The Bulletin 266 by RGS Guildford

FROM THE HEADMASTER

Some things never change; they just become different. In around 350BC, Aristotle coined the phrase Man is a political animal in his work Politics. In that period, politics revolved around the affairs of the polis, the city, and as such it was necessarily more introspective, more focused on self-gain and benefit. And yet Aristotle asserted that humans are inherently social beings who naturally form communities and political structures, and that participation in these communities is essential for achieving a good and meaningful life. Fast forward 2,500 years and the same phrase arguably resonates all the more despite, necessarily, having a more global outlook.

In today’s rapidly-changing world, political awareness is more crucial than ever, especially for our students who, as we regularly assert, are the leaders and decision-makers of the future. Understanding the political landscape equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate and influence the society they live in. And yet it is more than that. Political awareness is not just about understanding politics, it is about being an informed, engaged, and responsible citizen.

The recent RGS Model United Nations Conference highlighted that far from empty rhetoric this is reality as students from throughout the School participated. This is the sixth time that we have hosted our RGS MUN Conference which, this year, welcomed just under 300 delegates from 30 different schools as a range of challenging topical, global issues were discussed and debated from different countries’ perspectives. In addition, it provided the opportunity for our First Form students to gain first-hand experience of the workings of a conference.

As Ayaan, Upper Sixth Form student and the MUN Secretary General, so articulately outlined as he addressed his fellow delegates as he brought the Conference to a close:

“This conference has shown me the power of our young voices. In the past eight hours you have engaged in discussions of some of the most complicated issues facing our world today. Together we have shown our ability to establish ideas, participate in discourse and achieve resolutions. We have been given an ear to listen, a hand to write and a voice to speak: that is all we need to destroy the dogmas of old and fashion our own precepts and ideals. We may only make up 26% of the world’s population but we make up 100% of the world’s future.

And what does that future look like? We live in an exceptionally strange time globally. It often feels like the loudest voices are those that seek to spread hate, by those that seek to divide us by any means necessary. But these voices are built of ignorance. When we have well-informed conversations as we have had today, we find that no human is worth any less than another. In our voices we have the power to have influence.”

“ ”

…by fostering political awareness, we prepare our students to take on the challenges of the future and contribute to a more just and equitable society.

Model United Nations could not, I agree, be more important in the current climate. It encapsulates perspective and putting oneself in the shoes of others, delicate negotiation and respectful interaction, reflection and compromise where appropriate, collaboration and teamwork. It nurtures informed citizenship, critical thinking and analytical skills, empowerment and advocacy, global responsibility perspective, social responsibility, preparation for leadership and so much more. I passionately believe that by fostering political awareness, we prepare our students to take on the challenges of the future and contribute to a more just and equitable society. Encouraging political awareness among students is not just empty rhetoric, it is an investment in the future of our democracy and our world. To quote Pericles, another influential voice in classical Greece, "You may not be interested in politics, but politics is interested in you."

Our Values INCLUSIVITY SCHOLARSHIP INTEGRITY

RESPECT COURAGE COLLABORATION

Our Vision

A high-performing and inclusive independent day school, which provides a great education so that students can lead happy, successful lives and have a positive impact on society.

Our Strategic Priorities

Integrate our pastoral and wellbeing offer, and tailor this to meet the needs of a modern-day student community.

Develop a more focused co-curricular offer, organised around a character development framework based on our school values.

Enhance our academic strength, in terms of exam results, developing minds and preparing students for higher education.

Maintain a healthy future pipeline of students in the face of increasing demographic, market and regulatory challenges.

NOTICES

Social Media

We encourage all parents to follow us on our official social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram and X. As well as fly-on-the-wall insights into daily life at the RGS, there are regular posts over weekends and holidays bringing you news of sporting fixtures, school events and school trips. If you have any photographs of RGS students in action in any capacity, please do always send them in to Mr Pressley on jwp@rgsg.co.uk.

Forthcoming events

Saturday 29 November

RGS Christmas Fair in Great Hall, and surrounding areas.

Tuesday 2 December

Ensembles Concert in the Auditorium.

Friday 5 December

Charity Christmas Non-Uniform Day

Tuesday 9 December

RGS Carol Services in the Cathedral.

Review

T’is the season to be jolly and from the opening feelgood bars of traditional carols from the candlebearing carol singers, Charles Dickens iconic A Christmas Carol sparkled with festive cheer and magic. Dickens’ timeless tale of the importance of kindness, looking out for others, and extending a helping hand to those who need it was brought to life by a talented cast with just the right mix of humour, compassion and sensitivity.

With the storyline knitted together by the eccentric, bespectacled Dickens (Oscar York), his authoritative commentary was delivered with charisma in spades. He effortlessly guided the audience through the various scenes, as Scrooge is visited in turn by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, who show him various scenes from each period in his life in a bid to steer him onto a different path. The 38-strong cast delivered performances imbued with the zeitgeist of the time: the sharply choreographed dancing of Fezziwig’s (George Grant) party was a particular highlight as the stage was bathed in colourful, vibrant, toe-tapping energy. Ethan Logue as Scrooge delivered a mature performance, shifting from mean and bitter miser to redeemed soul with nuance and conviction. Other striking performances came from George Gossage as the long-suffering Cratchit, Edward Lefever as the younger Scrooge, while the Ghost of Jacob Marley (Timmy Hatch) replete with heavy, dragged chains created a suitably eerie and spooky atmosphere; the sympathetic Ghost of Christmas Present (Ben Pitman) was appropriately charitable.

The staging – versatile set, clever lighting, authentic costumes, bespoke props and atmospheric sound effects (none more so than the chiming bells) – simply added to the magic. At one moment Scrooge’s gloomy hideout was replaced by the ethereal world of the ghosts, the next the audience was transported straight into Victorian London, bustling pub to formal drawing room. The costumes were particularly memorable: detailed, intricate, and bursting with character: from Dickens’ dapper dress sense, to the extravagant and flamboyant robes and headwear of the Ghosts.

By the end of the play, with the ghosts successful in their mission, Scrooge is a transformed character – charitable, childlike in his warmth, and keen on righting the wrongs that he has exacted on so many: the message of generosity and goodwill landing with full force. It is a spirited celebration of community, and, indeed, the enduring magic of Dickens. As Christmassy as figgy pudding, this production provided a generous dollop of comfort and joy – veritably sprinkled with bells and lights – and as the sustained applause died down from the appreciative audience, it was, indeed, beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, without a humbug in sight.

LATEST NEWS

DEBATING

The RGS hosted the first round of the English-Speaking Union Mace debating competition, hosted by Jola Akin-Olugbade. Ben Stuart-Reckling opened outlining the proposition's views on the motion, This House would ban domestic flights in the UK. Noah Wyatt delivered a shrewd speech on the economic benefits of taking the train rather than flying; Kiki Akin-Olugbade was agile in his approach to questions from the floor, and the team achieved a clean sweep of high scores from the judges, comfortably defeating Tormead School and progressing to the next round of the competition.

JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIP CONFERENCE

The Junior Scholarship Conference, now an annual event, once again saw Upper Sixth Form speakers presenting to an audience of Lower School students. This year’s event was based on the theme of identity. A quick read of the presentation titles – ranging from We are all made of stardust to To be or not to be – indicated that it was going to be a fascinating event and the Sixth Form presenters certainly did not disappoint. A really diverse, challenging and yet accessible set of talks from the arts to the sciences and everything in between proved inspiring and through-provoking in equal measure for the appreciative audience.

MUSIC

After the atmospheric and beautiful Advent Service the previous week, Holy Trinity Church once again provided a magnificent setting for this term’s orchestral concert, as the RGS Symphony Orchestra, Concerto Consort, and Senior Wind Quintet delivered a programme of orchestral highlights both old and new. A varied programme from our talented musicians included Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Mozart’s Divertimento No. 14, Ravel’s Boléro, Grieg’s Holberg Suite, and Márquez’s Danzón No. 2 with its Latin exuberance. This concert was a testament to the depth of musical talent at the RGS and to perform such difficult and well-known pieces to such a high level is all to the students’ credit.

SPORTS NEWS

CROSS-COUNTRY

In the district trials at Charterhouse School, there were four age-group races – Under 13, Junior, Inter and Senior. Highlights – on a muddy course – included Will Knight finishing 5th in the Under 13s; Etienne Victor in 3rd, Albert Adams in 5th, and Sam Foster in 8th in the Juniors; and in the Inters and Seniors, Eddie Wilson in 3rd, George Holmwood in 8th, Eshan Toase in 9th, and Hugo Wilson in 10th.

FOOTBALL

In the ISFA National Cup Round 2, our 1st XI drew 1 – 1 after extra time against ACS Cobham with a goal from Sam Seddon before the opposition scored with the final kick of extra time. The RGS held their nerve to win the penalty shootout with goals from Sam Seddon, Fi Adeoshun, Ollie Atkinson, and Alex Boyd, as well as a superb penalty save from Zac Darcy, to progress to the next round.

SKI-RACING

RGS teams represented the School in the Surrey Schools’ Ski Race Championships. After a good day’s racing congratulations to our Junior team (Charlie Gooch, Jamie Courts, Freddie Lueken and Ryan Xu) who were placed second, with Jamie the fastest from the team for the day.

SPORTS NEWS

SHOOTING

The RGS shooting team competed against 117 pupils from 11 different schools in the English Schools’ Long Range at Farncombe & Godalming Rifle Club. There were a number of excellent individual and team performances; Ayaan Bhagat came second overall in the Individual category with 195.06, with the first place having scored 195.09.

RUGBY

With the threat of Storm Claudia subsiding, a full set of RGS teams faced The Skinners’ School in a block fixture. The 1st XV ended Skinners’ unbeaten run with a clinical 40 – 22 victory while there were also clean-sweep wins across the Under 15 and Under 14 age groups. To round off a successful day, the Under 13 and Under 12A teams both emerged victorious. After a nail-biting 21 – 20 finale to the 1st XV’s midweek victory against Collegiate School, Bristol, in the National Schools' Plate Round of 16, all teams returned to action against Abingdon School on Saturday, when mud and driving rain were the order of the day! Despite horrific conditions for players and spectators alike, there were some comprehensive wins across the year groups as the Under 16s, 15s, 13s and 12s all secured a perfect win record.