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BAROMETER APRIL - MAY 2021
HALF TERM 5
FROM THE EDITORS Welcome,
CONTENTS:
The Barometer epitomises one of my favourite aspects of this school’s ethos: you can be interested in absolutely anything and still feel at home. Amongst other topics, this issue features a detailed summary of the muon g-2 experiment, a comprehensive analysis of the football “Super League,” and a thorough review of North Korean tourism. What’s more, you can enjoy a whole host of reports about the school’s charitable initiatives and other recent activities that have taken place in and out of the classroom.
Four reasons to watch Formula 1 - Harris R
I hope you enjoy perusing the amazing assortment of articles in this year’s penultimate edition.
Young Enterprise: Klöden Stefano A
The Muon g-2 Experiment Matteo H Lower School Play - Christos L
Mufti day for school charities Henry B
Intersitial fluid and the lymphatic system - Henry B
Philip Guston: Odd Man Out Mikhail D
Climate change - Stefano A
Great Men Lecture Series Matteo H Football Super League - Dylan A On the Hot Seat - Maxime H and Nicholas S
Henry B, Year 12 Senior Editor
Completing the Square Henry B
Alastair S, Year 13 Senior Academic Prefect
If we can’t go to the theatre, let’s bring the theatre to us! Ramzi K The creation of centralised digital currencies - Stefano A Future Ambassadors Club Henry B Writing a graphic novel Oscar T ISA Essays - Into the light Armaan A and Dan R Film Reviw: The Life Ahead Tommaso S Game Review: Overwatch Isaac M
Cover photograph - Anselm R, Year 13
GCSE Computer Science Arjun D
Ocean Acidification - Robert R
Suppoting a peer with their mental health - Arjun D Success - ambition or talent? Theophile N Dubai - Joseph I Are satellites spying on you? Kaveh K A trip to Pyongyang - Barnaby M Climate collapse and deforestation - Coby L ‘Know your Prof ’ - Ms. Holmes - Tommaso S
four Reasons to Watch Formula 1 Harris R, Year 10 writes… If you have never watched Formula 1 before, you should start. This is why: 1. It has the biggest and the best competition/title fights There can’t be many sports where there are two first prizes, but Formula 1 is one of them. With the drivers’ championship and the constructors’ championship, it’s as though two competitions are running side by side – something that makes F1 all the more interesting. The cars are the quickest and most famous on the planet. Powerhouses like Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren are major players on the F1 grid. A typical top speed is around 215mph and an average speed is around 120mph. The F1 season runs for ten months of the year with a total of twenty-three races. The tracks are worldwide, with more than one track in every continent apart from Antarctica.
2. The drivers The quality of British drivers has always been first class: Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, James Hunt, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, Eddie Irvine, David Coulthard, Johnny Herbert, Jenson Button, and Lewis Hamilton. There have also been many exceptional drivers from
outside the UK, such as Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, and Mika Häkkinen. There is plenty of rivalry this year, with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fighting it out for race wins. They drive for Mercedes and Red Bull respectively. There is also a great fight in the midfield with drivers like Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, Lando Norris, and many more battling for positions. Mick Schumacher, the son of Michael, joined Haas F1 team this year; he is the dominant driver at Haas and corners, straights, and chicanes has the slowest car on the grid. He that allow for plenty of overtaking trained through the Ferrari Driver opportunities. Academy. 4. Overtaking and rule changes Overtaking in F1 is something 3. The tracks There are some spectacular tracks that has been criticised in recent years. The cars have become on the F1 calendar, such as the so big and wide that it is more Monaco and Singapore street difficult to overtake than in the circuits; Spa-Francorchamps, past. Excitingly, next season, a which is located in the heart of new set of rule changes will be the Ardennes Forest in Belgium; introduced, with the cars being Monza, also known as “The made smaller, narrower, and even Temple of Speed;” Suzuka in lower to the ground. The new cars Japan, which looks amazing as it is a mix of medium-to-high-speed look ultra-modern and are more corners; and of course Silverstone, aerodynamically sleek. The future of F1 is looking very bright. the heart of British racing. Silverstone is a top-tier track as there is a mix of high-speed
young enterprise: klöden
Stefano A, Year 12 writes… This year, a team of Year 12 boys founded a pupil-run company with the help of HSBC’s youth entrepreneurship programme, Young Enterprise. Our company, Klöden, is a charitable organisation that aims to collect books from pupils and parents at various schools in London. These books are then distributed to multiple partnering charities. At the moment, we have chosen to donate books to three charities who will assist in the provision of literature to less fortunate children who could benefit from some additional reading, an NHS Hospital library catering for adults, and African children in need. If you think that the books lying around in your house have no good use, consider donating them! Aside from the need to provide books to those who require them, we have chosen this cause in light of the impact of books and e-readers on our climate. Around seventeen trees are needed to produce one metric tonne of paper. Therefore, 1.9 million trees were required to satisfy the need for the 190 million books sold in the UK in 2018 alone, the obvious implication being a substantial loss of carbon sinks –
there are fewer trees that can store carbon dioxide. Furthermore, we must not forget the energy required and the greenhouse gases produced in the printing process. E-reading devices are also problematic because they may only become ecologically profitable after several years. Manufacturing a Kindle creates the same CO as producing thirty books and an iPad has the same 2 environmental impact of producing forty to fifty books. We reached the conclusion that repurposing is an easy way for everyone to actively help the environment, whilst also learning from new books and helping others to do the same. In addition to teaching us many skills, such as fundraising, teamwork, and managing responsibilities, this project has given us the opportunity to start bringing about useful change on a wider scale by creating a platform to help people in need. My teammates and I had to be creative and original since the recent implementation of social distancing regulations presented multiple obstacles. For example, we had to find a way to raise funds by making the most of a short window of time during which we could physically meet with others. We believe that if this charity
were to go global, it would have a substantial impact on less fortunate children all over the world. Education is the most long-lasting form of aid and the most effective way to end the poverty cycle because it enables people to earn an adequate income to support their families. Reading fosters creativity – it allows children to become independent and make informed decisions about their lives. At Klöden, we believe that recycling books by donating them is a way to provide youngsters and adults with a broader choice of reading and learning material. There are millions of children in the world who are far less fortunate than us and we think that each and every one deserves an equal opportunity to learn and conquer their dreams. More information will be sent out in due course, but we would like to flag that we will be starting to collect books during the first week back after the half term break. We urge all pupils, staff, and parents to drop off as many books as they can: fiction, non-fiction, old textbooks, and children’s books (no magazines). Please bring all your contributions to reception in either Hannah House or the Bulstrode building. Any donations will be much appreciated and are supporting a very good cause.
MUFTI DAY for school charities Henry B, Year 12 writes… As privileged young men, it is easy for us to take the exceptional opportunities and fabulous resources at Wetherby Senior for granted. For many, life isn’t quite so simple: children in rural areas of undeveloped countries have no access to education at all. United World Schools is a charity that
builds educational establishments in marginalised parts of the world, supporting teachers and enabling around 43,000 young pupils to partake in formal education. On the other hand, Steel Warriors turns metal from knife amnesties into gym equipment. As a school, we raised £959 to support their projects.
The mufti day was embraced by everyone as an enjoyable way to raise money. Teamwork and school spirit were embodied by the Trib theme, which made us think creatively about how to display our Trib colours in our outfits. One brave individual was so devoted to his Trib (Walbrook – yellow) that he turned up wearing a banana costume!
Philip Guston: odd man out Mikhail D, Year 12 writes... The 1940s were a difficult period for American art - the lack of originality in American artists’ work often put them in the shadows of their European colleagues. This struggle for identity influenced a formation of a group called ‘the abstract expressionists’; In their eyes the problem American artists faced was the lack of context in the work. Some of the most popular artists of the movement such as Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, William De Kooning attempted to make abstract works of art that would express emotions rather than physical subjects. Their work can often be easily characterised due to their expressive brush strokes and complex compositions. During the 1950s abstract expressionists began to gain popularity in the US and Europe, thanks to art critiques like Clement Greenberg, who was an extremely influential advocator for abstract expressionism, it also acquired a strong reputation as a high form of art.
the Workers’ Rights Association which hired American artists to paint uplifting public art. Guston had exceptional mastery over mural painting and was often envied by his colleagues for his skill and talent. Much, of Guston’s early work was heavily political and portrayed melancholic images of the working class; his imagery was so controversial that the FBI had to launch an investigation on Guston’s link to the communist party. As Guston began to experiment more with abstraction, he was being encouraged to move from LA, where he resided, to New York by none other than Jackson Pollock, who was a high school friend of Guston. He was hesitant, but soon decided to give it a try.
‘Night Room’, 1976, oil on canvas
‘Zone’, 1953–1954, oil on canvas A lesser known artist who belonged to this movement was Philip Guston. At the start of the 1950s, Guston was working as a public mural painter, employed by
Fast forward to the mid-1950s Philip Guston was producing abstract expressionist works. He was extremely well recognised in the art community and associated himself with some of the most prominent artists of the period. Guston’s works of the mid 50s could be easily distinguished by closely connected thick brush strokes, which Guston would apply at close proximity often, with no pre-determined plan.
But, with the Vietnam War winding up and the anti-war movements emerging, Guston grew increasingly unsatisfied with his work due to the insignificant effect he believed it had on the real world, as he said himself “There is something ridiculous and miserly in the myth we inherit from abstract art. That painting is autonomous, pure and for itself, therefore we habitually analyse its ingredients and define its limits. But painting is ‘impure’. It is the adjustment of ‘impurities’ which forces its continuity. We are image-makers and imageridden.” At the start of the 60s’ Guston began developing a sense of uselessness as his work didn’t express the ideas he believed and cared about. This led Guston to almost retire from painting for an entire year. For the next decade, Guston’s art experienced a fearsome battle between abstraction and figurative painting, but by the end, figurative painting won. In 1970, Guston held his first figurative exhibition. This time, his resurgence in to figurative painting seemed disappointing to many admirers of his previous work. The new paintings featured in the exhibition were naive, cartoonish, personal, and clumsy. The imagery consisted of big bold vainly heads, cups, baseball bats, and old shoes. Art critic Michael Auping said, “He could have ruined his reputation, and some people said he did.” It was certainly an extremely bold move for Guston to jeopardise his entire career as an artist. The abstract expressionists were extremely critical of other forms of art, especially Pop Art which was seen
‘Musa’, 1975, oil on canvas. as an inferior form of expression. However, what was even more shocking about Guston’s new work for the abstract expressionists was that, it was one of their own who rejected their way of painting. One of the only artists’ who
understood Guston’s work was William De Kooning who told Guston at the time that they were “about freedom.” Guston’s new paintings featured imagery that expressed his mental state as a modern artist. His figures were distressed, colour pallete was intense and often the backgrounds mimicked the works of other abstract expressionist artists. Despite being rejected by the art world in the time he created the paintings, towards the end of his life, younger artists began to hail Philip Guston for his bravery and uniqueness.
Now, his works are featured all other the world; in museums like the MoMa, Tate Modern, Royal Academy and many more. In 2013 his work titled ‘To Fellini’ sold at auction for 28.5 million dollars. Love him or hate him, by staying true to himself Guston managed to create a legacy of his own and is now considered to be one of the most influential American artists of the 20th century, demonstrating that you didn’t have to follow trends to be recognised as an important artist.
GREAT MEN LECTURE SERIES Great Men Lecture Series | Number Two | London-based Foreign Correspondent for NBC News The Great Men Lecture Series is part of the Great Men Initiative at Wetherby Senior School, which gives boys the opportunity to meet and listen to some successful and interesting people with different and exciting careers. It complements our partnership with the team at Beyond Equality, formerly the Good Lad Initiative and aims to prepare the boys to be ambitious and successful within their chosen field, whilst also being ready to contribute fully to society and to the communities in which they live and work. You can read about the first lecture here: https://issuu.com/ wetherbysenior/docs/barometer_ half_term_4 (page 6). Matteo H, Year 11 writes… On Friday 26th March, boys from all year groups received a
compelling insight into the world of journalism from a Londonbased foreign correspondent for NBC News. His experiences were captivating, encompassing a wide range of reports from the UAE, Pakistan, North America, and Western Europe. He spoke about the precarious nature of various journeys undertaken throughout his career, although adamant that the risk was almost always worth the reward, be it satisfaction of uncovering new information and sharing it with the world or gaining a first-hand experience of new languages and cultures. Intriguingly, our guest speaker remarked that the most valuable lesson that journalism has taught him is knowing when to speak or to stay silent, particularly when interviewing criminal gangs, wanted suspects, or anyone undertaking illegal activity. He added that sometimes you can find out a lot more about a person, their motives, or what’s going on behind the scenes by letting them speak rather than looking for an answer to a specific question. The foreign correspondent mentioned
that people often overlook the freedom that goes hand-in-hand with journalism; the array of diverse cultures and lifestyles across the globe are, in fact, just as enthralling as the interviews with criminals. A quote from our guest speaker:
“Do lots of reading. You get good at writing if you do lots of reading, so read lots of good journalism. Then do lots of writing yourself. The more you do, the more confident you will become. Try new ways of writing and don’t be afraid to experiment. Touch typing is very useful, too!”
Football Super League Dylan A, Year 12 writes… Football is, by nature, a divisive sport. It is filled with bitter rivalries that are a huge component of what makes it the world’s favourite to watch. These always have been and always will be a massive part of the game. They are the reason that when you see fans of every club banding together behind a common cause and putting tribalism and rivalry aside, their collective strength is absolutely unprecedented. When the European Super League was announced, owners and chief executives of the world’s twelve richest clubs had secretly been developing a plan to increase their incomes. Football has long been accused of being too moneybased. Match ticket prices have risen consistently; shirt prices are ludicrously high and the owners simply pocket the cash. Arsenal and Manchester United are clubs rich not only in terms of finance, but also in history. Since the two clubs were taken over by Stan
Kroenke and the Glazer family respectively, the quality of their football has steadily dropped. Arsenal has not won a Premier League title since 2003 and Manchester United has not won one since 2013 – a remarkable drought of success for traditionally hyper successful clubs. One might expect that a disaster transfer or massive financial trouble caused this. However, fans believe that greed and selfishness were to blame instead. The failure of modern football owners to invest in their clubs while slowly pricing fans out of the game is a reality that no one wants to see. I mention Manchester United and Arsenal because they are clubs that had obvious ownership issues even before the announcement of the European Super League. After 18th April, this was kicked into overdrive. The unanimous announcement of the plans for AC Milan, Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus,
Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Tottenham Hotspur to all join a closed league without promotion or relegation instantly sparked massive controversy amongst all fans, with many initially not believing it. For those who might not know the reasons behind the anger at this idea, here they are: firstly, the league planned to always include the twelve founding clubs irrespective of their performance. The notion that rich clubs have a God-given right to be at the top of the world’s football was an insult to the “little clubs” who always aspire to fight the giants; “David and Goliath” scenarios like the Leicester title win in the 2015-16 season are part of what fuels the excitement of the sport. The history of clubs, with over a hundred years of success in European competitions like the Champions League and the old European Cup, define their culture. This league would have, in the eyes of many fans, been an insult to the memory of club
legends such as Sir Matt Busby. Having the richest clubs together would have been hugely profitable for owners who could pocket the profits at the expense of the competitiveness of the sport. It would also have been highly detrimental to smaller clubs who rely on big clubs’ financial strength to survive. Finally, the way in which the clubs involved covered up their plans and openly lied to European football officials was diabolical. Managers were left to fend for themselves against the press when they didn’t even know it had been announced. Fans and players were not consulted because owners knew the response would be negative. Worst of all, several officials at Super League clubs lied through their teeth to UEFA officials in the build-up to the announcement. Essentially, they knew that their plans were detrimental to everyone involved in the beautiful game except themselves. One thing they failed to consider, however, was the strength of their fan bases.
During the 48 hours after the Super League was announced, the entire footballing world united both online and in person with the same common goal: to end the Super League. They succeeded. Football fans posted information and opinions on social media. Pundits and players, both current and former, condemned the idea. Most importantly, fans turned up outside Elland Road and Stamford Bridge in open protest of the proposal. History will remember the Chelsea fans who blocked
the players’ bus from entering the stadium and thereby delayed kick-off, bringing huge media attention to the situation. As the protest was in full swing, it was announced that Chelsea FC would be withdrawing from the proposal immediately. That little push was all the league needed for the whole house of cards to come tumbling down. Over the ensuing days, club after club withdrew, claiming they had listened to their fans and reconsidered. This was thought to be a desperate attempt to get the fans onside again, so that they may continue to fund these hugely profitable clubs like before.
has now been disbanded, with all six English clubs pulling out of the proposed league, the fans have still not ceased their protests. Manchester United fans stopped players from accessing the pitch and, as a result. their game against Liverpool, which is one of the most important fixtures in the Premier League season, was cancelled in order to raise awareness of the issue and make the fans’ feelings known to the owners. Arsenal fans also protested outside their stadium and general merchandise sales in top clubs are said to have crashed after the league was announced.
Having said that, one ought to explain why the owners thought this was a good idea. While the primary reason was that it would put most of the sport’s money in their league, they also believed that fans would want to see their club play Barcelona one week, Manchester United the next, then Juventus the week after. They thought on behalf of the fans but failed to ask their opinion and, as one simple but powerful sign at the Stamford Bridge protest explained: “We still want our cold nights in Stoke.”
Overall, the European Super League was not only a terrible idea in the eyes of the fans; it was also the final straw for many. Pent-up frustration at dwindling aspirations and frequent failure from management and ownership has angered fans. Now that the owners have disregarded the history and culture of their clubs, there is a strong feeling that they can be ousted. That being said, the movement to end it was a uniting force for all fans and clubs which has continued with strength, but it is clear that many owners have little regard for fans’ interests and only consult, when convenient.
Despite the fact that the league
ON THE HOT SEAT Maxime H and Nicolas S, Year 12 write… Welcome back to another riveting release of ‘On the Hot Seat’ with Nico and Max. This half term’s interviewee is none other than our very own Senior Academic Prefect, Alastair S! Alastair has been a Wetherby pupil since Year 9 and he is currently studying geography, economics, and English literature with the aim to study geography at Durham University. His passion for geography has led him to complete an EPQ on the UK housing crisis; needless to say, Alastair is well worthy of his academic prefect role with a CV like that. Besides his studies, Alastair is a passionate football fan, watching Chelsea whenever they play. During lockdown, Alastair loved watching the football and ordering Deliveroo from his local restaurants to support them – great job, Alastair! Now that we know the basics, let’s delve deeper and discover more about him. What is your favourite sport? Football hands down. I used to play in the midfield though I was never any good. What motivates you to work hard? The gratification of getting a good grade is what does it for me, especially now when university applications are on my mind. The goal of getting the grades to go to Durham has driven me over the past few months since I have an A*AA offer from Durham, something which is very hard to achieve.
What is your favourite way to spend a day off? Probably with my mates. Honestly, spending the day with friends can’t get much better.
with a fresh mind and try again.
What is your favourite ice-cream topping? Something with caramel or chocolate – Oreos are always a safe option for me.
If you could spend the day in someone else’s shoes, who would it be and why? Elon Musk because that man is a visionary!
What is your favourite thing about Wetherby Senior School? The fact that it’s quite a small community in the centre of the city. I used to go to a school in Roehampton, so it’s amazing to be in such a lively and connected area like Marylebone!
What is a dream that you have yet to achieve? Tough question… I think going to a university like Durham because I have always aspired to get into a top uni.
What advice would you give someone joining the Sixth form? Do your research about A Level subject choices and check the course requirements on university websites. I’m thankful to have no regrets, but I know that some of my friends chose too quickly and then it was too late to change once they realised. (NB: If you’re currently thinking about your A Level options and you have any questions, ask your form tutor to put you in touch with a sixth former who will give you valuable insight into the course. This will help you to make a more informed decision about whether or not the subject is right for you. Alternatively, you could reach out to the peer mentoring team by contacting Miss Mendes.) How do you deal with work stress? Honestly, I think the best approach is to remove yourself from the situation, go for a run or read a book and then come back
Do you have any hidden talents or party tricks? Absolutely none!
What is your favourite cheat meal? Steak (has to be medium-rare) with a side of chips. What would be your ideal holiday destination? Somewhere tropical for sure, maybe Bali or the Maldives. Maybe it’s time to organise a school trip there! Biology, chemistry, or physics? Physics. I enjoyed it the most out of the three.
If you had one more year at Wetherby, what would you like to achieve? I would love to have had more time in the Sixth Form. I feel that we didn’t get the full experience owing to Covid-19 restrictions. On that note, I think being more involved as a Prefect would be on the list since we weren’t able to interact as much as we wanted to with younger years.
Cycle or run? Cycle.
What has been your favourite memory at WSS? Completing my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. There are so many funny memories that spring to mind.
If you could only listen to three songs for the rest of your life, which would you pick? I can’t give you three songs; that’s way too hard… but I’ll give you an artist: S.G. Lewis. I’ve always enjoyed his music, especially his song called ‘Sunsets’.
What are your favourite television series? Breaking Bad and The Grand Tour. Beach or pool? Easy: beach.
Cats or dogs? Dogs! I have a white pug called Jinx so I can’t say cats. What is your dream job? I’d love to eventually work in high-end property because I want to travel to different places in the world.
Which teacher do you think would do best on The Great British Bake-Off? Why? Definitely Mr. Leverage. He could pull out some delicious recipes
from the Wetherby Lockdown Cookbook (https://issuu.com/ wetherbysenior/docs/the_ wetherby_lockdown_cookbook). He even ran a cookery class for A Level Plus! Do you have any work experience? Yes! After my GCSEs, I did a work placement at an asset management firm. It was great fun and it helped me to narrow down my A Level subject options. It also looks great on my personal statement, so I would advise anyone in Year 11 or above to get in on that! We certainly enjoyed getting to know more about Alastair and picking up some useful tips for the treacherous task that is university application. We hope you learnt something, too.
COMPLETING THE SQUARE Henry B, Year 12 writes… A quadratic equation is written in the form where a, b and c are parameters. Completed square form is very useful and has a lot of applications. It is deduced as follows:
We can use it to derive the quadratic formula:
By completing the square, one can find the coordinates of the turning point of a quadratic graph (parabola): If then the graph of has a turning point at . It is also a useful technique when it comes to solving quadratics or
finding the equation of a circle. We can use it for algebraic proof, when we want to prove that something is always positive. Furthermore, the technique is often employed to evaluate integrals in calculus, such as Gaussian integrals with a linear term in the exponent, and to find Laplace transforms. In short, completing the square is an essential tool that belongs in the arsenal of any scientist or mathematician. It is tremendously handy when it comes to solving complex problems at A Level and beyond, so it ought to be practiced until it can be performed with effortless fluency.
If we can’t go to the theatre, let’s bring the theatre to us! Ramzi K, Year 10 writes… Sherlock Holmes: An Online Adventure In these times of insecurity and economic turmoil, lots of industries, especially the arts, have suffered immensely. Sherlock Holmes: An Online Adventure is one of the many examples of an industry adapting to change and it was an incredibly amusing experience. The play took place on Zoom. It had different stage sets to explore and included both pre-recorded and live acting. At the beginning, we all spread out across the drama studio and set up Zoom, untangling our headphones and getting our detective notepads ready. Once the call started, we were greeted by Dr. Watson himself, who told us that there had been three murders of people who worked closely with the Prime Minister. He then proceeded to give us the profiles and records of the five suspects: Myrtle Dockett, a toxicologist; Theodore Stenning, a student at Oxford University with a zeal for literature; Walter Erwin, an accountant; Margaret Catwright, a passionate feminist who took over her father’s very successful textile factory; and Harriet Harper, an anarchist with a criminal record. We then split up and investigated the 3D crime
scenes. These were stage sets that had been filmed with 360degree cameras and we had the to ability to click on any prop in order to find out more information about it – it was very clever stage design. We observed numerous pieces of evidence, but there were a few that stood out: the same spider ornament that Catwright wore, a poison, and letters about allying with France. Also, there was a bottle of bourbon whiskey, a silver plate, and a rope in all three crime scenes. We then got to go and live our spy hacker fantasies and hack into the police databases to get more information on our suspects by deciphering challenging puzzles on an old-fashioned boxy computer (operating the computer was a challenge in itself). While some of us were doing that, others were going to a forensics lab with the aid of a forensic scientist to discuss the crime scene more closely with the actor. To finalise our judgements, we interrogated the actors (suspects) by choosing which questions to ask them. I must say it would have been tremendously entertaining if we were able to interrogate the actors in real life rather than watch recordings; it would have given us more skills to use in our GCSE drama studies. However, I can see how the practicalities of being online would have
made this difficult. Excitedly, we huddled around the whiteboard and debated the characters we had met and the evidence we had been given; “Who is guilty?” we deliberated. Finally, we came to our last discussion period to compare each other’s information and reach a verdict. During this time, however, we asked each other who we all interrogated and it appeared that no one had interrogated Stenning, which is truly a testament to the incomparable coordination and communication prowess of an unruly mob of teenage boys. Despite this lack of knowledge, we came to a decision that it was Walter Erwin because of his hatred for the government and the alliance with France. Spoiler alert: the murderer was not the toxicologist with access to all sorts of chemicals, nor was it the communist anarchist who hated the government. Instead, it was the affluent Oxford student with a secret backstory – the one person we did not interrogate! Sherlock Holmes then appeared to shame us for our stupidity and offered us the thrilling detective’s conclusion we were all waiting for. The murder was extremely well put together and he carefully studied the other criminals beforehand in order to pin the blame on them. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and I would be happy to do it again.
The Creation of Centralised Digital Currencies Stefano A, Year 12 writes… Recently, I have been looking into the establishment of “govcoins” – new digital currencies created by governments – that could compete with private digital currencies, such as Bitcoin. Specifically, I was intrigued by an article in ‘The Economist’ that outlined China’s potential digital currency. eCNY was trialled on 500,000 people and it is considered to be the most important launching ground of a digital currency by a government. It is interesting to see how the Chinese government created an app for it, which gifted $30 to each user while also violating their privacy to a large degree. Many economists and business managers believe that this app will drastically enhance China’s surveillance capabilities, since it allows the government to monitor people’s spending in real time.
However, this is still a considerable step forward as central banks are beginning to realise that creating their own digital currencies might give them a significant advantage since they would be able to counter private alternatives. Additionally, people would not have to keep their money in banks, nor pay fees for transactions, and their money would be safe because it would be protected by central banks. The EU has already publicly stated that it will be launching a virtual euro by 2025 and the USA is creating an e-dollar: there is pressure and motivation for central banks to release these new digital currencies as they fear that they are losing control of economic cycles and they want to make the financial system more reliable.
required since privatised digital currencies like Bitcoin are gaining considerable power, it is crucial to create a new role for retail banks that would otherwise be cut out of central bank digital money. If central banks become the ones holding people’s money, smaller banks would no longer control capital, therefore they would struggle to offer loans and mortgages. Nonetheless, this is how governments are planning to modernise currencies and financial markets in order to maintain power and authority over privatised systems that could destabilise economies.
It is important to remember that whilst this evolution may be
Future Ambassadors Club Henry B, Year 12 writes… Enthusiastic, passionate, well-rounded – these are qualities that universities seek to attract from potential students. There is no better way to demonstrate one’s interest in a particular subject than by attending lectures or workshops. They are a perfect opportunity to make university applications stand out and improve one’s knowledge beyond the curriculum. Wetherby’s diligent team of “Future Ambassadors” consists of Year 12 boys studying a range of subjects at A Level. Every week, we scour the web to find insightful talks that would complement anyone’s
personal statement. When social distancing restrictions prevented us from attending seminars in person and the Wetherby Sixth Form lecture programme was temporarily placed on hold, the team was quick to respond. We discovered a whole host of online content provided by a variety of highly esteemed institutions. Gresham College proved to be an invaluable resource for many boys who were looking to add some flair to their personal statements; their weekly agenda of stimulating lectures always included something palatable for everyone. TEDTalks were also very popular because they can be enjoyed at any time without the need to register.
Concepts learnt or reinforced by these talks may be very advantageous if mentioned in personal statements or discussed during interviews with universities, so they are definitely worth your while.
WRITING A GRAPHIC NOVEL Oscar T, Year 10 writes… ‘Me and My Arrow’ – my lockdown novel series. In the first lockdown of 2020, I was bored. I knew I should have been doing more with the time that had been rewarded to me by fate, but I wasn’t. I had always dreamed of a situation where I could have the time to create an epic story with the potential to go far, but I hadn’t yet found that inspiration. One day, I was attending my online art class and our assignment was to create a piece that could have an inspirational quote plastered in front of it. I was working away on my iPad, experimenting with imagery of pink, blue, and yellow clouds. At the time, the piece was nothing special. Whilst drawing, I had one headphone ear raised and that was the luckiest serendipity I’ve ever experienced.
Upon hearing, the song that my father was playing in the kitchen at the time, I immediately took my headphones off and listened to the lyrics:
Me and my arrow, Straighter than narrow, Wherever we go, everyone knows It’s me and my arrow. Me and my arrow, Taking the high road, Wherever we go, everyone knows It’s me and my arrow. I pictured a girl and her dragon, called Arrow, speeding through the sky (“taking the high road”) straighter than narrow, without a care in the world – utter freedom, joy, and calm. I immediately added them to the piece I was working on for my class. I drew a girl and her crimson, axe-headed dragon. In my head, I thought it would be funny if the dragon were called Arrow and the girl called
Bow, so together they would be Bow and Arrow. However corny this realisation, it brought the idea full circle. The song went, “Everyone knows it’s me and my arrow.” What better match than a Bow and an Arrow? I finished the piece and it is to date my favourite piece of artwork I have ever created – not because it’s the best, but because it is so magical to me. I had finally found the inspiration for the huge story that I had always wanted to create. I decided to write a series of graphic novels about these two characters and their journeys across their world. For months, I experimented with
plots and drawings, but nothing was working for me. The plot wasn’t strong enough or I knew that I was always going to have to redo every drawing again because the plot would have to change. I scrapped the idea until the start of the summer holidays. I told myself that I was going to follow through on this idea. It had too much potential to be scrapped. I knew I shouldn’t start drawing immediately; I had learnt my lesson from trying to get everything done at once last time, so I decided to focus entirely on the script until I had something solid enough to start drawing. I played around with openings to this world and these characters until I eventually developed a foundation that would get me started on a ten-book streak of writing. I opened with Bow, an orphaned princess living with her aunt and uncle, the prince and princess in the magical Brazilianesque land of Sonesta City in the Valour Kingdom. Bow is a positive and energetic 16-yearold who has had everything in her life handed to her on a silver platter. She has a pet dragon – her best and only friend, Arrow, along with a variety of fighting techniques, mainly archery.
We meet her on the day of her coronation to become queen due to her parents’ mysterious death. Long story short: after her coronation, the palace that she and her remaining family lives in, along with the rest of the population of her island, are destroyed by the leader of a rival kingdom. Bow escapes the island with Arrow, and they both vow to have their revenge on this leader who many call Spectre. The next nine books are about Bow and Arrow travelling across all of the five kingdoms, reuniting with and making new friends that have also been affected by Spectre’s
evil doings. Will they get their revenge? Who is Spectre? How were Bow’s parents killed? Many more questions like these will be asked and answered in my series: Me and My Arrow. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t expect these to be released soon, probably not even during my time at Wetherby, given that I am a one-man crew. If you are reading this and are interested to find out more, don’t hesitate to ask me about them. I’ll always be working on concept art for scenes, 3D animations etc.
ISA ESSAYS - Into the Light Both Dan and Armaan took it upon themselves to write stories for the ISA Essay Competition this year. It was great to see two pupils go above and beyond to write such superb pieces completely independently.
Armaan A, Year 10 writes... I looked at the coffee dimly. It had been sitting on my desk for over an hour and had now turned a dismal grey hue. The scintillating, intense light of the three computer screens in front of me washed over my face, like an ocean in a storm. Over my shoulder, were mountains and mountains of books, and, at the zenith, more cups of coffee. They had been there for over 7 months now, since project Radiance had begun. My eyes were misty and distorted from looking at the piled-up lines of code on the monitor that was in front of me. “Evan!” My glance shifted quickly behind me. Lucy, my wife, was standing there. “You’ve been down here for 18 hours you know”. I stared at my watch, had it really been that long? My eyelids felt heavy, and I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d eaten. The action of standing up was an arduous and laborious one. Over to the right I saw the warm orange sunlight being filtered through the window shutters; it passed through the air, indicating the thousand particles of dust that were floating like stars in space. Outside was the infinite blue sky that stretched on for miles, wrapping over and under the clouds like fine cloth. On the old oak tree, I could see a bird. It was
small, with a red front and hazelbrown feathers. It looked calmly at the horizon, as if nothing else in the world mattered. The project had started over seven months ago. The government set out to find the best programmers and mathematicians to start on it. The objective was to create light speed technology: computers that could carry out tasks in yoctoseconds. It would be the single greatest achievement since electricity. The time went on and the enthusiasm and eagerness of the project slowly saw a downfall. There was little to no hope, as many of the programmers finalized that there was no future for this project and that it was a dead end. I, on the other hand did, not. I went back to my computer, the familiar blue glare of light felt too much like home now. A break was definitely needed. My blackboard was dusted with trails of previous chalk and the faint silhouettes of previous letters and numbers that had been there before faded into the subtle layers behind it. I began to write down The Erdos Discrepancy Problem. Naturally, I began to write down the sequences; my hand was accustomed to this – I had been working on this problem for several years as a side problem, as I wrote down “f(1),f(2)..” but I began to notice something. The equation could have bounded discrepancy. Shaking, I went back to my computer. This problem could be applied to project Radiance. I began to integrate the equation into the code that I was working on. My mind raced, then came to an abrupt halt. If this
worked, I thought, Light speed technology could be done. Exact and meticulous simulations of human bodies could be simulated at once. Diseases such as cancer and heart disease could be cured and we could venture farther in the Galaxy then no human has ever done. All at the click of the Enter key. And I, I had done it. All of the programmers and mathematicians before me had deemed it impossible, yet I had done it, all out of an equation that had existed for thousands of years. I lifted my hand – still quivering with hesitation - and pressed the button. Dan R, Year 10 writes... The impetuous reflection of the last unbearable years, which brought forth a surge of taunted images from the shadowy fissures of my mind, induced a physical reaction, almost akin to a convulsion. Brushing off the obtuse deliberations mulling in my head, I stood up and walked out the door. The blinding sun was a harsh reminder of how different our would has become. I had to escape this place. Years ago, the human race had exhausted most of the world’s rainforests. The animals that once called it their home started a mass migration to find a new habitation for existence. Millions died. Entire species were wiped out. On top of that, various scientists shared horrific apprehension about a novel strand of virus infecting humans and causing another mass pandemic that would come to fruition. Today, we are still
irresolute about the exact origins of this devastating plague, but some infer it came from a species of monkey, or wild boar. In the chaos that ensued, millions, perhaps billions, perished. The remaining civilizations and nationalities either moved to the deep country or, if lucky, got into one of the few elusive underground bunkers dotted around the map. Rumour is, there are a few empty ones that are rich in food, water and supplies. A scarcity nowadays. There is speculation that the Winston Churchill museum down in London is a good place to look. I jumped on my bicycle and commenced my odyssey to safety. A day had passed. The beautiful emerald-coloured hills faded into rows of abandoned houses and buildings, on the off chance I passed through an old town or village on my odyssey. There were no people there. I ruminated over my supplies: some food, water, blanket and my tattered paper map. We had lost electricity only a few months into the pandemic, so old-school methods had to be exercised. I had the forbearance to bring an emergency health kit and a gas mask. Outrageous to contemplate if ever a need would arise for these objects. My bike: an old, rusted, clunky piece of art. Though it had everything one needed: a horn, leather seat, wheels, a chain, it didn’t have anything particularly well made. No matter. It was mine. I zipped away on the cracked, pothole-filled streets of a once popular town. I presumed I only had one day left before I reached London. After some time, I arrived at the outskirts of London, I slowed
down my bike as I reached the tranquil paths of nature. Around me was a jungle of trees and flowers with a cracked brick path separating each side, like Moses parting the sea. It was getting late. The sky was becoming a canvas of colour and light as the sun set. I looked up and witnessed a murder of crows resting on a tree branch, their weight drooping it towards the soil. They caught sight of me and scattered away into flight, their stretched shadows swooping over the ground like tendrils from a flying monster. I found a lone bench, quite rusted and isolated compared to the fauna around it. I rested my bike against it and, using the blanket I had packed, lay on it and closed my eyes. Soon, the quietness lured me into a deep sleep. I was awoken by the sound of shouting and running. I groggily opened my eyes and widened them in horror. A mob of teenagers were rushing towards me. Whether they had seen me or were just messing around, that didn’t matter. I shot up from the bench and pounced onto my bike. With their torches in hand, the group perused the area, hunting for me while their shouting grew louder. They had, or were close to seeing me now. It was just about dawn with enough light to see my path. I started pedalling frantically. They were close. They started throwing stones and other sharp objects at me, some grazing and cutting me. One almost caused me to fall off my bike. I was outdistancing them. I kept on pedalling and pedalling. I didn’t stop until I was sure they were far behind. I was almost safe. The bricked streets and taller buildings were an unusual sight for me. I hadn’t been near a city
like this for years, especially London. And here I was, at the heart of it. I checked my map one more time to make sure it was the right place. I saw an old statue of, probably, a once famous army general or captain. Next to it lay a small black entrance. It had some golden letters on top, but most of them were gone. There was a C, U, R, W and O left. It looked like any old relic from the past. But in reality, it was the secret to paradise. I felt like I was in a dream. Could this nightmare of a life be over? I left my bike and pushed open the squeaking doors to my future. Inside there was a shaky and archaic staircase lit up with fire torches, I walked down, into the light. I knocked on the door at the bottom. A sliding eyehole was opened and a face appeared. They checked me over a few times, and closed the slider. The door opened. Inside was something I never expected. Children and their parents were playing with each other, doctors were consulting patients about disease and injuries and there was a communal table where everyone sat and ate together in harmony. Things I hadn’t seen in a very, very long time. The same person who had examined me moved their eyes over me again, ascertaining if I was a threat or contagious, I assume. They gave me a warm smile. “Welcome to paradise.”
Film Review: The life ahead (2020)
Tomasso S, Year 12 writes... Streaming platform: Netflix Running time: 1h 35m Genre(s): Italian films/Drama Cast: Sophia Loren, Ibrahima Gueye, Abril Zamora Director: Edoardo Ponti Age rating: 15 Summary: Madame Rosa (Sophia Loren) is a former prostitute and Jewish Holocaust survivor who provides a home for the children of other “working women” in the port city of Bari (Apulia) in Italy. After Momo (Ibrahima Gueye), a 12-year-old street kid of Senegalese descent, robs her, Dr. Cohen (Renato Carpentieri) convinces Madame Rosa to take Momo into her home. A relationship which begins on a very rocky start slowly blossoms into a beautiful and strong bond as Mme. Rosa helps Momo find a job, clean up his act and forge new friendships, all while Mme’s mind slowly begins to deteriorate. This film is based on Romain Gary’s 1975 book ‘The Life Before Us’. Overview and extra information:
It’s always good to start on a high note, so here we go! Sophia Loren inhabits the role of Madame Rosa as if it was written specifically for her. She literally steals the show with her portrayal of Rosa as both a warm and cranky, imperious and funny, strong yet fragile elderly woman. What truly blew me away was her portrayal of Rosa when she enters one of her recurring fugue states (trances) a couple of times during the film. In those small moments, the audience can clearly feel the overwhelming trauma she has been carrying from her past, as if they experienced it alongside her. One of the most tense moments of the film was when Rosa enters one of her trances and locks herself in a room, shouting “They’re on the stairs!” and “Grab the suitcase!” as if she’s talking to someone. It’s likely that she was remembering the exact moment when her family was trying to escape from the Nazis who had come to take them to Auschwitz, just like the six million other Jews who were being persecuted at that time. A word of caution when watching this film, especially if doing so with your family: pay extreme attention to the age rating because this film has a couple of adult themes and controversial topics in the plot which may not be suitable for younger audiences, especially drug trafficking and prostitution. I’m the last person in the world who would try to prevent people from watching movies together, especially during these times, but I’m not going to be held responsible for scarring your children, alright? Apart from that, this is truly a film worth watching, which leaves
the audience contemplating the prosperous and successful acting career of Sophia Loren up until the present. I watched it in both Italian (the original language) and English, and I have to say that the dubbed version does not honour Sophia Loren’s role that much. Her devotion and expressiveness are much better portrayed in the original version, as expected. Nominations:
Momo, (IbrahimaGueye)
Madame Rosa, (Sophia Loren) Memorable quotes: “No matter what happens, I don’t want to end up in a hospital...I know what doctors are like: they will torture you so they can pin a nice medal on their asses. They experiment on you. Believe me, I’ve been through this before and I never want to go through it ever again’ ~ Mme. Rosa Criticisim: Nowadays, a serious problem which recurs in the film industry is ‘originality’. IMDb Database Statistics show that a total of 2,702,243 films have been made between 1880 and 2020. One can infer that during this time, some
films have similar plots to others because of the diminishing supply of new, mind-blowing ideas for upcoming film plots. This lack of ideas is affecting especially heist movies and crime dramas, to the point where one can almost predict characters backstabbing each other in almost every heist movie. Even though ‘The Life Ahead’ isn’t a heist movie, its themes are sometimes similar to other films. Personally, I also felt that the relationship between Rosa and Momo could have been explored a little more and that the director missed the opportunity to delve in more of Rosa’s past, but I still enjoyed it. By the way, it was nice and sweet of Edoardo Ponti to include his mother (Sophia Loren) in the film cast. Bravi entrambi! 3 stars
Game Review: Overwatch Isaac M, Year 7 writes... ‘Overwatch’ is a game that connects over 40 million players worldwide. It is a team based first person shooter game that launched in May 2016 and gained over 7 million players within a week and 40 million players after two years. You have your own free in–game currency (used to buy skins etc.) and characters – better known as heroes - heroes – all of whom have different abilities. The nice thing about this is that you don’t have to unlock heroes which makes it better to get used to different characters. Moving on to the future of ‘Overwatch’ there is a sequel
coming out called ‘Overwatch 2’ on PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox and PC. The release date is rumoured to be later this year or early next year. A feature that I (and possibly many other people would want) is cross – play which means that let’s just say someone on PlayStation and someone on PC wanted to play together, they wouldn’t be able to as they are on different platforms. So, in this case encoding cross–play into your game would allow you to play with that person on PlayStation. It is unclear whether this will be included, but the Overwatch developers have stated that it would be something that they would be interested to look into.
Ocean acidification
Robert B, Year 12 writes... Ocean acidification is the process of atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves into ocean water and increasing its acidity. Whilst there is widespread understanding by the general public of the greenhouse effect and how carbon dioxide accentuates global warming, public awareness of ocean acidification remains low. Ocean acidification impacts marine organisms both directly and indirectly. When carbon dioxide dissolves into ocean water, it fundamentally changes the water chemistry by releasing hydrogen ions. This results in a lower concentration of carbonate ions, which are an essential building block for calcareous structures like shells. The growth of the marine species that depend on these ions would be impeded. This is because these organisms must dedicate more energy to build their shells and other structures. This in turn results in a higher mortality rate among certain species before reaching maturity. The decline in carbonate ion concentration in ocean water is not the only consequence of ocean acidification. The increase in hydrogen ions resulting from carbon dioxide dissolving in ocean water leads to an increase
in water acidity. The pH of the oceans around the world is now approximately 30% lower than it was before the industrial revolution. This decreased pH weakens the shells and limestone skeletons of marine organisms, further impeding these species’ ability to survive. In addition to the direct impact of ocean acidification on these organisms, marine ecosystems are affected by a decline in the amount of biomass present within the food web. Marine organisms that predate shelled organisms struggle to find enough food due to the decline in the population of shelled organisms. This problem ripples through each trophic level of the ecosystem, eventually impacting humans in a variety of ways. Ocean acidification is as much an economic and social concern as it is an environmental concern. Over 500 million people depend on coral reefs for food, local jobs, and coastal protection. Corals also have many uses in medicine as their defence mechanisms against predators make them an important resource used to develop treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, arthritis, and many other diseases. Additionally, the fact that corals form near
coastlines means that they slow down waves, protect coastal areas from floods and storms that would otherwise cause property damage and loss of life. It is estimated that 200 million people are protected from these risks by coral reefs. Moreover, one seventh of the Earth’s population depends on food that originates from oceans and increasing ocean acidification can impact the food security of around 1 billion people. The chemistry of ocean acidification Understanding the ocean carbonate system is essential to understanding the chemistry of ocean acidification. The ocean carbonate system explains why increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to a decrease in carbonate ions and an increase in hydrogen ions. The ocean carbonate system is a series of reactions that occurs on the ocean surface which equilibrates the carbon dioxide level on the ocean surface with that of the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere. This reaction is shown below:
Once carbon dioxide is dissolved in ocean water, it can form carbonic acid, disassociate to form bicarbonate ions (HCO3 ) or just form carbonate (CO 3 2-) ions. All these reactions are reversible and each of these molecules and ions exists in an equilibrium, capable of reverting to other molecules and ions listed in the chemical
equation above. At the current average pH level of the oceans of 8.1, 90% of the inorganic carbon is in the form of bicarbonate, 9% is carbonate and 1% is dissolved carbon dioxide. The most common products of this reaction release hydrogen ions that accompany both bicarbonate and carbonate. The acidity of a liquid is proportional to the concentration of hydrogen ions and, therefore, increasing concentration of hydrogen ions leads to increasing
acidity (lower pH levels). The decrease in carbonate ion concentration is also a consequence of ocean acidification. These free hydrogen ions compete with shelled organisms for carbonate ions and reduce the supply available for these organisms to build their shells and other calcareous structures. This issue is projected to get much worse as scientists are predicting a 0.3 to 0.4 decrease in
ocean water pH levels by the end of the century. This pH decrease is equivalent to an increase of roughly 150% in hydrogen ion levels.
GCSE Computer Science Arjun D, Year 10 writes...
Hansen. Within days of release, the app was en route to having Have you ever used new AirPods, 50,000 paid downloads on the App watched the latest YouTube videos, Store. or browsed your favourite Spotify tracks? Well, computer science This year, technology did more made all of this possible. It is a for us than ever before: helping very forward thinking subject us to work from home, set up where we look to the future and remote schools, and communicate solve problems. with our loved ones. All over the world, technologists stepped up For example, a 16-year-old boy to solve critical problems. We all named Ryan Orbuch was studying know about new tech that arose for his end-of-year exams, when (e.g. Zoom, Doordash), the rise he thought, “I wish there was of wellness apps, and the surge of something that would stop me Microsoft Teams. from procrastinating.” He thought of a to-do list app and began to Why study computer science? develop it with his friend Michael It improves your confidence,
memory, and organisation skills. It even improves your mental fitness whilst developing one of our Wetherby values: resilience. In my opinion, the best part of computer science is the social aspect; you collectively create something that benefits users. Remember it is never too early to start and there are many opportunities to join the action at WSS. The GCSE computer science course at Wetherby Senior School will help you create the cool new technology of the future. Technology is skyrocketing, so it’s time to start innovating and stand out.
The Muon g-2 Experiment Matteo H, Year 11 writes… The day-to-day forces that we experience on planet Earth can be condensed into four categories: gravitational, electromagnetic, strong nuclear (the force that binds protons and neutrons), and weak nuclear (the force that governs the decay of unstable subatomic particles). These forces ultimately dictate the interactions between all objects and particles in the Universe. However, research carried out by physicists at a laboratory near Chicago has uncovered what could be a remarkable discovery. In a series of experiments that took place in early April, scientists concluded that muons (subatomic particles similar to electrons) wobbled more than expected when travelling around a fourteen-metre ring of magnets at nearly the speed of light. Many speculate that such findings could
provide strong evidence for the existence of an undiscovered subatomic particle or a fifth fundamental force, given that they are not aligned with the Standard Model (the current widelyaccepted theory that explains how the building blocks of the Universe behave). Despite the extraordinary discovery, scientists from Imperial College London commented that more data and more measurements are required to
prove that this really is something new. Further speculation around the experiment involves a number, ‘sigma’ – a measurement that relays how likely it is that the results are random chance. A value of 5 is considered to be the minimum requirement for scientists to claim a new discovery, but the sigma value of the muon g-2 experiment is 4.2. This has led scientists to believe that the chance of a statistical fluke is about 1 in 40,000, though only time will tell.
LOWER SCHOOL PLAY finally announced that a lower school play would happen this term. The whole of lower school could not wait to begin the audition process for the play Unman, Wittering and Zigo! The play itself centres around a teacher (John Ebony) who has been sent to work at a questionable school; he's initially eager to educate his troubled students until they inform him they murdered his predecessor Mr Pelham . Fearful for his life, Ebony agrees to keep their crime secret. Christos L, Year 9 writes... At last, the Drama Department
We were very excited to audition, the casting process consisted of
saying a short speech from the play during an interrogation scene- which we’d had to learn off by heart. A few days later everyone got their roles. During the first rehearsal we did a read over of the play in character to understand our roles and the play in more depth. I very much enjoyed this and learnt a lot about the character I play, what type of person he is and how I should play him during the performance. We are all preparing to perform on 30th June in front of all of the members of staff and we cannot wait and are all thrilled!
Interstitial Fluid and The Lymphatic System Henry B, Year 12 writes… Although capillaries are small, they cannot serve every single cell in the body. Hence, the final journey of metabolic material is diffusion across a liquid solution that bathes the tissues, known as interstitial fluid or tissue fluid.
environment for the cells it surrounds. Blood is pumped through vessels with gradually decreasing width, which results in hydrostatic pressure. This pressure forces interstitial fluid to move out of the blood plasma. However, the outward pressure is opposed by hydrostatic pressure of the tissue fluid outside the capillaries, which resist outward movement of liquid, and lower water potential of the blood due to the plasma proteins that cause water to move back into the blood through the capillaries.
potential in the capillaries than in the tissue fluid. Hence, water leaves the tissue fluid by osmosis. The fluid loses most of its nutrients through diffusion into the cells, though it subsequently contains waste products. Not all fluid returns to the capillaries; some is carried back in the lymphatic system, a network of vessels that begin at the tissues. The lymphatic system
However, the combined effect is still that tissue fluid is forced out at the arterial end. During ultrafiltration, only small molecules are removed from the capillaries; larger ones like proteins and cells remain within.
Tissue fluid is a watery liquid that contains glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, ions in solution, and oxygen. It supplies these substances to body tissue, as well as removing waste products like carbon dioxide. With this in Return of tissue fluid to the mind, it is the means by which circulatory system substances are exchanged between cells and the bloodstream. Without interstitial fluid, it is likely that many cells would be starved of their nutrients, resulting in catastrophic consequences for the body and its processes. Formation
Tissue fluid is formed from blood plasma, the composition of which is controlled by various homeostatic systems. As a result, tissue fluid provides a constant
Once tissue fluid has exchanged substances with cells, it returns to the circulatory system, mainly through capillaries. The loss of hydrostatic pressure is caused by a lack of tissue fluid inside the capillaries. By the time blood has reached the venous end of the capillary network, its hydrostatic pressure is usually lower than that of the tissue fluid. Tissue fluid is therefore forced back into the capillaries. In addition, the plasma has lost water but still contains proteins, so there is a lower water
Unlike the closed circulatory system, the lymphatic system is open. Lymph vessels initially resemble capillaries with dead ends, but they gradually merge into larger vessels. These drain their contents back into the bloodstream through two ducts that join veins close to the heart. The contents of the lymphatic system is not displaced by the pumping of the heart, Instead, movement is purely a result of the hydrostatic pressure and the contraction of body muscles that squeeze lymph vessels.
Climate CHange Stefano A, Year 12 writes… Climate change is an urgent matter. When it comes to global warming, there are numerous challenges that need to be tackled unanimously. We have now become so accustomed to our modern ways of living, relying heavily on energy from fossil fuels that damage the environment; it is more apparent than ever that we cannot live without them. This year vividly demonstrated that there is currently no way of completely replacing our 21st-century luxuries – even as the economies stopped due to the pandemic, 2020 was the hottest year on record. Although we have been shown how to reduce our carbon footprint in the last few years, there has been little change to the massive impact that humankind is having on the Earth.
Given the scale of the necessary global effort, the main predicament we face is the need to persuade governments worldwide to enforce companies and individuals to limit their carbon dioxide emissions. In an ideal world, developed nations would lead the way and enable developing countries to catch up. Until governments enshrine further demands in law, little progress will be made. Companies
have not been leading by example and encouraging the businesses they finance to consider the menacing threat of climate change. Therefore, I strongly believe that if governments set new laws on these sectors, companies would have no option but to consider greener options and spur the development of alternative technologies. Until governments step up their efforts to reduce emissions and mobilise capital along a climatefriendly path, companies are unlikely to commit to net-zero and support the build-up of a market structure that fosters environmentally conscious activities. I fear that, until then, we will be stuck and will only witness limited progress. Arguably, innovation and technology are key contributing
factors to fighting climate change and a significant resource from which governments can take advantage. In the last few years, technology has allowed us to fully comprehend the damage that we are unleashing on our planet; without technology, we would still not be aware of the impacts of nonrenewable energy sources and the greenhouse gases they release. This has enabled scientists to inform
the public and devise the changes needed to protect the Earth. Besides informing us about the Earth’s current state, technology is also being utilised to tackle climate change head-on. For example, the recent explosion in the development of electric vehicles, partly backed by government measures (e.g. higher taxes on polluting vehicles), is one way to collectively reduce our carbon footprint. Furthermore, innovation is fostering the use of more efficient renewable energy sources that would increase our chances of saving the Earth before it is too late. We are also witnessing increasing innovation that is driving the world to a more sustainable future. I have been particularly impressed by efforts to improve sanitation by reducing human waste, a source of emissions that has often been overlooked. Lastly, innovation is utilised to share and promote actions against climate change. The famous movements led by Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion in the United Kingdom attracted global attention and prompted frequent global protests. This epitomises the role of social media technology in the quick and effortless circulation of ideas, helping activists to raise awareness within different communities around the world. As a result, young people now understand the true importance and urgency of fighting against climate change, and pressuring governments and corporations to act upon it. Ultimately, our future lies in the hands of our governments and in the will of the people.
SUpporting a Peer with their Mental Health Arjun D, Year 10 writes… On Friday 14th May 2021, Year 10 were fortunate to attend a lecture from Natasha Devon MBE, a writer, campaigner, and broadcaster who delivers talks about mental health, body image, gender, and social equality. Mental health is a person’s emotional well-being. Has a doctor ever told you to take good care of your brain besides telling you to wear your helmet while biking? Probably not. Well, there is little agreement from health officials on how to take care of the brain even though 20% of adolescents experience a mental health problem in any given year. As a result, we learned about how to support a peer with their mental health. Everyone has a metaphorical stress bucket that slowly fills up as you experience different types of stress. Sometimes, you feel you can carry lots of stress, though it is important to lighten the load. You can do this through activities which release endorphins. This could entail laughing more,
exercising, or even meditation on a daily basis. There is a deep connection between the heart and the brain. Once your mental health is good, you will improve your resilience, optimistic attitude, and physical health. If you ask them, many doctors will tell you that in order to best take care of your body, you must first take care of your mind. If you do this, studies show that your pain tolerance will increase; your need for medications will decrease; and your ability to heal will be faster. If you are concerned about a peer’s mental health, there are multiple things you can do to support them: Ask open questions: these should be answered with a longer response (not yes or no). Ask twice: when you ask, “how are you?” people may often deflect the question. Asking twice demonstrates that you really care about how they feel. Use silence: this is a skill that requires you to do more listening than talking in a conversation. To practise, set a stopwatch and close your eyes for one minute and open your eyes when you think a minute is done. Do this every day.
Talk in the third person: if both you and your peer watch the same TV shows, then talking about a character who you suspect is going through the same problem your peer is going through will help them to open up about their problem. Try shoulder-to-shoulder activities: your peer may feel pressurised or intimidated if you are chatting whilst seated directly opposite one another. However, conversations can be much more effective when walking shoulder-to-shoulder. That’s why cars are such a great place for conversations. I found the lecture very useful and it gave me a positive view on how to care for myself and for others in a productive and positive fashion.
Success - AMbition or Talent? Theophile N, Year 7 writes… For hundreds of years, many humans have asked the question: how does one become successful? This question applies to everyone regardless of the context; whether you are an ancient Greek general attempting to win a war or a pupil studying for end-of-year exams, you want to know how to be successful. In this article, I am going to outline some theories about success and provide some useful tips from successful people and my own humble opinion. I recently came across a man called Richard St. John, a market success analyst who describes himself as an average guy who found success doing what he loved. Mr. St. John spent more than a decade researching the lessons of success and he summarised them in eight words, three minutes and one successful book. He interviewed over 500 TEDsters (people are invited to give a TEDTalk) and asked them what they think determines success. He concluded with seven fundamental recipes for success: passion, getting good at
something specific, hard work (and fun), focus, resilience, and service (you have to do something for others, not only yourself). Personally, I think passion is the most important one. I believe that loving what you do means you will do things for the joy and you will want to put in the extra three hours that make the difference between success and failure. Another important component of success is ambition. To build a unicorn company, which is a startup valued at $1 billion, you must be ambitious and have a strong desire to succeed. In the case of end-ofyear exams, the pupils who achieve the top grades are not necessarily the smartest; they are merely the ones who have the ambition to achieve the highest possible grade. A cricket coach once said: “ambition beats talent every time, unless talent works.” The Financial Times “Weekend Supplement” always includes an interview with a famous or highly successful person. The interviewer always asks the same question:
“Ambition or talent; which matters more to success?” The most common answer to this question is ambition. Although talent is useful, nothing can be achieved without hard work, persistence, and ambition, no matter how much talent one possesses. Resilience must also be mentioned. As J.K. Rowling remarked so eloquently in her 2008 Harvard Commencement Speech: “…but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” I think the bottom line is, nothing is out of the reach of those who put in the hours and the effort. Sources: https://www.ted.com/talks/ richard_st_john_8_secrets_of_ success#t-191579 https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/ story/2008/06/text-of-j-k-rowlingspeech/
Dubai Joseph I, Year 8 writes… Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates known for its luxury shopping, modern architecture, and lively nightlife scene. There are some amazing attractions, such as IMG World (an indoor theme park), Wild Wadi (a water park), and a big skatepark along the beach, where there are amazing things to do. Dubai is home to numerous renowned high-end hotels, among which Burj al Arab,
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and Jumeirah Al Qasr (where I stay). On artificial islands just offshore is Atlantis, The Palm, a resort with marine animal parks. The Burj Khalifa, a 830m-tall building, dominates the skyline. At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with water jets and lights choreographed to music. It is the tallest building in the world and the view is utterly amazing. In the Emirates Mall, there are some superb shops, as well as an
arcade, an indoor ski resort, and a restaurant overlooking the resort.
Are Satellites spying on you? Kaveh K, Year 9 writes... On the 24th October 1946, the first ever images of Earth were taken from space by NASA’s suborbital V-2 rocket. The photos contained less than 1000 pixels and were in black and white; not much for the first image of space. Seventy five years on, satellite imagery has revolutionised maps, saved thousands of lives, helped prevent the impact of disasters and more. However, this tool that most take for granted can be used for a more sinister purpose; for surveillance, intelligence gathering, and even organised attacks. Satellite imagery has evolved exponentially in the last seventy five years. From the first ever photo in 1946, new technologies have been developed, resulting in ever more accurate aerial imagery. Only twenty years ago, being able to get relatively recent aerial imagery was something that only large enterprises could dream
of using. However, with the rise of the internet and “free” online services, satellite imagery has become more and more widely accessible. Anyone and everyone can visit websites such as Google Earth to view high resolution imagery of anywhere in the world. Satellite imagery has many uses; it helps you find where you’re going easily, maps can be traced with it, coordinated rescue events are aided. But, more often, it’s just quite fun looking at your own house from high up. However, satellite imagery can be utilised for a more sinister purpose, surveillance. Whereas only ten years ago the highest resolution imagery would render a whole building as one pixel, now the ground can be seen at up to five centimetres. This means the whereabouts of ships, cars, and even people can be tracked. This can help investigations a lot – the origins of Kim Jong-un’s Mercedes were recently identified by tracing historical satellite imagery – but
it also means governments can track and see what is happening anywhere in the world, without the slightest concern of anyone knowing. On the 30th August 2019, former US president Donald J. Trump tweeted a satellite image of an Iranian launchpad, apparently displaying a “catastrophic accident” where a rocket exploded on the launchpad. It showed the potential problems of satellite imagery, and what could be done with it if you knew where to look. So, should you worry? Well, for now, probably not. Satellite imagery is high-resolution, but not high resolution enough to track people. Regardless, even then to track something or someone, it would require huge amounts of tedious, time-consuming work. But technology is evolving quickly, and it’s likely that one day, you may be able to be tracked with satellite imagery.
Using LiDAR data and advanced photogrammetry, Google Earth can create an accurate 3D model of Wetherby Senior School, that is able to be updated every month. (© Google Earth, 2021)
A Trip to Pyongyang Barnaby M, Year 7 writes... In the past, the country of North Korea has gained the reputation of being a rather hostile nation towards foreign visitors, but in this article you will experience what it’s like to visit the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.
TRAVEL You arrive at Beijing Peking international airport at precisely 07:15 A.M. as flights to the hermit kingdom are scheduled, but rare. You will be flying on the state airline of North Korea, Air Koryo. Although you have not heard good things about the airline, flying was a more favourable option, compared to the 29-hour train journey. You enter the bustling terminal and look up at the departures board to see the following flights: SHANGHAI – GO TO GATE HANGZHOU – EXPECTED 09:15 PYONGYANG – EXPECTED 08:20 A lot had been leading up to this moment. You had collected your visa at the North Korean embassy four weeks prior and just yesterday you attended a safety briefing with the company that helped organise your trip. Finally, you were going to be in North Korea in a matter of hours. As you proceeded through to the gate, you got your first glimpse of the plane that would carry you to North Korea, it was a Soviet-made
Ilyushin Il-62M, one of the last of its kind, you see a screen displaying information about the flight, it states: PYONGYANG, GATE 1C, 08:20 Your visa is checked by a North Korean official, who allows you to continue into the jetway. You enter the airplane and it seems as though you have stepped back to the 1980’s; the plane’s interior had most probably not been changed since it was brought into service. A copy of the popular North Korean newspaper, Chosun Tongsin (KNS) is lying on your seat. You place it aside and sit down. Unintelligible announcements in a mix of Korean and Chinese are broadcasted over the loudspeaker until you hear, in a very thick Korean accent “Welcome to Air Koryo. Next stop, Pyongyang.
Thank you.” Quickly after, the airplane aligns itself with the runway and with all the power it can muster, it flies into the sky. There is some turbulence as the plane begins to reach cruising altitude, and meal service begins, you are served a “surprise burger” which ends up being a stale bun with some sort of dry mystery meat, which you are yet to figure out. Overall, you decide that the only surprise is that it’s disgusting! As you fly over the Yellow Sea you the Korean peninsula comes into sight, and you can see the barren landscape of North Korea. Soon after, as you touchdown in Sunan Pyongyang International airport, you realise that you are in the most dangerous, and controversial country in the world.
Climate Collapse and Deforestation Having spent some time studying persuasive speeches in class, Year 9 were asked to produce their own speech on a subject about which they felt particularly passionate. Coby wrote (and delivered to the class) this excellent speech about climate collapse and deforestation. Coby L, Year 9 writes... The earth isn’t dying. We are. We are not killing the planet, we are killing ourselves. So how do we save ourselves? How do we save the animals, the plants, the ecosystems? The answer is we plant trees. Older generations waffled on about magical technologies which would be able to suck tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere and turn it into oxygen but they don’t talk about nature’s machine which has been converting CO 2 into oxygen for millions of years. They don’t talk about trees. They don’t talk about the importance of preserving forests, habitats or ecosystems. Instead, they slaughter our forests, they destroy animal’s homes. Economy obsessed world leaders have been trading nature for money
for too long and we need to make them stop. World leaders support the annihilation of the earth’s lungs, they support the annihilation of the human race and WE NEED CHANGE. They have the power to save us but they don’t so it is down to you to save the world. So plant some trees. Every minute we lose a chunk of forest equivalent to the size of a football pitch, so we lose 525,600 football pitches worth of forest a year. With water levels drastically rising, drowning low lying countries, trees are an environmentally friendly and cheap solution. The loss of trees can cause climate change, deforestation, soil erosion, extreme loss of crops, flooding, increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the list goes on. So what is our solution to the increasingly dire problems? Trees, So plant some trees. Don’t cut them down. I remember when I was seven or eight and the movie Rio was released. It was a story about endangered Spix Macaws which were going extinct due to
deforestation. The movie raised awareness about the endangered species and despite its effort to prevent the destruction of their habitat the species of bird has now gone extinct in the wild. I propose a new law to be put in place. A law that restricts the destruction of habitats protecting our endangered species. A law that will protect us and our oxygen. World leaders should not be spending trillions on their armies but rather put that money into saving the environment. I suggest that they put that money into creating a greener world, a better world. So we plant trees! If the leaders don’t hear nature’s plea for help we will have to make them hear it. We will take to the streets and force the world leaders to ban the annihilation and slaughter of nature and we will ensure that the human race will have a long and prosperous future. So don’t delegate the responsibility. The time is now. Plant some trees.
‘Know your Prof’ - Ms. Holmes Tomasso S, Year 12 writes... Ms. Holmes joined the Wetherby Senior School community in 2019 as an A Level teacher of both Economics and Business Studies for Sixth Form. Those who have the chance to meet her in person will agree that she’s definitely become an important point of reference for both students and colleagues. Today, we thank Ms Holmes for giving us the chance to be interviewed for The Barometer as well as allowing us to know her a little better. Has teaching always been your main occupation? Far from it. I spent all my professional life in investment banking, up until I decided it was time to pass on what I had learnt in the international capital markets. What do you enjoy the most about teaching? And the least? I love the classroom interaction with you boys, seeing how you enjoy the subject and the progress you make. It is also great to hear your different perspectives on the economic challenges of our time. I learn from you as much as you learn from me. My least favourite activity is invigilating for exams, it’s much more fun to talk to you than to watch you write. Did you always see yourself becoming an economist? I never saw myself as an economist and I still don’t. For me, economics is a skillset to understand and navigate the world. It has helped me analyse and evaluate the facts and make good decisions in my career as an international banker - that was
what I wanted to be: someone who advised large multinational businesses on how to structure their capital and funding requirements to support their business goals. When did you make the choice? What helped you to decide? Early on in my A Levels (Maths, Physics, German and English), I already knew I wanted to study economics at university because it is such a rich subject and because it covered many skills that are sought after in the world of work: good research and writing skills, analytical and quantitative skills, literacy, numeracy, problem solving, critical thinking, presenting and defending an opinion, etc. Did anyone in particular inspire you to consider a career in Economics and Business? My university tutor who taught me strategic management had a big influence on my thinking, and my best friend Brigitte who was a few years older. She already worked in banking when I was still at university and shared stories of how she negotiated big deals with different companies in different sectors. Both people were good role models to follow. If you weren’t an economist, what would you see yourself being instead? During high school and university I was also very much into martial arts. We trained intensely, 4-5 times a week, and went on tour three times a year. I loved it but somewhere in my mid-twenties, I was injured badly and realised that I did not have the nerve to be a pro. Banking, for all its own risks,
seemed a safer choice. Can you share with us the funniest moment you experienced as a teacher? I was taking the register at the start of a lesson in my previous school. It was Year 8 and one of the boys was not in class. When I asked the others if anyone had seen him that day, the door to the large stationery cupboard flew open and he jumped out shouting: “Miss! I’m back from Narnia!”. Unfortunately, I had to give him a red note for disruption and send him to the Head of Year 8, but it still makes me laugh. If you are told that you can leave school two hours early out of the blue, what would you do, with the current Covid-19 restrictions in mind? What about without said restrictions? Go for a nice long run somewhere green. After Covid I will hopefully go out again. I really miss sitting somewhere nice with a group of friends. What’s the one film which you believe the world couldn’t live without? The Dark Knight. Although very dark and disturbing, it has many interesting, thought-provoking perspectives. Which book are you currently reading? Can you give a short summary? ‘The Tipping Point’ by Malcolm Gladwell. It is an interesting book that uses familiar events in the everyday life to explain how ideas, trends, new social behaviour etc builds up and one day crosses a threshold when it spreads like wildfire – hence the tipping point.
What’s the one book which you believe the world couldn’t live without (Econ textbooks don’t count!)? ‘Birds Without Wings’ by Louis de Bernières. Are you the kind of person who piles up books that you plan to read next, or do you buy a new book only after you finished the previous one? I read every day and still, I have piles of unread books because I buy at a much faster rate than I can read…I cannot imagine approaching the end of one book and having no other lined up – even the thought scares me. Remote learning. We’re all aware of the range of negative aspects following it. Were you able to find a positive one? In terms of teaching and learning, I found it useful that we all had to learn how to use Teams and Class Notebook, and now we still use both which improved the learning in the real-life classroom. I also got to experience how brilliantly you all coped with your difficult situation and grew to meet the challenges you were thrown. It may not feel that way yet but these experiences make you stronger and better equipped to deal with challenges in the future. One adjective to describe your students during ‘remote learning’. I have to use two - distracted and tired. One adjective to describe you during ‘remote learning’. Distracted and tired! British Summer Time begins again on 28th March. Do you think ‘Damn, I’ll lose 1 hour of sleep” or “Yay, I’ll enjoy one more hour of daylight”?
I love the summertime because I get up at 5am every day – it is great to do my morning sport outdoors in the mild weather and daylight. E-books, yes or no? Why? Yes, when travelling – you can take your library with you and decide on the spot what you want to read! E-commerce or independent shops? If you mean Amazon vs independent shops, then for an eco-friendly and socially sustainable world, we need to support independent shops. Covid showed that independent business people can very quickly develop new ways and improve on existing e-commerce capabilities. Equity or bonds? * I was a bond analyst for many years so bonds, because that’s what I understand. ** Real assets, again because I understand them better than crypto assets. ** To finish on a high note, what’s the one piece of advice you would like to pass onto your students?
Try and keep things in perspective – most of what seems a big deal now won’t be such a big deal in five years. I put so much time and energy into trying to impress some people in high school. Now I don’t even remember their names. And the opposite is true as well. Sometimes you make a real difference to people’s lives – even if it doesn’t feel that big a deal at the time. When in doubt, be kind. Everyone goes through their own struggles we can’t always see. *Disclaimer: Financial opinion provided during this interview is for indicative purpose only and should not be considered as information sufficient upon which to base an investment decision ;) ** My investment advice: do not EVER invest in anything you don’t fully understand, and never make yourself dependent on one investment – spread your risk. Even the safest investments fail from time to time.