Letter from the Head Master
Dear parents and guardians
As the summer term draws to a close, this edition of The Warwickian offers a vibrant reflection of the many moments – grand and quiet – that have made the past few months at Warwick School so memorable.
This has been a term rich in opportunity, creativity, and shared purpose. From a chance to meet Boston Dynamics robot dog – Spot – at the aerospace careers day to pupils supporting the community through Belonging Week, this magazine captures the essence of The Warwick Way – an education that places as much emphasis on character and connection as it does on curriculum.
Our 82 Extended Project Qualification students impressed us with their intellectual rigour and passion for learning, presenting a dazzling range of topics – from Nietzsche to neurobiology – with confidence and clarity. In the classroom and beyond, excellence in teaching and learning has remained at the heart of all we do.
It has been a joy to see the return of live music to Warwick Hall and beyond. From the creative energy of Belonging Week’s “Song in a Day”, to the professional polish of our Jazz Lab and Funk After Eight ensembles at Soho’s Pizza Express Jazz Club, our boys have not just performed, they’ve inspired. The Summer Serenade brought our community together in celebration and memory, particularly as we unveiled
It is a rich and moving reminder of what it means to belong to this community”
a tribute to Mr Robertson – a teacher whose musical legacy continues to resonate across generations.
The Encounters programme remains a cornerstone of our intellectual and moral development as a school. This term’s guests – including historians, scientists, and authors – challenged pupils to think deeply, to question courageously, and to reflect on the world around them. These sessions reinforce our belief that education must extend beyond the exam hall.
In sport, the summer term has seen both exceptional team spirit and remarkable individual accomplishments – whether in rugby, tennis, table tennis, swimming, or chess. Standout
achievements such as James T’s selection for England U18s, the tennis team’s gripping win over Rugby School, and Gregory and Ilyas’ podium finishes at Birmingham Rapidplay competition, speak to the hard work, resilience, and joy our pupils bring to competition.
Beyond our gates, pupils have explored ideas, history, and culture through an extraordinary range of trips – from Spain and Paris, to Dunkirk and Iceland – while others have made a difference closer to home, whether leading workshops for primary pupils or supporting local charities through initiatives such as fundraising to send ambulances to Ukraine.
All of this – and more – has been made possible by the dedication of our teaching and support staff, the generosity of parents, and above all, the energy, creativity, and values of our pupils.
I hope you enjoy this edition of The Warwickian as much as I have. It is a rich and moving reminder of what it means to belong to this community – one that continues to aim high, care deeply, and strive always to be the very best version of itself.
Wishing you all a restful and restorative summer.
James
Barker, Head Master
At a glance
A selection of this term’s news and stories in one place
Ambulances for Ukraine
On Sunday, 23 March, pupils from Warwick School and King’s High School took part in a sponsored walk in aid of raising funds for emergency humanitarian support on the Ukrainian frontline. The group walked from 8am until 6.15pm, covering at least 20 miles.
As a result of their sponsored walk, along with raising additional funds through home clothes day and doughnut sales, the total figure raised was a fantastic £15,428.02. The money raised
was used to purchase two ambulances in aid of Ukraine, and on Tuesday, 29 April, the ambulances arrived at the
school before being driven all the way to Ukraine that same day and are now in use.
Hockey awards evening
We were delighted to host our end-of-season Hockey Awards Evening on Wednesday, 7 May.
The evening was a great success and a fitting celebration of all the boys’ achievements when representing the school this season.
It was great to hear from Olympic player Liam Sanford on his journey to becoming a double Olympian. The boys have been inspired by the lessons he shared and hope to follow in his footsteps.
Congratulations to all the award winners on the night.
Greville games
On Friday, 2 May, during House Assembly, Greville House hosted their annual ‘Greville Games’ as a celebration and a farewell to the outgoing Upper Sixth pupils in the House.
The games consisted of a ‘ping pong ball and spoon’ race, a three-legged race, and a bean bag throwing tiebreaker. The
overall winner of the games was Sowgi S. At the end of the event, our outgoing House Captain, Diamond A, gave a goodbye speech and officially handed over to the new House Captain, Isaac B. Head of Greville House, Mrs Stevenson-Ray, would like to wish all the Upper Sixth pupils the very best in the future!
National Concert Band FestivalNational Finals
During the Easter holidays, Big Band and Little Big Band travelled to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester
for the National Concert Band Festival Finals.
Both groups should be extremely proud of their performances, and each earned a Platinum award – truly outstanding achievements.
Above and beyond their hard work and accomplished musicality, our boys should be most proud of the positivity and self-assurance on display throughout the day, demonstrating that they belong on the national stage.
Congratulations and well done to all involved.
EPQ presentations 2025
This year, we held our fifteenth Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) presentation poster event.
The EPQ is a process-based qualification where students are required to plan, research, develop, realise, and reflect on a project of their own devising, with the presentation forming an integral part of their assessment.
Eighty-two students presented on a variety of topics this year, speaking without the use of notes, displaying mastery of their subjects and providing confident and detailed answers to a range of unprepared questions about their research. We were once again treated to a wide range of eye-catching displays and students worked hard to make complex material accessible to an audience of non-experts.
Once more, there has been remarkable breadth and diversity in the topics chosen: Nietzsche’s influence on Nazi ideology, French WWI poetry, chemotherapy as a treatment for advanced exocrine pancreatic cancer, the effect of gut microbiota on mental health, and whether art can be regarded as a language to name but a few.
All of the pupils who presented will have gained a valuable portfolio of skills to take with them to university and the workplace. Congratulations to all on their achievement.
Congratulations to our Medicine offer holders
We are delighted that four of our Upper Sixth pupils have received offers from medical schools for courses this September.
Chris, Mahabir, Mohin, and Ray’an have all gained an offer after undertaking a national clinical aptitude test and several in-person interviews, in addition to the
Swimming performance results in medals
Nate swam in four events at the Coventry and District swim meet at the Alan Higgs Centre in Coventry, with fantastic results.
Nate swam four personal-best times across the weekend and won a bronze medal in the keenly contested 200m Individual Medley in a times of 2 min 39s, and scored a Silver in the 400m freestyle with a time of 4 min 59s. He also placed fourth in the 50m Butterfly and the 100m Backstroke.
These performances across all strokes and sprint to middle distances show
normal UCAS process.
The offers that they have between them include Aston, Birmingham, Cambridge, Glasgow, ICL, and UCL. One of last year’s leavers also received a confirmed place for medicine at Exeter.
Congratulations to all, we are very proud of you.
his versatility and resulted in him being selected for the West Midlands training squad.
Congratulations Nate, we are all very proud of you!
Representing at the HADO World Cup
Just before half term, Robbie F, Year 9, headed to China to represent Scotland at the HADO World Cup in Shanghai.
This was the first time Scotland had entered a team, and they narrowly missed getting into the last eight, ultimately finishing a very respectable ninth out of the 18 teams.
HADO is an augmented reality sport originally developed in Japan. It is played in teams of three on a 10x6m court with all players wearing a headset and wrist sensor which capture their movements in the real world, translating them into the game. The aim is to score points by shooting down opposition players while dodging their attempts to do the same.
Robbie had the opportunity to practice with some of the best players in the world in the days prior to the World Cup, and also got to train and compete in a tournament for a new 2v2 variation called HADO World. It was an amazing experience competing with and getting to know players from Japan, China, Turkey, Spain, New Zealand, and Morocco amongst others, and even being interviewed for Chinese TV.
Congratulations on this fantastic achievement Robbie!
Buglers mark VE80 with stirring performances!
Warwick School’s Buglers were back in action this week as they featured in local VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations. Performing in front of veterans, military personnel, VIPs, dignitaries, and members of the community, Warwick School students delivered superb performances that honoured the occasion with pride and
professionalism. Their presence added a memorable and meaningful touch to a significant day of remembrance and celebration.
A special thanks goes to all of the boys involved, and to Mr. Tibbitts for taking a leading role in establishing and fostering these valuable collaborations within the local community.
Conductors work with Orchestra of the Swan players
On Wednesday, 18 June, a selection of five boys had the unbelievable opportunity of conducting a professional group of string players through Elgar’s Serenade for Strings, receiving advice and guidance from principal conductor, Rebecca Miller.
This is a privilege that so few school pupils across the country could ever hope to receive, and our boys very much rose to the occasion. They took
pointers with grace and humour and really investigated how they could use gestures to shape the music and realise the intentions of the composer.
Our thanks to the players of the orchestra and to Rebecca for creating such a warm and welcoming atmosphere for a situation that could have so easily been nerve-wracking for pupils. Congratulations to our boys for rising to the occasion with humility and curiosity, as they always do!
Angelo wins national competition
Angelo F was announced overall winner of the ESU Performing Shakespeare National Competition.
Angelo made it to the final 12 with students from other regions in the United Kingdom, after competing in knockout rounds alongside 2,000 students.
Warwick School has a legacy of taking part in ESU competitions, and we have seen students progress through rounds of both the Churchill and Mace competitions. This is our second year in the final at the Globe Theatre. Angelo performed on the Sam Wannamaker stage, which was built to resemble a traditional Jacobean stage.
Angelo delivered an outstanding performance of Shakespeare’s Mark Anthony from Julius Caesar. The judges, comprising working actors, directors, educationalists, and the Head of Education at the Globe Theatre deliberated for half an hour before announcing Angelo as the winner in 2025.
This is a huge achievement and indicative of Angelo’s superb oracy and performance skills and hard work. We are extremely proud of Angelo’s achievement, but more importantly, many of the organisers commented on his humility and positive attitude.
Congratulations Angelo, we are very proud of you!
Making a mark in representative rugby
Although the rugby season wrapped up for many just before Easter, several of our academy players have continued to make their mark in representative rugby.
A huge congratulations to James T, who proudly represented England U18s at the Six Nations Tournament over the Easter break. A standout moment was his involvement in a brilliant try against Scotland U18s.
James was joined by Will P and Tom W at an England U17s training camp, culminating in an exhibition match against
Hartpury College. We’re incredibly proud of them and their fantastic achievement in being selected.
As we bid farewell to our Upper Sixth players at the end of the year, we’re excited to follow the journey of Diamond A, who has signed a professional contract with Leicester Tigers for next season. We’re confident that Diamond’s dedication and talent — shown consistently over the past two years — will serve him well as he aims to become a key player in the Tigers’ pack. Congratulations, Diamond — a truly well-deserved accomplishment!
Ben admitted to NYJC for 2025
We are delighted to announce that Ben, in Lower Sixth, has been accepted into this summer’s National Youth Jazz Collective course for August.
This is a formidable achievement; the course is exclusively open to the very best performers at school level across the country for each age category and by audition only.
We are delighted for Ben and are excited to see his musical future continue to blossom!
LAMDA exam results
We are delighted to have received the results from our recent LAMDA Exam session.
Fifty boys were entered for exams in the Acting, Verse and Prose, Reading for Performance, Speaking in Public, and Musical Theatre qualifications. All pupils have passed, earning excellent marks and feedback from the examiners.
All pupils gained Merit and Distinction Awards, with a 90% Distinction rate. We would like to highlight the following pupils who all did exceptionally well, gaining marks of 90% and above.
In their Acting exams:
• Finlay (Year 7) achieved 92% in his Grade 2
• Benjamin (Year 9) achieved 91% in his Grade 4
• Samuel (Year 10) achieved 91% in his Grade 5
• Samuel (Year 11) achieved 90% in his Grade 8.
In their Speaking in Public exams:
• Harry (Year 8) achieved 93% in his Grade 3
• Harlan (Lower Sixth) achieved 90% in his Grade 8
• Ryan (Upper Sixth) achieved 91%
We are very proud of all of the pupils and their remarkable results.
Aerospace and Engineering Careers
The Aerospace Careers Programme (ACP) is a charity that exists to support the next generation of young engineers and pilots in the Aerospace industry. They work with partners from industry to promote and advise school students of various pathways into Aerospace.
Warwick School has worked with ACP over the past 5 years, and it was fantastic to have them return once more to present some of the latest technologies to students from our Foundation and from local state schools.
The day was led by Chris Marshall who runs a company in the UK that provides uncrewed aircraft systems for film, tv, agriculture, and surveying industries –
making use of drones and VR technology. His presentation also included visionary examples of “next generation” routes into Aerospace industries.
Lee Mason was next to present. He discussed his role as a digital artist and demonstrated real use cutting-edge technology involving Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Blockchain tools to produce 3D/virtual designs.
Finally, Michael Stokes presented various ways to become a commercial pilot. Michael is in the final stages of acquiring his Airline Transport Pilot Licence theory certification and he built up his flying hours whilst working in industry.
The students were then treated to an
exciting and unique interaction with a Boston Dynamics robot dog called Spot. There are only 13 of these in the UK and cost around £100,000.
After lunch, the breakout sessions offered a chance for students to explore some of the technology provided and discussed by ACP. This included simulators configured to train people how to fly drones; utilising VR tools to explore and create 3D digital artwork and design; 3D flight simulation; and situational awareness using VR headsets.
Feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive and they left the day enriched and armed with relevant information around the Aerospace industry.
Fantastic performances at Birmingham Rapidplay
On Sunday, 15 June, the popular chess tournament, Birmingham Rapidplay, took place.
Rated by the English Chess Federation, the tournament attracts a large turnout each time across various sections, including chess masters in the Open section.
Warwick Senior and Junior School were represented by Gregory K (Year 9) and Ilyas R (Year 6); the latter making
his debut in an adult Rapidplay chess tournament.
Both boys performed brilliantly, with Gregory scoring 5.5/7 to finish in jointsecond place and Ilyas just half a point behind on 5/7 to finish in joint-third place. Youth and inexperience proved to be no obstacle, as numerous older and higher-rated opponents bit the dust at their hands. Well done to both for two fantastic performances!
Year 9 landscapes
Mrs Francis' Year 9 pupils have been working on a landscape project inspired by photographs they’ve taken of a favourite location or a well-known place.
Using their own images as a starting point, they’ve developed creative and personal responses, showcasing both technical skill and imagination in their work. Well done boys!
Rugby presentation evening
On Friday, 16 May, the annual End-of-Season Rugby Presentation Evening took place in the grand setting of Warwick Hall. This ever-popular event attracted over 500 attendees, including students, parents, staff, and alumni, all eager to celebrate the achievements of the past year. The evening was filled with shared memories, laughter, and entertaining stories from an action-packed rugby season.
The highlight of the evening was the presence of Warwick rugby legend Nick David, who now plays for Harlequins. Nick was warmly welcomed back to his alma mater and took the opportunity to speak to the boys about his fond memories of his time at the school. He
shared anecdotes from his school days, emphasising the camaraderie and life lessons learned on the rugby field. Nick also spoke candidly about the challenges and rewards of professional rugby, offering valuable insights and advice to the aspiring young players.
In addition to his inspirational speech, Nick played a key role in the awards ceremony, helping to present numerous trophies to a host of deserving prize
winners. Each award celebrated the dedication, hard work, and achievements of the players throughout the year. The recipients were recognised for their exceptional performances, attitude, and commitment to the sport.
The event was a testament to the strong rugby tradition at Warwick and the enduring spirit of the school community.
Congratulations to all the winners this season. Altiora Peto!
A
Celebrating student achievements
Summer Art Gala celebrates creative excellence
This summer marked the much-anticipated return of our annual Art Gala Evening, a vibrant celebration showcasing the outstanding work of our Year 11 and Year 13 students. The event highlighted the very best of their creativity, imagination, and dedication developed over the past two years.
Our GCSE students presented an impressive and diverse range of work, with each student exhibiting a personal collection. The artwork spanned portraiture, landscapes, surrealism, and abstraction—offering something to appeal to every eye and artistic taste.
Our A level students also delivered an exceptional display, featuring ambitious 3D installations, sculptures, large-scale stencilled paintings, and expressive drawings. Their themes explored a rich variety of subjects, including Alzheimer’s and memory, musical icons such as Charlie Parker, environmental issues such as plastic sea pollution, and provocative representations of contemporary music culture.
As a department, we are incredibly proud of what our students have accomplished throughout their courses. It has been a joy to celebrate their achievements and share their work with the wider school community. Well done, Class of 2025!
We are incredibly proud of what our students have accomplished throughout their courses.
beyond the
Learning classroom in the English department
Once again, our pupils have taken every opportunity to learn beyond the classroom in English this term. From projects and competitions to radio plays and assemblies, they have been creative and courageous in their learning.
Year 8 get creative
As part of their study of Ray Bradbury short stories this term, our superb Year 8 pupils tried their hand at emulating his style in descriptions of encounters with strange and mysterious pupils. Some excerpts and artwork from their ambitious responses are below.
Its scales gleamed with malice, its sleek, fox-like grin piercing any doubts of hope. A sense of terror emanated from wherever the monster lingered. The endless depths of the caves around it, twisting and turning, making us ever fearful of a sleek grin around each corner. A sea of corpses littered the cave and the slow ‘drip, drop’ of water cascaded down the walls of darkness. Its body, a snaking train of sculptured stone, coiled in endless carcasses and a river of red, sinking into the darkness. It slithered around, stopping to glance amongst the myriad passageways of the caves, lamenting their loneliness, lost in the dark. Scrambling, a new recruit fell to the ground. I glanced around the corner. It was there.
Alex W
The boat’s engine roared, spluttering out white foam as we slowly travelled further and further away. But as the mainland vanished, we heard a loud rumble, steadily getting closer. Everyone looked at each other, bewildered. Suddenly, someone pointed at a cloud of bubbles rising from the surface. The captain began to start the boat up again but just as the engine roared back into life, there was a huge roar and splash as the engine flew from the boat and crashed into the depths. Everyone looked up, then we saw it. Huge, with powerful green armoured skin, with scales that glistened in the sun. We saw two luminous orange eyes stare at us and it showed great foot-long teeth inside huge jaws as it let out a huge roar that nearly deafened us.
Tom Y
Before they had even breathed again, a huge, lumbering beast emerged from the trees, tall enough to make mighty redwoods seem like Bonsai trees. Out of instinct alone, Richards pulled Theodore behind a large hunk of wall. Neither of them dared utter a single word; they just stared at each other in horror. Its build was that of a terrible robot and it was as broad and strong as ten bison. It had thick metal armour all over its body and bulging shoulders. An odd animal hide covered its body – not one, but two. On the left side of the beast, over its arms and shoulder, like a war trophy, there was the solid hide of an armadillo, like a knight’s trusty plate armour. On its right, a coat of deadly quills erupted from its side, like a porcupine. Its single red eye gleamed like a robotic ruby in its head, glaring at the ruins.
Danny H
The Ink and Intrigue 2024 Competition Winners are Announced
We are delighted to announce that our 2024 Ink and Intrigue Competition has been won by James L in the Lower Sixth. Charlie G in Year 11 took second place. Both James and Charlie have been
1ST
A Late Redemption
invited to a special celebration of their work, where their prizes will be awarded, and we will listen to their spectacular stories.
Looking ahead, the 2025 competition is now open to entries, with a deadline of Friday, 26 September 2025. All pupils
2ND
Here is my tale, which is given to you as both a lesson and a warning; it is for you to judge what I am teaching, or cautioning against. Michel Ivanov was the fourth son of an enigmatic travelling merchant, by the name of Aleksei Ivanov. No one is quite sure of his heritage; for, though his surname was Russian, Michel spoke even the most obscure languages with remarkable fluency, and acted in a manner that could not be traced to any known culture or ideology. Regardless, he was kind, charismatic, and learned, unlike his father. And it is this father who set in motion the events of this tale, when he decided to visit his son, in London.
For context, Michel had quickly left his family in Germany after his mother died. He despised his father, and for that his older brothers despised him, so much so that not one member of the family, aside from Michel’s uncle, had attended the funeral. It was bleak indeed, yet Michel felt that he would rather seek out a new life than be subjected to the searing embers of his old one. So he took a place at a prestigious university in London, leaving behind his father’s German enterprise, and the strings of wealth that were attached to it.
The
from Years 10 to Upper Sixth are welcome to submit a tale with a twist in under 1000 words. Submissions should be sent to R.Hardiman@warwickschools.co.uk. The openings of our two winning stories are below, and they will soon be published in full on the school website.
Mr Clifford was not a pleasant landowner, nor did he endear himself to the Rosewood Green locals. While he had an aptitude for making enemies, none of his actions seemed grave enough to drive someone to murder. Therefore, it came as a shock to us all when Frederick Clifford was discovered dead last Thursday.
Mr Clifford had invited us to dinner that evening. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by Porter, the head servant at Clifford Manor. Porter hung my coat and hat on the rack beside the door: Dr. Fisher’s cane and Sgt. Carvell’s tweed jacket were also draped on the stand, I noted. This peculiar selection of attendees seemed odd, but I thought nothing more of it at the time.
Dr. Fisher, the Clifford family’s trusted physician, was a reserved yet friendly man whose work was his main priority. Sgt. Carvell, a veteran of the Great War and Mr Clifford’s former squadron leader, was known for his strong sense of duty but also for sparking unnecessary arguments. I, on the other hand, was a longtime acquaintance of Mr. Clifford—a school friend and business partner.
As I entered the dining room, Mrs Clifford sat at the far end in a regal burgundy gown, her expression cold and distant. Miss Evelyn Clifford, on the other hand, was radiant, laughing and conversing cheerfully with her father. The Sergeant and the Doctor were engaged in light conversation. Porter led me to my seat before discreetly leaving the room. For the moment, the atmosphere seemed warm and welcoming.
Warwickshire Essay and The Warwickshire Voices Competitions for Lower Sixth Pupils
In the summer term, we once again launched our two writing competitions for Lower Sixth pupils: The Warwickshire Essay Competition and The Warwickshire Voices Competition. For The Warwickshire Essay Competition, pupils have been tasked to write an essay on the topic of ‘Silence in Literature’ and for
The Warwickshire Voices Competition, our pupils need to write in any genre of their choice on the topic of ‘Language and Power’.
To get the Lower Sixth thinking about the competition themes, Mrs Hodge and Mrs Hardiman ran lunchtime seminars for each competition in June, with topics including ‘Silence in Atonement’ and
‘Public and Private Voices in Creative Fiction’.
The competition is now open with entries due on Friday, 5 September 2025. We are delighted to have invited Lower Sixth pupils from our other Warwick Group schools to enter too, and we greatly look forward to reading the entries next term.
PRIZE WINNER: JAMES L PLACE PRIZE WINNER, CHARLIE G
A trip to London for the Lower Sixth
On Thursday, 26 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.
The Aspire Lecture Series for Year 10
With their summer examinations finished, the Aspire Lecture Series commenced for Year 10. These exciting lunchtime lectures offer a challenging and exciting insight into the IGCSE set texts, with topics that go beyond the course to stretch and challenge our learners. In June, Year
10 heard about musical motifs in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and about Tennessee Williams’ use of Plastic Theatre. It has been wonderful to see our Year 10 pupils taking these opportunities and we invite pupils to continue attending our fortnightly Aspire Lectures in Year 11.
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.
Last night I saw the City
Year 7 students wrote poems imagining what it would be like if they could see the school come to life at night. They were inspired by ‘Last Night I Saw the City’ by Andrew
Last night the school was jumping:
Lecterns hopped about the stage
Singing praises of the headmaster, Bins threw their rubbish around the classrooms
And stacks of neatly placed books danced about.
The Pyne Room’s portraits shook as if they were
In a silent disco…
Locker doors bounced open like a cat that’s seen a cucumber,
While computers buzzed to life after their brief rest.
The playground hurled handballs about
Like confetti.
Harrison B 7T
As the lectern sang funky songs, The trays played tennis with pairs of tongs.
The music room came alive,
While the lockers began to jive.
The teacher’s chair sighed in relief, A historical sword came out of its sheath.
The computers hummed as if they were bees
Whistling through the tops of trees. Hockey sticks waltzed about the pitch
While tubas played at a perfect pitch.
Lorcan H 7T
Fuseli.
Last night, the school was exhausted. The playground slouched like a stroppy teenager, Its youth drained away by the playful and lively children.
An unkindled oven cooled and mellowed after a sweaty day’s work.
Last night, the school was angry. Litter patrolled the forlorn playground, compelled by the tempestuous wind.
The exemplary lectern, feeling shattered by its immaculate posture Decided to droop with boredom at last. Last night, the school was at unrest. The ramshackle plastic trays whispered and gossiped in the pitchblack.
Lockers were nattering together, Their mouths gaping and flapping as the door slammed shut.
Last night, the school was laughing like a hyena.
Exercise books flapped and chatted in contentment.
The computers hummed dreamily: Would I be trapped here forever?
Harrison B 7T
Last night the school was at ease. Walking alongside me were Packs of litter patrolling the forlorn grounds, Compelled by the gusty wind.
The hallway’s stomach was stretched and empty,
Relieved from the jam-packed day.
Last night the school was leading me: The doorways beckoning me along the way.
Discarded books were staring; The computers, with their eyes shut tight, Still hummed in their sleep.
Last night the school was talking. The lockers with their gaping mouths, Roaring and baring their meals from the day.
Exercise books gossiping, While strolling along the barren desks.
Last night the school was weary: The clocks were exhausted, Yet labouring for eternity, Always timekeeping for their friends.
The teacher’s chair was tired, Yet wanting to make orders, Pleading for a chance to educate.
Last night the school was scared. Forgotten dining trays shivered in their beds of bubbles, Having nightmares about the coming day.
Forsaken food splattered the floor, Crying and whimpering endlessly.
Last night the school was weeping, For the people had left.
The headmaster’s lectern
Wailed in depression, Standing alone in the night…
Finlay A 7T
Belonging Week
A true highlight of the Warwick School calendar returned this term, this time with a new name
Belonging Week is the new name for what has traditionally been known as Activities Week. With this change of name, we believe that the programme better reflects life at Warwick School, and the fact that belonging is a core aspect of the school community.
Certainly, we feel a sense of belonging when we feel connected to others and when we feel that our presence and contributions are valued, and this is what we wanted to emphasise during the week.
Belonging Week gave students the opportunity to participate in a wide range of engaging activities, local trips, and national and international expeditions. These opportunities were designed to push students beyond the confines of the school curriculum and provide them with lasting memories, whilst empowering them to foster collaboration, develop character, and serve others in an intentional way.
Whilst many of the important features of Activities Week remained, we also looked to prioritise and champion the value of service, both within our school community and in reaching out and serving primary schools and other organisations in Warwick and beyond. This new focus
on service had implications for the way that Belonging Week was structured, and many of the activities that our pupils participated in were also delivered by out pupils for local primary school children.
An impressive 17 trips across the week
Six residential trips:
• Geography trip to Iceland
• History trip to Dunkirk and Waterloo
• Spanish trip to Cantabria
• French trip to Paris
• Lower Sixth biology fieldtrip
• National tennis tournament at Eton
Eleven day trips:
• Year 7 Art/English to Harry Potter studios
• Year 7 Maths to Warwick Castle
• Year 8 Classics to Caerleon
• Year 9 English Creative Writing to Guys Cliffe House
• Year 10 Entrepreneurial to DCS Group Head office
• Year 10 Sociology to West Midlands Police Museum
• Year 10 Classics to British Museum
• Lower Sixth Design Technology to Morgan Cars
• Lower Sixth Paintballing
• Musicians to a recording studio
• RAF Flying
DAY ONE
Year 9 took part in their Belonging Project, Task Master. Their task was to recreate and film an event from throughout history, with boys choosing to recreate everything from The Battle of Hastings to London 2012 Olympic relays!
Year 7 took part in a range of activities in their Belonging Carousel, including Sport, Command Tasks, and a Building Community Challenge. Their sessions were led and supported by our Lower Sixth pupils, as they worked together to solve a variety of challenges.
We were also immensely proud to welcome The Band of The Scots Guards to Warwick School. During their visit, our pupils had the rare and exceptional occasion to learn from and work alongside the prestigious military band. This included workshops to work on technique; a presentation and Q&A session, where pupils could learn about a potential musical career with the army; and concluded with a spectacular concert, including a side-by-side performance between The Band of The Scots Guards and some of our talented musicians.
Other activities included year 8’s Classics trip to Wales, year 10’s Belonging Project, ‘Sir Isaac Newton Day’, and Lower SIxth’s Belonging Carousel of lectures, sport, service, and study.
DAY TWO
Year 9 learned about music from around the world, as they rotated in sessions throughout the afternoon to learn about and practice Indonesian Gamelan, African Drumming, and Brazilian Samba. This followed their morning session, a charity initiative for Kissing it Better. During this session, the boys were tasked with writing cards for elderly people in Warwick Hospital and care homes, with the aim of tackling loneliness of seniors within our society.
Lower Sixth took part in a Belonging Carousel consisting of a lecture series, sport, service, and study. As part of the lecture series, boys got to hear about and partake in discussions around a number of insightful topics, including the lecture from Mr Barker on ‘Just Following Orders; Authority, Obedience and Moral Responsibility’, which produced some intriguing decisions on moral culpability.
Elsewhere, year 7 once again took part in their Belonging Carousel, led and supported by Lower Sixth pupils; year 8 took part in a biology-themed belonging project; and year 10 took part in a Young Enterprise Dragons Den Challenge.
DAY THREE
On day three, we were delighted to welcome around 80 primary pupils from Eversfield School as part of Belonging Week. The pupils took part in two projects - a sustainability project in the morning and a rocket project in the afternoon - led by our staff and students.
During the sustainability project session, the pupils were tasked with creating a colourful and informative poster that teaches people about the dangers of plastic pollution in the ocean and how we can help to protect marine life. In the rocket project session, the pupils had a great time building aerodynamic rocket models with their classmates.
It was fantastic to see our Year 8 and 10 pupils supporting Eversfield pupils as part of their Service Projects, with Year 8 supporting the Eversfield pupils in the morning and Year 10 in the afternoon. Year 8 also had an enriching time as they worked together in the morning session during team building command tasks.
Year 7’s activity was ‘Song in a Day’, which involved learning two songs, ‘It
Smells like Zebra’ and ‘A la Cart’ by Judith Watson. Their hard work from throughout the day culminated in a fantastic performance to parents in Warwick Hall. Considering the fact that the boys had to learn two entirely new pieces of repertoire, the progression that the boys made in just one day was truly outstanding.
Year 10 engaged in a variety of fantastic Belonging Projects throughout the day, including ‘Bantam Motorcyle Restoration’, ‘Cryptic Crosswords’, and ‘True Crime and Critical Thinking’.
Finally, away from school, Year 9 and Lower Sixth each enjoyed a day trip – the former to Guys Cliffe House whilst the latter went paintballing.
DAY FOUR
We finished off Belonging Week with another fantastic day of activities, sessions, and trips.
A highlight of the day, and indeed the week, was the Lower Sixth Character Conference for our pupils and those at King’s High School. Throughout the conference, pupils heard three inspiring keynote talks; ‘Why Character Matters’ with Prof. James Arthur OBE; ‘Navigating the Path: Strategic Leadership for Character, Flourishing, and Courageous Decisions’ with Gary Lewis’; and ‘Developing Cyber Wisdom: Character,
AI, and the Future’ with Prof. Tom Harrison.
Through these talks, along with breakout sessions and opportunities for Q&As and discussion, the conference aimed to challenge our pupils to reflect on the importance of their character and their development of it.
For their Belonging Project, Year 8 took part in art- and sport-themed activities throughout the day. In the art session, pupils were tasked with creating shackstyle houses using recycled cardboard, with some truly creative results.
We also welcomed back Eversfield School, with Year 4 pupils taking part in ‘Rockets Project’ in the morning and ‘Belonging Sport’ in the afternoon. The sport session consisted of dodgeball in the sports hall, before finishing the day with a hugely enjoyable multisport session on our sports fields!
Year 9 had their chance to collaborate with a series of command tasks during their team building day, whilst it was Year 7s turn for an enriching day trip - this time to Warwick Castle.
It was rather fantastic to see pupils engage with such a variety of activities and sessions throughout the week, taking full advantage of the opportunity to broaden their horizons, learn about new topics, collaborate with one another, and demonstrate all of the values that are central to the ethos of Warwick School.
SPORTS DAY
On Friday, 4 July, Warwick School hosted sports day, supported by staff and students in the Lower Sixth. This was a fantastic way to end the week, supporting and encouraging student participation in sport at every level.
Tennis Sport
On Wednesday, 30 April, the first team tennis squad took on Rugby School in Round 2 of the National Cup.
On a scorching hot day, the fixture began with the top two seeds, Harrison H and Seb C, competing in singles matches and the third and fourth seeds, Theo T and Ned W, competing in doubles.
Harrison battled well against Rugby’s strongest player, who was made to work hard to win points, but unfortunately fell short 6-2 6-2. Seb initially found his opponent tricky to manage but quickly grew in confidence and used his power to take control of points. This became a fantastic game to watch as the two players battled out long points, with Rugby School eventually taking the win 6-3 6-3.
Meanwhile, Theo and Ned were playing outstanding doubles on the court next to Seb. The pair worked well together, with Theo hitting consistently well from the baseline and Ned using quick hands at the net. This, combined with strong serving, was too much for the Rugby School pair and led to a 6-1 7-6 win for Warwick.
Going into the second round of fixtures, this meant Rugby School was leading 4-2 in ‘rubbers’. It was now the turn of Theo T and Harry W to take on their opposites in singles. Theo started where he had left off the doubles and raced into an early lead, with a combination of powerful hitting and clever tactics to manipulate his opponent around the court. Theo’s dominance meant that he won his singles comfortably 6-2 6-0. Harry also took control of his match well, winning the first set 6-2 with a combination of good baseline hitting and variation of spin.
In the second set, Harry’s opponent raised their game, and it meant that the match became tied at one set apiece. The tie-break that followed was a mustwin for Warwick to ensure we still had a chance of winning the overall match. Through resilience and composure, Harry played some of his best tennis, running his opponent around the court to breaking point, winning 10-3.
These two wins in the singles lifted the spirits of the team and swung momentum in favour of Warwick.
In the second doubles match, Harrison and Seb played well together. The combination of Seb’s serves and Harrison’s groundstrokes complemented each other well, but the Rugby School pair remained resolute and won 6-1 6-3. This meant that after three hours and fifteen minutes of play, the fixture
was tied at 6-6 and the match would go to a ‘shootout’. This consists of one player from ‘Pair 1’ and one from ‘Pair 2’ from each team, playing doubles in a Championship Tie-Break to 10 points.
Having battled through the afternoon heat, the team’s hopes lay with Harrison and Ned. In a tense encounter, Ned’s volleying game yet again came to the fore, ruthlessly putting away anything that came near him. Harrison found another dimension too; with renewed vigour, his trusty forehand drove the Rugby pair back in the court to give us the advantage.
This fantastic combination meant that after three hours and fourty five minutes, Warwick won the shootout 10-5 and the match was over with Warwick beating Rugby School 7-6. Congratulations to the team on an incredible performance.
Table tennis
It has been a successful season for our table tennis players this year.
On Sunday, 27 April, the Warwick U19 table tennis team (Rex, Starry, Daniel, and Ambrose) travelled to Wolverhampton for the finals of the National Schools Table Tennis Competition.
After a day of scintillating play, they finished third - behind two table tennis academies! This is an amazing achievement and the boys should be very proud.
Toby J, Year 9, has also been playing in the Leamington and District Table Tennis league and was presented with several awards in recognition of his recent successes, as he won:
• With his partner, the top division, and division A 2-a-side league in autumn 2024 and spring 2025 league.
• The Averages award for the 2-a-side spring league, winning 17 out of 18 matches.
• The Southwell Cup for the Most Improved Cadet (U15) for the second year running.
• Most Improved Player in the Club Award at his table tennis club, Eathorpe, for gaining over 200 points in the Leamington and District league table. Toby also got through to the semi-finals in the top grade of the Lillington Free Church Table Tennis Club competition in May, beating the number 10 ranked player from the Birmingham league.
Golf
It has been a busy half term for our golfers.
Sam and Harvey, Year 8, competed in several Junior Opens and events in May and over half-term, both seeing their handicaps come down. Highlights include:
• U14 County Championship at North Warwickshire – Sam was best net (63) overall on the day and secondbest gross (84). Amazing score in terrible wet conditions. Harvey was T7.
• Edgbaston Open – Sam backed up his round at North Warwickshire the very next day with an amazing net 60 (81 gross!), more than good enough for first place in the net.
• Nuneaton Open – Harvey finished second in the Silver Division with net 72.
• Rob Rock Tour at The Astbury – Harvey finished second net in U14 with a score of 67.
With strong performances in the season so far, both have been selected for U14 county matches. Well done to both boys! Then on Monday, 23 June, Warwick headed to St Ives in Cambridgeshire for the ISGA HG Trophy. The school performed brilliantly in very tough, windy conditions.
Gabe W came fifth overall and shot a very solid 76. Supported ably by Charlie E and Josh P, the boys performed even better as a team. They came fifth overall in the gross competition and third overall in the net. This was against 23 other schools, some of whom would be considered golfing schools. This ended an excellent season for the team.
Thanks should go to Sam P for his leadership and captainship of the team over the past two years.
Music
Summer term for most music departments is relatively quiet; with exam season in full flow, some ensembles with older members dwindle in number and performance opportunities are fewer around internal exams as well whilst boys focus on their end of year assessments. This does not mean that we don’t finish the year with a proverbial bang, though!
Over 100 individual music exams have taken place with ABRSM, Trinity Music, and Rock School this term, as well as performances at assembly (e.g. Little Big Band), the new parents welcome morning (LBB again!), and the Bridge House Theatre’s 25th Anniversary (with Jazz and Rock ensembles proving to the audience how much of a part they have played in the development of a warm and welcoming culture in that space over the years).
The end of the term has finished with real zeal; a number of our most excellent instrumentalists performed at an Armed Forces Tea Party at the hospital on 27 June to an highly appreciative audience. Prior to that, of course, our Year 7s rounded off their Instrumental Scheme experience with a bombastic performance of five pieces, culminating in a highly intimidating performance of Holst’s Mars in Warwick Hall on Tuesday, 24 June. Our hopes for this year group are high as we encourage them to reach beyond the moon in their musical futures!
Music has also been central to Belonging Week, as one would expect, with the Scots Guards visiting (our thanks to Mr Tibbitts for organising this); a trip to a local Recording Studio (thanks to Mr Lindsay!); a visit from a Film and Television Composer; a ‘Concert in a Day’ day for the Year 7s; as well as a World Music Carousel in which Mr Clarke-Butler took pupils to Latin America with some Samba, Mr Bridges took a journey to Africa with Djembes, and Mr Mann went to Indonesia (the
The Jazz Lab and Funk After 8 are two formidable ensembles, experiencing a real flow of talent from the extraordinary pupils involved at present. They took a trip to perform at Pizza Express’s Soho Jazz Club in London on Saturday, 5 July to record, entertain an awestruck audience, and generally celebrate their excellence.
Immediately following this, on Sunday, 6 July, we went to Pizza Express again, this time in Warwick and with the Chapel Choir to celebrate a year of liturgical hard work, offer our farewells to Mrs Baskerville and Mr Bridges, who have been so important to the choir in recent years, and give a joint evensong with the Choir of St Mary’s, Warwick. This was in addition to the small matter of a Mayoral Civic Service of Thanksgiving just three days prior, which was emblazoned with regalia and with the strength of our Fanfare Team to boot!
The Summer Serenade saw the school into its final week of the academic year in style, celebrating the year through music with a host of our large ensembles, rock bands, jazz bands, and classical groups
alike. With a Burger Bar kindly staffed by PAWS (Parents’ Association, Warwick School), The Copper Project, and plenty of picnic blankets, spirits were high as a gleeful audience were treated to music that stretched from The Beatles through to Hoe Down (from Rodeo) and High School Musical! What better way to end the way than with a huge celebration of community with music, and it was an honour to be able to reflect on the life and goodness of Mr Robertson by unveiling his memorial frame, to be placed in the Recital Room imminently, someone who gave so much
Recital Room…) to explore the Gamelan.
Warwick boys have done us proud in the local community with their music, providing trumpeters for Remembrance Day at a number of nearby locations.
to the vibrant community of Warwick School in his time with us.
We say goodbye at the end of this term to a really stellar Upper Sixth cohort, who we wish well into their pursuits of music at conservatoire and university in future. Also leaving us is Mrs Baskerville, the stalwart of choral singing for the past four years at Warwick, who goes onto pursue a PhD full time. Mr Bridges departs us after a year as Head of Academic Music to take a Director of Music position at Malvern, St James’s School, having ensured that our curriculum is stronger than ever, and we also say goodbye to Miss Harper-Radley who is leaving our Graduate Music Assistant role to pursue full time teacher training. After 17 years of service, Ms Underhill leaves the role of Music Administrator, having no doubt known and influenced with her calming presence almost all of the boys who have
passed through the school in recent memory, and Miss Sharp, our Director of Junior School Music, whose wonderful influence on the lives of our pupils will be felt for years to come is also, sadly, leaving us to pursue a pilgrimage walk. We look forward to seeing all of our Old Warwickians at more musical events in the future to celebrate their unending membership of this wonderful community and hearing the musical offerings of the next generations to come.
Combined Cadet Force
The summer term has been another busy term for our Combined Cadet Force (CCF) with VE day celebrations and training experiences.
14 cadets attended a VE Day celebration at Priors House Care Home in Leamington. 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.
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 Year 12 cadets, led by CSM Jo, performed a demonstration of complicated rifle and foot drill.
75 Year 10 and Year 12 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 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.
George M
Success for
Thanks to everyone’s effort, we have had such a successful term.
Warwick Voice
Warwick Voice has once again had an outstanding term, remaining one of the key facets of Warwick life; helping to promote inclusivity and equality for all, constantly making improvements to the general quality of life at Warwick.
Whilst all our 11 unique committees continued to make regular progress throughout the term, the focus was on a few in particular who held awareness weeks and enacted changes this term that have proved highly successful, demonstrating the capabilities and effectiveness of Warwick Voice.
The Teaching and Learning Committee worked jointly with the librarian to make changes to the library in line with student feedback received from the Warwick Voice survey. Students requested more quiet space for work, a multifunctional space, a wider range of books, and some even requested to clone the librarian, Mrs DeVouge-Bernards.
Though the latter is not possible, there have been changes to the library structure to facilitate a multifunctional area and a quiet working space, with desks on the right of the library being reserved for quiet work while those on the left have been designated for a wider variety of functions, and though it is not possible to have every book at once,
the librarian is always happy to help with book suggestions whenever needed.
The Diversity Committee highlighted the power and impact of words and language this term during their awareness week, where they discussed its impact on notable LGBTQ+ members of society, such as Alan Turing and Tom Daley, during several section assemblies where old students also discussed their experiences when they were at the school.
Meanwhile, the Accessibility Committee gave an assembly on the necessity of embracing everyone in the Warwick School community by stressing the
importance of acceptance for all; they also prepared an interactive Form Time quiz, educating students about various celebrities living with disabilities.
The Charities Committee continues to be hard at work this term, preparing for a Summer Serenade that aims to raise money for Myton Hospice in honour of Mr Robertson, while also running a doughnut sale and a non-school uniform day to raise money for Helping Hands, a local charity that helps people struggling with the causes and effects of homelessness.
Though the catering committee have been celebrating a success in their new chip style introduced on Friday lunchtimes, their popularity may be waning due to plans to remove the sriracha sauce from the lunch hall. Hopes to rectify this are underway with a year 10 competition to create a new lunchtime sauce set to launch soon.
As another successful term for Warwick Voice draws to a close, we look forward to seeing the new initiatives launched by the committees in the terms to come as they continue in their duty of improving life at the school for all.
Students requested more quiet space for work, a multifunctional space, a wider range of books, and some even requested to clone the librarian, Mrs DeVouge-Bernards.
PAWS
Parents Association of Warwick School
update
As we bask in the sunshine of the summer term, PAWS has remained as active as ever.
We were delighted to be part of the Welcome to Warwick morning for our new Year 7 pupils joining in September. It was a pleasure meeting so many new families and introducing them to the work PAWS does to support our school community. This term, we also hosted another of our ever-popular coffee mornings; this time a joint event for Year 7 and 8 parents. These gatherings continue to be a valued opportunity for parents to connect, and we are especially grateful
to the staff who generously give their time to join us.
We were equally pleased to support the Music Department during the enchanting Summer Serenade – which we hope will become a firm fixture in the school calendar.
Looking ahead to the Michaelmas Term, we’re already planning our next events. The Macmillan Coffee Morning and our first committee meeting are firmly in the diary, and we’re excited to announce that the much-loved
PAWS Nearly New Uniform Shop
The PAWS Nearly New Uniform Shop has had another fantastic year, with three major sales. These sales wouldn’t be possible without the continued generosity of families donating or selling pre-loved uniform items. The Uniform Shop is an essential fundraiser for PAWS, raising over £2500 this year and helping to fund extras, like the hugely popular table tennis tables, that fall outside the school’s normal budget. Regular drop-off opportunities are advertised in the school newsletter, and we encourage you to support us by selling your old uniform through PAWS.
For more information please contact us at nearlynewuniformwarwick@ gmail.com.
Headmaster’s Quiz will return in February. We’re also thrilled to be launching the brand-new PAWS 100 Club in the new academic year. Keep an eye on the weekly Warwick Wrap-Up for all of the latest news and dates!
@pawswarwick
@PAWSWarwick
warwickschoolpaws@gmail.com
Alumni Development and relations
1. OWA President’s Dinner
In May, 100 OWs gathered at the prestigious Cavalry and Guards Club on Piccadilly for the 2025 OWA President’s Dinner. OWA President Jamie Barr kindly subsidised tickets for young OWs who were delighted to attend for the first time.
2. OW Anniversary Reunions
Almost 200 OWs returned to school on 7 June for their landmark Anniversary Reunions. OW leavers from 1965, 1970, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2015 enjoyed an afternoon reconnecting and spending time in surroundings which were familiar yet considerably changed. It was wonderful to also welcome back a number of former teaching staff. Special thanks to our prefects for their tours of the school. With an atrocious downpour part-way through the afternoon, some of the year-group photos were relocated from the traditional front of the school to the Pyne Room which, for our 1965 leavers, was once their Assembly Hall and for later decades was also the library.
3. Regional gatherings
Regional and overseas OW groups regularly connect and meet up.
In May, Maj Gen Mike Huntley CB (WS 1962-69) kindly hosted a BBQ for a number of Wessex Old Warwickians (WOW).
In June, OWs joined with fellow alumni from Warwick Schools Foundation for London drinks.
It has been wonderful to see so many OWs continuing to enjoy camaraderie and friendship this summer term.
4. BHT 25th Anniversary Showcase
After many years, OW actors Ralph Davis, Maanuv Thiara, and Charlie Hamblett returned to the BHT stage for a humorous improv, helping to celebrate the Bridge House Theatre’s 25th Anniversary.
5. 2025 Leavers
Our 2025 leavers celebrated their time at Warwick School with a range of events, culminating in a formal graduation ceremony in Warwick Hall on 23 June, where they were presented with their OW tie and welcomed into the Old Warwickian Association by OWA President 2025 Jamie Barr (WS 1971-78).
Foundation Ne s
The latest from across Warwick Schools Foundation
Catering partnership
Warwick Schools Foundation Catering Department proudly announced a partnership with Aldens of Oxford earlier in the term.
Aldens are a seventhgeneration family food produce business, serving families and businesses across Oxfordshire - and more recently across the UK - with superb quality meat, fish, and fresh produce. Aldens only use producers with high welfare and ethical standards, and all products are hand cut and prepared by Aldens staff.
The Foundation’s partnership with Aldens represents a continuation of the high-quality catering delivery that we are so proud of. This includes our meat produce, which is Red Tractor Certified, meaning that it is produced and farmed with care, is traceable, safe, assured, and British.
John Badr, Head of Catering and Event Operations at Warwick Schools Foundation, commented on the partnership:
“I am thrilled to be working with Aldens as our new butchery supplier across the Foundation. I have a real passion for providing the best quality of meals for our pupils, and knowing that all of the meat we purchase from Aldens meets the Red Tractor standards is a real positive for all our students, staff, and external clients”.
Orchestra of the SwanInterstellar
On Thursday, 19 June, Foundation partners Orchestra of the Swan returned for their fourth and final concert of the season at Warwick Hall, Interstellar.
Once again, the Swan provided an exceptional evening of music, living up to the outstanding standard that they have continually set since our partnership began in 2019.
As part of the concert, Gustav Holst’s epic and influential Planets suite was presented alongside stunning images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. The music was interspersed with a variety of readings about the cosmos from The Bible, Ptolemy, and Galileo, through to Albert Einstein, Neil Armstrong, and even Douglas Adams’ ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, all wonderfully narrated by acclaimed actor Anton Lesser.
We were also proud to see members of King’s High’s Senior Chamber Choir
sing in the final movement of The Planets, Neptune, which features an off-stage upper voice choir to create a mystical and ethereal atmosphere. The choir’s gradual diminuendo and eventual silence evokes a sense of mystery and otherworldliness, reflecting the astrological associations of Neptune with illusion and the subconscious. The choir sang off stage in the Warwick Hall foyer, with the doors to the auditorium gradually closing at the end to create this ethereal effect. Many thanks to Mr Albrighton and the girls for their hard work in creating a magical end to this concert.
The concert capped off another fantastic season of concerts from Orchestra of the Swan. Details around the 25/26 season at Warwick Hall will be announced soon…
Find out more at: orchestraoftheswan.org/ concerts/#warwick
We are proud that the exceptional outcomes for pupils go hand in hand with a nurturing ethos.”
Dear Parents,
The end of summer term always sees some of the highlights of the academic year. These may be concerts or plays, sports days or trips. Some have even great significance as rites of passagespeech days, graduations, end of key stage plays - which herald the transition from one school to the next, or to life beyond our schools.
The richness of the opportunities and experiences for our pupils gives lie to the misleading short-hand often use to classify schools - academic, pastoral, or holistic. Certainly here, we are proud that the exceptional outcomes for pupils go hand in hand with a nurturing ethos and a focus on engendering good citizenship so that our pupils have
happy, fulfilling lives and know how to make a positive difference in society. In a world which seems to become more complicated with each passing week, helping pupils develop a strong moral core, to seek truth, and to put their undoubted gifts and talents to use for a more public good, have never been more important.
With the changed political landscape, the last year has brought into sharp focus the vision and values of Warwick Schools Foundation and the educational mission we hold so dear. As a charity, with important legal obligations which define how we operate, we have always been outward looking and are greatly looking forward to the opening of the Warwick Schools Foundation
A note from the Principal
Multi Academy Trust in September, which will be the focus for our public benefit obligations. As a business, we continue to develop additional income streams, including through international franchises, which enable us to further support our schools through new funds.
We are also more mindful than ever of the support of you, our parents and families. Your children live and breathe the culture of our community, leaving their mark, contributing to and being enriched by the living tradition of our schools. Thank you for enabling us to continue to provide a wonderful and truly unique educational experience, both now and for future generations.
Richard Nicholson, Foundation Principal
King Henry VIII Choral Programme
Last month, we launched the new King Henry VIII Choral Programme, as part of a partnership with The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick. It has been made possible by the historic relationship the Foundation and St Mary’s enjoys with The King Henry VIII Endowed Trust, Warwick. The King Henry VIII Choral Awards – which are funded by The King Henry VIII Endowed Trust, Warwick and available from September 2026 - is a scholarship for boys and girls from Year 3 upwards who are a pupil at one of our schools and an active member of St Mary’s Choir. Through the launch of the King Henry VIII Choral Programme, our aim is to enable as many talented children as possible to benefit from the unique opportunities that choral participation affords them, alongside the outstanding education that we provide in the schools of the Foundation.
BHT25
This year marks the 25th anniversary of The Bridge House Theatre, which proudly sits at the heart of our campus.
Since it was opened by Dame Judi Dench in 2000, the theatre has become a focal point in the school community and has grown into one of the area’s most popular venues for theatre productions, musical concerts, comedy shows, and more.
On Saturday, 10 May, the theatre produced The Anniversary Showcase, a special evening aiming to celebrate all of the incredible theatre experiences it has provided over the years.
Featuring pupils past and present, the evening included short extracts from plays, musicals, and sketches, alongside images and displays recalling many of the incredible shows that the theatre has hosted.
Since its opening, the theatre has provided some unforgettable memories for those participating and in attendance, and it was fantastic to see so many come together to share memories and celebrate the theatre.
