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News from the Hill Issue 03, Lent 2024

News from the Hill Issue 02, Michaelmas 2023

Celebrating World Book Day Page 2

In this issue...

Visiting the Battlefields CCF Passing Out Parade of WWI Page 4 Page 3

Festival Success

Girls’ Rugby

Page 5

Page 7

Word from the Head The Lent Term is the part of the school year that always seems to fly by so quickly! As the term has progressed, the evenings have become lighter, the flowers and trees have started to emerge from the gloom of winter and life has been moving at a faster pace. Alongside a busy term of sport, co-curricular activities, trips and camps, there has been a lot of important academic work completed, not least in the 5th Form and Upper Sixth where most subjects have now finished their teaching and are turning their attention towards revision and exam preparation. One of the things that we have been focusing on this term has been life beyond school and looking ahead to what career pathways our pupils may wish to take. In this issue of the magazine you will read about the inaugural meeting of the KHS MedSoc (page 5) where one of our former pupils came back to share his experiences with us, his journey from university right through his early career to present day. You will also read about the Careers Workshop undertaken by our Lower Sixth pupils (page 6) and a Business and Engineering Trip to Sebring Works (page 6). In addition, we were delighted to have the opportunity to welcome a number of visiting speakers to school who shared their experiences of careers in literature, acting, policing and politics. As teachers, an important part of our job is to ensure that pupils are aware of the huge amount of choice and opportunity available to them in life. As we move forward into the summer examination period, I hope that our pupils will be inspired by the activities and experiences they have had here on the Hill, and use that as motivation to work hard in order to realise their hopes and ambitions for the future!

Celebrating World Book Day This year, we celebrated World Book Day by participating in an engaging mix of activities orchestrated by our Librarian, Ms Saxby. This annual event is always a fantastic way for us to recognise the huge importance of books and literature, and the joy that reading brings into our lives. Our fabulous pupils did not let us down, with many dressing up as their favourite literary characters from a wide array of books including Peter Pan, The Chronicles of Narnia, Little Women, The Hunger Games, Dr Who and Dune. A highlight of the day was a competition challenging pupils to identify the staff members hidden behind the books they were reading. Additionally, each lesson began with the ‘Just Six Minutes’ initiative, where for six minutes pupils had dedicated reading time, providing an opportunity for them to destress and focus. Following the day itself, English author and black belt martial artist Chris Bradford paid us a visit. Best known for his children’s fictional series, Young Samurai and Bodyguard, Chris’ books are published in 22 languages and have garnered more than 34 children’s book award nominations around the world. During his presentation, he outlined how he believes that his ‘method-writing’ approach is the most effective way of crafting authentic character portrayals that resonate with the audience. It was an interactive experience for the pupils including a live re-enactment of a scene from one of his books, a lesson in bodyguard formation and tips on how to spot if you’re being followed! Author visits like this one are a perfect way to gain an insight into the creative writing process. They also encourage young people to aspire to be creative themselves and put something great out into the world for others to enjoy!

Visiting the Battlefields of WW1

Horrible Histories In February, 2nd Form History pupils were investigating the origins of the English Civil War of 1642. The pupils were challenged to express their findings creatively, shaping them into song lyrics. For inspiration, they drew on ideas from the ‘Horrible Histories’ series in order to help them make their responses memorable!

Octagon Quiz

In February, our 3rd Form pupils visited the First World War Battlefields of France and Belgium over the course of five days. Their tour was action packed from the start, beginning with a visit to the German trenches at Croonaert Wood, South of Ypres, followed by an exploration of the Essex Farm Advanced Dressing Station. The group had the opportunity to pay their respects at the Memorial to the Missing of Somme at Thiepval, where they found the names of some of our Hillians amongst the 73,000 names commemorated there. Their journey then continued with a visit to the German trenches at Vimy Ridge and the Vimy Memorial.

In late January, members of the Octagon Academic Society took part in a hotly contested quiz night. Brilliantly organised by a group of Sixth Formers, it was a chance for pupils of all ages to test their wits over a series of 6 fiendish rounds. Quizmaster for the evening, and Head of Octagon, Mr Williams, posed questions on a variety of topics including food and drink, sport and general knowledge. There was also a ‘Top three round’, along with 3 sets of picture clues for the pupils to have a go at.

The trip was part of our integrated approach to teaching our pupils about the First World War. As well as having the invaluable opportunity to see the battlefields in person, our pupils also study war poetry in English and undertake research in Digital Literacy to discover more about the lives of Hillians who fought in the conflict. Following the trip, Mr Williams, Mr Oatridge and some 3rd Form pupils recorded an episode of our ETF Podcast where they talked about their experiences. They discussed the friendships they built, how it felt to immerse themselves in history and how the trip helped them to deepen their understanding of the First World War.

Chaplaincy Events Week

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Political Debate Following the visit of local Conservative MP Robert Courts earlier in the academic year, we were very pleased to welcome two prospective parliamentary candidates for the next general election to the Hill. Sean Woodcock, Labour candidate for the Banbury constituency, along with Charlie Maynard, Liberal Democrat candidate for the Witney constituency, joined us for a lively half an hour of political debate and conversation. Our pupils raised questions relating to a range of current issues in both local and national politics, including the state of the economy and the tax system, the method of voting employed in the UK, the importance of using your vote, the state of the NHS, the issue of VAT on school fees and education, and, of course, the prospect of the upcoming general election. Each candidate was also asked why they believe what they believe and, importantly, why they think that other people should

share their views. It was very interesting for our pupils to hear their responses as the two politicians talked about what they believe is in the best interests of the country moving forward. We were extremely grateful to both candidates for giving up their time to come and speak with us. We are especially pleased that we have now been able to welcome representatives from 3 of the main political parties – giving our pupils a rounded view of many of the issues that will be debated in the months ahead as we move towards the expected general election.

Chaplaincy Events Week took place in the week before half-term, during which we were delighted to welcome a range of visiting speakers to the Hill. It was a wonderful opportunity for both pupils and staff to hear some new voices, ask questions, and gain insight into the different perspectives that people have on faith. As well as the speaker events there was also the chance to think about art and faith, and to hear from some of the school’s staff about what following Jesus has been like for them. The Junior and Senior Christian Unions also hosted activity sessions after school, complete with games, food and slushies!

Tech Team Success As part of our Academy co-curricular activity, every Monday evening a group of pupils receive tuition on the technical aspects of theatrical production. Congratulations go to Molly (Year 8), Ben (Upper Sixth), Toby (Year 9) and Joshua (Year 8) who completed their CDMT accredited qualification in ‘Theatrical Technology’ in early February (via Hillian Alex Jones’ company ‘Theatrico’).

Can We Trust the Police?

We were delighted to welcome Assistant Chief Officer of Hertfordshire Constabulary, Cat Hemmings, to deliver the latest talk in our Kingham Hill Lecture Series in March. Cat has enjoyed a varied career holding positions in several different Police Forces. Today, she oversees custody, criminal justice, strategy, and transformation, and holds a prominent role as the national policing lead for women offenders. Cat’s talk focussed on the recent series of high-profile cases of gross misconduct and illegal behaviour by police officers, such as

the murder of Sarah Everard, and looked at things that were missed and questions the Police had to answer afterwards. She spoke about some of the key public inquiries into police standards and culture, explaining why they are an essential learning tool, providing guidance on changes that need to be implemented in order to continually improve procedures and practice. A key message in her presentation was that the ‘The police are the public and the public are the police’. She linked this back to Sir Robert Peel’s policing principles from the establishment of the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829. The session provided the audience of pupils, staff and parents with a real insight into the issue of public trust and confidence in the police. It was hugely interesting to hear how the police are working to readdress the balance and striving to work with people to keep everyone safe.

CCF Passing Out Parade

An Artistic Experience In February, the GCSE Art class travelled to London for a whistle stop tour of the Capital’s best galleries. Starting with the newly re-opened National Portrait Gallery, pupils visited The Taylor Wessing Photography Prize, then took a short walk to The National Gallery to view iconic paintings in the permanent collection, ending the day with a trip to Tate Britain, home to an extensive collection of Turner’s greatest works. The trip was designed to inspire and enthuse pupils as they prepare for their externally set assignment examination after Easter.

Geography Trip to Porthcawl Our Lower Sixth Geography pupils spent a day in the sand dunes at Porthcawl, South Wales, in March learning how to collect primary data to determine how variables change with distance from the high water mark. These included biotic factors such as species diversity and type, as well as abiotic factors such as infiltration rates, wind speed, soil pH and carbon content. They braved the weather and mostly all came out smiling!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream In March, 5th Form GCSE Drama pupils were lucky enough to see the sold out production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon. Following the show, we were delighted to welcome to KHS one of the show’s stars, Sirine Saba, who played the part of Titania/ Hippolyta. Sirine provided our pupils with an invaluable insight into the dynamic life of an actor.

Scan to watch the video On the last day of the Lent Term we held our 3rd Form CCF Passing Out Parade, celebrating the completion of the first stage of training for our CCF Army and RAF Recruits and the promotion of some of our Senior Cadets in other Year Groups We were very pleased that US Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Hergenreter was able to join us for the occasion to inspect the Contingent and present a number of Awards. The ceremony followed the CCF Recruit Camp in March, where the Contingent spent the week training at St Georges Barracks in Bicester Garrison and Dalton Barracks near Abingdon. The Army Cadets took part in a range of training exercises including shelter building, drill, fieldcraft

and command tasks. In addition to their training exercises the RAF Cadets also had the opportunity to visit the Royal Air Force Museum and Bletchley Park. The Passing Out Parade signified the end of the Cadets’ basic training and their move to becoming full Cadets of the Contingent. It also provided an opportunity to present some Awards including, Best Driller, Best Infanteer, Best Aviator, Best Recruit and Most Positive RAF Attitude. The CCF at Kingham is one of our popular co-curricular options. All activities and training within the CCF focus on personal development, leadership, instilling an element of discipline and teamwork and overall delivering the cadet experience.

Maths Fest In February, Sixth Form Mathematicians spent the day in London at The Royal Institution where they took part in ‘Maths Fest’, an all day extravaganza to celebrate and be inspired by mathematics. The programme included presentations from well-known maths enthusiasts and authors including Silvia Butti, Steve Mould, Jennifer Visser-Rogers, Rob Eastaway and Ben Sparks. It was a hugely interesting and enjoyable day which really inspired our pupils to think about Maths in a different way.

Octagon Dinner

Festival Success KHS pupils delivered some excellent performances at this year’s Chipping Norton Music Festival. Held during March each year, the Festival has been promoting music-making and performing since 1904.

Lucy (Year 8) - ‘Mine was a Shakespeare solo scene from Romeo and Juliet and there was such a range of emotion which I enjoyed performing.’

Eliott (Year 10) - ‘Ours was The Play of the Pupils from a variety of year groups took Royal Astrologers which was a lot of fun to part in a range of disciplines from singing, to perform. The experience has really helped playing instruments and acting. to increase my confidence in my acting ability.’ Each year there is a day of Speech & Drama non-competitive classes adjudicated All our pupils who took part are to be by a professional, providing young people congratulated for their efforts. Particular with the chance to perform in front of an congratulations go to Lower Sixth pupil, audience and receive feedback. A number Mikayla, on her success. Not only did she of our aspiring actors took to the stage to win the Shauni McGregor Festival Award present solo and group pieces. All Speech for the most promising participant aged & Drama pupils had taken part in their 18 or under, but she also won the Speech LAMDA exams the week before so were & Drama Adjudicator’s Award for the primed and ready for more action. performer with ‘that something little extra special!’ We couldn’t agree more – well We sat down with some of our performers done Mikayla! and asked them about the piece they performed and why they chose it.

The annual dinner of the Octagon Academic Society took place in mid-March. Around 150 guests were treated to a splendid evening of food and academic discussion. Octagon pupils had the opportunity to invite a teacher who had inspired them to join them at the table with their family. This year we were honoured to be joined by Guest of Honour, Professor Kamal Mahtani from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Services, University of Oxford.

Charity Quiz Night Our Sixth Form Charity Committee put on an excellent quiz night in March, in support of local charity, The Branch. Over 80 parents, staff, pupils and Hillians took part in the event hosted by Quizmaster, Mr Jones. As well as the quiz there was also a raffle offering some generously donated prizes. At the end of the night the Committee had managed to raise almost £1000 - a fantastic amount! The Sixth Formers involved did an excellent job of organising the event, showcasing a range of skills and embodying core school values from our ‘Equipped to Flourish’ programme - humility, integrity, resilience and responsibility.

A Wicked GCSE Music Trip This term our GCSE Music pupils have been studying the song Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked as part of their course. Taking advantage of the fact that Wicked is on its UK Tour, pupils went on a trip to the Bristol Hippodrome to get the full, live experience. They loved hearing the music in context, and understanding how the composer used musical ideas and themes to tie the whole show together.

KHS MedSoc In March, we were delighted to welcome Hillian, Dr Oskar Mahony, along with his partner, Dr Vaishali Vyas, to present to pupils from all year groups at the inaugural meeting of Kingham Hill’s Medical Society (MedSoc). Dr Mahony, who left KHS in 2012 and attributes his interest in medicine to his time at school, went on to study at Newcastle University from where he transitioned directly into the medical profession. Through his career so far, he has gained experience in a number of medical fields including A&E and Paediatrics, as well as a spell working internationally in New Zealand. Now based in Cardiff, he is currently undergoing training to become an anaesthetist. In his presentation Dr Mahony talked about his own experience of entering the medical profession, along with explaining the many different pathways open to students. He spoke with great enthusiasm about the parts of his work that he finds particularly fulfilling, including the opportunity to learn new things every day, the positive impact

International Women’s Day

that doctors are able to make on people’s lives and the range of career development opportunities on offer both in the UK and abroad. It was a truly inspirational talk for those considering a career in medicine. Hearing from a member of our alumni is particularly beneficial as it provides a clear example of what our current pupils can aspire to. Dr Mahony’s practical advice and tips will no doubt prove invaluable to those seeking to embark on a medical career.

In celebration of International Women’s Day we recorded a special edition of our ETF Podcast Series, featuring a discussion with a number of our pupils about the significance of this annual event, exploring and celebrating what it means to each of them as individuals. Elsewhere in School we challenged our Academic Departments to each tell us about an inspirational woman who was, or is, a pioneer in their field of work. We used their responses to create profile slides about each of the remarkable women which we shared with our pupils.

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Meet the Team

Name: Jonathan Furst What is your role within the School? I am the Director of the American Program and the School’s Assistant Chaplain What did you do before working at KHS? I was a University Chaplain in South Carolina. What would you say is the most interesting part of your day-to-day work? I love teaching, especially when the material connects with a pupil and they begin to see the world differently than they had before. What activities do you enjoy in your spare time? My family and I love walking and exploring the countryside around the school. I’m still trying to convince my children that they also enjoy long walks! Who, or what, would you say has most inspired you in life? I have had several mentors who have inspired and helped me. Notably, Steve Baarendse, one of my professors in undergrad who was instrumental in helping me to make the connection between academics and the rest of my life. Tell us one activity that is on your ‘Bucket List’ Maybe I’m not thinking hard enough, but I cannot think of too many things I still want to go out and do. I would be pretty happy sitting with my family and friends on my inlaw’s front porch on a warm summer evening in the mountains of North Carolina. Finally, the best thing about working at Kingham Hill is… The people and the beauty of the place (weather not withstanding). I have worked in enough places to know that good community can make challenging work much more manageable. Kingham really does offer a great group of colleagues and pupils.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. In recognition of this event, here at Kingham Hill we held a number of activities to raise awareness of neurodiversity in School and the ways in which it affects our community. Our activities included ETF lessons about its significance, special assemblies led by our pupils, and an event organised by our Inclusion Committee where our neurodiverse staff members spoke to pupils about the misconceptions surrounding neurodiversity and the things we can all do to ensure that we are creating a more inclusive environment.

We aim to consistently share the message that wellbeing is fundamental to enabling every individual to achieve their potential, both in and out of the classroom. Events like Neurodiversity Celebration Week are a great way of bringing issues to the fore, but it is just as important to ensure that understanding and acceptance is taken into account throughout the whole year.

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Focus on the Future In February, our Lower Sixth pupils were looking to the future as they participated in a whole day Careers Workshop, delivered by CWR Consultancy Ltd. The purpose of the day was to encourage our students to think about the opportunities that are open to them after school and covered everything from university to apprenticeships, gap years and employment. They looked into ‘how to put across your best self’ on paper, in person and in interviews. There were several activities over the course of the seminar and an analysis of various character profile types. The pupils also took part in

a variety of practical sessions aimed at enhancing their professional readiness, including mock interviews, the art of presenting oneself and the importance of networking in order to foster meaningful connections and opportunities.

Business and Engineering Trip

In March, our Lower Sixth Business and Engineering pupils had the opportunity to visit Sebring Works, the world’s first specialist in designing and building new electric retro-inspired sports cars and vehicles. It was hugely inspiring for them to hear about the growth of the business, finding out more about the challenges of

running a company, and what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Experiences such as this are a brilliant way to enrich the learning experience of our pupils – taking them outside of the classroom and allowing them to gain first-hand insights into the world of work.

Hockey Star

Girls’ Rugby We marked a momentous moment in KHS Sport in early March when the first ever girls contact rugby match was played against Stow-on-the-Wold RFC. Senior Girls have been training hard since the beginning of the academic year under the tutelage of Head Coach, Mr Ansley, and they were able to take what they had learnt to the field and demonstrate their skills.

With neither team backing down the contest was always in the balance but KHS managed to eventually leap ahead with the final score being 4 tries to 1. It was a great result for the team and we’re looking forward to watching them compete in more fixtures in the future.

After being put forward by Witney Hockey Club and, following a tough couple of months working through the various stages of Oxfordshire hockey trials, we were delighted to hear that 3rd Form hockey player, Grace, was selected to represent the county this term. Starting as one of 60 hopefuls, the numbers were reduced every three weeks until the final session last week where the 25 remaining played for the 2024 team places. Well done, Grace!

Swimming Success Congratulations to 3rd Form pupil Jamie who swam in the County Championships in January. Amongst several achievements, Jamie finished 5th in the 400 metres Individual Medley with a personal best. We’re all very proud of him and wish him well for his future races.

Rugby 7s It was a busy end to the season for the KHS Rugby Teams who competed in two notable tournaments in March. The U13/U12 Team represented Kingham at the Sibford 7s Tournament. The standard of rugby was extremely high from all schools, but Kingham rose to the occasion and qualified for the quarter finals by finishing 2nd in the group stage. The quarter final match was against the team from Warwick, and the score remained even for the whole game, with Kingham just narrowly missing out on the win in the last seconds of the game. Unfortunately, due to the weather conditions, we were unable to perform our usual hosting duties for our annual U18 Rugby 7s Tournament, but King Edward’s Stratford (KES) kindly stepped in

Staff v Pupil Netball Match There was lots of friendly rivalry on display during the staff v pupils netball match in March. Both sides played well, demonstrating some excellent teamwork. Congratulations to the staff team who emerged the victors by a narrow two point margin. as the alternative venue. With teams from Warwick, Cokethorpe, Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton and KES the standard from all teams was exceptional. The two squads from KHS showed exceptional commitment and played some fantastic fluid rugby thanks to the training received from coach, Mr Ansley.

Inter-House Sports Our Inter-House Netball and Football matches took place in the last week of the Lent Term. In the Junior Girls Netball there was a hotly contested showdown between the boarders and the day girls with the eventual result being a draw. The muddy pitches didn’t dampen the competitive spirit for

the Junior Boys Football with an A Team fixture and a B Team tournament. Well done to Clyde House who emerged the eventual victors.

In the Seniors it was a double for Latimer in the Netball and a win for Bradford House in the Rugby (their first in a decade!).

In the Inters competition Norwich were victorious for the boys, whilst Latimer proved too strong for Durham and Severn in the Netball.

A huge well done to all involved, including those providing superb support from the sidelines!

Founder’s Day 2024

Every March, we celebrate Founder’s Day, a day when we remember and give thanks to God for the life and work of our Founder, Charles Edward Baring Young. This would normally see the whole school, with grateful thanks to the Daylesford Estate, walking across to the beautiful, but tiny, St Peter’s Church in Daylesford where the Founder is buried. Here we would pray and sing the Founder’s hymn and the

Heads of School would lay a wreath to give thanks for his life. This year, the vicissitudes of English Spring weather meant that we held our commemorative services in the School Chapel, which contains a bust of the Founder and a Memorial tablet. Luckily our Heads of School we able to make a separate trip to Daylesford and pay their respects on behalf of the whole school community.

Scan to watch the video Kingham Hill School Kingham, Chipping Norton Oxfordshire OX7 6TH

Tel: 01608 658999 Email: registrar@kinghamhill.org Visit: www.kinghamhill.org.uk

Our Chaplain, Revd Hutchings, reminded us of how the Founder ‘saw’ the poor and destitute of his time and invested his energy, time and money into creating homes for boys who were growing up in abject poverty. The school has, of course, changed a lot since 1886, but we remain committed to ‘seeing’ everyone around us and loving them, as the Founder did because of his faith in God.