Bancroft's Insight Spring 2023

Carnival of the Animals

Mr

Ronan MacManus, Visiting Music Teacher

Proud as a lion, the early twentieth century composer Camille Saint-Saëns saw himself as a composer of serious music – so much so that he forbade one of his most celebrated works from being performed in public until after his death for fear of damaging his musical reputation. Thankfully, said work was published in 1922, a year after SaintSaëns’ death, and over a century later Carnival of the Animals was brought to life again by the musicians of Bancroft’s School.

Carnival of the Animals is a suite of fourteen movements scored for two pianos and chamber ensemble, with each movement introducing a new member of the animal kingdom. The animals gather for the carnival in the work’s finale, and boy did Bancrofts’ bring the carnival to town!

A novelty narrative of wordy hurdy-gurdy introduced each animal’s antics. Delivered with diction and drama, the audience couldn’t help but smile at the narrators’ declaratory welcome. The scene was set.

Maestro Matthew P led his peers in the Introduction and Royal March of the Lion, and never was an introduction more fitting! From the opening piano tremolo there was

an instant feeling of

grandeur and

pride in The Great Hall – pride in the fact that not only was this project been wholly studentled, but that after some covid-related postponements, Bancroft’s musicians were now eager to perform and share their musical prowess. Glissandi introduced the Lion with a crystal-clear fanfare ringing from the two pianos, followed by a purring and triumphant march from the strings. The sound was regal. The spine tingled. The audience was engrossed.

The Hens and Roosters followed. Clucking dialogue from the strings and pianos with intermittent gobbling and cock-adoodling portrayed the poultry at work. Wild Donkeys raced by in a scurry of piano semiquavers, followed by the learned Tortoise who moves for no-one. Not even the Can-Can theme played sombrely by the strings could encourage him to get a

move on. With delicately placed triplets accompanying by the two pianists, the relaxed intensity of the Tortoise’s routine was performed with class and care. The bassy Elephant heavily plodded along before satirically being enticed into waltzing with the twinkling pianos. Saint-Saëns’ musical humour came through again here with quotes from Mendelssohn’s Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The two pianos next presented The Kangaroos, passing scalic melodies between one-another, rising and falling in tempo and dynamic in harmonic tandem between the performers. This was played with humour, delivered with precision, and appreciated by a chuckling audience.

From the opening piano tremolo there was an instant feeling of grandeur and pride in The Great Hall

“ “

Some yet unheard voices in the ensemble next came to the fore. Expansive colour in the flute supported a brave and sonorous glockenspiel melody, while delicacy of touch in the shimmering pianos beautifully merged to create the ethereal tonal colour of The Aquarium. This was a special moment with each performer listening, balancing their individual tone quality and taking the audience to the depths of the unknown. For The Characters With Long Ears the violinists’ screeching hee-haws filled the hall. Technically demanding to play, the duetting violin played with ambitious recklessness, allowing harmonics to squeal like the long-eared bat and bows to the hopping legs of the hare. On our way to The Aviary, we met The Cuckoo. The beautiful tone from the clarinet couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. Soft string effects beautifully represented the bustling of The Aviary with incredible solo flute playing taking the audience to the skies with soaring runs and loop-de-loops echoed like a mockingbird in the pianos.

The Pianists soon became Fossils bringing more humour from Saint-Saëns. Played with unwavering synchronicity, our pianists presented their technical and musical skills in perfect unison, while only subtly

following Saint-Saëns’ direction that this movement “should imitate the hesitant style and awkwardness of the beginner”. Joviality was the bones of this movement, with bright and playful xylophone playing confidently painting an image of the cartoon skeleton family. More jaunty clarinet playing led the pianists to echo the xylophone theme, and this movement came to a bone-rattling finish.

The Swan could never be anything else, and neither could Anavi S’s rendition on the cello. Possibly one of the most recognisable cello melodies known, Anavi

played with grace and elegance, class and poise, and a sonorous tone which commanded the ensemble and captivated the audience. There were certainly goosebumps, or perhaps swanbumps.

The Carnival came to its Finale with all animals coming together. This celebratory music was executed with fun and such energy that audience members were physically engaged. Heads were turned at the maturity of playing and the quality of sound, with all students (remember, these are students performing!) giving it their all and playing to the highest of professional standards. A show stopping end to an enticing performance.

What I found particularly moving was the feeling of camaraderie amongst the performers. All friends, they encouraged each other to play well, and willed themselves to play their best for their fellow ensemble members. The musical interaction, sharing of ideas, and empathy amongst the students was heart-warming to see and listen to, displayed just how amiable and supportive the musicians of Bancroft’s School are. A fine example of teamwork and compassion was shared, and long may it last!

Anavi played with a sonorous tone which commanded the ensemble and captivated the audience

“ “

Drapers’ Hall Concert

The annual concert at the Drapers’ Hall is undoubtedly the highlight of our musical calendar. The beautiful setting never fails to bring out the best in our performers and the event is overlaid with a sense of occasion. The Thirds in the Choir, making their first visit to the Hall, are inevitably stunned by the riches of their surroundings, whilst members of the Upper Sixth, some of whom have made regular appearances at Drapers’ since they too were awestruck Thirds, are emotional that this will be their last performance in this gilded chamber.

From the stirring opening notes of the Entrance of the Montagues and Capulets from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, performed with panache by the Bancroft’s Sinfonia, we knew that this was going to be a special concert. Less familiar was Welsh composer William Mathais’ Serenade for Orchestra. Its three contrasting movements were the ideal vehicle to display the variety of talent within the Sinfonia.

The Sinfonia was followed by the youngest performers of the evening with The Thirds’ Choir, directed by Mrs Whitbread, singing

Larysa Kuzmenko’s atmospheric

Winds

The choice of choral music was varied. Radiohead’s Creep might not appear to be an obvious choice for the A Capella harmonies of Bancroft’s Barbers but their stark performance was a spine-

tingling triumph. This contrasted with the joyous numbers from Hollywood musicals delivered by the Senior Boys’ Voices (Luck Be A Lady) and Senior Girls’ Voices (All that Jazz). Under Mrs Foinette’s direction, the Bancroft’s Singers can always be relied on to deliver, and they did not disappoint on this occasion, with three twentieth century pieces. All the vocal pieces were marked by a real crispness and clarity in the singing, which enabled us to appreciate the lyrics as well as the music.

The Camerata, directed by Mr MacManus, performed Debussy’s Danse sacrée et danse profane, which gave harpist and Music Scholar Oscar B a chance to take centre stage. The evening ended with a

second chance to hear excerpts from Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns. The members of the audience who had missed the performances at School earlier this month were in for a treat. Matthew P seemed to have grown in stature, displaying astonishing maturing in his conducting and had Jo L and Nathan T’s enjoyment of their playful duetting increased?

Thank you so much to Mrs Whitbread, Mrs Foinette, Ms Middleton and Mr MacManus for all their hard work with our musicians. Thank you too to the Master and Wardens of the Drapers’ Company for allowing us to use this magnificent space. Finally, congratulations to all those Bancroftians who took part – whether for the first or last time at Drapers’ –and giving us such a memorable evening.

Putting on Crazy for You

Crazy for You was the 2023 Senior musical: a show full of cowboys, showgirls, and mistaken identities. The story follows Bobby Child, a young banker from New York with a dream to dance, who falls in love with the headstrong, feisty Polly Baker, postmistress and only woman in Deadrock, Nevada. Putting on the show was a fantastic experience - from the hilarious read-through to the stressful dress rehearsals – every moment was eventful.

One of the biggest challenges the cast had to face was the sheer amount of choreography. As we weren’t a cast full of trained dancers, this seemed a bit daunting at first - beginning with the dance audition at the start of the year. Thankfully, after about a thousand rehearsals of I Got Rhythm and Slap that Bass, Michelle – our ever-patient dance coach – managed to whip us into shape.

Set on traverse staging (having the audience facing each other on two sides) we had many blocking rehearsals just trying to figure out where everyone could stand so that none of the audience missed too much. All the time was worth it to see Deadrock come to life on the floor, with New York on the main stage. Given that there were only two of us onstage, it was especially difficult to stage the partner dances so that the whole audience could see something.

One of the cast’s overall favourite moments was the costume call, where we saw our costumes for the first time and inevitably spent about two hours trying them on. There were some complaints of dresses being hideous and unwearable, which were quickly followed by a flood of “Mine’s way worse!” but that moment was when the show finally felt real, and the excitement picked up in rehearsals afterwards.

By the start of our weekend rehearsals in the run up to Show Week, we had already spent hours painstakingly notebashing harmonies with Mrs Foinette but had never practised with the band, so we were stunned when we heard the band (consisting of mostly visiting music teachers but featuring a few students) play the lively, entertaining Gershwin music for the first time. We then got to practice with them properly in the sitzprobe, where we could listen properly and appreciate the sound, while testing out our own microphones.

My favourite part of any production is the stressful two hours before curtain up when all you can taste is hairspray, discover that someone’s managed to burn something with a curling iron and hear the incomparable camaraderie of frantic cast members shouting to ask “has anyone’s seen the bobby pins?”

My personal routine is to blast indie pop through noise cancelling headphones while doing my stage makeup and then trying to get my nerves out (unsuccessfully) by dancing horribly in the makeup room, before joining everyone for vocal warm up. By then, the adrenaline is running high, and the anticipatory tension is almost tangible and it doesn’t dissipate until the moment you step onstage.

Our fantastic director, Ms Middleton, had the entire vision for every single aspect of the production, from casting to ordering last-minute costumes to introducing us all to a brilliant musical that none of us had even heard of before. We’re all incredibly grateful for the sheer number of hours she tirelessly put into this production to make it so amazing.

Even though the cast spanned four year groups, everyone got on really well so rehearsals were always something I looked forward, to despite being long and often tiring. Even with certain mishaps in Show Week (a stool being taken off at the wrong time leading to an entire improvised dance) and some risky quick changes (ending up with me wearing no shoes for the finale one night) everyone loved performing what we’d been rehearsing for months and the show was a huge success.

Martha Beevan, L6E

The Trojan Women

Jaya Robertson, L6S

In January 2023, the Sixth Form drama classes collaborated with Ms Middleton to put together and perform an adaptation of Euripides’ Trojan Women We aimed to modernise the play and slightly recontextualise it in a way that very much maintained the essence of the original piece whilst adding our own touches and universalising the element of women’s suffering.

This was my first experience being involved in a site-specific production, meaning that, as opposed to performing on a stage, we took a space which had been built with no intention of being used for theatre and took full advantage of it. This created a theatrical experience which most of the audience would never have had. After a few complications and trips to different sites, we chose Hatch Café in Homerton, a cosy, uniquely decorated location with some lovely owners and the means to create a brilliant show.

It was amazing to be part of the process as we really developed our knowledge of how a piece of drama is put together, the logistics of lighting and tech design, and were able to immerse ourselves in the lives of some quite complex characters. These are skills which are absolutely invaluable for our Drama A Level and so we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

We had prepared an immersive opening in which the audience was able to walk around the space and watch as the relationships and dynamics between characters began to unravel at a Christmas party – a concept which was developed in light of our original December date.

However, after spending the previous day at the site rehearsing scenes, setting up and with nerves kicking in, we ended up being completely snowed in for the planned Monday performance! We then had to reschedule to late January, which was slightly disheartening after the rush of excitement. Despite this, we reconvened on the morning of the postponed show and got to work. It was a very intense day of rerunning our lines and movement as well as setting up the set and lighting again.

I think it would be fair to say that most of the cast were used to taking part in school musicals for which we thoroughly prepare and work towards for months, so, the slightly frenzied nature of this production, due to both the snow and the fact that we were running it alongside rehearsals for the upcoming senior musical, was a stressful, yet fulfilling, endeavour.

Interestingly, doing the show with such little rehearsal time also gave us the chance to take some initiative with our acting and really broaden our understanding of our characters on our own. I think this led to a much more creative, mature result that showed in everyone’s performances. This was hugely satisfying given the amount of self-led work and focus that was required.

I played the elderly, grief-stricken Hecuba, the fallen Queen of Troy. Our story followed her mounting loss, the destruction of her city and the pitiful lots of the Trojan women. The Greek herald Talthybius arrives bearing news of their morbid future and the fates of Hecuba and her children. It transpires that they are all to be taken off as slaves and Astyanax, son of

Hecuba’s daughter Andromache, has been condemned to die. We explored themes of love, family and strength. This created a very poignant yet powerful atmosphere as the Trojan women lifted their heads and walked towards their burning city. Our aim in modernising this text was to reflect on the global suffering of so many women whose lives are still greatly affected by conflict.

Overall, the project was a success and one of which I have very fond memories. For the benefit of future A Level students, I hope this can become a tradition in the years to come.

New Views Visit to Othello

Rafi Ahmed, U4W

The National Theatre is known for producing outstanding performances. As part of its annual playwriting competition, New Views, a group of young Bancroft’s playwrights, witnessed this first-hand at the National’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s timeless classic: Othello. For all involved, the evening was breathtaking, unforgettable and filled with excitement.

As we rendezvoused at Woodford Station, our excitement was palpable. Our journey to the theatre was filled with nerves and anticipation. Upon arrival, we were struck by the theatre’s grandeur and beauty: a simplistic concrete brutalist facade lit by London’s warm yellow lights.

The highlight of the evening was Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello. The set resembled a modern interpretation of an amphitheatre with towering steps. The play began with the cast descending the concrete steps with lit torches in hand. A level of energy and passion was evident in the play, with each actor pouring their heart and soul into their roles. The production was both traditional and radical, breathing new life into a well-known story.

Crazy for You was the 2023 Senior musical: a show full of cowboys, showgirls, and mistaken identities. The story follows Bobby Child, a young banker from New York with a dream to dance, who falls in love with the headstrong, feisty Polly Baker, postmistress and only woman in Deadrock, Nevada. Putting on the show was a fantastic experience - from the hilarious read-through to the stressful dress rehearsals – every moment was eventful.

One of the biggest challenges the cast had to face was the sheer amount of choreography. As we weren’t a cast full of trained dancers, this seemed a bit daunting at first - beginning with the dance audition at the start of the year. Thankfully, after about a thousand rehearsals of I Got Rhythm and Slap that Bass, Michelle – our ever-patient dance coach – managed to whip us into shape.

Rosy McEwen’s portrayal of Desdemona was particularly impressive. Her portrayal of Desdemona was one of a strong and determined woman who was not afraid to stand up to Othello. Meanwhile, Giles Terera gave a powerful performance as Othello, showing both his strength and vulnerability.

The production tackled difficult themes such as domestic violence and toxic masculinity with care and sensitivity. These themes were explored in a way that felt poignant and relevant, making the production more compelling.

Overall, the New Views playwriting group left the National Theatre feeling invigorated. Our experience with New Views and at the National Theatre will stay with us for years to come. We were reminded of theatre’s power to explore complex themes and emotions and the importance of supporting young writers and artists. We hope one day we can showcase our own work on the National Theatre stage. It is our hope that these experiences will continue to influence us artistically and reflect in our own plays.

Set on traverse staging (having the audience facing each other on two sides) we had many blocking rehearsals just trying to figure out where everyone could stand so that none of the audience missed too much. All the time was worth it to see Deadrock come to life on the floor, with

Paris Visit

Krishan Arya, U4E

Last December, a group of Bancroft’s students from Lower Fourths, Upper Fourths and the Fifth Form embarked on a five-day trip to Paris. We journeyed by bus and ferry: a fatiguing and long journey.

On the second day, we visited many monuments: first, it was the Palace of Versailles, a bewildering sight and the gardens were truly beautiful. Afterwards, we bought some delicious food at the Christmas market after having wandered around it. Then we had a virtual reality experience which felt incredibly realistic and exhilarating. Later that evening we watched the Football World Cup final – France v Argentina. It was miraculous when Mbappé scored two goals quickly, but Argentina won the penalties and the World Cup. There was a lot of passion and a brilliant atmosphere during the game, and we had a lot of fun.

We visited the Louvre and were within touching distance of the Mona Lisa! We walked down the delightful ChampsÉlysées to eat lunch and stood under the Arc de Triomphe. To our disappointment the Eiffel Tower was closed, but instead we ascended the Montparnasse Tower, and the views were magnificent. We travelled along the River Seine by boat at night and the city glimmered with colourful lights. Later, we reunited with the amazing Pauline at dinner, which was an unforgettable surprise. For me, the highlight was the day at Disneyland with my friends. We went on loads of the scariest attractions and it was the most breath-taking part of the whole trip. We ended the trip in Montmartre, a village north of Paris, where was lovely grand church with beautiful views.

I learned a lot in France, and had an incredible time with my friends on this truly memorable and fabulous trip. I would like to thank Mr. Béquignon for organising one of the most magnificent trips we had all been on and all the staff who took time out of their holiday to share this wonderful time with us.

A level of energy and passion was evident in the play, with each actor pouring their heart and soul into their roles.

“ “

Removes’ Spanish Cultural and Study Trip to Salamanca

During the February half-term, 24 Removes students accompanied by Mr Urreaga, Miss Prescott-Morrin and Manuel went on a Spanish trip to Salamanca, in north-west Spain.

Each day, we would go to a language school to learn grammar and vocabulary. This really improved my Spanish skills. In the afternoon, we did lots of different activities, such as going around the city and visiting sights. Salamanca has so many amazing landmarks, including the square, university, and two cathedrals, all of which were spectacular. Another afternoon, we visited La Casa Lis, an Art Deco museum. It had lots of dolls and old toys, so it wasn’t what I had expected, but it was a very cool place to visit! One afternoon, we were even taught how to salsa-dance.

Personally, I really liked the chocolate con churros. The food overall was particularly good. For each of our meals, we went back to the host families with whom we were staying. For breakfast, we usually had toast and cereal. For lunch, we had a range of meals. I really liked the paella, which I had never tried before. Our family was friendly too. I improved my Spanish speaking skills by chatting to the host and asking questions. Around 4 o’clock, we had a speaking lesson back at the school. We played a lot of fun games in class, and I preferred these lessons over the morning ones. In the evening, we had free time in la Plaza Mayor, the central square. Everyone enjoyed this as we could visit the shops and talk to each other. We would then go back to our host families for dinner and to go to bed.

On the way back, we visited another city called Segovia, which is just to the north of Madrid. Like Salamanca, Segovia has many sights. We visited the famous Roman aqueduct and saw the impressive cathedral atop the hill. We also saw the Alcázar, which reminded me of the Disney Castle, as it has lots of turrets and towers. We then returned to the airport to go home. Overall, I really liked the trip, as it was good to experience Spanish culture and improve my language skills. Also, we were very lucky with the weather, as it was mostly sunny. I was able to see how life in Spain is so different to in England, as well as visit a city I had never been to before. I’m happy I got to go on this trip and would recommend it to future students.

Jake Moore, RE

It was good to experience Spanish culture and improve my language skills

“ “

Fifth and Sixth Form Hispanists, the First to Gain New Spanish Qualification

Mr Iñigo Urreaga Gorostidi, Head of Spanish

Eight Fifth Formers and two L6 Spanish students have obtained the DELE Escolar A2 or B1 qualification. The DELE is the only official Spanish proficiency qualification that certifies the degree of competence and mastery of the Spanish language. This exam is highly recognized worldwide and the Instituto Cervantes in London conducts it on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education. One of the advantages of the DELE is that it is valid for life and never expires.

Once a student reaches B1 level, the DELE certificate is also a key element for admittance to Spanish Universities and obtaining a student visa in Spain. Beyond academic purposes, DELE certificates are also beneficial when applying for jobs in private or public institutions in Europe, Brazil and North and South America, thus setting pupils apart from their peers.

Our pupils have worked extremely hard and enthusiastically in our weekly DELE lunchtime club; this was an unknown

journey for everyone as we were doing it for the first time. Not only have they learnt about the Spanish language and its intricacies but also about the importance of perseverance and determination whilst developing various other skills such as problem-solving, critical-thinking, listening and multi-tasking skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. Having put their skills to the test, they have done the Spanish Department proud.

This is what some students said: “DELE was the hardest exam that I have ever taken. But the confidence that

I have gained in speaking the language and understanding is testament to the fact that the exam, not only is a unique and exciting experience, but improves your linguistic skills and creates a determined and hardworking mindset which is a huge value.”

Freddy, Fifth Form

“Not only has DELE helped me expand my vocabulary in Spanish and made me confident for my GCSE, but turning up every week to prepare for the exam has allowed me to develop important qualities, such as determination and resilience, in order to achieve my goals. Even though it was very difficult, it was a great experience and I would definitely recommend it to anybody with a keen interest in Spanish.” Chris, Fifth Form

On behalf of the Spanish department, I would like to say many congratulations to everyone on their achievement. We now look forward to continuing to work on DELE with some of the current U4 students.

Primary Languages Fair

Amber Chowdhury, L6E, and Rikika Chakraborty, L6E

On Friday 17 March, it was a rainy day down at the Prep School but a group of L6th MFL leaders were determined to create a Modern Foreign Languages Fair that would blow away Bancroft’s Prep, Avon House and Woodford Green Prep Schools.

There were many stalls that were language themed, and we were also able to set up Just Dance so all the children were dancing to hits such as Rasputin, Hips Don’t Lie, and others. Ayaan, Shanuga and I ran a t-shirt designing stall and the children wrote words on their t-shirts such as ‘Bonjour’ or ‘Ich liebe Deutschland’. Anaya and Anya did a fun Guess the Country quiz, whilst Isobel and Chloe used spaghetti and marshmallows to build mini Eiffel

Towers. Holly and I devised a musical quiz in which students had to guess what language the song was in! Dylan, Josh, and Alex incorporated languages and football and all the children loved trying to get a

shot in against Dylan! Tomisin, Juliet, Anika, and Anavi designed a biscuit decorating stall and flags from across the world were carefully iced onto biscuits. There were many pain au chocolats and crepes eaten by the excited children. Overall, we had a great time teaching them languages in a fun and interactive way. We want to give a big shout out to Ms Whalley and Mrs Strong for organising the event and ensuring the young visitors were always happy.

Primary Science Fair

Our annual Primary Science Fair took place on March 14 and was attended by two hundred pupils from seventeen local schools. In addition, all members of our own Prep got to visit and enjoy the Sixth Form stands.

The theme this year was ‘Connections’ and the Lower Sixth scientists had worked incredibly hard to produce colourful, original and interactive stalls which they enjoyed demonstrating and explaining to the visiting children.

They saw how a sandwich progresses through our body; made bath bombs and giant bubbles; watched a volcano ‘erupt’ and raced cars powered by static electricity, Our visiting judge was Dr Jinx St Ledger, from Cambridge University’s Engineering Department, an OB who was visiting for the first time since she left Bancroft’s. Dr St Ledger was very impressed by all the stalls and said that she found it difficult to choose between the projects as the standard was so high. She awarded the first

prize to Kiera M, Giaan M and Amelia S for their stall ‘From Gums to Bums’, which told the story of digestion. In addition, Dr St Ledger highly commended three stalls: ‘Chromism’ (Colour in Chemistry), ‘Static Electricity’ and ‘Magic Fire’. Second prize was awarded to the most popular stall as voted by the visitors. The runaway overall winner was ‘Super Science’ run by Aman B, Joshua C, Yathusan K and Yash V, which gained more than twice the number of votes than anyone else in the competition.

In addition, the visiting schools were treated to a carousel of activities in the three-science zones. They made their own rockets in physics, which were then launched on the school field with various degrees of success. They faced a series of challenges in biology as they explored the senses – could they name various smells and identify hidden objects by touch?

During a popular chemistry display, they experienced different chemical reactions, some of which were quite noisy –. Ms Swift, Science Lead at Staples Road School wrote, “What a wonderful afternoon we have just had at the Science Fair – our Y5s loved it! Thanks to you, the staff and pupils, for organising such an interesting and engaging event and for the warm and friendly welcome we received.”

We saw an equally enthusiastic response from St Antony’s Catholic Primary School said, “It was a great afternoon out for the children and it enriched the children’s learning and inspiration for Science. The feedback from the children was also very positive.”

Netball

Mrs Kim Osman, Head of Netball

I am pleased to report on the overall performance of our netball teams this term. Across all year groups, we have seen a mixture of wins and losses but, importantly, we have managed to field fixtures for all teams during regular games sessions and Saturday fixtures.

Our U14 team performed exceptionally well, reaching the regional final of the National Schools’ Tournament in which they faced some tough competition. Although they did not make it to the finals, the experience gained from playing against some of the best teams in the region will be invaluable for their development. Unfortunately, the U14 team missed out on reaching the last eight in the Independent Schools’ Cup, but they gave a great account of themselves and can be proud of their efforts.

It is also worth noting the high level of participation in our training sessions, particularly from the U12, U13, and U15 teams who have shown great commitment, enthusiasm and eagerness to develop their skills. This is very encouraging to see and bodes well for the future of our netball programme.

One of the highlights of this term was the successful U12s’ weekend netball tour to Bath, which was enjoyed by all. The hard work and dedication put in by all three teams resulted in a very successful and fun tour.

Pupils who continue to train and play within the Pulse and Mavericks performance pathways outside of school are Sophia H, Olivia E, Lois D, Natasha W and Saffron L.

We say farewell to the following Upper Sixth students who have played and contributed to many netball performances over the past few years: Faith C, Sienna B,

wish them well for their future careers.

Overall, I am very proud of the effort and dedication shown by all of our netball teams this term, and I am excited to see what they can achieve next term.

Lottie G, Charlotte S, Chizara O, Neha P, Maanvii A. We

Football Review

Mr Marc Wardley, Head of Football

We have played senior fixtures over two terms. In the first term we played in the Independent Schools’ Football Association Cup competition; unfortunately, we lost in the last minute of extra time, 3-2.

We have had a core squad of about 14 players over the two terms for the First Team and we have added players in each term. It has been our best season so far. We have played 14 games, of which we won five, drew four and lost five. At the time of writing, we still have one game to play. This season we have improved our fitness, which has really helped us. We lose eight of the First Team squad for next season, so there will be chances for the Second Team players to move up. The Second Team, or as I like to call them “the development team”, run by Mr Harrison, has had quite a tough season. They have played 12 games: won two, drawn two and lost eight. However, they will be better for the experience they have gained this season. Next season there will be a few more cup competitions for the First Team

Lower down the school, the Thirds, Removes, Lower and Upper Fourth all train either at lunch time or after school. Mr Atkinson helps me with the Thirds on a Thursday after school when we have nearly 35 boys and girls playing. The Removes train after school on Tuesday and the Lower and Upper Fourths train at lunchtimes on a Monday and Friday. We normally work on technical skills during one session and then we play games the week after, in which we try to work on the skills we learnt the week before.

Barcelona Hockey Trip

Caitlin Hancock, L4E

The smooth journey over to Spain set us up for a good trip to Barcelona on the school hockey tour. On the evening we arrived, we played a friendly match with the local hockey club, FC Barca. After dancing and singing with the Spanish players, we went to our hostel and settled in.

On the 15 February, we started off the day by visiting Park Güell with many elements designed by the architect Antonio Gaudi. We got to see many things in Barcelona ranging from sculptures to beautiful buildings, such as the Sagrada Familia, another Gaudi masterpiece, it was truly a wonderful sight to see. The treasure hunt afterwards topped it off. In the evening, the girls had a fun hockey masterclass and the boys played matches, the next day

we alternated. This all took place at the oldest hockey club in Spain, Club Deportivo Terrassa, which also provided us with amazing food on both evenings. Our second day was a fun one for sure.

Our strength and conditioning coach, Arram, carried out his unforgettable beach Olympics: I can’t not mention the fact my team won. Lunches were great. We had loads of freedom to roam around the streets of Barcelona and try out new food and cuisines with our friends. Our last adventure was a tiring one when we climbed Mount Tibidabo, although, the views at the top were worth it. The memories and experiences my friends and I made on this trip were unforgettable and I want to thank all the staff and teachers for their hard work to make it as good as it was.

Meet Dylan Campbell –Our New Director of Sport

In anticipation of his arrival as Director of Sport at Bancroft’s at the start of the Summer Term, three L6th students were set the task of interviewing Mr Dylan Campbell. Mr Campbell currently works at Mount St Mary School in Sheffield, an independent boarding school of just under 400 students. In this article, we aim to give you an insight into our new teacher’s life in order to get to know him better!

What were your first impressions of Bancroft’s and its pupils?

Mr Campbell liked the energy amongst the pupils. Their desire to always strive to do more is something he believes that he will be able to channel and direct in the best possible way – improving the physical and mental wellbeing of students. As sport is such a quintessential component of many of our lives, having a Director of Sport who relates to and admires the hustle and bustle of the school will surely be welcomed.

What are you most looking forward to?

Making a positive impact on our school is at the heart of Mr Campbell’s intentions. Encouraging students to perform sports that they enjoy day-in day-out, dovetails with one of our core school values: balance. Remembering that we can be commended for sporting excellence (another one of our core school values) and not just academic prowess will be a meaningful way of uplifting the sports department at Bancroft’s.

How do you think it is going to be different from your current school?

At Mr Campbell’s current school, there are approximately 375 pupils, and so a big difference will be handling a larger cohort of students who are interested in sport. Having said that, he noted that Bancroft’s is much more academic than his current school, Mount St Mary, which is more sports-based. With new challenges

comes growth, and so we are sure that Mr Campbell will embrace these differences with an open mind!

Being South African, how often do you visit the country and what do you miss?

Mr Campbell is of South African descent and lived there for most of his life before moving to England. He currently goes back to visit his home nation four times a year. One of the main reasons for this is so that he can see his four-year-old son who still lives in South Africa. When asked about what he misses the most about South Africa his response was ‘’the heat!’’. Clearly living here in England does not bring all the perks!

How do you want to raise the profile of sport in such an academic environment?

Mr Campbell would like to create an environment where exercise is a big part of peoples’ lives. He mentioned introducing sport to people as “opening up a new dimension” in their lives. He wants everyone to appreciate the value that sport can bring, even those who are in the Sixth Form and are applying to universities! University sport is extremely competitive, and some universities even offer sport scholarships. I think we can all agree with Mr Campbell that we would love people to be attracted to Bancroft’s not only for academic reasons, but also for the standard of sport played at the school!

What sports do you play and what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In Mr Campbell’s spare time he enjoys playing a variety of sports such as cricket and football and even some more out of the ordinary sports, such as water polo. He also enjoys coaching, which is apparent by his role as a sports teacher. He likes going on runs as well; not only does he go on a run four times a week but he has taken part in both marathons and triathlons in the past.

Quickfire Questions

Morning lark or night owl?

Morning lark

Beach or mountain?

Beach

Clubbing or quiet night in?

Quiet night in

City or countryside?

City (it used to be countryside having lived there in South Africa, but he loves the city in the UK)

Football or rugby?

Rugby Cats or dogs? Dogs

Rich and famous or rich and unknown?

Rich and unknown

Playing sports or watching sports? Playing sports

Freya Murphy L6W, Yonni Levy, L6S, and Aaron Dhiman, L6N

Team England Swimming Camp in Dubai

Ley Ito, U6

In early February, I had the opportunity to go on camp with Swim England in Dubai. Along with a team of 50 or so junior swimmers, I trained for four days and ended the week by competing for the final three days representing England at the Middle East Open swimming championships.

Our camp started off with a brief introduction to the hotel, before we were driven straight to the pool. From then on, the Hamdan International Sports Complex was our second home for the week. We trained at least once a day in the pool, some days twice, whilst also being transported to the local gym during the day.

What I found most valuable from the experience was the exposure that we had to the lifestyle of an elite athlete. We were surrounded by around 20 top coaches, along with physios who treated us for our injuries and illnesses. I found this very helpful as I was unwell at the start of the camp, and in poor physical shape to train well.

We were driven as a team to quality facilities and there was an abundance of food available at the hotel – buffets were organised for us for every meal of the day. On the sports-specific side, we were taught land-based pre-race routines to

optimize performance, how to improve nutrition on race day, and so on.

It wasn’t just pure swimming though: we had two planned nights away from the hotel, with the opportunity to visit the high-rise buildings and the Dubai Mall before a long elevator ride up the Burj Khalifa. Unfortunately, a second trip was cancelled due to a strong dust storm.

In the first day of racing, I competed in the 200m Breaststroke, in which I made my first international A final. For each event, there were A and B finals; the A finals were the ten quickest swimmers to perform in the heats, and the Bs, the next ten quickest. After the heats, we all travelled back to the hotel, ate some food and got some rest.

During the finals session, the quality of Dubai’s facilities really came into play. The lights were turned off, and the pool lights illuminated blue. Walkouts through smoke for the finalists took place before every race and the arena erupted with the emergence of every local swimmer.

On the second day, I had the 100m breaststroke. I eased my way into the final, before being met by the world record holder of that event. It was a humbling experience. I was just off of my PB by 0.02 seconds and, since the margins in swimming are so small,

Indoor National Athletics

Caitlin Hancock, L4E

I have been running at Woodford Green AC for seven years and the amount of opportunities I’ve had have been incredible. I train hard weekly doing long jump and sprints to help me reach and surpass my goals.

One of my recent goals was to qualify for the Indoor Nationals in Sheffield which I did! I told myself I’d enjoy every moment and, whatever happened, I’d just be grateful

to have made it this far. Never did I expect to leave the stadium with a silver national medal for the long jump!

The atmosphere was amazing with my friends and family watching from the stands. Until the fifth round I was in a gold medal position. Unfortunately, that was taken away from me but I managed to improve my previous personal best by 23cm, jumping a distance of 5.47m. This

I was very pleased with this considering we were racing unrested. My most successful day was the Sunday, when I cut half a second off of my 50m Breaststroke personal best, so putting me in a really good place for the upcoming British swimming championships, when the Commonwealth Youth Games team will be selected, and the British summer Nationals in July. Only around 0.5 seconds currently separates the top ten juniors in the country.

ranked me first in England and second in the UK. I had been training so hard for that moment and it all paid off when I stood up on the podium with a medal around my neck.

After a successful indoor season, I’m excited for the coming outdoor season and what it has to bring.

Boys’ Hockey Season

Nathan Strover, U6E

Although this was a season of ups and downs for our first XI, Bancroft’s senior hockey 2022/23 season could certainly be described as successful. A positive, tight-knit group of players made for an enjoyable season, climaxing in a narrow second place finish in the Regional Finals, despite the huge effort put in by both the whole squad, and the coach, Mr Webster.

Our season culminated in a spirted 3-2 loss away to Haberdashers’. Finding ourselves 3-0 down at half time, we picked ourselves up and knowing that, for some of us, this would be our final match for Bancroft’s, we came out for the second half

fired up. Ultimately, it wouldn’t be enough. Even though we fully deserved to win, we fell short, despite a dominant performance. However, we could definitely be proud for our last match of the season, and for some of us, our last ever for Bancroft’s. During the season the Firsts played ten games: winning four, drawing two and with four losses. Max P was our top scorer with six goals and the team scored 17 goals, whilst conceding 14.

Some highs to cherish for the season include Rohan’s last-minute equaliser against Mill Hill to make it 3-3, so winning the regional qualifier tournaments and,

for certain, Dylan K’s shocking cameo appearances outfield.

With the hockey tour to Argentina coming up this summer, we hope that the squad going can build on this season and have a successful tour.

A positive, tight-knit group of players made for an enjoyable season

“ “

I had been training so hard for that moment and it all paid off when I stood up on the podium with a medal around my neck.

“ “

LGBTQ+ History Month

Ms Gill Entwistle, Mr Rory Aitken and Bancroft’s pupils from Thirds to U6

words ‘I will conquer’ which made Joseph feel seen, comforted and angry. The general consensus was that the museum was excellent and the vibe was ‘uplifting’.

The pupils found the Bloomsbury Group information on the walking tour really interesting. Suki liked the walking tour. Mr Aitken liked the information on the walking tour: finding out about Roberta Cowell, the first trans woman to go through surgery in 1951 and the two female doctors Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Sophia Jex-Blake who started their own medical school when the male establishment either wouldn’t let women study medicine or wouldn’t let them take exams. He also enjoyed seeing Oscar Wilde’s prison door from when he was imprisoned for homosexuality.

On Tuesday 28 February, the last day of LGBT History Month, Bancrofts pupils attended the LGBT Student Conference organised by Woodbridge High School. Eighteen schools attended, bringing together around 200 students and teachers from across the Borough of Redbridge.

Bancroftians enjoyed meeting students from other schools and taking part in a range of workshops covering LGBT history, well-being, the contributions of LGBT+ people to STEM, Redbridge LGBT+ Action Planning and the LGBT+ Student Panel, which featured the gay headteacher of Woodbridge High School, a lesbian student, a Christian gay man, the Muslim gay deputy head who masterminded the conference, a trans woman and a lesbian woman who was an ex-student at Woodbridge.

One Bancroft’s student, Simran, said this was the highlight of her day because it was good to relate to their stories. Another Bancroft’s student, Sam, enjoyed presenting his ideas for a drag queen teacher!

On Wednesday 1 March we celebrated LGBT History Month with an LGBT walking tour of Bloomsbury followed by a visit to Queer Britain, the new LGBT

Museum at Granary Square, King’s Cross. Students loved the Queer Britain museum. They enjoyed reading the different contributions on the wall. One student liked the piece about Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis which Joseph Galliano-Doig discovered when he was 14 and was anxious about being gay. He said it saved his life. Someone had written inside the

Martha and Kaitlin loved ‘Gay’s the Word’ bookshop! Martha also loved the history of LGSM: ‘Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners’ and also enjoyed finding out about the Bloomsbury Group.

For me, both days were very special. I learnt a lot and it was lovely to see so many LGBTQ+ students enjoying being seen and celebrating life!

International Women’s Week

We had a very busy week at Bancroft’s celebrating International Women’s Day. Various societies, clubs and departments put on activities for the school to enjoy in order to raise awareness of issues affecting women. Here are some words from some of the groups that took part.

Bancroft’s Muslim Association,

Tara Khan, U6W

International Women’s Day is always a significant event for our school community and to celebrate this we ordinarily host a week of activities. This year, the Diversity and inclusion Committee decided to organise a whole school assembly, to discuss underrepresented women from a range of different communities. Tara, Zayba and Yusuf from the Bancroft’s Muslim Association highlighted the Islamic medic and social worker Rufaida Al-Aslamiya, from the seventh century. We emphasised the importance of the accessibility of female power from a wider range of backgrounds rather than what is traditionally taught. In another, smaller, assembly delivered on Wednesday 8 March, we focused on the importance of women in Islam and debunked stereotypes of women in Islam, with factual evidence from the Holy Quran and well-researched studies. The experience of individual research here, allowed us to examine our personal interests of equality within the BMA and present these passionately, not only to the rest of our society, but also to the whole school.

Jewish Society, Yonni Levy, L6S

During the Jewish Society’s fortnightly Jewish Lunch, we looked at inspirational women in the Jewish religion as part of International Women’s Day. Coincidently, IWD coincided with the Jewish festival of Purim and one of the key characters in the Purim story is a courageous and heroic woman, Queen Esther. Esther was Jewish and was married to King Achashverosh. The story explains how she saved the Jewish people from an evil man called Haman, who worked for the King and was plotting against the Jews. Representatives from the Jewish Society also spoke in the IWD assembly about Hannah Szenes, another inspirational Jewish woman, who was recruited by the British during World War II to parachute into enemy territory and be a spy.

Afro-Caribbean Society, Chizara Oti, U6

For International Women’s Day, Bancroft’s Afro-Caribbean Society contributed to an assembly celebrating the intersectionality of IWD. Faith and Chizara spoke of the fight that many African and Caribbean women put up against colonialism – a topic not commonly discussed in history. Their presentation mainly focused on Queen Nanny and the Dahomey Amazons of modern-day Benin. This was followed up by a hair-braiding workshop on the Tuesday of the same week. This workshop attracted large crowds, particularly from the junior school, providing a platform for ACS to promote cultural appreciation, rather than appropriation, of traditional AfroCaribbean hairstyles.

EqualiTea, Jaya Robertson, L6S

For International Women’s Day, EqualiTea society spoke in assembly about the inspiring, Indian feminist, Kamaladevi Chattopdhyay. We aimed to educate

others about her life of amazing achievements and progressive advocacy whilst exploring the diversity of feminism. We wanted to highlight the importance of recognizing those who have helped us as a society to get to this stage. We also held a debate over the question “Do working parents hinder the development of their children?” The meeting was very successful with a range of students and teachers attending to either put forward their opinion or simply listen and have some tea! It was lovely to create a safe space in which people could express their own mindsets and for parents in the room to be able to share their experience of having both a career and children. This respectful, informative conversation was a perfect example of why our society exists.

Congress, Aaron Dhiman, L6N

The School Congress wanted to educate their peers about period poverty, an issue seen all around the world. We decided to take the stage by presenting

International Women’s Day is always a significant event for our school community and to celebrate this we ordinarily host a week of activities.

“

a whole school assembly addressing the topic, revealing some shocking statistics, and highlighting just how prominent the problem is. Not only were we able to introduce our new menstrual products scheme for female bathrooms within the school, we were also were able to promote the non-uniform day in support of IWD, when money raised was donated to Period Poverty UK and Toilet Twinning. The reception from the assembly was extremely positive and the week was nicely topped off with streaks of purple on Own Clothes Day! For more information see: https://periodpoverty.uk https://www.toilettwinning.org/why-60/

STEMinists, Ritika Chakraborty, L6E

During International Women’s Week, the STEMinists Society, who try and get more girls into STEM subjects, set up a stall where students could come and write on postcards with details about famous women in science and send them to their friends. The postcards showed women scientists, ranging from recent ones like Katherine Johnson, to more historical ones such as Marie Curie. We then delivered the postcards to everyone to enjoy their inspirational International Women’s Day messages!

It didn’t stop there. We were honoured to welcome two Old Bancroftians who spoke to our students. OB Rioghnach Sachs visited us to deliver a fascinating talk on the

Ancient Greek female poet Sappho, who Sixth Form classicists are studying as part of their A Level course. Rioghnach’s talk, entitled Lesbians without Labels, was based on her own research work for her PhD at King’s College, London. The Sixth Form heard from OB Rainbow Murray Professor of Politics at QMUL. Prof. Murray is an expert on representation, political institutions, gender and diversity, as well as the Faculty Lead for Equality, Diversity

and Inclusion. As an academic in a maledominated discipline, she is ideally placed to talk about the challenges faced by women through both her academic work and her own personal experience. She gave our pupils of all genders a great deal of sound advice for career progressions: mentorship, being an ally, front-loading your CV, choosing priorities and looking after your health.

We also had an inspirational assembly from Karen Emmanuel, CEO of Key Productions. She outlined her career path from school to successful CEO and outlined the role of a CEO and the qualities needed to succeed in this role.

The mathematics department put on a treasure hunt for the Thirds. The maths teachers were all famous female mathematicians in disguise and it was the job of the Thirds to work out who they were. The students that collected the most mathematicians would be awarded a prize. The winners are……… You’ll have to wait until Junior assembly to find out!

As you can see, there was so much going on and this isn’t an exhaustive list. A huge well done and thank you to everyone who was involved for making it such a successful week. We hope that the pupils have learnt something new about the different issues facing men and women around the world.

“ “

MUN, More Like FUN!

Ayaan Javid, L6E

for negotiation and finding a solution even when countries have different views. It nurtures critical thinking as it shows that there is never one completely correct view and that there are so many different opinions. From the words “negotiation” and “country” you may be thinking, this is all well and good, but does MUN only help geopolitics?

When I attended my first Model United Nations conference, my first thought was: this is a battle. Students donning an armour of blazers, ties and polished shoes, with their choice of weapon being a shiny placard and an eloquent tongue. It was surreal being in a room with children so well versed on world issues and representing their countries’ views.

However, as the conference continued, I realised I was deeply mistaken in how I was viewing the conference. This was not the “Battle of the Disarmament and Security Committee”. I couldn’t have been further from the truth. I had forgotten that MUN does not have victors or the defeated. Instead, it emphasises the need

No, the MUN philosophy is applicable to anything and everything. If you are having an argument with your friend, just remember, their perspective is simply different and the only way to understand is by hearing them out. It has certainly helped me to become more level-headed.

Most people believe MUN is a solemn affair, with the only achievement gained being the passing of a resolution. This is false. Being in a room with other people your age means that it is easy to make new friends and meet people from different backgrounds. There are icebreakers, a gossip box and note passing which loosens the feeling of formality in the room. At the most recent MUN two weeks ago, I recall shaking while

raising my placard, with my eyes scanning fervently over my notes. As I went in front of the committee to deliver a speech on “Conflict in Kashmir”, the Head Chair said to me, “Do star jumps your entire speech.” Yes, him being a teenager did mean that he said this just for kicks and giggles. But he also told me to do this to diffuse my strained mood and put me at ease before I started to speak.

The fact that MUN is led by children is often overlooked; children have elaboratesounding roles such as Secretary General and Secretariat. The fact that these roles are given to children means that young people’s opinions are allowed to be voiced without the obstruction of adults. The smooth running of MUN just proves that we do not need to be constantly spoon-fed information and can independently research in order to form a coherent argument.

So, don’t shun MUN and think it is just a stuffy, dull congregation of children, whose only goal in life is to become the Prime Minister of the UK, rather give it a chance and find the fun in MUN.

The Karen Nehammer Handwriting Competition Run by the Worshipful Company of Scriveners

Tulaxsaa Sutharasan, RE

I was delighted to win first prize in the prestigious 2022/23 Year 8 category of the Karen Nehammer Handwriting Competition, beating several hundred other competitors from a range of different schools with links to the City of London. When trying out for the competition, I did my best but I certainly didn’t expect to win! To enter, I had to copy out in my best handwriting, using an ink pen because no biros are allowed, two different extracts – one from a Harry Potter book and one a poem by W B Yeats – and I really enjoyed doing this as part of the lunchtime club run by Mr Ward.

The prize-giving took place in St Martinwithin-Ludgate Church in London where we met the Master of the Worshipful

Company of Scriveners and the prizes were presented by one of the Sheriffs of the City of London. The church where the prize-giving was held looked big and beautiful. The event was well-organised and attended by both respected elders and many children from different schools. It was held on an evening after school, and I was very excited to attend as it was a new experience. Bancroft’s did amazingly well in this competition as Inaya J won first prize in the Year 9 category, meaning Bancroft’s took two of the four main prizes.

At the ceremony, they first gave a brief speech to welcome everyone before inviting prize winners to claim their awards. When my name was announced, I was proud and happy that I had chosen to enter the competition. I received a

certificate in addition to the prize, a £120 Amazon voucher. We were photographed by the event organisers, and we saw our written pieces displayed alongside other prizewinning entries. After this, we enjoyed helping ourselves to some delicious food and drinks. I received a lot of congratulations. It was an incredible experience overall.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD

A new format for the Bronze DofE Training weekend was trialled in March. Over 100 participants from the Lower Fourth spent Saturday in school being trained in classrooms about the countryside code, some first-aid essentials, how to correctly pack a rucksack for an expedition and what action to take in the event of a group getting lost or suffering an injury.

Having completed these training modules, the pupils descended on the Quad to practice erecting tents and learning how to safely operate the gas stoves before cooking some unappealing varieties of pot noodle for their lunch. The following day, the L4th arrived ready for a one-day 15km training walk in Epping Forest. Having been given some navigation instruction on the correct use of compass and map by staff volunteers, the participants continued their journey independently and most made speedy progress. The weather, whilst cold, remained dry, and many of the groups managed to complete their expedition in under six hours.

They will now use this experience to plan their own walking routes in the weeks ahead before undertaking their Bronze DofE Qualifying expedition in the White Peak District in May.

COMBINED CADET FORCE

Army Field Day

Kailin Lovell, L6E

Friday 17 March saw a group of 48 U4 and nine staff head off to the Dark Peaks for their Silver DofE practice expedition. As they hadn’t had the experience of a full-on Bronze Expedition last year, this was to be the first time carrying full rucksacks and camping for many of the pupils.

They all coped remarkably well with the navigation and campcraft. All groups finished on Sunday in good time with smiles on faces and a sense of achievement, in many cases having developed a genuine love of outdoor pursuits.

The previous weekend had seen roads and farms, including those at which groups camped, cut off due to heavy snow; there was still evidence of this on the higher ground, much to the delight of some groups who indulged in a spot of snowball throwing. However, apart from a couple of heavy downpours, we experienced ideal walking weather and even got to see some sun over the beautiful Derbyshire hills.

A particular thank you to Mr Sam Taylor for running a tight expedition. We are returning to the area in April, when the Fifth Form will be undertaking their practice expedition.

On Tuesday 21 March, the Army Section went to 664 Sqn Army Air Corps at Wattisham to an event organised by OB Major Laurence Baum. There were many different stands hosted by Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), Army Aviation, the Army medics and more.

At the medics’ stand, we got to experience what it was like in an army field hospital and we played with all the fascinating gadgets that they have, including an ECG. After that, they talked us though their Bergen, which contained a lot of cool stuff such as powdered penicillin, a fake airway and a turkey baster to remove blood and teeth from your mouth. Finally, we walked through the on-site clinic, which smelt sterile and of bleach, and then we peered inside the ambulance.

SEA SCOUTS

Mr Matthew Balchin Leader, 4th Epping Sea Scouts

The Spring Term has been busy for the Sea Scouts. As always, it was Winter Camp season for cubs and scouts, with both camps running just after the half term.

As well as typical activities, such as the high wire climb, frisbee gold and trying to escape from the ‘Cave bus’, this year the scouts tried their hand at a wheelchair obstacle course consisting of wooden walkways which featured gaps, steps, tipping ramps and sideways inclines that the teams had to navigate and race in wheelchairs. As well as being a challenging course in its own right, it also allowed scouts to get a feel for what it might be like to navigate day-to-day life using a wheelchair. Lunch on Saturday was provided, as usual, by our senior scouts, cooking over open fires despite the

At the stand hosted by REME, we learnt how to attach rivets. It was quite literally ……riveting. They showed us how to find a faulty wire in a tube and how to attach many wires together with knots and floss. There was a mini competition to see who could tie the best and tightest knots, which I won.

At the indoor range, there were two challenges: shoot a moving target at 100m and one at 300m that only appears for four seconds. It was challenging as the targets were really small, but everyone did really well and the best score was 17/25 for the targets at 100m and 13/25 for the targets at 300m.

The best stand was that hosted by the Royal Aviators where they showed us

RAF to Hendon

The RAF Field Day saw the cadets visiting the RAF Museum in Hendon. The six hangers were visited, covering the history of the Royal Air Force from the First World War to the present, and the many planes on display were admired. A particularly popular stop was the interactive displays that allowed cadets to design their own aircraft, which resulted in some innovative craft!

around the Apache helicopters and we got to look inside. We learnt many cool things about the helicopters, for example, all the wiring is doubled so that if they get hit, the helicopter can still fly.

The day was good fun and we all enjoyed every minute of it. Major thanks to Major Baum.

unexpected, but thankfully brief, hailstorm that hit the camp just as the fires got going. Our Saturday night entertainment this year involved a disco dance-off between various groups of scouts with many of the scouts (including leaders) dressed as what they would like to be when they are older.

During the rest of the term, the scouts have made good use of the school pool, achieving many swimming badges as well as demonstrating their ability to swim fully clothed and safely exit an upside-down kayak, both of which are required for

the next term’s activities on the water at Fairlop Waters. The scouts have also built and traversed high tension aerial runways, crossing with rope harnesses made under instruction from the senior scouts as part of their Gold Award leadership challenge. As part of the leadership challenge, the senior scouts also had to complete their own risk assessments and deliver a safety briefing to participants. The scouts have also practised their knots and ropework whilst building scramble nets and stretchers using rope nets, all of which had to be ‘woven’ by hand and carry the weight

of actual scouts. We turned the main school playing field into a simulated river harbour, allowing the scouts to practice their knowledge of navigation buoys and marker lights at night and made tin can wax burners.

The upcoming Summer Term, which is the main term for us as sea scouts, will be a busy one on the water with sailing, paddling and paddle boarding inland, a Royal Navy camp in Portsmouth, offshore yacht sailing on the Solent and culminating with our annual camp, this year in Swansea.

“ The Royal Aviators showed us around the Apache helicopters and we got to look inside “

Sustainability Charity Drives – Pre-loved is Re-loved

Mrs Sarah Strong, Head of Charities and Community Links

Our pupils are part of a new ecoconscious generation and here at Bancroft’s we want to encourage an enthusiasm for sustainability and an appreciation for “what may not be new to them, could be new to someone else.” We hope to motivate our pupils not to waste but to save; not to discard but to share; not to contribute to landfill but to be eco-friendly. Our recent charity initiatives have all had sustainability at their core, educating our children to be kind to our planet whilst collaboratively being kind to others, helping those people who need it most.

Firstly, thank you so much for supporting our Prep Goes Potty Plant sale, £254 is making its way to a local charity, Haven House Hospice. The hospice, in Woodford Green, has supported hundreds of families, looking after children and young people who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. It was amazing how the Prep children were able to make so much money from planting a tiny seed and then seeing the fruits of their labour!

Thank you, too, for contributing generously towards our Preloved Paperbacks for a Pound initiative; £285 has been sent to BookTrust, a national charity. BookTrust

transforms lives by getting children and families reading. Each year it reaches millions of children across the UK with books, resources and support.

Finally, we supported a charity, working for an international cause. The Disaster Emergency Committee is an umbrella group of charities which coordinates collective appeals to raise funds to provide emergency aid to humanitarian crises around the world. We raised £840 for the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal in yet another sustainable fashion. We held a children’s pre-loved clothes sale and asked our Prep 1s and 2s to donate two or three treasured items of clothing that they had outgrown but had looked after. Thirds from the Senior school donated items so that the Upper Phase children also had an opportunity to buy. The Charity

Ambassadors then sold the items to the whole Prep School at lunchtimes.

Thank you, parents, for your support as always and encouraging our children to nurture our school values of kindness, collaboration, initiative and integrity. It is so appreciated.

We hope to motivate our pupils not to waste but to save; not to discard but to share; not to contribute to landfill but to be eco-friendly.

Trip to the Barbican

Mr Tim Carson, Prep Alpha Teacher

It’s not every day that you get to hear one of the world’s greatest orchestras play some of the world’s greatest tunes accompanied by hundreds of children waving, pointing and shouting “taxi”! But on Tuesday 28 March, the Alphas were able to enjoy just such a treat as they sat in the Barbican and listened to the London Symphony Orchestra and a few guests tell the story of the great composer George Gershwin.

They listened intently to presenter Rachel Leach explain the inspiration behind two of his most famous pieces, Rhapsody in Blue and An American In Paris, and joined in enthusiastically with the actions she introduced. It was all rounded off with a stirring performance of the special song the children had learned about Gershwin called Train! Boat! Plane! Taxi!

French Institute Movie Visit

Mrs Sarah Strong, French Co-ordinator

The Prep 2s were treated to a trip to the French Institute in South Kensington for a Language Workshop and a screening of Calamity, une enfance de Martha Jane Cannary at the Cine-Lumiere.

Utterly practical and bold, the protagonist of the film’s title can be seen as a fearless role-model to many. This French-Danish

Chess: EPSCA 2023 Zonal

Mrs Lisa Life, Chess Team Manager

It was not the usual start to a half-term holiday for myself, Mr Layburn and 12 of the School’s chess enthusiasts! On Saturday 11 February we met at the Tower ready to head off in the mini bus for the first round in this year’s EPSCA (English Primary Schools Chess Association) Schools’ Championships.

It had been three years since we last visited Moulsham Primary School in Chelmsford and it was lovely to be there again. Even though the teams had been well prepped by Mr D’Costa, for those who hadn’t attended a tournament before, it is a rather strange but wonderful thing. A room set up with tables, boards and chess clocks for about a hundred games of chess all beginning at the same time. The room falls to (relative) silence and this quiet concentration remains until the last game has finished before the players start all over again! In total each player plays five games throughout the day so huge focus is required from all the players.

Our teams were magnificent and all our players were rewarded for their efforts. The U9 team (Zoe, Ashwin, Irina, Advik, Aryan and Aakarsh) received silver medals for coming in second place and the U11 (Jake, Ishaan, Riyan, Aashritha, Olivia and Jun-Le) team came third and received bronze medals. We have yet to receive written confirmation that we are off to the semi-finals but we are fairly confident, albeit quietly because, after all, this is chess!

animated film is directed by Rémi Chayé and is loosely based on the life of the American frontierswoman Calamity Jane.

The children were able to show off their knowledge of French during the Language Activity which was led by native speakers. It was a very enjoyable way to experience and enjoy the French language.

North House Family Evening

Faith Cunningham, U6N

Few people know, that James Bond once had a partner, Agent 014. But he was exposed as a double agent.

On Thursday 16 March at 6pm, Bancroft’s underwent a dazzling transformation. With playing card cut-outs and elegant black vases decorated with tuxedos and paper flowers, North House Family Evening plunged the Great Hall and Dining Hall into a James Bond Theme.

Adults and children alike were decked in their most glamourous slip dresses and sophisticated black suits and ties. Miss Grimwood’s ski costume was most memorable alongside Charlie D suited and booted, with his two stylish bond girls Amina and Tara in the U6th. Oscar WJ’s colourful outfit of James Bond on vacation in Hawaii, however took top spot in the competition. Families sat down to enjoy pulled pork or veggie burgers, in the Hall and bought from sweet trays. All profits from these sales, and the highly successful raffle, will go to ELHAP and Haven House.

All acts encompassed elegance and humour. Despite technical difficulties, the running order ranged from dances, choirs, duets and acting. This opportunity to shine allowed budding screenwriter Arnav P to take the lead in an action-packed short film Jim Bond, directed by Tomisin A and Joshua C, which demonstrated all the acting talent our Thirds possess. Particular acts to remember include Ananya K’s

otherworldly solo performance of Liquid Smooth by Mitski and the U6th group otherwise known as Diverted Traffic who performed the iconic Skyfall, a James Bond staple. Furthermore, the Brass Fingers, directed by Ananya L, beautifully interpreted Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey!

Thank you to the stage crew, our magicians, decoration team and to the U6 Top Team and Heads of Charity, Max P, Sarah D, Ambar K, Sam D, Faith C and Sarah S. Thank you to all those that donated raffle prizes, including Savills in Loughton.

We would like to thank all the tutors and prefects for inspiring and organising their pupils, we are grateful for their continued support. Also, thanks to Marc Stefan and the wonderful catering staff, who yet again provided a wonderful meal for us. Thanks must go Mr Kerr, Mr Nadal and Mr Appiah-Kubi for their assistance with stage and tech; Mr Pollard and Mr Russo for photography; Mr Kamel for his life size wooden James Bond, plus other designs; Mr Atkinson for the James Bond quiz; Mrs Hampson and Mrs Baker for raffles; and to Mrs Kennedy for all her help with the tickets. A massive thank you to Miss Prescott-Morrin and Miss Grimwood, and the pupils of North House who have worked tirelessly to make the night a success.

Finally, a massive thank you to you, the North House family, who support the House throughout the year and allow these events to be successful year after year. We hope you enjoyed the evening with us.

Partnerships – Spring Term

Mr Mark Willingham, Outreach and Partnerships

This term has featured several events at Bancroft’s to which we have welcomed pupils from local partner schools or other members of our wider community.

We saw two special performances of Carnival of the Animals. Children from St John’s and Oakhill Schools joined with our own Prep pupils for a schools’ performance. This was followed on Friday 17 March with a wonderful neurodivergent-friendly performance to a room full of enthralled guests from ELHAP, Phab, Oakview School and Woodcroft School. We are very grateful to the music department and, of course, the supremely talented pupils for putting on such a brilliant show.

On 30 March, we hosted a community coffee morning, with a particular focus on inviting the more elderly members in our community links. They were able to regale and swap stories with members of our Thirds and L6, and were then treated to musical performances from our talented musicians and singers in the Thirds, culminating with a nostalgic sing-song of some classic hits from yesteryear.

We are grateful to the careers team who continue to place partnerships at the forefront of their work. Early in the term, Bancroft’s hosted a Competitive University Admissions Workshop with speakers from Bath, Oxford, UCL and Warwick covering choosing a course, the personal statement, what universities are looking for and applying to Oxford. Pupils from eight schools were invited. On 28 March, we hosted the University and Careers fair, with 42 exhibitors from universities, colleges, corporates and services. For the latter event we were joined by seven visiting schools, who sent over 300 pupils. The schools were Roding Valley, Woodbridge, Heathcote, Chingford Foundation, The Drapers’ Academy, Trinity and St Paul’s Way Trust. The response from our visitors was very positive. One pupil from Roding Valley said,” Attending the Bancroft’s University and Apprenticeship Fair was an incredibly enriching experience for me.

I was able to gain a wealth of knowledge and insights from students studying at and teachers representing many of the prominent universities in the UK. I had the opportunity to speak with representatives from well-known employers and companies about apprenticeship and degree courses, and gained a better understanding of my future options.”

Our Primary Science Fair continues to be a really popular event with local schools. This year we had two hundred visitors from Years 6 and 5 at seventeen local Prep and Primary Schools. They enjoyed the various stalls run by members of the L6 on the theme of “Connections” as well as time spent in the three science zones.

We continue to support Pool Schools in their weekly community swimming endeavours. Through this. we are superbly supported by pupils in the Fifth and Sixth Form who continue to develop great relationships with the swimmers who attend. We continue to build links on enrichment projects with other schools with the National Gallery in London with the aim of building cultural literacy and capital.

News from the PA

Mrs Samia Dar, Bancroft’s PA Chair

It has been an exciting and busy time for the Bancroft’s Parent’s Association. We were pleased to host two events in March for the Barcroft’s community.

On Friday 3 March, the PA hosted its second Wine Tasting after a sold-out event last year. Held in the Great Hall, it was another success with many people returning to enjoy the evening again. Like last year, Vik Gubskis, former head barman at the Ivy, showcased a great selection of six different wines. These choices were carefully selected to represent an interesting variety from Australia to Argentina, with one which was both organic and biodynamic.

An excellent evening was had by all, connoisseur or wine newbie alike, learning about wines while catching up with friends. Not only was there option for the guests to taste a wonderful wine selection but also to purchase wine, and many availed themselves of the opportunity.

Guests enjoyed a tasty selection of cheeses, nibbles and snacks throughout the evening. This year the PA was able to offer the opportunity to pre-order hot food including mezze, wraps and kebabs. To wrap up the evening on a high note, the PA had arranged a surprise name raffle for a Bottle of Gigondas Du Trignon. A fun-filled evening with fine wine, food, family and friends indeed.

On Saturday 18 March, the Prep School Spring Fayre returned, bigger and better than last year. The packed Prep School Hall was buzzing with energy and excitement and it was a fun-filled day for all. Thankfully the weather didn’t deter our Bancroft’s community from coming together in large numbers, enjoying this muchloved event with Prep children, staff and parents all joining in the festivities. The Hall was full of colour with the beautiful bunting produced by our wonderful Prep artists. The Prep 2 children raised an amazing £808 from all their hard work holding some fantastic stalls, including football shoot out, a table tennis competition, nerf

Law Day

Preneha Karari L6

College) for this event, which was hosted by two Civil Judges – His Honour Judge Hellman and His Honour Judge Saunders.

We were all fortunate enough to listen to their very different paths to becoming civil judges, and it provided great insight into what these different paths look like, as many of us are setting out on law careers. Most notable was the legislation that we studied alongside the discussion with the other schools regarding the possible outcomes. However, the highlight of the event was when we were able to try

A group of aspiring law students signed up to visit the Mayor’s and City of London Court, Guildhall Buildings. We were joined by pupils from three of our partner schools (St Paul’s Way Trust, Roding Valley High School and Sir George Monoux

on the Judges’ wigs and gowns!

An excellent evening was had by all, connoisseur or wine newbie alike

“

gun shooting, pick a duck, spin the wheel, ping ball throwing, stress balls, biscuit decorating, nail paint, sand art, mini games and lots of sweet-related activities.

A large selection of busy stalls run by the PA had attendees queuing up for the treats on offer. There was face paint, glitter tattoos, nail decorating, Mother’s Day daffodils, treasure hunt, second hand uniform and sweet stalls, to name a few. A Spring Fayre raffle was also on offer with a selection of fantastic prizes. The raffle to be Head for the Day was a highlight with children eagerly anticipating who would be in charge for the day. The food stalls had delicious treats on offer: hot pizza, samosas, doughnuts, waffles and a selection of soft and hot drinks. The Easter Egg Tombola was one of the busiest stalls; this stall could not be possible without the chocolate donations by the parents. The PA is very grateful for your generous contributions!

Miss Kelly kept the children busy with multi sports in the PAC and children eagerly took part. The crowds were thoroughly entertained by the talented Chingford Morris Dancers. Our very own Alpha Street Dancers also showcased their incredible rhythmic moves. The loud cheers from the audience filled the Hall as the children gave the audience a memorising performance.

The PA would like to thank all the academic, IT, catering and maintenance staff, as well as all the parents, for their ongoing support; these events would not be possible without your valuable contribution.

We have a line-up of many family fun opportunities in the coming months: a Salsa Night, Family Camping Weekend and the PA Ball to name a few. If you would like to help or become more involved in the Parents’ Association then please email bancrofts.pa@gmail.com. We look forward to welcoming you to future PA events.

Mrs Mary Ireland

Early in the term we received the sad news of the death of Mrs Mary Ireland, former Head of Bancroft’s.

Mrs Ireland retired in 2016 after serving as Head for eight years and she had been making the most of her retirement in Eastbourne with husband Simon, also previously a teacher. She was enjoying being a grandmother and had acquired another member of the family in the form of a new Labrador, having lost her previous dogs during her time at Bancroft’s. She had also been busy serving as a school governor and had recently been appointed as Junior Warden for the Drapers’ Company, which she saw as a great honour.

The news of her passing left many members of the school community shocked; Mary was still relatively young and we remember her as an energetic Head, fully involved in all aspects of school life. She could frequently be seen standing on the touchlines at sporting fixtures; despite her diminutive stature, she had a very big presence and could be heard cheering on the Bancroft’s players louder than anyone else. Although a figure of authority, who commanded respect from students and staff alike, Mary also had a great sense of fun and loved a reason for a celebration. She moved the school into the twenty-first century, yet also recognised the importance of tradition. One of her legacies was setting up the Bancroft’s Foundation to mark the school’s 275th anniversary and to raise funds for increasing the number of assisted places at the school.

Mary’s funeral in February was a family-only event, but we are looking forward to remembering her properly at a memorial event during the Summer Term.

The raffle to be Head for the Day was a highlight with children eagerly anticipating who would be in charge for the day

“

High Road, Woodford Green Essex, IG8 0RF

SENIOR SCHOOL 020 8505 4821 | bancrofts.org | office@bancrofts.org

PREP SCHOOL 020 8506 6774 | bancrofts.org | prepoffice@bancrofts.org