News from the Hill Issue 04, Trinity 2024
News from the Hill Issue 02, Michaelmas 2023
Sports Day 2024 Page 7
In this issue...
The Addams Family
Wellbeing Award
US Graduation
Enrichment Week
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 8
Word from the Head As an academic year comes to a close it provides us all with an opportunity to look back and ask ourselves, ‘What did we do well?’ and ‘Are there things we could do better?’ This is continual feature of life at Kingham Hill as we encourage all our pupils, not only to try their best academically, but also to constantly strive to be the best versions of themselves on a personal level. One of our key themes at Kingham is that ‘Character Matters’ and instilling a strong set of personal values within each and every member of our community is something that is very important to us. Education is about so much more than qualifications, important though they are. Developing the traits of empathy, responsibility and resilience are vital to ensuring that our pupils will make a positive difference in our world. I am particularly proud of the fact that our work to promote positive mental health and wellbeing has been recognised through receipt of the Wellbeing Award for Schools (see page 4). Our whole school focus on wellbeing is a cornerstone of what makes Kingham the school it is and we hope that as staff, we set a positive example to all our pupils. Seeing the impact of our programme filter out in all areas of school is something that we can all celebrate. Being kind to one another and living a life of service is something to which we should all aspire and I’m delighted to say that we see our pupils striving to achieve this on a daily basis here on the Hill. I look forward to the new academic year and seeing more of these behaviours in action as we move forward together into 2025.
Speech Day 2024 We marked the end of the academic year at our annual Speech Day in July – a joyous occasion, providing an opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our pupils, as well as a reflection on the school year as a whole. During the event we bid a fond farewell to our Upper Sixth pupils, many of whom have been at Kingham since 1st Form. The day started with a Chapel Service during which our Chaplain, Rev’d Hutchings led a service of thanksgiving and hope for the future. This was followed by a delicious lunch for the whole school community to enjoy – pupils, parents, staff and guests. The Prize Giving Ceremony then began with an introductory speech from our Chair of Governors, Mrs Pellereau. She praised the pupils for their achievements over the past year, noting their adherence to the informal school motto ‘Work hard, play hard, serve well,’ and expressed gratitude to all the staff at Kingham Hill for their dedicated efforts. Headmaster, Mr Last, then reflected on the school year, highlighting various achievements and special events that had taken place. He spoke about the strong sense of community on the Hill and reiterated that those leaving the school that day would always remain as valuable members of the wider Kingham Hill community. Our guest speaker for the afternoon, Rev’d Dr James Robson, presented the prizes to our pupils before making a short address. In his message he emphasised the importance of trust and trustworthiness, explaining that trust consists of three key elements: competence, reliability, and caring. The ceremony ended with our four Upper Sixth Heads of School delivering their farewell speeches and reminiscing about their time on the Hill. It was a truly wonderful event and we are very grateful to everyone who was able to join us and make the day so memorable.
Summer Fete
Exam Success It was a time of celebration during the summer, as we shared in the success of our Upper Sixth and 5th Form pupils when they received their GCSE, A Level and BTEC/CTech results. • In Sixth Form 40% of all results were at Grades A*-A (or equivalent), well above the national average of 27.6%, with over three quarters of results at Grades A*-B. 40% of pupils secured 2 or more A*/A grades (or equivalent). • There was a 100% pass rate in our vocational BTEC and CTech courses, with over half of all results at Distinction*/ Distinction Level. • At GCSE 36% of results were at the highest Grades 9-7 with 56% at Grades 9-6.
This year’s Upper Sixth cohort have done themselves proud with 88% of pupils securing places at their first choice destinations. Our pupils will be studying a diverse range of courses including: Biomedical Science, Economics, Art, Psychology, Anthropology, Motorsport Engineering, Computer Science (with AI), Zoology, Mechanical Engineering, History, Politics, Sport Business Management, Genetics, English with Philosophy, Digital Animation with Illustration, Music Technology, Business and Finance, Marketing and Theology
One lunchtime in June, our Charity Committee held a Summer Fete which raised over £250 for The Branch in Chipping Norton. There were lots of activities on offer for pupils to enjoy including splat the rat, find the buried treasure, guess the number of sweets in the jar, dizzy penalties, a coconut shy and perhaps the highlight for many soak-a-teacher!
Fun on the Water As part of our activities programme, weekends are always busy times here on the Hill. This term one of the activities on offer was sailing. One weekend, a group of pupils (from 2nd Form to Lower Sixth) took part in a two hour sailing lesson at Cumnor Reservoir near Eynsham. There was also the opportunity to go sailing at Farmoor reservoir.
Life as a Medical Student
The Addams Family
In May, Hillian, Stacie Adjetey (leaver in 2020) came along to MedSoc to deliver a talk to our current pupils about her life as a medical student and the process of gaining admission onto her university course. Stacie detailed her pathway from her first year to the present, describing her daily routines and discussing the experiences she has had working across a diverse range of wards and departments whilst on placement. It was an extremely valuable session for all those who attended, providing them with a first-hand insight into life as a medical student and the dedication required to succeed.
Exploring Iceland There were some spooky goings on here on the Hill in May when we staged our production of The Addams Family musical. Billed as a comic feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, the musical tells the story of Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, who has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents.
Head of Drama, and Director and Producer of the show, Mrs Sawford said, “What drew me to The Addams Family is that much of the humour comes from the fact that the family displays no malice. They are hospitable to everyone and have no clue that their ghoulish tastes and world view are not the norm. The concept of family is very important, in the words of one of the songs from the show ‘It’s family first and family last, and family by and by...’ We had a great time preparing for the performances and I am so proud of each and every member of the cast and crew.”
In late June, a group of pupils in 4thSixth Form embarked on a Geography Department trip to Iceland. It was a truly immersive experience which took in the breath-taking landscapes and unique terrain of the Nordic island nation. During their visit the group had the opportunity to visit a number of spectacular locations including the ‘Bridge between Continents’ where a 15m footbridge spans a fissure between Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, providing the pupils with an opportunity to witness the effects of continental drift.
After several months of rehearsals, our fantastic pupils (and staff!) worked extremely hard to deliver a really impressive production over the course of three nights, which was very well received by our audiences.
Scan to watch a film 3
Wellbeing Award For Schools This term we were excited to be able to announce that Kingham Hill has been awarded The Wellbeing Award for Schools – a national standard for positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. Developed by the National Children’s Bureau and Optimus Education, the Award recognises the outstanding work being done to promote mental health and wellbeing within school communities across England. In order to be considered for the Award, schools are required to go through a process of self-evaluation, action planning, portfolio building and verification to show they have met the necessary standards for the award. It takes between 12-15 months to complete, and is a demanding process that involves the whole school community. Led by our Head of Wellbeing, Mr Tim Martin, we successfully demonstrated to the awarding body that within school we are working hard to embed a culture which values the happiness and emotional welfare of all the members of our community.
In their verification visit, the award verifier highlighted that Kingham has an ‘approachable, supportive staff and a strong sense of identity and community.’ They also said ‘Parents were very complementary about the school and felt that their children were well-cared for and understood as individuals. They chose the school for its ethos and friendly atmosphere. They describe staff going over and above for their children.’ Reflecting on the Award, Headmaster, Pete Last said, ‘I am delighted that our emphasis on the importance of wellbeing has been recognised through this Award. At the heart of our Wellbeing and Mental Health Strategic Plan is our intention to enable the pupils, staff and parents of Kingham Hill to flourish. Our Christian values underpin our caring culture, where we support individuals to be themselves and to achieve their best, whilst actively promoting the attributes of kindness, empathy and honesty. We look forward to further enhancing our offering to ensure our focus on the wellbeing of our pupils, staff and parents continues to develop.’
Mock General Election As election fever gripped the nation in the second half of term, we held our own mock election on the Hill. At the start of election week, we heard from five candidates representing political parties in a special hustings assembly where they laid out the principal elements of each party’s policies. The candidates then hit the campaign trail around the Hill for four days, before the voting took place. It was a great way to engage the pupils in the excitement of politics and elections and to provide them with an experience of the process of voting for when they are old enough to do it for real.
Higher Education Destination Seminar
Dream Big In the latest of our KHS Lecture series events we were thrilled to welcome GB Olympian Kriss Akabusi MBE to Kingham. Kriss is best known to many as a celebrated athlete who won three medals at the Olympic Games (silver at Los Angeles in 1984 – 4x400m relay), (two bronze at Barcelona in 1992 – 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay) as well as numerous other major medals including a gold at the 1990 European Championships (400m hurdles). He is perhaps best remembered for running the dramatic final leg alongside Roger Black, Derek Redmond and John Regis and bringing home gold in the 4x400m relay in the 1991 World Championship in Tokyo. Following the end of his time on the track Kriss has been a familiar face on TV and Radio and is also a hugely popular motivational speaker. Kriss’ talk took us on a journey through his life from childhood, to his time in the Army and how he was able to harness his athletic 4
ability to become one of the top performers in his field. Along the way Kriss learned a number of important life lessons which he shared with the audience. He stressed his belief that ‘the past is for reference, not residence’ urging those present to learn from things that happen to them, but not to dwell on them and to always try to harness their experiences in order to move forward in a positive way. Kriss ended his talk by sharing his favourite poem entitled ‘Dream Big’, summing up his message that we should all aspire to make each day count, stretch ourselves and work together with others to achieve great things.
In the first half of term Lower Sixth pupils took part in two sessions focussed on Higher Education and life beyond school. The first session introduced pupils to the various options open to them after they leave school, from university, apprenticeships, studying abroad, to the military and much more. Session two provided them with an opportunity to began to focus on their personal statements. We are excited for all that is to come for this year group, and look forward to continuing to support and guide them throughout the next year as they make important decisions about their future pathways.
Staying Safe Online At Kingham Hill we are committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all pupils, and sharing effective strategies for staying safe online are a key part of this aim. In May, we welcomed guest speaker, and e-safety expert Karl Hopwood, to Kingham to deliver a series of presentations to pupils and staff providing valuable insights into the ever-expanding digital world, and guidance on how to reap its benefits, whilst minimising potential risks.
Making a Difference - US Graduation An annual highlight of the academic year is our American Program Graduation Ceremony, where we celebrate our graduating US pupils as they receive their high school diplomas. At this year’s event in July we celebrated the achievements of 12 of our pupils, one of whom has been a member of the Kingham Hill community since 2nd Form (Year 8). Each one of them has made significant contributions to the life of the school in their classes, in their houses (day and boarding) and through their participation in our cocurricular and sporting programmes. Speaking at the ceremony, Headmaster, Mr Last, talked about the potential they each now have to make a huge difference in the
places where they live and work, and in the lives of the people with whom they interact. He recited a poem by Lemn Sissay entitled “Making a Difference” and reminded the graduands of the messages contained in a two particularly significant Bible verses. 1 Timothy 4:12 says: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity”. He also reminded them of Philippians 4:13 which says: “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” We look forward to hearing, in years to come, about the differences all the members of the Class of 2024 have made!
LAMDA Success We were treated to a showcase from our talented speech and drama pupils one evening in June, as they presented the pieces they have been working on this term. At the end of the evening Headmaster, Mr Last, was very pleased to present the pupils with their LAMDA certificates and medals. Our LAMDA results this year were outstanding - there was a 100% pass rate with no grades below merit level and 72% of pupils earning distinctions. A huge well done to everyone involved!
Environmental Management One Monday in June, our Lower Sixth Geographers visited the river Evenlode where they participated in a range of hands-on practical activities designed to deepen their understanding of hydrology and environmental management techniques. The day concluded with a visit to Cornwell and FarmED to observe a range of natural flood management schemes. It was a really useful day of practical learning, providing an opportunity for our pupils to observe real-world applications of environmental management
Maths Challenge
Stained Glass Restoration Project During the Easter holidays a new stained glass window was installed in Top School Hall. On our return to School at the start of term, there was an unveiling of the new window during special assemblies for Junior and Senior pupils where Headmaster, Mr Last, explained about the project and the meaning behind the design. Designed by Hillian and stained glass artist, Peter Berry, the new window is based on a biblical passage from 1 Corinthians 9: 24-25: 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. The installation marked the completion of a fundraising restoration project which began in 2019. Our thanks go to all who gave.
In May four of our Lower School pupils: Lois, Sebastian, Gabriel and Jamie represented KHS in the UK Maths Team Challenge in Oxford. They took part in a day of maths activities competing against some of the best mathematicians in the south of the country including pupils of Harrow School. Our mathematicians secured the 7th position among 17 teams – well done to the team!
Summer Music Concert We ended our musical year with a magical Summer Concert in the last week of term. It was a truly wonderful evening, showcasing a range of musical genres, and its success was a true testament to all the hard work and hours of practice undertaken by members of the various school ensembles including Concert Band, Orchestra, Choir and Brass Group.
Scan to find out more about the project
It was also lovely to see several of our talented musicians perform vocal, piano, trombone, and cello solos and duets, highlighting the rich variety of musical talent that exists within our pupil body. 5
Meet the Team Name: Mrs Sune Osborne
What is your role within the School? I am Head of Middle School and I am also Head of Psychology and Teacher of History. In my Head of Middle School role it is my privilege to work with our 4th and 5th Form pupils, supporting and guiding them as they develop and prepare for their next steps after GCSEs. What did you do before working at KHS? I came straight to Kingham Hill after studying History at the University of Exeter. I’ve now been happily working here for eight years. What would you say is the most interesting part of your day-to-day work? The pupils. No day is the same and each day brings a new challenge. There is always time to laugh with the pupils at Kingham Hill and I do my fair share of that with the pupils, as many people will know! What activities do you enjoy in your spare time? I love long cycles and swimming. I have a wonderful dog called Boaz, and I could happily spend hours on end walking with him. Who, or what, would you say has most inspired you in life? My mum. She always told me to ‘Trust and Obey’. Trust that God has everything in hand and Obey His words and truths. This has motivated me in every area of life. Tell us one activity that is on your ‘Bucket List’ One of my absolute dreams would be to cycle across Spain. Having completed a series of bike packing trips in the UK, I think it’s time to go a bit further afield. Finally, the best thing about working at Kingham Hill is… The opportunities I get on a daily basis to show and share the love of God. 6
House Socials In late May, pupils enjoyed spending time together in their House groups, as the majority of the Day and Boarding Houses held their House Socials. The Socials are a lovely way for pupils to spend time together, create bonds, foster friendships between year groups and most of all have fun! Activities for Day House pupils included bouncy fun on inflatables set up on the field,
a very competitive game of ultimate frisbee and a visit from the ice-cream van! Boarding pupils took part in a range of engaging activities both on Friday night and into the weekend. They included dancing the night away in an inflatable disco, dinner at The Chequers, formal dinners in house and a visit to Daylesford Church. One House even had a game of hide and seek in Ikea!
A Writer’s Life At the start of Term we were fortunate to welcome author, Radhika Sanghani, to speak to our 1st and 2nd Form pupils. Radhika is an award-winning journalist, influential body positivity campaigner and a 2020 BBC Writers Room graduate. Radhika began her talk by reading an excerpt from her debut children’s book The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie, which is all about friendship, family and, above all, radical honesty! This was followed by a discussion about the key themes in the novel as Radhika talked about the inspiration behind the story and whether there is ever a good
time to lie.
At the end of the talk there was time for a Q&A where our pupils asked Radhika about how she got into writing and what her future plans were for more stories.
Chill on the Hill 2024 Over 400 alumni and friends joined us for the sixth annual Chill on the Hill reunion at the beginning of the half term break. Hillians of all ages (from 19-92) came back to visit the school, and see each other. A former Greenwich pupil summed it up well saying, ‘There is no place that feels more like home to me.’ In the early years of Kingham, boys who attended came from troubled backgrounds and Kingham was their home. Our Founder, Charles Edward Baring Young made known and stated explicitly that Kingham Hill was not an institution, but a home above all. As part of the day there was a service in Chapel, led by Rev’d David Walsh (of Clyde House in the 1970s). Phil Orminston (Durham House in the 1960s) joined him
Scan to watch the video by playing the organ. Phil was a music scholar whilst at school. Meeting areas were set up so that alumni could reunite with old friends from their time and reminisce over archive photographs.
Sports Day 2024
Scan to watch the video
There was great excitement when we held our annual Sports Day in June. On what was a gloriously sunny day there was plenty of House Spirit on show as pupils from across the year groups took part in a number of events to earn points for their Houses.
including long jump, shot putt, high jump, javelin and a range of sprint, middle distance and relay races. All in all it was a fantastic day that brought the whole school community together. Everyone participated with impressive enthusiasm and it was a fabulous way to end the sporting year.
Throughout the day pupils took to the track and field to compete in a variety of events
Eventing Success Congratulations to The Kingham Hill Riding Team who won both the 80cm and 90cm competitions at the NSEA Inter-Schools Qualifiers at Rectory Farm Arena in June. Their results mean that they have now qualified to participate in the finals at Addington later in the year. Well done to Olive, Maud, Nell and Abi on their impressive performance.
County Tennis Victoria, one of our 1st Form pupils is an exceptional tennis player and over the May Bank Holiday weekend she competed in the Lionel Cox Trophy for the Oxfordshire U12s team. She has been playing tennis since she was 4 years old and currently trains several times a week in Oxford. We look forward to following her progress in the years to come.
Hockey Trip In June, our U14 and U15 Girls Hockey Teams enjoyed an exciting day of FIH Pro League Hockey at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre in London. The first match was a closely fought contest between GB’s Men and Spain, with the home team coming out on top 2-1. This was followed by the showcase match between GB’s Women and China which ended in a 3-3 draw. There was then a thrilling penalty shootout which saw the GB women take the victory. To end a great day, many of the girls had items signed and pictures taken with England Forward, Ellie Rayer.
The Mass 2024 The Kingham Hill Mass is an annual cross country event with a rich history of tradition behind it, having been contested for over 100 years. The route is run entirely within the school’s grounds as pupils strive to earn points for their respective Houses. Every single pupil runs the course on behalf of their House, regardless of their level of athletic ability – everyone is just encouraged to do their best! The course winds its way round the site with the layout having changed over the years to incorporate such obstacles as “Crofty Pond” and “The Last Leap” to bring elements of steeplechase eventing into the route. This year saw a twist to the line-up as, for the first time ever, one of our pupils, Alice F (Upper Sixth) completed the course on horseback, in a time trial against our current course record holder Riley B (Lower Sixth). As a member of our newly formed school equestrian team, Alice was keen to show what her horse, Johnny Rotten was capable
of. Despite an outstanding effort by Riley, when the times were compared Alice and Johnny Rotten were declared the winners with a time of 7.24 minutes! It was a great event, bringing the whole community together in an inclusive way, allowing us to be active, whilst also having a lot of fun.
Celebrating Sporting Achievement We took great delight in celebrating the many and varied achievements of our senior sports men and women at our annual Sixth Form Colours Dinner in May. The event is an opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate all the individuals who have consistently represented the school at first team level in each of the major sports (rugby, hockey, netball, football and cricket). The event was made extra special this year as, for the first time, we were able to award full colours for girls’ cricket and mark the achievements of our first ever girls rugby team. 7
Enrichment Week The last week of Trinity Term at Kingham Hill is traditionally our Enrichment Week when pupils have the opportunity to participate in a diverse range of activities and trips. The purpose of the week is to offer them the chance to explore new pursuits, acquire new skills, and enjoy spending time together out of the classroom. Some activities are held on site, whilst others take pupils away to various parts of the country. All in all our pupils had an extremely busy week taking part in activities which helped to boost their self-confidence and improve their leadership skills and team work. It was also a huge amount of fun!
Kingham Hill School Kingham, Chipping Norton Oxfordshire OX7 6TH
8
Highlights this year included: • A Medieval themed week for 1st and 2nd Form where they journeyed back in time, engaging in various pursuits including lessons on armour through the ages, sword-fighting, archery, a medieval banquet, and a day out at Warwick Castle. • Some of our 3rd Formers chose to go away on the CCF Summer Camp. Those who remained enjoyed a range of activities including a visit to The National Space Centre in Leicester, a residential trip to Eastbourne, and an on-site science project day.
Tel: 01608 658999 Email: registrar@kinghamhill.org Visit: www.kinghamhill.org.uk
Follow us on Social
• For 4th Form, for those who were not participating in the Silver DofE expedition in the Peak District, there was also the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors walking the Malvern Ridge and part of the Heart of England Way. They also took part in a “Survival on School Site” overnight event where they tried their hand at bushcraft. • The school’s unofficial motto is ‘Work Hard, Play Hard, Serve Well’ and this was at the forefront of the activities for Lower Sixth as they made the most of the opportunity to “Serve Well” volunteering to help with initiatives run by The Branch Charity in Chipping Norton.