The Stag: Summer Term 1 2021 Contents Goodbye from Year 13…...………...……………………...……………....…Page 3 Year 13 House Collages.…………………………………………………......Page 4 Be You Exhibition…….……………………………………………….….....Page 18
A Silent Street……………………………………….….………………..…..Page 20 Are We Doomed?…………..………………….………………….…..……..Page 21 Farewell, Mr Hill……..………………………………………………..…….Page 22 Tennis, Anyone?..………………………………………….…………….…..Page 23 Recipes: Feeding Yourself at University……..………...………..…………..Page 24 Book Review…………………………………………...………..…………..Page 26 How Far We’ve Come………………….……………………….….………..Page 28 Getting Out…………………………………………………….……...……..Page 29 Essay…………………………………………...……………………….…....Page 30 Water Polo…………………………………………………………………...Page 31 Royal Opera House Design Challenge………………………...…...….…… Page 32
Welcome to the Stag Team! Environment Editor: William Brown International Editor: Sandra Fuhrmann Fashion Editor: Megan Moore Photography Editor: Tiggy Tutt
If you would like to join the Stag team or contribute a piece to our next issue, get in touch by emailing us at: thestag@eastbourne-college.co.uk
Creative Writing Editor: Izehi Ebhohimen
Sports Editors: Billy Hipperson, Harriet Armstrong Contributors: Jessie Tarrant, Elo Quitman, Missy Richardson, Freddie Buckingham, Lily Moore, Liv Reeves, Lati Akinyemi, Fiontan Logan, Akari Ikeda Design Team: Jessie Tarrant
FEATURE
Goodbye from Year 13 Goodbye from Year 13
Reflecting on our time at Sixth Form
What a time it has been! I still remember vividly our Two years ago we started full of hope and expectations first day at the College in August 2019 when we first met and started our A level studies. During the Preparing for tests, exams and applications. Lower Sixth Dinner, we got to know each other and We enjoyed our time during classesquickly became a very strong community. Michaelmas term was soon over and we were looking forIn drama and music we performed for the masses. ward to the new year. In games we celebrated a lot of success.
We supported each other during times of stress.
Suddenly the world changed and lives had to be rearranged. We were not together any longer Nevertheless we grew stronger. We stayed connected through Zoom and Teams Which we would not have expected in our wildest dreams. In the last school year we were reunited We were nervous and always excited. Half a year of testing and tracing helped us against the problems we were facing. The teachers’ support was immense. The time until December was very intense. The new year began and everything went to plan. But we unexpectedly had to go home again.
In January 2020 the world changed: because of the Covid-19 pandemic we could only spend four out of six terms at school. This was a big challenge for all of us: we had to adapt to studying online and were living around the world. Lockdown made us value our time at Eastbourne College even more and we missed the moments we have spent at school together. Normal aspects of life such as being in a classroom, eating in the dining hall, competing in sports and having in-person conversations suddenly became very important. We would not have succeeded without the support of our teachers and staff of Eastbourne College who have made Sixth Form a very special time for us. Thank you to everyone for your patience, encouragement and kindness.
We are soon leaving school: some of us might go to university, others might start a job or an apprenticeship. We will be living all over the UK and wider world. Nevertheless, I hope that we will be able to reunite in a few years’ time to share our experiences and reflect on this time which shaped our lives.
In April we were back at College together hoping to stay forever. We thank our teachers and everybody for their support
who have done so much for our cohort. We have spent much time in front of a screen Now we say “Goodbye” - We are your Year Thirteen!
Sandra Fuhrmann, Year 13, School House
ART
Afrotastic ‘Afrotastic’ is a creative exhibition which will be taking place from the 6th June - 17th July, open to pupils, parents, and members of the public. It will feature work inspired by Africa, produced by artists, photographers, and textiles students at Eastbourne College together with a collection of portraits from Ben Wolstenholme (OE) centred on African American culture, all organised by the Be You Race & Ethnicity Group. It came from a hope that we could get people talking and educating themselves about African culture through creative means, as well as give African pupils a chance to re-connect with their heritage. There will be artwork, food, music, videos and most of all, a chance to learn about, talk about and celebrate African culture. So come along – we hope to see you there! Billy, Abi, Rebekah, Liv & Tash I was inspired by Ivana Besevic, a Serbian painter who specialises in portraiture influenced by drama, cinema, and photography. I photographed Halimat in the studio using the lights to add drama to her features and manipulated them in Photoshop to accentuate the highlights and shadows and increase the vibrancy of the colours like Besevic. – Cecile Farrant
Piece by Jessie Tarrant
Piece by Liv Reeves I have always loved the bright colours and intricate patterns within African clothing, and this was something I wanted to explore, and so I designed my own patterns to include in my final piece. I created a mixed media piece, influenced by the printing techniques often used to print patterns onto fabric, and was something I really enjoyed experimenting with. The bright coloured relief patterns were laboriously embroidered. – Evie Sleep
ART I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the Black History Celebration exhibition: A hyper-realist drawing inspired by my art hero, Nigerian artist Arinze Stanley, who integrates his personal experiences into his incredible hyper-realist drawings. The aim of the portraits was to encapsulate each subjects’ personality, whether that be through a cheeky smile, a cheesy grin, or a straight face, achieving a more intimate connection between the viewer and the subject. A third drawing is underway! – Flo Long
This piece describes the masked feelings prior to the Black Lives Matter Protests. The masks look in opposing directions, concealing the anger and disgust towards the racism present. The main figure looks forward towards a new direction in response to the Protests. A new horizon, edging humanity closer to a world without racism. I was inspired by the artist Lucien Freud, as the masks that surround the main figure possess these brushstrokes that make mimic the style. The composition was influenced by the classic “operatic” style as Bohemian Rhapsody. – Joe Kettle
After seeing all these amazing pieces of artwork, I can assure that this is not an exhibition that you want to miss. The different techniques and presentations for each of these pieces are so unique and fascinating to observe. Do not miss it! 6th June - 17th July. Please do come along and show your support for all the contributors and producers of this incredible exhibition.
Piece by Abigail Coleman
Jessie Tarrant, Year 12, Watt House
FEATURE
A Silent Street A silent street, a town so tranquil
The vibrations started to bring things to light,
And all I had were thoughts to untangle.
Like tales of people who went down without a fight.
I was content with my silence, up in my room,
They had their rights read to them,
All was quiet before the boom.
And in the end it caused mayhem.
A metaphorical boom but a boom no less,
There was George Floyd and Elijah McCain,
And after this boom there was no rest.
Then the vicious cycle started again.
A subtle boom, but a boom with vibrations, A boom with vibrations that swept the nations.
This drawing is of a photo taken during a Black Lives Matter protest in Texas during the summer of 2020 as a response to the murder of George Floyd. Horseback protesters led the line as 60,000 citizens demonstrated peacefully against Floyd’s murder in his hometown of Houston. Liv Reeves, Year 12 School House
Lati Akinyemi, Year 12 School House
ENVIRONMENT
Climate Change - Are We Doomed? We are heading for an apocalypse. A nightmare. A hellish landscape of death. There will be no water, no food and little life on the planet. Except that isn’t the case. But it’s all too easy to get that impression from how activists and media outlets alike talk about the potential impacts of climate change. Misinformation helps nobody, but we equally cannot afford to minimise the threat. We are not doomed, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t act. Most of the impacts of climate change revolve around how much the average global temperature has increased. The Paris Agreement in 2015 was signed to try and keep that temperature rise below 2°C. It’s currently been raised by 1°C. The ICCP suggests 2-3°C of warming by 2100 is a likely scenario. So, picture the scene: The efforts of the Paris Agreement have failed and the world has warmed by around 2°C - what happens?
resentative Concentration Pathways, or RCPs. These are forecasts for the future climate depending on how much we limit emissions. There are four pathways. RCP 2.6 is the most optimistic, with 1°C of warming by 2100 - we’ve more or less already blown past that. RCP 4.5 and 6.0 suggest 2 -2.5°C of warming, which is roughly in line with expectations. But there’s a final pathway - RCP 8.5. This pathway forecasts the climate if we take little to no action against climate change, and it suggests 4°C of warming.
“Humanity finds a way” I stumbled across this model several years ago and it has always stuck with me. It takes perhaps the worst possible scenario for our planet - but it’s not impossible. This model doesn’t exactly fill you with hope, but it makes it clear that even in the worst possible scenario - humanity finds a way.
“We’re not going to go extinct” 90% of coral reefs are extinct. The amount of Insects and plants going extinct has also increased significantly. There’s been a significant increase in the amount of hot spells. There’s the potential for mass migration from areas that have been more heavily affected by climate change, and a relatively small rise in sea levels. Malaria may have spread to the United Kingdom. It’s worth noting that here in the UK we are relatively well-protected. We’re not at risk of hurricanes or any significant flooding - the same cannot be said for everywhere in the world. Low-lying regions in Bangladesh or Thailand are at significantly greater risk than us. The ICCP have a range of what are known as Rep-
Are we doomed? No. We’re not going to go extinct. We will, undoubtedly, survive. Even in the worst case scenario, it’s not a total apocalypse. But we shouldn’t settle for simply survival. We are at a turning point for our planet - we need to make sure we’re going in the right direction. William Brown, Year 13 Reeves House
ENVIRONMENT
Farewell, Mr Hill As Mr Hill steps down as House Master of Wargrave House, Fiontan Logan looks back at his time in the role.
don’t loose as much hair as I did!”
What is your standout moment in Wargrave?
“Most legendary housemaster of all time. He is the G.O.A.T” -Kojo Sako (Year 13)
“There are too many stand out moments to pick one over the seven years in Wargrave. Year on year there have been memorable moments. Over these years, Wargrave has managed to win everything, house singing, sports day, rugby, steeple chase, chess, hockey but sadly not the debating competition. However, one of my fondest but most stressful memories is putting together the House concert”
What will you miss the most about Wargrave? “The company of the lads and the privilege of helping them through their career at the college” What will you miss the least about Wargrave? “My regular trips to the HMO!” What was proudest moment as housemaster of Wargrave? “I’m proud to have been the house master of Wargrave over the years. My answer to this question is similar to the standout moments and this is because the boys never cease to amaze me and make me proud of what they achieve”
What would you say about Mr Hill.?
“The best housemaster I could’ve wished for to start my boarding school career. I’m surprised by how well he has put up with me due to the amount of trouble I get in” – Rory Staunton (Year 9) “Mr Hill is a very understanding housemaster. He knows the perfect balance between having fun and hard work” – Tsola Temi-Omatseye (Year 10) “He is like a father figure to us all and has helped us thrive as people as well as students” – Tom Hinley (Year 13) “The best experiences I have had in the UK is due to Mr Hill. He looked after me from day one when I was in Year 9. Hands down the greatest housemaster in the history of Wargrave” – Chisom Edet (Year 12) “Hilly is the master behind the works in Wargrave and all the boys acknowledge his commitment to the wellbeing of each and every one of his men. He is the reason Wargrave has the reputation it has.” – Will Pollington
What have you learnt from being housemaster of Wargrave? “Patience and that the boys will always let you down at some point! I have also learnt teenage boys’ humour is similar to mine!” What would be your passing message to Mr Spiers? “Wargrave is the best house. That reputation is now passed on to you. This is a once in a lifetime experience. My very best wishes and good luck. P.S I hope you
Fiontan Logan, Year 13 Wargrave House
SPORT
Tennis, Anyone? The summer term has seen a return to tennis and what a super start it has been. After a somewhat late start to the matches against Ardingly on the 24th of April, a display of fantastic tennis was put on up at Beresford ranging from the U14 girls all the way up to the U18 boys.
ably. When we communicated, we played well; we just need to remember to do this at every stage and not make silly mistakes that end up costing us points. Other areas for improvement are our level of fitness and familiarisation of our new partners which will come over time and with more practice.
Although the sun was on our side, the same can’t be said for the wind. This made serving especially hard. However, this didn’t hinder the number of aces served by the team.
The first match is always a strange one and especially so this year as the majority of the team hadn’t played competitively in two years. Added to this the fact that some of us were playing with new partners, we were all a little nervous as to how we would get on. But everyone played exceptionally well with the Girls-U15A and the Girls U18A having a complete whitewash over Ardingly College, winning 9-0 respectively. That said, the score doesn’t truly reflect the nature of the games; there were some great rallies and close calls, and I think Ardingly were particularly unlucky and we simply weren’t.
The match against Ardingly felt like a warm-up game and, although it was played in good spirit, Eastbourne were clearly the stronger team. It is important that we remember many of our future opponents are going to be far more challenging such as the upcoming tournament and to excel in that we must all give of our best. A great first match, well done to all the players and staff for their encouragement. It is a lovely feeling to be victorious. Let’s hope this will continue for the rest of the season.
For all of us there were some good lessons learned. When we focused, we played well, but sometimes that focus vanished, especially as we were winning comfortBoys U18B
Won 5-4
Girls U18A
Won 9-0
Girls U15A
Won 9-0
Girls U14A
Won 7-2
Lily Moore, Year 12, School House
FOOD
Starting Simple Off to uni? Or suddenly realised that you don’t really know how to cook? Don’t worry! I have got you covered with some simple recipes.
Spaghetti Bolognaise This recipe feeds 4 so either you can be nice and feed your flatmates or save for later. Ingredients 40g butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 celery stick, chopped
Option 1—Pasta Serving for 4 = 500g of pasta
Veggie or Vegan?
100g for one
Use a plant-based mince and Flora butter
1.
Get another pan and 3/4 fill with water
2.
Add few tablespoons of salt and few drops of olive oil (stops pasta sticking together)
3.
Make sure that the water is boiling gently (not violently overflowing) and add pasta
4.
Cook until the pasta is soft and drain
1 carrot stick chopped 250g mince 1 tablespoon of concentrated tomato puree (Want it to go further? Just add 1 tin of Method 1.
Take a small saucepan place in the butter, olive oil, onion, celery, carrot and put on a medium heat. Occasionally move around the pan with a wooden spoon so that it cooks evenly
Option 2—Chilli Bored of pesto pasta? Here’s how to make it into a chilli: 1.
Add some chilli powder and season to your taste
2.
Season with salt and pepper to you taste
2.
Add some kidney beans
3.
Add the meat & break up with the wooden spoon. Cook for a few minutes until the veg is soft and the meat is beginning to brown
3.
Make some rice or just add to toast
4.
Mix the tomato puree with a bit of water and add to saucepan (add chopped tomatoes here too)
Storage?
5.
Put lid on saucepan and cook for 1 & 1/2 hours on a low heat
6.
Check it and, if it looks dry, add some water (it won’t look dry if chopped tomatoes have been added)
Before putting it into the fridge or freezer, make sure that it has cooled down and no longer hot in the middle.
Okay, so you have eaten and decided not to feed your flatmates. Here is how to store it.
If you are storing in the freezer, place the contents into freezer bags ensuring that you
FOOD
Chocolate Brownies
Food Hack
175g dark chocolate
So you’ve woken up and remembered that you forgot to eat the baguette that you bought from the previous night and it’s gone stale. Don’t throw it away!
100g unsalted butter
1.
Run the baguette under cold water until damp
2.
Place it in the oven at a high temperature for 7-10 minutes
Trust me. These are good.
Ingredients
200g caster sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 90g self raising flour 15g coco powder 90g white chocolate
How can you tell if your eggs are still good?
Method 1.
Turn on oven to 180°C
2.
Put butter and dark chocolate into a bowl. Get a saucepan and fill half way with water. Place on the stove and heat until simmering. Put the bowl on top and melt the butter and chocolate. Stir occasionally with a spoon
3.
Let it cool once melted
4.
Stir in the sugar
5.
In a separate bowl beat the eggs and vanilla together (using a wooden spoon)
6.
Stir into the chocolate mix
7.
Sift the flour and coco powder together
8.
Stir in the flour into the chocolate mix
9.
Chop up the white chocolate into decent chunks and fold into the chocolate mixture
10.
Pour the mixture into the prepared tin
11.
Bake for 20-25 mins—when it is done it will be crispy on top but fairly firm to touch
Next issue… Once you have mastered the chilli, the next challenge is lasagne. I hope this has covered some of the basics. Good luck!
Liv Reeves, Year 12 School House
BOOK REVIEW
‘Trust Me I'm a Junior Doctor’ This non-fiction book follows the experience of junior doctor Max Pemberton through the highs and lows of being a junior doctor on the NHS. It is an insightful book, depicting how it is to actually be a doctor without glamorising aspects of it. From this book I gathered that to choose to be a doctor isn’t just a job but also a lifestyle, one in which you get frequent on-calls and emergency patients. As things changed drastically for Pemberton throughout the course of his two years as a junior doctor, he had to learn how to adapt, even to push himself to do things that he didn’t want to do such as a six month surgical round in his first year as a junior doctor.
The ever-presence humour repeatedly offset the somewhat strenuous consequences socially and sometimes mentally of being a doctor
The ever-presence humour repeatedly offset the somewhat strenuous consequences socially and sometimes mentally of being a doctor, and at times where he wrote about when he’d wanted to quit, or how much he wished that he had the time to be with family or just how he wanted a holiday he did so in a funny way which made the book engaging and memorable. I think that this book should be read by anyone, not just those interested in medicine, because it gives an insight into a career which is often misrepresented in media and underappreciated. Although at least now after all the work done by healthcare professionals during this pandemic, people have gained a better appreciation for workers of the NHS.
But he also highlighted the rewards of being a doctor, such as helping elderly patients on a geriatric ward or seeing the instant change in the health of a patient post-surgery. A very poignant part was when he met one of his previous patients outside of work and saw how much they had recovered. This underlying pride of being a doctor and of making a difference helps me to see over the difficulties of the job that he also presented. Some of these difficulties were presented in a humorous way, such as accidently missing his sister’s birthday for work and then accidently waking her up by calling her to say happy birthday on his night shift. Yet other harrowing passages were unflinching. One specific section that has stuck with me was one in which an elderly man came to hospital with injuries which had resulted from not being cared for, specifically by being neglected, in his care home. In these situations and others, I realised that the role of the doctor can be broad but also limited. A doctor can help a patient gain better health but not help them with other aspects of their life as much as they want to- they have to maintain that professional relationship. Izehi Ebhohimen, Year 12, Nugent House
ENVIRONMENT
There aren’t ten things to do to fight climate change For this issue of The Stag, I suggested I would write a quick article on ten things to do to fight climate change. Nothing complex, a quick article that I could knock out in half an hour over the Easter Holidays. But as I began writing it, I realised that I was struggling to think of anything beyond the first point I had written - to vote. Obviously, the majority of the College aren’t old enough to vote as of yet. But you will be. In the fight against climate change, it often feels as though it’s been left to us. We’re called upon to examine our carbon footprint, to ensure that we’re recycling, that we’re not driving unnecessarily. All of these things have a place, and I’m not going to say that they’re useless. Of course, by avoiding the drive to work you’re reducing your own personal emissions - but ultimately that’s a drop in the ocean.
- if all of us boycotted palm oil from tomorrow then the effect would be drastic. But the fact is that it’s near-impossible to organise a boycott on a sufficient scale. If you’ll indulge the cynic in me for a moment, it’s always worth noting that one of the first attempts at a personal carbon footprint calculator was developed and popularised by BP. It seems awfully convenient for them to take the blame off of their shoulders and onto the general public, doesn’t it?
“71% of the world’s emissions since 1988 come from 100 companies” Mr Medlycott has recently taken over the Eco Committee. When he asked if I wanted to join, he suggested that the focus on the committee should lie not in beach cleans and recycling paper (though these are of course helpful activities) but in inspiring the young people that are going to go on to become leaders (and voters) in our society. I am firmly of the belief that true action on climate change can only come from the top. We need regulation, subsidies and funding to emerge from this crisis - all the recycling bins in the world cannot accomplish this.
“True action on climate change can only come from the top” Here’s the fact of the matter: 71% of the world’s emissions since 1988 come from 100 companies. This isn’t news. It was concluded by the CDP’s Carbon Majors Report in 2017. So why are we being repeatedly told that climate change rests, in part, on our shoulders? Of course, we exercise some level of buying power
So, if you’re going to take one thing away from this article, I implore you to vote. I implore you to write to your MPs. I implore you to take advantage of the democracy that we live in. Action on climate change should not be a matter of party politics. It will affect all of us no matter which side of the political spectrum you stand on. William Brown, Year 13 Reeves House
FEATURE
How Far We’ve Come The period of the first lockdown and the whole time after that, feels like a blur. For some, it was a period of rest and they were thankful to be able to spend so much time with their families. However, for most people, the lockdown took its toll on their mental and physical health, with some stranded for weeks in complete isolation. Thinking back to the endless repetitive days and gloomy afternoons spent under a blanket waiting for the day to end, reminiscing over times spent with friends, makes me realise how far we’ve come. Lockdown made us all do some crazy things, that we never thought we’d be doing (who would have thought they’d be standing outside their houses on Thursday evenings at 8pm, clapping and banging pots and pans together?). Reminding myself of these things helps me feel like I have completed a milestone and am moving on to better times ahead. Some of us even went to the extreme levels of doing workouts from home - it must have been even more boring than I remembered. Joe Wicks, also known as the “The Body Coach”, was an online trainer to many people throughout the lockdown period. Creating short recipe videos, and providing online HIIT workout classes, he helped motivate people to get active to escape the stresses of the pandemic.
Lockdown made us all do some crazy things With so much time being spent at home, people decided to buy additions to their families in the form of lockdown puppies. The price of puppies has more than doubled during lockdown because of the sudden increase in demand. Take Miss Simmons and Basil, Miss Gordon and Pepper, and Mr Spiers and Monty, for example. However, there is also a sad part to this story as we are coming out of lockdown, and things are looking brighter for us; it is difficult for the lockdown puppies. They are attached to their owners and homes, having spent so much time with them. However,
some families are realising that as they return to work and their busy, usual lives; they don’t have the time to look after their puppies.
It was difficult to escape the virtual eyes of friends and family for long: Zoom The haircuts have also been absolute shockers ranging from letting it all grow out, to chopping it all off! My personal favourite was the return to school; wherever you looked, there was sure to be a mullet nearby. At-home haircuts made some people even thankful that their friends weren’t allowed to see them by law. However, it was difficult to escape the virtual eyes of friends and family for long; Zoom. Most of us had never even heard of “Zoom” before in our lives, and all of a sudden it became the closest way to see the people we love. From quiz nights, to lessons, to parties; there was sure to be a Zoom meeting of some description that you could join at any time. Despite not being able to go out to eat, I still ate some meals which were definitely restaurantworthy. Watching YouTube videos and buying recipe books taught me to make some snacks and meals that I would never have had the time to learn to make without lockdown. For example, I think most households in the UK had at least 3 loaves of banana bread in the oven a week – well, at least we did. Just the relief of being able to find flour and sugar in the supermarket in itself felt like completing a milestone.
Freddie Buckingham, Year 12, School House
ART
Getting Out
I was stuck in quarantine for thirteen days at the start of the summer term, and I had to attend online lessons for eight of them. While in my room alone,
I couldn't wait to get out I couldn't wait to get out, because I felt like I was missing out on so much and I wanted to actually talk to real people!
When The Stag invited me to draw something for the magazine, Miss Curren suggested I do something related to getting out of confinement and the idea struck. I'm actually happy with the way it turned out, and I love the idea for this piece - finally returning to real-life interactions and not online lessons anymore. Akari Ikeda, Year 9, School House
ESSAY
Literature is elitist. Do you agree? Literature, by definition is ambiguous, with one definition in the Oxford dictionary being ‘literature is written works such as novels, plays and poems that are regarded as having artistic merit’ compared to the alternative definition being ‘printed matter of any kind’ taking the derived from the Latin litterae meaning ‘writing’ essentially dissolving the previous meaning altogether. Over the course of the 18th century the term was ‘narrowed down to cover all imaginative literature: the novel, the epic, the lyric poem, the play’ and as a result of constriction of the definition, the opinions of the higher classes and the well-educated, led to the idea that literature was elitist. An elitist is a person practising elitism - defined as the advocacy of or reliance on the leadership or dominance of a select group. Furthermore, early 18th century academics began forming an English literary cannon, gathering works which they deemed would match the ancient classics, for example Homer and Virgil which attributed to the snobbish sting that literature has come to bear. This is less so the case in the modern day setting, with the opening of opportunities to make literature more accessible to the wider population rather than that of just social elites, through the advancement of technology, the hierarchical culture surrounding the term is broken down.
‘Certain people hold an opinion of greater value than others indicating elitism’ Each and every individual who is literate has the keys to read literature. With the increased access to education, only 14 per cent of the world’s population remained illiterate in 2016 - compared to the 12 per cent who were able to read and write in 1820. Hence, in 1820 literature could be regarded as elitist due to the majority being unable to read. In the present day, there are many more people
who are literate, so the possibility to experience literature is not elitist; especially with films and audiobooks appealing to an even wider audience. Some may argue that commercial publication causes literature to be labelled as elitist. This is a timeless problem; the Brontë sisters, whose work is considered to have great significance, published under pseudonyms, as Charlotte Brontë explained ‘we had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with prejudice’ and as J.K. Rowling explained that her publisher asked her to use her initials so the book would appeal to boys who may not want to read a book written by a woman. However, it must be taken into consideration that this is not at the fault of the literature itself but of the commercial outlook stamped upon a piece and as Eleanor Catton indicates ‘a book cannot be selective of its readership’.
‘A book cannot be selective of its readership’ But who is regarded to have the privilege to give pieces of writing so called ‘merit’? Prizes such as the Booker Prize enable writers to gain ‘guaranteed international recognition and a huge increase in sales’ and are judged by a panellist who are selected by 15 members of the Advisory Committee which alludes that certain people hold an opinion of greater value than others indicating elitism. However, literature can have great value to one or many as each reader seeks differing requirements ‘aesthetic or intellectual’, and fulfils the requirement of ‘artistic merit’. To conclude, literature is not elitist as a piece cannot predict its acceptance within society.
Liv Reeves, Year 12 School House
SPORT
Water Polo The Upper and Lower Sixth have made full use of the “bubble” system this term, allowing mixing of year groups in sports. A popular sport of choice has been water polo set up by Year 13 pupil George Pepper, taking place every Wednesday evening. George chose water polo due to his past experience in the sport, aiming to get people of all abilities involved without formal pressure. Teams have been split into Upper vs Lower Sixth creating some friendly competition, and evidently rivalry, between the two years. Since Covid-19, it has been difficult for year groups to play sports together, meaning over the last year the sixth form as a whole have missed out on many sporting events and the experiences of playing sport together. Several of the players have noted how the return to mixing within sports has created a long awaited sense of normality in an attempt to catch up on missed time, alongside cre
ating an outlet from the inevitable stress of sixth form studies. In addition, it is well known that sports help with mental health, the addition of water polo has played crucial role in preventing exam stress for upper sixth. In times of uncertainty and change, support from peers and other years in a relaxed sporting environment can prove to be extremely beneficial for mental wellbeing. The informal atmosphere has been tainted somewhat by the unspoken rivalry between years. Thus far, the Upper Sixth are consistent winners, evidently channelling their stress into sport, with the Lower Sixth having some catching up to do over the next few weeks in order to achieve their first win. Overall, the uptake of water polo has been very successful with the interest growing in numbers.
Harriet Armstrong, Year 12, School House
FASHION
Royal Opera House Design Challenge The Royal Opera House Challenge is an annual competition to inspire future generations of designers. An opera or ballet is chosen by the Royal Opera House for the pupils to design for. This year the opera chosen was Carmen. The director of this challenge, Thomas Guthrie, sends out the ‘Director’s Visions’ for the designers, which are different themes that the pupil will choose as a guideline when making their final design. The pupils then go on a journey to create their final design, which is all be documented in a portfolio. One pupil from Eastbourne College will have their portfolio sent to the Royal Opera House via a video of the pupil discussing their own work and how they got to their final design.
I decided to design for Micaëla who’s a sweet, innocent character. I tried to show this using light colours and mix-medium flowers on the skirt. My theme was playing with scale, which is why I created a large bow to sit on the shoulders of the actor. – Jessie-Mae Tarrant
Costume by Anya Brown
This will be the third year that Eastbourne College has entered the Royal Opera House Design Challenge. However, the difference this year is the fact that the pupils involved in this challenge have not been able to go to Covent Garden to see a ballet or opera. The first year of this challenge only involved Year 12. The next year of the challenge was then introduced to the Year 10 GCSE. Since two years ago when Eastbourne College first took part in this challenge, we have had no winners (yet!). Due to Covid-19, the Royal Opera House arranged a live Q&A with directors Tom Guthrie and Ruth Paton for all students taking part from different schools. During this Q&A, pupils asked questions about the challenge and any important advice or notes from the directors in terms of presenting their work regarding the unfortunate circumstances of lockdown.
I designed a blazer dress for the main character Carmen. The flames on my design represents her feisty character. The blazer dress is a bold statement fighting stereotypes. - Halimat Ganiyu Costume by Phoebe Shakespeare
I am designing for Carmen. I wanted to show Carmen’s gypsy background as well as bringing in key designers such as Gianni Versace and artists like Picasso to put a modern twist on the 1830s opera as well as challenging the stereotypical women in this century.
- Zoe Bell
FASHION Interview with Head of Textiles, Mrs Cosgrove What are your thoughts on how the challenge has gone this year?
“The first thing to come to mind is how well all pupils have coped with the effects of the pandemic. The challenges of teaching pupils how to construct garments on a Teams call will remain in my memory for some time. Pupils have exceeded all our expectations. Building on the successes of previous years, pupils they have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into the challenge and embraced new skills and creativity. From reading the libretto to drawing to music and making do with the materials and equipment they have to hand at home, they have embraced the journey.” Has lockdown or Covid-19 had an overall effect on this year’s challenge at all?
Costume by Jess Lock
“The deadline for the challenge was extended by Director Tom Guthrie and Designer Ruth Paton who were aware of the additional challenges that lockdown created. Pupils could submit a fashion illustration or paper costume if resources were scarce. We are so proud that all our pupils have chosen to produce a full size or 1/4 garment.” Has lockdown or Covid-19 influenced the pupils’ final designs? “I think the restrictions placed on the pupils have made them think even more creatively than they might have. They have had to think outside the box and come up with solutions that they wouldn’t have done otherwise. They have embraced the challenges that the pandemic has thrown at them and they should all be very proud of their achievements.”
Costume by Rosie Wheatley
Jessie-Mae Tarrant, Year 12, Watt House