Letter from the Head Master
Dear Parents and Guardians
As the summer term draws to a close, I am delighted to share with you the highlights and achievements that have made this term at Warwick School so remarkable.
In the past few months, we have seen 76 pupils successfully complete their Extended Project Qualification, a testament to their dedication and the exceptional guidance provided by our staff. The opening of the new well-being courtyard has also been a significant milestone, providing a tranquil space for our students to relax and recharge.
Our Student Voice Charities Committee has launched Project Ponta, an inspiring initiative that embodies our commitment to community and global citizenship through work to create a nursery and primary school in Ponta Do Ouro, Mozambique. This project is already making a positive impact, and I am incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and leadership our students have shown.
Music continues to be a cornerstone of life at Warwick School. This term, our musical talents were on full display during The Big Brass Concert and Stringfest, events that celebrated the hard work and passion of our young musicians. These performances were not just about showcasing talent but also about bringing joy and fostering a love for music that will last a lifetime.
The Encounters programme has once again provided our pupils with invaluable experiences, broadening their horizons and
enriching their educational journey. Through exposure to a diverse range of speakers, our students are gaining insights and that go beyond the curriculum.
Sporting achievements have been abundant, with collective and individual successes in rugby, cricket, hockey, and even chess. These accomplishments highlight the dedication and sportsmanship of our students, as well as the exceptional coaching they receive.
All these activities, alongside our rigorous academic programme, illustrate the breadth and depth of opportunities available at Warwick School. They are a testament to what a holistic education should be: one that nurtures not just the intellect but also the character and spirit of each student. This is the essence of the Warwick Way – fostering confident yet humble young men who are prepared to make a positive impact in the world.
I hope you enjoy reading this edition of the Warwickian as much as I have. It beautifully captures the essence of our community.
Warm regards,
James Barker Head Master
At a glance
A selection of this term’s news and stories in one place
Following in the footsteps of Shakespeare himself, Harvey from Year 9 set off for London last Friday to perform at the Globe Theatre. Having successfully progressed through three rounds, Harvey competed in the final of the EnglishSpeaking Union’s Speaking Shakespeare Competition. Twelve finalists had been selected from the thousands who entered so reaching this final was a remarkable achievement.
Harvey delivered a charming, natural and engaging performance of Romeo from Act 2 Scene 2 where he stands below Juliet’s balcony, marvelling at her beauty. The competition comprises two sections: an oracy section that contextualises the speech and then the speech itself. Harvey’s performance was outstanding, and he really
represented Warwick School in the best possible way. Although he didn’t lift the trophy on this occasion he was certainly in contention. The judges admitted it has been an almost impossible task to choose a winner as the standard was so incredibly high.
Supporting Harvey were the other Year 9s who bravely committed to this competition; this was our first attempt at this at Warwick School. The students enjoyed tours of the Globe theatre and the chance to see the other schools perform.
Keen Year 8 students who have a love of Shakespeare will have the opportunity to enter this competition next year and let’s hope we have another visit to the Globe theatre.
Our annual EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) presentations always provide a wonderful insight into the academic life at Warwick and this year was no exception.
Seventy-six pupils have completed an extended project this year and we were treated to a wide range of eye-catching and engaging presentations. The EPQ is a process-based qualification where students have to plan, research, develop, realise and reflect on a project of their own devising, and the presentation forms an integral part of their assessment. The students spoke with confidence and erudition on their chosen subjects and were at ease in answering a range of unprepared questions about their research, their displays and their engagement with the project process.
The breadth and diversity of topics chosen have been truly astounding: cardiac imaging, solutions for dealing with riverine plastic, the Tokyo war crimes trials, Neom’s linear city and the church fathers’ definitions of consubstantiality to name but a few. There were also three artefact projects involving two musical compositions and a piece of digital artwork. All the pupils involved will have gained a portfolio of skills with they can take with them to university and the workplace. They should all be proud of their achievement.
Tom in Year 7 receives a Commended award by The Queen’s College, University of Oxford, for his translation into Spanish of extracts from the online history magazine El Reto Histórico, written and compiled by Miguel Ángel Ferreiro.
3600 entries for a range of languages were judged by professional translators and undergraduates and Tom was awarded Commended in The Midlands. This is great news, and we are very proud of him!
We are pleased to share the opening of our new Wellbeing Courtyard, an outdoor space located right next to the Wellbeing Hub by the cricket pitch and the Medical Centre. This was an initiative of the Pupil Voice Committee for Mental Health and features a pleasant setting for pupils to relax, sit, focus, and unwind. We hope to see it getting plenty of use as the weather improves this term!
Jacob (Year 9) ran in the Regency 10K last weekend and has raised over £500 for The Brain Tumour Charity. This is an incredible achievement, of which the whole school community is very proud. Jacob raised the money in memory of a former primary school friend. Mrs Larke even spotted him and gave him a cheer as he ran past!
Our Student voice charities group has been working on a new and exciting chapter in Warwick School life, ‘Project Ponta’.
The aim is to renovate two buildings, set up and equip them to house a nursery and following this, a primary school within the community of Ponta Do Ouro, Mozambique.
From 2025 onwards during activities week and into the following week, our sixth form students will be given the opportunity to support the project on site. Whilst there, they will be able to help on the building infrastructure and engage with the local community.
Olivier Award winning actor Arthur Darvill, star of Doctor Who, Oklahoma and regular feature in National Theatre productions, made a personal appearance at the Festival toshares stories about his life and career so far.
School vs OWs Golf
The course at Leamington Golf Club was in great condition and the weather perfect for the annual School vs OWs golf match. OWs came up short against a young and talented School team. Final score: School 3, OWs 0. OW and former Director of Sport Geoff Tedstone presented the trophy to School Captain Sam.
Welcome to our incoming Prefects and Head Boy, Ray’an George, Charles and Alex!
Congratulations to Xander, Sebby, Luke, and Josh for being our latest pupils to read one million words this year!
We are very proud of the successes achieved this year by our applicants to medical school.
This is always an extremely tough and lengthy process with numbers firmly limited by the government, and with written papers and in-person interviews always required.
Seven of our Upper Sixth, Arjan, Barnaby, David, Fraser, Hari, Jamie, Thuwaaragan have received a total of fourteen offers from medical schools including Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, ICL, KCL, Keele, Manchester, Sheffield, Southampton, UCL, and UEA.
We wish them all the best in meeting these offers (almost all three As or higher).
Joshua (Year 7) has been selected as one of only 4 children to represent Oscar’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity as their Children’s Champion.
Oscar’s was set up in 2014 when close friends of Joshua’s family lost their 9 year old son Oscar to a brain tumour. They wanted to not only support children with brain tumours and their families, but also raise awareness and fund pioneering research. Since then, both Oscar’s dad, and his 5 year old brother have also died of brain tumours. Joshua has raised £25,000 so far over the past 7 years. He started supporting the charity at 5 when he tackled Snowdon and since then has done many other challenges including Ben Nevis at 9 and last year the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, with nearly 100 people setting off, he was the only child that managed to complete the 3rd peak (the weather conditions were horrendous!).
Next weekend he will be taking on the next challenge and covering the Edale Skyline, over 20 miles and 7 peaks. He will be joined by over 60 other people including his cousin Oli (from Junior School) and his 9 year old sister and 6 year old brother. Quite the challenge for them all!
presented with their OW tie and welcomed into the Old Warwickian Association by OWA President 2024 Brig James Cook OBE (WS 1982-89).
Our 2024 leavers celebrated their time at Warwick School with a range of events, culminating in a formal graduation ceremony in Warwick Hall on 24 June, where they were
FOUNDATION NE S
HOME FESTIVAL
On Saturday 6 of July, The foundation hosted the HOME festival which embodied the wider Warwick Schools Foundations goals and aspirations. Welcoming parents, each school and year group shared an arts performance that embraced the theme of ‘Home’.
It was a joyful afternoon celebrating what makes Warwick Schools Foundation truly unique.
FUTURE FWD
FutureFwd 2024 has been a whirlwind of inspiration: insightful talks, thought-provoking discussions, and the unifying passion of delegates working to better education. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2025!
ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN
Ahead of yet another fantastic Orchestra of the Swan concert last night, Tommy and James had the truly unique opportunity to conduct the professional orchestra during their rehearsals on Wednesday 26 June along with Polly and Taya from King’s High School.
In the morning, Rebecca Miller led a session with the students, including score and Schenkerian analysis; recommending sources for students to refer to; and discussing the importance of having a detailed knowledge of every instrument in the orchestra. Students then went through rehearsal technique, and practiced conducting to each other without the orchestra.
The feedback from both Rebecca and the orchestra, along with the opportunity itself, was extremely valuable for the students and results from the strong partnership between the Foundation and Orchestra of the Swan.
A note from the Principal
As I write this, the General Election is still some days away, but I am mindful that the election result will be known when it is read.
For those of us who believe in the importance of a strong independent education sector, many of the headlines and commentaries around our schools have made uncomfortable reading, not least because of the stereotypical view of our schools, our pupils and families, and indeed our alumni. For all the ‘loud failures’ in the sector which may be seized on, there are many more ‘silent successes’. I believe strongly that our pupils –your children – are forces for good in society and that the education we provide can better equip them for the ever-changing and uncertain world they enter as adults.
We are unlikely to know what the policies around VAT and implementation of business rates are likely to be until the King’s Speech later in July at the earliest. As with so many things in life, it is uncertainty which is hard to handle, and is unsettling for so many.
Anything which affects our schools – that may be government policies, economic recession, reputational challenges – has the potential to damage the impact our charity can have. I am mindful – and increasingly so – of the impact this charity has had over hundreds of years; the good we do both directly with the pupils we educate and indirectly through the impact we have on our local community.
Many may well consider our likely challenges a niche issue; the preoccupation of a tiny proportion of society, and a privileged proportion at that.
I disagree.
Independent schools are a healthy part of this nation’s diverse educational ecosystem, providing different perspectives on educational issues, and driving initiatives which have impact on
education beyond our individual school gates.
I know first-hand how transformational education can be. Growing up in a mining town in Derbyshire, my parents saw education as a way of enabling me to have more choices than they had had in my future life. A cost accountant and a nursing auxiliary, there was no spare money in the household; my schooling was determined by a hefty Music Scholarship and an equally hefty government assisted place. I was the first in my family to be educated at an independent school and the first to go to university, and I have no doubt whatsoever without those courageous choices by my parents over 40 years ago, I would not be writing this message to you now as Foundation Principal.
The end of term is always a showcase for the exceptional activities which have taken places over the preceding weeks, culminating in concerts, shows, sports fixtures, and exhibitions. What our young people achieve is extraordinary – and I would like to thank each and every family, now more than ever, for the support you bring to enable this to happen. Together, we transform the lives of the young people in our care. Thank you.
Richard Nicholson Foundation Principal
Music
MUSIC SCHOLARS’ SHOWCASE 2024
An incredible evening of brilliant music, hand-picked and performed by Warwick School’s current of music scholarship holders. It was a night to remember!
STRINGFEST 2024
We were treated to the annual STRINGFEST performance, featuring 130 pupils from across the Junior and Senior Schools and a few King’s Hight School friends.
The concert was an energised evening, with performances from 13 different groups, including a traditionally raucous Massed Band item to round the evening off. The concert once again demonstrated the versatility and relevance of string playing, with groups presenting pieces across all genres, from exquisite classical performances to punchy pop. The word of the night was certainly ‘fun’. Highlights included witnessing the Bass Battalion (14 Double Basses!) assemble to play with Debut Strings, and Rising Strings leading the entire room in an improvised account of Smoke on the Water, featuring audience participation, dramatic lighting and an enthusiastic smoke machine! The quality of playing from our most advanced groups combined with the breadth in the Junior School and lower years makes for a strong future in the string department.
Huge congratulations to all that participated, and thanks to all who came along.
THE BIG BRASS CONCERT 2024
On Thursday 18th April, a packed Warwick Hall were treated to another showstopping performance from all of our Brass musicians. This concert is always a firm favourite in the Warwick School calendar!
Art
GCSE AND A-LEVELS ART GALA
This years A-Level and GCSE Students work has been brought together for our annual Art Gala exhibition. On Friday 21st of June parents and the wider school community were invited to join the young artists and art staff in celebrating 2 years of hard work of our special Art gala event. Support was strong and it was lovely to see the buzz and interest in students work.
The exhibition showed at least 2 pieces of work selected from the whole course for each GCSE students, and a larger bodies of work from each of the A-Level students. Pieces range from cardboard elephants illustrating the impact of palm oil production, to abstract visions of physics and atomic particles there really is something for everyone!
JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS
Bake Off 2024
Astro Pi Challenge Success
In April, a team of Year 6 pupils (Alec, Maddox, Max, Oliver and Dougie) participated in a challenge set by Raspberry Pi Foundation and the European Space agency (ESA). On board the International Space Station is an enhanced version of the Raspberry Pi microcomputer (Astro Pi) connected to a variety of motion sensors and a camera. Their mission was to write a Python program to first use the Astro Pi computers’ sensors and camera, gather data about the orientation and motion of the International Space Station (ISS) as it orbits the Earth, and then calculate the speed of the ISS based on the gathered data.
The competition was open to schools and universities across Europe with an age limit of 19 years. Programs that proved to be viable would run on the ISS. Team WJS Astro’s program were awarded flight status!
This year’s bake-off competition was fantastic once again. Our class of 2024 bakers started with 13 boys, who all worked extremely hard and produced some fantastic bakes throughout numerous rounds.
The final took place on Friday, 5 July, with Benedict, Maddox, and Saffi being tasked to create a showstopper cake based on the theme ‘country competing in the Olympics’.
Benedict created a black forest gateux based on Germany, Maddox created a cycling-themed cake based on France, and Saffi created a cake based on India.
All three finalist bakes – and from all of the boys throughout the competition – were brilliant, but there could only be one winner…
Congratulations to Maddox, the bake-off 2024 winner!
Junior PAWS Update
It has been a great last term of the year for Junior PAWS!
We started off with the highly anticipated first aid course. Our external trainers, First Care Training provided first aid training to 72 boys in the Junior School, all of whom graduated with a certificate and a diploma credit.
We held our regular meet and greet coffee morning and this time with a pop up Junior Second Hand Uniform Sale that was really popular and will become a regular event on the Junior PAWS calendar.
Finally, we had our first joint event with WPSA – Warwick Prep School Parents Association. This was the highly successful Colour Run, a fun event for all that was a fundraiser for the Junior and Prep school’s joint plan for their outdoor classroom.
We are looking forward to another fun filled successful year in 2024/2025.
Aqua and Ventis House Charity Days
Aqua
Aqua’s House Charity Day was in aid of Samaritans.
There were lots of games such as a coconut shy, hooka-duck, a telephone game, name the frog, tin can alley and roll-a-penny. There was also a stall selling bags of sweets, doughnuts and popcorn and lots of fun prizes to win.
Everybody had a wonderful time and Aqua House managed to raise the fantastic sum of £715.05 for their chosen charity.
Ventis
On Friday, 27 June, Ventis House charity day took place. It was great fun for all involved – students took part in a range of activities, including; throw poo bags in a bin (no poo in the bag, just clay); guess the name of the dog (we ran out of names quickly!); guess the number of treats in the jar (real dog treats); guess which dog belongs to which teacher; and finally, the obstacle course (that everyone crowded around at the start).
Throughout the whole event, we raised a whopping total of £500 for Dogs Trust, who were our chosen charity. But the activities were not the only thing that happened on the day – in the morning, there was a chance to give donations for dogs, such as dog beds, treats, toys, and so on. Thank you for the many donations we received.
Once again this year, the Junior School pupils competed, supported each other, and embraced the unique challenge of the Aquathlon.
Despite the miserable weather, the boys continued the tradition of cheering every competitor over the finish line and pushed themselves around the course, with over 100 pupils lined up on poolside and transition through the green gym!
The atmosphere of the event was fantastic, and Mr Burchett was so impressed with how the boys embraced it.
Congratulations to the winning house this year – Ignis.
Swimming Success
In June, our U10 and U11 swimming teams took part in the IAPS National Swimming finals at the London Aquatics Centre. The results were:
• U11 Freestyle Relay team – 8th (Ellison B, Alex R, Leo S-D and Henry S)
• Ellison Burt – 50m freestyle – 15th
• U10 Medley Relay team (Leon C, Joshua D, Jake S and Harrison G) – 4th
• U10 Freestyle Relay team (Leon C, Joshua D, Jake S and Harry M) – 12th
• Jake S – 15th – 50m Butterfly
• Joshua D – 14th – 50m Backstroke
• Leon C – 10th – 50m Freestyle
Special mention must go to the U11 freestyle relay team – due to their hard work and focus this year, they finished 8th in the country, taking an incredible five seconds off their qualifying time.
Later in the month, the U11 Swimming team also took part in the ESSA (English Schools Swimming Association) Primary Schools relay finals at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.
The boys swam brilliantly in their heat, qualifying for the A stream final – meaning they were one of the top 8 schools there. In an incredibly close final, they finished 7th overall – another amazing achievement for this group of swimmers.
Sports Days 2024
Cricket Fixtures Aquathlon 2024
On Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 July, we held our two Sports Mornings. The boys demonstrated all of the characteristics that we expect to see from a Warwick Junior School pupil – empathy; sportsmanship; giving 100% to every activity; and showing the resilience required to push themselves to perform at their best. The Year 3 and 4 middle distances races were also a great addition to this year’s Sports Day.
The individual races were competitive, but it was a pleasure to be on the finish line to see how the boys spoke to each other, irrelevant of position or how they felt the race had gone. Congratulations must go to Ventis in Year 3 and 4 and Terra in Year 5 and 6 for winning this year’s event.
The Summer Term has brought patches of sunny weather, which has meant for some great cricket fixtures. Across multiple age groups, the boys have put in some great performances and have been effectively putting into practice what they have been working during their lessons. Most importantly, they have had fun while doing it!
Stringfest 2024
In April, we were treated to the annual STRINGFEST performance, featuring 130 boys from across the junior and senior schools and a few KHS friends. The concert was an energised evening, with performances from 13 different groups, including a traditionally raucous Massed Band item to round the evening off.
The concert once again demonstrated the versatility and relevance of string playing, with groups presenting pieces across all genres, from exquisite classical performances to punchy pop. The word of the night was certainly ‘fun’. Highlights included witnessing the Bass Battalion (14 Double Basses!) assemble to play with Debut Strings, and Rising Strings leading the entire room in an improvised account of Smoke on the Water, featuring audience participation, dramatic lighting and an enthusiastic smoke machine!
The quality of playing from the Foundation’s Senior Schools’ most advanced groups, combined with the breadth in the Junior School and lower years, makes for a strong future in the string department.
House Music
The House Music performance was fantastic. All four houses took part, with four performances each. All of the boys organised their own performances, with no help from the teachers! Stuart Thompson, Executive Music Lead at the Foundation, was the ‘celebrity’ judge – it was a very tough decision, but Terra were crowned the winners. Well done to Terra and all of the boys involved.
Summer Concert
On 20 June, the boys performed in their Summer Concert and what a joyous occasion it was!
They provided a wonderful evening of entertainment from the Orchestra, playing a selection from the ‘Carnival of the Animals’ to ‘Teacher’s Pet ‘ from ‘School of Rock’. The programme was a magnificent selection of such a wide range of music and ensembles, and very clearly showed the hard work of the boys and the staff, as well as the obvious fun that they had putting it all together.
Junior Foundation Symphony Orchestra
The inaugural performance from the Junior Foundation Symphony Orchestra at the beginning of May was truly brilliant.
All of the pupils’ hard work paid off as they put on a fantastic musical display for parents in Warwick Hall.
Conducted by Foundation Executive Music Lead Stuart Thompson, pupils of various ages from Warwick Junior School, Warwick Prep School and The Kingsley School worked in true harmony to showcase their musical talent.
Year 3 Link Cricket with Warwick Prep School
On Thursday, 27 June, Year 3 pupils from Warwick Junior School and Warwick Prep School enjoyed a cricket link day.
The children had a great time bowling, batting, and catching up with old friends.
On Thursday, 23 May, the Eco Councils from Warwick Junior School, The Kingsley School and Warwick Preparatory School all got together in the Forest School for a joint eco event.
The children had a wonderful time taking part in activities such as; whittling with knives; planting seeds; rock painting; and Hapa Zome (the Japanese art of nature printing). Everyone collected flowers, petals, and leaves, putting them between two pieces of material and then banging them with a mallet to create a beautiful imprint. It was lovely to see pupils from the three schools working together and discussing their shared love of the environment.
Year 6 Production – Oliver Jr!
Year 5 Trip to Swanage
Year 5’s trip to Swanage took place on Wednesday, 5 June. The boys were taken on a tour around Corfe Castle to learn about its amazing history, even meeting the original Colin from the food brand, ‘Colin the Caterpillar’!
Other parts of the trip included going on a waterbased adventure at the beach; learning how to run with chicken legs and how to porpoise dive; taking part in ‘The Big Fat Lifeguard Race’; paddleboarding; kayaking; lighting a beacon for D-Day; and taking part in a fascinating fossil ceremony where they passed around ammonites and fish bones from thousands of years ago.
Year 4 Trip to Conkers
On Thursday, 16 and Friday, 17 May, the boys in Year 6 performed their production of ‘Oliver! Jr.’ at the Bridge House Theatre.
All of the boys worked together as a production team – not just acting, singing and dancing, but also taking on the technical roles of lighting, sound and backstage.
All of the boys in Year 6 enjoyed learning and singing the ensemble songs, including ‘Consider Yourself’ and ‘Oom-Pah-Pah’. After working hard throughout the term in rehearsals, the boys put on a fantastic show and received huge applause from the audience.
Year 3 trip to Ryton Pools
Year 4 went to Conkers for a trip on Monday, 24 June. There were lots of things to do like playing in a park, watching a 4D movie, riding a train, and lots more.
At the start, we took the world’s slowest train to the other side of the activity centre where we did some pond dipping in the dirty river water. We looked for bugs and other creatures like tadpoles and little fish.
Throughout our trip to Ryton Pools, we took part in a range of exciting and enjoyable activities, such as an insect hunt – in the trees, under logs, in the large insect hotel, and in the meadow. Instead of catching them in the pots, we used nets and dragged them through the long grass. If we caught any pollinators like bees or wasps, we let them go straight away. We caught a variety of different insects including a leaf insect, a caterpillar, a shield beetle, and we nearly caught a dragonfly.
After lunch, we moved into the wooded area in the sun, where we got to make a den for our group and then a den for our woodland friend, including Foxy, Owl, Badger and Hedgehog. As the logs for our shelter area were so big and heavy, we had to work as a team to move them into the right position. The rangers then came around and tested our dens for water resistance. All the groups got slightly wet, but our woodland friends stayed dry under their tarpaulin!
We had a really fun day and enjoyed linking our Science topics to the different habitats around Ryton Pools!
Adapted entry from Adam, Arthur, Jude, and Theo (3BA)
Other activities we did included a bare foot walk where you walked across different terrains like water, rocks, logs, stones, hey and sand… with no shoes on. What made it even more exciting was that we were blindfolded so could not see a thing!
Finally, we did den building, where we made dens (survival dens) out of nature’s supplies like moss, wood clay and more. Just before heading back to school, we watched a 4D movie, played in the soft play and after that we visited the shop. It was a fun day out.
Freddie & Joshua (4W)
Year 5 Trip to The National Space Centre
The Year 5 trip to the National Space Centre took place on Friday, 24 May.
As part of the trip, the boys saw a presentation on rocket science and saw a man fire a rocket using combustion; learned facts about the solar system in the planetarium; took part in a range of spacerelated activities, including pretending to be in a space rocket and landing a Mars rover on Mars; and got to see a bird’s eye view of the Apollo 11.
Pupil Voice
We have achieved so much through Pupil Voice this term.
It began with the handover of committee chairs and, with new minds, we set about implementing our ideas with renewed energy.
One important step was the introduction of the new accessibility and inclusion committee, with a purpose to make our school as open and supportive as possible to all staff and students at Warwick School. Accessibility Week increased awareness of the importance of Accessibility and Inclusion through a dedicated assembly. It also raised money for the National Autistic Society with a non-school uniform day themed around bright colours.
We were privileged to hear from a survivor of the 1994 Tutsi Genocide in Rwanda, organised by the anti-racism committee. Hearing about the horrors that people suffered moved us all. It was followed by a big conversation around issues of racism.
One of our most successful projects has been Foodbank Friday. Through your donations we’ve been able to support many local food bank shelters and help people in Warwickshire who are less fortunate than us. A particular shout out to Year 9 who provided the most supplies over the whole school year.
Other initiatives included the eco committee upcycling competition and ‘biscuit for a bro’, led by the Sexual Equality committee.
During Diversity week, the LGBTQ+ committee led a big conversation which gave students the opportunity to ask questions about diversity issues and encouraged a wide discussion about experiences students face in their daily life.
George Mclintock, Senior Prefect for Pupil Voice, gives his final report on another busy term
The Guardian Ballers, a mental health charity, came into school and led a fantastic assembly, talking about the importance of inclusion in sport. It was followed by a themed non-school uniform day. It was brilliant to see all the different sports shirts across all years with a range from new to retro. We have more Guardian Baller events to look forward to next term.
Yet again our Swimathon was a huge success, raising money for the British Blind Sports Charity, an incredibly important cause. Thank you again to all who attended with special thanks to Gold medal winning Paralympian swimmer, Melanie Barratt. who gave her time to support us and our charity work. Special mention too goes to Lewis Morrison in Year 12 who swam in not one but two heats and was in the pool for 50 minutes. Adding together all the swim distances for those who participated in the swimathon, we swam a total distance of 32km. Well done everyone.
Moreover, Project Ponta has raised to date almost £5000 to help establish primary school education in Mozambique. An achievement testament to the hard work of the charities committee. Thank you to all eleven of our committees who have worked consistently this term to make our school experience even better.
Finally, as Head of Pupil Voice, I’d like to thank everyone involved in all initiatives this year. Our eleven committees have worked consistently to help others whilst making our school experience even better. Thanks, in particular to all the committee chairs, teachers and volunteers without whom pupil voice would not function. It’s been a fantastic year and I look forward to continuing our important work next term. I wish you all a great Summer.
King Henry VIII Scholarship
Warwick Schools Foundation is proud to announce the launch of the King Henry VIII Scholarships for children living in town of Warwick. The scholarships, which will typically involve a fee discount of up to 50%, are awarded based on outstanding achievement or potential to do so for children living in the CV34 postcode.
The Foundation is partnered by King Henry VIII Endowed Trust and The Charity of Sir Thomas White, Warwick in the delivery of these scholarships and is grateful for their financial support. The scholarships will usually be open to pupils either joining a Foundation school in Year 7 or Year 12, or those moving from one Foundation school to another at these points.
The scholarships aim to recognise those children who demonstrate outstanding achievements or the potential to do so. They can be awarded for academic achievement or allaround achievement more generally.
Alongside the launch of the new scheme, the Foundation’s means-tested bursaries are also being extended to younger children for the first time ever. The CV34 bursaries, which could mean up to 100% fee support for families whose household income is below a certain threshold, are now available to families looking at Year 3 entry to the Foundation’s schools.
“The schools of Warwick Schools Foundation are rooted in the the local area and have a particularly close link with the town of Warwick. This includes the historic relationship we have with The King Henry VIII Endowed Trust, Warwick, after which these Scholarships are named.
Over recent years, we have strengthened our relationship with the town by extending more opportunities for families and young people to benefit from all the Foundation has to offer.
This has included ‘Warwick – Singing Town’ which puts singing back into the heart of the community, and the partnership with Orchestra of the Swan, as well as academic, enrichment, and holiday activities.
Currently, some 500 children from Warwick attend our schools. The launch of this transformational scholarship scheme marks the next step in our commitment to support and work together with our community.
I look forward to welcoming even more talented young people for the town to our Foundation schools, as we continue to strive to offer an education that is not only outstanding, but accessible to as many as possible.”
The awarding of the King Henry VIII Scholarships is subject to annual review, and recipients must remain resident in CV34 for the duration of their time in the school to continue to benefit from this award.
To be considered for a scholarship, candidates must apply to the school of their choosing by the earlier scholarship deadline, with dates available on each school’s website. Details can be found at https://www.helpwithfees.co.uk/kinghenryviii/
Encounters
Summer term 2024
…with Ava Santina
…with the Brain –Dr Guy Sutton
…with D-Day – Nick Milton
…with Philippa Langley
…with Marie Rose Rurangiwa
…with journalism – Matthew Price
…with almost Prime Ministers –Nigel Fletcher
…with Hitler in 1941 –Klaus Schmider
Old Warwickians have enjoyed reconnecting with the school and each other this summer term.
U6 Graduation
On 24 June our 2024 leavers were warmly welcomed into the OWA at U6 Graduation and they were presented with their OW ties.
Wessex Old Warwickians
Wessex Old Warwickians (WOW) enjoyed meeting in Winchester, OW London drinks were ever-popular and, for the first time, we brought together some of over twenty OWs living in California.
OW Anniversary Reunions
It was fabulous to welcome back over 200 OWs and many of the staff who taught them for our OW Anniversary Reunions. OW leavers from 1964, ‘69, ‘74, ‘84, ‘94, 2004 and 2014 enjoyed gathering afresh with those who were a significant part of their life, in surroundings which were welcoming, much changed, but also familiar. Special thanks to the prefects for their tours of the school and wider campus of Warwick Schools Foundation. One 2004 summarised his visit saying “The core of Warwick School was, and still is, a sense of community, charity and awareness of being there for those in need”.
OWA President’s Dinner
The annual OWA President’s Dinner was, this year, held in the Indian Army Memorial Room at RMA Sandhurst, kindly hosted by Brig James Cook OBE (WS 1982-89). Three of our senior CCF cadets were delighted to attend.
Warwick Schools Foundation Home Festival
As part of our Warwick Schools Foundation Creative Festival, we created have an online gallery of ‘View from my window’ images provided by OWs around the UK and overseas.
Flying Home
Patrick Tynes, First Officer (BHX) Jet2.com and Jet2Holidays (WS 2002-12)
View from my ‘window’ flying all sorts of balloons around the word (besides a fulltime job as a surgeon)
Marcus Green (WS 1974-81)
See a full selection of images at www.oldwarwickians.org/window
OW Golf
OW golfers enjoyed their annual Spring Meeting in May and the annual School vs OWs golf match is on the horizon as we go to press. On Sat 15 June OWs and students dodged the showers to play their annual match, which school won for the first time since 2016.
D-Day Anniversary
On a recent trip to the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Peter Jones (WS 1964-75) and a fellow WS dad Christoph Chesher paid their respects at the grave of a Warwick School boy, Leonard Cardwell-Hill (WS 1935-40). Leonard was a trooper in The Royal Dragoons armoured corps and is believed to be the only OW who died in the Normandy campaign. He is buried at the BannevilleLa-Campagne British military cemetery 10km east of Caen. He died on 15 August 1944, aged only 19. Peter and Christoph laid a wreath made up with blue and white flowers in the WS colours with the message “lest we forget”.
Focus on
The Warwickshire Essay and The Warwickshire Voices Competitions for L6th Pupils
This term, the English Department launched two writing competitions for L6th pupils: The Warwickshire Essay Competition and The Warwickshire Voices Competition.
For The Warwickshire Essay Competition, pupils have been tasked to write an essay on the topic of ‘Silence in Literature’ and for The Warwickshire Voices Competition, our L6th need to write in any genre of their choice on the topic of ‘Language and Power’.
To get our L6th pupils thinking about the competition themes, Mrs Hodge, Mr Town and Mrs Hardiman ran lunchtime seminars for each competition in June, with topics including, ‘Silence in Atonement’, ‘Public and Private Voices in Creative Fiction’ and ‘The Power of Journalism’.
The competition is now open with entries due on Friday 6th September. We are delighted to have invited L6th pupils from our other Warwick Group schools to enter too, and we greatly look forward to reading the entries next term.
The Historical Fiction Society
In Historical Fiction Society, we have enjoyed reading ‘We Are Not Free’ by Traci Chee which is about the internment of Japanese-American citizens after Pearl Harbour. The internment camps were a controversial and little discussed aspect of the US approach to the Second World War and we have found it very interesting to learn more about them. The novel is excellent: it tells the story of the incarceration from the perspective of 14 teenagers. If you’re in Year 9 or above, we recommend it!
‘Home’
It has been a very busy summer term in the English Department with reading challenges, speaking competitions and a variety of ‘Home’-themed activities from trips to writing challenges.
Here is a selection of the fantastic personification poems that our Y7 pupils have written:
The Clouds Over Warwick School
The clouds are vast, like the sea and even the universe.
Flowy and luxurious, They are ribbons in the breeze.
Flowing over Warwick dragonesque shapes twirl,
Like a ballet dancer pirouetting to music.
Magical and majestic kings danced:
They are the rulers of the sky.
Candyfloss and marshmallows, milk-white in colour, Wait to be eaten by hungry children.
The clouds are soft,
The thousands of pillows in the air.
Ever-changing and eccentric
Like tiny microorganisms, sliding by.
Foamy and moist,
Like a pool of foam.
But suddenly it changes…
The sky because rambunctious,
Like speakers at a rock concert.
Deformed and explosive, They are like butterflies bursting from cocoons.
Flying shrapnel litters the sky, Like a bomb.
Debris floats everywhere, Like a dark icing sugar on a cake.
The sky becomes glum after all its destruction, Like a lion after a fight.
The sky is ever changing, No-one could ever predict it.
Hugh
Joyful Trainers
Joyful trainers bounce up
Endless twirling stairs.
The microwave’s shiny buttons
Observe with a deadly glare.
Violent screams from the kettle
Sound piercing like a stubborn baby.
The aggressive television’s noises
Are like chatter about elections maybe.
A dark gloomy atmosphere
Radiates from the lounge rug.
Large make-up colonies
Gossip from the land of Superdrug.
Freddie
Our House When We’re Away
As soon as the car reached the end of the road
The house sighed “Alright, it’s vacation time.”
The lampshade’s beam was like a bashful smile, The toys jumped out the box and started dancing
Like Elvis Presley. The shoes ran out of the closet
Like a child after eating too much sugar.
The lights started flickering like somebody blinking.
The kettle hooted like somebody being burnt
And the blazer meandered out of the wardrobe like a depressed person.
Rufus
Home When We’re On Holiday
In the stillness, the couch softly sighs, Lonely in the dimness, where shadows die.
The clock on the wall ticks slow and forlorn, Missing the day when laughter adorned.
Curtains hang heavily, Their whispers hushed.
Mourning the absence of footsteps rushed.
The mirror reflects a room now still, Dreaming of faces it once knew well.
Books on the shelf long for fingers’ trace, Craving the warmth of a familiar embrace.
The house hums gently, a tune so low,
Waiting for its heart, where love will grow.
Jenson
Clouds
Serpentine like a snake; Warm like an oven bake.
Fluffy like a pillow; Wavy like a willow.
Vast like a pit of doom.
Squishy like a dog’s new groom.
Fragmented like a broken glass; Eccentric like a kids’ class.
Streaky like a zebra’s stripes, And flowing like air through pipes.
Toby
The Sky is Blue and the Clouds are White
The sky is sunny and there is no rain,
Until God stubbed his toe and felt pain.
It started raining because of God’s tears. It poured over all the happy souls down here.
We put all our things in the car, Knowing that home was not too far.
God was aggressively crying on our heads
And the lightning shouted as we got into bed.
We woke up, with a stretch, the next morning
Knowing the sky would be far from boring.
Orlando
PAWSupdate
The Parents Association of Warwick School (PAWS) continues to go from strength to strength.
Although a small team, Senior PAWS is continuing to develop links with the many different parts of the Warwick School community.
We recently attended the Induction Morning for incoming Year 7 pupils and their parents. We were able to answer questions from parents and their sons in an informal setting on a variety of topics – including second hand uniform sales, the school bus service and homework!
This year, alongside the sports department, we have forged a successful relationship with local company Drybones, to provide Warwick School branded coats. These have proved to be very popular with parents and Old Warwickians in particular. We are very much looking forward to developing this relationship.
We are currently in discussions to host the Headmaster’s Quiz in November 2024. Absent from the school calendar since 2019, we are absolutely delighted to announce the date chosen is Wednesday, November 27! More details will be released in due course but we hope to see as many parents as possible at what we hope will be a very enjoyable and entertaining evening.
Money raised from various events over the past year has enabled an outdoor table tennis table to be provided in the playground for the boys.
We are grateful to all those parents who have volunteered at all our events so far and helped to make each one such a success – if you would like to be part of future events or would like more information please do get in touch!
Keep your eyes peeled for information about forthcoming PAWS events – we aim to advertise them in good time via the weekly newsletters and all our social channels. You can visit us on Instagram @pawswarwick and on Twitter at @PAWSWarwick
If you would like to get in touch, be part of the committee, help out at any of the events, or want more information please email warwickschoolpaws@gmail.com as we’d be delighted to hear from you.
The PAWS Nearly New Uniform Shop gives Warwick School parents the opportunity to buy and sell second-hand uniform. The shop sells certain items on behalf of parents, retaining a percentage of the selling price, which adds to PAWS’ funds and covers any administration costs. We also welcome donations, where 100% of the sale goes to PAWS. Through parent sales and donations, we are able to provide high quality secondhand items at a fraction of the price of new.
After re-launching last year, the Nearly New Uniform shop is going from strength to strength. This year we were able to run two successful Saturday morning sales with buyers across the school, from new starters in Y3 to Sixth Formers picking up extra bits. The ambition is to increase the number of sales in the next academic year with more regular drop-off days are planned to make it easier for parents to donate, or sell, their son’s old uniform.
Thank you to all the volunteers who have helped run the sales this year, and the parents who have sold and donated uniform, we really couldn’t do this without you.
If you would like to find out how to sell or donate your uniform or are interested in joining our volunteer group please contact us on nearlynewuniformwarick@gmail.com
The next Nearly New Uniform sale will be held on Monday 2 September 2024, 9:30-11:30 in the Green Gym.
Podcasts
The Thornton Podcast series explores the personalities and memorable moments of teachers at Warwick School. Mathematics teacher and Head of Tudor House Ed Leaf meets with different teachers, past and present, who are widely held in great esteem and who offer some fascinating insights into their careers and experiences at Warwick School.
Series 1, Episode 3
Robert Hudson, WS Staff 1972-2017
Long serving member of staff Robert Hudson shares insights on his early teaching career, his WS appointment as School Master/Librarian and some of his more memorable trips, escapades and colleagues.
Series 1, Episode 4
Eric Hadley, WS Staff 1990In his fiftieth year of teaching, Eric Hadley reflects on a career which has included the teaching of seven subjects, editing The Portcullis, co-authoring The History of Warwick School and being a form tutor for many years.
Series 1, Episode 5
Trevor Pritchard, WS Staff 1969-89 Coming soon!
More episodes are on the way, and if you missed any you can listen to them here!
The Heaton Podcast
from Mr O’Brien and Mr Jefferies
Scan here to listen
A discussion of History and Politics from teachers at Warwick School. We aim to produce a podcast once a fortnight during term time. Topics will tend towards the last 200 years, but we will sometimes go back further into History.
Scan here to listen
U15s march on in National T20 cup
All games of cricket matter, but some matter more than others and it is those which really show the character of a side. After two disappointing defeats, including against our Regional Cup Quarter Final opponents, we faced a game which mattered a great deal as it would determine whether we would achieve the rare feat of reaching Regional Finals Day. Under this pressure we responded with our most complete all-around performance of the year to date, showing that when it counts this is a side possessing both grit and quality, though it may not have looked that way for the first five overs…
After winning the toss we elected to field, but things started to go wrong almost immediately as Protherough dropped a straightforward chance off the third ball. A downpayment on the cost of this was made instantly, with the next ball being dispatched over the short boundary for six and the following one for four. The reprieved batsman, Khan, would go on to hit 56 from 32 balls, including six sixes. Repton powered though the first five overs, bringing up their half century in 29 balls and there appeared a real danger of Saturday’s result repeating itself. At the weekend we had no response to Repton’s powerful strokeplay and we wilted, here the response was different. With seam having proven ineffective we turned to spin, and it achieved instant results, with the dismissal of the other opener (who had scored 58 at the weekend) by Protherough, paying the first instalment on the debt for his drop by inducing a rash lofted drive. This was but the first act of the drama which was to follow as Protherough and Gupta then proceeded to ensure that a wicket would fall in each over from 8-15 as Repton collapsed spectacularly in the face of their accuracy and guile. Protherough was lucky in his second over as Khan tried to heave a full toss away on the leg side. Had Protherough been bowling to the short side it would have cleared the ropes by 20 yards, but on the long boundary it nestled safely into the hands of Larucci. Both set batsmen were gone, but Repton still looked strongly placed on 71-2 in the 8th over. Gupta, flighting the ball more, where Protherough was darting the ball into the pitch, drew the number three into a lofted drive which was well taken by Shannon running backwards. Protherough then cleaned up the number five comprehensively in the 10th over, with the number six lobbing a gentle catch to Walmsley in the covers off Gupta, leaving Repton 81-5 after 11. They may have hoped for some recovery at this point as the new batsman was actually their opener, who had withdrawn to the middle order as a result of some ill-timed indigestion, but Protherough would not be denied a fourth wicket which he took in similar style to Gupta’s last. He ended with excellent figures of 4-1-12-4, but Gupta continued the run of wickets as he bowled the would-be-opener for two in the 13th over. Walmsley (3-0-9-1), finding himself in the unusual position of the third-choice spinner, decided that even coming late to the party he would not leave all of the fun to the
others, and managed to strike an edge through to McGrory with his fifth ball. Gupta finished as strongly as Protherough, bowling the number ten who was unwise to go back to a good length ball. He finished with 4-0-13-4. After this remarkable run of overs Repton had capitulated from 56-0 and 71-1 to 90-9. A brief rally from the final pair added 13 runs before Askin (3.4-0-24-1) prevented all of the wickets from going to the spinners with a clever short ball which the number nine was not good enough to control: Budd taking the catch.
The first half of the game had been magnificent. After being put under supreme pressure by powerful hitting at the onset of the innings we had stayed sharp in the field and bowled to our plans, taking control of the match. Yet we knew that the job was only half done and on a pitch that had something in it for the bowlers, especially the spinners, we needed batting of calm control and good sense. McGrory and Larucci provided exactly the tonic we required and in the right dose. Knowing the required run rate was only a shade over five, they didn’t have to go out hard, they needed to focus on rotating the strike, punishing the bad balls and grinding the opposition down so that they lost hope of victory. An opening stand of 71 settled any remaining nerves we had as they played with composure and maturity and you could see Repton’s morale sink as the scoreboard ticked remorselessly upwards. It was a genuine surprise when McGrory holed out trying to clear the short boundary, but his 36 from 27 balls had set the foundation for a near certain victory. Having seen McGrory’s mode of dismissal Askin’s exact repetition of the shot (same bowler, same ball, same shot, same fieldsman, same result!) was not his finest moment and he walked back to Repton’s beautiful thatched pavilion for 4, but Gupta (12*) was able to knock the ball around comfortably in accompaniment to Larucci (37*) who completed the victory with a flourish by hitting the penultimate ball of the 15th over beyond the boundary and the grass bank and into the car park beyond. A magnificent performance and the Regional Finals Day at Shrewsbury now awaits us!
Man-of-the-Match: shared between our spin twins of Gupta: 4-13 (and 12*) and Protherough:4-12.
Champagne Moment: Not a ‘moment’ in the strictest sense, but Protherough’s recovery from his dropped catch to bowl the spell of his season (if not his time at Warwick) takes the prize.
England Selection
Congratulations to year 12 rugby player
Diamond, who has been selected for the upcoming England U18s squad, who will be touring South Africa this summer.
Diamond, a prop who can play both sides of the scrum, is a fantastic prospect as a player. At 6’3” and 124kg he cuts quite a striking impression on the pitch, with his powerful ball carrying and impressive work rate. New to the school in Sept 2023, he has made impressive progress in a short period of time – developing his game understanding, core skills and decision making.
What really sets him apart is his commitment to learn and get better as a player, and this has clearly impressed England U18s Head Coach Jon Pendlebury.
This will be Diamond’s first involvement with the national side, and everyone at the school is delighted for him following his efforts in the Blue and White shirt last season. The tour will see the England side visit the Western Cape to take on Ireland, Wales and South Africa in a round robin tournament. We all wish him the best of luck with the upcoming challenge.
The Cricketers Corner
This term the U14A team have taken their experiences from Sri Lanka and continued their development positively, beating Bishop Veseys comfortably in the county cup by 9 wickets.
Sam now has impressive batting stats of 7 innings, 3 not outs, 2 50s, a total of 257 runs with a top score of 77 n.o. and with an average of 64. In other news Harrison has put his hand up for selection into the U14A team with back to back 50’s for the Bs as well as another for his club team.
In other cup matches sadly the U12A lost their first league game to Solihull earlier in the season; U15B were beaten by Alcester Grammar who had two county players; the 1st XI lost in their cup match against a strong Rugby School team but beat KES Stratford in the Plate and now are trying to fin time to take on Wolverhampton Grammar. The 14B team won their game against Kineton and will play Handsworth School in early June; both 13’s teams played yesterday and the 12B team beat Finham Park and will now play Arden after half term.
Big shout out to all the pupils across the age groups who have been attending and some playing and representing Warwickshire or Oxfordshire. At Warwickshire we have Turan in the 16s, Gianluca, Finton, Olly in the 15s, Yash in the 14s, Jack, Archie and Tom in the 13s and Henry in the 12s, in Oxfordshire – Dexter in the 17s, Max in the 16s and Sam in the14s. Well done and best of luck for the season.
Performance Pathway visit to St Georges Park
This term Year 12 boys from involved in the Performance Support Pathway enjoyed a visit to St George’s Park High Performance Centre (the training centre for England Football). It was an opportunity for these aspiring athletes to experience a high-performance environment and get a taste of the facilities and opportunities available at this amazing facility.
The group had the opportunity for some physical testing in the England gym including the CMJ test on electronic force plates, Nordic eccentric test and max output on the Watt bike. This was followed by a speed session working on sprinting biomechanics, as well as being tested for short distance speed (over 30m) and agility.
The instructor was impressed with the scores from our boys – achieving results well over the average results seen on educational visits. However, we were a little off the vertical jump record of 62cm set by Domonic Calvert-Lewin!
After a demanding day, the group finished off with a session in the recovery pool. After several mobilisation activities (plus some ‘pool basketball’), they also got to ‘enjoy’ the hot and cold contrast pools. The warm pool looked very enjoyable (38oC), but the cold pool (11oC) was a little more of a challenge!
Ewan, Thomas, Joshua, Harry, Samuel, Ollie, Jacob, Diamond, Harrison and Oli all enjoyed the day at this incredible facility. Key take aways were:
“It was a great view into the lifestyle of professional athletes –particularly the pain of a cold tub!”
“I learnt a lot about the importance of recovery and found it interesting going from hot to cold water which is used to reduce muscle soreness.”
“I found the quotes on the walls particularly inspirational, one was ‘The other 22 hours…’ (referring to the importance of recovery after a match/training) and ‘It’s the habits away from the pitch that prepare us for the next battle’.”
Hopefully it left all the players with some lasting memories, but more importantly a taste of something for them to aspire to in their own sports in the future.
Gregory, Billy and Ajay ‘challenge’ for top prizes
During this term, Gregory competed in the Challenger section of the Wightlink Isle of Wight Chess Congress, an adult tournament rated by the English Chess Federation. He scored a fantastic 4.5/5 to win the tournament outright, receiving a beautiful glass trophy and the £75 first prize for his efforts.
In the meanwhile, Billy and Ajay competed in the Coventry Chess Academy Rapidplay. Ajay played in the Junior section and scored a fine 3.5/5 which included a draw against a member of the England national junior team. Billy played in the Master’s section and scored a very creditable 2.5/5 in a section which included British chess legend International Master John Cooper who also presented both boys with their prizes at the tournament’s end.
U13s are National Hockey Champions!
On Friday, 10 May the U13 Hockey Team travelled to Nottingham Hockey Centre to compete in the England Hockey Schools Championships Finals.
Having won both the Warwickshire and Midlands rounds coming past 18 other teams on the way they were then competing with the top 8 school sides from around the country.
They cruised through their first two group games against Kings Chester and Kings Taunton which meant unless they had a heavy defeat in the final group game they were guaranteed a place in the final. They played a very strong St Georges College team but showed great character to win 3-2 and give themselves a shot at being crowned national champions.
The final started off very close with a physical Yarm School team working hard to stop Warwick’s more fluid style of play. Eventually they broke the deadlock going 1-0 up only to let Yarm
in to equalise. A goal from George then put Warwick ahead into half-time and after half-time they went through the gears with goal from Nikki and Ollie to win 4-1 in impressive style.
This crowned them National Champions for the first time in Warwick School History and is a fitting reward for the hard work they have put in over the last two years.
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to all the players – your school community is very proud of you.
