Chronicle 2023/2024

I N T R O

From humble beginnings in 1749 as the Clergy Orphan School in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, St Edmund’s has grown into a vibrant community of 650 pupils and 200 staff, renowned for excellence in education and a nurturing pastoral ethos As we celebrate 275 years of remarkable history, this chronicle honours our fabulous celebratory year, reflects on the milestones that shaped us, and looks ahead to an exciting future Through this anniversary, we embrace the opportunity to celebrate our legacy, support meaningful charitable initiatives, and affirm the values that continue to define St Edmund’s School

Theword“chronicle”hasitsetymologicalrootsintheGreekword“khronika” meaningtime

Since we are on the classics, the stoic philosopher Seneca once wrote, in responsetothenotionthatlifeistooshort,that“it’snotthatwehavelittle time,butmorethatwewasteagooddealofit”

ThatdoesnothappenatStEdmund’s Timepassesextraordinarilyquickly herebecauseweuseeveryminuteofiteffectively.

ThisChroniclebrilliantlycapturestheimaginative,excitingandchallenging waysinwhichtimeisputtogooduseatourschool

It is the story (or rather the multifarious stories) of our community at a fascinatingmomentinitsdevelopment

YouwillseethatithasbeenatremendousyearforStEdmund’s Wehave achieved awards that recognise the strength of our academic provision (NACE) and our outstanding reputation in the creative arts (Independent SchooloftheYearforPerformingArts) Therehavebeenimpressivesporting achievements(bothindividualandteam)andourpupilscontinuetoastonish mewiththeirwillingnesstotrynewthings,takecreativerisksandbalance theirbusyschedulesaswechargethroughourweeklyprogramme

Ournumbersremainstrongandstableataround650pupilsandwehave continued to develop our infrastructure – most notably through the completionofPhase2oftheAcademicHub

TheChronicleshowsthatStEdmund’shascertainlychangedinrecentyears Wearestronger,betterconnectedintoourcommunity,respectedlocallyand internationally for the quality of our provision and ambitious both for our pupils’andforourowninstitutionaldevelopment.

But despite this rapid evolution (and the difficult political and economic circumstances in which we operate) our fundamental values as a school remainthesameandshinethroughthestoriesthatyouareabouttoread.

Enough from me As I write this introduction, I can hear the boarders returningfromtheSaturdayactivityprogrammeforlunch,andIamplanning tojointhem!

EnjoyTheChronicle Trustme,readingitistimewellspent

EdwardO’Connor Head

Adapted by Kinoshita Junji

"TwilightCrane"weavesacaptivatingnarrativeoftransformation,love, andthedelicatebalancebetweentheordinaryandtheextraordinary.

Oscar & Junior School Pupils

Genevieve & Scarlett

This year, our drama department took on a challenge and decided to perform two shows simultaneously! They ventured into uncharted territory with a Japanese-inspired drama, a bold departure from our usual repertoire Contrasting with the weighty themes of Twilight Crane, A Slice of Saturday Night offered a light-hearted journey back to the swinging sixties While Twilight Crane delved deep into narrative complexity, A Slice of Saturday Night served as a joyful celebration of music and movement

Twilight Crane was a beautifully realised piece of drama, with stunning designs, lighting, costumes, and innovative, atmospheric staging Well done indeed to Tam Walker-Reid and her stage crew for creating one of the most beautiful sets I have ever seen

I especially wanted to congratulate the four Senior School actors who formed the cast

Genevieve and Scarlett were simply fabulous as the manipulative, avaricious Sodo and Unzu

Oscar was outstanding as Yohyo, playing the conflict between his love for Tsu and his obsession with money absolutely brilliantly. Finally, Izzy did a wonderful job as Tsu, playing a range of complex emotions with a depth of skill and sensitivity that made several members of the audience cry, particularly when she transformed at the end of the play.

Well done to you all on a brilliant piece of theatre

Isabel

a slice of saturday night

A ROLLICKING GOOD SLICE OF 1960S NOSTALGIA

What a Saturday night it was at Club a Go Go! The School production of “A Slice of Saturday Night” delivered laughs, romance and singalong nostalgia in abundance On a dark, cold, mid-December evening, Director Mark Sell kept the energy sky high and the jokes flowing as the audience were transported back to 1960s Belfast through pop-infused musical numbers and larger-than-life teenage characters The talented cast brought the ups and downs of friendship, family, dating and freewheeling youth to hilarious, and at times moving, life

The plot revolved around the era ’ s challenges of love, friendship and societal expectations during a typical Saturday night at a nightclub, capturing the essence of youth and the struggles of growing up. An endearing romance developed between Frederick Butler as the bashful Rick, who pined after the earnest Sharon (Matilda Marriner) Matilda and Fred had the audience in stitches with deadpan facial expressions and piping one-liners. Isobel Kimber gave a standout performance as Marie who was in a back-and-forth relationship with potential suitor Gary (played with a menacing presence by Arthur Clague) Isobel sang “Twiggy” with great emotional depth, providing a moment of sadness and reflection in the midst of all the laughs Meanwhile, Bridget (Zoe Rogers) and scene-stealing Eddie (Henry Goodwin) twisted and twirled across the stage with misunderstandings a plenty. At times, Bridget seemed to provide the only voice of reason to the girl squad who bought many laughs too, from Gabrielle ScottKilvert’s deadpan facial reactions as Penny to Olivia Standen oozing sass as the eye-rolling Jackie. Theo Bawtree anchored the show as Eric ‘Rubber Legs’ DeVere, Club a Go Go’s compere, adding more than a touch of humour and commentary to the unfolding events.

Frederick & Matilda

Sprinkled amongst the dating mishaps and friend clashes was an electrifying 1960s soundtrack, thanks to musical director Victoria Rowcroft’s live student band

Musical numbers including “The Boy of My Dreams”, “It Wouldn’t Be Saturday Night Without a Fight” “I Fancy You” and “Last Saturday Night” bought humour, heartache and hi-jinks to the stage The muted colour palette of costumes, Mary Quant make-up and lighting design transported the audience effectively to the era, while the playful choreography raised the roof! Smartly directed and wonderfully acted, the play known affectionately in school as “Slice” provided swashbuckling comedy alongside sweet romance and a killer soundtrack. All in all, it proved to be a splendid St Edmund’s “Slice of Saturday Night ”

Anya Bensberg Deputy Head Academic

Frederick, Arthur, Joseph

Arthur

MUSIC MUSIC

After a splendid Music Tour to Italy in the summer of 2023, musicians were raring to go on their return to school in September The Michaelmas Term started with a BBQ for all Music Scholars directly after the first Symphony Orchestra practice in early September The annual SS House Music and House Singing events took place at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half of the Michaelmas term In the Lent, term it was the Juniors’ turn Both Senior and Junior School House Singing Competitions were well-received, and the pupils approached both events with immense energy and spirit

Results for the SS House Singing Competition:

Adjudicator – Ciara Considine (singing teacher, conductor and freelance musician)

Disco Songs from the 1970s & 80s

and the Gang)

Whilst the final decisions were being made, a group from Wagner House who received the highest individual mark in the House Music Competition, performed ‘Someone you loved’ by Lewis Capaldi Thanks go to all the performers, staff and the band for making this possible in such a short space of time!

Results for the JS House Singing Competition in the Lent Term 2024:

Adjudicator - Mr Richard Dray (Director of Music at Spring Grove) Disney/Pixar Songs

It was also a pleasure to hear the Pre Prep Dragonflies singTheBareNecessitiesfromJungleBook!

PupilstakingPracticalABRSMandTrinityinstrumentaland singing exams received predominantly merit and distinctionresultsthisyear,showingmusicalprowessand attention to detail from our young performers Two concerts of mock A-level music recitals were given in January and the GCSE Performance Recordings were completedinFebruary

St Edmund’s pupils have an enviable reputation outside theschool;EudoraZhu(flute),BrunelleSauvegrain(violin), Jeremy Isom (violin) and Theo Isom (cello) performed beautifully at a concert for prizewinners of the Kent Festival in June Thomas Young and Ami Watters joined the renowned Sacconi Quartet, to perform the first movement from Beethoven’s Trio in B flat and Anhelina Musiiaka (soprano), and Ami Watters (piano) represented the school at the Canterbury Festival Young Musicians Bursary Concert A good number of St Edmund’s pupils have also performed in the Kent Festival Piano and InstrumentalFestivals,heldattheschoolinNovemberand March Just before the end of the Lent Term Whitstable Choral Society performed Haydn’s Nelson Mass and current pupil James Hodgkinson, plus two former pupils, Katie Pennington-Arnold and Orlando Barton Hodges sang the solo roles Music staff also provided their professionalexpertisewhenIvaButler,MarkButler,Stelios Chatziiofidis, Julia Vohralik and Director of Music, Spencer Payne gave a performance of Schumann’s Piano Quintet inOctober

Ruaraidh

Christopher

The Lunchtime Concert scene continues to provide a regular platform for young performers and pupils in the Junior and Senior Schools have the opportunity to perform twice each half term New this year, was a Schumann Kinderscenen piano project, where performers from both schools each performed movements from this famous collection of short pianominiatures AmiWattersgaveherown30-minutesolo piano recital of advanced piano repertoire and not to be outdone, James Hodgkinson (tenor) also gave a 40-minute vocal recital in preparation for his LTCL Performance Diploma (a level 6 award), which he later passed with distinction In addition to this, there is a programme of performances for Senior School pupils three times a week beforeHead’sLineandthetwoChapelServices

Choral music is at the heart of the school and worship has been enhanced by the school choirs for the Harvest Festival, Eucharist, Remembrance and Advent Eucharist services

There were also joyful separate Junior and Senior School St Edmund’s Day Services The annual school Carol Service in the Cathedral with choirs from all three schools, including the Cathedral Choristers and Pre Prep, plus members of the SS Brass Ensemble, provided a fitting end to 2023 At the end of January, the Chamber Choir performed evensong at RochesterCathedral

Enrichment is part and parcel of creating a rounded musical experience and there was a music trip to see the PhilharmoniaOrchestraattheMarloweinOctober TheLent

Term started with a Music Scholars enrichment event, ‘Performance v Practice’ and Brass specialist Mike Lovatt gave a demonstration to JS in the Chapel and involved both the JS and SS Brass Ensembles in a workshop, plus additional individual sessions for advanced players A-level Performance coaching was given by former parent and international saxophonist, John Harle in mid-February and our annual Indonesian Gamelan Music Workshop in December for all music examination year groups and upper JS gave a valuable insight into this valuable cultural resource

Anhelina

Nina and Brunelle

Each term there is a major musical event and the Michaelmas Concert was a fabulous celebration involving JS and SS Musicians and all the main school ensembles Music was provided at Macknade’s in Faversham by chamber ensembles and soloists just before Christmas The Cathedral Gala Concert in March involved performers from St Edmund’s School Choirs, culminating in a joint choirs’ performance of Mozart’s Requiem to celebrate the schools’ 275th Anniversary We were joined by singers from St Faith’s, Northbourne Park and Spring Grove, amounting to 227 voices! In the first half, Sixth Form performers had the chance to play their final solos in the splendid surroundings of the Cathedral

Singers also had the opportunity to perform in one of the two Saturday afternoon concerts in May and June, organised by Mrs Futcher and Mr Tassell In mid-May, we had our annual Junior School Music Festival, with its varied classes and opportunities, supported by Matthew Schellhorn, our external adjudicator The following evening, the main Junior School Ensembles and Festival Prizewinners performed a full Summer Concert programme

Four pupils will now attend the Saturday music programme at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, which marks a fabulous achievement from all concerned: Thomas Young (clarinet), Eudora Zhu (flute), Ami Watters (piano) and Arthur Underwood (composition) To finish off the academic year, the St Edmund’s Festival contained a breadth of musical items by pupils across the school in the 275 production, a Pupil Cabaret, Festival Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral and a Lunchtime Concert for our finest instrumentalists and singers, and a Singing Day with David Flood and Mark De Lisser

Spencer Payne Director of Music

ART

Margot Ali George Blunt

Eudora Zhu

Sophia Mahmoodi

Sargam Rai

Olivia Jenkinson

Seamus Soutar

Kevin Choi

Aurora Cox

Kyla Sullivan

Patrick Fischer

Viktoria Vodotyka

Jason Law

CERAMICS

AL E V E L

tti P ll

Zoe Rogers

Sullivan

Isobel Kimber

Abigail Stanfield

Lottie Powell

C S E

Dominika Synipostol

Hester Sait

Aral Ozen

Lilly-Faye Collyer

Sophie King

Harry Barker

Aurora Cox

Lily Green

Mariia Zahorodniuk

Aimee Rose Hawksworth

Kyla Sullivan

Amelia Blampied Lane

BOARDING

The enthusiasm and energy of Arrivals Day never ceases to surprise, as both returning and new boarders seamlessly meet and acclimatise to boarding life at the school This year followed the same pattern, with youngsters from diverse nationalities quickly adapting to boarding routines and forming lifelong bonds with remarkable speed

Solidarity and friendships flourished amongst the boarders, who quickly adopted a strong sense of belonging and unity

A structured routine formed swiftly, and weekends became opportunities for boarders to momentarily escape the school’s boundaries and embark on organised trips These excursions included cycling in a coastal Nature Park near the Goodwin Sands, cinema trips in Canterbury and at the Bluewater Shopping Centre, ice skating, rock climbing, laser tag, ninja warrior, paintballing, Margate Dreamland, several trips to different seaside towns, and the end-of-year outing to Thorpe Park Inhouse activities included cooking in the Food and Nutrition room, yoga and meditation by the outside swimming pool on warm summer evenings, in-house cinema on Saturday evenings and the ever-popular boarders' football games on the AstroTurf

A leisurely boat trip through central Canterbury with several boarders and my young son was a particularly wonderful experience

During the week, boarders spend the early evening on serious study Afterwards, they unwind with an hour of exercise, games, and fun activities, or simply chatting in the Common Rooms The evening's events concluded with homemade cookies, toasties, and hot chocolate during a calming gathering affectionately known as 'milk and biscuits,' which helped the boarders relax before bedtime

The Christmas Ball, held in the grandeur of the traditional Dining Hall, is always a highlight of the year Following an early dinner on a Friday evening, the boarders transformed the elegant space into a festive spectacle with enchanting

decorations With a carefully curated music playlist created by the boarders, the dance floor came alive, offering ample opportunities for everyone to showcase their moves It was heart-warming to witness both young and older boarders joyously dancing together

The boarders are fortunate to have access to an exceptional music department Throughout the year many boarders enthusiastically participated in various musical ensembles, including the Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Big Band, Chapel Choir, and Chamber Choir Additionally, the boarders enjoyed after-school access to outstanding sporting facilities, leading to their remarkable representation across numerous school sports teams Their commitment and expertise were evident as they proudly maintained the boarding community's standing in various school teams

Each day brought a whirlwind of events and a flourishing of talents making the year exhilarating and extraordinary Countless moments of enjoyment and numerous accomplishments encapsulated another remarkable and unforgettable year Many boarders earned school accolades on Speech Day, celebrating their outstanding achievements in academics and their exceptional involvement in extracurricular activities such as sports, drama, music, and community service

As the year drew to a close, a mixture of tears, melancholy, and heartfelt farewells marked the time for boarders to bid goodbye to their school and to the place they had called home The bittersweet emotions that accompany the end of something magnificent and extraordinary were inevitable However, as the departing boarders embarked on their new journeys, they carried with them an abundance of cherished memories, reminding them of the profound sense of belonging they experienced within a truly remarkable and affectionate boarding family This year, I will also carry these cherished memories as I and my family move forward to pastures new

Dr Edwin Jones Director of Boarding

School House School House

Here we are at the end of another fantastic year in School House Every year seems to fly by so quickly and it seems only yesterday we were welcoming all of our boarders back in September We welcomed new boarders as well as our new Resident Tutor, Mr Bonfiglio We kicked off the year with a fantastic night away camping so our boarders could spend some time getting to know each other Mrs Donnelly, Mr Bonfiglio and Mr Potts joined for the trip with highlights of pizza and marshmallows by the campfire The rest of the term was spent with busy nights of games, quizzes, Mario kart battles, and a brilliant Christmas Trip to Legoland and Bluewater shopping It was a magical time of year getting to see our boarders enjoy decorating the Christmas tree together

Even though the dark evenings drew in for the start of Lent term, we still found ways to make the most of our evenings including making use of the sports hall, as well as milkshake and waffle nights A particular highlight of the term was our boys’ night and girls’ night where the boarders got to enjoy games and film night Mrs French and Mrs Donnelly joined us for a trip

to Howlett's Zoo, which our boarders enjoyed very much! The Summer term has been our busiest time in School House, with 17 boarders filling the space and creating a new family atmosphere It took a little while for the weather to warm up, but the boarders made the most of the evenings, playing together and enjoying their downtime around the school and in Canterbury, as well as afternoon school splashing in the pool The highlight of the term had to be their trip to London with Mr Comfort, Miss Castleton, and Mrs Masters, where they got to go on the London Eye and shop at Leicester Square

A big thank you must go out to our boarding team, without whom we could not provide the best care for our boarders: Mr Potts who will be acting in charge whilst I am away on maternity leave; Mr Bonfiglio; Matron; our visiting tutors Miss Brett, Mr Curtiss, Miss Brown, Mrs Hughes, Mr Philpot; Mrs French; and Mrs Donnelly for all their pastoral support and regular cake club, as well as all the Junior School staff who join our boarders for Saturday activities!

Amos Mrs Stone, Simona , Seb, Ignacio, Juan Adel

Marta, Simona, Seb, Cyprian, Amos, Julia, Pedro, Iris, Oren, Juan, Leo, Ane, Eugenia

Our domestic staff, Pam; our linen ladies, Mandy and Becky; and our catering and maintenance staff, too We also wish our Director of Boarding, Dr Jones, the best as he steps down from his role Dr Jones has been a huge support for School House, and we wish his family all the best for the future

We will also bid a sad farewell to Mr Bonfiglio, who, from September, will be starting his new role as Deputy Houseparent of Senior Girls' Boarding Mr Bonfiglio has been a critical member of our boarding team, providing pastoral and academic support to our boarders We will miss him very much, but thankfully, he won't be far away, and I am certain he will still have a presence in School House

A huge congratulations to our School House Prize winners for Speech Day, Pedro L and Simona R To all our boarders, congratulations on all you have achieved! We bid farewell to some boarders who have been with us since Year 6, some for the last year, and some for this final Summer Term We wish you all a restful and enjoyable summer!

Dominique Stone Head of School House

Marta, Eugenia

Ane, Eugenia, Iris, Marta, Julia, Simona

Choir House

A Year of Music and Memories at Choir House

The past year at Choir House has been filled with memorable moments, exciting adventures, and new beginnings We were delighted to welcome three new boys in September 2023: Alistair, Alexander, and Guy Over the year, they have shown remarkable progress, singing at every Tuesday service by the year ' s end alongside the older boys

Without question, the highlight of the boys' weekly schedule has been their performances at services in Canterbury Cathedral They sing Evensong on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and also at Eucharist on Sunday mornings Their dedication is evident not only in these public performances but also in their rehearsals on other days, now alongside boys from other local schools The boys are continually learning new and challenging music and are learning to be professionals alongside the more experienced lay clerks This environment of growth and mentorship ensures that our choristers not only excel musically but also develop invaluable life skills

Our Wednesday evenings have continued to be special with Mrs French and the Chaplain joining us for supper October brought a delightful treat when Mr O'Connor and Mr Comfort took the boys on an outing to Chuck and Blade, providing a much-needed break and a chance to bond outside of our usual routines

Throughout the year, the boys have participated in numerous school outings, including an overnight trip to London, a visit to the East Kent Ploughing Match, the Science Museum, Harry Potter World, and an exciting three-day trip to Paris, to name but a few Each outing has been a mixture of education and fun, broadening the boys' horizons and providing lasting memories

October marked a bittersweet moment as we bid farewell to our beloved Matron who retired from her post here at Choir House She left an indelible mark on all of us, and although she is irreplaceable, we are fortunate to have welcomed Orlando as our new Resident Tutor A former chorister here at Canterbury and recent graduate of St Edmund's School, Orlando is already well-known and well-loved by many in our community

George, James Cesar

Theo, Cesar, Angus, Jeremy

Jeremy, Alexander, Mr O’Connor, James, Theo, Brandon

Jeremy, Guy Theo

The year has been punctuated by various traditional celebrations Our Burns Night celebration in January was a culinary success, with our chef preparing a delicious haggis The VXI sang beautifully in the cathedral over the Christmas period (up to and including Christmas Day), with a notable highlight being their invitation to the Archbishop of Canterbury's home for a Christmas party a truly unforgettable experience for the boys Shrove Tuesday didn't go unnoticed either, with Jeremy being the proud winner of the pancake tossing competition, earning himself a shiny new frying

In March, several boys were confirmed in a special service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a significant milestone in their spiritual journeys

As we reflect on this busy year, we say goodbye to Angus, Jeremy, Theo, Cesar, Gabriel, and also Oren Their contributions have been invaluable, and they will be greatly missed We look forward to the adventures and achievements that the next year will bring, confident that the spirit of Choir House will continue to thrive

Mary Morley House Parent

Jeremy, Brandon, Cesar, Theo, Angus, James, George, Thomas, Max

HOUSEREPORTS BAKER

Another fabulous year in Baker House, filled with triumphsandlossesinequalmeasure

With wins on the sports pitch and in the House music competition, the House Cup came down to Sports Day WithsuperbeffortsfromtheJuniorGirlsandJuniorBoys, alongside Zoe Rogers and Adam Whitlock winning the Victorix Ludorum and the Victor Ludorum respectively, we were pipped at the post by Wagner – much to Mr Clapp’sfrustration!

We would like to thank Miss Scally and all the tutors who, once again, buoyed our spirits and refreshed us with tea, chocolate, and sweets The door remains open,andtheirpastoralsupportisinvaluable WewereallsadtosayfarewelltoMr Clappattheend of the Summer Term We wished him well in the Baker Common Room with emotional speeches, cards, and gifts, and we all wish him the best as he becomes the DirectorofBoarding Weareconfidentthatboardingat St Edmund'sisinsafehandsunderhisguidance

WewelcomeMrs LeaasBakerHousemasternextyear

Having been a hugely effective tutor and previous Deputy Housemaster, we look forward to seeing the House go from strength to strength We just hope she keepsthesweets,tea,andchocolateflowing!

GabsScottKilvert

WARNEFORD

As we reflect on the past year, it’s clear that the essence of Warneford House has been defined by a remarkable spirit that unites each of our talented and creative pupils This year has been a tapestry woven with both notable victories and lessons learned, but above all, it has been aboutthestrengthofcharacterthatdefinesus

Warneford House has achieved significant victories, showcasing the hard work and dedication of our pupils Notably the house darts team demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork, securing an impressive win that brought pride to Warneford Similarly, our boys' tennis players exhibited incredible sportsmanship and talent, clinching victories that contributedtoourhousepointsanddisplayedthecompetitivespiritthat runsdeepinourveins

However,whattrulysetsWarnefordHouseapartisnotjustourtriumphs but the resilience and camaraderie that we exhibit in the face of challenges While there have been losses along the way, it is the way wehaveralliedtogetherthatspeaksvolumesaboutourcharacter Each setback has been met with encouragement and support from fellow housemates,reinforcingtheideathatwearestrongertogether

ThecreativityandtalentwithinWarnefordHouseextendbeyondsports

From art competitions to music performances our pupils have consistently showcased their diverse abilities, enriching our house cultureandcontributingtoavibrantatmosphere Thecollaborativespirit hasfosteredfriendshipsandasenseofbelongingthatisinvaluable

As we look ahead, we carry forward the lessons learned this year We celebrateourvictories,embraceourlosses,andcontinuetosupportone another Warneford House is more than just a name; it is a community built on trust, respect, and an unwavering spirit Together, we will face new challenges in Inter-House competitions and strive for excellence in allthatwedo

Here’stoafantasticyearinWarnefordHouse,filledwithmemoriesthat willlastalifetimeandaspiritthatwillcontinuetoshinebrightly!

WAGNER

Wagnerhashadaverygoodrunthisyearwithwinsin severalkeyevents AsIwriteweeagerlyawaitthefinal tallyinthehopeofretainingtheHouseCup,butweare cautiously hopeful, having secured victory in House Music and House Singing in the Michaelmas term and thecovetedSportsDayandCrossCountrytrophiesthis summer AllcredittothewonderfulWagnerpupilswho have tried their best throughout the year in every capacity

There were some notable individual performances from Harrison Saxby (overall winner) and Charlie Broun who competed in the Chess final together just lastweek

We have celebrated the success of many pupils for their outside endeavours too: Alfie’s eventing, Sanjana’s appointment to the Kent Golf squad and Jack’s football success for Maidstone to name but a few

The latter was postponed from a wet and windswept day in April and disappointed beachgoers were treatedtolastminutepizzainstead,hencethe‘half’

Lines this year have seen the usual array of games and activities from matchbox hunts, human noughts and crosses and from number games to charades Jack Hodgson and George Gannon gave brilliant ‘Show and Tell’ presentations in House line too We have played and danced and sang our way through many a Thursday morning and much though they moan, Wagner pupils are nothing if not stoic Our newprefectsfoundthemselvesatalosstoexplainall things Wagner to our upcoming Form 8 pupils last weekattheirtransitionmorning Isuspectthattheless theyknowthebetter

Dr Horn leaves us this year after twenty-nine years in Wagner,tenofthemservedasHousemaster Wesaid a heartfelt goodbye to him in the manner he has come to expect, with a bacon roll and a round of darts

Wehavehadfour(andahalf)HouseSocialsthisyear, allwellattended,includinganoutdoorteamchallenge in September giant Christmas Games in December a trip to the Board Games cafe in the Lent term and a longawaitedtriptoMargatebeachinJune Joseph

With so many thanks to our wonderful pupils fantastic tutors and to Mr Coupe, who puts up with considerably more than he is paid for, I sign off for anotheryear GoWagner

WATSON

Wow, what a year in Watson house After 5 years as Deputy Housemaster of Watson it was a privilege to be appointed as Housemasterofsuchawonderfulhouse Thisyearformehasbeen hectic crazy fun stressful exciting and a whole lot more but I must sayIwouldnothavegotthroughitwithoutthewonderfulsupportof MrsO’SullivanasmyDeputy,thetutorsforthewonderfuljobtheydo, our House Captain, Caspar Barton Hodges and of course all the enthusiasticpupilswhosaid‘yes’andgotinvolved

The pupils have done a great job to supported Watson House in sport music drama spellingbees housequizzesandsomuchmore They put everything into house competitions, and it is great to celebrate their successes but also see the Watson house spirit shine through The house singing competition one of those events where this spirit shines through although we weren’t winners this year (I’m not bitter about it, honest), the pupils had a great time learning the song, practicing in the common room and performing on the dayeventhereluctantoneslookedliketheywerehavingfunbytheend! Wehadsuccessinhousehockey,football,netballandbasketball,to name a few sports The quiz team and debating teams both did amazingly to win these events debating takes a huge amount of preparationandorganisation,nottomentionthoroughresearchinto your topic to ensure your argument is strong, hats off to Watson for regainingthatcrown

Sports Day always feels like a fitting end to the major house competitionsandthisyearwasoneofmyfavourites Theenthusiasm of our pupils to represent their house, sometimes in events they are not very confident with, and the support of each other from start to finishreallyshowedwhatitmeanstobeaWatsonite

Watson has a few traditions such as Wats–on–Wednesdays and one-shot Wednesdays These little challenges take place on Wednesday lunch times, the pupils have mini challenges to face for an edible sweet treat to be rewarded in house line the following morning Some of the challenges included, darts throw, throwing a ball into a cup from a specific point, curling in the corridor (an adaptation following the Winter Olympics), wordle, rolling a 2p coin down a plank to lodge in the teeth of a fork! The pupils love it, allowing them to be part of the Watson spirit, taking a moment to have fun during the pressures of a working day Watch out for the newimprovedWats-onWednesdaynextyear!

Finally, a big thank you to Caspar Barton Hodges for leading the house as House Captain He has done a wonderful job, and I wish himwellinhisfutureendeavors IwouldliketowishMatildaMarriner allthebestasthenewhousecaptain,andIlookforwardtoworking withherandthenewprefectsnewyear Wesayfarewelltosomeamazingpupilsandstaffthisyear,Iwish themallwellintheirnewadventures-onceaWatsonite,alwaysa Watsonite-stayintouch!

Interview withaChapel Warden

Blake Scammell (L6)

What made you decide to apply to be a chapel warden?

I knew the chapel needed chapel wardens and I didn’t think anyone else would apply, so I thought it would be nice to help maintain such a beautiful part of the school I liked the idea of keeping it in a good state

What does a typical morning on chapel warden duty look like?

I turn up at 8:30am, when the bus is on time, one morning a week I help to set up the chapel by turning on the TVs in the upstairs gallery, switching the sound system on, lighting candles, putting the hymn numbers on the board, and checking the date on the remembrance book Then I do the tidying up at the end, making sure everything is back in its place and clear It’s about 20 minutes of my morning

What

do you enjoy most about the role?

I particularly enjoy taking part in the Eucharist services, sometimes doing the Bible reading or leading the prayers; those roles are helpful experiences of public speaking too But the best thing I’ve done was carrying the cross at the Carol Service in December 2023 Shouldering the responsibility of leading the procession to start and end the service, hundreds of singers following and a thousand watching, along with the Acolytes who walked with me at the front of the procession too!

Shouldering the responsibility of leading the procession to start and end the service, hundreds of singers following and a thousand watching

Is there anything you don’t enjoy about the role?

I regret that I’m not always able to help –when the bus is late, or I have an urgent lesson and I can’t stay to help clear up

What do you think the benefits of being a chapel warden are?

The experience of being responsible, even in a small way, will help prepare me for bigger responsibilities in years to come

What made apply to be a warden?

I thought it would like some of my pe I was happy to be

What do you about the ro

I especially like ligh candles out I didn was until I became it’s really satisfying candle and hold it comes curling out else likes turning th gallery, which mak trade with them an a favour

Is there anything you don’t enjoy about the role?

Sometimes I miss registration or a lesson I do like and then it’s a bit annoying! Also sitting on the raised chapel warden chairs at the back is not great because you have to sit next to the teachers!!

What do you think the benefits of being a chapel warden are?

It helps me to improve my memory because I have to remember what day of the week I’m on duty, and then that helps me remember other important things too

Izzy Bullen (F7)

FOOTBALL FOOTBALL

St Edmund’s 1st XI Senior Football Team embarked on the usual ‘ voyage of discovery’ withayoungbutdeterminedsquad

9 Fixtures in 10 weeks and plenty of training timewithChelseaFCtoassistus Theattitude wasverygoodfromthestartwithbigturnouts forpre-seasonandthemoodinthecampwas positive Iampleasedtosaythatthismood was maintained throughout, with the boys managingtosecurefivewinsontheway

Old Boys first and a promising 4-0 Solid defending and a promising knack of converting chances George Wager and Aral OzengivinguswidthandthethreatofSamson Buckeverpresent

Away at Tonbridge next and perhaps the toughest game of the season with our boys havinga‘purplepatch’inthesecondhalfbut not being able to score Jamie Burgess outstandingindefencebutalossintheend Ourthirdgameagainstlocalrivalsended1-3 butshowedagreatdealofpromise Thegame wasendtoendfromthestartwithKentCollege scoringawelltakenfirstgoalafteraperiodof pressure

A good win followed against new opposition Claremont School followed by our House Competition The next game was a battle to rememberagainstDoverCollege Oneplayer fortheoppositiondominatedproceedingsbut St Edmund’s fought well and pulled away in the final 15 minutes to win 6-3 Buckswood School were next and in probably our best teamperformanceoftheyear,allplayerswere impressivefromthestart A1-0lossdoesnot reflect how happy Mr Millard was with the team’sprogress

The1stXIstartedthenextgamequiteslowly against a weaker Eton College XI The game could have been frustrating until Samson showedhisclassandtheteamthewaytogo, finalscore8-3

Imustthankallofthesquadandallofthe2nd XI squad who turned out for games against Tonbridge and Kent College amongst others alongtheway

Thankyoutoallplayersfortheircommitment andattitudeatalltimes

1 CasparBartonHodges

The 2nd XI football team faced a range of teams this season with fixtures against Tonbridge, Kent College, Claremont, Eton, and the traditional outing against the ‘Old boys’

Through the season the boys showed confidence in trying to play a possession style of football that often demonstrated their improvement in performance level, without necessarily getting the results their hard work deserved

Standout performers included the ever-present centre back partnership of Max Murphy and Luke Robinson Whilst William Bradley was chomping at wingers' feet from the full back position all season long Levi Fang had some impressive contributions in goal, with Ash Crooks and Patrick Sutton were constant threats on the wing Yalamber Rai also impressed as a utility player excelling all over the park

Well done to all the boys involved, I wish them and their families a Merry Christmas

Mr Bright

U14

The 14A team featured in both the Kent Schools F A and English Schools F A cup for the first time this year The ESFA first round draw saw St Edmund’s travel to East Sussex to play Claremont Independent school

This was the boys first game of the season as a recognised U14 team and to their credit they performed admirably in what was an extremely exciting game

Claremont’s technical ability was obvious from the start, and this was demonstrated in a beautifully worked counterattack which saw the home team take the lead within the first ten minutes

The boys battled well and kept their heads responding quickly with a thunderstrike outside of the box from Alfie Allen, after a marauding run from the centre back position Both teams exchanged chances throughout the game, with Sonny Mortensen in goal and the opposing number one making some great saves

With five minutes to go St Edmund's were very much in the tie having worked their socks off in transition and dreaming of a trip into round 2 of the national competition when tragedy struck A wide cross into the box caused chaos in the mayhem Claremont struck at goal and an outstanding Alfie Allen made an incredible save on the line the only problem, he was an outfield player The unavoidable handball meant that Claremont went on to score the penalty and take the lead Despite knocking on the door and throwing players forward it ended 2-1 and the boys were now focused on the Kent Cup

A bye and two comfortable wins against Brockhill and Herne Bay school in consecutive rounds meant the team could reach the QF of the Kent Cup if they could beat Simon Langton at home in the R16 With the team heavily impacted by injuries and illness the somewhat new look squad were fantastic from start to finish

The dominant midfield of captain Jack Edwards and Josh Tucker allowed St Edmund's to be a constant threat moving forward Thomas Elworthy at centre back had established a strong partnership with his back line of Eddie Florence, Will Auston and Alfie Martene hot off a Hatrick in the previous round and Joel Bediako created the width on the wings

Again, the team demonstrated their ability in what was a game that could have easily gone either way St Edmund's found themselves 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go, before a well worked goal meant they were just one more away from a penalty shoot-out

Great saves from Sonny Mortensen meant that we were still in it right to the end With almost the last kick off the game it looked like we had got the goal we deserved before it whistled inches past the post 1-2 it ended and the boys hopes of reaching the QF were over for this year

In addition to their U14 games, Jack Edwards, Josh Tucker, Alfie Allen, Ngawang Sherpa, Sonny Mortensen regularly represented the U15 team including a trip to Eton school, in what was a very successful season

With focus and dedication next year both the boys mentioned and others in and around the squad will form a team with great potential as they move up into U15 and take these vital experiences with them Merry Christmas to players and their families, and I hope they are already looking forward to next season like myself

Mr Bright

Girls' football training continued this year on a Thursday evening after school, supported by our excellent Chelsea Football Club development coaches Numbers taking part continued to grow as did the excitement on match days! Fixtures in the Kent Schools' league and the ESFA cups were fun, but tough, as we were up against the large Kent stateschools

A fantastic game away at Bennett Memorial School was encouraging The second half scoreline was 1-2 with a goal from Lauren Kent There was superb leadership on the pitch from Angelica Docwra and Lizzie Wiltshire, who worked so hard to maintain the positivity and shape of the team Angel Newman was a force down the left wing, with a devastating left foot for the defence and GK to deal with Gabriela Berridge, Shuvna Rai, Ines Adwan, Maria Garrido Blanco and Rosa Coward Hill defended so well with Ami Wattersavingmanyashot!Plentytobeproudof

Another energetic performance followed against Rainham School with outstanding goals from Angelica, Shuvna, Tessa Braithwait, and Gabriela The team played with moreshapeandpassingpatternsweremoreevident

A brilliant win over Marsh Academy was unexpected and we embraced the positivity into the third round of the U14 Kent Cup In the next game, the girls took on Simon Langton Girls' School Emily Surridge was put to the test in goal and performed to the highest level Milly Feakins and Sophie Burgess had some fantastic attempts at goal, showing speed and agility Not a victory unfortunately but theskillsandtacticswerebuildingineveryouting

Tabatha White was fast in midfield, with an exceptional eye for a tackle, alongside Tilly Henderson, Amaia Candina Diaz and Yasmin Amin Nika Veronika was a versatile player throughout the season, starting out as GK and then transitioning into defence Bea Hewatt and Lucy Standen were also stalwarts of the defensive and midfield squad,reliableandstrong

Congratulations to all who graced the pitches this season The atmosphere is exciting and supportive in every game regardlessoftheresult-longmaythatfeelingcontinue

HelenaMillard

HOCKEY HOCKEY

The1stXIhasbeguntheseasonexcellentlywitha4-0winover Ashford School On a freezing cold Thursday afternoon both teams were slow out of the blocks in the first quarter with limited chances for either side However, in the 2nd, St Edmunds turned on the style with 3 goals in 12 minutes to put them in a commanding position An excellent drag flick from Will Surridge got the scoreboard ticking followed by goals from Charlie Gotke and Henry Goodwin St Edmunds managed the game excellently for the remainder with Caspar Barton Hodges putting the game to bed This was a really positive start for the 1stXI

This start continued in a positive manor beating local rivals Kent College 2-1, this was thanks to a last gasp winner by Henry Goodwin This was a flip flop type game With St Edmund’s going ahead through Freddie Post’s tidy finish in the first half, along with missing some other clear-cut chances The second half was different, with a much-improved display by Kent College leading to the scoreline being 1-1 with 30 seconds left on the clock Henry Goodwin’s heroics sparked wild scenes at full time and was the final touch of what was a greatgameofHockey

Narrow losses in all 3 fixtures in the Frank Mason was a disappointing part of the season the boys didn’t play their best Hockey but competed in an exceptionally tough group with Ashford,LangtonandLangleyPark

Comprehensive wins against King’s Rochester and Sir Roger Manwoods were an excellent response to the results at the Frank Mason with the longer format suiting the boys well with theirgoodstaminashowing

This season can certainly still be seen as a thoroughly successful season beating some excellent Hockey schools and seeing some fantastic development especially from the youngermembersofthegroup

The 2nd XI played has an unbeaten season with fantastic matches against Kent College and King’s Rochester A convincing 3-0 victory vs Kent College set the tone with goals from Rafa and Gabs Scott-Klivert Later in the term another victory vs King’s Rochester followed with some fantastic play throughout the game with goals shared around The 2nd XI will be aiming for more fixture next year and building on the successfromthisyear

GIRLSHOCKEY

The term began in fast fashion with some demanding preseason training sessions followed by a pre-season fixture vs local rivals Kings canterbury where the girls secured an epic 53 victory boding well for the remainder of the term Our first ‘competitive’ fixture came just 2 weeks on from pre-season vs Sir Roger Manwoods beginning the group stage of the prestigious Mel Clewlow cup hosted by St Edmunds With the games being just 20 minutes one way, it meant that a fast start was needed, well captained by Iona Lester who led the girls brilliantly all year An unfortunate 1-0 loss to St Lawrence in the first fixture was followed by some excellent displays, dispatching both Sir Roger Manwoods and Duke of Yorks Narrowly missing out on the finals, the girls entered the plate semi-final producing an excellent display to beat Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar school and set up a final vs Ashford Unfortunately it was not to be in the final on the wrong side of a 2-0 scoreline with a much-depleted team, it was a monumental effort from all and really set high standards for therestoftheseasontocome

Our first non-tournament fixtures came against Langley Park, Kings Rochester and Duke of Yorks with some very positive displays, leading to three wins from three This was a very promising start to the season and the team were beginning to gel, leading to performances improving week on week There were some strong displays by the ever-improving Chloe Solley, Elysia Bridges and Martha Lane adding to the goals tally

Unfortunately, the second half of term could not replicate the fine form which the girls had carried into the Halloween break This however was not reflected in the performances, but just due to the tough competition in front of them A narrow loss to Kent College, which could have gone either way kicked us off, as well as another loss by fine margins to Ashford just showed how far this team had come across the term, being able to competewithsomeverystrongschools

Kings Canterbury awaited in the final fixture of the year, a bitterly cold evening under lights provided the perfect setting for a high intensity, fast paced game of Hockey which would have provided an entertaining watch for the Neutral With a bare 11 the girls battled against a strong Kings side and were incredibly unlucky to be on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline This performance showed plenty of grit, determination and high-quality Hockey showing just how much improvement had been made across the season There were 1st XI debuts handed out to M5 students Tessa Braithwaite and Ami Watters who looked right at home, providing promise for years to come

Top Goal Scorer went to Iona Lester who provided excellent leadership and maturity across the term and is and will continue to be an amazing role model for years to come Coaches' player went to both Sofie Goode and Chloe Solley who had excellent years in defence and midfield respectively Finally, most improved player went to Charlotte Richards, who has shown that hard work and dedication across the term can transformyouintoanexcellentHockeyplayer

I should also like to thank the excellent efforts from all the players,especiallythoseU6pupilswhowillleaveus,including; Iona Lester, Elysia Bridges, Gabs Scott-Kilvert, Emmie Jackson, Charlotte Richards, Orla Wantsall, Liberty Watkinson and Abi Stanfield

NETBALL NETBALL

The 1st team netball players have had a great season captained by Zoe Rogers Her encouragement and enthusiasm lead the girls to some great wins this season

The season started with a fantastic win against Kent College for the second year in row Gabriella Scott-Kilvert and Zoe Rogers made great connections with Iona Lester and Holly Allom in the attacking D, their concise movement and accurate shooting enabled us to take the lead form the first quarter Strong defending from Olivia Johnson Charlotte Richards and Chloe Solley made it difficult for the opposition to create scoring opportunities The team continued to improve their individual skills and team plays throughout the season This resulted in some superb displays of netball, wins were convincing against Dover College and Ashford An extremely close game against Kings Rochester was another of the girls' best performances They battled for the draw at half time and lead the game going into the final quarter A disappointing loss by 3 goals was a shame and did not reflect the hard work and determination the team displayed throughout the game

Overall, a great netball season and many members of the team will be very much missed next year

The 2nd team netball had a very successful season With only a handful of matches played, the 2nd team were unbeaten! The team started off strong beating Kent College which was a great confidence booster, they then went on to win against Dover College and King’s Rochester Besty Thorne was an outstanding GA, with strong movement and amazing shooting, supported by Olivia Johnson in the ‘D’, with Matilda Marriner carrying the ball down the centre third Amelie Madhlope Phillips and Gabriela Nacif-Higson with some great defending and bringing a lot of energy to every game and practice It was a great season with a lot of laughs and team work, well done to all

Miss Brett

U14Girls'Netball

The U14 girls have been very enthusiastic to play netball this term Many of them have attended our after school club, which has helped developing skills and team spirit alike Despite the weather doing it's best to halt proceedings, we have managed to play all our fixtures We have had some tight, very high scoring games, wherethegirlshaveneededtodigdeepandperformattheirbest

We have won some lost some and drawn 1 The tightest game wheretheballliterallytravelledfromendtoendinafantasticbattle against Ashford, ended in a nail biting 20-20 draw This was a greatdemonstrationofqualitynetball

Juliette Matharu, Amy Hopkins and Amelie Sunderland defended the goal with increasing agility and aggression Centre court play was excellent from Autumn Goodey, Shuvna Rai, Rosa Coward Hill and Lucy Standen Milly Feakins and Tabatha White scored an impressive total of 114 this term An excellent term of netball, well done!

MrsMcCabe U15A

A fantastically close game for the U15A’s to start the season in a sunny, but chilly Sandwich Some excellent attacking play against Sir Roger Manhood's led to St Edmund's moving ahead in the secondquarter OutstandingworkherefromAngelicaDocwraand AmberWilkinsonandalsoexcellentdefencefromLottieHaylorand Ami Watters Violet Vant was also on an interception mission! SRMSsurgedinthelastquarterbutluckilya4-goalleadgoinginto thisperiodwasenoughtoholdthemoff

Dover College saw a slightly scrappy affair on a small astro court withsomeseagullslookingon Weplayedversatilityheretomakeit a more competitive fixture Tessa Braithwait worked out how to move around the very tall GK and we discovered Amber can really shoot Laila Sullivan tried her hand at GK and GD, making some superb interceptions Esta Nasir, Bea Alexander and Nina Sauvegrain worked the ball in the midcourt and made themselves usefularoundtheDtoo

The B team (all 11 players!) gained a much-deserved win against Kings Rochester Excellent communication from Ines Adwan at C, PoppyHendyatGAandElizabethJohnsonatGKhelpedtheteam’s cohesionbuildthroughout Congratulationstoallwhotookpartthis season

CRICKET CRICKET

BOYS’CRICKET:

The 1st XI Boys had a very successful cricket season, with excellent wins over King’s Rochester and most noticeablyStLawrenceCollegeduringtheircricketweek in a 40 over 1-day affair The season kicked off with a nail-biting victory over King’s Rochester After bowling first, Henry Goodwin started excellently with the ball, swinging it after from the right hander causing some real trouble for the King’s opening pair After his spell, RhydLowedidn'tletthenewbatterssettlewithexcellent figure of 3-27, expert line and length with a hint of movementonwhatwasadamptrackandexcellentfor thistypeofbowling,Rhydhitthespotandrarelystayed fromit SomebighittingattheendsawKing’srecoverto a respectable 128-6 on what was a bowler friendly pitch,however,StEd’swereconfidentinchasingitdown After losing Freddie Bickley early, Caspar and Theo steadied the ship and played beautifully as they did for themajorityoftheyear 33and21respectively,however was not enough to see the boys over the line Up step CharlieAlexanderandHenryGoodwin,withsomeclever running between the wickets and power hitting when the time was right, seeing the boys over the line with 4 ballstospare

AfterlosingnarrowlytoStLawrenceintheRegionalcup onthelastballby2wickets wehadtheopportunityfor revenge during their cricket week in a one-day match Thematchbeganwellwithanicepartnershipwitha50run stand between Caspar and Freddie Most of our batters got starts, with Caspar top scoring with 37 and the rest of the middle order chipping in with valuable runs getting the boys up to a respectable 165-7 off 40 onabowlerfriendlywicket St Edmund’sbowlingattack beganfantasticallyandneverletStLawrencegetgoing withregularwicketsfromallthebowlers Afterrestricting the batting side to 50-7 the game looked all but over, howeveranimpressive60runstandbynumber6and9 meanttherewerenervesforbothsideswithanail-biting finish in store Theo Bawtree broke the partnership with anexcellentslowerdeliveryandJosephGoodwingotrid ofthedangermanwithanotoriousloopydeliverywhich fellintothehandsofCasparatcowcornersparkingwild celebrations and a well-deserved match tea Well done to all the boys, especially Caspar and Theo, for their leadershipacrosstheyear

GirlsCrickethasreallytakenoffatStEdmund’sthisyear

During the winter, training began in anticipation of their involvement in the indoor cricket league hosted by Kent Cricket Our U15 Girls battled hard against some tough indooropposition whileourU13’squalifiedforRegional finalswhichisasuperbachievementintheirfirstseason

A big shoutout to Emily Surridge who captained the team brilliantly This is a great steppingstone for our Girls cricket side who will now go from strength to strength and will also take part in the indoor tournament again next year

The outdoor season for the U13’s was especially successful with their progress evident after their first hardball game at the start of the season ending in a narrow defeat to Junior Kings After this, across the season they were unbeaten with the final game of the season being a rematch against Junior King’s, ending in a comprehensive victory showing how far they had progressed as a group Excellent efforts from all the girls but especially Amelie Fielding, Emily Surridge, Audrey Taylor, Grace Harvey and Aggie Hudson

The girls soft ball cricket team have worked hard to continue to improve their batting bowling and fielding skills They have played in several competitive and friendly matches this year The U15A team can 3rd in the District Softball 8’s tournament with very close games against Kings Rochester and Sutton Vallance losing by only a few runs In the games against Ashford the girls demonstrated great resilience playing in the pouring rain The girls' accurate bowling and concise fielding resulted in a number of wickets being taken by Beatrice, Esta and Angelica This was followed up by some excellent batting by Beatrice and Esta scoring 42 runs between them A great win by the team in dreadful conditions

TENNIS TENNIS

BOYS’ TENNIS:

Another successful season for Boys’ Tennis with our senior side reaching round three of the National knockout competition, eventually succumbing to a very good Sevenoaks School team after wins against King’s Canterbury and Kent College Michael Nkereuwem, Charlie Gotke and Samson Buck allowed the team to have strength that we have not seen for many years The senior team had two quality additions in Juan Maennig and Maxime Blanchet who represented the school successfully at senior and U15 level (Maxime)

Michael and Charlie got to the final of the U18 Kent Doubles Championships, losing once again to Sevenoaks first pair in a showpiece match in front of competitors from all of the other local schools

Wins at U15 level against Harvey GS, Ashford and St Lawrence showed the promise for the future with Drew Thornton Rohan Lowe and Patrick Poninski leading the way

GIRLS’TENNIS:

The U15 girls enjoyed some excellent tennis over the summer term Milly Feakins and Autumn Goodey started the season with a fantastic 8th place, out of 40 teams, at the Kent Schools’ Doubles Championships Pitting their wits against the likes of Sevenoaks and Bromley high, they represented St Edmund’s with passion, determination and a high level of skill

Other fixtures included closely fought matches against Kent College, St Lawrence College and Ashford School Margaux Fousson Carlioz was welcomed into the team as a strong no 3 and obliterated many of her opponents on the court! With the addition of Bea Alexander, Esta Nasir, Ines Adwan, Angelica Docwra and Ami Watters the girls performed brilliantly with many a close call and nail-biting rally A victory over Kent College was the most satisfying of the results and very well deserved too

With exams on the horizon, the mainstay of our U18 squad were available only at the very start of the season They had a wonderful ‘friendly’ at King’s, where as ever, we enjoyed the sunshine and teas after some hard work on the courts Emmie Jackson always calm under pressure surprised herself at times, with some top-class rallies and accurate serves to keep the games flowing for all involved We will miss the superb leadership of Iona Lester, Gabrielle Scott Kilvert and Charlotte Richards – their unfailing capabilities, determination and humour has been an inspiration to all Iona Lester, Gabrielle Scott Kilvert and Amelia BlampiedLane have been the consistent trio for the U18 squad with Emmie Jackson stepping in too Matches were played against King’s School and St Lawrence College, and developing strength and accuracy in shot placement was the target this summer With some excellent communication and match play on show, they represented the school with passion and commitment

SPORTS SPORTS DAY DAY

A wonderful afternoon of track and field events took place on Thursday, and we were delighted to make this happen before study leave begins for U5 and U6 This was the Senior School at its best, with a huge collaborative effort from pupils and staff to make it such a success Luckily, the rain held off and, although our fabulous Scorers were a little chilly by the end, the temperature was perfect for an athletics event

Following the now traditional Olympic style House procession to the Jackman, events were underway quickly, with our wonderful housemasters and deputies providing well-earned snacks and refreshments at their gazebos

There were some standout performances, of course Tabitha Reilly threw a fantastic 16 90m to break the Senior Girl’s discus record, with Gabrielle Scott Kilvert breaking her own Senior Girls 400m record set last year by 1 second, and Adam Whitlock smashing the 1500m Senior Boy’s record by nearly 20 seconds, with ease Gabrielle and Adam were awarded the Victrix and Victor Ludorum for 2024

New 100m events, run in year groups, meant new records, with Tabatha White setting the standard for L5 girls, Angelica Docwra M5, Hetty Moran U5 and Iona Lester for the 6th form Will Auston, Oli Edwards, George Gannon and Charlie Alexander set the standards for the boys We also had some records set in our new mixed relay events Who will be the record breakers next year?

The atmosphere was brilliant, with everyone in their house coloured tshirts, cheering not just the winners, but those who were putting themselves on the line for the sake of gaining points for their houses It was fantastic to have so many parents supporting the event too

The results were as follows:

Junior Girls: Wagner, Watson and Baker, Warneford

Junior Boys: Wagner, Baker, Watson, Warneford

Senior Girls: Baker, Watson, Wagner Warneford

Senior Boys: Wagner, Watson, Baker, Warneford

Overall: Wagner, Watson, Baker, Warneford

A massive thank you to all who ran jumped threw cheered, officiated, served refreshments, supervised road crossings, and sign ins A superb team effort

CROSS CROSS COUNTRY COUNTRY & FUN RUN & FUN RUN

What a fantastic afternoon at our Interhouse Annual Cross Country and Fun Run event this year! The energy was high and the day was filled with fun, fitness, and a sense of community

Our fund-raising Friday afternoon started with a fancy dress fun run, with Senior School pupils sponsored by friends and family to run the 2 lap course around the school grounds! Pandas to Jedi Knights, The King and Queen of Hearts to Sumo Wrestlers it was a sight to be seen

Congratulations to Wagner House for clinching the victory in this year ’ s event! A big thank you to the Interact Committee for their support in marshalling the event and keeping everyone refreshed throughout the day Here’s to another successful sporting event

JUNIOR

SCHOOL JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORT SPORT

Sports Day Sports Day

Upper School Sports Day marked the culmination of the 2024 Athletics season Pupils had worked diligently in cocurricularclubs,corePE lessons,andevenexternalsportsclubs,honingtheirskillsforboththeinter-housecompetition and sports day Their efforts were vital for earning points for their houses, which could prove decisive in the final standingsattheendoftheschoolyear

Underidealracingconditions,weweredelightedtowelcomeanoutstandingturnoutofparents

Thedaybeganwiththe traditional 100m heats, in which all pupils participated, followed by a variety of track and field events, from shot put to highjump and1200mto200mraces

Oneoftheundeniablehighlightsofthedaywasthe1200m'openrace'Inthisevent studentscouldearnapointfortheir housebyparticipating,despitemanyalreadybeingfatiguedfromothereventsandwiththerelaysstilltocome

Special mention must go to our two Athletes of the Year: Morgan Abbott (Victor Ludorum) and Audrey Taylor (Victrix Ludorum) Bothperformedexcellentlyintheirrespectiveeventsnotonlyonsportsdaybutalsocontributedsignificantlyin theESAAcompetitionandDukeofYork'sCup,top-scoringfortheirteamsjustafewweeksago

Amassivewelldonetoallpupilswhonotonlyperformedadmirablybutalsosupportedeachother,creatingawonderful atmospherefortheday WealreadylookforwardtothenextAthleticsseasonandanevenmoreexcitingsportsdaynext year Watchthisspace!

On a mild but sunny afternoon pupils from years 34 and 5 along with Lower School staff gathered on The Jackman field,fortheannualinterhousesportsday ChildrenfromBecket,Chaucer,MarloweandRoperassembledintheirgroups, readytotakeonthe8activities,testingstamina,hand-eyecoordinationandgeneralathleticability

Cheeredonbystaffandparents,competitionwasfierce,asthechildrenputtheirbestfootforward,totryandgatheras many points as possible for their houses These events were followed by the 100m sprint and the team relay After two hoursofgruelingcompetitionandloadsoffun,thescoresweretallied,andthefinalpositionsdecided Becketweretheeventualwinners,followedbyMarlowe,RoperandChaucer

Swimming Gala Swimming Gala

A beautiful sunny morning greeted the Lower School children as they made their way to the pool with great excitement and a few nerves It was a fantastic setting for the inter-house competition, with the pool looking pristine, and the bank littered with spectators eager to cheer on their children

There were races for all abilities which meant that every child was able to take part and contribute to their teams’ efforts The children put on a fantastic show and really seemed to enjoy the competition and comradery that the House events bring Marlowe were the eventual winners, closely followed by Becket, Roper and Chaucer

After a great morning of swimming, it was now time for the Upper School children to compete With temperatures soaring, it was going to be a draining afternoon for both competitors and staff alike Once again, the participation was fantastic from the swimmers, who were cheered on by what looked to be the largest crowd we have experienced at a swimming gala Front Crawl, Breast Stroke, Back Stroke and Butterfly were well demonstrated by some as others gave their own rendition of the strokes with great enthusiasm and perseverance The relays capped off an exciting end to proceedings

There can only be 1 winner at the end, and this went to Becket, followed by Marlowe, Chaucer and Roper

Margot

Jasmin

Audrey Morgan

Roper House

Evie Charlotte, Mr Comfort, Morgan

Cricket Cricket

CRICKET–MIXEDU11

The U11A mixed cricket team had an outstanding season, winning 66% of their matches The team worked incredibly hard in training, and their dedication was evident in their performances Alongside a wonderful team ethic and togetherness that proudly represented the school, there were some exceptional individual contributions throughout theseason

NiyamPatelhadaremarkableseasonwiththebat finishing asthetoprun-scorerwithastrikerateof133,achievingtwo fifties, including an unbeaten 81 Beau Byde and Oscar Clapp were the leading wicket-takers, with Beau registering an impressive 4 wickets for 11 runs against Ashford School while playing up in the U13s James Martin performed admirably as a wicketkeeper, keeping byes to a minimum, while Isabelle Oyler bowled a consistent line and length throughouttheseasontosupportthebowlingattack

The highlight of the season was undoubtedly the Sixes competitionatKentCollege,wheretheteamfinishedsecond in a high-quality tournament narrowly missing out in the finalinnings Amassivewelldonetoalltheteam,whohave beenajoytoworkwith

Aside from the very successful A team the other Under 11 cricketersalsoproducedmanypositivemoments Atthestart of the term, with plentiful April showers and wooly hats on show as opposed to suncream, the season started in traditional fashion with fixtures against Junior King's The B teamplayedahardballgameontheastrowhichproduced an exciting game with full value for shots off the middle of the bat and true, consistent bounce Other highlights of the season included soft ball fixtures against St Lawrence CollegewithavictoryfortheU11DteamandAshfordSchool whereourU11Cteamproducedaterrificwin

It has also been excellent to give more girls the opportunity to play hard-ball cricket for the B team and also to give someofourUnder9stheopportunitytostepuptoUnder11 level Thereisalotoftalentcomingupnextyear!

CRICKET–BOYSU13A

Theu13Ateamhavehadabrilliantseason,despitethebest efforts of the weather The beginning of the season was hampered by rain and cold weather but no training time was lost as we are able to use the extensive all-weather facilities at premier league club, St Lawrence and Highland CourtCricketClub Wekickedofftheplayingseasonwithan away fixture at junior Kings There were encouraging performances from everyone, especially Angus, who openedhisseason’saccountearlywithabrilliantstumping Although we were set back by a narrow defeat it was clear theteamwerehungryforvictoryanddeterminedtohavea greatseason

The second match was hosted by Kings Rochester and St Edmund’s bowled first We restricted the opposition to 93 runs with only 32 of them coming off the bat There was some excellent bowling from Joran (three overs with three wickets) and Robert and Thomas - who both got two wickets each Our chase started well with Joel hitting a boundary off the first ball He and Angus dug in and their forty run partnership was the key to our successful run chase The icing on the cake was Morgan’s towering six in the last over of the match leaving us one to win He and Josh then ran three off the next ball, just to beabsolutelycertainofvictory!

One of the highlights of the season came in a match against Duke of Yorks at St Lawrence and Highland Court in Bridge Whilst the ominous clouds rumbled slowly past - driven by the swirling unpredictable winds - our captain, Josh, stood and pondered the conditions with sage like concentration He made the brave (and ultimately brilliant) decision to bat first and took the weight on his own shoulders and opened with Brandon Scoring fluently, they made 30 without loss before a fielder unexpectedly caught a ball and Josh was dismissed In walked Joel who calmly asked for his middle and off guard before proceeding to dispatch the ball to all corners of the ground His remarkable innings of 88 included eleven fours and a six before he was unfortunately and completely unselfishly bowled on the last ball of the innings It truly was one of the great innings of the season as it contained skill, cunning, strength and great mental tenacity St Ed’s finished on 195 for 3 off 20 overs Duke of York’s chase never got started as Morgan rearranged their opener ’ s stumps early on before Oscar bowled23-0-2-3toclearouttheirmiddleorder

The constant enthusiasm of this squad is truly remarkable They are stoic in defeat and gracious in victory Their dedication and desireforextratrainingisadmirable

MrCurtiss

U13/U12MIXEDCRICKET2024

The U13 B, c and d teams had a steady season of cricket Poor weather meant that several scheduled fixtures were rained off The positive effect of this was that the boys were able to get in plenty of practice, albeit softball cricket Great progress was madewithbothbat,ballandinthefield

The b team boys managed to squeeze in 6 fixtures, of which theywon4andlost2

In all, despite the lack of sunshine, it was an enjoyable season of cricket which saw the boys advance their skills and knowledgeofthegame

Beau, Izzy, Niyam, James, Luca, Oscar

U11AGIRLS'NETBALLTEAM

Despitethewet,miserableweatherthisterm,alltheU11 girls have been a delight to teach They have been enthusiastictolearnandeagertoperformattheirbest

TheU11Ateamhaveworkedhardwithfitness,ballskills and footwork alike They have also been fluid in their positions and this has enabled their individual performancestodevelop

They started the season with a convincing win and continued their winning streak in all but one game, losing by one point! The girls also outplayed their opponents in all their games at the Wellesley Tournament,butjustlosingoutinatightfinal,tocome 2ndoutof8teams

Arabella Neziri and Bella Post scored most of our impressive number of goals Isabelle Oyler, Amelia Waché, Olivia Farthing and Imogen Fogg dominated thecentreplay,whilstLoisColemanandNaomiPower defended with passion! A great team and excellent results welldonegirls

MrsMcCabe

U13A

TheU13Anetballteamgave100%toeverygamebut narrowly lost out in the majority of their matches The season,captainedbyAudreyTaylor,startedwitha1410 loss against Junior King’s which is always an aggressivegame,showcasingsomefantasticnetball It wasthenontoKing’sRochesterwherewelostby1goal, 13-12 This season, the U13A girls participated in two well-organisedtournaments,theKentU13Tournament andtheWellesleyTournamentwhereitwasallabout the experience and learning In the Wellesley tournament theU13Agirlscameaveryrespectful3rd place WethenplayedKing’sRochesteragainandlost 25-10, but we will blame the slippery court on that, which resulted in many injuries Our last game of the seasonwasagainagainstJuniorKing’s,whichaftera coupleofmonthsofhardworkanddetermination,we came away with a 15-15 draw The shooting combinationofAudreyTaylorandLexieWilkinsonwas sensational,supportedbythecentrethirdplayers,Grace Harvey, Emily Surridge and Harriet Brooks, with Aggie Hudson running her legs off at Centre The defensive teamalwaysputinafaultlessshifttostoptheopposition fromscoring,thiswasmadeupofEmmaDoCarleton Moody,CharlotteElworthyandKatherineMitchell This wasanamazingachievementfortheteamanditjust shows the progression they made throughout the season Welldone!

MissBrett Girl’sU13BNetball

Thetsunamiofunbridledenthusiasm,whichistheu13b Girl’s B netball team, rolled indomitably across the netball landscape this year Game after game the opposition’s flood defences were breached by the industriousandfleet-footedStEd’smidfield Onceinthe finalthird ourinfallibleattackcrushedthe

Netball Netball

opposition’s final bastions of resistance with polite and well-mannered ferocity Some oppositions were brave enough to fight back but the majority attacks were repelled by the serene and soothsayer-esque defence Strength was found, in times of adversity, from the great bonds of camaraderie that developed between all the players Their dynamic, skillful and enigmatic style of play was compelling to watch and their gracious acceptance of victory perfectly demonstrated the St Edmund’s ethos Thank you to all the parents who managed to come and watch so many of the games I am sure that the girls brightened up the frequently unpleasant weather for you Although the reality was that the girls were firmly in charge of proceedings, I was very proud to have helped them throughout a fantastic, unbeaten season

Mr Curtiss

Team – Evelina, Paige, Eliana, Josie, Gigi, Alice, Alice, Clemmy, Niamh, Isabella

GIRL’S U13 C&D NETBALL

The C and D Girl’s netball teams have been exceptionally successful this year They are a fabulously enthusiastic team full of talent and resilience They have worked hard in all of the training sessions and even harder in their matches As a result, they have a playing record of won 6, drew 4 and lost 2 Their great strength is the incredible attitude and respect that they show to each other We are enormously proud of every single girl who has played netball and represented our school

Audrey

Audrey, Lexie, Emma, Grace, Charlotte, Katherine, Emily, Harriet, Aggie

Hockey - Boys Hockey - Boys

TheU11Aboys’hockeyseasonculminatedwiththeendof theLentterm Followingaconvincingvictoryintheiropener againstWellesleyHouse,theboysdedicatedthemselvesto rigoroustrainingsessionsaimedatrefiningtheirtechnical prowess and tactical acumen in preparation for their annualtournamentandweeklyfixtures

Throughout this period the players exhibited unwavering focus and a delightful eagerness to improve, both individuallyandasacohesiveunit Trainingsessionswere centredaroundmasteringexpectationsbothonandoffthe ball, with the boys eagerly embracing new concepts that promisetoservethemwellinthefuture

Entering the tournament with high spirits, the team encounteredanunexpectedsetbackwithalossintheirfirst game However rather than faltering they showcased remarkable resilience rallying together to secure three consecutive victories and climb the ranks on the leaderboard AstandoutperformanceagainstKingsSchool in their final group fixture propelled them into the top 4, earningthemacovetedspotinthesemi-finals,thanksin parttocrucialgoalsfromskipperNiyamPatel Interestingly, the semi-final matchup once again pitted them against Kings, and although they applied significant pressure, victoryeludedthem

James Martin shone brightly in his debut season as goalkeeper, providing stalwart defence alongside the formidable defensive rotation of Oscar Clapp, Noah Jackson,andHamishAnderson Intheattackingtrio,Elliot Crosswelldemonstratedexceptionalpositionalawareness, consistently finding the back of the net from a central position while Tireni Babarinde Beau Byde and Freddie Eilersmadevaluablecontributionsthroughouttheseason

Theboyscantakeimmenseprideintheirseason,during whichtheyfrequentlytestedtheiradversarieswithstaunch defense and dynamic attacking play I eagerly anticipate witnessingtheircontinuedprogressintheupcomingyear Welldonetoall

MrBright

TherestoftheU11boysrepresentedStEdmund'satleast three times during the Lent Term, showing great determination and a positive attitude, which led to improvedresultsonthefield

UNDER13S

The U13A Boys Hockey season started with a Tier 1 Hockey Tournament at Kent College Despite being put in a tough group, the boys produced strong displays getting results against Simon Langton Harvey Grammar and SJWMS to put them through to the quarter-finals where they unfortunately came up short, loosing on penalty flicks This was a good display and foreshadowed what would be a strongseason

Despite 2 losses at the start of the season against Sutton Valence and Kent College, it was clear to see this side had lots of potential and was only going to get better This marked the start of a winning streak, with the boys not losing or drawing a game for the rest of the season with some noticeable performances along the way A 7-0 dismantling of St Lawrence College kicked things off including 5 goals from season star Morgan Abbott, then a 6-1 victory against Wellesley House followed shortly after, showingthissidewerenotshortofscoringgoals

Comprehensive victories against Duke of Yorks and King’s Rochester followed, along with getting our own back on Sutton Valance with a fine team display More noticeable victories ensued with an excellent 4-1 win over Junior King’s with yet another hattrick from Morgan Abbott glossing the scoreline This was followed by a 3-2 nail-biting win against Ashford with the ever-improving Ben Holcroft scoring a clutch goal in the dying embers in his new role as team forward

Out of 13 games this year, these talented boys managed to win 10 games, going unbeaten for the remaining 8 games of the season, showing great progress throughout the team Josh Robinson showed excellent improvement across the year along with Angus Solly who expertly showed his abilitytoplayinprettymuchanypositiononthepitch

The term opened in traditional fashion with a round of fixtures against Junior King's Despite some of the boys having only picked up a Hockey Stick a few days prior, each pupil gave 100% with only narrow defeats being recordedbytheB,C&Dteams Attentionthenturnedtoan away fixture at Ashford School By this time, the group benefitted from more practice time and this was evident with the improved passing, tackling and shooting on display Finally, the term concluded with near neighbours KentCollegevisitingStEdmund's Withsignsofspringon the way the highlight of a sunny mild afternoon was a terrificperformancefromtheU11Cteamwhoplayedwith determinationonthewaytoawell-earnedwin MrSouthey

DanMcHugh(Coach)

Ben, Josh, Morgan, Angus, Bryson, Stanley, Tom, Joran

-

Hockey - Girls Hockey

U11AGIRLS'HOCKEY

Girls

All the U11 girls have worked hard in hockey this term They have demonstratedtheirenthusiasmforthissportsimplybyhavingtheirkit turning up on time and always putting 100% effort into skills and gamesalike TheAteamhavedevelopedintoagreatforceofnature and are unbeaten, save for a very short game in a tournament Duringthefirsthalfoftermthegirlsbuiltuptheirskillsandwereable to apply them well, winning most of their games by at least 3 goals apiece

After half term we continued our winning streak, though not as emphatically as before, but a win is a win We have been lucky enough to have 2 goalies playing intermittently, Rose Pattinson and Scarlett Wilkie Robyn Davison, Arabella Neziri and Olivia Farthing created a good line of defence whilst Lois Coleman, Isabelle Oyler, Imogen Fogg and Bella Post attacked up front creating lots of opportunitiesandgoalstoo!Agreattermofhockey,welldonegirls

MrsMcCabe

TheU13AGirlsHockeyteamhadarollercoasterofaseason,starting off with a 4-0 win against King’s Rochester, we then went in to play Junior King’s which is always a highly competitive game Unfortunately, the girls narrowly lost 2-1 but they did themselves proud with their performance It was then a very hard fought 1-1 against Ashford who had some great players, so again, our defence held their own and Audrey Taylor had a stormer of a game, running thepitchandout-runningherdefenders ElianaRogers-Bricoutmade someamazingsavesineverygame,supportedbyHarrietBrooksand Emma Do Carleton-Moody in defence Our second game against JuniorKing’swasamuch-anticipatedmatchasthegirlswerebeyond keenforadraworawinthistime Theeffortfromtheteamcannotbe faultedandtheywererewardedwitha1-1draw Wethenwentonto win2gameswhichwereagainstStLawrence(7-0)andDukeofYorks (3-0) Throughout the season, Emily Surridge led by example as the Captain, and was always putting shots away on goal with great determinationandpower Thewingplayers,CharlotteElworthy,Aggie Hudson and Grace Harvey were the ball carriers out wide, always lookingforapasstoEmilyorAliceFlorenceinthe‘D’andthenforthe rebounds Unfortunately,wecouldn’tstopKentCollegescoringinour match, we came away with a 9-1 loss but this didn’t dishearten the team too much as we finished the season off with a 8-1 win Vs Wellesley House which was a great way to end the season It was a delight to coach such a fun, energetic and competitive group of girls Welldone!

MissBrett

U13B,C,D

Girls Hockey has continued to go from strength to strength this year throughout all our teams Following on from the A team’s successful season, the B’s, C’s and Ds all performed well across the year The most pleasing thing for staff was the progress shown by all abilities across the year Playing 18 games the B-D teams won 9 fixtures drawing 3 and losing 6 showing what a positive year it has been for these sides Noticeable victories for the B team came against both Sutton Valence and Kent College showing a promising amount of depthinourteamsforwhentheyheadupintoSeniorSchool MrMcHugh

Izzy

FFootball ootball

U13A

The U13A team had a busy Michaelmas term with sixteencompetitive fixtures These games included new entries to the English Schools FA cup, the Kent School FA cup, Shapira cup, Molten league and a couple of so called 'friendly's'

With only a small number of the squad having represented the U13A team the previous year, this new look team took some time to gel Their hard work in training and willingnessto learn new principles of play saw an exponential increase in performance from their early fixtures

As the boys confidence began to grow they saw a real improvementinnotonlyperformancelevelsbutalsoresults This culminated in the team going unbeaten in four of the lastfivegamesoftheseasoninadditiontoacloseKentCup defeat to Harvey Grammar school and a win in the final game of the season against the U12 Norton Knatchbull schoolside

Across the season the boys played some fantastic progressive football unrecognisable from the opening games of the season The Spanish center back partnership ofRojoDominguezandIgnacioMenor-Carnicerogaveusa solid defence and foundation to build the play out from the back with their calmness on the ball The midfield partnership of Morgan Abbott and Oliver Taylor complemented each other nicely and both players even featured for the U14 team A rare occurrence and evidence oftheirworkethic

Meanwhile, in attack Asher Adisa was a constant threat on the wing and at times gave full backs nightmares with his direct play Special mention must also go to Josh Robinson, oneofthemostcappedplayersoverthelasttwoseasonsat U13 level and Rodrigo De Juanes Garrigues as goalkeeper who was the 'Most improved player' over the course of the season

MrBright

U13 B

The boys u13 b team have had a very competitive season of fixtures The team benefited from not having many changes in personnel across the season which really allowed the boys to make enormous tactical progress through the term They have played with constant enthusiasm and determination and whilst this hasn’t been reflected in the results the work ethic and camaraderie has been truly outstanding The final two games of season were both against Northbourne Park School The first game was a narrow loss despite heroic efforts from man of the matchThomas Auston - on the right wing The rematch was played away in very wet conditions on a pitch that was soggy and slow - completely the opposite of the crisp, electric football played by the St Edmund’s team Angus Solley injected some much needed drive and tenacity on the left wing and the skill and passing from midfielders Oscar Garsed and Oscar De Varennes left the opposition stuck, flat footed, in their own quagmire

Behind the midfield prowled the ‘Gandalfesque’ defence (marshalled expertly by Stanley Wood and Josh Atkins) which was rarely breached On the few occasions they did break through, Alex Winn was perfectly positioned to collect the ball and dash any hope the opposition had of scoring St Edmund’s continued to heap pressure on the opposition which resulted in excellent goals from Joel Goncalves and George Garratt leaving us two goals up at the final whistle Overall, it’s been an excellent season and special mention should also go to Jamie Jackson for covering more ground than anyone else across all the matches and making numerous goal line clearances

Well done to all the boys involved

Mr Curtiss

Danny, Alex, Aren, Josh, Asher, Bryson, Morgan, Rodrigo, Oscar, Ben, Oliver, Cesar, Juan, Jago

AAthletics thletics

The JS boys' and girls' athletics teams built on their inaugural experience at the ESAA last year with a fantastic showing at Dartford AC this year, competing against schools with vastly larger cohorts and an incredibly high standard Many of the girls' team had participated as Year 7s last year, and their experience was evident as their points total increased from 193 to 252 Special mention must go to Audrey Taylor, Amelie Fielding, Charlotte Elworthy, Evelina Salvatori, Paige Pritchard, and Elianna Rogers-Bricourt, who scored particularly high points

A less experienced boys' team scored 193 points this year and will no doubt benefit when we compete again next year One of the best sporting performances of the year came from Morgan Abbott, who registered 42 points by himself, worthy of a national finals performance Gabriel Parokkenen achieved a fantastic triple jump despite being new to the event Special mention to Angus Solley, Josh Robinson, and Bryson Dekker, who led the team and supported some fantastic Year 7 entries

The highlight of the athletics season was the Duke of York's Cup, where both the boys' and girls' teams competed against Duke of York's, Dover College, Sir Roger Manwood's School, Ashford, and St Lawrence

Amazingly, St Edmund's brought home the silver medal, a brilliant achievement

Athletics at St Edmund's continues to go from strength to strength, and I already look forward to next season!

TTriathlon riathlon

Despite an early morning downpour which threatened to spoil this year ’ s triathlon, the heavens cleared just in time, and the overcast conditions provided a pleasant temperature for what was going to be a testing morning of endurance for the children With approximately200participantsandasimilarnumberof parents and staff supporting, it made for a very enjoyable morning of competition, for what has become the highlight of the junior school sporting calendar

Children from years 3-11, pitted their skills against the toughcourse,whichconsistedofaswim,cycleandrun Distances were adjusted for the various ages and abilitiesofthe21groups Everychildthattookpartputin a fantastic effort, giving their all to gain a point for their houseandtryandwinamedal

Both participants and spectators seemed to enjoy themselves despite the odd tear from a few exhausted competitors After a few hours of blood, sweat and tears, Mrs King and Mr Lound tallied up all the points and singled out the winners from each group It was most pleasing to see the variety of children who came up to receive their medals from Mr Comfort Marlowe retained the trophy, following on from their success the previousyear

Congratulations to all who took part, and a big thank you to the marshals and staff for their hard work and theparentsfortheirsupport

Rose

DANCE SHOWCASE

The St Edmund's School Dance Showcase 2024 was a spectacular event that highlighted the incredible talent and dedicationofouryoungdancers.Withparticipantsrangingfrom ages 5 to 18, the showcase provided a platform for students to express themselves creatively through various forms of dance

TheshowcasebeganwiththePre-PrepandJuniordancers,who captivated the audience with their enchanting performances centered around a Queen theme. Their costumes and choreography reflected the grandeur and elegance associated withroyalty,creatingamagicalatmospherethatdelightedboth parents and peers alike The Seniors took the stage next, demonstrating their hard work and growth through a series of impressive performances They showcased a variety of pieces, includingsolos,duets,trios,andgroupwork.Eachperformance highlighted the dancers' individual strengths and the collaborative efforts of their peers, resulting in a dynamic and engaging display of talent The showcase concluded with two amazing senior performances that left the audience in awe

These final pieces showcased a wide range of skills, from intricate footwork to powerful expressions, demonstrating the evolution of our dancers throughout their time at St Edmund's School

Overall, the St Edmund's School Dance Showcase 2024 was a resounding success, celebrating the vibrant dance community within our school We look forward to seeing how our young performerscontinuetogrowandshineinfutureevents

DANCE DANCE

St Edmund’s dancers have made a positive leap into this academic year throughout Pre-Prep, Junior and Senior School

Our Pre-Prep dancers have pranced through not one, but two performances since September! One to narrate the changing of leavesinharvestseason,andtheothertotellthenativitystoryto ourpupils’familyandfriends Ontheotherhand,Juniordancers have been busy preparing for the Dance Showcase next term, focusing on the movement to the Queen classic, “Killer Queen”. Our M5th dancers have been exploring different ways of creating movement and have learned and perfected two different solos Their fantastic attitude to learning has allowed themtoprogressquicklythroughthefirstpartofthecourse U5th dancers have been busy being creative, producing unique and excitingchoreographyfortheirdanceexamnextterm Sixthform dancers have been busy preparing for their January assessments, focusing on key dance repertoire as well as auditionskillsandtechniques Ithasbeenaverysuccessfuland progressivestarttothisacademicyear,alldancershaveworked extremelyhard.ColoursthistermareawardedtoPoppyHendy, MargotAli,OliviaJohnson&AurielleBlench

Lauren

Jodi

Lucy & Poppy

Aurielle

Gigi

JUNIOR SCHOOL HOUSE REPORTS

It was a wonderful final week with plenty of events to keep us busy, including House Celebrations. The children got to celebrate all of their achievements this year and It was a pleasure to see children from different year groups having fun together.

From Sports Day to Inter-house Chess, we have had lots of competitions and eventstoparticipateinthisterm,sothehousepointsquicklyaddedup!Inaddition tothis,asindividuals,thechildrenhavebeenawardedover36,000pointsoverthe year,whichisatestamenttotheirhardworkandexcellentbehaviour.

Once all points were counted, a final winner was revealed A huge congratulationstoRoperHouseontheirvictorythisyear!However,itisalsoworth notingjusthowclosetheotherhouseswere!

Ourhouseshavealsoraisedover£3400forourchosencharities(Becket-Makea Wish, Chaucer - KSS Air Ambulance, Marlowe - RNLI Lifeboats, Roper - Catching Lives) and our 275 school charity (Kisiizi Hospital School) What an amazing achievement!

MythanksgotoourHeadsofHouses,HouseCaptainsandSportsCaptainsforall of their support this year It has been full of teamwork, camaraderie, determinationandresilience Ican'twaittoseewhat nextyearbrings!

MrsMasters

Coco, Ellis

Alyssia, Aoife

HEAR FROM OUR HOUSE CAPTAINS

Emma DCM, Roper House Captain

Some moments I have really enjoyed as my time as house captain is when Roper won sports day!, I remember how happy and proud I felt when the sport and house captains of Roper took a photo for sports day saying we won!, Over all I have enjoyed supporting Roper in all the ways I could

WhatIenjoyedthemostwerethe momentsofcamaraderieandbeing partofsuchaclose-knitfamily

Joran K, Marlowe House Captain

This year as Captain of Marlowe I had the privilege of leading our house through a series of memorable events and activities We organised the annual Christmas Fair, where running stalls and helping out during the Lower School Sports Day were highlights

These events not only strengthened our sense of community but also raised funds for important causes

What I enjoyed the most were the moments of camaraderie, such as the pizza party at the end of term and our house singing competition, which we won with the song "You've Got a Friend in Me " Being part of such a close-knit family like Marlowe and participating in chapel activities were also incredibly rewarding Undoubtedly, the most challenging part was facing the reality of leaving at the end of the year However, this experience has taught me valuable lessons in leadership and teamwork, skills that I will carry with me into Senior School

Alexander S-B, Chaucer House Captain

Being one of the House Captains for Chaucer was an incredibly rewarding experience that I thoroughly enjoyed One of the highlights was leading, with the amazing Chaucer staff, our team in House Singing where we performed "Be Our Guest" with enthusiasm and unity

Another memorable experience was when we visited the Kent Sussex Air Ambulance, Chaucer’s chosen charity This visit was both fun and educational, and it was an incredible opportunity to learn about the vital services they provide It was an added thrill to find ourselves featured on the news! The leadership and teamwork skills I developed in these roles are invaluable and I am excited to carry these experiences with me into senior school

Evelina S, Becket House Captain

Being House Captain of Becket has been a great honour and experience this year I have got to organise and plan house events such as the Christmas fair stand for Becket The thing I enjoyed the most was getting to know and working with other pupils in my house and getting to inspire younger pupils for the future I found speaking for and in front of my house challenging as I don’t do it often but looking back I know that I have improved on my speaking skills and confidence I would advise anyone who is thinking about applying for either role in the future to be organised and to work hard when being interviewed and if you get the role Overall I hope that I have been able to inspire any future house and sport captains and I am excited to take the lessons I’ve learned and skills I now have with me to senior school

Ellis, Margot, Clemmie, Emily

Seb, Brandon, George, Brandon, Kolya

Bernadette, Cesar, Ellis, Audrey, Alex, Isabella, Paige, Noah, Rose, Isabella, Charlie, Samuel

PoetryRecital

The annual Poetry Recital event, organized by Mrs Bradley and Mr Pellett, began with a few words from Mr Pellet, Head of JS English, in which he explained the process and introduced the theme The subject of 'Refuge' is undoubtedly a charged term in today's climate, but it offered our pupils an opportunity to act as ambassadors for St Edmund's values by reading with empathy, understanding and great emotional literacy, the verses of those - in some cases themselves - who had written in response to the homelessness and heartache inflicted by history on so any of its subjects What emerged from the recitals was a clear sense of the humanity shared by the homed and the homeless as well as a chastening reminder that we may well qualify for the formercategoryonlybysheergoodfortune

It emerged early and with crystal clarity that this poetry recital was not going to be a regular one Elsewhere I have witnessed similar events blur into a wall of words - and, occasionally, collapse into heaps of them - but St Edmund's pupils performing in Thursday afternoon's event made sure that justice was done to the verbal wizardry that lifts our language to the heights of poetry Sensitivity to pace and sympathy with content, not mention the burnished enunciation and occasional dramatical flourish, emphasized simultaneously the artistry of the poetic pen of the composer and the sensitive, compassionateearofthereader

The recitals finished with an apt prayer from Chaplain and a few words from Mr Comfort, HeadofJuniorSchool

Mr Pellet's introduction was followed by JS Staff's recitations - which stretched all the way to a stanza each and did not rely too heavily on printed prompts! - before the event proper began

Mr Matthew Whitman, Head of English (Senior School), Adjudicator of the Poetry Recital

Helena Jasmin

Phoebe

WorldBookDay

Pupils from Lower School, and many pupils from Upper School, celebrated World Book Day by dressing up as their favourite book characters Photos of pupils in their amazing costumes will be displayed in the JS library for everyone to enjoy

In the afternoon, Lower School pupils were entertained by Form 6 pupils who had to imagine they were on a ship without a captain, and deliver a persuasive speech outlining why their character should become the new captain Form 6 had clearly put a lot of effort into their speeches making it a difficult task for Lower School to choose a winner

Well done to the new captains - Noah J and Luca O as Tweedledee and Tweedledum from Through the Looking-Glass (6P) and Maria H-S and Amelia W as Mackenzie and Jessica from the Dork Dairies series (6M)

Reading Ambassadors

Joanna

JUNIOR SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS JUNIOR SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

At the end of the summer term, we turned our back on the classroom to embrace learning in a different way! Our EnrichmentDaysareagreatopportunityforchildrentohavefun and learn new skills in different environments, exploring their resilience,creativity,andlearningabouttheworldaroundthem

This year, our Lower School pupils embraced a nautical theme, with theatre workshops, singing sea shanties, a trip to The HistoricDockyardinChatham andaboat-buildingchallenge!

Form 6 had a 'back to nature' theme, packing their bags for a couple of nights under canvas at Fallow Fields campsite near Dymchurch The children's days were filled with team-building challenges, crafts, archery, campfires, a wildlife safari, quiz night, movies,andthepark Theonlythingmissingwassleep!

Form7pupilsexploredtheworldoffilmandtheatre withatripto theHarryPotterstudio,unforgettablestagecombatworkshops,a triptotheMarloweandasetdesignproject

Form 7 and Form 8 summer term boarders had a whistlestop tour of quintessential Kent, visiting Leeds Castle, Brogdale orchards,andtheseaside

Form8pupilshadthetripofalifetimetoParis,withsight-seeing and a day at Disneyland After returning to the UK, they headed straighttoacampsitetocontinuethefun,endingtheweekwitha day of watersports For the Form 8 pupils who remained in the UK, there were stop-motion workshops and trips to the cinema andtheBeaney

It was an incredible week, and we hope your children enjoyed themselves A huge thank you must go to Mrs Masters for her epic attention to detail in planning all the trips and activities - a mammoth task and much appreciated by all who enjoyed the fruitsofherlabour!

In addition to the Form 6 and Form 8 blogs shared with parents already, we have put together a photo album of the remaining pupils'activitieswhichyoucanfindusingthelinkbelow

“Harry Potter world was the best! We loved going down Diagon Alley. It was amazing to see the costumes and sets. We also really enjoyed the stage combat workshop and seeing backstage at the Marlowe Theatre.”

Alice, Rose, Clemmie, Beaulieu, Sancy

Hindleap Warren

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Outdoor Education at St Edmund’s continues to be a hugely popular and successful subject The importance of getting our studentsoutside,beingpracticalandlearningawidearrayofskills is invaluable The communication, team work, physicality and experiences in nature feed into everything our students do in the schoolandhelpusofferawellroundededucation

We have expanded our Outdoor Ed staff team bringing Mrs Horner into the school as another Outdoor Education specialist Having just completed her degree in Outdoor Education at ChichesterUniversityshebringsarangeofnewskillsandideasto thedepartment

As well as new staff the school now has a fleet of 24 new mountain bikes With 5 members of staff now trained mountain bike instructors we are looking forward to expanding the lessons wecanofferinthesportofmountainbiking

We continue to offer a massive variety in the Outdoor Education curriculum, in the junior school we are teaching an appreciation and conservation of nature with many skills and crafts Related to this we have planted 275 trees on the school site to mark the school’s275anniversary,hopefullysomeofthesetreeswillstillbe standinginanother275years!

Wealsoteachthebushcraftskillsoffiremaking,cookingonopen fire, ropework, knots, shelter building and survival skills In the upperjuniorschoolandseniorschoolstudentsgettotryoutmore adventurousactivitiesandsportslikethemountainbiking,archery andairrifles

Looking forward we wish to continue growing the subject with new activities challenges and opportunities continuing to build on thesectorleadingOutdoorEducationprovisionthatwehavehere atStEdmund’s Wewouldliketoincludesomemorelessonsonthe Stour with either water sports or conservation activities, look at adding climbing into the curriculum and build our own mountain bike track on site Keep following the subject by looking at the school’snewslettersandsocialmediaupdates

OUTDOOR ED WEEK

OutdoorEducationWeekfortheL5thtooknearly90studentsoutofschoolforawholeweekofexcitingactivities Thiswas thelargestOutdoorEdweekwehaveeverorganised bothstaffandstudentshadabrillianttimeanditreallywasahugesuccess OutdoorEducationweekisachanceforthe L5thtocelebratetheendoftheacademicyearandalsoachancetocompletetheirDofEBronzeassessedexpeditions

On days one and two of the week all students took part in climbing, and an adventure assault course also completing a DofE training day On the last day every student went to Mote Park Watersports Centre and had a go a dragon boating, standuppaddleboarding,kayakingandthegiantpedalos Itwasagreatvarietyoffunandadventurousoutdooractivities FortheWednesdayandThursdaywerantheDofEBronzeexpeditions WecampedovernightinKingsdownnearDealand groups walked 10-15 kilometres each day for two days straight There were definitely more than a few navigation errors buteachgrouplearntfromtheseexperiencesbytheendwehadseenavastimprovementintheirskillsofnavigation The groups we almost completely self-sufficient for the two days This teachers the students a whole host of skills Firstly the practical ones like navigation, cooking, walking long distance and what equipment to take Secondly the mental skills like resilience,teamwork,communication,cooperationandleadership Duringthisexperiencetheycertainlymadesomelasting friendshipsaswellasafewgoodstoriestotellwhichiswhyweoffertripslikethis Welookforwardtonextyear’sweekand hopetooffersomethingevenmoreexciting

DUKE OF EDINBURGH

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an essential part of the co-curricular provision at the school, which complements the CCF and Outdoor Education as well This year has seen great achievements and new developments in the DofE at St Ed’s Firstly we have had our second Gold cohort go on to complete their expeditions in The Lake District These are very challenging expeditions of 4 days, 3 nights of hiking in challenging mountainous terrain This is a real test of teamwork, endurance, resilience, navigation and camp craft As staff we were delighted to see all 12 of our Gold students pass these expeditions Although they didn’t find it easy they will never forget the experiences and achievement, a big well done to them Thank you to Mr Coupe and Mrs Pickles for helping run a really fantastic set of expeditions

We have more staff than ever now part of the DofE in the school, a big thank you to Mrs Buchanan, Mrs Holness, Mrs Horner, Mrs Wanstall and Mrs Harvey for joining our team also a big thank you to Mr Anderson Mr Jones and Mr Coupe who continue to play a big role in organising the DofE Award

It is also important to recognise that the DofE Award also offers a huge amount to wider school life and our place in the local community, with literally thousands of hours of volunteering each year done by our students Anything from helping the elderly, to animal welfare, working in charity organisations and helping younger children The volunteering is varied and far reaching, it really is one of the most valuable parts of the Award The Award also encourages physical activity, so important for our own fitness and learning a new skill which can open a whole new opportunity to people

Going forward we would like offer the Silver Award for our students in the M5th and U5th, see even more pupils take up and complete the Bronze Award and continue to offer outstanding expeditions for the Gold Award We certainly see the benefits in the school we hope the students continue to enjoy taking part

John Kincaid Head of Outdoor Education DofE Manager

ADVENTURE TRAINING | EASTER CAMP CCF

Thisyearwetook16cadetstoBoulderAdventureCentreinLlanberis,Ileftmyselfonthe 21st of March with Colin Shirley our resident chef to travel up and take over the accommodation

Onthe22ndallofthestaffandthecadetsarrivedinthelateafternoonafteralongdrive, thecadetsquicklygotsetupintheirbunksbeforetheeveningmealandthenontosome mapcompassrevision

Afterbreakfastonthe23rdthecadetssetout:

On the first day, 2Lt Anderson, Lt Lea and Mr Coupe accompanied the senior cadet group up the Seniors Ridge to Glyder Fawr The route is a Grade 1 scramble with a coupleofrocksteps TheythenfollowedanotherridgefromtheGlydersovertoYGarn,a lofty summit, encased in frost and ice We then descended steeply back to our starting point at Idwal Cottage YHA All in all, this was good preparation for our next challenge: theNorthRidgeofTryfan,whichwescaledonthesecondday TheNorthRidgeisalsoa Grade1scramble butinvolvesmoresustainedclimbing

Maj Hawkins, Sgt Kindred and Lt Kincaid did smaller routes for the younger cadets but everyonedidNorthTryfanonthesecondday

Onthe25ththecadetsweresplitintotwogroupsonegroupwasofftodogorgingand theothertodorockclimbingandabseiling,bothgroupscamebackwithlotsofstoriesto tellabouttheday’sactivities

Onthe26thMarchwehadamuchearlierstartthanusualasthecadetsneededtobeat Anglesey, for half a day of Coasteering, this was rather challenging due to the time of year for going into the sea However, all of the cadets and some staff were up for the challenge, the cadets enjoyed this event even though it was challenging and very cold, so afterward it was certainly time for hot chocolates and a nice jam doughnut That eveningColincookedafullroastdinnerwhicheveryonereallyenjoyedandIcansafely saytherewasnochanceofsecondsthatevening

Onthe27thMarchitwastimeforthetwogroupstoswapactivitieswhichwere gorging and rock climbing, again the cadets really enjoyed these activities, that evening it was timetopackupandcleantheroomsreadyforhandoverinthemorningbeforethelong drivebacktoSchool

I would like to thank Lt Kincaid, 2Lt Anderson, Lt lea, Mr Coupe and not forgetting Sgt Kindred and Maj Hawkins for all giving their time to support the cadets for this fantastic week

I would also like to thank Mr Colin Shirley for his excellent cooking for week, I know the staffandthecadetslovedallofthefoodthatwasprovidedforthisweekstrip Thankyou fromalloftheCadetsandstaff

We deployed on Sunday 7th July at 10am with 30 Cadets and 4 staff, we made our way to Tangier Wood which is on the border of Kent and East Sussex and run by Jordan and Jodie, Jordan spent over 22 years in the military and when he left set up Tangier Wood for cadets and DofE

When we arrived the cadets set up their ponchos for the next 3 nights which were meant to be 2 man shelters however, some cadets wanted to make six man shelters, after some alterations the cadets sleeping arrangements were set up

I am going to add at this point this is the longest the cadets have slept under ponchos since myself and Maj Hawkins have been here at the school which is a credit to all of the cadets and staff as we did have some heavy rain overnight Tangier Wood is eco friendly which meant compost toilet’s and watering can showers but this didn’t put any cadets off, which was amazing

The cadets enjoyed: Archery Axe throwing

Patrolling

Survival skills

Hostage rescue and so much more

The cadets learnt so much over the 3 day period but on Wednesday morning it was time to pack up and make our way to Moat Park for a day’s activities on the lake The cadets enjoyed dragon boat racing, stand up paddle boarding kayaking and last of all the pedalos

I would like to thank Maj Hawkins, Lt Lea and 2nd Lt Anderson for all of the support and giving up their holiday to be with these fantastic cadets, without the staff qualifications and their time these trips just can’t happen so thank you

This is a message I got from Jordan and Jodie “Jodie and I always enjoy working with St Edmund’s School CCF, The fantastic attitude towards learning new skills and resilience they bring is exceptional, they impress us on all visits, Working with Sgt Maj French and his team is a joy with lots of laughter and super positive and inspiration to all the cadets in my opinion ”

WO2 Trevor French (SSI)

CCF Parade Inspection

As part of the 275th anniversary celebrations, the CCF held a Parade Inspection Thirty-three M5 and L6 cadets rehearsed with SSI WO2 French during their lunch break in the week leading up to the parade The Inspecting Officer was 2Lt Will Clark, 2 RGR, a former CCF Cadet RSM who left 8 years ago Since then, he has served with 3 PWRR in Canterbury, before attending Sandhurst, where he won the prestigious Sword of Honour After inspecting the cadets, 2Lt Clark presented the CCF with a Gurkha kukri, as a tribute to his time in the CCF and the positive impact it had on his subsequent career

Commander David Wright RN, who left Watson 34 years ago, supported the inspection Both officers addressed the cadets during the parade and later visited M5 cadets, who were being taught fieldcraft by L6 NCOs and archery by Mr Kincaid and Mr Jones They were highly impressed with what they saw and commended the CCF for having an excellent team of staff

Maj Hawkins, W02 French, 2Lt Will Clark, Commander David Wright RN

Henry Gabriela

HIGHLIGHTS

This year has been one for the books! From venturing across the globe to broaden our horizons to achieving remarkable accolades, it’s been a year of incredible moments Our Geography students embarked on an unforgettable trip to Japan, immersing themselves in the culture and landscapes they’ve studied Our athletes took their skills international on a thrilling sports tour to Dubai, showcasing teamwork and excellence on and off the field To crown it all, we proudly earned the title of Independent School of the Year for Performing Arts, a testament to the passion and talent of our students and staff Here's to celebrating these highlights and more!

DUBAI SPORTS TOUR

The group had a seamless journey from Canterbury to Dubai, kickingofftheiradventurewithavisittoDubaiMallforlunch,a viewoftheBurjKhalifa,andtheiconicdancingfountains That evening, the U15 boys and U16 girls competed in their first fixtures Theboyssecuredanimpressive3-1victoryagainstGo Pro,whilethegirlsdemonstratedoutstandingteamworkina5a-sidetournament

Day two began with a relaxing morning at Jumeirah Beach, followed by the U18 boys’ challenging match against Al-Ittifaq Academy Despitea0-5loss,theteam’sresilienceanddiscipline earnedpraise

Ondaythree,thegroupexploredDubai’sOldTownandgold souks before heading to DESC for netball matches Both U15 and U18 girls impressed with their determination and skill againststrongopposition

Evenings included birthday celebrations, poolside relaxation, and hearty meals, rounding off an action-packed and memorablestarttothetour

The group ’ s journey continued with a visit to Abu Dhabi’s stunning Grand Mosque, where pupils explored its intricate design and serene atmosphere The day’s sports fixtures saw the U16 girls triumph in an 8-2 football victory, while the U15 boys and U18 teams showed determination against skilled opponents

Evenings were filled with exciting activities, including a desert safarifeaturingdunebashing,sandboarding,camelrides,and a captivating display of Arabic entertainment A visit to Aquaventure water park offered a thrilling day of slides and relaxation, though unexpected rain led to the cancellation of eveningfixtures

Withamixofculturalexperiences,competitivesports,andteam bonding,theweekhasbeenanunforgettableadventure,now drawingtoaclose

JAPAN 2023

TheSt Ed’sgroupbegantheirTokyoadventurenavigatingthe pristinestreets,impressedbythecity’scleanlinessandcourtesy

A highlight was the 45th-floor observation deck of the government building, where Chris delivered a stunning impromptu piano performance, enhancing the already breathtaking views of Mount Fuji in the distance A hands-on sushi-making class followed, blending culinary creativity with laughteranddeliciousresults

ThegroupthenvisitedthesereneMeijiJingushrine,nestledina forestof100,000trees,offeringatranquilretreatfromthecity’s energy A stark contrast came with a visit to Takeshita Street famousforitscolorfulshopsandbustlingcrowds Here,Jamie Burgessshowedoffhagglingprowess,scoringabargainona hoodie, while the group immersed themselves in the district’s vibrantatmosphere

The next day brought the thrill of Japan’s famed Shinkansen bullettrain,whiskingthegroupthroughurbansprawlintothe rugged beauty of Mount Fuji’s foothills Awe turned to silence as the iconic volcanic peak loomed ahead its snow-capped triangle dominating the horizon A cable car ascent led to sulphurpitswherethegroupsampledblackeggs,saidtoadd sevenyearstoone’slife TheythenexploredalakesideShinto shrine, surrounded by towering pine trees and steeped in ancienttraditions

BackinTokyo,karaokebroughtcomedicreliefbeforetheday’s main event: a private sumo demonstration The students learned about rituals and techniques, then laughed and cheered as they interacted with the surprisingly warm and humorouswrestlers Themixofhumor,strength,andtradition leftanindelibleimpression

This adventure showcased the contrasts of Japan, from its peaceful shrines to its lively streets and awe-inspiring natural wonders,leavingthegroupwithunforgettablememories

TheSt Ed’sgroupembarkedonajourneyfromTokyotothe JapaneseAlps,withascenicbusrideofferingstunningviewsof autumnfoliageandMt Fuji Thehighlightofthedaywasavisit toMatsumotoCastle,wherestudentsmarveledatthemedieval fortress,itshistory,anditspeacefulatmosphere Intheevening, thegrouplearnedtheartofnoodlemakingbeforeheadingto Kyoto

Upon arrival in Kyoto, the group explored the bustling Nishiki MarketbeforeattendingacaptivatingperformancebyKyoto’s geisha The next day began with a visit to the Inari Shrine, where students participated in the tradition of offering red gates ThespiritualexplorationcontinuedatDaisen-inTemple, where they practiced meditation, including the unique "hit" technique followedbyavisittotheGoldenTemple astunning symbolofJapanesebeauty

The tour concluded with a trip to the Kyoto Railway Museum andafarewellsupper markingtheendofamemorableand enrichingadventure SpecialthanksweregiventoMr Kincaid andMrs Burtonfortheireffortsinmakingthetripasuccess

CAREERS & PROGRESSION

It has been a busy year in terms of Careers input with several lessons, events and professional encounters for our students The newly designated Careers & Progression sessions on Sixth Form timetables have been a fruitful addition to the curriculum at St Edmund’s Throughout the year, L6 and U6 receive one hour per week of CEAIG or Progression input, as part of a programme carefully crafted by the collaborative efforts of Mr Symaka and myself We sought to strike a fine balance between bespoke Careers input and academic progression instruction to help the Sixth Formers build their own connections between their studies and next steps

Sixth Form students also attended an Apprenticeship Fair and a Careers Fair & EXPO which provided the students with information to help them make decisions beyond their studies and to offer networking opportunities with Apprenticeship providers and industry professionals

M5 and U5 input differs to that of the Sixth Form but is similar in that it also forms part of a 2-year programme of Careers Education content The M5 PSHEE curriculum includes some preparation for the work experience week that takes place annually in June This year, 86 students were sent out to workplaces as far away as Stevenage Cromer Bolton Ireland, Poland and even China! The response from employers is overwhelmingly positive in support of giving young people a taste of the working world and accepted students into Airbus Air & Space, Bombus, Exclusive Household Staff, Fitzgerald Jewelers, Port of Dover Police, as well as several primary schools and restaurants We also sent pupils to work in veterinary practices architects and the hospitality industry On return from work experience, M5 students undertook Morrisby psychometric profiling This feeds into the individual meetings with an independent careers advisor in the Michaelmas term of U5 U5 students also had meetings with myself, Miss Chenery and Mr Symaka about their subject options beyond GCSEs

Melanie Judi

BEHIND-THE-SCENES

OF ALADDIN

Our Drama Scholars recently embarked on a journey to the Marlowe Theatre for an exclusivebehind-thescenesexperienceoftheupcomingproductionofAladdin

They were treated to an extraordinary opportunity as they witnessed the technical rehearsal of Aladdin Our scholars had a front-row seat to the meticulous preparationthatgoesintocreatingatheatricaltreatforthewholefamily

The highlight of the trip was the chance to interact with the talented cast and crew responsible for bringing Aladdin to life It was a unique opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge about the creative process, the challenges faced during rehearsals, and thecollaborativeeffortrequiredtostageaproductionofthismagnitude

The trip to the Marlowe Theatre proved to be a brilliant learning experience for our Drama Scholars Witnessing the dedication and passion of the professionals behind thescenesservedasaninspirationforourbuddingthespians

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Marlowe Theatre and the entire team behind Aladdin for opening their doors to our scholars Special thanks to Paul Hendy, Emily Wood, and everyone else involved working at Evolution Production, whoseguidanceandinsightsaddedimmeasurablevaluetotheexperience

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023

Thisweek MarkSell(DirectorofDrama) IanSwatman(Headof Performance)andIattendedtheIndependentSchoolsoftheYear AwardsceremonyinLondon

We are delighted to announce that St Edmund’s won the PerformingArtsSchooloftheYearAward!

We are fortunate at St Edmund’s to have an extraordinary Performing Arts team whose imagination professionalism and sheerhardworkareaninspiration

Weareimmenselyproudofallthestaffandstudentsthathave contributedtothisaward

The judges commented on the huge range of performance opportunities across our 2-18 school and the remarkably high standardsthatareconsistentlyachievedbyStEdmund’spupils

Ourstrengthsinmusic,drama,choralsinginganddanceclearly deeplyimpressedthejudgingpanel

We now are looking forward to our upcoming Michaelmas Concert, Gala Concert, two Drama productions in December, Festival2024andour275thAnniversaryCelebrations

EdO’Connor

Now in its seventh year, the week-long celebration of the arts at St Edmund’s has become a spectacular conclusion to the creative year as well as gaining local and wider recognition for the quality of its programme

The value of the festival cannot be undervalued in providing opportunities for the school community to participate and observe world class performers at close hand We are also able to open our doors to the wider public showcasing the amazing events that form our Festival

Music, Drama, Dance came together in a brilliantly crafted script

The world-famous Pasadena Roof Orchestra kicked off opening night A stellar line up of musicians played the music of the roaring 20’s and 30’s to a packed Theatre as they have been doing across the world for the last 50 years It was great to see former St Ed’s pupil Dominic Sales on the drums for the PRO Dominic is very much in demand on the London freelance scene and has recently finished a run at the Barbican in ‘Kiss Me Kate ’ A superb way to start the festival and the quality on show was reflected as we opened our Art and Design Exhibition in the Old Gym Gallery An eclectic creative range of work was on show produced by our pupils, and it was so good to see work from our Pre-Prep pupils, the talent of the future!

Alice, Ellis, ???,

Jago

A lunchtime concert, a beautiful Evensong in Canterbury Cathedral followed on the Thursday and then our ‘hot ticket’ event St Ed’s Got Talent was held in the Festival Marquee This event for many sums up all that is great about the festival A packed marquee, an enthusiastic audience and pupils being supported through amazing performances

A return for Curtis Stigers and his band on Friday night saw, once again, a packed Theatre enjoyed a world class, crafted performance from an artist that has sold 40 million records! Hit after hit and the ability to old an audience in his hand through music and words Curtis included us in his European tour and hot footed it to Heathrow immediately after the show for a performance in Germany the following night I do get the feeling this will not be the last time we see Curtis in Canterbury

Over the weekend we held well-being workshops, a singing workshop with the truly brilliant and ever popular Mark De Lisser, he really can make anyone sing, we had a ‘Bach to Baby’ aimed at our youngest audiences, our annual visit from the MCC and a tennis and a ‘Cricket Fest ’

The word legend is used to readily these days, but Sunday afternoon saw BBC Test match Special broadcast legend Henry Blofeld entertain our Festival Marquee with stories of his amazing life From life in the commentary box tales from the road, dinner with Noel Coward and Ian Fleming, we were all thoroughly entertained by this amazing man It was an experience those who attend will not forget easily

To say that our wealth of talent was on show for the final two night is the understatement of the year! Music, Drama, Dance came together in a brilliantly crafted script written by Howard Sykes as we journeyed through 275 years of our wonderful school A cast of around 100 and three sold out shows the ‘Festival on the Hill’ closed literally with a bang as we enjoyed a firework display overlooking Canterbury

The festival is a team effort of the highest order, and I can’t thank everyone enough for making it happen, every aspect of the school is represented and ensures that St Edmund’s School stages a unique event that has now gained national recognition

We thank sincerely our Festival Partners, Dave Parker from the Canterbury Auction Galleries and Paul Roberts Associates A huge thank you to all our ‘Festival Friends’ and events sponsors, simply we couldn’t do it without you

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FESTIVAL PARTNERS

James

Leavers 2024

Farewell to the Upper Sixth

Class of 2024 – where has the time gone!? It seems like only yesterday that they were starting their A-level studies at St Edmund’s

Since then, so many of our Upper Sixth leavers’ have contributed fully to life at our school and taken full advantage of the academic and co-curricular opportunities on offer achieving fantastic academic results and performing brilliantly in drama performances, musical recitals and in sport

Through the House system, in particular, they have been given the opportunity to show off their talents and find an outlet for their energies and enthusiasms We thank them wholeheartedly for their time and effort

Although they are leaving St Edmund’s, they will always be considered a part of our community If they ever need our help, advice or guidance, we are only ever one email or visit away It has been a privilege for us to get to know them to teach them and to have played a role in helping shape the next stage of their lives

We have no doubt that if they continue to embrace life’s opportunities and learning with the same passion, enthusiasm and spirit they have done in our Sixth Form, they will all achieve great success

I wish our Upper Sixth students of 2024 the very best for their futures

Student Valete

BAKER

Gabrielle Scott-Kilvert

Amelia Blampied-Lane

Aurielle Blench

Molly-Anne Burden

Jamie Burgess

Jacob Chapman

Alvin Cheung

Alisha Davis

Huw Gallagher

Francesco Henaut

Iona Lester

Piers Morrissey

Oliver Perera

Zoe Rogers

Jack Sharp

Mia Vaughan

WAGNER

Theo Bawtree

Elysia Bridges

Minette Fotheringham

Sunip Gurung

Aimee Rose

Hawksworth

Emmie Jackson

Mark Lower

Natalia Lucey-Martine

Max Murphy

Isabel O’Connor

Charlotte Richards

Patrick Sutton

WARNEFORD

Christopher Bufford

Svyatoslav Aspidov

Pasha Bell

Archie Carlin

Jens Chappell

Adam Chladek

Jennifer Flatt

Loren Goode

Charlie Gotke

Jing Li

Anthony Oyella-Barnard

Thomas Pennington-Arnold

Max Visagie

WATSON

Caspar Barton Hodges

Isobel Kimber

Anhelina Musiiaka

Lottie Powell

Percy Soutar

Abigail Stanfield

Kyla Sullivan

Orla Wanstall

Liberty Watkinson

Mr Jonathan Symaka Head of Sixth Form

STAFF LEAVERS

Chris Horn

Dr Chris Horn joined St Edmund’s school in September 1995 as a Head of Physics

Passionate about his subject and with an unwavering commitment to his student he has had a profound impact on countless students over his career Dr Horn has always put investigative work at the forefront of his teaching and he has helped to make Physics more accessible and he has inspired many generations of St Edmund’s students

Dr Horn has nurtured a sense of curiosity and wonder for science in the whole school and over the years he has run multiple workshops for prep pupils about fireworks, rockets and pyramid construction

Pupils and staff alike will miss his kindness, his caring personality, and his sense of humour

Thank you very much Dr Horn of all you have done for the school and we wish you and very long and happy retirement You will be greatly missed

Dr E Fernández

Chris Horn has been a part of Wagner House for his entire school career He spent ten years in charge as Housemaster, supporting pupils who still remember him fondly, some of whom have written in on his departure to thank him for all he has done He has continued to support the House right to his very last day and we celebrated him in Dr Horn style with darts and bacon rolls in his final House Line this week Wagner pupils have gained so much from this man, who has been a mentor to many for so many years I thank him for all he has done to support me in my time here a voice of wisdom in an ever changing educational landscape I do hope he will return to preside over House Darts perhaps but in the meantime we wish him every happiness in his retirement

Once in Wagner always in Wagner Thank you sir

Mrs

V Burton

Mel Judi

Melanie Judi leaves the school after joining in 2012 as a languages teacher Melanie became Head of Careers in 2014 and Head of Languages in 2020 During her time at the school, Mel made a significant contribution to the school community, also working as a Deputy Housemaster for Watson House, a Boarding tutor and Deputy Head of Girls' Boarding

During the school holidays Melanie would travel regularly to further hone her fluency in Spanish and French, bringing back fresh perspectives and ideas to her teaching Melanie's mission was to share her passion for Languages to all pupils and the wider community She organised inspiring events such as the St Edmund's Oktoberfest Spanish Sala Dancing Evenings Language Lunches and outreach events with local schools

Melanie shared her passion for careers and career development with other teachers During 2023-24 she set up a lunchtime CPD programme so that teachers could share best practice with each other and learn more about middle management and leadership Melanie leaves St Edmund's to take up a post at the Turner Free School in Folkestone

Mark Hart

Mark Hart successfully steered St Edmunds through the complexes of Health & Safety in an educational environment for over 7 years His refreshing ‘ can do’ approach enabled many Drama productions or school activities to take place in the knowledge that they were being done as safely as possible Mark didn’t just limit himself to Health & Safety He could often be found in the pool plant room or up a ladder fixing somethingSo much so that he earnt an honorary place in the Maintenance Department

This summer Mark decided it was time to swap his steel toe capped boots for a pair of Hunter wellies and take up farming full time I wish him all the best in his next adventure and am sure that his farm will be the safest in the land!

Sarah Black

STAFF LEAVERS

Nick Scott-Kilvert

Nick Scott-Kilvert our Bursar left St Edmund’s at the end of August

After joining us from The Duke of York’s in April 2016, Nick had a tremendous impact on St Edmund’s In addition to stabilising the school financially after a difficult period, Nick restructured key aspects of the Business Services team, developed a robust financial strategy for the school in conjunction with the Head and Governors and oversaw a number of important infrastructure projects – not least the construction of Academic Hub Phase 2 Under Nick’s leadership, our grounds have never looked better and our internal maintenance teams have never worked more effectively During the COVID period Nick played a pivotal role in maintaining our educational provision and worked closely and flexibly with families to mitigate the financial impact on the crisis As a member of our Executive Group (which oversees the operations of the 2-18 school) Nick was a key contributor to the development of our whole school strategy and offered crucial advice at key moments in our development

Moreover, Nick was a thoughtful, extremely industrious and supportive colleague Our working partnership has been central to many of the school’s recent successes and I am supremely grateful for his tireless commitment to moving the school forward Importantly he was always “the last guy in the room ” By which I mean, when difficult decisions had to be made, or if Nick felt I had got something wrong, he always had the moral courage and conviction to stay behind and tell me That is an invaluable quality

Charles Bodle

Charles has had a tremendous impact since joining the school in September 2017 He is a passionate and gifted teacher of History and Politics whose subject knowledge and classroom skill have benefited many St Edmund’s pupils As JS Head of History, he has re-energised our provision in the subject, redefining the curriculum and inspiring our young historians with enthusiastic, dynamic teaching He demonstrated his pastoral and managerial skills as Acting Head of Upper School last year

The school benefitted greatly from it over the years, and I learned much from Nick’s insight and wisdom He is also St Edmund’s through and through, advocating for the school externally and enthusiastically supporting our sports fixtures and performing arts events

He also showed remarkable resilience in response to my cruel sense of humour (especially as regards his beloved West Ham United)!

As St Edmund’s parents, Nick and his wife Jaynie, also saw their children, Ali and Gabs, progress successfully through the school and move on to university Tragically, Nick’s beloved wife Jaynie passed away in November after a long and courageous battle with cancer Nick left his role at St Edmund’s so they could spend as much time together as possible in her final days She was a truly wonderful person, a friend to many of us, and she will be deeply missed

On behalf of the school community I would like to thank Nick and his family for all that they have done for us I know Nick will always be a friend of St Edmund’s and, I have no doubt, will continue to be a presence at our events and sports fixtures

Ed O’Connor

David Rodgers

Charles has also had a major impact outside of the classroom as Deputy Housemaster of Wagner and a very successful Master-inCharge of First XI Cricket Given his multi-faceted contribution to St Edmund’s, I am very sorry to be losing Charles from our community as he looks to move his career in other interesting directions

Ed O’Connor

David Rogers worked as a Biology technician in the school since 1999 Exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about his subject he provided first class support to the department and kept a number of heads of Biology in check David had had a great impact on the science education of generations of St Edmund's pupils and we are incredibly grateful to him We wish him the best for his retirement and he will be greatly missed

Fernandez

Eva

STAFF LEAVERS

Antony Jones

Antony, or “Jonesy” as we know and love him, has been an integral part of our school community for the past 16 years

Antony joined St Edmund's in 2008 as Assistant Director of Sport and has since played a pivotal role in our community, leaving an indelible mark on the school Over the years, his dedication to our sports department, Outdoor Education and our CCF provision has elevated the quality of these areas In particular, he has been instrumental in developing our football provision and has led the way (literally) with the introduction of mountain biking at the school He has also led overseas trips including a memorable cricket tour to Barbados!

Perhaps most significantly, under Jonesy's guidance, the CCF program at St Edmund's has flourished, going from strength to strength Our numbers has surged under his leadership and Antony has been central to the effective integration of CCF and our overall outdoor education provision His commitment to fostering a sense of discipline, teamwork and leadership among our students has not only enriched the lives of those involved but has also enhanced the overall spirit of the school community

Antony has led CCF tours to Snowdonia and various army bases and led innumerable overnight expeditions

He has demonstrated outstanding leadership and technical skills combined with a deep passion for army ration packs! Antony has helped hundreds of St Edmund’s pupils build their leadership, communications and team-working skills over many years

Some have gone on to military careers, including Lieutenant William Clark who recently graduated from Sandhurst with the Cadet Sword of Honour

While we are very sad to see Antony go we are grateful for the tremendous impact he has had on St Edmund's He has achieved near legendary status in his time here and will always remain a friend of the School Antony moves on to become CCF Contingent Commander at Gad’s Hill School and we wish him every success with his new responsibility Thank you, Antony, for your commitment and remarkable contribution to St Edmund's

Ed O’Connor

STAFF LEAVERS

Sue Passmore

What does it take to change a life?

Is it a grand gesture or could it be the quiet consistent presence and dedication of someone who believes in you?

For 29 years, Sue Passmore has answered this question every day of her teaching career here at St Edmund’s

Sue touched the lives of so many pupils by nurturing, believing, and never giving up on anyone She would never rest at average, encouraging and supporting each and every student to achieve their full potential and this was down to the unwavering commitment, care and dedication she has offered over the years

Every school has teachers who become legends, not because they sought popularity, but because of their unwavering commitment For us, that legend is Miss Passmore Sue has given her life to St Edmund’s and the Art Department and we are all the better for it

Miss Passmore was the first teacher to deliver Photography at GCSE and A-Level when she started at St Edmund’s Her experience working professionally in London as a Photographer before her time here brought the necessary knowledge and passion to this successful subject

Sue leaves St Edmund’s with a great deal to look forward to and an immense amount of love and gratitude

She has shown us all that true commitment can change lives, shape futures, and build a better school community We wish Sue all the best for her retirement, and I would like to thank Sue on behalf of the school for the care dedication and warmth she has shown to our pupils and the school over the years

Nick Hodge (Assistant Head Co-Curricular)

“I remember when I first started at St Edmund’s being struck by how much genuine consideration Sue put into advising her pupils individually, and how much she wanted the best for them and their artistic development There is not an artwork in the world that could not somehow be improved by talking it through with Sue”

Mr Filmer (Current Art Teacher)

“Over her 29 years here Sue has worked and lived in boarding for 6 years, she was a tutor in Watson House for 27 years, ran and supported numerous art trips and ski trips abroad and also covered the Head of Department role alongside Miss Fountain during a period of transition

I think it was back in 1995 that Sue joined the department I had only just started at St Edmund’s myself, as head of Art and with a new headmaster presiding, these were exciting times

Sue proved to be the hardest working, and devoted teacher

I seriously would have to insist on Sue leaving school some days because she spent so much time tutoring pupils outside of class room time, ensuring that they all obtained the very best results possible”

Dai Griffiths (Head of Art 1994 – 2006)

“Having worked with Sue Passmore for twelve years I never failed to be impressed by her commitment to her pupils, to the Art Department and to St Edmund’s She always went above and beyond with the attention and support she offered, consistently putting in long hours and putting aside her own priorities to assist anyone who needed support or advice

Her pupils, particularly GCSE and A level students achieved standards that I had rarely seen before During the twelve years we worked together she continued always to set the bar high Sue is a truly inspirational art teacher who has exceptional artistic skills and creativity along with a caring and nurturing approach to all of those she worked with and educated”

Alison Slater Williams (Head of Art 2008 – 2020)

“The numerous exam candidates who have walked through her doors have benefitted from a truly devoted teacher who has always had her pupils' best interests at heart, and who has selflessly and willingly provided many hours of extra one to one tuition to help them achieve their true creative potential

The long evenings she has spent working in her room are too many to count Her commitment to the Art department has been indisputable over the years and she has always been willing to go the extra mile to help and support her colleagues and pupils in any way she can ”

Zoe Fountain (Current Teacher of Ceramics)

JUNIOR SCHOOL

Sporting Excellence

Niyam Patel

Lois Coleman

Morgan Abbott

Audrey Taylor

Form 6 Art prize

Xiaocan Li

Form 7 Art prize

Gigi Moreland

Haru Tsukiizumi

Form 8 Art prize

Clemmie Scott

Holly Bannister

Form 7 Design Technology prize

Jago Hendy

Form 8 Design Technology prize

Masha Dillendorf

The Munro Reading Prize

Form 3

Ellis Jones

Form 4

Sylvester Duffy

Form 5

Robert Owoka

Form 6

Maria Hadlow-Sans

Form 7

Mae McKean

Form 8

Emma Do Carleton Moody

The Thomson McLintock

Handwriting Prize

Forms 3 & 4

Emily Kent

Forms 5 & 6

Robert Poltavskyy

Forms 7 & 8

Masha Dillendorf

SPEECH DAY & PRIZE GIVING

Progress in English as an additional language

Haru Tsukiizumi

Kano Tsukiizumi

Pedro Laina Cordon

School House Prize

Simona Rai

Pedro Laina Cordon

Excellence in ICT (Lower School)

Cameron Kent

Excellence in ICT (Upper School)

Hugo Spratling

Form 6 Musical Excellence

George Ward

Maria Hadlow-Sans

Naomi Power

Lois Coleman

Form 7 Musical Excellence

Brandon Elms

Freddie Heffer

Thomas Larkins

Form 8 Musical Excellence

Aiden Dei

Cesar Ntamushobora

Music (vocal) Prize

Jeremy Isom

Music (Instrumental) Prize

Evelina Salvatori

Director Music Prize

Arabella Porter

Lower School Drama prize

Charlie Reid

Upper School Drama Prize

Daisy Hollingsbee

Chapel Warden Prize

Jake Brodie Ware

The Nick Atkins Memorial Prize

Alistair Catto

The Ziegler Prize

Jeremy Isom

The Thomas StevensonRouse Memorial Prize

Theodore Isom

The Maskell Prize for Care and Consideration in Lower School

Jasmin Grimes

The Maskell Prize for Care and Consideration in Upper School

Jago Henry

The Jane Haworth Memorial Award

Chloe Pettman

The Sue Hutchinson Memorial Award

Alice Sharp Kinsey

The Barry King Memorial Prize

Paige Pritchard

Aren Ozen

The John Cox Prize

Evelina Salvatori

Masha Dillendorf

Senior Chorister Prizes

Cesar Ntamushobora

Angus Henderson

Jeremy Isom

Theodore Isom

Gabriel Parokkaran

JUNIOR SCHOOL

FORM 3

Academic Excellence

Ellis Jones

Academic Endeavour

James Farkhondeh

Courtesy

Bernadette Brodie-Levinsohn

FORM 4

Academic Excellence

Margot Kennedy

Alin Saglam

Academic Endeavour

Joanna Adam-Laity

Noah Atkinson

Courtesy

Kano Tsukiizumi

Darci Woodward

FORM 5

Academic Excellence

Robert Owoka

Jasmin Grimes

Academic Endeavour

Mia Harding

Ella Brand

Courtesy

Emily Eustace

Maximilian Vadean

FORM 6

Academic Excellence

Seamus Corrigan

Toby Jones

Academic Endeavour

Brandon Liu

Scarlett Wilkie

Courtesy

Tireni Babarinde

Bella Post

SPEECH DAY & PRIZE GIVING

FORM 7

Academic Excellence

Zach Bannister

Henry Haylor

Harry Newman

Isabella Rowley

Academic Endeavour

Olivia Davison

Samuel Latus

Emma Sharp Kinsey

George Warren

Courtesy

Clemmie Andrews

Chloe Hill

Katherine Mitchell

Robert Reid

Haru Tsukiizumi

FORM 8

Academic Excellence

Holly Bannister

Evelina Salvatori

Oliver Taylor

Academic Endeavour

Penny Beck Evans

Brianna Devlin-Rivenell

Audrey Taylor

Courtesy

Ben Holcroft

Zach Meikle

Stanley Wood

PE Effort Prize (Lower School)

Poppy Jackson

Robert Owoka

PE Effort Prize (Upper School)

Beau Byde

Bryson Dekker

Imogen Fogg

Emily Surridge

SPEECH DAY PRIZE LIST SENIOR SCHOOL

LOWERFIFTHPRIZES

Art

OpheliaTurnerStockholm

Ceramics

JulietteMatharu

ComputerScience

VladislavKovalenko

Drama

EddieFlorence

DesignandTechnology

NikaVoronika

Englishasanadditionallanguage

VladislavKovalenko

English(Language)

FlorenceWard

English(Literature)

PeterSymon

French

OpheliaTurnerStockholm

German

NataliaBrodieWare

Geography

NataliaBrodieWare

Grade8MusicAward

RohanLowe(SingingPerformance)

Grade8MusicAward

JamesWood(SingingPerformance)

History

Rohan Lowe

Latin

Florence Ward

Mathematics

Harrison Saxby & Ben Coleman

Music

Ben & Josh Coleman

Religious Studies

Shobhan Raj

Science

Peter Symon

Spanish

Josh Coleman

Sports Scholar Award

Ben Hancock

Tabitha White

Burgess Hodgson Prize for Sports

Alfie

Allan

Milly Feakins

MIDDLEFIFTH

Art

YukiZhang

Biology

CharlesBroun

BurgessHodgsonPrizeforSport

JoeyBurden

AngelicaDocwra

CCF-SSI’sPrizeforMiddleFifthCadet

VioletVant

Ceramics

VioletVant

Chemistry

EvanGallagher

ComputerScience

NinaSauvegrain

Dance

Laila O’Sullivan

Drama

Lottie Haylor

Design and Technology

Matthew Williams

English as an additional language

Anna Musiiaka

Economics

Charles Broun

English Language

Evan Gallagher

English Literature

Olivia Leigh-Hunt

Film Studies

Angelica Docwra

Food Preparation and Nutrition

Oliver Hissett

French

Angelica Docwra

German

Nina Sauvegrain

Geography

Evan Gallagher

History

Charles Broun

Jacob Barnes Prize for Piano

Ami Watters

Latin

Olivia Leigh-Hunt

Mathematics

Olivia Leigh-Hunt

Music

Ami Watters

Physics

Noam Brand

Religious Studies

Sofia de Lange

Spanish

Ines Adwan

Sports Science

Wing Lo

Sport Scholar Award

Ben Beatty

Ami Watters

UPPER FIFTH

Agnes Robinson Prize for Stage Crew

Fraser Bennett

Biology

Martha Lane

Boarding

Jodi Hughes

Burgess Hodgson Prize for Sport

Freddie Bickley

Martha Lane

Ceramics

Sophie King

Chemistry

Joseph Goodwin

Computer Science

Setayesh Kalantari Khandani

Daler-Rowney Prize for Fine Art

George Blunt

Dance

Lauren Kent

Design and Technology

Vladislav Silvestrov

Drama

Joseph Goodwin

Edgar William Jesson Prize for Music

Rhyd Lowe

English as an additional language

Kelvin Choi

Economics

Shiha Rai

English Language

Lindy Zajacz

English Literature

Joseph Goodwin

Film Studies

Stella Rogers

Food Preparation and Nutrition

Mavis Chu

French

Rhyd Lowe

German

Lindy Zajacz

Geography

Joseph Goodwin

Grade 8 Music Award

Daisy Baker (Singing Practical)

Eudora Zhu (Flute Practical)

History

Shiha Rai

Kennedy Prize

Marshall Chester

Latin

Stella Rogers

Lendrum Award for Hockey

Will Surridge

Mathematics

George Sutton

Music Performance

Eudora Zhu

Physics

Vladislav Sylvestrov

Religious Studies

Sophie King

Roche Reading Prize

Joseph Goodwin

Sofie Goode

Spanish

Aral Ozan

Sports Science

Sofie Goode

Sue Hutchinson Memorial Prize

Daisy Baker

Sport Scholar Award

Sofie Goode

LOWERSIXTH

Biology

TheaKingsbury

BusinessStudies

MashaPolglase-Korosteleva

CCF-GuyStringerprizefor

AdventurousTraining

HenryGoodwin

Ceramics

EmilyJackson

Chapel

MeretKuenzle

Chemistry

HenryGoodwin

Classic Civilisation

Thomas Young

Dance

Lucy Hollingsbee

Design and Technology

Ash Crooks

Drama

Genevieve Fowler

English as an additional language

Viktoriia Vodotyka

Economics

Betsy Thorne

English

Thomas Young

Film Studies

Arthur Underwood

French

Alexander Moore

Further Mathematics

Henry Goodwin

Geography

James Hodgkinson

Grade 8 Music

James Hodgkinson (Piano)

Thomas Young (Clarinet)

History

James Hodgkinson

Leiths Academy

Katie Braithwait

Art

Jason Law

Alfred Forder Memorial Prize for good service

Aimée Rose Hawksworth

Andrew John Pearson Cupoutstanding instrumentalist

Thomas Pennington- Arnold

Arthur Sextus Robinson prize for contribution to school music

Mark Lower

Asbury-Bailey Cup for the Sportswoman of the Year

Zoe Rogers

Bernard Giles Kedge Prize for Chapel

Music

Anhelina Musiiaka

Biology

Jennifer Flatt

Burgess Hodgson Prize for Business Studies

Loren Goode

Ceramics

Classical Civilisation

Orla Wanstall

Clifford Sadler Award (CCOCA)

Theo Bawtree

Thomas Pennington-Arnold

Mark Lower

Christopher Bufford

Colin Parker Memorial Prize for English

Literature

Jennifer Flatt

Computer Science

Huw Gallagher

Dance

Aurielle Blench

Isobel Kimber

David Knight Trophy

Iona Lester

Drama

Anhelina Musiiaka

Design and Technology

Yevhenni Dimov

English as an additional language

Anhelina Musiiaka

Mariia Zahorodniuk

Economics

Max Visage

Film Studies

Orla Wanstall

Francis Paul Cassidi Memorial Prize for Service

Patrick Sutton

French

Amelia Blampied-Lane

Further Mathmatics

Huw Gallagher

Geography

Charlotte Richards

Gillian Collard 'Agape' Award

Charlotte Richards

Grade 8 Music Awards

Caspar Barton-Hodges (Singing Performance)

Thomas Pennington-Arnold (Trombone Practical)

Christopher Bufford (Jazz Clarinet Practical)

Hand-Oxborrow Cup

Max Murphy

John Owen Prize for the Cadet CSM

Iona Lester

Leiths Academy

Isabel O’Connor

Lloyd-Roberts History Prize

Isabel O’Connor

Mason Cup for Sportsman of the Year

Charlie Gotke

Mathematics

Patrick Sutton

Michael Stewart Award for Outstanding

Performance

Isabel O’Connor

Mount Sixth Form Award

Charlie Gotke

Music

Christopher Bufford

Music Technology Prize

Christopher Bufford

Photography

Politics

Max Murphy

Physics

Patrick Sutton

Psychology

Mia Vaughan

Pullen Baker Prize for Music

Theo Bawtree

Roger Barnes Memorial Prize for Chemistry

Jen Li

Shepherd Awards for House Captains

Christopher Bufford

Theo Bawtree

Caspar Barton-Hodges

Gabrielle Scott-Kilvert

Sport

Theo Bawtree

Gabrielle Scott Kilvert

Sports Science

Anthony Oyella Barnard

Sports Scholar Award

Casper Barton-Hodges

Charlotte Richards

Thrupp Essay Award

Isabel O‘Connor

St Edmund's School Captain

Charlotte Richards

St Edmund's School Vice

Captain

Jens Chappell

Mark Lower

Isabel O’Connor

St Edmund's Society

President's Centenary Prizes for School Prefects

Archie Carlin

Jenny Flatt

Elysia Bridges

Huw Gallagher

Aimée Rose Hawksworth

Iona Lester

Piers Morrissey

Max Murphy

Thomas Pennington-Arnold

Patrick Sutton

Mia Vaughan

Orla Wanstall

St Edmund's Society

President's Centenary Prizes for School Prefects (CC)

Amelia Blampied-Lane

Aurielle Blench

Emmie Jackson

Francesco Henaut

Isobel Kimber

Jamie Burgess

Jen Li

Liberty Watkinson

Loren Goode

Mimi Fotheringham

Molly-Anne Burden

Percy Soutar

Yevhenii Dimov

Zoe Rogers

Zoe Rogers UPPER SIXTH

Aimée Rose Hawksworth

HOUSE PHOTOS WATSON WAGNER