Bancroft's Insight Newsletter - Summer 2023

Bancroft’s Flourishing –

Sophia Khalisadar (RW)

Whether it be tripping over your feet while dancing the tango, or screaming so hard you lose your voice while enjoying your time at Aquasplash, there certainly was no shortage of incredibly enjoyable events in which to participate, during the Community Flourishing Festival which took place during the week before the summer holidays. Activities ranged from American Flag-Football to Origami and there were even several activities outside of school, such as tennis in West Grove, a trip to the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge, or a walk in Epping Forest.

For those who preferred sporty activities (and even those who do not tend to participate in co-curricular sports), there was a wide variety of events. These included tennis, water polo, ultimate frisbee, trampolining, golf, volleyball, an introduction to football for beginners, croquet, yoga and many more. For those of us who preferred a gentler form of exercise, there was an amble through Epping Forest to enjoy. Aside from sport many students had the opportunity to express their arty side, with a range of events in the art department. Led by the skilful Miss. Edwards, students produced a macramé wristlet that took pride of place on their rucksack. If a pupil

wanted the opportunity to explore arts from across the globe, Arabic Art may have been the solution.

Alongside sport and art, many students also had an enjoyable time using their logical thinking skills in the Escape Room and the Treasure Hunt, both of which I had the pleasure of participating in. The Escape Room (lead by the capable Mr. Dickinson,

Mr. Gillary and Mr. Dellow) was an absolute blast. The teachers took the time to create this escape room in a room above the Great Hall, where students aren’t usually allowed to enter. This served to make the experience all the more thrilling. The treasure hunt, headed by Mr. Brennand, was a fun use of teamwork and logical thinking, taking us all across the school in a hunt to find certain teachers’ initials or names.

To make the experience of festival week even more unique, students from each year group were forced into interacting with each other, something that doesn’t usually happen for the less forthcoming of the school population. Many tentative friendships were made across the years as students who competed with, crafted with, or played with, got to know each other better through the terrific activities planned out for us by the teachers.

Considering that it was a week packed full of fun, it was brilliant to be able to have quiet, relaxing pockets of time, such as quiet reading with Mr. Gallagher, or gardening with Mr. and Mrs. Whitbread and Mrs. Fryer-Green, or relaxing with some knitting or crocheting.

Among all of these marvellous activities, there were a few more niche ones: sign language, Japanese speaking for beginners, gong baths, belote, den-building, the psychology of video games and, perhaps the most niche yet, Etiquette Essentials for the Modern Gentleman led by our

own modern gentlemen Mr Young and Mr Willingham. But whether you left knowing how to eat your soup with propriety, or with a handmade wristlet

hanging from your bag, or your tennis racket over your shoulder, everybody left with a smile on their face and, perhaps, a little more knowledge in their heads.

Don Quixote

Jayen Ruwala (RE)

On Monday 12 June, the Removes watched an interactive performance of Don Quixote, written by Miguel de Cervantes in 1605.

Don Quixote is the story of a Spanish man, called Don Quixote de la Mancha, who loses his mind on a mission to become a knight. He is accompanied on his quest by his loyal friend Sancho Panza. During his struggle he fights many imaginary enemies including windmills that he thinks are giants. Every time he goes to fight someone he draws his sword in readiness for battle. Sancho Panza would always advise him against battle but he never listened and always came out of the battle injured. Throughout the story Sancho Panza proves to be a faithful friend.

One very skilful and talented actor played the role of Don Quixote, and volunteers from the audience took on other roles which made the performance interactive and enjoyable. I was chosen for the role of making sound effects for the battle scene, which was lots of fun!

Not only was the play fun, but it was also educational as we learnt some new vocabulary and got to practise our Spanish listening and speaking skills. It was a very good way to spend a Monday morning at the end of term.

Norse Week

Following, the success of our Harry Potter Week (Thirds) and Hunger Games Week (Removes), Mrs Squire and the library staff introduced the L4 to Norse Week.

The highlight of this was, undoubtedly, the events on Tuesday during our Festival. Thank you to Jason Buck, Norse story teller, who entertained the L4 during the day with some bloodthirsty tales of the Norse gods and the intriguing Norse creation myth (who knew the sea was a giant’s blood?) These stories inspired the L4 to write their own Norse style sagas.

We were also visited by the ULFLAG Viking re-enactors, who entertained us, with some fabulous displays of Viking combat. They also told us about the Viking world and how far Norse influences spread beyond Scandinavia. Thank you to the Library Team for their inventiveness.

One very skilful and talented actor played the role of Don Quixote, and volunteers from the audience took on other roles which made the performance interactive and enjoyable.

“ “

Redbridge Book Awards

On Thursday 22 June, the Thirds and Removes Book Club had an extremely exciting trip to watch the Redbridge Book Awards Ceremony! Book Club is a place where we all share a love of reading, it is run by one of our wonderful librarians, Mrs Houghton.

We were involved in the Redbridge Book Awards, which meant that we read as many of the books on the longlist as we could. We then voted for our favourites and, alongside the other schools’ votes, a shortlist was made. After we had read those, we all had a vote for our winner. The Thirds’ book club read the children’s section and the Removes read the teenage list. We then had a trip to the Redbridge Book Awards to see the winners be revealed.

We all got to leave period three early and gathered at the Tower ready for a fun trip. We left school and walked to the bus stop to board the 179. Our small group of five were buzzing with excitement and did not stop talking for the entire journey. When we finally arrived, we walked a short way to Ilford Town Hall where the Redbridge Book Awards Ceremony was being hosted. We had a whole table filled with activities, programmes and a plate of biscuits which quickly disappeared! Before the ceremony started there was a chance to buy books from the shortlist and even get some of them signed by the authors themselves.

The start of the ceremony included a quiz which required us to try and remember all of the books. As there

were some that none of us had read, we had to give some quite bizarre answers! Half the challenge was decoding the questions as we could barely hear them from the back of the hall. Even though we didn’t know all the answers, it was great fun, especially to debate what a wallaby’s name would be (we chose Joe in the end)!

Afterwards, we had a motivational talk from Dr Stuart Lawrence about not giving up and always being positive; it was very interesting and inspiring. Next, there was an authors’ panel with S.F Said, Safiya Ahmed and Christopher Edge. It gave us an insight into an author’s life and what inspired each of them. It was fascinating to see their work from a unique perspective. There was a short break after this before the winners were revealed.

Tyger by S.F Said was the winner of the children’s section and Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed for the teenage section, both were worthy winners! Along with entering our favourite books, there was also a short story and poetry competition. Dorothy won the teenage short story competition which was an amazing achievement! It was a great trip and incredible fun! Everyone had a wonderful time and we can’t wait to start reading for next year’s competition.

Forensic Science Day

On 22 June, the Removes had the very exciting opportunity to be a part of the ‘Forensic Science Day’.

The theme was the gruesome murder of the 35th President of the United States of America, John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK). This action-packed day included a range of activities varying from looking at fingerprints, evaluating the famous ‘Backyard Scene’ picture to reviewing live videos from the actual JFK assassination scene using VR headsets.

To start our morning, we looked at the way the American government had told everyone how the event had played out. After this we looked at all the evidence in separate parts and then reviewed the timeline of events. Following this we asked the most important question of all: who was in on the plot to kill JFK?

We began to fill out booklets of evidence of the assassination whilst doing the activities. Then we started to branch our ideas out to other possibilities of who killed JFK. Was it the Mafia? What about angry rich oil merchants? Maybe we will never know, but this science day certainly left us with more questions than answers. I am sure that we are all hungry for more information about the assassination. Our personal favourite was the board game as you could actually see where each person was at any time, as this helped to show if the supposed timeline makes sense.

Forensic Science Day was an amazing opportunity to open us up to the wonderful world of crime-solving.

Tara Johal (RS)

Malika Khan (RS) and Aleyha Saeed (RN)

Intermediate Physics Olympiad

This term, we were given the opportunity to take part in the Intermediate Physics Olympiad. This is a nationwide competition for any secondary schoolage students with a budding interest in the subject who are keen to expand their knowledge and branch out from the syllabus. The Physics Olympiad was the perfect mix of a difficult challenge and tremendous fun! All the students who participated pushed themselves further into the fascinating world of physics.

The preparation classes with Mr Ceeraz involved past paper questions that puzzled the majority of us, but we learned how to solve it together in a positive working environment that allowed us to practice for the final rounds. During the classes, we also had mature discussions with some of our physics teachers considering our future choices for university - something we all found enlightening. Initially, we embarked on the first round in the form of an online quiz, this not only involved maths related calculations, but also delved into our physics-based general knowledge – distinguishing between those who watch the news and those who don’t. The paper also included some questions about astronomy such as the upcoming Artemis launches, a topic that was particularly fascinating and is currently very relevant.

Following the online round, some students opted to attempt the second round; a written paper divided into three sections: multiple choice, longer description questions, and complex equations which took up the vast majority of the paper. Although the experience did prove to be quite challenging, the opportunity to explore something beyond the GCSE syllabus was refreshing. It was truly our passion driving us to learn new information, not just preparation for tests we do in class!

As a result of our hard work, those who participated won a range of awards. Either a Commendation, Bronze, Silver or Gold award was given. It was really exciting to be rewarded with these and we are all looking forward to be presented with them in an assembly! We would recommend anyone who has a passion for physics to attempt this challenge because of the many benefits including practising the ability to think on the spot and broadening your understanding of physics. Moreover, it served as excellent preparation for our upcoming GCSEs, as we attempted questions of a higher standard. The competition has several categories for various age groups (Junior, Intermediate and Senior) so there is an opportunity for any Bancroftian to get involved.

L6th Biology Olympiad

Mrs S Hampson, Head of Biology

The L6 biologists sat the Biology Olympiad, organised in association with the Royal Society of Biology and the University of Warwick. There were over 14,000 entrants internationally, mostly from selective schools, ensuring tough competition.

The questions tested students’ knowledge of topics within and beyond the specification with only 60% of competitors receiving a Commendation or higher and only 15% a Gold or Silver.

Therefore, congratulations go to Nitha S who was awarded a Gold, Michael C, Hannah Z, Hassan R achieved Silver, and Aaron S, Zahra K, Aman B, Kaitlin L, Tomisin A, Isabelle G and Shanuga R all received Bronze medals.

Highly Commended was gained by: James J, Joshua C, Fariha D, Yathusan K and Keya B. The following pupils were awarded Commended: Qing Z, Larissa D, Jemimah J, Martha B and Ariana Y.

Olivia Gauvin (5N) and Aryan Chandel (5S)

L6 Ski Trip

Ali Khan (L6N)

Alarms set for three in the morning, the Bancroft’s L6 ski trip 2023 was off to a tired and groggy start. We touched down in Marseille and then a three-anda-half-hour coach journey awaited us before we reached our ski resort –Serre Chevalier. Upon arrival, cries of “there’s no snow” were soon answered by the breath-taking views that only became apparent at higher altitudes.

Having sole occupancy of the hotel we stayed in was a bonus, as it allowed us to create a Bancroft’s takeover of the hotel’s services. In contrast to the lively hotel environment we had created, the surrounding town proved to have the opposite type of atmosphere, allowing for curfew times to be remarkably straightforward to meet.

Our regular day consisted of a relatively early wakeup with breakfast being served at 8:30am, and we would be on the slopes from around 10am until 3 in the afternoon. On some occasions we had lunch at the few restaurants which were at altitude, which provided stunning views, as well as some much-needed fuel to keep us racing down the slopes (hopefully whilst on our feet). The skiing was excellent, and the

relationships we were able to build with our ski instructors added to our enjoyment of each day, as well as greatly improving our French language skills.

Highlights of the trip included Mr Pollard’s daily dinnertime speeches, where the day’s best (and worst) stories would be announced, with some of these definitely not being forgotten any time soon. Other memorable moments included the quiz night where each teacher had their own team of students aiming for the highest score across various fun games. Overall, the trip lived up to its high expectations and will be remembered by the L6 for a lifetime.

On behalf of all the L6 on the trip, I would like to especially thank Mr Pollard for his organisation, as well as also making the overall experience just that much better. Special thank yous also go to Miss Korcz, Miss Reed, and to Mr Channer.

Lower 4th Trip to Hadrian’s Wall

Mr Lewis Newburn, Classics Teacher

On the Saturday of the summer halfterm, seventeen L4th shunned the traditional holiday lie-in to journey to Northumberland with myself and Ms Chana. Whether taking Latin or Classics, the L4 have been learning about the Roman Empire this year, and we made the 300-mile journey in order to see its greatest memorial in Britain – the vallum Aelium, known to you and me as Hadrian’s Wall. This fortification, whose fragments survive from coast to coast, separated the Roman province of Britannia (roughly, England and Wales) from unconquered Caledonia (roughly, Scotland).

From Woodford via King’s Cross and Newcastle, on that first afternoon we went halfway along the Wall to Vindolanda, one of the best-preserved Roman forts. We saw all sorts of treasures there, from weapons and armour to Spanish pottery and human and animal remains. But my favourites were the ‘Vindolanda tablets’ –the wooden sheets that contain Britain’s oldest surviving letters. The letter-writer

who sent one of the garrison “two pairs of socks, two pairs of underpants, and two pairs of sandals” could have been one of the concerned parents I corresponded with before we left.

Over the following days, we saw several more forts – Housesteads, Chesters, Corbridge, Segedunum – and learned about daily life on the Wall. We wandered through Roman hypocausts and latrines – the latter of which are always on the lowest-lying point of the fort in that hilly country.

The L4th tried their hand at being Roman legionaries, learning to march in formation and wield the gladius (short sword) and scūtum (rectangular shield). When they were taught the testūdō (tortoise) formation, the centurion who was drilling them had Ms Chana and me pelt the pupils with pinecones to demonstrate the testūdō’s effectiveness against missiles. And, true to form, they repelled every one. When the centurion threw water, however, (substituted for boiling oil) several pupils came away dripping! One of their less dry lessons at Bancroft’s.

Alongside learning about Roman Britain, the L4 got to go stargazing in an area with no light pollution, visit a planetarium, go bowling and play laser tag. You’ll be pleased to know that Ms Chana was a crack shot whilst I got lit up like a Christmas tree.

Biology Field Trip

Mrs Susan Hampson,

Head

of Biology

The week before half term saw the L6 biologists head to Norfolk for the annual field trip. We started with a visit to West Runton beach where, despite the windy conditions, the students used techniques learned in class to determine whether the position on a seashore affected the types of algae and invertebrates found there. They used their findings to write up a required practical that evening in the classroom of the Sheringham Youth Hostel. Well done to everyone for completing the work despite the very long evenings spent behind a desk.

The following two days found us at the Holkham estate where we spent a day looking at the distribution of plants in the sand dunes and considering how they were adapted to their environment. A second day was spent investigating the invertebrates in the lake where an impressive beast – a water scorpion – was found. We took a tractor tour to discover how the Holkham estate integrates food production and conservation and we compared the effect of woodland management on diversity. We were also treated to the story of the invention of the Bowler hat. The day was rounded off by a coastside walk to witness a stunning sunset over Sheringham.

The Holkham estate staff commended the fantastic attitude of the L6 and this, together with some sunshine, made for a packed but enjoyable and hopefully memorable trip.

German Exchange 2023 –The Journey So Far

Mrs A Abbott, Head of German

This account was submitted mid-way through a very busy week in Haßfurth.

On June 29, seventeen pupils and two teachers embarked on the eagerly awaited German exchange to Haßfurth, marking the first exchange since 2019. Despite setting off amidst torrential rain, we managed to reach Heathrow in good time.

Upon arrival in Nuremberg, a teacher from the German school warmly greeted us and escorted us to Haßfurt, where our exchange partners eagerly awaited us at the station. Together, we walked to the school, where a delicious meal was prepared in the canteen to welcome us. After a late lunch, all Bancroftians headed to their partner families’ homes.

The following morning, we gathered early at the Haßfurt station to journey to Nuremberg, where we visited the Nazi rally grounds to learn about this dark period in history. Our guided tour provided insightful details about the site’s intended purpose, its significance, and why it was never completed.

In the evening, some students had to return early as their partners were performing with the school’s Big Band during their Abitur (A-Level) celebrations. The weekend was spent engaging in a

variety of activities with our guest families, such as horse-riding, visiting Wurzburg, and playing games.

On Monday, we reconvened at the school and received a warm welcome from the Head of Regiomontanus Gymnasium, Maria Eirich. She emphasized the significance of this exchange, not just for her school but for the entire community, encouraging us all to fully embrace the experience. We then joined our German partners in

lessons for the day, and after school, pupils enjoyed free time with their partners.

Further plans for the week included a visit to Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a hike in the beautiful Haßberge region, culminating in a picnic for all involved, including parents. The first few days of the German exchange were an enriching and unforgettable experience, and we eagerly looked forward to the adventures yet to come.

Removes’ Bowling Trip

Tara Johal (RS)

On Friday the 19 May, after a long week of exams, the Removes were treated to a bowling trip as a reward for the completion of our Lion Diplomas.

The Lion Diploma provided an excellent chance to reflect on our first two years at Bancroft’s, specifically how we have embraced all the amazing opportunities on offer and the skills we have acquired that will help us in the future. To complete the Lion Diploma we each had to present a PowerPoint about ourselves to our enrichment class. This PowerPoint showcased examples of what we have done for each of the five strands, which are physical activity, scholarship, futures, creativity, and community. This was an excellent way to reflect and share what we currently do at Bancroft’s.

By Friday lunchtime, we were buzzing with excitement lined up at the Tower, relieved to have finished exam week and ready to end it on a high. The energy on the bus travelling to the City Pavilion was electric, everyone was ready for a friendly competition, some feeling more competitive than others, on what would be a fun filled and memorable afternoon.

On arrival, we were split up into our form groups and entered Rollerbowl ready to play! The atmosphere was incredibly lively and noisy. It was great to be able to have a laugh with our friends whilst being in competition. Halfway through our games, we were allowed to purchase a drink from the restaurant and an immediate crowd formed- the Rollerbowl staff definitely had their work cut out. Later on, we were allowed to play in the arcade which was hectic but really fun.

This treat was well worth all the work and effort we put into the Lion Diplomas and was an excellent way to start the weekend. The trip was brilliantly organised by Miss McIlfatrick, Mr Dickinson and Miss Stone and it was an amazing event for which the Removes are deeply grateful.

Lower School Wow the Audience With Arabian Nights

Miss Rachel Stott, Head of Drama

Bancroft’s Players were incredibly proud of themselves, and each other, with their summer production of Arabian Nights

A cast of 64 accomplished performers from the Thirds, Removes and L4ths stood on the shoulders of Bunty S and Sabina T (Set and Costume Designers), Martha B (Sound Designer), Jaya R (Stage Manager), Iman M (Hair and Make Up Designer) and Zaara C (Assistant Director). These L6th students were assisted by scores of props makers, a huge hair and make-up team and a sizeable backstage team; it really took a village to make this production happen!

A special mention to Minnie H, Lara W, Clara R, Mya C and Maya P who each stepped up as understudies with hours’ notice when three of our cast became ill; their professionalism and can-do attitude is a credit to them.

As for the show itself, the ensemble looked like “a stainedglass window” in the words of Ms Burnside: bursting with glitter hairspray, velvet cloaks, ribboned plaits and party popper explosions. Sharami S (Shaharazad) and Joe H (Sharayer) led the cast in spinning six of the tales of The Arabian Nights Memorable moments included the four dramatic deaths of The Little Beggar (Dakkshesh R), the beautiful melody of Es-Sindibad the Porter (Imogen S) and the wise words of his mentor Es-Sindibad the Sailor (Minnie H) and Envious Sister (Sienna M) throwing a small toy dog into the faces of several audience members!

Far more was learnt than lines and movement plots; the cast were a true ensemble and I am so excited to see what the players pull from up their sleeves next year!

Summerfest

Mathew Pinto (L6E)

On Tuesday 20th June, the school came together for our annual summer concert. For the first time, we performed at the side of the Quad while people picnicked on the grass in a festival-like fashion. All through the day people in classrooms surrounding the Quad were serenaded by the music which was due to be performed that evening – which is always a highlight of pre-concert preparations! It was wonderful to see Bancroftians, parents and staff gathering in the Quad with their food for an evening of music.

Following the news of the passing of Grace O’Malley-Kumar the week before

the concert, I was incredibly honoured to have been asked to sing Amazing Grace in tribute to Grace at the beginning of the concert. It felt like a poignant and reflective moment for everyone.

What followed was truly a reflection of our ability to rise together. The musicmaking was fantastic, and it was great to see such a range of year groups performing, from members of the Prep School to the final item where we got to say our last goodbye to some of our Upper Sixth leavers.

The summer concert is always a lovely end to the year, and I think it would be true to say that the music department outdid themselves this year. Our thanks as always have to go to the staff for making concerts like these happen and run smoothly: Mrs Whitbread and Mrs Foinette for coming up with the idea, Mr Aitken for overcoming the incredible technical challenge of making people heard while performing outside, all the other members of staff in the music department for supporting the musical capability of the school and helping the students to sound fantastic, and of course, Mr Willingham in his role as compère. Thanks must also go to all pupils, for their musicianship which made this a wonderful concert.

Brit Night

A happy coincidence saw our Culture and Identity Day finish with an ensembles concert celebrating the very best of British music, from classical to rock.

The timing could not have been better; not only had we spent the day marking the diversities of cultures within the school but also, we were about to embark upon a weekend of pageantry to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. It was inevitable that one of the pieces was Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance, played by the Sinfonietta. Any event marking British music has to include a tribute to the Beatles and we were treated to a medley by our Concert Band. 1990s’ Brit Pop was represented by the Junior Boys’ Voices, accompanied by a Removes’ rock band, who performed Oasis’ Don’t Look Back in Anger. Other ensembles included Sinfonia, Soul Bands, Bancroft’s Singers, Girls’ Voices, Cello Ensemble, Big Band Camerata and rock bands. The evening ended with all performers coming together in a rousing rendition of Elbow’s One Day Like This a fitting end to a special day.

Ryan does ‘the double’ and Nathan nets ‘the treble’

Miss Amanda Wainwright, Head of Tennis

Even though he is an ardent Liverpool FC fan, Nathan P is now the Manchester City of Bancroft’s Tennis as he has achieved the very impressive “Tennis Treble”!

In April he secured the ‘Play Your Way to Wimbledon’ Singles title, after a great final against the very talented Eashan J (Thirds), and then teamed up with Ryan G for the Partnership Tennis Festival which they then duly won. A week later, the dynamic duo were back at West Grove with another 23 pairs and claimed victory again in the Inter-Year Doubles Tournament. Both were also part of the team (together with Zaki A, Dhyan and Will H) which has made it to the County Final of the LTA’s Team Tennis event. All in all, they’ve totally ACED this tennis season!

A Smashing Season

Miss Amanda Wainwright, Head of Tennis

The West Grove tennis courts once again played host to Tennis Club sessions a-plenty and there were home and away fixtures galore for the U12/U13/U14/U15 and Senior teams. We had over 120 pupils playing in club sessions and we competed in over 50 fixtures with many more wins than losses!

Highlights of the season include the FUNbledon Doubles Tournaments which saw over 80 of the juniors involved in some lovely doubles play; well done to Sanaya, Tara and Anoushka, and Saksham and Alex F who made it to the finals and to Zara K and Maya P, and Diyal and Komi who took the winners’ trophies. The U13 girls, spearheaded by Amelia, Charlotte, Eleanor, Elina and Ellie, were unbeaten all season and are one of the strongest year groups that I have ever worked with. The Senior mixed team and the U14 girls put

on dominant displays against Chigwell walking away with 14-4 and 18-0 wins! ‘The Girls’ U14 Play Your Way to Wimbledon Tournament’ was won by Eleanor W who could go on to play on the hallowed grass of the All England Club! The U13 boys’ team are the ‘The Team of the Year’, making it to the County Final of the Team Tennis Championships. The quality of tennis played by the U15 boys remains some of the highest I’ve seen at school with Aryaan K, Johnny and Luca B looking totally home amongst the Seniors (and they have done since they were in the Removes) Shrey, Martin, Will, Ayushi and Esha in the U14 team look set to follow in the U15s’ impressive footsteps as do, in a few years’ time, Eashan, Arhan, Dhruv, Nell, Sam, Yuvraj, Maya, Spencer, Bethan and Shalen in the U12s who have all played brilliantly in their debut season. Floreat tennis!

Doubles Delight at West Grove!

Tara Johal (RS)

During the sunny month of June, many Bancroftians gathered at West Grove for the Inter-Year Tennis Doubles Tournament. This tournament consisted of Thirds, Removes, L4ths and U4ths. Despite the sweltering heat, it was an incredibly fun tournament. Everyone was full of energy and eager to play with tennis rackets at the ready.

The first stage was the round robins. It was a terrific way to begin the morning as we competed against our friends and got to know people from other year groups and help those in lower years. Every pair that came first in their box automatically went through to the quarter finals and the three pairs who came second with the highest points difference also went through. Before we found out who would go through, we went for a well-deserved tea break to refuel our energy in the pavilion which was thankfully not as hot as outside! As the heated quarter finals were beginning, everyone

else was participating in the Plate tournaments which proved close competition and led to impressive finals being won by Elina & Jemimah (Removes), Jayan P & Jovun (Removes), Alex R & Miles B (Removes), and Henry & Max (L4th). We then found a small area of shade, ready to watch the Grand Final. The Parents’ Association organised refreshing ice lollies for which we were deeply grateful!

With lollies in hand, everyone was ready to watch the eventful final. The finalists played brilliantly, with both matches being remarkably close and resulting in excellent wins for Ayushi and Esha (L4ths) who narrowly beat Amelia M and Kamila R (Removes), and for Nathan P and Ryan G who tenaciously outrallied Shrey J and Martin D (L4ths) It was a wonderful way to begin the weekend, and everybody had great fun! The tournament was brilliantly organised by Miss Wainwright and we all loved it and are tremendously grateful for the opportunity.

Sports Day

Sports Day was the final big event of the school year for the Senior School and the timing proved a great way to end the year on a high.

The format was slightly different this year. We still held the track events in the afternoon and the various field events were held in year groups during the morning: high jump. Javelin, discuss, standing jump and shot. However, all the school was off timetable, so whilst one year group at a time competed in the field events,

the rest of the school enjoyed a carousel of diverse noncompetitive activities. There were games in the quad (including giant Jenga and tug of war), the chance to try traditional Scottish dancing and flamenco dancing and bench ball on the tennis court. Parents were welcomed for the afternoon events to join the school in cheering on the runners. As usual, competition ran high amongst the four houses and enthusiasm was not dampened by a heavy burst of rain mid-afternoon. Well done to North House who emerged as the convincing winners.

RAF Field Day

Ayaan Javid, (L6E)

The words climbing and canoeing don’t seem synonymous with the RAF at all. However, our day out in Harlow shows that there are more similarities than you might expect.

We started the morning with Jacob’s Ladder, which is a large log ladder that needs to be climbed up to the top. A quick tutorial on how to belay and we started with the first group, which was three U4th cadets who chaotically attempted to climb up it with running commentary which made everyone laugh. My group went second, and after a few minutes of struggling, we decided to use each other’s knees to push ourselves up onto the log above. This plan ran smoothly, and we soon reached the top rung. The final group (which was three L6th cadets) took a similar approach, and it was nice to see them motivating each other to reach the top.

After a lunch break, we went canoeing, with people in a boat of either two or three. At first, my boat started zigzagging, but after a few minutes we found a rhythm and were able to control the direction. We played a game called “Capture” which was where we had to throw a ball into other canoes in order to capture them.

Although on the surface it may seem like these activities have no correlation to planes or marching or anything usually associated with the RAF, the core principles are the same: communication and team work in order to complete a given task.

CCF Army Section June Field Day

Tristan Law (U4S)

On the 19 June, the Army section of the CCF went to St Martin’s Plain camp for a field day. We took part in three activities, an orienteering scavenger hunt, the obstacle course and the DCCT (Dismounted Close Combat Trainer) which is a computerised ‘live’ firing range.

In the orienteering hunt, we were put into small groups and given a map of the hilly fields, marked with multiple checkpoints with objects at each one that we needed to find and identify. It was great fun, especially digging around in nearby foliage looking for the well-hidden items with the team. The obstacle course was also great fun: a tough but exciting physical challenge. One of the most challenging obstacles was the frame with a plank walk with a descent down a rope at the end. It was very high up, but with good motivation and perseverance we were able to get everyone across.

The DCCT is always a highlight of field days, a facility that is great for honing firing skills indoors, not on a live range. It was a first time for some of the younger recruits, who did very well on their first tries. It’s always great as a returning shooter to try to beat old high scores or settle rivalries as well.

Thanks to all the staff that made this possible, for giving up their time to come and supervise and lead the activities at camp, and thanks to Mr Hitching for organising.

CCF Adventurous Training

Cpl James Hitching (L6W)

Over the Easter holiday, I went on the annual CCF trip to the Lake District - Adventurous Training. We stayed at Thurston Centre, which is on the lakeside of Coniston Water.

For the first two days of the trip, we undertook various adventurous activities including caving, abseiling and canoeing. Abseiling involved a thirty-metre descent off a cliff face down into Cathedral Cave, which provided us with a fun experience and allowed us to get to know each other a bit better at the start of the trip. The caving was based in Yorkshire and despite the majority of Cadets never undertaking caving before, they were all able to get around the caves and all thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Lastly, we took to Coniston Water, where we canoed the length of the lake. During this journey we played a variety of games to test our paddle skills, with Mr Pascal and Mrs Coyne coming a close second behind myself and Kaitlin.

Sea Scouts

Mr Matthew Balchin, Leader

4th Epping Forest Sea Scouts

This term has been a resounding success for our 4th EFS troop. All 70 of our Scouts have had great opportunities for adventure, ranging from stand-up paddleboarding on Fairlop Waters, to sailing 60-foot boats around the Solent. With this record-breaking year drawing to a close, we can’t help but look back and be proud of all the activities we have managed to do with so many scouts – it would have been impossible without the phenomenal dedication of our leaders!

For this Summer Term, we have been out at Fairlop Waters every week with a fantastic range of water activities put on by our excellent Scout leaders and the great coaches down at Fairlop. These have included kayaking, canoeing, sailing, paddleboarding and even katakanuing, and every single Scout has got involved, learned a thing or two, and had an absolute blast.

We were able to participate in an offshore sailing weekend on the Solent and around the Isle of Wight. This involved eight of our top scouts and eight from our nearby unit 36th EFS working together to man 43- and 60foot boats. Setting out early on Saturday morning, the excited crew navigated and kept watch until returning late on Sunday; there was unlikely to be much sleep had on those boats! We are already looking forward to doing this again next year as it was such a resounding success.

At the end of May, we were very pleased to be able to send some of our scouts to Royal Navy Camp; the first one since lockdown. Although it was on a smaller scale than when it was on HMS Bristol, our scouts still took part in raft building, kayaking, various land activities and even robot building while also having the great opportunity to meet fellow sea scout groups from across the UK.

Recently, we have also been supporting the London Youth Games which were held at Fairlop Waters. These competitions were held over two weekends, and we

The destination for the journey was Peel Island, which inspired Wild Cat Island that features in Swallows and Amazons. Canoeing was a great activity, as we all enjoyed getting thoroughly soaked in the lake.

For the final three days we went hiking. For me this was my favourite activity, as we were allowed to navigate ourselves over difficult terrain independently of the staff, who were never far behind. We then arrived at Langdale Campsite, where we camped after cooking some delicious ration pack meals provided by the MoD. During the three days of walking, each member of the group would take care to correctly navigate the group from different points on our route. This allowed everyone to develop their navigational ability whilst the NCOs in the group aided them if they required help. Luckily, the weather held out during this time, and we only had one truly wet day in the Lake District, which proved to be not too bad anyway.

helped in both the sailing and paddling competitions.

In other news, we are set to have our most exciting summer camp yet in Swansea; filled with surfing, gorge-walking and axe-throwing on top of our classic activities such as campfires, assault courses and axe work. Our Scout leaders have been hard at work planning this excellent itinerary and making sure that everything is good to go!

Finally, 4th EFS is now partnered with a brand-new District Explorer Sea Scout Unit, along with the 36th EFS troop. This unit is still in its early days, however it has made a great start and allowed us to do more advanced water sports which has been great fun. This new troop is external to Bancroft’s and to 4th EFS and, therefore, also open to other scouts from the Redbridge District, but many of the 4th EFS leaders will be helping to run both groups, and we hope that many of our scouts will continue onto this new unit.

When we were not taking part in activities, we would regularly play cards, pool, table tennis or, on one occasion, we lit a campfire which we all enjoyed sitting around toasting marshmallows looking out over Coniston Water. I would like to thank Lt Col Hitching, Cpt Coyne, WO2 Pascal and Lt Hampson who helped make this great week occur, by willingly giving up their Easter Holiday to run this trip.

Duke Of Edinburgh Award

Culture And Identity Day

Ms

Gurdip Chana, Diversity and Inclusion Co-ordinator

We celebrated our first ever Culture and Identity Day at Bancroft’s in May and it proved to be a heart-warming and hugely popular event. The idea was initially suggested by students who form our student Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Committee. We meet roughly once a half term and discuss how we can raise awareness of, and celebrate, Diversity and Inclusion in our community. The concept of the day was introduced by our staff D&I team during a whole school assembly. Members of staff shared a personal

insight into what they felt formed their identities to inspire our students to delve into their own. Students were invited to wear an outfit which they felt represented their identity and to host a stall during lunchtime.

We really wanted students to feel proud of who they are and to present their true selves with confidence. We wanted the day to spark conversations between students and staff and to offer a safe space to learn more about each other.

As the day approached, I was feeling a little nervous about whether the students would get involved with the spirit of the day. Was I going to be the only one who dressed up? Would anyone turn up to host their stall in the Great Hall at lunchtime?

I got dressed in my phulkari suit with my bindi and wedding churra and made my way to school with great anticipation. To my relief, students proudly made their way into school wearing such a beautiful array of clothing from Indian to African to Australian, to name a few. Some wore the team kit for their favourite sport, some wore a t-shirt of their favourite band and others dressed in the colours of a national flag. Bancroft’s has never looked so colourful! Forms were asked to vote for their favourite outfit to present on the catwalk during lunchtime.

Our largest ever Bronze DofE Qualifying Expedition took place shortly before half term with 112 L4 participants journeying north to the White Peak District.

The Lower Fourth, split into 18 expedition groups, covered around 16km a day in sunny conditions. As temperatures rose, progress slowed and further obstacles including hay fever, stinging nettles, and grumpy cows had to be overcome. Nevertheless, almost all the groups made it to the finish point by their expected finish time having gained a greater awareness of the geography of one of the UK’s most scenic national parks.

The U4 ventured further afield to the Black Mountains of South Wales. Again, they were blessed with good walking weather and all participants coped admirably with many groups enjoying beautiful views from the tops of the Welsh hills. Because of the aftermath of Covid, the U4 had missed out on their Bronze expedition proper, so it was particularly heartening to see how well this group of relatively novice campers coped with the demands of the expedition.

Then came lunchtime and as I eagerly prepared the hall for the stalls, I wondered whether the students would turn up and if we would get much attendance. As the lunchtime bell rang, students raced to their tables and set up their offerings. To name a few, we had: mehndi, origami, Thai culture, Taekwondo, Pride tattoos, Vietnamese culture and Ukrainian egg painting. Mr Ceeraz presented a stall on Mauritian culture, Mr Tse shared Hong Kong culture and Ms Hancock showcased Irish dancing.

A huge thank you to everyone who was so generous in sharing things they had bought and brought for the day. The Great Hall quickly filled up with students keen to see what was on offer and to learn about all the different themes on display. I had

compiled a playlist with contributions from staff and students of music from around the world. With this playing through the speakers, the atmosphere was electric. I was amazed by the huge attendance and clearly there was an appetite for the event.

That wasn’t all... there was still the catwalk! Would students feel too embarrassed to show off their outfits to the huge crowd that had formed?

Quite the opposite! Our students strode onto stage with swagger and pride and the audience cheered them on wildly. Our top-class MCs, Mr Ceeraz and Samah B, introduced each person and what their outfits represented as they made their way on stage.

They did an excellent job of hyping up the crowd and giving our students confidence to walk out with pride. The catwalk was so popular that we had more and more students asking to go on! Students were beaming with pride as their countries’ names echoed over the speakers and we even spotted a tear or two amongst the teachers in the audience.

As the day concluded, I was overwhelmed with the feedback I received from staff and students. Our students were grateful for the opportunity to share and learn more about each other. Our staff found joy in our students’ joy and to quote a colleague, ‘It reminded me why I went into teaching’. There was a huge call for it to be an annual event so watch this space!

We really wanted students to feel proud of who they are and to present their true selves with confidence. We wanted the day to spark conversations between students and staff and to offer a safe space to learn more about each other.

“

Bancrofts Pride Week 2023

Ms Entwistle, Mr Aitken and the IdentiTEA Student Leaders

This year we kicked off Pride Week with an assembly given by Mr Aitken on allyship: the importance of being an ally and what you can do if you hear someone say something which you know isn’t right. The Pride flag flew from the Pavilion and the canteen was decorated for Pride Week. We enjoyed a week of rainbow foods, I especially enjoyed the rainbow cheesecake!

Throughout the week we sold Pride merchandise to raise money for Galop who support LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence. All the money from our Rainbow Own Clothes day will go to Galop. A big thank you to all the sellers who gave up their time.

Thursday was probably the jewel in our Pride crown this year. We began the day with LGBT+ music in the quad, Eliza H put the finishing touches to the Bancroft’s Pride Picture Frame and throughout the day Mrs Rogers and I wandered the school taking photos of students in Rainbow gear. The strapline was ‘Stand Proud’ and many staff and students did! At lunchtime Mr Ceeraz had us bouncing around the Great Hall in a Just Dance Pride Special: one of these days I’ll perfect those Rasputin moves! Then on to Classics for a talk on “Queerness in Classical Culture” from Eliza and Nimaran. The talk was really interesting and informative and very well attended! We finished off the day with some Pride student leader training from our partner organisation ‘Just Like Us’.

All in all, a great day, a great week and a great Pride Month! Thank you for your support.

Eid Festival

Zubair Hanif (RE)

This year’s Eid Festival was a huge success and it genuinely felt as if we were able to express our religion and culture at the same time. All my friends were there and so were my family and the night was filled with laughter and joy as the performances were amazing, ranging from comedy acts to Quran recitations and nasheeds.

Coming up to the day, rehearsing and making sure everything was ready, was also an exciting time. I performed in a comedy skit called “Man like Zubair“ with some of my best friends and on the night we couldn’t stop laughing by the end of it! All the hard work put into it by the organisers and the performers really paid off and all the parents loved it. Another main aspect of the event was the charity auction in which many things were sold, for example, Islamic art and some artefacts. There was a total raised of approximately £10,000 which was divided between several charities.

The Eid Festival was also an open opportunity for anybody to join and was inclusive for everyone, especially all the stalls and food. There were things sold from hijabs to toys and it all took a lot of hard work to put together. It proved to be a real a mix of laughter, enjoyment, inclusiveness and, with the amount of charity done, good deeds for Islam. Did you know it is sunnah (a practice of Prophet Muhammad) to smile?

Through The Ages Fashion Show

Mrs Sarah Strong, Head of Charities & Community Links

What better way to showcase how styles have changed over the years than by hosting a fashion show to do just that?

The Betas looked ‘absolutely fabulous’ strutting the catwalk in everything from Stone Age tunics to Egyptian thobes; Roman togas to Tudor doublets. We saw Victorian bonnets and petticoats, 1920s’ flapper girls and war evacuees. Some chose to keep it relatively

Credit Winners To Legoland

Mrs Sarah Strong, Head of Charities & Community Links

Despite some very wet weather, our Credit Winners had an awesome day at Legoland Windsor. A prize for their efforts this year, the top 15 children in each year group enjoyed all the thrills and spills of this fabulous theme park.

With Lego Club being our most popular after school activity, it was the perfect choice of venue and one that had been suggested by our School Council. After some fun rides, an exploration around MiniLand and some serious shopping, the children returned to school tired but very happy and feeling rewarded. Well done to our Credit Winners 2023.

modern and we were shown the more casual styles of the 1950s and psychedelic 60s and 70s. I really loved some traditional outfits depicting the history of other cultures like the beautiful hanfus we saw from China. Everyone made such an effort and loved the opportunity to have their moment on centre stage. It has been a very interesting unit of work and inspired curiosity and creativity in our Beta children.

Visit From The Chicken Shed

Mrs Sarah Strong, Head of Charities & Community Links

For our Community Assembly this half-term we were fortunate to be visited by Julie and Erin from The Chicken Shed Theatre Company which is based in north London. The Chicken Shed is an inclusive performance company who take performing arts training to the next level, by bringing together young people from all social and economic backgrounds, cultures, and abilities, to study creatively alongside each other. They create powerful productions to perform in the outstanding Rayne Theatre.

Most recently they performed Wonder on Britain’s Got Talent and were awarded the Golden Buzzer by Alesha Dickinson. The Prep children watched their performance in assembly and were blown away by the incredible journey of The Chicken Shed team. Erin also taught the children a song and the British Sign Language to accompany the lyrics so our Prep children got the chance to perform themselves.

A truly magical and inspirational visit, it has hopefully encouraged the children to support the charity either through fundraising or going along to watch a show. Their mission is to” create wonder out of chaos and change out of challenge” - let’s help them to do this.

Prep Girls National Chess Champions

Mrs Lisa Life, Chess Team Manager

During the Easter holidays Mr Layburn and I were very proud to be able to accompany our U11 girls’ chess team to the English Chess Federation’s National Championship. The competition was held at St Catherine’s School, Bramley and, although our girls Zoe, Aashritha and Olivia had come first in the southern semi-finals, we were nervous and didn’t dare to dream!

Accompanied by their parents. the girls settled into their rooms at the boarding school and matches began after lunch on Saturday. The girls played three games on this first day, the last rounds not finishing until after 8:00pm. We played City Juniors, Nottingham High and NCLS; each one a nail biter but we ended the day in second place.

Play started again at 9:00am on Sunday and the morning was tough as the girls faced very stiff opposition from Sutton High School and Putney High. We went to lunch in fourth place and studied the draw. We knew that if we could just win our last six matches - all six of them - we could still pull it off. The girls showed courage, focus and determination in spades and they only went and did it! They won all six of their final games and were crowned U11 National Champions!!! It was a fabulous weekend and a truly outstanding achievement. We are so proud of our team and are looking forward to having another go at the title next year!

Cubs Chief Scout Silver Award

Akela

It was a great pleasure to attend a Friday assembly to present the Chief Scout Silver Awards to eight of the Cub Scouts. The Silver Award is the highest award that can be achieved for children in the Cub Scout section of the scout movement.

To gain this award, each cub must complete seven Challenge Awards and six Activity Badges of their own choice. The cubs have worked extremely hard to achieve this award and many have now progressed on to the Sea Scout section of the group where they will be working towards the Chief Scout Gold Award. Congratulations to them all.

The Big Help Out

Mrs Sarah Strong, Head of Charities & Community Links

The Big Help Out, which took place on 8 May 2023, was a nationwide initiative designed to mark the Coronation by encouraging people to get together and volunteer for the benefit of their local communities. The Prep definitely wanted to get involved and did just that by helping neighbours, friends and relatives old and young by giving their time and service in a really kind way.

Some helped with shopping or dog walking, others got busy in gardens, planting and mowing lawns. Some decided to run for charity or make donations of clothes, books and toys to local charity shops. We had bakers, lemonade stands, readers, cleaners and litter pickers! In fact, both Prep 2 and the Betas went out as a year group to keep The Green in Woodford Green clean and both year groups collected two black bin liners of rubbish!

By collaborating, giving time and sprinkling kindness everywhere, it made for a fulfilling Bank Holiday Monday and, as always, the children were left knowing how good it feels to do good!

The Wizard Of Oz

Liliana (2LW)

The Prep 2s put on a magical production of The Wizard of Oz in the last week of May. The show was a huge success, with audiences of all ages enjoying the classic story. Both casts, Prep 2 teachers and Mr Paramour worked hard for months to put on the show.

We started with auditions in late January (which many people were nervous for, including me), and then spent the next few months rehearsing and preparing the sets and costumes. The show opened on Monday, May 15 and ran for four nights. We all did outstanding performances, and the audience were captivated by the dialogue! The Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic that has been enjoyed by generations of people. The Prep 2s’ production was a faithful adaptation of the story.

All members of both Cast A and B of The Wizard of Oz should be extremely proud of their work! We all put on a wonderful show that will be remembered for years to come. Everyone was talented and enthusiastic. They made the audience

believe in the magic of Oz. The music was also exceptional. It brought the story to life and helped to create an enchanted atmosphere.

I would like to thank all the helpful adults who have supported us and made this possible. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you to all our parents who came for supporting us and the show. Their applause, laughter and ‘woops’ made the experience even more special! I hope all the Prep 2s enjoyed the show as much as I did. It was four magical evenings that we will never forget. And as Mr Layburn said, “This is really what education is all about!”

Prep Ski Trip

Mr David Archer, Head of Boys’ Games

When you think of skiing holidays, you think of cold, blustery and snowy conditions. Passo Tonale treated us to beautiful clear blue skies and bright sunshine. While the weather wasn’t great for off-piste skiing, the children of Bancroft’s and Avon House were, and they both came together for an extremely pleasurable and amazing trip.

To see children who could barely stand up on their skis at the start of the week progress to mastering blue and red runs by the

end was a credit to themselves and their instructors. With a daily diet of chocolate spread on toast for breakfast, pasta at lunch and pasta for dinner (wow, did we eat a lot of pasta), the children were fuelled with the energy to conquer any challenge in front of them.

Alongside the skiing, we completed two mannequin challenge videos, sang and danced to Green, Green Grass in various locations (including at the top of the 3000m mountain), went swimming, had a quiz, played games, ate pizza, partied hard, wore silly things at dinner, looked after mascots 24/7, witnessed the daily coronation of the queen or king of the mountain and enjoyed each other’s company in beautiful surroundings. Well done to everyone for making it a great trip and especially to Mr. Hall for his organisational skills to get there after a 4-year hiatus.

Parents’ Association

Mrs Samia Dar, Chair of PA

The Summer Term is always a busy and eventful time for the Bancroft’s Parents’ Association. We host many of our muchloved events this term and this year was no different.

On Friday 9 June, we were delighted to host our first ever Prep 1 Fun Night. The whole year group turned up and had an amazing evening, full of entertainment, music, games, glitter, and prizes. The PA provided free pizzas and refreshments, along with snack and sweet stalls. The children danced the night away, showcasing their amazing dance moves. They all went home with a gift of doughnuts and Bancroft’s-related paraphernalia. It was a highly successful event and we are hoping to make this a regular event for future Prep 1s.

From 16 June to 18 June, the much-loved Bancroft’s Family Camping Weekend was held at Lambourne End. Bigger and better than last year, it was a roaring success! The weather was absolutely amazing and everyone had a fantastic time. We welcomed new joiners as well as many returning campers from last year. We also met some families who are joining the school next academic year but came along to get to know the Bancroft’s family. Campers had the choice of glamping tents or personal tents. An array of day time activities was on offer including kayaking, zip-lining and a ropes assault course. The campfire brought warmth and laughter, while the Bandeoke experience on Saturday night stole the show with

campers of all ages singing and dancing on stage. The swimming pool was also buzzing with families having fun in the water, while some enjoyed the sunny days, barbecuing, playing sports, sunbathing, socialising, and making new friends. The PA hosted food & refreshment stalls and various visiting food vendors were arranged to keep hungry tummies full with yummy delights. The Bancroft’s Camping Weekend getaway had everything: family, friends, food, festivities and fun!!

On Tuesday the 20 June, the PA hosted the Annual Parents vs. Staff cricket match. On this beautiful summer day, with melodious sounds of the Bancroft’s Summerfest Concert in the background, the spectators were delighted with an exciting and thrilling match. The PA provided refreshments and snacks. The match carried

on until late and both sides fought hard until the end but, unfortunately, unlike last year, the parents were not victorious. The staff won by just nine runs but the parents managed to keep hold of the Man of the Match Trophy! Well played staff and all the very best to us parents for next year.

As the school year comes to end, the PA is still working over the summer to bring a wonderful line up of events next term including the much-awaited Bancroft’s PA Ball, the AGM and the Annual Alpha and Beta Magic Show.

I take this opportunity to thank you all for your support for the PA, we can’t do this without you. Wishing the whole Bancroft’s community a very lovely summer break!

Old Bancroftians’ Association

5,10,15 Years on Reunion

Mrs Susan Day, Administrator OBA

In May, we welcomed back over 100 former pupils into the Quad for their reunions. It was a great turnout from the leavers of 2008, 2013 and 2018 and offered the opportunity to catch up with their contemporaries, teachers and some former staff.

OBA President Gemma Wicks and Bancroft’s Head, Simon Marshall shared news on the OBA and the School and also remembered our former Head Mary Ireland who sadly died earlier this year.

Many thanks to the maintenance and catering teams for their support.

Old Bancroftians’ Day

Mrs Susan Day, Administrator OBA

We welcomed back around 200 OBs and their families from all over the UK and overseas including Dubai, Hong Kong, Canada and USA on a fine summer’s day at Bancroft’s!

Reunions were held for the 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 75 years on groups, who joined other OBs for Founder’s Fizz in the Quad. There was a moving a plaque dedication in the Chapel to our former Head Mary Ireland from previous Deputy Head Marwan Mikdadi and we also remembered OB Grace O’Malley-Kumar who had tragically lost her life in Nottingham a few weeks earlier.

Guests were treated to a hot lunch in the Dining Hall, concluding with speeches from OBA President Gemma Wicks and Bancroft’s Head Simon Marshall. Throughout the afternoon L6 pupils gave guided tours of the school. There was a host of activities on offer in the Quad and elsewhere: crazy golf, giant games, children’s entertainer, swimming, afternoon teas in the Quad and beverages at the bar watching the school teams plays the OBs in cricket and netball. The OBs won the netball and the school the cricket. With thanks to all involved to make this such a successful day including our maintenance, grounds and catering teams.

Grace O’MalleyKumar

In June we were desperately shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden death of OB Grace O’Malley-Kumar in Nottingham. Grace, together with fellow University student Barnaby Webber and school caretaker Ian Coates, lost her life in truly terrible circumstances. The following days saw the Bancroft’s community come together to pay their respects to Grace as the Chapel was filled with hundreds of floral tributes. Grace will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Grace had been a member of North House and Miss Helen Prescott-Morrin, Senior House Mistress of North, said, “Grace left Bancroft’s only last year but from the days of the Prep, right the way through until the end of the U6th, she touched so many areas of the school, leaving a very heavy footprint: She was a hugely important part of North House and the wider school and sporting community.

An immensely gifted and dedicated scholar and sportswoman, Grace was hugely loved and greatly respected and admired by all. She was outstanding in every respect. She gave some inspirational House assemblies talking about her career with U18 England Hockey. She inspired the House to win Senior Inter-House Girls Hockey, showing how one student can make a difference to a whole team, and always lifted the House points on Sports Day! She shared her love of the Olympics at another House Assembly and had ambitions of representing her country in the future, inspiring all who heard her –Grace was a strong role model to all students. As prefect, she was exceptionally warm and caring, and a great support to all who benefitted from her guidance. Grace was fun, engaging and a bundle of positive energy in the classroom, all who taught her regarded her as an absolute pleasure to teach.

Mrs Jo Fryer-Green from our Sports Department wrote, “Grace was simply one of the best. She had been with us here at Bancroft’s since the age of 7 and we have loved watching her blossom into the most impressive young person. She was an outstanding sportswoman and scholar. She approached every aspect of school life with so much enthusiasm and a huge smile. She had a confidence that allowed her to live her life to the full and a determination to succeed at whatever she attempted. Grace was the most competitive and talented hockey player. She was very much one of the girls and we have so many happy memories of her shining on the sports field. Grace was kind… to everybody. She cared about all those around her. She was a role model to so many and was the greatest ambassador our School could ever have wished for.”