Packwoodian 2010-11
Section 1 051011:Layout 1
5/10/11
12:16
Page 14
SUBJECTS
Classics A shorter report is called for this year – I will try! So, just one thing I learned on our trip to Chester that I hope will surprise you too. Apparently the amphitheatre at Chester, calculating from the excavations so far, was the largest stone built amphitheatre of its time outside Rome, with a floor area the same size as that of the Colosseum. Amazing! This year we have sadly to say goodbye to another superbly successful set of Classicists. The Latin prize went to Edward Stanton for his consistent and excellent efforts over the last two years in the Scholarship stream, while the Classics prize was won by the Head Girl Jess Clarke, whose tremendous SS Latin result at Rugby appeared to be primarily what tipped the balance in favour of her attaining her Scholarship award; Jess also did well in her Greek paper after lots of hard work and extra lessons, for which she would regularly drag me from my coffee – an example to us all. There were other impressive results, too – Alfie Grocott at Shrewsbury and Milla Harvey-Scholes at Stowe each excelled themselves – and with the exception of just two boys, every child entered Common Entrance at level 2 or above. But this is not just the end at Packwood for our 1s, as both I and Oliver Lee are also moving on. Oliver is retiring to pastures new and I wish him every joy – he has been an unparalleled colleague and friend during my time here, and his teaching has been truly inspirational. He has been responsible for the top CE set and Scholarship streams for the last two years and the results speak for themselves, but it is
the firm grounding he has given to all his pupils at every age that has laid the foundations for their success. I am immensely grateful – as I know are countless current and Old Packwoodians – and I trust he will make the very most of the opportunities the freedom from bells and timetabling will give him. Please keep in touch, Oliver. For my part, I am off to Heath Mount in Hertfordshire, where I shall be stepping into the shoes of ... Mr Jonny Onions (for a The Latin prize went second time!) He in turn is to Edward Stanton for returning to Packwood after an absence of four his consistent and years to take up the reins of excellent efforts over not only the Classics the last two years department – he won’t find very many changes – but also the boys’ boarding house, and the Latin room is moving to Oliver’s classroom opposite the Housemaster’s front door. There are changes afoot also with the organisation of the teaching, so that Jonny will be responsible directly for all the children learning Latin above Form 4. With the support of Geraldine Lee, who has taught the 4s so well over the last two years, I know the department will be in excellent hands. Valete omnes! WGI
English One of the great things about learning English is surely the opportunities it affords for work beyond the classroom. This year we have been keen to keep what has been established and develop even more opportunities for pupils to enjoy their work. Thus stalwarts like the One-act plays, Creative Writing and Elocution competitions have remained and flourished alongside new projects like the Spelling Bee, 500-words writing competition and school newspaper. It has been great to see Packwood children embrace and excel in all of them. All the 3s enjoyed their plays-in-a-day and gave excellent performances; this year’s themes were Evacuation and Cleopatra. Teachers also worked hard at preparing their classes for a vintage year of One-act plays (well done to my mentor for writing and directing two of them!) It will be hard to forget some of the individual acts of brilliance in the school competitions – Alex Wythe’s Narnian first chapter which won the creative writing, we were also thanked for and William having the loudest supporters Bayliss’s snarling rendition of Badger and best banners in the Elocution competition spring to mind. I am grateful to Kristina Leslie, Head of English at Shrewsbury, for her expert judging of the latter. On new ventures I am pleased the pupils managed to produce several editions of Packwood Life, a school newspaper and something of a first. Created in senior and junior clubs largely by children rushing around and interviewing people, these were intentionally produced with a limited circulation – although enthusiasts for rare first editions may still find them on the school website. In the spring a hastilyformed spelling team from 2Class made a successful bee-line for the national semi-finals as they triumphed in the local heats. Rory ‘The Dictionary’ Carter-Motley was declared last man standing and – until we lost in the semi-finals.
Page 14
Trips also abounded, and it was occasionally hard to accommodate the opportunities alongside the nagging need to prepare students for exams. 1Class Creative Writing Competition winner: enjoyed the Hay Festival and a Form 1: Milla Harvey-Scholes, terrifying adaptation Francesca Hughes, William Bayliss, Charlie England of Lord of the Flies in Regents Park; the 1s Form 2: Alexander Wythe, Esther McLaughlin, saw an unabridged Hermione Bathurst, Freddie Houlker and very physical Form 3: Archie Waterworth, version of A Antonia Barlow-Evans, Midsummer Night’s Amber Gibbins, Morton Moss Dream at Moreton Form 4: Ellie Mason, Talullah Blackham, Hall and several Annabel Robertson forms welcomed Form 5: Anna Cowan, Jonty Bright authors. Packwood Form 6: Jacob Jones Mum Cecily Jenkinson delighted the juniors with her Oli and Skipjack series and local girl Sita Brahmachari, recent winner of the Waterstone’s prize, enchanted the 2s and 3s with her first children’s novel Artichoke Hearts. Back in the classroom it was a delight to see the success of such able English scholars in 1Class as Alfie Grocott (top at Shrewsbury), Milla Harvey-Scholes (top at Stowe) and Saskia Humphreys (two scholarships) to name a few. The group as a whole was full of talented writers who no doubt will go on to excel at their senior schools. At Common Entrance it was pleasing to see a large number of As, many of which were in the comprehension paper and came from the ‘lower’ groups, as well as very few grades below C. Four sections in two papers asks a lot of the less able students in this subject, and it remains to be seen whether the exam will modernise in the face of emerging alternatives.