The Chronicle, No. 669, January 2016

1 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE CHRONICLE JANUARY 2016 | VOLUME XXXVI | NUMBER 669

SPORT AT TEDDIES The pace, the power

and the passion Experimental

ArtsLab at The North Wall Northern Exposure Iceland uncovered

2 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Word from theWarden review last term’s Ballet Show, and the energetic and entertaining production of West Side Story , alongside a fascinating look at the wider activities of The North

This edition of the Chronicle is all about the business of what is often described as ‘real’ education – the things we do beyond the classroom that help develop not only our pupils’ soft skills, but also – crucially – their competitive, dynamic and critical faculties as well. The central theme of this issue is our sporting life. The Director and Deputy Director of Sport give a helpful overview, but it is through the pupils’ voices – those of Tilly Catlin, Will Prew, Rosie Hart (pictured on the front cover) and AJ Woodland – that we really understand the role of sport at Teddies. The pupils’ accounts make clear that sport provides a powerful emotional focus. It is not just a question of training and playing or racing. Sport becomes a route to development, challenge, excitement, despair – and friendship. There is, as there should be, an almost equal focus on the arts in this issue. We

successfully realised at Teddies and so vividly brought to life in this edition. I particularly enjoyed reading the account of the Iceland trip and, having also watched the excellent film of the trip made by the pupils, the related insights into the talented young filmmakers behind Teddies on Camera – watch the Iceland film on the website. Of real value are the various projects undertaken by pupils through the Extended Essay (IB), the Extended Project Qualification (A Level) and the Warden’s Project – and what better place to start your exploration of our pupils’ impressive exploits than on the page opposite, where we learn about Anna Glik’s ambitious and quite remarkable architectural EPQ? I hope you enjoy this and all the contents of our latest issue, and I wish you a happy and productive 2016. Stephen Jones

Wall: find out more about the multi- layered and highly innovative ArtsLab ‘hub’ on page 14. When Alec Peterson, former Director of the Department of Education at Oxford University, was at the heart of the development of the International Baccalaureate, he was asked to give a brief summary of the educational aims of the programme. It was intended, he said, ‘to develop to their fullest potential the powers of each individual to understand, to modify and to enjoy his or her environment, both inner and outer, in its physical, social, moral, aesthetic and spiritual aspects’. I suppose this is what I mean above by ‘real’ education and I am delighted that Peterson’s aims as described are so

Find out more Enjoy extra snippets of news by following @TeddiesOxford @TeddiesSport

@TeddiesRowing @TeddiesRhubarb @TeddiesMartyrs @TheNorthWall

@TeddiesGeog @TeddiesAJW

Teddies TV Tune in for our latest films: Teddies in Town, Food at Teddies and the Iceland trip – among others. Films with the TOC tag are made by our talented pupil film unit Teddies on Camera. See pages 11 and 23 to meet

the people behind the lens. www.stedwardsoxford.org

3 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

A Different Angle

Sixth Former Anna Glik talks about her Extended Project Qualification: “I’m planning to study Architecture at university so I chose an architectural topic for my EPQ. Initially, I thought about writing an essay on Zaha Hadid, whose work fascinates me: she uses complex curves and irregular geometries to create extraordinarily daring buildings - which are not always appreciated. During my research, I came across an article in the Guardian by Michele Hanson who reported that Hadid’s design for the National Stadium of Tokyo – now abandoned – had been described as a hairdryer, a spacecraft, a footbath, a stranded turtle – and a child’s potty. I was incredibly lucky to be able to see one of Hadid’s buildings under construction just down the road – the new Investcorp Building at St Antony’s College in Oxford, which was completed last year. I also visited a major exhibition of her work at the Hermitage in St Petersburg. The more I looked at her work, the more I felt compelled to design something of my own rather than just write an essay. I took a course in the computer programme ArchiCAD during the summer holiday and then started to experiment. Inspired by Hadid’s curves, I initially wanted to design a building specifically for one of our oval Harkness classroom tables, but one day found myself unable to practise ballet because the Dance Studio was in use. I immediately thought about designing a dedicated Ballet Studio for St Edward’s. I interviewed our Head of Dance, Lisa Elkins, about the discipline’s specific requirements. Ballet dancers rely on mirrors so although my first design featured only curved walls, I had to modify it to allow for a large flat area. Lisa also explained that the atmosphere is very important for ballet dancers. The curved walls make the building more organic and light, and the simplicity of the interior allows the dancers to focus on their performance without being distracted. In my

building, natural light pours through round windows in the ceiling, avoiding mirror-glare from wall-mounted artificial lighting. In ArchiCAD, many architectural elements are available within the programme, and can be added to a building design, but my skills were challenged by the need for a curved bench and barre which I had to design from scratch. My design is now complete, and if I ever had the chance to have it constructed, I would position it in the Cooper Quad.” Anna, who was previously at

Moscow Economic School, is taking A Levels in Maths, Art and French, and hopes to study

Architecture at University College London or Bath.

4 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

TheWarden’s Project

Building a Mini Segway Koji Shukawa tells us about his Warden’s Project: “I began thinking about Raspberry Pi in the Easter holidays after Dr Antoniazzi told us that he would be starting a Raspberry Pi Club. Raspberry Pi is a low cost computer designed to enable people to learn about and explore computer programming. When I began to think about my Warden’s Project, using Raspberry Pi seemed the obvious thing to do. Initially, I wanted to build a drone, but I had already built a small car using Raspberry Pi, and I was interested in the challenge of trying to make two wheels rather than four self-balancing. Mr Barstow helped me use the 3D printer so I could build the body of my mini Segway, and I added the computer, the wheels, the various electronics and the sensors. I created a programme to control the balance, and also an app so I could operate it with my mobile phone. When it’s on, the Segway balances, although it wobbles a bit. I would like to keep working on it at Teddies Pi Club to make it more stable and add other features, like a camera to shoot videos while the Segway is moving around. I worked on the project with Dr Antoniazzi for a few hours a day for several weeks to get the programming and electronic connections right, and I was very pleased with the results.” If you would like to see Koji’s impressive project in action, look at the Pi Club’s Twitter feed, @TeddiesPiClub .

Cooking up a Project By Reha Soni

What were the biggest challenges? Getting the quantity and correct measures for the ingredients of the recipes was the biggest challenge as my grandma does everything by estimation which only comes from experience. So trying to get the correct measures down meant that we had to first pen down the recipes and then make each one of them from scratch to test for correct quantities of ingredients, which was hard work due to the project deadline. What did you learn? I learned how to be creative when cooking and how just a dash of herbs and spices here and there can change the flavours drastically. It was also a steep learning curve for me in terms of trying to put a book together which I assumed would be nice and simple. However, it was harder than I had anticipated as everything had to be perfect and in the right order. Proof-reading was the most time consuming part of the entire project as I didn’t fully appreciate the finer details that had to be kept in mind when writing up which meant I had to go though about four draft versions before we got to the final version. How can people buy it and how much does it cost? I am asking for donations and something around £10 would be wonderful, but people can give whatever they think is appropriate. Proceeds will go to a charity called Contact Elderly who match frail, elderly people who live alone with volunteers who take them to tea one Sunday every month. You can buy a copy by emailing my HM, Mrs Gowen: gowenp@stedwardsoxford.org . What’s your favourite recipe? My favourite recipe is a simple lentil recipe, called Tadka Dal (Sunday Dal). As you can guess from the name, we have this every Sunday!

Tell us about yourWarden’s Project. We had to pick a subject we were passionate about and I decided to create a cookbook. I was struggling to find a topic that would interest me and was thinking of ideas around food as I quite enjoy cooking and love trying out different types of cuisines. I have a very strong opinion that Indian food tastes the best when cooked at home, so I decided to share my grandma’s simple and easy recipes by cookbook inspired by what we cook at home on a daily basis. Some of the recipes that are included are not dishes you will find on an Indian restaurant menu, which makes the book quite unique. Is there a theme? The theme is traditional Indian Punjabi food cooked on a daily basis in a Punjabi household. The focus is on my grandmother’s cooking which hasn’t come from the pages of a particular recipe book. The recipes have been passed on from one generation to the other just by observation and verbal instructions or helping out in the kitchen. creating a cookbook. How many recipes? There are in total 29 recipes in the

5 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

A Question of Sport

We talk to Director of Sport, Andrew Dalgleish, and Deputy Director of Sport, Eve Singfield, about their own sporting history, the Teddies sporting ethos – and favourite moments. Tell me about your own experience of sport. Eve: At school, I played hockey, netball and tennis, and rowed for a local club. I rowed internationally up to U18 level, racing for Great Britain twice as a single sculler at the European Championships, La Coupe de la Jeunesse, and in a quad at the Junior World Championships. At the time I was neither tall enough to be a heavyweight or small enough to be a lightweight so I stuck to club rowing and then started coaching. I’m now in my 13th year at St Edward’s; I’m Housemistress in Corfe, Deputy Director of Sport and I coach rowing – so it’s pretty busy! Andrew: I was very much an all-rounder when I was a pupil at Bedford School, but

OURFC in 2005. I represented the famous Barbarians RFC on nine occasions, once as Captain. In recent years, since injury forced my rugby retirement, I have joined the masses and taken up triathlon. I prefer to race the Ironman distance but represented Team GB for the Middle Distance (half Ironman) European Championships in 2015 and will do so again this year. This is my 10th year at St Edward’s and my third as Director of Sport. What are the main sports at St Edward’s? Traditionally rugby, hockey, rowing and cricket for boys, and hockey, netball, rowing and tennis for girls. But as we see in the wider public context, more and more sports are gaining in popularity so we now offer a much wider range of sports for all pupils. What are the new sports? Swimming is enjoying a resurgence (see pages 9 and 30). We now boast a large and active squad who have attended a number of fixtures in recent years, including the prestigious Bath Cup and Otter Medley National Schools Relays at the Olympic Pool. Running is now very popular; the Harriers achieve considerable success in the Oxfordshire Cross Country League and in local road races. We are competitive at national level in golf and squash, and compete in inter-school sailing and climbing competitions. Girls’ cricket and football are gaining in popularity and we are looking to launch a girls’ rugby programme.

particularly enjoyed cricket and rugby. I played the latter for the Scotland U18s (qualifying through my grandparents). After 21 level, I left the Scottish programme, but went on to play professional and semi- professional rugby. As Captain of the England students’ team, I played at Twickenham in an England shirt – an amazing experience. In addition I earned two Blues for Oxford University against Cambridge in the annual Varsity Match, captaining the Blues and

6 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

sporting tradition and success. We recruit teachers who are highly active sportsmen and women, which is of huge benefit to the pupils. We don’t want to become a school where we have teachers in the classroom and sports coaches on the pitches and no crossover between the two. The elite programme has changed in recent years. The school is busier than it used to be. It’s difficult to bring pupils together for a dedicated training session – as the programme used to run – but we now have Mark Munro, full-time strength and conditioning coach, and Rachel Hallam, part-time elite sports coach, who provide bespoke training programmes for each individual. Pupils train and meet with Mark and Rachel as and when their wider school timetable permits. Younger sports scholars still get together for a group session once a week. This approach allows a tailored programme – each sport can focus on their particular requirements. How do we look after the pupil who is not at all engaged in sport? Sport is compulsory – all pupils will participate in at least three sports sessions per week. To cater for all levels, we offer a range of activities, not necessarily team sport, but physical activity – such as dance or golf – so that everyone can find a way to be involved. Pupils can have fixed ideas about sport. They might have been pigeon-holed in previous schools and see themselves at a certain level. It’s the same with any area of school life – academic, music, outdoor pursuits. If you come to a new school, you have to give things a go. You never know where you might find yourself. Why is sport important in school? The physical health benefits are vital, as is the fostering of team spirit. Sport offers challenge in a different environment, away from the classroom, but there is a great deal of crossover between the two. We try to help pupils understand that it is easy to become engaged in sport at school – all facilities, coaches and opportunities are on site and readily available. If they take advantage of these now, and create good habits for the future, it will help them enormously in later life. How do we look after our elite sportsmen and women?

Are we particularly successful at certain sports at the moment? Yes. The national competitions give us a chance to measure that success. The rowers were in the internationally-contested Henley Final two years running. Our cricketers compete for a prestigious trophy, the John Harvey Cup, and have won it for the past three years (beating Radley, Marlborough, Bradfield, Winchester and Cheltenham in order to do so). Our girls’ hockey teams always perform exceptionally well - the 1st XI were crowned County Champions last term and secured their place in school history as the second most successful team ever. The 2015 boys’ rugby XV enjoyed arrived at Teddies. I represented the A team from Shells right through to Fifth Form. It took me three years of pain to finally win my first ever hockey game against Wellington which was a massive relief. I then went on to represent the 1st XI in the Lower Sixth and will do so again this season. AJ Woodland In 2011 I arrived at Teddies on a Sports Scholarship. Teddies sport offered a variety of activities from main sports such as rugby, hockey and netball to health and fitness, and spinning. Being at Teddies has allowed me to play alongside some of the best sportsmen in our region (including Miles Hammond, England U19 and Gloucestershire cricketer), and to work with some of the best coaches (such as Mr Hanslip, former England U16 rugby coach). Whatever your ability, Teddies has a great deal to offer. I have always enjoyed rugby but the Shell season was very up and down. Having not won a game in the first half of the season to being undefeated in the second was a huge achievement. Having watched the 1st XV play on the prestigious Upper 1 since Shells made me want to represent that team even more. Now in the Upper Sixth, having played two years in the 1st XV, I have earned my colours and stand as a leader within the team. My most profound Teddies rugby memory would be either beating Radley away from home last year or kicking the winning penalty in a 13-12 win against Bloxham. I had never played hockey before I

I am always impatient for the Summer Term – and cricket. I have always had a huge passion for cricket and couldn’t wait to get started at Teddies. I have represented the 1st XI since Fourth Form and have been lucky enough to be involved in three of the most successful teams Teddies has produced. I earned my colours in the Fifth Form and that year saw the Teddies 1st XI become the most successful team in 150 years. The 2015 Teddies 1st XI went on to win the John Harvey Cup for a third successive year in which we beat the likes of Radley, Marlborough and Bradfield. AJ was previously at Davenies.

their best season since 2005. A number of our girl and boy rowers have represented GB in recent years and several are currently in contention for the squad – and so the list goes on. Tell me about coaching. As sports have progressed and we offer more options, there has been a need to recruit more coaches. We have a highly- skilled team, including over 20 Oxford and Cambridge Blues, 10 individuals who have competed at international level – including an Olympian – and five who have coached internationally. We are very fortunate to be in Oxford, a city closely linked with

7 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Tilly Catlin One of the aspects of rowing I most enjoy is the team spirit. We spend a lot of time training together and have developed a strong bond. We are training not just for ourselves but for each other, requiring each of us to challenge ourselves mentally and physically in order to perform to the best of our ability. As we work hard and push ourselves towards our goal, the National Schools Regatta, we motivate each other and are able to support one another when things get tough. The rowing training schedule is heavy, with nine sessions a week, but I find them fun and enjoyable. You spend time with your friends while trying to improve your performance as an individual and as part of a crew. The intensity of the schedule alongside the demanding IB syllabus means that I have to be extra organised to fit everything in. Rowing has helped me prioritise better and focus on what I need to achieve. The athlete who most inspires me is Helen Glover. She is currently rowing for the GB team in a coxless pair and has been unbeaten since the 2012 Olympics where she won gold. In 2008 she applied to the Sporting Giants scheme and was placed on GB Rowing Team’s ‘Start’ programme. Over four years, Helen devoted herself to the sport and went from not knowing how to row to being the first woman to hold the coxless pair Olympic, World and European titles at the same time. Teddies training has opened up opportunities for me such as trialling for GB. Last year, I was selected to represent GB at the European Championships in Hungary in the coxless pair and came home with three silver medals. It simply would not have happened without the support of the coaches and my crew. I am now hoping that my rowing will help me with my applications to American universities. Tilly was previously at Esher CofE High School and is pictured on page 30.

Bea Mountain ( Highfield ) in action v Bloxham in November

Our rugby and girls’ hockey players enjoyed a spectacular tour to Australia last summer.Why is touring important? We set a schedule designed to ensure that all pupils who are fully engaged in sport have the opportunity to tour. It’s very important to play sport in a different environment and in different conditions. Touring offers the opportunity to spend a focused period of time not only on sporting development, but with

team mates. We know from our own experiences that these friendships will stand the test of time. What happens afterTeddies? We encourage our sporting alumni to stay involved and many young OSE make the transition from blue and gold to rhubarb soon after leaving School. With biannual sports days, OSE return to Teddies for Martyrs v School fixtures in sports ranging from hockey to rifle shooting. It doesn’t

The swimming squad at the Abingdon Relays in October

8 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

stop there, as the individual Martyrs clubs are active all year round: Martyrs Hockey are riding high after three back- to-back wins in the Haileybury Sixes; Rugby 7s remain popular, with OSE teams dominant in local tournaments and, further afield, at the Dubai 7s; finally, the resurgent Martyrs Boat Club won the Masters B category at Wallingford Head in November. Keep up to date with their exploits @TeddiesMartyrs. What is your favouriteTeddies sporting moment so far? Andrew: I have three: the 1st XV beating Radley on Upper 1 in 2007 when Joe Jones was Captain. They were very much behind and came back to win – a very exciting and memorable match. Secondly, the netball 1st VII winning away v Cheltenham by just one goal last year after a game which could have gone either way. Teddies took the lead with three minutes left to play and defended like lions against a strong Cheltenham side – it was outstanding sport. And finally, during the Barbados Netball Tour in 2013, the squad and staff visited a rural orphanage. Although initially nervous, the girls soon instigated games of football and tag, and even got some of the children singing. By the end of the morning, everyone had begun to relax in each other’s company and the girls had taught the children a dance routine. Witnessing the power of sport to bring together two very different worlds was an amazing experience. Eve: I have two very different favourite moments: in 2003, my first year at the School, the girls’ IV won at National Schools – out of nowhere. They had been third in their semi-final but went out onto the river for the final, and something extraordinary happened. They beat crews with junior internationals in them – it was wonderful for them and for us. My other favourite moment – with my HM hat on – was Corfe winning House netball last year. It came down to the last game v Oakthorpe and we won by one goal in the very last second. Thrilling.

Will Prew Since I started at Teddies, I have

participated in rugby, rowing, swimming, cross country and athletics; rugby, though, is my great passion. When I think of rugby, the thoughts that come into my mind are about team spirit, support, encouragement, patience and honesty. Also about discipline, focus, success, disappointment and enjoyment. Rugby at Teddies has allowed me to experience all of these. Sport at Teddies has given us all the opportunity to learn about life skills, to practise them and to see them at work. Over these last three seasons, we’ve all known when we should have given more support to each other; when we should have passed the ball, rather than try to be the hero; when we could have won the game if only we had played together as a team. So we’ve learnt a lot. We’ve learnt to support each other, to encourage each other and to be patient when mistakes were made. And by the end of each season we were better players and better individuals for it. Of course it is our coaches we must thank, because it is they who have helped us train hard, improve our skills and enjoy ourselves. Everyone wants to be part of a winning team so winning gave us a sense

of reward and great pride. But when we lost, we knew we had to pick ourselves up and set it right in the next game. Losing did us no harm. If anything, it is what helped us do better next time. So I believe sport at Teddies is more than playing a game; it is about a journey of discovery, a learning curve which has helped us develop many skills, not only in sport but also with our academic work, where I am sure it has helped us to be more organised and more focused. In summary, I feel, it has been another part of our journey along the road to the exciting world which lies ahead of us. Will was previously at Caldicott.

The Steeplechase on Port Meadow

9 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

In the Swim Chairman of Governors Mike Stanfield OSE is at the centre of both pictures: on the left, as Captain of Swimming at St Edward’s in 1960, and above at Teddies in December when he met the current Captain of Swimming, Casper Sunley, and Head of Swimming, Rebecca Clark, to find out how things have changed poolside. Read Rebecca’s autumn term swimming report on page 30.

Saturday: Match Day By Rosie Hart

The prospect of match day has always given me something to look forward to at the end of the week particularly during my time at Teddies. From playing multiple sports in Shells to still participating in three main sports in the Upper Sixth, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself the whole way through. Despite always enjoying sport at prep school, sport at Teddies has been completely different. I have opened myself up to a new group of friends and memories that I’m sure will last forever whilst learning social skills that I would otherwise be without. It is safe to say that I would not have learned that being in a team meant that you had to take responsibility for not only yourself but also for others whilst being – or so it seems – the busiest person on the planet. Sport can be one of the most unifying things and I have been so fortunate to play with the most amazing, long-suffering and humorous friends. My memories are many and range from going on netball tour to Barbados to having an unbeaten hockey season in the Fourth Form. Even situations which at the time were really not amusing, such as seriously damaging the ligaments in my ankle on the very FIRST day of a three-week hockey tour to Australia (having managed to get through 17 years of my life without any real injuries!) will be a tale to tell in the future. With true Teddies spirit, everyone rallied round and helped me enjoy one of the best experiences of my life. Captaining the girls’ 1st hockey XI was a dream come true this term and having a team full of friends from across the year groups made us a fantastic squad who have fared as well as we have because we truly bonded in every sense of the word. The sporting part of Teddies has, for me, enhanced my whole school life more than I could ever have hoped. I was honoured to have a Sports Scholarship the whole way through and Teddies has done nothing but help me maximise all my sporting opportunities. I am very envious of those who have all of their school experiences left to come and it’s so sad to see my sporting time at Teddies drawing to a close. I can honestly say that I have had the

best time and I would not change one moment of it for anything. Rosie was previously at the Dragon – and is pictured on the front cover.

10 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

The Music School An update from Richard Hayes, Estates Bursar

Murmurings An exhibition of new work by Art Teacher Lorraine Turley ran at The North Wall in November featuring luminous, atmospheric landscape paintings created from memories of her native Scotland and a visit to Iceland. November by former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. The anniversary evening on 21st November was a wild success, with the delicious dinner punctuated by plenty of fun and games. Amazingly, a number of Sing’s boys who were simultaneously performing in the last night of the School’s production of West Side Story were able to slip away during the interval to entertain guests. Pictured above is the impressive cake made by the catering team to mark the occasion. Sing’s 50th Anniversary Dinner A wonderful – and very yellow – evening was enjoyed by the pupils, parents and staff of Sing’s in November to celebrate the House’s 50th anniversary. The House began life as ‘Set B’ but was subsequently named Sing’s in 1925 after John Millington Sing, the Set’s first Housemaster. When the House moved into its present home in 1965 the building was opened on 27th

There’s nothing like the drama of ear- splitting demolition to launch a building project. Last year, we said a fond farewell to the Ferguson Music School, the Music Annexe and the Shooting Range to make way for an elegant and impressively- appointed new Music School. We also moved the Laundry and Maintenance Departments, and built a temporary Music School next to the Maths Block. Since then, the ground floor has been cast, hundreds of tonnes of concrete have been poured to create the foundations for the superstructure, and the first floor has been constructed. As we went to press, the roof structure

was clearly visible above the hoardings on South Parade. The new Music School, set for completion in the autumn, will give our talented young musicians the space they need to create and make music, to practise and to perform. Music is a huge part of life at St Edward’s and the new facility will enable our musicians to breathe and to thrive. The new building was designed by Tim Ronalds Architects and is being built by Feltham Construction Ltd. It will contain 20 practice rooms, seven ensemble rooms, a rock room and recording studio, three classrooms, a recital/rehearsal room, a music library, various offices and a staff room.

James Crawford

The site from above in October 2015

11 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Celia Hodgson

Where were you beforeTeddies? Westbourne House School in West Sussex.

What House are you in and what are you studying? I’m in Mac’s and I’m currently studying Art, History of Art and Geography at A Level; I took Spanish at AS Level. What extra-curricular activities have you enjoyed during your time here? I have probably spent an unhealthy amount of time in the Art Department over the years, but I have also been heavily involved in the Music Department, singing in both choirs and playing the flute in the concert band. I took part in the school musical Fame! last year and made a backstage film for Teddies on Camera (you can see it in the Teddies TV section on the website). I also play hockey and netball. Who is your favourite teacher - and why? My tutor Mrs Webb and my Housemistress Mrs Clayphan are always so willing to help me and have provided incredible support over the years. However I would have to say that academically it is Mr Turner, my Geography teacher. In every lesson, he provides the perfect balance between banter and learning, and he makes sure we’re working in the way that suits us best. I’m pretty sure I find it very hard to pinpoint a certain piece of advice, but my flute teacher Dr Manasse acts as my life coach and seems to have a philosophical analogy for all of my problems and worries. Why did you startTeddies on Camera? Partly as an excuse to make films more often, as life at School is so busy it’s often difficult to keep up with hobbies, but I also think that a school can be captured far better on film than through a photo. Nikon or Canon? Canon. Obvs. What is your favouriteTOC film and why? Probably the Gaudy ‘Behind the Scenes’ video from last summer. I spent that last manic week of term walking around with a camera capturing everything, and I think because everyone in School was Next year I will be working in the film industry, as I think it’s the best way to learn all the different skills that come with filmmaking. I am not sure what aspect of film/TV I would like to specialise in, so I might go to university to study film after working, if I haven’t yet found my niche. What would be your Desert Island film? I’m not really an all-time favourite kind of girl, but I think I could watch Inception quite a few more times before I truly get my head around it. Find out more about Celia’s TOC co-founder, Casper Sunley, on page 23. in such a good mood it was really fun to film! What do you want to do after School? if he wanted to teach us quantum physics, he could. Best advice you’ve ever been given atTeddies?

12 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

West Side Story By Beth Steer

From the opening notes of the prologue, Rebecca Clark’s production of West Side Story crackles into life with an intensity and a fierce energy that keeps the audience enthralled. The rivalry between the Sharks and the Jets is played out through Lisa Elkins’ hugely effective choreography and the breathtaking parkour sequences that demonstrate both the physical skill and emotional range of the cast. The two warring factions are led through the increasingly chaotic turf war by Riff (in a mature and sensitive performance by Charles Maddison) and Bernardo (Louis Verschoyle bristling with energy and frustration) who are both outstanding as two young men trying to protect their gangs and families whilst maintaining their reputations. It is in the group scenes such as the dance and the fight that this production really comes alive with the ensemble cast, and particularly Maximilian Heil as Action, perfectly capturing the energy and tension of Bernstein and Sondheim’s classic musical.

West Side Story was performed in The Hall from 18th – 21st November. Previous schools of pupils mentioned above: Charles Maddison, Christ Church Cathedral ; Louis Verschoyle, Lambrook ; Maximilian Heil, Cherwell ; and Sassy Hammersley, Vincent Moisy and Christina Kirkham, The Dragon. poverty, immigration, identity, isolation and community with skill and sensitivity. The entire cast and crew deserve to be immensely proud of this production that fizzes with energy and heart from the first second to the final bow. those between Maria and her confidante Anita (played by Christina Kirkham) who strikes the perfect balance between her character’s funny and feisty turn in the first act and her grief-stricken rage in the second. West Side Story is a huge undertaking for any group of pupils and this production draws out the timeless themes of

It is into this frenzied environment that the doomed lovers Tony and Maria step. Their perfectly judged performances provide moments of calm and stillness as all around them crumbles. Sassy Hammersley’s Maria is beautifully naive and a perfect match for Vincent Moisy’s quiet confidence and charm. Both leads put in impressive vocal performances (ably backed by the orchestra under Alex Tester’s musical direction) and take the audience with them on every step of their journey from excited new love to destructive rage and heartbreaking grief. Based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , this is ultimately a play about relationships and it is the bonds between the characters - be they friends, relatives or rivals - that gives this production such heart. The agony felt by Tony as he is torn between his old friendships and his new love, and Maria’s touching insistence that love can overcome division, left the audience deeply moved. Some of the most heartfelt moments in the production are

Vincent Moisy as Tony and Sassy Hammersley as Maria

13 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Saskia Chancellor ( Queen’s Gate ), Nichole Marsh ( International Christian School, Hong Kong ) and Grace Jones ( Cranford House )

Charles Maddison

Jamie Fabian-Hunt ( Christ Church Cathedral ), Matthew Wilkins ( Cayman Prep and High ), Maximilian Heil, Lara Paul ( Broomwood Hall ), Tomas Magnusson ( The Pilgrims’ ), Jasmin Martin-Lof ( Pipers Corner ), Fergus Flory ( The Pilgrims’ ) and Anna Mostyn ( Hatherop Castle )

Grace Allen ( Dragon ) and Selena Thompson ( SylviaYoung )

Ned Stewart ( Eastbourne College ) and Grace Allen

14 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

ArtsLab at The NorthWall By Amy Walters, Theatre Manager

Alongside St Edward’s curricular and co- curricular drama and dance, The North Wall runs a public arts programme for the local community in Oxford and beyond. The programme offers a wide range of events - from plays that deal with urgent political issues, to dance-theatre adaptations of classic texts and more light-hearted comedy events. Pupils are encouraged to engage with the programme outside of the academic side of school life: this autumn, Sing’s Sixth Formers attended No Such Thing as a Fish , a panel show by the researchers of comedy TV show, QI ; and pupils who watched Kay Adshead’s The Bogus Woman also took part in a post-show debate about the current European refugee crisis, featuring speakers from the University of Oxford’s Centre of Migration Studies and organisations in the city who work with

to create, rehearse and perform a new piece of work. We hold an open national call out to recruit young people from across the UK through auditions and interviews. They are united by their talent and by their desire to pursue a career in the arts. The residential nature of the project is an immersive experience, creating an intensity of learning that makes the creative process completely unique. Many past participants say that they have never learnt so much in such a short space of time in all their years of education and training. Professionals ArtsLab supports professional writers, directors and actors, giving them the space and time to research and develop new work.

refugees. Since its opening, the North Wall has always enriched both the academic and pastoral side of life at Teddies. But have you ever wondered what goes on in The North Wall outside of term time? Through a programme of initiatives held during the school holidays, the North Wall supports the production of new work and development opportunities for emerging and professional artists. We call this ArtsLab.

Who is it for? Emerging Artists Since 2007, ArtsLab has provided

opportunities for young, talented artists aged 18-25 to succeed and excel in the arts. In our annual Summer Residency, for example, young artists work as an ensemble with professionals over the course of three weeks

Fragment: Summer Residency 2014

15 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

The North Wall establishes ongoing, creative partnerships with theatre companies including: Iron Shoes, previously associate company at the Bush Theatre; and multi- award-winning international ensemble Theatre Ad Infinitum. We also work closely with individuals at all stages in their careers, including Tom Wainwright, alumnus of the prestigious Royal Court Young Writer’s Programme; Al Smith, under commission to the Royal Court Theatre and winner of the inaugural BFI Wellcome Trust Screenwriting Prize; and Barney Norris, winner of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright in 2015. The shows developed over the holidays often become part of the public programme in later seasons, with writers and directors running workshops for St Edward’s pupils studying drama at GCSE and A Level. What do we do? ArtsLab Summer Residency The annual ArtsLab three-week Summer Residency focuses on all aspects of the performing arts including theatre, music and dance. Offered free of charge with up to 45 places each year, it offers talented young actors, writers, designers, musicians and directors the chance to work as an ensemble to create new work, in collaboration with highly experienced professionals, whose work you may have already seen as part of the public programme. Leading touring company OperaUpClose, who specialise in creating opera productions in small spaces, to great critical acclaim, have performed five shows at The North Wall over the last few years. As well as staging their latest venture, Ulla’s Odyssey , here in February, discussions are currently underway for the company to lead the summer residency in 2016, focusing for the first time ever on opera. StageWrite StageWrite, launching this year, is a new year- round programme of theatre-writing activities for talented young writers, building on the success of the North Wall’s Easter residency, TheatreCraft, which offers opportunities for talented individuals to gain experience in writing and directing for theatre. In addition to the TheatreCraft residency at Easter, StageWrite will provide a framework of support for emerging playwrights aged 18-25 to progress their work with The North Wall across the year - with the most exceptional

The North Wall in April 2015 before touring to Battersea Arts Centre in October 2015. How do we do this? The NorthWall Trust Since The North Wall’s inauguration, St Edward’s has generously supported the public programme and core costs of the arts centre, both as a home for drama and dance for the school, and as a resource for the benefit of the local community. 2012 saw the creation of a new charity, The North Wall Trust, to develop the increasingly diverse ArtsLab programme and the education and production work of the North Wall. This charity is becoming increasingly necessary as the effects of the funding crisis continue to hit young companies and small-scale work hardest of all. Crucial support from visionary trusts and individuals makes it possible for The North Wall Trust to support young people from all backgrounds in establishing a career in the arts, and to support professionals to develop and create important new work. We are extremely grateful for the generosity and commitment of our supporters, in particular The Garfield Weston Foundation and Backstage Trust. As the North Wall approaches its 10th anniversary year in 2016/2017, we are planning a series of exciting new initiatives and performances, and will continue to grow our ArtsLab programme, strengthening our mission to support the future generation of theatre-makers at the earliest stages of their careers.

writers invited to showcase their scripts to the public at the arts centre. In 2016, for the first time, The North Wall will be appointing a Writer-in-Residence: an early stage career professional who will work closely with the North Wall over the course of a year to mentor young writers and develop their own work. Productions and Co-productions The North Wall also produces home-grown work, as well as collaborating with leading theatre companies on new co-productions. Our most recent in-house production, Song of Riots , written and co-directed by the North Wall’s Artistic Director Lucy Maycock, marked the culmination of The North Wall’s long-term artistic association with European ensemble Awake Projects. Song of Riots premiered at

Mark Bruce Dance Masterclass: February 2014

16 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Relax everybody – he made it. Dan Brady ( TheWarriner ) scores v Marlborough in November

17 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

18 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Exploring Iceland By Huw Williams and Fergus Cameron Watt, Photographs by William Webb and Gavin Turner

Watch theTeddies on

Camera film of the trip onTeddies TV: www.stedwards oxford.org

Rarely does one have the opportunity to travel to such an intriguing and idyllic region of the world as Iceland, famous for its plethora of spectacular natural wonders. On arrival at the beginning of Exeat, we were greeted by a blisteringly cold wind. Our highly talented and somewhat eccentric tour guide, Ragga, instantly took us at great speed to one of the most eagerly-anticipated destinations of the trip, The Blue Lagoon. One of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions, the aptly-named Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa, home to warm, soothing sapphire waters rich in minerals such as silica and sulphur, said to have medicinal properties (a highly debatable claim). The geothermal nature of the spa meant that the warmth of the water was generated entirely by heat radiating from the core of the earth. Everyone was somewhat taken aback by Iceland’s compulsory no-clothes shower policy, but we enjoyed a highly relaxing, serene evening in the Lagoon, and then made our way to the capital, Reykjavik. The next day we went on the renowned Golden Circle tour, which featured many of the most intriguing attractions on the island. The journey to our first stop, the Hellisheiði Power Station, gave us our first real taste of the startling beauty of the country itself with its towering but peaceful mountainsides enclosing us within a world of steamy, flowing rivers, cascading waterfalls and rocky, green valleys. The Hellisheiði Power Station is the largest geothermal power plant in Iceland and is the third largest in the world, producing a whopping 2,300 GWh of electricity per year. We learnt how energy is harnessed from geothermal power as well as how effective and sustainable it is. Our next stop was the Friðheimar Farm, a series of geothermally heated greenhouses where tomatoes are grown and cultivated. We then continued to Geysir, often cited as the most famous geyser in Iceland, and tipped to be the largest and most explosive of all. We were warned by Ragga, prior to our trek upwards, that streams of scalding water trickled across the landscape creating a barrage of dense, white steam. The pungent odour of sulphur

also lingered, further adding to the initial discomfort heading up to the geyser. Once in position however we watched in awe as jets of steamy, turquoise water were fired to unimaginable heights up in the air from a gaping crater-like hole in the ground. Although fatigue was beginning to set in, we moved on swiftly towards the momentous and surging Gullfoss waterfall. The Gullfoss was true testament to the awe-inspiring

nature of Iceland. After a perilously misty and heart-stopping walk towards the waterfall, we encountered a raging torrent of foaming white water that plunged to stupendous depths of over 30m into a gaping crevice as if vanishing into the depths of the earth. The final visit on the Golden Circle tour was to the idyllic Thingvellir National Park, which provided spectacular views of the dramatic rocky and mountainous scenery as well as the flowing rivers and lakes. The National Park was also situated directly at the plate boundary between the Eurasian and North American plates, allowing us to walk along (and for the crazed amongst us to slide between) the ridge of the two boundaries. The following day, our first stop was the magnificent Seljalandsfoss waterfalls. The first of these waterfalls was a 20 ft cascade with a navigable path behind the falling torrent. The walk proved to be as perilous as it was jaw-dropping. Our second waterfall visit quickly followed which turned into a race to the top. Winding up alongside the 50 ft waterfall were stairs that were testing for most. However, the sights at the top turned out to be well worth the walk as our third waterfall of the trip was undoubtedly the best. The panoramic views of not just the waterfall but also the south coast of Iceland were incredible. Our next destination, the infamous volcano Eyjafjallajökull, was fascinating in its

19 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

own right but also provided the trip’s biggest challenge: how to pronounce it! Our guide Ragga gave us a tutorial which led to a whole day of constant attempts at the tricky – and lengthy – name. After a quick drive past the volcano, the black beaches of Iceland came into view. Famous for their dangerous waves and black sand thanks to volcanic soil and dust, the erosional platforms formed in the rocks created an ideal opportunity for jumping, photography and enjoying the view. The black glaciers of Iceland, our next stop, were a magnificent sight and even better to climb on. Armed with our snow shoes and ice axes, we took to the glaciers. While our guides seemed to prance effortlessly around the ice, we seemed to struggle ineptly from step to step. Despite this, the satisfaction we all had of chopping blocks of ice with our axes and the fresh

glacier water that we drank ensured an unforgettable experience for all. The Northern Lights are something that many would give much to see. They had proved elusive during the trip owing to bad weather, so we decided to look out for them on the way back to Reykjavik. We were instructed to shout if we saw any bright lights in the enveloping darkness. After a few false calls that turned out to be sightings of the moon, we spotted the Lights. We stopped in a busy car park and waited. An hour later the Lights had all but disappeared. However, as we got back on the bus in lower spirits than usual, we discovered that it had broken down and as we got off to wait for a replacement, the Lights appeared in all their splendour. The moving illuminations produced a spectacular display that was unforgettable – the perfect end to a perfect trip.

Huw was formerly at Wellesley House School, and Fergus and William at The Dragon.

20 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Casper Sunley

Evensong at St Paul’s

In October, senior members of the Chapel Choir led the singing of Choral Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. The programme was challenging, particularly after only three weeks of term, but the pupils enjoyed the ethereal sounds of Howells’ Collegium Regale setting of the canticles, and the powerful Evening Hymn by Balfour Gardiner. Solos in the Howells’ Nunc Dimittis were ably sung by Jamie Fabian-Hunt ( Christ Church Cathedral ) and Myles Docherty ( Pilgrims’ ).

Don’t miss Land of our Fathers by Chris Urch at The North Wall on 9th and 10th February. It’s May 1979 in South Wales. Margaret Thatcher is counting her votes, Sid Vicious is spinning in his grave and six Welsh miners are trapped down a coal mine. As the men await their rescue, secrets emerge and accusations fly. Within two weeks, everything they believe in and everything they know will have changed. Winner of Time Out’s Critic’s Choice and Fringe Show of the Year 2013, Chris Urch’s critically acclaimed debut play is packed full of blistering comedy and echoes a generation of lost voices. Presented by Theatre503, Tara Finney Productions and Wales Millennium Centre. Book at 01865 319450 or at thenorthwall.com . The North Wall