KCS Geographers in Kenya

Newsletter Spring/Summer 2012
Highlights inside:
The Madness of George 111
page 9
Back to the Future:
Reformed A levels
return to King’s
KCS Geographers
in Kenya
Back to the Future page 4
See page 2
Les Trois Mousquetaires page 15
Please visit www.kcs.org.uk for up-to-date information on the school
Both the Senior and Junior Schools received their Independent
Schools’ Inspection report and have been judged “excellent”
in all 16 possible categories. Such an achievement under the
notably demanding ISI regime is thought to be unprecedented.
100% EXCELLENT: Inspectors’ verdict
on a “scholarly and gentle” school,
outstanding in every category
17 pupils from the Upper Fifth and Upper
Sixth took part in a Geography field trip
to Kenya, with the goal being to get under
the skin of a developing country. This was
certainly achieved by visiting rural and
urban schools and orphanages, climbing
a dormant volcanic crater in the Rift
Valley and visiting Kibera, one of Africa’s
largest slums.
KCS Geographers in Kenya
Summly is an iPhone app which summarises
and simplifies the content of web pages and
search results. Currently it can condense
reference pages, news articles and reviews
but has the potential to go a lot further.
King’s boy, Nick D’Aloisio (U5th) has developed
an iPhone app which has made international
headlines and attracted a big investment from a
Hong Kong based billionaire.
King’s ‘Boy Genius’ makes
waves with Summly app
SENIORS
42 candidates have been successful in obtaining offers from Oxford
and Cambridge in this year’s round of applications. 22 candidates
were offered places at Oxford with a further 20 succeeding
at Cambridge. The total number of successes ranks favourably
with the school’s best-ever years, while the 20 acceptances at
Cambridge is a record number.
Oxbridge Offers
However, the new A* has helped restore the
previously tarnished reputation of A level and is
proving very popular with selector universities.
With the government apparently keen to raise the
standards of the national exam system, we felt the
time had come to offer A levels to sixth formers
from 2013. The pause allows the school time to
select and prepare syllabuses thoroughly and to
design a timetable that works well for boys and
girls whichever route they take.
Students will select their preferred course and
be taught by dedicated staff according to their
options. The school’s successful IB programme will
continue to be offered in our increasingly soughtafter Sixth Form. Each year, the school’s pupils
score one of the highest IB averages in the world,
and over 90% go on to their first choice university.
From Oxbridge through the prestigious Russell
Group to universities in the US, King’s boys and
girls are receiving excellent IB offers.
4 | Spring Newsletter
Andrew Halls named
“Tatler Best Head of a
Public School 2011”
TATLER
The Upper Sixth were also given the opportunity
to pick the brains of KCS Alumni and parents
working in the medical field at the Science &
Medics Networking Reception held in the Gordon
Museum in February.
Lower and Upper Sixth students attended a
lecture hosted by the King’s College Medical School
entitled ‘Wilderness Medicine Society’. Professor
Sebastian Lucas (OK) gave a fascinating talk about
his career as a doctor in Africa and in the UK.
‘Wilderness Medicine
Society’ Sixth Form lecture
40 Lower Sixth Medics, Vets and Dental students
enjoyed an inspirational visit from the Dean for
Education at Bart’s, Professor Anthony Warrens,
in March, who spoke to them about his career in
Medicine. They will continue with work experience,
lectures, weekly meetings and preparation for the
UKCAT and BMAT before making their applications
through UCAS in September.
We would like to thank those Alumni and parents
who so generously gave their time and skill to offer
practice interviews to our prospective Medics this
year– it made a real impact on the success rate at
interview. If you would like to help next year, please
contact Mrs Jane Woodward, Senior UCAS Tutor
([email protected]).
Fifteen pupils have now secured offers for medical
school places in September 2012. University
offers include Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL,
KCL, Barts, Birmingham, Brighton and Sussex,
Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle and
Southampton medical schools.
Reformed A levels
return to King’s
King’s will reintroduce
A levels, alongside the IB,
from September 2013.
Upper Sixth
Medical Offers
Back to the Future
SENIORS
George and Edward Forshaw have both
represented Harlequins Academy and three
more players from the Under 16s have played
representative rugby this season. William van
Klaveren, Charlie Williams & Nick Bloom have
all represented Welsh Exiles against Llandovery
College and Carmarthen Schools.
Joe Ortiz (U5th) has been
selected for the GB
water polo training squad
in preparation for the U18
European Championships
in 2013.
King’s boy makes GB
Water Polo Squad
KCS has succeeded in getting
two teams through for this once
in a lifetime opportunity.
King’s College School Merton (4)
St Paul’s School Hammersmith (6)
St John’s School Surrey (31)
Hampton School Richmond (35)
St Benedict’s School Ealing (74)
King Alfred School Barnet (79)
Emanuel School Wandsworth (78)
Highgate School Haringey (85)
6 | Spring Newsletter
King’s is the top London independent boys’ and
co-educational school in the Sunday Times 2011
exam results list. Figures in brackets represent
ranking nationally.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
King’s tops the tables
14 students and 4 staff have
been selected to be the official
ballboys and ballgirls for the
Tennis Championship, which will
be held at Wimbledon in July.
George Taylor has been selected to represent England U16 Group
for Internationals at Wellington College during the Easter holidays
and will also be involved in some North v South Fixtures in March.
Most recently he has represented Surrey and
London & South East with distinction. We hope
that George will go all the way and pull on the
England U16 Schools jersey and become the first
KCS international for some 30 years.
King’s have made it to the Olympics
U16 Rugby
SENIORS
This year’s conference will be held on Thursday 27th
September 2012. For details contact [email protected]
Candidates from UK schools interested in North
American universities were invited to attend the
US university fair later the same day that included
representatives of the leading North American
universities (Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, MIT, Princeton,
British Columbia, etc), as well as stalls giving advice on
SATs, fees, etc.
In the Under 21 match Joe Mason started and
Doug Sexton was on the bench for Oxford. For
Cambridge, Max Mather and Hugo Kelly both
started. Hugo Kelly played at flanker and was the
standout back row player on the pitch.
In the main Varsity match, Rob Malaney won his
first Cambridge Blue – opposite Louis Mather,
who was awarded his second Oxford Blue. Matt
Janney, former Captain of School 2009, was
awarded his Blue when he was a replacement,
also contributing with a conversion of Oxford’s
last try. In a very physical match, Oxford came out
on top 28-10.
In the annual Varsity Match between Oxford and
Cambridge, King’s was represented in record
numbers with seven OKs involved, in the Under
21 match, which Oxford won 19-11.
King’s Old Boys triumph
in the Varsity Match
8 | Autumn Newsletter
David Cameron invited Mumford & Sons, fronted
by Marcus Mumford (OK), and Ben Lovett (OK) to
perform at a ‘state dinner’ event for US President
Barack Obama at the White House in March.
Mumford & Sons play at the White House
George Woudhuysen (OK) former University
Challenge star, and former Vice Captain of King’s,
achieved the highest First in History last year at
Oxford. George also beat 100 candidates to be
elected for a Fellowship at All Souls’ College.
George Woudhuysen –
Fellowship at All Souls’ College
Ross Hutchins reaches
the men’s doubles
quarter-final at
Wimbledon & US Open
King’s held the popular US Universities Conference in September.
The conference featured talks from Lisa Montgomery (the UK’s
leading advisor on US university applications), Sir Peter Lampl, and
Head Master, Andrew Halls. Students had the opportunity to fire
questions at a knowledgeable panel chaired by broadcaster Sir
Trevor McDonald, and featuring representatives of Harvard, Yale
and other leading North American universities.
Ross Hutchins (OK) has enjoyed a fabulous year in
world tennis. Playing with Colin Fleming, Ross
reached the men’s doubles quarter-final at both
Wimbledon and the US Open and the pair have
established themselves as the first choice Davis
Cup combination for Great Britain.
Alumni News
The American Dream
SENIORS
The Third KCS House Play Festival took over
Collyer Hall Theatre in February. More than 140
pupils from Fourth Form to Lower Sixth were
involved in the six productions, which were entirely
student-produced, directed and performed. The
evening’s adjudicator, actress Lynda Barron (of
Open All Hours fame) commented on the creativity
and professionalism of all involved.
The Senior School production of Alan Bennett’s The Madness
of George III played between 23rd and 26th November to great
acclaim. Adam Cross’s stylish and atmospheric production saw a
cast of 40 pupils populate a lavishly designed set in Collyer Hall
Theatre. Following the accolades he earned in Caligula at Edinburgh,
Luke Sumner gave another commanding lead performance in the
title role. Luke was complemented by an excellent supporting cast,
which included many notable performances from, to name but a few,
Laura Trosser, Alex Sparkes, Ayman Shehata, Gregory Coates, Katie
Polglase, Jonas Moore and Max Falkenberg McGillivray.
Turning the world
upside down
In February half-term, the first KCS Physical
Theatre Project took place in the Great Hall,
generously supported by the Friends of KCS.
Six pupils from King’s joined with another six
from Coombe Boys’ School and Ricards Lodge
High School, under the direction of professional
movement practitioners Neil Fisher and
Rebecca Steel.
190 KCS parents enjoyed a splendid evening
featuring a performance of The Madness of George
III at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue
directed by Christopher Luscombe (OK). Prior to
the performance, Christopher was interviewed by
Al Senter as part of a private reception.
Adjudicator’s award for Ensemble
Performance: Layton for Il Fornicazione
Adjudicator’s award for Original Writing:
Qasim Salam and Joshua Hunter (Maclear)
for A Darker Shade of White
Best Director: Tom Fairbairn, Oliver Johnson
and Max Falkenberg McGillivray (Kingsley)
for Doppelganger
Al Senter interviews
Christopher Luscombe
Best Actor: Charlie Raines (Glenesk) for
Work in Progress
Best Play: Layton for Il Forniazione
Drama
The Madness of George III
SENIORS
One hundred King’s College School pupils took over
Cadogan Hall in November for a Centenary Gala Concert.
The standard of music was exceptional and showcased the
very best of King’s music. This was a remarkable concert
and a superb achievement by all of the pupils.
Gala Concert – Cadogan Hall
William Sternberg was awarded his DipABRSM
in piano performance in February. This is a very
considerable achievement – just six pupils from
King’s have attained this standard in the past five
years. The examiners praised the imagination
and communicative power of William’s playing.
He is now able to include these diploma letters
after his name, something that not many 17-yearolds can do! William also won the Recital Cup
and the Baroque Music Section in the Kingston
Festival of the Performing Arts in November.
Edward Sternberg won the Contemporary
Music Cup and Alex Lama Noujaim won the
Instrumental Concerto section.
William Sternberg, and
Kingston Festival Winners
It was particularly good to have Jonathan
Allsopp (Sixth Form Organ Scholar) playing
Buxtehude, Bach and Guilmant before the
Service on the Cathedral’s mighty organ.
Nineteen coaches headed to Guildford
Cathedral in December for our Carol Service.
Two choirs, ten readers and some nine hundred
members of the congregation joined together
to celebrate the end of our Centenary Year of
Independence from King’s College.
Carol Service in
Guildford Cathedral
12 | Spring Newsletter
Milena Albrecht is one of two female Sixth Form
Music Scholars currently in the school. She is
an outstanding cellist and has made it through
to the Finals of the Senior House Music Solo
Competition. She has recently performed in the
Scholars’ Recital and in the John Evans String
Prize Finals where her playing was described as
‘accomplished, mature and characterful’.
Congratulations to Itamar Rashkovsky, who has
recently been awarded first prize in the Gordon
Turner Memorial Competition at the Junior
Department of the Royal College of Music. Here
at King’s, Itamar has also won the John Evans
Senior String Prize for his outstanding violin playing.
There is an opportunity to hear Itamar in a solo
recital he has been invited to give in the Elgar
Room at the Royal Albert Hall on 5th May.
Itamar and Milena
SENIORS
Music
Christmas Fair
Over 100 stalls showcased a fantastic range
of Christmas treats and Father
Christmas also dropped in
for a visit.
Old Friends’ Cocktail Party
Well over a hundred former parents attended a
reception at the school in November. This was the
first of a series of events for our former parents
as part of a wider King’s Association that was
launched in 2012.
The Wimbledon community, parents, pupils and friends of KCS were
treated to a spectacular Fireworks and Lighting show in November.
Bonfire Night
Friends Events
In October The Friends of KCS hosted the first
Great Hall Race. Parents, pupils and staff contested
the event on Wimbledon Common in great spirit
and in balmy autumn weather. James Eden won
the 5k event and Andy Robinson won the 10k. The
first pupils home were Rory Tingle (5k) and Hugh
Train (10k). Major won the house competition. The
race involved a large field comprising all areas of
the KCS community, and raised £3,500 for the KCS
Olympic Project.
Great Hall Race
The Legal Networking Reception was held in the
Great Hall on February 29th and was host to
some of King’s most successful legal alumni as
well as eager Sixth Formers who aspire to be a
legal professionals.
Over a hundred members of the King’s community
gathered at Canary Wharf for the latest in the
series of King’s City and Business Networking
Receptions. During the evening, the leading
economic commentator, Robert Parker, gave a
fascinating talk on the status of the world economy.
An eclectic mixture of staff, OKs and parents,
representing all three armed services, assembled at
the Naval and Military Club for an inaugural King’s
Military networking event.
February Events
King’s was also delighted to host the third Arts &
Media Networking Reception at Christie’s
in March.
The refurbished space provides a formal study area and modern IT facilities for
the co-educational Sixth Form and complements the excellent new facilities
already being enjoyed downstairs in the Sixth Form Centre. It also gives King’s
a large and flexible space for meetings and presentations to pupils, staff and
parents alike.
King’s opened the newly refurbished Fitzpatrick Reading Room at a drinks
reception in September. The impressive new facility is named in honour of
the retiring Vice Chairman of the Governing Body, long-time supporter of the
School, Tom Fitzpatrick (OK).
Opening of the Fitzpatrick Reading Room
SENIORS
The greatest accomplishment, however, was that the whole play,
except for a few helpful captions from the narrator, Matt D’AloisioMontilla, was entirely in French and the weeks of pronunciation
correction and acting advice from the director and Head of
Modern Foreign Languages, Miss Penny Whitwell, really did pay off.
This year’s Upper Remove (Year 8) French production of Les Trois
Mousquetaires was wonderful entertainment. There were goodies
and baddies, wonderful comic acting and a happy ending.
Les Trois Mousquetaires
Celebrations was the theme of the Junior School
Art and Design Exhibition. Every boy had at
least two pieces of work on display in the Reeve
School of Art and Design, which meant there were
more than nine hundred pieces for parents, family,
friends and boys to see. The range of work was
wonderfully impressive – there were animations,
celebratory chairs, musical instruments and so
much more.
Few of the authors who have visited KCJS have
made the same impact as Chris Bradford. His
exciting stories are built around the exploits
of samurai warriors and he is an expert with
this weapon. He arrived appropriately dressed
and demonstrated the effectiveness of his sword
by slicing A4 paper with it!!! The boys were hugely
impressed and there was a long queue waiting
patiently for Chris to sign their copies of his books.
16 | Spring Newsletter
Celebrations
Samurai Warrior
He had to carry enough food to survive for three
months, his tent and a specially designed swimming
suit so that he could swim across cracks in the ice.
All this was transported by a sledge which he had to
pull with him, even when he was in the water! The
boys thoroughly enjoyed hearing about Ben’s amazing
adventures and his plans for the future. Next year he
and two friends are planning to do Scott’s journey to
the South Pole. We cannot wait to track his progress
and we look forward to welcoming him back to KCJS.
We have had some very impressive visitors over the years but few
can compete with the achievement of Ben Saunders. He is a polar
explorer and only the third man ever to walk on his own from the
north coast of Russia to the very top of the world, the North Pole.
Freezing
JUNIORS
The Second Form (Year 5) once again visited Hastings to re-enact
the famous battle of 1066. Boys and parents worked hard both in
class and at home to learn about the conflict between the Saxons
and Normans and produce the wonderful costumes and armour
that you see in these pictures. The Normans won again and the
teachers and boys returned home unscathed!
Battle again
The new pavilion
We were delighted to welcome to King’s both
Mike Atherton, formerly captain of the England
cricket team, and the international rugby player,
Toby Flood. Mike Atherton opened our splendid
new pavilion at the Kingsway Grounds and gave an
excellent speech which focused on the enduring
values underpinning sporting success. Toby Flood
gave generously of his time to coach some of our
rugby players.
What better way to celebrate our centenary
than by winning our own Centenary Football
Tournament! This year we have a very strong
group of U8 sportsmen and the A soccer
squad performed splendidly on a lovely autumn
afternoon. They won all seven matches scoring
nineteen goals and only conceding four. The
final was very closely fought and our boys had
to hold their nerve winning 3-2 against Rokeby
in a penalty shoot-out. Well done, King’s.
Some boys were then fortunate enough to
have her as a PE teacher and were introduced
to sitting volleyball and blind soccer. They had a
great day and we were all inspired by her example.
Go Nikki!
Andrew Durant, Chairman of the Friends of KCS,
presented her with a cheque for £1,500 which will
help with her training costs in the months ahead.
Centenary Success
The Friends of KCS, our parents’ association, are
sponsoring a number of Paralympic and able
bodied sportsmen and women as they prepare
for the London Games later this year. Nikki
Emerson is trying to get into the British Paralympic
team as a wheel-chair sprinter. She was injured in a
car crash three years ago and ever since has been
unable to feel anything below her hips. Nikki spoke
to the boys in assembly about her experiences and
the challenges she faces.
Inspiration
JUNIORS
The highlight of this competition was the Parallel
Slalom. King’s were superb at this event with fast
but steady skiers making very few mistakes. Our
teams were mixed between the JS and SS which
made for great team bonding and support. We
found our two teams drawn against each other in
the semi-final after being unbeaten throughout the
group stages, where King’s 2 caused the first major
upset and beat the pre-event favourites, King’s 1,
in a very close race. We went on to face St Mary’s
Calne in the final who had caused the other upset
by knocking out Wycombe Abbey.
Our overall results on the day were as follows:
Ben Richardson (JS) 1st in Junior Boys’ GS
Nicholas De Boer (JS) 2nd in Junior Boys’ GS
Josh Dhillon (JS) 3rd in Junior Boys’ GS
King’s 2 –1st in Parallel Slalom: Victor Bakker (SS),
Josh Dhillon (JS), Hugh Drummond (SS), Sam
Leavitt (SS), Ethan Sarif-Kattan (JS)
King’s 1 – 3rd in Parallel Slalom: Pietro Anselmetti
(SS), Nicholas de Boer (JS), Sam Jackson (SS),
Will Leavitt (SS), Ben Richardson (JS),
Thomas Sanders (JS)
The Lower Remove (Year 7) Petit Déjeuner was
much appreciated by the parents who came into
school for coffee, croissants and entertainment.
There was a variety of French songs and sketches
and the whole event, organised and introduced by
Miss Bitaud, was full of humour and fun.
Le Petit Déjeuner
20 | Spring Newsletter
Simon Wakely, the Chief Executive at the
Pestalozzi Overseas Children’s Trust, spoke to the
boys in assembly about the work of this charity.
The Pestalozzi Trust provides education in India
and Africa for bright boys and girls who would
otherwise receive no secondary schooling. We
have been supporting this charity since 2008 and,
at the end of Simon’s talk, he was presented with
a cheque for £5,871.00 by our Head Boy, Sam
Hodgson, this being the sum which we have raised
through various activities over the last year or so.
We are now into our second year of the Junior
Aspirations project. Every Friday afternoon
a group of 6th Formers work with our own
Assistant Head (Outreach), Mr Jason Hipkiss, to
provide an enriched curriculum for fourteen Year
5 boys and girls from our partnership primary
schools – Abbotsbury, Ronald Ross, Cranmer
and St. Michael’s in Mitcham. The sessions are
always great fun and excellent relationships are
being established between these primary school
youngsters and our own senior students. We are
aiming to help these bright children to win places
in selective schools at 11+ but we also want them
to enjoy themselves.
King’s took 21 competitors (11 JS and 10 SS)
to the ISSSC (Independent Schools Ski and
Snowboard Championships) which took place in
Les Deux Alpes, France from 15-19 December.
Our boys were outstanding and skied five faultless
runs to win by some margin much to the delight of
the rest of our squad.
Pestalozzi
Junior Aspirations
Ski Success
Our U13 C team rugby squad returned from King’s House School as the proud holders of the Bill
Sharrock Cup. They defeated Aldro, Hall Grove and St Benedict’s on their way to the final against
Feltonfleet. Great running rugby secured four tries and a convincing victory. The boys all played really
well and their triumph was thoroughly deserved.
King’s House Kings
JUNIORS
This year we hosted the regional round of the Kids’
Lit Quiz. Twenty four teams took part and our
boys faced tough competition from schools such
as Tiffin Boys’, RGS Guildford and Dulwich College.
Kids’ Lit Quiz
The exciting conclusion to the Young Musician of
KCJS Competition took place in the Great Hall.
The twenty two performers entertained an
audience comprising all the Priory boys (Years
5-8) and their teachers. The adjudicator, Mr Simon
Toyne, who is the Director of Music at Tiffin School,
thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon and said how
impressed he was with the very high standard
and the calm, professional demeanour of the
competitors. Congratulations to Alex Chalk who
won the title of Young Musician of KCJS. All the
competitors, however, should be proud of their
achievements as they provided a fantastic afternoon
of music-making.
Young Musician of KCJS
They all had a chance to play against International
Master, Malcolm Pein, and several were interviewed
mid-game by a camera crew filming for CBS. After lunch
they played in a tournament against other schools and
achieved a splendid 75% victory percentage, losing just
eight out of fifty two games. The boys
have also qualified for the knockout stages of the
National Schools’ Competition.
In the end our A team finished second and our B
team finished fourth and their combined scores
made us the highest scoring school.
Chess is hugely popular here and a group of Second Form (Year 5)
boys had a great time at the London Chess Classic at Kensington
Olympia.
London Chess Classic
What better way to celebrate our centenary
than by winning our own Centenary Football
Tournament! This year we have a very strong
group of U8 sportsmen and the A soccer
squad performed splendidly on a lovely autumn
afternoon. They won all seven matches scoring
nineteen goals and only conceding four. The
final was very closely fought and our boys had
to hold their nerve winning 3-2 against Rokeby
in a penalty shoot-out. Well done, King’s.
Centenary Success
22 | Spring Newsletter
A victory over our local rivals, Colet Court, is
always prized but a truly emphatic one in a major
tournament is really special. In the Wellington
College Rugby Tournament our 1st XV advanced
to the semi-finals with wins against Dulwich Prep,
St John’s Beaumont and the Beacon School. They
then came up against Colet Court and recorded
a resounding 42-0 triumph. In the final they
played against London Oratory Prep, who were
also undefeated. The score was 5-5 as the game
entered the closing minutes. The splendid Oratory
winger then scored one of the best tries our coach
has seen from a boy of his age to win the match
and the cup. Very well done, Oratory!
KCJS 42-0 v Colet Court!
The boys in Tudor House deserve very warm congratulations
for their remarkable achievement of winning the House football
competition three years running.
Tudor Triple
JUNIORS
Christmas Concert in St James’s Church Piccadilly
One of the most exciting dates in the music calendar at King’s is our annual
pilgrimage to St James’s Piccadilly, where we entice Christmas shoppers to
pause from their frenetic day and join us in the sanctuary of this gorgeous
Wren Church. The Chamber Choir and Orchestra had recently returned
from a hugely successful joint tour to Spain and this was their next venture.
This year’s centrepiece was Marcello’s Oboe
Concerto played exquisitely by Emmanuel RollandBezem. The outer movements were full of energy
and driving rhythms which were perfectly played,
whilst the slow movement had real poise and
artistry. The Chamber Orchestra accompanied
sensitively but showed they could also come to the
fore in Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.
King’s College School
Southside, Wimbledon Common,
London, SW19 4TT
Tel: +44 (20) 8255 5300 [email protected]
More information is available from
the Admissions Registrar:
[email protected]
or phone 020 8255 5352
For Sixth Form admissions
please contact:
[email protected]
or phone 020 8255 5320
The choir were on typical sparkling form and
performed music by Rutter, Chilcott, Schubert,
Palestrina and Weelkes amongst others.
To be amongst the Christmas festivities and lights
in central London just made the occasion all the
more special and, for many, it was the very best
start to the Christmas season. Long may this
annual fixture continue.
King’s College Junior School
Southside, Wimbledon Common,
London, SW19 4TT
Tel: +44 (20) 8255 5335
[email protected]
For Junior School Admissions
Please contact:
[email protected]
or phone 0208 255 5336