The F'Hill Story

From the Headmistress

Values such as Love, Charity, Hope, Faith, Compassion, Kindness, Inclusivity and Gratitude are things that we often talk about, share, and aspire to improve, in all kinds of creative ways.

One term in to my headship, it is a real pleasure to be writing the introduction to this year’s Farnborough Hill magazine. I hope that you enjoy this opportunity to read and reflect on the life of the School during the last year as much as we have loved putting it all together. In recent weeks, we have been thrilled to see your growing engagement with our enhanced social media presence, now embedded within our new-look website. I truly feel that we are presenting ourselves to the world in a way that captures the spirit, breadth and dynamism of this wonderful school: who we are today and where we are going.

With a new Headmistress, comes a new Mission Statement! “Farnborough Hill welcomes all into our community, where we aim to live Christ’s Gospel values joyfully and wholeheartedly, forming each individual to fulfil her potential and face the future with wisdom, strength and dignity.” Our Mission Statement, version 2024, was the product of a small group working together during a recent morning of discernment; we believe that it fully captures what we are about and inspires us for the future. Since my own earliest teaching days, I have always valued an ‘et nova et vetera’ approach, seeking to blend the real treasures and wisdom of the old with the best of the new, and this is my aim for Farnborough Hill. It is vital that we stand very firm in our foundations; the ideals of our founder the Abbé Louis Lafosse and the RCE Sisters have always been the strong roots that hold us firm and nourish us each day. To continue the horticultural metaphor, this strong root system is what enables us to grow and flourish, and to reach up into the future. Now, more than ever in our post-pandemic world, it is important

to aim, as the first RCE sisters enjoined us, to live joyfully. Our mission places the Gospel at the centre of things, emphasising the values and habits we need to inculcate to thrive within and build up our community, cultivating heart-shaped minds – as our ‘Swoosh’ logo continually reminds us. Values such as Love, Charity, Hope, Faith, Compassion, Kindness, Inclusivity and Gratitude are things that we often talk about, share and aspire to improve, in all kinds of creative ways.

We could describe our work on promoting Gospel values as being all about the ‘whoness’ of the educational process, but the ‘whatness’ is the other half of our endeavours. This year, we have developed and extended our CoCurricular programme to present its richestever offering. The huge range of activities now available at lunchtimes and after school may be seen in our online booklet and we will continue to develop this through the year. Cocurricular experiences can be just as formative as classroom encounters, in terms of lighting a vital spark of inspiration for the future, and we want to be sure that we are providing as much as we can. It has been a huge privilege for me to get a feeling for what we offer, from a Year 9 pupil in Pot Club explaining to me exactly how to score a mug handle so that it holds the slurry and fixes effectively to the clay body, to Year 7s sharing incredible vocabulary ideas in the Library, Year 9s confidently leading their own Netball Club drills through to seeing Model United Nations conference preparations, sitting in on first rehearsals for ‘Coram Boy’ (excellent work from the choristers!) and watching the next Greenpower project take shape. That is just a small snapshot of what goes on, in a typical day.

A central aspect of our past and present at Farnborough Hill is our beautiful Grade 1 listed house, which this year we have been delighted to open up to various history tours and also during September 2024’s Heritage Open Day, when we welcomed hundreds of local visitors. Members of the public have now had the opportunity to walk through those beautiful, mirrored doors to the Ref and imagine themselves back in the heady days of the Empress Eugénie. Farnborough Hill has no wish to stand still and just contemplate the past, however: we have been busy over the summer break creating the first stage of our ‘Inspiring Spaces’ project, providing refreshed and thoroughly updated classrooms within the History, RE and Classics Departments and completing our beautiful new Fitness Suite. Over the October 2024 half term we will be furnishing our new Multi-Faith Prayer Room, just off the Red Corridor.

As I write, the Olympic games are a very recent memory. As always, they provided some rich sources of inspiration, sometimes in unexpected ways. One of my favourite Olympic moments this year was watching the transformative power of an encouraging word: Alistair Brownlee shouted ‘Anything can happen, mate!’ as Alex Yee, in silver medal position, fought the closing minutes of the men’s triathlon. Yee responded directly to Brownlee’s words and dug deep, switching up a gear and powering forwards into an exhilarating sprint finish, gaining a welldeserved gold medal in spectacular style. We see this same dynamic playing out every day on the Hill. Talented and committed staff continually spur our girls on to imagine – and reach – new heights of attainment. What they achieve is truly a team effort; gold medals all around, to the staff for their unstinting inspiration and support, and to the girls for their wholehearted efforts, resilience, and growth mindset. Our excellent public examination results this summer, at both GCSE and A level, provide ample evidence of the value we add, and are a source of great pride to all of us. However, life on the Hill is, and has always been, about far more than the results: it is this strongly holistic approach to education that is such a distinctive feature of our life on the Hill.

These are testing times for independent education. VAT on school fees is just the latest in a very long line of existential threats thrown at the sector over a great many years. Some will no doubt wonder why we still bother to offer a single-sex, faith-based education! I believe strongly that this is the time, more than ever before, to know who we are and to be proud of it. A quick reflection on the current state of young people’s mental health and on the state of the world provides many answers to the questions above: amidst a homogenisation of educational aims and

We believe passionately that this approach enables our pupils to live life in all its intended fullness and learn to weather the inevitable storms that cross all our paths.

provision, we stand strongly in defence of offering something counter-cultural, inviting our girls to consider and debate the deepest questions in life, to offer the space for prayer and quiet reflection, to grow in an appreciation and sense of the sacred and to learn what it is to serve the common good. Sitting alongside the more everyday aspects of wellness provision, we believe passionately that this approach enables our pupils to live life in all its intended fullness and learn to weather the inevitable storms that cross all our paths. Equally, until such time as misogynism is a distant memory, all girls have the right to schooling, all women in the world have agency and efficacy, sexual harassment and violence against women are things of the past and all women can access effective maternity care (to name just a few current issues) then we need places and systems of education that empower and embolden our young women, giving them the self-confidence, skills and leadership experience to go out into the world and build a better future. Things are now changing for women in some respects, but there is still much to do.

The grateful recipient of an all-girls education myself, I was a very shy teenager but I know that I was able to make choices and grab opportunities that I would not necessarily have dared to do had there been additional pressure from the presence of boys. We all love to see our carefree girls running (or rolling) down the hill, growing up at their own pace and in their own way: so many girls will never have that opportunity. At the same time, our girls do not exist in some cut-off, boy-free bubble. We have plans afoot for various partnership projects and events, both educational and social, some with Salesian but others involving a variety of schools in the local area. Day-today, Farnborough Hill holds our girls safe, with their feet on the ground but their heads and hearts aspiring to great ambitions, developing a secure sense of self and working out their individual place in the world, in their own time. Our staff have become experts in educating girls, providing outstanding pastoral care that matches the excellent work going on in the classroom. It has often been observed, in countless studies, that girls in girls’ schools just do more, from being more physically active to taking up the widest possible variety of leadership roles and getting involved in aspects of school life that are so often dominated by boys. Being educated in this way helps them to smash down the barriers and stereotypes that can so often hold women back, stepping into the amazing tide of strong Farnborough Hill women who have gone before them!

Mrs Maria Young, Headmistress

GCSE AND A LEVEL

RESULTS

The Class of 2024 earned an amazing set of A level results, with 80% of grades awarded being A* - B and half of all grades attained being A*/A.

These impressive results ensure that our Upper Sixth leavers will be taking up places at the UK’s leading universities including Cambridge, Durham, Warwick, Exeter and King’s College, London, for courses as varied as PPE, English, Chemistry, Classics, Mathematics, Marine Biology and Music.

There were many individual success stories to celebrate: Maia West achieved three A* grades, plus an A* in her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which explored the role of women – particularly stepmothers – as villains in children’s folk literature and fairy tales. Maia has secured a place at Cambridge to read English. Head Girl, Suhana Tiwari, earned one A* and three As, an outstanding achievement especially when coupled with her extensive duties as student leader. Freya Garside, Emma Netherway, Annabel Soegaard and Amelia Smith each achieved two A*s and an A grade, while Serena Brydon, Annabel Crombie, Giorgia Peddell and Gemma Stevens obtained one A* and two As. Music Captains, Gemma and Annabel S also respectively hold an ARSM Music Performance Diploma in Flute and Grade 8 Piano, Violin and Singing.

Over a third of this talented Year Group gained straight A*/A grades and two thirds gained all A* - B grades.

The students celebrating are also to be commended for their fantastic commitment to life at Farnborough Hill, enriching themselves and those around them in so many ways: from starring in productions including Twelfth Night and The Addams Family, to running charity initiatives and exploring the rainforests of Borneo, this Year Group are more than ready to bring their joie de vivre to the wider world.

At GCSE level, the Class of 2026 celebrated an equally impressive set of results. 59% of grades were 9 – 7; the average grade achieved was a Grade 7 and a quarter of the girls celebrated attaining a full house of Grades 9 –7.

This talented cohort have epitomised Farnborough Hill’s ‘wholehearted’ approach, throwing themselves into life on the Hill: in Year 9, over a third of the Year Group chose to undertake either a Level 1 or Level 2 Project Qualification, with 85% of girls earning an A* or A Grade. They have not just shone academically, though; the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award was earned by 60% of the Year Group, and a third went on to complete their Silver Award; some of this cohort launched the Greenpower Club at Farnborough Hill and recently raced at Goodwood and others boasted the accolade of Regional Young Enterprise ‘Company of the Year’. Many participated in the productions of both Twelfth Night and The Addams Family and their sporting prowess has seen them achieve highly in both local leagues and national competitions. These extra challenges have enriched the girls – the commitment and endurance shown both inside and outside the classroom has been nothing short of inspirational.

HIGHLIGHTS from the Hill

It has been another glouriously busy year on the Hill, filled with adventure, learning and, above all, laughter. It has been joyful to reflect on all that the girls have experienced and achieved as school life has swept them along: the little things that pass by in a whirl add up so wonderfully to this wholehearted education.

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD!

Our team of talented Chefs kept us nourished this year with an increasingly dazzling selection of daily salads, often topped with herbs from our own garden, and an increasingly adventurous menu of themed days. From China to Europe, they took us on a culinary journey to explore new delights and experience old favourites cooked to perfection.

VISIT FROM OUR LADY’S SCHOOL TERENURE

NEXT STEPS OPTIONS EVENING

Farnborough Hill was absolutely buzzing on Tuesday 16 January 2024 as over 300 parents and pupils joined us for the Year 8 and Year 9 Options Evening. With talks for each Year Group and exciting stalls advertising each of the option subjects, there was a real sense of excitement in the air as pupils weighed up which of their subjects they wanted to take forward to the next stage of their Farnborough Hill journey.

Mrs Laura Evans-Jones, Assistant Head - Operations / Pastoral

In the summer of 2024, we had the pleasure of hosting Marguerite Gorby, Principal of Our Lady’s School, Terenure, in Dublin. Founded in 1953, Our Lady’s School Terenure shares a special connection with Farnborough Hill, as both schools were established by the Religious of Christian Education. Our Headmistress, Mrs Maria Young, was intrigued to hear about the challenges and joys of education in Ireland, some of the things that make the school day very different – including a flourishing Camogie culture and Irish language classes – and to learn more about the approaches being taken in Our Lady’s to current issues of wellbeing and mental health. Our sister school sent us some gifts to commemorate the visit and a letter from the students, telling us about their charity initiatives, their recent trips and activities. We very much look forward to building a stronger relationship with them in the future and working towards some partnership projects.

Marguerite’s visit held historical significance, as she became the first representative from Our Lady’s School Terenure to tour Farnborough Hill. Mrs Young plans to return the visit during the Autumn Term.

SIXTH FORM STAFF PANTO!

‘Tangled’ was an outstanding achievement this year and provided us with a most memorable rendition inclusive of superb special effects and editing the likes of which have not been seen for some time. From as early as September the Lower Sixth students set to the task of writing the annual Panto script. Rehearsing and working with a cast of intrepid and dedicated teachers who were willing to dress up and prance around the grounds, this family favourite retold some hilarious scenes using the backdrop of the house and grounds at Farnborough Hill. The Lower Sixth film crew worked for weeks on editing to create special effects with the grand showing held at the end of term to the whole school. We remember our beloved Drama student, Kai Somerville, who steered this project to perfection with the edits and special effects.

Mrs Helen de Mattos, Director of Drama

We welcomed over 120 pupils to our annual ‘BUSY BEES’ Taster Day for Year 5 pupils. They had a serious amount of fun with our Year 11 and Sixth Form beekeepers!

CINEMA ON THE HILL

The Hill was awash with a sea of plaid once again as families and friends from the Farnborough Hill community spread out their picnic blankets and gathered for the Friends’ Cinema on the Hill. Showing Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, visitors lounged, snacked and sang their way through the feel-good musical. A perfect end to the School year!

The SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING was the perfect opportunity for Year 11 pupils and their parents, from both Farnborough Hill and elsewhere, to delve into the different experience that we offer our sixth formers. Increasing independence and autonomy, new teaching spaces and a bespoke Super-Curriculum are just some of the aspects they learned about. This followed their Year 10 Sixth Form Taster Day in June, where they got to experience a little of the sixth form on the hill for themselves.

FRIENDS’ FIREWORKS

The Friends hosted their annual fireworks show - a brilliant evening with a super sense of community and togetherness, as we enjoyed hot drinks and sweet waffles huddled under unbrellas and watched the spectacular show from atop our hill!

JLTREES TRADITIONAL TREE PLANTING

On a Tuesday afternoon in February 2024, Year 7 pupils gathered, shovels in hand, ready to make their mark on the school grounds. Each House proudly planted a sapling fir tree, symbolising not just their House, but the start of their own growth as they begin their journeys through the School. In six years’ time, when they are in Upper Sixth, one triumphant tree will be chosen and lovingly festooned to grace the Grand Salon at Christmas. This tradition not only fosters a love for nature but also instils a sense of community and legacy amongst our younger pupils.

EXTENDED PROJECT QUALIFICATIONS

On Wednesday 6 March 2024, the Year 9 Project Qualification pupils delivered presentations on their project journeys to teachers and family members. We had 53 pupils completing the Project Qualification this year with topics ranging from Space Travel, Formula One, Fast Fashion and AI to name a few.

Then, on Thursday 27 June 2024, 15 EPQ students presented their project journeys to staff, parents and peers. The presentation marks the final stages of their research projects and the girls spoke eloquently and enthusiastically about their findings as well as the trials and tribulations of undertaking their projects alongside their A level studies.

Topics this year have included: Quantum mechanics, herbal medicine, AI applications and Disney. We are incredibly proud of the students’ work over the last nine months and this was a wonderful way to mark their achievements.

SWAP SHOP

For the first time, the whole school were invited to vote in the HEAD GIRL HUSTINGS. 11 candidates took to the stage to deliver their campaign speeches, which make up a key part of the application process.

UniversitySouthamptonhasplayed a major role in championing the EPQ and in acknowledging the importance of the skills developed through the process in terms of university achievement. Indeed, there is evidence of the EPQ process continuing the ‘pay out’ for students long after they finish the process; in fact between 2017 and 2021, over 90% of students who had undertaken an EPQ graduated with a first or 2.1 class degree, a level which was not matched by those who did not complete an EPQ project (AQi, 2023).

Lunchtime at the end of term buzzed with excitement as our classroom transformed into a mini clothing boutique. Tables overflowed with gently used clothes that we had all brought in and we even had a mannequin which we dressed up and racks of clothing to hang our pieces. These pieces of clothing would have probably gone to landfill but instead we swapped them in for tokens. We then used our tokens to exchange for some ‘new’ clothes. We did the Swap Shop because we wanted to help our planet by reducing the amount of clothing being discarded and instead wearing something preloved by someone else. I thoroughly enjoyed doing the Swap Shop and I hope we will do it again.

Clodagh Pert (Year 7)

HIGHLIGHTS from the Hill

The annual HOUSE CHRISTMAS BAZAAR, our biggest House charity event, took place on the morning of the Advent Service. It was a joyous sight to see so many pupils, parents and staff enjoying festive music and generously buying gifts and raffle tickets. The Café was as popular as ever; with guests enjoying mulled wine, crêpes, Christmas cakes and treats, as the Swing Band provided a festive soundtrack to the afternoon.

The Sixth Form enjoyed a final, sundrenched, farewell evening in the guise of their LEAVERS’ BALL. Laughter rang through the Ref as loudly as Taylor Swift’s dulcet tones as the girls danced the night away.

Prospective pupils raced around the halls on a cold January evening, getting to know the School and each other on the F’HILL CHALLENGE evening.

We were excited to welcome 27 internal and external candidates for their Sixth Form Academic SCHOLARSHIP ASSESSMENTS, and a further 34 students to auditions and interviews for the DART, Drama / Dance, Music and Sport Scholarships, as well as interviews for the Lafosse Scholarship, which is sponsored by our Old Girls’ Association.

ANNUAL ADVENT CAROL SERVICE

The beginning of the Advent Season was marked in the customary way, with our annual Advent Carol Service in the Farnborough Hill Chapel on Sunday 3 December 2023. We were grateful to Fr Robin Farrow who joined us to lead us in prayer and bless our Advent wreath.

The word ‘advent’ derives from the Latin adventus for ‘coming.’ This season is an opportunity for Christians to prepare their hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus, as well as to recall the promise that the Lord will come again.

Our Farnborough Hill Advent Carol Service uses the imagery of light coming into darkness. The Candle Bearers and Senior Choir entered into a dark Chapel, and the Chapel grew lighter after each reading as each candle was lit on the Advent Wreath. We heard readings from the Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures and hymns and carols helped us recall the time before Jesus, when the world was in spiritual darkness. We had representatives from across the School community who served as Candle Bearers, readers, choir members, Advent Wreath lighters and numerous staff behind the scenes who helped with the service.

The Senior Choir sang various carols, including an enchanting arrangement of In dulci jubilo by Howard Goodall, Harold Darke’s beautiful setting of In the bleak midwinter, and the thrilling Nova! Nova! by Iain Farrington. The rousing congregational carols included On Jordan’s Bank and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

A huge well done to the Senior Choir for their beautiful singing, and in particular, to Lulu Laurie (Year 11), Emma Freeman (Lower Sixth) and Annabel Soegard (Upper Sixth), all of whom sung solos. Thank you, also, to Mr Joe Adams for directing the choir, and to Mr Patrick Martin for playing the organ.

It was wonderful to have new families, families who had returned, members of our local community, Old Girls and their families, staff and other friends of our School join us for this Farnborough Hill tradition. Thank you to all who contributed in any way to this beautiful service.

An end-of-term TEAMBUILDING SPORTS afternoon was on the cards for Years 8 and 10 pupils, who got to know eachother better while having a lot of fun!

“I have come that they might have life and have it to the full” John 10v10

Willed, Loved & Necessary

Over 200 years ago, the Religious of Christian Education (RCE) was founded by Abbé Louis Lafosse in Echauffeur in France. The sisters of the order took John 10v10 as a key verse in the vision and mission of the RCE – to serve the Lord joyfully and wholeheartedly – and that spirit brought our own four founding sisters to Farnborough in 1889. These amazing women of God followed His call to set up the school community that became Farnborough Hill.

The staff were reminded of the significance of this in a beginning of term INSET session with Catholic theologian, David Wells, and it was striking to see the enduring importance of being whole-hearted in all that we do; our mission even in 2023 is identical to that of our founding sisters so long ago. As the staff of Farnborough Hill, we do not carry a new mission; it is simply our job to steward it at this time and for the cohorts of girls who pass through our doors.

The idea of being a steward of such a precious and significant thing is humbling as an educator – we know, of course, that our role in imparting knowledge and developing understanding is important in the development of our young people, but the idea that we also carry a responsibility for their spiritual and moral formation is the privilege of our position as educators in a Catholic school, and it is not one that we carry lightly.

The belief that every pupil comes to us loved and valued before they have set foot in the building underpins all that we do, for as Pope Benedict XVI put it, “each of us is willed; each of us is loved; each of us is necessary”. We do not put God into people but we draw out what is already there – their gifts and their talents, and their unique role in our community. Our vision – the heart of what we do as a school – is to accompany young women on their journey to help them reach their full potential: to leave us for their next adventure fully alive and thriving in who and what they were made to be.

The reminder that “education is not and must never be considered as purely utilitarian” (Pope Benedict XVI) really frames the original charism of the RCE – John 10v10 in its entirety says that “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they might have life and have it to the full” and it is that thief that we must guard against in order to protect the strength and impact of the mission we carry – the utilitarianism of examination specifications and lesson plans and the never-ending to-do lists runs the risk of robbing us of our joy in what we do, in ensuring that the young people we accompany are living their life to the full, we find our own joy.

Mrs Laura Evans-Jones, Assistant Head – Operations / Pastoral

“Education is not a profession but an attitude and way of being; in order to educate it is necessary to step out of ourselves and be among young people, to accompany them in the stages of their growth and to set ourselves behind them. Give them hope and optimism for their journey in the world. Teach them to see the beauty and goodness of creation and of the human person”

Pope Francis

Community Tours on the Hill

“…three nuns came to Farnborough, on 30 April, a cold, wet day that seemed to afford them no welcome to their new home. After a night spent at the Lodge of St Michael’s Priory, Mesdames Murray, Roantree and Deroullers proceeded to possession of their new convent on 1 May 1889, accompanied by the first pupil, Josephine Murray…This time the sun shone upon the newcomers and Farnborough seemed to smile upon their advent. Old Cook, the gardener, with his hat in one hand and the keys in the other, stood at the foot of the steps to receive the nuns – and thus was enacted the opening of Hillside”

Taken from The Story of A House by Dorothy A Mostyn

135 Years

The story of the first days of the school we now know as Farnborough Hill is well known within our community, but this year, as we reflected on 135 years of the RCE in Farnborough, it is perhaps more poignant to recall the very human details of setting up a new life and building a new community so far from home. The courage of the founding Farnborough Sisters – Mother Murray, Mother Roantree and Mother Deroullers – and of those that followed shortly after, cannot be ignored, although it could perhaps be argued as being characteristic of an RCE Sister, following as they did in the footsteps of those who battled anti-clerical laws in France, pioneering the education of girls and young women in very challenging situations.

Through its various iterations – from Hillside Convent and St Mary’s Day School through Wymering Lodge and Sycamores to Farnborough Hill itself – our story has not been in our buildings (beautiful as they have all been) but in our community and in the people who made it. The RCE’s years in Farnborough have seen a huge number of staff and girls pass through the School but the constant for all those people has been the love, support and prayers of our Sisters. Every generation of pupils and staff have ‘their’ Sisters who they remember most fondly as being an essential part of their journey, and there has not

A summer steeped in history and heritage!

To support our School Archive Collection Project, Mrs Katherine Bell and Ms Ailsa West have hosted a series of tours, engaging visitors with tales of our school's rich history and its connection to Empress Eugénie. The tours, culminating in a delicious afternoon tea in the Grand Salon, have been a resounding success. Our Tours on the Hill not only raised vital funds but also offered guests a unique journey through time.

been a day since 1 May 1889 that the Sisters have not prayed for the School and everyone within its community. Whether it is for girls sitting examinations, good weather for events or personal intentions shared with the Sisters, they have been faithful throughout the years to pray for everything to do with, and being done within, the School.

Here, in Farnborough in 2024, life looks very different than it did in 1889, but the mission and the values of the community are still the same as they ever were – to serve the Lord joyfully and wholeheartedly in everything we do. We carry the charism of the Sisters forward for future generations, ensuring that the young people in our care may flourish just as Abbé Louis Lafosse intended.

Death is Only a Horizon

We give them back to you, O Lord, who first gave them to us; and as you did not lose them in the giving so we do not lose them in the return. Not as the world gives do you give O Lord. For what is yours is ours also, if we belong to you. Life is unending because love is undying and the boundaries of this life are but an horizon and an horizon is but the limit of our vision. Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see further. Strengthen our faith that we may see beyond the horizon. And while you prepare a place for us as you have promised, prepare us also for that happy place; that where you are we may be also, with those we have loved, forever.

Fr Bede Jarett, OP

Sister Patricia Wright RCE

We were saddened at the loss of Sister Patrica Wright RCE in March 2024.

Sister Patricia was a native of Farnborough and a past pupil of Farnborough Hill. In 1946 she joined the Community and on 21 November 1948, made her first profession. She took her final vows in 1953. Sister Patricia also studied at the Royal School of Needlework and was very proud of the fact that she was allowed to put one stitch in the coronation gown of Queen Elizabeth II. Following training and studies, she became part of three new foundations in Ireland in the mid 1950s. She was appointed Head of the Junior School in Dublin and is still fondly remembered. Other leadership roles there included being Novice Mistress for a time and Superior of the community in Wicklow.

In 1986, Sister Patricia returned to England and very successfully took on the running of Lafosse House, a house for retired Sisters. She carried this responsibility until 2013, when the house was closed.

She was a woman of prayer and deep faith, Jesus was always central in her life and this was very evident in her final days. Sister Patricia had a deep sense of gratitude and was always gracious and kind in her interaction with others.

Her love and respect for the natural world was so in tune with the vision of Pope Francis in Laudato Si’. Her interests were many and included photography, crafts, knitting and gardening. She loved all animals and at one stage had a cat called Grace. Right to the end of her life, Sister Patricia was always interested in the welfare of others, especially staff and pupils in the schools founded by the Sisters.

She served the Lord joyfully and wholeheartedly for 78 years as a member of the Religious of Christian Education. May she rest in peace.

Sister Elizabeth McCormack RCE

At the end of May 2024, the School was united in grief at the loss of one our Sixth Form students, Kai.

Kai was a unique spirit who will be greatly missed by the entire school community. Joining us in Year 7, Kai undertook many ventures while with us, really coming into their own during Sixth Form. Kai was a good friend to many, thought and felt deeply and made it a personal mission to support and encourage others. Most recently, Kai could often be found in Lafosse challenging members of the Upper Sixth to games of Scrabble to offer them a break from examination stress. Kai would be there providing mugs of hot chocolate to cheer people up when they felt down. Kai loved those human elements of Business Studies and Psychology which helped in observing and understanding behaviours in others. Inspired by this, Kai had hoped to study Criminology at University.

Kai’s greatest passions came from beyond the classroom. An avid skier who could regale us with tales of whizzing down the slopes in the Alps, Kai also had a deep love of music, being a keen member of the School Choir and learning to play the drums, though their greatest musical love was Beyoncé. Kai gained much confidence through working in and studying Drama. Lower down the School, Kai’s favourite part of studying Classical Civilisation came through the unit on the theatre where the class brought their learning to life by acting out scenes from Classical theatre. Kai had been involved in so many of our School Productions, both on stage or behind the scenes as Tech support. Kai was the go-to person for editing any sort of video in the Sixth Form, most notably for the 2023 Staff and Sixth Form Pantomime - by far the best one hosted at Farnborough Hill, largely because of Kai’s skill of matching lip movement to sound. Kai loved the opportunity to be creative, boldly tackling challenging themes and motifs. Kai’s maturity, calmness and dedication to the Drama Department shone through this year in the role of Deputy Stage Manager for The Addams Family production.

Kai’s presence can be felt in so many facets of the Farnborough Hill community and beyond. Kai will be terribly missed: may their soul rest in peace.

Kai Somerville

Community

Old Girls’ Reunion

Farnborough Hill brimmed with warm reunions as we welcomed back a remarkable range of Old Girls to our annual Old Girls’ Reunion on Saturday 18 May 2024. From the Class of 1950 to the fresh faces of 2016, over 70 years of Farnborough Hill history gathered under one roof! It was heart warming to see classmates reconnecting, reminiscing about school days or sharing stories of their lives since leaving the Hill – all while basking in the intermittent sunshine that peeked throughout the day.

Special celebrations were held for those marking 50, 40, 30, and 10 years since leaving the Hill, adding another layer of shared history to the day.

The day unfolded with speeches from our inspiring new Headmistress, Mrs Maria Young, the ever-supportive President of the Old Girls’ Association, Miss Stephanie Dobbin, and a beloved figure for many, Sr Elizabeth McCormack. A heartfelt toast was raised to all the cherished Old Girls who could not join us this year.

Sr Elizabeth then had the special honour of cutting a beautiful cake, marking a momentous 135 years since the Religious of Christian Education Sisters came to Farnborough and founded our school.

A celebratory lunch was the perfect fuel for lively conversations and rekindled connections, enjoyed either in the Refectory, a place overflowing with memories, or outdoors basking in the sun’s warm glow. Farnborough Hill was truly alive with the spirit of friendship and the echoes of a shared past. It was a truly memorable day for all who attended.

Read more about the Farnborough Hill community on the Chaplaincy (p50) and Charity (p54) pages

A Fond Farewell: Celebrating the Class of 2023

When I was the Head of Sixth Form at Farnborough Hill, it was the privilege of my career and it was a treat to welcome back my final cohort, the Class of 2023, for a celebration evening. They were an incredibly dynamic, resilient, and hard-working Year Group but what I will remember most in the years to come is their warmth and good humour.

My first encounter with this Year Group was when I addressed them in the Chapel in 2021, when they were in Year 11. This followed a rather interesting Teams chat where the rationale of multiple tests to help us award their ‘TAGs’ had been questioned. As I stood in front of over 100 girls, I must say I felt rather isolated. I need not have worried and although their questions were forthright and robust, I knew they came from a genuine place of concern, and they held themselves with confidence and dignity. I knew in that moment that I was going to have a lot of fun with this group!

It was a joy to see the girls so happy back in August 2023 and it was wonderful to see their hard work rewarded. We welcomed them back for a celebration of their success, and it was clear to see already how much they had matured and, also, how much they had been enjoying university life. I did make the point that at some stage they will need to stop partying and actually get down to some work! Joking aside, I went home content that the girls had everything they needed for their destined, future success.

Mr Craig McCready, Deputy Head - Operations

Ms Ailsa West

Community Feast Day

It was with great joy that, on Tuesday 21 November 2023, our school community came together for the annual celebration of Community Feast Day; a day dedicated to our founder, Abbé Louis Lafosse, and the Order that he established; Religious of Christian Education (RCE). It was on this day in 1817 that four young women, led by Mother Marie-Anne Dutertre, took their vows to become Sisters of the RCE, beginning the annual Feast Day that we celebrate today. It was their commitment to educating girls that led to the foundation of Farnborough Hill in 1889.

The day’s events entailed the blessing of the graves, a thought-provoking Mass and entertainment centred around the life of Abbé Louis Lafosse. We reflected on the Abbé’s message to go about life joyfully and wholeheartedly and thought about the RCE Sisters who had worked at Farnborough Hill, several of whom have left in the last few years and are now living in Ireland, England and America, and who, we all know, pray for us daily.

As a way to remember these women who dedicated themselves to God and to education, representatives from across the community laid roses on each of the deceased Sisters’ graves. These representatives came from each Form as well as our Junior and Senior Leadership Teams, our Chair of Governors, and our own Sister Elizabeth McCormack. Fr Anthony Lobo SDB led us in prayer and Sr Elizabeth gave a moving talk about the strong women who came before her.

This was followed by a Mass led by Father Anthony Lobo SDB, Parish Priest of Our Lady and St Dominic’s, Farnborough. He spoke with warmth and wisdom, reminding us of the importance of unity and love in our community. He prompted a group discussion in his homily, asking for any four girls to stand up and ask him any question they wanted; the message being to never be afraid to ask questions, linking back to the Gospel where Jesus was questioned.

At the heart of Community Feast Day are the vows of lifelong commitment to God and the education of girls made by our Sisters of the RCE. Their commitment of service and love is an inspiration to us all, a testament to the strength and resilience from which they built our community. During Mass, Sister Elizabeth McCormack renewed her vows and our 10 new Altar Servers and new Ushers came forward to receive a blessing from Fr Anthony.

The Mass ended with a traditional gift from the RCE Sisters, passed on by Sister Elizabeth: sweets for each Form Group to share. They brought smiles to the faces of all the pupils, reminding us that the simplest gestures often hold the greatest love.

The entertainment following the Mass was a wonderful celebration of our community roots and spirit. This year it was a documentary centred around the life of Abbé Louis Lafosse, the founder of the Religious of Christian Education (RCE). We heard about the bravery shown in the face of adversity by the Abbé and the first four sisters to commit themselves to the education of young girls and women. The girls sat and watched this, whilst eating their sweet treats from Sister Elizabeth McCormack and received bookmarks that outlined a timeline of the Abbé’s life.

Let us carry the spirit of the Community Feast Day Mass throughout the year, nurturing our resilience, embracing our differences, and living our lives to the full, cherishing each moment with joy and gratitude, no matter what comes our way.

A World United

There seems to be a day for everything, and we are excited to embrace as many ‘days’ as we can to bring our girls together, not only on the Hill, but as part of a global community.

European Day of Languages

Tuesday 26 September 2023 was European Day of Languages and the School community celebrated with aplomb. The Catering Team prepared a special European-themed lunch and the Ref was decorated with flags. The food was absolutely delicious and a brilliant opportunity to try something new.

In Modern Foreign Language lessons, various Year Groups tried out a languages escape room activity, which helped them develop their knowledge of a number of different languages and highlighted reasons why it is important to know other languages.

Later that week, the MFL Department led Junior and Senior Assemblies, and made the most of having a captive audience to talk about the importance of languages and why we love them so much. In Junior Assembly, Señora Camprubí-Reches spoke about why languages are important for future careers and how the UK is falling behind other European countries when it comes to language learning. She also demonstrated all the ways languages can be fun, including looking at the different words used in other languages to portray animal noises and what Disney songs sound like in other languages. In Senior Assembly, I spoke about why I love languages and the top three reasons for learning languages – careers, communication, and joy. I also warned of the perils of over-reliance on Google Translate and encouraged everyone to see the joy in language learning, by sharing some of my favourite ‘untranslatable’ expressions from other languages.

Miss Polly White, Head of MFL

The Army Cadet Force is something very close to my heart. The ACF has not just taught me life skills, but it has shown me more about who I am. I am notably more confident in my everyday life and I have met people from so many different backgrounds who form a community that I am proud to be a part of. The Army Cadet slogan is ‘Army Cadets, Be The Best’ and I truly feel we live up to that.

It was such a privilege to carry the wreath of poppies down the Chapel and lay it in front of the Altar during the Remembrance Service. I hope that I did the ACF proud.

Josephine Speakman (Year 9)

Remembrance Day

On Thursday 9 November 2023, we came together as a Whole School community to remember the service men and women who sacrificed their life in war. Mrs Katherine Bell organised the Service and gave a moving introduction, sharing that she grew up hearing stories about her grandparents who served in the Second World War. Mrs Bell reminded us that both the war in Ukraine and in the Holy Land have historic roots in the First and Second World Wars. While we celebrated the selfless service of men and women in our armed forces who make sacrifices for the benefit of others, the current conflicts demonstrate the sad reality that “no one wins in war.” Mrs Bell advised that the best way for us to bring peace to the world is to practice dialogue with those who may have differing opinions.

Josephine Speakman (Year 9) marched in her Army Cadet uniform and laid our wreath of poppies at the front of the Chapel. Following this, members from our School community lit candles to signify the lives lost in war and conflict. Jessica Fussey (Year 9) played the Last Post before our collective two minutes of silence. We offered our collective prayers giving thanks for the freedom and security we now have in the UK and petitioning for global peace and an end to war, especially in Ukraine and the Holy Land. Our service ended by raising our voices in song with I Vow to Thee My Country Thank you to Mrs Bell and to all who contributed to this beautiful and touching service. May we all continue to both pray for peace and to be bearers of peace to the world.

Celebrating World Book Day with Bali Rai and more!

A celebration of stories from our visiting author, Bali Rai, and so many different book characters gracing the corridors and classrooms, meant that World Book Day was once more upon us!

Our weekly Staff Briefing in the Library literally made me see spots before my eyes! The fabulously supportive Farnborough Hill staff were dressed up as 101 Dalmatians with Mrs Zoe Ireland ironically dressed as Cruella de Vil. Many, many girls rose to the challenge this year and there were some fantastic costumes from Harry Potter to Mr Men and everything in between!

Speaking of Harry Potter, our amazing Catering Team, led by Chef Helen Vizard, went over and above with lunch: a Harry Potter-themed menu with Potter’s Pumpkin Soup, Quidditch Quiche and Chocolate Frogs. The pinnacle of their fare was Aunt Petunia’s cake (which was utterly scrumptious!).

For all our fun and games surrounding books and literacy we cannot forget that there is a serious side of reading for pleasure. There is plenty of research which shows that children need to expand their worlds and books are the portal for this. Our School Library is at the heart of learning at Farnborough Hill.

Ms Cathi Woods, Librarian

The author Bali Rai was a huge hit with our Year 8 and Year 9 girls. His stories brought to life multicultural WWI and WWII heroes who fought for Britain. He talked about his love of History and what Britishness means to him and how this inspired his books. I have been reading one of his books to the girls in Library lessons and it has proved to me that no matter what age you are, listening to a story is a pure delight. This was evidenced when the bell went for the end of lesson whilst I was reading and chaos ensued as they wanted to stay to hear more.

Paddy Sproule - SOE Heroine

Thursday 6 June 2024 marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a pivotal moment in WWII. We remembered all the heroes who fought for freedom, but we also shone a light on one of our own incredible alumnae - Paddy Sproule. Paddy worked as a Special Operations Executive, decoding signals and working alongside famous codebreaker, Leo Marks. Paddy was posted to Algiers, Italy, London and Calcutta. Her last act in the office was burning the codes and files after VJ Day. Her achievements were such that they merited a high profile obituary in the Daily Telegraph on her death in 2010. You can read about Paddy in our ‘From Hillside to Farnborough Hill’ book.

A World United

Pi Day

The Mathematics Department celebrated Pi Day by taking all of their classes out of the classroom for a fun challenge which had us going round in circles!

After getting into teams, our task was to race about the School, from places as far away as the Sports Hall and the Library, to solve clues related to Pi. When we had solved all the clues, we were able to spell out the first few digits of Pi. All the running about was definitely worth it though, especially as the first six teams to figure out the correct order of the clues were rewarded with cookies!

Isabella

World Piano Day

The Ref had a new addition for World Piano Dayone of our pianos! Girls entertained their peers over lunchtime with a great variety of pieces, showing off some brilliant musical skills.

Scavenger Hunt

Valentines Book Swap

What better day to find a new love than on St Valentine’s Day? Ms Cathi Woods hosted the annual blind book swap to encourage girls to share the love of their favourite books with each other, enticing their peers with just a few sentences.

Friday 24 May 2024 was officially National Scavenger Hunt Day and 11 Year 7 girls organised a Scavenger Hunt and Escape Room from the Library. Using their problem-solving skills, they had a whole day to come up with their own games with support from myself and Mr Alan Rees. Mr Rees was in charge of ‘Team Escape Room’, and I had ‘Team Scavenger Hunt’. Mr Rees talked the girls through an Escape Room he had made already and they then got to work constructing their own fiendish game.

Scavenger Hunt rules were drawn up and clues devised. A quick lesson on the use of ChatGPT and the girls were away. The girls wanted to include our new Headmistress in some way. It was decided that Mrs Maria Young would be found on the Millennium Lawn having afternoon tea. How could she refuse?! She was joined by Mr Crispin Ingham, our Bursar, in the seating area. Other tasks included skipping rope, dancing, finding something orange and of course, the ducks had to make an appearance too! Our Library ducks had letters stuck to the bottom of them and then the players had to rearrange the ducks to spell out a word. Many teams had lots of fun and we would like to say thank you to everyone who took part.

Ms Cathi Woods, Librarian

Turn to page 62 to discover what happens in the vibrant Art Department... here is a sneak preview!

Sixth Form Artists Explore Life Drawing

On a Wednesday afternoon in dreary February, Sixth Form artists were full of focused energy as they delved into the world of life drawing. Although familiar with their media of charcoal, ink and pastels, it was their first opportunity to study and capture the essence of the human form. The session with a live model began with a series of quick, five-minute poses, designed to loosen up their strokes and awaken their observational skills. The model held a variety of stances – standing tall, seated gracefully and even reclining in a pose that challenged perspective. With charcoal, artists meticulously built structure, their lines mapping out the proportions of the human body. Ink flowed freely, capturing the dynamic play of light and shadow with bold strokes and expressive washes. Pastels added a touch of soft vibrancy, blending and layering to evoke subtle tones and textures. It wasn’t just about capturing the pose, each line, smudge and stroke was a quest to understand the subtleties of form and light.

This workshop offered much more than just a technical exercise; it was a journey of discovery, a deeper appreciation for the human form, and a glimpse into the boundless potential of artistic expression.

Dennis (Year 10)

EM

POWER!

On a (rare!) sunny Tuesday in late June 2024, months of planning culminated in a day of laughter and learning for Year 9 as we hosted the second Empower Day for Year 4 children from local schools. Throughout the year, we worked in small groups to develop engaging workshops, even facing a panel of judges to prove our ideas were the best! With the invaluable guidance of Dr TaylorWarwick, Mrs Evans-Jones and several other teachers, we honed our teamwork, communication, and organisational skills – skills that will definitely come in handy for our GCSEs.

Finally, the big day arrived! The school buzzed with activity as we led workshops filled with Disney freeze frames, delicious cupcake decorating, and high-energy games. Seeing the happy faces of the Year 4s as they left, filled with lasting memories, made all the hard work worth it.

Empower Day was not just about fun and games; it was a chance for us to develop valuable skills and step into leadership roles. Although making sure that the children were following instructions was sometimes a challenge, we can all agree that we enjoyed the day a lot and overcame many things as a Year Group.

The positive feedback from participating schools was the icing on the cake! We hope future Year 9s will embrace this amazing opportunity and create their own Empower Day magic. Thanks again to Dr TaylorWarwick and Mrs Evans-Jones for equipping us with the tools we needed to shine. To the next Year 9 – get ready for an experience you will not forget!

Emily Judge (Year 9)

“I liked the experiment with the skittles because we got to see how the water makes the colours burst.” Pupil fromTower Hill Primary School

“Fantastic! The day was so creative.” Pupil fromTower Hill Primary School

Presentations to a panel of judges back in January 2024 determined which of the girls’ events would take place on the day. The teams pitched brilliantly, demonstrating stage presence, a clarity of structure and a clear conviction in each of their ideas. Their ability to respond to the often probing questions from the judges was also impressive. In addition to inventive PowerPoints, judges were treated to music, choreography and even some video demonstrations of the proposed activities. These activities spanned the three strands of STEM, Creative Arts and Sports and included an army-themed Capture the Flag, Dr Lloyd’s Crazy Slime Adventure and a challenge to Save the Seal by completing a series of challenges.

#Inspiring Inclusion

The 2024 theme for International Women’s Day was #InspiringInclusion, a movement to encourage others to understand and value women’s inclusion and, importantly, where women themselves are inspired to be included. Being an all girls’ school, the notion of not being included because of gender is one which our girls just do not have to consider on a day to day basis – subjects being seen as traditionally male is simply not a thing here as the classrooms are filled with young women who do not have to face gender bias in their learning.

When they leave us to pursue their chosen career paths, girls do so filled with self-belief and certainty that they are worthy of any job, provided they put in the hard work necessary to achieve it. They are confident in their own abilities, they are willing to put themselves forward and they are unafraid to pursue careers in male-dominated industries because they know their worth and know that they are equal.

One such teacher who has both been inspired by and inspired inclusion within generations of Farnborough Hill girls is Mrs Susan Macey, Head of Science.

When I was 12, I was given a chemistry set for Christmas. It contained lots of chemicals (most of which you probably wouldn’t be able to include in a children’s activity these days), test tubes, tongs and a little spirit burner in place of a Bunsen. I loved mixing substances together to see what would happen (not always following the instructions, I’m ashamed to say) and I was particularly fascinated by reactions where there was a colour change. I can remember having three layers in my test tube, red, white and blue. The layers meant I probably hadn’t mixed it properly and I can’t think what the red layer could have been, but I was hooked.

I studied all the Sciences at O level (showing my age there) and then took Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics at A level. Mathematics was probably the subject that came most easily to me, and I did enjoy it, but I loved Chemistry and could see what I might do with a Chemistry degree. I thought I would go into Research and Development and make things, so I applied to study Chemistry and went to Manchester (UMIST, a science branch of Manchester University at the time) where I had a great time. We had no fees and got a grant to live on (well almost, I had holiday jobs including for the Blood Transfusion Service as a donor attendant) and spent four and a half days a week in the department. We had lectures and tutorials in the morning and labs four full afternoons a week, so lots of practical work. In my year there were over 60 chemists and about eight of them were girls. Thankfully, those proportions would be very different if you went to a Chemistry Department today.

I decided I wanted to do some post-graduate study and research, I still had that Research and Development career idea at that point, and I also liked the idea of spending time abroad. I applied for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship at an American University which involved teaching their undergraduates and

helping the professors mark examination papers when they set mid-terms and finals for their courses. It paid enough to cover my tuition fees and living expenses while I took classes and carried out research on Photoluminescent Gold (I) Phosphine Complexes. I spent three years at Auburn University in Alabama (famous in the US for their football team). It was an interesting experience to spend time somewhere very different to what I had been used to.

For the first lesson I ever taught, I was in a big lecture theatre, with rows of tiered chairs and over 50 students. I was terrified, but I had planned my lesson to within an inch of its life – I had pretty much written down every word – and although I didn’t use it much I knew it was there if I needed it. It got easier after that, but I liked to have my notes there as a security blanket.

Over time, I came to realise that I was enjoying the teaching more than the research – I could be a little impatient when my reaction hadn’t quite worked as planned for the tenth time! I decided I would come back to the UK and do a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) to become a Chemistry teacher. I applied to Oxford, my home town, and Cambridge as well as a few others and, after an interview, Cambridge offered me a place for the following September. In the meantime, I worked at the Rover Car factory on the production line as they were offering temporary six-month contracts and that was how long I had until I started my course. It was hard work, but I was done by 3.30 pm and 12.30 pm on Fridays and I didn’t have to think about it when I wasn’t there. It also paid very well – I had been teaching for two years before I earned the same!

I enjoyed being a Cambridge student for a year and found the course a useful mix of theory and practice. We spent a lot of time in schools but some time in the department with our professor and the other students. There were 15 of us at the start but only about ten by the end.

I applied for a few jobs in mid to south England that advertised for a Chemistry teacher (I didn’t if the ad said Science teacher!) and ended up with one day when I was invited to three different schools for interview. The schools didn’t have websites back then, I couldn’t just Google them, but I went to the library and found something called the Good Schools Guide. I looked them up and decided that I would go to the interview at a school in Hampshire called Farnborough Hill. I had never seen a picture of it, so it made quite an impression when I drove up the hill. It was a lovely day, the sun was shining, the rhododendrons were in full bloom and after my interview with Sister McCormack, Mrs Hatton took me to lunch and for a walk around the grounds. I knew this was the place for me and was delighted to accept the post when Sister McCormack phoned me the next morning.

I started my Farnborough Hill career as Chemistry teacher that September, which will be 30 years ago this year, later becoming Head of Science. In that time, I have been privileged to play my small part in the career paths of a fair few scientists of every sort, as well as non-scientists. It is lovely to see them as ‘grownups’ when they come back to school to speak to our current pupils or for events such as the Careers Fair. I’m now at the stage that they are bringing their daughters to Open Afternoons. We even have one or two on the staff. I have been extremely lucky to have had a very supportive department throughout my time here, initially as the youngest member of the department and now as the oldest. I do feel I ended up where I was meant to be……

Year 11 pupil Eleonora Bracke is one who has big dreams for her future career path and has already started to put the ground work in; no doubt inspired by the amazing Science Department and Farnborough Hill, and especially the Greenpower Club. She shares her experience and aspirations:

Last Easter (2023), I took part in a week of work experience at Williams Racing, and I have recently been selected to partake in work experience for the Alpine F1 team (which is taking place this summer). I have been watching Formula One for the last few years, and, about a year ago, I emailed all ten Formula One teams about work experience. Most teams only provide opportunities for university students however, thankfully, two offered work experience, Williams and Alpine. The competition was large for Williams Racing as over 2,500 people aged 15 - 18 applied; I was so fortunate to secure a spot!

During my week at Williams, I learnt the basic principles of strategy, racing and aerodynamics. From taking part in racing and strategy simulations, assembling steering wheels and so much more, I gained a valuable insight into the world of Formula One which will help me in my future as I am considering a career in engineering in motorsport.

Motorsport has always been a heavily male-dominated field, however, after visiting Williams and taking part in other motorsport work experience, it doesn’t concern me. Due to the increase in female supporters and female role models, the percentage of females in the sport is increasing. Furthermore, initiatives like Girls On Track run programmes and webinars to introduce and encourage more females into the motorsport industry. Through Girls On Track, I was able to attend the final few days of the Formula E world championship in London, where we spoke to drivers, built electric batteries, and spent time in the paddock, where the engineers and race staff work.

To me, motorsport is the perfect mix of competition, engineering, and athlete performance. The gap between the racers is so slim, which makes the competition so intense as every decision could be the difference between winning and losing. The pursuit to create the best car for the fans and the adrenaline high-speed racing provides fuels my ambition in this field.

I aim to be a race engineer in this exhilarating field one day; I want to contribute to the advancement of motorsport while inspiring others, especially women, to pursue their passions regardless of the industry in which they want to excel.

Learning from EXPERIENCE

We are incredibly fortunate to have an extensive and ever-expanding network of brilliant experts who freely give up their time to inspire and educate the young minds on the Hill. From a local MP to an expert in Space, the girls have enjoyed a plethora of visitors this year who really help to consolidate their classroom-based learning.

Migration and War

On Monday 25 September 2023, the A level Geography students had the privilege of meeting Dr Rachel Clarke who spoke on the matters of migration and war-torn countries. It was truly an honour to observe such a raw recollection of her experiences.

Graduating with a first-class degree from the University of Oxford, Dr Clarke started her highly acclaimed career by flying to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1999 to direct, produce and film a current affairs documentary, in the hope of showing people what was really going on in the DRC. The country was decimated by the civil war, and we were shocked to hear that civilians were fleeing their homes to take refuge in the neighbouring villages before returning home once the enemy militia had moved on, only to repeat this process again and again. Since 1996, the war is accountable for approximately 6 million deaths and warlords have used child soldiers during this ongoing, mass destruction. Millions have been displaced and many sought asylum in other countries of Africa. It was truly appalling to understand the scale to which this war was impacting people. We can only hope that there is peace one day. Dr Clarke also shared her experiences of aiding Ukraine where she has trained other doctors and set up a hospice for those in need of palliative care. The stories she chose to share with us were incredibly moving and certainly impacted the way in which we thought about the war. Ukraine has quite limited care capacity compared to the UK in terms of facilities, so we were glad to hear that Dr Clarke, along with fellow doctor Henry Marsh, went to visit the country to try and help improve the quality of lives of those who were in palliative care. We learnt about the huge displacement within the country and how hard it must be to leave your home. Dr Clarke shared that, despite this, the country’s people still had immense pride and love for Ukraine and many wanted to stay despite the dangers.

We left the talk feeling emotional yet educated about the sheer horror of war and stories of migrants from across the globe. We are incredibly grateful that Dr Rachel Clarke went out of her way to talk to us and for the knowledge we have gained as a result.

Tamsin Berry and Ami Oscroft (Upper Sixth)

Space

The GCSE Separate Science pupils had the opportunity to listen to Dr David Whitehouse, a scientific journalist and author of eight books. He spoke to us about current activities that NASA and other organisations are working on, as well as upcoming space projects we can look forward to seeing. This included the return to the Moon (Artemis), a plan to take people to Mars and the redesign and rebuilding of the International Space Station.

This talk introduced us to our upcoming topic, space, but he also spoke to us about career opportunities in space exploration that we could pursue. There are not only the astronauts but also thousands of people behind them, designing and building the rockets that will take them to space, keeping them safe, and training them to prepare for what is to come. The talk was inspiring as well as mind blowing and learning about the sheer size and vastness of the universe amazed us. Being told that the elements in your left hand and the elements in your right hand could have come from completely different sides of the universe. Learning that the first person who will walk on Mars is probably currently our age, inspired us to think ‘Maybe that could be me?’.

Dr Whitehouse’s visit was a great opportunity. It will not only help us understand our next GCSE topic but by talking about worm holes, dark matter, the bending of space and time we have just scratched the surface of some of the astonishing questions that leave even the best scientists searching for answers.

Leyna Hilson (Year 11)

Year 9 pupils, together with sixth formers studying A level Politics, had the opportunity to meet Mr Leo Docherty, who was Farnborough’s local MP. The girls heard about what life was like as an MP and the challenges it brings.

For the majority of the session, the girls were able to ask Mr Docherty their intriguing questions, including who he believed has been the best prime minister, how he became an MP and whether our electoral system is fair and just.

Mr Docherty asked the girls his own questions including who their favourite prime minister has been and whether 16-yearolds should be able to vote. We even had an election on whether phones should be banned from secondary schools - the outcome was, unsurprisingly, no! Given the diverse range of political opinions, Year 9 clearly relished expressing their views as well as hearing what each other had to say.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed meeting Mr Docherty, experiencing first-hand being in a representative democracy and sharing their views with a politician. It just so happened that Mr Leo Doherty’s visit was on International Women’s Day, and we all remembered the women who fought for our right to vote and be included within this representative democracy.

Giorgia Peddell (Upper Sixth)

Old Girls’ Network

Girls are also inspired by external visitors when it comes to the world of work. Read our Careers feature on page 59.

French Theatre

A huge thank you to our Old Girls who have been into school to support pupils during their PSHEE Days.

On Monday 16 October 2023, as part of the Upper Sixth PSHEE Day, we welcomed Vicky Cunningham (2018), Rebecca Swan (2001) and Anila Arshad-Mehmood (2009) who took part in a panel discussion about ‘How To Thrive Away From The Hill’. Students were able to hear and discuss top tips on everything from networking, university life and mental health, to doing what makes you happy.

On Tuesday 17 October 2023, our Year 11 were off timetable, attending their PSHEE Day. To support this day of sessions and activities around ‘What Does My Future Self Need?’, we welcomed Gaby Pickering (2015) and Samantha Kennedy (1991) who introduced the day. They enjoyed talking about their non-linear career paths, including lots of advice and tips about the world of work. After this session Hannah Bowman (2002) gave a carousel of sessions around Interview Technique. This included how to prepare for some of the questions that will be asked. The Year 11 pupils enjoyed a really informative day and were thankful for the Old Girls giving up their time.

Ms Ailsa West, Alumni and Careers Officer

The School had the pleasure of welcoming Onatti Productions to perform a play in the Hall for pupils in Year 9 and above who are studying French. The comedic play entitled Le cours d’art, was about five pupils attending an Art Club after school when they get locked in on the fourth floor, unable to contact anyone. Then, one by one, they start to disappear. This was a very funny, well put together play which was easy to understand even if your French is limited. The two actors, playing all five pupils, welcomed a volunteer, Charlotte West (Year 9), onto the stage. I really enjoyed this aspect of the show, as it was clever and interactive and made the show even funnier!

Eesha Kaur (Lower Sixth)

It’s not just the pupils who benefit from the experts - parents are welcome to attend sessions especially for them, as well!

On Wednesday 31 January 2024, we were delighted to welcome Mr Karl Hopwood back to Farnborough Hill for the first of our Pastoral Parents’ Evenings for 2024. Having worked with both parents and girls for many years, it was great to hear Karl’s update and his advice for how to help support young people in staying safe online. In February 2024, we were joined by Dr Maryhan Munt, who looked at the ever-challenging topic of communicating effectively with your teenagers.

Dr Maryhan Munt is well known to the Farnborough Hill community and regularly works with our pupils as part of the PSHEE programme. An experienced psychologist, she is also an internationally renowned speaker and has over 15 years’ experience in supporting children, teens and young adults struggling with low confidence and anxiety. Throughout her work, her aim is to provide help and support for each family to create their own bespoke toolkit of practical tools and strategies so everyone feels confident, calm and connected.

Her talk gave parents plenty of helpful tips about how to support their teens.

Mrs Laura Evans-Jones, Assistant Head - Operations / Pastoral

Celebrations all round

Senior Prize Giving

On Friday 28 June 2024, members of the school community gathered in the Chapel to celebrate the immense achievements of our A level Class of 2024, and the achievements at GCSE level of the Class of 2026. This was the first time that we have held Senior Prize Giving in the summer and, as we supped champagne and enjoyed fresh canapés in the golden sunlight on the Cloisters, the only question that lingered in the air was... ‘What took us so long to make the switch?’

Deputy Head Girl, Hannah Friend, welcomed the assembled guests with warm words of togetherness before making the point that it is more important to ask who you want to be in the future, than what you want to be! Then, Head Girl, Suhana Tiwari, gave the annual ‘View from the Hill’, with memorable moments being the fantastic Year 11 Sport-a-thon and the Sixth Form Charity Week whilst pointing out that the real joy in engaging in such activities is the connections that one can make through shared experiences.

Headmistress Mrs Maria Young delivered a visionary speech where she highlighted the many different achievements in a vast array of disciplines, and it became apparent that every corner of Farnborough Hill had made progress and had cause for celebration in some way or another. The highlight for me, however, was her advice to take joy in the seemingly minor interactions along the way and to strive to accept ‘bumps in the road’ as a necessary part of life’s journey and that we must take time to appreciate each small act of kindness.

The presentation of prizes and celebration of completed public examinations, both GCSE and A level, was made by Deputy Head, Miss Pippa Sexton. This was a tremendous opportunity to celebrate the many and varied achievements of the girls. There were awards for effort, commitment, talent and excellence as well as awards for the care of the environment, for special and significant contributions to the School. The ceremony truly reflected and celebrated the School’s commitment to ‘educating the whole person’.

Chair of Governors Mr Gerry McCormack added his reflections on the evening before Deputy Head Girl, Isobel Hailey, thanked everyone for attending such a special event. Her gratitude was clear throughout the speech and Isobel highlighted the incredible hard work and commitment displayed by each girl in Year 11 and Upper Sixth before concluding that the Farnborough Hill community is much more than a school. It is a family.

The speeches and awarding of prizes were peppered with beautiful musical contributions from the Senior Choir and the addition of some solo performances from sixth formers Annabel Soegaard, Freya Garside and Gemma Stevens at the start of the evening, which were warmly received.

The icing on the evening’s cake was being joined by Professor Kate Williams, historian and author, who shared a range of anecdotes and wisdom during her address. Ranging from her childhood time machine in which she tried to send her little brother away, to her fascination with the original steminist, Ada Lovelace, Kate’s humour and warm personality shone through. Girls and parents alike were engaged as she spoke about Ada Lovelace’s plans for building wings and learning to fly, and how that determination, preparation and fearlessness could be seen in each of our prize winners and their achievements.

Turn to page 45 to read more about some incredible individual achievements...

Mr Craig McCready, Deputy Head - Operations

Junior Prize Giving

In what was an incredibly busy but joyous last week of the Summer Term 2024, pupils in Years 7 and 9 joined with their teachers and parents on a sunny Wednesday afternoon to reflect on the events of this last academic year. Although the primary purpose of any Prize Giving is, of course, to celebrate the achievements of the Prize Winners – of which there were many – it

was equally clear from the outset that this event, as it should be, was a much broader recognition of development and achievement in all aspects of school life. As Deputy Head Girls elect, Gabriella Becerra and Eloise Waters-Duke eloquently put it, the afternoon was about celebrating the ‘big and the small wins across the entire year’.

It was also about community and, in a ceremony enriched not only by the bold singing of the massed voices of Year 7 and Junior Choir but the sensitive and projected playing of Year 9 flautist Saachi Rajani, it was wonderful to welcome back former pupil Ellie House (2017) as guest speaker. Ellie used her Old Girl Address to remind us of the importance of taking a risk and trying something that might initially appear out of our comfort zone. Indeed, she was clear that ‘the worst thing you can do is to tell yourself that you can’t do something… because then you never will’. In Ellie’s case, she dismissed sport as something unimportant, in order to justify her perceived weaknesses in this area. Years later, studying for a History degree at the University of Cambridge, she took the chance to try rugby and discovered that all those physical characteristics that had previously led her to feel uncomfortable on the sports field were suddenly her greatest strengths and that rugby was indeed a sport in which she could thrive. By opening her eyes to opportunities, not only a new passion but a new perspective was achieved.

The willingness to rise to challenges and make the most of opportunities is never far from view at Farnborough Hill and we were reminded not only of remarkable academic success but accomplishments in Music, Drama and Sport, as well as in any number of other fields, not least the Year 9 Project Qualification and Empower programme, the publication of a haibun in a recent GSA anniversary journal and success for a group of Year 7 in a Climate Change competition: those girls, and their teachers, look forward to visiting the Sky studios in Year 8. We were reminded too that, for Year 7, the voyage of discovery that results in new and lasting friendships is a huge accomplishment in and of itself.

Education has famously been described as the kindling of a flame, and the wealth of opportunities provided and taken was certainly shown by both Mrs Emily Harrison and Mrs Joanne Brereton, Heads of Years 7 and 9 respectively, to be at the heart of what Mrs Young described as the ‘transformation power of Farnborough Hill’. So, this traditional annual event was imbued not just with reflection on the year gone but with a great excitement, evident not only in the smiles of the girls receiving prizes from Chair of Governors, Mr Gerry McCormack, but in the sense of development and growth that sits at the heart of our community. In opening proceedings, JLT member Zoe Kwok referenced a Chinese proverb, reminding us that we should not fear going slowly; we should only fear standing still. If Junior Prize Giving is anything to go by, there is little fear that anyone at Farnborough Hill is standing still. Nevertheless, this event provided a wonderful opportunity to be reminded of the importance of enjoying the journey. Whilst JLT member Eesha Kaur used her Vote of Thanks to remind us of the importance of being kind to each other, Ellie House also encouraged us to look after each other in the year to come, pointing out that ‘it won’t be long before you’re my age, standing on this stage, reflecting on how far you have come’.

Dr Ian Taylor-Warwick, Assistant Head - Academic

Our Year 11 pupils came together in early May 2024 to celebrate their achievements, friendships and the vibrant community they have been a part of as they began their study leave. The day was filled with joy, laughter and heartfelt moments.

The pupils looked amazing in their meticulously designed uniforms. Each girl had put her own creative spin on her attire, adding personal touches that reflected her unique style. Some had crafted custom accessories, while others had personalised their blazers, skirts and shirts, with embroidered patches, fluff and lots of glitter. It was a beautiful sight to see the girls proudly wearing their uniforms, knowing that these outfits would forever hold memories of their time in uniform at Farnborough Hill.

Miss Naomi Lynch and Mrs Katherine Wood

The Hill echoed with farewells in early May 2024 as the Upper Sixth embarked on their study leave.

On the Wednesday, the Year Group went interstellar! There was a riot of colour and costumes as the Upper Sixth embraced an "Out of This World" theme.

On the Thursday, Leavers' Mass offered a more heartfelt goodbye. Parents joined us for a poignant reflection, with Suhana Tiwari's tearful yet inspiring handover of the Head Girls' Book a particularly touching moment. The afternoon culminated in a heartwarming spectacle – the Upper Sixth's final Assembly in the Hall. Witnessing the entire school community come together to wish them the very best for their examinations and celebrate this momentous milestone in their lives was truly special.

Mr Andrew Smith, Acting Head of Sixth Form

The

Addams

One Night with the wonderful Addams Family: creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky and altogether ooky!

From the moment that we sat down and admired the set design, inspired by the sharp angles, distorted perspectives and shadows in a monochrome setting of a Film Noir, we were immersed in a Gothic delight of soaring, sweeping, ghoulish spectacle: The Addams Family musical.

The eerie mansion house set extended all the way around the Hall’s pillars; the extended stage thrust into the Hall, not only allowing a huge cast of pupils from all Year Groups but also enabling the audience to truly feel part of the show; we were impressed immediately. The set, designed by Mrs Helen de Mattos and Mr Ciaran Bradley, was built by TSP Productions’ Michael Mackie-Clark: it was a visual treat for this iconic musical comedy.

Director Mrs de Mattos’ vision extended also to the incredible lighting which was masterfully designed by Bethan Burrows and Emma Freeman (Lower Sixth) and controlled on the nights by a fabulous team comprising Mr Alan Rees and team of pupils Eliza Hughes, Aeden King, Jessica MacDougall and Isla Weldon-Gamble.

The enormous cast formed part of the exciting mystery with each character’s costume encapsulating a convention of horror – the corpse bride, a mad scientist, a soldier, a cowboy, a witch, a gambler and all manner of other characters fantastically presented as they sprang from the Addams’ crypt. The costumes were the genius of Ms Cathrin Woods and Mrs Jumana Farouky, with ghoulish make-up and wild hair all managed by Mrs Zoe Ireland, who was brilliantly assisted by many pupils who wanted to be part of this wonderful production. There were many fiends on which to cast our eyes with trepidation alongside the Addams family, including the excellent Itt Addams (Imogen Farrow), and the most fiendish and menacing of all, Lurch (Olivia Dardha, Lower Sixth), who had the infamous Thing balanced on his shoulder throughout. Properties and structures created by the DART Department, aided by Upper Sixth Emily Searle, were managed under the professional precision of Mrs Ludivine Fitzwater. Many backstage crew carefully placed curious and tantalising additions, such as the rat that ran across the stage, and the superb dining table around which the two families sat for the infamous dinner party, and where the revelations made in the game of ‘Full Disclosure’ were sung in high octave.

While all the machinations took place on stage, we saw the orchestra seated above in a beautifully constructed balcony overlooking the action. The dual visual of musical performers and actors epitomised this production in which music and drama intertwined seamlessly. It had been Director of Music, Mr Joe Adams’ suggestion to stage this show and his mastery of orchestral arrangement and perfecting of the cast’s vocals wove incredibly with the dramatisation directed by Mrs de Mattos and Assistant Director, Mr Erik Anders.

The story of The Addams Family musical revolved around a straight-laced family, the Beinekes, whose son, Lucas (the excellent Tegan Mason), falls deeply in love with Wednesday Addams (played remarkably well by Emma Freeman). She, coming from the spooky, weird family whose pleasure lay in all things wicked, was the antithesis of the hard-working, squeaky-clean expectations and social standing of Lucas’ family.

Unfortunately, Morticia, played unforgettably by Shehrezad Shaheen, resented her daughter finding love, especially with the son of a wholesome family. Mrs Alice Beineke, supremely played by Brooke Cossu, was resplendent in a golden yellow dress which contrasted with the gothic Morticia and made her visibly cringe, especially when, aiming to impress her sparkly future mother-in-law, Wednesday

about

Family anything but love

matched the hue of Alice’s sunshine attire in her own outfit. The presence of double yellow dresses, jarred with the eerie monochrome set, caused much laughter. Other visual gags accompanied the music and acting all the way through the production. Indeed, Emma’s perfectly soaring notes combined with perfect comic timing to bring out the perplexity Wednesday experienced in being attracted to someone whose culture and conventions did not match her own family’s dastardly values. Likewise, Lucas’ father, Mal Beineke, acted most convincingly by Megan Parry, wanted to leave the gruesome and peculiar Addams’ dinner party. Wednesday - who was determined to be ‘normal’ for once by having a dinner with her hoped-for parents-in-laws - was thwarted in her aspiration as Morticia insisted on their family game of ‘Full Disclosure’ that led to home-truths tumbling forth. The whole game was made all the more amusing and intense as little brother, Pugsley, fantastically played by Year 7 Liduo Gao, had stolen Grandma Addams’ (Annabel Reece) potion that could bring out an unloving character, all so that Wednesday would continue to be wicked. When the sweet and conventional Alice Beineke drank it instead, out tumbled her real resentments.

There were many in-jokes and pointed puns or asides to keep the audience on their toes, figuratively speaking, while brilliant choreography by Miss Eleanor Bowyer, Miss Sian Turner and Dance Captain Sophie Waite (Upper Sixth), kept the cast on theirs, literally. Ballet, ballroom and tap all permeated the drama, with a particular favourite being when Uncle Fester danced around, enraptured with his love for the moon, umbrellas, alight with fairy lights, and poles with twinkly lights, cascaded in a routine in which Fred Astaire would not have looked out of place. Lucy Sugden played Uncle Fester with indisputable charm, acting out his hilarious, bizarre love affair with the moon, squeezing all the usual romance directed customarily at a person. When he eventually left us to go off to the moon, he made us think that, after all, we are often “over the moon” when we are in love! Lucy was bewitching with clever timing and the ability to seem serious, as well as tongue-in-cheek, utilising the whole stage in a most physical performance while projecting powerful yearning in her vocals. In the creation of Morticia, Shehrezad brought out the tenderer, sensual side that Morticia chose to conceal, when singing her tango and dancing with her husband, Gomez Addams. The part of Gomez Addams is hugely taxing, being the ringmaster of the story. Keeping the family together, and allowing his precious daughter to wed her true love, is no mean feat for the father of this group of misfits when his wife, to whom he is also devoted, is so opposed. Not only did Alyssa Minchella inject within it, by turns, the most subtle or blatant humour to tease us, but these moments were combined with visual responses that conveyed a whole host of feelings, from being deliberately awkward or sublimely amusing in idiosyncratic mannerisms - all executed with perfection.

. . . ’

All the characters, in their unconventional yet endearing relationships, end finally in unity, celebrating the marriage of Wednesday Addams to Lucas Beineke. Comedies, by convention, do end in happiness but, in this eerie tale, there was also the realisation that differences between people can lead to self-awareness; that acceptance of others can enrich our lives too and that unity found in difference can lead to harmony for all. It was a wonderful way to convey such lessons; we laughed until our sides split, no doubt that too would have pleased the Addams family!

Mrs Lori Winch-Johnson, Teacher of English

All things

Dramatic

Drama has witnessed an explosion of vibrant talent and creativity this year from showcases of devising and performance to the whole school production of The Addams Family in March 2024. Pupils across all ages have worked together in joy and a deep sense of fulfilment whilst demonstrating exceptional skills both in performance and in stage-management. We are indebted to the generosity of the Farnborough Hill Friends for upgrading our technical equipment to the highest specification in the sound and lighting desks. This has enabled some exceptional talent at Sixth Form to design and run shows single-handedly, managing teams of pupils to tight frameworks and focusing on the high standards required in professional theatre. This has truly marked a significant milestone for us and we are deeply proud and grateful.

Drama pupils from Year 9 took part in a Physical Theatre workshop in June 2024 and were provided with physical storytelling techniques which enabled them visually and creatively to present a description and a narrative without relying on the spoken word. In creating drama, we often say ‘show, don’t tell’, and these techniques enabled each performer to build a wonderful visual vocabulary conveying sequences of ideas. They then expanded simple, one-person visual narratives into groups exploring rhythms, patterns and shapes - all created around four actors and four chairs. Changing position, level, focus and gaze direction enabled the performers to convey different aspects of a group’s situation and choregraphing the moves from one version to the next enabled the pupils to string the pictures together to create a visual story.

Overall, our Year 9 actors left delighted with their success and achievement in physical storytelling and were encouraged to set forth on their performing careers, to GCSE and beyond!

Story Telling for Year 9

At the beginning of the academic year, the Lower Sixth Drama students were joined by theatre and movement director, Mr Steve Kirkham, for a workshop on Physical Theatre. Working in our black box theatre, we were delighted to host four of the A level Drama and Theatre students from Salesian College to take part in the day and workshop too.

The workshop began with a high-energy dance routine and an activity called a slalom which included running with a partner around two chairs in a ‘figure of eight’ and changing direction. Eventually, this led to running without the guidelines of the chairs and having to trust their partners and thereby avoid collision. Later, they welcomed the challenge of learning lifts, and while some found this easier than others, their trust in one another grew as the group became more comfortable in the space.

‘Push Hands’ and ‘Three Touches’ were also skills which involved further levels of trust. Each person in the pair came up with three ways of interacting with the other which became the start of a live and organic story. After inputting different movements and linking together the interactions, Steve Kirkham cleverly used an interactive approach to teach them how to devise a short piece of drama without actually sitting down on the chair!

At the end of the workshop, the group had learned to work in unity and performed as a group with fluidity and ease. This was demonstrated when our students partnered with the others from Salesian College to create a short piece about ‘a door’ and what might be behind it. This workshop pushed the group to their limits, but they found themselves gaining confidence throughout the day. They learnt a lot about how to devise a piece when they have no ideas, which they can see being extremely helpful in the future.

‘The workshop pushed me to trust my fellow actors in a performance. It also increased my stamina. Physical theatre is very demanding as you have to think with your body rather than your mind.’ Megan Parry (Lower Sixth)

The Art of Physical Theatre

Throughout the autumn months, our GCSE pupils created original pieces of theatre as part of their course. In preparation, the pupils are presented with ten stimuli from which they choose one, and, with the power of imagination, transform it into ‘something rich and strange’. In doing so, the girls are encouraged to delve into the background and connotations of their stimulus, and develop and evolve ideas using the techniques they have learnt in the classroom. Thus the alchemy of theatre produces a wonderfully diverse range of theatrical pieces.

Both Year 10 and 11 presented their ideas to packed audiences. Taking us on a pilgrimage of imagination they invited us to look compassionately beyond the surface grimace of cruel and twisted faces; they explored the morality and unexpected consequences of lies. In a piece of surreal repetition and subtly altered memory and perspectives, we were invited to consider fundamental questions of identity.

A montage of personal images, using Verbatim Theatre, took actual accounts given by refugees fleeing their homes and poignantly presented their loss through the objects they brought with them.

A more personal sense of loss was elicited by family members exploring the space left by a missing father, and the silences created by absence. Following this, we were invited to consider a moral dilemma, in which conscience and love are in tension with moral duty.

Finally, we were presented with ‘perfection’, and wondered whether, if we had the means to make others perfect, we should do so.

Year 10 Drama pupils presented the culmination of their term’s work to a capacity audience who were led through images questioning identity and ancestry; examining the morals of patriotism and the wartime sacrifice of young lives; wondering how we know what we know (and are we actually dreaming?); a vivid colourful challenge to gender preconceptions; and the unreliability of memory. The breadth and power of our pupils’ performances was a credit to their imagination, diligence, positivity and hard work and together they created a memorable evening that encapsulated the magic of theatre.

Making and Devising GCSE Drama

The Art of Being Natural

Mr Nick O’Brien, on the art of naturalism in acting, worked with students from the Sixth Form in a three-hour workshop on a step-by-step approach to explore and develop a character through techniques of improvisation, scene play, active analysis and script work. In addition, stress and relaxation techniques enabled the young actors to give spontaneous and lively performances repeatedly and under great pressure. Students delved deep into their creative and emotional realm thereby releasing more profound moments of acting. They commented that, after the guided relaxation session, there was a greater feeling of self and, at the same time, a greater ability to connect with their character – thereby becoming more ‘natural’ and ‘real’ on stage.

Nick O’Brien is the founder of the Stanislavski Experience and author of the Theatre in Practice series for teachers and students. He has over 20 years’ experience at higher education, encompassing Drama colleges and secondary schools. He is a good and trusted friend of Farnborough Hill, and we always welcome his expertise and advice.

‘The inner fire is the most important thing humankind possesses.’

Edith Södergran

‘Tell me it’s a story…’

Year 10 Drama pupils performed powerful extracts from the set text Blood Brothers by Willy Russell to a full house of appreciative parents in May 2024. Demonstrating courageous and exacting skill in acapella song as well as acting some powerful moments of drama these performances were breathtakingly moving, The pupils demonstrated the depth of their understanding of the text and the genre of tragedy with great execution.

Performances at GCSE

LAMDA

Every community needs a voice, and here in Farnborough Hill our voice is F’Hill Radio! Mr Erik Anders managed the output of shows from our very own radio station at F’Hill Radio. Two teams of Year 11 pupils undertook training in the use of our state-of-the-art radio software and livestream broadcast equipment. They learnt how to plan and structure programmes, how to manage digital content and record their own material, for example jingles, trailers and sound effects.

Presenting two weekly shows and airing retro favourites and nostalgic tunes and playing contemporary music, the Year 11s have certainly increased their skill-set here.

Community Voice

We have also continued to see some outstanding individual success stories in the graded LAMDA examinations. This year over 100 pupils took examinations from Year 7 through to Lower Sixth and we were thrilled that Distinctions were gained by 91% of all of those who took part. We would like to highlight Ashlynn Meghan, Lucy Sugden and Eesha Kaur who all achieved outstanding success, with exceptionally high Distinctions for their Grade 8 examinations.

Sincere thanks must go to everyone who has been involved in drama this year, including our outgoing Drama Captain, Sophie Waite. The Drama Department continues to provide a happy and vibrant place for creative exploration and thanks goes to all the staff and pupils who continue to give such unstinting energy and enthusiasm to keep alive the Promethean fire of theatre and performance.

Helen de Mattos, Director of Drama

The Hill is alive...

One of the greatest attributes of Music is its ability to bring people together. Whether through the joy of being part of a Music ensemble, or through performing in a Musical, or simply through singing in Mass and Assembly, all of our pupils get to experience the uniting power of Music. Join me as we delve into the highlights from this extraordinary year!.

SWING BAND TRIP

To celebrate National Older People’s Day, the Swing Band made their annual trip to Victoria Hall in Hartley Wintney to perform a treasure trove of familiar tunes to the local elderly community. In a testament to the unifying power of music, the audience sang along to Sweet Caroline It was an honour for Swing Band to bring smiles and laughter to the hearts of Hartley Wintney’s elderly residents, making it an absolute delight for the band members, who thoroughly enjoyed bringing a touch of light-heartedness and joy to a rather gloomy Tuesday in winter.

Gemma Stevens (Upper Sixth)

TAIKO DRUMMING WORKSHOP

Mr Joe Adams, Director of Music

On Wednesday 29 November 2023, Music students in Years 9-13 took part in a Taiko workshop with ‘Taiko Meantime’. We had fun drumming on multiple Japanese drums, including miya daiko, okedo daiko, and shime daiko. We were taught the form and technique of how to achieve the best sound when hitting the drums. We also had the opportunity to develop our own improvisation within the piece. This was a new experience for many of the pupils and we all had a great time.

Jessica Fussey (Year 9)

JUNIOR CHOIR CONCERT WITH FLEET CHORAL SOCIETY

On Saturday 2 December 2023, members of the Junior Choir were invited to sing alongside Fleet Choral Society in a performance of Benjamin Britten’s cantata St Nicolas, together with professional musicians and tenor soloist, conducted by our very own peripatetic music teacher Mr Nick Cartledge. The girls played a crucial role in this dramatic work, variously depicting a violent thunderstorm at sea, celebrating the appointment of Nicolas as Bishop of Myra, and representing the grieving relatives of three boys later restored miraculously to life by the saint. Though few in number, they did an amazing job in learning some challenging music, and their performance in the evening was a great success. As well as the members of the Junior Choir who took part, thanks are also due to Annabel Soegaard (Upper Sixth), Mrs Hazel Burrows and her daughter Bethan Burrows (Lower Sixth), for supporting them in the concert.

Mr Patrick Martin, Teacher of Music

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

On Friday 8 December 2023, Farnborough Hill’s Music ensembles came together to provide an evening of festive cheer in the Christmas Celebration. The Swing Band performed a variety of Christmas classics as the audience arrived. This was followed by the ever-burgeoning String Group, led by Music Captain Annabel Soegaard (Upper Sixth), who played polished renditions of Winter Wonderland and Little Drummer Boy. The Year 7 and Junior Choirs joined forces in a powerful and wholehearted performance of Jazz Gloria. The evening also saw our two Rock School bands make their long-awaited debut, giving spirited performances of Underneath The Tree and Jingle Bell Rock. The Year 9 Music pupils performed a joyful interpretation of In Dulci Jubilo which they had devised in lessons, and Year 7 Deplanck Scholar, Liduo Gao, delighted the audience with a jazzy piano solo called New Kid. Audience and pupils alike sang the beloved carols O Little Town of Bethlehem and O Come All Ye Faithful, with the Senior Choir providing soaring descants; these were accompanied by the magnificent Orchestra, who also concluded the evening with an exciting Christmas medley titled ‘Tis The Season. The Christmas Celebration was a testament to the talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit of the School’s Music community. Thank you to all pupils and staff involved.

Mr Joe Adams, Director of Music

SALISBURY CATHEDRAL TRIP

MUSIC SOIRÉES

You know you are on a Senior Choir trip when, rather than singing The Wheels on the Bus on the coach, the pupils are singing Will Todd’s The Call of Wisdom!

On the night of Wednesday 20 March 2024, the Senior Choir sang Evensong at the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral. Music included the rousing Evening Service in C minor by George Dyson. The highlight of the service was the choir’s poignant rendition of Stabat Mater Dolorosa by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi from a Passiontide cantata about Mary’s suffering as she watched her son’s crucifixion. The service ended in grand fashion with J S Bach’s Fantasia in C minor (BWV 562), performed by Mr Patrick Martin on the Cathedral’s famous ‘Father’ Willis organ. We could not be prouder of the pupils for their focus and maturity; their voices sounded beautiful in the Cathedral’s wonderful acoustic.

Mr Joe Adams, Director of Music

Music Soirées give our musicians the opportunity to perform in front of an appreciative audience. With several soirées a year, pupils of all ages and abilities, from beginners to our Scholars, have the chance to take to the stage and hone their skills, performing a huge range of material from pop to classical.

EA5TER C0NCERT

The Easter Concert 2024 was a spectacular end to the Spring Term and a culmination of talent and hard work from both pupils and staff. The theme of the evening was ‘Numbers’, with pieces ranging from A Million Dreams sung by the Year 7 Choir to Themes from Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture performed by the Orchestra.

There were some lively performances from the Rock School groups, Year 9 Band, Junior and Senior Choirs, Wind Band and Swing Band who raised the roof with a One Direction classic! We also had the privilege of showcasing the talents of two of our student-run ensembles, the Flute Group and the String Group, which have been rehearsed and led by Gemma Stevens (Upper Sixth) and me.

As Music Captains, this concert marked a poignant milestone for us - it was not only the culmination of a term filled with musical endeavours, but also our final performance at Farnborough Hill. The opportunity to share our passion for music with the School community and to deliver our last solos was an experience we will cherish.

Annabel Soegaard (Upper Sixth)

JUNIOR CHOIR SING EVENSONG AT PORTSMOUTH CATHEDRAL

On Wednesday 19 June 2024, the Junior Choir and several sixth formers arrived in sunny Portsmouth to sing Evensong at Portsmouth Cathedral, supported by Mr Adams on the organ and Mr Martin as our conductor. Portsmouth Cathedral was a magnificent setting for Evensong and the sun was shining through the stained glass, but did not quite outshine our voices! The acoustics were incredible and we all enjoyed the experience and privilege of showcasing our skills to such an appreciative congregation.

We ended the day taking in the sea breeze and setting sun on a beautiful coastal evening. Thank you to the Music Department, Mrs Hocking, Mrs Burrows and Miss White for another wonderful opportunity.

Sophie McFee (Year 8)

END OF TERM SOIRÉE

The final summer Soirée of the year saw performances from a variety of groups, ranging from the familiar Orchestra and Swing Band to brand new groups such as Mr Adams’ Melodica Club, who played a delightful version of Can You Feel the Love Tonight?, complete with animal masks! We were also treated to some thrilling pop songs by the two Rock School bands.

The Soirée featured some fantastic solo performances including Jessica Fussey (Year 9) playing Concorde by Roy Newsome on the cornet, Emilia Mateja (Year 10) playing Prelude: Twilight by Dianne Rahbee on the piano, Eliza Edworthy (Year 7) singing Feed the Birds from Mary Poppins, and Sarah Hallam (Lower Sixth) playing Czardas by Vittorio Monti on the violin. It is an incredible achievement to perform repertoire with such confidence and expression and exciting to see girls from across the Year Groups playing a wide variety of instruments.

Well done to everyone who was involved - your passion and hard work helped make an excellent evening, and has made our time as Music Captains an absolute joy!

Annabel

Soegaard and Gemma Stevens (Upper Sixth)

YEAR 7 MUSICAL

In the final week of term, Year 7 blew us all away with their wonderful performance of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! The pupils exhibited such enthusiasm and commitment throughout the process, and it was a joy to work with them. The quality of their performance was all the more impressive given that they had just three days of rehearsals in which to prepare!

Well done, in particular, to Norah Dwyer and Eliza Edworthy, who gave jaw-dropping performances as Joseph and Pharaoh. I would like to extend huge thanks to:

• my colleagues from the Music Department for teaching the songs to the cast

• Mrs Helen de Mattos (Director of Drama) for her tremendous support with staging it

• Mr David Earles (DT Technician) for creating the colourful maypole, which was a beautiful centrepiece

• Mr Patrick Martin, Mr Richard Veitch, and Isobel Haynes (Upper Sixth - one of our Music Captains for 2024 / 2025), who played piano, bass guitar and drums in the performance

We hope that lots of the pupils will sign-up for our Junior Production in summer 2025 - Matilda Junior!

Mr Joe Adams, Director of Music

... with the

sound of Music

The Impact of Co-Curricular Activities on Pupil Success

Beyond the classroom walls, another exciting frontier awaits: the vibrant world of co-curricular activities. With a huge array of co-curricular clubs on offer at Farnborough Hill, pupils can enter a realm where passions ignite, skills flourish, and confidence takes flight. Participation in co-curricular activities plays a pivotal role in shaping a pupil’s success and development. With the confines of specifications and assessment objectives removed, a vibrant and varied life outside of the classroom fosters the skills, values and experiences that contribute significantly to the creation of a well-rounded, balanced and happy young person.

One of the primary benefits of co-curricular activities is the holistic development of pupils. Engaging in these activities ‘futureproofs’ them by allowing them to explore and hone their talents and interests outside of the academic realm and helping them develop those essential life skills. The recent British Academy report, ‘Qualified for the Future’ identifies what it calls the key ‘survival skills for 21st Century Life,’ including critical thinking and problem-solving; collaboration and leadership, agility and adaptability, initiative and entrepreneurialism, and curiosity and imagination – all things that can be sparked and developed by exploring life outside of the classroom, be that through creating, performing, building or playing.

Furthermore, co-curricular activities foster a sense of belonging and community among pupils. Participating in clubs, teams, or other co-curricular groups provides pupils with opportunities to connect with like-minded peers who share similar interests. This sense of camaraderie enhances their social skills, builds lasting friendships, and creates a supportive network that extends beyond the classroom. This positive social environment contributes to improved mental wellbeing and a more enriching overall educational experience, too, with the old adage that a busy child is a happy child. Research continually shows the benefit of doing something outside of academic study on the teenage brain, and there is a plethora of evidence

in recent research that goes far beyond the usual development of teamwork and communication skills. A recent article in the Journal of Adolescent Health demonstrated that pupils who are involved in co-curricular activities are statistically less likely to engage in high-risk behaviours as well as confirming that they often experience increased self-esteem and confidence as they gain a sense of accomplishment and recognition for their achievements.

There is also much research available that talks about how co-curricular engagement enhances academic performance, and it is undeniable that this is the case. However, it is also true that that needs to be a pupil-led discovery and not something that comes about because of an educator, no matter how enthusiastic they may be. For example, if a Mathematics teacher were to use building a car as the context for when you might use trigonometry, it might seem like a bit of a stretch, but when you are stood in the Greenpower workshop and can work out what length to cut part of the chassis to because you have done trigonometry in Mathematics, it becomes a personal achievement and a moment to be proud of. This then pays back into the classroom as pupils are encouraged in the purpose of their learning as they see application for it outside of just passing examinations. Similarly, when skills learnt in Geography are applied to an orienteering session, or you are able to beat an escape room with the problem-solving skills you have gained in Science, being able to make those links between lessons and the world outside reinforces the benefits on both sides.

A good co-curricular programme not only nurtures and develops skills and talents in young people, but also creates a space where new interests can be discovered. Career paths can be unlocked through this exploration, laying foundations for future pursuits and enabling teenagers to navigate their future with confidence for all that comes their way.

Mrs Laura Evans-Jones, Assistant Head – Operations / Pastoral

Co-Curricular

The sheer number of co-curricular clubs delivered by both sixth formers and staff is sure to leave you feeling inspired - dive in to something you know you love, or discover a passion for something new! One thing is for sure: your lunchtimes and after school hours will never be boring!

TEENTECH

The TeenTech Hampshire Festival was held this year at the Hampshire Court Hotel in Basingstoke. TeenTech is a national organisation that promotes STEM subjects in schools and connects them to Scientific, Engineering and Technology companies through awards, online events and festivals. Farnborough Hill was represented by ten pupils who have been involved in the TeenTech Club. The event was centred around the themes of Innovation, Insight and Challenge and pupils were set a number of sharply-focused challenges and activities to get some hands-on experience of STEM activities. There was also a chance to meet with industry experts from a wide range of companies including Bletchley Park, Microsoft, Stannah, Network Rail and Amazon Web Services. Our table was sponsored by BAE Systems and we had a STEM Ambassador from the company to guide us around the activities which included coding, robotics, encryption, Generative AI and a session on CPR from the Ambulance Service. The next activity was run by BAE Systems and invited pupils to design and make a small boat to carry a maximum load before sinking. The challenge was to plan, design, and make the craft whilst taking into account costings for materials.

All attendees gathered together in the final session to vote on some of the innovative ideas that had been generated during the day. The shortlist was compiled by the experts and then the audience voted for their favourites using handheld electronic voting devices. Amelie White (Year 9) won a prize for her idea in the Environmental category and Isla Weldon-Gamble (Year 9) was recognised for her work in the Best Physical Innovation category. Overall, this was a very rewarding day and hopefully will inspire innovators of the future from within Farnborough Hill.

In Science Club, Year 7 made rainbows in a measuring cylinder. This involved a neutralisation reaction and it was fun being introduced to universal indicator.

CROCHET CLUB

Due to popular demand, we launched Year 7 Crochet Club in the Summer Term, led by Year 9 pupils Jessica Powell and Isla Weldon-Gamble, who learned their crochet skills at senior Crochet Club. Holly Hall (Year 7) was the first to complete her project. She said:

“I have really enjoyed going to Crochet Club and have loved making my mini octopus! We used TOFT which is a British crochet business to learn how to make the octopuses along with the help of Mrs Oscroft, Jess and Isla in Year 9. Crochet Club has been a lot of fun and I’m really happy with how my octopus came out!”

INVESTOR CLUB

Over the course of five months, we have been investing £100,000 of virtual money with the help of our teacher, Dr Tytko. When we first started we were not very sure what to expect as we had never been involved with taking risks with money. However, armed with a stock of virtual money and Dr Tytko’s advice, we soon came to enjoy the weekly sessions using the London Stock Exchange portfolio simulator to buy and sell shares and other securities.

We were allowed to invest in two portfolios each, £100,000 in shares and £100,000 in funds such as investment trusts.

We have dabbled and bought shares in commodities like copper, technology shares to take advantage of AI, and bread and butter stocks like hospitality. Throughout our time we have learnt a lot about strategy and risk-taking, although often through trial and error! We are pleased, however, to report that all our portfolios are in positive territory and in profit (£102,696, £106,384, £107,853, £108,376).

Our experience has exposed us to doing research, looking at trends and charts, reading the financial news and thinking about risk. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Megan Thomas and Maya Emara (Year 11)

Co-Curricular

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Model United Nations provides a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop their public speaking skills and I am always impressed with the confidence of our pupils as they head off to their separate committee meetings and pleased to see how much they enjoy meeting and working with pupils from other schools. We have enjoyed conferences at several schools this year, including at the Royal Grammar School where Year 11 pupil Radhika Shah earned a Highly Commended award for her contribution to the Health Committee.

One such conference the Year 10 team attended was at Wimbledon High School, as the delegation from Japan. Each school taking part represents a different country, and takes its place in a series of debates, defending its interests and putting forward its point of view. It takes in everything from military threats to environmental dangers and provides a chance to explore the political, economic and cultural realities of the international community. Pupils work together under the leadership of their peers and develop valuable skills in teamwork and debating. Special mention needs to go to pupils Lara Harrison and Isabella Dennis for speaking at the General Assembly in the afternoon. This is the time in the day when all pupils are gathered together and it can be quite a daunting occasion, nonetheless our pupils carried off their comments with confidence and style.

The Conference opened with an inspiring speech from Prerana Issar, in which she spoke about her role on the leadership team of the World Food Programme. She spoke about her work for the UN in South Sudan, Liberia, Madagascar and Syria and the difficulties in distributing food under extremely challenging circumstances. Her message that our shared humanity means that we must not accept inhumanity in other parts of the world and that organisations like the UN can make such an important difference in peoples’ lives was humbling. She touched upon the many career opportunities in the United Nations and I was left with a clear sense of how our pupils are part of a global community and how broad their horizons need to be.

Model United Nations is a Co-Curricular club open to all pupils in Years 9 and above. Our next conference is due to be at RGS in Guildford on Saturday 9 November 2024. We hope lots of pupils will consider joining us!

YOUNG ENTERPRISE

Mrs Katherine Bell , Head of History and Politics

The businesses spent a busy (and long!) day trading at Old Spitalfields Market, where AromaLuxe earned the accolade of Best Trade Stand!

Year 7 Classics Club enjoyed decorating gingerbread men with the inspiration being mythical creatures!

Young Enterprise is a fantastic opportunity offered in both Year 10 and Upper Sixth. Pupils make all the decisions about their enterprise, from deciding on their company name and product to creating a business plan, managing the company finances and selling to the public at trade fairs, school events and local community markets. All this takes place with the support of a volunteer Business Adviser who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to each company. In 2023 - 2024, we had two fantastic Year 10 businesses running, Anglefish and AromaLuxe.

Both teams entered various competitions thoroughout the year, including the area heat of the Young Enterprise Company of the Year Competition on Tuesday 7 May 2024, where they prepared presentations, submitted a Company Report with a full set of accounts and fielded questions from a panel of judges. We were so incredibly proud of the girls; they delivered fantastic presentations, worked coherently as a team and responded to some incredibly tough questions from industry-based judges. They showed the ability to think on their feet, engage with the audience and be incredibly articulate with their responses. AromaLuxe got through to the County round the next week, where they finished Runners Up and took home the Best Sustainability award, which allowed them to go through to the Regional Finals at the Samsung offices in London.

Just before half term, they reported to the Regional Final and were surrounded by lots of new interesting pieces of technology and joined by many hardworking fellow Young Enterprise teams from the South East of England who had made it to the Final. There were four elements to the competition: the company report, the trade stand, an interview and a business presentation. The interview and the trade stand components involved the judges asking questions about the company, the product and also teamworking skills.

Amongst many strong companies with wonderfully innovative products, AromaLuxe was overjoyed when the judges announced that they had won the Sustainability Award, one of four awards issued at the Final! The whole school, are very proud of all that the Young Enterprise groups have accomplished.

Clinical Skills Club was a fantastic new addition to the cocurricular offerings last year.

Chess Club in the Library is a long-standing favourite.

Learning to cook with a trangia, mastering the art of pitching tents and navigating by map were just some of the incredible skills we honed on our Bronze Expedition. Laughing, learning and creating memories that will last a lifetime, we faced challenges head-on, emerging stronger and more positive with each one.

Sophia Soegaard and Maisie Harkness (Year 9)

GREENPOWER DEBUT AT GOODWOOD

Isabella Dennis (Year 10) was excited to share her experience from our team’s first-ever participation in the Greenpower competition: On Sunday 21 April 2024, Greenpower Car Club made a thrilling debut at Goodwood Motor Course. Since January 2024, we have been transforming a pile of parts into a racing machine, every Thursday after school. From tweaking the brakes and steering to shaping the perfect nose cone for peak aerodynamics, it has been a whirlwind of learning and teamwork.

After a few warm-up laps, we hit the track, clocking up a total of 35 incredible miles across two races. It was amazing to see all the cars and we came away with valuable insights for future improvements. Sure, there was a bump in the road (literally – one of our team members got a recovery car lift after a minor breakdown at the end of the second race!), but that is part of the learning experience! All in all, it was very successful for our first race!

A big thank you to Mr Rees and Mr Smith who made this possible and to Ms Woods, Mrs Hernandez, Mrs Pollington and everyone else who supported us on the day.

Here’s to many more races to come!

Mr Alan Rees added:

I would like to express how immensely proud I am of the girls’ achievements so far. The girls from across both Years 10 and 11 have bonded as a team and support each other brilliantly. On the race day, they showed a true sense of camaraderie and organisational skills to streamline their pit changes from over two minutes to under 30 seconds! We are excited to see the next stages of the project and to break the 20 mph barrier soon. Particular thanks to Kristyna Komanicka (Upper Sixth), our Physics Prefect, and the DART Department behind the scenes for all their additional support.

The Peak District Gold Expedition tested my limits. I mastered navigating with bearings through variable weather and conquered relentless uphill climbs. Despite the challenges, the experience was incredible.

Bethan Burrows (Lower Sixth)

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD

DofE was as popular as ever with girls entering at Bronze, Silver and Gold level. Racking up thousands of hours of volunteering and skill-learning between them, along with hundreds of miles hiked and, in the Gold Expedition, canoed, the girls were well deserving of their awards.

Outside the Classroom

Experiencing something in a new and novel way is an excellent way to consolidate - and remember!classroom-based learning.

YEAR 11 FIELDWORK AT THE RIVER TILLINGBOURNE

Year 11 geographers visited the River Tillingbourne to study different parts of the river for our Geography GCSE physical fieldwork. The day was really enjoyable, and we learnt many valuable things. We visited different sites and measured the width and depth of the river, as well as the velocity. We also looked at the load of the river and measured the size and calculated how round it was. At our last site we were able to spot crayfish in the clear, clean water. The trip to the ice-cream shop in Shere was a bonus!

PUZZALOGICAL BUSINESS TRIP

Upper Sixth Business students went to Bracknell to solve the ‘Pharaoh’s Tomb Mystery’ and ‘Break Free from Prison’! We visited Puzzalogical, an entertainment business, to experience their escape rooms and also to interview the business owners, Debbie and Nathan Gibbons.

We began our visit with an Escape Room challenge. Our teachers and games masters observed our progress from the control room, noting how we worked as a team, interacted to solve problems and communicated whilst under pressure. They even offered the occasional clue through the comms system! Following this, and bursting with questions, we interviewed the staff and owners about their business and were able to see our A level course brought to life. We learned many interesting things such as how they financed and budgeted for the new start-up, the challenges they faced in their pursuit of growth and the rationale behind their marketing strategies and recruitment policies. We were able to explore the premises, learning more about the use of technology, including the VR offerings and enjoying a sneak preview of a new escape room currently under construction. It was also interesting to learn how businesses in the local area supported one another and how developments in the local economy were shaping demand.

After an exciting and hands-on learning experience, we are pleased to say that both teams completed their challenges, although our prisoners may have taken a little longer to escape. Setting up and running a business clearly has a lot of challenges but Debbie and Nathan undoubtedly relish the opportunity to deliver incredible customer experiences, to nurture and develop their team and to see their vision through to reality.

Zoyya Rizwan and Emily Searle (Upper Sixth)

Year 8 went on a poignant trip to Maidstone, Kent, to learn more about the World War I trenches at the Kent Event Centre.

Our passionate guides showed us a soldier’s uniform and supplies from the Great War, which Zara Dibb (Year 8) tried on. She said the packs are like carrying bricks! After, we learned about the context of the war, recruitment of the soldiers and the medicines used in the First World War. It included information about the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) and different medical practices which were very different to modern practices!

After lunch, we were shown the trenches, which we walked through while learning about them. The location of these trenches was an original training ground used for new recruits in the War. There were different aspects on display, such as fire-burning with a tin can chimney, the dug-outs used to hide soldiers from the elements and enemy bombs and gunfire, and the toilets – which still smelt a bit!

After our tour, we went to the War Memorial Cemetery in Sittingbourne. We were shown round by a guide who told us some of the tragic stories of the soldiers buried there. For example, one of the soldiers, John Joseph Brimble, was shot down whilst flying his plane. His remains were unidentifiable, so his grave was marked as unknown. His body was identified after closer examination in 1921, but some of his remains were sadly missing until the 1980s. His surviving brother buried these in another grave in Brookwood, so as not to disturb his original one. After we had looked at the graves, we had a short Remembrance Service whilst a wreath was laid down on behalf of Farnborough Hill. We also held a minute’s silence to remember and contemplate the lives lost in World War I.

Florence Everett (Year 11)

WW1 TRENCHES

Lola Evans (Year 8)

COMPUTING AT PUZZALOGICAL

Year 10 Computer Science pupils took our turn to visit Puzzalogical Escape Rooms, with a different learning objective to the Business students who went before.

In small groups, accompanied by Mr McCarthyBrown, Mrs Pollington and Mrs Barraud, we took on the escape rooms, from a prison break to a vault - there was even a VR one!

One of the groups was locked in a prison cell, given only one hour to escape, and, although some said it did prove their inability to open doors (much to the amusement of their teammates) the experience was exciting and fast-paced! After all the groups had broken out, we went behind the scenes to explore the technology that made the experience possible, learning about everything from switches to sensors! We were even able to see a new escape room currently under construction. The engineer behind all of the technology, Nathan, was on hand to explain how things worked and answer our questions.

We had a fantastic time and learned a lot about how the escape rooms worked - not that we expect to have an advantage when we return!

Katherine Penketh and Isabella Dennis (Year 10)

SPANISH THEATRE

Upper Sixth linguists travelled into London to watch Lorca’s La casa de Bernarda Alba.

We began our afternoon with tapas for lunch, enjoying traditional Spanish food such as croquetas, patatas bravas and chipirones. We then made our way to the Cervantes Theatre. This was an eye-opening experience as it brought the book to life and helped us gain a deeper understanding of the play.

Sofia Turner Alsina (Upper Sixth)

CANARY WHARF

The Lower Sixth geographers travelled to Canary Wharf to complete fieldwork on the London Docklands. We travelled from Stratford on the DLR, resisting the urge to stop at ABBA: Voyage! Upon our arrival, after finally making sense of the map, we strolled through the pristine pavements of Canary Wharf, admiring the shiny stones and historical landmarks. The old cranes caught our eyes with their foreboding structures, but they were dwarfed by a modern, glass skyscraper towering above us. Gobsmacked. Flabbergasted. Mind blown. We paused our travels to summon our inner artists and begin our field sketches. After a few snapshots for the Insta, our next stop… the shopping centre. Immediately, we were greeted by an unexpected sight - a Land Rover dealership inside. It was surrounded by multitudes of high-end, luxury establishments. We tallied the different categories of these businesses for our land-use survey, discovering that the vast majority were commercial, such as clothes and shoe shops. We went across the river to the Docklands Museum where we were able to experience a mock-up vintage street of the Docklands from the late 1800s. We learnt about the impacts of changing transport and the Second World War leading to its decline and eventual regeneration to the shiny metropolis of Canary Wharf we see today. This trip has been invaluable for our ‘Changing Places’ unit.

Sarah Hallam, Jennifer Chapman and Lucy Sugden (Lower Sixth)

TUPPENNY BARN

Year 10 Food and Nutrition pupils visited the fantastic Tuppenny Barn to learn about growing and harvesting delicious, organic produce in a sustainable and earth-friendly way.

The pupils enjoyed a tour of the farm which included a visit to the beehives and pond, before exploring the polytunnels, beds and soft fruit cages in which sumptuous fruit and vegetables are grown. They then made their way to the kitchen classroom where they prepared and taste-tested a variety of bruschetta toppings – a simple dish to allow the full, rich flavours of the uber-fresh, top-quality produce to shine. The tomatoes were of a different class, tasting of sunshine and spring, and I think a few of the girls may have been inspired to grow their own from now on!

Mrs Mimi Fogden, Teacher of Food and Nutrition

Don’t forget to read abaout our trips abroad on page 46!

Outside the Classroom

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

Upper Sixth historians went to the Holocaust Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, London. The exhibit overlaps perfectly with a third of the A level specification. The exhibition began by looking at individuals who were persecuted by the Nazis and the rest of the exhibit followed these individuals through their journey under the Nazis. It was so poignant to be able to associate names and faces to the millions of people impacted by Nazi rule. The exhibit went through Hitler’s rise to power and then the increasing levels of terror enacted to fulfil Hitler’s aims. The girls had studied in lessons the changing nature of the Holocaust, and the exhibit reflected these stages with each room they entered. It ended with looking at the liberation of concentration camps and the efforts to seek justice which were carried out after the War. Each section of the museum is so emotive yet so interesting. The girls left the museum feeling moved by what they had seen, but also reassured that they were confident with the subject matter they had learnt over the past two years.

Mrs Ceri Symonds-Keates, Teacher of History

The planetarium felt like we were floating in space!

We learnt the planets and we got to see the sun and the Milky Way galaxy.

Emily Simms (Year 7)

WINCHESTER SCIENCE CENTRE

My highlight of the day was using a genuine Enigma machine to break some codes in the same way as in the war; learning about just how much work went into the codebreaking at Bletchley Park and using the interactive exhibits around the museum! Thank you to Mrs Hocking and everyone who made the trip possible!

Alana Godsland (Year 10)

MATHEMATICIANS EXPLORE THE ENIGMA

Year 10 went on a Mathematics trip to the famous Bletchley Park, home to thousands of codebreakers during WWII, including the renowned Alan Turing. Here they collaborated to break the Enigma and Lorenz Cipher, shortening the war by what is now thought to be around two years.

It was very interesting for us all to see the rich history and dedication behind what had happened at Bletchley Park as we went on a guided tour and visited the many displays dotted around the site. We also took part in a coding workshop, where we tried to crack many different codes. Once cracked, the codes revealed the name of a codebreaker who worked at Bletchley Park in 1942, John Cairncross, who was a codebreaker and double agent for the Soviet Union.

For us, the highlight of the day was definitely getting to see both the Enigma and the Bombe Machine, with the latter being especially amazing technology. We are sure that all of Year 10 would like to say thank you to all the staff who made this trip possible - it was a truly exceptional experience!

Hannah Kempston-Gulliver and Isabella Dennis (Year 10)

“During the rocket challenge the room was full of laughter. It was so much fun and very funny!”

Elisabeth Mason (Year 7)

Year 7 had a thoroughly enjoyable day at Winchester Science Centre. The day began in the planetarium where they were taken on a thrilling journey through the solar system and beyond, seeing up close the planets and some of their moons and discovering that not all moons are, in fact, round. The girls loved being whizzed around space seeing some of the constellations in our own galaxy, as well as travelling into deeper space and looking at distant galaxies. Pupils also visited the hands-on exhibits spread over two floors. They particularly enjoyed the perspective room that could make you look both enormous and tiny, and also being astronauts. The day ended with a rocket building competition in which the girls saw their (mostly) successful rocket creations fired across the room. The day was a lot of fun but also hugely valuable as it was excellent revision for some of the topics they have been studying.

Mrs Susannah Haynes, Teacher of Science

CWIZZ

On Friday 24 November 2023, 12 Year 8 girls, Mrs Joanne Brereton and I travelled to the Royal Grammar School (RGS) Guildford for the annual CWIZZ Literary quiz. There were 13 other schools who took part in the CWIZZ quiz and this was the first year we had entered it with three teams of four girls. The CWIZZ is run by CWISL (Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy), a voluntary group of award-winning authors and illustrators who aim to bring the joys of reading, writing and illustrating into communities across London and beyond.

When we arrived at RGS, we were taken to an enormous room full of tables and other excited school teams. Many weeks of brushing up on our literary knowledge came down to this one afternoon. There were numerous rounds, including a picture round where the girls identified books from just snippets of their covers. Our judges were authors who, between each round, gave a reading and, at the end of the competition, there was a raffle for all the pupils who took part; three of our girls won a variety of prizes.

The tension in the air was thick when it came to the announcement of the winners at the end. Sadly, Farnborough Hill did not win the competition, but we did win a prize in the school raffle… an hour online with an author for our school. As I write this, I do not know which author, but I am excited all the same!

The girls had a lot of fun and were exhausted at the end of the day, but they also came home with signed books from the authors and some fabulous memories.

DORSET COAST

On a damp Monday in May 2024, we travelled to the Dorset coastline to look at coastal protection methods and coastal landforms. We stopped first at Barton-on-Sea and learnt about coastal protection methods there. Each group did a field sketch and it became clear who the artists in the classes were!

Our next stop was Hengistbury Head, where we formed a long queue for ice cream even though it was very cold! We walked along the headland and then looked down onto the spit to see all of the beach huts. We also walked along the spit, battling the elements as it was raining quite hard at this stage. Then we walked back to the coach, enviously watching as the land train went past. We got back on the coach after a long, wet day.

Thank you to Mr Smith, Mrs Wood, Miss White, Mrs Brereton, Mrs Van Klaveren and Mrs Oscroft for taking us!

Hannah Baxendale, Lola Evans and Nina Walia (Year 8)

WICKED THE MUSICAL

Our totally ‘Wicked’ day began with a musical theatre workshop in the Sports Hall. This is when we learnt One Short Day, a song from Wicked. We warmed up by singing and engaging in different activities. We also learnt choreography that was suitable for the music we were working on. Everything was well organised, and I enjoyed every part of it. Soon after, we ate our packed lunches, excited about what would be next. Then we headed on to the coach to Apollo Victoria, London, where we would see Wicked the musical. When we finally got there, we found our seats. Even walking down the hallways to get to our chairs was magical: with all the scenery and pictures of the actors; it truly felt inspiring. When the show started, you felt a sense that you were really there in Oz. All the songs were so powerful and uplifting. It sure made me laugh at times, for example when Glinda sings ‘Popular’, trying to make Elphaba popular by fixing her hair, teaching her how to put on make-up, and giving her the ‘toss toss’ tutorial on flipping her hair! There was a sense of chill at times, making you hold your breath and drifting you to the edge of your seat. Overall, it was an experience that I am sure we will all remember - a big thank you to the Music Department for organising this experience!

Chloe

Brazell (Year 7)

Ms Cathi Woods, Librarian

PUPIL CONFERENCES

Pupil-focused conferences are increasingly abundant and offer GCSE and A level pupils the chance to delve deeper into an aspect of the course, so aiding their understanding and boosting their subsequent attainment.

POETRY LIVE!

Going to Poetry Live! on Thursday 29 February 2024 was a truly inspiring experience. All of the poets spoke with such passion and conviction and it really helped to give us an insight into the poems and why they wrote them. One poet, Imtiaz Dharker, carefully delivered her poem and her clarity allowed us to fully understand the poem - despite it being difficult. Former Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, explained her poem War Photographer and her inspiration behind it, while also giving some valuable information to add to our notes. A highlight of the day was hearing John Agard recite his poem about the importance of tea in England and he lightened the mood of the room after the more harrowing poems about war and suffering. As well as this, one of the chief examiners from AQA gave us tips on how to answer the unseen poetry section in the GCSE.

Abbie Philpott (Year 11)

GEOGRAPHY HAZARDS

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

On Friday 1 March 2024, Sixth Form Religious Studies students visited Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in London to hear leading British Philosopher, Dr Peter Vardy, discuss several topics that are on the A level specification.

In the morning, we focused on God’s nature; Dr Vardy talked about how God can be good but evil exists to develop soul-making. He then focused on the debates around the language used to describe God, for example, univocal language, the idea that God is another being within the universe, and equivocal language, meaning that we can make statements about God because he is not in our universe.

After a short break, we returned to the Church refreshed and ready for our next topic. In this session we discussed elements surrounding Aquinas’ Natural Moral Law, from seeking good in the world, to fulfilling our purpose as human beings with our actions.

Dr Vardy focused on examples and extra information that we could include in our essays to elevate our answers. We enjoyed some lunch in Zizzi’s close to the Church before Dr Vardy finished the conference on the topic of Conscience. We concluded with an opportunity for students to voice their own opinions about whether individual conscience is a poor moral guide or not.

The day was very interesting; we were able to focus on topics in great detail which enabled us to see different points of view. The historic Church in which the conference was held was beautiful - recently, there was a plaque placed at the Church to commemorate Martin Luther King Junior’s first Sermon in London

Lucy Hill, Arilyn Streeter and Erin Watson (Lower Sixth)

The A level geographers took the train to London Waterloo to attend a ‘Hazards’ Conference which was tailored specifically to the A level syllabus and also enabled us to expand our knowledge beyond the curriculum. Upon arrival and true to form for Geography trips, we were met with icy winds, as we made the walk across London Bridge to the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster. We really enjoyed the walk as we got to see the iconic London Eye, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey before filing into the bustling venue, brimming with likeminded geographers who all shared our enthusiasm for hazards.

The first talk of the day was led by Dr Martin Degg, the celebrity geographer who invented the Degg model which features in our textbook! He was discussing the recent Turkey earthquake, and we were fascinated to hear about how scientists had predicted an earthquake in this region prior to its occurrence. After this, we had a talk on tsunamis; the most shocking fact was how little warning people are often given; sometimes none at all. During our quick lunch break we went to Pret a Manger - yay! Then it was time for two more exciting lectures, one of which appealed particularly to the physical geographers among us. After these there was a summary of the day, discussing how hazards fit in with sustainable development goals. We made our way back through London after a very interesting day of Geography, which has definitely provided us with some good ideas for our essays. Tamsin Berry and Amelia Smith (Upper Sixth)

LONGLEAT CONSERVATION

BUSINESS TUTOR2U

On Wednesday 20 March 2024, the Business Class of 2024 travelled to Westfield, to attend a revision course, hosted by Jim and Graham from Tutor2u. The day consisted of multiple choice questions, numerical calculations and essay analysis, where we learnt new tips and tricks ready for the summer. The hosts asked the audience a series of questions and Tutor2u goodies were up for grabs for excellent answers.

We were delighted to win a beanie by answering the prize question! It was a memorable day, and the nonchalant puns by the hosts, such as working at a plumbing company really ‘draining’ them out, helped to inspire our revision for the forthcoming summer examinations.

Sixth Form biologists were fortunate enough to embark on a trip to Longleat’s Wildlife Conservation Student Conference. This was an exciting opportunity to learn about areas within the A level specification such as the conservation of red pandas in Nepal and the Rhino Conservation in Kenya, as well as other intriguing breeding programmes run at Longleat itself, such as the re-introduction of the water vole. In addition, we had the highly anticipated opportunity to explore the estate and discover the wildlife it has to offer.

The Red Panda Network, a case study in the A level specification, is committed to the conservation of wild red pandas and their habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities. The speaker at the conference was very experienced in the area as she had worked and volunteered in Nepal, contributing to the conservation of these endangered species. She discussed how the charity aims to reduce human dependency on the forest by providing improved cooking stoves which require less wood for fuel, combatting the deforestation in Nepal which causes significant destruction to red pandas’ habitats. In addition, we learnt how the education of the local community can help conserve the species. Devastatingly, the water vole species is almost extinct in the wild, however in June 2022 the first re-introduction of microchipped water voles took place at Longleat. The speakers at the conference taught us about the different types of release of these animals. Around 40 of the species were released using the soft release mechanism, where they are put in a temporary pen for a short amount of time with food, water and a mate and are allowed to leave in their own time. By the time some of these water voles left the pen they were already pregnant. The other ten individuals were released using the hard release mechanism, being released directly into their permanent habitat on arrival. The Longleat Estate is a diverse habitat which will help these animals to prosper and become part of the local landscape once more. Further releases have taken place to try and ensure the strongest and most genetically viable population possible.

Finally, Longleat has recently introduced its own koala conservation project, the eight individuals which can be found at the wildlife park are the only southern koalas in Europe. The speaker himself formed a partnership with the south Australian government and Koala Life charity which allowed them to introduce the species to the estate. The 70 mph bush fires which caused devastation in Australia in 2020 put the koala, along with many other species, at risk. The speaker took a 24-hour flight to the site of the tragedy to help, with him and his colleagues finding three orphaned koalas, as well as an echidna.

After the conference, we enjoyed a short excursion on the thrilling “Rockin’ Rhinos” rollercoaster. Then, we went off and discovered all the wildlife the estate has to offer. Entering the Jungle Adventure enclosure, we found ourselves surrounded by multitudes of intriguing species such as meerkats, snakes, porcupines, anteaters, otters and we even got a selfie with a sloth! The firm favourite, however, had to be the koalas burrowed in the eucalyptus leaves. Those of us brave enough then eagerly boarded a jungle cruise where we fed some Californian sea lions, saw a hippo and some monkeys.

Annabel Soegaard (Upper Sixth)

Zoyya Rizwan (Upper Sixth)

AfF-Hilliation

AfF-Hilliation is our academic scholar’s club, bringing together the brightest minds from each Year Group to explore ideas beyond the taught curriculum. Sessions are delivered by teaching staff from across all the departments and encourage pupils to think differently, to stretch themselves, and to work together. The girls never know what to expect from the sessions, however they do know one thing: they are sure to be inspired!

Year 7 explored the effects that different metal salts have when put into contact with flames.They had fun creating different colour combinations and had great success re-creating the Farnborough Hill colours.

Year 8 had lots of fun learning about what happens when you separate hydrogen from molecules with Mrs Macey. It was fascinating to see the effect of adding different solutions to acids and alkalis.

Years 7 and 8 worked in groups to solve the Bridge Riddle. Four people attempt to cross a bridge at night in a certain time frame, with characters taking 1, 2, 7 and 10 minutes. Only two people could cross at a time and one character has to hold the torch while crossing... how quickly can all cross?

A Drama session with Mrs de Mattos was also thoroughly enjoyed by Years 7 and 8: they explored acting on camera, experimenting with different energy levels to see how they impacted our performance, and even told some captivating stories – all while being filmed!

In another Mathematics-based session, Years 7 and 8 considered the difference between proving something scientifically and mathematically.They discovered scientists would use trial and error but mathematicians would find foolproof equations.

Year 9 pupils learned the art of competitive debating, working in teams as opposition and proposition to debate the statement: ‘This house believes that social media is making us less social’. They also enjoyed a super ‘logic in language’ session with Miss White (did you know there are around 7,000 languages?) and a brilliant ‘women in design’ session with Mr Bradley.

A session on patterns, randomness and repeats, where they played the ‘chaos’ game was particularly challenging and culminated in an Excel lesson involving Pascal’s triangle.

In a puzzle-based session,Year 10 were inspired by the Millennium Puzzles and the prospect of winning one million pounds... and they also especially enjoyed a topical political session ahead of the general election, where they looked at the political parties featuring in the polls and their ideologies and policies.They started by identifying the leaders of the current parties holding the most power in England, then took a deeper look into what they stand for and propose to do upon winning the upcoming election.Then, they began to think about their own political views and took an online quiz which made them think about many aspects of how the country is run, such as the NHS and education.The session finale was a mock election!

Year 11 and Lower Sixth enjoyed a current affairs session, where they considered the climate crisis and sought to answer, in teams, the questions: ‘Should the climate crisis be politicised?’; ‘Should achieving net zero be the government’s first priority?’ and ‘Should the climate crisis be used as a tool in politics?’.

As groups, the girls discussed their opinions and worked together to write down their thoughts. After ten minutes, they passed the sheets around and worked on each others’ questions, repeating the process until they had all contributed their thoughts to each question. Some interesting topics came up as a result, such as the problems in the NHS and the new policies needed to prevent upcoming AI technology conquering the planet.

The final debate, ‘To what extent should the government be involved in the climate crisis?’, created a divide in the group when opinions were split. Many of the girls argued that if the government was not involved in the climate crisis, then big companies would use it as a business prospect and focus on greenwashing and opposing solutions to the problem. They also said that without the government, laws would not be passed. The government is therefore crucial in policy making and enforcing deadlines to solve rising issues. However, the others believed that government involvement should be little to none and that it is the responsibility of individuals to make changes in their lives, such as switching to electric cars and solar panels. Eventually, they concluded that government involvement is crucial in tackling the climate crisis but that parties should not be simply using it as a political tool to gain support for their party.

Pupil’s Achievements

Our incredibly talented pupils achieve great things year on year: this is just a small snapshot of the biggest moments we celebrated with them in 2023 - 2024. There are many, many more - take a look at our Weekly Newsletter online!

UK Art In Nature is a global movement, conceived by Grammynominated and MBE-awarded Sisters Grimm. Using mainstream arts to deliver information on climate action it is a movement grounded in Nelson Mandela’s vision that young people are the foundation of the future. Veni Mehrotra (Year 10) was one of the winners of the project and her artwork Pure Nature featured in the I Catch My Breath music video, which is available to watch on YouTube. Just stunning!

Year 7 pupils Milana Sudak, Hope Fry and Zoe Tough triumphed in ‘The Edit’ competition by Sky Up! Their report, Saving our Oceans, is a champion for our planet and has earned them an all-expenses-paid trip to Sky Up Academy Studios in Osterley in November 2024, where they will get to see the behind-thescenes magic of how Sky Up brings stories to life.

Kara Thomas (Year 7) had her haibun poem ‘The Green Earth’ published in Triumph like a Girl, An Anthology for Hope: Letters and Poems. This book celebrates the 150-year anniversary of the Girls’ Schools Association.

Old Girl, Phoebe Farrelly (Class of 2023), missed her very first day of Computer Science lectures at the University of Birmingham on Monday 25 September 2023 in order to attend the prestigious National Cyber Awards in London as a finalist in the ‘Cyber Student of the Year 2023’ category.

Phoebe was nominated by CIISec, administrators of the CyberEPQ for her A* EPQ project “What is the most serious threat posed by Internet of Things (IoT) in the home”.

A level Mathematics students Akshayaa Maheswaran and Suhana Tiwari presented on the topic of infinity and the paradoxes associated with it at the annual MathsFest conference at the Royal Institution. After attending talks from other brilliant mathematicians, the girls took their turn, delivering their presentation in the Faraday Lecture Theatre where Faraday presented the electric motor for the first time. They were announced as the winners which made an already amazing day even better.

Eesha Kaur (Lower Sixth) was awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in an Oxford University ‘French Flash Fiction’ essay competition. The short story is about a child who wakes up to discover Santa Claus.

Isabella Dennis (Year 10) achieved a score of 100%, in the 2024 National Scientific Thinking Challenge, the only competitor to achieve this out of a total of 15,817 participants across the country.

Annabel Soegaard (Upper Sixth) was awarded first prize in this year’s Malcolm Arnold Essay competition. Annabel, an A level Music student who hopes to pursue her passion for the subject by embarking on a Music degree next year, wrote a 3,000-word essay on British composer Malcolm Arnold, outlining not only his contribution to the development of Brass music in this country but also his pivotal role in the so-called ‘English Musical Renaissance’.

In addition to a cash prize, Annabel’s essay will be published in Maestro, the magazine of the Malcolm Arnold Society.

Old Girl, Charlotte Purdue was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2024 Olympics in Paris! Charlotte attended Hook Infant School and then Farnborough Hill. She secured her selection for the Olympic Team by running 2 hours 22 minutes 17 seconds at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, taking her to second on the British all-time list, behind only Paula Radcliffe MBE.

Charlotte was incredibly excited to announce her selection, saying that she could not believe it. She shared how much hard work has gone into the selection moment: “I can’t say it has been easy, but I can say it has been worth it to achieve my Olympic dream”. She continued: “I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way, especially my coach, my family and my sponsors”.

Charlotte was due to make her Olympic debut in Paris in the summer of 2024, however she unfortunately had to withdraw due to an injury. She was incredibly disappointed not to compete but the experience she has had will stand her in great stead for achieving her goals in the future. The epitome of tenacity and resilience, we are so proud of Charlotte!

Year 7 Pupils Create Lasting Memories on their PGL Trip

On Wednesday 11 October 2023 the adventure began! The girls were delighted to be met with a dry start to the day - as some weather forecasts had suggested rain. They arrived at 12.00 pm on the first day and were met with stunning views of the beach and sea. They were then warmly welcomed by their thoroughly enthusiastic PGL leaders. They and other instructors led the girls through activities such as the zip wire, survivor, ambush, dragon boating, abseiling, fencing, archery and the giant swing. The most popular activity seemed to be the giant swing, which involved the girls wearing a harness and being hoisted up to the highest of heights, at which point they then pulled on a rope and literally swung to the ground below. This brought on a lot of screaming and laughter!

The girls have supported each other really well and although roomed with friends from their Form Group, they were in activity groups which consisted of girls from different Form Groups which encouraged them to make new friends. The adventure at PGL involved singing very loudly with the instructors as they walked from one activity to the other. Some of them even introduced the PGL community to Whose Pigs are These?

Top highlights

Meals - The cooked breakfast every morning

Treats - The gift shop visit

Music - The girls singing around the camp fire and on the coach

Moment - The sighting of a dolphin during the dragon boating!

Activity – The giant swing

Carving Memories in the Mountains: Reflections on the Passo Tonale Ski Trip

What better way to get to know new friends, than jumping into an adventurous trip away from home? Teamwork, laughter, shared goals and strengthened relationships are all a fantastic outcome of this deliberately early residential trip.

RA O U NDTHEWORLD

Charlotte Hampshire and Orla Bishop (Year 8) reflect on their brilliant memory-filled experience on the Italian Alps Ski Trip: Fresh mountain air, fun, laughter and endless hot chocolatesthe ski trip was a great experience that I was so lucky to have been a part of. For some of us girls, it was our first taste of skiing and with each slope, we improved. We all loved sharing a room with a friend as we were able to swap stories from our day.

On the ski slopes everyone was filled with energy and excitement and we really admired how all the ski instructors were so encouraging and enthusiastic. They helped us improve our technique and speed, gave us helpful hints and tips and simply made our skiing experience fun! If the excitement of skiing wasn’t enough, the food was absolutely incredible! The evenings were filled with warmth and laughter and we feasted on a seemingly endless buffet. The variety meant we could try out new foods and really appreciate Italian cuisine (even if some of us favoured pasta and chips each night!). Mr McGuire still found a way to entertain us, as we all spent an evening watching a re-run of the staff pantomime, in which he so brilliantly starred. This ski trip wasn’t just about conquering slopes; it was about creating memories to last a lifetime, with races on the last day which brought out the competitive spirit in everyone! Afterwards, we all had hot chocolate and an ice cream, a reward for our week of much effort and laughter. It was a great way to become friends with lots of different people and was a week of pure magic!

An Adventure Through the Azores

Ami Oscroft (Upper Sixth) shares her experiences from the Geography trip to the Azores over the October half term:

Monday 30 October 2023 marked the start of the Geography trip to the Azores. Rising bright and early to be at school for 5.00 am, the group was found buzzing, in part due to excitement, but mainly from waiting in the cold before the coach arrived! Once onboard the coach, the group regained its high spirits and was ready to go through customs. We finally got on the plane to Lisbon and found the rest of the journey to the Azores to be very smooth. Upon arrival, we checked into our hotel and were delighted to stroll into gentle Ponta Delgada to get dinner. Certainly tired, we went straight to bed after this.

Our first day featured a visit to Furnas Valley, known for its geothermal activity. We visited the Caldera Lake Interpretation Centre and were most privileged to get a better insight to volcanoes in the Azores. We took a leisurely walk along the Furnas Lake, getting to see delightful scenery. Our second item on the agenda was to visit a botanical garden and see some of the dahlias in bloom which was unusual for this time of year - they must have known Farnborough Hill was visiting! That afternoon was spent in the Gorreana Tea Plantation. We got to try the hand picked tea and explore the gift shop. Our closing activity was seeing the oceans from the Santa Iria viewpoint.

North-West of São Miguel, we travelled to the Sete Cidades to view the twin lake located in the heart of a volcanic crater! We were most energetic when it came to seeing the thermal pools. A level students were able to experience the sulphur scent that had only been described previously in lessons. Some pupils even tried drinking the mineral water on the island to taste the iron from the surrounding rocks. The geographers were positively quaking at the excitement initiated by visiting the longest lava tunnel on São Miguel island!

Our last day was a sad one as no one particularly wanted to leave, but we started the day off in Lagos Do Fogo, seeing the highest crater on the island and getting to enjoy beautiful views and learn about the history of the area. We then went to the Caldeira Velha hot springs to see some more of the volcano’s creations on the island. Lastly, we went to a pineapple plantation and tried the local pineapple jam and fruits as well as learning about the way they grow.

We started our journey home at about 4.00 am, so were rather tired when leaving. After checking in luggage, our sleep deprived members took refuge on the floor of the airport, and, after our departure from Lisbon to London was delayed, we finally boarded and were able to return home. We are all extremely grateful for the opportunities we had in the Azores and incredible geography we were exposed to whilst out there, and thankful to the members of staff that made this happen.

Classics Pupils Conquer Pompeii,Vesuvius and Gelato!

Imagine strolling through the cobbled streets of Pompeii, where ancient Romans once walked. This is exactly what 47 Years 9 and 10 Classics pupils experienced on their unforgettable trip to Sorrento and its surrounding wonders at Easter 2024. The adventure began with an early start, fuelled by excitement and the promise of Neapolitan pizza for lunch. After landing in Naples, the group wasted no time before delving into history at Pozzuoli, exploring the awe-inspiring third-largest amphitheatre in Italy.

The next day, they journeyed to Pompeii, an ancient city frozen in time by volcanic ash. With the help of very informative guides, they navigated the ruined, cobbled streets, imagining the lives of the Romans who once walked these very paths. Climbing the observation tower offered a breathtaking panorama, solidifying the scale of this once-thriving metropolis. Herculaneum, a smaller yet equally impressive town, provided a different perspective on the eruption. Here, their guides led them round grand houses and even skeletons from the eruption. The drive up to Vesuvius presented idyllic views and the final walk was invigorating. It was exciting for the group to be at the top of a volcano, in the clouds, and was another tick off their bucket list. The final day left them captivated by the Naples Archaeological Museum. Housing treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum, they marvelled at sculptures, frescoes and mosaics, further enriching their understanding of the past. Each evening, the pupils embraced the charm of Sorrento, strolling through its picturesque streets. And of course, no Italian adventure is complete without indulging in food! After stringent taste-testing (a tough job!), they crowned pineapple gelato the champion.

R O UNDTHEWORLD

AA special thank you must go to the dedicated staff who made this trip unforgettable!

A Berlin Experience that Resonates

During the Easter holiday 2024 many History and German pupils embarked on a trip to Berlin. Upon arrival, an informative city tour provided a brief summary of the history of Berlin, highlighting key landmarks such as the university where over 20,000 books were burned in 1933 and the sobering remnants of the Berlin Wall. This created a general understanding of the long and turbulent history of Germany, setting the stage for a week of profound learning.

Day two took the pupils to Sachsenhausen, a former Nazi concentration camp. The sombre atmosphere resonated deeply, forcing the pupils to confront the horrific realities of the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. Touring the memorial and museum painted a vivid picture of the camp’s brutality and, although it was emotional, it was extremely informative and useful for pupils to see where the, mainly political, prisoners were kept. Their next stop, Hohenschönhausen, was a Stasi prison, turned memorial. Here, a powerful speaker shaped their imaginations, bringing history to life so that they could imagine the harsh realities faced by political prisoners under communist rule.

Trips planned for 2024 / 2025 and beyond include adventuring in Cambodia, art and culture in New York, sports in South Africa and science and mathematics at the NASA Space Centre in Florida!

The Berlin Wall Memorial on day three demanded the group’s physical and emotional presence. They walked along the graffiti-laden remnants - each artistic and political statement was so detailed. They then journeyed to the Wannsee Conference Hall. This beautiful building has a rich history, being the meeting place of 14 men who changed the course of history for several social groups affected by the Nazi regime, signing off on their ultimate elimination. The museum enabled pupils to understand how much power the men that met there had over millions of people.

Their exploration of Berlin’s dark past continued on day four with the Jewish Museum. Its powerful architecture mirrored the harrowing experiences endured by Jewish people under Nazi persecution. The Berlin Story Museum, through its interactive timeline, offered a view of the city’s rich history. Finally, the Topography of Terror, situated on the former Gestapo headquarters, emphasised the importance of learning from past atrocities. To lighten the mood, they ended the day with some well-deserved shopping and a fun dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.

The final day culminated with a trip to the Reichstag building. While they could not reach the top and look into the parliamentary chamber, the views were incredible. Standing within these walls, where pivotal decisions were made, instilled a sense of awe for Germany’s democratic journey. The entire trip was an enriching, immersive experience that brought German history, culture, and language to life.

The heart of the Hill

There is a reason the Chapel stands at the heart of Farnborough Hill: the values of the Catholic faith underpin the ethos of this incredible school, and have done so since 1889 when the first Sisters founded us. The faith is felt in small ways and big - in the daily interactions and in the important occasions and celebrations. This is just a snapshot of the bigger things because, well, the small things can be inferred from every other page within this magazine!

CAFOD CULTURE DAY

Each year, a small group of sixth formers apply for and earn a coveted spot as a CAFOD Young Leader. Throughout the year, they work to raise awareness of the work of CAFOD and to fundraise for those living in poverty. They are supported by CAFOD to become Young Leaders by attending various training days and networking with their peers from other schools. The students share stories about their fundraising endeavours and discuss the successes and pitfalls, learning from each other and honing their teamwork, planning and leadership skills. Alongside the more traditional events, including the annual simple pasta lunch (which raised a whopping £911.52 this year), the 2023 - 2024 Young Leaders held two new fun events at Farnborough Hill: a ‘Break the Rules’ day and, one which we hope is now a staple of the annual calendar, the first CAFOD Culture Day. Eesha Kaur (Lower Sixth) reported:

On Monday 29 April 2024, Farnborough Hill vibrated with the energy of its first ever Culture Day, spearheaded by our incredible CAFOD Young Leaders!

The day kicked off with an enriching Assembly. We were excited to welcome back Old Girls, Suchetha and Jaithra Manoj to perform an incredible Bollywood dance, filled with intricate and elegant moves and bucket loads of energy that lit up the room. Mr Adams led a heartfelt hymn sung in Italian, while Señora Camprubí-Reches’ rendition of Marc Anthony’s Vivir Mi Vida had us all swaying in our seats. And let’s not forget the Swing Band, led by Dr Taylor-Warwick, who brought the house down with their rendition of La Bamba.

CAFOD Young Leaders also gave a brief glimpse into our diverse backgrounds, making the Assembly a truly international celebration.

The cultural exchange continued at lunchtime! We battled it out in a “Culture Kahoot,” testing pupils’ knowledge of different countries and their traditions. The winning team not only triumphed in trivia but also scored the ultimate prize: first lunch for the entire week! The Refectory was transformed into a global village. Festooned with flags from around the world, the room buzzed with conversation as pupils savoured a special menu of food from around the globe, created by our fantastic Catering Team.

A huge thank you to everyone involved! This first ever Culture Day was a resounding success and we cannot wait for it to get even bigger and better in the years to come. Farnborough Hill, get ready to celebrate your global spirit every year!

Mass of the Holy Spirit Inspires the Community at Start of New School Year

On Friday 22 September 2023, our school community came together for the first time in the Chapel this academic year to celebrate Mass of the Holy Spirit. We extended an especially warm welcome to all new pupils and staff; we also welcomed Sister Elizabeth and Governors, and we welcomed back Fr Stephen Ortiger, OSB, who has many connections to Farnborough Hill and had generously driven up from East Preston on the coast to be with us for our special celebration.

The purpose of this Mass was to come together and ask for God’s blessing through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We offered our school as it is now, and we dedicated ourselves and this school year to God. May God be at the centre of all that we do, and all that we are, and may God bless our school community, the Sisters, our clergy, our families and friends, our work, our studies, and all our activities.

As we celebrated this Mass, it was nice to reflect upon our new altar cloth which has written Jesus’ words from the Gospel of John ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Light.’ Most of us present wrote the name of someone who has helped us along our journey or someone who may need our help. We know that Jesus works through us and our actions and words, so we prayed for those who have helped us and prayed that we too can be Jesus’ hands, feet and love that our school and our world so needs. We gave thanks to Mrs Denise Brennan, Ms Bev Routledge and all the pupils and staff who contributed to this Altar Cloth.

A Reflective Lenten Mass

Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, and good works in preparation for the celebration of Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Since Ash Wednesday fell during our half term holiday this year, we came together as a school for a reflective Lenten Mass on Friday 23 February 2024, celebrating the first full week of Lent.

We welcomed the Right Reverend Dom Cuthbert Brogan, OSB, and Brother Richard Hawker to preside and serve at our Whole School Eucharistic Celebration. Abbot Cuthbert reminded everyone about the importance of Lent; a time of spiritual ‘spring cleaning’ of ourselves. We began the Mass with the hymn, Forty Days and Forty Nights. This hymn reminds us of the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness praying, fasting and preparing for his public ministry; similarly we focus on our prayer life and eliminate habits that distract us from fully becoming the person God calls us to be during our forty days of Lent.

Director of Music, Mr Joseph Adams, conducted the Senior Choir, while Mr Patrick Martin played the organ leading our entire School Community in beautiful hymns of worship. We had nine Altar Servers in Years 7 - 9 and the Year 9 pupils read the First Reading and Bidding prayers, and brought forward the bread and wine at the Offertory. We are grateful to all who made this reflective Lenten Mass possible.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

For the Feast of the Sacred Heart, we were blessed to have Fr Anthony Lobo, SDB return to the Hill to preside at our Whole School Mass. Fr Anthony is the local parish priest at Our Lady and St Dominic’s Church in Farnborough. As a Salesian of Don Bosco, he has a passion for young people and is gifted at engaging our pupils in the Mass and gospel message. He is also an academic who taught Communications at the University of Rome and speaks numerous languages. He is a native of India, but is definitely feeling at home in Farnborough now. We are always grateful to have him visit us at Farnborough Hill. As always, we were blessed to also have the Senior Choir leading us in beautiful hymns thanks to the efforts of Mr Joseph Adams, Director of Music, and Mr Patrick Martin, Teacher of Music and organist. Our Year 8 pupils read eloquently making us all very proud. Finally, our dedicated Altar Servers in Years 7 - 9 took their roles seriously and showed such reverence as they helped in the Mass. We must say a big thank you to Mrs Jennifer Thompson, mother of alumnae, Jemma Thompson, who travels to Farnborough Hill to arrange our gorgeous flowers. A huge thank you to all who contributed to our Mass - especially those behind the scenes!

Each Year Group within the School enjoyed their own off-timetable Retreat during the year, where they spent the day learning and reflecting on a particular piece of scripture.

From Year 7 coming together to explore the theme ‘We are all one body, but many parts’ (1 Corinthians 12:12) to Year 10 experiencing an immersive journey led by Rise Theatre to consider who they are and who God has created them to be, each Retreat message was chosen with the girls’ particular life stages in mind.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

Our Farnborough Hill community joined Christians around the world in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18 – 25 January 2024), marking it with a Whole School Service in the Chapel. Our Head Girl, Suhana Tiwari (Upper Sixth), and one of our Deputy Head Girls, Hannah Friend (Upper Sixth), welcomed everyone and gave a brief explanation of this Week of Prayer.

The theme this year was ‘You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself’ taken from the Gospel of Luke. Brothers and Sisters from the Catholic Church, Protestant Churches, ecumenical bodies and the CCN in Burkina Faso came together to choose this theme based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The Liturgy began with an opening prayer, the Ambassadors of Christian Ethos, fellow Upper Sixth students Isobel Hailey and Akshayaa Maheswaran read a penitential reflection and Lower Sixths Tabitha Adams, Bethan Burrows and Lucy Sugden read the Gospel.

During the time of reflection, we focused on the question ‘Who is our neighbour?’ and challenged those present to keep our eyes open to those who might be on the fringes, or lonely, or going through a difficult time. These ‘neighbours’ do not have to live in nearby houses, rather they can be people right here in our school community, in our corridors and lessons. Pupils helped pass out plasters that were placed inside each person’s House Book, and everyone was asked to write, ‘Neighbour?’ as a reminder to be aware of those around us who may need our time, care and love.

LAUDATO SI’ WEEK

On 24 May 2015, Pope Francis wrote an encyclical about our ecological and climate crises called Laudato Si’ in which he called all people to take action and care for creation, ‘our common home’. Each of us has the responsibility and the power to make change and live in ways that are sustainable, and during this week, every year is a particular opportunity for us to consider how we can care for our ‘suffering planet’ (LD 2).

Mrs Maria Young led an assembly on this theme, arriving in the school Chapel by bicycle, and challenged us to explore simple but effective ways in which to take action: ‘just one thing’ for each day of the Laudato Si’ week.

Year 8 thought about how they are ‘Uniquely and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139) when they celebrated their gifts and intrinsic value on their Retreat day.

Upper Sixth students relived memories from their time at Farnborough Hill on their final Retreat.

JOURNEYING TOWARDS HOPE...

If we consider the circumstances of people globally or merely read a few headlines in the news, we observe a world filled with division, violence, wars, decline of our natural environment, poverty-stricken communities, lasting effects of the corona virus pandemic, and various generations struggling with mental health. What a grim reality! It can certainly leave us in a place of despair. Hence why Pope Francis has chosen the theme, Pilgrims of Hope, for the Catholic Jubilee Year starting on 1 December 2024. He encourages us by saying,

We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire;

As a way of preparation for this Holy Year, we have been asked to take part in a ‘Year of Prayer’ (which started in January 2024). This ‘Year of Prayer’ is the warm-up for the Holy Year and offers an opportunity for me and our Farnborough Hill Community to reflect upon prayer. We pray in many ways at Farnborough Hill: Form Time prayers, assemblies, House liturgies, Retreat days, Masses and hymn practices, not to mention by using our opportunities of learning, performing, competing and flourishing into successful, well-rounded young people who care for others. Our life is and can be a prayer if we are using our gifts to create a better world.

‘But why do we pray?’ The only way to answer ‘why we pray’ is to explain the purpose of prayer, or the ‘what.’

Growing up Catholic in the United States, I was taught a clear definition that, ‘Prayer is the lifting up of minds and hearts to God.’ In essence, we are taking time out of our busy schedules to connect and be with the Holy One who created us, loves us, and wants us to know of and respond to this love.

So if prayer is about connecting ourselves to the life-giving love of God, do we only ‘plug-in’ because our batteries are low and we need a boost? Fr William Barry, SJ asked this question in another way: ‘Do we pray for utilitarian reasons?’ If I am answering honestly for myself, ‘yes.’ I feel better when I pray – the same reason I try to eat healthily and exercise regularly. I pray when I’m feeling overwhelmed, anxious, saddened about circumstances or events. I do also pray and say ‘thank you’ when things go particularly well!

Fr Bill Barry, SJ encourages us to think of prayer as a ‘conscious relationship, or friendship, with God.’ We may feel better when we spend time with our friends, but we do not spend time with them purely because it makes us feel better. We spend time with our friends despite being busy or tired. We share their celebrations as well as grief, not because we gain anything, but because we love them. In the same way, we pray, because of our deep desire for love. And God is love.

There are many ways to pray, but music is a way that helps me lift my mind and heart to God. The 1970s song, ‘What the world needs now, is love, sweet love’ captures my prayer here and now. Perhaps what we really need is time to stop, unplug from the world and re-charge by connecting our hearts and minds to the ultimate source of love. When we are connected to this love, then we can see ourselves and others the way God sees us — with eyes of love and compassion. I am fully aware that my personal prayer is not going to erase all of the world’s problems overnight; it does, however, offer me a sense of hope. If we could all see one another with love and compassion, it certainly could transform us personally and our world.

Mrs Nelle Dalton, Chaplain

FROM CLASSROOM TO COMMUNITY: HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

It is important to make a difference in the world. In fact, we now have scientific proof that the more we care and cater for the happiness of our friends, families and communities, the happier we become as individuals. Making a difference in our communities promotes self-fulfilment and a more enriched, positive outlook on life; focusing on bringing people together with one goal, improving the lives of others in our communities, and making valuable changes to positively impact the lives of those around us. This commitment takes root in our classrooms and extends outward. From the classroom to the community, the strong values and dedication that the staff and pupils share in order to create the most meaningful differences is evident. RE-Act, a unique Sixth Form enrichment, exemplifies this spirit. Weekly meetings bring students and staff together to brainstorm impactful initiatives, ranging from creating “positivity posters” to honouring the legacy of our founding Religious of Christian Education Sisters without whom our gorgeously diverse school community would never have been possible.

Our pupils go beyond the classroom, actively contributing to the lives of others. Dedicated volunteers devote their time and embody the School’s ethos ‘wholeheartedly’ by assisting asylum seekers, aiding them with English language skills and easing their transition to a new life. Additionally, each of our five school Houses champions a chosen charity, raising awareness and funds for causes close to their hearts. This culminates in our annual Christmas Bazaar, uniting the entire school community in a spirit of giving. Pupils, parents and staff band together, taking pleasure in donating gifts, helping to run the stalls and raising funds to assist the House charities in their vital work.

The Junior Leadership Team (JLT) also run the Sixth Form Charity Week, where revenue is raised through various enjoyable activities, such as sponsored staff football, and Farnborough Hill’s own version of a lip-sync battle, featuring numerous members of staff who throw themselves out of their comfort zones, learning dance routines and pop songs to entertain the rest of the school community. Recognising the importance of inclusivity, our JLT actively promotes diversity awareness in our community. This includes raising awareness about various cultures, identities, and disabilities, assisting in creating a welcoming environment where all pupils feel empowered to be themselves and access support when needed. Far beyond the Sixth Form, every pupil has the opportunity to make a difference. Through avenues like the School Council and the Social Justice Club, even younger pupils have their voices heard and contribute to positive change.

The School community also recognises its responsibility towards the environment. Collaborative efforts have led to initiatives like replacing food containers with fully recyclable materials, implementing paper waste reduction programmes, and even introducing beehives to promote biodiversity and sustainability on the School grounds.

Farnborough Hill is a vibrant school community, united by strong values and a shared desire to make the world a better place, standing testament to the power of collective action. Our staff and pupils’ unwavering passion to making a difference truly sets Farnborough Hill apart.

SIXTH FORM SVP CASH FOR KIDS’ FUNDRAISER

Christmas should be a time of great joy and celebration, a break from the norm to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to be with our families.

Unfortunately, for many suffering with the cost of living crisis, Christmas brings new levels of stress and uncertainty for families. Many families are unable to afford food and heating, let alone Christmas presents for their children.

At the beginning of this school year, the Sixth Form St Vincent de Paul team decided that this was an issue that they would like to address and that, ultimately,

they loved the idea of helping some of those children to receive gifts at Christmas. After some research the group discovered the charity ‘Cash For Kids’, which is a UK-based charity which aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people affected by poverty, illness and neglect. Over the course of 2022, Cash for Kids raised £20.4 million and supported 489,409 children across the country.

Cash For Kids runs an event every year called ‘Mission Christmas’ where they ask for donations of items that can be gifted to families in need, so that their children will have presents to open on Christmas Day. Thoroughly inspired by the idea, the SVP team

Arilyn Streeter (Lower Sixth)

24-HOUR ENDURANCE CHALLENGE

On Friday 15 March 2024, a sea of red t-shirts and boundless enthusiasm flooded the Sports Hall as Year 11 embarked on the now-legendary 24-hour Endurance Challenge to raise money for Comic Relief. It has become tradition that each year, a group of Year 11 pupils take part in this mission. With so many eager to take part this year, the 31 pupils divided themselves into five groups and kept three bikes and two crosstrainers moving continuously for the full 24 hours, all while raising funds for those in poverty.

The day started on a high note. Everyone was excited and united, not just pedalling for themselves, but for those who needed it most. Time flew by in a blur of activity. Between conquering the machines, the girls sank baskets on the court, practiced handstands and busted a few dance moves.

Lunchtime brought a welcome wave of support from the School community. Various members of staff also stepped up, taking shifts on the equipment. In return, Year 11 fired up the fundraising engine with a cake sale, basketball shoot-out, guess the number of sweets in the jar and more!

By evening, parents and teachers joined the cheering squad, celebrating the girls’ progress. The fun continued throughout the night and with dawn came the promise of the finish line. This challenge is not just about physical endurance but about teamwork.

The pupils pushed themselves further than they thought possible, all whilst receiving support from our school community.

The group pulled together to reach a fantastic 180% of their original target, raising £5,406! A huge thank you to everyone who donated, spread the word and especially to the amazing teaching staff who gave their time and unwavering support. Mr Daniel Emery, Miss Naomi Wilcock, Miss Naomi Lynch, Miss Rebecca Hartnett and Mrs Emily Harrison: you made this possible.

organised a donation collection inviting each Year Group in the School to bring in suitable gifts for a designated age group.

Farnborough Hill’s wonderful compassion and generosity shone through, and the SVP were blessed with many donations; enough to fully fill six huge boxes with gifts. On a bright Monday in December 2023, the Sixth Form were met by a group of warm, friendly volunteers who they helped to fill their van. It was an honour for the girls to help this cause, and they hoped with warm hearts that their donations would help those children in need to have a wonderful Christmas.

SIXTH FORM CHARITY WEEK

The third week in March 2024 was Sixth Form Charity Week, and so it was filled with events to raise money for three chosen charities: MND Association, The John Muir Trust and Sasha’s Project. These are all charities that support causes close to our hearts and we are so grateful for all the support that we have received.

On Monday, bad weather did not suspend play as the Staff vs Sixth Form Rounders match was changed into a Volleyball match instead. With music playing, spectators seated, and a large bake sale close by, the match began. Some would say that you would just have to be there to witness the athletic prowess and others would simply tell you to picture a battle of the titans. As of now, the true winner of the match is still under contention. Either way, it was highly competitive and thank you so much to all who participated and came to watch!

Tuesday brought the whole school Treasure Hunt and a clear call to many pupils to take up code breaking. The various clues took the teams from the School Nurse to the PE Department to reveal an anagram of LIBRARY which was the final destination. The prize of a ‘Sol de Janeiro’ giftset proved to be tempting and enthusiasm remained high in all the groups.

On Wednesday we held a Mufti Day with the theme of blue and orange, the charity colours of MND Association. Everyone really made an effort and searched their wardrobes to find each colour and a special shoutout must go to Mr McCready for having blue and orange striped trainers!

After many weeks of choreography and rehearsals, Thursday finally provided staff with the opportunity to demonstrate their talent in the Lip-Sync Battle. The crowd arrived with high expectations and the hit music, sparkly outfits and innovative dance moves did not disappoint! In the end, it was our virtual noise-o-meter which determined the winners to be the SLT+ team with their delightful performance of I’m Just Ken. Thank you so much to all who participated as I know it took a lot of time and effort and they all certainly made for an entertaining watch!

‘Break the Rules Day’ was long-awaited and did not disappoint! Organised by the CAFOD Young Leaders, it provided an opportunity to break some of the most disputed school rules. Many colourful highlights and drop earrings could be seen and Sixth Form took it one step further by having a pyjama day! Sadly, Sixth Form Charity Week 2024 eventually came to an end but, thank you so much to everyone who came to any of the bake sales or purchased a ticket for the raffle. Your actions held true to Farnborough Hill’s mission to make a positive impact on our community. And finally, a massive thank you to all the people who helped to make the events of this charity week possible.

Suhana Tiwari (Head Girl)

House Spirit: Beyond Colours and Cheers

Have you ever wondered what makes our school spirit truly special? What binds our community together and offers the pupils a way to build friendships across all the Year Groups? The House system plays a significant part of life here on the Hill. From looking at shared experiences and competitions, to exploring the inspiring story behind our House names, our five Houses are at the heart of all we do at Farnborough Hill.

Our journey begins with a look back at our history. The Houses you know today – Bickford, Dutertre, McCormack, Mostyn, and Roantree – weren’t always the same. In 2020, a group of girls from the Social Justice Group (the Class of 2025) led a revolutionary change, renaming the Houses to honour inspirational women who shaped Farnborough Hill’s legacy. More than just colours and cheers, these names honour remarkable women who shaped our school’s legacy. From Sister Dutertre, who led the first Sisters, to passionate Headmistresses like Mother Roantree and Sister McCormack, they represent the very spirit we strive for – collaboration, leadership and a sense of belonging.

But House spirit is more than just names and history. It is about the laughter echoing during Sports Day, the cheers of support at the Talent Show and the friendships forged through shared experiences. As well as cheering in the stands or wearing your House colours with pride, being in a House is about belonging to something bigger, a second family within the School where you can make lifelong friendships and discover hidden talents. Dedicated staff guide and cheer you on, fostering a positive spirit of competition. Every girl feels a fierce, passionate loyalty to their House, believing it is the absolute best! This friendly rivalry fuels teamwork, teaches gracious winning and losing, and helps to prepare you for the world beyond school.

Billie Deighton (Upper Sixth)

HOUSE QUIZ

The end of the Christmas Term brought the most hotly contested competition of 2023 – the annual Inter-House Quiz. Masterminded by the inimitable Mr Emanuele Maccherini, Head of Bickford House, and his House Captains Emily Searle and Hayden Toon, and run by the Heads of House and House Captains, a great time was had by all. Mixed Year Group teams answered questions on Christmas films and Christmas traditions around the world and identified snippets of Christmas songs before enjoying a round which asked them to identify which desk belonged to which of their teachers.

HOUSE SHOWCASE

The House Showcase was the next big event on the House calendar. All the Houses shone in vibrant colours and fine voice as the acts encompassed impressive singing and dancing and skill shown on the violin and piano.

For the first time, the event incorporated a fashion show involving House teams creating clothing from scratch that was then modelled on a catwalk. The results were stunning. Mrs Denise Brennan is to be thanked, in particular, for her tireless work in advising and encouraging the teams in preparing their fashion items. Again, a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the multitude of gifts held in our wonderful school community.

MASTERCHEF

Excitement was in the air as all five Houses went head-to-head in the highly anticipated annual MasterChef competition, organised by Dutertre House. Representatives from each House in Years 7 - 10 teamed up to battle it out in the kitchen and bake a delectable mac and cheese and a set of six scrumptious scones.

While everyone received the same ingredients and instructions, creativity reigned supreme. Teams added their own unique twists to elevate their dishes. For the mac and cheese, some opted for classic garnishes like tomato and parsley, while others boldly incorporated them into the sauce for deeper flavour. The scone competition got equally creative, with teams whipping up their own Chantilly cream. Presentation flourished too, with each House highlighting their signature touches - the irresistible golden crisp on the mac and cheese or the delightful burst of strawberries nestled in the cream.

HOUSE SPEAKING

Years 7 to 9 assembled in the Hall at the end of the Summer Term 2024 for the annual Inter-House Public Speaking Competition. Old Girl, Annabel Brydon (2022), led the judging with the help of some of our Lower Sixth and together they posed some challenging questions to the speakers. The entire audience also kept score and listened intently to the original and compelling arguments put together by each of the House teams on a brilliantly broad spectrum of topics.

Everyone received a certificate for participating and for having prepared such a high standard of speeches over many months during lunchtime club coached by Mrs Winch-Johnson. In particular, Orla Courtney (Year 7) – who used no notes – was given Best Speaker while Sophie McFee (Year 8) was awarded the Best Chairman.

HOUSE SPORTS DAY

On Monday 1 July 2024, the entire school gathered on the Cloisters Lawn for a barbecue, the perfect kick-off to the much-anticipated Inter-House Sports Afternoon. The aroma of sizzling burgers and sweet ice cream filled the air and, fully fuelled, everyone descended upon the Athletics Field, where enthusiastic parents had already claimed their spots on picnic blankets, their furry companions adding to the cheerful atmosphere.

The festivities commenced with Lucy’s Loop, a heart-warming relay encircling the grounds in fond memory of cherished Old Girl, Lucy Pygott. Girls from every Year Group ran together, weaving through the grounds in a display of unity and school spirit.

This set the stage for a thrilling array of sporting events, from explosive leaps at the High Jump to the focused determination of Shot Put throws, exhilarating sprints and lung-busting long-distance runs. It was impossible not to be captivated by the girls’ unwavering effort and infectious smiles.

No Farnborough Hill event is complete without fierce competition! Each House boasted talented representatives who battled it out in every event. To keep the energy high, food stalls overflowed with icy treats, doughnuts and hot chocolate - the long lines a testament to their popularity! The afternoon ended with the legendary Staff vs Sixth Form event, this year a four by 100 metre relay. Spurred on by a long standing rivalry between the PE staff and sixth formers, the event was eventually won in style by Mr Dan Emery, Mr Scott Temple, Mr Aaron McGuire and Mr Bobby Varley.

At the end of the afternoon, points were tallied and Mostyn claimed the Sports House Cup! A heartfelt thank you goes to the PE Department and our phenomenal sixth formers, who tirelessly ensured everything ran seamlessly and everyone had a blast. As the academic year drew to a close, the afternoon served as a perfect reminder of the joy of community. It was a beautiful sight to see everyone united, relishing a well-deserved break filled with laughter and friendly competition.

It has been a year of hard work, cheers, and friendly competition across five House events but Roantree House finally stands tall as House Cup champions for 2023 - 2024! The competition was particularly close, with Mostyn, last year’s victors, placing a strong second. We eagerly anticipate another year of exciting competition next year!

Future Proofing Skill Sets

This a question that educationalists perpetually ask themselves: What skills should we be promoting in schools, in order that today’s children are ready for the unknown challenges of tomorrow’s employment market? Robotics, data management, globalisation, IT and AI have profoundly changed the way the world of work operates, with one of the few constants in all these areas being an exponential growth rate. How, then, can we give pupils meaningful training in skills that are likely to be superseded before we have even had time to embed them within our curricula? The debate between skills-based and knowledge-based education has been around for decades, and I have experienced various iterations of examination syllabuses that emphasise one or the other, as various governments have sought to put their stamp on the discussion. The clear answer, to me, is that you can’t have one without the other – it’s one reason why I studied Music: as a degree subject, it offered an exciting balance between academic knowledge and practical skills.

Each academic department will reflect regularly on the skills, habits and values that they seek to develop through their subject, so that the holistic education and the social, emotional and psychological growth of every single pupil is being promoted. That teaching mindset helps to prevent an excessively ‘bunkered’ teaching of individual subject disciplines, something which is still all too prevalent in schools, especially as pupils progress towards public examinations. Times are changing, however, and universities are developing some fascinating degrees that promote interconnected thinking across traditionally separate disciplines. One such example is Cambridge’s new Design Tripos, which merges the study of Arts and Sciences with the aim of promoting the ability to solve the complex challenges facing the world today and into the future. Mental flexibility and agility, project-based work, a fearless creativity that is unafraid to take risks in pursuit of sustainable and effective solutions and resilience in the face of challenge are all vital skills that such ‘cross-curricular’ learning promotes. Over the next decade, we are likely to live through the next big change in education: the Government intends to roll out the new qualification framework for 16 to 18-year-olds: the Advanced British Standard. Whilst the exact shape of the new ABS is currently under consultation, it will aim to offer a more inclusive, joined-up and relevant learning experience, combining the best of A levels and T levels, requiring some level of Mathematics and English study for all until the age of 18 and offering greater breadth via a Baccalaureate-style menu of ‘major’ and ‘minor’ subjects. Critical thinking, teamwork and skills that range beyond those traditionally taught in the classroom are intended to equip learners with the kind of attitudes, habits and skills that will carry them forward with confidence, and be more ready for the modern workplace,

whatever that might look like.

We must ensure that our pupils internalise the values, habits and mindsets that will help them to thrive and to make a meaningful contribution in their future lives. We must work on developing a genuine growth mindset, so that they do not limit their own ambitions nor place limits on others. As reflective learners, they will understand that there is usually more than one way to approach a problem and that failing is just a normal part of any development journey. We need to encourage our girls to be courageous, to speak up and to be unafraid to make themselves heard in the workplace: I believe that a single sex school is uniquely able to develop this inner confidence, providing a safe space in which to experiment, make mistakes and bounce back.

A school such as Farnborough Hill, with a lively sense of the importance of ethical debate, will develop in its pupils an awareness of and an ability to respond to the major ethical and ecological questions of today – and tomorrow. This is something in which Catholic schools are traditionally strong, and I will be looking for opportunities to grow the excellent work already under way here, for example through the MUN. I want all our girls to feel intellectually and emotionally involved with the complex challenges facing our world: an emphasis on Catholic Social Teaching means that our pupils will realise their own agency to effect change.

I am ambitious for the whole Farnborough Hill community, and I want everyone in it to share that sense of ambition, both individually and as part of the team. I am ambitious not just for academic aspiration, but also in terms of character education, which is central to my vision for the school. By educating for character – promoting leadership, developing our rich and diverse community, encouraging co-curricular excellence, emphasising service, growing resilience and raising aspirations for all – we are continuing to live out the Catholic, holistic vision of the school’s founding Sisters in a way that has more relevance for today’s world of work than ever before. I will look for every opportunity to bridge the gap between school and the world of work by inviting alumnae and parents to share skills and insights with current pupils, less for the precise skills and experiences that will be shared but more for developing the sense that nothing is impossible, that the future is more exciting than ever before and that there is a warm and welcoming Farnborough Hill alumnae community that will be delighted to play their part in developing the next generation.

Mrs Maria Young, Headmistress

Morrisby Sessions

Throughout a week in September 2023,Year 11 met individually with careers advisors to talk about our Morrisby results. The Morrisby tests are taken online and help you find your strengths and weaknesses, assess your personality and offer career suggestions. During my session, we discussed my current interests, favourite subjects, and hobbies. We then explored all the possible A level options that I was considering and had a closer look at the career suggestions. We also looked at other results and features of the Morrisby test including aptitudes and work style. In my case, the Morrisby test was very accurate in identifying my strengths in relation to the career path I would like to follow. This was very encouraging for me because I know that I am choosing subjects that will continue to bring out the best of my abilities. I am now clearer on the subjects I want to study at A level and looking forward to progressing in my studies. I found the advisors supportive, knowledgeable and professional. Overall, this session was very beneficial and informative. I gained more knowledge and clarity on the different career paths available to me. I was also reassured that some of my career suggestions do not need to be taken too seriously!

Bestselling Author Tim Marshall Shares Insightful Perspectives at ThinkTank Extra

On a Thursday evening in November 2023, we were delighted to welcome Tim Marshall to Farnborough Hill to give us a talk on geopolitics. A Sunday Times Bestsellers List author, he is best known for his book The Prisoners of Geography, which has sold over two million copies worldwide.

Speaking to around 120 pupils and parents, his very informative talk on global politics described how countries increasing in power could influence global activities in the near future. He explained why countries function in the way that they do, why countries want certain areas of land, and potential issues they could encounter as the world develops, which certainly provided a lot of food for thought. Tim also talked about the world’s growing desire to explore space, and the growth of astropolitics. He explained that NASA aims to land a man and a woman on the Moon in 2026, and the competition between countries to dominate the Moon in order to access its resources. Tim believes that in the future, the Moon could be used as a launchpad to other planets such as Mars and beyond, bringing many science-fiction novels to life!

Psychopharmacologist Leads Insight Into... Session

Insight Into... sessions offer pupils an opportunity to hear first-hand about a particular career path.With careers suggested by the pupils themselves, these small-group workshops really let our girls delve deep into a particular career. One such session was an Insight Into... Pharmaceuticals, attended by a group of Year 11 pupils and led by Dr Andria Degia-Davies. Dr Degia-Davies explained why and how she became a psychopharmacologist and told the group about the routes that they could take to get into psychology. She delved into the difference between psychology and pharmaceuticals and how her job bridges the gap between them. She explained what her job involves; talking to both scientists and patients to help collaboration between them to create the best medical solution. The group also discussed the different jobs that she has had over the years, including working at a drug rehabilitation centre and with children with a terminal illness. Year 11 learnt how drugs are developed and tested, a process which involves 15 - 20 years of trials. The first phase of testing is in laboratories on biological tissues, next on animals such as rats and then on humans. Some of the drugs that Dr Degia-Davies personally oversaw included a particularly successful one for breast cancer. Dr Degia-Davies’ passion and enthusiasm for her career was inspiring and has influenced the pupils to consider a career in pharmaceuticals.

Sophie Maguire (Year 11)

Alumnae Panel: Unveiling Diverse Paths in Medicine

Our fantastic network of Old Girls are always keen to inspire the next generation. During a Senior Assembly organised by the Junior Leadership Team, both Franki Oliver (2011) and Charlotte Came (2012) visited to discuss the wide range of careers available in medicine.

Franki currently works as an audiologist at the RNIB and Charlotte works as a cognitive behavioural therapist. The guests spoke of how they had chosen their specialisms, and they also discussed the moral issues behind the private sector vs the NHS. The speakers shared the main advice that they would give to their 15-year-old selves which was not to worry too much as things tend to fall into place and to just keep focused on what it is that you enjoy.

Junior Assembly

Careers Fair Brings Together Diverse Professionals and 130 Families

Over 130 families attended the biennial Careers Fair, held in March 2024. This event offered a one-stop shop for exploring a whole range of exciting career options and brought together a diverse range of 56 professionals from 39 different companies, professions and careers, all eager to share their insights and experiences. We counted many parents and Old Girls among the exhibitors and could not have put on such an inspirational showcase of careers without them!

Whether pupils are already laser-focused on a specific path or still wide-eyed with possibilities, the Careers Fair was the perfect opportunity to be inspired, to ask questions and for some, to discover something that ignites their passion.

Following the success of the Senior Assembly Old Girls’ Panel, we were fortunate to host Miss Stephanie Dobbin (2015), the Old Girls’ Association President, Miss Gaby Pickering (2015) and Miss Samantha Kennedy (1991) for our Junior Assembly. Taking a broader look at Careers, Stephanie raised awareness of the support from the Old Girls’ network, while Gabby and Samantha gave a talk about the ‘squiggly’ career route. Their valued advice was the importance of choosing what you love and not being afraid to change the direction of your path.

ThinkTank Extra – Dr Martens

ThinkTank talks have long been a staple at Farnborough Hill, bringing in speakers from a vast number of careers over the years. New for this academic year, the ThinkTank Extra talks allow parents to come along too, to hear from some fabulous speakers with interesting jobs.

On Tuesday 7 May 2024, Ms Caitlin Smith joined us for one such ThinkTank Extra to discuss the sustainability strategy at Dr Martens - a legendary British brand who have a huge fanbase among the Farnborough Hill pupils! As a Business student it was very enlightening to hear how such an iconic company is ensuring their sustainability (and that this is a growing need for a business) but also how important it is to correctly market your products so that customers are aware of what they are buying.

It was lovely to see everybody getting involved at the end of the talk and asking questions to Caitlin, some of them even wearing their DMs!

Experiencing the Jobs Market

Experiences of the world of work are a fantastic way for pupils to gain insights into a career, grow professional confidence and develop transferable skills. Many of our pupils partake in paid employment and volunteering which further add to their experiences of work. We asked Lulu Laurie in Year 11, to share with us her involvement and encounters of the work place.

Since I was in Year 9, I have been interested in finding out about different careers and jobs. I have been fortunate to be able to carry out a small amount of work experience at my mum’s work, which is a veterinary practice. I also volunteer at a local Girlguiding Brownie unit, which I have found really interesting. This has helped me develop skills such as listening and communication, problem solving, time management and attention to detail. Through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, both Bronze and Silver, I have also volunteered for a total of 18 months at a local wildlife centre.

I have recently completed a NPLQ Lifeguarding qualification, and I am going through the induction process for a job as a qualified lifeguard. I am very excited about this and look forward to taking on the responsibility. By adding my transferable skills and achievements to my CV as I get them, this will help me in the future and enables me to keep track of everything I have learnt and experienced. Ms West, our Careers and Alumnae Officer, has been a great help when aiding me with this.

Lulu Laurie (Year 11)

Volunteering: A Powerful Way to Learn and Grow

Volunteering can be defined as ‘to do something for other people willingly and without being paid to do it’ (Cambridge English Dictionary). Being able to contribute to a social cause is very rewarding and you have the power to create a lasting positive impact on others and yourself. It is an important part of my life and I have outlined below just some of the ways in which I have benefitted.

Fulfilment

Volunteering is very rewarding as there are so many opportunities to help others. Whilst volunteering at First Days Children’s Charity, I felt satisfied knowing the time I had spent sorting through clothes donations and cleaning second-hand shoes in the warehouse meant that they could be accessed by those who needed them most. During lockdown, I felt a sense of achievement as I knew I was making a positive difference by attending calls with isolated older individuals for the charity Kissing It Better, and felt fulfilled knowing I had made their day a bit brighter. After fundraising, it feels very rewarding knowing that you contributed in some way to a total fund and in turn are making a positive difference to people’s lives.

Enjoyment

Volunteering can be very entertaining as there is always something you can do to help out so that you are kept busy. I found working at the cash point during a First Days fundraiser sale both a fun and new experience. I enjoyed interacting and chatting with the customers, adding up the sum of the items they were purchasing, and using a card reader. It was great to work with other volunteers as we each had different stations; one person would pack the items into bags, another would put on price labels and someone else would be hanging up clothes to be sold on the shop floor. Working together collaboratively to achieve a target is very satisfying. My love of Netball has also offered me the chance to volunteer as I sometimes help to umpire at training sessions, which is good fun, and means players can enjoy quality gameplay.

Social Benefits

You often get to meet new people of a variety of ages and backgrounds (whether virtually or in person) which can help you have a new outlook on the world. Whilst volunteering at Kissing it Better, I found it very insightful to hear stories from care home residents about their childhoods, and this reminded me how rich and unique people’s lives are. It was beautiful to hear residents singing and sharing their passions and getting to know other volunteers is lovely, knowing we are united through our voluntary work. I also enjoyed sharing my poetry which I wrote out and decorated and sent to some care homes during lockdown alongside reading stories via Zoom, which allowed me to connect with the elderly residents. Volunteering can give you the opportunity to share your passions and volunteering locally helps strengthen a sense of community.

Raising Money

Volunteering for a charity and helping with fundraising or raising awareness allows you to help others. During the First Days fundraiser, the money raised meant more people could access essentials such as school uniforms, toiletries and baby clothes. I am looking forward to raising money for CAFOD as part of the CAFOD Young Leaders programme, as I know this will help so many vulnerable people across the world.

There are so many valuable life skills that you can learn through volunteering. Communicating with your fellow volunteers is important to ensure everyone is on the same page. Leadership and teamwork can be developed as you and other volunteers work together to acheive a common goal such as cleaning a local area - everyone’s contribution is important and valued. Another skill you learn is organisation / planning skills, particularly if you are organising an event to fundraise or raise awareness. Problem-solving is also a key skill if something unexpected were to happen - maybe some posters have not been printed or a deadline has not been met and you need to adapt and come up with a creative solution which is a valuable life-skill. In my experience at First Days, there have been clothes unsuitable for donation, but by using textile recycling instead of throwing clothes away, this has been solved. Volunteering has enriched my life a great deal and I encourage you all to experiment and find the right volunteering opportunities for you. You will more than likely gain far more than you give.

Gabriella Becerra (Lower Sixth)

Art

Being inspired by fellow artists is a hugely important element of any budding Picasso’s journey and the Art Department certainly know where to find such inspiration. Each Year Group is taken on an Art-based trip to delight the eyes and stimulate the creative brain, resulting in some stunning pieces of work and even more fabulous memories of a day out with friends.

Year 7s enjoyed a day of artistic exploration at Kew Gardens on Tuesday 12 March 2024. They had a wonderful day meandering through the gardens and completing various activities with drawing and photography. Unfortunately, the weather was not on their side, but that did not dampen spirits or impede the experience of finding inspiration within the beautiful nature surrounding them.

When we arrived at Kew Gardens, the first thing we did

was take in all of the beautiful flowers and plants there. Our first activity was some warm-up drawings including a nondominant hand drawing, a continuous line drawing and a blind drawing, for which we were only allowed to look at the plants we were drawing and not the paper.

After lunch, we went to the Marianne North Gallery to draw pictures in her style of art which was very interesting and fun to do.

Finally, we went to one of the greenhouses to take photos of the beautiful plants and to find and take pictures of plants that looked like the letters of our name. I really enjoyed it, even though it was very humid in there! I had a great time overall even with all the rain and would love to go there again!

Holly Hall (Year 7)

Year 8 found their muse on a trip to Southampton City Art Gallery. Sophie McFee (Year 8) reported: On Tuesday 28 November 2023, Year 8 visited Southampton City Art Gallery. When we arrived in Southampton, there were multiple activities available to us. My group started with the guided tour which focused mainly on the Arctic exhibition, by Julian Grater. We saw some of his paintings and photos which showed us the impact of global warming and made us realise the power

art has on us. Our guide told us that artists often use red in their paintings because it extends the image, and it turns out the human eye cannot see red very well from a far distance. In fact, we were told that it is actually the dust that makes sunsets red! As well as that, we learnt some interesting new words such as crepuscular, sublime and moribund! After the tour, we participated in a workshop in which we drew portraits of the teachers using different techniques. Some of these included chalk, ink, charcoal, continuous line drawing, contour drawing, and we even drew using our non-dominant hand, which proved rather difficult! Finally, after lunch we were given the opportunity to wander around the gallery and select a painting to draw. The favourite for many of us was Fishermen Upon a Lee-Shore in Squally Weather by J M W Turner. It was an enjoyable and informative trip and we all came away feeling inspired!

Those pupils who had opted for Art as a Year 9 subject spent a fantastic day at the Lightbox in Woking, exploring the work of the fabulous Grayson Perry. Callista Cumberland (Year 9) shared an overview of the day:

On our trip to the Lightbox in Woking, my fellow Year 9 artists and I had the chance to study Grayson Perry’s artwork. Perry was originally known for ceramics but on Tuesday 20 February 2024 we saw some of his tapestries about his fictional character, Tim Rakewell, and his progress through modern British society.

The pieces of art were very detailed, containing snippets of Perry’s life story and his general views of the world - the tapestries ranged from sad, to happy, to dead! We really enjoyed looking at them in closer detail. For the first half of the session, we were taught

some of Grayson Perry’s techniques which included bold lines and shadows and enlargement of facial features. This was very interesting as we had to incorporate his techniques into our own self-portraits, which also required us to apply colour theory when creating skin tones. As Grayson Perry’s art is very abstract it gave us a lot of flexibility to be creative and to take risks. In the end we all said what we liked about the portraits we had created, which enlightened us collectively. For the second half of the session, we moved to the main gallery where the tapestries were being shown. We then had a lecture about a particular Grayson Perry tapestry. The tapestry of his fictional character, Tim, showed his birth where we looked into details about the early stages of his life and about how he grew up in an abusive home with a mother who battled drug addiction. We also got to interpret his art work in many ways and make decisions by ourselves. As we carried on looking at the tapestries, we saw Tim’s life progress and the intricacies of working with people like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. We then proceeded to pick our favourite tapestry and draw details from that particular scene. We firstly did not take our pencil off the page, vaguely sketching it out and then doing a detailed sketch for five minutes. We did this twice, first with our favourite and the second time with our least favourite image, which encouraged us to not just ignore the “less pretty ones” and to appreciate all art. I think on this trip we all learned a lot and had a great day out!

GCSE and A level pupils enjoyed not one, but two great days out in London exploring the fantastic galleries and museums almost on our doorstep.

On a brisk Wednesday in November 2023, the artists embarked on an enriching journey to London’s cultural heart, where they had the privilege of exploring the captivating realms of the Natural History Museum and the V&A.

At the Natural History Museum, they divided into small groups and delved into the museum’s extensive galleries, immersing themselves in the wonders of the natural world. From the awe-inspiring skeletons of dinosaurs to the intricate details of insects, each exhibit ignited their imaginations and sparked their curiosity.

After refuelling at lunch, the girls ventured onwards to the V&A Museum where they spent the next three hours mesmerised by the museum’s vast collection of art and design. The V&A’s architectural splendour, with its soaring ceilings, provided a breathtaking backdrop for their artistic exploration. Many of the pupils were particularly captivated by the ceramics department, where they found themselves transfixed by the stunning collection of Kate Malone pots. Her delicate designs and masterful use of colour left an indelible mark on their artistic sensibilities.

As the day drew to a close, the group made their way back to school, their minds brimming with inspiration and grateful for the opportunity to have experienced such cultural treasures. Their next adventure, again on a brisk winter’s day, was the annual Tate to Tate trip. More than just a sight-seeing excursion, this trip is a sensory immersion into the world of art which enriches their understanding and emphasises the importance of art in society. It is also a great opportunity to spark new ideas for their own personal projects. The girls visited all the permanent exhibitions in both galleries, captured first-hand sources through photography and drawing whilst cruising down the Thames and exploring London’s Borough Market.

Rosa Cruz (Upper Sixth) reflects on the trip below:

The day began at Tate Britain, where the powerful Women in Revolt! exhibition ignited our creativity. We studied a range of paintings, prints and photographs, each showing how women used their art to fuel the women’s liberation movement during a period of significant social, economic and political change. We all felt very inspired by the unique and impactful works which were truly eye-opening.

From Tate Britain, we took the boat across the Thames and explored Borough Market. The bustling market, with its vibrant sights and sounds, allowed us to gather inspiration for our new projects.

Later, at Tate Modern, the Capturing the Moment exhibition presented a treasure trove of masterpieces. Picasso’s dynamic lines and Hockney’s vibrant poolside scenes provided fresh perspectives on capturing movement and emotion.

The trip was a great opportunity to spark creativity and come up with new ideas for our portfolios. We all really enjoyed the trip and hope to have the privilege to visit another gallery soon.

On Wednesday 13 September 2023 the Art Department was absolutely thrilled to have Ian Murphy, the renowned British Fine Art Artist, join us for a mixed media and drawing workshop. The girls worked all day in the beautiful surroundings of St Anne’s courtyard, embracing the outdoors and all that goes with it. They took full advantage of the day and the pupils worked at pace throughout.

Nothing could have prepared everyone for seeing Ian Murphy’s magnificent work up close. His work is primarily inspired by architecture and eroded landscapes; he has a passion for mixed media and experimentation which is very visible in his impressive portfolio of work. Allowing the pupils to see and touch his artwork and sketchbooks was such a privilege, one that Ian Murphy sees as an invaluable way to motivate pupils for the challenges that lie ahead. The girls were invited to observe, first hand, the techniques and processes they were going to learn throughout the workshop.

Through demonstration and experimentation, the Year Groups individually achieved powerful responses to his work. All were fully engaged with the processes and enjoyed the element of surprise from the uniqueness of each and every piece created. Each pupil created up to four pieces of work, exploring many new and exciting surface techniques as well as expert pen drawing skills. The Year Groups worked from images of the School’s Old House, as well as the artist’s own images. Certainly each and every girl came away with a wealth of new skills and a knowledge of new processes.

It was a very busy day (and a messy one!) but extremely valuable for everyone. Pupils from Years 10 to Upper Sixth participated, here is what a couple of them had to say...

“It was a wonderful opportunity to learn from and speak to Ian Murphy on Wednesday. I enjoyed watching how Mr Murphy created his work, and I now have a greater understanding of how his pieces are composed. Learning new techniques and working outside my comfort zone has enabled me to have an insight into the methods he uses, which will be especially helpful when creating my own interpretations of his art in my A level coursework.”

Arilyn Streeter (Lower Sixth)

“Having Ian Murphy come into school was a significant opportunity. With my GCSEs approaching I found the skills we were taught on Wednesday really added to my ability in Art. Overall I really enjoyed this day and I am thankful we had the chance to meet a world-renowned artist.”

Florence Everett (Year 11)

Pupils Get Creative with World-Renowned Artist Ian Murphy

Art Exhibition

Monday 4 July 2024 was a day of showcasing both athletic prowess and artistic talent as the energy transitioned seamlessly from Inter-House Sports Afternoon to the vibrant displays at our annual Art Exhibition.

From Annabel Crombie’s (Upper Sixth) masterful large-scale finger-painting, to the striking equestrian depictions by Tabitha Budgen (Year 11), the exhibition was a showcase of the phenomenal artwork pupils produced this year.

Sport

As another successful year of sport at Farnborough Hill draws to a close, it gives us a chance to reflect on the year; to celebrate the successes, ruminate on the near misses and learn from the losses. In a year where 54% of pupils represented the School in at least one of the 366 fixtures we competed in across 10 different sports, there is lots to consider. Although, inevitably, a lot of the focus is put on the outcomes of these fixtures and competitions, quite often I find myself more drawn to the work that goes on away from the competitive arena, at the practices, training sessions and co-curricular clubs that are run each week. This is where the foundations are laid for future successes, whether that be a pupil finding something that they are truly passionate about and starting a lifelong habit of physical activity, a breakthrough when learning a skill and the joy and sense of pride that brings, or the progress as a team that leads to a victory on the pitch.

One particular quote that always resonates with me is from Mike Singletary (a Super Bowl-winning American Football player). When asked about what he loves about the game, he replied: “Do you know what my favourite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.” This is a message we try and convey to the girls at Farnborough Hill. Every time you step onto the pitch or court, whether it be at practice or a game, it is a chance to have fun, to improve, to be with like-minded people: it is an opportunity to play.

Alongside developing a love of being active, we also try to instil into each pupil the desire to compete. Whether it is against targets that we set ourselves, or against an opponent, no matter what event we find ourselves participating in, we can always control our effort and our willingness to compete. I firmly believe that defining ourselves by our effort and attitude is far more valuable and constructive than defining ourselves by winning and losing. An individual or a team can perform to their absolute maximum, they can compete hard and still end up with a loss. It is important to recognise the effort, as that is controllable and therefore repeatable, which is far more sustainable than relying on winning to motivate.

It is those principles of competing, improving and being effortful, that are valued the most in our department; winning will come from living those values in all that we do. It would be easy to narrow the curriculum, put all our efforts into one or two sports and focus solely on winning; but to do that would compromise so much more than it would enhance. We want to create an environment where we, as staff, add value to every girl, and every girl has the chance to earn success (whatever that may look like for them). We want to provide opportunities for girls to be active and to feel confident enough to give their all and compete.

To that end, at Farnborough Hill we aim to offer a curriculum that is broad, balanced, and gives pupils the opportunity to play and compete in a wide range of activities. Not only is this hugely important from a long-term athletic development perspective, but it also increases the chances of each pupil finding an activity that sparks and excites them. Alongside that offer, we aim to give co-curricular opportunities in all activities that are offered in curriculum time. That way, there is continued opportunity to practice and develop and further explore activities.

That brings me back to where I started: the work that goes on away from the competitive arena. For some pupils, that is where they are happiest, playing and being active with their peers; competition is not for them. For others, it is where they can practice and get ready for when those competitive opportunities come along. As a PE Department, we have equal responsibility to both approaches and everything in between, and we will continue to use every resource that we have to add value to every pupil that we teach.

Below is a very short summary of the successes of the past year that these opportunities brought about, I hope that 2024 – 2025 will bring many more.

Mr Daniel Emery, Director of Sport

FOOTBALL

37 fixtures (64% increase on 2022 – 2023); 51 pupils participated.

• U13 – District League winners; ISA Regional Final: 3rd place

HOCKEY

85 fixtures; 88 pupils participated.

NETBALL

146 fixtures; 158 pupils participated.

• District League winners: U14B, U15A, U16A

• District League runners up: U12A, U14A

SWIMMING

10 competitions; 26 pupils participated.

• ISA Nationals: Sophie McGuire (Year 11) – 2nd in 100m Breaststroke Isla Ince (Year 10) – 1st in 100m Freestyle; 2nd in 100m Backstroke

• District Tournament winners: U15, U16

• U13 ISA Nationals – 7th place

• U14 ISA Nationals – 3rd place

• U16 ISA Nationals – 3rd place

• U12A – District League winners

• U13A – ISA Nationals Trophy winners

CROSS COUNTRY

23 fixtures; 81 pupils participated.

• U13 District Team Champions

• U14 District Team Champions

• U15 District Team Champions

• U17 District Team Champions

• Freyja Ridge – U14 County 2nd place

• English Schools Cross Country Cup

Junior girls – 3rd in County

Intermediate girls – 15th in Region

Senior girls – 6th in Region

• U12B – District League 3rd place

• U14 – District League winners

• U15 – ISA Nationals 3rd place; entered Independent Schools Hockey Cup for the first time, reaching the 2nd round of the Plate competition

• U16A – District League winners

• U18 – South Central Region runners up

ATHLETICS

BADMINTON

• U16B – District League runners up

13 fixtures; 49 pupils participated.

• U13 ISA Nationals: Darcie Stephens (Year 8) – 2nd place

• U14 County Tournament winners; 1st in Regional Round

CRICKET

38 fixtures; 83 pupils participated.

• First ever entry into National 100 ball cup competition

• U14A had some great victories against some established cricket schools

• U15 ISA Nationals: Udita Sharma (Year 9) - 2nd place overall; doubles winner

• U16 County Tournament winners; 4th in Regional round

18 fixtures; 63 pupils participated.

• U13 District Runners-up

• U14 District Champions

• U15 District 3rd place

• U17 District Champions

• 19 pupils selected to represent the District at Senior County Championships:

Mia Johansen (Year 9) – U15 Javelin 3rd place

Zara Addo-Antoine (Year 10) – U17 100m 1st place

Lottie Quinn (Year 11) – U17 1500m Steeplechase 1st place

Zara and Lottie selected for the English Schools Championships where Lottie ran the 1500m Steeplechase and became National Champion, going on to represent England later in the summer

• ESAA Track and Field Cup

Junior Girls – 4th in Hampshire

Intermediate girls – 2nd in Hampshire; Regional ‘B’ final winners

• ISA National Schools Athletics

Zara Addo-Antoine – Y10 London West Champion; 2nd place in National Final

Emma Webb (Year 9) – 4x100m relay 3rd place