Academic achievements and university applications
IB results
The 2019 cohort achieved an impressive average point score of 36. 17 candidates scored 40 points or more, the standard entry requirement to elite universities in the UK and overseas. Giampietro Ghidini achieved the distinction of achieving the maximum 45 points, while James Wakefield scored 44 and Ellie Calderwood 43 points.
A level results
The Upper Sixth A level candidates achieved 29% A*-A grades and 59% A*-B grades. Seven pupils achieved at least 3 As.
University applications
The Upper Sixth were successful in securing offers from a range of UK universities for admission in 2019, with 81% of candidates achieving their offers at their first-choice university. Milly Cox met her offer from Cambridge to read Land Economy. Of the other Russell Group universities, the greatest successes, in terms of offers met, were for Exeter (5), University College London (4), King’s College, London (7), Durham (5), Nottingham (4), Warwick (5), Cardiff (4) and Edinburgh (3). 25 pupils received offers from a range of overseas universities including some of the most prestigious European, Canadian and US universities including Bocconi in Milan, McGill (Montreal) and Northeastern (Boston).
As I announced these results to the pupils at the start of term, I highlighted the need for them to recognise how academically
GCSE results
The Hundred achieved an extremely impressive 20% of grades at level 9 and 40% at 9-8, which is the highest percentage recorded by a GCSE cohort at Malvern. 58% of grades were at 9-7 (A*-A in old grading).
32 pupils achieved the equivalent of at least six 9/8/A* grades; of whom, 18 achieved eight or more 9/8/A* grades. Georgina Wood, Shea John, Virginia Lawrence and Millie Page all attained the equivalent of 10 A* in the old way of counting.
and intellectually impressive they are. These successes are down to their efforts and it is the standards established by those who have gone before them that make Malvern such a strongly academic school. I highlighted that there is a clear correlation between the effort grades and the exam results that each pupil achieves, and that there is much research that shows that intelligence is not fixed. Whatever a pupil’s academic standing may be now, they can stretch their intellectual capability through reading, through engagement with the academic enrichment programmes available within Malvern’s super-curriculum and through actively engaging in their academic studies. It is important that all our pupils see the value of, and engage in, enrichment strategies at whatever is the right level is for them.
Young Economists’ Summit in Hamburg
Josh Preston, Annabelle Moody, Dan Holland, Arent Riemer, Francesco Coppola, Konrad Barbers and Nikki Stonham were in Hamburg this term, taking part in the Young Economists Summit. The event required teams to present their own ideas or solutions to various issues facing the world today - from integrating refugees into society to dealing with climate change. Our team developed an idea for an app to encourage saving amongst gig economy workers. The team had to make the presentation and then face critical questioning from their peers and a panel of experts. They did extremely well, fielding tricky questions and showing a tremendous depth of knowledge. They were Highly Commended by the organisers.
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Honorary Scholarships
Each year we award Honorary Scholarships and Exhibitions to those pupils who have made an outstanding contribution to an aspect of College life, who have not already received a Scholarship or Exhibition (though pupils who already have an Exhibition may be considered for the higher award of a Scholarship). As expected, existing scholars in last year’s Hundred and Lower Sixth achieved excellent academic results and made outstanding contributions to other areas of College life.
Those
now in the Upper Sixth awarded Honorary Academic Scholarships
Konrad Barbers
Ale Coppola
Chicco Coppola
Antonia Fetzer
Honorary Academic Exhibitions
Felix Berger
Isobel Lloyd
Finnian Mangham
Abigail Planterose
Aarya Ramanj
Karl Wlaschek
Honorary Sport Scholarships
Charley Atkinson
Hannah Atkinson
Molly Gibbard
Vansh Ladwa
Millie Page
Harry Sillence
Those now in the Lower Sixth awarded Honorary Academic Scholarships
Chioma Anazodo
Jyothirmay Baldota
Banita Dodhia
Sebastian Filho
Rhiannon Gray
Thomas Hughes
George Kent
Ani King
Lottie Livesey
Georgina Macakiage
James Miller
Agueda Ortiz Flores
Millie Page
Amani Priddy
Cedric Reuther
Charlotte Welge
Honorary Academic Exhibitions
Tiwa Adejuyigbe
Coral Arteaga Vivanco
Alexey Artemov
Tom Cox
Pablo Dorai Raj
Len Heger
Peter Ingram
Jayda Khimji
John Locke Institute Essay Competition 2019
The John Locke Institute exists for the benefit of exceptional students. Their essay competition encourages young people to cultivate the characteristics that turn good students into great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis and persuasive style.
Jan van Hesude (Upper Sixth), was shortlisted in this prestigious competition. He entered his essay in the Philosophy category and was invited to Oxford University in September, to a Gala Dinner during which the prize winners were named. Winners were selected by the university’s senior academics, and named in the categories in which they were submitted. Jan says that the experience of visiting Oxford and meeting so many interesting and learned people, has fuelled his desire to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at university.
Millie Kold
Ellen Liu
Rahul Tjan
Francesco Totaro
Valentina Samadani
Pia Schmitz
Georgina Wang
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Lower Sixth Physics Olympiad
Last term a group of our Sixth Form physicists attempted the Lower Sixth Physics Olympiad, a series of challenging problems set for the most talented in the country. Alex Schultz, Richard Soares and Floris van der Werff achieved a Bronze award and Max Horler and Antonia Fetzer Silver awards.
QinetiQ Young Engineers’ Project
Congratulations to George Kent, Aggie Ortiz Flores, Tom Hughes, Ginny Lawrence, Georgina Wood, Ran Zhang, James Francis and Basil Marsden Smedley for their selection for this year’s ‘QinetiQ Young Engineers’ Project. Their brief for this year’s challenge is to design a system that can automatically monitor the fuel consumption of a troop carrier and send this information to a command post.
Speech and Drama
Congratulations to our pupils studying Speech and Drama who have successfully passed their LAMDA examinations in Acting and Musical Theatre during the Summer term. An impressive number of high grades with Distinction and Merit were gained.
Georgina Kenyon - GRADE 5 Acting, with Merit
Aghasi Avanesov, Cati Romanzina, Eve Leslie - GRADE 5 Acting, with Distinction
Lucy Marriott, Morgann McGee, Syusannah AvanesovaGRADE 6 Acting, with Distinction
Harrison Hudson - GRADE 7 Acting, with Distinction
Bonnie Green, Georgina Wood and Lucie Fletcher - LAMDA GOLD MEDAL
The Politics and History departments
The Politics and History departments recently took 30 of our pupils to London. The group was due to attend Prime Minister’s Question Time but as Parliament was suspended, they were met by our local MP Harriet Baldwin who gave them a guided tour of the Houses of Westminster and answered their questions about the workings of each House.
The historians then went on to visit the Churchill War Rooms, and the pupils studying politics visited the Supreme Court where they sat in the room where the panel of eleven Justices would conclude that the extended prorogation of parliament was illegal.
Particle Physics
Dr. Maria Pavlidou from the University of Birmingham delivered a practical lesson on Particle Physics early in the term. She spoke about the standard model of Particle Physics and how the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, in Geneva, is used to probe the structure of sub-atomic particles.
With a bit of background knowledge, our pupils had the wonderful opportunity to use the same software used by Physicists at CERN and experiment for themselves. This gave them a real insight into how academic research is done, and it was a great opportunity for them to get hands-on with Physics.
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The National Schools Symphony Orchestra
Malvern has been the home of the NSSO since 2016 and this year the orchestra celebrated its 25th anniversary with performances at Symphony Hall, Birmingham; the culmination of the course that is run annually at Malvern College.
Over 200 children took part in the three orchestras performing, together with the newly formed NSSO Chorus. The finale and highlight of the concert was a performance of the Verdi Requiem, where the young musicians were joined by a team of soloists and the Malvern Festival Chorus, under the baton of Richard Dickins, NSSO Principal Conductor.
Details of the 2020 course are available at www.nsso.org.
Music Practical/Theory Exam Results Summer 2019
Congratulations to the following pupils:
Annabelle Moody
Louisa Marsden-Smedley
Jonathan Stephenson
Robert Hardwick
Gemma Luscombe
Nicholas Horn
Célestine Hanssen
Louisa Marsden-Smedley
Cameron Eldridge
Jennifer Zhou
Phoebe Palmer-O’Riordan
Edmund Thurlow
Eve Leslie
Honor Letts
Charlotte Atkinson
Sam Ingram
Rodolphe Escudie
Nicholas Horn
Finley Morris
Finley Morris
Alexandra Darby
Caroline Berlien
Trombone
Singing
Trumpet
Trumpet
Flute
Rock Guitar
Non-Pedal Harp
Flute
Oboe
Singing
Recorder
Trumpet
Singing
Singing
Trumpet
Theory
Jazz Saxophone Theory
Jazz Saxophone Theory Theory
Singing
Extended Project Qualification Fair
A number of the pupils studying A levels undertake the EPQ as part of the enrichment programme. In June, we held an EPQ Fayre where the Lower Sixth were asked to demonstrate their research and presentation skills for their chosen topic. Topics were varied and impressively imaginative, and the presentations were engaging, creative and enthusiastic, each ending with a tough Question and Answer session.
Topic choices ranged from: ‘Treatment of prisoners within prison systems ; are their human rights in violation?’, to sport, ‘Were the development of the shorter formats of cricket within the UK essential for cricket to become the multi-million dollar game it is today?’, and from ‘Women’s rights portrayed through fashion to appeal to younger generations’, to ‘A critical comparison of leaders, military and attitudes towards Syria between the United States and Russia’.
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Sport
Cricket
Malvern College National 20/20 champions
We faced Merchant Taylors School in the first semi-final; they had taken the scalp of Tonbridge in the quarter finals. Malvern won this game, setting the opposition 195, and Merchant Taylors falling short with a total of 138. The final was against Sedbergh, who had beaten Millfield in the other semi-final. Malvern lost the toss and surprisingly, were asked to bat, compiling 155 after the completion of 20 overs. We knew we would have to bowl well, but it was a defendable total. At 136 for 8, Sedbergh were in the box seats with Malvern’s bowlers under pressure, with 14 runs required from 2.3 overs and a wicket in hand, things were becoming very tense. A wicket was what we needed, and Aaron Tomson provided it, Robbie Hardwick taking the catch behind the stumps. Malvern College were now National 20/20 Champions!
Malvern College win the Chesterton Cup
After a rain effected start at New Road, we managed to play a shortened semi-final round against Monmouth and win this match to go through to the final. Kings’ Worcester had beaten Bromsgrove in a similarly shortened match, and on winning the toss they chose to bat in the final.
Malvern’s spinners bowled Kings’ out for 61, but chasing a small total on a wicket that was spinning prodigiously was always going to be tricky. After four overs Malvern had only managed to score 5 runs for the loss of one wicket and the game was in the balance until Dan Holland hit two boundaries in an over before being out LBW with the score at 24-2. This gave Aaron Tomson and Tommy Boorman the opportunity to deliver, and they did. Tomson finished 5 not out and a match winning 35 not out, for Tommy Boorman saw Malvern home with 8 wickets to spare. This was a fantastic finish to a hugely enjoyable season. Winning the Chesterton Cup is always a very special victory for Malvern.
Dan Holland was awarded the Tip Foster Trophy for scoring the most runs in the 1st XI this season.
Rehaan Edavalath was selected to play in the Bunbury Festival that features the best U15 players in the country.
Josh Dickenson was picked in the Midlands U17 to play in the Super 4s, the best U17 players in the country. Sadly, Josh broke his finger and was unable to play, a great disappointment.
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The Border Shield
There was a tremendous turnout for the third Border Shield contest between Monmouth Boys’ and Malvern College at Ledbury Rugby Football Club just before Half term.
Conditions were damp from the start, with Malvern playing up the slope. An early penalty, conceded from the opening kick-off, gave Monmouth three easy points but the next passage of play was conducted in the middle of the pitch with both teams testing each other. Malvern was the next to score with Louis Staley crashing over from a well worked scrum move and offload from Charles Williams, Joe Randall converting the extras. Malvern struggled again against a resurgence from Monmouth who struck back with a try their own. The half time score was 14-10 to Malvern who finished the stronger with a try from Jack Onslow
Rugby
Several boys played for their academies: Imowesi Ogwemoh for Warriors U18s against Saints, Joe Randall for Wasps U16s against Saracens and Cardiff Blues. Other boys training with their respective academies throughout the summer were: Harry Smith, Tom Hughes and Josh Marsden (Worcester Warriors U18s), Harry Sigley (Gloucester U16s).
Malvern made a robust start to the second half, scoring another, Josh Marsden powering over after a good build up play from Imoesi Ogwemoh, Harry Smith and Kit Staley. The enduring strength of the Malvern defence would be the story of the rest of the game, as Monmouth raised the tempo in their play. Monmouth scored again to make it 21-15 to Malvern, with 10 minutes to play. But the home side would eventually close out the game by showing great discipline and a strong work ethic in the final stages of the game to enable them to lift the Border Shield for second consecutive year.
Oliver Cook was named man of the match. He epitomised all that was positive about Malvern on the night. This was, as always, a fantastic occasion with some great rugby in evidence.
Triathlon Prospect
Tom Birley has competed in several events over the summer and won two silver medals in the Worcestershire County Relay Swimming Championships, and Gold in a 3.8km open water swimming event in the Cotswolds. He has been selected for the West Midlands Triathlon Academy that will compete nationally in the British Triathlon Super Series next year. Tom’s most recent success as overall winner of the Eastnor Mud Run, is further demonstration of his tenacity and drive and we congratulate him.
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Equestrian
Harry Finch competed at the National U18 Championships and did very well finishing 16th out of was 79 competitors. He was also selected to compete in Ireland with the U18 Development squad but was injured the night before the competition and had to withdraw.
Fencing
Congratulations to Noah Goryn who retained both his titles in winning Gold in Foil and Épée competitions at the Wiltshire County Championships. He becomes the Hereford and Wiltshire champion.
Netball
Molly Gibbard played for Severn Stars U19s at the NPL Tournament in Nottingham. She played immensely well, and in several quarters scored with 100% shooting accuracy.
Summer Activities
There were a significant number of important projects and activities this summer in which our pupils have taken part. All of these expeditions have provided an important opportunity for pupils to develop some of the key skills that we really value at Malvern, and that are so important in making a success of university or when seeking future employment. I am delighted to report that there has been lots of positive feedback from colleagues about these expeditions which are providing great transformational learning experiences for the pupils involved. Their behaviour and their engagement with everyone they encountered, was a credit to Malvern College. I would particularly like to take this opportunity to thank those colleagues who organised and supervised these expeditions..
More detailed reports on these expeditions will be featured in the Malvern View which will be available online, and in hard copy, at the end of this term.
Hockey
Charley Atkinson played for England White and won a Silver Medal.
Golf
The golf squad, having won the regional final of the HMC Foursomes Competition, competed at the National Finals at Rye Golf Club in Sussex in the first week of the summer holidays. They put up an excellent show in all three matches but lost early round matches to Wellington and Tonbridge and then to eventual winners, Rossall School.
Sailing
Hector Mellor, competed in the National Schools Sailing Regatta at Weymouth in July, and came 8th overall. In the Topper Nationals, in Scotland, he came 24th in his fleet.
Malvern College to Paris (MC2P)
The expedition that stole the media headlines this summer, with front-page coverage in The Times newspaper on 19th July, was the Malvern to Paris trip, which included a stand-up paddle boarding leg across the English Channel. The group was interviewed by Sky, BBC and ITV news presenters, at various stages, and on its completion, with each pupil in the team showing great confidence on camera in describing the value of the expedition had been to them.
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Summer Activities continued...
Marine ecology and conservation expedition to the Cayman Islands
Eighteen pupils and three staff learned some fascinating but hard lessons about conservation and the damage being caused to life in the ocean and on shore. They were able to dive in the waters off the islands to observe the marine life and did daily clean up sessions at the beaches to remove the plastic detritus. They saw many beautiful shoals of fish, Great Barracuda, turtles, Lionfish, sting-ray, nurse sharks and reef sharks and could not have wished for a better learning environment. As guests of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) on Little Cayman, they were able to share their passion for protecting the environment and to offer practical help.
Reading
Rhino Conservation in South Africa
Malvern College CCF
The RAF section enjoyed a successful Summer Camp at St. Mawgan in Cornwall. Skills practised included shooting, interflight drill, and high and low ropes and there was a testing all-day military exercise on the UK’s second largest network of sand-dunes. They were also able to have a go at coasteering and stand-up paddle boarding as well as cultural visits to Padstow, Newquay and the Eden Project.
The Army section, together with our partner school Bredon, deployed to Saint Martin’s Camp near Folkstone for a week’s extensive training. Activities included two days on Lydd ranges, firing the cadet rifle at ever increasing distances and smaller targets. Each cadet achieved their marksman qualification which was outstanding, but Cdt Sophie Roberts fired a 57mm group at 100m with iron sights an exceptional achievement that won her the accolade of the Best Shot on Camp.
The Marines section had an incredible experience training at Lympstone, the Commando Training Centre in Devon.
Pupils were set with the challenge of reading at least one book during their holiday. I read ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matt Walker, and as I explained to the pupils in Assembly, I have been endeavouring to ensure I get to bed earlier and I have encouraged them to do the same.
As I have been eating lunch in Houses, I have been asking pupils what they have read recently. Many (not all!) have clearly done some good reading and I have to thank the girls in No.8 who recommended the ‘Tatooist of Auschwitz’, which I greatly enjoyed.
A group travelled to a Rhino Conservation centre in South Africa and arrived just as a badly injured baby rhino was helicoptered in from the Kruger Park, its mother killed by poachers.
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Parents’ Forum
The Senior Management Team meets with parent representatives every term in the Parents’ Forum. The Forum comprises our Senior Management Team and at least one parent representative from each House. Our aim is to listen and respond to matters which parents raise in order to assist with the continuing development of the school, but we also like to take the opportunity to present new ideas for directions we may take which may be of interest to the parent body. The Forum discusses school-related matters rather than focusing on individual pupils.
The representatives from each House are listed below. Please do contact them if you have something you would like them to put forward on the agenda for the next meeting.
Number 1
Number 2
Number 3
Number 4
Number 5
Number 6
Number 7
Number 8
Number 9
School House
Ellerslie House
Katie Hawkins
Sarah Hood
Phil Birley
Beata Davison
Rod Wood
Frank Kenyon-Slaney
Philly Cole
Jamie Cox
Elisabeth Cox (Lisi)
Simone Horn
Claudia Marsden-Smedley
Joycelin Hoyland
Neil Anderson
Sarah Platnauer
Maria Freeman
Marina Stephenson
Jane Eldridge
Sarah Westwood
Andy Scott
Katie_anthony_@yahoo.co.uk sarahjanehood@gmail.com
Philbirley@yahoo.co.uk beata.davison@googlemail.com
rod@bayer-wood.co.uk
fslaney@world-odyssey.com phillidacole@gmail.com
jamie@jamiecox.org lisicox@mac.com
d.horn12@btinternet.com claudiatinkershill@gmail.com
Joycelin@mountsevern.co.uk
Neil.Anderson@QCom.co.uk Sarahp4@me.com
Maria.hayesfarm@gmail.com stephenson71@gmail.com
jane@collegeguardians.co.uk sarah.westwood25@gmail.com
andy@scott5.co.uk
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Remembrance Services 10 November 2019
Remembrance Sunday remains an important day at Malvern College and parents are invited to join a Service of Remembrance in the Malvern College Chapel at the following times: 09:45 – 10:30 for the Foundation Year, Remove, Hundred and Pre-Sixth.
This service will be followed by an Act of Remembrance at 10:45 held on St George’s Terrace and attended by the Lower School and Sixth Form of Malvern College and pupils and parents of The Downs Malvern.
11:15 – 12:15 a service in Chapel will follow the Act of Remembrance, for the Sixth Form and their parents.
Colonel Bill Kingdon will preach at each service. Pupils will place wooden crosses in an area, designated by House, outside the Chapel. Each cross bears a name of a Malvernian lost in conflict.
We welcome parents to attend and invite you to join us for light refreshments in the Gryphon Room following each of the Services.
VE Day 2020
Leave Out details
The Government has announced that the early May bank holiday in 2020, originally set for Monday 4 May, will be changed to Friday 8 May to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Malvern College’s Leave Out weekend starts on Friday, 1 May at 13.10 and ends on Sunday, 3 May. This remains unchanged. The officially nominated VE Day Bank Holiday (8 May) will be a normal working and teaching day at Malvern, as is usual when Bank Holidays fall in term-time.
Lower School Council
Congratulations to the following Remove pupils who were voted in as Lower School Council members at the end of last year. They will join the Hundred Lower School Council Members as they serve and develop the Lower School as well as act as the “voices” of the Lower School pupils in their houses. Leo Westwood, Thomas Isherwood, Thomas Birley, Adina Yertayeva, Cate Mercurio, Joel Cox, Lucy Underwood, Alex van Dam and Ollie Beer, Amy Grammaticas, Sam Cook and Amelia Scott.