Issue 57 Autumn 2016
ST
ALBANS
SCHOOL
HIGHLIGHTS
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF GIRLS IN THE SIXTH FORM The 25th Anniversary of girls coming to St Albans School’s Sixth Form was marked with the traditional OA Girls v Sixth Form Girls Netball Tournament at Woollams, followed by high tea back in the School. Twenty five girls from the last quarter century gathered on a blustery and cold Saturday afternoon for the tournament, which was held this year in memory of Sue Barnes, the School’s long-serving secretary and netball coach, who sadly ‘The tea was really lovely. I really died in 2015. We were delighted that enjoyed the tour round the school, members of Sue’s family were able to remembering classes and teachers join us for the day. The girls played a and pupils we’d forgotten.’ round robin tournament, with three OA teams competing against two Fiona McCartney ’06 Sixth Form girls’ teams. As one OA commented, ‘It was great to play a few games of netball,
Mini Madness Over the summer term, pupils at the School were invited by Stephen James Enfield to take part in an exclusive competition, to ‘Design a roof that rocks’ for the new MINI Clubman. The brief required pupils to channel their imagination and creativity and produce an eye-catching roof that would reflect the car’s fun, dynamic and sporty spirit. Pupils were given absolute freedom, so that they could produce a truly original and engaging design. The judging panel included MINI Brand Manager, Dan Beddow, and Gary Calvert, Head of Design & Technology. After much deliberation, Fourth Former Sam Jarman’s entry, entitled ‘MINI Madness’, was chosen as the winning design. The judges were very impressed by his artistic skill and creativity, with Dan Beddow commenting, ‘Sam’s winning artwork represented the fun and dynamic feeling of the car and we are excited to see his design appear on the MINI.’
Ashburton Triumph even though I haven’t played in years.’ Despite some very strong play from the OA ladies, the St Albans School 1st team proved final victors in the tournament.
After the strenuous netball tournament, tea Refreshments were served in the Refectory, which in the Refectory several of the OA girls has never seen before, being more was a much more accustomed to the space as the hall where they sat their relaxed affair A levels. They enjoyed a fabulous afternoon tea with prosecco. About 40 guests joined the group and shared fond memories over sandwiches and cake. This was a highly successful event, reuniting the OA girls, and one likely to be repeated in the future. ‘I hope to see more girls soon,’ said Fiona McCartney. ‘The event definitely made me think a reunion is overdue.’
The School’s marksmen were on top form at the Ashburton shooting event this year, achieving their highest ever position in the prestigious competition. A squad of nine cadets took part in the week of shooting over 300, 500 and 600 yards as well as competing in the 1 kilometre and clays supplementary competitions. They relished the challenges and improved on last year’s position on the scoreboard by two places, rising to 14th. Simon Brooks was a particular star, appearing on 12 different scoreboards, demonstrating his wide range of skills. Matt Crossley featured on six scoreboards and promises much for next year’s competition. Joe Pattison, meanwhile, excelled at the long distance event, scoring 24/25 when shooting at a target a kilometre away, winning that individual event.
MEETING MAYA me the confidence to speak up more and to both ask and answer more questions.
‘Try to embrace all the opportunities the school offers
• What is the main benefit of having girls in the Sixth Form here? What do girls in particular bring to the School?
and get involved with as much as you can… It’s a great way to get to know new people and start off your first year in the Sixth Form.’
Maya Mendoza was Deputy Head of School 2015-16
A Current Girl’s Perspective • What A Levels did you study and what are you reading at university? Why did you choose your particular degree? I studied Biology, Chemistry and Maths at A Level and am going to study Medicine at Oxford University. My desire to study medicine was an ambition that grew over time; I became interested in the subject after reading a series of books by Atul Gawande on the complexities of medicine, and after undertaking a variety of incredibly interesting work placements in the medical field over the next few years, I couldn’t imagine myself studying anything else. • What were your thoughts about joining St Albans School before you gained a place here? What did you know of the School and why did you choose it? Before I joined St Albans School I was at an all-girls’ school for eleven years and wanted to experience a change of environment for Sixth Form. I had spoken to a friend’s older sister who had just left the Sixth Form. She told me she had loved her time here and that choosing to move to this school was the best decision she could have made. It was this, as well as the School’s great academic reputation, that made me decide to apply. • What were your first impressions upon joining the Sixth Form? How did it differ from your previous School and was it how you had anticipated it would be? Coming into a boys’ school as a girl was naturally nerveracking, but the fact that all the girls and some boys in the Lower Sixth were new to the School meant it was easy to make friends from the very beginning and also enjoy the different social environment of a mixed Sixth Form. I also found the learning environment in lessons to be more interactive than I had previously experienced, which gave
I think the main benefit to having girls in the Sixth Form is that it provides a good balance both socially and academically. Experiencing a mixed environment in Sixth Form and making adjustments to this change will probably make the leap to studying at university and university life seem less daunting, more manageable and more familiar. The girls’ teams have also been particularly successful in sports, in netball, lacrosse and rounders. • What have been the highlights of your time at the School? I really enjoyed the Partnership scheme every Friday in the Lower Sixth. I assisted teachers in the Science Master Classes in which we taught science to primary school children by carrying out interesting scientific experiments. I really enjoyed working with the children and it was wonderful to see the appreciation they showed for the efforts we made. I also loved playing sports for the School. I played netball, lacrosse and rounders and had an absolutely fantastic time. Sport is a big part of my life so being able to play competitively at a good standard was something really important to me during my time here. • Who are your role models? I first became interested in medicine due to the books written by the American surgeon Atul Gawande. Through his writing he conveys his integrity and admirable work ethic, which are truly inspiring. I would call him a role model in the sense that I hope that after my training I will be able to practise medicine with the same passion and dedication, guided by the same morals. • Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years’ time I will be four years out of medical school. Although at the moment I can’t predict exactly where in the medical field my studies will take me, I hope to be practising as a doctor by then. • What savvy tips would you give to girls joining our Lower Sixth this year? The main tip I would give is to be confident. Try to embrace all the opportunities the school offers and get involved with as much as you can, whether that’s sports, volunteering or any other extra-curricular activity. It’s a great way to get to know new people and start off your first year in the Sixth Form.
Blowing Hot and Cold in Iceland The fascinating landscape and geological features of Iceland were the destination for forty two First and Second Form pupils. They enjoyed four thrilling days exploring waterfalls, geysers and valleys. Arrival day was spent exploring the Reykjanes peninsular which straddles the midAtlantic Ridge, experiencing the very smelly sulphurous steam at one of Iceland’s hot mud pools. The party continued via vertiginous cliffs to their countryside hotel for three of the four nights, about 100 miles west of Reykjavik.
caves and gorges, before investigating the wonders of Iceland’s southernmost point, with black sand beaches backed by basalt column cliffs. The young explorers also stopped off at a glacier and the famous Skogarfoss waterfall and climbed up beside it. One night was spent in Reykjavik after being amazed at the sights of the Golden Circle – Gulfoss waterfall, Geysir and the site of the Viking parliament at the Pingvillar, where the mid-ocean ridge divides the country. Before the flight home there was just enough time to squeeze in a short sightseeing tour of the capital and a swim in the On subsequent days the group world-famous warm spa waters of the explored Seljalandfoss waterfall, which Blue Lagoon. one can walk behind, and journeyed along Porsmork, a mystical valley of
Testing Silver Expeditions Outdoor challenges were faced by thirty five Fifth Form boys who embarked on their Silver Qualifying Expedition to the Brecon Beacons immediately after the end of last term. While they started in good conditions, with all groups confident in navigating open country terrain, by Saturday they were faced with high winds and torrential rain. Happily, all groups successfully crossed the Black Mountain, although some were forced to follow their planned escape routes. The final day saw some breaks in the weather and all the participants reached their destinations successfully. There was also a CCF DofE Silver Qualifying Expedition at the beginning of the autumn term to give those who weren’t able to complete this element in June another opportunity to do so. Fortunately the Peak District weather was not as challenging as that experienced in the Brecon Beacons and everyone was able to complete the expedition successfully.
Conditions in Iceland (right) were far superior to those experienced on the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions (below)
International Star and New Technology Boosts Sport skills analysed using the most up to performance and technique using the leading video analysis tool date sports analysis technology. developed by Hudl. It revolutionises World Cup winning team member the way that coaches and athletes Kyran Bracken, former captain of prepare for and stay ahead of the Saracens and tourist with the Britcompetition. Footage is filmed ish Lions, joins the School as Elite during training and the clips are Sport Development Manager and analysed later to address strategy 1st XV Head Coach in a move which and tactics. will bring unparalleled insight to the School’s students. ‘St Albans has Headmaster Jonathan Gillespie built a strong reputation for sport- commented, ‘The combination of ing excellence,’ said Kyran, ‘and I am world-class rugby expertise with looking forward to mentoring the state of the art sports technology is next generations of talented sports an exciting and unique opportunity for the School. It will undoubtedly players through the School.’ augment our coaches’ ability to Kyran Bracken at From this term, pupils at the School In a further development, Kyran understand and improve pupils’ work with pupils can be inspired by the expertise of Bracken and other sports teachers technique and performance.’ at Woollams one of the most successful rugby and students will be able to review players in the country and have their
On and Under the Rockies Adventure training this summer took CCF cadets all the way to Canada, to explore some of the sights and challenges of the Rocky Mountains. The Calgary Olympic Park, home to the 1988 Winter Olympics, was the first port of call, where the group of 30 students and 5 staff took on mountain biking. A trip up the 191m Calgary Tower followed before the group travelled to Banff. Here they explored Lake Louise and spent a morning on horseback during which they were taught how to lasso, followed by a traditional cowboy steak lunch. Having tasted the pleasure of the Rockies above ground, the next challenge sent the
party underground for a challenging afternoon of caving, an entirely different experience. The students then travelled along the Icefield Parkway to Jasper, stopping at the Athabasca glacier en route to take a tour on the glacier and experience the newly built glassfloored Glacier Skywalk, which overhangs the glacier by 280 metres. On a lake cruise from Maligne, the group was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of two bears, one of which was accompanied by two cubs. The penultimate adventurous challenge was white water rafting on the Athabasca River; the final one was riding a Segway at Edmonton Mall.
A visit to the world-renowned Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology, with one of the largest collections Don’t look down of dinosaur skeletons in the world, – on the Glacier rounded off a fascinating trip full of Skywalk new opportunities.
Channel Challenge for Ross Ross Ferreira of the Upper Sixth braved the waters of the English Channel this summer as part of the RAF Air Cadets relay. Ross trained for months prior to the challenge to build up strength and stamina. ‘There was a rigorous selection process,’ explained Ross, ‘and we had to go through a massive amount of training. It was exciting finally to get into the water and take part in the
swim.’ Each swimmer took an hour’s turn in the water and, battling tides and jellyfish, the team completed the challenge in 12.5 hours. CCF Commanding Officer Major Kenny Everitt was delighted: ‘Ross has been part of the swimming team throughout his time in the School. We were thrilled to learn that he and his team had completed the Channel crossing.’
ST
ALBANS
Abbey Gateway, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 4HB
SCHOOL
Telephone: 01727 855521 Fax: 01727 843447
ACADEMIC MATTERS: Commentary on Examination Results
www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk
RESULTS IN PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS Summary of Statistics Results in Public Examinations Form V - GCSE
2012
2013
2014
2015
Candidature
112
127
126
113
141
Percentage of grades A* - C
100
100
99
100
99
Percentage of grades A*/A
84
80
85
87
77
Percentage of candidates gaining grades A*-C in at least 5 subjects
100
100
100
100
100
Percentage of candidates gaining A*-C in Mathematics
100
100
100
100
100
Percentage of candidates gaining grades A*-C in English
100
100
100
100
100
136
148
137
138
143
462.4
477
474.7
458.8
Percentage pass rate
100
100
100
100
100
Percentage of grades A and B at A level*
95
93
91
91
94
2016
Upper VI - A Level Candidature Average UCAS points per student, including AS
Further details about examination results can be found on the School’s website.
435.1
A LEVEL 2016 With 94% of A Levels taken by St Albans School pupils this year receiving A*, A or B grades, the School has attained over 90% A*-B grades (the most widely-recognised measure of A Level success) for the sixth year in succession. In 2016, A* grades account for 23% of all grades and A* and A grades are at 66%.
A Level (not including GS) Candidature Total entries Percentage pass rate Percentage grades A*, A & B Percentage grades A* & A Percentage grade A* UCAS points per entry UCAS points per candidate
143 449 100 94 66 23 116.2 364.9
A & AS Level (not including GS or Extended Project) Average number of passes UCAS points per entry UCAS points per candidate
3.5 114.0 399.4
A & AS Level (including GS and Extended Project) UCAS points per entry UCAS points per candidate
114.8 435.1
Amongst the most successful candidates are Ben Hemsi and William Pavey, both of whom achieved a ‘clean sweep’ of 4 A* grades, and Alex Cook, Anthony Georgiou and Maya Mendoza, who achieved 3 A*s. Ben and Maya have both confirmed their places at Oxford University, where they will read Chemistry and Medicine respectively; Alex goes to Durham to read Natural Sciences, Anthony to UCL to read Mathematics and William to Warwick to study Economics. With 3 A* grades and 1 A grade, James Kirsch and John Saunders both take up places to study Engineering at Oxford. 23 St Albans School pupils achieved at least two A* grades and 71 (almost half of the entry) achieved at least one A*. Jonathan Gillespie, Headmaster of St Albans School, commented: ‘I am delighted with this year’s A level results and how strongly our Upper Sixth Formers have performed. These results once again reflect the dedication shown by our pupils, as well as our teaching staff’s commitment to their success. My warmest congratulations go to our leavers together with my very best wishes for their future.’ Further details about A Level results can be found on the School’s website.
GCSE 2016 St Albans School’s results once again far exceed the national average. 95% of GCSEs taken at the School were awarded A*- B grades, with 47% being awarded the top A* grade. The School’s A* and A grades equated to 77% of all results. A summary of the results follows: Candidature 141 Total entries 1402 Percentage grades A* to C 99 Percentage grade A 1 77 Percentage grade A* 47 Percentage gaining A* to C in at least 5 subjects 100 Percentage gaining A* to C in English 100 Percentage gaining A* to C in Mathematics 100 Points per candidate 71.3 Points per entry 7.2 Students achieving a clean sweep of eleven A* grades across all subjects taken are Oliver Barratt-Johnson, Ben Craig, William Drake and William Foxton. A number of pupils achieved at least 10 A* grades, including Timothy Bagnall, Jordan Collingwood, Owain Cooke, Harry Hemsi, Jamie Irani and Arjun Kolli. Those achieving at least 9 A*s are Jack Bevan, Caspar Fleming, Max Fryer, Stephen Heaney, Ed Lambert, Benjamin Plumer, Angus Potter, Jamie Sanderson, James Scragg, James Van Der Welle and Morgan Wynne. These results are all the more impressive given that in the majority of subjects St Albans pupils take the more demanding International GCSE (IGCSE), which serves as a much better preparation for A level study. Jonathan Gillespie commented: ‘Congratulations to our pupils on their individual successes this year. The results are in line with our expectations of this year group, and I am looking forward to welcoming our successful candidates into the Sixth Form together with the large number of new pupils joining the School next week. Their strong results will provide firm foundations for their progress to A level and beyond.’ Further details about GCSE results can be found on the School’s website. 1
N.B. Grade A includes both A and A*.
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