Note from the Editor

Change was one of the original ideas for this year’s magazine. It appeared an obvious choice given the evolution, not only within Pipers itself, but also globally, over the past few years. Change is a multifaceted and vast concept. It can be really personal and intimate - moving house, the loss of a loved one - or it can be world change such as a war or revolution. Some people cope very well with change and actively seek it out. For others it’s a scary and daunting prospect. But no matter which of these categories you fall into, change is inevitable and unavoidable.

Although the theme seemed obvious, the articles within this publication are not. They explore a wealth of knowledge, ideas and viewpoints that create varied and dynamic reading. The articles are written by girls aged 12 to 18. Girls who are the face of the future and the pioneers of change. They are the people who will not only see change, but will also instigate it. So, although these articles explore change in the past and change that is happening right now, they all look with a view to the future and where this change will take us.

The design process was a particularly important element of fabricating the magazine. Dandy, the artistic director, and I had a strong vision of what we wanted to create; not only a completely different design to all previous editions, but also a design that included bold colours, contrasting designs and an element of shock that reflected the content of the writing. Because each article is so individual we wanted to make sure that each one stood out visually, but it is only thanks to Dandy’s creative genius and sagacity that we were able to achieve this.

The magazine meetings this year have made for entertaining lunchtimes and, despite my unremitting emails, the committee have been undyingly dedicated and contributed a never-ending stream of ideas. Dr Smith has been our guru and guiding light, chaperoning us through our first foray into the world of journalism and enduring my constant questioning. Even though I led meetings and composed emails, this magazine is the result of many people’s zeal and hard work. Choosing the articles for this year’s magazine was especially hard. The articles that you are about to read are not only exciting because of their gripping topics and exploratory styles, but also because the girls who wrote them were absorbed in what they were writing about. We focused on creating a magazine that represented modern times, but also one that had a timeless element to it. Despite grappling with current debates and issues, the core idea is one that will forever be at the root of society; how and why does the world change? Romilly J (Upper Sixth)