Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 23 June 2023
Dear Parents,
A few weeks ago I made the mistake of starting the new season of Selling Sunset. For those of you who haven’t yet seen this on Netflix, it is a ‘structured reality’ show which follows the lives of ‘realtors’ in Los Angeles. As a concept it’s pretty clever as it merges together two genres that have historically attracted high viewing figures: property programmes that show the kitchens and bi-fold doors of the uber-wealthy, and ‘reality’ programmes which survey the often-fraught relationships of the, well, uber-wealthy (or wannabe uber-wealthy). Anyway, the reason I realised it was a mistake to watch Selling Sunset was that, while I remembered that I quite (actually, really) like looking at other people’s bi-fold doors, I’d forgotten that I actually don’t like watching people arguing. I don’t do conflict. And this programme is designed for people to argue, because its producers have realised that many people, unlike me, lap it up – they thrive on the tension and the vituperative to-ing and fro-ing.
In between the property viewings and cooing over LA views, each programme features ‘characters’ who work together and/or meet to go over who said what to – or threw which drink over – whom at the previous week’s party. (These parties often have no point, except to bring together people who dislike one another, in the hope that they’ll throw Pinot Grigio in one another’s faces.) We then get twenty minutes along the lines of ‘they’re so out of order, you should ring them’. Then, once we’ve seen another house with a restaurant-quality wine cellar, LA views, and lovely bi-folds, we get a reunion brunch and – inexplicably – the scheduling of another party, at which the characters yell in each other’s faces because they haven’t really got over the previous party’s injustices. Sometimes these people who don’t really like each other decide to go on holiday together, so they can shout at one another with a slightly different backdrop. This is all, to many people, totally compelling. It is compelling because, as above, TV producers long ago realised, and became rich off the fact, that many audiences like aggression and conflict. It’s apparently much more fun watching nastiness, hair-pulling and white wine being launched across the room than it is to watch people nodding sagely and saying ‘Yes, I totally agree’.
Which is all very well in the short term, but such short-attention-span-grabbing television just reflects back to us our very worst instincts, legitimising them as acceptable ways to behave. If it’s on TV it must be okay. If it’s how you get on TV and (hopefully) get rich quick, then it must be okay. Many of us will watch these shows and see them for what they are: producers’ ratings fodder with little concern for the welfare of the people being goaded to claw one another’s eyes out, or for those staring at the screen while the eye-clawing goes on. These producers are not society’s friends; they prey on the insecurities of those who think that they, too, will get rich quick by taking part in a ‘structured’ reality series. And, I fear, this is increasingly the televisual diet of our pupils as they get older. If we are not careful, this is what they are told society is like, day-in day-out, and if they need it to be reinforced they can then watch it on a +1 catch-up or endlessly available streaming service. Once they have watched one bunch of people shouting at each other, they can change channel to another set of ‘stars’ doing exactly the same thing. The setting, location and demographic may change, but the essential premise remains the same: aggression is compelling, therefore aggression sells, so one seemingly acceptable and effective way to progress in life is to be aggressive. Then society continues to degrade because the values that are promoted are those that increase television ratings, not those that are good for us – and, especially, good for our young people.
Encouraging civility, in contrast, as a key thing that we do at NCS. We all have short tempers sometimes, and we sometimes don’t quite get the tone right. That is all part of being human; so is realising it, apologising when it happens, and trying to avoid it happening again. It is natural for the boys to sometimes be short with one another; but the educational process should have within it the modelling of civil discourse and the encouragement of patient disagreement, should that disagreement occur. Like most things I write: easier said than done. But certainly worthwhile if we are going to mould the next generations of those entering, and engaging with, civil society.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
An enormous thank you to everyone who helped to make our Wykeham Day so special last Saturday. From the old boys’ concert, to the fete, via the special evensong and Wykeham Day dinner in hall. Special thanks must go to the NCSPA who organised the fete brilliantly and ensured that the boys, and their families, had such a wonderful time. And, of course, to Jemma Kilkenny who arranged the dinner and masterminded a rather complex seating plan!
Enormous congratulations to the boys in Years 3 and 4 – and to Mrs Hayter, Mrs Usher and Ms Hainsworth – for their wonderful performances of The Jungle Book this week. The boys clearly enjoyed themselves enormously, as did their audiences, and the quality of acting and singing was impressively high for children so young. They are undoubtedly laying a firm foundation for their dramatic pursuits as they progress through the school! Indeed, our Year 8 leavers will be strutting their stuff on the NCS boards for the very last time, when they perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the cloisters this very evening.
Thank you to all my colleagues, and our Year 8 boys, who organised such an enjoyable pre-prep sports day this morning. It was clear that the boys were having a great time, and it was also a pleasure to be able to welcome so many pre-prep parents to watch their sons in the sunshine.
Our Year 8 TED talks happened on Tuesday and Thursday this week – the culmination of a year of ‘special subject’ research during which the boys have explored an independent research project. They are given rather a lot of freedom (within reason!) to decide on their topic, which should focus on analytical and critical thinking. The Year 8s then present their findings in a 5-10 minute presentation, TED talk-style, as part of the completion of their Pre-Senior Baccalaureate, demonstrating various skills in the process. You can read the abstracts to the boys’ talks in the brochure attached to the newsletter Parentmail.
We enjoyed our induction and ‘move-up’ morning on Thursday, a really enjoyable occasion when our new boys got to come in and meet their new forms and teachers. We also had our new parent drinks last Friday evening, and I’m thrilled to let current parents know that they’re all really lovely!
Oxford Children’s Book Group welcomes families to ‘Treacle Well Tales’, celebrating Alice in Wonderland, at St Margaret’s Churchyard, Binsey on Sunday 2 July (14.30-16.00). There is limited parking on grass nearby, or you may like to cycle or walk to the church for storytelling, games, cartoons, crafts and family fun. http://www.ocbg.org.uk/
Following on from my newsletter last week about purposeful careers, NCS families may be interested in this long-term project undertaken by one of our NCS parents, Fran Monks, on ‘How to Make a Difference’: http://www.howtomakeadifference.net
From Mrs Hess: please could all books be returned to the library before the end of term. It is particularly important that all those leaving the school return them. Please also ensure that a thorough check is made at home for any of our books that might have ended up there. If an individual boy has returned all his books, and is returning in September, he can borrow further for the summer holiday.
From Mr Bishop: As we move towards the end of term, the last few fixtures of the year have been played out with the determination and good sportsmanship that have been typical of the NCS teams this year. We have seen teams from all age groups playing over the last few days. From the epic encounters the Year 3 boys have been involved in against Summerfields and MCS to the very recent U13 tennis against Abingdon Prep. The recent U8 games have been amazing and Mr Swanepoel has expressed how much progress this group has made this term. They performed brilliantly away at MCS on Tuesday afternoon, outscoring our hosts with the bat. Following on from this the U9 boys put together a much-improved performance, again against MCS, but this time both the A and B team games were much closer and the A team in particular were just 2-3 wickets away from forcing a result at the end of play. As we reflected on the game we concluded that it was a superb day and a lack of boundaries at the start of the innings was the only deciding factor. We do have to mention the bowling of Felix T and the batting of Olly L.
The U11 teams have enjoyed exciting games recently against Abingdon Prep and Bruern Abbey. The game away at Abingdon was close-fought with both sides looking to take control with tight bowling and strong batting. Despite our best efforts and another strong showing the boys went down by the slimmest of margins but were full of positivity after such a good game. The following week the boys went across to Bruern Abbey and were looking forward to another cracking game. It did not disappoint. Having been put into bat, our openers Henry T and Hugo C saw off the opening bowlers only for Noah S and Xander S to smash the ball to all corners of the ground. They ended up with 32 and 64 runs respectively and the team’s total at stumps was 152 for only 4 wickets. In the field the bowling was shared around, as were the wickets, but there was a fabulous display from William E: 3 wickets including play of the day with a direct hit from deep mid-on for a spectacular run out. A 100-run win was a great way to cap off the U11 season.
The older boys have also been in action recently. The games against Winchester House were hugely entertaining and in the first team game Didrik found his scoring form, managing a brilliant 48 runs from only 7 overs, smashing a magnificent 6 during his knock. Unfortunately, he was dismissed with a “played on” and the scoring slowed down a little after this; from a fast start we ended the day on 110 runs and this always seemed a little short of what was needed for the win. The bowlers toiled but we could not quite find the pace needed to prise the batters out. Following this the boys played games against the Dragon and again Bruern Abbey. In The Dragon game Dan C gave his all as did Arjun S and Herbie H. The win eluded us on this occasion but the other U13 team once again proved too strong for Bruern Abbey and, with a strong bowling display, the total needed was not too challenging. With Henry W at the crease in the dying moments of the match needing only one run for the win, it was quite fitting for him to hit it for 6 to win the game in style and show just how much progress the team has made this season.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, 24 June 2023
10.00 Music Academy (Orchestra only)
Monday, 26 June 2023
Activities Week begins
Year 4 depart for Malvern Hills
Year 5 depart for Isle of Wight
Year 6 depart for France
Year 7 depart for Peak District
Year 8 depart for Sicily
Wednesday, 28 June 2023
No School Service
Summer Banquet for Pre-Prep and Year 3
Year 4 return from Malvern Hills
Friday, 30 June 2023
Years 5-8 return from trips
Pre-Prep activities week outing
Monday, 3 July 2023
8.50 Orchestra rehearsal (ends 10:10)
Tuesday, 4 July 2023
11.00 Prep Sports Day, Iffley Road
Last day of after-school Enrichment Activities (pre-prep and prep)
Wednesday, 5 July 2023
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: The Chaplain
10.00 NCS Orchestra, Year 8 soloists, and reader rehearsals, University Church (9.30-11.45 and 13.00-16.00)
19.00 Orchestra and Year 8 Leavers' Concert, University Church, followed by reception at NCS
Thursday, 6 July 2023
14.00 Pre-Prep Summer Show and annual certificates
17.30 Leavers v Parents Cricket Match
Friday, 7 July 2023
9.00 Sports Assembly
10.45 Prizegiving for Years 3-8
12.00 End of Term
12.30 Staff Buffet in New College