Perse Annual Review 2022-23

OUR YEAR 2022 - 2023

Head’s welcome

One hundred and seventy five days is the length of a Perse school year. The 2022-2023 Annual Review demonstrates just how much Pelican, Prep and Upper pupils can pack into 35 weeks and the breadth and quality of their achievements recorded in the Review’s words and images are exceptional.

The Perse is shaped by its values which unite the Pelican, Prep and Upper together. The Perse’s commitment to intellectual curiosity and scholarship can be seen in the original research undertaken by pupils and staff, the varied series of talks and lectures, the national and international competitions and awards, and our outstanding success in public exams and university entrance. These academic achievements are fostered by a genuine love of learning and the mastering of intellectual skills such as the ability to critically evaluate evidence, and construct or deconstruct reasoned arguments. This is what we mean by scholarship that will last a lifetime.

Personal development is so much more than academic success. That is why The Perse is passionately committed to breadth and balance, to encouraging pupils to have a go and try new activities in sport, outdoor pursuits, creative arts, clubs and societies which develop inter and intrapersonal skills whilst having fun and generating happy memories.

In life, as in most systems, inputs are broadly proportionate to outputs. Therefore we encourage a sense of endeavour in our pupils so they will work hard and take on new challenges but also take good care of themselves.

The Annual Review is a record of pupils’ achievements. To paraphrase Albus Dumbledore, it is the choices we make that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities. This is why we emphasise the importance of valuing one another and our environment. In a troubled and polluted world, The Perse has a duty to promote the importance of kindness, care and consideration to one another and to our planet. Our job is to make the future better and we do it by giving children a first-class education in the knowledge, skills and qualities needed to live happy, successful and good lives.

Ed Elliott Head

Shaped by our values

A clear sense of purpose, shared by pupils and staff, lies at the heart of everything we do.

Intellectual curiosity and scholarship

We love learning, thinking deeply, being creative and welcoming reasoned debate.

Breadth and balance Endeavour One another and our environment

We are involved, engaged and committed, and we take full advantage of the opportunities we are given.

We aim high and challenge ourselves, try our best and are not afraid to make mistakes.

We each play our part in creating a kind and considerate community. We care for ourselves, each other and those in need.

PELICAN

Roald Dahl celebrations are choc-full of fun

The wonderful world of Roald Dahl was just the ‘Golden Ticket’ for Year 2 children at the Pelican.

They celebrated Roald Dahl Day by taking part in a parade while dressed as their favourite characters from some of the much-loved writer’s cherished children’s novels, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The children also had a sweet time when they visited a real-life version of Willy Wonka’s famous factory – Cadbury World in Birmingham – having been learning all about where chocolate comes from, the history of chocolate and how it is made.

Cadbury World, Birmingham

Magical scenes at Pelican Fete

Everyone had a wand-erful time as the Pelican Fete took on a magical theme.

Staff, children and even some parents dressed up for the occasion and enjoyed all the fun of the annual summer fair.

A million smiles at NSPCC Number Day

A sum total of one million x fun was had by Pelican children as part of the NSPCC’s Number Day.

Anna Milbourne’s book How Big is a Million? was the basis for the Pelican’s activities as youngsters joined in the charity’s national numerical fundraising event by dressing up in mathematical style.

Inspired by the main character Pipkin the Penguin’s mathematical curiosity, children also enjoyed taking part in lots of fun number-based activities.

Pelican

History comes to life

A special History Day saw Year 1 children travel back in time to experience life in the Middle Ages.

Pupils ‘visited’ a medieval castle and had a go at traditional crafts, as well as taking part in an archery competition and experiencing life in battle before settling down to a bountiful banquet, where they danced, jousted and juggled.

Farming fun at Nursery

Nursery children were treated to not one, but two special farm visitors.

Farmers Simon and Sarah arrived in their enormous blue tractor and after giving the youngsters a tour of the cab, they showed them some ears of wheat and explained how they get the grain out to produce flour.

The children were also joined by some cute and cuddly visitors thanks to shepherd Lou from Chishill Farm.

Lou brought along five of his lambs and his trusty sheepdog Spot and he set up a pen on the front lawn of the school where youngsters were able to feed the young sheep their bottled milk and pet them.

Pelicans get into Coronation spirit

A right royal celebration was enjoyed at the Pelican to mark HM King Charles III’s Coronation.

Youngsters wore patriotic red, white and blue to mark this historic occasion, with many fittingly topping off their outfits with colourful crowns.

However, a Coronation celebration would not be complete without a good oldfashioned tea party.

With Union Jack bunting decorating the scenes, children tucked into a picnic lunch of sausage rolls, finger sandwiches and Coronation cupcakes. Pelican pupils certainly got into the spirit of an occasion that was fit for a king.

Henry

“I really enjoyed the special lunch and I’m going to celebrate the Coronation with my cousin.”

Lara

“I’ve cut out a picture of King Charles on the tablet and I’m going to put a picture of my crown on his head.”

Amelie

Pelican

“I was really excited about the picnic lunch, especially with all the bunting, and I enjoyed making a crown with newspaper and putting flags on it.”

Bee Musical gets Pelicans buzzing

There was a brilliant buzz around the Pelican when Year 1 pupils performed their heart-warming and thought-provoking production of The Bee Musical.

The children turned the school hall into a hive of activity in their performance which had a sting in the tale, highlighting the importance of bees to the environment.

Mystery and intrigue in Year 2 play

Suspenseful performances were brought to the stage by Year 2 with their production of Treachery at Traitors’ Quay.

Set at the mysterious location in World War II, a group of evacuated children discover smugglers’ caves and find there is a spy in their midst in this tense, ‘top secret’ musical.

Top children’s author and illustrator is a big draw

Renowned children’s writer and illustrator Chloe Inkpen entertained Pelican youngsters with wonderful workshops inspired by her much-loved characters.

Pupils across all year groups had an amazing time as Chloe led fun-filled interactive sessions and encouraged them to let their imaginations run wild.

They loved hearing about her fictional favourites, such as Fred the Dog and Mrs Blackhat the Witch, and joined in the fun by having a go at drawing their own creations and developing stories about their characters.

Quick on the draw at Anglesey Abbey

Super sketching skills were on show when Year 1 took a trip to Anglesey Abbey.

They had investigated the life and work of the 19th-century artist John Constable at school and viewed some of his paintings on display at the National Trust property.

Children learned more about Constable and studied his landscapes, before having a go at drawing their own pictures of the historic country house and its grounds inspired by his style.

Pelican

Science Centre visit is plain sailing

Year 2 pupils set sail for special workshops at Cambridge Science Centre.

They explored the concepts of friction and air resistance during science lessons and the visits provided the chance to put their learning to the test, with children given the challenge of designing the best possible land yacht considering these factors.

Pelicans are flying high

Year 2 pupils took to the skies as they discovered more about military aircraft during a trip to the RAF Museum at Hendon.

They enjoyed touring the hangars filled with RAF aircraft, including World War II planes such as the Spitfire and the Lancaster, after learning about them as part of a wider topic on life in the 1940s.

Meanwhile, Year 1 were up in the clouds after an exciting trip to Stansted Airport’s Aerozone, having studied aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright.

Children saw aeroplanes taking off and landing from the viewing platform and got to look behind the scenes as they learned about Stansted and its history, as well as dressing up in airport uniforms.

Pupils complete Charity

Marathon mission

Pelican pupils took it all in their stride as they raised funds for good causes with their annual Charity Marathon in aid of The Sick Children’s Trust and Make-A-Wish.

Overall, the Pelicans’ painstaking efforts saw them manage a total of 2,519 laps of the Pelican site, which equated to almost 13 whole marathons!

Nursery children put their best feet forward to finish 251 circuits (just over one marathon) and Reception pupils did 565 laps (almost three marathons), while Years 1 and 2 completed 786 (about four marathons) and 917 laps (almost five marathons) respectively.

A spot of fundraising fun for Children in Need

Youngsters had spectacularly spotty fun to raise funds for BBC Children in Need by taking part in lots of events and activities themed around the appeal’s mascot Pudsey Bear.

Pelican

Pelicans get back to nature in local countryside

Pelican pupils got closer to nature as they explored the picturesque Cambridgeshire countryside.

Reception youngsters visited the National Trust nature reserve of Wicken Fen and were engrossed in hands-on activities, such as pond dipping, and discovered more about the importance of the bugs they found in terms of the historic wetland’s ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Wandlebury provided the setting as Year 2 pupils enjoyed learning about the flora and fauna of the local country park.

They found out about the pond and woodland habitats and had a great time searching for minibeasts in the water and the long grass.

On your marks, get set, go!

Pupils braved the sweltering conditions to sprint for success at the Pelican Sports Day.

Youngsters took part in a multitude of entertaining races, including the tennisthemed egg-and-spoon event, shopping and obstacle races and even a tyre push.

Year 2 say farewell at Burwell

An action-packed leavers’ day at Burwell House provided a wonderful finale to Year 2 youngsters’ time at the Pelican.

They enjoyed a carousel of activities, pairing up to take part in the blindfolded Burwell Challenge, as well as having a go at shelter building and trying their hand at batik art.

PREP

Learning and laughter in Activities Week

From the seaside to the science lab, amazing experiences were savoured by pupils during Prep Activities Week. The world of science provided a constant thread with many experts visiting the Prep to share their insights into the subject, as well as giving youngsters the chance to take part in handson experiments.

A plethora of Prep parents working in various fields shared their knowledge on everything from renewable energy and the science behind construction and architecture to circulatory systems, surgery, genetics and the immune system.

Meanwhile, Year 6 visited the Upper for a special Science Day, where they tested the electrical conductivity of fruit and vegetables, captured their own DNA and created colourful chromatographs.

Beyond science, Years 3, 5 and 6 had a taste of outdoor adventure with team-building exercises at Abington, while Years 3 and 4 visited Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

Year 3 enjoyed animal antics, especially seeing the red panda at Shepreth Wildlife Park, and a sunny day saw Year 6 children have a brilliant day on the beach at East Runton. Year 4 pupils got to grips with The Playground assault course at Waterbeach.

Pupils in Year 5 produced and performed a play in a day, as well as trying out geography, classics and computer science activities during an Academic Day at the Upper, while Saxon and Viking times came to life for Year 4 with a special History Day.

Amazing art showcase

Sensational pieces created by pupils provided a vibrant vision for visitors to this year’s Prep art exhibition.

Year 3 youngsters produced eye-catching paintings based on Vincent van Gogh’s work The Starry Night and lustrous ceramic leaves in autumnal colours, as well as pencil drawings of vintage toy cars.

Henri Rousseau inspired Year 4 as they used oil pastels to create jungle landscapes and blended bright colours to make drawings and clay models of tropical birds.

Futurist artist Giacomo Balla set Year 5 imaginations ablaze as they produced oil pastel pieces sparked by his work The Lighthouse. Using corrugated cardboard and thick paper, pupils also made 3D lighthouse models.

Meanwhile, Year 6 gained an insight into architecture by delving into the designs of the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre at the Upper, as well as the University of Cambridge’s Faculties of Law and Education.

Influenced by what they discovered, the youngsters made initial sketches for their own inventive building plans and learned about scale and proportion before constructing their models.

Constructive creations on display at DT exhibition

Ingenuity and creativity combined as Prep pupils displayed their amazing work during the school’s design and technology exhibition.

Year 3 designed wall clocks in the style of homeware manufacturer Alessi and explored pneumatics to build a functioning mechanical hand.

Pop-up books were produced by Year 4 pupils, having looked at a variety of paper mechanisms to bring their stories to life. They also experimented with different folding techniques and materials to design stylish and practical bags.

Year 5 engineers investigated the scientific concepts of trusses, stability, strength and triangulation to build structures from chairs and tables to bridges and towers.

Meanwhile, Year 6 created controllable vehicles, considering mass, lift, drag, surface area, friction, aerodynamics, wheel alignment, energy transformation, thrust and inertia in the designs.

Hitting the right note in concert

A wide range of ensembles, groups and orchestras filled the auditorium with sensational sounds with pitch-perfect performances at each event.

Talented violinist performs at top international venues

For gifted violinist Francesca He (Year 6) just such a dream a came true after she performed Kreisler’s Tambourin Chinois on both of these celebrated stages. A Grade 8 player, Francesca earned these amazing opportunities as rewards for success in the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition and Paris Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition respectively.

Gifted recorder player earns top accolade

Few musicians get the chance to play in prestigious international concert venues such as Carnegie Hall or Paris’ Cité de la Musique.

Music success

Francesca, who is also a talented pianist, was delighted to have played in such world-renowned concert halls, with performing in New York on Christmas Eve being a particular thrill.

Prep pupils also passed 120 music exams, achieving 40 Distinctions and six Grade 8 certificates, across a variety of instruments including cello, flute, piano, trumpet, violin, cornet and saxophone.

Robert McFadzean-Ferguson (Year 6) hit the right note to claim an ASRM award on recorder.

He achieved the ASRM – the level above Grade 8 – in performance on the instrument, with stunning renditions of pieces by Vivaldi, Castello, Telemann and Bach. Robert, who is also a flautist, began playing recorder seriously three years ago and had previously attained Grade 8.

Prep youngsters across all year groups showcased their musical mastery with fantastic Michaelmas and Summer concerts in the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre at the Upper.

Pupils savour stage productions

Classic children’s novel The Twits was brought to life brilliantly by Year 5 Centre Stage actors.

The cast of 20 young stars staged a hilarious take on Roald Dahl’s book, which included original songs from Mr Harris and Head of English Raph de Albuquerque.

Centre Stage also performed an updated version of the famous Greek myth Theseus. The actors enjoyed working on this dramatic retelling, which also featured many moments of ironic humour.

Year 6 pupils ensured good triumphed over evil in their excellent production of The Demon Headmaster.

Staged over three nights, the sensational show featured original songs from Head of Music Paul Harris and Director of Enrichment Jules Reston and was triple cast, allowing children the chance to play different parts.

Full of intrigue, danger and heroism, the story followed Dinah, an orphan girl, who defeats the dastardly headmaster, foiling his evil plans to hypnotise the country via the Eddy Hair Television Show.

Year 4 delved into The Button Box for an engaging show full of marvellous music and great humour.

Inside the box were a plethora of old and interesting buttons and as children pulled them out one by one, the stories they brought to life weaved a tapestry of family history from sailors who travelled the seven seas to soldiers who fought in World War I.

Meanwhile, Year 3 took a festive trip down memory lane with their show Christmas: What’s It All About?

Renowned writers inspire pupils

Leading poet Joshua Seigal and best-selling children’s author Christopher Edge entertained youngsters during inspirational visits to the Prep.

Joshua, who won the 2022 People’s Book Prize with his latest anthology Yapping Away, provided a flavour of his humorous and creative performance poetry during a special wholeschool assembly to mark National Poetry Day.

After tickling funny bones with his lively rhymes and witty puns, he led a series of wonderful workshops with Year 6 pupils.

Christopher, whose hit books include The Longest Night of Charlie Noon and The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day, paid a visit on World Book Day.

He delighted pupils with interactive presentations inspired by his latest novel Escape Room, with children working in teams to solve a series of cryptic puzzles and escape each imaginary room in the book, ranging from Mayan tombs to galactic battleships.

Excitement builds with Engineering Day

Pupils had their design and construction skills put to the test with a range of fun projects during an exciting Engineering House Activity Day.

A colourful kaleidoscope challenge kicked off proceedings as children each created two mesmerising patterns representing different feelings and emotions.

Working in House families, youngsters were tasked with building the strongest possible crane using simple materials such as art straws, paperclips, craft sticks, string and pipe cleaners.

Teams tried to construct a crane that did not tip over as increasing weights were added to be lifted.

Pupils also gained an insight into structural engineering as they attempted to build tall straw towers and tested how much weight they could bear.

Getting into medieval mode

The Middle Ages were brought to life for Year 5 pupils during a marvellous Medieval History Day.

As part of their studies on medieval times, the event provided plenty of fun for the youngsters as well as stretching their knowledge.

An exciting conclusion saw pupils get to grips with the weapons and armour of the era and take to Leighton Lawn for a historical re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn.

The Prep goes Green

The Prep was awarded an Eco Schools Green Flag award for its work on reducing waste and supporting biodiversity across the school site.

Unforgettable Bawdsey Manor adventure

An action-packed adventure at Bawdsey Manor provided a thrill for an intrepid group of Year 6 pupils.

The Suffolk activity centre provided the perfect backdrop for the children to immerse themselves in thrilling challenges, including conquering the climbing wall and Jacob’s ladder, as well as having a go at coming back down by abseiling.

Raft and buggy building tested their creative and teamwork skills, while problem-solving and sensory trail activities saw the power of partnership come to the fore.

Youngsters also hit the bullseye after being introduced to archery and target shooting during a memorable long weekend.

Fun in France

Bonjours and bienvenues were back as Year 5 pupils relished taking part in the first Prep trip to France since 2019.

More than 70 children travelled to the town of Rue and stayed in a chateau as their base for a fantastic four-day adventure.

During the trip, they visited Nausicaa, the largest aquarium in Europe, and had a guided tour of key World War I sites, such as the Beaumont-Hamel trenches, the Lochnagar Crater and the Thiepval Memorial.

Pupils had a go at making mayonnaise and croissants, as well as goats’ cheese during a trip to a goat farm, where they also milked and fed the animals.

The group practised their French skills while shopping in the local market, with sweet stalls doing a roaring trade, while they also tasted a traditional supper of snails and frogs’ legs.

Coronation celebrations fit for a King

Patriotic pupils wore red, white and blue as they celebrated King Charles III’s Coronation.

A street party was enjoyed by the children with a picnic lunch featuring Coronation cupcakes amid a sea of Union Jack bunting.

Going global at International Activity Day

Youngsters embraced the rich tapestry of cultures and countries from around the world during International Activity Day.

From Turkish to Tamil and Hungarian to Hindi, children learned common phrases and words across a wide variety of languages as each House focused on different continents.

As part of their look at Asia, Nomads had fun playing the Indian sport of kabaddi where raiders attempt to tag as many members of the opposing team as possible on their side of the court without being captured.

Corinthians created carnival masks during their session on the Americas, while Barbarians strutted their stuff

Absorbing activities mark Wellbeing Week

From singing songs to mind mazes, pupils got involved in lots of fun and fulfilling activities during Prep Wellbeing Week.

Year 4 pupils pulled some strings as they were joined by musicians from The Utterly Butterly Ukulele Project while Year 5 and 6 took part in a Stomp-style percussion workshop.

The water beckoned for Year 3 children as they made their own rafts before floating them at nearby Vicar’s Brook. Pupils in Years 3 and 6 also crossed paths with a special treasure hunt and playground challenges, while Year 4 had a go at the inclusive sport of sitting volleyball.

with some Greek dancing as they discovered more about Europe.

Meanwhile, Foresters tried traditional board games and made 3D maps in their workshop on Africa.

House groups performed themed segments on their continents for the Let It Go global show that provided a fitting finale to the occasion.

Independent learning on show

Year 6 pupils displayed a range of interesting and intriguing projects based around their passions in this year’s Independent Research Exhibition.

Forty-five youngsters showcased their excellent efforts, put together as part of the regular homework timetable, across a wide variety of areas from gardening to photography.

Pupil cracks the code to reach prestigious computing final

Oliver Roland (Year 6) became the first-ever Prep pupil to qualify for the final of the OUCC (Oxford University Computing Challenge).

From a field of more than 6,300 pupils, he was one of just 20 youngsters who took part in the junior final of the illustrious coding competition after not only claiming a Distinction, but also scoring full marks in round one of OUCC.

Oliver was among 22 Prep Year 6 pupils to qualify for OUCC from the top 10% of entrants globally from last autumn’s Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge.

As well as Oliver reaching the final, two Prep children came in the top 1% in round one of OUCC, and a further two came in the top 0.4%.

No question about general knowledge success

Prep quizzers showed a gist for general knowledge by coming third in the Quiz Club national finals.

The team, featuring Shashwat Sharma (Year 3), Anneliese Heck (Year 4), Steven Wang (Year 5) and Eunice Stewart-Wallace (Year 6), was among 20 school groups competing in the finals at the University of Oxford having won through two previous rounds.

Maths success

25 Year 5 and 6 children qualified from the Primary Maths Challenge and took part in the bonus round.

Seven pupils came in the top 4% nationally and went on to qualify for the Junior Kangaroo competition.

Historic national title for hockey team

The boys’ U11 hockey team made history as the first team from the Prep to be crowned IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) national champions.

Having won the regional IAPS title without conceding a goal to qualify for the nationals at Repton School, they went on to reach the final where they defeated St Faith’s School 2-0 to secure the honours.

Table tennis title

Sophie Hull (Year 6) was crowned girls’ singles champion at the IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) national table tennis finals.

She won every match in her pool and moved into the semi-finals where she won 2-1, after taking a tense deciding set 11-9, before going on to win the final 2-0 to take the title.

Hockey teams go Dutch

Pupils in the boys’ and girls’ U11 hockey teams enjoyed a tour of the Netherlands playing matches against local clubs.

Striking performances at International Taekwon-do Cup

Sophia Alexander and William Reddy (both Year 6) were as pleased as punch to take part in the International Taekwon-do Cup for Children in Poland.

They met opponents from across the world at the tournament in Lublin, with Sophia competing in the girls’ U11 blue belt section and William in the boys’ U11 green tag category.

Sophia and William both train with the after-school club, run by Cambridge Taekwon-Do lead instructor Mirfet Hassan-Spiller.

Cricket sides are big hitters

The girls’ and boys’ U11 cricket teams proved to be big hitters after success in their respective ESCA (English Schools Cricket Association) regional finals.

In the girls’ tournament at Framlingham College, the team topped their pool and met Bancroft’s in the final, winning by

38 runs as well as taking an outstanding 13 wickets in 12 overs to be crowned East champions.

Meanwhile, the boys’ team came third in the ESCA national finals at Oakham School after topping their pool in the regional finals at the Old Chigwellians Club.

National success for tennis aces

Prep tennis teams aced the IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) national finals for the first time.

Etienne Lamb and Beau Martinez-McCune (both Year 6) won the boys’ U11 title, while Lillian Ke and Anamaya Kumar (both Year 5) claimed the girls’ U11 honours in a clean sweep of the tournament at Rugby School in just the second year that the Prep has entered the competition.

Etienne also helped the Great Britain U11 tennis team to victory in a fixture against France. He was part of a mixed team for the event in Nottingham, which featured singles and doubles matches, with GB running out 50-30 winners.

Leaping for joy

Hugo Lindemann (Year 6) earned silver in the boys’ U11 long jump at the National Prep Schools Athletics Championships. He leapt 4.46m in the national finals at Nuneaton to clinch a medal, having previously won the East Area Prep title.

UPPER

Perse quiz teams secure national Schools’ Challenge double

There was no question about the winners of the 2023 Senior and Junior Schools’ Challenge competitions as Perse quiz teams claimed both national titles.

It is the third time The Perse has won both categories in the same year, having achieved the feat in 2014 and 2019.

No other school has won both titles in the competition – the schools equivalent of University Challenge - in the same year.

The Senior team, featuring captain Sean Ridley, Shaaon Bhattacharya (both Upper Sixth), Djia Sanath-Vijay and Ruairi Wallace (both Year 10), got off to a great start in their national finals by winning their quarter-final against City of London School 550-320.

They went on to defeat King Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford 980-480 in the semi-finals to set up a meeting with King Edward’s School Birmingham in the final.

The Perse team found themselves trailing for much of the first half of the match, but they got into their stride and a fantastic second half saw them race away to a comfortable 720-420 win.

Meanwhile, the Junior team, including captain Yajur Sanath-Vijay , Lynden Long (both Year 8), Benjamin Danesh and Alexander Walker (both Year 7), won their general knowledge competition in style at The Hall School in London.

They beat City of London School 730540 in the quarter-finals before coming through 750-200 against The Hall in the semi-finals.

An impressive 790-190 triumph over Magdalen College School in the final saw the team take the honours.

In addition, the team, with William Robson (Year 7) in place of Alexander, were crowned Regional Schools’ Challenge junior champions following a 490-130 victory against Beeston Hall School in the final.

Perse maths teacher Fred Jayatilaka, who oversaw both the Senior and Junior teams, said: “The students are outstanding quizzers and they were over the moon about winning their competitions.

“It was particularly nice for Sean and Shaaon to end their Perse quiz careers on a high. They were stalwarts of the school quiz scene for the last five years and seven years respectively.”

The team of Ardhra Radhakrishnan, Rosamund Riordan, George Tysome (all Year 9) and Jasmine Christmas (Year 8) were runners-up in the 2022 Junior Schools’ Challenge after narrowly losing 650-630 in the final against King Edward’s School Birmingham.

The students are outstanding quizzers and they were over the moon about winning their competitions.

International Chemistry Olympiad Gold

Kiran Diamond (Upper Sixth) demonstrated his scientific skills by claiming Gold at the IChO (International Chemistry Olympiad) in Switzerland.

He came 13th overall in a field of almost 350 young chemists from around the world, scoring 78.15% following a tough practical test and a five-hour theory exam.

Kiran was the highest ranked member of the four-strong British team chosen to compete in the IChO in Zurich following an excellent display in round two of the UK Chemistry Olympiad.

After qualifying from round one of the UK Olympiad, Kiran took part in the final stage of the national competition alongside 32 other participants, including fellow Perse students Hongli Hu and Yunlin Chen (both Upper Sixth), from an initial field of 11,300, at the University of Nottingham.

Kiran was delighted to earn Gold as well as enjoying the whole experience of the IChO.

He said: “I was surprised to do well as I found both papers quite difficult and very time-pressured, but I’m very happy with the result.

“The non-exam days were packed with visits to see the sights of Switzerland. As well as tours of the ETH Zurich campuses and Zurich, we got the opportunity to explore Lucerne and Bern.

“We had a visit to the Paul Scherrer Institute and a tour of its electron synchrotron and we were able to ride a cog wheel train up Mount Rigi to experience the beautiful mountain landscape.

“Overall, it was an amazing, but very intense experience. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet so many people my age from all over the world passionate about science.”

19 27

Overall, Perse students achieved eight Golds, including notably Roy Han (Year 9), 19 Silvers and 27 Bronzes in round one of the UK Olympiad.

Overall, it was an amazing, but very intense experience.

Cambridge Chemistry Challenge for Lower Sixth

Perse students claimed two Roentgenium awards, 17 Gold, 27 Silver and 30 Copper awards in the C3L6 (Cambridge Chemistry Challenge for Lower Sixth).

The Roentgenium winners, John Lau and Dominic Rogers , were among the top 0.59% of entries. They were invited to take part in a residential chemistry camp at the University of Cambridge for their exceptional achievements.

Top of the Bench

The Perse team, featuring Ellen Halsall (Year 11), Ashvik Goel (Year 10), Anirudh Menon and Eva Jonas (both Year 9), reached the national final of the Top of the Bench competition.

They qualified for the finals, which involved a mixture of theory tests and practical investigations, after successfully getting through a poster round and an in-person practical challenge.

Schools’ Analyst Competition

Around 20 Lower Sixth students took part in the Schools’ Analyst Competition on the theme ‘Sabotage at the County Bake-Off’, carrying out a series of experiments to discover what was causing cakes to collapse and buns to burst.

Middle School Challenge

The new Middle School Chemistry Challenge was open to all members of Years 9 to 11 with 70 pupils taking part.

It gave pupils the opportunity to look at challenging chemistry problems beyond the scope of the GCSE syllabus, with questions ranging from how sulphuric acid is made to how gases absorb heat under different conditions.

Pupils gave a range of excellent answers with the top 25% securing the Gold award. Of those, Ryan Stubbs (Year 9) and Neelkantha Mukherjee (Year 11) came joint top with both scoring 90%.

Crater research leads to w-hole lot of awards

Perse physics students made a massive impact in prestigious competitions with their in-depth research projects.

Gabriel Cirstea (Lower Sixth) won Gold and the overall title in the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) Experimental Challenge, while Sourish Sharma and Kuan Kuan Lin (both Lower Sixth) teamed up to claim the Gold CREST Award, with all three students investigating impact craters.

He said: “I was elated to win the competition after all the hours that were put into it, but that’s just an extra bit on top of what I actually gained from doing the project and I’m really thankful for having had the opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Sourish and Kuan Kuan, who had also been working towards the BPhO Experimental Challenge, entered their project into the CREST Award scheme and achieved a clean sweep across all criteria.

Kuan Kuan said: “We were trying to create a model that would be applicable to a larger scale. We particularly focused on the Moon and we were able to try to model it in sand in such a way that it would be as close as possible to the real situation.”

Sourish added: “It was really rewarding to design an experiment, then run it and reflect on what went well and what didn’t.”

They spent many painstaking hours in the lab before and after school dropping ball bearings into sand, varying the drop height and density of the objects to assess the diameter and depth of the craters created for their respective projects.

Gabriel, who received his BPhO prize in an award ceremony at The Royal Society, said: “You could pick what data you wanted to investigate, so there was a lot of creativity which was really nice. I went for a simple experiment, but went into it in a lot of detail to see what effects it would have.”

After collecting his data, Gabriel produced a 5,000-word evaluation, analysing the relationships between the depth and diameter of the craters and the effects of the ball bearings to create an index that could be used to calculate the energy of an impacting object.

I was elated to win the competition after all the hours that were put into it

Gabriel Cirstea

It was really rewarding to design an experiment, then run it and reflect on what went well and what didn’t

Sourish Sharma

We were trying to create a model that would be applicable to a larger scale

Kuan Kuan Lin

Top Gold for physicists in national olympiad

Three Perse students achieved the Top Gold award following excellent work in round one of the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO).

Emma Harris, Yunlin Chen and Kiran Diamond (all Upper Sixth) were among just over 180 students from across the country to make the elite grade from a field of more than 2,800 entrants.

Due to their success, the Perse students went to take part in the second round of BPhO, where they achieved two Silvers and a Bronze, as well as the British Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad, where they earned one Gold, one Silver and one Bronze.

In addition to their achievements, Daniel Chen , Alex Johnson , Sean Ridley, Elvira Munteanu and Rory Proudfoot (all Upper Sixth) attained Gold awards in round one, while Perse students also gained 12 Silvers, nine Bronzes and two Commendations.

Challenge competition results

Senior Physics Challenge: (for Lower Sixth): 11 Gold, 18 Silver, 27 Bronze.

Intermediate Physics Challenge: (for Year 11 and below): 15 Gold, 20 Silver, 124 Bronze.

Online Senior Physics Challenge: 19 Gold, 8 Silver, 2 Bronze.

Online Intermediate Physics Challenge: 27 Gold, 12 Silver, 4 Bronze.

Junior Astro Challenge: (for Year 11 and below): 12 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze.

Junior Physics Challenge: (for Year 10 and below): 14 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze.

Pupils inspired by lab visit

Year 10 pupils took part in a special Physics at Work event at the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory to highlight the careers to which studying physics can lead.

They listened to talks from physicists and researchers, as well as having a go at practical challenges.

Biology

European DNA essay honours

Dushan Gunawardena and Rachel George (both Lower Sixth) scrutinised stem cells to seal success in an international biology essay competition.

They came first and second respectively in the European DNA Day Essay Contest, with both investigating the pros and cons of the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) – labdesigned cells that can be turned into any cell in the body.

Izzy Rumsby (Lower Sixth) also received an honourable mention for her essay on the same subject.

It is the second year in a row that Perse students have taken the top two spots in the competition, organised by the European Society for Human Genetics, following on from the success of Sheen Gahlaut and Sneha Goni (both Upper Sixth) in 2022.

Dushan said: “I find the genetics of biology one of the most interesting areas, as I’m looking at going into biological natural sciences, so it was very enjoyable to do and I was pretty shocked to win.”

Meanwhile, Rachel commented: “I didn’t know much about genetics, but I thought this was a good opportunity to have a focused way of looking at this particular area. I never expected to do so well though, so I’m really pleased.”

As reward for their work, Dushan and Rachel received cash prizes, while The Perse was awarded funds to be used for a biology project.

Both were encouraged to take part by their teachers, Claire Smith and Head of Biology Nicole Copeland, while Rachel was also inspired by her friend Sheen’s triumph last year.

They both looked into the applications where they felt iPSCs would be helpful or should not be used after delving into scientific articles on the topic.

Dushan said: “One of my points was that they should be used for the creation of organs, so then they can be used in organ transplants.

“On the other side, I felt their use in editing the human genetic sequence should be avoided because there are a lot of ethical issues involved in that.”

Rachel said: “I want to go into medicine, so I mainly looked at the medical applications of iPSCs, such as disease modelling, drug discovery and organoids. However, I really liked looking into the ethical concerns, such as cloning and editing the genome, and also the use of embryonic stem cells.”

It was very enjoyable to do and I was pretty shocked to win

Dushan Gunawardena

I really liked looking into the ethical concerns

Rachel George

Racking of brains in neuroscience competition final

Six Perse students displayed their neurological knowledge after making it to the British Brain Bee national finals.

Lower Sixth students Gabriel Cirstea, Kelda Lee, Ellice Chen, Charlotte Hipperson, Nikita Spivak and Sang-Ryun Kim were among just 32 entrants from across the country to qualify for the neuroscience competition finals at London Metropolitan University.

They reached the finals following their success in the online first round, in which participants had to answer 50 challenging neuroscience questions in just 30 minutes.

In preparation for the national finals, the students had less than a month to revise the 600-page textbook Essential Neuroscience, and learn 20 neurological disorders, more than

70 anatomical structures and more than 30 histological sections (examples of tissues under the microscope).

The final began with a written paper, followed by an anatomy and histology test in which students were required to label parts of the brain and their functions from dissections and microscope slides.

Students continued with a clinical activity, in which they were given information on a patient’s symptoms and history before being asked to provide their diagnosis.

Gabriel and Kelda both made it into the top 10, which saw them go on to take part in a live question-and-answer session to further test their neuroscience know-how.

Competition results

Perse students achieved a fantastic haul of 12 Gold, 19 Silver and 26 Bronze medals in the first round of the BBO (British Biology Olympiad).

Of the 12 Gold awards, six of them were awarded to Lower Sixth students, which is a great achievement as only the top 5% of participants achieved the highest standard.

Top-scoring Perse student Hongli Hu (Upper Sixth) qualified for round two of the BBO, while Juliette Brooking (Lower Sixth) and Imogen Rainey (Upper Sixth) were the second and third highest-placed Perse students respectively overall.

Intermediate Olympiad: (Lower Sixth)

8 Golds, 12 Silvers and 13 Bronzes.

National Biology Challenge: (Years 9 and 10)

41 Golds, 41 Silvers and 90 Bronzes.

Computer Science

Stellar success in space design competition

There was extra-terrestrial elation for four Perse students after playing their part in the winning entry at the UKSDC (UK Space Design Competition).

The Perse Space Squad of Sai Batchu, Ashvik Goel, Hercules Voultsos (all Year 10) and Edward de Ferrars Green (Upper Sixth) joined forces with groups from other schools to form the victorious Olympus Mons Trading Company in the UKSDC final at Imperial College London.

Olympus Mons were one of four ‘companies’, each made up of around 50 students whose school teams had qualified from regional rounds, given the task of designing a space settlement orbiting only 0.25 astronomical units (just under 40 million kilometres) from the sun.

Set in the year 2095, teams were challenged with designing a settlement capable of housing 2,500 people, aligned to a group of fictional existing space colonies.

Each ‘company’ split into five departments – structural, operations, human resources, business and automation – to make a pitch to impress the ‘Foundation Society’ judges.

Ashvik and Edward were part of the Olympus Mons HR team, while Sai and Hercules were involved in the structural and operations departments respectively, with each group having a checklist to work through towards the overall design.

Sai also had the honour of winning a Randall Perry Award for Leadership for his efforts at ensuring joined-up thinking between his department and the others in the ‘company’.

Ashvik said: “We used a lot of biomimicry in our design of the living quarters to resemble things on Earth and make it homely because we had to think a lot about people’s mental health.

“We also thought about how they could have fun with recreational activities, so within a low-gravity environment we tried to incorporate a big trampoline park without padding and space shuttle racing!”

Meanwhile, Hercules’ operations department investigated energy production and transmission, atmospheric regulation, waste management and even agriculture.

He added: “We had to find a way to produce 250 megawatts of energy for the other fictional space settlements and design the infrastructure for that to happen, so we had to do a lot of research.”

Sai said: “I really saw the value of people with different skillsets, whether they were really good at materials science or CAD (computer-aided design), coming together.

“One person can’t do everything on their own, so it was great to bridge all these ideas into one functional settlement. It showed it’s not just knowledge you need, but how to work as a team.”

It showed it’s not just knowledge you need, but how to work as a team.

SAI BATCHU

Innovative experiment set to go into orbit

A team of Perse pupils saw their excellent experiment go extra-terrestrial following success in the European Astro Pi Challenge competition.

Using Raspberry Pi computers, teams were challenged with designing and coding programs for innovative experiments on the theme ‘Life on Earth’ that could run from the ISS (International Space Station).

Year 11 pupils Marcus Wentzell, Tom Hammond and Dhruv Radhakrishnan earned ‘flight status’ with their project, which aimed to predict rates of dengue fever across the globe, running on the ISS earlier this year.

They were delighted to discover their program, which took images of Earth every 10 seconds over a three-hour period, had been chosen after working on it for several months.

Computing competition success

Perse students solved programming problems in style with excellent results in the OUCC (Oxford University Computing Challenge) finals.

Keen computer scientist Batu Yoldas (Year 7) came top in the junior section and he was pleased with his achievement after taking on 12 coding-based questions in the space of just one hour.

Elsewhere in the finals, Jem Bennett and Daniel Chen (both Upper Sixth) were fourth and fifth respectively in the elite category, with Sourish Sharma (Lower Sixth) in 10th place.

Ryan Stubbs (Year 9) finished fourth in the intermediate class, while in the senior section, Hanli Jin and Tom Hammond (both Year 11) came seventh and ninth respectively.

There were also terrific performances from Oliver Gibson (Lower Sixth), Neelkantha Mukherjee, Marcus Collins (both Year 11), Daniel Weglowski (Year 10), Angela Savini (Year 9) and Oliver Roland (Year 6), who was the first-ever Prep pupil to qualify for the finals.

Record-breaking entries for 2023 Perse Coding Team Challenge

A record number of budding computer scientists from across the country cracked this year’s PCTC (Perse Coding Team Challenge).

Competing in teams, more than 7,500 pupils from Years 7-11 entered round one of PCTC – a 50% increase in the number of entries from last year’s edition – with almost 650 teams qualifying for the second round.

Perse pupils Neelkantha Mukherjee and Hanli Jin (both Year 11) came third overall with 100 points.

Perse Head of Computing and Digital Strategy Paul Baker commented: “Students across the country and beyond once again demonstrated some superb problem-solving skills to achieve highly against the clock in solving a range of problems within their teams.

“Year-on-year, we see growing participation and confidence which is a tribute to the national drive and investment to develop computer science education over the last decade. Our brand new PCTC website, which was launched this year, has also helped to raise the profile of this popular competition.”

Roboteers build up to Lego League Challenge

Perse roboteers took part in the FIRST Lego League Challenge at the University of Cambridge.

Year 7 members of the Perse Lego Robotics Club formed two teams to enter the tournament, which aimed to encourage youngsters to apply their STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) skills in a practical way.

Inspired by a recent trip to Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, they designed and programmed Lego Education robots to compete against teams from other schools, while gaining invaluable experience in coding and overcoming engineering challenges.

One of the Perse teams, featuring Vasilis Van den Bergh, Sylvan Amads, Millie Underwood, Lekhana Katuri, George Crosby and Zac Clark, won the innovation project award after presenting their excellent research on an ingenious solution to an energy problem.

Pupil on international space mission

Sai Batchu (Year 10) enjoyed an out-of-this-world experience after being chosen to represent the UK in the ISSDC (International Space Settlement Design Competition).

The competition took place at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, with teams of budding young scientists and engineers joining together from around the world to design a futuristic space colony for humans.

Sai was one of 12 students selected for the British team.

Students get world wise with Purple Planet

World watchers at The Perse got the lowdown on the biggest global issues with student-led magazine Purple Planet

Organised by the Perse geography department and edited this year by Julia Marshall (Lower Sixth), the termly Purple Planet publication gave pupils a chance to write about international topics that matter to them.

Old Persean shares insight into exploring Mount Vesuvius

Lizzie Bourne (OP 2022) shares her experience of benefiting from a Perse Travel Award.

With the help of my travel award, I was able to travel to Mount Vesuvius in Naples. I chose this location to do a small study on the psychological impact of the volcano on the population in Naples using my geography A level knowledge of tectonics.

My findings were interesting with many of the tourists I met being unaware of the risk that the volcano imposes and what to do in the event of an eruption. The locals, however, were much more aware of it, including a hostel receptionist who told me about the different presence that Mount Vesuvius has to Mount Etna.

Julia explained: “The articles are all related to a particular theme in some way, so for example, there’s an article on plastic water bottles and how they are impacting the environment and another on water scarcity and how climate change affects its availability. There’s a really interesting and broad range of content.

“We’ve also got a section on students’ work in geography, which includes posters and photos of fun activities that happen in the classroom, such as the Lower Sixth making ‘glacier’ cakes, as well as a section on the field trips that took place during the term.”

Mount Etna is a more active volcano than Mount Vesuvius and is located in Sicily. The receptionist told me that the risk imposed by Mount Vesuvius was much smaller than Mount Etna and, as a result, she thought about the possibility and effects of an eruption much less than when she lived in Sicily. I also visited both Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius itself

to see the devastation which the volcano has caused.

The money which I was granted went towards the travel and accommodation required for this trip and was extremely helpful. I am planning on using the findings of this study in my psychology degree at Durham University.

Unveiling Iceland’s geological tapestry on an unforgettable journey through fire and ice

Iceland, the land of fire and ice, has long captivated the imagination of adventurers and nature enthusiasts. In a bid to deepen their understanding of the world’s geological wonders, a group of 42 enthusiastic Year 10 students embarked on an extraordinary geography field trip to this enchanting Nordic island. Over the course of their expedition, these young explorers experienced first-hand the awe-inspiring landscapes, volatile geothermal activity and unique cultural heritage that makes Iceland a geological marvel and an educational paradise.

Led by Head of Geography James Riley, the students were eager to unravel the secrets of this geologically diverse wonderland. During a very packed five days, students ventured to awe-inspiring waterfalls, including Skogafoss, Seljalandsfoss and Gullfoss where the cascading waters carved their way through the rugged terrain, showcasing the raw power of nature. The students couldn’t help but be inspired by the sheer force of the glacial meltwater thundering down the falls, leaving them with a deep appreciation for the forces that shape our planet.

No trip to Iceland would be complete without exploring its vast glaciers. Equipped with crampons, ice axes and a sense of adventure, the students embarked on a thrilling glacier hike on the mighty Solheimajokull glacier. As they traversed the icy expanse, they learned about the impacts of climate change on glaciers, witnessing first-hand the receding ice and its implications for global sea-level rise. The experience left them acutely aware of the need for environmental stewardship and ignited a passion for safeguarding the world’s vulnerable ecosystems. In addition to trekking up a glacier, students also enjoyed the rare opportunity to trek into a glacier, again experiencing the impact of climate change on a glacier that is predicted to have disappeared in 75 years’ time.

Iceland’s unique position atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge blesses the island with a wealth of geothermal activity. The students visited the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant and the

Fridheimar Geothermal Greenhouse, as well as the well-known Blue Lagoon learning more about the benefits of geothermal energy — a sustainable power source that Iceland harnesses extensively.

One of the favourite days for many students was the trip to Heimaey, the largest island of the Westman Islands and the only one that is inhabited. Following the boat trip, students visited the Eldheimar exhibition, learning more about the volcanic eruption on the island 50 years ago, before trekking to the summit of what remains of the volcano itself.

Reflecting on the trip, Mr Riley commented: “Witnessing the students’ enthusiasm and growth throughout this journey has been incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about ticking off destinations, it’s about nurturing a love for our planet and empowering these young minds to become responsible global citizens.”

From the shifting tectonic plates to the majestic glaciers, the black basalt beaches to the puffins and whales, Iceland’s geothermal wonders left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of the Year 10 students, who will be able to use what they have learned and experienced to support their understanding of geography moving forward.

“So many great lifelong memories were made on this trip.”

“The best trip I have ever been on that showcased the best of nature and Icelandic culture.”

History

Archaeological inspiration

Pupils got a feel for the past with hands-on opportunities to explore local historical finds.

Year 10 students enjoyed a visit from Cambridgeshire County Council’s Historic Environment Team as they discovered more about local archaeological finds as part of their GCSE topic History Around Us.

Air museum trip hits the heights

Perse pupils were flying high after taking an insightful trip to the Imperial War Museum Duxford.

The group toured the historic hangars and had the chance to get up close to some gigantic aircraft from different eras at Europe’s biggest aviation museum.

Teacher helps solve mystery of historical letters

Perse history teacher Alex Courtney is playing an important role in unlocking the secrets of a centuries-old mystery.

The Perse Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning) is helping to transcribe a series of letters written in code by Mary, Queen of Scots in the late 16th century after they were recently discovered and deciphered by cryptanalysts George Lasry, Norbert Biermann and Satoshi Tomokiyo.

Dr Courtney contacted George Lasry after being intrigued by the group’s research findings in an online journal. He was already carrying out his own research for a biography on Mary’s son James VI of Scotland/I of England and Ireland and found the newly discovered letters reflected extensively on her relations with James.

With his understanding of the historical context and the Middle French in which the decoded text is written, Dr Courtney has helped uncover what Mary had to say. He is also the first historian to have read most of the letters.

He said: “I have enjoyed this immensely. The process of interpretation and discovery happens while editing a GoogleDoc, line-by-line checking through the text of a letter, trying out different approaches to problematic phrases, posting comments to George and debating alternative solutions. It is like completing a Middle French word puzzle online!”

Meanwhile, Year 8 were treated to an amazing exhibition of coins and other objects Perse caretaker and keen detectorist John Webb has collected in the local area.

A level students attended a special exhibition and seminar on the defacement of currency throughout history, with speakers including artists and historians, at the Fitzwilliam Museum.

Leading art historian, curator and art dealer Dr Amy Lim was guest speaker at a History Society meeting, giving a talk on ‘History, Material Culture and Heritage’.

Lower Sixth historians travelled to Newark Civil War Museum for a special study day to learn more about the Stuart dynasty.

Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

Student research published in leading journal

Babhravi Krishnan (Upper Sixth) had her investigation into approaches to tackling social inequality published in a leading online journal.

She looked into whether American philosopher Martha Nussbaum’s ‘capabilities’ approach would provide a better framework for dealing with social inequality than utility-based welfare economics for her Rouse Award project in Lower Sixth.

Her work has now been featured in Questioz, an international journal of high school student research.

For her project, she wanted to examine a topic linking philosophy and economics to tie in with her plans to study PPE (philosophy, politics and economics) at university and found Nussbaum’s ideas resonated with her.

She said: “Nussbaum is interested in human rights, as I am, and I started looking into her theories, which combined economics with ethics, and I thought it would be interesting to draw upon.

“The capabilities approach was originally created by an economist called Amartya Sen as a way of bringing ethics back into economics, considering not just measures of monetary growth in development, but also welfare and economic and social wellbeing.

“Nussbaum added her own ideas to this with capabilities she thought every nation should meet which would provide a framework for tackling social inequality.”

While Nussbaum focused on India, Babhravi transposed those ideas, which include freedom of choice, dignity and opportunities for social mobility, to the social inequality of women in Brazil, a country with a similarly rapidly growing economy with regards GDP.

Philosophy essay success

James Roskilly (Year 11) considered whether AI (artificial intelligence) can have a mind of its own in his winning entry to the Sheffield University Philosophy Essay competition.

His submission was one of just 10 chosen by the judges at Sheffield – one of the country’s leading institutions for philosophy studies – for the top prize, which included an invitation to a virtual workshop and a £25 voucher.

James investigated how AI systems work and whether they could ever be understood, as well as considering the distinctions between thought and consciousness in terms of machine learning.

He looked at the question from the perspective of biological computationalism, which reflects on the relationship between physical processes in the brain and their correlation with thought and consciousness.

Caitlin Stockwell (Year 7) received a commendation for her entry to the Independent Schools Religious Studies Association Essay Competition.

James also appraised AI and thought from the viewpoint of a belief in an external mind, using renowned US philosopher John Searle’s ‘Chinese room’ theory as an example.

He said: “The argument is that a person in a closed room who doesn’t understand Chinese would be able to converse with a fluent Chinese speaker outside by following a set of algorithms on how to produce written replies.

“I concluded that the only possible way that AI can ‘think’ is if you believe in the computation of the mind and that thought comes from biological, chemical and physical systems which can be recreated by AI using ‘noughts’ and ‘zeroes’.”

Sienna Sharma (Year 10) carried out independent research into cultural relativism and presented her findings to an audience of interested staff and students.

A team of nine philosophy and religious studies students participated in the Ethics Cup at King’s College London, where they were narrowly defeated by Eton College.

All roads lead to Rome

Classics students explored some of the most famous sites of the ancient world during an inspiring trip to Rome.

Constanze Topel (Lower Sixth) gives her thoughts on some of the historic places the group visited on just one day of the tour.

The Colosseum was a mesmerising starting point, prompting us to imagine gladiatorial fights and throngs of Roman spectators like never before. The Palatine Hill and its astounding view on to the Forum left a similar impression on us as we marvelled at the layers of history below us. We then roamed the Forum itself in an attempt to decipher its development from one emperor’s rule to the next.

We visited the Capitoline Museum – home to the famous Lupa Capitolina and the Statue of Capitoline Gaul. This trip really did bring textbook pictures to life! We then let off some steam in the Circus Maximus. There was even a whole-trip running race as a tribute to charioteering. Finally, we visited the Trevi Fountain, which was basking in the moonlight in all its Baroque beauty.

During the trip, the students also explored the Vatican Museum, Ara Pacis, the Pantheon and Ostia Antica - the archaeological site of a Roman harbour city at the mouth of the Tiber.

Carole Tucker (Lower Sixth) reflects on her overall experiences of visiting Rome.

All roads lead to Rome… or at least that is where the classics trip led us! Geographical accuracy aside, Rome is undoubtedly a place where many paths of history converge. Led by five brilliant classics and history teachers, we were able to explore many wonderful aspects of this city, ranging greatly across the spectrum of its historical timeline.

From its position as the centre of the Roman world, through its Baroque and Renaissance virtuosity, to its contemporary liveliness, this trip certainly enabled us to catch a glimpse of the multi-faceted and intricate essence of Rome.

However imperfect an individual impression of its ancient magnitude may be, I believe all those who took part in this voyage would have truly been inspired either in their classical or historical studies, or simply uplifted by the imperceptible influence of the past on the very essence of contemporaneous memory. I for one certainly was.

Lots of drama with Latin play competition

The Perse once again played host to the annual Latin play competition Ludi Scaenici.

Four very different performances came from the competing schools, including St John’s College School, St Mary’s School and Norwich High School for Girls, on the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre stage.

A Latin adaptation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, written by Lower Sixth Latin students Susanna Millhouse , Harry Purvis, Constanze Topel, Carole Tucker and Hannah Wicks, provided the Perse entry.

The cast of Year 8 pupils featured Jo Zhou, Alisha Agrawal, Edward Samson, Sophie Ramsden , Zoe Khaliq , Joe

Banham-Hall, Eleanor Blazeby, Henry Greatorex, Alice Argent Hare, Oscar Klein, Suhana Sajid, Thomas Miller and Dexter MacFarlane

Head judge Rosanna Omitowoju, from the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Classics, was very positive about their performance, praising in particular their use of music from Prokofiev’s original and the delivery of some quite obscure Latin, including the verb “to quack”!

However, St John’s won the competition with a Star Wars -esque take on the story of Caecilius’ long-lost daughter.

Seb Foster, Perse Head of Classics, said: “Our Perse cast threw themselves wholeheartedly into rehearsals and soon made the classic animal characters their own.

“They approached the performance with great zeal and delivered the concept in a very convincing manner, showing understanding of their lines, expressive actions and at times great comic timing.

“All participants should be very proud of their efforts and at the end of the day, the real winner was classics!”

Classical reading competition success

category with a super performance of an excerpt from Euripides’ Hecuba

The Perse was also represented extremely well in the senior competition by Jem Bennett (Upper Sixth), Harry Purvis, Susanna Millhouse and Constanze Topel (all Lower Sixth).

Perse students enjoyed plenty of success in the Cambridge Classical Association Reading Competitions this year.

Neelkantha Mukherjee (Year 11) produced standout performances to win the intermediate Greek prose and Latin prose categories at the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of

Classics, as well as being runner-up in the intermediate Greek verse section.

Carole Tucker (Lower Sixth) was second in the senior Greek verse

Meanwhile, Jo Zhou (Year 8) was runner-up in the junior Latin prose category and she was also part of the team featuring Zoe Khaliq, Naomi Hoare , Margo Beznosyuk , Sophie Ramsden and Edward Samson (all Year 8) that came second in the Latin dramatic reading section.

Thomas Welchman (Year 9) was highly commended in the Greek prose class, while Ellie Skordos (Year 9) also performed well in the competition.

Senior

The Senior Maths Challenge saw 173 students from Years 9 to Upper Sixth take part, with 83 achieving Gold, 68 Silver and 37 Bronze certificates. Fiftyone students qualified for the follow-on Senior Kangaroo competition, with 14 receiving a Merit.

Round one of the British Maths Olympiad (BMO) was entered by 30 students, a national competition with around 2,000 entries. For finishing in the top 25%, Distinctions were earned by Ryan Stubbs (Year 9), Arthur Depledge, Tom Hammond, Neelkantha Mukherjee (all Year 11), John Lau , Mabel Symes (both Lower Sixth), Jem Bennett, Daniel Chen, Kiran Diamond, Andrew Girgis, Emma Harris, Hongli Hu and Elvira Munteanu (all Upper Sixth), while a further eight received Merits.

Daniel and John both placed in the top 100, with the former also winning a Medal. In round two of BMO –the highest-level UK Maths Trust competition – Daniel and John both achieved Merits.

Olympiad for Girls

Maths

Intermediate

The Intermediate Maths Challenge was taken by 434 pupils ranging from Years 7 to 11. Between them, they achieved 146 Gold, 153 Silver and 84 Bronze certificates.

Ninety-six pupils qualified for the Intermediate Kangaroo round, with 22 achieving Merit certificates.

Meanwhile, 36 pupils took part in the Intermediate Maths Olympiad, with three separate categories for Years 7 to 9, Year 10 and Year 11. Distinctions were gained by Daniel Fannon (Year 7), Roy Han, Ryan Stubbs (both Year 9), Akshith Katuri, Zoe Walters (both Year 10), Arthur Depledge, Tom Hammond and Steven Kong (all Year 11).

Ryan and Arthur also received Gold Medals, Steven a Silver and Akshith and Tom Bronzes. A further 18 pupils received a Merit.

Junior

All Lower School pupils attempted the Junior Maths Challenge, with 112 Gold, 78 Silver and 68 Bronze certificates being achieved, and Daniel Fannon and Yixuan Hu (both Year 7) scoring full marks.

In the Junior Kangaroo, 26 out of 60 pupils were awarded a Merit, while the 21 pupils who took part in the Junior Maths Olympiad produced The Perse’s best-ever results in the competition, with 13 Distinction and 5 Merit certificates, including 8 Medals.

Silver Medals went to James Cheng, Alexander Walker (both Year 7), Yilu Liu and Marco Sabot (both Year 8) and Bronze Medals were claimed by Daniel Fannon, Yixuan Hu (both Year 7), Sophie Ramsden and James Towers (both Year 8).

The remaining Distinctions were awarded to Rachel Wang, Conrad Wu (both Year 7), Marcus Li, Nick Sanders and Tianyi Shan (all Year 8).

Thirty-five students from Year 10 to Upper Sixth took part in the Maths Olympiad for Girls – a UKMT initiative aiming to raise participation in STEM among female students.

Zoe Walters (Year 10), Ellen Halsall, Rena Li, Yijin Liu (all Year 11), Ellice Chen, Bibi Elliott, Kelda Lee, Rebecca Li, Shirley Meng, Natalie Ronco, Mabel Symes, Alina Turchyn, Katya Verzhbitskaya, Yolanda Xue (all Lower Sixth), Imogen Beaton, Yunlin Chen, Emma Harris, Elvira Munteanu and Imogen Warren (all Upper Sixth) were awarded Distinctions. Notably, Bibi scored full marks.

Independent Research

This academic year, 412 pupils undertook research projects beyond the curriculum, supported by 47 members of staff. Running research projects for all ages is key to a Perse education, nurturing students’ intellectual curiosity, while also exposing them to cutting-edge scholarship.

Aristotelian Award

“When I heard about the Aristotelian Award, I knew that I would enjoy participating in it immensely.

“Upon looking at all the research questions, I found that the history topic was the one that truly resonated with me.

“The writing of history has always fascinated me, and to finally get the chance to properly delve deeper into whether ‘History is written by the victors’ was an opportunity I knew I couldn’t miss.

“However, I was completely taken by surprise when I learned I was the winner of the arts/humanities category.

“I feel so honoured that my essay was chosen out of so many other excellent entries for this category across the country.”

Lili Angus was among the winners in this year’s Aristotelian Award, the national research essay competition run by The Perse for Year 9 pupils.

She won the arts/humanities category with her investigation into whether history is written by the victors. Lily Haines (Barnwell School), Diva Bansal (The Grammar School at Leeds), Sara Kanjirathingal (The Cathedral School, Llandaff) and Sissi He (The Perse) were highly commended.

Lili said: “I have always loved researching topics in depth, be it inside or outside the curriculum.

The sciences category was won by Woodford County High School for Girls pupil Shravani Bacchu, who researched whether technologies from her favourite science fiction film The Matrix could become possible in the next 20 years. Highly commended were Calvin Dean (Dulwich College), Rishi Showan (Loughborough School), Roberta Doe (Royal Grammar School, Newcastle) and Hannah Wiseman (The Perse).

Winners of each section received £70 while the four highly commended pupils in each section were awarded £20.

Lower School Project Qualification

Sixty-seven Year 8 pupils completed the Perse Project Qualification (PPQ) process. They independently formulated a research question, identifying sources, analysing them and developing their findings and conclusions into an essay.

Meanwhile, 103 Year 7 pupils successfully completed the Perse Research Skills Qualification (PRSQ). The PRSQ allows them to learn key research skills, assessed via online quizzes after each module, so they are better equipped to tackle an independent PPQ project in Year 8. The skills are invaluable in helping them be smarter in the way they search for information, read sources and make notes.

Henry Tysome

Chrysalis Voultsou

Kaiyang Guan

Gemma Savini

Oscar Klein

Ana Bingipur

Fraya Sudeep

Debayani Chaki

Olga Kislova

Zoe Petheram

Sophie Ramsden

Junha Park

Higher Project Qualification

Forty-one pupils in Year 10 completed their Higher Project Qualification (HPQ). Pupils undertook research in a wide range of subjects including science, history, computing, religion, politics and maths.

To what extent is cortical reorganisation a correlate of phantom limb pain?

Cheyoon Kim

The dawn of my HPQ topic came about relatively spontaneously from my natural interest in medicine and psychiatry.

Originally, I had planned to investigate the impact of depression regarding phantom limb pain (PLP) intensity however, the severe inadequacy of sources and conflicting opinions resulted in a slight shift in focus from depression to cortical reorganisation.

Not only did phantom limbs pique my interest as a unique phenomenon, but my personal desire to research a topic which would not have clear-cut ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers formulated the basis of my title.

My initial research revealed many flaws concerning my topic area, largely regarding the complete lack of both the number and quality of sources, as PLP is neither commonly researched nor understood. In consequence, research during the first weeks was based around simple websites and infographics, which slowly built up to online articles written by subject area specialists, providing much-needed necessary academic material.

As my research developed, I found a multitude of potential factors related to PLP, from psychological trauma to the formation of neuromas. Despite these theories and hypotheses, I examined cortical reorganisation as my primary objective.

By acknowledging each theory and their respective contradictions I concluded that there was a strong correlation between PLP and cortical reorganisation, yet more studies must be conducted in order to strengthen this claim. My project further

commented on the significance of this relationship as understanding the phenomenon would be the first essential step towards formulating effective treatment systems, including VR therapy.

The HPQ was a highly fulfilling project to undertake and strengthened my research skills further. I found the whole process of learning to condense a large quantity of information into a limitedword report incredibly challenging yet rewarding at the same time.

This research project not only opened my eyes to a unique phenomenon, but advanced writing skills from analytic to descriptive were explored, as well as different research techniques, including case studies and literature/data analysis. Learning these skills coupled with critical organisation and stringent time management has enabled me to enhance this research overall.

I found the whole process of learning to condense a large quantity of information into a limited-word report incredibly challenging yet rewarding at the same time.

How will nanotechnology pave the new era of winter sports?

Vivek Kommi

My HPQ stemmed from my passion for nanotechnology and the relevance to my start-up company that focuses on nanotech for curing type 2 diabetes.

While researching applications for nanotechnology to solve big problems, I discovered a niche but impactful problem - the material malfunction of winter sports equipment.

I enjoyed researching about it due to the novelty around this area and looking into the emerging products helped me grasp an understanding of how fast the world is developing. Moreover, the process of using AI tools and Google Scholar to find the latest research is very intriguing to me.

I gained a much deeper understanding of the applications of nanotech and the various problems it could solve.

I never knew that wonder materials like graphene and CNTs (carbon nanotubes) could truly be revolutionary. For example, graphene is one of the strongest if not the strongest material on the market and is used in applications like water filtration, drug delivery and flexible electronics.

Another skill that I learned is that of mind-mapping to ideate for a project and it will help me in my project building and creativity skills for later in my career. To conclude, I found the HPQ experience to be a way to enhance my independence and creativity in an emerging field of technology.

Serpents in the Bible and in Greek mythology: A comparative analysis

Daphna Portugaly

I have always been interested in snakes, from the adder in England to the taipan in Papua New Guinea, so when deciding the topic of my HPQ, they were a strong candidate from the start.

I knew that looking into specific ophiology (as was tempting) would prove to be difficult in the limited span of a year, so I began to lean towards a more sociological aspect of them, to see how humans apart from me viewed them.

At first, I wanted to produce a map displaying how various interactions between nations led to the modern day accepted negative view of serpents, but quickly this led me to two core sources which impacted the types of stories around them consistently, not just under this topic - the Bible and

tales from Greek mythology. Therefore, these became the basis of my HPQ.

I began to research them, reading as many opinion pieces as I could find (not an excessive list), and (with the help of expert teachers from my school) reading extracts from the Bible and the Iliad, and extrapolating my own take on their representation of snakes.

My findings included many similarities (such as the sexual representation or the consistent position of power through knowledge), and some differences, which I mainly attributed to

wider differences between writings of monotheistic and polytheistic religions.

I also researched the effects different representations of snakes have had on modern society, such as snake-handling churches in America or the Caduceus.

The HPQ was a great opportunity for me. Never before could I carry out a research project in such depth and now I have the experience. Being able to tailor the topic to myself meant that I never lost interest and no part of the process ever felt like a chore to do.

Extended Project Qualification

Twenty Lower Sixth students undertook research for the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) – an externally-assessed project amounting to half of an A level.

The ‘Elephant Man’ drug trial: What went wrong?

John Lau

a disaster and whether the drug developers were to blame for these factors.

My interest in the Elephant Man drug trial (the TGN1412 drug trial) was sparked after hearing about it in an after-school Biology Club. It is widely regarded as the worst clinical trial catastrophe in British history and almost resulted in death of the participants in the trial.

Doing an EPQ on it therefore provided me an excellent opportunity to dig deeper into a topic I found very interesting. After carrying out some initial reading about it, I decided to research the factors that contributed to why the drug trial evolved into

I decided to split my essay into two sections to look at the pre-clinical trial and human trial of the drug. For each section, I used papers and scientific journals to find out what incorrect decisions were made by the developers and evaluated how significant these decisions were.

To ensure I had a balanced argument, I also looked at how the developers had attempted to minimise the risk of the trial and the role of misfortune in causing the trial to fail. I have also used several Covid-19 vaccine trials to compare the human trials in recent years with the TGN1412 human trial and was surprised by the differences and similarities between them.

To help my research process, I used a Gannt chart as a timetable to outline what I needed to do and when. Looking

back, this is perhaps the most important tool I used to help with time management and organisation. I also used a critical analysis grid to create summaries of the papers I read, as well as checking the validity of these resources. The most useful resources have been JSTOR and the British Medical Journal , both of which contain so many peer-reviewed papers that were extremely useful for my research.

One of the most enjoyable parts of my EPQ was researching about the different cellular receptors of the immune T cells and the mechanism of the drug as a superagonist, as well as the details about what a cytokine storm is. My EPQ gave me a valuable opportunity to learn about interesting biological details beyond my A level course.

Overall, I found doing an EPQ a very rewarding learning experience. There are so many useful skills that I learned through doing my EPQ that I would not have picked up from normal lessons. It also made me realise how much we don’t cover in our A levels and the importance of our own curiosity to discover what else is out there.

by 2045? Aknur Mavyyeva

Therefore, I was curious to find out whether this can be applied to solar technology. Although solar cells possess an immense amount of potential within the global energy sector, the efficiencies of current solar photovoltaics, such as firstgeneration wafer-based cells and second-generation thinfilm cells, are inadequate in terms of PCE (power conversion efficiency), flexibility to varying environmental conditions and light absorption capacity and must be ameliorated to compete with fossil fuels.

I had the opportunity to attend a lecture about how defects of quantum crystals used in solar cells can constrict the flow of electrons and, therefore, decrease their PCE. In turn, creating a cell that collects all charges except for defect charges means the PCE can surpass the Shockley-Quiesser limit, which is the theoretical efficiency limit that a solar cell can reach. Semiconductor nano-cells can achieve this.

Once I understood this, I began to research emerging thirdgeneration semiconductor nano-cells, such as perovskitesensitised cells, quantum-dot cells and dye-sensitised cells. This involved reading academic journals, websites and books to help me understand the characteristics of each cell and the science behind this novel technology.

Perovskite-sensitised cells displayed the highest amount of potential out of all other third-generation cells. For example, since 2016 they have been the fastest-growing solar technology with a PCE of over 25% today compared to only 3% in 2009 and the simplicity of their manufacturing process ensures their economic viability.

Furthermore, these cells exhibit exceptional environmental stability with operational lifetimes of around 3,500 hours. Although this is much shorter than current wafer-based cells, we must consider that perovskites have been in research for a much shorter period.

Moreover, it was important for me to analyse the inadequate regulations of semiconductor nanotechnology as this is hindering the large-scale commercialisation of thirdgeneration cells. The lack of international regulations and guidelines for nanoparticles has prevented the public from gaining access to official definitions and information, meaning investment towards these cells is currently very low.

Once nations and consumers have understood the risks that nanotechnology presents, we can take more active steps towards creating an environment where semiconductor nanocells can thrive. This will likely happen before 2045.

I have developed many skills in Microsoft Word and improved on research skills such as summarisation and referencing. In short, this project has been very fulfilling and I am extremely proud of everything that I have achieved.

To what extent is semiconductor nanotechnology more likely than current photovoltaic solar technologies to increase the efficiency of solar cells

After listening to the late US theoretical physicist Richard Feynman’s lecture ‘There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom’, I was inspired by the potential of nanotechnology and how manipulating atoms allows us to alter the bulk properties of certain materials.

Rouse Award

The Rouse Award is an internally-assessed programme for Lower Sixth students judged by a panel of leading academics. Students participating in the Rouse Award had supervisions with a subject specialist teacher guiding them through the research process. Their submissions were then assessed by the award panel based on the intellectual curiosity, depth and quality of research that had been undertaken.

The latest winners were announced in September 2022, with three students taking the overall honours. On top of this, 51 gained Distinctions, 70 were highly commended, 43 were commended and 11 received awards.

Her project looked into how biomimicry could be used in the design of buildings to improve their sustainability.

With plans to study architecture at university, Jemima was intrigued by the idea of taking the way nature functions and bringing it into building design.

Jemima researched examples of different architecture projects that had taken biomimicry on board, such as pioneering architect Michael Pawlyn’s Abalone House design, based on the structure of mollusc shells which take their strength from their shape, before developing her own work.

Along similar lines, she designed an office, which also featured windows based on the iris of an eye, opening and closing in response to light to reduce energy waste within the building, an idea inspired by the responsive façade of the Institute du Monde Arabe in Paris.

After making initial sketches, she used computer-aided design software for her work and created a cardboard prototype before 3D-printing much of her finished model.

She also programmed a motor to react to the external environment to demonstrate how the windows could work.

Jemima Fung designed and created an example of eco-friendly architecture inspired by nature to win the Rouse Artefact Award.

earned the Rouse Award for her examination of how Charles V of France used visual culture to build his authority in medieval Paris.

As an A level history and French student, she wanted to tackle a topic combining her knowledge and interest of both subjects.

Evelyn chose to consider Charles V, who ruled France from 1364 until his death in 1380 and became known as ‘Wise King Charles’.

Using her linguistic skills, she read a French biography of Charles V to delve deeper into the subject.

She considered how his additions to the Louvre Palace, which was initially constructed in the late 12th century under the preceding Capetian dynasty, and statues around Paris had helped bolster his royal legitimacy.

However, Evelyn felt depictions of him reading or being surrounded by family in the numerous illuminated manuscripts that he had commissioned went a long way towards the way he was viewed by his subjects.

A former national junior table tennis champion, Sophie decided to combine her passion for the sport with her interest in computer science and maths for her research.

Sophie began by reading more deeply into machine learning – a branch of artificial intelligence in which models are built that learn patterns and relationships from inputted data.

She then took statistics collated from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics table tennis tournament and the professional German Table Tennis League, such as the percentage of points won on or against serve by individual players in matches, to work on her project.

Sophie, who plans to study computer science at university, also developed her own features – one taking account of player rankings, another considering players’ all-round ability from backhand and forehand strength to their capability in long or short rallies – for consideration.

She found the best machine learning model provided around 70% accuracy in predicting the outcome of the matches from the above competitions.

The Rouse Award programme is generously sponsored by Alan and Valerie Hirzel.

Evelyn Marshall

Sophie Chiang investigated the extent to which machine learning could be used to predict the outcome of table tennis matches for her Rouse Award-winning project.

Colours of Cornwall inspire artists

Ben Nicholson, who were enticed to live and create in the Cornish resort during the mid-20th Century.

Their introduction was a sketching tour with local artist Greg Humphries, exploring key concepts of those Modernist artists who formed a prominent movement centred on the coastal town.

Hepworth’s legacy is especially linked to St Ives and the students had the chance to visit her former home and studio and learn more about her life and work and discover more about the materials and techniques used in her sculptures. They then visited the Tate St Ives and saw an exhibition of Hepworth’s pieces.

The students also enjoyed a day-long workshop with the St Ives School of Painting, allowing them to respond creatively to the local landscape.

The light and landscapes of St Ives provided a beautiful backdrop for an inspiring Perse Sixth Form art trip.

Students spent several days following in the footsteps of influential abstract artists, such as Barbara Hepworth and

After a morning of sketching at The Island, actually a rocky headland on the edge of St Ives’ town centre overlooking the sea, they returned to the studio at Porthmeor Beach to work on their projects using a variety of media.

Heller Prize winner

Caitlin Stockwell (Year 7) won the Heller Prize for Creative Arts with this eye-catching artwork.

The long-running prize was established by the late Old Persean, businessman and philanthropist Sir Michael Heller (1954), who sadly passed away in January, aged 86, and Lady Heller.

Pupils were invited to submit artworks linked to the theme of ‘Celebration’, with Caitlin’s piece, entitled Summer Solstice Celebration, coming out on top.

Perse Head of Art Ben Keeble commented: “The winner was chosen from the field of entries for her use of oil pastels and unique approach to subject matter - the personification of spring, greeting flora and fauna in a forest setting – and tackling the theme of celebration in a complex close-up composition.”

Upper

GCSE Art

Elspeth Owen

Daisy Scally

Jonathan Hamilton

Emma Tomlinson

Amelie Bacon

Beatrice Hutchings

Tom Hill

India Carroll

Daisy Wallman

Noah Morrison

Emily Peckham

Alisha Brown

Upper

A level Art

Those studying the A level course started a series of skills-based workshops in their first year looking at the human form, beginning their personal investigations exploring a wide variety of themes and historical approaches to art-making depending on their interests. This led naturally into their research for the related study essay where they were required to research an aspect of art and design, extending knowledge gleaned in their practical portfolio. Their stunning outcomes were the culmination of two years’ practical and written work.

This page: Elin Oliver

Opposite top: Jemima Fung

Opposite bottom: Erik Astigeevich

Design and Technology

Sought-after scholarships for budding engineers

Four Perse students gained prestigious Arkwright Scholarships after being identified as potential future leaders in engineering.

Sourish Sharma, Mabel Symes, Sam Burnell and Cecily Taras (all Lower Sixth) earned the sought-after scholarships, which provided them with an opportunity to build connections within the industry as well as £600 to support their studies.

While in Year 11, they each submitted a detailed application highlighting their interest in engineering before taking part in an in-depth interview and an exam as part of the selection procedure.

Sourish demonstrated his CREST Gold Award-winning word clock, extending the project further by coding in a wireless game of Snake, using gyroscope data sent by radio signals to provide the controls.

He said: “I applied because I’m laser-focused on becoming an engineer. It gives you the opportunity to make something that changes the world and I just love messing around with all sorts of electronics.

“I knew the scholarship could support me both financially and through having a mentor. I believe my passion for engineering showed through the interview.

“The aptitude exam was also quite tough, but I had the opportunity to design a few things such as an automatic sheep feeder and kitchen tools intended to help people with just one arm.”

Sourish, who has secured sponsorship with cyber security firm Crowdstrike, is considering using his funding to put towards buying a 3D printer or components to build a drone.

Meanwhile, Mabel showcased a university expense tracker app that she programmed using Java and Android Studio to

help her sister keep track of and budget her money as she headed off to study.

Fittingly, she is being sponsored by Finbourne Technology, a finance company creating developer-friendly investment data platforms.

For his application, Sam highlighted his design and technology GCSE project, a folding picnic table which can combine with others to increase the size of the table and allow it to be customisable.

He also put forward his CAD (computer-aided design) of a single cylinder engine that used a high-pressure gas source controlled by a ball valve to create a rotary motion.

Meanwhile, Cecily is being supported by research and technology organisation TWI following her successful Arkwright application.

She said her aspirations to become an engineer had been augmented by summer courses she had attended organised by the Industrial Cadets and the Smallpeice Trust.

Electric debut for Perse Engineering Club race car

Perse Engineering Club’s electric racing car made a charge on its debut in the Greenpower Education Trust series.

The Greenpower initiative aims to inspire youngsters to develop a passion for science and engineering by designing, building and racing electric cars.

More than 20 Perse students worked on the project as part of the Engineering Club, overseen by physics teachers Sam Patterson and Myles Thompson.

After gaining an understanding of what goes into designing and building an electric vehicle, they put together their own car from a kit, courtesy of sponsorship from Vindis Group.

As Team Paradox Motorsport, they have worked on the vehicle since March, carrying out testing in the Upper car park before taking it to the Lotus test track at Hethel, Norfolk, for its first race.

The format of the event saw teams attempt to complete as many laps in one hour as possible, with the Perse car, driven by the team’s project manager Thomas Pape (Lower Sixth), finishing five circuits of the 2.2-mile course.

Kuan Kuan Lin and Dominic Rogers (both Lower Sixth), who led the project’s bodywork and battery teams respectively, were thrilled to see the car come to fruition and take to the track.

Dominic said: “It was so rewarding and it was just a great feeling for everyone who had contributed to have a product that worked and that we could race.

“The race day was good. We could see the designs of the groups that were far more experienced. I think it was nice to see what other teams had achieved and look at where we can progress.

“We had some issues with the drive and making the car move, but it was great how we banded together and everyone worked as a team to achieve our goal.”

Kuan Kuan added: “I’ve been to a racetrack before, but to have something you’ve built on the racetrack is really quite different. Once we got the car going, it was great to see it out there.

“We got to see the other teams and look at how other people interpreted the same problem. I think we can take inspiration from that and look at what we could do better.”

Modern Foreign Languages

Spanish style and French flair on stage

Upper students combined acting ability with a love of languages in a showcase of Spanish and French drama. An 11-strong cast staged an abridged version of 19th-century Spanish writer Jose Zorrilla’s Don Juan Tenorio in the Gallery Studio.

The focus then turned to French with Eleanor Brinsden (Upper Sixth) and Elif Cektir (Lower Sixth) performing a scene from

Modern foreign languages teacher Hannah Sherry, who helped organise the event, was delighted with how the students engaged with the project, which was held to coincide with the European Day of Languages.

She added: “It was a very relaxed environment for them to perform in, with the emphasis being more on the opportunity to use their languages outside the classroom.”

Les Mains Sales by Jean-Paul Sartre and Isabel Beaumont and Gabriella Bedford (both Upper Sixth) portraying a oneact sketch from Samuel Beckett’s work Fragment de Theatre.

Mandarin students relish Singapore experience

Upper Mandarin students had an exciting cultural experience savouring the sights and sounds of Singapore.

As part of the trip, the group of Year 10 and 11 pupils visited sister school The Perse Singapore, supporting the learning in a range of classes. They

also enjoyed answering Singapore pupils’ questions about life at The Perse Cambridge before heading off to climb the nearby Bukit Timah hill. The Mandarin group also spent time at Nanyang Girls’ High School, a partner school of The Perse in the Strategic Alliance of Global Educators (SAGE).

Pupils spent time in lessons and made friends with Nanyang students over brunch in the canteen before watching the morning assembly, which featured flag raising and the playing of the national anthem.

Languages spell success for Upper pupils

Alexander Walker and Tanvi Kommi (both Year 7) demonstrated linguistic speed and skill to make it through to the Foreign Languages Spelling Bee national finals.

They qualified in German and Spanish respectively following success at the regional finals In Peterborough, where fellow Perse pupil Maggie Kent (Year 7) also performed well in the French category.

To get to the regional finals, they had already gone through two rounds of competitions, learning a growing number of words in their respective languages and attempting to spell as many words as possible in one minute.

Both Alexander and Tanvi went on to finish in the top 10 in their categories in the national finals at the University of Cambridge.

Away from the classroom, they had plenty of chances to practise their Mandarin by taking part in Chinese and calligraphy workshops and talking to local students, business owners and tour guides. The group were able to immerse themselves in Singaporean culture by eating out at the city state’s ‘hawker centres’ (street food stalls), as well as learning to cook some local dishes themselves, as well as visiting the Gardens by the Bay and taking part in a night safari.

Global glory for Upper pupils in

Japanese competition

Japanese joy was had by Upper pupils taking part in the EP (Education Perfect) Global Languages Championship.

The week-long online competition saw participants allowed to select any content they wished to study on the EP languages platform and pick up points from answering questions correctly.

A team of Year 9 pupils took part and they came first overall among the British schools competing in the Japanese section.

Milton Saibrosa replicated the individual Gold he won in the EP International Languages Championship in October after collecting more than 3,000 points.

Code-crackers triumph in National Language Competition

A group of Year 9 pupils came out on top among a field of more than 3,000 teams to win the prestigious NLC (National Language Competition).

The Wacky Blue Robin team, featuring Kiana Mackie, Hanrong Zeng, Ryan Stubbs and Roy Han, triumphed in the linguisticsbased code cracking competition, organised by GCHQ, the UK’s intelligence, cyber and security agency.

Teams could choose which questions they wanted to tackle in the online event, held over the course of a week, accumulating points for correctly solving puzzles based around largely rare and even made-up languages.

Laetitia Lowe and Kiana Mackie both received Bronze awards after scoring more than 1,000 points, while Nachiketh Prabhu and Theodore Chui gained Credit certificates (over 500).

Japanese teacher Sibylle Wilson said: “This is a super achievement by the students, congratulations to all of them.”

As such, no previous language skills were required, but it was a tremendous achievement from the Wacky Blue Robin team, who were invited to visit GCHQ’s Cheltenham offices to collect the champions’ trophy from the agency’s director Sir Jeremy Fleming.

MFL Debating Competitions

Each year, The Perse School hosts the MFL Debating Competitions for Sixth Form students in the Eastern region. Many schools send teams to compete in French, German and Spanish. Successful Perse Lower Sixth students this year included:

French – Silver Prize

Tom Macfarlane

Gabriel Cirstea

French – Bronze Prize

Bibi Elliott

Lila Rickett

German – Gold Prize

Constanze Topel

Carole Tucker

Hendrik Hohnsbein

Spanish – Gold Prize

Natalie Ronco

Catherine Balfour

Spain experience savoured by students

We also ate lots of different delicious Spanish food. Whether it was croquettes, jamon iberico or even churros with chocolate, it was all fantastic and we were more than satisfied.

We even got to go to Reina Sofia (an art museum) and IKONO (a sensory museum), which were both so enjoyable to walk around. We appreciated the art as well as taking group photos, which is always fun.

Willow Wallman and Maria Manini (both Year 10) reflect on the Spanish trip to Madrid and Toledo.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Spanish trip this year. It was such a marvellous experience with so many opportunities to explore Spain with friends.

Our favourite aspect was going to Toledo, to visit the Maristas school. Although some of us were quite nervous to meet the Spanish people, they were very welcoming and we were able to form connections with strangers in such little time despite speaking different languages.

However, departing our newly-made friends was a very sad goodbye for some. We shared conversation over food, played some volleyball, learned the history of Toledo and even did a little bit of dance!

Throughout this trip, we were able to immerse ourselves within the Spanish culture, visiting landmarks and cathedrals in both Madrid and Toledo, and watching the Puy du Fou, a show about the history of Spain. It was an outstanding portrayal and such a spectacle to see through dance, acting and epic light shows.

UK Linguistics Olympiad

Lots of experiences were new and also familiar at the same time, such as the escape room we tried. It’s something we’ve done in England, however never in the Spanish language. It was a whole lot trickier, of course, but we managed to pull through as we worked together as a team.

The Year 10 Spanish trip was wonderful and many of us have made so many memories which we will cherish. We just wish we could experience it all over again!

Fifty-five students from Year 9 to Upper Sixth took part in Round 1 of the UKLO, which was the school’s largest ever turnout. Twenty medals were awarded: five Bronze, 10 Silver, and five Gold. All the Gold winners – Jem Bennett, Kiran Diamond (both Upper Sixth), John Lau (Lower Sixth), Neelkantha Mukherjee (Year 11) and Rachel Liu (Year 9) – were invited to take part in Round 2.

Neelkantha achieved the highest mark in the school, and Rachel was the school’s youngest ever participant in Round 2, and only the second girl from the school to get through. Jem was awarded a distinction in Round 2, an amazing achievement which placed him in the top 25% of all 89 candidates for that round nationwide. The Perse is currently one of the highest achieving schools in the UKLO.

Oxford German Olympiad

This year’s Oxford German Olympiad was on the theme of food. Pupils from Year 9 to Upper Sixth submitted entries ranging from humorous videos about food, to a German version of the ‘Bake Off’ and an essay in German about Roman culinary culture! George Tysome, Lucas Hobson and Daniel Wicks (all Year 9) were runnersup in the ‘humorous video sketch’ category.

German Christmas markets trip

Seventy-two pupils from Year 8 and 9 visited the Christmas markets of Cologne and Aachen. As well as scouring the stalls for gifts and sweet treats, everyone enjoyed an Advent cruise along the Rhine and were even visited by St Nicholas himself! The Lindt chocolate factory and museum provided the perfect opportunity to sample more culinary delights and see festive chocolates being made. Those with enough energy left had the chance to visit Cologne’s magnificent cathedral and take in the fantastic views from the top.

Anthea Bell Prize

Organised by The Queen’s College, Oxford, the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators is inspired by the late renowned literary translator and aims to encourage youngsters to go further with modern foreign languages.

Ashanti Twi

To mark Africa Day in May, languages teacher Rebecca Mitchell gave a workshop on Ashanti Twi which is one of the main languages of Ghana.

The students and staff who attended learnt to greet others, introduce themselves and say which languages they speak. In addition they learnt about Akan naming conventions and about the language situation in both Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, where many indigenous languages are under threat. The workshop also involved a quiz on language use in Africa and an African map quiz.

The Perse had four category winning students with Aamarah Khurram (Year 11 – Mandarin), Rachel Liu (Year 9 - Mandarin), Alexander Walker (Year 7 – French) and Carole Tucker (Lower Sixth – German).

Aamarah also went on to win the national title in her category.

A survey on the European Day of Languages

As part of the European Day of Languages, the school launched its first ever language usage survey.

The survey sought to gauge the extent of multilingualism within the student and parent body. The 2022 survey revealed that there are speakers of over 60 different languages within the school and that around 40% of the student body speaks a language other than English at home.

I enjoyed participating in this competition because it allowed me to deepen my love of languages.

AAMARAH KHURRAM

Lots of investment from students in new club

Perse Investment Club was launched by economics teacher Katharina Sennitt, an expert in the subject from her previous career.

The club aimed to introduce students from Year 11 to Upper Sixth to financial markets and investments by learning about equity and bond markets.

They presented their own research on companies and markets and attended talks by senior professionals from a range of financial institutions.

Economics Psychology

Julia Marshall (Lower Sixth) was accepted on to the Future Thought Leaders programme, run by the Institute of Economic Affairs.

Emma Harris , Saskia Stock (both Upper Sixth), Julia Marshall and Hannah Gordon (both Lower Sixth) were invited to take part in a Goldman Sachs Women in Finance event.

The Perse Economics Society enjoyed talks from a number of guest speakers, including Graham Stock, from BlueBay Asset Management, on emerging market bond trading, and Dr Su-Min Lee on modern economics bridging the gap between academia and public policy.

Speakers this year included Jonathan Graham, Head of Large Corporates UK at HSBC, John Sawtell, Head of European Equity Research at Goldman Sachs, and Neil Graham from Fitch Learning.

The Psychology Society welcomed a range of guest speakers to talk to students this year.

They included Professor Richard Holton from the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Philosophy, who spoke about addiction, and Emma Woodberry, joint Head of Neuropsychology at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, who outlined her work with dementia patients.

Perse Head of Careers and Work-Related Learning Wendy Hodgkiss also talked to the students about where psychology can take them in terms of university courses and jobs.

Meanwhile, pupils gave a series of insightful talks, including Anshuman Gunda (Lower Sixth) on Vygotsky and language development and Hannah Pang (Year 10) on prosocial psychopathy.

English and Drama

Actors take the stand with Legally Blonde show

Sixth Form actors were a hit with their sparkling production of Legally Blonde The Musical JR.

Audiences were treated to a marvellous musical show, based on the wellknown romantic comedy film, across four performances in the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre.

Izzy Bevens (Upper Sixth) and May Busher (Lower Sixth) shared the starring role of Elle Woods, who overcame stereotypes about her appearance to become a successful lawyer. Perse Theatre Practitioner in Residence David Barrett was thrilled by the quality of the performances.

He said: “I was blown away by what the students were able to achieve in such a short period of time.

“The reason why it was so successful is because the students had a massive love for the show in the first place and really threw themselves into it in every possible way.

“From the choreography to learning the songs, the buzz was there from day one and they really put their heart and soul into it.”

During rehearsals, Helen Petrovna (OP), who played the character of Brooke in the UK tour of the production, gave a special skipping workshop to cast members involved in a particularly technical scene.

Mr Barrett said: “After every show there were big smiles on people’s faces in the audiences. I’ve had so many people message me to say they were singing the songs or were going home to watch the film because they had been inspired by what they had just seen.”

I was blown away by what the students were able to achieve in such a short period of time.

DAVID BARRETT

Production of The Railway Children is just the ticket

A massive cast of 65 Year 7 and 8 pupils were on the right track for the Lower School performances of The Railway Children.

With a further 20 students working behind the scenes, it is thought to be the biggest number of pupils ever involved in a Perse production.

Perse Theatre Practitioner in Residence David Barrett directed the production and decided to have two completely separate casts for each show.

He said: “It wasn’t pre-determined that we were going to do it like that, but because we had so much talent and interest, especially with Year 7 coming in, we wanted to give them an opportunity to showcase what they could do.

“When we auditioned, there was so much interest we thought it would be a good chance to be really inclusive as we want pupils to keep doing drama moving forward.

“We also broke the main characters down further, so we had three people playing Bobbie, three playing Peter and three playing Phyllis in each cast.

“I thought it was quite a challenging piece without being too dark or heavy, but it had some substance to it and it’s also a really lovely story that people enjoy.”

In addition to full houses for both shows, the Lower School actors also performed their dress rehearsals in front of audiences of children from Fen Ditton, Queen Emma and Queen Edith Primary Schools.

Taking on The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

Middle School actors ventured into an alternative past with their production of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

Based on Joan Aiken’s children’s novel, the play was set in early 19th-century England when a huge number of wolves invaded the country via a tunnel. Cousins Bonnie and Sylvia find they are not only chased by the animals, but also have to thwart the evil schemes of governess Miss Slighcarp and workhouse owner Mrs Brisket.

English and drama teachers Kathryn Salmond and Hannah Flowers directed the show and felt The Wolves of Willoughby Chase had been a good play for the Year 9 and 10 actors to get their teeth into.

Miss Salmond said: “We really liked it because it had a mix of comedy and a dark, serious side. We’ve had a lot of intense, emotional school productions this year, so we thought this would be a nice contrast.”

Meanwhile, Miss Flowers was pleased to see the large cast featured quite a number of pupils who had not acted in Perse plays previously.

She said: “It was really nice to see how many people auditioned who had never done drama before. We had quite a big ensemble and they were all super-committed.”

Student pens impressive Senior Middle School play

The latest Senior Middle School play broke new ground for Perse productions, as well as entertaining audiences.

Rather than taking a script by an established writer, drama teacher and show director George Smith decided to stage The Blood on the Bannisters, penned by Perse student Elif Cektir (left, Lower Sixth) and longlisted in this year’s National Theatre New Views play-writing competition.

He said: “There were moments when you had to take a step back to remember this was written by someone while they were studying for GCSEs and I think it’s a marvellous thing for us to have done.

“I think it’s the first time we’ve done a student’s work as one of our major productions and I’m very proud we were able to do this.

“It was a uniquely rewarding experience and unlike any other piece I’ve directed.”

Although Mr Smith directed the production, Elif played a major role during rehearsals, explaining the characters’ intentions and motivations with the actors and making minor edits to the script along the way.

She said: “It was a great privilege to have been able to impact the play in terms of direction. Mr Smith checked the story and understood it perfectly, but it occurred to me during the dress rehearsal that I should have written a character for myself!”

The dress rehearsal was the first time Elif had seen her play brought to life and she was thrilled with the outcome.

“When I watched it, I was just so moved because the words I’d written were being said back even better than I’d imagined them in my head,” she said.

“Everything was so vibrant and to see what I’d written on paper become animated was amazing and strangely intimate.

“The cast was incredible and I’m really proud of them. They were like professional actors, they could definitely make careers out of it!”

Students do their talking in major debating finals

Alina Turchyn and Rebecca Li (both Lower Sixth) made their point to reach the grand final of the Manchester Schools Debating Competition.

They finished third overall amongst an international field after coming through several rounds of debating on the day to make it to the final.

The pair also took part in the Oxford Union Schools Debating Competition finals after finishing first out of 70 teams in the online regional round.

Alina and Rebecca were also joined by Sanjana Bhatnagar (Lower Sixth) as they put their debating skills to paper after qualifying for the IPPF (International Public Policy Forum), a competition organised by the Brewer Foundation and New York University featuring school teams from across the world.

Sixty-four teams were chosen having submitted essays for or against the motion ‘NATO is an effective model for international co-operation’.

The competition saw teams make arguments via essays with judges selecting a winner to move into the next round.

It was the first time a group from The Perse has entered the IPPF and Alina, Rebecca and Sanjana were the only UK team to be selected to take part.

Making a case in mock trial competition

Perse students had their day in court when they took part in the Independent Schools Mock Trial Competition.

They were among groups from nine schools who descended on Inner London Crown Court for the event, part of Young Citizens’ SmartLaw programme aimed at helping young people understand how the legal justice system works. Despite not making it to the final, the Perse students were able to convince two of the three juries who heard their cases to agree with their arguments.

Pupils up for international debate

Cheyoon Kim (Year 10) and Sissi He (Year 9) talked their way into the finals of an international debating contest following success in the regional qualifiers.

They came fifth in the regional round at The Cambridge Union to book their place in the finals of the International Competition for Young Debaters, which took place at the same venue and featured teams from as far afield as Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.

Participating students were:

Upper Sixth

Alice Ede

Harry Knight

Isabel Beaumont

Lower Sixth

Elif Cektir

Wincy Jeyaraj

Catherine Balfour

Ioanna MacKenna

Hannah Wicks

Year 11

Ryan Croke

Year 10

Eloise Bowler

Alysha Djamarani

Ianthe Carr

Imaani Morris

Lyla Keith-Roach

Clancy Wild

Djia Sanath-Vijay

In the regional finals, the pair won two of their four debates on the topics of the imposition of a 100% inheritance tax should be imposed and the banning of social media influencers from featuring children in their content.

Reaching the final was a particularly impressive feat as Cheyoon, who was ranked in the top 10 of individual speakers, had not taken part in an in-person event before, while it was Sissi’s debut in any form of debating competition.

They were joined in the regional round by two further excellent Perse teams –Magnus Burt and Vivek Kondel-Laws (both Year 10), who won a debate on whether a BBC-style impartiality requirement should be imposed on all news platforms, and Freya Aidt and Sophie Zhang (both Year 9).

A Monster Calls

Perse Players perform moving production of

Audiences were treated to exceptional performances across the Perse Players’ four-show run of A Monster Calls.

Talented actors from Year 7 to Upper Sixth came together to star in the moving play, adapted from the Patrick Ness novel, which told the story of Conor, whose mother has terminal cancer, and his relationship with the Monster, who is formed of the yew tree in his back garden.

Notably, the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre was given a major makeover with the stage set up in the centre of the auditorium so that performances took place in the round.

Carole Tucker (Lower Sixth), who, along with Liviana Alliott (Upper Sixth), was co-assistant director to Perse Theatre Practitioner in Residence Andrew Pritchard, was delighted with how the production had gone, having witnessed it come together since the start of term.

She said: “It looked so professional. The cast members really developed their acting through the rehearsals and were able to create their own versions of the characters and that was really impressive.

“I’d never worked in the ‘backstage’ aspect of a production before and hadn’t realised the whole process involved.

“Before, I’d just look at a play and focus on the storyline, the plot and the dialogue, but I never realised elements such as the lighting or costume choices really had such a significant impact on the development of the show.”

The main roles were double cast including those of Conor – Emma Walshe (Year 9) and Sam Ronco (Year 10), the Monster – Rory Ward-Thomas (Year 11) and Izzy Bevens (Upper Sixth), and Conor’s mum – Paloma Bargh (Year 10) and Gabriella Bedford (Upper Sixth).

Centre stage in Shakespeare finals

Hanyu Zeng (Year 9) made a dramatic entrance at one of the UK’s most famous theatres after qualifying for the English-Speaking Union’s Performing Shakespeare national finals.

Shakespeare’s Globe provided the stunning scene for the final, with Hanyu treading those illustrious boards after winning the regional finals in Colchester with her recital of Shylock’s monologue from The Merchant of Venice

Along with several other Perse pupils, Hanyu was chosen by Director of English and Drama Chris Green to enter Performing Shakespeare following an in-school competition.

She said: “I was so excited just to be in the competition. I like acting and Shakespeare, so I’ve found it really fun, and I’ve enjoyed seeing other people’s pieces.

“I chose Shylock’s monologue as he’s explaining why he wants revenge against the main character from The Merchant of Venice and I thought it would be nice to show someone standing up for themselves.

Student achievements

Izzy Bevens (Upper Sixth) was offered a place to study on the Actor Musician course at Mountview.

Freya Grigson (Lower Sixth) was named as a finalist in the New College of the Humanities essay competition.

James Roskilly (Year 11) was longlisted for the National Theatre New Views Playwriting Competition.

Short story success for student

Alice Wentzell (Upper Sixth) demonstrated a wizardry with words in a national short story contest.

“The Merchant of Venice is also the first Shakespeare play I studied, so I already knew it quite well.

“I’ve definitely become more confident at speaking in front of people and it’s just been a really fun experience.”

Ioanna MacKenna (Lower Sixth) won the English-Speaking Union East Region Sixth Form Public Speaking Competition.

Jack Shaw (Year 11) was named as one of the winners of the Simon Powell Poetry Prize following great feedback from Daljit Nagra.

Lila Rickett (Lower Sixth) received a commendation for her essay in Queens’ College’s Estelle Prize for English.

She was runner-up in the 12 to 18-yearold category of the Reader’s Digest 100-Word Story competition with her emotive work A Living Monument to Us and received a £100 book voucher for her efforts.

Having heard about the intriguing competition during creative writing enrichment sessions, Alice was inspired to have a go.

“I like writing short stories – I wrote one as part of my Rouse Award artefact project – and for this competition I wanted to do something on the theme of time passing and make it evocative,” she said.

“There’s something about weeping willows that sparked my imagination. Sitting within the leaves became the main character’s safe place to go with someone else.

“To get it to 100 words while still having a storyline, I wrote a longer story of about 300 words and it really helped as I felt I knew my characters and the background and I could work on brutally cutting it down.

“It’s all implied meaning because you don’t have the time and space to describe things, you have to read between the lines.”

Alice, who plans to study English at university, was thrilled to discover she was runner-up, with her story one of three shortlisted by judges for an online vote by the general public.

She said: “I had no idea it was going to be on the Reader’s Digest website for people to vote for their favourite, but it’s great that so many liked it.”

Gifted recorder player crowned Perse Musician of the Year

Music

“The Actor with the Monkey is a contemporary piece written for recorder, but which harks back to Renaissance times.

“The second piece was by Telemann, my favourite Baroque composer. I think his music is wondrous and fantasy-like and it’s very good to play with a pianist.

“With playing two recorders for the Bedford piece, it was only for around 10 bars. They were two melodies that crossed and I think for the composer it was more a clever way to swap over instruments!”

Highly commended were Oliver, with a rocking rendition of Guns ’n’ Roses’ heavy metal classic Nightrain followed by performances of three of his own songs – One Track Mind, Rockstar and Never Say Never – and Sakura, who played a traditional Japanese folk song bearing her name, Sicilienne by von Paradis and Brahms’ Sonatensatz in C minor.

Edward performed a varied programme of pieces by Haydn, Rafael Mendez and Harry James and Andrew showcased his powerful baritone with a range of works from John Dowland’s Flow My Tears to Some Enchanted Evening from Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, while Jack provided excellent recitals of works by Chopin and Liszt.

Recorder player Alice Shaw (Year 9) blew away tough competition to win the Perse Musician of the Year title.

She came out on top in the grand final, which was adjudicated by classical soul piano pioneer Alexis Ffrench just ahead of his stunning performance at King Charles III’s Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle.

Alice played The Actor with the Monkey by Isang Yun and Telemann’s Essercizii Musici: Sonata in D minor before demonstrating her dexterity by playing two recorders at once during a performance of Bedford’s Recorder Concerto Movement V

Besides Alice, the final featured the extremely talented likes of violinist Sakura Fish, singer Andrew Girgis (both Upper Sixth), trumpeter Edward Taylor (Year 10), guitarist Oliver Massey (Year 11) and pianist Jack Fan (Lower Sixth).

They were whittled down from more than 470 submissions to the House Music Marathon competition and qualified for the grand final from individual instrumental/vocal finals during the Lent term.

Alice said: “I’m so pleased to have won. Especially as a recorder player, I think it’s quite an achievement because it’s an instrument that’s often under-rated.

Perse Director of Music Ben Wingfield said: “Alexis was bowled over by the talent of the six musicians and commended both the musical personalities each performer brought to the music they chose, and also the clear evidence of ‘hours and hours’ of practice that had gone into honing their recitals.”

This year’s competition was adjudicated by classical soul piano pioneer Alexis Ffrench

Renowned musicians headline Festival of Song

The Perse was alive with the sound of music during a wonderful week-long Festival of Song.

A masterclass with BBC Music Magazine Personality of the Year and top tenor Nicky Spence and acclaimed pianist Joseph Middleton launched the celebration in style. Piano and vocal duos worked with Nicky and Joseph on pieces they had been practising ahead of a recital held later in the festival week.

Singer Andrew Girgis and pianist Stella Baek (both Upper Sixth) were among the students who were thrilled to have the opportunity to gain inspiration from acclaimed musicians as they rehearsed Haydn’s The Spirit Song

Andrew, who performs with the Perse Chamber Choir and Senior Voices group, said: “It was great to work with two professional musicians who gave really valuable advice.

“Nicky’s approach was very friendly and jokey and he got the audience involved as well.

“He got me thinking about the way you use words to portray what a song is talking about and little tricks you can use, as well as just general vocal technique.”

Stella, who has been playing piano for around 10 years, said: “Joseph was very nice and got me to think more about the atmosphere of the song.”

Following their entertaining and engaging workshop, Nicky and Joseph gave a sensational concert in the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre, performing a wide repertoire from musical arrangements of Robert Burns’ poems to the stylish sounds of Stephen Sondheim.

Singers ROAR with world-class consort

Perse choral singers from Years 9 and 10, as well as some Sixth Form students, took part in the rare opportunity to perform with the acclaimed Gabrieli Consort and Players in Ely Cathedral.

The Perse pupils sang hymns, carols and canticles in a 400-strong choir, which included singers from schools all around the South of England, filling Ely Cathedral with sound. The concert was part of the Gabrieli Consort’s ROAR programme.

The performance was themed around 17th-century Christmas music by Michael Praetorius and Heinrich Schütz, while the consort themselves also sang some 20th-century music by Ralph Vaughn-Williams and Herbert Howells.

Pupil wins prestigious piano competition

Talented pianist Maito Shiode (Year 8) struck a chord to win the illustrious Emanuel Trophy.

The 2022 Perse Musician of the Year lifted the silverware and earned prize money of £750 with a sensational performance at the prestigious piano competition in London.

Maito qualified for the Emanuel Trophy Piano Competition having won the senior music prize at the Cambridge Competitive Music Festival in 2022. He was among 19 pianists from across the country taking part, all of whom had won local music competitions over the past two years.

For his recital, Maito played three of his favourite pieces from Bach’s Goldberg Variations , as well as Chopin’s Impromptu in A flat.

He said: “With Bach, I just like how the different voices interact to form a contrapuntal dialogue (contrasting melodies that harmonise when played together). The Chopin piece is much more lyrical and fluid. I like it because it is gracious yet mysterious, making you wonder how it will unfold next when you listen to the piece for the first time.

“I tried to pedal light and re-pedal more than usual, as the powerful tone of the Steinway concert grand piano was slightly overwhelming for the acoustics of the church.”

It was Maito who stood out for adjudicator and acclaimed international pianist Professor Frank Wibaut.

Students add a Latin string to

their bow in masterclass

Pupils were treated to a special masterclass with fusion music group Classico Latino.

Classico Latino, who specialise in melding authentic Latin music with the Western classical tradition, brought signature sounds to workshop sessions with the school’s strings players.

Students learned and rehearsed classical string arrangements of Latin pieces of music, such as Alma Llanera, in preparation for a concert with the ensemble in the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre.

The Perse musicians had a fantastic time learning from Classico Latino, especially benefitting from styles and rhythms that were not familiar to them from playing classical music.

Gifted violinist performs in national finals

Sakura Fish (Upper Sixth) reached the national finals of the Rotary Young Musician competition which took place in Manchester.

Sakura said: “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind and I really didn’t expect to get this far.”

Musicians learn from world-class trombonists

Musicians enjoyed a masterclass from renowned trombone quartet Bones Apart, an all-female group who have toured all over the world and won multiple prestigious awards.

The day began with the group holding 45-minute workshops with the Senior Trumpet Ensemble and Senior Brass Dectet.

A rehearsal and recording session followed for brass players in Years 7 to 10, conducted and led by Bones Apart performers.

Perse pupils contributed solos to the quartet’s arrangement of The Lily of the Valley. These new pieces allowed the students to explore some rhythmic structures they may not have previously been used to.

They worked on a varied repertoire, playing some of Bones Apart’s own arrangements, as well as honing some

of their existing pieces, with the day culminating in an after-school concert in the Lecture Theatre.

Perse Director of Music Ben Wingfield said: “The masterclasses with the group gave the students an insight into the strategies Bones Apart use during their rehearsal process, developing their skills working in an ensemble.

“The evening concert allowed our ensembles to rub shoulders with a professional group at the top of their game.”

Musicians paint pictures in symphonic showcase

Musical Pictures were painted by talented Perse musicians in the school’s annual Symphonic Showcase at Saffron Hall.

The concert included virtuosic recitals by the Perse Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and Wind Band 1 with a programme exploring the power of music to evoke images to life.

Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, written by the composer in response to paintings he viewed in a St Petersburg gallery, was brilliantly performed by the Symphony Orchestra.

Meanwhile, the Chamber Orchestra and Wind Band 1 produced excellent performances of Lully’s Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme and Alfred Reed’s El Camino Real: A Latin Fantasy to an enraptured audience.

Solo performances included pieces by Upper Sixth students. Violinist Emma Harris and cellist William Dickens were backed by the Symphony Orchestra as they performed concertos by Saint

Saens, while harpist Eos Liao was joined by the Chamber Orchestra for a movement by Boieldieu.

Perse Director of Music Ben Wingfield said: “It was important that all our Upper Sixth musicians had a chance to shine. In their own various ways, they have given so much to music here and have grown so much as musicians and people, so the concert was a fitting send-off for them.”

It was important that all our Upper Sixth musicians had a chance to shine.

BEN WINGFIELD

at The Perse

Around 300 Perse musicians played their part in creating an amazing atmosphere with performances across three venues – the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre auditorium and foyer and the Lecture Theatre.

There was something for everyone in the 600-strong sellout audience, from Handel to Coldplay, as bands, ensembles, choirs and orchestras produced a whirlwind of marvellous music.

Perse Director of Music Ben Wingfield said: “The weather certainly helped and there was a lovely summer vibe which lent itself to the wonderful festival atmosphere.

“The audience was able to listen to lots of different styles of music, as well as enjoying street food and picnics in between.”

As a fun finale, the musicians and keen audience members joined together as the Perse Mighty Orchestra to play Offenbach’s Can-Can in Ellison Court.

Summer sun and sensational sounds provided a blissful backdrop to this year’s Proms

Dipping into diplomacy at US embassy

A level politics students heard from experts and grilled congress people on a trip to the US embassy at the Congress to Campus event.

Students listened to six talks throughout the day, with opportunity to ask questions afterwards. They heard about the presidency, the function of the judiciary in the US and recent rulings on Roe v Wade.

A particular highlight included a discussion between two Democratic and Republican congress people, where they fielded questions from the students. They demonstrated that political disagreements could be held, while remaining calm and respectful with one another and with their questioners.

Politics

Populism, Putin and more at the PPE Society

Students from Year 10 to Upper Sixth stretched their intellectual muscles with the PPE (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics) Society.

The society aims to give an opportunity for students to learn about and express their views on the great debates and issues facing the world today.

Organising member of the society Babhravi Krishnan (Upper Sixth) gave a talk on the impact of the repeal of Roe v Wade earlier this year.

She said: “It was interesting to explore both the impact this ruling has had on low-income women and women of colour, but also on the mid-term election results.”

Other topics discussed at the PPE Society this year included ‘Marxism in 20 minutes’, ‘Putin, Ukraine and the global order’, and ‘Is the internet a force for good in the world?’

Overseen by Perse Head of Politics Peter Richards, Babhravi organised the society with three other Upper Sixth students – Ebrahim Daultana, Chicko Ndumu and Kristof Allen

42 Society

Our 42 Society series of lunchtime lectures challenges our students to think about different ideas and concepts to broaden their horizons. Named after Douglas Adams’ ultimate answer to the ultimate question in The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy, the programme featured a wide range of impressive and interesting speakers throughout the year.

Inspiring Josef Behrmann Lectures provide food for thought

Dr Kessler said the validity of one point of view did not exclude another and felt it was by reaching out to others from different backgrounds, cultures and faiths and exchanging perspectives that people could co-exist.

Meanwhile in his lecture ‘The past is a foreign country: Britain and the Holocaust’, Dr Adamson, a consultant for the BBC History Network, reflected on the UK’s response to the atrocities carried out against Jews by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Dr Adamson felt its portrayal in educational settings lacked depth and detail, with the idea that the Holocaust only occurred in continental Europe, while failing to consider the ‘human dimension’ of its links to the UK.

In conclusion, Dr Adamson believed that while the Holocaust may never happen again, it is only by learning from the mistakes of the past that the course of the future can be steered.

Dr Edward Kessler MBE and Dr Daniel Adamson (OP 2014) gave thought-provoking and hopeful talks as the Perse Josef Behrmann Lectures returned after a three-year break due to Covid.

Held in memory of the Old Persean and Holocaust survivor, who went on to become a Hollywood actor, the series resumed with lectures around the Holocaust Memorial Day theme of ‘Ordinary People’.

Dr Kessler, who is Founder President of the Woolf Institute – an organisation aimed at improving inter-faith relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims, spoke entertainingly and evocatively on the topic of ‘Living Peaceably Together’.

He told students that while bigotry did not have a place in civilised society, ignorance about others’ faiths and beliefs can lead to fear, which in turn lies at the heart of religious discrimination.

Other 42 Society lectures included:

Dr Stephen Webb - Intensive care: Treating the sickest patients in hospital

Dr Madeline Lancaster - Growing brain tissues in a dish to find out what makes us human

Dr Stuart Holmes - The electronic properties of semiconductor nanostructures

Julia Shvets - It’s not just about the money: How economists use maths to understand people

Dr Kirsty MacDougall - Can a voice identify a criminal?

An introduction to forensic phonetics

Dr Sarah Bowden - What’s the point of the Middle Ages?

Dr Manolo Guerci - London’s ‘Golden Mile’: The great houses of The Strand, 1550-1650

Outdoor Pursuits

Breath-taking Bolivia expedition is ‘trip of a

Toby Westcott (Lower Sixth) shares his thoughts on the PES Summit 12 expedition to Bolivia.

Our tour began in Bogotá, with our layover allowing us to explore the rich culture of Colombia through the medium of wall murals and graffiti in the favelas.

Landing in La Paz and making a swift journey to the Hostel Copacabana, we later explored the markets. Having outfitted ourselves with various items of clothing and enriched ourselves in Bolivian culture, the capital city would have to be left behind for now.

Journeying to Santiago de Okola, our community homestay location, the group gazed upwards in awe at the Sleeping Dragon, a challenge to face in the coming days.

Whilst staying with local people, we found a peaceful way of life in this quaint village. We were welcomed with open arms, happy faces and plates of delicious locally-grown food.

A quick journey to Turtle Island in the morning was followed by a trek up the Sleeping Dragon’s head, which helped greatly with the acclimatisation to 3,800 metres above sea level.

Dragon, we climbed well over 4,000 metres and had an amazing view of Lake Titicaca.

Having conquered the Sleeping Dragon, an Andean feast awaited us, made of food grown and prepared by the locals, providing full bellies and smiling faces all around. A particular highlight for everyone was the quinoa soup.

The dry season!

lifetime’

Bidding farewell to Santiago de Okola and the stunning views of Lake Titicaca, we headed for the trek phase. The weather, helpful as ever, came crashing down as a mix of hail and snow–not what we were expecting in the dry season!

After conquering two passes in a whiteout, more soup came as a reward for our hard work, followed by a day of rest, music and yet more soup.

A river crossing came as the next challenge. Going barefoot, we braved the freezing cold river and continued the arduous journey over another pass to a second campsite. More soup was relished and devoured by all. Squeezing everyone around the table brought the group a whole lot closer, giving everyone a nice warm feeling after a long day of trekking.

Dulce de leche and bread in our bellies, we set off for Tarija in the very smallest hours of the morning, before being roped to a guide and setting off up the mountain. A long and hard climb filled with exhaustion for all, the views proved a worthy reward with us all feeling like we were on top of the world.

A swift bus journey to Huayna Potosi base camp left all in need of some soup and sleep, before heading off to high camp the following day, where everyone scrambled over rocks towards a glacier.

Tied together in a line, the team moved as the close and solid unit we had become, summiting after a difficult but rewarding five hours.

After a third restful night of sleep in a tent, the group set out on a final day of trekking before Tarija. An easier hour’s ascent followed by flat terrain and downhill led us around a lake and to the breath-taking sight of Tarija.

The group embarked on a short skills day before attempting Tarija, allowing us to familiarise ourselves with the skills of crampons and ice axes once more, and to get a sense of the walk to Tarija we would be taking in the dark the following morning.

The views atop Huayna were breath-taking, everyone feeling exhausted but pleased. We all gained valuable skills as well as countless memories with a truly wonderful group.

We are all extremely grateful to the amazing and dedicated outdoor pursuits department who mentored us through the struggles, leaving us all with a little bit more resilience. This truly was the trip of a lifetime.

At the summit of Huayna Potosi (6,088m)!

Stunning snow scenes savoured in Lake District

Seventeen resolute Upper pupils braved the cold as they visited the winter wonderland of the Lake District.

The aim of the trip to Coniston was to undertake some winter hill walking and the conditions did not disappoint with a fresh deposit of snow on the night of arrival and calm, cold conditions following on.

As a result, the group were treated to stunning crystal clear scenes, fresh powder snow, glittering hoar frost and

temperature inversions providing mesmerising views above the clouds.

Pupils ascended the surrounding fells and took part in winter skills training on the ascent to Wetherlam, including using ice axes and crampons.

The trip culminated in an ascent up the east ridge of the Old Man of Coniston which put into practice all the skills developed over the course of the weekend.

Perse Head of Outdoor Pursuits Ben Parker said: “Pupils had an excellent time in some of the finest conditions we’ve ever seen in this long-running trip. They even cooked their very own Christmas dinner in the youth hostel!”

Hitting peak form in Scottish Highlands

Twenty adventurous Upper students went on a mountaineering mission to the Scottish Highlands in preparation for the PES Summit 12 expedition to Bolivia.

They travelled to Aviemore to get a sample of what to expect when they tackled the Andes at Easter.

Strong winds and consolidated snow only on the steepest slopes meant the conditions were not ideal, but the students got stuck into training nonetheless, focusing on using ice axes, ropes and crampons.

The intrepid team learned about terrain interpretation, avalanche risk, group management, safe descent and ascent routes on steep slopes, plus anchors and mechanical advantage systems to enact rescues.

Over the course of the trip, students climbed to the summit of Cairngorm Mountain and discovered how to arrest falls using ice axes in Coire Cas.

Their training concluded with avalanche scenarios, with the group using transceivers, probes and shovels to locate and rescue a buried victim, followed by first aid and improvised evacuation to a safe location, while communicating with a ‘home contact’ via a real satellite link.

Pupils take on expedition to Dalsland

Pupils hit the water with exciting Summit 11 canoeing expeditions in Sweden during the summer.

During their six-day expeditions, students covered the entire length of Stora Le, a large lake peppered with remote islands, as they paddled by day and set up camp on a new island home each evening.

The journey was self-sufficient with all food for the trip carried by the groups and dinners cooked on open fires. This relied completely upon foraging for appropriate fire wood and

ensuring it had been prepared correctly using the groups’ cutting tools.

The full experience also included sleeping in hammocks under tarpaulins, something which most of the pupils had only experienced in training for this trip.

However, despite the hard work of the expedition lifestyle, there was still a chance for students to relax by swimming and rock jumping or developing their wood carving and fire by friction skills.

Foundation Climbing Club enjoyed a trip to the Peak District.

Upper

Key outdoor skills developed by Ascent Group

Around 230 Upper pupils enjoyed experiencing life in the great outdoors at the PES Ascent Group half-term camp.

They began with the task of pitching 48 teepees, 24 dining shelters and eight marquees for their stay at the Abington camp ground.

The purpose of the training camp was for pupils to learn how to use all of the equipment needed to look after themselves and their peers over an extended period outdoors.

As such, patrols purchased their own food from the local supermarket, cooked for themselves and staff/volunteer guests, in addition to taking part in a range of activities.

These included a navigation and team-building trail, as well as learning cutting tools skills, testing out their ability by carving Halloween pumpkins.

Armed with the necessary skills, the Ascent Group travelled to the Isle of Wight for an exciting summer camp.

As well as having the opportunity to put what they had learned to the test, pupils also tried surfing on the nearby beach and built their own assault course in a fun end to the school year.

Paddlesport pupils enjoyed a trip to Scotland including time on Loch Oich and Loch Ness, but they didn’t spot the Loch Ness Monster this time!

Climbers learn the ropes in Snowdonia

A gripping time was had by Perse Development Climbing Club during their adventure in north Wales.

The students spent three days in Snowdonia National Park practising their climbing and caving techniques, while camping and catering for themselves in the mountainous environment.

They headed to a secluded crag and had a go at single pitch climbing and abseiling with excellent weather and dry rock providing perfect conditions for pupils to push themselves.

Pupils also sampled underground caving, rafting and ziplining at Go Below in Conwy.

Going for Gold (and Silver) on expeditions

Adventurous students took part in tough expeditions to earn Duke of Edinburgh Gold and Silver Awards.

Those going for Gold practised in wet conditions in the Lake District before travelling to north Wales for their qualifying expedition, while Silver Award students took on a tough trek of the Brecon Beacons.

Pupils hit the water at Norfolk Broads

The Norfolk Broads provided a scenic setting for Upper pupils to make a splash during their PES Summit 10 trip.

During the visit, pupils had the chance to sail dinghies, paddle in canoes and turn their hand to stand-up paddle boarding.

They also had opportunities to drive the motor cruisers, which acted as both journeying craft and accommodation for each crew. Students socialised, cooked and slept on their boats, taking pride in their temporary homes.

Each crew designed and flew their own flag and competed in various inter-crew competitions including the ‘Broads Olympiad’!

Perse Assistant Head of Outdoor Pursuits Kieron Taylor said: “All pupils enjoyed a varied programme of activities and came away with great memories of a unique experience.”

Paddlesport Club makes waves in Wales

Perse Development Paddlesport Club members made rapid progress as they headed to north Wales for a whitewater weekend.

The first day saw pupils travel down the lower section of the river, with students newer to the environment brushing up on the basics, while the more experienced members were mentored in the skills needed for group leadership.

Students headed for the upper section of the river on the second day and split into two groups, allowing them to work at their own pace and develop their proficiency on a more challenging set of rapids.

Charities and Community Outreach

Innovative student reduces period poverty during Ugandan trip

Jazzie Heslop (Upper Sixth) was inspired to continue helping the battle against period poverty after visiting a school in Uganda.

She spent a week in Entebbe and met a group of around 30 girls from the city’s Early Learning School, educating them on the menstrual cycle and giving advice on sanitary products and hygiene.

Jazzie also gave the girls ‘period packs’ with contributions donated by the Perse community, including underwear, Vaseline, sanitary pads, flannels, soap and roll-on deodorants.

She was humbled by meeting the girls at the school and explained how difficult life is for them regarding period poverty having heard their stories.

Jazzie said: “It’s quite hard to put into words and until you’ve experienced it yourself, you’re never going to fully understand what it’s like there.

“Just seeing how happy the kids are despite having so little really impacted me and one of the things I’ve learned is to be grateful for the simple things we have.”

Jazzie plans to return to Uganda during her gap year and has launched her own charity scheme, Crimson Tide, to ensure girls at the Early Learning School receive ongoing period-related support.

The Perse gets glowing to raise funds for Christel House

Perse staff and students lit up the Upper site when they tried to Glow the Distance to raise money for Christel House Schools.

Around 110 members of the Perse community took part in the event, running or walking five one-kilometre laps of the school grounds in teams, with many dressed in creative and colourful costumes that brought a shine to the night sky.

Each team was challenged to collect five stickers – one being awarded on the completion of each circuit – to represent the Christel House Schools in India, South Africa, Mexico, Jamaica and the USA.

BandSoc musicians provided a mix of acoustic tunes and up-tempo rock to keep participants going, while Sixth Form marshals were on duty to ensure everyone stayed on the right track.

Perse Head of Computing and Digital Strategy Paul Baker, who helped organise Glow the Distance, said: “The event went really well. Everyone had a lot of fun and it was a chance to raise some money for a great cause.”

Fun and laughs at pop-tastic charity Lip Sync Battle

Students and staff let their hair down for a fun-filled night of music and laughs at the annual Perse Charity Lip Sync Battle.

More than £900 was raised for teenage mental health charity Stem4 thanks to a variety of hilarious takes on the biggest names in pop and rock.

The event was compered entirely by students for the first time with Tengyu Zhao, Harry Knight, Edward de Ferrars Green and Awbery Shapiro (all Upper Sixth) keeping the show on the road.

Sixth Form tutors kicked off proceedings as they joined forces to perform Koukou Move and despite their early slot on the bill, they could not be pipped in the award for ‘most horrifying’ act!

From Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood and a mash-up from musicals by the ‘Drama Nerds’ to a Pitch Perfect performance by the ‘Treblemakers’ and the traditional Senior Prefects songand-dance routine, Sixth Form students provided a series of sensational star turns.

The economics department were on the money with their version of Jessie J’s Price Tag and maths staff strutted their stuff with Mark Ronson hit Uptown Funk

A side-splitting take on Mr Mister’s eighties classic Broken Wings was served up by Director of Music Ben Wingfield and design and technology teacher Anna Wingfield.

Meanwhile, Head of Sixth Form Guy Couper-Marsh and Head of Upper Sixth Rachel Sharp were joined by maths teacher Lilian Blaxill and Director of Wind Bands Viv Halton to summon the spirit of ABBA.

However, the ‘most innovative’ award went to the computer science department with their jokey spin on Billy Joel’s The Longest Time while dressed in Squid Game outfits.

Form group U6CKB won the ‘most entertaining’ accolade as they donned double denim and cowboy hats for a priceless performance of Timber by Pitbull and Kesha.

Dr Blaxill, who helped organise the event, commented: “We’ve always said it’s the thing The Perse does really badly, really well!

“There was such a variety of performances and different interpretations of songs and it was a really fun night. It’s also great to have raised so much money for such a worthwhile cause.”

Powerful performance brings Perse and primary pupils together

Scores of singers from The Perse and local primary schools joined forces in a powerful performance of Carmina Burana.

The Upper and Prep choirs linked up with Year 5 groups from St Alban’s Catholic Primary School, Cambridge, and The Bellbird Primary School in Sawston for the O Fortuna concert at Saffron Hall.

Combined with the might of a full orchestra, a massive and moving sound was created by around 250 singers performing Orff’s classic work.

The concert was the result of a Perse community outreach project which saw Upper Sixth students mentor pupils from St Alban’s and The Bellbird in music as part of their enrichment sessions.

Perse Director of Music Ben Wingfield was thrilled with how the choirs had risen to the occasion and the reaction from the packed audience.

He said: “Whether it was Year 5 pupils just getting into music or professional musicians, everybody knew the common purpose of what they were working towards and there was a huge amount of support from everyone.”

“The class was sitting behind the timpani drums which created an atmosphere and an energy that filled us with excitement and joy. It was truly memorable and the whole thing will stay with me forever.”

ST ALBAN’S PUPIL

“The project has helped our children grow in confidence and express themselves. It has made them believe that they can take on difficult challenges and overcome them.”

Mr Wingfield felt the response to the Carmina Burana project from St Alban’s and The Bellbird had been amazing.

“They were brilliant and really enthusiastic,” he said. “When you’re that age, the size, scale and bawdiness of Carmina Burana is really exciting. When you have the power to make music with 250 people and create something bigger than the sum of its parts, that can be immensely enabling, especially if you have people who aren’t so confident.

“Quite a lot of the children were inspired by the fact that these texts were nearly 1,000 years old and they were singing something from history.

“Our visits to the schools were partly based on games and workshops, so they were about having fun. It was our ambition even with pupils who might not take to singing first time to come away feeling exhilarated.”

Mr Wingfield believed it had also been a useful experience for the Upper Sixth mentors.

He said: “I’m keen to get our pupils to share their musicianship with people they don’t know, whether it’s in care homes, local churches or primary schools and to get an insight into what it’s like being on the other side of the classroom.”

Bellbird teacher Terri Collins said taking part in O Fortuna had been a wonderful experience for her pupils.

She said: “Mr Wingfield immediately sparked an interest and excitement in our children with his boundless enthusiasm. The Sixth Form students were brilliant in their delivery of the warm-up and our children loved getting to know them.

“The concert itself was truly an incredible day and one that our children will remember forever.”

Meanwhile, Ruth Burrows, St Alban’s teacher, commented: “Our children thoroughly enjoyed the O Fortuna project. It was fantastic to see them grow in confidence and competence with their singing and to see their sheer enjoyment of the music.”

TERRI COLLINS, THE BELLBIRD SCHOOL

Charity Cabaret goes with a swing

Perse singers and musicians stole the show as the school’s annual Charity Cabaret came back in its traditional setting.

Marvellously compered by Kashvi Sivasubramaniam and Malachy Wallace (both Upper Sixth), the show included performances from a variety of talented soloists, duos and groups.

From Tom Hammond (Year 11) playing Dave Brubeck jazz standards on piano to William Walker (Year 10) blasting heavy metal hits from Van Halen and Guns ‘n’ Roses on guitar, there was something to suit all tastes.

In amongst the classic cover versions, pianist Gerri Shi (Upper Sixth) was joined by Maggie Zhang (Upper Sixth) for a performance of her own mesmerising composition, Homecoming Book of Odes

The Perse Big Band gave their sumptuous backing to a range of favourites including Back to Black, You Make Me Feel So Young , Someone to Watch Over Me and They Can’t Take That Away from Me

It was left to the Senior Prefects to provide a traditional fun dance finale to an entertaining evening.

The event raised around £500 for the DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal.

Pupils take it all in their stride to help wildlife appeal

Year 7 pupils put their best paws forward to support an Old Persean’s appeal to raise funds for a major wildlife conservation trust.

Lucy Chimes (2016) set herself the goal of trekking 259 kilometres in aid of Wildlife ACT, with whom she is working as an intern on conservation projects in South Africa, the distance marking the same number of rhinos poached in the country in the first half of 2022.

She achieved her Walk for Wildlife challenge with a series of hikes over a period of several months, culminating in a final

It’s a wrap as Perse community supports Christmas shoebox appeal

An incredible total of 612 shoeboxes have been donated by the Perse community to boost the Link to Hope Christmas appeal.

The parcels, gifted by staff and pupils at the Upper, Prep and Pelican, contained a range of useful items including hats, gloves, toothbrushes, toothpaste, candles, sweets, flannels and small games.

Link to Hope will deliver the shoeboxes to families in need and elderly people in Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania in time for Christmas.

1km stroll on World Wildlife Day, which this year had the theme of ‘Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation’.

Inspired by her mission, Year 7 took part in a cumulative 259km sponsored trek, with each pupil striding around two kilometres at the Upper School site, to coincide with the conclusion of Lucy’s challenge.

The event took place as part of an animal-themed non-uniform day in aid of Wildlife ACT, while Year 7 youngsters also held fun stalls and games with a total of more than £3,000 being raised for the Walk for Wildlife appeal.

Perse Head of Computing and Digital Strategy Paul Baker, who co-ordinates the school’s shoebox appeal, was delighted with the response to this year’s shoebox drive.

“We are very happy with how the appeal has gone,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to think about people who are less fortunate and remember what Christmas is all about by trying to help others.”

Students make a song and dance for charity

For One Night Only, performers came together in a studentled show to raise funds for charity.

Organised by Sixth Form Charities Committee music and drama leads Alice Wentzell and Imogen Warren (both Upper Sixth), the event was a celebration of musical theatre in aid of EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices).

Alice and Imogen took on compering duties, as well as opening the show as part of the Senior Dance Club’s performance of One Night Only – inspiring the title of the concert – from hit musical Dreamgirls

Featuring pupils from Year 7 to Upper Sixth, the show included a range of acts from soloists to dance groups performing

numbers from musicals as diverse as Our House, based on the music of eighties band Madness, to the classic Singing in the Rain

All performers came together for a rousing finale of You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen

Imogen said the response to the event had been tremendous with a full house in attendance helping to raise around £550 for EACH.

She added: “I’m really proud of how it went because at the start it was just an idea and I wasn’t sure if we would actually do it. It would be great if someone could carry it on next year.”

Homelessness charity

helped by Perse pupils sleeping out

More than 70 Year 9 pupils took part in a sleepout to raise money for Emmaus Cambridge.

They laid their heads down for the night around the Upper School site to raise more than £4,350 for the local homelessness charity.

Six Emmaus staff and companions – formerly homeless people who have been helped by the charity – came along to tell the pupils about the work of the charity and share their experiences of living on the streets, as well as giving advice and snacks to those taking part.

Brass for Africa

Students busked around the Upper site during a special weeklong fundraiser for Brass for Africa. The charity provides music and life skills lessons to young and disadvantaged people in Uganda, Rwanda and Liberia.

A group of eight Sixth Form volunteers also supported the sleepout, as pupils participated in a game where they had to earn ‘money’ to buy cardboard to sleep on by doing different tasks.

Perse Charities Co-ordinator Emma Kenzie said: “The pupils had some really good conversations with the companions and it was fantastic they raised so much for the charity.”

Local history is brought to life

Year 5 pupils from King’s Hedges School enjoyed discovering more about the history and geography of Cambridge during a special trip led by Upper Sixth students and Head Ed Elliott.

Sport Hockey

U13 Girls (below left) were National runners-up and East champions

U14 Girls were County champions

U16 Girls (below right) reached the National Tier 1 Cup semi-finals

Selma Rahmoune, Millie Ely (both Year 11), Verity Valentine, Rosabel Clarke and Willow Wallman (all Year 10) all earned places in the England Hockey Girls’ Talent Academy.

U12 Boys were East runners-up

U13 Boys (below left) were County champions, East champions and fourth at the National Finals

U14 Boys were County champions, East champions and sixth at the National Finals

U18 Boys (below right) reached the National Tier 2 Cup quarter-finals

Laurie Simpson-Biles, Marc Rocca (both Lower Sixth) and Theo Hofer (Year 11) all earned places in the England Hockey Boys’ Talent Academy.

England debut delight

Elliott Kirkpatrick (Year 11) helped the England U16 boys’ hockey squad to a series victory over Ulster U17 following his first international call-up.

He featured in two of the three matches at England Hockey’s national centre Bisham Abbey as they ran out 2-1 winners overall against an older Northern Ireland side. Elliott, who plays at full-back, came through several trials to earn his place in the 26-player national squad.

Indoor hockey

U16 Boys were County champions, East champions and fifth at the National Finals

U18 Boys, U16 Girls and U18 Girls were all County champions

Boys’ teams head to Barcelona

The U18 and U15 boys’ teams travelled to Spain for an action-packed tour.

After a training session at the Olympic Stadium, both teams faced their counterparts from FC Barcelona in their opening matches and came away with 1-0 wins.

The U18 side went on to face Castellfedels, while the U15 team played Athletic Terassa, before both teams wrapped up with games against sides from another local club, Iluro.

There was still a chance for the players to experience the sights and sounds of the city, including visits to the Sagrada Familia and the Nou Camp (home of FC Barcelona), as well as watching a La Liga game between Espanyol and Real Sociedad.

Argentine visitors are good sports

Sport was the winner as Perse teams enjoyed a friendly rivalry on the pitch and court with visiting opponents from Argentina.

Sides from St Luke’s College took on the girls’ 1st and 2nd XI hockey teams, with The Perse winning both matches.

However, there was consolation for the Buenos Aires tourists as they edged an evenly contested rugby encounter against the Perse 2nd XV at Shelford’s Davey Field.

Teams from Balmoral College also visited the school, drawing with the Perse girls’ 1st XI and losing to the U16 side on the hockey pitch.

As the action moved indoors, plenty of fun was had as the Perse mixed U18 A and B teams met their South American visitors on the volleyball court. The home team won the A fixture, while Balmoral took the spoils in the B game.

Rugby

Yujian Zou (Upper Sixth) played for Northampton Saints U18 Junior Academy.

Tom Meadows and Ollie Brierley (both Year 11) were selected for Northampton Saints U16 Player Development Group.

Alessandro Podesta, Alex Mead, Evan Jarman and Thurston Edwards (all Year 10) were selected for Northampton Saints U15 Player Development Group.

Nico Harter (Upper Sixth) played for Eastern Counties U18 against Middlesex.

Tennis

Gabriella Zailer-Fletcher (Lower Sixth) was selected for the Cambridgeshire ladies’ team and reached the girls’ U18 doubles semi-finals at the National Finals of the Play Your Way to Wimbledon competition at the All-England Club.

Jonny Cross (Year 10) won the boys’ U16 singles and doubles titles at the LTA Junior Welsh Open.

Cricket

1st XI Boys drew their annual fixture with the MCC. The Perse scored 116 for 9 in reply after the MCC had declared at 208 for 7.

1st XI Girls reached the East final of the School Sport Magazine Cup.

U15 Girls reached the East final of the School Sport Magazine Cup and were County champions in the Lady Taverners indoor competition.

U13 Girls were County champions in the ESCA Cup and the Lady Taverners indoor competition.

Bella Howarth (Upper Sixth) was selected for elite women’s side The Blaze’s Academy squad.

May Busher (Lower Sixth) and Lulu Harding (Year 11) were selected for the Emerging Players Programme with Sunrisers, the ECB East and London Regional Development Centre for Girls.

Batting and bowling highlights

Top 5 batting partnerships

1. Bella Howarth (Upper Sixth) & May Busher (Lower Sixth)248no (1st XI Girls v Oakham School)

2. Elliott Kirkpatrick (Year 11) & Ashvik Goel (Year 10) –167 (1st XI Boys v Durham School)

3. Ted Bowers & Alexi Demetriou-Foale (both Year 9)165 (U14 Boys v Norwich School)

4. Bella Howarth (Upper Sixth) & May Busher (Lower Sixth) –137 (1st XI Girls v Forest School)

5. Ritvik Mohan & George Smith (both Year 10) –134no (U15B Boys v Kimbolton School)

Top 5 Individual innings:

1. Freddie Doel (Lower Sixth) –113 (1st XI Boys v Park View Academy of Sport)

2. Bella Howarth (Upper Sixth) –109no (1st XI Girls v Oakham School)

3. May Busher (Lower Sixth) –108no (1st XI Girls v Oakham School)

4. May Busher (Lower Sixth) –103no (1st XI Girls v The Leys)

Girls

hit it big with historic MCC fixture

The girls’ 1st XI rose to the occasion when they had the honour of facing the MCC women’s side for the first time.

They played two T20 matches against their illustrious visitors, with the MCC winning the opening encounter by seven wickets.

Batting first, The Perse registered a total of 94, including a knock of 49 from captain Bella Howarth (Upper Sixth), with the MCC chasing the score down in the final over, despite Georgia Abensour (Year 10) taking 2 for 8.

The MCC batted first in the second match and set a target of 100 for the girls to win, which they duly did by nine wickets, with the help of 51 from Bella Howarth and an unbeaten 35 by May Busher (Lower Sixth).

5. Ashvik Goel (Year 10)103 (1st XI Boys v Durham School)

Top 5 individual bowling performances

1. Taneesh Singh (Year 10) – 5 for 14 (U15 Boys v Norwich School)

2. Charlie Stock (Year 11) – 5 for 36 (1st XI Boys v Colchester Royal Grammar School)

3. Matilda Wells (Year 10) – 4 for 3 (U15 Girls v King’s Ely)

4. Jonathan Tan (Year 9) – 4 for 5 (U14 Boys v New Hall School)

5. George Waller (Year 8) – 4 for 6 (U13B Boys) v Wisbech Grammar School)

Gyaan Pademar (Year 7) took a hat-trick during the Perse U12 Festival.

Netball

U16 team were County champions and reached the East finals

U14 team were County champions and reached the East finals

U18 team reached the East finals

Izzy Rumsby (Lower Sixth), Isabel Smith, Emily Young, Aimee Reed (all Year 11) and Ellie Newitt (Year 10) were selected for the Saracens Mavericks Future Academy.

Netballers enjoy masterclass with Superleague star

International netballer Rhea Dixon put Perse players through their paces with super skills masterclasses during a special visit to the school.

Rhea, who plays for Vitality Superleague team Loughborough Lightning and has represented

England at U21 level, worked on attacking drills with the Perse U14, U16 and 1st and 2nd VII teams.

Caitlin Wade (Lower Sixth) won a silver medal playing for the Republic of Ireland at the Netball Europe U17 Challenge tournament in Gibraltar. She also earned Ireland’s player of the competition award after a series of excellent performances at goal-defence.

They particularly focused on driving on to the ball with intent and feeding shooters from the edge of the circle before putting what they had learned into practice with small matches.

Perse Assistant Director of Sport (Operations) Emma Jones, who trained Rhea between the ages of 14 and 19 in Surrey Storm’s performance pathway squad, was thrilled to have her coach the school’s netballers.

She said: “It was fantastic to have Rhea join us for the day and deliver three attacking masterclasses to our pupils.

“Rhea got them thinking about their movement and attacking play and our staff also really benefited from her knowledge, experience and passion.

“It was a brilliant day of netball and we feel very privileged to have had a player of Rhea’s calibre spend time with our pupils and pass on her knowledge.”

National Prep Schools Championships

Jasmine Christmas (Year 8) won Gold in the U14 girls’ 1,500m in a time of 4min 52.4sec.

ESAA Track & Field Cup

The Intermediate Boys and Intermediate Girls teams reached the East Anglia A finals and the Junior Girls qualified for the B finals.

Key individual performances included:

Thurston Edwards (Year 10) – Intermediate Boys, 49 points (26 in 300m)

Jasmine Christmas (Year 8) – Junior Girls, 47 points (32 in 1,500m)

Harry Simpson-Biles (Year 10) – Intermediate Boys, 44 points (28 in 100m)

Lola Endacott (Year 8) – Junior Girls, 44 points (25 in 100m)

Zara Osei (Year 10) – Intermediate Girls, 44 points

Jonathan Tan (Year 9) – Intermediate Boys, 43 points

Athene Ross (Year 8) – Junior Girls, 43 points

Charlotte Deacon (Year 10) – Intermediate Girls, 42 points

Kiana Mackie (Year 9) – Intermediate Girls, 40 points

Verity Valentine (Year 10) – Intermediate Girls, 29 points in 1,500m

Runner on track at major US indoor meet

Isaac Rothwell (Upper Sixth) shared a track with the stars of athletics at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston.

He was invited to compete in the junior boys’ international mile race at the World Athletics Indoor Tour meet, which featured big names such as Laura Muir and Noah Lyles, having been the No 1 ranked U18 athlete in the UK for men’s 1,500m in 2022.

In what was both his first indoor and overseas race, Isaac finished eighth in a time of 4min 14.53sec.

Cambridge & District Jubilee Cup win

The Perse team, featuring pupils from Year 7 to 10, won the overall event in the local schools competition.

Orienteering

British Orienteering Championships

Erik Biernacki-Jablonski (Year 7) won Bronze in the boys’ U12 individual longdistance event and the mixed U12 relay race.

British Schools Orienteering Championships

The biggest-ever team of 27 students secured a historic first medal for The Perse in the whole school category by claiming Bronze. The results were based on the placings of the top nine participants from each school within their individual categories.

Cross country

The Year 10 girls’ team of Hebe Darwin, Isabelle Hunter and Emily Cheng (Year 9) won Silver in their year group category. Hebe also won individual Bronze.

The Year 8 boys’ team of Alex Darwin, Edward Samson and Charlie Fleming won Silver in their year group category.

The Year 7 boys’ team of Erik BiernackiJablonski , James Cheng , George Hunter and Fionnan Twentyman won Silver in their year group category. Erik also won individual Silver.

The Year 11 boys’ team of Marcus Wentzell , James Rix and Marcus Collins won Bronze in their year group category.

British Schools Score Orienteering Championships

The Years 7-9 girls’ team of Amy Keen, Siobhan Monteith (both Year 7), Emily Cheng , Lila Martin , Sophia Candiah , Saachi Sama and Lara Zhang (all Year 9) won Gold in their category.

The Years 7-9 boys’ team of Erik Biernacki-Jablonski , James Cheng , Fionnan Twentyman, Daniel Fannon (all Year 7), Charlie Fleming, Edward Samson, Alex Darwin (all Year 8), Ryan Stubbs, George Hunter and Steve Tsui (all Year 9) won Silver in their category.

Hebe Darwin (Year 10) and Erik Biernacki-Jablonski won Silver in the girls’ Years 10-11 and boys’ Year 7 categories respectively.

Hannah Wicks (Lower Sixth - girls’ Years 12-13), Marcus Wentzell (Year 11 - boys’ Year 10-11) and Amy Keen (girls’ Year 7) won Bronze in their respective categories.

ESAA National Schools Cup

Junior Girls (U13) were County champions, East Central champions and came 10th in the National Finals. Senior Boys (U17) were County champions and came fourth in the East Central finals.

Junior Boys (U13) were eighth in the East Central finals.

ESAA Schools Championships

Verity Valentine (Year 10) won the Anglian intermediate girls’ race.

Jasmine Christmas (Year 8) won a British Athletics Cross Challenge Series event in Liverpool.

She beat a field of almost 120 athletes to win the girls’ U13 race in a time of 11min 10sec, six seconds clear of her nearest rival.

Jasmine was also joint-third in the girls’ U13 event at the Mini London Marathon – a 2.6km race along the closing stages of the legendary race – in a time of 9min 00sec.

Curling

Lina Opel (Year 8) swept all before her as by far the youngest competitor at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships in Korea.

At the age of just 13, she teamed up with dad Michael to represent England at the tournament in Gangneung following on from the pair being crowned national champions.

Despite finishing bottom of their pool at the World Championships, they faced extremely tough opposition, including the eventual respective gold, silver and bronze medal-winning teams – the USA, Japan and Norway.

For Lina, who trains with her dad once a week at Cambridge Ice Arena, it was an amazing experience to be playing against the world’s elite curlers.

She said: “It was really good fun and I enjoyed playing with my dad. Getting to play against really good teams while we represented England was pretty special. “We didn’t expect anything and there were one or two games each day, so it was very intense.”

Real tennis

Isabella Harvey (Lower Sixth) took part in the World Women’s U19 Real Tennis Championships after being ranked among the top 16 players in the age group from across the globe.

She also won the doubles and was runner-up in the singles at the British Women’s U19 Championships.

Taekwon-do

Lulu Harding (Year 11) won Bronze in sparring at the ITF Taekwon-do World Cup in Slovenia.

She came through five rounds to reach the girls’ black tag U60kg semi-finals at the competition in Koper.

Rebecca Alexander (Year 9) was fifth in the special technique event in the girls’ black tag 12-14 category.

Rebecca Alexander and Alysha Djamarani (Year 10) also took part in the European Taekwon-do Cup in Poland.

Judo

Antony Villaverde (Year 8) won Gold in the boys’ 12 to 15 years old U50kg category at the British Judo Eastern Area Championships.

Ice skating

Alesya Turchyn (Year 9) took part in the Skate London Synchro Open synchronized skating competition with Lee Valley Skating Club’s Stardust team.

Football

Lynden Long (Year 8) helped Norwich City’s U14/U13 team to victory against an international field at the prestigious Ateitis Cup tournament in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Talented athletes put through paces at England training centre

Members of the Perse Talented Athlete Programme were given a glimpse into the lives of professional sportspeople during a special visit to St George’s Park.

The school’s top sports stars were put through their paces as they experienced the rigorous regime elite athletes undergo to stay in peak condition at the training headquarters of England’s football teams in Burton.

After the excitement of spotting England men’s team manager Gareth Southgate eating breakfast in the café,

Sailing

the pupils were quickly into their first session on dynamic movement and stretching drills with coaches from Game Changer Performance.

They then developed sprinting techniques during a speed workout before taking part in a gruelling post-lunch session of aerobic tests, which included 12 100-metre shuttle runs and a 400-metre sprint.

There was no let-up as the pupils moved into the gym for strength and conditioning work before recovering after an intense day of physical activity with a hydrotherapy session, featuring hot and cold pools and an underwater treadmill.

The pupils also enjoyed a tour of the FA facility, including the main pitch, which was designed as an exact replica of that at England’s home stadium Wembley.

Basketball

Spyros Mantis (Upper Sixth) captained Cambridge Cats’ U18 side as they won the National Basketball League, East Conference title, winning all but one of their 18 matches.

Joey Taylor (Upper Sixth) represented the UK in the men’s U19 category at the European Youth Windfoiling Championships in Brest, France.

Shooting

BSSRA National Schools Championships

Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa (Year 10) won the BSSRA Junior Championships title with a phenomenal total of 199 out of a possible 200, lifting the prestigious Yool Cup after finishing four shots ahead of her nearest rival.

Yining Lan (Year 11) was joint-third and Rena Li (Year 11) joint-fifth, while Alisha Brown, Sophie Ji (both Year 11), Maia Polonius (Year 10) and Arina Milke (Year 8) were joint-eighth.

In the Senior Championships, Eos Liao (Upper Sixth) was the pick of the Perse participants as she scored 295 out of 300 to finish joint-second.

BSSRA 50m Open Championships

The Perse team of Eleanor Brinsden, Liliana French, Cara Hollis, Eos Liao, William Smith, Miles Cobley (all Upper Sixth), Sophie Ji (Year 11) and Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa (Year 10) were runners-up in the eights competition.

Peter Santarius, John Hansen (both Upper Sixth), Rena Li, Yining Lan, Kalyani Cole-Parnaik, Esme Hallam, Sophia Chua (all Year 11) and Maia Polonius (Year 10) were seventh in the same event.

Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa and Sophie Ji were runnersup in the junior pairs, while Sophia Chua and Maia Polonius were seventh.

Cara Hollis was third overall in the individual competition and topped the age 17 group, while Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa was the highest scorer in the age 14 section.

Cara Hollis and Eos Liao were fourth in the senior pairs, with Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa and Sophie Ji sixth.

Eleanor Brinsden, Liliana French, Cara Hollis and Eos Liao were fourth in the fours event, while Rena Li, Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa, Sophie Ji and Maia Polonius were seventh and Peter Santarius, William Smith, Miles Cobley and John Hansen 10th.

BSSRA 50m Challenge

Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa (Year 10) and Alina Milke (Year 8) were the top scorers in the age 14 and age 12 categories respectively.

Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa and Sophie Ji (Year 11) were runners-up in the junior pairs.

International honours

Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa (Year 10) was named in the England A team for the British Schools Small-bore Rifle Association National Match.

Liliana French, Eos Liao (both Upper Sixth) and Sophie Ji (Year 11) were selected for England B, while Miles Cobley, Cara Hollis and Eleanor Brinsden (all Upper Sixth) were picked for England C.

Rowing

Ben Mead (Lower Sixth) put in an ‘oar-some’ performance to clinch the boys’ single sculls title at the National Schools’ Regatta.

After winning his heat and semi-final at Dorney Lake, surged ahead in the final and crossed the line in an impressive 7min 33.88sec, finishing almost 14 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

Following this success, Ben was named in the Great Britain U19 squad for the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Amsterdam, where he won silver in the men’s double sculls with crewmate Harrison Harper in a time of 6min 35.23sec.

Skiing

The school ski trip was an extremely enjoyable experience, both on and off the slopes. The Folgarida Marilleva resort accommodated the wide range of abilities whilst also allowing for a bit of exploration, most often led by adventurous Mr Ingram.

With regards to the skiing, days were divided into two parts, split by lunch where all groups reconvened to talk about the fun and the tumbles of the morning.

In the mornings we were led by amusing and very helpful instructors and in the afternoons skied with a teacher that changed each day for most groups.

The ‘Beginner One’ group, however, would spend the morning and afternoon with an instructor getting to grips with the basics of skiing prior to the eventful final day, where they showed off their honed skills.

Off the slopes, the morning would start with a filling buffet breakfast. We would return from the day of skiing at around 4pm, feeling a little spent but looking forward to the evening to follow.

Each night there would typically be a different activity, such as ice skating at the rink opposite the hotel, or just free time to explore the local town. In town, we would stock up at the mini-mart on a few sweets or take a more leisurely approach by going to the fantastic pizza and gelato restaurant La Buca. There the friendly staff would whip up a delicious pizza in a couple of minutes.

The final day was certainly where the most memories were made. Pupils were divided by year group and people dressed up in choreographed outfits such as convicts, food, traffic cones and superheroes. The most notable outfit of the day was undoubtedly Mr Baker’s full body suit that transformed him into Maui from Moana

Throughout the day, groups took on slopes that catered for beginners. However, the difficulty of the slopes meant very little as every group just had a laugh jostling and competing with friends, laughing at the stumbles, but picking each other up at the same time.

It was a fantastic end to the week and epitomised the allround good fun, laughs and team-building skills that the ski trip delivered.

Tom Meadows (Year 11) reflects on the Perse half-term ski trip to Italy

GCSE results 2023

In 2023, all subjects followed Ofqual-regulated GCSE qualifications. In the pandemic years 2020 and 2021 there were no public exams. Grades were determined by the centre assessment (2020) and teacher assessment (2021). In 2022, the grading standards were set at the midpoint between 2019 and 2021 levels.

GCSE by subject

GCSE results by subject, other year groups

Further Maths results

Results correct at the time of going to print (September 2023)

A level results 2023

This table includes Pre U equivalent grades (for years 2018-2022) using the standard D1/D2=A*, D3/M1=A, M2=B, M3=C. The results for 2020 and 2021 were the outcomes of CAG/TAG process and as such are not directly comparable. In 2022, the grading standards were set at the midpoint between 2019 and 2021 levels.

A levels by subject

93% 63%

93% of entries were awarded A* – B grades

135 students attained three or more A* or A grades. 36 students secured four or more A* grades

AS levels for subjects taken in the Upper Sixth

AS levels completed by members of the Lower Sixth

A levels completed by members of the Lower Sixth

Results correct at the time of going to print (September 2023)

University Destinations 2023

UK Destinations

Overseas Destinations

University Course Choices 2023

Summer School and Club Pelican

The Perse Summer School welcomed 636 children who took part in a range of courses including print making, photography, sports, murder mystery, forensics, graphic design and bushcraft over four weeks. Club Pelican children enjoyed a wide range of fun-filled themed weeks including Superhero Sports, Art Attack and Under the Sea.

Annual Review 2022-2023

Alumni and Development

Widening access to excellent quality education remains one of The Perse’s main priorities. This year, we have supported 76 pupils through means-tested bursaries and continue to work with other schools in outreach projects.

Together, you have raised over £230,000 which has contributed to bursaries, outreach and building work. Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year, whether you have donated your time, money or expertise to The Perse.

How you made a difference this year

Money raised £230,528

Bursaries

76 pupils received a means-tested bursary. 14 received a 100% bursary.

Events

Donors

385 donors / 63 new donors

Upper Sixth Leavers’ Gift £39,023

Year 6 Leavers’ Gift £2,734

Who gave to The Perse?

Old Perseans: 252

Current parents: 58

Past parents and Friends of The Perse: 58

Current/former staff: 6

Corporate: 2

Other: 9

Total: 385

Outreach

We have had partnership projects with 27 primary schools, four secondary schools - including one hospital school - and two sixth form colleges.

What did you support?

Bursaries: £112,199

Unrestricted: £104,444

Outreach: £1,293

Other: £12,592

Total: £230,528

This year, 60 guests attended the Half Century Club Lunch and we were delighted that so many from the Perse community came to the Benefactors’ Garden Party which was, for the first time, held at the Prep.

Our sports events continue to be popular as the OP Sports Festival had over 100 Old Perseans attending, and it was fantastic to see cricketers return to The Perse to take part in OP Cricket Day, where they played matches against the boys’ 1st XI and the staff team.

Looking forward, we intend to host even more reunions in the next academic year. Please stay tuned for OP event announcements soon!

Volunteers

A big thank you to all of the Old Perseans and Friends of The Perse who have donated their time, expertise and skills to the School. We have had excellent 42 Society Lectures, career talks, training sessions, pupil mentoring and workshops all led by members from our talented community.

Prefects 2022-23

Huge thanks to all our prefects for their commitment and kindness while supporting the school community.

Heads of School

Emma Harris

Senior Prefects

Eduard Baroyan

Izzy Bevens

Shaaon Bhattacharya

Alice Ede

Andrew Girgis

Alistair Goodman

Joely Harrison

Prefects

Sophie Allen

Liviana Alliott

Thea Ancliff

Stella Baek

Imogen Beaton

Isabel Beaumont

Olivia Bogathy

Hannah Caley

Ben Clarke

Dominic Collinson

Edward de Ferrars Green

George Demetriou-Foale

Isabella Ellis

Sakura Fish

Sophie Forster-Lewis

Sheen Gahlaut

Isabel Gibbes

Sneha Goni

Angela Han

Helen Henwood

Jonny Howard

Hongli Hu

Eos Liao

Maria Lovegrove

Ananya Malaviya

Student Council

Alex Cross

Hilary Hawthorne

Bella Howarth

Harry Knight

Isabella Li-Yan-Hui

Helena Rothery

Kashvi Sivasubramaniam

Malachy Wallace

Evelyn Marshall

Emily Martinez-McCune

James McAleer

Benedict Meissner

Chicko Ndumu

Raffie Phipps

Florence Prichard Jones

Rory Proudfoot

Sithu Rajendran

George Richards

Will Roddis

Isaac Rothwell

Lucy St Clair Holborn

Awbery Shapiro

Omer Shaukat

Charlie Stalker

Saskia Stock

Renee Van den Bergh

Austin Wang

Imogen Warren

Holly Webb

Alice Wentzell

Isabella Wickham

Weiqi Ye

Tengyu Zhao

Yujian Zou

Many thanks to everyone involved in the Student Council for all their hard work in helping to give pupils a voice in school matters this year, especially our Senior Team including:

Year 11

Alicia Li-Yan-Hui

Versha Wahid

Lower Sixth

Joe Bowler

Gabriel Cirstea

Sofia Dance

Sudevi Hoare

Wincy Jeyaraj

Siddharth Kambli

Haram Nam

Harry Purvis

Sourish Sharma

Mabel Symes

Upper Sixth

Eduard Baroyan

Imogen Beaton

Andrew Girgis

Natasha Haworth

Maria Lovegrove

Chicko Ndumu

Helena Rothery

Kashvi Sivasubramaniam

Tengyu Zhao

Julia

We thank long-serving staff members

Halbert, Jonathan Green and Dennis Strong for their contributions to The Perse as they retire from their roles at the school.

Written and produced by Claire Ziwa and Aaron Mason. Design by Steve Welch at Svelte Design.

Cover photo taken in Bolivia by Flo Brimblecombe.