Kingswood In Focus - June 2005

focus Kingswood in

June 2005

Contents

8

Contents Regulars

10

18

28

1 4 7 12 20 25 26 30 32 34 42 47 50

Letters Chapel & Community Physics Inspires Art Autumn/Winter Sport Performing Arts Friends of Kingswood Events Modern Languages MUN Kingswood Association Spring Sport Achievers Out & About

Features 8 Focus on the Environment Eco-Schools at Kingswood turning the School green.

10 Photography Competition Some of the winning entries from a very popular competition.

48

18 Art & Design at the Prep School Wicked fun and great talent at KPS.

28 The Kingswood Campus Opening the School to the wider community.

48 Prefects Training Day Challenging team work for all concerned.

focus Kingswood in

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Kingswood Preparatory School College Road, Bath BA1 5SD Tel. 01225 310468 Fax. 01225 734470 prepschooloffice1@kingswoodschool.org.uk

Letter from the Headmaster

Moving Forward at Kingswood Dear Parents and Friends, I hope you enjoy this latest exciting issue of KIF. It has been expanded from previous editions in order to contain more pages for articles from and about former pupils in our Kingswood Association.

Many members of the Association have said how much they enjoy reading in KIF about what is happening in the school and I hope that our pupils will now be able to hear a little more about what their predecessors are experiencing and have achieved. The old boys and girls will continue to have their own newsletter but not their old-style magazine.

As many of you will be aware, our hopes of creating a social centre for our pupils in Y9 to Y11 by covering the Theatre Quad had to be put on hold because of planning complications. I have been very grateful to those parents and friends who have nevertheless already contributed to the Foundation Fund in the confidence that the school would find alternative ways forward. It is my pleasure to inform you that we have now agreed on an alternative scheme and one that I think offers even more, because it also achieves more of the developments that we hoped the Foundation Fund would support. As you read of our vision for the immediate future, I hope more of you will feel you want to contribute to the Fund to ensure that not only can this first round of projects be achieved but also future phases of development at the Prep School and the Westwood pupils teach the headmaster Senior School.

• improvements to the storage facilities for Y9 to Y11.

We will be engaging in a major redevelopment of the area below the Moulton Hall so we can create secure storage for all day pupils.

This will not affect the current Common Room of Upper House, which has proved so popular and is highly appreciated. All these storage rooms will be fitted with large new-style lockers so that pupils can safely and securely store their belongings in house designated rooms.

• the creation of some new social areas for boys & girls in Y9 to Y11.

This will be made possible by the fact R.S. is vacating the main building and we can move our PSHE classroom. Though not as

some new skills during activity time

We are aiming to achieve the following between now and September 2006: • the creation of a new Maths area.

This will contain six new classrooms and a Maths Office. They will be created by a major redevelopment of two levels of the main building that currently house the girls’ dayrooms and the now redundant Food Technology Room.

• improvements to R.S & Modern Languages Departments.

Moving Maths from its current four rooms in the Ferens enables us to assign an additional classroom to the Modern Languages Department and provide three better classrooms for Religious Studies. This is very helpful to Modern Languages because you will be aware that we now offer French, German and Spanish and the school’s latest curriculum initiatives are giving languages a greater profile in the school. It is even more helpful to Religious Studies, because the increasing popularity of this subject at GCSE and A level has made its current provision very unsatisfactory.

exciting a scheme as that proposed for the Theatre Quad itself, I know how much our pupils will welcome this development.

• the creation of four flats so we can maintain our recruitment of excellent staff.

Bath is an expensive place to live and some schools are finding it difficult to attract young dynamic staff. We will redevelop the current staff accommodation in the top floor of the main building (the level above the current girls’ dayrooms) to enable us to offer affordable accommodation to young staff, so they can take up posts at either the Senior School or the Prep School as required.

• last, and most important of all, the creation of a new state of the art Resources Centre.

Kingswood has always sought to develop the academic talent of its pupils to the full and understandably we want to ensure our students have the best possible learning environment in which to study and so

Kingswood in Focus 1

we want to redevelop the current Moulton Hall (including its lobby) what we would like to see happen at the school in all aspects of the and the Glasgow Room (which is the large room opposite the Hall) school’s life over the next decade, especially in further improving into a new Resources Centre containing new facilities for learning, the Prep School and our facilities for sport and other activities. including additional computers. We will still retain the current How fast we can move will depend on the generosity of those excellent computer facilities parents, friends, and in the Lower Library but we former pupils who give "I hope you will feel you want to contribute to the will create different uses for to the Foundation Fund. the current Upper Library I hope if you have not once the new Resources Foundation Fund to ensure that not only can this first round yet given anything Centre is operational. I will you will consider of projects be achieved but also future phases of say far more about the new doing so. If you want Resources Centre in the development at the Prep School and the Senior School." more information about next issue of KIF because it what we are hoping to is this section of the scheme achieve or about how that is still being developed as I write this article. you can help us please contact me, Mr. Cornah, or our Development Director, Mrs Vines.

I think the proposed changes will transform and upgrade the heart of the school as radically as in the past we transformed the buildings In the meantime, enjoy looking at what the boys and girls at Kingswood that now house the Art Centre, the DT Centre, and the Music School. have been doing and achieving. As ever, it is a great reminder of why The initial phase of these six projects work will be funded by the being the headmaster of such a school is a great privilege.

Foundation Fund but we will need to raise more money if we are to With every good wish complete them all, especially the Resources Centre. I am sure you will appreciate that projects of this magnitude cannot be funded by the income derived from school fees. Many of the facilities our pupils enjoy at both the Senior and the Prep School would not exist without the generosity of previous people connected to the School.

Mr Gary Best (Headmaster and Principal of the Kingswood Foundation)

We are also continuing to work on the other ideas contained in the article I wrote for a previous issue of KIF when we launched the Foundation Fund – the governors and staff here have a great vision for

"Whether your donation is small or large, it makes a difference!"

The Kingswood School Foundation Fund aims to support and underpin Kingswood School’s strategic development plan. Fees paid by current and future parents cover the cost of running the School - teachers, maintenance, meals and more - but do not and cannot fund new developments and major redevelopment. This money must be raised through the generosity of our parents, friends and alumni.

John James

Dr P T Ream

Cheung Kwok-Hing

Dr & Mrs Redman

Stephen Lynock

Mrs Sanders

Nicol McGregor

Robert Sandry

Donald Mackenzie

Michael Socha

Many of you have already made generous donations to the Fund. This will enable some of the exciting developments to start this summer and we are extremely grateful to the Kingswood Association, the Friends of Kingswood and the Friends of Kingswood Prep School. We would also like to say a huge thank you to the following individuals who have supported us so far, as well as to some others who have asked to remain anonymous:-

Mr & Mrs Olley

Christopher Williams

Mr Palomino & Mrs Marced

Charles Wookey

Jeremy Payne

Alan Wright

Anthea Pritchard

Paul Aston

William Cumber

John Bone

William & Sally Feeny

David Butler

Professor John Henry James

Adrian & Carolyn Bird

WD Homfray-Davies

Christopher Williams

Jack Humphrey

Nigel Collingwood

John Humphrey

In the first instance we need to raise a further £300,000 to ensure the completion of the projects identified as potentially achievable by September 2006. There are few individuals in the United Kingdom and many worldwide who do not give to some or other charitable or campaigning institution; the reason they do so is that they identify with the cause and want to help. I hope that the vision for Kingswood’s future will make you want to support us. If you would like to contribute or to fund any particular project (because we can break down the costs of the first six proposed projects), then please let us know by contacting Jane Vines the Development Director on 01225 734361.

Geoffrey Collinson

Mr D Huws

Whether your donation is small or large, it makes a difference!

2 Kingswood in Focus

Letter from the KPS Headmaster

Dear Parents and Friends, This is now the thirtieth year of my teaching career and this term for the first (and I hope last) time, I was not present at school for the first three days of the term! Instead, as part of my membership of IAPS (the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools), I had to attend a new Head’s Induction Course in a Hilton hotel near Tewkesbury and I confess to a feeling of guilt as I travelled up the M5 on the Wednesday morning.

However I had no doubts that my Deputy, Mr Dixon, and the rest of the KPS team could manage without me for a few days. The instructions had been to ring me if there was a panic. So no news from base camp would be good news. I also confess, however, to feeling further guilt on the course, when at the end of every session many of the other Heads could be seen scattered about the building, clutching their mobile ‘phones wearing worried looks on their faces!

The course was very useful, perhaps especially in the opportunity it gave me to meet other people with similar responsibilities to mine. Contacts have been made and faces put to names.

• Support (professional advice, advocacy, training, meeting and sharing) IAPS is a founder member of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and all schools with the association benefit from the services of ISCis (the Independent Schools Information Service.)

I hope to make the most of the benefits that IAPS offers KPS including a team of professional advisers and regular bulletins with current information and advice; continuing professional development and training for Heads and staff at all levels; advice on curriculum, teaching and testing; expertise in classroom and school organisation; individual advice on problems, and on school management, employment and contractual matters; advice on bursarial matters; meetings such as the annual conference for Heads and termly district meetings; national and regional activities for members and schools, and the legal and specialist services of NAHT (the National Association of Head Teachers.)

"I hope to make the most of the benefits that IAPS offers KPS..."

The IAPS is the professional association for Headmasters and Headmistresses of independent preparatory schools in the United Kingdom and overseas. There are around 130,000 pupils in 542 schools of all types and sizes. Its mission is to provide and promote all-round excellence in education. The five core aims that the Association believes should be common to all IAPS school and the services it provides for them, are: • Independence (from government and the state) • Diversity and breadth (curriculum, age-range, boarding/day, religious/spiritual)

Our children can also take part in a wide variety of sports fixtures and take part in various IAPS competitions.

It is comforting for me as a Head to know that such back-up exists. I am often asked what the difference between being a Head and a Deputy is.

The single biggest change is that now, the final responsibility is usually mine. When I was a Deputy, one could leave the really fundamental decisions to the Head. Of course, not all these decisions are automatically difficult, and even when they are, there is a sense of achievement and fulfilment in getting them right or failing that, hoping that colleagues, parents, children and Governors, will see the reasons behind the decision.

Best Wishes,

• Promotion and influence (to parents, the general public, the media, government, the national education service and within ISCis) • High standards (academic, pastoral, behaviour, staffing, conditions of service, inspection and accreditation)

Mr Marcus Cornah (Headmaster of the Kingswood Prep School) Kingswood in Focus 3

Chapel and the Community

‘An Offering?’

A school with a Christian foundation gives. That is not a statement for debate; it is chiselled into the brickwork of any edifice that says “the gospel matters”. How does such a school do its giving?...

That is the question for discussion.

Being part of that discussion and watching its outpourings bring both frustration and joy – the contrasts from event to event, week to week, baffle and delight all at the same time. Please allow me to illustrate.

Out there in the wider world of giving with a Christian label, the place of worship is central to the whole product. The bag or plate is passed and there is that moment of personal offering beyond the music and the words – an act of thanksgiving and recognition that God’s work needs cash, pure and simple. Having watched our own School try to maintain such a practice for more than a decade, the pure and simple conclusion here is that it doesn’t work.

It doesn’t work even when students know that everything, every penny, goes to a good cause – unlike the church where the vast majority of the money pays salaries and keeps buildings standing. Here, even when Houses do the preparatory work of having collection bags circulated in preceding days to give more than one chance ‘to offer’, the Bursary still doesn’t get overburdened with counting. Clearly, any messages I may want to promote about personal offering within worship are not hitting home.

Wouldn’t it be so easy to conclude mass indifference to charitable giving at Kingswood School? Contrast the above with what happened last term. The Head suggested that we task the paired Houses with promoting their own chosen charity. Students would be asked to make assembly presentations to all year groups and then spend a two-week period ‘shaking the bucket’ for all they were worth. The outcomes were remarkable – thousands and thousands of pounds for Tsunami Relief, Comic Relief and Health-Help International, all in the space of one term.

"We're ladees!"

Why such a difference? I would put it down to ownership, a sublimated sense of competition and something that we might call ‘the deal’.

Students do not, on the whole, dole out cash in large quantities without something in return. It may be a red nose, a cake, a Valentine card, a mufti dress code, whatever, but there needs to be a swap or trade to lever that money into the bag or bucket. It works big time! The cash poured in.

Lessons learned? For the students, just how much hard work it takes to do a decent job in the sphere of charitable giving. They worked so hard at their endeavours that by the end of the term I was being bombarded with ‘give us a break‘ comments. For the Chaplain, that he will have to recognise that ‘passing the bag’ does look and feel to so many like something of a bygone age, and that going to worship with cash in pocket does not hit the spot in the minds of most young people. He will take this on – reluctantly – but still preach that to give for the sake of giving, graciously and anonymously, is something to which we should all aspire.

(Rev. Mike Wilkinson (Deputy Head Pastoral & Chaplain)

Comic Relief Day Antics!

"Everyone wanted to help and make a difference."

School and Upper chose to support Comic Relief as their charity.

Everyone came together to come up with fund-raising ideas and to organise the events. Assemblies were held throughout the School to inform students of the events and to educate them about the charity itself. Emily Head, Charlotte Chivers, Imogen Forrester and I put a lot of time into organising the senior assembly

and Miss Paver’s year 10 tutor group did a presentation to Westwood. These assemblies touched everyone as they were faced with graphic scenes of poverty and homelessness, and they were hit with the devastating statistics. Everyone wanted to help and make a difference.

Through cake sales, pick and mix sales, hair spraying, red nose selling, money-raising to get Mr Duke in a Superman costume, a Y8 play at Westwood, and fancy dress on comic relief day itself, we managed to raise £1,570. Many thanks and congratulations must go to Mrs Brown who was the backbone of the ideas. Her enthusiasm made people want to help, and it was this teamwork that made it all possible and made it such a success.

Bethan Langley (Y11) Red Nose Day brought out the official noses for the children in the Reception classes, as well as some more unusual hairdos! The girls went for ribbons and bunches and the boys for the trendy ‘gelled’ look – in some cases, all their own work! We had a fun day raising money to help others, making red nose puppets and red nose cakes – which, of course, we all enjoyed eating.

Mrs Viv Thompson

Lest We Forget

A Tragic Loss We were extremely sorry to hear of the tragic, accidental death of Richard Fielden in January 2005.

He was the founder of Fielden Clegg, the architectural practice responsible for designing Kingswood Prep School. We chose the company because both Richard Fielden and Richard Clegg were avid believers in creating educational facilities with an environmental philosophy and what they called a “wow factor”.

Annual wreath laying at the Memorial Chapel on November 11th 2004

The Head Boy and Head Girl took part in the annual wreath laying at the Memorial Chapel on 11th November 2004. Pictured with them are the Chaplain, Mr Duchars and Mr and Mrs Lockhart.

A Visit from the Mayor It was a pleasure to receive a visit from the Mayor of Bath, Councillor Roger Symonds, on Monday 11th October.

His visit was part of a nationwide initiative on the part of local politicians to become better acquainted with the aims and objectives of schools across the country, and to share with youngsters the procedures of local politics and how they impact upon our lives. Mayor Symonds, a former PE teacher himself, talked delightfully about his role with KPS Y6 pupils, before becoming truly embroiled in debate with our Lower Sixth Politics students.

He displayed great insight into our current political environment, assisting the students in the formulation of their own opinions. All who met him were struck by his sensitivity and deep sense of integrity, and he himself commented on the excellent facilities, wonderful setting and warmth of community spirit that underpin Kingswood.

Mr Gareth Lloyd (Senior Deputy Head)

Christmas Market 2004 At the end of the Autumn Term, Westwood held a French Christmas market and raised over £400 for Cancer Research UK. The Y8 Common room was transformed with lights and decorations and once again the highlight of the evening was the cake stall of Mrs. Gay, one of the matrons. The recent craft morning in Westwood provided many of the delightful gifts and cards for sale and the students who had made them were very good at getting the highest prices for their handiwork. Hot punch was passed around giving a festive feel to the occasion and from 7.45 – 8.45 the room was packed to bursting. Many thanks to all parents and friends who donated so much of the produce on sale at the market.

Mrs Susan Monks (Westwood Tutor)

It came as no surprise that our Prep School buildings won an RIBA award. Indeed, the School features in the recent Pevsner Architectural Guide to Bath as a worthy addition to the World Heritage City of Bath’s distinguished buildings.

Richard Fielden will be very sadly missed not only by his family, including Rowan who was a pupil at Kingswood, but by his many friends and by the architectural world.

Tsunami: A Personal Experience On Boxing Day both my father and I had decided to travel across the island early in the morning to visit the local town of Phuket to replace my camera which I had lost at Hong Kong airport. Little did I realise how fortunate this was for us, though it meant we were separated from my mother and sister who were left at our hotel in Bang Tow Bay. Shortly after arriving in Phuket town I received a text message from my sister telling us that the hotel had been hit by a tidal wave. The message read quite simply: ‘Have been hit by tidal wave no joke’. Later we found out that they had been sun bathing by the pool only to be disturbed by the scream of women, followed by the panic of people running for higher ground. Neither my mother nor sister knew what was going on and did not even realise that they where running through water until they had reached the upper levels of our hotel.

4X4s) there were several accidents and fatalities on the roads. On the return journey we saw these and there was no chance of people being able to help. The only choice was to move them from the roads. As we got closer and closer to the ocean, the roads became quieter until all that was left were a couple of police vehicles. But it was not until we reached our hotel that we truly saw the destruction that this event had caused.

We were asked to go to the main desk to have our names checked off.

Only after this were we finally reunited with my mother and sister, about four or five hours after the first text message. Once the hotel had received a call to tell them that the danger was over, we finally ventured out of the lobby to the rest of our hotel.

We discovered a number of rooms had been destroyed along with the beach, pools, bar and a number of small shops owned by the locals of Phuket.

Even on the same day people began to try and flee the island. But many did stay despite the possible threat of future waves. Even before the night fell those who remained started the mammoth task of beginning to clean up.

"...it was not until we reached our hotel that we truly saw the destruction that this event had caused."

We tried to return by cab to our hotel but with no success as the town of Phuket became deserted within minutes because it had been warned that a wave would soon be entering the harbour within half an hour.

With no other options of finding transport it took us four hours before we were able to contact our hotel to send a driver to come and collect us. These were probably some of the hardest hours of my life, being separated from half my family with nothing but text to keep in contact.

Waiting for the next one was really frightening.

Unfortunately the locals of Phuket are quite superstitious people and this was not helped by the fact it was a full moon. They began to panic and fled for the hills and when there are only two types of vehicle (either small Honda bikes or

A week after the wave it was New Year’s Eve and because of recent events the government had decided that instead of fireworks 99 Thai balloons would be set off from all the resorts. These are large paper balloons with small burners under them. It was a beautiful sight.

The hardest task of this whole event yet remained. It was the walk back through Phuket airport where hundreds of pictures lined the walls asking if anyone had seen relatives, loved ones and children. This was one of the most heart rending moments of my life.

Thomas Butler (U6) (Summerhill and Middle House raised for the Tsunami Appeal at the start of the Spring Term. In addition a further £1,000 was raised from the Soup and Roll Fund. Thomas also organised and cooked a magnificent French-style meal in the Community Centre of All Saints Church, Weston, and the proceeds from this raised over £1,500 for the charity “Wherever the Need”, which will use it to build and equip a complete house for one of the families whose own home was destroyed in Phuket.)

Tsunami Concert When Kingswood was asked to perform at the Forum in aid of the Tsunami Appeal, the African Drum Ensemble was more than willing to help, as well as represent Kingswood at the gig. All 18 secondary schools in Bath joined forces on February 3rd for a special fund-raising concert in aid of the Tsunami victims. Kingswood’s African Drum Circle, led by our percussion teacher Mr Mark Bradbury, was the most unusual ensemble of the evening, and our performance was watched with intense interest by both the paying audience and pupils from the other schools.

"We helped raise over £4,000 that evening."

After a number of performances by rock bands, choirs and wind bands, there was a definite hush as we stepped onto the vast stage. No one really knew what to expect, and as Mr Bradbury started with his first pattern, you could hear a pin drop in the hall.

After the opening improvised section, we all settled into our first pattern. I could see people tapping their feet and swaying in the first few rows, and then we all concentrated once more as we moved into the more difficult second pattern. Before we knew it, it was all over and we were taking a bow to very loud applause. It was great to see so many musicians from so many schools taking part. We helped raise over £4,000 that evening.

Patrick Morgan (Y9)

Physics Inspires Art In 1905 Einstein produced 5 spectacular Physics papers that changed the way we viewed the world around us.

100 years later, 2005 has been designated as the ‘International Year of Physics’ to celebrate Einstein's work and to recognise our present Physics knowledge.

At Kingswood, as well as the usual trips and lectures that the Physics department arranges, a number of cross-curricular projects have taken place. In Art, Y9 students have gained inspiration from the achievements of a famous Physicist and produced some original art pieces. The students deserve great praise for their excellent work.

Mr Richard Burton (Head of Physics) Abigail Morris 'Blaise Pascal'

mes Clerk-Maxwell' Laura Stockley - 'Ja

Alex Ock well - 'Ch arles Aug ustine de Coulomb '

Marianne Teoh 'Count Volta'

Arthur Lau - 'Sir William Lawrence Bragg'

Emma Oliver - 'Lord Rayleigh'

David st - 'Sir se We e li e n A

ter'

Brews

Eleanor Batterham - 'Wolfgang Pauli'

Kingswood in Focus 7

Education Feature

Eco-Schools @ Kingswood... ...Not Just a Lot of Hot Air! Oi you! Yes, you! Pay attention because there is some serious stuff here that you should really take notice of.

Photo 1: The Maldives before, a great place to holiday...

(Photographer - R. Mainwaring)

Photo 2: The Maldives after. Sadly, it could end up looking like this within our lifetimes due to global warming.

If you have been watching the news recently you will be aware that there is an overwhelming consensus that carbon dioxide and other ‘green house’ gases emitted as a result of man’s activity are raising global temperatures. No one knows for sure what impact this will have, but the predictions put forward are not very pleasant. The resulting devastation from ice cap melting and weather pattern changes could be phenomenal (Photos 1 & 2 above). With growing concern amongst politicians and the general public that global warming is turning out to be a bigger problem than we first thought, it is no surprise that concern is growing within Kingswood, too. But what can we do to help, if anything at all?

Is anything we do within this relatively small school community going to have any impact? Or could it be, horror of all horrors, that we are actually contributing to the problem itself? It is time that we, as a school, do whatever we can to help and make sure we are not worsening the situation. It is time for Eco-Schools.

For those of you who are not aware, Eco-Schools is a highly regarded environmental programme being carried out throughout Europe. It provides a framework to help schools, like ours, become more environmentally friendly. With this in mind, we decided that it would make sense to participate by challenging the Kingswood community to a long-term and yet achievable project that would develop activities which would help the environment. Our aims are to monitor these activities whilst publicising them and, above all, to encourage everyone to get involved. And yes, that does mean you!

Figure 1: The 7 Elements

Environmental review

Action plan

Eco-code

ECO-COMMITTEE

Monitoring action & evaluating progress

Involving the whole school & wider community

Linking to the curriculum

8 Kingswood in Focus

So how does Eco-Schools actually work? Well, it consists of a system of seven elements (Fig. 1 left). Firstly, the Eco Committee, which is the driving force of the Eco-Schools programme. Its function is to oversee the general running of projects.

Ideally, this committee will represent the entire School community and include students,

teachers and other staff. We are aiming to have this committee up and running by early September 2005. Could this be where you come in?

Many sixth formers have already shown an interest and, by becoming members of the Eco-Schools activity, are currently carrying out the next of the seven elements – the Environmental Review – with invaluable help from the School’s maintenance, catering and secretarial departments.

The Environmental Review is a survey which will review our current situation regarding energy consumption, water use, recycling, healthy eating, litter, transport, waste minimisation and various other aspects regarding the Kingswood campus. When it is completed, we will be in a better position to set realistic targets for action and prioritise them.

Many of you will have helped us with this, whether you realised it or not, by completing a questionnaire on various environmental issues (see right).

We already know that Kingswood uses over 37,000 sheets of paper per week. Also, that it spends £140,000 on energy and £25,000 on water every year in the Main School building alone! But what other heinous findings would the questionnaire expose? Whatever they are, we want to work hard to reduce them using the review to help us identify achievable solutions.

The Environmental Review forms the basis of the Action Plan. This is an outlined timetable for the projects to be carried out. It includes allocated responsibilities for people who wish to become involved. Hopefully, by the time you read this article, the Action Plan will be completed and ready for your perusal.

Monitoring action and evaluating progress are also vital parts of the Eco-School programme. This will enable us to see whether the targets in the Action Plan are being successfully achieved. Also, it will mean that we will be able to modify existing projects in light of experience as needs arise.

One of our more long term aims is to link ideas from Eco-Schools throughout the curriculum at Kingswood. Already a lot is being done

– ask any Y8 about energy conservation and they will wow you with their knowledge and don’t pretend you haven’t noticed the squirrel sculpture on the chapel lawn. We want to co-ordinate all these projects which relate to the environment, and, do even more!

A vital part of Eco-Schools is involving the whole School and the wider community, giving everyone who would like to a chance to join in. We will keep everybody informed by various means such as the forthcoming Eco-Schools notice board and future articles. Don’t be surprised if more and more people encourage you to participate. In addition, we plan to publicise environmental concerns and successful projects so that people outside the School will become aware of what we’re doing and possibly want to do something too. Eco-Schools will only work if as many people as possible get involved and help out. So keep your eyes peeled and ears to the ground.

By now you might be wondering if you have heard this all before, and many of you have, but when the School sat down to their regular weekday assembly in the first week of March, it would be fair to say that only those participating in the assembly itself realised quite how much time and effort had gone into preparing the spectacle they were about to witness. In order to make the first move, a handful of those currently involved in Eco-Schools took to the stage to present their findings in a humorous yet

enlightening way. Using short films starring pupils and staff alike, we were treated to several comical scenarios including one at the expense of the constant urinal flushing, and another depicting a sci-fi investigation into the strange blue lights that haunt the Kingswood campus (only to find that they were the computer screens being left on overnight and not an alien invasion, much to Tim Martin’s disappointment!).

The response to the assembly far exceeded expectations. Straight away we were getting positive feedback. Clearly, Kingswood does care!

Reducing paper waste appeared to be close to many people’s hearts.

(Photos 4 & 5). It’s great to know that classes throughout the School, having been made aware of paper waste, were intentionally reusing old paper and only using the paper necessary. Eco-Schools will help us ensure that this response lasts more than a few days. Next academic year we will try and develop other ways to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle paper.

Maybe BA&NES’s waste and recycling services will be interested in what we come up with.....

We want helping the environment in this way to become the norm.

Let’s be ambitious... we want to do even more. However, it won’t work without you. Global Warming (the clue is in the name) is a GLOBAL problem; it needs everyone to help if we want to make a difference.

KW uses approx 17 boxes, that’s 37,000 sheets of paper, per week!

This boy in Malawi is lucky if he gets 1 sheet per month. (A group from Kingswood visited Malawi last summer and were surprised to find that children would draw tiny pictures in order to conserve the paper they were given.)

As we see it, each and every one of us has essentially 2 choices: 1. Throw this article away, carry on like you don’t know or don’t care anything about the issues above, and sit back while the temperature of the earth rises, famines become more widespread, the polar ice caps melt, sea levels rise by 4 metres swallowing low lying countries including the Maldives, Bahamas, and parts of Australia, the Atlantic Ocean becomes so diluted the Gulf Stream stops, turning the British climate into one similar to that of Canada, that’s -40°C in winter and around 20°C in summer if we’re lucky.....!

2. Or, you could recycle this magazine, and start doing your bit to help.

Above all join Eco-Schools and, in the words of John Wesley, support our efforts ‘Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can ....’ Don’t stick your head in the sand and pretend that this isn’t happening. Make a decision to make a difference, get involved and do your bit to save the world. It’s simple, but it is your choice....

Meredith Lloyd (L6) & Louise Wratten (U6)

How green is Kingswood?

Antonia Bevan (second on right) helping to make a collage to illustrate the many ideas put forward to help schools address their own environmental concerns.

The Eco-Schools project at Kingswood hopes to make everyone in our community more aware of our environment and involved in improving it.

Mrs Patterson initiated the scheme at Kingswood, and she and I attended a course in January at the Bristol Create Centre led by Mark Letcher, from the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Fiona Carnie, from Human Scale Education. The course tackled many environmental issues throughout the day and we both found it very helpful and thought provoking and there was a very memorable lecture from Mary Tasker, Chair of Human Scale Education, on how she felt strongly that the teaching of environmental issues should form part of the curriculum and that schools should lead by example. Amongst other activities, we made a collage to illustrate the many ideas put forward to help schools address their own environmental concerns, and action plans were drawn up at the end of the day for each individual school. One of the highlights for me was the discussion of the key issues, which included litter, waste, energy, water and transport.

Overall, two main lessons came from the day. If, at Kingswood, the Eco-Schools scheme is to be successful, then eventually it should be a project led by the students and involving as many of them as possible, with the support of both teaching and non-teaching staff, and with the recognition of the problems and limitations involved. The other is the need to realise the effect we have on the environment and consciously to do something about it. As Mark Letcher said at the beginning of the day, “We need to move from unconscious ignorance to conscious ignorance to conscious action to

"...we need to realise the effect we have on the environment and consciously do something about it." unconscious action.” In other words, we all need to get to the point where small but important things, such as turning off a light, become second nature. I look forward to the Eco-Schools project taking off at Kingswood.

Antonia Bevan (Y10) Kingswood in Focus 9

Contrails Report

Kingswood's

Since September, two members of the ICT Link Activity have been going out each Quarter, to record the types of clouds and number of contrails present in the sky. Contrails are clouds formed when water vapour freezes and condenses around small particles from aircraft exhausts.

They can only be formed when a certain amount of moisture is present in the air and are not caused by smoke from the engines of the aircraft as many believe. Some of the water may come from the air around the aircraft, and some comes from the aircraft exhausts. The aircraft exhausts contain both gas and solid particles. Some elements of the exhausts are not involved in contrail formation but contribute to air pollution.

After last year’s successful whole School self portrait exhibition the Art Department wanted to expose the photographic talent within the School.

So why our interest in clouds and contrails? We’re taking part in a worldwide research project to help increase our understanding of climate change. It looks as if air traffic may be having a greater impact than anyone first thought. Dr David Travis of the University of Wisconsin noted an immediate and dramatic change of 1°C in the temperature range in the US over the 3 days following September 11th when the US fleet was grounded. This may not sound like much, but from a climatic perspective it is huge; no one has ever seen such a big climatic change happen so fast! Dr Lin Chambers of NASA Langley Research Centre notes that “Contrails are one change in the Earth’s system that are, without a doubt, caused by human activity.” Under the right conditions of temperature and humidity in the upper atmosphere, contrails can spread and the result, scientists think, is an increase in cirrus cloud cover which is likely to affect climate.

"Contrails are clouds formed when water vapour freezes and condenses around small particles from aircraft exhausts."

After last year’s successful whole School self portrait exhibition the Art Department wanted to expose the photographic talent within the School. Once again the Moulton Hall’s wooden panelling was filled and made it a colourful and exciting place to visit. What stood out more than anything was the diversity of countries that pupils and staff have visited. The best student photographer was Tim Martin, with his beautiful black and white photos of Malawi children. The best Staff photographer was Mr John Davies, who had captured such a variety of subjects from Mount Everest to winkles on a rock in Cornwall. Overall the exhibition was a great success and showed once again the artistic talent within the school.

Mr David J Meads (Head of Art)

Matt Everson

Observations around the globe may help scientists understand better the atmospheric conditions leading to the formation of these persistent contrails and their effect. This is where we come in... We’re a member of GLOBE, an international student observation programme which brings students and scientists together to help gather important data. This covers many subjects which will help build up an understanding of the Earth as an integrated system and the effects we are having on it, one of which is contrails. Since 1994, more than 14,000 schools in over 100 different countries have taken part. As of September 2004, students worldwide have provided more than 11.5 million scientific measurements using methods and standards developed by the scientists.

After observing the clouds and contrails daily we send off our recordings to GLOBE via the internet. Dr Chambers is GLOBE’s principal investigator for the contrail observations, and she and her team analyse the data and use it to help supplement their satellite studies. She is happy to correspond with us by e-mail and is good at keeping us informed as to the increasing understanding of the role contrails are playing in climate change.

Victoria Legge (Y10)

'Lapping Lions' Mr M Wilkinson

Contrails at Kingswood School

10 Kingswood in Focus

Photography Competition

Budding Photographers The Results were:

RUNNERS UP

WINNERS

Landscape Architecture People Wildlife Culture

Landscape Architecture People Wildlife Culture

'Paradise Lost', Mr R. Mainwaring 'Round We Go', Tim Martin 'Press Ups', Tim Martin 'Perching High', Matt Everson 'Colour', Mr. J. Davies

'Croyde Bay', James Bruce 'Reflections', Mr. J. Davies 'Dignity', Mrs. J. Opie 'Lapping Lions', Mr M. Wilkinson 'Hope', Tim Martin

'Dignity' Mrs J Opie

'Round We Go' Tim Martin

'Reflections' Mr J Davies

'Croyde Bay' James Bruce

'Hope' Tim Martin

Kingswood in Focus 11

Autumn/Winter Sport

Girls’ Hockey The hockey season throughout the School has been very successful this year, showing vast amounts of improvement across the board.

The U12’s especially the A team, have started their Kingswood hockey career in good stead with a few great wins. Gemma Holmes and Zoe Gilchrist are players to look out for in the future and were voted player of the season and most improved, respectively.

The U13’s have improved particularly over the latter half of the season. Special mentions to players in their team go to Amy Marshall, Alice Yates and Merryn Churchouse.

The U14’s are a lively year group losing only four of their twelve matches. Consistently impressive were Pahrnia Parsons, Marianne Teoh, Annie West and Georgia Turner. Congratulations to Pahrnia and Georgia, and also Hannah Kraus who represented Kingswood U16’s.

The U15’s have shown some great promise for the future with some tight stick and ball skills from Kelly Greene. They are a particularly attacking team having notched up 32 goals, which is the highest of all the teams. Rachel Murray should be congratulated for being joint top goal scorer in the School. This is certainly a team to look out for, and I wish them the best of luck.

The 3rd XI have been enthusiastically captained by Pippa Strong this year which can be reflected in their unbeaten season, where they played 8 matches and only conceded 3 goals.

Sophia Peattie has proved to be very valuable in the back four, and was voted most consistent defender of the season. Mention must also go to Emily Rawlins who is their highest goal scorer (with two hat tricks scored in one match!)

The 2nd XI have shown huge improvement, particularly Sarah Ashdown and Fiona Lo who have led the team by example. Player of the season was awarded to Abi Tagoe for her speed and work rate.

The 1st XI have had a successful term losing only three of twelve matches, which is a very good record considering how new the team was. This gives great hope for next year as I know they have the potential to do great things.

Top Goal Scorers 2004 1st XI

Cindy Lithimbi has made a huge impact on the team this year, and proved to be one of our most valuable players with her excellent work rate and speed.

“The U15’s are certainly a team to look out for..."

Lydia Craig is a player who works hard in a quietly effective way, and has been crucial to the success of the team.

Well done to Sacha Craig and Sarah Ryder for gaining 1st XI debuts while only in Y10. Congratulations also to Sarah Ryder who this year was selected for the U15 Avon county squad, and I hope she gives a good account of herself at the forthcoming county tournament.

2nd XI

3rd XI

Throughout Y7 to Y11 we managed to lose every match except maybe two. My first full season for the 1st XI brought much success as we actually won our matches.

Becky Midgeley (Captain) 12 Kingswood in Focus

Nandi Kegode

9

Alizé King-Harman

6

Hannah Gregory

7

Emily Jones

4

Aimi Mckewan

4

Emily Rawlings

7** 3

Rachel Murray

14

Sarah Ryder

5

Sacha Craig

4

Daisy Head

5

Pahrnia Parsons

4

Georgia Turner

3

14B

Alice Logan

4

13 XI

Amy Marshall

7

15 XI

14A

Captaining the side this year has been interesting, particularly as we now have six keen Kenyans!

On behalf of all the teams I would like to say thank you to Mr Thompson, Mrs Jenner, Mrs Opie, Miss Batch, Mrs Muddiman, Miss Bleathman and Miss Paver who have given up their time to coach this year. In particular I would like to say thank you firstly to my Vice Captain, Vicky Klewin, who has been of great support, and has made this season so enjoyable. Secondly to Mr Opie for giving me such a positive introduction to hockey and for all the support he has given over these years. Last but certainly not least to Miss Wright for having the faith in me, and for entering me for County Trials when I was in Y7, and for all her support and help that she has given me particularly in the last few years. Thank you very much for this opportunity, and I hope I haven’t done too bad a job!

10

Amy Swales

Mention must also be made of Alizé King-Harman, Lara Mousley and Kelly Elliott who have put 100% into every match.

On a more personal note, hockey at Kingswood has been one of my biggest passions, starting at the end of Y6 when Mr Opie would take the whole of Y5 and Y6, boys and girls, and somehow manage to fit us all on the astro. Moving to the Senior School in Y7, all I can remember is being promised a McDonalds

by Miss Wright when we played in a 7 a-side tournament if we didn’t lose to Clifton College, which I took seriously by running straight into their goalkeeper.

Sacha Craig

12A

12B

Charlotte Kraus

5*

Phoebe Watson

4*

Elspeth Odum

13 *

Beth Garner

4

Jessica Gregory

3

Jessica Thomson

2

(* denotes hat-trick)

Girls Hockey Results 2004 Opponents

1st

2nd

Wycliffe

(L) 3-4

(D) 1-1

Queens Taunton

(W) 2-1

(L) 1-2

(W) 1-0

Monkton Combe

(W) 8-0

(W) 3-0

(W) 9-0

Royal High School

(W) 2-0

Warminster School

3rd

15

14A

13

12A

12B

(D) 1-1 (L) 0-2

(W) 4-1

(W) 2-0

(L) 0-2

(L) 1-4

(L) 1-4

(L) 0-10

(L) 2-5

(W) 2-1

(L) 0-1

(L) 1-5

(L) 0-5

(W) 2-0 (W) 3-2

(D) 2-2

(W) 4-1

(W) 2-1

(L) 3-6

(D) 0-0

(W) 4-0

Dauntsey’s

(W) 3-1

(L) 0-1

(D) 1-1

(W) 4-1

(L) 0-2

Wells Cathedral

(W) 3-0

(W) 2-0

(W) 2-0

(L) 2-3

(W) 5-2

King Edwards

(D) 2-2

(W) 2-0

Prior Park

(W) 3-1

(W) 3-1

(D) 1-1

Bristol Grammar

(L) 0-1

(L) 1-2

(W) 2-0

Clifton College

(L) 0-4

(L) 1-3

(D) 0-0

Dean Close

(D) 0-0

(W) 1-0

(D) 1-1

Bruton

(D) 1-1

Stonar

14B

(W) 1-0

(L) 2-3

(L) 1-2

(W) 1-0

(W) 3-0

(L) 0-2

(W) 3-0

(L) 2-3

(D) 1-1

(W) 3-0

(D) 0-0

(L) 2-5

(W) 7-0

(W) 3-0

(D) 2-2

(L) 2-3

(L) 0-4

(D) 2-2

(L) 1-2

(W) 2-1

(D) 0-0

(L) 1-2

(L) 1-3

(W) 3-1

(D) 1-1

(W) 5-1

(W) 5-0

(W) 5-1

“...hockey at Kingswood has been one of my biggest passions.”

Hockey Analysis 2004 Team

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goals for

Goals against

1st

12

6

3

3

27

15

2nd

13

5

4

4

18

13

3rd

8

4

4

0

17

3

15

11

7

0

4

32

16

14A

12

6

2

4

19

17

14B

3

0

2

1

3

5

13

8

4

0

4

22

20

12A

8

3

1

4

18

17

12B

8

2

1

5

7

22

Hockey Awards / Colours 2004 COLOURS Full:

Becky Midgley

Half: Vicky Klewin; Lara Mousley; Alizé King-Harman; Kelly Elliot; Lydia Craig; Nandi Kegode; Cindy Lithimbi; Sarah Ashdown Colts: Katharine Hathaway; Rhiannon Bid

AWARDS Most Improved Player: Cindy Lithimbi Player of the Season:

Lydia Craig

Special Award:

Becky Midgley (51 caps)

The Grove Shield (Awarded for contribution to hockey): Sacha Craig Kingswood in Focus 13

Rugby This season, rugby has flourished throughout Kingswood School producing many fine players and results.

The U12's are a very promising team of talented and committed players. They enjoyed a successful start to their rugby careers, culminating in their winning the plate competition at Devizes School, despite being without their top try scorer Matthew Houldsworth who was injured the evening before. Will Mackenzie led the side but the strength was in their teamwork and their enthusiasm, which will serve well as they progress through the School.

The U13's improved considerably as the season went on, and although they saw two wins from seven games the performances suggest they can improve on this record next season. Charlie Harman led the side by example with Jake Collins having good skill and He-sung Moon proving a useful addition to the squad.

The U14 teams were very successful, losing only four of their nineteen matches and each of those defeats were by less than three points. Piers Dawson and Harry Russell proved reliable additions to the squad, as did several other new boys to the School, but the old players who included captain Theo Boyce were also crucial to the success of both teams.

The U15 teams played more matches than any other year group, and although the B's struggled in terms of results, they were committed throughout and will provide the senior teams with some very good players. At A team level, Henry Heffer was the outstanding performer and the fact that they won half their games was significant in that they only seemed to play at their best for half a match!

The 4th XV won their first match convincingly but always struggled to put out a consistent side, which is an aspect to try and improve upon next year, whilst the U16's were frustrated by losing fixtures they had previously won. Nevertheless, they finished the season very strongly with good wins at King’s Bruton and Monkton Combe. They are to be congratulated for maintaining determination and spirit which will serve them well in the Sixth Form.

The 2nd XV improved as the season went on; however, their results do not reflect their efforts and commitments. James Gerrish captained the side well and Alex Quinn proved a priceless arrival and deservedly won his call up to the first team. The level of the skill displayed in the 2nd team shows encouragement for next year’s 1st team.

The 1st XV enjoyed a successful season, winning 9 and losing only 3. The spirit amongst the team played a vital role in this success.

The highlight of the year was a hard fought

victory over King’s Bruton, in which the forwards’ fitness proved to be the decisive factor. Christian Holbrook continued his try scoring tally from last year, scoring 15 tries in 8 games. Jack Durling organised the backline well at fly half and linked well with Alex Carlton-Porter at inside centre who, along with Tim Bishop and myself represented Somerset.

Matt Bodle led by example as Vice Captain and pack leader and was unlucky not to be selected for Somerset.

"The spirit amongst the 1st XV team played a vital role in their success."

I have thoroughly enjoyed my rugby at Kingswood and have been lucky enough to receive coaching that will, without a doubt, benefit me in future years. I hope that players that still have their Kingswood future ahead of them enjoy their time as much as I have.

Finally, I would like to thank the Staff who have given up their time to coach the teams throughout the School, namely Messers Reeman, Opie, Matthews, Duke, Hollywell, Davies, McDonald, Thompson and Harding. I would also like to thank Mr Westcott for all his hard work with the 1st team throughout the season.

Sam Brown (Rugby Captain)

Rugby Results 2004 1st XV

2nd XV

3rd XV

Wells Cathedral

(W) 50-0

Queen’s College

(L) 13-22

(L) 0-24

(L) 0-19

King Edward’s

(L) 15-17

(L) 11-29

Prior Park

(W) 10-7

(D) 3-3

Clayesmore

(W) 33-10

Beechen Cliff

4th XV

U15A

U15B

(W) 32-0

U14B

(W) 44-0

U13

U12

(W) 5-0

(W) 27-5

(L) 15-24

(L) 10-12

(W) 63-0

(L) 10-36

(L) 0-31

(L) 12-20

(L) 15-31

(W) 5-3

(L) 7-8

(L) 5-27

(L) 5-10

(L) 0-12

(L) 0-25

(L) 5-53

(L) 0-3

(W) 55-0

(W) 22-7

(W) 17-0

(W) 34-0

(W) 43-5

(L) 8-43

(W) 26-5

(W) 36-20

(L) 0-36

(W) 17-10

(W) 18-15

(L) 12-17

(W) 24-12

Dauntsey’s

(L) 22-24

(W) 12-10

(L) 0-10

(L) 5-34

(L) 7-26

(L) 0-27

(W) 15-12

(L) 12-15

(L) 0-10

(W) 25-0

Q.E.H. Bristol

(W) 17-7

(L) 12-19

(L) 0-26

(L) 14-19

(L) 5-36

(L) 15-42

(W) 39-7

(W) 29-19

(L) 10-13

(L) 10-21

(L) 14-15

(W) 52-5

(W) 14-0

(D) 17-17

Clifton College

(W) 47-0

U14A

Warminster

(W) 36-5

(W) 38-7

Wycliffe

(W) 55-3

(W) 10-5

King’s Bruton

(W) 17-15

(L) 6-25

(W) 25-12

Monkton Combe

(W) 21-5

(W) 8-3

(W) 58-0

(L) 0-35

(L) 3-27

(L) 0-81

(W) 37-0

(W) 48-0

(L) 5-26

(L) 0-24

(W) 70-0

(W) 54-0

Won at Devizes

Congratulations to all players for their efforts over the season Kingswood in Focus 15

KPS Sport

Rugby... ...at the Prep School this year, has seen the boys come on leaps and bounds.

Hockey With an ever-increasing amount of time spent on Astro, enthusiastic and quality coaching, combined with the introduction of Scotland U21 International Mr Kellock to the PE staff, hockey at KPS has been very strong over the last two terms.

All the teams have been very disciplined in lessons and training which made sessions a great deal more constructive. This made for a promising term of rugby and the boys did not fail to deliver.

Special mention should go to the U8’s and U9’s for an undefeated season against some strong opposition, with some great potential for future. The season’s results for these age groups ended thus: played 14, won 13 and drew 1. Now for any coach that proves good reading.

The U10’s and U11’s have all progressed individually but they have shone most for their ability to work as teams.

The prospects for Kingswood rugby are looking bright, with enthusiasm being shown by all participants. The results for these teams are as follows: played 35, won 20, drew 5 and only lost 10 games between both age groups. The boys should be happy with statistics like these.

Thanks must go to Mr Titley and Mr Shrubsole for all their hard work this season and we should forward to next year.

Mr James Kellock (KPS Sport)

In the Autumn Term the girls’ U11, U10, U9 and U8 teams played 52 games, winning 32, drawing 8 and only losing 12. The U11 girls lead the way playing 15 games and only losing 2, in the process scoring 34 goals with Emma Gordon bagging 11. The U11 mixed team came third in the Cannon Clarke Junior Hockey League and were runners-up in the Cannon Clarke Junior Tournament, losing 1-0 to the eventual winners, Bath Buccs. The boys followed suit in the Spring Term with some very strong results from the junior teams (U8 / U9 / U10).

The U11’s had a mixed season with a number of narrow losses in crucial games but they showed great potential.

"During the last two terms it has been a pleasure to see how the hockey has developed at KPS..."

During the course of the last two terms it has been a pleasure to see how the hockey has developed at KPS and this is increasingly evident not only in the results obtained but also in the manner in which they have been achieved. None of this would have been possible without the effort and enthusiasm of all the staff involved and, of course, the willing band of supporting parents who accompany so many matches, come rain or shine. I shall look forward to seeing many of these budding young stars representing the KS teams over the years to come.

Mr James Thompson (Director of Studies, KPS) 16 Kingswood in Focus

Orienteering

Orienteering National Score Orienteering Champions in the Boys’ Lower Secondary Class and the current Avon Schools’ Orienteering League Champion School were hard won awards by the team.

Score orienteering is a variation of the cunning running theme where the goal is to visit as many controls as possible in the set time, rather than being fastest around a set course. It’s the ultimate challenge for some. Six young Kingswood orienteers achieved top place (without the help of Matt Lyle). He was merely involved in presenting their medals (on duty as one of the young O Internationals present on the day in Warwickshire). Silver medals for Huw Stradling (Y9), Ralph Eliot (Y8) and for Matt himself (Y12)

near maximum score made Kingswood 'back-to-back' League Champions. Matt, Huw, Ralph and Barney have already secured their League titles for this year.

Courses have to be set and events organised. It was Kingswood’s turn to help with this in September when Matt Lyle did the planning in Ashton Court, Bristol and a bevy of willing KS parents helped the Bristol Club on the day. A number of them compete as well - they had 4 teams out, as Kingswood Navigators, in the Avon Relays last time and KNAVS chalked up a rare victory (304 to 285) over the school in the 26th annual challenge this March.

National Secondary School Score Champions From top left: Tim Little (Y9), Ralph Eliot (Y8), Elliot Haines (Y8), Huw Stradling (Y9), Chris Gray (Y8) and Quentin Cradock-Watson (Y8)

"A very successful electronic Westwood O-Champs was planned by Huw this year."

Avon Schools’ Orienteering League Champions 2004 & 2005 From left: Isobel Mitchell (Y7), Huw Stradling (Y9), Elliot Haines (Y8) Standing: Barney Eliot (Y4), Matt Lyle (Y12), Ralph Eliot (Y8)

The Avon Schools’ League is decided over 8 events by teams of boys and girls from all ages. So a win for 100 points by Zoe (Y6 Girls) was just as important as a win for Matt (Y12). Kingswood 2962, Cotham 2906 was the result. This year we approached the final event with an almost unbeatable score but BGS were still hoping! However a

Individual targets achieved include the M16 South West and Southern Championship titles for Matt and selection for the British Start Squad U18 Training Camp in Norway in August. Huw Stradling (M14 Y9) is also making his mark with a second place at the 2005 JK Day 2 and he also gains national recognition with selection for the M14 training camp in Scotland at Lagganlia this August. A very successful electronic Westwood O-Champs was planned by Huw this year.

Mr John Lewis (M i/c Orienteering)

Kingswood in Focus 17

Art and Design

Art and Design in the Children at the Prep School have been working hard to show off their art and design skills this year and with more pupils than ever joining after school activities, some exciting new projects have been developing.

We have been focusing on extending breadth of skills in lessons, ranging from accurate proportions and tone on observational drawings through to large-scale 3D model making. Famous artists have also inspired each year group and they have experimented with a wide range of materials to show tonal blending, patterns, printmaking and even abstract shapes and colour which emphasise emotion. Providing pupils with opportunities to be imaginative and independent with their ideas as well as refining practical techniques has given the work a noticeable quality of finish.

Some of the pupils have been talking about their project experiences this year: “In art, we have been drawing cityscapes and to give us inspiration, we first went outside to take photographs of the Summerhill building.

I got my ideas from buildings in Bath and tried to show similar architecture. Next, we put on tones of black and white and blended them together. especially liked all of the finishing details at the end to make it perfect.”

Katja Cross (Y5E)

L: Lucy Bird (Y6T) R: Georgina Barnes (Y6T)

Becky Bates (Y4B) Seed Pattern

“We have been working on a David Hockney picture called ‘Nichols Canyon’ in art. We split it into sixteen sections and each chose one to trace over. After that, we painted it with acrylics and tried to copy the same colours that he used. We had to use the acrylic paints to their advantage by painting with them thickly.”

Cameron Knee (Y6D) “We learnt how to mix with acrylics and how to use complementary colours in our work. The whole class has worked really hard and showed how well we can work as a team.”

Alex Kisielewski (Y6D) “DT is a brilliant lesson as you have fun and learn things at the same time. You search for different ways to create something and whether you create an ingenious invention or something small and simple, you always learn new skills. DT is wicked!!”

Will Young (Y6M)

"...whether you create an ingenious invention or something small and simple, you always learn new skills. DT is wicked!"

From left: Angus Batterham's Bear (Y5EL) Laura Clark & Niamh Courtaux's Bear (Y6M)

18 Kingswood in Focus

Y5 Cityscape

Preparatory School “I enjoy DT because you get to see what it’s like to use tools like saws that you don’t get to use at home. You have fun whatever you do, so you are always learning new things!”

Eleanor Richardson (Y6M) “I enjoy DT because you feel you have achieved something after you do a project.”

Emily Souter (Y6M) During the art activities, we have been able to complete ambitious large-scale designs. Y3 and Y4 completed the hot air balloons by using papier maché and weaving colourful baskets and Y5 and Y6 made animal sculptures:“During Wednesday’s art club Niamh and I found a photograph of a bear and sketched out our design. Then we did a basic structure using newspaper and covered it with wire mesh. To make it stronger, we then papier machéd over the model. When it was dry, we painted it by mixing different tones of brown. To finish, we stuck on googly eyes and pressed our handprints onto the bear’s stomach! We enjoyed doing it and are very proud of the result.”

doing this project and learned how to use paper templates to help them draw out the shapes neatly.

We are all looking forward to seeing what exciting projects will develop next!

Karen Hazeldine (Art Teacher)

You have fun whatever you do, so you are always learning new things!”

L: Natalie Earp (Y3J) R: Sakurako Inoue (Y3J)

Rosie Snowden (Y5C) Batik Work

Laura Clarke and Niamh Courtaux (Y6M) On Wednesday afternoons, children have a chance to choose from ceramics or fabric painting. Even the mosaic tiles have been made and glazed by the children to decorate their slab boxes! The cushions seen in the photographs were included in an exhibition earlier in the year to raise money for Bristol hospitals and they were made using print and batik. The colourful animals used the same technique: “I really enjoyed doing this project but I found it really hard to use the Batik ink and fabric dyes! I’d never used them before but I am pleased with the result.”

Yeon Soo Park (Y6D) In Reception classes, children have also been using fabric paints to transfer their own designs onto T-shirts. They really enjoyed

Picasso Inspired Emotional Portrait

Harry Rouse (Y6T) Pen & Ink Drawing

Mrs Ward with her after-school ceramic club

Hannah Bowerbank (Y6D) DT

Kingswood in Focus 19

Performing Arts

The Oldfield Park Friendly Club Gig On Thursday 10th February, a select group of Y9 core musicians loaded up a minibus and set off for the ‘Oldfield Park Friendly Club’ at Hillside Hall where they played to a group of Senior Citizens.

Mr Mainwaring fondly terms this his “favourite gig of the year”. Tom Ireland was first up with ‘Girl from Ipanema’ on his trumpet. The audience was lively and made comments on just about everything. During Karim El-Wakeel’s ‘License to Chill’ a person was heard whispering, ‘They ought to have put him through a loudspeaker.’ This was followed up with a comment from Mr Mainwaring saying how nice it was to have the guitar played quietly! Bethan Stone’s rendition of ‘Hushabye Mountain’ brought much appreciation from the audience, but undoubtedly the highlight of the afternoon was Sam Chan’s self-composed piece ‘School Fantasy’ worthy of Mozart himself, with grand hand movements and an intensity to match.

Desperately trying to draw out the afternoon so we wouldn’t have to return for ninth period, the sing-along of ‘Drunken Sailor’ was reserved for post-Richard Newman’s performance of ‘Green Leaves of Summer’; it drew wide-spread applause from the audience. The audience was perfectly comfortable joining us in ‘Drunken Sailor’ and made more noise than the pupils themselves. All singing in pirate voices, solos were given by Tom Ireland, Amelia Tuckett, Bethan Stone, Richard Newman and Sam Parsons.

Further performances came from Hannah Kraus, Tim Little, Ben leach, Yuki Inoue and a jazz trio of Mr Mainwaring, Sam Parsons and Patrick Morgan. A successful rendition of ‘Memory’ from Cats, sung by Amelia Tuckett and accompanied by Helen Olley, was also widely applauded.

Naturally, the successful event had to come to an end but the senior citizens offered us tea and congratulated us continually. The journey back included voluntary solos from Sam Chan and Mr Mainwaring.

We were glad to get out of the minibus!!

Richard Newman, Helen Olley & Sam Parsons (Y9)

Concerts for all at the Prep School KPS held two concerts on Thursday 17th March.

The first, in the school hall, featured soloists from Y3 and Y4 with advanced pupils from Y1 and Y2. Parents, grandparents, teachers and fellow pupils enjoyed performances from the String Orchestra, violinists, recorder players, a euphonium player, singers and pianists.

42 children took part and the youngest performer was 5 years of age, the oldest 9. Pieces ranged in difficulty from beginner’s level to grade 3. It was good to see so many of our pupils participating and such a high standard of achievement at such a young age.

The second concert took place in the Kingswood Theatre and featured soloists from Y5 and Y6 along with our main ensemble groups: the Orchestra, Boys’ Choir and Girls’ Choir, all of which have members from Y3 to Y6. The concert opened with ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ and ‘Greensleeves’ played by the Orchestra. This was followed by a variety of string players and it was particularly good to hear a guitarist amongst this group. Then the Boys’ Choir entertained us with ‘My Grandfather’s Clock’ and ‘Imagine’. Solos and duets by woodwind players, singers and pianists followed and the concert finished with the Girls’ Choir singing ‘Everyone is Different’ and ‘When You Hear Me Sing’. All our performers enjoyed being in the theatre for a concert and rose to the occasion, showing an incredible

lack of nerves as they each took the spotlight. We are most grateful to Mr O’Connor for providing the sound and lighting for the event.

Mrs Jacqueline Cross (Head of Music)

Peri Profile: Guy Harrup - Guitar We currently have 17 instrumental and vocal teachers who tutor around 240 pupils every week. The wealth of musical talent and experience between them is quite staggering and we are indebted to them for making the Department such a wonderfully exciting, stimulating and fun place to work in. In every KIF, we profile one of our staff.

Guy started playing the guitar at the ripe old age of sixteen,

after hearing 'Message in a Bottle' by the Police. Initially he was self-taught, but later went on to study classical guitar at Bath Spa University College, and jazz guitar at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He was also a bit of a skateboarder! In fact, Guy was within the top 5 slalom skateboarders in the UK. Guy played countless gigs throughout the 80s and 90s, learning his trade at workingmen’s clubs, weddings, funerals and Bar Mitzvahs, but not all at the same time! Guy has also worked on a number of European touring theatre productions. He started teaching in 1990 and soon had enough disposable income to make a serious attempt at his passion, guitars! He now owns 23. Guy is the leader of the locally infamous Metropolis band, and also has a residency at the Green Park Brasserie. His influences include Andy Summers, George Benson, Steve Vai, Hendrix, Bach and Mahler. Guy is an invaluable member of the department as he makes great tea!

Westwood Stargazers

On the first weekend of the Spring Term a group of Westwood boys and girls spent a most enjoyable time preparing 11 songs interspersed with improvised dramatic scenes, based on the Epiphany story of the Three Kings. A tremendous amount of talent was revealed as the well-known tale was brought up to date with some witty and imaginative acting. It was hard work but great fun and Mrs Bland, Dr Calvert and Mrs Monks were really pleased with the performance the students gave in the Chapel at the end of the two days.

The parents and friends invited were greatly amused and impressed with the burgeoning talent both in the singing and dramatic skills on show. Costumes, lighting and sound systems all helped to give the performance a sense of occasion. All of the thirty-two students played an important part in the music and the drama, but the singing of Hannah Bishay, Hattie Richardson, Alex Bevan and Eleanor Hobbs was particularly effective.

Mrs Sue Monks (Westwood Tutor)

Choral Work Over Christmas Being a member of a Kingswood choir at Christmas is almost as nerve-wracking and exhausting as being a turkey! Not only are there the usual performances at weekday School Services, but three lots of music must be learned for the big Christmas events, namely Advent, the Abbey Carol Service and the Christmas Concert. All of these events fell within 2 weeks this year.

At the Advent Service, the Chamber Choir sang two unaccompanied anthems with ease and poise. The massed ranks of the Senior Choir made a most impressive sound with their rendition of ‘Star in the South’, and Kingswood Voices sang a beautiful version of ‘Rock the Cradle’ with very good solos from Hannah Bishay and Harriet Richardson, all ably accompanied by Mr Lloyd on the organ. This was followed oh so quickly by the Christmas Concert. Although this is a much more informal affair, standards are still standards! There were four choirs participating from the sweet voices of Y7 pupils to the polished sound of the Chamber Choir. Kingswood Voices performed an excellent version of the ‘Charleston Carol’ conducted by Mrs Monks.

The Senior Choir, who are gaining quite a liking for Gospel music sang ‘Ride the Chariot’ and ‘De Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy’. The Chamber Choir then performed a ‘Besançon Carol’ and a song brought back from Malawi by Emma Haines.

We then all prepared ourselves for the big one – the Abbey. Mr Mainwaring claims that performing there is like singing at Hangar 1, Heathrow Airport. Because the acoustic is so amazing, choirs can easily sound lost. So we mustered up all of our energy and technique and set to work making a beautiful sound. There were some major headaches in the rehearsal owing to distance and balance problems, but these were overcome at the Service. Whereas everyone else at School winds down ready for the holidays, we have to keep working right to the end! Anyway, our work was done, and another successful Choral Christmas was complete.

Joe Welch (U6)

Ensemble Concert In January, it was Ensemble Fortnight again! These are the two weeks of the year when all of the musos at School have to get on with each other and learn to play in small groups. This isn’t so bad for those who play in the school ensembles, but for a pianist like me it can be quite daunting! Instead of our individual lessons, we have longer sessions in duets, trios, quartets or even bigger.

I teamed up with Michael Riley to learn a couple of jazz duets, one of which I could then use for my GCSE performance.

“Instead of our individual lessons, we have longer sessions in duets, trios, quartets or even bigger.”

The practices were hard, especially when either of us made a mistake! We worked together for the two weeks, practising whenever we could during lunchtimes and in the evenings.

Both of us were nervous for the Ensemble Concert, but quietly confident. The Theatre was virtually full, and the range of groups was fantastic. The concert started with a 25-piece African Drum Ensemble and had a wide range of styles including pieces by Mozart and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. It was then our turn!

We played well and managed to hold our nerve, and got a great round of applause at the end. It was a great concert!

Amon Warmann (Y11) Kingswood in Focus 21

Mid-Somerset Results • Joel Grainger won 3 first prizes, 2 for voice & 1 for violin – 1 cup & a load of certificates.

• Kingswood Voices – were commended by the Adjudicator for their very good performance.

• Laura Cross won two classes for voice – no cups – she also represented Kingswood at the Grand Concert on Saturday in the Guildhall.

• Hannah Bishay also achieved a first prize, as did Elizabeth Burke.

• Kingswood Festival Choir – 1st prize in the Y7 & Y8 Choir Competition.

• Senior Choir and Chamber Choir – 1st prizes in their respective classes.

• Vivienne Dean won a number of piano firsts.

• Kingswood Flying Circus won 1st place in the Junior Bands competition.

Lunchtime Concerts The Music Department is always aiming to broaden the performance opportunities for its pupils.

To date this year, there have been 10 lunchtime concerts with another 6 planned for the Summer Term.

Performances during lunchtimes fall into one of two categories. We have continued the more intimate Lunchtime Concerts in the Music School, but have also introduced a new concept entitled “Soundbites”.

These are short performances which take place in the Dining Hall whilst pupils and Staff enjoy lunch.

There have been some notable performances, particularly by our U6 students, including Amy Fry’s version of ‘Send in the Clowns’, Vicky Klewin’s ‘Nobody Does It Better’ and Matt Bodle and Oliver Fenton’s self-penned ‘Spanish Duet’.

The more traditional Lunchtime Concerts in the Music have included a memorable Piano Lunch where 25(!) performers played (not at the same time!) and a “Liquorice Pipe Concert” for our woodwind players.

Mr Richard Mainwaring (Director of Music)

Babes in the Wood “At the end of the year there was ‘Babes in the Wood’.

The audience saw and knew it was good!

Although there were sceptics, they soon realised, If they didn’t cry laughing, they’d reach an early demise!”

Right, that’s enough pantomimic rhyming. After four performances, there’s a limit to how much jollity anyone can take! And believe me, there certainly were high spirits. Thankfully, the large cast which spanned across Westwood and year 11 upwards got to know each other very well; the rehearsals were (almost) endless fun and the performances (if possible) were much better. As Maid Marian spends a lot of time in the Sheriff’s dungeon over the course of the play, I knew that waiting backstage would be par for the course. And it was never boring: an assortment of ‘babes’ from Westwood would always be on hand to make me giggle loudly, or ask THE most embarrassing questions in shrill voices during a lull in the action on-stage.

Working with a much older cast must have been a daunting prospect for them. However, they frequently showed a lot more maturity and confidence than certain members of the Sixth Form and I’m sure they will all be real stars of Kingswood drama in the future.

Mr Harding promised to keep the cast on its toes by using surprise members of staff to play King Richard for each performance. When we realised who to expect on-stage each night (the signs were quite obvious: maths teachers consorting with him nervously over some ‘private business’, when they clearly wanted to go over their lines with him), he threw a curveball at us when Dipo Faloyin strode (well swung and hopped as he was on crutches) onto stage for the final performance.

22 Kingswood in Focus

Dipo’s departure from playing Wart came with only a few precious days left until the dress rehearsal. Having broken his ankle badly, the demands of getting on-stage every five minutes proved too much and Henry Heffer gallantly stood in at the last moment and saved the day.

So, it was great to have the cast united on our last night, as we’d spent weeks working together.

The matiné performance to local prep schools was a particular highlight as the cast was greatly affected by the audience’s enthusiasm. It certainly was our best show as the more inhibited threw themselves into the bizarre dance routines and finally realised that it wasn’t important how well you sang, but how loud you could shout (with a small prayer that it would be in tune).

By our fourth night the signs of exhaustion were beginning to appear. There were lost voices, falling asleep in lessons and shouting teachers could be heard throughout the corridors as yet another piece of work was going to be handed in late (if it all) due to “dramatic commitments”.

All in all, taking part in ‘Babes in the Wood’ proved to be a very enjoyable experience, and one that will stay in my memory for a very long time! And I’m not the only one: anytime we hear the words “Robin Hood”, an inexplicable urge to shout “Hooray!” creeps across us all. Strange...

Rosellen Cashman-Pugsley (U6)

Blue Remembered Hills “Willie, at full flight, decides he has been shot down.

The burning spitfire goes into a long death dive...”

Meredith staggered and crashed with all due melodrama with his grand entrance for the spring term production of the late Dennis Potter’s Blue Remembered Hills.

The play is set in real time and depicts a day in the life of a small group of seven year olds during the Second World War. Mr. Harding knew that he was setting himself a monumental challenge with this piece and warned us from day one of the gruelling rehearsal process ahead.

The cast consisted of five boys and two girls who were selected from years eleven to thirteen: Meredith Lloyd, Sam Smullen, Dan Collins, Jake Warren, Ismay Bannerman, Rosellen C-P and myself. We were all very excited at the prospect of playing seven year olds, and at some points we may have become a little too involved in our roles!

For at least a week after the show Meredith and Dan could be seen running through the Dixon Centre shouting “Squirrel!” at the top of their lungs and had to be reminded that they no longer had an excuse to behave as seven year olds.

For me, the funniest moments in the play were from the accident prone Jake Warren who forgot to stop running and flew off the edge of the stage in the wings, ran into the pram and reached for his gun (which he had dropped) only for the lights to come up! Also, Rose’s ribbons flew off during the first performance presenting us with the problem of re-tying them whilst in hysterical giggles backstage.

"We were all very excited at the prospect of playing seven year olds..."

A special mention must go to Ismay who has never had any proper drama training and, despite the constant shouts of “Ismay!!” from certain members of the group, he never let his morale drop and was extremely convincing as a seven year old.

I enjoyed performing this play so much, and am extremely grateful for having had the opportunity to work with such an inspirational cast. Although I am sad that this was my last school play I’m glad that I was given this opportunity before I left and I wish Kingswood Drama the best of luck in the future. Thank you!!

Alice Jones (U6)

“It’s a Baby!”

“It’s a Baby!”

Baby!”, the title of our 2004 Pre-Prep Christmas production, adapted from the musical of that title by Nick and Helen Johnson, proved to be more appropriate than any of us could have imagined at the time.

As children practised and learnt the eminently singable songs, they once again experienced the Christmas story. The Y2 children explored the roles of the characters in the story and imagined what it must have been like to travel to Bethlehem; manage a busy inn; shiver on the hillsides caring for a flock of sheep; or journey over desert landscapes past Persian markets on a quest for a King. They joined the playwrights, composing their own dialogue, expressing the thoughts of their characters, often in rhyme, and describing their designated Bethlehem hostelries: “R U Inn”, “Drop Inn”, “Sleep Inn”, Inn” and “Stable Inn”.

The travellers, Bethlehem-bound, dreamed with excitement of alternative futuristic methods of transport, ably enacted, in the presentation, by the Y1 children who provided rockets, hot air balloons and ships, portrayed through song and dance. Our travellers then accepted an inevitable and practical contemporary travel solution: four delectable, floppy-tailed donkeys; while on the hills of Bethlehem shepherds, enacted by Reception children with chequered Wild West style kerchiefs, danced a ho-down, whilst their “amazing” sheep grazed gleefully, sporting their superb coats.

"The costumes, made or provided by the tenacious tailors amongst our multi-talented parents and friends, would have rivalled any West End production..."

In the penultimate scene, the Nursery children enacted “a play within a play”, adapted from the story “Jesus’ Birthday Party” by Nicholas Allan. Here again the story-line returned to a hardworking, weary innkeeper, George, a budding thespian, who stole the show with his impatient directive “Round the back!”, as he guided the visitors to his stable. There, his friends – Mary and Joseph, donkey, bell-ringing angels, tinsel-tipped stars, shepherds with their hooded sheep, a number of crowned wise men (it doesn’t actually say three in the Bible) – waited until he, too, came and admired the new arrival.

The costumes, made or provided by the tenacious tailors amongst our multi-talented parents and friends, would have rivalled any West End production, as all the children came together in a glorious “Hallelujah” at the end of the celebration. ...The sequel of the story is that three members of Staff who watched the performance will soon be saying, “It’s our baby!”.

Mrs Glynis Hull (Head of Pre-Prep) 24 Kingswood in Focus

Friends of KS & KPS

Friends of Kingswood Prep As has become our norm, the recent months have been extremely busy.

I cannot catalogue each and every event that has taken place since the last edition of this magazine but only give our heartfelt thanks, where it is due, to all those hard working parents and Staff and discuss some of the issues arising from running a committee such as ours.

The Prep School Friends is different to the similar organisation in the Senior School in that all our parents are involved, whether they know it or not. Each Prep School parent pays a small termly levy to support the Friends. Further to this, a number of events are held each year to provide additional revenue as well as a bit of fun for us parents. Our committee is charged, by its constitution, to decide how this money can best be spent to benefit the quality of the learning provided for our children. All this activity and decision making requires, at present, time and effort from a fairly small band of people who are finding it increasingly difficult to devote sufficient time to the task. So my appeal is this, we need to increase the numbers involved in the organisation of various events along with the work of the small committee.

Please get involved with the Prep School Friends, it is great fun and very rewarding to see the School benefiting so much.

Alexia Mihranian for holding down the role of joint secretaries and Paula Haines, our ever patient treasurer. The Christmas Fayre would not have happened or succeeded so well without the sterling effort of Amanda Archer-Brown. Likewise a most enjoyable fireworks evening would not have gone ahead without Mr Thompson and Mr Titley. Many of you responded to operation Christmas Child; thank you to Georgina Parker for organising the collection of boxes.

Bonfire night celebrations

Our thanks go to a number of people who have contributed greatly towards making the recent months such a success. I must thank the committee, particularly Mary Calvert and

Looking ahead there are two events that warrant special mention. Our family picnic is due to take place on Sunday 19th June outside Summerhill. This event is very weather dependent but, assuming the sun is shining, do all come along and make a day of it. The second gathering is the Summer Party on the evening of the 2nd July. This is now sold out and a big thank you to the organisers for getting this off the ground and making it so popular.

The Friends of Kingswood Prep School is a busy and responsive organisation that tries to react to the needs of the School, the parents and teachers. All of us have ownership of our ‘Friends’, please become involved, if you have some time, and help us make happen what you want.

Mr Mark Elliot (Chairman)

Friends of Kingswood... ...have enjoyed another varied and rewarding programme of events – with several highlights still to look forward to.

Our reception for parents with children new to the School was its usual success and attracted many new members. We shall be keeping this as a regular event. The Friends’ AGM – far from being a boring business meeting – offered the chance for the Headmaster to talk over, informally, many of the issues facing the School and education generally.

The opportunity of talking directly with the Headmaster in this way is, I feel sure, something that will prove even more popular as time goes on.

We moved into the winter part of the programme with a Wine tasting evening that was actually a wine and cheese tasting evening when Great Western Wine and The Bath Soft Cheese Company joined forces for a very tasty and very generous evening.

the Spring term. The summer term offers us the prospect of Sing, Sing, Sing! This follows on from the success of last year’s Slinky Swing, and the Family BBQ on June 19th will bring our programme to a close.

The Friends continue to sponsor the Bath International Schools MUN. The Prayer Fellowship and the Nearly New Uniform Shop run under the banner of the Friends and our thanks go to Michael and Lorna Hatherill-Burgess and to Carol Carruthers for their work in the respective areas. Similarly, I would like to record an enormous debt of gratitude to Kay Kebby-Jones who stood down as Chairman of the Friends at the AGM. It would be hard to overstate the commitment that she has shown to the Friends and we are all aware of just how much she did to ensure that our events were well organised and always well catered. She even managed to control some of our Committee meetings! Alan Gerrish has taken on the role of Chairman of the Friends and is already showing that he has ideas that will re-shape the Friends in years to come.

"...we hope that we continue to serve the School and the parents both past and present."

For the first time in over 20 years we decided not to hold the Yuletide Evening as there was just so much happening for Kingswood families at the end of the term but we did maintain the tradition of the Quiz evening in January when our new(ish) Senior Deputy Head challenged our memories and our intellect with some ‘devilish cunning’ questions. The evening was a sell-out and competition was tough despite the same team (Giggle Club) winning the wooden spoon for a second year running!

Skittles at the Lansdown Cricket Club proved a most enjoyable evening and provided just the right atmosphere for our last event of

Another good year and with our initiative to bring in more parents to help at events, we hope that we continue to serve the School and the parents both past and present.

Mr John C. Allison (Hon. Sec.) Kingswood in Focus 25

Events

Just Say No! It was hard to say who was the more nervous – the Y5 Prep School children looking up at the rather daunting Y9's, or the 91 Biology set psyching themselves up to give a talk on smoking to the mischievous, yet innocent little faces of the Prep School.

Our Biology set was given the challenge of producing a presentation on the dangers associated with smoking. The talk could not be too in depth as it was to be aimed at Y5 children.

The afternoon was very smoothly run by Rosie Gilchrist who confidently introduced the presentation and subsequent speakers while managing to keep the audience both intrigued and informed at the same time. We had excellent biological explanations of the effects smoking has on your body from our knowledgeable topic speakers – Gareth Hobbs, Yuki Inoue and Luke Scogging. Becky Bottle and Ellie Batterham demonstrated the model smoking machine to show the hazardous chemicals in cigarette smoke.

When they asked what the orange liquid was in the glass tube, one boy confidently informed us it was olive oil! Thankfully it was not, but rather hydrogen carbonate indicator, otherwise the demonstration would have gone slightly askew. The reasons why people are tempted to smoke and additional reasons why they should not, were thoroughly explained by Shaun Howell and Pippa Smart with the help of some rather eye-catching pictures illustrating the effects of cigarettes on your teeth, gums and tongue.

The highlight of the afternoon, or at least the section that got the most laughs, was Rob Carrington and James Dabell’s very impressive play illustrating the effects smoking can have on your life. I am convinced

that the roar that came up when James scored the winning goal in the World Cup Rugby final, no doubt helped by the wise decision not to smoke made earlier in his life, must have made all the surrounding classes stop dead in their tracks.

Finally, there was a challenging question time ably conducted by Rob House, Amelia Tuckett and Marianne Teoh. The prize for the best question of the afternoon would have to go to the boy who asked, “Why don’t the government just burn all the cigarettes in the whole world?”, to which he got the intelligent reply, “Because there would be a lot of grumpy people.”

"All in all the afternoon was a big success."

All in all the afternoon was a big success. We all had fun and Rob C. might even have found himself a new career in commentating!

We hope the Prep School enjoyed themselves as much as we did and that we gave them something to think about if they are ever tempted to take up smoking in the future.

Laura Stockley (Y9)

Jolly Good Start To my knowledge, every new sixth form class is subjected to a barn dance, more commonly known as ‘The Ceilidh’.

So, at the very beginning of last September, with eager dancing feet we nervously approached the Theatre. It was with apprehension we went, but it was full of laughter and happy thoughts that we set out to dance to the small hours – actually, just till 10.00pm – but you have to bend the truth sometimes! Many new faces joined hands with me to swing, admittedly encouraged by Mrs Best dos-e-dos your partner.

The dance routines were interesting, proving very complex and sometimes hard to grasp. We were finally rewarded with a well deserved drink. As I reflect back I view the ceilidh as one of my best times at Kingswood so far, everyone remembers who they danced with and it is hard to imagine the beginning of the year without it. The opportunity it gave to the whole Lower Sixth to meet and greet was helpful, especially for those new to the School like me!

Patricia Hughes (New-comer to L6!)

26 Kingswood in Focus

September and the start of the new academic year! Once again the sun shone - if not brilliantly, certainly enough for us to enjoy our annual day of kite flying with 200 Year 6 students from schools around Bath.

The day started in the Theatre with a talk from Nick James who is a professional kite maker based in Bristol. His collection of kites from around the world was on display as people arrived and his talk on the history, making and culture surrounding kites held everyone’s attention.

Of course, a kite festival is nothing without a kite to fly, so 200 students split into groups, ably assisted by the 6th Form DT specialists, and made their own mini sled kite ready to fly on the Upper following lunch. The competition for the best kite brought to the festival was, once again a hotly contested one but great fun

as aerodynamic efficiency was, on occasion, sacrificed in favour of traditional appearance and decoration. Then the free flying - with over 200 kites filling the air in the gentle breeze above Lansdown.

Kingswood is very lucky to have such a superb place to fly kites and with enough space for all 200 people to run around, the Upper provided a wonderful spectacle for the afternoon.

Tea time and more food gave us an opportunity to present prizes of kites made and signed by Nick James to the winners and with everyone leaving with tired legs, mementoes of their day of kite flying in a ‘party bag’ and much more knowledge about aerodynamics, and kite construction, the day was judged a success, encouraging us all to think that we may just do it all again next year!!

Mr John C. Allison (Head of Technology)

Kite Festival

KS Book Shop Welcomes Famous Author Since the Book Shop opened back in Sept 2004 it has enjoyed great success.

Well over 500 books have been sold and the range of books that we stock is still growing. As members of staff we thoroughly enjoy our time in the Book Shop and have even found ourselves inventing reasons to be there. We also have to admit that we are guilty of buying up a lot of our own stock. We’ve found that this opportunity has provided us with invaluable experience, enabling to familiarise ourselves with new genres and upcoming authors.

In February of this year we were privileged enough to have Michelle Paver, author of the widely acclaimed Wolf Brother, join us for the

official opening of the Book Shop. She read us a passage from Wolf Brother and, after answering questions and cutting the ribbon, signed everyone’s copy of the book. It was kind of her to take time out of her hectic schedule, and it was an honour to have her with us on this special occasion. If you are reading this Michelle, thank you for everything and for turning our School into a media circus!

For those of you who haven’t been to the Book Shop... (What? What’s wrong with you?!) make sure you come and pay us a visit soon!

We’re always on the lookout for more customers to ensnare in our trap!

For those of you who don’t know where we are, we live upstairs in the English Department. After going through the double doors, have you ever heard those little voices calling to you from the left-hand side? It’s the books! (Not us, we promise!)

We hope to see you soon.

Mrs Sally Cunliff (English Tutor)

Campus Kingswood

Kingswood School and the A great school like Kingswood has a responsibility to ensure that we, as our doors to the wider community and encouraging as many people We recognise that we have a superb setting, a wonderful theatre, acres of open space for sport and it has always been part of the Kingswood ethos to share what we have for the benefit of others.

There are considerable chunks of time when the facilities are not being used by pupils and are made available to the wider community. In addition 's Wedding Sophie Renton

the revenue generated is poured back into the School to improve further the facilities for pupils and community alike – a win win situation.

A strategy was planned by the Governing body to create Campus Kingswood and develop use of our facilities outside the School’s needs resulting in widespread community use:-

EXHIBITIONS Spanish Property Exhibition On behalf of Countrywide Homes

Wedding Fair Bridal Fashion Show and huge exhibition sponsored by the Bath Chronicle

Cookery at Kingswood

SUMMER SCHOOLS CONFERENCES

Stafford House Study Holidays

SENIOR SCHOOL

International Language School

Early Dance Circle Annual festival of this 17th century dance society

Royal School of Church Music An annual course run for budding musicians

Yoga Institute Weekend conference for Yoga teachers

West of England Costume Society International Homeopathic Society A forum for homeopaths from all over Europe

Ready Steady Cook Planet Pursuits put together this fun event in our home economics room

Aegis

Royal School of Church Music

Annual conference

CHARITY EVENTS Clic Fashion Show Huge fashion extravaganza

Tony Benn musing on a political life Conference Exhibitor

Costume Society

Sophie Cameron Trust

Avon & Somerset Police Choir A charity concert

Mercy in Action

‘Angel’, by Abbott

A charity auction

WILL BE GIVING AN

Angels in Art Conference South West

ILLUSTRATED LECT URE ON

ON WEDNESDAY

Tony Benn

An inspiring lecture by Elaine Thomas to raise funds for art equipment for in patients at the Bristol Children’s Hospital

28 JANUARY AT 7.00 PM AT KINGSWOOD SCH OOL, BATH TH

THIS LECTURE EXPL

BY GREAT ARTISTS ORES ANGEL IMAGERY THROUGHO INCLUDING WON DERFUL ANGELS UT THE AGES, CREATED BY CHILD REN ALL PROCEEDS TOWA THE BRISTOL ROYA RDS ART PROJECTS IN L HOSPITAL FOR CHILD REN THIS PROJECT HAS SO FAR RAISED OVER £5,000 TIC

KET S WI LL COS CON CE SS ION T £5. 0 0

S £3 .0 0 Tickets available from Kingswood School tel: 01225 734215

28 Kingswood in Focus

r

A n ge l s i n A r t

Visceral Murder mystery evening

Handerson Thaye

E la i ne T ho ma s

Wider Community a charity, offer public benefits by opening as possible to share in our facilities.

PERFORMING ARTS Zenith Youth Theatre Company Crazy For You Jesus Christ Superstar Les Miserables

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

Kids at Kingswood

Bath Unity Players

RFU Referees Course Swimming Sports Development

Aladdin Puss in Boots

Intensive weekend workshops for swimming teachers

Riding Lights Touring Theatre

Englishtype Junior - Pioneering touch typing for children Norland Nannies - Cookery school Kids at Kingswood - Formerly R & S Sports

Saving Grace (a special Wesley commemoration production)

Solomon Theatre Company The Happy Prince

Street Dance Tracy Kings lively production of funk and Jazz

Elev8

Kid's Club Day Out

Dance production

Bath Unity Players

B&NES Youth Music Schools Philharmonic Orchestra Concert Schools Symphonic Wind Band Concert

Blow Out Sax Duelling Pianos Duelling Pianos

Bath Festival A new musical piece specially commissioned for the festival

Bath Film Festival Original Black and White movie set to music

SPORT FOR ALL Some of the best sports facilities in Bath are regularly used by our partner clubs in the community to encourage sports development and help Bath Get Active.

Bath Youth Rugby Club St Stephen's Cricket Club

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LEARN TO SWIM Splashers, Flippers, Bath Dolphins

The Development Office has an important role to establish stronger links with the community and we hope you will be tempted to book something with us in the future.

Call 01225 734361 for further information.

Kingswood in Focus 29

Modern Foreign Languages

All Things Foreign Kingswood’s MFL Department is going through a period of change.

With the relatively recent appointments of a new Head of Languages in 2004, a new Head of German in 2003 and the further expansion of Spanish teaching from September 2005, the mood is one of optimism for the future development of language teaching at Kingswood.

The Department believes firmly that the key to a rounded, enjoyable experience of studying and using a language lies in keeping languages alive outside the classroom. To this end we aim to involve as many pupils as possible in visits and activities which will enthuse and encourage them to develop a life-long appreciation of the values of knowing a language other than their mother tongue. Through participation in foreign drama productions, guest speakers, the improvement of independent study resources in the school library, and travel abroad we can achieve this.

In October 2004 Mr Duke led the inaugural visit to Aachen in Germany.

By all accounts the trip was packed with challenging but fun activities which united pupils from Y8 to Y10 in putting into practice the knowledge and skills acquired in their German lessons. The broadening of their linguistic horizons was equalled by the strengthening of their cultural awareness, from Aachen’s historical connection with Charlemagne to the mouthwatering Schokoladenbrunnen at Cologne’s museum of chocolate! The MFL Department hopes to establish a similar residential visit to France to offer pupils a taster of a different kind – this time for all things Gallic.

all on the menu. Again, this is another way of bringing the study of languages to life outside the traditional learning environment.

The long-established German exchange saw the arrival of a group of pupils from the Schiller-Gymnasium in Munster last October. An exchange is a valuable way of gaining an insight into the lifestyle, history and culture of another nation. With the impending expansion of Spanish provision at Kingswood we would like to set up an exchange programme or residential visit to Spain.

So what does this talk of expansion for Spanish actually mean? Firstly, in the Autumn Mrs Thomas will be joined by a second teacher of Spanish.

From September 2005 pupils in Y9 will be able to take up Spanish alongside French and German, thereby allowing them to gain a foothold in three major European languages before setting out on their GCSE options in Y10 and Y11. This is an excellent development in our curriculum provision for language learners.

In addition, new entrants to Y7 will take up both French and German at the same time and take them through until at least the end of Y9. This alteration to the timescale for delivery of the more established languages within the MFL Department will afford an equal amount of time devoted to the teaching and learning of each language before the end of Key Stage 3.

"...the mood is one of optimism for the future development of language teaching at Kingswood."

France, or Paris, to be more precise, was visited just before February half-term this year. Miss Beale and Miss Bleathman organised a highly successful visit to France’s capital city for our Sixth Formers.

French cuisine, drink, fun and culture were 30 Kingswood in Focus

We also want to see more people using the library for MFL resources.

To achieve this we are reviewing the current resources available for French, German and Spanish, being ruthless and clearing out unwanted items, with the aim of replacing them gradually with more up to date and useful reference materials, as well as literature to read for pleasure, to help independent study.

There is much to do and I suppose we shall never be completely ‘finished’, but that is the beauty of an evolving department, and we must keep evolving – there is always something new in the pipeline to enthuse the teachers which, in turn, will motivate our learners.

Mr David Brunskill (Head of Modern Languages)

Traveller’s Tales I think I first realised the power of language when, as a wide-eyed ten-year old on a coach journey in France, I was the only person the toilet attendant would allow in without paying.

I thought this was because my mother had taught me how to tell her that je n’ai pas d’argent but it probably had more to do with my desperate look and the fact that I was hopping from foot to foot. Whatever the reason, the die was cast. I was hooked on travel and even more hooked on the necessity to be understood in the local language.

At school I concentrated hard on Mr Key-Pugh’s explanations of shopping in Germany and how to use the ticket machines at German stations and soon found this knowledge invaluable as I led my family around quiet corners of Germany. Useful expressions in French helped me to survive and enjoy my first experience of student exchanges in France and to ask for more pommes frites on a skiing trip to Quebec.

By the time I took GCSEs I really had the travel bug and was ready to launch myself to all corners of the globe.

By this time I felt I had ‘done’ Europe.

At a language school in Nice I had made friends with a Brazilian girl so, GCSEs completed, I flew to Salvador – a wonderful experience but how frustrating that I could speak neither Portuguese nor Spanish.

Why not, then, aim to do Spanish A-level ab initio in the Sixth Form? Two years on, with ‘A’ levels in French, German and Spanish and many more forays into Europe achieved, I set off on gap year challenges: first working in Germany and then in Ecuador – an amazing experience which could fill a whole book. I shall mention only horse-riding across the Andes, mountain-biking down Volcán Cotopaxi, trekking up to Machu Pichu in Peru, snorkelling off the Caribbean coast of Colombia and, of course, the breath-taking wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. Arriving at university I felt reasonably confident with my Spanish and German. How about another challenge? Italian has opened up other vistas – Rome is so much easier to cope with when you know what is going on.

"By the time I took GCSEs I really had the travel bug and was ready to launch myself to all corners of the globe."

All this must seem as though my parents have a bottomless pocket, but language skills have enabled me to find work in the countries I have mentioned. In Germany I have worked as a translator for an environmental charity, and I also work for a travel company as a language counsellor. In Ecuador I have taught English both in schools and to managing directors of multi-national companies. Back home in Bath I have been able to work in the tourist sites – much better than waiting on tables or selling underwear in M&S! When you read this I shall be at the University of Heidelberg studying Linguistics under the ERASMUS scheme. Summer will find me studying Italian in Rome then back off to Ecuador for a month. That takes me into my final year at Durham.. .and after that, who knows?

Katharine Thatcher (at Kingswood 1994-99) Kingswood in Focus 31

MUN

Kingswood Students do the DOUBLE in MUN Triumph The autumn term of 2004 proved to be a very busy one for MUN, with students from Kingswood participating in two conferences.

In early November a group of eighteen, ranging from Y10 to the U6, travelled with Mr Woodgate and Mrs Lemmy to Methodist College Belfast for their annual event. All enjoyed this well established conference, with debates ranging from the serious (capital punishment and the use of torture), to the more eccentric (the building of solar powered aeroplanes).

As is usual at Methody, Kingswood students were very much at the forefront of all discussions, and the rivalry with our old sparring partners from Methody and Eton was particularly intense.

This made our triumph in the Conference Awards all the more a cause for celebration.

Oli Hathaway, Dan Ward, Elena Gordeeva, Meredith Lloyd, Tom Nunn, George Gabriel, James Morgan and David Dowling were all singled out for particular praise, and our Russian delegation of MUN veterans (George, Dan, Oli, Tom, Elena and James Bailey) scooped the top prize, the coveted Best Delegation Award.

After two weeks of recuperation six MUNers travelled north to Manchester for a Conference at Cheadle Hulme. The journey involved five hours on trains of various types. Dan Ward and Meredith Lloyd

enjoyed observing the antics of the various passengers, including the dancing hippy, the snarling goth and the “Special Brew” tramp.

Mr Woodgate wondered what the rest of the train was making of a group of Sixth Formers earnestly discussing the situation in North Korea and how best to make an impact in debate. The group leader’s patience was tested further when Dan inevitably lost his ticket at Crewe, much to the amusement of others.

The Cheadle Hulme Conference was a one-day affair, and so it was important for the Kingswood squad, this time representing the USA, to hit the ground running. This we did to spectacular effect, despite China’s attempt to steal our “Stars and Stripes” during the General Assembly.

At the end of the Conference Kingswood students were named Best Delegate on five out of six committees, and our team of Dan Ward, Oli Hathaway, George Gabriel, Tom Nunn, Meredith Lloyd and James Morgan again scooped the Best Delegation Award. Kingswood had thus completed the double, an unprecedented achievement in the distinguished annals of MUN history.

Meredith Lloyd, Dan Ward and Mr Woodgate

"Kingswood had thus completed the double, an unprecedented achievement in the distinguished annals of MUN history."

The timing of Easter may vary from year to year, but spring brings with it a fixed feast in the Kingswood calendar – the annual Model United Nations Conference.

Over the first weekend in March students from across Bath, the wider United Kingdom and beyond once again laid claim to the Kingswood campus for three days of debate and discussion. The Kingswood event is one of the largest of its type in the UK, and this year the Conference was at full capacity, with about six hundred students involved.

The agenda was also as full as ever, with discussions on Weapons of Mass Destruction and Human Rights competing for attention with debates on climate change and international debt.

The 2005 Conference followed the established pattern of previous years, with one or two innovations designed to increase opportunities for participation. Friday night saw proceedings begin with the shock to the senses that is lobbying. For the uninitiated, this involves students representing the various member states of the United Nations seeking, by fair means and sometimes foul, to gain support for their resolutions for debate. The preliminaries completed, the Conference began in earnest on Saturday. This year the Opening Ceremony was memorable not only for the fine speeches of welcome given by the Headmaster, the Secretary General Tom Nunn and Bryony Cradock Watson, but also for the film put together with great skill by Sixth Former Ben Aston.

This surveyed the work of the United Nations and the challenges facing the world today by means of a range of evocative images, and set the tone magnificently for the debates that were to follow. Much of Saturday was then taken up with a multitude of committees debating a plethora of issues in any venue around the campus big enough to accommodate the numbers involved.

Sunday brought with it this year’s changes; emergency debates were instituted in a successful bid to encourage more involvement and blow away some of the effects of the night before.

down from one generation of MUNers to the next. For example, no Kingswood MUN would be complete without the ceremonial laying out of the drugget in the Sports Hall on the Thursday night prior to the Conference starting. This is always the occasion for the drugget dance, a curious movement involving hips and feet which I suppose is the MUN equivalent of warming up for the big event. One ritual may be in jeopardy next year, for with the departure of Oli Hathaway how will the annual debate over the construction of the staging ever be resolved?

The 2005 Weekend Conference once again reassured us with the presence of old certainties – as always a piece of kit broke down (the smoke emanating from an OHP was mildly alarming), a Fire Alarm went off, the aforementioned Oli was evicted from his committee and the Conference Director lost his file (still not found – anyone seen it?)

I must conclude with some words of thanks. The secretaries and administrative staff did a magnificent job this year, as did the techies under Steve O’Connor’s expert tutelage. The Press team did some fine work, even though Max Webster was quite literally caught napping!

The Security team were more busy in 2005 than ever before, so we were fortunate in having one of the best squads in many a long year.

Thanks must also go to the Friends of Kingswood, whose support of this event is unflinching and whose work over the weekend is crucial to the positive atmosphere created for all those involved. Above all I must thank the Chairs; every year I worry that this will be the year it all goes wrong and every year they prove me wrong through their commitment and good humour.

Finally, no MUN role of honour is complete without mention of Morag Lemmy; without her MUN would not be possible and I would have been carted off in a straight jacket long ago.

"Thanks must also go to the Friends of Kingswood, whose support of this event is unflinching..."

There are certain rituals associated with the MUN weekend, passed

Mr Craig Woodgate (Head of History & Politics)

Kingswood in Focus 33

Kingswood Association

Presidential Letter The annual letter from the President of the Kingswood Association to his colleagues appears for the first time this year in the Association’s extra space in Kingswood in Focus ... ...and is therefore addressed to a wider audience. It falls to me to inaugurate this change. At the Association dinner at Westminster in October, the Headmaster launched important proposals for the renewal and enhancement of the Association. They have been constructively considered. The Executive has recently reported full agreement on these ideas, as amended in discussion. There are four elements: • The President, in addition to his present largely ceremonial role should be committed to the development of the school.

• Members of the Executive should be more actively engaged in running the Association, participating in Action Groups on website development, editorial, activities, fundraising, careers, etc.

• The Chairman should be the committed leader of this team.

• The General Secretary should continue to receive an honorarium and to be the chief net-worker among us. He will actively support all these activities and will himself be supported by secretarial assistance from the school. All this is good news. I commend these ideas and hope that they come to early fruition.

"It has been an immense honour to be your President for 2004 - 05."

It has been an immense honour to be your President for 2004-05. I do not deserve it because for fifty years I have been a sleeping member. I repent.

We should have fewer sleeping members. One reason for my lamentable record is that I have been a professional nomad for most of those fifty years. Surprising things happen when you leave Kingswood. Much of what happened to me is reported from the Westminster dinner elsewhere in KIF and in the companion publication Kingswood Association News.

Retirement from the Diplomatic Service in 1996 gave me the chance to engage in the voluntary sector, with Marie Curie Cancer Care, Sight Savers International and the Guide Dogs for the Blind, and indeed as a Governor of Kingswood. I have been fortunate to be able to work for cancer patients when they need us most, for blind people at home and abroad, and for a great Christian school. Governments are necessary. Since governments quarrel, they need a diplomatic service. But a free people also need civic society and a vigorous voluntary sector. Thank God we have them.

I have enjoyed our gatherings at the House of Commons, at Henley and at Street and the lively debates in the Executive. I have represented the Association at the Memorial Service for Ray Wilkinson, a great servant of the school. I look forward to reading a lesson in Bath Abbey in July. I have confidence in the future of the Association. Autonomous in its decisions, committed to active partnership with the school, I am sure it will continue to thrive.

Sir Nicholas Fenn GCMG (Kingswood Association President) 34 Kingswood in Focus

Front cover from Gold magazine, April 2005

Making a Name for Herself Former pupil Rhian Butah (Head of School House 1992-3) is now far better known under her stage name of Rhian Benson.

Her début album “Gold Coast” was a huge hit in the U.S.A. and has been featuring strongly here. It has been described by “Metroplus” magazine as “nestling snugly somewhere between soul, reggae, jazz and hip hop”.

Rhian joined Kingwood in the Sixth Form, having been brought up in Ghana, and went on to take her degree in econometrics at the London School of Economics. Her initial career in banking has now been overtaken by her international success as a singer.

“...she was spotted by a record label scout and got her own spot for a cabaret act in Hollywood.”

Music always played a significant part in Rhian’s life because her mother was a keen singer and her father an equally keen guitarist in his spare time, playing with a band that was a fusion of jazz and Caribbean rhythms with lots of drums and percussion. For a number of years Cole Porter has been a particular favourite of singers at Kingswood and, long after she left school, it was Rhian singing a Cole Porter song in Covent Garden at a place called “The Spot” that made her realise that maybe her future lay in singing rather than banking. Subsequently she was spotted by a record label scout and got her own spot for a cabaret act in Hollywood. MTV were quick to notice her talent and legendary producers Bob Power and James Poyser offered to work on her first album.

Rhian’s second single, “Stealing My Peace of Mind” is issued in the UK this summer. Everyone at Kingswood wishes her increasing success!

From Berlin Political life in Berlin – it’s all about tactics, intrigues, a bit of gossip, a lot of work and fun.

I am now a political correspondent in Germany’s capital, writing for 12 million readers every day! I work for Europe’s largest and most powerful newspaper. It is the first paper which politicians, economists, managers and fellow editors pick up in the morning. You get the best inside views about what’s happening in politics.

I started my career right after my university degree at Sussex and Strasbourg (Politics, European Studies and French). I was working as a freelance reporter when I got my journalistic breakthrough in an interview with an interview with a German family who had been held hostage in the Philippines. Two days later I signed a contract as political editor with BZ, Berlin’s biggest local newspaper. Suddenly I had a name in the business and after six months I was poached by the political head editor of the nationwide BILD-Zeitung. I moved to Hamburg, starting my new job as editor in the political department of BILD’s federal edition. Two years ago, I moved up another step to become a political correspondent for BILD (nationwide) in Berlin.

At work: In front of the "Porte de Non-Retour in Berlin

of the European Parliament. I have travelled with our Foreign Secretary, Joschka Fischer, to Israel and Egypt, with the opposition leader Angela Merkel likewise.

I have met people like Bill Clinton, Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat (I even tricked I sit in my office opposite the parliament (Bundestag) myself into using his luxurious his bathroom once in his Ramallah Muchata – God – right at the pulse. My main fields of focus are foreign bless his soul). For me it’s a dream: flying through the world in the comfortable politics, Europe and defence. I start my day at 8.30am with German Air Force One (The President’s and government secretaries’ aircraft), and coffee and six different newspapers. At 10.00am I and my discussing foreign politics on warm hotel terraces at night with the political elite. five colleagues have to send our proposed stories to the My last trip was in December with the German president Horst Köhler to Africa Hamburg central political department. Until the chiefs – Sierra Leone, Benin, Ethiopia and Dschibuti in 10 days. The impressions were up there have come to a decision about what is being overwhelming, so much poverty, yet so much friendliness brought towards us by the printed (which happens African people. To know that you can help around 1.00pm), I sit at the them by making the world aware of their “The highlights of my job are that I never ’phone and do research for problems through the media is something the next day. I have lunch stop learning and broadening my horizon.” very rewarding. It is these experiences, that with deputies and other make all the stress worthwhile. Besides - I whistle blowers until 2.00pm (three to four times a week). don’t deny - that having your name in the paper and knowing that 12 million people There is always someone who has to tell something new. sit at their breakfast table and read, it makes me somewhat proud.

They leak exclusive stories, usually voluntarily, sometimes on demand. The stress starts after that: we get the feedback Although there is a lot of fun involved, the job also requires a great deal of from Hamburg. If one of my proposals is booked, I have to responsibility. Everytime you write about a person, it will have a huge effect on his/ collect quotes then get down to write my stuff. Sometimes her life. Especially when it comes to people being mentioned in a negative context, Hamburg has new ideas or wants something different you cannot allow yourself to make mistakes. Quite often the politician’s career is at during the day, so I start making ’phone calls again. stake. Nevertheless, the private lives of politicians is, unlike in Britain, pretty much Usually I ring the deputies on their mobile ’phones. They off limits. The German media has a code of honour don’t mind. On the contrary: most of them are just crazy in this case – unless somebody is really stupid about being quoted in our paper, because that’s how they and gets caught on camera having sex, and even reach most of their (potential) voters. The articles have to then, most of those pictures (not all, it depends be sent to Hamburg by 6.00pm at least. If there’s a new spin on the mood of the chief editor!) are kept in to the story, which does not occur rarely, you have to have the poison cabinet. You never know when some leeway to change things. Adrenaline and pressure they may serve a purpose! are extremely high between 4.00 and 7.00pm. After that, we have our late conference and discuss the topics for the Julia Topar next day. As our editor-in-chief considers BILD to be the (née Fischer) journalistic elite, he expects that our daily research has (at Kingswood unfolded more exclusive stories (a new law, a government 1993-95) plan, illegal spending, a donation scandal, etc.) – one or two per person will do! Finally I go home to my wonderful husband Christopher (we’ve been happily married for almost two years). He is an orthopedic surgeon with his own practice.

With her "adopted" The highlights of my job are that I never stop learning and broadening my horizon: I often go to Brussels and Strasbourg to keep up the good relations with my Members

daughter Betty, from Freetown Sierra Leone

Kingswood in Focus 35

Getting his Teeth into a Subject The story of the Kingswood pupil who became the most important British figure in Twentieth Century dentistry.

Wilfred Fish was born in Chard in Somerset in 1894. His father was a Methodist minister and he encouraged his family to read widely. At the age of ten Wilfred was sent to Kingswood, which was then best known for its outstanding mathematical teaching, as well as its Christian heritage.

Forbidden to do sports because of a suspected heart problem, he found school life difficult but, nevertheless, achieved distinction in science, winning a place at the age of sixteen to go to Manchester University to study dentistry.

His father’s work had shown Wilfred at first hand the appalling conditions in which many people lived and the consequent rampant health problems among the poor, especially the crippling and disfiguring manifestations of malnutrition, syphilis, rickets, and tuberculosis. At this time about half the adult male applying for military service were rejected as unfit because of dental disease alone.

Manchester had some particularly distinguished professors at that time, Fish at college including the Nobel prize-winner, (date uncertain) Ernest Rutherford, the father of atomic physics, and Chaim Weizmann, an organic chemist who was very influential in creating the State of Israel (and who became its first President in 1948). Qualifying as a dental surgeon in 1914 and then in medicine, Fish worked in Salford Royal Hospital before joining the Bombay Brigade.

He experienced at first hand the appalling conditions on board the troop ship “Cameronia” when it was torpedoed in April 1917 and sank in just thirty-five minutes. One of the few to survive, he worked at the Colaba War Hospital near Bombay, treating head and maxillo-facial wounds.

By this time patients were being given chloroform for anaesthetic purposes and prophylactic tetanus injections, but techniques were still fairly primitive and the wounds being treated often horrific.

After the First World War, Fish studied for a time with J.F. Colyer, a pioneer in the field of plastic surgery for those who had been hugely disfigured. He then became a dentist in Kent. As an MD, he was far better qualified than most doctors, let alone most dentists, of that time. He soon built up a thriving practice, seeing about thirty-five patients a day. In 1924 he acquired premises near Harley Street in London, in 1925 he became an Honorary Assistant Dental Surgeon at the Royal Dental Hospital, and in 1928 he built his own purpose-designed dental premises. Patients were greeted by a male receptionist dressed in full butler’s uniform to serve them sherry while they waited! Fish wanted it to be “a place of relaxation rather than fear”. He began lecturing in prosthetics at a time when dentures were made from cast gold or vulcanite (a rubber by-product from the new motor car tyres). He attempted to base the whole process on an appreciation of anatomical structures and physiological processes and his resulting book on dental prosthetics received worldwide acclaim, becoming a medical classic text for many years.

Fish began extensive research at the Hampton Hale Laboratory and controversially undertook many experiments on animals. He was invited to undertake lectures all around the world and was involved in some thirty projects, including the creation of the first periodontal department in Britain and experiments on the permeability of enamel and dentine. His work on oral hygiene and focal infection was particularly important. He was one of the first main advocates of using a toothbrush and paying special attention 36 Kingswood in Focus

to the gum between the teeth by using sticks made from balsa wood (the predecessor of dental floss). In 1939 he was put in charge of developing the dentistry profession into a body that was more fully qualified and respected.

Too many dentists lacked proper qualifications and training.

By the 1930s when the average decent wage was c. £250 a year, Fish was earning up to £8,000 from his rich clients. Two of them were Lord Beaverbrook and Winston Churchill. It was only Fish’s expert work in solving an acute abscess that enabled Churchill to attend the 1941 mid-Atlantic Conference with Franklin Roosevelt, the American President. This led to the signing of the crucial Atlantic Charter. That same year Fish joined with two of his colleagues on the Dental Board to devise a new system for training dentists, including paying more attention to the prevention of dental problems, providing a year of hospital work for dental graduates to increase their experience and skills, and creating more research opportunities.

As the Second World War progressed, Fish became increasingly involved in the discussions about creating a Welfare State in order to provide everyone with access to medical and dental care. He wrote: “Slowly but inexorably universal education is abolishing privilege, and benefits which have been achieved by the once privileged classes of society are now demanded by all.” Most doctors and dentists opposed the move because they did not want to see fixed fees for the work they undertook. However, in the end the fees offered to dentists were so attractive that 92% joined the new system. Fish warned: “If a practitioner should accept more patients than can be given his undivided and sustained attention, there will be some work done of a standard which cannot be approved.” Concerned to maintain standards, he set about promoting a “General Dental Council” and was instrumental in creating the “International Dental Journal”.

Alongside all of this, he continued to do research himself, most notably into designing innovative partial dentures.

Fish’s work was recognised by countless honorary awards, by being made Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons, and, in 1954, by a knighthood. He became the President of the General Dental Council on its creation in 1956 and Honorary Consultant in Dental Surgery to the Army. Officially Fish retired in 1961, but some of his work and his concern for the NHS continued till his death in 1974. The scale of all his achievements is too great for an article of this length to cover but those who have recalled his work say that his strongest character traits were his curiosity, his enthusiasm, and his commitment to hard work, all of which stemmed from his Methodist upbringing. His headmaster at Kingswood, Walter Workman, had told his pupils: “life as a whole is given to save others and to help others, you cannot possibly spare yourself.” It was a lesson he had learned well. Fish himself once said that “Enthusiasm is a god within. Blessed is he who possesses a god within.”

If you want to read more about Wilfred Fish there is a biography of him

by J.D. Manson available from Esmeralda Press, 12 Wheatley Street, London (£19.95 plus p&p £2.50).

Mr Gary Best (Headmaster & Principal of the Kingswood Foundation)

An ever-present at Kingswood for 43 years Last December we were very saddened to hear of the death of Ray Wilkinson, who was a very highly regarded former member of staff (1954-88) and former pupil (1939-48).

He first came to Kingswood in September 1939 supposedly to Westwood but the simultaneous intervention of Adolf Hitler rapidly moved him to the School’s evacuated home for its younger pupils at Prior’s Court, near Newbury; Ray was quoted later as saying “Anything that stops the first day of school can’t be all bad”. His contribution to the School was prodigious and in 1948 he was appointed Senior Prefect for what was the bicentenary year of Kingswood’s foundation by John Wesley. After taking his degree at Cambridge and undertaking military service, he returned to Kingswood. He was a charismatic Head of English for almost his whole career. Ray’s methods were traditional; not for him the overhead projector, the video or film - or at least, not very often - and of course, the computer was not around. For Ray - in the beginning was the word, the text, the poem, the book, the play for which he had an undying love which he had every intention of communicating to his pupils.

Outside of the classroom, he was an inspiring producer of countless School plays and a remarkable games coach. Mr Opie, who was one of his pupils, says Ray could motivate players without apparently doing

1948 Speech Day

anything! For twenty years he was also a Housemaster of Lower House, twelve of them as a Senior Housemaster. He was not a great one for heavy punishments, preferring to base discipline on mutual respect and the occasional delivery of very firm words, but he was much loved.

His pupils remember his integrity and passion for his subject and his colleagues remember his modesty, his wit, his friendliness, his talents, his courage and his fortitude in facing the tribulations encountered in a long life, especially in the last few months. The School was a livelier place if Ray were around, conversation was more enjoyable, and pomposity was less likely to flourish.

Affectionate memories abound. Teaching, house mastering, coaching, producing, and simply being the man he was - what an astonishing contribution Ray Wilkinson made to the life of this School community.

(A fuller tribute is to be found in Kingswood Association News and a double CD is available.)

Mr Roy Cook (Staff 1959 - 91) and Mr Gordon Opie (1976 - 81, Staff 1990 - Present)

Coaching Hockey

1988 Retirement

"...Ray could motivate players without apparently doing anything!"

DATES FOR THE DIARY SUMMER REUNION 2005

CAMBRIDGE DINNER

Saturday 2nd July 2005

Saturday 8th October 2005 at 7.30pm

• 2pm - School v Old Boys Cricket (Gordon Opie - 01225 316652) • School v Old Boys Tennis (John Kingsnorth - 01983 565962) • 12 noon - Kingswood Association AGM • Barbecue lunch on the Upper (John Lewis - 01225 734350)

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge - Price £35.

(Barrie Fleet - 01223 351529 May/June/September) (Neil Kobish - 0208 440 8855 July/August)

Kingswood in Focus 37

Iraq at First-Hand Former pupil Richard Gardner (1980-89) tells of his experience as a Territorial Army volunteer in Iraq.

Before volunteering to go to Iraq, the TA had merely been a weekend hobby and fitness exercise regime. Other people went to the gym or swimming baths, but I decided to run round Salisbury Plain conducting battle exercises. Preparation for Iraq took a month. Initially, there was two weeks within a camp near Nottingham to check for the minimum level of fitness and competency and to complete reams of paper-work.

Then there was a week in Kent to attend briefings on the cultural and political situation in Iraq, and to let us know what to expect. Then we flew to Iraq to spend another week of preparation at Shaibah camp, just outside Basra. There we were introduced to new weapons, such as the Minime, a remarkable light support weapon, 5.56mm in calibre, capable of accepting the same ammunition as a rifle.

The role I was assigned to was Psy Ops (Psychological Operations) which involved monitoring grass roots opinion, through the use of interviews with interpreters, and attempting to influence opinion by distributing newsletters. There are no newspapers here, due to the level of censorship by the Saddam Hussein regime before the war and the current level of disruption. There was one other person assigned to the same role, but to a different unit.

Steve was a Royal Engineer from Jersey, more used to dealing with boats around the Channel Islands. His civilian role was that of decorator and plasterer, and mine work in IT, so this experience was completely new to both of us.

only 20 miles distant. I arrived there, and met up with Steve barely a few days later. I found it incredulous that a unit could get ‘lost’ in Iraq, and that Steve and I could end up at the same location after such a tortuous and painful trial.

Now we could begin our task, which at first I took to be a privileged one.

We were in far closer contact with the people than most of the forces, who were either merely in camp or providing protection to convoys. I had confidence that I would be able to see past the American bigotry, and see evidence of past greatness. The shores of the Euphrates are supposed to be site of the Garden of Eden and visitors are still shown a bleached and withered dead tree which was reputedly the Tree of Knowledge that Adam and Eve were not supposed to eat from. The Arabs gave us the sciences of advanced mathematics, astronomy and the pseudo-science of astrology. Iraq was the home of both the Babylonian and Persian Empires and I can remember a wonderful story from my early history lessons concerning the crusades, in which Richard the Lionheart met Saladin, the commander of the Islamic forces. In order to show off the quality of his sword blade, Richard took an iron bar and broke it in two with one strike from his sword. Saladin replied by throwing a silk scarf into the air and cutting it in half. This was a display of far superior metallurgy, since it showed a fine blade as well as strength.

"Before volunteering to go to Iraq, the TA had merely been a weekend hobby and fitness exercise regime."

The destination for the Psy Ops members was supposed to be Al Amarrah; an area which had been the home of the Marsh Arabs until Saddam drained it all, reducing it to a desolate dust bowl. It is expected it will take fifty years for this area, which is thought to be where civilisation first developed over 20,000 years ago, to recover. Steve and I expected to depart for Al Amarrah at the end of the preparatory period, but then the problems started. They were unable to contact either of the units for Steve or myself. With an amazing show of disorganisation, Steve was sent on a wild goose chase around virtually every camp in the country, and I was left in Shaibah and almost forgotten about. After a week and a half, my unit was located in Shaat Al Arab Hotel in Basra, which was 38 Kingswood in Focus

What I saw instead was total poverty in a country that should be rich from oil revenue. Every time we stopped the vehicles, a small crowd gathered, begging for water. Most of the houses are little more than ruined shacks, built from home-made concrete blocks. The Iraqis were constantly complaining about the lack of reliable electricity supply, since many areas only get power for a few hours per week. On several occasions, I was providing top cover protection to the vehicle as we drove through an area. That involves standing on the back of an open-topped rover, with a rifle. It was night, and I had assumed that we were driving through

the open countryside. Suddenly, it dawned on me that we were actually passing through a suburb, and the electricity denied city had merely melted into the night. At home, I am used to passing through a city with street lighting, house lighting, lights from shop displays and advertising.

In Basra there is nothing except for the odd house lucky enough to possess a portable generator.

At first I allowed myself to think that the situation was going well.

We were well received in the city. People would happily approach us to talk, and ask us if we were American. We would deny this, and point to our Union Jack emblems on our sleeves, and they would express relief and satisfaction and a joke would be shared. Then on Thursday 5th August, severe fighting broke out in the northern sectors around Baghdad. This was fighting between Arab tribes, and not directed at the allies at all. Nonetheless, the effect upon the garrison at Shaat Al Arab was significant – all non-essential movement outside the camp was cancelled and we then suffered a month of inactivity within the camp, with duties restricted to mere guard duty. We could frequently stand and watch a pyrotechnic display of 50 calibre tracer rounds tearing up the sky.

buried for many years and they have not been maintained, then there is a reduced chance that they will operate correctly. Due to the repeated mortar attacks it was announced that it was too dangerous for the chefs to be working in the kitchens for prolonged periods. We were therefore reduced to boil-in-the-bag rations. We took to taking welfare packages and cooking fresh food in the kitchens ourselves because that was judged acceptable if we were accompanied by a single chef!

Up until this time, we had assumed that the Americans had suffered a greater loss rate because of an unwillingness to interact with the locals, a lack of acknowledgement of a different culture, and a failure to recognise that the Iraqis are the rightful residents of the country. I would like to take this opportunity to leap to their defence, and say that this general impression was a mistake. We found that Basra and Bagdad were completely different areas. Basra constituted the educated, middle class, commercial and trading districts, with an international outlook – this is the area to watch in the future for future investment. While I was in Basra, we suffered no suicide attacks. Bagdad, in contrast, is an area blighted by a greater number of fanatics, and suffering more pronounced tribal conflicts. Here, we ran the risk of suicide attacks, and the risk was greater than I could have ever imagined. Previously, I would have conceptualised a suicide bomber as somebody with a car bomb driving at maximum speed towards the gate of a target such as an embassy. Instead, attacks consisted of fanatics who would sit in a queue at a vehicle checkpoint, perfectly calmly, and proceed through the entire checkpoint. This first pass constituted a reconnaissance, in which he would pick the point of greatest damage. Once through, they would turn around, and pass through again. They would only detonate their bomb at the chosen point, when somebody tapped on his window and asked for identity papers.

"We were in far closer contact with the people than most of the forces..."

After about six weeks, we returned to normal duties. On these patrols, the number of enemy contacts was minimal. An exception involved a gunman firing a pistol at one of our patrol – he missed, but killed one Iraqi woman and severely injured a man. Then he disappeared into a local house, and we cordoned off each end of the street. We called the Iraqi police, since it was after the transfer of sovereignty, and it was now their job. The police turned up like the keystone cops, and proceeded to raid the wrong house. The correct house was raided after we indicated their mistake, and an arrest was made – the culprit was a fourteen year old boy.

This was a form of teenage hooliganism I had not experienced before.

So far all I had seen in the Iraqi countryside was sand. The effect of the landscape is indescribable - it is merely flat sand, from horizon to horizon, as far as the eye can see. The temperature can rise as high as 45 degrees Celsius, and it is a dry, uncomfortable heat with no moisture. When the wind blows it is like standing under the blast of a giant thermal paint stripper, or standing too close to a Guy Fawkes bonfire. I volunteered in November for a change of location, but I did not get a change in scenery. I journeyed around 600 miles north to Camp Dogwood, near Fellujah, to support the American operations. The Camp itself was based in a former chemical factory in the middle of the desert. It had been built during the Iran-Iraq war and most of the buildings were under ground. Accommodation for many groups, including Psy Ops, consisted of Hesco bashing provided by the engineers. These consisted of large metal cages, containing large fabric bags to be filled with gravel in order to form a large stable wall, which was also intended to be protection against mortar fire.

We suffered an attack every few days. A major disadvantage of Iraq is that the desert is still full of armaments left over from the Iran-Iraq war.

If somebody wishes to commit an act of sedition, then they only need to drive into the desert, in search of an abandoned arms cache. However, since the arms have been

One attack came from a man who had lost half his family in the last main conflict. He had decided that it was not worth continuing to live with half a family, and so had decided to make a suicide attack – with the remaining half of his family in the same vehicle. His expectation was a family reunion, with the added privilege of the presence of Allah. I for one would not have identified a family estate, complete with children all over the back seat, as a potential threat.

I was able to return to the UK in the middle of December and in time for Christmas as promised by Tony Blair. In answer to those of you who question whether we should have a presence in Iraq, my answer is both no and yes. No, the invasion should not have taken place.

There was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction, and the intelligence used was over ten years old. There were newspaper articles expressing dissent from the intelligence community even before the tanks began to roll. Yes, once you have applied trade sanctions, politically isolated that country, invaded, imprisoned the prime minister, torn there infrastructure apart and destroyed their primary source of income I believe that you have the responsibility of putting their country back together again. The majority of the population do not want us in Iraq - that much is obvious. However, if we simply packed our things and depart, then the Sunni and the Shia factions will begin to tear each other apart. We would be committing a far worse crime by omission if we simply washed our hands.

Kingswood in Focus 39

Dealing with Cancer

I came down with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia about six months ago.

Actually, it started nine months ago but, being a typical bloke, I didn’t see a doctor until it was nearly too late.

The nurses now keep a copy of my first blood test result – probably as a warning to children about what not to do when you get to a soft lad’s age.

Why did I wait that long? I wasn’t in denial; I just didn’t know there was a connection between bruises, shortness of breath and mouth ulcers!

Tomorrow I’ll go into hospital for a bone marrow transplant. The survival rate for these things is about 60 per cent. My chances have increased from 20 per cent only because of the millions of people who put their names on the bone marrow donor register. One day I hope to meet the man who’s donating his stem cells to me. Like me, he lives in Melbourne but I don’t know any more about him than that.

I have been a radio journalist for ten years, both in Australia and Britain. I’d planned to take a few months off anyway, though spending it in hospital with a drip hanging over me 24 hours a day wasn’t quite what I had in mind. I’ve had an amazing life so far, and it’s almost tempting to quit while I’m ahead. I say almost. I won’t go without a fight, but I won’t go kicking and screaming either, if that makes sense. One thing leukaemia patients are never short of is other people’s advice. Death hath lost its sting, apparently. That’s a relief. Books with titles like ‘How I Beat Cancer and Lived’ suddenly appear in the mail.

I don’t give a fruity fig, frankly. I’m not ungrateful, but everyone has to deal with it in their own way. This is mine.

R

FO

It could be worse. At least I don’t have kids sitting anxiously at the end of the bed. At least leukaemia doesn’t leave you with horrible disabilities for life (normally) and at least noone is responsible for it. After all, you don’t get leukaemia from, say, drunk drivers. If I thought there were any point in complaining about it - or feeling sorry for myself - I would. So I just get on with it. I turn up when I’m told to turn up and I get on with it. It’s not about being positive or negative – it’s about being practical. Standing in front of the mirror saying ‘I will survive, I will survive’ is all very well, but eating when you don’t want to, washing when you don’t want to, taking pills when you don’t want to and exercising when you don’t want to will reduce the number of things you can die from after chemotherapy.

If you are an organ donor (and would prefer to be alive when your bits are removed to save someone’s life) then becoming a bone marrow donor is easy. In fact, almost anyone under 45 can do it. Just go along to your local blood bank where they’ll take a blood sample and call you back if there’s someone in the world who needs a transplant and matches your DNA. There’s more information at www.blooddonor.org.uk if you’re interested. Thanks for listening.

Mr Clive Hunton (at Kingswood 1983-89)

E The following are available from The General Secretary, Kingswood Association, Kingswood School, Bath BA1 5RG. L A All prices include postage. Please make cheques payable to the Kingswood Association.

S

• Continuity and Change. A Special History of the School with over 400 illustrations & photographs produced for the tercentenary of Kingswood by Gary Martin Best - £13.50

• Wesley Tercentenary Mug. China with Kingswood School inscribed inside - £5.00

• Oak Shield with Wyvern over Kingswood School Coat of Arms - £25.50 • A Presentation Engraved Photoframe. Silvered finish with lettering: Kingswood School - £12.50 • Kingswood Association Tie. Wyvern style on black, navy, blue or maroon - £10.50

40 Kingswood in Focus

Connections@Kingswood ONE YEAR ON Last Spring all members of the Kingswood School community were welcomed to register on our new online networking database. A bit like Friends Reunited it provides a web-based email facility for life as well as the opportunity to contact other members but unlike Friend Reunited ours is completely free of charge and is all about Kingswood’s alumni.

WHO CAN JOIN? Anyone who is or was a bona fide member of the Kingswood School community is most warmly invited to join us: • Past pupils • Current members of the sixth form • Current or past members of staff • Current or past governors • Current or past parents and guardians • The Friends of Kingswood

adored offspring and some have printed interesting snippets of news.

Did you know, for example, that Christopher Kurihara-Dixon is a pop star in Tokyo?

WHO HAS JOINED? In the last year 616 past pupils have registered on the new site out of a total of over 3000 records transferred from the Association database.

Matthew Stevens reported that he found another past pupil living round the corner from him, even more remarkable as they both live in Sydney! Over 1,600 past pupils are registered on Friends Reunited but they have been established for nearly 10 years!

Past Pupils Registrations 300

Connections at Kingswood enables you to reconnect with lost friends, network with the entire School community, promote your professional services, organise reunions, update your profile, read about the latest news and events, and more.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY IT? Click on any of the links on the School website at www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk or the Kingswood Association website www.kingswoodassociation.com and answer a simple questionnaire to make sure you are bonafide and you will be sent your username and password.

• Maintain contact with all your old friends via the online Who’s Who and via a personal e-mail address that remains the same, no matter how often you move location or change other e-mail addresses.

250 200

• Ensure that details about you are accurate, appropriate, comprehensive and completely up to date. Other people may be trying to find you.

150 100

• Keep informed about news, events and issues relating to the school and other past pupils. Manage report and upload pictures about your own news, events and activities.

50 0 Left School 2004

1995-2003

1975-1995

1955-1975

1935-1955

1915-1935

Many of those who have logged on have uploaded pictures of how they look now. Many have included wedding photos and pictures of their

• Benefit from an expansive network of professional and business contacts with whom you share a common school heritage.

• Share your knowledge, skills and advice with current and future generations of Kingswood pupils seeking university information, career guidance or work experience.

The Westminster Dinner Following guided tours of the two chambers of Parliament by our host for the evening, David Wilshire M.P. (1955-62), some 102 members and their guests sat down in the Churchill Room for the Annual Dinner of the Association.

“...it proved a most enjoyable evening for everyone, especially in its spectacular setting!

There were memorable speeches by not only the President, Sir Nicholas Fenn, the Chairman, Marcus Cornah, and the Headmaster, Gary Best, but also entertaining reports by the Kingswood Head Girl, Bryony Cradock-Watson, and the Head Boy, David Boyce. With members drawn from many different eras of the School’s history, it proved a most enjoyable evening for everyone, especially in its spectacular setting!

Back Row: The Chairman – Marcus Cornah, The President – Sir Nicholas Fenn, The Host – David Wilshire M.P., The General Secretary - John Lewis Front Row: The Head Boy – David Boyce, The Head Girl – Bryony Cradock-Watson, The Headmaster – Gary Best

Kingswood in Focus 41

Spring Sport

Girls' Netball This term netball has seen a great range of individual and team achievements.

The U12 A&B’s played 7 matches each, with special mentions being made of Gemma Holmes, Chloe Roberts and Radhika Khetkar who were all awarded the most improved player, with the players of the season going to Hannah Burnell and Leila Amrabadi.

The U13’s had a very successful season with the B team winning 6 out of their 7 matches, and the A’s only losing 3. The U13 tournament showed great potential, with Kingwood winning 3 of the 5 matches.

The most improved players go to Meryn Churchouse and Laura Cross.

Alice Yates and Robyn Churchouse both showed great potential and were awarded the players of the season.

Congratulations must be made to the U14 B team, having been the most successful team this season, winning all but one match, which they drew.

The U14 A team had a tougher season, showing great promise for the future but winning only 4 of their 10 matches owing to a combination of hard opposition and teething injuries. Verity Lowe and Georgia Turner were both awarded most improved player and Marianne Teoh along with Becky Bottle were awarded players of the season.

The U15’s had another great season despite losing Natasha Bloor to the firsts. Continuous effort meant they won 5 of their 8 matches and only conceded 69 goals throughout the term. They reached the semi-finals at the Marlborough tournament whilst playing in the U16 year group but were unfortunately knocked out at the semi-finals, suffering from a combination of illness and injury.

However, in their own age group the U15’s were successful enough to get through to regional level where they won 2 matches, lost 2 and drew 1. At the U16 Independent Schools’ Tournament the U15’s came out with very positive results, winning 8 out of the 9 matches played.

Congratulations must be made to all those who played and in particular to Sarah Ryder and Hannah James who received the players of the season, and the most improved players Isabella Watson, Lydia Cameron and Michelle Wren.

Senior teams consisted mainly of Y11s and Lower 6th. The Fourths team only managed to play two matches this season. However, in these matches they showed a competitive spirit. Special mention must go to Ellie Williams and Charlotte Chivers for their actions on the court.

The Thirds had another productive season, playing 5 out of their 6 matches and winning 4. The most improved player went to Fran Butcher with the player of the season going to Olivia Knight.

The Seconds played 9 matches, winning over half, despite losing Cindy Lithimbi to the first team on several occasions. A special mention must be made of Cindy for her movement and control in mid-court for both the seconds and the firsts. Cindy and Hilda Chak were awarded the players of the season, Emma Philip and Frankie Walker the most improved and Bibi King-Harman the players’ player of the season.

At First team level, a result of 8 wins and 3 losses was recorded. A win over Bristol Grammar School, after 3 years of losing, is a strong sign of our improvement over the season. This was shown again at the Marlborough tournament were Kingswood excelled, gelling together as a team and working hard in both defence and attack; positive results proved this with Kingswood only losing 1 out of our 7 matches. Well done to everyone who played, especially Natasha Bloor who fought hard and spent most of the tournament telling those two years above her how to play; don’t worry, we will think of a just punishment next season!

Abigail Tagoe has been awarded the most improved player. Nandi

Girls Results 2005 1st

2nd

3rd

4th

U15A

U15B

U14A

U14B

U13A

U13B

U12A

U12B

No. Games Played

12

11

6

2

8

5

10

8

9

7

7

7

Games Won

9

6

4

0

5

3

4

7

6

6

2

2

Games Lost

3

3

1

2

3

2

6

0

3

1

4

5

Games Drawn

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

Games Cancelled

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Goals Scored For

341

194

129

20

137

102

142

147

148

94

43

38

Goals Scored Against

202

163

73

29

114

69

150

66

64

43

115

57

Leading teams at half term: U14B & U13B. Leading team at end of term: U14B. 42 Kingswood in Focus

Tournaments U15’s Regionals Games Games Games Games

5 2 2 1

Played Won Lost Drawn

Y8 Tournament Games Games Games Games

5 3 2 0

Played Won Lost Drawn

U16’s Ind. Schools 9 8 1 0

Games Played Game Won Games Lost Games Drawn

Marlborough U16’s Games Games Games Games

Played Won Lost Drawn

4 1 2 1

Marlborough Seniors

Kegode was awarded the Player’s Player of the Season and Kelly Elliott the Player of the Season. Both Nandi and Kelly received their full colours. Nandi Kegode has also been selected to attend an England Netball Talent Camp in the summer, and we wish her well in this.

Games Games Games Games

Played Won Lost Drawn

7 5 1 1

The Netball season ended with a very funny, but competitive series of House matches played in windy conditions on the upper. Thank you to all those took part, with School winning 3 out of the 4 sections placing them first.

A special thank you must be made to Miss Wright, Miss Bass, Mrs Muddiman, Miss Martindale, Mrs Bloor, Miss Beale, Miss Noonan, Mrs Jenner, Miss Batch and Sophie Lane, without whom netball this term would not have been possible. On a more personal note we would like to thank Miss Paver who has continuously been a great coach and huge influence upon Kingswood’s netball and especially the First Team.

Kelly Elliott and Nandi Kegode (Captains)

AWARDS Player of the Year: Kelly Elliott Players’ Player of the Year: Nandi Kegode Most Improved Player: Abi Tagoe

COLOURS Full: Kelly Elliott Nandi Kegode Colts: Hilda Chak Kingswood in Focus 43

Boys' Hockey The U12’s unfortunately had a short season with them only playing a total of four matches, winning one, losing two, and drawing one. Despite the limited amount of matches the side showed great potential for the years to come, with Will McKenzie and Olly Canning being the outstanding players of the team.

The U13’s struggled in many of their matches, but as the season progressed their improvement was displayed in a fine victory over Rendcomb. Patrick Harvey and Jasper King-Harman proved themselves as budding talents throughout the season.

Unfortunately the U14’s results don’t reflect the huge wealth of talent they offer to Kingswood Hockey. With four county players Nick Gerrish, Matthew Woudburg, Alex Ockwell and Sam Pew Latter, one would be forgiven for expecting better results. Although they didn’t perform to their potential throughout the season, they won a great game against the Kenyan touring side, Braeburn, 3-2 which showed what might have been.

The U15’s enjoyed a good season with impressive victories over Beechen Cliff and Queen’s Taunton despite losing a commanding player in Alex Field, who was promoted to the first team and selected for the county side. Much of the success achieved throughout the season has been due to the consistently strong performances of Matt Horsely and Freddie Dean.

The IV Team were the School’s most successful team, wining all three of their matches. The success has been largely attributed to Mr Meads’ original and some say inhumane mud training on the astro turf banks! The III’s experienced a highly successful season, conceding only one defeat and playing some of the best hockey of the season.

The side consisted largely of Y11s; however, senior players such as Alex Good and George Gabriel controlled the games and contributed greatly to the overall success of the team. Special mention must be made of Josh Baterham who achieved his first cap for the first team while still in Y11.

some unorthodox yet highly successful tackling, much likened to a caveman wielding a new tool. The team, I feel, wouldn’t have been so successful without the experience and respected captaincy of Pablo Lalor, and also the controlling and consistent presence of Tom Seddon.

The I’s enjoyed an extremely successful season this year, achieving the best record since Mr Opie’s arrival as hockey coach at Kingswood School 15 years ago. We had eight fixtures, winning 6, drawing 1 and unfortunately only missing out on an unbeaten season in an early fixture against Beechen Cliff whom we defeated comfortably 3-0 in a tournament later on in the season. Highlights of the season included firstly a much deserved five goal demolition over local rivals KES. In recent years Monkton Combe have been tough opposition often gaining the upper hand, but this year an outstanding and gutsy team performance led to a 5-1 victory. The team’s success could not have occurred without the likes of James Toogood who led the scoring with 19 goals and is maturing into a figurehead for Kingswood hockey.

Tim Bishop contributed hugely with a tireless work rate setting a good example for the rest of the team, and being rewarded with two ‘man of the match’ awards. The back four were extremely strong this year with Alexander Carlton-Porter being a pivotal and vocal figure in the sweeper position, aided by attacking runs from an experienced right back, Jason Hui. Joe Djoleto-Nattey showed his years of understanding with ever improving performances at left back, and James Gerrish put his kit on and enjoyed an outstanding performance at the end of the season against Wells Cathedral to contribute to our record breaking season!

"Overall, the Senior sides this season have lost only three games, giving the Junior sides within the School something to aspire to."

The II’s enjoyed an outstanding season, providing competition for places within the first team, wining 6, drawing 2, and losing 1.

Matt Hill was the second highest top scorer in School with 12 goals.

A mention should go towards Stewy Laurence who has shown lots of potential and will prove to be an important player within the senior teams in following years.

A solid defence was maintained by two finely tuned athletic machines, Pablo Lalor and Tom Seddon, whilst Alastair Morrison played his part with

Overall, the Senior sides this season have lost only three games, giving the Junior sides within the School something to aspire to.

On a personal note it has been an enormous honour to captain the side this year, it has been a great pleasure playing alongside my fellow players, whom I would like to thank again for all the efforts in making this season so successful. Special thanks must go towards my experienced Vice Captain, Jason Hui, who has been reliable and extremely organised, and after many years I still can't understand what he is saying, but the season could not have been so successful without his contribution towards the first team!

However, none of this would have been possible without the countless hours of time spent on developing Kingswood hockey by the Staff, these being Mr Matthews, Mr Duke, Mr Hollywell, Mr York, Mr Brodie, Mr Reeman, Mr Meads, Mr Davies, Mr Thompson, Mrs Opie and Mr Opie. Mr Opie has been instrumental in my development as a hockey player and a person, and a lot of others have benefited from his coaching and attitude towards the game.

Jack Durling (Captain of First XI)

FINAL COLOURS

House Match Results

Colts Colours: Josh Batterham

Y7 Posnett B – 0 Cusworth B – 1 Posnett A – 1 Cusworth A – 0 Winners: Posnett

Stuart Laurence

The next set of colours go to the upper 6th leavers in recognition of their contribution to the 1st x1 over, in some cases, as many as four seasons.

Half Colours: James Gerrish George Phillips

Y8 Posnett B – 0 Cusworth B – 3 Posnett A – 0 Cusworth A – 2 Winners: Cusworth

Jason Hui Christian Holbrook

Anthony Stone

James Toogood and Alex Carlton Porter, who have been the outstanding players in the l6th, already have their half colours. Full colours go to three boys who have enjoyed excellent seasons and contributed much to the success of the side.

Y9 3rd place – Hall House 2nd place – Upper House Winners – Middle House

Full Colours:

Y10 3rd place – Hall House 2nd place – Middle House Winners – Upper House

"...there are several outstanding U6th Formers who have all helped make this an enjoyable and successful season."

SENIORS (Y11/L6/U6) 3rd place – Upper House 2nd place – Hall House Winners – Middle House

Tim Bishop Joseph Djoleto-Nattey Jack Durling

THE IDRIS CUP This cup is presented each year to the player who has made the most significant contribution to the first team over the course of the season. This year there are several outstanding U6th Formers who have all helped make this an enjoyable and successful season. However, there can only be one winner and the award this year goes to Jason Hui who has done so much in his position as vice-captain to help the team, the Captain and the coach. He has been part of the 1st X1 for four seasons and fully deserves this award.

Mr Gordon Opie (Senior Housemaster, Middle & Hockey Coach)

Boys Results 2005 Team Opposition

Ist XI

2nd XI

Beechen Cliff

(L) 2-4

(W) 5-1

King Edwards

(W) 5-3

(W) 5-1

Monkton Combe

(W) 5-1

(W) 3-2

Queen’s Taunton

(D) 2-2

(D) 2-2

Prior Park Rendcomb

(W) 5-1

3rd XI

4th XI

U15 A

U15 B

(W) 4-2 (D) 3-3

(L) 1-2 (W) 4-1

(D) 2-2

(W) 3-2

(W) 11- 0

(W) 3-0

Dauntsey's

(W) 2-1

(L) 3-4

(W) 5-2

Bristol GS

(W) 3-2

(W) 3-1

(W) 3-1

(W) 1-0

(W) 2-1

(W) 3-2

Totals

U14 A

U14 B

U13 A

U13 B

(L) 0-2

(L) 0-2

(L) 2-4

(W) 3-2

(W) 3-2

(L) 1-2

(W) 6-0

(W) 2-0

(L) 0-2

(D) 1-1

(L) 0-1

(W) 1-0

(L) 0-3

(L) 2-5

(L) 1-3

(W) 6-0

(W) 5-0

(W) 3-2

(D) 0-0

(L) 1-3

(W) 2-0

(D) 4-4

(W) 5-0

(W) 5-0

(D) 1-1

(L) 0-2

2 2 5

17

-23 -6

7 0 1

26

-10 16

(L) 1-2

1 3 4

9

-12 -3

(L) 1-8

(W) 2-1

5 2 3

20

-28 -8

(W) 1-0

(W) 4-0

7 0 1

36

-4 32

4 2 2

18

-15

3

4 1 2

14

-10

4

(L) 0-5

(L) 1-2

(D) 1-1

(W) 3-2

(L) 2-4 (D) 2-2

(L) 0-1

(L) 1-4

(D) 0-0

(L) 0-6

(W) 9-0

(W) 1-0

(D) 0-0

(C’s) (L) 3-4

(L) 0-1

(W) 3-2

Wins

6

6

3

5

2

5

1

Draws

1

2

0

0

2

0

2

1

Losses

1

1

1

0

Goal For/Against

26 -15

39 -13

24 -8

6

1

-4 -3

6

-6

5 1 3

23

1 0 0

3

11

26

16

Goal Difference

1

2

0

40

1

1

1

1

12

2

4

2

5

2

-3

19 -16

9 -11

28 -12

12 -9

6 -27

8

3

3

-2

16

3

-21

2

1

-4

9 -10

3

4

-1

9

1 0 1

3

3

-7

0 1 1

40 12 24 6

F A GD 16

(W) 3-2

Kenya

W D L 3 0 1

KPS (W) 2-1

U12 B

(W) 5-0

Prior Park (13’s)

Wells

U12 A

Goals

0

-11 12 -2

1

189 -132 57

24 -4 -1

Kingswood in Focus 45

X-country

Cross Country We have been very privileged to have so many fine runners this year. This has been reflected by the record breaking results the Cross Country has achieved.

The term started by taking a full squad on the long coach journey to Bryanston for the Ken Bailey races. With over 10 schools competing we made our mark on the circuit with a strong 2nd place in the senior boys. Y8 runners Jasper King-Harman and Nick Shepard were placed 2nd and 11th respectively, and in the inter girls Hannah Kraus had a good race leaving the girls 5th from 17 teams.

Number 2 was soon to become the theme of the season with the senior boys coming 2nd from 11 at Downside, this time much closer with only 5 points separating us from arch rivals Sherborne.

A new fixture this year saw Kingswood being invited to join Clifton, Cheltenham and Malvern in their annual event. A fast flat course allowed for quick times, but still left us in second.

Despite a weaker team, Kingswood produced some great results once again at Sherborne. The long course was testing, yet improved fitness made for good running leaving us once again 2nd still behind the dreaded Sherborne.

Canford relays was our biggest fixture with over 20 schools competing, with teams travelling from as far as France and the Isle of White.

Kingswood was able to put out two senior boys teams coming 4th and 14th. Inter boys finished 8th with Alex Field running the 7th fastest time of the day. Though the best results were to be seen in the inter girls, great running from Sarah Ryder, Emma Oliver and Hannah Kraus put Kingswood 3rd from 21.

Two days later and we were at it again. The senior boys’ squad was out in full glory to win the Marden Trophy at Kings Bruton. With all 7 runners finishing in the top 13 it saw us finally knocking Sherborne off the top. With Charlie and Quinny strutting over the line holding hands like Noddy and Big Ears, the podium was on the horizon. The trend continued with threesome Max Brigdon, TJ and Will Lesley crossing the line, and Vice Captains Dave and Tom running in to secure the Silverwear.

A weeks training was put to good use by the rest of the team whilst Charlie, Hannah and Parnia headed off to the nationals in Norwich.

Charlie ran an impressive race to be third counter for the South West.

Whilst Hannah ran in, as first counter for the southwest beating the South West champion. Congratulations must go to all those who went foreword for trials and have been running at such a high level.

The Last Race of the season was perhaps the most important for Kingswood as it was our chance to get back our trophy from the Sherborne boys. Kingswood hosted 6 schools including Prior Park and Beechen Cliff at the well attended event. Inter boys saw good runs from Alex Field, George Jollife and Sam Cook, securing them a well earnt 2nd place. In the Girls race, Hannah Kraus did well to take bronze with Phania Parsons 7th and Georgia Turner 8th, leaving the girls also in 2nd place.

Encouraged by the inters performance the senior boys were ready to rock, and a rapid sprint start saw a sea of red break away as Kingswood’s 10 runners led the way. It was a close call, but strength of mind and determination led Kingswood to take the cup. A thank you should be said to all those staff and pupils who have helped make both the house matches and road race run so smoothly It has been a very successful season and my thanks go to all the squad for their commitment and “maturity”. I'd especially like to thank my vice captains Dave and Tom who have been a great help in both matches and training sessions, contributing to the record breaking results. Training all this season has been well attended by all, with a mature, positive and determined attitude. I would also like to express my thanks to ex runners Dan Brown and Matt Cook.

On a more personal note I would like to thank all those who have coached and helped me over the past 3 years.

Thank you to Mr Lloyd for his contribution to the team this year and for sharing his marathon experiences.

Just remember “Use Vaseline, lots of Vaseline!” Also a big thank you to Mr Matthews for his help with my training and for helping me through an injury during the season.

"Training has been well attended by all, with a mature, positive and determined attitude."

Now, to the main man. Mr Burgon (Big Daddy Sandy) has been and always will be the underlying success to the Kingswood Cross Country team. Our thanks to you for all your hardwork this season, for your somewhat unorthodox training and your ability to keep the teams morale at a constant high.

Last but not least I would like to thank the team and wish the Cross Country Club all the best for 2006.

Tim Martin (U6) 46 Kingswood in Focus

Achievers

Treading the Boards at the Theatre Royal Last November, I was lucky enough to be chosen, for the second year running, to be in the pantomime ‘Dick Whittington’ at the Theatre Royal.

I was chosen as the tallest ‘babe’, who is one of eight small dancers that perform alongside the main stars of the pantomime.

All the small dancers go to the Dorothy Coleborn School of Dancing and we were taught eight different dances by Annette and Heidi. We did modern dancing, tap dancing, ballet and singing, as well as some acting. There were two sets of eight children, so we did alternate days, two shows on each, making thirty-six shows, alongside such stars as Sid Owen who was Ricky in Eastenders.

The ‘babes’ had to look young and cute so we all had to have curly ringlets. On the days I worked, I came to school for the morning in curlers!!! (With a hat on, of course!)

It was hard work but great fun, definitely an experience to remember.

Amy Greene (Y6 )

My ballet teacher suggested that I audition for a part in ‘Annie’ so I went along to the audition one evening after school.

There were lots of girls there and the auditions took a long time. Eventually, I was told that I had got a part as an orphan.

The rehearsals started in November, although the show was in March. This production was put on by the Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society and it was fun to work with adults and also ‘William’, a real dog!!

I had to sing and dance in a number of scenes.

My favourite was ‘A Hard Knock Life’.

We had to make a lot of noise with our buckets and scrub the floor until it shone “like the Chrysler building”. My costume for this scene was dirty tights, big black boots, bloomers, a pinafore and rags to tie up my hair. Before we were ready, we had to put dirt on our faces to make us look dirty! I then had to clean myself up to look smart as a tourist in another scene, ‘NYC’. For the finale, I had to put all the scruffy clothes on again and the dirt!

I had a great time during the whole process and feel very lucky that I had such a lovely experience.

Hannah Bottle (Y6)

"It was hard work but great fun, definitely an experience to remember."

A Portrait of Success James Trimmer, a student from last year’s U6, has had his self-portrait chosen to be included in the 100 Self-Portraits UK 14–19 exhibition.

Ex-Kingswood Pupil ‘Goes Solo’!!

In November, the now local artist Richard Marriott, ex KS pupil, held his first solo exhibition in the Kingswood Theatre. When Richard left Kingswood he was soon to be exhibiting his work alongside other artists in the Springtide Gallery in Bath.

His work features Cornwall’s dramatic seascapes, to which he visits regularly, painting either from the shelter of a cave or a doorway of a fisherman’s hut.

Richard emphasises the importance of painting from life, he says “my work is about the experience I have within the landscape, taking it beyond the limitations of painting from a photograph. This way I can capture something of the feeling of the place, through the influence of light, sound, wind and rain.”

They will be presented at a number of public galleries, including London’s National Portrait Gallery, from 10th December 2005.

You can see it and vote for your favourite one on www.channel4.com/ selfportraituk

Kingswood in Focus 47

Prefects Training Day

A Challenging Day To some people, learning how to work as a team may not seem like the greatest of challenges.

In fact, we encounter group-based activities every single day, whether it is playing sports or singing as part of a choir, which provide us with some structure of teamwork skills.

For the thirty-strong team of School Prefects in the Upper Sixth who have been charged with the responsibility of helping to run the school on a daily basis, and a handful of select staff, our invaluable Training Day near Corfe Castle in Dorset furnished us with more advanced skills which will not only last us until we leave Kingswood, but will with no doubt stay with us forever.

The day was led by Steve Gines, a former pupil and prefect from Kingswood in days of yore. Not only did this add a sense of familiarity to the day but it was also useful to have someone who knew “the system” at school, as he frequently gave us specific examples as to where we could apply the skills that we learnt throughout the course of the day.

we had succeeded in the exercise.

A few times during this exercise I got distracted by what others were doing: putting up tents whilst wearing a blindfold was one of the most comical to watch and other blindfolded people marching holding hands across the field. Little did I know I was about to become one of the blindfolded marching people!

This exercise was very amusing, particularly when J Vinijtronjit and Charis Mills got stuck on a tree and I trod in something unidentifiable except by its smell... moving swiftly on. The object was to collect poles from around the field, which we could only do by stepping outside of a circle wearing blindfolds and maintaining contact by holding hands at all times. This helped us to increase our trust in others and everyone had to play their part for the group to do well.

"All that mattered was that everyone tried their hardest and overcame personal insecurities or fears, which was only possible with everyone supporting each other every step of the way."

The morning began with a few simple tests which were devised to show the weaknesses in our current work ethic as a group. Hundreds of balls were thrown through the air, all in the hope that they might land in the goal: a tiny tube situated what felt like miles from where we were told to stand. At once, we proved not to be too successful, with only 2 balls landing in the goal! After this exercise we were told to step back and evaluate what we had just done, and why we had failed so miserably! This process led into one of the main philosophies of the Training Day: the ideas of Plan, Do and Review. From this simple test, we learnt that communication was one of the most vital elements to working effectively as a team, and this idea was re-enforced with a few other simple tests which seemed to increase in hilarity.

Once we felt knocked back enough to realise that we needed more work done than we thought, we were split up into groups to do a few exercises that would hopefully sort out our problems, so it was off to the fields we went.

Every group did a different assortment of exercises so no two experiences were the same, which provided a big talking point on the coach ride home. I had to start off by trying to guess the combined weights of two metal objects using string, dowel, a baby’s bottle and a tape measure. Luckily, I had some of the best physics brains in my group talking about moments, equilibrium and such like so while they provided the incredible ideas, the other non-physics people like myself provided the muscle power (creating a rather beautiful tripod if I do say so myself!) In the end, our estimate was about 0.5 lbs off the actual weight so we all felt rather proud of ourselves. Once we reviewed the exercise, we discovered that we had all benefited from the individual skills of others, and by communicating our ideas clearly to one another

After a very filling lunch, it was off to do some complicated tight-rope exercises which made us dependent on other members of the team (as well as getting to know each other more intimately as a lot of time was spent on tiny platforms with 3 or 4 other people, when there was only really room for 1!)

My personal highlights of the day included claiming Mr Lloyd to be part of my group, and the subsequent antics as we gently persuaded (i.e. forced) him to climb up a frighteningly high, and tremendously narrow, telegraph pole and jump onto a trapeze – which he did with awe-inspiring style.

However, a message soon became clear to us that it wasn’t about who could jump from the tallest pole, climb the highest tree or cross the furthest distance on a tight-rope. All that mattered was that everyone tried their hardest and overcame personal insecurities or fears, which was only possible with everyone supporting each other every step of the way. It was through these actions that we began to demonstrate that we had become a team in every sense of the word. And it is hard to imagine a greater sense of accomplishment than that (well, apart from some who polished off more than their fair share of cream teas on the way back home!) nor a more worthwhile day as we embarked upon our prefectship at Kingswood.

Rosellen Cashman-Pugsley (U6)

KPS International Day

An ‘International’ Experience On Monday 21st March, KPS held its first International Day. Its aims were to help promote respect and tolerance of other countries, races, religions and cultures... ...by giving the children some insight and understanding of other parts of the world.

This was also an opportunity for our children to value the backgrounds of those in our KPS community who are from other parts of the globe and to celebrate our differences. We are very fortunate to have 37 countries represented at Kingswood School and our children and parents are a wonderful resource.

All children from Nursery to Y6 came to School in an international costume to enjoy 14 workshops stretching all 5 continents, from Columbia to Indonesia and from Ethiopia to Japan. Parents, staff, students and friends of Kingswood School who are from or have lived in these countries, ran these workshops.

There was much excitement amongst the children when they arrived beautifully dressed up for the International assembly. Several children performed songs, poems and dances or simply introduced themselves in their respective language. The children were then split up into mixed-age groups and their journey began!

"There was much excitement amongst the children when they arrived beautifully dressed up for the International assembly."

Amongst other activities, the children learnt songs from Africa, Indonesia and Colombia, danced the New Zealand Hakka, tasted food from Thailand, Ethiopia, Spain and France, played boules and piñata, created some aboriginal artwork and experienced a tour of Hong Kong with stops en route! This really was a cross-curricular day. What better way to learn History, Geography, RE, PE and Dance, PSE, Art and DT? An international lunch added to the flavour of the day, which proved to be both educational and enjoyable.

The concept of an International Day for Kingswood Prep School had been planned and masterminded by Madame Isabelle Turner, Head of French, and Philip Dixon, Deputy Head. It will, hopefully, be the first of many.

Congratulations!

Mr Philip Dixon, Deputy Head at KPS, received his Masters degree in Education (M.A., Ed.) from the University of Bath at an award ceremony in the Assembly Rooms during the Christmas holidays.

Mr Dixon started his Masters degree whilst working at a large British International School in Malaysia and completed it in addition to his full-time employment at Bangkok Patana School in Thailand and at Port Regis Prep School near Shaftesbury.

The focus of his research was to look at the effect of international transition on primary age children between different cultures and different schools.

Children’s views were obtained using child-friendly interactive computer technology. It also involved a group interview with a small group of parents. Philip had chosen this area for research as his professional experience has led him to observe that moving schools can be a time of great stress for children: strange classrooms, unfamiliar teachers and new classmates. The results of the research data confirmed the importance, for the child, that the impact of moving school is recognised and understood as every single child in the study expressed a varying degree of distress linked to their school move. The data has contributed to a better understanding for the planning of induction programmes. The research has highlighted the meaningfulness of asking the views of young children on aspects of their schooling and their parents as important stakeholders in their children’s education. Just when Philip thought he could heave a sigh of satisfied relief, his tutor Dr Mary Hayden, senior lecturer in Education at the University of Bath, has invited him to co-write an article for a national and international journal concerning the impact of his research. Coincidentally, Dr Hayden will shortly be joining the Kingswood Board of Governors. And what better introduction to KPS? – a visit to the Prep School on International Day!

Mr Marcus Cornah (Headmaster KPS)

Out and About

A Trip to the Slopes Bleary eyed and still half asleep, the KPS ski party met at 1.30am on Sunday 20th March, ready to begin the ‘Tonale’ ski adventure.

With bags, helmets and sweets all aboard, we headed silently yet speedily to Gatwick and onto the plane bound for Italy. We arrived in Verona and as we weaved our way through tunnels, Mr Thompson searched and prayed silently for snow. Finally, the coach passed a sign for Tonale and, much to our relief, energetic cries of ‘Snow! Snow!’ echoed through the coach. Before we knew it, we were soon outside The Hotel Piandeneve, nestled cosily at the bottom

"The views were incredible and there was so much snow!!" of a glacier and covered reassuringly in snow. Our luggage was swiftly deposited and then the fun began. Ski boot and ski fittings!

After a speedy hour and a half (the group before us had taken twice as long!), the KPS clan were ready for action. Clambering across the slushy path back to the hotel, a lone snowball flew through the air and landed on one of the teacher’s backs. Armed with only waterproof gloves and less waterproof jeans, teachers, parents and children declared a snowball fight!

I knew by now this was going to be a fun filled week!

Monday morning swiftly came and the joyous occasion of squeezing into stiff boots and carrying shoulder-bruising skis had arrived. After a hearty breakfast buffet and a strong shot of Italian coffee, we were off to the slopes. The Italian ski instructors glided effortlessly towards us and with their shades and lightening yellow jackets looked every inch the professionals. As each day progressed, the children became more confident and were soon whizzing down the slopes, whooping as they overtook teachers and parents alike! Evenings were filled with fun activities such as quizzes, pizza night and karaoke, of which Harry Rouse was unanimously the ‘King’, although Mr Thompson gave him a run for his money during a Staff rendition of ‘Live and Let Die’.

There were so many highlights during this trip yet sadly not enough room to mention them all. I shall always remember Mr Parry’s never ending supply of Mars bars (although I’m more of a Kit Kat girl myself), Elliot, Hanley and Charlie’s love of Gameboys, Mr Crow’s discovery of ‘Tourrettes’, Bethan’s permanent grin, how polos solve any coach journey problem and finally how parents, children and teachers can bond so quickly and create such a magical week.

To all the children, parents and teachers who went, we thank you for an adventure we shall never forget and to Mr Thompson for creating yet another amazingly successful ski trip. This was certainly a trip I shall never forget.

Mrs Pippa Johnson (KPS Parent)

"I shall always remember... how parents, children and teachers can bond so quickly and create such a magical week."

I arrived in Italy with a still enthusiastic, but very tired six-year old boy.

The resort was as advised, inviting, beginner friendly and full of hidden obstacles. What I didn’t expect was the fun that was to follow. “You are on holiday,” Mr Thompson would repeatedly cry.

feel special and I expect every one of them returned home a bigger, happier and braver person than when they arrived. Charlie did. So did his Daddy.

By day one I was a potent mix of Franz Klammer and Johnny Knoxville, climbing to ever greater heights and descending at ever greater speeds.

I thought he was only talking to the children. There was plenty of fun for Charlie (age 6) who in five days went from falling over putting on his skis to zooming around the slopes in caterpillar formation with his new friends, each in turn picking the other up at the required times, sometimes crying but mainly laughing.

PUPIL's QUOTES:

Mr Paul Crow (KPS Parent) “The views were incredible and there was so much snow!!” “We were put in rooms with our friends and it was so great to have freedom from our parents!”

“Skiing was amazing and really fun.” “Something I thought I’d never do was ski down a glacier, but I did it and 3 times.” “I will definitely go next year!”

Alice Robinson & Amy Après ski was also a great opportunity to get to know the other parents; Greene we shared many laughs, some beers and at times a few choice jokes.

My objective of the trip was to have fun, to meet other parents and most (Y6) importantly to provide Charlie with an environment where he can learn about fun, fear, ambition and other challenges thrust upon us in life. We succeeded on all counts and Charlie is already talking about the next trip.

My final word, though, must go to the teachers. Not only did I get to know them as teachers, I got to know them as people and dare I say friends. I cannot thank them enough for the effort they put into making our week run so smoothly and the dedication they have to their roles extended well beyond my expectations and realisations. There was not a single child who was not made to 50 Kingswood in Focus

Wildlife Club The Wildlife Club has had a busy and productive year so far.

The Autumn term gave us the chance to be out and about until the evenings started drawing in. We took photos of the School in its best Autumn colours, had a scavenger hunt, collected and identified nuts, berries and seeds (and planted them to see if they would germinate), went to the Imax to watch ‘Ocean Wonderland’ in 3D and made the templates for the nest boxes we wanted to make in the Spring term. We looked at nature websites and had fun with quizzes, watched wildlife films and made greetings cards by recycling old calendar pictures.

Y2 Invade Cardiff Castle When we went to Cardiff Castle it was brilliant!

We went to the motte and bailey and that was amazing. We saw where they used to shoot arrows through lookout holes. We saw some real armour and chainmail. We saw two spears, one axe, a crossbow and a longbow. I asked which is the most dangerous and Miss Stevens said, the axe. We tried on real helmets and carried chainmail. The Normans called it mail.

We saw a peacock and it had opened up its feathers. It was hissing. It looked like it had lots of eyes. After lunch we looked at the library and we saw some books and six alphabets.

Lucas Reeman (Y2H) Building nest boxes

Our first outing of the New Year was to the floodlit feeding of the swans at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge. It was magical. The pupils were awestruck and admitted they had never seen anything like it. But nearer to home we have our own birds to feed! The bird-feeding station on the lawn outside the Physics labs has been a great success. Twice a week the club members replenish the nuts, seed, bread, fat balls and apples and the number of birds visiting the feeding station has steadily increased.

This year was the first opportunity we have had to take part in The Big Schools Birdwatch, a nationwide survey by the RSPB of birds in school grounds, and similar to the Big Garden Birdwatch. We had to record the highest number of any species visiting the feeding area at any one time during one hour and return the data electronically to the RSPB. Unfortunately, the lunch hour wasn’t the best time to observe birds as they were constantly disturbed by passers-by, but we can confidently say that visitors include blue-, great- and coal-tits, robins, dunnocks, blackbirds and greenfinches. No doubt other birds come to feed there at quieter times of the day, and the squirrels have been quick to latch on to the idea of convenience food!

Biology Field Trip In October the U6 Biologists went to Nettlecombe Court, near Williton in Somerset for their Ecology Field Trip.

During their stay they went to Saunton to study sand dune succession, looked at differences in vegetation on grazed and ungrazed land and investigated the effect of flow rate on invertebrate species in the Woodford Meanders. The final two days were spent planning and collecting data for their A2 coursework.

Mrs Jenny Opie (Head of Biology)

"We also aim to explore further the plant and insect life in Kingswood’s grounds..."

With the welfare of our birds in mind, and with the aim of encouraging wildlife in our grounds, our activity time this Spring term has been spent sawing, planing, sanding and putting together ten large- and small-hole nest boxes, one for each member of the Club. We hope to put them up during the holidays and will keep our fingers crossed that they will be used. The photo above shows the pupils hard at work. Congratulations on their dedicated efforts and many thanks to Mr Allison for giving up his Thursday lunch hours to be in charge of the activity.

We hope that next term’s project will be the restoration of the Westwood Pond. We also aim to explore further the plant and insect life in Kingswood’s grounds and go on a couple of outings to wildlife attractions within the Bath area. The club has become part of the wider Eco-Schools project and I hope that the enthusiasm shown by all the members this year will be passed on to the next generation of Westwood members.

Mrs Stephanie Lockhart (i/c Wildlife Club) Kingswood in Focus 51

A Taste of Germany "The difficult part of the exercise however didn’t seem to be us speaking the German but trying to prevent the Germans speaking English to us."

DAY 1: Early on Friday 15th October 2004 42 pupils, 5 teachers and our

Coach driver set off for the city of Aachen located in Northern Germany.

After many DVD’s, quizzes, a ferry crossing & much driving through England, France, Belgium and the Netherlands we finally arrived in Aachen. We upset the feisty dinner ladies with out tardy arrival and Mr. Duke had to apologise profusely. We were allocated dormitories and then had a much needed night’s rest.

must be. The highlight of the day was the Chocolate Museum located on the Rhine, where we all took advantage of the Wonka-esque fountain of melted chocolate. One lady stood, dipping ten wafers at a time into the fountain and handing them out to eager visitors.

We returned to dream of chocolate.

DAY 4:

We spent the morning in Aachen interviewing Germans on such issues as the Euro, whether German children should learn English and how much English they themselves spoke. The difficult part of the exercise however didn’t seem to be us speaking the German but trying to prevent the Germans speaking English to us. Having completed the challenge we were allowed to go shopping! We were even interviewed by local radio! We went to a water park and had a wonderful time in the hot pool. Our German proved good enough to ensure that, when a friend and I found ourselves shut outside the complex, we were able to explain, in immaculate German, our plight to the receptionist who kindly re-admitted us.

DAY 2:

Saturday was eventful. After an early breakfast, we headed for Aachen town centre.

While the teachers enjoyed a leisurely morning relaxing in cafés we were sent on errands into German shops to obtain things for them, newspapers, stamps, postcards and food were among the items we successfully managed to purchase. My group managed to combine tasks with shopping and occasional hot chocolates.

Aachen was an extremely pretty town with many interesting shops. We enjoyed a guided tour of Aachen cathedral, originally the chapel adjoining Charlemagne’s palace. It contained many grand ornaments including a pulpit faced with gold and jewels. Bowling in the evening was fun and girl power proved rampant in our lane at least.

Mr York achieved the top score. We ended a packed day with a visit to an Ice-Cream parlour where, among other things, they sold “Spaghetti Eis” - ice cream that had been through the spaghetti machine.

DAY 3: We spent the day in Köln (Cologne) and after a brief visit to the magnificent cathedral with its stunning stained glass windows we left to visit the Olympic museum. Among other things I tried to use a pommel horse and realised just how strong those Olympic gymnasts

DAY 5:

We returned to Bath via the magical chocolate capital of the world, Brugges where we spent our last Euros.

Many thanks to Mr Duke for arranging such a wonderful and enjoyable trip and also to the other accompanying members of staff, Mrs Bland, Dr. Calvert, Mr York and Mr Thompson, who helped make it such an excellent experience. I hope it will become a regular feature in the life of Kingswood.

Helen Olley (Y9)

Sixth Formers Go Exploring

On a wet weekend in November eight Sixth Formers enjoyed an afternoon’s pot-holing at Burrington Combe in the Mendips.

For most, this was their first experience of the delights of underground gymnastics as they contorted their bodies through the constrictions of Goatchurch Cavern. Everyone relished the

experience and there was considerable demand for a future visit to an even more difficult cave.

Mr John Davies (Senior Housemaster, Upper & Outdoor Pursuits Co-ordinator)

The Sixth Formers’ trip to The City of Lights was a truly memorable experience.

As we trudged through Paris’ long boulevards unders its trademark overcast sky, and passed by its oh-so-French patisseries, we realised that there was only one thing to keep our stamina going as the rain fell heavily upon us. To eat. So, perhaps more impressive than the Eiffel Tower at night, the Notre Dame, and the long Champs-Elysées boulevard, was our astounding capacity for crèpes.

Yet I do assure you, it was also a cultural experience, although it was probably quite apparent we were foreigners. I was told to include time, while scanning Paris’ night-time skyline, for the Eiffel Tower – forgetting that I was, in fact, standing on it!

This being my first visit to Paris, I was truly dazzled by its culture, its chique and glamorous buzz and I believe it to be an experience I shall not forget.

Nicholas Kemball (U6)

Ten Tors Training 2005 Brecon Beacons, 7th February Ten Tors training continued with a trip to the snowbound Brecon Beacons. 19 pupils and staff completed the Brecon horseshoe summiting Corn Du, Pen y Fan and Cribin.

All pupils performed very well in the icy conditions and put up with a cold biting wind throughout and were rewarded with splendid views late in the day.

Dartmoor, 11th -13th February

Brecon Beacons Trip Dartmoor, 13th March The Ten Tors training group made their second familiarisation visit to Dartmoor. On a cold but clear day the two groups navigated their way across the moor from East to West via a number of tors, a distance of 20 kilometres. With a number of days of training behind them the pupils walked without accompanying staff and proved themselves to be competent navigators.

Ten Tors training began with the traditional February half term trip to Dartmoor.

The group consisted of 13 lower sixth form pupils and 6 staff with accommodation at Bellever Youth Hostel near Postbridge. The pupils formed two very capable groups who coped well with some extremely challenging weather during the weekend. Two good walks were completed despite driving hail and considerable snowfall. Both groups demonstrated more navigational competence and leadership ability than would normally be expected at this early stage and the signs are very encouraging for the final expedition in May. The pupils should also be commended for their extremely good manners and behaviour during the weekend. As a group they were unusually helpful in helping with the cooking, clearing up and necessary chores.

Black Mountains, 20th March The Ten Tors training groups continued their preparation with a visit to the Black Mountains, completing a 28 kilometre circular walk from Llanbedr near Crickhowell.

This was the longest training walk so far and the pupils carried full packs in misty and windy conditions. Training continues on Dartmoor in April with a full weekend of camping and walking.

Mr John Davies (Senior Housemaster, Upper & Outdoor Pursuits Co-ordinator)

Dartmoor Trip Kingswood in Focus 53

A Trip Back to Victorian Times As a culmination of their Victorian history topic this term, Y6 children spent a day as Victorian school children at the Sevington Victorian Museum School near Chippenham.

“When we got there the girls and boys had to line up separately.

Then Miss Squire – Ma’am – told us all to point our fingers down to ‘God’s good earth’ and stand up straight. Our two pounds were exchanged for eight Victorian pennies. We were then asked whether we needed the Offices (toilets)”, writes Eleanor Richardson (Y6M) The ‘scholars’ were taught correct deportment and were reminded that ‘industry, diligence and a decorous mode of behaviour was expected at all times’. During the morning the scholars were instructed in the 3 R’s.

“The classroom was quite small but there were many ornaments around.

We were told to put our hands in our laps and that we weren’t allowed to ask a question unless Miss Squire asked us to,” says Eleanor.

Religious instruction for the improvement of the moral character was a part of the timetable. After bible reading and singing of ‘All things bright and beautiful’ they

were reminded by the words in the hymn not forget their station in society. The girls were then taught housemaid skills whilst the boys learnt gardening skills and made beeswax candles.

At lunch and playtime no chocolate or plastic wrappers were to be seen anywhere, only hobbyhorses, hoops and spinning tops.

In the afternoon the scholars were visited by the school’s benefactor, Lady Neald, (Laura Clarke) who listened to poetry recital and reading.

Before leaving the scholars were commended by Miss Squire for their excellent demeanour and diligent application. Fortunately, it had not been necessary to use the various articles of correction (finger stocks, cane, dunce’s hat and holly necklace) to be found in the classroom.

Whilst being ‘politically incorrect’ by today’s standards, the day was a great success. The children learnt much from the experience. They were able to empathise with their ancestors but were relieved to be able to return to their true persona and school at the end of the day.

"...the day was a great success. The children learnt much from the experience."

“Our trip to Sevington School was fabulous!

It has probably been the most enjoyable trip for me this term,” says Eleanor.

Mr Philip Dixon (Deputy Head, KPS)

Outdoor Survival ‘Night Out’ Well, around 6.30 (pm, don’t worry!) we arrived at the foot of Westwood Woods and after a struggle (having to carry every single item we needed in one go) we reached our camping site. Exhausted already. Oh dear.

you sit around the fire. Chatting, eating marshmallows (and in my case crumpets) and pretending to eat Josh’s wonderful cooking! Just kidding, Josh. It was really nice. Compliments to the chef!

My group and I assembled our tarpaulin (without too much difficulty) and started off getting firewood. Using some completely useless and extremely annoying walkie-talkies we remained in contact. Beep. Boop. Droo. Boosh!

Then somebody (saying no names) suggested that we go for a midnight stroll (9 o’clock but it felt like midnight) around the woods. Great idea, whoever. It wasn’t too bad, just some strong men reduced to whimpering mice. We had a look at the stars, got stung by nettles and very nearly (but not quite) got lost.

We got the fire going before the sun’s rays went (bit of a lie! We had to use torches) without too much worry. Just the odd drop of a log here and a twisted ankle there. Once Elliott had finished arguing with us to stop us arguing, we sat around the fire doing the things you do when

At last we all piled into bed and went to sleep. I wish! Them walkie-talkies again. Grrr! To my horror, they invited the people who they were speaking to into our tarpaulin and they chatted and chatted and chatted and chatted. Eventually, I gave up and we sat round the fire on our own, thinking of ghosts, oooh.

So for the second time that night I went to bed and this time got some sleep. I was woken by none other than Mr Meads clattering around with goodness knows what. Apparently, (though I was spared) our tarpaulin had fallen down during the night and poor old Alex had woken up to the elements. Lovely!

This was about 5.00am in the morning, when we had breakfast.

Josh’s cooking again! I gave it a miss. So we had some hot chocolate as the morning rays appeared overhead. Bliss.

"...we had some hot chocolate as the morning rays appeared overhead. Bliss!"

Well, sadly, at about 8.30am, we traipsed back to Westwood feeling smelly, dirty, tired and horrid. Brilliant! Even so, truth be said, despite Jack’s scaredy-cat streak, the walkie-talkies, Josh’s cooking and generally feeling smelly, I’d do it again any time. It was great fun and we really enjoyed it. I really hope that we do something like this again in the future.

Hint, hint Mr Meads and Mr Davies!

Jamie Rakoczi (Y8) 54 Kingswood in Focus

Y4 Save Some Rainforest were able to experience something of the sights and sounds of a rainforest, and also watched the film ‘Bugs 3D’ filmed in the Malaysian rainforest. During another outing, to Bristol Zoo, the children were able to concentrate on animals from hot and cold countries, and the brave ones held Madagascan hissing cockroaches.

"This was a topic which really fired the children’s enthusiasm."

Rainforests was a topic that featured prominently in Y4 during the autumn term, fitting into both our geography work on Climate and our science work on Habitats. It was a topic which really fired the children’s enthusiasm. In class they made huge rainforest collages to illustrate the different layers of rainforest habitat; for homework they made further collages made entirely out of rainforest products.

Our trips included one to ‘The Wildwalk’ in @Bristol, where they

Back at School, music and drama gained a rainforest theme after a visit from Sue Hart, a well known Bath musician and Kingswood parent. She has spent many months living with the Ba-aka tribe of the Congo. She was able to introduce the children to their music and action songs and soon had the whole of Y4 and Y5 participating in authentic Ba-aka music. Finally our Christmas party became a rainforest party with fantastic hats and a variety of healthy and tasty rainforest fruits to eat (as well as plenty of chocolate). And rather than give each other Christmas presents, children, parents and Staff contributed to a fund which was able to ‘buy’ 12 acres of Ecuadorian rainforest which will be preserved as part of a National Park.

Mrs Sue Butcher (Y4 teacher & Science Co-ordinator)

Y9 Boarders’ Weekend The sun had his hat on when 23 Y9 boarders and accompanying staff made their way to the Mendip Heights campsite on the afternoon of the first Saturday of term.

No time for standing – it was van doors open and straight into the field to team-build with Fliss and Andy from the Mendip Outdoor Pursuit Company. Would they help each other span the river or be eaten by crocodiles? Could they save the world from a nuclear catastrophe through native wit and planning? Was there a world skipping record to be had if everyone moved ‘in sync’? Would Mr Opie burn the burgers? No chance!

So, whilst students avoided death and destruction, Mr Davies and Mrs Jenner pitched tents and GDO cooked for the crowd. All credit to those who were quite excited to be out playing in the fields but who took to their sleeping bags with consideration and left neighbouring campers undisturbed.

Early starts and bacon rolls are de rigueur on these outings.

Fed and allocated to transport, 15 kayaked whilst 8 caved and vice versa in the afternoon. The weather, if anything, was too hot.... so tempting for the kayakers to swim as much as they paddled – and some did. The only cool place, apart from the water, was the Goatchurch cave system and our leaders were most impressed how students kept their own ‘cool’ when faced with some challenging passages in complete darkness.

Blessed by the sunshine, this was as near perfect a slice of outdoor ‘pursuiting’ as we might find. No doubt it will be re-run next year and, if students integrate as well as they did this year, both school and parents should be delighted.

Rev Mike Wilkinson (Deputy Head Pastoral and Chaplain)

D of E

Duke of Edinburgh Award The Duke of Edinburgh Award encourages young people to undertake exciting, constructive, and challenging activities in their free time. The Award scheme is divided into three parts – Bronze, Silver and Gold – with each stage involving: service (helping the community); skills (exploring a new skill or taking an existing skill to a new level); physical recreation (sport, dance, fitness); expeditions and, for Gold only, residential projects.

Gold Report:

During the Autumn half-term two groups of seven students attempted the most challenging part of the Gold Award Scheme, an expedition lasting four days and three nights. In one group were Ongston Bhearto, Joe Djoleto-Nattey, Natasha Keates, Fiona Lo, Alistair Morris, Charlie Taylor and James Toogood, and in the other, Rio Butterworth, Bryony Cradock-Watson, Matthew Everson, Elishka Stirton, Jess McHugh, Samuel Smullen and Chris Wright. The aim of the Award expeditions is to encourage individual development through team work. The Gold Expedition is the ultimate test in mental, physical and emotional terms. Each group was required to prepare for, plan and execute an 86 km unsupported walk. Kit was divided, with each member of the team carrying at least 15kgs and the groups were taken to the bleak Black Mountains, home to all weather conditions, endless 800m climbs and 800m drops (somehow these, too, were an uphill struggle) and the perfect backdrop for Mr Vaughan’s equally challenging dreadful jokes.

earned us a positive comment from the staff, a rare treat. That night, despite being colder, went quickly and we overslept.

Woken by one of the Flight Lieutenants of the Cadet Corps, who monitor and validate the D of E expeditions, by loud greetings and insults, we were shocked into day three. An easy day of walking compared to the previous two, we all knew there was no turning back now. Spirits were high. Some of us were even able to sing, which earned us a few reproachful looks from the less appreciative members of the groups.

But then, since the repertoire ranged from Whitney Housten to Britney Spears via Hear Say, they did well to cope! A pleasant surprise awaited us at one of the Cairns. Mr Vaughan and his merry men (who had spent the previous night in a Welsh pub) had, in a moment of madness,

Joined by Mr Vaughan and some supporting staff from the Bath ATC, the expedition got off to a good start when, half way across the Severn Bridge, James Toogood realised he’d left his walking boots safely on his shelf back at School. After a brief panic and some nervous ’phone calls, a transfer was arranged for the boots, and the following day Miss Cooper hand-delivered them. She was enviably fresh and rested. We, on the other hand, having spent the pre-walk night camping, were soaked and, having been up since 5.00am, were feeling pretty tired.

After a bowl of cereal at 7.00am, we set off on the first day’s trek.

Two hours later, the water had started to seep into our clothing and faced with our second climb of the day we were ready to give up. However, the teams pulled together, each member offering support and encouragement to the others and forming the foundations on which success would be built over the following days. To add insult to injury, or maybe just to test our resolve, at the top of the hill, we were greeted by the biggest bog known to humanity. As the water poured into our boots, socks acted like blotting paper and formed the foundations on which blisters would be built over the following days. We got to camp late in the evening and raced to set up camp, cook supper and get ready for the following day. Climbing into bed was not the pleasure we had anticipated since the torrential rain had seeped into a few of the sleeping bags, which were never to be dry again.

Damp and depressed, we greeted day two. In terms of kilometres to cover, this was to be the most demanding day, so it was a relief that the rain had slackened and we even had some sunshine. An early steep climb saw us on to the ridge mid-morning and from then on, it was only the distance we struggled with. The views were fantastic. Both groups were functioning well. The previous day’s walk had shown up strengths and weaknesses and the teams had adapted to maximise efficiency. As the day progressed, walking became faster and the groups more coherent, but we still walked beyond nightfall, and all the team spirit in the world couldn’t make the back-packs any lighter. In fact, as the rain returned, the packs got heavier and the stops more frequent. Every member of the expedition was forced to find inner resources not only to get themselves to camp, but to encourage their team-mates. Our logical thinking and teamwork 56 Kingswood in Focus

Gold expedition team talk!

decided to bring some treats for us. Noticing that I was running low on ‘Rocky’ bars they had brought us some to snack on. We were also awarded some heavily ironic badges sporting the McDonalds slogan ‘I’m lovin’ it’, but sadly no Happy Meals!

Despite it being another sunny day with glorious views over the ridge, tempers were frayed, but thankfully the packs were lighter, since we’d eaten most of their contents. The last night in camp was the hardest. With the end in sight, and only a few miles to walk the next day, motivation was extremely low. With only porridge and raisins left to keep us going, we got up at 5.00am and broke camp under torch light. Setting off as the sun rose, the rain returned. A tedious and wet day’s walk saw us at the finish six hours later, three hours late. Bad visibility had made navigation over the hills almost impossible. Without landmarks, we were forced to rely on our own calculations and compass skills. It took a concerted effort from the group to finish. The School minibuses had never seemed so appealing.

On behalf of all the 6th Form who completed the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition, thanks must go to the Bath ATC, for supporting the entire expedition, Miss Bass (who drove us there), Mrs Lockhart (who drove us back), Miss Cooper (who offered moral support throughout the trip, and did well to cope with only men for company) and Mr Vaughan who managed the entire weekend successfully. Although a difficult and gruelling experience, I know that all involved thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Bryony Cradock-Watson (Head Girl)

Expeditions Bronze Report - It was the ninth of October as twenty heavily laden students clambered onto a minibus, already freezing.

About fifteen minutes later they arrived upon Claverton Down, a bit of a surprise as they were expecting the Black Mountains! However, this wasn’t too much of a disappointment as it was probably raining in Wales and the weather in Bath, though cold, was bright.

Carrie, Phillipa and Robyn

Group one set off on their introductory walk round the edge of a field to make their first mistake – climbing over a barbed wire fence – closely followed by groups two, three and Mr Vaughan who informed us of our mistake. After a brief pause to teach us how to use a compass, everyone set off again, this time lead by group two. After the practice walk (accompanied by group two’s interesting choral entertainment), we headed to the Upper to set up camp, where we were met by a large number of rugby players, most of whom we knew.

As the buses departed we were left to pitch our tents in strong winds. Problems with the tents included: no guy ropes, the frames not being attached to the exterior and a fear of rain for two tents which were not equipped for wet weather. However, this did not dishearten the excited students. The evening’s events

Sophie, Ollie and Tom

encompassed frequent trips to the clubhouse for warmth, cooking on unfamiliar stoves and laughing at Mr Vaughan’s minuscule tent. Fortunately, we and our tents were still there the next day even if we could not feel our extremities!

We set off bright and early the next morning for the main walk. Group three set off and managed fifteen metres before stopping for ten minutes to work out where they were going. Once they had finally disappeared, group one set off and did not see group 2 again until the following Monday.

"Overall, everyone had a fun time, greatly helped by good weather."

After many wrong turns we managed to find the correct path to the checkpoint and Mr Vaughan, only to find that the last group to set off had been there half an hour before. However, comfort was found in the knowledge that he didn’t know where the first group to set off were.

After having been given directions by Mr Vaughan, group one set off again.

After fifteen minutes they retraced their steps back to the checkpoint and found Mr Vaughan waving them up the hill. From then, on groups two and three walked together, making no mistakes until they reached a fork in the path where they split up, to reunite at the finish at almost exactly the same time.

Overall, everyone had a fun time, greatly helped by good weather. Everyone plans on doing their silver Duke of Edinburgh award and would like to thank Mr Vaughan.

Georgina and Hannah

Antonia Bevan (Y10) Kingswood in Focus 57

www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk