Rhubarb October 2022

OSE News

Issue 11: October 2022

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AT A GLANCE

Welcome to Rhubarb 2022!

W e have enjoyed meeting so many of you over the past 12 months and this magazine is a celebration of all the happy occasions and achievements.We have

We have enjoyed catching up with some fascinating OSE and former members of staff in our interviews .You may

WELCOME

also notice that we have recently changed the term ‘MCR’ to ‘SCR’ (Staff Common Room) to reflect today’s Common Room. Boo Forster-Haig

welcomed over 1,000 OSE to events at School, across the UK and abroad and we are thrilled to share with you a snapshot of these events. Please do have a look and see if you can spot any familiar faces.

Page 20

Page 68

This year, as we celebrate 40 years since the introduction of girls to Teddies Sixth Form and 25 years of full co-education, we hear from some of the first pioneering girls who joined Teddies in 1983. David Christie, the 11th Warden, talks about the

The Beyond Teddies team has continued to grow and we give an overview of the amazing work of the Partnerships team and an update on a great year for fundraising .

journey to full co-education in 1997 and we hear from Alastair Chirnside,Warden, and the new Sub-Warden, Clare Hamilton about why co-education is important in today’s society.

Page 8

Page 15

It was fascinating to interview Charlie Baggs (SCR, 1989-2013) who organised the first co-ed sports tour to Australia in 1999. We catch up with a

The Martyrs section is brimming with reports on the sports events that took place

last year and there is an interesting feature on the Boat Club as we celebrate the many ‘firsts’ and ‘milestones’ from this long-established and much-loved club.

number of those lucky enough to go on the tour and ask for their memories of that time and find out what they are up to now.

Page 46

Page 28

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this edition of Rhubarb . We look forward to seeing many of you this year – do keep in touch and look out for invitations and updates via social media and the website (see back page for details). Finally, we love the updates where we celebrate your news. Our latest OSE survey revealed that “alumni news and updates” are the most popular with our readers, so please do keep sending them in.

EMILY ROWBOTHAM, EDITOR.

Front Cover : Boo Forster-Haig, Forces Wives Challenge

3

ST EDWARD’S

An inter view with the Warden

ALASTAIR CHIRNSIDE

INTERVIEW

Warden Alastair Chirnside with pupils in the Quad

I n September 2021 Alastair Chirnside became the 14th Warden at St Edward’s Oxford. Here we ask him to look back at his first year and reflect on what he has learnt, reveal some of the highlights of the year and share any unexpected moments.

schools in which they have worked as teachers and from the hundreds of schools that they have visited as inspectors – reach such positive conclusions about Teddies. In their meetings, the inspectors told us, pupils and staff talked about the School with the greatest of pride. “ Pupils are overwhelmingly courteous and polite relating well to each other and to adults. ” “ Pupils display outstanding attitudes to learning. ” ISI inspection report ISI inspection report More generally, it has been a highlight, not just of my first year at Teddies but of my professional life so far, to work with such great people.The management team is simply outstanding – I don’t think you could find a better group of leaders in any school in the country – but there’s huge depth of talent too, not just in the Common Room but in every department, teaching and support.The people who work at Teddies bring a huge amount of fun to their work – that’s part of what makes for the great atmosphere in the School, not least because the pupils pick up on it. It keeps everyone cheerful, even in the depths of the winter terms. Offices, workshops, kitchens, boarding houses and classrooms – they are full of good humour and cheerful enthusiasm.

As you start your second year asWarden at Teddies, how have the last 12 months been for you?

The last year has been great for my family and for me, and all the indications are that it has been good for the School too! Education is above all a people business, and the best thing about my first year as Warden has been the chance to meet so many new people – pupils, staff, parents, OSE. Beyond the challenge of remembering everyone’s name (on which I have a lot more work to do), it has been wonderful to get to know so many inspiring people, to hear so many different and positive perspectives on Teddies past and present, and to talk about plans and ideas for our shared future. Too many for this short interview! I think the highlight, at least once it had passed, was the inspection. It was extraordinary to listen to the inspectors talk about Teddies when they gave their feedback after a week of lesson observations, surveys and focus groups. It was not just that they found everything fully compliant and gave us the highest possible ratings. It was more what they said about the atmosphere and ethos in the School that resonated with me. “ Pupils who spoke to inspectors talked about their school with the greatest of pride. ” ISI inspection report It’s too easy to take the strength of our community for granted, and it was very affecting, humbling even, to hear the inspectors – all of them with huge experience from the What have been the highlights from the past year?

Have you encountered any surprises or things you had not expected?

I did a lot of research before I applied for the job, so there have not been too many surprises! I also knew the School a little through friends who are OSE and through Michael Gray and Chris Pollitt, who were teachers at Teddies and with whom I worked at Harrow. Sometimes there’s a gap between a school’s reputation – and what it says about itself – and the reality of living and working there.

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INTERVIEW

The Dance Show 2022

Sweeney Todd. Photography: Jonathan Eden

That’s absolutely not the case here.Teddies has a reputation for being a happy, welcoming, friendly school – and that is exactly how Zannah, Mary, Lizzie and I have found it. If you pushed me to give you examples of two surprises, one positive and one negative, I’d point to the extraordinary standard of the arts in the School. Although I watched the 2020 Dance Show online with Mary and Lizzie in our kitchen in Harrow, nothing could have prepared us for the brilliance of the pupils in action live in the Olivier. Sweeney Todd was the best production I have ever seen on a school stage, by a wide margin. The one negative surprise has been that too few people seem to know how great a school Teddies is – I’ve never met anyone who left one of our Open Mornings or finished a visit unimpressed by the School, but I’ve talked to too many people who have been surprised, who didn’t expect to enjoy their visit so much or to be so impressed.We’re working hard to change that, obviously – and to judge from the 800 expressions of interest so far for the next Shell intake, we’re making good progress.

What’s next?What are your plans for the School?

The biggest change for my family and for me will be our move back into theWarden’s House.We have just packed up at 289Woodstock Road, where the last threeWardens have lived, to go back to the future in the Quad. It has been exciting to recreate the house that the architect Wilkinson built for Warden Simeon. He designed the Randolph Hotel, so it will be a great house in which to live! Much more importantly, it will be good to be right in the middle of school life this year. Five-year plans don’t always have a good association, but the first year of our five-year plan for St Edward’s has delivered record-breaking exam results, brought outstanding new teachers into the School and pushed demand for places sharply higher – so I have high hopes for the second! We’re launching our new reading strategy, in which all pupils and their Tutors will spend 45 minutes every week reading in the Houses. The new Lower Sixth will be the first generation of pupils to be universally involved in service, going out

Moving into the Warden’s House

every week for 90 minutes to work in the community. Virginia Macgregor, our first Director of Wellbeing, is rolling out our new wellbeing curriculum for all year groups, with input from Emma Speed-Andrews, our new School Psychologist; Nic Bond, the new Director of Sport, is unveiling our new vision for sport and exercise and we are working on plans for new sports facilities on Field Side.We’re also embarking on a series of events to mark the 25th anniversary of full co-education, the 40th anniversary of the first girls arriving in the Sixth Form, and the 150th anniversary of the School’s move to Summertown. There will be a lot to read about in the next edition of Rhubarb!

The Warden’s House circa 1880

5

ST EDWARD’S

PRESIDENT’S report

David Smart (Field House, 1968-1972)

T he last year has provided a welcome break from months of on and off lockdown. It was an absolute joy to be able to host events in Oxford and around the country and indeed as far afield as Canada, where I was fortunate enough to visit in the Spring. I am pleased to say that under the 14thWarden Alastair Chirnside’s leadership, St Edward’s did a magnificent job of continuing to provide a first-class education.The school inspection that happens every few years was an outstanding success.We should all be very proud of the results achieved by Tony Darby, former Sub-Warden, and all the staff, both teaching and support. During the year we ratified several changes to the Society’s constitution.The society will now be known as the OSE Society (as opposed to the SES Society). It was also decided to have an Executive Committee of 12 members (meeting three times a year) with a wider steering committee including past Presidents (meeting once a year) instead of

the 49-strong committee of past years.This year felt like the right time to make these adjustments, to keep us relevant and evolving and to work effectively for the wider OSE community. This coming year is certainly a milestone for our School as we celebrate 40 years of co-education. As Simon Taylor says in his interview on page 26, this started a new era of wonderful interaction, respect and understanding. It also greatly stimulated the learning environment both socially and academically, adding variety to sport and enriching drama and dance productions. As lockdown finished we were able to hold a variety of events for OSE.These included regional lunches and dinners in the SouthWest, Midlands, NorthWest, South East, North East, Scotland andYorkshire. We also held the first Special Gaudy for six years (including a classic car parade) which was very well attended.There really was something for everyone as we also held the Annual Quiz, several Teddies Talks and aWine Tasting.The carol service was held in the Olivier Hall and it was lovely to see so many OSE gathering in our amazing new auditorium, which was officially opened by the 11thWarden, David Christie, in June.This was a wonderful evening showcasing the great talents at Teddies in the arts.We were treated to dance, acting and a superb solo violinist.

WELCOME

Classic Cars at Special Gaudy

6

ST EDWARD’S

There were many highlights during the year, but I feel I must mention the inaugural Teddies T20 Cricket Festival at Wormsley. Our boys’ 1st XI played Eton and our girls’ 1st XI played Downe House. Both teams won convincingly. One of our girls made history making the first 100 in a girls’ match in 14 overs. It was a beautifully paced and stylish innings. It was an honour to be involved with the organization of the Myles Arkell Memorial Service and Lunch, the JohnWoodcock Memorial Service and Cricket Match and the Mike Rosewell Memorial Lunch. I have very special memories of all three men and it was a privilege to call them friends. I have continued to contact OSE over the age of 75 on their birthdays. I feel it’s important to keep in touch with as many people as possible, particularly those who may not be quite so

BEYOND TEDDIES

Peter Swainson, David Smart and Gideon Hudson at the John Woodcock Memorial

mobile as they once were.We continue to evolve the OSE calendar of events so there is something for everyone.We have some great reunions this year at St Edward’s,Teddies Talks Media in London, alongside our usual regional, university and Martyrs’ events. Please do look at the calendar of events and feedback to us if you have any great ideas of what else you would like to see next year. As I approach the last six months of my Presidency, I want to thank everyone who has given such great support, particularly Rachael Henshilwood and the BeyondTeddies team.We have achieved a lot in the last two and a half years, and this has been the result of a huge team effort. I would also like to thank all OSE who have faithfully supported so many varied and interesting events and those of you who may join us for the first time next year. It has been an honour to serve as your President. beyond teddies Community: Partnership: Fundraising

B eyond Teddies is an the diverse people and networks that make up the wider Teddies community, and to draw them ambitious initiative whose strategy is to engage with programme. Beyond Teddies builds upon the School’s long-established ethos of community engagement, recognising that everyone has something to contribute to society and everyone benefits from what they learn through these endeavours. together through differing activities into one cohesive

Back row from left to right: JohnWiggins, Hon Sec of the OSE Society; Rachel Moffatt, Partnerships Manager and David Smart, President of the OSE Society. Front row from left to right: Emma Grounds, Database and Gifts Manager ; Rachael Henshilwood, Director of Development and Partnerships and Emily Rowbotham, Engagement Manager.

The BeyondTeddies team comprises of three areas, each independent but reliant on each other :

Partnership

Community

Fundraising

What ties all these areas together is impact: impact for pupils, alongside our partners for our whole community, facilitated with the help of fundraising.

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Community T his year we have been delighted to welcome back over one thousand OSE to events both at School and across the UK and abroad.We have worked hard to ensure we have run a variety of events to appeal to a wide range of OSE. Our focus has been on engaging with OSE socially following the two years of disruption due to Covid, to allow OSE to come together and reconnect with each other and the School and we have been delighted to see so many people and catch up after such a long time.We are keen to develop our career and business network, tapping into the extraordinary range and depth of successful and interesting OSE we are in touch with. Our Teddies Talks Career events have really taken off this year and we look forward to developing them further this coming year.

BEYOND TEDDIES

8

BEYOND TEDDIES

Photos from a range of events we held last year. A full review of all the events we have organised this year can be found on pages 68-83. If you would like to see a different event being organised through the Beyond Teddies Team, do get in touch.

OSE Survey Results 2022 Thank you to the 1,050 OSE who took the time to complete the OSE Survey. It has provided invaluable insight into events that you would like to attend and the communication channels you are keen for us to use. It has also provided the School with useful feedback on what could be improved to support our current pupils, future OSE. 15% of our alumni base responded to the questionnaire, though 57% of you opened it! Feedback on the length of the survey has been noted and it will be streamlined in future years.We will be sending a subset of these questions to OSE who left 1, 5 and 10 years ago each year to measure our evolving curriculum and support. On the back of the feedback from this year’s survey the School has already reshaped career support provided, bolstering that offered by Mr Vaughan-Fowler.

The survey found the following interesting results:

“ Alumni news and updates ” and “ Interesting OSE interviews ” are the most popular content topics

The most popular publication is the OSE magazine:

76% of respondents read it

97% of those indicate at least one platform/publication they don’t currently receive or engage with but would like to

The most popular events are age-specific reunions at School

WE ARE THEREFORE HOSTING REUNIONS FOR those who left 15 years ago(aged approx. 18-33) in London on November 17th 2022 and Leavers between 1983-1993 (aged approx. 47-57) and leavers from 1972-1982 (aged approx. 58-68) at St Edward’s, during Spring and Summer respectively in 2023.

95% said they would recommend Teddies to friends and family

If there are themes from the survey you would like to discuss with the Beyond Teddies team, please do get in touch, as we would love to hear from you. OSE @ stedwardsoxford.org

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T his year our Partnerships arm has flourished under the dynamic energy of our new Partnerships Manager, Rachel Moffatt. Rachel has significantly grown our Partnerships Programme, working with new partners within the Oxford community. Examples of these activities can be seen here and overleaf. More recently the focus has been to respond to the Ukrainian crisis, engaging with Ukrainian refugees and their host families, organising weekly teenage socials and ‘English in the Classroom’ sessions, securing places on the summer language courses and establishing bursary day places for six Ukrainian pupils for September 2022. Par tnerships

Welcoming the Afghan families on site – Nov 2021

BEYOND TEDDIES

Leaflet Flyering for AsylumWelcome – Nov 2021

Christmas presents for refugees in Oxfordshire in partnership with AsylumWelcome – Dec 2021

Primary School ‘Celebration of Hockey’ Tournament in partnership with Oxford Hawks – Dec 2021

Bex Holmes, Headteacher at Northern House Academy briefing Teddies pupils before they start volunteering sessions in the classrooms – Jan 2022

Lauren Bray briefing Sixth Form pupils about Spring Term 2022 Service opportunities – Jan 2022

St Aloysius Primary School Year 5 science workshop – Feb 2022

Cutteslowe Primary School Science Day, Years 1-6 – March 2022

Teddies COLLABORATES T here has also been a large focus on preparing for the inaugural Lower Sixth Service Programme that starts in September 2022, where all 180 Lower Sixth pupils, following a six-week bespoke training course, will attend their timetabled placement of choice, two hours weekly for the remainder of that academic year.The schools, care homes, museums, charity shops, local hospitals and youth groups, garden and therapy centres, plus a number of bespoke social entrepreneurship projects covering micro-financing in developing countries, sustainable fashion, and bees and the Teddies eco-system. placement opportunities include: Primary, Secondary and specialist

New Marston Primary School First Aid class with Rachel Moffatt – April 2022

BEYOND TEDDIES

Staff children collecting for the Disasters Emergency Committee for Ukraine after House Singing Competition – March 2022

‘Out of the Blue’ in the Olivier Hall one of the many concerts that was opened up to local residents in the past year – April 2022

OxfordYouth Refugee Football Team and Teddies Footballers – June 2022

Their six-week training course will include:

Youth Challenge Oxfordshire (YoCo) Introduction to Rowing afternoon at Teddies Boat House – June 2022

• ‘Awareness of myself and others’, an appreciation of cultural differences and how to handle difficult situations, hosted by OxfordshireYouth. • Safeguarding and First Aid, hosted by Teddies DSL James Cope, Senior Nurse Lisa Moore O’Farrell. • Communication and Presentation skills, including brand and C.V. awareness, hosted by AGL Communications. • ‘An insight into the charitable sector’, hosted by CAF Bank. • Risk Assessment training with Teddies Health and Safety Manager Jean Noonan and Impact Evaluation in conjunction with ImpactEd.

Teddies pupils leading sports sessions at Wolvercote Primary School – Spring 2022

Sports Leaders that refereed the Primary School Hockey Tournament at Oxford Hawks – June 2022

Oxford United in the Community receiving donated football boots to help those who might not be able to afford them to help access OUFC community football sessions – July 2022

Mr Storey delivering his interactive Healthy Living workshops to Primary schools in Blackbird Leys – June 2022

Fundraising A s we are now able to welcome many more OSE, parents and local community members to the diverse range of events hosted at Teddies and throughout the country, we have seen a 40% growth in philanthropic support to the School over the year, mainly in support of bursary funding, sports and the endowment. This growth has been possible, in the main, thanks to two OSE, who, having been touched by their School experience, wanted to provide financial support to enable others to do the same.

The Donor : an interview

those.We did have James Forrester (Cowell’s, 1994-1999) and Jonny Goodridge (Segar’s, 1994-1999) in those teams who went on to have terrific ten-year professional rugby careers!

Nick McEwen (Tilly’s 1994-1999)

BEYOND TEDDIES

Nick, you and your wife have been inspired to set up an endowed bursary fund at Teddies this year to support

What would you say to others considering financially supporting the School?

great day pupils who would otherwise not be able to contemplate a Teddies education.What prompted this?

It's a huge privilege to be able to give back to a school that so many have got so much out of. Increasing the number of assisted places is a significant focus for Teddies over the coming years and we very much hope to continue to be a part of that.Teddies is a registered charity so any donations can have a wider impact and go even further. You decided to name this bursary after one of your great pals at school,Toby Smith (Tilly's, 1995-2000). Can you tell us why you decided to do this? Toby was in the year below me as well as being in my House (Tilly’s). He was the most remarkable sportsman whether in rugby, rowing, cross country or golf. He was one of the most hard-working and humble people and taken far too soon, so it felt natural to name the new endowment after a Teddies great. Pete Swainson (Tilly’s, 1995-2000) and the OSE team did a superb job organising the Toby Smith Celebration Ball in May and we are looking forward to more fundraising events.

I attended the School from 1994-1999 and, like so many, I wouldn't have had that opportunity without being on a Rotherfield scholarship.We wanted to pass the privilege on, hopefully to several others, that I had been lucky enough to have.

Why is supporting independent education important to you?

The breadth of opportunities that schools like Teddies offer is vast and education can be an enormous catalyst for social mobility.

Can you describe one of your most memorable times at Teddies?

It never got better than beatingWellington College on Upper One.The 1st XV had five victories in a row against them and I was lucky enough to play in the last two of

The Toby Smith Celebration Ball was held on Saturday 7th May 2022

160 of Toby’s friends and family joined us for a very special evening to remember Toby, to celebrate his life and to raise funds to grow the Bursary that Nick had

established in his name.The evening reconnected many old friends and welcomed new faces to the School. It was a terrific occasion of fun, laughter and many happy memories and along with Nick’s donation has currently raised nearly £100,000. If you would like to donate to this fund which supports pupils who wouldn’t be able to contemplate a Teddies education and who have both academic and great sporting potential please click on the QR code. We want to thank the brilliant committee for organising such a special occasion; Chris Bates (Corfe, 1995-2000), Pete Swainson (Tilly’s, 1995-2000) and Simon John (Apsley, 1995-2000) and all those who joined us on the evening or supported Toby’s fund.

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The Simeon Society Member : a profile

“ Mr Saffery’s unrestricted legacy to the School has been very welcome in the current economic environment, particularly when the Governors and I have had to make hard decisions about school fees and staff costs this year as we face rising inflation in almost every area of the School’s operations.We are therefore incredibly grateful to all our donors for helping to support many aspects of the School’s wider ambitions which otherwise the School would not be able to support, whether it be to fund new buildings, to purchase new rowing boats for the Boat Club, or to fund additional means-tested bursaries. On that subject, we are delighted that the School has been able to support a number of deserving Ukrainian refugees who started at St Edward’s this September, amongst several other talented children whose families would not otherwise have been able to consider a Teddies education. Hugh’s legacy, for the short term, has been invested in the School’s endowment fund which is managed by Quilters and currently stands at a value of just over £7m. For a successful and historic school such as St Edward’s, our endowment is surprisingly small compared to many similar schools.We are therefore keen to grow this reserve over time and Hugh’s substantial legacy will help this very significantly. Our medium-term plan is for Hugh’s legacy to contribute to the cornerstone funding of an exciting new capital project which we have on the horizon, further details of which we look forward to sharing with you as our plans develop over the next few months . ”

Hugh Hoseason Saffery (Segar’s, 1949-1954)

Hugh sadly died on 3rd April 2020. Hugh never married and did not have children so he chose to leave

BEYOND TEDDIES

his estate split equally across three charities - St Edward’s School, Selwyn College where he studied for his degree in PPE and the Royal Opera House, of which he was very fond. Hugh spent five happy years in Segar’s; having arrived as an Exhibitioner, he proceeded effortlessly to the Classical Sixth Form. He was a member of the Harrier’s Club, for which he earned his Representative’s tie and was appointed Captain of Tennis, although during the war there were no matches and the only responsibility of this position seemed to be to collect one shilling from every boy who played! An accountancy firm called Safferys who were very distant relatives and auditors of the Daily Telegraph, helped with Hugh’s school fees as his parents could not afford them. Hugh’s estate has currently given the school just over £605,000 with a small balance pending.The Bursar, Edward Hayter comments:

The Simeon Society – our legacy supporters Hugh was a member of the Simeon Society which was set up to honour and thank those who, during their lifetime, pledge a gift to the School in their will. Members and their families enjoy special invitations to events hosted by the School, which last year included lunch and access to theWalled Gardens at the Wormsley Estate whilst watching the inaugural Teddies T20 matches. Members also enjoy a closer relationship with the School and theWarden to learn about its developments and future plans, which their funding will help enable and to reacquaint with old friends and meet new ones. If you are interested in learning more, please do give David Smart a call on 07500 048662 or email: simeonsociety @ stedwardsoxford.org

The Challenge! L ooking ahead to next year and those to come we now need to maintain our growth in philanthropic support, which, during a period of rising inflation and cost of living, is going to be no mean feat.The School is entering a particularly exciting time of evolution and growth, there is a big buzz amongst potential new parents – it is definitely becoming the talk of the town! The momentum

Rachael Henshilwood, Director of Partnerships and Development

that is being built is significantly thanks to people like Nick and Hugh and many of you who financially support Teddies at whatever level you are able. Your donations and legacy pledges help us keep the pupil-base diverse through our bursary program, help provide hardship funds for families who suddenly hit difficult times, help with the capital costs of growing a school and also help with facilities which our pupils, and indeed many children across north Oxford, are now able to enjoy through the Beyond Teddies Partnerships program. St Edward’s takes its educational charity status very seriously and works hard to make you, our past pupils, and our current pupils and their families, proud. Thank you. If you would like to be part of this growing momentum that is helping us achieve so much for so many, or to learn more, please do email me on henshilwoodr @ stedwardsoxford.org or call 01865 319205.

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S tay in touch with old friends. Join us this year at one of the subsidised events we are organising both in London, Oxford and across the UK. Keep in touch and look out for details on our website and social media. carol SERVICE Join us on 4th December 2022 for the Teddies Carol Service for some mulled wine, mince pies and festive joy! Beyond teddies STAY CONNECTED! 2022-2023 EVENTS HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA Join us by the river on Friday 30th June 2023 for a marvellous tea, reminisce about your rowing time at Teddies and support Teddies as they race against some well established and respected rivals! U ni Tours – Have you recently started University? Get in touch and invite the Beyond Teddies team to visit.We have recently visited Edinburgh, Newcastle, Durham, Cardiff, Bristol and Exeter! So, get in touch – we would love to take you for a meal and hear how things are going. RHUBARB ONTOUR

RHUBARB REUNITES

1983-1993 LEAVERS The big 30-40 year Leavers’ reunion will be a black tie dinner held at Teddies on 25th March 2023 – the perfect opportunity to return to your old School with friends. 1972-1982 LEAVERS Come toTeddies for the 40-50 year reunion , on Friday 26th May. Look out for coming details!

2007-2022 LEAVERS

Join us for an evening of cocktails and canapés (subsidised by the OSE Society) at The Loop Bar in London on 17th November. A great chance to catch up with friends!

BEYOND TEDDIES

REGIONAL RHUBARB Lunches and suppers organised in your local region or country, generously subsidised by the OSE society.Whether you live in Cornwall, or Canada, there is something for you. Keen to organise a local event? Get in touch and we can help.

ANNUAL QUIZ Join Teddies for this fun, fast-paced evening run by professional quiz company, Quiz Quiz Quiz followed by a curry on Thursday 23rd February 2023 . One not to miss! Media? Come and hear from a TV & Radio Presenter, Football Correspondent, Magazine Editor, BBC News Producer and Writer, Broadcaster & Author at our next live career and networking event,Teddies Talks Media onWednesday 9th November 2022 in central London. D o you work in Media or want to a career in TEDDIES TALKS MEDIA

Martyrs G et involved in a wide range of sports. Join the Martyrs for a round of golf , a game of football, or even the 2023 Blenheim Triathlon team! There’s plenty of hockey and rugby available, plus the annual Martyrs’ Sports Day involving OSE and current pupils - contact us to get involved! If you are considering Teddies for your children or grandchildren, remember Open Mornings run most Saturdays in term time. Contact the Admissions Department at registrar @ stedwardsoxford.org for more information. ST. EDWARD’S

or

Please contact the Beyond Teddies Team (OSE @ stedwardsoxford.org) for details, follow us on social media (www.instagram.com/teddies_rhubarb) (or click the QR code above) for an up-to-date list of events.

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First girls intake1983

CO-EDUCATION at Teddies

FEATURE

THE LADIES OF ST EDWARD’S PRIOR TO CO-EDUCATION The School’s history now stretches back nearly 160 years and for 75% of that time it was very much a male-dominated establishment. However, a few members of the opposite sex still played their part. One of the very earliest was Mrs. Reece, the butler’s wife at New Inn Hall Street, who worked in the dilapidated kitchens. By all accounts the food was pretty dreadful! Once ensconced at Summertown in1873, some of the wives of members of staff also became indispensable figures at the School.They included secretaries/housekeepers for the Wardens, caretakers and gamekeepers on the school farm, cooks, gardeners, seamstresses and the female members of the famous “Annies and Johns”, the teams who waited at table, carried out domestic chores and dealt with the mountains of washing. Matrons were always important, with responsibility not only for the medical care of the boys but also the production of clean collars once a week. Of the first tenWardens up to John Phillips, who was the pioneer of co-education at St Edward’s, five were married while in post and their spouses, in the main, played significant and visible roles within the School.Two of the bachelors, John Sing and Henry Kendall, ‘employed’ close relatives to act as their female ‘hostesses’ during their tenures. Lizzie Johnson arrived in T his year, as we celebrate 40 years since the introduction of girls toTeddies Sixth Form in 1983 and 25 years of full co-education since 1997, we look back at the role of women in the history of Teddies.We interview some of the first pioneering girls who joined Teddies in 1983 and ask for their memories and thoughts and we also consider what this meant for the boys at School during that time. David Christie talks about the journey to full co-education in 1997 and we hear from Alastair Chirnside,Warden, and the new Sub-Warden, Clare Hamilton, about why co-education is important in today’s society.

1887 with her parents to look after the Lodge and from 1910 she very successfully took over the management of the Tuck Shop and continued until 1943. She was succeeded by Maureen Cox who kept the Shop for the next 21 years. The first female teacher at the School was Sylvia Richards (educated at Girton College, Cambridge) who arrived in 1918, when there was a drastic shortage of men due to the war. She took over the Lower IVth and Classical Vth with great aplomb and proved very popular with the boys. She was also heroic in her nursing efforts during the Spanish Influenza epidemic at the School in 1918, until struck down herself. It would take St Edward’s another 54 years to hire its second full-time female teacher, ElizabethWeeks, as Head of Spanish in 1972. Once boarding houses were introduced by Henry Kendall in 1925, female House Matrons (or Nurses) were introduced to look after their inhabitants.The School Matrons were then employed in the custom-made School Sanitorium built in 1921/2 and they looked after the more seriously sick. In the decade before the arrival of Penny Brown, the first Teddies girl pupil, a few female teachers joined the Common Room – by 1977 there were four, rising to ten by the late 80s. The lack of females had posed many challenges through the years, such as filling the female roles in the School’s annual dramatic extravaganzas, getting the balance of voices in choirs and simply the education of interacting with the opposite sex such as on the dance floor! Up to the end of Henry Kendall’s time, there was no compromise of any kind, but graduallyWarden Fisher allowed local girls into dance classes, very reluctantly and with all sorts of provisos. From 1964 he even agreed to females being included in School plays, much to the relief of the various directors. In the 1960s the School’s Choral Society also began a long collaboration with several local girls’ schools in order to produce joint concerts.

By Chris Nathan, School Archivist.

Resources “The Female Influence at St Edward’s prior to Co-education” by Chris Nathan ( Rhubarb 2017). A History of St Edward’s School by R D Hill (1962). A New History of St Edward’s School, Oxford by Malcolm Oxley (2015).

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Here come the girls... I n the Spring of 1983 the School announced that it would be taking girls in the Sixth Form from September 1983. Here John Phillips, 10thWarden (1978-1988) writes in the Chronicle Magazine: “After considerable thought and discussion, the Governors have authorised that the School should admit a small number of day girls to the Sixth Form. I am sure that this will prove beneficial to the School as well as pleasing the many parents who, over the last four years, have asked me whether the School would open its doors to their daughters.We are keeping the numbers small, both because we do not wish to undertake more than we can cope with, and because we have no intention of changing the nature of the School by a radical alteration of the balance.”

Emma, Dorien and Fiona all joined the Sixth Form at Teddies in 1983 – the first full cohort of girls to arrive at the School. Here they talk about their experiences of joining the School and their memories from that time.

FEATURE

EMMA MARSHALL, (née Bigland), Segar’s, 1983-1985

circuits – and it gave me structure and provided the opportunity to form strong friendships with both boys and girls.We were really successful and won nearly all the races that year. I remember we were pretty much unbeaten and we accumulated a lot of silverware! I was made Captain of Girls’ Rowing and, whilst the boys were given a ‘Rep Tie’ in recognition of this accolade, I was given a cricket jumper instead! I still have the certificate to this day and I still visit Henley Regatta every year.

What is your standout memory from your time at Teddies?

Rowing. It was an amazing experience. I had never rowed before. I made some great friends and it helped really integrate into co-ed school life. It gave me lots of structure which I really benefitted from but also a lot of freedom. And we were successful!

1983, Emma on the left.

1983 Girls’ Rowing Team.

Do you know why you and/or your parents chose Teddies in the first place? Brave decision?!

I would also mention wonderful friendships made and lots of fun throughout the two years.

I was at an all-girls’ boarding school in Surrey when I decided I wanted to go to a co-ed Sixth Form. My father and uncle had both attended Teddies and my grandfather was a Governor there, so it seemed a natural choice.

How did your school experiences shape your choices after leaving School?

What was your experience of being one of the first girls to attend St Edward’s?

I gained lots of confidence at Teddies and found it easy to integrate and socialise with boys and girls when I went on to do Business Studies at Kingston Poly. I’m still in touch with many Teddies friends today.

My first memory is of sitting in Assembly and everywhere you looked were boys – 600 of them! I came from a girls’ boarding school, so it was very different. But the boys were very welcoming and kind and we made friends quickly. Accommodation wasn’t provided when I arrived (many of the girls were day girls from Headington) so my first year was pretty unstructured.The first term I lived with an old aunt who lived up theWoodstock Road and I had to cycle to School every day. I then lodged in digs on theWoodstock Road. I had no accommodation planned for my second year so was grateful when SubWarden Peter Church (MCR, 1950-1987) and his wife Josie agreed for me to stay with them.They were very kind and it gave me the structure I needed. There was also no sport offered to the girls for the first year which led to us having an awful lot of free time (which wasn’t always used wisely!) Fortunately, in my second year we were introduced to rowing and it was amazing.We trained with the boys – running to the Boat Club every day, training and doing

What have you been doing since you left School?

After completing my degree in Business Studies, I went into publishing and then ran an events and catering business for over 20 years. I then studied for a second degree and I’m now a registered Oncology Nutrition Consultant and experienced chef who specialises in working with breast cancer patients. (DipCNM, mBANT, CNHC, ANP) www.emmamarshallnutrition.com Nutritional Therapist, Functional Medicine Practitioner, Certified

I am married with three children and live in Buckinghamshire.

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dorien m c dowell, (née Pluim), Corfe, 1983-1985

with matches (I think there was a cricket-playing boyfriend somewhere).We both remember going to Harrow to score some of the matches and not being allowed into the cricket pavilion for tea – boys only! Some of the teachers must have found it quite a change to teach girls. My mother remembers going to a parent teacher meeting to ask why I wasn’t doing so well in maths and the teacher telling her that he’d never taught girls before. Looking back, we have a lot of good memories and we feel we got a pretty decent education too.There was plenty of time in the Sixth Form to have fun and we had a lot of good times with both the boys and the other girls, whether studying, going to parties (lots of 18ths!) and just hanging out. Sadly, we have lost touch with a lot of people over the years though I see Mike Peregrine (Segar’s, 1980-1985), who lives nearby and obviously Greg McPartlin, Fiona’s brother.

I t’s funny to think that Fiona and I met 29 years ago. Even funnier that we were actually on holiday together when we were contacted by the Beyond Teddies Team about this feature! Obviously one of the best things to come out of our time at Teddies has been our friendship. Fiona is Godmother to my son. The first week we joined we were quite a novelty but things settled down fairly quickly.There were weekly break time meetings for all the girls with Pat Phillips at theWarden’s house to keep an eye on us where we’d eat our weight in trio biscuits.The School did provide a Girls’ Common Room for us above the San but we don’t think any of us ever really used it. We didn’t have a school uniform when we started though they asked us to only wear skirts fairly early on. In retrospect (we’ve just been looking at photos) we looked pretty messy but then it was the eighties…

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After Teddies I went to university in the U.S. and then on to the London Business School. I have worked in advertising and Brand management for most of my career.

Neither of us remember much in the way of organised sports – a bit of basketball, canoeing, rowing, even lacrosse but great memories of ice-skating when Port Meadow froze.We both took up cricket scoring which was a fun way to get involved

fiona m c partlin , Corfe, 1983-1985 T he school wasn’t really set up for girls when we arrived. Deborah Hynett and I started off living withWarden Phillips as there were no facilities for girl boarders.Warden Phillips used to pop his head in every morning to wake us up. Subsequently we lived with Joe McPartlin (MCR, 1963-1998) in one of the school houses in Summertown. I think we probably had a lot more freedom (and trust) to move between the house and the school. I would sometimes stop off at theWoodstock Arms to pick up Joe on my way home. There were no girls’ loos except for the one in the school hall and one we were assigned to in our house. It was quite a logistical challenge at times! Dorien and I met in Corfe house on our first day at Teddies, where we shared a study with Rosalind Jones.The first term our study was on the ground floor, but Mr. Drake-Brockman moved us to the first floor the following term because we had too many boys climbing through the window to visit during prep. Corfe was a very new house and we integrated easily with the boys there. There were not many Lower Sixth boys from our year in the house so we ended up sharing duties such as taking the Shells for prep and even putting them to bed pretty much from the beginning. In the Upper Sixth I was Head of House and happily had no major issues with keeping the younger boys under control.

Dorien and Fiona with Shell Boys from Corfe

After I left St. Edwards I went into further education and am now working for the NHS.

Fiona (left) and Dorien (right) 2022

“ When girls first arrived at Teddies I had just started studying for my A Levels and I remember there were some very visible and tangible changes. Firstly the work ethic.The girls who came really wanted to learn and this had an impact on the boys – puerile antics in the classrooms suddenly wasn't so cool. Secondly, as we didn’t have a set school uniform, there was a new interest in what we wore (a Harris Tweed jacket or blazer…?) which hadn’t existed before.We might have bathed more regularly too. ” James MacDonald-Smith (Sing’s 1981-1985)

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ST EDWARD’S

The transition to full co-education H ere the 11thWarden, David Christie (1988-2004), talks about the transition to full co-education and gives us an insight into the way the School adapted during this time. compared to the introduction of Sixth Form girls in 1983. John Phillips, thenWarden, faced significant difficulties in realising his strategy – see Malcolm Oxley’s chapter on ‘Co-education’ in his excellent A New History of St Edward’s School. Suffice it to say that Phillips’ plans were at first rejected by the Governors, later accepted (but with a resignation) and there was some strong opposition as well as support in the Common Room. Phillips won the day and by 1988, when I becameWarden, there were more than 20 Sixth Form girls in a school of 583. That it was a full and happy school was the legacy of John Phillips, aided by his wife, Pat, who played a key role in our story. Although preparing for full co-education at St Edward’s was complicated, it was straightforward

FEATURE

First girls intake into Shells, 1997

wishes of many parents to have their children attend the same school; recruitment difficulties, particularly in girls’ schools. During the early nineties, I was frequently asked by parents, ‘When are you going fully co-ed?’ More members of the Common Room and many prep school heads wanted it, and having been educated in mixed environments, I believed in it. Why? Assertions are hard to prove – but co-education gives a superior all-round education, not just a preparation for life

after school.There are more diverse views in the classroom, greater understanding by half of the population of the other, wider scope in extra-curricular activities, the opening of unforeseen opportunities. Inside St Edward’s the argument for full co-education was easily won. For detailed planning, a strong team was established, including governance, bursarial and registrar expertise, academic and pastoral leaders, all working very effectively. In addition, a number of specialist committees, covering all the issues, was established. Every member of Common Room chose or was allocated to a committee, the different aspects integrated into a final plan.

“ I was the last year of just boys, so I had an unusual year. It was great to be part of a school that was developing into something new. I loved being part of a boy's school at first but looking back really valued the transition to a co-ed school by the end. ” Barney Rodgers (Mac’s, 1995-1997 and Tilly’s, 1997-2000)

There were, of course, teething troubles: new relationships that had to be forged between Housemasters and landladies; initially there was an unpleasant edge of some boys’ adolescent bad behaviour ; teachers needed to become more used to mixed classes in the Sixth Forms although some treated the girls as ‘honorary chaps.’

All that changed.

However, the model was creaking.There were the problems of girls sharing Sixth Form studies in the “boys’ Houses”; girls living off-site with landladies; no communal space for girls.

There were times when I felt I was holding back on the introduction of full co-education. But the team and I were reluctant to launch it too soon.To get it right, all sorts of issues had to be resolved and we took time to think about and address them. Some schools did rush and so were unprepared and had difficult experiences which took years to fix. Among many issues to be addressed were – gender balance in the Common Room (in 1988 there were ten women out of a cohort of 68: now there are 55 women in a much enlarged Common Room).We needed more women and with a wider age profile.

In spite of its strengths, it was not scalable, there were pastoral risks and it was very expensive in resource and money terms.We opened Oakthorpe House, first as lodgings in 1990 for Sixth Form girls, who continued until 1992 to share “boys’ studies”. It then began life as an autonomous boarding House. The outside world was changing too – the Children Act of 1989, with its associated external inspections; the advance of co-education throughout the independent sector ; the

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