Sutton Views - July 2009 (43)

The Voice of Sutton Valence School

Edition 43 July 2009

SUTTON VIEWS An interview with Bruce Grindlay, Headmaster

Arts Week

Page 6

Can you tell us a little about your schooldays?

I went to prep school at King’s College, Wimbledon for six years, but when I was 14 I emigrated with my parents to Canada.

There, I attended St George’s Senior School, Vancouver. It was a good education but, with hindsight, I feel it lacked sufficient breadth and support for an individual’s needs and interests; it was just a little too generic for my liking.

I then went to the University of British Columbia to study for a Fine Arts degree, but it was always my intention to return to the UK. I won an organ scholarship and a place to read Music at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

After this, I stayed on at Cambridge for a year to take a postgraduate degree and taught Music to undergraduates.

How did your school experiences shape your views and values as a teacher?

They taught me that there is no “one way” or “tried and tested” method for imparting both information and a love of learning. We are all different and the job of

Heads of School Garden Page 6 a committed and talented teacher is to find the way into your subject for the pupils.

As a result, I am a great believer in a bespoke education, an education that tailors its teaching and available opportunities to engage and enthuse all pupils, helping them achieve more than they could have believed, and pushing them to realise their potential.

Cricket Round-up

Pages 4 & 5

What would you have done if you hadn’t become a teacher?

I would probably have become a professional musician, or maybe a professional golfer? I once had a handicap of four – but sadly it’s now slipped to 10!

Continued on page 2

Information A member of the United Westminster Schools’ Foundation Registered Charity No. 309267 Founded in 1576 by William Lambe

Sutton Views: July 2009

For information about Sutton Valence School or to request a prospectus, please contact:

• the Admissions Office at Sutton Valence on 01622 845206 or email enquiries@svs.org.uk • Sutton Valence Preparatory School on 01622 842117 or email enquiries@svprep.svs.org.uk 1

Sutton Valence School Cont’d from Front Page.

How do you feel about moving to SVS? We are all very excited as a family about the move. Every time we have visited SVS we have found it a happy, friendly and welcoming place. We are looking forward to meeting parents, pupils, staff, Old Suttonians and our neighbours in the village over the coming months and being part of what we already feel is a strong community.

My wife Lilla was brought up in Kent and still has family here so there is an element of the move that feels as if we are coming

home. As well as studying for a PhD, Lilla is going to be teaching some classes in the English Department, and is happy to have the opportunity to get involved with the school. Our children, Jess and Sam, are both excited about joining the Prep School and making new friends there.

What appealed to you about becoming Headmaster of SVS? I was drawn to SVS as it is an institution that believes that education does not finish at the classroom door. I will enjoy providing a “total curriculum”, whilst never forgetting the primacy of the classroom. I genuinely feel that the school allows pupils

to learn through diverse and various activities, activities that engage and encourage them both to develop new skills and to delight in the effort and achievement of all within our community. However, what I am looking forward to most is meeting and getting to know the pupils; after all, they are both why we do it and the lifeblood of any school.

How do you relax?

I’ve always loved cooking, and one of the most relaxing things for me is cooking a dinner party from scratch. I am also looking forward to reducing that golf handicap back to an acceptable and respectable single figure!

In-flight entertainment, courtesy of the Chapel Choir he School choristers had a rousing end to a week-long tour of Rome when they were asked to perform for airline passengers – at an altitude of 30,000 feet!

being asked where we had been and why.

Before we knew it, we were being asked to give an impromptu performance for the passengers and cabin crew. Naturally, we were happy to oblige!”

The choir, led by Director of Music Phil Horley, was on its way home from a highly successful tour, which included leading a sung Mass at the Vatican, when they were invited to sing for their fellow passengers on the flight back to Gatwick.

The party of 46 pupils aged 12 – 18 sang at some of the City’s most prestigious venues during the six-day tour, starting with a concert before an audience of 300 people at The Pantheon.

T

Mr Horley said: “As there were over 50 of us, including staff, questions were soon

Sutton Views: July 2009

Later in the week, they sang Mass at The Vatican, where they were personally thanked by the Vatican’s Organist and

Director of Music and invited to have their photograph taken in front of the High Altar.

Mr Horley said: “The choir performed brilliantly throughout and we were well received by everyone who heard us. We even sang on the beach at Anzio – the site of the allied landings in 1945 – which one pupil described as ‘awesome. The choir already wants to know where we are going on the next tour – but I’m not sure how we can beat it!”

2

Sutton Valence School

Rugby, cricket and hockey fan Michael, 8, signs for Gillingham FC ichael Mahoney was first spotted at the Prep School after-school soccer club by coach Scott Chalmers-Stevens, a former Charlton and Watford goalkeeper.

M

Scott says: “Michael is a very intelligent, strong player with a terrific shot – he’s got a great future”.

Michael, who is an all-round sports enthusiast, began playing for Staplehurst Monarchs when he was five, and has also represented school at rugby, cricket and hockey.

His mother, Karen Mahoney says that he’s never happier than when he is on the

sports field with a ball. He absolutely loves it.

After joining the Maidstone Soccer Elite FA Academy for extra coaching, Michael was invited to sign for Gillingham in May this year. We wish him every success.

Authors’ visit is ‘Yuck’!

‘Yuck!’ was the resounding cry when children’s authors Matt and Dave dropped in to see pupils at the Prep School.

Matthew Morgan and David Sinden have made a name for themselves writing a series of popular children’s books about a boy so disgusting he is given the nickname ‘Yuck.’

The duo drew their inspiration from imaginative authors like Roald Dahl and had the children in stitches as they explained how they first started writing together and how the ‘Yuck’ series has evolved, getting ‘yuckier’ all the time.

So far, they have written nine ‘Yuck’ books and they read extracts from their latest – ‘Yuck’s Mega Magic Wand’ - to the enthralled audience of pupils aged from five to eight.

They also sent them away with some jolly useful foul facts – for example, did you know that horses and rats can’t vomit?

Alexia Bracewell said: “We encourage our children to read a wide range of literature, to increase their vocabulary and inspire their creativity. Reading should never be seen as a chore or merely a subject to be learned, but something which is immensely entertaining, enjoyable and fun.

The message they conveyed was that anyone can write. The secret is to keep it simple and keep it short. It’s a simple concept and one which works especially well with reluctant readers. They totally engaged the pupils.”

Sutton Views: July 2009

Prep School pupils learn the value of Law and Order aving recently adopted a set of ‘Golden Rules’ to highlight traditional standards of behaviour and respect pupils at the Prep School have been learning how to keep on the right side of the law.

H

Maidstone magistrate Alvin Shaw visited in June as part of an initiative to improve awareness in schools of the British court system, and how the law operates.

The ‘Magistrates in the Community’ programme is designed to explain the role of the magistracy, and how crimes such as theft, assault and motoring offences affect the community.

Mr Shaw engaged pupils in a roleplay exercise, with the children taking the parts of the police, witnesses and the accused.

Alexia Bracewell said: “We believe passionately that our pupils should learn to be kind, helpful and honest, listen carefully, work hard, and respect their peers.

The visit by Mr Shaw will help them understand that those principles apply to adult life too and that the courts have a major role to play in upholding the law, which is based on similar standards of decency and fair play”.

3

Sutton Valence School

Silver celebration as girls gather for Speech Day the garden by Lambes to commemorate his time here as Headmaster.

ast and present pupils converged at the Senior School to celebrate Speech Day, which this year marked 25 years since girls were first admitted.

P

Guest of honour, former Kent cricketer, journalist and author Ed Smith MA, went on to gain a double first at Cambridge after being taught history by Joe Davies, whom he described as a “British lion of British teaching.”

Sutton Valence used to be a school for boys, until Michael Headmaster Haywood had the foresight to introduce girls in 1983.

Tribute was paid to the visionary headmaster, who attended Speech Day with his wife Stella and a number of the original girls, including Louise Knagg (nee Gaston) who had flown in from Portland, Oregon, and Emma Isherwood (nee Pickard) from Devon.

In his speech Bryan Baughan, Chairman of Governors paid fulsome tribute to Joe Davies: “The past nine years will prove to be a defining moment in the history of this school. Since 1576, there has not been a period where the school has developed and progressed as much. He has a highly distinctive and highly effective management style which commands deep respect and loyalty from all who work with him.”

He told assembled pupils: “You are fortunate to have been dealt a hand of aces and picture cards. Play your hand as well as you can – you have nothing to fear and everything to gain.”

I n welcoming Bruce Grindlay, Mr Baughan added: “At Sutton Valence education does not end at the classroom door and we are fortunate that in the future, this school is going to witness more of the same.”

In his farewell speech, Mr Davies thanked students as well as staff and predicted that this year’s GCSE and A Level results would be among the best ever.

Earlier in the day he had planted a tree in

More than 100 prizes were presented to students aged from 11 – 18, covering the full range of academic subjects, music, drama and sport, as well as endeavour and all-round contribution to school life.

Pupils at the Prep School were similarly congratulated two weeks later at their Speech Day. Jane Evans, who is taking over as interim Head in September, spoke warmly and enthusiastically in her speech to the children and Alexia Bracewell received extended applause in recognition of her contribution to the school as she leaves to take up a Headship next year.

Cricket round-up he school’s performances on the cricket pitch came in for high praise this season, with the team maintaining its reputation as one of the best school sides in the county, if not the country.

T

Highlights of the season included: A thrilling, last ball tie against Eton College, which had invited Sutton Valence to provide the opposition as they prepared for the annual match against Harrow at

Sutton Views: July 2009

Lords. A brilliant result for a Sutton Valence side missing key players, and with Chris Vernon scoring 135; A witty commentary from the muchloved Henry Blofeld at the annual School v Lashings World XI match. West Indies pace star Curtly Ambrose was another guest, while former England batsman Graeme Hick was in a strong Lashings team which included Saqlain Mushtaq, Chris Harris, Devon Malcolm and Ed Giddins; Continued on page 5 4

Sutton Valence School

Cricket round-up cont’d nd X1 captain Ben Regan performed a batting feat unlikely ever to be equalled, scoring 125 runs off 74 deliveries against St Bede’s, Eastbourne, including 11 sixes - he struck the ball so hard that eight balls disappeared over the boundary, never to be seen again!

2

The sustained period of success achieved by recent teams is supported by the facts, figures and photographs in the newly-published ‘History of Cricket at Sutton Valence School’ produced by archivist David Pickard, who has sourced the details of every first X1 match going right back to 1840. The book highlights two golden eras for cricket at the school: the 20 year period as the 19th century became the 20th and now.

The book was launched at a match against former captains of the school 1st X1 – more than 20 ex-skippers either played or were guests, from Robin Hearn (1945) to Wesley Jackson (2007).

DE Carr, Henry Blofeld commentating from the pavilion on the annual School v Lashings World XI match in June. (with kind permission of The Kent Messenger)

During the earlier period, SVS produced one of its two England players – Douglas Carr, an early exponent of googly bowling, who played against the Australians in the Ashes series exactly 100 years ago (the other, more recent, England star was Mark Benson, who captained Kent during the ‘80s).

Multi-lingual Harry wins a place at Oxford arry Darkins is a young man going places. Having gained top marks in his French, Spanish and German A Levels he then achieved a place for this coming year at Oxford University to study Arabic.

H

Harry joined us from John Mayne Primary in Biddenden, having won a scholarship. He became an accomplished pianist and violinist in the school orchestra and jazz band, sang in the chapel choir and improved his linguistic skills while passing 13 GCSEs en route to the Sixth Form.

Last year, although he had plenty on his plate at A level - he gained A-grade passes in French, Spanish and Art, and a B in music – he also persuaded his tutors to let him sit German at AS level, and gained an

Sutton Views: July 2009

A grade in that as well.

He’s now won a place at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, where he will study Arabic and French, and, just to keep his hand in, spent two months before Christmas gaining work experience in Paris.

“Living in Paris wasn’t easy, and it was very expensive”, said Harry, “but I found a job in a French telemarketing company making calls to dentists in Germany. I enjoyed living in Paris, even though I managed to get stuck in the Metro as 12 midnight struck on New Year’s Eve!” Harry is determined to keep himself busy before he goes up to Oxford in October, so this summer he’s off to Syria for two months to work as an English tutor.

5

Sutton Valence School

Senior School celebrates with flowers ormer head pupils, including 75-year-old Tim Booer, who was head boy in 1952, returned to the school in June for the launch of a unique garden to celebrate their achievements over the years.

F

A Heads of School Garden had been conceived and created by the school Gardens Department, featuring a cottage garden and a walkway lined with ornamental benches, commemorative plaques, and almost 150 species of flowers and shrubs. More than 50 former Heads of School have chosen a plant to be included in the garden.

Headmaster Joe Davies, who welcomed the former head pupils and their families to the opening ceremony, said: “This is a unique way of celebrating the success of former pupils who became head of school and who contributed so much to school life.”

Head gardener Paul Atkinson added: “This is the biggest project we have ever undertaken. We wanted to create an area that acknowledged our most senior past pupils but would also give

current pupils and staff pleasure. The garden has taken over a year to plant, and with a variety of flowering shrubs, fragrant climbers and herbaceous plants we will have colour all year round.”

International theme to Arts Week he Prep School opened wide a window on the world during their multi-faceted Arts Week.

T

Each of the four Houses chose to represent a different country, from which they drew the inspiration to create craft and posters, pottery and paintings, songs, dance and music.

The Arts Festival, which has become an annual event and takes place during the final week of the Summer Term, proved to be a vibrant and colourful representation of all the children had learned during the year, bringing together a multitude of skills.

From Botswana, there was African drumming and dancing, from Spain, Sangria and Flamenco, from China, fans, lanterns and food tasting and from New Zealand, mask making and body painting.

charity Barnardos and pupils had been busy cultivating bean plants at home during the latter part of term, getting friends and family to sponsor them per centimetre towards the eventual height.

Deputy Head Alexia Bracewell said: “Themed weeks work exceptionally well and provide a great stimulus for the pupils’ imaginations. The timetable incorporated everything from geography, music and literature, to science and technology and it was the perfect way to end the term on a truly high note.”

The week was also a fundraiser for the

Sutton Views: July 2009

6