The Chronicle - 2021 - St Dunstan's College

2021 s t d u n s t a n s .o r g . u k

Editorial Team: Mrs Isabelle Blake-James Director of Marketing, Admissions and Development

Miss Chloe Simpson Digital Apprentice

Mrs Virginia Hearn Proofreader

The Graphic Design House Design and print

C ON T EN TS

Introduction

CCF

98-99

Welcome from the Chair of Governors

4

DofE

100-101

Headmaster’s Statement

5

Adventurous Activities

102-103

Junior School

Head of Junior School’s statement

9

Houses Forder

10-11

Hecker

12-13

Stuart

14-15

Usherwood

16-17

The Junior School Forder Programme

Overview

18-21

Drama and Dance

22-23

Music

24-25

Art and Design Technology

26-27

Sport

28-37

Year Group Highlights

Nursery

38-39

Reception

40-41

Year 1

42-43

Year 2

44-45

Year 3

46-47

Year 4

48-49

Year 5

50-51

Year 6

52-53

Special Events

54-61

Prize Winners

62

Senior School Houses

Forder

63

Trips

104-105

Adventure Week

Sixth Form

Head of Sixth Form’s statement

106

Head of School’s statement

107

Diploma Journeys

108-109

Year 13 Symposium

110-111

Albam Exorna Award

112

Leavers 2021

113

Special Events

Remembrance Day

114-115

Opening Minds Lectures

116-117

International Week of Languages

118

Black History Month

119

Mental Health Awareness Week

120-121

Anti-Bullying Week

122-123

STEM Highlights

124-125

International Women’s Day

126

LGBTQ+ Week

127

Diploma Graduation Ceremony

128-129

Commemoration Day

130-131

St Dunstan’s Festival

132-135

Prize Winners

136-139

Building Development

Topping Out Ceremony

146-147

Opening of our New Buildings

148

Performing Arts Centre – list of Donors

149

Community and Outreach

Hecker

64-65

Stuart

66

Usherwood

67

Charity

151

Sustainability

152-153

The Senior School Forder Programme

Community Service

Overview

68-71

Community

Drama and Dance

150

72-73

Music

74-77

Welcome from the Chair

154

Art and Photography

78-79

Spotlight on Martin Preston

155

Design Engineering

80-81

Then & Now – St Dunstan’s from the Air

156

82-83

Dunstonian Tours

157

Rugby

84-85

Digital Archives

157

Hockey

86-87

Scientific Instruments

158

88-89

A Brief History of the Shields

158-159

Football

90-91

Friends of St Dunstan’s

160-161

Netball

92-93

A Message from the Chaplain

162

Swimming

94-95

Bursary update

163

96

Valete!

164-169

Salvete!

170-173

Sport Overview

Cricket

Strength & Conditioning

Dunstonian Association

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WELCOME

from the Chair of Governors The Governing Body of St Dunstan’s Educational Foundation would like to take the opportunity to mark its sincere thanks to the whole community of St Dunstan’s for the grit, creativity and compassion shown over these last 12 months, as we have all navigated our way out of the pandemic and back into the on-site routine.

There have been unparalleled challenges presented to staff, pupils and parents, but the extraordinary efforts that have been invested by our community have ensured that we not only got through it, but that we thrived. Particular mention must of course go to the most ambitious building project undertaken by the Foundation since 1888; to have delivered on this on time and to budget, within the context of a pandemic, is a remarkable achievement and was without doubt a risk worth taking. But my recognition and thanks is for far more than just buildings, it is for finding the strength of character as an organisation to respond so effectively to each and every challenge thrown its way; from the uncertainty of exams, to virtual and then hybrid learning, to bubbles and vaccinations, to the need for increased pastoral intervention and support. An enormous amount has been asked from so many.

St Dunstan’s cannot afford to stand still. We stand at an extremely exciting point in our history.

Unprecedented demand for places at the school, significantly improved facilities and exciting academic outcomes could all lead to complacency and self-satisfaction which we must avoid. It is with this in mind that at the end of this year the Board and the Executive team of the Foundation met to agree its next phase of strategy for the next 10 years, agreeing our educational, commercial and charitable objectives and desired outcomes, as well as the infrastructural and property masterplan that will underpin them. Hopefully you will be excited by the course on which we are setting. I have no doubt that the Headmaster and others will want to share the details of this with you across the next academic year and to draw upon your support in helping further forge the unique, forward-thinking and ambitious independent school that was in the minds of those founding governors in the late 19th Century.

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I must of course thank those governors who give so willingly and freely of their time in formulating and supporting the strategic goals of the charity through the various committees that structure our work. We welcomed two new governors to the board this year.

Dr Andrew Cairns is currently a research fellow and lecturer in Materials Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, with particular interests in EDI, STEM and mental health support for students. Ms Rosie Meredith is a current parent at St Dunstan’s and comes with a wealth of experience in the field of philanthropic giving in educational settings. We are sure that these two additions will bring important additional skills complementing the rest of the Board as we set out on our next phase.

The other notable change to the governing body is that after a number of years of service to the role of Safeguarding governor, Ms Victoria Alexander steps down and hands over this important baton to Ms Judy Clements.

It has been particularly rewarding to see the return of various governor visits to the College in order to keep apprised of current risks and mitigations, to both support and challenge the executive team, and to ensure that governors remain rooted to the community they are positioned to provide stewardship for. The return of the annual St Dunstan’s Festival this year was very welcome; it was particularly moving to see the pupils able to perform in person again after such a protracted period of disruption.

I look forward to the coming year and I am very grateful to the whole community of St Dunstan’s for their ongoing belief and trust in the College.

Mr P Durgan Chair of Governors

HEADMASTER’S STATEMENT

IN T RODUCT I O N

WELCOME

Headmaster’s Statement ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair’.

Dickens’ eloquent and moving depiction of the divisions underpinning 18th Century Europe seems particularly apposite as I reflect on this past year. A year of such great contrasts: highs and lows, cast from a time of crisis, bringing out the best of our community and yet asking so much from it.

It would be wrong of me not to acknowledge the enormous suffering faced by so many of our number at St Dunstan’s.

For some, the disease of Covid 19 has struck directly, causing illness and loss of life within families near and far. For all of us, the indirect impacts of the pandemic have been significant. Lockdowns for the young have been shown to be particularly egregious. To be deprived of the social affirmation and interaction so necessary at a young age, has been an enormous psychological burden to bear. When coupled to an internet-age, where social media becomes the crutch onto which growing hands must grasp, we see the perfect storm for the sort of problems we are now seeing as a country. Forget the third wave; I see a new pandemic for the nation, and one that needs more than lockdowns to keep it from our door. It needs a creative, compassionate and courageous approach to the care of our young, to educational thinking and its leadership.

Fortunately, it does seem as though the DNA of St Dunstan’s has been particularly well programmed to respond to the challenges the pandemic has thrown at us.

I have long championed the importance of a values-driven education. An education that, first and foremost, roots outcomes in the development of good character, open-mindedness, creative-thinking and resilience. An education that is academically ambitious and stimulating but not at any cost. An education that develops young men and women who can cope with the vagaries of life and in an increasingly uncertain world. It is an education like this that has been shown to come into its own during the pandemic.

Any school can create a narrow-minded and self-satisfying culture that drives for academic attainment as its sole goal. It takes a brave and integrous school to say that everything else matters just as much.

The Forder Programme, The Festival, Adventure Week – we do these things not because they are elaborate extras that can be delivered by a well-resourced school, but because they genuinely matter.

They matter because they scaffold the enlivenment of our values and as such help develop young men and women with the skills required to withstand the challenges of life.

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I want at this point to thank my staff.

For a team used to change management, overseeing a school amid an international crisis does somewhat play to their strengths, however, I do not believe it is going too far to state that they have excelled. At every point of this pandemic, the staff at St Dunstan’s have wanted to keep one step ahead. They have always sought to do everything within their power not just to survive the pandemic but to thrive throughout it. And at the core of all the planning, all the necessary response to changing guidance, all the complex decision making, at the centre of it all, has always been the pupils. What can we do to help the pupils weather this unsightly storm? For their grit and humanity, the staff have my enormous gratitude.

Of the many things this pandemic has taught us, fundamental perhaps is the emerging view that society needs to change. The societal backlash in light of this pandemic, as we have seen throughout history in the wake of other great crises, has made us all ask questions of ourselves and of society at large. The Black Lives Matter movement and Everyone’s Invited will both become milestone events in our contemporary history. Important, fundamental signposts for change and to recognise the need to cherish diversity and to ensure that equality is at the forefront of our thinking.

Schools have been exposed as being far off the mark in this regard – part of the problem; inward looking institutions that have become hubristic as a consequence of narrow definitions of success. But schools can be part of the solution, too, and it is my great hope that the steps we have already taken at St Dunstan’s, and all that we have planned for next year, will lead the way in showing our sector that it is possible to have an ambitious academic education which is not divorced from values of inclusion, respect and openmindedness. For the independent sector, in particular, we must also do more to show that we are part of the social healing which will now necessarily follow this pandemic. Partnerships with our local communities are a fundamental part of this next chapter, showcasing that schools

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like ours can be of significant charitable benefit to the communities in which they are situated and for whom they were established to serve.

And so to the Chronicle – our annual celebration of life at St Dunstan’s, and I am delighted that there is so much to celebrate despite the continued restrictions and difficulties of the last twelve months, as I hope will be evident through the pages that follow. Moving into our new Junior School, STEM and Sixth Form Centre has to be the highlight of the year. To have completed a 25 million pound project on time and to budget, in the middle of a pandemic, is a miraculous achievement and my sincere thanks (and admiration) go to the Bursar and her team. The new facilities have been simply transformative and the impact they have already had on the students is tangible.

In a most unusual year for those students due to sit public examinations,

HEADMASTER’S STATEMENT

they have my considerable admiration.

Students worked so hard to evidence what we know to be their considerable abilities, and they were rewarded with an excellent set of results. Ambitions are certainly high in our Sixth form, with 96% of students holding offers at Russell Group universities, and all of our medics and vets being successful in their applications, as well as other ambitious pathways to conservatoires, art schools and other specialist institutions, we have much of which to be very proud from our sixth form community.

Demand for places at the College continues to increase every year. We saw another increase in registrations of over 20% for next academic year, at all entry points, and this undoubtedly affirms the view that expanding our pupil roll to 5 forms of entry in Year 7 is the right thing for us to do.

We had an excellent write up from the Good Schools Guide, which really

IN T RODUCT I O N

conjured up the essence of our school.

The concluding sentence ‘a great school for unstuffy polymaths’ does make me smile! It was also very gratifying to learn that St Dunstan’s has once again been shortlisted for Independent Coeducational School of the Year 2021, which is quite extraordinary given our successful win last year. We have also been shortlisted for Prep School of the year.

The St Dunstan’s Diapason was shaped by both the Black Lives Matter movement and Everyone’s Invited. At its core, it is about putting strategy and action into the hands of the students, and forging proactive and positive dialogue between them and staff. The task of the Diapason is clear. They are to consider how we might improve the celebration of diversity in our school, and also to ensure that we are doing everything possible to promote a culture of equality for all. I have been delighted by the enthusiasm shown for it.

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and five staff leads for sex and gender, sexual orientation, religion and belief, disability and race. I have no doubt that the Diapason will have a particularly exciting year next year as they begin to enact the changes they have planned.

After several years of developing various projects and initiatives for the enhancement of our unique educational offer, we now believe we are in a position to better structure and articulate the St Dunstan’s Curriculum model, and what we seek to achieve from its constituent parts. Now named around the four imaginative and courageous first Heads of the College, we are particularly excited for the developments that have been made in our Usherwood (Pastoral Curriculum) and Stuart (Additional Curriculum) programmes to be introduced from September 2021.

Pupil voice continues to be a defining feature of life at St Dunstan’s. Our Pupil Parliament worked hard this year, despite the challenges of the pandemic, culminating in our annual pupil conference. Pupil voice has played a fundamental role in implementing gender neutral approaches to sport and uniform, as well as shaping the designs of our new buildings and Sixth Form café, and taking a lead in steering our food offer within the Refectory.

I want to thank The Friends of St Dunstan’s, who have had their work cut out trying to put on social events for our parents this year. The remote coffee mornings, Christmas film nights and virtual quiz, were all a great success, and I know we all look forward to a little more normality next year and the return of some of the ‘greats’, including, of

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course, the cheese and wine evening and the summer fete. This year just wasn’t the same without them!

We were fortunate to end the academic year once again with the joy of our Summer Festival, able to happen against all the odds; from the most moving production of Our Land, directed by year 13 student Willow, to the brightness, energy and colour of the Year 6 production of Madagascar and Lower School production of Once on this Island.

I have to admit that I found watching those children, many of whom were performing for the first time in nearly two years, very moving indeed. To see them courageously bounce back, ensembles finding their feet again, and parents braving the elements to be a part of it all, it says a great deal about our community and our collective spirit. And the Festival wasn’t the only wonderful feature of this year. I look back with great pride at the way our Forder programme was able to triumph virtually, in person and, in some cases, as a hybrid of the two. I think of Remembrance Day and the sea of black silhouettes, all the more poignant this year. I call to mind a determined St Dunstan’s. An indomitable spirit. A spirit determined to make the very best of it and do all that could possibly be done to carry on presenting the very best of ourselves whatever the hurdle in front of us.

Albam Exorna!

Mr N P Hewlett Headmaster

HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL’S STATEMENT

J U N IOR S CH O O L

JUNIOR SCHOOL

Head of Junior School’s Statement The 2020-2021 academic year was like no other, yet again. In true St Dunstan’s style, we did not let another lockdown deter us and whether at home or in school, we were determined that our offering – academic, pastoral and co-curricular – remained unashamedly ambitious for all.

There is, as a consequence, an awful lot for us to celebrate this year and as I read through the many achievements, memorable moments and highlights of the year, I do so with an overwhelming sense of pride for all that we have accomplished across the Junior School.

To fit so much into a condensed ‘inschool’ year really is quite remarkable and while it may have been easier in many cases to cancel events, change our curriculum or forget residential visits for another year, this was certainly not the St Dunstan’s Junior School approach! Where we could not host events in person, we ensured that the show still went on, thinking creatively about how the highlights of the year could be adapted, tweaked and enjoyed nonetheless. From in-school residential visits (campfire activities compulsory), to House baking challenges, to remote trips and sports fixtures, I have been astounded at how our Junior School families and staff have demonstrated great resilience, flexibility and allround positivity once again. What a pleasure it was to be able to return to

normality in the Trinity term and bring our community together in person to see off another busy academic year, enjoying the highlights of the St Dunstan’s Festival and sports events, and to prepare ourselves for what we very much hope will be a return to complete normality in September 2021.

Miss L Whitwood Head of Junior School

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Reflections of the year

FORDER HOUSE Junior School

Coming back to school in September, it felt super exciting to be chosen to be the new Forder House Captains in what would prove to be such a different and challenging year.

House Cross Country was our first event.

We changed our normal route on the field to accommodate the new Junior School building works, but that didn’t stop us from coming joint first! The whole school kept their spirits up and we remember cheering wildly to support the last person to complete the course.

The House Christmas Challenge is always great fun and this year we participated online with our families, meaning it was really a ‘House’ event in every sense!

It was amazing being able to watch the recordings of everyone’s entries and all the effort Forder pupils (and the other Houses too) had gone to.

Come January, none of us really expected to be back in lockdown, but Forder made the best of it by winning the really popular ‘House Bake Off’. Some of the cakes blew our minds – if only we could have tasted them! To burn off our cake calories, many Junior School Forder pupils participated in the College-wide ‘Strava’ event, which saw us running, walking and cycling to help Forder finish first in the epic race. We also made some great e-safety presentations and wonderful book trailers in other online house events in the Lent term.

The Forder artists were busy at work in the Trinity term, creating some beautiful artwork based on their House colours (red is best obviously). The House Swimming Gala and Sports Day events

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were a chance for all our Forder friends to demonstrate their enthusiasm and teamwork! We finished our year with a great ‘House Fun Day’ which lived up to its name and really was a perfect end to an unusual year.

Ben Kelly and Jemima Loosen

FORDER – JUNIOR SCHOOL

HO USES

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HECKER – JUNIOR SCHOOL

HO USES

Reflections of the year

HECKER HOUSE Junior School

Despite the bumpy year we have all had, Hecker has managed to do a fantastic job of keeping positive and cheerful throughout! In the Michaelmas term we participated in the House Cross Country coming a glorious third place (not last!) and had a fantastically festive time recording our own videos at home to the tune of ‘Walking in A Winter Wonderland’.

Of course, Lent term was mainly spent at home learning remotely; House competitions had a bit of a different spin.

The highlight for many of us was the House Bake Off, which saw a wonderfully green array of bakes, with ingredients from courgette to kiwi, lime to lettuce, grapes, green apples and cucumber. It feels like we should have earned some extra points for originality!

It was great being back at school at the end of the Lent term, and in Trinity the House Competition drew to a close with the House Fun Day. This was an amazing way to finish off our time in Hecker, with fun and exciting challenges helping show the best of Hecker spirit!

It has been an absolute pleasure to represent Hecker this year. We have particularly enjoyed taking part in House meetings where all the House Captains and Heads of House shared their creative ideas. We also enjoyed cheering people on during House Challenges and making sure that the focus was on having fun, not winning, though we did also manage to do that, earning the most amount of House points in the Michaelmas term!

Helena Afshar and Albert Watson

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Reflections of the year

STUART HOUSE Junior School

In what has been a rather strange year, the joy of taking part in House events has allowed us to feel connected to, and part of, our school community despite having to remain at a distance. After returning to school ‘in person’ for the first time since March 2020, we kicked off the new year with House Cross Country. All of team Stuart put in a mighty effort, and with the crowds clapping, we had some superb individual performances!

Before we even realised it, Christmas had come. Normally an in-school event, the House Christmas Challenge was an online affair, with parents, grandparents, family and friends, and even a pet or two joining in the festivities to create some incredibly festive videos. Stuart were given the song ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ and we loved seeing the whole St Dunstan’s community rocking their air guitars!

Unfortunately, we were put into another lockdown in January but luckily the Stuart children took it in their stride. We made delicious baked goods for the House Bake Off, covering all the shades of blue you could imagine. We entered the IPC Climate Change competition, sharing our visions for the world we want to live in in the future. The Lent term was a roaring success for Stuart as we took first place in the termly House points total.

Finally, the Trinity term. The House Swimming Gala was up first. You could not imagine the volume of the Stuart crowd cheering their teammates in the pool! This volume was raised yet again in support of team Stuart during Sports Day, where every representative gave their all to help Stuart in achieving a super result on the

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day. And to cap it all off … House Fun Day! It was here where Stuart truly excelled.

Our collaboration, courage and creativity during the sessions were a joy to see.

We have been incredibly proud to lead Stuart through this difficult year and wish you all the best next year.

Rhodri Inglis and Cian Probert

STUART – JUNIOR SCHOOL

HO USES

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USHERWOOD – JUNIOR SCHOOL

HO USES

Reflections of the year

USHERWOOD HOUSE Junior School

This has been a very different year, but it has not stopped us from taking part in some amazing House events. At the start of the year, we were so excited to be back in school and for the opportunity to represent Usherwood.

First up was the House Cross Country, in which Team Usherwood put in a huge physical effort to win the event!

The House Christmas Challenge has traditionally been an event where we can come together as an Usherwood family and celebrate the festivities. Unfortunately, this year we were unable to celebrate as a House in school. As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining, and instead we were able to celebrate and perform with our families at home. We are so grateful to the Usherwood families for getting into the festive spirit!

opportunities for us to give our all for Usherwood. We were so proud of everyone’s efforts and performances during these two days.

We are so grateful to have been your House Captains this year. We want to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in all the House events and wish you all the best next year!

Mia Wollny and Albie Carrick-Birtwell

Sadly, expecting a return to school in January, we were sent into another lockdown. Despite this, there were a number of House events which we were able to take part in remotely. We made some scrumptious cakes and bakes all beautifully dressed in yellow for House Bake Off. We entered the IPC Climate Change competition, sharing our visions for the world we want to live in in the future.

Luckily, during the Trinity term and our return to school, we got to take part in a number of House events in person.

The House Swimming Gala was a joy to watch and take part in, with a number of Usherwood individuals performing superbly well (fully supported by the cheering Yellow Army!) The Sports Day and House Fun Day were yet further

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THE FORDER PROGRAMME This year has seen many great developments in the co-curricular programme. Pupils across the Junior School have fully embraced the opportunities available to them from the beginning of their Pre-Prep journey, making great inroads into filling their St Dunstan’s shield with innovative and exciting activities. A significant development for us involves the restructuring of the Forder co-curricular programme around the five College values, and I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the highlights from each of these profiles.

The Core – Sport and Wellbeing Central to this value is the theme of mental and physical wellbeing. Our youngest pupils in Reception lead the way with engagement with weekly Munchkins sports sessions, which continue to be popular and thriving.

Pupils in Years 1 and 2 have taken a leap into the unknown with new activities such as Yoga, Mindfulness and Cookery to name a few. Moving into the Prep school, the plethora of sporting opportunities is endless and engagement in Core sports including netball, football, hockey, cricket, rounders, tennis and rugby continues to grow. New staff have brought new talents with them and athletics is now high up on the agenda for Prep pupils – thank you Ms Shaw!

Even the disappointment of the Lent term lockdown was not enough to dampen our spirits; pupils continued to work on their mental and physical wellbeing

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with Mr Macklin’s Maxing and Relaxing sessions, and sporting knowledge was developed through quizzes, research and games. We came back stronger, fitter and keener than ever!

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T H E FOR DE R P ROG R A M M E 2 0 2 0–2021

Creativity The grand opening of our Woodland Classroom caused great excitement this year and Pre-Prep pupils were delighted to explore the activities on offer in our new facilities. ‘Art in the Woods’ proved to be as enchanting as it sounds, and our move to the new vibrant Art and DT specialist room has led to some incredible creations in Origami and Paper Craft clubs. Creativity, individuality and ambition are integral to life in the Junior School and pupils in the Prep school have become, amongst other things, calligraphy experts thanks to Miss Brown and thespians thanks to Ms Collard.

New creatures have been forged from wool and beads in SDC Stitchers and Music and Drama continue to excel in their provision; opportunities for pupils to become experts in ukulele and chair drumming have not been missed and Drama continues to fill up every term.

We were all thrilled to watch the remote LAMDA Showcases, demonstrating the talent from across the Junior School and the story telling, poetry and singing was of the highest standard.

Well done everyone!

Curiosity Pupils have relished the opportunity to be global thinkers in our Curiosity profile activities. Pupils in Pre-Prep found out about the weird and wonderful and developed a lust for all things unknown in Curiosity Club. Another ‘first’ for this year has been the introduction of PrePrep academic enrichment activities; Year 2 children with a passion for English and Maths have been honing their skills in Creative Writing and Maths Problem Solving, led by subject specialists, preparing them effectively for Prep life and providing them with a platform to delve deeper into more challenging concepts. This year Coding has been particularly popular in the Prep school as pupils have been given the chance to develop programming skills on a range of technology devices. We are delighted that

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Mr Weekes continues to visit us twice weekly to offer specialist Chess sessions in the Prep school and our Year 5 and 6 Academic Extension groups go from strength to strength. Who knows, we may be training the next Chess champion or world leader! We are delighted at the wonderful entries submitted by pupils this year to local and national competitions. Pupils from across the Junior school have entered the IAPS art competition and the UN Climate Change Creative Earth competition and we are thrilled to see the ambition and curiosity of our pupils grow and thrive.

Compassion Junior School pupils care about the community they live in, and the Compassion activities have encouraged our pupils to become empathetic and gain a greater awareness that their small actions can have a significant impact upon others, both in their local and global communities, through activities such as Compassion Club and Eco Club. Responsibilities increase as pupils mature and progress through the Junior School; this year, Creative Writers thoughtfully produced letters to accompany gifts sent to Lewisham Voluntary Services for distribution to the local community at Christmas which were received with delight, and Prep Pupil Parliament representatives reflected on our contributions to a range of charities. The whole College supported a number of special causes this year with charity and dress-up days, and the care and compassion shown by all pupils was humbling for all involved.

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JUNIOR SCHOOL

Courage The challenges of this year have inspired us all to be more courageous and brave in our decision making and the Junior School pupils continue to impress with the way they embrace new opportunities with resilience and vigour! Pre-Prep First Strings has continued to triumph, with children picking up their violins for the first time and performing both individually and in groups. Pre-Prep Record Breakers continued to push boundaries and rose to new heights.

Pupils took the opportunity to be inspired by global events this year; Prep Young Architects designed schools of the future with Covid-safe features, and the Year 5 Academic Extension Group compared the ways in which different countries handled the pandemic. We are delighted to be working closely with Mr Telford, Head of Outdoor and Adventurous Activities and we look forward to introducing rock climbing, outdoor adventures and bouldering to the programme in September. We must thank the Friends of St Dunstan’s for their generous donation enabling us to expand our College climbing offering.

T H E FOR DE R P ROG R A M M E 2 0 2 0–2021

of opportunities and experiences across our ambitious programme to add to their rapidly expanding St Dunstan’s shield as they carve their own individual learning pathway.

Mrs L Carmichael-Line Junior School Deputy Head Pastoral

Thank you to all pupils and staff who have committed so much time and energy to the Junior School Forder Programme this academic year. With our new Junior School MUGA, Woodland Classroom, rock climbing wall and superb state-of-the-art learning spaces I am certain that next year will provide even more excitement and opportunity for all.

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DRAMA AND DANCE Junior School

In the midst of a global pandemic, social distancing, and remote learning, you would be forgiven for thinking that drama and performance might not have been top of the agenda during this extraordinary year. Not so! Here at the Junior School, we have pulled together as a community and worked extremely hard to ensure as many fantastic opportunities as possible for theatre and performance were able to go ahead. As the old adage goes ... the show must go on!

The Pre-Prep children were the first to tread the boards this year, with a wonderful nativity full of charm and festive cheer performed by Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils – the perfect way to see us into the Christmas season.

Following a halt in productions during lockdown, things seriously revved up a gear upon our return to school just before Easter. With a wonderful new rehearsal space in the brand-new building and months of pent-up energy, the children were raring to get creative! A spectacular showcase season soon followed. First up, Year 4 wowed us with their Roald Dahl extravaganza; from The Twits to James and the Giant Peach, The Witches to The BFG, the children worked tirelessly to create a wonderful exploration of Dahl’s most iconic stories. Up next on the playbill were Year 5 with their superb showcase on the theme of ‘Amazing Animals’. The children composed their own poems and devised performances for these as a group. Each class also devised a bucket-drumming performance using animal names as rhythms. As well as this, they explored the secret life of pets through comedy sketches and

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there was a memorable dance which took place ‘in the Jungle’ and even a penguin performance at the St Dunstan’s zoo! Last, but most definitely not least, were Year 3, who delighted us with their ‘Happiness’ showcase, putting smiles on all of our faces as they explored what fills our hearts with joy through a variety performance of class poems, sketches, music and dance. A much-needed ray of sunshine performed the very same week as lockdown restrictions began to lift.

With light at the end of the tunnel, the year was brought to a spectacular close with the Year 6 production of Madagascar Jr, a fun-filled, action-packed musical adventure that was the perfect end to a very strange year. The children rehearsed for weeks and despite the challenging circumstances, they created an endof-year show of which they should be extremely proud, and one which thrilled parents and loved ones. We will be singing ‘I Like to Move It Move It’ for many months to come!

In what was an incredibly challenging year for everyone at times, the commitment, creativity and enthusiasm of the children’s performances most certainly have made it a year to remember. An enormous bravo to everybody!

Ms K Collard

The CHRONICLE 2021

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MUSIC What a year we have had in the music department! Although public performances have been prohibited this year, we have had many opportunities to celebrate our wonderful Junior School musicians online. I am so proud to report that our children have risen to the challenges and changes of 2020/2021 ‘with bells on!’

We began Michaelmas term with a beautiful solo from a Year 6 singer in the virtual Junior School Harvest Festival, and a fabulous rendition of ‘Harvest Time’ sung by our newest Junior School class, 5H. In November we were able to watch a lovely Year 4 and 6 Instrumental Concert, recorded by the children at home. Performing in their uniforms to imaginary audiences, our players really replicated the grandeur of an ‘in-person’ concert from their homes; well done everybody!

Our Christmas celebrations were also recorded and came with the year’s biggest challenge for our music department – how to sing safely within Government guidelines! We rehearsed in classrooms with all available windows and doors fully open – brrrr, it was cold!

However, the rehearsals went well and when we recorded both the Pre-Prep Nativity and the Junior School Carol service in the large space of the Great Hall, the children’s singing had even more meaning and impact than usual.

The same could be said for our Year 5 classes, who contributed superbly to the whole College Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Lent term saw another virtual Instrumental Concert, this time by Year 3 and 5 performers. Lockdown practice was clearly evident, and it was a privilege to watch the children perform in such a professional manner. Then finally, hooray, Trinity term brought us the thrill of being able to sing and make music together again as we began to ‘emerge’ from lockdown. Our Junior School contribution to Commemoration Day by way of a stunning Year 6 duet; the excitement involved in the various Showcase rehearsals; and the musical climax of our wonderful Junior School Summer Concert has brought joy to pupils, staff and very proud parents.

A tremendous well done to all our musicians for their online performances, achievements in music exams and for keeping music alive during this unique time.

Mrs L Marcinkiewicz

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ART & DT This year has once again seen lots of wonderful art being created by the children in the Junior School. Although sadly there have been no inperson exhibitions to enjoy due to restrictions, with a period of remote learning came exciting additional opportunities to widen the creative possibilities available to children. For instance, some were able to work for more time on their artwork without the restraints of lesson times.

Children were also given more flexibility on media choices and creative style and with this came some exciting and innovative work.

Year 3 began the year by exploring the work of several different artists and experimenting with a range of media, culminating in an abstract final piece inspired by artist Kandinsky. During the period of home learning some children created really striking rainforest pictures using a range of collage techniques. Some children also made 3D snakes after making their own salt dough. Back at school they each produced a piece of hand-made felt on which they sewed some simple applique flowers. They were truly stunning!

How different artists experimented with colour in their work was explored by Year 4. They produced their own colourful rooms with one-point perspective and designed and created their own printing blocks to produce their own piece of Christmas wrapping paper. During the period of home learning, some children created striking mixed-media collage pieces with an Ancient Egyptian theme.

Being able to share their creations on Microsoft Teams allowed for constructive peer feedback amongst the pupils and this was a delight to see. Back at school, Year 4 enjoyed creating clay plaques where they

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developed skills in using clay.

Year 5 formed their own dreamlike Surrealist images, taking inspiration from the work of Marc Chagall. Clay skills were developed when the children designed and sculpted their own wonderful Greek pottery. During the period of home learning some children explored artwork by environmental artists Sayaka Ganz and Simone Spicer. They enjoyed creating their own 3D artwork using materials that would otherwise have been thrown away as well as designing pictures with a strong anti-plastic pollution message.

The artwork and architecture of environmental artist and architect, Hundertwasser, was looked at in some detail by Year 6 during the first term. They created stunning posters with a strong environmental theme. These were put up around the Junior School for everyone to see. Intricate clay pots were created out of clay using a variety of coiling methods and these were the first clay pieces from the Junior School to be fired in the kiln!

Pre-Prep have also enjoyed a mix of art lessons this year in their classrooms,

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linked to their IPC learning, as well as skillsbased lessons in our dedicated art space.

They learnt a range of skills and techniques and studied artists such as Claude Monet and Kandinsky. All students are so excited to use our new art room for a range of lessons and Forder activities; we are so lucky to have such an amazing space! It has also been an incredible year for outdoor art with our fantastic Woodland Classroom and all the opportunities it brings to create art in the natural world.

All in all, a wonderful year of art across the Junior School!

Mrs A Smith The CHRONICLE 2021

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SPORT

Overview 2020-2021 After the year we had during 2019–20, we were all looking forward to things making a swift return to normality at the commencement of 2020–21; then we had to think again, and think again we did.

A reshuffle of our Prep Games programme, including beginning with Cricket, was first on the cards and we have continuously thought outside the box to ensure that the Junior School pupils were still able to access a creative, diverse and forward-thinking sports and physical education programme. Rugby followed for the second half of the Michaelmas term, and with lack of daylight and dreary weather conditions mirroring our outlook it seemed that we would need to accept the fact that a normal sporting calendar was not going to be achievable.

This notion was compounded by a second national lockdown post-Christmas and a return to PE lessons delivered from our living rooms. The Junior School PE team embraced the challenge with determination and the bit between their teeth, knowing the importance of regular physical activity in these challenging times. It was a delight to regularly see upwards of 70 Junior School students and their families joining in with our daily morning fitness ‘Move and Groove’ sessions. These alternated between aerobics-based sessions with Miss Morris, and a Joe Wicks/Mr Macklin style pupil friendly HIIT session! These sessions were just as beneficial for us as they were for our pupils, and it was wonderful to hear such positive feedback from those involved.

We got creative during PE lessons with a focus on gymnastics throughout,

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whilst juggling and target and aiming skills were also developed. Throughout a difficult time, a special mention goes to those Prep and Pre-Prep pupils who attended every single morning fitness session; what a fantastic achievement!

It was also great to see so many pupils participating in the whole school Strava challenge, and it was pleasing to hear of pupils dragging their families out for exercise in the name of their school Houses.

We returned to school full of energy for the end of the Lent term, and pupils threw themselves back into sport with the resumption of PE, Games and after school activities. After the half-term break, we picked up rugby from where we left off in October, honing our rugby specific skills in the lead-up to our House Rugby competition occurring in the last two weeks of term. This was a brilliant

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showcase of our pupils’ rugby abilities and the skill level and understanding of the game on show was a delight to see.

We also managed to organise one cricket fixture prior to half term, a Year 6 boys A-C fixture against Bickley Park School, and the move to Cricket after the Trinity half term allowed for more fixtures to look forward to.

In what has been an extremely challenging year for all, I could not be prouder of all of the efforts that our Junior School pupils have made to keep fit, healthy and active throughout the year. I look forward to next year and a return to a full sporting calendar with opportunities for all of our pupils to get moving again!

The CHRONICLE 2021

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SWIMMING This year has been a difficult one for our swimmers, with far less pool time than we would have hoped for. The Prep Department did however have an online lesson looking at diving, synchronized swimming, water polo and underwater hockey! It gave them an insight into a plethora of sports that might take place in a swimming pool.

At St Dunstan’s College we are lucky to have our own pool, and we have managed to get plenty of pool time since returning from lockdown. Our lessons from Reception to Year 6 take place on a weekly basis where we learn a range of skills. We float, we scull, we kick, we learn drills, we dive, we tumble-turn and we race! We are all looking forward to the highly exciting House Swimming Gala in Years 3-6, the noise will surely raise the roof! We share William’s enthusiasm and look forward to a return to galas next year!

Reflections from our Junior School Swimming Captain, William Henderson I personally have loved swimming my whole life, so for me to be the Swim Captain in Year 6 has been a privilege and amazing. My time in the Junior School has been wonderful, being in the swim team from Year 3 to Year 6. I’m certainly looking forward to the Senior School and all the swimming that is to come!

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HOCKEY This year we had the benefit of having our expert hockey coach Mr Corbin-O’Grady joining us in our lessons and the continuation of the very popular Friday night hockey club. The number of sessions was reduced due to lockdown, of course, but they were packed with fun games which helped us all to improve our skills.

Reflections from our Junior School Hockey Captain, Sam Coulthard You probably know me as the Junior School Hockey Captain at St Dunstan’s College!

My name is Sam and I am in Year 6. I have been playing hockey for over 4 years at my club (Blackheath and Eltham) and I have been playing in school since I started here.

I have really enjoyed it because it has given me confidence in myself and the teachers at school are very supportive; they can teach you tricks that you didn’t even know about.

Also, the game is not a one player game; it’s a team game where you’re guaranteed to get the ball. It’s a very strategic game where you have to think about your next move and look for different ways to get into the D. I began to practise until I got better and then, at the start of Year 6, I got chosen to be Hockey Captain and I was so proud of myself. I knew it was a massive responsibility, so I did my very best. Sadly, because of the pandemic, it was a lot harder to practise and lots of events were cancelled, but I believe that next year it will be different and everything will be back to normal, so I encourage everyone to try their very best to achieve what they want (especially in hockey)!

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CRICKET It was an interesting year for our budding cricketers, with the focus during Games taking place in September due to the forced reshuffle of our Games programme. Batting, bowling and fielding opportunities were numerous on the wonderful College fields.

Although fixtures were placed on hold for the majority of the year, our Year 6 boys thoroughly enjoyed their first fixture for the year away at Bickley Park during the first half of Trinity term, and we hope to hold more fixtures throughout the remainder of the term across the Prep department. Special mention must go to Evan N’da-Koffi (6F) for his selection in

Reflections from our Boys Cricket Captain, Jonathan Kay I have enjoyed that even with Covid restrictions we still got to play a lot of sport at school. As I love cricket, I was thankful that home schooling wasn’t through the cricket term this year, and that there have been a lot of boys and girls that enjoy cricket in Year 6. I am looking forward to having even more people to play cricket with next year, and more fixtures.

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the London Schools Cricket Association Winter Training Squad. The squad was selected after the most extensive trials in its history which included around 700 applicants. Further to this, Evan was also selected in the Surrey County Cricket Club U11 Performance Squad and will certainly have a busy summer of cricket ahead of him.

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Reflections from our Boys Football Captain, Lawrence Eaton

FOOTBALL

The last twelve months have been very challenging for school team sports. For example, it was disappointing that we couldn’t play a competitive football match this year, however, we have been able to work extra hard on our fitness at home and at school. Lots of us have taken up cycling, running and walking to stay fit and healthy. What I think everyone is looking forward to for the rest of the Trinity term is getting back to school sport and playing other school teams. In Year 7 it will be very exciting to have many new faces to help create and build a higher standard for St Dunstan’s sport.

The football programme at St Dunstan’s was one of the worst affected by the pandemic, with the post-Christmas national lockdown impacting much of the football term. We did, however, manage to pick up some football during the Friday Forder slot and some after school activities, providing our pupils with the chance to make up for some of the time lost earlier in the year.

We look forward to the return to a normal year next year, with fixtures against local schools and mixed year group clubs. Our Year 5 pupils in particular are an extremely strong

football year group, including one pupil in Year 5 being scouted for both Crystal Palace and West Ham, and we look forward to nurturing this talent as he and his peers move into Year 6.

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NETBALL As always netball has been a very popular sport amongst the children, and we have managed two half terms of lessons this year. Michaelmas netball took place at the fabulous facilities down at the Jubilee Ground, where Netball Forder was also part of the agenda.

The Trinity term netball could be played on our brand new MUGA up at the main school. The House netball was completed within lessons, but with the usual competitive drive, fun and excitement.

Winners in Year 3 were Stuart, with player of the tournament being Marc Kocher. Year 4 Winners were Hecker, player of the tournament was Isabella Ayling. Winners in Year 5 were Forder, the player of the Tournament being Leila Karaki. Year 6 winners were Hecker, with Alyssa Jouy announced player of the tournament. The standard is definitely improving, well done to you all!

Reflections from our Netball Captain, Sofia Gonzalez-Antelo This year has been very difficult because of coronavirus.

We couldn’t play as much as we all would have liked to, we couldn’t compete with other schools, and we couldn’t go on trips to other schools. But although we couldn’t play against other schools, this year we did have the chance to play with each other in our team and have fun together.

I think we have improved our skills a lot, so we are now ready, waiting, and looking forward to next year, to play again properly against other teams, continue having a lot of fun, and hopefully win!

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CROSS COUNTRY House Cross Country is the first sporting event on the annual calendar and is a brilliant way to start the year. Owing to the building works, we had an adapted course this year and students spent the first few weeks of the year building up their fitness and familiarising themselves with the new course. The event was a great success, with all students participating in the event and cheering on their peers.

Well done to all those who were involved and to those who finished in the top three places in their year groups.

We also welcomed Ms Shaw to the PE staff as a Sports Assistant and Junior School Cover Teacher. Ms Shaw is vastly experienced in competitive running and has brought her wealth of knowledge to support our students in improving their running and we look forward to the resumption of our cross-country clubs next year. Whilst we have not been able to attend any external cross-country events, our Junior School pupils did a brilliant job in getting active during the January lockdown, through their participation in the whole College House Strava challenge. Well done to all those who got involved in support of their House!

Reflections from our Cross-Country Captain, Max Barrasa Gordon The House Cross Country was unusual this year because of Covid as there were no spectators and the track was modified because of the building works, but it was still fun. I always feel nervous at the starting line but it is normal and it is a good thing because it makes me focus.

Midway through the run, I always check to see if someone will overtake me so I always push myself and remember that I can do it. When you feel tired or out of breath, it is always nice to see the encouraging teachers cheering you on and your House waiting for you at the finish line. I am looking forward to next year!

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RUGBY Whilst the Rugby programme was placed somewhat on hold from September, we restarted in the second half-term following the RFU’s ‘Return to Rugby Roadmap’ announcement. With restrictions placed on contact between pupils, we took this opportunity to focus on other fundamental skills involved with the game.

As we moved through the term and through different checkpoints on the roadmap, ‘Ready For Rugby’ was introduced as a non-contact modified game designed to develop skill acquisition and understanding. Our pupils loved this modified game and it provided them with an opportunity to put into action the skills they had previously developed.

Whilst we were not able to attend any interschool fixtures, we did manage to hold our annual House Rugby event. This was a brilliant showcase of teamwork, dedication, gamesmanship and hard work, with all students giving it their all for their Houses. Well done to all pupils who participated in the Prep annual House Rugby Event, and to Edward Burrows (6F), our Rugby captain for his support throughout a challenging Rugby calendar.

Within the Year 6 cohort, we have a number of boys playing club rugby outside of school including Edward Burrows, Cian Probert, Rudy Burnell, Lawrence Eaton, Ben Kelly, Max Barrasa Gordon and William Henderson, and put together we have an exciting group of players who will no doubt have hugely successful rugby careers here at St Dunstan’s College and beyond.

Mr J Macklin Junior School Head of Sport & PE

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Reflections from our Rugby Captain, Edward Burrows I’ve really enjoyed playing sport this year, particularly rugby. I have enjoyed playing team sports again with my friends and being able to represent the school in a few games throughout the year. I am looking forward to new rules in rugby and learning new aspects of the game. I am also looking forward to meeting all my new team-mates who will join the school in September.

JUNIOR SCHOOL

RUGBY

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HIGHLIGHTS Nursery

This year our Nursery class started with smiles and enthusiasm!

We developed new relationships and explored our feelings through literature, art and drama. The children particularly loved sharing about their families, their homes and what they could see outside their windows.

Whilst playing in the Woodland Classroom, the children noticed bubbles in our pond and were very curious about them. This led to an exploration of bubbles and how they are made. We played with bubbles and experimented with them through cooking and art.

Another Michaelmas term highlight was our Pattern Parade Day! This involved the children wearing lots of patterns and parading around the school, followed by lots of fun pattern dance and music activities.

As always, our Nursery Nativity was a brilliant start to the festive season.

Although it was shared virtually this year, it was still very special. The children did a phenomenal job of remembering lines and singing their songs.

In January, the Nursery children moved to the Woodland Classroom and we embarked on our outdoor learning programme. They flourished in their new environment with access to nature and the open space. Learning took place in every kind of weather, and the teachers were impressed with how quickly the children’s resilience and willingness to take risks developed. They showed

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boundless curiosity and we had lots of fabulous discussions and lessons about worms, snow and birds. Watching a magpie build a nest led the children to ask, ‘how can we be friends with birds?’

They decided to dress up and play with the birds, so we created our own wings and went on an adventure to visit them!

Spring brought an even greater excitement with the discovery of frog spawn in the pond! Staff and pupils were equally fascinated as they observed the frog spawn develop from eggs to tadpoles. The Nursery children loved learning about the frog life cycle and sharing their new knowledge with family and friends.

The children were delighted to move into our new building and immediately took advantage of our large outdoor area to act out some of their favourite characters … superheroes! We spent our time exploring superheroes through discussions, literature and art. It was a wonderful opportunity to develop our personal, social and emotional skills as we discovered that superheroes need to be brave and resilient in lots of different situations. Our chats about superheroes

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led us to the question … What do we want to be when we grow up? Our final weeks together were spent sharing the different professions that children want to undertake and what skills and knowledge we might need to learn in order to achieve our dreams. Our Nursery pupils’ first year at St Dunstan’s has been full of unexpected events and adventures and they have filled each moment with enthusiasm, learning and fun!

Miss K Leane

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HIGHLIGHTS Reception

It has been another exciting year in Reception. We started our year exploring homes and houses in our topic, ‘Our House’. We created cardboard cities and familiarised ourselves with well-known stories such as the ‘Three Little Pigs’, exploring the qualities of different materials and extending our knowledge of story language.

We also celebrated Black History Month by having our very own carnival; we especially loved wearing real carnival headpieces. Our following topic, ‘Light and Dark’ leant itself to learning about festivals such as Diwali and Bonfire Night. The children also loved learning how to build a fire and enjoyed recreating art inspired by Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’. The term culminated in our first ever online Christmas performance which was a huge success.

This year saw the launch of a new Woodland Classroom, that has allowed Reception to go on minibeast hunts, watch the life cycle of frogs unfold in real time in our pond, build dens, saw sticks, experiment with creating transient nature art and cook up a storm in the mud kitchen. Online learning in Reception was fun-filled with a virtual trip to Antarctica with our penguin friend, Flipper, and watching our teachers dress up as pirates, disco queens and characters from ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ as the pupils practised phonics and got their fingers moving in our weekly dough discos! We were so proud of how our young learners adapted

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so brilliantly to learning online and we were impressed by their focus during our daily Maths games as well as the wide variety of home projects that took place including cooking and creating their own storybooks.

In Lent, we blasted off into space to explore the solar system using fruit as planets and we wrote some fabulous descriptions of the aliens we had created, and in our final term we learnt all about minibeasts and pirates. Aaaarrrggh!

What a fantastic year!

Ms A Rose

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HIGHLIGHTS Year 1 Art Lessons Year 1 really enjoyed using the art room this year. We loved learning about Claude Monet and took the time to appreciate some of his famous works, particularly his ‘Poppy Field’ painting. We mixed paints to create a background of our own paintings in his style. We then added in detail to our Monet inspired paintings. We looked at the horizon line and talked about ‘perspective’. The children loved learning how to mix paints to make different shades of green. We finished these by adding finer detail using oil pastels.

We were so impressed with the children’s detailed and thoughtful work!

Year 1 were inspired by ‘The Dot’ by Peter H. Reynolds. We used bright water colour paints to create pictures all originating from a dot. We were so inspired by our dot creations that we looked at Kandinsky’s work, ‘Squares with Concentric Circles’.

We created our own collaged version using a variety of textured papers, magazines and colours.

Remembrance Day To mark Remembrance, Year 1 used tea bags to dye some maps and spent time using pencils to create careful sketches of a soldier.

The children worked hard to observe the soldier and draw what they could see. We then used tissue paper, oil pastels, felt-tips and coloured pencils to create poppies which we placed around the map and soldier. It was a nice way to help us learn about what Remembrance is and why we remember all of the people who sacrificed so much.

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YEAR 1

The Great Fire of London Storytelling Workshop – Wednesday 7 October 2020

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How to stay fit and active – Tuesday 2 March

Year 1 stepped back in time with their IPC topic ‘Time Travellers’ and were lucky enough to have a storyteller from the Museum of London come to teach us more about the history of London.

He brought the story of the Great Fire of London to life and the children helped to re-enact the timeline of events from September 1666; it was so much fun.

During our ‘Superhumans’ topic, we learned all about how we could keep our bodies fit and healthy. First, we learned about different parts of the body. Next, we discussed the different ways we could exercise and found that lots of our favourite sports are excellent exercise.

Finally, we created posters that could persuade others to exercise regularly and help them find new ways to exercise!

Homes around the world – Wednesday 27 January

Outdoor Learning in the Woodland Classroom

We loved our IPC topic ‘Buildings’ and enjoyed learning about homes from around the world. We found out about lots of different types of homes, such as stilt houses, wooden chalets, brick homes and igloos. Once we had learned how these homes were suited to the countries they can be found in, we used various materials from our homes to recreate a home of our choice!

Year 1 have thoroughly enjoyed their lessons in the Woodland Classroom this year; from story time and art to IPC and maths, the children have enjoyed applying their learning to the realworld environment. Learning outdoors provided many opportunities to develop the College values of curiosity, courage, confidence, creativity and compassion whilst being together with our natural surroundings.

Mrs E Rogers and Mr M Clifford The CHRONICLE 2021

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HIGHLIGHTS Year 2

Reception & KS1 Performance – Everyone Loves a Baby It felt great to be back in class for the Michaelmas term, and one of the highlights was our annual Nativity performance, Everyone Loves a Baby!

The performance was a remote but remarkable one, with family and friends able to enjoy it at home again and again! With EYFS and Year 1 friends, the children put on a spectacular performance; they wore colourful costumes, used props made at home, sang super songs in tuneful tones accompanied by dazzling dancing and, most importantly, shared the special story of the birth of Jesus through wonderful words and actions.

Remote Learning Highlights Lent term saw a sudden about-turn, with the abrupt switch to remote learning. The unexpected change in circumstance was met with unsurprising good nature with children swiftly getting accustomed to engaging (again!) with remote lessons.

After initial reminders that these were probably best conducted without a bowl of cereal, not wearing pyjamas or sat on an armchair, the children showed themselves to be quick to adapt, raising remote hands and participating as enthusiastically as they would in class.

Highlights included plenty of handson learning opportunities; from building structures out of spaghetti and marshmallows and creating our own space rockets as part of our IPC

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focus on the first humans in space, to conducting our own experiments to test the absorption of different household materials. World Book Day was a particular remote learning highlight, with children creating their own comic strips based on their favourite books.

Of course, a number of children remained in school as part of the key worker provision, so had the advantage of maintaining some kind of normal routine, although unfortunately without the benefit of seeing the rest of their classmates in person. To everyone’s huge relief we were able to come back to school for three weeks in March, getting back to being together as a year group cohort. The thrill was palpable, and the time sped by quickly with children getting stuck into the joys of in-person PE and games sessions, music, art and of course, handwriting!

Trinity Term in the New Junior School Before long, we were back home for Easter holidays, and a well-deserved period of time without learning, remote or otherwise, but with the tantalising prospect of return after the break to a brand-new classroom, playground and school. By now we were used to dealing with all manner of changes and the final term of Year 2 was spent learning, laughing and enjoying each other’s company; all in our amazing new school spaces. What a year!

Mr B Chambers and Ms S Ghandour

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HIGHLIGHTS Year 3

Stepping into Year 3 is always an exciting time. Planners, homework, day trips and a residential are amongst some of the delights!

However, this year has been like no other. Bubbles, hand washing and social distancing are the things we have had to remember. Does that mean we have not had any fun or that Year 3 has not been exciting?

No, of course not! In true St Dunstan’s spirit, we have embraced all the changes with positivity and resilience.

We were fortunate to spend the Michaelmas term in school, learning new skills and making friends. Whilst some aspects of school life were different, we were still able to enjoy celebrations such as assemblies, Harvest and Christmas.

Videos and Teams meetings became the norm. Then in January, our learning took place from home in front of a computer. We found ourselves using a new language: ‘Can you hear me?’ ‘Can you see me?’ ‘Put yourselves on mute.’

‘Don’t use emojis.’ ‘Upload your work.’

‘Download your work.’ Cries of, ‘I can’t see the Powerpoint!’ ‘My hand is not up.’ ‘My computer crashed.’ ‘Do we have to upload anything?’ became part of daily lessons. We all learnt new skills (we are now tech experts) and became more independent. Our imaginations enabled us to become explorers as we set off on an expedition to the Rainforest.

We became puppeteers, storytellers, poets and magicians. We dressed up, we dressed down. We sang and we laughed.

Pets and parents attending lessons became the norm. Teachers undertook challenges from the children. The children became experts at challenging the teachers. We were builders,

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designers, writers, bakers. We were creative, curious and courageous.

As the Lent term drew to a close, spring showed signs of arriving and we were able to go back to school. It was exciting to see our friends and teachers again. It was fun being back together but there was still more excitement to come. Not only did we have a new building to move into, we had a showcase to prepare for! The theme of ‘Happiness’ seemed appropriate and after a difficult and unusual year, we certainly have much to make us smile. With the start of Trinity term, rehearsals were afoot. We danced, we sang, we performed ... on repeat!

The final performance was a joyful exploration of what happiness means to each of us and we were so grateful we were able to perform it together. Nearing the end of the summer term we were treated to a Harry Potter Charity Day complete with spell-making and potions, Quidditch and costumes! To top it all off, this fantastic fundraising event finished with a Year 3 BBQ with fun activities and games to celebrate what has a been a truly exceptional year!

Ms K Collard and Miss L Mitcham

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YEAR 4

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HIGHLIGHTS Year 4

What a year we have had, but it has certainly not dampened our spirits in Year 4! The pupils started the year with a bang – quite literally!

They built their own volcanoes for the IPC topic ‘Active Planet’ and had a lot of fun erupting them in the playground. Both classes enjoyed filming their virtual class assemblies, having fun testing out as many video effects as possible.

Things changed in the New Year when we once again found ourselves learning from our kitchen tables. Nevertheless, Year 4 were unfazed and after a quick adjustment, can now confidently call themselves tech experts! It has been great to see so many of these newlylearned computer skills being put to use in the creative and professional work we have seen from our pupils.

campfire and bushcraft session, (indoor) BBQ, team building games and a mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows in their own designed mugs. It was a lovely way to end what has been an interesting year!

Mr R Hindes and Ms A Shaw

The pupils demonstrated their resilience and determination yet again, to make the best of the year when preparing and performing their Roald Dahlinspired showcase. Despite the initial disappointment of a full production not taking place, the energy and vigour the pupils brought to singing, dancing and acting was admirable. From singing songs from Matilda, to acting out scenes from The Twits, The BFG and James and the Giant Peach, it proved a real treat for Dahl fans!

To finish the year in style, the children in Year 4 had an evening packed full of fun activities! Despite truly awful weather, we persevered with an (under cover) The CHRONICLE 2021

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HIGHLIGHTS Year 5

Year 5 began the year by travelling back in time all the way to Ancient Greece for their first IPC topic, ‘The Great, the Bold and the Brave’.

To start the topic in style, we held an ancient Greek Day where pupils came to school in costume. We had some wonderful outfits ranging from citizens of ancient Athens to gods, goddesses and even minotaurs. The day saw pupils trying their hand at the ancient game of Pettia, decorating their own pots and culminated in a 62-person re-enactment of the Trials of Heracles (the 18 headed hydra was a large contributor to the casting!)

During the period of remote learning, animals and plants were the focus in our IPC topic ‘Existing, Endangered, Extinct’.

The highlight was definitely the Year 5 Amazing Animals Day and oh how far we travelled! Our first stop was Edinburgh Zoo, where we did live animal sketching at feeding time. Then it was a hop over to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, where we peered through the glass into the shark lagoon and the tropical underwater caverns.

Pupils came dressed and ready for their day ‘out’ in their finest animal costumes and joined in with all the activities, including the snack time challenge and furry form time, with so much enthusiasm.

Heading back to school meant the start of a new IPC topic. Year 5 became ‘Space Explorers’, and they were put through their paces during their ‘SDC Space Academy’ entry point. They were tested on a range of skills, the favourite being dexterity where they had to use tweezers to embed pins in a potato!

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The annual Year 5 Showcase was a recorded production this year and pupils had great fun writing poems and devising acts to perform. From bucket drumming to performing penguins, the show was non-stop action and pupils enjoyed watching the performance back on the big screen.

Well done Year 5, a super year!

Miss F Brown, Mr T Pinder and Mr T May

YEARS 5

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YEARS 6

Y E A R G ROU P H I G H L I GH TS

HIGHLIGHTS Year 6

During the Michaelmas term, Year 6 got into the community spirit by composing and illustrating heart-warming letters for the recipients of VSL’s Christmas hampers. These were gratefully received, and it is lovely to think that Year 6 pupils’ words helped to brighten someone’s day.

For the instrumental concert, pupils watched a compilation of their peers’ performances and were extremely supportive and encouraging of each other’s talents. Each form was given a glimpse into the workings of the Houses of Parliament in their own expert-led UK Parliamentary Workshop which took place online. Pupils were intrigued by the workshop and they asked many fascinating questions to help them gain a greater understanding of our country’s political system.

At the beginning of Trinity term, Year 6 were delighted to move into their new classrooms and to use all of the new facilities. With rehearsals well underway for the Year 6 production of Disney’s Madagascar Jnr, we were positive that the pupils would deliver an outstanding performance. They raised the roof in the Big Top at the Festival and did the whole Junior School proud. Well done Year 6, a fabulous end to the year!

Mrs C Dixon and Mr A Coley

In Lent term, remote learning did not impede Year 6 pupils’ curiosity and voraciousness for learning. The use of new Microsoft Teams features enabled pupils to work collaboratively whilst at home and facilitated the development of new-found leadership skills in groups.

A highlight of this term was the IPC topic ‘Go With the Flow’, in which pupils learned about all aspects of rivers. Year 6 amazed their teachers through their engagement with independent research, documentary-making and presentational skills. Upon our return to College, pupils worked together to create their own stalactite and stalagmite formations in an exciting end to the topic.

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SPECIAL EVENTS Legoland On the last day of an enormously successful first half term of Lent, during remote learning children in the PrePrep enjoyed a virtual school trip to Legoland! Despite the stay-at-home order, the pupils packed their bags and their imaginations for a day ‘out’. The children started their day with a virtual tour and treasure hunt, before having the opportunity to choose from a range of exciting, creative activities set by all of the Pre-Prep teachers. From Legoinspired bakes, art and code breaking, to design and build challenges and stop start animations, it was an absolutely fantastic day (unsurprisingly, seeing as ‘everything is awesome’ at Legoland!)

Mrs E Rogers

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LEGOLAND AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Celebrating women’s achievements Helping pupils to challenge gender bias and inequality

There will be assemblies, lessons and tutorials focused on the theme.

Parents, staff and pupils have been invited to share stories of women who have inspired them.

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FRIDAY

International Women’s Day was celebrated across the Junior School in March, linked to the theme of #ChooseToChallenge. The day started with a special assembly led by Mrs Carmichael-Line and a number of Junior School staff, sharing their favourite stories of women who showed the College values of curiosity, confidence, compassion, creativity or courage. We were delighted to receive contributions to our day from inspirational Junior School parents, who shared stories and experiences of inspiring women from their lives. Amongst the wonderful stories we received from our thoughtful Junior School families, our minds were truly captured by Captain Anna Crossley, a Nursery parent, who shared with us her experiences of being ‘the only woman in the room’ as the only female officer deployed to Afghanistan in a group of 400 men. Subsequent Skills for Life lessons explored the concepts of gender equality, the history of women’s rights and how they have changed over time and what the next steps are for our community to ensure that the rights of all students are protected and met throughout their St Dunstan’s experience.

THEME OF THE WEEK

MONDAY

International Women’s Day

S P EC IA L EVEN TS

#ChooseToChallenge

#IWD2021

Mrs L Carmichael-Line

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SPECIAL EVENTS Wellbeing Week Mental Health is always at the forefront of our thoughts and the start of March this year brought us into the third successive month of remote learning. Keen to draw on the exciting opportunities that home learning provided us with, we held our very own Junior School Wellbeing Week!

The purpose was to learn and practise a range of wellbeing strategies that promote pupils’ physical and mental health, and the Junior School staff and pupils threw themselves into the week with full gusto! From live Sing-AlongDisney with Miss Marcinkiewicz; to mindfulness Skills for Life lessons, making calm jars and reflective diaries with Mrs Carmichael-Line; to Maxing and Relaxing yoga sessions with Mr Macklin; or Calm Colouring and Doodling with Mr Chambers, the opportunities to get involved were endless. Yet again, the pupils impressed with their positive engagement and wonderful curiosity to try new things; and we mustn’t forget the excellent tree poses seen in yoga.

Well done, everybody!

Mrs L Carmichael-Line

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WELLBEING WEEK AND LANGUAGES DAY

S P EC IA L EVEN TS

Languages Day Languages Day was a bit different this year in the Junior School, but we still had a great time learning about other countries and cultures. We were extremely lucky because even though visitors were not allowed in person, some of our parents still found ways to share their cultures. The children had a great time learning about Italy, Argentina, Wales and many more countries. Some of our teachers also shared language skills they had developed on their various adventures. In the same building you could practise Thai, Spanish, Khmer and even British Sign Language! Every phase embraced the challenge of a remote Languages Day, and some lovely storytelling or singing could also be heard throughout the corridors. Even though trips were not possible this year, we still managed to bring a bit of the Goethe Institut to St Dunstan’s when some children watched a German movie in their classrooms. In short, a busy and eventful Languages Day! Miss J Staes

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SPECIAL EVENTS The Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 BBQs As Government guidance thwarted our chances of attending our annual residentials, the Prep school team took it into their own hands to arrange two ‘camping’ experiences with a twist!

Although prevented from overnight stays, we couldn’t resist the temptation to build campfires and undertake adventurous activity teamwork challenges in the spirit of a true camper. Mr Telford wowed us with his survival skills and fire building, Mr Macklin challenged us in groups like no other and Miss Morris set us challenges galore before we tucked into a delicious BBQ and hot chocolate in our specially designed camping mugs. A huge well done to everyone for getting stuck in with camaraderie, enthusiasm and laughter!

Mrs L Carmichael-Line

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THE YEAR 3/4 AND YEAR 5/6 BBQS

S P EC IA L EVEN TS

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SPECIAL EVENTS Harry Potter Day Inspired by and held in the memory of Annamaria What a wonderful day the children had at our special Harry Potter charity day, dressed in their wonderful outfits. The front drive in the morning was awash with different characters arriving at Hogwarts for a day of wizardry.

Emerging from the street and cars were Hagrid, Sirius Black, the death eaters, Dobby, Fred and George Weasley and many Harry Potters! They were greeted

by Dumbledore himself, or was it herself?

It was difficult to see under that huge flowing beard.

The day began with a musical welcome from two accomplished flautists, prodigies of Professor Quirrell, playing the Harry Potter theme tune. The moment of truth was imminent. It was time for the sorting hat to work its magic! ‘Hmmm, oh yes, I know just the House for you!’ it cried, as one by one the Hogwarts students wore the crooked hat, took centre stage and were sorted into Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.

Once witches and wizards had been sorted into their Houses, they were ready for the lessons of the day. With Professor Snape busy with his own class, Professor Flitwick and camera crazy Colin Creevey conducted the potions lessons for the younger students. The elders braved the top corridor of Hogwarts to

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HARRY POTTER DAY

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learn advanced potions in the Science laboratories.

Meanwhile, Fleur Delacour was down in the basement teaching Wandography.

This new generation of Hogwarts students would need to know how to thrust their wands and cast a spell! Such wonderfully dramatic poses would surely work against He Who Cannot Be Named.

After a light refreshment of butterbeer from The Three Broomsticks at lunch, it was time for battle to commence!

The winds were high for our Quidditch tournament. Viktor Krum was in command, with assistance from Hermione Granger. Moaning Myrtle managed to escape from the bathroom to haunt the highly contested matches. With broomsticks and quaffles at the ready, the Chasers were determined to beat the Keeper and take the spoils. Players earned ten points for shooting in the hoops and twenty points for catching the elusive flying golden snitch. Meanwhile, there were Quidditch training sessions running for the future stars of the game. They could be spied in the distance, weaving through the trees on their broomsticks and firing their quaffles through the target.

What a wonderful sight this was for those who were lucky enough to see it.

It was an exhausting but exhilarating day for pupils and professors alike, but certainly worthwhile and I suspect, imprinted in their memories forever.

Thank you to Annamaria and her family for inspiring such a wonderful day, and we hope the money raised from our generous St Dunstan’s community will go some way towards beating Rhabdomyosarcoma.

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PRIZE WINNERS 2021 Junior School YEAR GROUP PRIZES Nursery Ambassador

Mattie Leworthy

Nursery Progress

Zachary Keenan

Reception Ambassador

Ares Godsiff

Reception Progress

Dylan Latimer

Year 1 Ambassador

Ella Habberfield

Year 1 Progress

Francesca Knight

Year 2 Ambassador

Oliver Situ

Year 2 Progress

Amaya Makanjuola

Year 3 Ambassador

Allan James Szymkowciz Powell

Year 3 Progress

William Peto

Year 3 Academic

Laura Forbes

Year 4 Ambassador

Dexter Bloomer

Year 4 Progress

Harris Jarvis

Year 4 Academic

Dominic Martyr

Year 5 Ambassador

Thomas Armstrong

Year 5 Progress

Sebastian Lynch

Year 5 Academic

Oliver Elizalde

YEAR 6 RECOGNITION AWARDS

ARTS PRIZES Performing Arts Trophy

Jemima Loosen

Chorister Trophy

Zekai Chen

Ben Chudleigh Award

Humphrey Craven

SPORTS PRIZES Athletics Trophy

Max Barrasa Gordon

Cricket Trophy

Jonathan Kay

Football Trophy

Lawrence Eaton

Hockey Trophy

Callum Grant

Netball Trophy

Sofia Gonzalez Antelo

Rounders Trophy

Rebecca Senior

Rugby Trophy

Edward Burrows

Swimming Trophy

William Henderson

SUBJECT PRIZES Art Award

Imani Rouse-Farooq

Design Technology Trophy

Jesse Greene

Drama Trophy

Albert Watson

English Trophy

Alyssa Jouy

Humanities Trophy

Cillian Bain

Information Technology Trophy

Sophia Tong

Languages Trophy

Meredith Wood

Mathematics Trophy

Mariella Plant

Music Trophy

Stanley Colman

Science Trophy

Tyler Smith

Gabriel Akinyomi

Benjamin Kelly

Jade Allan

Albert Lee-Perrella

Albert Carrick-Birtwell

Albert Lilley

Sam Coulthard

Kyle McIntosh

Allegria Da Silva Malonga

Kitty Murrell-Kirk

Progress Award

Jessica Machi Cian Probert

Max Ewart

Evan N’da-Koffi

Sportsman Trophy

Rudy Burnell

Bella Francis

Luke Rowett

Sportswoman Trophy

Jemima Loosen

Greta Garton-Jones

Truman Stanhope

Albam Exorna Award

Daniel Gu

Theo Takan

Helena Afshar Rudy Burnell

Head Boy Award

Jesse Greene

Nina Guimard

Harper Williams

Head Girl Award

Alyssa Jouy

Rhodri Inglis

Mia Wollny

Head of Junior School Trophy

Imani Rouse-Farooq

Kabir Johri Birk

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SPECIAL AWARDS

FORDER – SENIOR SCHOOL

HO USES

Reflections of the year

FORDER HOUSE Senior School

Last academic year may have been one of the hardest years for House competitions, but Forder has shown real determination and perseverance and displayed real House spirit.

We started the Michaelmas term with House Art competitions displaying our compassion, House debating competition, and House Poem showing off our poetic skills, where we came a strong second.

After October Exeat, students had a chance to design their own Christmas interpretation of the Shield. Well done to Lexi Bennison in Year 8 for designing an amazing Shield! A chance to show off creative writing skills with the theme of ‘a door into a magical world’ was amazingly done by Yola Moran in Year 8.

What a wonderful start to the year, filled with creativity!

Another exciting competition which introduced computational thinking and was designed to get students all over the world excited about computing was the House Bebras challenge. Forder has shown a great interest in computing and a massive well done to Ewart, Oscar, Francis, Amy and Robert! With this astounding start to the Michaelmas term, Forder ended the term in first place.

Moving on to sport, Forder started strongly. In Year 8, Forder were joint winners with Usherwood in the House Hockey competition. In Year 7, Forder skilfully won the House Football competition. During lockdown, the PE department hosted a special lockdown running competition, the Strava challenge.

The aim was to see which House could travel the furthest distance in 6 weeks.

The winning House for this event was Forder who travelled just over 2500 km, with all the Houses running a combined total of approximately 8000 km and

reaching St Dunstan’s in Johannesburg!

The following students showed amazing perseverance: Hudson Cella, Izzy Calogeras, Illy Calogeras and Luke Bayliss.

Next up, the House Music competition took place where students were able to enter both the instrumental and vocal categories to earn valuable house points.

Well done to the runners up: Hayden Ennin and Mei-Lin Rawlings, and the winner: Jamie Ozomena.

During literacy week, a Creative Writing competition took place where students had to write a poem or letter, titled ‘The Lockdown Diaries’. This was a great opportunity for students to reflect their thoughts, feelings or observations during what has been an extraordinary time.

Well done to Hayden Ennin for a beautiful piece!

The Trinity term was a perfect opportunity for Forder to demonstrate our sports skills in person again. Well done to Year 9 in House Netball, and well done to Year 7, 10 and Seniors in House Football. Due to the excitement of being back in school and using all of the facilities again, Forder kept their strong hold on first place against other Houses.

Even though, we didn’t win Sports Day, the House spirit was incredible, and it was lovely to see everyone taking part in races.

A big thank you to everyone who participated in House competitions and Sports Day last year, and we look forward to participating in more House competitions to come.

Ruta Katakinaite and Mark Butala The CHRONICLE 2021

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Reflections of the year

HECKER HOUSE Senior School

In what has been a strange and difficult year it has been wonderful to see the new incoming Hecker students get involved from the very beginning to keep the House spirit alive.

We began the year with House competitions held in form time, with House Debating and House Art taking place. As we entered the second half of Michaelmas in third place, we had lots of creative opportunities for the Lower School to gain much-needed points for Hecker. We began with our House Christmas Shield competition where we were asked to design our own interpretation of the Albam Exorna shield with a Christmas twist. It was wonderful to see so many excellent interpretations and everyone getting into the Christmas spirit!

Other competitions saw Hecker excel; with several winners for the Creative Writing task writing about the subject of ‘A door into a magical world’.

Particularly well done to Emerson Ost, Isabel Reynolds and Jessica Rennison whose brilliant writing led to some fantastic points for Hecker. The final competition of the term was House Christmas Photography where we were tasked with taking images around the theme of the bright lights of Christmas.

Once again it was brilliant to see Year 7 and 8 students fully supporting their house and Hecker had six winners out of 8! Well done to Lorcan Dixon, Emerson Ost, Jessica Rennison, Hayden Gillies, Eddie Sloan, and Alex Mills.

We were all fortunate to begin our House sporting competitions where Hecker has historically performed strongly. There

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were Lower School House Competitions for Football, Hockey and Swimming.

Unfortunately, it was not our year in Hockey, but we were outstanding in Football winning both Year 8 and Year 9!

Fantastic performances by our swimmers led to Hecker winning not only Year 7 but also Year 9 competitions in the pool.

More important wins for Hecker, well done to all who helped this happen. This all helped push Hecker closer up the leaderboard into an important second place with plenty of time to move into first before the end of the year.

As we entered the Lent Term we unfortunately were back to remote learning and all at home. However, as usual this did not dampen our House spirit or enthusiasm! We began the term with a House Strava Competition, a special lockdown running competition to see which house could travel the furthest distance in six weeks. Whilst we were pipped to the finish line by Forder, all four houses ran a combined total of around 8000 km! There were some truly excellent contributions made by several Hecker students and many congratulations to Sam Osmond and Eddie Sloan for their commitment to both running and Hecker!

As we continued with competitions in Literacy Week it was wonderful to see how dynamic Hecker students are both in and out of the classroom. A ‘ReadA-Thon’ Challenge was won by Jessica

HECKER – SENIOR SCHOOL

Rennison. There were also two Creative Writing Competitions in which students were challenged to write a short story on nature, or a poem on ‘The Lockdown Diaries’. We had an extremely worthy Year 7 winner with Isabel Reynolds, a winner in the Year 9 and 10 section with Danika Mleko and Ruby Robbins winning for the Year 11 and Sixth Form section.

House Music continued this year, albeit virtually, with two competitions in which to take part. Valuable House points were on offer for both instrumental and vocal categories. Unfortunately, this year did not see Hecker take away any trophies but next year Hecker will surely rise to the top of the music stands once again.

HO USES

House stepping up and taking part. It is truly brilliant to see that Year 7s have participated in so many competitions, whether it has been virtually or in person and we hope that this enthusiasm will continue. A special thanks to all House and vice captains, who have had a difficult year, but nevertheless have helped push participation; Ethan Chalk, Sophia Arrigoni, Emma Dennis, Denise Spigler, Tarrin Srinivasan, Livvy Cleverly-Lynch, Calum Steele, Ellie Clark, Finn Dixon, Inaya Rouse-Farooq, Alex Mills, Matilda Passmore, Millie Rennison, Oliver Brogan and Liv Overett-Somnier.

Xin Shackleton and Freya Jacobs

The final competitions of the Lent term when we arrived back on-site were House Netball and Year 10 and Senior House Football. Hecker continued to dominate on the netball courts and had incredible wins in Year 7, Year 8, and Year 10! Huge congratulations to all those who took part and played for their House, it was fantastic to see excellent collaboration and teamwork considering the toughness of the Lent term.

The final event of the school year was the much-anticipated Sports Day. Hecker dominated the competition, and the points we scored saw us rise from second to first place and win the overall competition!

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Reflections of the year

STUART HOUSE Senior School

This past year for Stuart was like a rollercoaster, in fact for everyone it was a turbulent time. We had great triumphs and failures and the year was filled with ups and downs, the downs only making us stronger and more resilient. Our house motto is ‘Concordia Velem – Together We Strive’, and once we put on that blue House colour, we become one. One united team.

In the Michaelmas term, House Art, Debating, Poem writing, Christmas shield designing, Creative writing, Photography and the Bebras challenge are all notable examples of Stuart’s immense creative, academic and collaborative strengths and successes.

Creatively Stuart House has shone, with Maia NinoFrench, Milla Dao and Lisle Horner working hard to become the Year 7 and 8 Creative Writing winners, Lottie Harris and Maia Nino-French triumphing in Photography and Harriet Fearnley making Stuart proud with her beautiful Christmas shield design.

However, creativity wasn’t our only strength; we encountered many sporting successes such as Year 8 swimming and Year 7 hockey where each year group showed great determination and sportsmanship.

These wins aren’t just wins but illustrations of how hard Stuart works and our team spirit and unity that only makes us stronger and more successful.

Moving into the Lent term, the switch to remote learning didn’t faze Stuart from striving for success. Stuart adapted quickly and efficiently to the modified House competitions, leading to victory in the House Strava competition, Read-A-Thon challenge, and House Music. A special mention to Raffi Vignoli for her massive contribution to the House Strava competition where she showed great determination and resilience throughout, making Stuart very proud! Naomi Orton was the ultimate book worm in achieving triumph in the Read-AThon challenge, in which she had to read as many pages as possible of her favourite book across a week – huge well done in this win. Next in House Music, we carried on our theme of creative success with Elliot Phillips holding the Year 7 win, Lisle Horner

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in Year 8 and Ariene Horner a Year 10 runner up.

Stuart has a talented array of musicians and in times of uncertainty these pupils showed that music can lift the spirit and join our House team in unity, even when we are remote.

Fortunately, in the last few weeks of Lent term, we were back on site to enjoy the sun and also the many sporting events that followed, such as House Netball, House Football and of course the pinnacle of the sporting calendar: Sports Day. Huge congratulations to the Year 7 Stuart Netball team for their victory. Regrettably, we lost House Football, but this didn’t dent our morale as our determination was relentless and unified as one force, of which the whole of Stuart is just as proud. During Sports Day Stuart worked hard and pulled their weight, every Stuart member was there – always ready to cheer and support our team whether we came first, second, third or last. I am so proud to have witnessed those joyful victories whilst knowing the falls will only make us stronger.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate all of the Stuart House captains and vice captains who have never shied away from getting involved or encouraging others in the House competitions and for their endless team spirit and enthusiasm; Jordan Bakare, Raffi Vignoli, Harriet Fearnley, Harry McGregor, Daisy Duggan, Rio Myers, Ariene Horner, Samual Strautnieks, Zaki Fall, Ethan Thomas, Quincy Young, Evie Witherell, Josh Balding, and of course Miss Hughes – our Head of House – we couldn’t have achieved all of this without you!

Milla Dao

STUART AND USHERWOOD – SENIOR SCHOOL

HO USES

Reflections of the year

USHERWOOD HOUSE Senior School

After such a strange year, it seems odd to be writing a Chronicle report for House activities when so much has had to happen remotely. We are all hoping that next year will see things back to normal, when we can all participate and celebrate together, face to face as a community.

Despite having this hurdle, we have, of course, had numerous House activities going on this year, many of which have had an encouragingly creative aspect to them. House Debating and House Art are, of course, long-established, but the House poem/limerick, Christmas Shield competition, creative writing and photography have allowed a wider group of students to get involved and show off their talents. Well done to Mya Llewellyn in Year 8, who produced a very impressive piece of creative writing.

We have enjoyed hockey, football and swimming competitions: well done to the Usherwood hockey team who were joint winners with Forder. At Easter the PE Department hosted a special lockdown running competition – the ‘Strava Competition’ – the challenge being to see which House could travel the furthest distance in 6 weeks. The 2000 km race back to the college was won by Usherwood, with particular praise going to Dario Gonzalez in Year 9.

Netball team meant that at the time of writing Usherwood were at least not in last place in the standings! Once again we are hoping for outstanding performances at Sports Day to improve our overall standing.

Hopefully next year we will be able to pull through in the standings, and with the increasing number of House activities there are to offer, we can do it!

Thank you to everyone who has participated this year. Go Usherwood!

Florence Lee

House competitions during Literacy Week included a Read-A-Thon Challenge and two creative writing competitions. Once again, entries were of a very high standard indeed, and we hope we can see these challenges continue for next year.

House Music this year was more subdued than normal, with no whole-House singing! There were some outstanding performances across the year groups.

Congratulations to Florence Craven who was runner-up in Year 8.

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THE FORDER PROGRAMME As a community, we can be remarkably proud of the way our staff, students and wider College community responded to the challenges presented by the pandemic. For so many, the need to focus on curriculum adjustment had to become the sole focus, but not at St Dunstan’s. The co-curriculum would remain a priority for all!

Whether in school and having to adapt to restrictions, or remote and delivering a Virtual Forder Programme, our community has been able to demonstrate the values that are central to the College and cocurriculum in order to sustain a broad, diverse and ambitious offering.

Reverend Forder himself would have been proud!

The year started with a change in expectation for students in Year 7–11, which saw them sign up for co-curricular clubs throughout the week during the timetabled lesson that we are fortunate to retain in the middle of the day – a real statement of intent from our College community. In order to support this increase in demand the staff were able to offer between 40 and 50 clubs each day for students across the year groups to enjoy. Restrictions on numbers in clubs and year group bubbles meant that many of our most popular multi-year group clubs had to demonstrate great creativity in order to make the necessary adjustments. Drama and Adventurous Activity became single year group clubs and were offered across the whole week.

We retained Saturday sport relying on internal competitions to give students something to prepare for; CCF parade

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SENIOR SCHOOL

continued for Years 10 and 11, and some of our major music ensembles were forced to use the marketing tent for rehearsals in order to ensure sufficient ventilation. Where there is a will there is a way! Clearly many of our clubs use major events throughout the year to give students something to work towards, and this term presented our first foray into live streaming. The Remembrance Day service stands out in particular, with the CCF, Music Department and Tech Club students all working together to deliver a moving event worthy of the occasion.

The transition to a Virtual Forder Programme in the Lent Term was nothing new for us having delivered a virtual programme throughout the first lockdown. We combined weekly clubs with longer term projects and the levels of student engagement really were exceptional. Favourite clubs

T H E FOR DE R P ROG R A M M E 2 0 2 0–2021

included Debating, Go Club, Photography (which included our LGBTQ+ themed competition) and Digital Art, the R2C (Ready to Climb) Project, the Virtual Strava Competition and our weekly Workout Wednesday, not forgetting the regular Virtual Concerts that we were able to compile and share through our social media channels.

The real highlight though, must be the Summer 2021 Forder offering which gave us the opportunity to welcome all students back into the building, to the clubs that they love. We only have students in regular timetabled lessons for a very short period in the Trinity term, but Adventure Week and The St Dunstan’s Festival - appropriately themed ‘Celebrating Courageous Community’ - gave everyone so much to look forward to. Delivering these two major events in a way that adhered

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SENIOR SCHOOL

T H E FOR DE R P ROG R A M M E 2 0 2 0–2021

strictly to government guidance to keep everyone safe was a remarkable challenge, but we were in no doubt that the potential value to students would make it all worthwhile. Seeing students spend Adventure Week away together engaged in camping, orienteering, climbing, kayaking, coasteering, adventure racing, combat archery, team building, high ropes and many more activities was a joy to behold after the challenges of the past year. Then on to the Festival with daily workshops, volunteering events, concerts, dramatic performances, exhibitions and celebrations of student achievement at the Sports Dinner and our annual Prize Giving; truly finishing on a high!

Congratulations to staff, students and parents alike for your continued commitment to the co-curriculum, when it would have been easier to put it on hold. The Forder Programme really does showcase everything that is special about our community, and we can all be proud of what we have been able to achieve in the last year.

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DRAMA AND DANCE Senior School

In what has been an extraordinary year for the world at large, students of the dramatic arts at St Dunstan’s College have once again embodied an admirable resilience in their creative and inspired response to the challenges of the pandemic.

Inspired by the polished offerings of examination groups at the College, the Michaelmas term saw the introduction of ‘Black Box’ devising clubs across the KS3 cohort, with the co-direction of GCSE and A Level students ensuring that our younger students were given the opportunity of working with a wide variety of stimuli and practitioner styles. Whilst Year 7 combined Orwell’s dystopian world of Animal Farm with Brecht’s desire to educate, Year 8 took their inspiration from the verbatim responses of the College community to the Covid-19 pandemic, using Boal as a medium through which they could devise a response. As well as expanding our devising provision, the Drama department also dipped their toe into the world of Podcast Radio and Script Writing within KS4 and KS5, with both clubs allowing us to further diversify the skillsets and performance mediums of ensemble members. Following such a popular response to the projects, ‘The Attenborough Project’ was then launched in the Lent term, which allowed students to combine their personal interests with their new-found skills, resulting in some remarkable documentaries that covered a wide variety of topics, from the preservation of sharks to the wonder of neuro-diversity!

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Demand for Dance at the College remains at all-time high, with ‘Champion Performing Arts’ offering a combination of online and in person classes throughout this academic year, with all styles and variations of movement being accounted for. Having remained one of the most popular choices in our Forder slot over a number of years, we are also incredibly excited to announce plans for the College’s first ever, full scale Dance production, which will be launched in September 2021. As one of the primary driving forces behind Dance at the College, we are equally excited and proud in extending our congratulations to College Dance extraordinaire Willow Fenner, whose dedication and commitment have seen her rightfully rewarded with a place of study at the prestigious London Contemporary Dance School.

Another ever-expanding and popular stalwart of our Forder programme is the Stage Tech club, with the vertical mixing of those in Years 7–13 creating a crosspollination of innovation and creativity that has once again resulted in one of our most experienced technicians, Evie Witherell, gaining a coveted place of study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Having inspired numerous

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students in the College to follow in her footsteps, as well as balancing stage management with her exams, she will be missed. Luckily for us, she leaves the club in very good hands!

As unprecedented as these times may have been, one thing has certainly remained a constant and that is the commitment and dedication to the Dramatic Arts at St Dunstan’s College.

Mr G Stewart Director of Drama

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MUSIC

Senior School Music at St Dunstan’s is in an incredibly exciting position despite the disruptions of the past 18 months. Amid the challenges, we have sustained practical music-making while innovating our offering to ensure that there is a genuinely unique, exciting and inclusive musical identity at the College. Against a national picture where music education and activity has suffered tremendously, at St Dunstan’s we have prioritised musical activity amid the restrictions and are all the richer for it.

Though public performances have not been as plentiful as normal due to the restrictions, our ensembles and performers have many successes to celebrate. The use of an outdoor Marquee from September allowed us to continue our cross-bubble groups within the distancing requirements.

Furthermore, the creation of year group choirs and orchestras in Years 7 and 8 has seen musical participation in these year groups really thrive.

Notably, we were delighted to offer new opportunities in Music Technology Forder clubs, a Composition club and Music Appreciation Club that allowed those producers, composers and critical listeners the opportunity to contribute to our Forder programme. Michaelmas term culminated in the livestreamed Christmas service from St Augustine’s Church in December. Our slimmed-down Chapel Choir performed advanced repertoire with great musicality and balance to the cameras; this group is growing in maturity and we look forward to many public performances and evensongs in the future!

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Teaching Music remotely brings real challenges, but Lent term was remarkable for its solutions to these challenges, and the very real appetite from our students to keep practising and performing while at home. There was some outstanding composition work created, not only by our exam students in Years 11 and 13, but by KS3 through their Soundtrap DAW subscriptions.

These efforts culminated in a series of virtual concerts that ran weekly across the term, including recitals from Year 7, Year 8, our Scholars and Exhibitioners and recordings of student compositions.

Throughout these challenging months, it was really clear how essential Music is to our young people through the dedication and passion of their contributions.

Trinity term was greeted with excitement as we moved into our fantastic new facilities. The new department space effectively triples the area available for musical activities for our students, and because of this we were able to welcome back all our cross-bubble ensembles. We look forward to further optimisation of the space over the summer which will

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see works to our recording studio, recital room and practice rooms completed.

Commemoration Day felt like the first ‘normal’ event in quite some time, and featured excellent performances by the Chapel Choir, Junior School soloists and amazing virtuosic playing by Piotr Burda-Zwolinski. We were also delighted to hold three days of ABRSM examinatons in which there were some outstanding results, and were a testament to the success of our instrumental recruitment programmes and the dedication of our Visiting Music Teachers. Both Florence Craven (Violin) and Eleanor Clark (Saxophone) achieved outstanding Grade 8 results in their instruments!

We were so grateful that it was possible for the planned Festival concerts to occur against the sustained restrictions, and the performances functioned as a great unlocking of the fantastic rehearsing throughout the year. The Outdoor Concert was a vibrant affair showcasing our instrumental ensembles and bands, despite the rain joining in halfway through! Our young student bands, incubated in the ‘Rock Band’ Forder club, The CHRONICLE 2021

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excelled in their first public appearances and there was an extraordinary performance by Leon Bielski in Year 10.

The inaugural Jazz Soirée was a riot of expressive playing and improvisation, celebrating the talents of our Big Band, Jazz Ensemble and student vocalists. We must thank Mr Harrison in particular for the stunning work that he is doing with our Jazz Ensemble, whose improvised performances here and at the Prizegiving ceremony were so polished and full of student enjoyment.

Finally, the Festival Finale Concert, this year themed around Broadway classics, was the culmination of intensive rehearsal over the Festival fortnight.

The Festival Orchestra delighted in performances of a My Fair Lady medley, a ‘Salute to Broadway’ and an arrangement of Gershwin’s ‘Fascinating Rhythm’.

Ruby Robbins and Agnes Sales serenaded the audience with the Big Band in ‘When I Fall in Love’ and ‘Mack the Knife’. The

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concert culminated in a mega-medley of ‘Broadway Musical Magic’, with a massed choir of Year 7, SDC Voices and Chapel Choir. The concert, almost unthinkable in the depths of the winter lockdown, was a celebration of music-making in which the participants’ euphoria at performing was always on show. It even finished just in time for the football!

At the end of an extraordinary year, my thanks go once more to the Music department staff for all their indefatigable efforts and to our students, so well supported by their parents, for their positivity, resilience and determination to keep music-making alive throughout the challenges of the past 18 months. We await a return to a ‘normal’ schedule of rehearsals and public performances with much excitement!

Mr D Oldfield Director of Music

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ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

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DESIGN ENGINEERING Year 12 Design Engineering Side Table Project After an almost two-year hiatus from practical work, the Year 12 Design Engineering cohort were tasked with utilising recycled and sustainable materials to create a unique side table.

In a short 8-week period from design to fruition, students embraced the Dunstonian vision to aim to be a carbon neutral institution by using the old science benches for timber. The African Hardwood Iroko is known for its rich colour and grain. After some dedicated planing and sanding to remove decades of varnish and wear, the timber was

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reinvigorated and brought back to its natural decorative state.

The tabletops were individually cast from GFRC (or glass fibre reinforced concrete). The material, often viewed as brutal or crude has been elevated to a marble-esque finish through a specialist casting process and subsequent polishing and waxing. The outcomes, although varied in their style, all champion the idea that we must strive to elongate the life cycle of all material through innovation as designers.

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SPORT

Overview 2020-2021 This has been a year like no other and one that nobody expected. With the ongoing challenges of Covid-19, we were unable to educate our students through sport, take fixtures for the College or run training sessions. On a personal level we were unable to play for our own sports teams, we could not go and see live sport with our family and friends, or even watch our beloved teams playing on the TV. All the things that we get so much joy from were cancelled.

When lockdown returned in Lent term, we had a big job to do as a department – keep our community active. We talk every day to students and staff about the benefits of sport and physical activity so now, more than ever, we had to continue to do this and make the most of the situation we were presented with.

Ensuring that we kept our students, parents and staff active was our main priority. We wanted to do this in a way that meant anybody, irrelevant of circumstance, could access some sort of sport or activity. We therefore decided that during our curriculum lessons, we would focus on strength and conditioning; something that every student could engage with and benefit from, with a focus on staying healthy. It also meant that for our club or competitive athletes, they were still developing and challenging themselves physically – something that would be extremely important to ensure that they would return to competitive sport almost 18 months later, having made some physical progress. We managed a full six-week block of this, looking at

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various different fundamental movement patterns and kept this engaging by integrating fitness challenges and high energy workouts that really challenged our students. We also incorporated some science into our lessons, looking at various different health and skill-related fitness components during subsequent lockdowns. Each week would have a theme, such as strength, coordination or speed, and lessons would be tailored around each of those, with fun ‘beat the teacher’ challenges included. Social media also became a big part of our day – everything that we did was posted online to keep our community engaged.

We produced a series of ‘Life of a Student Athlete’ videos, a 15-minute-long video with inspirational messages from athletes all over the world, as well as running a virtual Strava competition which saw the College community collectively walk, run or cycle over 12,000 km. Students, parents and staff all engaged extremely well, and we were proud of everyone’s efforts in really difficult times.

Upon returning to the College, we were presented with a number of unexpected

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hurdles. Trying to run a full sports programme with continued restrictions meant the cancelling of fixtures and limitations to all our sessions.

Despite this, we were able to run a reduced Saturday morning programme, which saw over 300 students turn up each week to play hockey and rugby.

Internal competitions and creative sessions allowed students to become re-integrated with sport and each other, and get back to doing what they love – play sport! Alongside this and our emphasis on re-socialisation and enjoyment in the curriculum, it was fantastic to be back. A few months on and we have enjoyed being able to provide netball, hockey, rugby, football, cricket and swimming to our students. The re-introduction of fixtures has been welcomed and we have loved seeing our students playing competitive sport again. Our Forder programme continues to thrive with hundreds of students getting involved in some form of sporting activity across the course of each week. Now more than ever, we are aware of the huge impact that sport and physical activity has on both our bodies and minds; our students’ awareness of this is ever present and every single one of them has made the most of the opportunities presented to them.

Looking ahead there are changes on the horizon.

At St Dunstan’s, we have been taking steps towards a more inclusive approach to sporting provision for the last six years, and afternoon Games is the final hurdle. We all remember Games lessons from our own school days, with those who are fortunate enough to represent teams benefitting from resources and expertise, whilst the rest are left to fend for themselves. Sports would be dictated by gender – in the winter, boys played rugby whilst

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girls played netball. Boys played cricket in the summer whilst the girls would play rounders. The sporting landscape has quite rightly changed, and schools have a responsibility to lead the way; gender cannot be a barrier to any child getting access to a sport they love. Our curriculum will be prioritising sport for all, for every child, regardless of ability and gender, and with everyone benefitting from the same opportunities. This is to ensure positive early experiences for the many, and not the just the few, leading to lifelong participation in sport and physical activity for all. It is important to emphasise that our competitive frameworks will remain very much in place; fixtures, tournaments, cup matches and pre-seasons will all carry on as normal and we believe, with these changes, will go from strength to strength.

Finally, we wish our Year 13 and 11 leavers all the very best for their future endeavours and thank you for all your commitment and hard work in Sport throughout your journey at the College. We look forward to having you back for our Old Dunstonians sports fixtures and events, and hearing about all of your sporting journeys beyond the College walls. We would also like to say a sad goodbye and big thank you to Mr Armstrong, who leaves us this year after 9 years of service to the College. He will leave a huge whole in the community and will be greatly missed by all staff and students. We wish him the best of luck for the future.

Miss R L Watkins Director of Sport

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RUGBY Rugby, like many other sports and subjects, has perhaps had its most challenging year in history. Due to the contact nature of the sport we truly lost all normality and were reduced to ‘adapted’ laws of the game which were very restrictive and frustrating.

Despite this, early on in Michaelmas term we were able to host a fantastic rugby festival amongst the new Year 7s and it was great to see the potential within this year group and the future of St Dunstan’s rugby coming to life. As we progressed through the year there were many students who continued to shape the game at the school. Special mentions must go to the core groups in Years 7, 10, 11 and 12. Groups of students within these years were creative and positive in their approach to the game and stuck at training throughout the entire year. Off the back of this we now have a series of ‘Rugby Leaders’ who will be pivotal and instrumental in the development of the sport at the College.

As we progressed into the Trinity term with a few lockdowns behind us, Year 7 continued to train hard; their progress in game understanding and attacking execution has been sublime. In Year 8, we saw the introduction of our first mixed-gender training sessions.

Traditionally this has been difficult to manage but with contact training out of the question the students and staff seized upon the window of opportunity, which led to excellent results. Year 9 have had a somewhat turbulent year but show great promise for next year. Our Year 10s, led

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by Zaki, Tom and Callum, have been our standout year group this year. Whilst we had many Year 11s and 12s who were ready and committed to train, it was the Year 10 group who have really impressed, consistently bringing energy, enthusiasm and focus to all sessions.

It has been an exceptional year and all rugby players are deserving of our admiration and recognition, due to their perseverance with the sport despite the lack of opportunity to compete. We know that when the time comes next year, you will be ready and raring to go!

Mr G Hart Coordinator of Rugby

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Reflections from the 2021-22 captain, Margot Emlyn-Jones It is safe to say that hockey has taken a massive hit this year because of Covid-19, but it has not stopped us from training and developing on and off the pitch. We have come very far this year as a team by breaking the barrier between the various year groups and working together to strengthen ourselves as one unit. We have introduced new training sessions to further develop our skills and endurance. We are all very much looking forward to getting back on the pitch next season and, fingers crossed, finally playing some matches together.

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HOCKEY As I sit down to write the customary review of the hockey season it seems strange not to structure the report around results. Previously, there has been huge emphasis on the results of fixtures between independent schools, therefore going into a term of hockey with it unlikely that we would play any fixtures at all, seemed very odd indeed.

Although different, this has actually been one of my favourite seasons. The inability to play fixtures allowed us to focus on the learning and integration of new and core skills and on the holistic hockey development of the individual, rather than the end results of a match. Many students have been given the support to learn advanced skills such as flicking, aerials and reverse hitting.

We were still able to inject some healthy competition as we finished our term with a three-week block of House Matches for Years 7–10, as well as our Saturday morning ‘world cup style’ tournament play. Pupils were responsible for their own warm-ups, team talks, and management throughout the games, which is testament to how engaged, responsible, and mature we recognise our pupils to be. These fixtures were some of the most intensely contested I can ever remember seeing, as pupils gave their all for their Houses and learned some valuable lessons in sportsmanship.

During the Michaelmas term, many schools reported all-time low rates of pupil participation, however, the opposite was true for us, with 100+ pupils attending every Saturday session, and almost 200 pupils regularly attending the after-school sessions during the week. These numbers are very healthy, and clearly represent the effort and commitment from our pupils. In addition to the extremely strong engagement we have had in school, we have also seen an increase in our pupils representing clubs, which is something that we hope will assist in a lifelong participation in sport. Well done to all those to whom this applies and best of luck with your performance pathways. The future of hockey at St Dunstan’s is bright and we are looking forward to a more ‘normal’ term next year.

Mr Corbin O’Grady Coordinator of Hockey

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CRICKET Reflections from the 1st XI Cricket Captain, Joe Shanks The 2021 cricket season was a challenging one for the 1st XI cricket team, not only due to results but also the lack of game opportunity due to a short season. The first game was against Langley Park School for Boys, where we won the toss and sent the visitors in. After a good start with early wickets spirits were high, but due to some mistakes with the ball the visitors got on top and set a score that after a middle order collapse was too much for a rusty batting line up.

Next was a rival fixture against Colfe’s where the home side won the toss and chose to bat which would be seen as a very good decision as they went on to set a score just under 200 from their 20 overs. Due to early wickets being lost it was down to the middle order to attempt to steady the ship. This was done well seeing some fortune with the bat, but the runs could not be chased and resulted in another loss for the 1st XI. Unfortunately, the annual declaration match against the MCC on 21 June was cancelled due to rain but the 1st XI will get an opportunity to play the Forty Club at Sidcup CC on the 2 July to finish the season.

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FO O T BA L L

FOOTBALL This was inevitably going to be a very difficult season with the impact of the pandemic, but football at the College took place over the course of the year in various forms. Before the Christmas holidays, our aim was to ensure the students were playing as much competitive football as possible and looked to House matches in order to do this. Needless to say, there was plenty of competition on show across all the year groups.

Our relationship with Tottenham Hotspur continued and training sessions took place after school with a focus on individual ball skill and developing confidence in 1v1 scenarios. The progress that was being made by the students was increasingly evident, with so many listening carefully from the instructions given. Individual skill development continued during lockdown, with Tottenham Hotspur giving us exclusive access to their online training program; with various challenges and techniques being explored. It was fantastic to see so many students engaging in the online content and sending in videos of them completing the skills. On our return, the U12A and B girls teams played against Emanuel School in their first fixture for the College. There were 12 goals scored across both games with the B team coming out winners. My thanks go to Mr Gibb for all his hard work with them over the course of the year. The girls have come on leaps and bounds and applied themselves thoroughly in their Forder training sessions.

The 1st XI managed to play in two competitive fixtures against Worth and Colfe’s. Our first game against Worth was intense but scrappy, with the opposition coming away 2–1 winners. Our focus going into the Colfe’s game, played at a neutral venue, was to trust each other in attack and move the ball on quickly.

This was all demonstrated superbly by captain Josh Penfold who was a rock in the holding midfield position. The boys thoroughly deserved their 3–1 win, and it was a great way to finish the term. I wish all those representing the College next year the best of luck, with my thanks going to all those who have contributed to what has been a truly unique year of football at the College. Best of luck to our Year 11 and 13 leavers, thank you for all the time that you have given to College football over the years.

Mr Armstrong Coordinator of Football

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NETBALL This year has been unusual for netball at St Dunstan’s. We started Michaelmas term with caution, running some netball shooting clinics which had regular attendees from Year 7 up to Year 10 with the hope that we would return to game play after the Christmas Exeat.

Unfortunately, this was not the case.

With another lockdown in action the school went back into remote learning, as did netball. We used Firefly to challenge our netballers to isolate and develop some personal player skills, including how we change direction, landing skills, agility, ball skills, core strength, turning in the air and ball handling. Throughout these 8 weeks both Lili Rieb-Smith and Natalie Bloomer put forward some innovative ideas on the development of the online programme. They were also integral in creating a virtual team environment and the senior netball squads and staff thoroughly enjoyed some team bonding and social sessions.

Then came the return to school. With three weeks left of Lent term the focus was on reintegration and fun. The first week was a whirlwind of netballbased game play sessions, followed by two weeks of normal games and training sessions. In this time, we saw the competitive side to our netballers for House matches, giving staff the opportunity to see the enormous potential in many of our young players.

There were mixed results across the board with some excellent displays of netball, sportsmanship and teamwork

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from all students who represented their House.

With an abrupt end to our unconventional netball term, we have been fortunate to be able to run summer netball training and development sessions alongside our cricket programme. The number of pupils attending after school has been immense especially in Years 7, 8, 9 and those dedicated Year 10s, with a special mention to the boys who have attended training to develop their skills and understanding of the game. Although training has been

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a fantastic opportunity to progress, there is nothing like healthy competition to bring out the best in our players. The Seniors played challenging but enjoyable matches against the Sixth Form girls at Langley Park Boys School, showing grit and confidence on and off the court. The Seniors took on the challenge ahead, put into practice what we had been doing in training and worked well in lots of different combinations, which was impressive. The rest of the school played an exciting Saturday morning block fixture against some of Beacons Netball Club Academy Teams, and this was incredible! The weather held out, so students, staff, umpires and coaches enjoyed every moment of the morning with nothing but positive feedback and praise to all, especially for those who played in their first ever netball match!

Although it was disappointing not having spectators, we know that it is just a taste of what is to come for our netballers moving through the school.

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Lastly, we celebrated the end of the season during the St Dunstan’s Festival with an internal mixed rugby and netball 7’s tournament – an exciting day of sport, with lots of students participating in mixed boys’ and girls’ teams.

Thank you to all the staff and students, especially Lili and Natalie, for all your hard work this year and throughout your St Dunstan’s journey. It has been a challenging year but we have pushed through and come out the other side together. Whilst the captain of the senior team for next year has not yet been named, we have some outstanding students coming through whom we are extremely excited about, watch this space! Well done everyone and enjoy your summer break.

Miss McKay-Pryce Coordinator of Netball

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SWIMMING Reflections from Shay Wellman (Captain) and Maïna Dias-Niang Swimming this year has been different to what we had planned, but that has not stopped us progressing. With Miss Margaroli taking over the swimming programme there were some big changes. We now have three swimming sessions and one land training (multi-fit) session a week. On average 25 students attend each swim session and around 35 students come to the multi-fit session.

In each swimming session we focus on a different part of the stroke to make sure that everyone has mastered all the basics.

We have had weeks looking at push offs and turns, arm technique, speed work, dives and endurance. One of our major focuses has been to ensure that all our swim squad members have efficient turns on all four strokes. For some this was quite a challenge, but we are very happy to announce that all members can now happily turn in all four strokes.

One of the highlights of the year was the House gala in the Michaelmas term. The event happened during our normal swim squad sessions but the atmosphere that the students created was fantastic. Each House was tasked with creating banners, cheering for their teammates and organising who swam in each event. Each House did a fantastic job, and the student leadership on show made the whole experience a joy to be a part of.

Unfortunately, this year, our normal competitive galas against other schools could not go ahead so we needed to get creative to

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make sure we still had competitive swimming opportunities. We hosted the St Dunstan’s Cup, which was an internal gala where all swim squad members could choose from a large array of different disciplines. Stand out performances came from James Sugrue who raced phenomenally well beating students two years above him, and Ava Holohan, who was able to show off all of her hard training during lockdown, focusing on strength, in the pool.

This year for the first time ever at St Dunstan’s there were multi-fit training sessions held for swim squad members, which took place on Thursday mornings before school. The strength and conditioning element of swimming training is vital to ensure that students are fast, powerful and injury free when racing. We managed to fit a lot into these important sessions, even though they were only 30 minutes long and started at 0730! The sessions grew in numbers each week and at times we had over 50 attendees taking part. The atmosphere was fun and competitive and created outstanding morale between the whole squad. We feel that as a club we have really developed both in and out of the pool and can’t wait for next year to have some normality back!

We would like to finish by saying that all our sessions could not run without the support of Miss Margaroli, Mr Coley and Miss McKayPryce. They are fantastic coaches and we love being a part of the St Dunstan’s swim squad!

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I would like to say a huge thank you to Shay and Maïna who have not only written this excellent report but have been true champions of the swimming programme this year. Shay will be leaving us at the end of the year to study Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University. He has been an integral part of the swimming programme at St Dunstan’s and he will be greatly missed for his enthusiasm, good humour and of course his fantastic swimming. Maïna has been an inspiration to students in the younger years, especially to the girls. She has volunteered her own time to come and support the swim squad sessions, encouraging and helping swimmers to improve their aquatic skills. I am delighted to announce that Maïna will be our swim squad captain for 2021-22. Well done to all swimmers for sticking at it this year. It has been really challenging at times but you have all been fantastic and should be extremely proud of your efforts.

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING (S&C) The S&C programme was introduced to St Dunstan’s this academic year with the aim of improving wellbeing and performance. The programme has received an amazing uptake across all year groups despite the restrictions on sports participation and periods of remote learning. In fact, the remote leaning period was a great opportunity for full participation from Year 7 – Year 11 in the programme. This was delivered during their PE lessons and focused on fundamental movement skills, up-to-date training practices and wellbeing.

Regarding performance, we have seen great improvements in levels of strength, range of motion, coordination and general physical preparedness of our high performing students. The standouts this year come from our Year 10 and Year 11 performance teams. Both have progressed considerably since the start of the year, which is a testament to their hard work and graft during training. They are now comfortable moving onto more technical aspects of S&C and are developing into great young athletes.

Additionally, Year 7 Scholar S&C sessions started in Trinity term, focusing on fundamental movement training. This group will be the first year group in St Dunstan’s history to progress through our Long-Term Athlete Development Pathway during their time at the College.

This group has shown great commitment and always gives 100% effort.

Overall, I am really impressed with the attitudes and commitment being displayed by the students across all year groups and look forward to the challenges that next year will bring.

Mr Galbraith

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CCF With the first lockdown behind us we knew that 2020–21 was going to be a challenging year for the CCF. Instead of watches and platoons the cadets were grouped into year group bubbles to allow training to continue. We also took the difficult decision to delay the new Year 9 cadets’ enrolment so that we could be Covid-secure.

Both cadets and the CCF staff continued to parade on a Monday with an adjusted training programme. However, many of the annual trips and events the CCF officers had planned had to be cancelled due to social distancing rules. With a worldwide pandemic affecting our daily lives, we were forced to cancel all faceto-face training as the College once again went to remote teaching in January.

This meant a dramatic re-think in the way the CCF operated, if training was to continue. The officers challenged themselves to design a 100% online CCF programme during these demanding times. My thanks go to all the CCF staff for their contributions to this exciting programme. In particular, I would like to thank Cdr Main (OiC Royal Navy) and Lt Whittaker (OiC Army) for their outstanding leadership of the remote training programme. Cdr Main’s ‘Gastro Galley’ where he delivered a naval cooking lesson direct from his kitchen, will be remembered by all the cadets, in particular his use of the phrase of ‘here’s one I prepared earlier’. Not to be outdone, Lt Whittaker decided to design his own avatars so that cadets could perform virtual ambushes on unsuspecting virtual officers, and online rifle drill sessions,

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using hockey sticks, umbrellas and walking sticks. I am sure these online CCF parades will stay in the memory of the CCF staff and cadets for a long time.

On our return to face-to-face teaching, we were faced with the challenge of updating the training programme again due to the government guidelines and both cadets and staff showed great imagination and commitment to the training programme that was put together. We also took the decision the enrol the new Year 9 cadets at this point and provide them with an intensive training programme that would bring them up to the standard they would have achieved in a normal year. The commitment, dedication and enthusiasm shown by the cadets was commented on by all the CCF staff involved in their training.

I would also like to thank the senior cadets who faced one of the hardest periods of training in CCF history and helped the staff to continue to run a CCF parade each week. Both cadets and staff were excited towards the end of the year when the government guidelines allowed us to start planning the CCF Contingent Dinner, an important event in any year, but especially after all that we had been

CCF

through. However, Covid-19 had other plans and we had to postpone the dinner at the last minute. Not to be beaten we set a new date for September and we look forward to welcoming back all the Year 13 cadets, now Old Dunstonians, to celebrate a unique year for the Contingent with the current CCF cadets and staff.

Major R Davies

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DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD Whilst the sad passing of HRH Prince Philip has brought a great feeling of loss to the country, it has thrust his Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme back into the spotlight – 65 years after its creation. The DofE has become one of the Duke’s most remarkable achievements and is woven into the fabric of the UK. Its aim is to encourage young people to build the skills, confidence and resilience they need to make the most of life and make a difference to the world around them. After an unprecedented year of isolation and challenges, the Duke’s timeless vision for young people has never been more relevant or needed.

Because of this, I felt strongly that all efforts had to be made to ensure that the students were afforded the opportunity to complete their awards. The #DofEWithADifference scheme allowed for adjustments to the usual Skills, Physical and Volunteering sections, with more stay-at-home friendly activities as

well as several temporary changes to the expedition requirements. This has meant that despite the restrictions that have been in place over the past 12 months, we have managed to complete many of the expeditions, which would otherwise not have happened.

Our first trip of the year was the postponed Silver qualifying expedition way back in October, which enabled the Year 12 students to complete their award from the previous year. It turned out to be a well-earned certificate as Storm Alex loomed overhead, making for a wet and challenging navigation through the Surrey hills.

The new restrictions which came into force from December to Easter put a hold on any expeditions, however, this time allowed for the participants to diligently make their way through their Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections. As ever, our students were quintessentially creative with their

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activities. We saw everything from Strava runs, home cooking lessons and shopping for elderly neighbours. The array of activities not only demonstrated a desire to complete their awards but a sense of community and care for others which has become so typical of a St Dunstan’s pupil.

With the easing of restrictions post Easter, we wasted no time in getting the students back into the great outdoors and the Garden of England did not disappoint, as over seventy Year 10 students got their first taste of the DofE by spending their Bronze expedition navigating their way through the Kent countryside in glorious sunshine. As we moved into the summer term, the challenges rose in line with the temperature, as participants from Year 11 explored the rolling hills of the Peak District, whilst the Gold syndicate negotiated the Welsh valleys in impressive fashion.

Even throughout a period of great uncertainty, at St Dunstan’s College we are honoured to continue HRH’s work, to ensure that all young people can benefit from the better educational outcomes, employment prospects, community ties and better mental health that are associated with doing DofE. Mr T Telford Head of Adventurous Activities

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ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES Outdoor education and the spirit of adventure are fundamental to a well-rounded education. At St Dunstan’s, Adventurous Activity is a key part of our broad and ambitious co-curriculum. At a time when Covid has so disproportionately affected the nation’s young people, it is outdoor education and adventurous activities that will have a vital role to play in helping to restore and rebuild confidence, mental and physical health.

As we manoeuvered through the everchanging regulations of the past 12 months, it became clear that whilst we would not be able to offer our usual programme of activities, we needed to make every effort to afford students the opportunities they deserve. It did not take long before we encountered our first hurdle.

As the students returned in September, Year 7 would have been expecting to embark upon their first residential trip. The Bushcraft week has become a highlight of the school calendar, offering the children a chance to meet their new classmates and start building relationships in the freedom of a unique outdoor environment. However, a ban on residential trips meant that our usual visit to the Oxfordshire countryside was not possible. Undeterred, and given our strong belief in the importance of this trip, we relocated to a more local scout camp – meaning that the new students did not have to miss out on a great experience.

As the year progressed, the possibility of journeying to different activities was becoming increasingly unlikely; so, what

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better reason to recertify our own onsite climbing facility. The popularity of the climbing wall has been nothing short of incredible; even with 5 weekly clubs, the demand for more time on the wall meant that we needed to branch out further! Support came from the Friends of St Dunstan’s, who kindly funded a brand-new climbing facility, in the form of an interactive bouldering station!

A DVE N T U ROU S AC TI VI T I ES

We have also launched our very first Sixth Form ski trip to the Western Alps, an additional ski opportunity available to Year 7 and 8 students, as well as summer climbing packages to France for Years 9, 10 and 11 – all part of the exciting expansion of the Adventurous Activities programme. All these additional opportunities, against the backdrop of an already well established DofE programme, mean that outdoor education has a bright future at the College.

As we recover from this pandemic, all the benefits associated with a high-quality outdoor education programme, such as increased self-confidence, enhanced peer-to-peer relationships and improved physical health, have never been more important. At St Dunstan’s, we are extremely proud of what we have been able to offer the students throughout a turbulent year, although the best is certainly yet to come.

Mr T Telford Head of Adventurous Activities

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ADVENTURE WEEK At St Dunstan’s, we believe that developing character in students is vitally important to creating a framework for academic success.

Our vision is that we inspire, nurture and challenge young people to develop the knowledge, skills and interests that shape their educational journey, character and aspirations. We have a deliberately broad co-curricular programme to ensure that is the case, and no trip embodies this attitude more than Adventure Week. The aim of the week is to further and deliberately enrich our values within our student body through a wide range of exciting and challenging outdoor-based activities.

For Year 7, it was their first taste of Adventure Week, and they could not have asked for a better back drop than the beautiful north Somerset village of Churchill set in the stunning Mendip Hills. The students worked their way through an action-packed line-up of activities, even including skiing!

As a result of Covid restrictions, the Ministry of Defence base in Folkestone, which usually hosts the Year 8 Adventure Week, was unable to facilitate us this year. However, undeterred, we decided to bring the bootcamp experience to St Dunstan’s. Through a combination of day trips and on-site activities delivered by external providers, the students experienced a carousel of options ranging from water sports to archery, with a taste of army/navy based activities throughout, as well as an overnight camping experience. We managed to deliver a week of events that the students not only enjoyed but benefited from enormously after a year away from their peers.

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A DVE N T U RE WEEK

For Year 9, it was a slightly more complex week, as students divided their time between an outdoor activity centre and completing their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition. As the coaches approached the limestone cliffs of the Jurassic coast, half of the Year group stepped straight off into their DofE activities, whilst the remaining students got stuck into a wide range of adrenaline-fueled pursuits, including coasteering, climbing, kayaking and bushcraft. Wednesday marked the changeover of the groups, and by Friday the students were suitably exhausted!

Home to the largest natural lake in Wales, the picturesque National Park setting in Brecon was a fitting send off for Year 10 on their final Adventure Week. With direct access to Llangorse Lake, the week was unsurprisingly packed full of water sports as well as a wide range of land-based activities. The week really was non-stop action from the moment we stepped off the coach until we got back on again.

In a year of unprecedented challenges, the importance of friendship, community and the spirit of adventure has never been more relevant and we are extremely proud that we have been able to offer Adventure Week to the students.

Mr T Telford Head of Adventurous Activities

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SIXTH FORM

Head of Sixth Form What a year just past! As we entered the new academic year the Covid-wracked spring and summer had meant uncertainty on all fronts. We were all glad to be back in the building, teaching in classrooms rather than online … but for how long?

Covid bubbles, strange cleaning routines, masked lessons dominated, and yet we persevered. The Sixth Form, glad of a slightly later morning start, got stuck in, learned, further developed their characters and put up with events often held in open-air winter conditions or in marquee tents. They did not lose a sense of who they were, or that they were in it together and that really heartened all who saw it, particularly because many others were trapped, cooped up in their homes. The start of Lent brought that to our students too and online lessons were back again for the next three months.

Still, our Sixth Form made playlists and held inter-form quizzes, all the while trying to prepare for major grading tests

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post-Easter. April saw us back on-site but the return was not to the old annexed Sixth Form common room tucked under the Refectory. Instead, miraculously, the new STEM building with its bespoke Sixth Form Hub had arisen! It really was a sight for sore eyes. Some comfort then at the close of a difficult academic year, one which Year 13 rounded off with aplomb, with an astounding 96% of them achieving their first choice of university.

Few cohorts at St Dunstan’s will ever have experienced a Sixth Form journey like theirs and yet they carried it off with the most remarkable spirit and fortitude.

Mr A Brewer Head of Sixth Form

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HEAD OF SIXTH FORM AND HEAD OF SCHOOL

Head of School Seeing first-hand how the College has progressed since joining St Dunstan’s seven years ago has been an immensely rewarding experience.

From the College’s own expansions, especially over the last two years, to how each student’s journey and pathway has shaped them, there has been remarkable growth and achievement in all aspects of the College, and I can’t help but wonder, perhaps with a tinge of jealousy, at its very exciting and promising future.

Sixth Form provided us with a refreshing change from middle school. We were suddenly given more freedom both in our studies but also with co-curricular activities, and time for independent work. The narrowing down of subject areas to just four of particular interest, with additional breadth and intellectual challenge, alongside the ability to set up societies, saw everyone really immerse themselves in, and contribute to, an ever-present atmosphere of excitement and inspiration. I distinctly remember being acutely aware of just how much I was enjoying each and every moment, whilst also looking forward to the next class, club or whichever event happened to lay ahead on that day.

Covid soon threatened to curtail all that the Sixth Form experience had lived up to be, and devastating though it seemed at the time, we overcame many of the challenges it posed exceptionally well.

An immediate response from the College meant a smooth transition into online learning, with no lapse in lessons or content and an immense amount of support thanks to the great efforts of all our teachers and staff, to whom we owe so much and could never thank enough. Great resilience was also shown this year with how well the prefect team adapted to their own new circumstances.

Though lunch and corridor duties became obsolete, prefects were soon playing a

key role ushering and welcoming parents in, as well as providing insights into life in the Sixth Form at the many online and on-site events put on for prospective parents and students, all in a Covid-safe manner.

The prefect team also played a vital role in the smooth running of College Parliament, always giving student voice the attention it needs and working with each year group to keep the College informed and connected as a whole.

Chairing this year’s G8 Summit and collating contributions from every year, gave me a unique insight into the development plans within the College.

The level of enthusiasm for key areas of the College’s focus this year, such as diversity, has never been higher, with huge involvement in the audit and meetings involving both staff and students to assess what the College can do to improve.

With all that it has to offer including academics, ample room to discover strengths and develop skills through the Forder Programme, and other opportunities such as the St Dunstan’s Diploma, we can all leave with a sense of accomplishment, well-equipped for the next step of our lives.

Piotr Burda-Zwolinski Head of School 2020-2021 The CHRONICLE 2021

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Sixth Form has been very different to secondary school, and I really could not have predicted how it would have gone once the pandemic intervened.

However, I am happy with what I was able to do. Studying Maths, Physics and Chemistry has definitely not been easy the whole time. There have been moments where I have been incredibly proud of myself, but also disappointed when things did not go as planned.

I’ve been able to learn from the times where I haven’t done my best, and use that as fuel to drive myself to succeed in ways that surprised me. Over the summer after year 12, I worked on my Independent Research Report as part of the Global Perspectives course which is equal in UCAS points to a whole A Level. Through hours of work, and help from my mentor, Mr Elmes, I investigated the different ways in which the universe could end and achieved the highest possible distinction.

Classrooms and labs are places I’ve always

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felt comfortable in, but my time in the Sixth Form has also been spent outside these. Having played hockey since year 7, it felt right to continue and join the 1st XI Team. Playing alongside my friends and those from other years, persevering through all kinds of weather and watching ourselves improve has been an unforgettable experience. I had also never expected to be RSM of the Cadet Corp.

Standing as next in the line of succession to all those responsible students who had come before me was a weighty responsibility, and I am really grateful for all the help of the staff and seniors who made settling into that leadership position more comfortable. Deputy Head of School was also an important role I had the honour of fulfilling, and being part of the Prefect team has really made me feel like I’ve made the most of my time at St Dunstan’s.

It is strange to think that although I have done so much to try and develop myself as a person, I still have no idea what I want to do after university. I like to try and organise things as much for myself as I can, which includes thinking ahead into the future, so not having a plan for after university may seem like a glaring problem. But, this doesn’t scare me. The memories I have made at St Dunstan’s are really important to me, and I’m sure that everything I’ve learnt and experienced will come back to help me sometime later in life.

Denise Spigler

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DIPLOMA JOURNEYS

however, as exemplified by the Global Perspectives Independent Research Report where I was introduced to university style essay writing in debating over the effects of the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent. This not only provided a great talking point in my personal

During my time in the sixth form, I chose to study 3 A Levels: English Literature, History and Economics. With this combination, I was not only encouraged to draw links between subjects to enhance my understanding of important practical matters, such as context in literature, but it also gave me a wider understanding of subjects that I previously never would have thought to have looked into.

statement and university interviews, being worth the equivalent of a full A Level in UCAS points, but it also taught me valuable skills in coursework writing as I learnt to critically analyse different types of sources.

The Diploma isn’t just limited to academic achievement either. I took part in a number of co-curricular Forder activities that were similarly useful in my university applications. I was a part of the Economics society and I was the joint head of Debating society, both societies helped me to develop my understanding of my A Levels beyond the subject. I took part in after-school care for the junior

For example, I initially chose Economics as I felt that it would complement History and boost my general understanding of international politics, but it has also imbued me with a newfound interest in the human side of economics and the psychology behind our economic decisions - I wouldn’t have thought of looking into this had I not been encouraged by the St Dunstan’s Diploma to do so. This is the magic of the Diploma, it enables students to not only look at what they’re interested in now, but it also encourages them to look beyond their horizons and find new interests.

This sense of discovering interests beyond the syllabus does not end with the wide range of interconnecting subjects

school which allowed me to gain some experience in teaching and leadership.

I also held the role of WO2 in the army section of the CCF which helped to boost my confidence and leadership skills whilst also opening up incredible opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise have been available to me, such as shooting in a live weapons range.

The St Dunstan’s Diploma opened up opportunities and helped me to foster my existing interest in my A Level overall, proving to be incredibly useful not only in my university applications but also in the benefits they will no doubt bring to me in transferring from school life to university.

Iesa Rahman

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SIXTH FORM Year 13 Symposium The Symposium exists to recognise the culmination of the two-year journey of Sixth Form Scholars from Year 11 to Year 13.

The evening is a celebration of their work and a moment for Year 12 and younger years’ scholars to see the quality and range of the students’ thinking. Mr Iain Macdowall, himself a former student of the College, acted as guest judge alongside the Head of Sixth Form, Mr Alex Brewer.

As ever there was a huge range of fascinating questions tackled, which is no surprise given the deep preoccupation of our Sixth Form with their studies.

For example, ‘How well supported are the three main theories for how the universe will end?’; or ‘To what extent has globalization detracted from, or strengthened traditional dance around the globe?’; or ‘How effective would attempts to hold producers accountable for their role in fast fashion actually be?’ The standard of intellectual research and sense of balanced argument and insight were surely markers of the undergraduate level of work that these students are already achieving.

The project that we awarded first prize caught our eye because of its sharpsightedness about a historical episode which many of us would not necessarily have known about, but in bringing it to our attention, the judges saw its relevance to many patterns of thinking today.

Its title was ‘Understanding the rise of the ecofascist movement from its early conception in the 19th Century’ by Amelia Glendinning. The judges’ comments indicate its reach and significance: ‘What an arresting study of this not so well

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known, and yet troublingly influential, worldview. Stretching back to the European Romantic nationalist roots of the early 1800s through the ideas of Ernst Moritz Arndt, this fascist theory attaches ecological lenses of “Field & Forest” to the wider “Blood & Soil” racist propaganda of the Nazis. It then re-emerges in a new, equally troubling contemporary form in modern terrorist acts connected to Malthusian thinking about overpopulation and racial difference particularly in the USA, but also crossing many international borders. Turning an insightful light on this problem is exactly what excellent scholarship might do.’

Mr A Brewer Head of Sixth Form

YEAR 13 SYMPOSIUM

S I X T H FO RM

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SIXTH FORM Albam Exorna Award This is a prize of £1000 generously given by the Dunstonian Association each year.

The Award recognizes the Year 13 student who best demonstrates that they have ‘adorned the white’ during their time at St Dunstan’s. In their application, students reflect on their time with the school, thinking about what they have both given and received.

The standard has been very high in recent years and therefore this year the Dunstonian Association introduced a runner-up prize of £250. The judges were Alex Brewer, Head of Sixth Form, Chair of the Association, David Edwards and alumni Jemima Davenport and Tom Cleverley-Lynch, who himself won the prize in 2020.

The standard was exceptionally high with all the students demonstrating powerful achievements and contributions to the College. Such was the standard that in fact we could not split two runners up, therefore, the £250 was divided equally between Zain Shukur and Willow Fenner.

The judges were, however, unanimous about the first prize. This student had not only achieved highly in her career with the College, but she was also winningly reflective of her time with us, and, in the opinion of the judges, entirely fulfilled her blank shield journey. Congratulations to the winner, Denise Spigler.

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British Physics Olympiad The Year 12 Physicists entered the British Physics Olympiad in March. This paper set by Oxford University gives students the opportunity to try questions far more challenging than those typically found in the A Level examination by involving calculus and simultaneous equations, plus making students comprehend and infer large amounts of Physics from the questions. Patrick Zheng, Kewen Wang, James Yan and Kofi Mireku all attained Bronze awards, whilst Cameron Spence, Frank Wang and Eric Wang all achieved the impressive Silver award.

LEAVERS 2021

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SIXTH FORM Leavers 2021 Aberystwyth University Psychology Bangor University Physical Geography and Oceanography Brighton and Sussex Medical School Medicine London School of Contemporary Dance Durham University English Literature Modern Languages and Cultures Keele University Human Biology and Psychology King’s College London Comparative Literature Political Economy Loughborough University Industrial Design Sport and Exercise Science Queen Mary, University of London English and Drama Computer Science Mathematics with Foundation RADA Swansea University Classical Civilisation University of Edinburgh Economics with Environmental Studies University College London History Pharmacy Psychology

University of Bath Economics Psychology University of Bristol Aerospace Engineering Biology University of Exeter Anthropology History and Politics University of Kent Classical and Archaeological Studies

University of Sussex Finance and Business International Business Sociology and Cultural Studies University of Warwick Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics, Economics (MORSE) Physics with Astrophysics University of York Business and Management

University of Leeds Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering Biochemistry Criminal Justice and Criminology Economics and Politics Law University of Liverpool Game Design History University of Manchester Civil Engineering Criminology Criminology and Sociology Economics and Politics Geography Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Midwifery University of Nottingham Finance, Accounting and Management Law Mechanical Engineering University of Surrey Veterinary Medicine and Science The CHRONICLE 2021

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SPECIAL EVENTS Remembrance Day St Dunstan’s College’s annual Service of Remembrance took place on Wednesday 11 November.

The Headmaster, Chaplain, Head of School and the Chapel Choir gathered in the Great Hall for the ceremony. For the first time in St Dunstan’s history, the service was live-streamed to pupils in classrooms, parents and Dunstonians to ensure that the service was Covid-19 compliant.

The Chapel Choir opened the service with a stunning performance of John Ireland’s ‘Greater Love Hath No Man’, which was followed by the opening prayer by the College’s Chaplain, Canon Boswell.

During the First World War, more than 877 Dunstonians served in the forces, and St Dunstan’s suffered one of the highest percentage losses of any school in the country. Tragically, 277 pupils and teachers lost their lives during the war.

Canon Boswell reflected on this loss, saying: ‘Those former pupils and teachers will be remembered today. They once walked these corridors, they once sat in this Great Hall as you do now. They were once here, having fun, playing football and rugby, and they faced war with courage and dignity.’

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REMEMBRANCE DAY

S P EC IA L EVEN TS

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SPECIAL EVENTS

Opening Minds Lectures For Opening Minds we invite two leading figures in a field to discuss the issues that matter to them. The actor, Iain Glen and Lisa Burger, Executive Director at the Royal National Theatre started the programme off on the theme of preparation and answering questions such as ‘What influences your choice of project – has Black Lives Matter had an impact?’ from Faye in Year 12.

Our new building was the focus next – with its architect, Zubin Masters, and Adam Worrall, Director of Willmott Dixon Construction who built it. They were questioned by Ethan and Guy (Year 13) about the build itself as well as how the building industry is becoming more diverse and sustainable. The proportion of women employed by Willmott Dixon is 10% above the industry average prompting Lisle in Year 8 to comment, ‘I think this is great and their high targets are definitely admirable.’

Sustainability, along with climate change, and what big finance could offer as a solution was discussed in the next Opening Minds by Victoria Leggett of UBP and Lucy Auden from University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Next we were joined by two doctors (who are also ODs) Ian Pressney and Richard Bogle, to consider the overlaps between medicine and technology. Danika (Year 9) said, ‘I am glad we were given the opportunity to explore a fascinating subject like medicine for science, which seems so highly relevant these days.’

The finale this year will be part of the St Dunstan’s Festival with OD Ralph Salmins giving a drumming masterclass and passing on tips from his career playing with everyone from ABBA to Hans Zimmer.

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Opening Minds embraced the challenge of lockdown by moving to Teams with an early evening time. This has meant that members of the wider St Dunstan’s community have been able to take part.

The wide-ranging programme has been regularly attended by students, parents and Old Dunstonians and recordings are available on our Stream channel.

Planning for next year is already under way and we are always pleased to hear from parents or ODs who would like to contribute.

Mr J Elmes

OPENING MINDS LECTURES

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ST DUNSTAN’S PRESENTS

OPENING MINDS LECTURES Avoiding the omelette – or why preparation is all Game of Thrones & Downton Abbey

Lisa Burger

Executive Director of the National Theatre They discuss different perspectives on how drama is made, the overlap between live and recorded performance and why it matters to us all.

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Iain Glen

TUESDAY

Opening Minds is a series of themed lectures, debates and masterclasses. Keynote speakers discuss and share their views on what is important in their chosen field. The talks will be on Teams. They are linked with our Scholar’s programme, but are suitable for all Senior School students and interested members of the St Dunstan’s community.

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To reserve a place email edaniels@stdunstans.org.uk

LENT TERM

Constructing the future Zubin Masters (Architect) Adam Worrall (Director, Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd) Climate change and inequality - is Big Finance the Answer?

Victoria Leggett (Head of Responsible Investment for Asset Management UBP)

TRINITY TERM Music Masterclass The Science of Medicine and Medicine for Science

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SPECIAL EVENTS International week of languages St Dunstan’s kicked off International Week of Languages on Monday 21 September. A myriad of activities was enjoyed, celebrating languages across the world. Years 7-9 enjoyed an international music contest, where they judged songs selected from around the world.

The winning song was ‘London Thurmakda’

by Labh Janjua. Years 7–10 had special lessons on why we learn languages. These included case studies of polyglots and the techniques they use to learn language.

Pupils also worked on a carousel of activities that included writing in Indian script, translating into languages from all over the world, and a sing-a-long to ‘Let it Go’ from Frozen, in Japanese!

Mrs N Crivellari

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INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF LANGUAGES AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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Black History Month In October, the College celebrated Black History Month. Following feedback from the previous year, pupils took more of a leading role in shaping the plans for the week. They were keen for the activities to be more focused on their lived experiences rather than historical figures and events. As well as acknowledging it for the whole month, we made celebrating Black History one of our Themes of the Week.

The Afro-Caribbean Society (ACS) and some of their Year 13 colleagues had the opportunity to put together the plan for the week and they did a fantastic job. The main entrance was decorated in celebration of black culture and the plans for the week were set.

A virtual assembly was led by Dunstonian, Andrew Osayemi, who left a very successful career in investment banking to set up a TV production company. He produced the comedy show Meet the Adebanjos, which was loosely based on his life as a British child growing up in London with African parents.

He encouraged pupils to be a part of the change they want to see, and make a contribution.

We were delighted that he was also able to visit later in the week to deliver live, socially distanced assemblies to individual year groups.

He shared his life experiences and challenged pupils not to give up on their hopes and dreams when confronted with the word ‘no’. We are sure the pupils will remember the phrase, ‘Don’t dwell on no, focus on earning your yes’ long after they leave the College.

Another highlight was the ‘Celebrating Diversity at St Dunstan’s’ video that the ACS produced for viewing in form time, in which the pupils spoke passionately about their pride in being part of such a diverse community. A recurring message that came across was the pupils’ desire for this celebration of not just black history, but the richness and diversity of all cultures to be something that we continue to do right through the year. Who could disagree with them!

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SPECIAL EVENTS Mental Health Awareness week

In October the College community came together to raise money and awareness for Young Minds, a charity committed to improving children’s wellbeing and mental health through celebrating #HelloYellow day. The theme for this year was hope and both pupils and staff wore yellow to show young people that they are not alone.

The College community continued its work to show compassion and support for young people so that they may feel comfortable to talk to someone if they are struggling. The message of hope is particularly important in light of the pandemic and each tutor group raised enough money to ensure a Young Minds helpline volunteer is on the end of the phone to provide information and support.

In support of #HelloYellow day and World Mental Health Day, the theme for the week was mental health. A variety of assemblies, form time activities and skills for life lessons took place to help students understand how to promote positive mental health and how to access support if they are worried about themselves or someone else. In the Senior School we decorated the lobby yellow, posted messages of positivity and signposted support on our video wall. In the Junior School, pupils made bunting out of positive messages and top tips for positive mental health, our younger pupils met an alien and told them all

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about feelings. Mrs Carmichael-Line was pleased to be able to inform pupils in the Junior School that they would now find a member of staff who is Youth Mental Health First Aid trained on duty during break each day and available for students to talk to. Senior School students were invited to design posters on the themes of promoting positive mental health and who can I talk to? and were invited to take part in the #HelloYellow five step challenge each day. Students in the Senior School also looked at how to #AskTwice if a friend says they are fine, when they are concerned about them.

Whilst all the activities that took place during the week continued to develop our culture of positive mental health support, we are always keen to ensure that the message does not fade. Support for mental health is in place each and every week of the year and we continually reinforce the messaging about positive mental health and wellbeing through our pastoral programme.

Mrs G Davies

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK

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SPECIAL EVENTS Anti-Bullying Week

In November the College marked Anti-Bullying week. Throughout the week, pupils focused on the issue, thinking about how they can help and support others to reduce bullying and its negative effects.

Commenting on a jam-packed week of activities and competitions, Ms Karmock-Golds said, ‘It was wonderful to see so many “Helping Hands” from pupils indicating when they have helped or been offered help, as well as being able to share The Big Anti-Bullying Assembly along with 1.7 million other pupils nationwide in our tutor times.’

We continue to champion compassion as one of our core values and it was clearly embraced by all year groups in their response to this Theme of the Week.

On Friday 20 November, pupils and staff came to school wearing blue in aid of Stand Up to Bullying, each donating a pound towards the charity. Ms Butler, Head of English, said: ‘A huge thank you to all St Dunstan’s pupils and staff who donated to Stand Up to Bullying. It was wonderful to see so many shades of blue worn in support of this excellent charity, which does such important work helping to tackle the serious issue of bullying.’

The Senior School raised £656.30 for this charity.

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ANTI-BULLYING WEEK

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SPECIAL EVENTS STEM Highlights This year we saw the first virtual STEM Week. It was a huge success with a wide variety of activities on offer.

There was a coding competition, photography and cake competitions as well as a variety of masterclasses including one on Covid and the applications of exponentials, mathematical origami and the Physics of Tensegrity Tables, and a science mastermind quiz. There was also a range of topical talks which were very well attended. Mr Holmes explored The Psychology of Donald Trump, Mr Hoffman explored Immunology and the Covid Vaccine, Miss Jordon discussed The Chemistry of Volcano eruptions, in light of the recent eruption in St Vincent and Miss Haddington delivered a talk on the Psychology of Covid, to name but a few!

It was pleasing to see students from all year groups engaging with different cross curricular activities at such a difficult time. We look forward to an even more exciting STEM Week in the new STEM Block in 2022!

Miss A Jordon Head of Science

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STEM HIGHLIGHTS

Electron microscope Over the past few months, we have been using the electron microscope and it is probably one of our best experiences in school. We are really grateful for the opportunity we have had. An electron microscope is a really clever invention as it allows you to look at an object up to 100,000 times zoomed in using a beam of electrons to locate the object rather than a magnifying glass in common microscopes. We are so lucky we had access to this as it costs around £60,000 and we are so grateful for the Natural History Museum who lent this to us as it has really given us a new perspective of the things around us in our everyday life!

We were fortunate enough to have the microscope for a while, so we looked at a variety of objects. Some of our favourites were pollen, moss and batteries. When we looked at the pollen, it was very interesting because we had no idea what it looked like as it was so small- we never realised it had such a defined shape. When we saw the individual pieces of pollen we were amazed at how intricate their shaping was, how adapted they were to clinging onto things and how small they were. They were only 15 micrometres each!!

We are so grateful for all the opportunities we have had so thank you for everyone who has helped make that happen.

Matilda Passmore and Ruby Meredith Images by Adam Tolfree, Matilda Passmore and Ruby Meredith

Pollen

Ant

Kitchen Sponge

Burnt Wood

Astro Pi Competition Congratulations to Adam, Kofi and Ibrahim who won the Astro Pi Coding Competition and had their project and code run on a computer on board the International Space Station. The computer took nearly 1000 photos of the Earth, during two orbits. Once they had their data back the team then analysed the Near Infra-Red light within the photos to predict the usage of the land and compare this to previous records to see how land usage has changed over time.

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SPECIAL EVENTS

International Women’s Day In March, the College marked International Women’s Day. Students and staff submitted images and information about women who inspired them and these stories and achievements were shared on the video wall.

They included wonderful stories of family members, activists, politicians, writers, artists, musicians and women in STEM. One of our Year 12 students told us about his mother; her work as a nurse, her life as a single black mother and how she has inspired him to see that anything is possible with a resilient and positive mindset.

Agnes Krelle / Aldren • Agnes Krelle was born in Lancaster on 8 March 1901 (120 years ago this International Women’s Day).

• She began training as a mental health nurse at the Lancaster Moor Hospital at the age of 14.

• The hospital was a pioneering centre for the compassionate treatment of those with mental ill health at the time.

• When she moved to London, she worked in the Maudsley Hospital, another pioneering institution for training and treatment.

• She inspired me to care for others and I celebrate her achievements in working for institutions that lead the way in treatment for patients with ill health.

My Great Grandmother by Mrs Davies

FRIDA KAHLO Mexican Painter

Mrs McLellan led Senior School assembly and spoke about how we can choose to challenge gender bias within politics and leadership.

Joe Year 12

Miss Litman

Ella Jo Baker, 1903-1986 Ella Jo Baker was an organiser in the American Civil Rights Movement. Much of her work took place behind the scenes, and she mentored other activists including Rosa Parks and Stokely Carmichael. Baker never sought the spotlight – she criticised the leadership of charismatic individuals, and believed in the importance of all marginalised people advocating for themselves. She also spoke out against the gendered hierarchy of the civil rights movement.

Ella Jo Baker reminds me that while history tends to remember great men, progress is driven forward by the tireless work of often anonymous women.

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AND INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY (LGBT+)

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Inclusion and diversity (LGBT+) In early February we celebrated LGBTQ+ week as one of our weekly themes, recognising February as LGBTQ+ History Month. We celebrated with a variety of virtual events, including a special assembly on diversity and inclusivity from the Headmaster, themed lessons, such as Year 12 Spanish students giving presentations on the LGBTQ+ community in the Hispanic world, and an LGBTQ+ competition.

Students in the Senior School were challenged to create their own rainbowthemed artwork, using the Pride flag as their starting point, with the aim of celebrating diversity and inclusivity.

There were, in keeping with the theme, ‘no rules, just inclusivity’.

The response was fantastic, and we received dozens of entries across the College. First prize went to Joe in Year 9 (bottom left), and the runner up was Julia in Year 8 (top, middle).

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SPECIAL EVENTS

Diploma Graduation ceremony

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DIPLOMA GRADUATION CEREMONY

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SPECIAL EVENTS Commemoration Day Commemoration Day took place on Friday 28 May at Southwark Cathedral with restricted numbers of attendees due to the ongoing pandemic. Prefects showed the way in at the start of the ceremony and the small congregation of Dunstonians present were entertained by some beautiful singing from Junior School pupils; the service was conducted under the auspices of the Bishop of Southwark.

A reception ensued in nearby Glaziers Hall attended by many Dunstonians including Nigel Higgins, Nav Sheera, Shams Rahman, Sam Hibbs and Christopher Tooley to name but a few.

Sandeep Katwala officially launched our Development Board which is at the forefront of our Fundraising Campaign.

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COMMEMORATION DAY AND COLLEGE PARLIAMENT

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SPECIAL EVENTS St Dunstan’s Festival

Planning the Festival during a global pandemic was a challenge, but the promise of an opportunity to celebrate all that we are as a College was a light at the end of a dark tunnel.

The aim of the Festival is to celebrate our values and ambitions, and to offer students, parents, and the wider community a diverse, exciting and enriching range of activities and experiences. For 2021 we developed a whole new look and feel to the event focused around four ‘zones’: The Mainstage for large scale performances; The Fringe to offer smaller and more diverse events; The Arena to encourage competition; and The Courage Zone to offer a wide range of hands-on experiences for everyone. We are thrilled to have been able to stage the Festival in a 400-seater Big Top, erected in the heart of Catford at The Jubilee Grounds, which allowed us to open many more events to the general public for the first time.

Notable highlights were the musicals from both Junior and Senior school; Madagascar and Once on this Island, both colourful, high-energy productions that highlighted the importance of accepting each other for who we are. Senior School student Willow Fenner brought together a group of female students in an amazing devised movement production, based on A Winter’s Tale, that explored the impact of domestic violence against women.

Emily Folorunsho took her audience on a journey to shine a light on hidden figures in Black British History, whilst Esther Stanhope offered advice and

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encouragement to those who need an edge in public speaking.

From the opening outdoor concert to the charity performances, amazing public speakers, the race to the finish of the Mario Karts and high-octane sporting competitions, this truly was the celebration we needed to end the school year. An event like this does not just happen and a deepfelt thank-you is offered to all the staff, students and parents who worked so hard to make it happen.

Mr R Gregg Festival Director

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PRIZE WINNERS 2021 Senior School

PROGRESS PRIZES Year 7

Emerson Ost Olive Matatu

Year 8

Ava Holohan Theo Hiatt-Dennis

Year 9

Sasha Swann James Ahmad

Year 10

Charlotte Tearle Ronan Sheil

Year 11

Noah Robinson Lara Volz

ACADEMIC PRIZES Art and Design Lower School

Layla Watson

Middle School

Lily Holmes

Upper School

Aamar Lovell

Mrs Brenda Atkin Memorial

Upper School

Willow Fenner

Sophia Coles

Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers

FORM PRIZES 7F

Lottie Cleaton-Roberts

History of Art

7G

Lottie Harris

Business

7H

Louis Billon

Upper School

7I

Lucan Vogel

Latin

7J

Lily Leveton-Smith

Lower School

8F

Misty Scott-Lynch

Classics

8G

Lexi Bennison

Middle School

8H

Milla Dao

8I

Ruby Meredith

9F

Betsy Davies

9G

Lucas Bryan

9H

Martha Preece

Upper School

Blake Chung-Saunders

Danika Mleko

Bruno Bryan Louis Pither

Sir John Moore Memorial

Ancient Languages Reading Cup Computing Lower School

Lucia Lallana

Danika Mleko

RM Presentation

9I

Eric Ho

10F

Samual Strautnieks

10G

Poppy Oswald-Barnshaw

Design Technology

10H

Livvy Cleverley-Lynch

Lower School

Georgina Brown-Williams

10I

Inaya Rouse-Farooq

Middle School

Matilde Eiras-Cacao

10J

Ella Redford

Upper School

Finley Maplestone

10K

Susannah Dench

11F

Michael Olaleye

11G

William Barker

Upper School

11H

Marcella Benson

Basil Harvey Memorial

11I

Priya Cooper

Örs Prize

11J

Matilde Eiras-Cacao

Economics

11K

Sam Osmond

Upper School

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Middle School RM Presentation

Emmanuel Zarkos

Drama Lower School

Lucas Bryan

Middle School

Frankie Gray Lola Mitchell

Performance

Willow Fenner

Natalie Bloomer

SENIOR SCHOOL

ACADEMIC PRIZES

Music

English

Mrs Florence Ruston Memorial

Lower School

Isabel Villalba Cardona

Middle School

Tapasya Tiwari

Upper School

Emma Dennis

William Barrett Memorial

Lower School Middle School

Lower School

Jamie Ozoemena

Middle School

Maggie Mirfield

Upper School

Ted Hamilton

Keyboard Playing Award

Adam Robson

Most Improved Strings Player

Tom Sheen

Mr E G Widdowson Mr E G Widdowson

Debating Mei Lin Rawlings Michael Olaleye

Clemments Barnes Memorial

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Mr K Ellis

Lecture Prize Lower School

Joseph O’Connor-Coffey

Most Improved Brass Player

Bruno Bryan

Charles Pearce Memorial Essay Prize

Willow Fenner

Most Improved Woodwind Player

Eleanor Clark

Geography Lower School

Isobel Edenborough

J M Williams Memorial

Middle School

Floss Coventry

J M Williams Memorial

Upper School

J M Williams Memorial

Riale Donkor

Joseph O’Connor-Coffey

Middle School

Aniela Cabut Lola Mitchell

Douglas Howard Memorial

Mathematics Middle School Upper School

Matilda Passmore Robert Hume Guy Bishop

Charles Mitchell Memorial

Middle School French Upper School

Lucia Lallana

Mrs Mirabelle Bennett Memorial

Spanish Upper School

Upper School

Anton Johnson Needle Molly Condliffe Piotr Burda-Zwolinski

Psychology Upper School

Sophia Coles

Religion, Philosophy and Ethics Lower School

Marco Ong

Middle School

Rhiannon Bradshaw Sophia Coles

Upper School

Lower School Mei Lin Rawlings Aniela Cabut

German Upper School

Commitment to Co-Curricular Music

Science

Modern Foreign Languages Lower School

Agnes Sales

Mr Peter Snowdon

Middle School

Lower School

Lower School

Upper School

Lower School

History

Upper School

Senior Singing Cup

Middle School

Charlotte Windsor Lydia Pedley

Mr Paul Baker

Biology Upper School

Tarrin Srinivasan

Chemistry Zoe Klein Lola Mitchell

Upper School

Denise Spigler

Professor Sir Henry Armstrong Memorial

Physics Upper School

Piotr Burda-Zwolinski

G H Stevens Memorial

Sports Science Middle School Upper School

Daniel Witham Shay Wellman

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ATHLETIC AWARDS

SERVICE PRIZES

Spirit of St Dunstan’s Award

COMBINED CADET FORCE

Lower School

Mr & Mrs P A Leigh

Middle School

Mr & Mrs B R Allen

RRD Bodenham Award

Sasha Swann James Sugrue Desiree Oghomi Daniel Witham Liliana Rieb-Smith Joshua Penfold

Cricket Most Promising Junior

Joseph O’Connor-Coffey

Player of the Year

Daniel Witham

Captain’s Cup

Joe Shanks

Cross Country Junior Training Cup

Jasmine Morrison

Senior Individual Championship

Sam Osmond

R N Section Most Promising Recruit

Marco Ong

The Junior Rate Award

Karina McIntosh

Presented by Commander E S Main RN

The COLLINGWOOD Telescope Presented by Captain M G Rutherford R N

Coxswain’s Sword

Junior Individual Championship

Thomas Starks

Senior Individual Championship

Buster Francis

Army Section Most Promising Recruit The HUNDRED Trophy

Pace Stick

Football

Presented by the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

Most Promising Junior

Dakara Wifa

Player of the Year

Noah Robinson Joshua Penfold

Hockey Player of the Year Captains Cup

Sasha Swann Abbie Bottle Margot Emlyn Jones

Sword of Honour

The Drum Major’s Award

Sophia Arrigoni

Best Shot Cup

Most Promising Junior

Betsy Davies

Sir John Aird Memorial

Player of the Year

Desiree Oghomi Liliana Rieb-Smith Noah Caluori

Player of the Year

Daniel Witham Finley Maplestone

Captains Award Mr C J Sinclair

Swimming Most Promising Junior

Luke Baylis

Mr P J Milner

Swimmer of the Year

Buster Francis

Townsend-Gilmour Cup

Captain’s Cup F H Carter

Shay Wellman

Tennis Tower Ward Cup

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Denise Spigler Livvy Cleverley-Lynch

Netball

Most Promising Junior

Iesa Rahman

Commanding Officer’s Bugle

Presented by Major R W Davies

Rugby

Leo Beckman

James Lyall Memorial

The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers

Captain’s Award

Alfred Fenton

Presented by 100 (Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

E Marsh & R J Marsh

Most Promising Junior

Joshua Balding

Presented by the Worshipful Company of Marketors

Adrian Jones Memorial

Fives

Captain’s Cup

Sophia Arrigoni

Sophia Arrigoni

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COMMUNITY SERVICE

ACHIEVEMENT

Lower School Service

The von Einsiedel Cup

Mei Lin Rawlings

Middle School Service Old Dunstonian Association Centenary Prize

Buster Francis

Presented by the family of Evelyn von Einsiedel

Mr and Mrs Withy

Tom Carroll

Upper School Service

Braddon Cup

Lucia Lallana

R H Braddon

Best GCSE Student

Reverend Colin Cuttell Memorial

Evie Witherell

Mr David Moore

Chloe and Brian Dance Prize

Maina Dias-Niang

John Iberson Memorial

Rhiannon Bradshaw

Guy Bishop

John Iberson

Bennett Memorial Award for House Service

Emma Dennis

Coling Cup

Juanita Bradley

Andrew Coling Memorial

Albam Exorna Award Presented by the Old Dunstonian Association

Winner: Denise Spigler Runners up: Willow Fenner Zain Shukur

Deputy Head of School Cups

Denise Spigler Aqil Mushtaq

Presented by Sir Roger Cork

The Jane Davies Award for Service

Piotr Burda-Zwolinski

Presented by the Old Dunstonian Association

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INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIAL PRIZES AND OTHER AWARDS It should be noted that not all the prizes and awards are presented each year. Old Dunstonians are indicated by the inclusion in brackets of their year of leaving the College.

ACADEMIC PRIZES Ancient Language Reading Prize

Presented in 2003 by Mr & Mrs J Rivett, parents of A Rivett (2000). The Cup is awarded for the sensitive reading and appreciation of Latin literature, particularly poetry.

The Mrs Brenda Atkin Memorial (Art)

Presented by Mr Ronald Atkin in memory of his wife.

Mr & Mrs Atkin were the parents of two Old Dunstonians, T J Atkin (1979) and M N Atkin (1983).

Art & Design Prize

This Upper School prize has been endowed by The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers. It is awarded to a Sixth Form pupil for efforts in the Fine Arts.

The Sir John Moore Memorial (Latin - Upper School)

The College Foundation has received annually since 1702 a gift of £15, this sum being a bequest by Alderman Sir John Moore to the Parish of St Dunstan in the East.

The Basil Harvey Memorial (Drama)

Presented by B R Mitchell (1957) in memory of Mr B W F Harvey, Senior English Master 1928-1962.

The Örs Prize (Drama)

Presented by Mr A & Mrs R Örs, parents of K Örs (1991) and S Örs (1995).

The William Barrett Memorial (English - Upper School)

The College Foundation has been in receipt annually since 1408 of the sum of £4, this sum being the bequest of William Barrett to the Parish of St Dunstan in the East.

The Charles Pearce Memorial (Senior Essay)

Presented by Charles Pearce, OBE, JP, who was Chairman of the Governors 1950-1967.

The Clemments Barnes Memorial (Spoken English - Middle School)

The bequest of Mrs S S Barnes in memory of her son C D J Barnes (1912) who was killed in action in 1917.

The J M Williams Memorial (Geography - Lower, Middle and Upper Schools)

Established in memory of Mr J M Williams, a Master at the College 1948-1978 and Deputy Master of the Lower School.

The Douglas Howard Memorial (History - Upper School)

Presented by Mr C A Howard in memory of his son, D C Howard (1940) who died on active service in 1942.

The RM Presentation (Information and Communications Technology Lower and Middle Schools)

Presented by RM plc.

The Professor E N da C Andrade Memorial (Information and Communications Technology)

The bequest of Professor E N da Costa Andrade (1905), who was a Governor 1944-1971.

The Charles Mitchell Memorial (Mathematics - Upper School)

Presented by Mr & Mrs Charles Mitchell in memory of their son C H Mitchell (1904), killed in action in 1916.

The Mrs Mirabelle Bennett Memorial (French - Upper School)

It was Mirabelle Bennett’s gift of £220 in 1632, which enabled the land on which the College was built in 1888 to be acquired.

The Mrs Florence Ruston Memorial (Music - Lower School)

Presented by Mrs F M Ruston, MBE, Governor 1959-1977.

The Widdowson Prizes (Music - Middle and Upper Schools)

Presented by Eric Widdowson (1925).

Keyboard Playing Award

Presented by Norman Harper, Director of Music 1986-2002.

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INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIAL PRIZES AND OTHER AWARDS (CONTINUED) It should be noted that not all the prizes and awards are presented each year. Old Dunstonians are indicated by the inclusion in brackets of their year of leaving the College.

Most Improved Strings Player

Presented by Mr Keith Ellis, a Master at the College 1956-1994.

Most Improved Woodwind Player

Presented by Mr D J Leal and Mrs V P Bailey, parents of M D B Leal (2004).

Senior Singing Cup

Presented in 1996 by Mr P Snowdon (1996).

The Paul Baker Prize

Presented in honour of Mr Paul Baker, MBE, Clerk to the Governors for many years, and first Bursar of St Dunstan’s College.

The Mr & Mrs R J Surrey Prize (Middle School Science)

Presented by the parents of T C Surrey (1998) to be awarded annually to a Year 11 pupil whose practical science work is considered outstanding.

The Professor Sir Henry Armstrong Memorial (Chemistry - Upper School)

Presented by Miss Nora Armstrong and her three brothers, H C Armstrong (1896), R R Armstrong (1902) and H L Armstrong (1907) in memory of Professor H E Armstrong, Governor 1894-1937, and Dr E F Armstrong FRS (1895), Governor 1937-1945.

The G.H. Stevens Memorial

The bequest of William Stevens Esq, in memory of his son, G H Stevens (1929), who was killed in action in 1943.

ATHLETIC AWARDS Spirit of St Dunstan’s Award (Lower School)

Presented by Mr P A Leigh (1960) & Mrs J H Leigh, parents of J G B Leigh (1992) and N R Leigh (1995).

Spirit of St Dunstan’s Award (Middle School)

Presented by Mr & Mrs B R Allen, parents of J R Allen (1990) and of M C Allen (1992) to be awarded annually to students in the Middle School for attitude and overall achievement in sport and academic work reflecting credit on them and on the College.

R R D Bodenham Award

Presented by Mr R R D Bodenham, a Master at the College 1982-2016.

The Most Improved Athlete Tankard

Presented by Mr R R D Bodenham, a Master at the College 1982-2016.

The Sir Stuart Milner-Barry Chess Cup

Presented by Sir Stuart Milner-Barry.

The Most Promising Junior Cricketer Cup

Presented by Mr J H A Eames, a Master at the College 1957- 1982.

The Best Performance Cup

Presented by the family of M J W Cassy (1940), Head of School 1939-1940, who was killed in action in 1944.

The John Smithers Memorial

Awarded for the most outstanding cricket performance of the season by a Middle School pupil. It was presented by the Old Dunstonians in memory of John Smithers (1942), who was a Governor of the College.

The Cross Country Training Cups (Junior and Senior)

Presented by Mr & Mrs J R McManus, the parents of N C J McManus (1989).

The Junior Cross Country Individual Championship Cup

This cup was formerly the Inter-House Boxing Cup. It was re- designated in 1988.

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ATHLETIC AWARDS The Senior Cross Country Individual Championship Cup

Presented by Mr D W M Wade, a Master at the College 1964 -1969.

The Fives Junior Championship Cup

Presented by A J Glover (1965), and P G Roland (1966).

The Fives Senior Championship Cup

Presented by E Marsh (1958), and R J Marsh (1965).

The Fives Junior Doubles Award

Presented by the British Universities Sports Federation.

The Most Improved Hockey Player Cup

Presented by H G Judd (1978) as the Best Fencer Cup. It was re-designated in 1998.

Captain’s Cup (Hockey)

Presented by The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers in recognition of the College’s ongoing links with the City.

The Captain’s Award (Rugby)

Presented by C J Sinclair (1971).

The Lower School Best Individual Swimmer Cup

Presented by Mr P J Milner, a Master at the College 1963-1969.

The Captain’s Cup (Swimming) Outstanding Swimmer Cup

Presented by F H Carter, who was a Governor 1914-1918.

Presented by Mr Townsend to be awarded to swimmers who show outstanding commitment and team spirit.

The inaugural winner was Anna Gilmour whose level of commitment was an inspiration to all.

COMBINED CADET FORCE R N Section Most Promising Recruit

Presented by St Dunstan’s College CCF.

Coxswain’s Sword

The sword, belonging to David Williams, is presented by the Worshipful Company of Marketors to celebrate the partnership between the College and the Marketors.

The COLLINGWOOD Telescope

Presented by Captain M G Rutherford RN, Captain, HMS COLLINGWOOD.

The Junior Rate Award

Presented by Commander E.S. Main RN; who after becoming Coxswain of St Dunstan’s College Royal Navy Section, went on to serve in the Royal Navy as an officer for over 30 years.

Army Section Most Promising Recruit

Presented by the family of A E T Jones (1940), who was killed in action in 1944.

Drill Competition Cup

Presented by St Dunstan’s Educational Foundation 2006.

The Pace Stick

Presented by the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to which the Advanced Infantry Platoon of the Army Section of the CCF is affiliated.

The Drum Major’s Award

Presented by Major R.W. Davies; in 2009 Major Davies, in his role as Contingent Commander re-established the Corps of Drums and this award was presented to the CCF to mark this occasion.

The Sword of Honour

Presented by Mr & Mrs D J Lyall in memory of their son James.

Best Shot Cup

Sir John Aird Memorial.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE PRIZES The Withy Prize (Service - Lower School)

Presented by Mr & Mrs Withy, the grandparents of a former pupil, for service to the College Community.

The Old Dunstonian Association Centenary Prize for Service

Established by the Old Dunstonian Association for service to the College Community.

Mrs Reeves Memorial Prize (Community Service)

The bequest of Mrs Reeves, who received Task Force visitors from St Dunstan’s College for eighteen years.

Lloyds Bank Working in the Community Award

Presented by Lloyd’s Bank. Awarded to a pupil of the College who has been involved in Service in the Community.

The Reverend Colin Cuttell Memorial Prize

Presented by the Rev C C Cuttell, OBE, Governor 1963-1976 and former Vicar of All Hallows by the Tower. For service to the Performing Arts.

The Chloe and Brian Dance Prizes for Service

Established on the retirement of Mr B D Dance as Headmaster of the College, by the Old Dunstonian Association. For outstanding contribution to the Prefecture.

R C R B Bennett Memorial

This prize for outstanding service to House activities has been bequeathed by Mrs E M Bennett, widow of Guy Bennett (1921), in memory of her brother-in-law, Robertio Bennett (1905), who was killed in action in World War I, and after whom Bennett House was named. Bennett House was later incorporated into Forder.

ACHIEVEMENT The von Einsiedel Cup

Presented by the family of Evelyn von Einsiedel (2000), for perseverance and tenacity in the Middle School.

Braddon Cup for Excellence

Presented by Mr R H Braddon (1943). Awarded to the student with the best A Level Results.

The John Iberson Memorial Award

Established in memory of Mr John Iberson, a Master at the College 1950-1988 who died in 1989. Presented to a student who has demonstrated the most engagement with the St Dunstan’s Diploma.

The Ben Chudleigh Performing Arts Awards

This Scholarship Fund has been set up from donations made in memory of Ben Chudleigh (1984–1999). The purpose of the Scholarship is to encourage pupils to develop their abilities in the sphere of the Creative and Performing Arts.

Awards will be made annually to pupils who wish to attend a course to develop their skills in these areas.

The Andrew Coling Cup

Presented for the first time in 2008 by Mr & Mrs P Coling, parents, in memory of their son Andrew (1996). The Cup is awarded to a Sixth Former who has shown outstanding commitment to both academic and extra-curricular life and who, through their service to the community, has brought credit to the College.

The Albam Exorna Award

This award, sponsored by the Old Dunstonian Association, recognises the final year student who best demonstrates that they have “adorned the white” during their time at St Dunstan’s.

Deputy Head of School Cups

Presented by Sir Roger Cork in 1999 to mark the end of his term as Chairman of the Governors of the College and in memory of his wife Barbara.

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ACHIEVEMENT The Jane Davies Award for Service

The Head of School Service Prize, presented by the Old Dunstonian Association, was re-designated in 2014 in recognition of Mrs J D Davies’s service to the College as Headmistress and to the Association as President.

HOUSE TROPHIES The House Academic Achievement Cup

Presented by the family of Lord Broughshane (formerly Sir William Davison MP), who was Clerk to the Foundation 1898-1953.

The Combined House Championship Cup

Presented by A J Norris, Governor 1934-1946.

PREVIOUS GUESTS OF HONOUR 1891

Mr Portal

1919

Thomas Elliott Bart, KCB

1892

Sir Owen Roberts

1920

Sir Harry Perry Robinson

1893

Bishop of Rochester

1921

Rev H Costley White MA

1894

Dr Butler

1922

C M Stuart (Headmaster)

1895

Mr Bickerseth

1923

Sir Gregory Foster, PhD

1896

Sir Owen Roberts

1924

Field Marshall, Sir William Robertson Bart. GCB, GCMG, KCVO, DSO

1897

Sir Alexander Wilson

1925

F Fletcher

1898

The Bishop of Southwark

1926

Major, the Hon J J Astor MP

1899

Sir Ralph Knox

1927

Right Rev W W Perrin, Bishop of Willesden

1900

Sir William Preece

1928

Rear Admiral Gordon Campbell VC, DSO

1901

Sir Joshua Fitch

1929

Sir Carrick Hey Robertson MB, FRCS

1902

Sir Arthur Rucker

1930

Grace the Duchess of Athol DBE, DCL, MP

1903

Sir William Ramsay

1931

Professor E N da C Andrade DSC, PhD (OD

1904

Alderman Sir James T Ritchie

1932

Rev P B Clayton

1905

General Lord Meruen

1933

Rev A L I Preston

1934

The Lord Sempill AFC, FRAeS

1935

W W Vaugh MVO, MA, DLitt

1936

Sir Edward Campbell MP

1937

Field Marshall, Lord Milne GCB, GCMG, DSO

1938

The Rt Hon W S Morrison MC, KC, MP

1906

Evan Spicer

KCB KCB, FRS

GCB, KCVO, CMG

(Chairman of the London

County Council)

1907

Major-General Lord Cheylesmore

1908

Major E F Coates

1909

Sir William Bousfield

1910

The Hon Sir John A Cockburn

1911

Sir Philip Magnus

MP

1939

J F Usherwood

1912

The Right Rev The Bishop of Woolwich

1948

Brigadier Lorne M Campbell VC, DSO, TD

1913

The Rev HP Gray

DD

1950

Sir Gerald and Lady Jane Kelly

1914

Sir Owen Roberts

MA, DCL, LLD

1952

Rev James Wall MA

1917

Rev Rosemeare

1953

Eric James MA, BSc, DPhil

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CVO

MP

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KCMG

P R IZE W I N N E RS 2 02 1

PREVIOUS GUESTS OF HONOUR 1954

Sir Thomas Creed KBE, MC, QC

1987

J C B Gosling

1955

Miss LE Charlesworth CBE, MA

1988

Sir Greville Spratt

1956

The Rt Hon. Lord Gorell CBE, MC

1989

Michael Grade (OD)

1957

Field Marshall Viscount Montgomery of Alamein KG, GCB, DSO

1990

Michael McCrum

1958

Sir Graham Savage

1991

Dr David Ingram

1959

Dr Barnes Wallis

1992

Rt Hon Sir Rhodes Boyson

1960

Rt Hon the Lord Morrison of Lambeth

1993

Paul Parker

1961

Field Marshall Auchinleck

1994

Rt Hon Baroness Young

1962

Christopher Chataway

1995

Mrs G M Randall

1963

Rt Hon W F Deedes

1996

Sir Bernard Ingham

1964

P S Noble

1997

Alderman Roger Cork

1965

Rt Hon Lord Justice Willmer

1998

Lord Archer

1966

Rt Hon Horace King

1999

Rt Revd Dr Wilfred Wood

1967

Rt Hon the Lord Shawcross

2000

Sir William Castell (OD)

1968

Dr W Hamilton

2001

Michael Grade CBE (OD)

1969

Lord Hinton of Bankside

2002

Lord Ouseley of Peckham

1970

C S Arthur

2003

Andrew Dilnott

1971

Sir Walter Adams

2004

Matthew d’Ancona

1972

Dr J Steven Watson

2005

Dr Jane Glover CBE

1973

Sir Lincoln Ralphs

2006

S G Bown MD GRCP (OD)

1974

D J E Ingram

2007

Professor Sir Colin Berry

1975

Sir Ewart Jones

2008

Professor Sir Martin Evans FRS (OD)

1976

Rt Hon the Lord Vaizey of Greenwich

2009

S D Thorogood BA (OD)

1977

Sir Havelock Hudson

2010

Mrs Venetia Howes

1978

Professor Donald G MacRae

2011

Lord Drayson (OD)

1979

Sir Kenneth Cork

2012

Lord Peter Hennessy FBA

1980

Professor Peter Naylor

2013

Lord Grade of Yarmouth (OD)

1981

Sir Huw Wheldon

2014

The Very Revd Dr John Hall (OD)

1982

Sir Montague Finniston

2015

Professor Jane Glover CBE

1983

Dr Bryan Thwaites

2016

The Rev’d Bertrand Olivier

1984

Alderman Sir Edward Howard

2017

Nicholas Hewlett

1985

Professor R J Blin-Stoyle

2018

Sarah Ebanja

1986

Professor Eric Ash

2019

Peter Snowdon (OD)

2020

Nicholas Hewlett

(OD)

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BUILDING DEVELOPMENT Topping Out Ceremony St Dunstan’s was delighted to officially mark the topping out ceremony for the new development on Friday 2 October. The ceremony, which is traditionally held when the last beam is placed atop of the structure, was due to take place earlier in the year but was delayed due to coronavirus.

During the afternoon, a group of junior and senior pupils were given a socially distanced tour of the new build by the Willmott Dixon team and the College’s Bursar, Mrs Wilkins.

Speaking about the event, Mrs Wilkins said: ‘Spending the afternoon with a small group of pupils and senior staff to mark the ‘topping out’ of our new Junior School and STEM building was an absolute delight. The pupils, who brought a buzz of excitement to the construction site, represented every key stage of the College, from Pre-Prep to Year 13. We can’t wait for our next visit, when hopefully coronavirus restrictions will have been lifted and we can really celebrate this huge achievement.’

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TOPPING OUT CEREMONY

B U IL DI N G DE VE LO PMEN T

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BUILDING DEVELOPMENT Opening of our New Build St Dunstan’s College started a new chapter in its long history on Tuesday 20 April as pupils and staff moved into the new development.

The development, which cost around £25 million, includes a new Junior School building, STEM Centre and Sixth Form Centre. The state-of-the-art facilities are the most significant additions to the College site since its foundation in 1888, and will ensure St Dunstan’s continues to provide an education that is ‘ahead of current time’, true to the wishes of our Founders. During the first day, Junior School pupils were given a tour of their new surroundings exploring the three floors of classrooms and the outside space, which now features a modern multi-use games area.

Work continues on the new Performing Arts Centre, including our brand new 200-seat theatre which is due for completion in the autumn. Over the summer the old Physics and Music block will be demolished and the whole area will be landscaped to provide a multi-use open space in the heart of the College which the students have named ‘The Plaza’.

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OPENING OF OUR NEW BUILD AND LIST OF DONORS

B U IL DI N G DE VE LO PMEN T

List of Donors We are very grateful to the following donors who have contributed so generously to the refurbishment of our new theatre: Mr and Mrs Allan Mr Bonsall and Ms Doyle Bonsall Mr Bryan and Ms Murrell Mr and Mrs Burnell Mr Findlay and Ms Hayden Mr and Mrs Foster Mr Glen and Ms Emmerson Mr and Mrs Gupte Dr and Dr Kenyon Mr and Mrs Lenz Mr and Mrs Leworthy Mr and Mrs McRae Mr and Mrs Passmore Mr and Mrs Phillips Mr and Mrs Prior Mr and Mrs Redford Mr and Dr Sillanpaa Mr and Mrs Stanhope Mr and Dr Tong Mr Smethurst and Ms Ayoola Mr and Mrs Volz

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COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH Community Service

This has been a challenging year for the school’s volunteers wanting to engage in Community Service, with many of the usual avenues closed off to them. This being said, it has been thrilling to see how resilient the student body has been, and how they have turned the situation to their advantage.

The ‘Fill the Foodbank’ club has managed to perform strongly across the year, dedicating themselves to encouraging the whole student body to donate produce to those in desperate need, and delivering it to the local foodbank, all in a Covidfriendly manner.

During lockdown, a number of students took it upon themselves to create a letter thanking local NHS businesses for their dedication throughout the past year, sending handwritten copies out postcode by postcode. It was truly heart-warming to see NHS practices writing back to the school to show their appreciation for these selfless gestures of gratitude.

The environment remains at the forefront of our volunteers’ minds, with the Turn Catford Green group quickly making the most of being back in school by raising money through a cake and biscuit sale to put trees onto the streets of Catford and Lewisham, while Year 9’s Community Action Project took to the school fields to clear litter on a weekly basis, making the grounds even more welcoming than usual.

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Finally, with Year 7’s volunteering group contributing excellent ideas which have been taken up by this year’s Festival, the relaxing of restrictions will give our volunteers the opportunity to see out the school year in a genuinely impactful way, with fundraising and community action at the heart of these events, and with the hope of wider opportunities in the year to come.

Mr R Grocock Coordinator of Youth Volunteering

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CHARITY

C OM M U N IT Y A N D OU T REACH

Charity The College has had another highly successful year fundraising, despite the many restrictions faced. Additional non-uniform days added to the fundraising calendar, allowing us to collect a fantastic total of £4134.82 in donations from the St Dunstan’s community.

In Michaelmas Term, £691.69 was raised for Young Minds, a charity that supports services for young people’s mental health. In addition, £734.57 was raised for Stand Up to Bullying, as part of our anti-bullying week. In March, we wore red and raised £719.46 for Comic Relief and in May, we raised an impressive £1,989.10 to support the work of Khalsa Aid in India during the epidemic.

As well as this, our annual Christmas drive for Lewisham foodbank was a great success, with many generous donations given to support those most in need in our local community.

A massive thank you to everyone who has supported these good causes throughout this challenging year.

Ms P Butler Head of College Charity and Charitable Partnerships

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Sustainability As part of our ongoing commitment to Sustainability and providing the best possible environment for our pupils and staff, we have been monitoring the pollution levels of the South Circular and their impact on our environment, for many years.

Extensive expert testing in all areas of our school site was completed as part of our new build project in 2019 and 2020.

This was to ensure that the design and location of our school buildings were all situated in good quality, clean air.

Aether, Air Quality and Climate Change Emissions Consultants, were used to produce detailed reports and we were delighted that their findings confirmed that all areas of the College site were in good air quality. This report, which measured the air quality levels over time, also confirmed that pollution levels dissipated 5 meters from the South Circular.

As a direct result of this monitoring, our buildings, outdoor learning areas and social spaces are all set back from the main roads. The Plaza, our newest external development which is situated in the heart of the College estate, was designed with the best possible air quality in mind, as identified by Aether.

We are also delighted to report that all Junior School children now have access to outdoor play space well within the safe air quality areas.

This year, our extensive planting programme has come into action, which includes a number of ‘pollutant capturing’ trees that have been planted

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alongside the South Circular perimeter and a number of wild-flower areas including outside our Wellness Centre.

The Estates Team have also left ‘wild’ sections of the College Grounds to grow and attract biodiversity, wherever they can. The team has also created a new and improved cycle park, in a secure area at the front of the College, to encourage families to leave their cars at home, wherever possible.

The Sustainability Committee continues to focus on air quality improving projects and we now turn our attention to the

SUSTAINABILITY

C OM M U N IT Y A N D OU T REACH

time families spend travelling to and from the College. Opening up pedestrian access routes on the east and west sides of our College site are scheduled into our programme of works, starting with access via Ravensbourne Court (this project will be particularly helpful to families and staff using the Catford Stations), followed by a similar project at Blythe Hill. These entrances/exits have resulted in many families being able to walk and cycle to school, avoiding the South Circular altogether.

The College has also been working with local environmental experts RAFT on a range of projects including pupil workshops and future retrofit carbon reduction building works to reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency.

There was also further work on our two outdoor ponds. The Senior School Ecology Club have been busy with the Ecology Pond, planting native species for the hedges and installing bird feeders.

The students have also installed a camera to keep an eye on the wildlife.

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THE DUNSTONIAN ASSOCIATION Welcome from the Chair Dear Dunstonians This time last year I wrote that, despite the problems caused by Covid, there were good reasons for the Dunstonian community to be optimistic about the future and I am delighted to report that that has proved to be the case.

First and foremost, the new STEM, Sixth Form Centre and Junior School development on the Catford site is a tremendous statement of confidence in that future.

For those of us who have been fortunate enough to witness at first hand the wonderful new facilities, we are left in awe (and not a little envy) at the resources available to today’s pupils. The smiles on everyone’s faces – teachers as well as pupils young and old – tell their own story. The founders of St Dunstan’s College would surely agree that their vision of providing an education based on first class teaching and independent thinking can only be enhanced by such an environment. Our congratulations go to the College team for such a stunning achievement.

The development has also provided an opportunity for Association members to re-engage with the College via the many tours that have been arranged over the last few months. It has been a joy to watch the jaws hitting the floor as alumni experience for the first time the scale of the new buildings as well as sharing their memories of days gone by as we have toured the Victorian buildings.

Second, our project to make our archives available online via the SDConnect platform has progressed well with every year from 1914 to 2019 of the Chronicles now made available. At our recent Dunstonian Day, the VC room was populated with a wide sample of archives and as ever the room was crowded throughout the event. The next stage of the project will be to increase the sporting and other photographic records online so that it will no longer be necessary to wait for the next Dunstonian Day to wallow in a little nostalgia.

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Third, while our social calendar has continued to be affected by Covid, it was a pleasure to co-host with the College a reception following the annual Commemoration Day Service in May, as well as seeing a number of Dunstonians at the College throughout the year at occasions such as the opening of the new development, the Festival and the Sporting Dinner. As a result of these we have, I hope, succeeded over the last few years in strengthening our partnership with the College with the result that our vision for a meaningful Dunstonian community has become a reality. After all, being a Dunstonian should not be defined by age but by a shared experience, past, present and future.

Talking of the future, although my time as Chair is about to come to an end as I write, the Association, in conjunction with the Dunstonian Office, already has a number of events planned for the coming year including Christmas drinks in the Great Hall, a black-tie dinner and the annual reception on Commemoration Day. In addition to events there is one subject I know lies close to the hearts of many Dunstonians: replacing the old fives courts, which together with the (temporary!) 1960s Prep Block have now made way for the new Plaza. I know that it is high on the College’s agenda so please look out for further news over the coming months.

Finally, may I thank the Committee and, in particular, Isabelle Blake-James and Iain Macdowall for their unstinting efforts over the last year, for without their help we would not have been able to adorn nearly as much of the white as has been the case.

Albam Exorna!

David Edwards (’83) Chair

THE DUNSTONIAN ASSOCIATION AND SPOTLIGHT ON MARTIN PRESTON

C OM M UN I T Y

Spotlight on Martin Preston

The Rev James ‘Martin’ Preston was a student at St Dunstan’s in the 1940s and, later, Head of Religious Studies at the College for many years. In addition to his teaching and pastoral responsibilities, he directed countless dramatic productions at the school with boundless energy and enthusiasm.

The announcement of Martin’s death in December 2020 at the age of 89 prompted an unprecedented flood of tributes from Dunstonians. Below are extracts from some of those personal tributes, which testify to Martin’s extraordinary kindness, warmth, wit and humanity, and to the positive influence he had on so many students during their formative years: ‘Martin Preston was a kind and gifted man and, like many of his colleagues in the Masters’ Common Room of the ‘70s, a very fine teacher. He was forbearing, quick-witted and notably brave, indispensable traits when coming out as gay in front of an entire boys’ school during this time.

He was one of a group of teachers who opened up the world of art and culture to me (I “acted” in his production of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot) but without snobbery or a trace of elitism. He was an ordained, practicing minister of the Christian church who wore his faith with lightness and grace.

As the official School Chaplain, he was a distinctive presence, personable, considerate and civil. He was a “modern man” of his time who played a unique role in the life of the school as it adapted to the progressive challenges of the 1960s and 1970s and was a prominent and much-loved member of a distinguished and exceptional teaching staff for two decades. Above all, Martin Preston set an extraordinary example of tolerance, social liberalism and enlightened values long before it was fashionable to do so as an educator; he was a remarkable man. I am very sad indeed to hear of his death’. ‘…above all he taught me the importance of caring, understanding and tolerance for those different to oneself’.

‘Martin ran the community service alternative to the CCF. A fellow student and I would visit and talk to one particular old lady each week. One time Martin visited her and we talked later. What struck me was that he really and genuinely cared deeply for her. Obviously care and compassion are traits one develops with age, but learning from the example of a dedicated school teacher when you are 15 left a deep impression on me...’

‘Martin was the first person to instil a social conscience in me’ ‘I am one of many of Martin Preston’s pupils whose lives have been greatly enriched by his teaching and warmth’.

‘I was lucky enough to be taught by Martin Preston back in the day and he was certainly a massive positive influence on me’.

‘He was truly an inspirational man in so many ways and he had the courage to challenge a lot of the prevailing norms about life and values in an all boys’ school at that time, which cannot have been easy’.

‘Martin Preston was an inspirational teacher and influential lead for the dramatic arts at St Dunstan’s’.

‘Overall, my enduring memory is that Martin always seemed welcoming, smiling, a teacher one would go out of one’s way to talk to (and he to talk to you), and a great educator. He treated pupils as young adults’.

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COMMUNITY

THEN & NOW - St Dunstan’s College From The Air, 1886 This extraordinary aerial photograph shows St Dunstan’s College under construction, circa 1886, and is almost certainly the earliest photograph of the College in existence. It is one of 76 photographs (mostly of south east London) taken from a hot air balloon by Cecil Victor Shadbolt between 1882 and 1892. They are the earliest known aerial photographs to be taken in the UK. The ‘Catford Bridge’ train line can be seen running across the top of the photo (the ‘Catford’ line was not built until the 1890s).

The Shadbolt Collection of 76 glass lantern slides

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was found at a car boot sale and subsequently purchased at auction by Historic England in 2015.

They can all be viewed on their website, which is well worth a visit.

On 29 June 1892, Shadbolt took a flight in a gas balloon owned by his friend ‘Captain’ William D. Dale, at Crystal Palace. The balloon ripped during the initial ascent, at around 600 feet, and though those aboard dropped ballast, the basket crashed to the ground, immediately killing Dale. Shadbolt and the other passengers were taken to Norwood Cottage Hospital, but Shadbolt died on 8 July, aged 33. He is buried at West Norwood Cemetery.

THEN & NOW, DUNSTONIAN TOURS AND DIGITAL ARCHIVES

C OM M UN I T Y

Dunstonian Tours We were delighted to be able to welcome back to the College some Dunstonians post lockdown, some of whom had not been back for several decades. All our College tours were fully booked in May and June 2021.

Digital Archives Phase 1 of the digitisation of the Chronicles from 1960 to the present day was a huge success in 2020 and we have since commissioned the same company to digitise all Chronicles from 1923 to 1959. Our Archives Room at the College is thriving with regular donations, small and large, from Dunstonians all over the world and we were particularly grateful to Robert Porrer (’62) for sharing some fencing photos. He writes:

‘Congratulations on making the archives available to ODs. Seeing the photos of sports and school plays prompted me to look in my archive (now digitised) to see if I had any photos from my time at SDC.I have found a number of pictures of Fencing (1961 and 1962) and also a few of the school play in1962 (Hamlet, if my memory serves me right).I finished at SDC in December 1962 before going on to Oxford University in October 1963 to read Modern Languages.’

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Scientific Instruments When the science departments moved from the old building to the new STEM block during the Easter holidays, we discovered a treasure trove of over 100 scientific instruments dating back to 1888 when the College was founded. It was a true testimony to St Dunstan’s being a precursor in all things scientific being taught in school.

We have catalogued all items and hope we will be able to have a permanent exhibition in the new STEM building in the coming months.

A brief history of the shields Following on from the painstaking restoration of the old House shields, it seems only fitting to provide a brief history of the House system at St Dunstan’s College.

A House system was not established at St Dunstan’s until 1914 (the College’s Trustees had originally rejected a House system, noting the ‘invidious distinctions and favouritism’ it could potentially create). When a House system was finally implemented, House names initially reflected the geographic provenance of each pupil (Lewisham, Hither Green, Bellingham, Catford, Sydenham, Forest Hill, Ladywell and Brockley). Those from further afield were attached to their nearest district.

One of the main problems of this system was the imbalance of numbers and the corresponding disparity in talent amongst the Houses (for example, in its

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first year, Catford House managed to lose all of its seven rugby matches, conceding 597 points in the process).

In 1919 the system was revised to give each House a better chance of success.

The eight Houses were allotted equal numbers and, no longer having any geographical basis, were renamed after eight of the 233 Old Dunstonians who had lost their lives during the First World War – M. Lane, F.H. Johnson VC, W.U. Ross, W.H. Griffiths, A.L. Thomas, G.R. Goosey, D. Wilson and R.C.R. Bennett.

The War Memorial in the Great Hall was unveiled in 1922. As well as listing all the Dunstonians who were killed in action, it includes panels providing information on the eight men whom the Houses were named after, together with their respective House shields (examples can be seen below). Each House had its own colour, symbol and motto.

SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SHIELDS

C OM M UN I T Y

The shields that have recently been restored are not those that form part of the War Memorial, but are those that have adorned the Sixth Form Library (latterly the Learning Resource Centre) since its construction in the mid-1950s.

The designs represent a slight departure from those in the Great Hall, in that the background colours are half House colour / half white, no doubt as a nod to the school’s motto, ‘albam exorna’.

In 1989 it was decided to reduce the number of Houses from eight to four.

The new Houses were named after the first four Headmasters of the College: Stuart, Forder, Usherwood and Hecker.

To ensure a degree of continuity with the past, the previous houses were amalgamated rather than broken up (Goosey and Wilson became Stuart, etc.).

Continuity has been further maintained by each new House generally adopting the symbol from one old House and the motto from the other and, to the extent possible, a merging of the two previous House colours. Details of the colours, symbols and mottos of the previous and current Houses are shown in the table below:

Old House Name and colour

Symbol

Motto

Goosey

A crown

Fidem serva

Wilson

A bishop’s cross

Concordia valemus

Thomas

A ciborium (cup)

Surgite

Bennett

A quill and scroll

Meliora sequor

Ross

Bishop’s gold ring Progredere

Lane*

Bishop’s crozier

Virtutem quaere

Griffiths

Bishop’s mitre

Semper audete

Johnson

Cope and cross

Non sibi sed aliis

Combined House Name and colour

Symbol

Motto

Stuart

A bishop’s cross

Concordia valemus

Forder

A ciborium (cup)

Meliora sequor

Usherwood

Bishop’s crozier

Progredere

Hecker

Bishop’s mitre

Non sibi sed aliis

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COMMUNITY Friends of St Dunstan’s

Seventeen teams of parents across the College took part in our annual Friends of St Dunstan’s quiz night on Friday 5 March. True to tradition, the event was highly competitive with very close scores and only one point separating our top three teams. Our winning team ‘Final Answers’ finished with 57 points, just pipping ‘The Gumps’ to the post in the final round. The first remote quiz was a great success, with parents having some much needed ‘catch up’ time in breakout rooms The evening raised a total of £2,700 for Lewisham Foodbank. A huge thank you to our quizmasters, Sonia and Justin for a thoroughly enjoyable and wellorganised evening.

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FRIENDS OF ST DUNSTAN’S

C OM M UN I T Y

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A message from the Chaplain WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY? One of the areas of life we touch on in school is spirituality. I wonder if we stop and think about what that means?

I believe that to develop fully as a human being we need to give time and attention and proper recognition to three things. We are a body and we need to care for ourselves in many and various ways to try to keep heathy. This will include sensible eating and drinking and making sure we take exercise and perhaps go to the gym, or to the many and different classes that exist online and which became a vital part of life during the lockdown.

We also need to feed ourselves intellectually and we do this by learning and exploring ideas, as well as reading and growing in a love of new challenges which open up the world to us in an inexhaustible way.

I want to suggest that we are also spiritual beings.

Justin Martyr said: ‘Is it the soul, as such, that constitutes the human being? No. That is only the soul. Is it the body, then, that is called human? No. That is only the body. Consequently, since these two components, separately, do not constitute a human being, it must be the unity formed by conjunction of both that deserves the name.’

It is, I believe, what we might call the trinity of the mind, body, and spirit that makes us a fully human being. I do not mean the spiritual has to be demonstrated by belief in God or the practice of religion. For many of course this will be how it is expressed, but that surely is only part of the picture.

I personally have a deep belief in God and worship to some extent every day, yet I know that is not the way in for everybody and there is a real need to see the spiritual in a wider context.

This next quote is from Edward King who speaks as a Christian, however, I believe that these words can be true for everyone and are an insight into the spiritual life that is essential to all. He gives thanks: ‘For the glory of thunder, for the mystery of music, the singing of birds … for the delights through

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colour, for the awe of the sunset, the beauty of flowers, the smile of friendship and the look of love.’

It is I believe the drinking in of creation that enables us to be in touch with our spiritual selves.

Remembering that we are part of that created order, and that it is in relationship with other human beings and the other creatures with whom we share this world and the created order around us that we become fully ourselves.

I am aware that nature can be ‘red in tooth and claw’, however, there is a gift to be searched for and found in being thankful and watchful in our lives.

It is in the seeing of what appears to be ordinary and realising it is pointing us to a deeper truth that shows us there is nothing ordinary: ‘… to be aware of that reality of the music of the universe is the highest good, the highest happiness.

Then we ourselves become part of the music, we are by hearing the music constrained to make ourselves part of it; for it is real music, irresistible in its beauty, and we cannot but dance to it when we hear it.’ (Arthur Clutton-Brock, What is the Kingdom of Heaven?)

Rev Canon C J L Boswell Chaplain of School

CHAPLAIN’S MESSAGE AND BURSARY UPDATE

C OM M UN I T Y

Bursary update Despite the continuing difficulties posed by the pandemic, 2020-21 proved a hugely productive year for the Bursary Team. The highlight has to be the delivery of the new Junior School, STEM block and Sixth Form Centre which opened to students when we returned after our Easter holiday.

The state-of-the-art facilities are the most significant additions to the College site since its foundation in 1888, and will ensure that St Dunstan’s continues to provide an education that is ‘ahead of current time’, true to the wishes of our Founders. I am so grateful to the team at Willmott Dixon for being able to persevere through all the hardships caused by Covid-19, and subsequent lockdowns to be able to deliver the project on time and on budget. It has been truly wonderful to see all the pupils from Nursery through to Sixth Form enjoying the new spaces.

us with delicious food, whilst operating within all the restrictions placed on them by Covid-19. Even when we were working remotely, they kept an eye on our nutritional needs with home cooking recipes and ideas, and Chef Tony’s wonderful ‘Chef’s Kitchen’ videos.

We were also able to progress various refurbishments in the Historic part of the building, which included significant upgraded technology, storage and decoration, in each class. Drama and Music took possession of their new departments, as part of the larger Performing Arts Centre project, with an increased number of practice rooms and rehearsal spaces. This exciting project also saw completion of the Martin Preston Drama Studio and the Ben Chudleigh Recital Room. Work on the new Theatre continues and we look forward to the final grand opening of our new Performing Arts Centre.

Our community partnerships continued to flourish albeit with changes and interruptions due to the pandemic.

Our sports fields and training facilities are regularly used by local primary schools and clubs across the borough of Lewisham. We have a number of key partnerships with Tottenham Hotspur and the MCC Community Cricket Hub, which provides free cricket coaching to local pupils. As things begin to open up, we look forward to extending these arrangements wherever possible, to ensure that our wonderful facilities can be enjoyed not just by the College but by the wider community also.

Demolition of the old Physics and Music block takes place over the summer, to allow for the landscaping of The Plaza which will provide the pupils with a beautiful open space in the heart of our school.

I look forward to reporting back on our ongoing developments across the next academic year and to seeing full use being made of the new facilities as restrictions lift and we are able to return to a more normal way of life.

I have been particularly grateful to our catering team across this year. They have worked so hard to continue to provide

Mrs C Wilkins

I am glad to report that we have made huge progress on our sustainability targets this year, with lots of new wildflower areas, more trees, student led assemblies, and an improvement and increase in our plant-based lunch options. This remains a key priority for the Foundation going forward.

Bursar

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COMMUNITY Valete! 2021

Mr Asa Willoughby Mr Willoughby joined the Modern Foreign Languages Department in September 2019 and was immediately an influential presence throughout the school. He had an enormous impact on a wide range of staff and students, sharing his passion for a vast array of languages and their fundamental role in cultural appreciation.

He also contributed enormously to the co-curricular life of the College through offering many enrichment opportunities, including Urdu and Indian dance. He has been an invaluable member of the MFL department, and we wish him well for his future working in Higher Education.

Mr Richard Grocock Mr Grocock joined us in September 2019 as a Newly Qualified Teacher, Spanish lead and Youth Volunteering leader. Taking on such a large range of additional responsibilities was remarkable for someone new to teaching, but he took the roles in his stride, not least as a consequence of his previous professional experience. Those who have had the opportunity to work with Mr Grocock will know that he is a dedicated, incredibly

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supportive colleague, and a true team player. He works very hard at all times and has juggled being a second time dad alongside completing his teaching qualification. Mr Grocock has an unerringly positive attitude and he will be sorely missed by the department and the College. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours as he takes up the role of Head of Spanish at Whitgift School.

Mr Toby May Mr May joined the Junior School in 2018 and quickly proved himself to be a wonderful form teacher. He is extremely kind and caring and goes out of his way to ensure that his pupils are supported, always taking time to listen and help in any way that he can.

This also extends to his colleagues, who benefit from the warmth of his personality and his exemplary tea making skills!

Mr May’s job role has evolved over the years. Whether it has been as Head of Stuart House, IPC Co-ordinator or running the Junior School Festival, Mr May has worked with dedication and commitment to the role. As Head of Stuart, he was ‘blue’ through and through, organising fantastic events which pupils have loved. No one will forget the Easter Extravaganza, where

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he devised a treasure hunt around the College site, culminating in the discovery of Mr Hewlett dressed as the Easter bunny! No stranger to dressing up himself, Mr May kept his class aptly entertained during remote learning with his alter ego, Marvin the Monkey.

Mr May will be greatly missed, but we wish him all the best for his next adventure in Canada.

Ms Kristi Collard It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to Ms Collard at the end of this year.

During her four years at the College, Ms Collard has transformed the Drama department, with her relentless energy and passion proving infectious to all who have had the pleasure of working with her. As a senior school Drama teacher, Ms Collard made it her mission to re-imagine and reinvigorate the Lower School curriculum, creating workbooks that allowed students to combine the enjoyment of performance with a sense of academic rigour. She also offered a great deal to the co-curricular programme, directing the ‘5 Day Musical,’ during the Festival each year, as well as supporting the Sports Department as a netball coach in any spare moment she could find.

Always one to embrace a challenge, Ms Collard’s passion for the cognitive development of young people saw her accepting a role as a Year 3 teacher earlier this year. Her pupils have benefitted from her boundless energy and inability to accept anything less than perfection. Although she will be sadly missed, we know she is excited about the prospect of spending more time with her young family and we hope to see her again soon in her new role as a LAMDA teacher!

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Miss Fiona Brown Miss Brown joined St Dunstan’s College in September 2017 as a Year 5 Form Teacher. During her time with us, Miss Brown has contributed to College life in a huge array of different ways. As well as being an exemplary teacher, Miss Brown has shared her fantastic skills in calligraphy, netball and sewing, as part of the Forder programme. She is always willing to step forward and offer support in any aspect of life in the Junior School, and her assemblies were imaginative and inspiring. In any of her classes you can witness the excitement and engagement of children, as she tries out new and inventive ways to teach a particular topic.

Miss Brown truly embodies the College value of creativity.

Miss Brown helped to launch and embed the International Primary Curriculum as part of Junior School academic life.

After developing this key strand of our academic curriculum, Miss Brown then took on a pastoral role as Head of Years 5 and 6, where she has ably supported children at a significant transition point as they prepare to move into the Senior School.

Miss Brown, who recently became Mrs Inglis, leaves us to travel and teach abroad in Singapore. We wish her all the best for the future.

Miss Cora Marr Miss Marr joined St Dunstan’s in 2017 and immediately made an enthusiastic impression, ready to wear the many hats she would put on for the rich and varied life of St Dunstan’s.

As coordinator for the international programme, she created a vivid and holistic curriculum for our Euroasia students, supporting their full integration

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into the St Dunstan’s community. She has been a key figure in the development of our English as an Additional Language provision, always putting student needs first.

She has also been a valued member of the English department, enthusing students with a love of reading and creative writing. The English department will miss her organisation, good humour and efficiency.

As a Year 7 form tutor, and latterly Head of Year 7, Miss Marr has been a kind mentor to her charges, always ensuring that their wellbeing was of the highest importance as they adapted to secondary school life.

As Head of Hecker, Miss Marr has spurred her house on to countless successes. Known for championing staff involvement, she will be a big loss to the house spirit.

On top of all this, Miss Marr has been a source of light and laughter to both staff and students, and will no doubt be a great success in any future that she explores. She will be much missed.

Ms Jenny Byrne Ms Byrne joined St Dunstan’s in 2016 and proved herself to be an inspirational Head of History. She was ahead of the curve in developing a forward-thinking curriculum that reflects the current political landscape, while looking at the past with a fresh eye. Under her leadership, numerous improvements were made within the department, including the integration of literacy, numeracy and the archives into the curriculum, and new trips for Lower and Middle School students, as well as consistently producing strong results at GCSE and A Level. Her exemplary organisation and planning, and her successful mentoring of new staff, leave the department in a very strong position to grow and develop further.

Alongside her work for the department, Ms Byrne took a keen interest in staff

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welfare and many have benefited from her contributions to the work of the Staff Welfare Committee.

Ms Byrne has always had a keen interest in pedagogy and the world of teaching beyond History, and has decided to concentrate on this in the next phase of her career as she goes to Teach First where she will be passing on to a new generation of teachers the knowledge and experience she has gained. We wish her the very best in her future career.

Ms Claire Bird Ms Bird joined St Dunstan’s in September 2015 and quickly established herself as a very good Teacher of Art. She supported the creative development of her students in all areas of the curriculum and encouraged them to make connections between art and the wider world. An example was the plastic pollution project she devised for her Year 7 students who used sculpture, photography, pen and ink and Barbra Kruger-inspired text to communicate their awareness about plastic pollution.

Claire also took a lead in the development of sculpture within the art department, including evening workshops for KS5 students which explored a variety of processes such as building armatures and casting.

Claire was also instrumental in promoting the development of photography within the art department.

Students used photography to develop their ideas and compositions within their classwork and explore their ideas further through photography homework.

Through running the Fashion Design workshop, Claire took a lead in the annual Fashion Show, one of the highlights of the College calendar, working with students to develop garments, wearable sculptures, and social issue statements, as well as organising the live event. She embraced the cocurricular life of the College running oversubscribed clubs such as Mexican

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art, crochet for Crisis, fashion club and environmental art, and organised artwork inspired baking competitions for the College House Competition. We thank her for everything she has given to St Dunstan’s, and wish her well in the next stage of her career.

Dr David Preece Dr Preece joined St Dunstan’s in 2015 as Head of Geography. He quickly made an impact across the whole College in setting up our virtual learning platform, Firefly, and has led the way with the Geography department’s Firefly pages ever since.

His subject knowledge and passion for Geography quickly established him as an excellent teacher. Students respected his expertise and enjoyed lessons in which they were able to explore their academic curiosity. He also had an excellent record for supporting Sixth Form students in successful applications to study Geography at university. He was very generous with his support of the co-curricular life of the College, both as an active member of the CCF, and as a dedicated swimming coach.

Dr Preece played an active part in the College’s Continued Professional Learning programme, always willing to share expertise with other staff and engage in conversations about different aspects of educational best practice. In recent years he has been connecting with the wider teaching network through social media and the internet and this has benefitted the College through his sharing of new ideas and theories with others, as well as the wider teaching community.

He takes this focus into his new role as he takes up a position with Teach First, training new Geography teachers. We wish him the very best for his future career.

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Mr Jens Apweiler Mr Apweiler joined St Dunstan’s in 2015 as Teacher of Biology and quickly established himself as a talented teacher of the subject. His rigorous approach to teaching, learning and feedback enabled his students to make excellent progress, and he put his extraordinary subject knowledge to good use, producing weekly ‘Biology in the News’ articles for students.

Mr Apweiler was always keen to further students’ understanding of Biology, both through practical work, and by organising trips for groups, which were always methodically planned and professionally delivered. He was also extremely approachable and students would often come to see him to discuss a topic or their understanding of it.

Within the department he played a critical role taking responsibility for the upkeep of departmental assessment data, and as year coordinator was continually involved in updating schemes of work and assessments.

He also contributed fully to the cocurricular life of the College, founding the first Wildlife Club which was instrumental in establishing the wildlife garden on the school site. He contributed to Lower School Science Club and events like STEM week with enthusiasm.

As a colleague, Mr Apweiler was reliable, supportive and a great team member. We are very sorry to see him go, but wish him the very best as he relocates out of London with his young family.

Mr David Sharples Mr Sharples joined St Dunstan’s in 2014 as Teacher of English and held various roles within the College, including a two-year stint as Head of Year 12, and, from 2017 onwards as Head of the English department. A passionate advocate for the power of The CHRONICLE 2021

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reading, he delivered a memorable Middle School assembly on Literacy in 2019 in which he stacked up three piles of books to show how much you would read in a year if you read for 5, 10 or 20 minutes every day. He was also keen to allow students the opportunity to enjoy live theatre whenever possible, leading trips such as Year 9’s visit to the Barbican to see As You Like It. Alongside his love of English literature, Mr Sharples was a keen swimmer and assisted the Head of Swimming for many years as a coach on the co-curricular swimming programme. He also played a valuable role in the College’s Tanzania project leading the trip in 2015 to build classrooms. We wish him the very best for his future career and for his relocation with his young family.

Mr Grant Armstrong Mr Armstrong has been an invaluable member of the PE department for 9 years and will be sorely missed. Since joining the College in 2012, Mr Armstrong has shown his worth in a variety of roles, from Head of Football, to Head of Houses, Ski trip Leader, Head of Forder, and most recently Head of Year. When Mr Armstrong arrived, football did not exist below Year 10; it wasn’t a core sport and the programme was non-existent. Fastforward to today and football is thriving, with a fantastic fixture list for all students from 3–18, partnerships with Tottenham Hotspur and girls’ football all featuring in the programme.

In his role as Head of Houses, Mr Armstrong rejuvenated the House System whilst also running Forder. Despite other Houses’ best efforts, Forder have been a force to be reckoned with year-on-year, thanks to Mr Armstrong’s leadership.

In his role as various Heads of Year, he has also shown his ability to manage pastoral elements of the school. His high expectations paired with cheeky Northern personality have allowed him to develop a strong rapport with his students and get

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the best out of every single one of them.

We wish him the very best of luck as he embarks on a new career, working with his wife to provide LAMDA to schools through their business, Armstrong Speech and Drama.

Mrs Catherine Long Mrs Long became a member of the St Dunstan’s Community in January 2002, as Bursary Secretary. During her time at the College, she has supported two Bursars and a number of Bursary staff.

She has been a significant member of the team through the years, and is always willing to roll up her sleeves and offer assistance to her colleagues.

Good examples of this include playing a key role in the CCF (she is proud to have been the first commissioned female officer at St Dunstan’s!); stepping in to take responsibility for the Admissions and HR Departments when needed; and assisting in the Junior School Office, as International Secretary, and as Duke of Edinburgh Award Officer.

Mrs Long’s impact on the College has been huge and the school is a better place because of her contribution. She has organised events such as a whole school Street Party to celebrate the Jubilee, introduced and set up ‘Elevate Education’ for the students, and she has even dabbled in the performing arts, supporting the students as the Queen of Hearts, in the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ production at the College’s very first Festival. She has the enormous task of planning the Governors’ Study Period each year, looks after all of our staff tenants and most importantly provides the Bursar with everything she could possibly need!

Mrs Long will be missed greatly by all her colleagues, and we are doubly disappointed that she will be taking our favourite Chef, Tony Long, with her! Mr and Mrs Long will be greatly missed.

They have both given so much to the College and we are extremely grateful.

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We wish them all the luck in the world as they embark on their new adventure to the Lake District.

Mrs Susan Pearman Mrs Pearman joined St Dunstan’s College as a teaching assistant in the Junior School in 1997, having already been an active parent member of the St Dunstan’s community. During her time working in the Junior School, Mrs Pearman has worked across many year groups, with a particular focus on improving children’s reading in the Pre-Prep. Mrs Pearman has a keen interest in literature and poetry and, as a comical poet herself, she has penned many a missive for various different staff members and events. Even the furniture has not escaped her witty verse; many staff will remember her poem about the photocopier!

Mrs Pearman’s interests have provided valuable support for various school projects over the years. She has a love of history and genealogy, and has supported others in the school with researching family histories and collating family trees. Her detailed eye and proofreading skills have been invaluable in the production of many College publications. Mrs Pearman is also a keen sewist, supporting pupils to develop their sewing skills in the SDC stitchers Forder programme. Mrs Pearman makes beautiful quilts and designed a commemorative quilt to mark the 100th anniversary of the school in 1988.

After 24 years of dedicated service to the Junior School and the wider St Dunstan’s community, we bid a fond farewell to Mrs Pearman and wish her all the very best for her retirement.

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COMMUNITY Salvete! 2021

Miss Simone Arajian Teacher of Design Engineering Miss Arajian is currently completing her degree in BSc Product Design and Technology at Loughborough University, having gained the highest A* in Europe for GCSE Design & Technology, which she completed alongside A levels at the English School in Nicosia. As part of her degree she gained a placement at Sevenoaks School where she worked for a year as Teacher of Technology. She also works as an online tutor for GCSE and A level across all exam boards and has tutored students through their university entrance applications.

Ms Caroline Bassett Junior School Form Teacher (Maternity Cover) Ms Bassett joins us from Heber Primary School where she is currently Year 2 Class Teacher and PSHE Coordinator. She has a BA(Hons) in Primary Education and an MA in Educational Studies from Canterbury Christ Church University College. She has seventeen years’ experience across both KS1 and KS2, and has taught in many different educational settings, including abroad. In her spare time she is a member of the Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps.

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Mr Jacob Bunzl Teacher of RPE Mr Bunzl joins us from the University of Kent where he is currently Assistant Lecturer in Psychology of Religion. He has a BA in Philosophy from the University of the West of England, an MA in Philosophy and Religion from Heythrop College, which he gained with Distinction, and a PhD in Theology and Religious Studies from the University of Kent. A former pupil, he is looking forward to the opportunity to teach the next generation of Dunstonians, and to participating once again in the school’s thriving cocurricular life.

Ms Sophie Egar Junior School Form Teacher (Part-time) Ms Egar joins us as Junior School Form Teacher. She has a degree in Early Childhood Studies from the University of Bristol and completed her PGCE with an Early Years specialism at Bath Spa University. She believes that positive and inspiring experiences in the EYFS and KS1 are key to developing a love of learning.

Having worked in two very different primary schools in the UK, for the past two years she has lived and worked in New York.

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Miss Georgia Entwisle

Miss Lauren Gray

Trainee Teacher of Music

Junior School Teaching Assistant

Miss Entwisle comes to us from Streatham and Clapham High School for Girls where she has been working as a Graduate Music Assistant since September 2019. She has BMus(Hons) in Music from King’s College London and Distinction in Grade 8 Singing and Grade 8 Saxophone as well as Merit in Grade 8 Piano and Grade 8 Violin. Her current role has covered all aspects of the music department, directing choirs, organising concerts, outreach to Oxbridge Colleges, classroom teaching cover, tutoring in music theory, budgeting, safeguarding and risk assessments.

Miss Catherine Garbutt Junior School Teaching Assistant Miss Garbutt comes to us from Myatt Garden Primary School where she has been working as a Learning Support Teaching Assistant since January 2018. She has a BA(Hons) in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Southampton and a PGCE in Communication Science for Speech and Language Therapists from City University. She has a thorough understanding of educational principles both within the state and independent sector and is passionate about supporting pupils to realise their potential, regardless of any barrier.

Miss Gray is currently completing her PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages at Chichester University and has a degree in French and Spanish from Aston University. Prior to undertaking her PGCE, Miss Gray gained experience working in primary schools with Year 1, Year 4 and Year 6, assisting with all aspects of the national curriculum as well as languages. She also completed a sixweek placement with a charity running activities for children with disabilities aged between 4 and 16.

Miss Ailsa Cameron Head of Years 5 & 6 Miss Cameron joins us from St Paul’s Cathedral School where she has been a Year 4 Form Teacher, Head of IPC and Head of Years 3 & 4 since 2019. She has a BSc in Psychology from Goldsmiths College and completed her PGCE in General Primary at London South Bank University. Alongside her love of the IPC and its topic-based approach to learning, she is looking forward to developing co-curricular opportunities, particularly as we come out lockdown, as way of enhancing children’s wellbeing.

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Miss Maria Lopez Gonzalez

Miss Tahmena Miah

Head of Spanish

Teacher of English

Miss Lopez Gonzalez joins us as Head of Spanish.

She comes from Chingford Foundation School where she has been Head of the Languages Department since 2019. She has a degree in English studies at the University of Valencia and completed her PGCE at the University of St Mark and St John. She is passionate about the new world of culture that language study can unlock, and enjoys organising trips abroad to enhance curriculum learning beyond the purely academic.

Mr Justin Loveridge Coordinator of Rugby Mr Loveridge joins us as Coordinator of Rugby. He has played at county and national level, including Wales’ under-17s squad, and is an experienced coach. He spent 7 years working for Leicester Tigers and has developed several current premiership players.

He is currently Academy Manager at Boroughmuir Rugby Club, managing and coaching young players from age 6 – 21, and is working towards his Level 4 Performance Coaching Award having been invited to do so by English Rugby Union.

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Miss Miah joins us from City of London School where she has been working as Teacher of English (maternity cover). She has a BA(Hons) in English from Queen Mary, University of London, and completed a PGCE in Secondary English at the University of Cambridge in 2020. During her NQT year she has worked with pupils from Year 7 up to Year 12 and has gained a lot of experience teaching different texts with different goals in mind.

Ms Meredith Moore Teacher of Psychology Ms Moore joins us from Washington International School where, for the past five years, she has taught regular chemistry, IB standard and higher-level chemistry, and IB standard and higher-level psychology. She has a BA in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College and an MSc in Education from the University of Edinburgh. Alongside her expertise in psychology and chemistry, she is also passionate about sports and the arts, coaching badminton and directing the school musical in 2018, and is keen to get involved in Forder activities.

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Mr Edwin Quast

Mr James Roddy

Junior School Form Teacher

Junior School Cover Teacher and Sports Assistant

Mr Quast is currently completing his PGCE at Goldsmiths College. He has a BSc in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Kent, and, following university, was awarded a grant of £7,000 with the EU’s Youth in Action Programme through the British Council, which was spent conducting workshops for charities and other projects including pilgrimages, documentaries and debates. He has previously worked at the Jubilee Nursery and in the Junior School and is looking forward to returning to the College.

Ms Sian Reece Trainee Teacher of Drama Ms Reece currently works at Perform Workshops Ltd, teaching drama, singing and dance to children age 4–12.

She has a First in BA(Hons) Acting from Manchester School of Theatre and has successfully combined acting and teaching for a number of years.

She believes passionately in the power of drama to build not just confidence and communication skills but also collaboration and problem solving capabilities, and is looking forward to working towards her PGCE whilst teaching at St Dunstan’s.

Mr Roddy has a BSc in Physical Education and Sport from the University of Greenwich where he is currently completing a PGCE in Secondary School PE. He has played, captained and coached a variety of sports throughout his life, including cricket, football, rugby and athletics. He has recently gained experience teaching handball, cricket, basketball, netball and table tennis to students in years 7, 8 and 9.

Mr Matthew Thain Head of History Mr Thain joins us as Head of History. He comes from St Benedict’s Senior School where he has been second in History since 2018. He has a BA in History from the University of Oxford, and completed his PGCE at the University of Strathclyde. He has pastoral experience as a Head of House and form tutor, and is a rugby, cricket and rowing coach.

He has also helped out on Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and enjoys leading international trips.

Miss Georgia Wright Teacher of Geography Miss Wright joins us from St Thomas More RC Comprehensive where she has been Teacher of Geography since September 2019. She grew up in Spain where she attended Xabia International College. She has a BA(Hons) in Geography from Royal Holloway University of London, and completed her PGCE at the Institute of Education in 2019. Alongside her passion for Geography, she also has an interest in mental health and wellbeing, and enjoys helping out with co-curricular activities at her current school, including D of E. The CHRONICLE 2021

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