Highlights SPRING 2016
Apple Distinguished School Evolution Expert gives Science Lecture Caterham Society Launch New All-Weather Pitch Opens Sir Anthony Seldon provides insight to Life at No. 10
Ceri Jones joined Caterham School as Headmaster in September 2015 following 10 years as Second Master at Tonbridge School. Mr Jones read History at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and is married to Kay Moxon; they have two daughters. His role at Tonbridge encompassed the day to day running of the school and deputising for the Headmaster. In 2013 he was seconded as Executive Principal to The Marsh Academy in New Romney, which is a maintained academy that Tonbridge School co-sponsors. In 2012, in collaboration with The Sutton Trust, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and a number of independent schools in Kent he launched an access programme for disadvantaged but academically bright Year 9 students from nonselective maintained academies in Kent
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Headmaster’s Welcome Life at Caterham is about much more than our record breaking exam results, and 2016 will be no exception. We will once again be welcoming world leading experts to sell-out science society talks; our Sixth Form will be launching the latest edition of the School’s politics magazine in the heart of Whitehall; and pupils will be supporting charity and community projects in Surrey, London and across the UK, in addition to travelling to Tanzania, Nicaragua and Romania on the School’s annual charitable expeditions. Caterham’s own high ropes course will be in action as pupils challenge themselves both inside and outside the classroom. A new all-weather pitch opened in January with a flagship Performing Arts Centre ready for September. Of course, there are lots of things that make a school great – teachers, traditions, facilities, sporting and cultural provision to name a few. We are fortunate to benefit from all of these at Caterham. However, a school is nothing without pupils and it is the pupils that make Caterham such a special place. They consistently display the qualities that are important to all of us and make us proud to be associated with the School – kindness and compassion, resilience and initiative, ambition and collegiality, humour and optimism. I look forward to welcoming you to Caterham School to one of the many sporting fixtures, performing arts and cultural events in our busy programme for 2016. Ceri Jones, Headmaster
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Caterham School receives accolade from Apple
The School is one of only three independent schools in the UK to be formally accredited as an Apple Distinguished School.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Caterham School has once again been recognised as a leading school for its application of technology in teaching and learning. Mr Adam Webster, Director of Digital Learning, collected the accolade at a presentation in London. The School has established a best practice programme to integrate the use of iPads by all students alongside traditional teaching methods. Since the full roll-out of the programme in September 2015, students have used iPads in a range of innovative ways, including receiving instructive and interactive verbal marking and feedback on homework via their iPads. Teachers have also seen the benefits of being able to spotlight their pupils’ best work in the classroom through the use of airplay streamed to classroom whiteboards. Since the launch of the programme, the School has received interest and visitors from across the globe, keen to learn from experience and success. Adam Webster says: “Our experience has proven that the correct use of technology can reinforce our ethos: that learning extends beyond the classroom and is a lifelong experience. Our primary concern is to aid students’ learning, but a further key success of this project has been educating young people in how to use technology to make good decisions, vital in the age of social media.”
Caterham School
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Thirteen Sixth Form pupils from Caterham School have received offers from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. This year’s results mean a total of 49 pupils from the School have secured a place at the world-leading universities in the last three years alone. Competition for places at Oxbridge is fiercer than ever, with roughly five applicants per place nationally, with all candidates typically having straight A*/A profiles.
OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE PLACES SECURED
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
I am absolutely delighted for the pupils who have had such deserved success, and for our staff who have supported them so effectively throughout this process. We are always looking to stretch, challenge and support our pupils to be the best they can be in whatever area they choose – for some that will be elite sport, for others it might be cultural or artistic activities. Oxbridge success is an important measure of academic excellence and ambition within the school and suggests that this is going to be another incredibly strong application round for all our university applicants this year. Ceri Jones, Headmaster
Philippa Baliman
Natural Sciences
Cambridge
Anthony Baston
Natural Sciences
Cambridge
Megan Bennett
Philosophy & Theology
Emily Blatchford
English
Emma Biddiscombe
PPE
Bobby Chan
Natural Sciences
Cambridge
Michael Ding
Maths
Cambridge
Boris Gusev
Biochemistry
Joe Lloyd
Physics
Ryan Ng
Engineering
Cambridge
Lucie Prego
MML: French & Latin
Cambridge
Eva Wang
Biomedical Science
Oxford
Katie Hurman
Chemistry
Oxford
Oxford Cambridge Oxford
Oxford Oxford
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Evolutionary Expert gives Caterham Science Lecture
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Dr Nick Lane, a world expert on the origin of life on earth, gave the Moncreiff Jones (Science) Society Lecture in front of a packed audience. Dr Lane is the author of three critically acclaimed books on evolutionary biochemistry, the most recent of which, Life Ascending, won the 2010 Royal Society Prize for Science Books. He is an evolutionary biochemist and writer in the Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment at University College London Traditionally in demand, this year’s Christmas Science Lecture sold out in under an hour and the audience were not disappointed. Dr Lane described the multi-billion year old story of the Origin of Life on Earth in little over an hour, with fully in-depth explanation, including old theories tested to destruction and new cutting-edge research from the team that he leads at UCL. For further information on Caterham’s Moncreiff Jones Society and for details of forthcoming lectures at School please visit: caterhamschool.co.uk Photography: Elkan Lau and Nikita Komarov
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HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Sir Anthony Seldon leads sell-out Caterham Lecture Well known public figure, historian and political commentator Sir Anthony Seldon gave a talk on his most recent book Cameron at 10 and gave insights into mindfulness during a visit to Caterham School. The sell-out evening raised funds for the Sam Griffiths Foundation, a charity that helps young people support fellow young people. Sir Anthony gave much insight into the lives of recent Prime Ministers, and also shed light on his own work as one of the most prolific figures in public life: Sir Anthony has produced forty books, including biographies of Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major, and is now Vice Chancellor of the University of Buckingham.
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Independent Research Project Finals Six finalists in the Caterham School Independent Research Project took to the floor in front of an esteemed panel of judges to present their research and findings. The six students, selected from an impressive 50 entrants, presented on an eclectic mix of projects drawn from science, literature, economics, history and medicine.
Judges for the evening were Professor Finbarr Cotter (Clinical Director for Pathology and Consultant Haemato-oncologist at the Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London), Mr John Weeks (Headmaster of the London Academy of Excellence) and Mrs Jill Aisher (Headteacher at St. Michael’s Prep School, Otford). Sixth Former Annabel Hayes was named as the overall winner for her research into
economic growth in Sub Saharan Africa, and also won the audience’s vote. Rhia Patel and Eva Wang secured the two runner up spots for their research into 20th Century Latin American literature and the Influenza virus, respectively. The Independent Research Project gives our pupils the opportunity to undertake detailed and original research into a topic which particularly interests them.
New All-Weather Pitch in Place
Enrichment Day
The School’s stunning new all-weather pitch was opened by Team GB and England hockey player Alex Danson. The inaugural match on the facility saw a Rest of the World XI take on the Headmaster’s XI followed by a showcase lacrosse match led by Caterham’s lacrosse coach and England International Jen Simpson.
Autumn Term’s Enrichment Day involved the whole School with the Third Year and Lower Sixth enjoying activities from paddle boarding, kata kanu, climbing and orienteering at Stubbers Activity Centre. The Fourth Year pupils completed a First Aid course and First Year pupils strengthened team building with outdoor activities in the School’s woodland and high ropes course.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Author’s Adventures Award winning author and adventurer Matt Dickinson enthralled an audience of Second Year pupils as he recounted his personal story of his ascent to the summit of Everest via the North Face. Matt explained how he drew on his mountaineering experiences to write his new book The Everest Files which has been shortlisted for the Trinity Schools Book Award Scheme.
London Buddies Caterham Lower Sixth Form pupils extended a warm welcome to their ‘buddies’ from the London Academy of Excellence (LAE). The buddies shared lessons together followed by lunch and an activity ranging
from high ropes, rock climbing, basketball or a trek through the School’s Old Park Woods. Caterham pupils are looking forward to a reciprocal visit to LAE in spring 2016. The LAE was founded by Caterham School in 2012, along with six other independent schools,
and has been awarded the prestigious status of ‘State Sixth Form College of the Year’ in the Sunday Times’ ‘Parent Power’ Schools Guide in addition to a listing as the UK’s topperforming Sixth Form College in 2015’s Sunday Times’ A Level results league table.
Maths Challenge Win
Royal Economics Society Essay Finalist
A Level mathematicians battled against a raft of South East schools to win the top spot in the South East regional finals of the Senior Team Maths Challenge. Francesca Carver, Anthony Baston, Joe Lloyd and Tooki Chu won through three rounds which covered a range of mathematical knowledge, problem solving strategies and team tactics.
Sixth Form pupil Denzel Low has been highly commended in the prestigious Royal Economic Society Essay Competition which received over 2,000 entries. Denzel submitted his essay, entitled: The Rising Gap Between Rich and Poor is not just bad for Society, it is Bad for Growth, after winning the annual Caterham Economics Essay Competition.
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Street Food Party
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
The whole School community enjoyed a Street Food Party in the sunshine on the Eothen playground – a termly treat with the date kept as a surprise for pupils. The lunch included a BBQ, Thai food and a noodle bar with entertainment provided by Caterham’s musicians and the ‘famous’ Circus Club.
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Our Town Do any human beings ever realise life while they live it?
The acting and ensemble work was superb, with carefully considered, energetic and professional performances throughout.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
A cast and crew of over 35 pupils transported the audience to the fictional world of Grover’s Corners, a small American town, for the moving tale of Our Town. The acting and ensemble work was superb, with carefully considered, energetic and professional performances throughout. The production was professionally supported by a student-led team of 15 technical and backstage crew, who ensured the production ran smoothly and that the audience was further drawn into the world of the play through carefully researched props, atmospheric lighting and sound.
The audience followed Emily (played by Zoe Kirk and Sophie Edmunds) and George’s (Tom Mason) moving relationship to the final scene of the play when Emily reflects on the world she has left behind. Amidst the daily routines and choir practices, led by the drunken Simon Stimson (Seb Kensey), the audience are invited to reflect on their own lives, the things that each of us hold eternal and to consider the universal truths about what it means to be human.
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Learning and Teaching
Study Buddy
Parents’ Masterclasses
The School’s unique Study Buddy programme continues to flourish with almost the entire Sixth Form volunteering to be trained in coaching and mentoring techniques. The pupils are then paired with younger pupils, from First to Fifth Year, and lead weekly sessions with their mentees covering every subject and aspect of learning.
Caterham School’s unique focus on Teaching and Learning and strong partnership between teachers, parents and pupils continued apace with a programme of sessions for parents which included a Parents iPad Masterclass and evenings covering Higher Order Thinking for Parents and ‘Learning to Learn’. Caterham School’s unique approach believes not in simply preparing our pupils to do their best in exams but also in giving them life skills to help them succeed in whatever they may do in the future. To achieve this, each pupil needs to understand how they learn best and how to think independently and creatively. Our teachers understand and respond to different learning styles and encourage pupils to stand on their own two feet for learning.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
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Adventures Near and Far
Austrian Adventure While Surrey witnessed soggy seasonal weather, keen Caterham skiers enjoyed a snowy pre-Christmas adventure in Austria. Days on the slopes were followed by evening activities including ice skating, swimming, billiards, karaoke and a trip to the Christmas markets in Salzburg. It was a really fantastic trip with all of the pupils impressing on the slopes and representing the School superbly in every respect.
Trip to World War One Battlefields Third Year pupils paid their respects to the many Old Caterhamians who lost their lives in World War One during their visit to Ypres. The trip was taken as part of the pupils’ study of The Great War and included a visit to Tyne Cot Sanctuary Wood where they learned more of trench life in addition to visiting the Menin Gate.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Spanish Escapade
German Exchange
Sixth Form linguists enjoyed the highlights of the Spanish capital during a three-day trip to Madrid. Seeing first hand Picasso’s Guernica at the Reina Sofia museum and taking in the beauty of the Palacio Real, the pupils also enjoyed a trip to the theatre and a Flamenco show over dinner.
Friendships were sealed and language skills progressed during the School’s inaugural German Exchange Programme. Pupils from the Second, Third and Fourth Year were treated to a welcome by the Mayor of Ansbach before being welcomed into the host families’ homes for five funpacked days.
USA Reunited Upper Sixth Formers enjoyed a return trip to the Western Reserve Academy School, Ohio during half term to catch up with friends made during the first leg of the exchange trip to Caterham in summer 2016. Caterham pupils attended classes with their American partners in addition to trips out to the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame, an American Football game, a Halloween party and an autumnal bike ride through the spectacular Cuyahoga National Park. The trip ended with hosts and visitors travelling to Washington DC to take in the US Capitol, Congress, a meeting with the Ohio Senator and visits to the Smithsonian Museum.
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Outdoor Learning
Gold and Silver Trip to the Brecon Beacons Twenty three Gold and thirty Silver Award participants successfully completed their expeditions. The Gold students endured a four-day challenge scaling the 886m of Pen Y Fan, loaded down with all their equipment and food. The Silver Award students spent three days in the Black Mountains with all groups reaching the top of Mynydd Troed (609m).
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
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Outdoor Learning
Cinque Ports Camp Eighty cadets were put through their paces in an immensely enjoyable but challenging three day camp in the Cinque Ports. The new Third Year recruits proved their mettle across field craft, cooking and living in the field, sentry duties and the legendary ‘Exercise Wet Feet’. The Fifth Year JNCO Cadre undertook their section commander’s course with each cadet experiencing leadership opportunities. The camp concluded with a hotly contested InterSection Competition with 2 Section the victors. Congratulations to the Sixth Form NCOs who provided all of the training, nurturing and challenging of the younger cadets.
Cadets Go Loop-the-Loop Caterham School’s cadets were privileged to be selected by the RAF to fly at RAF Benson. Following a tutorial by a Royal Air Force Pilot, cadets donned flying suits and took to the skies. The cadets were given the chance to fly the aircraft and experience the G-force of a loop-theloop, barrel roll and stall turn before returning safely to earth.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Caterham School
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Fright Night! Intrepid teenagers were treated to a ghostly trail around the School’s woodland, stopping at points to listen to actors recount the tale of Dame Crowl’s Ghost. To enhance the spooky story, the pupils plunged their hands into cauldrons and met ghosts enroute, before reaching the ‘Door Keeper’ to whom they had to recount the story before being allowed through the door. Those that made it were treated to hot chocolate and hot dogs by the camp fire and an even spookier story from Mr Van Niekerk.
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MUSIC From the informal Lunchtime Live concerts to the more formal music showcases and performing at school events, it has been a busy term for Caterham’s musicians. The term concluded with a beautiful Carol Service in the town’s United Reformed Church at which pupils, teachers and parents celebrated together.
Music Scholars’ Concert This wonderful evening of music demonstrated the skills and talents of Caterham School’s Music Scholars as they performed demanding and impressive pieces in the surroundings of the Wilberforce Hall.
Chamber Music Concert The School’s small musical groups, including Woodwind Ensemble, Brass Quartet, Fretknots, Eric Thiman Singers and Chamber Choir, had their chance to shine at the Chamber Music Concert. Soloists Rhia Patel and Henry Chappell performed brilliantly to a packed audience.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Autumn Concert Musicians from First Year to Upper Sixth Form showcased their skills at the Autumn Concert held at St John’s Church, Caterham. The School was joined by our associate orchestra, St Paul’s Sinfonia who worked with pupils throughout the day in addition to the evening performance. The concert culminated in the School’s Symphony Orchestra performing two movements of Stravinsky’s Firebird, arranged and conducted by Miss Riches.
Caterham School
Rubik’s Record Third Year pupil and Rubik’s Cube whizz Mac Phanuvatsuk secured a top 30 placing from a field of 200 in the UK Rubik’s Cube Championships at the end of the Autumn Term. Mac scored an average of 14.15 seconds on the 3x3 Rubik’s Cube and his fastest solve was just 11.16 seconds. Mac also competed in the 3x3 cube competition solving a 3x3 Rubik’s Cube Challenge one handed in just 24.01 seconds placing him 8th out of 60 entrants.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Poetry Recitation Competition The Caterham School Poetry Recitation Competition sees every pupil, from First Year to Upper Sixth Form, learn and a recite a poem of their choice with the best performers from each year group competing for a place in the grand final and the top prize of a £50 book voucher. This year’s winners spanned the First to Fifth Year, with First Place awarded to Maya AhujaHofheiz, Eve Gordon winning Second Place and Will Smithson in Third Place.
Cookies for Good Causes A terrific £8,000 has been raised through the annual MacMillan Coffee Morning cookie sale. The Autumn Term’s coffee morning was organiser Miss Trehane’s 25th event and added close to a £1,000 to the total raised.
New
Performing Arts Centre Remembrance The full Combined Cadet Force Contingent paraded in front of the School on Remembrance Sunday followed by a moving address from the Headmaster who recollected the impact that the First World War had on the pupils and staff at Caterham 100 years ago. In addition the whole school stopped for the annual Armistice Day Service.
Christmas Charity Action The Sixth Form Charity Committee were so moved by the devastating effect of flooding in the north of England, and particularly by the plight of those at the Morton Academy Carlisle, that they donated money towards Christmas boxes for the students. Super Santa supporters helped the local Rotary raise over £4,000 across just four evenings of charity collections. Sixth Form students accompanied Santa in his pre-Christmas checks throughout Caterham and the surrounding areas.
The dramatic extension to the School’s performing arts facility is making rapid progress with the frame of the building now in place. The expanded centre is on schedule to open in the autumn.
Caterham School
Shutter Art The Caterham Photography Competition brought a stunning collection of visual art from across the Senior and Prep School community. Featuring landscapes, observations of nature and creative pieces, the results were exhibited for all to enjoy at an evening reception in the Christine Walker Gallery.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Caterham School
Caterham School Society Headmaster Ceri Jones launched the Caterham School Society at a reception in the Wilberforce Hall on 25 September. The Society aims to create a welcoming, inclusive and active community for the lifelong benefit of everyone associated with Caterham School. The CSS will work with and support all who have an affinity to the School, including alumni and the Parents’ Association.
Old Cats Weekend
Parents’ Association Fireworks and Dinner Dance
A very fine afternoon of sport followed the traditional Remembrance Service, music recital and Old Cats Lunch held on Remembrance Sunday. Old Cats returned to school to enjoy the traditional 1st XV v Recent Leavers Rugby and Lacrosse XII v Old Cats matches.
Caterham School’s Fireworks drew record crowds and welcomed back former pupils to share in the fun of this traditional event. Warming drinks and food were enjoyed as the rain clouds cleared with impeccable timing to ensure a fun filled evening. The PA’s winter dinner dance, held at the Surrey National Golf Club, was a roaring success with a superb dinner followed by enthusiastic dancing. A great evening and a wonderful chance to catch up with old friends and make new.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
London Network A packed Capital Club saw friends reunited and valuable new contacts made at the inaugural City Networking Drinks event on 23 November. The event, hosted by Old Caterhamians Association President Stephen May and Headmaster Ceri Jones, was a great success as Caterhamians new and old began to reap the benefits of being part of the School’s impressive network of professionals which covers almost every industry sector. London networking events are now a regular part of the OCA and School calendar. The next event will be held on 3 March at Tuttons Bar, Covent Garden. For further information about this and future events please email: events@caterhamschool.co.uk
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Inter-House Challenges
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Inter-House challenges kept pupils on their toes throughout the Autumn Term with a hotly contested final to the House Debating, Public Speaking and Prose and Verse Competitions taking place in the final week of November. Aldercombe House won the Prose and Verse Competition and Lewisham won the Public Speaking Competition. Ridgefield’s House won the Senior House Debating Competition with their proposition of for compulsory general election voting.
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Sport Sport is a big part of life at Caterham – whether you are an elite sportsperson, or simply enjoy sport for fitness and fun. Keep up to date with all our sports news, be it the Caterham Athletics Programme, news on county and country representatives or the latest fixture results, via Twitter or through the School’s weekly Sports Newsletter available online: caterhamschool.co.uk/sport/sportnewsletters
Girls Lacrosse players compete at highest level
Old Cat and GB Athlete Returned to School
This summer, Caterham School Lacrosse was represented at the highest level by two of our own. Old Cat (OC) Sarah Slater competed in the FIL Rathbones Women’s 2015 U19 Lacrosse World Championship as a member of Team Scotland and OC Chloe Wyner competed in the U18 International Festival of Lacrosse as a member of the U18 England National Academy team.
Old Cat and current GB athlete Rosie Clarke returned to Caterham to give a talk to our Caterham Athletics Programme athletes and our A Level pupils. Rosie’s story is really an inspirational one, as she spoke about her journey from running purely as a release during A Level studies to representing Great Britain in the 1500m at the 2015 European Indoor Championships, where she finished in an incredible 6th position. Rosie is currently based in Loughborough and trains as part of the British Athletics Endurance Training Group. After doing so well at the Europeans, Rosie was asked to transition to 3km steeplechase and she is currently training towards competing in this event at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Sarah Slater and Team Scotland finished their World Championship 8th out of 14 with wins against Germany, Czech Republic, Colombia and Finland. The U18 England Academy team with Chloe Wyner finished 5th.
HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2016
Haka on Home Field A beautiful autumn afternoon saw the whole school gather to watch a Haka performed by visiting rugby side from Wairoa, New Zealand. Despite the intimidating Haka Caterham’s XV won the following match 29-17. Caterham sportsmen and women have enjoyed hospitality across the world on tours so it was wonderful to extend our own welcome to an overseas side.
Girls Qualify for National Championship Finals The Inter Girls Freestyle team qualified for the ESSA National Secondary School Team Championship Finals at the London Aquatics Centre on Saturday 21 November. The girls’ success came after their qualifying swim at the county gala where they qualified in a time of 2.00.66. The finals saw Isabella Berlin, Siobhan Chou, Amy Davies, and Leah Slattery compete in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay against the top swimming schools in the country.
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