersed in cutting-edge research and future advancements in chemistry. The lectures proved to be not only informative but also inspiring, leaving a lasting impression on our pupils, providing them with an insight into how chemistry could be used in the future.

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I would like to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of our students in the RSE Chemistry Olympiad. This year, our talented chemists secured an impressive number of bronze and silver awards. These accolades are a testament to their deep understanding of the subject matter and their ability to apply their knowledge in practical and demanding scenarios. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our Year 12 students who participated in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge. Their willingness to embrace this intellectual endeavour demonstrates their thirst for knowledge and their passion for the subject. We await the results, confident that their hard work and preparation will yield positive outcomes. I am immensely proud of our pupils’ commitment and determination, which have clearly paid off in these prestigious competitions. We also enjoyed being involved in the Partnership Schools afternoon and have been impressed with the entries into the inaugural Colfe’s Chemistry Competition, where Year 12 students had to research a topical area of chemistry that interests them, write an essay and present their findings. It is also important to recognize the continuous support and guidance provided by our dedicated team of chemistry teachers; Mr Kiddey, Dr Lindsay, Miss Moore and Mr Worley. Their knowledge, tireless efforts, and commitment to student success have undoubtedly played a significant role in fostering a stimulating learning environment that encourages our students to excel. None of this would have been possible without the expertise of Jey Kalavary, our Chemistry technician, who does a tremendous job of organising the practical work within the department, providing vital support to the teaching staff. This once again included her huge efforts in preparing the experimental equipment required for the RSC Year 12 Analyst competition. It was a delight

to observe the Year 12 students engaging in this for a second year running. This full-day chemistry competition allowed students to utilize their problem-solving skills and apply their classroom knowledge in an unfamiliar scenario. The pupils had an excellent day; many thanks to Dr Lindsay for organising this. I would like to express my gratitude to all the parents for their unwavering support throughout the year. Your encouragement and involvement have been vital in nurturing the academic growth and success of our pupils. Together, we have created an environment that empowers our pupils to achieve their full potential. As we reflect on the achievements of the past year, it is clear that our pupils have not only honed their knowledge and skills in chemistry, but have also developed valuable qualities such as resilience, critical thinking, and teamwork. These attributes will undoubtedly serve them well in their future endeavours. Lastly, there is a change in personnel in the Chemistry department this year. Dr Rebecca Lindsay is sadly leaving us, after three years of outstanding service, to take up the position of Head of Chemistry in another school. She has worked tremendously hard to provide consistently excellent education for the pupils at Colfe’s and she will be greatly missed. We offer congratulations for her appointment to this role, in which we are sure she will excel, and we wish her all the best in the future. However, on a positive note, we extend a warm welcome to a new member of the Chemistry department, Mrs Reema Hooks, who joins us from James Allen's Girls' School. We are certain that she will be an outstanding addition to the department, and we look forward to her joining us, for what will be another exciting year ahead. Thomas Armstrong, Head of Chemistry

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PHYSICS I would firstly like to acknowledge the hard work that all students, particularly Years 11 and 13, have put into this year. The results in both A level and GCSE physics were our best ever with 40% of grades at A level achieving an A*. Supercurricular activities are a key part of the physics department and as such we have organised a number of events for students.

FARADAY CHALLENGE

The 2022-2023 Faraday Challenge tasked our Year 8 students with designing a sensor that would help change the transportation industry through the use of drones. Throughout the day, our students embraced the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and overcome obstacles, resulting in creative solutions. The Faraday Challenge provided our students with a unique platform to apply their knowledge of physics and engineering principles in a realworld scenario. Each team exhibited strong teamwork skills, effectively communicating and negotiating to overcome setbacks and reach a consensus. An integral aspect of the Faraday Challenge was the emphasis on cost analysis and decision documentation. Our students displayed an impressive level of financial responsibility by accounting for the expenses associated with designing their prototypes. They understood the significance of making informed decisions that not only catered to functionality but also considered the economic viability of their designs. The designs produced by our students showcased their ingenuity and inventiveness. One notable example was the incorporation of proximity sensors, allowing the drones to detect when the drone was landing. Another noteworthy design innovation involved moisture sensors. By incorporating these sensors, the drones were able to detect environmental conditions that required additional protection for the materials being transported. The culminating event of the Faraday Challenge involved team presentations, where our students eloquently explained their designs and the rationale behind their decision-making process. These presentations were characterized by collaboration, with each team member contributing their unique insights and expertise. Our students demonstrated exceptional communication skills as they fielded tough questions from an Institute for Engineering Technology representative, confidently articulating the intricacies of their designs and justifying their decisionmaking processes.

Saturday was the main attraction; a trip to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, which is a world-renowned laboratory where scientists study the fundamental structure of the universe by colliding particles at high speeds. Their aim is to unlock the mysteries of particle Physics and explore the building blocks of matter. Samson summed up the tour with this comment - “The most interesting to me was the antimatter decelerator and the talk about fundamental forces. These are both areas of Physics that I have been interested in for a very long time but have never found a genuinely good explanation for that I could understand. The physicists at CERN managed to explain incredibly difficult concepts in a way that exactly matched my level of capability and understanding, broadening my knowledge of both areas. Seeing the antimatter decelerator was an incredible experience; I never thought I would be in the same room as such a world-changing piece of equipment, but it exactly lived up to my expectations as one of the most fascinating experiences of my life to date.”

Participating in the 2022-2023 Faraday Challenge was an invaluable experience for our students. It provided an opportunity for students to hone their teamwork, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. Matt Hilmer,Teacher of Physics

CERN

Twenty Year 12 students and two teachers recently returned from Geneva, Switzerland to tour experiments being conducted at CERN. Despite the early flight times, we had a blast exploring the city and visiting exciting places. Highlights included the Patek Phillipe Watch Museum, the History of Science Museum, and a scenic boat trip on Lake Geneva. The weather was fantastic, allowing us to enjoy the city on foot. But the real highlight was our visit to CERN, where we toured the antimatter production building. Day one was spent traveling and exploring Geneva on foot and visiting the Patek Phillip Watch Museum. We would have preferred not to start our day at 3am to make our flight! Once we arrived, we explored the city and Cerennaz remembers “a few fun water fights instigated by the boys in our group”. At the museum, she found “the watches they had on display were pure art with beautiful colours and patterns. Seeing the different ways each watch had been designed, and how many different ways a watch or a clock could be made left me in awe.”

We also learned about an experiment called "Gravitational Behavior of Antihydrogen at Rest" or GBAR for short. Scientists at CERN are curious about how things behave when they're not moving. They wanted to know how antihydrogen, which is the opposite of regular hydrogen, reacts to gravity. They trap the antihydrogen using really strong magnets, so it does not disappear. Once the antihydrogen is trapped, they let it go and watch how it moves under the influence of gravity. They carefully measure its behaviour to understand if it falls just like regular hydrogen does. This experiment helps scientists understand how gravity works for various kinds of matter. Antihydrogen is like a puzzle piece in our understanding of the universe, and studying how it behaves in a gravitational field helps us paint a clearer picture. Our trip to CERN was mind-blowing, and the GBAR experiment was just one of the many fascinating projects

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SCIENCE happening there. Science is all about exploring the unknown, and CERN is at the forefront of scientific discoveries. The whole trip beyond gaining a greater appreciation of science was wonderful. As Ejiro put it, “One of the best parts of the whole trip was having a joyful evening in our rooms, playing Uno and Scattergories and telling jokes. There was a moment on Saturday evening that our stomachs started to hurt because of how much we were laughing.” The whole weekend was filled with joy and discovery. We learned that a teacher and the future head boy could get thrown out of Mcdonald's not once but twice in Switzerland for bringing in outside food. Also, some restaurants cannot handle having 22 dinners arrive all at once. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Old Colfeian Society for their generous support in funding places on the trip for our merit-based academic scholars. We are immensely grateful for your ongoing support and dedication to supporting the educational future of those students who otherwise would have had a limited opportunity to be a part of such a special weekend.

UK SPACE DESIGN

For the first time, Year 10 and Year 12 students participated in the UK Space Design Competition, igniting their passion for space exploration. With limited slots available, only 12 students were chosen through a rigorous selection process. To determine the final team, students engaged in a mini-challenge where they brainstormed, designed, and presented ideas on building a space shower—a test of their creative thinking abilities and teamwork. On the 2nd December, they attended the regional heat of the competition hosted at Imperial College. Their objective was to design a commercially viable space station that could safely orbit Mercury while ensuring the wellbeing of human inhabitants. Collaboration played a pivotal role in the competition as they actively worked alongside their peers from other schools, combining their ideas and expertise. This emphasis on teamwork fostered the development of their interpersonal skills, preparing them for future collaborative projects. Throughout the engaging day-long event, they had the invaluable opportunity to interact with experts and past winners in the field of space design from Imperial College. These interactions served as a wellspring of inspiration, expanding their horizons, and igniting their passion for STEM fields and careers related to space exploration. Participating in the UK Space Design Competition provided them with a remarkable experience that encompassed a diverse range of skills, surpassing the boundaries of a traditional classroom setting. These skills include: 1. Primary Source Research: They delved into in-depth studies of relevant scientific concepts, technological advancements, and potential constraints, laying a solid foundation for their designs. 2. Brainstorming and Concept Development: Pupils generated innovative ideas and nurtured unique concepts that elegantly addressed the given challenge, showcasing their creativity and critical thinking abilities. 3. Design and Engineering: Students meticulously considered various technical aspects, structural integrity, systems integration, and human factors in their design process, exemplifying their engineering prowess. 4. Cost Analysis: They meticulously conducted detailed cost analyses, exhibiting their understanding of budget constraints and proposing commercially viable solutions. 5. Collaboration with Other Schools: Our pupils actively engaged in sharing ideas, working towards consensus, and skillfully integrating different design elements through compromise. 6. Presentation Preparation: They honed their presentation skills, preparing compelling and informative presentations that showcased their design concepts, technical aspects, cost analysis, sustainability considerations, and overall feasibility.

7. Problem-Solving and Adaptability: Our pupils effectively demonstrated their ability to think critically, adapt their designs, and propose innovative solutions in real-time scenarios. The remarkable performance of the 12 individuals in the UK Space Design Competition is a testament to creativity and enthusiasm. Matt Hilmer,Teacher of Physics

YEAR 9 TRIP TO ROYAL OBSERVATORY

The department joined forces with the History department to visit the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich with the Year 9 students. We are very fortunate to have this worldclass attraction on our doorsteps. Students enjoyed a private talk in the planetarium from one of the resident astronomers, before exploring the history of the meridian line and the importance of GMT and precise timekeeping. The day began with a private talk in the planetarium, where a resident astronomer shared insights on celestial phenomena. Students were exposed to information about distant galaxies, constellations, and the mysteries of the universe. Subsequently, students explored the history of the meridian line and the significance of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and precise timekeeping at the National Maritime Museum. Interactive exhibits allowed them to engage with the stories of famous explorers and maritime accomplishments. At the Royal Observatory, students had the chance to stand on the Prime Meridian, where the Eastern and Western hemispheres meet, learning about its impact on navigation and timekeeping. The observatory's exhibition halls showcased the work of astronomers and the development of telescopes over time. The visit provided students with a broader understanding of astronomy and history, highlighting the connection between scientific advancements and human exploration. They gained insight into the achievements of scientists, astronomers, and sailors in shaping our understanding of the universe and accurate timekeeping. John Fishwick, Head of Physics We welcomed old Colfeian Marc back to tell Year 12 students about his published PhD ‘Emergence of Macroscopic Irreversibility in Open Classical and Quantum Systems’, a fascinating introduction to a very challenging branch of Physics. Year 12 students were taken to the Royal Institution in London to enjoy a lecture entitled “Fusion energy - the power of stars”. The talk, directly linked to the Year 13 syllabus, explored the exciting concept of fusion power stations currently being developed and the potential for near limitless carbon free energy in the future. Year 12 also attended a day at Science live! at the Emmanuel Centre London. The day included talks from various leading British scientists including Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Dr Helen Czerski and Dr Simon Singh covering a variety of topics from quantum Biology and fluid dynamics to the Big Bang. The Electric Car Club has had an eager team of Year 8 and 9 pupils building two Greenpower cars to race this season. In preparation for the race, we visited a local karting track to perfect our race technique and become acquainted with the race flags that are used on all circuits. Cars have been upgraded with more efficient motors and cooling fans as well as some more streamlined bodywork and livery. The race was held at the Ford test track, both cars completed both 1 ½ hour races with the Hawk car completing a new school record of 23miles using just 2 car batteries in race 2. We have also been able to visit the Electric Mini Factory in Oxford to see how a modern production line works, and the use of robots to perform precision welding, with 1000 cars rolling off the line each day. John Fishwick, Head of Physics

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PSYCHOLOGY Y13 Psychology students have once again worked exceptionally hard, and we expect an excellent set of results. We have five students this year going off to study a Psychology-related degree at a Russell Group university. To relieve the pressure of schoolwork a little, we went out for the day to the Freud Museum in Highgate (see photos). Whilst there, we learned about how Freud fled Nazi-occupied Austria to come to London to continue his work on psychoanalysis. Students engaged in a workshop called ‘The Curious Case of Little Hans’. This was delivered by a practising expert in the field of psychoanalysis. Little Hans was just five years old when he developed an intense phobia of horses. Given that he lived in a coaching inn, and that there were 70,000 horses in Vienna at the time, this was a debilitating condition for the little boy. His parents consulted with Sigmund Freud, who claimed that the boy’s experience was evidence for his controversial theory of the Oedipus complex i.e., that the foundation of his trauma was an incestuous desire for his mother, and that this brought him into conflict with his father, and this emotional trauma was displaced onto horses. Whilst many people would take some issue with Freud’s ideas (not least because they are unscientific), the speaker did argue enthusiastically that Freud gave us important insights into the emotional development of children. Freud’s ideas persist and his therapy is big business, and the workshop was thoughtprovoking for our students. Enrichment for Y12 students involved inviting Dr Guy Sutton, an expert in the genetics of neural development and brain function. Guy walked the students through a dissection of a sheep brain, and they explored similarities and differences between that and a human brain. After this, he gave inspiring lectures entitled 'Shock and Awe' and 'The Artificial Brain'. He explained that we are now in the era of neural decoding and mind control of prosthetic devices. He introduced the field of neurobionics, which integrates electronics with organic nervous tissue (to overcome damage to the nervous system). These tools can quite literally make the blind ‘see’ and the congenitally deaf ‘hear’. The focus then shifted to the brain– computer interface (BCI), in which the brain is linked to computer via electrodes. Students learned how BCIs, such as BrainGate2, can bypass spinal cord damage to enable individuals with tetraplegia to move again, and how we can use the mind to control prosthetic limb movement in amputees. He concluded with a brief overview of developments in deep brain stimulation, explaining how this improves movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. It was all truly fascinating and really got students engaged and thinking about their future. My thanks go to Miss Dunster and Miss McKay for all their hard work supporting the students. Dr Jerry Lea, Head of Psychology

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MODERN LANGUAGES

MODERN LANGUAGES The lifting of all pandemic related restrictions allowed us in the Modern Languages department to offer again our full enrichment programme engaging our young learners in a plethora of exciting activities. We pride ourselves as the department that offers the most extra- and cross-curricular activities in the school, as we believe that our subject is firmly rooted in everyday life and touches so many aspects of what we do and who we are.

TRIPS Residential trips abroad have a long tradition in our department as they allow students not only to practise their language skills, but also to connect with different cultures. The trips were the most prominent victim of the Covid restrictions, so this year we were able to “go back to normal” and offer a range of trips both for our younger and our senior students. I would like to thank all the teachers who got involved in the planning and the running of those trips; Ms Chapman, Ms Wigley, Mr Ollerenshaw and Ms Saba from within our department, as well as Ms Schramm and Ms Coode from outside the department. The biggest praise should go to all our participants for their immaculate behaviour making us proud to represent our school abroad. The Christmas markets trip to Lille and Aachen gave the opportunity to over 40 Year 8 and Year 9 pupils to put their French and German knowledge to the test as well as to experience the magic of historic European Christmas markets whilst consuming copious amounts of chocolat chaud and Currywurst. The German and Spanish Sixth Form students, as well as some Year 11 students, visited in the Spring Term Berlin and Málaga respectively, exposing themselves to German and Spanish culture whilst practising their language skills. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our Paris trip due to the riots happening in the French capital at the time, but we will hopefully return to the City of Light in the coming academic year. Day trips to the British Film Institute allowed students of different age groups to participate in compact cinema studies seminars. This is consistent with the departmental approach to embed cultural studies in our curriculum and the study of film is an area we have incorporated in all our Key Stage 3 curricula.

LANGUAGE DIPLOMAS We have been preparing linguistically gifted Colfeians to enter the prestigious DELF

for French and Goethe-Zertifikat Deutsch for German language diploma examinations for the last 10 years. This year, we extended our offer to include the DELE examination for Spanish. A good number of students from Year 11 onwards took part and successfully passed the examinations, so huge congratulations to all of them for their time and effort. Many thanks to Ms Davies, Mr Ollerenshaw and Ms Saba for preparing these students.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR LANGUAGES Our curriculum allows us to teach French, German and Spanish and the number of students studying languages both at GCSE and at A level has seen increases in the last few years. As we are aware of the linguistic diversity of our school community as well as society, we try to offer a club in a different language every year. After a taster in Japanese last year, this year Mr Saura offered a Chinese Club which was well attended by pupils of different year groups. He introduced the basics of the language, covering not only vocabulary and grammar, but also writing and pronunciation.

CLUBS, SOCIETIES AND COMPETITIONS The Modern Languages Stretch and Challenge Club oversees a range of activities which are decided by Ms Saba who is running the club and the students themselves. Talent shows, poem writing competitions and video making are some of the most popular activities which keep students engaged with languages in a creative and entertaining way. I would like to single out the Anthea Bell Prize Competition for Young Translators and the charity Eurovision Song Contest as particularly successful events, as we managed to engage dozens of pupils across the year groups. Congratulations to Isabel in Year 8 for winning a commendation for her German translation and many thanks to Ms Łukawska for preparing her. Our inaugural Eurovision Song contest in co-operation with the Music department was crowned with success, with so many students singing in various languages, often learning songs in languages they don’t speak. It was particularly pleasing seeing many parents supporting our entrants and above all being so generous with their donations towards the school’s Ukraine Relief Fund. Thanks to Ms Saba and her Stretch and Challenge pupils for putting on such a great show. The Breakfast Club for Sixth Form linguists is now a Colfe’s institution as it has been running for over 10 years. This year, again I invited guest speakers from outside the department but also from outside the school to present a topic of their choice to our Sixth

Form linguists as well as some linguistically interested Year 11 students on five winter mornings. The invigorating power of coffee and croissants focused our audience on a variety of speeches and presentations, ranging from “Subtitling Netflix shows”, to “Life as an English teacher in Japan” and “Particularities in language learning”. Thanks to all our speakers, who include our Foreign Language Assistants, Mr Emmerich from Economics, our former Head of Spanish, Mr Seddon, Mr Foxall from Media Studies, and the translator and interpreter, Ms Agnusdei, for their excellent presentations. This year we joined our efforts with the English and Classics Departments to promote the commonalities of our subjects. In cooperation with the respective Heads of English and Classics, Ms Guy and Mr Biggs, we created the Language Summit. Our target is to work much closer together and identify opportunities for collaboration as well as co-ordinating our teaching to reflect the often-common content we teach. This ranges from grammar teaching to interpretation of literature. Our first common endeavour was the visit to the Hieroglyphs exhibition in the British Museum. The Linguistics Society is the first crosscurricular club we offered this year, recruiting students from all year groups to take part in a series of lectures focusing on Linguistics, from child language acquisition to phonetics and Indo-European etymology. I had the pleasure to present in this lecture series together with Ms Pettit (Classics) and Mr Wilcox (English), and we hope to attract even more students to our society in the next academic year, with the intention of entering pupils in the United Kingdom Linguistics Olympiad. The European Day of Languages took place at the end of September and as per last year, we worked together with many departments to engage pupils in a variety of cross-curricular activities. The highlight of the day was the Music Concert in the Recital Hall, in which students from different year groups performed songs in many languages. Congratulations to all participants and many thanks to my colleagues in the different departments of the school for their help! Last but not least, I would like to commend the enormous efforts that Katie and Amelie from Year 12 demonstrated in competing in the French Debating competition. They saw off many high achieving schools to top the regional stage of the competition progressing to the finals. These took place in the French Institute in Central London and our team managed to achieve a top four place which is a fantastic result of which they should be very proud. Many thanks to Ms Davies for her support all the way. Marios Koutsakis, Head of Modern Languages

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MALAGA TRIP On a chilly and grey weekend at the beginning of February, Ms Chapman, Ms Wigley and a group of 17 Sixth Form Hispanists boarded an early-morning flight to sunny Málaga, to indulge in a weekend of sightseeing, Spanish culture and conversation, and delicious tapas! We arrived at the fanciest hostel a school trip has ever had the pleasure of staying in, right in the centre of Málaga, dropped off our bags and headed straight out to explore. Ms Wigley had great insider knowledge of the area, having lived and worked in Málaga for five years, so she was the perfect local tour guide! Following her directions, we strolled along the coast and found a strip of traditional restaurants a little off the tourist track to indulge in a leisurely lunch with the sound of the sea lapping in the background and the sun warming our faces. What a delight! After some free time and a return to the hostel to change, the group set out for our first truly Spanish cultural experience – a dazzling flamenco show! We were blown away by the passion and skill that the performers exhibited. This was followed by an al fresco dinner in one of the pretty town squares. On the second day we were delighted to see that the sun was still shining as we strolled

over to the Picasso Museum. We were treated to an engaging private tour, and we enjoyed seeing some of Picasso’s most famous works, whilst also learning about his life and influences. We then spent the rest of the day visiting the Alcazaba, a beautiful palace built between the 10th and 15th centuries, with stunning views over the city and the harbour. That evening we experienced a brilliant tapas-making workshop, led by an enthusiastic Spanish chef. We all learned lots about preparing traditional Spanish dishes, and we really enjoyed eating them too, despite some of our budding chefs being slightly heavy handed with the olive oil! We boarded a flight back to London on the Monday morning, full of tapas and great memories of our weekend in Málaga! Throughout the weekend, students had so many opportunities to practise their transactional Spanish skills by ordering food and navigating their way around the city centre independently. Some students even made friends with some of the locals! All in all, it was a highly successful and enjoyable trip, with a delightful group of fun, polite and engaging students. We can’t wait for next year’s trip to discover a new Spanish city! Laura Chapman, Head of Spanish

“In my opinion, it was quite simply out of this world! Not only was I able to explore Spanish gastronomy, but I was also able to indulge in Spanish culture. I was able to see a flamenco show, which I really enjoyed. It was great spending time with my friends and being able to communicate in a foreign language.” Javier,Year 12

“It was a chance to fully immerse ourselves in Spanish and enjoy Spain’s rich culture. It was a great opportunity to learn more about what we are studying in class.” Angelica,Year 12

“I greatly enjoyed the trip! It was filled with activities, and from the moment we got on the plane to our return, we were immersed in Spanish culture. My favourite activity was visiting the Alcazaba!” Amelia,Year 12

“The trip was great because it was good to actually be able to speak Spanish to locals and try lots of new things.” Elena,Year 12

“The Málaga trip was a great experience that allowed us to explore the local culture and architecture. My favourite part was the tapas cooking course because we learnt how to make traditional dishes such as tortilla española in a foreign language, which was both educational and fun!” Isaac,Year 12

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“Our time in Berlin was simply wonderful, we got to see the whole city from east to west, riding the Strassen and U-Bahns and buying lots of pretzels. The locals were really nice to us, even if they did refuse to speak German with us. My highlight was seeing the Holocaust Memorial, which despite being merely concrete blocks, has a profound effect on you as you walk in and the pillars loom high above.” Joshua,Year 12

“I found the trip great fun and I really enjoyed exploring a new city. Although I’d been to German-speaking countries multiple times before, I really enjoyed being immersed in a completely different culture and I loved seeing all sorts of different places in Berlin.” Oskar,Year 11

BERLIN TRIP In the midst of a chilly and wintry January, an adventurous group of 13 Germanists, one Director of Studies and one last-minute replacement German teacher, embarked on an exciting journey to the vibrant city of Berlin. With a deep appreciation for German culture, the group of enthusiastic explorers arrived in the heart of continental Europe, ready to immerse themselves in history, art, and the unique charm of the city. The trip faced a number of challenges from the get-go with Mr Ollerenshaw filling in for Mr Koutsakis; a mix-up by the booking agency regarding baggage allowance; and the city’s decision that late January is a great time to close much of itself down for refurbishment. Despite this and the cold weather, the group maintained high spirits and were an absolute joy to do some exploring with. Ms Schramm’s Wanderlust and experience with school trips certainly contributed to this and Mr Ollerenshaw, having previously visited Berlin on numerous occasions, acted as a guide, sharing his insights and recommendations with the group. On arrival, the explorers headed straight from the recently finished Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Hotel Transit Loft, conquering the public transport with relative ease. The hotel itself served as a lovely little place to stay and

rest our tired legs within walking distance of Alexanderplatz. It also served some delicious breakfasts which helped give us the strength to tackle the city each day. The first full day began with a pupil-led tour of some of the city’s most iconic sights. Starting on Alexanderplatz and snaking along Unter den Linden and over Museum Island to the Brandenburg Gate. The travellers couldn’t help but listen and be in awe of the grandeur and historical significance of sights like Bebelplatz, the Berliner Dom and the Rotes Rathaus with all of its solar panels. After the tour, they ventured to the nearby Reichstag building, the seat of the German Parliament, where they marvelled at the stunning architecture and panoramic views of the city from the building’s glass dome. After a long day’s walking, the group found themselves in a very gemütlich German restaurant and indulged in some traditional German cuisine. After savouring some hearty Schnitzels, the gang rushed off on foot to follow along with an informative tour of Berlin’s historical sites by night. The guide was incredibly engaging and regaled them with much of the city’s pre- and post-war history, leaving us at Checkpoint Charlie from where the Germanists bused it back to the hotel.

The following day, the travellers embarked on a journey through Berlin’s more rich cultural heritage, starting with the trendy neighbourhood of Kreuzberg where they went to a local museum and had lunch in an incredible food hall. As it was only a short walk away, a detour was made along the East Side Gallery as well. They then visited the renowned Museum Island, home to several world-class museums and galleries and were permitted some free time to explore in small groups. Afterwards, the crew returned to the Berliner Fernsehturm, underneath which they had dinner in a more modern German restaurant before heading to the Staatsoper to see a fantastic performance of Samson et Dalila. After much clapping and some group photos, it was decided to head back to the hotel on foot and enjoy the wintery ambiance of the city in the dark. As the trip came to a close, there was one final journey through the city in the morning, getting to admire how the German capital looks with a little bit of snow. Their journey had provided them with memories to cherish and stories to share. The group boarded their flight back to London, leaving Berlin with a sense of gratitude and hopefully wanting to return for further visits. Sam Ollerenshaw,Teacher of Modern Languages COLFEIAN 2022/23

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CHRISTMAS MARKETS In early December, an excited group of Year 8 and 9 pupils boarded a coach and travelled across the Channel to spend a festive weekend visiting the Christmas markets in Lille, France and Aachen, Germany. The pupils enjoyed the sights, the lights, the tasty treats and the opportunity to practise some transactional French and German. A jolly time was had by all! Thanks to Mr Ollerenshaw for leading this trip.

“I think the entire trip was very enjoyable! I loved experiencing markets that I never thought I would’ve gone to. The scenery was breathtaking and the markets were fantastic! I loved seeing cultures everywhere and exploring beautiful places such as the church in the German Markets. The teachers were also very nice and fun to be around! I know everyone there had an amazing time. This was one of my favourite trips and I would definitely recommend for those curious about going.” David,Year 8

FRENCH DEBATING COMPETITION It was a privilege to be able to accompany Katie and Millie to this competition at the Institut Français on Wednesday 15th March 2023. After ferocious debating at two separate competitions (taking place at St Paul’s School for Girls), the two Colfeian girls made their stoic way to the finals with the following possible motions: La figure du superhéros est dangereuse Le droit de grève devrait être interdit dans le service public Comme l’Espagne, tous les Etats devraient instaurer un congé menstruel L'immunité pénale accordée aux parlementaires et aux chefs d'Etat devrait être supprimée Pour sensibiliser au réchauffement climatique, les opérations coup de poing sont justifiées The battle commenced and in round one, there was victory against Hills Rd Sixth Form College, Cambridge when they convincingly argued the proposition to the motion that the ‘Right to strike ought to be banned in the

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public sector’. The next debate brought equal joy with another victory over Dr Challoner’s Boys Grammar School when again well-argued points communicated in fluent, highly accurate French yielded a win. In this instance they were opposing the motion, ‘In order to bring awareness to climate change, striking raids are justified.’ As such, the girls had now secured a place in either the Finale d’or or the Finale d’argent. After a nail-biting wait, their place in the silver final was announced and what an amazing performance they gave as they launched their attack against Hills Rd Sixth Form College (again, I know!), proposing the motion that, ‘Everyone should be able to laugh about everything’. With this given to them as an unseen motion and only 15 minutes to prepare, it was not an easy motion to be given. Their nerves of steel played out and despite committing to convincing arguments delivered eloquently and authentically, the girls were

beaten. As such, it was a great win to know they had come 4th out of 300 participants (150 institutions had entered) and to have performed at such a high level in the prestigious institute with French national adjudicators, all of whom are connected to the Institut or who have positions of academic standing for ISMLA (Independent Schools’ Modern Language Association). The school was fortunate to be able to take support in the form of the Y12 French linguists who observed in awe and supported graciously as their peers gave it their best shot. A huge well done to Millie and Katie and watch this space for next year. Of course, congratulations must also go to Westminster who were the champions, having beaten Epsom College in the Gold Final opposing the motion ‘The State should have the monopoly on violence’. Elizabeth Biggs, Assistant Director of Sixth Form and Teacher of Modern Languages

MODERN LANGUAGES

STRETCH AND CHALLENGE WILLIAM, YEAR 8:

The Modern Languages Stretch and Challenge Club is a great place for all linguists to come and participate in language-focused competitions and language-based projects. There is always something fun to do. Throughout the year there have been many events. Earliest in the year we do a poetry competition which is a great opportunity to create both meaningful poems and learn new vocabulary in a language of your choosing (it doesn’t just have to be one of the main three). The latest poem to win this competition was a poem on guilt in Russian by Benjamin in Year 8, with runners-up being a poem in Spanish about love by David (Year 8) and a poem about sadness by Isabel (Year 8). Colfe’s School also participates in the Anthea Bell prize, a translation competition run by Oxford University. Colfe’s has had a couple of star linguists be awarded a commendation with their name put up on the Oxford University website, most notably this year, Isabel (Year 8) with her level 2 (Year 8-9 level) German translation. Even if no specific competition is going on, students complete their own projects using resources given by the ML department. The modern languages teachers create an online Padlet with different recommended resources, like podcasts, films and music in the target language. Some notable examples from club members being Esme (Year 8) and her beautiful double-sided leaflet on Jean De Florette, a French movie that she watched in her own time, along with a 40-slide presentation on holidays in France by Leila, William and David (Year 8). All of these events took place in only the first term of the academic year, with so much more to come as the year goes on. My favourite event over the year was the Eurovision Song Contest as I, although not performing, helped in many ways like creating all the participants’ introduction videos with translated subtitles. Leila and I also ran the presentation on the day and found all the backing tracks for the night.

DAVID, YEAR 8:

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the ML Stretch and Challenge Club this year and I feel it has made me much more interested in exploring languages and studying them. One of my favourite events was the Colfe’s Eurovision Song Contest which happened this past May. I represented Spain with the song “Dos Oruguitas” by Sebastián Yatra. I also helped make the advertising posters for the competition and the programmes given to parents on the night. I was very close to winning the judges’ choice voting, coming in second. I think all that rehearsal time paid off as it was a great night and everyone enjoyed it. I also came second in the ML poetry competition with my poem in Spanish. We also participated in the Anthea Bell Prize, and we had 55 entries (a record for Colfe’s!), the most common entry being French and in the end one of our own pupils from Year 8, Isabel, received a commendation and is now on the Oxford University website. Over the final few weeks, we have been updating the ML boards with a Eurovision and Stretch and Challenge theme, it’s super fun and great if you love art and are creative. A huge thanks to the entire team and to Ms Saba for making this year super enjoyable!

LEILA, YEAR 8:

I have loved being a part of the Modern Languages Stretch and Challenge Club! I really love languages and competitions such as the languages poetry competition (well done Benjamin, David and Isabel!), the Anthea Bell prize (massive shoutout to Isabel again!) and even our very own Eurovision. Organised by Ms Saba (Stretch and Challenge Co-ordinator) Colfe’s hosted their very own Eurovision recently in May, and for me, it has been an amazing experience. Countries that performed included Greece, Spain, Ukraine and Austria with Czechia, represented by sisters Elena (Year 12) and Amelie (Year 10) coming second in both the judges’ and audience votes and taking the overall prize. Throughout the year I have been a part of many projects and I think the Eurovision one was my favourite. We (myself, David and William) helped organise the country videos, the posters, the programs and even the voting system. I didn’t get to perform but being behind the scenes was very fun too, and in addition to that we raised over £1000 for children in Ukraine. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!

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GEOGRAPHY

GEOGRAPHY It has been another busy and rewarding year in the Geography department. We celebrated fantastic GCSE and A level examination results back in August and again in January for our Year 12 autumn series, and have gone on what must be a record number of trips this academic year. In our classrooms, we have worked hard to deliver the latest developments in the field of Geography to reflect our everchanging world. In staff news, we welcomed back Miss Shanks from her maternity leave who now works part-time but definitely makes a full-time contribution to the department. Many pupils missed her calm presence in the classroom, so it is great to have her back. Geography is about the world around us and as we all know all too well, many events have impacted international relations in Europe this year. We always aim to discuss regional and worldwide events with our students in a sensitive and informative manner and celebrate their diverse backgrounds and experiences outside school. It is vital for us to keep our subject current and help our pupils to better understand the complexities of the world they are living in. Pupils in Year 8 and 12 have looked at the impact of the Ukraine conflict in topics such as migration and Year 13 students have explored the changing geopolitics of energy. In GCSE and A level physical geography, pupils learned about causes and impacts of earthquakes as the scenes from Turkey and Syria were being displayed on our screens. Year 7s have considered if last summer’s heatwave was linked to our changing global climate and how issues such as consumerism, overfishing and rising sea levels are affecting all of us. Whilst Geography at times can tackle rather depressing topics, it is important also to appreciate the awe and wonder of our amazing planet and the people in it! KS3 pupils have explored the wonders of the world such as Halong Bay in Vietnam and The Grand Canyon in Arizona in their Young Geographer of the Year projects. The Year 7 Geography Club participants have built and erupted volcanoes and created some very inventive hazard proof buildings and we are looking forward to helping the ecocommittee with their garden project next year. In Year 8, pupils have learnt about topics as varied as Geothermal Power in Iceland and Savanna ecosystems in Kenya, producing some impressive display work for the department. In September 2022, we took our A level students on a residential trip to conduct a river study in Surrey. Mr Snell and Mrs McAuliffe guided the Sixth Formers in gaining invaluable practical skills in investigating downstream river changes. The students were happy to get their wellies wet and investigated velocity, hydraulic radius and sediment changes in the River Tillingbourne.

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GEOGRAPHY They were also excited to spot some interesting biodiversity in the water but were promptly told that the species in question was ecologically damaging invasive crayfish, which made us think about the fragility of our native ecosystems. Our long-awaited Sicily trip finally happened in October, after a two-year delay caused by Covid. Please read Joshua and Ione’s account of the trip later in this article which describes the highlights of what they got up to. Thank you to Mr Snell for organising this trip. In this vein, Mrs McAuliffe has been busy planning our next trip to Iceland in Easter 2024 with 45 pupils taking part. It is promising to be another amazing experience of swimming in geothermal pools,

visiting waterfalls and the famous Geysir as well as exploring a lava tunnel. A new addition to our GCSE fieldwork schedule was a trip to Kidbrooke in March. The purpose of this investigation was to understand how urban regeneration changes cities. Thanks to our location in London, it is not always necessary to go far, and it is important for pupils to understand local changes too. For their physical GCSE trip, we did venture a little further for our tried and tested Reculver coastal study. which is always a fun day out. The weather was particularly kind to us this year which meant that we were able to enjoy some ice creams in between measuring the beach profiles.

The department also took all Year 8 pupils to the Natural History Museum in May where they were able to look at exhibitions on tectonics and test an earthquake simulator, which is always a favourite! They also explored the geology and ecology areas during the busy day. The pupils represented the school in an exemplary way, and huge thanks are due to Mr Walker for leading this trip. I would like to, once again, thank all Geography department staff for their enthusiasm, hard work and commitment. Henna Nissinen, Head of Geography

SICILY TRIP For us, the Sicily trip was an amazing experience. Each day we had the opportunity to see something incredible, whether it be ancient and extraordinary artifacts and buildings, like the mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale, or the awe-inspiring Valley of the Temples (which had temples from over a thousand years ago!) and geographical wonders like the Rocks of the Cyclops and Alcantara Gorge with its own green lizard mascot, Zazza Mike. However, our favourite day by far was the day we got to visit Mount Etna and Taormina Amphitheatre. After passing abandoned houses swallowed by solidified lava, we deserted the coach for a cable car journey filled with breathtaking panoramic views of both the beautiful Mediterranean landscape below the mountain and the looming volcano with plumes of smoke and steam spiralling into the ever-blue sky above. Once off the cable car, it was like we had left our planet and ventured onto another. The volcano had spewed out rocks in reds and yellows so that the ground resembled a kaleidoscope. After this other-worldly experience, we explored the stunning Taormina Amphitheatre, which glowed in the hazy afternoon light. Despite being built in the 3rd century BC, the amphitheatre still made a divine backdrop for the fantastical dreams of playwrights to be told in stories and tales.” Josh and Ione,Year 10

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HISTORY

HISTORY examination of Rosa Parks’s passive resistance role. Year 9 continued with their study of global conflict, from examining differing experiences of WWI by looking at ethnicity, nationality and gender, with a thought-provoking lesson led by Mr Mashiter examining the allied bombing campaign in WWII by comparing it to the atomic bombs on Japan. This was a timely and useful opportunity to consider the ethics of war given the recent release of Oppenheimer in theatres, and of course, Colfe’s school was destroyed by a V2 rocket in 1944. In a swift and opportunist nod to former Colfeian Henry Williamson, who wrote Tarka The Otter, snow at Colfe’s towards the end of term granted 8D the chance to recreate the Christmas truce of 1914, when German and British troops played football together. Williamson recorded his experience of this in his archive – we hope you enjoy the photograph which we feel is rather poignant. The Sixth Form look ahead to their Paris field trip in December, having enjoyed a highly successful trip to the Cabinet War Rooms to scrutinise the conduct of Churchill’s wartime leadership. The museum features an opportunity to handle direct sources as well as examining popular depictions of Churchill versus the frustrations his wartime Cabinet experienced

It has been a busy and transitional year for the History Department as pupils returned to a ‘full’ and complete exam specification at both GCSE and A level. For Year 13, this meant studying extra content, such as the spread of Russification and Empire, and Britian’s place in the world, from its role within the UN, to the history of Empire and Independence, to nuclear weapons. Year 11 returned to studying their ‘Power and the People’ unit, an extremely challenging yet thought-provoking thematic study covering 1000 years of protest and power change. Appropriately placed near the centre of the Peasant’s Revolt, Colfe’s historians were able to see how the school has been surrounded by some of the most important events that have demonstrated people power, and the fight for justice, better representation and fair treatment. Rigorous yet engaging lessons comparing the poll tax riots under Thatcher to the American Revolution allowed pupils to see history in a more thematic light, categorising and theming the rationale behind challenging authority. In Year 7, pupils ended their year with their independent study, using criteria to ascertain the reason why a historical figure may be significant. This theme is also covered in Year 8, with a look at the role of Africans in Tudor society, progressing to the campaign for civil rights in the summer term, with an

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HISTORY working with him. Walking the corridors of the original wartime map room was a highlight for many pupils, who identified this from many films. A cinema evening prior to their mock featuring Darkest Hour was a personal highlight for many who were able to recall various lines from the ‘Finest Hour’ speech. Looking ahead, Year 8 will be tackling a thematic study of power and protest, featuring climate protest, the protest for gender equality as well as continuing to examine the legacy of the British Empire and completing their Leathersellers’ posters having returned from the annual trip to the Guildhall and Leathersellers’ Hall in July. Wearing the beadle’s cloak was a highlight for several bold young historians!

HISTORY AND PHYSIC ‘JOIN FORCES’ ON ENRICHMENT TRIPS! The History and Physics Departments have promoted cross-curricular learning this year by promoting STEM, the history of science and engineering and all things space and aviation with a number of trips that build on their classroom learning. In the autumn term, Mr Fishwick led a fantastic trip to the Planetarium in Greenwich, with the second half of the day spent in the National Maritime Museum and the Observatory. Year 9 were able to see objects relating to the abolition campaign for slavery as learnt about in Year 8, such as the iconic Josiah Wedgewood pottery. The planetarium show was special, with pupils commenting that it was like a ‘rollercoaster ride through space.’ Being in the observatory helped pupils grasp how Greenwich really is the epicentre of time and a historical sub of science and innovation. In the summer term, a number of pupils were able to visit the unique Airframe Assemblies on the Isle of Wight, where a very rare WWII photo reconnaissance Spitfire is being rebuilt using traditional methods and, at times, reverse engineering. Pupils have a vested interest in this project, given that the pilot who flew the plane when it was shot down, Sandy Gunn, was a ‘Great Escape’ pilot who tunnelled out in 1944. For pupils interested in engineering, this was an excellent opportunity to speak to engineers and workshop employees, and all involved greatly enjoyed a trip on the hovercraft! Handling 80-year-old fragments of Spitfire and learning how they can be ‘warped’ and recycled to produce new parts demonstrated the sustainability aspects of reconstruction and renovation. Having previously attended a trip to Cranfield University in March, pupils were able to better understand the development of flight across the twentieth century. Thanks to all those involved in these fantastic opportunities, including the team at Airframe Assemblies, as well as staff colleagues at Colfe’s for giving up their time. Onor Crummay, Head of History

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RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY

RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY Philosophy has a unique position in that it can comment on all aspects of modern discourse. For my article this year, I asked some of our pupils for their favourite memories of studying Religion and Philosophy. What struck me was the fact that philosophy has a unique ability (and perhaps need) to comment on everything. This is what serves to make it so inherently fascinating. This analysis serves possibly as a means to understand the subject itself, or possibly as a means to draw more from it in application to the wider world. ‘Where is there a gap in the market for some philosophical analysis?’ I hear you ask. Take Taylor Swift. There has been much in the news about her tour, decision to re-record her songs and personal life. There has been a significant amount of discourse surrounding her lyrics and songwriting; she even has a society at Cambridge dedicated to her. There is very little about her work in terms of philosophical analysis of those lyrics, beyond advice about how to best use her lyrics for the most thoughtful Instagram captions. The best piece I found was based around the following lyrics from ‘Don’t Blame Me’: “Don’t blame me, love made me crazy / If it doesn’t, you ain’t doing it right.” Singh (2023) draws a parallel from this line to Plato’s Phaedrus, where Socrates claims that love is a kind of madness. This is echoed by Shakespeare in Hamlet and Nietzsche; it seems that the abandonment of reason is how we might begin to characterise such an emotion. We can take this further in using it to examine our emotions more generally. Descartes, in response to a request from Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia that we must be able to define our emotions in order to understand them better, wrote Passions of the Soul (1649). Here, he argues that love is opposed to hatred and that it enables us to ‘imagine a whole of which we think of ourselves only as one part and the loved thing as another’; in other words, inextricably linked to that which we love. So, in many ways, Swift’s exploration of emotion in her lyrics is actually practical philosophy, echoing sentiments about the madness of love, whilst exploring her experience of it.

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Another lyric from ‘The 1’: ‘If one thing had been different, would everything be different today?’ This has its origins in Everett’s 1957 ‘Many Worlds Interpretation’ of quantum mechanics. The theory holds that there are myriads of worlds in existence in addition to the one that we are aware of. Every time a quantum experiment is performed with multiple possible outcomes, the theory is that all outcomes are obtained in multiple, newly created, parallel universes. So, it is possible to theorise that, yes, if the outcome of something ‘had been different’, there is a multiverse out there where things are not as they seem to be in our universe. The idea that there could be, somewhere, a universe where one tiny decision changes the course of our lives is of course a familiar theme from films and TV. However, this does not temper the endless fascination that we have with the potentially life-altering impact that a single, seemly small, decision may have upon our lives. This is why its inclusion in Swift’s lyrics is important; both this and the previous quote are really a search for human understanding of the way the world is. A final note on this is that, in addition to thinking about what our feelings mean and the way that the world is, we can use this to seek human connection. In ‘Coney Island’, Swift remarks, ‘If I can't relate to you anymore then who am I related to?’.The final task of philosophy, and my analysis of Swift for this article, is to allow us to use the wisdom that we have gained to understand each other better. If we keep such an attitude in mind, in addition to the idea that popular culture gives us a superb way to access some of life’s greatest mysteries, it is possible that we can gain some fascinating insights into aspects of life we might not have thought about previously. With this in mind, I have included two such insights from our Year 8 pupils opposite. We had an incredibly successful year in our first set of results since 2019, achieving 100% A*-A and 75% A* at A-level, and 51% grade 9 at GCSE. I am incredibly grateful to my team, Lydia and Amalée, for their enthusiasm, thoughtfulness and contributions throughout the year. Thank you. Zoë Kendrick, Head of Religion & Philosophy

RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY

During Philosophy Club and RP lessons throughout this year, we have discussed and learned about many different concepts, including metaphysics, ethics and New Religious Movements. However, I would like to discuss a notable idea from a Philosophy Club session which I ran in the first term of the academic year. This discussion was on an extremely serious and solemn topic – what constitutes a sandwich. During this, I showed the group a series of images and asked them whether they thought the picture expressed a sandwich. These ranged from a regular ham sandwich, to wraps, BLTs, ice cream between biscuits, hot dogs, multi-layered sandwiches, open-top-sandwiches, and, of course, the bane of my existence: the Pop-Tart. I then revealed a table with 9 sections and two scales: ingredient and structure, ranging from purist to neutral to rebel. I am structural purist, ingredient neutral, which means that I believe sandwiches consist of two pieces of a baked product with toppings in between, but they can contain a broader scope of savoury ingredients. I lost a few friends that day, though, as some revealed themselves to be radical sandwich anarchists, agreeing that a Pop-Tart is a sandwich. This difference of beliefs can be an issue when talking about philosophy, especially when the discourse is about something as controversial as sandwiches. Verity,Year 8

During one of our philosophy clubs, we discussed the value of a human. The vast majority of us initially felt that there is no ‘value’ of a human, rather we just simply exist or because of the simple fact that we aren’t omniscient we cannot know our own value. However, we created a diagram of how our value could change - this included five sections; the universe, our planet, society, loved ones and myself. Each section held a different value based on what you contribute to that section. So, the theory is that your value changes the further out

you get and one thing we get wrong a lot of the time is that we mix and merge these separate categories. By merging these categories, we can undermine our own value to ourselves by comparing our universal or societal utility to our own self-worth. Some would argue that our value to ourselves could be considered infinite when we see it objectively (without introducing our value to society or any of the other brackets of value). Isabel,Year 8

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CLASSICS

CLASSICS Nostos: a homecoming or return as a literary theme, especially as pertains to Homer’s Odyssey. Much like Odysseus and his crew, tired but happy after ten years of fighting outside the walls of Troy, at the end of this school year the Classics department is preparing for its own journey homewards. Unlike Homer’s hero, however, our destination is a new home in the recently completed (and appropriately classically-named) Laurel building. Much like Odysseus and his crew, we are full of optimism: after all, what could go wrong? There is much to do: cupboards to empty, boxes to fill and routes to plan. Which path would most likely yield success? Should we risk going past Roebucks? Probably not: Nikki’s brownies could cause an unwary sailor to forget who they are and where they’re from. Or should we plot a course past the Sports Hall? Again, I’m not so sure: the dulcet tones of students singing the Colfeian school anthem could prove too enticing. I know, we’ll take the most direct route between the Year 8s

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and the Year 9s playing football: surely that’s a safe route?

with our colleagues to provide similar trips in the future.

Before we embark on our new journey, we should probably first reflect on those already undertaken this year. In October half term, we were delighted to take our students abroad again for the first time since Covid in a joint venture to Sicily alongside the Geography department. Students were treated to highlights including The Valley of the Temples, one of the most outstanding examples of Magna Graecia art and architecture, a guided tour of Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano, and a pizza-making class.The students were in thoroughly good spirits throughout and my special thanks go to Holly Batten and Will Walker for dealing so admirably with an unexpected extra day courtesy of Italian air control!

Later in the Spring term Year 7 were challenged to create a project on an episode of GraecoRoman mythology of their choice. We were once again overwhelmed by the standard of entries and so this year, we created a fourth separate category for prizes: the best drawn piece. Our special congratulations go to runners-up Chryssie, Grace, Rosie, Milena, Jojo, Amira, Gaia, Eleanor, Emmeline, Sasha and Jake; and to our overall winners Akin and Sam (best artefact); George and James (best written piece); Eliot (best digital entry); and Caleb (best drawn piece).

January saw the inaugural trip of the Linguistics Society, a cross-departmental initiative between Classics, English and Modern Languages. Keen linguists from across Years 9 and 10 enjoyed a tour of the British Museum’s special exhibition Hieroglyphs: unlocking ancient Egypt before having a few hours to explore the wider rooms at their leisure. We look forward to working

Year 8 once again had the chance to engage with a new ancient language, Ancient Greek. All Year 8 students were introduced to the alphabet and explored the Greek derivatives of many English terms, culminating in a murder mystery which challenged their transliteration skills. Following this, a record number of 71 students put themselves forward to sit the EMACT Greek certificate in recognition of their progress with the language. We would like to commend all our students who sat the certificate, and we look

CLASSICS

forward to presenting their prizes and certificates in the coming autumn. March saw the Year 9s return to Bath, this year rescheduled following the unfortunate passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Once again, the students reveled in the chance to sword fight and explore the Roman barracks and amphitheatre at Caerleon, dampened only by the occasional shower, before heading to Bath for dinner and the ever-popular quiz. The morning saw them having a self-guided tour of Aquae Sulis itself as well as getting hands on with our Romano-British past in a new and improved artefacts session. Next it was Year 12 and 13’s turn to go on a trip, this time to the @sohoplace theatre where Sophie Okonedo thrilled as the eponymous protagonist of Euripides’ Medea. Apart from being a powerful exploration of vengeance and a woman scorned, this was a thought-provoking and useful complement to their classroom studies. A second theatre trip followed soon after, this time for Year 10 and Year 12 who, after being treated to the British Museum’s summer exhibition Luxury and power: Persia to Greece, were entertained by KCL’s student performance of Iphigenia, an imaginative retelling of the tragic tale of how much a father will sacrifice for his own glory. It has been a whirlwind first year guiding this particular ship and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. As a department we’re in rude health, growing on all fronts. I would like to take this opportunity to give my heartfelt thanks to my intrepid crew Holly Batten, Alicia Pettit, David Titcombe and Scott Wakeham. It really is a pleasure to work alongside such talented and dedicated individuals. I’m delighted to say that we will remain united next year as we introduce an exciting new subject at GCSE, Classical Civilisation, to forty incoming Year 10 students and return to Rome and the Bay of Naples for the first time since the pandemic. To mix my Homeric and Hesiodic metaphors, I feel certain that with this hardy crew by my side we’re about to enter a new Golden Age for the department. So, from the Classics department, we hope you have a lovely summer break. Wish us luck on our forthcoming journey. As long as the crew don’t eat the Headmaster’s sacred biscuits, we should be fine. I’ve asked them not to … Harry Biggs, Head of Classics

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MUSIC

MUSIC 2022-23 has been yet another busy year for the Music department at Colfe’s. Co-curricular music continues to flourish, and it has been fantastic to see so many pupils involving themselves in ensembles, concerts and recitals. Many thanks to all the staff in the Music department, the visiting music teachers and staff who are involved in co-curricular music for your support in what has been a highly successful year.

CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS The Autumn term was typically busy with smaller events such as Platform Concerts and Trinity Laban Recitals being interspersed with large-scale concerts. It was a pleasure to return to St Alfege Church, Greenwich, for our main concert of the term, collaborating with the Junior School to perform Bob Chilcott’s large-scale choral work Circlesong. Circlesong, for SATB Choir and Chamber Ensemble, is a life-cycle piece based on translated poetry of indigenous tribes of North America. The

remainder of the programme was appropriately diverse, including a lively performance of Steve Reich’s Clapping Music by an ensemble of sixth formers and an expressive performance of Elgar’s Chanson de Matin by the Senior String Quartet. The concert was highly enjoyable and particularly impressive considering the number of pupils who were new to the school choir at the start of the year. The term concluded with our annual Carol Service at St Mary’s Church, Lewisham. The Senior Choir sang with gusto to perform John Gardner’s arrangement of The Holly and the Ivy whilst the Junior Choir performed Carol of the Bells, a popular Christmas carol based on the Ukrainian song Shchedryk. The Spring term featured many musical events celebrating the individual musicality of pupils at Colfe’s. The Open-Mic Night in January was a thoroughly enjoyable event and featured pupils in Years 10-13 performing in a range of popular styles. In February we launched the first ‘Piano at Six’ concert, an opportunity specifically for pianists to perform in front of their peers and parents. The standard of playing was exceptional, and a particular highlight of the event was Martha (Year 13) and Harrison’s (Year 11) performance of Ravel’s Ma mère l'Oye for piano duet. We concluded the term with the Spring Concert, featuring performances from all

Senior and Junior Choirs performing Bob Chilcott’s Circlesong at St Alfege’s Church

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our main ensembles, including a collaboration between the Junior and Senior Orchestras to perform Aaron Copland’s Hoe-Down. The main musical event of the Summer term was the choir’s visit to Southwark Cathedral to sing choral evensong. The programme of music performed at the service included Valentin Silvestrov’s Prayer for the Ukraine, which served as a powerful reminder of how music can unite us in difficult times. A special thanks to Daria Bitsuik, who, as well as being the accompanist of the choir, is from Ukraine and was a great help in the learning of the piece. It was fantastic to again collaborate with the Drama department for the lower school production of Bugsy Malone. Congratulations to Ellen Bryden who was Musical Director for the show. Later in the term, the Chamber Singers travelled to central London to perform in the Leatherseller’s Election Day Service under the musical leadership of Ed Hughes, an event very much enjoyed by the pupils taking part. The Summer concert was a fitting way to conclude the year, featuring an eclectic range of music spanning the Baroque period to the modern day. The concert concluded with the Senior Choir’s performance of Seasons of Love, which was a performance both rousing and reflective in equal measure.

MUSIC

HOUSE MUSIC The increased popularity of House Music led to the event moving this year from the Beardwood Theatre to the Senior Hall. Participation from across the year groups was again excellent and there was a suitably raucous atmosphere from both participants and audience members alike. The adjudicator this year was the professional composer and percussionist Hugh Wilkinson. The event opened with the solo performances and the prize went to Edie (Y7) of Beardwood House for her performance of Strange by Celeste. Despite some fierce competition, Beardwood were also the victors in the ensemble category for their lively performance of Revolting Children from the musical Matilda, making them the overall victors. A special mention should also go to Norton House, who, as well as performing excellently, had (in my opinion) the best outfits.

Members of the Senior Choir performing Bob Chilcott’s Circlesong at St Alfege Church

TRINITY LABAN The Trinity Laban Recitals have been a real success this year. The ensembles that visited Colfe’s were typically diverse and of an excellent standard, ranging from brass quartets to classical guitar duos. A particular highlight was the visit of the Trinity Laban Sinfonia String ensemble, whose programme included works by Mendelssohn and Elgar. Pupils had the opportunity to ask the performers questions after each recital, leading to stimulating discussions on music history and performance practice. Victoria (Year 13) performing at St Alfege Church

Y7 INSTRUMENTAL SCHEME This year the Instrumental Scheme returned to normality with pupils in Year 7 being given the opportunity to learn an instrument for a year, free of charge. The concerts this year have been typically enjoyable, and it has been fantastic to hear the progress made by the pupils from term to term. This year the Year 7 Scheme Band performed in the Summer Concert, giving pupils the opportunity to take part in their first largescale musical event at Colfe’s.

ABRSM MUSIC EXAMINATIONS Pupils have continued to perform excellently in ABRSM examinations taken at the school, with 30% of exams taken in the summer term graded as Distinction. Many thanks to the visiting music teachers who put in a lot of time and effort in preparing pupils for examinations. Thanks also to Ms Barber who oversaw the running of the exams with typical efficiency and organisation. Year 13 pupils performing Steve Reich’s Clapping Music at St Alfege Church

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MUSIC

Barbershop performing in the Colfe’s Carol Service at St Mary’s Church

Amy (Year 13), Zoe (Year 9) and Esme (Year 9) performing in the orchestra in the Spring Concert

The Wind Band performing at the Spring Concert

Folk Ensemble performing at the Spring Concert

The Brass Ensemble performing at the Spring Concert

Anneke (Year 13) performing in the orchestra at the Spring Concert

Martha (Year 13) and Harrison (Year 11) performing Ravel’s Ma mère l’Oye for piano duet

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MUSIC

Prendergast House performing at House Music Oskar (Year 11), Alex (Year 13) and Sam (Year 9) performing in the Jazz Band at the Spring Concert

Bramley House performing at House Music House Music Winners: Beardwood

Norton House performing at House Music The Senior Choir performing at Southwark Cathedral

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MUSIC

Benjamin (Year 8) performing on the organ at the Winter Concert

Alex (Year 13) performing on the drums at a Platform Concert

Maria (Year 10) performing at the Open Mic Night

Ben (Year 9) performing on the saxophone in a platform concert

Brass performing in a Year 7 Instrumental Scheme Concert

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MUSIC

Double basses performing in a Year 7 Instrumental Scheme Concert

Bertie (Year 13) performing on the piano in a platform concert

Trinity Laban students performing a recital to Colfe’s pupils

Bohdan (Year 7) performing on the oboe in a Year 7 Instrumental Scheme Concert

Trinity Laban Sinfonia Strings performing a recital to Colfe’s pupils

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BUSINESS & ECONOMICS

BUSINESS BUSINESS A ‘’Permanent Strike’’ Threatens a Shortage of Twiglets….. End of the Road for the Ford Fiesta….Greggs Sausage Rolls Rise in Price – Again!....The Royal Mail Lorry Driver Who Went the Extra Mile!...these being just some of the lively discussions this year in Business A level.

In case any of our investment fund Colfeians are interested to know, after one term of trading the team accrued a net profit of $73,000…

41,265 students in England 2023 are taking Business A level, conveying genuine confidence in the subject, steadily increasing from just over 30,000 in 2019 and an increase of 2,285 or 5.9% higher than 2022. Enjoying jovial brotherly competition with Economics A level, it remains more popular both nationally and at Colfe’s School, with Economics only recording 38,325 entries in 2023. Boys continue to shun the girls in the classroom however, this is changing as we continue to challenge the gender imbalance at Colfe’s School Business, and continue to promote diversity and gender equality through our teaching. Taking the podium for popularity it could be said that by studying Business A level, one allows oneself to challenge, question and thrive in an everchanging world. Compared to studying subjects such as History that never changes, or a subject that demands you carry colouring pencils for when tackling your next choropleth map, Business A level remains befitting for a world where students’ lives will be transformed by artificial intelligence and artificial creativity. In January we received the department’s first set of AS grades where students had not received any hybrid teaching within Business A level since the optimistically quietus of Covid 19. Much to our joy the now outgoing Year 13 students had a very successful showing with their AS examinations; 28 out of 36 receiving an A grade. Freddie placed in gold position scoring 92 out of 100 marks, demonstrating near faultless execution of Lower Sixth content, closely followed by Keaton and Oliver taking silver and Jessica in bronze with 91 out of 100 marks. The department was impressed with this Upper Sixth cohort’s fortitude, tenacity and measured approach used to deal with the remaining months as they prepared for the final Cambridge International Business examinations. In September, Lower and Upper Sixth students were invited to join the annual Wharton Investment Challenge administered by the University of Pennsylvania, now in its third year of entry for Colfe’s School Business department. The competition runs across the autumn term and students learn about strategy-building, teamwork, communication, risk, diversification, company and industry analysis, and many other aspects of investing. With a starting capital of $100,000 in a stock market simulation, the objective was to generate a profit given a set brief around a set of investment objectives for a client. This year’s leading team consisted of Lower Sixth students Alex, Eleanor, Luke, Orlando and Sam. Throughout the competition, the team faced various challenges and gained valuable experiences, but their collective intelligence and common-sense approach proved crucial in our investment success. One noteworthy achievement was their shrewd investment in Lockheed Martin, driven by one member’s expert analysis of the Ukraine war, which combined with a practical understanding of complex investment terminology. ‘’While pursuing profitable investments, our team members also found enjoyment in the competition. Investing in various stocks was not only a strategic endeavour but also a source of teamworking. This light-hearted approach, combined with our analytical skills, ensured that we navigated the market with both purpose and enjoyment.’ ’

At further points within the year both our Lower and Upper Sixth students were invited to enter essay competitions such as the prestigious Cambridge University King’s College eLab competition and the London Banking and Finance Institute essay competition. Lola in Year 12 entered this, attempting to answer the following question: What financial tactics can young people use to cope with increases in the cost of living and to manage their finances more effectively? ‘’Entering the finance essay competition I found was greatly beneficial in improving my independent research skills, specifically for university. By researching my question, I was able to benefit my money management skills, which I found to be helpful as managing expenses is beginning to become more important in our lives as young people. I most enjoyed looking into how technology allows young people to be financially aware with money saving.’ ’ Essay competitions are an opportunity for students to test their understanding of Business and Economics, as well as helping them to develop crucial analysis, discussion and judgement skills applying them to familiar knowledge in interesting contexts. At the close of this academic year, we look forward to new exciting ventures in September, and building upon the academic success. Something to look forward to will be the department trip in November to the Isle of Dogs, Canary Wharf, for a day trip to appreciate that no matter how big or small, all businesses are set within a dynamic external context and how they can be impacted by international trade. Mike Cox, Head of Business

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COMPUTER SCIENCE

COMPUTER SCIENCE It has been a very busy and successful year for the Computer Science department and it is hard to believe that my first year here has passed so quickly. I have been impressed every step of the way by the enthusiasm and hard work of the Computer Science students. As well as being my first year at Colfe’s, it was also the first year that we have offered Computer Science A level and the standard of work from our first cohort has been exceptional, with over half the class achieving an A* in the recent GCiE. They have made a great start to their programming project, and I have just finished writing some fantastic subject references for their university applications. Ms Beale has worked tirelessly with our Year 11 cohort, providing lots of support in the lead up to the final exams and has been impressed with the dedication of the students. We are expecting another set of excellent results in August. All the Computer Science students participated in the Bebras Computing Challenge this year and we had a strong set of results. 68 students achieved Gold Awards, which are awarded to the students with the top ten percent of scores in the country. These students were consequently invited to participate in the prestigious Oxford University Computing Challenge. It was a tough challenge, and the students all did very well and developed their programming skills in the process. The following students should be commended for achieving a Merit Certificate. Jamie, Cameron, Nicholas, George (Year 7), Verity (Year 8), Leif (Year 11). A special mention must go to our Computer Science A level student Max in Year 12, who achieved a Distinction award. In January we hosted a Technology Inspiration Day for Computer Science students which was led by Dr Raia Hadsell, Senior Director of Research and Robotics at DeepMind. She gave a fascinating lecture on the developments in AI and robotics. It was interesting to learn about the potential uses of AI in the field of medicine and also how it can help the environment, it certainly inspired our staff and students. More students have chosen to continue studying Computer Science in Years 9, 10 and 12 than ever before. We are also starting to see an increase of take-up amongst girls, which is particularly encouraging in a traditionally maledominated subject and workplace. Several of our Year 12 Computer Science students are currently applying for Computer Science courses at university. Many thanks go to Dr Hadsell for preparing such an interesting session for our students and also for kindly donating her fee to PAFA.

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COMPUTER SCIENCE Still on the theme of robots and PAFA, many thanks must also go to PAFA for the donation to the department to purchase more Lego Robot kits to add to our collection. We have had a large number of students of all ages attending our lunchtime club, where they have been enjoying building and programming a range of robots. The robots can be programmed either with blocks of code like Scratch or using Python, which is text-based industry standard language. The students have

enjoyed working together to build and problem solve as they program their robot to complete challenges and interact with objects. In June, I attended a meeting at Reigate Grammar School with other Heads of Computer Science from our partner schools in the Trinity group. We were lucky to have the Raspberry Pi Foundation demonstrate new resources to introduce AI in the classroom. AI is hard to avoid and is becoming part of our everyday lives, so it has been exciting to

MEDIA STUDIES The inaugural Colfe's Media Studies End of Year Show took place on the 26th of April. The event is a celebration of work produced by A2 Media Studies and BTEC Creative Digital Media Production students.

In Y12 the students are required to create the opening two minutes of a commercial film, including institutional elements such as production company logos and title sequences. In Y13, the students have to make a fully released music video whilst the Y13 BTEC students had the chance to make their own short film.

This special evening was coordinated by Mr Osei-Tutu and Mr Cheung and was an opportunity to screen many of the excellent moving image projects produced by our talented Media students.

The students embraced a range of genres and styles, although they clearly enjoy creating scary content as the vast majority of them were inspired by the horror genre and produced several 'jump scares' throughout the evening!

The show comprised of an hour-long screening which showcased both Y12 and Y13 Media Studies coursework along with the Creative Digital Media Production students' Unit 10 Film Production final films.

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The BTEC Creative Digital Media Production students are to be commended for imaginative, professional and well executed short films. Sonny's was a thought-provoking and well stylised production, whilst Evan's

introduce it into our curriculum. This term, our students have been learning about the different types of AI models and how they are trained. They have also been researching a wide range of AI applications and the ethical issues surrounding its use. A huge “thanks” goes to Ms Beale, Mr Sycamore and Ms Li-Sue for their hard work and support this year. Katy Walsh, Head of Computer Science

and Thomas's were atmospheric, tense and in places, absolutely terrifying! We are so proud that our students had the opportunity to see their work on the big screen with over 120 people in the audience. We would like to thank all family and friends who attended the event along with a special mention to all of our Media Studies students for their hard work. Next stop; Hollywood! Craig Foxall, Head of Media

DRAMA

DRAMA NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR 2023 Another incredibly busy and productive year! We have had the opportunity to see so much student progress and success in the Drama department and we have seen so much young talent emerge, evolve and develop that the time has really flown by. Especially in our highlight of the year; the Summer Production of Bugsy Malone! Another highlight of the year was going to see Henry (Year 7) perform at The Donmar Warehouse in ‘Watcher on the Rhine’ alongside Patricia Hodge as her grandson. For the sixth consecutive year we have put forward students to audition for The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. Representatives of the youth theatre have come to Colfe’s and led audition workshops with 20-30 students at our very own Beardwood Theatre. As always, well over 5,000 young people audition for only 500 places. This year we were also hugely successful and maintained our track record with Matthew (Year 11) gaining a place on the technical theatre course. This means that over the last six years, 19 Colfe’s students have won places at NYT! We are immensely proud of their achievements. I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to my team for all their hard work, resilience, dedication, determination and enthusiasm in the Drama department. Danielle Sutherland, Sarah Diamond and I have collaborated effectively to create the best curriculum and co-curriculum provision for our students at Colfe’s. Ross Peters, our theatre technician, has been of great assistance on our Winter Production of ‘The Real Inspector Hound’ and to our young GCSE sound and lighting candidates he has continued to provide an excellent Technical Theatre Club and create an aesthetically pleasing set for our production of ‘Bugsy Malone’. Over 80 students in Years 7-10 auditioned for our production, and we featured approximately 35 cast members who were acting, singing and dancing, playing characters and ensemble roles, 4 band members and 20 Technical Theatre Club members helped backstage. They all deserve praise for their hard work and dedication. It has been an absolute joy to work with such a fantastic group of young, talented pupils and teachers both on and off the stage. In addition to these productions, we also held GCSE and A level performance evenings, which ranged from devised pieces to scripted extracts. Consequently, every Drama and Theatre Studies student in Years 10-13 has had at least one opportunity to perform. ‘Art’ and ‘Girls Like That’ were the Upper School productions performed throughout the year in the Beardwood Theatre. The latter were the final performances for our outgoing Year 13. We look back with nostalgia at the leading roles they played over the last 7 years in ‘School of Rock’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’, ‘Chorus of Disapproval’, ‘Grease’, ‘The Real Inspector Hound’ and the various summer and Easter schools they participated in. Goodbye to our Year 11 and 13 students who are leaving Colfe’s, we will remember you and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours.

At the other end of the school, it was lovely to see the Year 7s and 8s bring in costumes, take off their masks and do group performance assessments of Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations and James and the Giant Peach. Lower School Drama Club was well attended throughout the year. There are some talented pupils coming through the school. They have demonstrated enthusiasm, engagement, teamwork, leadership, and growing confidence in performance skills. House Drama at the start of the year in the Beardwood and the recent House Dance competition in collaboration with Mrs Rayes was a lovely reminder of the enthusiasm and wealth of performance talent our students have across the years. Both these well-attended competitions showcased great Sixth Form leadership skills. The theme this year was unity, and we were pleasantly surprised at the high standard of the young dancers coming through in the group and solo pieces. In addition to my department who have provided our students with high-quality experiences, opportunities, and unique memories, our LAMDA team of Emma Robinson, Kimberly Gabriel and Evelyn Smith have taught sessions in acting, public speaking and musical theatre to students ranging from Year 7 to 13. Last half term, over 50 students took part in the LAMDA Performance Evening to a full Beardwood Theatre of parents, friends and teachers. Two days later, approximately 100 students took their examinations. The results were outstanding with 99% Merit or Distinction. Emma Robinson and Kimberly Gabriel have left Colfe’s, but LAMDA will continue with Evelyn Smith and myself (public speaking and musical theatre). On a personal note, I have enjoyed supporting Modern Languages students with “stage fright” ahead of their language speaking examinations, launching the Sixth Form public speaking event, running Keynote Education courses “Leading an Outstanding Drama Department”, Hosting Teachers Talk radio shows and reviewing theatre on my weekly podcast Theatre Audience Podcast (please do listen). Thank you to all our students who have helped backstage on technical elements such as costume, stage management, lighting, sound and make up. Thanks to Michaela Snee for choreography, Ellen Bryden for musical support with Bugsy and Musical Theatre Club and Ian Bassett for attending, filming and photographing all our productions. I would like to extend our gratitude to all members of staff who have supported the department over the last year and those parents who have attended our performances. Furthermore, I would like to take this opportunity to send best wishes to my colleague and friend, Danielle Sutherland, who is off on maternity leave. Natalie Maher, Director of Drama

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DRAMA

A LEVEL EXAM PERFORMANCES For Component One Devising Theatre our Year 12 A level students were tasked with devising an original piece of theatre, using an extract from a chosen play as an opening stimulus. This year the students used as their stimuli for their devised piece ‘Two Faces’ by Manon Steffan Ros. The task was to extract a theme, scene or character from a chosen part of this play, and, using a practitioner, devise a piece of theatre of their own. The students proved they were more than up for this task, and throughout the term-long process, experimented with various ideas around various themes. The students researched the topics, looking at documentaries, conducting personal interviews, reading articles and looking at art forms that share this theme. Students were lucky enough to experience a two-hour workshop with their practitioner Frantic Assembly Theatre Company. Months of research, experimenting with the techniques of physical theatre and developing storylines, resulted in poignant and fantastically executed performances, which left audience members touched and inspired by the characters and narrative. Thanks to Mrs Sutherland for collaborating on this project. Natalie Maher, Director of Drama

In the words of Year 12...

THE PURPLE LIONESS “The Purple Lioness tells the story of three teenage girls working at a pub who one day learn each other’s greatest insecurities and fears. Creating the Purple Lioness was such a fun process. We were able to try lots of different scenes before writing our final draft which was really fun to get to play with. It was interesting to explore the different characters and link their struggles to the real world and teenage girls as well as create a pre-show which we had never done before and helped us kick the play off perfectly. Frantic Assembly was our chosen practitioner for our component 1 devised piece. Their techniques include physicality and movement which was something we incorporated in scenes of interaction between our three characters. A moment which stood out for this was our establishing scene for the ‘Red Lion pub’. We used props and physical movement by using our stage space to create different layers.” Evie, Izzy & Lola (Year 12)

YEAR 13 COMP 2 PERFORMANCE Our Year 13’s final performances took place in the Spring Term and consisted of monologues/duologues and two scripted pieces. The students were happy to return to the pre-Covid format allowing them to showcase their plethora of talent. The plays and monologues covered a variety of themes exploring peer pressure, friendship, morals and gender. ‘Girls Like That’ by Evan Placey performed by Eleanor, Valentina, and Darcy is a phenomenal play depicting social pressures, digital impact, and gender double standards. Co-commissioned in 2013 by Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth and West Yorkshire Playhouse and performed in 2014 at London’s Unicorn Theatre. The audience embarked on a journey following a group of girls from the young age of five to adulthood. The early reception pledges to be best friends for life, depicting their closeness and friendship to the challenges they face through adolescence. Eleanor, Valentina and Darcy’s wide range of skills, close rapport, and interaction depicted this play with the right balance of lighthearted comedy to the sensitive nature and messages displayed in the play. When their innocent, carefree nature is shed and forgotten and friendship is no longer a priority and boys, popularity, and body image are.

‘ART’ BY YASMINA REZA Written after the playwright’s friend named Serge Goldszal bought a white painting for 200,000 francs, and she told him that he “must be mad,” and then they both laughed. Later, she wondered what might have happened if her friend had not laughed. The play’s central theme is the nature of friendship and tackles the age-old question ‘What is Art’? First performed in 1994 in Paris, Art received a London premiere in 1996, starring Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Ken Stott. Earning the 1998 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, the production went on to run for a hugely successful 8 years and returned in 2016 to London Old Vic. Our performers Rosie, George, and Emily captured the art of comedy (pun intended) and certainly delivered a highly skilled performance, displaying subtle idiosyncrasies and audience interaction with a superbly dressed set that demonstrated each character’s indvidual personality, not forgetting the large blank canvas of ‘art’. We are immensely proud of our A level Drama students and commend them for their exceptional devotion, passion and hard work this year. Danielle Sutherland

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DRAMA

GCSE EXAM PERFORMANCES YEAR 10 DEVISED THEATRE

This year’s cohort of Year 10 GCSE Devised pieces were of outstanding quality. For Component One of their Drama GCSE, students are given a list of different stimuli including quotes, songs and visual images to which they are to respond with potential ideas and themes before devising a piece of theatre. As they devise these pieces, students are to engage with and use the workings of a theatre practitioner; this year the cohort devised pieces in the style of Frantic Assembly following on from a fantastic workshop with one of this prestigious theatre company’s actors who came to do workshops in our very own Beardwood Theatre with Years 10-13. Pupils have worked tirelessly and with absolute drive on these pieces since January, when the devising process began. All GCSE Drama students must be highly commended for the resilience and enthusiasm with which they approached this process; their hard work came to fruition on stage where an audience of family, teachers and friends were able to enjoy the pieces.

“We’re all in the same boat” Banksy

Pupils chose the following stimuli as a starting point for their devised theatre:

Natalie Maher, Director of Drama

YEAR 11 SCRIPTED PIECES

The themes explored in these performances ranged from love, family relationships, motherhood, social class, fate and superstition, gaslighting, religion, gentrification, neurology and the pressures of exams on young people by teachers and parents. The plays we chose included The Effect (Lucy Prebble), The Exam (Andy Hamilton), Constellations (Nick Payne), Blood Brothers (Willy Russell), 2:22 A Ghost Story (Danny Robins), The Believers (Bryony Lavery) and Once we were Mothers (Lisa Evans)

Year 11 Drama GCSE students look forward to their scripted pieces as it gives them the opportunity to demonstrate their love, talent and enthusiasm for the arts. The excitement, fear, frustration and commitment that surrounds this component of the course is very rewarding as they take creative ownership of each of their performances. Year after year the eclectic selection of plays performed by our GCSE Drama students has transported the audience beyond the realms of The Beardwood Theatre to different places and dimensions using different scenery, staging, costumes and props. Our cohort also had the pleasure and benefit of a Sound and Lighting Design candidate, which provided powerful underscoring, sound effects and atmospheric lighting.

The Drama Department loved witnessing the Year 11s flourish in their final GCSE performances, and it was superb to see a full house of supportive friends and family members. We wish our students all the best as they go forward into their A levels! Danielle Sutherland

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DRAMA

WINTER PRODUCTION

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THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND BY TOM STOPPARD Colfe’s Drama Department presented our Winter production of The Real Inspector Hound. We were excited to spread a little joy with our Winter Production in the Beardwood Theatre. We presented an evening of murder, mystery, and mind-bending melodrama performed by our Sixth Form and supported by our student technicians. The plot followed two theatre critics named Moon and Birdboot watching a ludicrous setup of a country house murder mystery, in the style of a whodunit. By chance, they become involved in the action causing a series of events that parallel the play they are watching. The play was written between 1961 and 1962 and it drew from Stoppard’s experiences as a theatre critic in Bristol. It is a parody of the stereotypical parlour mystery in the style of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, as well as of the critics watching the play, with their personal obsessions interwoven into their pompous reviews. “Who is the murderer at Muldoon Manor? And just who is the real Inspector Hound? Is it Lady Cynthia, the femme fatale chatelaine of the charming yet isolated Manor? Or could it be Simon Gascoyne, the caddish yet dashingly handsome womaniser? Or could it be Magnus, Cynthia’s mysteriously long-lost brother-in-law? Join critics Birdboot and Moon as they try to discover the answer, passing judgement on the whodunnit being played out before them in between

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munching chocolates, complaining bitterly about professional rivals, and covering up affairs with younger actresses. “ It was an absolute joy to work with such an enthusiastic and hard-working group of talented students both on and off the stage. We were proud of them all. Huge thanks to our theatre technician Ross Peters for building the set, providing all things technical and making real the vision of my Co-director Danielle Sutherland and myself. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful, creative Drama team. Big thanks to our wonderful, creative costume and prop making team in the Sixth form, Caretakers, Site Team, SLT, Catering, Office and staff Front of House helpers. We hope you enjoyed our production. Natalie Maher, Director of Drama

In the words of a cast member “The Real Inspector Hound was a great experience to be a part of. I loved that we had a smaller cast this year, we all became great friends and the lead up to the performance was great fun. Getting involved in the school production is a brilliant way to make new friends, learn new things and have an amazing time away from the stresses at school. The Real Inspector Hound was an amazing performance and a comedy that the audience loved, from the old-fashioned costumes to Mr Peters’s innovative set.” Evie (Year 12)

DRAMA

SUMMER PRODUCTION

BUGSY MALONE

Colfe’s Drama Department has dreamed of producing this show for years and we felt that this production truly showed the commitment and dedication of my team and the talent and resilience of all the Year 7-10 pupils involved both onstage and backstage. The production had 35 cast members who were acting, singing and dancing, 4 band members and 20 technical assisstants. The show sold out as soon as the tickets went on sale! The show was played to a packed Beardwood Theatre audience of teachers, students and proud parents in the sweltering heat of summer. Bugsy Malone is a 1976 gangster musical comedy film written and directed by Alan Parker. It features an ensemble cast, featuring only child actors playing adult roles, with Jodie Foster, Scott Baio and John Cassisi in major roles. The film tells the story of the rise of “Bugsy Malone” and the battle for power between “Fat Sam” and “Dandy Dan”. Set in New York City, it is a gangster movie spoof, substituting machine guns that fire gobs of whipped cream instead of bullets. The film was based loosely on events in New York and Chicago during Prohibition era, specifically the exploits of real-life gangsters such as Al Capone and Bugs Moran. It has been an absolute joy to work with such an enthusiastic and hard-working group of talented pupils both on and off the stage. We are so proud of you all. Huge thanks must go to Ross Peters and the production team for building the set, providing all things technical and making real the vision of myself and co-director Danielle Sutherland. The pupils really enjoyed the splurge guns and the front row were given disposable ponchos and the car was an absolute hit!

PRODUCTION TEAM Co-Directors Ms Maher & Mrs Sutherland

Musical Director Miss Bryden

Choreographer Miss Snee

Technical Director Mr Peters

Poster & Programme Designer Mrs Whitham

Photography Mr Bassett

Production Assistants Heidi Y8 & Imy Y8

Lighting & Sound Elena Y7, Madison Y7, Megan Y8 & Thomas Y9

Stagehands/Backstage Crew Giuliana Y7, Kat Y7 & Tyler Y8

Wardrobe Arjona Y7, Emily Y7, Ivy Y7, Jojo Y7, Katie Y7, Milena Y7 & Victoria Y7

Props & Set Making Edward Y7, Emily Y7, Frida Y7 & Max Y8

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Colfe’s Drama Department has dreamed about producing this show for years, so we are delighted to finally bring Bugsy Malone to the Beardwood Theatre with such a talented group of pupils.

Bugsy Malone is a 1976 gangster musical comedy film written and directed by Alan Parker. It features an ensemble cast, with only child actors playing adult roles, and Jodie Foster, Scott Baio and John Cassisi in major roles. The film tells the story of the rise of “Bugsy Malone” and the battle for power between “Fat Sam” and “Dandy Dan”. Set in New York City, it is a gangster movie spoof, substituting machine guns that fire gobs of whipped cream instead of bullets. The film is based loosely on events in New York and Chicago during Prohibition era, specifically the exploits of real-life gangsters such as Al Capone and Bugs Moran. It has been an absolute joy to work with such an enthusiastic and hard- working group of talented students both on and off the stage. We are proud of you all. Huge thanks must go to Ross Peters and the production team for building the set, providing all things technical and making real the vision of myself and co-director Danielle Sutherland. We would like to thank our Musical Director Ellen Bryden, the music department and the band. It has been a joy to work with Michaela Snee our brilliant choreographer. We hope you enjoy our production.

Esme (Year 9) who played Bugsy ...

CAST LIST

Razmataz, Singer & Chorus Dancer Cecilia Y7

Ritzy & Violinist Eliot Y7

Dotty Grace Y7

Louis

Captain Smolsky, Flash Frankie & Ventriloquist Natalie Y9

Blousey Brown

Henry Y7

Amelie Y10

Lena Marrelli & Pickett Cagey Joe & Shoulders

Radio Announcer, Butler & Foreign Reporter

Leon Y7

Greta Y10

Roxy Robinson Oscar De Velt & Shady

Chorus Dancer & Dance Captain

Naima Y7

Ines Y10

Fat Sam

Louella & Director’s Assistant

Keira Y7

Nicolas Y7

Maria Y10

NATALIE MAHER

Babyface, Marbini & Paper Boy

Director of Drama

Torin Y7

Emily Y8

Seymour Scoop & Foreign Reporter

Eni Y8

We would like to thank our Musical Director Ellen Bryden, the music department and the band. It has been a joy to work with Michaela Snee our brilliant choreographer. Natalie Maher, Director of Drama

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s Maya Y10 Saxophone Ben Y9 Drum Trombone Benjamin Y8 Hurley Hewes Guitar Mr Mr Bass Y12 Trumpet Kian inet Mr Stowe Piano Mr Newberry Clar

Loretta

Alice Y8

Bronx Charlie

Fizzy

Euan Y8

Tallulah

Laughing Boy & Ventriloquist Dummy

Isla Y9

Harry Y8

Undertaker & Chorus Dancer

Bangles

Christopher Y8

BAND

Knuckles

Isabelle Y8

Izzie Y9

Yonkers

Dandy Dan

Katarina Y8

James Y9

Angelo

Benny Lee & Waitress

Michael Y8

Lottie Y9

Snake Eyes

Tillie & Policeman

Sebastian Y8

Doodle

Velma, English Reporter & Chorus Dancer

Naomi Y9

Tara Y8

Matilda Y9

Undertaker & Chorus Dancer Turma Y8

Looney Bergonzi, Policeman & Chorus Dancer Zoe Y8

Leroy, O’Dreary, Pop Becker & Barber Elsa Y9

Bugsy Malone Esme Y9

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My Bugsy Malone experience - rehearsing for Bugsy was so much fun and soon became the highlight of my week even in those last few stressful rehearsals where we didn’t know if the show was going to go well. The show really came together with the last few rehearsals and once we got to get in our costumes (which I loved) and use the props - specifically the splurge guns which we had a splurge gun fight with after the last performance. I remember having a couple of times when I freaked out a bit, but everyone was so supportive of each other and after doing the show we had really built a family. I have made so many unlikely friends from all different years and I won’t forget this experience, I’m so proud of all of us as a cast, and so grateful for the people who helped that happen.”

Quotes from cast, crew and band “I loved being a part of Bugsy Malone. I played Shakedown Louis and really enjoyed getting pied too!” Henry (Year 7) “I played Ritzy, part of Fat Sam’s gang and it was a very fun experience. This was my first show at Colfe’s.” Eliot (Year 7) “Doing the show was a really great way to engage with drama and make new friends out of my year group” James (Year 9) “Playing so many roles in the show was fun, I felt like I was a real contribution to the show! Being Babyface was so fun as it was more of a comedic character. Thank you so much to Ms Maher and Mrs Sutherland for giving me this fantastic opportunity!” Torin (Year 7) “Being part of the Bugsy team was amazing as the backstage atmosphere was wonderful and I made loads of new friends, and everyone was supportive! I was playing Lena Marelli and Pickett which was fun as they were both such opposite characters.” Keira (Year 7)

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DRAMA “I loved the fact that we became a family as we practiced and supported each other with development of the show and I feel really proud of what we accomplished together.” Chrístopher (Year 8) “Bugsy Malone was an amazing experience to connect with other year groups and create something we were all proud of. It was brought to life with all the extravagant props and set!” Amelie (Year 10) “Doing Bugsy was a fun experience which ended up looking so good. I loved the thrill of having to costume change in a short amount of time and doing many different styles of dancing.” Ines (Year 10) “I am very happy that I was able to be part of this cast. I had lots of fun, and made many friends in other year groups. Thank you Ms Maher and Mrs Sutherland.” Lottie (Year 9) “I got to hang out with all my friends and always have a laugh with them backstage. Splurging people was so much fun” Leon (Year 7) “I really enjoyed performing in Bugsy, it was so fun splurging and dancing and getting to know new people.” Euan (Year 8) “Being part of the cast as well as getting to bond with all the different year groups was such a wonderful experience; II look forward to doing it next year!” Eni (Year 8)

Crew “I enjoyed the play as a stagehand since the atmosphere was very exciting. It was also nice to see the development of the show throughout the practices.” Kat (Year 7) “Being part of the tech crew and creating and setting up props was very fun and a new experience for me. I enjoyed helping with hair makeup and costume!” Ivy (Year 7) “Being part of the hair and makeup for Bugsy Malone was an amazing experience, especially running round everywhere!” Victoria (Year 7)

Band “I want to say how amazing it was in the band for Bugsy Malone. The energy was incredible, and the music was so catchy that it was impossible not to tap your feet along with it. Being part of such a talented group of musicians was an unforgettable experience. The whole production was so well put together, and it was an honour to contribute to it. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to be part of something so special. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication in putting on such a fantastic show!”

Audience “Loved it, very good - Babyface was the best!” Piers (Year 7) “I loved the acting as it was incredible! I loved Fat Sam!” William (Year 7)

MUSICAL THEATRE CLUB This club open to ALL students is a brilliant collaboration of Co-Curricular between the Drama and Music departments, which culminated in Bugsy singing, acting and later dancing rehearsals. Really keen and enthusiastic students with some strong talent emerging in Year 7 and 8 especially. A highlight was working with the students on “If Only You Would Listen” from the hit musical School of Rock. Natalie Maher, Director of Drama We rehearsed the arrangement of ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey from Season One of Glee which was performed in the Autumn term concert, accompanied by Alex Grey on electric guitar and Rufus Grey on drums. The students really enjoyed performing with a live band and the performance was well received by both parents and other students. Ellen Bryden “In my view, Musical Theatre Club has been such a fun experience, as I learned new things, like how to project my voice, show emotion in my face whilst still being able to sing clearly and to know that in theatre, you work as a team to make something happen.” Naima (Year 7)

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“My time in Musical Theatre Club so far has been enjoyable. Every session we would sing songs, create choreography for performances and learn all of the fundamental parts to become a great performer. It was an amazing experience and I cannot wait for the years to come.” Cecilia (Year 7) “When I went to the first Musical Theatre Club it was extremely enjoyable and helped me develop my voice as a singer. I also always had lots of fun during our Tuesday lunchtime slots and you get to play in concerts for the school which is always a great place to show off your talent.” Leon (Year 7) “In the last year I attended Musical Theatre Club on a Tuesday lunchtime. I think it boosted my confidence in singing in front of an audience, by going to the music concerts where we would perform what we had practiced in the lunchtime sessions. This was also a great opportunity for meeting some of the other students who enjoyed performing just like me.” Grace (Year 7)

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KS3 DRAMA

Y7 James and the Giant Peach Class An incredible effort from our Year 7 & 8 pupils on their end of year exam performances – they all made such an effort with props and costumes for James and The Giant Peach (Year7) and Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations (Year 8).

In the words of the pupils... “The end of year drama exam was amazing! I felt very ready for my exam of James and the Giant Peach, I played earthworm and very much felt that I played the character well.” Charlie (Year 7) “James and the Giant Peach was really fun and putting the costumes together was the best part. Learning the rehearsals were really fun as you got to do it in your groups.” Sirenna (Year 7) “Drama lessons throughout the year were super as we put on many performances by ourselves which was really exciting and helped me with my stage presence.” Keira (Year 7) “It was so fun to be able to act with my friends and being able to make my costume and learn lines, it was a breath of fresh air from all the stress of EOY exams. Although it was an exam that was for my grade, it was very enjoyable” Anon Year 8

Pupil feedback: “I enjoyed Drama Club very much this year, it was engaging and a lot of fun and games were played. Thanks to Drama Club I feel much more confident to go on stage and perform. I would look forward to Wednesdays every week because Drama Club would always brighten up my day. The sixth formers did an amazing job, I am sure every person that went appreciated it very much.” Elena (Year7) “Drama Club was incredibly fun, and I enjoyed it a lot. The sixth formers made it even better. I liked playing the EastEnders game.” Dexter (Year 7) “The Drama Club was incredibly unique and unlike other clubs I enjoyed it quite a bit, more people should go, it’s underrated, and the games we played there were interesting to play.” James (Year 7) “The EastEnders games were fun, and I loved how we created our own plays in situation.” Piers (Year 7) Y7 James and the Giant Peach

LOWER SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB Drama club this year has been attended by our Year 7 and 8 pupils. It has served as an excellent platform for those who want to develop existing performance skills, build confidence, make new friends and most of all have fun. Our regular attendees have benefited from devising mini performances, improvisation games and working on short scripts. Building on the success of last year our A level Drama student ambassadors worked closely with Mrs Sutherland and Ms Maher to provide workshop plans that were delivered each week in Drama Club. The pupils enjoyed this so much and formed excellent relationships with each other.

SIXTH FORM LEADERSHIP

Y8 Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations

“Taking over Year 7 & 8 Drama Club has been so exciting for us all. We love to engage with the lower years and really get involved with different games and role plays throughout. From a leadership perspective, we have worked well together, all contributing ideas for different drama games that everyone loves to play. We have found that leading the drama club has been fun for both us and the younger students and allows the students to get to know each other in a welcoming environment.” Lola, Evie, and Izzy (Year 12) COLFEIAN 2022/23

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FRANTIC ASSEMBLY PRACTITIONER THEATRE WORKSHOP

Students in Years 10 and 12 have used the London-based, internationally renowned physical theatre company Frantic Assembly as their chosen practitioner for beginning to create their devised pieces this year and found it incredibly beneficial to have an actor from Frantic Assembly come to Colfe’s Beardwood Theatre and conduct an intensive workshop, aimed at experimenting with various physical theatre skills. Additionally, Years 11 and 13 also attended the workshops. The workshops were an excellent opportunity for students to develop their devising skills and explore different approaches to creating new work. They provided students with a bank of skills to take away and use in their formal Component 1 Devising practical coursework and in their Component 2 performances. Frantic Assembly promotes the physical confidence students need to be brave and bold with the material they are making. It uses production specific exercises from shows like ‘Lovesong’, ‘Stockholm’, ‘Beautiful Burnout’ and ‘Othello’. The practitioner instructed students on the various devising processes used by Frantic Assembly when working collaboratively to produce a multi-disciplined performance, which transferred perfectly to their own productions. It addressed the skills required for students to enhance their abilities in the areas of performance, movement, directing and critical analysis including the opportunity to workshop movement into meaning. Overall, the work promoted communication, collaboration and team building. Participation in the workshop was a significant opportunity to gain practical insight into the workings of theatre practitioners who are part of the GCSE & A level curriculum. “It has been wonderful seeing our enthusiastic drama students interacting with dynamic theatre practitioners in The Beardwood once again.” Natalie Maher, Director of Drama

YEAR 11

YEAR 12 & 13

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YEAR 10

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TECHNICAL THEATRE REPORT 2023 Having now had my first full academic year at Colfe’s, it is wonderful to reflect and see the huge amount that Technical Theatre has achieved this year. Technical Theatre Club has seen great growth and is proving increasingly popular, we have had a multitude of GCSE and A level Performances, and two very successful productions which were in part prepared and crewed by students from Year 7 all the way up to Year 13. There is much to celebrate, and lots for the students to be proud of.

their own take on their scripted work. I’ve been impressed with the students putting their knowledge to use with the lighting, sound and set designs they have wanted to implement into their pieces, creating a variety of scenes ranging from a haunted flat to a postapocalyptic bunker. We are fortunate to have our Beardwood Theatre space, and the students are already thinking about how to utilise all the technical assets we have to enhance their performances.

Technical Theatre Club now has roughly 80 members involved, with many coming to the weekly sessions and others who are involved with the school shows. This year, I have focussed on diversifying what we explore in these sessions to highlight other elements of production beyond lighting and sound, which has originally been the focus. During our sessions this year, we have explored set design, costume, makeup and puppetry. This wider portfolio of work has opened new possibilities of what students can explore and skills they can develop in theatre, which has translated into their drama curricular work as well as the school shows. Students can see clearly how the different facets of theatre come together to create a unified final whole, helping to develop their independent learning as they focus on their particular production discipline, before coming together as a team to create some theatrical masterpieces. As well as learning lots of new skills, the sessions have also been fun! It was fantastic having Sonny in Year 13 run some makeup workshops, helping to fill in knowledge which I lacked as well as adding work to his own personal portfolio. The costume game has been particularly popular and will certainly make a return next year.

This year, we have had two GCSE Technical Design candidates, focusing on lighting and sound disciplines rather than acting. Both those students have been diligent members of Tech Club since long before I joined in the summer of last year and have helped teach younger members this year. They have also been involved in several school shows, and all this extra-curricular experience has culminated in some spectacular and clever lighting and sound designs that have helped to enhance their respective groups’ performances. The opportunity to design and run technical elements at the calibre they are currently working at is something I did not experience until I was at university. It is fantastic that we are able to offer such specialist courses here at Colfe’s.

The standard of GCSE and A level work has been incredibly high this year, with students devising their own work as well as putting

This year, we have also been fortunate to see many productions in London’s West End and beyond with every year group. GCSE and A level Drama students have seen a number of productions specifically to help with their live evaluation segments of their exam papers. I have been running several lessons focusing on production elements after we have seen the plays, and students have made excellent progress from the start to the end of the year. They have shown great engagement in these sessions and can see how the various production elements amplify the performance

as a whole and help immerse the actors more deeply in their character. This helped to build a solid foundation of knowledge ready for their exams, and more greatly appreciate the amount of work that goes into putting on a professional theatre production. Our two school productions this year were a spectacular success and ran incredibly smoothly, in no small part because of the students that were involved in the production teams. Students assisted in a variety of ways, with some helping to build and paint props and set in advance on the run up to the show, and others actively programming and running the various lighting and sound equipment for the show itself. For our Winter Production of The Real Inspector Hound, our production team was mainly comprised of students in Year 11 & Year 13 who are very experienced with putting on shows at this point. They proved invaluable for helping to put the show together, as the Winter production always has a quick turnaround with auditions, rehearsals, and the show all coming together in the span of just a couple of months. In previous schools I have worked at, students were not given the trust, responsibility or opportunity to be involved to the same degree that they are here at Colfe’s. They have become proficient technicians and adept producers in their time here, and they were sorely missed for the summer production when they had their heads down for exams. I wish them all the luck in the world for their future endeavours, and know that with their diligence, tenacity, and positive work ethic, they will achieve remarkable things in theatre and beyond. Luckily (for me most of all), we have a new generation of keen, determined and

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DRAMA hardworking technicians and production assistants ready to take on the challenge. For our Summer Production of Bugsy Malone, we had our youngest ever production team, made up of mostly Year 7 students with some Year 8 & 9 students amongst the bunch. They did phenomenally well with most doing something completely new to them and were great at supporting each other as well as the cast. It was a steep learning curve, but one they took on brilliantly as we made use of a live band, haze machines, a pedal car, and just a small amount of splurge... I’m incredibly proud of their efforts, the show they helped to create, and I’m excited to see what they will achieve in the future. I’m predicting many more GCSE Technical Design candidates in the years to come. I’d like to thank all the students and staff for helping to make my first full year here at Colfe’s as enjoyable as it has been. Special thanks in particular go to the rest of the wonderful Drama Department who have shown nothing but endless support, Mr Bassett who has provided excellent advice and wisdom in regards to the many eclectic events that happen in this special place, and to Mr Morgan, the previous technician who left me such a strong foundation to work from and has continued to come in on occasion and help rig some new equipment to build and develop our technical and backstage capabilities. I look forward to sharing more knowledge and a joy of theatre with students, staff and parents next year. Ross Peters,Theatre Technician

LAMDA Over 100 students had lessons this year. Studying Acting, Verse and Prose, Public Speaking, Musical Theatre and Shakespeare Syllabus. Over 50 students were involved in the LAMDA showcase performance evening showcase. It was a big and brave thing to perform for the first time in a few years to a full 130-capacity Beardwood Theatre. We were delighted with our Lamda results for Summer 2023 with 99% Distinction/Merit, with 100% receiving their pass grade, from Grade 2 all the way up to Gold Medals. We shared a successful presentation of the examination pieces at the Performance Evening in the Beardwood theatre to friends and family of the LAMDA students. At Colfe’s we are proud to offer our pupils a wide range of LAMDA sessions including Acting, Musical Theatre, Public Speaking, Reading for Performance and Shakespeare study and are equally successful in all disciplines. We look forward to continuing towards their next exams and welcoming in the new Year 7 Students in September.

Student feedback: “I enjoyed as it was a fun experience and got a Distinction” William (Year 7) “It was very fun and helpful! It is a really good experience, I did Grade 2 solo and got a Merit.” Eliot (Year 7) “It was so fun this year! Thanks to Miss Smith and Ms Maher for helping me achieve a Grade 4 Public Speaking distinction!” Torin (Year 7) We are always thrilled to see so many students wanting to take part in our continued and varied LAMDA sessions. Not only are the sessions good for budding actors and performers to hone their skills but they

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also offer an opportunity for pupils to help children grow in confidence, presentation and communication skills, creative problem solving, discipline, text study or own writing skills and develop their creativity in a welcoming and friendly environment. LAMDA helps students in every aspect of life to be confident presenting in any situation, with strong voice, body language and engagement with others. On a personal note, I would like to express my thanks to all the students for their passion and hard work. I have truly enjoyed teaching you all this year and am proud of you. However, I am sad to be saying goodbye to Colfe’s School. Over the two years as LAMDA Co-ordinator, I have had the privilege of working with such incredibly talented young performers, and wonderful young people who I have seen grow in confidence and ability. It has also been an honour to work with such a strong and inspiring team in the Drama Department. Ms Maher, Mrs Sutherland and Mr Peters have all been key to making the weekly LAMDA sessions and the exam run smoothly and successfully. I will miss being a part of this incredibly talented team, both as colleagues and as friends. I know the department will continue to inspire each new generation of students with the wonderful Drama run at Colfe’s School. Evelyn Smith will be the new LAMDA Co-ordinator and I know she is looking forward to working with everyone to continue your LAMDA journey over the years. She will continue to develop and expand the increasingly popular LAMDA Syllabus study at Colfe’s School. And continue to develop these lovely and talented young performers. I wish every student all the success in their future studies and to keep enjoying expressing yourself through LAMDA in life. Emma Robinson

DRAMA

NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE I am pleased to announce that Matthew in Year 11 has secured a place in the highly competitive National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. This is a huge achievement as over 5,000 students apply each year for just 500 places. For the 6th year we offered an energetic workshop with NYT practitioners in The Beardwood. We are incredibly proud of all our students who auditioned this year. Taking part in the audition process alone is an exciting experience as it is an opportunity to work with an industry professional. Often it takes hard grit, determination and resilience to get through a round of auditions. The National Youth Theatre is a wonderful stepping stone for our ambitious and talented students. Previously in 2022 three students were invited to join the NYT, one student in 2021, three students in 2020, five students the year before and six students the year before that. This is testament to the hard work that my team and technician have put into preparing our students and nurturing their talent both onstage and backstage. This means that over the last 6 years, 19 Colfe’s students have become members of NYT as both actors and theatre technicians. This is quite a track record!

From Colfe’s Theatre Technician: “Matthew in Year 11 was our Technical Theatre applicant for the well renowned and incredibly competitive National Youth Theatre. Despite being one of the youngest applicants (with many being in their late teens and early twenties) he successfully secured a place as a Sound Technician for their upcoming summer workshop. This will be a phenomenal experience and one that I look forward to hearing all about in September”. Ross Peters,Theatre Technician “I’d like to say a big thank you to Mr Peters and Ms Maher for helping me in the interview preparation session”. Matthew (Year11)

Many of our older NYT members are currently auditioning for upcoming NYT productions and I am looking forward to reporting on their successes. Natalie Maher, Director of Drama

SUMMER SCHOOL FROZEN Friday 14th July saw the Beardwood Theatre turned from the heat of summer to the icy cold of the frozen north as 24 students came together to perform the smash hit musical Frozen. This year marks the 10th year of the annual summer school which offer students the opportunity to rehearse and perform a musical in just five days. Frozen tells the story of two sisters, one with magical powers that she must learn to control. At its core, Frozen is about sacrificial love, a truth delivered in the words of Olaf, the goofy snowman created by Elsa, the snow queen. Students from Years 6-10 took part in creating the magical world of Arendelle under the direction of Mr Gregg and a team from RMarkable Arts. Leading the

cast were Enioluwafe as Elsa and Cecilia as her sister Anna. They both showed off their fine voices and strong acting skills. Leon took on the role of Kristoff accompanied by his trusty reindeer Sven, played by Turmalina. They both delivered great performances with many comic moments. The true comedy came from Pedro as the loveable Olaf, stealing the show with his song and dance routine, Summer. A fun week was crowned with a performance to family and friends who clapped and cheered their way through the story. Richard Gregg, RMarkable Arts

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DRAMA

TRIPS KEY STAGE 3 THEATRE TRIPS This year the KS3 drama cohort have been lucky enough to attend many professional theatre co-curriculum productions during our school trips, with the entire cohort of Years 7 and 8 and drama students in Year 9 all experiencing a highly acclaimed West End production. A wonderful opportunity for student engagement, harnessing creativity and honing their evaluation skills.

YEAR 7 FROZEN, THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE In February, for their first drama trip as Colfe’s students, all the Year 7 pupils attended a matinee of Frozen, an aesthetically pleasing musical theatre adaptation of the much-loved Disney film. This production successfully brought together work that the students had done and afforded detailed discussions analysing and evaluating the elements of stagecraft once back in the classroom. In the words of the pupils... “I absolutely loved the Frozen trip. The journey, the service, the coach and the organization. I think it’s an experience I will never forget as it’s the first time that a school I went to was involved and bothered with arts and theatre. I remember it very vividly; We got rounded up and went over to the coach. A lot of people were excited including me. We got on the coach which was so fun: I got to hang out with my friends, everyone was laughing, I bonded with some people and just had an amazing time. We arrived and I was truly amazed.

recall many times where I was in stitches laughing and other times in awe of special effects or costume changes. All the choreography was amazing, the costumes were stunning, and the acting was great!” Henry (Year 7) ” The Frozen production had very good costumes and the transitions to new costumes and it made it looked like as if it was an actual movie” (Year 7) “Watching Frozen was a very pleasant experience, very moving, or should I say, chilling?” Chloe (Year 7) “I thought Frozen had great costumes, lighting, a good set, and a notable set of actors. I enjoyed it very much.” Sam (Year 7) “The special effects were amazing.” Charlie (Year 7) “The Frozen play was fun to watch because of all the effects like the lighting and the sudden dress change in the middle of the play was impressive.” Chryssie (Year 7)

YEAR 8 BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE ADELPHI THEATRE

I was on crutches at the time, but it did not ruin my experience. The theatre was incredible, with the set being out of this world. It was so exciting watching it with my friends. The actors were amazing and showed emotion in every line. Every single scene was performed with amazing quality compared to all the other West End performances we could have seen. The singing was on point and the voice control was just spectacular. The performance was precise to the famous film on the TV. If I could experience it for the first time again, I would.” Naima (Year 7) “The trip was incredible to be able to watch my first ever West End musical with my friends from school. The teacher was very kind and helpful.” Charlie (Year 7) “The choreography was great, and the effects were great.” Piers (Year 7) “I loved the trip to Frozen. The choreography was really good, the costumes were amazing and the special effects made the whole experience so much better” Sirenna (Year 7) “I really enjoyed Frozen as it was incredible to see the transitions of scenes. Sometimes actors would disappear through the floor or a whoosh of wind and the actor was in another costume. In all it was amazing to see the play!” Roan (Year 7) “I really enjoyed the play Frozen as the costumes were well put together and the actors expressed their characters through every single movement, word and action in this play; overall amazing!” Marli (Year 7) “I thoroughly enjoyed going to see Frozen and it was one of the first times I have come out of the theatre feeling absolutely blown away! I can

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In January, all the Year 8 pupils attended a matinee of Back to The Future, a high-tech special effects spectacle adaptation of the film classic. This production successfully brought together work that the students had done and afforded detailed discussions analysing and evaluating the elements of stagecraft once back in the classroom. The Year 8 2023 theatre trip to see ‘Back to the Future (the musical)’ was amazing. The musical itself was phenomenal, with brilliant sound and visual effects, catchy and upbeat musical numbers, and even a flying car! I loved how the actors portrayed the characters they were playing and the comedic timing was perfect! I really enjoyed going with my friends and I can’t wait for the upcoming theatre trip in Year 9.” Turma (Year 8)

DRAMA

YEAR 9 GUYS AND DOLLS, THE BRIDGE THEATRE

Year 9 Drama students recently attended a matinee performance of ‘Guys & Dolls’ at The Bridge Theatre with the purpose of being able to analyse and evaluate a live piece of theatre in preparation for Year 10 GCSE. The students found it incredibly inspiring and came away with plenty of detailed discussions for their live theatre evaluations. The Bridge transformed the auditorium for one of the greatest musicals of all time. It has more hit songs, more laughs and more romance than any show ever written. The seating is wrapped around the action while the immersive tickets transported the audience to the streets of Manhattan and the bars of Havana in the unlikeliest of love stories. Our Year 12 students were fortunate to have a double period of Drama on a Thursday afternoon so accompanied Year 9 to see this fantastic tour de force 5-star production.

In November Year 10 saw this five-time Olivier Award Winning production. “The play Life of Pi was one of the best plays I have ever been to! The set design was so intricate and visually stunning. The use of projection and lighting really brought the story to life and made the audience feel like they were on the journey with Pi. Each actor brought so much depth and emotion to their characters which was very inspiring and helped me towards my characterization for my GCSE devising. I was particularly impressed with the actor playing Pi - he was able to convey so much with just his facial expressions and body language. The story itself was so captivating and thought-provoking. It dealt with themes of survival, faith, and the human condition in a way that was both beautiful and heartbreaking. Overall, I was blown away by the production, and I am so glad we were taken to see the play as it helped me gather such a larger perspective in drama itself and has opened my mind to lots of ideas.” Maria (Year 10)

YEAR 11 GCSE DRAMA WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, LONDON COUNTY HALL

“I loved watching Guys and Dolls; I really was not expecting it to be as lively as it was. The stage had to have been my favourite part, I loved the way it moved around so much to create so many different settings. It felt so interactive and like you were part of the show which I’ve never seen before, but I absolutely loved it. I remember being so shocked at my favourite song, which was, of course, “Sit down you’re rocking the boat” because of the impact it had on me, I was thinking about it for weeks after. I hope I re-watch this show at some point, I would definitely recommend!” Esme (Year 9)

GCSE AND A LEVEL THEATRE TRIPS As in previous years our A level and GCSE students have experienced numerous exciting theatre trips and workshops this year. We have seen a plethora of different styles of theatre.

YEAR 10 LIFE OF PI, WYNDHAM’S THEATRE

A landmark stage production that we wanted our students to witness. From the moment we stepped inside the magnificent surroundings of London County Hall and experienced the intensity and drama of Agatha Christie’s gripping courtroom story of justice, passion and betrayal in a unique courtroom setting. Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high - will Leonard survive the shocking witness testimony, will he be able to convince the jury, and you of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose? Our students wrote some strong theatre evaluations on this thought provoking partly immersive piece.

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DRAMA

YEAR 11 GCSE SET TEXTS: THE TEMPEST, GLOBE THEATRE

THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE AT THE ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON. In October 2022 the Year 11, 12 and 13 drama students went to see The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Rose Theatre in Kingston. This was the first major London production of Bertolt Brecht’s ‘play within a play’ for 25 years and having been delayed due to Covid was a great opportunity for us to see the play which we studied for GCSE. It tells the story of Grusha, played by Carrie Hope Fletcher, a servant girl who rescues an abandoned child, taking on the role of mother and her journey which ultimately leads to her meeting the corrupt judge Azdak and his unusual view on justice, culminating in the “Chalk Circle’.” Izzy (Year 12)

A LEVEL TRIPS THE CRUCIBLE AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE IN THE OLIVIER THEATRE. “Accompanied by Year 13 A level students we saw The Crucible. The stage space was very innovative using a waterfall feature which created an ominous mood and atmosphere for the audience as we entered The Olivier auditorium. This, accompanied by the choral singing, made it an engaging piece for a modern audience. Seeing Erin Dougherty was also a great experience after admiring her work in ‘The Crown’ as young Princess Anne.” Lola (Year 12)

OTHELLO, FRANTIC ASSEMBLY, THE LYRIC HAMMERSMITH. “Frantic Assembly’s modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s Othello was incredible. From the movement sequences to the fight scenes everything managed to communicate to us perfectly. It was an amazing night, and we were really inspired by the movement sequences and expressionism, so much that we decided to take inspiration for our own piece, The Purple Lioness.” Evie (Year 12)

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DRAMA

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A LEVEL ART

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A LEVEL ART

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A LEVEL ART

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A LEVEL ART

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A LEVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

100

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A LEVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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101

A LEVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

102

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A LEVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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103

GCSE ART

104

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GCSE ART

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105

GCSE ART

106

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DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY In Design & Technology Textiles, we teach all students about Health and Safety and basic skills, first and foremost. They are then taught easy-to-understand textiles skills and techniques, which expand through Years 8 and 9 to create a strong skill set to take into KS4. The techniques they are taught are linked to a diverse range of relevant artists and designers and we show the creative process from developed to refined ideas, through to making a product. Students from Year 7 up to Year 11 use different selections of resources and techniques to build their skill base, developing their own resources and samples in order to experiment and personalize their craft. They make examples to show design development to final outcome. We give suggestions for relevant artists and designers to base the techniques and projects on, then take them through developing initial ideas and learning first how to do and then further refine the techniques until they have their own product. In Year 7 they work with the theme of “creepy crawlies” and make a decorated, fully lined and zipped pencil case. Year 8 study the context of “underwater” to make a swimming bag decorated using the heat presses, Posca pens, disperse dyes, stencils and vinyl. Year 9 start to use patterns to make festival bucket hats as a foundation for garment-making at GCSE. They also create a fabric lamp, honing the skills they have used in Years 7 and 8. In KS4 we show the students many other techniques, including tiedye, applique, foiling, free-machine embroidery, laser cutting, computerized sewing, lino cutting etc. It is our intention that every student goes home with a well-made, usable product of which they can be proud. In Design and Technology Resistant Materials, health and safety are paramount, and all our students are encouraged to be confident with the machinery they are using to create their products. We cover timber and electronics skills in Year 7 and develop these further in Years 8 and 9, ensuring our students have all the skills and understanding to be able to design independently in their GCSE Design and Technology. Year 7 have made a speaker, using rabbet joints and acrylic, Year 8 a nightlight using pine and custom laser-cut acrylic, and Year 9 have made desk tidies using plywood and pewter keyrings. In the summer term, Design and Technology took 15 Year 10 pupils to visit a state-of-theart social enterprise called Fashion Enter in Haringey, where they were shown the process of designing a garment from brief, through printing the fabric, cutting the pattern pieces (with lasers, in bulk and by hand), the machining processes involved in creating garments, as well as quality control procedures, labelling and packing. The students found this very enjoyable, and it allowed them to put a lot of their theoretical studies into a real-world context. Rosie Mott, Head of Design and Technology COLFEIAN 2022/23

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION

PHYSICAL EDUCATION SPORTING EXCELLENCE AT COLFE’S SCHOOL: BOTH ON THE PLAYING FIELDS AND IN THE CLASSROOM At Colfe’s School, our perspective on sporting success is holistic, transcending both the sports field and into our classrooms. A year ago, I shared insights on the multifaceted nature of victory and success within our school, illustrating that triumphs come in various forms, tailored uniquely for each individual. This year we have seen many successes, and the PE team would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of these in this report. THE ESSENCE OF WINNING Whether it’s about scaling personal heights, enhancing individual performance, evolving tactics within a team, or even fostering better synergy amongst team players, we celebrate every achievement. True triumph often lies in the pride of an exceptionally played match or even in overcoming a personal challenge. It isn’t about the final score, but the journey, the effort, the heart, and the spirit displayed both on and off the field. SUPPORT, TEAMWORK, AND RESILIENCE Across the breadth of sports, and even in the classroom, we encourage our students to be each other’s pillars during challenges, respecting every effort, and drawing strength from unity. Whether things are sailing smoothly or facing turbulent waters, the true spirit of being a sporty pupil at Colfe’s lies in supporting teammates and acknowledging efforts. ACADEMIC TRIUMPHS IN SPORTS EDUCATION While we cherish the endeavours on the playing field, this year our students have worked exceptionally hard in the classroom. I’m delighted to share the grades of our GCSE PE and BTEC sports and exercise science students and would like to thank Miss Russell, Mr Potter, Miss Willats-Barrie, Mr Bateson and Ms Billings for supporting the pupils so effectively throughout the year. GCSE Results Grade 9s: 14 Grade 8s: 5 Grade 7s: 3 Grade 6: 1 Y13 BTEC Results D*D*: 1 D*D: 4 MM: 1

A level Equivalent A*A* A*A CC

Such academic results mirror the dedication, passion, and commitment our students exhibit, drawing parallels with the sportsmanship values we regard so highly. PURPOSEFUL ENGAGEMENT: THE HEART OF THE PROCESS Purposeful engagement, we believe, remains the keystone of success. This engagement, be it on the field or in the classroom, fosters reflection, growth, and a passion that sets each pupil on their own unique journey. As the Director of Sport at Colfe’s School, I am privileged to witness the growth, determination, and passion of our students every day. Whether they’re on the pitch, in the classroom, or when representing our school at various levels, their dedication shines through. To our pupils: As we celebrate a fantastic year, both in our on-field endeavours and academic achievements, the underlying message remains constant – passion, dedication, and purposeful engagement are the real victories which help craft and shape your pathway to success - be that at an International playing level or providing you with an opportunity to socialise actively with your friends. Stay passionate, stay actively engaged in future years and your efforts will be rewarded.

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This year, we bid farewell to a few members of our sports staff, who have been an integral part of our departmental success. • Miss Emma Willats-Barrie who, after dedicating five illustrious years as Head of Netball, has decided to take up a new role at the school she attended as a pupil to oversee the Netball and BTEC programme. Her unwavering commitment has sculpted many of our young athletes, and she will be sorely missed by many. • Mr Kimberely – Mr Kimberely has been a most influential teacher both on the football pitch and in the Junior School. He leaves us to overview a number of schools’ PE programmes in the local area. We are grateful for his invaluable contributions and wish him every success in his new role. • Mr Gabor Szell – Our water polo teams’ success can be credited to Mr Szell’s energy, passion and love of life. His sessions were fun and engaging and the pupils thoroughly enjoyed working with him. He moves on to become Head of Swimming and Water Polo at St. Dunstan’s school. We wish him every success and look forward to seeing him on the competitive circuit. While farewells are always challenging, they also pave the way for new beginnings, and we are excited to welcome a new team of talented sports teachers and coaches to our department next year. Nicci Rayes, Director of Sport

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

AQUATICS SWIMMING Once again, we have had an incredibly busy year of Aquatics with brilliant numbers at training and continued success against local schools. These include multiple wins against Bromley High, St Dunstan’s, Bancrofts, Forest, Alleyn’s and Eltham to name but a few. There have been exciting results for many of our individuals who achieved PBs (Personal best times) in a variety of events at the Kent County Championships, these pupils include Ben (Y8), Daisy (Y8), James (Y9), Leo (Y10), Matthew (Y11) and Jacob (Y12). In addition, Noemie (Y11), Zach (Y12), and Henry (Y11) qualified for the London Regionals with Henry medalling in six events at the gold in the U16 fly! Henry was also busy over the summer break qualifying for the 200m IM final at the British National Summer Championships. WATER POLO With the continued success of our swimming programme comes new highs in water polo with a number of pupils now playing at National Level; Issy (Y8), Lily (Y10), Jakab (Y11) and Jack (Y11). We also have to congratulate Jakab (Y11) and Lily (Y10) who have been selected

to train for the GB U19 and U17 water polo teams after their recent performance at the regional and talent centre competitions. There have been many notable team achievements, these include U15 girls finishing in 3rd place in the ESSA National Cup Final, U18 girls finishing in 3rd place in ESSA Plate Final and the U18 Boys finishing in 4th place ESSA Plate National Final – this is an incredibly special team and definitely one to watch!!! Made up of majority of U16s with particular mention to; Edward (Y9), William (Y10), Jakab (Y11), Jack (Y11), Thomas (Y11), Oscar (Y11), Matthew (Y11), Henry (Y11), Max (Y12), Daniel (Y12), Isaac (Y12), Damir (Y13) and of course George (Y11), Ollie (Y11) and Ted (Y11) who all played an enormous part in the U18 boys qualifying for this final which was a great achievement! CHARITY SWIM IN HONOUR OF HARRY NOYCE Every year our swim team chooses a charity to raise money for and this year the charity has never been closer to our hearts. Both Junior and Senior pupils came together to swim to ‘Honfleur’ (France) the destination of a recent family holiday in honour and remembrance of our amazing sportsman and outstanding water polo player Harry Noyce

(Y8). The 144-mile (232km) journey translated to 9216 lengths which was a challenging target met through the determination and stamina of our swimmers. Over 100 pupils took part and a total of £1500 was raised for Folly Wildlife Rescue, which will also be added to with a contribution from the Leathersellers. There are definitely more exciting things to come next year with even more ‘aquatic disciplines’ being added to the programme! After the brilliant Aquathlon run by Greenwich Tritons in June seeing 27 of our pupils competing, with special mention to; Matthew (Y11) and Noemie (Y10) finishing in 3rd, Isabel (Y12) and Ben (Y4) finishing in 2nd and Stanley (Y3) finishing in 1st! Miss Manzi will just have to have many more pages dedicated to Aquatics! Finally, I must thank all of our pupils for their hard work this year and our wonderful coaches as we really could not run this programme without you; Ms Grover, Mr Woodward, Mr Graimes and of course Coach Gabor, who is sadly leaving us this year to move to St Dunstan’s. However....we will of course be beating him.... I mean seeing him at a number of both swimming and water polo fixtures in the future. Bring on next year!!! Sarah Manzi, Master in Charge of Aquatics

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION CROSS COUNTRY XC This season wasn’t quite what we had hoped for at Colfe’s, purely down to the fact that we had set such high standards for ourselves previously. However, there were notable highlights throughout. In the English Schools Cup round one, both the Junior Boys (Years 7 and 8) and Inter Boys (Years 9 and 10) teams qualified easily as we again hosted this fixture at the Leathersellers’ ground. They both went on to compete at the Regional Finals, with the Inter Boys narrowly missing out on a place in the National Finals. It was a similar group of Colfeian boys that triumphed at the Greenwich Schools Championships, with both Year 9 and Years 10 and 11 teams lifting the trophy, captained by Olly (Year 9) and Sam (Year 10). In the London Schools Championships we did not quite achieve the team success of the last season, however a number of individuals were invited for selection for the London team, to go the National Championships, with Sam from Year 10 making the final team for the English Schools Championships.

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION ATHLETICS Colfe’s have built a strong, well-deserved reputation for Athletics in the last few years, through enthusiasm and hard work. We begin the season as ever with the Cambridge Cup, which also serves as trials for the London Schools Championships teams. The girls almost made it 3 from 3 again, with the Year 8 & Year 9 teams lifting the trophies. Whilst Year 7 narrowly missed out on individual win count back 3 to 4, to take second place. The boys found the competition a little tougher with Year 7 in 3rd, Year 8 in 5th and Year 9 in 2nd. On to the English Schools Cup round one in which Colfe’s, for the second year running, qualified all four teams for the Regional Finals. Unfortunately, due to clashes in the calendar and injuries, our teams were affected and there were to be no National Finals. There is always next year! At London Schools Combined Events 10 Colfe’s pupils took on the gruelling events of the Pentathlon. Gabby (Year 10) became London Schools Champion for a third year in a row, with Heidi (Year 8) taking silver. They both went on to represent London at the Regional Finals. After the fantastic performances in the Cambridge Cups, no fewer than 24 Colfe’s pupils were selected to represent Greenwich at the two London Schools Championships. Colfe’s pupils took home 13 medals across the two days, with some crowned Champions of London. Sam (Year 10) gained selection for the London team and went on to qualify for the final of the 1500m at the English Schools Championships. The final weeks of term saw the Colfe’s Athletics Championships sandwiched between the Girls’ and Boys’ Greenwich Schools Championships. The girls came agonisingly close to taking a clean sweep of Borough titles, with Year 7, 8 and 10 lifting the trophies. Year 9 performed brilliantly but finished 2nd by a few points. The boys again found competition a little tougher with Year 7 2nd, Year 8 5th, Year 9 3rd and Year 10 1st, taking the trophy home. The highlight of the year for many of our athletes is the Colfe’s athletics championships, where we hosted nearly 300 pupils and broke 25 school records, showing just how much the standard of athletics is improving across the school. I take this opportunity to thank parents, pupils and staff for support and dedication. I truly look forward to every new year. Alex Kashis

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION GIRLS’ CRICKET This year our girls have showcased immense skill, determination, and spirit both on and off the cricket pitches, whilst departmental staff enjoyed support and training from our own ex-pupils and Kent Cricket coaches. Girls' cricket at Colfe’s has not only grown but thrived and this year marked a significant milestone, with the introduction of hardball teams at U12 level onwards. Demonstrating enthusiasm for the sport, we have had the privilege of fielding 15 girls' teams across the senior age groups. This unprecedented number, the highest we’ve ever reached, is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our players and coaching staff alike. Moreover, this season has been abuzz with activity, featuring block fixtures on Saturdays.These often closely contested and exciting matches have taken place at our school grounds, the Leathersellers’ and the Horn Park site, offering our teams varied environments in which to test their skills. Individual Stars Shine Bright Amongst many sparkling performances, two young cricketers deserve special mention. Emily of the U15 team achieved a personal milestone by scoring her first half-century against Wimbledon

High School. She has been selected for the Kent U15 County Cricket team. Orla from the U12s is on an upward trajectory, consistently impressing on the County pathway.These two athletes embody the spirit and promise of our school’s girls’ teams’ cricketing future. Team Triumphs It would be remiss not to mention the incredible journey of the U15 girls' team. Their stellar performance throughout the season started with the silver medal and a 2nd place finish at the Kent County Indoor Finals. The road to the finals saw them conquer strong opponents: Alleyns and Sevenoaks, highlighting their sheer determination and skill. Moreover, our school was once again at the epicentre of cricketing action, as we had the honour of hosting the Kent County Cricket Hardball 8’s area competitions at our Horn Park site. Displaying their trademark tenacity, our U13s not only made us proud in their playing style and teamwork but also secured a place for themselves in the County Finals. Special mentions go to Issy, Charlotte, Emily, Sophia, Tara, Gabby, Orla, Madison and Miya for their performances this season.

BOYS’ CRICKET Cricket at Colfe’s continued to go from strength to strength this year, with record numbers attending winter training starting in October. Mr Hathrill led the sessions and the boys set out their goals ready for the season. With over 250 boys representing the school in competitive fixtures, the boys were able to put into practice all their hard work from their sport lessons and after school training sessions in matches. The number of boys playing representative cricket continued to grow with Alex, Zain, Billy (Year 10), Sid (Year 9) and Dylan (Year 7) all representing London schools this year. Fraser (Year 12), who captained the 1st XI this season, has also been training and playing with the Scottish international squads. The 1st XI had a mixed set of results this year. Having identified fielding as an area of weakness last year, the boys really improved in this area which enabled them to be much more competitive.The highlight of the season was their 100-run victory against Eltham College. Having

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won the toss and chosen to bat, Colfe’s were 30-3 after 10 overs, but captain Fraser came to the crease and scored a magnificent century to get the team to 200 in their 40 overs. Early wickets were needed, and the bowlers delivered, reducing Eltham to 50 – 5 before bowling them all out for 100. Another highlight of the season was in the last game of the season against the XL club.This was the inaugural match playing for the Geoff Rameaux trophy after he sadly passed away last October. Chasing a good score set by the XL club, the boys used quick singles and powerful shots to chase down the school. Runs scored by Alex (Year 10) and a quick cameo from Leo (Year 10) were vital contributions for the team. Other highlights during the season included the U12s reaching the London School cup final before losing narrowly to City of London and the U15s being the first team in a number of years to represent London in the national level of the English Schools’ Cup. Jack Potter, Master in Charge of Cricket

PHYSICAL EDUCATION GIRLS’ FOOTBALL: A JOURNEY OF PASSION AND PROGRESS This year has been monumental for our young female football enthusiasts. For the first time since the inclusion of football in our curriculum, we showcased girls' football teams across all year groups from the U12 to U16 teams. As football establishes its footing in the independent sector's calendar, witnessing our girls' spirited involvement across the terms has been genuinely impressive.

the able leadership of captains Orla and Madison, we are brimming with excitement for what the future holds for these young talents.

Braving the early morning chill, the younger teams have shown commendable commitment to training often at 7:15 am, even in the heart of December! The collective efforts of the U12 and U13 teams saw them participate in 17 matches, securing 8 victories.

Speaking of the U13s, their introduction to the sport witnessed exponential growth in both skills and tactics. Kitty, Emily, Charlotte, Gabby and Issy have been pillars of support, working tirelessly throughout the season to support Eni's commendable advancements as a goalkeeper. Emi has also impressed with her dedication, recognized as our 'most improved player' this season. The U13 squad radiates potential, and I am sure they will continue to make huge strides in this sport.

The U12 team showcased a commendable run in the English School Football Cup. Their journey, though halted in the 4th round by the eventual cup victors, promises immense potential. Under

The U14 team, led by club players Lois and Lutece, took on the challenging mantle of competing at both U14 and U15 level in the various cups. Their perseverance and talent came

to the fore as they carved out notable victories in the local league. I would like to thank both Amelie and Amelia for wearing the keeper shirt despite preferring the midfield positions. Our U15 team led by Emily and Ella highlighted their prowess, making it to the final 16 of the Boodles Independent Schools Cup. The U16 side, after a stellar win against the Bobby Moore Academy progressed to the 3rd round of the English Schools Cup under the superb leadership of Captain Isis. In terms of individual achievements, Ellen (Year 12) and Madison (Year 9) continue to soar high, representing the Charlton Women’s Academy and the Millwall Lionesses U14 squad respectively. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to their peers.

BOYS’ FOOTBALL This season saw the U13s, U15s and 1st XI start their national cup campaigns during the Autumn term. The U13s lost to a strong Dulwich Prep team in the early rounds. However, the U15s and 1st XI kept their runs going into the Spring term. The rest of the teams began their season in January, albeit slightly delayed due to the British weather at that time of year. Unfortunately, that was a familiar tale with a number of fixtures falling fowl of the weather during the first half term. That said, once the weather improved the standard of football on show was of a very high level across the age groups. It was a very enjoyable season with the Under 12 team, in which there were some good challenges and a number of great wins. On two occasions at home the boys gained some important experience; conceding early goals and trying to chase the game. They showed great character and determination to carry on plugging away and working hard for each other on the pitch. In other matches, the boys displayed fantastic individual and collective qualities to pick up some very comfortable and well-deserved wins. The strength across the whole team was very visible, and each player played their part! The U13s demonstrated great character to reverse the cup defeat by Dulwich Prep during their regular season fixture. This was just one example of the progress this group made over

the course of the year. It was noticeable how the boys have matured and enhanced their game understanding, becoming a far more effective team. As mentioned, the U15 football season began in October, with weekly training taking place in preparation for the ISFA plate competition. The preparation was good and two strong results in the cup against ACS Cobham (4-1) and Culford School (7-1) meant they were starting the football season in great form. As the weather got better, we were able to play some Saturday fixtures and build some more momentum. This included an epic comeback against Emanuel from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and a 1-1 draw against a strong Mill Hill team. Credit here must go to the boys that stepped up when we lost some key players in these fixtures due to other commitments. These boys who were involved in the B team demonstrated a lot of growth throughout the season and should be applauded for their effort and commitment. Once the U14 season got going, the boys were able to transfer the hard work on the training ground onto the pitch. The team was built on solid foundations at the back with a goalkeeper who demonstrated excellent leadership in addition to being protected by a very mature central defensive partnership. There is a lot of potential in this group, so we look forward to seeing their progress next season.

Under the coaching of Mr Kimberley, the senior football teams made great strides this season. The competition for places was fierce, which ensured players performed to a high level when they were given an opportunity. The majority of the games they played were only decided by a goal, whether that be a win or a loss, which is a testament to the positive attitude of the players. This was exemplified in no better way than in the excruciating 1-0 loss to RGS Guildford in the semifinal of the National competition. Football at Colfe’s continues to improve year on year and this was demonstrated by the performances of the U15 and 1st XI teams in their respective national tournaments. The U15s made it through to the quarterfinals, while the 1st XI went one step further and narrowly missed out on the final, losing in the semifinal 1-0 to RGS Guildford. It is also pleasing to see the ongoing progress of our most able footballers. George captained the Millwall U13 team this year and Justin has been balancing preparing for his GCSEs along with scoring goals for Tottenham Hotspur. Khari has continued his development within the Arsenal Academy system and was recognized for his efforts with a call-up to be part of the England U16 squad. Alan Bateson, Assistant Director of Sport

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOOTBALL FOR THE FUTURE On Friday 5th May, Colfe’s sport scholars and GCSE PE students took part in a sustainability and climate educational workshop delivered by Football For Future. Their aim is to deliver important messages about the climate crisis and they use the interrelationship between football and climate to do so. The workshop was delivered in an engaging and innovative way with lots of group work and discussions which inspired the students to think twice about their environmental contributions and the impact these have on the world. The students were armed with alarming facts about how football will be affected in years to come and were shocked to hear that 20 English Football League clubs could be underwater by 2050. After discussing various sustainable initiatives existing in the game already, they finished the session by creating their own social media campaign which focused on a specific area of interest for each group such as matchday food options or travel emissions emitted by fans. It was great to see the engagement by all students and hear their fantastic ideas and passion for ensuring a greener future and the protection of the beautiful game! Charlie Barthorp,Teacher of PE

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION HOCKEY It’s been a season of firsts for Colfe’s hockey! The season started with our first pre-season tour. 33 senior pupils travelled to Bath and played some excellent hockey against local schools. We also had a lot of fun bowling and playing adventure golf. It was our first season playing in the new London Region for our county competitions. There were a lot of schools that we had not played before, so it was a bit of an unknown quantity, but it turned out to be our most successful season of county competitions yet. Our U15s missed out on a place in the final by just one goal. They went on to win the 3rd / 4th playoff, bringing home the bronze medals. Our U12Bs came away with silver medals in the tier 3 competition and our U12As narrowly missed out on a place in the regional finals when they lost their semi-final on penalty flicks. Our 1st XI came second to Mill Hill in their county competition and gained themselves a place in the regional finals, where they came up against some tough opposition including Mill Hill again. It was a very close game against them second time around. We scored the first goal, but Mill Hill equalised and then eventually scored the winning goal in the dying minutes of the game. They would then go on to win the National Finals.

We are really looking forward to next term and a new season of hockey and our first European Hockey Tour to Holland in the October half term. But we are sad to say goodbye to a group of excellent Year 13 players, who will be hugely missed. Congratulations and thank you to all the Year 13s for all you have contributed to hockey throughout your time at Colfe’s and best of luck

with all your future sporting endeavours. A final ‘thank you’ to all the amazing teachers and coaches that have played a part in the hockey programme this year. We couldn’t do it without you. Annabel Owen, Master in Charge of Hockey

It was our first time ever reaching a regional final, but it turns out it wasn’t to be our last this season. The U14As won their county competition, and then went on to win the regional finals as well. It was a nail-biting final, which went down to penalty flicks, and an excellent save from goalkeeper Ellie clinched it for our girls. They proudly wore their medals back to school (after a celebratory trip to McDonald’s). This also meant that they earned themselves a place in the England Hockey National Tier 2 Finals, another amazing first in Colfe’s hockey history. After Christmas, the team worked hard to prepare and then travelled to Nottingham for the finals in February. It was a big event, and the girls were nervous and excited in equal measure. It was a brilliant experience, but unfortunately, it did not go as well as we all hoped on the day. However, their work rate and team spirit cannot be faulted, and we are incredibly proud of the team for what they achieved and for representing the school so well. We can’t wait to see what else they can achieve in sport in the coming years. This year was also our first year of Saturday fixtures for hockey, which was a great success. We had our usual mix of wins and losses along the way, but most importantly the players demonstrated determination, team spirit and made great progress.

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION RUGBY Preparation for the rugby season began all the way back in August with boys in Years 8–11 getting a head start with some preseason training at school while the senior rugby squad undertook a 4-day training camp based at the University of Kent. The first fixtures of the season against Reigate Grammar School were met with much anticipation and excitement by the boys, particularly those in Year 7! This excitement was well placed by the Year 7 boys as in the first season representing the school the A team lost just one game. A fantastic effort by all those involved. The season continued with the usual ebb and flow of performances from the 17 teams that represented the school throughout the year. Our fixtures against Eltham College provided a focal point for the boys' efforts just before half term with the majority of our A teams being victorious. Although resulting in a loss, the epic battle between the two respective 2nd XVs was a definite highlight of the season and a fantastic advert for schoolboy rugby. As always, the season culminated with a variety of rugby

7s tournaments at both county and national level where all teams gave a good account of themselves. The final tournament of the year saw the seniors win the inaugural Roebucks 10-a-side tournament. The summer break saw the school undertake a rugby tour to South Africa for the senior and U16 teams. In spite of some fierce opposition on the rugby pitch, the boys gave an incredible account of themselves and fully embraced what touring is about. Away from the pitch they had some incredible experiences including spending time on a game reserve, traveling to the top of Table Mountain, learning about the history of the Langa township and the lives of people there today along with the incredible time spent on Robben Island discovering the role it has played in South African history and its most famous inmate, Nelson Mandella. However, the most memorable time for the boys will be that spent with the opposition teams and hosts away from the pitch. I have no doubt that there were friendships formed that

will endure and I hope they will meet again in the future. On an individual note, it is pleasing to report that there a currently 10 players involved in various performance pathways. This includes Olly representing Kent U18s in the county championship, William playing for Kent U17s, Fraser has been selected to train as part of the Scottish Exiles programme and Jack and Logan have been members of the Saracens Academy playing for both the U16 and U17 teams. In addition, it was great to see Old Colfeian Matt Gallagher recently receive the Player of the Year accolade in his first season with Premiership Rugby team Bath. At a time when there is increased scrutiny over the role of contact sports within schools it is pleasing to see that rugby at Colfe’s continues to be in such good health in terms of the engagement from boys and parents, and the performances we are seeing on the pitch. Alan Bateson, Assistant Director of Sport and Master in Charge of Rugby’

NETBALL This season has been extremely successful, not only by the results the pupils have received but the progress they have made on the court. The season started off well with all teams progressing into different stages of the national cup. As we began the official netball season, we didn’t let the weather stop us and played some competitive fixtures against Brentwood. As the season progressed, we showed our determination and outstanding attitudes and finished the season off with some fantastic results against Blackheath and Cranbrook. The senior netball team has thrived this year, each pupil has made huge improvements which is evident in the outstanding results they have achieved. The first team, captained by Ruby, welcomed a new defensive partnership this year which surprised our rivals. The team cohesion was impressive, and all 10 players demonstrated their hand work and determination on and off the court. The pupils once again qualified for the Kent County Finals and finished in the last 16 of the National Cup. Captain Jess and the second team had an undefeated season, the whole team worked hard in training and were determined to end their time at school on a high. The third team showed resilience throughout a difficult season and always did it with a smile on their faces. For the first time in my 5 years, we managed to introduce a fourth team at Colfe’s. The girls went on to have an undefeated season and always did it with a smile on their faces. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the seniors and I wish them all the best for the season ahead.

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The U15 had a busy season, with 30+ fixtures, the teams have gone from strength to strength. They were triumphant against Eastbourne College, Bancroft’s School, Eltham College, Highgate School and King’s Rochester. The girls have worked diligently and consistently to gain this success, becoming a closer unit as the weeks went on. The U15A squad, captained by Grace, got through to the third round of the National Plate and lost narrowly to Brighton College. The U15B team, captained by Rose, achieved excellent results as a result of their skill and confidence. All players trained incredibly hard throughout the season and made excellent progress. The U14 teams had a difficult season this year but showed real resilience as they looked at developing new combinations on the court. Pupils turned up to train with a huge amount of enthusiasm and worked well in their units. The A team started the season off well in the national cup with an excellent win over Haberdashers’ Elstree School. The B and C teams faced some tough opposition but managed to gain victories over Brentwood and Farringtons. Miss Stevens has enjoyed working with the squad and looks forward to watching them grow even more next season. The U13s worked extremely hard this season to develop their skills and teamwork. They have made huge strides both individually as players and in their team play. The U12s have made excellent progress this year. All teams have demonstrated their fantastic work ethic and as a result have had

some impressive results against some tough oppositions. The A team, captained by Grace and Cecilia, started the season with some challenging games in the national cup but as the season progressed, they were victorious against Eltham, King’s Rochester and Cranbrook. The B team, captained by Ruth, had faced some tough opposition and developed their skill set and understanding of the game. Congratulations to the following pupils who have represented Kent County this year Grace, Maddie, Amelie, Lucy and Charlotte, also to Roshie and Olivia who have represented London Pulse at regional level. All the pupils involved have demonstrated outstanding commitment and dedication to developing their netball this year. This year we say goodbye to Ruby, Freya, Olivia, Lily, Daisy, Jess, Amelia, Basanti, Lily, Rosie, Tilly, Alice, Amieka, Chloe and Charlotte who have represented Colfe’s throughout their time at school. All pupils have been an asset to the senior programme this year and have been excellent role models to the younger pupils. I wish them all the best of luck in their futures. Emma Willats-Barrie, Master in Charge of Netball

PHYSICAL EDUCATION TENNIS What a season for the tennis programme! It has seen a record number of pupils involved in extracurricular clubs as well as friendly fixtures against Bromley High School and JAGs along with four very talented teams, both girls and boys, being entered into the LTA youth schools competition and being extremely successful. The U15 girls’ team, consisting of Malena, Emily, Grace and Maddie, placed third in this tournament, playing some fantastic tennis, along with the U13 girls' team of Charlotte, Iris, Elena, Saskia and Issy, who were victorious runners up.

The boys' teams have also had such a successful season, having participated in the LTA youth schools competition. The U13 team, which included Alex, Nico, Gruff, and Matias, brought home gold medals after an extremely exciting day down at Polo Farm in Canterbury. Further to this success, the U15 boys’ team played brilliantly and placed 4th. The team included Karl, Billy, Sid and Jack. Throughout the competition the teams were successful in beating a variety of

schools throughout both the girls' and boys' competitions, schools such as Bromley High, City of London, Weald of Kent, Walthamstow Hall, Eltham College and Dulwich College. I am extremely proud of all the players involved in all teams and matches, and those who have stepped up and filled in when needed. We hope to continue building upon the great successes of this year and hopefully see more participation next season. Hope Russell, KS4 Co-ordinator

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OLD COLFEIAN SPORT OLD COLFEIANS CRICKET CLUB

playing cricket at the Old Colfeians - we explore this further in a separate article below.

Richard Burton Chairman Christopher Tarrant Hon. President Mark Renshaw Secretary Dean Stevens Treasurer Kevin Hunt Welfare and Safeguarding Officer Jack Wilkins 1st XI Captain Stephen Cowburn 2nd XI Captain / Junior Cricket Manager Jack Woods 3rd XI Captain (injured for 2023 season) Thriyam Ravi Acting 3rd XI Captain Rory O’Connor 4th XI Captain Dom Adolphe Sunday Cricket Manager Tom Rameaux Colfe’s School and OCRFC Liaison Stephen McNeill (Co-opted pending election at next AGM) Club email address: oldcolfeianscc@gmail.com

On the downside, we lost a number of key players from all teams - most notably 1st XI star Alex Lorimer, who has moved up north, and Retin Patel, who skippered the 2nd XI during their recent “glory years”. We also had to face up to the reality that our 2021 promotion-winning 2nd XI had - for many different reasons - more or less disappeared into the ether. Combined with the more sporadic availability of many 1st XI regulars of the last decade (life, work, family, new babies etc.), this meant that a serious rebuilding exercise was - and still is - needed in our top two teams. To cap it all, 3rd XI skipper Jack Woods suffered a serious work accident earlier this year and had to miss all but the last two matches, a hammer blow to our chances at that level. Being the trooper he is, Jack volunteered to umpire for the 1st XI instead - despite spending the first couple of months on crutches and in considerable pain.

COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The restructuring of the main Kent Cricket League and its regional sister league into one combined structure took effect for the 2023 season. Together with some significant changes in our playing membership and team captains, this meant that this season was always likely to be somewhat experimental in nature. And so it proved - both on and off the field. One piece of good news at the end of April was that Jamaican ace Andra Henry has returned to London for the summer but was still without a Saturday club, so we moved quickly to re-sign him. This year he rightly played in the 1st XI, after dominating the 2nd XI run-scoring charts for the last two seasons. We were also excited to welcome a new Jamaican player, Joel Ewan, to strengthen our 2nd XI. Joel is a 23-year-old all-rounder who bats in the top order and represented Jamaica at U19 level. Pleasingly, we have also managed to attract a very healthy number of new players to the club - mainly from the local area but also some from further afield. This further influx of players has again enabled us to field a friendly 5th XI on several occasions. Frustratingly, on one of these the heavens opened shortly after all 55 OCs had taken to the field, bringing a soggy end to all the hard work to make this possible. A total of 29 new players have made their debuts for the club this year, of which 28 still seem happy to be here! Despite the weather and the on-field struggles documented in the team reports, the spirit within the club is the best we have known it for many years. Most people genuinely do seem to enjoy the camaraderie of

Jet stream over Horn Park - the story of a summer

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Predictably, the start of the league season was plagued by wet weather and lack of availability. Having struggled to get even 33 players onto the team sheets on 6th May, our three away games were washed out without a ball being bowled - a frustrating start. In all, five of the 18 Saturdays of the season were rain affected in some way - a complete contrast to the summer of 2022! On the field, we have to be honest and admit all of our league sides have underperformed at times. The honourable exception, as in 2022, has been the 4th XI, which started the season woefully under-strength (with the results to match) but improved - almost by stealth - as the weeks went by. They look set to end the season in a creditable mid-table position in a higher division than last year, which is a finish the club’s higher sides can only admire with envy. Both the 2nd XI (predictably) and the 3rd XI (more unexpectedly) struggled this year with the quality of their respective divisions and will be relegated. Despite the herculean efforts of Andra Henry with bat and ball (of which more below), the 1st XI has too often lost to opponents they should be capable of beating most days of the week (just not on Saturdays). They now need to win their final match to avoid a second successive relegation. What have been the highlights? - As already mentioned, the culture across the whole club has been a clear winner. We are now very much “one club”, no longer a loose association of different teams and squads. This is fundamental to our future - we get the culture right and everything else can flow from there. - We increased our playing membership again this year. We now have a roster of over 100 active players, at least in theory. Some have even been known to be available two weeks in a row! - Getting five teams out on the field on a Saturday afternoon is an achievement of which we can be proud (and is also the envy of other clubs) - this strength in depth gives us a solid platform to build on. - Once again, we ran a very successful Sunday morning series of “All Stars and Dynamos” cricket programmes for young children. It’s fantastic to see Horn Park so full and vibrant on a Sunday morning! - We automated our availability and selection process using a third-party app (Pitchero). This was long overdue and has ensured we can now take a more holistic approach to team selection across the club. What can we improve? - Playing performance for sure: We need to recruit higher quality players into our top sides to remain competitive in the higher tiers of the Kent Cricket League. We have many social cricketers, but relatively few join us with the potential to step into the shoes of our 1st or 2nd XI players. - Our ties with Colfe’s School, the rugby club (OCRFC) and Greenwich Junior Cricket Academy didn’t really “kick on” in 2023, which was disappointing after recent efforts in these areas. It’s clear we need to redouble our efforts to make the cricket club more attractive to

OLD COLFEIAN SPORT potential players from these sources. - In the medium term, we need to address some vital things we are missing, compared to other clubs in our catchment area. Practice nets at Horn Park and junior and girls/women’s sections are the most obvious of these.

SATURDAY 2ND XI

On the points for development, we have a committee - and playing membership - with a lot more ambition for the future than just surviving from year to year and maintaining the status quo. We know there are some critical actions that need to be taken in the next 2-3 years to make our club fit for the future. We are committed to taking our club in the right direction and look forward with optimism.

The main bright spots have been the batting of our new Jamaican, Joel Ewan, who scored a fine 104* against Bickley Park and 89 against Blackheath during the first half of the season, plus a few fast forties in the final month. Skipper Stephen Cowburn has been the only other batter to pass a hundred runs (268 at an average of 24), but that’s really about it, as no-one other than Joel has yet recorded a half century. This is clearly no basis for winning cricket matches at this level.

Richard Burton, OCCC Chairman

TEAM REPORTS SATURDAY 1ST XI After a wash-out on the first Saturday, we returned to Horn Park in mid-May for our first home match. Or so we thought. 1st XI opponents Upchurch took one look at our saturated pitch, another look in the direction of our veteran seamer Rupert Staple and unsurprisingly didn’t fancy it. After a few hurried phone calls, they very kindly offered to move the fixture to a spare pitch at their ground and the two teams headed over the Medway, where a reduced 40 over match was held. Andra Henry proceeded to smash the Upchurch attack to all parts in scoring 148* out of 217-7. Some fine bowling across the whole OCs attack saw Upchurch dismissed for 161, a very fine win and one that offered scant reward for our opponents’ generosity. Andra has maintained his fine form ever since and, with one match to play, sits in second place in the overall Kent Cricket League batting table with 852 runs at an average of 95, including four centuries and five fifties. His other hundreds were 108 in a losing cause against Holmesdale, 101 not out to defeat league leaders Frindsbury and 112 in a comfortable win at Tonbridge. Sadly - and for reasons that are difficult to fathom - the remainder of the 1st XI batting has generally struggled to support Andra. The main exceptions have been some gritty innings from Pete Tarrant and Jonathan Radhakrishnan, whose 71 against Tonbridge provided the team’s only other half century at the time of writing. The new opening partnership of Wilson Massey (explosive) and Simon Burton (obdurate) has delivered some improved starts in recent weeks, but so often the loss of the first wicket is the signal for a dramatic collapse. On the bowling front, performances have also been patchy, with Andra Henry (again) the leading wicket taker with 28 victims at an average of 17, including 5-17 to bowl us to victory at Dartford. Skipper Jake Wilkins started well with 14 wickets by mid-July, but injury meant that he has been unable to add to his tally. The other bowlers have shown promise in spells, especially seamer Sam Collinson, who stepped up from the 3rd XI to perform with credit at the higher level. Our two other seamers, Iftkhar Jalil and Tom Francis, produced the bowling partnership of the season at Dartford, restricting the batters to just two runs off the bat across 11 overs of consistent line and length on a flat wicket - this inspired us to produce the best team performance of the season.

But it could be worse - just ask the 2nd XI! In what was always going to be a very difficult transition year after losing so many players, we approach the end of the season still searching for a win.

The major downside has been the ability of our opponents to score hundreds against us seemingly at will, often aided and abetted by some indifferent bowling, fielding and catching. Our joint leading wicket takers (seven each), Louis Jagger, Hasta Vanchinathan and Iftkhar Jalil, have tried manfully to stem the flow of runs - as have many others. The enduring skill and fitness of wicketkeeper Christopher Tarrant, at the age of 68, continues to set an example to us all. It’s not for lack of effort and spirit that we have so often found ourselves exposed - it’s simply because our opponents in this division have been much better. Oh well, nobody said it would be easy - and trying to compete in Division 5 of the new KCL structure (just one level below the 1st XI) is sadly too high for us at the moment. Thank you to everyone who has played, tried their hardest to be “dangerous” on and off the field and has kept their and everyone else’s spirits up along the way. A special vote of thanks is due to Stephen Cowburn, who volunteered to captain the team in what everyone knew would be a transition year (for which, read “very difficult”) but has maintained his enthusiasm and dedication throughout (well, almost!). SATURDAY 3RD XI The transitional nature of the 2nd XI this year had an immediate knock-on effect on the 3rd XI, with many of the regulars from the successful sides of the past three seasons being required to help out in the higher teams.The loss of skipper Jack Woods to serious injury pre-season was another big blow. Thriyam Ravi volunteered to stand in as captain for the season and also introduced some promising new players to the club. After starting slowly and spending some uncomfortable weeks at the foot of the table, we recovered well to record thumping wins against three of the top sides - Chislehurst & West Kent, Bexley and Catford & Cyphers. However, the holiday season then kicked in and took out some of our strongest players for key matches. In a very tight division, this - combined with the frustration of several rained off matches - stifled any upward momentum we had built up and we again found ourselves in bottom place. Sport can be all about fine margins and never was this emphasised more than by three matches we could have won - but instead fell agonisingly short:

Sadly, this comfortable win was followed the very next Saturday by one of the worst defeats, as we were dismissed by Canterbury for 113 in just 27.5 overs and lost by six wickets. This left the team in a perilous 8th place in a tough division where the bottom three teams out of ten are relegated. The team now travels to High Halstow for the final match needing another win to retain our status in Tier One (county-wide) league cricket next year. • 1st XI avoids relegation by beating High Halstow by seven wickets • Andra Henry finishes as top run-scorer in the Kent Cricket League with 916 runs • Alex Lorimer returns to inspire OCs with three wickets and a half century • Good performance by all our bowlers restricts High Halstow to 217 all out • Fast fifties from Alex, Andra and Josh Kelleher fire us to victory in just 31 overs

3rd XI paceman Andy Hughes scares another batter COLFEIAN 2022/23

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OLD COLFEIAN SPORT In the first match of the season, we bowled superbly to dismiss a strong Catford & Cyphers side for 145. Opener Paul Davison then scored 62 and looked set to lead us over the line despite wickets falling regularly at the other end. Sadly, another clatter of OCs wickets meant we were just three runs short when the last wicket fell - a missed opportunity for sure. In mid-season, the team finished on the wrong side of a topsy-turvy encounter at Sidcup. After we had tied the hosts down for the first 20 overs, their number three broke the stranglehold with 83 not out, setting us a stiff target of 198. At 26 for 4, our prospects looked grim but Max Dunmore (43) and Andy Hughes (36) dragged us back into contention. When both were dismissed in short succession, we were again staring down the barrel at 129 for 8. But Srihari Jagannathan (36) and skipper Thriyam (25) had other ideas. A succession of sixes and fours rained down on the surrounding houses. All of a sudden, we needed just four more runs from the final over with two wickets left. Surely we couldn’t lose from there? Well, yes, we could, as two crazy run-outs in two balls handed Sidcup the narrowest of wins. We then needed to win our penultimate game (Sidcup again, our bogey team) to give ourselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation on the final day. Newcomer Naman Nagar hit 54 and the returning Jack Woods 28 (on one leg) to guide us to 182 all out, a competitive total. A heavy rain shower then intervened, meaning that we would either need to bowl Sidcup out or bowl a full 40 overs in the two hours of play remaining. Sadly for us, neither of these occurred and Sidcup finished on 86 for 7 from 39 overs, just one over short of a completed match. A moral victory for sure, but an abandoned match according to the league rules. And with that, our fate was agonisingly sealed. As in the higher teams, a lack of batting consistency cost us dear. After Paul’s early season knock, only two other half centuries were recorded by Chitrang Jindal (55) and Tom Rameaux (51) in the same match against Chislehurst & West Kent. Max Dunmore and Andy Hughes put together some nice thirties and forties but couldn’t push on this season to the bigger scores the team needed. Chitrang Jindal staked his claim as the “find of the season” by topping both batting and bowling charts, taking his 20 wickets at an average of 14.6. The other bowlers performed well too, Andy Hughes claiming 14 victims, Hartaran Ghataore and Thriyam Ravi nine each and Richard Thomas eight. SATURDAY 4TH XI The season started with last year’s champions looking to consolidate their position in a higher division under the captaincy of Rory O’Connor. With the selection issues further up having an inevitable knock-on effect on the 4th XI, the first seven games yielded five losses, one win and a concession by an opponent. The sole victory came against Bexley Park, helped by fine innings from Rajeev Hemdev (59) and injured first-teamer Pete Tarrant (31 not out), followed by 4 for 39 from the legend that is Gethin Bond. From mid-season, the team started to settle down and find its rhythm, with three wins out of five matches played (there were three wash-

4th XI spinner Paddy Pamment launches another left arm grenade outs) propelling them to the safety of mid-table. This was due in no small measure to stand-out performances from two of our new batters. Opener Richard Yorke impressed us all in his first season with the club, scoring three fine half centuries (and a bonus one in the interclub T20). Nishant Das, who joined last season from Old Elthamians, proved to be a revelation as soon as he moved up to open the batting. 46 against a strong (and annoyingly aggressive) London Knights side was followed up with 40 against Bexleyheath. Yet these two innings were just the hors d’oeuvre. Against the league champions Simba, Nish not only reached his maiden half century but batted on and on, reaching a thrilling century with a six onto the first team pitch. Absolute scenes! As ever, Patrick Pamment led the bowling attack with gusto - and also ended up leading the team again when Rory had to miss the second half of the season. Paddy took 21 wickets at an average of 15.3 and his bowling is clearly a bit too good for this level. If he could bat or field as well, he would definitely play in a higher team! His 5 for 24 to set up victory against OD CUACO was the high point of many testing spells of left arm spin. The other bowlers supported admirably, especially Stephen McNeill (4 for 23 in a win against LESSA), newcomer Praveen Dhinwa (5 for 18 to beat Bexleyheath), Ashish Khatkar (12 wickets at 12.7) and Kevin Hunt (5 for 22 in a losing cause against London Knights). FRIENDLY XIS Thank you to everyone who played in our various friendly teams on Saturdays and Sundays this year. These matches always provide a good opportunity to mix the teams up and give our younger or newer players a chance to showcase their talents. Thanks also to the inimitable Dominic Adolphe for his unique brand of Sunday team management, which generally includes transporting large numbers of players from East London and buying the pizzas. Among the batting highlights were James O’Dowd’s 129 not out against Bexleyheath, Namar Nagar’s 102 not out on his club debut at Horsmonden, Robbie Campbell’s fine 73 at Belvedere, four half centuries from Mihir Desai and two fifties each from Jonathan Radhakrishnan and Simon Burton. Where were all these runs in the league games, guys? The pick of the bowlers were Stephen McNeill (5 for 12 to destroy Brockley’s top order), Vikas Desai, Faruk Patel, Markus Conneely and of course Gethin Bond, who remains the proud holder of the club’s ever best bowling figures (9 for 53 back in 2015). The friendlies also produced some excellent cricket matches with very tight finishes. At Horsmonden, the 5th XI amassed 249 from just 35 overs, only to lose by 2 wickets off the last ball. At Lordswood, the Sunday XI looked like they could chase down the hosts’ 203 but fell two runs short.

Nishant Das celebrates his maiden century (with Sudeep Jawle)

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The most exciting finish was saved for our Sunday friendly at the Rectory Field. We scored a healthy 213 for 8 from our 40 overs but hosts Blackheath appeared well on their way to a comfortable victory at 171

OLD COLFEIAN SPORT

“When a new player joins, they get the chances to show what they can do.”

“The club tries to give everyone available a game, even if it means creating a friendly at short notice.”

“I like the atmosphere created by the players.”

“I like having the opportunity to play in a variety of teams, including Sunday friendlies.”

“The people are a big part of playing cricket at the OCs.”

“It’s enjoyable to take the field with almost everyone here.”

“The team spirit is great - I feel it’s been an enjoyable day no matter the result.”

“All the teams I’ve played with have played the game in the right way.”

“Staying for a couple of hours after the game is always great fun.”

“Even though I was younger, I still felt welcomed.”

“Not everything is super competitive, the players like to have fun - there is a lot of humour.”

“I enjoy the more relaxed nature of playing for OCs compared to my last club, which was refreshing.”

“The chairman and the legend” - Richard and Gethin enjoy our exciting win at Blackheath for 3. Their best bat was then caught in the deep for 101. At this point, skipper Steve McNeill decided the time was ripe for Simon Burton’s first bowling spell since 2019. Ably supported by Vikas Desai, Simon proceeded to take 3 for 12 and Blackheath were bowled out in the final over for 211. In an even more unlikely twist, Gethin Bond took the final catch, producing scenes of simultaneous joy and disbelief. What a match! ATTENTION COLFE’S PARENTS AND YOUNG CRICKETERS: COME AND PLAY WITH US AT OLD COLFEIANS CC! A developing trend in the last few years is that we have been able to attract a healthy cohort of current and recent Colfe’s School pupils to our club. Some of these had first played junior cricket at other clubs before joining us - you know, the bigger, more fashionable ones where youngsters tend to get lost in the machine, don’t enjoy their cricket and fail to fulfil their potential - or are lost to the game altogether. We have found that these players thrive in the environment we can offer them at Old Colfeians CC. They may not harbour ambitions of playing for Kent or in the Premier division, but they still want to improve their skill levels year on year and enjoy playing a good standard of club cricket. We asked our young Colfeians what they have enjoyed most since coming to play for us: “Everyone gets a fair chance to play matches and show what they can do.”

“I’ve been able to play cricket at a really good standard.”

“Here you get noticed quickly and can progress through the teams.”

“The social side is great - everyone gets on and becomes friends.”

“The club’s members welcomed me and made me feel comfortable really quickly.”

“I like the nice balance between competitiveness and fun.”

“The teas are nice too!”

We also asked the same players what we could improve and these points are being fed into our development plan for the next three years. We would like to encourage more Colfeians to come and play adult cricket at the club from a young age. The right time to start depends on the individual but somewhere between age 13-15 is a good benchmark for starting in our friendly teams. We currently have a 13-year-old who is a

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OLD COLFEIAN SPORT better player than his father (!) and has already been selected on merit for our 4th XI league team. A current Colfeian (U17) started playing league cricket with us at the age of 15 and made his debut this year for our 1st XI - a very high standard of club cricket. Another recent Colfeian started playing adult cricket with us aged 13 and is now the regular opening bat for our 1st XI. Our model works. Both boys and girls are very welcome at the Old Colfeians - our teams regularly play against opponents with female players. Just one example: Our 1st XI recently faced the off-spin of Kalea Moore (Canterbury CC), who went on to star for Southern Brave, the winners of the Women’s Hundred. We have also had two female players in our side for a couple of Sunday friendlies this year and would like this to become a regular feature of our teams. In the next 2-3 years, we would like to form our own women’s/girls’ team at Old Colfeians. As well as gaining early exposure to Saturday and Sunday adult cricket, our young players also have the opportunity to join the Greenwich Junior Cricket Academy, our partner for junior cricket, where they can receive feedback from a range of experienced, qualified coaches, play against their peers in weekday junior league matches and take part in a range of other school holiday activities. Interested parents and/or players can contact us at oldcolfeianscc@gmail. com, speak to Tom Rameaux at the school or call our chairman, Richard Burton, on 07525 926125. Parents (and indeed, anyone else in the community) are of course very welcome to come and play too! OLD COLFEIANS CC - WHERE THE STARS GATHER! Another more surprising benefit of playing cricket for the Old Colfeians has been the chance to meet some international stars at our matches. Yes, really! Our 3rd XI players couldn’t really believe their eyes in the summer of 2021, when they turned up for an otherwise mundane league fixture at home to Dulwich. On the pitch where they were about to play, surely that couldn’t be India Test star Mohammed Siraj running up to bowl? Yes, it was. Not only that, he was bowling to our 1st XI player Jack Williams, whilst being hotly pursued by a camera crew. And surely that couldn’t be one of the world’s best fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah deep in conversation outside the Horn Park squash courts? Yes, it was. The background was a TV shoot for a Pepsi advert that had slightly overrun. Siraj certainly seemed happy enough to finish his (scripted) bowling spell and pose for some excited Old Colfeian selfies. We eventually managed to drag avid India fans Hasta and Thriyam away to start our match. Yet even this surreal experience is topped at the end of the 2023 season, while our 2nd XI plays out an otherwise dead rubber away at OD CUACO. Halfway through our innings, in walks India’s young opening bat Yashasvi Jaiswal to watch the match. This is only the guy who made 171 in July on his Test debut against the West Indies and was player of the match. The guy who has played in the IPL since 2020 and hit the fastest ever IPL

Yashasvi Jaiswal and his adoring OC fanboys fifty in May (off 13 balls). The guy with 1.9 million Instagram followers. That guy. Maybe Yash had heard Louis Jagger was at the crease, attempting all manner of reverse sweeps that he could take back to the IPL? No, it transpires that one of his best friends plays for OD CUACO 2nd XI and he used to play for the club in his youth. He also loves a game of pool with his old teammates. Yash turns out to be the most friendly, unassuming young man you could meet and is happy to chat cricket (and life) with our players. During a rain break, he even offers our spinners the chance to bowl to him on the outfield. He treats Louis with a strange respect, then almost decapitates Steve McNeill while demonstrating his power hitting. Our match is eventually abandoned but we don’t care, we have just bowled to Yashasvi Jaiswal. ALL STARS AND DYNAMOS FOR 5-10 YEAR OLDS One of the standout successes of the club continues to be the ECB All Stars and Dynamos programmes held on Sunday mornings at Horn Park. For the second year running, these have been run in partnership with Greenwich Junior Cricket Academy, which enables us to reach many more children (and parents) than would otherwise be possible from our own resources. Registrations this year reached 135 children for the first time - together with their parents/carers, that’s a lot of people on the ground to keep happy! Fortunately, we have been blessed with an increased number of club volunteers this year, some of whom have their own kids participating in the programmes. This is also the area of activity which has a very welcome cross-over with the rugby club, with a good number of children attending both rugby and cricket activities at Horn Park. It would be remiss not to thank our OCs activators, in particular Stephen Cowburn as overall junior cricket supremo (undoubtedly more rewarding than skippering the 2nd XI!), Mark Renshaw, Chris Tarrant, Gareth Wilson, Austin Riddle, Tim Cartwright, Kevin Hunt and Tom Rameaux (among others), as well as Andy Pye, Len Sales, Graeme Moir and Raj Prabhaker for coordinating the legion of Greenwich coaches and young leaders. We occasionally discover the odd gem of a cricketer lurking among the parents too, which normally means they go straight into our 4th XI the next week. Registrations for next summer are expected to open in February 2024 via the ECB website. CRICKET CLUB MEMORIES OF GEOFF RAMEAUX

Mohammed Siraj does his best to humour Hasta and Louis

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As reported elsewhere in this magazine, we sadly lost our club stalwart and friend Geoff Rameaux in October 2022. Everyone involved with Old Colfeians Cricket Club was shocked and saddened by his passing at the age of 53 and would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Claire, father Des and children Tom and Franki. We have gathered some cricket-related memories of Geoff below:

OLD COLFEIAN SPORT recent years I have had the pleasure of playing OCs 3rd XI cricket with Dad and have memories I will cherish forever. A couple of years ago myself and Dad were playing a home game vs Bromley Common. I was out in the middle with a score of 30 odd. After a flurry of wickets, out marches my Dad, cap on and bat under armpit. A few balls later we would - and you had to be there to believe it - take a quick single. However, this quick single would leave one of us tearing our hamstring … unfortunately my Dad being 50 at the time and me being 22 … it was me. Now you may be thinking, oh, his Dad was up the other end, he’d come down, put his arm around me and ask if I was ok. Instead, down walks my Dad and, as I look up with a slight tear of pain in my eye, he lets out a little chuckle and tells me to “get on with it”. We would both end up reaching our half century and put on a partnership worth over 100. Dad had a stubbornness and will to win at whatever in life that he ingrained in me and allowed me to experience this moment with him I will never forget. Jack Woods (3rd XI captain): Absolutely in shock to hear of the passing of Geoff. He was an absolute legend of a man whom I had the utmost respect and time for. Geoff will be sorely missed. Louis Jagger (3rd XI teammate and former dirty whites owner): That jester hat [Geoff presented me with] suddenly means an awful lot more. Nobody else would have bought me that, or the new trousers. A rare quality of conviviality and generosity all in one. Geoff leaves the field in May 2022 after another 3rd XI win Brian Monk (past player): Geoff was one of three players who joined the Sunday 1st Xl whilst still at school, the others being Richard “Roly” Harmer and Peter Whiteland. Even then he displayed a talent for being an organiser, often collecting tea and kitty monies while Roly consumed vast quantities of jam and Peter batted and bowled a lot. This early talent led him to contribute enormously to the running of junior rugby and cricket and also to the XL Club. He will be well remembered and sorely missed. Richard Burton (club chairman): When I returned to London in 2014, I was delighted to reconnect with Geoff through our daughters, who were in the same year at Colfe’s. He regularly joked that he had no recollection of my real name, as he only knew me (from the mid-1980s) as “Ash”. I hold him fully responsible for bringing that old nickname back to life! Geoff was kind enough to include me in his XL Club team against the school the next summer and I duly rewarded him with a golden duck. It still took a few more years to persuade Geoff to return to OCCC after many years playing at his local club, Horton Kirby. Of course, the best thing about his return was that he brought along his son Tom, who quickly established himself as the best player in the 3rd XI. But Geoff did treat us to some precious glimpses of his youthful glories and could still hit the ball a very long way when he connected. More importantly, Geoff became a valued mentor to me as a team captain and latterly chairman (luckily, I still have the notes of his “Five Year Plan” for us) and gave great advice to many of our younger (and not so young) players. He was also an amazing performer in the slip cordon - not because he ever caught much but more due to the quality of his banter (directed sometimes at the opposition but generally at his own teammates). His ability to coin a nickname was legendary. When our opening bowler Hastagiri Vanchinathan proved a bit too much of a mouthful for him, Geoff started yelling out “Come on, Arnie!” before each ball. Why, we all asked? Hastagiri Hasta Hasta la vista Baby! Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnie for short (obviously). Vintage Geoff! A lovely, generous man with a great sense of fun and we’ll miss him hugely. Tom Rameaux (Geoff ’s son, from his tribute speech): This story takes place on the cricket field, a place where Dad spent countless Saturdays and Sundays (I’m never quite sure how my Mum let him get away with it). For anyone who has played cricket with my Dad, he had a very similar approach to the game as the likes of Bob Willis or Geoffrey Boycott. Whether it was the shouts of “that’s a fine” when a fresh-faced youngster would drop a catch in the outfield or when he believed that somebody had dirty cricket whites, Dad would be sure to tell you how he felt. In

Paddy Pamment (4th XI captain): Geoff was a committed Colfeian who, whenever we spoke, had the interests of the cricket club at heart. He wanted us to flourish as a club and the best way we can repay that is with success in the future. Geoff was a proper funny bloke. Absolutely top notch and great for advice and understanding club dynamics. He was also a massive advocate for the continued development of Colts and how that helps secure a healthy OCCC. RIP mate, we’ll miss you so much. Jonathan Radhakrishnan (1st XI captain): Like the rest of the club, we [the 1st XI] were speechless. A good man with whom I was glad to spend some more time in the past few seasons. He will be sorely missed in the rugby and cricket clubs. Kevin Ginn (past player): I saw Geoff many times over the summer while he was playing cricket, the last time being only a few weeks back and as ever, he was in great form. I’m really shocked and saddened and send my condolences to his family. Another of the good guys gone far too soon. Andy Pye (past player): Very sorry and shocked to hear the news. Geoff was very talented and also played for my midweek side when he was in his teens, scoring useful runs and taking a few wickets. We also played a few games together for the XL Club. GEOFF RAMEAUX ANNUAL MEMORIAL MATCH: OCCC V OCRFC T20 The inaugural Geoff Rameaux Memorial Day was held at Horn Park on Saturday 17th June and was very well supported by the rugby and cricket

Tom Rameaux (standing second from left) and the OCRFC team COLFEIAN 2022/23

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OLD COLFEIAN SPORT as he claimed) and be given out LBW by OCCC umpire Matt Lorimer. Although Matt is never out LBW himself, he seemed confident that any full toss striking the pad in line with the wickets must be given out, even if its trajectory is such that it would clearly miss the stumps. This rather eccentric interpretation of the laws of cricket did not improve Mr Walker’s mood one jot. After this mishap, the only real resistance was put up by Andy Hughes, whose hard-hitting 46 off 29 balls took OCCC close to the target - but not quite close enough. Needing over 20 off the last over, it looked like a comfortable win for the rugby club until they decided to make a game of it with some “generous” fielding. The highlight was a throw from the boundary that scored a direct hit on an abandoned beer glass, resulting in five penalty runs. This - and some excellent hitting by 13-year-old Miles reduced the final margin of victory to just six runs. Well done to the rugby club. ENGLAND AND KENT SENIORS UPDATE The non-victorious OCCC team (but they seem happy enough!) clubs. It was also lovely to see a healthy contingent of past players at the club - thank you for your support. The combined fundraising efforts of a Crowdfunder page and BBQ sales raised an impressive sum, which will be shared between Geoff ’s hardship funds in each club. As for the cricket itself, a late concession by a league opponent meant that we were able to stage a bonus interclub T20 as a warm-up to the main OCRFC vs OCCC encounter. Both matches turned out to be run feasts, with a total of 630 runs scored from 78.4 overs. It’s very possible that this says less about the quality of the batting and much more about the bowling and fielding! In the main contest, the rugby boys proved that they don’t need an egg-shaped ball in order to excel, setting a formidable target of 164-2 in their 20 overs. Alex Smith (41*) and Joe Kennard (17*) both played excellent knocks, but the player of the match was of course Tom Rameaux, who had nailed his colours firmly to the rugby club mast for the day. Tom had reached 78 off just 48 balls when he was suddenly “retired” by his teammates, clearly unaware that Tom was - and still is - yet to score his maiden century in any form of cricket. Oh well, it was only his Dad’s memorial match after all. Thus reprieved, the cricket club set about their reply with gusto, Geoff ’s good friend Richard Pleydell striking a rapid 27, well supported by Gareth Wilson with 14. Will Walker then strode to the wicket like the colossus of cricket he is, only to miss a straight full toss first ball (or a crooked one,

Seniors cricket continues to go from strength to strength - not only in Kent but also nationally and worldwide. This is evidenced by the increased press interest shown around the so-called “Grey Ashes” - the England versus Australia Veterans series played to coincide with the “other” Ashes series this summer. OCs 1st XI bowler Rupert Staple was once again chosen to represent England Over 60s. The England side came back from 0-1 down to win 3-2 in the five-match series, repeating their win down under in 2019/20. Well done to Rupert and the rest of the England team, whose ranks included Mel Hussain, brother of former England and Essex captain Nasser. Rupert was also selected in the England Seniors squad for their tour to Canada in August. Over 150 players showed up at Kent Seniors winter nets this year, making it very challenging for the selectors to fit everyone into the four 60+ and two 70+ elevens. We are pleased to report that four OCs players were selected in the Kent Over 60s 1st XI squad of 15 for this summer: Chris Tarrant (captain), Rupert Staple, Richard Thomas and Richard Burton. The evergreen Mr Tarrant has seen a welcome return to form and fitness this year, scoring a fine 87 not out in a victory against Berkshire and keeping wicket with his usual skill and enthusiasm. Thomas has proved to be a welcome addition to the Kent seam attack with his characteristic accuracy and movement. Meanwhile, Burton was deployed as a specialist boundary fielder, which is just as well based on his batting form this season. Chris and the two Richards both had the honour of representing Kent in a friendly match against Australia Veterans, played as a warm-up match for the tourists’ Grey Ashes series.

OLD COLFEIANS RUGBY

This will be my first full season as Chair, and I am very much looking forward to it. Last season marked a return to level 6 for the 1st XV, and I feel that the players held their own throughout the season against some very tough opposition. We have a very young squad, and it was a steep learning curve for them. I am particularly pleased that a number of the players across all of our three senior teams have come through Minis and Juniors. For the first time in more years than anyone can remember, we start a season without Adam “Haggis” Hodgkiss being involved in some capacity or another with the senior teams. We wish Haggis well for a life away from Horn Park, but we hope to see him back supporting the team from the sidelines! In his place, we welcome our new DoR, Vicky Fleetwood. Vicky brings a wealth of experience and energy. She is bursting with ideas of how to further improve the quality of rugby we have here. The entire Club is excited to see her influence on the teams over the course of this season. She is not only involved with the seniors, but continues to play a key role with our Colts as well as helping across the Junior age grades (both male and female). You may have seen that there’s been some work undertaken at Horn Park over the summer.You will have noticed the new car park surface and will be relieved to know that your car no longer risks getting stuck in the mud!

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We are constantly working behind the scenes to improve the facilities for players and spectators alike. The old car park behind the stand has now been converted into much needed additional playing space. With over 400 Minis, Juniors and Colts, we are busting at the seams on Sundays, so more grass for the players was essential. A big thanks to all who donated towards this project. There are more plans and ideas in the works.

OLD COLFEIAN SPORT Looking ahead to this season, we welcome back some old opposition who we haven’t seen or played against for some time. After an absence of 11 seasons, Sidcup, the club at which I played my rugby as a youth, are back in the same league as us. Cobham and Medway are also teams that we haven’t had the opportunity to play against for a while. Our 2nd XV is now in Kent Counties 5 which will offer them much more challenging opposition and pose a good test for our new 2nds Head Coach, Keith Powell. We have had a flood of players returning from university over the summer and I am keen to see how this impacts the senior teams. This will hopefully have a positive impact on our 3rd XV, who struggled for player numbers at times last season. In contrast to many other clubs around us, being able to regularly turn out three senior

sides on a Saturday is a very positive statement and something of which we should be proud. With players from our Colts occasionally helping to make up the numbers for our senior sides, we are very much moving in the direction of the “One Club” ethos to which we aspire. A note of thanks to all the wonderful and amazing volunteers that help make this fantastic club work as well as it does. We’re always on the lookout for more, so please reach out if you would like to help. Even one hour a week would make a big difference to the club. I am excited to see how the teams perform in the season ahead. Good luck to all those that pull on the OCs jersey this season as we strive towards being the best amateur rugby club in South East London! Rob Gardiner, Chairman OCRFC

Logan and Abdoul who were selected to play for Saracens U17/U16 over the summer

Well done to our senior squad who entered two teams into this festival and after playing 9 rounds of 20-minute rugby in two groups they managed to beat Old Alleynians RFC 19–5 in the Plate Final at the Grasshoppers 15-a-side Festival on 12th August Minis Awards Dinner

Juniors Awards Dinner

Great result against local rivals Old Elthamians RFC in Kent League

U14 Girls are Kent 7’s Champions

Our U14 boys at the Kent 7’s COLFEIAN 2022/23

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DUKE OF EDINBURGH

DUKE OF EDINBURGH Now the DofE programme is back in full strength after the successful year last year post-pandemic, the word is strong, and recruitment remains high.

This year’s Bronze award uptake from our Year 9 CCF and Year 10 students was 48 in total, with all of these having just completed their qualifying expedition in July. This year’s Bronze candidates took part in a two day training/practice expedition in and around the Kent countryside, starting their adventure in Lenham near Maidstone. Each team for their practice weekend has with them an experienced DofE instructor from Lupin Adventure, teaching them ‘on the job’ about map reading and navigation through to living outdoors in a tent and cooking for themselves. Prior to the weekend the students met with their teams to look at route planning and the health and safety, first aid and paperwork to provide route cards for their intended outdoor experience. Alongside the expeditions for all awards the students have to find a suitable cause to offer their time to, to help, assist and guide within the ‘Volunteering’ section of their award. During this section of the award, Colfe’s Bronze students have offered themselves to the Maths Clinic, local charity administration, and a range of sports volunteering, helping younger students with the sports they love, inside and outside of Colfe’s School. The Silver Expedition took place in the beautiful South Downs National Park around the Alfriston area in East Sussex. The weather was changeable, offering a challenge at times to the task of a minimum walk of 30 miles, carrying everything they need for the three-day expedition. With four teams in tow, each team of around 6 people, the team navigated their way through more undulating countryside, taking in the 1066 country walk, Cuckmere Valley, Jevington and the Cuckoo trail to name just a few. Each team completed not only the expedition, but also an aim. These were varied and included looking at wild vegetation, making a video diary and looking at historic land use, and how it has changed over the years. We are very much looking forward to the presentations in the next academic year. I would like to thank the teams for their exemplary behaviour on the campsites used this year with an email sent to me just one day after the expedition retuned home. Dear Paul, Just a quick message to say what a pleasure it was to accommodate both groups of students this week, they were a credit to both Colfe’s School and the DofE scheme. In a challenging society where it is easy to complain/criticise everything, it makes a pleasant change to be able to compliment a group on their behaviour, manners and general tidiness. Paul Mayes, Assistant DofE Coordinator

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OUTDOOR EDUCATION

OUTDOOR EDUCATION In the Autumn term Year 7 visited the Lake District and took part in a range of thrilling activities. Year 8 enjoyed beautiful Snowdonia in the Spring term, and Year 9 took part in an exciting Bushcraft week. These Outdoor Pursuits weeks are a fantastic opportunity for pupils to challenge themselves, learn new skills, and make new friends in a fun environment.

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OUTDOOR EDUCATION & EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee continues to meet weekly and to recruit new members. This academic year, we visited the Junior school twice to talk about values, allyship and positivity. We are proud to announce our support this year for Palmyra relief charity, which provides prosthetic limbs for wounded Syrian children. We also hosted our first-ever House Charity competition. I never cease to be impressed by the enthusiasm, commitment and energy of our fantastic members. I am proud to lead such a group of individuals who wish to celebrate our diversity and promote inclusion. If you would like to become a role model like them and be part of the conversation, join us! Cécile Davies, Head of EDI

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PARTNERSHIPS

PARTNERSHIPS students. These placements have spanned community partnerships, journalism, animation and design, desktop research, event planning and web design/programming. These placements have included Foundation-sponsored student trips to Cambridge University and Scotland. More recently the charity played an integral role in getting our first community volunteer day off the ground, leveraging local contacts, and providing administrative and on-theday support.

Activities with partner state schools have been taking place for more than ten years now. It has been wonderful to continue the work of Claire Le Hur this year in running the Partnerships programme, along with Mrs Davies as Assistant Director of Partnerships, and Dr Lindsay as STEM coordinator. More than 200 pupils from ten partner schools (Addey and Stanhope, Bonus Pastor, Conisborough College, Deptford Green, Prendergast Ladywell, Prendergast Vale, Prendergast School, St Paul’s Academy, St Ursula’s and Trinity Lewisham) have been to Colfe’s this year for a variety of enrichment activities. Pupils from these schools (and a few others) are likely to join as scholars in the Sixth Form. Weekly Latin classes have run all year for around 20 pupils from Conisborough, Bonus Pastor and Trinity run by Mr Biggs and Mr Titcombe. Mr Titcombe’s class have sat their examinations this year, performing exceptionally well in the first which took place in January. Mr Guy held four challenging Maths sessions for 24 pupils from St Paul’s Academy, Addey and Stanhope and Bonus Pastor. Ms Beale ran five weeks of Computer Science sessions for pupils from Bonus Pastor, Conisborough and Addey and Stanhope schools. Mrs Davies and Ms Chapman held French and Spanish workshops for around 30 pupils. It was fantastic to run the ever popular Science Afternoon in January. 50 pupils attended challenging practical sessions in two sciences (run by Dr Zimmermann, Mr Fishwick and Ms Moore). Dr Lindsay finished the event with a talk about a career in STEM. Taster sessions were delivered for pupils to try A level subjects not offered at GCSE – the

Philosophy session on the mind was well received by pupils from Bonus Pastor. It was lovely to invite partner schools to John Glyn Scholars’ Lectures throughout the year. Pupils have attended talks from a variety of speakers, from authors to astronauts. The Annual Year 10 essay competition was overseen this year by Dr Lindsay. The Science essay ‘From demand reduction to the stability of the grid; how can AI support the energy transition?’ was set by Dr Jangra, and the humanities essay ‘Who bears more responsibility for climate change: The developed world or the developing world?’ by Mr Walker. The Colfe’s internal competition (judged by the Headmaster) saw Josh win the top prize for his science essay, with Shrey and Ione as runners up. The top three essays from all schools were sent to St Catherine’s College, Oxford for the grand final.

The community day itself involved approximately 60 Year 12 pupils and 17 members of staff, collectively donating around 300 hours of time to a variety of causes around Greenwich and Lewisham. Activities included painting, serving lunches, working with young schoolchildren, wildlife conservation and even helping run dance classes, bingo games and building pizza ovens. We are so proud of this group of students. The importance of community is at the heart of what Colfe’s is about, and being able to take part hands-on is the best way for our pupils to see what this means in practice. They undertook the range of activities in great spirit and could see for themselves the difference this makes. I think without exception they also got a great deal out of the experience themselves. Many of the students have said they are keen to continue volunteering, and I am grateful to the Brun Bear Foundation for their involvement in this day. It has been a busy year for the Partnerships Programme, and I am grateful to Mrs Davies and Dr Lindsay for their support. I would also like to thank colleagues for offering their time to run sessions for partner school pupils and to supervise pupils on the community day. Zoë Kendrick Director of School Partnerships

Our partnerships with organisations aside from other secondary schools have continued to flourish. The Catalyst (St Catherine’s College, Oxford Sustained Partnership Programme) continued this year with Year 10s visiting the college along with Year 10s from partner schools in June. Year 12 from Colfe’s and Prendergast School joined together for a trip to the college in May and for an application and interview workshop in July. Year 10 volunteers have returned to St Winifred’s Primary School to help teachers in a variety of activities – reading, maths, music, drama, games etc. Additionally, Colfe’s has struck up an especially productive relationship with Lewisham based registered charity The Brun Bear Foundation. Over the last 12 months The Brun Bear Foundation has offered diverse and meaningful work experience and mentoring to six of our

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COMBINED CADET FORCE

AUTUMN 2022 September 12th marked the first return to CCF training. There was plenty going on, with Skill at Arms, Rifle Drill and Tactics but with the passing of Her Majesty the week prior, the evening did not have the same buzz as normal. Nonetheless, the CCF cadets were keen to reaffirm their commitment to the Squadron and the new King. At the start of October, Colfe’s CCF was invited to participate in the Elworthy Trophy, a regional competition for London cadets at the National Cadet Training Centre. The competition consisted of 12 events across multiple disciplines such as shooting, First aid, watermanship and physical tests. Colfe’s performed exceptionally well, winning one of the tasks and coming second in several others. With the best teams from the Sea, Air and Army Cadet forces in London the competition

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was tough. However, Colfe’s CCF’s consistently strong performance throughout earned them a third place finish. A fantastic effort for our first ever trophy appearance. The team consisted of SSgt Wadeson, Sgt’s Chapman, Grethe and Jones, and in the younger age category Cadets Noyce, Pant and Woodhouse, all of whom were awarded their medals by the Headmaster. In addition to the Elworthy presentation, the Headmaster also awarded the Edwards and Hall swords to LCpl Perry-Wade and Cadet Taylor, who due to the passing of Her Majesty were unable to receive their awards at Senior Prizegiving. LCpl Perry-Wade was the top Cadet on the Cadet Supervisory Team weekend and was subsequently promoted to LCpl ahead of her peers. Cadet Taylor performed exceptionally well throughout the year and was commended for his conduct on the RAF Summer camp by the Camp

Commandant. October alf term saw the Sqn deploy on the eagerly anticipated Exercise RED COLFEIAN, the Skill at Arms and Shooting camp hosted at the Army Training Centre, Pirbright. 39 Cadets took part in the exercise with all cadets firing the 5.56 Cadet GP Rifle at 25 metres. Over 20 of the Senior Cadets went on to fire the GP Rifle on the 100 metre Range at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, with nearly 3,000 rounds of ammunition being fired overall. In addition to the shooting, cadets completed the Pirbright obstacle course, command tasks and fieldcraft training, and had a guided tour of Brookwood Military Cemetery, the largest in the UK. The camp was a huge success and there was some fine shooting with several cadets earning their marksmanship badges. As always, our annual Remembrance Parade took place at the war memorial at Old

COMBINED CADET FORCE Colfeians Rugby Club. The service was well attended by cadets and parents alike as all remembered fallen family, friends and Old Colfeians. The honour guard - led by SSgt Wadeson - performed flawlessly throughout, whilst the youngest cadet, Thomas (Y9), laid a wreath on behalf of all serving members of the Squadron as they stood diligently to attention. The Squadron is especially appreciative of the services of the school Chaplain Tony Collier and Sixth Former Kian - who played the Last Post perfectly. The whole parade was viewed by the Headmaster, who was very impressed with its precision and shared his congratulations for the squadron with the CCF staff. On the Friday following Remembrance Sunday, the Squadron held its Remembrance Dinner at the Bowls club, headed up by the Mess committee of Lt Dean, Fg Off Crummay and Sgt Rockall and enabled by WO2 Coyle. The school catering team laid on a fantastic spread, which we were especially grateful for. The dinner is a unique opportunity for senior cadets, parents and staff to come together over a formal mess event, and this year we were privileged to have the Regimental Sergeant Major of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps as our guest. With the loyal toast to HRH King Charles complete, the speeches and presentations followed. SSgt Chapman took the opportunity to enlighten the parents and guests about all the lesser-known activities that had taken place that past year, then there were long service awards for Sqn Leader Hooton and Major Cherry. There was also Champagne for 2Lt Withers on receiving his well-deserved commission and a leaving gift for Flt Lt Shipp. The final presentation, the Comradeship Bowl, was awarded by 4 Regt RSM to SSgt Chapman in recognition of his continued commitment to the Squadron.

SPRING 2023 On January 20th the Year 10 cadets headed to RAF Northolt for their Adair Leadership Course conducted by Major Cherry and Lt Dean. This mandatory course for all Year 10 enabled them to earn their Junior Cadet Instructor badge and ensure they are eligible for their first promotion. In addition to the leadership training and command tasks, cadets were taken to the Battle of Britain Bunker next to the former RAF Uxbridge site and given a bespoke tour by Fg Off Crummay. RAF Northolt was a fantastic venue for the course with first rate facilities and we hope to use this frontline RAF base again next year. The remainder of the term’s focus was largely on the upcoming Gibraltar trip. CCF GIBRALTAR CAMP 2023 Over the February half term 40 cadets from Colfe’s CCF Squadron deployed to Gibraltar on Exercise ROEBUCK ROCK. The last trip to Gibraltar in 2018 was a distant memory and due to COVID interruptions none of the Year 9-13 cadets had experienced an Overseas Training Exercise (OTX).

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COMBINED CADET FORCE The OTX consisted of two phases, the military exercise and the cultural package. The military phase provided an opportunity for the cadets to receive training on how to operate in the Urban environment, under the tutelage of Old Colfeians Lt Green and 2Lt Withers. After covering individual and fire team tactics, the village was divided in half and each section conducted a full attack with blank ammunition under the cover of smoke. The cadets were also taken into the Gibraltar tunnel system to conduct subterranean warfare training under the guidance of former Gurkha Sgt, Kamal Rai. Tunnel fighting is a very rare experience for most regular soldiers, let alone cadets, and moving along narrow passages under torch light with enemy threats lurking behind every corner required concentration, efficient weapon drills and teamwork. After the military phase there was a chance to unwind over bowling and rock climbing in the town. The cultural activities included a history tour of the military monuments led by Fg Off Crummay, a hike to the top of the rock with WO2 Coyle to see the Barbary apes and an expedition deep into the ancient natural caves. On the final day the cadets visited HMS Trent, a 2000-ton Royal Navy patrol vessel and received a brief from the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron. Cadet Taylor (Y10) said: “Gibraltar was an experience of a lifetime. The blank firing exercise was so much fun and being on board an active Royal Navy Warship was a brilliant end to an unforgettable trip.”

SUMMER 2023 All Year 10 cadets who attended the leadership course were invited to attend the Cadet Supervisory Team selection over 28-30th April where the Command team identify the best instructors for recruit camp. Following selection Cadets Colyer, Klanga, Noyce, Pant, Taylor, Warnke and Woodhouse earned their first stripe and were selected to be section Secondin-Commands (2ICs) and the remainder of Year 10 assisted as support staff. With the recruiting effort taking place at Easter, this year saw the start of a new era as Colfe’s CCF opened its doors to non-Colfe’s students for the first time. Nearby Dartford Grammar School, who last had their own CCF in 1967 were keen to reopen their contingent and in order to do so needed to form a temporary partnership. Colfe’s CCF, as an established parent unit, are fortunate enough that we could offer 20 recruit places to DGS - who had to implement their own rigorous selection process, such was the popularity of the offer – until they can sustain their own contingent. The DGS students slotted into the platoons seamlessly with Training Officer 2Lt Withers keen to fully integrate all members of the intake. In addition to the 20 DGS students, Colfe’s CCF Staff have also gained two DGS teachers in Mr Collins, a former regular solider who served as a door gunner on Lynx helicopters in the Army Air Corps and Lt Wells, formerly of Exeter OTC

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and Skinner’s CCF, who both bring bags of experience and enthusiasm to the team. This year’s Colfe’s intake of 45 recruits was a sign of just how well the Squadron is doing and along with the 20 DGS recruits and 15 senior Colfe’s cadets – the 80 cadets in attendance meant Exercise FAWN COLFEIAN 23 had the largest attendance on a cadet camp for many, many years. The recruits were put through their paces in a Main Events List created by 2Lt Withers. Not quite ‘SAS who dares wins’ but they were definitely challenged with .22 shooting, loaded marches, orienteering, obstacle course and their first night out in the field on the Crowborough Camp Training Area. On the final day after a series of individual and team challenges, the results were in and Wildcat section, under the direction of Sgt Rockall and LCpl Noyce were crowned the best section overall. As a follow up to the camp, Lt Dean was able to secure 30 tickets to the prestigious Brigade Major’s Review at Horse Guards Parade. A select number of the Year 8 recruits and some senior cadets were able to witness this final rehearsal for the King’s birthday parade with Colfe’s CCF cadets being sat adjacent to the senior officers commanding the review. Over the summer term a number of Cadets participated in the Duke of Edinburgh’s award expeditions in conjunction with the Outdoor Education Department. I am pleased to say that we now have 18 cadets who have completed the Bronze expedition, 13 who completed Silver and 16 who completed the Gold Qualifier in Snowdonia. They are now most of the way towards finishing their awards, once they get their remaining sections signed off and presentations will follow next term. Saturday 1st July was the date for this year’s Annual Parade, the final event in the summer term. The event provides a fantastic opportunity for the cadets’ parents to see their child’s efforts recognised in a formal setting and there were over 240 parents and friends in addition to the 100 cadets in attendance. This year we were very fortunate in that the Reviewing Officer, Wing Commander Bell - a regular Officer from RAF Odiham – has links with both the RAF and the Cabinet Office. He is extremely keen to set up future opportunities for the school (he has already wowed the cadets with the arrival of an RAF Chinook on the school field in June) and after a thorough inspection spoke articulately about the importance of perseverance and resilience in response to failure. After the review there were a number of awards for cadets achieving their syllabus or qualification badges and these were followed by the individual awards. Sgt Edney Harrison received the Tyler cup for his shooting expertise on October camp and the best recruit award was awarded to Cadet Coulson in Year 8 who displayed courage and compassion throughout the recruit training period. The departing Year 13 cadets received their coveted Commanding Officer’s Coin for 5 years dedicated service to the Squadron and the final award, the Headmasters’ shield was presented to the

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most senior cadet, Squadron Sergeant Major Chapman, for his continued leadership of the Squadron right to the end of his cadet career. In addition to the cadet awards, a number of the adult staff attended courses this year in order to facilitate cadet training. In March 2Lt Withers qualified as a Range Conducting Officer meaning he can run 25 metre ranges with the 5.56 rifle. Sgt Swords attended and passed the challenging Skill At Arms Instructor course in April meaning we have another qualified member who can teach the cadets how to conduct weapon handling safely. WO2 Coyle and Sgt Woodhouse completed the Cyber Training Course whilst Fg Off Crummay completed her Mountain First Aid qualification and both Capt Roberts and 2Lt Withers completed the DofE Assessor course, meaning they can assess Bronze and Silver DofE. With the ongoing need for the Defence Estate being required for training Ukrainian troops, the Summer Camp at Longmoor was cancelled so a last-minute move was made for some range days at Hythe. The majority of the Army cadets who had signed up for Summer Camp attended the range days (along with a few stowaways from the

RAF). The cadets had all shot on October range camp so moved onto some more complicated shoots, firing from the kneeling, sitting and fire trench positions at 100m with shooting up to 200m from prone and the fire trench. The range days were an opportunity to link up with another cadet force, this time Bancroft CCF and with the combined resources and qualified staff all cadets from both schools were able to hone their marksmanship skills and fire over 150 rounds each. The next academic year promises to be another eventful period with October ranges already booked and a return to conventional fieldcraft training scheduled for February half term. The new Y9 cadets will be welcome to come on the range package in October where they will be taught how to use the 5.56 GP Cadet Rifle and the February camp allocation of blank ammunition and pyrotechnics is scheduled to be greater than all ammo used in the previous training cycle. As usual we will begin our Year 8 recruiting drive after February half term, where I anticipate competition for places will be even greater than last year! Capt Roberts

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RAF

RAF The RAF Flight has had an extremely successful year, with several cadets still ‘on a high’ having returned from their aviationfocused trip to RAF Lossiemouth last July. The sudden and last-minute cancellation of this year’s annual camp by RAF Odiham personnel due to accommodation issues means that the camp will now run in a different format in October half term, with opportunity for the whole Flight to attend. Unprecedented interest in the RAF Flight following the recruit cadre during May half term sees the unit grow, with several of the senior NCO’s looking forward to taking on more leadership roles. Special mention must go to Sgt May, who has been an exceptional senior cadet this year. Having not only been awarded all round ‘best cadet’ on exercise on the Gibraltar February camp, he has also been awarded a prestigious Royal Air Force air scholarship. This provides opportunities for those who show a special aptitude for flying and offers prospective pilots a chance to ascertain what elementary flying training is like in the RAF. The Flight says a fond farewell to F Sgt Grethe, who has led the Flight excellently this year, embodying the

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qualities expected of a cadet. In particular his route planning for Gold DofE and support in teaching younger cadets has been impressive. Several cadets attended the summertime trip to RIAT (the Royal International Air Tattoo) although this coincided with one of the worst days for UK rainfall in recent years. Staying jovial, they were treated to a daring and brave display by the typhoon display team, and we will be sure to return next year when the weather will hopefully be better! Thanks to the staff that travelled across the country from their various summertime activities to be able to support cadets on this trip, despite the dampness. The Flight has been extremely fortunate to be hosted by RAF Benson this year for the Air Cadet Muster. In an extremely lucky circumstance, having been on base for only half an hour, Colfe’s RAF Flight were selected to fly in a chinook by 28 Squadron. This was a personal highlight for many, and as this day coincided with the King’s Birthday Flypast and Trooping the Colour, the RAF diverted the end of the flypast over Benson so cadets were able to see the latest stealth fighter, the F35, fly

over in formation, along with fast jet training aircraft, the Texan, and the multiengine trainer, the Phenom. In a complete surprise, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster treated cadets to a circuit Flight over the airfield, flying lower three times in a row before departing. In the spring term, we also welcomed Flt Lt Shaw, who as a former ISR pilot with over 1000 operational flying hours, travelled down from RAF Valley on Anglesey ahead of his fast jet training to speak to cadets about his own experience of being in the CCF, and officer training. The Flight is particularly proud of L Cpl Pant for her thoughtful questions. Following this, our very own APO May, a former cadet and pupil, visited the Flight to update the cadets on his flying training at Oxford Airports Leading Edge training facility. At present, he has successfully completed ground school and we wish both these pilots, who have been so supportive of Colfe’s RAF cadets, every success for their futures. We also thank them both for battling the M25 to get to us on a Monday evening! In January, Year 10 cadets attending the RAF Northolt Adair leadership course were also able to spend some time in the

RAF

Battle of Britain bunker at Uxbridge. Steeped in history, this was the centre of the Battle of Britain’s planning efforts against the Nazis, and the original plotting map and grid light switchboard system are still operational, which captivated many cadets as to how valuable an asset this was in the successful defence of the country against Nazi invasion in 1940. This was of course a highlight for several members of the directing staff. As we approach 2024, more widely the whole unit will be looking to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings, and in 2025, the 80th anniversary of VE Day – this is most likely the final time that we will hear firsthand from veterans themselves. Thus, as the voices of the greatest generation fade from us, the CCF will continue to honour former Colfeians at the annual remembrance dinner and parade. This year we have also been fortunate that, as the wonderful Flt Lt Shipp departed, we welcomed for the interim, Matthew Woodhouse, a former cadet and pupil back on Monday nights. We wish Matt all the best as he begins his university course at Loughborough University and thank him for his support on the annual parade, in particular. The RAF Flight’s new recruits did a fantastic job and the Reviewing Officer, and RAF Wing Commander, spoke very highly of the RAF Flight’s turn out; well done to all involved. Looking ahead, we have an exciting October camp forthcoming, as well as the annual RAST competition in November, thus drill practice will be beginning in earnest. We recommend cadets start polishing their shoes now! It has been a privilege and true honour to lead the RAF CCF Flight this year and having led the RAF human factors course on the recruit cadre, it is clear to see that the RAF Flight has a collection of innovative, passionate and helpful cadets that promote the CCF’s ethos ‘prepare to lead’. Flying Officer Crummay COLFEIAN 2022/23

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SKI TRIP

After 3 years away from the slopes, a record 152 students flew to La Plagne this Easter to ski in beautiful spring sunshine. The skiers ranged from complete beginners to potential downhill racers of the future, but all improved technique in the week whilst having a great time.

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SKI TRIP

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JUNIOR SCHOOL

JUNIOR SCHOOL STAFF SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

EYFS & KEY STAGE 1

Mrs M-C Gilfedder-Bonnar LLB (Hons) Strathclyde, BSc (Hons), PGCE Head

Mrs S Gurr BEd (Hons) Deputy Head, SMT, Early Years Safeguarding Person, PSHE Subject Leader, Library Coordinator, Fire Officer, Paediatric First Aider

Mrs S Gurr BEd (Hons) Deputy Head, Pastoral Strategy, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Early Years Safeguarding Person, Reading Development, Fire Officer, Paediatric First Aider Mrs G Fisher HND, OCR Level 7 Cert SpLD Director of Learning Support Miss L Kirkland BA (Hons) MSc PGCE Director of Studies SUPPORT STAFF Mrs E Benjamins BEd (Hons) PA to the Head and Senior Management Team/ Office Manager Mrs D Finn School Administrator/First Aider Mrs R Middleton School Administrator Mrs J Di Mascio BA (Hons) PG Dip BACP (accred) Junior School Counsellor Miss Z Humphreys RCN (Registered Sick Children's Nurse) Junior School Nurse, Paediatric First Aider Mr T Highland Junior School Keeper, Fire Officer

Ms D Wheater BEd (Hons) Nursery A Teacher Miss A Renfrew Nursery A Teaching Assistant, Paediatric First Aider, Late School Ms N Sutherland Nursery A Teaching Assistant Miss E Bray BA (Hons) Nursery B Teacher, Assistant Academic Phase Leader EYFS Mrs K Chapman NNEB NVQ Level 3 Management Nursery B Teaching Assistant, Paediatric First Aider Ms G Scala NVQ3 Nursery B Teaching Assistant, Paediatric First Aider

Mrs E Carey BA (Hons) STILS CACHE Level 3 2A Teaching Assistant, Paediatric First Aider Ms S Hodges 2B Teacher, Humanities Subject Leader Ms C Ryan NVQ3 2B Teaching Assistant, KS1 Forest School (Tues and Fri), Breakfast Club Mrs S Quinn BA (Hons) MA NPQH 2C Teacher Mrs A Barlas BSc CACHE Level 3 2C Teaching Assistant, Paediatric First Aider Ms K Jardine NVQ4 All Years HLTA/ Library Assistant Miss M King BA PGCE All Years HLTA/Library Assistant Ms N Mensah All Years HLTA/Library Assistant

Ms H Crossfield Sandhu Reception A Teaching Assistant

Mrs N Kingswood BSc (Hons) PGCE EYFS & KS1 Cover Teacher (Part-Time)

Ms A Thompson BA PGCE Reception B Teacher

Mrs D Hills BA (Hons) PGCE QTS All Years Cover Teacher (Part-Time)

Ms S Lapena Reception B Teaching Assistant

Mrs L Scanlan BA (Hons) PGCE EYFS & KS1 Cover Teacher (Part-Time)

Ms V Lee BSc PGCE MA Reception C Teacher, Academic Phase Leader EYFS

Ms V Paterson BSc (Hons) EYFS/KS1 1:1 SLA (2 days a week), Midday Meal Supervisor (KS1/EYFS)

Ms A Brown Reception C Teaching Assistant

Ms D Tucker KS1 & KS2 Midday Meal Supervisor

Mrs N Blythe NNEB 1A Teaching Assistant, Late School Miss L Clarke BA PGCE MA in Educational Leadership 1B Teacher, Academic Phase Leader KS1 Miss S Terry CACHE Level 2, Level 3 Early Years 1B Teaching Assistant, Late School Ms E Francis 1C Teacher

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Miss H Ferris BSc (Hons) PGCE 2A Teacher, Assistant Academic Phase Leader KS1

Ms J Halloumas BSc (Hons) PGCE Reception A Teacher

Mrs T Lee Oliver STILS CACHE Level 3 1A KS2 HLTA, Paediatric First Aider

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Ms L de Montford NVQ3 1C Teaching Assistant

JUNIOR SCHOOL KEY STAGE 2

LEARNING SUPPORT

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Mrs C Epps BA PGCE MA 3A Form Tutor, Assistant Academic Phase Leader Lower KS2

Mrs G Fisher HND OCR Level 7 Cert SpLD Director of Learning Support, SMT

Mrs S Smith BEd (Hons) ` Head of Music, All years Teacher

Ms M Hughes 3B Form Tutor

Mrs D France BA (Hons) EYFS/KS1 Learning Support Teacher, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Miss A Manning BA PGCE 3C Form Tutor Mrs P Scobie PGCE (M) 3C Form Tutor Mr C Kitchen BA PGCE 4A Form Tutor Ms A Mawer BA (Hons) PGCE 4B Form Tutor Mrs E Higgs BA PGCE 4C Form Tutor, Co-Assistant Academic Phase Leader Lower KS2, KS2 Art Subject Leader Mrs V Taylor BSc PGCE 4C Form Tutor, Co-Assistant Academic Phase Leader Lower KS2 Miss A Lennon BSc PGCE 5A Form Tutor, Head of Values, PHSE & RS Mrs S Gibbons BA (Hons) 5B Teacher. Academic Phase Leader Upper KS2

Ms A Spinney BSc PGCE, PG Dip Systemic Theory KS2 Learning Support Teacher (Part-Time) Mrs K Gerard BA (Hons) HLTA Level 4 CACHE Level 2 NQT, Level 3 Diploma Specialist Support KS2 Teaching Assistant for SEN (Full-Time), Late School Mrs I Warnke BA (Hons) MA PGCE KS1 Learning Support Teacher Mr J Gregory One to One Support Ms O Latimer One to One Support Mrs G Hepden Reception A HTLA Learning Support Teacher

PE & GAMES DEPARTMENT Miss S Manzi BA (Hons) Head of Swimming Mr A Knowles BSc (Hons) Head of PE and Games, Head of Co-Curricular M L Kimberley Head of KS1 PE and Games Ms R Hughes All Years WRAP AROUND CARE Mrs C Wilks NVQ Level 3 Wrap Around Care Manager, Paediatric First Aider Mrs P Pin EYFS/KS1 Late School Supervisor, Paediatric First Aider Mrs S Simmons EYFS/KS1 Late School Supervisor, Paediatric First Aider

Mrs K Martin-Eggins BSc (Hons) PGCE 5C Form Tutor Mrs H Lowth BSc PGCE 5C Form Tutor Mr J Dunne BA PGCE 6A Form Tutor, Assistant Academic Phase Leader Upper KS2, Lead Practitioner Ms C Reynolds 6B Form Tutor, Head of Science Mr J Ford BA (QTS) 6C Form Tutor Mrs J Dunmore BA (Hons) PGCE KS2 General Subjects (Part-Time) Ms G Walton-Green BA PGCE KS2 French Teacher (Part-Time) Ms S Grover NNEB KS2 Teaching Assistant, Paediatric First Aider, Swimming Teacher Mrs S Green CACHE Level 3 KS2 Teaching Assistant, Breakfast Club Assistant, Paediatric First Aider Mrs L McDougall NVQ Level 4 KS2 Teaching Assistant, Breakfast Club Assistant

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JUNIOR SCHOOL

September brought the start of another eventful and exhilarating year for the Junior School, and we were delighted to welcome our new Head, Marie-Clare Bonnar, into the fold. There have also been several new members of staff teaching across the school: Mrs Emily Francis (Y1), Miss Samantha Hodges (Y2), Mrs Michaela Hughes (Y3), Mrs Chloe Reynolds (Y6), Miss Nikita Mensah (HLTA/ Forest School Assistant), Mrs Helen Sandhu (TA, Reception) and Mrs Rachel Middleton (Junior School Office). As always, the year has been filled with numerous excursions, events and productions, all of which combine to enhance the rich and varied education that the children experience in this part of the school.

HOUSE MEETINGS AND PUPIL VOICE House meetings, led by Mr Kimberley, and led by the children, take place on a regular basis throughout the year, suggesting ways to improve school life and debating their feasibility. This year the focus across the school was on improvements to outdoor space with a request for new play equipment. New equipment was duly purchased and the Kingball squares in the KS2 playground were re-painted. Furthermore, additional seating was put into place for those children who prefer to sit and chat at playtime. The Lunchtime Library Club on Thursdays and Fridays has also addressed the request from the children for quieter spaces during recreational times, and these have been enthusiastically embraced by the children. This year saw plans being drawn up for an exciting revamp of the KS1 and KS2 playgrounds, with new and challenging climbing equipment and a large-scale pirate ship being installed during the 2023 Summer holiday, with the “big reveal” taking place at the start of the new academic year 2023-24. Always eagerly anticipated, Key Stage 2’s House Quiz took place at the end of the Spring term, with Aquila taking first place.

JUNIOR SCHOOL CHARITIES REPORT This has been another busy year for fundraising in the Junior School with House charity initiatives continuing to support worthy causes at home and abroad. House charities continue to flourish, with the children devising engaging initiatives to raise funds for their specific cause.

LYNX Lynx House hosted a successful dress-up day in school with children and staff asked to come dressed as a cat or dog or sporting clothes with cat or dog patterns; this was to raise money for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. An absorbing game of bingo was played in assemblies and Lynx had raised the grand total of £782.98 by the end of the day.

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AQUILA In aid of Children in Need, Aquila invited all children to participate in a Great SPOTacular event by coming to school dressed in spotty themed clothing. Consequently, the Junior School was awash with spots of every imaginable hue and a brilliant £788.38 was raised for this worthy charity.

ORION As part of Red Nose Day, Orion House encouraged children and staff to sport red clothing for the day and to come to school with ‘crazy hair’. A great deal of creativity ensued, and some people were simply unrecognisable due to the wigs they were wearing! Great fun was had by all, and Orion was able to send the Red Nose organisers the grand sum of £1000.00,

CHARITIES REPORT

PEGASUS This year it was the turn of Pegasus House to raise money through the annual Junior School Summer Fair. The Fair is always a wonderful way to round off a happy and successful year and provides a fantastic opportunity for the host House to invite their fellow Houses to join them in organising a large-scale fundraising event. The Fair is very much planned by the KS2 children themselves, organising the event for the entertainment of our younger children, whilst also thoroughly enjoying the afternoon themselves. This year was no exception and new challenges were set due to a new brief by teachers that there should be no sweets for prizes to conform to our healthy eating initiatives, and criteria set in House meetings by the children when they decided against any plastic prizes on stalls due to sustainability issues. A healthier alternative to sweets was agreed upon in the form of fruit ice poles and this was welcomed because past fairs have always taken place on hot July days. Many engaging activities were planned during House meetings, and on the day the playground and field were

buzzing with excitement as activity holders persuaded friends and staff to join the fun. By the end of the fair Orion had raised a whopping £2,200 for Red Cross Ukraine. In addition to House events, the Junior School has also been committed to working with Acorn Book Club, a local charity working to ensure that children across South East London and North Kent have free access to good quality books. The charity works within the local community to collect and redistribute pre-loved children’s books to local schools and organisations in need. Periodically, donations are given to the charity, and these are always gratefully received.

JUNIOR SCHOOL MUSIC In October, children in Reception and KS1 came together to celebrate Harvest and welcomed Lt Lesley Holland from the Deptford Salvation Army Church, into school to lead our Harvest Singing Assembly. Parents were generous with donations of non-perishable food which were delivered by Lesley to the Lewisham Food Bank.

Once again, our Junior musicians enjoyed a busy, varied and highly successful year. We were very proud when children from Year 5 were invited to join choirs from schools across London to sing at the prestigious Mayor’s Thames Festival in September, where they sang their hearts out and thoroughly enjoyed being part of such an auspicious event. Participating in Young Voices at the 02, the world’s biggest school’s choir in the world, has become an annual event for our KS2 Young Voices Choir and this year we were delighted to be singing with Heather Small as she treated the arena to a performance of her chart topping single, ‘Proud’. During her performance, every single voice from the concert was blended with that of Heather’s and then made into a single to raise money for the children’s mental health charity, Place2be. We were also excited to welcome drummer, percussionist and Director of Beat Goes on, Ollie Tunmer, into the Junior School for a splendid Body Percussion Workshop. Children across the school had great fun participating in Ollie’s STOMP-style body percussion moves and were enthralled by his reminiscences of being a cast member in the hit show STOMP.

We are fortunate to have many dedicated children throughout the Junior School who play instruments or have singing lessons; this year we were exceptionally proud of those that took their grade exams, with many awarded with Distinction and Merit grades, these forming outward demonstrations of our Junior School Values of Effort, Resilience and Love of Learning. We certainly have a strong base of talented and confident performers in our ensembles and our participation in the Colfe’s annual sermon lay testimony to this with the Junior School choir singing “For the Beauty of the Earth”, by John Rutter to wide acclaim.

We have continued to hold Teatime Concerts for parents each half-term and these are hugely popular, this year necessitating a permanent change of location from the KS2 hall to the Recital Room, a more suitable venue to accommodate the growing audience this event now commands. Our end of year KS1 Mini Maestros performance to parents was extraordinarily successful and, with the support of our brilliant peripatetic music teachers, the children were able to demonstrate the huge amount of progress they have made in their individual instruments across the year.

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SCIENCE WEEK

JUNIOR SCHOOL SCIENCE WEEK Grey skies forming overhead did not dampen the spirits of the Junior School children as, en masse, they came out into the KS1 playground to watch from a safe distance as a member of the amazing Science Boffin team prepared to launch a ‘rocket’ with the sporting help of Mrs Lowth. This was the finale to an exciting Science Week in March, during which Zoolab had held interactive workshops for Years 2, 3 and 5 and hatching eggs arrived in Nursery so that the children could observe the hatching

process and then find out about caring for the hatched ducklings. Our annual sunflower growing competition also took place, with children encouraged to care for the growing seeds at home throughout the Spring and Summer terms. We are most grateful for those parents that have submitted videos of themselves, talking about the ways in which they have used STEM in their careers.

EYFS NATIVITY BORN IN A BARN In December, the youngest children in our school performed their annual nativity to a packed audience of parents.

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EYFS NATIVITY

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JUNIOR SCHOOL

YEAR 1’S PRODUCTION OF ‘SING ME A STORY’ The Spring term saw Year 1’s stunning performance to parents of ‘Sing me a Story’. The children took several traditional tales and told them through song; the stories included Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the Gingerbread Man and the tale of Little Red Hen, the latter delivered in rap.

YEAR 2’S CARNIVAL CAVALCADE SHOW Year 2’s Summer performance was truly spectacular. Their ‘Carnival Cavalcade’ show took place in the Beardwood Theatre and was a musical extravaganza to delight all the senses, featuring memorable songs such as the ‘Minibeast Rave’ with accompanying dance moves, and a conga around the theatre during which audience participation was strongly encouraged!

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JUNIOR SCHOOL

YEAR 5 BAROQUE ROCK AND ROLL

A highlight of the Spring term was Year 5’s performance to parents, ‘Baroque Rock and Roll. The performance was a combination of Baroque music by Pachelbel and a modern pop song based on the chord progression loop devised by Pachelbel, with many other pieces from the period in between. It also provided an excellent opportunity for those pupils who play an instrument to perform solo.

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YEAR 6 PERFORMANCE & EYFS SPORTS DAY

YEAR 6 PERFORMANCE OF THE PIRATES OF THE CURRY BEAN As their final performance in the Junior School, our outgoing Year 6 children treated parents to a riotous and swashbuckling performance of ‘The Pirates of the Curry Bean’, a comedic treasure hunting story involving one unfortunate family, a band of unruly pirates and a crew of sailors led by one thoroughly incompetent Admiral. Following a storm, the cast find themselves washed up on the tropical island of Lumbago and the

EYFS SPORTS DAY

On Thursday 15th June, we held our annual EYFS Sports Day, and the weather could not have been better; bright and sunny and perfect for the children to show their parents the skills they had been honing with the PE staff over the course of the year. All the children competed well, scoring points for their House whilst having fun in the sun. There could only be one winning House and this year it was the turn of Lynx to secure the coveted cup. We are very grateful to Mr Kimberley and his team for organising such a successful event.

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adventure begins from there. The story is packed full of jokes, presented by a range of hilarious characters, and interspersed with memorable songs. The children pulled out all the stops to give a rousing performance on the night, full of energy and with great comedy timing; the audience was thrilled by the performance, and all agreed that this was the perfect finale to mark the end of their time in the Junior School.

KS1 SPORTS DAY

The KS1 Sports Day for 2023 took place on Thursday 15th June and the children entered the field to rapturous applause from parents and carers. Huge sporting achievements were secured during the event, as the children worked hard to beat their personal best in the variety of activities, whilst striving to win points for their House. A record number of parents took part in the parent races, with several heats needed to accommodate all those that wanted to participate. In the teachers’ race, Mr Kitchen put in a gigantic effort to maintain his win from last year, but he was beaten to the post by Mr Kimberley; a fitting achievement for the organiser of this year’s KS1 Sports Day. We are truly grateful to Mr Kimberley and his team for the arduous work they put into making KS1 Sports Day such a success and also want to thank our amazing Year 5 helpers for being so helpful and considerate towards the younger children.

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KS2 SPORTS DAY

On Thursday 8th June, we held the KS2 Sports Day; truly a family event with the day punctuated midway by a splendid family picnic, and an opportunity for the children to take a breath between sports day activities ahead of their afternoon House tug-ofwar competition. This was an action-packed day, with a challenging circuit of activities to navigate and the children ever mindful of their individual personal best targets to beat whilst scoring House points for their House team. Medals and trophies were awarded in a special assembly by Mr Knowles, and we are most grateful for his superb organisation of a sports day to remember. We also owe a debt of gratitude to PAFA who served refreshments to parents as well as a much-needed fruit ice pole to all the children to help them cool down after the morning’s exertions.

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KS2 SPORTS DAY

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL CELEBRATE BETTY’S BIRTHDAY! On a beautifully sunny morning in the summer term, the entire Junior School waited for Betty to finish her morning school crossing duties outside the Upwood Road entrance, so that we could celebrate her 73rd birthday with a stirring rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’. For many years, come rain or shine, Betty has been helping to keep our children safe as they cross the road on their way to school, always with a cheery smile and kind words. This was a fitting moment to show how profoundly grateful we are for all she does. COLFEIAN 2022/23

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Leathersellers’ Sports Ground Sidcup Road. SE12 9AJ

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2022 / 2023

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