IN THIS ISSUE
OUR RUGBY STAR PERU DIARY DRAMATICAL MUSIC DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES WORTH IN THE COMMUNITY
WORTH KNOWING news, events and updates from
SUMMER TERM 2016
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WHAT’S INSIDE
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Tom Mitchell’s silver medal at the Rio Olympics was the culmination of a glorious journey which began at Worth. His success highlighted what this school can help you achieve with the right mindset, in whatever your chosen field. Tom flourished in the rich tapestry of life at Worth, a place of vibrancy, energy and fun. This publication will hopefully give you a flavour of that. HOWARD GRIGGS, EDITOR
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Winter Term 2016
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I hope that you enjoy this first edition of Worth Knowing. As you can see, it has been a very busy period, full of trips and activities, games, exhibitions, plays and concerts. We are proud to share some of our current pupils’ achievements outside of school, to applaud the Olympic success of Old Worthian, Tom Mitchell - who captained Great Britain’s silver-winning Rugby Sevens side at the Rio Olympics - and to introduce some of the new members of staff. Worth’s Catholic ethos informs all aspects of school life and enriches the pupils’ experience in many ways – the school’s pilgrimage to Taizé at the end of last term is just one example of how pupils can put their faith in action. The very successful Worth in the Community Day, which took place in the last week of the summer term, is part of a new emphasis on social outreach, which we plan to develop further over the course of this year. As a Catholic school, we welcome pupils from all faith backgrounds, and I’m sure you will enjoy reading some of our current parents’ views on the way Worth has welcomed their children into its community. As the new term begins, I am looking forward to seeing more of the imaginative, energetic endeavour that Worth pupils show across the whole range of their experience at the school. You can follow the Worth story on Facebook, and see it all brought together in future editions of Worth Knowing. Stuart McPherson, MA Head Master
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Summer Term 2016
IF YOU had spoken to anyone with a Worth School connection during August about the Rio Olympics, then they would have talked about one name. It was not Mo Farah, nor Jason Kenny, Laura Trott, not even Sir Bradley Wiggins. Neither was it Alistair Brownlee, Max Whitlow, Jade Jones, Justin Rose. Even Andy Murray, having followed his Wimbledon success with one of the 27 Team GB golds in Brazil this summer, would not have been the initial subject of conversation. The name on everyone’s lips among the Worth community was Tom Mitchell, who led Team GB men’s rugby sevens squad to a silver medal in the sport’s first appearances at an Olympics since 1924. Mitchell, born in Cuckfield and brought up in East Grinstead, honed his rugby skills during his time at Worth School which culminated with him being Head Boy in 2006.
After leaving school, where his teacher father Alan remains on the staff, Tom’s rugby career flourished. Initially he had success in the 15-a-side version of the game, captaining England Students and Great Britain students, but it was after switching to the sevens code that fame, glory and an Olympic medal beckoned. >
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ON THE COVER
Our Star
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Summer Term 2016
Mitchell, now 27, captained the England sevens team at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 and his selection in July as captain of the Great Britain team for Rio was to most people merely a confirmation of what they expected. At the time, Mitchell spoke of his pride but simply taking part in the greatest sporting show on earth was clearly not going to be enough for a GB side that was placed in an initial pool with Kenya, Japan and New Zealand. Three wins out of three followed, including a thrilling 21-19 victory over the All Blacks, to send Mitchell and his pals into a quarter-final with Argentina. Great Britain won that game 5-0 after extra-time to set up a semi-final against South Africa. Trailing 5-0 at the break, Dan Norton’s try levelled the scores in the second half and Mitchell’s conversion made it 7-5 at the final whistle, to ensure a medal of some colour for the British boys.
The final against pre-tournament favourites Fiji was one step too far, but there was no disappointment: just joy for everyone involved at a silver medal; and plenty of pride back in Sussex. People without an interest in rugby previously will recall how they stayed up to watch the final late at night. Then, when Worth School posted on Facebook about the silver medal success the following morning, the post received more likes than ever before on its social media site.
“At Worth I was taught to seek out and enjoy a challenge” Mitchell said: “At Worth I was taught to seek out and enjoy a challenge: it seems in-built into the ethos of the school and there is always the encouragement to strive for something greater. As a young pupil I went on a voyage of discovery, particularly when it came to sport and threw myself into all sorts of clubs and activities, taking up so much of what Worth had to offer.
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WHILE Tom Mitchell was the first Worthian to win an Olympic medal, he was not the first from the school to compete for Great Britain at the Games. Here are two others you might remember: Tim Hutchings went to Worth School before embarking on a successful athletics career as a middle and long distance runner. He won a 5,000m bronze medal in the 1986 European Championships and a bronze in the 5,000m at that year’s Commonwealth Games. Hutchings also competed at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles where he finished fourth, ahead of team-mate David Moorcroft. In recent times, Hutchings co-founded the Brighton Marathon and has worked as an athletics commentator.
“The experiences gained during this period not only gave me the ambition to succeed, which led to a professional rugby career and the privilege of representing my country, but perhaps more importantly gave me the grounding that enriched my life and relationships. The balanced approach the school takes towards not just school life, but life itself, was vital in providing me with a well-rounded perspective and which has remained a constant during the ups and downs of my own later life.”
Larry Achike, born Onochie Achike, joined Worth School in the 1980s and initially excelled at rugby. However, he turned to athletics – and the triple jump specifically – going on to win gold at the 1994 World Junior Championships and gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Budapest. Two years later, Achike took part in his first Olympic Games in Sydney, finishing fifth in the final and setting a new personal best in the process. He later competed at the 2008 Olympic Games, finishing seventh in the final.
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Summer Term 2016
On the
IncA Trail
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PERU DIARY A GROUP of Worth students enjoyed a trip of a lifetime in July, culminating in the four-day Inca Trail trek. Fourteen pupils, accompanied by Mrs Maria Young and Fr Peter, took part in the Worth School Peru Expedition 2016, which incorporated time spent at the Puericultorio JAVA children’s home in Ayacucho, which has long been financially supported by Worth’s own Outreach Peru and, this year, St Mary’s House charity. Here, in their own words, the students share their memories of a fabulous fortnight:
Day 1: Departure We met at St Mary’s on Sunday afternoon and had a thorough final kit-check with the odd last-minute call home for forgotten items. We met Debs, our expedition leader, who clearly had lots of experience of trips like this. We discussed what we hoped to get out of the expedition and how we would make this happen. We were then taken to Heathrow for our overnight flight to South America. The adventure had begun.
was to buy SIM cards for our expedition mobiles. We discovered that these were unusable, however, as you have to be a Peruvian citizen to activate them! We found a great place for dinner where we ate traditional Peruvian food. Day 3: Lima We were taken into central Lima and walked to the presidential palace
in the Plaza de Armas. We were fascinated to watch the changing of the guard, with the strangely exaggerated goose-step marching style and a large military band. We then had an insightful tour around Lima’s Franciscan monastery, with its wealth of art and the famous catacombs. After lunch we packed before setting off in the next >
Day 2: Arrival in Lima We were met at Lima airport after the long flight from the UK, via Bogotá. Our minibus took us through the slums of Callao to the comfortable district of Miraflores and our hostel. We organised a rotating daily leadership team and the first task
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stage of our journey, to Ayacucho. Day 4: 1st day at the children’s home Arriving at Ayacucho, it was nice to be greeted by the smiling faces of our very own Fr Alex, who had gone ahead of us, and Sister Maria Eugenia, head of the Puericultorio JAVA. This children’s home was established in 1980, to house children orphaned by the civil war, and it is supported by Worth Abbey’s Outreach Peru charity. Today, most of the inmates are not orphans, but are children whose parents are in prison or who have been otherwise abandoned. We were met by a crowd of excited children, plus Worthian Naomi Dring who had returned to Peru for her second volunteering stint.
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We were soon put to work, scraping paint off the walls, helping in the nursery and playing outside with the children. We quickly began to get to know the children at the home and language barriers tumbled fast. Day 5: 2nd day at the children’s home Breakfast gave us our first chance to experience the delights of quinoa porridge: a thin, cinnamon-flavoured gruel which is a breakfast staple in the Andes. The children had school today, so at 8am we went out into the fields to dig holes for fruit trees, as a donor had been found who would provide trees if suitable holes could be dug in time. The ground was rock-hard, infested with weeds and our basic
tools broke as we dug. It was a long morning. After lunch, we had a memorable talk from Wilma, the woman who runs the vocational training at the children’s home and who grew up there. She was one of the children orphaned by the civil war in the 1980s, arriving at the home all alone and traumatised by witnessing the killing of her family by terrorists. Later we headed off to the ANFASEP museum to learn more about how the civil war affected the people of Ayacucho. It was a very shocking and extremely sad experience, but we felt that we understood things a lot better after our visit. Day 6: 3rd day at the children’s home It was another morning of hole-digging in the children’s home fields, encouraged in our efforts by the resident workers. They not only dug much faster than us, but also produced an amazing Pachamanca lunch for us: the classic Andean field lunch, in which chicken and vegetables are cooked underground.
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It was really delicious. We also drank a lot of chicha morada: a warm, weak sweetcorn drink. In the afternoon, once the children had come out of school, we played endless games with them and taught them various action songs. Day 7: 4th day at the children’s home Being Saturday, there was no school so about 60 of us – children and volunteers – travelled for a couple of hours to Quinua Pampa. We visited the famous Quinua obelisk, a 40m high monument that commemorated the battle which gained Peruvian and South American independence from Spain. After lunch we set off for a trek up a ravine, to visit a waterfall, and we began to feel what it was going to be like to climb at altitude. One of the nuns clambered up the rocks impressively in her heels! Back at the Pampa (the open area), it was time for some playing with the children and Pete looked very impressive as he took a ride on a horse.
Day 8: 5th day at the children’s home We started off by going to Mass in town, which we found really interactive and fun. The priest was very enthusiastic and gave a long and passionate homily. Later on, back at the children’s home, the boys were challenged to a game of football with the maintenance team, with the stakes being a 3L bottle of Coke. We spent the rest of the day playing various games with the children and by the end of it we were shattered. This was our last night in Ayacucho. Day 9: departure and journey to Cusco We spent the morning saying farewell to the children, going to visit a traditional market in Ayacucho and then had an early lunch before loading up the coach for Cusco. We set off across the altiplano, amongst amazing glaciated mountain scenery, isolated villages,
llamas and some very winding roads. By the evening, we were ready for a break in the 15hour journey, and we stopped at Andahuaylas for a great meal in a steakhouse. We drove on through the night and arrived in Cusco at 6am. Day 10: Day in Cusco We needed to get more acclimatised to hiking at this altitude, so we set off after breakfast for a practice session, aiming for the ‘Cristo Blanco’, a large statue overlooking the city from the highest peak. The ascent gave us a chance to work on our ‘slow breathing’ and get used to the idea of pacing the ascent of a steep slope at altitude. The views were worth it, as we sat next to the Sacsayhuaman ruins, absorbing the landscape. In the afternoon we split into groups for sightseeing and shopping. This was going to be our last evening of civilisation for a while but after dinner we all
wanted an early night in preparation for the start of the Inca trail the next day. Day 11: To Llulluchapampa We were joined by our guides, Judit and Rayner, for the start of our hike. Rayner spoke to us at various intervals, giving us a thorough and animated view of Incan and Peruvian history. We learned that the Incas were the kings, not an ethnic group, and that the Inca trails are survivors of the old royal messenger routes. More Inca trails and ruins are still being discovered
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today. Our porter team ran ahead to set up both lunch and dinner. Amongst that first day’s offerings were avocado mousse, trout, kebabs and thick hot chocolate. We camped in a little field at the edge of a very small village, surrounded by wandering farm animals. Day 12: The Dead Woman’s pass We were dreading this day. All the blogs and guides said it was the point of ‘make or break’, at which plenty of people give up – and they were not wrong. It was a five-hour, pretty sheer >
Summer Term 2016
OUTREACH PERU WORTH ABBEY has been helping the people of Peru for almost 50 years. A group of monks, led by Fr Bede, first went there in 1967 in response to the call of the Second Vatican Council to support Latin America by providing human, material and financial resources. Outreach Peru began in 1968 and is the development fund of Worth Abbey, ring fenced for projects to help the underclass of Peruvian society. More than half the population of Peru are living in poverty. Many struggle daily to have enough to eat, they have limited access to fresh water and often there is no sewage system. Children, especially in rural areas, are often deprived of good schooling and many families do not have the skills to keep themselves healthy, let alone access to professional medical help. Outreach Peru, though, has given hope and opportunity to many people. Its key projects include supporting a children’s home in Ayacucho and working with Fe y Alegria to provide schooling in the poorest and most marginalised areas of Peru. Fr Alex, who now runs Outreach Peru, first went there in the 1980s when the children’s home at Ayacucho was no more than a soup kitchen. These days it is a home to up to 80 children, from babies up to the age of 18, with a constant turnover of residents. He insists the work Outreach Peru does has to be sustainable and he is also keen for visitors, such as the Worth School group who went there this year, to understand what life is like in Peru and the history of both the country and the charitable work carried out by Worth Abbey. Fr Alex said: “I was very keen for the Worth expedition to have their eyes opened. They heard from a survivor of the Civil War and this was very important.”
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ascent, and the altitude really made things hard, but we supported each other and it was quite a moment reaching the pass. The challenge of descending was also a big one, especially for our knees, but at least we were working with gravity and going down into more oxygen-rich air. Day 13: Over halfway We set off early, as usual, and really enjoyed this day. We were now feeling much fitter and, although today’s trail had some stiff climbs and
descents, we were taking it in our stride by now. The main feature of this day was the really stunning scenery wherever we were. Each twist in the trail or rounding of a summit brought another amazing mountain view. Highlights of the day were lunch, some decent toilets (at last!) and a triumph from the cook when he produced a ‘Worth School Peru Expedition 2016’ iced sponge cake for dessert. Day 14: Machu Picchu at last We were up at 3.30am feeling pretty pumped and after breakfast we set off for the point where you have to queue for the final section of the trail to open. Bang on 5.30, the trail opened and we were off, practically running the final 5km ascent through cliffhanging cloud forest and
up the fearsome ‘Gringo killer’ steps to reach the Intipunku (the Sun Gate) in time for the sunrise over Machu Picchu. It didn’t disappoint. There was such a buzz to be sitting there with such a stunning view before us, as the light changed and the sun the washed over the surrounding mountains. An hour’s trek brought us down to Machu Picchu itself. Rayner was brilliant at explaining the site and we took a lot of photographs. Eventually it was time to descend to Aguas Calentes and a final meal together to celebrate the success of the trail, before taking a train back to Ollantaytambo and then a bus to Cusco. We fell into bed, exhausted but very proud of ourselves.
for family and friends and then began our journey home back to the UK. A big thank you to our staff: Debs (the expedition leader), Mrs Young (the organiser), Fr Peter (the mountain leader and probably the fittest trekker) and Fr Alex (the inspiration and the Peruvian veteran). The trip was really eyeopening, memorable and fun. It was hard work at times, but the kind of work that brings genuine rewards and we all hope that future Worth generations will have the chance to experience Peru as we did.
Day 15: Last day in Cusco We had a last morning in Cusco to buy some gifts
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ART SCHOOL THE SUMMER TERM saw the unveiling of the magnificent new Art School. Built over two floors, the new Art School has airy and extensive junior and senior art studios, the photography studios and darkroom, ICT and research facilities, and also new gallery exhibition space. Worth now plans to incorporate the provision of Design and Technology next year. The new Art School has been part of the Heart of Campus project which saw the opening at the start of the academic year of a new girls’ house, a new coeducational junior house, extensive new classrooms, and a new Chaplaincy Centre.
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THEATRE OF DREAMS ONE OF Worth School’s students is hoping to follow in the footsteps of some illustrious names after securing a place with the National Youth Theatre (NYT). George Pack, a Year 12 student, has been accepted on to the NCT course after a successful audition. The NYT was the first youth theatre in the world and is currently celebrating its 60th year. The company describes itself as a platform that inspires, trains and showcases theatre performers aged between 14 and 25 from around the UK. Its alumni include Dame Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig and Daniel Day-Lewis, to name a few. Being accepted on to their course allows George to become a member of this organisation. It opens up the opportunity to perform in NYT plays in the West End as well as gain access to film, TV and theatre castings along with other acting courses. The audition George took part in consisted of a three-hour workshop in the morning and then an interview in the afternoon when he performed a piece from Noel Coward’s The Vortex.
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plenty to
celebrate IT IS not often that a school can boast one of its students has won an Oxford University writing competition, so for two to triumph it is a remarkable achievement.
Olivia Wilson and Gurdip Ahluwalia, Year 12 students in 201516, both finished the academic year with accolades which made everyone at the school extremely proud. Olivia, in fact, won two prestigious essay competitions: the Keble College (Oxford) Theology and Religion Essay Competition and the English Benedictine Congregation Essay Competition (senior category). It was the first time OIivia had entered the Oxford competition
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and the essay title was: “Why should I respect a capricious, meanminded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain? ...The God who created this universe, if it was created by God, is quite clearly a maniac... What kind of god would do that? Discuss.” After finding out she had won, Olivia visited Keble College on in July to meet two lecturers, take part in a discussion and enjoy both a presentation and a tour of the college. Her success in the senior section of the
English Benedictine Congregation competition came 12 months after she won the junior category. Meanwhile, Gurdip was celebrating after winning the Oxford University French Film Competition. The competition, which was run by Queen’s College Oxford, involved Gurdip having to rewrite the ending of the script for a French film – in French. The film he worked on was Bande de filles – a 2014 film about minorities in Parisian suburbs.
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Chapman House Master Mr Mark Macdonald said: “Gurdip had to write the script for the ending of a French play (in French) which really suited both his love of languages and his wonderfully creative mind.”
PARENTS FROM a variety of faiths were asked to explain why they were comfortable sending their children to a Benedictine school. What becomes clear is that, despite being from four different religions, it is the warmth and inclusive approach of the school which attracted these families to Worth.
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A HINDU PERSPECTIVE BY BHASKER PATEL Born in Uganda, having grown up in India, settled in Britain as a young adult and married an English woman, I am a Hindu. I may not be a practising Hindu but nevertheless I believe and feel comfortable with my faith. Hinduism has allowed me to be married to a person of a different faith and yet retain and share my beliefs. My wife and I made a conscious decision not to have our children christened, but with our support, let them make their own spiritual journey, to question their own beliefs and ultimately to live their lives feeling comfortable with their own choices. Above all else Hinduism is not a religion that seeks to impose itself on others but is open to ideas from elsewhere, allowing me to feel totally at ease with my choice of Worth School for my children. As I understand it, they have the opportunity to question their own beliefs but not have Catholicism imposed on them, if ultimately it isn’t their choice. Openness to new ideas and experiences is all that has been asked which, in any case, should be fundamental to any new learning experience. When I came to look at Worth, I felt totally at home in the welcoming environment and felt it would be wonderful for my children to be part of such a caring and supportive community. A SIKH PERSPECTIVE BY BALVINDER AHLUWALIA Over the years I have been asked how I reconcile being a Sikh with sending my oldest son to Worth. Being a Sikh has always been about acceptance of others’ beliefs and tolerance of other religions. Worth was recommended to me when my son was nine. When we first visited we were overwhelmed by the sense of peace and of purpose as we saw the school in action on a Saturday morning. I was born in England at the end of the 1960s when being a Sikh was still an exotic thing. As a result I grew up asking many questions about Sikh history
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and beliefs. My parents were also born into Sikh families but growing up in India they did not feel the same need to question. The appeal of Worth was the sense of community, the belief that man has a responsibility to the wider community and that education alone is not enough. In 2009, when my son was interviewed by the then Head Master, he was asked whether he had an issue with attending Mass every week because it was compulsory and no one could be excused. I could not have been prouder when he responded that he had always attended chapel at his prep school and taken part in all the services, but as a Sikh he did not expect anyone to convert to Sikhism. He would also be more than happy to attend Mass, but likewise he would not expect anyone to convert him to Catholicism. A MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE BY FLORENCE NAFICI-MIREMADI I was born Muslim as my father is from a Muslim family. However, my mother is from a Catholic family, so I had the chance to witness the practice of both religions and cultures whilst growing up in Iran. When I was young I was surprised at how much Iranians admired the Virgin Mary and Jesus and I felt spiritually very close to the Catholics I knew. Some of my friends from Muslim families were attending the Catholic school in Tehran and that wasn’t considered strange at all at the time. I learnt later that the Bible was part of the Holy Books in Islam and that a Muslim isn’t one unless he accepts Jesus as a prophet who has the spirit of God. I understood that it was important in both religions to practise tolerance. When we first visited Worth School I was so pleased to hear the Head Master saying that the school is as much about finding out who you are as succeeding academically. I was attracted by the fact that even
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in a Catholic school pupils could be from another faith or without any faith. I believe it is vital to be allowed to grow up where the important values of life are taught as part of a community and to be surrounded by people who believe in these values and who can lead by good example. It is also important that pupils are given the freedom and time to find their own way.
a Benedictine Abbey. The fundamental, key aims of the school are based on Benedictine values and traditions, allowing students to aim to fulfil their potential within a community environment. The school promotes a way of life founded on the values which we hold, the teaching and practice of Christian love which are lived out in daily life.
A ROMAN CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE BY BREEGE BRADY When my daughter reached Year 6 at her Catholic primary school, there was no doubt about where she would be starting Year 7. Worth, for us, was an obvious choice. Girls had entered the Sixth Form for the first time in 2008 and my daughter would be in the first intake of girls in Year 7 in 2010.
When we attended an Open Day we met students who displayed a passion and eagerness to learn; and tutors who exhibited a desire for teaching. This only served to re-enforce our decision and we were confident that our daughter was attending not only an excellent academic institution but one based on faith and the teachings of Christ.
What attracted Owen and I, apart from the smaller class sizes, was knowing the school was attached to
‘Article reproduced with permission from Identity magazine’ (which is another Worth publication).
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MUSICAL NOTES FREYA BARKER continues to highlight the remarkable musical talent that Worth School is nurturing.
concert which is a great credit to her as the age range rises to 19.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Freya had won a place in the main orchestra of the National Children’s Orchestra (NCO), playing the violin. About 1,200 children had auditioned for places in one of the six age-banded orchestras and only about 500 were selected. This summer Freya, a prodigiously talented musician who is now in Year 10, has been away with the National Schools Symphony Orchestra (NSSO) and the National Children’s Orchestra (NCO). At the beginning of July, she spent eight days at Malvern College with the NSSO under the guidance of wonderful sectional tutors and Richard Dickens as conductor. The repertoire included Overture La forza del destino – Verdi; Capriccio Italien Op 45 – Tchaikovsky; Intermezzo Sinfonico from Cavalleria Rusticana – Mascagni; and Pines of Rome - Respighi. The week concluded with a concert at Malvern Theatre, where Freya led the second half of the
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After four days back home with her family, she went to Rossall School in Fleetwood near Blackpool for her National Children’s Orchestra (NCO) summer course. Again, she had superb sectional tutors under the guidance of conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa and spent about eight hours every day rehearsing. The week finished with a spectacular concert at Preston Guild Hall on Saturday 30th July with the programme of: Symphony No. 5 – Prokofiev; Overture to Candide – Bernstein; Pictures at an Exhibition – Mussorgsky; and Conga del Fuego Nuevo - Márquez. Both courses gave Freya an opportunity to meet friends of like mind and interest. While exhausting, they provided her with some great experience and memories. Since then Freya has spent time preparing for her audition with the National Youth Orchestra. This is a first round audition and if it goes well she might be invited back for a second audition before finding out if she has been offered a place for the NYO in 2017.
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TAIZÉ REFLECTIONS IT IS a story of conflict, bravery, hope, tragedy, friendship and lasting unity. The history of the ecumenical community of Taizé in Burgundy, eastern France, is no ordinary tale. It was founded in 1940 by Brother Roger, who left his native Switzerland with a conviction to help people going through the ordeal of the Second World War. The small village of Taizé, where he settled, was close to the demarcation line dividing France in two and ideal for refugees fleeing the war. Soon the address at Taizé became known as a place of safety.
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where music and dancing is the flavour of the evening – multilingual.
In 1942 the Nazis occupied the house which Br Roger had bought and which the Taizé community was built from, meaning he had to leave until France was liberated. After the Second World War, this unique Christian community grew and grew to become one of the great pilgrimage centres of Europe. Tragedy struck, though, in 2005 when Br Roger, 90, was killed in a knife attack by a mentally ill woman. However, his legacy lives on and every year young people from around the world make the pilgrimage to Taizé, with as many as 6,000 there at one time in the height of summer. Among them this summer was a group from Worth School, comprising ten pupils, Br David Jarmy and three staff members.
“Friendship develops, deepening with those you have come with, but new friendships with people who only ever ask, “What is your name and where do you come from?” From that, friendships begin and grow. “Being made welcome is at the heart of all that is Taizé. You may wonder why there are onion domes – characteristic of Russian churches – fixed to the roof of the church? In the 1980s following the collapse of the Berlin wall thousands of young people began to find their way to Taizé from Russia and other eastern European countries. “How can we make them feel at home?“ Br Roger asked. So he asked local builders if they could construct these simple signs of welcome and they are now an established feature of the landscape.” The Worth School group also visited Paris during their trip, with Mass at Notre Dame, and did some sightseeing.
During their week-long stay, the group spent the mornings listening to introductions to scripture by one of the brothers and sharing their reflections in small international groups. Then the afternoons were a choice between workshops with visiting speakers or carrying out voluntary work, such as cleaning or washing up. There are also three prayer sessions a day at Taizé and silence is key to their way of life too. Those who went were enriched by the experience.
It was two years since Worth’s previous visit to Taizé but the school is hoping to arrange another visit in 2017.
Br David said: “It’s not all silence, prayer and work. After evening prayer everyone gravitates to OYAK, a café area where drinks and supplementary food can be bought at ridiculously cheap prices – deliberate so no one from developing countries are at a disadvantage. An amazing cosmopolitan gathering emerges and behind the café there is a barn area
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TAIZÉ FACTS // Brother Roger, who founded Taizé, was the youngest of nine children. He was born in Switzerland to a Swiss father and French mother. // Full name Roger Louis Schutz-Marsauche, he was greatly influenced by his grandmother’s tales of helping refugees during the First World War. // Following the Second World War, the monks received mainly orphans and former German prisoners into their community. // Pope John Paul II visited the Taizé community in 1986. In his address to young people, he described Taizé as a “spring of water”. // Brothers from Taizé have gone to live among the most oppressed and poorest people of the world. Today they work in Africa, Asia, North and South America. // In the community’s formative years, the monks set up a milk co-operative.
Ecumenism refers to efforts by Christians of different church traditions to develop closer relationships and better understandings.
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What is your background? I originate from Birmingham and have been passionate about sport all of my life. As a youngster I played football, rugby, cricket, golf, swimming and Judo. A genuine Jack of All Trades! This inspired me to become a PE teacher. I studied a B.Ed in PE at Liverpool John Moores University and played cricket, basketball, volleyball and Rugby League for the University.
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AMONG a number of new arrivals at Worth School for the new academic year was DAVID BURTON, who has taken over as Director of Sport. Here, Mr Burton tells us a bit more about his background, why he chose to come to Worth, the values he intends to instil and his visions for the future of sport at Worth.
Worth School Newsletter
After graduating I worked at Lawrence Sheriff Grammar School in Rugby, Warwickshire, where I continued to play a high level of club rugby and cricket. After nine years in Rugby my wife, Caroline, and I moved to Scotland as I took up the post of Director of Sport at Loretto School where we have been for the past 14 years, I have coached and played rugby and cricket at representative (district and county) level and coached 1st XV rugby, 1st XI cricket and 1st XII lacrosse. In recent years I have pursued my passion for golf as well as playing and coaching Division 1 cricket in Scotland. I also captain the Scotland XL (40 Club) cricket team. We have two children, Holly aged 11 and Daniel aged 8. Why did you choose to come to Worth? After 14 years in Scotland our plan was always to return to England (despite our staunchly Scottish children!). When the opportunity to come to Worth arose it was an extremely enticing prospect. Worth is a fantastic school with an ethos and values that align very well with my own. The setting is stunning and West Sussex seems a great place to live. With a new Head Master and many new staff (including lots in the sports department) it is a really exciting time to be at Worth and I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead sport forward and build on the excellent work of my predecessor, Henning Kaaber. What are the values that you will instil in the sports department? I want sport at Worth to firmly reflect the Benedictine values and believe sport provides an
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excellent platform for the practical application of them. I want the staff to demonstrate, instil and expect an attitude of excellence. That is pupils and staff always doing and being their very best. Servant leadership will be central to what we do, as will be sportsmanship, tolerance, commitment, loyalty, cooperation, resilience and endeavour. Do you agree there is something for everyone at Worth, it is just about finding what they enjoy? I want all pupils at Worth to have the opportunity to enjoy a broad range of sport and physical activity. There is a focus on the core sports for each term but we also offer variety through the games programme for older pupils and through PE for the younger ones. The extended co-curricular programme offers further opportunity for all pupils. The provision is designed to help us deliver the four main aims of the department: *P romote the Benedictine values through sport and physical activity. * E very Worth pupil participates in regular physical activity. * Every Worth pupil has the opportunity to represent the school at sport. * Every Worth pupil leaves school equipped to lead a healthy, active life. We are fortunate to have a fantastic team of highly qualified and vastly experienced teachers and coaches, including a number of ex-professional and international players, which means the provision we can offer will be second to none. What should every child be striving for, sporting wise? School is just part of a pupil’s life. Real success, for me, is not measured by the performance or participations statistics at school. These are excellent indicators that we are on the right track and important within the school context. However, it is pupils going on to be healthy and active for the rest of their lives that proves we have succeeded in the goal of educating them. For some that may
“ Pupils going on to be healthy and active for the rest of their lives that proves we have succeeded in the goal of educating them.” be becoming an Olympian or a professional sports person. For others it is simply that they found and enjoyed something at school, through the sports programme, that they engaged with and continue to do because they love it. Whilst at school I want pupils to strive to be the best they can be, to understand and demonstrate the importance of community, service and selflessness required in team sports and to make the most of every opportunity they can. What are your visions for the future at Worth? My vision is for Worth to continue to provide an outstanding education, based firmly on the Benedictine values, of which sport plays an integral part. Our sporting provision for pupils of all levels of skill and aspiration is first class and this includes human and physical resources. I want everyone that encounters Worth sport, be that as a participant, coach, opponent, visitor or parent, to leave with a positive impression of that encounter. I want all our teams to be very competitive on our circuit and hope we can help increasing numbers of pupils to be involved with sport at representative level. We will aim for a few national titles too! Tell us something we didn’t know about you? I walked the length of Hadrian’s Wall to raise money for Leukaemia Research. I also walked from Birmingham to London along the canal tow paths for the same charity. I play guitar and have played at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon Avon as well as in a number of bands over the years.
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Summer Term 2016
Good Sports
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WHILE HIS former team-mates were winning silver medals at the Rio Olympics, John Brake was channelling all his energies into preparing to make a vital contribution at Worth School. Mr Brake was not selected for Great Britain men’s rugby sevens squad, which was led to the final in Brazil by former Worth head boy Tom Mitchell.
“When you have just left the game to become a coach, I believe you can add a bit of professionalism. Ultimately, a new voice and fresh ideas can motivate players. That is what I hope to bring. I want to support the coaches already there and try to add something.”
A former England captain and an international for nine years, Mr Brake was in contention for a place in the squad for the Games but the 28-year-old did not make the final cut, not helped by a number of niggling injuries during the past year and the emergence of some fine young talent.
Another addition to the sports department at Worth in the summer was Kate Reynolds, a women’s premier league hockey player who will also be teaching biology.
However, that failed to wipe off the smile that has been on his face since being handed the chance to join an ever-improving team of sports coaches at Worth School.
IT IS A NEW CHALLENGE AT WORTH AND MY FIRST FULL-TIME COACHING ROLE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE OTHER RUGBY COACHES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF TOM RICHARDSON Mr Brake said: “It is a new challenge at Worth and my first full-time coaching role. I am looking forward to working with the other rugby coaches under the direction of Tom Richardson. “I want to help create a good culture and ethos and to get even more competitive. The young players have experience from last year and there is so much competition. It will be exciting. Whenever I speak to Tom (Mitchell) he looks back on his time playing rugby at Worth fondly and with pride.
Miss Reynolds has a strong hockey background. She was part of the British Colleges team for two years, the second as skipper. A midfielder, she played for Loughborough Students for three years while at university there and last season was part of the East Grinstead women’s first team who made their debut in Investec Women’s Premier, finishing an impressive fifth. Miss Reynolds also spent six months in 2015 playing hockey for a team in Perth, Australia.
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Summer Term 2016
COMMUNITY WORK FROM CLEARING out cat litter trays to cleaning up graveyards and beaches, Worth School students were busy giving something back to the community.
More than 200 pupils took part in the school’s first ‘Worth in the Community Day’, which formed part of ACE Week in July.
In addition, Worth School put on a drama production and a musical concert for residents in local care and nursing homes.
The students spent the day in organisations across Sussex ranging from local primary schools to animal welfare centres, including the Cats Protection League at Chelwood Gate and Raystede at Ringmer.
The idea of the day was to provide pupils with a greater insight into community issues and help groups. The initiative is part of the school’s wider curricular programme and sees boys and girls consolidating the volunteering activities in which they have been involved throughout the year.
They also carried out a range of activities including gardening for the elderly to litter picking on Brighton beach and around East Grinstead town centre as well as clearing Himalayan Balsam weed from green areas around Gatwick Airport. Some students spent time assisting in charity shops, while others had placements in schools including Turners Hill Primary School and City Academy Whitehawk.
Worth School Newsletter
Mr Julian Williams, director of the wider curriculum at Worth, said: “Our inaugural ‘Worth in the Community Day’ was a huge success and enjoyed greatly by all of our boys and girls. Treasured memories and some lasting bonds have been made and I am sure will pave the way for further local community service opportunities in the future”
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TREASURED MEMORIES AND SOME LASTING BONDS HAVE BEEN MADE
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Summer Term 2016
WORTH ABBEY’S decision to open its grounds for the first time on behalf of charity proved to be a huge success. More than 1,300 people took advantage of the opportunity to explore the 500acre site and learn more about the history of Worth on one of two National Gardens Scheme open days. The numbers exceeded expectations, as well as helping to raise more than £6,000 for NGS charities which include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Hospice UK. Visitors were able to enjoy the splendid views over mid-Sussex towards the South Downs and the iconic Grade 2 listed modern Abbey Church, as well as the small pinetum, extensive woodlands and monks’ Quiet Garden. They were given three routes around the grounds – a ‘highlights’ route, a woodland route and a route suitable for wheelchair users. Entry money went to the NGS – under-16s being allowed in free – while money raised from the sale of tea, coffee and cake went to Worth’s Outreach Peru charity, which supports a children’s home in Ayacucho as well as other valuable projects in the country.
Worth School Newsletter
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open SPACES
Summer Term 2016
The ‘routes’
Abbot Fr Luke said: “We were delighted to host this wonderful event and share with so many visitors our beautiful surroundings, which were at their best in the spring sunshine.”
Highlights route: This started in the main car park and went on to the Church, then down to Archway Lodge where a beekeeper was doing a display. The route continued down to the Quiet Garden, then up the hill to the terrace for tea in the Whitehead Room. It continued through the arboretum and the Alex Leaney Memorial Pond, then across the golf course before returning along the upper drive or picking up the woodland walk.
Route suitable for wheelchair users: This began in the Abbey Narthex, then westward along the upper drive and on to the main drive to the front quad for tea in the Whitehead Room.
Woodland route: This began in the woods by St Bede’s House and followed a track through the woods before returning on the north edge of the golf course, then along the upper drive to the car park.
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THE HILLS ARE A STAGE production earlier this year was not just a big hit but also served up a unique historical connection. Back in May, the school put on a performance of The Sound of Music, with packed audiences for each of the three nights. >
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Summer Term 2016
First premiered on Broadway in 1959, The Sound of Music is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Now for that historical link! The engineer Robert Whitehead, inventor of the Whitehead torpedo, lived at Worth during the 19th century. His granddaughter, Agathe Whitehead, was the first wife of Georg von Trapp and mother of the children who were looked after by Maria following her death. The show was produced by Mrs Joanna Gray and directed by Mrs Sarah Smith. The cast provided heart-warming performances in a production full of character and colour. One theatre goer said: “Huge congratulations on a terrific performance. I really enjoyed the entire show and think that the students were fabulous. The singing was amazing – Maria had me getting a little choked very early on. Great nuns, von Trapp children, brilliant Max and very subtle and emotional Baroness. The Baron was really wonderful and his smiles towards Maria were very touching.”
“A
terrific
PERFORMANCE”
Editorial Team Editors Gordon Pearce and Howard Griggs Design Hannah Condry and Reuben Wakeman, Mercer Design Photography Eaton & Woods, Tim Mercer and Howard Griggs
Worth School, Paddockhurst Road, Turners Hill, West Sussex RH10 4SD 01342 710200 admissions@worth.org.uk www.worthschool.org.uk Charity number: 1093914 Company registration number: 4476558 Worth School Newsletter
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