The Bulletin 257 by RGS Guildford

FROM THE HEADMASTER

As we prepare for Field Day on Monday, the intrinsic value of education outside the classroom is always brought sharply into focus. It is all too easy to consider our School Values and Learning Habits as the domain of academic lessons, and yet it is undoubtedly students’ all-round experiences which nourish and nurture their character and development. Field Day provides a practical and hands-on way of putting into practice engagement and perseverance, organisation and collaboration, reflection and respect, courage and inclusivity.

Just one of the elements of our Field Day provision is the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Bronze expedition. The late Prince Philip believed passionately in giving young people the best possible start: confidence, resilience and teamwork being just some of the values which he held dearly. He wanted to transform young people's lives, irrespective of background, culture and ability. It is notable that so much of his messaging chimes closely with our own passionately-held beliefs. Indeed, this inclusivity and ambition also remain at the very heart of our ethos as a school to this day which is why we include the opportunity to complete the Bronze Award as part of the Third Form EXAD programme and Silver and Gold as an option in the Fifth and Sixth Forms.

The Duke first considered the idea of a national programme to support young people’s development in the autumn of 1954 at the request of his inspiring former headmaster, Kurt Hahn. During his lifetime, Hahn summarised his beliefs about the younger generation at the time into six points, collectively known as the Six Declines of Modern Youth:

1. Decline of Fitness due to modern methods of locomotion;

2. Decline of Initiative and Enterprise due to the widespread disease of spectatoritis (i.e. "excessive indulgence in forms of amusement in which one is a passive spectator rather than an active participant");

3. Decline of Memory and Imagination due to the confused restlessness of modern life;

4. Decline of Skill and Care due to the weakened tradition of craftsmanship;

5. Decline of Self-discipline due to the ever-present availability of stimulants;

6. Decline of Compassion due to the unseemly haste with which modern life is conducted.

It highlights how little things change as these could easily be read as commonplace criticism of young people in the twenty-first century! In response to these concerns, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme was launched in February 1956. The programme had four sections: rescue and public service, expeditions, pursuits and projects, and fitness. The aim was that young men should make the best use of their free time, nurture appropriate interests and acquire self-confidence and a sense of purpose that would support them into their future and help them to become well-rounded citizens.

It is undoubtedly students’ all-round experiences which nourish & nurture their character & development. “ ”

Clearly ahead of his time, the values which the DofE Award served to instill and the selfless sense of service and compassion resonated closely, and continue to do so, with schools and institutions across the land, and indeed across the globe as now over 130 countries deliver the award. Sore feet and blisters remain testament to the physical challenges which the Award still demands!

It is, however, not just the DofE Award which has remained a lasting legacy. Prince Philip devoted the majority of his life to putting those interests of others before himself. In the light of his death, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, commented on his ethic of service; religious leaders of all faiths remarked upon his extraordinary life of dedicated service; and at his funeral tributes were paid to his kindness, to his deep and genuine sense of service and humility, and the way in which his life was a blessing to others. In the twenty-first century we want our students to be successful, to be ambitious, to be driven; however, as we continue to find ourselves in a rapidly-changing, uncertain world dominated by challenges and difficulties, it is those characteristics of collaboration and co -operation, kindness and compassion, altruism and service which will ensure our boys truly make a difference as tomorrow’s members of society and leaders. The Duke embodied each of these.

So, as we look forward to Field Day on Monday, I hope all our students – irrespective of which activity they are doing – enjoy the opportunity to push themselves, challenge themselves, broaden their horizons, even if they pick up a few blisters on the way!

SCHOOL PRIORITIES 2022-2025

Our current RGS school development priorities are Collaboration, Student Experience and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. These priorities are in the final year of our three-year cycle.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

We have focused on responding to student and staff voice, as well as experienced external providers, to inform our strategy which is currently centred around developing a more inclusive curriculum; staff diversity; and providing additional training and support for staff and students with the aim of making our whole community more tolerant and inclusive.

COLLABORATION

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

We are focusing on four areas: staff collaboration to develop and improve teaching and learning; sharing best practice between RGS and RGS Prep; co-educational opportunities and links for our students socially and academically; and linking with our international schools to provide students with cultural and academic enrichment opportunities. This is always an area of continual development; however, our current focuses are on student appearance; the reporting process; academic tracking and reporting; co-curricular participation; literacy; pastoral support; reviewing the Sixth Form curriculum provision; and effective use of student devices and the possibilities that AI offers.

NOTICES

Weekend Road Closures

Please be aware that there continues to be weekend travel disruption due to the A3 / M25 roadworks. The Wisley interchange, Junction 10, including all entry and exit slip roads, will be closed from 9.00pm on Friday 16 May to 6.00am on Monday 19 May. The A3 and the M25 will both remain open, the slip roads off and on the junction won’t be, meaning you won’t be able to leave or join the M25 or the A3 at Junction 10. Please allow extra time for journeys to and from fixtures. For more details see: M25 junction 10 - National Highways.

Monday 19 May Field Day 4.

Wednesday 21 May

Lower Sixth Form Parents’ Evening in Great Hall and the Main Building.

Thursday 22 May

Monday timetable.

Monday 26 May

Half term starts.

Monday 2 June

School closed. Staff Development Day.

Wednesday 4 June

Monday timetable.

LATEST NEWS

CHARITY

35 students in the Second Form were joined by students and staff for the fourth RGS Sleep Out event to raise funds for Transform Housing & Support. After representatives from the charity had addressed the students passionately about the value and impact of the money raised, impacting over 50 homeless people, the students created their own cardboard village. The students fully appreciated that for them it was just one night of sleeping rough and they had a choice; many people have no option, no alternative. It did, however, give the students an insight into just some of the challenges faced and raised almost £5,500 in the process.

MUSIC

The Concerto Concert with Southern Pro Musica has justifiably become one of the highlights of the RGS musical calendar, and this year’s performance was no exception. Taking place in front of a full audience in Holy Trinity Church, seven performers took to the stage in what was simply an outstanding display of musicianship.

The evening opened with Ben Pilkington’s performance of Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 3 after which some of our exceptional singers took centre stage: Orlando Meadowcroft delivered two extracts from Handel’s Messiah with a real sense of poise and musical understanding; Benedict Cunningham brought his deep, resonant bass to The People That Walked in Darkness; Alex Pop delivered two of the most dramatic arias of the evening – Lord God of Abraham and It Is Enough from Mendelssohn’s Elijah; Adrian Groenewald provided a stylish change of pace with two Sondheim selections – In Praise of Women and Multitudes of Amys –demonstrating impressive vocal control and an instinctive feel for the theatrical nuances of the music.

Oscar Ford’s performance of Chaminade’s Concertino for Flute, demonstrated not only technical brilliance but a pure and focused tone. A standout moment was the premiere of Farewell, a symphonic poem by Ruvin Meda. Full of rich harmonies, memorable melodies, and imaginative orchestral colours, it revealed a remarkably mature compositional voice and left a lasting impression. The evening concluded with an arresting performance by George Christiansen, who took on the first movement of Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor –one of the most iconic and technically demanding pieces in the Romantic repertoire.

With ovations aplenty throughout the evening, the extraordinary levels of musicianship on display from each of the performers was astounding.

SPORTS NEWS

BIATHLON

Our First and Second Form biathletes competed in the Parkside Biathlon. The event involved a swim (140m for the First Form and 160m for the Second Form) followed immediately by the run (1800m for both year groups). In the First Form event Eli du Preez secured Gold, with James Horner in second place. In the Second Form event, William Browne also secured a Gold medal with Lucas Goodey de Diego in third place. In the overall team event, the RGS were second overall, missing first place by just six points.

SPORTS NEWS

CRICKET

In the last fortnight block fixtures against Reed’s School and Hurstpierpoint College have seen well over 30 teams representing the RGS from the Under 12Ds all the way through to the 1st XI. Highlights of the Reed’s fixture included excellent wins for the senior 1st and 2nd XIs, as well as an excellent 76-run victory for the Under 15As. Aidan Golding scored an imperious 146 for the 1st XI, while Tommy McMurray and Alex Kay scored 74 and 62 respectively for the 2nd XI; Idris Iqbal scored a composed 54 for the Under 15As.

Against Hurstpierpoint College, our five most senior teams all secured strong victories. With the bat, leading run-scorer Aidan Golding continued his rich vein of form with a superb 107, sharing an impressive opening stand of 160 with Aarush Gupta, who contributed a solid 58. With the ball, a special mention goes to Alex Aylward, who produced a superb bowling display for the Under 14As, finishing with figures of 5 wickets for 27 runs from his 5 overs.