The 2019/2020 academic year has been an extraordinary one for everyone.
Having taken up post in September 2019, I was anticipating challenges and preparing to navigate them as I settled into my new role as the eleventh Headmistress of Wycombe Abbey. Despite two previous Headships, I am aware that leading one of the world’s foremost girls’ boarding schools is both a privilege and a responsibility.
The Autumn term was a whirlwind of activity from the very first weekend. It began with a spectacular funfair on the lawn and included an impressive Lower Sixth Communications Conference, joint with the Royal Grammar School High Wycombe, a Scholars’ Presentation evening and the Headmistress’s Picnic with the new Junior House girls. There were trips in the UK and further afield, including a French exchange to Saint-Dizier, a netball trip to Sun City in South Africa and ski racing in Flaine. Bonfire night was rained off due to torrential downpours, but was rescheduled. We enjoyed the annual Archer concert, the Carol Service and Seniors’ Day amongst a host of other events.
With the cancellation of GCSE and A Level examinations, teachers pulled together an impressive programme of enrichment and extension, giving the girls the opportunity to delve into new subjects or hear from staff about their areas of passion and expertise. We held a virtual Open Day for more than 1,000 prospective parents and pupils and bid farewell to the Clarence leavers via Zoom at the end of term.
At this time of national crisis, we offered our boarding Houses to key workers, donated lab coats and goggles and made visors for the NHS in our Design and Technology workshops. Resident staff came together, with the rest of the country, on Thursday evenings to show appreciation for those working on the front line. The School’s Pandemic Response Team was set up to make decisions and guide us through this unprecedented time, first closing the School and then reopening it. The first proving to be much more straightforward than the latter.
We held a virtual Open Day for more than 1,000 prospective parents and pupils and bid farewell to the Clarence leavers via Zoom at the end of term
A packed diary continued as we moved into the Spring term with a wonderful concert at St John’s Smith Square in London, Model United Nations conferences and the lacrosse Nationals - at which we were crowned champions.
All this happened alongside the usual timetable of lessons and preps, projects and tests until the reality of the pandemic hit and the country went into lockdown in March 2020. Our pupils scattered across the globe as they returned home and our beautiful School estate became eerily quiet without the girls and staff.
However, we adapted. Microsoft Teams became our new way of communicating as we moved the School online, sourcing laptops for all staff and teaching a full timetable across all year groups.
It has been an extraordinary year and one that has, in some ways, changed the way we work irrevocably. Despite being physically apart, the girls have continued to show their passion for a wide range of important issues including sustainability, diversity and adolescent mental health.
I have been incredibly proud of how the School community – girls, parents, staff and Seniors – have pulled together showing genuine resilience and determination. The Wycombe Abbey community is as strong as ever and we continue to provide a world-class education for our pupils.
I hope you will enjoy perusing the pages of this publication which are a wonderful showcase of all that has been achieved.
With best wishes
J o Duncan MA (St Andrews), PGCE (Cantab) Headmistress
This year has been justly termed ‘unprecedented’. Along with schools across the United Kingdom, Wycombe Abbey went into lockdown on 20 March 2020 upon the instruction of the UK government in order to contain the nationwide outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
All pupils were asked to adapt to online learning in a matter of weeks, and staff spent the Easter holidays assessing their subject areas and the possibilities of using new technology platforms to deliver lessons and study materials. Housemistresses explored ways to reach out to their girls, now scattered across the globe. The pupils adjusted admirably, and, despite the inevitable teething problems, teaching and learning successfully moved online for the Summer term.
This was only the beginning of a journey, however, as the next months revealed new uses of technology and stories of innovation and creativity as girls and staff not only adapted to the new environment, but found different interesting and exciting ways of connecting with their teachers and peers virtually. The Headmistress’s Big School address and Chapel Service was streamed online every week; School societies flourished, embracing new platforms to enhance their activities; high-profile speakers broadcast lectures in real-time across time zones.
This was a remarkable time during which the School’s values and sense of community were never more in evidence
This was a remarkable time during which the School’s values and sense of community were never more in evidence. We heard stories of pupils’ activities, raising money for charity and sewing face masks; Seniors sent in news of caring for others in their communities and of new charities initiatives to recognise those on the frontline in the fight against the pandemic; staff and former raised money for local organisations and gave up their free time to design and make protective equipment for NHS and other essential workers.
Throughout this year’s Gazette we honour these stories in special ‘Life in Lockdown’ features, which give a snapshot of how the Wycombe Abbey community have adapted to the challenges. We hope you enjoy reading about the School’s activities during this very unique year.
The Gazette Editorial Team
The Lancaster Scholarship: Hannah Lee (Wycombe Abbey)
The Wycombe Abbey Open Scholarship: Mia Guildford (Godstowe School)
The Crosthwaite Scholarship: Mia Ven (German Swiss International School)
The Johnston Yapp Scholarship: Hojung Kim (Wycombe Abbey)
Academic Exhibition: Emily Lu (Wycombe Abbey)
Academic Exhibition: Megan Kwok (German Swiss International School)
Music Scholarship: Taeyoun Kim (Godstowe Preparatory)
Music Exhibition: Megan Kwok (German Swiss International School)
The Barnes Scholarship: Jane Law (Diocesan Girls’ Junior School)
Academic Exhibition: Esme Bartlett (Bute House Preparatory School)
Academic Exhibition: Mia Shen (Abercorn School)
Music Scholarship: Emilia Di Vito (Garden House)
The Fisher Scholarship: Emily Wallace
The Flux Dundas Scholarship: Amelia Cutler
The Dr Seville Scholarship: Levmini Danwatte Kariyawasam
The Bathurst Scholarship: Catherine Larard
The Davies Scholarship: Amelia Weir
The Tang Award: Nicole Tung
Sixth Form Scholarship: Srija Ghosh
Sixth Form Music Scholarship
Music Scholarship: Roberta Han
Music Scholarship: Nicole Tung
Music Scholarship: Isabel Winter
The Wycombe Abbey Open Scholarship: Ahjung Kim (Wycombe Abbey)
The Dove Scholarship: Gwyneth Suen (Harrow International School, Hong Kong)
The Goodland Scholarship: Tia Bajpai (Wycombe Abbey)
The Walpole Scholarship: Emily Ying-Clifton (Wycombe Abbey)
Academic Exhibition: Astrid Miu (German Swiss International School, Hong Kong)
Music Scholarship: Gwyneth Suen (Harrow International School, Hong Kong)
Music Scholarship: Iris Canning-Jones (Godolphin and Latymer School)
The Wycombe Abbey Open Scholarship: Allegra Leathers (Kensington Preparatory School)
The Crosthwaite Scholarship: Matilde La Magna (Glendower Preparatory School)
The Barnes Scholarship: Clélia Antoine (Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School)
Academic Exhibition: Olga Maltzoff (The English International College)
Academic Exhibition: Freya Man (Danes Hill School)
Music Scholarship: Allegra Leathers (Kensington Preparatory School)
Music Scholarship: Catherine Li (St Helen’s College)
The Fisher Scholarship: Darvin Min
The Flux Dundas Scholarship: Sarah Dauris
The Dr Seville Scholarship: Melissa Riley
The Bathurst Scholarship: Clara Canning-Jones
The Davies Scholarship: Emmanuella Etuokwu
The Tang Award: Wing Lam Wong
Sixth Form Music Scholarship
Music Scholarship: Katie Foreman
Music Scholarship: Melissa Riley Music Scholarship: Ellani Visavadia
Head of School S arah Dauris
Deputy Heads of School K atie Foreman and Ella Gurney
Airlie A lyssa Conradie Pitt U ma Horder Barry L ily Fearnhead Reubens A lice Lloyd
Butler Cordelia Lamming S helburne S ofia Harris Roqueta Campbell Diana Reed Wendover C arys Ward Cloister A nna McFadzean
Chairmen of Clarence I sabel Jemide and Isabel Sobowale
School Prefects School Sports Captain D aisy May
Charity Prefects Vasilisa Adukonite and Nat Naothaworn
Music Prefect Cl ara Canning-Jones
Drama Prefect L ily Sandeberg
School Artist J io Ryu School Almoners Reni Fasinro and Edith Oborne
Junior House Prefects Chloe Davis, Charlotte Defriez, Alisah Desai-Kinvig and Alice Newton
IV Form Prefects P hoebe Fox, Kathleen Lai and Audrey Miu
V Form Prefects Charlotte Gowers, Maya Mukherjee and Hilary Tang
Lower VI Form Prefects M orenike Majekodunmi and Catrina Yang
Heads of Orchestra
A lexandra Day and Ellani Visavadia School Pianist Cl ara Canning-Jones
Head of Choir C ate Nicholson
MUN Officer I sabel Sobowale
Global Opportunities Officer M yffy Brown and Michaela Levy
Debating Officers Chloe Davis and Skye Wong
Digital Officers M aria Roma-Wilson and Wing Lam Wong
Poet Laureate Pippa Conlon
Sustainability Officers E mily Harden and Phoebe Warren
School Librarians M ani Etuokwu and Izzy Okhuijsen
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme Officers Weijie Chiam and Philippa Stokes
School Photographers H anna Chan and Nethmi Tikiribandara
Wellbeing Officers Charlotte Ryan and Georgiana Tinker
Wycombe was named among the finalists in the Independent Schools of the Year 2020 awards, appearing in the final five in the Best Girls’ School category.
This well-regarded awards scheme, run by the Independent School Parent portfolio of magazines, celebrates the success stories of schools and their students across the independent education sector in the UK and British schools overseas. Showcasing the excellence of the educational experience available to students of all backgrounds, these awards recognise and applaud the varied and imaginative ways in which independent schools prepare young people for their future lives.
Headmistress, Mrs Jo Duncan, said “I am delighted that Wycombe Abbey has been named by the judges as a Finalist in the Best Girls’ School category. I am extremely proud of all our staff and pupils, for their hard work and adaptability during this extraordinary year. We are proud to be standing alongside other girls’ schools of high calibre in this category and my congratulations go to all the finalists.”
In March, Wycombe Abbey were delighted to be named Top Girls’ Boarding School and presented with a crystal award by Best-schools.co.uk. Les Webb, Managing Director of Education Advisers Ltd. said “Wycombe Abbey have been at the top of our girls league tables since we started them in 2006 and that consistency demonstrates just how excellent their teaching is.”
In March, our 1st team were crowned National Lacrosse Champions. Miss Smith describes the journey to the final:
The preparation and build-up towards Nationals were tough and after being so close to winning the previous year, the girls knew if they performed on the day, we had a chance. The team demonstrated moments of brilliance throughout the year which motivated them as we edged closer to National Schools. I cannot describe how much hard work the girls put in including the wet training sessions on Monday evenings and Thursdays. They were all competitive and driven, pushing each other every week proving that all their hard work paid off.
With a delayed start to the Nationals Schools due to the weather, we came back to School on the Saturday for a training session, knowing we were more than likely going to be playing in the last 16 on Sunday. We had to stay focused. Training and lunch done, with a bit of downtime for the team, we headed back to Aldershot to stay in the Premier Inn. The team were excited, and usually, after a day of playing, sleep is all that the girls wanted to do, but adrenaline was already flowing and instead, all they wanted to do was play. After an early start on Sunday, we finished second in the group, winning three and losing one.
We were through to the play-offs against St Helen and St Katharine. This was a competitive but tough game in what looked like a mud bath; our speed and fitness helped us towards victory.
Our quarter final was against Guildford High School, whom we had not played all season. We knew it was not going to be easy, but it was the best lacrosse I saw the
in the final. I cannot describe the hard work, grit and determination I saw from every single player, it was exceptional. The girls were evenly matched all game and it came down to a one-step shot, which Emily (UVI) saved, putting us through to the final against Benenden. We had to stay composed but tears and excitement had already hit.
My final words to the team were “you have been outstanding all day, I want you to go out and enjoy yourselves, just play lacrosse, there is nothing different and if you do, the result will come.”
1st team were crowned National Champions
team play all year; they dominated on the field winning 4-0. Now their nerves and adrenaline were high. The Clarence girls knew they were one step closer than last year and we were up against St Catherine’s School, Bramley. I told the girls to focus on only this game. Knowing that Benenden had beaten Berkhamsted School kept the girls driven, aware of their opponent waiting
We went 1- 0 up in the first minute! Composure was a must and there was no time for complacency on or off the pitch. The team believed in themselves and gave everything they could in attack, midfield and defence - we were crowned National School Champions 2020! I can still vividly remember the nail-biting moment when the final whistle blew and the Wycombe Abbey 1st team were crowned National Champions. Elation, tears and jumping for joy from both players, parents and staff will be a vision I will always treasure as a coach.
Miss R Smith Head of LacrosseI can still vividly remember the nail-biting moment when the final whistle blew and the Wycombe Abbey
At Wycombe Abbey we want our pupils to do more than just live and study at School. We want them to flourish. Our Flourishing@Wycombe programme is the way we encourage proactive pastoral care and develop positive mindsets and characteristics within our community. Based upon the work of leading positive psychologists, the 2019/2020 year followed two major themes: Resilience and Gratitude. Our flourishing guidebooks gave pupils the scientific background to these important character traits and we conducted tutor activities such as ‘gratitude ninjas’ and ‘secret angels’ which allowed our community to put them into practice.
Pupils have had the opportunity to hear from some excellent speakers about these themes. Jacqui Cox and Pamela Cottman both visited the School to speak with different year groups about how they can develop resilience. Miss Blunt delivered inspiring Big School addresses, encouraging pupils to show their gratitude to someone who had been there to support them. We will all remember the look on Rev Penny’s face when she was given Miss Blunt’s thank you bouquet.
Mr J Jones Deputy Head (Pupils)The Carrington Award was developed at Wycombe Abbey to help girls achieve not only academic excellence, but to also prepare pupils for the broader challenges of life and work beyond School. Wycombe Abbey’s founder, Dame Frances Dove, had the vision that education was more than classroom teaching – that Wycombe Abbey should equip girls to take leading roles in professional life. The Carrington Award Programme aims to give pupils a range of skills and knowledge needed to survive and thrive in the real world. Drawing from the latest theories and research, alongside the contributions of university academics and business leaders, the programme ensures the development of skills required to excel at university and in future careers. The programme develops skills across four ribbons:
• Leadership, responsibility and global thinking
• Confidence and self-reliance
• Creativity and vision
• Critical thinking and intellectual curiosity
The Carrington Award Programme is taught through a mixture of small classes and
lectures by external experts over four periods per week throughout the Sixth Form. Teaching methods emphasise small group discussion and debate which are central features of learning at university. The weekly lessons provide a theoretical perspective, but many of the ribbon skills are best developed through practical application.
crossing a “piranha-infested” river with barrels and planks.
The Communications Conference r equires pupils to run a company communications team in the midst of a public relations crisis, working under time pressure to draft press releases, engage w ith social media and be interviewed on television news by professional b roadcasters.
The Academic Forum asks participants to explore the discipline they hope to s tudy at university, exploring some of the most current debates in academic t hinking and research.
Opportunities are provided to work with pupils from other local schools, and the following events are included as part of t he programme:
Management Conference is a two-day business simulation, which is designed to simulate d ecision-making processes adopted by business owners.
The Leadership Summit introduces the challenges of leadership and gives every pupil the opportunity to lead their team in a practical leadership task. These include planning a response to a forest fire and
Pupils also have the exciting chance to pursue an intellectual passion outside of the confines of exam specifications. All pupils complete an independent, u niversity-level study of around 5000 words, either in the form of the Extended Project Qualification or the University Pr eparation Pr oject.
The Carrington Award has been designed to match the high ambitions of Wycombe A bbey girls, building skills required not only for the Sixth Form, but for the next s tep to university and professional life.
Giving girls the skills and knowledge to survive and thrive in the real world
The Wycombe Abbey community extends beyond pupils and staff and we always enjoy the opportunity to welcome parents to the School. Our Parenting the Teenager series is one part of this relationship. Now in its third year, these talks recognise the complex lives of 21st century teenagers and provide parents
with the opportunity to listen to speakers from both within the school community and outside experts.
This year, parents took part in an insightful workshop on how to develop resilience in teenagers delivered by Pam Cottman. A former teacher herself and an executive coach, Pam has extensive experience working with young people and leaders
in a wide range of settings. She helped parents explore the challenges facing teenagers as they develop their confidence, how they can discover the values that matter to them the most and how these can guide them in their actions.
Mr J Jones Deputy Head (Pupils)The Wellbeing Programme brings together the science of Positive Psychology with an understanding of negative human experience and emotion. This model provides the girls in our care with the building blocks to flourish, and develops the wisdom to know how and when to seek support and help others when needed.
The content of the programme is developed around the research of Dr Martin Seligman. We focus on the specific skills that enable students to strengthen their relationships, build positive emotions, enhance personal resilience, promote mindfulness and encourage a healthy lifestyle. Through teaching these valuable life skills, we provide our girls with an increased capacity to learn effectively, offering them a strong foundation on which they can build a successful life.
However, the department truly believes that one cannot simply focus on the good side of human existence. We must also embrace and learn from the power of negative emotions too. The department has a healthy balance in teaching girls that uncomfortable emotions are useful in creating fulfilling lives. Positivity and mindfulness can only take us so far. To live to the full, we aim to create ‘emotional
agility’ in our pupils, allowing them to access and take control of their full range of emotions.
The programme also covers the traditional PSHCE elements of the girls’ curriculum. We develop the knowledge, skills and understanding that all young people need in order to play a full part in society as active and responsible citizens.
The Wellbeing Programme remains at the very heart of the Wycombe Abbey curriculum. Pupils from Upper Three to Lower Fifth receive weekly lessons. The Upper Fifth Wellbeing sessions are delivered in General Studies and Sixth Form pupils receive their Wellbeing education through the Carrington Award programme. This ensures that all girls, no matter their age or stage of learning have access to the core messages of the department.
The staff’s work is supported by the Wellbeing officers, Georgiana and Charlotte (LVI) who bring a special enthusiasm and much-needed girls’ perspective to the challenges that our pupils are facing.
Miss S Blunt Head of WellbeingThe department has a healthy balance in teaching girls that uncomfortable emotions are useful in creating fulfilling lives
The School’s Model United Nations (MUN) programme has enjoyed another year of extraordinary successes, winning top prizes at competitions in the UK and abroad. The MUN team is now the largest of its kind in the country, with more than 150 girls taking part. Our annual WASAMUN conference and a trip to the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York were the highlights of the year.
MUN aims to build an understanding of current global challenges amongst the next generation of world leaders and thinkers while developing the intercultural and leadership skills that young people require to work and live in a globalised world. Participants take on the role of diplomats and political leaders, debating global issues in simulations of international diplomatic forums. The girls research, develop and promote their solutions to pressing world problems, negotiating for support for their ideas with other young people from across the world.
The second weekend in November was a record for MUN competing, with 65 girls on the road taking part in both the Oxford Global MUN and Christ’s Hospital MUN conferences. Beginners were able to have their first taste of MUN at Christ’s Hospital,
discussing a varied agenda including the political situation in Hong Kong, the rights of indigenous peoples, antibiotic resistance and the right to privacy. The day included lots of Christ’s Hospital treats such as watching the whole school march into lunch accompanied by their marching band! The day ended with a candlelit black-tie dinner and prize-giving. Félicité and Chloe (UV) were awarded prizes as the best delegates in their committees, Rosie (LV) received the best younger delegate award and Cate (LVI) received the award for best conference speech.
The three-day Oxford Global MUN was held at Oxford University, with the debate taking place in iconic locations including the Sheldonian Theatre and Oxford Union. Amongst the international forums recreated were UNESCO, the UN Security Council and the General Assembly’s Legal Committee. The team was again presented with an assortment of prizes during the event’s closing ceremony, with Mani (LVI) winning the Best Delegate Award, and Vanessa (UV) and Izzy (LVI) winning Outstanding Delegate Awards.
While many members of the team were in
Kingswood School. Amongst the global challenges the pupils discussed were political instability in the Sahel region, global trade practices, poaching of endangered wildlife and freedom of the press. The girls won an astonishing range of awards for their contributions to the debate. Phoebe (UV) won the prize for Best Junior Delegate across the whole conference, while Funto (LV), Amelia and Alisha (UV) won the Best Junior Delegate awards in their committees. Philippa (LVI) won best Senior Delegate in her committee, and Alyssa, Megan and Alice (UV) also received Highly Commended Awards.
The girls also provided a demonstration debate for our CPD conference. The annual event is designed to train teachers from other schools on how to establish and manage their MUN programmes. Over 50 teachers attended the event, with participants from as far away as France, Gibraltar, Ireland, Spain and the United States.
Dr A Goddard Director of Co-Curricular Activities
Career planning took centre stage for the Upper Fifth at the very start of the academic year, with the whole year group taking the Morrisby online assessment. Girls received personalised career suggestions and post-18 education programmes which matched their aptitudes and interests. Senior, Jess Haworth (C234), who now runs her own company, Break the 4th Wall, led a highly interactive workshop on how to make a positive first impression. This was extremely well-received. Later in the term, each Upper Fifth pupil benefited from a one-to-one meeting with a careers adviser allowing her to follow up on the assessment and to seek independent advice.
The Careers Seminar in November, a long-standing Wycombe Abbey tradition, was a great success featuring 22 speakers from a wide range of industries: a film producer, a travel entrepreneur, an interior designer, and an aero-systems engineer. We are fortunate that so many Seniors, as well as parents, support this event. Providing access to professionals who can share their experiences is the essence of our programme. This access allows girls to find out more about careers they are
considering and expand their options. When I meet Seniors who left Wycombe Abbey many years ago, they often ask whether careers advice now includes guidance on paths beyond the more traditional professions of medicine, law and banking. Whilst we still actively support girls who aspire to careers in ‘traditional’ areas, we can confidently say that we
The department has again supported girls to find their own work experience placements and has also assisted where this has not been possible. This year, we have grown the number of placements we can offer at local care homes, schools and kennels to support those pupils planning to apply for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at university and for whom work experience is so vital. Sadly, due to the pandemic, work experience placements for the Easter and Summer breaks could no longer go ahead.
always aim to include a diverse range of speakers and are keen to broaden rather than narrow pupils’ options.
A number of our Sixth Form pupils also took up the opportunity to attend the annual Women of the Future Ambassadors’ Reception, where they heard from some inspiring speakers and were able to network with many successful female entrepreneurs.
We responded to the disruption to our planned careers events by making the most of online alternatives with talks and webinars on a range of different careers. We look forward to a time when pupils can again meet with professionals face-to-face.
If you would like to contribute to our careers programme in the future, do please get in touch with me at kilna@wycombeabbey.com
Mrs A Kiln Head of Economics and EnterpriseProviding access to professionals who can share their experiences is the essence of our programme
Wycombe Abbey temporarily closed its doors on Friday 20 March 2020 in accordance with instructions from the UK Government, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. During this extraordinary period, members of the School community demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness as they adjusted to a new way of being.
Members from across the broad Wycombe Abbey community jumped into action to volunteer their time and skills to help the community. Our Catering Manager wanted to find a way to use the fresh food which had been left in the kitchens due to the unforeseen closure of School. Neither the local food bank or School’s chosen charity, Wycombe Homeless Connection, were able to take fresh food due to the lack of appropriate storage. Wycombe Abbey staff instead stepped in and offered to take vegetables, salad, fruit and a host of other items in exchange for a donation to Wycombe Homeless Connection. The stock went quickly and within a matter of a few days, an incredible £1487 had been donated.
Director of Science and STEM, Mrs Buxton, led the way in coordinating the production of a large amount of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for NHS staff
at local hospitals at the beginning f the pandemic, protective equipment for key workers was in short supply. Mrs Buxton created a prototype visor for approval for use by hospitals and sourced as much PPE as Wycombe Abbey could offer.
and an initial batch of 30 face masks were donated across the local area.
The stock went quickly and within a matter of a few days, an incredible £1487 had been donated
The result of Mrs Buxton’s team’s efforts benefitted staff across Frimley Park, Wycombe General Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Mrs Buxton estimated that 200 pairs of goggles, 150 lab coats, 6 prototype face masks
An article in the Wycombe Abbey news bulletin alerted a parent to Wycombe Abbey’s production of visors for local hospitals who contacted the school for protective face masks and visors for Marie Curie workers. Within a week, School was in touch with Marie Curie’s Director of Strategy and Impact who coordinates PPE for Marie Curie staff, and we were able to send 45 prototype visors for testing. Over 150 visors were produced by a team of Wycombe Abbey staff, former staff and volunteers, and delivered for use. Thank you to Stephen Quigley and his team for their help with many deliveries of PPE.
We are proud of the fantastic efforts of Wycombe Abbey staff and former staff who came together to support our front line and key workers at this extraordinary time.
As Head of School, I am honoured to have been part of a team that was passionate and driven, aiming to make positive changes throughout the School, and listened to the voice of the pupils. Our mission this academic year focused on sustainability and wellbeing, alongside our traditional charitable activity.
Sustainability is a key concern for the girls at Wycombe Abbey. Our greatest achievement was the removal of all disposable cups from The Courtyard to cut down on single-use plastic. The School provided each girl with a reusable cup, encouraging sustainable practices and helping to reduce our carbon footprint. We worked alongside the Sustainability Society to track our recycling and promote recycling across the School. Our achievements are reflective of the positive action Wycombe Abbey is taking towards sustainability and we look forward to
seeing an increased awareness amongst pupils over the next few years.
We are proud to have participated in discussions around mental health and
forward to seeing further ideas implemented in the near future.
This year we chose to support Mary’s Meals, an international charity which provides school meals for some of the world’s poorest children, giving them the energy and opportunity to learn. Through bake sales and raffles, the Prefect Team raised an impressive £1000. Thank you to all the pupils and staff who contributed.
Wellbeing at Wycombe Abbey. We revisited the counselling system and launched the Listening Room, encouraging girls to talk about the challenges they face with peer listeners and Staff. We look
I feel honoured to have been Head of School and to have worked with Phoebe and Jasmine (UVI) and the Prefect Team throughout the year, promoting the voice of the pupils. We are fortunate to be a part of a community that is so caring, ambitious and passionate about what we can achieve collectively.
Charlotte Head of School 2019/2020
We worked alongside the Sustainability Society to track our recycling and promote recycling across the School
In June this year, the Computer Science Society hosted their first Remote Hackathon. We were delighted to see many girls from a range of year groups attending, each with their own set of skills and ideas for the challenge. The chosen challenge was themed around the topic of ‘Arcade Games’, where participants were asked to code in one hour a program on any coding platform of their choice. Many attendees were able to join a live coding session on Zoom, where the Society could actively help them and see their pieces develop as they worked on their games.
The Entries were very difficult to judge, as each individual participant or team worked efficiently and creatively, producing high quality results. Above are images of the winning entries.
The winning game, made using JavaScript in p5.js, was coded by Madeline and Erica (UV). The program, called ‘Pong’, virtually recreated the sport of table tennis, using object orientated code to create the paddles and ball. The aim of the game was to bounce the ball back and forth without missing the paddles. This was the only multiplayer game entered into the Hackathon! The code was detailed and very creative, and the Society especially loved how the grid rainbow in the background followed the movements of the ball.
Our other winner in joint first place, also made in p5.js using JavaScript, was made by Wietske (UVI). The code generated a
rainbow colour gradient, and users were challenged to hover their mouse over the incorrect colour in the gradient to earn points under time-pressure. The Society loved the originality of the project, and the complexity of the code that built it. The game was unique and utilised many different program structures.
Another placing piece of code was made by Vanessa (UV), Semal (UV), and Alisha (UIV) and is called ‘Stan the Man’. Made using Pygame in Python, the user plays as the titular character, Stan, and aims to collect as many coins as possible whilst avoiding the multitudes of aliens who come their way. What the Society particularly loved about this game was the use of functions, and the complexity of the code, and the different costumes applied to Stan when going in different directions was a very nice touch.
A further placing piece of code was made by Hojung, Emily, Chloe, Ashley and
Wania (UIV). The game was based on traditional arcade platformers, where the aim was to progress through each level whilst collecting coins which floated in the air, requiring the user to jump from block to block. The physics of the game was wonderful, and the movements were very smooth, which made it a very enjoyable play.
Before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Computer Science Society had not been expecting to set up the Remote Hackathon, but we found it a profoundly valuable and enjoyable experience, and we hope that the participants enjoyed it just as much as we did! Many thanks to everyone who was involved, and we hope to see everyone in the future for more hackathons, in person!
Mr A Porter Head of Computer Science
Over the Christmas holiday, I spent a few weeks producing a short video for the SPoKE art documentary competition. My film took ‘Remembering’ by the revolutionary and controversial artist, Weiwei as its subject. The highly unusual work was formed using nine thousand coloured backpacks displayed on the façade of a building; the backpacks spelled out the phrase “She had been living happily for seven years.” This is a quotation from a grieving mother after the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which caused thousands of children to die or disappear. The government were reluctant to release details of the victims due to strict censorship rules, causing AI to take matters into his own hands by making this work.
The experience of creating my video response was very interesting. Not only did I learn a lot about the significance of the work and the artist, but I also discovered much about the technique of making a short film. Overall, I was extremely happy with my final video, and very excited when I was informed that it had been shortlisted. After attending the awards ceremony, I was delighted to be awarded third place, and very grateful to have taken part in such an exciting and valuable experience.
Jessica LVIOverall, I was extremely happy with my final video, and very excited when I was informed that it had been shortlisted
The National Cyber Security Centre runs a competition every year aiming to encourage girls into pursuing a career in the cyber security industry. The Computer Science department at Wycombe Abbey is a great supporter of this initiative and cyber security is an important part of our curriculum. The competition seeks to stretch the lateral thinking and additional cyber knowledge of the teams who participate.
We were delighted that several Lower Fourth pupils established teams to enter the competition and one team is to be highly commended for getting through to the semi-finals. Congratulations to everyone involved.
Mr A Porter Head of Computer Science
The following girls completed the industryrecognised Leiths Introductory Certificate in Food and Wine. Pupils who embark on this course develop skills to a professional level, cooking three-course meals and exploring new dishes and wines from around the world. Congratulations to the following girls for completing the course.
Ife Adebajo
Lucy Harrow
Venetia Ng (Distinction)
Anna Rankin
Sophie Richardson
Polina Suchkova
Amelia Weir (Distinction and Book Prize)
Selma Winter
Each year, the Lower Sixth English Literature pupils read the shortlist of the Man Booker prize. They then give presentations inspired by their reading. Attached is the winning presentation, by Vasilisa (LVI) on Ellmann’s Ducks, Newburyport.
If you were to ask me to tell you the plot of ‘Ducks, Newburyport’, I would not be able to tell you a chilling story, full of mysteries and action, or even give a confident answer. This might seem like a characteristic of a ‘boring’ or ‘unmemorable’ book, however in the case of Lucy Ellmann’s work, it only, in my opinion, showcases her talent and proves her to be a revolutionary author. Writing a thousand pages using only around eight full stops is a nearly impossible task and to put things into perspective, only in this introduction, I have already used four sentences: half of the number Ellmann managed to use to give her story a compulsive momentum. However, just to give a brief insight into the novel, the book is the thought process of an unnamed middle-aged woman, living in Ohio with her husband and four children. Previously working as a teacher, she had to quit due to being diagnosed with cancer and now, having already recovered, spends her days cooking and taking care of the household.
The novel’s structure plays a huge part in making it one of the most fascinating books I have ever encountered. ‘Ducks, Newburyport’ consists of eight sentences, some over 100 pages long and filled with the phrase ‘the fact that’, along with
intervals, which tell a story of a lioness and her cubs that mimics the mood and events in the narrator’s life. The long sentences might seem like a burden to read, however, Ellmann so accurately mirrors the human thought process, similar to Joyce in ‘Ulysses’, that the reader gets completely immersed in the novel, which is a representation of the narrator’s mind. We unite with the speaker, sharing her worries and reliving her memories. The absence of full stops creates a chaotic feel, similar to the one of a busy mind of
In conclusion, the fact that ‘Ducks, Newbury Port’ is unlike anything I have ever read before
peace of mind, absent in most of the novel, putting things into perspective as the narrator’s worries seem mostly insignificant. This leads me to think that there is a certain moral to the novel –it teaches us a lesson about ourselves.
a cancer survivor, forced to stay at home. These include current political and environmental issues and the narrator’s opinions on them; discussions of movies; criticism of family members (who are never formally introduced) and the humming of songs in italics. All of these are symbolic of the way our society is burdened by the modern world and the way we are automatically assigned the role of ‘sitting ducks’, as we hear about natural disasters, global warming or terrorist attacks. This mayhem is beautifully contrasted by the animalistic primitivism
In conclusion, the fact that ‘Ducks, Newbury Port’ is unlike anything I have ever read before, the fact that the consistent rhythm created by Ellman is so easy to follow, the fact that ever since having finished the book, I miss being in the narrator’s mind, the fact that it presents you with occasionally controversial opinions on current debates, the fact that it emphasises the fact that we are all human, makes the book an absolute must-read that should be considered a work of art, rather than simply a book.
Vasilisa LVIThroughout the Summer term, all of our girls experienced a period of change and disruption to the normal rhythm of their lives. The resilient nature of pupils allowed them to remain positive throughout the pandemic, displaying their caring and altruistic approach to hard work supporting their communities.
Pupils used their creativity to come up with interesting ways to help their communities. Rose (LVI) dropped her CV into local pharmacies and offered to help voluntarily. From March onward, Rose delivered and collected medication and prescriptions on her bike and delivered them around her local neighbourhood. Isha (LVI) spent her lockdown helping with “Feed the Workers”, a charity who provided meals for NHS workers. Toluwase (UV) hand-sewed masks out of cotton sourced in Nigeria and donated them to charities and communities. Ellie (UIV) set up a bereavement website for people to pay tribute to their loved ones and support others throughout the pandemic.
Genevieve and Neda (UIII) used their musical talents to keep their community smiling. Genevieve played the ‘cello in a virtual quartet as part of the ‘Ode to Joy-a-thon’, organised by the National Youth Orchestra, to say thank you to the NHS playing outside to elderly and other
neighbours in isolation. Neda helped the younger generation, playing songs online for the nursery where her mother works and filmed their online lessons.
prevented from attending school due to poverty and the outbreak of Covid-19. Maddie rallied over 75 people on four continents from ages eight to 18 to help with her initiative and raised an incredible £1518.
From March, Rose delivered and collected medication and prescriptions on her bike and delivered them around her local neighbourhood
Maddie (UV) launched a charity drive via Instagram and rallied as many people as possible to cover over 10,200 kilometres, the distance from London to Boston, between 13 April and 12 May to raise money for TheirWorld.org. TheirWorld.org helped the 1.5 billion children around the world who are
In May, Ahana (LIV) took part in a 21k triathlon with her brother. They swam, cycled and ran in the Dubai heat. Ahana was inspired to help when she read HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s initiative to ensure ‘No one will starve in the UAE’ on the front cover of the Gulf New. They raised 36,457.04AED (£7788) for 10 Million Meals who provide food assistance to disadvantaged families and individuals in the UAE. Their donation equated to 4557 meals provided by the charity.
We are immensely proud of the efforts of all our pupils in helping others throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Over 1300 people attended this year’s Bonfire Night to visit stalls, sample street food, gather around the bonfire and watch a spectacular fireworks display. For the first time, the event was held over the course of two nights, due to bad weather postponing the weekend fireworks.
Each House ran a charity stall in Big School, including a photo booth, pamper and nail bar, a tombola bottle stall, cup pong, Indian jewellery, baked goods and second-hand clothes. Over £2500 was raised for the Melanesian Mission charity appeal.
As is traditional, every Boarding House designed and constructed a Guy for the bonfire in their house colours. Entries included huge papier-mâché models with 3rd place for Nemo the fish (Butler), 2nd place for Postman Pat and his van (Wendover) and the winning entry of several blue Mr Men characters from Shelburne.
Dr A Goddard Director of Co-Curricular Activities
Our sixth annual Mental Health Awareness Week focused on educating the School community on a vast range of different mental health illnesses. We learnt how we can look after ourselves and each other in our mental health journeys. The bulk of learning took place in daily Mental Health awareness newsletters, wellbeing lessons and a fun range of different activities.
15 girls were selected to take place in our first laughter yoga workshop. This saw the youngest of our school community work alongside the oldest, learning about the benefits of laughter and how physical exercise can positively impact our mental health. It was really special to see the Upper Third stand next to the Upper Sixth, playing games and feeling comfortable enough to be silly in front of one another. I am always blown away by the confidence and kindness within our pupil body.
The girls also set themselves mental health challenges, something that they could try or make more time for to help protect their mental health. We raised the roof of Chapel with a feel-good whole school singing. Girls and staff also came together to write letters of gratitude to each other and learnt how powerful and important it is to say thank you. Fisher Library was also set up for the week as a spot for girls to relax in, play games, drink hot chocolate or complete a jigsaw puzzle together.
On the last day, the Art department ran The Big Draw, a fitting finale for a fabulous week. This event encouraged girls to take part, enjoy and consider the therapeutic aspects of drawing.
Inspired by Art and Text, Music, Foreign Language, Objects and Butterflies, pupils were invited to experiment and explore creatively on a large scale. Girls responded enthusiastically and worked kneeling and lying down with shoes off, collaborating, working as individuals and working from observation. All year groups embraced the project and made it their own. The outcomes of this project can be seen displayed around the school.
As ever, Wycombe Abbey remains committed to educating the whole school community in the issues that surround mental health. It will always be a place in which all of us can find the support that we may need with no judgement or shame. We are excited for 2021 Mental Health Awareness Week already!
M iss S Blunt Head of Wellbeing
On the first weekend of the new academic year, a fun fair was hosted on the School grounds, kick-starting the weekend activities programme in style.
An array of thrilling rides whooshed, spun and threw excited girls through the air at the fun fair; a helter-skelter provided enjoyment for those seeking less adrenaline, while the girls from the Upper Third were treated to donkey rides in the School grounds. Popcorn, ice cream and candyfloss were among the treats on offer. This event is a fantastic way for new pupils to make friends and settle in, providing entertainment for both pupils and staff.
Dr A Goddard Director of Co-Curricular ActivitiesAn array of thrilling rides whooshed, spun and threw excited girls through the air at the fun fair
Reading Week is an annual event that provides an opportunity for pupils to direct their attention solely to reading, whether that be academic, non-fiction, or merely a chick flick. With the absence of prep, girls are encouraged to use their free periods to read. Alongside this, there are other activities which encourage further discussion and interest into the world of reading, such as the annual Poetry Declamation Competition and Classics Book Club, where we discussed Ursula Le Guin’s novel Lavinia and its portrayal of female agency, among other things.
We held a Junior Book Club on the topic of The Firework Maker’s Daughter by Philip Pullman and a Senior Book Club on Chinua Achebe’s brilliant Things Fall Apart, where we discussed the themes of tragedy and masculinity in the novel. We were also fortunate enough to hear Sufiya Ahmed speak about her book Secrets of the Henna Girl. With multiple displays around the school encouraging girls to delve into other books recommended by the different departments at Wycombe Abbey.
For many pupils, Reading Week is characterised by House Book Club in the evenings, where girls can unwind with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate as a community. Swapping book reviews and recommendations with friends is another highlight and perk. Reading Week is so important because it allows pupils to rediscover and reaffirm their love for reading, not just for its academic value but also its benefits to mental health. It is always a very highly anticipated event in our academic calendar, and just one of the ways we prioritise pupils’ wellbeing alongside academic achievement.
The School once again became a summit centre for a weekend in January to host WASAMUN, our annual political and international affairs conference. The three-day event simulated the debate of a range of political and diplomatic forums, this year included the United States Senate, the Arctic Council and the United Nations Security Council. This year’s conference was the largest yet, with over 250 young people from across the country taking part.
Amongst the pressing international problems debated were the impact of populism; the rights of women during armed conflict and post-conflict situations; and building resilience to climate-related hazards.
Simulating the United States Senate provided an exciting opportunity to recreate the debate of the upper house of the American legislature. Pupils researched and adopted the
positions of real Democratic and Republican senators, debating issues including the “Muslim travel ban”, funding for military operations against Iran, limiting presidential power in the imposition of tariffs and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The simulation was designed to complement many topics on the A-level Government & Politics specification.
Our version of the United Nations Security Council considered a crisis in Asia, engaging with some of the most pressing global threats and current scholarly debates in the field of security studies. The debate centred around the national sovereignty, the responsibility of states to protect their citizens from grave human rights abuse, and moral and legal questions regarding the use of force. The scenario was fast-paced and challenging, requiring delegates to build relationships, develop consensus and make decisions under time pressure. The simulation was run using Conductrr’s TeamXP:
This year’s conference was the largest yet, with over 250 young people from across the country taking part
specialist software used to train professionals in crisis management. We are very grateful to Mr Robert Pratten for providing us access to the software.
The Model Arctic Council considered political, environmental and social issues in one of the most fascinating and important regions on the planet. Pupils were asked to represent the Arctic States and indigenous groups from the region, discussing issues including sustainable energy in Arctic communities and plastic pollution in the Arctic marine environment. The simulation took place with the expert help of Polar Aspect, an organisation specialising in analysis and education on Arctic affairs.
The conference also included time to relax with several social events, including a formal black-tie dinner on Friday night and a ceilidh on Saturday.
Dr A Goddard Director of Co-Curricular Activities
The Communications Conference was the first major event of the year for the Sixth Form Enrichment programme. Pupils in the Lower Sixth, joined by boys from the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, tested their ability to handle a public relations crisis whilst working in a close-knit team and facing demanding deadlines.
The day began with training sessions on how to write press releases, manage social media, and conduct yourself in live TV interviews. The delegates were then divided into seventeen groups and began working in the communications department of ‘Fabulous Cow’, a fictional ice cream company. Unfortunately, Fabulous Cow proved ill-fated, and the teams had to decide how to navigate through a series of public relations disasters: a misguided tweet sent by an inexperienced employee, a customer boycott over animal welfare concerns, the controversy over executive pay and a product recall caused by a food poisoning outbreak. The teams had to respond to social media, emails, blog posts and videos
throughout the crisis. The fast-paced and challenging experience required excellent teamwork, communication and rational thinking to succeed.
The simulation was run using Team XP by Conducttr, a software package used by major companies to train business people in crisis management and communications skills. We are very grateful to Team XP for their support of the event and use of their software, without which, the event would not have been possible.
Throughout the afternoon delegates had the opportunity to put themselves forward for a live television interview with real-life broadcasters. With the cameras rolling, they were faced with difficult questions that tested their ability to keep calm under pressure.
A week later, we were delighted to welcome back the RGS pupils, RGS Headmaster Philip Wayne, and our media trainer Tony Lloyd for a glitzy award ceremony where we showed highlights from the TV interviews and announced the winning teams.
Congratulations to everyone who took part, we hope this was a highlight of your first term in the Sixth Form of Wycombe Abbey.
M s E Bowen Deputy Head of Sixth Form (Enrichment)
The fast-paced and challenging experience required excellent teamwork, communication and rational thinking to succeed.
Their insights and messages on how to be successful in business were truly inspiring, particularly the recurring theme that mistakes are part of the pathway to success
Over two frenetic days in March, we were delighted to host the 29th Wycombe Management Conference, a business simulation for all Lower Sixth girls along with 90 boys from the Royal Grammar School.
Throughout the conference, students became members of a company that launched and ran a pizza business. With the guidance of a mentor (Wycombe Abbey and RGS parents and alumni who generously gave their time), delegates had to consider factors such as location, pricing, marketing, wages and product diversification, to make as much profit as possible.
Interspersed with this simulation were keynote speakers and other activities. We were delighted to welcome back Lord Bilimoria (founder of Cobra beer) and Steve Bourne (negotiation and communication specialist) along with new speakers Peter Higgins (Founder and former CEO of Charles Tyrwhitt) and Wendy Becker (Chair of Logitech). Their insights and messages on how to be successful in business were truly inspiring, particularly the recurring theme that mistakes are part of the pathway to success.
Other tasks included the replication of a commodities trading market led by Paul Anderson (Deutsche Bank) which involved buying and selling a rare metal commodity called pandemonium. Frantic deals were made as news stories warned of approaching events that might change market prices. There was also a new Production Line Game that challenged teams to problem solve and come up with the most efficient system for producing pizzas under a tight time constraint. A complex Negotiation Game required excellent communication skills and logical thinking to succeed.
Congratulations to this year’s winning team and thank you to all the delegates for their enthusiasm and tenacity throughout. We hope that the event has inspired the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
M s E Bowen Deputy Head of Sixth Form (Enrichment)
Our team goal for the 2019 Greenpower season was to qualify both of our cars, “Sprocket Rocket” and “WA Phoenix” for the International Finals at Silverstone in October. As it turned out, the road to Silverstone was far from smooth! The design, building and installation of a motor controller made a significant improvement to the cars’ performance as well as teaching the girls a great deal about good soldering techniques. The additional capability to monitor the current during the race gave vital information to assist in adjusting the gear ratios to get closer to optimum performance, balancing the need for speed with the aim of having the car still moving at the end of the 1.5-hour F24 race.
At our final qualifying event at Dunsfold in September, the team had some tense moments, including a failed motor just before the last race when we needed to
complete to qualify. Much perseverance and determination won through and everyone was thrilled when we had our qualifications confirmed.
effort to have the experience of driving around the iconic track at Silverstone, known as the ‘Home of British Motor Racing’. Unfortunately, the weather posed additional challenges on the day, and the team got very wet. The rain was so heavy that it washed some of the paint off the nosecone of Sprocket and dyed our driver bright orange! However, spirits could not be dampened and some afternoon sunshine resulted in great photos to record the event. Our best result was finishing third in the kit car category of F24+, the race for drivers over-16, but our younger teams also performed extremely well.
It is several years since we have had a team at the finals and, since our kit car, “Sprocket Rocket” was only completed in 2018, this was the first championship outing for this car. As ever, it was an early start on the day, but it was all worth the
We are now continuing to work on the cars, replacing worn brakes and upgrading the aerodynamics, to further improve on our performance next season.
Mrs S Buxton Director of Science and STEMThe rain was so heavy that it washed some of the paint off the nosecone of Sprocket and dyed our driver bright orange
In September, 90 Lower Fifth pupils set off from various starting points on the practice expedition for their Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award. The weather forecast was looking very wet, so pupils packed their waterproofs with slight trepidation and set off on their routes around the beautiful Chilterns.
Luckily, the rain held off for the most part and day one of the expedition was fair and bright! After a hard day’s walking the girls finally arrived at camp to set up their tents and cook a variety of noodles, rice and pasta for dinner.
Day two was a mixture of sun and showers – the heavens opened as some of the last groups reached the finish line at Bradenham Manor. Soggy, but in good spirits, the girls clambered aboard the coach home ready for a well-deserved hot supper and shower.
Unfortunately, the final expedition has had to be postponed but we have no doubt the pupils will successfully complete their Bronze Awards.
Mr A Porter Duke of Edinburgh ManagerThis year’s Global Opportunities programme offered a wide range of activities and events to explore the cultures represented within our community and to find out more about other countries across the globe.
In July, three Lower Sixth girls travelled to Singapore to work with young people from across the world in finding solutions to global issues. Earn, Lexi and Nicola enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded pupils, discussing topics such as inequality and the new world order. It was a fantastic opportunity to explore Singapore with trips to the Marina Bay Sands viewpoint and The Gardens by the Bay. The girls created an informative poster discussing the new world order and were chosen to present this to the President of Singapore at her home.
This year, we celebrated cultural week in line with Black History Month. Black Cultural Appreciation Week took place to educate the girls in a range of aspects of black culture and the achievements of black people throughout history. Activities were carried out in lessons to link the topic to subjects studied across the school. Displays showing traditional clothing brightened up The Courtyard
and we enjoyed craft sessions, such as bracelet-making, which took inspiration from the flags of Caribbean countries. In Art, we were lucky to learn about how the geography of a range of African countries has inspired sculptures and pieces of art in a day of workshops with Fillingdon Fine Arts. We welcomed Mrs Fasinro, who spoke to girls about the African economy, and later in the term, Mrs Akerele spoke to the Upper Fourth on Nigerian Fashion Week.
We are delighted that our exchange programme is growing, and we were able to welcome two pupils from Durban Girls’ College in South Africa. Both girls joined the Lower Fifth, getting involved with lessons and extras. It was a pleasure to host them and to learn about their culture whilst they experienced a British education, including new activities and subjects such as Lacrosse and Geography. Girls also helped with our outreach programme, Horizons, supporting children swimming. It was a fantastic experience for all involved and we look forward to nurturing our relationship with this school in the future.
M iss G Taylor Head of Global OpportunitiesIn January, the Cultural Fair allowed girls to share the special and interesting aspects of the places they call home.
Girls wore an extraordinarily colourful range of traditional dress and set up stalls to represent their home countries and cultures. Each stall was decorated with flags, photos, maps and stories. They featured a variety of games that taught girls about the geography, society, language and culture of the countries represented. Many girls had spent the previous afternoon cooking a range of culinary treats unique to their home countries to share with friends, which went down very well!
country, visually displaying the wonderful range of cultures that make up our community.
A range of acts by professional musicians, dancers and performers provided exciting entertainment throughout the evening: American-style cheerleading, a Chinese dancing lion, Spanish Samba dancing and a Caribbean steel band.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed learning about the cultures and those running stalls loved sharing a little bit of home with staff and pupils.
Dr A Goddard Director of Co-Curricular ActivitiesA range of acts by professional musicians, dancers and performers provided exciting entertainment
The Caledonian Society has had another fantastic year of reeling, with a large cohort of Upper Sixth girls turning out on many a Sunday evening throughout the Autumn term to learn traditional Scottish dances alongside peers from Eton College.
In November, Eton hosted the St. Andrews Ball and the girls greatly enjoyed putting their prepared dances to the test. In January, we hosted Eton for our annual Burns’ Night Ball, a black-tie event consisting of a formal meal at Daws Hill followed by reeling to a live band. The evening was highly praised and enjoyed by our guests, as well as all the Wycombe Abbey pupils and staff who attended. The pupils especially enjoyed the opportunity to dance to a live band, the Craigievar Band, who returned for a second year.
Mr A Howells Teacher of Computer ScienceIn December, Lower Sixth English Literature pupils had the opportunity to see a special immersive production of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. We were studying the novel for our American literature course and were all excited to experience the immersive theatre version; we even dressed up in the stereotypical flapper girl outfits to fit the occasion!
The very moment we stepped off the cold streets of London into the theatre, we were enveloped in the high-energy, luxurious atmosphere of 1920s America. A man with a thick New York accent met a group of us on the staircase, explaining the ‘rules’, and from there on we were a part of Gatsby’s world. The dancefloor was spacious, with a quaint fountain on one side, a bar serving drinks on the other, and the eyes of Dr TJ Eckleburg looming ominously above.
When the play started, we felt at home in the centre of the action, being so familiar with the book, and despite knowing how the plot unfolds we were watching with rapt attention. The actors effortlessly drew the audience in – quite literally, as they freely conversed with us in every scene.
The structure of the performance was quite simple: the audience was separated into groups and smoothly guided into different
rooms between scenes. The small groups allowed us to further immerse ourselves into the play, having conversations with the actors and essentially becoming characters ourselves. It was very cleverly done, and though none of us had the opportunity to visit every room, we were all convinced we had seen the best ones! Some explored the extensive closet of Daisy Buchanan, helping her choose an outfit in which she would meet Gatsby in a later scene, while others watched as Myrtle and George Wilson had a tense argument, culminating in a riveting game of Truth or Dare with the audience. All of us were drawn back into the original ballroom for key scenes, including the ending, where all the actors came together and sang a beautiful and chilling song that concluded the play well.
The entire experience was educational as well as fun, seeing the story up close and learning more thoroughly the personality of each character. By the end of the night, The Great Gatsby was etched on our minds. It was amazing to be part of the glorious jazz age, if only for a few hours, and many of us are certain to return at a later date, determined to discover every room within the theatre.
DeWeiThe very moment we stepped off the cold streets of London into the theatre, we were enveloped in the high-energy
Performances were well prepared and varied, ranging from full bands to ‘open mic-style’ as well as some terrific collaborations
Rock bands at Wycombe Abbey are continuing to go from strength to strength and this year we had two RocSoc events.
The first concert of the year was held at Harrow School on 31 November. A record number of Wycombe Abbey bands participated. Our Upper Sixth band, Ahara, led the evening in their fourth year together as a band, with a wealth of experience and professionalism. They performed a large set consisting entirely of original songs, showing their creative
skills as songwriters. Our Lower Sixth band, Our Man in Havana and Upper Fifth band, Ionic are becoming very experienced groups with energetic and technically accomplished performances and some original songs too. Our two new Lower Fifth bands, Ultimatum and Bad Guy and the Blondes gave their debut performance with such confidence and our musicians loved being on stage and experiencing the positive reaction of the audience. These two new bands have made a great start and have a very exciting future.
Our second concert on 29 February in Big School, saw seven Wycombe Abbey rock bands sharing the stage with three bands from Harrow. Performances were well prepared and varied, ranging from full bands to ‘open mic-style’ as well as some terrific collaborations between some of the musicians from the two schools. A special mention goes to the Wycombe Abbey audience who always give support and a deafeningly loud cheer to the bands at these events.
Mr S Reid Director of MusicEveryone involved in the Debating and Public Speaking Society is incredibly proud of the performances of our Junior and Senior teams at the 2019/2020 Rotary Youth Speaks competition. Frida and Neda (UIII) and Layomi (UIV) won the competitive first round of the Junior League, hosted by Wycombe Abbey. The Senior team of Felicité (UIV), Alyssa and Chloe (UV) progressed to the fourth round (as far as the competition extended this year) with their
thoroughly researched and passionately delivered a presentation, titled ‘Can I Change the World?’ Yes, they concluded, but with a little help from their friends!
M iss F Weatherby Head of Public SpeakingThe Upper Third and Lower Fourth visited Cadbury World in Birmingham in the Autumn term. Pupils toured the factory, hearing about the history of George Cadbury and the opening of his first shop, following the journey from small high street store to the conglomerate brand of today. Pupils learned about the treatment of workers in the 1820s and the contribution Cadbury made towards a better working environment, building Bourneville village, a housing district for their employees. Girls witnessed the change in branding and packaging over the years and uncovered the efforts of Cadbury’s during wartime Britain.
Nearing Christmas, the girls took a trip to the seasonal Santa show and a 4D cartoon ride. The girls enjoyed a range of chocolate treats throughout the day and spent a long time in the Cadbury shop! The girls all enjoyed their behind-the-scenes experience of a chocolate factory.
On Sunday 20 November the school hosted a Harry Potterthemed day for all pupils. Big School was decorated with Wycombe Abbey and Harry Potter-themed bunting, Azkaban posters, and cardboard cut-outs of the famed characters from the books.
Big School’s grand fireplace even had real-life floating Hogwarts letters inside. Activities consisted of pottery painting, wand-making, terrarium potting and a scavenger hunt. A stall was set up for pupils to create the iconic ‘Butterbeer’ drink, and they thoroughly enjoyed mixing a range of fizzy pop to concoct a delicious treat. Girls from all year groups had a fantastic day watching the Harry Potter movies on the projector screen, followed by wizarding-themed cookie decorating.
At Wycombe Abbey, we are delighted that so many girls take part in the societies on offer. A full list is shown below:
• A rt Society
• A stronomy Society
• B ee Society
• B usiness Club
• C aledonian Society
• C athSoc
• Classics Book Club
• Classics Society
• Computer Science
• S ociety 3D Print Society
• D ebating and Public Speaking Society
• D rama Society
• Economics Society
• Embroidery Society
• Engineering Society
• Enterprise Society
• Fashion Society
• F isher Society
• G eography Society
• G lobal Opportunities
• G reen Power Car Club
• H istory Society
• H istory of Art Society
• I dentity Society
• I slamic Society
• J unior History Society
• L aw Society
• L iterary Society
• M aths Society
• M edical Society
• M odel United Nations
• M odern Linguists Society
• M usic Society
• N ewspaper, ‘The Publication’
• O riental Society
• Politics Society
• Psychology Society
• Rock Society
• S cience Society
• S ustainability Society
• Tycoon
Although it was sad not to have the tennis matches, athletics tournaments, House picnics and outdoor concerts that characterise life at Wycombe Abbey during the summer months, many co-curricular activities were able to thrive despite the lockdown.
Many girls took part in producing a collaborative virtual art project with Mrs Phipps, the Artist in Residence. The artwork featured images reflecting the colours of the rainbow submitted by the girls. These were then animated to create an everchanging piece of art that featured infinite combinations overlapping like a kaleidoscope and which could be viewed by the whole community on the internet.
The Debating and Public Speaking Society was particularly active, meeting weekly over Zoom to help girls develop communication, argument and critical thinking skills. The House Balloon Debating competition took place online, with Sixth Form girls advocating for a range of their favourite Netflix characters. Chloe (UV), who leads the Debating and Public Speaking Society, described her experience during lockdown: “I have enjoyed the focus on extracurricular activities that freedom from GCSE exams has given me. Tools like MS Team have allowed me to collaborate with teachers and pupils across the world to a degree that we have not done in the past. It has also made it far easier for girls to participate. I think younger girls have found learning the skills much more accessible and less intimidating to do virtually. We have had a huge increase in members”.
The Model United Nations (MUN) team also continued weekly meetings online, with debates on vaccination hesitancy and the control of illicit drug trafficking.
Numbers attending Maths Club more than quadrupled during lockdown, with eager preparations for the Purple Comet Maths Meet organised by the University of
Manchester. This prestigious international mathematics competition involves more than 3,000 teams competing from more than 50 countries. One Wycombe Abbey team was placed 19th out of 400 teams from across the country, while the Junior team came first in their age group.
guessing the tune from the musical score, identifying chocolate bars by cross-section photographs and decoding emojis spelling out teachers’ names.
An online chess tournament was held using fast-paced Swiss rules. Mr Wildgoose and Mr Startup offered commentary and analysis as the action unfolded. Online cooking and baking challenges were also set each weekend for the Cookery Society.
Over 100 girls and their families competed in a weekly Friday Night Quiz, run live over MS Teams and Zoom
Over 100 girls and their families competed in a weekly Friday Night Quiz, run live over MS Teams and Zoom. Siya (LVI) commented: “It has been so fun to be able to connect with friends in the weekly quiz. We competed in our Tutor Group and it felt like a little bit of normality while lessons and everything else is so different. We looked forward to it each week!” Rounds covered topics as broad as
Co-curricular activities play such an important part in developing girls’ friendships and social connections, which were keenly missed over the summer. Co-curricular activities generate the pride that girls feel to be part of the Wycombe Abbey team and the strong connections that maintain a sense of community.
Our lockdown programme aimed to support these friendships and connections, providing new means for the girls to enjoy each other’s company. It is wonderful that so many of these activities were led by the Upper Fifth who thrived in their freedom from public exams.
Dr A Goddard Director of Co-Curricular
The visit to the trenches was truly a trip to remember. The experience of visiting the graves of devoted fallen soldiers was extremely enlightening, and thank you to our admirable tour guide, Alain. Our adventures began in a little town in Belgium called Ypres, where we visited Lijssenthoek. We then visited Bayernwald, a German trench system. We learnt about the different trenches and the weapons that the soldiers used to fight their opponents. After that, we visited a German cemetery which was a place for remembrance and mourning. The dark tones and quiet solitude of the place alone urged you to be as silent as possible. It is important to acknowledge that although Germany was seen as one of the villains of the war by her enemies, its soldiers did the same thing any other solider did; served their country. We stopped at Tyne Cot, another cemetery of thousands. Although the heavy rain forced us to cut our stay a little short, it didn’t stop us from taking in the moving setting.. Day one ended in a little restaurant where we completely invaded an entire floor.
The trip was; exciting, mournful yet enlightening. It made me truly proud to be a part of this country
On day two, we visited Sunken Road, which included discussion about the war, what the soldiers had endured and their morale. We then visited the Newfoundland Memorial Park, where we set foot in France, England and Newfoundland all at the same time. Lunchtime brought no less entertainment, as a fellow Wycombe girl travelled back in time to become a very charming English soldier. One of the tour guides explained the good and impractical features of her soldier attire and weapons. His vivid descriptions and animated sound effects aided our clear understanding of the harm such weapons caused. Following lunch, we proceeded to Ulster Tower, where I successfully found a small piece of a bombshell. Afterwards, we drove to the Lohcnagar Crater, where Dr Tullis told us a beautiful story about her family’s past and we stared amazed at the size of the crater at our feet.
In true Wycombe Abbey style, we set off to hunt for Belgium’s most important tourist attraction: Belgian chocolate. After raiding the small chocolate stores, we headed towards the Menin Gate. We witnessed a wistful and beautiful service that is held every night. Finally, after a busy day of meandering, learning and outright running for chocolate, we arrived at our hotel in Lille.
The grand finale to our trip was the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing. This very interesting piece of architecture, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, was something to remember. Sir Edwin Lutyens set himself the mission to make sure not a single soldier was lost in memory and that each was celebrated for his service and love for his country.
The trip was; exciting, mournful yet enlightening. It made me truly proud to be a part of this country.
Sem al UV
During October Long leave, the Junior Netball tour saw a change of destination: the Sun City resort in South Africa.
This was an incredible experience enriched with culture, diversity and fun, as well as amazing Netball competitions. The girls fully immersed themselves in all of the activities, training every morning for two hours and then competing against visiting clubs and schools every other day. Specific highlights included the Game Drive, African dancing and the Valley of the Waves. The girls received exceptional coaching from the newly appointed South African Netball Coach, Dorette Badenhorst, resulting in great progress achieved by all.
M iss P Whittle Head of Netball, Teacher of PEIn October, 21 girls from Upper Fourth and Lower Fifth along with Mlle Cassan-Ferrier, Mlle Physick and Mlle Landsmann went to St Dizier, France for an exchange with ESTIC school.
We met early on Friday morning at Wycombe Abbey and set off on our coach journey. After a few food stops and a shopping trip at ‘Cité Europe’ on the way, we arrived in St Dizier. We had a wonderful dinner in a restaurant not too far from our hotel and we were greeted by Madame Torres and Monsieur Laumain, two teachers from ESTIC.
Across the weekend, we met our exchange partners and headed to the historic city of Troyes. We toured around the beautiful Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul and spent our afternoon shopping at the McArthurGlen Retail Park. To finish our first full day, we ate dinner at ESTIC with our partners and played a range of traditional wooden games, which became very competitive!
We were fortunate enough to meet our partners’ families, spending the day with them and learning more about French culture. There was a wide range of activities including trips to the spa, a theme parks visit and a lot of trips to famous monuments in St Dizier. My partner, Marie, and her family took me to Reims,
a beautiful city north-west of St Dizier. We went for lunch at their favourite restaurant and then visited the Abbey of St Remi and the Pommery champagne cellars - definitely one of the highlights of my trip! At the end of our day, we went back to ESTIC to meet the rest of the group, followed by a trip to the cinema.
On Monday and Tuesday, we had lessons at ESTIC where we experienced our favourite subjects at school in French. Lessons such as Maths, History and Computer Science were followed by activities such as bag making, muffin baking and planting a flower bed in the school grounds. We were lucky to meet ESTIC school’s Headmaster, Monsieur Lopez, as well as St Dizier’s Mayor, Madame Elisabeth Robert-Dehault who toured us around the Town Hall.
On behalf of the pupils who took part in the exchange, we would like to thank Mlle Cassan-Ferrier, Mlle Physick and Mlle Landsmann for taking us on such a wonderful trip which we all thoroughly enjoyed. Alongside improving our French, we made friends and memories which I am sure will stay with us throughout our lives and we all look forward to a visit from the ESTIC pupils.
Alongside improving our French, we made friends and memories which I am sure will stay with us throughout our lives
At the annual British Schoolgirls’ Ski Races in Flaine, we had excellent team performances from both our A-team and B-team, with all racers returning with medals.
A-team highlights include Lydia and Madeline (LVI) placing 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Under 18 Giant Slalom, and Madeline placing 2nd in the Under 18 Slalom and Under 18 Combined event. Cara (LV) has been a registered skier this year, race-training out in France for the season. Her improvement over the past 12 months has been notable and demonstrated in her results, placing 3rd in both the Giant Slalom and Combined event for Under 16 registered skiers. Our B-team also produced some outstandingly consistent results, placing 3rd in the Best non-registered B-team category for both Giant Slalom and Combined event, as well as 3rd in the Best overall B-team in the Combined event. A special mention must go to this year’s Ski Captain, Mia (UVI) who has been an excellent representative for Wycombe Abbey Skiing over the years. At this year’s event, Mia celebrated her 18th birthday and was presented with a special award at the competition prize-giving.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of SportIn March, 25 girls visited New York to study the work of the United Nations and to take part in the world’s largest Model United Nations (MUN) conference. The Wycombe Abbey team joined 5,000 young people from 300 schools across the globe to compete in the National High Schools Model United Nations conference (NHSMUN) hosted at the United Nations Headquarters.
The quality of the girls’ contribution to the debate was recognised with an Award of Excellence, the conference’s highest team prize, presented during the event’s closing ceremony.
The group represented the policies of the United Kingdom during the seven-day trip. Amongst the international bodies simulated were the Security Council, the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the C34 Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The girls advocated for their own solutions to a range of international problems including peacebuilding in the Sahel, workplace, regulation of private military companies and maternal health in conflict areas. Some team members also participated in specialist committees including the
International Court of Justice and a historical crisis committee, which recreated the deliberations of the British Cabinet in 1916.
The first few days of the trip were spent studying the United Nations and included exclusive briefings with a number of senior figures. Our special meeting with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, H.E. Ms Amina Mohammed, was one of the trip’s highlights. The girls’ questions covered a range of topics including UN reform, gender
ambassador to the United Nations. The girls discussed with Dame Karen the situation in Yemen, Security Council reform, and the status of the “special relationship”.
We are very grateful to all the practitioners and experts who we met in New York for their great kindness with their time, and to all staff at the United Nations, UAE Mission and UK Mission to the United Nations for hosting us.
equality, female leadership and current challenges to liberal internationalism.
The team was also honoured to meet with H.E. Ms Lana Nusseibeh, the United Arab Emirates’ Ambassador to the United Nations. The ambassador is a Wycombe Abbey Senior and was presented with a Leavers Necklace by the girls at the end of their visit.
There was also a fascinating briefing at the UK Mission with H.E. Dame Karen Pierce, the United Kingdom’s first female
During December, 24 skiers ventured to the first Snow School Championships in Val Thorens, France. The weather on arrival saw slopes closed, which led to a reduction in time for race preparation. However, this did not deter our girls.
All of the skiers demonstrated vigour and determination on race day with everyone showing improvements in their timed runs. Particular highlights include; Maddie (LVI) winning both the Under-18 Girls Giant Slalom and Slalom and coming second in the
There was also the opportunity to experience something of American culture including a bus tour of Manhattan, a Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Gardens, a Broadway show and visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and 9-11 Memorial Museum. Culinary experiences included a traditional New York Sunday brunch, breakfast at a stereotypical American diner and lunch in the dining room at the United Nations, which is normally reserved for diplomats. The team also enjoyed a private tour of the United Nations Headquarters.
It was extraordinary to win an Award of Excellence: recognition that shows the international standing of the School’s MUN programme.
Dr A Goddard Director of Co-Curricular ActivitiesMixed Overall results, Cara (LV) winning the Under-16 Girls Giant Slalom and Slalom, Celeste (UIV) coming second in the Girls Under-14 Giant Slalom and Sofia (UIII) placing fifth in the Girls Under-14 Slalom. The Wycombe Abbey A-team and the Parallel Slalom team narrowly missed out in the very intense final against Brighton College. The Championships were an excellent and an inspirational performance for the younger racers to observe.
M iss P Whittle Teacher of PE
As a community, we are all fully committed to supporting those that are less fortunate than ourselves, whether in the local community or further afield. The charity work at Wycombe Abbey is overseen by a committee of Charity Representatives made up of Lower Sixth girls from each of our Senior Houses. The committee meets to plan and organise the many events that usually take place across the school year.
We support our foundation charities, which were selected by our founder; Dame Frances Dove. These include the Melanesian Mission, our local food bank, the One Can Trust as well as Central Aid, which assists those moving from being homeless into accommodation with essential furniture items.
Fundraising for our foundation charities is carried out through the ‘Foundation Fiver’ scheme, with donations collected from the girls for three mufti days across the year and the charity stalls at Bonfire Night.
School has nominated and voted for charities to support until the end of the academic year 2020-2021. These are the Wycombe Homeless Connection and Renewable World charities. The Charity Committee have been working hard to find ways of raising funds for these worthy causes.
Our Charity Swimming Gala was held at School at the beginning of March. Swimmers from each house took part in fun races, such as the seahorse race, and the Charity Representatives ran a bake sale at the event. An amazing £2,530 was made for our elected charities.
Our main charity event, the Wycombe Abbey Met Gala, had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Much of our planning across the year was to organise this black-tie event that was to include the ‘Disco Divas’ live stage band, an auction, champagne reception and of course a delicious meal. However, our Charity Prefects reinvented the occasion for us to enjoy at home. The ‘Virtual Met Gala’ with its theme of a ‘Starry Night’ was enjoyed by the families of Wycombe Abbey at home. They received a pack by email that included quizzes, playlists and competitions. Due to the generosity of many families, an incredible £1,460 was raised for Wycombe Homeless Connection.
The total amount of money raised this year for our charities, despite the challenges presented by Covid-19, was an impressive £17,000
The total amount of money raised this year for our charities, despite the challenges presented by Covid-19, was an impressive £17,000.
I would like to thank the hard-working Charity Prefects who have supported the fundraising at Wycombe Abbey over the past year and worked well with the House Charity Representatives. They are Jemma and Earn (UVI).
The Head Girl Team raised £1,230 by holding a mufti day and bake sales for a charity of their choice. They chose to support ‘Mary’s Meals’ which works to provide a hot meal for children who attend school in the most deprived areas of the world.
Junior House accepted their £15 challenge at Christmas to produce items for sale with a budget of only £15. Half of their profit was donated to our selected charities; they raised an amazing £1,032!
A special mention must also go to Nat and Eleanor (LVI), who were made Charity Champions for their commitment and passion in arranging our Charity Swimming Gala.
Reverend Penny Nash School ChaplainOn Sunday 9 February 2020, the following girls were confirmed by the Rt Rev. Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham:
Airlie
Harriat Bishop*
Butler House
Dara Laoye
Campbell House
Toluwase Akerele*
Anjola Akerele*
Cloister House
Henrietta Conway
Funto Olatokun
Jodie Orogun*
Pitt House
Phoebe Francis Hannah Lee* Olivia Parsons
Gisele Booth-Clibborn
Olivia Healey
Sibella Bryceson
Fiona Waida
Anette Cheah
Alison Dauris
Sarah Dauris Grace Lee
*These girls also received Holy Baptism
Chapel has always been an integral part of the Wycombe Abbey community; providing a place for us to gather and reflect in each other’s company and sing our favourite hymns together.
Despite the School community being spread out across the world, remote Chapel brought us back together at the start of every week, allowing us to participate in one of our core traditions, which was extremely comforting.
to each of us and our personal experiences of lockdown, amongst other things.
Under the umbrella of ‘Flourishing’, Reverend Penny explored themes such as wellness and mental health, which was a frequent reminder for us to keep perspective, rest, and remain calm. For Children’s Book Week, she read us an extract from ‘Winnie the Pooh’ by Christopher Robin, everyone’s childhood favourite. On VE Day, she encouraged us to be hopeful by reminding us of all the challenges humanity has overcome by coming together, using the sacrifice of Jesus as an emblem of these moments on Earth.
Following the protests around the world in response to the tragic death of George Floyd, Reverend Penny dedicated a Chapel Service to speaking about equality and the dangers of racism. During this service, we read Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and reflected on the importance of actively building a community where everyone feels welcome and accepted.
community being spread out across the world, remote Chapel brought us back together at the start of every week
We will miss being the School’s Almoners and working with Reverend Penny. Chapel under her leadership has been a continuous source of peace, light, joy and love for us – a space to pray, breathe and reflect. We are grateful to Reverend Penny for keeping us mindful throughout lockdown and for being the pillar of support she has always been throughout the last year. We look forward to being together again soon and wish the best to Reni and Edith (UV) who take on the role of Almoners next academic year.
We also kept the school’s ‘Fisher Society’ running remotely, meeting every Wednesday as a break from our busy schedules. We watched movies, discussed Easter and its unique significance
A ma and Kemi LVI
This year, the Art department hosted the ‘Big Draw’ which was an exciting grand finale to Wellbeing Week with four pieces of paper stretching the length of Big School. This event encouraged girls to take part, enjoy and consider the therapeutic aspects of drawing. Inspired by Art and Text, Music, Foreign Language, Objects and Butterflies, pupils were invited to experiment and explore creatively by drawing on a large scale piece of artwork through various materials and objects provided.
Pupils responded enthusiastically and worked confidently on a large scale through a variety of collaboration, individual and
observation techniques. All year groups embraced the project and made it their own with many returning in their free time to add to their drawing or to photograph their contribution. It was lovely to see so many pupils absorbed in the process.
Miss K Williams Head of Art and CookeryDuring the recent period of self-isolation, where our School community was dispersed across the world, the Wycombe Abbey Artist-in-Residence wished to create a School community artwork in response to the situation that pupils and staff found themselves in. Mrs Phipps built her artwork upon the themes of ‘hope’, ‘distance’ and ‘experience’. She writes:
As individuals, we had very different experiences during this time, both positive and negative, but all of which will become formative events of our lives; shaping our thoughts, goals and attitude to our environment and relationships.
To bring our community together in the Summer term, and to share experiences, I initiated a digital artwork created from imagery gathered by individuals. I collated these into a format based on ever-changing images which are animated to create infinite combinations, which overlap and evolve like a kaleidoscope. I used symbolism based on the colours of the rainbow and the number seven, to infer a message of hope, drawing on imagery from individuals’ experiences. There are also seven days in the week, seven ages of man. The number seven is also associated with luck in many cultures.
I engaged with the whole school community by asking pupils and staff to upload photographs which focus on individual colours of the rainbow. These were curated into a constantly changing artwork. I wanted the project to be web-based, and accessible by the whole School community.
I was impressed by the girls’ contributions to this project, they came up with lots of original ideas. Importantly, it provided the girls with an opportunity to get away from their computer screens for a while.
Taking good photos is not as easy as it seems. Focusing on objects of certain colours encouraged the girls to consider common-place objects in a new light. In lockdown, our worlds shrunk to the confines of our homes. Looking at them in a new light and appreciating that small things brought joy. Time in lockdown played tricks on us; sometimes seeming to stretch indefinitely, whilst we appeared to exist in a small bubble, away from friends and wider family. Taking time to reflect is important, and Art can help us to do this by providing a focus away from the intimacy of our immediate surroundings.
I wished, through Kaleidoscope, to create something that encouraged reflection and meditation, helping to create calm in the chaos and focus on the positive aspects of life in lockdown. The image of the rainbow has been used universally as a symbol of hope. Trying to find a new way of using this symbol presented a way of connecting with people using language that is understood across cultures.
This piece is about bringing the community together through individual contributions to create a collective artwork.
Mrs C Phipps Artist-in-Residence
‘To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to enter the school poetry competition and a time...when it will be too late to enter the school poetry competition.’
And so the starter pistol was fired on the 2020 iteration of Wycombe Abbey’s annual poetry competition. Laying down the gauntlet, I threw out a casual couplet:
‘Grab yourself a pen and give this poetry thing a goIt could impact you so much more than you could ever know.’
We can do much better than that, everyone responded. We will do much better than that, they insisted.
Little did we know just how much better their better would be.
There was no shortage of praise from our external judge, who called Charlotte’s (LVI) winning poem in the Senior category, ‘Red’, ‘breathtaking, pacy, impassioned’, with the ‘power to jolt us out of our comfort zone’. Runners-up Sasha and Mani (LVI) were likewise praised for their ingenuity, boldness and beauty - characteristics that would be seen in abundance in the Intermediate category. Kelly’s (UV) ‘gripping’ and ‘evocative’ poem, ‘What we lost in the Garden of Eden’, was declared the winner, with Claudia and Alisa (LV) named as runners-up. The skill and sophistication on display throughout all the entries were a joy to experience and there was little to choose between them.
The same can be said for the Junior category, where the poems were notable for their evocative imagery and reflections on art and nature. The winning poem by Fiona (UIII), ‘Crocus’, provided a sensory explosion of sibilance, simile and personification, while runners-up Judy and Cice (UIII) similarly immersed the reader in a moment of natural beauty.
Poetry requires us to pause and to ponder - both in the creation and in the reception - and this year’s competition illustrated just what can be produced when we step back from the intensity of school life and take in the world around us. With guest poet Malcolm Guite visiting us in March, the finalists were granted a memorable opportunity to learn from a master, with a workshop and performance delivering the perfect finale to this year’s competition.
So, having indeed grabbed a pen and given this poetry thing a go, an ongoing challenge still remains:
‘Slow down and savour the moment you are in; Pick up your pen and simply begin. Take up the mantle from the poets of old, For your voice is as precious as the finest gold.’
Mr S Lenton Head of EnglishYour heart is white, pure and innocent and lily white. Don’t sacrifice it. (for fun— anything other than giving your husband the pleasure society allows him to feel) but you aren’t.
Beware. of girls with fiery red hearts –They’ve been led astray, they’re too Bold. Loose. Daring. They feel (too much) and care (too little).
You’re the opposite, you care (too much) and feel (too little). Make sure your heart stays White, plain white, just white.
To them it’s purity but to you it’s death (the absence of colour, the absence of life) You long to be red, bright red, like those
Deviant, exciting, wild creatures Who actually know how to live.
You long for red.
It sneaks up on you and suddenly lily white turns to red, bright red, fiery red, red and vibrant and full of life, red like the blood flowing through your veins and the roses blooming in your chest.
You’re a disgrace – but you feel alive for the first time.
They leave and you start to bleed red, red like the roses that bloom (no longer) in your heart and you just want to be white again, (pure and innocent and lily white)
The one who bit your newly red heart in two ripped the roses and left the thorns, sharp like a knife on your skin.
You try to turn your heart to ice (to white) so you can freeze them in your chest, that you might forget the red hot feeling of them the smell of their hair, the way their eyes sparkle in the dim light. you want to forget everything. red is your heart, left (bloody and barely) beating on the fresh river of heartbreak, the heat of first love lost in the icy river.
Charlotte LVIWhat we lost in the Garden of Eden
it starts with a wish. the desire, thirst, sucking slowly away at rationality.
saccharine sweetness seeps into her mind, into her mouth, and the tempter unravels from the tree, like the secrets shrouding her soul. if curiosity kills the cat, what happens to the human? i watch the answer from my place beside him. his weighty wrath weakens for no one. lightning crackles in the charcoal canvas above, illuminating the knowledge blooming in her eyes and the tendrils of fear that shackle her limbs to the ground where it all began, and where it all ends.
thunder sinks in, deep into her skin sending tremors rumbling through veins that crack open her heart.
everything collapses burning, begging, bleeding praying, pleading. falling.
we must love all beings equally. it’s a tattoo that runs soul-deep, a casual reminder, now a malevolent ghost haunting the pillars which bear the burden of my duty. she has stars in her eyes. handpicked from the garden of constellations, they ignite, consume, devour. it’s a longing that can never be satiated, yet i let myself dream, and i dream of falling. he strips me of my wings first. each feather delicately plucked from branches of bone. the golden gates of heaven atrophy into specks of stardust slipping through my fingers like the tide rushing out from beneath my feet as i plunge, and the flames welcome me home. ashes to ashes, dust to dust. for you, the world. it ends with a wish. oh lucifer, how foolish you were.
Riding on the breeze you come, While a sun begins to pluck Her strings of gold, enticing a Yearn for a feathered Hope. Silent like Inspecting thrushes, with an Air of subtle exasperation, waiting For Time to rise.
Silver frost encrust Lofty pines with Ancient bark, still Erect through centuries’ Trials! You return year After year - springing Up from petrified grassSinging your sweet Shanty, for the sailors In turbulent seas.
Bulbous buds appear
On pale, snowy stems. Bolder than the rich Romans In majestic Tyrian Purple robes; or More heart-warming Than freshly baked Cookies on a Bone-chilling day. Your Cousins by the name Of flavus can do this , as Tennyson adored as fire.
Early bees nestle in For an afternoon tea when the Sky looms in: bleak and Ominous with Howling Winds pursuing On their
Heels. Smoke writhing In the air Like vile Spirits As the miniature workers Of the forest content In the pacific purity of Your heart.
Lighten the Toils of creatures to survive This winter chill. Harbinger of Spring, Rise!
Fiona UIII
Pupils and staff were treated to a show of songs and sonnets from poet, singer-songwriter, priest and academic, Malcolm Guite, in March.
The Girton College, Cambridge showcased his incredible poetry before an entranced audience (sadly reduced as a result of Covid-19), regaling us with stories of his visits to Keats’ home and discussing C.S. Lewis with his father-in-law. Effortlessly quoting poetry, such as Herbert’s magnificent ‘Prayer’, Malcolm invited us to slow down and savour the written word, while his captivating performances of his writing demonstrated the power of proclamation beyond the page.
Interspersing his poetry with original songs, Malcolm strummed his guitar with grace and tenderness, beckoning us to gentleness through the invocation of ‘Lente, Lente’ and imaginative wonder through the title track of his debut CD, ‘The Green Man’. His stories helped set each song in context and made us acutely aware of the relevance of these sentiments in such a time as this.
Those lucky enough to be in attendance know that they experienced quite a treat and something to reflect on long after the world returns to the way things once were.
Mr S Lenton Head of English
His stories helped set each song in context and made us acutely aware of the relevance of these sentiments in such a time as this
Gloria, LVI
Rhiane, LVI
Alisa, UV
Alison, UV
Caroline, UV
Alice, UV
Bea, UV
Amelia, UV
Chloe, UV
Delphi, UV
Elizabeth, UV
Eleanor, UV
Francesca, UV
Nicola, UV
Shreya, UV
Sofia, UV
Reni, UV
Semal, UV
Thea, UV
Uma, UV
Sophie, UV
Then doors closed. Life flickers in the half-light. For now, just wait. Sit apart together. Each world immobile, day consumed by night, Tilts on its axis, lurches from the Sun. Closed. Paused. Metres measure into a lifeline Extending from there to here; a frail link. Half in motion, half at rest, undefined.
Waves of people crash through the braced door, Engulfing wards whole. Unprecedented. (Uncertain, unnerved, unknown, undone, unsure). The tide starts to turn, falter then subside. And what was paused will resume. Unbidden, time will pass. Tomorrow gleams in the haze of today, Offering what we missed; something that will last.
Pippa, LVI Wycombe Abbey Poet Laureate
Our production of Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Shakespeare Schools Festival this year took a slightly different perspective to the traditional Shakespearean presentation. Our concept was a music festival atmosphere including tents and colourful outfits.
The play was a shortened version of the traditional and followed the four lovers: Helena, Hermia, Demetrius and Lysander as they tried to pursue their partners with many confusions (helped along, or sometimes hindered, by Puck the Fairy King’s helper). Meanwhile, the mechanicals arranged to put on a play for the royalty of Athens whilst Puck and Oberon played a trick on the Fairy Queen. My favourite line in the play was, “You canker-blossom!” said by Hermia to Helena, and this line quickly became a staple for the whole cast as we all found it a very entertaining insult! Rehearsals were fun, with new surprises
each week including swords being thrown off stage, getting our costumes, trying to open tents, first dress and technical runs and, of course, pizza and snacks provided by Mr Harrington! We performed in various locations including Cressex Community School, Bracknell Theatre, and LAC. All our performances went well and it was interesting to see how the play adapted to different locations. When performing in Cressex, the stage was much deeper and we had a generally younger audience than for our other performances. It was a great experience to be able to perform in front of other pupils from a different school.
Bracknell’s performance had a great atmosphere and it was terrific to perform in a real theatre and also to see other schools perform their plays. The experience as a whole was amazing. I made lots of great memories and am grateful to have been a part of such a strong production and event.
Anna LV
Set in the 1780s, Our Country’s Good tells the adapted true story of the First Fleet’s voyage to Australia, transporting a group of convicts and Royal Marines. Upon arriving in Sydney Cove, they begin to build a new colony, overcoming the difficulties of convictofficer animosity. One officer, Ralph Clark, proposes putting on a play with the convicts in order to gain Governor Phillip’s favour and hopefully receive a promotion. The officers deliberate on the morals of going forth with the idea, before finally agreeing to allow Ralph to stage and perform The Recruiting Officer, by George Farquhar.
Through the rehearsals for this production, the audience sees the convicts evolve from mere prisoners to complex characters, forming surprising friendships with both each other and the officers. However, the lead up to the final performance is filled with tragedy: three convicts, Liz, Wisehammer, and Caesar, are accused of helping two others, Kable and Arscott, escape; Liz is sentenced to be hanged; Officer Harry Brewer dies, leaving the convict he loves, Duckling, alone and
depressed. Nonetheless, they come together for the performance, encouraged by the applause and cheers from the First Fleet audience.
Performing in the Upper School play was the best experience I’ve had at Wycombe Abbey so far and something I will never forget. We had an amazing cast, who were always supportive of each other, making it easy to feel welcome from the first rehearsal. As the play was opened to the Upper Fifths this year, I was initially terrified to be one of the youngest in the cast, but there was never a moment where I felt uncomfortable or embarrassed. Every aspect of the play was a highlight: the messy rehearsals where we forgot cues and no one knew their lines; watching the set transform from a few crates into such an intricate structure and wearing the costumes for the first time – waistcoats
with about thirty buttons, trousers that were several sizes too big and corsets so tight you could barely breathe.
The actual performances were stressful, but I would do everything again in a heartbeat. Hearing the audience laugh at the jokes and characters, instead of just a small chuckle from Mrs Woodward, was incredible. To see the play come together, hear people appreciate and genuinely enjoy watching it was unforgettable. I am so grateful to have been part of the production. I have no idea how Mrs Woodward put up with us so patiently, but she really was the best director we could have ever asked for and made Our Country’s Good as brilliant as it was.
Darcy UVWe had an amazing cast, who were always supportive of each other, making it easy to feel welcome from the first rehearsal
At the end of the Spring term, the Drama GCSE students in Upper Fifth and Lower Fifth were lucky enough to have a performance of Hard to Swallow, this year’s GCSE play, by the TIE-it-up Theatre Company.
Hard to Swallow is a play about a girl called Catherine and her battle against anorexia. It was based on a mother’s book about her daughter’s struggles. Throughout the play, we learn about the difficulties that Catherine’s illness brings upon the rest of her family, including the constant movement in and out of the hospital when she would change her views on eating. The play, by Mark Wheeler, was and is still used to educate people about the illness. It starts with Catherine’s lack of eating until the problem spirals out of control and something appalling happens.
Our favourite scenes of the TIE-it-up performance were those that came to life through physical theatre as the cast found such creative uses of the props and set. This was most effectively done in the Billy Goats Gruff Scene where a sense of non-naturalism helped to detach the audience from the reality of the situation, being enticed by the child-like metaphor. This helped to break up the sadness and relieve the built-up tension at the end.
After we finished watching the play we took part in several exercises to help improve our skills. One of the exercises included opening a present. This activity required us to pass and receive a present but we had to handle it very carefully and show all our emotions, which helped to develop our emotional performance techniques. We also performed ‘before’ and ‘after’ scenes which helped us achieve a sense of what is happening in the scene, providing a better idea of the narrative.
At the end of the evening, we had a Q&A with the cast on rehearsing and performing which helped us to analyse the text. The whole evening brought to life some ideas that we had discussed in lessons and we would like to thank the crew for coming and the Drama Department for organising it for us.
Amelia and Tori LV
In November, the Drama GCSE and A Level pupils went to see a production of The Lovely Bones at the Oxford Playhouse. This play was an adaption of the best-selling novel, with the same title, by the American author, Alice Sebold. It is no spoiler to say that the novel and play alike tell the story of a teenage girl called Susie who is murdered by her neighbour. She then proceeds to observe her family’s grief and reconciliation from her own limbo Heaven, while she struggles to accept her death and how she was killed.
The stage of the production was brilliantly constructed with minimal set and a large mirror across the stage, creating a reflection of the stage floor. The actors used salt and chalk to draw their surroundings on the stage, the mirror producing a double reflection and an unsettling illusion of Susie Salmon’s state of transition between Heaven and Earth. The costumes accurately depicted 1970s America, and the mundanity of their costumes only served to reinforce the common theme that this was a horrifying incident in a completely ordinary town. Whilst there
was not much music in this production, the use of loud noises and bright concert lights intensified the atmosphere of the theatre and, at times, left us quivering in our seats. I was genuinely frightened and gripped throughout the whole play – as my next-door neighbour’s hand can attest to. All in all, I found this captivating play superb so if you enjoy the exhilaration of a horror movie or a good ghost story, this one is for you.
Phoebe LV
On the morning of Tuesday 11 February, I headed towards LAC bright and early with my classmates for our GCSE scripted performances. We were undeniably excited to finally perform the duologues that we had prepared for months, but our nervousness was evident. I knew my performance was last out of the four, heightening the nerves, but once the first performance started the feeling of excitement took over. The examiner came in with a bright smile to introduce himself, helping to calm our nerves and make us feel at ease despite the early hour.
Olivia and Alice (UV) were the first pair to perform, with their duologue from Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney; Abiba and Sofia (UV) next, with a hilarious interaction from The Odd Couple by Neil Simon; and then Charlotte and Shaan (UV), performing a snippet of Agnes of God, by John Pielmeier. We were absorbed in each other’s performances; although we had seen previous rehearsals, watching the final product was a completely different experience, especially backed by the importance this performance held in determining our overall GCSE grade. There was a feeling of reminiscence, knowing this would be the last time we would ever see or perform these pieces, after working on them every week.
When Darcy and I were next, we were understandably nervous, this was the moment we’d been waiting for all morning. I remember rushing on stage to clear off the previous pair’s set and pushing on our makeshift ‘bed’ for the scene, all whilst trying not to trip over our dramatic gowns. Once the lights dimmed, it was easy to fall into the dialogue that we had practised for so long without any ounce of fear, and the nerves faded as I spoke the familiar lines of Sarah from Queen Anne, by Helen Edmundson.
Everyone put in their all into their pieces, and the relief that washed over us when we were all finished was colossal, having completed a fifth of our GCSE. After all the initial cheering ended, it hit us that we would never be performing these pieces again; a bittersweet realisation. It had become routine to go to our drama class on Tuesday, change into our costumes,
divide the stage and rehearse our duologues, and the knowledge that we wouldn’t be doing that again was, although in some sense a relief, a moment of nostalgia.
When we changed out of our costumes and made our way back up to House, we were all smiling and sharing our funniest moments we had whilst rehearsing our plays and our joy at the successful performance of our exam. Although it might not have been a big production and still an exam, we all thoroughly enjoyed the process, and it was a wonderful feeling knowing it had all come to fruition.
After all the initial cheering ended, it hit us that we would never be performing these pieces again; a bittersweet realisation
Audrey UVWhilst the national lockdown unveiled an unfamiliar host of challenges, it also presented an expanse of unencumbered time in which pupils like myself were able to pursue a variety of interests – a popular choice being the Debating and Public Speaking Society. Having been newly appointed as one of the Heads of the society, I was eager to take it in a new direction. Lockdown provided an excellent opportunity to leverage on the ideas I had in mind.
Debating and Public Speaking was one of the few societies which went ahead during the virtual Summer term. It was encouraging to see so many pupils trying it out of the first time, especially on the new online platform. This gave us the valuable opportunity to consider how Public Speaking and Debating Society would adapt to online learning and figure out how to utilise video-style sessions to the maximum impact. In hindsight, this preparation was vital seeing as meetings will continue to be physically limited for the time being under the new Covid-19 restrictions. Naturally, public speaking is a skill which is conventionally taught in person: the skill of emotionally connecting with an audience and using the power of your words. However, I was amazed at the level of efficiency one could achieve despite the online environment.
A large portion was dedicated to teaching pupils how to be engaging communicators, a theory which now can be put into
Lockdown provided an excellent opportunity to leverage on the ideas I had in mind
practice, whether that be during a discussion over the dinner table or within the formal setting of a classroom.
The debating aspect of the society took off. We were able to offer detailed
coaching and facilitate multiple debates and discussions which worked seamlessly over an Microsoft Teams call. Popular motions explored included ‘This House would ban meat’ which then ranged to more complex motions like ‘This House would impose a BBC-style impartiality requirement on all news platforms’.
In conjunction with our online sessions, we managed to establish a link with the non-profit, Debate Mate, who provided an incredible workshop for some of our students, led by Team England debaters. Coincidentally, we learnt that the founder of Debate Mate was a Wycombe Abbey Senior who started the Debating Society when she was at Wycombe Abbey!
Chloe LVI
The annual orchestral concert at St John’s, Smith Square continues to be one of the highlights of Wycombe Abbey’s musical calendar. In February, four of our ensembles participated: Sinfonia, Violin Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. Chamber Orchestra performed a series of dances including the ‘Walzer’ from the ‘Serenade for Strings’ and an arrangement of the ever-popular ‘Libertango’ by Piazzolla. Our Senior violin ensemble played movements from the rarely heard ‘Concerto for Four Violins’ by Lionardo Leo. Sinfonia gave a polished performance of Delibes’ ‘La Kalinda’ and Symphony Orchestra performed the rich Büsser orchestration of Debussy’s ‘Petite Suite’. One of the highlights of the concert was a mass performance of the ‘Intermezzo’ from Cavalleria Rusticana with players filling every corner of the stage.
The stars of the evening were our three Clarence concerto soloists: Isabel (UVI), who gave a tasteful, engaging performance of the Gianella’s ‘Flute Concerto in D Minor’; Nicole (UVI), whose playing sparkled in the first movement of Mozart’s ‘Piano Concerto in A K.488’ and Chloe (UVI), whose interpretation of the slow movement of Chopin’s ‘Second Piano Concerto’ showed mature musical insight.
Mr S Reid Director of MusicOne of the highlights of the concert was a mass performance of the ‘Intermezzo’ from Cavalleria Rusticana with players filling every corner of the stage
This year’s Archer Concert was held in the Archer Recital Hall on 10 November. It had a Russian/American theme running through much of the programme. The Symphony Orchestra performed all four movements of Prokofiev’s challenging ‘Classical’ Symphony. Chapel Choir sang two arrangements by Michael Neaum - an arranger celebrated for his writing for girls’ choirs - one of the traditional Polish hymn ‘Gaude Mater Polonia’, the other, the American Spiritual ‘Didn’t It Rain’. Holst Singers gave polished performances of ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’, ‘Nella Fantasia’, based upon the theme ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ from ‘The Mission’ and a partsong by the American composer Laura Farnell ‘I Carry Your Heart’. We heard two excellent solos: Isabel (UVI) on the saxophone performing ‘Light of Sothis’ by Amy Quate and Levmini (UVI) singing Fauré’s ‘Après un Rêve’. The concert closed with Chamber Orchestra playing Arensky’s ‘Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky’ – a tour-de-force of string techniques based upon a Russian carol. This was followed by an exuberant performance of Copland’s sprightly ‘Hoe Down’ from ‘Rodeo’.
Mr S Reid Director of Music
The Lunchtime Concert Series, held in Fisher Library or Chapel, offers girls an informal opportunity to practise performing in public and will often provide a ‘dress rehearsal’ before a music examination. Almost all concerts feature girls from Upper Three through to the Upper Sixth and enable the girls to learn from and support one another. This year we held 13 concerts across the year with over 100 girls performing in total. The majority of events featured soloists on a wide variety of instruments and voice and ranged from beginners through to diploma level players. In the Summer Term, adapting to the lockdown caused by Covid-19, we held our first remote Lunchtime Concert with pupils
submitting recordings which were then published on Planet e-Stream. In March, our series went on tour to All Saints Church, High Wycombe, where 10 of our musicians played to a large, appreciative audience. As well as featuring four wonderful soloists – Rosalie, Chloe, Catrina (UV) and Jessica (LVI)– the concert also included a Dvořák String Trio played by Tara (UVI), Iris (LV) and Clara (LVI) and a rhythmic oboe trio featuring Jocelyn (LV), Ellani and Darvin (LVI).
Mr S Reid Director of Music
On 20 January Wycombe Abbey once again played host to the first round of the Bucks Music Service Annual Battle of the Bands. The event was held in the Archer Recital Hall and four bands from Wycombe Abbey participated, joining other bands from across the area.
The standard is always high and our girls rose to the occasion. We were particularly delighted that our Upper Fifth band, Ionic, were awarded a place in the Finals. This took place at Wycombe Swan on 7 March and featured some of the most talented young rock musicians in the area. Ionic once again stepped up and delivered an energetic performance and received a special mention at the end of the evening.
Mr S Reid Director of MusicThe standard is always high and our girls rose to the occasion. We were particularly delighted that our Upper Fifth band, Ionic, were awarded a place in the Finals
Although we were not at School, Wycombe Abbey music did not take a break, as girls remotely continued instrument lessons from around the world and there were plenty of opportunities provided by the Music Department.
Remote lessons were at times a struggle, with internet connections breaking down and latency changing the rhythm of things you were playing. In Wycombe Abbey fashion, the girls adapted well to the situation and lots of progress was made during the remote Summer term.
There were also some very exciting remote performances from the Chapel choir and Stage Band. Stage Band was the first group to try their hand at a remote performance, recording ‘Say A Little Prayer’ from homes all around the world. It was challenging recording to a backing track but the final product sounded outstanding. The stage band also recorded an adapted version of ‘Let’s Stay Together’ for the Clarence leavers ceremony to bid farewell to this year’s leavers. For VE day
celebrations, the Chapel choir recorded an arrangement of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ featuring a solo from Cate Nicholson (LVI) and Lucinda (LV) recording the Last Post. The mechanics of these performances were challenging to get to grips with, as each girl had to record
In Wycombe Abbey fashion, the girls adapted well to the situation and lots of progress was made during the remote Summer term
her part solo singing to a backing track before all the parts being combined into the final project. It was a big success and some members of the Chapel choir recorded one of their favourite anthems, ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You’, for the end of the term.
The Music Department organised a virtual Lunchtime Concert, which is usually a staple of Wycombe Abbey music. This allowed girls to show what they have been working on during the Summer term; a testament to their hard work on their instruments despite not having lessons in person.
Girls have been working on music in their own time, with the Wycombe Abbey Rock Bands hard at work on new material to be performed the next academic year. This includes the first collaborative band between Wycombe Abbey and Harrow which is a very exciting prospect.
A big thank you must go to the whole Music Department and all the instrument teachers for their support and patience during this time. It has been a challenging period for everyone, and their encouragement has made transitioning to a virtual method of learning much simpler and stress-free.
K atie LVI
This year Wycombe Abbey re-entered the top 30 of the Independent sports schools of the year list at number 27. This is a reflection of the breadth and depth of sport offered and the achievements of our pupils.
This year has also seen the introduction of a new department culture, where we considered the mission statement, aims and sporting values. We aim to create a culture in which high performance, mass participation, variety, enjoyment and health and fitness are values equally and by all. Our values include integrity, humility, discipline, mental toughness, enjoyment and respect. We believe these values should underpin all our sporting efforts and achievements, lessons, training sessions and match days. Big School announcements have been based around these. The current period of remote learning has provided us with an unexpected but enriching opportunity to discuss these values more closely with pupils and the understanding they have shown has been impressive.
Curriculum sport has changed dramatically for pupils in KS3 this academic year with the removal of specific sport focused class lessons and the introduction of new pupil centred units. The units have been designed to focus on the following key learning objectives::
Perform A creative, performance-based unit teaching choreographic and aesthetic skills
Aqua A water-based unit teaching essential stroke and fitness skills alongside a variety of waterbased activities Foundation A u nit based on developing core skill-based fitness components
Discover A practical unit to develop an understanding of healthy lifestyle, anatomy and physiology
Develop A f un and thought-provoking unit based on development and adaptation of team games
The introduction of these units has offered all pupils a better balance of physical literacy and understanding, alongside our major team sports of Lacrosse, Netball, Swimming, Tennis and Athletics. The Fifth Form curriculum is currently under review, and we will then move on to consider our Sixth Form programme.
The PE department has organised and run several day and residential trips this year. These have included a Netball Tour to Sun City in South Africa and Ski Racing to both Val Thorens and Flaine. We are currently in the planning stages of launching three new trips in the next 12 months: Swimming to Spain, Tennis to Belgium and Lacrosse to the USA and we hope that these can go ahead as planned.
This Summer term has presented obvious challenges for all schools, pupils, parents and teachers but in PE it has been an exciting opportunity to explore alternative schemes of work and delivery of an active programme. I am very proud of what we have produced; pupils have participated in remote House Games Challenges, a weekly activity log with themed days to ensure variety and balance to their activity schedule as well as live lessons.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of SportThis year’s interviews for School Sports Captain were highly competitive with a range of different personalities and talents, with some sports specialists applying. As a result of the passion and dedication shown to Wycombe Abbey, and the demonstration of excellent leadership and cooperation skills shown during interview, Daisy (LVI) was been named School Sports Captain for 2020/2021.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of Sport
The School’s Athletics season did not take place this Summer term, due to Covid-19. However, we still have an exciting achievement from our Joint Athletics Captain, Temi (UVI), who had an excellent start to her season.
Temi competed at England Indoor Championships, finishing with a Gold medal and an Under-20 Women’s Championships record of 12.92m in Triple Jump.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of Sport
Temi competed at England Indoor Championships, finishing with a Gold medal and an Under-20 Women’s Championships record of 12.92m in Triple Jump
12 pupils participated in the first round of the Cross-Country Cup. All athletes ran extremely well and were placed fourth. However, due to tough competition this year, only the top three teams progressed to the Regional Round which meant our runners narrowly missed out on qualifying.
Phoebe (UVI), our Joint Athletics Captain, was selected for the England Under-20 Women’s team at the Cross-Country Cup
in Belgium. She finished in 3rd place and joined her team-mates on an all-England podium. After the event, Phoebe said: “I hugely enjoyed the experience of travelling and competing with the team”.
Further Cross-Country accolades were gained by the junior athletes. 29 Wycombe Abbey girls ran in the Buckinghamshire Schools Athletics Association County Championships.
In the Minor category, some of our Upper Third pupils finished in fifth, eighth and ninth place and as a result all three girls qualified to compete at the Junior Nationals in Loughborough. In the Junior category, Arolape (UIV) finished in 11th place, qualifying for the English Schools Championships in Liverpool.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of SportDance continues to be a hugely popular sporting Extra with hundreds of girls taking part. In Tap and Modern Dance, we have celebrated some excellent exam results this year. The new Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)
In Fencing, individuals continue to shine. Two Foilists gave up their January Short Leave to compete in the Southern Region age group Foil qualifiers for the British Youth Championships. Zara (LV) competed in Under-16 girls, finishing 6th and taking the last qualifier spot. Fiona (UIII) competed in Under-12 girls, making it to the final where she was seeded number two. It was a thrilling final which Fiona eventually won 10–9, taking the gold
Intermediate Tap syllabus is being taught at Wycombe Abbey for the first time, an exciting development for the class. Exam results were equally outstanding for our Ballet Royal Academy of Dance students with all attaining high merits and
distinctions. Well done to Hannah (UIV), who gained distinctions in both her exams, the first time for a Wycombe Abbey pupil.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of Sportmedal and qualifying for the National Championships. Eva (UVI) qualified for the National Championships in Under-18 Sabre because of her excellent results in last year’s Championships. Sarah (LVI) has continued to train hard and maintain her place in Juniors Team GB3 épée. In the county competition, girls competed in Foil, Épée and Sabre with two gold medals, one silver, three bronze and numerous other single figure placings.
It was a thrilling final which Fiona eventually won 10–9, taking the gold medal and qualifying for the National Championships
We were all sad to hear of the loss of our long-serving Fencing Coach, Mr Jones this year. Despite this upsetting news the girls have continued to fight on and produce some impressive results in his honour.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of Sport
Football continues to be a popular option. This year the football squad played in the International Schools Football Association (ISFA) 6-a-side tournament hosted at Downe House. The team performed well in every game, but just missed out on qualifying for the quarter finals. The team has been well led by Hannah and Karen (UVI).
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of Sport
The gymnastics squad trained hard this year in preparation for our two styles of competition: Independent School Gymnastics Association (ISGA) and British School Gymnastic Association (BSGA). Led by Captains, Io and Kate (UVI) the squad included pupils from UIII to UVI. Our first competition was the ISGA 2 piece Championship in November - a qualification for the 5 piece National Championship. All three teams, Under-13, Under-15 and Over-13, qualified. Individually, Isabel (LV) and Arabella (LIV) came fifth and sixth in their respective age groups - an excellent achievement!
Our second competition was the BSGA Milano Regional Championships; another qualifying competition for the Milano National Championships. The Under-19 team consisting of Charlotte (UV), Io and Kate (UVI) came first and therefore qualified for the National competition.
Unfortunately, due to adverse weather and Covid-19 the remainder of our competitions were cancelled this year.
Nevertheless, the girls trained hard on their routines and skills all the way until the closure of School.
I would like to congratulate and thank our Captains, Io and Kate, for being fantastic role models and leaders for our younger gymnasts.
Miss S Toogood Assistant Housemistress of Wendover, Teacher of PE and EnglishIn support of our Aspiring Athlete Support Programme, we had a visit from GB Hockey players, Giselle Ansley MBE and Esme Burge, sponsored by Investec. Our elite athletes visited at break time for a Question and Answer session with the athletes, including how they were preparing for the Tokyo Olympics. Both GB players took three PE lessons, while Hockey players in Lower Fourth to Lower Fifth were lucky enough to be coached by both Giselle and Esme. A day in the presence of such humble and committed sportswomen was inspiring for the aspiring athletes in the School.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of Sport2019/2020 saw a successful season across all age groups, with some tough matches throughout and a National Schools Champions title for the 1st team.
Our Under-14 A team had a fantastic season and reached the final for a second year running. We came up against Guildford, again, which was always going to be a tough match. Unfortunately, we did not optimise on our chances but the girls were excellent and performed outstandingly throughout the day, and finished as runners up.
The Under-15s made continuous progress throughout the season, reaching the last 16 at National Schools. Unfortunately, the Under-13s, Under-15 B, 2nd and 3rd team were all cancelled due to Covid-19, however, they all produced some excellent results
during our Saturday fixtures. We managed to see a large number of girls play in matches over the season from each age group, participating weekly from Under-12 to Senior level.
A special mention to the following girls who have gained individual international recognition. They should have competed in the Under-19 and Senior Home Internationals in April: Jasmine (UVI), Under-19A England; Lexi (UVI), Under-19B England; Carys (UVI), Under-19A Wales; Emily (UVI), Under-19A Scotland; Poppy (UIV), Under-19B Scotland; and Francesca (UV), Under-19A Italy. Well done to all teams and players.
Miss R Smith Head of Lacrosse
The Netball season finished with all teams progressing and working tremendously hard to achieve success in their competitions. The year started with a very successful senior pre-season, followed by wins for both the Under-13 and Under-14 age groups their respective invitational tournaments. We were delighted to welcome the Warrior team from South Africa, who competed in the Under-16 invitational tournament where our team finished in sixth position. It was a fitting way for the School to prepare for the upcoming tour to South Africa during October Long Leave.
All age groups competed in a National Cup where initial rounds proved tough. The Under-16 team progressed through to fourth round where they narrowly missed out on the quarter finals to St Swithun’s School. The Under-16 team progressed through to the National Schools Regional Tournament, setting a record for reaching the semi-final, taking fourth place in the region overall. The girls were outstanding on the day and should be very proud of their achievement.
Towards the end of the Spring term, teams competed in the District Tournaments. Particular highlights were a win for the Under-16 team and a 2nd place finish for the Under-19 team. Unfortunately, the Under-12 and Under-13 competition had to be cancelled. Overall, the girls should be very proud of their efforts and commitment throughout the season.
Miss P Whittle Head of Netball and RowingPlenty of friendly matches took place this season to provide competitive opportunities for all who wished to take part
Racket sports have continued to be popular with the pupils, with an increase in participation numbers at squad and club sessions. In Badminton and Squash, the number of fixtures has increased due to the high demand.
In Badminton, both the Under-13 and Under-15 teams were placed third in the district round of the National Schools competition. This was a great experience for all who attended, and a good base to build upon for next year. Friendlies were played against local schools, and we look forward to increasing the opportunities for the girls in the coming years.
The Squash teams did not disappoint this year, reaching the National Schools final in all three age groups. With the large increase in pupils
attending Squash Club, the battle places in the A team are highly competitive. This is the first year that an Under-14 team has been entered, so we were thrilled that they placed 1st in the county round to qualify for the National Finals. Plenty of friendly matches took place this season to provide competitive opportunities for all who wished to take part.
Following the success in the 2019 Summer Term, the Under-13B and Under-15B tennis teams progressed to the Division 2 Regional Final of the LTA Team Tennis competition. After a long day of tennis, both teams were placed third in the region - an excellent achievement. The S enior Students entered the LTA Winter Team Tennis Competition and after winning their county league were placed second at the Regional Final.
Mrs F Gee Assistant Director of SportThis season, Wycombe Abbey Rowing Club members worked to develop their sculling technique through both crew boat and ergometer work. An Upper Third Rowing Club was introduced with great success; providing the opportunity to establish basic rowing technique, moving on to the water following the Christmas break. The introduction of ten new ergometers has been instrumental in providing extra provision for the Club within the school grounds. Looking forward, the Club hopes to
Ski racing continues to be hugely popular, with an unprecedented 61 pupils trialling at the Indoor Championships in September. Girls from all year groups took part, racing (for many) in both slalom and parallel slalom. The competition was fierce and selection for the 24 spaces in the ski racing team was incredibly tight. Alongside selection, our eventual A team skiers, Cara (LV), Lydia and
implement more land-based training sessions to see the further progression of its members. Unfortunately, the Summer term saw sessions cancelled due to Covid-19. The Rowing Club looks forward to getting back onto the water again.
Miss P Whittle Head of Netball and RowingMadeline (LVI) went on to win a total of three trophies and nine medals at the event. We had another successful year racing abroad, with the Snow School Championships in Val Thorens in December, and the Flaine British Schoolgirls Ski Races in January.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of Sport
September saw the start of a club link with Wycombe District Swimming Club (WDSC). This has provided the opportunity for our advanced and competitive squad swimmers, allowing them regularly to train alongside WDSC and receive expert coaching. The girls have all thoroughly enjoyed these sessions and, as a result, we have seen an increase in participation in swimming across all levels this year. An increase in training hours and intensity had a positive impact on competition results, both for the squad and individuals. Countless personal best times were swam this season, and many School records were broken. All members of the swimming squad who wished to represent the school were given the opportunity across a range of different level galas. The swimmers should be congratulated on some excellent results this year, including second place overall in the
The Summer term presented challenges for all schools, pupils, parents and teachers but in Physical Education it was an exciting opportunity to explore alternative schemes of work and delivery of an active programme. I am extremely proud of what the department produced. Pupils participated in remote House Games Challenges, completed a weekly activity log with themed days to ensure variety and balance to their activity schedule, and joined in live lessons. Live lessons were based around a theoretical understanding of our sporting values, core hand-eye coordination skills and technical understanding of fitness activities.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of Sport
At the start of the Summer term we launched our ‘Around the World Challenge’, Staff began a journey to ‘virtually’ visit all pupils across the globe. We aimed to encourage staff to remain active, as well as helping the pupils to feel valued and part of the school community, even if they were physically away from Wycombe Abbey. We visited each capital city of the countries where the pupils were living during lockdown, virtually covering 67,706 kilometres! We raised money along our route for three amazing charities: NHS Charities Together, Headway and Sport Relief.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of Sport Wycombe Abbey Swimming League, second place overall in the Wycombe Abbey Invitational Gala, and finalists in the Otter Girls Freestyle relay competition held at the London Aquatic Centre.Throughout the period of lockdown, members of the Wycombe Abbey community were unable to participate together in physical activities. The Sports Department at Wycombe Abbey organised a 67,706 km ‘Around the World’ challenge, aiming to encourage staff to stay active, and to ‘visit’ pupils in their home countries. The virtual trip invited staff members to contribute to the overall mileage through their daily exercise, with 38 staff members on-board.
The challenge raised money for three charities: NHS Charities Together, Headway, and Sports Relief. Laura Chandler, Wycombe Abbey’s Health Centre Manager, took up the challenge during lockdown and contributed by running 10km every day.
Laura explains “This year I was planning to raise money for MIND by running half marathons. When lockdown was
announced I couldn’t see how my fundraising could continue – no races, no sponsorship. I had decided to support MIND this year as the role I have at Wycombe Abbey brings me into contact
The challenge raised money for three charities: NHS Charities Together, Headway, and Sports Relief
with many people, both girls and staff, struggling with some aspect of their mental health, and I am passionate about supporting people, and making it clear that it’s OK to struggle with your mental health.”
“When the ‘Around the World’ challenge was announced the idea of the challenge came to me – I was going to run 10km every day during lockdown. This was something that I could now fundraise for!” Other staff at Wycombe Abbey joined the challenge via Microsoft Teams, where they recorded their daily activity and were able to encourage one another. “I encouraged everyone to get out into the fresh air every day – walk, run, cycle… it doesn’t matter, but has so much benefit for us at this challenging time.”
At the end of July 2020, Laura had run 1000 kilometres since 1 May, across 127 consecutive days in lockdown. “I can honestly say it has kept me fit and well, and has been vital for my mental wellbeing. It sets me up for the day. I have slowed down, become more mindful, and have noticed so much, and now really appreciate the beauty around me.”
The Seniors’ Office looks after the 4500-strong network of Wycombe Abbey alumnae across the globe and facilitates their engagement in the life of the School. Seniors are involved with Careers Guidance and Higher Education guidance activities, appearing as guest speakers and offering work experience and internship opportunities for pupils.
All Seniors are warmly welcomed back at School for an annual Seniors’ Day reunion in the Autumn, and for the Seniors vs Wycombe First team lacrosse match and the Seniors’ Carol Service at Christmas. Regional and decade reunions also take place throughout the year. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the Seniors’ events programme has had to adjust this year. The Seniors’ Office stays connected with alumnae through a new Seniors’ website, social media channels, and through The Seniors’ Supplement and The Dove, a new digital magazine.
We are grateful that Seniors continue to support the School’s development priorities, such as the Bursary Fund and capital development projects. The school simply could not offer the opportunities it does, or develop our magnificent 170-acre conservation-listed site, without the support of alumnae and donors.
The breadth of Seniors’ personal and professional achievements and life experiences that we have seen over the last year is a testament to the uniqueness of Wycombe Abbey’s truly global community.
The School simply could not offer the opportunities it does, or develop our magnificent 170-acre conservation-listed site, without the support of alumnae and donors
Ican’t quite believe it has been an entire year since saying goodbye to the Wycombe walls. I certainly didn’t think I would be looking back 12 months later amidst a global p andemic. Following the business of post-A Level summer and jumping into university, I never had the chance to reflect on my seven years at Wycombe; Lockdown was the opportunity to do so. The nostalgic days at home reminded me of just how much I grew up at Wycombe surrounded by the most amazing teachers, Housemistresses and, ultimately, life-long friends who became my support and positive light during the long hours inside.
Rewinding to last September, I started my first year studying History at Oxford University. The first term was a whirlwind of eight weeks. From handing in my first ever essay to strolling to the pub with unfamiliar new friends, I found myself constantly taking comfort in the confidence and resilience Wycombe instilled in me over the years. Starting university is not easy. It was a big new environment with lots of new faces and a blank timetable that made free periods at Wycombe feel minuscule. Halfway through my first term I reached out to another Wycombe Senior at my college and asked to go for coffee. That was probably the best decision I made. The family you create at Wycombe is eternal and it follows you, supporting you when the extra hand is needed. It wasn’t long before I found my feet and began playing lacrosse for the university (another daily reminder of Wycombe roots). Although my first year at university was cut short it has been without a doubt the most exciting year of life so far. I ended up doing lots of British Medieval History taught by some incredible tutors. Every day feels like a lifetime in the best kind of way. It is a rollercoaster of thrill, risk, freedom, work ethic and reward. Bumping into familiar Wycombe faces was always the best respite from the intensity and newness that is the constant. Seeing your Wycombe friends will always feel effortless because we grow up together.
I consider myself fortunate in being halfway through the first year when the virus took hold. I was thinking of all the Wycombe girls planning on taking exams and celebrating after an official deadline. Especially for 2020 leavers, I hope you are all going into your next chapters with excitement even in the current circumstances. Don’t forget that the Wycombe family spreads far and wide and we are all linked by the time we shared there.
I wish everyone and all families good health and happiness going into the next academic year, whatever it may hold. I am looking forward to coming back and saying hello!
Jade Yarrow (C320) Head of School 2018/2019
Don’t forget that the Wycombe family spreads far and wide and we are all linked by the time we shared there
The Seniors’ Travel Award fund was set up by a Senior, Vera Gordon, aiming to give Seniors an opportunity to apply for funding to facilitate travel plans that include a charitable element. The Travel Award is available to all Seniors and girls in Clarence.
As a Wycombe girl, it’s easy to feel immense pressure to know exactly what you want to do with life aged 18 years, or at least a well-planned year out practically the day after A Levels ended. I found myself ticking not a single one of those boxes, and the adventure of the so-called “spontaneous gap year” began. I accepted my fate and decided to use this year to tick the first box: figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. I found an old list of 12 things I wanted to be when I grew up, presumably w ritten during a primary school activity, and set myself the challenge of actually doing every single one of those jobs in the next 12 months. A bizarre idea but it gave me somewhere to start. For the next few months, I found myself doing everything from pulling pints in a pub to milking cows on a farm at 5 am. It was exhausting but unquestionably fun. Upon reflection, I think it’s safe to say I won’t be pursuing a lifelong career in farming or bartending or the majority of the other jobs I tried; but, with the help of a Seniors’ Travel Award, I did find a passion worth pursuing.
For months, jobs nine and ten seemed dauntingly impossible to achieve, “Explorer” and “Teacher”, respectively. When the opportunity arose to travel to Tanzania, live in a remote village and facilitate a Business and Entrepreneurship Programme for three months, I jumped at the chance. After several weeks of fundraising, training and desperately trying to locate summer T-shirts in January, I packed my repurposed DofE rucksack, donned a pair of “Gap Yah” trousers and switched my Oxfordshire village for one in Tanzania.
If you search for “Magozi” on Maps, as several panicked relatives did upon discovery I was no longer in the country, no reassuring red pin pops up. If you Google “Magozi”, the closest correct result you’ll find is an out of date P.O.Box for the entire village. If you drive 16 hours from Dar Es Salaam, another four on a mud track from Iringa Town and then finally walk through a couple of supposedly impassable rivers, you’ll find a village of the best people in the world.
Mika Alvarez Nishio (C320), writes about her experience as an award recipient:
My team was made up of six UK and six Tanzanian volunteers, each split into pairs and living with a different host family in the village. We had no running water, no electricity and no phone signal. We ate rice for every meal, a banana if we were lucky and had forgotten what a fridge was by week two. We laughed, we cried and we never stopped reminding each other just how hot it was. At times it was tough but it was glorious nonetheless. Our working days were filled with teaching sessions, 1-to-1s with entrepreneurs, community action days and business show cases, to give a brief flavour. Upon returning home, I felt extremely privileged to have been able to help a community in such a professional and long-lasting way. This programmatic aspect was central in inspiring my interest in a future in development and the charitable sector. But just as my best memories of Wycombe consist of laughing uncontrollably in the snow with my friends rather than endless History coursework, it was the people rather than the programme that made my time in Magozi so special. I will always remember the feeling of Charles (my TZ counterpart) waking me up at 5 am to put buckets out to catch the first rain of the season rather than to get to the farm. I’ll remember the smell of burning firewood as I
cooked with Mama, and the stinging of the smoke in my eyes. I’ll remember the taste of fresh papaya from the next village along and the colours of my first Tanzanian sunset. More than anything, I’ll always remember the time the two little girls in my homestay first called me “dada”, because it means “sister” and because from that moment on, I felt truly at home in Magozi.
Ostensibly, my time in Magozi was ‘just jobs nine and ten’ mixed in with a bit of “Gap Yah” travelling. Indeed, it certainly started that way, but in the end, it became so much more. I learnt far more than I taught, and I settled in long before I thought my “Explorer” period would end. I discovered a hidden love for rice and beans, developed an impressive T-shirt tan and learnt that there is always time to stop and greet everyone you pass. Best of all, I found a community waiting to welcome me with open arms and a family who, for that brief moment in time, made me one of their own. I will always be grateful for everything and everyone that got me there.
Mika Alvarez Nishio (C320)
We laughed, we cried and we never stopped reminding each other just how hot it was
In the Spring term, we were delighted to welcome back Wycombe Abbey Senior, Baroness Butler-Sloss (C75) to deliver a talk to pupils as part of the Sixth Form Lecture Series.
With an illustrious legal career as a family judge for more than 30 years, the president of the high court family division, and the first female Lord Justice of Appeal, Baroness Butler-Sloss has championed the rights of children and personal autonomy. More recently, she was involved in the independent review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and it is this aspect that she chose to speak about by posing the question “does slavery still exist?”, revisiting this significant and often hidden scourge of the modern world.
Ms Emma Bowen, Deputy Head of Sixth Form (Enrichment) said “It was such an honour to have Baroness Butler-Sloss return to Wycombe Abbey. She spoke very candidly, sharing numerous anecdotes from her personal experience investigating this issue.
“Her ultimate advice; that awareness and vigilance by ordinary people is the best method we have to stop this, provided both hope and a sense of personal responsibility to all those present. It was a moving, thought provoking and inspiring lecture by one of Wycombe’s most illustrious Seniors”.
Juliana (UVI) added: “Baroness Butler-Sloss explored the legal nuances of defining and punishing modern slavery, including the practical challenges of differentiating between criminals and slaves acting under duress. Her sharing on its pervasiveness throughout society made us all realise the need for us to advocate for reform and take action by being more responsible consumers. She also provided quality advice to aspiring lawyers, informed by her experience as a renowned jurist”.
In February, Wycombe Abbey pupils travelled to New York to participate in the National High Schools Model United Nations where they met with Senior and UAE Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh. Lana provided a fascinating insight into the day-to-day realities of representing her country as a diplomat. Their discussion covered a range of topics including Middle Eastern politics and economics, the empowerment of women, United Nations reform and international law.
Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh attended Wycombe Abbey from 1990-1997 (C204), going on to read History at Queens’ College, Cambridge. In September 2013, Lana was the first woman from the United Arab Emirates to be appointed to the role of Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In 2017, Lana was elected as one of the Vice Presidents for the 72nd session of the General Assembly, representing the Asia-Pacific group of member states, alongside being named President of the UN Women Executive Board and becoming co-chair of the Friends of the Future of the UN.
Vanessa (UV) described the experience: “It was so inspiring to meet Ambassador Nusseibeh – we all want to grow up to be just like her! It was wonderful to be able to discuss global politics with someone so directly involved in international diplomacy. My committee at the conference examined development and disarmament in the Middle East and North Africa. To be able to talk to an ambassador from the region was an extraordinary opportunity. It gave us a deeper, personal insight into a complex topic and an edge in the debate.”
Pupils who attended the New York conference were very grateful to Lana and the staff of the UAE Mission for their kind hospitality.
Dr Alistair Goddard Director of Co-CurricularIn December 2019 Wycombe Abbey hosted the annual Seniors’ Lacrosse Match and Carol Service. The match broke new records with a complete Seniors team of 12 to play against the Wycombe Abbey First Team. The day was a magnificent success for the Seniors, who won the match 10-7, aided by a member of the Seniors’ team having played for the England lacrosse team. The Seniors challenged the Wycombe Abbey Firsts, and just a few months later the first team then went on to achieve acclaim by becoming Under-19 National Schools Champions.
The lacrosse match was followed by a much-anticipated Wycombe Abbey afternoon tea, and guests proceeded to Chapel for the Carol Service, led by the Reverend Penny Nash. The Chapel Choir, Chancel Choir, and Holst singers all gave performances and several Clarence girls sang solos at their last Carol Service before themselves becoming Seniors. The event was a wonderful success.
Amanda Gibbon, Chair of Seniors’ Consultative Committee said “The Carol Service continues to be a powerful occasion for Seniors, bringing back memories of school through familiar readings and music. We are grateful to the School for their hospitality and welcome.”
The match broke new records with a complete Seniors team of 12 to play against the Wycombe Abbey First Team.
Wycombe Abbey Seniors went above and beyond throughout the spring and summer lockdown imposed by Covid-19. Similar to Wycombe Abbey pupils, Seniors supported their local communities and came together to share their resources and offer their skills to those in greater need.
Victoria Young (C158) and her daughter, Marnie (UIV) responded to the ‘Scrub Up!’ campaign, sewing scrubs for the medics at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Jane Makower Mather (C151) and her husband used their home as a delivery hub for local households to distribute milk, bread, fruit and vegetables to those in isolation.
Senior, Alex Martin (C155), Consultant Surgeon and the University of Bristol’s Academy Medical Dean at Weston General Hospital, performed a valuable service on the frontline of the UK’s Covid-19 effort, working in the Intensive Care palliative care unit.
Evelyn Booth-Clibborn (C291) ran an
initiative ‘Fuel the Fight’, campaigning to support struggling restaurants all over London and healthcare workers on the front line. This involved restaurants signing up to provide local hospitals with over 4000 cooked meals for NHS staff.
listener as call numbers increased throughout the period of isolation.
“The government classed us as essential workers early on in lockdown - nearly all callers mentioned the lockdown and the impact it was having on their daily lives: feeling lonely, scared about their future education or jobs, and without the normal coping mechanism. It really felt like our service was more important than normal.”
Lucy Jarman (C233) responded to an early call for volunteers for the Oxford vaccine trial. “Early on in May, I was vaccinated as part of the trial. Seeing the preliminary findings that were released was exciting, knowing that I had played a role in it.” Lucy also volunteers for the Samaritans and continued to play a key role during the pandemic by working as an active
Gloria Smith (C293) qualified as a doctor in the spring, placing other career goals on hold to volunteer as a Junior Doctor at the Whittington Hospital, London, on the front line in a Covid-19 ward. Gloria commented, “starting work on the wards earlier than expected in a global pandemic was daunting, but the resilience and positivity learned at Wycombe Abbey have been invaluable to me in this experience, and of course the support every step of the way from my lovely Wycombe friends!”
Miss K Tyler Seniors’ Officer
The challenge raised money for three charities: NHS Charities Together, Headway, and Sports Relief
Sylvie Harris
Sarah Lafford
Rachel Parker
Niomi Collins
Lorraine Mason
Susanna Michael 118
Sophie Landsmann 119
Marina Cassan Ferrier 119
Simon Johns 120
Shelley Physick 120
Sophie Langdale 121
Patrick Sherrington – Chairman of Council 122
Dame Sue Carr – Member of Council 123
Lady Sassoon – A Life at Wycombe Abbey Member of Council 124
In Memoriam – Harry Jones 125
Illustration by Elizabeth, UV
Harris, Teacher of French and in later years, Housemistress of Cloister, was a helpful, warm and charismatic colleague, fully involved in her teaching and in many events across the busy life of the school, and the drama department in particular.
Sylvie produced valuable resources shared by many of her colleagues, took part in outings and trips even as far as Spain, and supported many academic events. She was a truly caring teacher, encouraging the less confident and rewarding the most enterprising with Carambars (chewy caramels from France). She contributed to many pupils’ success in speaking examinations and debating competitions and made the younger ones thoroughly
enjoy their French lessons. She gave her all, unconditionally, to the Modern Languages Department and Cloister. Fourteen years of dedicated service, with a touch of Gironde in her approach, full of life with a sense of achievement and determination, she will certainly be very much missed by colleagues and pupils alike.
Ms Eva Piqué Head of Modern Foreign Languages
Following her tenure as Housemistress of Wendover and as a Tutor in Junior House, Miss Lafford took the helm of Junior House for the academic year 2019/2020.
Although the year was interrupted by lockdown, the pupils in Junior will long remember their time in Junior House. They will remember the warmth and care of an excellent Housemistress and they truly appreciated the hard work and the efforts of the team that Miss Lafford led. From hot chocolate to chess matches and from knitting to reading logs the Junior House of 2019/2020 was a hive of activity and a caring, warm home for all who lived there. A skilled and dedicated classroom
practitioner, Miss Lafford taught Biology throughout her time at Wycombe Abbey and latterly taught Geography. Thorough preparation and dedication to her pupils were the hallmarks of her trade both in the classroom and in the boarding House. We wish her all the very best in her new role as a Senior Housemistress at Bloxham School.
Mr J Jones Deputy Head (Pupils)AtChristmas 2019 the School bade a fond farewell to Mrs Rachel Parker. Housemistress of Butler House and Teacher of Geography, she will be missed by pupils and colleagues alike. Her warmth, good humour and willingness to help others with any issue, no matter how big or small, endeared her to the community here at Wycombe Abbey.
Having been a much-liked and respected CSAT in Clarence, Mrs Parker was a natural choice to run a Senior House. Her move to Butler House enabled her to demonstrate her innately caring and nurturing personality. Younger girls cherished the care and compassion with which they were treated and the older girls appreciated the calm wisdom that they were offered throughout their journey through the Senior school. Everyone enjoyed their time with “Rolo”, Mrs Parker’s beloved dog. Away from the
Boarding House, Mrs Parker was an excellent Geography teacher and one whose commitment to the subject was evident in all she did. Her willingness to give her time to accompany trips for both the Geography and the Music departments was much appreciated. A promotion to Deputy Headship at St. Albans High School was much deserved and we wish her all the very best in her new role.
Mr J Jones Deputy Head (Pupils)Over the six years Niomi was with us at Wycombe Abbey, she showed a wholehearted commitment and passion to every aspect of School life. She was not only a valued member of the PE team but also pastorally supported the girls in her role as Assistant Housemistress of Butler.
Her passion for sport, in particular netball, athletics and dance were infectious and she could regularly be found dancing around the PE department in preparation for her next lesson. Her contributions to Wycombe Abbey were vast, heading up a number of Netball teams, managing a very successful Cross-Country team as well as choreographing and leading Clarence Dance Academy for a number of years. She was also a willing participant in whole-school activities, throwing herself into performances such as the Pantomime
and Strictly Come Dancing, and ran numerous International School trips and tours including Skiing and Netball.
Niomi leaves Wycombe Abbey to become Assistant Director of Sport at St Albans High School for Girls and with a wedding to plan as well, we wish her all the best.
Mrs S Bryett-Windle Director of Sport
Rachel Parker
Mrs Mason has that rare quality of being able to combine innovative and creative vision for extraordinary events, with the planning and organisational skills to deliver them to the exemplary standards. Who other than Mrs Mason would have come up with the idea of inviting a funfair to Midget Pitch, hosting a royal-style garden party for the whole school or starting a rock music festival?
As Junior House Assistant Housemistress, accompanied by Skye the dog, she offered warm sympathy for homesick tears and a gentle motherly response. While it will be for her roles in Junior House and running weekend activities that she will be most remembered by the girls, she has also had a lasting effect on school life as the Educational Visits Coordinator. She radically reformed systems and procedures to
ensure the girls safely enjoyed more than 450 trips a year, from local riding trips to expeditions across the world. We wish her and her husband Colin, who often volunteered to support our Duke of Edinburgh and outward-bound activities, the very best for the future.
Dr A Goddard Director of Co-Curricular Activities
Susanna joined Wycombe Abbey four years ago; first as an RT, then as Senior RT and finally as Barry Assistant Housemistress.
Alongside her pastoral role, Susanna taught Modern Languages and organised Socials with other schools, contributing greatly to wider School life. We were incredibly lucky to have Susanna in Barry House for two years; she was a muchloved member of staff, who always had time to help everyone. Incredibly kind
and caring, the Barry girls and I will miss Susanna greatly. Susanna is moving to Paris to teach English as a Foreign Language; we wish her every success and happiness for the future.
Miss W Meadow-Smith Barry Housemistress Lorraine MasonSophie Landsmann, Head of Modern Languages, Head of French and Sixth Form Tutor, left Wycombe Abbey after 16 years of outstanding service. She defended her ideas with conviction and always had at heart the best interest of pupils.
Sophie helped many generations of girls to develop their critical analysis. She was enthusiastic always wanting to get to the bottom of things, asking constantly: “le pourquoi et le comment”, getting involved and excited to make things happen. She was an intellectual “à la française”, not afraid of controversy, enjoying open debates on education or policies, an action woman who would offer support beyond her call of duty.
She facilitated the work of her colleagues and nurtured the sprouting learners of French to become accomplished linguists. She guided many girls through examinations and university entrance with reassurance. She was an inspirational teacher and leader, who has left a mark on all of us.
Ms Eva Piqué Head of Modern Foreign Languages
Marina Cassan Ferrier
Marina joined us in 2017, as a Teacher of French and Spanish and a much appreciated tutor in Airlie house. She organised and led a very successful French exchange with a French boarding school located in the region of Champagne, thus allowing our pupils to gain an insight into the life of a French teenager.
Supportive and caring, she offered much of her time to junior members of the department and was dedicated to her pupils. Positive in her demeanour and in her mindset, she embraced School life with a smile. Hardworking and talented, she also played the flute in a local orchestra. She gradually took on more
responsibilities in the Spanish Department, and finally seized the opportunity to teach in Madrid. ¡Olé Marina! You were a fantastic colleague.
Miss E Piqué Head of Modern Foreign Languages Sophie LandsmannSimonleft his mark on the Classics department. As well as giving up countless hours to support girls who needed reassurance or were preparing a university application, he delivered rigorous yet fun lessons which were always underpinned by his infectious love for the Classical world.
Under Simon’s considered and thoughtful aegis, the Classics Book Club was launched in 2017 to a broad audience: several girls comment that Book Club is the highlight of their social calendar!
We wish him the very best as he relocates to Sussex with his family to become Head of Classics at Ardingly College.
Mrs J Tidbury Head of Classics
Shelley’s fine intellect, flourishing creativity, excellent working ethos and humble nature has certainly had an impact on her colleagues. She guided many pupils to become accomplished and sophisticated linguists, successfully preparing many of them for Oxbridge entry.
The most literary of our pupils greatly appreciated her many talents as she was an accomplished and particularly resourceful teacher, helping all to achieve excellent results in examinations. A seasoned traveller, she brought her many life experiences of her journeys in Latin America to her lessons. Her knowledge of Spanish culture and history was outstanding and it was through her initiative and contributions that many
pupils enjoyed outings to the theatre, cinema, cultural events and took part in competitions for both the French and Spanish Departments. A dual linguist, she led the French department for the last two years and promoted many of its successes. Truly unique, she will be thoroughly missed.
Ms Eva Piqué Head of Modern Foreign LanguagesSophie Langdale joined Wycombe Abbey in 2016 and made an incredible impact during her time with us. Her professionalism, sky-high standards and indomitable drive for success played a key part in the growth of the School. Sophie’s warm personality made a huge impression on all and her work contributed a great deal to our reputation as a world leader in education.
Sophie joined us as Director of Admissions from Magdalen College School, Oxford. She quickly established relationships with our feeder Prep schools and soon introduced her own style of Open Day complete with her trademark, sophisticated white roses. She was fantastic at juggling back to back appointments, whilst also finding the time to attend Prep School Fairs or overseas Admissions events and her work helped to spread Wycombe Abbey’s name across the globe.
T hroughout her time at Wycombe Abbey, Sophie built excellent relationships with staff, parents and prospective parents alike. We are extremely grateful to Sophie for her tremendous dedication and service and we wish her all the very best in her role as Director of Admissions and Communications at Radley College. They are lucky to have her.
Mrs J Duncan HeadmistressPatrick Sherrington stood down as Chairman of Council on 26 March 2020 after more than ten years at the helm of the School’s governing body. Wycombe Abbey has benefitted tremendously from Patrick’s leadership over the past decade and is deeply grateful to him for his significant contribution to the School’s ongoing success.
It should have been no surprise that from the outset Patrick balanced his deep respect for the School’s long-standing traditions and values with an instinct for what it needed for its future development. After all, Wycombe Abbey is in his DNA: he is married to a Wycombe Senior and former Head of School and is father to a Wycombe Senior, who was also Head of School.
Joining Council in November 2008, Patrick took on the role of Chairman in September 2009. In addition to steering Council, Patrick served as Chairman of the Development, Communications and PR committee, the Nominations Committee and the Executive Committee. He was also an ex-officio member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, the Education, Pastoral and Boarding Committee and the Staff Development and Safeguarding Committee. He managed all of this - which at times amounted to a full-time job in itself – alongside his professional role as a Partner of a law firm. That he met the many pressing demands of the School for ten years, often working at long-distance and across time-zones, is testament to his formidable energy and his deep personal commitment to the Wycombe community.
Initially working with Cynthia Hall, Patrick subsequently appointed Rhiannon Wilkinson (2013 -2019) and then Jo Duncan (2019 - ) to the role of Headmistress of
Wycombe Abbey. He also oversaw many improvements to the School, including a successful capital fundraising campaign and the building of two new boarding Houses, Pitt and Rubens. As a passionate internationalist, Patrick was instrumental in driving the development of Wycombe Abbey International Schools, overseeing the successful partnership with BE Education, and the establishment of Wycombe Abbey School Changzhou in September 2016 and Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong in September 2019. His professional skills both as a lawyer and mediator, and his commitment to the ethos of Wycombe Abbey in developing the partnership have been a key part of its success.
Much of a Chair’s role is hidden from daily view, but Patrick’s patience and sense of fairness have guided Council throughout his term at the helm. He really cared about staff and pupils, spending time with departing teachers and giving genuinely inspiring speeches to Clarence girls at the annual Leavers’ Ceremony. Patrick will be greatly missed by members of Council who emphasise his dedication to the School, his work ethic and his commitment to enhancing the collegiate spirit of Council. However, Patrick retains a close connection to the School; We are delighted that Patrick remains as Chair of Wycombe Abbey International Ltd.
Carr stood down from Council on 20 June 2020 after just over 13 years exemplary service having made an immense contribution to the school over that period.
After attending Wycombe Abbey and Trinity College, Cambridge Sue enjoyed a stellar career at the bar taking silk in 2003, being appointed to the High Court bench and made a DBE in 2013 and finally being elevated to the Court of Appeal earlier this year.
Like many Seniors her connection to the school is deep; her sister is also a Senior as is her daughter and a niece and another niece is still at the school.
Sue was appointed to Council on 17 March 2007 and the following year joined the Finance Committee and subsequently in 2014 the Land and Buildings Committee which two committees were subsequently combined to form the Finance and General Purposes Committee. The work of those committees was arduous and detailed and was absolutely central to the success Wycombe Abbey has enjoyed in recent years and in all of that success Sue played her full part.
T hroughout her time on Council Sue has been a beacon of good sense and wise counsel across the whole range of issues affecting the school. In addition she was a warm, exuberant and enthusiastic colleague and friend to us all, including four successive Headmistresses who spanned her own time on Council.
Her support for me in my nearly 11 years in the Chair was extraordinary and hugely appreciated never more so than when she served more recently as Deputy Chair and I saw at close hand and benefitted from the calmness, assurance and commitment she brought to her role.
She has the unerring ability to make only telling points in meetings, which means that her advice is invariably welcomed and almost always right, but she has the gift of being able to do so without any sense of arrogance or entitlement; indeed quite the opposite and her warmth and willingness always to find time for a supportive word for any of us at those difficult moments we all occasionally face was truly a gift.
I was blessed throughout my tenure as Chair with a first class body of fellow governors but I know none would begrudge me saying that, even amongst them, Sue was a tower of strength and an immensely reassuring presence during our discussions and debates on a whole range of challenging issues over the years.
Wycombe Abbey is fortunate enough to be able to point to someone likes Sue as a Senior; that she should have found time alongside her career and family responsibilities to devote so much time and attention to school matters as a member of Council over such a long period makes the school and all of us feel doubly fortunate and indeed very humble.
great grandfather, Sir Adolphus William Ward, one of the founders of Manchester University, Vice Chancellor there and later Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University, was a scholar, academic and educationalist. Manchester was way ahead of Cambridge in recognising that women were as capable as men of getting degrees and I believe he was very much involved in this. He was a friend and colleague of both H Montagu Butler, master of Trinity College, Cambridge, who in 1896 became Wycombe Abbey’s first President of Council and of Lewis Campbell, Professor at St Andrews University (where Frances Dove was headmistress of St Leonard’s) who became the first Chairman of Council. It was therefore unsurprising, given his interest in education including girls’ education, that he should be invited to join Council at the beginning.
That was the start of the family Wycombe lineage. He was succeeded on Council by my grandmother Mrs ACT Barnes, daughter and wife of academics (her husband, my grandfather, was a Cambridge don who became Master of the Temple and Bishop of Birmingham, thus establishing links with the law and the church) and then by my uncle William Barnes, originally a civil servant, who was involved in setting up and becoming the first director of the London Business School. William was a member of Council for some 25 years, including 10 as Chairman, rewrote the constitution of Council to establish a retirement age, attempted to recruit a broad age range of members and put the school on a secure financial footing for the first time
For many years Council meetings were generally held in London but I think it was a great innovation to move them to the school site (before I joined) where Council members could not only take part in meetings but also discover more about the school, its facilities, staff and indeed its girls. The Land and Buildings committee used to do a tour around the school, looking at all the innovations and areas needing attention, immediately after their meeting whilst waiting for Finance Committee to finish so we could all lunch together but I’m afraid that went when the two committees were amalgamated. A pity, because one of the difficulties of being a governor of any school is getting to know its activities in detail.
We may always have been at the forefront of girls’ education and believed that we were
encouraging all girls to have equal opportunities both at university and in the workplace. I do however remember lengthy discussions about whether female staff should be allowed to wear trousers and for a long time the answer was no. Also female governors were required to wear hats whilst sitting on the platform on Speech Day. That would be laughed at now, even if there were still regular Speech Days. My contemporaries were probably about the first females to achieve main board level of companies, albeit sparsely at the beginning. But even in 1984 when I joined Council there was a decent representation of women amongst us.
I and my two sisters all attended Wycombe and my two daughters and a niece followed suit. I am of course biased but there is no doubt that the education is superb and the camaraderie and lifelong friendships fostered by the boarding system is second to none. One finds oneself constantly having to defend boarding to others but for most of us who have been through it and are lucky enough to have enjoyed it it is certainly to be recommended. As a Council member that has been an important thing to remember: that we need to make the experience enjoyable and accessible enough so that the next generation is encouraged to follow suit. The fees these days are huge and it needs to be an ongoing thrust to show value for money. One of the things that has definitely changed in my 35 years on Council is the recognition that the parent is the paying customer and should be considered and looked after. The days of “deliver your child
at the beginning of term and collect them at the end and leave us to do the bit in the middle“ are long gone. If we want to attract new business we need to be aware of the collaboration between school and parents and we are.
I have been a governor in both the independent and state sector, and I’m still chair of governors of the Chelsea Academy. The difference between the two is striking. The amount of bureaucracy, regulations and box-ticking to ensure compliance is vast in the state sector. We hold training sessions before every meeting and two training half days on site per year. Annual 360° reviews of the chair, annual skills audit of all governors, annual performance management of the principal, the list is endless! It has been interesting to carry some of these ideas through to another school in the private sector where I am also involved. Governance is still on a voluntary basis and we need to ensure that the job is not any more onerous than it has to be.
I know that corporate governance rules mean that there should be a healthy turnover of Council members but I have always felt that there is space for someone who knows the nooks and crannies, who remembers the history and who understands and tries to perpetuate the ethos of the school. I am delighted to have been asked to be a Vice-President of Council. My connection with Wycombe doesn’t die with ceasing to be a member of Council. It runs in my blood.
Wycombe Abbey lost a valued member of its community in October 2019 with the sad death of Harry Jones, Fencing Coach. Mrs S Bryett-Windle, Director of Sport, said “Harry was one of a kind, a source of great knowledge with an unequivocal passion for Fencing. He is sadly missed by pupils and staff and will always be a member of the Wycombe Abbey Fencing team.”
Harry was always happy to support any Wycombe Abbey girl wishing to compete in the Public Schools Fencing Championship and shall be greatly missed by all. I first met Harry in the mid1980s, I fenced with Harry’s children, Ian and Karen, and Harry was one of the club’s coaches. Within two years I joined the coaching team and Harry and I sat our entry-level coaching qualification together in 1987. We continued to work together at various clubs, regional training events, schools (including Wycombe Abbey) and competitions for the next 33 years. Wycombe Abbey’s other Fencing coach, James, was coached by Harry throughout the 1990s, and we know he inspired the girls at Wycombe Abbey the same way he inspired us.
Not only did Harry coach, but he was also an extremely good armourer with vast knowledge. Harry enjoyed the challenge of finding that break in your body wire and took true delight in being able to solve the mystery of the broken spool. Harry was very generous with his time. James and I learned a lot from Harry over the years and we, like all the girls who were coached by him, shall miss him greatly.
Jacky Faulkner Wycombe Abbey Fencing Coach
Junior House had a wonderful and excited year filled with lots of fun activities. We started the academic year with The Headmistress’s Picnic, the first for Mrs Duncan, featuring outdoor games, picnic food and, to top it all, the donkeys came to visit. Junior House girls bonded over party games and water fights. If that wasn’t enough excitement for one weekend, we had the Funfair, where the Junior House girls enjoyed rides, ice cream from a traditional ice cream van and the opportunity to get to know the whole School community.
We visited Cadbury World in Birmingham, which showed the girls how chocolate is made and marketed and provided the opportunity to play with chocolate and ride the magical 3D ‘Cadabra’.
So many exciting events happened in School this year, including ducklings hatching, laser tag and The Big Draw. The whole school were invited to create Art onto long rolls of paper, that were made into displays around School. Junior House girls embraced the challenge and produced a wide range of imagery on all four rolls.
Junior House girls were active participants in many of the school’s competitions, including Frida (UIII) winning ‘The Historical Bake Off’ and amazing costumes for ‘World Book Day’, of which many were commended for their outstanding efforts.
Junior House is always an exciting place to live, and this year was no exception. Highlights include: puppy visits, a chocolate fountain on St. Valentine’s day and pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. One the main features of the year was the ‘Junior House Talent show’ where girls showcased their amazing range of skills and talents including, singing, dancing and magic.
It has been an amazing year filled with fun, laughter, and the inimitable Wycombe Abbey Spirit. We wish them all the best as they move to their Senior Houses.
Miss R Holland-Bright Junior House Assistant Housemistress
It has been an amazing year filled with fun, laughter, and the inimitable Wycombe Abbey Spirit
Evenings in Airlie always involve a variety of fun-filled activities including movie nights, quizzes and games nights; complete with scrumptious treats to eat!
In the Autumn term on Halloween night, we had a real “scream” with fun-frolicked games and of course lots of sweets, fruit and doughnuts. Our fantastic firework display on Bonfire Night was “topped” with an Airlie house pizza night and Christmas brought a wonderful festive “Carols on the Stairs” evening followed by our whole House Secret Santa.
In the Spring Term, we celebrated several sporting highlights. Airlie Games Captain, Martha (LVI), was a key member of the Senior Lacrosse squad crowned winners in the Schools’ National Lacrosse Championship. In Skiing, two Airlie girls Maddie (LVI) and Cara (LV) won several medals with the Wycombe Abbey Ski team at the British Schoolgirls’ Races in Flaine.
Burns Night was commemorated with traditional haggis, neeps and tatties and Mrs McGeehan’s Scottish accent was even stronger than usual! We also celebrated the Chinese New Year by decorating the house and cooking wonderful traditional Chinese food. On Shrove Tuesday the Upper Fifth made pancakes for the whole House, complete with a huge variety of scrumptious fillings.
Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, Summer term weekly activities in Airlie looked very different to previous terms. Although the games cupboard remained closed and the treasured toastie machine and Swingball equipment lay idle, Airlie pupils used technology to ensure that House activities could still take place remotely.
Led by our Head of House, Jasmine (LVI), Airlie girls organised virtual meetings in small break-out groups from Lower Fourth to Lower Sixth to participate in activities such as origami, sudoku challenges and creating wonderful poems in different languages. The girls showed incredible inventiveness and resourcefulness to ensure everyone was able to participate and help their peers. These remote House activities were a tremendous success during the Summer term.
Regardless of whether our House activities this year were in-House or organised remotely, coming together to participate in House activities and games play a vital role in maintaining Airlie community spirit and friendship.
Mrs S McGeehan Airlie Housemistress
I will miss the girls and House staff who make Airlie not just a building, but a home
Five years, fifteen dorms and thirty-five months spent in Airlie. It has, and always will be a home away from home. As Head of House, I have been able to appreciate, from a whole other perspective, the accomplishments of the House. Some of my most treasured moments in Airlie are constructing ice cream sandwiches with the new Lower Fourth at the start of the Autumn term, planning a bake sale during Christmas time to raise funds for the Wycombe Homeless Connection and celebrating Burn’s Night with haggis.
I am proud to be a part of Airlie as we have a strong reputation for being champion of the spelling bee and general knowledge competitions; consecutive winners three years in a row! Although sporting victories have evaded us this past year, we are victorious in-House spirit. Seeing all the girls support the lacrosse teams was fantastic.
For our Autumn House Outing, I suggested we go ice skating. It was a magical experience as the girls enjoyed skating, drinking hot chocolate and celebrating Michaelmas. During the year, the Lower Sixth and I persevered to make the house community even stronger. We wanted to provide a hospitable and warm home. We had weekly meetings with each year group, chatting about School, home and friends. Being Head of House has provided me with invaluable learning opportunities. I have learnt to be empathetic and responsible for a large cohort of girls.
The Summer term has been unprecedented. The goal was to try and maintain the strong communal spirit of a boarding House. The solution was to have buddy groups. Comprised of both younger girls and older girls, the groups were a way to sustain our cherished community. Weekly challenges such as origami, multi-language poems and sudoku meant that we had to work together. Moving into Clarence, I will miss Airlie. I will miss the girls and House staff who make Airlie not just a building, but a home.
As Head of House, Airlie has given and taught me the most precious lessons of my life and I will forever be grateful for the years spent in Airlie.
Jasmine LVIMy goodness! What a busy year in Barry House it has been; I shall mention just a few of the highlights. At the beginning of the Autumn term, we welcomed our new girls into the Barry community, who threw themselves into Wycombe Abbey life and quickly became part of our Barry family. We had a beautiful and poignant House chapel service culminating in the Barry girls enthusiastically and memorably performing Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ as the House Anthem. There were baking nights galore, with many delicious and sometimes unique bakes.
The annual Guy-making competition was entered by our Lower Fourth girls, who created a giant sky-blue polaroid camera. I was hugely impressed by the teamwork skills that they exhibited as well as their good humour throughout the process. This year, we started the Barry Book Club that meets weekly and also now hold weekly Day Boarder teas, providing a welcome opportunity for the girls to socialise together in House and to allow me to catch up with our wonderful cohort of Day Boarders.
Our Lower Sixth Mons team hosted a successful House Dinner in the Spring term, celebrating our House community. The Summer term was unprecedented in many ways but I am hugely proud that our House spirit remained strong whilst we adjusted to a virtual House environment. We had weekly quizzes, virtual dorm hot chocolates, shared pet photos and even a baking competition. We have a remarkable House family.
Miss W Meadows-Smith Barry HousemistressIhave loved the opportunity of being Head of Barry House. It has been a great experience to help lead a community that has been such a big part of my life for the past five years. 2019/2020 has seen Barry excel in netball, winning both the 1st and 2nd House Netball competitions. Our musicians also did us proud in the inter-house music competition, especially the younger years.
Two events stand out for me as highlights of the year. Firstly, the Christmas Party is unique to Barry, with everyone making a huge effort to dress up in themed costumes, with dorm carols, games and countless other traditions. Although I admit it was a lot of work to organise, it is always an important time for everyone to come together at the end of the longest term and before the start of the holidays. Secondly, the Barry House Dinner in February was a great learning experience for me, both in terms of organisation and having to speak publicly to over 100 people in Big School.
The Lower Sixth have worked to make Barry more environmentally aware, with the introduction of a shampoo bottle collection system so that these can be recycled. We started a weekly Book Club for the younger girls to encourage reading and confidence in sharing ideas.
S pending the end of the academic year in lockdown is certainly not how I imagined my final term in Barry! I have missed the fun of the long evenings, playing tennis and the infamous picnic suppers. It is also a shame not to be able to say a proper farewell to everyone. When I start in Clarence, I will miss being able to chat with people so easily across different years, and the cosy feel of Barry.
Phoebe LVISpending the end of the academic year in lockdown is certainly not how I imagined my final term in Barry
We have enjoyed overseas morning catch-ups, House family group calls and maintaining our competitive spirit through the Butler Teacher Challenge where a member of staff sets a task for the week for all to complete (foil sculptures, cake baking, lockdown memory sharing, drawing tasks)
OButlerur Fourth Form led the way in the Autumn term with their ‘Finding Nemo’ entry to the House Guy competition scoring them second place, followed by another second for UIV as they danced to Matilda’s ‘Revolting Children’ for the House Dance event. Before Christmas, Mrs Parker got a shock at her surprise farewell dinner to say thank you for her loyalty as Housemistress, and who could forget Rolo’s fifth birthday party? The girls’ hard work paid off for the second term in a row, winning the Commendation Shield, a fitting end for Mrs Parker!
I joined the Butler House family as Housemistress in January 2020. Spring term was full of quiz nights, infamous weekly Toastie Tuesdays and a highlight was flipping 49 Shrove Tuesday pancakes with the LVI! We were awarded the first prize during Digital Detox Week as we tested our ability to go without our phones and another win for the loudest cheers/costumes/ banners at the Charity Swimming Gala when Butler was recognised for the Team Spirit award!
Boarding school life is hard to replicate remotely but we did our best through the Summer term. We have enjoyed overseas morning catch-ups, House family group calls and maintaining our competitive spirit through the Butler Teacher Challenge where a member of staff sets a task for the week for all to complete (foil sculptures, cake baking, lockdown memory sharing, drawing tasks). We wish Miss Logan all the best as she moves on from Wycombe Abbey and we finish on a high with the wonderful news of the birth of Theo George to Mrs Couzens!
Miss H Lowther Butler Housemistress
This academic year has certainly been a remarkable one for Butler. Although there have been many challenges in my role as Head of House, I have truly loved the opportunity to work with other members of staff and the prefect body in leading Butler House this year.
The Autumn term was as busy as ever; Butler girls triumphed in events across the board. Some highlights include the Upper Fourths placing second in the House Dance competition and Butler’s large presence in the annual Archer Concert. Celebrating Mrs Parker’s farewell house dinner was a very memorable and emotional evening for all the girls, parents and House staff. After five years as Butler Housemistress, it was undeniably sad to see Mrs Parker go, yet we wish her all the best wishes in her future endeavours. Organising the House Dinner was also a particularly valuable experience for me as Head of House, and I enjoyed liaising with members of the House staff to ensure the evening was a success.
In the Spring term, we welcomed Miss Lowther, our new Housemistress, to Butler. One of my favourite events of the term was the Digital Detox week, during which we were all able to enjoy the importance of spending more quality time with our friends and our Butler family. A very proud moment for me as Head of House was winning the House Commendation Shield for two consecutive terms, serving as a testament to the hard work of each member of the House.
During Summer term in lockdown, it has been hard to capture a similar sense of the infamous Butler spirit. Although we had to forgo our usual Summer term traditions, moving to online House Orders, dorm room zoom calls, and virtual Butler Teacher Challenges became the new norm, allowing us to maintain a sense of community. As I move on to Clarence next year, it is this very special Butler ‘family’ as we like to call it, that I will miss the most.
Pia LVI
Following ‘Kindness’ and ‘Appreciation’, our theme for 2019/2020 was ‘Discovery’. Campbell girls took the opportunity to discover about themselves and others around them. Various activities were organised to promote the theme by our Head of House, Fiona (LVI), and Deputy Head of House, Ama (LVI). We read our horoscope each month and shared amazing recipes. Girls also set themselves challenges and were encouraged to try something new. New to Campbell, everything was a discovery for the Lower Fourth and the girls who joined in Upper Fourth, Audrey and Zahirah (UIV). Alongside learning to tie the purple tie, they have fostered new friendships through various activities and discovered a new ‘home’.
I t was also the time for Upper Fifth and Lower Sixth to step up and take on new leadership opportunities. They discovered their leadership styles through being Heads of Dorm and House positions.
The theme continued during lockdown in the Summer term when Skye (LVI) shared her baking recipes, and family tree groups shared their favourite films and books, all remotely. The lockdown period allowed us to reflect and discover new ways of life. Diana (UV) started to learn the saxophone, Anjola (LV) sewed face
masks, Judea (LIV) worked on her book and Grace (UV) baked for the elderly. Many girls even discovered they miss School too! Online House Order and meetings have given us great opportunities to catch up with each other and maintain a sense of community. However, the House felt empty without hearing girls’ laughter and footsteps.
Dr A Yuasa Campbell Housemistress
Throughout the past year, I have had the most incredible time being the Head of Campbell House. A busy and eventful year indeed, yet none the less, perhaps my best year at Wycombe so far.
At the beginning of the Autumn term, my wonderful Deputy Head of House, Ama (LVI) and I sat down together and discussed what we wanted to do for the House, how we wanted to utilise our roles as School Prefects, and the example we wanted to set.
This year in Campbell, we wanted to put a special focus on the art of discovery, the importance of nurturing one’s curiosity and understanding of themselves and the people around them. We wanted to encourage everyone in the house to set themselves goals that would push their limits as well as allowing a space for the appreciation of the diverse community we live in.
Although Covid-19 came to spoil much of the Summer sun, Campbell girls continued to keep busy and stay alert of current affairs. I was thrilled to see how we managed to keep our sense of community in Campbell despite physical distancing during the summer lockdown. Through utilising tools such as Microsoft
Teams to the fullest, we were able to share each other’s lockdown experiences from sewing masks to baking goods, to picking up an old hobby, it was all incredible to see!
Nevertheless, this has been a fantastic year for Campbell with great successes both academic, in sports but also personal. Campbell girls and staff never fail to amaze me and I am truly proud of the people I leave behind as I start my last year in Clarence House. I am excited to see what the next year has in store for Campbell and trust that Diana (UV) will do an amazing job as the new Head of House.
Fiona LVIThis academic year has been, without a doubt, a story of highs and lows for the girls of Shelburne House. The Autumn term saw the Lower Fourth Shelburne girls victorious in the House Guy Competition on Bonfire Night. The Shelburne 2nd House lacrosse team arose as the winners of the House lacrosse competition, and the songs from the Shelburne girls hung in the air amidst the freezing conditions! The Shelburne 3rd House Netball team were victorious in House Netball.
We sadly said farewell to Miss Lowther but were delighted to welcome both Miss Taylor, Interim Assistant Housemistress for the Spring term, and Miss Phillips, Assistant Housemistress, who joined us in April. During the Spring term, Katie (LVI) and Sofia (UV) astounded us all with their superb performances as part of the Upper School Play, “Our Country’s Good”. Laetitia (UV) and Katie (LVI) represented the School as part of the contingent who attended the UN conference in New York City.
An astounding number of Shelburne Lower Sixth girls were also given School Leadership positions in March – Oluwakemi as School Almoner, Hana as School Photographer, Myffy as Global
Opportunities Officer, Weijie as Duke of Edinburgh Award Officer, Pippa as Poet Laureate and Katie as Deputy Head of School.
Although lockdown ended the academic year in a very unusual way, it is a testament to the girls that they have been able to come together as a House Community and show that the Shelburne Spirit is still going strong.
Mrs V Fawkes Shelburne HousemistressIt was another busy year for the staff and girls in Cloister House. In September we welcomed 12 new girls and two new members of staff, and they quickly became part of the Cloister family.
The first weekend back involved the traditional funfair, where many coconuts were won and ice creams were consumed! The Lower Fourth girls had then begun thinking about which green object they could create for their House Guy. Very quickly, a large pile of boxes turned into a giant Hulk, and the girls worked tirelessly with papier-mâché and green paint to finish their ‘monster’! On Bonfire Night itself, the girls stall of ‘VSCO’ accessories and chocolate raised an incredible £527 for charity. Meanwhile, the Upper Fourth were busy practising ‘Fame’ for House dance. Their performance on the night was fantastic, and they should all be very proud of the effort they put into the event.
Very quickly, a large pile of boxes turned into a giant Hulk, and the girls worked tirelessly with papiermâché and green paint to finish their ‘monster’
The year continued in the fashion, with a whole host of music, drama and sport taking place every week. Notable events that Cloister girls were involved in include the fantastic Archer Concert and House Cross Country. The Easter term ended abruptly, but the Cloister girls continued to support each other and their local communities in their typical kind and caring ways.
Miss L Joseph Cloister Housemistress
Ihave enjoyed my time as Head of Cloister. From karaoke to dodgy hair dyeing, Cloister has such a strong sense of community and I am proud to have been a part of that. The highlight of this year had to be Fairies. Working together as a Lower Sixth year group was such fun, if a little bit stressful trying to stay quiet to not wake anyone up, but seeing the delighted faces of the younger girls made the little sleep we had the night before worth it.
Other traditions that I love are Christmas dinner at the end of the Autumn term, dorm feasts (where we gorge on way too much food) and ‘Dining Room’, a party organised by the Upper Fifth. Cloister is not the most sporty house, although I think that our sense of House spirit makes up for that. Cloister made the most amount of money the school has seen (by far, I may add) on Bonfire Night with a profit of £527.20. We also won the inter-house quiz and the Spelling Bee this year.
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, House outings were cancelled, but in the Autumn term we had a House ‘inning’. We played party games such as Pass the Parcel, watched a Christmas film, ate pizza and we gave all the girls their very own Cloister blanket and a little goodie bag filled with treats. The Lower Sixth set up regular hot chocolate evenings to get to know the younger girls a little better. We also devised a rota where every night two Lower Sixth girls took on the responsibility of putting the younger girls to bed, so we could pop in for a chat around lights out. I introduced a Q&A box in the house so that girls could ask questions and receive advice anonymously if they wished.
Lockdown in the Summer term was not easy, but I organised Kahoot games and remote competitions within House to ensure that our spirits were not dampened. Being Head of House has allowed me to develop my confidence and leadership skills; I aimed to be the k ind of person that a younger girl can look up to as well as being approachable and always available for advice or just a chat. Cloister has been my family for the past five years and I owe who I am today to the wonderful people there who have shaped me as a person. The thing I will miss most is the community feel, from endless activities like board games and baking in the evenings to late-night conversations and the kind, friendly and loyal family dynamic. It will be strange not seeing the smiley faces of the Cloister girls every day in House, but even when I leave for Clarence I will forever be a Cloister girl at heart.
Georgina LVI
What another incredible year this has been for Wendover House. The girls continue to retain their competitive edge whist placing the utmost importance on being kind to one another. They strive to achieve their very best and they have excelled in all that they tackle. It would be impossible to capture all of what we achieved in 2019/2020 but here are some of my highlights.
The Upper Fourth girls’ hard work and perseverance paid off in the Upper Fourth Dance Competition; they were crowned the winning group with their show-stopping Grease Lightning routine. The daily long walk up Daws Hill certainly benefits our Cross Country team who went on to win both the Junior and Senior Cross Country races and, therefore, made the overall winning team too. A special mention must go to Arolape (UIV) for coming first in the Junior competition. Our sporting success continued with our 1st House Lacrosse team winning the inter-house lacrosse too.
H owever, it isn’t just in their sporting conquests that the girls make us proud. The Lower Sixth ran a Wendover Random Acts of Kindness in the House and this was much-loved by girls and staff and will become an annual feature. We won the Anti-Bullying Week poster competition in which we reflected on what we can do as individuals to make a positive change. The Charity prefects led the House superbly, and their hard work resulted in a huge
amount of money raised for charity with their Bonfire Night stall. It has been lovely to celebrate with Sarah (LVI), Alison (UV), Annette (LV) and Grace (UIV) on their Confirmation and Daisy (LVI), Alice (UV) and Carys (UV) on winning the Under-19 National Schools Lacrosse tournament.
The Wendover House sense of community has remained strong and the house have loved Bingo Nights, pancakes, pizza and ice cream evenings with Miss Blunt and Luna. Despite all of our success, it is the small things that make me most proud: The Lower Sixth girls helping a Lower Fourth with a hard piece of prep, the girls that ask Miss Bevis if they can help handing out the laundry, the laughter coming out of the TV room in a tense Wii competition and the loyalty and sense of sisterhood that makes us all feel very lucky to be a part of such a special group of people.
Miss S Blunt
It is hard to believe how quickly the past year in Wendover has gone! As usual, it’s been busy but really fun. The year got off to a good start when we won the Upper Fourth dance competition, and later that term we won the House Cross Country, came 2nd in the Lower Fourth Guy competition, and won 1st House lacrosse!
Thinking about the past year, a few highlights come to mind: Christmas entertainment (which involved a fairy tale with a twist from the Lower and Upper Fourth, a scary story from the Lower Fifth, Upper Fifth singing Christmas songs, and the Lower Sixth dancing to Jingle Bell Rock), and playing bingo as a whole House. Our House inning was another highlight; decorating gingerbread houses and watching a film with Ben and Jerry’s in hand is - a relaxing way to finish a busy term.
This year was perhaps slightly different in the fact that, as a year group, we had greater responsibility within House. I think we quickly became aware of how much work had gone on behind the scenes when we were in younger years, from finding a suitable
arrangement for House singing to allocating enough people to each sport for House games. A special mention to the IT reps, who introduced weekly fun facts in House Order, and to the House photographer who created a large Wendover photo board. I found Head of House a fun and rewarding role; particularly running in-House weekend activities, which included playing games in Long Corridor on Saturday evenings and baking cookies. Unfortunately, we were once forced to cook cookies in a microwave when the kitchen was closed – not a repeatable experience. Another highlight was Random Acts of Kindness week, in which everyone did a daily special deed (anonymously) for the person they had drawn out of a hat.
I could not have asked for a more friendly, supportive and fun group of people to be in a house with
The Summer term was a new experience for everyone. I don’t think I could ever get used to House Order on a screen, or filming separate challenges for House games when we would have been playing rounders as a House and competing in tennis. It has made me realise how much I’ll miss Wendover. I could not have asked for a more friendly, supportive and fun group of people to be in a house with.
Sarah LVIFor the girls in Pitt, it has been an incredibly action-packed year and they have all shown their determination and ambition with a strong sense of humour.
The Upper Fourth girls threw themselves into the dance competition, coming 3rd overall in the Autumn term. Many of the girls participated in the House Cross Country; Pitt came 3rd overall for the House Cross Country, a superb effort by all the girls. Congratulations to Amelia (UV) for winning the Senior House race. Several of the girls in Lower Sixth and Upper Fifth participated in the National Lacrosse Championships and were part of the Under-19 winning team at the beginning of March. The 1st House lacrosse team got through to the finals of the House competitions and all did extremely well. Chloe (UIV) won Gold Medal at the Copper Squash Tournament having won an impressive six matches against male and female opposition considerably older.
The girls participating in MUN have had a successful time with many winning top accolades: Reni, Claire, Francesca (UV) and Michaela (LVI). Congratulations to Wing Lam (LVI) on her success in the numerous Mathematics challenges and competitions that she has won.
Darcy’s (UV) poem ‘1619’ was shortlisted in this year’s Black History Month Competition at the University of Birmingham. Jessica (LVI) won 3rd prize in the SPoKE 2020 Art documentary competition and Vasilisa (LVI) who won the overall prize for her thoughtful exploration of Lucy Ellman’s ‘Ducks, Newburyport’. Congratulations also to Tia (LIV) and Hannah (UIV) who were awarded Academic Scholarships.
Throughout Lockdown, many of the girls have been helping within their local community and it is pleasing to see and hear about them all giving back and helping others less fortunate.
Miss H Allen Pitt HousemistressThroughout lockdown, many of the girls have been helping within their local community and it is pleasing to see and hear about them all giving back and helping others much less fortunate
Rubens have shown their characteristic spark and good cheer this Summer term by getting involved with House Games and House competitions. The Upper Fifth threw themselves into a Lip Synch challenge and shared the video in our digital common room, which was a lovely way to see the girls having fun with their families during lockdown.
Rubens have also enjoyed sharing pictures of their pets and images of their baking accomplishments. Meanwhile, Eleanor and Alice (UV) set challenges for the House in the form of a baking challenge and photo competition. The Lower Sixth girls have been busy keeping the House entertained with a fun Kahoot quiz. The Lower Sixth pupils have been very impressive this term, in particular our Head of House, George (LVI) and Deputy Head of House, Emily (LVI).
Maddie (UV) raised funds for the charity TheirWorld by covering the distance from London to Boston. The charity aims to ensure every young person across the world has access to education. We are very proud of Maddie and all the Rubens girls who took part to help cover the many kilometres needed to get to Boston. All the
girls worked hard during lockdown and the commitment to their boarding House did not waver during these very strange times.
The girls’ sense of sisterhood has always been lovely to see, and it was very moving to hear how much they miss their boarding House. Perhaps they realised how much they took our weekly activities for granted, such as Tuesday tea and biscuits; hot chocolate Thursdays; and fruity Fridays. When the girls returned in September, they would with a renewed purpose to seize every opportunity and make the most of their time together in Rubens.
Miss C Hoyle Rubens HousemistressBeing Rubens Head of House has given me the chance to be a part of the Rubens community all day every day, from breakfasting with my House family in the morning to listening to Miss Hoyle’s inspirational quote at House Order in the evening. Every day there is something new to take part in: baking, decorating posters, singing, playing lacrosse, netball, table tennis, maybe even quidditch…
There are so many highlights it is hard to choose. Our ‘Galentines’ evening was made with the perfect mix of balloons, chocolates and a movie. At Christmas, the Give Back evening gave us the chance to do our bit for the community, making cards for care homes. Our trip to see Frozen II included a parade through High Wycombe with the Lower Sixth dressed as Elsa and co., which was met with a few stares. Perhaps the most fun was the ability to experience the community feeling again during lockdown when the Lower Sixth made a whole-House Kahoot, including Rubens-related trivia.
I have had so much fun being Head of House and learned a lot about leadership and organisation in the process. I enjoyed getting to know the girls in my House through casual chats over hot
chocolate or birthday card signings. The Rubens community is so welcoming; I am lucky to have been a part of it for six years.
Our House motto is “Rubens, we are quite good” which epitomises our sense of humour, modesty and quiet determination. I think anyone at our House Dinner in the Autumn term could attest to the resilient, borderline insane House spirit as they watched our spontaneous rendition of ‘Changes’ by David Bowie. These moments I will treasure forever and they have contributed to my growth as a woman. I will miss the House so much as I go into Clarence next year.
Georgina LVIAbusy year in Clarence began with the usual excitement of settling into new houses and getting to grips with the kitchen rota! It was not long before the tempting aroma of the girls’ cooking (and the occasional smoky oversight) became a regular feature of the evenings. The refurbishment of Clarence Library was a highlight of the Autumn term, with the Head Girl Team and Clarence Chairmen helping to create a stylish and comfortable study space, to the benefit and appreciation of the many girls who have since made use of it.
Life in Clarence, of course, is not all about work and there was plenty of room for fun as the year progressed. House Order was typically a lively affair, particularly when it came to Lucky Dip on Thursday evenings. It is remarkable how excited 99 girls can become about the prospect of having their name pulled from a hat and winning a box of Maltesers! For the more energetic, the occasional dodgeball tournament in Davies Sports Centre was a good chance to test one’s mettle. A little more low-key, though often just as entertaining, were the evening chats in House over hot chocolate and marshmallows.
A year in Clarence would not be complete without the chance to get the glad rags on and have a proper party. The Christmas House celebration provided just such an opportunity, with the lively combination of karaoke and prosecco creating some memorable moments. The annual Caledonian Society balls were also a great success and much enjoyed by all.
Dr N Carrier Director of Sixth Form
A year in Clarence would not be complete without the chance to get the glad rags on and have a proper party
Agirl’s House is part of her identity while she is at Wycombe Abbey. Due to Covid-19, physical boarding was suddenly interrupted, and for the first time ever, Wycombe Abbey conducted House Orders, games, challenges and other House activities online. Our boarding system provides a supportive family in which girls learn to be independent, to value and empower each other to do their best. This ethos continued throughout lockdown, despite the challenges, with pupils placing a greater emphasis on staying connected with their House families.
Airlie closed their well-worn games cupboard and swapped Swingball for Sudoku challenges and poetry writing and participated in House activities online, maintaining community spirit and friendships. Their next-door neighbour, Barry, continued their ‘love of treats’ through a virtual baking competition and virtual dorm hot chocolates.
Butler created an online common room to share photos and stories and keep connected whilst away from School. Butler House staff set weekly challenges for their girls such as baking bread, making tin foil sculptures and baking two-tiered cakes. Baking seemed a popular activity too for the Outhouses, with Campbell girls sharing their favourite recipes alongside favourite films and books. Campbell also helped the community by sewing face masks.
Pitt and Rubens gave back to the
community and raised money for local charities. Miss Hoyle, Rubens Housemistress, commented, “the girls’ sense of sisterhood has always been lovely to see, and it has been very moving
Houses, they probably did not miss the long daily walks up and down the hill! Shelburne spirit stayed strong, Cloister continued their caring ways by helping their community, and Wendover missed their laughter-filled pizza evenings.
We held a virtual Open Day for more than 1,000 prospective parents and pupils and bid farewell the Clarence leavers via Zoom at the end of term
to hear how much they miss their boarding House.”
Daws Hill too was quiet without the sound of the girls on site. Whilst we are sure everyone at Daws Hill missed their
Meanwhile, Junior House continued their active participation in School events, with many entries to the virtual pet show and Sports department’s challenges.
A special mention must go to our Clarence girls. Whilst no one could have envisaged that their last term at Wycombe Abbey would be experienced away from School and their friends, their lively enthusiasm in all they do continued. Memories of ‘lucky dip Thursdays’ and dodgeball tournaments will stay with them as they graduate to become Wycombe Abbey Seniors. Good luck, girls!
