Reigate grammar school pilgrim review spring summer 2018

REVIEW THE PILGRIM

SPRING/SUMMER 2018

TOP CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY SCHOOL IN SURREY FOR THE FOURTH YEAR RUNNING

RGS SHORT-LISTED FOR THE NATIONAL SCHOOL OF THE YEAR AWARD

SUNDAY TIMES & TELEGRAPH

THE TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT

NEW £8M HARRISON CENTRE AND STATE-OF-THE-ART UNIVERSITY STYLE LIBRARY

RGS RATED AS A DESTINATION SCHOOL IN THE TATLER SCHOOLS GUIDE

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HEAD GIRL AND HEAD BOY’S WELCOME TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE RGS COMMUNITY, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY OUR SCHOOL HAS TO OFFER.

Welcome to this edition of the Pilgrim Review. We hope you enjoyed the Autumn Term at Reigate Grammar School and that the Spring Term is off to a flying start.

Autumn was a busy term for us; we applied to university, became mentors for First Form students and, of course, worked hard for our upcoming A Levels.

One of our favourite things about being in Sixth Form is having the new Sixth Form Centre and university style library, which everyone loves.

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It is an honour to represent the school as Head Girl and Head Boy. One of the privileges is being able to meet with Old Reigatians from different generations who have offered great advice and always have funny stories about their time at RGS. A highlight of the Autumn Term was attending the 2018 Tatler School’s Guide launch party at the Landmark London Hotel, where we were able to talk to other Heads of schools.

We are really looking forward to the rest of this term, but now that we are in our

last year we want to enjoy every day we have left at school. With this in mind, to every member of the RGS community we encourage you to make the most of every opportunity our school has to offer.

Laura and Tom Head Girl and Head Boy

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HEADMASTER’S WELCOME REIGATIANS ARE YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERTAKING LIFE’S SPECIAL JOURNEY AND DOING SO WITH A GOOD PURPOSE.

FROM THE HEADMASTER

To be a Pilgrim is our school song. What does that mean? Well, being a pilgrim means being on a special journey with a good purpose. I truly believe that today’s young Reigatians are on life’s special journey and that they undertake it with a good purpose – they leave school determined to make the world a better place.

RGS was honoured to be nominated for the national School of the Year Award by the Times Educational Supplement

This Pilgrim Review is packed full of examples of Reigatians developing skills, personal qualities and a secure moral compass. It shows them having a great time and enjoying their childhood.

Of course, our priority is pastoral care for all the people in our community, children and adults. We want our students to be happy, healthy and high achieving. What I have learned over the course of my career is that a sense of balance in all things is really important to sustain a wholesome and rewarding life. A typical Reigatian works hard, sets themselves the highest aspirations and throws themselves into life with full gusto. You will know that there is no identikit Reigatian, there is no typical Reigatian. Rather, we are privileged to have

a community of individuals, enjoying their school days and exploring the plethora of opportunities designed to help them to develop new talents and interests. We believe in success but we think that there should be as many ways to succeed as there are children in the school. I hope that this Pilgrim Review illustrates how we try to create space for every child to become the best version of themselves.

Reigatians are young people undertaking life’s special journey and doing so with a good purpose. I couldn’t be more delighted.

Shaun Fenton Headmaster 2

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SCHOOL NEWS INTRODUCING THE

HARRISON CENTRE T

he RGS Harrison Centre is a wonderful new learning and community resource. With the generous benefaction and support of the Peter Harrison Foundation and Sir Peter Harrison himself, we have established a new centre: a new heart-of-the-school. It is simply stunning.

Inside the facility there is a wonderful Sixth Form Centre complete with cafĂŠ and social facilities; a High Performance Learning and Innovation room; a library and learning resource centre; a careers library; a series of private study areas as well as some more collaborative spaces; dedicated library classrooms; an upgraded selection of resources and books; classrooms and

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more. Outside the area around the war memorial has been remodelled, there is a terrace overlooking St Mary’s Church, a lovely garden area and social spaces for students.

For generations to come, this transform the learning and social environment of Reigate Grammar School.

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“This is brilliant!�

One of the Third Form students on their first visit to the brand new Harrison Centre.

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SCHOOL NEWS LOVEWORKS CHARITY FOOD FOR FAMILIES AND CONCERT As part of RGS’s on going commitment to reach out to the local community, the Food and Nutrition department, along with the four RGS Houses, donated food for families in need over the Christmas period in Reigate, Redhill and Merstham. The response was incredible - many, families were delighted by our students’ generosity.

Also in collaboration with Loveworks, the RGS Godfrey Searle Choristers performed in a wonderful concert in St Mary’s Church for elderly people in the Reigate area. RGS staff and students created beautiful gift bags for the audience members to take home. The event was a great success with smiling faces afterwards and it was agreed that this event should become an annual feature, as outreach into the community is something that is so important to RGS. Other fundraising for Loveworks included a last day of term ‘mufti’ fundraiser where everyone wore red for charity.

GIANT CHARITY COFFEE MORNING A delicious time was had by all during the Lower School Cake Sale, held as part of the annual Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. First and Second Form students brought in hundreds of cakes and enjoyed selling and eating them at break.

Thank you for the effort made in buying and baking: there were cakes of true beauty this year and some were even made and decorated in the early hours before school! Thank you to the students who manned the sale and to everyone who made the morning such a success.

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LET IT SNOW! At RGS we believe that children grow up too fast and that childhood has too few snow days – days to sledge, build a snowman or throw snowballs. During the pre-Christmas ‘white-out’ of snow around the country, our corner of Surrey missed out. So, not to be outdone, we imported snow via industrial snow machines, all accompanied by hot chocolate and doughnuts. The term ended with big smiles on the faces of all - children and adults.

Those with longer memories will know that RGS’s feelings about snow play are not new. Whilst our policy on heavy snow days has always been to keep the school open if safe to do so, we will always encourage parents, where possible, to make the most of the opportunity to enjoy the fun the conditions bring.

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SCHOOL NEWS AHEAD OF THE GAME Achieving an A or A* at GCSE is a feat in itself and something of which all students should be extremely proud. Achieving this one, two or even three years early is quite remarkable and yet that is exactly what seven RGS students have accomplished.

Huge congratulations go to the following students on their success: Sabah A 5SLC Lucia DF 5CLH Thomas M 5RJW Prutha V 5CLH James L 4NRN Alexandra L 3DAP Purvaja S 3PRM

TOP OF THE LEAGUE RGS was named top co-educational day school in Surrey for the fourth year running in school league tables published by the Telegraph and the Times in 2017/2018.

Headmaster Shaun Fenton said: “There are many different versions of league tables but not one of them measures more than half of what makes a great education. None measures the sense of fun, the quality of friendships, the personal growth, preparedness for adult life and so much more that we all know is vital in a great school. So, school league tables are massively flawed but, if they exist, it is good to be at the top of them.�

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TATLER SCHOOLS SOCIAL EDITOR ROLE FOR FREYA Freya S has been named Reigate Grammar School’s Tatler Social Editor. This is a new role lasting for one year, during which Freya will communicate with the editorial team at Tatler about RGS events that would be interesting features for the bystander pages of Tatler.com, including charity events, balls, sports days, theatrical productions, music concerts and more.

Freya was invited to Vogue House for a day’s induction where she gained some insight into careers in journalism, was briefed on her new role and received some valuable insight from the Tatler team.

PASTORAL CARE ABOVE ALL THINGS The Headmaster was asked to help with the launch of The Children’s Sleep Charity manifesto which promotes the importance of getting a good night’s sleep as something that helps set children up for a healthy, happy and high achieving day at school. This included a launch event in the House of Commons and a live interview for BBC Radio 5 live.

Of course, for families in the RGS community the message is just as important: adults and children benefit from a good routine and plenty of sleep. Shaun Fenton said: “As Headmaster and as a father, I know that this sleep message is right but I admit that at home we do not manage to get it right often enough. The intrusion of digital devices, social media and busy lifestyles are hard monsters to defeat.”

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OUTDOOR PURSUITS

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a major part of life at Reigate Grammar School and the school is a dedicated DofE Centre. Large numbers of pupils each year commit an enormous number of hours to expeditions, sports, helping the local community and learning new skills. In recent years, RGS has seen more candidates receive their Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates than any other school in Surrey. At each level, the award is made of four sections.

VOLUNTEERING The aim is to give service to other people and to the local community. It gives participants the opportunity to increase their self-confidence, accept responsibility, understand strengths, appreciate other people and care for the environment.

EXPEDITIONS Participants plan, prepare and undertake an adventurous journey usually on foot but sometimes on bicycles, horseback or in canoes, often in an unfamiliar and remote environment. Students become part of a self-reliant team working together to overcome challenges. The training syllabus includes safety and emergency procedures, first aid, navigation, route-finding, map and compass skills, camp craft, country, highway and water sports codes and team building.

SKILLS Developing personal interests and learning practical skills gives participants the chance to learn something new, get organised, meet new people, try something different and have fun.

PHYSICAL RECREATION Participants get involved in a sport or physical activity which gives students opportunities to improve fitness, meet new challenges, increase self-confidence and gain a sense of achievement.

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BRONZE

Over 130 Fourth Form students completed their Bronze DofE qualifying expedition.

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SILVER

The Silver qualifying DofE expedition involved a three-day trek across the South Downs and was completed by 90 Fifth Form students.

GOLD

Gold DofE saw 50 Sixth Form groups walking over 50 miles across the remote mountains of mid-Wales.

The Gold DofE night hike in November saw 50 Lower Sixth Form students orienteering around dark woods on Leith Hill.

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CCF ARMY FIELD DAY

The RGS Combined Cadet Force (CCF) enjoys a packed schedule throughout the year, and the Autumn Term is no different.

Bathed in glorious sunshine, our army cadets threw themselves into their field training exercise with enthusiasm and grit. They survived a night under a basha, 24-hour ration packs and all sorts of army style challenges, all of which assisted in their training.

DCCT TRAINING Army Cadets were given the opportunity to experience The Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT), an electronic range that enables cadets to put their marksmanship principles into practice in a variety of simulated environments.

DRIU NAVY FIELD DAY Navy cadets demonstrated excellent passage planning and boat handling skills in Portsmouth where they used Champs to passage to Port Solent from the Royal Navy Training Centre.

FLYING AT RAF BENSON Our RAF cadets continue to take advantage of as many opportunities to fly as possible at RAF Benson. Despite the joys of the English weather, cadets have experienced acrobatics, aircraft control and for some more experienced cadets, assisted in take-off and landing drills.

ARCHERY For the last parade of term cadets had the opportunity to take part in an archery competition. The ‘Top Shot’ award will be announced during the Spring Term Promotions Parade.

The Damage Repair Instructional Unit (DRIU) gave cadets the amazing opportunity to experience the thrill of implementing emergency procedures on a sinking ship in the safety of a simulator.

For some, the idea of plugging holes with bits of wood whilst the water levels rise around them is, understandably, the stuff of nightmares! However, the cadets who signed up to this fascinating session enjoyed every moment. Nerves at the beginning were replaced with smiles of exhilaration as they exited the simulator.

As if the sinking ship simulator wasn’t adrenaline fuelled enough, cadets also had the chance to fight fires in Europe’s leading fire training facility under the instruction of highly skilled and experienced fire trainers.

COMPETITION SUCCESS FOR RGS CCF CADETS Congratulations to all the RGS cadets who took part in the Army Summer Camp and came third in the 11 Brigade inter-CCF Competition. Competing against 16 other schools (with teams of 70 against our 12!)

RGS cadets achieved first place in the Leadership and Skill at Arms Competitions and gained a second place in Military Knowledge.

This is a fantastic team effort and achievement for the Contingent.

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SANDHURST Two RGS senior army cadets (Cdt Sgt Sam M and Cdt Sgt Isaac O) have had the fantastic opportunity to attend The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. During the visit they assisted in the passing out parade and saw how officer cadets experience life while training at the academy.

Speaking about the visit, Cdt Sgt Sam M said: “The Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst was great. We arrived and had a tour that included the New College, the Library, the Gym and the Old College. The next day was the parade, which was spectacular, but cold!”

RECRUIT MOI, NCO

AFLOAT TRAINING

For the first time, this year training for recruits, aspiring instructors and senior cadet instructors was combined. This enabled the recruits to see some of the leadership opportunities in the CCF and provided immediate leadership situations for new and experienced instructors to develop their skills further.

Navy cadets had the opportunity to extend their skills on the water at Mercers Park. Unfortunately, the wind conditions were not suitable for sailing, so the cadets enjoyed an excellent kayaking session instead where they developed their knowledge on the effect of wind on vessels, which has really helped them with their proficiency training.

RAF FIELD DAY

and the new state-of-the-art hangers for the RAF’s new Lightning aircraft.

The RAF cadets’ trip to RAF Marham was a memorable trip, enjoyed by cadets and staff alike. The group was treated to an interesting and detailed presentation of the station’s history (the largest RAF station in the UK). They also enjoyed a guided coach tour around the station and airfield, which included an old nuclear weapons bunker

In the Rolls Royce Building, cadets saw interesting demonstrations of how a Tornado jet engine works and is maintained.

Lunch was followed by a visit to the ejector seat and gun bay, where there were

opportunities for many questions to be asked and for some equipment to be tried out. After a photo-call, Gate Guardians (the static Tornado and Victor aircraft) cadets took part in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) challenge, culminating in the building of a live firing (bean bag) catapult which CWO Josh P won comfortably.

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HOUSE NEWS

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n exciting term for the House competition has seen an array of events, each hotly contested.

First up was House Singing - the battle to be the most harmonious and loudest, not necessarily in that order! As always everyone sang their hearts out in what is, for many, one of the highlights of the House calendar. Following a closely fought event, the results for harmony and unison together placed our Houses as follows: Williamson - 1st Cranston - 2nd Bird - 3rd Hodgson - 4th House Art was hugely popular this year and saw many of our First Form taking part, with a record number of entrants.

Points were awarded for the top three placings in each category, as well as for the total number of entries. Several of these fine works are published in the Art section of this publication.

When the results came in there was only one entry separating first place from second, which goes to show that having a go really does count! Following the judges’ decisions, placings were:

their cannons twice per round when they reached the gate. The new format added to the drama with the whole school encouraging their teams and the atmosphere was electric.

boys who turned out to represent their Houses. The title of Senior House Rugby winners was very closely contested with Bird winning but only as a result of a total points difference tie breaker.

Once everyone had caught their breath, the results came in:

In the other year groups, the competition was just as muddy and equally good natured throughout.

Williamson - 1st Hodgson - 2nd Cranston - 3rd Bird - 4th Rice was the theme of this year’s House Bake-Off which saw students preparing unique and delicious dishes from sushi to arancini. Mrs Bader and Mr Boothroyd were more than happy to judge this event!

In the Senior competition Cranston and Hodgson cooked their way to joint first, while in the Junior competition Cranston was crowned the winner.

With the results of both competitions added up the final placings were: Cranston – 1st Hodgson – 2nd Bird – Joint 3rd Williamson – Joint 3rd

Williamson - 1st Bird - 2nd Cranston - 3rd Hodgson - 4th

The British weather did its best to dampen spirits when it came to Winter House Sports but there was no shortage of enthusiasm from our competitors.

This year’s ’Royal Tournament’ styled House Cannon Run saw the entire school gathered to cheer on what was a beautiful but chilly morning.

In Hockey every House managed a victory in one of the age group competitions.

Accumulated results placed Bird in 4th, joint 2nd went to Hodgson and Williamson and Cranston came out on top.

The four Houses raced around the course, dismantling and re-assembling 13

Rugby was a somewhat muddy and wet affair but was no deterrent to all the

Following all of this activity the House Competition results for the Autumn Term are as follows:

COMPETITIONS CUP (ALL BUT SPORT) Williamson – 1st Cranston -2nd Bird - Joint 3rd Hodgson – Joint 3rd

SPORTS SHIELD Williamson - 1st Hodgson – 2nd Cranston – 3rd Bird – 4th With the Summer Term added to this term’s scores the current House standings for the overall House Cup, combining all House points awarded since Easter when the House Year begins, are as follows:

CURRENT STANDINGS Williamson – 1st Bird - Joint 2nd Cranston - Joint 2nd Hodgson – 4th With the end of the Competition at Easter looming, it’s all still to play for!

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ART FIRST FORM ART COMPETITION THE WORLD AROUND US New Reigatians got off to a flying start in the House Art competition, the theme of which was The World Around Us. The response was unprecedented with works ranging from illustration and fine art to photography. A difficult judging session eventually saw Williamson House crowned winners.

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FIRST PRIZE Sofia M 1RSE Bird Henry C 1LES Hodgson

FIRST PRIZE (PHOTOGRAPHY) Aimee S 1MSP Hodgson Jake H 1TXC Williamson

SECOND PRIZE Lily F 1MDH Williamson Alex J 1RSE Bird

SECOND PRIZE (PHOTOGRAPHY) Jemima C 1TXC Williamson

THIRD PRIZE Elodie A 1GFB Bird Zayna A 1TXC Williamson

THIRD PRIZE (PHOTOGRAPHY) Joel D 1MSP Hodgson Hannah W 1GFB Bird

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OLD LIBRARY EXHIBITION SPACE The stunning development of the Old Library into a new, multi-purpose entertaining space would not be complete without the beautiful works produced by the Art department, which adorn the walls.

Bold portraits by Lauren MF and Lucy H were produced at the end of the Summer Term when they were in the Fourth Form. Both students have just completed their Art mock exam and are getting ready to start their final projects. The portraits are impressive in their ambition of scale and colour and they contrast beautifully with the subtlety on the opposite wall of Millie K’s gentle landscape. Millie, now in the Upper Sixth Form, is applying to read Psychology at university next year.

Striking work by Timea C, inspired by Banksy, is positioned next to the dynamically painted abstract street scene by Kirsty G. Kirsty, also now in Upper Sixth Form, is applying to read medicine. It is wonderful to see students whose futures lie in science, able to fulfil their passion for Art by studying both.

The Old Library also boasts work by Geena O, whose intriguing portrait work is delicate and mysterious at the same time. Holly J’s soaring bird, a piece she astonishingly produced in the Third Form, adds yet another dimension to the space.

It is wonderful to have this beautiful space to exhibit students’ work. As Mr Fenton puts it, “The school is our art gallery and it is another place to celebrate the talent at RGS.”

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ART ELECTIVES PROSTHETIC MAKEUP AND CASUALTY EFFECTS This fun, hands-on elective gave students an insight into the fascinating world of prosthetics and make-up effects as seen on TV and in the movies. Students learned how to sculpt, apply and colour their own silicone appliance such as a casualty effect with some fantastic and scarily realistic results!

As part of the course Prosthetic students teamed up with First Aid students for a fun-filled and at times, rather gruesome afternoon creating realistic life-like injuries.

PHOTOGRAPHY The Photography elective saw students exploring the evolution of self-portraits from traditional painted canvases and pin-hole cameras to the modern phone camera ‘selfie’. Students created photo montages inspired by contemporary photographers using traditional cut and paste methods as well as modern computer editing techniques.

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CALLIGRAPHY Calligraphy joined the exciting electives programme, with students designing lettering styles and developing techniques to enhance calligraphy art pieces. Students produced washes, used embossing powders, masking fluid and powdered watercolour to produce brilliant pieces.

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DRAMA DOUBLE THE DRAMA As the term drew to a close, The Drama department transformed both people, places and things into not one, but two major theatrical events – The History Boys and The History Girls.

The History Boys tells the story of the staff and students at a grammar school in the North of England, circa 1986. Alan Bennett’s much loved play won every Olivier and Tony Award going when it first premiered at the National Theatre in 2004. The all female cast of The History Girls performed an uplifting devised show about the snow day Britain experienced back in 2010.

Both shows delighted packed audiences, who were treated to the high standard of theatre to which we have become accustomed at RGS. Both casts and all the crew involved backstage are to be congratulated on their superb achievements.

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DRAMA THE HISTORY BOYS: BEHIND THE CURTAIN A cacophony of chaos and conversation greeted my arrival into the dressing room before RGS’s first performance of Alan Bennett’s The History Boys. 1980’s music was blaring from the speakers, boys were rushing around with wigs half attached to their hair and sporadic melodies were being played on the piano.

There was an element of apprehension, with the cast sitting on the set and walking through their lines, but after watching the show, the scene I had witnessed beforehand didn’t really seem so different to the on stage dynamics. The boys just carried on the banter and the jokes on and off stage.

What made their performance more endearing was how realistic it seemed, as they were playing the same music and having similar conversations less than half an hour before they tumbled onto the stage. The major differences between the atmospheres on and off stage was the opposing attitudes to education and social divisions between the two eras - I think all the boys were grateful to be in 2017, and not 1986!

Freya S 6BFC Writing for Tatler Magazine as RGS’s Tatler Magazine Schools Social Editor

BEST YOUTH PERFORMANCE AWARD Katharina N and her drama group Applause Drama won the Best Youth Performance category for their performance of A Vampire Story in the Woking Drama Festival. The group also won Best Youth Actor, Best Youth Actress and Best Supporting Actor.

SURREY YOUTH BALLET Caspar M and Yoli M secured key roles in Surrey Youth Ballet’s production of The Sleeping Princess at Leatherhead Theatre.

For Casper who played the Prince, this was a first. Yoli has taken part in the last three years’ productions, however playing one of the fairies this year was her first major role and included a solo and duet. Gaining a role in this production is a fantastic achievement, well done both!

As part of the Royal Ballet School Associates Programme, Yoli has also been invited to attend a pointe workshop at the Royal Ballet School – a fantastic opportunity.

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BACK TO THE 80S The first production of the year saw students from the Second Form through to the Upper Sixth Form perform 1980s’ songs, sketches and dances in a hilarious and nostalgic Cabaret Performance. Scenes from Fry and Laurie, French and Saunders and Victoria Wood were performed alongside show-tunes from the biggest musicals of the decade and cheesy retro dances.

Izzy R and Hatty T presented the evening with a script they had written themselves and audience members even had an opportunity to win prizes in a resurrection of the 1980’s TV show Bullseye.

It was a wonderful evening full of vibrant entertainment and was a fantastic way to kick-off the year’s Drama programme.

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MUSIC

ENSEMBLES CONCERT The Ensembles Concert was a celebration of the variety of music performed at RGS. The guitar ensemble began the evening with a beautiful Irish Folk Medley followed by an arrangement of the Game of Thrones theme.

Next up was a solo performance of Berlioz’s Villanelle by Camille DB ably accompanied by the string quartet of Anna A, Sophia H, Juliet A and Yasmin H.

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The clarinet ensemble performed to their usual high standard followed by the equally impressive brass ensemble and recorder ensemble.

The saxophone ensemble performed arrangements of Watch Your Step and Someone to Watch Over Me before the percussion ensemble finished the evening with a somewhat contrasting version of the Game of Thrones theme.

The evening was hugely enjoyable for all and highlighted the abundant talent across all year groups at RGS.

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CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT Each December, as the Autumn Term draws to a close and thoughts turn to Christmas, the RGS Carols by Candlelight concert brings the whole community together for a festive, atmospheric evening of Christmas music.

Reigate St Mary’s was full to bursting as people poured in to enjoy all of the school’s choirs perform. Highlights this year included Masters in the Hall performed by an all male choir of boys and staff. We also witnessed history in the making as our new girl choristers joined the boys in a performance of Once in Royal David’s City, with Edward C and Eibhlin G joining to sing the opening verse. As well as current students, we were delighted to welcome

back Old Reigatians Maddy W with a soprano saxophone improvisation, and William M on timpani.

As always, the event was a lovely way to bring the term to an end and embrace the Christmas spirit.

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ReiMUN

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he Model United Nations Society kicked off the year hosting RGS’s annual conference with approximately 250 students in attendance. The conference covered fascinating and controversial topics such as the establishment of a nuclear-weapon free zone in the Middle East and the effects of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). It was a huge success with many delegates taking their first steps into the world of MUN and inevitably becoming hooked.

Half term saw a team of excellent delegates visit the Royal Russell International MUN Conference where RGS won numerous prizes.

Shortly afterwards, two delegations spent the weekend in The Hague visiting the Peace Palace whilst taking a tour around the city. They also made time for some excellent debate at the International School of The Hague. Three RGS Upper Sixth Form students acted as Chairs and Student Officers at the event and managed their committees with poise and expertise.

With barely enough time to unpack, it was time for the next event - Croydon High MUN, which was attended by approximately 500 delegates. The superb work of RGS students on the committee

was recognised with the award of Distinguished Delegate going to Jasmine H, Aaron G, Ben DF and Ved N. In addition, the work of the team resulted in the award of Highly Commended Delegation.

Croydon was swiftly followed by London Oratory’s conference where, again, RGS achieved numerous awards including Best Delegation in General Assembly.

To finish the term, the newly established team of delegates from Nonsuch High School was invited to RGS. The debate about the refugee crisis was expertly chaired by two RGS Upper Sixth Form students, and the after school session proved to be a very useful opportunity for everybody to practise and develop their debating skills.

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Harlequin Theatre Orchestral Concert

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The Harlequin Theatre Orchestral Concert featured RGS orchestras, bands and soloists in a varied musical programme. The Concert Band opened the evening’s entertainment with a performance that included a toe-tapping rendition of Uptown Funk. The next large group to perform, CB2, choreographed the opening of their energetic arrangement of The Great Escape, featuring First Formers Isobel R (clarinet) and Zachary S (flute) as well as rising-star trombonist Lakith G. The Swing Band took its customary spot in the programme, sending the audience into the interval with stylish and diverse playing, showcasing a number of members of the very strong Upper Sixth Form cohort.

The second half of the concert featured ISO performing beautiful classical string arrangements and the Symphony Orchestra playing a selection of dancethemed pieces, including brief highlights of the familiar ballet classics Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker.

In between these large ensemble performances, soloists Bernadette CW (Third Form) and Lauren C (Fifth Form)

captivated the audience with compelling Haydn on the trumpet, and intimate VillaLobos on classical guitar, respectively. Jack R (Fifth Form) and Estuardo DA (Third Form) also combined to perform an impressive electric guitar improvisation.

Throughout the evening, the students excelled themselves, rising to the occasion once again and producing thoroughly entertaining music.

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MUSIC UNPLUGGED The first Unplugged concert of the year was accompanied by the string quartet of Gabriele B, Anna A, Ella H and Yasmin H which added depth throughout.

The evening featured songs from regular Unplugged performers including Timea C, Louisa G, Jemima W, Gwen S, Ben S and Milo S. However, there were also many performers who were up for the first time including Freya M, Krishne T, Jo W, Nanette S, Emelye KB and Nicky D. It was particularly pleasing to see such a strong showing from Lower School students including Maddy D, Jemima H, Eibhlin G and Ella H all from the Second Form.

The standard of performance was very high demonstrating once again the depth and versatility of musical talent at RGS.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR RGS MUSICIANS No fewer than ten RGS students have been awarded places in prestigious national choirs and orchestras of Great Britain.

The students took part in auditions before Christmas and their success means that they will now have opportunities to perform with their ensembles at internationally recognised venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican Centre and Symphony Hall, Birmingham. The instrumentalists will perform on violin, harp, guitar, flute, clarinet and bassoon and all of the musicians play important roles already in orchestras, bands and choirs at school and in the local community.

Gabriele, who joins the National Youth Orchestra in the first violin section, said: “I’m thrilled to be a part of such an exciting group, working with outstanding conductors and fellow orchestral players.”

Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, expressed his delight, saying: “The school community is very proud of these musical achievements, and we look forward to following the progress of all the performers throughout the year.”

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Name

Instrument

Orchestra

Juliette CW

Violin

National Children’s Orchestra U13/London

Janith G

Clarinet

National Children’s Orchestra U13

Olivia M

Bassoon

National Children’s Orchestra Associate

Zac S

Flute

National Children’s Orchestra U12/London

Josie W

Oboe

National Children’s Orchestra U12

Lauren C

Guitar

National Youth Guitar Ensemble

Kathryn B

Voice

National Children’s Choir

Zara B

Voice

National Youth Choir

Gabriele B

Violin

National Youth Orchestra

Eleanor M

Harp

National Youth Orchestra

Mr Charlesworth Violin

National Children’s Orchestra Coach

Mr Whitson

National Children’s Orchestra Coach

Trombone/Tuba

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CHORAL MUSIC The Autumn Term is always a busy one for the choirs of RGS with charity concerts, cathedral tours and of course the stunning Carols by Candlelight service, where our choirs’ contributions make for a wonderful evening.

Perhaps the most notable news from the term regards the ancient RGS Godfrey Searle Choir, which has taken the historic step forward of introducing girl choristers: congratulations to the ten girls who are making history. It was wonderful to have both a boy and girl singing the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City at Carols by Candlelight – a real statement of progress.

We look forward to the future with high hopes.

Looking ahead to this term, the opera star Simon Keenlyside will be visiting to give RGS choirs what will no doubt be an inspiring workshop. The internationally renowned choir Tenebrae is also coming to RGS and will feature in the Choral Recital concert on Tuesday 6 February. Lots to look forward to!

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COMPUTING

MATHEMATICS

Over 280 RGS Computing students participated in the UK Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge run by Hertford College, Oxford University.

The top 10% of students in this year’s Bebras Challenge will be invited to take part in March in a new Coding Challenge - TCS Oxford Computing Challenge. Fifty-four RGS students qualified, with over 140,000 taking part nationally.

WHO WANTS TO BE A MATHEMATICIAN – UK FINAL

WIRED NEXT GENERATION TRIP

The event was hosted by stand-up mathematician Matt Parker (pictured above right). Simon Singh (pictured above left), author, journalist and TV producer, gave an interesting talk and discussed the making of his BBC documentary on Fermat’s Last Theorem.

Both Matt Parker and Simon Singh have recently delivered talks here at RGS.

Computing students from the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Upper Sixth Forms attended the Wired Next Generation conference at the Tobacco Docks in London. The one-day conference run by Wired magazine is specifically aimed at 12 to 18 year-old students and piggybacks onto their main UK conference for businesses.

Attending the conference enables students to visit a variety of workshops, hear inspirational keynote speakers from around the world and have hands-on experience trying out new technologies that haven’t even been released to the market.

The workshops the students attended ranged from How to Make a More Sustainable City to Building Your Own Drone. Some of the highlights of the event included a demonstration of the Gravity Flight suit by Richard Browning, who has just set a new world record, and Tom London who combines magic and mathematics.

In the UK final of Who Wants to Be A Mathematician, Connie BS, along with three other finalists from around the UK, had beaten over 1,100 other young people in previous rounds to secure their place in the national final.

The final was extremely close with Connie being only two marks behind the eventual winner. Congratulations to Connie for making it to the final and for her excellent performance on the day.

SENIOR MATHS CHALLENGE The Fifth and Sixth Forms have done exceptionally well in this year’s Senior Maths Challenge with nine Upper Sixth Form and three Lower Sixth Form students achieving Gold certificates.

The highest result was gained by Upper Sixth Form student Connie BS who qualified directly for the British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1. In addition, the following students have qualified for the Kangaroo round of the Mathematical Olympiad: Benedict S, Aaron G, Andrew P, Milo S, Ashwin B, Daniel M, Adam S, Luke M, Tomos N, Isaac O, Jun WK, Andrew H, Thomas F and Christopher M. With 29 Silver certificates and 35 Bronze certificates to be awarded, The Sixth and Fifth Forms have done very well.

COUNTING STARS Upper Sixth Formers Connie BS and Eleanor M achieved Distinctions in the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls. A special mention must go to Connie who achieved 100% and in doing so qualified for the British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1, which took place in December. Connie achieved a Distinction and a Silver medal in Round 1 and so has qualified for Round 2 of the British Mathematical Olympiad.

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CLASSICS ANCIENT ITALY October’s Classics trips saw 74 RGS students escape the oncoming winter for a week of blissful sunshine exploring ancient sites around Naples and Rome.

On arrival in Naples, students headed straight for the colossus that is Mount Vesuvius. The enormity of the crater, created by the blast that wiped out Pompeii and Herculaneum, was a remarkable sight.

The first ancient stop of the week was Pompeii, the focus of many of our Latin students’ studies. A walk around the cobbled streets brought to life the areas they had read about in their Cambridge Latin books. Highlights were the forum, theatre and casts of the victims of Vesuvius’ eruption.

Leaving Pompeii, the winding road of the Amalfi coast led the group through beautiful vistas and towns clinging to the mountain sides. The next stop was the peaceful site of Paestum with its majestic Greek temples.

The port town of Herculaneum followed and then students headed off to the treasures of the Vatican Museum - most notably the Sistine Chapel. After admiring the grandeur of St Peter’s Basilica, the group reformed to cross the Tiber where visits to the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps awaited them.

Ostia Antica was the last ancient site of the tour where warm sunshine, ancient sites, local delicacies and a huge amount of culture provided for a fun filled, fascinating trip for all.

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MFL TATE MODERN TRIP After a traditional French breakfast in the Food and Nutrition lab, RGS MFL students headed for the Tate Modern on the River Thames for a treasure hunt of famous paintings created by French or Spanish artists according to which language we take. We gained insight into the vibrant cultures that helped create them. I had never been to the Tate Modern before; so I was very excited and it definitely did not disappoint. I never knew how small Metamorphosis of Narcissus by Salvador DalĂ­ really is! I was left absolutely aghast by the precision and technique that must have been required to create it. Seeing the expression of global artistic movements such as surrealism and cubism via the works of Spanish pioneers such as DalĂ­ and Picasso was intriguing and exciting.

Finally, to finish the day, we all went to a traditional Spanish restaurant to eat raciones: a larger version of tapas.

Ellie K 6AGR

LA CASA ENCANTADA La Casa Encantada (The Haunted House) was an amusing and thoroughly entertaining Spanish play for an audience from the First Form all the way to the Lower Sixth Form. It was definitely a laughter packed play which everyone enjoyed.

Puja M 6BFC

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BERLIN CHRISTMAS MARKETS The Second Form German trip to Berlin this year was a huge success. We went to a lovely Christmas market on Alexanderplatz where we went ice-skating. We also saw Paddington 2 in German.

We visited the Jewish Museum and learnt more about the Nazi regime. In the Checkpoint Charlie Museum we learnt about the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. In the evening we had fun bowling.

On the last day we went to the Reichstag, the German parliament and its glass dome was amazing with beautiful views all over Berlin. Overall a really great trip!

Amelia S 2AMV

STEPHEN SPENDER TRUST POETRY AWARD

SENIOR CULTURE SOCIETY

RGS Sixth Former Ambah BC achieved first place in the Stephen Spender Trust U18 prize for ‘poetry in translation’. This is a notoriously difficult competition, especially in the U18 category for someone who was in the Fifth Form when she was entered.

The brand new Senior Culture Society got off to an exciting start with debating topics such as the influence of culture on music and cinema. Students also reflected on a famous quote from Alan W. Watts:

You can read her Krio to English translation on The Stephen Spender Trust website: stephen-spender.org

“We seldom realize, for example that our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own. For we think in terms of languages and images which we did not invent, but which were given to us by our society.”

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CANSAT CHALLENGE

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY CANSAT CHALLENGE A team of RGS students has entered the CanSat Challenge, run by the European Space Agency. This is an annual competition where groups of school students design and produce a satellite-like device that can fit into a standard 33cl soft drinks can.

The main requirements of the device include the capability to collect and record temperature and pressure data during a 20 second, 120 metre descent. The CanSat must also be able to withstand landing.

Additionally, every team must accomplish a secondary mission of their choosing. The RGS team decided to create a can that would be able to help rescue people who were stranded in remote locations, places the emergency services would struggle to reach promptly. The team designed a can

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that will be able to transmit a video feed after it lands and drive itself to the precise location of survivors based on remote instruction from a ground station. The operators of the ground station would use the video feed to locate survivors and assess their condition; then, they would use the can to deliver a payload of a radio so that the stranded person/people would be able to communicate with emergency services.

The RGS team is composed of six Fifth to Upper Sixth Form students and is being mentored by Miss Lewty (Head of Computer Science) and Mr Smith (Teacher of Physics). The team includes Barnaby C, Nathan B, Benjamin DF, Manish S, Jack R and Elena K. Currently, they are working on designing and assembling their CanSat and its software and they have already submitted two thorough reports to the

governing body of the challenge.

Next on the team’s agenda is completing the testing process and delivering an outreach programme that will promote engineering and computer science; they hope to spread their love of these disciplines throughout the local community and encourage scientific enquiry.

Recently, the team heard back from ESA who announced that they have progressed to the last stage of the competition and have been invited to participate in the final launch, which will be held in York. Here they will launch their CanSat alongside the other remaining teams, and their devices and design processes will be adjudicated.

Good luck to team RGS! Ellie K 6AGR

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DESIGN TECHNOLOGY DT ENTERPRISE PROJECT As part of their studies, DT Enterprise Project students designed, manufactured and sold Christmas products with proceeds going to charity. Fifteen groups competed to sell their stock, with items ranging from decorations and coasters to headphone organisers and cards.

Every student played a role in their team with everyone getting stuck in and all showing creativity and talent throughout.

Teams had to market their final solutions with the aim of maximising profit.

Between them, with stalls at the PFA Christmas Fair, groups raised over ÂŁ900 for charities George and the Giant Pledge and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

This was a fantastic creative project that also helped to develop business acumen and it is wonderful to see students making a vital contribution to such worthy causes as part of their studies.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

As is the case every term, students have been cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

Fourth Form GCSE students, as part of their Food and Nutrition course, showed flair in their finishing techniques when making and decorating Bakewell tarts. This highly skilled dish, required the students to make shortcrust pastry, line a dish, blindbake and then decorate with chocolate work. The results were excellent!

Our Third Form had the opportunity to visit local butchers Blue Cow where they were taught the highly skilled practice of de-boning a chicken. They were also guided through mackerel filleting by Harrison’ school chef Merv Ryder. This was a really enjoyable session with the perfectly filleted fish being used the following week to make delicious fish-cakes.

The kitchen was also filled with wonderful smells and a smattering of competition during the House Bake-Off sessions where rice was the key ingredient. Details of these session along with the rest of the House competition can be found on page 13.

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ENGLISH THE MERCHANT OF VENICE The Guildford Shakespeare Company’s visit gave the Third Form the experience of being players in Shakespeare’s complex and challenging play The Merchant of Venice.

The dramatic reading and performance of the work allowed students to consider how the actors portray each character and the ways in which they envelop themselves in their art. Students were called upon to take the stage as Antonio, Gratiano, Salarino, Salerio and Nerissa and also to

take part in demonstrating the numerous ways of showing emotion in the classic lines from the play, “In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.” Mr Shaughnessy was even called into action as the Duke in the dramatic climax of the play.

The theme of the Third Form’s lessons this term has been ‘The Outsider’ and students have studied prose, poetry and Shakespeare on this theme. The company’s actors gave students their insight into this theme in The Merchant of Venice after the performance and their experience of playing these characters.

KING LEAR The Sixth Form’s trip to The Globe theatre in Southwark saw an interesting production of King Lear, set in a disused theatre. Although the rain came pouring in during the second half, the performance was a fascinating portrayal of Lear and his downfall.

The trip gave students the opportunity to see how the director, Nancy Meckler, had demonstrated Lear’s increasing vulnerability and loss of power. For the Lower Sixth Form who have not yet studied the play, it was a valuable introduction to the central themes of the story. For the Upper Sixth Form, the production is an important reminder of the text in preparation for their exams.

The day, topped off with ramen noodles on the South Bank and a stroll through Borough Market, was both beneficial in terms of the students’ study and a great day out for all.

FIRST FORM BOOK CLUB Having read a number of novels ranging from Anne Fine’s The Tulip Touch to Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, students ended the term with Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses series. A special commendation should go to Sophie H who, as the club’s most voracious reader,

has read an incredible 17 novels this term!

Well done Sophie and congratulations to all for challenging yourselves to read such a wide variety of literature!

Following such a successful term, members of the club celebrated their enjoyment of literature with a visit to see the screen version of RJ Palacio’s novel Wonder at the Everyman Cinema, Reigate.

NATIONAL POETRY DAY The Poetry Society’s annual National Poetry Day returned to RGS with this year’s theme being ‘Freedom’. Amid the throng of the lunchtime queue, students composed poetic comments in the English department’s pop-up poetry pod.

Alongside this, students were challenged with an extract from Black Roses by Simon Armitage (a poetic sequence in the voice of Sophie Lancaster) and What Stephen Lawrence Has Taught Us by Benjamin Zephaniah. They were then encouraged to consider what is meant by freedom of identity and expression. Students wrote mature, thought-provoking responses with many opting to focus on the right to individuality and the right to exist in a world without prejudice.

With such excellent contributions from students across the school, it is safe to say that RGS truly rose to the occasion.

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GEOGRAPHY LOCAL FIELDWORK

WEATHER CLUB

Students have undertaken a variety of field trips throughout the Autumn Term. First was a visit to Brixton for the Lower Sixth Form who investigated the nature and perception of ‘place’. Many unfamiliar with the area were surprised to discover such a vibrant and diverse community undergoing rapid gentrification.

Monday’s Weather Club continues its popularity and the long awaited second high altitude balloon launch came tantalisingly close recently. Collaboration between the CAA, the Met Office and our own keen meteorologists offered some windows of opportunity however, on this occasion, the weather had other ideas. The helium balloon, travelling to 100,000 feet before parachuting back to earth, is susceptible to winds with a risk of losing the instruments to the sea or even crossing congested airspace near Luton, Heathrow and Gatwick.

A second trip included security clearance at Gatwick Airport to observe the extensive flood defences and management of water quality with a guided talk from the water engineers. In the afternoon, students completed a practical investigation into rates of infiltration on the slopes of Box Hill.

The Second Form spent a day at the Seven Sisters Country Park investigating erosion, deposition and management of this classic stretch of coastline.

Third Form students spent a day in London taking in the Museum of London, Docklands and Canary Wharf to contrast the changing nature of development and the impacts of this on the East End. Construction of Europe’s highest residential tower recently began in the area - once complete it will be taller than One Canada Square and it will be interesting to observe changes during future visits. Students also visited the Siemen’s Crystal building to discover pressures on the planet and examples of sustainable urban living.

Plans are now being made for the Spring so fingers crossed! In the meantime, the weather crew has continued to monitor the school’s two stations and provide forecasts with impressive levels of accuracy.

A November case study conference for the Sixth Form offered an opportunity to hear about a variety of topics from some eminent speakers including Danny Dorling, Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at the University of Oxford, and adventurer and film-maker Ash Bhardwaj whose work is frequently featured on television.

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HISTORY AND POLITICS HISTORY AND POLITICS READING GROUP The History and Politics Reading Group engages with a wide range of historical scholarship. Books read so far this year include Jung Chang’s Wild Swans, Anna Funder’s Stasiland, Peter Ackroyd’s Queer City as well as slightly less recent texts such as Malory’s Morte d’Arthur.

Discussions have been wide-ranging: the earliest days of human history have been discussed as we debated new scholarship that questions whether the agricultural revolution and the subsequent rise of cities was actually a good thing for humanity.

More recent historical anniversaries such as the centenary of the Balfour Declaration have also sparked debate about its consequences in the Middle East.

In addition, less weighty matters have been covered by the group, from the misadventures of Arthurian knights to a spirited discussion about the possibilities

POLITICS AND LANGUAGE IN THE AGE OF TRUMP

of winning a land war in Asia (a related question of why people never learn from history was also explored).

The group is always fuelled by plentiful biscuits and tea!

The History and Politics Society visited the London School of Economics to see Mark Thompson present a talk on Politics and Language in the Age of Trump. Mr Thompson, previously Director-General of the BBC and now CEO of the New York Times, discussed a wide range of topical themes such as the fake news phenomena and the role of traditional print media in the social media age.

The talk prompted wide-ranging discussion amongst students and led to many followup debates, most notably on objectivity amongst the non-regulated social media providers.

Students from across the Sixth Form attended the talk with many asking the former Director-General questions on topics as diverse as Trump’s use of Twitter to the origins of Populism.

THE SLAVE TRADE The Third Form researched the slave trade including the Middle Passage, slave auctions and life on plantations in the West Indies and the Southern States of America.

Students used the new library facilities and technology to showcase their findings.

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USA TRIP Washington DC and New York were beautiful for the History and Politics trip in the autumn. With the election of Donald Trump, it felt very different and it is clear the USA is a divided nation at the moment. This point was reiterated in a talk given by Andrew Sullivan, an old Reigatian, who is now a highly respected political commentator in the US. Andrew is a long-time Republican supporter but he presented a rather pessimistic assessment of Trump’s first 10 months in office. Andrew was very generous with his time and it is clear that he holds dear memories of RGS. He was delighted, although a little shocked, to discover that he went to school with a number of parents of our students!

Hilary Shelton, head of the NAACP within DC, gave us another excellent talk. Indeed, his answers proved very useful for our History students currently tackling their coursework essays on the civil rights movement. Students also visited the major sights such as the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery and the Supreme Court. During a visit to Congress students were very fortunate to gain entry to a debate within the Senate where they saw Mitch McConnell, Republican Majority leader, and Chuck Schumer, Democrat Minority leader, argue the merits of plans for healthcare and tax reform.

Leaving DC to transfer to New York, the group stopped en route at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. The Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 was the scene of the deadliest

battle of the Civil War and is often described as the war’s turning point with the Union delivering a decisive blow to Confederate forces.

In New York students visited Ellis Island and saw the experiences of many new immigrants to the USA in the early 20 th century. They also spent three hours in the 9/11 Museum, and had a morning tour of the UN. However, it was not just work and education: with novelty baseball and Statue of Liberty hats donned, the group enjoyed the sights and experiences of New York. This included various culinary delights and a Broadway Show. There was also time for some retail therapy when students educated the teachers on modern sartorial trends.

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RUGBY

T

he new entrants to the RGS Rugby programme this year made a fantastic impact, showing huge appetite and commitment to the cause. Most exciting, once again, was the strength in depth with the school being able to field A-D teams in competitive fixtures. The primary focus of the programme is enjoyment and player development, which has given all the boys a platform in which to thrive. There were fantastic performances across the board and the RGS style of free-flowing, expansive rugby was put into full effect leading to several notable wins over some very strong opposition.

The Second Form continued to develop their own personal understanding of the game as well as undergoing an extensive skill development programme.

The fixtures list was deliberately challenging to test the boys and increase the pressure on their skill sets, whilst maintaining an enjoyable and freeflowing atmosphere. The boys all responded superbly to this environment, with the year able to field A-C teams as well as fostering a risk-taking, competitive mind set.

It was an exciting season of rugby for the Third Form. The hard work and dedication shown by the boys, both on and off the pitch, over the past two years has really begun to pay dividends with total rugby really in full effect. When you have a prop displaying the vision to recognise space

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behind and chipping to a second row to collect, then it is quite apparent that the understanding is there. Of the 25 fixtures played, 21 were victorious including a last gasp win over Sevenoaks and a win on tour in Pamplona, Spain during October Half Term. It must be said this was a massive highlight of the season with experiences to last a lifetime. With all these boys now moving forward into senior rugby at RGS, the future is looking bright.

Our Fourth Form had a season playing some excellent free-flowing rugby.

The development amongst the squad has been notable with technique and understanding improving enormously.

Our U16 squad continued its development on the rugby stage, representing the school with

commitment, hard work and pride. Led from the front by some excellent senior players, the team once again showed creativity, resilience and determination.

Despite injuries disrupting the flow, the squad stepped up and show great promise as they move towards senior rugby next year.

Senior rugby boys approached the season with great spirit. Training sessions were heavily games based and built to encourage risk taking, creativity and fitness. The senior players in the group integrated expertly with the new Lower Sixth Form boys and taught them the various strategies employed by the squad. Excitingly, this squad combines with the current Fifth Form next July to tour South Africa and build towards the 2018 season.

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SWIMMING RGS PLACED TOP CO-ED SCHOOL IN SURREY SCHOOLS’ SWIMMING RELAY RGS swimmers competed at the Surrey Schools’ Relay competition at the Guildford Spectrum in what proved to be a hugely successful evening. As well as improving on the medal tally from previous years, RGS also came in as top co-educational school in Surrey! This was the result of amazing performances from all swimmers, not just those who secured medals.

Overall RGS secured seven team medals one gold, three silver and three bronze.

MEDAL HAUL FOR OWEN IN THE WELSH SWIMMING NATIONALS

ENGLISH SCHOOLS’ NATIONAL SWIMMING RELAY FINALS

Owen K had a hugely successful competition at the Welsh Swimming Nationals. Owen swam to four medals taking home silver in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke. He also secured new club open records and finished with a bronze in the 400m IM.

Charlie J, Tomos K, Lakith G, Alex MJ, Toby S, Ruby J, Daisy G, Clara A, Jemima P, Issy H, Eva M, Abigail C, Freya T and Sara M represented RGS at the English Schools’ National Swimming Relay Finals at the London Aquatics Centre. It was an exciting and fun day, which kicked off with a chance to watch Tom Daley dive!

Overall Owen swam 16 new PBs over the course of the nationals, a fantastic achievement all round.

MEDALS FOR DAISY AT THE SUSSEX COUNTY SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS Daisy G put in an outstanding performance at the Sussex County Swimming Championships. Gold medals in the U14s 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly, silver medals in 50m freestyle and 200m backstroke and bronze medals in the 50m backstroke, 200m freestyle and the 100m backstroke.

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The students all swam well with many achieving personal best long course times.

RGS qualified for 5 of the 12 events - a joint record and the highest number of qualifications achieved by any Surrey coeducational school.

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BIATHLON AND TRIATHLON BIATHLON SUCCESS 32 RGS students took part in the South East Schools’ Biathlon in Gillingham. It was a very successful day.

Team medals were awarded as follows: U12 Girls U13 Girls U14 Girls U14 Girls U13 Boys U15 Boys

Bronze – Devon M, Amelie H and Ellie H Silver – Eva M, Gemma S and Alex J Gold – Issy H, Clara A and Sara M Bronze – Lily FJ, Abigail C and Annalise H Bronze – Max J, Lukas K and Ioan K Silver – Tomos K, Toby S and Lakith G

Individual top tens (top six received medals): U12 Girls U13 Girls U14 Girls U15 Girls U16 Girls U13 Boys U15 Boys U17 Boys U19 Boys Staff

7th – Devon M Silver – Eva M Gold – Issy H; Bronze – Clara A 6th – Jemima P 6th – Katie D 6th – Max J 4th – Toby S; 5th – Tomos K; 9 th – Lakith G 4th – Owen K Silver – Scott J Gold – Mr Sillience

As always students and staff did the school proud, well done to all.

BRITISH MODERN BIATHLON SCHOOLS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS 31 RGS students along with Mr Sillience have qualified for the National Finals in March at Crystal Palace. This represents a record number for RGS and is a fantastic achievement for the students.

Harry D, Ali N, Gusie L, Amelie H, Ellie H, Devon M, Elis K, Ioan K, Lukas K, Max J, Myles H, Gemma S, Eva M, Robert H, Jasmine F, Abigail C, Annalise H, Clara A, Issy H, Sara M, Isobel J, Lakith G, Tomos K, Tobermory S, Henry M, Jemima P, Machayla D, Katie D, Theo L, Owen K, Scott J, Gary S (Staff)

HEVER CASTLE TRI Machayla D competed in the Hever Castle Triathlon in the U15 age group category.

With a new course, water temperature below 16°C (wetsuits mandatory) and a field of over 200 competitors in the group all fighting for position, Machayla managed an impressive 16th place in her category with a time of 00:53:55, a great result.

GOLD MEDAL BIATHLON Henry M secured a gold medal from the Ascot Schools Biathlon. This is an outstanding achievement for Henry and the beaming smile on his face showed just how proud he was.

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HOCKEY T

he girls’ Hockey programme continues its record breaking success with, once again, more girls representing the school than ever before. For the first time the U14s, U16s and U18s have all reached the South Quarter Finals in the national competition, highlighting RGS’s Hockey strength across all year groups.

The U12s can be particularly proud of winning the B stream of the Lingfield tournament early in the season – a fantastic achievement. For many, Hockey was a new sport when joining RGS. Now, just a few months in, they’re defeating strong opposition week after week. The charisma and team spirit of the girls has been infectious – they should be very proud of an outstanding season.

The Taunton tour was a real highlight for many of the U13s; a tiring but very successful few days. The girls have shown real commitment and confidence is growing with each match played. They have perfected some intricate stick work with more aggressive tackling and attacking leading to goals flowing more freely.

The U14As had a fantastic run in the nationals with wins against St Teresa’s, KGS and St John’s to reach the South Quarter

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Finals against Surbiton High. Every member of the team has bought into the playing style and embraced the opportunity to develop their skills in different positions.

They are dedicated, hard-working, adaptable and all eager to improve their skills and support one another.

Champions of Surrey and London, the ever dedicated U15 squad continues to develop its winning combination which has seen some exciting performances against some of the big Hockey schools.

Following some brilliant play, the U16s earned themselves a Quarter Final at home against Headington, Oxfordshire in front of a large Reigate crowd. Sadly, they lost out in penalty flicks following a tough game but should nevertheless be extremely proud of their efforts throughout the season.

Moving on to our seniors, the 1st XI achieved a well deserved place in the

South Quarter Final play-offs against Bradfield at home in front of a large RGS crowd. Despite an early lead, RGS just missed out against a strong Bradfield side.

The 2nd XI this year, has provided a platform for players to develop skill, confidence and team spirit. They have worked hard to enjoy their games, coming out with some super victories. The talent demonstrated by the individuals has grown in abundance.

Finally, our 3rd XI. A great season has seen the girls compete against a variety of opposition with highlights that include significant wins against Ardingly, KCS and Hurst. Enthusiastic and dedicated, the girls have been consistently hungry to learn and improve their game at training sessions and have shown resilience and good humour.

They have never lacked in team spirit and friendship, which is what it is all about.

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RECORD BREAKING HOCKEY REPRESENTATIVES

A

record number of RGS students (41) now represent the county, Performance Centre and national age group levels in Hockey. This includes the highest number of goal keepers, showing the strength of the RGS Hockey programme and the effect of the inspirational play from Sixth Former Jemma W, member of the England Hockey National Age Group (NAGs) programme, who played for England U16s last year.

The record breaking selection also includes the highest number of boys ever selected with nine gaining honours. 1st XI Captain Scott J, former county and Performance Centre player, has had a huge impact here as Assistant Coach for the Surrey U13 Lions team.

SURREY

Boys

Girls

Oscar G U13 Lions Matthew W U13 Panthers Josh H U15 Lions Charlie H U15 Lions George D U15 Panthers Harvey N U16 Panthers Ed M U17 Matt MN U17

Emily B U13 Panthers Sophia V U13 Panthers Sophia C non travelling reserve Victoria C GK Academy training Ella B U14 Lions Stephanie S U14 Lions Annalise H U14 Lions Lily FJ U14 Panthers Alice N U15 Lions Kathryn B U15 Panthers Elise H U15 Panthers Freya M U15 Panthers Zoe M U16 Lions Lucy B U16 Lions Lily G U16 Lions Katie D U16 Lions Brianna E U16 Lions Katie M U16 Panthers Libby S U16 Panthers Isabella CB U13 and U15 Sophie N U17 Annie P U17

PERFORMANCE CENTRE Steph W Taylor W Amy W Ella W Ellie H Peggy W Izzy VS Alice N Ben T Maya Y – AASE Programme

NATIONAL AGE GROUPS (NAGS) U17 Jemma W – England U16 48

R EI G AT E G R A M M A R SC H OO L

SPORTING ALL STARS BOYS’ DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY SUCCESS

SET4SUCCESS NEILCOTT TROPHY

November saw RGS boys competing in all five age groups at the South Surrey Cross Country Championships at Gatton Park.

The First Form team ran exceptionally well, winning their event and beating 12 other teams in the process! In the senior event RGS also came out as winners with Oscar SS coming 1st overall.

Issy H has been awarded a 2017 Set4Success award which is presented to selected local sports men and women who have demonstrated true potential in their chosen field.

There were several excellent individual performances in other age groups, notably Patrick B (1st) in the U14 race and Theo L (4th) in the U16 race.

Other winners included pro football players, national swimmers, GB gymnasts, a national horse rider and athletes from track and field.

Issy was presented with the winners trophy by Jade Lally, GB discus thrower, Mike Goody, 8x Invictus games gold medal winner and Para Olympian Jim Roberts who gave an inspirational address.

AASE PROGRAMME NOMINATION FOR MAYA Congratulations to Maya Y on joining the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme. The AASE is funded by the Education Funding Agency and England Hockey and aims to ensure top young athletes seeking to perform at the highest level receive the support and training they need to succeed in elite sport.

Maya hopes the training, which develops, amongst other things, effective decision making skills, self organisation and the ability to adapt under constant high pressure, will help to prepare her for a life in medicine.

SURREY CROSS COUNTRY RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS Katie D and Emelye KB’s Reigate Priory Athletics Club (RPAC) team secured a third place finish in the Surrey Cross Country Relay Championships. The 7.5k race saw each girl running 2.5k with Katie and Emelye competing in the U17 age group.

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SURREY COUNTY GIRLS’ RUGBY SQUAD SUCCESS Following a tough assessment process and lots of competition, Victoria W successfully secured a place in the Surrey U15 girls’ Rugby squad - a brilliant achievement!

AUTUMN LEAGUE DRESSAGE TROPHY Well done to Fourth Former Liv H who won the Autumn League Dressage Trophy run through a local riding association. Liv secured the most points by placing first in two competitions and third in another.

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NATIONAL SQUASH SUCCESS RGS’s U17 Squash team has progressed through to the second round of the National Schools’ Squash Competition, beating both Charterhouse School and RGS Guildford.

NUTRITION As part of the RGS PE lecture series Third Form students had the opportunity to learn about food and nutrition from Performance Director, Mr Birkett.

This exciting new initiative will give all students the opportunity to develop their knowledge on topics including health, fitness and well-being throughout the year.

The aim of this series is to continue the holistic development of our students in a lecture style setting.

SAILING INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE FOR PHILOMENA Lower Sixth Form student Philomena A has successfully completed a one-week training and assessment course, qualifying her as a RYA Sailing Instructor. The course included practical assessments, presentations, guidance on coaching skills and sailing and weather theory.

As well as being able to teach sailing to both adults and children, she also qualifies as a ‘Start to Race Instructor.’

GOLF Golf continues to flourish at RGS with a very full fixture list. This year’s first team has been ably lead by captain Harry F with excellent support from Max H, Fin C, Olly K, Charlotte B, Chloe B and Josh N. Olly and Josh continue to play for Surrey and Adam C is part of the U15 Surrey Development Squad.

The first team squad has benefited greatly from the coaching of Cliff Gough, the professional at Reigate Heath Golf Club, which has continued to support RGS golf.

Once the light evenings return after Easter the senior squad will be touring the West Country as a pre-summer tour.

YOUTH CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS Lauren T attended the Scottish Youth Climbing Championships at Ratho International Climbing Centre in Edinburgh.

Lauren placed 4th in the first of two qualifying rounds and joint 5th in the second, placing her 5th overall and securing her place in the final.

In the final, climbers were taken into an isolation room where they were unable to watch each other climb or see the routes prior to their turn. Thanks to her hard work and dedication leading up to the event, Lauren placed 4th out of the 18 climbers, some of whom are member of team GB!

SAILING TO SUCCESS Having achieved a well-earned 3rd place with her all girl crew in the RS Feva National Sailing Championships, Delphine A competed in the RS Feva World Sailing Championships, organised by ISAF, in Medemblick in Holland. There were 177 boats which took part, with competitors from 17 different countries including New Zealand, China and Hong Kong.

After two days of tough qualifying races Delphine made it into the top fleet. She and her helm achieved 28th overall and ranked 3rd placed all girl crew.

Achieving the position of 3rd fastest girls in the world is an incredible achievement, one which would not have been possible without all her hard work during winter training with the RYA National squad.

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NETBALL

ENGLAND NETBALL MASTERCLASS RGS was delighted to welcome England Internationals Beth Cobden and Jodie Gibson for a Netball masterclass. In addition to representing their country, Beth is currently playing for Loughborough Lightning and Jodie for the Worcester side, Seven Stars.

During the session girls were split into two groups with attackers primarily working on

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hitting the circle edge effectively with Beth, and the rest of the group on split circle defence with Jodie.

At the end of the session the group came together for some match play. It was brilliant to see the skills the girls had learnt earlier in the session apparent in their on court play.

We look forward to following the progress of the squads over the coming season.

“WITH A 44% INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION AT GRASS ROOTS LEVEL NATIONALLY IN THE LAST YEAR, IT IS GREAT TO SEE RGS NETBALLERS THRIVING FROM HIGH LEVEL COACHING FROM INTERNATIONAL STARS.” MISS TRAVIS PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR OF NETBALL

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CRICKET

TOP 100 SCHOOLS RGS RATED TOP 100 SCHOOL BY THE CRICKETER RGS has been selected by national magazine The Cricketer as one of the top 100 schools in the country for excellence in Cricket.

The Playing Fields of England annual report recognises schools that have the best coaching, facilities, results, fixture lists, community engagement and sustained support for the wider game and its players.

“WE OFFER STUDENTS ACCESS TO HIGH CLASS FACILITIES AND COACHING AND LOOK TO DEVELOP A LOVE FOR THE GAME IN ALL THAT PLAY.” MR LECK HEAD OF CRICKET “It is always lovely to be recognised in reports and league tables - especially from respected national magazines such as The Cricketer. What pleases me even more is the sportsmanship and comradeship I see in the boys and girls who take to the pitch each summer. Sport is a key element in the lives of our students, helping them relax, develop team skills and celebrate success.”

Shaun Fenton RGS Headmaster

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FOUNDATION

Left to right - front row: Bryony S, Bee W, Sophia G; back row: Leo N, Luke M, Ashwin B

INTRODUCING OUR STUDENT AMBASSADORS We have been lucky enough to be selected as the very first RGS Foundation Student Ambassadors. As representatives of the RGS Foundation, we have received opportunities to connect with the Reigatian community, past and present.

This was evident in the first task of our new role as we took the class of 1967 on a tour of RGS as part of their Gold Reunion.

The men and women we met were such diverse and interesting people and from this event it became clear that continuous generosity is integral to the Reigatian community. The reunion also highlighted how significant education is as a starting ground in life, as the former students emphasised their fond memories of RGS. Later in the term, members of our team headed to Priory Park where they helped the wider community by getting involved with Run Reigate and raised significant sponsorship money for the Changing Lives campaign. That same weekend, the RGS Foundation hosted a Graduation Brunch for those who left RGS in 2013 and Foundation Ambassadors were in attendance to meet and greet the 53

former students. Both events provided opportunities to engage with a variety of people who live and study all around the country, something which was very rewarding as it allowed for some conversations we wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to experience. The Graduation Brunch was also an interesting insight into the type of events we could be attending at RGS in a few years’ time after leaving the school.

The biggest project we have tackled this term has been organising a fundraising event for the Changing Lives Campaign.

In the Spring Term, we are going to be hosting an inter-house talent show that showcases the determination and talent RGS encourages and celebrates. This project is hugely important to all of us as RGS Foundation Student Ambassadors as it has been independently managed and enables us to impact school life directly.

We are greatly thankful to the Foundation for creating these new opportunities for us and excited to continue our work in 2018!

Bee W 7STC and Bry S 7STC

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FOUNDATION TEAM RAN REIGATE Thank you to all who competed, cheered and supported at September’s Run Reigate which saw 18 runners take part for the Changing Lives Campaign. Two individuals who stood out above the rest were Oscar S (7KSHl) who finished the 10k in second place with an astonishing time of 34:28 and George Roux (’07) who flew round the

Half Marathon in a breezy 1:20:41.

One of the best stories of the day came from RGS’s Vanessa Ramsden (Assistant Head of Fifth Form and Geography) for whom motivation heading up the very last hill came from none other than double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes.

Dame Kelly accompanied Vanessa up the gruelling last climb, giving her tips on breathing and what to do next as the

SIXTH FORM ECONOMISTS VISIT DELOITTE Thank you to James Alexander (’92), Partner, Risk Advisory, for arranging for 24 enthusiastic RGS students to visit the Deloitte offices on Little New Street in the heart of the City.

James kicked off proceedings talking about his role within the business and his journey after leaving RGS. Students were lucky

gradient became steeper. On reaching the summit, Dame Kelly passed on her congratulations, swiftly turned on her heels and went to do it all over again! Vanessa, with a spring in her step, glided through the last kilometre and finished with a beaming smile.

Our huge thanks and appreciation to all who sponsored our runners and helped smash the £3,000 target.

to be given an insight into the Deloitte recruitment process and received key tips to help with the extensive and popular application process. With the hindsight and advice of a successful graduate who has recently joined via this route – the message was ‘preparation is key!’ Finally, students were set an interactive business game, carrying out SWOT analysis of large multinational companies ranging from Netflix to M&S and the various economic factors that could affect their success.

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FOUNDATION

EVENTS LIKE THIS GOLF DAY ARE INTEGRAL TO RAISING AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR THE IMPORTANT SOCIAL MOBILITY WORK OF THE CHANGING LIVES CAMPAIGN. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THE EVENT AND MADE THE WHOLE DAY SO SUCCESSFUL.

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RGS PROFESSIONALS CHARITY GOLF DAY

proved most accurate on the Nearest to the Pin at the tricky 6th hole.

Thank you to all who attended the annual RGS Professionals Charity Golf Day at the illustrious Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club.

With all teams fed and watered, the afternoon was capped off by an extremely successful auction led by our very own Head of Foundation, Sean Davey, and the day raised over £9,000 for the Changing Lives campaign. As Mark Elsey (’78), RGS Foundation Chairman, remarked, “events like this Golf Day are integral to raising awareness and funds for the important social mobility work of the Changing Lives Campaign. Thank you to everyone who supported the event and made the whole day so successful.”

Current RGS parent, Dan Jones led the winning team from Dataquest.

Stevensdrake Solicitors, featuring former RGS parents Paul Dungate and Ed Wheeler won the Thunderball challenge.

International Rugby Union referee, JP Doyle had the Longest Drive on the monstrous 12th and Richard Risebro

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CLASS OF 2013 GRADUATION BRUNCH RGS was delighted to welcome back over 80 of the talented Class of 2013 for the popular Graduation Brunch, this year held in the newly refurbished Old Library.

With an array of embarrassing photos on display and past copies of the Pilgrim to flick through, friendships were reignited and a delicious brunch enjoyed.

Graduates were welcomed by the Head of the Foundation, Sean Davey, followed by a champagne toast from the Headmaster and a trip down memory lane with the highlights video from their final school year four years ago!

Graduates were treated to a brief tour of the spectacular new Harrison Centre, which provided an opportunity to see the impressive space that is now occupied by the current RGS Sixth Form.

DREAM STEAM SOCIAL – ‘GOMARS’ November saw the inaugural Dream Steam Social – An Evening with Andy Gomarsall MBE, held at the Steam Wine Bar, London.

Our fabulous host for the evening, former RGS pupil, interviewer, auctioneer and owner Stephen Chenery (’87) laid on a tremendous event with over 75 members of the Reigatian community attending to show their support for the Changing Lives campaign.

To a rapturous applause, the star of the show, former Wasps, Bedford, Gloucester, Worcester, Quins, Leeds Carnegie and England 2003 Rugby World Cup Winner Andy Gomarsall MBE spoke with real passion about the core values of rugby and how it appealed to the same ethos that he shared growing up.

We are delighted that the evening surpassed our target to raise enough funds to support one year of a Changing Lives bursary recipient here at RGS – an incredible achievement from the night,

thanks to the immense generosity of all who came.

Our thanks go to Stephen Chenery for hosting this fantastic evening and, of course, to Gomars who took time out from his busy schedule to share his wonderful stories from his career. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended the evening and made it a resounding success.

We now look forward to our second Dream Steam Social in 2018: please keep your eyes peeled for more information.

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CAREERS It has been a busy term in the Careers department. Talks from external experts have included: Careers in Gaming; University in the US; Careers in the Army; Medical Interviews; and Careers in TV and the Media. As always, our thanks go to all the volunteers who have given up their time at each of these events.

As well as talks, students have, amongst other things, had the opportunity to take part in a Preview Profiling Test, attended an Alternatives to University evening, completed practice aptitude tests and attended the A Level Options evening.

Decisions about what to do next are never easy, but the RGS Careers department is available throughout the journey and does everything it can to make planning for the future as painless and productive as possible.

ALTERNATIVES TO UNIVERSITY EVENING

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE EVENING

MULTIPLE MINI INTERVIEWS

With approximately 200 people attending from both RGS and local state schools, the Alternatives to University evening was a great success.

Attended by around a hundred students and parents, the Accounting and Finance evening was another popular event.

Prospective medics, dentists and vets were put through their paces by members of staff during our inaugural Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) session. Interview techniques for these subjects rarely follow the traditional format; instead, they generally involve applicants going to a number of stations, one after another, to undertake short tasks or interviews.

Many of these situations are non-medical and non-science related, instead requiring interviewees to demonstrate empathy, honesty, decision-making ability or the skills required to break bad news.

Harriet Jones from EY provided extremely useful information about school leaver schemes; Dr William Marsh from QMUL spoke at length about Degree Apprenticeships; and Becky Erratt (OR) gave an in-depth talk about her experiences of both Art and Drama School.

In addition to our speakers, representatives from a range of companies attended who were offering school leaver schemes and degree apprenticeships, including a number of students who are currently taking part in the schemes.

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Thanks go to the RGS parents and ORs who gave up their time to help our students to understand more about careers in this sector. These were: Darren Harding (OR), Blaize Harris (OR), Chris Allen (OR), Ian Magness (RGS parent), Jamie Mehmood (RGS parent), Andrew Prosser (RGS parent), Alex Forsyth (OR), Ross Watson (OR), Kathryn Hundleby (former RGS parent), Maggie Stillwell (RGS parent), Ian MacTavish (RGS parent), Alex Smirnoff-North and Mrs Anderson (member of RGS staff). We were also grateful to representatives from Hiscox, AIG and EY who offered great advice.

Thanks go to all members of staff who gave up their time to give our students a feel for this kind of process before the real interviews begin.

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A BUSY TERM FOR THE RGS PFA

PFA

Enhance the school community Provide social links for the parent community Undertake fund raising activities for quality extras to benefit the whole school

The PFA has been incredibly busy this term. It continues to run a wide variety of events and should be incredibly proud of what has been achieved. As of this year the PFA is working with Sandra Clarke and her amazing team in the Learning Support Department. The current focus is on providing laptops with specialist software as well as digital reader pens. They are also furnishing a Chill Zone in the Wellbeing Centre, a place for students to visit when the noise and hubbub of school life becomes a little too much. Although still a work in progress, many students have already declared the space their favourite room in the school.

While the above may be the current area of focus, it doesn’t detract from work in other areas. The funding of new camera equipment for the Photography elective, for example, is a new agreement that has recently been approved.

October’s New Parents’ Party held in the beautifully refurbished Old Library kicked off the year’s fundraising events.

Well attended, many parents commented on how enjoyable the evening was, as well as expressing their delight at meeting so many other parents in the community. It was such a good do that no one wanted to leave at the end of the evening!

The Nearly New Sale, run by an incredibly dedicated team of PFA volunteers who collect, sort through and make ready for sale items of uniform donated or consigned by parents, once again proved a hugely successful fundraiser.

In November the biggest single annual fundraising event – the PFA Ball brought glitz and glamour to the Sports Hall. Glitter

ball themed, parents entered into the evening with enormous enthusiasm, as always! Attended by well over 300 parents, a good time was had by all. The PFA Ball sub-committee did a superb job despite this being its first PFA Ball, and plans are already underway for next year.

The unprecedented attendance at the Junior Disco in November saw yet another great evening with further funds raised for the school.

The Christmas Fair, with more than 40 stalls selling a vast array of goods and gifts, filled the PMH to capacity. Third Form DT students and Lower Sixth Form Enterprise participants sold the fruits of their labour with proceeds going to two worthwhile charities. The choirs and musicians of RGS and invited local schools enhanced the festive mood. All in all a lovely, warm fuzzy evening with the benefit of a few extra ticks on people’s Christmas gift lists.

December brought the ever-popular Christmas Tree Sale.

Carefully sourced and of

impeccable standard, the feedback as ever has been nothing but positive.

As if the above wasn’t enough, assistance with front of house and interval drinks at the sold-out performances of The History Boys and The History Girls brought the term to a close.

Our thanks go to all the volunteers who make all of this possible. The PFA is always looking for volunteers – if you’d like to join the amazing team please get in touch with Joanne Packham, PFA Chair via: joannepackham@btinternet.com PFA Form Reps First Form PFA Form Reps are incredible conduits for communication to and from the PFA, as well as assisting with the organisation of social events.

The scheme has proved such a success that it is being rolled out to this year’s new First Form. Gradually, as the students move through the school the aim is to have reps in every year group. If parents from other year groups would like to volunteer they should get in touch with Joanne Packham, PFA Chair.

Help us raise funds when you shop! Visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk for details.

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RGS Hartswood Sports Ground

CATCH UP ONLINE As this Review illustrates, RGS is an action-packed school with a wealth of news and activities happening around the clock. To keep up to date, visit our website or join in with RGS online:



facebook.com/reigategrammarschool

 Follow our news and views on Twitter: Headmaster @rgsheadmaster

RGS Cranston @RGS_Cranston

RGS History @RGSHist

RGS Mostly Politics @Mostlypols

RGS Swimming @SwimmingRGS

Reigate Grammar @ReigateGrammar

RGS Cricket @RGScricket

RGS Hockey @HockeyRGS

RGS Music @rgs_music

RGS Ultimate @RGSUltimate

RGS Art Department @RGSArtDept

RGS DofE @RGSdofe

RGS Hodgson @RGS_Hodgson

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RGS Upper School @RGSUpperSchool

RGS Biology @BioRGS

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RGS Library @RGSlib

RGS PFA Ball @RGSpfaBall

RGS Williamson @RGS_Williamson

RGS Bird @RGS_Bird

RGS Economics @EconomicsRGS

RGS Lower School @RGSLowerSchool

RGS Physics @RGSPhysicsDept

RGS Weather @RGSweather

RGS Careers @RGSCareers

RGS English @RGSEnglish

RGS Maths @RGSMaths

RGS Rugby @ReigateGSrugby

RGS Chemistry @RGSChem

RGS Foundation @foundationRGS

RGS Model UN @ReigateMUN

RGS Sixth Form @RGS_SixthForm

RGS Classics @ClassicsRGS

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RGS Sport @RGSSport

Reigate Grammar School, Reigate Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0QS 01737 222231 info@reigategrammar.org

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