Warwick School Portcullis 2025

The Portcullis

2025 The Chronicle of Warwick School

WARWICK SCHOOL STAFF LIST 2024-2025 2015 2010 1975 1990 1995 1997 1998 2000 2002 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2020 2020 2020 2020

SENIOR SCHOOL

Mr J.S. Barker Mrs K.J. Wyatt Mr P.J. O’Grady Mr D.J. Snatt Mr J.N. Jefferies Mr J.D. Stone Mrs L.H. Hodge Mr C.G.J. Gibbs Mr B.L. Davies Mr C. Riman Mr G.J. Field Mr T.W. Hancock Dr A. Hodskinson Mrs A.S. Quinn Mrs O.P.M.M. Thomas Mr M.C. Perry Mr K.C. Davenport Miss H.J. Bowie Mr S.R.G. Francis Mr M.G.L. Cooley Mr N.A. Martlew Dr C.M.L. Nuttall Mr D.A. Stephenson Mr L.D. Eaton Mrs R.E. Morgan Mr O.R. O’Brien Mr G.M.F. Wade Miss E.R. Smith Mr C.J. Grant Mr T.J. Lindsay Mr D.C. Bull Mr E.N. Leaf Mr E.J. Hadley Mr P.M. Walker Mrs H.V. Brebner Mrs J.R. Estill Mrs J.E. Goodbourn Mrs D.M. Hammond Mrs G.E. Taylor Dr K. Tudge Mr R.M.H. Thomson Mr W.A.C. Deacon Mr J.E. Delaney Mr G.D. Milsom Mr J.A. Sutherland Mrs A.L. Wilson Mr D.J. Storer Mr A.P.M. Whittle Miss Z.J. Yeldham Mrs M.F.V. Browne Mrs H. Leaf Dr G. Cafolla Mr M.D.W. Graham Mrs P.J.S. Kitchen Dr M.L. John Miss A.R. Andrews Miss H.V. Hemming Mrs A.S. Kirby Mrs K.A. Poole Mrs I. Sanchez-Sanz Mr I.R. Willis Mr B.P. Andrews Mrs R.M. Francis Mr C. Hibbard Mrs A.L. Larke Miss F.L. Porter Mrs A.J. Stevenson-Ray Mrs N.J. Fitch Mrs A.L. Bradshaw Mr C.T. Bennett Miss J.J. Burel Mr R. Etheridge Mr D.J. Hesketh Mrs S.H. Sutherland Mr D.J. Tibbitts Mr A.W. Town Mr R.A. Parkinson Mr N.O. Tapper-Gray Mrs B.V. Holton Mrs R.C. Hardiman

Head Master Senior Deputy Headmaster, English Mathematics Art Politics, History, Sociology Design Technology English Deputy Head (Co-curricular), History Mathematics Design Technology Physics Physical Education Geography Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning), English French Drama Mathematics Geography Physical Education Classics Mathematics Biology Classics Theology & Philosophy Classics, EPQ History Physical Education Spanish, French Chemistry Music Boarding House Master Mathematics History History German Assistant German Spanish, French French Assistant English Chemistry Deputy Head (Pastoral), Geography Economics History, Politics Mathematics History Pastoral Support Manager Music (Jazz and Rock) Physics Biology History Senior Mental Health Lead Physics Economics, Business Studies Curriculum Support Chemistry Art, Food Science Psychology Psychology Mathematics Spanish Assistant Physical Education Deputy Head (Academic), German Art, Food Science Physics Geography Mathematics Drama Curriculum Support Geography History, Politics French, Spanish Physics Physical Education, Geography English Music (Brass) English, Drama Art Careers & Volunteering Mathematics English

2020 2020

Mr A.O. Jones Mrs A.J. Lee

Mathematics English as an Additional Language, French, Spanish Theology & Philosophy, Classical Civilisation 2020 Mr B.W. Smith 2020 Miss R. Mells Mathematics 2021 Mrs A.M. Albrighton Academic Support and SEND, History Curriculum Support, Theology & Philosophy, 2021 Mrs O.J. Davies Critical Thinking 2021 Mr C.T. Maguire Physical Education 2021 Mr J.T. Allen Physics University of Edinburgh Biology – 2021 Ms R. Irani 2021 Mr A.S. Keech Computer Science 2021 Ms K.E. Lance English, Drama University ofTitmas Exeter – Mathematics 2021 Mr P.M. 2022 Mr T.J. Mahony Economics, Business Studies 2022 Mr E.M. Bamford Biology University ofBaskerville Glasgow – Music 2022 Mrs C.V. 2022 Mrs C.A. Baxter Mathematics 2022 Mr P.J. Clarke Computer Science 2022 Ms R. Evans University of Leeds – Psychology 2022 Ms E. Hooker Music (Keyboard) 2022 Mr G.A. Maycock Mathematics, Economics 2022 Mr H.J.of Preece University Leicester – Computer Science 2022 Mrs K.M. Robertson Music (Strings) 2022 Mr Z. Shirley Biology 2022 Mr G.P.of Stingemore University Liverpool –French, German 2023 Mrs R.T. Stokes Biology 2023 Dr D.A. McKee Theology & Philosophy 2023 Mr J.G.of Boyd University ManchesterClassics – 2023 Mr G.T.W. Bates Design Technology 2023 Mr A. Clarke-Butler Music (Woodwind) 2023 Mr P. Horsington Business Studies University of NottinghamEconomics, – 2023 Mr B. Hurst Physical Education 2023 Mrs M. O’Sullivan Food Science 2023 Mr E. Stevenson-Ray University of Oxford – Geography, Theology & Philosophy 2023 Mr M. Forth Chemistry 2023 Mr J. Prentice Chemistry 2024 Mrs L.J. University ofVincent Sheffield – Spanish, French, Mathematics 2024 Mr S.J. Bridges Music 2024 Ms B. Francis Sociology, PSHEE 2024 Mr R. Hartley University of Surrey – Biology 2024 Rev. J. Holden Foundation Chaplain 2024 Mr J.S. Mann Music (Performance) 2024 Mr T. Middleton Design Technology University of the Arts London – 2024 Mr B.J. Miller Assistant Head (Character Education), Theology & Philosophy, Design Thinking 2024 Mr R.J. Wood Physical Education University of Warwick – English 2024 Mr J.T. Vincent

University of York –JUNIOR SCHOOL

2023 Mr J. Bond Headmaster 2007 Miss H.N. Mellor Deputy Headmaster 2004 Mrs K. Bull 2005 Mrs H. Wragg (Science and Support Technician) 2008 Mrs C.J. Askwith Royal College of Music – 2008 Mrs R.J. Cowie 2010 Mr O.R. Herringshaw 2012 Miss L.C. Sharp Guildhall School of Music – 2012 Mr J. Williamson 2014 Ms H.D. Sayers 2015 Mrs H.D. Brotherton 2015 Mrs F.J. Goodrem 2015 Miss K.L. Walton 2016 Mrs K Savage (DT and ICT Technician) Mrs E. Bradbury (Teaching Assistant) 2017 2018 Miss D.H. Curle 2018 Mr R.J. Hargett 2018 Mrs L.S. Pascoe 2018 Mrs K. Perry (Teaching Assistant) 2018 Mr T.I. Wurr University Catholica in Valencia – 2019 Mr M.R.of Burchett 2019 Mrs J.L. Shepstone 2020 Mr A. Lewis Leiden University – 2020 Mrs H. Blake 2021 Miss N.L. Pinson 2021 Mr M. Homan 2022 Mrs J. Bartley 2022 Mrs C. Robertson 2022 Mrs H. Stevns Mrs L. Hardstaff (Teaching Assistant) 2022 2023 Mrs R. Deavall (Teaching Assistant)

OVERSEAS

Dear Parents/Guardians

Message from the

Whilst the delay to Step 4 of the Government’s ‘roadmap out of lockdown’ h a quieter end to the school year than we had all hoped, I do not want to dw challenges of the past year, but rather to focus on the achievements of the p

Head Master

Summer term 2021 has seen a return to something approaching the normal r life at Warwick School. Competitive sports fixtures have made a return, as hav productions, educational visits and the now legendary Year 7 Charity Sleepou

The Summer Concert Series brought live music back to the Warwick Hall fo time in exactly 15 months. What has been achieved musically remotely is re but it is no substitute for the real thing. Seeing the ear-to-ear smiles on the f the musicians as they came off stage has been an undoubted highlight. Giv absence and the need to maintain year group bubbles the standard was rem and a testimony to the perseverance of all involved.

Welcome to to character education the Warwickian Our commitment At the time of writing I look forward to seeing if the thespians have been ab Inside this issue

“

Letter from the Head Master | P2

Clubs & activities | P3

them. Saturday 3 July will see 9 and Upper every Sixth productions of ‘ remains central to all that weYears do.7, 8,Through ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and the intriguing promenade journey t iconic moviefixture, scenes titledand ‘A Night at theour Movies’. lesson, rehearsal, trip, pupils are Changes in the guidance provided by the various governing bodies allowed growing not only as learners but as individuals Upper Sixth cricket, hockey, rugby and tennis players to take to the field in W School a colours for the last time.

A fitting end years of commit ready to make meaningful impact onto their theseven world.

Academic news | P4

Junior School news | P6

A

The Arts | P8 Music | P10

achievement. The younger age groups also benefitted from this opportunity competitive sport once more.

The long overdue return of the face-to-face co-curriculum has been welcom open arms, but it has been supplemented by the best the digital world can Saturday morning parliamentary debates, virtual employability and work exp weeks and a remote Sir Ben Kingsley Lecture from Earl Spencer were amon range of new opportunities made possible by technology.

s we reflect on another extraordinary year at & community Warwick School, I Charity am delighted to introduce | P12 this edition of The Portcullis. This magazine continues Sport | P14 to be a celebration of the spirit, achievements, and character of our schoolFoundation community. news | P16

Summer term has to also been a term of academic challenges, with all boys si Our commitment character education remains central and assessments.

Teacher Assessed Grades have bee toperson all thatexaminations we do. Through every lesson, rehearsal, fixture, dominant feature of this term Yearas 11, learners the Upperbut Sixth and the te and trip, our pupils are unusual growing notforonly The boysready are to be commended for the courage with asstaff. individuals to make a meaningful impact onwhich the they have the constantly moving goal posts of the past year. world.

This year has been marked by exceptional academic success. Our students achieved remarkable A Level results, with over 53% of grades awarded at A or A*, and more than 81% at A*–B. At GCSE, over half of all grades were A*/9/8, a testament to the dedication of our pupils and the outstanding teaching they receive. Something epitomised by Peter O’Grady who “celebrated” his fiftiethyear teaching at Warwick.

education that prepares young men not just for exams, but I remain optimistic that September will bring the long hoped for return to no forconfident life. that whatever the challenges it presents, they will be met with cou

Beyond the classroom, our boys have continued to flourish. The Bridge House Theatre celebrated 25 years since it was opened by Dame Judy Dench with another remarkable series of school productions, The Pied Piper and Dr Faustus and Sweeny Todd. The arts remain a cornerstone of life at Warwick, 2 with our musicians’ delighting audiences in Warwick Hall and further afield.

The Summer Serenade provided a fitting conclusion to the musical year and a moving tribute to Mr Robertson, raising significant funds for St Richard’s Hospice.

Wednesday 23 June was National Thank a Teacher Day and I would like to opportunity to belatedly thank my remarkable colleagues. The demands of I hope that as you turn the pages of this magazine, you year have been extraordinary, and it is thanks to their creativity and perseve are inspired by the stories within. They reflect a school this magazine once again bears testimony to the opportunities both inside a that thriving,that a community that is united, and a vision of theisclassroom a Warwick education provides.

creativity and perseverance – the Warwick Way.

JamesBarker Barker James HeadMaster, Master Warwick School Head

The breadth of co-curricular activity has been further enriched by the launch of Belonging Week, a new initiative that replaced Activities Week. This gave students the opportunity to engage in local, national, and international experiences while contributing to both the school and the wider community. Such moments of connection and exploration are vital in shaping the values we hold dear.

We were also proud to be shortlisted once again for Independent Boys’ School of the Year – a recognition of the Warwick Way and our commitment to nurturing young men of courage, creativity curiosity, humility, perseverance, and responsibility.

Portcullis 2025 / 1

Meet the

Editor The Portcullis

THE CHRONICLE OF WARWICK SCHOOL

NUMBER 128 AUTUMN 2025

CONTENTS Message from the Head Master

P1

Meet the Editor

P2

From the Principal

P3

Staff News

P4

The Staff Year: Retirements and Resignations

P5

Student Awards

P11

Departments, Clubs & Societies

P12

Creative Arts

P37

Community

P53

Travel

P60

The Junior School

P70

Features

P90

Sportcullis

P103

Old Warwickians

P141

Obituaries 2025

P150

Editor: Benedict Smith E: portcullis@warwickschool.org Design and Print: fcmltd141@gmail.com

2 / Portcullis 2025

The Portcullis seeks to chronicle the rich tapestry of school life, celebrating the achievements, creativity, and spirit of our community. This year’s edition is no different, covering trips from Iceland to the United States. As the front cover shows, the creative arts are in full flow, with theatrical performances of The Pied Piper, Sweeney Todd, and Dr Faustus. The arrival of the new Director of Music, Mr John Mann, has seen the Music Department continue to flourish, with a wealth of concerts and performances showcasing the breadth of musical talent within the school. Charitable initiatives included a reverse advent calendar for the Warwick District Foodbank and a sponsored walk around Warwickshire to raise money for Ukraine. As ever, sport continues to thrive at Warwick, with pupils competing successfully at local, regional, and national levels across a wide range of disciplines. These accomplishments, along with match reports and team highlights, can be found in the Sportcullis section.

This year also marked the introduction of an Assistant Head for Character and Community, a role filled by Mr Ben Miller. His arrival underscores the school’s commitment to placing character education firmly on the agenda and further developing the Warwick Way. Echoing the Head Master’s introduction, I would like to draw your attention to the Features section, where you can read about the launch of Belonging Week.

This year’s issue features a particularly memorable occasion: the presentation of a Mulley tie to Lord Kinnock. The accompanying photograph shows Dr Chapman, Messrs Jefferies and Hadley, and myself during the presentation, when the Lower Sixth political scientists visited Parliament. As Dr Chapman explained in his speech, the Mulley tie is awarded at Warwick to boys in the Sixth Form who demonstrate exceptional academic endeavour, and it is named after Fred Mulley OW, the former Defence and Education Secretary.

Fred Mulley served as a mentor to Lord Kinnock, particularly during his time as Shadow Education Secretary, making this presentation especially meaningful.

I would like to extend my thanks to Allan Young of Fosse Cottage Media; to Eric Hadley for his help with the proofreading; to Peter O’Grady who, marking fifty years teaching at the school, continues to supply some of the best photographs in this publication; to Kate Hurst and the Marketing Department; and to all those who have contributed to the 128th edition of this magazine.

BWS

From the

Principal Academic years are always full and 2024-25 was no exception.

Much of the last twelve months was spent securing our charity in the face of external pressures, pressures sadly out of our control, but out of which we have emerged as strong as we can. Our Governors are the legal guardians of our charitable object: ‘To advance education by carrying on in or near Warwick, day and boarding schools, for boys and girls’.

Ensuring that object remains vibrant and relevant has been at the forefront of our thinking in continuing to develop and enhance the educational opportunities across our schools.

It goes without saying that the change of government in July brought with it a new era for independent schools. With the higher costs for parents through the addition of VAT to fees and the increase in taxes to schools, the sector is already consolidating. This is the time and place to say thank you again to our families for your continued support through this difficult time. Our sole aim is to ensure the children in our schools today and tomorrow have the most exceptional of educations, which prepare them for a fulfilling life.

Growing additional income streams to support the charity financially has therefore been an essential focus for us.

Events and lettings bookings, to ensure maximum usage from our estate, have grown significantly. International boarding has also been a priority, and whilst that sector too has been affected by the increasing costs of independent schools, we have been able to increase steadily the number of pupils in our boarding community, who add so much to our school life.

Earlier in the year, we announced our intention to move into the international market with a group of franchised schools.

It is early days, but our consultant from Incyte Education is working hard on our behalf and it is gratifying that what we offer educationally is attractive to overseas investors.

These developments, and so many more, serve to demonstrate that we have never stood still.

Two years ago, we announced the extension of co-education at The Kingsley School, accepting boys into the senior school as well as the prep. As you read this, the first co-educational cohort has started in Year 7 – which is also the largest year group at the school for many years. Our boys and girls are pioneers for the Kingsley of the future and meaning that our group of schools can offer an even greater variety of opportunities than before.

The last few years have seen an increased focus on our educational activities in the local area. This in part is thanks to our historic relationship with both The Charity of Sir Thomas White and The King Henry VIII Endowed Trust, Warwick, who each provide monies to support bursary provision for children who live in Warwick. A few years ago, we agreed with King Henry’s that a proportion of their grant could also be spent on educational programmes. This has been one of the drivers in the creation of Warwick Schools Foundation Multi Academy Trust, which came into being at midnight on 1 September 2025. The founding schools – Clapham Terrace, Evergreen, and Westgate – become the focus for our Public Benefit; we look forward to welcoming more schools into the Trust in the years ahead.

This sense of belonging and togetherness has never been more important; harnessing the strength of our individual schools and sharing opportunities for all our pupils, is a very distinctive part of our ethos and the day-to-day experience for our pupils. Last year saw new opportunities through ‘Link Days’ between Warwick Prep and Warwick Juniors, and the extension of ‘Friday Activities’ to pupils from Kingsley.

We have also been working on musical opportunities, developing instrumental programmes within the schools as well as new ways for our musicians to come together. For our youngest pupils, this saw the first concert appearance of our ‘Junior Symphony Orchestra’ – the combined forces of our three junior and prep schools; for all our schools, and the founding schools in the WSF MAT, we came together in Butterworth Hall for a simply stunning evening of musicmaking, ranging from our massed choirs to the more intimate percussion ensemble.

Involving almost 500 pupils, of all ages, perhaps more than anything else this year, the concert showed quite what a force we are when we work together. This message is more powerful now than ever and I look forward to seeing how we harness our collective strength in the years ahead.

Richard Nicholson

Portcullis 2025 / 3

Staff News

Newly-appointed staff: September 2025 Julien Rosa,

Sam Aires,

Stephen Paul,

Andy Rowan, Gus Stapleton,

Sophie Tudor

Niamh Mullane, Caitlin Lacey, Sarah Whitehouse, Beatrice Clarke, Pandora Allard, Olivia Doughty, Annabel Betteridge

NEWLY-APPOINTED STAFF November 2024

■ Ms Kate Preston, to teach Geography while Mrs Alice Larke is on maternity leave.

■ Mrs Stefanie Glover, to be Director of Junior School Music.

■ Mr Stephen Paul, to teach English.

■ Mr Sam Aires, to be Head of LAMDA.

September 2025

■ Miss Beatrice Clarke and Miss Annabel Betteridge, to be Teaching Assistants.

■ Mr Joe Goodlad, to teach Music.

■ Mr Andrew Rowan, Mr Gus Stapleton and Miss Sophie Tudor to assist in the Sports Department.

■ Miss Niamh Mullane, to teach Food Science and Design and Technology.

■ Miss Caitlin Lacey, to be a Music Graduate Assistant and Mr Julien Rosa, to be the Music Administrator.

■ Ms Pandora Allard, returns to teach Business Studies.

CHANGES IN STAFF RESPONSIBILITY 2025 ■ Mr Zach Shirley, OW, has been appointed Acting Head of Greville House, while Mrs Annaliesa Stevenson-Ray is on maternity leave.

■ Mr George Bates, OW, has been appointed as (acting) Assistant Head of Sixth Form, while Miss Yeldham is on maternity leave.

■ Mr John Boyd takes over as the Head of Debating from Ms Kate Lance.

■ Mr John Boyd is now Assistant Head of Middle School, having taken over from Mr Adam Jones.

4 / Portcullis 2025

STAFF NEWS

The Staff Year:

Retirements and Resignations themselves, greet David with the phrase, “Do you remember me?” followed by a flicker of recognition as he recalls their work and the class they were once part of.

DAVID SNATT (1990-2024)

It is no easy task to capture the full measure of a 34-year teaching career in just a few words. David has been a cornerstone of the Art Department at Warwick School for over three decades, and his contribution has been both significant and far-reaching.

Although I have only had the pleasure of working alongside David for the past four years, it quickly became clear to me, and to many others, that he is not only a talented and dedicated teacher, but also a generous colleague, full of warmth, humour, and an infectious passion for the arts.

I first met David during my own interview, where he was one of two observers in my lesson. To my surprise and delight, he immediately engaged in the activity I was delivering which was something I had not expected, but which put me at ease and made the experience far more enjoyable.

That willingness to get involved, to support, and to bring ease to those around him has remained a consistent part of his character.

Over the years, David’s knowledge, creativity, and kindness have helped shape the experiences of countless students, as well as many members of staff. It is always a joy to witness former pupils, now parents

David has many passions and interests outside the Art department: gardening, board gaming, Eurovision, and taking on one of the director roles in Leamington Spa’s Sky Garden project, not to mention spending time with his wife and children, to name just a few. His involvement with the community, particularly through the Sky Garden project, is something he has been especially passionate about, and no doubt it will take up much of his time now that he has left Warwick School.

There are far too many stories and anecdotes about David to recount here, many of which are best heard directly from him, but suffice it to say that we will all miss him greatly, especially in the Art department. We wish him every success in all his future projects and hope he finds time to rest, roll a die, and enjoy the company of those he loves. We hope to see him popping back into the Art department regularly to say hello and keep us updated with his goings-on.

Finally, a huge thank you, for all of your years of hard work and dedication to your profession as an Art teacher. Over the decades, you will have taught and guided hundreds, if not thousands, of boys through the school, inspiring so many to explore and embrace the arts.

Helping young people to discover and realise their own creativity is a rare and privileged role. It is a career defined by personal passion and enduring commitment, even through ever-changing educational landscapes. You have helped guide so many on their own journeys, and you will always be remembered fondly as a kind and inspiring teacher whose legacy will live on in the creativity of those you taught.

RAP

JANE UNDERHILL (2008-2025)

If I had to come up with two words to describe Jane, it would have to be ‘HAPPY’ and ‘POSITIVE’.

When I arrived at Warwick School to take up my role as Director of Music for the Junior School in 2012, Jane Underhill was the first face that I saw as I entered the music department. Her smile has continued to make every day here have the most wonderful start. I don’t think I have ever met such a consistently happy, kind and positive person.

Jane has been the Music Secretary since 2008 and has given wonderful support to no fewer than four Directors of Music! She is extremely well-loved by all the Music Department, staff and students alike, and is kind and caring with us all. Three times a year we have music exams that take place and Jane is the perfect person who sees the boys into their exams, giving encouragement and reassurance to the most nervous of students!

Her knowledge of the music department is second to none and quite how it is going to survive without her, I have no idea. She is the only person that absolutely everyone notices if she is not there.

Jane, thank you for all you have done for Warwick School over your fantastic 17 years here. Your warmth, sense of fun (including the most impressive ‘Mrs Overall’ impression, for those of us old enough to know who she was!) and kindness will be sorely missed.

Lots of luck and love as you move on to your next adventure.

LCS Portcullis 2025 / 5

STAFF NEWS unexpected places – it took Mr and Mrs Bull a full six months to find them all. That perfect blend of warmth, humour and thoughtfulness is what we’ll miss most.

Alex has now moved into a senior role in a company providing alternative educational provision for pupils who can’t access mainstream education. We miss her enormously – as a colleague, a champion for students, and a great friend.

CHARLOTTE BASKERVILLE (2022-2025)

Charlotte joined us three years ago from Sir Thomas Rich’s School, having studied music as a choral scholar at Christ’s College, Cambridge. This made her an excellent choice to take over directing the chapel choir from Mr Nicholson, and to teach academic music. Her first GCSE class, seven of whom have continued to A-level certainly appreciated her expertise and it is no coincidence that her time has seen a significant rise in numbers studying music for A-level and beyond.

Charlotte has been an outstanding Head of Choral Music. She has done a great job at recruiting higher voices, whether through the ‘Treble Rebels’ or from the Junior School. In dealing with a chapel choir containing everyone from Year 5 to quite a lot of staff, she has combined kindness with very high standards. This was amply demonstrated in her final service at St Mary’s. I for one thought that Howells’ For lo! I raise up would be way too hard for the choir when we started it, but, despite the personnel of the choir never being the same from one practice to the next, it worked brilliantly.

Charlotte’s particular strength is composition. She really is exceptional, as shown by her having one of her pieces performed at last year’s Advent Service at York Minster. Her skill has benefited her public exam classes, while our school choirs have had the privilege and pleasure of singing her anthems at Foundation and St Mary’s Carol services.

Charlotte has started a doctorate in composition which her departure from Warwick School will enable her to concentrate on. We wish her every success in this and hope to sing future Baskerville settings.

MGLC

ALEX WILSON (2014-2025)

After 11 years at the school, we bid a heartfelt farewell to Alex Wilson, our Pastoral Support Manager, boarding tutor, form tutor, and all-round pastoral powerhouse. It’s difficult to overstate just how much Alex has meant to pupils and staff alike, and her departure has left a significant gap in our community.

Alex’s list of responsibilities was lengthy, but much of it was behind the scenes.

From archiving concerns and managing Yondr pouches to organising interventions and overseeing safeguarding matters, her knowledge, dedication and calm capability became part of the very fabric of pastoral care at the school.

Alex has enormous technical expertise using Microsoft programmes, with greater competency than almost anyone I’ve ever met using Excel. She oversaw the setup of MyConcern, the IT programme we now use across the Foundation to monitor safeguarding concerns, and she became the ‘go-to’ authority in our foundation for using this programme.

Her work with pupils was where Alex truly shone. As a Year 7 form tutor and dedicated presence in boarding, she shaped the start of school life for her tutees, always with compassion and steady support. She also led the LGBTQ+ Club and the Diversity Pupil Voice Committee with passion and purpose. The cultural shift towards greater inclusion and understanding at the school owes much to Alex’s quiet determination and unwavering commitment to making every pupil feel safe, accepted and heard.

Alex also brought academic rigour to her pastoral work. She will soon complete a master’s in education, focused on complex safeguarding matters – tackling a deeply complex and important subject with the empathy and insight we all associate with her.

And of course, who could forget her mischievous side? In the boarding house, Alex once hid 50 paper feathers in

6 / Portcullis 2025

RMHT

JOHN VINCENT (2024-2025)

It has been wonderful having John in the English Department this year, and I speak for all of us when I say how much we have enjoyed his company.

John is a superb teacher and his classes, from Year 7 to Year 11, have been encouraged to be independent and confident learners who participate widely in his lessons. As well as delivering a challenging range of texts and topics, John has also supported learning beyond the classroom, helping to supervise trips and clubs, and encouraging his younger pupils to enter the Young Writers competitions.

He has been a professional and supportive colleague to others in English; always quick to offer help at busy times and contributing with expertise and insight to departmental planning and initiatives. John has also been an extremely caring and empathetic form tutor to MT1, supporting them pastorally and becoming a very valued member of the Middle School team.

In addition to being a skilful practitioner, John is also kind and a master of understated humour. His measured and dry wit has been greatly appreciated during department time.

While we are going to miss John, we are truly glad to have had him on the team this year and wish him all the best.

RCH

STAFF NEWS

SAM BRIDGES (2024-2025)

Sam joined us in September 2024 as our Head of Academic Music. A keen mind with an impressive educational pedigree, Sam set about developing and reforming the Music curriculum with verve over the course of this year, creating a particularly engaging set of resources for a new topic, ‘Music and Politics’ at Key Stage 3. He has established Bandlab as the go-to DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for boys to use in younger years, harnessing that well in a newly revised ‘Film Music’ scheme of work, and he has amended the choice of exam board for GCSE to ensure good outcomes both in the immediate future and in support of pursuing A Level Music.

His knowledge of the curriculum is secondto-none, and he is a keen organist (capable of improvising with impressive creativity), trumpeter and composer. Most remarkably, however, Sam has the ability to really get to the nub of any issue with kindness and warmth, which is a true skill and makes him respected by colleagues and pupils in equal measure. He leaves us all too soon for a promotion to a Director of Music position at Malvern, St James’, and we wish him very well for the future; he will no doubt, with his incisive mind and caring personality, be a fantastic Director of Music and we are sorry to see him go!

JSM

DAWN GOODE

(Professional Services 1997-2025) With Dawn’s retirement, the Catering Department is losing its last contact with the previous century when the school was rather smaller and demands on the

kitchens were not as great as they are today. For nearly 30 years she has been a constant presence in the dining hall, and her authoritative manner has certainly helped to ensure good order in the lunch queue.

Photos in this magazine over that time have featured her and her colleagues, but do not fully account for the role she has played right up to the end of her time here. Boys who needed special diets could always rely on Dawn in her capacity as Senior Catering Assistant to provide the right meal and to check that all was in order. She has seen many changes since 1997, such as a much wider choice of food provision, and more liberal attitudes to boys’ hair length!

Her commitment to the school was also reflected in her years-long appreciation of this magazine. There is no question that she will be missed as she moves on to the next phase of her life where she will spend more time with her family while still keeping up with the many friends she has made in the kitchens over the years.

maturity were to be the mantra of all pupils.

In addition, Kate was part of the pastoral team which supported pupils through the Covid pandemic but also navigated a sea-change in pastoral awareness, as well-being and individuality became the watch words of pastoral care. She decided to leave the school following a period of ill health. We wish her every success for her future endeavours.

SRC

EJH

TOM BROADLEY (2019-2024)

Tom joined the school in September 2019 as a Graduate Sports Assistant and quickly established himself as a calm and capable member of staff. His excellent contribution in that first year led to reappointment, during which he completed his QTS in 2020/21.

KATE POOLE (2017-2025)

Kate joined Warwick in 2017 as a member of the Maths Department. Her teaching was characterised by an ability to provide structure, scaffolding and support for pupils while challenging them to raise their own expectations and not be afraid to fail. With her background of having to teach herself Further Maths as a pupil, Kate demonstrated empathy and understanding of the needs of each pupil she taught, whether that was using matrices in Further Maths or factorising equations at GCSE. Kate quickly became a very well-established member of the Maths team, contributing much to the extracurricular provision of the department.

From 2018 she took on more pastoral responsibility and served as both Assistant and Acting Head of Sixth Form. With burgeoning numbers, she had to cope with an increasingly complex higher education landscape and the opportunities provided by the very new experience of a shared sixth form centre. She successfully brought the high expectations of the maths classroom into the Sixth Form, creating an environment where responsibility and

Since then, Tom has played a significant role across both the academic and pastoral life of the school. From 2022-2023, he served as a Boarding House Parent in Way House, where he was closely involved in overseeing the transition of the house from a junior boys’ boarding house to one for sixth form girls at King’s High, working alongside his now wife, Lottie. In his role as a Year 7 Form Tutor, he offered thoughtful support to the boys in his care and particularly enjoyed taking part in bonding trips and charity sleepouts.

Tom’s involvement in sport has been particularly wide-ranging. He has coached teams in rugby, cricket, tennis, and athletics, where he built strong rapport with his players, and he has also contributed to the development of the strength and conditioning programme. Whether on the touchline, in training, or during co-curricular clubs and trips, Tom brought a quiet professionalism and reliability that were greatly valued by both staff and pupils.

After five years, Tom leaves to begin the next chapter of his teaching career at St Joseph’s College, Reading. We wish him every success and, perhaps, a timetable with slightly fewer weekend fixtures.

BWS Portcullis 2025 / 7

STAFF NEWS bereft to have lost their travel companion on the many German and French trips the school offers. They fondly recall 10-hour bus journeys and midnight hotel corridor patrols made all the better by Pippa’s presence.

Pippa is not only a valued colleague but also a great friend to many. As a mother of three boys, she has often been the go-to for parenting advice, and perhaps more importantly, for wise words on managing the guilt, worry, and exhaustion that come with raising children.

PIPPA KITCHEN (2016-2025)

The boys who have passed through Mrs Kitchen’s classroom will speak of her infectious enthusiasm; for every subject she has supported, for every pupil she has taught, and for her unwavering commitment to adaptive, inclusive teaching.

All three of Pippa’s boys are also Warwickians, joining the network alongside their father, Pippa’s beloved husband, Al. We will miss Pippa greatly, but she will forever be one of us. We say Bonne chance! in her new adventures- and Bis bald! See you soon!

Pippa’s dedication to pupils like this has also been evident in her work to make Warwick a Dyslexia Friendly School. She has collaborated with departments across the school and became an accredited dyslexia assessor to further support this mission. Pippa’s efforts have been integral in Warwick’s journey over the last decade to become as inclusive as possible. When Linda Allan left the department after Covid, Pippa was the obvious choice to step in and steer the helm. During this time, the confidence and respect that so many Warwick parents had in her knowledge and guidance became evident.

Many staff members have also deeply appreciated her support and wisdom. One colleague said, “I have always admired her incredible work ethic, efficient approach, and fun nature.” Others have spoken of her “good humour and kindness.” The Modern Foreign Languages department is

8 / Portcullis 2025

He leaves Warwick to pursue online education, and as part of his new job will be creating maths TikTok videos; safe to say, we certainly haven’t seen the last of him!

RCM

AMA

Pippa has never been one to shout about her talents, but there are very few members of staff who could confidently take the helm in a French lesson, a German lesson, an English lesson, and a Maths lesson, while also supporting pupils across all GCSE subjects, with EAL and A Level courses such as Business and History. This extraordinary versatility has made Pippa indispensable to the Academic Support Department, where she has worked with boys across all age groups.

Above all, Pippa’s ability to communicate her subject knowledge in a way that is accessible to every pupil has been her standout talent. Every student she has supported has felt seen, understood, and encouraged. She has instilled selfconfidence in so many and nurtured the skills they need to work independently beyond the classroom.

is the maths department Friday lunch-time Yahtzee club, of which he is a founding member. Throughout his time at Warwick, he brought many laughs to rest of the maths department (for example, when the video of him teaching integration in a caterpillar costume was revealed) and he will be greatly missed.

ANITA HOPKINS

GUY MAYCOCK (2022-2025)

Guy joined the Maths department parttime in September 2022, an excellent mathematician with exam-writing credentials and a rugby player to boot (pun intended). He increased the range of heights in the department to almost 2ft and, although no official experiment has been undertaken, it is hypothesised that the mean bicep size of the department doubled upon his arrival. Exam results too, must surely have been boosted as he is a fantastic teacher.

Guy probably specialises in teaching the Upper Sixth Further Maths classes, but really, he specialises in all things maths… he quickly became a go-to member of the department to ask any mark scheme minutiae questions of, and it wasn’t long before the Economics department learnt of his background in finance. He became fulltime, teaching maths and economics.

Aside from the academics, Guy coached the U14B rugby team and was a stalwart middle school tutor, highly valued by both the students and his colleagues. Arguably, the best testament to his time at Warwick

(Professional Services 1998-2024) When Anita joined us, the Modern Languages building had for some years experienced an inconsistent standard of cleaning. That was to change, and for the next 26 years scuff marks produced by boys’ rubber soles rarely lasted a day, to give just one example, so meticulous was the quality of work that was her norm. No less important was the fact that Anita really was a team player who was much loved by all members of the MFL department over the years. We got to know details of her family, as she did of ours, in our daily conversations. Despite experiencing major ill health, she fought back and returned to us on a reduced schedule before finishing her time at WS in the Economics department. She retired at the end of last school year, but, sadly, and on 21st December she lost her fight with cancer. A well-attended function on 2nd February gave ample proof of how much she is missed, and in her memory a plant and plaque have been placed outside the department she served so loyally for so long. She is survived by her devoted partner Jason, three children (two of whom attended Warwick School in the 1990s) and six grandchildren.

EJH

STAFF NEWS tutor before his marriage to Christine who had joined the Junior School staff a few years after he came to Warwick. Once, he even took on responsibility for Music during the head of that department’s absence, and music is a skill reflected in his entire family: his wide-ranging musical knowledge; Christine’s competence on the piano and organ; and that of both his very talented sons, one of whom has performed at Glastonbury (and survived the author’s teaching/form tutoring too!).

1977

PJO’G: 50* The casual reader might see this article and think that Peter O’Grady had actually retired, so let’s be clear: he hasn’t! But he has now completed 50 years at Warwick School, where he remains in harness. Very few teachers stay that long in any school, so it is right that we take this opportunity to celebrate his unique contribution to the School.

A Cambridge graduate, Peter arrived at Warwick in 1975 to teach Mathematics and rapidly became a crucial member of the team, specialising in Sixth Form Maths and Further Maths, though always teaching at least one class lower down the school.

He contributed to the coaching of rugby, especially the U12s, and remained a willing referee on Saturdays until recent times.

His passion for sport would be reflected in many a Common Room conversation.

He also spent a while as Boarding House

Peter reflects the changes in pupil taste too, as societies he supported for many years are sadly no more: The Gramophone Society and The Photographic Society.

He has a phenomenal memory for pupils past and present, recalling – often with amusing anecdotes – many generations of individuals whom he prepared for Oxford or Cambridge entrance and also those he accompanied on D of E expeditions.

Nor has age has slowed him down on his walking trips, and he will invariably walk from home to school if teaching first period as the bus pass doesn’t kick in before 9.30.

His clarity of thought and ability to administer made him the obvious choice to take on the role of Deputy Head Academic (or its previous iterations) and his immaculate handwritten timetables, in the days before computers, always reflected days of attempting to be fair to all in his distribution of lessons. On one occasion, the frustration of one colleague who had acquired a full teaching

1989

Friday led to the timetables of 23 other colleagues being adjusted without it creating unfairness to them. He was also meticulous in allocating cover. But in 2014 he decided to go part time, handing over nearly all his administrative duties, though he remained willing to take set-piece photographs. Since then, he has taught approximately 50% of a full teaching load across four days each week and he is still much sought after by Sixth Form Mathematicians: he now rarely teaches below the Sixth Form. His energies remain intact, so we have no reason to predict any retirement just yet!

Peter, we salute you for all you have done over so many years and wish you all the very best for however many years you continue to offer us your services and company. Where else will we learn of the best bargains at Morrisons?

EJH PJO'G and the Maths Department

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y a D s t l u Res

Student Awards OXBRIDGE The following received offers to study at Cambridge or Oxford:

Ray’an Bhanji –

Medicine at Churchill College, Cambridge

Chris Gibson – Music at Christ’s College, Cambridge Matthew Mendia –

Spanish and Arabic at St John’s College, Oxford

SCHOLARSHIPS MEARS SCHOLARSHIPS:

Matthew Mendia to read Spanish and Arabic at St John’s College, Oxford Rory Moir to read Mathematics at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge Jeffrey Yeung to read Engineering at Peterhouse, Cambridge

PYNE SCHOLARSHIPS:

Tommy Perry –

Alex Yuan to read Biochemical Engineering at Imperial College, London Henry Fifield to read Engineering (Renewable Energy) at the University of Durham

Oscar Steinbergs –

WARD SCHOLARSHIP:

Human, Social, and Political Sciences at King’s College Cambridge

William Chesser to read History at University College, London

Jeffrey Yeung –

LLOYD-EVANS EXHIBITION:

Rory Moir –

Mathematics at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge Music at New College, Oxford as a choral scholar

Engineering at Peterhouse, Cambridge

MEDICINE

Dmytro Tytov to read Politics at the University of Exeter

Medicine Offer Holders 2025

The following received places for prestigious medical degrees:

Ray’an Bhanji – Cambridge University Mahabir Daler – Birmingham University Christopher Tse – Glasgow University Ali Khalil, OW – Exeter University (not pictured) Mahin Khan – University College London Omar Ghobara – Cardiff University (not pictured)

Oxbridge Offer Holders 2025

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Departments,

Clubs and Societies

CHEMISTRY

It has been another enjoyable and successful year for Warwick’s chemists.

The RSC Chemistry Olympiad produced Gold Awards for Harry Colliver, Jeffrey Yeung, Benjamin Pink, Ray’an Bhanji, Christopher Tse and Andy Li. Silver Awards went to Adrian Lee, Charlie Buckley, Jasper Fong, Marco Lam and James Taylor.

Seven students were also awarded Bronze Awards.

An equally impressive haul came from the students who entered the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge. There were five Gold Awards for Jasper Fong, Archie Goodrem, Adrian Lee, Will Yu and Tony Leung. Silver Awards went to Charlie Buckley, Nicholas Lewis, Jerem Mahesaratnam, Jaden Tsui, Yusuf Homayon, and Nilash Jeyakantharaja. Five students were also awarded Copper Awards.

The 19th November was a memorable day for the Lower Sixth Chemists. Not only did the boys wake up to significant snowfall (exciting), but they were off to Warwick University to the Chemistry in Action event (very exciting!). Having battled through the challenges of icy roads and late buses the boys settled in for a series of lectures and demonstrations.

Kicking off the day was a fascinating talk by Dr Alex Baker on When Medicines become Drugs. He highlighted how small changes in chemical structure can have big influences on how a chemical behaves in the body. Following this Dr Suze Kundu gave a timely talk on how AI and data are transforming materials chemistry, driving sustainable solutions to global challenges.

After lunch the boys really enjoyed a talk by Dr Stephen Belding on scent-sational chemistry. A particular highlight was the discovery of the worst smelling chemical ever made, thioacetone, which caused vomiting and nausea within a half mile radius of where the chemical was briefly released! The penultimate talk by Professor Julie Macpherson focused on the wonders of element number 6 – Carbon. Julie explored the many allotropes of carbon and invited us to look into the future with carbon nanotubes, graphene and nano technology playing an increasing important role. The day finished with arguably the most inspirational and engaging talk. In a wide-ranging talk that delved into politics, brainwashing and climate change Professor Andrea Sella from UCL invited us to challenge our preconceptions by looking at the world of Strange Ice. Despite being over familiar with ice, Andrea showed us how ice is a material so strange that it breaks nearly every rule in the book.

On an icy day in Warwickshire this seemed a fitting way to end the day. Many of the boys felt inspired by what they heard to consider a science related degree in the future.

The department also enjoyed welcoming back former teacher, now completing his PhD, Andrew Ward, for a wonderful sciencerelated Encounter on ‘From research to teaching and back again: a catalytic journey of ups, downs, and side-to-sides’.

Judging by this year’s achievements and engagement across year groups, Chemistry at Warwick is in an excellent position for future successes. Many thanks to all the students and staff who have played their part.

MF

Olympiad Winners 2025 with MF

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

ENGLISH

It has been another exciting year in English, and we have enjoyed working creatively with our pupils both in and beyond the classroom.

We began the year with the judging of our second annual Warwickshire Essay Competition and our first Warwickshire Voices Competition. Warwickshire Voices is a new writing competition for the Lower Sixth that challenges pupils to write in a genre of their choice. We were delighted to award the Essay prize to Felix Turner, for his original and insightful exploration of the theme of silence in literature, and the Voices competition prize was awarded to Rio Holton-Reeve, for his journalistic response on the topic of language and power. The competitions have now re-launched for 2025, and to get the Lower Sixth thinking about the competition themes, Mrs Hodge and I ran lunchtime seminars for each competition, with topics including, ‘Silence in Atonement’ and ‘Public and Private Voices in Creative Fiction’. We hope that the competitions, which are also open to other schools in the region, will continue to grow and enthuse our outstanding pupils.

Younger pupils had the opportunity to try their hand at competitive writing too; in December, Mrs Taylor launched a creative writing competition, challenging Year 7 to write a modern moral tale inspired by ‘A Christmas Carol’. The winning entry was written by Mikey Byrne, who captured the spirit of Dickens’s Christmas ghost story in a beautifully crafted piece about kindness and redemption.

Throughout the year, we have continued to run our Aspire Lecture series for Year 10 and 11 pupils. While focused on our set texts, these lectures have given pupils an extended insight into more challenging or unusual aspects of them and topics have ranged from Hughes – a guardian of the language and the land to Plastic Theatre in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. In December, the Aspire Lectures once again took a festive turn, as the Year 11 revision pantomime: the Paper One Panto made a return to the Science Lecture Theatre! Mr Town and I greatly enjoyed putting exam skills into performance and the event was well-attended by our fantastic Year 11 cohort.

Not missing an opportunity to celebrate the written word, we marked National Poetry Day 2024 and World Book Day 2025 with special assemblies and competitions.

On Tuesday 15th October, the English Department led a visit a local retirement village, Austin Heath, for a community poetry event. At Austin Heath, Warwick School pupils, from Year 7 to the Upper Sixth, introduced and read a selection of poems to a huge gathering of the residents. From Michael Rosen to John Clare, our pupils took turns to read about love, nonsense words, autumn, dogs, horses, philosophy and geography. We finished with a lively and very well-received reading of Pam Ayers’ ‘I wish I’d looked after my teeth’. We all enjoyed listening to the residents of Austin Heath share some of their favourite poems with us too. It was wonderful to share the joy of the written word to mark National Lower Sixth trip to see The Great Gatsby Musical

Poetry Day, and we look forward to doing it all again in October 2025. Well done to the pupils who came with us. They performed brilliantly and were excellent ambassadors for the school.

The theme of this year’s World Book Day was Read Your Way and in addition to our annual assembly, the English Department invited the school to read their way to discovery. We had a traitor in the English teaching team and the Warwick School pupils had to work out who it was. On Thursday 6th March, teachers from across the school read an extract from a work of fiction to pupils in each of their lessons. Pupils then listened out for six clue words that gave them details of a location and an object to help them to identify the traitor. Pupils who collected all of the clue words, joined us in the English corridor the next day to take a turn in our mini escape room, with sweets available for those who solved the mystery and deduced that the traitor was…none other than Mr Vincent.

We were delighted by the huge number of pupils who not only participated but also solved our literary crime. The Sixth Form English pupils did a fantastic job of ushering the crowd and keeping the excitement levels high.

As always, we have endeavoured to build on the Warwick School culture of reading this year. Year 9 were tasked again with taking on the Three Peaks Reading Challenge, which required them to make and respond carefully to challenging books of their choice.

Mrs Sutherland and Mrs Browne from the History Department also continued to run their brilliant Historical Fiction Society this year.

Pupils from Year 9 and above enjoyed reading and discussing a range of historically inspired texts from We Are Not Free by Traci Chee, to Dissolution by C. J. Samson. Building on the success of our reading initiatives, Mrs Taylor introduced Reading Pioneers for our Year 7 and 8 pupils, which celebrates and promotes ambitious reading habits.

As well as being avid readers, many of our pupils from Year 7 to 10 have had their work chosen to be published by Young Writers, a terrific achievement! We had a range of poems published in the The Beautiful Truth anthology.

Trips were, as always, a highlight of the academic year. On Thursday 26th June, our Lower Sixth English Literature pupils visited London to watch a matinee performance of The Great Gatsby Musical. The trip offered a valuable opportunity to experience one of their studied texts reimagined in a new medium. We were all impressed by the opulent stage production, with art deco-inspired set pieces and lavish costumes. Along with the choreographed ensemble scenes, the production captured the excess and spectacle of Gatsby’s world. This was a great opportunity for our pupils to evaluate and reflect on the portrayal of key themes and characters, and the production prompted some excellent conversation about this musical treatment of our much-loved A level text on the train home.

Belonging Week was a busy one in the English Department. Year 7 enjoyed an Art and English Department trip to the Harry Potter Studios Tour and wrote original poems about ‘Belonging’ as part of their cross-curricular summer projects. Year 9 also enjoyed a creative writing day which began with a trip to Guys Cliffe House in Warwick to discover its exciting and very long history.

On returning to school, students used their visit as inspiration to collaboratively write a Choose Your Own Adventure book in an afternoon. The striking photographs and written work produced

by Year 9 impressed us all.

In the final week of the year, we managed to squeeze in the Ink and Intrigue Writing Competition celebration event. It was wonderful to hear readings of the winning stories by James Leeson and Charlie Graham.

RCH

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

GEOGRAPHY

The Northern Lights visit Warwick

The evening of 10th October into the early hours of the 11th saw one of the most powerful solar storms of recent times, triggering spectacular displays of the Aurora Borealis across much of the UK. The photo here was taken from school on that evening.

The colours and patterns were clearly visible to the naked eye though phone camera sensors being much more sensitive reveal far more than can typically be seen. This rare event, coinciding with a clear night, originated from a stream of charged particles emanating from the sun, known as the solar wind enhanced by a particularly strong outburst from the outer part of the sun known as a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). The flow of particles in the solar wind is deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field to stream in towards the poles and interact with the gas molecules of the upper atmosphere to give out faint visible light. The common green colours occur from interaction with oxygen and the rarer red colours from nitrogen and higher altitude oxygen. Other colours such as purple can also be seen. NASA data suggest the 11 year sunspot activity cycle has now peaked, making a repeat of October’s extreme event possibly less likely, but continued enhanced activity is still expected from time to time. For those who were fortunate to witness the display in October the consensus was that it was amazing.

Fieldwork

Visiting places shows up change. A new venture this year involved the Lower Sixth visiting inner Coventry to explore the placemaking and rebranding that is ongoing in the CBD as well as measuring the levels of inequality across parts of the inner city and suburbs. The historic centre of Coventry was devastated by wartime bombing and the brutalist post war rebuilding is now

itself being reshaped into a new vision for the future, following retail decline. Visiting the old and new cathedral with its charred cross was a poignant moment and presented a clear symbol of changing place identity with peace and reconciliation a central theme. Year 10 again visited the Carding Mill Valley for their River Landscapes fieldwork. Notable on this occasion was the previously unseen debris trap filled to the brim with sediment brought downstream over the winter. Typically, this is empty so provided a great opportunity to get a sense of river processes in action. The eroding bank threatening the road near the café had been protected with large boulders; however, even here some washout of material and collapse of the defences was observable after just one winter. The trip to Birmingham equally showed us that cities are dynamic places. Across the road from St Martin’s Church a new high-rise apartment block has sprung up, changing the city skyline, no doubt linked to the HS2 project linking the city with London. Much of the Digbeth area is waiting redevelopment.

Ambitious plans are in place, but realisation is yet to really get started. On the other hand the graffiti along the derelict and unused buildings and land has been noticeably worked on over the past year. Both investigations gave useful insights into the fieldwork process and the challenges of sampling and data collection. Our Lower Sixth residential trip to the Cranedale Centre was much enjoyed, following the well-established itinerary of urban work in Scarborough, coastal work at Flamborough and along the Holderness coast with local training in investigation planning. As has become tradition, the food, accommodation and geography were all excellent. Perhaps the only disappointment was the apparent lack of change on the eroding coast of Skipsea and chalk cliffs at Selwicks Bay. But landscape change is often irregular so we will continue to revisit and see how things are next year!

AH

Cranedale

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Carding Mill

Cranedale

Northern Lights

Coventry

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

HISTORY

Another year of History has passed at Warwick School. In a place so steeped in History, it is perhaps hard to decipher whether the school is undergoing significant change or not. The Labour government’s attitude toward independent schools is certainly not helpful, although the threat is not as severe as the 1944 Education Act or indeed when the Vikings burned down the school in the eleventh century. One thing about working for an organisation with such a long history is that it gives one perspective on modern-day challenges.

When we go on our department trips to the battlefields, we attempt to find the graves of Old Warwickians who served and died in the World Wars. On a hot summer’s evening, we were attempting to locate the grave of a former maths teacher who died in the battles around the town of Ypres in 1914, a man called Barry Denny. We had set ourselves twenty minutes to find his grave in what I thought was a small cemetery. In fact, we found ourselves in the rather large Ypres Town Cemetery, scattered among the graves of the civilians of Belgium. There were some Commonwealth war dead, but finding Barry’s grave was proving very difficult.

Knowing that we needed to get back for the ceremony of the Last Post at the Menin Gate, a ten-minute walk away, I was very aware we were running out of time. Looking at my watch, I made the decision to call off the search. Locating Barry Denny would have to wait another few years until we were next back in this part of Belgium. As I was rounding up the boys, a shout came from the south side of the cemetery: “We’ve found him!” An intrepid group of boys had spotted the familiar cream coloured Portland stone headstones that mark out the war dead. And so, 53 of us gathered

around that headstone, and Mr Hadley read out what we know of Barry Denny, while two boys laid a wreath at his grave.

It was an emotionally ambiguous moment, with the excitement of making a historical discovery, replaced by the sombre realisation of the sacrifice made. The final words Mr Hadley read about Barry left a lasting impression on all who were there: “He was remembered by all at Warwick for his kind and endearing manner.”

For the last decade, the anniversaries of the World Wars seem to have been ever present. 2014 was the centenary of the start of the First World War. 2018 was the centenary of its finish.

Commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2020 were interrupted by the pandemic. And so, this year’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day took on greater importance. It was also the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz back in January.

As teachers, Messrs Jefferies, Smith, and I took an assembly to try and describe the Holocaust and how it came about. This is an event now passing into History. There are few witnesses left to the horrors of the death camps. We did though hear from one of them, Mindu Hornick, who could describe her experiences in the ghetto and the camps during the Shoah. This was a spellbinding talk. She spoke clearly and cogently about what she saw and experienced.

When the VE Day commemorations finished, as a historian, it very much felt like the end of something. For eleven years we have been looking back at the two world wars, wars that shaped Europe, the world, and impacted the Warwick School community so very much. That period is now over. I cannot predict what will happen next, but as I am always keen to point out, as a society what we choose to study in the classroom and commemorate publicly tells us as much about the present times we live in as it does about the past.

ORO’B

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

MATHEMATICS

The department have enjoyed another successful year. Pupil numbers have been high, yet again, at A-Level and Further Maths, with many using these qualifications to study high quality degree subjects. We bid a sad farewell to Guy Maycock who leaves us after three years. We wish him and his family all the best for the future.

The main highlight for the department has been celebrating Peter O’Grady’s 50th year of teaching here. A truly remarkable feat and we look forward to the next 50 years of PJOG.

Senior Challenge – Sixth Form Best In Year (Gold) – Adrian Lee – Lower Sixth Best In School (Gold) – Jeffrey Yeung – Upper Sixth Junior Kangaroo Best In Year – Jain Manam – Year 7 Best In School – Anujen Jeyashankar – Year 8 Intermediate Kangaroo Best In Year – Yash Gupta – Year 10 Best In School – Karsten Siu – Year 11 Senior Kangaroo Merit – Matthew Gill – Upper Sixth Merit – Adrian Lee – Upper Sixth Merit – Rory Moir – Upper Sixth Merit and Best in Year – Jasper Fong – Lower Sixth Merit and Joint Best in Year – Will Calendar, Harry Colliver and Andy Li – Upper Sixth Junior Olympiad Merit - Henry Shi - Year 7 Merit - Alex White - Year 8

As usual, we have had many boys succeed in various UKMT Challenges this year. The highlights of which are below.

Junior Challenge – Years 7 and 8 Best In Year (Gold) – Alex White – Year 8 Best In School (Gold) – Henry Shi – Year 7

Hamilton Olympiad Distinction – Sam Ran – Year 10 Maclaurin Olympiad Merit – Rex Wong – Year 11 British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1 Merit – Jeffrey Yeung – Upper Sixth

Intermediate Challenge – Years 9, 10 and 11 Best in Year (Gold) – Robbie Forsyth – Year 9 Best In School (Gold) – Sam Ran – Year 10 Best In Year (Gold) – Aaden So – Year 11

Congratulations to all on another fantastic year in UKMT Competitions.

ENL

BIOLOGY

It has been another fantastic year in Biology. Following excellent A-level and GCSE results in the summer of 2024, the department has continued to grow and provide exciting opportunities.

The Gardening Club has flourished under the inspirational leadership of Ms Irani, expanding the number of beds and exploring the potential development of a wild area in the headmaster’s garden.

The new anatomy and dissection activity on Friday afternoons has also proved a very popular option.

Year 10 Biology students competed in the Biology Challenge, where Winson Chan, Daniel Mendia, Aaron Yat Long, Euan Alemi,

Samuel Le Monnier, and Braden Priestley all achieved the coveted Gold award.

In the Lower Sixth Intermediate Biology Olympiad, Charlie Buckley was awarded a brilliant Gold, while James Bull, Ian Chung, Rohan Sharma, and Archie Goodrem earned fantastic Silver awards.

The year was capped off with the annual Lower Sixth required practical expedition to Slapton Ley. Students carried out their work with the utmost skill and were praised by Field Studies Council staff as the best group they have ever had the pleasure of welcoming to the centre – true Warwickians through and through.

EMB

Lower Sixth Biologists on their Expedition

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

PHYSICS

Upper Sixth Senior British Physics Olympiad

Warwick School’s top physicists in the U6 were amongst 3,700 students from 550 schools in the UK to participate in the annual Senior British Physics Olympiad competition.

The paper is extremely challenging and tests a range of student knowledge, preparation, ability, and problem-solving skills. Earning the Top Gold Certificate is very rare – awarded to just over 4% of participants nationally this year. A further 12% of the participants achieved a Gold Certificate, followed by 24% with Silver and a further 40% achieving Bronze certificates.

Warwick School’s certificate holders are as follows: Top Gold Certificate Jeffrey Yeung Gold Certificate Andi Li, Rory Moir, Isaac Royle Silver Certificate Alex Bosworth, Ray’an Bhanji, Benjamin Pink, Gerald Pong, Edward Wilson, George West, Alex Yuan Bronze Certificate Finlay Connett, Jimmy Lyu, Marco Lam, Leo Sica Obtaining a certificate of any colour in this national physics competition is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the ability these pupils possess.

Lower Sixth AS Physics Challenge

In the first year of their A-Level course, pupils around the country get an opportunity to stretch their problem-solving skills and apply fundamental physical principles to novel situations in the AS Challenge Paper. Over 6,000 students from over 300 schools entered this year’s competition in March. All boys listed below can use these certificates to enhance their university applications next year.

Gold Ian Chung Silver Sebastian Carr, Andrew Digby, James French, Sammy Humphries, James Reed, Cyrus Tse, Jas Uruthiran, Zac Varachia, Gabriel Westrope, Austin Willoughby, Austin Yeung, Will Yu Bronze William Cartwright, Jasper Fong, Thomas Gilyead, Armand Lu, Jimmy Lyu, Zak Nirjan, Luc Valentine, Kaiser Wong, Reeve Zhang

Upper School Olympiad Winners

Intermediate Physics Challenge:

The Intermediate Physics Challenge is an exciting national competition designed to challenge and inspire GCSE students with a passion for physics. It tests problem-solving skills and deep understanding beyond the standard curriculum. Participating in this challenge offers a fantastic opportunity to explore physics in a fun and competitive environment, encouraging critical thinking and creativity. It is a great stepping stone for anyone considering a future career in science or engineering.

Congratulations to the following students for achieving a certificate in this year’s physics challenge.

Gold Jason Leung, Karsten Siu, Aaden So, Rex Wong, Anskar Yeung Silver Victor Balescu, Henry Chan, Oliver Crow, Edgar Ma, Starry Sheung, Alexander Wilson, Oscar Yates Bronze Oliver Ainsworth, Maanav Bains, Alex Charnock, Hudson Cho, Joseph Deeley-Tham, Roshan Dougall, Charlie Graham, Max Holmes-Turosik, Ayaan Jahanzeb, Thom Kelly-Owen, Manas Krishnan, Christopher Lewis, Manson Li, Kaden Liu, JJ Lloyd, Fintan McGrory, Aman Pala, Noah Paley, Jeisanth Sathyanathan These are great achievements and a testament to their hard work and perseverance.

GeC

VI Form Olympiad Winners (Marco, Alex, Ray’an, Alex, Edward, Leo, Isaac, George, Rory, Finlay, Benjamin, Jimmy, Gerald, Andi, Jeffrey)

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PSYCHOLOGY

Cracking Attachment

This term, the Psychology Department welcomed a new batch of students into parenthood – well, kind of. Our Lower Sixth psychologists took on the responsibility of caring for their very own egg babies, as part of our practical application of the AQA Psychology Attachment unit. It was an egg-cellent opportunity to explore key theories from Bowlby, Ainsworth, and Rutter in a hands-on and meaningful way.

Each boy was tasked with protecting, nurturing, and documenting the “life” of their fragile offspring across a week. They drew parallels with core psychological ideas like secure vs. insecure attachment, internal working models, and responsiveness to distress.

One entry from Tim Drake: ‘I think I have given Egg a pretty good week so far. Despite having an insecure resistant attachment, I think Egg will turn out alright. He's not experienced any neglect, maternal deprivation and his care has satisfied both the law of continuity and the law of accumulated separation. Therefore, despite potentially having a poor internal working model, Egg should be fine and shouldn't suffer from any PIES. Today was a big final day for Egg Sheeran as he played his first concert. The crowd loved his singing and particularly his hit single, “Shape of Yolk”.

One entry from Harvey Gibbs: I have bonded with my egg baby very well as I have made sure that he has formed a monotropic attachment with me as I have done reciprocity and interactional synchrony with him on the regular.

I also provide him with food all the time, and this has made him learn to associate me with food (classical conditioning), making me the secondary reinforcer.

I do feel an innate drive to care for my baby as by caring for him and ensuring I form a monotropic attachment with him, he will have a secure attachment type and will, therefore, go on to be more successful in later life and will be more likely to survive and reproduce.

The National Neuroscience Olympiad

Lower Sixth Psychology Students dissect a brain

Preparation involved grappling with topics such as neuroplasticity, neurotransmitter systems, and the structure-function relationships of different brain regions. It required commitment, critical thinking, and a serious amount of cerebral stamina.

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, discipline, and intellectual curiosity these students have shown. They have truly demonstrated what it means to stretch yourself beyond the syllabus and to rise to an academic challenge.

Brain Day

This year’s highly anticipated Brain Day did not disappoint, once again led by Dr Guy Sutton, Director of Medical Biology Interactive and Honorary Consultant Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham Medical School. A renowned figure in neuroscience education, Dr Sutton brought cutting-edge brain science into our classrooms in the most engaging and unforgettable way.

Across the day, students were immersed in fascinating topics that brought the Biopsychology unit of the AQA course vividly to life. They explored the powerful links between diet and brain chemistry, learning how nutrients affect neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin – with real-life implications for mental health, mood, and behaviour.

The session also delved into real criminal case studies, examining how brain structure and function can influence aggressive or antisocial behaviour. This sparked in-depth discussion around nature vs. nurture, the ethics of brain-based defence in court, and how neuroscientific discoveries are shaping debates in university research and the criminal justice system.

Perhaps most memorably, students had the rare opportunity to watch a live dissection of a sheep brain, guided expertly by Dr Sutton. Seeing the structure of the brain first-hand was both aweinspiring and deeply educational, linking textbook knowledge to the real, biological organ that underpins all human experience.

HVH Brain Day

Open to Sixth Form students across the UK, the competition challenges entrants to go beyond the AQA specification and engage with complex concepts from the cutting edge of brain science.

Five of our students took on a demanding, timed MTC assessment, a rigorous format that tested both speed and depth of understanding. They had to apply their existing knowledge from the Biopsychology unit, covering everything from synaptic transmission to brain localisation, and supplement it with selfdirected reading of university-level neuroscience texts.

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

POLITICS

This academic year the Politics Department took two very successful trips to Westminster. In December, the Upper Sixth visited, having had their traditional summer term visit curtailed by the July General Election.

Highlights included meetings with John Glen MP and former Warwick Schol teacher, Alex Burghart MP, Jeremy Wright MP and Baroness Sue Garden who subsequently agreed to join us for Encounters. Then in the summer the Lower Sixth enjoyed a packed tour of Westminster including meetings with Matt Western MP, Sean Kinsey OW, who serves as a parliamentary clerk, John Glen MP, Jeremy Wright MP and Richard Holden MP and, of course, Alex Burghart MP. A high point of this trip was meeting Lord Kinnock to whom we awarded a Mulley tie since former Warwick pupil Lord Mulley had mentored Neil Kinnock when he was a young MP. Dr Chapman’s wonderful reflections, as a former constituent of Lord Kinnock, will long be remembered by members of the group.

JNJ Upper Sixth with John Glen MP

Upper Sixth with Baroness Garden

Lower Sixth students with Angela Rayner MP

Lower Sixth with Alex Burghart MP

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Lower Sixth with Richard Holden MP and Michael Cox OW

Upper Sixth with Jeremy Wright MP

Lower Sixth with Lord Kinnock

Lower Sixth with John Glen MP SRC presents Lord Kinnock with Mulley Tie

Lower Sixth with Sean Kinsey OW

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY

It’s been a year of deep thinking, passionate debate, and growing curiosity across all year groups in Theology & Philosophy. From grappling with eternal questions in Year 7 to dissecting Descartes and Kant at A-Level, our students have embraced the challenge of thinking hard – and thinking well.

Our youngest students’ unit on Life After Death produced some remarkably creative work, with symbolic models and artwork demonstrating a real depth of understanding and imagination.

“I used Lego to build the afterlife, half of it was cloud, the other half was fire. I’m not sure where I’ll end up yet.” – George, Year 7 The Religion and Science module in Year 8 inspired lively debate, with students examining whether faith and reason must always be in conflict. A student-led mini-conference at year’s end showcased their ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and confidently.

“Philosophy of mind made me question if I’m just a meat robot with homework.” – Rohan, Year 8 Meanwhile Year 9 group tackled some of the most challenging ethical issues, from Medical Ethics and Just War Theory to the Holocaust and the Problem of Evil. Our popular “Tony Blair on Trial” simulation, where pupils analysed the moral justification for the Iraq War, led to spirited but respectful debate.

“It’s weird to realise history isn’t just about facts, it’s about ethics, and power, and who gets to decide.” – Isaac, Year 9 Unique to this year, all Year 10 students took part in weekly Communities of Inquiry, honing their skills in collaborative philosophical dialogue. Using diverse stimuli, from dystopian TV episodes to moral puzzles, students learned to listen closely, question thoughtfully, and build reasoned arguments. Meanwhile GCSE students explored religious and ethical themes through the

AQA Religious Studies specification, developing both analytical rigour and empathy.

“This subject doesn’t tell me what to think. It makes me think harder.” – Tom, Year 10 Our philosophers in Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth have impressed with their grasp of complex A-level material, from theories of perception to meta-ethics. Several are now preparing university applications to study Philosophy, Theology, or PPE. Enrichment has also been a vital part of our year. Trips to university philosophy conferences broadened horizons, while our guest lecture from Dr Elizabeth Mackintosh on Women in Philosophy was a particular highlight – thought-provoking and inspiring in equal measure.

Except… …Only some of that is true. I didn’t write it. ChatGPT wrote it after I prompted it with descriptions of our curriculum and told it to celebrate the year in T&P. Much of the work described in the article didn’t happen. The quotes are made up. Though there is a touch of truth about it, and real, specific, facts are interwoven with the AI fantasy, this reflection on the year was written by an artificial intelligence which has no idea what T&P at Warwick School is actually like.

Was it immoral for me to use ChatGPT to write this piece? Did you know as you read it that it wasn’t real, even though it was printed and presented as fact?

With the line between fantasy and reality so blurred these days, and new ethical dilemmas emerging each month with the advancement of new technologies, the role of Philosophy in students’ lives has never been more important. I am proud here at Warwick that all students in Years 7 – 9 get to think clearly and critically about such issues – and other enduring questions – at least once a week in their Theology & Philosophy lessons, and that students in Years 10 – Upper Sixth have the option to continue studying Theology & Philosophy at GCSE and A-level.

DMcK

COMPUTER SCIENCE

As part of our focus on developing digital literacy, Year 7 students have a dedicated IT skills lesson once a fortnight. Recently, students used Canva, a creative digital design platform, to produce posters themed around environmental issues.

To support this project, we were delighted to welcome guest speaker Zakia Rashid, a parent of a Warwick School boy, ocean conservationist, and award-winning design and marketing professional. Zakia visited the school in March to share her experiences working to protect the world’s oceans, from removing plastic from coral reefs to swimming with sharks. She also gave the boys tips on how to design impactful posters that raise awareness.

Year 7 and HJP with Zakia Rashid

The session left a lasting impression, inspiring some great student work. Sam Friedrich (7B) created a poster that now features in our Q4 display.

We are grateful to Zakia for sharing her time and expertise, and proud of how Year 7 have developed both their digital skills and environmental awareness through this project.

HJP

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Year 7 designing posters on Canva

DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

SCIENCE WEEK

This year’s Science Week was a fantastic success, filled with exciting events, friendly competition, and impressive displays of talent and innovation. Students from all houses participated enthusiastically, showcasing their knowledge and creativity.

Pictured are some of the highlights from the events that week.

The Science House Quiz was a thrilling event that tested students’ knowledge on a wide range of scientific topics. The competition was incredibly close, with each house battling it out for the top spot. In the end, it was Oken that emerged victorious, securing the win by just a narrow margin.

Students in years 7 and 8 were tasked with designing a boat in their science lessons, capable of holding the most mass. It was a creative challenge that encouraged teamwork and problemsolving skills. After much anticipation, it was Tudor that claimed first place.

The Science Fair was a true celebration of scientific inquiry and creativity. The event featured an amazing array of demonstrations and displays, from cutting-edge experiments to interactive exhibits. Students had gone all out this year and, using the new voting system, it was quite clear who the top contenders were.

The podium places for the Science fair were: 3rd place: Stephen Taylor in Guy with ‘Fun Snaps’ 2nd place: Gregory Kornilovich and Tim Solovyev in Greville for ‘Gyroscopic Motion’ 1st place: Sam Ran in Guy with his ‘Smoke Vortex Cannon’ A huge thank you goes out to all the students, teachers, and staff who contributed to the success of Science Week. A special mention must go to all those who took part in the Science Fair, who worked hard to coordinate and create their amazing work. Your dedication and enthusiasm made this event a memorable experience for everyone involved.

RE

Event

Brooke

Greville

Guy

Leycester

Oken

Tudor

Building

20

50

40

Quiz

100

60

80

30

10

60

20

120

60

Fair (Winners)

10

30

60

20

40

50

Fair (Entries)

40

10

50

30

60

30

Overall Totals

170

150

230

100

230

200

4th

5th

1st

6th

1st

3rd

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

CLASSICS

It has been another busy year for the classics department with a great many boys involving themselves in a variety of enrichment activities outside the classroom.

Defending the Elgin marbles

Warwick is well placed for meaningful and enriching day trips and the boys have been on several over the year. During ‘Belonging Week’, Year 8 spent a day exploring the Roman military barracks, bathhouse and amphitheatre in Caerleon and the Year 10 boys spent a day in the British Museum learning about the various artefacts to be found in the Roman and Greek life rooms as well as some more directly focused work for those studying classical civilisation for GCSE. The Lower Sixth went to Warwick University for their annual classical drama talks and festival.

Our biggest annual event on site is our Year 8 Classics Taster Day. This consisted of an excellent talk on the value of Classics by our own Mr. Cooley we had a visit from Portals from the Past with their displays on both Greek and Roman society and soldiery. Also included in this day was the annual classical project competition, in which all the Year 8 Classical Civilisation boys had prepared a presentation on a classical topic in groups of 3-4, judged by the Head Master. The two runner-up groups were, Seth Alston, Arjun Kailey, Fraser Alemi and Archie Teja for their presentation on Greek religion, and Freddie Seamer, Theo Neale, Lucas Marshall for their presentation on the Olympic Games. Congratulations go to the winners – Joshua Clarke, Max Ashley, Barnaby Phillips, James Mooney – for their presentation on Roman technology.

DAS

Year 8 at Caerleon

Year 8 Classics Day

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British Museum

FOOD SCIENCE

It has been a busy and rewarding year in the Food Science Department, with the boys growing in confidence, creativity, and culinary skill. The department has been a hive of activity, and the progress made by our students, particularly those studying for their GCSEs, has been truly inspiring.

The GCSE students have embraced the challenges of the course with enthusiasm, gaining a strong understanding of food science, nutrition, and the wider issues surrounding our food systems.

Their practical skills have flourished alongside their theoretical knowledge, and this has been reflected in the high standard of work produced throughout the year.

Year 10's with their creations

The boys have explored a wide range of culinary techniques this year – from the technical challenge of deboning chicken to mastering the delicate presentation of mini pavlovas. Italian cuisine provided rich inspiration, particularly during sessions where students made fresh pasta from scratch, experimenting with fillings and sauces to create dishes that were as authentic as they were delicious.

Competitions added an extra flavour of excitement to the year. The House Meat-Free Wednesday challenge encouraged students to think creatively about plant-based dishes – congratulations to Oscar Watkin (Greville House) for his winning tofu curry. The Foundation-wide New Hot Sauce contest sparked a wave of innovation, with students showcasing bold flavours and imaginative branding ideas.

Both events were met with great enthusiasm and highlighted the collaborative, competitive spirit that thrives within the department.

We look forward to another year of discovery, growth, and of course, plenty of delicious food.

MO’S

SOCIOLOGY

This year marked an exciting milestone at our school – the introduction of A-level Sociology. As our first ever cohort took their seats, they quickly discovered that this subject is far more than just theories and textbooks. It is a lens through which to understand the world, and perhaps even change it.

From exploring whether we are shaped more by nature or nurture, to unpicking the hidden meanings behind our social interactions and institutions, our students have asked big questions: Are we simply products of the people and systems around us? Why does social class still matter? How has the family changed and why does that matter? We’ve analysed culture, socialisation, subcultures, and social stratification, all while keeping one foot firmly in the real world.

Students have risen to the challenge of independent research, most recently conducting insightful investigations into gender differences in educational attainment. They were challenged to design and carry out this research, followed by a presentation to members of the Senior Leadership Team. Alongside this, they have engaged critically with contemporary articles, using sociology to make sense of everything from media narratives to

education policy. This is not an ordinary A-level subject, it is a toolkit for understanding modern life.

One of the highlights of the year was our podcast project, where Lower Sixth students created their own episodes exploring key sociological theories and perspectives. With topics ranging from Marxism to Postmodernism, their work reflected a genuine curiosity about the world and showcased impressive oracy, a fair bit of good humour, and analytical depth. Their debates around big Sociological questions made for an engaging and interesting listen.

Meanwhile, our Year 10 students dipped their toes into the world of Sociology during Belonging Week. Their trip to the West Midlands Police Museum, once the lock-up for the infamous Peaky Blinders, launched them into the fascinating topic of Crime and Deviance. From examining how laws are socially constructed to exploring the impact of labelling, they have begun to ask the critical questions that lie at the heart of Sociology.

Sociology is a subject for the curious, the critical, and those who are not afraid to challenge the status quo.

BF

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

EPQ

The Extended Project Qualification is an independent learning project where students choose their topic and generate their own question under the direction of a supervisor. They receive instruction in the skills of research, academic writing and presentation but must plan and deliver the content of their project themselves. The project has three components: the product (in most cases an essay; a few students may submit an artefact with an accompanying report), the presentation and the production log. EPQ is a process-based qualification and pupils are assessed for project management, use of resources, developing and realising their project and for reviewing their work. To be successful, students must not only produce a high quality product and presentation but provide evidence of how they have engaged with and completed the EPQ process in the production log.

This year over 80 students completed the EPQ and here is a small selection of the topics chosen.

• To what extent was the ideology of Nazism • • • • • •

influenced by the philosophy of Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche?

Is art a language?

To what extent did Muhammad ibn ‘Abd alWahhab have a significant impact on The First Saudi State?

What engineering and ideological factors influenced the failure of the OceanGate Titan?

Does the portrayal of bipolar disorder in modern television have a negative impact on public perception?

Is chemotherapy the best treatment for advanced exocrine pancreatic cancer?

To what extent is electroconvulsive therapy a better way to treat depression than pharmacotherapy?

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The EPQ presentation is a ‘market-place’ style event where students design a display for a 180cm x 120cm board and are then questioned about their projects by supervisors and other members of the school community. Questions must be spontaneous, and students’ responses are recorded as evidence of mastery of their topics. Here are some pictures of this year’s boards to give you a snapshot of the diverse world of EPQ. REM

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Clubs and Societies DEBATING

It has been another exciting and successful year for our debating teams and clubs, with boys of all ages engaging in thought-provoking discussions, competitive challenges, and collaborative thinking.

Our Senior Debating Team has had a particularly busy and impressive season, representing the school in several prestigious national competitions. Boys took part in the ESU Mace, as well as the Cambridge and Oxford Union Schools’ Debating Competitions. We are especially proud of our Mace team comprising Freddie Wyatt, Ryan Taylor and Pranav Raja, who progressed all the way to the regional finals, a testament to their commitment, preparation, and articulate delivery. These competitions offered invaluable experience in public speaking, critical thinking, and quick reasoning – skills that extend far beyond the debating chamber. Our thanks go to Thomas Russell (Head of Debating) and Ptolemy Walton-Hayfield (Head of Competitions) for their leadership this year.

A particular highlight has been the Friday afternoon debating sessions, which have grown in popularity. It’s been especially encouraging to see a range of ages participating, including some impressive performances from our younger students.

We’ve also enjoyed some healthy rivalry with King’s High, whose students have provided strong competition and stimulating discussions.

Our House Debating competitions took place during Michaelmas, with students from Lower School through to Upper School all taking part. The term concluded with a special Christmasthemed Senior Debate, which provided both festive spirit and sharp analysis.

Debating remains a cornerstone of our co-curricular life. It teaches students to think critically, communicate clearly, and engage respectfully with opposing viewpoints. We look forward to building on this year’s achievements and continuing to nurture confident, thoughtful voices in the year ahead.

KL/JGB

ESU Performing Shakespeare Competition Grand Final 2025

Angelo Forke, in Year 9, achieved national success by winning the 2025 ESU Performing Shakespeare Competition. After competing against over 2,000 students from over 130 schools across England and Wales, Angelo was one of 12 finalists to perform at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

Representing Warwick, he gave a powerful performance as Mark Antony from Julius Caesar on the candle-lit stage of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. The judging panel, led by Lucy Cuthbertson (Director of Education at Shakespeare’s Globe), praised Angelo’s clarity, stage presence, and insightful interpretation. One judge noted that his oracy “was almost a performance in itself.”

Junior Debaters with JGB

Meanwhile, our lunchtime debating club has continued to flourish, with lively sessions taking place every week. Students have tackled a wide variety of contemporary and ethical topics, from artificial intelligence to climate policy, and it has been wonderful to see such enthusiastic engagement across the year groups.

The Junior Debating Society met every week during term time to discuss issues from abolishing Meat Free Wednesday to legalising assisted dying. Memorable speeches included an impassioned defence of the government by Edward Thorp in a no-confidence motion and a diatribe from Digby Tetley in support of a motion to declare war on France. The highlight of the year was the runner-up finish in the West Midlands final of the Rotary Youth Speaks competition. The team here (Max Stanojevic, Angelo Forkwe and Rishab Bhat) explored both sides of the contested matter of contacting previously uncontacted tribes.

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This marks the school’s second consecutive year reaching the national finals. Angelo’s outstanding achievement, and his humility and positivity, continue our strong tradition in ESU competitions and celebrate the values of creativity, expression, and excellence.

KL

Angelo at the ESU Shakespeare Final

DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

CHESS

The chess teams enjoyed an outstanding year. Both the A and B teams retained their school chess league titles, with the A team also winning the league cup. Billy Fellowes’ victory in the endof-season lightning tournament sealed a remarkable quadruple success. It was the smoothest-running lightning tournament in recent memory, in no small part due to the efforts of Gregory Kornilovich, one of the youngest English Chess Federation qualified arbiters in the country, who did a great job of managing the pairings. We also enjoyed success in the National Schools Chess Championship, qualifying for the second stage of the competition. Within school, the annual Warwick Blitz was once again a well-attended and successful event involving boys from the Junior and Senior School, with Billy Fellowes retaining the Weaving Trophy with a 100% score. The UK Schools Chess Challenge on Wednesdays after school was keenly contested and Ajay Prinjha was the Group Stage winner, with Gregory a worthy runner-up.

QUIZ TEAM

This year’s schools challenge quiz, still depressingly online, saw both our teams having the misfortune to be drawn early, and knocked out of the competition by strong City of London School sides, our A team in the very first round, and our U13 team in the second, after a good win against St Andrew’s Prep, Berkshire.

U18 team: Alex Bosworth, Rory Moir, Frankie Swain, James Taylor U13 team: Rishab Bhat, Ethan Jones, Noah Laird, Parth Puri MGLC

One of the stories of the season has been the continued meteoric rise of Billy Fellowes, highlighted by a series of stunning achievements. He achieved a lifelong dream by winning the Terafinal of the UK Schools Chess Challenge, one of the UK’s most prestigious junior chess tournaments, sealing his spot as the number 1 player in his age group nationally. He scored highly in both the British Rapidplay Chess Championship and the Wood Green Invitational Blitz. Then in February of this year, he scored 5.5/9 in the super strong Isle of Wight International Masters tournament and earned his Candidate Master title from FIDE, the International Chess Federation, aged thirteen years; one of the youngest in England to hold this distinction.

P. Lam

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

CHAPEL CHOIR

Michaelmas term commenced with the traditional Foundation Service at St. Mary’s held in September. The Chapel Choir collaborated with choirs from King’s High and The Kingsley School to perform Vaughan Williams’ demanding yet uplifting Te Deum in G. Together, the choirs delivered a powerful and inspiring rendition of the work.

Returning to Chapel, the Choir continued to play an integral role in the spiritual life of the school community. In October, they sang for the annual Harvest Service, a celebration of gratitude and reflection on the importance of generosity and the natural world.

In November, attention turned to the Remembrance Service – one of the most solemn and meaningful events of the school calendar.

This moving ceremony provided an opportunity to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by OWs who bravely served and gave their lives for their country. The Chapel Choir gave a particularly moving rendition of Gardiner’s Evening Hymn.

The Foundation Gala Concert was held in November at Butterworth Hall, bringing together an array of musical talent from across the Foundation. The Chapel Choir collaborated with fellow singers and instrumentalists to present Christopher Tin’s powerful work, Calling All Dawns. The performance was a truly uplifting experience, showcasing the dedication and skill of

the many musicians involved. A special mention goes to Tommy Perry (Upper Sixth), whose outstanding solo was a highlight of the concert and captivated the entire audience.

As Christmas approached, rehearsals gathered momentum, with the Choir preparing for a series of significant seasonal performances. The candlelit Advent Service at the beginning of December created a wonderfully atmospheric start to the festive season. This was swiftly followed by the lively Christmas Cracker Concert in Warwick Hall and the two traditional Carol Services held at St. Mary’s. Christmas is always a standout moment in the Chapel Choir’s calendar, and this year was no exception. The boys worked with exceptional commitment, delivering an extensive repertoire that showcased both traditional and contemporary festive pieces. Highlights included Once in Royal David’s City (solos: Nimal Carson and Alonso Alvarez Del Villar Anaya) and the ever-popular Riu Riu Chiu, a firm Warwick favourite. The newly established Schola Cantorum offered highly accomplished performances of Palestrina’s Advent Matin Responsory and Mrs Baskerville’s A Tender Shoot. Despite the challenges of a demanding term, the Choir performed with energy, precision, and musical maturity, making the festive season truly memorable.

Following a well-earned Christmas break, the Chapel Choir returned in January to begin preparations for the Candlemas Service. For this occasion, they performed Brewer’s Nunc Dimittis in D, a stirring and uplifting piece that has quickly become a firm favourite among the singers.

As is now tradition, the last day before February half-term saw the Chapel Choir travel once again to Exeter College, Oxford for the afternoon. The trip, organised by Mr Cooley, involved a visit to Oxford’s Saxon tower, an afternoon rehearsal in the college’s spectacular Chapel, a tour of Exeter College, and a joint evensong.

The trip was a huge success, and our Choir rose to the occasion, singing some very difficult yet beautiful music, including Duruflé’s Ubi Caritas, superbly alongside Exeter’s professional choir.

The Passiontide Service took place in Chapel at the end of March. The boys sang with great sensitivity and skill, delivering a particularly moving performance of Elgar’s Ave Verum Corpus, which left a lasting impression. Treble Rebels also made a debut appearance in this service with a beautiful rendition of Irish Blessing. The service also provided a valuable opportunity

Chapel Choir at Exeter College

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES for several of our student organists to take on the role of accompanist, guided expertly by Mr Condon. Congratulations go to Thomas Dodsworth, Aaden So, and Clayton Chan for their excellent contributions.

Although the summer term is often a quieter period due to the demands of exams, our Chapel Choir has remained highly active and committed. Rehearsals have continued with energy and focus, and the dedication shown by every boy in the choir has been nothing short of admirable. As I write, the Chapel Choir is preparing for two final performances in July. The first is a special service of thanksgiving and evensong, which will honour and reflect on the strong relationship between the Warwick Schools Foundation and the town of Warwick. The second, and final, event of the year is a joint evensong with the choir of St. Mary’s Church, Warwick. This collaboration will showcase some of the great works from the choral repertoire, including Stanford’s powerful anthem For Lo, I Raise Up. Singing alongside another esteemed choir in such a magnificent setting will undoubtedly be a memorable and

inspiring experience for all involved. Before the evening service, we will take a moment to celebrate the year’s achievements together with a trip to Pizza Express. It’s a well-deserved treat for the boys, offering a chance to unwind, reflect, and enjoy each other’s company after a year of hard work and musical excellence.

I would once again like to take the opportunity to thank all members of Chapel Choir for their dedication this year and their fantastic music-making. I am delighted to report that Nicholas Lewis and Aaden So have been appointed Heads of Choir for the next academic year and Barnaby Morgan has been awarded the Daventry Cup (for best Lower School chorister). I would also like to thank all the staff members involved in Chapel Choir for all their support. A special mention is owed to Mr Condon for his tireless dedication in accompanying every choir rehearsal and service with exceptional musical prowess, as well as for his encouraging support of our pupil organists.

CVB

Choristers to Treble Makers?

YOUNG ENTERPRISE

The Young Enterprise team had a successful campaign with two teams competing in the competition. Both Little Earth Games and MAPO shone at the finals, winning awards for Financial Management and Sustainability respectively, along with the Customer Service award at the Young Enterprise Fair held in Priors, Leamington Spa. Little Earth Games was led by Bethany Collie and Ludo Smith, while Amelia Morgan served as CEO of MAPO. Both teams impressed the judges with their confident interview responses and polished final presentations, earning glowing feedback. Not only did they achieve strong profits, but each team also delivered a 100% return to their shareholders.

Young Enterprise Team

PH

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

CCF

Michaelmas Term

The contingent has had yet another busy year. At the very beginning of the academic year, 14 cadets attended a ceremony at St. Michael’s church Budbrooke, where a new bench was being dedicated in memory of the fallen members of the Royal Warwickshire regiment, formerly headquartered down the road. The dedication was followed by a church service and a sombre laying of crosses on the war graves in the church cemetery.

During the October half term, 36 Year 11 cadets parachuted into Vichy France (although it looked suspiciously like Leek training area, again) to support the Maquis in their struggle against the German occupiers.

Sadly, the ammunition drop blew off course and the cadets were forced to avoid contact with the enemy at all costs while carrying out reconnaissance of enemy positions, infiltrating a cabaret frequented by sympathisers (we shall never forget Mrs. Bragg’s rendition of “Non, je ne regrette rien”), locating and evacuating an injured airman (Sq. Ldr. Smyth’s escape and evasion training proved too effective and the cadets took their time finding him) and making contact with the resistance (Lt. Rudge’s terrible French accent would most certainly secure him a role in “Allo allo”).

Don’t Panic!

Record numbers of cadets and staff participated in this year’s Remembrance parade in Warwick, with more than 60 members of the contingent marching past the cenotaph. Cadets also took part in junior school chapel services and the school’s Remembrance assembly.

Twelve RAF cadets took part in the annual RAST competition, scoring highly in many of the rounds of the large regional competition held at RAF Cosford.

Lent Term

In January, the school was proud to host a visit by General de Gaulle (who looked suspiciously like Capt. Davenport wearing a kepi). While the General inspected the guard of honour he was targeted by a sniper. Thanks to Maj. Grant diving into harm’s way, the General was evacuated safely. The cadets were tasked with hunting down the would-be assassin through intelligence gathering and patrols. It was clear the assassin was not working alone, and the cadets were able to uncover a plot by rogue elements from French Algiers. After tense closequarter fighting through the History department (including yet another appearance by a haunted suit of armour) the cadets were contacted by the Head Master who had returned to school to

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help. Joining the cadets, the Head Master led them in a running battle across the site, chasing the retreating French forces to a final confrontation on the Plaza.

To support the Prep School’s WW1 history day, four lower sixth cadets spent the afternoon drilling the Y5 students in their playground. Both recruits and drill sergeants reported back to say how much they had enjoyed the experience.

Four cadets visited Priors House Care Home in Leamington, to spend an afternoon chatting to veteran residents over afternoon tea and cakes. The veterans were very excited to speak to the cadets and share their experiences in Korea and the Falklands.

Passing Out

The contingent welcomed the Lord Lieutenant and Col. Griffin for its second leadership cadre passing out parade. The Year 11 cadets were given their first promotion, to Lance Corporal, and treated their parents to a stunning display of rifle drill. We were proud to dedicate the sword of honour, awarded to the best army cadet, in honour of the school’s first SSI, John Pipitone, who sadly passed away towards the end of 2024. John was an exceptional character who commanded great respect from cadets and students alike.

The March exercise found the cadets heading back in the Brecon Beacons, when intelligence showed that the French terrorists who had attacked the school in January had taken refuge among Welsh sympathisers, scattering themselves across a number of farmhouses that needed to be scouted and cleared. After happening upon a broken down vehicle being repaired by the enemy, the cadets staged a hasty attack before heading to the farmhouse they planned to use as their central staging area. The enemy ambushed the cadets, using the fading light to their advantage, but they managed to escape and carry on their patrol. On arrival at the farmhouse, they were dismayed by the lack of electricity and lighting, but spirits were raised when staff took advantage of the pre-built firepit to heat the HQ. The second day saw cadets scouting each of the area’s farmhouses before staging an attack on an enemy position on a nearby highpoint. The cadets drove the enemy off and chased the retreating elements to an isolated farm complex. After planning their final attack, the cadets stormed the complex and neutralised the enemy forces before heading back to Warwick.

Summer Term

The contingent returned to Priors House Care Home in Leamington where 14 cadets attended a VE Day celebration. The cadets shared stories with the residents, many of whom are veterans, and demonstrated their fieldcraft and drill skills. Some of the veterans were former pilots and they were able to relive some memories when given the opportunity to fly on the flight simulators in the contingent tent.

Seventy-five Year 10 and Lower Sixth cadets were lucky enough to have a go in the Babcock Immersive Training Experience (BITE) simulator on Friday, 9 May. The BITE was being used as part of the Combined Services Orthopaedic Society conference that the Warwick Schools Foundation was hosting. The cadets were tasked with providing primary medical care to a patient while their command post was under attack from indirect fire. BITE is specially designed to immerse the participants in what felt like a real attack using a combination of surround sound, seismic generators and smoke emitters.

This year’s 80th anniversary of VE day was honoured by our cadets with a church service and parade. Four cadets attended the VE Day Church Service at St. Mary’s Church in Warwick. After the service, the cadets attended a reception at Shire Hall where they were able to talk to a variety of veterans, serving members of the armed forces and civic leaders. Warwick School CCF also celebrated VE Day with a special parade in which the Lower Sixth cadets, led by CSM Jo Wood, performed a demonstration of complicated rifle and foot drill.

The contingent provided a guard of honour for the Foundation’s first Thanksgiving Service which included the presentation of the contingent’s newly commissioned banners, made possible by Mr. and Mrs. McNeill-Wilson (OW), in chapel.

At the start of the Summer holiday, 39 cadets and 7 staff travelled to Longmoor Training Area, Hampshire, to join 40 cadets from Solihull School, KES Birmingham and Tile Cross Academy in our second joint camp. The cadets began their camp with a series of training activities to hone their skills prior to their overnight exercise. Once on the training area the cadets set up their harbour and began clearance patrols. A reconnaissance of the enemy harbour, section attacks and a sniper stalk followed before the cadets cooked their dinner. As the cadets tucked in, they heard the distinctive sound of a low flying chinook, organised by Sqn Ldr Smyth, which circled their harbour numerous times before continuing to RAF Odiham. The cadets set out for a series of nighttime activities including a patrol to rescue a hostage and carry out a night ambush against the enemy. After a night in the harbour, the cadets were attacked by the enemy and gallantly fought to the last cadet. After lunch in the field, the cadets headed back to camp to clean their rifles and get a good night’s sleep. The following day the cadets took part in a round robin of activities including time on the DCCT laser range, small bore indoor range, a paintballing trail and a gun run competition. The final day of camp saw the cadets taking part in the traditional end-of-camp adventurous training day.

This year’s AT package consisted of a morning of high wires and ziplines at Go Ape, followed by an afternoon of laser tag in a forest.

A series of games saw the blue team up by one game. A final allor-nothing charge led by the staff allowed the red team to win the final game in under 20 seconds and tie the match.

CJG

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD

Over 200 boys have participated in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award this year. The expedition season has once again been a busy and challenging one, with several character-building experiences along the way.

Bronze

After taking part in a training day in March, this year 17 Bronze teams completed their expedition in the Cotswolds, walking for two days and covering about 22 miles. The expedition season started with remarkably dry conditions for April. The first six teams enjoyed crisp clear days, but the temperatures dropped below freezing overnight, making the camping one of the most challenging aspects of the expedition. The second Bronze expedition in May again had good conditions for walking, but with footpaths now more overgrown than earlier in the year, the teams had some difficulties with navigation, particularly on the first day. In June, the final six teams were faced with some heavy rain and stormy conditions on their first day, but persevered and arrived at the campsite in good spirits. Good teamwork ensured that the tents were pitched without getting the inner section wet, and boys were able to take advantage of a break in the weather to dry out in the evening.

Silver

Ten Silver teams completed their practice expedition in the Long Mynd at the start of May. The conditions were perfect for walking and boys were treated to some spectacular views from the top of the Mynd over the moorland landscape and surrounding valleys.

The qualifying expedition in the Black Mountains at the end of June coincided with a major heatwave in England. The teams came well prepared with plenty of water bottles, suncream and hats. However, the weather in Wales turned out to be rather cooler than expected and we even had some rain on the second day, meaning that some of the hills were shrouded in cloud and teams had to use all their experience and navigation skills to find and stay on the high mountain paths in the low visibility

Gold – Pink Team

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Silver – Red Team at Capel y ffin

conditions. All successfully completed their three-day journey, and with many teams having planned Gold level routes they are well prepared to progress to the next stage of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Gold

This year we have had the highest number of Gold teams (eight) and it is fantastic to see so many boys undertake the highest level of the Award. The practice expedition to the Peak District took place during the Easter holidays, with all teams completing a challenging three-day walk through the Dark Peak, including a traverse of the Kinder Plateau. Navigation skills were put to the test over relatively featureless moorland terrain, with all groups proving that they are ready to do their qualifying expedition in the Lake District at the end of August.

HJB

DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Bronze – Team N on the Windrush Way

GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY Meetings have varied considerably this year, highlighting the very broad and interdisciplinary nature of what Geography can offer. We have heard from staff in both WS and KHS, an external speaker from Homes England, with thanks to ESR for arranging and students from both schools. Those wishing to develop and showcase their independence, curiosity and presentation skills have the perfect opportunity to excel and, as ever, the challenge goes out to current and our incoming sixth form geographers. Firstly, we were introduced to the geopolitics of the global trade in fentanyl and its associated social problems, quickly followed by an exploration of New York’s irregular skyline related to underlying geological and glacial foundations.

We hoped to be entertained by the geography of Disney, but this became a pupil-led introduction to the northern lights inspired by recent sightings, followed by another pupil-led exploration of the geography of time zones and influence on political borders. Post-exam January saw the first of two presentations on placemaking.

Mr Maxwell Clarke from Homes England gave a professional perspective on real-world developments, followed later in the Lent Term by Theo Cooper giving a comprehensive and personal insight into the regeneration of the Calthorpe estate in Edgbaston.

Place identity is central to creating a successful image and attracting increased footfall and occupancy. We experienced this firsthand during a winter walk around Norber and Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales. The area showcased a stunning range of classic glacial and limestone landscapes. Among the highlights were the intricate details of the Ribblesdale drumlin field and the striking shake holes in the till around the Gaping Gill area.

And finally, we were treated to a kayak trip around the Old Harry chalk cliffs of Dorset, courtesy of a set of shared images from a neighbour on a trip. The influence of joint control on dissection of the coast into stacks was very clear from the rarely seen perspective of breaking waves at sea level. Thanks go to all those who have attended the meetings and particularly to all those who were able to offer their time and geographical insights in preparing the presentations. We look forward to next year.

AH

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DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

THE LIBRARY

The 2024-25 school year marked another exciting year in the library with author visits, books awards, library lessons and Book in a Year.

We had so many word millionaires this year, but also a lot of growth and excitement in reading for pleasure. Their English teachers and I were so impressed with them! Congratulations to this year’s Warwick School word millionaires!

Year 7

Parth Puri, Theo Metaxas, Alex Grove, Finlay Albrighton, Finlay Anderson, Joseph Parker and Lincoln Baxter

Year 8

Hugo Hall, Rory Arkle, Sam Parsons, Xander Billington, Ajay Prinjha, Oliver T, Rushanth Habaragamaralalage Pieris and Oscar Fowler Obviously, there was reading, but there was also a great deal of other fun had in library lessons. The boys in Year 7 built Lego creations based on different genres of books. We were impressed with what they came up with and their understanding of different kinds of books! Year 8 continue to build on their understanding of what they like to read through different activities and by reading different types of books.

The boys in Year 7 and year 8 had the chance to hear Jennifer Killick when she came to visit Warwick School and talk about her Dread Wood series. She really engaged students with gross and spooky facts. Students got a chance to meet her and have books signed. Fraser Alemi, in Year 8, has this to say about her visit:

IMPROV

Our Friday afternoon improvisers have produced some stellar work this year. Our Christmas show, hosted by Miller Saxton after performing a DJ set perhaps more fitting for summer in Ibiza than December in Warwick, saw performers serenade their audience with an updated version of the “12 Days of Christmas”, make up scenes inspired by the contents of a Christmas cracker, and present the Nativity story in the genre of a cowboy Western.

Featuring the improv troupe debut of Barnaby Blair and Harry Walter, it was a strong start to the season and sent the audience home full of festive spirit.

Like Jesus, the improv show was resurrected at Easter. This time hosted by Hope Brotherhood, it featured two unique casts, each doing half of the show and taking on a range of different games and scenes. In the first half, audiences were treated to Raul Ruparellia and Siddanth Seshadri performing a menial task as if they were in a high stakes Mission Impossible movie, and Angelo Forkwe, Eduardo Pass Jimenez, Rod Savko, and Chris Dillon deftly juggling four completely different scenes all at the same time. Meanwhile, in the second half, Henry Pond, Harvey Eaton, Ruben Weston and Barnaby Blair took on the challenge of “La Ronde”, trying to tell a coherent, character-driven, story across five scenes while also having to react to surprise musical cues. To close the show,

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“We as a year came together to listen to Jennifer Killick talk about new books she was releasing and previous books she had released, along with some interesting and rather bizarre facts. My favourite part of this visit was when she talked about the world’s largest tapeworm that had inspired one of the monsters for her books.

She also brought along her crafted tapeworm that was the real length of the longest one in existence which is 9m long. This travelled almost all around the science lecture.”

Jennifer Killick vists WS

The Warwick School Year 7 and 8 Book Club attended the WSLA book awards at King’s High. This year’s worthy winner, as voted by students, was A Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam.

This year was also the launch of the Friday Afternoon Activity ‘Book in a Year’ which took place in the library with Mrs DeVougeBernards and Mr Town. Book in a Year gave students the chance to stretch their creative writing muscles. Award-nominated author Tia Fisher (Crossing the Line) came to run a writing workshop. They learned about free writing and creating characters. Rohan Sandher did some amazing work with his free writing about seagulls.

LDVB

Raul, Angelo, Barnaby, Harry and Atticus Westwood provided a big finale with “Sounds like a Song”, turning a random line of dialogue selected by an audience member into the basis for a showstopping musical number.

The summer saw a different approach to testing our improviser’s talents at responding to suggestions. Atticus, Barnaby, and Harry were joined by Toby Wong and Finlay Conner to record a Warwick School version of an episode of Taskmaster. With Mr Perry doing his best Greg Davies and Dr McKee taking on the role of “little” Alex Horne, the students tackled a range of creative challenges, filmed by Hope and Bethany Hobbs, and edited the whole process together into a finished episode themselves.

DMcK

Creative Arts ART This year we said goodbye to Mr Snatt, who retired at Christmas after an incredible 34 years in the department. His passion, expertise, and sense of humour will be sorely missed by students and staff alike. With plenty of projects and interests to keep him busy, we know he won’t be slowing down. We were also thrilled to welcome back Mrs Spencer (née Cox) who rejoined the department in the new year. It’s been fantastic to have her return, bringing fresh ideas and great energy into the classroom.

A highlight of the year as always was the annual Art Gala, showcasing the work of our GCSE and A-Level students. This year’s exhibition was bursting with variety and ambition, from large-scale installations to detailed sketchbooks, every piece reflecting our students’ dedication and creativity. The event was well attended, with family, friends and staff gathering to celebrate our talented artists.

Meanwhile, back at school, Year 8 took part in a full-day workshop building a collaborative cardboard shanty town. With a focus on adaptability, imagination and play, the students worked together using limited materials to construct a vibrant and thoughtprovoking installation, soon to go on display.

As we look ahead to next year, we’re excited to keep building on this momentum, creating projects that spark curiosity, confidence and joy. A huge thank you to all our students for making this such a vibrant year in the department, and to parents and carers for your continued support. Here’s to another year of making, thinking and creating.

RAP Yannic Fowler, Year 11

In December, Year 10 and Lower Sixth students headed to London for a full day of cultural immersion at the National Portrait Gallery.

From Tudor oil paintings to contemporary mixed-media works, students explored centuries of portraiture and returned inspired, full of ideas to bring back into the studio.

We once again welcomed incoming Year 6 pupils with our nowfamous drawing robot workshop. The room quickly filled with whirring motors, vibrating cups and colourful trails as students discovered how simple machines could create unexpected art. A brilliant way to kickstart their creative journey at Warwick!

Instead of the usual Arts Festival, this year we celebrated Belonging Week with a focus on creativity, identity and community.

Year 7 students visited the Harry Potter Studio Tour for an unforgettable look behind the scenes of the wizarding world. From the magic of Diagon Alley to the scale of the Hogwarts model, it was a day full of wonder. A workshop on creative careers in design left students inspired, and maybe just a little full of Butterbeer!

Trip to the National Portrait Gallery

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CREATIVE ARTS

Gavriel Din, Year 11

Joseph Deeley-Tam, Year 11

Manson Li, Year 11

Theo Unsworth, Year 8

Elliot Bannon, Year 11

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CREATIVE ARTS

Daniel Roche, Year 11

James Shokar, Upper Sixth

Aaden So, Year 11

Toby Miller, Year 8

Sarthak Sanyal, Year 11

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Ninad Prakash, Year 11

Rhys Mulligan, Upper Sixth

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Patrick Shannon, Year 11

Freddie Brown, Lower Sixth

Patrick Daniel, Lower Sixth

Leo Hallings-Pott, Year 8

Aaden So, Year 11

Expelliarmus!

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CREATIVE ARTS

DRAMA We are proud to report once again on another fabulous drama year.

The Bridge House Theatre celebrated it’s 25th anniversary in May. In a special event featuring performances from boys past and present. The hundreds of productions and thousands of performers and production team members were celebrated in style. Dame Judi Dench sent a special message as she had originally opened the theatre, and the whole evening reminded everyone present of how transformational having our own theatre can be.

GCSE devised work was completed to a very high standard once again, covering topics as diverse as the lure of cults, obsessions and some powerful reminiscence work featuring wide-ranging theatre techniques and approaches, performed with power and passion from our boys.

The A Level devised work was also completed this term with three outstanding pieces exploring the theatrical styles of John Godber, Frantic Assembly and Complicité in original and powerful work. All our A Level students can be rightly proud of their exceptional work.

The department has enjoyed workshops and theatre trips throughout the year, including a brilliant workshop for the cast of 2023’s A Monster Calls from an actor from the original production John Leader. He led an exceptional workshop that celebrated the play and the achievements of our pupils who performed this powerful and moving play. A Level pupils took part in an inspiring participatory workshop and performance of Woyzeck by KatMary productions. Trips this term have included Wonder Boy at the Royal and Derngate in Northampton and a number of professional productions in our own BHT- Dad’s Army, Lady Susan, and Dracula.

We welcomed professional visitors once again in February.

Theatre practitioners from full-mask company VAMOS ran workshops in the department for drama students in years 9 and 10 ahead of their incredible production of The Boy on The Roof in the Theatre. The workshops gave tremendous insight into the skills of masked performance, invaluable to the groups who attended. OW Ralph Davis returned to speak to the sixth form about performing and gave some helpful advice for those planning careers in theatre.

Dr Faustus

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CREATIVE ARTS Alongside attendance at the shows in the BHT, senior drama students attended Frantic Assembly’s powerful and moving Birdsong at the Birmingham Rep based on the Seb Faulks first world war novel. Two further Summer term trips celebrated the skills of puppeteers and were enjoyed by large groups. The award-winning revival of War Horse continued to amaze with its powerful storytelling and imagery, and on a smaller but no less impressive level we saw The Disappearing Elephant at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. Seeing such skilful puppetry and story-telling in performance is an inspiration to everyone who attended and reminds us all of the tremendous impact of live theatre on young people.

Middle School Drama Club produced an outstanding performance of James and the Giant Peach in June performing the play both in school and an extract at the Pursuits Festival.

His creative ensemble produced great performances. Many thanks to Rhys Mulligan, Tom Harland and Miss Horton for bringing the show vibrantly to life.

At a curriculum level, the GCSE examinations took on scenes from classic plays such as The Crucible, Neville’s Island, The Life of Pi and The Dumb Waiter. The A Level group recently had their visiting examiner in for their practical exams too. Across the department the work was outstanding and featured powerful solo and group work.

To end the year and for Belonging Week the Drama department created a special Taskmaster event for year 9 who were asked to create a re-enactment of a famous historical or sporting moment. The results in just a few hours were superb.

A dramatic film noir style reenactment of the shooting of JFK featuring a wheelbarrow, and a marvellous POV view of the Jamaican record-breaking relay team were particular highlights.

LAMDA continues to go from strength to strength, but we are sad to see Abigail Sugden leave us as Head of LAMDA. She has been an outstanding leader of the provision for two years and we wish her well in the future. Our new Head of LAMDA, Mr Aires, joins us in September.

MCP

LAMDA

It has been another successful year for the school’s LAMDA provision. Pupils have made great progress working towards a variety of LAMDA exams across the Performance and Communication qualifications, including Acting, Musical Theatre, Verse and Prose, Reading for Performance and Speaking In Public.

In March we held our annual Performance Evening at The Bridge House Theatre, providing the opportunity for some of our pupils to share their work with family and friends. It was an enjoyable evening featuring a variety of performances showcasing our talented pupils, some of whom have performed on our Bridge House stage many times before, some for the very first time.

Then in April came our LAMDA exam session. Across three days, fifty boys completed their exams across a range of qualifications. It was an incredibly successful session with all pupils passing with Merit and Distinction awards and a remarkable 90% Distinction rate. A special mention goes to the

following pupils who all achieved marks above ninety percent.

In their Acting exams, Finlay Anderson (Year 7) achieved 92% in his Grade 2, Benjamin Beckingsale (Year 9) achieved 91% in his Grade 4, Samuel Le Monnier (Year 10) achieved 91% in his Grade 5 and Samuel Almond (Year 11) achieved 90% in his Grade 8. In their Speaking in Public exams, Harry Esom (Year 8) achieved 93% in his Grade 3, then in their Grade 8 exams Harlan Drake (Lower Sixth) achieved 90% and Ryan Taylor (Upper Sixth) achieved 91%. We are delighted with this year’s set of results, but most importantly pleased with the progress that each individual pupil has made this year.

We are proud of every pupil participating in our LAMDA provision and grateful for their ongoing effort and enthusiasm.

As we look to the academic year ahead, we are excited to welcome a new Head of LAMDA, Mr Aires, to the school. We hope that our LAMDA provision continues to go from strength to strength, developing and showcasing the talented pupils we are lucky to work with here at Warwick School.

A. Sugden

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CREATIVE ARTS

DOCTOR FAUSTUS

The Middle School production, Doctor Faustus, was a major highlight of the Lent Term. Sammie Horton’s (director in residence) ambitious and popular project set the play in a near future world against a backdrop of technology and social media. Cleverly maintaining much of the original text, Miss Horton’s production breathed energy and clarity to its themes of consumption and selfishness through a superbly organised and creative ensemble. Her programme notes showed her longheld captivation with the play and her desire for modernisation stating ‘we still aspire to the same thirst for knowledge and desire to achieve as Faustus. However, the means and access by which we can gain this knowledge has changed…now, it’s just a click of a button away!’

This able and extremely talented cast produced an outstanding show with exemplary technical skill. Their physicality, diction and projection ensured the complex text was meaningfully and powerfully delivered. The ensemble sections in particular showed skill in unpicking mature themes and the cast worked physically with precision and focus throughout. Our protagonist – played by the outstanding Raul Ruparellia – held our attention throughout, demonstrating his capacity to show outstanding range in such

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a young actor. He was superbly supported by Rosie Perry as his companion Mephistopheles, bringing a more emotive, fragile and close connection to Faustus than is often depicted. Sophie Rhodes glided menacingly onto stage as our female Lucifer, again in another break from tradition, offering softer tones and warmth than might be expected. The result, an even more chilling reminder of the eventual downfall of Faustus.

Eduardo Pass Jimenez portrayed Faustus’ servant Wagner, showing the naïve sadness of the role with great skill. Edward Gilbey’s comic Robin entertained as he tried to emulate the magic achieved by Faustus. The Evil Angel of Alex Whitfield provided carefully worded advice and warning to an infatuated Faustus. Notable was Harvey Eaton’s hilarious Emperor who was confounded by the mischievous disruption of Faustus.

The chorus (including: Alex Whitfield, Seb Scott, Harry Walter, Atticus Westwood, Lawrence Webb, Angelo Forkwe, Ben Beckingsale, Barnaby Blair, William Dalby and Shiven Kanwar) of focused and physically impactful Evil and Good Angels ensured we always knew the positive and negative outcomes Faustus was gambling with, and the whole production was supported by superb videos depicting the sins, in disturbing and confrontational clips. Visually, the production was stunning and whilst the design was minimalist, the use of a long drop gauze and projections brought this modern version brilliantly to life.

CREATIVE ARTS A soundtrack of ambient electronica – with punctuating bleeps and tones from the modern world, continually reminded us of the show’s relevance to our lives today. One sequence using the Kaiser Chiefs’ The Angry Mob in unison chanting and movement, harshly interrupted by high pitched, piercing noise was typical of Faustus’ inevitable demise.

and energy to our younger audiences. Many of these young actors are sure to go in to even greater heights in future productions.

In an unforgettable ending as he dropped into the fiery hell below, with smoke and shafts of bright red pouring from the stage, Raul’s full-size plaster-cast form was left on stage, a reminder of the person he had been but an empty husk to warn us all of the dangerous path he took through life.

MCP

Huge congratulations are due to Miss Horton and all the cast and crew for their commitment, imagination and creativity.

These young performers have set the bar extremely high for middle school productions to come, and have shown that with careful direction, clarity of creative thought and great techniques, the most challenging of texts can be brought with theatricality

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CREATIVE ARTS

THE PIED PIPER

This year pupils in Year 7 and 8 had the exciting opportunity to perform in a brand-new, bespoke reimagining of The Pied Piper, crafted by Adrian Jarvis. The production took place in the Bridge House Theatre from the 25th-27th June 2025, directed by Messrs Perry and Town, and supported by Sammie Horton.

The play began with an elderly incarnation of our protagonist Carl, played by Oliver Webb, reflecting on the events of that fateful autumn long ago in Hamelin when a strange, hooded figure came to rid the town of rats but instead took something much more precious. Webb’s confident monologue led the audience into the world of the story with ease, and reassured us that, whatever happened to the missing children, they were better off leaving Hamelin far behind them.

In the human world, we met the extravagant and foolish Mayor of Hamelin, played by the dynamic Will Rhodes, always closely followed by his cronies – the righteous Abbott (James Blackman) and the melodious Choirmaster (Oliver Trethewey). We saw the characters revelling in the delights of the Harvest Festival, oblivious to their own neglect and selfishness. As soon as the mysterious Pied Piper, played by Rishab Bhat, arrived we knew that the fate of the town was about to change forever.

Meanwhile, in nearby subterranean dwellings the rascally rats were planning their take-over, led by the hilarious King Rat, played by Alex Ramsay, who appeared to have cannibalistic tendencies, and his loyal entourage the ebullient Yesrat (Archie Teja) and knowledgeable, although not peer-reviewed, Wiki (Alec Forsyth).

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Once the rats invaded, in a desperate attempt to eradicate them the Major announced ‘The Great Hamelin Kill the Rats Competition’. After amusing Dragon’s Den-style presentations from Dichmann (Rupert Robinson), Dr Badlogik (Parth Puri) and the Pied Piper himself, it was decided that the doctor’s invention the marvellous mechanical rat decapitation thingy was chosen as the way forward. In an exhilarating montage, the audience watched the townspeople placing the small wooden contraptions and then the rats interacting with full-sized versions – a fabulous illusion facilitated by technical designers Selena Hackett and Ian Roberts. After the devastating decapitation of dear Wiki, the rats soon realised the thingys were deadly and avoided them ‘like the plague’. The town had no option but to turn to the talents of the musical, hooded stranger to solve their problems…

Throughout the production, we witnessed thought-provoking duologues between the young Carl (Webb) and his careless father Adelbert (Danny Hardiman), and also between Carl and the Piper himself (Bhat). All three actors performed these with maturity beyond their years, reminding audiences of the importance of supportive guardians in nurturing their children and their character.

A real highlight was the key scene in which the Piper used his music to entrance the rats into the river and to their demise. In a comic twist, this unlocked an opportunity for the radical rat Redtail (Ariel Seshie) to mobilise the rodents and achieve ‘Rexit’, leading them all into the river accompanied by comically timed ‘splash’ sound effects.

CREATIVE ARTS

The story ended in a sobering fashion, with a powerful monologue by Bhat as the Piper discovered he would not be paid, followed by a haunting sequence in which the children of the town were led off stage through the audience and into the distance, leaving their remorseful parents behind.

On the final night, the playwright Adrian Jarvis was in the audience and congratulated the cast on their brilliant performances in this debut adaptation of the story, which proved equally heartfelt and entertaining for all.

AJS-R

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CREATIVE ARTS

SWEENEY TODD

Set in the grimy streets of Victorian London, Stephen Sondheim’s macabre masterpiece “Sweeney Todd” tells the tale of a vengeful barber who returns from exile to exact brutal justice, with the help of a pie shop owner whose culinary creations take a sinister turn.

This year’s Upper School production, performed in November 2024, was an atmospheric and comic triumph that captured both the dark humour and haunting beauty of the piece.

The cast worked so well together, combining forces to retell Sondheim’s epic tale of pies and murder. A full and able ensemble gave us a real sense of the sinister backdrop of London, with a neon twist to the stage design of the classic tale.

The captivating set featured a slide right off the stage from a raised platform which, accompanied by some stage blood, gave a perfect exit for many of the talented cast. Tommy Perry was magnetic in the title role, combining menace with tragic pathos in a commanding performance. Hope Brotherhood brought wit and warmth to the scheming Mrs Lovett, with her usual impeccable comic timing and vocal agility. Taya Ashley-Timms gave a touching performance as Tobias, showcasing both innocence and fear in equal measure which created some touching moments on the stage. Darcy Melville delivered flamboyant flair as the rival barber Pirelli and created a real spectacle for the audience to watch. As Johanna, Alex Thewlis sang with crystal clarity and brought real and necessary emotion to the role. Flynn Jamieson embodied Judge Turpin’s cruelty with chilling conviction, while

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Scarlet Littell gave the Beadle a smarmy, theatrical edge. Sophia Thomas was haunting as the Beggar Woman, her presence lingering throughout. Archie Goodrem sang beautifully as the earnest and loyal Anthony, and George Holmes gave a strong turn as the cold and clinical Jonas Fogg. The whole cast and ensemble worked with the orchestra on Sondheim’s infamously tricky lyrical timing and dramatic scenes; the whole production had a real professional edge and was a thrilling experience for the audience to witness.

Under the extensive musical experience and imaginative direction of Mrs Stevenson-Ray and Miss Spring, this production was a bold, ambitious success: filled with musical precision, compelling performances, and unwavering dedication from the entire cast. With Mr Albrighton’s musical direction rounding out this experience as top notch! Thanks so much to everyone who was involved in the production.

AWT

CREATIVE ARTS

MUSIC Writing this at the end of my first academic year at Warwick, I find myself struck by the sense of community that is imbued by our musicians across both the school itself and the local area, beyond the school gates. We have an exceptional cohort of musicians at present, able to tackle thoroughly impressive music with joy, enthusiasm and a generosity of spirit; they love sharing their music with people!

The start of the year saw our Fanfare Team in frequent employment, with a Banquet at the Lord Leycester presaging the flurry of buglers required for Remembrance Day, all under the excellent direction of Mr Tibbitts. This year included Chris Gibson, Freddie Wyatt, Rory Moir, Ed Lawlor, Will Vaux and Nimal Carson, performing 12 engagements in and around Warwick and Leamington, each executing a high-stakes piece with calmness and professionalism.

The Foundation Symphony Orchestra tackled some remarkably challenging music this year, with the Polovtsian Dances and Danzas Cubanas being particularly memorable in performances.

Whilst on a residential stay, they also sightread a whole symphony; no mean feat for a school orchestra, and the sort of thing one would normally expect as a county-wide standard of ensemble!

Our partnership with Orchestra of the Swan yielded some highquality moments, not least for our jazzers who performed in a side-by-side world premier in March (Oli Stockwell and Theo Holland in particular were beaming throughout!), but also for our conductors (with Alden Lee being the first of a cohort of pupils to take the baton with a professional string orchestra) and the Year 7 Orchestral ‘WOW’ Day, where that whole year group had the chance to play under the baton of a professional conductor.

On the topic of professionalism, a real standout musical moment of the year was the Foundation Gala Concert in November which took place at Butterworth Hall and featured our most revered ensembles including Foundation Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, String Orchestra and the newly minted Ambrassadors, as well as the entire cohort of Year 7 who sung an impassioned Baba Yetu as a real highlight in Christopher Tin’s magnum opus Calling All Dawns. The excellence on show was arresting, and this high standard of music making has been a real feature in a year where we have had a group of Jazz Lab players who were fully deserving of the experience of playing at Eastside Jazz Club in Birmingham in December and then at Pizza Express’s renowned Jazz Club in Soho in July.

Chapel Choir

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CREATIVE ARTS As ever, our Year 7s undertook the Instrumental Scheme with all of the usual concert dates in the calendar; there is nothing quite so arresting as seeing 139 boys take to the stage with their instruments. In addition to these normal milestones in our annual calendar; however, this cohort has started reigniting the tradition of singing that has been such a feature of Warwick’s music, with a performance of A la Carte during Belonging Week, learning it in just one morning! The stereotypes of teenage boys not wanting to sing work to some extent because they are true, but it has been a real joy to see boys find, and value, their voices and the role they play in fostering a sense of belonging and finding their place within their community; there is nothing quite so identityaffirming as hearing the whole school ring out with ‘Floreat!’ in full voice at the end of term!

Chamber Music is a real strength in Warwick at present, with partnerships across the Foundation providing unique opportunities for our boys to tackle some interesting repertoire, not least Frank Bridge’s Miniatures. One of the reasons for this being a facet of the department at present is the excellent work that Miss Hooker engages in with the Music Award Holders, providing performance platforms that lift boys up to ever greater heights, not least an astounding Theme and Variations performed by Chris Gibson at the first Award Holders’ Concert of the year which had the audiences’ eyebrows virtually beyond even the most receding of hairlines through shock at the technical acrobatics he was pulling off!

NCBF submissions were, as is often the case with our enthusiastic boys, largely successful this year, with the Big Band and Little Big Band earning places in the Finals at the Royal Northern College of Music. Both ensembles received Platinum Awards, a fitting recognition of the work that Messrs Storer and Lindsay do with Jazz in school. There were similar levels of achievement for two of our chamber groups at the Pro Corda Music Festival, with the Hughes Trio (James Hughes, Aaden So and Charlie Feaver) reaching the finals alongside a Foundation Baroque group that featured Piers Clifton on the recorder.

The Big Brass Concert 2025

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CREATIVE ARTS Small Jazz groups had their moments with the annual Jazz and Scones (yes, scones were still served even though VAT loomed large!) and Jazz 4 Africa, which transformed the Pyne Room into a stunning jazz club. Improvisatory solos are hard to get going with under normal circumstances for teenagers, but there is such a strong culture of providing space and support for boys to find their feet with this that even young players such as Nimal Carson and Sebbie Broughton, no doubt inspired by their older peers, are able to craft well-considered solos. This is an hard culture to build, and the effects of it are arresting. Indeed, one of the most stunning moments of the year came at Jazz @ the Bridge, where Ben Adams’ desire to perform a Snarky Puppy tune (of notorious difficulty) with his 6th form peers was realised. A performance that will live long in the memory, and a real tradition for our younger jazzers to both be inspired by and build on.

Speaking of building on traditions, our Chapel Choir have had their usual engagements over the course of the year including the Foundation Service, Harvest Service, Remembrance Service, Carol Service, Candlemas Service, Evensong at Exeter College, Oxford and Passiontide Service. Remarkably, and as reflection of their commitment to the valuable tradition that a liturgical choir has within our community, they also took on a Mayoral Civic Service of Thanksgiving in the summer term, just three days before a trip to St Mary’s to sing alongside their choir (doing no less than Stanford’s bombastic For Lo, I Raise Up ). Building not just on their engagements, they also built in number, adding the Treble Rebels to their roster for the two services in the summer term, which is a tradition that we look to continue in future.

The Do Club – Funk After 8

Christmas Cracker 2024

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CREATIVE ARTS There are, of course, too many events, concerts and occasions to have space to mention in this almanac, but to return to the idea of community, the large-scale concerts that we have put on this year reinforced this sentiment, and the role that music has in our community as central, time and time again. A visit from the Scots Guards in Belonging Week really hit home with this, as the combined forces were given the chance to perform to the whole school (with a remarkably confident oboe solo from Oliver Webb, Year 7). The Christmas Cracker, Big Brass Concert, Woodwind Celebration, Stringfest and Summer Serenades all culminated in huge, massed band pieces, many of them with audience singalongs, and the sense of belonging that was fostered through these actions spoke to the passion that everybody has for all that our musicians do. No event more so than our Summer Serenade which, though moved indoors due to high winds, had a real celebration of all things Warwick through the participation of OWs in a memorial moment to Mr Robertson, whose effect on the community will be remembered, loved and valued for years to come. We were delighted to see the unveiling of his memorial frame, with items of his inside, and all are welcome to spend time with it in the Recital Room henceforth to remember him and what we all value in our community; the people who make the music.

Lord Leycester Banquet 2024

On the topic of remembering people who have brought music into our hearts, we would like to thank Miss Underhill (who has worked as our Music Administrator for 17 Years), Mrs Baskerville (under whom the Choir has really developed in the past three years of her tenure) and Mr Bridges, as well as Miss Sharp (Director of Junior School Music for 13 years) for all of their hard work and dedication to the department in their time. I have no doubt that the music that we play in the future that boys once did with them will bring forth fond memories of the impact that they have had on our lives and our music here at Warwick.

JSM

Stringfest 25

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Community CHAPEL

The Power of Doubt

As I write my first chapel report, the finishing touches are being made to our beautiful Chapel as we await the arrival of a string of dignitaries, including the Mayor of Warwick, Town Councillors, the Town Clerk, members of the Court Leet and of course the Heads of all our Foundation schools. It will be important too that we will be joined for our special service of thanksgiving by alumni, parents and pupils from every Foundation school as well as senior Foundation staff.

It has been my pleasure and delight to hear our choir and musicians practising for this service based on the order of service for Evensong on the feast day of St. Thomas the Apostle (3rd July).

The disciple known as Didymus is of course best known for his questioning of the risen Jesus in the gospel of St. John so that he has forever been branded with the soubriquet of ‘Doubting.’

for the positive way that they have engaged with our worship this year. All have made a huge contribution but I have been particularly grateful for the way that boys from the junior school have been prepared to publicly read the scriptures out loud.

My own view has always been that doubt is a good thing, for without it there is no need for faith, and additionally, doubt encourages reasoning. Scripture and tradition both tell us that it is not possible to please God without faith, and, as I see it, my first year as Chaplain to Warwick School Foundation has been to encourage folk to think about Christianity – its contribution to human history (particularly in the Western world) as well as what it offers today. I suppose you could say that I have wanted to encourage a well-reasoned faith as opposed to blind faith.

Earlier, I described our chapel as a beautiful place and it has certainly been my impression that many people regard our chapel as a liminal space, a space where everyone is welcome at any time and a place where truth and beauty have the space to whisper into our busy and sometimes frantic lives. I am grateful to the cleaning and maintenance staff and to two dedicated chapel prefects – Freddie Wyatt (Michaelmas and Lent terms) and Sam Wachira (Summer term) for all that they have done to uphold beauty and good order.

Our regular chapel services have followed the Christian seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time with ‘High Day and Holy Day’ services to mark them, as well as Harvest, Remembrance, and Candlemas. At all times we have utilised the appointed scriptural readings, and particularly in our regular chapel services I have sought to inspire us through the lives of the saints – from Warwick School’s founder St. Edward the Confessor to St. Francis of Assisi to St. Benedict of Nursia.

Whatever one’s faith position, no one can doubt that the saints existed -nor can they seriously argue that their life and work were not inspired by their Christian faith.

Moving forward, I am hoping that ever more staff will be attracted to staff prayers on Tuesday mornings at 8.15am. I am also excited at the prospect of working with Charlotte Richards of King’s High on Tuesday lunchtimes from 1.30pm as we look to encourage pupils to engage seriously with the Gospel.

Regular chapel services are primarily directed at the boys of Warwick School and Warwick Juniors. I would like to thank them

In closing, it remains only to say a sincere thank you to all who have made me feel so welcome in my first year and to offer my very good wishes to Charlotte Baskerville and Sam Bridges who are moving on to pastures new but who have really contributed so much to the music that is such a special part of chapel.

There is certainly no doubt about that.

Rev’d James Holden

COMMUNITY

YEAR 7 SLEEPOUT

On the 23rd of May, Year 7 slept in cardboard boxes overnight to support our Helping Hands charity. At the end of the school day, we kicked off with everybody rushing around to get their massive cardboard boxes and then chilling on the field or watching the incredible movie Guardians of the Galaxy.

Shortly after we split into six groups and we did lots of fun activities! Including: football, a game of mafia around the campfire (marshmallows included!), dodgeball, and we even got to enjoy some hot chocolate about halfway through the evening.

When all of us were exhausted from the activities we enjoyed a nice dinner (classic hot dogs and chips) and went to the chapel to understand a bit more about the ‘Helping Hands’ charity and how they help the less fortunate.

Stacey, the charity’s fundraising coordinator, introduced us to a lady who had received aid from the charity.

Shortly after the heartwarming speeches we were served soup by the Head Master himself! We then got ready to stay in our cardboard boxes for the night. Unfortunately, we had to sleep indoors as the forecast said it was going to rain.

On this occasion, the forecast was right, and it rained quite heavily outside.

After an unusual sleep, (to say the least) we took the sellotape off our cardboard boxes and made sure we recycled every bit of cardboard. Subsequently, we had a scrumptious breakfast and got ready to go home.

While waiting for our parents, we reunited with the chaotic junior school handball courts, after an engrossing experience.

Mohammed Ahmed and Timi Ladele (7Y)

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COMMUNITY

CHARITY

REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR FOR WARWICK DISTRICT FOODBANK In the lead-up to the Christmas holidays, boys across the school took part in the Reverse Advent Calendar initiative, supporting the Warwick District Foodbank.

Organised by Assistant Head for Character and Community, Mr Miller, the scheme encouraged pupils to donate essential items most needed during the festive period.

Reverse Advent Donations

Rather than receiving an item each day, as with a traditional advent calendar, pupils were invited to give. Forms worked together to assemble hampers of up to 24 food and household essentials, with some boys even choosing to complete an entire hamper individually.

The response was generous, and all contributions were gratefully received by the foodbank, helping local families at a time of real need. This act of kindness exemplified Warwick’s commitment to service and compassion during the season of Advent.

BWS

WALK FOR UKRAINE

In March 35 pupils from Warwick School and King’s High School undertook a one day 25-mile walk through the Warwickshire countryside. Their objective was to raise money for ambulances to be deployed on the Ukrainian front line. Combining our efforts with two home clothes days and a very generous £500 donation from NatWest to the group, the pupils raised a magnificent £15.000 which paid for two ambulances which were then driven directly to Ukraine. Sincere thanks to all the pupils who wanted to be involved as well as all the teachers, including the two Heads, who participated with such enthusiasm in the day.

JNJ VI Form fundraisers with one of the ambulances for Ukraine

Charity Walk for Ukraine

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COMMUNITY

GREEN TEAM

This year, the Green Team has continued to grow in strength and impact, with students playing a key role in driving environmental awareness and action across the school.

One of the highlights of the year was the Wildlife and Landscape Photography Competition, which received over 200 fantastic entries, a clear sign of how engaged and passionate our community is about the natural world. From foxes in the garden to misty morning fields, the images captured showed great skill and sensitivity. Nature photography is not only creative and enjoyable, but also helps to build a deeper connection with the environment and raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of the world around us.

The Meat-Free Cooking Competition, introduced last year, was another big success. Lower Sixth students rose to the challenge of creating delicious vegetarian dishes they’d like to see on the school menu. Entries included fajitas, egg-fried rice, and spicy curries, but it was Oscar Watkin’s Teriyaki Stir Fry that won over our student judges and the Head Master. The winning dish made it onto the school lunch menu and has proven to be a real hit, demonstrating that meat-free options can be both tasty and popular.

In addition, the Green Team has been busy growing food in our greenhouse and raised beds across the school site. From herbs to vegetables, these crops are being nurtured by students and were used in the dining hall over the summer term, bringing the “grow your own” ethos directly into the school’s food system and promoting sustainable, local produce.

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Looking ahead, the Green Team is excited to focus on sustainable transport, aiming to encourage greener ways of getting to school. From cycling and walking to car-sharing and exploring public transport options, we’re committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our daily journeys. We also have our sights set on taking part in the international Earth Prize Competition, which challenges students to come up with innovative solutions to realworld environmental problems.

With a passionate and proactive group of students leading the way, the future looks bright, and green!

RI

COMMUNITY

KISSING IT BETTER

Kissing it Better (KiB) is an incredible charity that focuses on bridging the gap between the young and the elderly.

Warwick School has worked with KiB for many years, and there is an established partnership that has proved phenomenally successful.

Volunteering in the Geriatric Ward: “During my last Kissing it Better session, I had a rather unusual experience in the Geriatric Ward. Upon arrival, Ptolemy and I greeted a lovely lady who had unfortunately fallen and fractured her pelvic bone.

Despite her pain, she remained cheerful and positive, sharing various stories and details about her life.

At one point, I noticed another lady nearby, Mrs Leung, who happened to be from Hong Kong – my birthplace.

We were told she had only recently been admitted and apparently did not speak English. Coincidentally, we both spoke Cantonese, so I composed myself, approached her, and asked how her day was. However, she didn’t respond much, just the occasional nod and shrug.

Soon after, a nurse came over and kindly asked me to inform Mrs Leung, in Cantonese, that she would be transferred to another ward. I gladly did so, and on my way out, the doctors and nurses all thanked me for the gesture.

George (U6) with a hamper for Castle Ward

That day, I realised how even the smallest help can mean a lot – even if it’s just one sentence.

It’s not about fulfilling every request, but fulfilling every request within your abilities.”

Tony Leung, Lower Sixth

Violin concert on Fairfax Ward Warwick School Kissing it Better volunteers

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COMMUNITY

CAREERS DEPARTMENT

The priority of the Warwick School Careers Department is to provide first-class information, advice, and guidance to our students. We aim to present the most up-to-date information available from a wide range of sources and to offer opportunities that help pupils make informed career decisions. To this end, we strive to connect the boys with blue-chip organisations and employers from diverse sectors that reflect their needs and aspirations.

Mock Speed Interviews

Each year, professionals from a wide variety of industries – at the apex of their careers – and highly reputable companies across the country volunteer their time to support our Upper Sixth students.

Every participant undertakes three one-to-one, 15-minute interviews and receives detailed feedback on their performance.

This year, a record-breaking ninety-seven boys took part, making it our largest cohort to date. The experience proved invaluable, with representation from professions including Law, Science, Medicine, IT, Engineering, Project Management, Finance, and Construction, among many others.

Business Lunch Workshops

Our Business Lunch Workshops are designed to engage students in employer-led sessions and to provide authentic insights into the world of work. Below are some of the highlights from this year’s programme:

• Hedge Funding

Neil Street, Deputy Head of Platform Training Services at Inzpire Ltd, delivered a workshop on hedge funding, offering students a unique look into the financial services sector.

• Entrepreneurship

Guest speaker Denys Shortt OW, Founder and CEO of DCS Europe plc, led a compelling session on how to become an entrepreneur. Denys established DCS in 1994 in a stable block at his home in Buckland, Broadway. By 2012, DCS employed 250 people and had achieved sales of £148 million, distributing health and beauty products across the UK.

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• How to Start Your Own Business

Kiron Philips of Great Central Plastics Ltd spoke about launching and sustaining a successful manufacturing business.

Founded in 1998 and based in Northamptonshire, the company specialises in injection-moulded products using both petroleum-based and bio-polymers, offering a one-stop shop for tooling, manufacturing, and branding.

How to Become a Medical Doctor

Andrew Shepherd, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, delivered an informative session on the various routes into medicine. He outlined the essential skills and competencies needed, gave insight into the working environment, and explored the decisionmaking process around specialisation.

Jaguar Land Rover

In January Tatiana Elek, Global Procurement Leader at Jaguar Land Rover, led a presentation with her team on career pathways within the organisation and the wider automotive industry.

Packaging Industry & Management Programmes

Gavin Ashe, Managing Director at Kite Packaging, delivered an engaging talk on the packaging industry. He also introduced students to his company’s Management Degree Apprenticeship Programme and Graduate Management Degree Programme.

JSB and GeC with pupils at the Aerospace Careers Event

COMMUNITY

Higher Education Careers and Jobs Fair

March marked the return of the biennial Higher Education Careers and Jobs Fair, hosted across the Warwick School Foundation. The event welcomed 40 universities and over 35 employers, alongside experts in Medicine, Oxbridge, UCAS Admissions, Engineering, and Athletic Sports Scholarships. More than 700 students attended, making it an outstanding success.

Aerospace and Engineering Careers Event

The Aerospace Careers Programme (ACP), a charity supporting future engineers and pilots, returned to Warwick School this year to present cutting-edge developments in the industry. Students from across the Foundation and local state schools attended.

The event was led by Chris Marshall, who runs a UK-based company using drones and VR for film, agriculture, and surveying. His talk showcased next-generation Aerospace roles, such as AI-powered Systems Engineering and Orbital Robotics, alongside examples from his own aerial surveying work.

Careers Fair

Digital artist Lee Mason followed, demonstrating how AI, VR, AR, and blockchain are used to create immersive 3D designs.

Michael Stokes then presented on training pathways to become a commercial pilot, sharing his experience of building flying hours while working in industry.

A highlight of the day was an interactive demonstration with “Spot,” a Boston Dynamics robot dog equipped with speech recognition and a Large Language Model AI. Students asked it questions in multiple languages, including Mandarin and Danish.

Afternoon breakout sessions allowed students to explore drone flight simulators, 3D digital design tools, and VR-based flight training.

Spot remained a popular and interactive feature throughout.

Pupil feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many leaving inspired and better informed about career pathways in Aerospace.

NOT-G

Entrepreneurship Business Lunch with Denys Shortt OBE

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Travel

HOCKEY TOUR SUMMER 2025 TO GERMANY AND THE NETHERLANDS On the final Friday of the Summer Term, 31 boys and four staff gathered in the early hours at Birmingham Airport, ready to embark on the eagerly awaited summer Hockey Tour. Our first destination was Berlin, where the adventure began.

After a smooth flight and a short transfer, we arrived at our hotel in the heart of the city. Once settled, the group enjoyed lunch near Berlin’s impressive central train station before heading out to our opening fixtures at Berliner Sports Club. The 2nd XI were first on the pitch, producing a spirited display in a tightly contested game before being edged out 4–2 by the hosts. The 1st XI followed, supported enthusiastically by their teammates, but despite some excellent passages of play and chances created, they were unable to capitalise and lost 3–1. Both teams, however, enjoyed the chance to share a meal with their German counterparts after the matches, an excellent opportunity to bond and reflect on the day.

Day Two began with the 2nd XI facing Vespen HC in wet and challenging conditions. Although the opposition proved too strong, the boys showed tremendous character, working hard until the final whistle. Later that day, the group embarked on a city tour, though progress was somewhat disrupted by “Rave the Planet,” a huge festival that saw roads closed and the city streets thronged with revellers.

The following morning, the squad explored Berlin’s history with visits to sites connected to the Berlin Wall. This was followed by a fascinating tour led by Joop, a local guide with a flowercovered green bicycle and an equally memorable moustache. His knowledge brought the city’s past vividly to life for the boys.

From Berlin, we travelled west by train into the Netherlands. A minor detour by a couple of staff members aside, the journey was uneventful, and that evening the 1st XI played their first fixture on Dutch soil. In a superb performance, they secured a commanding 5–1 victory against Deventer HC, a result that set the tone for the rest of the tour.

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Day Five was a mix of culture and competition. The group visited the Dutch Military Museum in the morning before testing their teamwork in an escape room, where they tackled a Cold War scenario (ending in “nuclear devastation,” much to the boys’ amusement). That evening, both teams played at Ede HC, and the victories kept coming: the 2nd XI recording their first win of the tour and the 1st XI building on their momentum with another impressive result.

The sixth day was devoted almost entirely to hockey. A morning training clinic with Dutch coaches proved invaluable, before both sides took to the pitch again in the evening. Two more wins, capped with a post-match BBQ generously provided by our hosts, left spirits high.

The cultural highlight of Day Seven was a visit to Amsterdam, where the group toured Anne Frank’s House, a powerful and moving experience. The evening saw us travel to Rotterdam for a meal before returning to our hotel.

Our final full day began with a trip to a stunning Dutch beach, much enjoyed by staff and boys alike. That evening came the last matches of the tour, and both teams rose to the occasion.

The 2nd XI delivered an excellent performance to claim another win, while the 1st XI finished in style with a dynamic, controlled display that secured a final victory. Post-match celebrations included food with our Dutch hosts and the presentation of tour awards.

The tour concluded with an early departure to Schiphol Airport on Saturday morning, followed by a swift return to Birmingham.

My thanks go to Messrs Hurst, Wood, and O’Kane for their invaluable support throughout the tour.

GMFW

TRAVEL

ART AND SPANISH TRIP TO BARCELONA OCTOBER 2024

Mr Parkinson and Mrs Goodbourn led a group of ten Sixth Form artists and Hispanists on an unforgettable trip to Barcelona, immersing themselves in the works of Picasso, Miró, and Antoni Gaudí. While the focus was on art and architecture, the boys also enjoyed delicious Spanish cuisine, indulged in a little shopping, and even picked up some bargains at the Barça store.

The artistic journey began with a fascinating guided tour of the Picasso Museum, where the group explored Picasso’s evolving philosophy and artistic style. This was followed by pastries and coffee at Els Quatre Gats, a favourite haunt of Picasso and his contemporaries, tucked away in the heart of the Gothic Quarter.

The group admired stunning examples of Catalan Gothic architecture at the famous basilica of Santa María del Mar, before embarking on an extraordinary, guided tour of the Sagrada Família. The ascent to the Nativity Tower offered both breathtaking views and a rather daunting circular descent on foot – not one for the vertigo sufferers! Later that evening, the boys explored the rooftop of Gaudí’s Casa Milà, where the iconic chimney “soldiers” were beautifully illuminated. Under a pink moonlit sky, the floodlit Sagrada Família cast a magical glow, and the group unanimously declared this evening the highlight of the trip.

There was even time to squeeze in a leisurely stroll through Park Güell and took the funicular up to Montjuïc to visit the Joan Miró Foundation, which offered spectacular views over the city.

The boys were delightful company – polite, enthusiastic, and a pleasure to travel with.

JEG

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TRAVEL

GEOGRAPHY TRIP TO ICELAND: ICELAND: JUNE 2025 After a packed year of fieldwork adventures, the final geography trip of the school year promised to be the most unforgettable – and it didn’t disappoint. Fifty students and five teachers set off for Iceland, during Belonging Week, for an action-packed trip.

We touched down at Keflavik Airport early on a crisp Sunday morning and launched straight into the iconic Golden Circle tour.

Our first stop was the Reykjanes Peninsula and the unforgettable Bridge Between Continents. Here, we witnessed tectonic activity in action, literally standing between the North American and Eurasian plates. Next came the bubbling, steaming landscape of Gunnuhver geothermal field, where mud pools and fumaroles gave us our first real glimpse of Iceland’s explosive geothermal power. After a quick stop in Reykjavik for a tour of the city, we were whisked into the thrilling FlyOver Iceland virtual reality experience, soaring over volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls.

On the second day we ventured deep beneath the earth on the Raufarholshellir Lava Tunnel tour, which allowed us to see the inner workings of a lava tube before heading to Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Station, a world-leading example of sustainable energy in action. From there, we admired the vivid blue water and red volcanic rock of the Kerið Crater before arriving at one of Iceland’s most famous natural wonders: Geysir. After passing a series of bubbling pools we reached the main highlight – Strokkur, which erupts every 10-15 minutes reaching a height of around 30 metres. Next, we experienced the raw power of Gullfoss waterfall, which marks the edge of the highland shelf where the Hvita River plunges into a mile long gorge. The day concluded at the Thingvellir National Park, which straddles the mid-Atlantic ridge and is the site of Iceland’s original parliament. We were able to walk between the rifts and appreciate a place where geography and history intertwine.

Our final day was just as thrilling. We began at the LAVA Centre, an interactive volcano exhibition that brought Iceland’s explosive history to life. From there, we hiked to the base and top of the Skógafoss waterfall, enjoying the views. But the true highlight for many was our glacier walk on the Sólheimajökull glacier. The group strapped on our crampons and explored the icy landscape, we even enjoyed tasting the glacial meltwater. The boys ended the trip with visits to the Reynisfjara black sand beach and the Seljalandsfoss waterfall where we were able to walk behind the plume, getting completely drenched!

HJB On Sólheimajökull

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Walking to the glacier

Learning how to use the crampons and ice axe Lava field

TRAVEL

FRENCH TRIP TO PARIS: JUNE 2025 Boys from Years 8, 9, and 10, accompanied by Mr Stingemore, Mme Lee, Mrs Kitchen and Mme Thomas, braved the European heatwave to soak up l’ambiance estivale in Paris in ‘Belonging Week’. Upon arrival, the group navigated the Métro to the famous rue de Rivoli where remarkable Hausmannien architecture houses designer shops and elegant brasseries.

Off the rue de Rivoli and into the grounds of the Musée du Louvre, where the iconic Louvre pyramids provided an excellent photo opportunity for the budding photographers of the group. Under the mid-afternoon heat we took a gentle stroll through the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries, seeking solace in the shade of the imposing trees that line the main avenue of the gardens. At the end of the Tuileries, the group crossed over the vast Place de la Concorde, where blood once flowed from the public executions of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and Robespierre during the French Revolution. After admiring the view over to l’Assemblée Nationale (the French parliament), the boys were excited to eventually step foot on the Champs Elysées, though greater excitement came from the ice cream stand opposite the Grand Palais, which offered respite from the heat and sun.

The next morning saw the group take a guided walking tour around the romantic and artistic quarter of Montmartre. The brilliant guide brought the cobbled streets to life with stories about the famous actors and filmmakers who strolled them on screen and behind the camera. It was clear why so many in the film industry came to Montmartre to shoot and to be inspired! The afternoon’s planned excursion up to the 56th floor on the Montparnasse tower was cancelled due to extreme temperatures and technical malfunctions of the lifts, proving that Warwick School boys are more resilient than the steel industry!

The plan B was to ride the famous external lifts of the Centre Pompidou in the Marais area of the city to view the skyline of the city, before exploring the shops of Les Halles. The next morning was the day the sports fans had been waiting for – a behind-thescenes tour of the Stade de France. The stadium felt like more of a concert venue than a sports stadium as they were preparing for an Imagine Dragons concert and had rolled up and transplanted the grass to a different stadium! The stadium’s greatest capacity was 97,800 and can be emptied in 7 minutes 20 seconds due to giant staircases around the structure! From sport to finance, next on the schedule was to explore La Défense district, the financial centre of Paris. With varied modern architecture, including the infamous ‘grande arche’ the district is a real celebration of modern city design. After dinner just off the rue de Rivoli, the group enjoyed a boat trip along the Seine. With the sun low in the sky, and the

boat trip starting at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, this was Paris at its most impressive. The iconic buildings that line the Seine were at their very best in this lighting and it was fantastic to see the banks of the river teaming with local Parisians enjoying the summer evening sun. The last day was when the group could set their eyes upon the recently renovated Cathédrale de Notre Dame after the catastrophic fire which almost destroyed it in 2019.

The cathedral has been faithfully renovated to its former glory, whilst work is still going on to reconstruct the collapsed spire.

This trip allowed the group to see Paris at its best, with outdoor city living on full show. The boys were proactive in using their language authentically in all settings, including on the Métro where some of the Year 9 boys managed to break down the Parisians’ hard exterior!

GPS

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TRAVEL

SPANISH TRIP TO CANTABRIA: JUNE 2025

Thirty-nine boys and four members of staff took off to Cantabria in Northern Spain in Belonging Week. A brilliant time was had by all, partly because our hotel was practically on the beach.

Sports were played each evening as the sun went down, and the tide crept in, and then it was up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire, confiscation of phones and room inspection. Our daytrips were fun, and the boys enjoyed shopping and mooching around Santilla del Mar, time in Santander plus a boat trip around the bay, and the beautiful Cabárceno Wildlife Park. The El Soplao caves were stunning and for once our boys wanted to hear more Spanish than English from the guide whose English needed a lot more practice.

Seeing Gaudí’s whimsical ‘El Capricho’ was a highlight for staff and it was just a shame we couldn’t have stayed in Spain longer.

Only we did…. flights home were cancelled due the French air traffic controllers’ strikes, and our Tour Operator was under great pressure to sort us out with new flights, hotels and connections.

They did us proud and the boys adapted well to new rooms, roommates and flights that left in three waves over several days.

The weather could have been better and the electric storm on the fraught evening we were meant to leave was a low point.

Nevertheless, happy days and memories that will last a lifetime.

Bumping into Caelan Doris (captain of the Irish Rugby team) at the airport on Thursday night was a huge lift for the boys’ spirits and the silver lining they needed!

A huge thank you must go to Miss Smith, Mr Boyd, Mr Cooley and the French air traffic controllers’ union for their tireless efforts!

JEG

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The boys with Caelan Doris

GERMAN TRIP TO AACHEN: DECEMBER 2024 We started our trip with an early 5:00am departure from school on Friday 13th December. The journey was long, but Mrs Estill kept us entertained with games, and we even had a running joke with a big round of applause after each deserving moment, otherwise named “Klatschen.” After crossing the Channel Tunnel, we arrived in Aachen in the evening and headed to the hostel to rest after the 16-hour journey for the upcoming weekend in Germany.

On Saturday, we visited a Printenbäckerei to learn about Aachen’s famous gingerbread, Printen. It was interesting to hear the history, and many of us bought some fresh gingerbread from the bakery.

The Christmas markets around the cathedral were lively and festive. Our favourite part of the market was the currywurst stall, which had a traditional indoor eating area, perfect for warming up and trying some authentic German street food.

The football match at Borussia Park was a real highlight. We sat opposite the passionate home fans, who waved their flags non-stop with additional chanting throughout the game.

Borussia Mönchengladbach comfortably won 4–1 against Holstein Kiel, and it was a delight to be surrounded by fans with their cheers and celebrations.

Sunday included a guided walking tour with stories about local folklore, such as the Bahkauv, a mythical creature unique to Aachen. The cathedral was stunning inside. We also tried Spaghettieis in a local Eiscafé, which is vanilla ice cream made to look like spaghetti with strawberry sauce. To end the day, we all ate together at a restaurant called Verano, a great way to wrap up the weekend.

On Monday, we checked out and stopped at the Lindt factory outlet, which was a chocolate lover’s dream, full of exclusive treats. The journey home was brightened by a supermarket stop for snacks and sweets, which kept everyone’s spirits up.

Overall, the trip gave us a real taste of German culture and traditions. The late-night Christmas markets, glowing with colourful fluorescent lights, were magical. It was a fantastic trip full of history, sport, food, and friendships, one that we won’t forget anytime soon.

Arthur Tracey, Year 9

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TRAVEL

HISTORY AND POLITICS TRIP TO BOSTON, NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON DC: OCTOBER 2024

With Stuart O'Kelly OW at JP Morgan

During the October half term Messrs Jefferies, Smith, Hadley and Mme Thomas took a memorable trip to the United States visiting in just eight days, Boston, New York and Washington DC. Enjoying magnificent weather, the group visited the JFK Museum in Boston and walked the Freedom Trail. In New York the group visited the United Nations, reached the Top of the Rock, ascended the One World Centre and met Stuart O’Kelly OW at JP Morgan. Following a tour of Gettysburg, the group reached Washington DC where we toured Congress, enjoyed a memorable nighttime walk down the illuminated Mall and met with another OW, Will Todman, an expert on the Middle East at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies for a fantastic discussion of contemporary issues in international relations. A morning in Virginia enabled the group to also visit Mount Vernon, home of George Washington. Taking place during the final days of the US presidential election, this was a memorable trip, enlivened by many political debates and encounters.

Recording an episode of the Heaton Podcast with Mike Block

JNJ

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Outside the Capitol

TRAVEL

Inside the UN General Assembly with BWS

At the Bunker Hill Monument, Boston

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TRAVEL

HISTORY BATTLEFIELDS TRIP: JULY 2025

Trenches

Climbing the Lion's Mound at Hougoumont

At 4.45am on the Sunday a group of 47 boys and six staff gathered to visit various destinations in Northern France and Southern Belgium. In very hot weather (mitigated by our air-conditioned coach), we started off at La Coupole, a Second World War site from which the Nazis had intended to launch V2 rockets at Britain.

Now an underground museum and planetarium, it offered an excellent start to our four days. With our base in the delightful Belgian city of Kortrijk, we then went to a number of locations associated with the Battle of Waterloo, and the boys learnt much about Napoleon, Wellington and military tactics. On Day Three the focus moved to the Battles of Ypres in World War One, the Passchendaele Museum being a striking example of its kind. In the evening we attended The Last Post at the Menin Gate. Our final day focused on Dunkirk and the withdrawal of British troops in 1940 to the beaches.

Thanks in particular to the immaculate planning and historical analysis by Messrs Jefferies, O’Brien and Sutherland, the boys were able to gain real insight into three different wars, and it was a pleasure to accompany them on this expedition. It was also a valuable experience to visit the graves of a WS staff member, a couple of OWs and some of the boys’ relatives.

EJH

Napoleon's HQ

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Boys forming a battle line

Napoleon OROB

At Melrose, the home of 7s Rugby

RUGBY TOUR TO EDINBURGH: OCTOBER 2024 During the second half of the October half term, 41 players and six staff gathered at Birmingham International Train Station for an eagerly awaited trip to Scotland. The journey north proved slightly eventful when our train was cancelled at Preston – but, after squeezing onto the carriages of another service, we finally arrived in Edinburgh only a few hours behind schedule, and headed straight into a ‘Ghost Tour’ around the streets and underground caverns of this historic city.

The next day saw the boys up early for breakfast at the hostel, followed by a visit to Murrayfield Stadium, where the group enjoyed a guided tour – including the Scotland changing room and the chance to run down the tunnel and out onto the pitch! From there, they travelled to Glasgow to play three cracking matches against Glasgow Academy School. The day was rounded off with a game of Ten Pin Bowling back in Edinburgh.

Day 3 began with a trip to go paintballing, the highlight undoubtedly being when all 40 boys had the chance to shoot at an unarmed Messrs Hesketh and Shirley! This was followed by a visit to the home of Sevens rugby, Melrose, where the teams played against local club sides in some fantastic matches, scoring great tries on the 3G pitch. The squad was superbly hosted by Melrose, and the boys enjoyed chatting with their coach, Scotland international Rory Sutherland.

The final day of the trip included visits to Edinburgh Castle and the ‘Dynamic Earth’ museum, before a very tired but happy group journeyed home by train later that day.

The boys conducted themselves exceptionally well throughout the trip, played some excellent rugby, and created lasting memories.

A big thank you to all the staff who accompanied the group.

DJH

Inside Murrayfield Stadium

Year 8s at Edinburgh Castle

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The

Junior School

A MESSAGE FROM MR BOND

As the school year draws to a close, we reflect on a vibrant and productive time at the Junior School. The Michaelmas Term kicked off with a warm welcome for new boys, engaging them with induction activities like circus skills and disc golf. Leadership opportunities abounded, from prefects to the new 'Playground Pals' initiative, fostering care and consideration among pupils.

We celebrated differences with 'Odd Socks Day' and recognised numerous acts of kindness. Beyond the classroom, boys excelled in sports – rugby, hockey, swimming, and cross-country – and chess, with a highlight being the Year 6 Rugby Tour to Bristol.

Musical talents shone through diverse performances, from Teatime Concerts to the grand Christmas Concert. Community links thrived with events like the Foundation Gala and various charity fundraisers.

The Lent Term challenged boys to “seek higher things,’ a motto they truly embodied. Year 4's performance of "Gladis Baker, Gladiator" captivated audiences with its skill and enthusiasm.

Musical prowess continued with instrumental concerts and success in the Pro Corda competition. Sports were a hive of activity, with football, swimming, cross-country, and hockey fixtures across all years. Our U11 swimming relay teams even qualified for national finals, and the Junior School Sevens festival showcased incredible talent. Residentials to Snowdonia and Derbyshire built resilience and independence, while curriculum trips to the National Space Centre and Bletchley Park broadened horizons. Charity days, World Book Day, and joint activities with other Foundation schools further enriched the term.

The short but sweet Summer Term was packed with opportunities.

Cricket, athletics, and tennis saw strong performances, and our U10 and U11 relay teams achieved top five finishes at the IAPS national swimming championships. Clubs and co-curricular activities, including the popular Junior School Bake Off and a rock band studio visit, provided diverse engagement. The Summer Concerts highlighted the breadth of musical talent. Community events, author visits, and continued links with the Prep School fostered a collaborative environment. We bid a fond farewell to our Year 6 boys, who celebrated their time with a production of “Aladdin Jr.” and prepared for their next chapter. We also expressed immense gratitude to Miss Sharp, Director of Junior Music, for her inspiring 13 years of service. It's been a truly successful year, thanks to the collective efforts of pupils, families, and staff.

Editor: Heather Mellor

LEAVING US LOUISE SHARP

A Fond Farewell to Louise Sharp

As the summer term drew to a close, we bid a heartfelt farewell to Louise Sharp, our inspiring Director of Junior School Music, who leaves us after 13 remarkable years of leadership and creativity.

Since joining the Junior School in 2012, Louise has transformed the musical life of the school with an extraordinary combination of passion, innovation, and courage.

From the outset, she brought fresh ideas and bold new initiatives, introducing imaginative programmes and launching ensembles that encouraged even the most reluctant performers to find their voice. Her vision for music was always ambitious – and never conventional – resulting in a series of unforgettable performances that challenged and uplifted both pupils and staff alike.

Rarely one to settle for the ordinary, Louise consistently dreamt up concert concepts that pushed boundaries. Often inspired by a late-night spark of creativity, she would arrive the next day with an idea that left colleagues both amazed and mildly incredulous: “Really? Can a Junior School orchestra and choir pull that off?”

Yet, time and again, through her determination and brilliance, they did. Her arrangements were always meticulously crafted, her teaching energetic and inspiring, and the results – such as the recent rendition of Viva La Vida at the Summer Concert – nothing short of astonishing.

Beyond the Orchestra and Choir, which drew an impressive 160 boys each Thursday morning, Louise oversaw a vast array of ensembles. Her ability to juggle so many moving parts, while maintaining such high musical standards, was truly extraordinary.

Over her 13 years at the Junior School, she was the musical director for 22 Year 4 and Year 6 plays, arranging scores, teaching complex harmonies, and conducting performances with flair and precision. It is no exaggeration to say that Louise's musical genius was the driving force behind the success of these productions.

Those who have had the privilege of seeing her in action – standing before the boys as they hang on her every word or rehearsing with characteristic energy and encouragement – know just how deeply she inspires those around her. Whether as a colleague, mentor, or friend, Louise has left an indelible mark on our school community.

Although she leaves behind an enormous legacy and equally large shoes to fill, the joy, confidence, and love of music that she has instilled in so many pupils will resonate for years to come. As she turns the page on this chapter of her life, Louise is set to embrace new adventures – beginning with a well-earned walk along the Camino Way in France this September.

We wish her endless happiness, fulfilment, and time to make wonderful new memories. Bravo, Louise – and encore!

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL KATE PERRY

We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Kate Perry for her dedication and care during her seven years working in the Junior School. As a teaching assistant across the three Year 4 classes, she played a vital role in supporting the boys with their learning. Her kind and caring nature made her a muchloved member of the school community. She was a valuable part of the Year 4 team and a great support to the teachers. We wish her all the very best in her new adventures and know she will be missed.

HESTER STEVNS

It was with sadness that we had to say goodbye to Hester Stevns, partway through the year. Hester joined the Junior School in 2022, as our librarian and quickly set about updating the library and introducing new initiatives.

Often seen walking around the school in her ‘Read More Books’ jumper, it was very clear that Hester’s passion lay with reading and inspiring boys to find an author, genre or just simply a book, that would resonate with them. During each library lesson with a class, Hester took the opportunity to share a book, poem or author talk with the boys, challenging them to try something new. The WJS Library Challenge soon followed, with boys challenged to read a book from six different genres.

A huge thank you to Hester for all of her work and leaving the library in such a great place.

A YEAR IN YEAR 3 MY YEAR IN YEAR 3

On my first day in the Junior School, the first thing I noticed was Mr. Bond greeting everybody at the gate. Behind him, I was excited to see a huge playground with lots of boys climbing a massive climbing frame! Others were running around playing games. Although I didn’t know many boys, by the end of the week I had settled in and made lots of new friends.

During my first week I also got to know many new teachers and they were all very nice and friendly. Mrs. Bartley was so kind and helpful, and I liked the way the tables were arranged in my classroom because I could work with people and share good ideas.

My first lunch in the dining room was a new experience. Initially, I felt uneasy and anxious because I didn’t know what kind of food would be available. However, I was happy to see that there was a good choice with different options. The staff are always friendly to everyone, so there's nothing to worry about.

One fantastic thing about the Junior School is that there are so many different clubs. I have clubs every day! I love chess club and golf club, but I also enjoy the different sports clubs, and the coaches are fun to be around.

One of the best memories of Year 3 was the residential trip to Mount Cook. It was so much fun with lots of challenging activities.

The Bushcraft activity was fantastic where we learned to light fires and build our own shelter. My favourite activity was building landkarts and then racing against each other!

One of the best things about school is the school choir. I attend choir practice every week which I love, and I really enjoy performing with the choir in the school concerts because the music is a special sound and makes me happy.

Arthur Hurley 3BA

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL YEAR 3 TRIP TO MOUNT COOK

On a sunny day at the end of March, Year 3 (my year) and Year 4 went on an outstanding trip to Mount Cook Adventure Centre. For our accommodation we had bunk beds, and I was with Woody, George B, Freddie, Hans, and James. In our room we had a night light, so we didn’t get scared of the dark. When we woke up, we went down to breakfast. For breakfast every day, we were offered a cooked breakfast, cereals, and croissants. I had the sausages, eggs, bacon, and croissants which were delicious!

After breakfast we participated in a game called ‘Game of Tribes’.

We had to cross thin wooden planks whilst running away from the army behind us. Unfortunately, we fell seven times, which meant we were defeated. After this, we moved to the archaeological dig.

We were digging to try and find old bones and fossils – I found a bone and some red and blue jewels! We were hungry after this, so we went in for lunch – I had a ham roll and some crisps.

Some of the other activities were land karts and archery. In my group, we built a buggy out of planks of wood, rope, and wheels on their axis and then raced the kart around the track against the other teams. Our team won the race! During the archery, we were able to use real arrows on the bows and had a go throwing a spear! I managed to hit the pheasant on the target board!

Rocket building was my absolute favourite activity. In our groups, we had to design and create a rocket to protect our “eggstonaut” from breaking on his journey to the sky. We filled our bottle rocket full of water and attached it to a pump to launch it. Our “eggstonaut”, called Aston Martin, survived the flight!

I really enjoyed the trip and wished we could have stayed for the whole week. I cannot wait to go back next year!

Finn Millward, Tommy Greevey and George Wallace (3BA)

A YEAR IN YEAR 4 MY YEAR IN YEAR 4

I have had many good times being part of Year 4, and I would like to tell you about some of them. Being invited to the Junior Journalists club was easily one of my highlights. I also loved the Christmas General Knowledge Quiz, where we competed in our Houses. Each class was divided into Ventis, Ignis, Aqua and Terra, and each team raced to answer the set question.

Another great day was our trip to Hazard Alley, a fun but educational attraction where you learned about what to do and how to react in certain situations that involve your or other’s safety. It was extremely fun, and nobody wanted to leave, but little did we know something better was to come not long after...

That better thing was our fabulous Year 4 play, Gladis Baker Gladiator. We rehearsed for a long time – most days, but the days when we did were extremely enjoyable. When the day of our first performance came, it was very scary but, as we were to find, the long rehearsals were more than worth it. It was such a fantastic event that I'm sure that no one will ever forget.

Our next great thing came in the most unexpected of ways: in the middle of a science lesson. We all discovered the melting point of chocolate: a human’s body temperature, which is roughly 37 degrees. Easily the best part of the topic Solids, Liquids and Gases was melting chocolate on a hot plate and watching how the chocolate at the bottom of the bowl was runnier, and at the top only little parts had melted off the original chunks. We then poured the chocolate into ice cubes moulds and put them in the fridge for a few days. Soon our next lesson came around, and you’ll never guess what we did with the chocolate: we ate it! We then wrote a report on how the chocolate had changed along the course of the previous few days. Those lessons were amazing, and I’m positive my classmates will never forget them.

The most recent event was the Summer Concert. I played with the Guitar Group, which I was invited to join a few months earlier. Every act was phenomenal, and everyone around me congratulated me on my song, as did I when they came back from their music groups.

And that, more or less, brings us up to now. Year 4 was a highlight of my school life as a whole, with several little unforgettable events hidden in every aspect of it.

Rory McGurk 4W

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL HAZARD ALLEY

During Michaelmas term, Year 4 visited the Hazard Alley Safety Centre.

The Centre specialises in teaching children, young people and adults about how to stay safe, understand risks and avoid accidents using realistic learning experiences. During their visit, the boys developed their awareness of hazards, risks, and dangers within a safe environment; it was a great trip for all those who attended.

They boys had a great day and took away some useful knowledge!

Hazard Alley

Y4 RESIDENTIAL TO MOUNT COOK

On the 31st of March, we did the most exciting thing – we went on a three-day residential trip to a place called Mount Cook. It was in Derbyshire. As I heaved my bag onto the coach, I was buzzing with excitement so much I wanted to scream. The coach journey was very long but at last, we got there. Luckily for us, there was a delicious lunch already packed consisting of sandwiches, fruit, crisps and a chocolate bar. We went on the residential to overcome our fears and boost confidence.

After our lunch, our first activity was orienteering, where we used maps to find different check points. Suzy, the instructor, let me and Theo lead the group onto a long, dusty road. I was already tired as I got my first glimpse of the mighty trek ahead of us. I was so glad I had my water bottle that I nearly finished it in the first half an hour! At last, we got our maps, and all rushed off so quickly that most of the group ran past the first one check point! Luckily, me and Theo were walking slowly with Suzy, so we did not miss a thing. The next pinpoint was a bit harder to find because it was out in the forest. At one point, I came across some rocks so big they could smash a giant! Suzy told me that they were the rocks we would be scrambling on the day after.

Finally, we arrived back at Mount Cook to have a nice warming dinner.

The next day, we started with scrambling which is like walking mixed with climbing. We scrambled over mountain rocks and when I saw the height of them, my heart skipped a beat. It was thrilling because we had no harness, just helmets. We had Suzy and James as instructors, and we were safe if we followed the instructions correctly. At last, we got our helmets on and started climbing the towering rocks ahead. It felt hard at first, but once we got started, we got the hang of it.

In the evening, we did the Mount Cook challenge, which was different challenges, some with a timer. I was nervous not to let my team down.

Overall, I loved Mount Cook and want to go again!

Jai Dhanani (4GH)

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

A YEAR IN YEAR 5 MY YEAR IN YEAR 5

At the beginning of Year 5, I shook with nerves at the year that lay ahead. Upper School seemed almost like a different world to me, and I had no idea what to expect. But very quickly, I discovered how much fun Year 5 could, and would be. All the teachers were warm and welcoming, and the subjects they taught intriguing and exciting. Seeing the new curriculum peppered with things like advanced science experiments, three magnificent comprehension books, the Vikings and the Amazon Rainforests was enough to make your mouths water, no matter where your interests lay.

Some things were a bit daunting, such as the new homework timetable and shifting rooms for each lesson (with or without our bags!), but it was all great preparation for a stimulating year ahead.

Life became that much busier this year with the opportunity to take part in several musical ensembles. I have loved the broad range of music we played this year – many of which were Ms. Sharp’s favourite pieces from her time at WJS. It was an honour to be able to play these for her as a symbol of our gratitude before she retires at the end of the year. Performing the Copacabana in a woodwind extravaganza with over 100 amazing instrumentalists and recording our jazz and rock bands at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire are memories that I will never forget.

From the sports perspective, a great thing for me personally this year was the introduction of hockey into the school sports curriculum. Having participated in clubs outside of school for a couple of years, it was exciting to be able to play hockey with

my friends and represent WJS in fixtures. In terms of Drama – a highlight for me was the visit from the Young Shakespeare Company who put on an outstanding and interactive performance of A Midsummer’s Night Dream. I’m not sure I’ll ever live down having to don a ludicrous helmet with googly eyes and portray Puck in front of my peers, but I loved it all the same!

Later on in the year, we would embark on numerous thrilling trips, from the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham to the National Space Centre linked with our science topic, each one arranged by the superb Year 5 staff to help us grow and learn. More recently we went on the Year 5 Residential to Swanage, which was an incredible opportunity testing our team skills and life-saving abilities not to mention our coordination and balance on a paddle board. I won’t go into too much detail about the various highs, and (less regularly) the lows of each trip, but all I can say is I am so grateful for all of the advice and support all the teachers have given us.

Reflecting back, Year 5 has been a truly spectacular experience enabling us to grow in confidence, become more independent learners and preparing us for Year 6. I’ll cherish the memories, and the friendships made. To the Year 4s getting ready to step into our shoes – get excited! Year 5 is full of fun challenges – don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and seize the opportunities – because there’s plenty of them! Good Luck!

Hugo Attwood (5S) Young Shakespeare Company

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL YEAR 5 NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE TRIP

One cold winter’s day on 10 January 2025, Year 5 had the incredible experience to go to the National Space Centre in Leicester. We went because we had just completed a topic about Earth and Space. th

BOTANICAL BRILLIANCE!

In April, Year 5 went to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to learn more about the Amazon Rainforest – their current geography topic. It was a great experience for all and was full of wonderful opportunities and awe-inspiring facts.

That frosty morning, as we entered the school gates, we were overjoyed. We collected our lunches of sandwiches, wafers and crisps and then boarded the coach. The journey was about an hour or so but as we saw the Space Centre a cheer erupted. We had made it!

After resting in the playground, Year 5 boarded their buses and arrived at the gardens where they proceeded with many fun tasks, like learning about the plants, animals and artefacts. There was even the opportunity to handle several exotic animals like snakes, giant snails and even tenrecs.

As we entered the building, we saw the “home planet” section with a massive globe! There was a big moving floor that changed from icebergs to beaches. After exploring that section, we went up the 42m rocket tower.

Here is what I, as a participator, thought personally of the trip: “It was amazing! I learnt so much and had loads of fun and wonder!”

On the first level were two bottle rockets. Sometimes they flew really high! Others didn’t even launch. On the second level there were two launch simulators, and a timeline of space exploration compared to life on Earth. Finally, we went up to the top level! On this level there was GENUINE MOON ROCK and an amazing view of the two rockets. After we went down it was time for lunch.

After lunch, we got to look round the universe and the solar system sections. In the universe section, there was a supernova simulator and a screen showing the known universe. In the solar system section, there was a simulator showing Venus and information about the early solar system. Soon after, we saw the planetarium.

So, there it is! Overall, it was a great trip which will stay in Year 5’s hearts forever and more!

Hugo Attwood (5S)

The planetarium show was incredible – it showed the effect of space on the human body and a future rocket. After we looked around a bit more it was time for the gift shop where I bought a keyring, a magnet and a coaster. Sadly, it was time to go home.

All in all, it was a very successful trip. We learnt a lot about space and had lots of fun.

George Ellison 5W

Botanical Gardens

Space Centre Trip

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL YEAR 5 RESIDENTIAL TRIP TO SWANAGE

June saw the boys in Year 5 set off on their residential trip to Dorset. The trip began with a trip to the fascinating Corfe Castle, where the boys were told stories of events in the castle’s history, along with having the chance to explore the castle ruins.

After a short journey from the castle, the boys arrived at their camp and were soon settled into their tents. After unpacking and sorting out sleeping bags, they were soon busily playing outside in the sun before it was time for them to make their own pizzas for dinner, followed by singing around the campfire.

Sleep certainly was not on the itinerary of many of the boys for the first night, but at breakfast time they were up and about, ready for a day of water-based activities, which was lucky as the torrential rain was determined that there wouldn’t be a single dry child or adult in the group!

A day of paddle boarding, on the nearby camp lake, and beach lifeguard training on the beautiful Knoll Beach, followed, which were thoroughly enjoyed by all of the boys and, by mid-afternoon, even the rain had decided that everyone was wet enough, and the sun came out to cheer everyone up.

After returning to the camp, boys were ready for a shower (most of them) and a roast dinner (all of them) and another evening’s campfire fun, before a good night’s sleep.

The residential finished with a lovely walk from camp to Studland Beach, where the boys enjoyed a range of beach activities before a BBQ lunch.

Overall, it was a fantastic trip, and the boys took up the challenge of pushing themselves out of their comfort zones and most definitely made the most of it.

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A YEAR IN YEAR 6 MY YEAR IN YEAR 6

Year 6 has been amazing! The teachers have been so kind and helpful. When we were worried or sad, they were there for us. Along with new teachers and new forms, we made new friends and experienced new opportunities including: the rugby tour, swimming galas, the play and so much more....

In the first term, rugby was fantastic. Scoring tries left, right and centre. Mr Burchett and Mr Homan have encouraged us to really test our bodies and our mental agility. A special thank you to Mr Skyrme for really encouraging us and getting our rugby careers going. Our maths teacher, Mr Hargett, has also heavily impacted our learning in a good way. On top of this, we thank all our other teachers for helping us understand and learn new things, contributing towards good results in the entrance exam.

The Lent term was our favourite, mainly because of sport. The sports Year 6 do are football and hockey, which most enjoy and excel in. In February, it was also our Year 6 Residential in Plas-y-Brenin, North Wales, where we did gorge walking (it was so cold!), going down a mine and climbing a mountain. Smaller activities we did were climbing on a climbing wall, abseiling, a long walk, a reflector trail and a blindfolded night trail. This was a great residential, so thank you to all the teachers who made it special.

OUT AND ABOUT BLISTS HILL

As part of their history studies, Year 6 boys visited Blists Hill Victorian Town, where they experienced what everyday life was like in 1900.

They visited Victorian shops and cottages, met craftspeople demonstrating their trades and tried out old-fashioned clothes.

Once everyone had got to grips with the old-fashioned coins, consisting of shillings and pennies, they were able to spend their money to buy some fish and chips, or in the very popular sweet shop.

But it wasn’t all shopping, the boys also had the opportunity to experience what a Victorian school was like. Dressed as Victorian pupils would be, the boys met their very strict teacher, were given a slate and chalk to write with, and quickly got down to lessons – they had never been so quiet in front of a teacher! Overall, the boys had a fantastic day, and much fun was had by all!

Young Enterprise

It was also in this term that we found out what play we would be doing…. it was the amazing Aladdin Jr! Everyone was buzzing with excitement.

To wrap up Year 6, in May, we gave an outstanding performance of Aladdin Jr. Then we did the complicated, but fun, Young Enterprise project where we were given the challenge of making our own snack and company brand and then presenting our new business to the parents and staff.

Now, after the end of a hard but fun year, we look forward to all the end of year activities and moving up to Senior School.

Oliver Grey (6C) and Will Godskesen (6RS)

BLETCHLEY PARK

During the Lent term, the boys in Year 6 went on a school trip to Bletchley Park. The bus journey was long, but nothing could stop me thinking about the fun that we would have here.

As we all arrived, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the history that had taken place here. One-by-one, we hopped out of the coach before walking into a narrow set of corridors that contained a room with lots of green manuals. Our instructor said that we were signing up to promise that we should never say anything about the work we do here at Bletchley Park. I loved the role-playing as we had to have a go at decrypting messages in Morse code and Enigma code! We even got to have a go at pressing a button on an actual Enigma Machine.

Next, we arrived at a place where these huge machines called Bombes were responsible for testing every single possible code for the Enigma Machine. The number of possible codes was a very big number that was so huge it couldn’t even fit on the screen! We got to see the Bombes in action as they turned round and round.

Lunch went down so quickly as we were already at the next hut! I learnt lots of fun things in the remaining huts, including how Alan Turing hung his mug on a chain because people kept using it!

As we hopped back on the bus, I took a last look at Bletchley Park before turning into the coach. I enjoyed Bletchley Park a lot and I would love to go back again.

Arthur Jaques 6RS

Blists Hill

Bletchley Park

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL RESIDENTIAL TO PLAS-Y-BRENIN

Year 6 had adventurous and challenging week during their residential trip to Plas-y-Brenin, they showed resilience and teamwork despite the freezing temperatures and tough conditions!

After arriving on Monday, they split into groups for their first activities. Some hiked around Capel Curig, learning about the area's history and geology, while others participated in teambuilding exercises and rope courses at Plas-y-Brenin.

Tuesday brought even colder weather, with wind chill making it feel like -5°C, but the boys persevered! Some braved the icy waters of Geirionydd for gorge walking, while others climbed Crimpiau or explored the Rhiwbach slate mine. In the evening, they took on orienteering and activities like indoor climbing and a nightline challenge.

Wednesday tested them further with rain and biting winds.

One group reached the snow-covered summit of Moel Siabod, while others tackled Crimpiau’s steep scramble or explored the slate mines, even climbing underground waterfalls. The boys later continued with evening challenges, though the quiz night was noticeably quieter as tiredness set in!

On Thursday, their final full day, some boys delved into the slate mines, gaining insight into the miners' harsh lives. Others faced their toughest gorge walk yet, while three groups completed a demanding 12km hike over Moel Eilio, Foel Goch, and Foel Grach. Though the sun briefly appeared, the wind chill dropped to -6°C. The trip ended with the muchanticipated Towel-Origami competition, a fun and lighthearted way to wrap up an intense and rewarding week!

Throughout their time in Snowdonia, the boys demonstrated perseverance and were a testament to themselves and the school, making it an unforgettable experience filled with adventure and personal growth.

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

EXPLORING THE ARTS YEAR 3 JAMES AND THE BEANSTALK

Early one morning, James woke up to find a giant looming shadow overhead.

As his eyes adjusted to the light, he realised it was a huge beanstalk. He clambered up the mouldy, pale, green beanstalk and got mould on his hands, but he didn’t care. Eventually, he emerged from the white fluffy clouds and saw a very grand temple and he knocked on the door. As the heavy iron door swung open, an illuminated giant figure punctured a hole in the pitch-black dark.

“P-p-please can you share your breakfast with me? I am starving,” pleaded James in a stuttery voice.

THE CAVE

Breathing heavily, I kept my eyes on the large cave. As I walked, my boots squelched on the muddy ground. Entering the vast, rocky cave, I could hear a faint, hollow hum from deep inside – the sound of a sleeping dragon. The narrow path led on until it opened up into a large cavern.

Eerily, stalactites hung from the cavern ceiling, waiting to crush anyone who dared go any further. Dark shadows crept along the damp walls. An eerie hiss echoed through the great cavern, like sharp knives scraping on stone. However unnerving and creepy it was, I wanted to find out more about this ancient cave.

Ziyad Khan (4P)

YEAR 5

“Ho, ho, ho, you don’t need to be scared. I won’t eat you. I don’t even have any teeth to eat you with! Of course you can have some breakfast, I am starving myself,” chuckled the giant.

Aidan Rothwell, 3BP

THE BRIGANDS TREASURE HUNT

Excitedly, the brigands set off on their treasure hunt thinking about the beautiful, glittery and shiny treasure. The brigands saw a sign explaining where the temple was and walked that way down a dark and creepy corridor. The brigands came to a door as colossal as an elephant. The brigands opened the door; the door creaked open, and the brigands walked into a room made out of pure diamonds, dazzling the brigands eyes they stepped into the room. Suddenly, the room turned into quicksand and the brigands started to sink. The brigands fell into a room called, ‘The Temple’ and a there was a heavy silence all around.

Charlie Bewick 3BA

YEAR 4 THE CAVE

As the dark, ominous cavern loomed into view, the air around Hiccup seemed to solidify, making it even harder to focus on the impossible task. Trudging through the knee-deep snow, he saw his past, present, and future.

Stepping into the ancient, ethereal structure, shadows danced across the rutted wall – whisperings of souls. The echoing cavity seemed to have a life of its own. Hiccup smelled the musty air and heard the unmistakable groaning of dragons. He followed the rhythmic growl of the sleeping reptiles.

Jason Li (4P)

– AN EXTRACT As a young boy, every night I had incredible dreams; exciting adventures, perilous journeys, even dreams where I could fly like a fearless superhero. I was able to remember a few but one disturbing nightmare has haunted me for years.

Shivering, I could sense goosebumps on my skin as I tried to pull my duvet higher. I groped around but, to my annoyance, I couldn’t find it. There was a fresh outdoor scent in the air and, in my hands, I could feel smooth stones, damp twigs and ... snow? I sat up with a start.

My mouth gaped open. This was not my bedroom at home but seemed to be the heart of a wintery, eerie forest.

Dappled light filtered through the dense, leafless canopy which revealed sinister, snow-covered statues surrounding me. Their faces were ghastly and grotesque, they had razor-sharp teeth and jet-black eyes. I must have been there a while as there were no footprints in the snow around me. Yet I had no recollection of how I arrived. A shiver ran down my spine and, for a short moment, I was paralyzed with fear but then a glimmer of golden light in the distance encouraged me to start walking.

James Palmer-Brown 5S

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL THE SUPERPOWER – AN EXTRACT

Once upon a time, an isolated and peaceful kingdom lay in the middle of verdant hills and towering mountains. A twenty-fouryear-old, with a mind reading superpower, called Lancelot lived with all the other citizens who were nourished by the cascading water from the towering mountains. One fateful day, the water that would normally flow down the mountainside, mysteriously ceased. Everyone thought they were doomed, except for Lancelot, who stood resolute. He eagerly approached the king and asked, “How can I help our kingdom?”

“The water source we’ve relied on is blocked by an evil monster called Hydra,” the king sighed deeply, “it’s your quest to defeat Hydra and free our waters.”

Soon Lancelot started preparing thoughtfully. Bringing his trusty sword and sturdy shield, he used his mindreading superpower to read Hydra’s mind. Quickly, he found out that Hydra was very fond of mushrooms, so he brought a dozen poisonous mushrooms, along with some gunpowder as well.

With a heart full of courage and a spirit as wild as the winds, he ventured into the ominous and treacherous mountains, where the spine-chilling beast awaited. Deadening darkness developed gradually, while howling winds appeared from nowhere. BOOM! Thunder rumbled louder than fireworks. Nervousness crept into his body, but he pressed on.

Leon Chen (5S)

YEAR 6 CHINESE GARDEN DESCRIPTION

CRUNCH, CRUNCH whispered the blissful blossoms littered around the dazzling pond. Ancient and crumbling; a sanctuary of a building loomed over the prancing flames, illuminating the passageway. The mellow aroma of a distant mushroom lured me over to where fireflies danced blissfully in the whimsical breeze.

In the distance, a subtle melody – from another world – winded through the extravagant greenery. Buildings stood proudly, embedded in the ancient rocks, consumed by swaying creepers.

Waves rippled throughout the calm yet mysterious water. Feathers glistening, the subtle chirping of prancing birds grinned in the gentle, yet ruthless, gale.

Vines winded and whirled through the perplexing ancient architecture from lost generations. Shrouding around a lone rock, fireflies choked me with their glittery mesmerizing tails. Blissful… just blissful!

Awakening from a deep slumber, the eyes of a temple gazed down at me with eeriness that had been freed from my approach.

Hypnotizing my eyes, a chilling haze hovered over the patterned blades of grass cruising in the wind. Merrily dancing through the scented air, burnt wood lingered in my nose like a fluffy scarf constricting me. Repetitively flashing in my mesmerized mind, abstract colours flew in silhouettes, enchanting me with all the powers in the entire universe.

I could lay here.

Right here.

Not wake up for 1 billion years.

Yet still be fine...

Arthur Jaques, 6RS

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INDULGE IN THE ULTIMATE TREAT: ROCKY ROAD BROWNIES

Sink your teeth into the irresistible delight of our Rocky Road Brownies – the ultimate dessert experience for chocolate lovers and thrill-seekers alike. Each bite is a rich, decadent explosion of fudgy brownie goodness, perfectly balanced with crunchy honeycomb, pillowy marshmallows and swirls of smooth, melted chocolate.

Crafted from the finest cocoa and premium ingredients, these brownies aren’t just desserts – they’re moments of pure joy. The gooey texture melts in your mouth, while the rocky road toppings create a symphony of texture and taste: sweet, nutty, soft, and chewy. It’s nostalgia and indulgence rolled into one unforgettable square.

Whether you’re looking to elevate a cosy night in, impress guests at a party, or simply treat yourself to something extraordinary, Rocky Road Brownies are the answer. They’re more than just a snack – they’re a celebration of flavour, a comfort food masterpiece that never goes out of style.

Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, enjoy them straight from the pan. However you indulge, one thing’s certain: our Rocky Road Brownies will keep you coming back for more.

Go ahead – treat yourself to a little rocky, chocolatey heaven. You deserve it.

Barnaby, Max, Maxwell and Jake (6L) a.k.a. Food World Inc. (Young Enterprise Project 2025)

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

MUSIC AND DRAMA MY MUSICAL MEMORIES

Here I am in my final month at the Junior School, looking back at four years of musical cool experiences singing and playing in many different styes.

It all began in Year 3 when I joined my first music group – I was excited to be in Big Choir. I loved singing songs as a group and making music with others. Thanks to the strings project, I play the double bass and soon joined Dynamix. In the summer concert we played the Drunken Sailor and I really enjoyed it. I was nostalgic when I heard it played again this summer.

Alongside music, I like acting and the good thing about musicals is you get to do both. In Porridge in Year 4 I played Junior Bear and sang an emotional duet. More recently I have enjoyed singing in a lively quartet as Kassim in Aladdin Jr. Year 5 saw us go for a second time to Young Voices. What a great experience! The atmosphere in the arena was really buzzing. Everybody sang and danced their hearts out to big numbers like Titanium and Hey Jude – even some of the teachers danced!

That was not my only singing that year – I worked on my Welsh to sing the folk song Dayfdd Y Garreg Wen in a duet with Max for the house music finals.

A big thing for me was joining the Senior School Chapel Choir as the youngest member We learned some lovely classical pieces such as If You Love Me by Tallis and Ave Verum Corpus

by Mozart. Sixth formers and Senior School staff sing in Chapel Choir. It doesn’t matter how old you are… music brings many ages together.

And so to Year 6… I joined E-squires – with Orchestra this made for three challenging instrumental groups. Micro Choir went from strength to strength too.

The rap battle was intense! We didn’t win but we still enjoyed the competition.

Music has meant a lot to me during my time at the Junior School.

Thank you to all the music teachers for their help and their willingness to inspire us! I’d also like to say a special thank you to Miss Sharp who made of these memories happen.

I hope the next years in line will have as much musical fun as I have had.

Barnaby Morgan, Ignis Music Captain

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

JAMP

It has been so much fun to be part of JAMP – the Junior Advanced Music Programme. During this time, we have worked in small ensembles, composed short pieces and had the chance to enter the Pro Corde Competition. The highlight for me was our performance at the summer concert.

It was both my final concert and Miss Sharp’s too, and I knew that this one would be special. During this we performed a percussion ensemble which was something new.

As soon as the last act ended, the room was buzzing – claps, cheers, big smiles everywhere. I was standing at the back of the stage, peeking out at all the people. But then the lights changed, and the deep thump of the drum echoed through the hall...

Suddenly, the audience went silent, and all turned to watch us from the back. We marched through the crowd until we in line at the front.

My heart was beating at lightning speed; I could feel them watching. Although I was nervous, I was super happy to be part of JAMP. As we finished the last note, we all did a pose, trying not to drop our instruments, and the audience erupted into applause and at that moment I knew we had done Miss Sharp proud.

Kamran Kamali, Aqua Music Captain

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CONCERTS

Concerts at Warwick School are always one of the best parts of the year! It all starts with the fun and festive Christmas Concert, where pupils wear Santa hats and even decorate their instruments. Everyone gets involved, and it’s a great way to spread Christmas cheer and start the school year with music and smiles.

In the Lent term, the Spring Concerts give lots of boys a chance to perform alongside pupils from the Senior School, as part of the different section concerts. It’s a great way for them to show their talents and feel more confident playing in front of others.

The year ends with the amazing Summer Concert, which is always a big highlight. This year, Big Choir and the orchestra performed an exciting version of Viva La Vida, and the orchestra also played a powerful piece called Finlandia. For Year 6 pupils and Miss Sharp, this was a very special final concert. Miss Sharp’s Micro Choir sang May It Be, which made a lovely and emotional goodbye.

At Warwick Junior School, everyone is encouraged to join in – whether you're playing the triangle or singing a solo. Thank you to Miss Sharp for all the energy and support she has given; each concert is a fun and unforgettable experience!

Ollie Shakesheff, Ventis Music Captain

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

HOUSE MUSIC

Every year, Houses compete in the much-anticipated House Music Competition. In the first round, boys are encouraged to prepare a short musical performance to play in front of the House judging panel, for the chance to represent their House in the final. Boys are completely responsible for putting together the performances – no help from teachers – and the result is a selection of solos, duets and newly formed House bands.

On the day of the final, the four finalists from each House come together in front of the whole school, and the independent judge, who is looking for the House that has presented a range of musical styles, instruments and competitors of different ages, as well as entertained the audience.

Winning the House Music Competition filled me with so much joy, knowing that Mr Mann, the adjudicator, thought Terra was the best and even commenting on the song that my band, (me, Will and Teddy) performed – ‘Can't Stop’ by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. He said it reminded him of his adolescence. As soon as the words 'Terra' came from his mouth, I leapt out of my seat and bounded over to the trophy and did a ‘politician-like’ handshake for the camera. Ever since I was in Year 3, watching others do the same, it was my dream to win the House Music Cup, and now we've done it!

YEAR 4 PLAY – GLADIS BAKER, GLADIATOR

One of the year’s highlights is always the Year 4 Production. For the majority of the pupils, this is the first time that they have ever had the opportunity to perform in a professional theatre, and the effort and enthusiasm that the boys put into their performances ensure that the standard of the production is always of the highest level.

This year, Year 4 stepped back in time to Ancient Rome for their play. The story took place in the Colosseum where the stage was set for the first ever Great Roman Bake-off! There were no gladiator fights, but the boys were whisked into a frenzy, beaten to a foam and knocked back in a competition where Flour was Power!

Orphan Gladis managed to escape the clutches of her miserable aunt and uncle by winning the Great Roman Bake Off and becoming the ‘Gladisbaker’.

The uplifting and cheery songs, alongside the impressive acting, singing and dancing talents shown by the boys, made this show unforgettable for everyone who came to watch it.

Oisin Gambles, Terra House Music Captain

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

YEAR 6 PRODUCTION – ALADDIN JR

During the summer term, all of Year 6 had the incredible opportunity to be part of the Year 6 production of Aladdin.

After weeks of rehearsals, the performance nights took place on Wednesday 21st May and Thursday 22nd May 2025. It was incredible to perform in the Bridge House Theatre and an experience we will never forget.

The two of us had the honour of playing Aladdin in the play, one of us in Act One and the other in Act Two. We sang, danced, acted, and had lots of fun! What made it so amazing was that every member of Year 6 had an important role to play. From the main actors to the sound boys, lighting boys, backstage boys, the band and ensemble – everyone worked hard to make the production a huge success. As with every show, it wasn’t without its setbacks. Our Act Two genie was on crutches due to a broken leg from the school Easter ski trip.

This did not hold him back, however, and he still put on a magical performance.

The show had everything, special effects, incredible music and even a trap door for the Act One genie to appear from.

The costumes were amazing, and the audience seemed to have a really good time. We certainly experienced a “whole new world” being part of this production.

Ilyas Rashid and Will Atkin

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

CHARITY Each year our four Houses choose a charity to raise money for their designated charity day. The boys are responsible for taking a lead in planning and hosting their event.

AQUA CHARITY DAY – SUPPORTING THE PANGOLIN CRISIS FUND

As I end my time as Charity Captain, I would like to summarise what AQUA did for the charity day. This year, we were supporting an Animal/Environmental charity, and we decided to support The Pangolin Crisis Fund via the Born Free Foundation because we needed to spread awareness around the school about the pressing matter of this endangered species and how humans are the cause of their decline. What are pangolins you ask?

TERRA HOUSE CHARITY DAY – SUPPORTING THE RSPCA

In March, our school celebrated a special RSPCA charity day, where students and staff dressed in red, pink, or any clothing that started with the letters R, S, P, C, or A to raise awareness and funds for animal welfare. The day was filled with fun activities, including Terra’s Terrible Tuck Shop that offered a variety of unhealthy snacks, which everyone enjoyed! We also asked for donations of animal enrichment toys and items, that we donated to our local RSPCA rescue centre.

Our efforts paid off remarkably, as we managed to raise an impressive total of £632 for the RSPCA. It was a fantastic day of community spirit, kindness, and support for animals in need.

Quincy Wang, Terra Charity Captain

Pangolins live in many areas of Africa and Asia and are one of the most highly endangered species in the world. The reason, is that pangolins are captured and cooked and their scales are taken for medicine. However, it is not true that their scales are good for medicine.

We raised the money to help the foundation to rescue and rehabilitate pangolins in their African and Asian habitats, as well as to help them fight wildlife crime. If pangolins have safer environments and a better quality of life, they will be more protected from people who want to trap and sell them.

We raised £423.58 for the charity by fundraising, including a raffle with lots of prizes and lots of pangolin-themed games such as pin on the tail of the pangolin and catch the termite. We also held a pangolin themed art competition.

Will Prucha-Jackson, Aqua House Charity Captain

IGNIS CHARITY DAY – SUPPORTING CANCER RESEARCH UK

On Friday 27th June, Ignis hosted our charity day for Cancer Research UK. On the day, we offered a multitude of events to raise funds, including, a school corridor coin line (which reached 64m long!), a cake sale, a pre-loved book and toy sale, wellywanging, and a cancer cell shootout stall. After school, we sold all the remaining books, toys and cakes to raise even more money.

We chose Cancer Research because they support so many people across the UK, and they need money to spend on better equipment and more specialised staff to help fund their research to eradicate cancer. In total we have raised an incredible £1,174, which will support all the amazing work at Cancer Research UK and help them to achieve their goals.

VENTIS HOUSE CHARITY – SUPPORTING MYTON HOSPICE

This year, I represented Ventis House as their Charity Captain. This was a huge undertaking, requiring organisation and initiative and it was a great source of enjoyment for me. We were supporting Myton Hospice this year, in memory of John Pipitone, our muchcherished car park warden who sadly passed away last year. I believe Myton Hospice needs donations to help support palliative care, counselling, food, blankets, medicine and much more.

Linked to the Myton Hospice logo, during our charity day we decided to have a range of fun activities such as; pull a butterfly out of the box, pin a wing on the butterfly, guess the name of the butterfly and a raffle!

Everyone had a lot of fun taking part in the activates and in the end, we raised £477.45 for Myton Hospice.

Zain Dodhy, Ventis House, Charity Captain

Finn Loeffler, Ignis House Charity Captain

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

SPORT THE CHRISTMAS STAGGER AND AQUATHLON

It was a breezy, cold afternoon as the Year Sixes started their Christmas Stagger, the best runners at the back and the less experienced at the front for a staggered start. I was in the last group as I’m a good runner. The first people set off, then the next group, then one more, then it was us, the people at the back. Mr Burchett counted 3... 2... 1... GO! And we were off. I was trying to gain as many places as I could, thinking of to myself about what I could get if I was able to overtake the person in front of me. In the end, I came in sixth place. I think Arthur Fawcus (in the same group as me at the start) came third – he is so fast I don’t know how he does it! One of the most fun parts of the Christmas Stagger is that, as you cross the finish line, you get to choose a wrapped Christmas present from the table – there’s a prize for everyone, no matter where you finish and this year my prize was a massive box of sweets! Every year group competes in the Christmas Stagger and it’s always a fun activity on the Junior School Christmas calendar.

Another fun whole school event is the Aquathlon – this is a bit like a triathlon but without the bike ride! Each year group competes in the aquathlon and the swimming and running distances increase with every year.

It was a summer afternoon in Warwick Junior School as Year 6 prepared for the WJS 2025 aquathlon. This was my last aquathlon, and it is my favourite event of the year. As a House event, the competition saw all four Houses competing to be the winning House. The aquathlon is staggered but it is timed from when you start and finish. For Year 6 we had an eight lengths swim followed by an 800m run. At the end I came third in my house..

Well done to everyone who took part by the way, it is not easy and really well done to the top three finishers in all years.

Year 3: First Seb, Second Charlie, Third Rohan.

Year 4: First Elliot, Second Reuben, Third Theo.

Year 5: First Leon, Second George, Third, Alfred Year 6: First Jake, Second Joshua, Third Thomas (myself).

I want to thank all the sports staff for all the events, clubs, games lessons, PE lessons and just general all-round sport as sport is a massive part of my life. A special shout out to Mr Burchett for being the best sports teacher ever. I hope your sporting carers in the Junior School are good and as fun as mine (I'm sure they will be).

Thomas Leddy 6L, Ventis Sports Captain

Christmas Stagger

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Y3 Aquathlon

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

SWIMMING

It has been a very successful year for swimming at WJS. The highlight was qualifying for both the IAPs and ESSA National finals in June. The IAPs final was held at the London Aquatics Centre which hosted the Olympics in 2012. Everyone swam to the best of their ability and we achieved some impressive results. The U10s (Leon, George, Jasper and Arlo) finished 5th in the Freestyle and Medley relays and the U11s (myself, Jake, Harry and Harrison) finished first in the Medley relay. George finished 19th in the 50m Butterfly, Jake finished 5th in the 50m Butterfly, and Leon won a Silver medal in the 50m Breaststroke!

The following weekend a team of four including myself, Jake, George and Leon headed up to Sheffield for the ESSA National Final. We swam brilliantly as a team finishing 8th in the Medley relay and 7th in the Freestyle relay. Well done to all of the boys in the Junior School who have competed at swimming galas during the year! It has been an honour to represent the school in swimming and it has taught me important skills including resilience and perseverance. Thanks to Mr McWhirter and Mr Burchett for their training and support.

Joshua Davis, Terra Sports Captain

IAPS Swimmers

HOUSE SPORTS COMPETITIONS

House sports events are always eagerly anticipated and get competitive!

Each term, every year group competes in either House rugby, football or cricket competitions. For Year 6, this year’s House football was so much fun. All boys were involved, whether they saw themselves as a young Ronaldo or not! Terra triumphed in the end and did not let the other Houses forget it!

House swimming galas and aquathlons add to the sporting competitions every year, so every boy in every House has the chance to contribute to their House’s final scores. The House sports events culminated in the highlight of the year – sports day!

The boys took part in a series of events, including an obstacle course, long jump, javelin and track races. The day ended with the famous ‘Tug of War’, where a number of clever tactics were employed to try to win (What are heels for? Digging in of course!!). It was a sweltering day, but the crowds were cheering, and the boys all rose to the challenge! Ventis House raised the cup for Years 5 and 6.

SPORTS DAY RESULTS Y5&6

952 points 🥇 1st2nd––Ventis: Terra: 915 points 🥈 3rd – Ignis: points 🥉 4th – Aqua:863 794 points

Y3&4

House Aquathlon

House Swimming

1750 points 🥇 1st2nd––Terra: Ignis: 1699 points 🥈 3rd – Ventis: 1615 points 🥉 4th – Aqua: 1196 points

891 points 🥇 1st2nd–Ventis: Terra: 837 points 🥈 3rd ––Ignis: points 🥉 4th – Aqua:802 791 points 918 points 🥇 1st2nd––Ignis: 910 points 🥈 3rd – Aqua: Ventis: 838 points 🥉 4th – Terra: 836 points

Jack Ainsworth, Ignis Sports Captain

GOLF

The Summer term sees the annual Junior School par 3 competition.

For the first time this event was a team event which worked brilliantly for the 12 boys to play together with a shared goal.

Teams of four played a ‘Texas scramble’ over nine holes at Stoneleigh Deer Park in beautiful sunshine.

The standard of golf was excellent and the experience the boys gained playing a course and having to manage strategy and shot selection will stand them in good stead as their golf careers progress.

It was an incredibly close contest. Team 2 (Théo, Ike, Harry and Noah) made a very respectable score of 6 over par for their 9 holes.

Team 1 (Louis, Jasper, Alfie and Oscar) tied with Team 3 (Bo, Quincy, Zakk and Rory) with both teams managing an excellent 4 over par.

Both teams managed chip-in birdies to keep the scores tied.

Y5 Sports Day Obstacle Race

A sudden death playoff ensued and was won by team 1 with the final putt! A dramatic conclusion to an excellent afternoon of golf.

Y4 Sports Day Tug of War

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Y3 Tag Rugby

Y5 Football Winners

MR BURCHETT’S SPORTS REVIEW OF THE YEAR It has been another exceptionally busy and successful year for sport in the Junior School. Our pupils have had the opportunity to represent the school across 12 different sports. On average, each boy participated in 16 fixtures, with nine boys playing in over 30 matches throughout the year.

While we measure success primarily by the breadth of opportunities offered to all pupils – both in representing the school and receiving high-quality coaching during Games lessons and Extended Day clubs – it is also important to celebrate the impressive levels of achievement across a wide range of activities.

The U11A Rugby team stood out as one of the most dominant in recent years. Their outstanding performances at the prestigious Caldicot 7s Festival earned widespread praise from spectators and coaches alike. The U11 Hockey, Football, and Cricket teams also delivered excellent performances and, on their day, were capable of beating any opponent. Unfortunately, they were unable to replicate this form in the IAPS and County competitions, narrowly missing out on progression to the next stages.

The U10 teams went one step further, with the Football team winning the RGS Tournament during the Lent Term, securing a convincing 3–1 victory in the final.

The enthusiasm and passion for sport in Years 3 and 4 is clearly evident. Their progress in the three major sports has been outstanding, and the future looks bright for both year groups.

Y4 Link Day Tennis

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A special mention must go to our Swimming teams, who once again excelled at the national level. Leon Chen (Year 5) earned a superb silver medal in the IAPS breaststroke final, narrowly missing out on gold to a new meet record. Jake Shelvey (Year 6) swam brilliantly in the U11 Butterfly final, finishing 5th in a thrilling photo finish.

In the relays, the Year 6 team – comprising Jake Shelvey, Joshua Davis, Harrison Grant, and Harry Millward – qualified for the U11 Medley Relay. They delivered a remarkable performance in their heat, shaving six seconds off their qualifying time and finishing 11th nationally.

The Year 5 team, made up of Leon Chen, George Atteck, Jasper Courtenay, and Arlo Shotton, qualified for both the Medley and Freestyle Relay Finals. They competed with tremendous energy and focus, finishing 5th in both events. The Freestyle Relay was particularly dramatic, with a false start leading to all teams being reinstated and asked to re-swim the heat. Despite the disruption, our team missed out on a podium finish by less than a second.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all the staff who support the Junior School’s Games programme. From catering and grounds staff to coaches and the reception team, it is a collective effort that enables us to offer such a fantastic range of sporting opportunities to our pupils.

Y6 Football

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Features BELONGING WEEK 2025

The aims of the week were twofold. Firstly, to highlight the importance of belonging as a core value of the Warwick School community and to provide students with opportunities to experience this through a wide range of activities and events. Secondly, to champion the value of service by reaching beyond our school community to support local schools and organisations.

Belonging Week is designed to push the boys beyond the confines of the traditional curriculum and create lasting memories, while empowering them to collaborate, develop character, and serve others with intention.

One of the highlights of the week was welcoming The Band of the Scots Guards to Warwick School. During their visit, pupils participated in section masterclasses, a presentation and Q&A session, and a spectacular concert. The event concluded with a powerful side-by-side performance, featuring the Band and many of our talented young musicians.

We were also delighted to host 80 primary pupils from Eversfield School, who took part in a variety of activities led by Warwick staff and students. From marine sustainability and rocket design to dodgeball and teambuilding, it was inspiring to see Year 8 and 10 boys step into leadership roles and guide the younger children through these exciting projects.

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Lower Sixth pupils from Warwick and King’s High Schools participated in a Character Conference, where they were encouraged to reflect deeply on their own character development. Guest speakers included Professors James Arthur and Tom Harrison, as well as government advisor Gary Lewis, covering topics ranging from leadership and digital wellbeing to the future impact of artificial intelligence. The Lower Sixth also spent two days leading a range of sporting, leadership, and charitable activities for the entire Year 7 cohort, in a spirit of collaboration and service.

Year 9 boys engaged in a meaningful charity initiative in support of Kissing it Better, a local organisation Warwick School has partnered with for over 15 years. They created personalised cards and letters for patients in Warwick Hospital and local care homes, helping to combat loneliness among the elderly.

FEATURES Meanwhile, boys in Year 7 wrote more than 150 handwritten letters to some of our most senior Old Warwickians around the world, sharing news and stories from the school in 2025. They also participated in Song in a Day, learning and performing two pieces – It Smells like Zebra and A la Cart by Judith Watson, which they proudly presented to parents in Warwick Hall.

Other highlights of the week included a wide range of creative and immersive workshops. Boys wrote and recorded short films, took part in specialist clinics such as motorcycle restoration, punk songwriting, forensic science, true crime analysis, game design, cryptic crosswords, and world music. A standout achievement was the collaborative art installation project, now on display in Warwick Hall, at the time of writing.

Overall, Belonging Week was an inspiring celebration of community, character, and service. Boys across the school embraced what it means to belong, not only to Warwick but to something greater than themselves. The compassion and collaboration seen throughout this week serve as a fitting reminder of the values that continue to shape our community.

BJM

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FEATURES

PUPIL VOICE

We are delighted to report that Pupil Voice has continued to thrive this academic year, introducing impactful new initiatives while building on the strong foundations laid in previous years. Through collaboration, creativity, and compassion, pupils have once again demonstrated their commitment to improving the Warwick community and the world beyond.

A significant development this year has been the introduction of the Smart Schools Council model, implemented after thoughtful discussion with the Warwick Voice chairs. This new system has allowed for regular, structured meetings, where tutor groups across the school engage with a common question. These sessions have encouraged open discussion and group debate, giving all pupils a platform to drive positive change in school life.

This year we have tackled issues such as charity events, antibullying, VE Day, and men’s mental health.

complemented by the launch of the Pupil Forum, starting with Sixth Form students, to create a dedicated space for pupils to discuss ideas for improving wellbeing and enjoyment at Warwick.

Charity and community work have remained at the heart of Pupil Voice activity. Foodbank Friday continued throughout the Michaelmas Term, with year groups donating items to local foodbanks, now also supported by a weekly contribution from Morrisons, thanks to the efforts of the Charity Leaders. The annual Macmillan coffee morning was another success, with prefects serving breakfast to guests in support of this worthy cause.

Movember returned with added flair this year, beginning with an assembly that saw Messrs Stephenson and Preece bravely reduce their beards to moustaches to set the tone. Pupils participated by growing moustaches or completing sponsored challenges, helping to raise over £12,000 for men’s health charities.

The Religious and Racial Equality Committee played a powerful role this year by inviting a survivor of the Tutsi Genocide in Rwanda to speak to pupils, sharing her deeply moving and harrowing testimony. This visit marked the start of a poignant Anti-Racism Week, during which the committee led a rousing online assembly and joined forces with the Charity Leaders for a non-school uniform day and doughnut sale in support of Stop Hate UK. Thanks to the generosity of pupils, an incredible 1,500 doughnuts were sold in just 15 minutes.

The Anti-Bullying Committee once again delivered a thoughtprovoking awareness week, complete with Odd Socks Day and a powerful assembly highlighting the effects of bullying. This was

HJP braving the shave

Oscar’s winning Tofu dish served up

Staff involved in Movember

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U6 Prefects 2024-2025

FEATURES A highlight of the Lent Term came from a collaboration between the Eco and Catering Committees, who organised a cooking competition. The winning dish, a delicious Tofu Ramen created by Oscar Watkin, was added to the school menu on a meat-free day and was very well received.

The Accessibility and Anti-Bullying Committees took their efforts a step further this year by meeting with the Senior Leadership Team to discuss reported issues and present constructive suggestions for making the school environment even more inclusive and supportive for all pupils.

The Religious and Racial Equality Committee also launched a new charter across the school, aimed at highlighting the impact of racism and promoting equality at every level of school life.

The generosity of pupils has shone brightly this year, particularly in fundraising efforts to support the people of Ukraine. Alongside a doughnut and éclair sale, which raised funds for ambulances, a group of pupils undertook a remarkable 20-mile walk around Warwick to raise money for vital medical aid for victims of war.

House Cooking Competition

As ever, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our outgoing prefects for their exceptional contributions to Pupil Voice this year. Their enthusiasm and dedication have left a lasting impact. I also wish their successors every success in taking on their new roles, they have already shown great promise and commitment.

George McLintock and Charles Baldry, Upper Sixth

Movember Participants with RE

One of the ambulances bought for Ukraine

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FEATURES

ENCOUNTERS

This academic year we enjoyed a fantastic range of Encounters with a variety of fascinating speakers.

The Michaelmas Term began with a medical Encounter with Dr Sukhvir Wright, which probed deeply into fighting brain fires and completely engaged the scientific enthusiasm of the large audience. Warwick School parent Peter Dumbreck then provided a wonderful encounter with the world of motor racing, focusing on both the sport and the emotional impact that high level performance has on the individual. Dan Sleat OW provided a very different Encounter sharing his work at the Blair Foundation with a particular focus on conflict resolution as well as his own personal insights into Tony Blair as a leader. Andy Williamson’s presentation on Brown’s Hotel provided a novel insight into the often-surprising history one can learn from hotels, including Lawrence of Arabia arriving a day early for dinner with his publisher, and Nazi war production minister Albert Speer having his last meal at the hotel in 1981. The Reverend Jonathan Aitken also spoke superbly on his friendship with Richard Nixon, highlighting Nixon’s surprising sense of humour together with his brilliantly insightful foreign policy. Soon after we were joined

by General Simon Mayall for a superb presentation on the Middle East, especially focused on his military analysis of the region. At the end of the term, we were also thrilled to welcome back Gareth Russell for an Encounter with the Titanic. This was such a memorable Encounter because of Gareth’s wonderful presentational skills and also because he was able to still throw so much fresh light on the tragedy.

an Encounter they will never forget. Luke Hanrahan OW also joined us for a powerful presentation on how he approaches making documentaries on “true crime” and the moral issues which this raises. Dr Erica Rowan then provided an innovative Encounter with Roman food and eating habits, made all the more memorable by Roman honey biscuits kindly provided by the Head of Food Science, Mrs O’Sullivan. Another highpoint was an Encounter with Baroness Sue Garden, one of the Deputy Speakers in the House of Lords who showed just how seriously the Lords takes its scrutinizing role and how effectively it therefore carries out that function. It was also really special inviting former teacher, Andy Ward, back to the school for a powerful Encounter with a “pint of science” delving into both the academic and emotional pressures of scientific research.

The year then ended with a remarkable presentation by Professor Amin Benaissa from Oxford University on piecing together the human stories of the classical world through uncovering papyri, while local MP, Manuela Perteghella, provided an uplifting final Encounter on her work as a new MP, as well as the campaign that led to Stratford-upon-Avon electing a Liberal Democrat MP. As usual my thanks go to all our speakers for sharing their stories with us and Warwick Books for so efficiently arranging such memorable book signings.

JNJ

The Lent Term began with a gripping interpretation of the career of Horatio Nelson from Chris Brett, a leading member of the Nelson Society, focusing both on his military and human qualities. Nelson was indeed so loved and admired, we learned, that plantation owners even forged evidence that he actively endorsed enslavement. Nicholas Milton then provided the most disturbing Encounter of the year with an “Encounter with the Birdman of Auschwitz” in which he probed the double life of Gunther Niethammer, one of Germany’s greatest ornithologists but also an SS guard at Auschwitz. Mindu Hornick, a survivor of Auschwitz, then joined us again with Ruth Jacobs, for a deeply powerful and emotional presentation about her life. Over 600 pupils, staff and parents joined us in the King’s High Hall for An Encounter with Andy Williamson

An Encounter with Peter Dumbreck

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An Encounter with Baroness Sue Garden

An Encounter with Chris Brett

James Preece

Dr Olesya Khromeychuk

An Encounter with Dan Sleat OW

An Encounter with Gareth Russell

An Encounter with the Revd Jonathan Aitken

An Encounter with Mindu Hornick MBE

An Encounter with Professor Amin Benaissa

An Encounter with Dr Erica Rowan

An Encounter with Dr Sukhvir Wright

An Encounter with General Simon Mayall

An Encounter with Manuela Perteghella MP

An Encounter with Luke Hanrahan OW

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FEATURES

THE SIXTH FORM YEAR

The academic year 2024-2025 has been another enjoyable and eventful year for the Sixth Form. The year began with the retirement of Mrs Bell, with Mr Bennett assuming the role of Head of Sixth Form, and Mrs Kirby continuing as Assistant Head of Sixth Form. The Sixth Form team also welcomed Miss Yeldham as an Assistant Head. Many of the boys, both Upper Sixth and the new Lower Sixth, had been on an epic rugby tour to Australia and New Zealand, and the wonderful camaraderie generated on the tour was evident in the Sixth Form Centre from day one.

After successfully completing their GCSE examinations, the boys in the Lower Sixth arrived in the Sixth Form Centre looking smart and raring to go. Many were excited at what the next two years could bring, academically and otherwise, as well as salivating at the prospect of spending their money on pizza twists or ham and cheese paninis in the Sixth Form café. The Lower Sixth boys gradually found their feet, although many struggled (and seemingly still do) to understand that, when in the Sixth Form, there is no such thing as a free period; rather, study periods are the expected norm for Sixth Formers at Warwick School.

Eventually, summer 2025 saw many Lower Sixth boys achieve some fantastic grades in their end-of-year examinations, which will set them up well for their university applications. Well done to all in the Lower Sixth who are progressing on to Upper Sixth!

achievements in Medicine applications and musical conservatoire offers, with a record number of pupils receiving places at prestigious institutions such as the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music. Well done to all the boys in Upper Sixth for their wonderful achievements.

Many pupils received Mulley ties and bow ties from the school in celebration of academic enrichment, along with a select few earning their Floreat Diplomas. Other highlights of the year include the performance of many Sixth Form pupils in the Chemistry Olympiad and the Maths Challenge, with several achieving gold, silver or bronze awards. In addition, many pupils had their essays commended in the various essay competitions they entered.

Prefect Weekend is always one of the highlights of the Sixth Form calendar, and it never disappoints. Still smiling after their recent appointments, 40 newly elected prefects embarked on a heroic expedition to the Peak District. Upon arrival, fuelled with enthusiasm, stories from Mrs Kirby, and determination, the cohort were instantly met with their first challenges of the day.

In smaller groups, the prefects crawled through rabbit holes, Lower Sixth on the Prefect Weekend

Similarly, the Upper Sixth boys, fresh from celebrating their successes of the previous year and having had a restful summer, were collectively stoic and supportive of one another in the face of the inevitable challenges that the final year of A-level studies brings. It could be said that the Upper Sixth really did make the most of their time at Warwick School, with many not only excelling academically, whether in school or through external super-curricular engagement, but also thriving in their extra-curricular pursuits.

Academic enrichment and success were celebrated, with many of the Sixth Formers embodying the school values of curiosity and creativity. A major success was the seven Oxbridge offers received across a spectrum of subjects, ranging from Medicine to Spanish and Arabic. Furthermore, there were significant

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U6 Leavers Photo

FEATURES

Prefect Bonding Weekend

endured a blindfolded obstacle course and much more, fostering a deeper sense of community within the group. After demolishing a meal of lasagne and chips, the boys were introduced to a wonderful, yet challenging, team-building exercise, which saw the teams perform exceptionally and tested their patience (with the task and with each other!). After an evening under the stars camping out in sub-zero temperatures, the prefects were able to choose from abseiling, weaselling (don’t ask!) or high ropes and, in the face of adversity, worked collectively and coherently to conquer any obstruction in their path. The weekend culminated in an epic scavenger hunt across the local area, with the boys solving problems and gathering clues. The boys were divided equally, and the various teams competed to find the treasure chest. Every prefect contributed significantly, offering unique perspectives to solve complex problems and leading by example in their endeavours. Competition was rife, however, and by the finest of margins, one team was declared victorious. Overall, the expedition was a rewarding experience for all of the boys, which saw all seven of our Warwick values demonstrated and highlighted the exceptional leadership potential that this group possesses.

Archie Goodrem was appointed Head of School (taking over from Ray’an Bhanji, who had been magnificent in the role), and he will be assisted by Hector Magraw (Pupil Voice and Wellbeing), Thomas Russell (Logistics) and Theo Cooper (Charities and Community), all of whom will comprise the new Senior Prefects group for Warwick School. The congratulations of the school community must be extended to these boys for their appointment to these positions, which reflects their standing amongst their peers and teachers, and the way they conducted themselves over the course of the year. We wish them the best of luck ahead of the next academic year. Further congratulations must be extended to the new House Captains: Tom Jennings (Brooke), Isaac Budd (Greville), Tom Selby (Guy), George Holmes (Leycester), Ptolemy Walton-Hayfield (Oken) and Zac Varachia (Tudor), who will be a great support for the various Heads of House in the forthcoming year. Finally, it is important to say a big thank you to Ray’an Bhanji, the outgoing Senior Prefect team and all the other prefects, who worked tirelessly for the school community and were outstanding in their roles.

CTB

Upper Sixth Music Offer Holders

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FEATURES

THE HOUSE YEAR Michaelmas Term

This academic year began with a range of spirited House events, blending sport, music, intellectual challenge, and collaboration with sister houses at King’s High School.

Year 7 opened the House calendar with Tug of War, showing admirable perseverance in their first-ever House event. Brooke seized early momentum with a commanding performance, while Oken showed tremendous grit to win their final round and share fifth place with Tudor.

The first of the intellectual contests was the House Quiz, led

by Mr Cooley. Guy, Greville, and Oken each took two year group wins, with Leycester securing crucial points through their victory in Year 8. Joint House Quizzes with King’s High continued to provide laughter and competition, highlighted by Messrs Sutherland and Maguire’s impressive performance in the reindeer challenge. Arthur Tracey earned an honourable mention for his outstanding general knowledge contributions.

Debating returned in style, with Oken winning the Year 7 competition. However, Greville proved to be formidable debaters, sweeping the Middle School, Upper School, and Sixth Form events with calm precision and tactical brilliance.

House Music was filled with enthusiasm and talent. Oken delivered a lively performance of Pharrell Williams’ Happy to secure first place, while Brooke once again impressed with their House Shout, taking top spot with a rousing rendition of Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer.

New sports events enriched the calendar this year. In Year 11 mixed netball, Oken and sister house Seacole edged out Guy and Tubman by a single goal on points scored. Special mentions go to Hudson Cho and Theo Simon for their impressive play.

The Year 8 and 9 basketball leagues concluded in dramatic fashion with sudden-death free throws. Tudor emerged victorious in Year 8, thanks to Matei Grecu’s leadership, while Brooke dominated Year 9. The term concluded with Winter Sportsfest, featuring football, uni-hock, and table tennis, with every student participating in the name of House spirit.

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Lent Term

The Lent Term opened with a culinary challenge in which Lower Sixth students created new dishes for Meat-Free Wednesdays.

Greville emerged triumphant with their teriyaki tofu and stir-fry, winning over both the Head Master and the school chefs.

House Drama focused on live-action remakes of animated classics.

Greville won Best Performance for The Hunchback, Brooke’s Upper School took both Best Costume and Best Film for Inside Out, while Oken’s Middle School earned Best Editing for Monsters Inc. Science Week buzzed with creativity. In the Year 7 and 8 boatbuilding competition, Tudor proved to be the most seaworthy.

Oken dominated the science knowledge quiz, winning three year groups and taking overall first place. The Science Fair featured a dazzling array of displays, with Guy winning valuable points thanks to two podium finishes, including first place for Sam Ran. In the end, Science Week concluded in a rare tie between Oken and Guy. Joint events with King’s High brought musical energy into the mix. The inaugural “Belt It Out Buzz” House Song initiative had students singing their hearts out to karaoke hits every Friday

FEATURES morning. All Houses performed within 10% of each other, showing remarkable consistency.

Greville challenged Brooke’s House Shout dominance with a spirited rendition of Don’t Stop Believin’, while Tudor surprised everyone with an unexpectedly strong performance of I Want It That Way. House Sport continued with the introduction of the Year 7 basketball league, culminating in another nail-biting sudden-death shootout, won

by Oken. Swimming saw a shift in momentum, with Brooke’s consistency across all year groups ensuring their victory. Sportsfest offered competitions in badminton, touch rugby, and hockey, with victories spread widely, reflecting strong inter-house balance.

Summer Term

With all six Houses still in contention, the Summer Term saw competitive spirits rise. Guy made an early statement by winning the Year 7 tennis competitions. Meanwhile, Leycester shone in Year 7 cricket, pleasing Mr Francis. In Year 8 tennis, Tudor, under Mr Leaf’s guidance, secured vital points.

Sports Day brought out the best in every House. Oken and Greville, trailing the leaders, needed big results. Oken’s Year 7, 8, and Lower Sixth groups delivered podium finishes, while Greville’s Year 10s dominated their category, winning by the

biggest margin of the day. Eleven school records were broken, though Tudor still holds the most individual records at thirteen.

While star performances matter, success on Sports Day comes from teamwork and consistency. Brooke did just that in Years 8 and Lower Sixth, while Guy took the honours in Years 7 and 9, making this one of the closest contests in years. Brooke’s collective effort and “grizzly determination” earned them the overall Sports Day title.

The final points of the year came from commendations, awarded for demonstrating school values. Over 27,000 were issued across the year. Tudor, previously sixth in both Michaelmas and Lent, surged to fourth place by focusing on commendations. However, in a nail-biting finish, Guy edged past Oken by just three commendations to take top spot this term, and with it, the overall victory.

Final House Results:

IW

6 – Leycester – 4360 5 – Tudor – 4620 4 – Greville – 5370 3 – Oken – 5810 2 – Brooke – 6310 1 – Guy – 6320

Leycester House Sports Day

Tudor House Sports Day

Greville House Sports Day

Oken House Sports Day

Brooke House Sports Day

Guy House Sports Day

FEATURES

BOARDING

As we reflect on the last year in Warwick School’s boarding community, it is clear that it was a time filled with growth and successes. The summer break saw our boarders return home after what had been a remarkable and enriching year.

We began the year by celebrating the outstanding achievements of our A level and GCSE students, who received their results just before the boarding houses reopened in September. Once again, boarders were among the top performers at both levels, with all our A level students securing places at universities around the world.

The long Michaelmas Term allows new boarders to settle into the routines of boarding life, beginning with our Induction Programme, which takes place even before the term officially starts. This programme includes activities designed to help students find their feet, not just in the house and the school, but also in the local surroundings of Warwick and Leamington, which are a world away from the vast metropolitan cities many of them come from.

As always, we celebrated a wide range of festivals that are important to the different cultures represented in our houses. The Mid-Autumn Festival was our first celebration of the year, followed

by Bonfire Night, and the now-traditional karaoke session at the annual Christmas party. We also marked the Chinese New Year during the Lent Term, continuing our commitment to recognising and valuing the diversity within our community.

Boys are encouraged to make the most of all that boarding life at Warwick has to offer. Our activities programme plays a key role in this, and students have a say in shaping the calendar. This year, activities ranged from go-karting and horse riding to the everpopular cinema and shopping trips that run throughout the year.

We also bid farewell to some big characters in boarding as our Upper Sixth boys move on to new adventures. Many of them joined us during the challenging days of COVID, Upper Sixth Boarders

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Boarders visiting Warwick Castle navigating quarantines and travel restrictions to study here.

Their perseverance and resilience have been nothing short of inspiring and speak volumes about the value they placed on their boarding experience.

Looking ahead, the next academic year promises to be an exciting one, with a record number of boarders joining the house.

We are confident that this vibrant and supportive community will continue to thrive.

A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who makes our boarding community the success it is, both boys and staff. Special thanks go to our outgoing prefect team, led superbly by Kyle Ko and Dmytro Tytov, who have been outstanding role models throughout the year.

Finally, none of this would be possible without the dedication and hard work of our boarding staff. They work incredibly long hours to ensure that each boy feels supported, safe, and valued. We are fortunate at Warwick to have an exceptional team, especially Miss Tina, Miss Carvell, Dr Hodskinson, and Mrs Bull, who together make the boarding community the warm, caring, and dynamic environment it is.

DCB Upper School Boarders out and about in Leamington Spa

The WS Boarding Community 2024-2025

Jazz Explorers

FEATURES

BHT 25 THE ANNIVERSARY SHOWCASE Thursday 1st May marked a very special milestone in the life of the Bridge House Theatre – 25 years since the building opened its doors to the pupils of Warwick School and the wider community.

To celebrate, we gathered on Saturday 10th May for the BHT 25 Anniversary Showcase. This one-off performance featured short extracts from plays, musical items, comedy sketches and special video messages, all championing a quarter of a century of artistic expression in Warwick.

The evening showcased a huge array of remarkable young talent, including Darcy Melville who delivered a commanding performance as Miss Trunchbull from Matilda the Musical, the members of Jazz Explorers, who demonstrated the musicality and razor-sharp instincts of the next wave of jazz musicians, and Hope Brotherhood and Tommy Perry, who reprised their roles as Mrs Lovett and Sweeney Todd with a magnetic ease, transporting us back to last November’s dark and captivating musical.

Hope Brotherhood and Tommy Perry

Particularly impressive were the performers of Yasmin Reza’s satirical comedy ‘Art’, James Bull, James Albrighton and Zoë Milne, who not only portrayed their characters with a rich sincerity, but also performed in different European languages embodying the distinct cultural nuances of the countries in question.

James Bull and James Albrighton

All the participants were exceptional and contributed to a varied and accomplished 90-minute showcase, enjoyed by an invited audience who held personal connections to the theatre. The young people were superb advocates for the power of arts education and the continued importance of live performance in our communities, a sentiment that was echoed in the special video message sent from Dame Judi Dench who opened the theatre back in 2000: “Hello to Mike Perry and everyone at the Bridge House Theatre in Warwick. I can’t believe it’s 25 years since I opened the theatre and I’m so thrilled to know and hear how you’ve gone on from strength to strength. It’s incredible at this time when, you know, we don’t feel that the arts is being enough supported. But anyway, you go a great way towards making people aware of the theatre and how important it is to us all. So, many congratulations and love to you all and I hope you have a terrific day.”

The evening concluded by welcoming all the performers back onto stage with a stirring rallying cry of ‘The Finale’ from Les Misérables.

After the final curtain-call, folks were invited to stay and reminisce in the Bridge House Theatre foyer, swapping stories about productions past, and enjoying the photographic exhibition of 25 years of production shots, accompanied by swinging live music provided by the sensational Warwick School music department.

Sarah Robinson, Theatre Administration Manager, said: “It was such a fantastic evening! The atmosphere in the foyer was joyous and buzzy; so lovely to see old friends reuniting over their love of the theatre. Our front of house team, who have watched so many of these performers over the years, had great fun reminiscing over their standout moments, from all the rising stars on stage to the confetti clean ups at the end of the night.”

Director of the Bridge House Theatre, Mike Perry, said “For a school community to have a fully functioning theatre at all is a precious rarity and this space remains an inspirational beacon

reminding us all of the importance of the arts in everyone’s lives. It was wonderful to share memories and celebrate all who have contributed to the hundreds of productions over those 25 years. The experience tonight has gone a long way to inspiring all the BHT staff whose passion for theatre and performance will continue to fuel this place in the future.”

A huge thank you to the committed team of staff who supported the smooth-running of the event, to the incredible performers and to everyone who came along to toast the Bridge House Theatre.

Thanks to the support of Warwick Schools Foundation, over the past 25 years BHT has become an integral part of the cultural life of our schools and our town, providing countless opportunities for young people, community groups and professionals to grow their creativity. We’re excited to see what the next 25 years hold.

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Archive

100 YEARS AGO

1925 chapel gallery

Back in the day, the Portcullis magazine was edited by pupils (with staff oversight) and appeared several times a year. In 1924/25 there were three editions, one for each term.

In December 1924 the editors bemoan the awful weather, but say that ‘happily the health, temper and spirits of the School 136 not CANTUARIAN | 2022by its severity’. A particular joy was the have been affected discovery that an OW had paid a visit to the school and had left a sum of money at the Tuck Shop to be shared amongst the boys. Page upon page of this edition gives detail of every single cricket match played during the summer of 1924, followed by the same attention to rugby matches in the Michaelmas term.

Amongst topics for the Debating Society were the following: – – – – – –

that all fruit should be eaten in a bath that all prefects should wear moustaches that mankind is a slave to convention that New York is a dustbin for the rubbish of all nations that the theatre is better than the cinema that French should be abolished

Other popular school societies included the Literary & Dramatic Society, the Engineering Society. and the Natural History Society. Meanwhile, the OTC (Officers Training Corps) boasted a contingent of 120, of whom a record 56 had attended summer camp at Strenshall.

The school play, Richard II, was one of the last to be performed in the County Theatre as Headmaster Pyne was now able to plan for a stage in Big School to enable such performances to happen on site.

By March it seems the weather has been no better, but the editors look forward to spring. They also note that a start has been made on the memorial tablets to be placed in the Chapel in honour of those who had fallen in the Great War. It was hoped this would be finished by the end of the school year. Amongst the information provided in his Speech Day address by the Headmaster was the following: John Masefield, the poet, has received the honorary degree of LL.D. at Manchester University. Pyne also, and not for the first time, stressed the importance of parents keeping their sons at Warwick till the age of 18 or 19. (This was surely purely for the boys’ educational benefit! – ed.) The school now had 23 Sixth Formers and was able to provide a Modern Studies course for those not wishing to follow Mathematics and the Sciences.

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The summer did at last bring fine weather, enabling a good cricket season despite the loss to fire of the Sport Pavilion: fortunately, by now it was being rebuilt. Matches against traditional rivals such as KES Birmingham, Solihull and Rugby are accounted for in detail. The purchase of a motor mower was also a highlight for the groundstaff, though the editors regret that the horse-drawn mower was now consigned to the lower fields.

50 YEARS AGO

By 1974 the magazine was appearing just once a year and in a shortened format for financial reasons. The editor was Tom Belton, a member of the English Department who made such an impression on Martin Hewitt, subsequently a member of staff at WS, that he mentioned his childhood experiences in an article in this magazine some years ago. The School Notes section mentions the retirement of long-serving staff Henry and Audrey Sawyer, significant at this time because Henry’s replacement was Peter O’Grady.

The school plays this year were Terence Rattigan’s The Browning Version and Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound.

EJH/GNF

Sportcullis

RUGBY 1st XV P

W

D

L

18

10

0

8

Squad: D. Ayiehfor, B. Braine, J. Carless, E. Caven (capt), T. Dunning (v. capt), J. Field, F. Gravenor, A. Hargett, F. Henry, T. Jennings, M. Mendia, S. Morris, Z. Nijran, D. Oliver, O. Olomolaiye, T. Patrick, W. Payton, S. Price, T. Selby, F. Spiewakowski, N. Stevens, O. Tomlinson, J. Townsend, K. Trend, F. Turner, J. Turner, A. Wadland, A. Watson, T. Whorrod, A. Yuan The 2024–25 season began in July with a superb tour to New Zealand and Australia. This time spent together as a squad proved instrumental in uniting the group, and with the implementation of a more structured and deliberate Strength and Conditioning (S&C) programme, the season was set to be a ‘cracker’!

Throughout the season, the players’ resilience and competitiveness were on display week after week, with strong squad performances across a highly challenging fixture list.

Notably, over 30 boys had the opportunity to represent the 1st XV this year – a fantastic achievement for all involved.

The team played some exceptional rugby at times, scoring a number of outstanding tries. Highlights included Josh Field’s try in the corner against Bromsgrove in the Cup; Ewan Caven’s break through the heart of the Sedbergh defence, linking with Felix Henry; and a crucial team try against King’s Worcester – finished by Ollie Tomlinson – which saw the ball go through multiple phases before creating an overlap out wide.

Across the season, the team recorded outstanding victories against Bedford, Sedbergh (for only the second time in over 20 years), Bromsgrove, Stamford, King’s Worcester, and NSB under lights in the National Cup. Reaching the semi-final of the Cup this season was a tremendous achievement for this group of players.

While there were some defeats along the way, these experiences provided valuable learning opportunities for both coaches and players and formed an important part of the team’s journey throughout the season. The National Cup semi-final against QEGS Wakefield stands out as a memorable day for all the right reasons. Although the team did not emerge victorious, the players’ performances – particularly those of the senior leaders – were commendable. The support from the school community, fellow staff, and parents – not just for the 1st XV, but across the entire rugby programme – underscores the strength and passion at the heart of Warwick School Rugby.

In the 7s season, the squad performed exceptionally well, especially considering preparations were significantly hampered by the extended Cup run. The team’s showing at Rosslyn Park – where they pushed every opponent and came close to reaching the semi-finals of the national competition – is a testament to their commitment and the special camaraderie among the boys.

Congratulations to all 1st XV players who contributed to such a competitive, memorable, and enjoyable season. Special recognition must also go to Diamond Ayiehfor and James Townsend, who represented England U18s; Will Payton and Tom Whorrod, who were invited to an England U17s training camp; and Ewan Caven, who represented the Scottish Exiles.

DJH

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2nd XV P

W

D

L

12

5

0

7

Squad: B. Ainsworth, C. Beard, W. Callender, H. Cardona, J. Carless, M. Challis, T. Cole, T. Cottom, J. Curley, H. Drake, A. Hargett, J. Henchley, S. Humphries, R. Hurley, N. Lewis, T. Lucas, M. Malpass, S. Martin, F. McCombe, T. Miller, A.J. Nash, Z. Nijran, O. Olomolaiye, S. Perez, S. Price, T. Quinn, B. Rankin, W. Rickett, C. Riley, J. Schofield, J. Simpson, R. Sissins-Roffey, F. Spiewakowski, N. Stevens, B. Thurston-Thorpe, I. Turner, J. Turner, L. Valentine, A. Wadland, N. Wilson, A. Yuan The 2nd XV encountered a season characterised by perseverance and instability, particularly in relation to results and team selection. This was most evident in the fact that 42 different players represented the Warwick School 2nd XV over the course of the season. Several factors contributed to this, including the 1st XV Cup run, mid-week fixtures, and injuries - all of which required players to be prepared for whatever task lay ahead.

The season can be summarised by one phrase: “inconsistency was the only consistency.”

A tough start saw the team suffer four consecutive defeats, before securing a terrific away win at Harrow School. That

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match showcased the group’s best performance of the year, with standout displays from Seb Martin, Ant Hargett, and Isaac Turner.

Unfortunately, the momentum was short-lived, as another brief losing streak followed. However, the side bounced back on a cold Friday night in Northampton with a 26-21 win under the lights against NSB. The stalwarts of the team, Josh Carless and Seb Perez, set the tone with their physicality, inspiring the rest of the squad to dig deep and claw back a hard-fought victory.

One final triumph before Christmas came against local rivals Solihull, while the final two fixtures of the term were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. After the break, the team recorded two wins and one loss. Ned Wilson’s control and evasiveness at fly-half provided the platform for the team to play with greater fluency, allowing those around him to benefit from front-foot ball.

A huge congratulations goes to all 2nd XV players who ‘graduated’ to earn a 1st XV cap this year – a well-deserved reward for your attention to detail and hard work. I look forward to continuing the journey with the returning Lower Sixth players next season and wish those graduating every success in their future endeavours beyond Warwick School.

A. Hurst

SPORTCULLIS

3rd XV

4th XV

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

11

6

0

5

7

4

1

2

Squad: O. Anderson, H. Clarke, J. Curley, H. Drake, M. Gill, J. Henchley, G. Hockaday, S. Humphries, C. Lawson, N. Lewis, T. Lucas, M. Malpass, F. McCombe, T. Miller, J. Moreton, A. Patchett, H. Perry, B. Rankin, C. Ridley, A. Rivete, J. Schofield, W. Shepstone, R. Sissins-Roffey, R. Taylor, I. Thandi, B. ThurstonThorpe, L. Valentine, O. Watson, N. Wilson With a talented mix of Lower Sixth additions and strong Upper Sixth players, the season promised to be an exciting one. Good attendance at training fuelled healthy competition for places, leading to an unbeaten start with five consecutive victories over Bromsgrove, Berkhamsted, Denstone College, Magdalen College 2nd XV, and Harrow – where Sammy Humphries shone after stepping up from the 4th XV. Our first real test came against Bedford, where we trailed 7-0 at half-time. Despite brave performances from John Schofield and Finn McCombe, injuries to key backs Toby Lucas and Ned Wilson contributed to a 15-0 defeat.

Determined to respond positively, we next faced Sedbergh. After a spirited display, lapses in concentration allowed Sedbergh to stage a late comeback and take the win.

The team showed impressive resilience in the following matches.

Against Kingham Hill, we narrowly lost 42-35 in a high-scoring encounter featuring contributions from several 4th XV players. In challenging conditions against Sir Thomas Rich’s, where the mud made for a gruelling contest, Conor Ridley delivered a standout performance in the centre.

Squad: J. Bull, H. Clarke, H. Edges, E. Evans, F. Fellows, J. FosterWild, J. French, H. Gibbs, Z. Haigh, L. Hodgson, G. Holmes, A. Kang, V. Krishnan, R. Maclagan, H. Perry, W. Prince, T. Smeeton, I. Thandi, S. Thomas, O. Walmsley Jones, O. Watson, G. Williams This was a very competent team, with many players performing above the level typically expected at this standard. Some of the rugby played was a genuine pleasure to witness, particularly in the early fixtures, which featured emphatic wins over arch-rivals Bromsgrove, Berkhamsted, and Bedford.

The match of the season came against a strong Sibford 1st XV. In a fiercely competitive contest, the team trailed 15-10 with the clock in the red. In one last throw of the dice, they scored a dramatic equalising try. Standing arm in arm, the team watched as Harry Clarke expertly landed the winning conversion – to everyone’s delight.

There was a healthy blend of Lower and Upper Sixth boys throughout the side. Upper Sixth player Oscar Walmsley Jones was awarded Most Improved Player of the Year, using his physical maturity to excel in both attacking drives and defensive solidity. The large contingent of Lower Sixth players brought energy and enthusiasm, allowing the team to adopt an open, free-flowing style of play.

The Player of the Year award went to Sam Thomas, who admirably took on the captaincy and led by example in every aspect expected of a good leader.

J. Williamson

The season ended on a high with a resounding 53-10 victory over Shrewsbury School, showcasing the true Warwick spirit. The boys were a pleasure to coach, demonstrating a willingness to learn, a strong team ethic, and exemplary attitudes throughout the year.

N. Lightowler

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U16B

U16A P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

14

7

0

7

11

7

1

3

Squad: H. Askin, M. Bains, E. Bannon, O. Blake, A. Blenkinsop, C. Bryan, R. Caven, J. Deeley-Tham, G. Din, L. Gillard-Browne, F. Hallings-Pott, G. Larucci, J. Mothersdale, H. Nicklin, N. Paley, G. Pridgeon, S. Roberts, W. Roche-O’Reilly, W. Sayers, S. Sanyal, P. Shannon, D. Simkiss, T. Simon, K. Trend, R. Zhang The U16A team’s season featured important lessons, big wins, tough losses and plenty of enjoyment. A pre-season loss away at Stowe served as a wake-up call and proved to be a valuable lesson, as the team went on to win four of their next five fixtures. The first of these came away at Bromsgrove, with a hard-fought 26-22 victory. This dogged performance gave me the belief that this group had the character to achieve great things. The front row of Noah Paley, Alfie Blenkinsop, Dexter Simkiss and Maanav Bains led from the front, setting a strong platform in both the scrum and maul.

After a defeat to Berkhamsted, the team bounced back with three consecutive wins, including dominant performances against Denstone College (65-7) and Samuel Whitbread (34-7). In both matches, the speed of play and quality of ball movement took a noticeable step forward. This allowed the likes of Elliot Bannon, Oliver Blake, Jonny Mothersdale and Gianluca Larucci to cause havoc in the wider channels and run in several tries.

The performance of the season came against Harrow on the 1st XV pitch. It took a full squad effort and all seventy minutes to secure a memorable 12–10 victory. Led by captain Kieran Trend, the team did not take a backward step. Theo Simon and Rui Zhang were effective in the lineout, while Henry Nicklin, Guy Pridgeon, Joe Deeley-Tham, Will Roche-O’Reilly and Fred Hallings-Pott worked themselves to a standstill.

This physicality, combined with the game management of half-backs Henry Askin, Will Sayers, Pat Shannon and Rory Caven, meant the game was played in Harrow’s half for long periods.

A challenging few weeks followed, requiring some soulsearching, particularly after a 33-7 loss to Sedbergh. However, the squad’s commitment never wavered. They responded in style against Northampton School for Boys, winning 22-17. The team adapted well to the conditions, with powerful midfield carries from Seth Roberts, Gavriel Din, Cameron Bryan and Sarthak Sanyal giving the attack a strong focal point.

The season concluded with an impressive 33-0 win away at RGS High Wycombe. The scoreline, however, does not reflect how hard the team had to work to break down a resolute defence. It was also pleasing to see Luke Gillard-Browne return from injury and deliver a strong performance.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with this team throughout the season. The final two wins were a testament to the progress they have made, and I look forward to seeing them continue to develop as they step into senior rugby at the school.

CTM

Squad: M. Bains, A. Charnock, H. Cho, C. Cooper, H. Cooper, Z. Hesketh, M. Holmes-Turosik, T. Jaques, J. Lin, C. Lewis, S. Lloyd-Evans, M. McLintock, H. Martin, G. Oliver, T. Parker, A. Quinn, S. Roberts, S. Sanyal, E. Seshie, X. Sturt, W. Thompson, A. Wilson, T. Widdowson The U16B team had a fantastic season, with notable team victories and clear individual progress. They started strongly, beating Bromsgrove 31-10 before battling to a 12-12 draw against Berkhamsted. They were then faced with the stern challenge of taking on Magdalen College Oxford’s A team. In what was a complete team performance, full of courage and perseverance, they secured a 24-17 victory. Seth Roberts’ physicality set the tone, making scything tackles that lifted the energy across the squad. To defeat an A team was a fantastic achievement and a real highlight of the season.

Other standout performances included wins against Harrow (31-12), Sedbergh (50-0), and Rugby School (24-19). At a crucial point in the Rugby match, with just two points between the sides, Max McLintock stepped up to land a 35-metre penalty and help secure the win.

The latter part of the season brought tougher challenges, with away and home fixtures against RGS High Wycombe and Sir Thomas Rich’s respectively. The strength and depth of the squad came to the fore, with two hard-earned wins by scores of 31-5 and 26-5.

To have beaten the aforementioned teams this season shows the quality, character and attitude of the group. This effort and consistency deservedly led to the team being named the ‘Development Team of the Year’.

It has been a real pleasure to work with this group of players. They took ownership of their team, remained engaged throughout, and were always open to new ideas. I wish them all the very best in their future rugby endeavours.

S. Conduit

U16C W

D

L

8

5

0

3

Squad: R. Badial, G. Cole, O. Crow, F. Espley, M. Grewal, M. Heeley, M. Holmes-Turosik, A. Hughes, B. Humphries, S. Hunt, L. Kennedy, I. Khan, G. Leaver, M. Li, K. Liu, F. McGrory, B. Pass, L. Potgieter, J. Protherough, M. Saxton, T. van der Schalk, J. West, A. Wilson The U16C XV have enjoyed an intrepid and successful season, winning most of their matches and consistently demonstrating thrilling rugby. The team were particularly notable for their attacking flair. The backline, led by scrum-half Ollie Crow, produced some sensational performances. Well-executed moves from scrums and switches in open play regularly created line breaks, leading to several impressive tries across the season. Iman Khan was a particular standout performer in this area.

Perhaps the most memorable win came against Harrow, where the team edged out a one-point victory in a nail-biting contest. The forward pack, ably led by George Leaver and Rishi Badial, provided a strong platform, with Manson Li proving indomitable in the scrum.

A final mention must go to Fintan McGrory, who twice saved the day with last-minute tackles that secured vital wins for the team.

ORO’B

106 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5

P

SPORTCULLIS

U15A P

W

D

L

19

13

1

5

Squad: O. Adams, J. Budd, F. Brazil, H. Downes, S. Dunning, W. Ericson, R. Evans, L. Foster, G. Horner, O. Jenkins, M. Kelleher, G. Lakhpuri, K. Matthews, D. Mendia, J. Neal, H. Pitt, T. Richardson, N. Roberts, R. Ruparellia, S. Scott, Y. Thapliyal, J. Thomas, H. Thomas, T. Tilson, D. Ward, H. Woods The 2024-25 season was another memorable chapter in the rugby journey of this talented U15 group. From the opening whistle in September to the final 7s tournament in the spring term, the boys consistently demonstrated commitment, skill and togetherness – all qualities that reflect the best of Warwick rugby.

Special thanks go to the leadership group of Max Kelleher, Todd Tilson, Theo Richardson and Sam Dunning, who each captained the side at different points throughout the year. Their maturity, calm heads and ability to lead by example were central to the team’s success both on and off the pitch.

The 15-a-side campaign was a real highlight, with the team finishing with 13 wins, one draw and five losses. They scored 482 points and conceded 315, finishing with a points difference of +167. The standout performance came in the National Cup, where the team secured a historic win over Bromsgrove School – a game that will live long in the memory of players, coaches and supporters. It was a performance that showed the heart and resilience of this group and helped carry them all the way to a well-deserved quarter-final place.

U15s Warwick 7s Theo and KJW

Individually, Louie Foster deserves a mention as the season’s top try scorer. His ability to finish chances was a real asset, with several memorable tries across the campaign. But his success was only possible because of the tireless work, creativity and connection across the squad – a genuine team effort.

This has been a group defined by its spirit, its willingness to graft and its desire to keep improving. They’ve worn the Warwick jersey with pride and represented the school with real credit.

A. Skyrme

U15s Warwick 7s winners

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U15B

U15C

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

13

6

0

7

8

3

0

5

Squad: O. Adams, W. Alston, H. Angel, F. Brazil, L. Balzaretti, D. Cashman, S. Clarke, L. Court, F. Davis, H. Downes, F. Jenkins, O. Jenkins, S. Johnson, R. Khan, A. Lee, K. Matthews, D. Mendia, J. Neal, H. Newell, T. O’Dell, O. Tavares Schmidt, Y. Thapliyal, J. Thomas, D. Ward, H. Woods The season began brightly, with strong wins against Bromsgrove and Berkhamsted. Fin Brazil, Oliver Adams and Jack Thomas were particularly prominent during this early phase.

The middle part of the season presented a series of tough challenges against MCS U15A, Harrow, Bedford, Sedbergh and NSB, all resulting in competitive but hard-fought losses. Perhaps the most disappointing moment came away at Harrow, where, with five minutes remaining and in a promising attacking position, the team lost possession and conceded three late tries to lose the match.

However, the boys responded admirably, getting back on track with a thumping 66–21 victory over Rugby School. This was followed by further impressive wins over RGS High Wycombe, Sir Thomas Rich’s School and Old Swinford Hospital. The only defeats in the second half of the season came against KES Stratford U15A and NSB once again.

Throughout the campaign, Henry Angel, Yash Thapliyal and Tom O’Dell provided real ball-carrying power, while Dom Ward impressed with his transition from wing to back row. Samuel Johnson, Otavio Tavares Schmidt, Wilfred Aston and Lucas Court worked tirelessly in the scrum and around the park.

A settled combination of Oliver Adams, Henry Downes and Felix Davis provided much-needed stability at half-back and centre, improving the team’s direction and attacking distribution. This enabled Oscar Jenkins, Jacob Neal, Luca Balzaretti and Harrison Newell to find more space and pose a greater attacking threat out wide.

Most Improved Player was awarded to Oliver Adams, while Player of the Season went to Daniel Cashman for his consistently excellent performances, particularly in defence.

MF

108 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5

Squad: A. Baxter, W. Chan, J. Chen, S. Clarke, T. Davies, C. Dillon, T. Dodsworth, D. Fan, O. Featherstone, J. Ford, W. Harris, H. Holmes, K. Kamalanathan, S. Kan, A. Lawlor, A. Lee, L. Matthews, D. Page, C. Shalders, H. Thomas, F. Uelker, T. Wang The C team’s rugby season began with significant challenges, as consistently fielding a full squad proved difficult. Early fixtures demanded immense effort from stalwarts Teddy Davies, Dan Page, Winson Chan, Furkan Uelker, Tony Wang, Dan Fan, Will Harris and Alex Baxter, who persevered through some tough encounters.

However, the matches against Harrow and Bedford marked a turning point. A renewed commitment to training, driven in part by the enthusiasm of Teddy and Dan, coupled with a welcome increase in player numbers, injected fresh energy into the team.

The arrival of Laurie Matthews, a standout centre, provided a consistent spark and he delivered impressive performances week after week.

This positive shift culminated in a series of season highlights, with memorable victories over Rugby School, Sir Thomas Rich’s School, and KES Stratford. The season concluded on a resounding high, with a collective sense of accomplishment and the feeling that this team had even more to give.

A personal highlight was the unpredictable and occasionally reckless Winson Chan, whose intensity and fearlessness were truly admirable.

R. Hartley

SPORTCULLIS

U14A P

W

D

L

15

13

0

2

Squad: S. Akilan, B. Balfe, H. Barnes, J. Beaumont, C. Burcher, L. Cooper, J. Davies, C. Gambles, T. Gray, H. Hanbury, M. Hesketh, G. Horner, S. Ingram, H. Jennings, M. Liddington, C. Madden, J. May, T. McFall, W. Nock, T. Ollerenshaw, G. Owen, A. Robertson, C. Wheeler A key focus this season was transitioning from a group of individuals, previously reliant on a few standout players, into a cohesive team in which every player was accountable for collective success. Developing coordination in attack and greater determination in defence quickly became essential, particularly when facing a strong Bromsgrove side who had won convincingly the previous year.

That opening game set the tone for the rest of the season. The boys demonstrated togetherness, dogged defence, and a shared desire to work for each other, with many players competing for the “Best Team-Mate” award throughout the campaign.

The leadership group of Tom Ollerenshaw, Will Nock, Sam Ingram, Henry Jennings and George Horner rose to the challenge superbly. Their commitment to video analysis and tactical gameplay played a vital role in the team’s development.

A standout moment was the emphatic 33–12 away win over Sedbergh, which was followed by the now-traditional bus karaoke – with friendships off the pitch flourishing, even if Mr Willis’s singing left room for improvement!

In the second term, the match that had been circled since September was the National Cup clash with NSB. Having never beaten them before, Warwick secured a landmark 36-21 victory.

It was built on a resolute defensive effort from Tom Gray, Archie Robertson and Jude Beaumont, backed up by the attacking influence of Luke Cooper and Hugo Barnes. Although the cup run ended at the semi-final stage against St Peter’s, York, the team can be incredibly proud of their progress.

A season average of 34.4 points scored and just 13.2 conceded per game reflects their dominance in many fixtures. The exciting challenge now lies ahead – can they take the next step and become one of the top sides in the country when it matters most?

Finally, a huge thank you to all the parents for their support and cooperation this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and your sons.

IW

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U14B

U14C

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

13

4

1

8

10

1

1

8

Squad: S. Akilan, H. Bayliss, J. Beaumont, B. Blair, B. Buckle, C. Chan, J. Coghlan, E. Cooper, J. Davies, J. Dewhirst, Y. Elsharkawy, A. Forkwe, J. Gallagher, S. Guest, Q. Hornby, A. Jones, H. May, J. May, G. Owen, F. Rapp, M. Stanojevic, E. Thorp, L. Vilimaitis, J. Yu

Squad: J. Ackerman, A. Ali, K. Barber, B. Beckingsale, R. Bhandal, J. Gallagher, R. Gill, H. Gorner, A. Hayton, C. Heeley, C. Hogan, Q. Hornby, S. Kanwar, G. Lo, H. Osborne, O. Pitt, F. Rieder-Wood, S. Sawle, B. Street, O. Thewlis, M. Todd-Wright, A. Westwood, J. Woodbridge, J. Yu

The U14B team faced a tough start to the season, coming up against some well-drilled opposition that made it difficult for the boys to play the rugby they were capable of. However, their determination and hard work soon began to pay off, beginning with a strong performance against NSB to secure a first win of the season with a convincing 19-7 victory.

The U14C team faced a challenging campaign, playing ten fixtures with one win, one thrilling 25–25 draw, and eight losses. Despite the results, the boys gave everything in several tightly-contested games and showed consistent improvement throughout the season, thanks to their hard work in training and matches.

This was followed by what was arguably the match of the season against local rivals Rugby School. Some excellent teamwork led to a try in the dying seconds to level the scores, only for the final kick of the game to drift agonisingly wide, resulting in a thrilling 29-29 draw.

Their efforts were rewarded with a commanding 59-10 victory, a testament to the team’s progress. Barney Street, Henry Osborne and Kitt Barber led the way in training, driving standards and pushing both themselves and the group to improve.

Towards the tail end of the season, the team began to demonstrate more consistent quality in their play, going on to win their final three fixtures. The side was led superbly by captain Seb Guest, who brought power and pace from the back of the scrum and was a constant threat with ball in hand.

The forwards worked tirelessly all year, with Angelo Forkwe, Ed Thorp and Joey Coghlan regularly making hard yards in the loose, while Elliot Cooper popped up across the pitch to make crucial tackles. Their efforts provided the platform for the backs to develop their attacking play, with a back three of Barnaby Blair, George Owen and Jamie Davies consistently finding gaps in opposition defences.

The improvement shown by the boys throughout the season cannot be overstated, and they should be proud of how far they have come. They can look ahead to their next campaign with confidence.

GM

110 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5

One of the most inspiring stories of the season was Shiven Kanwar, who had never picked up a rugby ball before September and was initially hesitant to step onto the pitch. His positive attitude and growing confidence were remarkable, and by the final match, he didn’t want to come off the field.

Jake Yu stood out with his powerful runs and determined defence. He regularly broke tackles and refused to be stopped short of the try line. His strong performances were rightly rewarded with opportunities to play in the B team later in the season.

S. Drew

SPORTCULLIS

U13A

U13B

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

11

5

1

5

16

11

0

5

Squad: R. Arkle, F. Blackwall, A. Bull, N. Caven, N. Crann, H. Esom, M. Grecu, L. Hallings-Pott, S. Hawkes, H. May, H. Nankivell, L. Proger, R. Robinson, H. Syrotiuk, T. Turney, T. Unsworth, H. Yarwood, T. Yates, H. Westall, O. Withers It was a season that began with setbacks but finished with real momentum. What stood out more than any result was the boys’ passion for the game. They trained hard, stayed committed, and never lost their hunger to improve. From a shaky start to a string of impressive wins, this was a squad that earned every step forward.

The early weeks were tough. Three losses and a draw could have dented their confidence, but instead the boys doubled down. Their effort at training and love for the game began to shine through, and gradually the performances followed. Wins against well-drilled opposition came not through luck but through hard work and belief.

The turning point came on the Edinburgh tour. Facing physical, organised Scottish sides, the team had to dig deep and learn to put their bodies on the line for one another. It wasn’t just about the rugby. The time away brought them closer together, and the chance to fire paintballs at the coaches certainly helped team morale.

With Rupert Robinson leading from the front and Lex Proger returning from injury, the squad began to find rhythm and confidence. The highlight of the season came in a triangular fixture against NSB and Stamford, two sides who had beaten us earlier in the year. This time, everything clicked. Tom Turney and Harry Syrotiuk carried powerfully throughout, while Henry May and Leo Hallings-Pott set the tone in defence with their relentless work rate and leadership. Two brilliant wins followed, including a first-ever victory for this age group over NSB. From a group still finding its feet to a team that truly backed one another, the progress was clear. The boys can be proud of what they’ve built – not just in terms of results, but in how they played for each other. A tough start, a memorable tour, and a strong finish made it a season to be proud of and a platform to build on.

ZS

Squad: S. Alston, T. Arkle, M. Ashley, T. Bozdogan, J. Broadhurst, A. Bull, A. Cerene, J. Clarke, Z. Cox-Holmes, N. Crann, H. Esom, B. Fellowes, M. Grecu, R. Habaragamaralalage Pieris, A. Hayward, C. Holland, F. Hunt, N. Mekapothu, T. Miller, J. Mooney, T. Moriarty, T. Neale, B. Pennington, A. Plowman, F. Seamer, H. Swabey-Collison, R. Timothy Conod, T. Unsworth, H. Westall, T. Wiggin, H. Yarwood, T. Yates From the first pre-season training session, there was a clear sense of purpose and energy in the group. The boys arrived eager to learn, improve, and push themselves, and that mindset never wavered.

A key development this year was the introduction of Billy Fellowes at fly half. His composure, excellent distribution, and tactical kicking gave us greater attacking width and control under pressure.

Despite a strong pre-season, the opening game was a wake-up call. Once again facing NSB, we came out second best with a 25-0 defeat. It was a tough start but a valuable one, reminding us of the importance of detail. Arriving early to sharpen skills, trusting in our defensive structure, and adapting mid-game became key focus points. To their credit, the boys responded brilliantly.

What followed was a seven-match unbeaten run, built on resilience, effort, and smart rugby. Defensively, we grew stronger each week, with different players stepping up and seamlessly slotting into the side. This consistency came not just from talent, but from shared standards and values across the squad.

Fixtures against top ‘A’ teams showed our progress, as we competed well and produced performances to be proud of. These matches are always a strong measure of where we are as a team, and this year they highlighted a group growing in confidence and maturity.

It has been a season of real development, both as individuals and as a team. A special mention must go to Theo Unsworth, who started the season in the C team, moved up to the B team, and finished with several appearances for the A team. His progression is a testament to his drive, determination, and well-earned title of Most Improved Player.

It has been a privilege to coach this group and watch them grow throughout the year.

MPS

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U13C

U13D

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

12

7

0

5

6

5

0

1

Squad: F. Alemi, J. Blackman, J. Broadhurst, G. Bull, T. Byrne, A. Cerene, J. Clarke, A. Collier, W. Dabinett, R. Habaragamaralalage Pieris, Z. Hale, F. Hunt, K. Johnston, W. Kelsey, M. King, N. Mekapothu, T. Neale, B. Pennington, A. Plowman, J. Quinney, H. Richards, F. Seamer, T. Unsworth, J. Walters, T. Wilson, T. Woodhouse The U13Cs enjoyed a season of notable improvement. The boys’ dedication to turning up and developing their skill sets at each training session was outstanding, as was their desire to play with real ambition regardless of the match situation.

Several fixtures stood out across the campaign. One memorable match was on the Scotland tour against Glasgow Academy, where the team fought valiantly despite unfamiliar surroundings, different rules around the tackle area, and a lack of substitutes.

They pushed a strong Glasgow side all the way. Theo Unsworth and Freddie Seamer were absolutely outstanding that day, as they were throughout the season.

Another highlight was the return fixture away at NSB in February, following a narrow loss to them in November. This time, thanks to excellent performances from Jimmy Broadhurst, Antoine Cerene, captain Winston Kelsey, and Josh Clarke, the team sealed a 40-30 victory, playing terrific attacking rugby through multiple phases.

There were many standout individual moments across the season. Alex Plowman frequently tore down the wing to score try after try, while Aaron Jackson, Tommy Byrne, and Theo Neale each crossed the line multiple times in a dominant performance away at Sir Thomas Rich’s.

It was a positive and enjoyable season. Well done to all the boys for their hard work and commitment.

RMHT

112 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5

Squad: J. Blackman, W. Dabinett, C. Fortune, B. Gardiner, Z. Hale, E. Hillis, A. Jackson, H. Jefferson, G. Kedeeskumar, M. King, C. Lee, B. Reed, H. Richards, J. Walters, T. Woodhouse, H. Xydhias The U13D rugby team had an exciting and rewarding season, starting strongly with a series of early wins that set the tone for a hardworking and committed squad. As the season progressed, the team faced tougher opponents, and although not every game ended in victory, each challenge contributed to our development.

From improving communication on the field to understanding the importance of supporting each other, the players made clear and consistent progress. A special mention goes to Aaron Jackson, named most improved player, who consistently demonstrated determination and growth. Harry Jefferson stood out as the player of the year, leading by example with skill, spirit, and reliability.

Several players stepped up impressively, earning promotion to the C team through their effort and ability. Congratulations to Zeb Hale, William Dabinett, Thomas Woodhouse and Hunter Richards for their progress.

While we celebrated our victories, it was the camaraderie, development, and lasting memories that truly defined our season.

BF

SPORTCULLIS

U12A P

W

D

L

11

4

2

5

Squad: F. Albrighton, W. Baker, D. Brooke, A. Clarke, L. Cunningham, T. Denning, A. Dewhirst, Z. Dooner, C. Dyke, G. Haworth, D. Kan, F. Kilonback, P. Knight, C. Lea, A. LincolnWilliams, W. Line, Z. Shah, S. Shariff, X. Sidhu, T. Simpson, O. Stanojevic, J. Summers, M. Sweet, M. Ward While results were mixed, they do not fully reflect the commitment, progress, and growing maturity of the squad.

Attendance at training was consistently excellent, and the boys approached each session with enthusiasm and a clear desire to improve, both individually and collectively.

The early part of the season proved challenging, with the transition to the demands of senior school rugby requiring time and adjustment. A particularly difficult afternoon against Sir Thomas Rich’s in the second half of the season proved a turning point. In the days that followed, the players were asked to reflect on their performance and the standards to which they aspired.

Their response was immediate and impressive, with significantly improved displays against Old Swinford Hospital and Northampton School for Boys. These included a superb first half attacking performance against OSH and two highly committed defensive efforts. Indeed, their tackling drew praise from the referee, a former England international, who described the side as one of the most effective defensive units he had seen at this level all season.

As the season progressed, so too did the team’s cohesion and understanding. Though this was not always reflected in the results column, their on-pitch decision-making, spatial awareness, technical execution, and defensive commitment improved noticeably. A clear emphasis on the RFU’s principles for agegrade rugby was maintained throughout, ensuring that all players were given the opportunity to experience multiple positions and develop a broad skill set. By the end of the season, 25 players had benefitted from the opportunity to represent the U12A team.

This is a team very much at the beginning of its journey. If the boys continue to train with the same energy and apply themselves with the same determination, there is every reason to believe that further success lies ahead.

In a season characterised by collective progress, singling out individuals may seem contrary. However, the following players were identified by their coaches and peers as exemplifying the attitudes of their teammates and embodying the school values of courage, creativity, curiosity, humility, perseverance, and responsibility: Most Improved Player: Akshay Lincoln-Williams, whose progress was a testament to his hard work and willingness to learn.

Player of the Year: Max Ward, whose consistency, leadership, and commitment stood out across the season.

Sevens Player of the Year: Xavier Sidhu, who excelled in tournament play with his vision and ball skills.

We look forward to seeing how this promising group of players develops in the years to come.

JSB

U12B P

W

D

L

10

5

1

4

Squad: E. Aideyan, W. Baker, D. Brooke, E. Burt, M. Byrne, D. Denning, A. Dewhirst, Z. Dooner, C. Dyke, A. Grove, G. Haworth, L. Hipkiss, Q. Hornby, M. Hyams, G. Kidby-hickey, T. Ladele, C. Lea, A. Lincoln-Williams, T. Markou, T. Marshall, H. Monahan, A. Price, W. Rhodes, D. Russell, Z. Shah, S. Shariff, T. Simpson, O. Stanojevic, J. Summers, M. Sweet The U12Bs played in many exciting and competitive games throughout the season. The boys approached every match in good spirit and steadily increased their levels of intensity and physicality as the season progressed. It was particularly pleasing to see many players improve their skills and break into the team.

Standouts here were Dan Brooke and Maddox Hyams, who made strong impressions in cameo appearances from the bench before establishing themselves as regulars.

One of the most notable developments was how well the team began to move the ball with greater accuracy and speed, allowing them to play more effective attacking rugby.

Zak Dooner showed significant improvement in this area, regularly getting on the ball and starting to distribute more confidently. He is deservedly named our Most Improved Player of the Season. Jay Summers also provided dynamic energy and urgency, helping to recycle possession more quickly and keep the tempo high.

Charles Dyke often captained the side and worked tirelessly in the less glamorous areas of the game, such as securing the ball in rucks and making vital tackles. While the team suffered two heavy defeats against a strong NSB side, most fixtures were closely contested and highly enjoyable.

PMW

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U12C

U12D

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

10

4

1

5

9

7

1

1

Squad: M. Ahmed, E. Aideyan, D. Brooke, J. Bryan, F. Clark, W. Colegate, L. Davies, D. Duru, A. Forsyth, M. George, A. Grove, L. Hipkiss, Q. Hornby, M. Hyams, G. Kidby-Hickey, R. Molloy, L. Papadakis, G. Pridgeon, L. Scott-Dawkins, A. Seshie, B. Stevns, O. Stokes, F. Upton

Squad: I. Abel, F. Anderson, J. Bryan, E. Burt, D. Chekuri, R. Dahia, D. Duru, A. Forsyth, D. Farnell, S. Friedrich, M. George, A. Gill, H. Gloster, Q. Hornby, A. Holmes, S. Joseph, C. Linforth, S. Mughal, G. Pridgeon, P. Puri, A. Seshie, L. Scott-Dawkins, F. Upton

From the very first whistle, these lads embraced the sport with guts, grit, and a grin. They finished the season with more points scored than conceded, a real achievement, and notched up an impressive 40% win rate. But the stats only tell half the story.

The U12D rugby team enjoyed a highly successful season, winning seven out of their nine fixtures and demonstrating impressive perseverance and courage throughout. The boys made tremendous progress as the season went on, thanks to their hard work in training, both individually and as a team. Their consistent effort helped them meet their goals and showed a strong sense of responsibility and commitment.

Week by week, their confidence soared. This squad of rugby rookies became a tight-knit unit of determined players, proudly carrying the torch for Warwick’s long tradition of playing with pride for the badge.

The highlight reel? A bruising battering of Bromsgrove, back-toback triumphs over Tommy Rich’s, and a glorious final flourish against Old Swinford ensured the season ended with a bang.

The boys didn’t just play rugby, they lived it.

Whether tackling like terriers (or trying to), charging like rhinos, or celebrating with that all-important “one clap, two clap…

WARWICK!”, they wore the blue and white with pride and passion.

Every match was a chance to prove themselves, and every week they turned up hungry to be picked, ready to give it their all.

The future is bright, and if this season is anything to go by, the U12C team is just getting started.

SRGF

Week by week, their confidence soared.

This squad of rugby rookies became a tight-knit unit of determined players, proudly carrying the torch for Warwick’s long tradition of playing with pride for the badge.

Notable attacking performances came from Sam Friedrich and Qixiang Hornby, who regularly broke through defensive lines. In defence, Alec Forsyth and James Bryan were standout figures, delivering solid and reliable displays week after week.

The season concluded on a high note with a dominant performance against King Edward VI School, Stratford, which perfectly showcased how far the team had come.

C. O’Kane

U12E P

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D

L

3

1

1

1

Squad: F. Anderson. T. Bailey, D. Cordwell, B. Danciu-Mirea, A. Griggs, E. Hadfield, A. Holmes, I. Khan, C. Linforth, D. Pietsch, P. Puri, N. Mehmi-Randhawa, R. Mehta, H. Moore, S. Mughal, R. See, L. Sheepy, H. Shi, T. Solovyev, L. Ward, O. Webb, L. Wilson The U12E team had three fixtures this season and showed real progress each time they stepped onto the pitch, finishing with a win, a draw, and a loss. Other schools are clearly starting to realise they are not a team to take lightly.

It has also been a season of learning, both for the players and, it must be said, for the coach. The boys now have a solid grasp of the game’s basics, including where the try line is and what the dead ball line means (though there were one or two memorable moments when players accidentally ran onto the pitch of an entirely different game).

The team showed great spirit throughout, braving the elements and improving with each match. It has been a rewarding year and a strong foundation for the future. A special mention must go to Parth Puri and Shazain Mughal, who are to be commended for their improvement over the year.

BWS

114 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5

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HOCKEY 1st XI

in their next game away at Cranleigh. This fixture became the highlight of the season for both coaches and players.

P

W

D

L

20

9

1

10

Squad: C. Baldry, S. Bentall, H. Bradbury, C. Buckley, B. Cadbury, W. Chesser, C. Feaver, B. Gale, A. Goodrem, O. Grundy, H. Hateley, O. Kovacs (capt), J. Lloyd, K. Umashanker, W. Vaux, O. Walmsley, O. Yates The 1st XI had what can only be described as a rollercoaster season, but it was one in which the group came together, supported one another through the tough moments, and celebrated the good ones as a team. With a strong cohort of Year 11 boys joining the squad, it was always going to be a season of learning and growth, and that certainly proved to be the case.

Before Christmas, the team played eleven matches, recording four wins, one draw and six losses. There were promising signs from a young and developing squad. Ben Cadbury, Oli Walmsley and Will Vaux settled in well, while Charles Baldry, Keeran Umashanker, Oli Kovacs, and Harry Bradbury brought valuable experience and physicality. In goal, Archie Goodrem produced some excellent performances, often keeping us in games, although we struggled to convert our chances at the other end.

After Christmas, the fixtures stepped up in intensity. We began with a 2-0 friendly win against Bishop Vesey, gaining revenge for a cup defeat just before the break. The squad were full of confidence, and it felt like a turning point after such a positive performance. However, reality soon hit with back-to-back defeats away to KES Southampton and a very strong Peter Symonds side.

This prompted a tactical rethink, which the squad fully embraced

Facing a talented Cranleigh team, featuring several under-18 and under-16 internationals, Warwick were under pressure from the first whistle and went in at half time 2-0 down. After a clear refocus during the break, the boys came out with a renewed plan and delivered an outstanding second-half performance. Will Chesser scored a brilliant team goal, following excellent build-up play from Harry Bradbury and Will Vaux. A well-executed short corner by JJ Lloyd brought the score level. Still not satisfied, the boys pressed on. A late winner from Charlie Feaver, set up by a superb pass from Barney Gale, sealed Warwick’s first victory in the Tier 1 League. It was one of the best second-half performances a Warwick School 1st XI has produced in recent memory, demonstrating the grit and determination of a team that refused to give up.

A similar comeback followed in the Independent Schools Hockey Plate against Rugby School. Once again trailing 2-0, the team rallied to win 3-2 in another memorable fightback. In the next round, an away draw against Sandbach proved a tough challenge, and unfortunately the performance did not match the standard of the previous games. A narrow 3-2 defeat brought the season to a close on a slightly disappointing note.

Nonetheless, this group showed tremendous character and resilience in difficult moments. The away trips were always enjoyable, full of laughter and strong team spirit on the journeys home. For those moving on, we will miss you. Thank you for your commitment, and we wish you all the very best for the future. We hope our paths cross again on a hockey pitch before too long.

GMFW

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2nd XI P

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L

12

6

3

3

Squad: T. Bamford, E. Black, E. Chesser, T. Chu, M. Daler, R. Dowler, T. Drake, C. Gibson, C. Graham, T. Hargett, H, Hateley, O. Head, N. Joshi, H. Mander, A. Narayan, D. Nichols, H. Waters, O. Watkin The 2nd XI enjoyed a season defined by resilience, steady development, and moments of outstanding team play.

From the opening victory against KES Birmingham to a strong finish in March, the team showed consistent improvement and a willingness to play expansive, structured hockey.

A key performance came away at Solihull. Although narrowly defeated in the final moments, the team implemented several tactical focuses with real success: intelligent outletting through short passes, collapsing the press, and creating 2v1s to progress the ball up the pitch. The aerial outlets from Mahabir Daler and Dan Nichols proved invaluable in relieving pressure and creating space for Aditya Narayan and Euan Black to lead attacking transitions.

Mid-season challenges were met with determination.

Gritty draws against Stratford and Bishop Vesey’s highlighted the team’s defensive stability and character.

Notably, the 0 to 0 result away at Vesey’s was one of several clean sheets earned through calm, disciplined defending and the consistently reliable goalkeeping of Chris Gibson.

The turning point came after a narrow loss to Abbotsholme. From that point, the group shifted into a higher gear. A confident 3 to 2 win over Stratford was followed by a dominant 6 to 0 victory against KES Birmingham and an emphatic 9 to 0 win over Princethorpe. The season concluded with a composed 3 to 0 performance against King Henry VIII School, underlining the squad’s development across all areas of the pitch.

These final games featured some of the most composed and clinical hockey from a 2nd XI side in recent memory.

Attacking play became fluent and creative, the midfield found rhythm and improved decision-making, and the defensive line stood firm under pressure.

Selection between the 1st and 2nd XI became increasingly competitive – a credit to the work ethic, attitude, and improvement shown by this group.

As several players prepare to transition into senior school, university, or men’s hockey, they do so with a strong foundation in both tactical awareness and team spirit.

It has been a privilege to coach such a committed and positive group of players. Their growth over the course of the season reflects not only their individual talents but also the strength of their collective identity.

BH Barney: England U16

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3rd XI P

W

D

L

7

6

1

0

Squad: A. Attwood, L. Byrne, W. Cartwright, T. Chu, A. De Passemar, R. Dowler, C. England, T. Gilyead, C. Graham, T. Hargett, G. McLintock, M. Oliver, O. Rose, A. Scott, T. Thompson, F. Ward Another excellent season done and dusted for the 3rd team, with some fantastic results over the course of the two terms and an unbeaten record – most notably a 5-2 hammering of Solihull away. It was a masterclass from the likes of Charlie Graham, Teddy Hargett, and “The Rock” George McLintock.

Unfortunately, Mr Hurst and the second team got wind of some of the gems the Field-Horsington Academy had been hiding, and there were several promotions to the 2nd XI over the course of the season. Despite this, the strong form continued. Fred Ward, a regular on the scoresheet and always confident in front of goal, put the likes of KES Stratford and Bishop Vesey’s to the sword.

We finished the season with our only draw, in the home match against Solihull, which again saw excellent performances from the ever reliable and versatile Will Cartwright, and Mark Oliver running the show in midfield. However, it wasn’t quite to be, as we couldn’t turn our dominance into a win and complete the double over Solihull.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable season, which will see us say goodbye to some real 3rd team stalwarts. Ollie Rose, George McLintock, Alex Scott, and Adam De Passemar have collectively clocked up well over 100 3rd XI games between them during their time here.

GJF/PH

4th XI P

W

D

L

11

8

0

3

Squad: S. Almond, J. Cooper, H. Dickson, R. de Passemar, C. England, T. Holland, A. Khatkar, J. Pond, J. Priestley, T. Russell, R. Saluja, A. Thomas, N. Tsui, S. Walsh, P. Walton-Hayfield, R. Wong It has been another excellent year for the 4th XI, with eight victories from eleven matches, including four occasions where the team scored four goals or more. Tom Russell led the attack all season, finishing as top scorer thanks to his knack for being in the right place at the right time. Jamie Cooper’s debut season as goalkeeper was impressive – he consistently made good decisions and proved a reliable presence between the posts.

The defence worked well as a unit throughout the year, with Theo Holland’s situational awareness and Rex Wong’s relentless running providing a solid platform for success. A season highlight was doing the double over KES Birmingham, with Ranveer Saluja scoring four goals in the opening fixture of the year. The squad consistently approached both matches and training with a positive attitude and unwavering team spirit. We hope to see many of them back on the pitch next season.

CAB/GDM

3rd XI with GNF and PH

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5th XI

U15A

P

W

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P

W

D

L

8

1

1

6

19

9

2

8

Squad: J. Davies, R. Dougall, J. Dunne, Y. Fowler, A. Jahanzeb, M. Mirza, A. Mitroi, P. Mitroi, R. Neville, A. Pala, E. Payton, J. Phillips, N. Tsui, O. Thompson, S. Walsh

Squad: S. Abuelmaatti, R. Ashe, T.J. Bethell, R. Copland, S. Clarke, B. Gale, Y. Gupta, M. Hogg, O. Montandon, H. Newell, E. Pass Jimenez, F. Singh, A. Stokes, I. Walton-Hayfield, F. Wye

The 5th XI hockey team showed fantastic resilience over the year and maintained a positive attitude throughout, despite several close games going against them. The three consecutive 2-1 defeats to Solihull were particularly painful.

The U15A hockey team have shown that their individual talent has great potential. However, the team’s season was marked by inconsistency in availability, largely due to their wide-ranging commitments across other sports, music, academia, and drama.

This inconsistency was effectively counter-balanced by fantastic positional flexibility shown by T.J. Bethell, Monty Hogg, Fateh Singh, Barney Gale, Eduardo Pass Jimenez, Freddie Wye, and Ignatius Walton-Hayfield.

Some very good hockey was played, although defending short corners remained a challenge for the team. The highlight of the season came away at Old Swinford Hospital, where the boys came back from 2-0 down to mount a late rally and snatch a 2-2 draw in the dying seconds. A smash-and-grab result if ever there was one, but it certainly put a smile on the boys’ faces.

Special mention goes to Sam Walsh, who improved as the season went on with his superbly timed runs up front and crafty finishing. He certainly earned his late move up to the fourths.

Credit also to Josh Davies, who stepped in as goalkeeper and did a superb job throughout.

MDWG

The team was captained by the selfless and dedicated Oliver Montandon, who consistently took a positive approach to every situation the team encountered during the season.

Consistent standout performances came from Iggy, Freddie, Fateh, and Monty. Iggy was the heartbeat of the midfield – dynamic in attack, scoring superb individual goals, and tireless in defence. Freddie anchored the central midfield with discipline, often sacrificing his natural attacking instincts to orchestrate play and provide structure. Fateh and Monty formed a strong central defensive pairing, showing bravery and speed to cut out counterattacks.

The season had its share of both high and low moments. It was disappointing to draw 2-2 at home against Solihull and to lose narrowly to Bishop Vesey’s in the Cup (4-3). In both matches, the team did not perform to its potential, either individually or collectively. With a stronger showing, perhaps we could have reached the last four of a national competition.

That said, the high points were impressive. The 7-1 victory over KES Stratford saw the team dominate possession and control the match from start to finish, with Barney Gale scoring four goals. Further wins followed in the second half of the season: 5-0 against Princethorpe, a thrilling 7-6 over Nottingham High School, 6-4 against Trent College (with Barney scoring another four, bringing his season total to 26), and a comprehensive 6-0 win over Ratcliffe College.

Our final match was against Whitgift School, national finalists in this age group. Though we lost, the team produced one of their most complete performances of the season. Their pressing was well organised, the work rate outstanding, and the collective defensive resilience in open play was commendable. It was a genuine highlight and a fitting conclusion to the season.

This team is now ready for the challenges of U18 hockey, having learned valuable lessons in discipline, resilience, and responsibility. I look forward to seeing many of them become excellent role models within the school’s hockey club and thank them for their hard work and good company this season.

R. Hobley

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U15B

U14A

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

15

5

1

9

16

15

0

1

Squad: R. Ashe, E. Clarke, L. Cuming, H. Eaton, J. Gill, E. Greensmith, E. Hunt, T. Jennings, K. Kamalanathan, D. Lal, A. Lawlor, A. Lewis, X. Li, O. Norrington, B. Priestley, S. Seshadri, A. Stokes, G. Subanthran, K. Wong The 2024-25 season brought mixed results for the U15B team.

It took six games before we recorded our first win, after five defeats, including a heavy 8-0 loss to Queen Mary’s – and a frustrating draw against Solihull, which made for a challenging start to the season. Back-to-back victories against Loughborough and Solihull hinted at a possible turnaround, but the team was never able to maintain consistently strong performances.

Dominant wins against Princethorpe and the earlier mentioned game against Loughborough were the season’s highlights. In these matches, we were able to string passes together more effectively to build pressure and create openings. Unfortunately, for much of the season, we struggled to retain control of the ball for extended periods. This was largely due to a tendency to try to play directly through opponents rather than around them, while our finishing was often wasteful.

The team benefited from some excellent goalkeeping from Ed Hunt. In defence, Xian Li and Logan Cuming were consistent performers, both reading the game well to break up opposition attacks. Alex Lewis was always ready to make runs through midfield, and Remi Ashe earned a well-deserved call-up to the A team in the latter part of the season. Up front, Tommy Jennings and Kean Wong led the line with great energy, a quality much needed by the side.

JAS

U15C P

W

D

L

9

3

1

5

Squad: H. Eaton, E. Greensmith, J. Greensmith, M. Hannan, D. Huang, K. Kamalanathan, D. Malle, R. Pandey, S. Sheshadri, G. Subanthran, L. Webb The U15C team showed great spirit and development throughout a competitive season. After a tough opening loss to King Edward’s School, Birmingham, the team bounced back with a commanding 7-2 win over Solihull and a 10-0 thrashing of King Edward VI School, Stratford (U15B). Elliot and James Greensmith combined superbly from midfield to forward line, consistently creating attacking chances with sharp passing and strong awareness.

Ryan Pandey was a key figure at the back, impressing with his ball pace, strong tackling, and effective outletting. In goal, Kavishraj Kamalanathan stood out for his agility and bravery, making crucial saves in tight matches, most notably in the narrow 3-2 loss away to Solihull.

The season closed with an excellent 4-2 home win over Old Swinford Hospital School, highlighting just how far the team had progressed.

Squad: W. Bamford, H. Browne, O. Byrne, O. Cadbury, H. Deacon, Z. Gardner, E. Grundy, G. Horton, H. Isbell, G. Keating, N. Modi, O. Scott-Browne, D. Tetley, A. Tracey, T. Vitty The U14A team’s dynamic attacking play was a hallmark of their success. Defined by rapid transitions through midfield, intelligent off-the-ball movement and clinical finishing, their approach overwhelmed many high-level opponents. Commanding victories against some of the top hockey schools in the country reflected both their confidence and their growing reputation on the national schools’ hockey circuit.

The midfield unit was integral in linking defence to attack.

Combining creativity with tireless work rate, the midfielders consistently maintained possession under pressure and moved the ball with fluency, allowing the team to build sustained pressure in the attacking third. Supporting this, the forward line showed impressive development throughout the season. Their leading skills, offering vertical passing options, were the product of focused training.

Defensively, the side was equally strong. The back line demonstrated excellent structure, discipline and composure in possession. Their ability to outlet intelligently from the back allowed the team to control tempo and initiate many of their attacking sequences with purpose and clarity.

Several memorable individual contributions stood out across the season. Tom Vitty’s upright backhand finish against Abingdon showcased remarkable technical ability and poise under pressure. Digby Tetley’s accurate delivery for Ollie Scott-Brown’s deflection goal was a fine example of teamwork and set-piece execution. Ellis Grundy and Zane Gardner consistently impressed with their elimination skills, attacking intent and goal-scoring prowess, contributing significantly to several emphatic wins.

In goal, Arthur Tracey was a commanding presence throughout.

Calm, composed and reliable, he conceded just five goals all season – an outstanding statistic that reflects both his own ability and the collective effort of the defensive unit.

The team also made a strong impact in the National Cup. After a 7-0 win over Bromsgrove and a 4-0 victory against Solihull, they faced a tough Repton side in the next round. Despite a spirited performance, they were defeated 4-1. However, the group responded admirably, showing character and focus in training and in their subsequent fixtures. Their resilience was rewarded with a well-earned 1-0 win against Whitgift to conclude the season, secured by a brilliant solo effort from Ellis Grundy. That result was bolstered by the defensive solidity of Harry Isbell and Ollie Cadbury, as well as the intelligent midfield play of Niki Modi.

As the players now look ahead to senior hockey, they do so with confidence. The season has laid firm foundations for continued success. With a strong team culture, clear tactical understanding and a willingness to work hard, this group has every opportunity to thrive in the years ahead.

BH

BH

P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5 / 119

SPORTCULLIS

U14B

U14C

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

14

5

2

7

6

4

1

1

Squad: J. Barnes, S. Broughton, R. Danylko, E. Dhesi-Dabb, H. Fawdry-Jeffries, L. Gore, S. Gupta, W. Jarratt. R. Jaswal, T. John, G. Keating, W. MacGregor, R. Mann, I. Mather, B. McKenna, J. Morris, Jonty Morris, F. Rapp, S. Sawle, J. Steele, A. Suthakaran The season began on a hopeful note with two draws against KES Birmingham and KES Stratford. Alas, that hope faded quickly with a string of defeats following in the Michaelmas term.

The start of February marked a major turning point for the B Team, with a commanding 9-2 victory away at Ratcliffe College.

This result was secured through excellent teamwork from the forward trio and the ever-positive leadership of Sebbie Broughton. From that point on, the team remained undefeated and did not concede another goal, recording impressive wins of 2-0, 10-0 and 4-0 against KES Birmingham, Princethorpe A Team and Nottingham High School respectively.

This fantastic end to the season was made possible by the outstanding attitude of every team member throughout the challenging winter spell.

They remained confident that their fundamentals, their defensive pressure, pace on and off the ball, and strategic awareness, were solid and steadily improving.

Felix Rapp and Avesh Suthakaran brought relentless energy and aggression to the midfield, while the dynamism and cohesion of Josh Barnes and Joseph Steele in defence turned the tide in many matches.

The team finished with a remarkable positive goal difference. Only 19 goals were conceded across the season, thanks in large part to Ben McKenna’s vigilance and composure in goal under pressure.

At the other end of the pitch, they scored 33 goals –almost half of which came from the stick of the nimble and quick-thinking Rory Danylko.

JGB

Archie in his Wales kit

120 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5

Squad: F. Atherton, I. Au, P. Crow, J. Cullen, M. Dale, S. Gupta, P. Harper, W. Jarratt, A. Liu, I. Mather, M. Nash, J. Newey-Keane, L. Ramesh Kumar, S. Sawle, J. Slade, L. Sutton, O. Thewlis, W. Xu The 2024-25 season was a highly encouraging one for the U14C hockey team, and it is a real credit to the depth of talent within the year group that we were able to field a full squad throughout.

The team not only competed well across a series of fixtures but also recorded several impressive victories, including wins over opposition B teams such as King Edward VI School, Stratford, and Princethorpe College.

The campaign began with a hard-fought 1-0 win against KES Stratford, followed by a competitive 3-3 draw away at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School. Despite a challenging match against a strong Solihull side, the team responded with determination, securing consecutive victories, most notably a 4-0 home win against Old Swinford Hospital and a 4-2 away result in the return fixture against KES. The season concluded with a composed and disciplined 1-0 win at Princethorpe. Shivam Gupta demonstrated real strength in possession, while Isaac Mather consistently posed a threat in attack.

Several players showed excellent commitment in training and earned opportunities with the B team – promising signs for the future.

BH

SPORTCULLIS

U13A

U13B

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

29

17

3

9

21

14

2

5

Squad: L. Butterfield, C. Clarkson, S. Dane, J. Graham, N. Laird, J. Lenden, R. Lidher, H. Nankivell, B. Varnham, A. White, T. White, M. Wiratunga

Squad: F. Abbott, R. Bhat, G. Bull, F. Cooper, N. Crann, A. Duckhouse, F. Faulkner, M. Hunter, A. Jeyashankar, E. Jones, R. Lidher, P. Orrock, A. Teja, T. Tiwana

This season has been a successful one for the U13A team. The group trained with great focus, energy, and dedication. They were captained by Charlie Clarkson and Jack Graham, whose leadership styles embodied the principle that actions speak louder than words. Both players demonstrated their prowess on the field, Jack was the creative spark on the right-hand side, while Charlie provided drive and control as the engine room in central midfield.

The U13B team enjoyed a brilliant season as can be seen from the record above. More impressive than the results was the way they played and grew as a team. They burst out of the blocks with four straight wins, including a gritty 1-0 battle against Kingston Grammar. That run led into an unforgettable 6-6 shootout with Stamford, which was end-to-end, high-octane hockey at its best.

Tough losses to a slick Vesey’s side and a typically combative Solihull followed, but the boys responded in style at the county tournament, taking on some A teams with skill and confidence.

Returning A-team players from last year continued to develop impressively. Henry Nankivell was a constant threat from midfield, scoring a notable solo goal in a 4-2 win over Whitgift.

Micah Wiratunga led the line up front, scoring a last-minute equaliser against national finalists Newcastle-under-Lyme (NUL) in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Louis Butterfield added goals and balance from the left side of midfield. Sam Dane used his communication skills from the back to motivate the team and made a series of outstanding saves, particularly against Kingston Grammar School (KGS) and NUL. Ben Varnham was a calm presence in defence and helped the team maintain possession.

New additions to the A team this year included Alex White, who was dynamic going forward from defence, and Tom White, who attacked at every opportunity on the right. Reuben Lidher was promoted from the B team at the end of the season after some strong performances. Two players stood out for their improvement: Josh Lenden, who had started in the C team, became a very reliable marking defender, and Noah Laird frequently created and scored goals for the side.

The second half of the season saw real progress in game understanding and teamwork. The boys embraced smart rotations, gave everything on the pitch, and began to play with real tactical awareness and consistency, especially when adapting to the attacking 3-1-2 formation.

The final tests against a powerful Whitgift and a physical Newcastle-under-Lyme were demanding, but even in defeat the team showed how far they had come. A huge well done to the core group: Archie Duckhouse, Freddie Faulkner, Ethan Jones, Reuben Lidher, Fenton Cooper, Patrick Orrock, George Bull and Taran Tiwana, who battled through over 20 matches. It has been a hugely rewarding season, full of energy, effort and enjoyment.

SRGF

The team’s progress was evident as the season went on and culminated in three standout performances. The first was against KGS, who had beaten us 10-1 earlier in the year. In the National semi-final, we lost narrowly 4-3 in the final minute, but the improvement was clear. The second highlight was a 4-2 win over Whitgift following an impressive all-round display. Finally, the team produced a superb attacking performance away from home to draw 2-2 against national title contenders NUL. This group has all the qualities required to become a very strong hockey side as they progress through the school. I look forward to seeing their continued success in the years to come.

R. Hobley

P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5 / 121

SPORTCULLIS

U13C

U12A

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

13

7

3

3

20

13

2

5

Squad: L. Albertelli, R. Bhat, A. Duckhouse, D. Godhania, A. Jeyashankar, A. Kailey, V. Kara, L. Marshall, A. Quinn, V. Shergill, T. Tiwana, A. Tsang, T. Wilson The U13C team enjoyed a strong and rewarding season. With 29 goals scored and 25 conceded, the boys demonstrated determination and grit as the weeks progressed. One of the season’s highlights was an excellent 4-1 victory over KES Birmingham in February – an impressive turnaround after losing to the same side earlier in the year.

Veer Shergill was a constant threat on both wings, providing width in attack, and was deservedly voted Players’ Player of the Season. Arthur Quinn’s consistent dedication earned him Coach’s Player of the Season.

It has been a season of real progress and great team spirit, with every player contributing to a successful set of fixtures.

MFVB

U13D P

W

D

L

13

7

2

4

Squad: A. Alvarez Del Villar Anaya, D. Bains, T. Clifton, H. Dodhy, D. Godhania, S. Hove, V. Kara, A. Kirubahara, E. Lloyd-Hughes, S. Parsons, A. Ramsay, D. Sharma, A. Tsang, J. Wong The U13D team had a great campaign, losing only four of their 13 games. The boys won seven and drew two, resulting in a win ratio of 53.8%. Over the course of the season, the team consistently improved both technically and tactically. A good example of this was their increasing success down the righthand side, with wingers crossing into the D to create scoring opportunities.

In the first six games, the team lost four, but after some excellent training sessions, they went on a seven-game unbeaten streak.

Haris Dodhy and Viean Kara led the way in attack, showing creativity and finishing ability. Sam Parsons was having an outstanding season, linking play and providing leadership in the centre of the pitch, until an unfortunate injury ruled him out of the remaining fixtures. Finally, Joshua Wong proved a formidable last line of defence, keeping most teams to just one or two goals.

S. Drew

122 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5

Squad: L. Baxter, W. Colgate, O. Goodrem, L. Grove, T. Ladele, T. Markou, G. North, A. Price, A. Rider, H. Sharples Once again, the U12A team managed to defy all expectations, and their progress from the start of the season to the end was firmly down to their hard work and energy. An inconsistent start gradually gave way to a clearer understanding of our playing style, culminating in an impressive eight-match unbeaten run to finish the season.

Arch-nemesis Solihull got the better of us on more than one occasion, some members of the squad even decided to pass straight to their best player, just to see how good he really was!

However, on 15th March, we decided not to do that. After previous defeats of 4-0, 12-0, and 6-0, we fought to a 2-2 draw, showing fantastic teamwork and a real belief in ourselves.

We also managed to win the Warwickshire County Cup. Despite a 3-0 loss to Solihull in the group stage, we recorded victories over KES Birmingham, Bishop Vesey, and Princethorpe, while Solihull dropped points elsewhere. This earned us a place in the Midlands Finals, where we bowed out in the semi-finals to Solihull in a high-quality match.

There have been several standout players this season: Theo Markou’s goal scoring, Timi Ladele’s goalkeeping, Alex Rider’s distribution, Oscar Goodrem’s dribbling skills, Leo Grove’s and George North’s pace, Will Colegate’s tough tackling, Lincoln Baxter’s composure, and Henry Sharples’ energy and enthusiasm.

The future looks very promising for this talented group.

GMFW

SPORTCULLIS

U12B

U12C

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

19

8

2

9

15

10

2

3

Squad: H. Bryce, A. Hunjan, G. Isbell, M. Jain, E. James, D. Ozbalaban, S. Patel, W. Rhodes, J. Stokes, O. Stokes The U12B team has once again been a very competitive group, with players pushing each other and moving in and out of the A team thanks to their hard work and dedication. A hard-fought win over Stamford was the highlight of the Michaelmas Term and gave glimpses of what the team was capable of.

Some tough fixtures at the start of the Lent Term resulted in a run of losses, but these provided valuable learning opportunities.

The team used these experiences to their advantage in the second half of the term. Four wins, one draw, and only one loss, to a very strong Whitgift side, made for a deservedly strong finish to the season, given the effort and commitment the boys have shown over both terms.

A. Wade

Squad: W. Barnes, N. Bhogal, L. Bird, B. Corby, D. Cordwell, F. Farnell, L. Hipkiss, A. Hiremathad, A. Kang, C. Linforth, J. Mangat, T. Metaxas, D. Peitsch, A. Turner The U12C hockey team had a successful and enjoyable season, winning ten out of a possible fifteen games. This success was partly due to the players’ willingness to learn and improve their individual skills during games sessions and after-school clubs throughout the year. However, it was their effort and desire to work hard for the team on the pitch that proved most important as the season progressed.

As strong as they were in attack, the team worked just as hard defensively, showing real commitment to winning the ball back together. Logan Bird, Daniel Pietsch, and Nico Bhogal demonstrated this determination throughout the season, leading by example at the back. This hard work was especially evident in our penultimate game of the season, away against Nottingham High School. Five goals from Callum Linforth and three from Amruth Hiremathad helped us to a dominant 10-2 victory.

C. Withington

U12D P

W

D

L

13

9

1

3

Squad: A. Appleyard, W. Barnes, D. Chekuri, A. Gill, L. Hipkiss, C. Jefferson, J. Mangat, E. Miller, C. Nicholls, A. Sohal, O. Webb The U12D team has made great progress throughout the year, with most boys having never played hockey before. Impressive results, including a 4-0 win over Stamford and a 6-0 victory against Nottingham High School, have been highlights of a very successful season.

Several boys, including Will Barnes and Lorcan Hipkiss, progressed to the C team and even the B team. It has been fantastic to see so many of them regularly attending training and enjoying their hockey. It is worth reminding these boys that many players began where they are now and, through continued effort and commitment, have gone on to play for the A team – and even the 1st XI. GMFW

This success was partly due to the players’ willingness to learn and improve their individual skills during games sessions and after-school clubs throughout the year.

P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5 / 123

SPORTCULLIS

CRICKET 1st XI P

W

D

L

19

12

0

7

Squad: D. Ainley, H. Askin, C. Beard, M. Bolam, I. Budd, T. Drake, T. Ehsan, Y. Gupta, A. Hargett, A. Joshi, G. Larucci, G. Leaver, F. McGrory, A. Watson, O. Watson The 1st XI have displayed skill, resilience and character throughout a packed fixture list, finishing the year with a superb total of 3,146 runs, over 1,000 more than last season, and, for the first time since 2016, boasting a runs differential of over 150.

This is a remarkable achievement and testament to the team’s commitment to improving all aspects of their game.

Amongst several fine batting performances, two centuries stood out. Max Bolam’s 156 not out against Loughborough Grammar School was a display of power and placement. Similarly, Gianlucca Larucci’s 109 against Monmouth was a commanding innings that anchored the side under pressure and laid the foundation, but unfortunately the team were unable to back it up with the ball. Bolam was the standout with the bat across the season, amassing 650 runs at an average of 40.6. Larucci (544), Ehsan (397), Drake (265), Beard (217) and McGrory (209) backed this up too.

With the ball, the captain Dexter Ainley led the charge, claiming 31 wickets in 94 overs, including a 5-wicket haul against Loughborough, the only one of the season. He was ably supported by Charlie Beard, who ended with 24 wickets, and Isaac Budd, who chipped in with 12.

124 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5

The team registered victories in three of our six longer-format (30+over) matches and enjoyed a particularly strong return in T20 cricket, winning nine out of 13 games. Highlights included comfortable local derby wins over Coventry Schools Foundation and KES Stratford, while a tense, high-quality match against King’s Worcester brought out the best in all departments of the side. The dominant win over Loughborough, where we piled on a colossal 312 runs, and the commanding performance against KES Birmingham, where Bolam again shone, this time with 3-38, showcased the team’s ability to control matches from start to finish.

Another memorable performance came against the Warwickshire Imps, where Charlie Beard’s 4-25 was the cornerstone of a superb bowling effort. Against Rugby School, we came up against a true display of power hitting from their captain, a reminder of how quickly T20 games can shift and the importance of maintaining discipline with the ball. In the 40-over matches, there’s a clear need to show greater consistency in our bowling attack and greater perseverance with the bat, as demonstrated in Turan Ehsan’s 63 against Abingdon. Building totals above 250 consistently, especially on our home ground, remains an area of focus.

The season ended with a hectic Bablake T20 Festival, where the boys rose to the challenge of six matches in two days, winning five out of six and narrowly missing out on retaining the title. It was a showcase of squad depth, concentration, and togetherness.

This was followed by an unforgettable match against the touring Brighton Grammar School from Melbourne. A hard-fought total of 140, battling all the way to the last wicket, was backed up by an electric fielding display and disciplined bowling effort to steal the game in the final overs. A fitting way to end what has been a fantastic season.

SPORTCULLIS The team will bid farewell to three players: captain Dexter Ainley, whose high quality bowling has driven the side forward; Ant Hargett, whose athleticism has saved countless runs; and Henry Askin, a genuine all-rounder and former captain of the hugely successful U13 side that reached the National Semi-Finals. Their contributions on and off the field will be long remembered.

1ST XI BOWLING [min 20 overs] O

M

R

W

B

ECON AVG SR

D. Ainley* 94.0

5

512

31

564

5.45 16.5 18.2 5~17

C. Beard

82.0 0

502

24

492

6.12 20.9 20.5 4~25

I. Budd

57.5

1

371

12

347

6.41 30.9 28.9 2~11

H. Askin

58.0

3

405

11

348

6.98 36.8 31.6 2~14

SRGF

O. Watson 59.0

1

367

8

354

6.22 45.9 44.3 1~10

1ST XI BATTING [min 150 runs]

A. Watson 37.3

0

311

7

225

8.29 44.4 32.1 2~33

Y. Gupta

0

186

6

138

8.09 31.0 23.0 3~27

With most of the squad returning and this season’s progress as a springboard, the future of 1st XI cricket at the school looks incredibly bright.

INN N.O. RUNS BALLS AVE

HS

SR SS% 50s 100s

M. Bolam

19

3

650

446

40.6 156* 146 59

5

1

G. Larucci

17

1

544

434

34.0 109 125

47

3

1

T. Ehsan

17

3

397

362

28.4

63

110

54

2

0

T. Drake+

15

5

265

274

26.5

40

97

46

0

0

C. Beard

15

1

217

215

15.5

40

101

48

0

0

F. McGrory

11

3

209

209

26.1

58* 100 50

1

0

A. Hargett

13

5

152

181

19.0

34

84

43

0

0

D. Ainley*

10

5

129

167

25.8

39

77

40

0

0

2nd XI P

W

D

L

9

7

0

2

Squad: H. Clarke, A. Goodrem, J. Henchley, R. Hurley, A. Joshi, V. Krishnan, T. Lucas, J. Moreton, S. Owen, T. Patrick, W. Payton, T. Peranantham, H. Perry, J. Protherough, P. Shannon, N. Stevens, A. Thomas, S. Thomas, J. Townsend, O. Watkin, E. Wye A very successful season, though it’s a shame, in the hottest and driest summer in memory, that we only played three Saturday fixtures, with many other schools on the circuit being unable to raise a second team on a Saturday, due to public exams and

23.0

BB

Catches: Beard 10; Ainley, Hargett, Ehsan 6; Budd, Watson, Watson 5 Stumpings: Drake 2 university open days; while we, to be fair, could not manage a third XI. The cricket we played, however, was almost entirely T20 and entertaining. Batting, on dry pitches and outfields was much easier than bowling, and the best bowling hauls were ‘three-fors’: Krishnan (3-28) against our strongest opponents, Abingdon; S. Thomas (3-31) against Solihull; Perry (3-29) against Bloxham; Protherough (3-6) against King’s Worcester; Stevens (3-18) against KES Stratford.

There were seven fifties, Dunning (89) vs Brighton Grammar, Melbourne; McGrory (78) vs Solihull; Payton (64) vs KES Birmingham; Henchley and Clarke, both retired vs KES Stratford; Payton and Watkin, both retired vs King’s Worcester. Payton reached both his fifties off 20 balls; Watkin reached his off 18.

There were also plenty of other memorable moments, including Peranantham taking a wicket with his last ball for the school; Lucas suddenly hitting 18 in one over off Abingdon’s quick bowler.

Finally Ed Wye deserves special mention as an excellent captain who always led by example and always made sure that players were involved, even within a T20 format.

MGLC

P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5 / 125

SPORTCULLIS

Staff vs Leycester House Leycester: N. Joshi, S. Francis (Head of House), R. Bhat, D. Chekuri, M. Jain, D. Lal, H. May, X. Sidhu, A. Thomas, H. Thomas Staff: M. Cooley, B. Andrews, M. Burchett, B. Davies, S. Drew, M. Homan, T. Middleton, J. Prentice, Z. Shirley, J. Sutherland, D. Tibbitts, P. Walker, R. Wood.

The annual staff vs house game in honour of Bill Gill took place at the start of the third heatwave of the summer, and with absences resulting in Leycester’s Head of House being on the house not staff side.

The staff team batted first and were quickly in trouble, losing Wood second ball, bowled middle stump by an excellent Bhat inswinger. Walker was quickly out to a combination of his Year 7 charges, well caught by Sidhu off Jain, who bowled brilliantly also dismissing Tibbitts in his first spell and eventually finishing with 3-26 from his four overs. When Prentice was bowled by Lal (eventually 4-0-18-2), the staff were perilously poised on 27-4. The innings was steadied by the staff i/c 2nd XI, Drew

126 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5

and Cooley, both of whom reached fairly rapid 30s, the former with some very powerful hits, the latter exploiting an extremely fast outfield to push the ball through the gaps. Homan (18) and Sutherland (14) confirmed the staff recovery before being dismissed by Lal and Jain respectively, before Burchett and Andrews took the staff total beyond 150.

Leycester started their pursuit very strongly with the left-right combination of May and Sidhu batting very impressively against the opening attack of Middleton and Shirley. Their retirements at 30*, and the introduction of our slow bowlers, Davies and Andrews, also slowed the scoring rate, with H. Thomas treating his head of year with great respect. Joshi’s elegant 30* kept Leycester house very much in the game, as did some very good hitting by A. Thomas, but when he unluckily picked out Burchett in the deep, 20 off the last two overs proved too much for the remaining Year 7 and 9 batters (with Mr Francis showing great humility by not batting for his house), and the staff were victorious by 13 runs.

MGLC

SPORTCULLIS

U15A P

W

D

L

12

6

0

6

Squad: J. Budd, S. Clarke, T. Davies, F. Davis, H. Downes, O. Dunlop, S. Dunning, W. Ericson, R. Evans, Y. Gupta, D. Lal, H. Newell, D. Page, F. Singh, H. Thomas, F. Wye The U15A cricket team had a distinctly mixed season. The side showed glimpses of the talent within it but were unable to achieve much consistency, as reflected in their 50/50 win-loss ratio. More focus would have allowed them to convert more good positions into victories, with early exits from both cup competitions coming from positions of relative strength. After an excellent victory against Denstone where our bowlers restricted the opposition to just 112 from 30 overs (Oscar Dunlop’s six overs for six runs and two wickets being especially impressive), we could not repeat the performance against Norwich. Despite scoring 178, including 61 from Yash Gupta, and making a good start with the ball, we lost focus and allowed our opponents to recover and win with three balls to spare. In the T20 cup, it was a similar story. Gupta hit 94 – our highest score of the season – in a competitive total of 157, but too many loose overs and dropped catches (a perennial failing during the season) meant that Rugby chased this down in relative comfort.

In the regular season the main highlights were big wins against Loughborough and the two Worcester schools, but despite good bowling performances against strong opponents such as Repton, Trent and Abingdon, we were not able to back it up with the bat, losing the chance of notable victories. Sam Dunning was probably our most consistent performer with the bat, ending the season with four scores in excess of fifty, but Gupta was the only other batsman to post a half-century. The main support for this pair came from Henry Downes, who did particularly well in a losing cause against Monmouth, Freddie Wye and Henry Thomas, who was unfortunate to fall just short of fifty in the final game against RGS. Amongst the bowlers Joel Budd and Freddie Wye were a strong opening pair, though neither got as many wickets as their bowling sometimes deserved. Gupta and Dan Page were our most threatening spinners, taking 14 and 12 wickets, respectively, though Dunlop was often the most economical. Ralph Evans

showed his potential on several occasions, often bowling well at the death under pressure, especially in our T20 cup victory over Bishop Vesey’s, taking 1-8 off three overs. With a total of 16 bowlers chipping in with at least one wicket this season there was certainly breadth to the attack.

JAS

U15B P

W

D

L

5

2

0

3

Squad: H. Angel, S. Clarke, T. Davies, W. Ericson, W. Harris, T. Jennings, D. Lal, K. Matthews, H. Phipps, J. Thomas, I. Walton-Hayfield, D. Ward, K. Wong The U15B opened their season with a tight loss away to Loughborough Grammar. Samuel Clarke’s 25 helped Warwick to 137 and then Dylan Lal’s 4-13 nearly won the game for Warwick with the ball.

However, Loughborough had just enough to chase down the total.

A comfortable nine wicket victory at home to King’s Worcester followed. William Harris was the pick of the bowlers with 2-9 as Warwick restricted the visitors to just 77 runs. The Warwick batters made light work of the chase with Ignatius Walton-Hayfield scoring 29 and Will Ericson carrying the team to victory with his 36*.

The toughest game of the year came away at Repton who, despite Dylan Lal’s 3-26, amassed a commanding 217 off their 30 overs. Three wickets down and in the 12th over, the game looked a formality and Warwick could have crumbled to a huge defeat.

However, Fateh Singh and Tommy Jennings dug in and put on a 100+ partnership to make a real contest of the match. Warwick eventually lost by a more respectable 32 runs.

The season finished with a close loss to Abingdon, but the star of the show was Will Ericson again with a confident 50 batting at the top of the order. A mixed season of results but the enthusiasm for cricket is clear to see in this team and they all have the makings of quality senior cricketers in the years to come.

RJW

P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5 / 127

SPORTCULLIS

U14A

U14B

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

13

10

1

2

10

6

0

4

Squad: L. Cooper, Z. Gardner, E. Grundy, G. Horner, G. Horton, S. Ingram, H. Isbell, H. Jennings, J. May, H. May, N. Modi, A. Robertson, T. Vitty It has been another successful year for the U14A cricket team; this year, the class of 2025. Having lost only two games this season, it has been one to remember, and fully deserved by a squad who have worked incredibly hard to become a team that can compete with anyone.

There were two major successes in the season. The first, winning the Solihull 6’s competition. A great day in the sun saw seven of the A team squad take on schools such as Loughborough Grammar School, Queen Mary’s Grammar School, KES Birmingham and King’s Worcester, to name a few.

The boys went unbeaten on the day, finishing in style against KES Stratford, winning by 19 runs. Highlights of the day include an Ellis Grundy hattrick and a Tom Vitty straight drive for six in the final.

As ever, the U14A season is dominated by the County Cup, as winning this trophy gains you access to the regional tournament in U15. After a comfortable win against Solihull in the first knockout match, we played Princethorpe in the semi-final. We posted 184 in our 20 overs with 50’s from Luke Cooper and Ellis Grundy, and thanks to a Jennings masterclass of quick, left-arm bowling, bowled out the opposition for 33. Tom Jennings with 5 wickets in 13 deliveries, being hit for only 5 runs. Onto the final.

The final of the County Cup was a far tighter affair, with the boys managing to win the match on the final ball, scrambling a single to secure victory. Special mention to Tom Vitty and George Horner for two contrasting but equally important knocks, scoring 58 and 34 respectively, and to Harry Isbell, for an excellent direct hit runout, which massively swung momentum in the first innings.

All matches in and around the Cup and other tournaments were filled with some exciting cricket, equal opportunity and a great team spirit.

Some other notable highlights from the season include a Horner straight six into the King’s High car park, a fantastic batting partnership between Sam Ingram and George Horton against Solihull, and the precise leg spin of Henry May. Overall, it has been a season to remember. I wish all of the boys the best with their future in cricket.

MH

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Squad: W. Bamford, S. Broughton, O. Byrne, J. Coghlan, H. Deacon, E. Dhesi-Dabb, H. Fawdry-Jeffries, Z. Gardner, S. Gupta, Q. Hornby, H. Isbell, W. Jarratt, M. Liddington, W. MacGregor, R. Mann, T. McFall, W. Nock, F. Rapp, S. Sahni, S. Sawle, D. Tetley, A. Westwood Twenty-two players represented the B team, showing how competitive selection was. With the bat, Zane Gardner got a fantastic 95 v RGS Worcester and was unlucky to not get a century. Tom McFall and Qiwei Hornby both managed to hit huge sixes. Will Bamford had the innings of his life against Abingdon, rescuing the team’s performance with 40*. Will was unlucky the team forgot their contact lenses that day, so he had to stop his innings early! Sebbie Broughton, Harry Fawdry-Jeffries, Will Jarrett and Felix Rapp formed a dependable batting unit who would build our scores, allowing the likes of Max Liddington and Digby Tetley to use power over placement with their aggressive style of batting.

The bowling attack needed the seamers of Will MacGregor and Qiwei Hornby to wear down the opposition with six wickets each and most of the team’s overs. Will was particularly impressive with his left arm over, out-thinking opposition batters to an economy of just 4.87 in 23 overs. Will Bamford managed to get five wickets against Abingdon, showing how good he can be when he has control over his delivery. The spinners have been vital wickettakers, With Eshan Dhesi-Dabb top on ten and Harry FJ and Oliver Byrne closely behind on eight and seven. The standout moment of the season was away at Trent College, where despite a batting collapse and Trent openers starting off strongly, we showed courage and perseverance to never give up and keep on going, finishing with a dramatic Qiwei double wicket to win the game with Adele’s Skyfall blaring in the background!

IW

SPORTCULLIS

U14C

U13A

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Squad: J. Beaumont, J. Coghlan, E. Dhesui-Dabb, J. Gallagher, S. Gupta, W. Jarratt, A. Khan, R. Mann, M. Nash, W. Nock, S. Sahni, S. Sawle, A. Somasundaram, B. Street, S. Vitish, A. Westwood From the early heartbreak of a 2-run loss to King Henry VIII School’s U14B team to a powerful 7-wicket win over Bloxham School, every match highlighted the U14C’s resilience and growth.

Even when faced with tough opponents like Solihull School and Trent College, where we suffered a heavy 200-run defeat, the team never lost heart. Instead, we responded with greater focus and grit, culminating in a thrilling 4-wicket victory against Abingdon School to end the season on a high.

Each player brought unwavering effort, whether during intense training sessions or competitive games. Skills sharpened, teamwork blossomed, and spirits stayed high throughout.

Thanks to dedicated coaching, the squad improved not only technically, but in confidence and camaraderie.

Shivam Gupta and Joey Coghlan, Year 9

Squad: M. Ashley, F. Blackwall, T. Bozgordon, A. Bull, B. Fellowes, T. Hogarth, H. May, P. Orrock, A. Prinjha, L. Proger, M. Wiratunga, H. Yarwood, T. Yates It has been a battling but brave season from the U13A cricket team. They have often been out gunned with power over the season but have grown in confidence as a batting unit. This is best demonstrated by their excellent run chase versus RGS Worcester where Arthur Bull led the team home with a fantastic 77* as the team pulled off a chase of over 200 runs. His succession of cover drives was joy to see. Henry May was the team’s highest run scorer, whilst Tom Yates managed to bat exceptionally well in preserving his wicket and finished with an average over 50.

Lex Proger was the team’s most belligerent hitter, with his runs consistently being scored at over a run a ball. Going forward, the team’s main aim will be to build an innings.

Bowling is the team’s strength, with several pace and spin options available to the team. Micah is the quickest of the bowlers, although bowled too short to hit the stumps. Ajay Prinjha was consistent and economical with the new ball. The highest wicket taker was Patrick Orrick, he not only gets wickets but bowls a heavy ball, with the occasional wicked bouncer. The rest of the bowling was very much shared around, with spinners and seamers sharing wickets. The team can bowl well, on occasion managing to dismantle other team’s batting, such as at Loughborough. Harry Yarwood brought an athleticism to the team’s fielding, pulling off some outrageous run outs to help the team.

Whilst the team didn’t win most of their matches, the squad’s attitude to training was great. Keen and hardworking, they kept working at their skills and the batting certainly developed as the season went on. With a trip to Sri Lanka in the future, the team is well set for a successful campaign next season.

ORO’B

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SPORTCULLIS

U13B P

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Squad: R. Bhat, T. Bozdogan, G. Bull, N. Caven, L. Hallings-Pott, V. Kara, W. Kelsey, T. Miller, J. Mooney, J. Quinney, O. Thompson, T. Turney, H. Westall The U13B’s 50% win rate reflects a balanced performance, with the team showing great potential throughout. Several results were closely contested, with the boys demonstrating determination and resilience in every game.

The team’s commitment was evident not just on match days, but also in their strong attendance at after-school training sessions.

Their willingness to learn and improve each week was impressive and laid the foundation for individual and team development.

A standout performance came in the second game of the season, away at Loughborough Grammar School. Batting first, the boys posted a huge total of 280 for 8 in their 20 overs. This

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dominant display with the bat was followed by a disciplined bowling performance that restricted Loughborough to 118 for 9, sealing a commanding 162-run victory. It was a true all-round team performance and a highlight of the season.

A number of the boys stood out with excellent performances, earning opportunities to play at a higher level. James Mooney was the team’s leading run-scorer, amassing 155 runs across the nine games he played before being promoted to the A team.

Alongside him, Freddie Blackwall, Harry Yarwood, and Viean Kara also made significant contributions with the bat.

The bowlers complemented the batters well, delivering accurate and disciplined spells that helped contain opposition scoring. Rishab Bhat and Jacob Quinney led the wicket-taking charts with eight wickets each, closely followed by Toby Miller with seven. Their efforts played a crucial role in the team’s successes.

Overall, it was a positive and encouraging season for the 13B’s, marked by growth, enthusiasm, and a strong team spirit.

S. Drew

SPORTCULLIS

U13C

U12B

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Squad: R. Arkle, J, Blackman, G. Bull, T. Byrne, C. Clarkson, F. Cooper, D. Godhania, D. Hardiman, C. Holland, A. Murphy, B. Pennington, R. Robinson, H. Swabey-Collison, O. Trethewey, T. Turney, T. Warn, O. Withers, T. Woodhouse The U13C team enjoyed a fantastic season, with strong performances across the board. Tom Turney and Archie Murphy starred with the bat, with Archie scoring a brilliant 50 against Trent College. Oliver Trethewey and Charlie Clarkson led the bowling attack with accuracy and pace, and the team even pulled off a rare team hat-trick! Captain Danny Hardiman kept spirits high with excellent leadership. A great season, well done to all involved.

ZS

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Squad: D. Chekuri, L. Grove, L. Hipkiss, M. Jain, S. Jaswal, C. Jefferson, P. Knight, T. Markou, G. North, S. Patel, A. Price, A. Rider, H. Sharples, X. Sidhu, T. Simpson, M. Ward The U12A season was one of development and growth, as those selected through the season competed in their first year of senior school cricket. For some, this was a seamless transition, and for others, a stark reminder that senior school cricket is a test of ability, both mentally and physically.

The season ebbed and flowed, with gritty wins being replaced with loses from comfortable positions. I was extremely proud of the boys’ endeavour and determination to be two balls away from winning the Solihull Sixes Tournament.

However, the main takeaway from this season was the boys’ ability to complete cricket fundamentals at a high level, support their teammates and have fun. This was done whilst giving most boys the opportunity to bat and bowl in different positions, whilst also finding a love for their time in the field. Our boys were by far the best fielding side out of all the teams we played. This is a credit to their work at training and away from school. A special mention to Arthur Price for his one-handed effort to take catch of the year.

Other mentions go to Shiv Patel for his tremendous figures for the year, bowling 31 overs for the year, taking 12 wickets at an average of 13.4. Mentions also go to Alex Rider and Arthur Price for both making 50’s, as well as Xavier Sidhu and Manam Jain for their tremendous captaincy throughout the season.

A. Hurst

The group consistently demonstrated good sportsmanship and teamwork, with clear progress shown by each member.

Squad: W. Colegate, T. Denning, Z. Dooner, H. Fawdry-Jeffries, O. Goodrem, A. Grove, Q. Hornby, F. Kilonbeck, R. Mehta, H. Monahan, S. Mughal, D. Russell, R. Sandhu, S. Shariff, M. Ward This team’s results have been strong, only losing a few close games.

Strong finishes against Abingdon and RGS Worcester resulted in Warwick winning by 103 and 145 runs respectively. However, the greatest game of them all was a game that we lost on the final ball of the game by one run against Bablake’s A team in a cup semi-final.

Alex Grove and Freddie Kilonbeck led the team this year, Alex role modelled skill with both bat and ball, whilst Freddie showed the team how to bowl quick and showed great maturity when under pressure in matches.

The team had many bowlers this season but the top two picks have to be Reuben Sandhu, our opener, who bowled a very tight off-stump line and often hit the top of off; and Zac Dooner (12 wickets) who bowled some flighted leg spin.

The top batters this season included Alex (mentioned above) who scored 159 this season, and Ted Simpson who was moved up to the A team scored a total of 179 runs before being moved up. Ted Denning has shown plenty of promise with the bat also as an opener; he is tactically clever and keen to improve his all-round batting game.

The fielding improved over the season, and particularly the catching. But there was one stand out fielder in every game and that was Max Ward he is a brilliant catcher of the ball, quick to cover ground and alert in the field. Were there to be an award for this, he would win it.

This squad (15 in total) were a terrific group to work with, hardworking, enthusiastic and good fun in the field. I am grateful for their efforts this term and wish them the best of luck for the future.

R. Hobley

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The U12C team had a commendable season, displaying dedication throughout their campaign. A strong start against KHVIII set the foundation and this was followed up by a good win against KES Stratford. It was clear that the team’s strength was its depth in the bowling lineup, but they did struggle with the bat at times. Despite this they continued their winning run with a 116 run winning margin against Bromsgrove and a 6 wicket victory over Trent College before the last game of the season and their only defeat by just 1 wicket against Solihull.

The group consistently demonstrated good sportsmanship and teamwork, with clear progress shown by each member. Their collective effort and enthusiastic participation have set a solid foundation for continued success in the future. The team should be proud of their performances and look forward to building on this achievement next season.

GMFW

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SPORTCULLIS

TENNIS SENIORS 1st VI P

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Squad: S. Carr, H. Hart-Buck, T. John, G. Keating, J. Mothersdale, T. Thompson, Z. Varachia, H. Waters, N. Wilson The 1st team kicked off their season on a high by reaching the Midlands Regional Finals at Nottingham Tennis Centre, winning one of their two fixtures. The team showed perseverance and grit under pressure, which were encouraging signs for the season ahead.

Their next challenge was an away tie against Rugby School in Round 3 of the National Cup, a familiar opponent. Early singles from Harrison Hart-Buck and Seb Carr were closely fought but went Rugby’s way, despite strong resistance. In doubles, Theo Thompson and Ned Wilson produced a commanding performance, winning 6-1, 7-6. In the second round of singles, Theo continued his dominant form with a 6-2, 6-0 win, while Harry Waters edged a crucial match in a tense third-set tiebreak to keep Warwick in the contest. With the match tied 6-6 after further doubles, it came down to a Championship Tie-Break shootout. Harrison and Ned rose to the occasion with a blend of powerful groundstrokes and sharp volleys, sealing a 10-5 victory and a 7-6 overall win for Warwick. The fixture lasted nearly four hours on a scorching afternoon, which only added to the sense of achievement.

Warwick’s National Cup journey continued away at Bromsgrove, a strong side who proved tough opposition. Despite a determined effort across the board, the team fell to an 8-4 defeat, bringing an end to their Cup campaign. Attention swiftly turned to Saturday fixtures and the season’s longer-term goals: the prestigious Eton National Tennis Championships and the MCS Oxford Singles Tournament.

A dominant performance against Abingdon School saw the team bounce back in style, with Jonny Mothersdale making his 1st team debut. A narrow loss to MCS Oxford followed, but with a relatively inexperienced side taking to the court, the match served as valuable preparation ahead of the major tournaments to come.

OWs vs School tennis team

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This also saw 1st team debuts, with George Keating, Year 9, playing with tennis captain and Upper Sixth player, Harrison Hart-Buck, as well as Zac Varachia (Lower Sixth) and Toby John, also a Year 9.

The team then attended the MCS Oxford Singles Festival, facing strong opposition in testing sunny, yet windy conditions. Using a “Fast 4” format in the round-robin stage, Harrison, Seb and Theo progressed to the Championship Draw, with Harry entering the Compass Draw. Matches then moved to full scoring with bestof-two sets and a championship tiebreak if needed. Harrison impressed throughout, reaching the semi-finals and securing third place overall. Seb and Theo both reached the quarter-finals and Harry excelled in the Compass Draw.

Later that week, the squad travelled to Eton College for the prestigious ISTA National Championships. A straight sets win over Bradford Grammar gave Warwick a positive first day. The team faced St George’s Weybridge on day two in a closely-fought encounter, featuring multiple tiebreaks. Unfortunately, St George’s won the big moments, and the team were narrowly edged out, bringing a competitive campaign to an end. A special mention goes to this year’s tennis captain, Harrison Hart-Buck, who finishes his time at Warwick, having been a part of the 1st Team across five seasons. Ned Wilson also departs Warwick, having been vice captain this year. We wish them all the best with their tennis in the future.

I believe the experiences that this relatively young 1st team have had this season will only strengthen them for the future and we look forward to what lies ahead.

SPORTCULLIS

2nd VI P

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Squad: S. Bentall, B. Cadbury, O. Cadbury, T. Cooper, H. Drake, C. Feaver, M. Grecu, T. John, G. Keating, J. Mothersdale, E. Pass Jimenez, Z. Varachia, A. Wilson, N. Wilson

The season concluded with a youthful side – Ben Cadbury, Sam Bentall, Theo Cooper, Charlie Feaver, Oliver Cadbury, and Eduardo Pass Jimenez, taking on MCS Oxford in a challenging fixture. Despite the result, the team showed promising signs for the future.

Well done to all who represented the 2nd team this season.

The 2nd team began their season with a tightly-contested 5-4 victory over Bromsgrove, showcasing determination and depth across the squad. The team was made up of Jonny Mothersdale, Harlan Drake, Zac Varachia, George Keating, Matei Grecu, Alexander Wilson, Theo Cooper, Sam Bentall, and Charlie Feaver. It was particularly pleasing to see the interactions between players of various ages for the first time.

The senior boys set a great example for the younger players, who thrived with the greater challenge.

A frustrating weather-related cancellation followed against KES Birmingham, but spirits remained high, and Warwick responded with a dominant performance and impressive win — this time against Abingdon School. George Keating, Toby John, Alexander Wilson, Sam Bentall and Charlie Feaver all contributed to the victory, winning sets.

A highlight of the season came on Saturday 21st June with the annual fixture against the Old Warwickians. Zac Varachia, Theo Cooper, and brothers Alex and Ned Wilson competed alongside OWs Myles Collett (WS 1962-73) and Mark Wilson (WS 1967–74) who reunited for the first time in over forty years, having played together in the 1972-73 1st XV. They were joined by Edward Horton (WS 2015-17) and Alex Butt (WS 2014-21). Matches were played in great spirit and the afternoon culminated in stories shared over lunch afterwards.

We look forward to welcoming more OW’s back next year for an enjoyable afternoon of tennis.

INTERMEDIATES U15A P

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Squad: O. Adams, R. Ashe, O. Cadbury, M. Grecu, S. Hawkes, T. John, G. Keating, A. Lawlor, A. Lewis, O. Montandon, E. Pass Jimenez The U15A team had a successful and busy season, competing in eight regular fixtures and two league fixtures, alongside notable appearances at Eton’s prestigious National Tennis Tournament and the MCS Oxford Festival. Over the course of the season, the team secured five wins against three losses, showcasing their capabilities.

The season kicked off with an exciting away fixture against Bromsgrove School, where the squad of Eduardo Pass Jimenez, Toby John, Oliver Adams, Archie Lawlor, Remi Ashe, Oliver Montandon, and Alexander Lewis narrowly triumphed 5-4. This tight contest set the tone for a competitive term.

The league team, featuring George Keating, Matei Grecu, Toby John, and Eduardo Pass Jimenez, recorded a strong 4-2 victory

Senior Tennis players

over Princethorpe, demonstrating solid teamwork and tactical play against tough opponents. Another highlight came when the league lineup of Oliver Adams, Archie Lawlor, Alexander Lewis, and Remi Ashe convincingly defeated Kenilworth 6-0, a commanding performance that underscored the squad’s potential.

This will see the team progress to further stages next season.

The U15A team were also in action at MCS Oxford’s Singles Tennis Festival. George Keating and Toby John each earned their place in the Championship Draw after several closely contested matches. Meanwhile, Oliver Cadbury and Eduardo Pass Jimenez advanced to the Compass Draw, battling tough opposition with real resolve.

Between 29th June and 2nd July, a team of four players travelled to Eton College to compete in the ISTA National Championships.

George, Toby, Oliver, and Eduardo competed in a pairs’ round robin, before entering the cup or plate. The standard at this tournament is exceptionally high each year. Oliver and Eduardo had tough matchups, but competed well and enjoyed the experience, demonstrating perseverance throughout. George and Toby finished second in their group, just missing the main draw in an eliminator match against previous national champions.

However, they responded on day two by topping their plate group, then beating St Edward’s Oxford and Bradford Grammar School, before losing to a strong St George’s Weybridge side in the semi-final. This was still a fantastic achievement and finished the U15 season on a high.

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U14A

U15A at Eton

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Squad: H. Browne, E. Cooper, J. Davies, M. Grecu, P. Harper, E. Littleford, G. Owen, O. Scott-Brown, L. Vilimaitis The U14A team enjoyed a competitive and rewarding season, finishing with two wins from their four fixtures. Throughout the term, the boys demonstrated both individual talent and increasing cohesion as a team, with several tightly contested matches that highlighted their resilience.

Ptolemy Harper and Eddy Littleford consistently performed at a high level and provided a calm presence on court. Ollie ScottBrown and Henry Browne played with determination and skill, often turning matches with their competitive spirit. Jamie Davies and Lukas Vilimatis brought a great attitude and energy to the squad, making good progress throughout the season. The standout victory came against Abingdon School with all players contributing to the team’s success.

Another highlight of the summer term was the annual Mixed Doubles Tournament with King’s High School, a fun yet competitive morning of tennis that brought together players from both schools in great spirit. The format encouraged collaboration, communication, and adaptability, with each pair rotating opponents across three sets.

The U14A’s represented the school with pride, sportsmanship, and a shared commitment to improving with each fixture. I look forward to seeing this team progress as they move through the school.

U15B

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Squad: L. Balzaretti, O. Cadbury, T. Dodsworth, B. Gale, R. Green, A. Lewis, O. Montandon, R. Ashe, N. Sandhu, A. Selby, A. Stokes The U15B team had a season marked by strong performances and promising development. They opened their campaign with an impressive 6-3 away win against Bromsgrove School, setting the tone with confident and cohesive doubles play. Representing the school in that fixture were Oliver Cadbury, Barney Gale, Arlo Stokes, Thomas Dodsworth, Luca Balzaretti, Archie Selby, Nihal Sandhu, and Rory Green.

Another notable victory came against Abingdon School. In that fixture, Remi Ashe, Alexander Lewis, Oliver Montandon, Luca Balzaretti, Rory Green, and Nihal Sandhu combined well as a team to secure the win, showing depth across the double’s pairings.

While the team faced a challenging fixture against MCS Oxford, it provided a valuable learning opportunity. Matches like these serve to sharpen competitive edge and build the resilience needed at higher levels of school tennis.

Throughout the season, the U15B players demonstrated good commitment and great enthusiasm for the sport. Their continued development bodes well for future success in the senior squads.

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Squad: B. Beckingsale, H. Bayliss, B. Blair, B. Buckle, E. Cooper, J. Graddon, J. Graham, R. Lidher, H. Nankivell, G. Owen, T. Ollerenshaw, L. Vilimaitis The U14B team enjoyed a strong season, playing three matches and securing two impressive wins. They kicked off the term with a commanding 9-0 victory against Repton, demonstrating their depth and skill across all sets. Throughout the season, the boys showed excellent commitment to training, with competition for places pushing everyone to improve.

Key contributors included Lukas Vilimaitis, Ben Beckingsale, Elliot Cooper, Joshua Graddon, George Owen, Barnaby Blair, Barnaby Buckle, Reuben Lidher, Henry Nankivell, Jack Graham, Harry Bayliss, and Tom Ollerenshaw. This group of players worked hard to support one another, particularly considering the mixture of ages.

The team’s dedication was evident throughout the season, and their performances hint at exciting potential, as these boys continue to develop and challenge for places in higher age groups.

SPORTCULLIS

JUNIORS

U13B

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Squad: J. Graham, M. Grecu, S. Hawkes, R. Lidher, H. Nankivell, A. White, T. White The U13A’s demonstrated their strength as a group by winning all bar one of their fixtures this season. This year group are hugely enthusiastic and commit to all sessions to try and further develop their tennis playing capabilities. This age group competed on three fronts; Saturday fixtures, midweek league fixtures and the Independent Schools National Tournament, held at Eton College. The first test of the season came against Magdalen College School, Oxford.

The team, made up of Matei Grecu, Sam Hawkes, Reuben Lidher, Jack Graham, Tom White and Alex White, set the tone for the season with great doubles and good teamwork that led to a win. This set them up nicely for the first league fixture against Princethorpe and Sam Hawkes, Reuben Lidher, Henry Nankivell and Alex White secured victory, 8-4. This was followed by another win in the next league fixture against Kenilworth, which, combined with a bye against KES Stratford, meant the team topped their pool and progress further in the competition next year.

The season finished at Eton College with Matei and Sam pairing up and Henry and Reuben. Reuben and Henry fought hard but just missed progressing into the Cup, finishing third in their group.

Matei and Sam went unbeaten in the round robin, then beat Eltham College and Whitgift to reach the John Barrett Plate final. In a tight match against Bristol Grammar, they played outstanding tennis to secure the win and the plate title. This is a fantastic achievement and a highlight of the tennis season.

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Squad: L. Albertelli, A. Alvarez Del Villar Anaya, A. Cerene, N. Crann, A. Hayward, E. Jones, H. Nankivell, B. Reed The U13B’s showed the strength in depth of this year group and competed well in Saturday fixtures, as well as internal matches.

The team played two fixtures against Magdalen College School, Oxford, winning both. The team consisted of Henry Nankivell, Ethan Jones, Byron Reed, Noah Crann, Artie Hayward, Alonso Alvarez Del Villar Anaya, Antoine Cerene and Louis Albertelli.

Their enthusiasm and passion for the sport is a pleasure to see and has contributed to their success this season. I look forward to seeing them take further strides next season.

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Squad: L. Albertelli, A. Cerene, F. Faulkner, E. Hillis, E. Lloyd-Hughes, H. Syrotiuk, A. Teja, T. Unsworth, B. Varnham The U13C team enjoyed playing two competitive fixtures as well as internal matches. The numbers at after-school tennis club meant many boys were vying to be a part of the team, which was fantastic. Archie Teja, Freddie Faulkner, Ben Varnham, Harry Syrotiuk, Edgar Lloyd-Hughes, Theo Unsworth, Ethan Hillis, Antoine Cerene and Louis Albertelli represented the team well and won both of their fixtures against Magdalen College Oxford.

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Squad: F. Albrighton, D. Brooke, H. Bryce, A. Hunjan, W. Line, T. Marshall, W. Rhodes, T. Simpson, O. Stokes.

U13A at Eton

The U12A team had a fantastic first Tennis season. They competed well across all fixtures, winning all bar one of their matches. Their battles with Magdalen College School, Oxford were the most competitive and the players had to demonstrate perseverance to overcome their opponents. Key members of the team were Finlay Albrighton, William Rhodes, Ajay Hunjan, Tommy Marshall, Ted Simpson, Dan Brooke, Harrison Bryce, Oren Stokes and William Line, who all contributed significantly to the team’s success. Another highlight of the season was the mixed doubles tournament with King’s High School, on the final Saturday of the year. All players worked well together and enjoyed the different challenge to a normal fixture.

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U12B

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Squad: H. Bryce, E. Burt, A. Clarke, E. James, T. Ladele, A. Lincoln-Williams, W. Line, O. Stanojevic, O. Stokes, M. Sweet

Squad: W. Barnes, E. Burt, M. Byrne, C. Dyke, S. Friedrich, E. James, R. Molloy, D. Pietsch, G. Pridgeon, M. Sweet

The U12B team also had a strong season. They also enjoyed success in their fixture against Magdalen College School with Harrison Bryce, Oren Stokes, Oliver Stanojevic, Arlo Clarke, William Line, Akshay Lincoln-Williams, Timi Ladele, Emlyn James, Monty Sweet and Ellison Burt all representing the team at various points in the season. This group took big strides forward due to their consistent commitment to training and a willingness to learn. I look forward to seeing them make further progress next season.

The U12C team enjoyed the opportunity to play in competitive fixtures. Several of these players had not played in competitive fixtures prior to the start of this season. Therefore, learning the rules of the game, consistently scoring correctly and having fun were a priority. Over the course of the season they managed to achieve all three of these things and are now in a position where they are capable tennis players. Charles Dyke, Sam Friedrich, Monty Sweet, Emlyn James, Will Barnes, Rowan Molloy, Ellison Burt, Mikey Byrne, Gregory Pridgeon and Daniel Pietsch all represented the school this season.

CTM

Junior Tennis Players

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SPORTCULLIS

ATHLETICS The Warwick Athletics squads enjoyed a very fun and competitive season with several individuals excelling themselves and achieving representative honours across a number of events.

The season started brightly at Solihull School with the U14s winning their competition and the U16s coming a very close second to the hosts. The standout performances came in the middle distances with Raul Ruparellia and Jacob Neal winning the 800m and 1500m respectively.

The Track and Field Cup is a unique competition which melds both the individual and cooperative aspects of athletics together. Each competitor must complete an event both on the track and in the field which contributes to a team total. The highest scores then progress to regional and national finals. In the first round, the U16s best performers were the 100m sprinters with Louie Foster (11.5s) and Max Kelleher (11.9s) amassing the most points.

The U14s progressed to the Regional “B” final, also off the back of their 100m sprinters with Rupert Robinson (12.8s) and Alex Plowman (12.9s) contributing to a points total of 327 points. In the B final, the boys showed how hard they had trained and massively improved their team total to 381 points and a third place finish.

Harry Syrotiuk’s 26.6s in the 200m and Archie Murphy’s 9.82m shotput being two of the most impressive improvements.

Several boys achieved representative honours this season, either by winning at the District Championships or the equivalent Prep Schools competition in Malvern. Years 7, 8 and 9 won overall and the Year 10’s came a close second at the District Championships and the following individuals won their events to qualify for the Mason Trophy: – – – – – – – –

Lex (Y8 800) and Freddie (Y7 Javelin) at National Prep School Athletics at Alexander Stadium The season finished on a high at KES Birmingham with Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 winning a competitive event against several other Midlands schools. Hugo Barnes provided the highlight, cruising to double victory in the 100m and 200m.

It was fantastic to see so many athletes, from Junior School up to Year 11, training regularly and competing hard for the school. Well done to those that achieved representative honours, or improved their personal bests, and we look forward to next season for the boys to seek even faster, higher and stronger things.

RJW Year 7 and 8 Track and Field Cup Team

Tom Gray (Year 9 hurdles) Hugo Barnes (Year 9 100m) Carl Wheeler (Year 9 Shotputt) Louie Foster (Year 10 100m) Raul Ruparellia: (Year 10 800m) Elliot Bannon (Year 11 Long Jump) Lex Proger (Prep School 800m) Freddie Kilonback (Prep School Javelin and shotput)

Junior town championships at Edmondscot

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SPORTCULLIS

SKI RACING For a ‘Winter sport’ it always seems somewhat odd that most of the School Ski competitions occur in the Autumn and Summer terms, although the Warwick Foundation Ski Team does train throughout the year.

The first competition of the 24/25 year was in late September. The English Schools Ski Association (ESSkiA) qualifying event, held at Swadlincote, on a quite Biblical day, in a torrential rainstorm. The Warwick U16 team skied into second place, whilst the U19 team won their category.

U16 team: Monty Hogg, Felix Rapp, Fenton Cooper, Winston Kelsey U19 team: Tom Gilyead, Dan Gilyead, Josh Davies, Charlie Lovell Based on the results of this and four other nationwide ‘qualifying events’, the U16 team was invited to the Finals weekend in Norwich in early October. Sadly, the U19 team missed out despite having been the best U19 team in our region.

Finals weekend, held at the Norfolk Snowsports Centre, is probably the highlight of the year with age group races taking place on Saturday and the ‘Open’ race (for the best two teams per school regardless of age), taking place on Sunday. The Norwich slope is a great venue, somewhat ironically for a sport reliant on hills (or mountains), as it’s situated in one of England’s flatter counties! On Saturday, the U16 team finished with a fantastic Podium performance in third place in their age group.

U16 team: Monty Hogg, Fenton Cooper, Hugh Swabey-Collison, Winston Kelsey

Fenton, Tom, Dan and Monty at Llandudno Sunday’s ‘Open’ race serves as a qualifying event for the British Schools Championships, so the boys were keen to perform well and bag a trip to Llandudno, North Wales. The ‘A’ team managed this, placing eighth overall and the ‘B’ team skied to 14th place.

A team: Dan Gilyead, Monty Hogg, Fenton Cooper and Hugh Swabey-Collison B team: Tom Gilyead, Josh Davies, Winston Kelsey Late November and it was off for our first ‘overseas’ race at Llandudno, North Wales. Against the best school teams in Britain the boys skied to an excellent ninth place overall and seventh English team, thus improving by one place on the ESSkiA Open event and ninth in GB. Team: Tom Gilyead, Dan Gilyead, Fenton Cooper, Monty Hogg

Tom, Dan, Monty, and Alex on snow training

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On the back of their performances in the ESSkiA series of races, Tom, Dan, Monty, Hugh and Fenton were all invited to train in Norway with the ESSkiA Alpine squads, with Monty and Fenton heading to Norway in April. Hugh was competing at the British Alpine Championships in Italy.

And so to the final race of the year on 30th June, where on one of the hottest days of the year, it was apt that the best place to belong was indoors, in a fridge, at the ESSkiA Indoor Championships at Hemel Hempstead. The boys again pulled off a personal best with the team once again making the podium and a great end to the year.

Team: Tom Gilyead, Monty Hogg, Charlie Lovell, Hugh Swabey-Collison R. Gilyead

The Ski Racing team warm up – literally – at the West Wales event

GOLF It has been a busy end to the season with two key fixtures: a staff vs boys match and the ISGA HG Trophy at St Ives in Cambridgeshire.

On Sunday 22 June, we hosted the inaugural staff vs boys golf fixture. In what proved to be a fiercely competitive and good-spirited contest, the boys edged a narrow 2-1 victory, with all three matches going to the final hole.

The following day, the team travelled to Cambridgeshire to compete in the ISGA HG Trophy. In challenging, windy conditions, the boys produced a superb performance. Gabe Westrope (Lower Sixth) led the way with an impressive round of 76, finishing fifth overall. He was well supported by Charlie England (Year 11) and Josh Priestley (Lower Sixth), and the team placed fifth in the gross competition and an excellent third in the net, an outstanding achievement given the strength of the 23 competing schools, many of which specialise in golf.

Elsewhere, Sam Dane and Harvey Westall (Year 8) made an excellent start to the season, competing in several Junior Opens across May and the half-term break. Sam’s standout performance came at the Under 14 County Championship at North Warwickshire, where he won the best net prize with a superb 63, and placed second overall in the gross standings despite wet and difficult conditions. Harvey also enjoyed success with top finishes at both Nuneaton and on the Rob Rock Tour.

This event brought to a close what has been a fantastic season for the school’s golfers. Thanks go to Sam Price (Upper Sixth) for his leadership and captaincy over the past two years.

OH

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SPORTCULLIS

FENCING

The Fencing Team

On Tuesday 18 March, a squad of five fencers from Warwick School travelled to Lee Valley in London to take part in the 2025 Public Schools’ Fencing Championships – the largest competition of its kind in the UK, with over 150 schools and 1,000 competitors.

Representing the school in the Mount Haes Epée (Years 7–9), all five boys performed admirably across a highly competitive field.

Tobias W placed 23rd, followed by William Xu in 34th, Anson Gall 63rd, Daniel Pietsch 102nd, and Alex Duckhouse 109th.

The following day saw the boys back on piste for the Mount Haes Foil. William Xu again led the way, finishing 34th, with Tobias Wilson 81st, Daniel Pietsch 86th, Anson Gall 97th and Alex Duckhouse 99th.

It was a valuable and enjoyable experience for all involved, and we were proud to see the boys represent Warwick School with commitment and enthusiasm throughout the event.

FOOTBALL Squad: R. Bhanji, E. Black, S. Bostock, A. Broadhurst, F. Buckley, J. Clifton, T. Cooper, I. Crow, G. Dhillon, J. Dixon, E. Dumbreck, T. Ehsan, R. Holton-Reeve, A. Kadone-Nzama, H. Mills, A. Rehman, A. Richards, F. Russell, S. Sateeskumar, M. Spencer, T. Stanley, K. Wong For many years the U18s football programme at Warwick School has focussed solely on organised training sessions in their Wednesday afternoon games lessons. However, this season many of the boys were fortunate to play for the school in competitive external fixtures. Over 60 boys from the Sixth Form chose football as their games option and it was great to have 22 players from that group participate in matches for the A team throughout the season.

Arnold Lodge School provided us with most of our fixtures as we played them home and away four times! The pick of those games came in late January as the team were positive from the first whistle and played with great attacking intent. Two goals from Edgar Dumbreck and one each for Sam Bostock, James Clifton and Theo Cooper helped us to win 5-3 in a very entertaining game. All four players were instrumental in how we played as a

TABLE TENNIS It has been another stellar year for table tennis at Warwick, with the U16 and U19 teams winning the Warwickshire round of the National Championship. The U16 were incredibly close in the zonal final, narrowly losing out in the end. The U19 team, however, dominated their tournament and the team of Rex Wong, Starry Sheung, Daniel Siu, and Ambrose Ho played magnificently to get down to the last four teams in the country.

It was a privilege to watch the matches on finals day, with incredible table tennis played by all and we can be proud to have come third overall, with the two teams above us both being table tennis academies.

PMT

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team not only on the day but in every match they played. Sam ended the season as top goal scorer while James provided great support for the team in both defence and attack at left back.

Our other two matches came against Kingham Hill School. The first game at home saw two goal of the season contenders drag us to a hard-fought 3-2 win. One of those goals came from Sam, again showing his class with a mazy run past a few defenders followed by a thunderous strike towards the top left corner. The other, a free kick from Kaiser Wong five yards shy of the halfway line that looped all the way over the goalkeeper and into the left corner of the net. Although impressive, what Kaiser did without the ball proved to be just as important for the team. His energy and effort in every game to disrupt the opposition and win the ball back for his teammates meant he was a vital part of the team playing in centre midfield.

Unfortunately, our unbeaten run came to an end in the return match away where we struggled to adapt to the unfamiliar artificial sand-based pitch. Pushing for a late equaliser we got caught on the break and ended up losing 3-1. Nevertheless, this was but a small blip in an otherwise successful and enjoyable first competitive season for the boys and a good sign of things to come in the future.

C. Withington

U19 Table Tennis Team

Old Warwickians

OWA President

Brig James Cook OBE, WS 1982-89 (to 31 December 2024) Jamie Barr, WS 1971-78 (from 1 January 2025)

OWA Chairman

Steve Tubb, WS 1971-82

The Old Warwickian Association offers lifelong opportunities for camaraderie, friendship and networking. Today, there are over 6,300 Old Warwickians in 50 countries across the globe and from every decade since the 1940s. OWs stay in contact with the school and each other through The Old Warwickian newsletter, www.oldwarwickians.org and our online networking platform www.warwickfoundationconnect.com.

A full calendar of events and reunions continues to offer OWs a range of opportunities to revisit and stay connected with Warwick School and to meet at home and abroad to enjoy each other’s company.

RECENT LEAVERS

Leavers from Warwick, King’s High, and Kingsley School from 2022, 2023 and 2024 were invited back at the end of the Michaelmas term for Festive Drinks.

These ‘Recent Leavers Drinks’ are becoming an annual event for leavers the first three years after leaving school.

U6 GRADUATION

Our 2025 leavers officially marked their time at Warwick School with a Graduation Ceremony and were warmly welcomed into the OWA by 2025 President Jamie Barr, WS 1971-78

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ANNIVERSARY REUNIONS

Over 200 OWs were welcomed back to school for this year's anniversary reunions. Leavers from 1965, ‘70, ’75, ‘85, ‘95, 2005 and 2015, and many of the staff who taught them, enjoyed a relaxed afternoon reconnecting with each other. Prefects’ tours took them round many parts of the school which were familiar, while showcasing the amazing facilities and opportunities enjoyed by students today.

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1970 LEAVERS

1975 LEAVERS

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1995 LEAVERS (and a few staff)

2005 LEAVERS

2015 LEAVERS 144 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 5

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Some of our 2003 leavers who take a table every year at the OWA Annual Dinner

The OWA Annual Dinner Michaelmas 2024

OWA ANNUAL DINNER

It was great to welcome so many OWs from different decades to the OWA Annual Dinner, which, exceptionally, was held in the Pyne Room in September.

OWA PRESIDENT’S DINNER

OWA President Jamie Barr hosted a splendid President's Dinner at The Cavalry and Guards Club on 17 May for 100 OWs and guests. This was our first London OWA President’s Dinner for nine years. Every decade since 1950 was represented and the President welcomed many OWs who had been to dinners before, including ten Past Presidents of the OWA. He was particularly delighted to welcome many OWs who were attending a President's Dinner for the first time, including a dozen recent leavers from 2019 and 2020.

The Cavalry and Guards Club

Some of our senior OWs at the OWA Annual Dinner

2025 OWA President’s Dinner

2025 OWA President’s Dinner

2025 OWA President’s Dinner

2025 OWA President’s Dinner

The biennial OW Armed Forces Dinner

OLD WARWICKIANS

REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL GATHERINGS

Head Master Mr Barker and Foundation Head of Boarding Mr Bull (both OWs) were delighted to meet up with OWs living and working in Hong Kong. Wessex Old Warwickians (WOW) and Norfolk Old Warwickians (NOW), some great lunches and a BBQ and OW London drinks were ever-popular.

WOW 31 May 2025

Wessex Old Warwickians at the Haynes Motor Museum

Gathering at the Indian Recreation Club in Hong Kong

London Drinks WOW 31 May 2025

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Norfolk OWs at The Gin Trap

OW SPORT

OW golf, tennis and cross country continue to be enjoyed.

THANK YOU

Special thanks to many OWs who return to school to support our Careers, Podcasts and Encounters programmes.

FURTHER OW NEWS

To catch up with OW news and read the latest Old Warwickian please visit www.oldwarwickians.org and www.oldwarwickians.org/oldwarwickian

The 2025 Spring OW Golf Day

The Autumn OW Golf Meeting

The OW Cross Country team with guest runner

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Obituaries 2025

We record with regret the passing of former staff and Old Warwickians mentioned below and pass on our sympathies to their loved ones, families and friends. Depending on the wishes of family, obituaries for some former staff are included in this edition of Portcullis and on www.oldwarwickians.org/obituaries.

Obituaries for Old Warwickians are also included on www.oldwarwickians.org/obituaries. This is a password protected page. The email is obituaries@oldwarwickians.org and the password is AltioraPeto.

Rob A Ashmore, WS 1958-66

Margaret with David

Douglas A Barrell, WS 1956-62 Ian J Blakey OBE, WS 1948-55 Nicholas John Cooper, WS 1959-68 Bryan C Diamond, WS 1946-54 Stephen A Ensall, WS 1984-91 Robin E R Evans, WS 1965-72 Iain G Hacking, WS 1952-63 Guy Hallifax, WS 1961-67 Paul Huband, WS 1950-57 Michael R Hughes, WS 1969-80 Charles Kay ('Piff'), WS 1944-47 Margaret Keighley, née Tingle, WS Staff 1947-62 Roger H Lee, WS 1941-50 Alan G Martin, WS 1951-59 Pauline Norton, WS Staff 2000-12 Richard (Dick) Oldfield, WS 1945-50 Mark D Osborne, WS 1973-81 Bishop Anthony John Parkes, WS 1960-66 Derrick (Dick) Pears, WS 1963-70 John Pipitone, WS Staff 1989-2024 Trevor Pritchard, WS Staff 1969-89 John Rudgard, WS 1947-57 David Shakespeare MA FRCS, WS 1961-68 Charlie Slatter, WS 1962-73 Richard G Smith, WS 1950-58 Nick C R Walker, WS 1957-64 Paul J Weighell, WS 1963-64

MARGARET KEIGHLEY

(née Tingle), WJS 1946-62 Margaret Tingle was born in 1921 in Nelson, Lancashire. Her father was a Methodist Minister so the family had a very peripatetic lifestyle, moving every five years. She had a talent for Art and loved her sport, playing tennis, netball and badminton but chose to pursue teaching as a career. When war broke out she had just secured a place on a teacher training course in Saffron Walden. Her first posting after qualifying was in Leicester, followed by a position at The Downs Quaker School near Malvern.

Margaret started at Warwick School in 1946, teaching Lower 2. She had her interview with Head Master, AHB Bishop (“The Bish”) and Jack Marshall. She came by train for her interview, arriving at Milverton Station where Jack met her and chauffeured her to the school. He recommended joining Warwick Boat Club for her tennis and she was a member there until the mid 1970s.

At lunchtimes 'Miss Tingle' would be on duty with the boys (the Prep had an early lunch which meant they got a long lunch break).

She took the boys for rounders and football, swapping her history lesson with one of the other teachers. Occasionally she lost her voice and had to teach in a whisper, but she said the boys would actually be more attentive and quiet so they could hear her. The cupboards at the back of her classroom used to attract mice (she thought they came for the paste that she used for her art classes) so they had to put down traps and the boys would duly remove the dead ones for her in the morning!

Margaret had a great rapport with her boys, one told his parents that “Miss Tingle

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understands a fella” and another asked his family to go to the seaside to bring some seaweed for a project they were doing.

Behind her form room there was the Ladies Staff Room for Christine Wilford (Thornton), Margaret Landsberry and her. The trio would send one of the boys over to the tuck shop for doughnuts for their tea breaks. Jack Marshall would come in for a quick chat but never stopped, however there was one young man who would stop to chat and have tea... David Keighley... who started at Warwick in 1957.

Gradually a romance blossomed and in 1960 Margaret and David married. Soon they were expecting their first child. Margaret’s maternity leave was brought forward due to an outbreak of German Measles. In March 1962, their daughter Zoë was born and in July 1967 Paul completed their family.

Margaret returned to teaching, arts and crafts, part-time, at Wroxall Girls School in 1973, until she retired in 1982. David joined her in retirement in 1987.

When she retired, she continued her love of Art, exhibiting her paintings including a couple in the Royal Academy, London. She and David started playing bridge, something Margaret continued after David died in 2015 and only stopped in October 2020 as she was unable to get a four together.

She went to live with Zoë during lockdown and returned to her flat in April 2021. In July she celebrated her 100th birthday with her family and friends which included OWs and former colleagues. She lived independently until February 2023, when she moved into a care home. In July 2024 she celebrated her 103rd birthday with an afternoon tea at Warwick Boat Club. Her care home even arranged a game of bridge for her in September and she was still enjoying regular trips out right up to a couple of weeks before she died. Margaret passed very peacefully at her care home in November 2024, surrounded with love and her family.

Margaret always remembered Warwick School as a lovely place to work. She returned to reunion dinners and coffee mornings with David and, later, Zoë. She met many of the “boys” she had taught more than 60 years earlier. She was thrilled that Warwick School was still part of her life after so many years. It brought her great happiness.

OLD WARWICKIANS STAFF NEWS School Marshal; for which he was well suited, combining high standards and a natural empathy with the boys.

Away from work he was a passionate golfer, winning The Coronation Cup and The Galloway Cup during his time at Leamington and County Golf Club — and played for many years off a single figure handicap. He found such joy in spending time with each of his beloved grandchildren; Rosa, Elsie and Aiden, and was known simply to them as their Nono.

JOHN PIPITONE

WS Staff 1989-2024 John was born in Palermo, Sicily in 1947, but his time there was brief. After his parents separated, he and his mother, Angela-Rosa, joined his grandparents and other family members in mid-Wales, starting a new life in Newtown when he was just two years old.

After leaving school, whilst training to be a panel beater, he overslept and missed his end of year exam. Rather than re-sit the entire year, John chose a different path. At seventeen years old he joined the army, and quickly adapted to the demands of service, where his physical and mental toughness and ability to think on his feet, under pressure, proved invaluable. His 24-year military career was the stuff of Boys’ Own stories, including adventures in Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, Brunei, Malaya, East Pakistan, the Philippines, Kenya and the USA. He passed the famous All Arms Commando Course earning the Green Beret and later parachute wings. His friends remember his trademark smile; he was one of the guys you wanted next to you in the good and bad times.

In 1973, whilst on a course at Chattenden Barracks in Kent, he met Tish. The attraction was instant and after a whirlwind romance, they were married within just three months of meeting. Daughter, Tanya, was born in 1974 and son, Dean, two years later.

John retired from the army in 1989 and along with Tish, was recruited into Warwick School. He was the first ex-regular RSM of the CCF and ran the maintenance department. He transformed the CCF into the pride of the school, from being the ‘also rans’ to the contingent that won all the competitions. He would later become

Following a very brief period of retirement in 2012, Warwick Junior School offered John the role of overseeing their car park during term time. His ability to brighten people’s mornings and afternoons, to organise the chaos, and to keep everything running smoothly became a vital part of the school’s daily rhythm.

At the start of 2024, following a cancer diagnosis, he was forced to step away from his Junior School duties, which he so dearly loved. He passed away peacefully in Myton Hospice on 21st September 2024, surrounded by his immediate family.

Tanya and Dean Pipitone “John Pipitone is the reason I joined the Army. My first role model; his way of compassionate leadership and humanity has guided me through my career. I am not alone. His professionalism, selflessness, and mischievous sense of fun touched his many comrades in the Army; the 70 or so of us from his time at Warwick School who joined the Armed Forces; and the thousands of boys, parents and staff who had the privilege to know him.”

Major General Jules NE Buczacki CBE

TREVOR PRITCHARD WS Staff 1969-1989

Trevor was born on 16th November 1932.

He enjoyed school and, in 1943, got a place at King Henry’s, Coventry. He passed School Certificate in 1947 and from his early days he was interested in Mathematics. Two years later he took the Higher School Certificate and in 1950 he won a scholarship to read Maths at St John’s College, Oxford.

Trevor started teaching as a student teacher at Gosford Park Primary School, Coventry, in January 1951 where he served his national service until July 1953. After marrying Val, Trevor moved to teach at Plymouth College, running the chess club

among other activities. He introduced SMP Mathematics to the College. After ten years they moved to Bristol, as Trevor wanted to try out the new Comprehensive Schools but his stint at Withywood Comprehensive lasted just a year before Trevor applied for and got a job at Warwick School, which he loved. In his own words, “The children were either bright or very bright” and he got thoroughly involved – running the chess club (again), the Scalextric club and other activities, including some singing.

Trevor was a natural teacher who taught Maths “The Pritchard Way”. He was “such a kind, thoughtful and clever man, blessed with a warm sense of humour and generous nature who was also a superb teacher of mathematics”, said one OW. Many other OWs have referred to his keen interest in their welfare and continuing education. He would run summer revision sessions for the boys. One of Trevor’s catch phrases was, “And Robert is your avuncular relative”. Ask Trevor how he was, and he would often reply: “Alive, well and happy” and later, “Embarrassingly well!” In school, when congratulations were in order, he would say, “Well done my lad, cream buns for you”, though no buns were ever forthcoming!

In 1989 Trevor took early retirement and kept in touch with Warwick School in lots of different ways. But his life was getting full of other things. Trevor was a lay preacher for the Christadelphians. As such, he was invited around the world. From 1980 until 2002, Trevor went quite frequently to Canada, America, South Africa or New Zealand, speaking at week-long Bible Schools. He also travelled within the UK ‘speaking’, making his final ‘address’ four weeks before he died (on 13th February 2025).

He had a long and fulfilled retirement and is sorely missed.

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CLASS OF 2025 LEAVERS DESTINATIONS Aston University –

University of Edinburgh –

Birmingham City University –

University of Exeter –

Bournemouth University –

University of Glasgow –

Cardiff Metropolitan University –

University of Leeds –

Cardiff University –

University of Leicester –

De Montfort University –

University of Liverpool –

Durham University –

University of Manchester –

Edge Hill University –

University of Nottingham –

Imperial College London –

University of Oxford –

Lancaster University –

University of Sheffield –

Loughborough University –

University of Surrey –

Manchester Metropolitan University –

University of the Arts London –

Newcastle University –

University of Warwick –

Nottingham Trent University –

University of York –

Oxford Brookes University – Queen Mary University of London –

Royal College of Music –

Sheffield Hallam University –

Guildhall School of Music –

University College London – University of Bath – University of Birmingham –

OVERSEAS

University of Bristol –

University of Catholica in Valencia –

University of Cambridge –

Leiden University –

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CLASS OF 2025 LEAVERS DESTINATIONS

News & events Richard Nicholson, Dr Stephen Burley, Jess Gillam MBE, and Hellen Dodsworth

Foundation Welcome Back Weekend Our Foundation Welcome Back Weekend, from Saturday, 24 to Sunday, 26 September was a spectacular occasion, bringing together our community after many months apart.

Friday started with the Warwick Independent Schools Foundation Thanksgiving Service at St Mary’s Church, Warwick, where all our schools came together in a service to celebrate our Foundation. We also commemorated our links with the wider community, welcoming the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Warwickshire, and civic dignitaries of Warwick and Leamington Spa. Further collaborative activities included members of the CCF teaching our Year 2 Prep School pupils to march, plus a new Encounters lecture, Year 9 Poster event, and an Open Rehearsal by the Foundation Symphony Orchestra in Warwick Hall. The day concluded with an exciting ‘Friday

Night Lights’ Warwick School rugby match under the floodlights of our 3G pitch.

On Saturday, school families, alumni and friends came together for a series of events: our Foundation Aquathlon, an Ex-Cathedra Singing workshop, the CBSO’s wonderful Stringcredibles, a workshop with amazing percussionist, Simone Rebello, drama taster sessions with the Bridge House Theatre Young Company, and a fun campus treasure trail.

Sunday saw the official opening of King’s High and Warwick Prep’s breathtaking new Music School with acclaimed saxophonist and Radio 3 presenter, Jess Gillam MBE, who unveiled a plaque and gave a wonderful performance. There was also collaboration between the Foundation and Warwick – A Singing Town; a ‘Come and Sing’ event, which culminated in a captivating performance of Messiah with singers from the Foundation and local community.

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Warwick School

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