The Reptonian 2016-17 by Repton School

2016/17

CONTENTS 5

Editorial

Salvete

Repton Round

Music

The Editorial Team Editor

Sam Riley (L6P)

Sub-Editors

Alice Earwicker (L6A) JMJH Elizabeth Price (U6M) Rebecca Trafford (U6A)

Acknowledgements Photography

Front and Back Cover

M. Wolford; JMJH; IJW; GLH; PJG, Ady Kerry, T. Jacobsohn (L6P), M. Krivonogov (4L), AFP, RGE Hannah Bond (L6F)

Design

Optima Graphic Design Consultants Ltd.

Pyramid Press

The Hall, Repton, Derby DE65 6FH Telephone 01283 559200 Email registrar@repton.org.uk

www.repton.org.uk

Drama

Art & Design

Sport

117

Valete

EDITORIAL

The Reptonian 2016/2017

SALVETE

EDITORIAL MAY WE LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES. Although the age-old Chinese curse may not actually be quite as old or as Chinese as one would expect, the saying certainly still resonates today. From Brexit to Trump, and after numerous election catfights, are the public becoming too used to a world in which the unexpected is always the most likely outcome? Are we becoming disillusioned by the sheer volume of campaigns; snowed in by a shower of ballot cards? Brenda from Bristol seems to think we are, given her reaction to the calling of this year’s snap election, exclaiming “Oh, for God’s sake! Honestly, I can’t stand this. There’s too much politics going on at the moment!”. Her words, captured by the BBC, quickly went viral, encapsulating a consensus of feeling towards this recent flurry of political activity. But even if interesting times become the norm, we should never become too complacent or uninterested in the world around us. For years, authors have prophesied gruesome dystopian futures, from the dehumanisation and rule of machines as portrayed in former Repton schoolmaster Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, to the grey oppression of his student Orwell’s classic Nineteen Eighty-Four. In studying dystopian literature for English A-Level, I have become more aware of the worryingly common occurrence of the unexpected result, with many of the latest developments seeming to point the finger of blame towards a frustrated and disenfranchised majority, who are seeking to buck what they view as an unchanging political class. Most pertinent of the dystopias I have read is Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Many dystopias seem distant and un-relatable, being written at a time in which the world faced rather different problems from those we see today. The subtle and worryingly realistic possibilities presented by religious fundamentalism in Atwood’s novel, does not seem greatly dissimilar to the oppression practised by Islamic fundamentalists, such as Daesh, today. This perceived threat has made many embrace author auth authoritarian movements and parties of the right.

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It is exactly these views that Atwood challenges in her novel, which makes it so pertinent today, with fear of terrorism, and frustration with traditional governing elites that can allow the rise of figures such as Donald Trump, who articulate, albeit somewhat inarticulately, this frustration, encouraging anger over globalisation and, particularly, over immigration. The events of the past year could not have been predicted, but, in a way, they prove that it is those of us who say, “That’ll never happen, so why should I bother voting?” who are really to blame. Action is, after all, the only way truly to ensure the outcome that you want. It is complacency with the present that allows the essential wiggle-room for the unexpected result to slip through the net, but as we become more complacent, more of these anomalies occur. Becoming used to these deviations and irregularities may be dangerous. I may be pessimistic, but, when looking at a time in which attitudes polarise and tensions are high, I can see small inklings of a new dystopian world, where the tyranny of a nominal populist majority rides roughshod over the rights of various minorities. Inside our Repton bubble, we often lose sight of the world around us, but it is we (I say in a triumphant tone) – the Reptonians of 2016/17 – who will have to live with the consequences, and inhabit the world that is forming around us. So, at every available opportunity, it is important for us to keep ourselves informed about current affairs, and never be politically disengaged. Grasp the opportunity to contribute to change in the right way, not simply following the mainstream media or the masses. If there is one thing that Repton teaches each and every one of us, it is that we are individuals who have a responsibility and the capacity to examine all the available evidence and then make up our own minds.

SAM RILEY (L6P) EDITOR

NCR Fr Neil Roberts arrives as the new Chaplain, licensed to the School by the Bishop and responsible for the ‘cure of souls’ or well-being of students, staff and parents. A Theology graduate and Choral Scholar of King’s College, London, he went on to Homerton College, Cambridge as a Postgraduate whilst a Lay Clerk at Bury St Edmunds Cathedral. After Cambridge, he was appointed as a Music and RE Master at Loughborough Grammar School, where he taught for six years. He was then appointed Head of Religion and Philosophy at Reigate Grammar School, where he remained for a decade. Following recommendation for ordination, he read a degree in Ministerial Theology and a Masters in Applied Theology at theological college and then served in a parish in the Southwark Diocese for four years and then as Vicar of Steyning and Rector of Ashurst in Sussex, where he also had the care of his three church schools, was on the Diocesan Board of Education and taught Canon Law, and was Chaplain to Steyning Grammar School. Neil’s wife, Helen, is a Chartered School Librarian; they have three children, Louis, 6, Benedict, 3, and Ted, born as The Reptonian was going to print. What was your dream job as a child? Train driver. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Margaret Thatcher, Thomas Aquinas, Peter Kay. What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? History. What is your guilty pleasure? IMAX evening out – Star Wars – ludicrous amounts of chocolate. What is your favourite book? The Time Machine (H.G. Wells), The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared (Jonas Jonasson) & The Fall of Lucifer (Wendy Alec). Who is your favourite superhero? Superman.

OMW Oliver Walker is the new Director of Music, his main role being the day-to-day management of the Music Department, but also running the Chapel and Chamber Choirs, as well as the Orchestra. In addition, he enjoys teaching B-block Circus and A-Level – never a dull moment! Oliver was awarded an Organ Scholarship for the Sixth Form at The King’s School, Gloucester and, after a gap year travelling and playing the organ in Chelmsford Cathedral, he went to read Music at Keble College, Oxford. After university, he moved to Wells, where for two years he was the Senior Organ Scholar in the Cathedral, as well as an accompanist at Wells Cathedral School. Directly before Repton, Oliver spent 6 years as Head of Choral Music at Solihull School, where he took the Chapel Choir on tours to Norway and Normandy, as well as recording a CD and making 10 live BBC broadcasts. He also conducts choirs outside schools, including the Lichfield Chamber Choir and Solihull Choral Society. What was your dream job as a child? To be a Cathedral Organist. Or run a pub. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Winston Churchill, Benjamin Britten and Tommy Cooper. What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? There was never any other subject I was any good at! What is your guilty pleasure? Gin & tonic. Though I don’t feel that guilty. What is your favourite book? Anything by Thomas Hardy or Ian McEwan. Who is your favourite superhero? J.S. Bach.

SALVETE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

FJB Fiona Bardsley is the incoming Director of Drama, which means that, as well as teaching the subject at GCSE and A-Level, she oversees and engages with the School’s extra-curricular provision of Drama. Her first main house production for the school was Great Expectations in the Michaelmas Term, and she was the mastermind behind From Repton to Broadway. She also directs or supports the smaller studio productions. In addition, Fiona is attached to Field House. A graduate of Durham University and Mountview Theatre School, she has vast experience of both acting and teaching, her last post prior to joining Repton being at Dauntsey’s School. Fiona has a husband, Garth, and two children, Tabitha and Miranda. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Very difficult question… Please could I have 4? Bram Stoker, Albert Finney, Juliet Stevenson, Laura Ingalls Wilder. And now I’m worried about the seating plan…

RMM

SJM

Robert Marston joins the Economics and Business Studies Departments, as well as being a Tutor in The Cross, a Sixth-Form Tutor and a CCF instructor. He also runs circuit training sessions every week for students (and occasionally staff on their own fitness missions) and joins the cross-country team to struggle up the hills from time to time. Having grown up in Suffolk, he gained a first-class degree in Economics from Bristol University, where he was involved in the University Officer Training Corps and some competitive triathlon. He went on to a career in the military, which included operational deployments to Afghanistan and the Middle East. Prior to the move to teaching, he also spent three years working in finance in London. He lives in the village with his wife and children. He enjoys most outdoor pursuits and gets to the Peak District whenever he can. What was your dream job as a child? Royal Marines. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Andy McNab, Alan Partridge and Sir David Attenborough (or the new Wonder Woman if that’s not too risqué?).

Steven Megahey is the new Resident Tutor in The Cross, where he and his partner, Charlie, have settled in well and he is proving a firm favourite with the boys. Steven also joins the ERS Department, finally settling down to a career in academia after delving into the world of computer science. He was educated at Felsted School and was awarded a BA from Heythrop College, University of London, where he also studied for his MA and MRES. Steven’s teaching career began 2 years ago, when he returned to his alma mater, Felsted School, simultaneously completing his teacher training qualification through the University of Buckingham. He enjoys badminton, and runs the school’s Badminton programme, and is a self-confessed computer gamer. Steven has certainly thrown himself into life at Repton and we hope he enjoys a long and happy stay here. What was your dream job as a child? An actuary – because it is well-paid!

What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? English or History of Art.

What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? I would have a go at PE.

If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Jesus, Socrates and Pete Doherty – just to make it interesting!

What is your guilty pleasure? Chocolate.

What is your guilty pleasure? Haribo. You’re not getting anything more guilty than that!

What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? Politics or History – anything but Maths!

What is your favourite book? Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (John Le Carré).

What is your guilty pleasure? Computer games.

What is your favourite book? Too many favourite books… I’m sorry, I can’t answer that. Who is your favourite superhero? Wonder Woman!

Who is your favourite superhero? Captain America.

JAS Joe Sharp is another addition to the Economics and Business Studies Departments. Having attended Ecclesbourne School and been awarded a degree in Economics from Nottingham University, he went into hockey coaching before making the switch to teaching. A keen sportsman, he played hockey for England U21 and still plays for Beeston HC, and so has been a valuable addition to our sports programme, coaching the 2nd XI boys’ hockey and U15 C cricket teams. Meanwhile, his prowess on the golf course has already put other members of the RAGS (the staff golfing club) to shame. What was your dream job as a child? Astronaut. If you could invite 3 famous people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Arsene Wenger, Bill Gates, Emma Watson. What subject (other than your own) would you most like to teach? Maths. What is your guilty pleasure? Xbox. What is your favourite book? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J.K. Rowling). Who is your favourite superhero? Batman.

What is your favourite book? Candide (Voltaire) – a satirical exploration of philosophical optimism. Who is your favourite superhero? Wolverine from X-Men.

MAP It has been lovely to welcome back Marie Perrière to the French Department as a full-time teacher this year, having been the French Assistante in 2014-15. After completing her Masters degree in Anglo-Saxon Studies in both literature and civilisation, she came to England during a gap year, intending to carry out some research, as she wanted to become a professor in Higher Education. However, Marie enjoyed her time here so much that she decided to complete a PGCE in Secondary Education for French and German at the University of Nottingham, during which time she worked at John Port School, before applying to return to Repton. She has been a much-loved tutor of A-block in The Abbey, and her enthusiasm for Netball and Girls’ Fitness makes her very popular among the students. Her favourite past-times include reading poetry, such as Capitale de la Douleur by Paul Éluard, travelling to European cities and enjoying nice food experiences. Sadly, Marie is leaving us once again to write her PhD in British Politics; we wish her all the best. What was your dream job as a child? At first I wanted to be an archaeologist, before I realised how long it took to qualify; then I realised that I wanted to be a teacher. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Alfred Hitchcock, Napoleon and Yves Saint Laurent. What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? History and World Politics. What is your guilty pleasure? A good Bordeaux red wine – but, then again, when isn’t Bordeaux red wine good?! What is your favourite book? Le Guépard (The Leopard) by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa. Who is your favourite superhero? Simone Biles (the American gymnast): she was a super star of the last Olympic games.

JDS Jack Swanston joins the English Department, having spent seven years teaching in inner-city Birmingham – so Repton is quite a contrast! He was educated at Ellesmere College and the University of Reading, and worked briefly in recruitment before teaching English as a Foreign Language in Italy. Deciding on teaching as a career, he returned to England to do a PGCE and Masters in Education at the University of Birmingham. In addition to his teaching commitments at Repton, Jack helps run the Debating Society, is part of the DofE Silver team, and is O-block Tutor and Resident Tutor in School House. Next year, he will be taking over as Head of Higher Education and Careers.

SJP Siana Pendlebery is the newest member of the Politics and Ethical and Religious Studies Departments. She attended school at Eastbourne College and studied PPE at Lancaster University. She recently completed her PGCE at Bristol University and is now teaching throughout the school at Repton. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor and adventurous pursuits, as well as travelling and the occasional puzzle. She is enjoying getting involved in all aspects of Repton life: this includes coaching the girls’ U14 C hockey team and the U15 C Netball team, and being O-block Tutor in The Mitre.

He loves travel – planning to do the Inca Trail in Peru this summer – and is a keen ‘foodie’, both cooking/baking himself and trying out new restaurants and cuisines.

What was your dream job as a child? Airline pilot.

What was your dream job as a child? I was adamant that I wanted to become a train driver, before settling on marine biology after visiting Sea World.

What subject (other than your own) would you most like to teach? English Literature.

If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Shakespeare, Helen Mirren and Emma Watson. What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? Something creative – maybe Art or Music? What is your guilty pleasure? Made in Chelsea. What is your favourite book? That is the hardest question you could ask an English teacher! If forced to make a choice, it would probably be The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald). Who is your favourite superhero? Superman.

If you could invite 3 famous people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? John Terry, Boris Johnson and Pitbull.

What is your guilty pleasure? Big Brother. What is your favourite book? Lord of the Flies (William Golding) and all of the Harry Potter books. Who is your favourite superhero? Michelle Obama.

EJDF Edward FitzGerald studied History and Politics at the University of York and was then at law school for two years, prior to a legal career in the City of London. Deciding to switch to teaching, he completed a PGCE at Oxford before being appointed to his current job at Repton. Edward teaches History (predominantly twentieth century) throughout the school and is the B-block Tutor in New House, with academic responsibility for nine very boisterous boys! His main extra-curricular role has been as Master i/c The Law Society, organising visiting speakers and running various mock trials and trips. Edward is a keen runner, having completed a number of 10k races, used to play a lot of cricket, and played for various tennis clubs when in London. He is leaving after one year to take up a position at City of London Girls’ School. What was your dream job as a child? I was rather addicted to Test match cricket, so I think playing, commentating on, or writing about cricket. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Richie Benaud, Geoffrey Boycott and Michael Atherton. What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? Definitely not Law! Probably Politics or English Literature. What is your guilty pleasure? My friends and I were mad on WWE when we were teenagers and I still occasionally tune in. It’s all genuine, isn’t it? What is your favourite book? Revolutionary Road (Richard Yates) Who is your favourite superhero? I don’t like any of that Marvel stuff. The Dark Knight was great, so Batman.

SALVETE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

CBHD Christian Dell was appointed for one year to teach Physics. Educated at the Skinners’ School, Kent, and the University of Bristol, he initially went into a career in finance in the City – a venture lasting approximately three weeks – before taking a Physics post at Wellington College. At Repton, as well as teaching throughout the school, he has also been a popular tutor to the School House A-block, coached the 5th XI football and U15 B cricket sides, and assisted the Army section of the CCF as a CFAV. His hobbies and interests include training at the gym, running, playing guitar and getting on motorbikes whenever he has the opportunity. What was your dream job as a child? Astronaut. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Christopher Hitchens, Richard Feynman, Socrates. What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? Mathematics. What is your guilty pleasure? There’s no such thing. What is your favourite book? First Light (Geoffrey Wellum). Who is your favourite superhero? You, the reader, are my favourite superhero.

PCP Pippa Parker joined the Learning Support Department in January 2017, to support students with their specific needs, both in timetabled lessons and extra-curricular drop-in sessions, allowing them to meet their full potential. She is a Level 7 Specialist Assessor for Access Arrangements, which makes her a very valuable addition to the Department. Educated at Rugby School, she read Industrial Design and Technology at Loughborough University, followed by a PGCE and a stint as a teacher of Design and Technology, transferring in 2008 to the Learning Support world, gaining two further postgraduate certificates in Special Educational Needs at Birmingham University. Prior to joining Repton, she was Head of Learning Support for 3 years at Higham Lane School, Nuneaton.

CEMS Charly March-Shawcross joined the Biology Department for three terms in January 2017 to cover CAMC’s maternity leave, although she is no stranger to many of us, being the wife of EGMS. She was educated at the Friary School, Lichfield, and Cardiff University, completing a BSc in Ecology and Environmental Management before moving on to a PGCE at Leeds University. She has previously taught at Stokesley School in North Yorkshire and John Taylor High School, Staffordshire. She and EGMS have two children, Isabelle and William, and her hobbies include rugby, triathlon, cycle touring, climbing, hill walking and baking. What was your dream job as a child? Doctor.

She and her husband have lived in Repton for 4 years and have two children at Foremarke and two black Labradors. Pippa enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and dogs and is also a keen sailor.

If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? David Attenborough, Charles Darwin and Nigel Owens (the rugby referee).

What was your dream job as a child? Architect.

What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? Physical Geography.

If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Philippe Starck, Walt Disney, Gordon Ramsey.

What is your guilty pleasure? Crisps.

What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? Geography.

NDW Joining in January 2017, Nicola Williams is the latest Artist-in-Residence, in which role she will be offering her expertise to Sixth Formers in the Art School. Nicola is originally from Aberdeen, but moved to London to study for an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art, followed by a PGCE at the Institute of Education. Before arriving at Repton, Nicola was an Artist-in-Residence in Finland, and has exhibited her work throughout the UK. She enjoys visiting galleries and museums, and is looking forward to exploring the Midlands. What was your dream job as a child? Vet. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Alan Partridge, Phil Spector and Iggy Pop. What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? English. What is your guilty pleasure? True crime documentaries. What is your favourite book? Animal Farm (George Orwell). Who is your favourite superhero? SuperTed.

What is your favourite book? The Harry Potter series. Who is your favourite superhero? Ironman.

What is your guilty pleasure? Pampering myself – Spa Days. What is your favourite book? Angels and Demons (Dan Brown). Who is your favourite superhero? As a huge Disney fan – Elastigirl.

AA Andrew Ashwin is the Head of Singing, a part-time position he shares with teaching at Uppingham and examining for the ABRSM exam board. He read Music at the University of Birmingham, then post-graduate Singing at the Royal College of Music, graduating with Distinction. He studied at both the Flemish and Zurich Opera Studios, before spending a year singing at the Deutsche Oper, Berlin. A distinguished international solo operatic career followed, as well as numerous concerts and recitals across the UK, Europe, and further afield. Andrew achieved Distinction in the ABRSM’s Diploma for Voice Teaching, and is one of only forty singers in the UK to be certified in the world-renowned Estill Voice Training organisation. He recently adjudicated the post-graduate opera competition at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Andrew lives with his wife and daughters in Leicestershire, and is an Ironman triathlete. What was your dream job as a child? Train driver. If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be? Luciano Pavarotti, Barack Obama, Chrissie Wellington (former Ironman World Champion). What subject, other than your own, would you most like to teach? German. What is your guilty pleasure? Doing silly walks/voices to embarrass my wife. What is your favourite book? Shantaram (Gregory David Roberts). Who is your favourite superhero? Mr Happy from the Mr Men.

////// LEO LIU (U6P)

////// ROSIE CAMPION (U6F)

“A LITTLE NONSENSE NOW AND THEN, IS RELISHED BY THE WISEST OF MEN” Roald Dahl (OR)

FROM THE HALL

The Reptonian 2016/2017

FROM THE HALL More than a year has passed for me and my family in The Hall, but it feels, very happily, like a lifetime already. For us, much has changed and, most importantly of all, we have come in a very short time and profoundly to regard The Hall, Repton and South Derbyshire as our home.

Much is made of change as if it is to be feared, managed or sequestered, but this is not a reflection of reality: to be alive is to change. For us in 2016-2017, this has never more been the case. We moved up from Harrow, secured a long-term family pied-à-terre in London, moved into Repton, Maurice changed schools to Foremarke and, perhaps most joyously of all, Martin was born. Having been born at home in The Hall, the first time a baby has been born here for nearly a hundred years, Martin is the most Reptonian of us all; he is truly a native. In all that we do at Repton, it has been such a pleasure and something of great importance to us that all four of us can be involved: whether it is a gathering in The Hall, Chapel, a concert or watching sport, it has been a treat that all four of us can participate together. Boys and girls, when I go to House lunch, such an important part of Repton’s daily life, will kindly make a conversational start with a cheerful enquiry about my day, which is deeply appreciated and, each time it happens, I am delighted that I am never rehearsing the same lines each time: there are no Groundhog Days at Repton. Indeed, I marvel that my professional life mirrors the diversity of opportunity and activity that is open to our pupils. Many will know that I like to start my days early. A refreshed, clear mind is the best one to adopt in the morning to give of my best, as I work on the day-to-day management and development of Repton in its 460th year as a great British school. The clarity and peace of the morning lends itself to acute and sustained thinking and can constantly be refreshed as I look out, as dawn breaks, from Prior Overton’s Tower over the Old Trent northwards. A lot is happening in Repton before the working day starts with period 1 and I am glad to be part of this milieu, either attending Chapel, meeting pupils or having breakfast with the Head Prefects. After that, my mornings typically follow no pattern at all, save that all the time is taken with meetings. It is of concern to me that this phase in my working day is even called “meetings”: it reminds me of a poster I saw many years ago at a British Army station in Belize, with a cluster of penguins in the centre and text that read, “Lack

friends and influence? Have a meeting: it’s the practical alternative to work!” The poster has been a reminder in nemesis form ever since. Whatever the encounter, and whoever has been gathered and speaking together, I am always absolutely adamant that there must be an outcome: an issue must be resolved; a project has to have been progressed; guidance to improve performance given; or a pupil welcomed into Repton. With that in mind, the meetings that I have – regular ones with colleagues, with current and future parents, interviews with applicant teachers, headmasters of other schools or international visitors – are always kept purposeful and upbeat. It is always a great pleasure to explain Repton to people visiting from outside and all gain a strong understanding of our Values and authentic achievements. Common Room announcements on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday provide a break, yet all too soon it is lunch and it is a highlight to join with a House once or twice a week for this central occasion in our Repton life. Eating together, sharing food and conversation, is at the core of human experience. Repton asserts that, with good food cooked and presented by dedicated House teams. I really like the questions that I am asked and when Reptonians tell me candidly about their recent School experiences. I also look forward to Dailies; they tell me so much of what is going on in the real life of the School away from offices. Afternoons are no less busy nor varied, with a great mixture of regular and arranged meetings, added to which there are chances for me to become directly involved in the workings of the activities programme. It is something of a treat to me, and therefore, I hope, also of benefit to Reptonians, that I can assist with strength and fitness coaching in the Sports Centre once or twice per week, as well as instruct with the CCF on Wednesday afternoons. In the latter, I have been glad to work with cadets in all age groups over the year, teaching the rifle or fieldcraft. In the Summer Term, I shared the challenge of a Leadership Development Course with the L6 corporals, who will be next year’s seniors. I hope it’s been as fun as it has been demanding. I can never envisage a time when I won’t want to coach, instruct or teach and I am looking forward to doing more next year. A particular focus in the year just past has

been consultation with pupils, in formal structured sessions such as Prefects, The Academy or Captains’ Club, or more ad hoc focus groups convened for such purposes. It has been a great source of inspiration to listen to Reptonians give advocacy to what they hold to be important in their School lives and beyond. Early evenings are often spent entertaining in The Hall with Birthday Drinks or a gathering for winners and high achievers. Later, there may be a dinner for staff, pupils and visiting speakers or a play or concert and perhaps a House visit. The day rounds off with a careful session addressing any remaining correspondence from the day. Whilst, for me, the academic year past has meant a good deal of personal and family change, it has not been without transition for Repton, too. I have been pleased to focus on the Values of the School and to put them at the hub of all we do. Likewise, the launch and success of the Diploma and Cross-Curricular Excellence programmes, together with other initiatives for Scholars – how we worship in Chapel, developments in pastoral provision and wellbeing, and in use of IT – show the inherent enthusiasm, positivity and adaptive nature of Reptonians and those who teach them. I look to the future with eagerness and great passion for Repton’s prospects: in the coming terms, we will see the new Sports Centre take shape and fundraising begin for Pears School. Beyond that, we will develop the Values further and be clear to cast the Repton experience in terms of the Real World and our Heritage. There will be work next year focused on boarding, the personalised nature of our education and the shape of the working day and week. I look forward to reviewing such promising ground this time next year.

WMAL

HOUSE REPORTS

The Reptonian 2016/2017

AROUND THE HOUSES What was the best moment in the House this year? When the Juniors won the House Basketball: the way they pulled together as a team is what being in a boarding house is all about; having each other’s backs on and off the court.

What was the funniest moment? The funniest moments in the House are the yard sessions: the mayhem that is caused by having 20 to 30 people in such a small space always ends up with some laughter.

JACK BULL (U6O)

What was the best moment in the House this year? Finally winning the General Knowledge quiz, after many years of finishing second.

What was the best moment in the House this year? Whole-House ‘Murder in the dark’ at Halloween.

What was the worst moment? Missing out on a 5th victory in a row in Harmony. After an incredible performance from the lads, we were devastated not to set a new record number of wins – although, I’m sure that the boys will be eager to reclaim the title next year.

What was the worst moment? When the hot water ran out after Steeplechase.

What has changed the most in your time in the House? Other than the recent refurbishment, I

What was the worst moment? Losing the Russell Cup as the boys had worked really hard.

What will you miss most about your House? The togetherness and knowing that I can turn to each and every one of them and know they will do their part for the House.

THE GARDEN

What was the funniest moment? ‘Dress to Impress’ day attracted some hilarious outfits, from the A-block collectively dressing up as ‘passionate religionists’ to the U6’s theme of female superheroes, there were many laughs to be had. We even had a fair share of Trumps – each one as scary as the real thing.

THE ORCHARD

What has changed the most in your time in the House? The dynamic energy within it: everyone is willing to get involved and this creates a vibrant atmosphere within the House.

LATHAM HOUSE

would say the competitive nature of the House: of late, Lathamites have given their all on the sports field, even when the odds haven’t been in our favour. What will you miss most about your House? The integration between year-groups. Be it weekend activities or general chat in the common rooms, it is so easy to affiliate yourself with anyone in the House. It is this communal atmosphere that I will miss the most.

THE ABBEY What was the best moment in the House this year? Upholding our reputation of being the most successful house in Unison in our 5 years here.

What has changed the most in your time in the House? Our tutors: we’ve lost some really good ones throughout our time here, but we’ve also gained some equally legendary ones.

What was the worst moment? Anytime we attempted to sing ‘Happy birthday’ in tune at lunch.

What will you miss most about your House? Janey.

What was the funniest moment? Whilst blindfolded, LEW attacked Ella Clowes with a piñata stick on her Spanishthemed birthday!

CATHERINE MCEWAN (U6A)

THE CROSS What was the best moment in the House this year? The whole-House chants after Christmas supper; everyone gets involved. What was the worst moment? Unison. It is fair to say that we could have done with a few more weeks’ practice. However the House still came out with fighting spirit and we all had a good time. What was the funniest moment? The entire U6 squeezing into French maid outfits for ‘Dress to Impress’ day.

What has changed the most in your time in the House? We came into the House as individuals and are now leaving as a tight group. This is the same with all the year groups in The Cross: the whole House is able to bond with each other, creating lasting friendships. What will you miss most about your House? I am going to miss being looked after so well by our House team. I think it might be a bit of a shock going into the real world, when we have to do our own cooking and cleaning!

What was the worst moment? Losing is always difficult for me, but not retaining the Senior House Hockey trophy was a particularly sore moment, after a great final. All credit to New House, though, who thoroughly deserved their win. What was the funniest moment? When the boys from Toyota Nishi visited for lunch in the Lent Term, causing jubilation through their edible gifts and via taking a house photo with a selfie-stick.

What has changed the most in your time in the House? Matrons. We’ve had 7. What will you miss most about your House? Of course the other girls and the family atmosphere, but most of all… the laundry system.

PHILIPPA WILSON (U6G)

GUY SHELDON (U6L)

SCHOOL HOUSE What was the best moment in the House this year? Victory in the Senior Steeplechase: achieving not only a 1,2,3 in the race, but managing to get all our first 10 runners in the top 27 was an unbelievable achievement and a testament to the collective effort and dedication put in.

What was the funniest moment? The Mockingjay Rebellion in lunch.

THE PRIORY What has changed the most in your time in the House? The personnel. Although it is saddening to see beloved House members leave, staff and pupils, the core values of School House have always remained the same. What will you miss most about your House? Cherry. I am going to miss our Matron, Cherry, and chefs Mark and Elaine and all the domestic staff as well. I’m still not entirely sure how I will cope with life when I have to do my own washing, cook my own food and find my own paracetamol when illness strikes. I’m not entirely sure this feeling is reciprocated; I’m sure Chez will certainly not miss my constantly untidy room…

JAMES SOOKIAS (U6S)

What was the best moment in the House this year? The Priory tutor team offers all-round support: the addition of four new tutors has seen a great contribution, through their unique traits, to the spirit and nature of the house. What was the worst moment? The Steeplechase is the most competitive house event, where every participant counts. Our Juniors ran remarkably, finishing 1st, but, despite a valiant effort, our Seniors had to settle for 3rd place: unfortunately we missed out on completing the Steeplechase double. What was the funniest moment? In The Priory there is a receptive relationship between the year groups; mild banter is shared by individuals in the common room, Matron’s room or before and during meals in the dining room. What has changed the most in your time in the House? The Priory did have the reputation as the house with the worst food. A new chef has helped to change that reputation and improve the quality and variety of food that is offered. What will you miss most about your House? Garden football is a past-time that is popular within each year group, accommodating for the full range of abilities, with fair matches that provide enjoyment all around.

TOM CLARKE (U6P)

HUGO SWABY (U6C)

HOUSE REPORTS

The Reptonian 2016/2017

THE PARRY SOCIETY

THE MITRE What was the best moment in the House this year? The best moment has got to be winning House Unison. As one of the only competitions that the whole House takes part in, it was great to see all the year groups working together to perfect a song that everyone enjoyed performing. What was the worst moment? Losing out to “Mighty” Field in Senior House Hockey: it doesn’t happen very often, so when it does we aren’t too happy! What was the funniest moment? The now-traditional Unison after-party in the dining room: led by the U6 grannies, a whole array of dance moves was on display, perhaps the most impressive being shown by CMSS… What has changed the most in your time in the House? Alix, our Matron, has made a massive impact since becoming part of the Mitre family 4 years ago. The House has also seen various refurbishments (including much-needed blinds on the Sixth Form corridors), and we’ve started to do a lot better in non-sport house competitions.

What will you miss most about your House? The support network that The Mitre offers: friendships that will last longer than my time at Repton has and the amazing work of the Parishes, Alix and the rest of the House team. Every Mitre girl has the opportunity to make the most of what Repton has to offer.

MIMI TARRANT (U6M)

NEW HOUSE What was the best moment in the House this year? Winning the Senior House Hockey final against our bitter rivals, School House, who beat us last year. What was the worst moment? Losing narrowly in the Junior League final. What was the funniest moment? Generally, the funniest moments have been everything and anything Max Wang has ever said. But the funniest moment in my time was when, after JDW punished us by insisting on a formal tea, Jack Milligan-Manby turned up in his full tuxedo. What has changed the most in your time in the House? The sense of hierarchy: the old constraints no longer exist and there is more fluidity in terms of relationships between year groups.

FIELD HOUSE What was the best moment in the House this year? Very hard to choose, but making a banner just before the Senior House Hockey matches (so we weren’t the only house without one) and nearly losing our voices competing with AFP’s cheering of Mitre! To top it all off – we won! Also, stealing the Harmony Cup off Latham after their 4-year run. What was the worst moment? Saying goodbye to Carol, our Matron. What was the funniest moment? The debate about whether a lotus biscuit spread counts as a biscuit if you have given them up for Lent… What has changed the most in your time in the House? The individuals – but not the individual spirit. What will you miss most about your House? Everything.

ELLA NIEPER (U6F)

The Temple Society now aims to meet four times each month, with one meeting for each year group from B-block to L6. The Society has enjoyed a range of formats and topics: a particularly successful model has been for each member to prepare a short presentation on an aspect of a set topic, for example ‘What has been the most transformative invention?’ or ‘To what extent can modern technology be considered a boon?’. We have, therefore, had some singular insights on the effects of the printing press, the birth control pill, the steam engine and the sewing needle. A welcome development has been the delivery of meetings by colleagues, and I was particularly indebted to CCC for the discussion on semiotics she led for B- and A-block, and to DAE, who gave O-block a superb introduction to Economic theory. Perhaps the most rewarding meeting, for me at least, and certainly the most gripping and inspiring, was when O-block members brought forward a painting or poem they particularly value, and discussed its creation, symbolism and historical and cultural significance: there cannot be many groups of 16-year-olds in the country who have explored ‘The Fight between the Carnival and Lent’ by Peter Brueghel, Eugène Delacroix’s ‘Liberty Leading the People’, ‘The Little Dancer’ by Edgar Degas, and Robert Frost’s famous ‘The Road not Taken’, all in one night. Special mention, however, should go to the O-block Scholars, who, under the leadership of Lucas Pringle (5P) and Parras Joshi (5P), researched, organised and curated the Holocaust Memorial Exhibition, including panels detailing the events leading up to the Holocaust, the camps themselves, artwork inspired by the Holocaust, and the genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur. Because of their vision and determination, Dr Martin Stern, a survivor of the Holocaust, came to Repton to speak with pupils and teachers, giving all who met him life-changing insights, and offering them challenging and thought-provoking sociological and neurological analyses of the psychology of genocides. Lucas and Parras also arranged for Olivia Marks-Woldman, the Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to visit the School. She spoke at an evening of readings and music inspired by the Holocaust, again organised by the O-block Scholars. This was a remarkable undertaking, and one which palpably enriched the School – one of the highlights of the academic year.

CSD

THE LAW SOCIETY

CYRIL CHUKWUMAH (U6N)

////// MATT CLARK (U6N)

The Michaelmas Term saw a fascinating lecture given by Anthony Kerr-Dineen (Oundle School, formerly Director of Music at St Edward’s School, Oxford) about some hitherto undiscovered mathematical properties of the first movement of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony (which the School Orchestra performed immediately afterwards at the Michaelmas Concert). In the Lent Term, pupils enjoyed a visit to Birmingham Symphony Hall to experience the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra perform Holst’s ever-popular Planets Suite. In the Summer Term, we welcomed OR Charlie Jefferson to give a talk on composing for film, TV and advertising.

What will you miss most about your House? The people. Definitely the people. I have come into contact with people of such varied backgrounds; they have each made an impact on my life.

////// RHYS METHVEN (U6P)

The Parry Society (named after the composer of the school hymn, ‘Dear Lord and Father of mankind’) is a forum designed to enrich the experience of the School’s academic musicians by looking at topics beyond the exam specifications – through lectures, concerts, workshops and other events.

THE TEMPLE SOCIETY

To write about Law is hard – Not least because one must be on their guard To defend against the Prosecution, Who seek retribution: So your speech must be avant-garde. In the Law Society, however, Law is less hard, even if you’re not clever: Thanks to EJDF And his Monday night sesh, We are prepared to embark on a legal endeavour. Two Mock Trials there have been And many barristers we have seen: Laura was found guilty, alas, But Sheasby? Not a chance! The victim’s story was hard to believe. In the first, the jury was swayed By Sookie and Hoppo and the speeches they made, Although Lucas and Sophie stood strong in defence – Their arguments were strong and solid and dense: The talents of all four barristers displayed.

The second did feature Kathryn Stone – Legal Ombudsman for, not England alone, But Wales as well! So her adjudication Of the barristers’ most excellent oration Should be valued without any moan! In this Mock Trial There can be no denial: The skills of the witnesses, accused and victim Made it hard to pick holes in their ‘wisdom’, So no team of barristers won by a mile. Logan Mair, partner at Ashurst, Was one who spoke to us first, And kindly used his influence To offer work experience: About corporate law we conversed. Sarah Embery, CPS barrister, Was next to come – and not a disaster: Her talk was inspirational And truly educational – But some of her clients sound sinister! Jonathan Lawrence from Clyde & Co Is an inner-city lawyer, don’t y’know? He spoke about law and life in the city: He made it sound fun, but very busy – Although it pays enough to buy a chateau!

To London went the Society in February: Learning about legal jobs we spent a day; We explored a firm that allowed visitors – Stephenson-Harwood solicitors – They were posh enough to play croquet. We had an earlier visit to the Old Bailey (Where no decisions are made hastily): What we didn’t foresee Was the amount of CCTV That is needed to accuse someone faithfully. To Toby Fitzgerald we say thank you For all the knowledge that he knew, Before around London, later that day, We were permitted to stray, His barristers’ chambers we were led through. Many thanks go to EJDF, Not just for his Monday night sesh, But for all his hard work That made these events such a perk: His organisation is undoubtedly deft. I do hope the Society goes on and on – Which it will, because it is very strong. Its meetings and events Are undoubtedly immense And better than any of this rhymin’.

LAURA BRAMALL (U6A) – WITH APOLOGIES

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

THE GEOGRAPHY SOCIETY It has been another typically busy year for The Geography Society and it is with great delight that the campaign to have the ‘IT Block’ renamed as something more fitting has been a success: the geographers now reside in the newly-named Cattley School, after Leonard Cattley, former teacher of Geography and Housemaster of The Priory. The Wall of Inspiration now also boasts signatures from the legendary Sir David Attenborough and the equally-revered Sir Ranulph Fiennes; the new campaign to get either gentleman to come and speak at the school is ongoing, as is the quest to see the Northern Lights on the Iceland Expedition! At the beginning of the year, the geographers ventured out to watch Deep Water Horizon: not the most immediately apparent geographical film, but when one considers the environmental damage that was caused by the explosion and subsequent oil-spill from the rig, it was one that was highly relevant. Indeed, next academic year sees the release of the sequel to An Inconvenient Truth – something all aspiring geographers should be excited for and a film that has even more significance now that the US has elected a denier of climate change into the Oval Office… In the Michaelmas Term, we were fortunate enough to have Ian Packman come to the school to discuss his ventures around Africa. The students were impressed by his storytelling of using only public transport to encircle the continent and uplifted to learn about the economic diversification in countries that were formally reliant on oil. Later in the year, we were treated to a lecture by Miss Emily Penn on Oceanography, after which the U6 and L6 students attended a workshop about how best to manage micro-plastics within the world’s oceans. More recently, Repton welcomed Ben Heason, who was the lead climber on the first ascent of Angel Falls in Venezuela, and Alex Hibbert, who holds the world record for the longest unsupported Arctic exploration in history. Both of these lectures were highly motivational and inspirational, at a time when the exam groups were in need of an uplifting message! Looking ahead to next year, the Geography Department has been fortunate enough to become an affiliated branch member of the Geographical Association and so students will be able to look forward to many more lectures. See you in September!

RGDR

The Reptonian 2016/2017

THE DEBATING SOCIET Y We’re an eccentric bunch, not least for the fact we engage in and devote days to a discipline – public speaking – from which most people would rather turn and run the Steeplechase. On the surface, Debating is the absurd situation of archaic parliamentary formalities (This House Believes…) shaping debates whose existence might only have arisen yesterday. For instance, a debate on the freedoms of religious expression gathered particular significance after France’s burkini ban, and Lucas Pringle and I found ourselves debating whether Hillary Clinton had broken a glass ceiling for women at the final of the Birmingham Schools’ Competition back in November. Where I feel above all else that I’m involved in something that matters is when we debate some of the most history-defining ideas: Laura Bramall and I at the Cambridge Finals opposed the motion ‘This House Believes that the Government should prioritise Economic Equality over Economic Growth’, effectively a debate on the merits of capitalism vis-à-vis communism. Although the qualities that a debater accumulates at competitions and at our weekly meetings are incentives in themselves – excuse the publicity stunt but every successful Oxbridge applicant this year has been involved in Debating! – learning to debate with substance rather than rhetoric has never been more important in a world where ‘false facts’ take precedence over news and where university campuses everywhere are limiting free speech on the basis of abstract notions of ‘political correctness’. All that said, let’s get back to the Debating Society’s best year on record. Four years ago, Mimi Tarrant and I competed in our first competition at Nottingham Schools’: how indicative, therefore, that 4 years later, our youngest competing members, Lucas and Sophie Palmer, won the overall competition and our first ever national Debating title! We sent one team to the Cambridge Finals and achieved our best-ever Oxford Schools’ finish, with two further teams (Mimi and me; Laura and Sophie). This success was mirrored at the ESU Mace Competition, where our Junior team (Lucas, Sophie and Marcus Tarrant) was placed second,

with Lucas being awarded Outstanding Personality. In the Senior competition, we broke our longstanding third round record to become Regional champions, achieving a place at the Finals in London: in the top 12 schools out of some 300 originally competing. Competitions and successes drive their own momentum, but it is the competitiveness within the Society, not only by the members who compete but all those who attend weekly, that has justified the long drives and train journeys this year. On that note, special thanks ought to go to ARC and JDS, but, on my part, I’d like to say I am immensely proud to have been part of a project which consistently exceeds its budgets because of its success, and I would urge anyone, if they are to take up anything at Repton, to take up Debating. As we would say, the gains far outweigh the harms, and we beg to propose that Debating is the most important thing we do. Members involved in competitions this year: Lucas Pringle (5P), Sophie Palmer (5A), Marcus Tarrant (5S), Annie GerardPearse (U6M), Mimi Tarrant (U6M), Kyoko Canaway (U6G), Lizzie Martin de Bartholome (U6F), Manon Allen (U6F), Sam Riley (L6P), Jack Pollard (L6L), Dan McGarrity (U6N), Steve Richardson (U6N), Alice Earwicker (L6A), Ana Peters (5F), Serena Cole (5F) and Leo Parry (4C).

MANON ALLEN (U6F)

THE LITERARY SOCIETY Over the last year, LitSoc has travelled from cholera-stricken China to dystopian Britain; from the royal palace of Elsinore to the aristocratic kingdom of Italy. And all this from the comfort of The Abbey common room! Over the last year, the Society has claimed a few prizes, with Lucas Pringle (5P) placed 2nd in the international Ayn Rand Prize for his essay on the use of technology in the novel Anthem, beating 15,000 entrants in the process, followed by being placed runner-up in the Orwell Youth Prize, writing on the subject of free speech. Pippa Coombs (L6A) partook in an English Literature course at Villiers Park, where she investigated the themes behind Frankenstein, The Great Gatsby and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and also studied various philosophers, including Sigmund Freud. Pippa was also lucky enough to go to the open-air performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Globe during this course and enjoyed the experience immensely. The Society also enjoyed two talks from noted academics. The first, from Nathan Wadell, Professor of English at the University of Nottingham, was on dystopian literature from The Handmaid’s Tale to Nineteen Eighty-Four. A fascinating discussion followed, deepening not only the understanding of those studying dystopian literature as part of their A-Level course, but giving us all a wider appreciation of the genre. We were also lucky to welcome another speaker, Dr Jem Bloomfield, for a talk on The Duchess of Malfi in the Summer Term. The Society isn’t just talks and essays, however, and the trips to the Royal Shakespeare Company provided a great chance to relax and appreciate some great works of literature. We saw two productions over the course of the year, both offering a unique experience and story. The first was Cymbeline, one of Shakespeare’s lesser known works, in which ancient Britain is the setting to a tale of betrayal, seduction and murder. The production switched the gender of

THE MFL SOCIETY The MFL Department has continued to offer enriching activities for its linguists this year. Chapter Block has been ornamented with new display boards, where current affairs in Spanish, French and German, as well as forthcoming events, are displayed and renewed weekly for the students, and the Department has also launched its newsletter, with articles related to French culture being written by and for students. The first MFL Society meeting in the Michaelmas term was a quiz to test students’ cultural knowledge. The U6 New House boys (Harry Bennett, Cyril Chukwumah and Christopher Bowen) were worthy winners of this first competition. The Department also organised film nights, hosted by various boarding houses, for Juniors and Sixth Form, offering a relaxing opportunity for pupils to improve their language skills.

the titular character, presenting Cymbeline as a steadfast female monarch. This led to interesting discussions about the role of women in Shakespearean theatre, both historically and in modern productions. Our next trip to Stratford was to view an experimental but successful production of Hamlet. Placing the famous story in the context of an African military state, the typically dark and gloomy story was presented in vivid technicolour. Hamlet’s descent into madness was scored by the percussive African soundtrack, offering a fresh take on the famous story. It might seem simple for a literature society to pick a book to read, but this ignited much debate. After a long and frustratingly democratic process, we settled on The Painted Veil, a 1925 novel by W. Somerset Maugham. The novel tells the story of Kitty Garstin, a woman living in Hong Kong, trapped in a loveless marriage. Her affair with the manipulative Charlie sends her life into chaos when her husband, a seemingly meek doctor, threatens to publicly dishonour her unless she accompanies him to cholera-stricken China on a suicidal mission. The story touches on morality, religion, sexism and love in a powerful tale of betrayal and revelation. Thoughtful discussion of the novel was, of course, accompanied by a group viewing of the film (furnished by snacks provided by KJC). This year has seen the Society grow, both in membership and intellectual terms. We’re very grateful for the support of KJC, whether through insightful viewpoints or delicious brownies. Under this guidance, this bi-weekly meeting of literature enthusiasts has proven yet again the strength and passion of those in Repton’s English Department. We could go on, but, to shamelessly quote Hamlet, “Brevity is the soul of wit.”

LUCAS PRINGLE (5P)

In December, four Sixth Form students – Amy Corner (L6G), Cyril Chukwumah, Chris Bowen and Tom Coleman (L6S) – participated in an inter-school French Debating Competition, finishing as runners-up, with Coleman winning the coveted prize of Outstanding Speaker. The L6 linguists also embraced the opportunity to experience a Languages Taster Day at the University of Nottingham, attending lectures on films in French and Spanish and an introductory lesson on Biblical Art in European countries. Following this, Dr John Marks from the University of Nottingham was invited to give the Sixth Form and O-block a talk on work and social issues in France, based on the film Deux Jours, Une Nuit by the Darden brothers. Pupils really appreciated the university-level expertise in the analysis

of films, and this was augmented in March, when the L6 linguists were invited to a film study day at the University of Birmingham. They enjoyed studying the different dimensions of film – casting, camera angles, dialogue, colours, lighting and cinematography – as well as learning technical terms in their target language. The Juniors have also enjoyed participating in numerous linguistic and cultural activities this year, a highlight being the keenlycontested ‘Verb Challenge’, in which Amelia Wigglesworth (5G) was the runaway winner! Languages remain a challenging yet fascinating subject for students and it is always gratifying to see them embracing any opportunity to hone their skills.

MAP

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

THE RAMSEY SOCIETY The Ramsey Society was blessed this year by some of the most cerebral discussions in recent memory, with some markedly academic papers characterised by their rigorous research and unflinching, probing – at times discomfiting – questions. Lizzie Martin de Bartolome (U6F) set the tone, with some detailed, stringent and searching exegeses in her exploration of ‘Patriarchy and Misogyny in Genesis and the Church’. Leaping forward several millennia, Catherine McEwan (U6A) introduced us laypeople to ‘Theoretical Physics’. Ramsey Society’s demographics have long reflected the more academic strata of the U6, and it should come as little surprise when the papers produced reflect their concerns: Abigail Allin (U6G) brought a microscope to bear on the question of why women are still deterred from STEM subjects at university: while female medical students significantly outnumber their male counterparts, only 14% of STEM students are women. Abi forced us to question the conditions that might bring this about – and scales could be heard falling from eyes all around the Audit Room. Kyoko Canaway (U6G) asked us to read sections of Milton’s Paradise Lost, and then wondered why Satan is the most engaging character in the poem! This led to a fascinating and inspiring dialectic on the definition of Evil, in one of the most intellectually challenging meetings I can remember. I have been grateful, too, to those colleagues who have led meetings based on their own areas of expertise: RGD offered a long-awaited and much-appreciated evening of practical Chemistry, as the Society was invited to measure the mass of an atom using a beaker and a human hair! Mimi Tarrant (U6M), a true heiress of C.P. Snow’s desire to undermine polarity in academia, and in cultural thought, proffered to us the possibility of a ‘Theistic Darwinism’, setting out complex and at times counter-intuitive conceptions and approaches with all the deft articulacy of an experienced tour-guide; it was a privilege to be able to listen to the discussion Mimi’s paper generated.

The Reptonian 2016/2017

THE HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY It is through Philosophy that one succeeds in questioning the world around us – our language, our nature, and our society – and it is through The Hampshire Society that this philosophy can be discovered at Repton. Our committee meetings may always conclude that the world doesn’t exist and most of us leave the Audit Room at 10pm on Tuesdays utterly perplexed, but that serves only to draw us back a fortnight later to be confused all over again. The Society has certainly had a busy year, with lectures from philosophical brainbox Dr Michael Lacewing (Heythrop College, London) on the place of emotion in moral thinking, and our own MWTH on the collision of Physics and Philosophy, both providing stimulation for many a later discussion. While the former argued that, without emotions, very little would be achieved in terms of rational decision making, MWTH favoured the more deterministic argument, asking us to question the possible lack of any free will. For Holocaust Memorial Week, we must thank the O-block scholars for organising an exhibition and talks from Olivia Marks-Woldman (Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust) and Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor – who will remain most pertinently in our memories; it is a rare opportunity to talk to someone who has known such suffering and yet has such faith in humanity and religion. The Junior branch of the society, Hamlets, is thoroughly worthy of a shout-out: secretary Sophie Palmer (5A) is matched in her enthusiasm by the ever-increasing number of juniors who attend the meetings. The old favourite, ‘Philosophy Shop’, is always a success, with older members of the society providing a variety of activities for the Hamlets and (occasionally) imparting some philosophical wisdom. This year, Hamlets meetings have

also covered a wide range of philosophical topics from Kantian Ethics to Descartes’ questioning of our own senses. This year also saw the re-introduction of the Hampshire Magazine, edited by Emma Williamson (U6F): I would urge all members of the school, philosophers or otherwise, to have a read. The articles, despite some of them being ‘too honest’ to publish (!), are written by a collection of highly-curious individuals and are certainly not confined to the boundaries of traditional Philosophy (if such can be considered to exist). Behind the public face of the Society, which hosts glamorous lectures and interactive meetings, is AVES and a small group of committee members. Come rain or even more rain, these philosophers have loyally turned out, not only to engage in a typically existentialist debate, but also to organise the whole-school Hampshire sessions and find ways to inspire the younger, undiscovered philosophers of the school. Led by Deputy Secretary Izzy Emmett (U6M), we have created a philosophical reading list to rival even the Headmaster’s and, as a sign of their love of Philosophy, this committee is well on its way to getting its very own philosophy hoodies (if the Secretary is organised enough – apologies!). I hope that, next year, the Society will continue to thrive; I’m sure it will, considering the intelligence and enthusiasm of the philosophers who remain. It was in Hampshire that my love of Philosophy was founded, and it is due to its members that an atmosphere so conducive to philosophical discussion is created. Thank you to AVES for all of her hard work, to Izzy for her enthusiasm and our regular philosophical musings, and to the committee for creating such a lively sphere of debate.

THE BIOLOGY FIELD TRIP From Thursday 13th October to Monday 17th October 2016, 34 intrepid U6 biologists, led by EGMS, CEG, GKR and SMI, set off on their annual pilgrimage to Margam Discovery Centre, a beautiful and ecologically-sensitive FSC residential centre, nestled in the rolling countryside of Margam Park in South Wales. With 850 acres of beautiful parkland and 600 deer for company, the biologists undertook a wide range of investigations and experiments, coupled with tutorials and discussions both to enhance their understanding of the taught elements of the syllabus and to satisfy a number of core practicals required by AQA. The FSC centre has a wide-range of diverse ecosystems at its doorstep, including mixed woodland, freshwater streams and ponds, sand-dunes, grasslands and rocky shores. More than that, it has superb facilities and knowledgeable and welcoming tutors, and this year we were led by the tireless, informative and always enthusiastic Danielle and Abbie. After a late arrival on Thursday night, we travelled the following morning to Bracelet Bay on the Gower Peninsula to study the ecology of the rocky shore ecosystem and the adaptations to life in this extreme environment. Much fun was had rockpooling, particularly with a ‘Showstopper’ prize awaiting the most exciting discovery! Despite some mighty crabs and stunning starfish, a particularly impressive piece of driftwood was voted the winner… On Saturday, Laura Bacon (U6A) was very fortunate not only to share her 18th birthday with her fellow biologists and teachers, but also to spend it sampling the weird and wonderful invertebrates lurking at the bottom of the freshwater streams and ponds that criss-cross through the park. Prizes for the biggest dragonfly nymph (it really was a monster) and the smallest-cased caddisfly nymph were eagerly competed for. Birthday cake was

eaten, eaten, and eaten again, and the day was topped off with a wonderful campfire gathering, home-made bread-on-a-stick, s’mores galore, and some of the worst singing I have ever heard. However, Nicole Bowen’s (U6F) ‘dancing’, in particular, was a true highlight of the week. We awoke to a beautiful Sunday morning, and spent much of the day at Kenfig National Nature Reserve, one of Wales’ top sand-dune reserves, with all the special plants, birds and insects that depend on this type of coastal habitat for their survival. Whilst studying psammosere succession and completing a core-practical were the aims of the day, we enjoyed a sunny picnic on the beach and an impromptu but highly competitive game of rounders. In the evening, having set our small mammal traps after a really delicious Sunday roast dinner, the Biology Field Trip Quiz Extravaganza took centre stage, and it was a close affair with Matt, Oscar, Mimi, Catherine and Peter’s team winning by just one point. Our final day was spent checking the traps (one toad, a slug, a field mouse and two bank voles – quite a success) and consolidating our learning from the previous days. Despite terrible rain forecasts before we arrived, we were very lucky with the weather, but even more fortunate to have the opportunity to spend such an enjoyable 5 days with such a super group of hard-working, fun, and enthusiastic U6 biologists. This year’s field trip will live long in the memory.

SMI

LAURA BRAMALL (U6A)

CSD

CCF

The Reptonian 2016/2017

CCF SUMMER CAMP 2016 SATURDAY After Speech Day we left for Beckingham at about 1400. After a short journey filled with excitement and talk of the week to come, we arrived at the camp and unloaded from the bus. We settled into our accommodation, which consisted of half-dome-shaped buildings, with single beds lining the walls. We got a short brief on what we were doing the next day, and the organisation of the camp. Our arrival was fairly uneventful: we spent the rest of the evening relaxing in our huts, and getting used to the layout of the camp. We all bedded down early to prepare us for the week ahead.

JAMIE PRINGLE (U6P)

SUNDAY After a comfy night in the huts, we woke up bright and early at 6am on Sunday morning, preparing ourselves for a big day with a full English breakfast. We collected our weapons from the store, which was very exciting for the A Coy as many of them had never experienced this properly before. Throughout the day we had four stands to complete: skills at arms, navigation, fighting in built-up areas and woodland, and target indication. Firstly, we had to use our compasses for a game of navigation golf, which was highly amusing. The A-block got a real taste for army life as we learned types of fire control orders, such as GRIT and CLAP; these would come in useful for our section attacks on the enemy during the 24-hour exercise later in the week. We ended off the day in typical Reptonian style with a game of football, then back to our huts for some much-needed rest.

HERMIONE WRIGHT (U6G)

MONDAY On Monday, we had a personal development day at Rutland Water. The coach trip ended up taking longer than expected, so we arrived a bit late, meaning we had to jump right in to our water activities on the lake. Once we were allocated our wetsuits and changed, we were split up into two groups: one doing canoeing first; the second, paddle-boarding. The canoeing turned into a racing arena, where groups of twos and threes battled against one another to try and win the race back to the shoreline. Some of these races involved needing to switch into other people’s canoes mid-race; others were battles of pure speed. This was a lot of fun, even if it did mean falling in a lot! With the paddle boarding, the NCOs felt convinced that having seven of us on an eight-man board was the best way to go, whereas the younger cadets took to a more simple method of keeping to the two- or oneman boards. Despite the NCO board lagging behind, we regrouped in open water and the games began: “Heads, shoulders, knees and toes” started events, causing those who had not yet found their sea-legs to stumble about their board – and those who fell in usually insisted on dragging those that remained above water in with them! After lunch, we moved on to our next activities, which included rock-climbing, high ropes and mountain-biking. For rock-climbing, we were in groups of similar ability, most mastering all of the walls they had to provide. Next was the high ropes, where some of us learned to overcome our fears, while others attempted to complete the course with their eyes closed. Once again, games were introduced: we were made to carry a bucket of water around the mid-air assault course. For our last activity, we went mountain-biking, where luckily, unlike some years, we did not sustain any injuries and were all able to make our way around Rutland Water’s mounds and hills. The last game of the day saw a square set up: the aim was to cycle inside, challenging one another in an attempt to push both friends and staff out of the square. Some mastered this skill quicker than others, Major Wadsworth being one! It was an amazing day, filled with laughter and excitement, despite the long coach trip.

ABBEY LLOYD (U6G)

TUESDAY On Tuesday, we teamed up with another school and learnt how to build section attack maps from surrounding materials, such as leaves, mud, and branches and twigs. We then went into the woods in pairs and shot some blanks at targets, which was fun. Whilst we were doing this, the A-block were practising their fire and movement drills and reviewing types of fire control orders. In the afternoon, we ran a section attack on a position nearby, using the skills we had learnt earlier to show the A-block what our plan was. The attack itself was a lot of fun, especially because it was A-block’s first taste of a blank-firing exercise and gave the NCOs a chance to take a leadership role in the field. Overall, this was probably my favourite day of Summer Camp.

JULIAN PATIENT (U6P)

WEDNESDAY On the Wednesday, we went to the range, where we did a circuit of different stands in groups. The first stand was learning marksmanship principles, helping us understand how to shoot effectively, after which we began with live-fire using an L98 A2 Rifle. We fired at two different-sized targets from 100m and again at 200m. We then went to fire in different positions on a different range: from standing in a trench, sitting down, and then kneeling supported against a post. The next stand was the shotgun shoot: standing in a wooden cage and taking 10 shots at clay discs. Finally, we fired the air-rifle, lying under a camouflage cover and shooting at a target in reasonably close range. At the end of the day we were given various

awards for our shooting, based on our respective scores from the 100m and 200m shoot. Overall, the range package was a great day, with many of us receiving awards for shooting and thoroughly enjoying the range experience.

JESS RICHARDSON (L6G)

THURSDAY Finally, the day we had all been practising for: Competition Day. The day began with an air of tension; by the end of the day, we all would know who was the best contingent. After breakfast, we gathered for drill inspection, dressed in our best uniforms, with boots gleaming in the sunshine. On the march over to the inspection area, I told the group the format and, most importantly, to relax and enjoy it. The inspecting Sergeant-Major was very impressed with our dress and the attitude of the cadets. Having been dismissed, we made our way over to the holding area before the drill competition in the square. Everyone was focused in the march onto the square, wanting to win. Ten minutes later, with very few mistakes, we marched off the square with smiles on our faces, knowing we had done a good job. It was a short turn-around for some cadets after this, as next was the air-rifle shoot. Having already been judged on our rifle-shooting on our range day, this was our last chance to prove ourselves. There was some controversy around the shoot, with sights not being properly zeroed, but we came through. We then had a little down-time before the presentation. The CO of the Camp announced the results. Drill competition winners: Repton! After some houses’ performance in Barnes

Squad this year, some of the NCOs were quite surprised, but we had worked hard for this, so we were all very proud. Overall, Repton came second in the Best Contingent competition, which took into account everything from the week, including the live-firing, as well as the Competition Day itself. After this, we were off to prepare for our 24-hour exercise. Rations were broken down, camo paint applied, and orders given. We were to be dropped off and make our way to a farm, which we were told an enemy had taken over. Our orders were to clear the farm and set up our harbour area inside. Making our way across fields, through woodland, and over rivers, we neared the farm. After setting up an all-round defence, we cleared the house in teams of two. After some fast-paced room clearing, we had a bit of time to relax and set up our “beds” for the evening. For the night exercise, our orders were to survey our enemy without being seen. To aid our stealth, we left our voices at the camp: from here on, it was all hand-signals. After sneaking through hedgerows, crawling through ditches, and darting across fields, we made our way to where we could almost see the enemy. Suddenly, a flare fired overhead. We quickly retreated back to the relative safety of our rendezvous-point and set up an all-round defence. After checking everyone was accounted for and good to go, we made our way quickly back to camp, going back the way we came, which involved more running, more crawling, and climbing back through hedges.

FRIDAY It had rained heavily during the night, so we were very glad to have a roof over our heads, even if it meant sleeping on cold bricks. Breakfast was ration packs, while receiving our orders. We were to destroy the enemy position in the treeline we had surveyed the previous night. 1.0 Section were ordered to clear out the enemy on the first pass, and 2.0 Section were to clear up the remainder. Using our pairs fire and manoeuvre we had practised earlier in the week, we made our way up through the enemy position, destroying it completely. It was a very fun exercise that everyone enjoyed, despite the lack of sleep. Finally, Major Wadsworth split off the NCOs into one section, with Lt March-Shawcross and 2Lt Jones as IC and 2IC, respectively. As our final section attack of the week, it went well and was very enjoyable for all involved. On behalf of all of us, I would like to thank Major Wadsworth again for organising such a fantastic week, and for making our last Summer Camp the best one that the NCOs have attended.

JAMIE PRINGLE (U6P)

TRIPS

The Reptonian 2016/2017

THE POLITICS AND HISTORY

TRIP TO AMERICA

Despite the 5:30am start, departing from The Arch before the sun had even risen, the sixth form Politics and History students remained in high spirits as we flew from Heathrow Airport to land in Washington DC on a sunny afternoon.

With less than a month to go until the presidential election, tension was evidently high throughout America’s capital. As we were guided through Capitol Building and the Library of Congress, we learned about how the Capitol was physically built by African slaves and how the American Constitution was shaped by the Founding Fathers through months and years of ongoing debate until a consensus was reached. The American Constitution we know today still holds the same values of freedom, democracy and equality for all. Outside the Supreme Court, we also learned about how the Supreme Court Justices are the final interpreters of the federal constitutional laws written by the Founding Fathers. After lunch, we took advantage of the warm and sunny afternoon to visit Arlington Cemetery. There we saw the graves of soldiers and their wives and families, with the cemetery being in use since the days of the American Civil War. It was a sobering experience as we looked over the miles-long stretches of graves of people who had died for their country. We also saw President John F. Kennedy’s grave, where the ‘Eternal Flame’ resides next to his grave and the graves of his wife and children. The following day we made a brief stop in Philadelphia on our way to New York City. In Philadelphia, we were given a guided walking tour of landmarks such as Ben Franklin’s home, his grave, and the Liberty Bell. After dodging through hectic New York traffic and checking into our hotel, we descended upon Times Square at 6pm, observing all the bright lights, aggressive advertisements, and shopping opportunities as far as the eye could see. After exhausting our wallets, we made our way to the Empire State to observe the city at night. It was surprisingly chilly, but an amazing experience nonetheless.

The following day we visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, where we learned about the immigrants that early America was built on, such as Jews and Poles fleeing Nazi Germany, or Mongolians facing oppression from China, who decided to seek refuge in America. Later in the afternoon, we visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero, where we looked around at the artefacts and remnants of the worst terrorist attack in America’s history. It was a time of reflection and a time of observance, to remember the innocent men and women who had died and those who tried to save them. We met with Fire Captain Mitchell, who was on the scene after the first plane hit the World Trade Centre, and from him we learned how the infrastructure of the building had prevented the Hudson River dam from bursting and flooding many other buildings in the city. On our final day in New York City, we went to the top of the Rockefeller Centre building and observed New York from a different angle. With the sun shining and blue skies all around us, it was an ideal place to visit on our last day. After our visit, we were given a few hours to spend our remaining dollars at various stores, as well as having the opportunity to relax in Central Park in the scorching 30-degree weather. Outside of Trump Tower, we witnessed scenes of people exercising their freedom of speech (by arguing with each other), and the heightened security around New York as the election loomed above us. The numerous activities had exhausted us, but it was safe to say that we had experienced all the great sights and experiences that Washington, Philadelphia, and New York had to offer us.

ELOISE HARRIS (L6M)

TRIPS

The Reptonian 2016/2017

YOUNG ENTERPRISE AWARD Georgie Brownhill, Indigo Omilana and Imogen Hacking (all L6M) received a national award for the ‘Highest Profit’ in the Tenner Young Enterprise Challenge. The girls raised a significant £2,096 for the School’s Lent Charity, Foundation Derbyshire, by selling personalised House joggers. The Tenner Challenge is Young Enterprise’s nationwide competition for budding entrepreneurs. Participants are given £10 and have one month to set up a business – coming up with an idea of a product or service that they could sell, thus gaining first-hand experience of what it is like to be an entrepreneur.

THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE! THE GEOGRAPHY TRIP TO ICELAND The last Thursday morning of the Lent Term was one of extreme excitement: not only were many of Repton’s keenest geographers missing two days of school, but they were about to embark on a trip of a lifetime to the land of fire and ice… Iceland! A short bus journey to Birmingham Airport and plenty of Costa Coffees later, the party found themselves on approach to Keflavik Airport. Upon arrival, we were quickly whisked away to experience some of Reykjavik’s finest buildings: the Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral, the Perlan and Harpa concert hall. After countless selfies, it was time to visit the first hotel. The enthusiasm continued as the comforts of the ‘salubrious’ accommodation were discovered. There was no rest for the wicked though, as a long bus journey awaited the team the next day, who were ready to experience some of Iceland’s most incredible locations. The morning of the second day was spent visiting some of the world’s most impressive waterfalls, such as Skogarfoss, and for some there was the chance to take a shower of a more ‘monumental’ nature! Onwards, and this time we were at the visitor centre of the infamous Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Here, we were able to watch a short film compiled by some of the eruption’s survivors, documenting everything which had happened. A short journey down the road (or almost down the road, courtesy of a broken bus) meant that we now found ourselves at the Solheimajokull glacier. Crampons fitted, we proceeded to trek up this formidable body of ice. A quick sip of pure glacial water and we were back down, after participating in this once-in-a-lifetime activity. The third day arrived quickly, following a group snowball fight the previous evening, and nothing slowed as we made our way to the location of our next hike, this time in order to see the incredible Black

When deciding upon what product they could sell, the girls tried to look at missing markets within the school and what was already popular. Once they recognised a niche for House merchandise and clothing, and a desire for joggers amongst the pupil body, they set about putting their new business together. The joggers are navy, with the house name printed down the right-hand side in the individual house colours. To ensure the product and design was right, they consulted a number of pupil panels, from which they received positive feedback. The large number of orders made, and the substantial amount of money raised as a result, showed what a real hit around school they were and proved a popular new addition to house attire. Receiving their national awards at a ceremony at the Bank of England in May was justice for all their hard work and effort. Congratulations girls!

ECS

Waterfall. Then on to the Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon, after a quick stop to look at one of the last remaining pieces of a bridge destroyed by the 2011 eruption. Lunch was consumed on the set of James Bond’s Die Another Day, meaning several more selfies on the nearby beach. The fourth day was arguably the busiest, as we proceeded to visit our last waterfall, and no doubt best – the world-famous Gulfoss, meaning ‘Golden Waterfall.’ Next up were the Geysers at the Geysir park, whose eruptions were well worth the wait! We continued the day at the Thingvellir National Park, where we rehearsed our Viking clap for the first time… Enough said. Next we were tested with a frightening afternoon climbing the high ropes, made worse by the intermittent wind pushing us off-balance. A pizza party that evening diverted our minds from our fearsome afternoon, before a night-time visit to a local waterpark, which concluded the day. We were desperate to get back to our grandiose hotel rooms for another well-earned rest. The final day began with an excursion underground – lava-tubing in the narrow passages created by steam and lava. This was not for the faint-hearted! We were told of the ghost of an angry woman living underground, who creates these unbelievable sights. Finally, we were on to the Blue Lagoon, which, for some, was the highlight of the trip. The trip came to a close as we feasted on Icelandic fish and chips; bringing a whole new meaning to the word fish! What a mind-blowing place Iceland is! Can’t recommend it highly enough…

OLIVER THOMPSTONE (4L)

CCF

The Reptonian 2016/2017

EXERCISE SKI CADET 2017 Repton CCF joined forces with Derbyshire Army Cadet Force during February Half Term for Exercise Ski Cadet in Bavaria, Germany.

After the long coach journey, seven cadets and two staff arrived at De Gams Hotel Resort ready for the exciting week ahead. After collecting our skis, boots, poles and helmets, we settled into the accommodation for the night. The first session saw the cadets broken down into ability groups, so that each cadet not only enjoyed skiing at the level they were capable of, but also ensured there was progression during the week. The first day saw everyone have a fantastic time on the slopes: the weather was outstanding and, if there had been doubt as to what they would achieve during the week, it was now obvious that the groups would be pushed at an enjoyable but testing level. Whilst most skiing holidays may see two sessions of skiing during the day, comprising two hours either side of lunch, having our own military instructors meant we spent on average seven hours per day on the slopes. The evenings were used for theoretical lessons on avalanche training, safety and first aid; time was also spent using the local pool, going to the shops and relaxing after a hard day’s skiing! The week continued to show improvement at all ability levels of skiing. Wednesday, however, proved a difficult day, with conditions restricting visibility and heavy snow making the going hard. This resulted in the instructors calling an early finish in the interests of safety. Thursday’s weather improved, returning to clear skies and the groups enjoyed the fantastic conditions, utilising all possible skiing time available. After six full days of skiing, both staff and cadets were awarded their British Snow School Awards, the highest snow sport award level being Level Nine, which three cadets achieved, along with a recommendation to attend the Alpine Ski Leaders Course (which can be achieved through the Cadet movement). The remaining four cadets achieved Level Six; the two staff… well, they also ran. It is the intention, after an extremely successful trip this year, that our CCF will repeat this adventure next year, allowing more cadets to take part and to improve further the ability levels of those that took part this year.

JC WADSWORTH MAJOR | CONTINGENT COMMANDER

“ONE SHOULD NEVER WRITE DOWN OR UP TO PEOPLE, BUT OUT OF YOURSELF” Christopher Isherwood (OR)

////// HARRIET GLOVER (U6M)

FEATURE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

REPTON AND THE GREAT WAR :1916-17 EDITORIAL

A DEBATE WAS HELD IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY ON OCTOBER 24TH, ON THE FOLLOWING MOTION

Those of us who can remember the “proper Speech Days” of peace-time are now growing tragically few. On “proper Speech Days”, Repton was invaded by ORs, chiefly of the ‘Varsity sort’, who played cricket and lay out in deck-chairs and ate strawberry ices, for all the world as though once again they were to say “Here, Sir” at the Library steps when the bell rang. Speech Day was one long, “fine, careless rapture”, a frolic of rejuvenated adolescence; the band played in the Paddock, and it was very good to lie out at full length with music in one’s ears, a strawberry in one’s mouth, and before one’s eyes the green and white freshness of cricket.

THAT EVENTS DURING THE WAR JUSTIFY THE CLAIM OF WOMEN TO THE VOTE.

Then came the War, and the OR match no longer featured as part of the day. ORs are scattered to the ends of the earth and, since we cannot shake them by the hand, we send them out a great greeting from all of us. They are not forgotten. We may seem to them to be absorbed in the small details of School life, but it is not so. We are all preparing to follow in their steps, to take up the fight as they showed us how, and, while we yet remain at the School which is both ours and theirs, our thoughts constantly turn towards them. When the end shall have come, we may hope for yet another “proper Speech Day” more memorable than all that have gone before or shall come after, when Youth with experience of mighty wars in three continents shall meet Youth of blessed innocence, and the two shall unite and give thanks.

THE REPTONIAN, JUNE 1917

NOVEMBER 1917

A LETTER FROM THE FRONT We were doing an attack, and when our barrage opened, the Boche put up a thick counter barrage of machine gun fire. We had to wait ten minutes after the show started, before we got out of our trench – it was extraordinary to see the hitherto deserted ground, suddenly covered with running men, appearing from nowhere. We spent the time listening to the absolutely continuous scream of our shells, and the steady patter of bullets on our parapet – I, for one, went through a variety of emotions while waiting: such as wondering what it felt like to be killed, and whether the carrying party would bring up any rum, when it was dark. We got over the parapet without many casualties, and pushed on some way, till we got over a low ridge – then every one with me got hit – I wandered on, hoping I should not arrive entirely unattended at a Boche

DEBATE ON WOMEN AND THE VOTE

trench, when a bang on my leg brought me over – I rolled into a friendly shell-hole, bandaged myself up, and made myself as comfortable as I could. At intervals I peeped over the top: other parts of the line seemed to have got on pretty well, but near me I could only see a few bodies. Then, suddenly, a great whirr, and I thought my last hour had come – it was a partridge flying past! At dusk I began to feel distinctly lonely; so, as the machine guns were only intermittent now, I crawled back to see what I could find of the Battalion. I discovered about 100 men of my Coy and another digging themselves in, just behind the ridge, under the direction of one officer. I did what I could to help, and we “consolidated the position” – at least we tried to – of course it rained, and it was incredibly dark; however we carried on through the night, fearing a counter-attack every minute. I felt an awful

coward, but I suppose Brother Boche felt a worse one, as he didn’t counter. About 1 am an angel appeared, in the shape of a transport officer, with food – and rum. We had had no food since 11 am, and it had been raining steadily. Just as it began to get light, we saw some figures running towards us “Here comes the counter-attack “ we thought ; and opened fire – but it proved to be merely a few Germans anxious to surrender. About 5.30 angel No. 2 descended, in the shape of a messenger to say that another officer was coming up, and that I was to go down and get my wound dressed. So I slowly, but joyfully, staggered down. As you may gather, my wound is only slight, and I’m lucky to get home with it.

S.S. JENKYNS (STAFF 1906) NOVEMBER 1916

Mr Anstie opened the debate. He pointed out the absurdity of the hysterics over the war-work which women are doing; as a matter of fact, women have in the past done more than their full share of the business of the world. There are two sorts of anti-feminists–the vulgar and the cultured–and the motion is the embodiment of the latter point of view. He brought forward the following reasons for giving women the suffrage, basing their claim not on war-work, but their position as human beings–the natural rights of women–the problems of the future and their general influence for the good of the race. The opposition to woman suffrage is based on (1) “Women do nothing to justify their claim to the vote”–no; but their position as members of the community justifies it. (2) “Many women do not pay taxes”, but the independent incomes of women are still increasing. After denying that all women would naturally vote the same as their husbands, he closed with the statement “that women must bear their share of the responsibility.”

they ought never to have been married. Women were always entitled to the vote, and the War has shed new light on the position of woman as an independent and rational creature. Equal representation is implied in our constitution. Woman is either not an organic part of the community or incapable of her own nature to use the vote. In the past, the sphere of woman was bounded by her duty as wife and mother, but the conditions of modern society have emancipated her. She is an organic member of society. It is unfair to deny her capability to use the vote till she has an opportunity to use her powers. The War has developed her and made her realise herself; the granting of the vote will enable her to rise to the full measure of her capabilities.

Mr McLean opened his speech with a quotation from Stevenson, showing how the extension of the franchise would cause home strife and the intrusion of effeminacy to England’s politics. Men would be outnumbered and swamped by the women, which would be unfair to men who have faced death for their country to return home and find their opinions outweighed. He also stated that women, after the War, would want to get back to their quiet homes and leave the noisy factories. Finally Mr McLean compared the modern suffragette to the Chartist of 1838. In conclusion, Mr McLean said that time alone had prevented him from drawing any more reasons against women’s suffrage, but he trusted his speech would have the desired effect.

The President was ready to admit that if women had ever deserved the vote, they deserved it now. He intended to show that they had never been justified in claiming the vote and that the obstacles in the way were more real now than ever. The anti-feminist section would be decidedly influenced if women were given the vote; moreover their claims cannot be justified because the State is not bound in justice to render good for good, but only to protect its subjects from actual injury. He regarded woman’s present sphere as a special privilege to bring up children worthy of the state. “We call those nations barbarous”, he said, “which make their women do all the manual labour”. It was his opinion that to give the vote to women was finally to force them into all employments which are now regarded as unfit for the gentler sex. In conclusion, he himself was a true feminist in that he wished women to have the best possible lot; he could not therefore admit that women were justified in demanding that which could not bring them to any advantage but was ultimately to their own hurt.

Mr Manoukian rather scoffed at the home bliss propounded by Mr McLean. After an inopportune remark about marriage (greeted by “Shame! Shame!”), he held that if two people would quarrel about a vote

After an interesting discussion in which Messrs Anstie, Innes, Holdsworth, Darling, Falk and Jelliinek took part, Mr Gollancz addressed the House. He divided woman’s position into three parts

1 Edward Anstie (Mitre 1912) Killed in action in March 1918, aged 19 2 Zaven Manoukian (Orchard 1912) Killed in action in September 1918, aged 19 3 William McLean (New 1913) Later taught at Malvern College 1946-1966. Died April 1979 4 Brian Bradnack (Latham 1912) Later Headmaster of Worcester College for the Blind. Died January 1973

–the home, labour, and her position as it should be. In the first case it is the object of the feminist to make family life a better thing. That woman should not be a pretty delight was demonstrated in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. Secondly, woman had been forced into industry and that life of activity and energy was anything but degrading; it opened a wider outlook and enabled woman to develop, thirdly, in the past the girl had been educated for the sole purpose of getting married. Their mind was concentrated on this object alone –one side of life was over emphasized, hence arose the very real tragedy of the Old Maid. In modern times a great number of women do not marry. The ideal position of woman should not be bounded by hope of finding a husband. Mr Cowdell dealt first with chivalry, an innate quality neither a product of the Middle Ages nor one which can be exterminated; at present it is latent, and the feminist in not setting out to revive chivalry has missed the root of the evil. He quoted an instance of marriage which lacked perfect love, and through its lack was disaster, that of Brand and Agnes. Finally he drew the attention of the House to marriages in which woman had exercised a fatal influence over man as Delilah who “ran” Samson, and of the end to which they came. After the proposer and opposer had summed up their cases, the Motion was put to the vote. For the Motion in the Upper House: 8. Against the Motion: 5 For the Motion in the Lower House: 4. Against the Motion: 21 The Motion was therefore won in the Upper House by three votes and lost in the Lower House by seventeen.

THE REPTONIAN, NOVEMBER 1916

FEATURE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

REFLECTIONS ON A CENTURY OF CHANGE One-hundred years ago, women had comparatively little influence, either politically or socially, but, as the First World War progressed, support for women’s suffrage – the right to vote – also increased. This national trend can even be seen within Repton’s own history. On 24th October 1916, The Reptonian records that a debate was held on the motion “That events during the War justify the claim of women to the vote”, which won in the Upper House (i.e. the officials of the Debating Society) by 3 votes, but lost in the Lower House (other members of the School present) by 17 votes. Even this partial show of support from pupils at the time for the vote for women was a significant statement. The boys felt that the “war has shed new light on the position of a woman as an independent and rational creature”, while the Whip speaker concluded that it was “unfair to deny her capability to use the vote till she has an opportunity to use her powers”. Opinions voiced on the other side of the bench, however, reflect the views of much of wider society at the time, that women should want to return to their quiet home life after the war and that, if women were given the vote, then it would “force them into all employments which are now regarded as unfit for the gentler sex”. Now that the chances of women in many sectors of employment are considered equal, it is difficult to imagine a world where women could not own their own houses, have their own credit cards or hold positions which were considered by men as being important. Society has made large advances towards the equality for which women have long campaigned, and which has meant that all national constitutions since 1995 now include guarantees for gender equality. These acts

were prompted by the actions of pioneering women, such as Amelia Earhart, who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932, Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister and, recently, Cressida Dick, who became the first woman to lead London’s Metropolitan Police Force in its 188-year history. As the Feminist movement grew in force in the 1960s and 70s, Repton, too, made another important decision in its history: it became a co-educational school in 1970, when Carole Blackshaw and Sally Keenan became the first female members of Repton’s Sixth Form. From this point, the number of girls at Repton increased dramatically and, in July 1978, the construction of the first girls’ boarding house, The Abbey, started. The year Margaret Thatcher moved into 10, Downing Street also saw the arrival of Repton’s first female boarders, reflecting the view that it was beneficial for both boys and girls to experience co-education. Dr Katharine Dell, the first Head of House in the Abbey in 1979, reflected on her experience of joining Repton, being the only girl in her History set and feeling shy, but soon finding that she could integrate, and becoming immersed in the Music Department. The Abbey attracted great attention and speculation from the boys, with the girls being seen as a “strange group of troglodyte creatures, who slouch and scratch their heads continuously”. By 1981, however, the number of girls attending Repton had risen to 60 and they were widely accepted in all areas of school life. The Abbey’s reputation developed and the girls were able to field three netball teams and two hockey teams in 1982, as well as fielding a regular team in the annual Steeplechase event. Girls were keen to throw themselves into life at Repton and seized every opportunity they were given.

PLANET EARTH II: THE SAVIOUR OF 2016 Sundays at 8pm in the long months of winter were, for the impossibly-earnest Head of Geography, RGDR, a chance to escape from Repton and travel with his childhood hero around the world, from the Galapagos to the Himalayas to the streets of Jodphur. Having invited virtually everyone he laid eyes on in the week preceding the airing of the first episode, and buying the Spar out of Celebrations, RGDR was ready for Attenborough’s much-anticipated sequel, as were the 40-or-so students who sat expectantly in the Sci Pri Lecture Theatre on the first cold November night. Needless to say, for 6 weeks, millions of people were captivated by arguably Attenborough’s best work to date and Planet Earth II was, both worldwide and in Repton, a complete success. But, what made Planet Earth II, a nature programme, bring in 2.27 million viewers between the ages of 16-34 compared with, on the same weekend, The X-Factor only bringing in 1.62 million viewers in the same age bracket?

It has been speculated that Planet Earth II’s success could be twofold: firstly, it seems that watching the brutality in nature brings alive a part of ourselves, which, despite being slightly disturbing, is also strangely comforting in a primitive way. Secondly, and more importantly, Planet Earth II offered viewers the chance to escape. You could argue that escapism is the purpose of television generally, but Planet Earth II offered something different. The viewer was not dragged through the clubs of Newcastle on a “propa mental neet on the toon” or subjected to yet more scathing, self-important rants from Simon Cowell on his quest for wealth and ego, but was instead transported to the most impressive and picturesque corners of the globe, with close-up, high-quality shots of spectacles and landscape that it is difficult to dream of, always accompanied by the comforting familiarity of David Attenborough’s calm voice. In a year like 2016, with millions of refugees risking death to flee their homes, unpredictable election wins and yet more inhuman terrorist attacks, Planet Earth II helped remind people that, in these tough times, like the little lizard being chased by the Galapagos Racer Snakes, we all have the capacity to survive and protect ourselves.

MATTHEW JANKINSON (L6L)

Today, almost 300 girls belong to four boarding houses and play an integral role in all aspects of school life. Thanks to their Repton education, they are able to enter into a wide range of careers and this is, in no small part, due to the pioneering work of the first girls, as well as the progressive nature of some boys and staff 100 years ago.

ALICE EARWICKER (L6A)

STEEP ON THE MOVE Squelching our way though ten feet of mud, rain and the occasional grassy patch a Mitre girl, a Garden girl and I, the slowest Abbey girl, are conquering the school’s infamous Steeplechase. The Garden girl, Abbie, is sending funny videos of soaking Latham boys to her mother and the Mitre girl, Emilie, is wondering who we are, as this is the first time that we’ve met. Steeplechase is a beautiful thing, as it brings together the weakest runners – also the funniest of them all. We’ve finally reached stable, solid ground and we’re greeted by MWTH, who encourages us by reminding us not to worry because “it’s festival training without the six-pack of cider!”. He’s not wrong and he knows it. In the distance, or rather, ten metres ahead, we can see two Field girls bonding with a Garden girl and… three, two, one… Field girl number two is down! It seems that this Steeplechase has turned into a mission of every man for himself. I don’t blame them, because the hot chocolate and Crunchies that are awaiting us are in low supply.

About an eighth of the way round the course, Abbie asks “Are we almost finished?”, to which I answer with a laugh; then “Do we get house points for this?” “No,” I reply, “Only the winners get points – but we’re winners at heart”. She isn’t impressed by my impeccable sense of humour. There’s a hill. No one told us about the hill. When we see it, we feel betrayed and victimised, especially by IMP, who is no doubt at this exact moment already welcoming Fenella over the finish-line. However, with SDG shovelling out mounds of jellybeans, we get an extra boost of energy that rivals the carb-loading turkey pasta that I had eaten at lunch. Halfway up the hill, we start seeing the slower runners from the Junior Boys’ race. We have been bamboozled! Not only are we bringing up the rear for the Senior Girls, but the Junior Boys too! Part of me is proud of this momentous achievement, but the chill that is etching its way up my soaking legs from the millions of puddles in which I had purposefully jumped, is telling me to get a move on: a hot chocolate and a bath awaits.

Seeing the finish line is the best moment of my Repton career. I can hear my housemistress, LEW, yelling for me to ditch my steeplechase pals and actually run. I oblige, and manage to come 76th out of 78 girls.

REBECCA TRAFFORD (U6A)

FEATURE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

that can lift concepts out of the individual’s mind and into reality. Therefore, we see that while this truth may benefit others, just as the first man to make fire ‘lifted darkness off the earth’, this will always be secondary to the pursuit of one’s own desires. For one ‘cannot give which has not yet been created’: the desires of the creator must always come before the beneficiaries of such gifts, as the wants of the public are enemies to true innovation.

NATURE, TO BE COMMANDED, MUST BE OBEYED THIS ESSAY, ‘TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS IN ANTHEM BY AYN RAND’ WAS AWARDED A SECOND-PLACE PRIZE (OF 15, 000 ENTRIES) IN THE INTERNATIONAL AYN RAND INSTITUTE’S ANTHEM ESSAY COMPETITION.

In his courtroom speech, Howard Roark explains the nature, motivation and importance of those who create values (such as new artworks, technological inventions and innovations, and advances in theoretical knowledge). Why does he think that value-creation and what it requires of the creators is crucially important from a moral perspective? In your answer, consider what a character from another Ayn Rand novel, Atlas Shrugged, has to say about the process of value-creation, in the speech “The Nature of an Artist.” When Roark stood at the foot of the witness stand, he stood as the first man had: ‘Unarmed, his brain his only weapon’. Confronted with moral damnation, mass disgust and the possibility of death, Roark stands to face his audience his mind as his last and only defence. In ‘the moment of silence’ that acts as introduction to the speech, the Jury and Roark consider each other, and in that moment the reader is in the court; a member of the audience judging the actions of Howard Roark. In the eight-page treatise that follows, Roark does more than prove his innocence. He sets out the importance of autonomy in value creation and shows the moral necessity of independence. This explores exploring how he reaches these conclusions, firstly looking at how he justifies independence as

the cause of invention, and secondly how he shows both the evil of altruism and the moral purity of individualism. ‘The basic need of the creator is independence’ is a simple statement, but one that forms the very core of both Roark’s speech and the objectivist movement. No other quality or attribute is held with such importance. The creator’s talent, charisma, ingenuity, intelligence, are all secondary to this one main motivation and requirement: autonomy. To understand why value creation requires such independence, we must look at the nature of value creation itself. Whether we are discussing the architecture of a building, the composition of an opera or the discovery of electricity, one principle of value creation remains constant: it requires new and original thought. When Roark, new to architecture, is challenged by the Dean over his rejection of architectural norms, he rightfully responds: ‘I stand at the end of no tradition. I may, perhaps, stand at the beginning of one’. This central principle, that we cannot simply look to the past for innovation, but rather that we must decide our own destiny, underpins all value creation. Yet, despite the claims of collectivists, original thought and ingenuity can only ever be the product of the individual. As Roark states, ‘There is no such thing as a collective thought’; our mind belongs only

to us, and the product of each mind cannot be attributed to the many, only to the individual. We then see that the individual, if he is to create, if he is to develop value, must have a motivation. Herein lies the battle between the collectivist and the objectivist. The collectivist claims that invention must be for the good of all and must be motivated by a desire to fulfil the desires of others. In Rand’s Anthem, Prometheus delivers his revolutionary discovery of electricity to the council, yet it is discarded so as not to ‘bring ruin to the department of candles.’ The needs and desires of people are not the basis of innovation. People desire what they are comfortable with, what they know. They value above all the ‘slothful routine of their lives’, and despise those who challenge it. Therefore, we cannot look to the wants of others to innovate, but rather must turn to the individual who is able to exceed immediate desire to a more pure motivation. It is the individual who recognises that value creation cannot be motivated by anything other than his own desires; in the words of Halley, the ‘Intransigent pursuit of the truth’. Without this self-belief, this recognition that your work is not to fulfil a higher purpose, but rather to fulfil your own creative impulse, is vital to value creation. As Roark puts it, the pursuit of ‘his own truth, and his own work to achieve it in his way’ is the only thing that can give form to ideas; the only motivation

However, we also see that the mistrust that humanity holds for new ideas leads to a terrible choice being enforced upon the creator. They can either embrace independence and risk the dangers of being ostracised as Roark, Galt and Prometheus were, or they can be forced into compromise. Rand defines compromise as a ‘betrayal of one’s principles’, which succinctly shows the moral danger of such a choice. When Roark is chastised for searching for an ‘ideal [he will] never reach’, Cameron does not offer a midground or a reasonable solution. There can be no balancing act when it comes to the ideals and motivations of value creation. One can either strive forwards, confident in his own beliefs, or one can submit to the whims and desires of others. It is the choice between intellectual freedom and slavery. It is more than giving up the liberty to act as one pleases; it is to give up the ‘personal dignity’ of the individual for the sake of convenience and practicality. In this sense, compromise is not only toxic to the values of the individual; it is the antithesis of ingenuity.

Roark’s speech demonstrates that only Objectivism will prevent injustice. Through his exploration of invention, he shows it to be the only moral system that can bring about social and scientific change. Yet, most importantly, he shows it to be the only philosophy that respects the rights of the individual. It is only when we embrace the ingenuity, the uniqueness, the inherent value in each individual that we can realise these ideals. The speech is a window through which we see the core of Randian philosophy, through which we can finally understand the actions of Roark. Throughout ‘The Fountainhead’, Roark has been trapped in a constant battle, both with society and the second-handers that surround him: those who wish to destroy his ingenuity and autonomy, those who wish to force him into conformity and strip away the individual within him. The courtroom scene exemplifies Roark’s final victory over his detractors. His defence of objectivism strips away all the preconceived ideas we have of fairness, of altruism and morality. The social institutions and customs that enforce traditionalism and conformity crumble away into meaninglessness, until all that remains is the ocean, the sky, and the figure of Howard Roark.

LUCAS PRINGLE (5P)

However, this rational individualism is not only important in the context of value creation. The same principles that motivate the industrialist and artist to create are the principles, in the eyes of Rand and by extension Roark, that underpin a true moral foundation. In his speech Roark recognises the attacks that have been made on his morals, and on the very concept of Objectivism. One can read this passage as a response from Rand to her critics, in which she outlines the false dichotomy that the public have been fed: ‘As poles of good and evil, [man] was offered two conceptions: egoism and altruism.’ The common perception of egoism is that it is one of violent selfishness, an amoral philosophy that is underpinned by the ‘sacrifice of others to self’. Meanwhile, altruism is held above all as the moral ideal; a masochistic lifestyle in the pursuit of a higher reward. While Rand was referring to the problems inherent in the discourse of her own time, this falsehood has only become more pronounced in the modern era. We are told that we have a binary choice, between ideal masochism and egotistical self-love. Yet Roark recognises this dichotomy as false. The creed of the objectivist is not to use others to achieve his own ends, but rather to be one who ‘stands above the need of using others in any manner’. Both his actions and desires are entirely independent of others. The only moral law he has is to ‘never place his primary goal within the purpose of others’. To understand what this means in a moral context, we must first consider the components of the ‘immoral action’. All amoral doings, be they theft, exploitation, murder or assault ‘imply dependence’. If you refuse to subjugate any man to o your will, you cannot infringe upon his rights. When you recognise e that your wishes, as long as they do not depend on others, are the e true moral driver, all amoral acts are out of the question. Compare this view to the façade of altruism; the idea of a ‘common good’, that in the words of Roark is the ‘claim and justification of every tyranny ever established over men’. When we act with the principle that we are ‘protecting humanity’; when we place our motivation in the lives of others, then amoral acts that would be impermissible under objectivism become justified. What is the execution of one man if it brings about our revolution? What is the torture of an individual it saves the lives of a hundred? Why not take his property if it will shelter another? We see that altruism as a moral ideal can and will be used to override the rights of the individual. As Roark states, ‘A humanitarian starts with declarations of love for mankind and ends in a sea of blood’. All of these actions would be unthinkable under Roark’s philosophy. Brotherhood and harmony is not the aim of individualism, yet the principle that an individual will ‘not exist for any other man – and he asks no other man to exist for him -’ is the ‘only form of brotherhood possible between men’.

////// ELLA CLOWES (U6A)

////// ISOBEL EMMETT (U6M)

FEATURE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

REVIEWING THE READING LIST

THE VALUE OF LEARNING

OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM!

The beginning of the academic year saw the publication of the Headmaster’s Reading List – books recommended for students by members of the Common Room. Two aspiring Geographers offer their critique of George Friedman’s The Next 100 Years and Tim Marshall’s Prisoners of Geography.

PRISONERS OF GEOGRAPHY Tim Marshall’s thesis in Prisoners of Geography, “The landscape imprisons leaders, giving them fewer choices... than you might think” centres on the importance of Geography in our changing political climate; notably, he explains the growing political value of areas considered previously inert or unimportant, such as Antarctica. By dividing the world into ten zones of significant importance, Marshall explains the geographical helps and hindrances with which each country is faced and how these factors influence their political and economic policies. The element of Prisoners of Geography that distinguishes it from similar matter is the way in which Marshall integrates geological maps in each chapter with a political overlay, enabling the relationship between Geography and Politics to be seen clearly. This means, unlike the majority of its contemporaries, it doesn’t require a great deal of prior knowledge to be understood and enjoyed. Interestingly, Marshall focuses on the changing nature of political power, citing a country’s geographical presence, through naval and air bases, as the primary independent variable in determining a country’s presence on the world stage. He explains the increasing importance of “soft power”, taking the example of the planned $40bn Nicaragua Canal – a project that would not only give China a trading route through Central America independent of US power, but would also gain them a new Central American ally and political favour from those who wished to use it. Marshall reserves one of the ten chapters to deal with the Middle East. Aptly, it begins “The middle of what? East of where?”, explaining how our concept of the area is taken from a Euro-centric perspective and how the European influence post-1916 created artificial

THE NEXT 100 YEARS boundaries that didn’t follow geographical lines, laying the foundations for tension and violence. Prisoners of Geography contextualises the problems faced by those currently caught in the unrest and suggests that the climate of extremism experienced today – contrary to popular opinion – is not a source of conflict, but a product of conflicts unresolved from generation to generation. Closer to home, Marshall focuses on the underlying problems faced by Western Europe (unfortunately, it was published before Brexit), explaining that, intrinsically, all divisions today (such as the ‘NorthSouth divide’) can be traced to geography. Greece, for example, suffers from infertile land, narrow valleys and steep cliffs, which prevented it from becoming a major agricultural trading partner in the early stages of development. In 2015, Greece became the first developed country to miss an IMF loan repayment, showing, according to Marshall, how even developed countries are still “imprisoned” by their surroundings. Arguably, with the inauguration of Trump and its sheer size as the largest country in the world, the role of Russia on the world stage has become one of ever-increasing importance. Marshall shares this belief, dedicating the first chapter to Russia’s growing fears about the growth of NATO in Europe and the importance of Ukraine and Crimea – Russia’s “Achilles heel” – to Moscow. Writing objectively, he discusses Putin’s dreams of Russian expansion and explains how the vast inequalities between the East and West, both socially and geographically, prevent Russia from becoming a global superpower. Prisoners of Geography combines an easy-reading narrative and an up-to-date overview of the global geopolitical situation with an insight into the great, constant and underestimated role that geography plays in an ever-changing world.

George Friedman’s The Next 100 Years seamlessly combines the fields of Geography, Economics and Politics to provide an intriguing insight into the likely scenarios of the next century. Unsurprisingly, Friedman predicts this to revolve around the United States, particularly because its position as the dominant superpower will be unchallenged, regardless of the outcomes of current modern crises in the Middle East and its own political divisions: it has vast militaristic capabilities to protect its global economic interests by, for the first time in human history, having complete control of every ocean on Earth; ultimately embedding itself at the centre of the international economic system controlling all major trade routes, with no vessel sailing without the approval of the US Navy. This is the foundation of Friedman’s book; I shall outline a couple of scenarios which I feel are particularly relevant to the Repton student. The ‘grey vote’ (voters aged 65 or above) has growing disproportionate influence within both the US and the UK. Over-65s vote with huge turnout and generally in favour of those standing on antiimmigration platforms, as seen in the UK with the Brexit vote. Interestingly, Friedman predicts the economic landscape of the United States (and the western world) to change radically and, ultimately, the political viewpoint of this voting bloc will in fact support immigration come 2030. The reasons for this lie with a decline in population growth and, consequently, a decline in the availability of labour to meet the demands of the high-consumer over-65s, which is living longer. This will lead the US, who are currently adopting an anti-immigration stance under President Trump, to begin formulating incentives, such as customised visas, to meet individual immigrants’ needs and quite possibly bonuses for highly-skilled workers to

immigrate and support the elderly population, who will, ultimately, benefit as their demand for consumer goods is met. Friedman compares the US to an adolescent entering adulthood: pursuing its own ends ruthlessly will create a worldwide brain-drain of developed countries’ workers, leading to a shift in these countries’ foreign policies to compete with the US. A second scenario of specific interest is Friedman’s prediction and depiction of world war in 2050. What is more interesting is the powers involved in such a conflict, notably a coalition of the reborn Turkish empire emerging from the chaos of the Islamic world and the Japanese, who will have expanded across the east coast of China and Russia following both of these states’ collapse earlier in the century. This coalition will take to pre-emptively attacking the United States to protect their national interests, much like Pearl Harbour in the 20th century. However, instead of taking out the battleships grouped in the Pacific, this time the Japanese will remove American domination of space through destruction of what Friedman calls Battle Stars. A key aspect to take away through the reading of this specific scenario is the importance of space being the new frontier. Friedman stresses that the control of space allows for control of the Earth’s oceans, which controls the international trade system and, ultimately, the economic well-being of the nation controlling it. It is very easy to mistake The Next 100 Years for a fictional universe, due to the high degree of speculation. But Friedman reminds us what might seem impossible now can very much develop over a time period of ten years, let alone a century. The Next 100 Years comes most highly recommended for any Reptonian with an interest in the social sciences, or a world view. The realms of speculation may, according to sensible extrapolations of current technology rates, soon be our reality.

EDWARD SHEASBY (U6S) & ELIZABETH MARTIN DE BARTOLOME (U6F)

Sitting on the steps of Times Square in New York and looking out over the bright lights of Broadway, knowing that 28 of our pupils were somewhere out in the midst of the dazzling neon, and due to return to the NYPD mobile station as our designated meeting-point in 20 minutes, I was left wondering why teachers take the risk of leading school trips; perhaps even more so to a country like America, with its gun-culture, transatlantic flight and myriad of immigration controls to navigate all adding to the risk of just getting through the airport! The sensible approach to this moment of risk-aversion is to rationalise that our pupils must be allowed to experience the real world, or they will be stifled by the bubble of life within The Arch; they will be unable to put into practice in the real world any of the lessons they have learnt in the classroom! In fact, they are taught a great deal more by having to make their own assessments of risk to keep themselves safe in a new place. The sad reality is that a pupil is much more likely to be involved in a road traffic or domestic accident than they are to be critically injured on a school trip. But, as a teacher, throughout these trips there will always be a niggle of concern in the back of your mind, ‘what if’ scenarios playing out in your thoughts, that only really goes away when the coach parks back at The Arch. In contrast to the levels of risk that any trip involves, there is an enormous body of evidence about the immeasurable value of taking pupils on school trips. It is hard to argue against this when standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, on exactly the spot that MLK delivered his “I have a Dream” speech, or on the Battlefields of France and Belgium on the same spot that the officers blew their whistles to send battalions of brave men over the top. In fact, trips don’t have to be abroad to have a profound and lasting impact. Who could forget standing in the House of Lords debating chamber, which just days later would be used to debate the merits of the Government’s Article 50 Legislation – a piece of legislation that will ultimately determine the UK’s worldwide position for generations to come? Lives have been changed, for better or worse, in such places;

history has been made in them; and our modern generation of pupils have a chance to re-live this on school trips with their peers and teachers, to help make the memory a collective and enduring one. There are some very precious moments, too, for teachers who are lucky enough to take pupils on their first transatlantic flights, or witness their awe at the extraordinary views from the top of the Empire State Building at night – even if a marriage proposal or two have been ruined by their presence! The truth is, I have travelled to more places with other people’s children, than with my own: countless times, when I have been away on trips, I have thought how much I would love to share the experience with my own family; to tell my big boy about how the ‘Last Post’ has sounded at the Menin Gate every night at 8pm, since 1928, in homage to the death toll in one of the deadliest human conflicts in history; how, there in Belgium, with the modern world carrying on apparently unaware, there are those who pause every day as a mark of respect and honour for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, surrounded by the names, inscribed in stone, of those who have no known grave. My hope is that generations of teachers to come will continue to rely on the physicality of visits that cannot be replaced by the virtual reality of the digital generation. There are few more moving sights than the piles of artefacts in the cabinets of the Auschwitz deathcamp, proving the humanity of the gas chambers’ victims, or the sight of the Statue of Liberty coming into full view in New York harbour – the same view that the thousands of immigrants saw as the symbol of liberty and freedom for all after months crossing the Atlantic Ocean as they arrived in the “Land of Opportunity”. Given the unique nature of learning linked to trips such as these, I sincerely hope that, one day in the future, a teacher will be sitting on the steps of Times Square, waiting to check back in with my own boys, who will have had the opportunity to explore and experience for themselves the bright lights of the “Big Apple”.

AFP

FEATURE

REPTON FROM TWO FEET CLOSER TO THE GROUND THE B-BLOCKERS’ PERSPECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM: MILES ARMOUR (3S), ZACK BROUGH (3S), KAHINA CHAIBI (3G), HENRY DUNN (3P), WILL HAWKINS (3O), POPPY KELLOCK (3G), ZARA KNOWLES (3F), ALEX MAIR (3P), LILY PARKER (3G), OWEN RANDALL (3O), HARRY SCUTT (3N), JUDE SINCLAIR (3C), ZARA WEDGWOOD (3A).

The Reptonian 2016/2017

G GETTING UP & BREAKFAST ‘MMMMMMUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRMMMMMMM’. The B-block boy lets out an audible grunt as he leans over to silence his alarm clock – either by button or by cricket bat. For a moment, the room is silent; then a symphony of grunts and yawns begins. As the B-blocker drags himself out of bed, he plans how he will attempt to get out of lessons today: head-ache, leg pains or the classic fever? A small smile and, ‘Morning, sir!’ as he passes his housemaster takes the most effort all morning. By now he is in a state of semi-consciousness; still not alert, but awake enough to battle the stairs once more. The showers. Oh, the showers! First on the left is the best. If already occupied, however, risks must be taken. The bitter cold does not surprise: sure enough, it comes – and fast at that. At this point, the B-blocker contemplates what his school fees actually go towards. Ignoring her 7am alarm, the B-block girl falls back into a dozy slumber. Five more minutes can’t hurt. Suddenly, it’s 7.30. No, no, no! Please, not again! She leaps out of bed and, in a flustered scramble, reaches for her dressing gown on the hook behind the door. Rushing down the stairs, two at a time, she makes it into the dining room just as the chef is clearing the tables. Shoving a piece of toast (the only thing that’s left) onto her plate, she reaches for the butter, taking anxious glances at the clock. Only half an hour until lesson one… She can do this… Back in her room, she hastily dresses, slaps on some make-up and looks at her timetable. Monday morning, let’s see… French, Latin and Maths. Ugh!

LLUNCH

LESSONS L Time for the B-blocker to gather his books and hike across the pavements and walkways to his first lesson. This sounds easy, but with the constant risk of getting ‘booked’ (the well-practised technique of having one’s folders nudged onto the road), it’s a miracle if he reaches the intended classroom with all the equipment needed! Having the right gear is one thing, but getting the right classroom is a whole new problem. The wise B-blocker knows to follow his friends to lessons. If they all get the wrong classroom, it isn’t as bad as just himself getting lost. Realising that the next lesson is PE, his exhausted muscles let out a cry. There should be a law against this! The session is dull, punctuated by a constant stream of buzz-words coming from the back of the room: “Come on, guys! You’re doing really well! Push yourselves harder, let’s keep this up!” This becomes very irritating very quickly.

The B-block girl makes her way swiftly towards her House, carrying three massive files, four different textbooks, two workbooks, one notebook, her large pencil case and prep diary. She reaches the door, exhausted. What was she told this morning? The new code is 4629? She tries it at least ten times, but each time it shows up as an angry red light, rubbing in her failure. In the end, a Sixth-former lets her in, eyeing her curiously as she sits hopelessly on the ground, surrounded by mountains of books and files. Chilli, rice and garlic bread! Say Grace and dig in. Everyone talks about their day and discusses what’s going on in the world. All people seem to be talking about nowadays is Donald blooming Trump. Quite frankly, the whole business was a huge mistake on America’s behalf but there is nothing we can do about it, so we might as well all shut up about it.

COMMON ROOMS C In every house, Common Rooms should be approached with caution. Originally designed for socialisation across the year groups and welcoming of guests, they have evolved. Field House has one of the more subdued common rooms – probably the safest to just hang out with your friends, without any trouble. In The Cross’ common room, the smell of burnt toast hits you like a smack in the face: there are more toasters in the room than features. In School House, some surprising things manage to occur right under the nose of THN. As the B-blocker enters, the stench of mouldy milk wafts up from under the sofas like rising mist on a spring day. Priory common room is a lads’ community; the home of hard-core banter. There’s an Xbox and Fifa 2 all the way up to Fifa 17. The pool table, however, seems to be on such a slant that every ball ends up in the same pocket. In The Abbey common room, the main attraction has to be the large, inflatable yoga ball. Tens of people flock from miles to visit. By ‘miles’, read ‘from Orchard’.

TEA T The B-blocker loves the atmosphere at Tea, with everyone chatting about their day in an informal situation, bringing them together as a year group. The chats range from “Did you kiss her?” to “Why do you call it ketch, not ketchup?”. The latter argument recurs on a daily basis.

SPORT S Sport follows lunch and, after four Yorkshire puddings and three pieces of cake, it isn’t looking good for the B-block boy: he has a stitch for most of the session, but, being a mighty U14 B player, a composite of godliness, he fights on. Goddammit, Mr Dammers! Why do you make them run so much…? In the A team match, a plucky B-blocker scores to win the match 4-3, albeit with his left ear. He feels ecstatic! His ear? Not so much. The feeling when the team is cheering each other on is heart-warming. His confidence levels rise like a thermometer in a flame. Hockey for the B-block girl nearly always commences with a high-intensity pulse-raiser – intended to make her hurt. It’s completely different from her early-morning swimming session, but she gets a huge buzz from both – making a game-winning tackle or smashing a personal best in that one event that has been her bugbear for so long – pushing her body to its absolute limits.

PREP P One hour could probably be bearable; two hours is just too much of an effort. The B-blocker needs to write 1000-word essays, solve eyewatering Maths equations and try to translate some utter tosh in Spanish. Other B-blockers are surreptitiously watching films and listening to music videos, but top set have to write about being a B-blocker. What sort of teacher makes you do that?

W WINTER TIMETABLE Winter Timetable is the worst! After getting sticky and sweaty during sport, the B-block girl wants to go back to house, shower and relax. But, instead, once Cleggy’s at last dismissed her, it’s a mad rush back to house, to shower and quickly change before rushing off to yet more lessons. To the B-block boy, Winter Timetable is Satan’s doing. Not just one lesson, but three! This is the stupidest part of his timetable: going from The Priory, on one side of the campus, to Chemistry on the other, then back to English; then over again to the Sci-Pri for Physics. Then back to Priory. That’s five eight-minute walks every Monday afternoon. C’mon! By the time the B-blockers leave the Sci-Pri, it’s dark and cold outside and it is a long walk to English. English is, of course, the best part of the day: the punctuation exercise has them all enthralled.

EVENINGS & BEDTIME E I’m a Celebrity… has just started, so, once the B-block girl is freed from prep, half the house get comfy in Big Com: popcorn and hot chocolate is passed around; everyone is getting on; laughter fills the room. As the B-block boy lies in bed, he reflects on the day’s endeavours: what has he done to make himself better and smarter? And what has he not done so well? Reflect – and improve upon your mistakes the next day: that is how the B-blocker grows up. Only 950 school days until the B-blockers are given their freedom.

“WHERE WORDS FAIL, MUSIC SPEAKS” Hans Christian Andersen

MUSIC

The Reptonian 2016/2017

THE HOUSE UNISON COMPETITION This year’s House Unison Competition was a varied night of entertainment. Adjudicated by Edward Jones, a distinguished vocalist, the competition this year was a close one – with the boys’ houses (at least most of them) putting up a show to rival that of the girls. The Garden’s well-conducted performance, complemented with excellent piano-playing, was a sturdy and reliable performance of a very difficult song – ‘Hold My Hand’ by Jess Glynn – that contains rather a few too many high notes!

School House’s well-rehearsed and tightly co-ordinated rendition of ‘Hooked on a Feeling’, neat and tidy on the whole, was another display of the boys’ houses’ increasing competition in this whole-school event.

The fun and pleasant delivery of Rick Astley’s teenage classic ‘Never gonna give you up’ by The Orchard made for relaxed listening, with a great accompaniment by Ollie Jarvis on guitar.

The Priory’s busy performance of Coldplay’s ‘Hymn for the Weekend’ was well-presented and was complemented by the mixture of solo and small-group singing that helped to control the House’s gusto.

The brilliantly-executed interpretation of ‘Proud’ by Heather Small was Field’s contribution, clearly showing dedication and practice, with a complex range of actions that showed off their immense ability to multitask.

There was no end of gusto, however, in The Cross’ recital (if that is the right word to use) of ‘Stitches’ by Shawn Mendes – a loud and excitable performance that perhaps could have done with a little more of the original tune, but that can be dealt with next year…

New House were praised by the adjudicator for their vocal talent; their rendition of a Bastille favourite, ‘Good Grief’, quite contrary to the suggestion of the title, left little to be desired.

Golden’, sang with great enjoyment and were the rightful winners of the Girls’ Highly-Commended prize. Latham, gaining the Boys’ HighlyCommended, were musically sound in every way, with strong and confident conducting, offering very stiff competition for the other boys’ houses, once again. But it was The Mitre, the U6 dressed as grannies, that snatched the overall prize from the clutches of pretenders – absolutely the rightful winners of the night, projecting a confident sound with a performance of ‘We are Young’ that they clearly enjoyed delivering.

EDWARD SHEASBY (U6S) & SAM RILEY (L6P)

The Abbey, undoubtedly the best-dressed of the night, sporting golden jackets to meet the theme of their song, ‘We are

MUSIC

The Reptonian 2016/2017

THE B-BLOCK CHOIR

THE DAILY SERVICE On a rainy Thursday, I sat in a small church in rainy Manchester, surrounded by cables and microphones. At the front of the church, the Repton School Choir stood holding their music, waiting on the command of conductor OMW to begin. The pews may have been empty, but their audience stretched far beyond the stained-glass of the church: The Daily Service may lack the gloss of other mainstream radio shows, yet it rightfully holds a special place in the heart of the cultural fabric of Britain. At the turn of the 20th century, the BBC was under the control of John Reith, a stern Director-General who had clear ideas about how the organisation should be run. But his determination did not account for Miss Kathleen Cordeaux, a middle-class Englishwoman fuelled by one aim: a regular church broadcast to be aired by the BBC. She was concerned for those in the country who were unable to attend church services, and would persistently contact Lord Reith to demand a broadcast. The duo clashed on this for years, until, in 1922, the BBC finally gave way, and the first broadcast of The Daily Service was aired. Since then, it has become the longest-running religious radio broadcast of its kind anywhere in the world.

As I sat watching the broadcast being recorded, I reflected on this history. In the many years since its inception, Britain has undergone a steep transformation. The grey stone bricks that surrounded us may be the same, but the world around them is not. As a teenager, the Britain I have grown up in is one of many backgrounds: our languages, cultures and religions have greater diversity than at any other time in British history – a fact which might call into question the place of The Daily Service in 2016. As Britain becomes more secular – and as the budget of the BBC falls under harsher scrutiny by critics – The Daily Service to many seems an outdated institution. Yet, as I listened to the Repton Choir melodiously fill that mic-filled church, I truly felt that this 15-minute programme is needed in today’s world. Not because Britain is in desperate need of religion, but because of the values the BBC should embody. The idea of a broadcasting agency beholden to the people is a unique one. In fulfilling this aim, the BBC should not cater just to the will of what is popular, but should look to provide every group in society with media catered to them. The new Kanye song should sit alongside ‘Jerusalem’; the cricket commentary

should be joined by a daily sermon. If the BBC only broadcast what were popular, the country would have missed out on some of our culture’s jewels: Fawlty Towers, Monty Python and Blackadder all represented risks for the Corporation; yet, in terms of their impact on British life, they have paid off tenfold. It is easy to sit back and criticise The Daily Service for being an archaic tradition. I have no dog in this fight: personally I am not religious and so, when I was asked to read a passage from The Bible on this broadcast, I had my reservations. But, as I read the words given to me, and listened to their message of understanding and peace, I no longer felt like I was speaking to just my school friends who sat in front of me. I was speaking to sleepy villages in the Peak District, to men and woman in hotel rooms across the world, and to every regular listener looking for guidance and comfort in the words of The Bible. In this turbulent era, The Daily Service is a regular reminder not only of our cultural history, but of the common values of respect and tolerance that we hold. For this, it should forever hold a place in British society.

LUCAS PRINGLE (5P)

///// SERENA COLE (5F)

In its inaugural year, the B-block choir has flourished. Making their debut at the New Pupils and Parents’ Service in September was a daunting and nerve-wracking experience for some, but the pupils stepped up to the challenge and gave an excellent rendition of ‘Lord of the Dance’, firmly putting them on the Repton music map. Meeting on a weekly basis to rehearse, the pupils enjoy singing a wide variety of sacred and secular works. The biggest test for the choir this year was to take the lead in an entire Sunday Chapel service: an introit, three hymns and an anthem is a great deal of music to be covered in one service, but the choir coped magnificently well, performing to a superior standard. Their dedicated and professional approach in rehearsals and their ability to master new repertoire so quickly bodes well for what I am sure will be an exciting future for this talented group of singers.

///// JACK BULL (U6O)

///// ED CHAN (5C)

Internationally-acclaimed musician and Principal of the Birmingham Conservatoire, Julian Lloyd Webber, visited Repton in April to judge the Repton Young Musician of the Year Competition, praising the high standard of music teaching and musical ability on display: “Whatever you are doing here to make it work, it really is!” he said, later describing the quality of musicianship as “fantastic”. The Competition was divided into two halves, with Junior and Senior sections. The musicians taking part had gone through two previous rounds to gain their places in the final, which was watched by an audience of fellow pupils, staff, parents and members of the public. In announcing the winners and commenting on each individual performance, Julian Lloyd

Webber acknowledged that not everyone would agree with his choices, but explained he was judging entirely on what he had heard on the night. Winner of the Junior competition was pianist Harry Scutt (3N), whose performance of Debussy’s ‘Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum’ was described by Professor Lloyd Webber as “very assured” and “very professional”. Drummer Joe Jarvis (L6O) was awarded the Senior title for his performance of ‘The Solo II’, a piece he had composed himself with Repton School Head of Popular Music, Richard Fairbrother. Commenting on his performance, Julian Lloyd Webber said it was “confident and fluent… totally impressive.” A superb evening for Repton Music!

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SMB

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT SERIES AND MASTERCLASSES Throughout the year, the Music Department has been delighted to host a range of professional musicians, who have delivered top-quality concerts and masterclasses to our performers, giving them an insight into the life and work of a professional musician. The first of these was the Magnard Ensemble, a wind quintet who, along with actress Rebecca Kenny, performed a range of music on the theme of Roald Dahl on what would have been the author’s 100th birthday. During the afternoon, the group gave an open rehearsal to our woodwind award-holders and discussed the challenges and rewards of being young professional musicians. In October and November, we catered for our lower string players in two well-received events. Firstly, we welcomed professional double bass player David Hayes to lead Repton’s first Double Bass Day, attended

44 ///// ISOBEL EMMETT (U6M) 6M)

YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

by our own players as well as those from Foremarke and other local schools. David guided the bassists through tricky ensemble repertoire, led a performance masterclass and compered the final solo concert, in which all participants performed to each other; a highly inspirational day. In November, we then treated our young cellists to a performance masterclass and outstanding evening concert by young professional Michael Petrov. Repton’s plethora of outstanding keyboardists enjoyed masterclasses from two leading musicians: in February, Daniel Lebhard gave an insightful and engaging session on piano repertoire, bringing our still-new Steinway to life with colourful playing and bringing the very best out of our pianists; then, in June, we welcomed world-renowned organist and teacher Daniel Moult to judge our annual organ competition and deliver a humorous

masterclass afterwards. We are very lucky indeed to have such a large number of pupil organists – and to hear them all in one event was a real treat. In February, we hosted the world-class tenor Andrew Kennedy (prize winner, Cardiff Singer of the World, BBC Young Artist and Head of Singing, Westminster School), who gave a four-hour masterclass to many of the School’s aspiring singers. Hearing and learning from such a prolific practitioner was a privilege for us all; all the more gratifying to hear his positive comments about our school’s standards of singing. Other 2016-17 performers in the Concert Series included the classical guitarist Sean Shibe, The Solemn String Quartet and the Solstice Jazz Sextet.

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MUSIC

The Reptonian 2016/2017

CHARIT Y JAZZ EVENING

THE MICHAELMAS CONCERT

THE STRIFE OF RILEY

This year’s Michaelmas Concert, featuring a number of the Music Department’s instrumental ensembles, took the theme of Space. The Symphony Orchestra opened the event with a performance of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony, first movement (a work which was explored in depth for the Parry Society’s pre-concert talk), and John Williams’ Theme from ET. Other notable items included The Reptiles singing an arrangement of ‘Blue Moon’, Flute Group’s highlights from The Planets Suite, String Group’s ‘Counting Stars’, Sax Pack’s ‘Moonlight Serenade’ along with many others. An excellent, celestial evening, demonstrating Repton music-making at its most creative.

The Strife of Riley held a Charity Jazz, wine and cheese evening in the Beldam Hall, on Sunday 30th April 2017. The band formed in 2015, playing jazz with a hint of big band/swing. They have performed at various events, including The Melbourne Festival, the launch of the Alumni at Grace Dieu Manor School and a fundraising concert in Beccles Church, Suffolk. They have provided entertainment in a number of settings, including The Queen of Bradgate in Leicester and for an Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Annual Christmas Dinner at Breadsall Priory Hotel; the feedback from the latter event being that

The charity evening was a sell-out and received positive feedback. Guest appearances included RF on the drum kit and Claudia Atkinson (U6F) who joined Sam Riley (L6P), in duet to sing a beautiful rendition of ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’. The evening was very successful, making over £1600 to be donated to the Repton School-sponsored charity Education in Ghana, as well as Jessie’s Fund, which provides music therapy in the UK for children with serious illness to help them express themselves and connect with the world around them. The 6 members of the band, aged between 14 and 30, are all accomplished musicians in their own right: Josh Riley (OR, ex-Priory) on saxophone, an Associate of Trinity College, London; Sam Riley (L6P) on vocals; Joe Riley (3P) on drum kit / percussion; Jake Bott on bass guitar; Henry Blencowe (5N) and Matt Kendrick on keyboards.

SAM RILEY (L6P)

THEY WERE SIMPLY VERY POLISHED. GREAT JAZZ SOUND!

THE CAROL SERVICE The annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a highlight for any chorister and, this year, the Chapel Choir sang a range of Christmas music to an impressive standard in a beautifully candle-lit Chapel, putting the whole congregation in the seasonal mood. The service featured several soloists, but Claudia Atkinson (U6F) and Kathryn Monteiro (U6F), in particular, must be congratulated for their nerves of steel in the first-verse solos of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. Other pieces included the traditional Spanish ‘Riu, Riu, Chiu’, Rutter’s ‘Mary’s Lullaby’, MacMillan’s ‘O Radiant Dawn’ and Willberg’s sparkling ‘Ding, Dong! Merrily on High’.

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THE CHRISTMAS BANDS’ CONCERT This year’s Christmas Bands’ Concert saw Pears School filled to the brim with an enthusiastic audience eager to be entertained – and they weren’t disappointed. From the moment people walked under the Arch and up the steps to Pears School, they were greeted by the lively sounds of festive tunes from Sax Pack.

PIANO-ATHON! Keen to raise money after hearing of a family who had been supported by Help Musicians UK, 29 pupils and members of staff took part in a 24-Hour ‘piano-athon’, where a piano in the Music School was played continuously for 24 hours! We were delighted that former Head of Keyboards, Luis Parés, returned to give a recital as part of this event, raising a significant amount himself and contributing to the impressive sum that we raised in total. More may have been raised if he had lived up to his claim that his last piece would be full of mistakes, demanding 5p for every error he made! However, it was flawless and the audience was so amazed by his performance that they donated generously anyway. Other particular highlights included Head of Singing AA’s sing-along session from 6-7pm and the informal concert the following morning, given by those who had stayed up all night for the ‘graveyard shift’. The repertoire ranged from basic sight-reading to two-piano

concertos; from Musical Theatre hits (Beauty and the Beast, Disney and Wicked!) to Mozart and Beethoven duets! Special thanks go to all the participants and spectators for their unwavering support, including the Sixth Form musicians who started the ‘graveyard shift’ on a high note, and to AFP and Mr Parish for providing a delicious breakfast the next morning. A particular mention should also go to SMB, MKC, PAF, JARW, OMW and SABT, without whom this event would not have been possible. The £1200 that we raised went to Help Musicians UK, a charity which supports musicians who have suffered extreme difficulties or crises, possibly through bereavement or illness; we would like to thank everyone for their generous donations.

HANNAH SHERRY (U6G) & KYOKO CANAWAY (U6G)

The evening adopted a new venture with two Christmas poems, read by Rika Canaway (5G) and Henry Perks (5N), swiftly followed by a new clarinet duo formed for the occasion, consisting of Oliver Whittingham (4C) and Lydia Johnson (U6A), who, along with the Flute Ensemble, treated the audience to a short section of festive carols. The Jazz Band, in its twentieth anniversary year, led up to the break with an extended set of new repertoire, combined with memorable pieces from the Italy and Cayman tours of 2004 and 2006 respectively, with inspirational solos from Matt Rhodes (5L), Angus Edwards (5O), Henry Blencowe (5N), Joe Jarvis (L6O), Alistair Westwood (5N) and Will Balderston (5N). The young members of the Foremarke Wind Band gave a confident start to the second half, with Repton’s Concert Band following shortly afterwards and concluding the evening with their rendition of ‘Hootenanny’. This memorable evening showed the breadth and educational experience on offer at both schools, and a delighted audience left firmly in the Christmas spirit, accompanied by further carols from Sax Pack.

REPTON JAZZ BAND PLAYS AT FOREMARKE On Monday 23rd January, the Repton Jazz Band set off to play for the pupils of Foremarke in their morning assembly. After the short drive from The Arch to Foremarke, the band set up and had a brief rehearsal before the excited Foremarkians filed through the assembly hall into their seats. The band opened with ‘Gonna’ Fly Now’, the well-known theme from the movie Rocky, and played through a set consisting of some of the Jazz Band’s favourite repertoire: ‘Watermelon Man’, ‘Play that Funky Music’ and ‘Sing Sing Sing!’ to name but a few. The Foremarke Jazz Band was invited to join Repton Jazz Band to confidently finish the performance with ‘Sunny’ and ‘Oye Como Va’, with many solos performed by players of both school bands. After the assembly, the Jazz Band led a workshop for the Foremarke players, involving a variety of technical rhythmic

and soloing exercises, which were then applied to a small improvised section of ‘Oye Como Va’. The Foremarkians thoroughly enjoyed the improvisation and had great fun with the rhythmic exercises, some of which proved equally as challenging for certain members of the Repton Jazz Band! Several members of the Repton Jazz Band originated from the Foremarke Jazz Band and it was a pleasant experience for these Reptonians to demonstrate their improvements in performance and to meet their old teachers from Foremarke. A truly educational experience and enjoyable morning was had by all and, after a group photo, the Foremarke pupils returned to their lessons as the Repton Jazz Band climbed back onto the minibuses.

JOE JARVIS (L6O), D. ANANDA-RAJAN (L6C) & RF

MUSIC

The Reptonian 2016/2017

CEREMONY OF CAROLS

ALL THE WRONG NOTES? THE HOUSE HARMONY COMPETITION It’s late April at the time of writing. The Harmony Competition was nearly three months ago. Unfortunately, as no one else has written a review of it, yours truly is in the chair, trying to recollect the who what when where and how of it all. On the plus side, I took notes at the time, my long years as Master i/c The Reptonian warning me that I might be in the situation I am, in fact, in; on the minus side, I’m simultaneously watching Spurs cling on to their fading chances of winning the Premiership, firing off emails left, right and centre demanding other missing Reptonian content comes in, and fending off my dog’s attentions (he hasn’t had much of a look-in this week, poor thing). There’s another problem. My notes that made perfect sense when I wrote them aren’t, in fact, all that helpful. For example, when The Priory came on stage to sing Bill Withers’ ‘Lovely Day’, I wrote down ‘Cute gimmick!’ – but I cannot remember for the life of me what that might have been. Was a B-blocker dressed as a teddy-bear? Did they present the Adjudicator with red roses? I don’t know – but if my wooden heart was moved to write ‘cute’ then, trust me, it was. My other notes suggest I thought Priory had a ‘nice blend of voices’, Sam Riley did a ‘great solo’, but the ending was ‘a bit abrupt’. Ben Parry, adjudicating this year’s competition, broadly agreed, praising the enthusiasm (though it was ‘a bit sharp’ at first), loving Riley’s solo and noting ‘a dip in energy’ at the end. Still, it was a good start to the evening. The Abbey was next up, performing Lydia Johnson’s arrangement of Pentatonix’ ‘Daft Punk’. My notes are a bit smudged here, but I think I wrote that it was ‘very nice, musically’, but I struggled a bit with their diction. This may just have been lack of familiarity with the song, of course. I also noted that they lacked a bit of engagement with their audience – a perennial moan from adjudicators – and Mr Parry picked up on this as well, urging them to ‘look happy!’ He rhapsodised about the musicality, though, praising the ‘great ensemble singing’ and ‘amazing arrangement’. Oh, and he said the diction was fantastic… My tutee, Edward Sheasby, had been telling me for months about School House’s song – The Ragtime Gals’ barbershop arrangement of Shaggy’s ‘It wasn’t me’: if I hadn’t watched the original online, I wouldn’t have thought it possible – and ‘original’ is certainly the word! Have the hallowed walls of Pears School ever heard the words ‘butt naked’ pronounced with such clear diction? This was – as School’s performances tend to be in this competition – a real crowd-pleaser. The Adjudicator, however, seemed less impressed, claiming ‘some unfocused harmonies’ in what was ‘a busy song’ and not seeming to get the whole barbershop-but-Caribbean-style motif. Originality, it turns out, is a risk. The Orchard were on much safer ground with Billy Joel’s ‘The Longest Time’, arranged by Ollie Jarvis, a staple of House Harmony competitions throughout the Independent sector. Here, Mr Parry and I were in complete agreement, both noting that they ‘absolutely nailed’

the famous opening (I had goose-pimples, it was that good) but that the rest did not quite live up to that impeccable standard, going a bit flat in places. A worthy effort, but it wasn’t in the running. The Garden had another original effort, a ‘Fusion of Four’ arranged by Kyoko Canaway and Hannah Sherry. My notes praise the arrangement, but again question to what extent the audience is ‘getting’ it, and Mr Parry once again offered similar criticism, suggesting the girls ‘looked self-conscious’ as they sang, despite the wonderfully rehearsed routines and ‘well-balanced’ voices. Not for the first time in recent years, The Garden were so nearly there, but not quite. Latham, on the other hand, have won the competition more than once of late, and once again had a strong line-up of voices. Matthew Jankinson’s arrangement of The Jackson Five’s ‘I want you back’, mashed with ‘ABC’ was excellent: my notes say ‘lots of musicky stuff going on’ (I’m so perfect for this job, aren’t I?) and this group had excellent communication and engagement with the audience. The Adjudicator started by complimenting their ‘shirt choice’ (which was loud – and the one bit I wasn’t so keen on) but moved on to the musicality, praising the ‘energetic performance’ and ‘lovely gratuitous key-change’ (was that a back-handed compliment?), but criticising the soloist for being ‘slightly under-balanced’ with the backing group. Nonetheless, the feeling in the room was that this was a contender. Bruno Mars’ ‘Lazy Song’, arranged by Henry Blencowe and Will Balderston, was New House’s offering. There was some theatricality at the beginning with onesies and beanbags, which may or may not have helped the sense of overall performance (some adjudicators love a bit of ‘context’; others just want to hear the singing), and then there was the song, which my notes say was ‘very tuneful’, though I struggled at times to make out Will Balderston’s solo

above the backing. Mr Parry called the piece ‘simple but effective’, enjoying the ‘nicely-staged’ routine, but commenting that there was ‘not much variety or contrast’ in the piece – but Freddie Holt’s whistling at least appealed to him! Another Pentatonix mash-up, ‘Save the World / Don’t you worry child’, arranged by the fabulously-talented Claudia Atkinson, was Field House’s song – and, again, they started the evening among the firm favourites. My notes are gushing: ‘great range of dynamics’, ‘very together’ and ‘POLISHED!’ (yes, in block capitals with an exclamation mark), though I did think, once again, that there wasn’t a huge amount of engagement with the audience. The Adjudicator gushed, too: ‘strong vocals, really well-balanced and welltuned’, ‘great communication’ and he ‘LOVED the final solo!’ (if he’d written it, he’d have used block capitals and an exclamation mark). It was clear that Field had impressed. After their Unison ‘effort’, there were some nervous faces ahead of The Cross’ contribution, but they proved the doubters wrong with a tuneful barbershop arrangement (by Daniel Ananda-Rajan) of The Chordettes’ ‘Lollipop’. The cheek-popping proved popular with the audience; I enjoyed it, but thought there could have been a greater range of dynamics. The Adjudicator praised the choice of song and complimented their ‘nice balance of voices’ and diction, but thought they needed more confidence. Finally, The Mitre offered a mash-up of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ (from Les Misérables) and B.O.B.’s ‘Magic’, arranged by Arabella Heap. It was an interesting concept, but my notes just say ‘Not working for me’. Mr Parry offered more detailed feedback, calling it ‘a sensitive and committed performance’ and ‘a bold idea… that almost came off’, but noting some tuning issues that made it ‘lose its mojo’. After an intermission from The Reptiles (singing ‘Blue Moon’), Mr Parry prepared to offer his verdict. There have been some shocking adjudications in the past, but this was a measured and fair judgement, with lots of positives and sensible advice for improvement. While everyone will have their own opinions – I’ve not held back from mine – there weren’t too many cries of ‘We was robbed!’ this year. The Abbey took the Girls’ Highly Commended prize, Latham the Boys’ Highly Commended, while the overall winners – and well-deserved – were Field House.

The sopranos and altos of the Chamber Choir gave a moving performance of Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols during January’s Coffee Concert, launching, in the process, the School’s new pedal harp. The Ceremony of Carols is a set of sublimely beautiful and varied Christmas carols written for harp and upper voices in three parts, requiring a highly-skilled group of singers and soloists, who process in and out of the performance singing plainsong. Solos were performed by Claudia Atkinson (U6F), Yasmin Dugdale (L6M) and Rika Canaway (5G), and Claudia especially must be congratulated for being a driving-force behind the whole event.

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HOUSE MUSIC INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION RESULTS JUNIOR PIANO Harry Scutt (3N)

JUNIOR GIRLS’ POPULAR SONG Rika Canaway (5G)

JUNIOR STRINGS Oliver Whittingham (4C)

JUNIOR BOYS’ POPULAR SONG Leo Parry (4C)

JUNIOR WOODWIND Henry Blencowe (5N)

JUNIOR GIRLS’ CLASSICAL SONG Evie Lownds (3A)

JUNIOR BRASS Rika Canaway (5G)

JUNIOR BOYS’ CLASSICAL SONG Jacob Webb (5S)

JUNIOR CONTEMPORARY Alistair Westwood (5N)

SENIOR PIANO Kyoko Canaway (U6G)

SENIOR BOYS’ POPULAR SONG Connor Wright (U6L)

SENIOR STRINGS Kathryn Monteiro (U6F)

SENIOR GIRLS’ CLASSICAL SONG Arabella Heap (U6M)

SENIOR WOODWIND Kyoko Canaway (U6G)

SENIOR BOYS’ CLASSICAL SONG Sam Riley (L6P)

SENIOR BRASS Matthew Jankinson (L6L)

HARP Claudia Atkinson (U6F)

SENIOR CONTEMPORARY Joe Jarvis (L6O)

JAZZ Henry Blencowe (5N)

SENIOR GIRLS’ POPULAR SONG Arabella Heap (U6M)

ORCHESTRAL PERCUSSION Peter Williams (U6L)

JMJH

MUSIC

The Reptonian 2016/2017

ROCKIT 2017 Firstly, praise should be given to RF and his legendary organisational skills that helped pull off this year’s show; it really wouldn’t have been possible without him. The technical crew also played a large role in making sure that the sound, lighting and stage were all suitable for the acts performing. The evening started with a fantastic duet from Henry Blencowe (5N) and Alice McShane (5A), singing their rendition of Rihanna’s ‘Stay’, which seemed to go down very well with the audience. Smith and Jones was the next act up and consisted of, no surprises, Jessie Smith (4M) and Barney Jones (5S), performing their rendition of ‘Stay With Me’ (originally sung by Sam Smith), which encouraged the crowd to start singing and sway to the music. Jake Ford (4S) and Oli Scutt (4L) then joined Smith on stage to perform a more upbeat song this time: ‘Wrapped Up’ by Olly Murs was their choice and featured impressive vocals and a stand-out guitar solo from Ford. As the previous act was leaving the stage, Harry Scutt (3N), a keen DJ, was setting up his decks to perform a set that he had made on his laptop. Self-titled The H. Scutt DJ Experience, he played his various remixed tracks, contrasting with the music that had already been heard on the night, and so providing a different listening experience for the audience. Soloist George Gough (5L) was next up, performing acoustically one of Ed Sheeran’s newer singles, ‘Shape of You’, as well as ‘Let Go’, both of which were very well received.

A three-piece band followed, with Connor Wright (U6L), Henry Emmett (L6L) and Oliver Thompstone (4L) making up the group, Emmett taking the role of lead guitarist, Wright singing and Thompstone on the drums. They performed their take of ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’, the audience singing along as they played, followed by ‘She’s Casual’, which completed their set perfectly. Totally Dangerous! (made up of Jamie Pringle (U6P) Sophie Holliday (U6F) and Eloise Harris (L6M)) were their successors on stage, playing a much slower set: Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’, Bastille’s ‘Pompeii’ and Paulo Nutini’s ‘New Shoes’. Holliday then left the stage, leaving Pringle and Harris to perform as a duet – Blue Tree. They produced a very slick cover of ‘Seven Nation Army’, which was very different from any cover I have heard in the past – a good addition to this year’s concert. Their second song, ‘The Hunter’, was, again, a hit with the audience. Blue Tree then left the stage and Heap & Holliday (another self-titled band, made up of Arabella Heap (U6M) and Sophie Holliday) took their place to perform some of their acoustic songs. They started with ‘Sun don’t Shine’ and swiftly moved onto ‘Crazy in Love’. They then sang Miley Cyrus’ ‘We can’t stop’, followed by Ed Sheeran’s ‘Castle on the Hill’, the last of which got the crowd singing and waving their phones in the air.

RockIt saw 20 musicians comprising 10 acts (mainly bands, this year) take to the stage to perform a variety of contemporary music, in doing so managing to raise £335 for the Lent Term charity, Foundation Derbyshire. The final act of the show saw a band from the previous year return to perform: Charlie Wilbraham (L6S), Alistair Westwood (5N), Jake Ford (4S) and ‘The Jarvi’ (Ollie and Joe Jarvis (both L6O)) made up The Outlaws III. They began their set with their cover of Kasabian’s ‘Underdog’, which was a hit with teachers as well as pupils! They swiftly followed this up with ‘Basket Case’ and ‘A Certain Romance’, with another fantastic guitar solo from Ford, as well as bass guitar from Westwood. The band then performed a small improvised song, which saw an impressive guitar solo (O. Jarvis) and drums (J. Jarvis). They moved onto ‘The Middle’ (Jimmy Eat World), led by Wilbraham’s vocals, with a great bassline from Westwood. The group finished with ‘Chelsea Dagger’, a classic song to which the audience (with encouragement from Wilbraham) sang and clapped along.

RockIt 2017 provided an unforgettable experience for both the musicians performing as well as the audience who watched. There was a great atmosphere about the show and it certainly demonstrated Repton’s contemporary music talents very well!

OLLIE JARVIS (L6O)

A DAY IN THE LIFE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

“ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE - AND MOST OF US ARE DESPERATELY UNREHEARSED.” Sean O’Casey

DRAMA

The Reptonian 2016/2017

BEYOND EXPECTATIONS THE MICHAELMAS SCHOOL PLAY For three nights in late November, the school was treated to a trip into the dark world of Victorian London as the Drama Department brought to life Dickens’ novel Great Expectations. The grandeur of the 400 Hall, expertly decorated by the talents of the Art Department, was the perfect setting for this classic tale of wealth and loss. As I took my seat in the packed theatre, it was clear that anticipation was high amongst the audience: not only was the Drama Department taking on a literary masterpiece, but it was doing so under the direction of a newcomer. Joining the new Director of Drama, FJB, backstage were Assistant Director Ana Man (5A) and Stage Manager Ed Albone (5N). The reputation of previous years’ shows loomed over the company during rehearsals and tensions were high on the night of the first performance. Yet, over the 2 hours that followed, the audience was enraptured by yet another top-notch production. The diverse cast, containing students from all year groups, put on performances far and beyond the typical standard of school plays. The protagonist, Pip, was played masterfully by two students – Hattie Nieper (3F) and George Shirley (L6N). Shirley, playing the adult Pip, took on his demanding role with dedication: not once did he leave the stage, giving the audience a continuous presence that captured the highs and lows of Pip’s life. Nieper, in her first show at Repton, enchanted the audience as Young Pip, her character’s golden-hearted innocence clashing against the gruff

criminality of Ruaraidh Stevenson’s (L6) Magwitch. Sam Riley (L6P) and Hannah Parker (L6F) as Mr and Mrs Joe Gargery depicted Pip’s unconventional family with the perfect mix of comedy and sincerity that their roles demanded. As the play continued, the audience was transported to the disconcerting mansion of Miss Havisham. Adorned in an elaborate wedding dress, crafted by the talents of the Textiles Department, Abbey Lloyd (U6G) gave a performance that perfectly captured the fragile intensity of the character. The cold Estella, played by Lauren Owen (L6A), was the force behind the romance that permeated the play. The story of Great Expectations is fraught with highs and lows. The ambition of Pip, and his subsequent fall from grace, make for a timeless story. It is therefore a mark of the expertise of the production team that they were able to put on such a well-known story with such original finesse. Leaving the theatre, it was clear that the audience had witnessed a performance of incredibly high calibre. In every way, FJB, the cast and the technical team delivered a show that exceeded all expectations.

LUCAS PRINGLE (L6P)

DRAMA

The Reptonian 2016/2017

AN INSIDER’S VIEW I was delighted to be given the challenge of bringing to life the famous role of Pip in Great Expectations, described by Dickens as a ‘very fine, new and grotesque idea’. I had to portray an unsettled young man coming to terms with his ’great expectation’, exploring childhood hopes and adult regrets, whilst being manipulated by the madly eccentric and bitter figure of Miss Havisham (terrifyingly portrayed by Abbey Lloyd (U6G)) and tormented by the cold-hearted Estella (Lauren Owen (L6A)). It is a fabulous story about the need to forgive, in which 19 actors and a 35-strong creative team from across the school had the most amazing adventure together. Miss Havisham’s dress, made by the Textiles Department, was incredible, as was the brilliantly realistic scenery created by the Art Department. Being on stage for every minute of the play, I was able to see how our patient director, FJB, built up each scene from the bare bones of the script, working with the actors and the creative team to bring the production together: every cue had to be perfect; every prop brought on stage at the correct moment; every scene-change swift and smooth. There were concerns about my hundreds of lines, and I spent hours with assistant director Ana Man (5A) and GRPW learning and practising, which must have been a tedious process for them both – and I am extremely grateful – but it all came together at the wire, which was a great relief for us all! Having spent so many weeks living and breathing the show with all of those amazingly talented actors and crew members, it was truly sad to see it all end. Having the 400 Hall to perform in is such a great privilege and this production will certainly be one of my Repton highlights. I cannot wait to work with everyone again next year!

GEORGE SHIRLEY (L6N)

DRAMA

The Reptonian 2016/2017

BROADWAY, BABY! I attended the opening night of From Repton to Broadway and was blown away by the sheer amount of talent exhibited by the actors and musicians. From seasoned performers to B-blockers making their theatrical debuts, everyone showed enthusiasm, pride, and ability. The show started off with the entire company, led very capably by Sam Riley (L6P), in their rendition of ‘Comedy Tonight’, arranged by our own RF. It was an upbeat, energetic start that set the tone for the entire evening. This was swiftly followed by a burst of dialogue explaining just what Broadway is. Three more songs followed: ‘What More Do I Need’, performed wonderfully by Rika Canaway (5G), Immie Hunt’s (L6G) rich, smoky voice fitting ‘Broadway Baby’ perfectly, and then the ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ sung in beautiful harmony by Izzie Mead (5G), Liv Truscott 4F), Alice McShane (5A), Lucy Goodacre (L6A), and Jess Richardson (L6G). We were then treated to another scripted link, featuring rising talent Hattie Nieper (3F) among others. The hilarious routine of ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’ by the cheeky Teddy Fluck (4L) and George Shirley (L6N) brought gales of laughter from the audience, with certain English teachers in the audience (JMJH?!) crying into their programs. Swiftly after this, and in a complete contrast of mood, Claudia Atkinson (U6F) stole the show – as always – with her truly beautiful singing of ‘Falling in Love with Love’. The delight of six more songs and three more interesting links followed, from the funny ‘Gee Officer Krupke’ by Leo Parry (4C) and The Jets and ‘I Feel Pretty’ by Scarlett Lloyd-Dickinson (4G) and others, to the more serious ‘Tonight’ by Sam Riley and Claudia Atkinson, ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’ from Lauren Owen (L6A), and ‘On The Street Where You Live’ by the brilliant Leo Parry. Act One ended with a stand-out performance of ‘Seasons of Love’, in my opinion truly the crème-de-la-crème of the show, with sparkling highs from Claudia Atkinson and Ella Twelves (U6F), and perfect harmonies provided by everyone else in this ensemble. So, I hear you say, Act One was pretty good, then? Was Act Two any better?

Well, after a short interval, the show kicked off again with a chorus of ‘New York, New York!’ by the Jazz Band that had the audience humming along and, in the case of the person sitting next to me, singing with great gusto. Fortunately, it was over before my eardrums received any permanent damage. Next was undoubtedly the best combination of acting and singing thus far, ‘My Party Dress’ by the incredibly talented Rika Canaway. This solo performance was followed by a company song, ‘When I Grow Up’, and a duet of ‘If Momma Was Married’ by Hattie Nieper and Emma Balderston (3M), which was both endearing and amusing. Immie Hunt followed with ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’ from Jesus Christ, Superstar, which was truly a delight to hear, before, for the umpteenth time that night, the mood turned on a dime-piece as, first, Sam Sinclair (4C) and an all-male ensemble blew the audience away with an electrifying performance of ‘Greased Lightning’, before an all-female performance of Chicago’s ‘Cell Block Tango’ picked up the pieces, chewed them up, and spat them out; it was very, very good. Izzy Roberts (3F) made her solo debut on the 400 Hall stage with an (understandably nervous, but still) excellent ‘Nothing’s Gonna Harm You’. Now, we had not one, but two, songs from Les Misérables, which I had been greatly looking forward to. Somewhat unfortunately, the person next to me shared the same anticipation; however, their belting out of the songs didn’t stop me from appreciating the wonderful talent displayed by, first, Claudia Atkinson with ‘On My Own’, and then the company with ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’. The show was topped off with a stunning whole-cast performance of ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’, led by the extraordinary Arabella Heap (U6M). All in all, From Repton to Broadway was an absolutely amazing display of the musical talent that can be found across the school. Anyone who didn’t attend seriously, seriously missed out.

ELLA HOPKINS (4F)

DRAMA

OUT OF THE BOX Out of the Box was new Director of Drama, FJB’s, first studio production at Repton. Centred around a giant dressing-up box, the audience was treated to a number of fairytale-style vignettes from a cast that ranged from A-block to L6, most playing multiple roles, sometimes as main part, sometimes as extra. Humour, pathos and morality competed for the audience’s attention in a surprisingly wide range of stories for a performance that lasted just under an hour; but an hour well-spent. Charlie Furniss (4O), as cast member, tells what it was like to work on this project: Out of the Box was exciting and always at full-throttle: from start to finish, the show was great fun for everyone involved. The small, fast-moving short stories were diverse in content, from a dark cold forest in one moment to a bustling city in another. The pace of the show meant that the audience invested wholeheartedly in the characters and, in so doing, the cast were able to perform to their full potential. The small performance space of the Studio Theatre allowed the actors to get close and personal with the audience, making the performance immersing, intimate and all-round enjoyable! JMJH & CHARLIE FURNISS (4O)

////// OLIVIA BROWN (U6M)

The Reptonian 2016/2017

THE DONAHUE SISTERS The Donahue Sisters, a play written by Geraldine Aron, was performed by Elinor Henson (L6A), Hannah Parker (L6F) and Mia Foster (U6G) in an atmospheric attic setting in the Studio Theatre on 7th and 8th February. In the play, the three sisters gather in the family attic, after visiting their father in hospital, to retell a shocking story that had occurred in their childhood. The clever direction of JMGL kept the pace fast, and incredible performances from the three actors allowed for the sinister events recounted to be genuinely thought-provoking, leaving the audience lost for words. The switching of the actors between their own character and that of the other child involved was central both to the plot and sense of performance, and was wonderfully effective. Henson said: It was very challenging for us, as teenagers, to act as middle-aged women with such a dark past and present, and then become children in that dark past barely at double digits, but we’re very proud of the outcome and how the audience responded. 10/10 would do again!. ALICE EARWICKER (L6A)

THE YELLOW WALLPAPER March 8th was International Women’s Day, a suitable date for the U6 practical Drama assessment that dealt with themes such as feminism, vulnerability and entrapment. The Yellow Wallpaper is a semi-autobiographical short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, in which she describes the treatment of women during a rest-cure prescribed for nervous disorders by Dr Silas Weir Mitchell, a famous physician. The story deals with the gender inequality that was considered typical at the beginning of the twentieth century, portraying women’s submissive nature towards dominant male authority figures.

Along with the use of two puppets and minimal set, the story was performed in Brechtian style by a cast of two, Ella Twelves (U6F) and Mia Foster (U6G), both playing multiple roles. They did a brilliant job in combining the themes of entrapment and oppression, whilst conveying the freedom in the mind of Jane when the woman was released from entrapment behind the yellow wallpaper. A brilliant, mesmerising piece of the theatre that was extremely moving.

The story follows the plot of the narrator, Jane, suffering depression after the birth of her baby. Her husband misdiagnoses her with ‘hysteria’ and tells her the only cure is to ‘rest alone’, so he sends her away to a castle, locking her inside a room with yellow wallpaper.

LAUREN OWEN (L6A)

Jane soon grows bored, trapped inside this room, and, even though it has been forbidden, she writes her feelings and thoughts into a diary, which helps her to feel better. However, even her writing cannot free her from the isolation of the room: her condition worsens and she starts to see a woman trapped inside the yellow wallpaper – so Jane tears down the yellow wallpaper in order to free the woman inside. When Jane’s husband comes to collect her after her ‘time of rest’, he realises that she has gone completely mad and faints in shock at the madness that has taken over her life.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

“CREATIVITY TAKES COURAGE” Henri Matisse

////// KATHRYN MONTEIRO (U6F) & ABBEY LLOYD (U6G)

ART & DESIGN A DAY IN THE LIFE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

INTERVIEW WITH AN ARTIST ROSEMARY ‘RO’ CAMPION JOINED REPTON IN 2015 IN THE L6. FROM A YOUNG AGE, SHE HAS LIVED AND BEEN EDUCATED IN LONDON AND, NEVER HAVING TAKEN A CREATIVE SUBJECT BEFORE STARTING HERE, SHE HAS CHEEKILY ADMITTED THAT SHE WOULDN’T MIND BEING ‘THE NEXT DAMIEN HIRST’. PRESENTLY, RO IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A FUTURE IN ART AND IS STARTING AN ART FOUNDATION COURSE AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY IN SEPTEMBER 2017. The Reptonian: What is the name of your exhibition in the High Street Gallery?

Reptonian: Who has been your inspiration?

Ro: I’ve called it the Incognito Rooms.

Ro: Richard Tuttle. His ideas involve minimalism and, when I refine my thoughts, like in my second Incognito room, I’m driving myself to be minimalist.

Reptonian: What is the purpose of this exhibition? Ro: I wanted to show my creative process in exhibition form, to show people how I work as an artist. In one room, I’m showing how messy my thoughts can be and, in the next, I’m consciously refining this version of my ideas. Reptonian: Why is the sign backwards from the outside? Ro: The reason I wrote the sign on the inside of the glass is because it then reads in reverse to a passing viewer. From the inside, it emphasises how you are in my world and my mind and is, therefore, more interactive with me.

Reptonian: Who is your favourite artist? Ro: Anthony Gormley, particularly his White Cube exhibition from 2016. Reptonian: Why did you choose to do Art at A-Level? Ro: I chose Art unexpectedly, after IJW noticed I was sitting in my Photography lessons painting! Sir told me I was taking the wrong A-Levels… And I was. Reptonian: Final question. What would you say to any potential artists reading this?

Ro: Bold, Uninfluenced, Driven.

Ro: To any potential artists: don’t limit yourself! I only found Art at 17, so it’s definitely not too late to start expressing yourself creatively. As Tyler the Creator said “Don’t put yourself in a box”. Always be open to new things, because my agreed-upon route was drastically altered after meeting IJW and I have no regrets.

Reptonian: Why did you use the Gallery in your A-Level project?

REBECCA TRAFFORD (U6A)

Reptonian: Describe your exhibition in three words. Ro: Insightful, Personal, Arrogant. Reptonian: Describe yourself in three words.

Ro: My art wouldn’t fit in my book or the art studio… I’ve been exiled into the Gallery! But, really, I wanted to make my art accessible to people who struggle to express themselves through creative means.

ART & DESIGN

The Reptonian 2016/2017

THE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

TRIP TO LONDON This year was a little different for the Department’s London Design Trip: it was earlier in the school year and just two months after the brand new Design Museum opened its doors in Kensington. The traditional trip over Tower Bridge was strangely missed, and it’s fair to say the old building will always have an important part to play in the Design Museum’s story, but the new building is a masterpiece. Firstly, it’s not really a “new” building at all; it’s a retrofit and restoration of an existing space, with rejuvenated residential blocks as part of the project as well. Many years in the making, this grand new, accessible space gives the discipline of design a real boost, and the exhibitions play a very important role in this. Pupils were first directed to the permanent (and free) exhibition: Designer Maker User. This exhibition curates some of the museum’s most iconic permanent collection pieces in a new way, showcasing their stories from three different perspectives: from how the designer conceived the ideas, through to details of the manufacture of well known designs, through to how the user views everyday products and how important they are to our everyday lives. It is the Department’s view that everything in this display will be of huge value to the pupils’ exam studies, and proved even teachers don’t know everything: one of the best bits for GLH was discovering that her favourite “love to hate” Juicy Salif lemon-squeezer is die-cast in a three-part mould, not the traditional two (Yes, GLH is fully aware and proud of her DT geek tendencies!). It was also great to see other design classics displayed in such an engaging way. It will certainly provide much discussion and reference material as we start to hit the revision periods.

Alongside Designer Maker User was a small temporary exhibition that was a surprising hit with the Sixth Form that explored the relationship between design and an ageing population, and the imaginative concepts that this subject-matter draws from designers. GLH enjoyed a fantastic discussion with some of the L6 and U6 boys about “What age is ‘old age’?”. The museum had set up an interactive board to display visitors’ responses, and the boys wasted no time in contributing with insightful statements such as “Old age is a state of mind” and “It’s important to still feel useful in old age” – an impressively mature response from our students. The final exhibition to be viewed by the group was Beazley Design of the Year Awards – showcasing conceptual and realised ideas across a range of design industry areas. This was a real opportunity to for those students interested in a career in Design to really see the breadth and imagination of the solutions presented by both established and new designers. Some of the students were particularly intrigued by the running trainers on display, made from recycled fishing-line, alongside a flashing bike-helmet to improve cyclist safety. Pertinent to current world affairs, there was even a full-scale mock-up of a refugee shelter on display. Luxury and Need, both in one exhibition. More time was available to us, this year, because of the Design Museum’s move. It was now a short 20-minute walk to the V&A, some of the pupils getting a little starstruck along the way when they met the actor Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, The Walking Dead), who was kind enough to stop for a couple of photos. We seem to spot someone every year! On arrival at Exhibition Road, pupils were given time to walk around and absorb a huge range of exhibitions in the V&A, including the 20th Century Furniture gallery. Some of the pupils also managed to find the modern silver jewellery display tucked away on the third floor, which contained some stunningly impressive pieces of work. Always a hugely beneficial day for the Sixth Form and the Design Department, after some free time around Knightsbridge, it was time to return to Repton, somewhat more enriched for what we had seen during the day.

GLH

A DAY ART & DESIGN IN THE LIFE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

INSIGHT INTO TEXTILES My A-Level textile piece originated from the word ‘Falling’. I looked into the themes of music idols, journalism and Feminism. My final piece visually describes the effect and devastation that can happen to some famous people when the media and associated press start to destroy them through the power of words, and how this can contribute to their well-documented final demise. I focused on the deaths of idols such as Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson, who were taken from the world following well-publicised heavy addiction to a variety of substances. I carried this into feminist theory, as the paparazzi frequently objectify female celebrities – and men to some extent – adding to already heightened social pressures on them. My final piece incorporated a newspaper that was literally falling apart, underlining the way that people can be destroyed by words. This also incorporated images on the front page of the celebrities I had studied. These were made using a number of textile techniques and applied to the newspaper background.

////// OLIVIA BROWN (U6M)

The final piece is designed to be worn around the neck, extending upwards in the form of a sort of sculptural translucent mask around the wearer. This is to show how the real person is still within the written words; they have just been obscured. You need to look between the lines to find the truth. This also references The Guerrilla Girls – a group of women who wear guerrilla masks in order to exercise their right to stop the world from commenting on their image, which I felt reflected another angle of my contextual research. I really enjoyed working on this concept, because it showed me not only how important the contextual element of research is in developing your personal project, but also the importance of truthful reporting – a career I wish to pursue – and how difficult and controversial subjects can be tackled in a visual way and form a talking-point to raise awareness and comment. Taking Textiles for A-Level was one of the best decisions I made in my time at Repton. AJB, Repton’s textiles teacher, allowed me to explore all the different aspects of society that interested me, from religious iconography to feminism, and incorporate these ideas into my work. The subject thrives on experimentation; nothing you can do is wrong, it can only be improved. I had never been in the Textiles building before, let alone used a sewing needle, but this did not matter. I learnt very quickly that the Department was so welcoming and accepting and it was just about finding your feet. Everyone has an individual style of working towards achieving their goals. Without wanting to sound like an advertisement, I would strongly recommend this course to anyone speculating over their subject decision: it never occurred to me that I was necessarily talented in the art world and, because of this, I was always afraid to have a go. Through studying textiles, I have found my hidden passion, not only of Art but also of expression.

////// LUCY KNIGHT (U6M)

ELIZABETH PRICE (U6M)

////// REBECCA TRAFFORD (U6A)

////// HARRIET DASHWOOD (U6A)

“PERFECTION IS NOT ATTAINABLE, BUT IF WE CHASE PERFECTION WE CAN CATCH EXCELLENCE” Vince Lombardi

SPORT CRICKET

The Reptonian 2016/2017

hitting a boundary to finish 84 not out, just as the rain started to fall. We won ten games overall, eight of those when we were batting second. Individually, we had players who did their job. Glanville became a reliable opening batter, and no one had worked harder to achieve their goal of being a 1st XI cricketer. His opening partnership with Callan Harvey was crucial. Harvey became a genuine run-scorer, who never gave his wicket away and knew his own game inside-out: he knew his shots and developed his skills against spin over the season. His 600 runs was by far the highest and not many have outscored him in the nine years I have been working with Repton 1st XIs.

1ST XI The 1st XI of 2016 was a good one on paper: it had balance, depth and experience. By the end of the season, though, we were dealing with an excellent team, that lost just three matches over the course of the season in the games that were completed and were undefeated after the 7th May.

managed to stay on top of teams or come through in tight situations. Cricket is not all about batting and bowling, and this third discipline can be underrated. In a side that does it well, it is a noticeable trait.

The question is, what made this group so hard to beat? Looking back, we can reflect on the fact that they were a proper team: there were no superstars that were expected to score millions of runs or bowl out opposition teams; each player knew their role and performed it to the best of their ability. As such, we were tough to beat.

The start to the season was relatively even and we battled in all these games, as well as with the weather: it snowed and hailed during our game with the Free Foresters, to the extent that we had to wait for the snow to melt on the square before resuming the game! Malvern was washed out as we had them at 40-3 and, later in the season, the game against Sedbergh saw a storm that resulted in the whole square flooding before we could even get all the covers on!

One reason I attribute to our success was that we were the best fielding side on the circuit. We had great catchers in all the key positions and an athletic group of players that ensured we never conceded more runs than we should. They took to the field with energy and this was one of the ways we

We lost narrowly at Shrewsbury, after being in an excellent position, but that was the last time this side was willing to lose. Wins followed over Uppingham, where we beat the format, too, by bowling our overs quickly to make sure we had time to knock off their total. David Glanville drove our

innings, with support from Sookias. The week after, we went to Worksop and played a strong side in my favourite game of the season. After reducing to 40 overs after morning rain, we bowled well through the middle of the innings to chase 4.5 an over. Harvey and Glanville set the tone, but, after a flurry of wickets, Sookias and Trotman held their nerve to win the game with three balls left in a great game of cricket. Another win over Notts High followed and then over an in-form Trent College team, when our middle-of-the-innings catching put the brakes on their run-scoring, Glanville again leading the batting in the knock-off. Jack Bull returned the best bowling figures for three years against Derbyshire U17s, and we were denied what looked to be a win by heavy rain in the afternoon of day two. Speech Day brought another win, batting second, which became our speciality, and there was no finer way to end the season than Captain Joss Morgan

Our new-ball pairing of Trotman and Bull was also one of the best on the circuit: they challenged the stumps and had skills to move the ball around. Bywater, Harvey, Mann, A-blocker Buffin and, at various times, Fortey, Tarrant and Davis all gave our bowling attack variety and balance. Trotman took well over 50 1st XI wickets and Mann just under. These are significant achievements and their three years in the team will be tough to replace. This team will miss the 2016 leavers more than most years: Morgan, Mann, Trotman and Bywater were pretty much everpresents in the team for two years or more, while Davis, Fortey and Hibell offered us much. Moreover, they were great teammates for each other and the younger lads; they set an example and their dedication to the school was second to none. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll miss their input and company. There are lots of people to thank on behalf of the team, as we rely on many people to put the season together. I hope they enjoyed watching this team as much as I did.

CAPTAIN: J. Morgan (S) SQUAD: L. Brown (N), T. Buffin (S), J. Bull (O), J. Bywater (C), G. Davis (L), H. Fortey (N), D. Glanville (O), C. Harvey (O), E. Hibell (O), B. Mann (P), K. Marcelle (L), J. Sookias (S), M. Steventon (P), M. Tarrant (S), S. Trotman (L).

P 16

W 10

Ab 2

XL CLUB 141 ALL OUT (HARVEY 3-10) REPTON 142-4 (MORGAN 44)

WON BY 6 WKTS

REPTON 274-6 (MORGAN 103) DERBY COLLEGE 236-6

WON BY 27 RUNS

OAKHAM 262-6 REPTON 155 ALL OUT

LOST BY 107 RUNS

FREE FORESTERS 200-1 REPTON 182-8 (HARVEY 71, MORGAN 59)

LOST BY 18 RUNS

MALVERN COLLEGE

MATCH ABANDONED

MCC 143 ALL OUT (BULL 3-19) REPTON 144-5 (SOOKIAS 50*)

WON BY 5 WKTS

REPTON 173 ALL OUT (MORGAN 45) SHREWSBURY 174-6

LOST BY 4 WKTS

UPPINGHAM 178-8 (MANN 3-32) REPTON 179-6 (GLANVILLE 75, SOOKIAS 41)

WON BY 4 WKTS

WORKSOP 187-7 (TROTMAN 2-26) REPTON 188-4 (HARVEY 46, GLANVILLE 42)

WON BY 6 WKTS

NOTTINGHAM HS 176-9 REPTON 177-2 (HARVEY 56, GLANVILLE 69)

WON BY 8 WKTS

TRENT COLLEGE 185-8 REPTON 186-2 (GLANVILLE 84, HARVEY 49)

WON BY 8 WKTS

REPTON 337-5 (HARVEY 96, HIBELL 85, MARCELLE 49) ASHVILLE COLLEGE 165 ALL OUT (BUFFIN 4-31, HARVEY 3-28)

WON BY 172 RUNS

DERBYSHIRE MINI-ACADEMY (T20) 105 REPTON 106-3 (TROTMAN 56*, GLANVILLE 45)

WON BY 7 WKTS

SEDBERGH 240-7 (TROTMAN 3-60, MANN 2-37)

MATCH ABANDONED

DERBYSHIRE U17 (2-DAY FIXTURE)

MATCH DRAWN

REPTON PILGRIMS

WON BY 6 WKTS

IMP

SPORT CRICKET

The Reptonian 2016/2017

3RD XI After the extraordinary heights of last season, it was back to more traditional “Mighty 3rd XI” fare this year: lots of fun; varying degrees of enthusiasm as Saturday approached; moments of recognisable cricket. Oakham and Uppingham were run pretty close; Shrewsbury and Trent weren’t; and we were denied certain victories against Malvern by the rain (okay, we were 64-6 at the time, but I sensed the comeback was underway), and against Notts High by Ramadan.

2ND XI Like the squad for much of the season – apart from a few stalwarts – this was a real mixture of a term, in which there were some excellent performances, along with some apologetic ‘village’ cricket of the worst kind. It began with the latter against Oakham: their opening bat, who eventually got his century, was dropped eight times before we finally clung onto one! Our batting wasn’t much better, with the exception of Marcelle, who gave us a glimpse of what was to come with a well-accumulated 40. The Shrewsbury game was equally frustrating, when, after posting a competitive total, we looked to have our old rivals on the ropes with three early wickets, but then dropped their number four on 5, 45 and 55 – he going on to win the game for them with an unbeaten century. SQUAD: W. Cooling (N), F. Cheshire (S), S. Congiu (O), G. Davis (L), H. Fortey (N), C. Hetherington (C), T. Hopkins (C), M. Jankinson (L), D. Kinsella (S), K. Marcelle (L), C. Middleton (N), M. Proudlove (N), A. Rai (P), G. Sheldon (L), M. Steventon (P).

That said, I would like to focus mainly on the positives. Our performance against Derbyshire was an excellent way to bounce back from the disappointment of the Oakham game and various elements of our game certainly improved over the course of the season. The first really commanding display came against Birkdale, who were put to the sword by our batsmen, and it will be hard to imagine Cheshire’s figures of 4 overs, 3 maidens, 4-5 (in a T20 game!) ever being beaten. The Uppingham game threw up another weakness – extras: we gave away 42 to their 12, and this decided the match, both sides being otherwise very evenly matched, Marcelle once again starring with bat and ball. However, it was pleasing to conclude the term with two wins. As captain for the final game, Marcelle’s 97* against Trent earned him a call-up to the 1sts and his contribution was superb in all three main facets of the game during the term. Cooling and Cheshire’s performances often proved decisive, too, and I’d like to thank all the players for their good humour and company. Time to work on reducing those extras… and some catching!

WGO

OAKHAM 270-8 REPTON 74 ALL OUT (MARCELLE 40)

LOST BY 196 RUNS

DERBYSHIRE U15 134 ALL OUT (COOLING 3-22, CHESHIRE 2-15) REPTON 137-8 (HETHERINGTON 35, CONGIU 32)

WON BY 2 WKTS

REPTON 262-3 (GLANVILLE 107 RETIRED, MARCELLE 56, STEVENTON 30) BIRKDALE 102 ALL OUT (CHESHIRE 4-5, DAVIS 2-8)

WON BY 160 RUNS

REPTON 201-7 (JANKINSON 51, STEVENTON 49, COOLING 47) SHREWSBURY 203-4 (HOPKINS 2-15)

LOST BY 6 WKTS

UPPINGHAM 176-9 (MARCELLE 4-35, RILEY 3-22) REPTON 174-8 (MARCELLE 47)

LOST BY 2 RUNS

REPTON 136-6 (HETHERINGTON 40, KINSELLA 32) WORKSOP COLLEGE 121-8

WON BY 15 RUNS

TRENT 152-9 (MARCELLE 3-18) REPTON 154-7 (MARCELLE 97*)

WON BY 3 WKTS

The batting was decidedly fragile; aside from captain James Newham’s fine 76 at Oakham, only Dominic Nield and Samuel Benson really threatened (but never quite went on to) a big score, whilst others seemed more intent on keeping opposition fielders on their toes. The bowling was led by Benson, who was consistently dangerous, but there was little in the way of support to keep the pressure on, even if Dan Walker, John Robson, Jakob Wanger and Dan Allen had their moments. Matthew Proudlove entered the fray late on, and his strong all-round showing against Uppingham saw him straight up to the 2nds. Far more important than the statistics, though, were two interlinked points: the improvement in all aspects of play throughout the term and the great enthusiasm and support at nets and matches from the likes of Edward Sheasby, Jamie Pringle and Charlie Bicknell. Huge credit, too, to skipper Newham: he set a great example at practices and showed a good deal of nous on match days.

NJK CAPTAIN: J. Newham (P) SQUAD: D. Allen (P), S. Benson (P), C. Bicknell (S), B. Foxley (P), O. Green (P), K. Hirano (N), D. Nield (O), J. Pringle (P), M. Proudlove (N), S. Ramsden (L), J. Robson (L), E. Sheasby (S), R. Stevenson (S), D. Walker (C), J. Wanger (S).

U15 A XI CAPTAIN: M. Tarrant (S) SQUAD: W. Balderston (N), T. Buffin (S), F. Byrne (S), L. Combellack (S), N. Fellows (S), J. Gough (L), A. Greenwood (O), W. Needham (N), J. Nelson (L), G. Rice (N), D. Rider (P), J Webb (S).

Ab 1

In a rain-affected season, the team had a sluggish start: looking rusty with the bat, a number of players got in only to throw their wicket away. The final few weeks showed the potential in the boys; they never gave up, despite being on the end of some big defeats. After tough losses against Oakham (by 4 wickets) and a horrific collapse against Birkdale (we needed 9 runs off four overs with 8 wickets in hand!), where Buffin top-scored with 54, the boys could easily have thrown in the towel; being the natural competitors this year group are, they returned to training and worked hard to rectify technical and mental obstacles. A thriller against Notts High (a onewicket win in front of a big crowd) gave the boys confidence and they backed this up with a much more comprehensive 44-run win against Warwick.

REPTON 78 ALL OUT (TARRANT 34) OAKHAM 81-6 (TARRANT 3-21)

LOST BY 4 WKTS

BIRKDALE (T20) 138 REPTON 132

LOST BY 6 RUNS

REPTON 213-5 SHREWSBURY 230-5

LOST BY 17 RUNS

REPTON 102 ALL OUT (WEBB 34) UPPINGHAM 103-3 (BALDERSTON 2-11)

LOST BY 7 WKTS

REPTON 129-7 (FELLOWS 42, COMBELLACK 38) WORKSOP COLLEGE 133-0

LOST BY 10 WKTS

NOTTINGHAM HS 116-5 (TARRANT 2-8) REPTON 117-9 (HOBSON 35*, GREENWOOD 29)

WON BY 1 WKT

REPTON (T20) 148-7 (GREENWOOD 82*, BROWN 23) WARWICK 104-7

WON BY 44 RUNS

DENSTONE COLLEGE 78-8 REPTON 82-7

WON BY 3 WKTS

I enjoyed the season immensely, despite the results, and I can say with real integrity how proud I was of the boys’ commitment. I wish them the best of luck for the future.

SEDBERGH

MATCH ABANDONED

Then came a thoroughly professional display on a very tricky pitch against Denstone’s 2nd XI. After a fantastic bowling performance, we restricted Denstone to 78-8 and Balderston ensured we knocked those runs off with a couple of overs to spare. The best match of the season was our final game against Sedbergh, where both teams showed quality – Tarrant and Brown bowling superbly to keep the Sedbergh charge in check, and Tarrant batting brilliantly in an unbeaten 50. Sadly, the rain hit in at the key moment of the game – and boy did it! A true model of British Summer.

Ab 1

SPORT CRICKET

The Reptonian 2016/2017

U15 B & C XIs

U14 B & C XIs

There were several highlights for the U15 Bs, including a sparkling hundred from Martin Thomas. However, despite some promising performances and some very close finishes, the team was not quite able to register a win.

It was a tough season for the U14 B cricket team, winning just one game over its course. Nevertheless, significant progress was seen over the season. The highlight of the season was undoubtedly the win and this was done in convincing style against Worksop: Max Rosser’s 75 off 57 balls took us to a total that was well out of reach and Dunn, Atherton and Stanojevic took regular wickets to ensure that we won comfortably. If this performance had been replicated against other teams, we would surely have won several more games. Sadly, Rosser’s 75 was the only individual score above 35 all season and this meant it was difficult to reach competitive totals. Our bowling was better – with Kennedy, Wanger, Collins and Hornsey all regularly taking wickets. However, they were poorly supported in the field; we dropped catches regularly all season. There is a lot of potential in the team and they were great fun to coach. If they can improve on their catching and give greater value to their wickets, they will have greater success next year.

While the IPL, Big Bash and T20 Blast all make good viewing, the majority of our matches were 30 overs per innings and, too often, we did not make full use of the overs when batting. This put our bowlers under increased pressure before they had even bowled their first ball and, while Tom Roberts and Harry Hey were often trusted with the new ball and able to keep things relatively tight, keeping the run rate down later on the innings was always a tall order. Rahul Kaushal-Bolland had a healthy knack of picking up wickets and, on their day, George Gough and Toby Haigh were able to cause even the best batsmen problems. In summary, we weren’t quite able to register a complete performance with bat, ball and in the field, but the boys know that, if they can combine all of these three facets of the game, then they are more than a match for any of the teams that we played. Despite their lack of cricketing experience, there was plenty of enthusiasm in the nets and on the training field from the U15 Cs. The early season promised a successful few games, but, after a win and a loss in the first two weeks of term, the weather and other factors conspired against us to leave just one further fixture in Week 9. Although we never really hit our stride, many of the boys improved their skills and learnt more about the game of cricket. Let’s hope next year brings us more action!

SDG & CL U15 B CAPTAIN: G. Gough (L) U15 B SQUAD: T. Allen (P), M. Barnes-Batty (C), A. Dashwood (L), T. Haigh (L), H. Hey (L), A. Kaem (C), R. Kaushal-Bolland (P), T. Roberts (P), R. Sillery (S), M. Thomas (O). U15 C CAPTAIN: T. Dewsbury (O) U15 C SQUAD: M. Barnes-Batty (C), H. Blencowe (N), T. Combe (N), T. Cruickshanks (O), G. Gilby (S), H. Gilmore (S), C. Herdman (O), H. Hey (L), A. Kaem (C), C. Lake (O), Y. Otsuka (C), C. Parker (L), P. Romanovskiy (O), C. Royston-Webb (O), J. Truelove (L), J. Yates (L).

U15 B

U15 C

U14 A XI 2016 proved to be a testing year for the U14 A cricket team, owing both to some challenging fixtures against strong opposition and bad weather. However, 3 wins were recorded and progress was made in all departments. Sadly, rain saw 5 fixtures cancelled and 2 abandoned part way through, while four games were lost, including the County Cup semi-final against Trent. The leading run-scorer was captain/opener, Will Hobson, with 214 runs, and he also picked up 8 wickets. He led the side with distinction and he was without doubt the Player of the Season: it was excellent to see him make his 1st XI debut against Ashville School towards the end of the term. Our leading bowler was Will Tomalin, who took 14 wickets with his left-arm orthodox. He was the most improved player of the season and his mature approach to training saw him make rapid progress. His 5-14 against Derby Grammar and 4-6 against Worksop saw him bowl with accuracy, guile and turn. Sadly, injury saw Matt Newstead only make 3 appearances: however, his left-arm swing bowling was incredibly effective when he was available (5 wickets at 9.80).

Ab 2

OAKHAM 197-8 (SAYER 3-21) REPTON 86 ALL OUT

LOST BY 111 RUNS

MALVERN

MATCH ABANDONED

REPTON 83-9 (SAYER 48*) KES, BIRMINGHAM 86-1

LOST BY 9 WKTS

BIRKDALE 69 ALL OUT REPTON 72-4 (WRIGHT 34*)

WON BY 6 WKTS

SHREWSBURY

MATCH ABANDONED

UPPINGHAM 191-5 (TOMALIN 3-37) REPTON 146-1 (HOBSON 74*, SAYER 36*)

LOST BY 45 RUNS

WORKSOP COLLEGE 58 ALL OUT (TOMALIN 4-6) REPTON 59-2

WON BY 8 WKTS

Vice-captain, Seb Sayer scored 126 runs, at an average of 63. He showed a great deal of maturity in a well-fought 48* against KES, Birmingham. Likewise, he was real threat with the new ball, where he picked up 7 wickets. Ever-presents were tenacious all-rounder George Fynn and batsman/wicket-keeper William Wright. Behind the stumps, Wright secured 5 stumpings and 3 catches; with the bat he scored fluently in the victories against Birkdale and Derby Grammar, with 34* both times. A special mention must go to Molly Dytham, who became the first girl ever to be a regular member of a Repton A team cricket squad: her exemplary attitude towards training and effective swing bowling made her an integral part of the team.

U14 County Cup (T20)

The season served very much as a learning experience: the need for concentration in the field, waiting for the bad ball when batting, and the need for consistent line and length when bowling. Moving forward, Hobson, Newstead, Sayer and Wright all represented the U15 A team, which bodes well for the future. Mr Afford and I wish all of the squad the very best for the future with their cricket.

SQUAD: M. Archer (P), T. Bloor (S), M. Dytham (M), G. Fynn (S), M. Kennedy (N), G. Kirtland (N), M. Newstead (S), S. Sayer (C), O. Scutt (L), W. Tomalin (N), W. Wright (O).

ROUND 2 BYE QUARTER-FINAL DERBY GS 88 ALL OUT (TOMALIN 5-14, NEWSTEAD 3-15);

WON BY 9 WKTS

REPTON 89-1 (HOBSON 39, WRIGHT 34*) SEMI-FINAL TRENT COLLEGE 136-2 REPTON 58 ALL OUT

In spite of a disrupted fixture list, including three cancelled games and the match at Foremarke abandoned due to snow on April 26th, the U14 C team performed admirably with either bat or ball, but did not quite manage to bring both facets of the game together successfully in any one game. The highlight was the final fixture, a T20 challenge against Notts High, when the team snatched a defeat from the jaws of victory and lost by one run. Billy Collins was a worthy man of the match; Carlos Godo Masana and Nathan Baker performed consistently well with the bat, and Charlie Furniss, Kian Modhwadia and Alec Bramall troubled top-order batsmen with impressive bowling.

ARC/MWTH & KPM

U14 B CAPTAIN: J. Thompson-Dykes (P) U14 B SQUAD: M. Archer (P), M. Atherton (O), N. Baker (P), T. Bloor (S), W. Collins (P), T. Dunn (O), E. Fluck (L), J. Ford (S), C. Godo-Masana (P), E J. Hall (S), J. Hornsey (O), M. Kennedy (N), L. Platts (P), J. Raine (C), M. Rosser (O), M. Stanojevic (L), J. Wanger (S). U14 C SQUAD: N. Baker (P), A. Bramall (P), W. Collins (P), E. Fluck (L), C. Furniss (O), C. Godo-Masana (P), J. Hornsey (O), M. Krivonogov (L), K. Modhwadia (N), J. Newbould (S), T. Owen (N), L. Parry (C), D. Purewal (N), D. Robinson (S), J. Wigglesworth (L), S. Yates (O).

U14 B

U14 C

LOST BY 78 RUNS

ALSO PLAYED: T. Dunn (O), L. Platts (P), J. Sherry (L), R. Tabata (N), J. Thompson-Dykes (P), B. Wanger (S), B. Wheelton (S).

JWB

SPORT TENNIS

The Reptonian 2016/2017

TENNIS GIRLS’

The first match of the season, the girls looking very smart in their new kit, saw us play Church Broughton Lawn Tennis Club, who brought ladies with experience: we had to play some clever tennis, as hard-hitting winners weren’t falling in with the wind. Even though we lost the top and bottom singles matches, strong showings from Johnson at two and Kempkes at three, both with 9-4 wins, kept us ahead; together with Tarrant’s and Morris’ wins, the score after singles was 4-2 to us. However, the CB ladies were very effective doubles partners, taking the top two games to level the overall scores. Morris and Scutt, our third pair, got to 8-8 and into a tie-break for the match! In what was a thrilling finale, both girls played terrifically, keeping the pressure on the opposition and forcing errors, to win the tie-break and match. The away fixture at Rugby could only be described as Baltic! It was a credit to the girls’ professionalism to play in freezing cold winds and the occasional downpour. Allwood and Johnson, at 1st pair, led the team superbly and were comfortable winners (6-2, 6-1, 6-0), both using their serves as weapons on the fast astro-turf courts. Kempkes and Tarrant battled hard, being victorious in two of their three matches. Morris and Scutt did what every good third pair should do – take down the opposition’s thirds (6-0) – to gain a solid 6-3 overall win. It was a superb fixture against local rivals, Trent College. Allwood and Johnson once again got off to a brilliant start, stamping their authority on the match to win 6-2, 6-0, 6-1. Aggressive baseline hitting from Kempkes and very solid net play from Davey made for a great partnership, running out

1ST VI 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 winners. Scutt and Morris competed well, with two close defeats to Trent’s first and second pair, but taking the final match 6-2. Against Uppingham, all pairs looked dominant throughout the afternoon: Allwood and Johnson didn’t drop a game, which is mightily impressive even for this dynamic duo. Davey and Kempkes had a challenging first encounter with the Uppingham first pair, coming back from 4-1 down to win 7-5, and following this with 6-0 and 6-2 victories. Tarrant and Scutt beat Uppingham’s 2nd pair 6-4, then volleyed fantastically to beat the first pair 6-2. The third pair proved trickiest of all: the Uppingham girls were returning well and with pace into the corners, which created problems for us, as there were no opportunities to progress to the net and take control of the point. However, persistence paid off in the end and a couple of forced errors gave us a 7-5 win to seal an unbeaten afternoon. In the final fixture, against Oakham, it took a little while for us to settle: although Allwood and Johnson still won 6-0, there were few long rallies. Davey and Kempkes contested their game fiercely, winning 6-3, with the final pairing of Morris and Limmer missing out 2-6. In the second round, Davey and Kempkes got into their stride, quickly winning 6-0, matched by Allwood and Johnson, although the third pair again found conditions difficult, losing 2-6. By the final round, we were peaking, all three pairs winning. This ended another excellent season for the girls: they remained undefeated throughout! Following a first round bye for the Senior girls in the Aberdare Cup, we came up against St Dominic’s School: we had never

faced them before, but were fully aware of their team. All players competed well and, apart from Allwood at number one, we were comfortable, eventually winning 8-2. In the final round of qualifying, we were drawn away against Hagley RC School, another we had never faced before, although fully aware of the strength of their team. Individually we matched up weaker than the opposition and, although the girls battled really well, they were too strong for us and we lost out 2-10, with Davey the only player to come off court with a singles win. A good effort from the team and no doubt we will be back next season to go one step further!

JWR P5

CHURCH BROUGHTON LTC

W 5-4

RUGBY

W 6-3

TRENT COLLEGE

W 7-2

UPPINGHAM

W 9-0

OAKHAM

W 7-2

ABERDARE CUP

ROUND 3 HAGLEY RC

U15 A VI

The 2nd VI rotated players regularly due to academic commitments; however, some excellent pairings were established throughout the term. Manon Allen and Marie Limmer always looked threatening, no matter the opponent, and even when they had lost against Rugby’s second and third pairs, they were still able to find their form and beat their opposite first pair! The team played other schools’ 1st VIs, which often led to thrilling points throughout games, but the final scores often weren’t a true reflection of our worth. Phili Wilson and Ella Ewins created lots of chances, missing out on the final game on a couple of occasions, but not through lack of determination. Our understated third pairing often packed a punch during match play, catching out a lot of opponents. Celia Newstead and Ella Nieper picked up several games against higher pairings through their ardent work from the baseline and good variety of shots.

The U15 A tennis team battled through some cold and miserable weather to enjoy a pretty successful season. An away fixture at Malvern kicked off the season in style: Sophie Earp and Anastacia Peters dominated their game; Emilia Kaczmarczyk and Lucy Gould battled against some tough competition to come away with a straight set victory; in their usual way, Megan Griffiths’ and Sophie Ainger’s teamwork resulted in confident victory; a definite highlight of the season.

It was great to see the U16 girls combining their studies with enjoying tennis. Matches were entertaining and varied, some won relatively easily and others a struggle, such as the match against Rugby, played in cold conditions with an outstanding performance by the number one pairing, Venetia Mair and Maddi Lea, who fought courageously, winning all three of their matches against some excellent opposition. Some girls only played one match, because of other commitments, such as the DofE Silver practice expedition, although this gave many others the opportunity to play. In addition to matches and practice sessions, time was spent during the evening and at weekends on courts enjoying their tennis. Overall a great team effort and lots of highlights throughout the matches. Well done, girls.

LP & PJG

ROUND 1 BYE ROUND 2 ST DOMINIC’S

2ND & U16 A VIs

W 8-2 L 2-10

CAPTAIN: E. Allwood (A) SQUAD: H. Davey (F), C. Johnson (A), J. Kempkes (A), L. Morris (A), F. Scutt (G), A. Tarrant (M). ALSO PLAYED: M. Limmer (G).

2ND VI

U16 A VI

2ND VI SQUAD: M. Allen (F), E. Ewins (G), M. Limmer (G), C. Newstead (M), E. Nieper (F), P. Wilson (G). ALSO PLAYED: H. Chantler (G), E. Girling-Budd (A), J. Goodhead (M), K. Morgan Williams (M), H. Walker (A). U16 A SQUAD: S. Earp (A), I. Hacking (M), A. Karpova (G), S. Karpova (G), M. Lea (M), H. Lipton (G), V. Mair (F), B. McClarron (G), C. Newham (F), G. Renshaw (M), E. Ross (G), O. Stocks (G).

All the girls were thoroughly impressive throughout the season, especially in the way in which they adapted to changes in the pairings. Kaczmarczyk and Earp formed a competitive duo: with Kaczmarczyk’s powerful ground strokes and Earp’s dominance at the net, they were unstoppable. Gould and Griffiths teamed up to produce some excellent performances, particularly against Trent. Equally, the new pairing of Ainger and Peters worked a treat: they clicked instantly and, particularly with Peters’ ferocious serve, they played some excellent tennis, particularly against Oakham. The girls faced some difficult opposition, but worked hard in training sessions to improve their tennis skills and that hard work paid off.

SMB SQUAD: S. Ainger (M), S. Earp (A), L. Gould (M), M. Griffiths (M), E. Kaczmarczyk (M), A. Peters (F).

SPORT TENNIS

The Reptonian 2016/2017

U15 B & C VIs The girls had a mixed season, yet the overall statistics do not accurately reflect the tennis that they played. Izzy Clarke and Ellie Andrew made huge leaps as a pairing: at the beginning of the season, both were nervous and underestimated their ability, but Clarke worked brilliantly from the back of the court to showcase her powerful groundstrokes (especially her forehand), while Andrew’s confidence improved dramatically, reflected in her willingness to attack the net. Izzy Sharratt and Connie Martin clearly enjoyed teaming up together. At times, their attention and attacking prowess wavered, but, when determined, both are extremely competent players who certainly have a streak of determination within them. Sharratt showed that she is more than capable at cutting off points from the net, whilst Martin chases down every ball to keep in the point. Emily Clark and Trinny Coupland-Smith had a tough term, with many results narrowly not going their way. Coupland-Smith developed excellent groundstrokes in order to move her opponents around the court, also showing her determination to chase down every ball. Clark developed the skill to work out where to place the ball in order to make her opponent work. Meanwhile, although predominantly a C team player, Ana Man was fundamental at stepping in when the Bs were short of players. Results may have not gone the girls’ way, but they are an extremely capable group, who at times didn’t show the determination that I know they have.

All girls who have represented the U15 Cs this year were enthusiastic and their determination to improve their tennis was second to none. Immy Nieper and Eliza Benson were a formidable first pair, who had determination in bucket loads. Ana Man and Sophie Palmer worked brilliantly at the net. Grace Gordon and Libby Roberts were not a consistent pairing, with Grace being injured for much of the season, but, when together, worked hard to place the ball in a way that made the opposition move. The rest of the squad was fundamental to the C team’s success, always stepping in when needed (often at short notice). The girls were a pleasure to coach and it was fabulous to see their skills progress.

GKB U15 B SQUAD: E. Andrew (M), E. Clark (F), I. Clarke (F), T. Coupland-Smith (M), C. Martin (M), I. Sharratt (M). ALSO PLAYED: A. Man (A)

Fortunately, we weren’t down for long and we powered through matches against Oakham, Uppingham and Trent. There is much depth of talent in

The statistics speak for themselves and the U14 B team should have been more than pleased with a job well done. Brown, Hatton, Swain and Archer were the backbone of this team; all four would share my Most Improved Player award. They were supported by some fine performances from a number of others. The team began well, with an 8-1 victory over Malvern, and this was a good warmup for the Uppingham match. Sheer grit, clear heads and determination saw them clinch a very exciting match 5-4 in the final round, and it was a joy to watch them play (all the more impressive considering so many of them were then whizzing off the National Hockey finals – such is the talent of these girls). This was probably the highlight of the season. The U14 C team was a delightful set of girls, who had a terrific season on the tennis court, especially given that many had never played a match before. They achieved an impressive set of results against our rival schools, too. Well done all!

U15 C SQUAD: E. Benson (A), E. Bond (F), G. Gordon (A), I. Hankins (M), A. Man (A), A. Marshall (M), I. Nieper (F), S. Palmer (A), E. Roberts (M), C. Swinbank (M).

NMD

U15 B

U14 B CAPTAIN: F. Brown (M)

U15 C

the junior school and the standard of competition is high: this group of girls is a serious force to be reckoned with, and looks to be a bright hope for the future.

MALVERN

W 8-1

RUGBY

L 4-5

UPPINGHAM

W 6-3

OAKHAM

W 7-2

TRENT COLLEGE

W 8-1

CAPTAIN: D. Lea (S) GLANVILL CUP SQUAD: J. Cook (C), W. Davies (O), J. Finnigan (N), T. Nevill (O). 1ST VI SQUAD: J. Cook (C), W. Davies (O), J. Finnigan (N), R. Freeman (C), T. Nevill (O).

LOUGHBOROUGH GS

W 7-2

U14 B SQUAD: C. Archer (M), A. Berger (F), M. Cann (A), S Corner (G), A. Harcus (A), I. Hatton (G), C. Morris (A), M. Swain (M).

SHREWSBURY

W 7-2

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY

W 8-4

BROMSGROVE

W 9-0

U14 C SQUAD: J. Archer-Reed (F), A. Berger (F), E. Bond (F), S. Corner (G), I. Hankins (M), A. Harcus (A), E. Smith (F), S. Walker (G).

OLD REPTONIANS

L 4-5

Glanvill Cup P7 W6 L1 REGIONAL QUALIFIERS

NMD U14 A SQUAD: E. Benson (A), E. Bond (F), G. Gordon (A), I. Hankins (M), A. Man (A), A. Marshall (M), I. Nieper (F), S. Palmer (A), E. Roberts (M), C. Swinbank (M).

TENNIS BOYS’ P5

U14 A VI An impressive win against Malvern kicked off the girls’ season. Whilst the standard of our tennis was impressive – hard-hitting, aggressive and powerful – I fear it may be the fact that we arrived at Malvern in a fleet of Mercedes taxis that will keep the match etched in all of our memories (not least by one of the drivers, who was convinced to take a detour to McDonalds on the return journey!). Never let it be said that Repton girls aren’t keen to get to a match! We went on to lose narrowly to Rugby – our opponents dominating by simply keeping the ball in play. This was probably our only failing: learning to slow the ball down and keep it in when the chips were down.

U14 B & C VIs

U14 B

U14 C

LOUGHBOROUGH GS

W 12-0

TRENT COLLEGE

W 10-2

WYGESTON & QEI COLLEGE

W 10-2

The summer season was a great success for the Boys’ 1st team, although it started off disappointingly with the cancellation of the opening match against Church Broughton due to rain and snow! We did still manage a smaller fixture on the indoor courts, but what is usually an incredibly competitive singles and doubles fixture turned into more of a practice session. Elsewhere, we had convincing victories over Loughborough GS, Shrewsbury, Bromsgrove and Cambridge University. The Cambridge match was another highlight of the fixture list, with the Reptonians enjoying playing on the hallowed turf at Cambridge. The only blemish of the season came at home in our inaugural fixture versus the ORs! This was a fixture played with great competitiveness, but

1ST VI also in good spirit, as both teams in between matches exchanged tennis-related stories of their Reptonian days! The returning OR team comprised Daniel Cottier, Philip Brindley, Julian Harrison, Will Reay, Andy Brigham and Alastair Wright. The fixture went all the way to the wire, with the strong OR team eventually coming out on top 5-4. Thanks to everyone involved and we look forward to hosting this again next summer. With the team arguably being the strongest for many years, we looked forward to the start of the National Qualifying (Glanvill Cup). Comfortable victories over Loughborough GS and Trent meant a final round match-up against Wygeston and QEI College: a potentially tricky fixture, as their team comprised a strong lineup, containing numerous boys who had defeated us in the past. This really showed how far our lads have come: the opposition were dispatched in record time, all four boys winning their singles and conceding very few games along the way.

NATIONAL FINALS BOURNEMOUTH COLLEGIATE

L 2-10

HIGHGATE

W 10-2

AYLESBURY GS

W 10-0

REEDS ‘B’

W 7-6

SPORT TENNIS FOOTBALL The National Finals were once again held at Queenswood School in the middle of July, with the top 16 schools in the nation battling it out. Not being seeded, we were unfortunately drawn against Bournemouth Collegiate, who were one of the favourites for the title. After the singles, we were 1-3 down, with only Lea picking up a straight sets win. Cook, Finnigan and Davies were all defeated, although they had close matches.

The Reptonian 2016/2017 After doubles, the final result was a 2-10 loss. The next three days saw fantastic victories over Highgate, Aylesbury and Reeds ‘B’, the highlight being the victory over Reeds on the final day: Lea and Nevill won their singles, but defeats for both Cook and Finnigan took the match to the doubles, which was also split, a score of 6-6 taking the match into a tie-break shoot-out! Cook and Finnigan were selected, following their doubles win in regular play,

and they certainly didn’t let their nerves get the better of them, playing some superb doubles tennis to take the breaker 10-6! Well done to the team and, in particular, Lea, Cook and Finnigan, who played their last match in the Repton maroon!

JWR

U15 A & B VIs In regular school fixtures, the U15 A team was undefeated, but rotating line-ups led to some competitive fixtures. Our top players had far too much craft and guile for opponents, but as qualification for the Nationals progressed, we used the opportunity to give others a run in the side. The most competitive fixture was the first, against Notts High, where we were confined to the indoor courts to avoid the sleet and snow falling outside! Repton won the first round of matches at a canter, Kang hitting heavy groundstrokes, coupled with a good first serve, and Hill’s powerful baseline hitting being equally dependable. However, Joshi and Edwards lost to their first pair: despite playing some good tennis, they lacked consistency and killer-instinct. Third pair Berger and Zibarev held on to win their match in a tie-break, Zibarev hitting some deep, heavy forehands and serving ‘double aces’ to get out of trouble. The U15 B team won their only fixture, against Warwick, by a comfortable 8-1 margin. Third pair Chaibi and Smith played particularly well: having squandered a 4-0 lead and let their opponents back to 4-4, they held their nerve to run out 6-4 winners. Second pair Joshi and Edwards made great use of spin on the low-bouncing, fast surface, while first pair Zibarev and Berger played great doubles tennis, Zibarev’s big forehand setting up easy volley kills for Berger. It was a shame that bad weather and opposition cancellations meant that there were not more fixtures for this group. Away from regular school fixtures, this was a superb year for our U15 Boys, culminating in Repton’s highest-ever finish at the National Finals. With very convincing wins in the County stage

against QEGS, Ecclesbourne and Ockbrook, we progressed through to the regional knockout phase. Yet again, the boys showed how talented they are, being undefeated against both Hagley RC and King Edward’s, Birmingham. This meant Regional qualification had been achieved and a place in the last 16. We headed into the Regional Finals as top seeds, but fully aware of the potential upset that could take place with three other strong schools in the draw. However, following a great day’s tennis at Tipton Sports Academy, Repton came out on top with victories over Bedford Modern and Altrincham GS, resulting in qualification for the National Finals.

Ottewell, playing at number three, to give Repton a solid 2-0 lead. Tough matches for Thomas and Murphy against nationallyranked juniors meant the score was 2-2 heading into the doubles. Murphy and Ottewell proved very good as second pair, but, although Thomas and Hill battled hard, they just came up short, resulting in a 3-3 draw and a tie-break shoot-out to decide the result! Thomas and Ottewell were selected to represent Repton in what turned out to be a nail-biting climax: from 6-9 down, the boys dug deep and came out on top 12-10, saving three match points along the way! A thrilling end to what was a fantastic year for this group of talented players. Well done team!

The Finals took place at the impressive Bolton Arena in December. First up for Repton were number one seeds, Merchiston Castle, who ultimately proved far too strong for our lads, who fought hard but came off court disappointed. A very close contest with old rivals Millfield followed, the opposition eventually running out 8-4 winners. The final match, for the 3rd place trophy, was against defending champions Culford. This turned into an incredible battle, with fantastic tennis played by the Repton boys, who defied all the odds to clinch victory by the smallest of margins. Hill got the ball rolling in the singles, with a good win on his debut, and this was backed up by

JWR & MRW

U15 A VI U15 B VI

U15 National Competition P 10 W 8 L 2 COUNTY STAGE QEGS, ASHBOURNE

W 12-0

ECCLESBOURNE

W 12-0

OCKBROOK

W 12-0

REGIONAL KNOCKOUT PHASE HAGLEY RC

W 12-0

KING EDWARD’S BIRMINGHAM

W 12-0

REGIONAL FINALS BEDFORD MODERN

W 12-0

ALTRINCHAM GS

W 12-0

0 NATIONAL FINALS

NOTTINGHAM HS

W 6-3

SHREWSBURY

W 8-1

WARWICK

W 7-2

MERCHISTON CASTLE

L 0-12

MILLFIELD

L 4-8

CULFORD (3RD/4TH PLAY-OFF)

W 7-6

U15 CAPTAIN: M. Thomas (O) U15 NATIONALS SQUAD: A. Hill (C), K. Hoppner (L), J. Murphy (S), A. Ottewell (N). U15 A SQUAD: L. Berger (C), S. Brenchley (P), C. Edwards (P), A. Hill (C), P. Joshi (P), S. Kang (O), J. Murphy (S), A. Ottewell (N), A. Zibarev (L). U15 B SQUAD: L. Berger (C), Y. Chaibi (C), C. Edwards (P), P. Joshi (P), W. Smith (O), A. Zibarev (L).

FOOTBALL 1ST XI With a huge proportion of the team leaving at the end of last season, there was always going to be an element of transition about this season. However, with some strong players in the U6 and some excellent new additions arriving in the L6, we were still optimistic. The season began with the usual curtainraiser in the form of the ISFA Sixes. With a new look to the side, and our captain and most experienced player only a spectator, we took a little time to click. We ground out a win against Oldham Hulme and a draw against a tough St Bede’s outfit, before really finding our feet against Dulwich, Manchester GS and a highly fancied Bede’s side to win all three and top the group. This pitted us against another top team in Hampton and, although we took the lead, we were edged 1-2 in the end. We took this form into the early season. Although we lost 1-2 at home to Bradfield, who were one of the best teams on the circuit this season, we felt that we had performed well and that the side was taking shape. Healthy wins against Wolverhampton GS and Charterhouse followed, as well as nice progress in the cup competitions. The side was settling into some sort of pattern, with Tom Wilkinson getting amongst the goals and Merlin Ferrinho proving to be both a goal-scorer and provider from the right. The form of James Parton was also encouraging, his link with Ferrinho really starting to bear fruit. At the back Jack Bull and Luke Tandy were forming a strong defensive partnership, with Matt

CAPTAIN: W. Norcross (S) SQUAD: A. Aliev (P), M. Barnes-Batty (C), J. Bull (O), O. Buckland (O), T. Buffin (S), B. Chapman-Lilley (P), W. Davies (O), A. Edwards (O), M. Elliott (P), M. Ferrinho (O), L. Huffer (O), J. Lloyd (C), T. Nevill (O), J. Parton (C), J. Pollard (L), J. Rosenberg (S), G. Singh (N), L. Tandy (N), T. Wilkinson (C), O. Williams (O). ALSO PLAYED: P. Cheng (C), L. Hardy (C), D. Uffang (P). Elliott in goal having the season of his life. Another high point, although it again ended in defeat, was the match away at Millfield. There is no tougher away fixture on the circuit and we were short of Tandy, Ferrinho and Norcross. We battled to a tight 1-2, but really brought on several members of the squad as well as announcing the arrival of Otis Williams as a real top-quality midfield performer, capable of dominating against the best on the circuit. Our ISFA Cup adventure started in the impressive surroundings of Wellington College with quite an easy victory. This was followed with a comfortable win over Highgate and a fantastic demolition of Bury GS in Round 3. However, this game was to prove pivotal as, with the side flowing nicely, we lost Parton for the season with an ACL injury. In my view, this took a huge toll on the side: not only is he a good player and, therefore, hard to replace, but he provided the side with much-needed balance and his ability to link with our other attacking threats was really causing opposition teams problems; I felt that the side never quite performed the same without him. Despite this, we still went into our quarter-final away at Shrewsbury with a sense of optimism:

we had a strong defence and felt we had enough in the team to score a couple of goals. A tight game followed, in which they edged into the lead just before half-time. We responded well and had the better of the second period, Ben Chapman-Lilley (P) hitting the bar before Tandy equalised. Despite chances to win, we lost out to a penalty five minutes from time to go down 1-2. The side was also short of our regular left-back in Tom Nevill and, overall, I felt the absence of our usual left hand side probably made the difference. Our ESFA campaign was less fulfilling and came to an end on a shocking pitch at John Taylor in what barely resembled a football match. It was as much a shame for them (as they were a decent side) as it was for us, but it just served to highlight why I will never quite view the ESFA competition as highly as others; matches like that certainly undermine the credibility of the tournament, in my view. We went into the Lent Term with a determined focus: we wanted to retain the ISFA Northern 8s trophy for the third consecutive year and reach both the Derbyshire and Staffordshire County Finals for the second successive season. The Northern 8s title was secured for the fourth time in five years after topping a

SPORT FOOTBALL difficult-looking group led us to a semi-final against St Bede’s. They were favourites, having just smashed the much-fancied Shrewsbury team in their last group game. However, we were simply outstanding, racing into a 2-0 lead that we never looked like relinquishing. The final against Shrewsbury gave us the chance for revenge on the ISFA Cup QF defeat. We looked fitter and sharper and really took the game to them. They looked to play on the break, but Bull never looked like letting them get a run on Elliott. They would have fancied their chances with penalties, so it was a huge relief when Artem Aliev waltzed through their massed defence to smash the ball into the roof of the net. We secured the title when Max Barnes-Batty was put clear, beautifully lifting his finish over the advancing Shrewsbury ’keeper for two-nil. In my opinion, it was our best victory of our four: we had had injuries to key players and did not arrive in Chester as the favourites; we had tough games all day, with narrow victories, but still emerged as champions, peaking at the right time. It was a personal triumph for the captain, Will Norcross, who also lifted the trophy as Player of the Tournament. He was selfless in his running for the team and in playing several different positions. His experience of such tournaments was also invaluable in what was a relatively inexperienced side. We went on to defend our Staffordshire U18 title with a superb 3-0 victory against a Codsall side who are always tough opponents. The execution of our gameplan was superb and goals from Ferrinho, Barnes-Batty and Norcross saw us home. It was one of those matches where, genuinely, every player had a truly excellent match and really served to highlight the mantra that an effective team performance is about every player doing their job well.

The Reptonian 2016/2017 This was followed by our final game, which saw us meet Tupton Hall for the second time this season, in the Derbyshire Cup Final. Despite Tupton keeping a disciplined defensive shape, we controlled the game and eventually ran out 5-0 winners to carry off the title for a second consecutive year. The highlight of the match was a wonderful hat-trick from Norcross, who ended his Repton playing career in the same way as he began it nearly five years earlier. It has certainly been a successful season. We have won a lot of games and scored plenty of goals. Crucially, we have also defended well and kept the goals against column down, with an impressive 14 clean sheets. Even though we have become used to lifting silverware over the last few years, it should be remembered that this is not the norm and that the football circuit, at ISFA, regional and county level, is incredibly competitive. Norcross represented the England ISFA U18 team this season, including games against Hertha Berlin and Australia Schools, whilst Ferrinho also represented the ISFA U18 side, as well as the ISFA U17 side against Scotland U18. The Player of the Year award went to Jack Bull – thoroughly deserved as he has blossomed into a highly-accomplished defender this season. He has been everpresent, as well as remarkably consistent, and also chipped in with 9 goals over the course of the season. With a strong core of players returning next season, a few exciting additions and some excellent younger players coming through to challenge for 1st XI places, I feel that the experiences of this season could well be the springboard to something very special next season.

MMC

U18 Staffordshire Cup CHAMPIONS

ISFA Northern 8s CHAMPIONS

2ND XI

ROUND 1 KINGSMEAD

W 9-1

ISFA 6-a-side QUARTER-FINALISTS

QUARTER-FINAL DE FERRERS

W 6-0

U18 ESFA Cup

SEMI-FINAL ALLEYNES

W 9-0

FINAL CODSALL

W 3-0

U18 Derbyshire Cup CHAMPIONS ROUND 2 ANTHONY GELL

W 8-0

QUARTER-FINAL HIGHFIELDS

W 8-0

SEMI-FINAL ECCLESBOURNE

W 2-0

FINAL TUPTON HALL

ROUND 2 TUPTON HALL

W 10-0

ROUND 3 WOLGARSTON

W 2-1 (AET)

ROUND 4 JOHN TAYLOR

P 29 W 22 F 122 A 29

L 0-1 (AET)

L7 L 1-2

LIVERPOOL RAMBLERS

W 2-0

WOLVERHAMPTON GS

W 3-0

STAFFORDSHIRE U16

W 6-0

CHARTERHOUSE

W 6-3

MILLFIELD

L 1-2

KIMBOLTON

W 4-0

HAMPTON

L 0-2

SANDBACH

W 3-2

W 9-1

ST BEDE’S COLLEGE

W 4-1

L 1-2

BRADFIELD COLLEGE

L 0-4

STAFFORD GS

W 2-0

BEDE’S

L 1-4

W 5-0

ROUND 1 WELLINGTON COLLEGE

W 8-0

ROUND 2 HIGHGATE

W 5-1

QUARTER-FINAL SHREWSBURY

W 4-2

BRADFIELD COLLEGE

U18 ISFA Cup

ROUND 3 BURY GS

ROUND 1 GEORGE SPENCER

The 2nd XI had an impressive season, beating a number of 1st XIs and only being on the end of narrow defeats that, for the most part, could have gone either way. We started the season strongly, with fine wins over King’s, Chester and John Port, where clinical finishing and team discipline proved the difference against strong opposition. The match against MGS was one of the highlights of the season for me; I have rarely seen such consistent intensity in a 2nd XI game. The boys were outstanding, playing against a mix of 1st and 2nd XI players, and defended heroically as a team and individually. Heartbreakingly, we conceded with almost the last kick of the game to draw, but this set the benchmark for the remainder of the season. We had a difficult end to the season, with close defeats by Millfield and Shrewsbury, when we were understrength, but, to the credit of those who filled in, these games were incredibly tight and hinged on the finest of margins. We ended in style, beating an athletic Bury GS 1st XI, 2-1. Having gone 1-0 down early on, a moment of magic from Sorrell (unquestionably goal of the season) and a goal from Chukwumah (to ensure he finished as top-scorer), saw us take a close game.

The side was ably captained by Methven, and then Salisbury when the former fell to injury. They led by example in the middle of the park, breaking down play and starting attacks with quick, early balls forward. Our defence was ably marshalled by Field, who was an ever-present with Combellack; Field deservedly picked up both Players’ and Coach’s Player of the Year at the end-of-season dinner. Our attack was spearheaded by the battering ram which was Chukwumah and he really grew and learned the role as the season developed. Behind him, we had the creativity and guile of Lloyd, Sorrell and Singh, the last of whom pushed Chukwumah close for top-scorer. More than this, though, they proved a very likeable and committed group of boys, who were a pleasure to coach and travel away with.

MRW

P 13 F 35

W7 D3 A 19

KING’S, CHESTER

W 4-0

JOHN PORT 1ST XI

W 6-2

BRADFIELD COLLEGE

L 1-4

WOLVERHAMPTON GS

W 7-0

LIVERPOOL RAMBLERS

D 1-1

ST AMBROSE COLLEGE 1ST XI

W 5-2

WELBECK DSF COLLEGE 1ST XI

W 3-1

MANCHESTER GS

D 2-2

CHELLASTON 1ST XI

W 2-1

MILLFIELD

L 1-3

KIMBOLTON

D 1-1

SHREWSBURY

L 0-1

BURY GS 1ST XI

W 2-1

CAPTAINS: R. Methven (P) & E. Salisbury (N) SQUAD: B. Buckley (S), P. Cheng (C), C. Chukwumah (N), L. Combellack (S), A. Field (L), L. Hardy (C), L. Huffer (O), J. Lloyd (C), J. Pollard (L), G. Singh (N), E. Sorrell (S). ALSO PLAYED: M. Barnes-Batty (C), O. Campbell (O), F. Cheshire (S), G. Clarke (O), W. Davies (O), A. Edwards (O), K. Hirano (N), E. Mansfield (L), J. Phillips (O), J. Rosenberg (S), B. Sharratt (N).

SPORT FOOTBALL

The Reptonian 2016/2017

U16 A & B XIs

3RD, 4TH & 5TH XIs Tracking this season’s 3rd XI results graphically gives you something of a positive parabola. Everything started well, with good wins against Ackworth and Wolverhampton GS, while the away draw against Bradfield was probably the game of the season. There was then, however, a mid-season lull in which a series of away fixtures showed that the team definitely preferred playing on home soil. Two wins and a draw in the last three matches did bring some symmetry to proceedings and the final results tally was a fair reflection of the season, with the team often playing up a level. Special mentions must go to our ever-present U6 players who now move on: Freddie Cheshire in goal, Ed Simms playing out from the back, Elliot Todd offering width on the left, the Sharratt brothers providing a midfield shield and Anna Jowle looking after the ball and creating forward momentum. The future looks bright, however, and with players like Will Harlow, Jack Phillips, Otto Campbell, Kento Hirano and George Clarke returning next season, the spine of the team is looking strong. The attitude of the team was excellent throughout the season; a squad of players who were a pleasure to work with, home and away. The 4th XI had a fairly pleasing season, with a decent number of fixtures, a huge number of goals and excellent wins against Kimbolton and Welbeck. The lowest point of the season was easily the away trip to Millfield, of which no more will be written. A new addition to the fixture list was a series of challenging and feisty games against a 1st XI from local rivals Trent College. However, the season highlight was the 5-3 defeat of Shrewsbury (ours being the only senior team to win), a victory made even sweeter by the opposition coach declaring loudly before the game, ‘We don’t lose to this lot!’ His closing remarks to his team – ‘That wasn’t part of the script!’ – tells you all you need to know! 4th XI football should predominantly be about enjoyment and I certainly enjoyed my time with this group of lads: the tackling

3RD XI CAPTAINS: F. Cheshire (S) & B. Sharratt (N) 3RD XI SQUAD: O. Campbell (O), G. Clarke (O), W. Harlow (P), K. Hirano (N), A. Jowle (M), J. Phillips (O), M. Sharratt (N), E. Simms (P), E. Todd (S). ALSO PLAYED: S. Benson (P), B. Buckley (S), S. Congiu (O), W. Edwards (P), M. Gracie-Ainscough (N), H. Griffiths (N), O. Herring (L), M. Jankinson (L), J. Luke (L), E. Mansfield (L), D. Nield (O), C. Poole (N), J. Pringle (P), M. Taylor (C), C. Wilbraham (S). 4TH XI CAPTAIN: D Allen (P) 4TH & 5TH XI SQUAD: S. Benson (P), C. Bicknell (S), M. Clark (N), W. Cooling (N), W. Edwards (P), H. Griffiths (N), O. Herring (L), P. Knowles (O), J. Langan (L), J. Luke (L), Z. Murtza (C), D. Nield (O), F. Ohle (N), J. Pringle (P), S. Ramsden (L), S. Richardson (N), J. Robson (L), S. Sahil (S), S. Storer (P), M. Taylor (C), J. Wanger (S), C.M. Wright (L). of Richardson and Cooling was always committed; Langan commentated expertly on every match; Allen captained well and grew into our very own Makélélé. Before he was poached for the 3rds, Griffiths chased everything on the pitch, but special mention has to go to Ohle, who scored an incredible 13 goals in 8 games! The 5th XI only had one game, against Shrewsbury, and, as is now tradition, they won it! This means they have won all their games for three years in a row: what a record! CBHD can hold his head high with this achievement.

SDG & MWTH P

3RD XI

4TH XI

5TH XI

The U16 As opened the season in style with a comfortable and convincing win over another northern powerhouse, King’s, Chester. Indeed, having a goal difference of +5 after the first game filled everyone with high hopes, although that was soon exhausted following a hugely disappointing defeat at home to local rivals, John Port. Although it wasn’t known at the time, these two results would be characteristic of the season as a whole: one week the boys would conjure spell-bounding football, as demonstrated by away wins at Bradfield and Manchester Grammar; the next, they would be heavylegged and capitulate far too easily, as was seen in the home games against Millfield and Shrewsbury. Other notable fixtures were the lastsixteen round win against Thomas Alleynes in the Staffordshire Cup and the very impressive win over the ISA Midlands team, both very narrow games indeed. Of course, this season is the final time that these boys will play together and I wish them all well as they move through the senior school. I was well aware that, for most of them, hockey is their real passion, but I hope they continue to play the sport. I would also like to give credit to Parras Joshi, who displayed an excellent attitude all season and led by example, as well as

Liam Combellack, who proved to be very versatile and finished the season having notched up game-time in at least five different positons. The U16 Bs persevered impressively over the course of the season, performing very well in some extremely tough fixtures. The strong performances were based on a confident defensive performance based around Roberts and Balderston, who were tenacious centre-backs, and the ever-reliable pairing of Needham and Hey at full-back. The highlight of the season was undoubtedly a comprehensive victory against Millfield (continuing NFP’s magnificent unbeaten run against them!): Freddie Holt gave a characteristically dogged performance in centre midfield, running about 5 times as far as anyone else on the pitch and Jack Yates was on deadly form up-front, firing in a hattrick. Another notable performance was against Shrewsbury, where the team showed fantastic determination to bounce back from 1-0 down at half-time to win 2-1, thanks to a late winner from Simon Brenchley and an excellent cameo from Marcus Tarrant. Charlie Edwards and Charles Royston-Webb also deserve mention, along with Angus Greenwood, for their consistently impressive performances. I am sure the squad will go on to make a big difference to the senior teams next year, although perhaps a bit more fitness will be required!

U16 Staffordshire Cup

U16 A CAPTAIN: F. Byrne (S) U16 A SQUAD: O. Brierley (C), L. Brown (N), L. Combellack (S), A. Edwards (O), E. Eren (L), T. Hackett (N), P. Joshi (P), G. Rice (N), P. Romanovskiy (O), R. Sillery (S), D. Uffang (P). ALSO PLAYED: M. Barnes-Batty (C), T. Buffin (S), I. Isakov (S), D. Rider (P), M. Thomas (O). U16 B CAPTAIN: W. Balderston (N) U16 B SQUAD: T. Allen (P), S. Brenchley (P), C. Edwards (P), A. Greenwood (O), H. Hey (L), F. Holt (N), A. Kaem (C), W. Needham (N), Y. Otsuka (C), D. Rider (P), T. Roberts (P), C. Royston-Webb (O), M. Tarrant (S), J. Yates (L).

U16 Burton & District Schools’ Cup ROUND 1 PAULET

L 1-3

ROUND 1 NEWCASTLE

W 12-0

ROUND 2 THOMAS ALLEYNES

W 5-4

ROUND 3 SIR THOMAS BOUGHY

D 2-2 (L ON PENS)

U16 A Results KING’S, CHESTER

W 7-2

JOHN PORT

L 1-4

BRADFIELD COLLEGE

W 5-2

MANCHESTER GS

W 3-1

MILLFIELD

L 0-4

LADY MANNERS

L 4-5

KIMBOLTON

W 2-1

ISA MIDLANDS U16

W 2-1

SHREWSBURY

L 0-4

U16 A XI

U16 B XI

RGDR & ARC/NFP

U15 A XI If there were one word to sum up the group of boys who represented the U15 As this year, it would be character. Sometimes it was the kind of character that sees you equalising with thirty seconds of extra time remaining before holding your nerve to clinch victory in a back-and-forth penalty shootout. Other times, it was the ‘character’ that sees you roll up to training with your hair in a top-knot, teaming a pair of slides with skin-tight, full-length Lycra and blasting out the finest tunes that Soulja Boy has ever produced from your Bluetooth speaker. Either way, it made for a truly unforgettable season. In twenty-one fixtures across all three terms, only two teams were able to get the better of us – Forest School in ISFA quarter-final extra-time and Wolgarston on penalties in the Staffordshire Cup Final. I hope this is an achievement the

boys will reflect on with a sense of pride in years to come. The aforementioned last-minute equaliser from the boot of Eno Nto against Aldenham will certainly live long in my memory – without a doubt the most exhilarating moment I have experienced on a football pitch as either player or coach. I am confident in saying that this is the strongest squad of pupils I have had the privilege to work with in my teaching career and their victories in the Burton & District Cup along with the MGS 8s certainly bear witness to that.

CAPTAIN: J Raine (C) SQUAD: M. Atherton (O), J. Ford (S), G. Fynn (S), W Hobson (S), C. Inman (O), G. Kirtland (N), K. Kurmaly (C), M. Lewis (P), M. Rosser (P), J. Sherry (L), M. Stanojevic (L), R. Tabata (N), J. Thompson-Dykes (P), W. Wilkinson (P), S. Yates (O). ALSO PLAYED: R. Cheung (C), T. Dunn (O), C. Jackson (O), E. Nto (P), S. Sayer (C), H. Solomon (P), D. Uffang (P), J. Williams (S).

Individually, these boys are gifted with a remarkable array of talents; collectively, they play a brand of football rarely seen at schoolboy level; and, as a unit, they simply refuse to recognise when they are beaten. It is only a matter of time before many of them get to pull on the coveted maroon jersey and I know they will do it proud.

SPORT FOOTBALL

P 21 F 66

W 16 A 29

The Reptonian 2016/2017

KING’S, CHESTER

D 2-2

JOHN PORT

W 2-0

BRADFIELD COLLEGE

W 2-0

MANCHESTER GS

W 5-2

STAFFORDSHIRE

L 0-4

CHELLASTON

W 5-2

MILLFIELD

W 3-1

KIMBOLTON

W 2-0

SHREWSBURY

W 5-4

BURY GS

W 3-2

MGS 8s Tournament CHAMPIONS

U14 A XI

U15 Burton & District Cup CHAMPIONS ROUND 2 THOMAS ALLEYNES

W 5-2

SEMI-FINAL PINGLE

W 2-0

FINAL WILLIAM ALLITT

W 3-1

U15 Staffordshire Cup ROUND 2 MOORSIDE

W 4-0

QUARTER-FINAL BLYTHE BRIDGE

W 4-1

SEMI-FINAL CHEADLE

W 10-2

FINAL WOLGARSTON

D 1-1 (L 5-6 ON PENS)

U15 ISFA Cup ROUND 1 PRIORY

W 1-0

ROUND 2 TWYCROSS

W 3-0

ROUND 3 ALDENHAM

D 2-2 (W 3-2 ON PENS)

QUARTER-FINAL FOREST

L 2-3 (AET)

U15 B & C XIs This was arguably the most disappointing U15 B season I have had – and I’ve notched up a fair few now, good and bad. There was lots of talent within the regular squad, but little sense of teamwork or togetherness: heads went down too quickly; fingers got pointed too quickly; players tried to quit rather than try to improve. The first game of the season promised such a different story, and perhaps that is why I feel so disappointed. A bare 11 travelled to Ackworth, becoming 10 when Thompson-Dykes suffered an ankle injury and couldn’t continue. Two goals and a player down at half-time, we required spirit and character – and boy did we get it: Scutt equalised within a minute of the re-start, before Newstead, Hall and Kennedy bagged braces for a 7-3 win.

U15 B CAPTAIN: T. Dunn (O) U15 B SQUAD: M. Archer (P), N. Baker (P), A. Bramall (P), T. Fan (C), E. Fluck (L), E.J. Hall (S), R. Mahan (P), M. Newstead (S), T. Owen (N), S. Sayer (C), O. Scutt (L). ALSO PLAYED: J. Davies (O), K. Hoppner (L), S. Kang (O), M. Kennedy (N), G. Kirtland (N), M. Lewis (P), A. Ottewell (N), R. Tabata (N), J. Thompson-Dykes (P), W. Tomalin (N), S. Yates (O).

Aside from an 8-2 drubbing of Millfield, there was little else to shout about. We tended to play better when the Tennis programme could spare Ottewell and Hoppner (the latter’s hat-trick against Millfield being truly awesome), but a lack of natural defenders left us overexposed at the back too many times. Bring on next season.

U15 C CAPTAIN: W. Wright (O) U15 C SQUAD: T. Bloor (S), A. Collier (N), A. Du (P), C. Furniss (O), J. Hornsey (O), S. Kang (O), S. Okunoye (C), L. Platts (P), W. Smith (O), W. Tomalin (N), O. Thompstone (L), J. Wang (L), O. Wang (O), B. Wanger (S).

The C team showed more character: a 10-1 thrashing by Shrewsbury in their first game was reduced to a more respectable 5-3 defeat in their last. My thanks to MJR for all his coaching help.

ALSO PLAYED: A. Bramall (P), T. Fan (C), E. Fluck (L), M. Newstead (S).

JMJH

U15 B XI

U15 C XI

We were impressed by the talent on show in this season’s trials and enjoyed a highly successful first half of the season, winning all of our matches except for the fixture against the Staffordshire U14 side, which is always a tough proposition. Even in that game, we were the better side and were unlucky to lose 2-1. There were convincing performances against traditionally strong opponents, such as Bradfield, and we were able to maintain a quick, passing style with plenty of movement. Our full-backs, Alex Mair and Rohit Khosla, were an attacking threat and involved in a number of the goals we registered. Goals were plentiful, thanks to the attacking triumvirate of Will Abbatt, Eno Nto and Rex Cheung. Nto, in particular, enjoyed a fine start to his Repton career, scoring some outstanding goals. Crispin Jackson anchored the midfield, protecting Jerry Williams and Harrison Solomon at the back. Many of the players showed great versatility and were able to play in a variety of positions. Tom Whitwell played in attack, midfield and at centre-back and Khosla showed impressive attacking ability for a defender. Solomon, a predominantly defensive player, played in an attacking role for much of the season, scoring some fine goals, notably a strike from distance against Bradfield and the winning goal in the Burton and District Cup Final. Our reliable goalkeeper, Gleb Tverdokhlebov, was unable to play after half-term due to an appendix operation, and this caused us a degree of disruption, with first James Truelove-Cooke and then Will Orpin stepping into the breach. Defeats were few when we were at, or close to, fullstrength, but came against the very direct, physical sides and we shall learn most from a narrow defeat away to Bury GS in a game we dominated and another 2-1 defeat suffered away at Causeway School,

Eastbourne, in the quarter-final of the ESFA Small Schools’ Cup. If this side can learn to match the intensity of such teams while retaining its ability to play, then it has a bright future. In February, there was a nice bonus when we competed in the inaugural ISFA U14 Futsal tournament at Brunel University. We started slowly, but Ben Adshead’s dramatic winner on the buzzer in the final group match against Millfield earned us a semi-final spot against KES, Witley. A Crispin Jackson hat-trick took us through comfortably and goals from captain Jerry Williams and Jackson again in the final secured the trophy: a wonderful way to round off the season.

RGE & SE CAPTAIN: J. Williams (S) SQUAD: W. Abbatt (L), M. Ainger (N), E. Ashton (C), B. Bond (N), R. Cheung (C), T. Chohan (C), J. Earwicker (S), C. Jackson (O), R. Khosla (C), M. Mackrill (C), A. Mair (P), E. Nto (P), H. Solomon (P), G. Tverdokhlebov (P), T. Whitwell (P). ALSO PLAYED: B. Adshead (P), W.Orpin (C), J. Truelove-Cooke (N).

P 18 F 90

W 12 A 34

KING’S, CHESTER

W 5-2

JOHN PORT

W 7-2

BRADFIELD COLLEGE

W 6-1

PRIORY

W 6-3

STAFFORDSHIRE U14

L 1-2

MANCHESTER GS

L 2-3

KIMBOLTON

W 10-1

SHREWSBURY

L 2-5

BURY GS

L 1-2

U14 Burton & District Cup CHAMPIONS ROUND 1 GRANVILLE

W 10-0

SEMI-FINAL JOHN TAYLOR

W 5-2

FINAL ROBERT SUTTON

W 3-2

U14 Staffordshire County Cup ROUND 1 GRAHAM BALFOUR

W 8-0

ROUND 2 FRIARY

L 2-5

U14 ESFA Small Schools’ Cup ROUND 2 ST JOHN HOUGHTON

W 11-1

ROUND 3 WOLVERHAMPTON GS

W 6-0

ROUND 3 PRIORY

W 4-1

QUARTER-FINAL CAUSEWAY

L 1-2

SPORT FOOTBALL GIRLS HOCKEY

The Reptonian 2016/2017

U14 B & C XIs Let the record state that, if I ever have the privilege to work with a group of boys as talented as this, I shall have to count myself very fortunate indeed. Within three games they had won at least as many games as the U14 Bs normally win in three months, but they really put down a marker by putting Bradfield to the sword – only the Bs’ second triumph in eight attempts – a 2-1 victory that was so dominant it could easily have been 7-1 but for some goal-line heroics from the Berkshire side. And so it continued – a first ever double-double achieved over Shrewsbury and Twycross, 10 goals scored against Kimbolton, a rare 3-3 draw against the mighty MGS, after which the boys were so devastated not to have capitalised on their first-half dominance that they slumped down at the end, as though having suffered a heavy defeat. And that was what set them apart: this team had so much integrity and character that they had their own gravitational fields. No U14 B side I have ever seen could have held their nerve, nor shown the physical courage, to prevail 4-2 against a fierce Shrewsbury side who had twice pulled level in the December away fixture; no other side would have had the self-discipline not to react to intense provocation from certain opponents, nor kept up its standards in games where others, with such commanding leads, might have started to show-boat. And what football they played! One-touch, incisive pass-and-move, with electric wing-play, and creating more chances in a single game than many teams enjoy in a month. Attractive to watch? Not half.

HO CKEY GIRLS’

It should be a given that a coach can simply trust his players to know what their job is, and just do it; it’s not, and that is what made this term such a delight. I loved every session with the boys, and my only regret can be that the season had to end at all. We shall not see their like again. The U14 C football season was disrupted slightly through the cancellation of fixtures, which was unfortunate as this group of players was the strongest for a number of years. Although they started the season with a 3-2 loss to Foremarke, against a talented Shrewsbury team, a 1-1 draw away was most creditable, followed by an excellent 3-2 win at home. Many of the players featured in games when Repton fielded a combined B and C team and four players deserve congratulation for their level of performance throughout the season: Randall was an effective captain and organised the defence in front of a very good goalkeeper in Berlusconi; Bramfitt demonstrated high levels of fitness and determination in midfield and Chima certainly has the potential to play in a higher level team.

CSD & IS P

U14 B XI

U14 C XI

U14 B CAPTAIN: Z.Brough (S) U14 B SQUAD: B. Adshead (P), E. Ashton (C), S. Cunningham (O), F. Dumbill (P), H. Dunn (P), J. Earwicker (S), C. Gracie-Ainscough (N), W. Ingham (P), J. Jacques (P), T. Jervis (S), W. Orpin (C), H. Scutt (N), J. Truelove-Cooke (N), W. Wade (O). ALSO PLAYED: E. Berlusconi (L), J. Bramfitt (S), A. Chima (L), T. Chohan (C), S. Donegan (N), I. Green (L), M. Mackrill (C), D. Perera (O), J. Riley (P), O. Vasylevskyy (C). U14 C SQUAD: E. Berlusconi (L), J. Bramfitt (S), A. Chima (L), S. Clark (O), F. Davis (O), S. Donegan (N), F. Dumbill (P), E. Farmer (C), H. Gilby (S), T. Hawksworth (N), W. Hooper-Smith (O), W. Lunn (C), O. Randall (O), J. Riley (P), D. Russell (S), T. Scannell (L), C. Tarrant (S), O. Vasylevskyy (C).

1ST XI Knowing the type of girls we have in our U6, they won’t have thought about it, but I can’t imagine that there will be a year group in the history of the Schools’ Competitions, here or anywhere else, that will have had, or will ever have, the success that this group has had. Since Jess Renshaw-Smith’s crucial last-minute finish against Cranleigh at Cannock in B-block, her peers have won four National Outdoor titles and four National Indoor victories in the same time period. The usual policy of releasing players to club hockey, and the fact that we had so many deserving girls, allowed 28 to play for the 1st XI this year and, throughout the Michaelmas Term, the ever-changing squad showed plenty of promise. Full-strength teams defeated Loughborough University and Nottingham Trent 1st XIs by large margins and showed the quality that the group had, while Saturday teams, including various juniors, comfortably defeated the likes of Denstone and Cheltenham. Despite ten players missing the visit of Rugby for various reasons, we created more than enough chances to win comfortably and losing was a low-point. Still, the way in which Rugby celebrated their victory showed in what esteem other schools held this group of girls. The performance at the Midlands Finals, without co-captain Esme Burge, who was in Chile playing for England U21s, was superb. Stylish throughout the day, the semi-final performance against Oundle was particularly special. Scoring seven goals in 30 minutes against a well-organised and physically combative team suggested that this 1st XI was going to be tough to stop at the National Finals. My worry that Framlingham could trouble us in the first game of the Nationals was settled when Georgie Brownhill had scored our fourth goal in the opening twelve minutes of the tournament. I cannot remember a more impressive 20-minute spell than this in my time at Repton. Organised, as ever, by Mimi Tarrant, Esme Burge and Nicole Bowen, and with Celia

Newstead being her ever-reliable self, we pressed superbly and were ruthless in front of goal. Victories against Stockport and Dean Close set up a National Final where I was delighted that the girls won in the style that they deserved. After two fine saves from Sophie Holliday, a dominant display helped this 1st XI to end their season in the best possible way. I find it hard to imagine that there will ever be a 1st XI as good as this one: the Repton team of 2007 contained Charlotte Craddock, Georgie Twigg, Ellie Watton and Susie Gilbert amongst others and, although they are the only side that I can compare to this one, I doubt that they would have beaten them. Mimi Tarrant and Esme Burge, both leaving Repton with an incredible eight National Titles, co-captained the XI in the most mature and impressive fashion and they, along with the rest of the U6, will be sorely missed. Still, I hope that they leave knowing that they have had a lasting impact on Repton’s Hockey and, aside from the obvious successes, should be proud of the influence that they have had on the younger Reptonian generation.

MLJ

SPORT GIRLS HOCKEY

P 30 W 29 D 0 F 192 A 22 Michaelmas Term

The Reptonian 2016/2017

GLASGOW ACADEMY 1ST XI

W 8-1

LOUGHBOROUGH UNI 1ST XI

W 6-2

LICHFIELD HC 1ST XI

W 6-1

DENSTONE COLLEGE

W 11-1

SQUAD: A. Bennett (G), N. Bowen (F), M. Brealey (G), G. Brownhill (M), R. Campion (F), H. Davey (F), I. Emmett (M), M. Foster (G), A. Heap (M), J. Hibell (M), S. Holliday (F), E. Kaczmarczyk (M), T. Lloyd (G), R. Nelson (M), C. Newstead (M), J. Renshaw-Smith (F), F. Scutt (G), K. Whitehouse (M), M. Wray (G). ALSO PLAYED: G. Brown (M), I. Clarke (F), I. Hatton (G), C. Jowett (F), E. Schmedes (A), K. Squires (G), A. Stone (G).

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNI 1ST XI

W 11-0

CHELTENHAM COLLEGE

W 7-0

BELPER LADIES 1ST XI

W 2-0

Lent Term Friendlies

RUGBY

L 2-3

BIRMINGHAM UNI 2ND XI

W 4-1

Midlands Finals CHAMPIONS

TRENT COLLEGE

W 8-4

BELPER HC 1ST XI

W 5-1

GROUP 1

MALVERN COLLEGE W 5-0

OUNDLE

W 5-0

MILLFIELD

W 3-2

GROUP 2

DENSTONE COLLEGE

W 5-0

OUNDLE

W 6-0

GROUP 3

TRENT COLLEGE

W 6-0

WORKSOP COLLEGE

W 11-0

UPPINGHAM

W 10-2

WC EAGLES (USA)

W 2-0

OAKHAM

W 8-1

U18 County Finals CHAMPIONS FINAL TRENT COLLEGE

W 5-1

I didn’t think it would be possible to top last season’s exploits, but this group of talented players came pretty close! To score over 100 goals in 13 games was extraordinary and, while the term ended with a frustrating loss to a determined Stowe 1st XI, this should not detract from a spectacular few months in which the girls continued to demand the best from themselves. The highlight of the term has to be the win over Millfield, which I think was the most complete performance of the season. Against a spirited and determined opposition, the girls scored some spectacular goals, not least Hermione Wright’s top-of-the-netbursting deflection, which had been worked on in training that week! Claudia Johnson was an excellent captain, who led from the front in both senses at centreforward, taking three games to get on the score-sheet but still ending up with an impressive 15 goals for the season.

3RD & 4TH XI

SEMI-FINAL OUNDLE

W 7-1

FINAL

W 2-0

TRENT COLLEGE

National Finals CHAMPIONS

Midlands Zone Round GROUP WINNERS GROUP 1 LOUGHBOROUGH HS

W 9-0

GROUP 2 ELLESMERE COLLEGE

W 17-0

2ND XI Our regular forward line of Johnson, Wright, Wilson and Renshaw, who played in different positions on a frequent basis, accumulated a staggering 56 goals between them and their tireless efforts up front were a feature of our term. One of the secrets to our success, however, was a lack of any weakness in any position. Our midfield of, most regularly, Allen, Gale, Schmedes or Bennett was superb, offering effective leads to those in defence, while linking up brilliantly with those in attack. Between them, these four scored 31 goals in the season and demonstrated our attacking mind-set from the very first match. At the back, Brinkman, Corner, Mair, Thompson-Dykes (when she wasn’t recovering from half-marathon exploits) and Lea – most often – were miserly in defence and rarely gave opposition teams a sniff. The results suggest that Nelson had little to do in goal and, while that was often the case, when called upon, she made some crucial saves at pivotal times.

CAPTAIN: C. Johnson (A) SQUAD: C. Allen (A), A. Bennett (G), A. Brinkman (G), R. Campion (F), A. Corner (G), I. Emmett (M), R. Gale (M), A. Heap (M), J. Hibell (M), V. Mair (F), M. Lea (M), T. Lloyd (G), R. Nelson (M), G. Renshaw (M), E. Schmedes (A), M. Thompson-Dykes (M), K. Whitehouse (M), P. Wilson (G), H. Wright (G).

The 4th XI had a great season, being unbeaten over eleven fixtures. Opposition ranged from Derby High 1st XI to Uppingham 4th XI, and there were matches in which there were many opportunities for the girls to learn and develop their skills, as individuals and as part of a team. Often our main challenge was to be able to field a team, as players were regularly required to fill gaps in other teams, leaving us short. Particular thanks go to the girls who filled in at short notice, or who played two matches back-to-back to enable us to have a starting eleven.

CAPTAIN: A. Tarrant (M) & E. Burge (G)

GROUP 1

FRAMLINGHAM COLLEGE

W 7-0

GROUP 2

STOCKPORT GS

W 7-1

GROUP 3

DEAN CLOSE

W 2-0

FINAL

MILLFIELD

W 5-0

I will therefore reflect on the 2016 season most fondly and hope, especially for those in the U6, that the girls continue to love and play this excellent game next year and beyond.

WGO P 13 W 12 F 101 A 9

BELPER LADIES HC

W 7-2

DENSTONE COLLEGE

W 18-0

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

W 7-0

CHELTENHAM COLLEGE

W 4-0

RUGBY

W 3-1

WELLINGBOROUGH 1ST XI

W 3-1

OUNDLE

W 4-2

MILLFIELD

W 13-0

WORKSOP COLLEGE

W 21-0

UPPINGHAM

W 4-0

LOUGHBOROUGH HS 1ST XI

W 9-0

OAKHAM

W 6-0

STOWE 1ST XI

L 2-3

The team became stronger and more versatile as the term progressed and the players’ ability to read the game improved week by week. Communication on the pitch also improved, which resulted in more goal-scoring opportunities. Good luck to the U6 as they continue their hockey beyond Repton; we look forward to having the experience of the L6 next year and are sure they will be a force to be reckoned with. We will certainly be looking for another unbeaten season!

GKR & CEG/SMQN It was a tricky term for the 3rd XI girls, because of the sheer number of players used due to wider commitments and injuries throughout the term. Saying this, it was a sheer delight to watch the girls progress, no matter whether they were playing out of position. All the girls rallied around in order to make sure all fixtures were fulfilled in the strongest manner possible, which is a fabulous trait of Repton pupils. We concentrated on playing fluid hockey, whilst maintaining accuracy of passing and possession. Manon Allen, Maisie Bird, Laura Bramall and Charlie Newham were all driving forces up front and made use of many of their scoring opportunities. Gabby Young, Ella Nieper and Lydia Morris worked well to link the defence and the midfield together. At times, they found the fitness aspect of the midfield challenging, but this improved as the term progressed. Venetia Mair, Olivia Stocks, Rachel Hedley and Lydia Johnson, as well as Hira Raza, proved themselves to be solid in defence, coping well with most attacks they faced. All of the squad proved themselves worthy of selection and contributed in a positive manner to the team; it was a delight to be their coach and see them progress individually and as a team.

3RD XI

4TH XI

3RD XI SQUAD: M. Allen (F), L. Bacon (A), M. Bird (F), L. Bramall (A), S. Cole (F), H. Dashwood (A), A. Earwicker (A), G. English (F), R. Hedley (F), S. Hudson (M), L. Johnson (A), J. Lee (G), H. Lipton (G), V. Mair (F), L. Morris (A), G. Needham (A), C. Newham (F), E. Nieper (F), H. Raza (A), O. Stocks (G), G. Young (F).

4TH XI SQUAD: E. Buckland (M), H. Dashwood (A), Y. Dugdale (M), A. Earwicker (A), G. English (F), S. Hudson (M), H. Lipton (G), B. McClarron (G), G. Needham (A), H. Raza (A), E. Sheldon (F), J. Lee (G), E. Williamson (F), S. Wilson (F). ALSO PLAYED: M. Caplan (F), E. Lownds (A), V. Mair (F), A. Marshall (M), L. Richards (A), E. Roberts (M), M. Singh (G), K. Waldock (A).

U16 A XI These hockey seasons are long ones, now, starting with pre-season games at Repton in August and finishing on the Olympic Park in March. In between, a huge number of hours invested in progressing as young games players. This group really did realise that shared experiences can provide great satisfaction and achievement. The school season saw some impressive wins, as well as battles of attrition, and we were never short of goals. Wins away at Oundle and over Rugby were among our best performances, when we were able to combine resilience at the back with attacking class going forward. In the National Competition, we made good progress. A good win over Trent in the County rounds was followed by a moderate showing in the Midlands Zone, but it was enough to get through. The Midlands Finals was a great showing, where we didn’t concede a goal all day and won all five games. That success though took us off to London, three months later, to again challenge for the National Finals. Our preparation was very good: this team understood what it took to be ready for a competition like this and were willing to give the extra time that it takes to ensure there was no stone unturned. Not every part of the warm-up games ahead of the Nationals went perfectly, but they were exactly the challenges we needed against opposition with different styles.

SPORT GIRLS HOCKEY

The Reptonian 2016/2017

P 25 F 76

The tournament itself was one of peaks and troughs, but we did well enough to reach the final. An opening draw against Blundells could easily have been a win, but the second game was a comprehensive performance. A narrow win the following morning saw us into the final against Wellington College, a team we had not come across in this competition before. This was one of those games that just didn’t go our way. We had chances to score, without doubt, and corners that we couldn’t force over the line. The one goal in the game was from exactly the threat we talked about and we just weren’t quick enough to respond. We were left with silver and a few ‘if onlys’. If you could give gold, though, to a group who valued their team more than personal success, this would be it. I never stopped being amazed by how much they wanted to play for each other and the school. Sometimes we should recognise that you can learn more at times of challenge than through victory, and I will watch closely to see how the players in this this fantastic team show what they learnt as they move up the school.

IMP

W 19 A 16

U16 B XI

MALVERN 1ST XI

L 0-2

CHELTENHAM COLLEGE

W 7-0

TRENT COLLEGE

W 1-0

OUNDLE

W 2-0

MILLFIELD

L 1-3

OUNDLE

W 3-0

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNI

W 2-1

RUGBY

W 5-1

UPPINGHAM

W 7-1

OAKHAM

D 0-0

TRENT COLLEGE

W 5-2

MILLFIELD

L 3-4

The U16B girls were a delight to coach this year. Whilst their results reflect a relatively mixed season, they were undefeated in the second half of the term, winning two and drawing two. The stand-out game of the season was definitely the 3-0 win at home to Oakham, as this was a real team performance and a game that reflected how far the team had come since the beginning of term. Every attack looked promising, in particular down the right wing, with Charlotte Abell’s ability to run

at pace with the ball looking a constant threat. It was brilliant to see three different types of goal – a deflection, a straight strike and a rebound – from three different goal-scorers – Man, Abell and Coupland-Smith. At the other end, the stalwart defence kept Oakham at bay and, when goalkeeper Sophie Richards was called upon, she made a number of superb saves to ensure she kept her third clean sheet of the season. Well done, girls, on a terrific season!

ECS

SQUAD: C. Abell (A), E. Andrew (M), G. Armour (G), R. Canaway (G) , M. Caplan (F), T. Coupland-Smith (M), L. Drury (M), G. Gordon (A), H. Greene (G), M. Griffiths (M), G. Hakney (A), A. Man (A), A. Marshall (M), I. Mead (G), S. Palmer (A), S. Richards (A), E. Roberts (M), M. Singh (G), C. Swinbank (M).

P7 W3 D2 F 14 A 15

Shrewsbury 7s Tournament CHAMPIONS County Finals CHAMPIONS FINAL TRENT COLLEGE

W 3-1

Midlands Zone Round GROUP WINNERS GROUP 1

KING’S HIGH

W 1-0

GROUP 2

MORETON HALL

W 7-0

GROUP 3

KING EDWARD VI, FIVE WAYS

W 8-0

Midlands Finals CHAMPIONS GROUP 1

WELLINGBOROUGH W 5-0

GROUP 2

OUNDLE

W 2-0

GROUP 3

OAKHAM

W 5-0

SEMI-FINAL BROMSGROVE

W 2-0

FINAL

W 1-0

TRENT COLLEGE

National Finals FINALISTS GROUP 1

BLUNDELLS

D 0-0

GROUP 2

GS AT LEEDS

W 5-0

GROUP 3

BEACONSFIELD

W 1-0

FINAL

WELLINGTON COLLEGE

L 0-1

U16 A XI SQUAD: S. Ainger (M), E. Andrew (M), C. Archer (M), E. Benson (A), G. Brown (M), E. Clark (F), I. Clarke (F), S. Cole (F), M. Dewhirst (G), S. Earp (A), M. Fitzgerald (M), S. Garner (F), L. Gould (M), I. Hatton (G), C. Jowett (F), E. Kaczmarczyk (M), J. Lloyd (G), C. Martin (M), I. Nieper (F), E. Schmedes (A), I. Sharratt (M), K. Squires (G), A. Stone (G), M. Swain (M).

U15 A, B & C XIs When you look at the bare statistics, apart from one blip, this was a stellar season for the U15 A players. To concede just three goals in ten matches underlines the extent to which they dominated possession for most of their matches. Even though a large proportion of the team have developed significant individual elimination skills, it was some of the goals scored with sweeping passing moves that provided the highlights of the year. In particular, the goals scored either side of half term, in thumping victories over Oundle and Uppingham, will stay in the memory for the pace and verve of the build-up to the goals going in. The term started relatively slowly and the girls did not have to perform at their best. The away win at Rugby yielded a better performance, which, after a slow start, saw the girls play the type of high-tempo pressing and clinical hockey that Repton teams ought to be aiming for every single time they take the field. Perhaps the relative ease of the opening four fixtures

contributed in part to the home defeat by Trent. In the first half, the girls did not do their jobs and played as individuals with little urgency. As they get older and move through the school, they will realise that this cannot happen if their team is to prosper. Despite failing to find the net in the second half, the performance was much improved and the perfect record was only spoiled by an inspired defensive performance by the away team. Perhaps this was the perfect lesson at an ideal time for the girls and, for the remainder of the season, the pace at which they played was much better and the style of their victories certainly caught the eye. A good number of these players will hope to be representing the 1st XI in the future. Some already have and this is a mark of the strength of the squad. Throughout the term, the team was very well led by the duo of Georgia Brown and Imogen Hatton, who typify the attitude and relentlessness that is required to play at the highest level of schoolgirl hockey. Their appetite for development is something that can

SPORT GIRLS HOCKEY

The Reptonian 2016/2017

P 20 F 71

be said of some of the other girls, too. I sincerely hope that this group go on to improve their record at National Finals in years to come; the hockey that they played this term showed that they can do so. This year’s U15 B girls formed a large training squad, meaning lots of games and competitions could be played. The group included a variety of personalities, which gave an impressive group dynamic and the enthusiasm they showed, both during training and at matches, was impressive; it was lovely to see them having so much pleasure in the game! The captaincy was revolved, so many of the girls had the chance to show off their positivity and leadership skills, as well as writing informative and accurate match reports. Although a mixed season, even when we lost games they learnt a lot and were able to incorporate their training into game-play. They remained high-spirited throughout, even when faced with sickness, injury and very cold weather! Well done girls, you were a pleasure to coach! The U15 C team played enthusiastically throughout the season and their standard of play steadily improved throughout the term. The matches were usually more well-balanced than might be suggested by the statistics but, most importantly, the girls showed excellent sportsmanship and great determination in all their games, playing always with real fighting spirit.

DAE, MCR & CMSS U15 A CAPTAINS: I. Hatton (G) & G. Brown (M) U15 A SQUAD: A. Adams-O’Rorke (A), C. Archer (M), F. Brown (M), E. Buffin (M), F. Cole (F), S. Corner (G), M. Dytham (M), M. Fitzgerald (M), C. Jowett (F), S. Ktori (A), J. Lloyd (G), G. Pope (G), M. Swain (M). U15 B SQUAD: F. Akinsanmi (G), J. Archer-Reed (F), E. Bond (F), E. Cann (A), F. Cole (F), E. Crowley (M), D. Devikanand (G), M. Dytham (F), H. English (F), K. Fulford (F), A. Harcus (A), D. Isakova (G), A. Krasnova (G), S. Lloyd-Dickinson (G), C. Luke (F), J. Merriman (A), C. Morris (A), F. Schneck (G), E. Smith (F), J. Smith (M), L. Staley (F), G. White (F). U15 C CAPTAIN: O. Truscott (F) U15 C SQUAD: F. Akinsanmi (G), K. Atwal (M), A. Berger (F), V. Burrows (M), L. Cremer (F), P. Dallimore (G), I. Hankins (M), M. Harcourt (G), E. Hopkins (F), S. Murphy (M), L. Pratley (G), E. Tishina (M), E. Waldock (A). ALSO PLAYED: J. Archer-Reed (F), D. Devikanand (G), H. English (F), K. Fulford (F), D. Isakova (G), A. Krasnova (G), C. Luke (F), F. Schneck (G), L. Staley (F), G. White (F).

U15 A

U15 B

U15 C

U14 A XI After a fairly slow start of several drawn games and a couple of cancellations, this team made considerable progress and was soon proving to be a very difficult team to play against. The regular school fixtures throughout October and November were all won with relative ease, with only six goals conceded in the eight games. The aim of the term, as always, was to ensure that individually and collectively the girls were able to improve and learn how to play faster and more organised 11-a-side hockey, whilst still negotiating a way through the National competition. The potentially tricky Midlands Zone Round was won with three excellent performances in games of only fifteen minutes each-way, but, sadly, a couple of weeks later, despite a similarly dominant display, the girls lost the all-important Midlands semi-final on penalties to bring their cup run to a rather premature end. It was clear from the outset that this latest group of Repton hockey players are talented and keen to do well and, as their approach to training improved, so did their performances. In particular, it was the improvements made when the opposition had the ball that were most evident, with the forwards defending much better and the back four remaining increasingly focused and organised. This defensive shape usually resulted in the opposition barely creating any chances and allowed our hugely influential midfield to dominate proceedings. It is the fact that this team was so much better than most others on the circuit that makes the outcome of the Midlands Finals all the more disappointing. Having negotiated a tricky group with two wins and a draw, the girls were growing in confidence and were playing some excellent hockey. Perhaps their most accomplished performance of the day came in the fateful semi-final. Repton dominated both possession and territory, but missed countless chances, and then allowed Loughborough to equalise with their only shot of the game.

W 14 A 17

U14 B & C XIs

GLASGOW ACADEMY

D 2-2

CHELTENHAM COLLEGE

D 4-4

RUGBY

D 1-1

HYMERS COLLEGE

W 13-0

OUNDLE

W 4-2

TRENT COLLEGE

W 3-1

FOREMARKE (7-A-SIDE)

L 2-3

LOUGHBOROUGH HS

W 1-0

WORKSOP COLLEGE U15A

W 4-0

UPPINGHAM

W 2-1

OAKHAM

W 2-0

STOWE

W 7-0

County Finals CHAMPIONS FINAL TRENT COLLEGE

W 3-0

The step up from prep school hockey and the days of nine-a-side on grass can be quite daunting for some, but not the U14 Bs! After overcoming the initial worries, the girls quickly gelled into a formidable team. Left to right drags soon became the staple skill for the team, and it was so pleasing to see so many of the girls using this imperative skill in match play. Olivia Ellis took the role of central midfielder, regularly taking control of the centre of the pitch, keeping the rest of the team in check. The impenetrable defence of Emma Balderston and Philippa Hix saved us on a number of occasions! Leading from the back, Balderston could always be relied on to make that important tackle and Hix would often enjoy a sprint up the wing, even managing to reach the circle and, on occasions, score! Hattie Nieper, the smallest member of the team, dominated the left wing and, despite her angelic expressions, was certainly not one to mess with during a match, particularly when she wound up for a reverse strike! As the season progressed, the girls grew with confidence and produced a handful of excellent performances. Defeating Oakham, in a closely-fought match, 3-2 was most definitely a highlight of the season.

GROUP 1 NEWCASTLE-U-LYME

W 4-0

GROUP 2 LOUGHBOROUGH HS

W 1-0

Ably captained by Lolly Gibson, the U14 Cs really enjoyed their first term of hockey at Repton. By the end of the season the girls had really learnt how to play together on the pitch as a team and it was lovely to see all their hard work rewarded with goals in many of their matches. Special mention should go to Anastasia Tertychnaya and Jessica Milligan-Manby, Player of the Season and Most-Improved Player, respectively.

GROUP 3 NOTTINGHAM HS

W 11-0

SMB & KPMS

Midlands Zone Round GROUP WINNERS

Midlands Finals SEMI-FINALISTS

U14 B CAPTAIN: H. Nieper (F)

GROUP 1 UPPINGHAM

W 3-0

GROUP 2 KING’S HIGH

W 1-0

GROUP 3 OUNDLE

D 1-1

SEMI-FINAL LOUGHBOROUGH HS

D 2-2 (LOST ON PENS)

SQUAD: E. Barlow (G), M. Bowman (M), S. Butler (F), H. Cook (A), S. Haigh (M), Z. Knowles (F), E. Lownds (A), I. Mansfield (M), E. Martin (M), A. Naylor (M), H. Nieper (F), K. Pearce (A), P. Plant (M), C. Steele (A), Z. Wedgwood (A).

U14 B SQUAD: E. Balderston (M), F. Buckley (A), L. Cope (F), O. Ellis (G), K. Gabriel (G), P. Hix (G), P. Kellock (G), K. Knight (M), A. Leverton (A), E. Scutt (M), C. Westwood (A), L. Williamson (F). U14 C CAPTAIN: C. Gibson (G) U14 C SQUAD: K. Chaibi (G), E. Clifford (M), E. Dick (A), G. Ferguson (G), M. Gilmore (M), T. Johnson (M), M. Joshi (F), J. Milligan-Manby (F), K. Newbould (A), L. Parker (G), L. Ramsden (F), L. Richards (A), I. Roberts (F), A. Smith (M), A. Tertychnaya (G), K. Yates (G).

U14 B

U14 C

There was obvious and understandable disappointment, but I really admired the way the girls bounced back during the last two weeks of the season. The way they trained alongside the U15 A team and the boys’ U14 squad was impressive and they rounded off their term with a wonderful display away at Stowe in atrocious weather conditions. There is a lot more to come from this group and I hope that they all make the most of the opportunities that will be made available to them over the next few months and years and that they enjoy the rest of their age-group hockey, safe in the knowledge that, in only their first year, they have already shown that, when they ‘click’, there is nothing quite like them on the circuit.

SJC

SPORT BOYS HOCKEY

The Reptonian 2016/2017

CAPTAIN: O. Rogerson (C)

HOCKEY BOYS’ Our Michaelmas Term Boys’ programme, which had more fixtures than ever, gave more than thirty pupils the opportunity to develop their hockey and stake a claim for the 1st XI this year and our strengthin-depth was highlighted in Week One of the Lent Term when, with twelve boys at Whitgift for the National Indoor Finals, our ‘1st XI’ defeated Bromsgrove.

Close, who had beaten us earlier in the year. In one of the most bizarre weather days at Repton, the game began in bright sunshine, but stopped after twenty minutes due to a covering of snow on the pitch. Ollie Rogerson scored a fine goal before the 40-minute delay and a key moment was when Claris converted a penalty corner immediately after the re-start.

Our Nationals campaign began shortly after, with a trip to Ellesmere, who were an unknown quantity. James Hackett scored after seven seconds and a ruthless performance saw the game cut short as 26 goals were scored in 50 minutes, which must be a record for this competition. Our first real test came against Oxford University and, despite fielding a full team and having a few goal-scoring opportunities, we were well beaten before Dean Close visited. They, too, were victorious and, although we were not at full strength, the game highlighted that we were susceptible to counter-attacking teams and needed to be more clinical in front of goal.

This victory saw us make Lee Valley, where we were drawn against Kingston Grammar, one of the most successful schools in the history of the competition. A blistering start included a fine goal from Newton and a penalty corner from Claris, before Kingston had plenty of goal-scoring opportunities themselves. Thankfully, Matt Proudlove was on fine form and helped us reach the halftime break two goals ahead. In the second half, Bennett and Sookias both scored early goals, and more fine saves from Proudlove helped us reach our third consecutive National Final.

Thankfully, we seemed to be more focused for the Cup competition and Solihull, Rugby and Stamford were beaten without conceding a goal – and the boys also managed to score seven goals in 30 minutes against Millfield, who we met at Stourport HC to limit travel-time. In these games, Simon Claris and Tom Evans formed an excellent defensive pairing and Finley Newton, James Sookias and Harry Bennett showed their quality in front of goal. A comfortable set of victories at the end of the Lent Term preceded an all-important National Cup quarter-final against Dean

SQUAD: C. Bell (P), H. Bennett (N), S. Claris (N), T. Evans (C), B. Foxley (P), J. Greenwood (S), J. Hackett (C), C. Harvey (O), H. Kaczmarczyk (O), S. Kentwell (N), E. Killington (S), T. Nevill (O),F. Newton (C), J. Patient (P), M. Proudlove (N), J.D. Smith (O), J. Sookias (S), H. Swaby (C)

1ST XI

The final was a game between two excellent teams that could have gone either way. Whitgift had more penalty corners than us, but we had opportunities to take the lead in the second half, before the decisive strike came with three minutes to go. In the dying stages, Callum Bell had an opportunity cleared from the line as Whitgift scrambled, but they unfortunately held on for a narrow victory. Although losing was disappointing, particularly as the margins were so tight, I was proud of the dignified way that the boys handled their defeat. This year’s 1st XI will be remembered as a highlytalented group of individuals, who were not especially easy to coach, but, at times, played some of the best hockey seen by a Repton 1st XI. All of the U6 leave with at least one National title and they should be very proud of what they have achieved.

MLJ

ALSO PLAYED: C. Bowen (N), G. Clarke (O), C. Collins (P), K. Marcelle (L), A. Rai (P), G. Sheldon (L), W. Tomalin (N), W. Waldock (O), C. Wilbraham (S).

P 16 W 12 D 1 F 116 A 20

2ND XI

BROMSGROVE

W 6-2

OXFORD UNIVERSITY

L 0-4

DEAN CLOSE

L 3-6

OAKHAM

D 1-1

MILLFIELD

W 8-1

BEDFORD

W 13-0

RUGBY

W 9-2

OUNDLE

W 7-0

UPPINGHAM

W 11-0

National U18 Cup RUNNERS-UP ROUND 1 ELLESMERE COLLEGE

W 26-0

ROUND 2 SOLIHULL

W 5-0

ROUND 3 RUGBY

W 10-0

ROUND 4 STAMFORD

W 6-0

QUARTER-FINAL DEAN CLOSE

W 5-1

SEMI-FINAL KINGSTON GS

W 5-1

FINAL WHITGIFT

L 1-2

The 2nd XI had an excellent term of hockey, remaining unbeaten for another season. Training was always of a high standard and the effort and enthusiasm never wavered. Although there were many to choose from, a particular highlight includes the team performance against Rugby, where both Freddie Cheshire and Barnaby Buckley managed to score hat-tricks in a convincing 12-1 win. Many thanks in particular to Julian Patient, Guy Sheldon, Freddie Cheshire, Barnaby Buckley and Chris Bowen for their commitment and enthusiasm in their last term of hockey at Repton.

JAS

CAPTAIN: B. Buckley (S) SQUAD: C. Bowen (N), F. Cheshire (S), G. Clarke (O), C. Collins (P), S. Congiu (O), W. Greenbank (S), W. Harlow (P), H. Kaczmarczyk (O), H. Lewis (C), K. Marcelle (L), J. Patient (P), A. Rai (P), G. Sheldon (L), W. Waldock (O), C. Wilbraham (S).

P7 W6 D1 F 48 A 8

MCS, OXFORD

W 3-1

DEAN CLOSE

D 1-1

OAKHAM

W 6-0

BEDFORD

W 13-2

RUGBY

W 12-1

OUNDLE

W 7-3

UPPINGHAM

W 6-0

SPORT BOYS HOCKEY

The Reptonian 2016/2017

P 20 F 87

3RD XI This was a very successful unbeaten season for the boys. Despite not having a regular goalkeeper, their competitive nature ensured success! The squad included a healthy mix of both U6 and L6 players, each bringing their own skills and character to training sessions. The captain, Oscar Herring, despite being match-reportphobic made a likeable, laid-back yet well-organised leader, who knew his team very well. Other key players included Connor Wright, a player whose talent was noticed and mentioned by opposition coaches – an exceptional 3rd team player. He was backed by an able and speedy Sam Ramsden, who was frequently able to score unexpected and brilliant goals. Further back in the field, we had never-tiring effort from Matt Clarke, John Robson persevering despite injury, and quietly confident Sam Storer. Energy was supplied by Ivan Isakov, despite his random attire during training. Charlie Bicknell played relentlessly and Jakob Wanger managed to channel his competitive nature into good game-play. Let us not forget a reliable saviour, Dom Nield, who was able to play anywhere, but was a great defender and Dan Allen, who, despite not necessarily enjoying the game, enjoyed competing and being part of what I think was an outstanding team! Well done to them all!

MCR CAPTAIN: O. Herring (L) SQUAD: D. Allen (P), C. Bicknell (S), F. Cheshire (S), M. Clarke (N), S. Congiu (O), F. Dearsley (C), I. Isakov (S), J. Nelson (L), D. Nield (O), S. Ramsden (L), J. Robson (L), E. Salisbury (N), S. Storer (P), J. Wanger (S), C.M. Wright (L).

P6 W5 D1 F 16 A 5

BROMSGROVE

W 7-1

MCS, OXFORD

D 2-2

DEAN CLOSE

W 3-0

TRENT COLLEGE

W 7-0

OAKHAM

D 2-2

BEDFORD

W 5-2

RUGBY

W 9-0

OUNDLE

W 7-0

UPPINGHAM

W 5-0

Midlands Zone Round GROUP WINNERS

U16 A XI CAPTAIN: M. Tarrant (S) U16 NATIONALS SQUAD: O. Brierley (C), L. Brown (N), T. Buffin (S), F. Byrne (S), W. Collins (P), A. Edwards (O), X. Finglas-Teyletche (N), W. Hobson (S), S. Kentwell (N), J. Murphy (S), J. Nelson (L), M. Newstead (S), M. Newton (C), R. Nicholson (C), A. Ottewell (N), G. Rice (N), R. Sillery (S), W. Tomalin (N). U16 REGULAR SQUAD: O. Brierley (C), L. Brown (N), T. Buffin (S), F. Byrne (S), J. Donegan (N), A. Edwards (O), A. Greenwood (O), T. Hackett (N), T. Haigh (L), H. Hey (L), S. Kentwell (N), J. Nelson (L), G. Rice (N), R. Sillery (S), J. Truelove-Cooke (N), J. Webb (S). On paper, this appears to have been a very successful season. The stats seem to bear it out, but the boys know that this is far from the truth. Repton hockey teams now set themselves such high standards that a 7th/8th finish at the National Finals would have to go down as a poor showing. This certainly trumps the flood of wins on a Saturday and through the Midlands qualifying rounds that massage up the statistics. In the regular season, absences through indoor hockey commitment meant the squad was stretched to the limit in January and the boys who came into the A team squad and the non-indoor players responded with a good win against Bromsgrove and a draw at Magdalen College School. Thereafter, the full-strength Saturday side were

100

W 14 A 21

GROUP 1 OAKHAM

W 2-0

GROUP 2 WORKSOP COLLEGE

W 4-0

GROUP 3 NEWCASTLE-U-LYME

W 13-0

Midlands Finals CHAMPIONS rarely tested to their limit and some easy wins were recorded, not least after Half Term where some decent performances resulted in heavy score-lines. Having received a walk-over from Trent College in the Derbyshire round, the Midlands Zone round proved to be relatively straightforward. A spirited half court press from Oakham was undone twice for a 2-0 win and both Worksop and Newcastle-Under-Lyme School tired and were despatched comprehensively. The Midlands Finals would prove more challenging: Warwick, Oundle and Denstone were the group opponents and the boys had to work hard to secure their position at the head of the group. This resulted in qualification for the key semi-final against KES, Birmingham. The winners would qualify for the National Finals and, at one-nil down at half-time, this prospect did not look encouraging. Some more fluid working the ball out from the back of the pitch allowed good possession for Stuart Kentwell and Xavier Finglas-Teyletche, who were the catalysts for a five-goal, 10-minute second-half burst from Kentwell and the boys walked off fairly stunned by what had happened. The Midlands Final ended with a one-sided score-line, the depth of our squad allowing a tiring Trent side to be put to the sword, 5-1. Goals from Matt Newstead (2), Marcus Tarrant, Angus Edwards and Luke Brown capped a good passing performance. In particular, Newstead’s two goals rounded off particularly flowing moves.

GROUP 1 WARWICK

W 2-1

GROUP 2 OUNDLE

D 2-2

GROUP 3 DENSTONE

W 5-1

SEMI-FINAL KES, BIRMINGHAM

W 5-1

FINAL TRENT COLLEGE

W 5-1

National Finals 7TH/8TH PLACE

It is hard to imagine a more challenging few days for this side that have become so accustomed to winning than the National Finals. An opening game against Bedford seemed tailor-made for a positive start to the tournament – and perhaps that was the problem. The 2-1 defeat against the weakest team that we were to face was disastrous, not only for the result, but for the performance, which lacked energy, and the team-play that should characterise an effective hockey team. The remaining two games saw the team produce two better performances, but, in truth, the squad was found to be a little naive against

GROUP 1 BEDFORD

L 1-2

GROUP 2 ALTRICHAM GS

L 1-2

GROUP 3 REEDS

L 0-4

good opposition in both encounters. The A-blockers in the squad ought to be determined to learn some lessons from this for next year, and a talented group of O-blockers will need to learn from this if they are to make it into the 1st XI during their Sixth Form. In all, the discipline to mark tightly, trust in team-mates and earn the right to play must be front and centre of how this group of players move on in different ways over the next few seasons. I am sure that they will resolve to return stronger.

DAE

101

SPORT BOYS HOCKEY

The Reptonian 2016/2017

U16 B XI The problem with statistics is that, at times, they only tell part of the story. In the case of the U16 B team, they certainly only yield half of the hockey saga that befell this gallivanting group. A juddering, fragmented start to the year opened promisingly with a hard-fought draw with Magdalen College School, followed by close defeats to Dean Close and Trent College. The rollercoaster then went up the track with a fine 6-1 win over Oakham, followed by a stomachchurning dip and 2-0 loss to Sandbach (playing their A team, admittedly). We then climbed another peak, with a fine 2-0 win over Bedford, followed by a brace of plummets as we succumbed to the brawn of Rugby and Uppingham. In between was an entertaining 3-3 draw with old foes, Oundle, to add balance to a topsy-turvy campaign!

Ably led by the dynamic midfield workhorse, Will ‘Future Prime Minister’ Needham and reverse undercut and general missile-launcher, Will ‘Ballistic’ Balderston, the team benefited from having a very classy goalkeeper in Alex ‘County-standard but somehow in the B team’ Dashwood. Ahead of him was the marauding wannabe-forward, Tom ‘I’ll do my own thing’ Roberts, partnered by pacey injector and supreme aerial chucker, Jacob ‘I’ll score one day’ Truelove-Cooke. Flanking them, Ryan ‘Antonine/ Hadrian /Berlin/Wailing’ Hanks, Harry ‘I’ll take out my man and perhaps the ball too’ Gilmore and Rahul ‘Raj the reluctant runner’ Kaushal-Bolland. Frequent deputies, Joe ‘Do I really need a stick?’ Truelove and Barney ‘Don’t be fooled by the glasses’ Jones aided the defensive line. In front of them, Harry ‘The Horse’ Hey (a very stable performer) and Tom ‘I’m better than my brother’ Allen. Up top, George ‘Silky skills, but if I run harder I might mess up my Barnet’

U15 A, B & C XIs Having had some success as an U14 side, the U15 As approached the season with an anticipation of doing well, and had the expectation of winning most games. That, they duly did and we lost just once, but with 2 draws and a few tight wins, it could be argued that it took us a long while into the season to show our true class for more than 20 minutes at a time. One of the most enjoyable and entertaining games of the season was early on at Dean Close: in a tough battle between two good sides, Matthew Lewis scored a late winner to steal the game. A series of narrow wins through the middle

102

period of the season followed, when we just couldn’t seem to put a complete performance together. Where this team did thrive, normally, was under pressure: late winners like that against Dean Close became the norm; we did the same against Oakham and Bedford. The low point from a performance point of view was the draw against Trent, but we came back strongly at the end of the season away at Uppingham and Oundle in particular, where we saw some excellent results and by far the best hockey played. We were at our best when we moved the ball quickly and worked hard off the ball.

Gough, Charlie ‘Look at my magnificent turn and hair’ Edwards and James ‘B team gift’ Donegan, with occasional help from Noah ‘Sicknote’ Fellows. They played with spirit, humour and enthusiasm and were a pleasure to coach. Thank you for your engaging company throughout the term, gentlemen.

picked up a stick before the season began, but skills and tactics were acquired quickly, Kurmaly being easily the most-improved player, from being unable to strike the ball cleanly on day one to tormenting opposition defences mercilessly. Stanojevic was top-scorer, but this was an attacking team and 10 different players got on the score-sheet. Thanks to Rosser for captaining with aplomb (when not nicked by the Bs) and all the boys for their great company in training and matches.

IMP, CL & JMJH

U15 A

U15 B

U15 C

U15 A SQUAD: M. Archer (P), M. Atherton (O), A. Bramall (P), W. Collins (P), X. Finglas-Teyletche (N), G. Fynn (S), W. Hobson (S), M. Lewis (P), J. Murphy (S), M. Newstead (S), M. Newton (C), R. Nicholson (C), A. Ottewell (N), J. Sherry (L), R. Tabata (N), J. Thompson-Dykes (P), W. Tomalin (N), W. Wright (O).

SOM U15 B CAPTAINS: B. Wheelton (S) & W. Wilkinson (P)

CAPTAINS: W. Needham (N) & W. Balderston (N)

U15 B SQUAD: M. Atherton (O), N. Baker (P), A. Bramall (P), J. Davies (O), T. Dunn (O), C. Furniss (O), J. Hornsey (O), S. Kang (O), S. Sayer (C), O. Scutt (L), W. Smith (O).

SQUAD: T. Allen (P), A. Dashwood (L), J. Donegan (N), C. Edwards (P), N. Fellows (S), H. Gilmore (S), G. Gough (L), R. Hanks (S), H. Hey (L), B. Jones (S), R. Kaushal-Bolland (P), T. Roberts (P), J. Truelove (L), J. Truelove-Cooke (N).

ALSO PLAYED: G. Kirtland (N), M. Lewis (P), M. Rosser (P), J. Thompson-Dykes (P), S. Yates (O). U15 C CAPTAIN: M. Rosser (P) U15 C SQUAD: T. Bloor (S), J. Ford (S), E. Hobson (P), G. Kirtland (N), I. Kozlov (C), M. Krivonogov (L), K. Kurmaly (C), D. Purewal (N), D. Robinson (S), M. Stanojevic (L), O. Thompstone (L), D. Uffang (P), B. Wanger (S).

ALSO PLAYED: M. Barnes-Batty (C), A. Hill (C), A. Smith (O).

P9 W2 D2 F 15 A 24

ALSO PLAYED: M. Atherton (O), E. Fluck (L), E.J. Hall (S), L. Platts (P), W. Smith (O), S. Yates (O).

Therefore, this side has real potential: it has strong and athletic defenders, who are good ball-carriers, dynamic and skilful midfielders and hardworking forwards with an eye for goal. To push on next year and challenge at the top end of school hockey, they must continue to consider their role in different areas of the pitch, ensuring they always transition and react quickly and have the discipline to do so. This discipline needs to start on the training pitch to ensure it is evident in match scenarios. The ability to execute the desired skills at the right time can only come if they do it in practice, and that would be my major point for them to develop. I will look forward to seeing how they progress as they move through the school. They have a love of the game and a drive to compete. Add some extra qualities and they are going to be a very tough side to beat. The U15 Bs had a fantastic season, losing just once against Magdalen College School, in a game that could have gone either way. A strong Orchard contingent provided a skilful, dependable and committed framework, while the boys from other houses added both defensive solidity and attacking flair – a potent combination. There are many A teams on the circuit who might have struggled to live with these boys and they should be proud of their achievements this season. Likewise, the C team – when at full strength – was far too much for opposition teams, our two defeats coming when we were missing more than half the regular team. Some of the players had never even

U14 A XI It was not a great start for this young hockey squad: a rather immature approach to training and a slightly ill-disciplined approach to matches resulted in some lacklustre performances and some pretty grim results. In part, the early poor form might be attributed to injuries to key players, but the remaining players were still very capable and yet drew with Oakham, lost to Trent and, in comfortably the worst performance of the season, lost to Bedford. This early lack of form also included a well-deserved drubbing away at Dean Close.

However, the boys were clearly very keen to do well and began to produce a much more focused approach and this inevitably brought better results. We negotiated a tricky Midlands Zone by playing some pretty good hockey, but a couple of lapses in concentration meant we lost one game to a good Ratcliffe team. It was perhaps in the subsequent Midlands Finals that the boys produced their best hockey of the year; in fact, they played brilliantly throughout the day. A sign of the level of improvement was the comfortable 2-0 semi-final win over the same Trent team that had beaten us earlier in the year. A loss on penalties in

the final consigned the boys to a play-off against the runners-up from the north the following week. The Calday Grange game was a very tight affair, played in front of a large crowd, and it wasn’t until the last minute that the deadlock was broken and Repton secured their place at the National Finals. Unfortunately, qualifying as Midlands runners-up meant we had a rather tricky group and, if we were to reach the final or 3rd/4th play-off, we were going to have to reach hitherto unseen levels of performance.

103

SPORT BOYS HOCKEY Ultimately, it wasn’t to be: we came third in our group, but all the parents and staff couldn’t have been more proud of the team; the boys demonstrated every facet of a good team – on-field performance, off-field disciplined preparation and group cohesion. The best attacking performance came in the opening game, when we beat Gresham’s 2-0 and, in fact, we were perhaps unlucky not to score a couple more. The best defensive display was, without doubt, against Dean Close and, had the boys not perfectly delivered a new defensive plan, we would surely have lost by more than the solitary goal. The grittiest performance was in the final game against a powerful Cranleigh team: the boys might have been starting to fatigue slightly, but they nevertheless produced a determined display that threatened the eventual National silver medallists. Joint-fifth place at the National Hockey Finals is a wonderful achievement and a real success for this group of players. Throughout the second half of the season, their approach to their own development was exemplary and I am now convinced that they will enjoy a great deal of success over the next few years.

SJC CAPTAINS: Z. Brough (S) & M. Ainger (N) SQUAD: E. Berlusconi (L), B. Bond (N), S. Clark (O), S. Donegan (N), H. Dunn (P), J. Earwicker (S), T. Hawksworth (N), W. Ingham (P), J. Jacques (P), A. Mair (P), W. Orpin (C), H. Scutt (N), C. Tarrant (S), J. Williams (S).

The Reptonian 2016/2017

P 22 F 49

W 13 A 25

U14 B & C XIs

WARWICK

W 7-1

BROMSGROVE

W 3-1

MCS, OXFORD

W 5-3

DEAN CLOSE

L 0-7

TRENT COLLEGE

L 0-1

OAKHAM

D 0-0

SANDBACH

W 5-1

BEDFORD

L 1-2

RUGBY

W 1-0

PRINCETHORPE U15A

D 1-1

County Finals CHAMPIONS GROUP 1 TRENT COLLEGE

W 1-0

GROUP 2 ECCLESBOURNE

W 2-1

Midlands Zone Round QUALIFIED GROUP 1 WEST BRIDGFORD GROUP 2 RATCLIFFE COLLEGE

W 11-0 L 1-2

GROUP 1 BISHOP VESEY’S GS

W 1-0

GROUP 2 NEWCASTLE-U-LYME

W 1-0

GROUP 3 LOUGHBOROUGH GS

W 3-0

SEMI-FINAL TRENT COLLEGE

W 2-0 D 1-1 (L ON PENS)

National Finals 5TH =

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U14 B SQUAD: B. Adshead (P), J. Bramfitt (S), A. Chima (L), R. Cheung (C), S. Cunningham (O), F. Davis (O), H. Gilby (S), C. Gracie-Ainscough (N), I. Green (L), C. Jackson (O), R. Khosla (C), D. Russell (S), J. Truelove-Cooke (N), G. Tverdokhlebov (P), W. Wade (O). U14 C CAPTAIN: O. Randall (O) U14 C SQUAD: A. Ari-Kainth (L), M. Armour (S), T. Chohan (C), L. Cooke (S), F. Davis (O), E. Farmer (C), W. Hooper-Smith (O), T. Li (P), W. Lunn (C), M. Mackrill (C), J. Presley-King (L), J. Riley (P), J. Sinclair (C), K. Wadhwani (P). The U14 B team included a number of players with limited experience of the game and some, such as Anoop Chima and Joshua Bramfitt, who had never played before. The fact that the boys in general, and these two novices in particular, improved so markedly makes the season a success, even though a lack of goals prevented us from recording

INDOOR

Midlands Finals FINALISTS

FINAL RATCLIFFE COLLEGE

U14 B CAPTAIN: F. Dumbill (P)

GROUP 1 GRESHAM’S

W 2-0

GROUP 2 DEAN CLOSE

L 0-1

GROUP 3 CRANLEIGH

L 1-3

HOCKEY Winning all four Midlands Indoors titles in December showed what progress our pupils have made in this format of the game in recent years. Both Girls’ teams defeated Malvern in their finals, with the Boys beating Oakham (U18) and Trent (U16) to qualify for the National Finals as Regional Winners. The National Finals themselves saw us reach the semi-final in each tournament, despite fierce competition. It was at this point that our Boys’ U18s lost to hosts Whitgift, with our Girls’ U16s being beaten by Cranleigh.

the results we would have liked. We were strong defensively, with James Truelove-Cooke and Christian GracieAinscough alternating effectively in goal and Freddie Dumbill, a superb captain, marshalling the back line. Our defensive strength was seen clearly in a number of games, especially away to a technically superior Princethorpe U14 A side. Henry Gilby was our most consistent player, driving the team from midfield and scoring a terrific late winner at Bedford. Rohit Khosla struggled for consistency, but was almost unplayable at times, notably away at Trent, a game that we ought to have won very comfortably but ended up drawing. The skills of Will Wade, Indy Green, Rex Cheung, Ben Adshead and Gleb Tverdokhlebov should ensure that goals are plentiful in future seasons, once they have acquired a little more assurance around the circle.

of the Lent Term and, although facing challenges along the way, bonded as a team. Notable successes came in matches against Dean Close and Oakham, where the team secured well-deserved wins under the leadership of their Captain, Owen Randall. Although there were some trying times, the boys did themselves proud, always emerging positively from defeats, and using the experience to solidify their skills for their future matches.

RGE & JDS P

U14 B

U14 C

From meagre beginnings, with many of the team picking up a hockey stick for the first time, the U14 C team developed a range of skills throughout the course

on penalty strokes. The final, against Whitgift, who had looked impressive throughout, then brought the best out of the boys. After an impressive start to the final for Repton, going two goals ahead, Whitgift drew things level five minutes from the break. In what was a very mature performance, Stuart Kentwell then completed his hat-trick before

Mackenzie Newton sealed the win with a goal in the dying seconds. The Boys’ U16 National Indoor title was the last remaining honour to win as a school and, given the competition, this was a very impressive display from the squad that blended boys together from three year groups.

MLJ

Girls’ U18s CHAMPIONS

Girls’ U16s SEMI-FINALISTS

Boys’ U18s SEMI-FINALISTS

Boys’ U16s CHAMPIONS

Our Girls’ 1st XI achieved the first leg of the Indoor and Outdoor double in fine style, beating Dean Close and Cranleigh comfortably in the semi-final, Esme Burge and Mimi Tarrant scoring two goals each in the final. The Boys’ U16s victory was less than straightforward, however, as they laboured to their semi-final victory against QEGS, Wakefield, failing to convert several chances before winning through GIRLS’ U18s CAPTAINS: A. Tarrant (M) & E. Burge (G)

BOYS’ U18s CAPTAIN: O. Rogerson (C)

GIRLS’ U18s SQUAD: A. Bennett (G), N. Bowen (F), M. Brealey (G), G. Brownhill (M), H. Davey (F), M. Foster (G), J. Hibell (M), S. Holliday (F), T. Lloyd (G), R. Nelson (M), C. Newstead (M), F. Scutt (G), M. Wray (G).

BOYS’ U18s SQUAD: C. Bell (P), H. Bennett (N), S. Claris (N), T. Evans (C), J. Greenwood (S), E. Killington (S), J. Patient (P), M. Proudlove (N), J. Sookias (S), H. Swaby (C).

GIRLS’ U16s CAPTAIN: E. Kaczmarczyk (M)

BOYS’ U16s CAPTAIN: L. Brown (N)

GIRLS’ U16s SQUAD: G. Brown (M), S. Butler (F), I. Clarke (F), F. Cole (F), L. Gould (M), I. Hatton (G), C. Jowett (F), J. Lloyd (G), E. Schmedes (A), K. Squires (G), A. Stone (G).

BOYS’ U16s SQUAD: M. Ainger (N), W. Collins (P), A. Dashwood (L), X. Finglas-Teyletche (N), S. Kentwell (N), J. Nelson (L), M. Newton (C), R. Nicholson (C), R. Sillery (S), M. Tarrant (S).

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SPORT NETBALL

The Reptonian 2016/2017

NETBALL

1ST VII

This was a challenging term for a team plagued by injury. As I stepped in, rather last minute, to coach them, it was very apparent that not only were the girls a complete unit, working hard together, they were also very versatile, positionally. Whilst this had its many benefits, it also came with some challenges, as the girls had to gel together in many different permutations.

goal-scoring opportunities; Heap played a mix of positions – WA, GA and GD – her dynamic movement and pinpoint-precision passing proving she can play almost anywhere on court. A mention must also go to the girls that came up from the 2nds to help out when we were injury-hit: their support was vital, especially when called-on last-minute. This was a great season with the girls, and I hope that they all enjoyed it.

The term started with tough and high-paced games against Loughborough High and Trent, Repton narrowly winning both games, Claudia Johnson leading the team with her high expectations and dedication. As the term progressed, high level opposition in the form of Uppingham and Rugby stopped the Repton winning streak, but the girls learnt they had to hold onto the ball, as, although they won possession many times, they also gave it away too often.

GKR

The games that lay ahead in the second half of term looked demanding; however, the girls played brilliantly to beat a hard-hitting Bromsgrove team, as well as another skilful game versus Trent. Claudia Johnson and Ella Ewins proved to be a striking force in defence: the years they have played together have certainly paid off, and their brutal determination was great to watch. Bekah Walton joined in the L6 and has learnt a huge amount in defence, but also showed that she is versatile enough to play in centre court at WD. Georgie Brownhill, Emilia Kaczmarczyk and Izzy Clarke proved that their call-up to the first team was the correct one: they have quick footwork and huge strength in their flexibility to grasp balls that I thought were simply unreachable. Arabella Heap, Molly Thompson-Dykes, Tara Lloyd and Philippa Wilson all played a huge part in the attacking circle: Lloyd had the tough job of moving positions regularly, but was a vital support for this first team; Thompson-Dykes showed nerves of steel in toughly-fought matches; Wilson used her height and extensive game knowledge to her advantage to capitalise on almost all

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3RD VII 2ND VII The 2nd VII this year brought together a number of outstanding girls I had worked with at junior level. This meant that we already knew and trusted each other, were aware of our many strengths and minor foibles, and, perhaps most importantly of all, our camaraderie and togetherness was in abundance before a ball was even thrown in competition.

CAPTAIN: C. Johnson (A) SQUAD: G. Brownhill (M), I. Clarke (F), E. Ewins (G), A. Heap (G), E. Kaczmarczyk (M), T. Lloyd (G), M. Thompson-Dykes (M), R. Walton (F), P. Wilson (G). ALSO PLAYED: I. Clowes (A), J. Hibell (M), S. Winn-Darley (M).

P 15

W 10

CAPTAIN: G. Renshaw (M)

LOUGHBOROUGH HS

W 22-19

TRENT COLLEGE

W 23-22

RUGBY

L 29-53

STAMFORD

W 37-33

UPPINGHAM

L 30-40

BROMSGROVE

W 39-26

TRENT COLLEGE

W 38-22

Regional Finals

SQUAD: L. Archer (G), I. Clowes (A), G. Cooke (M), G. English (F), A. Gerard-Pearse (M), J. Hibell (M), E. Hingley (F), S. Hudson (M), S. Winn-Darley (M). ALSO PLAYED: M. Dewhirst (G), L. Johnson (A), T. Lloyd (G), C. McDougall (M), I. Winn-Darley (M), M. Wray (G).

P 10

DENSTONE COLLEGE 1ST VII W 33-20 TRENT COLLEGE

W 8-37

WELLINGBOROUGH

W 17-10

WORKSOP COLLEGE 1ST VII

W 13-26

NOTTINGHAM HS

W 12-11

OUNDLE

W 33-32

Led throughout the season by the ever-present and positive Georgia Renshaw, a natural leader and superb captain, we started the term very well indeed, notably beating two 1st VIIs (Denstone and Worksop), Trent (away) and Oundle in a very close match that showed the true value of sportsmanship when several injuries in succession meant we were down to just 6 players and no subs. Oundle deserve real credit, not only for taking one of their players off to balance the numbers, but also for graciously accepting a goal ‘scored’ just after the whistle that would have evened the score-line but didn’t count. It was really rewarding to see the positive way both sets of girls reacted: sport was truly the victor on that afternoon. Unfortunately, losing so many players to injury meant we met a worthy Rugby team the following week with a much reduced and weakened side: I feel we could have given them a much closer game had we have been at full strength. We were unlucky not to get a result against the National-qualifying Oundle U16s, but we lost Immy Clowes, one of our only two shooters that afternoon, to a nasty ankle injury, which ended her season prematurely. Sophia Hudson stepped up admirably, once again, but we couldn’t quite stay in touch with them. Pleasingly, though, we followed up this narrow loss with a dominant win against Bromsgrove U16s, who had also qualified for the Nationals.

A strong season from a very strong 3rd VII team, who, from the first centre-pass of the term, played to a standard many sides in the past had taken weeks to reach. At one point this term, the 3rds had won 18 games in a row, which tells you all you need to know about their quality. A churl might suggest that no more than a third of those games were very exacting contests, but that is partly a function of the fact that they had put the game to bed by the end of the first quarter, and imposed on them a disintegration in morale from which there was no recovery. Indeed, not the least impressive factor in this squad’s play was how strongly they started each game: a number of first quarters were won by 10 points. These girls, the only Senior team to beat the mighty Rugby School this season, also put to the sword three U16A VIIs, including Regional Finalists. That they were so disappointed to suffer their only defeat, at the hands of the 2nd VII of the strongest netballing school in the Midlands, speaks volumes. I was also delighted by the fact that, even when they had put the result beyond doubt, and were facing teams not wholly inclined to take the match seriously, they kept up their levels, rising above the squalor: plenty of 2nd teams I have coached would have taken their collective foot off the gas once the game was in the bag. Not this team.

CSD CAPTAIN: C. McDougall (M) SQUAD: C. Abell (A), E. Benson (A), M. Dewhirst (G), A. Earwicker (A), L. Gould (M), L. Johnson (A), B. McClarron (G), M. Platts (M), A Stone (G), I Winn-Darley (M). ALSO PLAYED: K. Gill (F)

P 10

Our final game really was an exciting spectacle, both teams playing positive, direct netball and goals being scored in quick succession at both ends of the court. I was delighted to see the effort, determination, and competitiveness from each and every girl; the way they stamped their authority in the final quarter and pushed ahead to a convincing victory was incredible.

RATCLIFFE

L 9-10

RUGBY

L 19-33

CARRE’S GS

L 9-15

STAMFORD

W 16-22

WEST BRIDGFORD

W 13-10

UPPINGHAM

W 35-23

STAMFORD

W 15-8

OUNDLE U16 A VII

L 11-14

OAKHAM

L 7-13

BROMSGROVE U16 A VII

W 20-13

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with these outstanding girls again; many of them may be selected as first team players next year, and I wish them every success. Particular thanks go to Annie Gerard-Pearse and Serena Winn-Darley, who played their final netball matches for Repton this term.

OUNDLE

W 15-12

OAKHAM

W 32-27

SMI

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SPORT NETBALL

The Reptonian 2016/2017

U15 C & D VIIs

U15 A VII The U15 A netballers enjoyed a fantastic season, with a number of outstanding performances. A versatile squad soon gelled into a formidable team, starting the season confidently, with impressive wins against Denstone and Trent.

4TH & 5TH VIIs As 4th VIIs go, this had to be one of the best in the area: we more than held our own against the 3rd VII teams from Uppingham and Bromsgrove, and our star shooters – all five of them! – scored a total of 231, while our opponents only managed 135 across the whole season. It is exceptionally hard to single out players for honourable mentions (how can one even begin to rate Sophie Earp’s clinical shooting against Ella Nieper’s feisty defending or Ruby Gale’s steady hands in centre court?), so my abiding memory of this season will be the girls’ willingness to throw themselves into life, whether that is playing in an unfamiliar position, enduring rugby in training sessions, or spending some time on the Fives courts. A season where I need to do nothing more than provide Haribo, blow a whistle occasionally, and remind them of the 4th’s mantra (“Throw the ball; catch the ball; don’t fall over”) is a good one indeed. Right from the off, the 5th VII girls were cohesive, communicated well, and knew when to take things seriously, but also provided a lot of fun moments in cold, rainy training sessions! I have no doubt that some of the squad will move to higher teams in the Sixth Form, but indeed all the girls displayed ability that belied their humble “Fifths” title. This quality was reflected in their triumphant fixtures: 107 goals scored in their 6 games, whilst never letting their opposition score above the mid-teens. Well done on a great season, girls!

MKC & GLH 4TH VII SQUAD: S. Earp (A), R. Gale (M), K. Gill (F), G. Hakney (A), M. Hammond (F), L. Johnson (A), E. Nieper (F), I. Omilana (M), E. Sheldon (F), G Young (F), K Squires (G). ALSO PLAYED: M Griffiths (M) 5TH VII SQUAD: E. Andrew (M), L. Bobone Mendia de Castro (F), L. Drury (M), M. Griffiths (M), C. Martin (M), S. Richards (A), V. Robinson (F), H. Smith (F), C. Swinbank (M).

4TH VII

5TH VII

Mia Swain dominated every game at centre, linking with Ella Buffin to feed balls to the shooters, making plenty of interceptions and slowing the game down when needed. After mastering a new shooting technique, Hattie English, Gabby Pope and Georgia Brown controlled any attacking circle, scoring an impressive 178 goals just in Saturday fixtures. Of course, no team is complete without a reliable defence: Eleanor Bond, Molly Dytham, Jessie Smith and, new to the position, Imogen Hatton worked tirelessly to block out the opposition’s shooters and, as only two losses testifies, did a sterling job. At times, the girls really had to pull out all the stops to clinch a win; no more so than against Rugby. The girls impressed with their determination and teamwork to hold onto the lead until the final whistle. Defeating Oundle and Trent is always gratifying, but the girls were unlucky against two very strong teams from Loughborough High and Oakham. Maturity and skill graced the court every Saturday and the girls should be extremely proud of a remarkable season.

SMB

U15 B VII

CAPTAINS: E. Bond (F) & M. Swain (M) SQUAD: G. Brown (M), E. Buffin (M), M. Dytham (M), H. English (F), I. Hatton (G), G. Pope (G), J. Smith (M).

DENSTONE COLLEGE

W 25-7

TRENT COLLEGE

W 28-11

LOUGHBOROUGH HS

L 21-22

OUNDLE

W 14-11

RUGBY

W 25-24

STAMFORD

W 22-12

BROMSGROVE

W 29-7

OAKHAM

L 14-20

U15 County Tournament CHAMPIONS

The U15 Cs had a fantastic season. Our first match was a nail-biting 14-11 win against Denstone that foreshadowed the season to come. With two draws, and the few defeats only ever being by a small margin, it was clear our girls were evenly-matched with their opponents throughout the term. The highlight for the team was our outstanding victory against Uppingham, in which we were winning 27-5 at half-time. No doubt these victories were down to Frances Brown’s and Ellie Smith’s rapid movement across the court. Getting the ball into the hands of either Katie Fulford or Charlotte Morris meant we rarely missed a shot. “Fluky” Lukey remained as fluky as ever and, combined with the fierce defence of Divya Devikanand, Daria Isakova and Lydia Staley (and a slight elbow or two from Anna Krasnova) and the U15 Cs were bound for another victory. Regardless whether the girls were winning, losing or drawing, in all nine games they remained exceptionally enthusiastic and willing to try their best. They should all be proud of such an excellent season.

A delightful team to coach, the U15 Ds brought enthusiasm, fun and sportsmanship to all their training sessions and fixtures. Highlight was the spectacular win over Oundle, where Holly Hatton and Mia Harcourt scored over 30 goals between them, earning edible rewards for the whole squad! This group really bonded and showed ample amounts of team spirit and camaraderie throughout the season. Well done!

SJP & AVES U15 C SQUAD: F. Brown (M), D. Devikanand (G), K. Fulford (F), D. Isakova (G), A. Krasnova (G), C. Luke (F), C. Morris (A), L. Pratley (G), F. Schneck (G), E. Smith (F), L. Staley (F), S. Walker (A). U15 D CAPTAIN: G. White (F) U15 D SQUAD: A. Adams-O’Rorke (A), F. Akinsanmi (G), A. Berger (F), L. Cremer (F), M. Harcourt (G), H. Hatton (G), E. Hopkins (F), L. Mueller (A), E. Waldock (A), M. White (A).

U15 C VII

U15 D VII

The U15 B team enjoyed an extremely successful term of netball, securing their unbeaten season with a 21-11 win over Oakham in the final game. Victory in the U15 B Invitational Tournament at Uppingham was the highlight of the season and something that has not been achieved for a number of years. The girls demonstrated their ability to work well as a team in shorter, more time-constrained matches, where it was important to ensure passes were flat and accurate and make the most of each shooting opportunity. The girls won each group game convincingly to top the group and, after securing a nail-biting win in the semi-final, they triumphed over hosts Uppingham 10-4. As a team, the girls improved greatly throughout the season, across all areas of the court. Defensively, we became more resilient in the circle, marking our players tightly and making valuable interceptions in order to turn over possession. Offensively, the centre-court players created an effective link between the defence and the shooters by making angled runs, thus allowing possession to be maintained and the ball to flow easily down the court. Considerable work had been done in and around the attacking circle, in particular the importance of quick and accurate feeding into the circle for our shooters to convert. Congratulations on a superb season, girls!

ECS SQUAD: J. Archer- Reed (F), E. Cann (A), F. Cole (F), S. Corner (G), A. Harcus (A), S. Lloyd- Dickinson (G), C. Jowett (F), E. Kilby (F), S. Ktori (A), J. Merriman (A).

Uppingham Invitational Tournament WINNERS

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SPORT NETBALL

The Reptonian 2016/2017

U14 A VII If ever there were a team that should not be judged by the quality of their results, it should be this one. This was a team of lovely individuals, who worked really hard, but it was a tough term for them: some great opposition, some injury and a serious mismatch of height meant that we weren’t able to achieve the scorelines we would have liked. I have never known a season when the opposition, week on week, have been so much taller than us; in netball, that really does make a difference. We did some things really well: we trained really hard; we improved our intercepting skills; we became more consistent; we became much more aware of each other on the court. The strength of our pass, though, sometimes caught us out and we struggled to get the ball out of our defending D and into our attacking D. Working from the back, Zara Knowles was a cool and calm influence and we really missed her when she was injured. It was great to get Sophie Haigh back into GD, following her injury, and she and Knowles will, in time, be a force to be reckoned

with. Scout Butler did a fine job of irritating her opponents with interceptions as she stepped in to play a defensive role. Ellie Barlow rotated between WD and GD and, whilst accuracy of pass might not be her forte, following her opponent round the court certainly was. Amelie Naylor proved to be a fit, versatile player, linking well in the centre with Eliza Martin and Izzy Mansfield. I was particularly impressed by Martin’s gritty determination: she never once let her head or performance drop. Carys Duke and Poppy Kellock combined well in turn, starting to find confidence in their ability in the circle and learning to hold their space. Charlotte Steele had a tough season against some huge opponents, learning to use sideways movement rather than going over the top – a technique that will pay dividends in time.

The U14 B team had a sensational term of netball, winning 9 of their 10 matches and displaying the most wonderful sense of sportsmanship throughout the course of the term. They worked just as hard in training as they did in matches, able to give the A team a run for their money.

DENSTONE COLLEGE

W 21-12

LOUGHBOROUGH HS

L 19-45

TRENT COLLEGE

L 10-27

I enjoyed the term enormously and I thank the girls most sincerely. In time, they will be a strong force to be reckoned with; for now, I shall be pursuing ‘Miracle-gro’ for teenagers.

RUGBY

L 12-18

UPPINGHAM

L 8-27

BROMSGROVE

L 13-44

NMD

OAKHAM

L 13-24

CAPTAIN: E. Martin (M) SQUAD: E. Barlow (G), S. Butler (F), C. Duke (F), S. Haigh (M), P. Kellock (G), Z. Knowles (F), I. Mansfield (M), A. Naylor (M), C. Steele (A).

U14 B & C VIIs

Bromsgrove Invitational Tournament 6TH PLACE

A convincing 22-2 win against Denstone immediately set the tone for the season; it was clear that this team was prepared to work hard. The centre-court players really established themselves, with Emma Scutt at WD and Hattie Nieper at WA solidifying their places in the team. Olivia Ellis also did a very good job at Centre and it was good to see this trio working well to connect through the middle section of the Court. There were convincing wins against Trent (19-4), Oundle (10-6), Rugby (21-9), and Stamford (21-9), Molly Bowman at GA and Phoebe Plant at GS working so well in the circle to create lots of shooting opportunities.

U14 B

U14 C

Towards the end of the season, the team was really tested. An unbelievably tight game against Bromsgrove was fought to the whistle, Lucy Richards at GK and Kristia Gabriel at GD working themselves as hard as possible to help secure a tight 23-21 win. Another remarkably close match against Uppingham saw a 16-15 win, thanks to a goal in the final minute. The steady pace-setting of Captain Zara Wedgwood was crucial; it was superb to see her lead the team through her outstanding play throughout the season. A truly outstanding season for this delightful set of girls – which bodes very well indeed for the future. The U14 Cs won more than they lost, with Ana Tertychnaya and Molly Gilmore consistently moving the ball up court, Holly Cook, Evie Lownds, Emma Balderston and Philippa Hix shooting excellently, and the great defence of Kacey Yates, Freya Buckley, Tabitha Johnson, Kate Knight and Emma Mansfield making interceptions throughout the season.

AFP & AG

U14 B CAPTAIN: Z. Wedgewood (A) U14 B SQUAD: M. Bowman (M), H. Cook (A), O. Ellis (G), K. Gabriel (G), H. Nieper (F), P. Plant (M), L. Richards (A), E. Scutt (M).

U14 D & E VIIs The U14 D and E teams both played an enthusiastic season, approaching their matches with positivity and energy. It was delightful to see them gel as a team over the term and to watch them improving their skills, while they trained and entered into their fixtures with a lovely combination of good cheer, determination and strong sportsmanship.

HCP & CMSS U14 D CAPTAIN: J. Milligan-Manby (F) U14 D SQUAD: K. Chaibi (G), E. Clifford (M), L. Cope (F), E. Dick (A), G. Ferguson (G), L. Gibson (G), E. Mansfield (G), Q. Qi (G), L. Ramsden (F), I. Roberts (F), A. Smith (M), L. Williamson (F), K. Yates (G). U14 E CAPTAIN: A. Leverton (A) U14 E SQUAD: A. Albone (F), D. Davolio (G), A. Huang (A), M. Joshi (F), E. Kildare (F), K. Newbould (A), C. Okunoye (F), L. Parker (G), I. Turton (A), C. Westwood (A). ALSO PLAYED: L. Williamson (F).

U14 D

U14 E

ALSO PLAYED: K. Pearce (A) U14 C SQUAD: E. Balderston (M), F. Buckley (A), H. Cook (A), M. Gilmore (M), P. Hix (G), T. Johnson (M), K. Knight (M), E. Lownds (A), E. Mansfield (G), A. Tertychnaya (G), K. Yates (G).

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SPORT ATHLETICS GIRLS FOOTBALL SWIMMING

The Reptonian 2016/2017

GIRLS’

FOOTBALL

ATHLET ICS It was another successful season for Repton’s athletes, who achieved well both on circuit meets and in County competitions. Indeed, having lost a number of key athletes last year, this team’s accomplishments seem even more impressive. On the track, the girls’ 4x100m relay team claimed another unbeaten season and, whilst the boys were unable to match this feat, they did come the closest out of any boys’ team in recent years to breaking the long-standing school record. Christina Jowett and Gabrielle Pope both had very impressive debut seasons, notching up a number of wins in the 100m and 200m, respectively, while Francesca Cole, winner of the Junior girls’ Victrix Ludorum, equalled a long-standing school record in the 1500m. James Parton, winner of the Intermediate Victor Ludorum, had another excellent season and completed his transition from an 800m to a 400m runner by breaking the school record – doing so with an English Schools’ qualifying time. Off the track, it was pleasing to record some rare victories in the throwing events. Nathan Furniss was on fine form all season and was the worthy winner of the Senior boys’ Victor Ludorum; he will certainly have an eye on a record or two next year. Jessica Lee, winner of the Senior girls’ Victrix Ludorum, continued her meteoric rise by claiming two records in the triple and long jump, the latter in as exciting circumstances as you’ll see, the record being broken three times, in the same afternoon, by two different athletes. Finally, Alex Kingston collected a gold medal at the Regional Multi-events Championships.

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At the Derbyshire Schools’ Championships, Reptonians won a total of nine medals – four gold and five silvers; our biggest haul in recent years. This meet capped off a particularly strong season for Angus Edwards, who went one better than the silver he achieved at the Regional Multi-events meet earlier in the season. I would like to extend my thanks to the coaches, particularly Joseph Walker, who leaves us this year having coached at the school for the past eight years. Finally, a notable mention must go to Marcus Clague and Alicia Turner, who were model captains, and each leaving with school records to their names. I wish them every success for their future endeavours, on and off the track.

RGDR

In the ISFA Cup, we reached the semi-final, highlights being fine wins against Welbeck (6-0) and Oakham (5-0). Then we came up against a well-drilled ACS Cobham and, despite being the better side, they were clinical when we were not and we lost 1-2. Captain Anna Jowle led the scoring with 12 goals, with Scutt, Emmett and Davey all contributing seven apiece. The back line of Manon Allen, Morris, Newstead and Williamson were real stalwarts. We also had three ISFA England representatives (more than any other school): Emmett, Jowle and Williamson.

BOYS’ CAPTAIN: M. Clague (C) BOYS’ SQUAD: O. Campbell (O), P. Cheng (C), C. Chukwumah (N), C. Collins (P), A. Edwards (O), W. Edwards (P), E. Eren (L), N. Furniss (O), E. Hollingworth (O), D. Hudson (O), B. Hunter (P), T. Hvass (O), E. Jackson (P), H. Kaczmarczyk (O), A. Kingston (C), W. Lake (S), C. Mead (L), W. Norcross (S), J. Parton (C), J. Pollard (L), J. Savage (L), T. Speed (P), O. Whittingham (C), T. Wilkinson (C). GIRLS’ CAPTAIN: A.Turner (F) GIRLS’ SQUAD: C. Abell (A), A. Adams-O’Rorke (A), L. Archer (G), M. Bird (F), M. Brealey (G), G. Brownhill (M), G. Cooke (M), I. Emmett (M), J. Goodhead (M), S. Holliday (F), C. Jowett (F), J. Lee (G), J. Merriman (A), T. Miller (F), E. Mitchell (M), M. Platts (M), G. Pope (G), S. Pope (G), R. Trafford (A), S. Wilson (F), H. Wright (G).

It was another year of success for Girls’ Football, with arguably the most talented squad of recent years reaching fruition. Having been ISFA 7s finalists before, the team of Anna Jowle, Emma Williamson, Isobel Emmett, Lydia Morris, Celia Newstead, Abbey Lloyd, Hermione Wright, Fenella Scutt and Hannah Davey were determined to go one better. Sevenoaks, King Edward’s, St Catherine’s and hosts, Charterhouse, all provided different tests in the group stage, but we achieved maximum points, scoring 13 goals and only conceding one. In the quarter-finals, Guilford High were initially stubborn, but once the deadlock was broken by Emmett, more goals quickly followed and we won 5-1. Our semi-final opponents, Bede’s, were over-reliant on one outstanding player; after nullifying this threat, we controlled the game, winning 3-1. The final was a case of déjà vu: King’s Taunton had been the only team to get the better of us in recent years. Williamson was immense at the back and restricted King’s to few clear-cut chances. Both teams hit the woodwork and there were top saves from both ‘keepers. The game finished 0-0 and extra-time still could not separate the sides. So, to penalties, Lloyd saving the final Taunton spot-kick to give Repton their first ISFA 7s title. In regular school fixtures, the team was unbeaten, winning the ISFA Midlands League for the third consecutive year, scoring 30 goals and conceding just 3 on the way to the title, with victories over Oakham, Uppingham, Stamford and Rugby, and a draw against Welbeck.

SWIMMING In March, the Swimming squad travelled to the London Olympic Aquatics Centre to take part in the Bath and Otter Cup relays, an event in which over 100 schools compete. All of the swimmers performed excellently, with Pippa Coombs (L6A), Nathan Hurdman (U6P), Rhys Methven (U6P), Thomas Mueller (L6N) and Liv Stocks (L6G) achieving personal bests.

The U18 Bs won their three games against Uppingham (home and away) and Rugby. The attack was spearheaded by Eloise Harris, Liv Reading and Jess Lee, with Harris top-scorer on six goals. Hattie Dashwood and Jess Richardson marshalled the defence superbly, only conceding two goals. Many of these girls will have A team opportunities next year.

MRW ISFA U18 Sevens CHAMPIONS P

U18 A

U18 B

U18 A CAPTAIN: A. Jowle (M) U18 A SQUAD: M. Allen (F), N. Bowen (F), A. Corner (G), H. Davey (F), I. Emmett (M), E. Ewins (F), M. Foster (G), H. Glover (M), S. Holliday (F), A. Jowle (M), H. Lipton (G), A. Lloyd (G), L. Morris (A), C. Newstead (M), F. Scutt (G), E. Williamson (F), H. Wright (G).

U18 B CAPTAIN: H. Dashwood (A) U18 B SQUAD: C. Allen (A), L. Bacon (A), A. Bennett (G), F. Bock (M), A. Brinkman (G), E. Buckland (M), E. Harris (M), E. Haskell (A), I. Hurren (A), J. Lee (G), C. McEwan (A), R. Nelson (M), H. Raza (A), O. Reading (A), J. Richardson (G), E. Swartling (G).

This was the last event for Captain Catherine McEwan (U6A) and for the Boys’ Medley team, made up of Jack Bull ((U6O) backstroke), Nathan Hurdman (breaststroke), Rhys Methven (fly) and Henry Kaczmarczyk ((U6O) freestyle). These four first competed together as a medley team at Foremarke and very narrowly missed out on this year’s Finals. The squad grew and developed over the course of the year and I am really looking forward to seeing what the returners can achieve next year, whist wishing the leavers all the best for the future.

RZW

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SPORT CROSS COUNTRY RUGBY BADMINTION

The Reptonian 2016/2017

RUGBY With only four players returning from last year’s team, it looked like it was going to be a long and difficult season. Things got tougher in our first match when we lost our captain, Luke Combellack, to injury after only eight minutes. Sadly, he wasn’t able to play for the rest of the season, but I cannot praise enough his attitude after sustaining this devastating blow: he attended every session and match, encouraging the team and helping with training.

CROSS COUNTRY

Whilst this was a very inexperienced team, there was clearly a lot of raw talent. We lost our first two games, but we were making progress and a superb second-half comeback gave us our first win against Warwick School’s 3rd XV. Welbeck proved too strong for us, but good wins followed against Melbourne RFC and Wolverhampton Grammar. Despite a colossal effort, we didn’t quite manage to beat Shrewsbury’s 1st XV.

There are many things to relish about Cross Country running, and especially round the grounds of our nation’s ancient boarding schools. Many is the time that RGD and I have let fly our own personal elegy to the sport as we walk the course with the team, plunging deep into the boggy ground of some forgotten part of said boarding school estates, in perennially ill-chosen footwear, then trying, envious of the warmth created by the team’s exertions, to write down finishing positions on the back of an envelope while the blood in our fingers slowly deserts us, leaving the frost to bite. What’s not to like? To recycle a pun as ancient as the schools I mentioned earlier, it is all about the thrill of victory, and the agony of de feet…

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It was a busy year for Repton badminton and one that I think our team members can look back at with a great deal of pride. An extensive set of fixtures, including Oundle, Uppingham, Rugby, Bromsgrove, Felsted and Trent (some of whom we visited twice) gave the team a varied and fairly relentless experience, which they made the very most out of, with the girls undefeated and the mixed team experiencing just one defeat. A particular highlight was beating Uppingham 9-0 in the mixed doubles, not once but twice! This was made all the more satisfying given the drubbing the boys had experienced at the hands of Uppingham the term before. Even more than excellent results, however, what impressed me was the spirit with which the students played, mixing enthusiasm and determination with sporting conduct and respect for their opponents.

Congratulations are in order for Lizzie Martin De Bartolome and Ed Chan, who won our internal tournaments for girls and boys, respectively – no mean feat considering the calibre of the field. We also say goodbye to Leo Chun, Ed Sheasby, Miles Nelson and Lizzie Martin De Bartolome who leave some big sports-hall-appropriate-footwear to fill. The team can now reflect on all they have achieved this year, not least somehow making it through the season without a dedicated budget for replacing shuttlecocks that experienced Leo’s smash!

SJM BOYS’ CAPTAIN: L. Chun (P) BOYS’ SQUAD: E. Chan (C), R. Cheng (C), A. Du (P), H. Emmett (L), M. Nelson (L), E. Sheasby (S). GIRLS’ CAPTAIN: E. Martin De Bartolome (F) GIRLS’ SQUAD: M. Araki (G), A. Karpova (G), C. Li (A), V. Loza (A), H. Smith (F).

Jamie Pringle led the forwards brilliantly, and the back row of Stuart-Monteith, Furniss, and Hvass proved to be a highly-effective unit. Joshi and Liam Combellack were both highly influential, while Campbell always provided an attacking threat in his new position at full-back. Special mention has to go to Sam Benson, who took over the captaincy, leading the team brilliantly, encouraging the inexperienced players and setting an example in terms of attitude, skill and effort. The boys were a pleasure to coach; working hard, learning well and not taking themselves too seriously. They made huge progress and the future looks bright, with the majority of this team returning next year. Huge thanks must also go to EGMS and KPM for their contributions throughout the term.

If it is hard to understand the appeal of Cross Country, it is even harder to fathom a captain so superb as Hermione Wright (U6G), who attended every fixture without fail, set an impeccable example of calm, focused training and racing, and once again qualified to compete in the English Schools’ Championships, representing Derbyshire. The fine example she has shown to all runners at the School is something to which all sports captains should aspire. Old and new faces turned out this year: Brad Sharratt (U6N) acquitted himself very well, as did newcomer Andrew Swindale (L6L); the power trio of Thomas Cruickshanks (5O), Theo Saunders (5O) and Alex Smith (5O) was a fine addition to our squad; Freddie Nelson (L6L) got stuck in to competitive racing; Archie Hill (5C) made a single but positive cameo at Uppingham, and Darren Rider (5P) and Freddie Holt (5N) both ran in numerous races, as well as qualifying for

BADMINTON

MWTH P7

CAPTAINS: L. Combellack (U6S) & S. Benson (U6P) the Derbyshire Championships. They were joined by James Truelove-Cooke (3N), who is certainly one to watch for the future: with more race experience, he should be a good prospect for English Schools’ in the future. Swindale also gave a good account of himself at the County Champs and, as we know, Hermione Wright took it all the way to the big race on account of her excellent run at that event.

A Cross Country report can sound like something pitched somewhere between apology and explanation for the bizarre habit of dragging yourself through rain, sleet and mud in the name of competitive sport. The names I mention above see it differently (I hope!) and should be very proud of the spirit, drive and willingness they have shown.

JDW

SQUAD: O. Campbell (U6O), C. Chukwumah (U6N), L. Combellack (5S), G. Dunn (U6O), N. Furniss (U6O), H. Griffiths (U6N), K. Hirano (L6N), T. Hvass (L6O), P. Joshi (5P), A. Kaem (5C), J. Phillips (L6O), J. Pringle (U6P), P. Romanovskiy (5O), A. Stuart-Monteith (L6S), W. Sykes-Waller (U6L), M. Taylor (L6C), E. Todd (U6S), C. Wilcock (L6N), P. Williams (U6L). ALSO PLAYED: W. Edwards (U6P), T. Wilkinson (U6C).

////// PIERS HENDERSON (U6L)

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SPORT HOUSE SPORT VALETE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

REPTON HOUSE SPORT CHAMPIONS 2016-17 Cricket 2016

JUNIOR A

THE MITRE THE MITRE

SENIOR

COMPETITION UNFINISHED

JUNIOR B

JUNIOR

SCHOOL HOUSE

Steeplechase 2017

Tennis 2016

SENIOR BOYS’ WINNER

W. NORCROSS (U6S)

SENIOR GIRLS

THE ABBEY

SENIOR BOYS’ TEAM

SCHOOL HOUSE

JUNIOR GIRLS

THE MITRE

SENIOR GIRLS’ WINNER

F. SCUTT (L6G)

THE CROSS

SENIOR GIRLS’ TEAM

THE MITRE

JUNIOR BOYS’ WINNER

R. NICHOLSON (4C)

NEW HOUSE

JUNIOR BOYS’ TEAM

THE PRIORY

THE GARDEN

JUNIOR GIRLS’ WINNER

I. CLARKE (5F)

JUNIOR GIRLS’ TEAM

FIELD HOUSE

1ST B-BLOCK BOY

J. TRUELOVE-COOKE (3N)

1ST B-BLOCK GIRL

H. NIEPER (3F)

BOYS

Athletics 2016 BOYS

VALETE MJR Mike Raven joined the Geography Department in September 2015 and quickly became a popular member of staff amongst the students, as he regaled them with his stories of travel and adventure, not to mention his love of locomotives. A keen Geographer and outdoors man, Mike was able to offer his expertise on numerous Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and was famed for his mastery of the trangia. He was also a valued member of the Cross House tutor team and would be a regular fixture at ‘Monday night’! His passion for football was evident in his coaching of the U15 C team in Michaelmas 2016 and the students will be sure to miss his elaborate and intensive afternoon drills. Michael left Repton in December 2016 to take up a new post at Abberley Hall and we wish him and Georgie every success in their new venture.

RGDR

LKC

SENIOR

THE ORCHARD

SENIOR RESERVES

THE ORCHARD

JUNIOR

THE CROSS

Louisa Chambers came to Repton as an Artist-in-Residence in 2012, after graduating from the Institute of Education, where she studied for her PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education. She had previously studied for an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art. During her time at Repton, Louisa also taught as an Associate Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, and took part in the Summer Lodge at NTU. As a talented artist, Louisa contributed immensely to the Art Department through her enthusiasm and knowledge of contemporary art, which was passed on to pupils. She also co-curated exhibitions at New Court Gallery, including NottsDerbs 2016, which exhibited emerging artists from the Fine Art Departments of Nottingham Trent and Derby Universities. Louisa exhibited her own work widely during her time at Repton, including Transition gallery, London and Nottingham Castle Open, 2015. She held her farewell solo exhibition, Only Yours Dear, at Gallery No. 1. We are sure she will prosper in her new position as Art Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, and we wish her and Gabriel well.

SENIOR LEAGUE

NEW HOUSE

IJW

JUNIOR LEAGUE

THE PRIORY

NOEL BENNETT TROPHY (6-A-SIDE)

SCHOOL HOUSE

GIRLS

James Kropacsy Relays 2016 BOYS

NEW HOUSE

GIRLS

THE MITRE

Football 2016

Girls’ Hockey 2016 SENIOR

FIELD HOUSE

JUNIOR

THE MITRE

SENIOR LEAGUE

THE GARDEN

JUNIOR LEAGUE

THE GARDEN

Swimming & The Caroline Tyler Memorial Relays BOYS

THE ORCHARD

GIRLS

THE MITRE

MCR Midge Randall joined the Biology Department from Birkdale School in September 2015 and has made a significant impact in the short time she has spent with us. Rather appropriately as a Biology teacher, and a highly regarded one at that, she has undertaken a very wide diversity of roles across the Repton School ecosystem. Firstly in New House and, this year, in The Garden, she has been both a reliable and valued tutor. She has been involved, briefly, with Gold DofE, and somehow found herself taking a group of pupils to London for a Debating Final. She also played a key role in the highly successful trip to Borneo with JMJ. Whilst she didn’t quite find her niche in the hockey arena, the U15 B girls, U14 C and 3rd XI boys have enjoyed and benefited from her coaching and enthusiasm. I’m not sure I know anyone who has, perhaps unintentionally, embraced the Scouts’ motto ‘Be Prepared’ quite as much as Midge, and her hard work and determined approach has permeated all that she has done.

SENIOR A

THE MITRE

As a teacher of Biology (and a little bit of Physics), she has impressed with her thoroughness and organisation, if not always her quiet dulcet tones! She has a direct and matter-of-fact approach to her teaching, even welcoming WMAL ‘to the classroom’ when he undertook his first ‘learning walk’ around the Science Priory last year. Her role as Lead Teacher for the new A-Level practicals in Biology has been undertaken to a high level of professionalism and, whilst we will miss her, it is no surprise that she has taken the opportunity to join Loughborough Grammar School as Assistant Head of Biology to build on these strengths and to continue her natural evolution to HoD one day. She leaves with our very warmest wishes for the future.

SENIOR B

THE GARDEN

SMI

Boys’ Hockey 2017 SENIOR

NEW HOUSE

JUNIOR

SCHOOL HOUSE

Netball 2017

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VALETE

The Reptonian 2016/2017

CMSS Since joining in September 2015, Caitlin Spencer has crammed an awful lot into her short time with us. Caitlin’s willingness to get involved kept her extremely busy, but she would never miss an appointment and would always be fully prepared. Caitlin has cajoled teenagers to hike across the Peaks for Duke of Edinburgh, has survived Pedants – albeit with a justified degree of bemusement on her part –, has met the challenge of accommodating multifarious exam requirements and has developed into an accomplished hockey and netball coach. On arrival, Caitlin joined the Mitre tutor team and has proven herself to be a stalwart and dedicated House tutor. In September 2016, she enthusiastically took on the challenge of becoming Resident Tutor and has been a much-valued addition in this expanded capacity. Her quick wit, willingness to get stuck in and care for both the girls and other staff members, has made her invaluably supportive in her role and she will be greatly missed. Caitlin’s first love is Classics and she won the respect of the pupils in a number of ways: her impressive Oxford education, her level of preparation, her love of the subject, her versatility, her firm but fair approach, her genuine concern for their progress and her willingness to give up her free time to provide help; excellent re-sit results in the last two years are in no small part attributable to Caitlin and a number of university offers have been met as a result. Caitlin loves travel, with Italy and Greece, naturally, her preferred destinations. As well as touring Rome and the Bay of Naples with the School, she is likely, as soon as term ends, to be off to tour monuments and undertake research, fuelled of course by regular gelato stops! She has become a doyenne of Twitter since taking on the departmental account and has never missed a Classical Society meeting. She moves on to Wellington College with our very best wishes.

RGE

KPM Kevin MacDonald joined Repton in September 2015, following a long and distinguished career in a local state school, where he had had major responsibilities in the sixth form and had previously been a housemaster of a boarding house. The experience he had in teaching Mathematics resulted in him teaching across all year groups at Repton, and his professional approach was based on thorough and detailed preparation for his classes. He expected nothing less than the best of effort from his pupils – and for some this proved a challenge! His expertise and ability in a number of sports (Kevin made many appearances for the Leicester Tigers and later coached at a high level) resulted in him being committed to sport in all three terms. He assisted with lower-age football, regularly refereed all age groups and he coached the U14 C cricket. Repton rugby has been viewed by some as a ‘Cinderella’ option, but the pupils who have been committed to their sport have improved their skills and results, and he was able to organise and coach pupils to help them develop and enjoy their sport. His numerous years of pastoral experience was of benefit to his Orchard Sixth Form tutees, who have been guided and mentored along their way, while his Monday evening duties in the House were always calm and orderly. Alongside his pastoral experience, he also contributed to Teaching and Learning seminars and, over the last twelve months, the Career Education programme has been driven forward by Kevin. Although he has been at Repton for a short period, his contribution has been significant and we wish Kevin and his family our very best wishes for the future.

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