ʻAs you leave King’s, I charge you to take with you the ethos and values of The King’s School and Gloucester Cathedral. Never forget the great benefits that you have received from your education, nor the Benedictine Rule of Life: Hospitality, Prayer, Recreation, Work and Study. According to your means, be responsible: do all that you can to enable others to enjoy the same advantage in their own lives. And remember that wherever you go, you carry with you the good name of The King’s School, Gloucester.’
from the headmaster
We meet together to celebrate our School’s foundation in this remarkable building where education has taken place for nearly 1,000 years. We celebrate the many achievements of our talented pupils over the last year. We say goodbye to our Upper Sixth students and to our departing teachers, as they embark on their next adventures.
Last year we re-launched Foundation Day to make it more inclusive, more fun and less congested and this year again we had:
• More pupils being fully involved
• More prizes, including Foundation Prizes offered to pupils who epitomise our ‘Values and Expectations’
• More opportunity for our pupils, parents and staff to speak to Oliver Wass, our Guest of Honour
• More celebration with an afternoon of convivial relaxation on Paddock.
We start by saying farewell to some much-loved colleagues and wonderful teachers who leave King’s.
This is done in order of their years of service, to help the pupils to reflect on the incredible experience and dedication that their teachers have:
Mrs Shaw-Young initially joined the English Department as a maternity cover three years ago, but was such a success that she stayed to become a permanent member of staff. Her great kindness towards the pupils she taught, and her excellent tutoring, have been a real asset. She has also helped several pupils to reach the National Finals of the ESU Speaking Shakespeare Competition at the Globe Theatre.
Mr Singer, a former professional rugby player, has had a game of two halves at King’s, with one career in the Computer Science Department and one career latterly in the Maths Department. Both were underpinned by him coaching the 2nd XV rugby team very successfully, and his support on the ski trip too was much appreciated.
Mrs Burgin joined King’s as ‘Miss Beadle’ and swiftly established herself as a first-class Drama and LAMDA teacher. She has packed a great deal in to the last five years, supporting many performances, expanding our LAMDA provision and also adding her own marriage
and the arrival of her daughter alongside. Mrs Beadle will continue to run much of our LAMDA provision as part of her booming drama business.
Mrs McQuitty came to King’s as a one-woman department and Head of Psychology. She has set a very high standard in terms of her teaching, consequently seeing both A Level pupil numbers and results rocketing. She has also been a superb Tutor at King’s, as well as a valued colleague: she will be greatly missed in the Sixth Form and the Staffroom.
Mr Smith joined King’s five years ago as Deputy Head (Academic) and was almost immediately thrown into the COVID-19 pandemic, having to create online education almost overnight. The fact that the school continued to operate so smoothly is a tribute to him, and it is safe to say that he has maintained his exceptionally high standards ever since. Mr Smith has also been an inspirational teacher of Classics, he has put in a huge amount of work supporting staff and pupils in their academic lives, and his passion for running has encouraged dozens of pupils and staff to dig out their trainers and give it a go.
Miss Pike came to King’s for her first teaching job 16 years ago, and somehow she never left again. She has been a first-class all-round Games and PE teacher, although netball is her first love. As Head of Netball, she has overseen a great improvement in participation and performance, and it was lovely to see her playing in the C1541 game at the end of term alongside her daughter. Miss Pike has also been a superb Head of Year, arranging numerous trips, helping pupils through tough times and showing great care for her Year Groups.
Mrs Mitchell is one of a kind: a glorious blend of Mediterranean passion, flamboyance and kindness. In the 16 years she has been here, her lessons have become legendary: her inventiveness of class activities is matched only by the inventiveness of her tonguein-cheek threats to the pupils if they do not meet her high standards. We will all miss her impassioned debates about fine wines, French cheese and… Brexit.
Miss Cleland leaves King’s after 17 years in the MFL dept. She is renowned as a very strong
classroom teacher who will do anything to support the pupils in her care. She has also run many school trips and was a dedicated Head of Year to hundreds of King’s pupils, showing the perfect balance of high expectations alongside real pastoral care.
Miss Williams has been a true servant of the King’s community for 25 years. Beginning her career as a MFL teacher, but later also holding the role of Head of Sixth Form, and most recently as Careers Adviser, Miss Williams has supported generations of pupils in their academic, pastoral, co-curricular and careers development.
Our classrooms, sports pitches and staff room will be the poorer for losing these great teachers, but know that they are all going on to enjoy either a wellearned promotion, a relaxing retirement or a chance to press pause and take stock: we wish them all well. Finally, would like to add a few words about our Upper Sixth leavers.
When all is said and done, the final output of a school is not academic results, it is not the awards that it receives and it is not a figure at the bottom of a spreadsheet. The output of a school is measured by the qualities of the young adults that leave that school and by the impact that they make in the wider world. This year’s Upper Sixth are a credit to their families and to their school. They are bright, talented, interesting, kind, diverse, funny, a close-knit team and a pleasure to talk to. have no doubt that many of them will go on to make a positive impact in their places of work, in their local communities and in their families. We will miss them all very much and we wish them well for their exam results in August.
The Mandata (see above) was written and introduced at King’s for the first time last year. It aims to remind leaving pupils of the privilege which a King’s education has given them, and also of the responsibility that comes with that education.
David Morton Headmaster
Report from the Governors
Welcome to Foundation Day at the end of another very successful year for King’s.
Since last year the Chair of the Governing Board has changed hands. After ten years of dedicated service to the school, of which seven years were as Chair, Mr Philip Dancey stepped down for a well-earned break. As well as appointing the current Headmaster, Mr Dancey also led several major building projects personally, including the All Weather Pitch and Dulverton re-development. He is much missed from the Board of Governors.
We were delighted to welcome Mrs Debbie Innes-Turnill as our new Chair of Governors in November. Mrs Innes-Turnill is a former parent at King’s, she has led local state primary schools, she is a lecturer at Birmingham University, and her day job is as a very successful Safeguarding Consultant across the UK. Already she has established herself as an experienced, diligent and pupil-focused Chair who will
ensure that the school continues to thrive in the years ahead. Mrs Innes-Turnill has asked me to share this message with you today:
“My apologies for not being able to be with you today. My daughter, Evie (who attended King’s from Reception to Upper Sixth) graduates from university today. I am sure that you will understand that just for today, she comes first! I would, on this occasion, like to reiterate my thanks to King’s School for all they did to grow Evie - she refers to the school as ‘family’, and so do I.” would like to acknowledge a few notable achievements from the past year, which include:
• Last year’s Fifth Form achieving record GCSE results, with another strong set of BTEC and A Level results too, demonstrating the talent and commitment of pupils and teachers alike
• The school roll has remained at around 750 pupils, reflecting the continued popularity of King’s despite the current political and economic challenges and the strong other local schools.
• We were delighted to open a new building at 7 College Green as our Geography, Economics and Business Centre with six bright, spacious classrooms in a beautiful setting.
• The addition of a new four-lane outdoor cricket net system to our Archdeacon Meadow sports facilities, which can also be used for other sports all year round.
• The completion of the first phase of the Maths department moving to a smart new department base in Palace.
• The launch of the King’s-Crypt Nova Netball Centre attached to the Severn Stars Academy: an independent-state school partnership which has seen our girls train alongside the best in the region.
There is much to look forward to in the next academic year, including:
• Two new roles created in our pastoral and academic leadership structure to ensure that pupil development continues to be prioritised at King’s. The new Head of Middle School will be Mrs Beard, with Mr James as the first Head of Upper School.
• Phase Two of the Palace basement refurbishment will take place this summer, bringing a total of six classrooms for the Maths department, as well as improved toilet facilities for the pupils.
• We will install a smart new Creative Design Suite with high-spec computers which will allow further development of Art, Design, Photography, videomaking and e-sports: all very much growth areas on the creative industries in this country.
Finally, I would like to thank the staff in every area of The King’s School for their hard work this year.
Whether they are teachers in Junior or Senior School, or whether they are based in the administration and support services behind the scenes, they have shown great dedication and professionalism all year to bring a first class experience to the pupils and parents at King’s.
Virginia Isaac (on behalf of the Chair of Governors)
Foundation Day
One of the UK’s pre-eminent young musicians Oliver Wass gained a First Class Masters Degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he also won the Guildhall Gold Medal – its most prestigious prize.
Guest of Honour: Oliver Wass
Endowed Prizes for Upper Sixth Subjects
Lucy
Mr
Mrs
Mr
Dr
Mrs
Mrs
Mrs
Mr
Ethan
Rafferty
Tom
Tom
Bella
Bella
Keira
Alex
Upper Sixth Service, Practical and Co-Curricular Prizes
Annabelle
Ren
Rafferty
Patrick
Lauren
Ollie
Alex
Imogen
(Above from left to right)
awards & prizes
The Combat of the Pen
In the Sixth Form excellent work is acknowledged through the Combat of the Pen, a tradition of The King’s School which extends back to the early 18th century. Award-winning Combat of the Pen work is put on public display each term in the Palace.
The following have been put forward for Combat of the Pen recommendations this academic year:
Keira Robson - BTEC Sport
Petiwe Kandodo - Business
Stella Abeya - Chemistry & French
Emma Downton - Classical Civilisation
Alex Cunningham - Computer Science
Niamh Beard - Design & Technology
Annabelle Carey - English
Rafferty Hooke - English
Alannah Simnett - English & History
Lucy Holdsworth - French
Zander Jesson - Geography
Amelia Keogh - History
Emily Gilbert - PRE
Jack Lammiman - PRE
Alexander van Someren - Spanish
Fendick Project Competition
Each year the school runs the Fendick Competition for members of the Lower Sixth. This is a prestigious event, combining the challenges of academic research with public speaking. Pupils compete to give the best short talk on their chosen subject, aiming to make their insights and arguments interesting, accessible and relevant to an audience of their peers, parents, staff and governors.
It was a very close final round in this year's competition. The five contestants awed us with their academic arguments and analytical insights, their polished presentations and remarkable poise in the face of some tough questions. In the end, Maddy Burn won out with her entertaining speech on the concept of infinity in Maths, while Alannah Simnett was a close second with her in depth look at the portrayal of history in film.
Dulverton Essay Prize
King’s hosted its third annual Dulverton Essay Prize Competition this year. Students were required to write essays on the theme of ‘past and present’ as well as answering questions about their work.
The topics were as varied as ever and ranged from autonomous vehicles to the hidden meanings behind nursery rhymes. The Lower Sixth students involved showed a great level of scholarship, not only in the research that had gone into their essays but also in the way they articulately responded to questions from their peers and the wider audience. Alannah Simnett prevailed through the sheer detail in her essay on the significance of history, while Altea Gillett (the architecture of King’s), Seb Handley (the most significant turning point in history) and Toby Martin (the dangers of nostalgia) all impressed with their topics and were deserving prize winners as well.
Sixth Form Prizes
Innes-Lewis Prize for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
Poppy Ryland-Epton
Upper Sixth Prizes for Academic Achievement:
James Wallis, Bertie Bird, Toby Martin
Upper Sixth Prizes for Industry:
Hannah Merrett, Pops Johnson, George Rayfield
Special Prizes:
Fendick Presentation Prize Maddy Burn
Dulverton Essay Prizes Alannah Simnett
Citizenship Prize
Awarded for contributing to the community at large: Kasper Matley
King’s School Society Prizes
King’s School Society Prizes for Achievement, Industry and AllRound Contribution:
First Form Achievement - Ella Finney, Saffen Weerasekara
Industry - Millie Doodson, Harry Lewis
All Round Contribution - Lily Clegg, George Daniell
Second Form Achievement - Chloe Barnes, Lewis Bell
Industry - Sam Bowden, Chloe Hollist
All Round Contribution - Eva Matthews, Rocco Milford
Third Form Achievement - Conrad van Wyk, Tilly Smith
Industry Angus Cleland-Moore, Alice Marwood
All Round Contribution - Freya Cornell, Edward Walder
Fourth Form Achievement - Amy Thompson, Alexander Smyth
Industry - Liv Nelmes, Alex D’Agapeyeff
All Round Contribution - Noah Bennett, Alice Stevens
Fifth Form Achievement - Laurence Keigher-Ketcher, Arko Sen
Industry - Roseanna Treharne, Ted Rowan
All Round Contribution - Cecily Davis, Adele Archer
Lower Sixth Achievement - Alannah Simnett, Maddy Burn
Industry - Thea Samsonoff, Niamh Beard
All Round Contribution - Kai Whitworth, Pip Horton
United Kingdom Mathematics Trust Challenge, 2023-2024
Every year, pupils from our top Mathematics sets in each year group take part in the UKMT Mathematics Challenges. This year we were delighted that our students achieved the following results:
Senior Challenge:
Bronze Award: Jonty Baber, Charlie Bramley, Maddy Burn, Altea Gillett, George Green, James Keenan, Henry Marsden, Tom Ring, Ted Rowan, Arko Sen, Samantha Waite
Intermediate Challenge:
Gold Award: Conrad van Wyk
Silver Award: Joshua Faridrad, Owen Hinds, Laurence Keigher-Ketcher, Toby Page, George Pither, George Thompson, Samantha Waite, Dan Wilkins, Layla Juna, Henry Matcham
Bronze Award: Adele Archer, Alex Breeze, Billy CaruthersLittle, Darcey Chambers, Cecily Davis, Liam Jones, Zechariah Oyedele, Harriet Perfect, Sophie Ratcliffe, Ted Rowan, Alexander Smyth, Amy Thompson, Freya Cornell, Tasha Gray, Haya Ibrahim, Michael John, Fin Robertson, Edward Walder
Conrad van Wyk achieved a distinction in the prestigious follow-on UKMT Cayley Olympiad Round, gaining first place in the whole of the South-West region.
Junior Challenge:
Gold Award: Max Blomley, Will Bolton, Stanley Groves, Jamie Lendrum, Harry Lewis, Martha Marsden, Saffen Weerasekara
Silver Award: Tom Bramley, Manolis Chatzakis, Grace Hall, Cameron Lansdowne, Herbie Morris, Arlo Pockett, Seb Pritchard Thompson, Ben Reynolds, Zadie Uppal, Ruben Whitman, Alicja Zawada
Bronze Award: Mykola Abubakar, Mobafe Ayelabola, Mofife Ayelabola, Chloe Barnes, George Bell, Charlie Buckland, Charlie Bull, Lily Clegg, Freddie Donaldson, Eryn Dyer, Bella Ensor, Eliza Griffiths, Sebastian Hughes, Eva Matthews, Sam Mott, Benjamin Pallister, Tom Pestridge, Indie Sparks, Arthur Stevens, Chloe White
Max Blomley, Harry Lewis and Saffen Weerasekara did exceptionally well, qualifying for the follow-on UKMT Junior Kangaroo Round, in which Saffen even gained a certificate of merit.
School Sports Captains
Rugby: Tom Ring
Girls’ Hockey: Lauren Luxton
Boys’ Hockey: James Wallis
Netball: Amelia Keogh
Boys’ Cricket: Oakleigh Roe
Girls’ Cricket: Sophie Rayer
Senior Prefects
Amelia Keogh, Toby Martin, Hannah Merrett, Alex Morris, Bee Pinches, Bella Sprague, Will Strong
Deputy Heads of School
Ethan Archer, Hannah Gilchrist & Lucy Holdsworth
Heads of School
Patrick Davis and Imogen Taylor
King’s School Prizes (continued)
Foundation Prizes
(Awarded for embodying King’s School Values; Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, Kindness, Equality, Resilience and Individuality)
First Form: Alicja Zawada, Isla Silva, Adam Carter, Thomas Pestridge
Second Form: Alice Pipon-Young, Barney Ryan, Cassie Smithson, Seb PritchardThompson
Third Form: Daisy Hopcraft, Isabel Oliver, Michael John, Lucas Blackwell
Fourth Form: Alex Haslam, George Thompson, Leo Crews, Poppy Brook
Fifth Form: Poppy Kingscote, Kitty Crowe, Ollie Slatter, Harry Morris
Lower Sixth Form: Emma Downton, Fred Wyman, Oli Barley, Henry Marsden
First to Third Form Sport, Music and Drama Prizes
Sportsperson of the Year: Jordy Luis, Lola Waldron Academic Drama Award: Jamie Lendrum, Freya Cornell Co-curricular Drama Award: Eliza Griffiths, Sophie Tarren Music Award (singing): Jude Freeman Music Award (instrumental): Lila Ibrahim Music Award (academic): Conrad van Wyk Music Award (contribution): Kirstie Philcox Chorister Prize: George Bell
Scholarships, Exhibitions & Other Awards
As a result of competitive interviews, examinations and auditions throughout the course of last academic year, the following new Scholarships at 16+ were re-awarded to take effect from September 2024:
Academic Scholarships
16+ Stella Abeya, Olivia Bellot, Maddy Burn, Annabelle Carey, Emma Downton, George Green, Harri Green, Seb Handley, Georgia Haslam, Flora Hopcraft, Pip Horton, Ella Hutchinson-Pamias, Jack Lammiman, Henry Marsden, Jonas Roberts, Alannah Simnett, Lily Smith, Fearne Turner, Alexander van Someren
13+ Layla Juna, Matilda Hoskins, Rufus Hoskins
11+ Will Bolton, Mofife Ayelabola, Mobafe Ayelabola, Ruben Whitman, James Eyre, Ben Reynolds, Adam Carter, Saffen Weerasekara, Harry Lewis, Sebastian Hughes
Design Technology Scholarships
16+ Altea Gillett, Lily Smith
13+ Poppy Hemming, Will Lloyd
Drama Scholarships
16+ Gemma Day
13+ Poppy Hemming, Delila Meeke
11+ Freddy Bird, Eliza Holder, Alba Norbury
Art Scholarships
16+ Niamh Beard
13+ Dylan Elphick
11+ Ava Blakeway, Tatty Harridge
Commendations
Music Scholarships
16+ Emma Downton, Charlotte Moriarty, Emily Page, Dom Randall
13+ Lilah Cooper, Kasper Matley, Kirstie Philcox
11+ Saffen Weerasekara
Performing Arts Scholarships
16+ Libby Lavender
11+ Ruby Munday
Sport Scholarships
16+ Niamh Beard, Lucy Davies, George Green, Harri Green, Seb Handley, Flora Hopcraft, Esmee Kimber, Libby Lavender, Charlie Mills, Elliot Parsons, Ellis Sabbagh-Holt, Ollie Spragg, Kai Whitworth
13+ Harry Ackland, Jordy Luis
11+ Noah Adamson, Ava Blakeway, Charlie Bull, Lily Clegg, Esi Dadson, Esha Dubb, Harry Fenton, Frankie Halliday, Lily Hart, Lewis Henry, Barclay Heryet Scarborough, Arty Stevens, Ruben Whitman, Joe Worthington, Alicja Zawadae
All Rounder Scholarships
13+ Tilly Smith
Commendations are awarded to pupils to acknowledge excellent work, to reward outstanding effort or to recognise much improved standards. Overall awards are made on a termly basis at Gold, Silver and Bronze levels.
The following have gained Gold Awards for the number of commendations received this academic year:
Fifth Form: Mariam Abubakar, Harry Morris, Jack Scullion, Roseanna Treharne, Harry Vickery, Dan Wilkins
Fourth Form: Harvey Balding, Yeanika Currie, Georgina Fletcher, Alex Haslam, Harriet Perfect, Alexander Smyth
Third Form: Lila Ibrahim, Haya Ibrahim, Michael John, Layla Juna, Henry Matcham, Conrad van Wyk
Second Form: Ruby-Jane Clapham, Chloe Barnes, Tom Bramley, Cara Fenton-Fearnley, Annie Rowe, Orla Scott
First Form: Bertie Barzilla, Lily Clegg, Esi Dadson, George Daniell, Barclay Heryet, Scarborough, Harry Lewis, Tom Pestridge, Ben Reynolds, Saffen Weerasekara, Alicja Zawadae
King’s School students embrace the Olympic spirit and achieve Students shine with impressive GCSE results
Winning results
In an Olympic year, King's A Level students have been inspired to achieved some of the School's best results and, appropriately, there are very strong results from some of the school’s strongest athletes.
Over 66% of the grades are at A*-B level, with 34% of all grades being A/A* or equivalent. In the increasingly popular BTEC Sport course, all students achieved Distinction or starred Distinction in every part of the course, which equates to a clean sweep of A*/A grades at A Level.
Our high achieving athletes include; Raph (D*D*D* in BTEC Sport), Tom (B,B,C,C), Harry (D,D,D in BTEC Sport) and Leo (D,D,D in BTEC Sport) who all played rugby at Academy level; Patrick (A,A,B), Lucy (A*,A*,A) and Charlie (B,B,C) who have all had successful years in cross-country running; Lottie (B,B,C) who has played National League Hockey for Gloucester Hockey Club and James (B,B,C) who has a Porsche Scholarship and has raced at Silverstone and Abu Dhabi whilst studying for his A Levels.
The Headmaster, Mr David Morton, commented, “I am very pleased indeed with this year’s A Level and BTEC Sport results. King's has always been a school that recognises success beyond academic results alone. However, this year it is excellent to see that positive results have been achieved by the pupils alongside their sport, music and drama activities too. This cohort has such a rich and varied set of interests: it is clear that they will thrive in their next stage of education or work. Additionally, as strong team players with kind natures, we are proud to see them move on to exciting new challenges in work, university or training: I know they will add great value wherever they go next”.
Next steps for the pupils include reading Politics and International Relations at Exeter, Geography at Loughborough and Psychology and Education at Warwick University. One pupil has gained a highly competitive IBM internship in New York and one pupil has just finished filming a lead role in a TV series in Belgium. Pupils are also joining the Navy, the Police Force, and taking apprenticeships.
34% of grades at A*/A
66% of grades at A*-B
BTEC Sport 100% of students achieved Distinction or Starred Distinction†
† This equates to a clean sweep of A*/A grades at A Level.
King’s students celebrated another successful year of GCSE results with 48% of grades at 7-9 and three quarters at grades 6-9.
Several students achieved nine or more grade 9s in their exams, including Samantha Waite and Laurence Keigher-Ketcher.
Subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Design Technology, French, Latin, Music, PE, Physics, Religious Studies and Further Maths have enjoyed exceptional success with more than two thirds of entries scoring 9-7.
The Headmaster, Mr David Morton, commented,
“We are all very proud of our students’ GCSE results this year. Our students and staff have worked really hard and the students have attained a strong set of results. They have also maintained a busy life outside the classroom in sport, music, drama, Duke of Edinburgh Award and supporting our local community. We look forward to these bright, talented all-rounders moving through to our flourishing Sixth Form. It is important to recognise that students at all levels of achievement should be proud of their efforts with each grade being hard earned. We wish to congratulate each and every one of them on their superb achievements; they should rightly be proud of themselves. King’s has a reputation for producing strong all-rounders who work hard outside of the classroom as well as inside it.”
48% of grades at 7-9,
73% of grades at 6-9, In subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Design Technology, French, Latin, Music, PE, Physics, Religious Studies and Further Maths had more than
At King's, our community partnerships and charity fundraising efforts are vital components of our mission to foster a culture of compassion, social responsibility and active citizenship among our pupils. These initiatives allow us to engage with local organisations, support meaningful causes, and make a tangible difference in the lives of others. By participating in fundraising activities, pupils not only develop a deeper understanding of societal needs but also cultivate essential skills such as teamwork, leadership, and empathy. Our commitment to giving back helps build a stronger, more connected community while instilling values that will guide our pupils throughout their lives.
Woodland Tribe:
Over 50 children from King's Junior School and four local primary schools engaged in an ‘adventure play’ workshop in the gardens at Wardle House, constructing an amazing, creative and sculptural play structure.
Orchestra in an Afternoon:
We were delighted to welcome over 90 pupils from 7 primary schools. The children rehearsed in their instrument groups, before giving a wonderful performance to their parents at the end of the afternoon.
Science lessons at Longlevens Junior School:
During Science Week staff from King’s science department visited the local Longlevens Junior School to deliver exciting and interactive science lessons.
HAF Summer Activities
In August, King's were delighted to host the Gloucester City Holiday, Activity and Food programme (HAF) once again. Bloodhound Education ran rocket making workshops over the four Wednesdays in August, with over 20 families attending each week. At the end of the summer the HAF team and Gloucester families came together on the King's Paddock for a huge celebration.
“We just wanted to say a big 'thank you' for hosting our end of summer HAF Festival. The school is such a perfect venue and really helps to make the event successful. As always, we really value the great partnership we have with you and look forward to working with you again soon.”
2023/24
House Charity Donations:
Laud – Insight Gloucestershire
Serlo – Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Service
Wheeler – The Pied Piper Appeal
A total of £6,933 has been collected from the fund-raising events throughout the year and will be shared between the three House charities.
£4,500 for Dornakal
93 pupils received means-tested support for their education at King’s. The total bursary fee remission this year was : £684,000
Non-Uniform Day Raised £1,452
Kind Regards, Dawn Barnes, Chief Executive Officer
Gloucestershire
Libraries Sports Festival:
Gloucestershire families enjoyed a day of many different sporting activities from rugby and football to Zumba and martial arts, at Archdeacon Meadow, as part of the summer reading challenge.
Primary Schools Science Challenge:
Over 170 children from 6 primary schools enjoyed afternoons of cricket or rugby coaching sessions. King's sports staff, together with County cricket coaches and Gloucester Rugby coaches and players delivered the masterclasses, inspiring the children to learn new skills from the professionals.
Led by Bloodhound Education, (the home of the team challenging the land speed record) fourteen teams from 12 primary schools competed to build a prototype car that could travel the furthest out of K-nex
The Junior School non-uniform day in October raised £1,452. This was split equally between Children In Need, The Christmas Jumper Appeal and Gloucester City Mission. Over
Over £4,500 has been raised for our partner school in Dornakal, India, enabling the continued sponsorship of 28 students, plus purchase of essential equipment for the school.
Gloucester Foodbank
The collection of food and toiletries for Lent resulted in 221.65 kg of items (equivalent to 528 meals) being donated to Gloucester Foodbank.
Good Food Week
Saved £1,000
During Good Food Week in 2023 and 2024, Thomas Franks were able to intercept seasonal surplus food which would otherwise have gone to landfill, saving £1,000 which was distributed equally between Gloucester Feed the Hungry and the Gloucester Foodbank.
Thomas Franks also donated £300 from the money saved at the whole school Lent frugal lunch.
In the Trinity Term, the Junior School raised £900 which was distributed equally between the James Hopkins Trust, Gloucestershire Deaf Association and Just One Tree.
At the King's Junior School Harvest Festival 167kg of food (equivalent to 398 meals) was donated to the Gloucester Foodbank.
Barcelona
On the morning of Monday 23rd October, our Senior School Art and Design students set off for Barcelona with eager anticipation of sunshine and cultural delights.
Due to a flight cancellation, we had a last minute change of plan: spending our first night in the Gatwick Hilton and then onto Brighton by train the next day to see a fabulous Lee Miller exhibition, Brighton beach and pier as well as viewing the Pavilion and aquarium. Time was spent in the Lanes before returning to Gatwick for our rescheduled flight to Barcelona.
With an early start we set off into the sunshine en route to Parc Guell, La Boqueria market and then to the beach
where students played volleyball, swam and indulged in beachside activities at Barceloneta.
The following days were packed with visits to museums, galleries, the fabulous Gothic Quarter and we even managed a trip across the city to the Barcelona Design Museum for a select group of students.
Throughout the trip locals and tourists alike commented on how lovely, polite and engaged our students were. Well done team Barcelona!
goodfoodweek
The 2024 Good Food Week kicked off with a bang starting with an exciting blind sausage tasting, courtesy of Ben Creese Country Butchers.
The pupil favourite?
Chilli, of course!
We held the inaugural Senior School House Food Waste Challenge; the pupils in Serlo generated the least food waste at lunchtime and were declared the winner. This
This Year’s Productions: Wendy and Peter Pan, and Matilda.
It is fair to say that the pinnacle of the Drama calendar this year was Wendy and Peter Pan. It was a spectacle, combining amazing acting with puppetry, dance and the most impressive set design yet. Each member of the cast exuded enthusiasm, commitment and talent. The production was marvellous, the most creative and impressive King’s has seen, and all involved should be congratulated for producing such a vibrant production.
The LAMDA provision continues to be outstanding with an ever-growing distinction rate and enormous uptake within the student body. This was also joined by many successes at the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts, and students should be commended for their hard work and creativity.
Throughout the Lent Term, we had numerous exam performances, with the Upper Sixth Theatre Studies students performing their own interpretation Pool, No Water using Frantic Assembly as their practitioner. It was a fast paced, physical performance from Katie Eccles, Bertie Bird and Hannah Doyle, who threw themselves into this challenging play. Poppy Ryland-Epton performed a monologue from Five Kinds of Silence using Stanislavski, and her nuanced performance gripped the audience as she showed the cycle of neglect within this hard-hitting play.
Eliza Griffiths hit new heights by reaching the grand final of the ESU Performing Shakespeare competition with her performance from Romeo and Juliet an amazing achievement to be in the final 12 from 2,000 entrants. She performed on the stage of the Sam Wannamaker Playhouse, with those left at school watching via a live link on YouTube. It was a very moving soliloquy; Eliza’s sensitive portrayal left two of the judges in tears.
Finally, what a show Matilda The Musical Junior was! It is hard to believe that the cast was from the first three Years of our Senior School; their talent was astounding. The performances were vibrant and courageous and the combination of such ambitious choreography, super acting and beautiful singing were a sight to behold. It is always humbling to think that in a few years we will be writing a Roll of Honour about these pupils’ commitment to Drama at King’s.
LAMDA Results
(Years 10 to 13: Grade 5 and above)
The Fourth Form performed three pieces of work, strongly inspired by their workshop with Splendid Theatre productions. Their titles included; The Power of Power an exploration of the link between politicians’ decisions in the West and turmoil in other countries; Conflict, showing the different perspectives of war; and Happy Ever After which questioned gender equality. They were brave and engaging performances which showed that King’s Drama students seek to explore the world around them and question it. The Fifth Form performed extracts from Girls Like That and DNA. Their performances were electrifying, with two students also showcasing their lighting designs superbly. Both year groups did brilliantly, and it was great to welcome audiences to see the hard work students had put in.
In the Trinity Term, the Lower Sixth used the devised verbatim group, The Paper Birds, to create a dystopian piece of theatre presenting their thoughts on what would happen in 200 years if we did not address the inequality women face. The use of multimedia, costume design and excellent acting resulted in a thought-provoking piece, which pushed all of us to consider what part we are playing in the
Music Achievements
There have been many opportunities for musicians at all levels to participate this year, from concerts in the Cathedral to small informal recitals in the Ivor Gurney Hall. It has been lovely to see so many pupils taking full advantage of the musical opportunities on offer. In addition, some of our visiting music staff have also given short recitals to inspire our young performers.
Ms Harrison has worked very hard to provide ensemble opportunities by encouraging duet and trio ensembles for a variety of instrumentalists, some of which have included the younger pupils joining the older pupils to stretch our gifted musicians. In addition to a Brass and Woodwind Concert, we also held a highly successful String Festival, enabling string players of all levels to perform and receive encouragement from an outside adjudicator. Congratulations to Wayland Wells (First Form) for winning the Grade 1-3 class, to Ella Finney (First Form) for winning the Grade 4-6 class, to Conrad van Wyk (Third Form) for winning the Grade 7+ class and to Jessie Leung (viola) and Oli Barley (cello), who were highly commended in the Grade 7+ category. Our GCSE and A Level performance evening also offered an opportunity for our exam students to perform some of their outstanding coursework and hopefully served as an inspiration to those in lower years who were in attendance.
In May, with the encouragement of Ms Harrison and Ms Walker, many pianists and singers throughout the school took part in the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts, with several pupils being placed within the top three and winning several trophies.
Congratulations go to Harriet Perfect (Fourth Form), who won the Lambert Cup for piano duet playing.
The KS3 Choir, directed by Mrs Peters, has been particularly impressive this year. Numbers have grown, including an increase in boys joining the choir. They have performed some stunning songs and took a leading role in the KS3 Carol Service as well as contributing to the Lent Term Concert.
House Music was particularly well supported by our younger musicians, leading Laud to victory on this occasion. The year culminated in a very enjoyable KS3 Concert, where we again saw pupils involved in the KS3 Orchestra, two Choirs, a First Form Band and several ensembles and soloists. There is much musical talent at King’s, and the hard work shown by pupils and all our music staff will continue to provide many memorable occasions.
House Music brought out the competitive aspect of music in an entertaining evening, leading Laud to victory on this occasion. Well done to all the senior pupils who worked so hard to organise and direct their House performances.
Our two big events, the Festival of Carols and the Lent Term Concert, brought all our talented musicians together, featuring all our instrumentalists
Results&Groups
Achievements in ABRSM, Trinity, Rock School
Results: (Years 10 to 13: Grade 5 and above)
and singers. The ‘Stage & Screen’ theme at the Lent Term Concert made for a rich variety of well-known pieces to entertain the audience. It was also a time to thank our Upper Sixth musicians, Patrick Davis, Ren Harcourt, Rafferty Hooke, and Emma Harbord, for their commitment to the Music Department throughout their time at King’s.
There is much musical talent at King’s, and the hard work shown by pupils and all our music staff will continue to provide many memorable occasions.
Music Colours
Full Colours (U6)
(for exceptional commitment to musical groups/choirs)
Patrick Davis (Several choirs/String Ensemble/ Orchestra/solos)
Emma Harbord (Choir and Band/Orchestra)
Ren Harcourt (Choirs/solos)
Rafferty Hooke (Choirs/solos)
Half Colours (L6/U6)
(for commitment to musical groups/choirs)
Oli Barley (Strings/Trio & Quartet/Orchestra/ Soloist Cello & Piano)
Niamh Beard (Choirs)
Violet Berry (Choirs)
Emma Downton (Strings/Orchestra/Choirs/ Harp & Vocal solos)
Lammiman, Eoin Lloyd, Charlie Lucas, Zechariah Oyedele, Harriet Perfect, Charlie Pittock, Charlotte Prosser-Williams, Jude Freeman, Kasper Matley, Kirstie Philcox
HouseMusic
The voting was so close for this year’s Senior School House Music competition, but there could only be one winner... and, with only 2 points in it, LAUD House took the trophy. Huge congratulations to all the pupils who wowed the audience of staff, family and friends with their enthusiasm and talent! A fabulous end to the Lent Term.
Our two big events, the Festival of Carols and the Lent Term Concert, brought our talented musicians together, featuring all our instrumentalists and singers. The ‘Stage & Screen’ theme at the Lent Term Concert made for a rich variety of well-known pieces to entertain the audience
Over three nights in March the cast and crew of ‘Wendy and Peter Pan’ wowed audiences with their compelling performances, telling the story of how Wendy journeyed to Neverland, and with the help of her brothers, Michael and John, joined Peter Pan and the Lost Boys in the fight for their lives against Captain Hook and his rabble of Pirates.
Huge congratulations to everyone involved in the production, from the actors on stage to the backstage crew, with the amazing set, costumes, lighting and music all contributing to the successful performances.
The reviews were unanimous in their praise for the outstanding performances of the entire cast, calling the ‘stunning, dazzling and clever production’ ‘absolutely mesmerizing’.
'A creative, imaginative, emotional and beautiful performance!'
A sprinkling of fairy dust from our talented performers and crew: a stunning, dazzling, and clever production. Well done to all involved.
Huge congratulations to Mrs CJ and all the cast/crew. It was a creative, imaginative, emotional and beautiful performance.
Wow, what an unbelievably amazing show. Absolutely mesmerizing! Well done to everyone involved, you were outstanding!
An excellent productionvery much enjoyed!
Wendy & Peter Pan
choristersʼ year
At the end of the academic year, the Senior Choristers performed at the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford. This is the 296th year in which this wonderful and ancient festival has taken place; it always gives our singers the most fantastic opportunities and is a fitting climax to a year of hard work by all the Cathedral’s musicians.
chaplaincyhighlights
Most Choristers will know many hundreds of pieces of music by the time they leave. The discipline, knowledge and skills which they acquire as Cathedral Choristers serve them all their lives.
As well as the Choir offering music for seven choral services per week in term time, this year it performed at several important extra services, for example, that for the visit of Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; the Installation of our new Canon Precentor, the Revd. Craig Huxley Jones; and the Choir offered a much-praised concert for the Friends of Gloucester Cathedral in November. March saw the Choristers perform in Bach’s masterpiece, the St. Matthew Passion in the Cathedral; this was an experience which they will not forget; and on Good Friday, the Cathedral Choir offered a spectacular performance of Bach’s St. John Passion to a wonderfully appreciative audience in the Cathedral’s Nave.
The Trinity Term saw members of the Cathedral Choir sing in a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah with Gloucester Choral Society, perform a Festal Evensong at Holy Trinity Church, Longlevens, in honour of the church’s 90th anniversary, and climb the tower in order to sing to the city on the morning of Ascension Day. This year’s “singing on the tower” was captured for perpetuity by a BBC drone and was broadcast on the BBC’s early evening news!
As the year drew to a close, we recognised those who are leaving the Choir. We would like to commend the efforts of the excellent Head Choristers: Tilly Smith and Harvey Windsor-Wilkin. We also are grateful for the contributions of Lilah Cooper, Jordan Dada, Adele Shann and Milly Wood. We would like to thank them all for their years of service.
Adrian Partington, Director of Music, Gloucester Cathedral
This has been a very full year of events for the Chaplaincy at King’s.
We began the year committing our life as a school to God, welcoming those starting at King’s in September with the New Pupils’ Service and at the start of term with the Beginning of Year Service.
Also in September we held our Heritage and Prayer Walk, when a group of pupils, staff and parents walked around the school site praying for different activities in the places where they happen, and also hearing more about the history of those places as we walked. This year saw the reintroduction of the beating bounds sticks at this event to mark not only the boundaries of the school, but also to remind us to pray for God’s blessing and protection.
Our harvest celebrations brought to mind that although King’s is in the centre of a city, we have close links to the country and agriculture. We considered God’s goodness to us in creation around us, as well as acknowledging our duty to look after the world, and how we often fail in that. We also contemplated our responsibility to care for the needs of others; at the Junior School Harvest Service donations were very generously given for the Gloucester Food Bank.
In November we held our annual Remembrance Service, commemorating and remembering the sacrifice of so many during times of war and conflict. Our guest preacher, Rev. Richard Coombs, the Rector of St. Matthew’s and the Minster in Cheltenham, spoke movingly of his grandfather’s wartime experiences and how they affected him and his family. It was also helpful to remember this year not only those who served in the two World Wars, but also those who gave their lives for their country, whether on or off the battlefield, and those who may
not be known to us by name.
In December we celebrated the birth of Jesus with our School carol services; with readings and carols we remembered the events in Bethlehem, and how significant those events are for all of us. Services were held for both Junior and Senior Schools, and we were privileged to hear some outstanding music from the Choirs.
As the new calendar year began, we held a special service to mark Epiphany and Jesus as the hope of the nations; as we moved into Lent, we remembered in a chapel service the story of Jesus’ temptations and the priority of following God. This year it was exciting to hold a new service for the Junior School – the Lent Term ended with an Easter Celebration, where we remembered together, with music, drama and song the Resurrection of Jesus and all that it means for us today and the future.
Easter was the theme of the start of the Trinity Term in the Senior School, as we moved into the exam period. In July it was delightful to welcome back a good number of former staff to tea and then to evensong at the cathedral, with many reminiscences and memories shared of King’s in years gone by. The term finished with our annual Leavers’ Service, an emotional but very positive occasion, this year in the more intimate setting of the quire. Foundation Day saw the End of Year service, where we were able to celebrate and give thanks for the past year.
The Christian Union has continued to meet in small groups week by week during the year, looking together at how the bible applies to life today. For example, a group of Upper Sixth pupils considered how to live as a Christian at university and being distinctive as a follower of Jesus.
There have been regular meetings for prayer through the year: the popular Parent Prayer Group has met once a month, and a group of teaching staff have met to pray every Tuesday morning. am extremely grateful to colleagues and pupils who have spoken in chapel over the last year; we have had some wonderfully creative presentations, which have helped to begin the school day so well. Very many thanks to our Chapel Prefect (Alex Morris) and other pupils who have assisted at chapel services, including Patrick and Imogen, the Heads of School. am very grateful to Mrs Hobbs, Mrs Grime and the other members of the Chaplaincy team for their support and encouragement, and to Mr Pennington and Mrs Peters for some exceptional music in chapel through the year.
Reverend Daniel Rutherford
Colour and Culture
We started our eight day adventure to China with a visit to a Kung Fu school where we watched the amazing Shaolin novices perform, before learning a routine ourselves. The next stop was the Great Wall and the thousands of steps, in hot sticky weather, to reach it - but the climb was undoubtedly worth it. On our return to Beijing, we visited the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium before an enormous dinner and early night.
The next morning we went to Tiananmen Square and saw Chairman Mao’s mausoleum; the National Museum of China and the Great Hall of the People.
As we approached the iconic gate into the Forbidden Palace, with the huge portrait of Chairman Mao, we were entertained by a water fountain and music show. The magnificent Temple of Heaven was our final stop before boarding the bullet train to Xi’an. It was an incredible and humbling experience for all of us as we visited the Terracotta Army Museum; surely, one of THE great sites of the world. By pure chance we met the farmer (Yang Zhifa) who first unearthed the army back in 1974. A pomegranate farm, more great Chinese food and a night exploring the stunning city of Xi’an capped another brilliant day on our trip!
On day four we cycled around the old walls of Xi’an which was great fun – even in torrential rain.
Following a quick change of clothes and lunch in a beautiful old theatre, we visited the truly stunning Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an, where we saw some breathtaking Buddhist statues and buildings associated with the monk Xuan Zang, who brought Buddhism to China. Mr Scard was in PRE heaven!
Then a walk through the bazaars of the Muslim Quarter of the city, dinner and early to bed ready for our pre-dawn train ride from Xi’an to Shanghai.
In Shanghai we went to the zoo to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Great Pandas, followed by a fascinating tour around a silk making factory.
We spent the next morning in the stunning Humble Administrator’s Garden, one of the most famous gardens in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, before hopping onboard rowing boats and drifting along the beautiful Pingjiang Road. Then it was off to the circus! What a mind-blowing spectacle the ERA Spirit of Shanghai Acrobatic Show was!
Our last full day in Shanghai started with a visit to the vast SAIC Volkswagen plant to see how the thousands of workers and state of the art robots put together the modern vehicles we drive. Then, it
was into the heart of the city to climb the awesome 468m, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower; a space age building that towers over most of Shanghai. We explored of the Yuyuan Garden Mall and Market we haggled for last minute gifts.
Finally, the perfect finish our trip was a boat trip down the Huangpu River to see the beautiful twinkling skyline of downtown Shanghai at night. It was a great time to reflect on how lucky we were to have had the opportunity to come on this once in a lifetime trip, organised by the amazing Dr Gibson, and the new friends we made in China.
September, the
The Motion for the House Debating Competition was ‘This House believes that AI is a threat to human civilisation’. With well-researched points Serlo came away triumphant.
The Girls’ House Hockey match was won by Serlo and Wheeler won the Boys’ House Hockey.
Joint School Chess Captains Toby Martin and George Rayfield have battled it out on the board in the House Chess Cup for the past seven years and this year George was victorious, clinching the victory for Laud and ending Wheeler’s period of chess dominance.
House round-up
This has been another busy year with each Term packed with competitions and fund-raising events to support our chosen charities. Thanks to the generosity of our pupils and their families, over £6,933 has been raised for these three charities.
2023/24 House Charities
Laud – Insight Gloucestershire
Serlo – Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Services
Wheeler – The Pied Piper Appeal
The Michaelmas Term Academic Cup, which is calculated from the number of bronze, silver and gold commendation certificates and Combat of the Pen Awards was awarded to Serlo House.
Right at the end of the Michaelmas Term the House Quiz was won by Wheeler.
House Netball was won by Wheeler.
Thank you to the Heads of House – Mr Withers, Mrs Van Someren and Mr Scard and our Sixth Form House Captains - Ren, Tom, Rhia, Lauren, George, James, Tom, Charlie and Annie for everything they have done for their Houses this year.
The Michaelmas Term fund-raising event and non-uniform day coincided with Halloween, the House Captains ran themed activities and Freya Cornell chopped her hair off for the Little Princess Trust. £1,565 was sent to the Little Princess Trust and £1,595 was split between the three House Charities.
In this year’s House Swimming Competition the standard was very high, as was the participation, but Wheeler clinched first place, building on their victory from last year.
The Lent Term Academic Cup was won by Serlo.
The Girls’ and Boys’ House Cricket Cups were both won by Serlo.
The Trinity Term Academic Cup was won by Serlo.
There were three House Competitions in Good Food Week; the Bake Off was won by Serlo; the Bushtucker Trial was won by Wheeler and the Food Waste Competition was won by Serlo.
Each House performed a group song, a Junior solo, a special piece from the Senior students and an instrumental piece in this year’s House Music Competition. Everyone had a great time and eventual House Music Champions were Laud.
The competition for the House Cup at this point was very close with Laud on 323 points, Wheeler on 327 and Serlo on 346 and just the House Athletics event to go.
Many congratulations to Wheeler who won this year’s House Athletics Championships, which also secured them the overall House Cup, by the narrowest of margins – just one point.
In
Sorting Hat allocated a House to each of the new Year 7 pupils.
Our recent trip to PGL Osmington Bay was so much fun! After all those tough exams, it was awesome to finally relax and hang out with my friends.
Paddle boarding was the best – we laughed so much trying to stay balanced and not fall into the water. The giant swing was super exciting too! We swung so high up, it felt like we were flying. But the coolest part was just being together with my friends. We talked, joked, and had a blast doing all the activities. The campfire on the first night was just brilliant. We sang songs and roasted marsh-
archery tag; it was awesome, arrows were soaring through the air. What a wonderful time we had! It was a big difference to our usual school day and we just enjoyed being outside. PGL was the perfect place to have fun and make amazing memories after all that challenging work.
Esha and Alba
secondnormandy form trip to
During Activities Week, Second Form headed to Normandy. We had lots of fun with our friends and got to enjoy some of the French culture.
We visited a goat farm where people drank milk straight from a goat; Gold Beach (the site of D-Day landings); and a busy marketplace where we bought our own lunch. French night was one of the highlights. Sam and Annie won the costume contest, and we all enjoyed seeing Mrs Phillips as a snail!
On the fourth day, we went to the island of Mont Saint-Michel, explored the town and we stopped at the 360 cinema on the way back to learn about the D-day landings. After dinner we walked to the beach where we could play games and watch the pretty sunset. On the last day, we visited a chocolate factory, that had delicious testers, before getting on the ferry home. By Sophie and Lola
ART & DESIGN PRIVATE VIEW
On the evening of 2nd July, the Art and Design Technology Departments invited the King’s community of staff, pupils and parents to view the outstanding work completed by this year’s GCSE and A Level pupils.
In DT, visitors had an opportunity to view and discuss each pupil’s unique interpretation
of their chosen designs and in Wardle House, there was a carefully curated display of artworks including video, print, sculpture and digital imaging on display.
Congratulations to all our pupils who demonstrate such dedication and individuality within their creative pieces.
Ralph Willard
Thomas Townsend
Bea Dunning
Annie Catt
Lucy Elmslie
Flo Walker
Annie Catt
Annie Catt Rachel Tweneboa
Rachel Tweneboa
Mariam Abukakar
Safa Hamza
Charlotte Oliver
Natasha Bloxham
Ellis Woolley
Annie Catt
Altea Gillett
Eloise Caruthers-Little
3rd Form Reduction Print
Emily Burton
Violet Berry
Harry Morris
Emily Smith
Joseph Morton
Sophie Rayer
Lucy Cunningham
Digby Waldron
William Caruthers-Little
Molly Morris
Huge congratulations to the amazing cast and crew of 'Matilda', who captivated their audiences with two truly triumphant performances! Your talent, dedication and hard work shone on stage; from the magnificent acting to the incredible set design and flawless direction, every detail was perfect.
King's Director of Drama, Mrs Copeland-Jordan said:
'“Fill the space” was the motto we developed. “Fill it with joy and fill it with heart.” And that is exactly what this young cast and crew did. Once again, the King’s spirit shone through with everyone giving their all, whether they were calling the show, programming lights, moving set or performing, the whole cast radiated confidence, fun and talent. Mrs Peters and I are exceptionally proud of every member of the team who reflect what we love about King’s – we work hard, we care and we produce excellence'.
After our coach journey to the Brecon Beacons and the Call of the Wild base, we got stuck into the first activities of the many that we would experience over the week.
For me, gorge walking was the absolute best. I loved jumping off the waterfall and seeing the amazing natural sights around me. The wildlife and nature around the whole site was amazing too!
Another fantastic activity was the Wet and Wild Day; we were canoeing, kayaking and raftbuilding. We had to build our own raft and make it float across the lake. This was not as easy as it sounds and ours did make it for a while, but definitely not across the entire lake!
Caving and climbing were great tests of our team-building skills and we all worked together to support each other as we stepped out of our comfort zones. As well as these excellent activities, the food was also very good - my favourite was the daily cooked breakfast!
call of the wild third form DofE Awards
It has been an exciting year for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme at King’s and canoeing has been added to our Silver and Gold Award options this year.
Our numbers are looking strong for our current cohort: the uptake for Silver in the walking groups has tripled; a high number of pupils have also chosen canoeing as their mode of transport for Silver. The number for Gold has doubled
compared to last year’s cohort. We continue to have more than 50 pupils from our Third Form for Bronze too.
The Silver and Gold walking groups undertook their practice expedition in Dartmoor before successfully completing the assessed expedition in the Brecon Beacons in the summer.
The Silver canoeing group headed down the River Wye and the Gold Award group went to Scotland on their expedition, paddling along the 60 mile Caledonian Canal, through the spectacular Great Glen.
We have been very pleased with the award completions this year: Bronze Fourth Form (they are now in the Fifth Form) completed awards: 77% Bronze Third Form (they are now in the Fourth Form) completed awards: 80%
AWARDS
The Silver Award completion rate is impressive too: 88%.
All Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards demand commitment and effort; those who have managed to complete the awards should be very proud of their achievements.
Grit, determination and resilience are all needed in bucket-loads to achieve the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award and we were pleased to see some of our King's students achieving this prestigious honour in May this year! They spent the afternoon with their parents as guests at a garden party held at Buckingham Palace to celebrate their achievement in completing their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and to receive their honours. We are very proud of all of our Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards participants.
Kasper
Gold: James Balding, Victoria Emery, Caitlin Gillett, Lucy Holdsworth, Emma Wray
Silver: Stella Abeya, Charlie Bramley, Pip Horton, Jack Lawrence, Henry Marsden, Emily Page, Fearne Turner
enrichment round-up
This year our most academically able pupils have had a number of opportunities to extend their knowledge and explore their subjects and other ideas beyond the school curriculum.
Members of the First and Second Form have developed both their ‘Thinking Skills’ and ‘Language Skills’, exploring the interesting works and choice of language of Lewis Carroll before translating a piece of previously unseen German. They learnt ‘How to Win an Argument’ using some high-level debating skills and did some critical thinking, which will help them analyse more thoughtfully the information they come across in future. They looked at the history of architecture in Gloucester before constructing some beautiful projects of their own and they were incredibly fortunate to have a session led by marine biologist, Catherine Hobbs, on the acoustics of the oceans. Most recently, they had the opportunity to create some fantastic explosions, while considering the energy changes that take place during different chemical reactions.
Members of the Third and Fourth Form started the year with a talk from classicist, Ben Harris, who explained why there was a need to create a more inclusive and diverse set of textbooks, fit for the 21st century. They were then awed by a session on ‘Our Super Solar System’, where they made scale models of the planets and learnt many facts about the celestial objects closest to us. They had an introduction to Politics, where they considered whether the importance of ‘truth’ retains currency in contemporary politics and the extent to which political leaders can – and should – be held accountable for being truthful with the public; they then had a fascinating session on ‘VR and Literature’, where they studied the evolution of narrative video games and the way in which they intersect with classic literature. The final session of the year, on ‘Marvellous Mathematics’, had them exploring the binary system, before going on to solve Flavius Josephus’s Roman permutation problem.
of Lin Manuel-Miranda’s musical, Hamilton, with several Shakespearean tragedies. We discovered similarities and differences, examining key tragedian concepts such as the protagonist’s and antagonist’s opposition, Hamilton’s fatal flaw and his inevitable downfall, alongside some of the language and motifs of the dialogue, such as the central conflict between the power of writing and the power of fighting.
The Fifth and Sixth Form pupils began their Enrichment year by studying Normandy in the Middle Ages, considering how the lives of people in Normandy changed between the Norman conquest of England in 1066 and the time when Normandy came fully back under French control in the middle of the thirteenth century. They then enjoyed a session on ‘A Deal with the Devil’, considering the origins and variants of the Faustus myth across Europe - from the early Middle Ages to the present day - in literature, music and popular culture. Their next session on ‘Music, Politics and the Troubles in Northern Ireland’ gave them a fascinating insight into the period commonly referred to as ‘The Troubles’ and allowed them to explore the role music plays in keeping the period alive in modern memory. Our scientists engaged in a complex dissection, exploring the anatomy and physiology of rats, while carefully considering the ethics of using animals in scientific research. Our final session was a fabulous comparison
A huge number of academic visits have taken place, including those to the Senedd in Cardiff, the Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Stratford, the Science Museum, Warwick Castle, Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Gloucester History Festival, the AMSP Maths Feast, Geography field trips and a variety of Art and theatre visits.
The Academic Societies, led by members of the Sixth Form, continue to be popular. Students have led talks, run experiments and invited guest speakers throughout the year to enhance their educational experience. They have also engaged in many online university level lectures, including some fascinating Psychology seminars, covering a range of topics such as a tour of the human brain during our lifespan, cognitive and social development in children and adolescents, and clinical talks on topics such as epilepsy.
All the sessions have been exciting, engaging and highly inspirational. We would particularly like to thank all those who have helped and encouraged us and given up time to offer talks and advice. We eagerly look forward to next year’s programme!
We have had another good year with our partner school, the DDEM School in Dornakal.
Mrs Fayter had the wonderful opportunity of visiting the DDEM School in the October half term and brought letters, gifts and good wishes to the students and teachers. The school is in very good condition, newly painted with its new garden shelter, outdoor play equipment and bore well. We continue to sponsor 28 students and support the school with fundraising. Another DDEM School trip is planned, and computers are being installed.
This academic year we had two highlights; first, there was the Young Performers’ Concert at St Lawrence Church in Barnwood. Mr Webster, our former Chaplain arranged the venue. It was a wonderful evening and well over £1100 was raised for sponsorship. This is the second concert our young performers have done, and we hope to have another in 2025. All thanks to Mr Pennington, Mrs Sawyer and Mrs Peters.
Our second fundraising highlight was Mrs ShawYoung’s 120 km Camino walk which raised a
superb £800. She did very well as it poured with rain every day!
The Junior School parents also raised nearly £500 with their generous giving for the sponsorship fund. Our senior school’s Charity Day in June was shared with the Dornakal Fund. Parents from across the school have sponsored individual children and Mrs Soraya Mitchell’s fantastic 6th form tutor group sponsored Johanna. Overall, we have raised around £4,500 this year for the school including the sponsorship. A huge thank you to everyone.
There were also zoom calls between the DDEM School and King’s. Two special moments are the Junior School question and answer session on life in Dornakal and the call between the Sixth Form and Johanna’s class. This brings to life the partnership.
We look forward to a special visit from Dornakal in 2025, including Bishop Padma Rao, Bishop of Dornakal and guests from the DDEM School.
rugby
The 1st XV wrapped up a season to remember, securing victories in 9 out of 12 challenging matches, and one draw, against formidable schools. It was without doubt one of the most talented pool of players the School have had in a senior squad, with players representing Gloucester Academy, Bristol Bears Academy and Gloucestershire County.
Their triumph over Old Swinford Hospital in the National Vase truly stood out. Raph Campbell shone as the player of the season, amassing an impressive 100+ points. Tom Ring showcased exceptional leadership as Captain, setting a high standard both on and off the field.
Coaching these boys was a pleasure. They played a brand of rugby which has been outstanding to watch. A heartfelt thank you to the Upper Sixth pupils for their invaluable efforts, elevating King's rugby to new heights.
The 2nd XV made huge progress this season, providing a strong base for many players to make the step up to 1st XV. With notable victories against local opposition, Wycliffe College and The Crypt School, and some very close games against Llandaff and Bristol Grammar School, the players showed huge improvements in skill and teamwork, resulting in six players playing 1st team rugby.
There was some excellent rugby to watch; Henry Watkinson’s 60m try against Bristol Grammar School and James Cooley’s all-round kicking skills in that game. George Ellis’s defence was excellent throughout the season and a major contributor to our win against the Crypt School. Archie Slater’s man of the match performances against Llandaff Cathedral School and The Crypt School, contained excellent defence, great leadership and the vision to bring others into the game successfully. Digby Waldron played almost every position in the team during the season, which demonstrates his varied skills.
The Forwards worked tirelessly in every game, with Harry Vickery leading our lineouts to greater and greater success throughout the season. Every player contributed to a really positive season, and they can be proud of their efforts.
The U15A rugby team had a very pleasing season, winning five out of their seven matches. In the first game of the season, the team delivered a commanding performance against Wycliffe and a convincing 48-5 win.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of the season was the superb performance away at Bristol Grammar School, where the team dominated with a remarkable 39-0 victory.
The team's overall performance is reflected in the impressive statistics, having scored a total of 200 points and conceding only 97. The Forwards were instrumental in gaining crucial ground, while the elusive nature of the Backs added flair and unpredictability to our attacks.
One of the standout performers this season was George Thompson, whose leadership both on and off the pitch has been exemplary.
The U15B team showed good commitment in both training and matches throughout the season.
Several players were given the opportunity to move up to the U15A team, a testament to the depth of talent within the squad. This not only bolstered the U15A team but also served as motivation for the U15B players to continue pushing themselves to reach higher levels of play. The good numbers at training indicates a strong dedication and bodes well for Senior rugby next year.
The U14A rugby team concluded the year on a positive note, demonstrating progress and success
on the field led by Jordy Luis. Throughout the season, the team displayed strong collaboration, improved technical skills, and a growing understanding of strategic play. Overall, the U14 rugby team has shown promise and dedication, setting a solid foundation for future success on the rugby field.
The U14B season, despite a challenging win-loss record, was marked by enthusiastic learning and enjoyable experiences during both matches and training sessions. While victories may have been elusive, the team demonstrated a commendable spirit. Moving forward, the focus will be on building on these positive aspects, fostering skill
development, and cultivating a love for the sport that transcends the win-loss column.
The U13A’s kicked off the season with an outstanding 45:0 victory against Holmleigh Park.
The following match against Llandaff Cathedral was a physical test for the squad; despite the tough opposition, the team emerged victorious with a hardfought 30:10 win. The squad then suffered a couple of tough defeats against Crypt and KLB. The team bounced back with a dominant 45:5 victory against Hereford Cathedral School.
The highlight of the season was a victory against a well-drilled Bristol Grammar School. The boys showed great determination throughout the game, coming away with a 20:10 victory.
Throughout the season, the U13Bs worked hard to improve their all-round skill set in lessons and on the field. In the team's fixture against a strong St Peter’s side, the U13Bs exhibited an impressive level of heart and desire, showcasing their determination to compete against a far bigger side in stature. The match was a true test of their progress.
The U12A team had an impressive season, having only lost two of their ten fixtures. Most noticeable victories came against – Crypt 35-10, BGS 30-5 and St Peter’s 20-10. The side also showed tremendous spirit in the drawn game versus Llandaff Cathedral 20-20. They should be proud of their achievements throughout the term and on making such a positive start to representing King’s sport.
Over 30 pupils represented the U12 rugby sides this season. It was also great to see several of the U12B’s having the opportunity to experience A team matches. The side made very pleasing progress with each fixture. Victories against Hereford Cathedral 40-10, BGS 40-15 and St Peter’s 20-10 demonstrates how well the side performed. The squad have been keen to learn and improve their rugby skills whilst developing their overall understanding of the game. All the squad should take a great deal of encouragement from what has been a very successful season.
RESULTS:
1st XI
Played 13, Won 7, Drawn 1, Lost 5
2nd XI
Played 7, Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 3
U15A
Played 7, Won 5, Drawn 0, Lost 2
U15B
Played 7, Won 4, Drawn 0, Lost 3
U14A
Played 7, Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 4
U14B
Played 7, Won 7, Lost 0, Drawn 0
U13A
Played 7, Won 6, Drawn 0, Lost 1
U13B
Played 5, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 2
U13C
Played 4, Won 2, Drawn 0, Lost 2
U12A
Played 5, Won 4, Drawn 0, Lost 1
U12B
Played 5, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 2
U12C
Played 2, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 1
hockey girls’
The 1st XI’s season started strong with the team scoring 9 goals in the first three games, despite facing tough and physical opponents.
In the National Cup, they lost in the first round on shuffles but continued in the plate competition.They had competitive games in rounds 2 and 3, but their best game was a 0-0 draw against CLC, marked by excellent play and strong defence.
The game against a strong Hereford team saw great support and work ethic from the players. Unfortunately, the fourth round of the cup ended in a 2-2 draw, but they lost in sudden death shuffles, 6-5, to Taunton School. However, the season concluded with a 3-0 win against Wycliffe.
Thanks were given to Captain Lauren Luxton,Vice Captains Keira Robson and Bella Sprague, player of the season Bella, most improved Flora Hopcraft, and most potential Lottie Salmon.
The 2nd XI were delighted with how this large squad approached training sessions, working hard on skills in isolation, under pressure, and within small-sided games. Early success came with a 2-1 win against Collegiate School. A challenging game followed against Bloxham resulting in a 1-1 draw. Our final win of the season was against Cheltenham Ladies College, where they played their best hockey of the season.
Special thanks to Pops Johnson for her commitment to hockey and her excellent captaincy this year.
The U15A team demonstrated remarkable talent throughout the season, achieving 5 victories out of 7 games played.They demonstrated adaptability by embracing various formations and advanced strategies, leading to standout performances, particularly in their commanding wins against Hereford Cathedral School, Bloxham School, and Cheltenham Ladies' College. Despite facing tough opponents, the girls remained determined and showcased their resilience, notably in their narrow 2-1 loss to Redmaids' School, which highlighted their high skill level and tenacity.
The U14As had a very mixed season starting and finishing the term with two very good wins against Hereford Cathedral 3-0 and Wycliffe College 5-0.
However, their best performance was an excellent game against a very strong Dauntsey’s team and although they lost 3-1, they played some excellent hockey and scored a great team goal from their captain Freya Cornell.
Throughout the season the U14B team girls showed commendable teamworking and resilience. Commendable highlights include Poppy for stepping up and being the keeper for the season, Ruby and Tasha for their strong presence upfront, and a lot of the girls being versatile in the field and playing in a mixture of midfield and defending roles. Elodie, Delilah and Flo have been great with this.
The U13A had a tremendous start to the season with convincing wins over Hereford Cathedral School (7-1), Collegiate (7-1), Bloxham (6-1) and Redmaid’s High School (2-1).
A triangular tournament at Dauntsey’s School saw a draw with Cranleigh 2-2 and a narrow loss to Dauntsey’s 2-1.
A win against Haberdasher’s, Monmouth (2-0) was the end of the team’s fixtures.
The team entered the Tier 1 England Schools Championships with the initial stage being the Gloucestershire County cup. King’s beat Cheltenham College 2-1, and held Dean Close to a 1-1 draw becoming the Tier 1 County Champions and progressing to the West Regional Finals where they finished second in their group, just missing out on qualifying for the quarter finals.
The U13B squad played 5, won 3 and lost 2. After a strong start to the season, playing against Hereford Cathedral (6-1) and Collegiate (6-1), they travelled to Bristol to play against Redmaids. The girls showed some excellent performances linking well from defence to attack, however struggled to convert resulting in a 3-0 defeat.
In a triangular tournament at Dauntsey’s the girls showed great determination and resilience. Chloe Barnes worked hard in defence, demonstrating her excellent composure on the ball and out letting skills in defence.
The final game of the season was against Monmouth Girl’s school, winning 3-0. This was a great performance by all of the squad, showing their attacking skills.
The U13C team played some exciting hockey throughout the season and were extremely positive when attacking. Their enthusiasm throughout games lessons and in matches has been superb and the whole of this large squad should be proud of how they developed this season.
The U12A team enjoyed considerable success and have demonstrated an impressive standard of hockey. Their achievements include losing only one block fixture and qualifying for the regional finals. The girls applied their training exceptionally well in matches, which greatly contributed to their successful performances.
A standout moment was Lily Hart’s goal in the County match, following a brilliant build-up play from the right-hand side, showcasing a high level of skill.
A brilliant first season for the U12B and C teams; all players worked hard in games lesson to improve their skills and tactical awareness.
Highlights of the season included a brilliant 4-0 victory over KLB and a strong 3-0 win over Collegiate. The girls demonstrated grit and determination in their very close encounters against Redmaids and Dauntsey’s losing both games by just 1 goal.
Particular highlights included watching the girls mould together so wonderfully as a team and their brilliant 60 minute performance against the strong Redmaids side, where they refused to give up!
1st XI – The teams’ pre-season match against Cheltenham College (W4-3) showed some early signs that the squad would work well together. This was backed up with a tremendous win away to Collegiate (W8-1) and even better performances against Bromsgrove (D1-1) and Malvern College (W4-2).
A disappointing performance in the cup against Cheltenham College (L2-0) dented their confidence and the team struggled to then regain some form with further losses against Bristol Grammar (2-0), Katherine Lady Berkeley (D3-3 APS 6-3) and Bloxham (3-1). They took revenge on Katherine Lady Berkeley (W4-3) and came back from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 with Clifton College.The team at times played some scintillating hockey which meant they went into their last school game against Monkton full of confidence. Sadly, the 1st XI couldn’t capitalise on all the possession and D penetrations whereby Monkton did (L3-1).
Thank you to all the players and in particular the boys who leave this year.
The 2nd X1 had a very encouraging season and it was great to see some players having the opportunity to experience 1st XI hockey at stages in the term.
Highlights of the season were wins against KLB (5-1) and Cokethorpe (11-0). In both wins the 2nd XI team played some scintillating hockey, moving the ball at pace and demonstrating superb teamwork. Despite losing 4-2 in the final match against Monkton School the side showed how far they had come as the standard of the hockey was excellent. Well done to Harry Spencer for captaining the team. Charlie Stallard deserves a special mention for scoring a remarkable 18 goals.
The U16 are a squad that only come together for cup matches. The team were pitched against Cheltenham College in the first round of the Tier 2 cup. They played with determination but eventually lost 3-1. Due to the loss the U16 then had a plate match against Warminster school. At 3-0 down at half time the team looked totally out of the game. However, King’s were superb in the second half and dominated the game scoring 2 late goals and bringing the scoreline within one. Warminster defended well in the last 5 minutes and held on for a 2-3 victory.
Noah Hutchins has captained the side extremely well, leading by example. In their final game against The Elms, the team were unstoppable in front of goal, winning 11–1.
The U13B team had a good season. Special recognition goes to Benji Pallister, whose exceptional performance earned him the title of the team's Player of the Season. Benji's unwavering presence in defence has been instrumental, providing a solid foundation for the team's success.
The U13C team developed well throughout training and showed some great potential within their three matches.Their win came against Rendcomb College B team 5-2 where Ibrahim Imam scored 4, but most importantly it was a great team performance.
Unfortunately, the U13D team only played one match due to cancellations.They had great fun and several of them have represented higher teams with Ibrahim Imam being promoted to a regular player in the B team.
hockey
The U15A hockey team concluded a successful season marked by notable progress and impressive performances. Led by top goal scorer Elijah Marsden with 5 goals and Noah Bennett with 3, the team played with good structure and cohesion. Memorable victories included a dominant 6-1 win over Malvern College, a hard-fought 3-2 triumph against Bristol Grammar School, and a thrilling 0-0 draw against Clifton College. The U15B, with a big squad, used a rotation system to make sure several boys got experience of competitive hockey against other schools.Their one win came in a 4-1 victory over Collegiate School. Several of the team went onto play for the ‘A’ team which is credit to them and their progression.
The U14A hockey team had an outstanding season characterised by growth, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The team started with a few losses but after putting in some hard work and embracing a new style of play, showed great resilience, and put together some very impressive performances.This was witnessed in a thrilling win in the cup against Kingsupporting and encouraging each other through victories and challenges alike.
The U14B team had a superb season and made excellent progress, as well as winning 4 out of their 6 matches and only losing 1. Many of the team were selected for the ‘A’ team so that they got the opportunity to play at a higher level. Two wins in the last two weekends against Clifton College (4-2) and Monkton School (5-0) demonstrated what a strong B team we had this year.
The U13A hockey team had an exceptional season, showcasing a brand of hockey that has been great to watch. Dylan Fox's remarkable performance in goal earned him the well-deserved title of the team's Player of the Season.
Fuelled by impressive victories over Bromsgrove, KLB, and Collegiate, the team entered the county tournament with high spirits. However, they faced formidable challenges from strong Dean Close and Cheltenham College sides, ultimately halting their progression in the tournament. Despite this setback, the team displayed resilience and unity throughout.
The U12A boys started the season slowly, losing their first 2 games of the season. Once the boys applied a ‘winning’ attitude towards training, they started to find some momentum and went on to score 35 goals in 6 games, winning all 6 and playing some very impressive hockey along the way.
Once the boys conquered the block fixtures, they took on the county hockey tournament where they drew the first game, lost the second and third but, showing heart and determination, they went on to win all remaining games and got through to the regional finals. In the regional finals the team finished third in their group eventually defeating Cheltenham College in the shuffles, finishing the season off with a high.
The U12B team made encouraging progress and displayed great enthusiasm in training and matches. They all relished the opportunity to play in fixtures against other schools and were keen to showcase the skills learnt.
The U12C made excellent progress throughout the season. Many of the squad had never played hockey previously to this season and therefore should be very proud of their accomplishments.
The U12D unfortunately only played one match due to several cancellations.
RESULTS:
RESULTS:
1st VII
Played 14, Won 7, Drawn 1, Lost 6
2nd VII
Played 11, Won 4, Drawn 1, Lost 6
3rd VII
Played 6, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 3
U15A
Played 9, Won 7, Drawn 0, Lost 2
U15B
Played 9, Won 8, Drawn 0, Lost 1
U14A
Played 12, Won 7, Drawn 0, Lost 5
U14B
Played 10, Won 5, Drawn 0, Lost 5
U14C
Played 2, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 2
U13A
Played 10, Won 7, Drawn 0, Lost 3
U13B
Played 7, Won 7, Drawn 0, Lost 0
U13C
Played 2, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 1
U12A
Played 8, Won 7, Drawn 0, Lost 1
U12B
Played 9, Won 4, Drawn 0, Lost 5
U12C
Played 4, Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 2
The 1st VII team had an incredibly exciting season, indeed a season of two halves! To begin, the girls faced some challenging competition, with some excellent results in Wednesday’s matches but struggled to get into top gear on Saturdays.
The pinnacle of the season was the showcase match versus Cheltenham College and the nailbiting finish. With a tied score of 37-37 and only 30 seconds remaining, King's secured possession. Daisy's remarkable mid-range shot gave them a crucial lead, King’s defence held firm, securing a thrilling victory for King's.
Amidst the excitement, King's emerged triumphant, showcasing their resilience and determination in a match that will be remembered as one of the season's highlights.
2nd and 3rd VII. This season we had a very young 2nd team, but we had excellent game play throughout. It was a tough start where we lost the first three matches; however, the girls’ work ethic grew, and they became an excellent squad. The 3rd team also had a great season, winning 50% of their games.
The U15A team had a strong season, winning 7 out of their 9 fixtures and amassing a huge 254 goals.
The U15B team went even further by winning 8 of their 9 games and outclassing every other team they played. The goal difference of +125 was quite astounding and highlighted the incredible progress they made.
The U14A Netball season opened with a challenging fixture against Cheltenham College. The high-speed game was lost but helped to set the standard to strive for going forward. A convincing win against Wycliffe provided the confidence boost the girls needed, but a run of losses resulted in a focus on the players’ work ethic and refining technical skills. This had a positive impact on performance and results.
The U14B team made a vast improvement over the season and their tactical awareness improved in the process. The contrast from start to finish was a delight to watch, finishing the season with confidence.
The girls adapted well with fresh players and were always open to playing in new positions on the court.
The U13A team had a fantastic season and gelled together as a squad tremendously.Their games lessons were incredibly focussed, and the girls worked through a plethora of challenging skills, often skills that older years struggle to learn. It is clear from their lessons that they really enjoyed this season and relished the opportunity to be challenged.
The U13B team should be hugely proud of their efforts for the netball season.They were determined to continue their unbeaten streak from last year and they managed just that with excellent progression and results as a team.They worked tremendously hard in training to further their netball knowledge and skills. Moreover, they won every game they played this year; a testament to their progress!
A great effort was shown by those in the U13C team.They worked tirelessly in training to improve their skills and made great improvements. Sadly, a number of the team’s scheduled matches were cancelled due to a lack of opposition.
The wonderfully spirited U12A team had a brilliant start to their netball journey at King’s. They had several opportunities to represent the school against some excellent opposition, only losing one match during the season to the strong and exceptionally tall Cheltenham Ladies’ College U12 side. Not only did the girls grow in confidence this term, but they also increased their passion for the sport and knowledge of the game. As a team, they were all incredibly eager to learn and progress.
The U12B team started their King’s netball journey playing away against Farmors School.This was a tough game, but lots was learnt to then go on and beat Dean Close 16-1. Next, they played two very tight matches against Collegiate and Cheltenham Ladies’ College in which they narrowly lost. However, after these games, they started to grasp the tactical aspect of the game and improved their technical skills.
The U12C team had an excellent introduction to Senior School netball this term, led by our fantastic University student, Millie. The girls worked incredibly hard in their games lessons to really understand the rules of the game and grew in confidence under their ‘3 seconds’ time pressure.
netball
boys’cricket
1st XI – The team started strong with victories over QEH and Huntley, setting a promising tone for the matches ahead. However, the momentum was briefly halted with two close, hard-fought games against Cheltenham College and Dean Close, both of which resulted in narrow defeats. The team quickly regained their stride, achieving a dominant 10-wicket win over the Gloucestershire Gipsies and a solid 56-run victory against Sir Thomas Rich's. These wins bolstered team morale leading into the Cathedral School's T20 Competition.
Despite a challenging first day with two losses, which dashed hopes for reaching the finals, the team displayed resilience and secured victories over Llandaff and King's Rochester. The season concluded with a commendable performance against a formidable MCC side and a decisive 63run win at Hereford Cathedral School.
The season's batting achievements were led by two standout Year 10 players, who together amassed 838 runs, each maintaining an impressive average of over 40. Finn Whitman scored a total of 404 runs for the season, including a notable 82 against Gloucestershire Gipsies and a maiden century against Sir Thomas Rich's. Noah Bennett accumulated 434 runs, with significant innings of 87 against Gloucestershire Gipsies, 44 against Dean Close, 59 against Cathedral School Llandaff, and 82 against Hereford Cathedral. Ellis SabbaghHolt topped the bowling charts with 22 wickets, showcasing his skill and consistency throughout the season.
2nd XI – Unfortunately, the poor weather conditions in the first half of the term restricted the 2nd XI to two matches against Dean Close and Sir Thomas Rich’s. Despite losing both fixtures the side showed real promise and this was especially the
case against STR when the side almost chased down 173 runs falling agonisingly short in the final over. Kai Whitworth scored a remarkable 37 which laid the platform for the sides impressive run chase.
The U15A cricket team faced a challenging season, with numerous matches cancelled due to poor weather. The initial match against Dean Close was particularly tough, as key players were selected for the 1st XI and several others were injured. They secured victories against Wycliffe and Newent and had close finishes against Hereford Cathedral and Marling, narrowly missing out on wins. Despite a loss to Marling, the boys regrouped to win their final game of the season against Newent. After recovering from Newent's quick start, they bowled and fielded well to limit them to 109 runs. An impressive knock from Joe Skegg in his comeback game secured the win with a few overs to spare.
Throughout the season individual contributions stood out, with Tom Smith and Will Lambert making significant impacts with the bat, and Alex Doughty impressing with his leg spin. Jack MackayHegarty was named Player of the Season for his consistent and pressure-filled opening bowling spells, while Alex Worthington was awarded Most Improved Player for his advancements in both batting and bowling, culminating in him opening the batting in the final matches.
The U14A team had a fantastic season and played some outstanding cricket. Harry Ackland has captained the side exceptionally well and received strong support from Jordy Luis. The batting unit have been excellent, and this has been the main reason for the team’s success. Dan Smith has been a formidable presence at the top of the order, and every player has contributed and played their part when required. The highlight of the season was an incredible win against Sir Thomas Rich's, where the team triumphed by twenty-four runs. This result demonstrated how far they have come as a team since the previous season.
The U14B team made promising progression during the season. Unfortunately, the weather had a significant impact throughout, resulting in games being called off. A highlight of the season was a dominant victory against Westonbirt, the bowlers consistently bowled a challenging line and length restricting them to 75. Wickets were shared across the bowling attack, with two each for Sam, Mikhail, and Olly. In response, the team showcased their ability to rotate the strike and put away the bad ball, chasing the score in the 12th over of the match.
The U13As had an excellent season and produced some terrific performances. In their match against Dean Close, Archie Hall scored a magnificent 46 not out. King’s were energetic in
RESULTS:
1st XI
Played 13, Won 7, Lost 6, Cancelled 2 2nd XI
Played 2, Lost 2
U15A
Played 8, Won 4, Lost 4, Cancelled 6 U14A
the field and accurate with the bowling, to bowl Dean Close out for 78 and win comfortably by 48 runs. Harvey Windsor-Wilkin picking up the final three wickets with a hattrick. This started a winning streak and King’s went on to beat Newent School comfortably with Jacob Bennett scoring the first of three consecutive unbeaten half centuries.
King’s beat Pate’s Grammar School by 126 runs with Archie Hall also scoring an unbeaten half century. Hereford Cathedral School were then beaten by 10 wickets with a fabulous bowling performance by Sebby Compton-Evans and Euan Frew racking up the runs. After a small blip against Sir Thomas Rich’s School, King’s finished the season in style by beating Crypt school by 50 runs. A fantastic way to end the season.
The U13B cricket team had a promising season, although impacted heavily by the weather. A total of 17 boys were part of the squad, each contributing to the success of the team during the season. One of the memorable highlights of the season was our 6-wicket victory against Dean Close. The bowling attack was outstanding, with wickets each for Sam, Herbie, Charlie, Nicky, and Jamie. In response to Dean Close's total, our batting line-up showcased resilience and skill. Guy and Herbie were particularly impressive, anchoring the innings with a crucial partnership. Guy played a solid innings, scoring 32 runs and providing stability at one end. Herbie remained unbeaten on 42, guiding the team to victory. Their partnership of 60 runs was pivotal, ensuring that the team stayed on course and eventually clinched the win.
The U12A showed a lot of potential throughout the season. Their three wins were against QEH Bristol, Pates Grammar School and Crypt Grammar School. Bowling became more consistent, but the strength of this team was in their batting. Charlie Bull scored a fantastic 80 against Marling and Joe Worthing 50 not out against Crypt. All the batters came to the crease composed and ready to play a variety of shots with little fear of the opposition bowling.
U12B team were wonderfully keen and enthusiastic. Unfortunately, with two matches cancelled we never got to see the teams’ full potential. Nonetheless, they did win both games they played. Barclay Heryet-Scarborough scored 43 against Sir Thomas Rich’s to help win the game.
Played 7, Won 5, Lost 2 U14B
Played 1, Won 1, Lost 1, Cancelled 2 U13A
Played 7, Won 5, Lost 2, Cancelled 2 U13B
Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Cancelled 1 U12A
Played 7, Won 3, Lost 3, Tied 1 U12B
Played 2, Won 2
girls’cricket
1stXI – Due to poor weather the team only managed to play three out of their six organised matches. However, when the team did get their first match against Cheltenham College, they competed well against a strong team eventually losing by 6 wickets. Excellent bowling by Daisy Oakley 10 for 1 and Sophie Rayer scoring 27 not out, was not enough to secure the victory. Their final match resulted in a fantastic win against King’s Worcester by 8 wickets. The school bowled tightly against strong batting conceding 180 for 2, setting themselves the biggest target they’ve ever had to chase. It didn’t start well, losing 2 wickets for only 9 runs but Daisy Baker and Sophie Rayer set about chasing down the score with sensible batting. They put the bowlers under pressure who started to concede extras whilst they started to knock off the runs eventually reaching their target with 10 balls to spare: Daisy Baker 49 not out and Sophie Rayer 55 not out. Well done to everyone that represented the 1st XI this year.
U15B – This is a very talented team with many of the players representing the 1st XI team but they had a difficult season due to cancellations and postponements.
They started with a great win against St Edwards winning by 6 wickets with Seren Radcliffe and Isla Atack scoring well and Olivia Posgate making her debut and taking 2 wickets. This was followed by losses to Cheltenham College in School Sports Magazine cup game and Bristol Grammar School by 69 runs, where we struggled with the bat.The team then played Stroud High School but struggled to find their form losing with only 3 balls left. In their final game against Denmark Road, Charley Grace took 3 wickets along with Amy Thompson who took 2 wickets and both Seren Radcliffe and Daisy Baker retiring not out.This was a very positive way to finish the term with a good 59 run win whilst demonstrating excellent skills in the field.
The U15B team also lost out due to cancelled matches but managed to play a softball game against Rendcomb College losing by 21 runs.
The U14’s transitioned to hard ball games this year playing two matches winning their very first hard ball game against Bristol Grammar School by 1 wicket. It was a steep learning curve with the team scoring 96 runs for 9 wickets, but the girls acquitted themselves well in the field with Olivia Posgate and Lyra Chamberlain bowling well to curb their total to 77. Their next match was against a good Westonbirt team with Bea Norbury taking 2 wickets along with Lola Waldron and Lyra Chamberlain retiring not out; sadly, this was not quite enough losing narrowly by 24 runs. They also played 3 softball games winning 2 matches against St Edwards and Bristol Grammar School and an amazing draw with Rendcomb College.
U13A – Their first fixture, against Cheltenham College, went the full 20 overs, with Isla Ray gaining her first retirement of 30, with the game being decided
The U13B team enjoyed tremendous success this season winning 5 out of their 6 matches and their only loss was by a very narrow 3 runs All players greatly improved their bowling and although they scored an impressive number of collective runs this year, the area of target for next season is for them to learn how to drive the ball straight and to protect their wicket. All players have worked hard on punishing balls down the leg side and this has become a trait of the team!
on the last few balls of the final over. Lily Hart and Vivi Hunt held strong and batted sensibly for the win. The girls continued to be a strong opponent to anyone they faced throughout the season, often contributing to a large number of wickets and retirements happening each match. Frequent retirees include Isla Ray, Sienna Rayer, Eva Matthews and Frankie Halliday who consistently batted well and effectively read the field to play the correct shots and find the boundaries.
We also displayed a powerful bowling side, who have taken wickets in every match. Daisy Jones, Frankie Halliday, Isla Ray, Sienna Rayer, Eva Matthews, Eryn Dyer, Lily Hart and Emma Lambert have all taken crucial wickets this season. A highlight would be Isla Ray bowling spin and taking 6 wickets in the last Saturday fixture of the season against King’s Worcester was an impressive finisher and a real highlight to her talent. The girls were invited to Bristol Grammar School to play in the Daniels Cup tournament against strong opposition. They smashed through the pool stage unbeaten, then again through the semi stages to reach the final where they faced Millfield School. Their team consisted of high-level county players, but knowing this did not dampen our spirits. The toss fell in our favour, and we elected to bowl first. Impressive bowling and tight fielding meant we were able to keep their run total to 65. Isla and Eva were the first to start the chase, facing accurate bowling meant protecting the wicket was imperative. The final score ended 65/30 which is commendable. To end the season unbeaten speaks highly about how the girls have performed as a team, each understanding their role and developing both their individual and team skills to secure convincing wins throughout the season.
The U12A team had a great start to their cricketing career at King’s, winning four games and narrowly losing one. This is a true testament to the girls' hard work and, most importantly, their excellent teamwork.
Highlights of the season include fantastic victories against Llandaff and Westonbirt, where the team dominated both in the field and at bat. The girls demonstrated a clear understanding of their playing strategy and executed the basics exceptionally well. Other exciting games include their win against King’s Worcester, where their concentration secured an excellent 6-wicket victory. Additionally, their mid-week fixture against Rendcomb resulted in an impressive 10-wicket win.
The U12B team made an impressive amount of progress this season. As a squad, they had an outstanding result against Westonbirt School. Standout performances included excellent wicket keeping by both Ailsa and Millie Doodson. In addition, accurate bowling from all students, showcasing excellent technique and some consistent strikes from Erica Smith and Tatty Harridge.
equestriansports ski trip to ITALY
The King’s Equestrian squad competed in numerous inter-Schools competitions, representing the school in dressage, show jumping, eventing and arena eventing with many successes.
The first championship event was the School Equestrian Games involving dressage, show jumping and cross-country jumping - Georgie Spurling, Issi Chaplin, and Tom Roxburgh took part. Tom then qualified for, and competed in, the Style Show Jumping championships at Addington in October half term.
In the Spring, Issy Thwaite, Tom Roxburgh, Kitty Crowe and Georgie Spurling qualified for the Eventer Challenge Championship at Hickstead in May, but for a variety of reasons they were unable to compete at the event.
We were very pleased to welcome new members to the squad from the younger years in Senior School and also from the Junior School. Lily Hart, Lara Thwaite, Bella and Pippa Hay competed very successfully in grassroots dressage and show jumping competitions; Pippa qualified for Dressage Grassroots Championships and Bella for Show Jumping Championships.
We were delighted to sponsor the Ledbury Pony Club Tetrathlon (run, ride, swim and shoot) qualifier event, where pupils past, present and future did us proud – Harry Holmes, Emma-
Jane Austin, Georgie Austin and Tom Roxburgh won the Intermediate mixed team event and qualified for Pony Club Championships in August. Hattie Spurling also qualified for the Pony Club Championships in Show Jumping.
The following pupils represented King’s in Equestrian events this year: Kitty Crowe, Georgie Spurling, Hattie Spurling, Issy Thwaite, Lara Thwaite, Bella Hay, Pippa Hay, Tom Roxburgh and Lily Hart. Most equestrian competitions consist of four members in a team, so everyone played an important part in the success of our squad.
The ski trip to Sauze d'Oulx proved to be an outstanding experience for the Second and Third Form pupils.
The trip was marked by excellent weather conditions, pupil progress in their skiing, delightful culinary experiences and engaging evening entertainment. The progress observed amongst the pupils in their skiing abilities was remarkable.
One of the highlights of the trip was undoubtedly the opportunity to indulge in traditional Italian cuisine.
Throughout the week, the pupils enjoyed many servings of pizza and pasta. We had a large range of award winners
during the trip too, leading to the adoption of entertaining outfits whilst skiing. Evenings were filled with lively activities, including karaoke, Taskmaster challenges and quizzes. The pupils showed commendable resilience and determination, skiing for six consecutive days with unwavering enthusiasm, making our twentieth ski trip to Sauze d'Oulx a resounding success.
awardssports
RUGBY
Full Leo Mullis, Tom Ring, Harry Mills, Oakleigh Roe, Raph Campbell, Reuben Page
Half Fred Wyman, Elliott Parsons, Seb Handley, George Green, Harri Green, Charlie Mills, Oli Barley, Ollie Spragg, James Wallis, Ollie Slater, Jonas Roberts, Kai Whitworth, Archie Slater, Charlie Stallard, Zander Jesson, Sam Wiley, Henry Marsden 1st XV Player of the Year
Half Laura Farrimond, Bea Dunning, Darcey Chambers, Molly Morris, Amelie Matthews, Niamh Beard, Alana Hazell
1st XI
Player of the Year – Bella Sprague
2nd XI
Player of the Year – Sophie Rayer
Most Improved Player – Flora Hopcraft
Most Promising Player – Charlotte Salmon
U15A
Player of the Year – Lara Hutchinson-Pamias
Most Improved Player – Seren Radcliffe
U15B
Player of the Year – Scarlett Owen
Most Improved Player – Georgina Fletcher
U14A
Player of the Year – Lyra Chamberlain-Webber
Most Improved Player – Sian Elmslie
U14B
Player of the Year – Poppy Hemming
Most Improved Player – Tasha Gray
U13A
Player of the Year – Eva Matthews
Most Improved Player – Chloe White
U13B
Player of the Year – Chloe Barnes
Most Improved Player – Eliza Griffiths
U13C
Player of the Year – Hettie Ward
Most Improved Player – Claire Sebihe
U12A
Player of the Year – Frankie Halliday
Most Improved Player – Lilly Hart
U12B
Player of the Year – Ailsa Doodson
Most Improved Player – Erica Smith
U12C
Player of the Year – Zadie Uppal
Most Improved Player – Betsy Harrison
BOYS’ HOCKEY
Full James Wallis* Tom Radcliffe* Conrad Jones* Henry Marsden, Oliver Barley. *(re-awarded)
Half
Jonty Baber, Charlie Mills, Thomas Townsend, Stan Freeman, Liam Jones, Noah Marsh, Lewis Chance, George Ellis, Angus Kelly, Zechariah Oyedele, Jack Scullion, Zander Jesson, Charlie Stallard, Harrison Vickery
1st XI
Player of the Year – James Wallis
Most Improved Player – Jonty Baber 2nd XI
Player of the Year – Harry Vickery
Most Improved Player – Charlie Stallard
U16
Player of the Year – Digby Waldron
Most Improved Player – Jack Scullion
U15A
Player of the Year – Toby Pritchard
Most Improved Player – Jack Mackay-Hegarty U15B
Player of the Year – Finley Whitman
Most Improved Player – Rudy Duke U14A
Player of the Year – Jordi Luis
Most Improved Player – Charlie Round U14B
Player of the Year – Mateusz Zawada
Most Improved Player – Samuel Castrofilippo U13A
Player of the Year – Dylan Fox
Most Improved Player – Riley Ashby U13B
Player of the Year – Benjamin Pallister
Most Improved Player – Ibrahim Imam U13C
Player of the Year – Kobi Thomas
Most Improved Player – Harvey Windsor-Wilkin U13D
Player of the Year – Not Awarded
Most Improved Player – Oscar Cowley-Sharrock U12A
Player of the Year – Noah Adamson
Most Improved Player – George Hellerstein U12B
Player of the Year – Harry Lewis
Most Improved Player – Reuben Whitman
U12C
Player of the Year – Not Awarded
Most Improved Player – George Bell U12D
Player of the Year – Not Awarded
Most Improved Player – Sebastian Hughes
NETBALL
Full
Amelia Keogh and Lauren Luxton Half
Libby Lavender, Daisy Oakley, Pippa Law, Alana Hazel, Kitty Crowe, Molly Ward, Flora Hopcraft 1st VII
Player of the Year – Libby Lavender
Most Improved Player – Amelia Keogh 2nd VII
Player of the Year – Darcey Chambers
Most Improved Player – Ella Hutchinson-Pamias U15A
Player of the Year – Issy Dade
Most Improved Player – Scarlett Forrester U15B
Player of the Year – Liv Nelmes
Most Improved Player – Charlotte Nelmes U14A
Player of the Year – Bea Norbury
Most Improved Player – Lily Padden U14B
Player of the Year – Alice Marwood
Most Improved Player – Sian Elmslie U13A
Player of the Year – Chloe White
Most Improved Player – Sienna Rayer U13B
Player of the Year – Isla Ray
Most Improved Player – Heidi Wilson U13C
Player of the Year – Eliza Griffiths
Most Improved Player – Lilly Butland U12A
Player of the Year – Alicja Zawada
Most Improved Player – Lily Clegg U12B
Player of the Year – Grace Hall
Most Improved Player – Freya Birt U12C
Player of the Year – Zadie Uppal
Most Improved Player – Ailla Hebden
BOYS’ CRICKET
Full Noah Bennett, Oakleigh Roe
Half
Harry Spencer*, Conrad Jones*, James Cooley*, Harry Mills*, Raph Campbell*, Charlie Mills, Finn Whitman, Oli Barley, Harrison Vickery, Henry Watkinson, Ellis Sabbagh-Holt. *(re-awarded)
1st XI
Player of the Year – Noah Bennett
Most Improved Player – Charlie Mills
U15
Player of the Year – Jack Mackay-Hegarty
Most Improved Player – Alex Worthington U14A
Player of the Year – Harry Ackland
Most Improved – Patrick Dadson
U14B
Player of the Year – Ethyn Hendry
Most Improved – Mikhail Roberts-Church U13A
Player of the Year – Jacob Bennett
Most Improved – Noah Hutchins
U13B
Player of the Year – Guy Nelmes
Most Improved – Charlie Buckland
U12A
Player of the Year – Charlie Bull
Most Improved – Joe Worthington
U12B
Player of the Year – Barclay Heryet-Scarborough
Most Improved – Harry Lewis
the sporting year
It has been an exceptionally successful sporting year, marked by remarkable individual and team achievements. On several weekends, we fielded over twenty competitive teams, highlighting our growing strength and potential. The showcase matches for our first teams were particularly memorable for all the pupils. The 1st XV's decisive 26-12 victory over Crypt and the vibrant atmosphere at the girls' hockey match against Hereford Cathedral School stand out; however, the Cheltenham College match at the University Netball Arena was an extraordinary endorsement of such fixtures, culminating in a thrilling 38-37 win for King’s in the final seconds.
The 1st XV enjoyed another impressive season, indicated by their journey to the County 7s Final. Our senior netball squad fielded three competitive teams, and the U15 girls' cricket team reached the Lady Taverners County Finals. A notable development this
year has been the emergence of our talented Fourth Form sportsmen and sportswomen, who earned their spots in the first teams in hockey, netball, and cricket. They rose to the challenge, underscoring the depth of talent within our ranks.
House events were fiercely contested, especially evident in House Swimming, which came down to the final race and secured Wheeler's retention of the Cup.
The new outdoor cricket nets have been a fantastic addition, benefiting all age groups with their topquality facilities. It was heartening to see many alumni attending the Club 1541 matches this year, and our school teams are determined to bring the Freeman Cups back to Archdeacon Meadow.
All pupils, staff, and coaches should be congratulated on their dedication and enthusiasm throughout what has been a busy and enjoyable year.
RUGBY
U20 South-West Counties Leo Mullis
U18 Bristol Academy Harry Mills
U18 County & England Lamb Oakleigh Roe
U18 Gloucester Academy Leo Mullis, Tom Ring, Raph Campbell
U17 County Charlie Mills, Elliot Parsons
U17 Gloucester Academy Seb Handley, Ollie Spragg, Kai Whitworth, Fred Wyman
U16 Gloucester Academy Bertie Ellis, George Ellis, Archie Slater, Charlie Stallard, George Thompson, Alex Worthington
U16 Scottish Player Pathway Digby Waldron
HOCKEY
U13 Gloucestershire AC Lucas Blackwell, Dylan Fox, Daisy Jones, Martha Marsden, Eva Matthews, Herbie Morris, Joel Oyedele, Chloe White
U14 Gloucestershire AC Harry Ackland, Freya Cornell, Angus Crowe, Daisy Hopcraft, Noah Hutchins, Jordy Luis
U15 Gloucestershire AC Isla Atack, Archie Grace, Charley Grace, Jacob Griffiths, William Lambert, Elijah Marsden, Isabella Wilson
U16 Gloucestershire AC Darcey Chambers, Amèlie Matthews
U17 Gloucestershire AC Flora Hopcraft, Niamh Beard, Digby Waldron
U16/17 Gloucestershire JAC Molly Morris
Bath TA Lewis Chance
Stourport TA Oli Barley, Scout Downie, Alex Doughty, Lara Hutchinson-Pamias
CRICKET
U12 County Frankie Halliday
U13 County, Emerging Jacob Bennett
Player Programme
U13 County Isla Ray, Sienna Rayer
U14 County Daniel Smith
U15 County, Emerging Noah Bennett
Player Programme
U17 County James Cooley
NETBALL
U13 County Academy Ellie Davies, Evie Forrester, Alicja Zawada
U15 County Academy Issy Dade
U18 Bath PDP & U17 NPL Bath Libby Lavender
U18 Severn Stars PDP & Daisy Oakley
U17 NPL Severn Stars
U18 Severn Stars PDP Pippa Law
U18 Severn Stars Brooke Bolton-Brown, Kitty Crowe, Charley Grace, Nova Performance Amelia Keogh, Bea Norbury Isabella Wilson FOOTBALL
U13 Forest Green Rovers Daisy Jones, Isla Ray
U13 Gloucester City Riley Ashby
U13 Cheltenham Town Guy Nelmes
U14 Birmingham City Acad. Olivia Birt & County U14
U15 W. Bromwich Albion Acad. Theo Jackson
TENNIS
U14 County and GB U14 Padel Joel Oyedele U13 County Venai Minnaar FENCING
West Midlands U14 Champion & Rocco Milford Welsh National Team Member ARCHERY
U14 British Indoor
U16 Bristol Rovers Development William Jones GYMNASTICS
U13 Gloucestershire Champion Vivi Hunt
in 2023 Classic Challenge 1
U14 England Artistic gymnastics Immy Bennett
GB Double-Mini Trampoline Team James Keenan and Men’s Team and European Individual Champion
Girls’ Junior GB Gymnastics squad, Lilly Hanson-Moring Gold Medal in Girls’ Junior Competition in Portugal DANCE
National Youth Ballet Eliza Griffiths
house sports day
Once again, the end of another academic year was signalled with the House Athletics Championships.
At this point, the race for the House Cup between Laud, Wheeler and Serlo was extremely close, so it was likely that the winner of the Athletics would also claim the House Cup for 2023-24.
As we progressed through the track and field events, with talented athletes from all the Houses gaining places, it was hard to see who the eventual champion would be and so there was much anticipation, and then celebration, when the results were finally announced.
HOUSE CAPTAINS:
NEW RECORDS:
This year, we would like to congratulate the following on achieving new school records :
Laud - James Balding, Lauren Luxton, George Rayfield
Serlo - Ren Harcourt, Rhia Haywood, Tom Ratcliffe Wheeler - Annie Catt, Tom Ring, Charlie Worsfold
Swimming
gala
Congratulations to Wheeler who won this year's Senior School swimming gala.
The final result was:
1st Wheeler - 435 points
2nd Laud - 427 points
3rd Serlo - 394 points
The two records were broken by:
• Wheeler Senior Boys’ freestyle relay
• Georgia Haslam – winning the Senior Girls’ backstroke in 16.36 secs (breaking her own previous record from last year).
It was a fun, competitive afternoon with only 8 points between Wheeler in 1st place and Laud in 2nd place.
sportsdinner
The Senior Sports Dinner is always a wonderful celebration of the sporting talent we have at King's, and last night's event was no exception.
Junior Yearbook 23/24
The Captains shared their highlights of the season, and awards were presented to the players of the season by our Guest of Honour, Alex DansonBennett MBE.
In Little King’s this year our learning has been led by many interesting topics. The Reception children became real life superheroes thanks to an interactive backdrop, and Cottontails loved our Pirate topic where we made lots of maps directing us to the treasure. Amongst our many trips we visited Dinky Street, went on Forest School trips to Crickley Hill and The Forest of Dean and during the summer visited Birdland and the Cotswold Farm Park.
We have also had lots of new clubs for the Reception children, including cricket, gymnastics and piano club; the children have embraced every opportunity offered to them.
However, it was our Summer Play that inspired us to learn about how to save the planet. Eddie the Penguin went on a journey around the world discovering different ways we can recycle, use the car less and to save water by turning off the tap! It was a very informative play!
Junior Sports
We started the year with House Cross Country which involved participants from Reception through to Upper Shell running in races to earn points for their houses with Tailor winning the cup for this event.
In the annual Cross Country Championships at Holmleigh Park High our Year 3 team were third and the Year 4 team were second. Several of our pupils were then invited to train in the Gloucester City District team.
Sports Days are always the highlight of the annual Junior School sporting calendar.
Pupils in Little King's and the Transition classes enjoyed inventing Olympic themed races which they went onto
compete in during their sports day. They even had an opening ceremony and celebrated with certificates, Olympic medals and well-deserved ice lollies.
The Preps and Shells Sports Day was a brilliant afternoon of competition and camaraderie, and the atmosphere was buzzing, as the pupils raced, jumped, and threw with endless enthusiasm and determination. But there could only be one winning House, and this year that was Potter.
And in between these major events the pupils trained and competed against other local schools in rugby, hockey and cricket matches. All in all another very busy sporting year!
Junior School Music
The musical journey over the year has seen many highlights in performances and individual development.
King's Voices have worked with great commitment in rehearsals to learn music for occasions out of school such as the Christmas performance at St Oswald's Retirement Village and at the charity concert in Gloucester Cathedral for Gloucester City Mission; the Cheltenham Competitive Festival; as well as the important school services - Harvest, Christmas & Easter. Young King's Voices took home the cup from the Cheltenham Competitive Festival this year and joined King's Voices in a wonderful Foundation Day performance of 'Don't you worry 'bout a thing'.
Instrumental music continues to thrive in the Junior School with many pupils learning two instruments. The Orchestra led another successful 'Orchestra in an Afternoon' where many of our early learners were joined by 100 pupils from local schools. The Spring Concert, which included our 2 rock bands, was a showcase of the ensembles and some soloists who had excelled in the school Music Competition. Our two String ensembles, Stringles & Stringlets, have strengthened in numbers and in musicality over the year giving fabulous performances in the Spring Concert, Cheltenham Competitive Festival and at the Foundation Day service.
Individually, pupils are inspired by each other when watching performances in assemblies, Informal Concerts and in class. The joy of music making is seen in class lessons through singing games, collaborating in composition, learning the trumpet in Lower Shell, the toot (mini flute) in Upper Prep, the recorder in Lower Prep & Upper Transition or the ocarina in
The Three Little Butterflies and the Big Bad Bee...
Our talented Year 1 and 2 pupils dazzled everyone with their energetic Summer Showcase performance of The Three Little Butterflies and the Big Bad Bee.
The audience absolutely loved every moment as the children brought the spirit of summer to the stage with their enthusiastic acting and beautiful singing. Well done to all the performers!
A Chance to Perform...
All children in year groups from Pre-School to Upper Shell learn and explore the key skills within Performing Arts.
A variety of Dance and Drama techniques are used to devise and showcase different genres. Our productions throughout the year highlight all these skills with all the children taking part both in the process and performance.
Transitions... Big Ideas...
Lower Transition Highlights
• Animal Safari dress-up day
• The History Man Great Fire of London experience
• The Nativity play
• Trip to Cattle Country
• Making 3D sea creatures out of papier mâché
• End of year assembly
• Keeping caterpillars and watching them grown into butterflies!
• Designing and making alien puppets
• Sports day
• Winning the Cheltenham music festivalwith Young King's Voices
• Our Summer Showcase - The Three Little Butterflies and the Big Bad Bee
• Maths - learning about capacitymaking monster milkshakes!
• World Book Day
• Making our own bread
Upper Transition Highlights
Receiving a letter to invite us to join the 'Secret Society of the Protection of Dragons' and then going on a dragon hunt around Wardle Gardens
Met author John de Gryther who read his new book 'Hedgehog finds her voice'
Wearing slippers to school for Happy Monday
Studying medieval catapults and trebuchets using Augmented Reality and then making our own working miniature catapults
Trip to Berkeley Castle
Medieval Banquet theme day – dressing up, learning to sew and making mini tapestries, decorating stained glass windows, medieval dancing and enjoying a medieval feast
• The Nativity play
• 'Around the World' theme day - learning mandarin, creating pop art in the style of a South American artist, recognising flags from around the world
• Chinese dragon workshop
• Science investigation to see which material best protected Humpty Dumpty from a great fall
• Writing and presenting news reports about the Titanic disaster
• Trip to the Sherbourne Cinema to kick off our Rainforest topic by watching Rio 2
Going on a microhabitat hunt around the school grounds
Creating a cloud forest terrarium to represent the Monteverde Cloud Forest
The Summer Showcase
Attending the 'Magical Mayhem' Science morning in Senior School Trip to Cattle Country
Preps... Inquiring Minds!
Lower Prep Highlights
• Stone Age experience day where we baked flatbreads and made prehistoric jewellery
• Ancient Egyptian dress up day
• Ancient Egypt VR experience
• Nature in Art trip
• Recreating Stonehenge using biscuits
• The Summer ‘Let's get Ready for the Olympics’ showcase
• Designing and making Egyptian shadufs
• Trip to the Corinium Museum to explore the Stone Age
• Evacuee Experience Day at Winchcombe 1940’s tea party
Sherborne cinema trip
Roman Day
Forest School visits
Residential trip to The Wilderness Centre in The Forest of Dean Preps Summer Showcase
Wardle art day
Aztec History workshop
Geography field trip to Tewkesbury
Summer Performa nces Preps + Shells
Preps - Get set for the Olympics!
What a spectacular performance!
The Prep class's summer play, "Get Set for the Olympics," was an absolute hit!
Filled with boundless energy, fantastic singing, dancing and drama, the show had the audience cheering from start to finish. Everyone loved it!
With such a thrilling kick-off, we were more excited than ever for the Paris Olympics!
Paws and Claws – Shells Summer Performance
In this summer’s production it was cats versus dogs as our four-legged friends battled for supremacy in the alleyways and moonlit streets of the city.
Then Jack met Melody, a cat and a dog became friends, and everything changed. It was a fast, furious and furry musical, with an hilarious and poignant script, and packed with catchy songs that everyone loved!
Well done to everyone, front and back stage, who made this year’s production such a success.
Shells... Positive Experiences
Lower Shell Highlights
• Reversible and irreversible changes demonstrations in the Senior School Science lab
• The Pantomime
• Carol Service
• Entering the Young Writers' poetry competitionsome poems are being published in a book
• Residential trip to Viney Hill Adventure Centre
• Sports day
• Trip to Cheltenham Science Festival
• Fairground making in Design Technology
• Sending and receiving letters to and from our favourite author
• Geography trip to Weston-super-Mare
• Making 3D Maths shapes for outdoor learning week
• Class assemblies on languages and mountains/ volcanoes
• Creating surreal artwork in Art lessons
Raft building day in September The Knex challenge Trip to Worcester Commandery Bikeability (completing up to Level 3) Residential trip to Cumulus Outdoors in Dorset Shells’ summer production of Paws and Claws
Soirée Foundation Day Upper Shell Highlights
Junior Awards
Valete
The Junior School Head's Prize
The Junior School Head's Prize is not chosen for the most academic or the sportiest pupil. It is chosen for the pupil who exemplifies what it means to be a truly King's SMART pupil.
If we think about the keys to success, this child works extremely hard and has made very good progress over the past few years. He is always smiling except when he is focused on playing the trumpet. But more importantly, he is the first to spot when somebody else isn't smiling and helps to put it right. His determined attitude is commendable and is evident in his resilience when the going gets tough. Everybody would like to have him on their side as he is reliable, level-headed and caring. His contribution to charities over the years has been remarkable and he serves as a great role model to others.
It is with great pleasure, that the Head's prize for 2023 to 2024 goes to Joseph Gardner-Wedge.
JUNIOR SCHOOL AWARDS FOR 2023/24
HOUSE CUP 2023 - 24
Emily Perry Teaching Assistant
Olly Mercer Gap Assistant
Alice Loewenthal Gap Assistant
Kelly Shaw-Young Teacher of English
Liz Dimond Junior School Teacher
Jane McQuitty Head of Psychology Alex Smith Deputy Head (Academic)
Soraya Mitchell Head of MFL
Helen McVittie Little King’s Teacher
Helen Cleland Teacher of MFL Laura Pike Teacher of PE & Games
Georgina Southgate Little King’s Teacher
Raphaelle Watts French Language Assistant
Annie Williams Head of Careers
Pat Childs Graduate Sports Assistant
Joining King's in September 2024
Rebecca German Assistant Director of Music (Maternity Cover) (joining us from Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet)
Tania Gálvez Castells Teacher of MFL (joining us from Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh)
Catherine Taylor Teacher of English(joining us from St Edward’s, Cheltenham)
Rachael Merrett Events & Lettings Manager
Toni Haigh Head of Psychology (joining us from Ribston Hall)
Dr Matthew Lim Deputy Head (Academic) (joining us from Bancroft’s School, Woodford Green)
Beth Gabriel Teacher of PE & Games (currently a trainee with GITEP, undertook placements at The Cotswold School and Deer Park, England U-17 and U-19 netballer)
Tim Partridge Minibus Driver
Mark Watson French Language Assistant
Millie Chaplin Graduate Sports Assistant
Poppy Johnson Gap Assistant
Natalie Shannon PA to the Head of Junior School
Nicola Miles Junior School Reception Administrator
