Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 4th March 2022
Dear Parents,
One of the most difficult balances to achieve in young people is that between self-confidence and humility. It is something that Dr Gausden talked about in our wellbeing assembly on Tuesday. We want to develop self-confidence for a number of good reasons: to be appropriately assertive in the workplace, in relationships, to avoid becoming the victim of bullies (or worse). As the former Headmaster of Eton, Tony Little, has pointed out, self-confidence is especially vital during adolescence because it is what will help to guard against mistakes in those naturally risk-taking years, when peer-approval either in person or through the dopamine-fix of ‘likes’ on social media can lead to experimentation, dangerous and sometimes criminal behaviours. Having the confidence to stand up and say ‘no’ is what helps protect the individual from engaging in such behaviours, and it should help change the toxic culture in those communities where it occurs. It is much easier said than done, I concede, to say that one should stand up to these behaviours, than to actually do so and risk aggression or social ostracism at a time when the desire for belonging and validation is so acute.
Self-confidence, or the right degree of it, is also useful when it comes to the academic curriculum. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has concluded that teenagers with self-confidence in Science and Maths out-score their peers in those subjects who have lower degrees of confidence and higher levels of self-doubt. But we need to ensure that our young people’s self-confidence does not lead to another form of toxicity: that of arrogance. And this is where another desirable character trait comes in: humility. Mark Leary, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University, talks about the wonderful concept of ‘IH’ or ‘Intellectual Humility’. This kind of humility is based on the idea, which is hard to counter, that appreciating the fallibility of one’s beliefs and preconceptions leads to better decision making. He points out the statistical unlikelihood that one person, the person making the decisions, is right about everything. (I dare say there is at least one world leader sitting alone at the end of a very long table who could bear that in mind.) Those with some degree of self-confidence, but who nonetheless concede that they could be wrong in some of their thinking, are more likely to harvest alternative views, thereby creating a better idea or solution. While those with low ‘IH’ tend to blast through life by making bad decisions centred on inflexible over-self-confident dogma (and often move on before the fallout of those decisions becomes clear), those with high ‘IH’ create better solutions to problems because they listen to those around them, even if those people disagree to varying levels.
‘Que sais-je?’, ‘What do I know?’, asked Michel de Montaigne, a man who actually knew a hell of a lot, but saw great value in engendering curiosity through intellectual humility. And this kind of approach can very easily be applied to the school level, to young learners in whom we are trying to instil the right balance between self-confidence and humility. Just take a look at the Intellectual Virtues Academy which opened in 2013 in Long Beach, California, a middle school founded by Jason Baehr, the philosopher and director of the Intellectual Virtues and Education Project at Loyola Marymount University, LA, the values of which are: a growth mindset, a sense of purpose, a culture of thinking, self-knowledge, and openness and respect which enshrines ‘intentional openness and respect for the thinking of others’. There is a lot that we can learn from such an approach, and I am pleased (though not too pleased) to say there is already a significant amount of it here at NCS.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
I am thrilled to be able to add to our scholarship tally: well done to Benedict who has been awarded a sports scholarship to Abingdon!
We had a fantastic World Book Day on Thursday – the first time in three years that we have been able to do this in person. We had, of course, our usual festival of literary themed costumes, colourfully displayed in assembly. We also had our series of literary quizzes, designed to enhance the boys’ use of the library. There was also an online workshop with the Sherborne English Department and Creative Writing Group, in advance of their Year 5 Creative Writing Competition. I would like to thank all of my colleagues who took part so enthusiastically, coming up with so many creative projects for the boys. And, of course, thank you to all those parents who helped the boys to come up with such ingenious costumes!
Events in Ukraine are distressing for us all to see. Prior to the invasion, in our news round-up assembly I talked to the boys about the political situation in the region, including the role of NATO. We are mindful that the situation may have an impact, direct or indirect, on some of our families. Even those who are not directly affected are likely to be upset by what they are seeing and reading in the news. Our pre-existing wellbeing and pastoral care networks, both for intervention and escalation, are very much in place, and as a school we will continue to keep a close eye on the boys for any signs of particular concerns or anxieties. Families may find the Newsround website as excellent and useful as ever when it comes to discussing these issues at home: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround. There is also some useful guidance available at https://www.childnet.com/blog/supporting-your-child-with-upsetting-content/. Do please be in touch with us, either via your son’s form tutor, the office, or our Deputy Head Pastoral (brett.morrison@newcollegeschool.org) if there is anything in particular you notice regarding your son’s wellbeing.
We have our Year 8 parents’ evening on Wednesday 9 March. The evening officially begins at 18.00, though a few colleagues are usually available a little earlier if you would like to make a head start. Please arrive as early as practicable (ideally by around 18.30) so we can finish the evening by 20.00 and we can get everyone home at a sensible time. If you have any issues that you think would require longer discussion than possible in a five-ish minute meeting, please do book a separate appointment. We will be following our usual Covid-19 protocols for these events. They will take place in the sports hall, with the bi-folds open for as much ventilation as possible. Please therefore wrap up warm because it can get a little chilly. Please also take a lateral flow test (leading to a negative result) before arriving, wear face coverings, and respect social distancing, especially when sitting to chat to teachers. I’m afraid that I will be away at a heads’ conference that evening. If any Year 8 parents would like to speak to me about their son’s History performance, I would be very happy to do so at a mutually convenient time; please just email office@newcollegeschool.org.
We are looking forward to our Holloway Lecture on Wednesday 16 March. Professor Ashleigh Griffin, Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Tutorial Fellow at New College, will be speaking on ‘Nico and the Narwhal’. The building that used to stand on the corner of South Parks Road, overlooking the New College playing fields, was named after a very important biologist called Nico Tinbergen (Nobel prize winner in 1973). He realised that it wasn’t possible to understand anything in biology without asking both ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’. Thanks to advances in technology, biologists have made incredible advances in understanding how living things work, right down to the level of individual cells and molecules. But none of this research will ever tell us why a narwhal grows a horn from the top of its head. To answer ‘Why?’ questions like that one, you need to think about evolution, just as Darwin did. This talk will address some of the questions about the natural world Professsor Griffin has answered through her research as an evolutionary biologist. (And hopefully shedding some light on the narwhal question…). The lecture, which will last about an hour, is free-of-charge and will take place in the Inorganic Chemistry Lecture Theatre, the entrance to which is not far from the end of Mansfield Road in the University Science Area on South Parks Road. Entry is only for those who have pre-registered, which can be done by responding to the Parentmail form already sent out by the office.
On Wednesday 16 March, as part of College Day, the foundation stone to our new School/College building will be blessed in the weekly school service. The stone will then be placed in the College Cloisters until it is laid in the building later in the year. You are warmly invited to this special service which is a significant marker of the building’s progress. As usual, there will be refreshments afterwards in College. You may remember that we are currently running a seat-naming campaign for the new auditorium in aid of our bursary fund. We are very grateful to all those who have supported the campaign so far; it would be wonderful if we could name all the seats. Full details of how to support the fund are available on our website via https://www.newcollegeschool.org/supporting-new-college-school. A form for gift aid is at the foot of the webpage.
On Friday 18 March at 19.30 New College Choir joins the choirs of Christ Church Cathedral and Magdalen College in the Sheldonian Theatre for a spectacular concert. The choirs will perform Handel’s Coronation Anthems, with Oxford’s period-instrument ensemble, Instruments of Time & Truth. And to make the programme even more memorable, the three directors of music, Steven Grahl, Robert Quinney and Mark Williams, take the solo parts in J.S. Bach’s Triple Harpsichord Concerto in C. This is an exciting and rare opportunity to hear the three foundation choirs performing together – 90 singers in all – and to witness the three directors of music displaying their keyboard skills. Booking for the Three Choirs Concert is via Tickets Oxford: www.ticketsoxford.com/events/three-choirs-concert or 01865 305305, or in person at the Oxford Playhouse Box Office.
New College Choir will also be performing Bach’s St John Passion in chapel on Sunday 27 March at 17.00. Tickets are now on sale from Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bach-st-john-passion-tickets-271007900927. Robert Quinney directs, and former New College Choir chorister James Gilchrist sings the Evangelist. Arias will be sung by members of the choir. Full details are available at https://www.newcollegechoir.com/
From Mr Bishop: A welcome return to the hockey pitch, following a refreshing half term break, saw the U9s in action for the first time. The boys were in great from and certainly impressed their coaches with three great performances against The Dragon. In the A team game, a final score of 2-1 to our hosts was a little disappointing for the boys, but they did then realise the importance of starting quickly from the first whistle. In the B and C team games the tables were well and truly turned with 4-0 and 3-2 wins. Charlie S in the B team and Luca P in the C team were voted players of the match thanks to their tireless running and both boys scored twice.
Later in the week the U13 and U11 teams travelled down to Bradfield College for a block fixture against Thorngrove. Some great results and good individual performances meant we came away with honours just about even and, more importantly, smiling faces. I’d like to mention Laurence PA, who was commended by the umpire for his leadership and skilful play on the ball, as were Michael S and Thomas B from Year 5. Finally, on Wednesday, the U10 A team played in very wet and challenging conditions at the St Edward’s hockey festival. The boys started their afternoon very well with a 2-0 win and 0-0 draw against Ashfold and St Andrew’s. After a short break it was back to the action for our remaining seven games. Of which we drew three, won a further three and only lost one, to finish up in third place overall. This was a brilliant result and even more impressive when you consider the size of the schools we were facing. During the presentation Xander S was given the player of the tournament award by the St Edward’s head of hockey. This was a massive achievement considering there were over one hundred boys playing hockey from ten schools. Wonderful work, boys, and I’d like to give Noah S a special mention for his fantastic play in the centre of midfield. Very well done!
Upcoming Events
Monday, 7 March 2022
Abingdon academic scholarship starts
14.00 U13 A Stowe Hockey Festival, Away
17.30 Junior Recitals Sports Hall
Tuesday, 8 March 2022
14.15 U9 A&B Hockey v Winchester House, Away
14.35-15.30 Year 5 Visit to New College Chapel for organ demonstration
Wednesday, 9 March 2022
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Ms Dinti Batstone, Vice-Chair of Campaign for Gender Balance
14.00 U13 A-D Hockey v Summer Fields, St Edward's
17.30 Year 8 parents' evening (please note change from date in parent handbook)
Saturday, 12 March 2022
End of University Term
SLT/Governors’ Strategy Day Red Room
Monday, 14 March 2022
SHTEAM Festival begins: 'The Natural World'
8.50-11.50 Millet's Farm Falconry display in the sports hall (all year groups to watch on a rota)
Tuesday 15 March 2022
8.50-15.30 Zoolab workshops for Year 3-8/8S on a rota, science lab
14.15 U9 A-C Hockey v Ashfolds, Iffley
Wednesday, 16 March 2022
College Day
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: The Senior Tutor
14.00 U13 A-D Hockey v Summer Fields, St Edward's
18.00 Holloway Lecture (Professor Ashleigh Griffin)
Thursday, 17 March 2022
16.00 U13, U12, U11 XI Chess vs Dragon
U13 Hockey county cup AWAY at Reading Hockey club (all day event for 8 boys)
Friday 18 March 2022
9.45-11.45 Year 6 to Natural History Museum