THE LUDGROVIAN WINTER 2023
‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might’ Ecclesiastes IX v.10
Contents • • • • • • •
Michaelmas Term highlights The VIs’ Nativity Community Support Fiddler on The Roof Grandparents’ Morning Staff News OL News
Welcome from the Headmaster They say time flies when you’re having fun and the Michaelmas term has flashed past in the blink of an eye so clearly we have enjoyed the last three months immensely!
As always at Ludgrove, enjoyment is very much at the heart of everything the School has to offer. For our newest recruits, that meant settling into the rhythm of the school day, learning to share a Dorm, switching on in lessons and throwing themselves into sport and extra-curricular activities. I’m delighted to say they have taken these challenges in their stride and even before their names were painted onto the Dining Hall boards, had become Ludgrovians in name and spirit.
and the U10 football team on winning the Winchester College Football Tournament.
For the rest of the School it has been a busy time and they really hit the ground running. On the academic front, the IIIs (Year 6) had their ISEB Common Pre-tests and all Year groups sat School exams to give themselves a chance to show what they know.
Star quality was also in abundance in Ludgrove’s two big productions in the Theatre – the Top Year’s Fiddler on the Roof and the VIs’ much-loved Nativity. Both were outstanding and for the VIs it was their first outing treading the boards at Ludgrove.
Sports fixtures included football, fives, swimming and squash with rugby introduced in the latter part of the term. There were some stunning performances on the pitches with notable mentions going to the U11A rugby team at the Wellington Prep School Rugby Festival, the U13A and U11A rugby teams on winning the Hall Grove Tournament
Unfortunately space does not allow me to mention all the achievements of the term but suffice to say it has been choc-a-block with a top-notch Art, CDT and Ceramics exhibition, enriching activities, community support, partnership visits with other schools and social engagements. I cannot close, however, without congratulating the boys who are in
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Music also featured prominently this term starting with the Autumn Concert showcasing over 100 musicians. The Choir sang at that occasion and then had the honour of performing for the High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire at Reading Minster and then in December it joined the line up for the Child Bereavement UK’s Christmas Concert.
receipt of our first senior school awards – George with an Academic Scholarship to Ampleforth, Tarka with a Sports Award to Marlborough College and Thaniel and Bear with a Sports Scholarship and Exhibition (respectively) to Winchester College. With such a busy term behind us it just leaves me to wish you all a Happy Christmas from myself and all the team at Ludgrove, and we look forward to what adventures 2024 has in store for us! Simon Barber, Headmaster
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Michaelmas Term Highlights The Michaelmas term has an atmosphere unlike any other at Ludgrove with a mixture of excitement for our new boys and a feeling of ‘coming home’ for the returning Ludgrovians. As a result, the packed programme of sports, curriculum and social activities serves either as an introduction to Ludgrove Life or much anticipated highlights for others. Here’s a taste of what was on offer.
First Sets’ Reading Cup
Outdoor Skills
Food Committee
Challenging activity days for the Top Year and the IVs The VIs enjoyed dressing up for Roald Dahl Day
Sets’ Tea winners - Wellington! Poetry Recitations Final
The IIIs’ interview practice
Start of the rugby season
Macmillan Coffee Morning
Odd Sock Day
Polar Explorer and guest speaker, Alex Hibbert
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Harvest Festival donations for the Wokingham Foodbank IIs’ Social with St Mary’s Ascot
IVs’ Bradfield Science Challenge The U10 footballers win the Winchester College Tournament.
Dribbling Competition Winners
M-Tech Gold Disc recipients
Usborne Book Fair Still Life workshop with Director of Art at Cranleigh
Best Dorms (OSP3 and Dorm 9) outing
IVs’ trip to the Living Rainforest
Didgeridoo workshop
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The VIs’ shepherd in festive spirit There was festive magic in the air at Ludgrove when the VIs retold a story over 2,000 years old to a packed audience of family, boys and staff. Wonderful characters, songs and jokes (including Angel Gabriel’s faulty sat nav!) added a little bit extra to the classic Nativity story. Regardless of having started at the School just three months ago, the boys showed incredible confidence on their first outing on Ludgrove’s stage. Bravo to all the performers and staff who helped put on such a successful show. And a special thank you to Angus from the IIIs who stood in as an angel at the last moment.
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Community support for local good causes This term Ludgrove has further strengthened its links with the local Wokingham community through appeals and the School’s Ubuntu (Community Outreach) Club. Families rose to the challenge when Ludgrove asked for help with donations for local families that are struggling during the Winter. Firstly, we supported the Wokingham Foodbank by delivering 215kg of produce for Harvest Festival. Later in the term, families supported the appeal for The Cowshed (a local crisis charity) by donating children’s Christmas presents for families who cannot afford them this year. In both cases, the Ubuntu Club helped make the deliveries as part of its community outreach support. The Club’s boys have also visited The Berkshire Care Home where they have formed some lovely friendships with the residents, spending time playing games and enjoying afternoon tea together.
Ludgrove is a finalist in the ISOTY 2023 awards Once again Ludgrove has been recognised in the Independent Boarding School of the Year Awards 2023 as a finalist in the Small Independent School category. The focus of the 2023 awards was to celebrate the demonstrable benefits of an independent school education and showcase the life-affirming, future enhancing student experience which pupils in our schools receive.
Festive fun at the Christmas Fair Ludgrove’s Christmas Fair takes place every other year so there was much excitement in mid November when 40 stalls set up in the Sports Hall for a festive shopping spree! With an amazing spread of goods and food on offer, from the parent-run
Ludgrove Deli stall to fashion, interiors and jewellery stalls, boys and their families were able to make a start on their Christmas shopping. Thanks to a crack team of parent organisers the Fair raised over £5,000 for Child Bereavement UK.
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Top Year wows the audience with Fiddler on the Roof The Top Year’s D.S. production involved the whole Year Group in three block-busting performances of Fiddler on the Roof.
with the boys throwing themselves into the story. Happily, their whole hearted enthusiasm was rewarded with raptuous applause.
Many weeks of hard work learning lines, practising songs and perfecting choreography culminated in a polished show
All the cast were outstanding but special mention goes to Ameyaw as Tevye and Freddie as his ‘wife’ Tzeitel. Bravo all!
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Boys gather to remember the fallen “They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them”. The School’s poignant Act of Remembrance gathered the community together to honour those Old Ludgrovians who gave their lives during the two World Wars, and those from
Wixenford, the school that occupied the site before Ludgrove moved to Wokingham in 1937. Mr Barber remembered the fallen by reading aloud the names of all those who died in the conflicts. Tarka and Arthur heralded the two-minute silence by playing The Last Post, a beautiful sound that echoed around the Quad. Captain of School, Alex, also played an important role by reading ‘In Flanders Field’ to the assembled boys. To draw the Act of Remembrance to a close, Ms Aitkin, our bagpipe teacher, led the School from the Quad to the Chapel where one of the youngest boys, Magnus, placed a wreath of poppies on the altar.
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Top Year boys’ awards success Ludgrove is proud to announce the success of four Top Year (Year 8) boys who have received awards
from their future senior schools. Congratulations to Bear, George, Tarka and Thaniel.
Bear (left) has received a Sports Exhibition from Winchester College. George (right) has been awarded an Academic Scholarship to Ampleforth College.
Tarka (left) has received a Sports Award from Marlborough College. Thanial (right) has been awarded a Sports Scholarship to Winchester College.
Sparkle and shine As fireworks lit up the night sky during Ludgrove’s Bonfire Night, the boys’ faces shone with awe and excitement… no doubt this is a night they will always remember. In the weeks proceeding the big night, the Estates team worked hard to build a giant bonfire near to the 1st team pitch on the golf course. The team also orchestrated a tremendous firework display that on the night built to an impressive crescendo above the School grounds. Once sparklers and fireworks were extinguished, the boys’ excitement continued with hot dogs and marshmallows and lots of fun in the light of the roaring bonfire. An evening that truly went with a bang!
“...Ludgrove is as close to home as school can get”. Thank you School House magazine for an in depth feature in the Autumn/Winter edition that highlights what makes Ludgrove “perfectly unique” as a prep school.
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Special day for the boys’ grandparents Grandparents got a taste of ‘Ludgrove Life’ when they visited the School for their own special morning with their grandsons. The sun shone as warmly as the smiles as we opened our doors for the boys’ VIP guests on Grandparents’ Morning on Saturday 14th October. The boys welcomed their grandparents and sat with them in the Theatre while they were entertained by a Musical Showcase.
Following refreshments in the Quad with signature homemade ‘L’ biscuits, the boys then showed their guests all their favourite places including Dorms, Dining Hall, Chapel, the Exploration Centre, Monkey House and Camps. The morning was a resounding success, we much enjoyed
Grandparents who would like to receive future editions of The Ludgrovian, or other information about School developments and news, should email development@ ludgroveschool.co.uk bringing the wider School family together to give them a little taste of their grandsons’ ‘Ludgrove Life’. As guests prepared to wave goodbye, the boys gave each of them a special Forget-Me-Not ‘L’ plant pot as a memento to remember their time with us.
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Parents tell us what they think “Who couldn’t be happy at Ludgrove? If I could go back to school today my choice of all the schools our children have attended over the years Ludgrove would be my choice.”
Why did you choose Ludgrove? “Fortnightly boarding- everyone in the same boat. Family feel with strong values, excellent facilities and strong emphasis on sport as well as learning.”
“The level of learning is exceptional and we really feel he has learnt so much about how to manage his time, be in charge of his own work and deadlines etc, so grown up!”
We are often asked what makes Ludgrove such a special school and, while it would be easy for us to give lots of reasons, what better explanation is there than to listen to our parents? Here is just a snippet of the feedback we received at the end of the last academic year. We work hard to give our boys the best Ludgrove Life and are incredibly proud that it is recognised and appreciated.
Why did you choose Ludgrove? “I recommend Ludgrove all the time to other parents because they comment on how gentlemanly and knowledgeable my son is.”
“It is such a magical place, full of amazing teachers and mentors. The Barbers make us feel like we are part of their extended family and we are very grateful to be a part of this special school.”
“Everyone has a go [at Drama]. Even the less gifted. It means that they are all introduced to a wonderful side of our culture without feeling undermined by the ones who are better at it.”
“... where the school excels and stands head and shoulders above the competition is its ability to provide an all-round education that equips the boys with a set of skills that enables each and every one of them to apply themselves to any given situation that is thrown at them.”
“He has had a first class education at Ludgrove. Somewhat middle of the pack when he arrived, but Mr Barber and the entire teaching staff have inspired him in every subject. We are both delighted with the place he was awarded at senior school which in a large part is testament to the dedication and belief the teachers have shown him.”
“Boys are very much at peace with themselves and each other. Cheering each other on the games pitch is in the Ludgrove DNA which is heartwarming to see as a parent.”
Ludgrove makes the Top 50 Cricketer list Cricket is thriving at Ludgrove! The School’s continued inclusion as one of the Top 50 prep schools in The Cricketer Schools Guide 2024 is testament to the School’s passion for the game. The category was judged on an extensive set of criteria, which
included compelling commitment to cricket in the curriculum, facilities, fixture programmes and coaching. This accolade comes after a wonderful season that started with a very successful Easter training camp at Desert Springs in Spain and culminated with an unbeaten run for the 1st XI.
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Welcoming new faces Both the Common Room and the Matrons’ Room welcomed some new recruits at the beginning of the academic year. The busy Michaelmas term meant new staff quickly got to grips with the School routine and have enjoyed getting to know the boys. Joining the team in the Common Room are (from left): Mr Green, VIs’ Div Master; Mrs Turner, Head of Learning Support; Mrs Parker, VIs’ Div Mistress; and Mr Auld, IA’s Div Master and Deputy Head.
Joining the team upstairs in the Dorms were three new matrons (from left): Mrs Wesson looking after the IVs, Ms Whitley looking after the Is and Miss Hooper looking after the IIIs.
Farewell Gappers It’s that sad time of year when we have to wave goodbye to our five wonderful Gappers. Misses Borg and Tobin and Messrs Arnold, Elliot and Elvin have done an amazing job helping the School to run smoothly upstairs, downstairs and on the pitches - your enthusiasm and smiles have been endless! The boys will miss you greatly so please be sure to come back and see us all when you have finished your next adventures!
Think of Ma’am’s Jam, a no. 1 cricket fan and the person who welcomes the new VIs to Ludgrove, and we can only be describing one person - Miss Bridge! We are delighted to announce that her 30 years’ dedication as a Matron to hundreds of boys was recognised with a nomination in the Lifetime Achievement category of the Tatler Schools Awards.
Ludgrove supports Youth Mental Health On Youth Mental Health Day, 19th September, Ludgrove introduced its first ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant). Using relatable tools such as fun emoji balls, Mrs Knight (left) has been specially trained to help the
boys recognise and understand how their feelings may impact learning and discover how those feelings can be managed. Ludgrove also helps the wider School community (boys, families and staff) to navigate the challenges of childhood and growing up with access to the Teen Tips Wellbeing Hub, full of advice, webinars and Q&As.
Huge congratulations to Mr and Mrs Smyth (above) who dodged the Summer downpours to have their marriage blessed in the School Chapel. Congratulations also to Mr and Mrs Western-Kaye (below) on tying the knot in a ceremony watched by many of their Ludgrove family, past and present. We wish both couples many years of happiness and wedded bliss.
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Celebrating sporting success for two OLs Left: Congratulations to OL Michael Allison (far right of pic) who won a bronze medal in the men’s javelin at the European Athletics U20 Championships. Equally impressive, he is ranked as the #1 javelin thrower in the UK (of all ages) for 2023. Right: Congratulations to OL Tudor MendelIdowu who signed to Belgian side RSC Anderlecht in the Summer. This OL from the Class of 2017 has not only played for Chelsea but was also a King’s Scholar at Eton.
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OLs gathered at Burton Court, London, for the annual Sets Football match in aid of Place2Be.
We love keeping in touch with Old Ludgrovians through the pages of this newsletter to keep them abreast of developments at their prep school and notice of events throughout the year. This is only possible, however, if address and email details are up-to-date. If you have moved in recent years or have changed email address, please email development@ludgroveschool.co.uk.
Contact us: For enquiries regarding registrations for OL events, to update your contact details, or to send us news, please visit the OL section on the website or use the email below Telephone: 0118 978 9881 Email: development@ ludgroveschool.co.uk Website: www.ludgrove.net Address: Ludgrove, Wokingham, Berks, RG40 3AB Join us on: Instagram - Ludgrove_School Twitter - @Ludgrove
Staff took on the OLs in the annual battle to win the Wiggin Cup. After a great game of football, the Staff just nudged to victory.
OLs gather at the Turf Club No matter what their vintage, Old Ludgrovians had a wonderful evening mixing with alumni spanning five decades at the annual OL Drinks at the Turf Club in London. Mr Barber was pleased to tell guests that their School is in “good nick” before raising a glass to OLs past, present and future. What a testament to their time at Ludgrove that OLs get such enjoyment from meeting each year, swapping stories and making new connections. The evening showed yet again that the boys at Ludgrove School really do make friends for life.