SCHOOL NEWS

School News & Highlights

National Development Pathways

Repton Swimming successfully gained Swim England Swim Mark status in August of this year, the recognised kitemark of approval for swimming clubs in the UK, and now, under the expert guidance of double Olympian Scott Talbot, 11 Repton pupils have been selected onto various national performance pathways.

The swimmers have been selected for the

national development pathways following their performances in both The Swim England Festival of Swimming and virtual Level X events, held through 2021. Arabella G, Cameron J, Fenella W, Finn C and Charlie J will join the Swim England Development Programme, and Josh B, Leo P and Hettie D’A will be part of the Swim England National Event Camp Programme. Sarah H joins the Scottish Swimming National Youth Academy. Repton is also proud to be supporting Hannah B as she undertakes the Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) for swimming. The industry-leading programme is tailored to individual athletes and their respective disciplines, providing them with the key knowledge and skills to become a highperformance international athlete. Past alumni of the programme include reigning World and Olympic Champion Adam Peaty.

Repton’s Director of Swimming, Scott Talbot, has congratulated pupils on their achievements saying: “Our swimmers have really applied themselves throughout the last year and have demonstrated the dedication and consistency required for both training and their academic work. They are true, committed athletes and have shown a great deal of resilience.” Repton Swimming Club continues to have great success in the arena with a positive appearance in Birmingham over the October half term. Competing in the City of Birmingham Level 2 Meet, 58 swimmers were entered into their respective classes with numerous winners and podium finishes. The competition culminated in Repton Swimming Club being awarded the cup for Top Visiting Club.

Bells and Whistles

It’s quite a feeling, to see all the many areas of busy school life flourishing around campus. There was much excitement amongst pupils, staff, parents and the village as we opened the doors to the 400 Hall for Frankenstein. Head Prefect, Mary B, shares here review, below.

At the start of November, with Winter Timetable, UCAS applications and worsening weather taking their toll on morale, Repton’s Drama Department (ably led by Mr. CooperRichards and Mrs. Whitfield) offered up the three-night panacea that was the School’s production of ‘Frankenstein’.

I attended the first evening, unsure of what to expect, and I was absolutely blown away by the performance. The sets and make-up were fantastic – we all couldn’t believe how our classmates had been transformed (bald caps and all) and it was brilliant to see the full use of the 400 Hall’s various bells and whistles, including sparks and rain. The special effects really did augment what was already a strong show.

Despite its fairly heavy source material, there were several funny moments throughout the play that elicited laughs from the audience, a testament to the skill of the actors in handling changes to the tone. The dramatic elements that formed the majority of the play were carried out fantastically well, with all actors rising to the level required to do them justice (including some extremely powerful scenes in which the tension and emotion was frankly palpable).

The quality of the entire company was definitely the jewel in the production’s crown, with Reims Wright and Joseph Reid often singled out for praise afterwards for the sheer maturity and high standard of their performances. Throughout the show there was a real sense that all on stage, from the major to the minor roles, were taking their parts seriously and doing them to the best of their ability, making for all the more enjoyable a performance.

Most importantly, however, it was lovely to see various year groups and Houses come together to produce something truly special. Many of those on stage had never before done a Repton show and we are so proud of what they achieved, especially the younger ones, who really rose to the task. I can only begin to imagine the camaraderie and teamwork that must have been required to pull it off and I think it bodes very well indeed for the future of Repton Drama (it has certainly set a high bar!).

After a hiatus of more than 18 months, it is difficult to overestimate how great it felt to be back watching a performance in the 400 Hall, especially one so completely engrossing. I’d like to give a huge thank you to all involved – actors, staff and stage crew – for putting on such a great show for us and we’ll be sure to be back soon to be ‘rocked’ by what you have in store for us next…

A First of its Kind

Repton School has been selected by Podium Analytics, founded by Ron Dennis, CBE, as pilot school in the establishment of ‘The Podium Analytics Institute for Youth Sports Medicine and Technology’ at the University of Oxford.

This will be a first-of-its-kind institute focused on 11 to 18-year-olds and safety for lifelong health. Its purpose is to inspire and forge evidence-based changes in sport and physical education, and to develop innovative technologies to monitor, analyse and ultimately prevent injury in sport.

Ron Dennis CBE, Founder and Chairman of Podium Analytics, commented: “Safety in sport is paramount and it’s essential that the focus shifts to young people. With a clear mission to reduce the incidence and

impact of sports injury in young people, Podium Analytics has secured a series of high-profile partnerships to help create a safer world of sport. Headmaster Mark Semmence joined the charity’s founders, the Rt Hon Nigel Huddleston MP, Sports Minister, sporting bodies including England Hockey, other seats of learning that are part of the pilot programme - which include Wellington College and The David Ross Education Trust, as well as lead researchers from Oxford University, at the official launch at 10 Downing Street.

With a major focus and investment in addressing the issue of sports-related injury in 11- to 18-year-olds, Mr Semmence welcomed this drive for pioneering research that will help ensure a better understanding of individual factors that lead to injury in youth sports: “In addition to our elite sports programme, participation is a fundamental part of the Repton experience. Sport, academics and the co-curricular exist in complementarity, with no sacrificing of quality and we see how valuable this sense of balance is to the state of mind of

our entire pupil body. Indeed, most develop a lifelong love of sport and all appreciate the universal benefits participation in sport brings. Our imperative to safeguard the wellbeing of our pupils extends to their emotional as well as their physical prosperity, which is why Podium Analytics will play such a valuable role in Repton’s sports programme going forward.”

The Institute’s work will put young people at the heart of research, shifting the traditional focus of sports injury research, which is principally adult-focused and based upon treatment, to preventative solutions looking at the causes of injury, designed for and proven at a youth level with a focus on 11–18 year olds.