Dear Parents and Guardians,

It has been an exceptionally busy term and I congratulate each and every one of your talented children for all that they have contributed to making it a highly successful one. I have picked out a few highlights of the term in this Newsletter and have no hesitation in saying that there were many more in addition to these which we have been celebrating in our Head’s Lines and in House Assemblies on a weekly basis.

The term began with the arrival of the ISI Inspection Team - a huge event in the life of the school and one which currently takes place once every six years. The Reporting Inspector (the leader of the Team) reported that she loved what she saw – she thought that our pupils were characterful individuals with great potential, that our staff were talented professionals doing the very best for their pupils and that the ethos of the school matched our aims perfectly with everyone seeming happy to be here and keen to do their best. A real heartfelt thank you to all pupils and indeed families who played a central role in ensuring that the school received a wonderful report to take us forward for the next six years. It was a privilege to be part of this superb community during this testing exercise and to see everyone so proud to be a part of this great school.

On the academic front, fourteen Upper Sixth pupils successfully completed their Extended Project Qualifications this term. Last year the AQA Moderator commended the school for the very varied range of projects, and this year presents an equally varied selection. Projects range from a study of Thomas Tallis’s music in relation to the influences of a Catholic and a Protestant monarch to the design and production of a ‘Batsuit’ which tested the original fictional suit to see if it would have affected Batman’s performance. Along the way there

were also forensic investigations, a dance performance and a study of the toxicology of giant millipedes. Congratulations to all who took up the EPQ challenge and many thanks to Mrs Gunn and our staff supervisors for their hard work too.

Our wonderful Schools Challenge Quiz Team of Alastair Feeney (Upper Sixth), Isra Jalaly (Upper Fifth), Ben Shepherd (Middle Fifth) and Ellie Horder (Lower Fifth), under the watchful eye of their coach Mr Dagley, won through the County rounds and qualified for the Regional Finals in January to be pitted against Westminster for the second year in a row. This is a superb achievement which clearly shows that St Edmund’s, although proud of the academic range of its pupils, can, at the upper end, compete with the academic power houses.

The Art Department delivered a remarkable exhibition in the Horsebridge Gallery in Whitstable in November and, as a result, the school received 42 pages’ worth of praise from visitors who wanted to express their gratitude for the amazing work on display. The artwork was absolutely inspiring and a fitting testament to the immense talent of pupils and staff within that department. Well done indeed to Mrs Slater-Williams, her staff team and, of course, to the able pupils who made it all possible.

The Debating Society has enjoyed a busy term. Their first major event was the Youth Parliament meeting at Christchurch University, involving twelve schools exploring a range of topical issues. Middle Fifth pupils, Alice Mount and Milly Sherwin, won the category for best teamwork collaboration on the day. Later in the term some of our Sixth Form debaters, under the coalition leadership of Upper Sixth pupils William O’Connor and Mark Wong, successfully participated in the Debating Matters competition which is sponsored by the Institute of Ideas.

Senior School News December 2015

The Schools Challenge Quiz Team

The Art Department’s remarkable exhibition at the Horsebridge Gallery

Girls’ hockey goes from strength to strength

Senior School News

In sport, the resurrection of the girls’ 2nd XI hockey team has proved a very popular decision. The 2nd XI led the way with numerous victories and an impressive second place in the Granville tournament. The 1st XI have steadily improved, recording a superb 9 – 2 win over the Langton Girls.

At junior level our hockey teams have impressed. The U14s lost only once and although the U15s season was mixed, they displayed resilience and have a strong core that will help to improve our senior teams next season.

In boys’ sport the junior teams demonstrated that the future is bright indeed. The U14s proved a genuinely skilful cohort, progressing to the third round of the ESFA cup only to lose in extra-time to a strong Essex state school famed for its football.

The talent and athleticism of the U15s has allowed them to remain undefeated on our fixture list. Only a narrow defeat, to the Chelsea FC supported Buckswood School in the ESFA cup (not part of our fixture list), blotted their copy book and they beat Eton, Charterhouse, Tonbridge and Alleyn’s along the way. The senior teams have, as ever, been enthusiastic despite being pitted against competitive larger schools.

St Edmund’s dominated proceedings in the recent district cross-country championships, winning two of the four events entered, and with the majority of our athletes finishing in the top ten. We wish them well in January at the county competition.

In terms of individual sporting performances, I mention just a few of the many successes which this term has brought: Josh Cowham (Lower Fifth) continues to impress as he swims as part of the ‘England Programme’, Joe Gordon

(Lower Fifth) trains as a scholar as part of Kent Cricket’s Senior Cricket Academy, Ben Mills (Lower Fifth) is a member of Kent Cricket’s ‘Associate Fast Bowling Programme’, Louis Gray (Lower Fifth) is part of the England Cricket Association for the Deaf Regional Talent Development Centre, Will East (Lower Sixth) fences for the Great British U17 squad, Alex Millard (Lower Fifth) will race in the English Cross-Country Championships in the New Year as part of the Kent County Team, Douglas Noel (Middle Fifth) became the Kent County Champion Pentathlete. I thank all pupils who saw individual success this term or have represented their school. And, of course, I thank Upper Sixth pupils, Estelle Coevoet and Tom Symons, for their impressive leadership as our Captains of Hockey and Football respectively.

Sadly, Miss Bayles, our Head of Girls’ PE and Games leaves us at Christmas as she returns home to the Cayman Islands where she will become the Islands’ Schools’ Rugby Development Officer. She has done much to raise the standard of and enthusiasm for girls’ sport and will be sorely missed by staff and pupils alike. We look forward to welcoming Miss Munns, a netball specialist who has a passion for a wide range of sports, including outdoor activities, to be Miss Bayles’s successor in January.

Our musicians have entertained and inspired again this term with some fantastic lunchtime recitals, the St Edmund’s Day concert, the St Edmund’s Day Service, the John Harle Masterclass, the House Singing Competition and, of course, the stunning Carol Service at the Cathedral where musicians, readers, crucifer, acolytes, Prefects and Sixth Form helpers came together to create an atmosphere and

‘One Day Like This’ - Max Macdonald sings at the St Edmund’s Day Service

A feast of music at the St Edmund’s Day Service

December 2015

Rebecca Roberts and Rob Gain - winners of Strictly Big Band

Senior School News

Oscar Lloyd in ‘As Kill A King’

Interact elves at the Christmas Fayre (Jess Barrett, Beth Ling and Cameron Molland)

The Carol Service in Canterbury Cathedral

St Thomas Hill Canterbury Kent CT2 8HU Tel: 01227 475600 www.stedmunds.org.ukThe school is owned by St Edmund’s School Canterbury, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, number 3201223. Registered charity number 1056382. Registered office: St Edmund’s School Canterbury, St Thomas Hill, Canterbury, Kent CT2 8HU.

service to be proud of. Associated Board and Trinity exam results have been superb with Grade 8s for Jacob Titterton (Lower Sixth), Thomas Platts (Lower Sixth), George Burns (Upper Sixth) and Timon Staehler (Lower Fifth); Damien Balay (Lower Sixth) has been selected to play in the final of the Marlowe Young Musician of the Year competition in the New Year; William Inscoe (Lower Fifth) sang in the final of the Young Chorister of the Year Competition, Emily Hopper (Lower Sixth) won the much coveted Canterbury Festival Bursary Award and Timon Staehler (Lower Fifth) was one of the Junior finalists in the same competition. Many thanks are due to all of our musicians – pupils and staff – for their talent, dedication and commitment.

On the drama front, Strictly Big Band was an absolute hit. Dancers, musicians, our comedy double act of Mrs Jones and Mr Millard, along with our discerning judges, all under the leadership of Mr Sell and Mr Swatman delivered a night to remember and, thanks to Mr Comfort’s skilful salesmanship, we raised enough money to buy a wonderful new sound system for the Hall. And then to our major production of ‘As Kill A King’ – much praise has flowed from every quarter for its author, Mr Dagley, its Director, Mr Sell, the actors, cast, crew, artists and for that wonderful centrepiece of the Chronicle. A truly remarkable and memorable production.

The Interact team has been busy again this term, focusing their work on raising funds for Cardiomyopathy and the homeless. There have been the usual fundraising events plus a winter warmth day inspired by Kate Day (Upper Sixth) that produced over £500 and a minibus load of food and clothing. The team has been working with

the Fairtrade committee to further both causes and the younger members of the Interact committee in the Fifth Form have shown us that the future of the group is in safe hands. The Committee raised a terrific £2622 for charity this term, with the largest ever amount of £1600 raised at the Carol Service.

The Fairtrade committee has been equally busy, advertising Fairtrade at the Food and Drink Fair in Canterbury in September, preparing and presenting a successful Chapel service in November. Upper Sixth pupils, Tim Luk and Martha Jones baked chocolate cakes and muffins with Fairtrade ingredients and sold them at morning break and in support of non-uniform day along with Interact. Again, in cooperation with Interact, members of the Fairtrade committee sold Fairtrade chocolate treats before and during the interval of ‘As Kill A King’ to raise awareness about Fairtrade and to collect money for our school charity.

I thank every pupil for their hard work this term, for their keenness to be involved and, of course, for allowing the school community to share in their immense talent. I have no doubt that next term will be just as busy and I take this opportunity to wish those about to sit Mock exams well as they begin their revision programmes.

A very happy Christmas to all St Edmund’s families and friends, and I wish you a prosperous 2016.

Best wishes

The Head

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December 2015