Arriving in Malvern to see the Hills swathed in spring sunshine and the trees adorned with blossom, underlines what an amazing setting Malvern College enjoys.
I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting the staff and many, but by no means all, of the pupils so far and want to thank everybody publicly for their extremely warm welcome. There is a very strong sense of community here and the feeling of a very large team of staff, governors, OMs, parents and of course pupils, all working together towards a common goal.
Rev. Sydney R James, Malvern’s Headmaster 1897-1914, handed over to his successor at Easter saying that he, ‘…chose Easter because I thought that my successor would findthemachinerunningsmoothlyinthelasttermoftheschoolyear,wouldbeable toseewhatchangeshewouldliketomake,andwouldhavethelongsummerholidays in which to work them out.’
The machine is certainly running smoothly, and I am busy absorbing all I can from pupils, staff and parents, about what makes Malvern such a special place to be.
MALVERN TIMES
Academic Achievements
Sixth Form linguists
Sixth Form linguists put their language skills to the test in the UK Linguistics Olympiad, a national competition where competitors attempt to solve linguistic data problems. Konrad Barbers achieved a Silver Certificate, placing him in the top 10% of all participants nationally, while Sapphire Anderson and Francesco Coppola achieved Bronze Awards, placing them in the top 20%.
British Maths Olympiad and Kangaroo initiatives
At the end of last term, a number of pupils sat the British Maths Olympiad and Kangaroo initiatives. Sophie Roberts gained a Merit in the Kangaroo competition, and Ruby Chen gained a Distinction in the Year 10 Olympiad. Impressively, Ben Chen and Natalie Fan received College Book prizes in recognition of their distinctions that placed them in the top 50 students in their year group in the country - an extraordinary achievement.
Physics Challenge
In the recent national Physics Challenge, Felix Olschewski, Basil Marsden-Smedley, Tom Hughes, Banita Dodhia, Ginny Lawrence, Jay Wang and Georgina Wood all achieved Bronze awards, whilst George Kent achieved a Silver Award and Ben Chen a Gold.
Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire’s Cadets
Esther Woods has been appointed one of the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire’s Cadets this year. Esther will accompany the Lord Lieutenant at a number of official engagements, such as visits by members of the Royal Family to the county, will act as an ambassador for various organisations and the young people of Worcestershire. This is a great honour for Esther and the College as she represents the Army Cadets and Malvern’s CCF.
MALVERN TIMES
In Memory of Mr Mike Haynes
A Charity Soirée was held in St. Edmund’s Hall, organised and planned by Henry Queen and Jasper Penrice. This was a very special evening of musical celebration in memory of our former colleague and teacher, Mr Mike Haynes. There were superb performances from Anny Moody, Harrison Hudson, Charlie Canton-Smith, Ani King, Brad Jones, Jamie Hawkins, Gemma Luscombe, Lucie Fletcher, Kitty Holroyd, Jasper Penrice, Bonnie Green, Grace Starkey and Georgie Denham Performances from staff colleagues Mr Angus, Mr J Brown and Mr McDade were also enjoyed. It was an excellent pupil-led event that raised £460 for the Sue Ryder Hospice in Leckhampton.
Cambrian Patrol Competition
A Malvern CCF team competed in the prestigious Cambrian Patrol Competition held on the Brecon Beacons. Seven of our senior cadets, led by Colour Sergeant Matt Bruce, took part in one of the most gruelling national military challenges set by the British Army. Teams from around the country were severely tested by both the tasks, that began early in the morning at 4.30am, and by the adverse weather conditions. On the first day, the tasks took the cadets over 30km across the Brecon Beacons on foot, in
Music
Many pupils took their Trinity College and Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) practical exams last term. Those who achieved at Grade 5 or higher level are: Freja Bedell (Grade 5 Singing with Merit), Reuben Dargan (Grade 5 Singing), Emily Elgar (Grade 5 Clarinet with Merit), Missy Hingley (Grade 5 Flute with Merit), Leo Westwood (Grade 5 Eb Bass), Imogen Cole (Grade 6 Piano with Merit), James Francis (Grade 6 Singing with Merit), Felix Kingdon (Grade 6 Saxophone), Manfred Lai (Grade 6 Piano), Jasper Penrice (Grade 7 Clarinet with Merit), Annabel Moody (Grade 8 Piano with Merit), Ariana Davison (Grade 8 Singing). Well done, too, to Harriet Carpenter, Evelyn Kenrick, Nadya Kibuchi, Shyam Sira and Lichang Wan for passing their Grade 5 Theory exam, to Konrad Barbers and Geyu Wang for passing their Grade 5 Theory exam with Merit and to Antonia Fetzer for passing her Grade 5 Theory exam with Distinction.
full kit and carrying weapons. The second day comprised a speed march and shoot. The Malvern team: Matt Bruce, Freddie Lawton-Smith, Esther Woods, Imogen Cole, Nick Horn, Dougal Lemon and Jonny Mather, completed the event and gained a very well-deserved Silver award. This was a just reward for the training, resilience and teamwork they have committed to at the highest level over the preceding months. An excellent achievement.
MALVERN TIMES
Expeditions over the Easter holidays
Duke of Edinburgh Gold
A challenging Duke of Edinburgh Gold practice expedition was held on the notoriously unpredictable Dartmoor, where five groups of Lower Sixth used their navigational skills successfully to complete their various routes and allow them to proceed to the Qualifying Expedition in Snowdonia in July.
Meanwhile, nineteen Lower Sixth carried out their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Practice Expeditions across Oxfordshire, biking, kayaking and canoeing on the river Thames, travelling 30km a day from Lechlade to Henley in 20+ degree temperatures.
Duke of Edinburgh Awards
I was delighted to recently present Lewis McMurdo and Sofia Hsu with their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Ginny Lawrence and Sixue Chen their Silver Awards, and Lucas Fowler-Dewe and Tom Doherty their Gold Awards
Outdoor Pursuits
In Outdoor Pursuits, pupils participated in a four-day training expedition to the Isle of Man to extend their training and preparation for the Malvern 2 Paris expedition later in the year. Pupils improved their sea kayak handling skills and experienced some exposure to open water on the larger paddleboards which they will use to cross the English Channel. In addition to the paddling element of the trip, the team spent time focussing on food provision and other logistical aspects associated with expedition life.
Cricket Academy
Thirteen Malvern players from the girls’ and the boys’ Cricket squads attended a three-day training course at the Desert Springs Cricket Academy in Spain. As well as engaging in a range of training sessions, they also played in two Twenty20 games. They won one game and lost the other, but it was great to see the boys and girls on the trip preparing for the cricket season with similar enthusiasm.
Easter in Berlin
A number of Remove pupils spent the first week of the Easter holiday in Berlin, taking part in a hugely enjoyable and successful language exchange trip with pupils from Gymnasium Steglitz. The week in Berlin allowed for a tremendous variety of activities for our pupils and enabled them to learn more about the culture and to practise their German speaking with our hosts.
MALVERN TIMES
Ski-trip to Banff
A very successful ski-trip travelled to Banff in Canada and enjoyed excellent weather and good snow, as well as an induction into curling, hot springs and a good dose of Canadian culture.
Sporting Endeavours
Golf
The Golf squad took on Exeter College in the HMC Foursomes Regional Finals and played incredibly well winning 2-1, to become the HMC Foursomes Regional Champions. Izzy Lloyd and Josh Baker won 2 up, Allie Renton and Marco Garbi won 2 up, but Georg Wendelstadt and Rahul Tjan lost their match. The team has now qualified for the National Finals which takes place later in the summer at Rye Golf Club.
Swimming
Very well done to Viktoriia Usova who competed in her first open meet at Gloucester: six events, six personal bests and a Bronze Medal in the 100m Breaststroke! Congratulations also to Thomas Birley who achieved two qualifying times (50m & 100m Backstroke) for the forthcoming West Midlands Regional Long Course Championships.
Rackets
The Rackets team competed at the Queen’s Club, London with some really good end-of-season performances. The stand-out pairs were the Under 15’s (Olly Cox and Myles Holland) and the first pair (Dan Holland and Gus Stephenson), who both reached their respective quarter-finals. The Under 15’s lost to the second seeds Eton, and the first pair lost to the first seeds Tonbridge. This brings a very competitive season to a close with some promising talent for next season.
National Fives Championships
In the National Fives Championships held at Marlborough College, Georgina Wood reached the semi-finals of the U16 Tournament, and Vicky Monllor-Bessio and Chloe Mackellar did well to come second in their pools, qualifying for the quarterfinals. Rhiannon Mallard beat Georgie Balfrey to win the U14 plate. In Doubles, all 3 pairs came through their pools to reach the Quarter Finals, with Georgie and Lucy Underwood losing in a very tense match 12-11 against Alleyns. All the girls played well and improved massively during the day.
MALVERN TIMES
Pupil Appointments
Chapel Prefects
I am delighted to announce that the Chapel Prefects for 2019-20 have been appointed. The Senior Chapel Prefect is Jasper Penrice and the Chapel Prefects are: Anna Doroshenko, Lucie Fletcher, Robbie Hardwick and Imoesi Ogwemoh
The Sacristan Chapel Prefect is Bonnie Green. I am very much looking forward to working with these pupils and have asked them to consider the ways in which they can have a positive impact on the College in the next twelve months.
School Council
Pupils have been appointed on the School Council: Aaron Tomson, Georg von Grolman, Ademuwagun Aladegbami, Adriaan Berger, Natsumi Nakamura, Coco Charters, Izzy Lloyd, Luke Tulacz, Poppy Underwood, Antonia Kuhr, Harein Valiram, Annabelle Moody, Oliver Cook, Gus Stephenson and Lara Hauptmann
Forthcoming Examinations
For many of your sons and daughters, it is an important time in their school career with GCSEs, IBs, A levels and their end of year examinations looming. In recent assemblies, I have encouraged pupils to find time to commit to revision and to make good, positive choices about utilising their time. I have reminded pupils that their exams are important and I would like them to try and achieve everything that they have set their sights on, but highlighted that if they do have a setback, they should not let it define them, that there will always be something they can do about or take from it, and that there are many excellent staff around them to whom they can turn for support.
Commemoration
I look forward to seeing many of you at Commemoration. We have an interesting and varied programme of sporting and musical events on the afternoon of Friday 24 May and the morning of Saturday 25 May, and I do hope that you will be able to join us to enjoy the occasion.
Malvern Civic Society Award
I am delighted to announce that the refurbished Rogers Theatre has been awarded a Malvern Civic Society Award for architectural design, an annual accolade given to a new or renovated building which adds something special to Malvern’s town environment. The panel of judges commented extremely favourably on the excellent reconfiguration and craftsmanship of the work done at the Rogers Theatre and Lyall Foyer and how well these buildings relate to their surroundings. We look forward to receiving the Civic Society plaque in the near future.
I wish you an enjoyable leave-out weekend with your children.
