Issue 30

THE

STAG

Issue 30, Summer Term 2, 2025

The Stag

CONTENTS College News:

Culture:

30 Issues of The Stag - pg 2 The New Heads of School - pg 6 Old Eastbournian Debates - pg 8 Manchester Debating Competition pg 9 Behind the Scenes at the Dell Play pg 10 College Charity Report pg 11

Met Gala 2025 - pg 28 Eastbourne’s Artists - pg 30

International News:

House Reports:

The War in Ukraine - pg 12 VE Day - pg 14

Science and Environment: Eastbourne Water Quality - pg 15 AI’s Impact on Climate Change - pg 16

Features: China Report - pg 17 Marathons around the world - pg 18 Max Verstappen - pg 20 Royal Ascot - pg 22 Badminton Horse Trials - pg 23 Music Festivals - pg 24 Summer Holiday Destinations - pg 26

Sport: Eastbourne Rothesay Tennis Tournament - pg 31 Miss Callaghan - pg 32 College Sport - pg 33

Blackwater - pg 35 Craig - pg 36 Gonville - pg 37 Nugent - pg 38 Pennell - pg 39 Powell - pg 40 Reeves - pg 41 School - pg 42 Wargrave - pg 43 Watt - pg 44

This magazine is written for pupils by the pupils of Eastbourne College. It is not an official College publication and is not meant to be an accurate reflection of every activity or event across the College, nor (obviously) is every pupil mentioned. The magazine is for the Eastbourne College community only, so please do not send it on to friends or family. We hope you enjoy reading our magazine!

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The Stag

COLLEGE NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS TO US! THE STAG CELEBRATES 30 ISSUES

By The Stag Team Since its humble launch amidst muffled fanfare during the Covid 19 pandemic, The Stag Magazine has grown from strength to strength. Every year, a new team of Year 12 pupils takes over the mantle of the College’s pupil magazine and every year each new team builds upon the successes of the last.

To mark the publication of our 30th issue, we would like to celebrate the hard work of our past team members by revisiting some front covers of our back issues. We hope you don’t mind our self-indulgence as we take a wander down memory lane. How many of these covers do you recognise?

Our first Christmas issue, Michaelmas Term 2, 2020 Summer Term 2 Edition | 2025

Our very first issue, Michaelmas Term 1, 2020

A Covid 19 pandemic issue, Lent Term 1, 2021

Our 6th issue, Summer Term 2, 2021 Page 2

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Our 10th issue, Lent Term 2, 2022

Our 11th issue, Summer Term 1, 2022

Our 14th issue, Michaelmas Term 2, 2022

Our 17th issue, Summer Term 1, 2023

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Our 19th issue, Michaelmas Term 1, 2023

Our 20th issue, Michaelmas Term 2, 2023

Our 22nd issue, Lent Term 2, 2024

Our 23rd issue, Summer Term 1, 2024

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Our 24th issue, Summer Term 2, 2024

Our 26th issue, Michaelmas Term 2, 2024

Our 28th issue, Lent Term 2, 2025

Our 29th issue, Summer Term 1, 2025

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COLLEGE NEWS

MEET YOUR NEW HEADS OF SCHOOL

By Eli Clive and Rowley Emus As the year comes to a close and the Upper Sixth begin study leave, the prefect team has been selected for next year. We would like to say a big thank you to the prefects of 2024/25 and we are excited to find out what’s to come from the new line-up. Both pairs of out-going and in-coming Heads of School share their thoughts on this prestigious role.

Noah Titterton-Manos: What made you interested in the position of Head Boy in the first place?

I was interested in the position of Head Boy because I wanted the opportunity to be able to give back to the College in some way. Ultimately, I was motivated by the possibility of guiding the College forward for this year.

What did you find most challenging during your time as Head Boy? Chairing meetings at first was definitely daunting, as I wanted to make sure I was being clear for both the SMT and the prefects.

However, through practice and advice, I believe I improved over the year, and I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed leading the meetings and hearing everyone’s thoughts on the agenda.

How did the position help you grow personally or develop new skills?

The position definitely helped me with my soft skills. It helped with my public speaking skills and my communication, as it was important to be clear and concise when addressing certain topics. However, with being the joint head of a team of 25 prefects, it definitely improved my leadership skills as well, as well as adaptability.

What advice would you give to the new Heads of School?

Keep to your legacy target, as this will be an important goal for everyone. Make sure that

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everyone in the team gets involved and has a role. Finally, start your speeches early and laugh at Mr Lawson’s jokes.

Tilly Chapman: How did you balance the responsibilities with academic work and other commitments?

My role as Head Girl, along with my other commitments at the College, have all been extremely important to me. Balancing it all has been challenging, especially with exams. I am so grateful to have had such a strong Heads of School team to help and share the workload by working together. I have also prioritised making time to participate in my other commitments, such as BeYou: Race and Ethnicity, CCF and my academic applications, as I have greatly valued these opportunities to get involved.

Is there anything you wish you’d done differently in the role?

Honestly, no. I am proud of what our team has accomplished. Being a part of running the first Eastbourne’s Got Talent was exciting, and I hope that our legacy will continue.

What was one memorable moment from your time as Head Girl?

Our final prefect dinner was a great evening filled with funny anecdotes. It was a time to reflect on each of our achievements individually and as a team. Also, I really enjoyed compèring Page 6

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COLLEGE NEWS

House A Cappella with Theo C; every house put on an amazing performance.

What advice would you give to the new Heads of School?

Keep up the camaraderie at the College: it is something everyone can benefit from. Always do your best to stand up for what you believe is right. Wear your lanyard.

Lastly, a comment from Tilly and Noah: We have no doubt that the new prefect team will set high standards. Poppy and Rowan, we are certain you will lead with compassion and capability. Best of luck, Tilly and Noah.

What’s one thing you hope to look back on at the end of the year and feel proud of?

I would like to look back and be proud of making a difference. I would like to have achieved something of significance, whether it's lots of little things or maybe one bigger thing. I hope I can leave the school knowing I helped make someone's school life more enjoyable.

Poppy Campion:

Rowan Bell:

What was your reaction when you found out you'd been chosen?

I was so shocked, but so overwhelmingly happy as it was such a surreal moment. It felt like such an achievement and l still can’t believe that we’re no longer new Year 9s, and are now instead going to be helping to lead the school.

How do you plan to work with the rest of the student leadership team?

I would like to work in a way that allows the views of all pupils to be heard and for them to know the prefects are very friendly and that they want to hear your thoughts about new ideas or improvements. I think using the prefects as a voice for pupils' ideas in meetings is a great way to help make the College an even better place for everyone by helping to gather different perspectives from all the year groups.

Are there any changes or ideas you'd like to bring to the role this year?

I know that we all want to make a lasting positive impact on the school and I think we will get one step closer to doing that by making lots of small changes that will ultimately make a significant difference. I know we are aiming to increase inclusivity, so that will definitely be something that we will all be determined to focus on as senior pupils.

What does being Head Boy mean to you personally?

Being Head Boy comes with immense pride, knowing that I can have a big impact on College life of others for the better. The role also brings quite a bit of pressure, so I have to hold myself to the highest standards, something I think everyone should look to do.

What kind of example do you hope to set for other students?

I hope to be a strong role model for others and have qualities others aspire to have. I think that the way you present yourself in and outside of the College is one of the most important things you can control so making sure I'm always looking smart and approachable is something I hope others can acknowledge and replicate.

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What part of the role are you most looking forward to?

I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to utilise and improve my leadership and collaboration skills and ultimately having the ability to action changes and make a difference within our school community.

What’s one thing you hope to look back on at the end of the year and feel proud of?

I would love to look back over our year as heads of school and feel that we have had a positive impact on the school and have helped to better the lives of pupils. I’m excited for us as prefects to strengthen our relationships with one an other and I hope that this can be a time in our lives that we can all look back on fondly in the future.

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OLD EASTBOURNIAN DEBATES

By Esther Ellwood

Eastbourne College’s Debating and Old Eastbournian societies were thrilled to welcome back MP and former Eastbourne pupil Alison Griffiths. Alison spoke with all the pupils studying politics in the Sixth Form, giving her personal account and experience as a Conservative MP in the constituency of Bognor Regis. She then took on Headmaster Mr Lawson, Head of Debating Mr Govendor, and the EC Debating Society in an intense and deeply challenging debate on the merits of the education system. Each team firmly put their point across and were judged by the Year 10 debating students.

Overall, the Headmaster’s team won, although there were other strong contenders for victory. This visit helped to demonstrate potential careers for politics and debating students, and reinforced the value of the Old Eastbournian Society.

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MANCHESTER DEBATING COMPETITION

By Humreen Ellen The Manchester Debating Competition is an internationally renowned online event that takes place every year, where individuals from around the world have the opportunity to compete with each other in a series of debates based around chosen subjects. Two weeks ago, Esther Ellwood and I took part in this, where we competed in four separate debates over the course of ten hours.

The motions released were on a range of random topics, from whether having romantic relationships in high school should be banned, to whether the privatisation of art should be allowed. We had 15 minutes to prepare our arguments and prove why they were more important and better than our opponents. If that wasn’t already stressful enough, we also had to rebut their counterarguments and make POIs (points of intelligence) throughout their speech.

However, we managed to get breaks after each round while the judge was ranking the teams and enjoyed getting a McDonald's at the halfway point!

Debate participation promotes problem solving and innovative thinking, and helps students to build links between words and ideas that make concepts more meaningful.

In short, you will become a more influential and respected person capable of expressing and defending a point of view before any type of audience and situation without offending or disqualifying anyone. And all this thanks to the power of oratory and eloquence.

Overall, while we sadly didn’t manage to break for the international finals, we still achieved two 1st place results in individual debates and had lots of fun debating and listening to other people’s speeches. It was a very enjoyable experience, and we definitely improved our speaking skills and debating approach for further competitions.

A special mention must go out to Mr Govender, our debating coach, for helping us prepare for these competitions and listening to our speeches.

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COLLEGE NEWS

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE DELL PLAY Stakes are high as rehearsals are underway for the 2025 summer production of the Dell Play. This year, the Year 12 drama scholars, along with a few guest stars, are putting on “100” by Christopher Heimann, directed by Miss Belle.

The play follows the journey of four individuals on the bridge between life and death, being forced into selecting one singular memory from their whole lifetime to relive for the rest of eternity, before all of their memory data is deleted. However, with just one hour to choose, will their decision give them an eternity of suffering, or will it save them from an even worse fate?

By Poppy Campion

Recent rehearsals have offered an opportunity for drama scholars who aren’t taking drama for A-level to learn more about the practitioner, Frantic Assembly, as the use of physical theatre has been more deeply explored.

As we go into May half term, all of the scenes have now been successfully staged and the tedious line learning will now be the main task in the forthcoming weeks. After half term, the hard work really begins as our four hours of limited rehearsal time a week becomes an intense series of run-throughs.

The tech team consisting of a number of Year 9 drama scholars, under the direction of our Lower Sixth tech lead are also preparing to help after half term as the set is gradually assembled. It’s in a promising stage of theatrical development and will sure to be a raging success!

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CHARITY REPORT

By Father Daniel This year, the school’s chapel charity was the Midlands Orphanage & Care Centre, Colenso, South Africa, and since the launch in September we have raised well over £3000 to help purchase water treatment equipment. In addition to this worthy charity, the Blue Sky Bursaries (BSB) Appeal began in earnest, seeking to fund 40 means-tested bursary places. During the year, a successful ‘Eastbourne’s Got Talent’ evening raised money for these bursaries, as did a number of other events including a magnificent Giving Day, which was the first of its kind and generously supported by Old Eastbournians along with parents, staff and pupils.

Other events during the year (such as two Charity Lunches, the Charity Revue, a LAMBDA/Trinity Concert, Advent Carols and other services) raised funds consistently, and in Michaelmas there was another successful Harvest Appeal for the Eastbourne Foodbank. In addition, a significant amount of good quality clothes was collected for Turing School, and Christmas hampers were made up for those facing the ‘cost of living’ crisis in the local area.

Wilfrid’s Hospice with their revue and Christmas candy canes. Meanwhile, Watt House raised over £1700 for the JPK Project (a charity helping those with learning disabilities) with their hugely successful colour run, then going on to raise a similar amount at their house revue and legendary cake sale (in support of Chaseley Trust).

Nugent had a 24-hour bikeathon to raise money for the Little Princess Trust, managing to cycle 436km. Pennell House supported the testicular cancer charity Oddballs with an Easter egg challenge, and Powell House Revue raised money for CoCo’s Foundation (to support orphans in South Africa and Uganda). School House completed six full Iron Mans in-house to raise a terrific £2,861 for an orphanage in South African and art4kids (a Ukrainian charity), while Gonville House supported the Red Cross in Ukraine at their revue.

Finally, there was also much individual effort during the year. Steve Townsend (our head porter) organised a Line Dancing fundraiser for Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance, and Dexter Bell led a small team raising money for the charity SUDC (Sudden Unexpected Death in Children).

Across the houses some great charities were supported during the year. Reeves House raised money for Prostate Cancer UK, while Wargrave House raised over £7500 at their epic rowathon and house revue, with most going to RNLI Eastbourne.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

THEN AND NOW: HOW THE WAR IN UKRAINE REFLECTS THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN WARFARE How has warfare changed from past wars to today’s conflict in Ukraine?

On the morning of the 24th February 2022, Russian tanks, armoured vehicles, and trucks crossed the Ukrainian border with the objective of capitulating the Ukrainian government and claiming a significant portion of Ukraine’s land within ten days.

The world watched eagerly, as this was the first full-scale war in Europe since the Second World War. Could Ukraine stand up to the Russian bear?

Three years later, that question has certainly been answered. Ukraine has proved more than capable of standing up to the Russian invasion, with the help of sufficient Western aid. Within the first 72 hours of the invasion of Ukraine, Putin’s plan had begun to show signs of collapse. The Russians had failed to shock and scare Ukraine’s forces into surrender, with many Ukrainian troops putting up stubborn resistance on first contact with opposing Russian forces. The key turning point in the early stages of the war was the Battle of Antonov Airport. This dramatic day of fighting saw the airfield exchange hands multiple times throughout the day. It is widely believed that if Russian troops had captured the airfield, they would’ve been able to capture the government in Kyiv and possibly end the war. This failure to do so, however, changed the war entirely.

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By George Hoad The war changed after the first week.

Russia’s attempt to dictate a lightning war against Ukraine has categorically failed. The war’s tactics shifted to a more First World War style of Trench Warfare. For example, in 2024, the frontline only shifted a few miles between both sides.

Trench warfare is still heavily present in modern fighting.

This style of trench warfare has only been supported by the seasons of Eastern Europe. The Russians call it the ‘Rasputitsa’, which literally translates to ‘bad roads’. It is a period in spring and autumn in which the frozen ground thaws and thus makes the ground incredibly muddy. This has proven in the past to reduce the speed of warfare and increase its brutality. During the Second World War, German forces suffered high casualties when fighting during this period, and this has been replicated on the modern-day battlefield. Tanks and heavy vehicles are bogged down in the mud and water and are unable to make progress.

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However, the one factor that hasn’t changed throughout the war is artillery. It is famously said that ‘artillery is the king of the battlefield’ and that is never more true than in Ukraine at the moment. Both sides are struggling to produce enough artillery ammunition for themselves, so much so that NATO countries are producing artillery shells to supply Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian artillery teams are also learning how to shoot and move so quickly that they leave just in time to escape Russian counter-battery.

The one place in which the war has categorically changed is drones. Drones have shaped the battlefield so much so that tanks on both sides are equipping cages onto their tanks that prevent small drones from detonating on the tank. Drones have soared in popularity since the beginning of the Ukraine war. This is due to many reasons, but primarily due to the drones’ low cost, both financially and low human cost. Drones are also capable of many different tasks in the war. They have been used for reconnaissance, targeted strikes on vehicles and strikes on cities throughout Ukraine and Russia. This fresh use of drones is a sudden and unexpected development in warfare.

The final development in the conflict isn’t a case of military tactics or doctrine. Ukraine is the first fully online war. Never before has a war been so accessible on the internet. You can track the war online, every skirmish, every airstrike, every attack and every defence.

Never before has a conflict been uploaded so much, either. The ability to record combat and simply put it on the internet gives the world an insight into the nature of the conflict itself.

Even in Afghanistan and Iraq during the War on Terror, despite people recording the conflict, they were not able to upload footage online and share it with the world instantly.

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The Stag

Drones have shaped the battlefield

This has meant that the war has not only been fought in the air, on the ground, on the sea: it is now being fought online between the two blocs forming across the world between the two fighting nations.

The war in Ukraine stands as a stark reflection of both continuity and change in modern warfare. While trench lines, artillery duels, and the brutal terrain evoke memories of 20th Century conflicts, the integration of cutting-edge technology, particularly drones, and the digital battlefield mark a clear evolution in how wars are fought and perceived. Ukraine's resilience and adaptability, bolstered by international support, have upended early Russian expectations and reshaped the conflict into a prolonged and multifaceted struggle. Most significantly, this war has redefined public engagement with warfare; it is the first conflict truly fought in real-time, not only on the frontlines, but across screens around the world. As we will continue to examine this war through history, one thing becomes clear: while the tools and terrain may shift, the enduring human emotions of courage, strategy, and resistance remain at the heart of warfare, then and now.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The Stag

VE DAY 2025: 80 YEARS OF SACRIFICE

By Esther Ellwood

Royals, politicians and veterans have commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe on what could be the last major VE Day attended by veterans.

Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day, marks one of the most important moments in modern history, May 8, 1945, when Nazi Germany officially surrendered, ending World War II, and all of the terrors it caused in Europe. As we observe the 80th anniversary in 2025, it is a time to reflect not only on the triumph of Allied forces but also on the continuing lessons which we can learn of resilience, unity, and the price of living in a ‘free world’ like today.

The original VE Day sparked a wave of celebration across the Allied world. From London to Paris and New York, people flooded the streets, relieved that six long years of brutal conflict in Europe had finally ended. For many, it was also a moment filled with mourning over lost loved ones and the horrors on the home front they had endured. Hope for peace finally re-emerged.

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The victory came at an immense cost. Over 75 million people died in battle, in bombings and in concentration camps from the brutal Nazi regime, based on prejudices and eugenics-based racism. More than 40 million of these people were civilians.

Interestingly, almost all well-known national politicians survived the war.

Eighty years after his grandfather, King George VI, announced that the war had passed, the King said that the veterans' debt "can never truly be repaid". These soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice, while countless civilians endured suffering and hardship while maintaining the home front.

In a time of global tensions, VE Day remains increasingly relevant. It reminds us of the dangers of authoritarianism, the power of unity, and the responsibility we share in safeguarding peace. As we honour the sacrifices of 1945, we are also called to defend the values they fought for: freedom, justice, and human dignity. King Charles called for a global commitment to restoring peace, as he paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation.

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ENVIRONMENT

EASTBOURNE’S WATER QUALITY Did you know that the coast from Eastbourne to Pevensey Bay is ranked to be the 253rd most polluted bathing area in all of England and Wales (out of over 600 sites)?

Throughout 2024, we received four dumps a year, each lasting for around seven hours. This might sound off-putting for those who have swum in the sea near the College, but compared to areas like Chichester and Lewes (ranked in the top three worst bathing quality

by Southern Water), we seem to be blessed with good quality water. In 2024, Chichester had 287 incidents of sewage dumps, spanning over 6,829 hours, the equivalent of dumping sewage for nine and a half months straight.

Southern Water, a company responsible for providing water to the majority of those living around the South Downs and most of Eastbourne, was responsible for 29,355 sewage overflows in 2024 alone, and it affected over 830 different locations around the UK. These sewage ‘incidents’ are not necessarily purposeful dumps of sewage into our ocean, but are usually the consequence of flooding of sewage systems or, in some extreme cases, where a building’s plumbing has been poorly installed. One example of this is when a council-owned building on Eastbourne’s seafront had been discharging tens of thousands of litres of raw sewage into the sea unknowingly, since 2007. It was not until a separate plumbing issue was investigated that the council realised the detrimental mistake that had been made so long ago.

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By Lucy O’Hara

Often, when a company is responsible for a large spill, they then have to pledge to clean it up. The record for the highest fine was £90 million by Southern Water (for deliberate raw sewage dumping in 2022, where wastewater was dumped in the sea 20 times, with one release lasting for 17 hours).

Climate change has already started to affect and intensify these sewage dumps. Intense rainfall can exceed the capacity of treatment plants, resulting in the discharge of untreated sewage into nearby water bodies. It is expected to impact on the flooding of several important waste water systems, especially in Eastbourne, Hailsham and Herstmonceaux.

All of this being said, don’t be discouraged from using our beautiful Eastbourne seafront.

Eastbourne, for three consecutive years, has achieved a 2 star ‘Good’ rating for its bathing water quality (equally ranked alongside Brighton, who is proud of their water’s cleanliness). Despite how unpleasant the idea of these processes may sound, the only place I’d advise you to avoid this summer when you go swimming is Chichester.

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HARNESSING AI TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

By Emmanuel Erebor Even if you’re not worried about artificial intelligence wiping out humanity, you might still fear how its growing appetite for electricity could harm the environment. A single ChatGPT question consumes roughly ten times more energy than a traditional search. As AI use has surged, so have emissions: Google’s greenhouse gas output jumped nearly 50% from 2019 to 2023, and Microsoft’s rose by almost 30% since 2020. With major investments in new data centres underway, further increases seem inevitable.

Yet this alarmism may be misplaced; AI is likely to consume less energy than many assume and, in some cases, it can actually help to reduce emissions. While the International Energy Agency predicts that data centres could triple their electricity use in the next five years, they currently account for only about 1.5% of global electricity consumption. Most of that usage is driven by video streaming, social media, and online shopping, not AI. More importantly, some of AI’s energy consumption contributes directly to environmental progress. AI is well suited to analysing complex systems, managing massive data sets, and optimising operations, abilities that can significantly cut emissions. AI is already improving the efficiency of electric grids, reducing fuel use in shipping, and detecting otherwise invisible methane leaks, a major contributor to global warming.

The challenge for policymakers and tech leaders is to maximise these benefits while limiting environmental costs. Ideally, governments would introduce a robust carbon pricing system and

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let market forces guide emissions reductions.

But since a global carbon price remains out of reach, three more practical steps should be prioritised. First, transparency must improve.

Tracking the energy consumption of AI models is notoriously difficult. From August 2026, the EU will require certain AI developers to report their energy use in detail, a policy others should adopt. Second, the way data centres operate needs to evolve. The IEA highlights that shifting AI workloads between data centres at different times could ease pressure on power grids.

Making data centres more flexible would also align better with the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

Third, tech companies must meet their own climate pledges. Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030. Others, like Amazon, rely heavily on renewable-energy credits offsetting dirty energy use by paying for clean energy elsewhere. While credits have a role, they’re often based on shaky accounting and questionable assumptions, such as counting energy that would have been generated anyway. A more meaningful approach would be for tech giants to leverage their immense energy demand to accelerate grid decarbonisation. Many already lead the way as top buyers of clean electricity in long-term contracts. But they can go further investing directly in new clean energy capacity, advocating for faster permitting and planning processes, and championing emerging technologies like geothermal and nuclear power.

But, with the right steps, AI can shift from being seen as a climate problem to becoming a powerful force for climate solutions.

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FEATURE

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CHINA: A SAFE COUNTRY OR MISUNDERSTOOD BY THE WEST?

By Owen Lee

When people in the West think of China, the first images that often come to mind are crowded cities, rapid development, and government control. But how safe is China, and is the way it is portrayed in the Western media always fair?

From a safety perspective, China is often considered one of the safest countries in the world, especially in its major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Violent crime is relatively low, public transport is efficient, and street surveillance is widespread, which helps to reduce crime.

Many tourists who visit or live in China report feeling safe walking around at night, using phones in public, or even leaving belongings unattended in cafés. This sense of safety is something residents often take for granted, and it can be surprising for visitors who come from places with higher crime rates.

However, cities are covered with cameras, and the government closely monitors online activity. Critics argue that this creates a ‘surveillance state’, while supporters say it is a price to pay for public safety.

Western media coverage of China is often critical, focusing on issues like censorship, human rights, Hong Kong protests, the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, and the role of the Chinese Communist Party.

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While many of these concerns are serious and deserve attention, the media can sometimes give a one-sided view.

For example, coverage might highlight government control but ignore China's achievements in poverty reduction, infrastructure development, or technological advancements. Stories about safety, economic growth, or the everyday lives of Chinese citizens often don’t make headlines. This can lead to a misunderstanding of what life in China is really like.

China is a country of contrasts, safe and secure for many, but also tightly controlled in ways that raise questions about privacy and freedom. Western media plays a big role in shaping how we see China, but it is up to us to look beyond the headlines and form our own opinions.

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26.2 STORIES: WHAT MAKES EACH MARATHON UNIQUE?

By Esther Ellwood

From jet-lagged joggers to elite sprinters, marathons have become global celebrations and the ultimate bragging right in the middle of an unrelated sentence, “I ran a marathon once…”. Whether chasing a personal best or just trying to survive the next water station, each city offers its own version of leg day on steroids.

From Tokyo’s orderly chaos to New York’s street party, these are five of the world’s most iconic marathons, blisters, costumes, and runner’s badge of honour included. Lace up, stretch out, and let's hit the road (figuratively, for now).

Established in 2007, the Tokyo Marathon has impeccably organised routes, polite chaos, and electric crowd energy. With over a million spectators every year, this fast and flat route winds through Tokyo’s modern skyline and historic landmarks such as the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower. It is one of the youngest of the World Marathon Majors, but it is very well known for its enthusiastic spectators (often in costumes), precision logistics, and a uniquely clean and orderly experience. In 2011, the Tokyo Marathon implemented its charity program, ‘Run with Heart’, through which donors can contribute to various charitable activities. The program's capacity increased to 5,000 from 3,000 in 2019.

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FEATURE

The Stag Established in 1981, the London Marathon has a main focus on raising money for charity (being one of the biggest fundraising events in the world), with a side of British wit. The relatively flat course includes famous sights such as Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and the final stretch along the River Thames to Buckingham Palace. The costumes make it one of the most special marathons. You’ll see runners dressed as rhinos, telephone booths, and full diving gear. You’re almost guaranteed to hear someone yelling “Go on, mate!” every few metres.

Established in 1974, the Berlin Marathon is where precision meets party. Think efficient water stations and DJs on every block.

The course is incredibly flat and fast, the ideal situation for setting world records (over 13 have been set here!). You’ll pass through the unforgettable Brandenburg Gate just before the finish line. Sponsored

by BMW, it is one of the largest marathons in the world. For those looking for something special (and very fast), Berlin has something extraordinary in store.

Established in 1970, the New York Marathon is the largest in the world, with over 50,000 finishers every year. Loud, proud, and relentlessly motivating, starting on Staten Island and weaving through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and ending in Central Park.

Over 2 million spectators line the course. The crowd carries you (especially up those laterace hills).

Established in 2000 as part of Olympic celebrations, the Sydney Marathon is sunny and scenic. With an iconic course starting at Bradfield Park and crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, finishing at the Sydney Opera House, participants run across one of the world’s most famous bridges with the Sydney skyline ahead of them.

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MAX VERSTAPPEN

By George Hoad

How raw talent and ruthless consistency are elevating Red Bull's fortunes, even when the machinery isn’t at its best.

At the start of the 2025 season, it looked as though it would be the beginning of a new F1 era. McLaren had the fastest car and two great young drivers in Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. After years of Red Bull dominance, this changing of the guard had many in F1, especially McLaren fans, excited for this season of F1.

But there was one man not willing to go without a fight: Max Verstappen.

Verstappen had joined F1 in 2015 at just 17 years old. Immediately, people could see his talent. In 2016, former three-time world champion Niki Lauda described Verstappen as the ‘talent of the century’. However, some saw him as overly aggressive on track, petulant when it comes to over drivers and even some just ‘not liking him’. Moreover, some drivers have even called out Verstappen, with George Russell of Mercedes publicly criticising Max, calling him ‘a bully’.

But whilst this is the main criticism directed towards Max, it is these abilities that probably make him a winner and a champion. What some fail to understand about Verstappen is that he does what he does to win and to become a champion. Red Bull are paying him to win, so he is doing what is expected of him by his own racing team. Max himself has Summer Term 2 Edition | 2025

agreed with this, saying “I am not here to be loved, I am here to do my Job. I wanted to be a Formula 1 driver and I wanted to win, so that's what I’m here for”. Put simply, Max gains the edge over other drivers due to his ‘take-no-prisoners attitude’.

He has been putting it into practice as well.

Verstappen has won four consecutive world championships since 2021, having toppled the giants of Hamilton and Mercedes. His class peaked in 2023, when he broke the record for the most points in a season with 575 points and also broke the record for most wins in a season, winning 19 out of 22 races.

Verstappen kicks left rear wheel after tyre failure in 2021 Azerbaijan GP.

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As the 2025 F1 season opened with the Australian GP, then, all eyes were on Max to see how he could take on McLaren, with a car significantly slower than theirs.

Amazingly, Max Verstappen managed to achieve a 2nd place finish. But, despite Verstappen dragging Red Bull through the 2025 season, it hasn’t been enough so far.

His teammate, Australian Liam Lawson, was replaced early on after continually finishing outside of the top ten and the points in races. The car was also struggling. The RB21’s performance issues and continual tyre wearing were damaging Verstappen’s title hopes. This poor car performance would lead to Red Bull holding crisis meetings to determine whether Verstappen would stay at Red Bull with these poor performance surroundings.

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The Stag But despite setbacks, Verstappen is still claiming wins. His immaculate qualifying lap in the Japan GP led him to win the race whilst he fended off both the McLarens on his own.

During the Saudi Arabia GP, he was forced to drop to 2nd place after receiving a penalty for an incident that happened at the first corner. Most recently, he won the EmiliaRomagna GP after he performed a spectacular move to overtake Oscar Piastri in the first corner of the race.

Furthermore, in May 2025, the RB21 received some significant upgrades, including revised sidepods and new vertical airflow guides. So now, after a few race wins, is Max Verstappen capable of winning the 2025 World Driving Championship? He certainly has the ability to do so. If he does, it will likely be his most impressive championship. It would also put him in contention for becoming not only one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, but also the greatest Dutch sportsman of all time.

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ROYAL ASCOT

By Apple Van Der Meer Nothing sums up British summertime better than the elite crowds at Ascot. As the sun begins to shine and the days grow longer, the racecourse becomes a spectacle of style and elegance. The attendees, decked out in their finest attire of tops and tails, floral dresses, glamorous hats and intricately designed fascinators, turn the event into a living fashion show, with everyone competing for the coveted title of best dressed. It’s a gathering where tradition and modern style come together seamlessly, and the excitement of the races is matched only by the high fashion that fills the stands. This year, it takes place from 17th June to 21st June.

A ground for fashionistas, foodies and, of course, horseracing aficionados, there is something for everyone at Royal Ascot.

Known as the crown jewel of the British summer season, the annual celebration brings together the best style, hospitality and racing of its kind. It attracts a crowd of 275,000 racegoers each year. Over the five days, the most skilled jockeys and their world-class horses will go head to head on the track to compete for victory. Showing off champion performances across seven flat races per day, you can place your bets and watch the finest racing you’ll ever witness. The track is steeped in history (the track has existed since 1711) and features the most extraordinary line up of events.

For a truly special day out, there is a fantastic line up of chefs whose restaurant collectively holds 29 Michelin stars, the most ever for Royal Ascot.

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FEATURE

THE BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS

By Jemima Bailey This year’s Badminton Horse Trials were held between May 7th and 11th, and the winning pair of Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo were back on top at MARS Badminton.

Badminton is one of the most difficult equestrian events and attracts the top jockeys and horses from around the world competing in a variety of different events such as dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.

Britain’s Canter placed second after the cross country and dressage events. Last out on board was Cooley Rosalind who knocked down a rail in the show jumping finale to slip down to second over all. Canter qualified for the Olympic team last year to win gold at the Paris Olympics last summer.

Badminton Horse Trials hold the dressage event on Wednesday and Thursday.

Saturday involves the cross-country event which is the most challenging event for both the horses and the riders. Finally, Sunday is the day for show jumping, rounding up a triumphant five days of excitement.

Badminton is one of the toughest horse trials there is due to the testing crosscountry course consisting of large obstacles and contorted courses involving challenging terrain.

A day at Badminton is all about the main event, as well as a mix of thrilling equestrian competition and a buzzing social atmosphere where spectators can enjoy wandering around the courses, finding prime viewing and picnic spots with a lively crowd, and perhaps also indulging in the huge shopping village.

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WHY ARE MUSIC FESTIVALS SO POPULAR?

By Amy Wearne In recent decades, music festivals have evolved into huge cultural events that attract millions of people worldwide every year. Almost 1,000 music festivals take place across the UK every single year. But what makes them so popular?

Music festivals weren’t always just about singing along to your favourite songs with your friends. They were a part of deeper movements within societies. Some festivals were produced during the counterculture rebellion throughout the 1960s and 70s, allowing people to express themselves, and to connect with other people. Media coverage also plays a big role in the increased popularity of music festivals.

Streaming platforms such as the BBC broadcast major performances to millions of people across the world turning these festivals into global events. These festivals happen in a variety of places across the country, from beaches to farmland, offering people different experiences at each one.

movement that emerged in the 60s and 70s against mainstream society. Today, Glastonbury hosts over 200,000 people with over 2 million people trying to get tickets that sell out in minutes. It has over 100 stages and has hosted renowned artists such as Beyoncé, Coldplay, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar.

One of the most iconic examples is the Glastonbury Festival which began in 1970 by a dairy farmer called Michael Eavis in Somerset, who had been inspired by a Led Zeppelin concert. The festival was originally called ‘The Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival’, and it attracted a crowd of 1,500 people.

The festival was inspired by the beliefs and values held by the hippie movement.

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Another famous music festival is Boardmasters which is located on Cornwall’s coastline. It began as a professional surfing competition in Newquay and added a music component to its competition in 2005, and has now become a major summer event with over 150,000 people attending every year. Boardmasters is known for its wide range of music genres from electronic to rock bands. The festival has a positive impact on the community in Cornwall, attracting tourists and helping boost local businesses.

Reading Festival has one of the longest legacies in the UK music scene. Originating in 1955 as the National Jazz Festival, it had evolved into the ultimate rock festival by the 70s and 80s, featuring acts like the Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses. By 1990, it had cemented its status as one of the greatest music festivals with performances from Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Blur. Today, Reading has broadened its music genre. Artists like Stormzy, Eminem and Arctic Monkeys have all headlined, but it also provides opportunities for emerging talent to perform. The festival itself attracts over 100,000 people annually. It is especially known for its chaotic, highenergy crowds and mosh pits.

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The Stag

A more local popular music festival is the Love Supreme Music Festival in Lewes. It was founded in July 2013 by Ciro Romano who created the festival with the aim to create a large-scale, authentic, communal experience celebrating genres such as jazz, soul, R&B and funk. Since 2013, it has grown into the largest outdoor jazz festival in Europe, with around 40,000 people attending each year. In addition to musical performances, the festival also offers a variety of different activities including DJs, club nights, films, dance classes, swimming, hill walks and much more. This festival has something for everyone, no matter what your interest is.

Wireless Music Festival is a music event that happens in London every year. It is organised by Live Nation and Festival Republic. It started in Hyde Park in 2005 initially showing a mixture of rock, pop and electronic artists. Since then it has become one of the UK’s leading festivals that focuses on hip-hop, R&B and grime featuring renowned artists such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Stormzy. It has been hosted at different venues all across London but since 2014 it has mainly been located at Finsbury Park and intends to remain there until at least 2027. It has expanded globally, taking its festival to places such as Germany and the Middle East.

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CHASING THE SUN: FAVOURITE SUMMER DESTINATIONS

By Ava Najafi Summer is a season of endless possibilities, a time when the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary. It is when school is out, and the days stretch out before us, filling up with the promise of adventure and relaxation. As the temperatures rise and the sun shines brighter, our thoughts naturally drift towards the perfect getaway. Whether you dream of lounging on pristine beaches, exploring ancient ruins, or diving into thrilling outdoor activities, there is a summer destination out there that is calling your name.

For those seeking sun-drenched relaxation, the allure of the Mediterranean is undeniable. Imagine yourself on the pristine beaches of the Greek islands, where the Aegean Sea sparkles in shades of turquoise and the whitewashed villages cling to the cliffsides.

Santorini, with its iconic sunsets and volcanic landscapes, is a must visit.

Alternatively, indulge in the culinary delights of Italy, from handmade pasta and wood-fired pizzas to delicious gelato.

Explore the ancient ruins of Rome, where history comes alive at every turn.

Further east, the Croatian coast offers a blend of history, natural beauty, and vibrant nightlife. Sail along the Dalmatian islands, explore medieval cities like Dubrovnik, and soak up the sun on hidden coves.

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If adventure is calling your name, look no further than the diverse landscapes of the United States. Yosemite National Park in California is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts. Hike among towering granite cliffs, marvel at the majesty of Yosemite Falls, and camp beneath a canopy of stars.

For a more exotic adventure, consider a trip to Costa Rica, a paradise for eco-tourists and thrill-seekers alike. Zip-line through the rainforest canopy, surf the legendary waves of the Pacific coast, and discover a world of exotic wildlife. Explore the cloud forests of Monteverde, where you can walk across hanging bridges and spot elusive creatures like the resplendent quetzal. Don't miss the amazing opportunity to visit the Arenal Volcano, where you can soak in natural hot springs and experience the raw power of nature.

Beyond the beaches and mountains, summer is also a time for cultural exploration. Immerse yourself in the vibrant arts scene of Paris, where you can visit world-class museums like the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, stroll along the Seine River, and savour delicious pastries at charming cafes. Further away in Southeast Asia, Thailand offers a sensory feast of temples, bustling markets, and exotic cuisine. Explore the ancient city of Ayutthaya, relax on the beaches of Phuket, and experience the vibrant nightlife of Bangkok.

Remember, the best summer destinations offer more than just beautiful scenery. They provide opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with new people and cultures. So, pack your bags, gather family or friends, and get ready for a summer adventure that you'll cherish for years to come!

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CULTURE

THE MET GALA 2025

By Ciara Donsbach

The theme of the Met Gala this year was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. It focused on the history and evolution of Black Dandyism, from the 18th century to the present. This year, the co-chairs were Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky and Anna Wintour, with Lebron James as honorary co-chair.

What is the Met Gala?

The Met Gala, originally known as the Costume Institute Benefit, is the yearly fundraising gala for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. It's a high-profile fashion event, often called the Super Bowl of fashion. It is held every year on the first Monday in May. The gala coincides with the opening of the Costume Institute's annual exhibition. Guests dress to a theme in elaborate and bespoke creations. The event is a celebration of fashion and culture.

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Who was the best dressed?

Jenna Ortega: she paid homage to fashion history in a tailored Balmain dress inspired by tailoring tools, which showed her appreciation for couture storytelling.

Lewis Hamilton: he wore a custom Grace Wales Bonner suit, which earned him praise for his amazing style and sleek presence.

Zendaya: she was styled by Law Roach in a custom Louis Vuitton ivory suit inspired by Zoot suits and Diana Ross's film Mahogany. Her tailored look was accessorised with a widebrimmed hat and red nails, which were both elegant and perfectly on theme.

Rihanna: she was wearing a Marc Jacobs ensemble. Her outfit included a grey bustier, black floor-length skirt, and a cropped jacket.

Her accessories were a flamboyant tie and hat, blending high fashion with personal narrative.

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EASTBOURNE ARTIST OF THE HALF-TERM: SAMANTHA TUFFNELL

By Wilf Medlycott Samantha Tuffnell is an artist and art tutor from Eastbourne. She has a background in graphic design from Eastbourne Art College.

She often uses ink and bleach techniques, creating dynamic and unpredictable artworks that reflect the energy of her surroundings in Eastbourne.

Drawing inspiration from the South Downs and the beach, Tuffnell’s pieces often depict natural elements like the beach. Her process involves using two colours of ink, which, when combined with bleach, produce a

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range of unexpected colours and textures.

She occasionally incorporates fine black liner and gold acrylic details to add depth and highlights to her work.

Tuffnell regularly sells her art in local galleries and has exhibited at various art fairs over the past six years. Her commitment to community engagement is clear as she goes through the ink and bleach painting workshops she conducts, sharing her unique techniques with aspiring artists. She is still making art regularly and is a valuable part of Eastbourne’s vibrant art scene.

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EASTBOURNE ROTHESAY TENNIS TOURNAMENT

By Lucy O’Hara The Eastbourne Tennis Open, which has been held since 1974, is known to be one of the world’s most important grass courts tennis tournaments because of its proximity to the Wimbledon championships which are held just a week afterwards.

Famously played at Devonshire Parks Grass Outdoor Courts, it is an event steeped in history and has in the past welcomed some of the world’s greatest tennis talents onto its courts. Initially opened as a cricket ground in 1874, Devonshire Park then found its success in tennis, especially when the first courts were laid in 1879 and stands built in 1921. The ‘tennis centre’ was completed as a whole in 1998.

The first professional Lawn Tennis Championships of Great Britain commenced in 1919 and the first Women’s International Tennis Tournament was hosted here in 1974 sponsored by LTA. Eastbourne replaced the infamous Nottingham Open Grass Courts Tournament which had been held between 2009-14 and has, since 2017, been established as an ATP tour. During the years 2015-16, while the men played in Nottingham, the Eastbourne Open was a women’s only competition.

The venue and the event is rich in history and is an extremely important draw to Eastbourne. The event itself continues

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to develop each year, showcasing some of the best global tennis talents on its courts.

It has a prestigious list of past winners, including Martina Navratilova who won a record of 11 singles titles alone on Devonshire Courts (the most out of anyone, male or female), and Taylor Fritz who holds three titles in seven years at Eastbourne.

Eastbourne College is very lucky to have it quite literally on our doorstep as we are both given the opportunity to very easily attend and witness some excellent tennis, but also because around 40 students each year are trained in the skills of ball crewing, going on to be appointed as ball crew for the tennis players throughout the week of the tournament alongside pupils from Cavendish School. Not only is this a brilliant opportunity to witness and emerge yourself into the technicalities of the sport, but it is also an incredible experience for those who love and play the sport. It is a huge honour to share the courts with some of the biggest names in the sport, as they work their way up towards Wimbledon.

2024 marked its 50th anniversary of the tournament, and 150th anniversary of Devonshire Park itself. This year’s competition starts on June 23rd, with 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams, and with anticipation for a huge fan base as large as 8,000 fans in their stadium court.

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SPORT

MISS CALLAGHAN: INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CRICKET PLAYERS

By Liv Wilson Miss Callaghan is the Head of Cricket at Eastbourne College, where she has led the 1st XI team through some very successful seasons. However, some may not know that she also has a very impressive playing career herself. She has played for the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), which is a very prestigious club, a remarkable achievement in itself. On top of that, she scored 50 runs for the MCC at Lord’s!

Another significant achievement was becoming the first woman to play in the Surrey Men's Premier League. Throughout her cricket career, Miss Callaghan has played in many different men’s teams, which is very inspiring to young female athletes, as it is an important milestone in the progression of women's involvement in cricket.

Miss Callaghan was first inspired to pick up a cricket bat by her father, who was a fan of the sport and encouraged her to play from a young age. She began playing cricket at primary school in the boys’ team. A supportive teacher encouraged her to join, as there were limited opportunities for girls’ cricket at the time.

Miss Callaghan acknowledges that cricket was, when she started out, and in many areas still is, a male-dominated sport.

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there has been a significant rise in women taking on roles and the introduction of women's professional cricket. From Miss Callaghan's experience, it has definitely not been an easy ride at all competing to be seen in this traditionally male-led sport. She says, “As a woman, I haven’t always been accepted. There have often been comments made.” However, she has found that surrounding herself with supportive family members, friends, and colleagues has been incredibly helpful in navigating these challenges.

Looking ahead, Miss Callaghan aims to continue balancing her role at Eastbourne College with playing cricket outside of school. At the College, she hopes to encourage everyone to get involved with cricket and to leave the College wanting to continue to play. For those who aspire to pursue a career in cricket, she wants to provide the best possible platform to help them succeed.

Miss Callaghan offers this advice for those who are thinking of getting involved in cricket or those that are interested in pursuing cricket professionally: “Just have fun! Cricket is a tough game, physically and mentally. You have to make sure you enjoy it, so surround yourself with good teammates and just know that the lows will always be followed by highs!”

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COLLEGE TENNIS AND ATHLETICS

By Myles Luther

This summer term, the College will take part in many sport fixtures including tennis and athletics which the school excels at.

Daisy Barrow (13) is the captain of the U18 girls’ side and has seen much success with the team. Daisy says, “The season started really strongly retaining the winter national titles and the U18 Sussex cup which was amazing. The team just needs to work on their support for each other as we had a few newcomers into the team and so it was a new environment for them”. She gives encouraging words describing “how willing the new players were to come and play matches for the team without hesitation and how much they stepped up to the task asked of them. To retain the winter nationals title, the girls put a lot of effort into training which was shown evidently on court, with each player playing their part for the team which allowed us to win the title together”.

Daisy and the team are already very strong but still set challenging goals for themselves. “I would like to improve the training environment for the girls who are new and make them feel as if they can train at their highest level.” In the match against Bede’s on Monday 19th May, the girls only narrowly lost to a very strong Bede’s team 6-7. Hopefully, there will be more wins to come.

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This term we have seen lots of athletics fixtures led by Jasper Simpson (13), who has shown strong leadership as well as performing to a high standard himself.

Jasper said, “The season began with the first round of the Diamond League at home in Eastbourne. We kickstarted our campaign in style with some impressive performances in both track and field. The team is extremely dedicated and talented. I think we perform well under pressure and can get good results from hard work. However, there must be a wealth of untapped talent that could be realised within the school. With greater awareness of our successes and a concerted effort to engage those students with, as yet, latent ability, we could really dominate the inter- schools’ competitions.”

Jasper went on to list highlights of the season so far. “The season has already given us some very impressive performances.

Most notably, Ollie Twining gaining a podium spot for both shot and discus, and Lilah Medlycott winning inter girls 100m and second in high jump. A standout performance in my opinion would definitely be Nelly Bathard-Smith’s incredible efforts in winning senior long jump and setting a new SISDL record. She then went on to cap that with a very commendable second in triple jump - two results both she and the College can be very proud of.”

When asked to reflect on his role, he said, “I have tried to be as involved as I can this season, but it was always going to challenging to balance both my A levels and my commitment to athletics. I think I could improve on finding more time to give advice and encouragement to the younger years to help them improve and engender a greater sense of belonging to the team.”

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BLACKWATER HOUSE REPORT

By Apple Van de Meer

The Blackwater girls have had a very busy start to the summer term with Year 11 and Year 13 girls working extremely hard as their A level and GCSE exams have begun in full swing. We sadly say goodbye to the Year 11s and 13s who are leaving us but are excited to welcome in the new Year 9s for next year.

A barbeque on College Field at dinner and a band night down on the beach at the band stand was an incredible opportunity for girls to listen to some fun music and get some fresh air on Thursday 22nd May.

We are proud to begin the term announcing our new Head of House as Liv Wilson, and Amy Wearne and Tilly Lancaster as our deputies, and we say goodbye to our current head Amelia Williams.

With the sun shining, Blackwater girls took to the tennis court to play some amazing matches in House Tennis. Both A and B teams gave it their absolute best and, although they didn’t come back with the trophy, they all came back with smiles on their faces. House Water Polo has also been a highlight of this half term with the senior girls taking second place.

In drama, the Dell Play is in full swing with Tilly Lancaster, Amy Wearne, Apple Van Der Meer and Emily Corrigan all taking part, putting in their best efforts to learn lines in the midst of a busy term.

We enjoyed a lovely way to end the half term with an informal concert on Tuesday 20th with Axell from Year 10 putting on an amazing show. Huge congratulations to her.

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CRAIG HOUSE REPORT

By Dan Clark It has been another busy period for Craig House, not least due to this year’s GCSE and A level exams. As the weather gets better and the days get longer, more and more Craig students are using the yard for fun activities like cricket and football, with some playing tennis on Powell courts.

A tennis squad consisting of Dan Clark, James Dunlop, Theo Hazelwood and Wilf Medleycott participated in the Interhouse Tennis Competition, a hard fought challenge given the team’s lack of experience. Undaunted however, a confident win over Reeves House saw a 5th place playoff against Reeves which was calmly won, a great result for the house. The same squad is now hoping for more success in the upcoming House Badminton Competition.

In other news, huge congratulations to Wilf Medlycott for being appointed Head of House, and to Nate Cahill and James Dunlop for being named school prefects. Dan Clark, Theo Hazlewood and Ollie Kirtley have been appointed Deputy Heads.

In sport, Tommy Llewellyn was selected for the next round of the Harlequins Academy.

Tommy also won the Kirk Green French Reading Prize, an incredible achievement.

Everyone in Craig is looking forward to the Craig Family BBQ taking place on College Field after half term, where two cricket teams captained by the incoming and outgoing Heads of House battle it out.

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GONVILLE HOUSE REPORT

The Stag

By Harry Doe

The Gonville boys had their hands full this half term. Although only five weeks long, it was packed with house events and activities that all the pupils threw themselves into. The Year 11s took part in multiple fun activities in the garden games to celebrate the start of their study leave for GCSEs, from doughnut eating to matching coloured cups.

We also congratulate the tennis team for coming a hard-fought second place in House Tennis. Other congratulations regarding sport go to out Gonvillians playing cricket this term: Jaden Matsikenyeri and Charl Spies for achieving centuries for the College (scoring 100 runs in one game), Henry Cooke for his impressive five wickets against King’s Canterbury, and Tom Zlattinger for his hattrick.

The house has recently erupted with competitiveness and amazing shows of skill as Gonvillians fought it out in the exclusive Gonville House pool tournament, occupying the whole half term and where the final brought all the house together for the best game of pool Gonville has ever seen.

House roles have been announced this half term, with roles such as Head of House going to Rowley Emus, Deputy Head to Ethan Ajikobi and the house prefect team consisting of Sam Lee as Peer Listener, Atom Tian as International Rep, Jaden Matsikenyeri as School Prefect and Felix St John Parker as House Prefect.

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HOUSE REPORTS

NUGENT HOUSE REPORT The term has been buzzing with activity and spirited competition so far, showcasing Nugent House's commitment to both excellence and participation across a wide range of events. Our athletes made a significant splash in the House Water Polo Competition, securing a commendable second place after a series of hard-fought matches. The team demonstrated exceptional teamwork and resilience, narrowly missing out on the top spot but earning valuable points for the house standings.

By Ava Najafi

House, and Isabella and Julia serving as Deputy Heads. Their leadership and dedication will undoubtedly guide and inspire the house in the coming months.

This past Sunday, the house enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon with a game of rounders, fostering camaraderie and relaxation. Meanwhile, the Year 9 students have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather, holding their tutor time sessions at the beach, providing a refreshing and engaging learning environment.

Looking ahead, anticipation is building for the upcoming House Badminton Tournament. We are confident that Nugent House will once again demonstrate its sporting prowess and competitive spirit on the badminton court. In other sporting achievements, our tennis team clinched third place in the House Tennis Tournament. The team displayed great sportsmanship and determination contributing valuable points to Nugent House's overall performance.

Beyond sport, Nugent House continues to excel in the arts and leadership. The Year 10 Boarders’ Band perform at the Big Band Night, showcasing their musical talents and creativity. We are also proud to announce the new prefects for Nugent House, with Nancy taking on the role of Head of

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Finally, we bid a fond farewell to our Year 13 pupils as they embark on their next adventures.

The Leavers' Service was a special occasion, filled with memories and well wishes for their future endeavours. We thank them for their contributions to Nugent House and wish them the very best in all their future pursuits.

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PENNELL HOUSE REPORT

The Stag

By Owen Lee

Pennell House enters the summer term with energy, ambition, and plenty to look forward to. We are proud to begin the term by congratulating Sam Kirk, our newly appointed Head of House, as well as Robert Cain, who has been named a School Prefect.

These fantastic achievements reflect their leadership and dedication to the house.

In sporting news, Pennell continues to show strength and spirit. We battled to secure joint third place in House Basketball, and in House Tennis we finished in fourth place.

We’re proud of the determination and teamwork shown by everyone who took part.

Back in house, the boys are enjoying the revamped common room, now complete with a badminton court and a darts board.

These new additions have brought fresh energy to our social spaces.

With exam season upon us, we wish our Year 11 and Year 13 students the very best of luck in their GCSE and A Level exams. Your hard work and resilience have brought you this far, keep pushing through!

As the term progresses, everyone in Pennell is looking forward to a well-deserved half term break, a chance to rest, reset, and recharge before the final stretch of the academic year.

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HOUSE REPORTS

POWELL HOUSE REPORT As we come into the Summer Term, Powell House joins Mr and Mrs Mason in welcoming their new baby, Theo, who will be joining the house as an honouree member. Powell will welcome Theo with open arms and will try to give Mr and Mrs Mason the most help we can. Powell House are extremely pleased for Mr and Mrs Mason and hope that all goes well and that we can meet Theo in the coming months.

By Myles Luther

With the absence of Mr Mason and Year 13, the new Powell leadership team step into place to steady the ship without the experienced Year 13 or Mr Mason. In the words of Julie our Matron, Tom Richards, the new Head of House, “is doing an amazing job since he has big shoes to fill after Max who was great”.

Mr Phillips has kindly agreed to take on the responsibility of stepping up as Acting Hsm in Mr Mason’s absence.

In other news Powell House continue to rain sporting excellence as the Powell House tennis team came first overall for the boys.

The team was made up of Sergio Vieira (13), Matteo Ghislanzoni (12), Reha Akinlosotu (13) and Ruben Booth (13). The boys did amazingly well in defeating some extremely fierce competition and taking home a heroic first place.

With the sun shining, Powell have used the tennis court outside to play cricket as well as other games, enjoying the radiant sunshine.

Now we are in full swing of the exam season, we say a brief goodbye to the Year 11s and 13s who have now taken their study leave and we wish them every bit of luck in their exams.

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REEVES HOUSE REPORT

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By Jonah Ripley

With the sun out and the weather finally warming up, spirits are high in Reeves House.

To begin, what remains of Reeves would like to wish the best of luck yet again to everyone taking public exams; we hope that all of their hard work and diligent revision will pay off on results day and we’re sure that they’ll enjoy a brilliantly long summer holiday as a reward, before embarking on their sixth form and university journeys.

Another term means more house competitions, and more house competitions means more victories. Most recently, our Year 9s came out with an impressive victory over the opposition in the House Tennis Competition, meanwhile the sixth form team achieved a respectable top 6 finish in their respective bracket, but commendations should still be given for their determination and grit. Another well done should go to Justin Kelso, who finished 3rd in shotput as part of the Athletics Diamond League Competition.

To finish, I’d like to look forward and wish good luck to Years 9, 10, and 12 in their end of year exams. We’re sure that the half term will bring plenty of hard work, hopefully with a successful house badminton win just before.

Have a great rest of the term and enjoy the good weather!

Summer Term 2 Edition | 2025

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The Stag

HOUSE REPORTS

SCHOOL HOUSE REPORT As we welcome the arrival of the summer term, School House is already buzzing with energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of achievement. With the sun finally shining, the girls are enjoying the lighter days and looking ahead to what promises to be another memorable and fulfilling term.

We began the term on a high note with the interhouse tennis tournament, a true highlight and a wonderful display of team spirit and talent. Our senior girls performed exceptionally well, securing an impressive second place overall. A heartfelt congratulations to Tiggy Tutt, Ruby Oliver, Millie Davidson-Houston, and Lily Stoner for their outstanding efforts and sportsmanship. Their hard work and commitment on the court have made the house proud.

Meanwhile, our Year 11 and Year 13 students have entered the exam season with focus and determination. As they navigate this challenging period, we are all behind them, offering support and encouragement. We wish them the very best as they work towards their final goals and look forward to a well-deserved and restful summer break once their exams are behind them.

Summer Term 2 Edition | 2025

By Jemima Bailey

We are also delighted to celebrate some exciting leadership appointments within School House. A massive congratulations to Millie Davidson-Houston and Issy Doyle, who have both been named school prefects, and to Sasa Duffillova who is our new Head of House - a true testament to their dedication, leadership, and the respect they command among their peers. The new prefects bring great energy, passion, and a strong sense of community to their roles, and we are confident they will be fantastic leaders in the term ahead.

As always, School House continues to be a supportive, vibrant, and ambitious community. We are proud of everything our girls have achieved so far and excited for what’s to come. Here's to a successful and memorable summer term!

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The Stag

HOUSE REPORTS

WARGRAVE HOUSE REPORT

By Finn Bulkeley

Since the start of this term, it has been clear that in Wargrave, while it is getting close to the end of the year, no one has taken their foot off the gas as all the boys are still pushing and working as hard as they can, whether it be for public exams, which the Year 11s and 13s are working especially hard for, or for the general end of year exams that hang over everyone else’s heads. However, I am sure that no one is taking these lightly and good luck to all in future exams.

meals in the sun making the most of our location and helping to build relationships and also letting the boys relax ready for one of the most important terms in the year.

Due to these exams, Wargrave has a new senior prefect team in house, a huge congratulation to Aman Shah for earning Head of House and to Elliot Freeborough and Harry Bishop for earning Deputy Heads of House. Moving on to the wider school picture, Wargrave’s very own Will Plimsoll has been named Deputy Head of School.

Additionally, Ian Tam has been named a School Prefect. Congratulations to both.

Turning to the sport pitches now, we congratulate Will Mclean for making his debut for the cricket 1st XI. What a massive achievement for someone in Year 10.

Furthermore, Wargrave’s been making a push for the sports cup with recent success in House Tennis for all years.

As the year starts to draw to a close and the days grow longer, Wargrave has made the most of it with our first house barbecue of the year and multiple tutor and goodbye

Summer Term 2 Edition | 2025

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HOUSE REPORTS

The Stag

WATT HOUSE REPORT

By Poppy Campion It’s been a great term for Watt House so far, with GCSEs kicking off for the Year 11s and A-levels starting for the year 13s. The longawaited exams have finally arrived, but morale in house remains high as the girls tirelessly crack on with their work, all the while remaining energetic and upbeat… most of the time. To top it all off, both the junior and senior teams managed to secure first place in House Tennis Competition and everyone is now gearing up for Sports Day! With the exam year groups going on study leave, there has been major excitement in school and in house, with the new senior school positions being announced. We are thrilled to have Lucy O’Hara as our new Head of House replacing Sophie Fellows, and Eva Bramley replacing Emily Finch as Deputy. All eight of the Year 12s are going to make fabulous house prefects, with Poppy Campion also being made Head of School and Humreen Ellens being made a School Prefect.

hilarious reflection of the girls in the house, where awards included: most painful parking, messiest room and most likely to be found at a mushroom festival, as well as a highly appreciated award to Mrs Tutt being “most likely to date a famous American footballer”. Now there’s something I’m sure you didn’t know! The Mini Watt winners were: Ruth Boothby, Serena Patel, Nikol Saveleva, Eva Bramley and Alice Caroe, with the Watt Cup being awarded to Daisy Barrow. It’s sure to be a fabulous rest of the summer term.

Friday the 16th of May offered a brilliant final opportunity for the girls to celebrate the end of the year with each other, enjoying the sunshine before being consumed by exams. Everyone had a fabulous evening full of lots of activities, from Pictionary and a ‘dress up Mrs Tutt” arts and craft game, to sack races and a notbeer pong skills game. The evening was rounded off with a well-deserved barbeque in the garden and the giving out of our iconic paper plate prizes. These were a

Summer Term 2 Edition | 2025

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The Stag

HOROSCOPES

By Mystic Maud Pisces

Aquarius

Aries

Taurus

(Jan 20th - Feb 18th)

(Feb 19th- March20th) (March 21st-April 19th)

Your working life brings rewards while your personal life is stressful

You wish more people were honest with you; reflect on this

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

(May 21st - June 20th)

(June 21st - July 22nd)

(July 23rd - Aug 22nd)

(Aug 23rd-Sep 22nd)

Your friends value and appreciate your adaptability

Expand your knowledge in new fields

Your recent achievements have done a lot to boost your charm

Someone close to you is keeping secrets

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

(Sep 23rd - Oct 22nd)

(Oct 23rd - Nov 21st)

(Nov 22nd - Dec 21st)

(Dec 22nd-Jan 19th

Be less negative to the ones you love

Why do you focus so heavily on things you cannot change?

You will experience a burst of motivation soon

Pay close attention at work or in a study environment

Summer Term 2 Edition | 2025

Focus more on organisation

(April 20th-May 20th) Share your ideas and let creativity flow

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The Stag

THE STAG QUIZ Search for the answers for this quick quiz throughout the articles. The first to hand in a complete set of correct answers to Ms Curren will win a Show HSM and something chocolatey!

Good luck...

By Esther Ellwood

1. Which edition of The Stag is this?

2. Who are our new Heads of School?

3. What is the name of the OE who debated at Eastbourne?

5. Which play will the Dell Play be this year?

6. When did the Ukraine War start?

7. How many years has it been since VE Day? 7. What is the record for the largest fine given to a water company?

Summer Term 2 Edition | 2025

8. How much more energy does Chat GPT use rather than a normal internet search?

9. How many people go to see Royal Ascot every year?

11. Which marathon boasts the most world records?

12. How old was Max Verstappen when he joined F1?

13. How many music festivals take place in the UK each year?

14. Which holiday destination is the best for food?

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