By MATILDA CLARKE
- STRICTLY SUMMARY: Stars, scores and stats.
ENTERTAINMENT. - ALUMNI INTERVIEWS.
By LEANN WILLIAMS
By RIYA CHATHA
- FORMULA ONE
By RIYA CHATHA
- Agony Aunt - We solVE your problems! - INTERVIEW WITH MR DEARDEN.
By SHRIYA VARA
By THOMAS PIETER VAN DE RIET
Dear Henry's,
Welcome to this edition of our publication! We are thrilled to have you join us as we explore a variety of topics that are not only relevant but also essential for your academic journey. Our goal is to provide you with insightful perspectives, engaging articles, and thought-provoking discussions that will enhance your understanding and spark your curiosity.
In this issue, you will find a range of content tailored to support your studies and interests. We hope to inspire you to think critically and creatively. We encourage you to engage with the material, share your thoughts, and contribute to the conversation. Your feedback is invaluable as we strive to make our publication a resource that truly reflects your needs and aspirations. Feel free to join us if you would like to share your opinions in our next edition: everyone is welcome!
This year’s writers includes:
-Matilda Clarke
-Thomas Pieter Van De Riet
-Shriya Vara
-Leann Williams
-Marta Haas
-Riya Chatha
-Tashvith Muthuramana
-Heath Norwood
-Jasmine Mistry
-Eva Tomkins
Our cartoonists:
-Indy Russell
-Marta Haas
Thank you for being a part of our community! We are excited to embark on this journey with you and hope you enjoy this edition as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!
Best wishes,
Zzi Myra Shaharil
By Thomas Van Der Riet
On Wednesday 6th November I interviewed Mr Dearden.
The
answers included in the article
below are not his exact words, rather paraphrasing of his answers because I merely took notes rather than write his answers verbatim.
Could you, sir, provide this paper with a brief outline of your career?
This was perhaps the most interesting answer he gave Mr Dearden started his career with a language degree form Nottingham University Afterwards he became a T A, he says that this was where he found his love of teaching After being a T.A he went on to a teaching degree at Nottingham University and he worked in several state schools in that city for 5-6 years. However, after this he went on a international adventure, moving to and living in Colombo, Sri Lanka and then in Shanghai, China. Here he was head of languages and then Deputy Head. He came back to England in 2017 become Deputy Head at King Henry VIII. He would go on to become Headmaster, in that most turbulent of years for education worldwide, 2020.
Do you enjoy the fact that your responsibility also includes teaching Year 7 German?
Mr Dearden said that although he no longer teaches Year 7 German and this year he teaches Year 7 games. He enjoys it very much as his passion is in teaching as opposed to the administrative side of his job. He said that currently Year 7 Games is one of the highlights of his work week along with assembly. This was because both involved interacting with the students of the school. He also said that one of the added advantages of teaching Year 7 was that he got to know the new pupils entering the school each year.
The things Mr Dearden highlighted in this question were: he said that he really liked the sense of school community and the diversity of that community, he also said that he liked the feeling that exciting things were happening around the school, he particularly likes the buy in to extracurricular programs like Music and Drama. He also said that he liked the schools excellent academic results.
Mr Dearden indicated that the school takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. The school, he says, promotes the use of active transportation through assemblies. The example he gave was that Mr Miller and Mr Andrews gave an assembly a while ago to promote cycling to school. He also says that the school has talked to the council about the need to lower the speed limit on the section of Spencer Avenue from Kenilworth Road to Davenport. The school has also taken the problem of illegal parent parking around the school premises. He said that to discourage this members of staff monitor the roadway directly outside the school and for the rest of the area many letters have been sent to remind parents to park safely and legally.
With the reduction of the number of PSHE lessons from two per fortnight to 1 per fortnight will can the core of the curriculum still be covered in enough depth?
Mr Dearden pointed out to me that the messages of the PSHE curriculum are not just covered in PSHE but also in numerous assemblies, tutor time and through other subjects. On top of this every once and a while there are individual days dedicated to workshops and projects. An example of this was the diversity workshops of last year.
Ever since 1945 and the first Labour Government there has been debate about the role they should play (even their existence), particularly with the most recent Labour Government. What do you feel is the role that Private Schools should play in the future of this country?
The thesis of Mr Dearden’s answer was perhaps obvious, namely that Private Schools should continue to exist in the same way they do now. However, that was not all he had to say, as he did also say that Private Schools should leverage their facilities for the benefit of the community. For example, he said that Private Schools should share their facilities with local State Schools. He also mentioned that Private Schools should aim to be diverse institutions, which is one of our many strengths here at Henry’s.
Although this school is not regulated by Ofsted, what do you think of their decision to move away from single word ratings of schools, and do you think the ISI should do the same?
It was here that Mr Dearden gave his most definite answer: saying that he is very pleased that the ISI have removed one-word judgements, and they did so 18 months before Ofsted! He said that 1-word ratings were simply “too binary” and that although schools should be held accountable schools are very complicated institutions and that every school has successes that should be celebrated and where there are problems it should be specified what they are and how they could be improved.
What do you think of the city’s recent efforts to cut down on unnecessary motor traffic, for example the Earlsdon liveable Neighbourhood Scheme. Which has included measures like creating new culs-desac in Arden Street or new traffic calming in Beachwood Avenue and Earlsdon Ave South?
Mr Dearden said that he understands the point and objectives of the scheme and that he thinks that come from the right place. However, he also says that he understands the discontent. The measure in the original scheme that would have affected the school the most was the bus gate on Spencer Avenue. The aim of the bus gate was to reduce motor traffic on Spencer Avenue and speed up the bus which is one of the city's busiest. He said that he had safety concerns about the plan saying that it may cause parents to use Davenport as a turning loop, which would, he said, be dangerous.
Many countries do school slightly differently than the UK, for example many countries only start school at 7 while many others have shorter day (including many schools in this country ending school at 15.00). Do you think that these countries are on to something?
Mr Dearden said that there are undoubtedly things we could learn from abroad , however that one must balance concerns about the effects on the wellbeing of pupils with other factors like parents’ working hours.
By RIYA CHATHA
By MARTA HAAS
By INDY RUSSELL
