THE FROGNAL - ucs.org.uk · teaching our curriculum. We will, of course, ... as Projectiles in Ballistics. ... the syllabus and hear some

THE FROGNALU C S N E W S L E T T E R — I S S U E D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7

Celebrating the events and achievements of the Autumn Term at UCS Senior School.

West Side Story Dazzles

The Lund

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Record GCSE Results

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Spectacular Autumn

Concert In The Great Hall

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UCS 1st XV Triumph In

Middlesex Cup Final (again!)

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Welcome To The December Edition Of The Frognal

UCS seeks to provide an education of intellect, morals and the aesthetics for a community of individuals bound together by their common humanity. The Autumn Term 2017 has brimmed with opportunities for such an education. It started on the back of not one but two plays performed at the Edinburgh Fringe; and with the news that UCS pupils had achieved the school’s best ever GCSE and third best ever A-Level results, placing us 33rd in the Sunday Times League Table of all independent schools in England published last month.

As part of our focus on developing intellect within a liberal scholarship framework, this term Mr English launched our Learning Values which are resilience, resourcefulness, responsibility

and relationships. All lessons at UCS will focus on developing these values in our pupils whilst teaching our curriculum. We will, of course, continue to foster curiosity and independence of mind which are so important at UCS. In this edition of the Frognal, you can also read about the rich variety of Enrichment, Guest Speakers and Trips that have added much value to the education we provide at UCS.

Mrs Vivienne Durham was our honoured guest on 1st November, when she formally opened the Kenneth Durham Social Sciences Centre – a suite of sixth form rooms for the teaching of subjects such as Economics, Politics, Psychology and Philosophy.

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— Mark J Beard, Headmaster

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Welcome To The December EditionOf The Frognal

The UCS community has raised a significant sum of money to support the Kenneth Durham Bursary for Sixth Formers studying the social sciences.

More broadly, Community Action has been very successful this term, with a pleasing diversity of activities being organised by the Demes to raise funds for various charities selected by the pupils. Two tonnes of food were delivered to a local food bank, a pantomime themed Mufti Day saw a boy named Paul Atim’s dreams come true and, at the time of writing, we have raised nearly £30,000.

Personal development through Sport, Music, Drama and Dance has yielded outstanding performances in all arenas. Who can forget the

fantastic performance of the 1st XV last week in retaining the Middlesex Cup, the wonderful performances of West Side Story in the Lund Theatre or the spectacular autumn concert in the Great Hall? So much has happened in the last four months, both in and out of the classroom, and I very much hope you enjoy reading about some of the highlights.

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A Spotlight On… Mathematics

Micky Bullock joined UCS as Head of Mathematics in September 2017. Here we meet the power behind the calculator.

What is great about studying Mathematics?Making progress in your own mathematical understanding is enormously rewarding. As with any skill, you have to work hard to develop your Maths, gradually increasing the difficulty of the problems you attempt to solve. It can be incredibly frustrating when you’re stuck. But when you overcome your difficulties, you’re then better at Maths than before. And that feels great. You joined UCS in September. What are your first impressions of the school? UCS is a fantastic place and I’m over the moon to be part of this amazing community. The Maths Department are incredibly talented and it is in a very good place – buoyed by some of the best results ever in the summer GCSEs and A-Levels. We have a gigantic cohort of students at A-Level and it is fantastic that a number of Upper Remove pupils will be taking an A-Level and STEP paper in the summer. This is unheard of. The Hans Woyda

team dazzle us with their problem solving, the work at Coding Club is startling and Ryan Voecks (Lower Remove) finished in the top thirty in the UK with his performance in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge. This is extremely impressive.

What are your favourite topics to teach in Mathematics?I love teaching rates of change. The scary name for this is Differential Calculus. It sounds hard but when you’ve learned what it actually is, it turns out to be elegant and it’s very clear how useful it is in the real world. I also love to teach Angles in Polygons because I get to talk about the Icosasaurus and the nonanonacontanonactanonaliagon.

What is your response to the view that some people just can’t “do” Mathematics?I find it staggering how many adults boast that they are “useless” at maths. Perhaps this used to be cool but it really isn’t any more. Would you readily admit to being illiterate? It’s the same thing. You don’t have to be a whizzkid at arithmetic but anyone can do Maths to some level.

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A Spotlight On… Mathematics

How does Mathematics link to the real world?I often get asked when we would ever need to use the Alternate Segment Theorem or Imaginary Numbers. Some Maths is directly useful – such as Projectiles in Ballistics. Other Maths has no apparent direct bearing on the real world but mathematical topics are all tiny components in the engine of how Maths helps us to understand things. Circle Theorems are not applied directly in real life, but no satellites would be in orbit if people didn’t understand them – and that would mean no TV or smart phones. Can you imagine?

What is unique about Mathematics?Maths underpins many careers. It’s important in Technology, Engineering and Economics but people who try to get away from Maths often find they can run but they can’t hide. In Law, for example, a statistical phenomenon called Simpson’s Paradox was used to counter a gender bias claim against Berkeley University. If we ever encounter alien life, our language of communication will be Maths. No other language or skill is so universal. 

What is your favourite number? That’s easy: e. Or possibly τ (tau). I love them both. I do hate π (pi) though. Come to my Morris Lecture in March to find out why.

How do you relax after a day at Frognal?I love to play squash, play cards, play my saxophones, go dancing and tackle cryptic crosswords. I do occasionally do a bit of Maths and I won a prize for a talk at MathsJam entitled “Playing Lemmings with Discontinuous Functions”.

“There are so many chances for me to stretch my

understanding in Maths – both in the classroom and

through competing in external competitions like the Team

Maths Challenge.”

Geno Racklin-Asher (Upper Remove)

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The Subject Enrichment Week series is now in its third year and continues to deliver an incredible range of speakers, projects, competitions and trips.

This year’s programme began in October, when the Modern Languages department hosted a number of popular events, including a talk by Anna Wainwright about her career in literature translation, a workshop on the use of languages in sports journalism, and a series of Linguatrivia competitions. This was followed in November by a week of talks organised by the English and History of Art departments, including a lunchtime discussion with Nina Gold about casting literary figures in Hollywood films, the visit of award-winning poet John Clegg, and a fascinating presentation on the paintings of Andrew Wyeth.

The third and final Enrichment Week of term was organised by the Geography and Design Technology departments and based around a project on raw materials, the products they become and how

their disposal damages the environment. As well as learning about each of these three topics, students made vessels from a new organic material developed by Mr Franks that turns waste sawdust back into a solid material.

UCS Subject Enrichment Weeks

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— Contributions by H. Hardingham

“Enrichment Weeks are a great opportunity to explore subjects beyond the scope of the syllabus and hear some high-profile speakers. They

feel like an academic festival and are great fun.”

Michael Kohn (Sixth)

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The Middle School Enrichment Project is a new scheme designed to offer students entering the Remove the opportunity to undertake an independent academic research project. The emphasis was placed firmly on enhancing learning in a way that was both challenging and enjoyable through extensive personal research into a chosen topic. In this sense, it shares common ground with the EPQ; a qualification that many students choose to pursue in the Sixth Form. This year, four students produced exceptional projects that stood out above the rest:

Felix Brem‘To what extent – and why – are we living in a post-truth era?’

James Nolan‘To what extent is foreign ownership good for English football?’

Alex Sneader‘How will the universe end?’

Lucas Wolman‘Why didn’t the Soviets land men on the moon?’

I am already looking forward to seeing the projects the next group of students choose.

Middle School Enrichment Projects

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— Contributions by H. Hardingham

“The most exciting part was choosing my own

topic, researching this and answering my own question.

It was so interesting - I couldn’t believe how much

I enjoyed writing up my research at the end!”

Alex Sneader (Remove)

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This term in Politics Society we have mixed student-led discussion with visits from external speakers. Our discussions have included topics ranging from the state of the Labour Party to Brexit and whether Uber’s licence should be renewed. However, it is the talks from our guests that have really captured our imaginations. The first guest was Simon Lewis who was the Director of Communications for Gordon Brown’s Labour government. He spoke about his experience of cabinet politics and what it was really like working with the former Prime Minister. Will Lewis, former Editor-In-Chief of the Daily Telegraph and current Dow Jones chief spoke about his experience in exposing the MPs’ expenses scandal in 2009. Our third and final speaker was Lord Adonis, the former education minister. He gave a fantastic talk and we were fascinated (and challenged) by his views on Brexit and the potential for a new centre party in the UK.

We have thoroughly enjoyed running this new Society this term and we hope to welcome more guest speakers to UCS after the holidays. We would also like to thank Ms Heaton for all her help.

Brexit, Uber And The Labour Party: Politics Society In Action

L EC T U R E S & SPE A K ER S

— Contributions by Jack Naftalin & Dominic Lewis (both Sixth)

“Politics Society has been extremely informative and great fun. It has prompted numerous debates and I

have loved hearing the high profile guest speakers.”

Sam Lewis (Transitus)

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The Morris Lecture Series, which has been running since 2014, is a programme of academic lectures delivered by UCS teachers. The topics covered are often cross-curricular and typically represent a break from each teacher’s traditional area of expertise. Lectures usually last for 40 minutes and take place at lunchtime on Thursday afternoons. The audience is made up of students from all year groups, with the greatest number coming from the Transitus and Sixth Form. This term we have seen a huge variety of lectures including:

‘Effective Altruism: a Radical New Way to Make a Difference?’ by Mr Hillyard

‘Truth in the Telling – monumental narratives by Dale Lewis’ by Mr Mee

‘How a Slinky can help us understand the universe’ by Mr Westwood

‘The weird history and even weirder future of money: silver, paper, data... bitcoin?’ by Mr Alter

‘Material Futures’ by Mr Franks

‘A Jewish History of Christmas’ by Mr Wayland

The lecture series will continue to expand after the festive break and a particular mention should be given to Mr Alter and Mr Hillyard who are the first Morris lecturers to take their talks on “tour”. In December, they repeated their lectures to 250 students at London Academy of Excellence, Stratford and the talks were so well received the Morris Lecture Tour will continue in 2018.

Morris Lecture Series Grows And Goes On Tour

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— Contributions by H. Hardingham

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Ein Wunderbarer Schüleraustausch!

The German exchange programme continues to thrive at UCS. In November, seventeen Remove pupils, accompanied by Mr Underwood and Mr Bienias, enjoyed a week in the marvellous city of Hamburg as guests of their exchange families. The group spent time in and around Hamburg and the UNESCO world heritage city of Lübeck, as well as completing various challenges, shopping, tasting German food and of course spending time with their exchange partners. Hopefully many will stay in contact for years to come!

Una Experiencia Cultural Fantástica!

For the duration of the first week of the half-term break, Sixth Form Spanish pupils along with Dr Laurenson and Mr English flew to Seville where we embarked upon several cultural and linguistic activities. Our schedule consisted of language classes in the morning then activities and educational guided tours in the afternoons. We were given the opportunity to visit sites such as the Plaza de España and the Metropol Parasol and the highlight of these activities was the day trip to Córdoba!

The trip made a huge impact on me. It broadened my knowledge of Spanish culture and helped to improve my speaking skills significantly. Thank you to Dr Laurenson and Mr English for organizing this fantastic opportunity.

UCS Students Visit Hamburg And Valencia

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— Contributions by Menelaos Moschonas (Sixth)— Contributions by T. Underwood

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Young Furniture Makers Exhibition

The work of three of last year’s Sixth Form students (who had studied the Pre-U Product Design course) was selected to be exhibited at the prestigious Young Furniture Makers Exhibition held in the Dutch Church and Furniture Makers’ Hall in October. The exhibition was set up over 10 years ago for students to showcase their work, meet potential employers and gain advice, and our former students enjoyed listening to Sebastian Conran, the CEO of Sebastian Conran Associates, deliver a fascinating talk.

The students whose work was selected are:

• Will Mullins who won the school design prize and is now studying Engineering at Bristol University,

• Joe Alpert now studying Design, Innovation and Creative Engineering at Queen Mary University, London, and

• Louis Polin who is taking a gap year before continuing his design studies at university.

Murmur

During November 2017, the Art and DT department organised and curated Murmur, an exhibition that consisted of works made by each member of the two departments, our visiting artists Jane Ackroyd and Adam Hennessey, and pieces from other UCS teachers. The variety of work on display was phenomenal: it ranged from drawing and painting to sculpture, digital media and product design. The show was a great success and celebrated the diversity of skill set and professionalism within the individual practices at UCS.

Design And Art On Show

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— Contributions by S. Slater and V. Trinder

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The Chemistry Department kicked off the new academic year in September by taking a group of Upper Remove pupils to Oxford University for the day. The trip started with a tour of the grounds and buildings of Corpus Christi College. Mr Beard shared a lot of his fond memories of the college and then acted as a tour guide around the city centre! The day concluded in the University’s Chemistry Department where the pupils had the chance to use techniques reserved for undergraduates as they investigated the appropriate mass of dye used in cough sweets. At the end of September, Remove pupils took part in a Forensic Science taster day at Reading University and they used techniques such as flame tests and spectroscopy to solve a series of mysteries. Lower Remove pupils visited the Royal Institution in December to take part in a Colour Workshop. They extracted natural dyes from fruit and synthesised artificial dyes in the laboratory in what proved to be an exciting and stimulating day.

Science students in the Sixth Form attended a series of evening lectures at the Royal Institution which looked at the basics of Quantum Mechanics. This helped students to see the links between concepts in Physics and Chemistry and they enjoyed the challenge of understanding the many strange yet simple models. Transitus Chemists had their horizons further expanded by attending a day of talks at UCL. The highlight of the day was the talk on ‘The Chemistry of Breaking Bad’ by Prof D Smith and students returned to school questioning whether hydrofluoric acid can really corrode through a bath.

Chemistry Beyond UCS

SU BJ EC T EV EN TS

— Contributions by S. Hoyle

“Going to Oxford was fantastic. It really was

amazing to work in the university laboratories.”

Joel Harris (Upper Remove)

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Over October half term, the Drama Department ran a wonderful trip to New York City.

Our jam-packed itinerary included two workshops (Stage Combat and Improvisation) delivered by Broadway professionals, which had great educational benefits and which the students enjoyed hugely. We also saw two Broadway productions: Sleep No More, an immersive re-telling of Macbeth set in an abandoned hotel, and Avenue Q, the hilarious musical featuring puppets from The Muppets. Both received rave reviews from the students, particularly Sleep No More which was a jaw-dropping immersive first for many. 

There was also time to take in some of the sights of the Big Apple. We went to the Top of the Rock for awesome views of Manhattan, spent time in the sunshine in Central Park, visited the United Nations Headquarters for a fascinating guided tour, ate at Planet Hollywood, walked the High

Line to Greenwich Village, took a ferry cruise to the Statue of Liberty, soaked up the atmosphere of Times Square, and were treated to a guided tour and lesson observation at AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts). Staying in Hotel Walcott on W31st St, right next to the Empire State building, was also a highlight. 

My thanks go to Ms Sophie Brooks and Ms Hannah Wiedermann for their invaluable help in staffing the trip, and to Ms Rebecca Baxter and Mr Chris Reynolds for their support of it. The students all absolutely loved the experience and were good-humoured, great company and impeccably behaved throughout.

Bring on 2018!

New York! New York!

SU BJ EC T EV EN TS

— Contributions by C. Bhantoa

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On 22nd November, an assembly of GCSE and A-Level Hellenists gathered outside the Young Vic Theatre to watch a play written by Aeschylus over two millennia ago, named ‘The Suppliant Women’. The play tells the harrowing story of a group of women who leave North Africa and flee across the Mediterranean, leaving behind forced marriages and abuse to seek refuge and fair treatment in the city of Argos, in Ancient Greece.

Upon entering the auditorium and taking our seats, we observed an offering to the ancient Greek god of wine, Dionysus, which was poured across the front of the stage in the form of wine. The audience watched as the play unfolded and recounted the desperate struggle of the women, utilising a powerful combination of music, lighting and dance to submerge the audience into the minds of the

women. The actors, laden in colourful clothes, danced and acted their way through a thought provoking tale in which you could find parallels with contemporary times; the women are resonant of the ongoing refugee crisis around the world, and the significance of feminism stressed in the play is increasingly prevalent in the media as of late.

We thoroughly enjoyed the play and would recommend it based on its stunning portrayal by an enthusiastic and skilled cast and crew; the splendour of the play is a true testimony to their hard work and efforts. I would like to thank the Classics department for organising this spectacular trip and allowing us to watch a truly magnificent play.

Hellenists Marvel At Performance At Young Vic

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— Contributions by Nadir Rahman (Upper Remove)

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The Autumn term is poetry term in the English Department. Alongside the annual UCS Poetry Competition, pupils develop their skills in reading and writing poetry.

‘Found’ Poetry

Pupils in Ms Birchenough’s and Mr Hughes’s classes submitted to serendipity when writing poetry collated from fragments found in newspapers and magazines. Pupils started their poems with a phrase which they found particularly compelling or resonant, and continued from there, battling uncertainty and the wish to shape their poems in a particular way. The results surprised the pupils, and some lines give T S Eliot a run for his money!

Poetry Competition

The themes for this year’s competition were ‘play’ for the Lower School, ‘nature’ for the Middle School, and ‘transgression’ for the Upper School. As ever, we received hundreds of entries, and whittling them down to the thirty or so which will be in the anthology is a tough job. The anthology will be

launched as part of the poetry evening next term, but below is a highlight to whet the appetite for verse.

The FireThe fire was the only source of light.We sat on cardboard, rocks separating us from the flames.Cinders rose and drifted in front of us;Some settled on damp leaves that drizzled in resistance.Camping in tents: pyramids of red and greenAmong mostly dead trees.Some stood tall; some were decaying, rotten.The fire danced against the darkness.Flickering flashes of flame.A violent destruction.Cautiously we controlled the spreading burnWhile basking in the warm light.

A Term Of Poetry

SU BJ EC T EV EN TS

— Contributions by L. Birchenough

— By Louis Fitzpatrick (Lower Remove)

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Throughout the Autumn Term, we have been fortunate to welcome a wide variety of guest speakers who have delivered talks to our Sixth and Transitus groups emphasising the opportunities which exist beyond education and UCS. Poet and TV presenter Aaron Bridgeman talked about his life journey from London’s estates, Katie Huggins provided insights into London’s homeless population, Pip Stewart discussed her epic journey through the Amazon and Leon McCarron talked about his 1,000km bike ride through the Middle East. On our fourth ‘Big Friday’ event, author David Goodhart presented ideas from his book ‘The Road To Somewhere’ which addresses the consequences of globalisation and political populism.

As usual, for our Sixth Form, the Autumn Term has been dominated by preparing university applications and the eventual arrival of offers and invitations to interviews or visits to their chosen institutions. Attractive offers have been coming in thick and fast along with a few unconditional

places, discounted fees and scholarships. Over sixty students were invited to interviews at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and we look forward to hearing about the success of these interviews in the New Year. Our advice to students is to think things through carefully and to talk to a member of the Sixth Form Team before taking action. Above all, students must remember two things: actual A-Level examination results are for life and not just a passport to a university course, and that decisions are not required until May 2018.

The term ended with a few festive activities – Friday’s Six1 became a Christmas breakfast and singalong and the final T7 of term celebrated talents of the year group.

Sixth Form Matters

SI X T H FOR M

— Contributions by R. Chapman

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At UCS we are always looking for innovative ways of broadening students’ knowledge about universities overseas and career options. This term has seen a number of new initiatives introduced designed to facilitate this.

Summer Internship and Enrichment Fair

In November, over twenty organisations (including JP Morgan, TfL, British Airways and EY) visited to give students from UCS and LAE, Stratford, details of how they can apply for internships and work experience at their companies. Summer internships are a fantastic way for students to gain experience in a particular field and we look forward to seeing students apply for these placements next year.

Overseas University Fairs

Fifteen Canadian universities took over the Great Hall earlier this term in our Canadian College fair. Annual visits and talks from representatives from American colleges like Columbia, Princeton and

Tufts continued and our current Transitus benefited from our in-house ACT exam preparation course which will support their applications next year. The Overseas University evening was well attended and we were delighted to welcome four high-profile Dutch universities, Allison Goodings from the Canadian High Commision and Sarah Nash, who represents students applying to Australian and New Zealand universities.

Careers Lunches

Tuesday career lunches have now become fixtures in students’ calendars. Every fortnight we have welcomed visitors to the school who have spoken to students about a host of careers-related topics. Dr Philippa Edwards kicked these lunches off in style with a talk about working as a doctor in the NHS and over sixty students attended the interview skills workshop run by Goldman Sachs.

To The Summer! And Beyond!

SI X T H FOR M

— Contributions by D. Armitage & A. Hurst

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Community Action 2017 produced a proliferation of small enterprises including sweet shops, milk shake stalls, cookie stores, competitions and events of all kinds. The six Demes, Entry and Shell each nominated their own charity to support, including Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Marie Curie Hospice and organisations that support those affected by blindness, Alzheimer’s, child cancer and mental health conditions. Throughout the term, representatives from each charity visited the school to give presentations on their work.

This year, the larger events were chosen and run by the Demes themselves rather than by staff. Flook’s hosted the Entry disco, which lived up to its reputation as the hottest social event of the year.  Black Hawkin’s reported record sales of the schools’ discounted Rotary watches whilst orders for the Baxter’s new look UCS hoodies almost outstripped supply. Underwood’s collected recipes for their forthcoming publication, a UCS Recipe Book edited

by Daniel Kohn. Older’s produced their own live version of Take Me Out and in the final week of term, whipped the school into shape with Tour De UCS, an all-night exercise bike ride.

The school also staged several large scale fundraising events including a concert by the great blues guitarist Dan Patlansky at the Lund Theatre. The concert was preceded by a guitar workshop which was attended by musicians from UCS and London Academy of Excellence. The Great Hall was transformed into a Winter Wonderland for The Big Band Christmas, only for peace and goodwill to be plunged into jeopardy as Baxter’s hosted the fiercest ever Battle of the Bands. Teachers went head-to-head in the Crypt one lunchtime in the first ever teachers’ rap battle. Mr Bienias put in a performance worthy of Eminem but Mr Cork’s maths rap will never be forgotten. The final performance of the term was An Evening with Underwood’s which was a spectacular showcase of music and drama.

Community Action 2017 Raises Huge Funds For Charities

COM M U N I T Y AC T ION & OU T R E ACH

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— Contributions by B. Albu & J. Enemuwe

The first Mufti day of the term saw the traditional collection buckets replaced by crates of donated provisions. Two tonnes of food were collected by Upper Remove pupils which were then delivered to the North Paddington food bank. This was the largest single donation ever received by the food bank. Non-uniform days have always been great opportunities for fundraising and the alternative dress code was very much in evidence on UCS Does Panto day, when a number of teachers treated us to a performance of The Tale of Paul Artem. Mr Wilkes and Mr Reynolds were a wonderful pantomime horse but the star of this show was undoubtedly the Headmaster whose performance as the musical genie almost brought the house down. Further sport action was provided by Evans’ who organised the ever popular five-a-side football tournament.  

Community Action concluded in traditional fashion with assembly bingo and commendation certificates being awarded. The final fundraising totals will be revealed next term after the counting has finished!

Community Action 2017 Raises Huge Funds For Charities

COM M U N I T Y AC T ION & OU T R E ACH

“This was the biggest single donation the food bank had

ever received and it was humbling to see the food

given out to those in need.”

Cobi Jacobs (Upper Remove)

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UCS holds an integral place within the local community and throughout this term, students in the Transitus have spent Friday afternoons volunteering in local schools, community projects and care homes. Back in September, we were asked to pick a project which particularly interested us and our involvement in these has allowed us to develop and hone new skills. We have all loved this work. It has been rewarding and those in primary schools have been inspired by seeing the difference they are making to children’s education and confidence. Being able to be a part of a child’s development has been a humbling and enriching experience. Some students have assisted in care homes and through mutual teaching, a connection quickly grew. Students helped the elderly residents by running technology classes and at Spring Grove home, residents were treated to music played

by Matthew Seaman and Hugh Lafferty. Hakan Ozoran and Elsa Marianelli were among students who turned their hand to flower arranging at the Jewish Care centre and everyone agreed that it has been a fantastic experience. At Kenwood House, student volunteers were taught about the cherished building, architecture and artwork which they then passed onto visitors and tourists.

The variety of volunteering opportunities available has been staggering and whatever projects students have been involved in, we have all agreed they have been a real highlight of the term. We are already looking forward to returning next year.

Transitus Provide 2,500 Hours Of Voluntary Work In Community

COM M U N I T Y AC T ION & OU T R E ACH

— Contributions by Jonathan Akpakpavi & Antonia Woolf (both Transitus)

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Romania

Last summer, UCS sent two teams to the Mehedinti region of Romania to work with the Hands of Hope charity which supports disadvantaged people from all ages and backgrounds. Every day, our teams visited vulnerable children in regional schools and villages. We had an amazing time playing games with these children. They seemed to love the activities we ran and I will never forget the whole experience. It was hard saying goodbye at the end of our stay. We had built such strong relationships in an incredibly short space of time and I think the children enjoyed themselves as much as we did!

India

In October, nine students and three teachers worked with El Shaddai Charitable Trust which operates children’s homes, schools and community centres in the most poverty-stricken areas of Goa. Nothing could have prepared me for the experience of seeing how some of the people live and the conditions in the slums. However, it was wonderful working with the children who were warm, kind and loving. I returned home with new friends from across the globe, a love of spicy food and, above all, a new perspective on the world. On the last day of the trip, I was handed a letter by one of the boys. He thanked us for ‘showing him our love and care’ and for ‘the impact that we have made on his life’. We saw hardship that no one deserves but were inspired that amazing charities like El Shaddai are out there and are making such a difference to people’s lives.

Volunteering Across The Globe

COM M U N I T Y AC T ION & OU T R E ACH

— Contributions by Sadie Barr (Sixth)— Contributions by Christopher Stiff (Sixth)

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West Side Story

In November, a company of talented Upper Remove, Transitus and Sixth students performed Leonard Bernstein’s masterpiece West Side Story. Cast in May, rehearsed since September, the performances in November were a culmination of months of hard work from the cast and crew. Originally set in 1950s New York, the UCS production was brought up to date, staged on a grayscale set and in contemporary costume. The stage crew worked tirelessly, and the show was technically ambitious – Jake Longhurst, Jack Baum and Joseph Powell deserve special praise for their professionalism in handling such a complicated production. The cast brought tremendous life to the show, dancing and singing and acting their way through the iconic score and script.

There were standout performances from the show’s lead actors – Oscar Andrusier, Mallika Gray, Sebastian Heemels-Odutola and Rosa Stilitz – but the cast as a whole were a terrific ensemble and together with the wonderful live band, they collectively created a truly memorable production.

Drama

PER FOR M I NG A RTS

— Contributions by R. Baxter

“I will never forget being part of West Side Story

– it was a truly dazzling production.”

Maddie Jenkins (Sixth)

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The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Home Run

The cast of Fine, thanks returned triumphant from a successful run in Edinburgh to perform their ‘home run’ at the beginning of September to a packed Lund. Throughout the process (which began in December 2016) the show evolved; original music was added, characters developed, and performances honed. Indeed, even between the preview of Fine, thanks in June and the final performance to Upper Remove in September, the show changed and improved enormously, which is in part testament to the huge commitment and creativity of the cast. This was a wonderful achievement, adding to the rich tradition of UCS at Edinburgh.

The Winter Slam

The prestigious Winter Slam performance slot was filled this year by Kenneth Lonergan’s This Is Our Youth. Directed by the esteemed Charlie Graff (Sixth), and expertly produced by Menelaos

Moschonas (Sixth), it was a searing exploration of adolescence and maturity, set in Reagan’s America. The production was superbly handled, with excellent performances from the three actors – Jonah Rollason, Jake Levy and Giada Pipicelli. This was the last UCS show for all three, and proved a fitting end to their UCS acting careers. A triumph, enjoyed by all, and another example of student directing at its best.

Drama

PER FOR M I NG A RTS

— Contributions by R. Baxter

“Fine, Thanks was a captivating production which dealt with a very serious problem which

could affect us all.”

Oliver Bureau (Upper Remove)

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It has been a characteristically busy term for the Music Department, with eleven concerts and a collaboration with the Drama Department on West Side Story. There were three Lunchtime Concerts in the Great Hall, which featured performances by Transitus students, Chamber groups and Jazz and Pop musicians. Other highlights included:

• twenty-seven musicians making their UCS debut in the New Arrivals’ Concert on 3rd October

• an outstanding performance of Mozart’s Flute Concerto by Jovana Pepic and the Chamber Orchestra in the Senior Musicians Showcase on 11th October

• the Middle School Performance Platform on 9th November which featured twenty-eight solo performances from Lower Remove, Remove and Upper Remove pupils

The Ensembles’ Concert in November showcased fourteen of the smaller instrumental groups. There was magnificent Chamber Music from the Woof

McColl String Quartet and the Sanschagrin Piano Trio, as well as the spectacular sight and sound of an ensemble comprising thirteen flautists, including alto flute and bass flute, performing as one under the direction of Miss Hankin. For ‘A Big Band Christmas’ on 2nd December a band of current students and Old Gowers teamed up to provide a magical evening of Christmas standards under the benevolent direction of Mr Albu, raising over £8,000 for the El Shaddai Charitable Trust in Goa.

The term ended in a glorious manner. The Autumn Concert on 7th December spotlighted the larger instrumental ensembles, Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and Senior Jazz, and a programme of symphonic music, film music and Jazz and on 13th December, the UCS Foundation choirs combined for a traditional celebration of Christmas carols and readings at Hampstead Parish Church.

Music

PER FOR M I NG A RTS

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Imogen Cooper Piano Recital

Since acquiring a new Steinway Model D two years ago, UCS has hosted a Professional Concert Series in the Great Hall featuring some of the top names in the world of Classical Music. On Saturday 11th November it was a privilege to host renowned pianist, and Hampstead resident, Imogen Cooper. Those in the know have always suspected that the Great Hall Steinway is rather special, but it was exciting to hear Miss Cooper exclaim, after playing the piano for less than ten seconds, ‘you must have one of the finest pianos in London’. The recital of music by Haydn, Beethoven and Thomas Adès (OG) met all expectations and was a tour de force of pianism and interpretative insight.

Music

PER FOR M I NG A RTS

— Contributions by C. Dawe

“I’ve played in three concerts this term. I

love performing in the magnificent Great Hall and playing the Steinway piano

is a real treat.”

Nic Sanschagrin (Upper Remove)

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In 2016, UCS’s 1st XV won the Middlesex Cup for the first time in the school’s history. Having waited so long for their first triumph, much like London buses, UCS’s second triumph duly followed in 2017. The side did not so much retain the cup, they held onto it with both hands and never looked like letting it go. During the entire competition, the team conceded only 17 points and did not concede a single point in either the quarter, semi or final matches. Allianz Park, home to current European Champions Saracens, hosted the final and UCS defeated an energetic Harrow School side 37-0. Powerful forward play gave UCS the edge throughout and captain Cameron Yousefian ended the game with three tries but the highlight of the match was Theo Fournier’s try. Full-back Leon Morris sent a deft grubber kick through the Harrow back line which was duly collected by Fournier for his first score.

Mr Thomas, who has coached the team to these consecutive triumphs, was delighted by the performance saying, “The boys haven’t lost for weeks so this game couldn’t have come at a better time. Our side showed huge belief and determination and this spirit, combined with our

students’ natural ability, makes the squad a joy to coach. We trusted our game plan and we deserved the win.”

Mr Thomas is now looking forward to blending the talent of the current Upper Remove into the side in a bid to secure a hat-trick. They finished as runners-up in the Under 16 Middlesex Cup this year and it is evident that UCS rugby is very much in the ascendancy.

The Pathway To Allianz Park

SPORT

— Contributions by E. Roberts

“I couldn’t be happier to captain the team and retain the cup. We have trained so

hard this season and we were all on the same wavelength in the final. It was a great team

performance.”

Cameron Yousefian (Sixth)

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In October, players from the Lower Remove headed to Verona for an exciting week of rugby. On landing we started our preparation for our first match against Rugby Alto Vicentino (RAV). The game was played in the Stadio Rugby Nelson Mandela on the best pitch I have ever been on. We started quickly with a try from Theo Keays and ran out 57-14 winners with Toby Sawtell being named as Man of the Match. Over the next couple of days we enjoyed some intensive training and a sightseeing tour of the nearby mountains (best observed from the high ropes and zip line we went on!). Our match against Bassano was tough but following a superb try from Sam Abrahams we eventually secured a 7-5 win. Bassano had a big pack but we were not intimidated and Tilman Fouracre inspired us all with his great tackling. We then faced a return match against RAV. We raced to a 14-0 half-time lead but despite

a wonderful performance from Patrick Buchanan we drew the game. The last match was against the imposing Castellano Rugby. We put early pressure on their defence and Tom Bacon’s try gave us confidence. We defended well and the Abrahams twins combined to score the try of the tour as we ran out 43-0 winners.

To finish the tour undefeated was a real achievement. I enjoyed socializing with each opposition after the games and our tour around the Verona Arena was unforgettable. Thank you to all the teachers who made this trip possible.

Rugby Players Undefeated In Italy

SPORT

— Contributions by Luca Joseph (Lower Remove)

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The football season for the Middle School does not start until January but the side can approach this in confident fashion after reaching the last 16 in the ISFA Cup. Jojo Lewis, Eliyar Johnson-Parsadoust and Jake Jason were integral to the team’s success and the highlights of the cup run were the seven goals that the team scored against both St John’s, Enfield and Thorpe House.

Lower School football has been in full swing this term and the Under 13 team went one better than the Under 15s by reaching the quarter-finals of the ISFA Cup. This performance puts them in the top eight footballing school sides in the country following victories against Kew House, Wetherby Senior School, RGS Worcester and Rokeby School. The whole squad were superb throughout the season and should be proud of what they have achieved. Jasper McNally-Drew, Lenny Knight,

Charlie Gordon, Rafi Burns and Lawrence Fung-Roviras deserve a special mention for their committed performances every week and Rafi Burns’s volley against Rokeby School was a worthy goal of the season. I now look forward to seeing this group of boys develop as footballers next year.

Success In National Cup For Under 13 Footballers

SPORT

— Contributions by O. Bienias

“Our quarter-finals appearance in the ISFA Cup places our Under 13 team in

the top eight independent school sides in the country.”

O. Bienias

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During the October half-term break, footballers from the Entry and Shell headed to Valencia on tour. It was a fantastic experience and we loved the training sessions with the Spanish coaches, the games against local teams and the cultural excursions. We trained with dedication and commitment and both teams played well in all of their games. In the Shell team, Shunta Goto excelled throughout in goal producing some fantastic saves, Sam Harding and Aron Obadia defended resolutely and Charlie Gordon commanded the midfield. Kai Gentzel led the Entry team and played superbly throughout in the centre of midfield. Noah Sorene was a constant danger up front and Oscar Brown and Will Nesbitt were solid in defence. Joe Done played in a number of positions and played very well in every game.

Overall, the Valencia football tour was a great success. We learnt a great deal in training and in our matches. We had a fabulous time in the city, on the tour of the Valencia stadium and at the aquarium.

The bowling night was also good fun. I’d like to thank Mr Bienias, Mr Johnson and Mr Hillyard for organizing this opportunity for us.

Valencia Welcomes Lower School Football Tour

SPORT

— Contributions by Hugo Kinder (Shell)

“Playing under the lights in Valencia was incredible.”

Daniel Nahum (Shell)

“I learnt so much from the Spanish coaches about

movement up front.”

Lucas McIntyre (Shell)

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At a school where the pupil population is comprised of only 7% females, many would question the relevance of Women in Sport week. Or ask, ‘What about a Men in Sport week?’ Here at UCS we are rather more enlightened.

Physical exercise is one of the single most significant elements in contributing to a healthy body and mind, and sadly levels of activity are lower in teenage girls than boys. There is a plethora of contributing factors, and whilst we cannot address every one, offering more sport and celebrating each success is a good starting point.

So in the week beginning 20th November, UCS ran its second Women in Sport week, including a staff-student netball match, a ‘Challenge 1000’ session in Zumba, featuring thousands of planks, crunches, and lunges, and an introduction to break dancing.

The staff-student netball match was a real highlight. The students were competitive, but as always, were supportive of the staff, some of whom hadn’t played for 20 years! The line-up included stalwart player Ms Reddy, guaranteed to mix things up on the wing, alongside agile defender Ms Gulamhussein, plus new faces Ms Benjamin, an extremely fit Centre court player, and Ms Coleman whose role in the office will now be extended to include working with the netballers, such was her prowess in the match! The Sixth Form team made light work of the staff team. Sadie Barr and Leila Knight’s defence was strong and Clarice Willis’s shooting was consistently accurate.

A couple of events were postponed due to illness, so the swimming is yet to happen at time of writing – update to follow!

Women In Sport Week

SPORT

— Contributions by C. Hawes

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As part of Women in Sport week, Wasps and England netballer George Fisher visited UCS to deliver a fascinating talk on her life in professional sport. George was warm, modest and down to earth. She has scored over 200 goals for England and has a shooting accuracy of 87.6%. Her talk was fascinating. It was clear to the audience just how hard she had had to work to reach the standard required to play for England and she gave real insight with her answers to questions from the audience. After concluding her talk, George moved onto the courts behind school to deliver a memorable coaching session in ice-cold November conditions. The girls worked hard and at the conclusion of the session, George signed netballs for the team.

George visited UCS as part of her role working as a Netball Ambassador for sports brand Gilbert. Her visit will be a most influential memory for the students she spoke to and coached. Role models are so very important for young people, and in George Fisher a young netballer could not find a better one.

England Netballer Coaches UCS Team

SPORT

— Contributions by C. Hawes

“George was inspirational. It was fantastic to meet her and learn from an England

international.”

Ashley Cluer (Transitus)

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Jack Lubner In Manchester For The Labour Party Conference

As a youth activist in the Jewish Labour Movement I went to the party conference to try and change the Labour Party rules relating to the expression of prejudice within the membership.  It was one of the most remarkable experiences I’ve ever had. Nothing quite sums up the buzzing atmosphere or the sheer energy and passion of thousands of people battling out their ideas for the future of our country.  It wasn’t all positive though.  On the whole, the Labour Movement is a wonderfully open and tolerant place.  Unfortunately it seems that there is a very small but rather vocal fringe where there is still some anti-semitism and on a couple of occasions we found ourselves to be victims of harassment and bullying.  We campaigned as hard as we could to make instances like this illegal in the party, in the hope that one day it will be eradicated altogether.  There is nothing quite as rewarding as the moment

we found out our rule change had passed with 96% backing and all our hard work had paid off.  Although the day when prejudice is eradicated is far away, I’d like to think that we brought it that bit closer.

Student News 1

AS SORT E D ST U DEN T N EWS

— Contributions by Jack Lubner (Transitus)

“Being able to experience politics first hand was

an invaluable experience that has really benefited my understanding in the

classroom.”

Jack Lubner (Transitus)

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Student News 2

AS SORT E D ST U DEN T N EWS

— Contributions by E. Roberts

Imber Aces The Maccabi Games

Just before term started, Joshua Imber (Lower Remove) travelled to Miami to represent Great Britain at the Maccabi Games, an Olympic style sports competition where over two thousand Jewish athletes compete in sports including tennis, football, basketball and table tennis. Sportsmen and women from all over the world compete in the Games and Joshua played extremely impressive tennis throughout the tournament. He was not daunted by competing on the world stage. He finished with a bronze medal in the Under 15 singles category and in the doubles category, he and his partner triumphed to bring home the gold medal. Well done Joshua! 

Louis And Ollie Go Clear At Hickstead

In September Louis Raimes (Upper Remove) travelled to the Hickstead All-England Jumping Course to take part in the Sunshine Tour; the UK’s biggest amateur horse show. Louis began riding aged 12 and has become extremely passionate about the sport. Last year, he was fortunate enough to get his own horse, Ollie, a grey part-thoroughbred who loved jumping, but lacked experience. The show, over a long weekend, included many rounds of jumping and early morning starts. Ollie (and Louis) coped really well with the crowds and the pressure. They saved their best for last, an Eventer Challenge made up of 18 show jumps and cross country fences against the clock. There were 43 competitors in the class, many of them very experienced, but after a clear round, they gained an 8th place rosette. A fantastic achievement at such a high profile event!

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As ever Deme competitions have featured heavily in the autumn term. The highlight of the first half of term once again was Deme Song. This year we were privileged to be able to welcome a guest judge, Gary Kemp, which made the event even more special. Without a doubt this was the best competition ever, with the standard of all six Demes surpassing anything seen before. The eventual winners, and deservedly so, were Underwood’s, followed closely by Older’s. In the five years of the competition to date only Underwood’s and Flook’s have won Deme Song so will their monopoly be broken next year? The second half of term brought with it the usual blend of sporting competitions, augmented this year with the inaugural Deme Fives competition organised by Mr Blyth which ended with Baxter’s triumphing over Evans’. As usual both Deme Swimming and Rugby dominated the thoughts of many Middle School boys.

To continue the cultural theme Deme Drama moved to the last week of the autumn term and, once again, we were treated to a brilliant evening in the Lund Theatre with the competition benefitting from a new and innovative format courtesy of Mr Abbott. Old Gower Jacob Fortune-Lloyd was our guest judge and the event was won by Underwood’s who overcame stiff opposition from all the Demes.

Deme Competitions

DE M E N EWS

— Contributions by A. Wilkes

“Without a doubt this was the best competition ever, with the standard of all six Demes surpassing anything

seen before”

A. Wilkes

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The Arts Networking Evening 2017

Daniel Levy (OG 2005-2012) kindly hosted the UCS Arts Networking evening at his gallery, Daniel Raphael, in September. We were joined by Old Gowers, parents and friends to enjoy the exhibition ‘The Artificial Now: Carolina Mizrahi & Morgan Ward’. The installation of Carolina’s table set for six certainly caught the eye of our company, whose careers spanned music writing, photography, garden design, and fine art. We hope our guests stay in touch.

The Headmaster’s Brunch On 10th November, after the poignant and profound service to remember those whose lives were lost in warfare, the Old Gowers in attendance made their way to the Phoenix Room. They were joined there by the Headmaster, UCS staff and even the bagpiper who had led the earlier procession! Brunch canapés were enjoyed by all whilst OGs had the chance to meet the new Captain of Monitors and his two Vice Captains.

The Old Gowers’ Guild Private Tour of the V&A

On 8th December, a number of Old Gowers were given an exclusive tour of the V&A’s extensive fashion show. Our tour guide started in the India collection giving us details of the extravagant and trend-setting fabrics. We then moved on to the main fashion collection and were taken on a journey exploring how trends have evolved. It was great to meet new OGs as well as seeing familiar faces. We will continue to build on the OG Guild programme which currently offers two cultural activities a year.

Our flagship Old Gower event will take place next term; The Old Gowers’ Annual Dinner. Where Old Gowers of all ages, dressed in black tie, come back to Frognal for dinner, speeches and to sing along to Paulatim!

Old Gower Events

OG N EWS

— Contributions by L. de Bie

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