College Life (October 2020)

Digital

COLLEGE LIFE The newsletter of St Edmund's College | October 2020

Headmaster's Welcome Welcome to this very special edition of College Life.

For the last seven months all our lives have been so dominated by Covid-19 that it is easy to lose sight of the wonderful things which have been going on, and all that your children have been getting up to.

Please click on me for a more personal introduction, and then browse to your heart’s content!

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Headmaster's Book

Students that have produced outstanding work or have had a remarkable personal achievement are recognised by being selected to sign the Headmaster's Book. Congratulations to the following students for signing the Headmaster's Book during this first half term.

Amelia James

RE

Pippa Webster

English

Lenny Schwarz

English

Harry Jordan

Manufacturing facemasks during lockdown and achieving Tae Kwon Do Black Belt

Arkwright Scholarship Congratulations to Sam Willoughby, Rhetoric I, for being awarded an Arkwright Scholarship.

An Arkwright Engineering Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship of its type in the UK to inspire and nurture school-age students to be the country’s future leaders of the Engineering Profession. The scholarships are awarded to students through a rigorous selection process and supports students through the two years of their A levels, Scottish Advanced Highers or equivalent qualifications.

Dr Eves, Gifted and Talented Co-Ordinator, shared: "This scholarship is richly deserved for Sam, a student who is passionate about Engineering. Sam has an enquiring mind and a unique skill set when it comes to designing and creating engineering projects. The remote control car he made for his application required hours of dedicated refinement and is worthy of any professional manufacturer. I am excited to see how Sam can develop further projects through the course of his Scholarship. The prestige of this award cannot be understated with a success rate and competition level to rival any Oxbridge application. He is carrying on a now established tradition of Edmundian Arkwright Scholars."

World Mental Health Day This World Mental Health Day may have been the most important yet.

According to research conducted by Mind, more than half of adults (60%) and over two-thirds of young people (68%) said their mental health got worse during lockdown.

Making positive changes can seem particularly challenging currently, which is why this year we were encouraged to do one thing for better mental health.

Our teachers at St Edmund’s College share below how they look after their mental health and their #OneThing for better mental health.

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Black History Month October is Black History Month, an event that has been celebrated nationwide in the UK for more than 30 years.

We are dedicated to focusing and recognising Black History Month throughout October. Therefore, at St Edmund’s College, all PSHE lessons throughout October are dedicated to Black History Month.

Our Rhetoric students have been particularly active with regards to Black History Month, creating outstanding displays, delivering excellent presentations and participating in a podcast with Miss Regan.

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Ogorchukwu Ozor did an outstanding job leading the student team for Black History Month, alongside Armani Jones, Louis Cutteridge, Madeline Mahoney, Scarlett Mitchell, Jess Hart, Imogen Roberts, Jodie Bailey Ho, Alicia Chugh and Shriya Patel.

Rhetoric assembly covering: - Why Black History Month is important - Significant events in Black British History - The ‘subtle’ and ‘not-so-subtle’ presence of racism in society - Micro aggressions and Cultural Appropriation

Service of Prize Giving for New Scholars Friday 18th September saw the Service of Prize Giving for our new scholars.

Congratulations to our new Elements, Grammar and Rhetoric Scholars for 2020/21!

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Speech Day 2020

If you missed our Virtual Speech Day at the end of the last academic year, please click below to watch the full video.

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Foodbank Collection Success Due to your continued generosity, we are thrilled at the amount of food collected for the Hertford & District foodbank.

Together, we collected

698.36kg of food.

Prefects' Commissioning Service Friday 11th September saw the College hold its annual Prefects’ Commissioning Service for the incoming Prefects 2020/21.

We missed having the parents and wider community join us for this special occasion.

We look forward to seeing our Prefects carry out their new roles within their Rhetoric bubble for 2020/21.

Prefects 2020-2021

Left to right: Soraya Omotosho (Deputy Head Girl), Ayla Huseyin (Deputy Head Girl), Mina Medic (House Captain of Girls' Boarding), Lucy Edmunds (Head Girl), Pub Songsri (Head Boy), Martin Cheung (House Captain of Boys' Boarding), Francis Butterworth (Deputy Head Boy), Edward Marshall (Deputy Head Boy)

House Captains Talbot House Captains: Sophia Price Ross and Rory Chick

Douglass House Captains: Maggie Taylor and Nana Adjei

Challoner House Captains: Chloe Shaw and Jasper Mattison

Pole House Captains: Abbie Jones and Caspian Plummer

Poynter House Captains: Emily Thomas and Ethan MacKenzie-Yapa

Message from Head Boy and Head Girl Please click below to hear the speech given by Lucy, Head Girl, and Pub, Head Boy, at our Whole School Assembly via Zoom on Monday 19th October 2020.

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Online Library at St Edmund’s College While our Library is currently physically closed to our students, our online Library remains open!

At St Edmund’s College, we are proud to have an extensive online Library catalogue available to students on the VLE, and we encourage our students to browse for books on there. Additionally, the Library has a number of online resources available for all on the VLE Library page. Please check the tabs on the left-hand side of the page for individual links.

Our Librarian, Mrs Tyne, is also able to take requests for a number of resources, including books, DVDs and magazines via the email request service. We ask that students email Mrs Tyne with requests for a particular title or topic, or even a suggestion for reading or research, and she will organise the book to be dropped to the student following a period of quarantine for that resource.

Good Schools Guide We are thrilled with our recent Good Schools Guide 2020 review. We include below a selection of comments from the Good Schools Guide team.

"A charming school built on solid core values, which looks to be modernising with care and thought" "Certainly, the pupils are excited by their learning and bursting to talk about it" "Day-to-day, the atmosphere is serene. Students are courteous and smiley as they make their unhurried way around the main college buildings, which have the feel of a cathedral crossed with a military academy – austere and magnificent in equal parts" "Parents say with one voice that pastoral care is the key strength - ‘the senior staff really live the values of the school’."

"The idyllic 400 acres and imposing buildings are imbued with this heritage, most notably the jaw-dropping Pugindesigned chapel, worthy of any capital city" "Parents approve of the attention paid to trends in students’ grades and the intervention offered when expectations are not met" "Top grades consistently account for at least a third of results in the college"

National Dyslexia Week This year, dyslexia week was dedicated to #DyslexiaCreates; exploring the power of dyslexia to create ideas, organisations and society and acknowledging the challenges and barriers that dyslexia can create!

If you would like to speak to a member of our Learning Support Team, please email snicholson@stedmundscollege.org

Elements Induction We were delighted to welcome our Elements Cohort 2020/21 in September!

We hope that you have enjoyed your first half term at the College and are settled. It has been a busy half term, with induction activities, settling evenings and learning your way around the College.

Rhetoric Induction The transition from Poetry to Rhetoric can be a big step up.

Therefore, Mr Powell, Co-Director of Rhetoric, created a Pre-Rhetoric Programme for our Rhetoric I students during the summer holidays to aid the transition from GCSE to A Level. The programme included a series of tutorials and workshops!

The return to College saw the Rhetoric I induction Day, filled with team building and challenging activities. The students and Rhetoric Tutors had a brilliant day!

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FutureLearn MOOC Nina Bayford, Rhetoric 1, completed a 6 week FutureLearn MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) on "The Tudors" from University of Roehampton, led by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb.

Miss Regan recommended this to her A Level history class after completing this MOOC herself during lockdown.

Nina's breadth of knowledge from this course has meant she is very well prepared and able to grasp tricky concepts in our A Level course "Tudor Rebellions".

St Edmund's Award It has been a busy half term for the St Edmund's Award! While the sun was shining, our Grammar students led the process of hand-picking apples (and a few pears!) from our Orchard and having them pressed and turned into juice.

Well done to all involved!

Boarding Prior to lockdown, we worked with NUSA Films (owned by Toby Hart, OE) to create a 'Day in the life of a Boarder' video for the College. Click below to watch the video!

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#WordWednesday Each week Mrs Ager, Head of English, brings us #WordWednesday which we share across our Instagram and Twitter social media platforms. Below, we share all of the #WordWednesday posts that we have had so far.

Search #WordWednesday or visit our Twitter and Instagram for the definitions!

Sport at the College Sport and exercise are key for both our mental and physical health. Seeing our students return to the College and partake in the various sporting activities on offer at the College within their bubbles has been exciting and rewarding.

Student Achievements Keira Ferns - Tottenham Hotspur Women's Talent Academy selection, Hertfordshire Talented Athlete Programme (HTAP) and London Pulse Performance Pathway Maddie Purser - Junior Ladies British Shooting Gold Medal and retained title of Junior Ladies English Champion Joseph Shenouda - selected for a Southend FC trial for the next 6/8 weeks Josh Demetriou - selected for a Southend FC trial for the next 6/8 weeks Callum Biggs - signed a contract with a Professional Cycling team in Belgium Joss Rodman - selected for the Essex County Cricket U13 Winter Training Squad Harry Jordan - Tae Kwon Do Black Belt

#NationalFitnessDay To mark #NationalFitnessDay at the College, our PE Department planned a number of fitness activities for our students. Take a look at the photos below to see a few of the activities that our students took part in!

Daily Sport Rugby training Zoom PE Sessions for students not able to be at school

Hockey training

Music at the College Music is shown to have an array of cognitive and academic benefits in an educational setting, and it is as the heart of life at St Edmund's College. The Music School has had a remarkable return to school. The department are proud to share a number of achievements, seen below.

200 Music Lessons There are currently over 200 Music lessons taking place each week in the Music School. These private, socially distanced lessons are growing daily, and the Music School happily take requests for instrument lessons.

Bubble Choirs There are six year-group bubble choirs rehearsing each week. There is currently space to join the year-group bubble choirs, so please do speak with Mr Woodhall!

Staff Challenge The Music School are excited to launch the Staff Grade Challenge!

Staff will be taking up (or dusting off!) an instrument and having lessons with one of the excellent VMTs and taking their Grade 1 Examination in the Spring Term.

Good luck to all staff taking part!

Music at the College ABRSM Examinations ABRSM Examinations are going ahead this term, with a few pupils taking examinations via video, and 25 pupils taking the examinations face-to-face.

Two students (and our Director of Music!) are taking their Grade 7 Theory exam.

Mr Woodhall Mr Woodhall's piece, 'The Botanist's Dance' has been selected by Maria Marchant to premiere live on Monday from London's BlĂźthner Piano Centre as part of her series '7NotesIn7DaysAt7pm'.

Visit her Facebook page on 26th October at 7pm!

The return to the College has seen the Music School host their first Virtual Music Recitals! We were blown away by the talent of our musicians, which you can see first-hand by clicking on the videos below. Congratulations to all involved.

Junior Recital

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Drama It has been a busy half term for the Drama Department with Mrs Schiff and Mrs Wylie.

We have seen our students engaging in sound work, trust exercises, physical movement and even slow-motion fight scenes.

To see a glimpse into life in the Drama Studio, click on the video below!

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Staff Introductions Deputy Head - Pastoral Mr Paul Curran joined us in January 2020 as Deputy Head - Pastoral. Educated in a small Catholic Grammar school in South Wales, Paul went on to study Computer Science at the University of Reading before securing a job in the department teaching first years how to program. Following his degree, he returned to his school for a year’s experience in the classroom, and it was there that he fell in love with teaching. Paul went on to train in Swansea before taking up his first post in New Hall School as Teacher of IT and Assistant Housemaster in boarding, where he met his wife, Jen. Paul instantly gravitated towards the pastoral life in the school while working in boarding and was appointed as Housemaster of the Sixth Form Boys’ House. Following his time at New Hall, Paul moved to Christ College Brecon to be Head of Department, Head of Faculty and Acting Deputy Head Pastoral for the final two terms. During his time at Brecon, Paul had his two daughters Isabelle and Ariana. Following six years at Brecon, Paul moved to Ampleforth College to take up the role of Housemaster, and eventually, Senior Housemaster, before joining St Edmund’s College with his wife and two children, now at St Edmund’s Prep.

In his free time, Mr Curran is a fan of all things technological and all sports. Mr Curran is a qualified rugby coach and is a keen skier, and he makes the most of any possible school trip. He is a very valued member of our Senior Leadership Team and has settled wonderfully into the St Edmund’s Community.

Director of Sport

Mr Peter Kelly joins as Director of Sport at St Edmund’s College.

A graduate of the University of Otago, New Zealand, Peter also holds a Master’s in Sport and Exercise Medicine.

A native of New Zealand, Peter played premier rugby in Otago as well as semi-professional rugby, both fifteens and sevens, across the globe. He is a World Rugby Level 3 Coach, ICC Level 1 Cricket Coach and an accredited strength and conditioning coach with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association. Peter was formerly Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Kent County Cricket Club and at the King’s School, Canterbury, where he also coached rugby.

For the last six years, Peter was living and working in Dubai, where he was Head of Performance at the International Cricket Council Academy and High-Performance Manager with the Emirates Cricket Board.

He was in charge of the men’s international programme and contributes to the women’s programme.

A passionate musician and family man, Peter, his wife Rebekah and their two little boys, Harvey and Alby, are very much enjoying settling into life in the St Edmund’s Community.

Staff Introductions Mrs Barnard joins as Head of Geography at St Edmund's College. After graduating in 2000 from the University of Manchester with a degree in Geography, Mrs Barnard worked for HSBC before deciding to enter the teaching profession. Upon completion of her PGCE in 2008, she has taught Geography and other Humanities subjects, most recently in the UK at Queenswood School, where she held the position of Head of Humanities.

Mrs Barnard has just returned from a year abroad in Vietnam teaching Geography in the British International School, Hanoi, where her and her family were able to travel extensively and explore new cultures. She is passionate about the benefits that travel can have on a person and looks forward to planning new fieldwork opportunities at St Edmund’s, both locally and further afield. Mrs Barnard believes that part of her role is to nurture cultural literacy and develop global perspectives that will help prepare every student for the globalised world we live in.

Mr Berkley graduated from Liverpool University with a History degree. He then began teaching English as a Foreign Language in Piedmont, Italy before going on to work for The British Council in South Korea.

On his return to the UK he was appointed Head of EAL at Brentwood School where he also taught History and worked for 8 years. He then moved to The Stephen Perse Foundation in Cambridge teaching History before arriving at St Edmund’s College this September as a Teacher of EAL and History. Mr Berkley is a keen traveller (he's even been to North Korea!), loves cricket and sport in general and enjoys being outdoors as much as possibleparticularly on his bike!

Mrs Smerdon joins us as Teacher of RE. Having gained her degree, Mrs Smerdon’s first teaching position was at St Augustine’s School in Wiltshire, where she progressed to become a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

She taught at Kelly College in Devon, before moving to Queen Mary’s School in Yorkshire. Here she taught Religious Studies and held the position of Director of Studies. Mrs Smerdon enjoys watching her three children play competitive sport, walking and being by the sea.

Staff Introductions Mrs McEwan has been teaching Art and Design for 18 years, beginning her career in Leicestershire before relocating to Cambridge 6 years ago to teach at St Mary’s School. After graduating in 2000 with a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration, she worked as a commercial freelance illustrator before gaining her Postgraduate Certificate in Education. In 2008 she completed a master’s degree in Graphic Communication where she studied the formal techniques found in Renaissance painting and aimed to incorporate them into a more contemporary illustrative style. When she is not inspiring students at St Edmund’s she is beavering away in her studio, exploring new techniques and processes that she can share in the classroom.

Miss Roome graduated from the University of Leeds with a Masters in Medicinal Chemistry. During her studies, she spent a year in Switzerland working at F. Hoffmann-La Roche designing and synthesising potential drug candidates. Following her degree, she gained her PGCE in Birmingham where she then spent an additional year working in an inner city school. Following her arrival at the college, she is enjoying getting to know her students along with her Grammar form and fostering their love of learning and in particular, Science. Miss Roome is also working in boarding, supporting students both with their studies and pastorally throughout the term.

Miss Field joins the PE Department. Miss Field has a real passion for participation and overcoming any barriers that will prevent someone leading a physically active lifestyle. She has a desire to provide as many young people a variety of opportunities to engage in as much physical activity as possible. She believes there has never been a more important time than present for us to educate young people about the importance of physical activity and sport. Miss Field enjoys all sports and has represented her county at football, hockey, football and is currently playing county rugby.

Her biggest sporting achievement was representing England at Golf and she currently holds a scratch handicap.

Results A Level results 2020 Grades A* to A Grades A* to B Grades A* to C Overall Pass Rate A* to E

GCSE results 2020 49% 78% 95% 100%

This year, students secured places at many Russell Group Universities including Durham University, University College London, University of Exeter, Imperial College London, University of Leeds, Queen Mary University and King's College London.

Grade 9 - 8 (A*) Grade 9 - 7 (A* - A) Grade 9 - 6 (A* - B) Grade 9 - 5 (A* - B) Grade 9 - 5 (A* - C) Grade 9 - 4 (A* - C)

35% 55% 78% 90% 90% 98%

CCF Range Day On Saturday 3rd October, we held a range day for Senior Cadets. It was a great success and an excellent opportunity for our students to take part in a 'normal' activity.

With thanks to Mr Jones, Mr Upton, Mr Gledhill, Miss Duffy and Mr Eliasson for this event. Additional thanks to OE Cadet Lt Austin Arnold and two senior Cadets CDT/Sgt Ronnie Stephens and CDT/Sgt Francis Butterworth (Rhetoric 2).

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We have hosted six live Virtual Open Events from JuneOctober, and we are pleased to report that the feedback from these events has been incredibly positive.

Thank you to the parents, students and teachers that helped us to create the testimonial videos. Please do feel free to click and take a look at the pages created to support the live event!

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Captured at the College Our staff and students take wonderful photos of St Edmund's College. Below, we share a few of our favourites.

With special thanks to Mr Pengelly, Miss Towns and Martina Giordano (Rhetoric 1) for the above photographs.

Bobble Hat for Teenage Cancer Trust We will be selling a Limited Edition St Edmund's Bobble Hat for Teenage Cancer Trust. Every day, seven young people aged 13-24 hear the words “you have cancer�. They will each need specialised nursing care and support to get them through the toughest times ahead. If you would like to support this cause, please check your email for the form from Mr A Cunnah and respond by 4th November 2020.

Stay Connected We hope that you enjoyed our first digital edition of College Life. If you would like to be featured in our next half term edition, please do email your stories or achievements to marketing@stedmundscollege.org.

You can also stay connected with us by following us on our social media platforms:

@stedmundscollegeandprep

@stedmundscollege.org

@stedmundsware

Please also visit our website at stedmundscollege.org to stay up to date with the latest news and events.

We wish you a restful half term break and look forward to bringing you the next edition of College Life in December.

Avita Pro Fide!