Alleyn's School Scrib 2026

A L L E Y N ’ S

S C H O O L

SCRIB 2 0 2 6

E D I T I O N

During Trinity term we invited pupils in the Lower School to take part in a competition to design a special anniversary logo to celebrate 50 years of co-education which will be used across anniversary events and celebrations throughout the coming year. Congratulations to Eloise M in Year 7 for the winning design and thank you to all the pupils who took part with such creativity and enthusiasm.

This publication is only possible because of the support and generosity of our staff and pupils. Every article, photograph and contribution has helped tell the story of another memorable year at Alleyn's. Thank you so much to everyone who played a part in bringing SCRIB 2026 to life. Production Team Maryam Bhatti Rosie Denham Filipe De Jesus Costa Sarah Magee Diego Martina Lashonda Morgan Rebekah Ramsammy-Amoroso Isabella Sharp

Editor-in-Chief Mandy Su Acknowledgements Jane Lunnon Neil Green

Designed by The Graphic Design House tgdh.co.uk

@AlleynsSchool /AlleynsSchool /school/AlleynsSchool www.alleyns.org.uk

CONTENTS

School Notes..................................... 06

Performing Arts....................................62

Time Out............................................ 104

Community and Partnerships........... 36

Creative................................................70

Activities.............................................. 118

Houses................................................. 44

Sport..................................................... 88

SCHOOL N OT E S

WELCOME ‘Be clever, be different, be pirates!’ This memorable phrase is a direct quotation from one or our wonderful alumni, Charlie Dark (Cribb’s 1989), one of several impressive alumni panellists at this year’s Edward Alleyn Lecture. His direct invitation to the pupils summarises the kind of chutzpah, enterprise, collegiality and ever so slightly maverick spirit which Ned Alleyn had and which I think we all need as we engage with the excitements and challenges of our times. I hope it’s not heretical to say it, but I’ve always felt there was something of the pirate about Ned; he was clever and different and he certainly brought a buccaneer swagger to Jacobean London. In our own way, we seek to channel some of that – with due regard to the law and the sensibilities of those around us of course. In our latest advertising campaign, an invocation to be “brilliantly human”, we are leaning into some of this spirit. This past year has certainly been a year for delighting in our shared humanity, our talents, our uniqueness and our creativity, alongside our (reassuringly human) capacity to make mistakes, to learn from them and to move on. As AI continues its relentless march forward, a celebration of the uniquely and purely human elements of education seems critically important, even whilst we are also embracing and navigating all the wonders and undreamt of possibilities that AI & the magical digital universe can bring to the way we learn. In this year’s Scrib, you will find out just how we have done this – and as you will see, it really has been a very full and extremely successful year – culminating perhaps in the huge excitement of Alleyn’s being named Coeducational independent school of the Year at the Independent Schools’ Awards (the schools equivalent of the Oscars!). You’ll see elsewhere how brilliantly hard our pupils have continued to work – with

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their talent and focus reflected in another summer of outstanding results (including our highest ever Oxbridge offers taken up – 13% of the year group.) But it’s not just been about brilliance in the classroom of course. There have been so many other highlights, from our U15 girls’ football team’s epic last-minute goal to win the ISFA national final after being runners up for three years in a row, to our CCF cadets who won a medal in the Cambrian Cadet Challenge in their very first year of entering it; from the wit and style of Anything Goes, the suspense and existential fear of Great Expectations and the magic of the Lower School’s Hetty Feather, to the unforgettably beautiful Dance shows – with more than 300 pupils performing on stage each time. Our Art exhibitions have explored the sublime and the earthy in a sensational range of work across film, canvas, sculpture, photography, design and print and our CANSAT teams have made it through to the national finals at the European Space Agency’s UK Headquarters. As always, more than a hundred of our pupils set off on countless Duke of Edinburgh expeditions this year (including one very special visit to the Palace for our Gold Award winners) and pupils, staff, parents and alumni delivered fascinating and warm talks on anything and everything at our second TEDxAlleyn’s School Youth event. And, as always, we welcomed our wider community in, and sent hordes of our pupils out, on a huge range of partnership projects with local primaries, secondaries and local charities across Southwark. Finally, and perhaps most memorably of all, in April we filled Southwark Cathedral with a spectacular rendition of Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony by an orchestra and choir made up of pupils, alumni, parents and staff. It was a glorious moment of collective energy and (appropriately!) joy and a

wonderful way to celebrate 50 years of a co-ed Alleyn’s and all that this vibrant, connected community can achieve together. (If you happen to be reading this online, then do enjoy this link to a snippet from the concert – it is well worth the clickthrough!). We have also spent time this year mapping out a brilliantly human future for the school, unveiling plans for the new Project Crucible development, which will see the creation of a new dining space fit for the modern day, new classroom and performance facilities, a new Sixth Form Centre and a beautiful new library. We have started building Ned’s Kitchen, the first part of this project offering a glorious “grab and go” additional dining facility for our pupils as we get cracking on the rebuild of the 60-year-old dining hall. And, of course, this year we have also partnered with Cognita to open Alleyn’s Regent’s Park prep school (with Alleyn’s Hampstead opening next year) and had the great joy of Alleyn’s Oakfield, just down the road in Dulwich, coming on board as another member of the Alleyn’s family. So, it’s been a pretty busy year! But we haven’t lost sight of all those lovely, tiny moments every day when we are at our most human. Whether that’s House Captain, William Burrows, leading Dutton's in their winning Lip Sync routine, or Frau Schüller facilitating the joy of singing in another language, the parents pulling off yet another standing room only APA Quiz, (at least the staff team beat the pupils this year!), or the Governor not only overseeing all our safeguarding work but also baking astonishing works of art to mark our DSL’s milestone birthday… This is who we are at Alleyn’s and, we hope we have captured some of this year’s brilliant humanity on the pages of this magazine. Happy reading! Jane Lunnon Head of Alleyn's School

THE HEAD'S REVIEW What follows is the text of the speech delivered by the Head, Jane Lunnon, on this year's Celebration Day. Part 1 [Following the Lower School performance of Hetty Feather] What a delightful menagerie! That excerpt from Hetty Feather, this year’s delectable Lower School play, highlights what our pupils can achieve when they bring all their skills together... And Hetty Feather herself - foundling, fighter, dreamer, irrepressible optimist – reminds us all that the most important journeys are never just about the destination; they’re about the learning, and the action – and the people that you meet on the way. As I sat down to write this speech, I thought about the journey that we have all been on together this year and the people who have influenced that journey. I realised that this is the sixth such speech I've delivered here at Alleyn's, two at Speech Day and now four at Celebration Day. It is amazing how quickly time passes and how rapidly you

build up time in office. Indeed, two years ago on Celebration Day, the prime minister found himself elected to office - and given that we now know he won’t be in office much longer, I might observe that my tenure so far equals nearly three Starmers, or to put it another way - approximately 40 Liz Trusses! Or, as one colleague pointed out, I am so far only half a Thatcher, and I'm not entirely sure what to make of that... As I was reflecting on the year, and this year’s theme – All Together – I also thought a little about a recent experience of my own, when over the Easter holidays I was privileged to walk part of the famous Camino de Santiago de Compostela, in Spain. It was an extraordinary journey, made infinitely richer by the fact that I was travelling with friends and again – though the destination was important – it was the shared journey, the togetherness, that truly made the experience out-of-this-world. The fact that, 5 minutes after stepping out on our Camino pilgrimage – all backpacks and maps and walking staffs and pilgrim shells – we had somehow, unaccountably, managed to navigate our way back to the hotel we had only

just left reminded me of the map-reading journey I still need to go on! But I do want to reassure you all that my navigation skills with respect to this school are infinitely more reliable. But far more out-of-this-world than Hetty’s journey, or my journey, was the exceptional journey which happened right above our heads this year. As Artemis II carried four astronauts on the most extraordinary voyage in a generation: the first crewed venture around the Moon in more than fifty years. I’ve found myself genuinely inspired by this most epic of projects, not just because of the enormous courage and indefatigable human spirit it required, but also because of the way it helped us see ourselves. Looking back at Earth, this small round, blue oasis of life, in the midst of infinite darkness, the crew saw vividly how unique, precious and beautiful our planet is. Christina Koch – one of those astronauts, movingly summed it up: “We will explore, we will build… but in the end, we will always ... choose each other.” “In the end, we will always choose each other.” SCRIB 2026 / SCHOOL NOTES / 07

Those words feel like an apt summary of the Alleyn’s story this year and every year. It is what an Alleyn’s education is and has always been about. An epic journey, taken all together. All together is the theme for today’s show and today I’d like to take us back half a century or so when one of those epic Alleyn’s 'all together' journeys started. I am referring to 1976, when Alleyn’s went fully co-educational. Think about what that decision meant. This school – founded in 1619, had four hundred years of history, with generations of boys walking these corridors… And then, in 1976, a group of governors and leaders looked around them, looked at the world, and decided, in the words of Charlie Dark, one of our celebrated alumni, to "be clever, be different, be pirates...” It truly was a sector-leading, avant-garde decision. Co-education wasn’t common in the independent sector. It certainly wasn’t the done thing in 1970s Britain. But Alleyn’s governors did it anyway. Because they believed it was right. Because they believed

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in what Alleyn’s could become if it became it all together. This key moment in our long story is being marked this year by a beautiful new bench and a meeting spot around our lovely old oak tree, and by some archive boards. I’d like to thank our archivist, Nicola, for her work preparing them and digging back into history to discover more about that far distant time. Some of that research suggests that the arrangements for those first girls were a teeny bit haphazard – the use of a towel, held up over the door to create a “private” space for the girls to change in is a little eye-watering; as was the fact that, incomprehensibly, the older girls had to be made prefects in order to access the only girls’ toilet, which was based in the Lower School. Bumpy as the road may have been early in the journey, the truth is we owe a huge debt of gratitude to those pioneering girls and young women who led the way for so many to follow in their path. And to do so brilliantly over the generations. It feels, therefore, wonderful as well as humbling, that this was the year when Alleyn’s was

named Independent Co-educational School of the Year. Fifty years on from that first brave decision! That feels really cool. The idea that we travel better together runs through everything we do and have always done. Every single day, my colleagues and I delight in what all our pupils – all of you, here or in the MCT, bring to this school and give to each other and to this community. Wherever you are in your Alleyn’s journey, I want to acknowledge each and every one of you for being basically brilliant to work with; engaged and engaging and unabashed and generous in all you do. It is absolutely what makes this job and all our jobs a joy. You our pupils are, without doubt, why so many people want their children to come to Alleyn’s and experience an education here – because of the kind of people you are and become! So today we hope to celebrate how wonderful you all are, and to capture some small part of the vast array of your triumphs, challenges and wonderful accomplishments, achieved all together over the course of this year.

success. Later in the programme you'll see some of the highlights — including, just a few weeks ago, the U18 boys cricket team winning the Senior London Cup. The last time we won that was in 1972. Bravo, boys. But our boys and girls have won national and regional competitions in football, basketball, hockey, netball, water polo, fives, tennis, cricket... And we’re really proud of that. But we are just as proud of every pupil who rocks up, week after week, puts the kit on and plays their heart out, whatever the result. And if I may, I want to tell you one story that sums this up.

Of course, we see it in the academic successes of our pupils – not just our prize winners, whom we will be recognising shortly – but in the successes of all our pupils. It’s there in their remarkable exam outcomes, in their fantastic university offers, (and it’s been another record-breaking year for Oxbridge candidates), in their grades throughout the year.... And we're so proud of all of that. But as I say every year, those things are by-products of a great education, not the reason for it. They matter because they reflect the real business of being at Alleyn's: the exercise of curiosity, the stretching of intellectual muscles, the daily engagement with challenge in the classroom and beyond it and the fun you can have when you decide to work hard and play hard together with your mates.

The golden thread of togetherness runs through the Houses too — all those wonderful events, the music, the lip-sync, the gloriously eccentric competitions that bring such colour to the school. And it runs through the over 40 pupils invited to Buckingham Palace this year to collect their Gold Duke of Edinburgh medals — who showed, I should say, considerably better map-reading skills than I did. It binds together CCF, some of whose cadets this year won a medal in the Cambrian Cadet Challenge — essentially SAS training for cadets — in their very first year of entering it. Remarkable. And of course, Sport is all about phenomenal teamwork and togetherness. And it’s been a dizzying year of sporting

As many of you may know, thrillingly, our U15 girls' football team beat Surbiton High this year to win the ISFA national final. Achievement enough, perhaps. But even more so when you realise that their journey to victory included losing four previous national finals over the last three years, two of them on penalties, two of them against this very same Surbiton High team. So, they came back. And they won. The national title. In the last minute of extra time. Leaving it until the last moment... keeping us on tenterhooks for the whole match... reminded us all what those defeats, those penalty spots, that long road back, felt like. Yes, thank you England for giving me a few more grey hairs last night. But what a thing. For those girls to finally lift that trophy, together. That is not just a sporting achievement. That is a masterclass in what teamwork, resilience, determination and cheerful belief in your collective power can give you. We choose each other, we keep going, we don't give up. And in the end, that's a pretty powerful alchemy.

And that might be in CanSat — where this year, 38 pupils designed, coded and launched their own satellites into the Heavens, with a team picked for the national finals at the European Space Agency’s UK Headquarters — or in the UKMT Mathematical Challenges, where 570 Alleyn's pupils entered, 157 earned Gold, placing them in the top 8% nationally, and 25 reached Olympiad level, achieved by fewer than 1% of children in the country. It could be in the science Olympiads, the MFL Polyglot magazine, the TEDx — where pupils stepped up to speak, without notes, for ten minutes on that petrifying red circle. I now know personally just how petrifying that is. A big shout out to Yr 13 pupil, Richard Yu, who — as the person speaking just after me — was standing in the wings offering to take me through breathing exercises. He is seventeen. I have been doing this job for 30 years. We will not dwell on the implications of that. SCRIB 2026 / SCHOOL NOTES / 09

There's been powerful alchemy in our artistic life too. The stunning artwork around the school - beautiful, powerful, sometimes challenging - and of course the excellent Film Studies and DT work - it's been glorious. And a particular shout-out to Ava Blackburn, whose magnificent, visceral hanging meat installation provided an unforgettable introduction to Alleyn's for our prospective families arriving for Open Day. We delight, as ever, in work full of imagination and verve and courage. In the performing arts, our Great Expectations were met, and Anything Goes was everything its title promised. And it’s not just the big shows. Of this year’s 277 LAMDA pupils, 99% achieved either merit or distinction. That is mind-blowing! Almost 300 pupils brought grace and power and emotion to the stage in this year’s glorious dance shows — and we're thrilled to have added A Level Dance to the curriculum this year. And then there's the music. The range and quality of our musicians' work is always moving — and I'll come back to one particular musical moment that I don't think any of us will forget a bit later. Before that, I want to acknowledge and thank all the tremendous colleagues

who work with our pupils to make this stuff happen. None of what I have just described – and I have described only the tiniest fraction of our kids’ accomplishments – happens without the people in this room and across this community. My boundless thanks, as always, to every teacher, every member of our operational staff, every person who keeps this place running and functioning smoothly and looking beautiful. (And I think you’ll all agree that our Grounds Department have made the site look especially magical this year…) Our colleagues do it with such warmth and grace and good humour. We are so lucky to have the staff we have, just as we are fortunate to have such wonderful young people to work with and such tremendous parents too. (I always say you get the parents you deserve and I really feel that’s true… we never take for granted what a gift it is to have such warm, supportive, aligned and generous parents working together with us.) Thank you all – especially thank you to those parents who go the extra mile in service of the school: our indefatigable APA reps under the magnificent Abigail Crinion (we saw the fruits of their labour at last week’s dazzling Founder’s Day),

the parents’ forum reps, the parents on our Sports Advisory Group, the Black Parents’ Network volunteers, the parents sitting on our Development Board under the inspiring and dedicated leadership of the wonderful Laura Malkin. You’re all amazing and we are so grateful for your time and expertise. And whilst I’m thanking people, I really want to acknowledge the other groups to whom we owe so much: to the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, and to the Dulwich Estate, whose extremely generous annual awards underpin our bursary programme. It is a significant input every year and it is critical in making us the school we are. Ed Bullen, Prime Warden of the Saddlers, and Simone Crofton, CEO of the Dulwich Estate: thank you, and all your colleagues. And to all those other extraordinarily generous and committed donors whose private support and kindness contributes so much to the bursary and to the capital development of the school. Thank you! And finally, to the two groups whose leadership and oversight basically ensures that everything actually happens. Thanks so much firstly to our deeply dedicated Governors, whose careful stewardship and wisdom, under the outstanding leadership of Chris Stylianou, our wise, generous, hugely committed Chair – what a shift he puts in! But truly, they all do. They have together ensured that Alleyn’s journey this year has been steady and sure as well as strategically exciting. Navigating the good ship Alleyn’s – ensuring that the course holds true and that we are ahead of fair winds – not finding ourselves in choppy waters – that is the work of our Governors and we are so blessed by the expert, committed and talented individuals we have working so hard on our behalf. Thank you all. We are equally blessed in our Senior Leadership Team and Senior Executive Group – the combined talent, energy, competence and sheer graft of the individuals on this team could power Artemis III I’m sure. And I really want to pay

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courageous, vivid, unforgettable presence. You can’t sing. As anyone who attended this year’s staff talent shows knows, you really can’t sing! But maybe Darth Vader can’t sing. What you can do and have done, so brilliantly over the last 20 years, is guide our pupils towards the light. And you’ve done it with kindness and integrity and an unfailing, really moving belief in the potential and possibility of every single child you work with and for. You never give up on them. They have truly been your force. So, Gav, we will never forget you. We will miss you. And, as you directed us, we will all be “more Croydon” because you were here. Thank you and go well.

tribute to their courageous, caring, inspiring and unfailing leadership this year, as every year. They are extraordinary colleagues – every one of them and it is a joy to work with them. Which of course, makes it all the harder to say farewell. But sadly, we must do that this year as every year. I can’t shout out every staff leaver here although I would like to. But I thank each of them so much for their inspiration, service and dedication during their time here. I hope you’ll all understand why I want to specifically mention two individuals, however. Aidan Sproat-Clements – our Deputy Head, Strategy, Innovation and Delivery, is the supremely organised human who has, once again, assembled today’s ceremonies. He is leaving us this summer to take up a headship. Aidan, you have been one of the most creative, energetic and forwardthinking people I have had the privilege to work alongside. You have pushed us to think differently, to be braver, to look up and out. Alleyn’s is genuinely better for your years here. We will miss you but we are delighted of course that you will still be in the Alleyn’s family, as the new Head of Alleyn’s Hampstead, where we know you will be similarly electrifying.

Star Wars. (He might even show you his Death Star tattoo if you’re lucky…) There is no doubt that the force is indeed strong in this one… There’s an image of Darth Vader, because Gav and I share a weird obsession with that character. I was mulling this over the other day and wondering why… for me it’s the cape and the mask and unbridled power… but for Gav… why might that be? Well, here is the thing about Darth Vader. He is, underneath all the breathing apparatus and the magnificent cape and the disconcerting habit of force-choking his colleagues, a man on a big journey. He goes somewhere very dark and very far from himself – and then finds his way back. Finds, in the end, what really matters. And, with great courage and against the odds, he chooses the good, the light, each other.

I wanted to pick out one moment to end this part of my speech. (The 2nd half is VERY much shorter I promise!) At this year's Southwark Cathedral concert, 300 or so pupil musicians — with a handful of alumni, parents and staff alongside them — sent the Ode to Joy soaring up into those extraordinary vaults. It will be something none of us forget. Beethoven wrote that music when he was almost entirely deaf — composing through the vibrations from his piano legs. What a reflection of the resilience of the human spirit. And what a piece to choose for this historic concert, marking fifty years of co-education at Alleyn's. Our new Director of Music, Luis Parés, promised me it would be a

Gavin, you have never once – as far as I’m aware – force-choked any of your colleagues and, sadly, I’ve never seen you in a cloak! But you have been, for the young people of this school and for everyone who has had the great joy of working alongside you, a constant,

And then there is Gavin English – Deputy Head Pastoral, before that Director of Sport, a colleague who worked here for twenty years on the staff of this school, having first been a pupil here before that – is leaving us to become the UK Head of Educational Quality and Improvement at Cognita. Most of you know that. And you’ll have some sense of what a seismic impact Gav has had on our school in his long time here. What you may not know is that Gav is also a devoted and lifelong disciple of SCRIB 2026 / SCHOOL NOTES / 11

resounding, triumphant statement of what we can achieve when we choose each other. He was so right. The Ode to Joy ends with these words: "This kiss is for all the world!" And as you are about to see — it really did feel exactly like that. [video of Ode to Joy performance is played]

Part 2 [Following the performance of ‘Unclouded Day’] “O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies…” What a thing that is. What a thing to be reminded – in that extraordinary, soaring, ancient song – that people have always looked up. Have always trusted that the journey leads somewhere good. Have always, in the end, chosen each other. And it matters that they have! We live in a world of breathtaking change. AI is reshaping what we know about intelligence. Space exploration is reshaping what we know about possibility. Geopolitical turbulence is reshaping what we thought we knew about stability. And in the middle of all of this, the question that keeps presenting itself to us all – as

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educators, parents, humans – is: what remains? What is the thing that doesn’t change? What is the golden thread that runs, unbroken, from Edward Alleyn’s day to ours and on, far into the future? I think the answer is remarkably simple. It is this: humans doing human things, with other humans. That’s it. That’s the whole answer. The connection, the care, the creativity, the courage and the conversation. And part of that conversation, of course, happens in books. This has been the Year of Reading here at Alleyn’s. And thanks to all of you involved in our 1619 reading challenge (1,619 minutes of reading by start of September – a fantastic number of you are part of that project!) This stuff really matters. Because great reading doesn’t just inform. It transforms. It connects us – across time, across experience, across the whole human story; to read deeply is to ‘live a thousand lives.’ This feels like an urgent mission in 2026. Whatever else the future holds – the capacity for properly judicious, analytical thinking – the capacity to internalise and review complex ideas, the capacity to

empathise with experiences far beyond our own, the capacity, in fact, to be more brilliantly human, surely this will all be part of the currency of success in the future. And speaking of the future – I can’t stand here in 2026 without saying something about AI. We’ve done a great deal of exploring and experimenting and thinking about it this year. Our AIQ programme – developed with MIT, shaped by our pupils and brought to life in our wonderful All Studios, is now on its second iteration. AI thinking is informing all aspects of our strategic planning across the school. We know we are educating in extraordinary times. And AI will continue to do truly extraordinary things with and for our extraordinary young people. Its potential is magical. But we are not blind to the challenges that come with it. And we absolutely recognise the perils and limitations that need navigating too. AI will never do what we do. It will not sit up late with a friend who is struggling. It will not play its heart out at Southwark Cathedral in the Ode to Joy. It will not stand in the rain cheering on its teammates. These things – these very beautiful, human, imperfect things – are ours. And no algorithm touches them.

So, how can we best empower future generations to be the drivers of AI in an intentional, ethical and visionary way? How can we best support teachers and pupils, here and elsewhere in the country, to make creative use of emerging technology? How can we best enhance human agency, in our AI-rich world? These are, indeed, the big questions and we are busy working on answers to them. And to help with this critical mission, we are thrilled to be part of a project to establish a national AI learning and research institute, which will help us and others navigate AI in education now and in the future… We are just in the foothills of this. There is much more to come and we look forward to sharing more with you all next year, but for now, it’s really amazing to be working with generous, far-sighted donors who want to make a difference in this space and believe that we, at Alleyn’s, can help to make that happen. And talking of making magical things happen, we have been very focused this year on planning Project Crucible, our major building project, which will transform key elements of our school site and the day-to-day experience of our pupils. Our governors are of course approaching this prudently, keeping a careful eye on the turbulent financial and geopolitical context – and I think we can all agree that ‘turbulent financial and geopolitical context’ is doing rather a lot of heavy lifting as a phrase, this decade – but the vision is exciting, the planning is serious, Ned’s kitchen is already being built and we look forward to the project developing in the coming year. And before we formally launch our community fundraising campaign later next school year, we are so deeply grateful for the early engagement we have had from some wonderful lead donors in this

community. It’s been truly humbling. I can’t thank them enough for their support and encouragement at this stage. We are building for the future and that feels apt because another key strategic focus for us in the coming year is our futures and alumni programme, Always Alleyn’s, which recognises that the Alleyn’s journey doesn’t end when our students walk out of the gate for the last time. Our new Futures team, including Victoria Wade, our new Executive Director of Futures & Innovation and our new Director of Enterprise, Anna MacKay, will be redesigning our enterprise curriculum here in school and our alumni offer post-school. They’ll be building connections between our pupils, our alumni and the wider world – creating a network of Alleyn’s people who can find and support each other across industries, across countries and across the decades, so that we can be here for our pupils when they are 16, 26, 46 or 66. And who knows, some of those people our pupils will be connecting with may be the very women who walked these corridors in the early years after co-education began, in 1976. They came to a school that was still working out what it meant to have them. They arrived in classrooms that had never had girls in them. And they went out into a world and became – well, they became the changemakers of their generation. Extraordinary women in law, medicine, the arts, business and public life. They didn’t just benefit from an Alleyn’s education. They made it what it is. And talking of lifelong connection. This is now the bitter-sweet moment when we say farewell to our wonderful Year 13s.

You came to this school as children. You leave it as wonderful, engaging, interesting and accomplished young adults. We all hope that the exams you have just laboured through went well for you all, but you know what, whatever happens with your A Levels, you have absolutely smashed it as young people leading this school. You each of you leave us as someone of whom we are hugely proud, someone of character and heart and great gifts and abilities to offer to the world. Someone worth knowing. Someone worth cheering for. Someone who – whatever galaxy you end up in, whatever moon you end up orbiting, whatever orbit you end up on – will, I am absolutely certain, always choose each other. May the force be with you all! Well done, Year 13. Finally, ladies and gentlemen, friends of Alleyn’s, thank you for being here today. Thank you, staff, parents and kids, for all that you do, every day, in the service of our amazing community. I’ll leave the last word to David Attenborough, who, as many of you know, raised his bat on his 100 years a few months ago. And in this moving statement, he reminds us of what we can all do – “all together” when we put our minds to it… “If working apart we are a force powerful to destabilise our planet, surely working together we are powerful enough to save it… The final chapter is ours to write. We know what we need to do. What happens next is up to us.” Have a great summer everyone.

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VALETE Eileen Amoateng It was a sunny day in August 2023 when Eileen Amoateng, HR Assistant, walked through the door and sat at her desk in the corridor of what was then the HR Office. Immediately, Eileen made connections in the team and wider school. Eileen played an integral part in welcoming operational staff to the Alleyn’s community, both facilitating a smooth induction experience, and demonstrating incredible patience and tenacity in her approach to pre-employment compliance checks! As the department evolved, Eileen’s remit grew, with her taking on responsibility for supporting high volume recruitment across the ASEL, Events and Hospitality teams, building trusted relationships with managers and staff. Eileen was an amazing support to the whole HR team; she navigated a busy and growing role with unflappable style, continuing to anticipate and respond to staff needs even during the busiest times. We are delighted for Eileen and wish her the very best in her well-deserved promotion to HR Officer at Bishop Challoner school. We miss her greatly; the HR inbox will never be as tidy again! Ruth Arden Oliver Beauchamp Ollie leaves Alleyn’s after an extraordinary 20-year journey that has shaped him, and in turn, countless pupils and colleagues, across multiple roles: pupil, teacher trainee, Head of Year, and Director of Football. Few can claim such a deep-rooted understanding of the school’s culture, and even fewer bring to it the same boundless energy, commitment, and infectious enthusiasm that Ollie has shown throughout his time here. It is precisely that drive that has made his impact so profound and enduring. As Head of Year 9, Ollie inspired pupils by leading from the front, setting the tone with his distinctive style, unwavering support, and genuine care. In his role as Director of Football, he has overseen one of the most successful periods in the school’s history, while also transforming the girls’ programme into one of the strongest in the country. Back-to-back Elgin League victories and the ISFA U15 girls’ National Champions will stand proudly in the archives and take some beating. Above all, Ollie is a truly exceptional person, a fantastic colleague, a loyal friend, and a deeply committed teacher who always goes the extra mile and puts pupils first. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will continue to be felt for years to come. Ryan Shedwick

Gavin English After more than 25 years at Alleyn's, we bid farewell to Gav, whose impact on the school has been extraordinary. During his time here, he has held no fewer than eight different roles, each one reflecting his willingness to serve wherever he was needed and his unwavering commitment to making the school a better place. From PE teacher and Head of Football to Director of Sport, Acting Head of Lower School, Deputy Head of Middle School, Key Stage 3 and 4 Curriculum Coordinator, and most recently Deputy Head Pastoral, Gav has left his mark across every part of school life. Many will know Gav through his leadership of the pastoral team, but his career at Alleyn's began in sport. A gifted sportsman himself, he brought a wealth of experience to the school, including coaching at Tottenham Hotspur and holding a national gymnastics coaching qualification. Fortunately for Alleyn's, he chose education over professional sport - although Spurs supporters may wonder whether they could still tempt him back! As Director of Sport, Gav was instrumental in developing both participation and performance, but it was his move into pastoral leadership that perhaps best reflected his greatest strength: his ability to connect with people. As Deputy Head Pastoral, he has been a calm, thoughtful and compassionate presence, always placing the wellbeing of pupils at the heart of every decision. Whether supporting an individual student, guiding parents through difficult situations or leading colleagues, Gav has consistently demonstrated integrity, empathy and sound judgement. His influence extends far beyond the day-today. Gav has been central to strengthening the school's pastoral provision, helping to shape initiatives including the pastoral handbook, the development of Heads of Year, the introduction of Education Welfare Officers (EWOs) and a culture that strives to be proactive rather than reactive. His vision has always been clear: every child matters, and every young person deserves to feel known, supported and valued. Those who have worked closely with Gav will know his remarkable energy and enthusiasm. His famous Post-it note brainstorming sessions have become something of a legend, as ideas rapidly appear across every available surface before somehow becoming coherent plans. His ability to bring people together, build consensus and inspire others has been one of his defining qualities, and many colleagues have benefitted from his encouragement, advice and unwavering support. Gav has also been a leader beyond Alleyn's, serving as Chair of Governors at one of the largest Harris schools in London and previously leading Croydon Football Club. Whatever the setting, his focus has always been the same: building strong communities, developing people and making a positive difference.

Earlier this year, many will remember Gav encouraging pupils to "be more Croydon" during a whole-school assembly. Having worked alongside him for so many years, perhaps the better advice is simply to "be more like Gav" - to lead with integrity, care deeply about others, work tirelessly for your community and never lose sight of what really matters. While we will greatly miss Gav's wisdom, humour, boundless energy and unwavering commitment to the Alleyn's community, we are delighted that he has been appointed to a national school improvement role with Cognita. It is a fitting next chapter for someone who has spent his career helping schools, and the people within them, to be the very best they can be. We thank Gav for everything he has given to Alleyn's over the past quarter of a century and wish him and his family every happiness and success for the future. While he may be leaving Alleyn's, he will always remain a valued member of its community. Mel Joel and Neil Green Mel Jenney Over the past 15 years, Mel has made an extraordinary contribution to school life through her work as a History and Politics teacher, Head of House, colleague and friend. Since joining the school in 2011, she has brought a remarkable combination of energy, warmth and enthusiasm that has left a lasting impact on both students and staff. Mel has always been a teacher who places relationships at the heart of education. Her students know they are valued, supported and encouraged, and countless young people have benefited from her ability to inspire confidence, foster resilience and create a genuine sense of belonging. Whether in the classroom, through her pastoral leadership as Head of House, or in the many informal conversations that brightened a school day, Mel consistently put people first. Beyond her direct work with students, Mel has been a central figure in the wider school community. Her positivity, generosity and willingness to support colleagues have made her a valued mentor, teammate and friend. She has helped to build the strong sense of community that defines the school, offering encouragement, humour and kindness in equal measure. Mel’s contribution extends far beyond lessons taught "brilliantly" or responsibilities fulfilled. She has helped shape the culture of the school, creating an environment where students and colleagues alike feel welcomed, cared for and able to thrive. Her dedication, commitment and infectious enthusiasm have made the department and the school a happier and warmer place. As she moves on to her new senior role at Alleyn’s Oakfield, we thank Mel for her outstanding service and wish her every success for the future. She leaves behind a legacy of care, friendship and excellence that will be remembered for many years to come. David Harley

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James Lothian James joined Alleyn’s from Gresham’s School in Norfolk in January 2014 as a teacher of Biology. Over the past twelve years, he has become a much-loved member of the school community, inspiring countless pupils through his enthusiasm for Biology and, in particular, his passion for anatomy. Many former students pursuing careers in Medicine will credit James for helping to spark their interest in the subject. He has also played a memorable role in challenging our aspiring medics for medical school interviews, annually taking on the character of a somewhat irate vegan animal-rights activist being offered a gelatine-containing treatment during our Mini Medics Interviews (MMIs). Within the Biology Department, James has earned the unofficial title of "Dissector-inChief", enthusiastically embracing almost every specimen that has come his way. Over the years, he has dissected everything from rats and rattlesnakes to pig’s heads and, most recently, a preserved turtle. Even in his final weeks at Alleyn’s, he was delighting colleagues and students alike with his fascination for the way the turtle’s vertebrae fuse with its shell. James is also famed for his booming voice; and he certainly could comfortably teach an entire year group simultaneously, given his ability to project through even the thickest classroom walls. James has also made a significant contribution to the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Most recently serving as Army Section Commander and Lead Master of Shooting, he has shared his expertise and enthusiasm with generations of cadets. His reputation as an excellent marksman has even given rise to the persistent rumour that he once worked as a sniper in a previous life. Most importantly, James will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and unwavering willingness to help others. He will be greatly missed by the Biology Department and wider Alleyn’s community, and we wish him luck in his new role as teacher of Biology at Epsom College. Matthew Greetham Lashonda Morgan Lashonda brought extraordinary creative energy, charm and passion to the newly created role of Videographer/Photographer, standing out from the very first for her enthusiasm, work ethic and vision. She quickly made her mark on the marketing team, getting to know everyone across the senior and junior school, reading the rhythm of school life, and working against the clock to produce a remarkable set of videos for Celebration Day. Whether photographing the football and hockey teams, imagining the future through her film ‘What Will the World Look Like in 100 Years' Time?’, directing the school's Hero Film, or bringing the joy of the junior school to life, Lashonda brought humanity, good humour and an unerring eye for the authentic richness of school life to everything she touched. Lashonda had the ability to capture moments of community, understanding and insight, and to translate this

into a wider vision of Alleyn’s as a whole. She often went beyond her brief to support others across the school, always took the time to put interview subjects at their ease, and played a valued role in the CCF. Her work leaves a lasting impression on the Alleyn's community and the way the world sees Alleyn’s. Isabella Sharp Emma Roselli Emma joined our school counselling team in September 2022. Her big, welcoming smile and downto-earth nature ensured that any pupil and staff member that had contact with her felt immediately at ease. At the same time, Emma was able to fight to ensure that pupils received whatever support they needed outside of the service. She helped many pupils during her time at Alleyn's feel better and achieve their goals. Emma is passionate about life-long studying and continued to increase her experience and expertise in different therapeutic models, generously sharing what she learnt with the team. Emma is an amazing singer, though we only learnt that at her leaving party! Although we miss her in our team, we know that she is doing incredible work supporting many young people. Liat Hoch Martin Scanlon-Helm Martin was a highly valued member of the Alleyn’s sports community, leaving a lasting impression through both his professionalism and his genuine care for pupils and colleagues alike. Throughout his time at the school, he built exceptionally strong relationships with pupils, earning their trust and respect through his calm manner, insight, and consistency. His approachability and steady presence meant pupils felt supported both on and off the pitch. Well respected by colleagues, Martin was known as someone who could always be relied upon. His experience and deep understanding of the game made him an invaluable contributor to the hockey programme, and he was generous with his knowledge, always willing to support others and share ideas. As a talented hockey player and an experienced coach, he set high standards while remaining grounded and encouraging. One of Martin’s most notable achievements was his instrumental role in the U14 girls’ team’s success in winning the England Hockey Tier 1 Plate. This accomplishment was a reflection not only of his tactical expertise but also of his ability to foster confidence, resilience, and unity within the team. His calm, insightful leadership in training and competition helped players believe in themselves and perform at their best. Martin’s impact at Alleyn’s extended far beyond results. He leaves behind a legacy of strong relationships, sporting success, and a positive culture that continues to influence pupils and colleagues alike. Ryan Shedwick

Aidan Sproat-Clements There are farewells, and then there are farewells. And saying goodbye to Aidan Sproat-Clements falls very firmly into the second category. Bloody hell! Saying farewell to Aidan. That is a tough gig. I was always so grateful that I left Wellington before him, so that I didn't have to contribute to his leaving speech there – I knew, even then, just how tricky it would be to do justice to this man. But there we are. You can run, but you can't hide. Aidan has followed me here, and now, having followed me here, he is leaving me here. And it falls to me to somehow sum up five remarkable years. So: how do we do justice to our tromboneplaying, TEDx-maestro, Excel spreadsheet magician, origami architect, Celebration Day conjuror and first-ever Schools BI sorcerer... in a mere few paragraphs? The challenge with Aidan is never the material. The opposite, in fact — it is how on earth to properly conjure up the virtuoso that is this man in anything less than a full-length biography. Aidan joined us in September 2021 as Assistant Head (Director of Studies) and Maths teacher, and it was immediately clear that something rather special had arrived. He was promoted — with absolute inevitability — to become our first ever Deputy Head (Innovation, Strategy and Delivery) in August last year. And now, he leaves us to become the first ever Head of Alleyn's Hampstead. Which is, of course, exactly right. Of course it is. This is what Aidan does: he builds things, shapes things, and then — infuriatingly, brilliantly — goes off to do something even more magnificent with what he has learned. It should be noted that Aidan is a man who relaxes by constructing intricate geometric structures from paper and card! That tells you everything: even in stillness, Aidan is building something! Aidan is, in the purest sense, a Renaissance man. A true polymath. There are very few things he cannot do and that do not interest him. You only have to look at him to know this — the whimsical, devil-may-care quiff, which defies gravity (and the years)… the ever-so-slightly maverick tailoring… the brogues you can see your face in. The panache, the style, the unfailing elegance of his sartorial presentation — it is all of a piece with the elegance of his mind. And what a mind! His formidable capacity for forensic analysis has transformed our tracking, monitoring and use of data forever. His scholarship and intellectual creativity gave birth to NED Talks, the Big NED, the TEDx conferences (twice) and the Monday Evening Talks (METs). His glorious, irrepressible, 'can-do, let's make it happen' energy brought Celebration Day to life — our wonderful, all-singing, alldancing (!) reimagining of what a school end of year celebration can and should be. But, if I had to point to one moment that sums up the kind of person and leader Aidan truly is, it would be this: the night of the Alleyn's Oakfield Christmas concert, when he spotted that the school's accompanist was clearly struggling, quietly sat down at the piano, and simply... played. No fuss. No fanfare. Just Aidan, spotting what needed to be done and doing it, with

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extraordinary skill and with all the warmth and humanity that characterises the person he is. That is his special talent. To identify what isn't working and find a way to fix it — often deploying his remarkable and seemingly inexhaustible panoply of personal gifts to do so. And to do it, always, with kindness and love at the heart of it all.

Her colleagues were incredibly fortunate to work alongside Natasha. She was tremendously supportive of fellow teachers, generous with her time and resources, and instrumental in creating a Psychology Department built on collaboration, encouragement, and mutual respect. Her willingness to help others and share ideas has left a lasting culture within the department.

When I asked for anagram inspiration (thanks, Claude!), the best offering derived from the letters of his full name was this: Mentor leads captains. And yes. That's it, really. That is what he has done here, and what he will go on doing at Alleyn's Hampstead, in his own school, with his own community, weaving his own particular and glorious spell.

While she will be greatly missed, she has gone on to tackle new challenges as Head of her own Psychology Department; we thank Natasha for everything she has given to Alleyn’s and wish her every happiness and success in the future.

Alleyn's Hampstead is extraordinarily lucky. And we — well! We will miss him more than words can say. A wonderful colleague. An inspiring teacher and a transformational leader. How fortunate we are that the Alleyn's name and DNA will live on in his capable, creative, endlessly generous hands.

Ollie was a hugely valued and popular member of the Digital Services team whose professionalism, warmth and attention to detail made a lasting impact across the school. Meticulous in everything he undertook, he approached even the most demanding tasks with care, diligence and unfailing good humour. Ollie had a remarkable ability to connect with people, quickly learning names and building strong relationships with colleagues, staff and pupils alike. His conscientious approach was particularly evident in his support of school examinations, where his reliability and precision were greatly appreciated. Friendly, dependable and always willing to help, Ollie leaves with our sincere thanks and very best wishes for the future.

Go build something magnificent, Aidan. We know you will! Jane Lunnon Natasha Timpson We have sadly had to say farewell to Natasha Timpson, whose contribution to our school community has been significant. Over the years, Natasha has inspired countless students and colleagues alike through her creativity, dedication, and genuine passion for education. As a teacher of Psychology, Natasha has been at the heart of the subject’s remarkable growth within the school. She played a major role in shaping much of the A Level Psychology course, helping to build a curriculum that challenged, engaged, and inspired students year after year. Through her enthusiasm and innovative teaching, Psychology flourished, growing from three sets in each year group to five — a reflection not only of the subject’s popularity, but of the impact she had on students. Many of those students have gone on to study Psychology at university, carrying forward the fascination and confidence that Natasha helped instill in them. Her expertise extended beyond Psychology; Natasha also taught Sports Psychology as part of the PE A Level course, bringing the same energy, insight, and encouragement to another area of the curriculum. In PSHE, as Second in Department, she made a lasting contribution by writing the scheme of work for the Lower School and developing a wealth of resources that continue to benefit both staff and students. Natasha’s leadership qualities were evident in her role as Deputy Head of Upper School. She made a significant contribution to the smooth running of the Sixth Form, always combining professionalism with compassion and understanding. Students knew they could rely on her not only as a teacher, but as someone who genuinely cared about them as individuals. She was often one of the first to notice when a student was struggling and one of the first to offer support.

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Stephen Keeler Ollie B. VydelinghamSmith

Tom Ward Lucy Willetts Lucy joined Alleyn's in 2021 with a great wealth of teaching experience and has made a real difference to the Chemistry Department, significantly improving the resources available to students and always bringing excellent subject knowledge to her teaching. Her teaching resources are infamous; pupils are demanding copies of the topics still to come in their course as she leaves! Her dedication shows in the way her students respond to her, and she is loved by all she teaches. She is endlessly efficient, kind, and rarely seen without a smile on her face. Finally, of course, no tribute would be complete without mentioning her legendary way with a spreadsheet. We wish you all the best with your new and exciting role at Bromsgrove. You will be sorely missed at Alleyn's! Alex Swann Sarah Whitehead Sarah Whitehead has been a defining presence in the English Department since joining Alleyn’s in 2013, and her departure marks the loss of a teacher of imagination, intellectual rigour and generosity. At the heart of Sarah’s teaching has always been a commitment to ensuring pupils know precisely what they need to know, combined with an instinctive creativity that brings literature vividly to life. Whether arranging for

a colleague to cook Indian food for a Year 9 class studying Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, or using contemporary material such as a Prime Ministerial apology to illuminate the nuances of English language, Sarah has consistently found ways to make her subject feel fun, relevant and alive. Her academic expertise is formidable, and she has continued to develop this throughout her time at Alleyn’s, producing and sharing research on Edith Wharton that has enriched both colleagues and pupils alike. Generations of students have benefited not only from her scholarship, but also from her ability to unlock difficulty with clarity and precision. Her work beyond the classroom has been equally rich: from leading LitSoc, to organising stimulating partnerships and talks, to inspiring pupils through her own published work, including her much-admired writing on Comic Gothic. She has also championed a new curriculum, such as spearheading the introduction of AS English Language for Upper School students. Sarah’s commitment to providing a broad and ambitious enrichment programme has been extraordinary. She has been tireless in creating opportunities for pupils to engage with literature beyond the curriculum, not least through her near-mythical willingness to say yes to theatre trips, ensuring that students fully experience the privilege of being in London. The scale of her contribution here is difficult to quantify, but its impact has been immense. Equally striking has been Sarah’s pastoral care. She is a deeply warm and empathetic teacher, attentive to the needs of every pupil, offering quiet reassurance to those who are anxious while gently but firmly chivvying others towards higher standards. Pupils feel known and supported in her care, and she has helped many to find both confidence and joy in their learning. As a colleague, Sarah has been thoughtful and quietly transformative. She has an amazing awareness of those around her, often the first to notice who might need encouragement, and she has played a central role in fostering the collegiality of the department. From memorable bingo nights to theatre outings, and even the determination to sustain Friday department drinks over Teams and socially distanced Christmas lunches during lockdown, Sarah has helped to build the sense of community that defines the Common Room at its best. For many newer colleagues, Sarah has also been an exceptional mentor. Her ability to balance high expectations with genuine care, and her constant focus on what pupils will enjoy and remember, has shaped practice far beyond her own classroom. Sarah leaves Alleyn’s having made an indelible contribution to its intellectual and communal life. Her legacy will be found not only in the countless pupils she has inspired, but also in the culture of curiosity and generosity she has helped to create. We wish her every happiness in the next chapter of writing and researching and hope that, before long, she will return to share a theatre trip or two with us once again. Emily Hardy

Raphaela Zanconato It is a pleasure to write about Raph and her impact on Alleyn’s. Having been with us over two stints, the mark she left on the school is evident through every event we host. Most people don’t understand that event roles rank as some of the most stressful out of any industry. In effect everything is live, things can go wrong constantly, and you have to prepare for all kinds of curve balls, all whilst looking in control. It is a credit to Raph she did this all with such great dedication and humour and gave the illusion of always having it held together. Perhaps known for her no-nonsense approach, Raph always cut to the chase, but we saw the results in her delivery. Governor dinners, Founder’s Days, Christmas concerts, you name it, she did it, and they always looked great.

Special thanks also goes to leavers: Freya Atkinson, Maryam Bhatti, Emma Callister-Walmsley, Eleanor Challands,

I am so happy that Raph was able to secure a role within the wider commercial events sector. She will of course always have a home at Alleyn’s, and we hope the uniqueness of Alleyn’s helps her on the journey. Thank you Raph, for literally thousands of event memories!

Thomas Chamberlain,

Guy Collins-Down

Alfie Dance-Laing,

Kristi Collard, Susan Cooper, Sabrina Cowgill, Sis De Silva, Jeremy Hill, Lotte Hondebrink, Gwyn Jenkins, Rajinder Keohane, Joanne Lipley James, Jonathan Lloyd, Carlo Lubrano Lavadera, Nickolas Martins Freitas, Peter Maxey, Brian Minter, Sameera Naqvi, Elizabeth Phelps, Nila Rajabali, Patricia Reed, Ruth Reilly, Eva Robinson, Sean Scott, Rio Sevilla, Maria Sousa Costa, Louise Townsend, Lixuan Wang

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CHAPLAINCY We have had another busy year, working across our Junior and Senior School sites. We unite both cohorts twice a year, at our Whole School Assembly at the start of the academic year, and on Remembrance Day in November. These annual dates in the calendar are a rare but welcome opportunity to bring the breadth of our community together, from the eager little four-year-olds in Reception to the young adults in Year 13 almost ready to make their mark on the world outside of Alleyn’s. We are blessed to be connected to St Barnabas, Dulwich, where we hold our Harvest, Christmas and Easter services. Our Parish Church is handily just over the road from school, and is where our Chaplain, Rev. Liz Pharoah, is Honorary Curate. It is also a great privilege to be able to hold services in the historic and intimate setting of Dulwich Chapel, where we hold our evening Carol Service and our Founder’s Day services at the end of the summer term. These important moments throughout the year allow us to give thanks as one, and also help showcase the talents of our students; with sung worship from our youngest Lower School All Stars Choir through to our senior Chamber Choir and Schola Cantorum, to members of our CCF taking a leading role on 11 November, to our pupils confidently reading Biblical

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passages aloud to their peers from the lectern. And this skill was keenly on display as we hosted the Southwark Regional Heat of the Cranmer Awards in November, a national competition where young people recite texts from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. We were delighted that two of our pupils, Micah Smith and Rosa Smith (Year 11 and Year 8 respectively) reached the Final held at Hampton Court Palace - and were even more thrilled to watch the latter win the Junior Category! We see year groups and sections at the morning assemblies, which we give and facilitate on topical themes, and we run our Junior School Chaplaincy Club on a weekly basis. It is also always a delight to welcome the new Year 7 pupils into Senior School

at our Matriculation Service in September, where they are formally introduced to Mrs Lunnon who presents them each with a cornflower (Edward Alleyn’s favourite flower). It is here that they first learn about the history of the school and of our creative and generous benefactor - two attributes we hope to instill in them over the course of their school life. As well as being there for the grand occasions, we also provide individual support in the quiet calm of Chaplaincy, with an open-door policy for students and alumni, staff or parents seeking informal chats or pastoral support in any way. Mrs Jasmine Cullingford Assistant Chaplain

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REVIEW

SCHOOL CAPTAIN 'S

I feel honoured to have served as School Captain during the celebration of 50 years of co-education. It has also been a year full of so many great experiences, with lots of students getting involved in sports, music, outreach and much more. We began the year off very strongly. Students returned from a wide range of trips and experiences, including the music tour to Belgium, the CCF shooting team’s success at Bisley, CCF summer camp and the Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition. This helped set the tone for what an amazing and busy year this would be.

remarkable. Music has also played a huge role this year, with concerts including St Cecilia’s, the Blackheath Halls chamber concert, Jazz Night and performances at Southwark Cathedral. The standard across all of these events has been incredibly high, reflecting the hard work students put in behind the scenes.

The first week of term was lots of fun. Watching the Year 7s at their matriculation service was very sweet. As a Year 13, it was the first of many reminders that our time at Alleyn’s is coming to an end.

Sport has been equally impressive. Among many achievements, the U14 hockey team became Tier 1 Plate champions, and the 1st XI football team won the Elgin League. These are just a small sample of the success we’ve seen across all year groups and teams, and it has been fantastic to watch so many students representing the school with pride.

The year continued to gain momentum with preparations for the second TEDx Alleyn’s School Youth underway, and it was inspiring to see students and staff fully immersed in researching and preparing their talks. The event itself was a real highlight, exposing us all to new and fascinating ideas. Co-curricular life at Alleyn’s has continued to thrive. From dance shows such as Spotlight to the school production of Anything Goes, the level of creativity and commitment on display has been

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Our partnerships programme has also grown significantly, while continuing to support important charitable work through both the school and the Alleyn’s Parents’ Association. We also further expanded our partnerships through Model United Nations and heading to Pau, France, for a partnership conference, whilst also having the privilege of hearing from Melinda

Bohannon and Simon Wood at our own conferences.

As a prefect body, we have also worked to bring the school community together in new ways. The inaugural Prefect Fair was a standout moment—despite the rain, it was a lot of fun, including games such as Molki and 2 Truths and a Lie, whilst Mr Koloi provided music and a bubble machine in the background! We have also had a lot of fun with our prefect assemblies dressing up as tube stations – shoutout to Will and his Paddington Bear outfit – and then finishing our tenure dressed up as Minions! All of this has taken place against the backdrop of celebrating 50 years of coeducation at Alleyn’s. This milestone has made the year feel even more special, and made us appreciate the progress that has been made in gender equality in the past 50 years and beyond. It was therefore fitting to see the school recognised as Coeducational School of the Year 2025. Looking back, this year has been defined by the people, the opportunities and the shared experiences that make Alleyn’s so unique. And I wish everyone all the best for the next year of Alleyn’s life. Chloé Masson School Captain 2026

GRPP WINNERS 2025 The GRPP has become Alleyn's highest academic prize. In preparation for their final year of school, those students determined to demonstrate their academic research capabilities and make use of a considerable platform to share their voice embrace this fantastic opportunity. For more than fifteen years, before the summer break, Year 12 Alleyn's pupils have been challenged to devise a critical research question and then to wholeheartedly dedicate their time over the holidays to research and respond to this issue of their own personal interest. In consultation with specialist teachers, students embark on their research and fine tune their exploration to finalise an appropriate question. Initial guidance might be offered but the essence of this endeavour is student led. The works are submitted after the summer break and are read blind by a team of long standing staff. A shortlist of six is selected who are invited to a viva with Alleyn's Governors and the Academic Leadership Team. We are so pleased to share the abstracts which summarise the essays of the 2026 winner and two runners up below. Ms Dorcas Maxwell Director of AIQ

WINNER Sophia McDonald (Roper’s 2026) “Ideas, cultures, and histories cannot seriously be understood or studied without their force, or more precisely their configurations of power, also being studied". Said’s perception of culture underpins my interest in the stateless condition, for it is in the lives of these marginalised communities that currents of power most clearly demarcate boundaries of inclusion and exclusion, foregrounding collective memories of loss and displacement as central to cultural identity. Focusing on Palestinian and Kurdish communities, this essay explores how the circulation of these emotions functions as a vehicle for political agency and a means of sustaining identity against oppression. Through an examination of how grief, trauma and hope are mobilised globally through diasporic networks, commemorative rituals and transnational activism, I question the extent to which affective bonds can reimagine sovereignty beyond territorial frameworks, conceiving it instead as a fluid and relational construct of cultural self-

determination. By analysing these threads of emotion and culture, I aim to present the complexity of the stateless identity, and its power to challenge the very regimes that both past and present have shaped it.

RUNNER-UP Manny Lane (Brown’s 2026) Oscar Wilde’s Salomé performs an act of intersectional rebellion: her dance, her eroticism and her fatal kiss exploit the court’s grotesque hedonism to destabilise the very heteropatriarchal frameworks that marginalise and coerce her. The play stands as a testament to how power produces and punishes desire. By queering the biblical myth through Salomé’s radical subversion of reproductive sexuality, Wilde dramatises a society in which rigid binaries, the sacred or the profane, the victim or the nefarious, or the masculine or the feminine, collapse. It teaches us that to live authentically is the ultimate transgression.

RUNNER-UP Beanie Dick (Spurgeon’s 2026) Cocaine and MDMA are psychoactive stimulants that elevate brain activity and produce cardiovascular stain. The ingestion of cocaine and MDMA can be fatal, and, whilst many are hard to determine, there are factors which can make individuals more or less vulnerable to fatality. This essay explores the mechanisms by which MDMA and cocaine lead to toxic effects on the brain, and the biological and environmental factors influencing why some individuals survive the use of MDMA and cocaine while others experience fatal outcomes. I found that genetic variations, sex, and age have a strong influence on risk of mortality upon consumption of MDMA and cocaine, and that environmental and situational factors – including ambient temperature, hydration, and polydrug use – alter vulnerability to these toxic effects. By reevaluating drug-related deaths as determined by both inherent and external conditions, this essay emphasises that these mortalities from MDMA and cocaine are a result of the complex interplay of multiple factors, as opposed to mere chance.

SCRIB 2026 / SCHOOL NOTES / 21

PRIZE WINNERS Year 7 Form Prizes Arun Agostinelli Sam Holland Izzy Hunt Zoe Lee Leo Piper Adam Werneman Year 7 Harland Endeavour Prizes Emily Anderson Millie Anderson-Peters Augustine Bihr Filby Simon Kenny Libby Nwosu Lara Roberts Year 8 Form Prizes David Langhamer Emmeline Martel Emily Maula Savannah Noble Sophia Nunn Sophia Walker Garcia Diana Welford Year 8 Harland Endeavour Prizes Ethan Cheng Emma Davidson Ed Kirkup Lucas Lara Nia Nikolova Elliot Pilkington Poppy Platten-Goacher Lower School Co-Curricular Prizes Dance ‒ Hughie Buttler Art ‒ Ali Hand Sport ‒ Holly Hay Music ‒ Evelyn Kennedy-Mulcahy Sport ‒ Gus Maberly Lower School Values Awards Respect ‒ Joshua James Opportunity ‒ Emma Jones Curiosity ‒ Robyn Lim Courage ‒ Ludo Barbini Kindness ‒ Ellie Allen

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Rose - Lower School Prize Isobel Toms Year 9 Form Prizes Max Lau Naia Ferdinand Eliza Winspear Theo Iacuzzi Aurora Aiyar Abigail Seabrook Audette Tudor-Hart Nancy Cai Year 9 Harland Endeavour Prizes Erik Goertzen Maya Eleni Orfanidis Melis Belgin Alicia Passmore Francesca Brooke Daniel Egorov Deborah Bello Theo Fletcher Year 10 Form Prizes Jahnel Marseglia Mendy Mya Biondini James Yates Beatrice Laicini Oli Samuel Alice Tolmunen Rosie Farrow-Smith Ivan Xi Year 10 Harland Endeavour Prizes Cosmo Bradly Lizzie Brain Annabelle Bimson Agnes Chmielowska Max Gregory Ella Gregson Florence Patrick Natalia Price Year 11 Form Prizes Sophie Ali Amelie Bayfield Gabriel Hilder

Crispin Kyriakoudis Connie Palmer Ben Pearse Micah Smith Felix Thomas Year 11 Harland Endeavour Prizes Esmé Ayoade Lyla Biswas Freya Cahn Toby Hood Billy Macpherson Arthur O’Byrne Ewa Tarczynska Juno Willitts-King Middle School Co-Curricular Prizes Rolfe Food & Nutrition ‒ Sophie Ali Rouse Music ‒ Leon Bricht Sport ‒ Annabel Brown Rouse Music ‒ Alice Chadwick-Jones Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver ‒ Ben Cloney CCF Navy Junior ‒ Theo Fletcher Collins Middle School Debating ‒ Phoebe Hatt Volunteering ‒ Phoebe Hatt CCF Army Junior ‒ Vincent Jin Newton Drama ‒ Johnny Ovenden Duke of Edinburgh Bronze ‒ Florence Patrick Sport ‒ Daniel Whitehouse Dance ‒ Poppy Whittaker Art ‒ Juno Willitts-King CCF RAF Junior ‒ Chloe Xu Middle School Values Awards Respect ‒ Joseph Okunlola Opportunity ‒ Amelie Bayfield Curiosity ‒ Edo Iacuzzi Courage ‒ Charlotte Sullivan Kindness ‒ Lucy Price Foster - Middle School Prize Trisha Aiyar Year 12 Academic Prizes Art – Ava Blackburn Tonkin Drama and Theatre – Ava Blackburn

RJ Cousins Engineering – Deniz Budak Pehlivan Gascoigne Biology – Theodora Chau Chemistry – Phoebe Clayton Hill Music – Joseph Crown Dance – Lyla Dawson Economics – Orlando Drake German – Ideh Fathipour Banson Single Mathematics – Ideh Fathipour Barlow Greek – Tatyana Felder-Sinner Computing – Thomas Haddon Mathematics – Thomas Haddon Design – Emily He English – Amélie Hunt Politics – Conor Kitching Classical Civilisation – Scarlett Moore Psychology – Josie Morrison Geography – Freya Morrison Religious Studies – Scarlett Moore Film Studies – Jazz Mudahy Rees Double Mathematics – Fermin Ruiz Idáñez Philosophy – Stanley Schendel Callaghan History – Ella Semple Spanish – Jessie Stanier Latin – Oliver Thomas Physics – Oliver Thomas Physical Education – Scarlett Wigley French – Sofia Yau-Alfredson Year 13 Academic Prizes Wallis Further Mathematics – Milo Arie Smith Physics – Milo Arie Design – Ella Mathias Ballard Carver French – Georgie Tatton Brown EPQ – Scarlett Burnham Hartley History of Art – Scarlett Burnham Art – Scarlett Burnham Dance – Skye Cahn Acton Taylor Music – Hannah Chadwick-Jones Philosophy – Aiden Cheung Frank History – Zoe Cunningham Banson Single Mathematics – Zoe Cunningham

Hudson Economics – Anouck Douglas Physical Education – Seren Farrow-Smith Henderson Divinity – Lois Green Newton Drama and Theatre – Emmanuel Lane Carver German – Petra Lewis Spicer Latin – Petra Lewis Politics – Sophia McDonald Spicer Greek – Matilda Mellor Burton Woolrich English – Matilda Mellor Spicer Classical Civilisation – Anastasia Moughtin-Mumby Carver Spanish – Anastasia Moughtin-Mumby Swift Geography – Gabriel Pilkington Norris Mathematics – Max Rovny Psychology – Max Saba Computing – Mohammed Seddik Gilmour History – Indigo Stone Film Studies – Cass Sullam Smith Chemistry – Chloé Veylon Hartley Science – Milly Walshe Smith Biology – Georgia Wilkinson Upper School Academic Excellence Prizes Rafael Bozo Sandagorda Betty Brogden Alicia Dicker Beanie Dick Patrick Doherty Neb Hatt Benny Huang Ceci Lenz Sophia Le-Hill Ananya Prasad Emma Woodland Alexander Yau-Alfredson Upper School Co-Curricular Prizes Moody Science Essay – Claire Akinronbi Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award – Isabel Ali CCF RAF – Sofia Ansell Upper School Volunteering – Logan Chambers Lane Outreach – Alicia Dicker

Contribution to School Sport – Livvy Frost Upper School Dance – Florence Ireson Brading Essay – Emmanuel Lane Contribution to School Sport – Rory Ledbetter GRPP – Sophia McDonald CCF Navy – Matilda Mellor Lanchberry Composition Prize – Johnny Ovenden APA Upper School Drama – Hero Parry CCF Army – Perle Recoules CCF Drumming – Richard Yu Allison Upper School Debating – Georgie Tatton Brown Harper Upper School Music – Nicole Zheng Saddlers’ Diplomas Adyan Arif Zoe Cunningham Patrick Doherty Sofia Pecce Lavitta Xie Fanner ‒ Upper School Prize Alex Hennebert Edward Alleyn Prize Amélie Hunt Sue Chandler Honorary Sports Scholarship Award Ella Talbot Skye Richarz Prize for Contribution to the School Community Isabel Bayfield Upper School Values Awards Respect ‒ Louis Marty Opportunity ‒ Daniel Sampson Curiosity ‒ Sofia Ansell Courage ‒ Kira Kutnyk Kindness ‒ Luke Wallace-Vorberg Incledon and School Captain’s Prize Incledon ‒ William Jones Incledon ‒ Georgie Tatton Brown School Captain’s Prize ‒ Chloé Masson

SCRIB 2026 / SCHOOL NOTES / 23

ALWAYS ALLEYN’S “Alleyn’s doesn’t end when you leave at the end of Year 13” Aviyah Okunlola (Spurgeon’s 2026)

It has been a fantastic year for the Development and Alumni Relations Office. We have loved connecting pupils, alumni and the wider Alleyn’s community through events including the Recent Leavers’ Christmas Drinks, Women at Alleyn’s Lunch, Edward Alleyn Lecture, EAC Dinner, Cornflower Club Lunch, Last Lap Reunion, Decades Reunion and so many more! Heartfelt thanks to our brilliant prefects, Matilda Mellor (Spurgeon’s 2026), Aviyah Okunlola (Spurgeon’s 2026) and Marcus Gilbert (Tulley’s 2026), who have been outstanding ambassadors of today’s Alleyn’s. From welcoming hundreds of guests and organising student volunteers to sharing valuable perspectives on philanthropy and community engagement, they have met alumni across industries and generations and helped make every event a success. Even a broken bone couldn’t stop Marcus! It has been a pleasure to connect pupils with alumni through AiQ, Alleyn’s Out There, Higher Education Day, Year 12 Careers Day and the Day of Wicked Problems, whilst continuing to raise funds for bursaries, facilities and enriching opportunities. The first Carros de Foc trek for young alumni took place, supported by a generous alumni donor, and we were delighted to welcome several new alumni Cornflowers (people who will leave a donation to Alleyn’s in their will). As we look ahead, we are delighted to welcome incoming prefects Diana C, Jack T and Oliver T. As Marcus put it, it is “the best prefect job in the school. I’d always known that this extensive network of alumni and former staff existed, but the opportunity to engage with them before leaving school is truly unique.” Development and Alumni Relations Office

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MATILDA’S REVIEW “I've really enjoyed being an Alumni Prefect over the last year, getting to see a completely new side of the school that you don’t usually glimpse until after graduation. Alongside Aviyah and Marcus, I attended several alumni events, where the food was excellent and the company even better! Conversations with Alleyn’s alumni are always fascinating. You hear how much has changed since their time here – smoking in the Prefect Common Room, climbing the Great Hall rafters, and, for some alumni, no girls. Equally joyous is hearing what has stayed the same – enthusiasm for sport, the

stage and music; long assemblies; and the ever-competitive House Cup and Victor Ludorum. I’ve also enjoyed discovering how important CCF was for many alumni, with the same drill and trips still going on today as they did fifty years ago (although the kit may have changed a little). I’m excited to be joining this alumni community and look forward to meeting future alumni prefects at a Decades Reunion!” Matilda Mellor (Spurgeon’s 2026)

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS This year’s winners were West End actress Georgina Castle (Dutton’s 2011) and Nobel Laureate virologist Sir Michael Houghton (Tyson’s 1968). Now in their third year, the Awards reflected a wide range of alumni and interests and received the highest number of votes to date. We were

THANK YOU, NINA Award-winning wine and travel writer Nina Caplan (Spurgeon’s 1991) was our EAC President this year. Nina attended the Women at Alleyn’s lunch, hosted a specialist wine evening for alumni and parents, and passes on the presidency to Lisa Pavlovsky (Roper’s 1981) at the EAC Dinner in Advent 2026. Nina was our guest speaker at the Year 13 Graduation Ceremony, saying:

“Staying curious is a great way to have an interesting and fulfilling life. The world is a large and fascinating place, and you will have many opportunities to discover aspects of it and hopefully, to leave your corner of it in better shape than you found it. Keep learning and exploring, whatever you do.”

delighted to welcome Georgie to Celebration Day 2026 to receive her award from our prefects! She said:

“Wow! I am so thrilled. So lovely to see some of the [nomination] quotes – that's very special and cool. I’m genuinely touched.”

Enjoy our gallery showing student volunteers and alumni at events and reunions throughout the year. Contact us at: alumni@alleyns.org.uk and follow our stories at alleyns.org.uk/alumninews.

SCRIB 2026 / SCHOOL NOTES / 25

UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS Airbus and UWE Degree Apprenticeship Brighton and Sussex Medical School Medicine Cardiff University Medicine City St George's, University of London Financial Economics Durham University Anthropology Economics Engineering (Aeronautical) General Engineering History International Relations Liberal Arts Modern Languages and Cultures (with Year Abroad) Music Philosophy Philosophy and Theology Physics Psychology Imperial College London Aeronautical Engineering Mechanical Engineering King's College London, University of London Economics English Literature Geography Management and Modern Languages with a year abroad Medicine London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London History Philosophy and Economics Loughborough University Business Analytics Industrial Design (with placement year) Sport and Exercise Science (with placement year) Sport Management (with placement year) Miami University, Ohio Liberal Arts and Sciences Newcastle University Computer Science Economics and Finance Medicine and Surgery 26 / SCHOOL NOTES / SCRIB 2026

Queen Mary University of London Economics Mathematics with Computing with Year Abroad Medical Genetics Royal Holloway, University of London Liberal Arts The American College of Greece Liberal Arts and Sciences The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Drama The University of Edinburgh Chemistry Chinese Classics Cognitive Science (Humanities) English Literature Fine Art Geography History International Relations with Quantitative Methods Philosophy and Psychology Psychology Psychology and Sociology Theology Veterinary Medicine The University of Sheffield Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering UC Berkeley Liberal Arts and Sciences UCL (University College London) Applied Medical Sciences Biological Sciences Earth Sciences (International Programme) Law Natural Sciences University of Bath Economics with professional placement or study abroad Integrated Design Engineering University of Birmingham Geography Medicine University of Bristol Anthropology Biochemistry with Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Civil Engineering Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence Economics and Management with Study Abroad

Economics and Mathematics Engineering Mathematics Film and English History History with Innovation International Social and Public Policy Law Medicine - MBChB Standard entry Politics and Modern Languages Politics and Sociology Psychology Psychology with Innovation University of Cambridge Architecture Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Engineering English Human, Social, and Political Sciences Law Linguistics Medicine

University of Nottingham Law Mathematics Medicine University of Oxford Biomedical Sciences Classics Classics and Spanish Option A with Beginners' Latin or Greek Computer Science Engineering English and French English Language and Literature Fine Art French Geography History and Spanish Japanese Law University of Plymouth Dental Therapy and Hygiene

University of Exeter Business and Management with Industrial Experience Geography International Relations with Study Abroad Law Law with Business Politics Philosophy and Economics with Employment Experience Politics, Philosophy and Economics

University of Reading Building Surveying

University of Glasgow Economics/Mathematics

University of St Andrews Classics

University of Hertfordshire Comics and Concept Art

University of Surrey

University of Leeds

University of the Arts London (UAL) Art Foundation

Biomedical Sciences Economics Psychology University of Leicester Business Economics Mathematics with Foundation Year Politics and Economics University of Liverpool Business Management Veterinary Science University of Manchester Biomedical Sciences Children's Nursing Civil Engineering Drama and English Literature English Literature History Management (Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship) Medicine Mental Health Nursing Physics Politics and International Relations Politics, Philosophy and Economics Psychology

University of Sheffield Aerospace Engineering Computer Science University of Southampton Biochemistry Chemistry Medicine

Astronautics and Space Engineering

University of Utah Liberal Arts and Sciences University of Warwick Chemistry with Industrial Placement Computer Science Mathematics Mathematics and Statistics Psychology University of York Biology French and Spanish (with a year abroad) Politics with International Relations Psychology Vanderbilt University Liberal Arts and Sciences

*This is a provisional list as of beginning of September 2026. SCRIB 2026 / SCHOOL NOTES / 27

S C H O L A R S H I PS A N D AWA R D S Congratulations to everyone who received an award for September 2026. SADDLERS' SCHOLARS Arihaan Anand Alleyn's Junior School Felix Haycock Hornsby House School Kyleen Lau James Allen's Girls' School Jack Phipps Hornsby House School Olivia Pieke Alleyn's Junior School Penelope Prigent Hornsby House School Nicolas Rodriguez London Christian School Dylan Wells Rutherford House School ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS Felix Akhurst Alleyn’s Junior School George Beidas Alleyn's Junior School Jennifer Brain Blackheath Prep School Michael Brommundt Alleyn's Junior School Victoria Cui Balgowan Primary School Kerem Dundar Alleyn's Junior School Elliot Engelen-Courtois Claremont Primary School Isla Etheridge Bonneville Junior School Phoebe McNee Hornsby House School Michael Nathan Perrymount Primary School Simi Odunfa Breaside Prep School Josh Saluja Breaside Prep School Anya Thavam Finton House School Isobella Tiboni Little Blackheath Prep School Jonty Wright Hornsby House School ART SCHOLARSHIPS Agnes Lahiri Jack Phipps Alexia Powell-Jackson

Alleyn's Junior School Hornsby House School Thomas's Preparatory Clapham

ART EXHIBITIONS Quinn Harris Emma Li Victoire Remond Seiji Tateno

Rosendale Primary School Alleyn's Junior School Belleville (Meteor) Primary School St Dunstan's College (Junior Dept)

DT SCHOLARSHIPS Michael Nathan Olivia Pieke Isobella Tiboni Little

Perrymount Primary School Alleyn's Junior School Blackheath Prep School

28 / SCHOOL NOTES / SCRIB 2026

DT EXHIBITIONS Jennifer Brain Victoire Remond

Blackheath Prep School Belleville (Meteor) Primary School

DRAMA SCHOLARSHIPS Rees Foster Ark Byron Primary Academy Gabriella Meldrum Eaton House The Manor Girls' School Penelope Prigent Hornsby House School DRAMA EXHIBITIONS Lilou Caballero Ludzik Belleville Primary School Matilda Seeger Newton Prep School MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS Michael Brommundt Alleyn's Junior School Alexander Cheung City Junior School Isobella Tiboni Little Blackheath Prep School HONORARY MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS Felix Akhurst Alleyn's Junior School Victoria Cui Balgowan Primary School Emma Li Alleyn's Junior School Andrey Lisitsyn Blackheath Prep School HONORARY MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP - YEAR 12 Joseph Crown Alleyn's School SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS Felix Akhurst Alleyn's Junior School Jennifer Brain Blackheath Prep School Francesca Bruno Francis Holland Preparatory School Lilou Caballero Ludzik Belleville Primary School Zakariya Chowdhury Curwen Primary School Lily Graham Hornsby House School Felix Haycock Hornsby House School Isaiah Latty Lyndhurst Primary School Phoebe McNee Hornsby House School Maksym Nikolenko Dolphin School Loulou-Belle O’Neill St Anthony's RC Primary School Ines Reig Muyo Eaton House Girls' School

HONORARY SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS Lucy Ali Alleyn's Junior School Arthur Baxter Alleyn's Junior School Tobias Blaszczuk Dulwich Prep London Nye Bowles Gower School Jamie Bristow Dulwich Prep London Mathilda Carnergie Knightsbridge School Eleanor Clarke James Allen's Junior School Henry Cotte Hurlingham School Rory Cowell Alleyn's Oakfield Fraser Davidson Alleyn's Junior School Clementine Frost Finton House School Mateo Gensch Thomas's Preparatory Clapham Agnes Lahiri Alleyn's Junior School Ajit Nair The White House Preparatory Eve Samuel Rosemead Preparatory School Alexander Teschmacher Finton House School Beatrice Watson-Steele Christ Church (Chelsea) Primary School

Stanley Epps Alastair FitzGerald-Jones Crystal Georgestone Rachel Gleeson Deniz Ozgur D’arcy Samuel Imogen Wilks

St Dunstan’s College The Charter School East Dulwich Kingsdale Foundation School Wimbledon High School Wetherby Senior School Harris Boys East Dulwich Wimbledon High School

16+ HONORARY MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS Gianna Cheung Alleyn's School Imogen Grist Alleyn's School Juliet Hesse Alleyn's School Sam Negyal Alleyn's School Arthur O’Byrne Alleyn's School Alex O’Neill Alleyn's School Johnny Ovenden Alleyn's School Ella Talbot Alleyn's School Ada Watson Alleyn's School Eugene Zheng Alleyn's School

HONORARY SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS - YEAR 12 Sophie Lonsdale Alleyn's School Ammie Baldie Alleyn's School Ned Burton Alleyn's School

16+ PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS Imogen Cole Streatham and Clapham High School Jack Willoughby Dulwich College

SUE CHANDLER SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP Ella Talbot Alleyn's School

16+ SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS Eliana Joseph Sydenham High School

16+ COATES SCHOLARSHIPS Alice Chadwick-Jones Alleyn's School Phoebe Hatt Alleyn's School Edward Iacuzzi Alleyn's School William Macpherson Alleyn's School

16+ HONORARY SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS - YEAR 11 Ella Talbot Alleyn's School Chloe Osborne Alleyn's School James Clements-Nash Alleyn's School Ali De Soyza Alleyn's School Arabella Howard Alleyn's School Ben Pearse Alleyn's School Thomas Green Alleyn's School Hugh Pilkinton Alleyn's School Maxim Borin Alleyn's School Jess Jones Alleyn's School Sophie Joel Alleyn's School Annabel Brown Alleyn's School Fiadh McNulty Alleyn's School Maya Simpson Alleyn's School Noah Buck Alleyn's School Freya Cahn Alleyn's School Sophie Ali Alleyn's School Stanley Taylor Alleyn's School Daniel Whitehouse Alleyn's School Henny Davey Alleyn's School Millie Sims Alleyn's School Toby Hood Alleyn's School

16+ HONORARY COATES SCHOLARSHIPS Isla Alexander Alleyn's School Sophie Ali Alleyn's School Isabel Barnett Alleyn's School Oscar Bennett Alleyn's School Annabel Brown Alleyn's School Audrey Chappell Alleyn's School Suria Kahl Alleyn's School Adam Podjarny Alleyn's School Edward Pugh Alleyn's School Micah Smith Alleyn's School Ada Watson Alleyn's School Daniel Whitehouse Alleyn's School Juno Willitts-King Alleyn's School Alfred Winning Alleyn's School Shuze Zheng Alleyn's School 16+ ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS Elspeth Archer South Hampstead High Cara Chan Wallington High School for Girls Eleni Cosgrove Harris Girls Academy East Dulwich

16+ HONORARAY SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS Morgan Fritschi Sydenham High School Rhea Patalia Streatham and Clapham High School SCRIB 2026 / SCHOOL NOTES / 29

COLOURS Co-Curricular Awards

Congratulations to all recipients of Full Colours, Half Colours, Commendations, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards from across the whole community.

The Alle

National/Inte Performing Art Orchestra Plac Lives the ROC

Full Colo

Exceptional en Dance, Drama and/or Leade Lives the ROC

Full Colour

Half Col

Above and Be achievement in Community En Awarded in Ye

Half Colour

Awards

The Alleyn’s Blue Medal

Commendation Platinum Gold

Full Colour

Silver

Half Colour The Alleyn’s Blue Medal

ommendation Platinum Gold Silver Bronze

Bronze

National/International recognition: Sport international Cap, Performing Arts exceptional recognition e.g. National Youth Orchestra Place, exceptional achievement as an Alumni, Lives the ROCCK Values

National/International recognition: Sport international Cap, Performing Arts exceptional recognition e.g. National Youth Orchestra Place, exceptional achievement as an Alumni, Lives the ROCCK Values

Full Colour

Exceptional engagement and/or achievement in either Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community Engagement and/or Leadership (typically Awarded in Year 11/12/13). Lives the ROCCK Values

Half Colour

Above and Beyond the norm’ engagement and/or achievement in either Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community Engagement and/or Leadership (typically Awarded in Year 11/12/13). Lives the ROCCK Values

Commendation Certificate

A specific aspect of engagement and/or achievement worthy of recognition in either Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community Engagement and/or Leadership (typically Awarded in Year 11/12/13). Lives the ROCCK Values

Full Colour

Platinum

Exceptional engagement and/or achievement in either Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community Engagement and/or Leadership (typically Awarded in Year 11/12/13). Lives the ROCCK Values

Participation in at least 3 co-curricular activities, has attended one academic/enrichment talk or participated in Partnership activity (awarded during Year 10), exceptional achievement or engagement in one area from Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community. Displays the ROCCK Values

Half Colour

Gold

Commendation Certificate

Silver

Above and Beyond the norm’ engagement and/or achievement in either Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community Engagement and/or Leadership (typically Awarded in Year 11/12/13). Lives the ROCCK Values

A specific aspect of engagement and/or achievement worthy of recognition in either Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community Engagement and/or Leadership (typically Awarded in Year 11/12/13). Lives the ROCCK Values

Platinum

Participation in at least 3 co-curricular activities, has attended one academic/enrichment talk or participated in Partnership activity (awarded during Year 10), exceptional achievement or engagement in one area from Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community. Displays the ROCCK Values

Gold

Participation in at least 3 co-curricular activities, has attended one academic/enrichment talk or participated in Partnership activity (awarded during Year 9), exceptional achievement or engagement in one area from Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or 30 / SCHOOL NOTES / SCRIB 2026 Community. Displays the ROCCK Values

Participation in at least 3 co-curricular activities, has attended one academic/enrichment talk or participated in Partnership activity (awarded during Year 9), exceptional achievement or engagement in one area from Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community. Displays the ROCCK Values

Participation in at least 4 co-curricular activities, has attended one academic/enrichment talk or participated in Partnership activity (awarded during Year 8), exceptional achievement or engagement in one area from Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community. Displays the ROCCK Values

Bronze

Participation in at least 4 co-curricular activities, has attended one academic/enrichment talk or participated in Partnership activity (awarded during Year 7), exceptional achievement or engagement in one area from Dance, Drama, Music, Sport or Community. Displays the ROCCK Values

Commen

A specific asp of recognition Community En Awarded in Ye

Platinum

Participation in one academic activity (award or engagemen or Community

Gold

Participation in one academic activity (award engagement in Community. D

Silver

Participation in one academic activity (award engagement in Community. D

Bronze

Participation in one academic activity (award engagement in Community. D

COMMUNITY COLOURS

FULL

Isabel Bayfield Volunteering Felicity Beckingham-Hughes Charity Committee Co-Chair Scarlett Burnham LS Art Club Aiden Cheung Economics Soc Anouck Douglas Economics Soc Alexa Edwards Economics Soc Maya Geffert MUN Joshua Grist Politics Soc Ted Jackson MUN William Jones Exploring Christianity Tessa Layton MFL Soc Petra Lewis Junior Classics Club Chloé Masson MUN Sofia McAllister MFL Soc Joju McCabe MFL Soc Sophia McDonald Politics Soc Scarlett Mounsdon Charity Committee Co-Chair Amélie Summers LS Art Club Georgie Tatton Brown Volunteering, Debating Yaenee Tucker LS Art Club Emma Wales Exploring Christianity

DANCE COLOURS

FULL

Heather Abonyo Isabel Ali Skye Cahn Isabel Clarke

Larissa Dalledone Rudy Gentry-Peacock Lois Green Emmanuel Lane Ella Mathias Ballard Catalina Mauro Wilhelmina Mountain Anna Stott Yaenee Tucker Hannah Uwakwe

DRAMA COLOURS

FULL

Isabel Ali Felicity Beckingham-Hughes Yagmur Budak Pehlivan Isabel Clarke Larissa Dalledone Dylan De Groose Elizabeth Doyle Jena Fathallah Sophia Garvey Joe Hill Reggie Kenyon Timofey Khanyutin Emmanuel Lane Tessa Layton Petra Lewis Tatum Logan Louis Marty Sofia McAllister Joju McCabe Sophia McDonald Mia McLoughlin Bea Morgan Anastasia Moughtin-Mumby Wilhelmina Mountain Aviyah Okunlola Hero Parry Phoebe Ratnasabapathy Anna Stott Amélie Summers Ayrton Terrett Jaden Turrell Arthur White Richard Yu

MUSIC COLOURS

FULL

Sofia Ansell Felicity Beckingham-Hughes Hannah Chadwick-Jones Ugo Dal Col Patrick Doherty Jena Fathallah Maya Geffert Joshua Grist

Joe Hill Erik Kiszegi Petra Lewis Louis Marty Chloé Masson Sofia McAllister Joju McCabe Anastasia Moughtin-Mumby Aviyah Okunlola Hero Parry Archie Shaw Anna Stott Selina Thakker Jaden Turrell Nicole Zheng

SPORT COLOURS

FULL

Ojas Apte Milo Arie Maia Bavinton William Borrows Hugo de Silva Beanie Dick Seren Farrow-Smith Noah Fong Livvy Frost Marcus Gilbert James Goodman Thomas Harrison Zachary Jayaram Sam Joel William Jones Isy Key Rory Ledbetter William Leech Noah Marsden Powell Chloé Masson Eva Mavrikis Sam McFarlane Scarlett Mounsdon William Murray Meg Parry Gabriel Pilkington Ivor Pryse-Lloyd Sebastian Recordon Myles Roberts Theo Rollet de Fougerolles Max Saba Ben Sharkey Archie Shaw Louis Shields Jax Singhvi Cass Sullam Diva Tiwari Ian Weyer-Brown Arthur White

SCRIB 2026 / SCHOOL NOTES / 31

ALLEYN’S SCHOOL ARCHIVE 2025-26 The 2025-26 academic year marks the 50th anniversary of the school becoming both an independent and a co-educational school. In fact, Alleyn’s was one of the earliest fee-paying schools to become coeducational. The Archives contributed to some of the events planned for the year and led on mounting a permanent exhibition on the side of the DT block to commemorate this double milestone. The boards focus on the facts of the journey to this new status as well as life in the school at the time. Governors’ records were consulted for the research, along with alumni from those pioneering first few years in the mid-1970s. We repeated the Brixton Hill Local History project, which we piloted last year. Around twenty Year 12s from both Alleyn’s and Trinity Academy Brixton collaborated to study original archive sources relating to Brixton Hill. Some classroom-based work was mixed with work at the new Lambeth Archives on Brixton Hill and a guided walking tour. Their focus was on teamwork and partnerships, as well as historical study 32 / SCHOOL NOTES / SCRIB 2026

from original archive sources. The pupils produced excellent presentations at the end of the course, which fed into their UCAS application forms. All the pupils found it an eye-opener to mix with pupils from different backgrounds to their own. The legacy of our First World War project continues via the website at https://alleynsww1.fireflycloud.net/.

In 2022 we reported that the body of alumnus 2nd Lieut Leslie Wallace Ablett, who left school in 1913, had been found where he had fallen. School records helped to identify his family and he was buried in a formal cemetery in 2021. Since then, another alumnus, who left in 1898, Pte Albert Harry Detmold of the Canadian Pioneers, has been found in similar circumstances. The Archives provided information that helped to identify his family members and he was formally buried in July 2026. New contributions from members of the public continue to be submitted for inclusion on the website, and that resource is ever-growing. Our Year 9 pupils continue with their First World War lessons, where they study the stories of Alleyn’s old boys who served in

the First World War, using copies of original archive documents. They look at how those individuals contributed to the greater whole of the First World War. Our intern, Angelique Golding, PhD, stayed with us for a second year. She has carried out curatorial work on Governors, Estates, Events, Headmasters’ Reports and Inspection records. Our volunteer who represents the Edward Alleyn Club, Neil French (Cribb's 1961), is working on an index of all staff members. He is sourcing these mostly from the Club magazine, the Edward Alleyn Magazine, and Scriblerus. Offers of new accessions to the archive are regularly offered and received, and around 100 enquiries have been answered. Miss Nicola Waddington Alleyn’s School Archivist SCRIB 2026 / SCHOOL NOTES / 33

COMMUNITY AND PA RT N E R S H I P S

THE ALLEYN’S TOGETHER PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME Alleyn’s Partnerships: Expanding Opportunity and Impact Partnership work remains central to life at Alleyn’s, reflecting a sustained commitment to collaboration, access and educational enrichment. Over the past

year, this programme has continued to grow in both scale and depth, creating meaningful opportunities for pupils, staff and partner schools alike. Through curriculum projects, co-curricular initiatives and targeted outreach, pupils engage with the wider community in ways that develop leadership, empathy and confidence. At the same time, partner schools benefit from

shared expertise, resources and sustained support. This is a reciprocal model: pupils at Alleyn’s gain perspective and purpose, while contributing to broader educational opportunity. By strengthening local connections and widening participation, our partnerships programme continues to support social mobility and deliver tangible impact across the communities we serve.

PRIMARY PARTNERSHIPS Our primary partnerships extend across 25 local schools, delivered through Alleyn’s Academy on Tuesdays, Monday afternoon sessions led by Year 12 students, and Saturday Maths. These programmes widen access, build confidence, and foster a sustained love of learning for students within Alleyn’s School and across the local community.

Alleyn's Academy Primary (Music, Sport, Coding) Alleyn’s Academy has been a vibrant and joyful presence this year, with the Lower School atrium regularly filled by Year 5 and 6 pupils singing with energy and confidence. From Taylor Swift to Frozen and Wicked, their enthusiasm creates an immediate sense of excitement and belonging. Many then move straight into the Sports Academy, where around 60 pupils take part in hockey, rugby, table tennis, football and swimming. Supported by a dedicated team of volunteer coaches and an enthusiastic group of Year 10 mentors, the programme offers both highquality activity and meaningful leadership opportunities, creating a dynamic and inclusive environment each week.

said they had fun and 57% said they have grown in confidence.

In our survey of 59 students who regularly attended Alleyn’s Academy, 86.4% said they have learned new skills. Over 90%

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Quotes: I have loved each song we have sung and everyone is so kind. The thing I have liked the most is when I get to experience having fun and learning a new sport The thing I have liked the most is...‘Having an experience with girls united and learning new skills' The sport club is super interactive one of the best sport clubs I’ve attended The thing I have liked the most is... ‘Indoor sports and all the coaches and I love table tennis'

Year 12s Monday Afternoons Monday afternoons have become a dynamic hub of activity, led by Year 12 students delivering sessions in Science, Choir and GarageBand, Art, Drama, Dance, reading, coding and volunteering. Each week, hundreds of primary-aged pupils arrive, bringing energy, curiosity and unpredictability. For our students, this is a powerful shift beyond the familiarity of the classroom, requiring adaptability, resilience, and confidence. Leading younger pupils places them firmly outside their comfort zones, developing real-world communication and leadership skills. The experience is both challenging and rewarding, fostering independence while strengthening connections with the local community through meaningful, pupil-led engagement.

Saturday Maths At Alleyn's School, Saturday Maths is a vibrant enrichment programme designed to inspire talented Year 5 mathematicians from the local community. Delivered in partnership with the Southwark Community Education Charity, the sessions encourage pupils to think creatively and confidently beyond the National Curriculum through puzzles, games, investigations, and practical challenges. Working in small groups with specialist Mathematics teachers and supported by Alleyn’s student mentors, pupils explore topics such as code-breaking, algebra and mathematical reasoning in a lively and supportive environment. Saturday Maths reflects Alleyn’s commitment to widening access, nurturing curiosity and sharing a love of learning through “serious fun”.

What our Year 11 mentors say: 76% agreed it had given them a greater sense of their wider community, with 17% strongly agreeing 49% agreed it has improved their confidence, with 10% strongly agreeing 55% said they have themselves learned new skills Over 80% described it as fun! When prompted “the thing I enjoy most is...”, Alleyn’s students responded: The break times where we get to know the kids on a deeper level. Helping the children develop their understanding of new math concepts. Connecting with the children and seeing how happy they are to speak to us. The satisfaction and sense of achievement after successfully teaching a child and helping them to understand. ‘I really loved being able to meet and get to know people I wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to. I think this has helped me to develop my social and empathetic skills in a way that will be useful whatever I do in the future. Having the satisfaction of seeing the positive impacts of my efforts on those around me was particularly fulfilling.’

Half-Term Swimming Building Confidence Through Swimming Over the Trinity half-term break, Alleyn’s welcomed 48 local state school children to take part in free beginner swimming lessons. Delivered in small groups of just 16 pupils, the programme provided a supportive environment in which children could develop essential water safety skills and grow in confidence. The impact was clear in the feedback from parents. One described the lessons as an "amazing opportunity", noting that their child was now "much more confident in the water". Another praised the "patient and good teachers" who never pressured nervous swimmers. Parents also recognised the wider value of the initiative, describing Alleyn’s as "one of the most community-focused schools locally" and thanking the school for providing free access to such high-quality opportunities.

Year 10 Field Day In June, as part of the Year 10 Field Days, a group of Alleyn’s students spent two days working alongside pupils at Bessemer Primary School and local artist Natacha Bisarre to design and paint a large-scale mural for the school hall. Inspired by the work of Lakwena Maciver, the mural celebrates the school’s values of creativity, community and kindness through a vibrant and colourful design created especially for the space. The project gave our students the opportunity to collaborate with younger pupils on a meaningful creative endeavour, developing skills in teamwork, communication and leadership while contributing to a lasting feature for the Bessemer community. It was wonderful to see pupils from both schools working together with such enthusiasm. Londonbased artist Natacha Bisarre's creative career began in dance and performance before expanding into painting, photography and filmmaking. Alongside her own artistic practice, Natacha regularly works with schools and community groups, helping young people to develop ideas

collaboratively and bring large-scale artistic projects to life. SCRIB 2026 / COMMUNITY AND PARTNERSHIPS / 37

SECONDARY PARTNERSHIPS Secondary partnerships at Alleyn's School continue to thrive through a wide range of collaborative academic, enrichment and student-led initiatives. Working closely with our partner schools and through the Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership (SSLP), students and staff benefit from shared opportunities that broaden horizons and strengthen community connections. Programmes such as the Gold CREST Science Award enable Sixth Form students to undertake meaningful scientific research alongside peers from partner schools, while SSLP projects encourage collaboration across subjects and year groups. Studentled initiatives, including The Period Chapter, further reflect the creativity, leadership and social responsibility of Alleyn’s pupils in making a positive impact beyond the school community.

Alleyn’s Gold CREST Science Award Alleyn's School is delighted to have continued its successful Gold CREST Science programme this year, offering Year 12 students the opportunity to experience the excitement and challenge of genuine scientific research. The nationally recognised CREST Gold Award is a prestigious, UCAS-endorsed qualification that encourages students to undertake an extended investigative project over the course of a year. Working in small collaborative groups, students from Alleyn’s work alongside pupils from our partner schools, developing research projects together while sharing ideas, expertise and perspectives. Supported

by expert external mentors, participants complete around 70 hours of independent research across the year. The programme develops key skills in critical thinking, analysis, collaboration and scientific communication, while also providing valuable preparation for university study and future careers in STEM fields. Recent projects have explored a fascinating range of topics, from the antibacterial properties of conifer oils and the effects of blue light on sleep, to biofuels, soil erosion and particle physics. Students are encouraged to pursue areas of genuine personal interest, contributing original ideas and findings while gaining firsthand experience of the rigour, creativity and resilience required in real-world scientific research. What our partner schools have to say: ‘So far, we've really enjoyed the project as it has allowed us to pick our own topic and explore new areas that aren't really covered in our regular curriculum. In addition to this, working independently and across schools has allowed us to build our teamwork and planning skills, something that will be useful in the future for anyone looking to pursue a science degree/career. The project is also a great supercurricular and will be very useful for uni applications!’ A quote from an Alleyn’s student: ‘Taking part in Gold Crest has allowed my new friends and I to come together and act on our scientific curiosity. Our project has brought us together from different schools and bonded us with our common interest in the mitosis of snail embryos, which is what

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our project is researching. I have thoroughly enjoyed coming together and going through our own experiment, independent from the curriculum.’

SSLP and Broader Secondary Partnerships As a leading member of the Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership (SSLP), Alleyn's School is proud to champion meaningful collaboration between state and independent schools across Southwark and the surrounding area. The partnership brings together eighteen schools committed to sharing expertise, resources and opportunities for the benefit of all students and staff. Our Director of Partnerships, Nicola Frost, also serves as a Director of the SSLP, reflecting Alleyn’s central role in supporting and developing the partnership’s work. Throughout the academic year, Alleyn’s both hosts and participates in a wide range of SSLP events, including student conferences, enrichment activities, professional development sessions and subject-specific collaborations. A particular strength of the partnership lies in the active department-to-department networks, where teachers exchange ideas, share best practice and develop innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Through these strong connections, the SSLP continues to enrich educational experiences, broaden horizons and strengthen the wider Southwark community. Quote: ‘I have really enjoyed working with other schools and learning more about what AI can do and how it can be used effectively. It has been helpful to develop my collaboration and teamwork skills.’ This year Alleyn’s students, leading our own Period Chapter, have started working with students across the partnership to establish a support network to champion this important cause.

INTERNATIONAL PUPIL PARTNERSHIPS

International partnerships at Alleyn's School foster global collaboration through exchanges, leadership programmes, charitable initiatives and our international MUN conference.

UKUAT | Ukrainian Future Leaders Programme In November, Alleyn's School welcomed 14 Ukrainian students through the UKUAT programme for a ten-day visit hosted by families and the school community. Students participated in lessons, Model United Nations and student-led assemblies, alongside a rich programme of co-curricular activities designed to foster cultural exchange, friendship and leadership development.

Model United Nations (MUN) Internationalism has always been at the heart of Model United Nations at Alleyn’s. Over the past eight years, students have engaged directly with some of the most significant geopolitical events of modern times, debating issues that have shaped the contemporary world while often experiencing them in real time. From Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic to the Russian

invasion of Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, MUN has provided students with a unique forum to explore global affairs with intellectual curiosity, empathy, and diplomacy. International conferences and partnerships have been central to this experience. Our internationally accredited February 2026 conference welcomed participants from countries including Ukraine, Colombia and Iraq. Through these experiences, Alleyn’s students have developed not only confidence in public speaking, but also a genuine understanding of global citizenship and international collaboration.

St Dominique School in Pau, France Year 12 students at Alleyn's School collaborated with pupils from St Dominique School on a sustainability and food cycle project, exploring environmental challenges and global responsibility together. The partnership was strengthened further when a group of students from Pau visited Alleyn’s, joining our Year 10 pupils on an enriching trip to Bletchley Park and enjoying opportunities for cultural exchange and friendship.

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COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

The Community Partnerships programme continued to flourish this year, with students from Years 9 to 13 contributing their time, energy and compassion to a wide range of local organisations. Weekly volunteering placements remained a central part of the programme, allowing pupils to build meaningful relationships within the local community while developing confidence, empathy and leadership skills. Our partnerships this year included: • Elms Care Home: where students provided companionship and supported creative activities for elderly residents. Pupils developed strong intergenerational connections and demonstrated remarkable warmth and maturity throughout the programme. • Albrighton Community Fridge: where pupils helped sort and distribute food donations to support local families. This year, students also coordinated a winter clothing collection following generous donations from staff and the wider school community.

faced by women and families in the local area. Community Partnerships also continued to feature prominently within the school’s Field Days programme: • October Field Day: Year 10 students visited the Lambeth and Croydon Foodbank, helping to sort and organise donations while learning more about food insecurity and the logistical challenges involved in supporting vulnerable members of the community. • March Field Day: students hosted afternoon teas in the Edward Alleyn Building for elderly guests from Link Age Southwark, creating a warm and welcoming environment that encouraged conversation, connection and community spirit. Curriculum Integration: Link Age and AIQ As part of the Year 7 AIQ course, pupils welcomed senior guests from Link Age Southwark to interview them for a

• Bessemer Grange Primary School: where Alleyn’s students supported reading programmes, after-school clubs and enrichment activities. These placements gave pupils valuable experience working with younger children, helping to build confidence and engagement in learning. • Baytree Centre: our relationship with this women’s charity continued this year following the successful partnership established through alumna Tallulah Pollock (Brown's 2019). Our Feminist Society fundraised for and gained a deeper understanding of the challenges

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living history project about how plastics consumption has changed over time. The project encouraged students to reflect on sustainability and changing mental models, while also developing empathy, listening, and communication skills. It is a real highlight of our young people's journey, learning so much during a conversation over squash and biscuits. Mrs Nicola Frost Director of Partnerships

CHARITABLE PARTNERSHIPS This year, our school community has continued to show outstanding commitment to charitable giving through a wide range of student-led fundraising events. Following a student vote, we are proud to now support Battersea Dogs & Cats Home alongside Sparrow Schools, our longstanding partner charity helping to provide education for children in South Africa who would otherwise have limited access to schooling. The Charity Committee has worked hard throughout the year to organise wholeschool events that brought pupils and staff together in creative and enjoyable ways. Highlights included the House Dance Off, House Lip Sync, numerous non-uniform days and, most recently, the Staff Talent Show.

Alongside fundraising, the school community has continued to donate food to the Lambeth South & Croydon Foodbank and clothing to Under One Sky. Thank you to everyone who has supported these events and donated so generously. Your kindness and enthusiasm continue to make a real difference to the lives of others. Mrs Caroline Patel Assistant Director of Partnerships & Charitable Partnerships Lead

Students also organized themed events across the year, including the Halloween Lucky Dip in the Lower School, a Valentine’s lollipop sale, Christmas Jumper Day and a candy cane sale. Ahead of Easter, the committee spent time baking hundreds of cookies and cupcakes for a successful Easter Bake Sale. SCRIB 2026 / COMMUNITY AND PARTNERSHIPS / 41

HOUSES

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BRADING ’S This year has been defined by energy, commitment and unforgettable moments within Brading’s House. From competitive triumphs to community events, every challenge was met with determination and pride. Across academics, sport and performances, Brading’s has truly showcased teamwork and House spirit at its best. The year began with real momentum as Brading’s House kicked things off by winning the Year 12 Team Building challenge. It was the perfect start, setting the standard for collaboration and resilience throughout the year. That early success, along with a brand-new banner and two Brading’s mascots, brought confidence and unity, proving that when Brading’s works together, anything is possible. Academic success came quickly, with a brilliant win in the Year 9 Geography Quiz with a special mention to Jay (Year 9) whose incredible individual effort in the Geography Competition pushed Brading’s into the lead for the House Cup. Creativity was another major strength for Brading’s House. The Dance Off was an unforgettable highlight, with Brading’s taking first place. Performances in Lip Sync and Stars in Their Eyes further showcased bravery and commitment, with participants stepping out of their comfort zones to represent Brading’s with pride and some fabulous team costumes. Sport played a huge role in shaping the year, with strong representation across every year group. Football saw consistent performances, including a

solid third place finish for Year 9; a special shoutout goes to Albert (Year 10) for scoring an outstanding hat-trick. Year 10 football finished fourth, while Senior football placed fifth. The efforts of Ada (Year 11) and Carmen (Year 11) deserve particular recognition - the only two girls competing in Senior football, showing determination and strength in a highly competitive environment. Netball and hockey brought further success for Brading’s House. Year 10 netball secured an excellent third place finish, alongside strong performances in 5s and hockey competitions, which ended with respectable fifth place results. Tennis and netball rounded off the sporting year with solid placings, contributing valuable points and reinforcing Brading’s consistency across all competitions. Swimming and basketball stood out as major highlights. Brading’s House claimed victory in Upper School swimming – and who knew that the Brading’s versus Dutton’s water polo final on Founder’s Day would be so thrilling? Basketball continued to be an area of strength, with Brading’s winning Upper School basketball for the second year in a row. Endurance events tested both physical

and mental strength. Cross country set an early benchmark for commitment, while CrossFit pushed competitors to their limits with Brading’s House finishing an impressive second place. To finish the term, Flinn (Year 11) stepped up to toss a pancake in a nail-biting lentinspired competition to gain another fifth place! Beyond competition, community events brought Brading’s together in unforgettable ways. Brading’s Bingo was a standout success, raising an incredible £4,000. The night was filled with laughter, raffle prizes, a blind auction and parents and staff getting competitive and fully embracing the Brading’s spirit. Looking back, what makes this year special for Brading’s House is not just the successes and placings, but the collective effort behind them. Younger year groups stepped up, older students led by example, and everyone contributed to a year defined by pride, unity and passion. This has been a year that truly reflects the strength and legacy of Brading’s House. As we thank Mr Lewis for his tireless support and endless enthusiasm, we say goodbye to our House Captain Aggie (Year 13) and Vice Captains Betty (Year 13), Tess (Year 13), Archie (Year 13) and Arun (Year 13). We wish our incoming leadership team the very best of luck and hope they enjoy all the fun to come next year – UTB! Aggie Brocklesby (Brading's 2026)

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B R OW N ’ S This year has been nothing short of unpredictable, busy and, in true Brown’s fashion, fun and exciting! From the very first House events in September, there was a sense that we might not necessarily dominate the leaderboard but we would make ourselves known in every other possible way. In September inter-House events began to gather pace. Tanav (Year 12) represented us in inter-House Science, bringing a level of calm intelligence that showcased that we are the house of academia. One of the more unexpectedly intense competitions this year came in the form of the interHouse speed drawing relay, where Anna (Year 12) and Sophia (Year 12) and Iris (Year 9) took on the challenge. Stars in Their Eyes deserves a paragraph of its own. Manny (Year 13), Mischa (Year 12), Fliss (Year 13), Anna (Year 12) and Sophia (Year 13) took to the stage as Shakira in a performance that can only be described as unforgettable. It was bold, chaotic and entirely committed, which is exactly what that competition demands. While results may suggest otherwise, the laughter from the crowd during the performance cannot be overstated. It was one of those moments that people will continue to reference long after the specifics, such as Shakira getting hit, have faded. Sporting events this year have also seen a noticeable shift. Inter-House water polo, historically not our strongest area, saw record participation. Not only did we show up in numbers, we also managed to score actual goals, which felt very significant. There was a sense of genuine progress; Year 9 games in the Lent term brought a strong performance, with a particularly impressive second-place finish in basketball and first in hockey. Year 12

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and 13 won inter-House dodgeball in a fierce competition. It is moments like these that remind everyone that Brown’s is capable of more than we are often given credit for. Euan (Year 11) also deserves recognition for his contribution to pancake flipping, an event that requires a very specific skill set that few possess. There is something admirable about stepping forward for an event that most people would avoid. We continue with House Song. This year’s choice, Love On Top by Beyoncé, was ambitious to say the least. It was entirely out of our vocal range for both the basses and the sopranos, but we could not be stopped. We came third, which, considering the key changes alone, felt like a victory. The energy was there for everyone, the commitment was topnotch and the memory of those final ‘top, top, top’ will linger for a long time. Of course, it would not be a Brown’s year without Lip Sync and Dance Off. These are our defining events. Lip Sync in February saw us take on You Can’t Stop the Beat and Crazy in Love. The rehearsals were long and involved a significant amount of persuasion and shouting to get everyone involved. As for the final placing, it is best left unmentioned. What matters is the performance itself and the Year 13 boys, including Ian, Cass and Rory, who we managed to get involved. Dance Off in December was even

more significant. With around thirty people involved, it was one of our largest groups in recent years. Performing Toxic by Britney Spears alongside Maneater by Nelly Furtado, we delivered some of the best choreography we’ve had in years. Coming third felt well deserved. Leadership this year has been particularly strong and it would be impossible not to emphasise Chloé in Year 13. As School Captain, she has been a constant presence, balancing authority with approachability in a way that feels entirely natural. Some people grow into leadership over time, but Chloé has had it with her since the first day I met her in Year 7. Her influence on the House and the school more widely has been so significant. Alongside this, the appointment of our new House Captain, Anna (Year 12), marks an exciting transition. I wish her all the best! Throughout all of this, what has remained constant is a willingness to get involved, to try something new and to commit fully. That has been evident in every event this year, from music to sport to performance. As the year comes to a close, Brown’s has never been about perfect results or flawless execution. It has always been about the moments in between. The rehearsals that run far too long, the unexpected successes and the fun! To everyone who has contributed this year, whether on stage, in the pool, in the lab, or somewhere in between, thank you! Because of you, we are higher in the VL than we have been for the last couple of years! Emmanuel Lane (Brown's 2026)

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CRIBB’S It's been another fabulous year for the Purple Army, and I couldn’t be prouder to have led such a wonderful group of people. Following last year’s win, our House Cup ranking is solid; S0, now furnished with LEDs, is more purple than ever; and we’re strong contenders for the number one spot on the Victor Ludorum! The performing arts have been very strong for Cribbs this year, with two wonderful routines in House Dance, as well as a deserving second place in Lip Sync. This featured Heather Abonyo’s (Year 13) delightful choreography for I Wanna Dance with Somebody, as well as Larissa Dalledone’s (Year 13) formidable Grease Lightnin’ routine (a favourite of Mrs Lunnon). We also saw a cracking rendition of Let’s Get Ready to Rumble from two of our most enthusiastic new recruits, Eliza Winspear (Year 9) and Charlie Lindsley (Year 9), in the Stars in Their Eyes charity event. After a very short and rigorous three-day rehearsal period we also brought Build Me Up Buttercup to life in House Song. It was wonderful to see the whole House come together and give their all, even if we were robbed! We’ve also seen a multitude of sporting triumphs throughout the year, from football to hockey to ultimate frisbee! In particular, there was a fantastic win in inter-House netball, with a standout

performance from Livvy Frost (Year 13). Inter-House water polo was a long and demanding process, which ultimately paid off with a very wellearned fifth-place finish. Standout players were Daniel Norris (Year 12), Freya Morrison (Year 12), Josh Ainsley (Year 12) as well as Daisy Campbell (Year 11), who played in both halves of every game. A massive well done to all involved! It was also great fun heading to Canary Wharf for the annual winter ice skating – luckily not too many falls this year! Cribbs’ dedication and talent has also proved strong in other events this year, with a great third-place finish in chess, thanks to Maxim Alexandre (Year 11), Theo Lams (Year 12), Sam Negyal (Year 11), Rafa Bozo Sandagorda (Year 12) and Felix Thomas (Year 11). In inter-House Science we came in second, as well as finishing first in pancake flipping. The annual Cribbs Easter Egg Hunt was a great deal of fun, with me and the Vice Captains hiding 200 eggs in the field for the

Cribblings to find. We also introduced a fun new inter-House drawing event, where a team from each House had to complete a sketch in timed rotation. I would like to sincerely thank the wonderful and talented Mr Sri, who is the beating heart of Cribbs and makes it the wonderful, welcoming family it is. I will really miss all our House team meetings, catch-ups and House breakfasts, although I think I can manage without any more lugging of Krispy Kremes from London Bridge! I also want to thank my Vice Captains: Isabel Clarke (Year 13), Scarlett Mounsdon (Year 13), Sophia Garvey (Year 13) and Larissa Delladone (Year 13) for all the hard work and energy you have brought to all things Cribbs this year. Finally, I’d like to wish our new CoCaptains, Freya Morrison (Year 12) and Daniel Norris (Year 12), the very best of luck for next year. Enjoy every second of it! For my final time, it goes without saying... WHO ARE WE? Louis Marty (Cribb's 2026)

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D U T TO N ’ S Dutton’s 25/26 school year… what a year it has been. Since September, Dutton’s just has not stopped doing what Dutton’s does best: living it up, making every moment count and winning a couple of things along the way. This year kicked off with some serious athletic prowess on display in the cross country, where runners like Lily-Rose Brown (Year 13) battled through hail and gale-force winds to get our on-field achievements off to a flying start. To match our great start to sport, a crack team of four got their elbows out for debating in House MUN. What followed next was dynamite, with a stellar Dance Off performance to Survivor and Dynamite, in which the dancers secured a very respectable fourth place. We then had the privilege of hosting a charity evening, raising money for St Christopher’s Hospice. With all hands on deck to kit out the Great Hall in a beautiful royal blue, we ran a quiz and a raffle that was the rave of the town. It is on sports afternoons where all Duttonians get their game faces on, with podiums secured in many events including football, netball, hockey, eco-week cycling competitions and so on. The Dutton’s Year 9 class proved in their first weeks of representing the House that they’re a serious force to be reckoned with, crushing the competition at every turn. In the lead up to Christmas, the whole House got

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together to unwind with treats, carols and a loo roll snowman competition. The antics didn’t stop there, as the Dutton’s team, full of turkey, regrouped ready to face the Lent term. The term started with the water polo group stages and semis, a full-scale aquatic battle, where we breezed through to the finals with heroics from our Year 9 girls and our star boys, Ben Pearse (Year 11) and Alex Langhoff (Year 13). We then dusted off our dancing shoes for the Lip Sync battle, where Skye Cahn (Year 13) and Anna Stott (Year 13) turned even the chronically uncoordinated into dancing specialists, helping Dutton’s secure a historic and well-deserved first place with performances to Footloose and Wannabe. Our musical proficiency knew no bounds as Trix Latimer in Year 11 performed an iconic tribute of I Want to Break Free as Freddie Mercury in Roper’s Stars in Their Eyes. Pancake Day wouldn’t be Pancake Day if Dutton’s didn’t have Billy Leech (Year 13) taking to the international stage of inter-House pancake flipping, where he secured yet another podium position for our glorious House. Flipping amazing! Coming to the end of another

successful yet packed term, the House was feeling tired, but you can’t blame it on the sunshine, nor the moonlight, and especially not the good times, so all we could do was Blame It on the Boogie in our rambunctious, end-of-term House Song by The Jacksons. In our final term of the year, and with the doom and gloom of exams for the Year 13 leadership team, Skye Cahn (Year 13), Selina Thakker (Year 13), Luke Wallace-Vorber (Year 13) and I made way for the new Dutton’s leadership team, led by Seth BurtonFranklin (Year 12), to carry on the momentum of the year. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NO. It’s the Year 11s soaring through the air in the first Trinity event, Ultimate Frisbee. The House calendar is never short of excitement with the fiercely contested water polo final against Brading’s, which delivered as promised a dramatic and intense encounter. In the eagerly anticipated Sports Day, we triumphed because winning is having a laugh and lifting each other up, and that’s what Dutton’s is all about. This House this year has given me and so many others amazing memories and moments which we will carry with us for years to come, and it has been a privilege to be a part of it all. VIVA LA DUTTON’S! William Borrows (Dutton's 2026)

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ROPER’S It’s safe to say it’s been a monumental year for Roper’s. Not only did Roper’s make many appearances on the podium after interHouse events, but we became what felt like a family more than ever and it’s been an honour for us as Co-captains to lead this House which embodies joy. We started strong with fourth place in Dance Off, where the team involved performed with enthusiasm and confidence despite the chaos of our rehearsals. Roper’s then put in a strong effort at the eco-bike competition with our bikers Florence (Year 10) and Anya (Year 10). During the Advent Upper School inter-House sport, Theo (Year 13) and Basty (Year 13), our joint Sport Captains, led the football team to an incredible first place and our first win as a House. By the end of the Advent term, we landed a fantastic second place in the House Cup. Roper’s continued to excel in the Lent Term, coming in an astounding third place in the Lip Sync, where you would’ve thought we came first with our celebration. Our water polo team, captained by Eva (Year 13), achieved a brilliant fourth place and next year we hope Roper’s will reclaim our title. Tyler (Year 12) then put in a valiant effort in Pancake Flipping, stepping up last minute, and we must mention our unparalleled debating team, Jaden (Year 13), Georgie (Year 13) and Trisha (Year 11), whose top-tier debating skills won first place. It only got better when the whole House embodied Roper’s spirit in House

Song, coming in a victorious second place and proving that High School Musical songs seem to get us very far in singing/dancing competitions. All the year groups put their best foot forward during inter-House sport, and a special shoutout goes to Raph (Year 10) and Archie (Year 10) for being the only two Roper’s members for Boys’ hockey, playing the whole way through. We’re sure Roper’s will land high in the House Cup by the end of the Trinity term, with events such as Rainbow Runway and chess, and of course, we hope to climb up the Victor Ludorum podium with Sports Day. We can’t forget to mention our Roper’s traditions, one of which includes sock-sorting – where Bez (Year 13) remains champion with his memorable celebrations. Our family competitions remain incomparable, from dressing up as elves to scavenger hunts, and we are certainly going to miss bingo and gladiators. As a House, our teamwork shone through as World Book Day winners, with most of us repping Mr Men/Little Miss characters in true yellow solidarity. It was also a great year raising money for our charity,

Papyrus, chosen by Ethan (Year 12). We raised an amazing £284 from our event, Stars in Their Eyes, and we must thank Ojas (Year 13) for his performances that had the Great Hall lighting up with torches. This year we also debuted a limited edition of our Roper’s mug, soon to become tradition, and it’s been so rewarding for us to see everyone embrace the Roper’s spirit, whether it be stepping outside their comfort zones, sporting yellow face paint or gold glitter, or holding up our banner and pom-poms with pride. A big thanks also goes out to Hugo (Year 13), who’s been an excellent, supportive Vice Captain and to Jaden (Year 13) – Senior Prefect – whom we are so lucky to have had on the House team. Finally, we must say a massive thank you to Mrs Thomson. Describing her as a remarkable Head of House would be an understatement. She took a chance in electing us as the first Co-captains in a long time and we are so grateful to her for not only that, but for making and continuing to make Roper’s the best environment to grow up in. Although it’s time for us to retire our bumblebee onesies, we can’t wait to cheer on Roper’s from afar in the future!! #We’reAllInThisTogether Amii Tu and Lois Green (Roper's 2026)

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SPURGEON’S It’s clear that this year has been another successful one for Spurgeon’s. From youngest to oldest, from start to finish, each and every Spurgeonite has represented the House with incredible energy, talent and commitment. It has been an honour to lead such an incredible group (with the best colour too!) This year, Spurgeon’s has been shaped by a sense of unity intrinsic to the House, imprinted by our very own Mr Bone. Across all year groups, students have consistently stepped up to represent the House with pride, whether in inter-House competitions, performances or wider school events. The year began strongly with interHouse cross country, where James Clements-Nash (Year 11) delivered an outstanding performance to take first place, achieving an early win. This success continued with Dance Off, choreographed by Carla Gimblett (Year 12), which showcased creativity and confidence using the songs Womanizer and Cheap Thrills. Shortly after, the ecobike challenge saw sibling duo George Shilton (Year 12) and Florence Shilton (Year 9) represent the House brilliantly to an audience on the Quad. Meanwhile, Spurgeon’s continued to excel in sport, with an excellent Year 10 football victory and Year 9 hockey success. Senior sport was equally competitive across football, fives, netball, badminton and hockey, with particular recognition going to Mark Opoku (Year 12) in football and a superb hockey campaign which ended in victory thanks to winning goals from Eliza Key (Year 11), securing success against Tyson’s in a tightly contested final.

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House life only improved through events such as ice skating, with 85 Spurgeonites taking to the rink, and the popular snowman wrap competition, won convincingly by Year 9 this year. In on-stage performances, Lip Sync was a standout highlight, with You’re the One That I Want choreographed by Yaenee Tucker (Year 13) and Classic choreographed by Carla Gimblett (Year 12), both real crowd-pleasers. Led by Rafferty Southern (Year 12), water polo (or wetwang to us) also saw a huge turnout this year, with our best team to date delivering strong performances across the competition. Spurgeon’s secured third place in the group, marking one of our strongest water polo showings in recent years. In Stars in Their Eyes, Leon Bricht (Year 11) achieved second place (should have been first) with an unforgettable rendition of Counting Stars by OneRepublic, loved by the whole audience. Academic success continued with a Chemistry victory for Beanie Dick (Year 13), Bea Hardie (Year 13) and Joseph (Year 11), highlighting Spurgeon’s strength in all departments. The final senior sporting block of the year saw strong performances, particularly in girls’ netball, where the team achieved a brilliant third place.

Possibly the most memorable moments of the year came in House Song, where Spurgeon’s delivered a spectacular performance of Best Day of My Life. Featuring a live birth, marriage, race and multiple staged scenes, the performance lit up the sports hall and truly was one of a kind within the competition. Overall, this year has been defined by unity, participation and pride in Spurgeon’s. It has been an honour to serve as House Captain for this army of shrimps and I have loved every minute of watching each of you thrive and love the House as I have. I need to say a huge thank you to Mr Bone, our incredible Head of House, who makes the environment so fun and inclusive, and to my Vice Captains, Bea Hardie (Year 13), Guy Doring (Year 13), Beanie Dick (Year 13) and Mia McLoughlin (Year 13), for their support throughout. While I am now handing over the responsibility, I am confident the House is in incredibly capable hands. During House Song, we celebrated this transition in true Spurgeon’s style, with balloons, bandanas and a ceremony crowning our new House Captain, Luca Pistacchi (Year 12), who I am sure will be an excellent leader alongside his Vice Captains as they take on the role of the leadership team. What a brilliant year with such a brilliant group of people – I cannot wait to see what the mighty Spurgeon’s do next! Isy Key (Spurgeon's 2026)

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TULLEY’S What a year it has been for Jenney’s red army. I couldn’t be prouder of everyone this year, with remarkable results across the board in a variety of events. It’s safe to say Tulley’s is and will always be a powerhouse to be reckoned with. Our place in the cup standings may be mid but our year certainly wasn’t. I’ll let the credentials speak for themselves… Off the back of two Victor Ludorums, Tulley’s were flying high into the 2025/26 season. From the off in September, we stuck to our guns of turning up, getting involved and coming out on top, with our red presence reminding everyone of the legacy we’ve created. We kicked off with cross country chaos, as Tulley’s started their defence. But can we do it on a rainy lunchtime in Dulwich? Of course we can. The talented Tulleyans then channelled their inner Rory Stewart and Alistair Campbell, as they took on debating in House MUN. “Tonight with Tulley’s” then brought everyone together as our charity event, which raised money for the great charities St Christopher’s and Leo’s Angels. The night consisted of a classic Mrs Jenney quiz, some wonderful music from Johnny (Year 11), Marta (Year 12) and “Bottlefish and the Catmen”, as well as some ropey MCing from myself, who managed to mispronounce most of the items, and somehow the parents still went with it. The stage was then set for a Tulley’s masterclass on how to dance, with a sneaky after-school rehearsal probably costing us first place (it’s the taking part that counts?). Tulley’s then got back on their high horse and put up some impressive placings in ecoweek cycling competitions and various

other sporting events for the Year 9s and 10s, with football, hockey, netball and fives. It’s safe to say the future of Tulley’s is a force to be reckoned with. Senior sport also produced a cracking display of results across badminton, hockey, football and netball, with a notable first place in badminton from some superstars (not forgetting you, Jack Trimming, Year 12). As Christmas rolled around, Tulley’s got together as a House to enjoy some festive fun, with classic games like the loo roll snowman competition. A few ‘lucky’ members of the public also enjoyed a Tulley’s-filled ice rink, as we entered the Christmas break in high spirits. Tulley’s started the next term like they meant to go on, with a double delight of 3-0 wins against Cribbs and Brading’s (#StanleyCouldSaveTheTitanic). Some silky skills were flaunted across hockey, badminton and fives from the Year 9s, as the future stars again showed how Tulley’s teamwork gets the job done. The water poloers ended their campaign with an impressive third place; a massive thanks to everyone who got involved. The mighty dancers of Tulley’s were then called to action again for Lip Sync. Why Did It Have to Be Me? and No Lie (‘perfect’ song choice for Lip Sync) were ‘no lie’

honestly class. An array of Hawaiian swim trunks and red jumpers blessed the audience’s eyes, notably with Pam (Year 13) being the face of Alleyn’s Instagram with a snorkel on his face. Very classy. Tulley’s decided they had conquered England and took it to the slopes for the break in February, sending the Tulley’s sphere of influence global (Mrs Copeland, I hope you’re reading this). The Tulley’s elite then took a page out of Magnus Carlsen’s book, and 'B4' the other Houses knew it, it was checkmate. Other memorable moments were the wonderful crayon costumes from the Year 9s and the Stars in Their Eyes duo, Marta (Year 12) and Ava (Year 12), with their rendition of That’s What I Like. Pancake Day was certainly not flat, as Tulley’s showed they were batter than the rest. Some more amazing performances across the sports helped our Victor Ludorum charge, as we serenaded the end of term with our ‘Ooga Chakas’ to Hooked on a Feeling. It has been an utmost privilege helping to manage Tulley’s House and I wish all the best for its future and the future leaders of this House. This year marks the end of Mrs Jenney’s managerial career, which even Guardiola would be envious of. Back-to-back trophywinning seasons has her down in the books as one of the most decorated House Masters there has been. Thank you for everything Mrs Jenney and Tulley’s. Who are we… Max Saba (Tulley's 2026)

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T YS O N ’ S It seems strange that, having been a part of the Tyson’s family for five years, it is now coming to an end. In Mrs Anderson’s eyes this year was always going to be challenging, but I knew the potential of my friends, especially my Vice team who have been amazing and made this final year so special. This year, Tyson’s has been supporting two of our students’ personal charities. The Afghan College for Girls, run by Sophie Lonsdale’s (Year 12) mother, is dedicated to educating girls affected by the Taliban takeover, leaving all secondary schools in Afghanistan closed to girls. As well as the Altenberg Foundation, as suggested by Ted Webb (Year 11), which is a familyrun charity seeking to help those displaced by war or disaster, such as in Syria, Lebanon and Uganda. We kick-started fundraising with our charity gala, “Tonight with Tyson’s”, and raised over £4000. Not only was there a sell-out crowd, but the event provided entertainment for a plethora of parents with acts from our Year 9 band Aspartame, a rap from me (Year 13) and Joju McCabe (Year 13), as well as a quiz provided by me and Ted Jackson (Year 13). Ever since I came into Tyson’s in Year 9 sport has been its forte, and this year did not fail to disappoint with the Year 9s and 10s coming first in netball and hockey respectively. The Upper School does not go unnoticed with victories in

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CrossFit. The key to our success in those events was not only the immense talent we possess but our ability to bounce back in adversity. We made sure we showed up to every event with as many students as possible. You cannot control the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Looking forward to the biathlon, tennis and, of course, Sports Day! We may not be in the running to win the Victor Ludorum this year, but I have no comments on our performance. All of us gave our absolute all and the sheer numbers of students I see flocking to their respective events with a raw passion to try is a special sight for any House Captain. As for the House Cup, Tyson’s has provided nothing short of excellence. Strong positions in chess, pancake flip and Stars in Their Eyes. Unfortunately, falling short in House Song and Lip Sync, we have been subject to outrageous tomfoolery in the judging decisions. Nudity! What do you mean! Anyway, it is safe to say we have been iconic in everything we do and I truly hope the performance of Style will never be forgotten.

I am so grateful to Mrs Anderson, without whom my job would have been far more difficult and who has provided a constant source of support and enthusiasm for all members of this House. A huge thank you also to the other House Tutors, who enable the smooth running of the House: Mr Hood, Ms Williams, Mr Richmond, Ms Nichols, Mrs Doherty, Ms Taskey and Dr Kent. Your enthusiasm does not go unnoticed. I also must thank my wonderful team: Ollie Peres (Year 13), Ada Pinch (Year 13), Anna Meyohas (Year 13), Wilhemina Mountain (Year 13), Ted Jackson (Year 13), Joju McCabe (Year 13) and Isabelle Stamp (Year 13). You are all completely unique in your leadership and I have loved getting to know you all so well over this year. Good luck to Sophie Lonsdale (Year 12) and her Vices for next year – I know that the House is in good hands. All there is left for me to say is treasure the time you spend at Tyson’s. The memories I have from this House (especially performing in the Great Hall) are moments that will always remain. I truly hope everyone will continue to show up and be so passionate about what they do and I look forward to coming back to the Tyson’s family in years to come. Richard Yu (Tyson's 2026)

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PERFORMING A RTS

DANCE AT ALLEYN’S Wow, what a year for Dance! This year has been another extraordinary one for Dance at Alleyn’s, filled with creativity, ambition and an incredible sense of community. For the second year running, we were delighted to stage our Winter Dance Show, SPOTLIGHT, which once again proved to be a wonderful and uplifting way to round off the Advent term. It was such a joy to see the energy, commitment, and artistry of our dancers on stage as we headed into the Christmas break. In Lent term, we went on to present our three March Dance Shows, BLAZE, which showcased an enormous breadth of talent across the school. These performances had completely different programmes and were filled with bold, imaginative and thoughtful choreography. An incredible 291 performers took part in our Dance Shows, making this our biggest and busiest year yet. The commitment shown by every dancer, choreographer and member of the production team has been remarkable, and I could not have been prouder of everything they achieved. This year also marked a particularly exciting moment for the department, as we introduced A Level Dance at Alleyn’s for the very first time. It has been a real privilege to see students engaging with the subject at this new level, embracing both

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the academic and creative challenge with such maturity, curiosity and dedication. Alongside this, our GCSE dancers have once again been exceptional, and we were thrilled to achieve 100% Grades 8–9 at GCSE for the third consecutive year — a truly outstanding accomplishment and a reflection of the talent and hard work of our students and staff alike. Beyond the performances and examination success, it has been another fantastic year for co-curricular Dance. The enthusiasm, commitment and sheer love of dancing shown by pupils across all year groups continues to be one of the most special parts of the department. To see students developing confidence, creativity and technical skill through classes, rehearsals and performances is always such a privilege, and this year has been no exception. Dance has also continued to play an important role beyond our own studios through our Primary Outreach Programme. The contribution Dance makes to the wider school community remains something we are immensely proud of.

None of this would be possible without the extraordinary support and commitment of the Dance staff team, and I would like to thank Miss Seager, Miss Brown, Mr Levy and Miss Craig for everything they have contributed this year. Most of all, thank you to every single dancer who has been part of Dance at Alleyn’s this year. Your energy, dedication, generosity and talent make this department such a vibrant and inspiring place to be. Miss Natalie Demain Director of Dance

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MUSIC REVIEW 85 concerts in a single academic year. This figure speaks to something remarkable: the dedication, commitment, and musical ambition of the pupils who make up this department. From intimate solo recitals to cathedral-filling masterpieces, from jazz in the Great Hall to chamber music at Blackheath, this has been a year of enormous projects and unforgettable moments. Two Pupils' Recitals bookended the year, an extraordinary platform offering solo opportunities of real depth and challenge. Our twelve Friday Lunchtime Concerts in the LRR and five Foundation Schools' Lunchtime Concerts at the Chapel kept live performance woven into school life throughout every term, our choirs sang beautifully in services and concerts, and our musicians were excellent ambassadors in the numerous open events. Showcases gave every faculty its special moment: Keys and Cakes, Drums and Guitars, Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Chamber Music and Jazz all produced performances of real quality, and our singers shone at a stunning Schubertiade. The Dulwich Concert Series brought world-class artistry to the school both in masterclasses and performances: Danny Driver gave an extraordinary account of Bach's Goldberg Variations, and the Sacconi String Quartet's performance of 64 / PERFORMING ARTS / SCRIB 2026

Beethoven's Op. 132 was truly inspirational. There was a strong theatrical thread running through the year, and it found its most dazzling expression in Anything Goes. The band was sensational: tight, stylish and utterly alive to every moment on stage. The cast sang with stunning confidence and real musical instinct, supported by incredible dancing, and the collaboration between Music, Drama and Dance across four soldout performances in the MCT was a terrific achievement. A Musical Theatre Showcase followed later in the year, and featured a brilliant masterclass by Marco Morbidelli from Mountview Academy, and two further trips brought that spirit of musical theatre to life beyond school: our GCSE cohort attended Hamilton and our Year 12s saw High Society at the Barbican. The St Cecilia Concert at St Barnabas Church featured some truly sublime musical moments. Hannah Chadwick-Jones (Year

13) gave a virtuosic account of John Stanley's Harpsichord Concerto in C minor, Sinfonietta made their debut on this platform, and the Symphony Orchestra's performance of Gavin Bryars' Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet, conducted by Mr Fish, was a true highlight and a deeply moving experience for the entire audience. A few days later, the Christmas Concert brought further warmth and celebration to the MCT, and the inaugural Year 8 Christmas Song Festival brought the Advent Term to a joyful end. The Lent Term opened with the largest ever Battle of the Bands: 28 bands across two nights, a testament to the inspirational work of Mr Houseago and Mr Liggins. The Year 7 Concert, one of the greatest traditions of this department, brought the entire year group to the MCT stage in choirs, orchestras and solos: a truly wonderful sight. Our musician-linguists brilliantly directed the MFL Concert, and Jazz Night, led by Mr Bennett and Mr Fardell, filled the Great Hall with characteristic brilliance. The Lord Higgins Chamber Concert at Blackheath Halls was both the pinnacle of Mr Beatty and Ms Doley's extraordinary chamber music programme and a deeply fitting

tribute to Lord Higgins (Dutton's 2020) following his passing in late 2025. The Lent Term came to a close with a fun and hotly contested House Song competition. Our Spring Concert at Southwark Cathedral was the culmination of months of preparation and a truly ambitious project. Conceived as a celebration of 50 years of co-education at Alleyn's, the programme was built around the idea of unity, of diverse voices coming together in common purpose. Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Symphony Orchestra and Schola Cantorum performed a carefully crafted programme, which reached its climax with the fourth movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony:

music of extraordinary power and humanity, carried that night by our musicians alongside alumni, the Community Choir, and an outstanding group of soloists including alumnus Simon Wallfisch (Cribb's 2000) and our incoming Head of Vocal Studies, Pamela Hay. It was an evening of passion and extraordinary energy, and the audience left in no doubt about the capabilities of this remarkable community of musicians. A Lot of Hot Air and a Bit of a Scrape followed, celebrating the wit and warmth of our smaller ensembles in the MCT. The Trinity Term drew to a close with the Year 8 and Year 9 Music Festivals, Founders' Day performances from our bands and DJs, and

a joyful Celebration Day that brought the school community together through festive music from our ensembles and the premiere of Together, a specially commissioned song by our own Johnny Ovenden (Year 11). None of this would be possible without the talent and commitment of our pupils, the expertise of our Visiting Music Teachers, the dedication of our department colleagues, and the quiet, essential work of our administrative and technical team. To all of them: thank you for a brilliant year of music-making. Mr Luis Parés Director of Music

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DRAMA Lower School Play: Hetty Feather

Jacqueline Wilson's much-loved Hetty Feather sprang to life on stage in this year's Lower School production, as pupils delivered a captivating adaptation filled with warmth, humour and adventure. Following Hetty's journey from the Foundling Hospital in Victorian London to the search for her true identity, the cast embraced the story's colourful characters and emotional twists with confidence and charm. Their performances captured both the play's lighthearted moments and its more poignant scenes, drawing audiences into Hetty's unforgettable world. The production was brought vividly to life through imaginative staging, carefully crafted costumes and inventive props, transporting audiences across a range of settings while maintaining the pace and energy of the story throughout. Above all, Hetty Feather celebrated the creativity and enthusiasm of our Year 7 and 8 pupils. Their commitment to storytelling made for a memorable production that delighted audiences and showcased the magic of live theatre.

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Middle School Play: Great Expectations Our Middle School pupils brought the curtain down on a remarkable production of Great Expectations, delivering two evenings of theatre that showcased talent, teamwork and creativity. From the first rehearsal to the final bow, pupils took real ownership of the production, working collaboratively both on stage and behind the scenes. Their resilience, initiative and commitment were evident throughout, bringing Charles Dickens' classic tale vividly to life in Nick Ormerod and Declan Donnellan's dynamic adaptation. The cast delivered assured performances, capturing both the wit and poignancy of Dickens' world, while the backstage team ensured every scene change, lighting cue

Upper School Play: Anything Goes Sparkling with humour, style and spectacular musical numbers, our Upper School production of Anything Goes was a joyous celebration of everything audiences love about musical theatre. As Director of Drama Jeremy Piper put it, it was 'musical theatre at its most fun and most crowd-pleasingly silly'. Bursting with comic timing, memorable characters and infectious energy, the production embraced the wit and exuberance of Cole Porter's much-loved musical, transporting

and sound effect ran seamlessly. Months of hard work resulted in a polished production that reflected the dedication of everyone involved. Above all, Great Expectations was a celebration of what can be achieved when pupils work together with enthusiasm and determination, leaving audiences thoroughly entertained and immensely proud of the cast and crew.

audiences aboard the SS American for two unforgettable evenings. Music was at the heart of the production. From lively ensemble numbers to heartfelt solos, every performance reflected months of dedication from the cast, musicians and creative team. Director of Music Luis Parés praised the company, saying, 'The music throughout the play requires extraordinary commitment from everyone involved, and this company has truly risen to the challenge. Our soloists have inhabited these songs with such character and heart.' The outstanding band matched that commitment throughout, tackling complex

rhythms, unexpected key changes and demanding scores with remarkable skill and confidence. The show's dazzling choreography brought another layer of excitement. Director of Dance Natalie Demain reflected, 'The world of Anything Goes is full of sparkle, style, and comedy: capturing that through dance has been a wonderful challenge.' Every routine was performed with precision, enthusiasm and personality, filling the stage with movement and infectious joy. Behind every memorable moment was an equally committed team of staff, designers, technicians and backstage crew. Their creativity, generosity and hard work transformed months of rehearsal into a polished production that celebrated collaboration as much as performance. By the final curtain, it was clear that the cast and crew had created something truly special. Exceptional performances, vibrant choreography and outstanding musicianship combined to make Anything Goes a triumph of energy, creativity and sheer theatrical joy. SCRIB 2026 / PERFORMING ARTS / 67

C R E AT I V E

THE SUMMER SHOW:

FROM STUDIO TO SPOTLIGHT There is something special about seeing the Summer Show come together. In the final days before it opens, paintings are still being framed, sculptures carefully moved into place and films tested one last time. Then, almost overnight, classrooms and studios are transformed into an exhibition that showcases a year's worth of creativity. This year's Summer Show brought together work from GCSE and A level students across Art, Design and Technology and Film Studies. Every piece was different, reflecting the interests, influences and personalities of the student behind it. Some works tackled big ideas, others focused on craftsmanship or the beauty of everyday objects, but all showed the care and commitment that had gone into creating them.

problem-solving. The exhibition is a reminder that creativity is rarely a straight line – it grows through curiosity, persistence and the confidence to keep developing an idea.

What visitors see is only the finished result. Behind every painting, photograph, product or film are months of sketchbooks, prototypes, feedback, reworking and

As always, the exhibition offered a fitting end to the creative year, giving students the opportunity to share not only what they had made, but how far they had come.

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The Summer Show is also a celebration of the teachers who guide that process, encouraging students to experiment, refine their work and push their thinking further.

Ludo Galloway

Alec Davies

Dash Bradly

Lyla Biswas

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Maddi Spammer Maddie Felix

Maggie Pike

Maia Forde

Sienna Nicholls 72 / CREATIVE / SCRIB 2026

Sonny Jain Palmer Ben Pearse

Amelie Bayfield

Adewonuola Adeyemi

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Emma Chukwukere Ava Crinion

Ava Forde

Eva Binedell

Imogen Grist 74 / CREATIVE / SCRIB 2026

Juno Willitts-King

Maddie Felix

Polly Tuggey Naomi Mellor

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Tessa Layton

Suria Kahl

Amber Delshadian

Amélie Summers

Elliot Kirkwood

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Isla Day

Noble Selvadurai

Scarlett Burnham

Sophia Garvey Ada Pinch

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DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR ONLY WORLD A MORE INCLUSIVE PLACE. The Design and Technology Department once again hosted an excellent cohort of students this year, with a clear focus on problem-solving, high-level skills and inclusive design. Pupils in Year 7 created a stunning array of superbly made plant holders, safely applying hand and machine tool skills, as well as laser engraving a selfdrawn motif, created using our Computer Aided Design software, onto the front. Year 8 produced some excellent brass fobs, applying their own QC criteria. They also further developed their CAD skills by designing a laser-cut die-cast mould for a

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pewter fob to complement their brass one. All the while they learnt the imperatives of safety and sustainability. The Design and Technology exhibition for the 2026 Summer Show showcases the immense amount of work and dedication which went into producing the vast array of wonderfully creative products and solutions on display. All superbly made and highly creative GCSE and A Level products aimed to solve specific and specified problems within challenging contexts. Another theme that ran throughout was the obvious understanding that designers

have responsibilities: to the environment, to sustainability, but also to simply making people’s lives better. From the inclusive, responsible and creative prototypes produced by our Year 13 students to the expansively inspired collapsible seats created by our Year 12 students and the diverse, imaginative range of GCSE solutions, yet again we saw an impressive range of items, designed and fabricated by our exceptionally imaginative design students. Mr Phil Saville Head of Design and Technology

FILM STUDIES A level Short Films Showcase

In 2026 our Year 13 A level Film Studies students produced an ambitious slate of 8 original short films for their coursework, which asked each student to produce, script, construct and edit a 4-5 minute short film. The results were striking: imaginative, technically assured and alert to the power of film to entertain, unsettle and move an audience. The diversity of genres was particularly impressive. Motive delivered a witty comic-thriller built around a kidnapping, an interrogation and a birthday prank, combining fast-paced editing, energetic performance and a playful debt to Edgar Wright. Click moved into darker territory, following a hitman forced into a moral dilemma when memory intrudes on the present; close-ups, flashbacks and the open ending gave the film a tense psychological charge. Blue Note offered a stylish neo-noir crime story, using jazz, domestic mise-enscène and suppressed violence to transform

its protagonist from prey to predator. Several films explored isolation with great sensitivity. Anomic used social realism to examine homelessness, isolation and the possibility of human connection in an impersonal city, contrasting restless urban imagery with calmer riverside stillness. The Patient blended psychological thriller and British drama to explore the pressures carried by those who support others, using tracking shots and restricted narration to place the spectator inside the protagonist’s anxiety. The Silent Game, by contrast, offered a warmer coming-of-age story about selective mutism, using a party card game, close-ups and carefully judged debt to Spaghetti Westerns to chart a meaningful step towards reduced social anxiety. Family, memory and artistic identity were also handled with maturity. All the Small Things used archive footage, warm colour palettes and restrained performance to tell a tender story of sisterhood on the

eve of university departure. Ella, Louis & Me centred on a teenage jazz musician negotiating class prejudice and personal ambition, its saturated colours and a soundtrack featuring Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong giving the film both style and emotional conviction.

What united all eight films was a sophisticated grasp of film form. Students showed real flair with cinematography, editing, sound, performance and miseen-scène, using these elements to shape mood, symbolism and narrative impact. Their evaluations demonstrated serious engagement with film theory, genre, spectatorship and the set short films studied across the course. For parents and friends who saw the films at our showcase evening, it was clear: these were not simply coursework projects, but confident works of short cinema. Mr Mark Grogan Head of Film Studies SCRIB 2026 / CREATIVE / 79

The following poems are written by Year 13 student Matilda Mellor

A BRIEF HISTORY OF APPLES “Apples used to be blue, did you know that? Children crunched into their cores and came out with indigo splodges sprouting over their faces, until the farmers went to war with their bushels, pummelling the blue into a rosy red glow – did you know?” I’m making up stories again, and you know it, always looking at me half-amused by the contortions I undergo to keep you listening, as I try and turn the blue of your cheeks red with my blustering. I love you to the point of nonsense, to keeping you awake through your yawns, apple juice staining you a sticky blue.

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CROOK In my next life, I want to be the shepherd’s crook and not the shepherd. Not the sheep, either. I want a different past, to have my bark peeled away, and to never be known a squalling, red-faced infant, want to beckon the lambs each dusk, a crooked finger in the shepherd’s hand – I want you to hear crook and not think thief, but instead ‘Home is that way.’

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NEDTALK What follows are texts of speeches written by Year 9 students, Anya and Naia, which they presented as part of The Big Ned - a dynamic series of fast-paced, TED-style talks delivered by students on topics they are truly passionate about. A foundation-wide celebration of ideas, The Big Ned brings together voices from Alleyn’s, JAGS and Dulwich College, creating a vibrant cross-school showcase of bold thinking, fresh perspectives and thought-provoking insights. Students take to the stage to share their passions, challenge assumptions and inspire their audience through originality and intellectual curiosity.

The Importance of Being Scared Have you ever been really scared? You know that feeling when your mouth gets dry, (gulp) your heart starts racing -- and your hands are inexplicably sweaty. You might want to run away or you might not be able to move at all: that’s your body responding to fear. In the summer of 2023 my family took a trip to Disneyland. Now, I do NOT like rollercoasters. But on the last day of our trip, we went on the Tower of Terror ride. It’s even more terrifying than it sounds. You are taken through the lobby of a creepy, abandoned hotel, buckled into what looks like a gigantic lift. The lift starts to rise. First slowly and then FAST. After what seems like an eternity it stops. A little girl, dressed all in white appears on the screen before you, creepily whispering that you “MUST be quiet, or THEY will hear you”. A deathly silence falls over the lift. Then the little girl vanishes, and a rusty door creaks open to reveal the whole of the park spread out 200 feet beneath you. Then darkness and the lift plummets … So why do people actually go on rollercoasters? Some people love watching horror movies or doing extreme sports, like skydiving – they actually like being scared. This is because doing those things triggers a fear response in the same way as a real-life threat. It releases a rush of adrenaline and lets our brains enjoy being scared, while knowing we are actually safe. But why do we feel fear in the first place? For many creatures (including humans), when they detect danger, it triggers a flight or fight response. For our ancestors this instinctive behaviour would often be the difference between life and death. Maybe that dark shape was an innocent shadow, but maybe it was the outline of a sabre tooth tiger. Fear is powerful and mysterious, even when it seems to our modern sensibilities to be so irrational. Even though we all get scared, some phobias can seem truly strange. While we have all heard of Claustrophobia and Arachnophobia – how many of us have heard of Lutraphobia (the fear of otters), Globophobia (the fear of balloons) and (worryingly for the English department) Metrophobia (the fear of poetry).

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Scientists claim we are only born with two innate fears – the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. That means that other fears are developed as we grow up through our experiences. But then if we can acquire fears, surely this means we are able to lose them as well? So how do people ever get over their fears? Sometimes exposing yourself to your fear in small quantities is helpful. This is known as Exposure Therapy. It’s what athletes and actors and performers do every day – by training and rehearsing they are overcoming their fear in small doses. Slowly they harness that fear response and rewire their brains to be able to perform despite the fear. As the fear shrinks their confidence grows. One incredibly inspiring example of this is the surfer Bethany Hamilton. When she was 13, Bethany was attacked by a shark while swimming with friends. She lost her left arm in the attack but went on to become a professional surfer, having overcome the fear of returning to the water. She didn’t want the fear to stop her doing something she loved. Scientists think that facing your fears - in a manageable way - can boost resilience and give you a sense of accomplishment. This in turn is good for your mental health. So maybe this is the unconscious motivator for us to go to theme parks and watch horror films. After all, we all want to become a little less scared and so shouldn’t we all try and face our fears – or at least peek at them from behind our fingers? For me, I’ve already faced one fear this week. And that was standing up here in front everyone. So I’ll leave you with the words of the great horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, “the oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is the fear of the unknown”. Anya Grewal (Year 9)

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NEDTALK What would you do if you were the last person on Earth? Imagine this. You wake up. You start getting ready for school. You go downstairs to see your parents, but they’re not there. You go outside and look for them. You call them. No answer. You knock on your neighbour’s door. Nobody answers. You may even go to school; there’s no one there either. You call 999. Nobody picks up. You start to get worried. You really are the last person on Earth. So, what would you do? In 1943, Abraham Maslow asked a question: what do humans need, fundamentally, to survive? He answered it with a hierarchy of needs. It’s a pyramid. At the base are the physiological things; food, water, shelter, warmth. If you remove those from your pyramid, you can’t reach any of the levels above. So, let’s start with the most important one. If there really were no more people, all the critical infrastructure that requires humans to run it would collapse within a few days. Running water. Electricity. The internet. Heating. Fresh food production. All gone. But supermarkets are well stocked. There’s enough bottled water, tinned food, and freezedried food in London to keep you alive for the rest of your life, once you break in. You’d be showering with bottled water. It wouldn’t be warm. And after a while, you’d get bored of tinned food. Fresh food would go off. So eventually, you’d have to figure out how to grow your own. Then there’s shelter and warmth. You’d start to realise you could live anywhere you wanted. Break into the fastest car. Move into the biggest house, say, Buckingham Palace, and live there for the rest of your life. That’s great for now. But keeping warm in winter would be much harder. You’d be looking for extra layers, blankets, anything you could find. Moving up the pyramid, safety. No people means no crime. But there are still everyday risks, especially if you’re driving the fastest car that you just stole. And there are no doctors. No one to nurse you back to health when you get sick. You’d have to be very careful not to badly hurt yourself or fall ill.

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OK. So, you have the basics covered. You’ve been living in pretty much luxury for months. But then what? What you need now is belonging, intimate relationships, friendships. We spend a lot of time thinking about what we want: the best house, the fastest car, a new phone. But what’s the point of having those things if there’s no one to talk to on that phone? No one to drive around with in that car? And how long do you think you’d last before you started looking for other people? Because Brené Brown says that our sense of belonging is not physical. We can’t find belonging by changing where we live or what we do. And so, because of this, we can’t complete the hierarchy of needs. No belonging means no esteem, no one to like your posts or compliment your outfit. And no self-actualisation, everything you’ve been working towards, your future, your career, none of it is relevant anymore. Nothing that you’ve done today would be possible without humans, and none of it would really have any meaning. The last person on Earth wouldn’t be free. They’d just be lonely. Yes, people are gone, but animals would start coming out and exploring the city. The Earth would start healing itself, because humans aren’t harming it anymore. And even with the comfort of a lifelong pet beside you, you’d still feel empty. You could try to fix that. If you were the last person on Earth, you’d probably spend the first months having fun, living your best life. But then you’d end up spending your days travelling the world, making sure you really were the only one. Or trying to figure out why everyone disappeared, and how to get them back. And how far would you go doing that? Because without human connection, you may be existing, but you’re never truly living. Naia Ferdinand (Year 9)

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S P O RT

DIRECTOR OF SPORT REPORT wide sporting landscape. Pupils have excelled at regional and national level in sports ranging from athletics, basketball and biathlon to hockey, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, fives and water polo. Across the programme, we have seen titles won, medals earned and consistent progression to the latter stages of major competitions. This breadth of achievement reflects both the strength of the programme and our commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for all pupils.

What a year it has been for sport at Alleyn’s, one that feels particularly significant as we celebrate 50 years of co-education. This milestone offers a chance to reflect on what truly defines our sporting provision, and this year has provided a clear answer: sport at Alleyn’s is, and always has been, for all. This year, 889 pupils out of a school of 1,160 represented Alleyn’s in competitive sport across 19 different activities. That breadth alone is something to be proud of, but even more powerful is what sits beneath it. Participation has been almost perfectly balanced, with 51% girls and 49% boys. In a year where we celebrate co-education, this is a powerful illustration of our shared culture, one where opportunity is open, barriers removed, and every pupil feels they belong. That is the essence of sport at Alleyn’s. It is a vehicle for opportunity; a space in which pupils discover who they are and what they are capable of. It builds confidence, selfesteem and belief. It demands resilience, encourages risk-taking and supports growth. Above all, it fosters a community built on shared experience, collective pride and a deep sense of belonging. Within that, there have been some truly special moments this year. None more so than our U15 girls football team. After four years marked by resilience and disappointment, including successive national final defeats, they returned with 88 / SPORT / SCRIB 2026

unwavering belief to seize their moment. In a final that few gave them a chance in, they overcame a previously unbeaten Surbiton High side to lift the ISFA Cup. It was a performance defined by courage, perseverance and a refusal to accept limits – an extraordinary achievement. They were not alone in leading the way. Our U16 netball team were crowned Surrey champions and reached the national finals; U15 girls’ water polo secured a national silver; U18 girls’ hockey reached the national indoor finals; and U18 girls’ cricket progressed to the latter stages of the national T20 competition. There were equally memorable achievements on the boys’ side. The U18 cricket team produced a remarkable run to win the London Senior Cup, Alleyn’s first success in this competition since 1972. Impressively, many of those players also contributed to a senior football side that retained the Elgin League Cup and a 1st XI hockey team crowned regional champions – a testament to their versatility, commitment and enthusiasm. These standout moments sit within a broader picture of success across an exceptionally

While these accomplishments are important, and rightly celebrated, they are only part of the story. What truly defines sport at Alleyn’s is the experience itself: the commitment, the collective effort and the friendships formed along the way. It is about learning to respond to both success and disappointment, and developing the character that comes from doing so. Sport remains central to a young person’s development at Alleyn’s. It challenges, supports and inspires in equal measure, instilling values that extend far beyond the playing field. It helps pupils understand what it means to contribute to something bigger than themselves. In this landmark year, that sense of unity and shared purpose has never been stronger. Our sports programme is something to be immensely proud of, not only for its success, but for the people it shapes. To our pupils, thank you for your energy and commitment. To our staff, thank you for your time, care and expertise. Together, you make sport at Alleyn’s a truly inclusive, and transformative experience for all. Mr Ryan Shedwick Director of Sport

PE & GAMES REPORT Through a broad and ever-evolving range of activities, the PE & Games curriculum continues to empower pupils to thrive, cultivating leadership, resilience, and a commitment to self-improvement. In Key Stage 3, pupils have embraced the Health-related Fitness unit with enthusiasm, developing a deeper understanding of movement patterns, muscle contractions, and varied approaches to strength training, laying strong foundations for lifelong physical literacy.

At Senior level, Games has seen a growing appetite for new and enriching experiences, with increasing numbers of pupils choosing activities such as Ballroom Dancing and Pilates. These opportunities not only broaden horizons but also encourage a lasting appreciation for physical activity beyond school life. House sport remains a cornerstone of the sporting calendar, bringing energy and excitement to the school community. From Ultimate Frisbee to biathlon, pupils

have relished the chance to compete in an inclusive and dynamic environment, strengthening both camaraderie and school spirit. As the programme continues to evolve, we remain firmly committed to delivering a diverse, inspiring and forward-thinking PE & Games experience - one that enables every pupil to refine their skills, embrace challenge, and flourish both on and off the field. Miss Shona Martin Assistant Director of Sport

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CO-CURRICULAR SPORT performance in the 1500m steeplechase, securing a silver medal and breaking the Intermediate Boys school record. His performance earned him selection to represent London at the English Schools’ AA Track and Field Championships, alongside Lily-Rose Brown in the 400m and 4x100m relay, and Isabelle Stamp in the shot put. An outstanding achievement for all involved.

ATHLETICS It has been another outstanding and action-packed athletics season at Alleyn’s, filled with excellent performances and notable achievements across all age groups. Over 70 pupils represented the School at the Southwark Schools Athletics Championships at Croydon Arena in early May, demonstrating impressive depth of talent and a strong competitive spirit. From this, a number of athletes earned the honour of representing Southwark at regional competitions, a testament to their hard work and consistency throughout the season. In May, teams competed in the London round of the English Schools Track and Field Cup, where athletes take on both track and field events. While no teams progressed to regionals, performances were strong, with many personal bests. The effort, resilience, and teamwork on display reflected the supportive culture within the programme. The highlight of the season came at the London Schools AA Track and Field Championships in June, where Alleyn’s pupils delivered a series of exceptional results. Daniel Whitehouse produced a standout performance in the 1500m, securing a bronze medal while breaking the Intermediate Boys school record. Daniel Kenny followed this with an outstanding run in the 400m, claiming silver and also setting a new school record. Audrey Ovenden maintained her excellent form with a bronze medal in the 300m, while Alessandro Pecce demonstrated his class and consistency by earning silver in the 800m. Gus Maberly also impressed by reaching the 300m final, and both Lizzie Brain and Oskar Jones represented the School strongly in the sprint events. Further success was seen at the Kent Schools Championships, where James Clements-Nash delivered an exceptional 90 / SPORT / SCRIB 2026

The season concluded with the London Schools Year 7 and 8 Championships at Mile End, where younger athletes gained valuable experience and showed great promise for the future. Sloane Caplan, Elliot Pilkington, and Asa Cohen all competed strongly in the javelin, while Alex Chan represented the school in the discus. These performances highlight a strong pipeline of talent emerging through the lower years. Overall, it has been a highly successful season, with pupils demonstrating commitment, resilience, and pride in representing Alleyn’s. The continued progression of athletes, alongside the emergence of new talent, ensures that the future of athletics at the School remains very bright. Athletes selected to represent Southwark at the Year 7 & 8 London Schools • Sloane Caplan: Javelin • Elliot Pilkington: Javelin • Asa Cohen: Javelin • Alex Chan: Discus Athletes selected to represent Southwark at the London Schools AA Track & Field Championships 2026 • Lizzie Brain: 100m • Oskar Jones: 200m • Daniel Whitehouse: 1500m Bronze Medal and School Record IB • Daniel Kenny: 400m Silver Medal and School Record IB • Gus Maberly: 300m Final • Audrey Ovenden: 300m Bronze Medal • Alessandro Pecce: 800m Silver Athletes selected to represent Southwark at the Kent Schools AA Track & Field Championships 2026: • James Clements-Nash: 1500m Steeplechase Silver Medal Mr Glenn Eyers

BIATHLON GB Schools Biathlon National Finals This season has been one to remember for our Biathlon squad, showcasing exceptional commitment, resilience, and talent throughout. An outstanding 11 pupils progressed through the regional stages to earn their place at the prestigious National Finals – a fantastic achievement in itself and a reflection of the depth of ability within the team. At the national stage, our athletes rose to the occasion, delivering performances of the highest standard against the very best in the country. In the individual events, we saw a series of impressive top-10 finishes. Manisha Thomas led the way with a superb 5th place in the U13 girls category, closely followed by Sienna McGloughlin, who secured 9th place. In the boys’ events, Gus Maberly (U13) and Kit Williams (U12) both achieved strong 8th place finishes, while James Clements-Nash produced an excellent performance to finish 6th in the highly competitive U16 boys category. The team events were a particular highlight of the competition and a true testament to the squad’s unity and depth. Our U12 boys team of Kit Williams, Harry Dilworth, and Jake Larkman delivered an outstanding performance to be crowned National Champions and take home the Gold Medal. Not to be outdone, a second U12 boys team – Rory Shand, Max Morrison, and Seth Matha – battled brilliantly to secure the Silver Medal, completing an incredible 1-2 finish for the School. These results are a reflection of months of dedication, early mornings, and relentless hard work. Every athlete represented the School with pride, determination, and sportsmanship. This has been a truly remarkable season, and all those involved should be immensely proud of their achievements. Mr Ryan Shedwick

CROSS COUNTRY

BASKETBALL

CRICKET

It has been a fantastic year for cross country, highlighted by an outstanding achievement from James Clements-Nash, who won the Senior race at the prestigious Knole Run. This marks the first time in Alleyn’s history that a student has won this event, making it a truly exceptional performance. James also achieved further success outside of school, winning the U17 Surrey Championships representing Herne Hill Harriers.

Alleyn’s basketball programme has taken another huge step forward following the success of last season. In total, there were eight representative teams ranging from U12 to U18 – one more than the previous season. Across 48 games, 94 players were actively involved in Alleyn’s scoring efforts, with over 1,600 points scored, creating many memorable moments for those involved.

Boys Cricket

At the ESAA Team Round at Colfe’s, James finished 3rd in the Intermediate race, and a strong team performance saw the Alleyn’s Intermediate team qualify for the London Championships. In the Junior girls event, Kiki Marchand placed 5th, while Audrey Ovenden secured an excellent top 10 finish. At the London Schools Cross Country Championships, James continued his excellent form, finishing 4th in the Intermediate race, while Daniel Whitehouse also produced an outstanding performance to finish 8th and qualify for the ESAA Cross Country Nationals. This was a particularly impressive achievement for Daniel, reflecting over a year of hard work and commitment to reach the nationals. Alicia Passmore also delivered a strong performance, finishing 10th in the Junior race and qualifying as a reserve for the national event. At the ESAA Cross Country Nationals, both James and Daniel played key roles as part of the London Intermediate team, contributing to an outstanding overall team victory, the first in many years. Overall, it has been a year of exceptional success, with athletes performing at a high level both individually and as part of teams, and continuing to build on the School’s strong cross country tradition. Mr Glenn Eyers

Our U18s and U17s had a strong season, reaching the LISBA Final Fours. Despite the team consisting mostly of Year 12 and younger players, they managed to secure a 3rd-place finish. The U17 team also had an unexpectedly strong season, surprising many of their opponents on the way to winning the LISBA Cup in a nail-biting final. This was also the first year the U17s competed in the National League, which provided invaluable experience for the squad. Although the U16 boys missed out on the playoffs, the team produced some promising performances and look set to make a big impact in their leagues next season. For the first time in Alleyn’s history, a girls’ team (U16) was formed. They competed in an exciting game, winning by one point. Our U15s fought well this season. Despite a few injuries, their resilience and determination paid off as they reached the LISBA Final Fours, finishing 4th, as well as the LISBA Cup semi-finals. The U14s also had a fantastic season, achieving a Final Fours position in their respective LISBA division – a well-earned achievement for all their hard work throughout the academic year. We have also seen huge participation in our U13 and U12 teams. Our U13s competed in the LISBA Cup and, for the first time, our U12s competed in the prestigious Jr. NBA League. It will be exciting to see how Alleyn’s basketball continues to develop in the years ahead.

The headline story of 2026 belongs to the U18 boys, who lifted the London Cup for the first time in 54 years. In a magnificent final, Ojas Apte and Toby Hood led from the front with the bat, guiding the side to a match-winning chase of 138 in 20 overs. It was a display of composure and skill and was an excellent way to round off the season. As if that weren't enough, the boys also defeated the MCC in a remarkable performance, with Sebastian Recordon producing one of the innings of the season, an astonishing 61* off just 26 balls as the boys chased down 197 to seal a 4-wicket victory. Sebastian's knock was a masterclass in aggressive batting and a fitting way to mark the centenary of Alleyn's versus MCC cricket. On the boys' side, it has been a fantastic summer across the age groups. The U15 boys had a superb season, culminating in reaching the ESCA Regional Final, a tremendous achievement that reflects the quality and depth developing in the School's programme. The U15’s also must be credited as the most improved team this season as they have increased their win total by 7 on their previous season. It’s a credit to the hard work and dedication they put in throughout the winter. The U14 boys claimed the Green Cup, a well-deserved title for a group who showed great character and ability throughout the summer. The U13 boys did it again, retaining the London Cup for the second year in a row – winning back-to-back takes a real team effort, and special mention must go to Ben Green, Felix Rai, and Alfred Pinfield who really led from the front on finals day. Finally, the U12 boys reached the London Cup Final in their first season of cricket at Alleyn's – runners up is a tremendous result and a brilliant platform to build from.

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Players selected within county pathways Ammy Baldie – Surrey U18 and Scotland A Lily Walsh – Surrey U18 Hennie Davis – Surrey U18 Sophie Joel – Surrey U16 Freya Hay – Surrey U15 Ana Watson – Surrey U15 Madison Greaves – Kent U15 Girls Cricket The U18 girls' season began in style with a pre-season tour to Bradfield, playing four matches to sharpen up ahead of what would prove to be a brilliant summer. The tour set the tone immediately, with Lily Walsh, Ammy Baldie, and Hennie Davis all hitting half-centuries in their very first innings of the season, a sign of the quality and confidence running through this squad. That form carried straight into the flagship fixtures. Alleyn's performed exceptionally against both Kent and Surrey, with Lily Walsh again catching the eye, scoring 60 against her own Surrey County teammates in another assured display. The U15 girls had a solid season, with the standout moment coming in the National Cup where Freya Hay announced herself with a brilliant 100* – a superb innings and a memorable moment. Once again, Alleyn's reached the last 8 in the country, the second consecutive year they have achieved this and the performances along the way were outstanding. Ammy Baldie was particularly impressive across the final two games of the competition, contributing 118 runs and taking 7 wickets in a superb all-round display. This year they face Epsom College in the Regional Final, and the whole school will be right behind them. To top off what has already been a memorable summer, the girls also have a flagship fixture against the MCC still to come; a fitting finale for a group who have represented Alleyn's with real distinction. The consistency this group has shown at the very top of the national game is something everyone at Alleyn's should celebrate. The U13 girls have had an excellent season, reaching the semi-final of the Surrey Cup. Emily Maula has led from the front throughout and has earned her place in the first XI through a series of impressive performances. Special mention also goes to Kiki Marchand, who played an instrumental role with both bat and ball. It has been a hugely encouraging year for the group and a sign of great things to come as this talented cohort develops. 92 / SPORT / SCRIB 2026

Inigo Moore – London U15 Aadit Sinha – Kent West U14 Emily Maula – Kent U14 Alfred Pinfield – Kent U13 Gus Maberly – Surrey U13 Felix Rai – Surrey U13 Jai Kapil – Surrey U13 Holly Hay – Surrey U13 Kiki Marchand – Kent U13 Mr Jack Maskill

CYCLING Inter-School Cycling Success at Herne Hill Velodrome Three Alleyn’s cycling teams delivered an excellent performance at the InterSchools Competition held at the Herne Hill Velodrome, competing against a strong field of approximately 160 riders. Representing Years 7, 8 and 11, our riders demonstrated both determination and teamwork across a varied and demanding programme of events. Each team rose to the occasion and performed impressively against highly competitive opposition. In the individual 200m sprint event, the fastest riders from each squad stepped forward to represent Alleyn’s. Rhys Merrey, Wilbur Gladstone, and Alex Williams all produced strong performances, with Alex achieving a superb 4th place finish in a particularly competitive field. The team pursuit event showcased exceptional collaboration and tactical awareness, with teams of three riders

working cohesively to maintain pace and catch their opponents. Our U16 team was outstanding, recording a winning time of 1 minute 47 seconds to take first place in this event. Further success followed in the scratch races, where two riders from each team competed over distances ranging from six to ten laps, displaying resilience and race craft throughout. In the Keirin event, Hughie Conway, Wilbur Gladstone and Alex Williams represented the school, skilfully navigating the highspeed format that sees riders accelerate behind a pacing bike before sprinting for the line. The day concluded with the thrilling chase races, where Billy MacPherson and Dan Whitehouse both won their respective heats. Dan’s race was particularly noteworthy, as he executed superb tactics to decisively break away from the field. Overall, it was a fantastic day of racing and a valuable competitive experience for all involved. A standout achievement came from our U16 team, who secured an outstanding overall second place – finishing ahead of Whitgift and only narrowly behind Kingsdale, whose team included a GB cyclist. Team Line-Ups U12 Team Eduoard Walburger Mahadevan Rhys Merrey Hughie Conway U14 Team Ravi Trivedi Wilbur Gladstone Tom Laicini U16 Team Dan Whitehouse Alex Williams Billy MacPherson Mr Mark Workman

the co-curricular offer. An extraordinary 366 fixtures were played across all age groups, reflecting the energy, depth, and organisation of the programme.

FIVES It has been another most successful and enjoyable season of fives for the students. We played a full fixture list against our normal opponents and participated in various RFA regional and national competitions. The first event of the season was the West of England Championships at Sherborne School where Rumi Kohashi-Khan and Frederick McAllister finished as U16 Doubles winners. In the singles Frederick won the Bronze medal. We then participated in the respective SE Regional Championships. In the boys, at U16, Thomas Green won the singles, Rumi Kohashi-Khan was the runner-up and Frederick McAllister won the Bronze medal. Frederick and Rumi won the doubles, defeating Thomas and Sam Negyal in the final. At U18, Milo Arie was runner-up in the singles, and in the Doubles competition Milo and Shaan Khurana were also runners-up. In the girls’ SE Regionals we finished as winners in six categories: Isla Lewis (U14 Singles), Freya Dornan and Sasha Antonova (U14 Doubles), Annabel Brown (U16 Singles), Annabel and Anna Ratto (U16 Doubles), Taylor-Rose Foo (U18 Singles) and Taylor and Issy De Soyza (U18 Doubles). Other fine performances were Freya Dornan (U14 Singles Runnerup), Sasha Antonova (U14 Plate winner), Isla and Holly Hay (U14 Doubles Runnersup), Anna Ratto (U16 Singles Runner-up), Issy De Soyza (U16 Plate Winner), Issy and Kirsten Ely (U16 Doubles Runners-up). In March we held our hugely enjoyable and well supported alumni fives event. It was a very well attended event and great to see so many familiar faces from the past. Sincere thanks to Frank Keenan and his team for all their hard work in putting together such a memorable event. The season then came to a close with the respective girls’ and boys’ National Championships.

(U14 Singles), Freya and Sasha Antonova (U14 Doubles), Annabel Brown (U16 Singles), Annabel and Anna Ratto (U16 Doubles), Taylor-Rose Foo (U18 Singles), Taylor and Diva Tiwari (U18 Doubles). Other standout performances were Martha Worthy (U13 Singles Plate Winner), Martha and Madara Nethercot (U13 Doubles Runners-up), Sasha (U14 Singles Runnerup), and Anna (U16 Singles Runner-up). Standout performances in the boys were Sam Negyal (U16 Singles Plate winner), Thomas Green (U16 Singles Bronze), Thomas and Sam (U16 Doubles Joint Bronze), Rumi Kohashi Khan and Frederick McAllister (U16 Doubles Joint Bronze), Milo Arie and Henry Severino (U18 Doubles Plate winners). It has again been a most enjoyable season. Well done to all who took part and a most sincere thank you to our school fives coach, Howard Wiseman, to our opponents, and to the RFA for all of their hard work in organising so much for our young players. We wish our departing Year 13s well and a most sincere thanks to you for the huge contribution that you have made to fives at Alleyn’s over the past seven years. We look forward very much to welcoming you back at next year’s Alumni event. Mr Rob Ody

FOOTBALL Boys Football The boys’ football programme has reached new heights this year in both participation and performance. With 25 teams and over 400 pupils regularly involved, football stands as a flagship element of

A key strength is the clear development pathway from Year 7 through to the 1st XI. High-quality coaching, purposeful training, and a robust fixture list enable pupils to progress rapidly in technical skill, tactical understanding, and match confidence. The term began with a pre-season training camp in Holland for our senior boys at the Papendal Olympic Training Centre – a demanding week that has been instrumental in their recent success. The Senior boys enjoyed an outstanding season, with both the 1st XI and the 3rd XI reaching the Elgin Capital League Cup Final. The 3rd XI were narrowly edged by Hampton School in a close contest, while the 1st XI produced a memorable 3-2 victory over Forest School. Having trailed 1-0 at half time, the side showed composure and conviction to turn the match around – a performance of real character that will live long in the memory. This is the first time the 1st XI have ever retained this cup, and only the fourth time in history that Alleyn’s have been Elgin champions. During October half-term, our Year 8 boys and girls enjoyed a long weekend with Wolverhampton Wanderers, receiving high-quality coaching at the academy complex, watching academy fixtures and a Midlands derby between West Brom and Preston, and playing matches against Shrewsbury Town and Thomas Telford School – an experience they loved. Representative honours continue to flourish. Four Year 8 pupils – Rishaan Dhillon, Nathan Chukwukere, Joshua James and Joseph Pasqualone – have been selected for the ISFA England U14 programme and will represent their country next season. In Year 10, Theo Lawrence and Dan Kenny featured for the ISFA England U15 team this season, both performing excellently. Thank you to all the staff and pupils for all their efforts supporting the football programme this year. I am excited to see how we continue to kick on in years to come.

In the girls we became National Champions in six categories: Freya Dornan SCRIB 2026 / SPORT / 93

Girls Football The girls’ football programme has accelerated again this year, both in participation and performance, setting a benchmark for girls’ sport across the School. With 11 teams and over 150 pupils regularly involved, enthusiasm and depth are evident throughout the pathway. A remarkable 125 fixtures were played across the season, showcasing the scale and ambition of the programme. Alleyn’s continues to set the standard for girls’ football in schools. We are one of the only schools to run a full midweek and Saturday fixture programme, with training fully embedded in the curriculum – ensuring regular, meaningful contact time and strong team cohesion. A highlight this year was the introduction of a pre-season training camp to Barcelona for the Year 9 and 10 girls. Held in December, it provided warm-weather training and competitive fixtures to prime the squad for the post-Christmas campaign. The girls loved the experience – especially watching a live Espanyol Women vs Barcelona Women fixture – and we were fortunate to meet the Espanyol Women’s team and train with academy coaches. The U18 girls, led by Ms Nicholls, also enjoyed a fantastic season. Her positivity, drive, and passion have propelled the senior programme, with the team responding superbly to reach the ISFA U18 Trophy Final, where they were desperately unlucky to lose to Repton – a brilliant campaign from the 1st XI. The U15s enjoyed an outstanding season, reaching two national cup finals (ISFA and Sisters in Sport). After a narrow ESFA Cup defeat to Surbiton, they responded superbly in the ISFA final, producing a display of determination, courage, and teamwork. Sofie Priston clinched a last-minute 2-1 winner to secure the title – an achievement rightly regarded as one of Alleyn’s finest ever performances. Another highlight was the Year 7 weekend trip to St George’s Park. The girls loved training in the indoor dome and performed 94 / SPORT / SCRIB 2026

brilliantly in their fixtures against our friends at Cheadle Hulme – the future looks bright. We have been proud to have several pupils involved in national representative programmes. Matilda Melley (U14), Rosie Farrow-Smith (U15), Madison Greaves (U15) and Sophia Gladstone (U15) were selected for ISFA England squads and earned caps against the Welsh Schools FA, while Emily Williams (U18) continues to represent ISFA with excellence. Madison Greaves became Alleyn’s first-ever ESFA U15 selection and also received a call-up to the New Zealand U17 squad. A huge thank you to the staff, pupils, and parents for their unwavering support. Mr Oliver Beauchamp

GYMNASTICS Our school gymnastics team has enjoyed another outstanding season, with both our senior and junior school teams once again qualifying for the BSGA Milano Team National Finals. The U16 team – Hughie Buttler, Olivia McNee, Izzy Whittaker, and Vasilisa Kuzmina – performed brilliantly to go one better than last year and secure a well-deserved silver medal. Particularly impressive was the achievement of our U13 team, where four of our junior school pupils – Alice Danaher, Thomas Mackenzie Smith, Amber Salmon, and Charlotte Whittaker – stepped up to represent the age group and proudly brought home a bronze medal. We are incredibly proud of the commitment, resilience, and sportsmanship shown by all our gymnasts throughout the season. They have approached both training and competition with an exemplary attitude and determination, consistently striving to improve and support one another as a team. Their performances reflect not only their individual talent but also the strong sense of unity and pride they have in representing the school. We look forward with great confidence to seeing their continued progress and success in the years ahead. Mr Ryan Shedwick

HOCKEY Boys' Hockey The boys’ hockey programme continues to thrive, both in terms of participation and performance, reflecting the strength and depth of the provision across all year groups. With 17 teams and close to 200 boys involved, hockey remains a central and highly valued part of the co-curricular offering. A particular strength of the programme is the development journey of players. Many boys first pick up a hockey stick in Year 7, often with little or no prior experience, yet progress rapidly through the programme to make a significant impact at the highest level. This clear pathway, supported by committed coaching and a competitive fixture list, enables pupils to develop confidence, technical ability, and a strong understanding of the game. At the senior end, this progression has translated into notable success. Key highlights this year include the U18 Senior boys 1st XI being crowned Stickwise League Champions, alongside securing 3rd place at the prestigious St George’s Sixes tournament. These achievements reflect both the quality of the squad and the consistency of performance across the season. Beyond fixtures, the boys’ hockey programme is enriched by a vibrant and competitive internal environment. The House Hockey competition is a fiercely contested and well-supported feature of the year, fostering pride and great camaraderie. Opportunities for development extend beyond the school context. The Senior boys benefited from a highly successful tour to Holland in October 2025, gaining valuable experience against strong opposition, while Year 9 and 10 pupils will tour to Edinburgh, which will be a key highlight of the programme. The programme also maintains a strong record of representative success, with an extensive list of county-level players and a particularly strong cohort selected for England Hockey Talent Academies,

striving for national success, every player contributes to a dynamic and supportive hockey community. England Representation • Meg Parry (U18) • Isy Key (U21) England Hockey Talent Academy • Josh Aynsley • Sylvie Aynsley underlining the high standard of performance across the school.

• Lizzie Brain

Girls' Hockey

• Jess Jones

The girls’ hockey programme continues to thrive within the School, offering an inspiring balance of enjoyment, performance and inclusivity. With close to 300 girls involved and an impressive 22 teams competing across the age groups, hockey is a vibrant and central part of school life, providing opportunities for every pupil to develop and succeed.

• Isy Key

At the heart of the programme is a commitment to ensuring that every girl, regardless of experience or ability, feels valued and supported. From those picking up a stick for the first time to players competing at the highest levels nationally, the culture is one of enthusiasm, teamwork and continuous improvement. Our House Hockey programme plays a vital role in this, with outstanding participation and energy, as pupils compete with pride and passion in a fun and inclusive environment.

• Meg Parry

Alongside this broad participation sits strong high-performance success. This year saw the 1st XI reach the Indoor National Finals and the England Hockey T2 National semi-finals, an outstanding achievement that reflects the dedication and talent within the squad. At a younger level, the U14 girls were crowned England Hockey National Plate Champions, while the U12 girls celebrated success as England Hockey Tier 1 Regional Champions. These achievements highlight the strength of the development pathway, with players progressing through the programme with confidence and ambition.

NETBALL

Experiences beyond the pitch also continue to enrich the programme. The Senior girls’ tour to Holland in October 2025 was a particular highlight, combining high-quality competition with cultural experience, and creating lasting memories for all involved. Ultimately, the girls’ hockey programme is defined by its ability to cater for all: a place where friendships are formed, skills are developed, and aspirations are realised. Whether playing for fun with friends or

• Ned Burton

• Isla Lewis • Sophie Lonsdale • Noah Marsden Powell • Matilda Melley • Nat Meek • Will Murray • Gabriel Pilkington • Hugh Pilkington • Luca Pistacchi • Audette Tudor Hart • Max Saba • Louis Sabourin • Margault Vannier Mrs Jen Wilson-Rowe

The 2025–26 netball season was another busy and successful year for Alleyn’s netball, with pupils competing in national competitions, Surrey tournaments, and more than 240 fixtures across the U12, U13, U14, U15 and Senior age groups. Across 244 matches, Alleyn’s teams recorded 127 wins, 109 losses and 8 draws, achieving an overall win rate of 52% and demonstrating both the strength and depth of the programme throughout the school. The season began early for the U12 squads, with national competition fixtures starting in just the second week of September. The U12A team enjoyed an impressive run to the fourth round of the National Plate, while the U12B team finished the season with an excellent 71.4% win rate. The U12D team also enjoyed a memorable highlight with a superb victory over Forest School, scoring an impressive 25 goals.

from coaching sessions led by Cardiff Dragons players before testing their skills in competitive matches against local opposition. Participation across the year group was outstanding, with 47 girls representing the school in fixtures. The U13E and U13F teams both completed the season unbeaten, achieving remarkable 100% win records. The U14 squads enjoyed a packed fixture calendar and continued to develop consistency and confidence in match play. The U14A team produced some of its strongest performances during the Lent Term, securing victories in several highly competitive matches and demonstrating significant progress throughout the season. The U15 squads also enjoyed a successful year. The U15A team made an excellent start to their National Plate campaign, winning their opening two rounds by convincing margins. Across the year group, players embraced a challenging fixture programme and continued to develop their skills through a series of competitive matches during the Lent Term. At Senior level, the season brought some exceptional achievements. The U16A team enjoyed a truly outstanding campaign, finishing with an impressive 83.3% win rate. Their hard work and commitment were rewarded with the title of Surrey Champions, and they progressed all the way to become England Netball National Finalists after winning the regional stage of the competition. The Senior programme also demonstrated impressive depth. The U18A team achieved a 66.7% win rate, while the U18B and U18C teams recorded excellent win rates of 73.3% and 85.7% respectively. The 1st and 3rd teams won all but one of their Lent Term friendly fixtures, with particularly notable victories against Wimbledon and Trinity. The 1st team also claimed the annual JAGS vs Alleyn’s TKB Netball Cup, adding another trophy to an already successful season.

The U13 year group had a particularly exciting season, including a successful netball tour to Cardiff. Pupils benefited SCRIB 2026 / SPORT / 95

The strength of Alleyn’s netball programme continues to be reflected not only in its results but also in the number of pupils involved and the opportunities available across every age group. From national competitions and county success to tours, cups and weekly fixtures, the season has been filled with memorable moments and outstanding achievements. County and Academy Pathway Team: U16 Surrey champions U16 Regional champions U16 National finalists – finished 8th Individual: Surrey: • Maise Barnes Kent: • Isobel Toms • Rosie Bowen • Jess Barclay-Carter • Penny Mountford • Grace Anderson London Pulse: • Arabella Howard (SW U17 PDP) • Chloe Osborne (SW U17 PDP) • Millie Sims (SW U17 PDP) Mavericks: • Maggie Edwards (SW U19 PDP) Mrs Katie Chambers

SKIING A fantastic winter of skiing, with the older pupils having fabulous conditions at Waigran, Austria at half term, and Years 8 and 9 enjoying breathtaking scenery and great runs at Alagna in Italy. A combination of top instruction, lovely snow and non-stop skiing ensured that pupils not only made great progress but also had a brilliant time. Roll on next winter! Mr Phil Bone

SWIMMING

TABLE TENNIS

Swimming at Alleyn’s has enjoyed an exceptional year, marked by impressive performances at both team and individual levels across a range of prestigious competitions.

Table tennis at Alleyn’s has been bigger than ever before with more fixtures and bigger success. This year we took two teams to the national qualifiers for the first time in the U13s and U16s boys team competition, getting team wins in both categories and just missing out on count back to go through to the next round. In the individual qualifiers 5 of our players got through to the last 16, narrowly missing out on qualification but with another year for them to compete again we can hopefully get through next year.

At the 67th ESSA Secondary Relay Championships, we proudly entered four junior teams. Our Year 7/8 girls delivered a standout performance, finishing 5th in the national finals against an exceptionally strong field – a fantastic achievement and a testament to their hard work and determination. We were also delighted to both participate in and host the newly launched Schools Super League, organised by ESSA. This exciting new competition brought together swimmers from every year group, and our athletes rose to the occasion, producing outstanding performances and breaking multiple age-group records. This success was led by our School Swim Captain, Archie Osborne, whose leadership and performances have been exemplary throughout the year. On the international stage, Alleyn’s swimmers excelled at the World School Swimming Championships, bringing home an impressive eight individual medals. Our U14 girls’ relay team were particularly outstanding, securing silver medals in both the 4x50m Freestyle and 4x50m Medley relays, showcasing their strength, teamwork, and competitive spirit on a global platform. It has also been incredibly encouraging to see the next generation of swimmers begin their journey. Several Year 7 pupils competed in their first school gala against JAGS, and it was a delight to witness their enthusiasm and commitment as they represented Alleyn’s for the first time. Overall, it has been a year defined by progress, success, and excitement for the future of swimming at Alleyn’s. We look forward to building on this momentum in the coming seasons. Mr Alex Nummey

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With our friendly fixtures we had many players joining in and doing fixtures for the first time as well as having some great, friendly matches. We also did a south London schools' team and individual competition, finishing 2nd in the team and Alfred Pinfield taking home gold in the individual competition. A great year of table tennis. Mr Nicol Brennan

TENNIS A fantastic term of tennis at Alleyn’s this year, entering more competitions in the year than ever before. In the Lent term our Seniors were both involved in the Y11-13 Surrey school leagues. Our boys topped their group without dropping a set before getting knocked out in the last 16 in the play offs. Our Senior girls also topped their group and reached the quarter finals in the county knockout draw. Our Seniors continued their success in the national events in the Glanville and Aberdare cups and Rootham and Branston shields in Trinity term. Our girls got to the final of our group in the Aberdare cup but unfortunately couldn't get through to the national finals this year – fantastic to get to this point as it is the first time we have gone in to this level of tournament. The boys got to their group final but had a very close loss against a very strong team. Fantastic effort! In the summer we have had amazing success in the Surrey leagues this year.

at club level. This commitment has also led to several pupils being selected for the London Talent Centre, which is a fantastic achievement.

All our teams entered; U18 boys, U18 girls, U14 boys, U14 girls and U12 boys have won their groups and are through to the knockout rounds later this year. This doubles-only competition is centred around teamwork and all players need to perform to get through the groups. The U14 and U18 girls won and became Surrey League champions while the U12 boys came 2nd and the U18s lost in a shootout in the semifinal against Reeds. Incredible effort from all players. The FAGE schools LTA leagues are ongoing for our Year 7/8s and Year 9/10s. With 3 teams in most age groups this year it’s fantastic to see our B and C teams getting some wins in their groups and having more accessibility for players to get more competitive matches. Currently our Year 7/8 boys A, 7/8 girls A, Year 9/10 boys A, Year 9/10 boys B and our Year 9/10 girls have topped their groups and are through to the knockout rounds and into the quarter finals.

WATER POLO Alleyn’s water polo has enjoyed another exciting and highly active season, with regular training sessions taking place both during lunchtimes and after school. Alongside this, pupils have competed in a variety of friendly fixtures and tournaments, as well as the two major competitions: the Schools Water Polo League and the ESSA National Championships. It has been particularly encouraging to see so many pupils maintaining their enthusiasm for the sport, while also welcoming a number of newcomers across all year groups who have quickly embraced the game. Its growing popularity is clear, with many pupils keen to get involved and experience the enjoyment it offers. A notable development this year has been the increasing number of players, especially in Years 8, 9 and 10, taking their involvement beyond school and competing

In competition, our U14 girls, U14 mixed, U16, and U18 boys teams all performed strongly in the Schools Water Polo League, achieving excellent results and consistently positive win–loss records. Our U18 boys team progressed through to the ESSA National Plate finals and finished 5th. The U13 girls team also reached the ESSA National Plate final, winning Bronze medals, while the U15 girls and U18 girls teams both progressed to the ESSA National Championship finals. In a hardfought competition, our U18 girls team came away with national Bronze medals, whilst our U15 girls went one step further to reach the championship final, and did incredibly well to finish second, securing national Silver medals! Finally, a huge congratulation to Year 11 pupil Ella Talbot who was selected to represent GB U18’s this season. One of the biggest highlights of the year was our unforgettable water polo tour to Malta for pupils in Years 9-13. The trip combined a busy schedule of competitive matches with valuable training sessions, including a memorable experience training under floodlights in torrential rain. Alongside the sport, we all also enjoyed a range of cultural activities, including a walking tour of Valletta and a jeep safari exploring the nearby island of Gozo, making it a truly rewarding experience both in and out of the pool. A huge congratulations to everyone who has participated this year and we can’t wait for another thrilling season next year! Miss Charlotte Ody

Well done to Chandni Sethi and Mattias Thadaney, Hugh Pilkington and Henry Kelly for winning the Play Your Way to Wimbledon competition at Alleyn’s and they head to county finals for a chance at the national finals, where they get the chance to play on the practice courts at Wimbledon. Lewis Henderson - Grade 3 Mens Singles winner of Paddington Sports Open Maxim Borin - Sutton Tennis Academy Easter Tournament Grade 3 U18 boys Singles winner Chandni Sethi - Sutton Tennis Academy Easter Tournament Grade 3 U12 girls winner – last 16 in National Lexus Tour Grade 2 Doubles. Mr Nicol Brennan SCRIB 2026 / SPORT / 97

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

ATHLETICS & CROSS COUNTRY 2025 Senior Knole Run: James Clements-Nash – Winner ESAA Cross Country National Team Championships (Intermediate): Gold Medals – James Clements-Nash and Daniel Whitehouse (representing Southwark)

BASKETBALL U17 LISBA Cup: Winners U18 LISBA Finals: Third Place

BIATHLON GB Schools Biathlon National Finals: U12 boys Team Event: Gold Medal – Kit Williams, Harry Dilworth, Jake Larkman U12 boys Team Event: Silver Medal – Rory Shand, Max Morrison, Seth Matha

U12 boys:

U13 Singles Plate: Winner – Martha Worthy

Kit Williams – Eighth Place U16 boys:

U13 Doubles: Runners-up – Martha Worthy & Madara Nethercot

James Clements-Nash – Sixth Place

National Boys’ Schools Championships

CRICKET

U18 Plate Doubles: Winners – Milo Arie & Henry Severino

U18 boys London Cup: Winners

U16 Singles: Bronze Medal – Thomas Green

U14 boys Green Cup: Winners

U16 Plate Singles: Winner – Sam Negyal

U13 boys London Cup: Winners

U16 Doubles: Bronze Medal (Joint) – Rumi Kohashi-Khan & Frederick McAllister

U12 boys London Cup: Runners-up U15 boys ESCA: Regional Finalists U18 girls T20 National Cup: Last 18

FIVES National Girls’ Schools Championships U18 Singles: Winner – Taylor-Rose Foo U18 Doubles: Winners – Taylor-Rose Foo & Diva Tiwari U16 Singles: Winner – Annabel Brown

U13 girls:

U16 Singles: Runner-up – Anna Ratto

Manisha Thomas – Fifth Place

U16 Doubles: Winners – Annabel Brown & Anna Ratto

Sienna McGloughlin – Ninth Place U13 boys: Gus Maberly – Eighth Place

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U14 Singles: Winner – Freya Dornan U14 Singles: Runner-up – Sasha Antonova U14 Doubles: Winners – Freya Dornan & Sasha Antonova

U16 Doubles: Bronze Medal (Joint) – Thomas Green & Sam Negyal

FOOTBALL U13 boys ISFA National Cup: Semi-finalists 1st XI boys Elgin League Cup: Winners 3rd XI boys Elgin League Cup: Runners-up U15 girls ISFA Cup: National Champions U15 girls SIS National Cup: Runners-up U18 girls ISFA Trophy: Runners-up

GYMNASTICS British Schools Gymnastics National Finals (Milano Team Event): Silver Medal

HOCKEY U18 girls Indoor National Finals: Finalists U18 boys 1st XI Stickwise League: Champions U14 girls England Hockey Tier 1 Plate: National Champions

Kit Williams, Jake Larkman, Leo Zhang Wei, Gus Maberly Junior boys (Year 7/8) 4x50m Freestyle Relay: Qualified for National Final Jake Larkman, Leo Zhang Wei, Gus Maberly, Harry Dilworth

U13 girls ISHC National Plate: Runners-up

U13 London Independent School Swimming League: Regional Champions

U12 girls England Hockey Tier 1: Regional Champions

World School Swimming Championships

NETBALL

4x50m Medley Relay: Runners-up

U16 girls Surrey County: Champions U16 England Netball National Competition: Finalists

SWIMMING ESSA Secondary Relay Championships Junior girls (Year 7/8) 4x50m Freestyle Relay: Fourth Place Manisha Thomas, Heidi Wort, Katya Ivanova, Sienna McGloughlin

4x50m Freestyle Relay: Runners-up Manisha Thomas, Nancy Cai, Heidi Wort, Maya Orfanidis Individual Results: Maya Orfanidis: 100m Freestyle – Winner 100m Backstroke – Winner Nancy Cai: 200m Individual Medley – Runner-up 100m Backstroke – Third Place

Junior girls (Year 7/8) 4x50m Medley Relay: Qualified for National Final

50m Backstroke – Third Place

Manisha Thomas, Heidi Wort, Sienna McGloughlin, Ella Patterson-Steel

100m Breaststroke – Winner

Junior boys (Year 7/8) 4x50m Medley Relay: Qualified for National Final

200m Individual Medley – Winner

Leo Zhang Wei: 50m Breaststroke – Winner

50m Freestyle – Third Place

TABLE TENNIS U14 and U16 boys National Qualifiers (Fusion Table Tennis Club): Seb Hull, Ollie Mellor, James Aggarwal, Emre Erner, Alfred Pinfield – Last 16

TENNIS U18 girls Surrey League: Champions U14 girls Surrey League: Champions U12 boys Surrey League: Runners-up U15 boys LTA Division 2 Surrey School League: Finalists U15 girls LTA Division 2 Surrey School League: Finalists U13 boys LTA Division 2 Surrey School League: Finalists U13 girls LTA Division 2 Surrey School League: Finalists

WATER POLO U13 girls ESSA National Plate: Bronze Medal U15 girls ESSA National Championships: Silver Medal U18 girls ESSA National Championships: Bronze Medal SCRIB 2026 / SPORT / 99

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SPORTS AWARDS

The annual Sports Awards Evening provided a fitting celebration of another outstanding year of sport at Alleyn’s, bringing together pupils, parents, staff and guests to recognise the commitment, achievements and contributions of our sporting community.

The evening offered an opportunity to celebrate success across a wide range of sports and age groups, while also recognising the values that sit at the heart of sport at Alleyn’s: dedication, resilience, teamwork and a commitment to continual improvement. Throughout the evening, numerous pupils were acknowledged for their achievements, with sport-specific awards and prestigious trophies presented. Many of these trophies have been generously donated to the school over the years, creating a rich tradition that connects current pupils with the generations who have represented Alleyn’s before them. While the awards recognised impressive performances and competitive success, the evening also highlighted the many different ways pupils contribute to the sporting life of the school. Whether through leadership, commitment to training, supporting teammates, or giving back to others, the recipients reflected the breadth and strength of the Alleyn’s sporting community.

A particular highlight of the evening was welcoming guest speaker and Alleyn’s alumna Daisy Collingridge (Brown’s 2018). Daisy delivered an inspiring and memorable address, sharing insights from her journey in elite sport and the lessons she has learned along the way. Representing Great Britain in sailing, Daisy is a twotime National Champion and two-time World Cup medallist. With her sights firmly set on winning Olympic gold at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, she spoke passionately about the importance of setting ambitious goals and embracing the challenges that come with pursuing excellence.

Importantly, Daisy linked her achievements back to her time at Alleyn’s, speaking warmly about the foundations that were established during her school years. She credited the opportunities, support and encouragement she received from teachers, coaches and peers as playing a significant role in her development, both as an athlete and as a person. Her reflections reinforced the importance of school sport in helping young people build confidence, develop lifelong skills and aspire to achieve their potential. Mrs Jen Wilson-Rowe Assistant Director of Sport SCRIB 2026 / SPORT / 101

TIME OUT

ALL IN: CO-CURRICULAR This year, our co-curricular programme has seen Alleyn's spirit in action – community, creativity and collaboration – helping every pupil grow emotionally, artistically and in character as they discover their strengths and become All They Can Be. We began the year with our dancers lighting up the MCT stage in our second Winter Dance Show, Spotlight, followed by three pulsating performances in our March Dance Show, Blaze. Throughout the year, audiences were treated to three outstanding school productions – Great Expectations, Hetty Feather and Anything Goes. Music also filled the year, culminating in our breathtaking Celebration of Music at Southwark Cathedral, featuring a magnificent performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Our CCF once again led us with pride and precision at the Remembrance Day 104 / TIME OUT / SCRIB 2026

Service, providing a moving reminder of service and community. Through the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model United Nations, Debating, and more than 250 clubs, societies and sports teams, every pupil had the opportunity to perform, compete, create and connect. As we celebrate another extraordinary year, we recognise not only the achievements of our pupils, but also the growth, joy and friendships that our All In co-curricular programme makes possible. Mr Neil Green Assistant Head Co-curricular and Partnerships

ADVENTURE DEPARTMENT: LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM pupils take part in water-based activities in Devon, outdoor bushcraft trips and House team building. Year 9 also engage in adventurous training through the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), including Go Ape, Tower of London visits, field days and summer camp activities. In Years 10 and 11, students progress through Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions, including locations such as the New Forest, South Downs and North Downs. Additional opportunities include navigation training, outdoor first aid courses, Cadre training and expeditions to Wales and the Cambrian Mountains. Pupils also participate in CCF summer camps and field training exercises, building leadership and survival skills.

The Adventure Department has had an outstanding year, offering pupils across all key stages opportunities to develop resilience, teamwork and independence through outdoor learning, expeditions and leadership training. In the Junior School, pupils begin their journey with exciting team-building experiences from Reception through Year 6. Reception enjoy Forest School sessions, building confidence outdoors, while Years 1–3 take part in team-building challenges and Adventure Club activities. Year 3 also benefit from residential experiences at PGL, alongside opportunities to develop bushcraft and outdoor exploration skills. Year 4 pupils attend Hindleap Warren,

while Year 5 experience UKSA residential and bushcraft days on site. Year 6 extend their learning at West Leeds Activity Centre, including fire lighting and Junior Duke challenges, preparing them for transition to Senior School. In the Senior School, Year 7 Adventure Club continues to develop bushcraft skills such as fire lighting, whittling and shelter building, alongside experiences like Mount Cook Outward Bound. Year 8 and 9

In the Upper School, Year 12 and 13 students undertake Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award sections, including expeditions in Exmoor, the Brecon Beacons and the Surrey Hills. They also take part in RAF experiences such as gliding and visits to RAF Northolt. Through the CCF, students complete NCO exercises, mountain navigation and residential training camps. Additional enrichment includes mental health first aid, emergency first aid qualifications, community gardening and outdoor cooking. Across all years, the Adventure Department continues to inspire pupils to explore, lead and thrive beyond the classroom. Mr Richard Alldrick Head of Adventure

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DUKE OF EDINBURGH BRONZE: This year, 113 students successfully completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. The large group performed exceptionally well throughout the programme, beginning with the Advent Field Day at Headley Heath and the Lent Field Day at Box Hill. These events gave students the opportunity to put the skills they had

SILVER: This year, 42 students successfully completed their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award, demonstrating commitment, resilience and determination throughout the programme. Their journey began with the Advent Field Day on Wimbledon Common, where they developed and refined key expedition skills. This was followed by the Silver practice expedition in the North Downs, providing students with the opportunity to build confidence in navigation, campcraft and teamwork while preparing for the demands of the qualifying expedition.

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learned in the classroom into practice. Their hard work and determination culminated in the qualifying expedition in the New Forest, where every participant passed. Mr Alldrick has already presented over 30 certificates and badges and looks forward to awarding the remainder. He also looks forward to welcoming students onto the Silver Award in September.

The programme culminated in the qualifying expedition across the South Downs, where participants put everything they had learned into practice. Despite the challenges of route planning, long distances and unpredictable conditions, students rose to the occasion and successfully completed the expedition. Congratulations to all 42 participants on this outstanding achievement. A special thank you goes to Dr O’Neil and Mr Hawkins for coordinating the programme and supporting students throughout their Silver journey. With this challenge now complete, who is ready to take on the adventure of Gold?

GOLD This year, 25 students embarked on the challenge of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, the highest and most demanding level of the programme. Throughout the year, participants demonstrated exceptional commitment, perseverance and leadership as they worked towards completing the various sections of the award. A key highlight of the programme was the practice expedition on Exmoor during the Easter holidays. Navigating remote terrain and working independently in teams, students developed their expedition, decisionmaking and problem-solving skills while preparing for the final challenge. Their efforts culminated in the qualifying expedition in the Brecon Beacons during the summer holidays. Faced with demanding routes, varied weather conditions and the responsibility of operating as self-sufficient teams, participants rose to the challenge and represented the school with distinction.

A sincere thank you goes to all the staff who generously give their time, expertise and encouragement to support students on their DofE journey. The school is also excited to celebrate 50 years of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Alleyn’s, while the Award itself marks its remarkable 70th anniversary this year. Mr Richard Alldrick Head of Adventure & Duke of Edinburgh's Award Manager

Mr Alldrick is already looking forward to attending the Gold Award celebrations at Buckingham Palace in May 2027 and hopes to see many current Year 13 students and Alleyn’s alumni receiving their awards. It was particularly inspiring to celebrate more than 42 Alleyn’s Gold Award holders at Buckingham Palace this year, highlighting the strength and success of the school’s Duke of Edinburgh programme.

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COMBINED CADET FORCE Another year has passed for the Combined Cadet Force, and once again our cadets have demonstrated exactly why the CCF remains one of the most rewarding opportunities available to young people. While most activities teach military skills, the true purpose of the CCF has always been far greater: developing confident, resilient and compassionate young team players and leaders who are willing to challenge themselves and support those around them. Throughout the year our cadets have embraced an exceptional programme of opportunities. From flying, shooting and water activities, to fieldcraft, navigation, leadership exercises and national competitions, they have consistently stepped outside their comfort zones with enthusiasm and determination. This year also presented its own challenges, with several exercises taking place in exceptionally hot or cold conditions, demanding resilience, teamwork and perseverance from cadets and staff alike. This year’s Junior NCO Cadre programme has seen 36 cadets successfully complete our demanding leadership and instructional training programme, culminating in the Cadre Exercise before passing out to join 108 / TIME OUT / SCRIB 2026

our Cadet NCO team. Watching these cadets grow in confidence, develop as instructors and prepare to lead the next generation of cadets has been one of the greatest privileges of the year. Our Army section also enjoyed a particularly memorable year, representing Alleyn's at a national competition, whilst our Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sections continued to provide outstanding opportunities. None of this would be possible without the extraordinary commitment of our cadet NCOs and the CCF staff team, who dedicate countless hours throughout the year to creating exceptional experiences for our cadets. Their passion, professionalism and unwavering support

are the foundation of everything we achieve. Most importantly, thank you to all our cadets. Your enthusiasm, humour, resilience and willingness to embrace every challenge continue to make the Alleyn's CCF such a special organisation to be part of. We are immensely proud of everything you have achieved this year and look forward to seeing what the next one brings. Miss Lily Senior Contingent Commander

ROYAL AIR FORCE SECTION

ROYAL NAVY SECTION The Royal Navy Section has had another fantastic year, with cadets making the most of every opportunity on offer. One of the highlights was the annual Tri-Service Games, where our Year 9 cadets threw themselves into every challenge with real enthusiasm, teamwork and determination, narrowly missing out on the overall win by just one point. On the water, cadets developed their kayaking skills, learning essential water safety, mastering fundamental paddle strokes and building the confidence to safely capsize and recover. The year finished for our Year 10s with a demanding SelfReliance expedition, where cadets showed

real resilience and determination, taking difficult weather conditions in their stride and proving just how much they had grown throughout the year.

The Royal Air Force Section has had another brilliant year, with cadets embracing a range of exciting opportunities both in the air and on the ground. A particular highlight was Cpl Ella Semple's selection to attend the National Air & Space Camp, where she represented Alleyn's whilst taking part in flight simulation, flying in a Grob Tutor aircraft, first aid training and industry workshops alongside cadets from across the UK. Eight RAF NCOs also enjoyed their first gliding experience at RAF Kenley, taking the controls of a Viking glider under the guidance of qualified instructors. This year also saw every RAF cadet complete the new RAF Air Cadets Space Syllabus, earning their Blue Space Badge. Congratulations to everyone involved on another fantastic year of learning, achievement and opportunity.

BRITISH ARMY SECTION The Army Section has enjoyed another outstanding year, with cadets continuing to embrace every opportunity to challenge themselves, develop their leadership skills and build resilience. A particular highlight was Alleyn's first ever entry into the prestigious Cambrian Patrol competition: a physically and mentally demanding 48-hour national military skills competition held in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. Exceptionally led by Sgt Burton-Franklin, the team of Sgt Boland, Cpl Severino, Cpl Barnard, Cpl Bond, Cpl Dicker, Cpl Shilton and Cpl Lo demonstrated outstanding teamwork, determination and resilience to return with a well-earned Bronze Medal - an exceptional achievement.

serving officers and this year’s Head of Army. His dedication, experience and commitment to the Contingent have positively influenced countless cadets over many years. Whilst we are incredibly sad to see him leave, we thank him for his outstanding service and wish him every success for the future.

This year also marks the departure of Lt J. Lothian, one of our longest

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CADET NCOS Leadership sits at the heart of the Cadet NCO role, and this year's NCO team has embraced that responsibility with enthusiasm, professionalism and genuine care for those they lead. This year, our Cadet NCOs have played an integral role in shaping the experience of younger cadets across the Contingent. Whether planning and delivering lessons, coaching on exercises, leading activities or simply taking the time to encourage and support those around them, they have shown what good leadership really looks like. In doing so, they have developed confidence, resilience, organisation and communication skills that will stay with them well beyond their time in the CCF, preparing them for university, the workplace and whatever challenges come next.

My sincere thanks go to Regimental Sergeant Major Lavitta Xie and the wider senior NCO team for their outstanding commitment throughout the year. It was a privilege to celebrate the achievements and service of our outgoing Year 13 Cadet NCOs at this year's Annual CCF Dinner, and we thank all of them for the lasting contribution they have made to the Contingent. We wish them every success in the future.

Meeting. The team achieved Alleyn's highest-ever score, finishing a record fifth in the Ashburton Fours. Individually, Harry V placed in the Schools Hundred, while Lavitta X became the first Alleyn's cadet to finish in the top 100 on the main competition day.

Rifle Club

In the Country Life National Smallbore Postal Competition, Alleyn's finished seventh out of 30 teams, with Lavitta X recording the school's highest-ever individual score and placing in the national top 10.

Alleyn's Rifle Club continued to be a popular weekly games option this year, with cadets enjoying another successful season of training and competition.

Notably, Alleyn's fielded an all-female team in the mixed competition for the first time. Thank you to all the staff who supported the club throughout the year.

The year's highlights came in two national competitions. In July, seven cadets travelled to the National Shooting Centre at Bisley for the final National Schools Fullbore

ALLEYN’S JUNIOR NCO CADRE

‘CADRE’ is a unique term at Alleyn’s, known among students through whispered stories of the infamous 5-day Exercise in the summer. However, CADRE more broadly refers to the year-long training programmes Year 11 students complete within the Alleyn’s CCF. This includes weekly after-school sessions led by the Year 12 and 13 CADRE NCO leadership team. Within the course, cadets complete an MOI training program which prepares them for their Year 12 roles as NCOs; they also undergo intense fieldcraft training in preparation for the summer Exercise and learn advanced rifle drill for the Pass Out Parade. This is the final stage of the CADRE course in which they celebrate passing the training

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programme and select cadets to win prizes for their hard work throughout the year. This intense, high level program often causes those outside the CCF to ask; “why?” Though the entire year is transformative for cadets, it is the CADRE Exercise which pushes them

to trust their instincts and rely on their knowledge. Students consistently undergo dramatic improvements in resilience and self-confidence, going into Year 12 feeling more self-assured and ready for leadership roles. Cpl. Alicia Dicker

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS Trinity Schools Book Awards Ceremony The Library took pupils to the Trinity Schools Book Awards Ceremony at City of London School, featuring Q&As with shortlisted authors, book signings and the announcement of the winning titles. Harry (Year 7) won first place for his book review, while Naia (Year 9) took second place in the Creative Response category.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson at the Southbank Centre Alleyn’s staff and Year 13 students attended an inspiring evening at the Southbank Centre with Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the US Supreme Court, in conversation with Afua Hirsch. Her story was powerful, motivational and unforgettable.

Black Cultural Archives Year 12 AiQ students headed to the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton for an afterschool workshop exploring the stories of the Windrush Generation through artefacts and archive records. It was a wonderful opportunity to consider which stories we should be telling today and how to ensure they are heard as part of their Storytelling course in AiQ.

Year 13 Hispanists Explore Hispanic Culture and Politics at the Cervantes Institute Year 13 Hispanists visited the Cervantes Institute in London to research topics for their Independent Research Project, part of their final oral exam. They explored a fascinating range of subjects, including the CIA in Guatemala, lithium extraction in Chile and President Bukele in El Salvador.

Food & Nutrition Lecture Food & Nutrition students visited the Royal College of Physicians to hear Dr Chris van Tulleken discuss how and why we eat ultra-processed foods, and food policy. Thoughtful questions and lively discussion left students inspired to think more deeply about the issues surrounding food and nutrition.

Year 12 Politics Year 12 Politics students visited the Supreme Court for a guided tour and case study, watched debates in both the Commons and the Lords, and took part in a hustings workshop. They also met a member of Ellie Reeves’ office and asked plenty of insightful questions.

A Level English Theatre Trip A Level English Literature students enjoyed a trip to see an adaptation of their set text, Dracula, at the Lyric Hammersmith. It was a dynamic production that included many more twists than Stoker’s original novel, leaving those yet to study it rightly perplexed.

Sixth Form English Trip Sixth Form English pupils visited Strawberry Hill House to deepen their understanding of the Gothic, a key component of their A Level studies. The eccentric former home of Horace Walpole, author of the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, offered students fresh insights into Gothic fiction, as well as Walpole’s distinctive life and love of the unusual.

Year 12 Film Studies Year 12 Film Studies students spent a day at BFI Southbank exploring silent cinema, from German Expressionism to a live accompaniment to Sunrise by Neil Brand. The experience provided an inspiring opportunity to deepen their understanding of early film.

St Ives Trip Year 12 Art students enjoyed a brilliant weekend in St Ives, visiting Tate St Ives, Barbara Hepworth’s studio, Leach Pottery and Tremenheere Sculpture Park. They also took part in cyanotype and coastal drawing workshops, all fuelled by pasties, fudge, fish and chips and hot chocolate. SCRIB 2026 / TIME OUT / 111

FOOD & NUTRITION TRIP TO SORRENTO

October half-term 2025 saw 38 Year 9 pupils and four teachers (Mrs Brooks, Mr Gebbia, Mrs Patel and Mr Sharp) swap South London for southern Italy, spending four days in Sorrento exploring the food, culture and everyday life of the region. Located on the Bay of Naples, the trip combined cookery, sightseeing and, naturally, a lot of eating along the way. Pupils made fresh gnocchi with local chefs, learnt the art of Neapolitan pizza-making and visited an olive farm where they saw how olive oil is produced before tasting a range of different oils for themselves. A gelato workshop was another highlight, with pupils quickly discovering that making good gelato is far more technical than it first appears. Away from the kitchen, the group travelled 112 / TIME OUT / SCRIB 2026

along the Amalfi Coast, stopping at Positano and Amalfi and winding through dramatic cliffside roads and spectacular sea views. Although the rain poured relentlessly during our visit to Amalfi, it did little to dampen spirits, and pupils embraced the experience with good humour. On the final day, we visited Pompeii, where pupils walked through ancient streets, houses and marketplaces frozen in time by the eruption

of Vesuvius nearly two thousand years ago. Some of the best moments, however, came in between the quieter events: wandering through the streets of Sorrento, stopping for pastries and lemon granita, practising Italian with café owners, and developing the small independence that comes with travelling abroad as part of a group. Throughout the trip, pupils were a credit to Alleyn’s. They approached every activity with enthusiasm, curiosity and maturity, and returned home with a greater appreciation not only of Italian food, but also of the culture, history and people behind it. Mr James Sharp Head of Food & Nutrition

ENGLISH TRIP TO ARVON Our drive from the sleepy station at Okehampton out to Totleigh Barton was punctuated by the phone signal cutting out entirely and by our driver pointing out various fields of cows along the route. Cows would provide us with something of a theme for our five days: peering in at the windows of the converted barn where our writing workshops were hosted and serving as muses for various poems written by the group along the way. Totleigh Barton is the first and oldest of several creative writing centres run by the Arvon Foundation. A sixteenth century manor house, it offers flagstone floors, huge old fireplaces and a library complete with a picture-perfect window seat overlooking green fields beyond. It was not only the setting that inspired our students; we were joined for the week by two expert teachers: the award-winning poet Rachel Long, whose first collection, My Darling from the Lions, was a TIME book of the year; and novelist and short-story writer Jacob

Ross whose novel, The Bone Readers, won the Jhalak Prize in 2017. The teachers ran workshops in the mornings and conducted one-to-one meetings with us during the afternoons. In the evening, students and published writers alike read aloud from their work. Throughout the rest of the day, we were at liberty to use the various nooks and cubbyholes in the house and to roam the grounds while working on our creative projects. Some of us took muddy walks, and in the evening groups of students took turns to cook dinner: vegetarian chilli and

guacamole on one evening; macaroni cheese chased down by sticky toffee pudding another. Students across Years 10, 12 and 13 collaborated on ideas, culinary skills and readings of one another’s work; we teamed up for a whole-group game of Traitors which saw teachers under suspicion almost immediately (unfairly, I might add). The final night saw us all perform our work aloud to one another in a spirit of revelry. These contributions, carefully written and revised during our week at Arvon, will form the basis for an anthology authored by each of a very talented cohort of young writers. We hope this year marks the beginning of a tradition of Arvon trips for years to come! Ms Emily Hardy Head of English SCRIB 2026 / TIME OUT / 113

ACTIVITIES WEEK YEAR 9 NED TALKS

YEAR 8 IN CROYDE

Following the cancellation of their camping trip, Year 9 took part in a festival of Ned Talks. Pupils were in House groups as they each prepared and then presented 2-minute, on-the-clock talks. Two were selected from each House to go through to the finals and what a treat it was! A great variety of topics were explored including living transplant donors, corruption in FIFA, losing your marbles, the history of board games and the importance of arguing. Congratulations to our winner Isabel (the power of the two-minute rule), second place Yasmin, and joint third Amandine and Tim.

Year 8 ended the year in style with an unforgettable residential trip to Croyde! From surfing and coasteering to new House friendships and teamwork, students embraced every challenge.

YEAR 10 IN ROUEN A group of Year 10 students have had a great week in Rouen making the most of every opportunity despite the soaring temperatures. During their stay they visited the beautiful towns of Giverny and Honfleur and immersed themselves in French culture by staying with host families.

YEAR 12 CHEMISTS AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION Year 12 chemists enjoyed a fascinating day at the Royal Institution exploring the Chemistry of Colour. From synthesising dyes to a thrilling colorimetry challenge, students put their practical skills to the test.

YEAR 10 IN VALENCIA Year 10 students had a fun-filled week in Valencia, combining language lessons with a rich programme of cultural experiences. They enjoyed a wide range of activities, including a bachata dance class, a pincho cooking competition, a flamenco show, and a visit to Europe’s largest aquarium. They also made the most of Valencia’s coastline, spending time at the beach playing volleyball, swimming, and experiencing the start of the vibrant San Juan festival. The trip offered a fantastic opportunity to develop their Spanish while creating lasting memories together. Huge thanks to Ms Martínez, Dr Moore and Mr Ponton for accompanying the group. 114 / TIME OUT / SCRIB 2026

YEAR 12 BIOLOGISTS AT JUNIPER HALL Year 12 biologists enjoyed a field trip to FSC Juniper Hall, investigating succession on Mickleham Downs and collecting river data for their coursework in the Surrey Hills.

YEAR 10 IN MÁLAGA Year 10 GCSE Spanish pupils enjoyed an unforgettable immersion trip to Málaga, staying with host families, improving their language skills and experiencing Andalusian culture through lessons, excursions and local celebrations.

POLAR EXPLORER ALEX HIBBERT INSPIRES YEARS 8 AND 9 For Years 8–9, polar explorer Alex Hibbert delivered an inspiring talk, sharing his passion for the Arctic, skiing vast distances, and the importance of building friendships, both human and canine, on his remarkable adventures.

CUBA DAY Students enjoyed an immersive Cuba Day, exploring the country's history, politics, economy and culture through talks, VR experiences, dominoes and Cuban food. The event offered valuable insights into modern Cuba and its complex past.

YEAR 12 TRIP TO HIGH SOCIETY Year 12 students enjoyed a fantastic trip to High Society at the Barbican, including a special backstage tour led by Julian Ovenden, who plays the role Dexter Haven in the musical. He offered a fascinating insight into the world of musical theatre production, and of course it was a real treat to watch such a brilliant performance.

YEAR 12 MEETS ANT MAN YEAR 7 AT MOUNT COOK YEAR 10 IN BELGIUM Year 12 welcomed macrophotography expert Eduard F. Niga (Ant Man) for a fascinating day exploring ant biology and photography. Students learnt about biodiversity before capturing their own macro images.

Year 7 enjoyed an exciting week at Mount Cook Adventure Centre in Derbyshire, taking part in activities such as climbing, caving, kayaking, high ropes, archery, forest exploration and more.

Year 10 students enjoyed an out-of-thisworld experience at the Euro Space Centre in Belgium, taking part in astronaut training, moon-walk simulations, VR activities and re-entry capsule challenges.

YEAR 10 IN COLOGNE Year 10 Germanists had a fabulous time in Cologne, visiting the magnificent Kölner Dom, the Lindt Chocolate Museum and, of course, Phantasialand, the most popular theme park in Europe. After German lessons in the morning, they explored the main shopping area in town and sampled many a delicious ice cream. The evenings were a chilled affair with glorious sunsets and some downtime on the banks of the Rhine.

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AC T I V I T I E S

MULTICULTURAL STUDENTSʼ UNION It’s been a big year for the Multicultural Students’ Union this year. Yes, that’s right. You may have noted that the MSU is now the Multicultural Students’ Union, formerly known as the Minority Students Union. We’ve been considering changing the name (though not the purpose) for several years, and it was this year that we came up with a name that we believe represents this era of the MSU well. Still here to represent students of varying “minorities” - who in some spaces may be deemed “Global Majority” and a decade ago may have been known as BAME “Black and Minority Ethnic” - the language around identity continues to shift and for our Alleyn’s community we have decided that, for now, “Multicultural” works well in our context. The name change of our student-led society did not slow down the impact and initiatives over this academic year, and in 2025-26, led by Year 13s Claire Akinronbi and Aviyah Okunlaru and supported by staff members Gina Visram (Head of Careers), Vanessa Francis (Examinations Officer... whose daughter started MSU approximately seven years ago) and, new to Alleyn’s, Luke Golding (Maths teacher) initiatives included: 118 / ACTIVITIES / SCRIB 2026

• Black History Month activities • Multicultural Week activities (this year including a new International Evening) • Quizzes, talks and reflections in Tuesday lunchtime meetings • Providing bespoke solutions to two adjacent issues around identity: Remembering names and pronunciation of them

Pupil Voices “I think that MSU is a really inclusive bubble that you go to once a week, where you are welcome from Year 7 upwards. In many ways, MSU is less of a club and more of a community to associate with. It’s nice to know that there are likeminded people with loads of great ideas and things to say.” Eloise (Year 7) “As Heads of the Multicultural Students' Union, one of the most rewarding things we’ve witnessed is the way conversations can bring people together. Through the cultural celebrations across the year, studentled discussions, and simply creating spaces where people feel comfortable sharing their experiences, we’ve seen that some of the strongest communities are built through openness and mutual respect.”

International Evening: 29 January 2026 A highlight of the year was our first International Evening. Parent and Governor Nneka Eze first brought the idea to the senior leadership team and the MSU, and as a society we were proud to take that inspiration and run with it. Senior and Junior School parents contributed, which resulted in the food of more than 20 nations being represented, including Brazil, China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Jamaica, Korea, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Ukraine, United Kingdom and more. Not only did guests enjoy sampling foods from around the world, but they also appreciated some musical performances and the opportunity to embrace different styles of dance. Reflecting on the evening, Nneka commented: “International Evening was such a joy - it really brought people together and showed the amazing mix of cultures in our school. What started as a simple idea grew and evolved as we worked together to bring it to life. It was wonderful to see it come together.” Importance of names project – Lent Term “What's in a name?” is a powerful Shakespeare quote, and one which implies names are somewhat insignificant.

Claire & Aviyah (Year 13), MSU Student Leads 2025-26 However, conversations within MSU suggested that our students feel the opposite. In fact, during an MSU meeting in January, a student started a conversation about names, which truly resonated with the group for different but related reasons. Over weeks of conversations, it was identified that both remembering and pronunciation of names is so important in creating feelings of belonging that we knew the conversation needed to move beyond our weekly meeting space. In conjunction with Mr Howell-Harte who leads on PSHE and a wider EDI focused team, a selection of MSU pupils, from Year 7-Year 13 created a video which was designed to contribute to some staff training on the topic. The impact of their openness and passion on the topic was a powerful prompt for action and their work this year is likely to continue to have a positive impact for students of a wide range of cultures in the future. Mrs Gina Visram Head of Careers & EDI Lead SCRIB 2026 / ACTIVITIES / 119

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

What an extraordinary way to conclude my eight years running MUN at Alleyn’s. When I (re)started the club in 2018, I had no idea it would grow into such a remarkable showcase of student talent. I continue to be impressed by our students’ confidence in public speaking, their ability to synthesise and present information with speed and clarity, and their tenacity in organising and attending multiple conferences each year.

our February 2026 conference. This was another outstanding event, highlighted by an excellent keynote from Simon Wood, currently British Ambassador to the DPRK (North Korea) and by attendees from all over the world including Ukraine, Colombia and Iraq.

It has been quite a journey. In recent years, we have not only debated fascinating geopolitical issues but, in many cases, lived through them. One of my most memorable experiences was our 2020 trip to MUN Bilbao in northern Spain. The trip coincided with the UK’s departure from the European Union after four years of negotiations and often acrimonious scenes in the Houses of Parliament. I vividly remember our group of 15 students on a bus full of European peers, cheering as the UK formally exited, sparking lively conversations about whether, and when, it might return.

Above all, the best part of MUN has always been the students. This year, as in every year, the Secretaries-General have shown exceptional dedication, energy, and commitment, often keeping me on my toes throughout my time in the role. This year’s team, Conor Kitching (Year 12) and Diana Chorna (Year 12), are no exception. Alongside their organising committee, they delivered what was, in my view, our largest and most successful conference to date, an achievement that reflects enormous credit to all of the students involved.

That same trip also marked the beginning of something far more consequential. On our flight home, news of COVID-19 was just emerging. As the resident biologist, I confidently suggested it would “blow over” like bird flu, an assertion that, in hindsight, could not have been more wrong. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, MUN continued. We adapted quickly, hosting our national conferences online via Teams. Managing 150 students debating remotely was no small feat, but it was a testament to the resilience and adaptability of our student organisers. Since our inaugural event in 2018, we have now hosted nine national conferences. It has been a privilege not only to hear from inspiring keynote speakers across diplomacy, the civil service, education, and the not-for-profit sector, but, more 120 / ACTIVITIES / SCRIB 2026

importantly, to watch Alleyn’s students take the lead in organising such large-scale events. MUN is about far more than public speaking. It offers students the chance to organise high-profile conferences, develop networking skills, collaborate effectively, and solve problems together. These challenges range from the highly intellectual and abstract to the immediate and practical, as evidenced by the number of times I have heard, “Sir, we don’t have enough gavels!” During my time as Director of MUN Alleyn’s, MUN has spanned an extraordinary period in global history: Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Downing Street parties controversy, two terms of President Donald Trump, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, and much more. These events will undoubtedly shape our students’ perspectives of the world, just as 9/11 and the Iraq War shaped my own. This year has marked a particular high point. Our national conference was a tremendous success, featuring a keynote from Melinda Bohannon, Director-General for Global Issues at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, who spoke to students about the Sustainable Development Goals. As a COBIS (Council of British International Schools) member school, we were also delighted to secure accredited status for

I wish all future MUN students every success and look forward to watching the programme continue to flourish at Alleyn’s. Dr Matthew J Greetham Director of MUN & Head of Biology

WASTE LESS, DO MORE: DRIVING CHANGE ACROSS ALLEYN'S Alongside these practical actions, a number of talks sparked debate and curiosity: the Eco Committee student lead, Ella Semple, shared her research on current sustainability issues surrounding Artificial Intelligence. Other societies covered Ecofeminism, the Gaia hypothesis and the circular economy. The diversity of these topics highlights the way in which sustainability permeates discipline boundaries. Sustainability threads through, and reaches beyond, the curriculum.

The theme of Eco Week this year was ‘Waste’ and the Eco Committee set the ball rolling with a thought-provoking analysis of the consequences of waste at a local and global scale. They outlined the multiple forms of waste encountered at Alleyn’s and launched a call to action to encourage students and staff alike to reduce their waste consumption over the course of the week. This was most tangibly felt in the lunch hall, where students received green NED tokens in exchange for an empty plate, which they could ‘cash in’ for NED points. Summaries of food waste data on screens in the lunch hall confirmed a reduction in food waste over Eco Week, a testament to the power of collective action. The week itself was peppered with wasterelated events, from construction using waste materials in Engineering Society to litter picking run by the Junior School Eco Committee. Representatives from each of the houses competed to generate the most energy in the Energy Bike House Competition on Friday lunchtime, with Dutton’s taking the top spot. A display connected to the bikes filled up as energy was generated by the cyclists, with graphics indicating the energy required to power common household objects like a kettle. It proved hard work! Members of the Eco Committee had the opportunity to collaborate with their peers at JAGS through attending their Eco Fair on Wednesday lunchtime. They were

particularly intrigued by a stall of ‘zerowaste’ dishes, including banana skin curry. There was also an array of home-grown plants from the JAGS gardens for sale.

Pupils were encouraged to celebrate Eco Week by wearing something green to school on Friday and the Lower School enjoyed developing their sustainability literacy by testing their knowledge in a Sustainability Quiz created by Eco Committee members. Eco Week brought a vibrant energy to the school site, seen most memorably in the excitement of students racing for victory on the ‘Energy Bikes’. It also served as a valuable reminder of the continued importance of raising awareness about environmental issues. The work of the Eco Committee ensures this momentum continues throughout the school year. Miss Rebecca Nicholls Eco Coordinator

Ongoing events throughout the week emphasised the importance of the slogan ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’, including the Pupil Clothes and Book Swap in the EAB and the device donation drive for Community TechAid, a South London charity which tackles digital exclusion and e-waste through collecting, refurbishing and redistributing technology to people who need it most. Rat Race Cycles serviced and repaired staff and student bikes, helping ensure that members of the community can continue to travel sustainably.

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CAREERS HIGHLIGHTS IN 2025-26 In some ways, the world of work is transforming at an unprecedented pace, yet the foundations of the careers programme here at Alleyn’s remain as relevant as ever. The Career Development Institute (CDI) definition of careers is beneficial in helping all involved recognise that the journey has already started. “Career describes our journey through life, learning and work. We need actively to develop our careers to make the best of them. This process of career development takes skill as well as knowledge and the right attitude. Individuals need to work on career development skills throughout their lives.” Factors including socioeconomic circumstances and technological advances 122 / ACTIVITIES / SCRIB 2026

are changing industries, and the scaffolding of the Alleyn’s careers programme holds up through these developments and any uncertainty. We encourage our students to embrace a process of: • Career curiosity in the Lower School, which continues alongside... • Career exploration in the Middle School, both of which continue and help with... • Career decision-making in the Upper School

In the 2025-26 academic year, some of the careers initiatives included: Careers Talks for Year 10, Year 11 & Year 12 students We aim to incorporate a wide range of sectors over the two to three years that students attend these talks within PSHE and, this year, speakers included Zoe Stern (Head of GAPP Community Affairs Europe, Google); Sophie De Salis (Spurgeon’s 2015), Sustainable Policy Advisor, British Retail Consortium; Dr Sam Thenabadu (Programme Director, MBBS, GKT Medical School; Consultant in Adult and Paediatric Emergency Medicine); Guy Seeger (Tax Partner, Deloitte LLP); Akima Paul Lambert (Partner, Litigation, Arbitration and Employment, Hogan Lovells); Edward Lindsay-Black (Tulley’s 2019), Dentist; and Francesca Long (Tulley’s 2018), Junior Content Producer at Shakespeare’s Globe. Year 7 Session: Unifrog Introduction including Skills & Strengths Teed up by Mrs. Visram, Alleyn’s Head of Careers, and delivered by the Year 7 tutors, Year 7s learned how to sign into the Unifrog platform and were encouraged to reflect on their skills and interests. The session

also highlighted the term “competencies” and stated examples such as creativity, communication and teamwork, and students were invited to think about activities they participate in which build up their competencies and skills. Year 12 Careers Day A key part of the careers curriculum for Year 12s, students experienced a rotation of activities designed to support their early career development. This included a one-on-one interview (with parent and alumni volunteers), a first impressions body language workshop, a careers cafe (networking opportunity) and, new for this year, a session entitled “Becoming the Magnetic Candidate” which incorporated ideas around personal branding and online presence. Afternoon sessions included a UCAS personal statement session from Ms Copeland and a session incorporating ideas of side hustles and entrepreneurship. Through interactions with their interviewers, Year 12s noted: “That interviewers love to hear stories that make them feel like they are in the room/ place with you” Alexis

“That it's useful to have some example situations in your back pocket.” Seren Furthermore, as encouragement to students who will embark on this Year 12 Careers Day in future years, the cohort shared thoughts including: “Just give it your best shot, the interviewers are kind and will be constructive” Toby “It's definitely less intimidating than you would think; be open and receptive to any advice your interviewer gives you - they are there to help you” Jazz This is just a snapshot of the varied programme created for Year 7 – Year 13 students at Alleyn’s and, as always, the inclusion of parents, alumni, and friends of Alleyn’s is essential and appreciated in delivering our careers initiatives, from work experience to talks. Please contact us via careers@alleyns.org.uk to find out more about getting involved. Mrs Gina Visram Head of Careers & EDI Lead

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THE POWER OF CONNECTION: TEDXALLEYN’S SCHOOL YOUTH 2025 What does it mean to be truly connected? In a world where technology allows us to communicate instantly across continents, yet meaningful relationships can sometimes feel harder to maintain than ever, this was the question at the heart of TEDxAlleyn’s School Youth 2025. Returning for its second year, the event brought together an inspiring community of current pupils, staff, parents and alumni to explore the theme of Connection. Throughout the day, 33 speakers took to the stage to share ideas, experiences and perspectives that challenged the audience to think differently about the ties that shape our lives. Connection is something that already lies at the heart of the Alleyn’s community. Whether through friendships, learning, family relationships or collaboration, it underpins much of what we do. TEDxAlleyn’s School Youth 2025 invited speakers and audience members alike to consider how these connections can be strengthened and how they might help shape a better future. The talks explored connections in many forms: between people and communities, across cultures and generations, and

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between technology, science, creativity and identity. Speakers reflected on the role of empathy, communication and storytelling, demonstrating how even the smallest interactions can have a lasting impact. As part of the Aspiring Minds programme, TEDxAlleyn’s School Youth is designed to encourage curiosity, foster meaningful discussion and inspire new ways of understanding the world around us. Coordinated and curated by Deputy Head (Innovation, Strategy and Delivery) Aidan Sproat-Clements and Dorcas Maxwell (Director of AIQ), the event reflects Alleyn’s commitment to nurturing thoughtful, engaged and courageous young people. The conversations extended far beyond the stage. Throughout the day, the EAB foyer was transformed into an interactive hub where attendees could explore the theme of Connection through a series of creative activities. Participants were challenged to collect six Alleyn’s stamps by contributing to installations such as Building Connections, where individual bricks became part of a larger shared structure, and Connecting the Pieces, which invited members of the community to find their place within the Alleyn’s jigsaw. Other activities encouraged reflection on global

links, personal relationships, shared interests and even moments of disconnection. From adding links to a growing community chain to reaching out to friends and loved ones through RE:connect, the activities sparked conversation, creativity and collaboration. The foyer buzzed with energy throughout the event, as pupils, staff, parents and guests engaged enthusiastically with the challenges, reinforcing the event’s message that meaningful connections are built not only through ideas, but also through participation and shared experiences. More than a series of talks, TEDxAlleyn’s School Youth 2025 was a celebration of ideas worth sharing and conversations worth having. It reminded us that connection is not simply about being linked to one another, but about listening, understanding and learning from different perspectives. In doing so, the event embodied the values of Respect, Opportunity, Curiosity, Courage and Kindness, while encouraging everyone present to continue building connections that matter — within our school community and beyond.

One particularly memorable contribution came from Naia (Year 9) and her mother, Nikita, whose joint TEDx talk resonated strongly with audiences both on the day and beyond. Their presentation was subsequently recognised as a TEDx Editor’s Pick, an accolade awarded to a select number of talks that stand out for their originality, impact and storytelling. Through the following interview, Naia offered a behind-the-scenes insight into the experience of developing, rehearsing and delivering a TEDx talk, and reflected on what it meant to share such an important message alongside her mother on the TEDx stage. What was it like sharing a TEDx stage with your mum? I’ve done a lot of performances and shows before, but I don’t think anything compared to being on stage with someone I've known forever. It was an amazing experience and filled me with joy to be able to share something I love so much with her. Which family ritual means the most to you, and why? All of them have their own special place in my heart but having the opportunity to sit down with my family every night at dinner and talk about our days is such a huge part of our dynamics and relationships that I find is especially important.

Did preparing for the talk change the way you think about your heritage?

What was your favourite moment from the TEDx experience?

It helped me realise how deeply rooted but also quite complex my, and all heritages are. I could, on the surface, say that I am Indian and yes, I am but really there is so much more to me, and I believe that is the same for everyone.

Being up there, when we were covering each other with colour and saying words that I felt were real and important to us.

What do you hope other young people took away from your talk? Look for your rituals. They really can be anything, but they make us who we are. And if you do struggle to find any, then start your own with the people around you that you can then pass on to your loved ones. And then appreciate the ones you do have and the people you have them with. Not everyone has a network of people that love and support them so, if you do, I think we should really be grateful for it. Were you nervous before speaking at TEDx, and how did you overcome it? With all the shows I do, I feel a mix of nerves and excitement but knowing that, whatever happened, I’d be up there doing a TEDx talk with my mum made me feel really proud of what we were doing together. Why do you think small everyday traditions are so important? They make us who we are and they shape our relationships. I think without them life wouldn’t have as much meaning as it does, and we’d struggle to find a reason to do things.

How does your family keep traditions playful and meaningful? We make them ‘ours’. We put our own spin on them that just makes them fun and exciting. Like adding chilli to our cheese on toast and experimenting with our sandwich ingredients! What does “belonging” mean to you personally? Having people or things that make you feel like you can be yourself around them and not that you have to be someone you're not to fit in. You can just belong. How did it feel when your talk was chosen as an Editor’s Pick? I couldn’t believe how much our talk had already made an impact and I was, and am, so excited that it has the opportunity to continue doing that. What advice would you give someone who is considering taking part in Tedx Alleyn’s School Youth in years to come? Just go for it. I know it can feel scarier than other shows but really, when you look back on it, you’ll be happy you gave it your all because it really is a such a rare and incredible opportunity.

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CURIOSITY UNLEASHED:

INSIDE THE EPQ PRESENTATIONS In December, the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) cohort at Alleyn’s marked the culmination of months of independent inquiry with a series of presentations held in the Edward Alleyn Building and the Great Hall. Fifty students created stands, sharing the outcomes of projects that showcased not only impressive intellectual ambition, but also the depth of curiosity and commitment that lie at the heart of an Alleyn’s education. For many, the EPQ represents the most sustained piece of scholarly work they will undertake during school life. It is, by design, a journey defined by independence: students formulate their own research questions, navigate complex sources, and ultimately arrive at conclusions that are thoughtful, nuanced and rigorously evidenced. These final presentations therefore stood not simply as an assessment point, but as a celebration of scholarship in its fullest sense. What was particularly striking was the breadth of interests on display. Artefact projects demonstrated remarkable ingenuity and flair. Scarlett Burnham (Year 13) designed and constructed lamps using innovative biomaterials, bringing together sustainability and aesthetics. Jaden Turrell (Year 13) composed jazz music inspired by birdsong, translating natural rhythms into sophisticated musical expression. Rory

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Ledbetter (Year 13) made an affordable, working golf club prototype combining engineering with accessibility, while Skye Cahn (Year 13) staged an original dance piece exploring the psychological complexities of Stockholm syndrome with sensitivity and artistic courage. The written reports were equally compelling in their ambition and relevance. Students engaged thoughtfully with pressing global and societal questions: from the environmental and economic sustainability of artificial islands (Larissa Faillace, Year 13) to the transformative potential of improved prison architecture (Beatrice Morgan, Year 13), and the contested future of genetically modified crops (Sebastian Recordon, Year 13). In each case, students demonstrated an ability to interrogate evidence, weigh competing perspectives and articulate reasoned arguments — skills that will serve them far beyond the EPQ itself.

Throughout the presentations, what resonated most strongly was the evident passion with which students spoke. Addressing an audience of parents, teachers and peers, they communicated not only knowledge, but a genuine intellectual investment in their chosen topics, unafraid to engage with complexity. There was a palpable sense of community in the rooms, with attentive listening, thoughtful questioning and a shared appreciation for the courage it takes to present one’s work publicly. The evening was a wonderful reminder of what young people can achieve when given the time, trust and intellectual space to explore. Mrs Gillian Follows Head of EPQ

All We Can Be

@AlleynsSchool /AlleynsSchool /school/AlleynsSchool www.alleyns.org.uk Alleyn’s School is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales. Company No. 09401357 Registered Charity No. 1161864 Registered office: Townley Road, Dulwich, London SE22 8SU Tel. 020 8557 1500