Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 13 May 2022
Dear parents,
Our wellbeing theme this week has been honesty. In Tuesday’s assembly Miss Rose asked us all, pupils and colleagues, to think about times that we might have done something dishonest in the past, that we now regretted and for which we now wanted to make amends. The reality is that our pupils are growing up in a world where honesty and integrity are not always valued, and at many points actively shunned. I’m not suggesting that this is novel to the early twenty-first century; we all know that history is littered with half-truths, untruths, direct or indirect obfuscation and deception. There are moments, though, when it can feel like we are living through a period rather more acute when it comes to dishonesty, spin, doubling-down on lies in the hope (usually proven correct) that people will just move on to the next misdemeanour and forget the previous one. The idea of falling on one’s sword, resigning from one’s position of responsibility after deliberate dishonesty, seems positively archaic and increasingly quaint. What’s more, there seem to be increasingly large numbers in supposedly mature democracies ideally based on truth and integrity that don’t seem to mind.
We are not saints. I am not suggesting that everyone everywhere is going to be 100% truthful the entire time. That would be impractical and society functions on the understanding that sometimes it’s best not to hear the precise truth. But that understanding is generally restricted to areas of little consequence – whether you actually like my tie, for example. What we want the boys to learn is the importance of honesty, truth and integrity in consequential matters. On the fairly safe assumption that many of the current denizens of Savile Road will grow up to be in positions of responsibility, we would be doing them – and wider society – a disservice if we blithely let them grow up thinking that it’s ok to go through life lying and deceiving so long as it gets them into the position they wanted. As an employer, I would be horrified if I asked a potential colleague a series of questions to which they gave the answers I wanted to hear, just for them to perform a volte-face once they were in the job. And many jobs, we are all acutely aware, can have a seismic impact on the communities in which they operate.
Sometimes we can feel helpless when we watch palpable lies spun, twisted, repeated and contorted seemingly daily. At the extreme level that can apply to autocracies that rely for their survival on enough of their populations not knowing (or wanting to know) the reality. But even supposedly mature democracies are under threat if they become suffused with a lingua franca of lies. To combat feelings of helplessness, then, we need to do our bit with our younger generations of future leaders, so that their default is to operate with honesty and integrity, rather than sharp-elbowed, self-obsessed, self-interested lies.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
Please could I once again remind parents, especially those of younger boys (by whom I mean Year 6 and below) to ensure that they are safely escorted across Savile Road at drop-off and pick-up? I still see too many boys being left to cross Savile Road on their own and there have been an alarming number of times when I have seen boys crossing the road without looking. I have reminded those boys about basic road safety, but if this could be reinforced by parents, that would be great.
Our whole school photograph will be taken on Monday (16 May) morning at 9.30. This will be taken in College, so we will follow our usual routines for walking over to chapel. Please could you ensure that your son wears full school uniform on Monday morning? Those boys who have Games later in the day will have a chance over lunchtime to change into their kit.
You will have seen a separate Parentmail inviting you to our Wykeham Day events on 18 June. We look forward to seeing you there if you can make it. This is a very enjoyable day of events which culminates in our Wykeham Day Dinner in New College Hall – the first time we have been able to host this in some time. Do come along and encourage members of the NCS community (current and former) to do so too – the day is a totally inclusive celebration of NCS past, present and future.
A huge well done to all of those boys, colleagues and parents who ran in last Sunday’s Town and Gown. The NCS community raised £500 for Muscular Dystrophy UK as a result of the run. Well done, too, to Herbie whose run raised over £6,600 for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity. My thanks to Mrs Hayter, Mme Phillips and Mr Bishop for organising the logistics of the event, and to all those colleagues and parents who turned out to run and support.
In further charity news, well done to Luca P who, in addition to running the Town and Gown, in the same weekend completed a 2.5k swim in under an hour, as part of a team swim to fundraise £300 for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie. Together, the team completed 6k, with Luca completing 100 lengths, his longest non-stop distance so far.
Congratulations to Isaac W who, last Saturday, as part of the Oxfordshire Chess Junior U11 Team won third place in the EPSCA final held in London. Compared with last year when the team came sixth, this was a great advancement from the collective effort from all those competing.
A quick reminder, as we get closer to our Sheldonian concert on Tuesday 24 May, that the boys will be staying in school between the end of school and the beginning of the concert. As the concert starts at 17.00 it is logistically much easier for us to keep hold of the boys, to give them a snack and drink, and to walk them to the Sheldonian as a school.
Next week, from 16-20 May, is Walk to School Week. This week encourages children across the country to increase their physical activity by walking to school where possible, and of course this also helps reduce pollution and our impact on climate change. Do look for opportunities to walk or cycle to school where possible. Even if you come by car, perhaps think about walking into school from part way down Mansfield Road for the week. To celebrate the week we will have a Wacky Shoe day on Friday 20 May. Boys can come in with whatever wacky footwear they have at home to show their enthusiasm for walking! Those boys who have games on Friday should make sure they also bring their normal footwear for games to change into.
Bike Oxford will take place on Sunday 3 July 2022 at Oxford University Rugby Club on Iffley Road. The event, now in its 9th year, aims to attract up to 1000 riders and comprises marked rides of 25, 50 and 80 miles, including a 2 mile stretch around historic Oxford. The 2022 event is supporting a number of worthy causes including Helen and Douglas House, Wheels for All, Active Oxfordshire and is supported by the Cowley Road Condors Cycling Club. Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council have committed their support and the event is seen as promoting active lifestyles and encouraging sustainable travel. The rides are designed to appeal to all ages and abilities, in particular the 25 mile ride will appeal to prep-aged pupils. Everyone will experience a day in the beautiful Cotswolds, get an event medal and enjoy the post event festivities on offer at the rugby club afterwards. The organisers encourage supervised groups to enter where ratios of adults to students must be a minimum of 2 adults : 10 children. Riders can register via the Bike Oxford website www.bikeoxford.co.uk and view a short showreel, which may be of use if you are unfamiliar with the event. You can register as individuals or contact the office via info@iconiccylingevents.co.uk if you would like to enter a team as there are team entry options available.
From Mr Bishop: It has been a wonderful start to Trinity on the sports pitches here at NCS. Despite some days being a little chilly for this time of year, we’ve enjoyed a great deal of dry weather which has enabled the boys to really hone their skills in both cricket and tennis. That was until Wednesday when after nine weeks of dry weather we had rain on our first full fixture games afternoon of the season! I am hopeful however that next week will see the U11 and U13 teams in action against Summer Fields in what promises to be a very entertaining afternoon of cricket. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, however, as the U13 tennis team managed a very pleasing fixture against D’Overbroeck’s on Monday. The boys played very well indeed taking a good number of wins in an 8-set match. The final score was 5-3 to our guests but we took a great deal from this event and Mme Phillips and I are confident of another good outing on Tuesday at home to Cranford House. Special mention should go to our captain James W, and Gary Z of Year 7, for their outstanding performances.
Finally, this week the U9 A-C cricket teams played host to Christ Church on Tuesday afternoon. All three teams played extremely well with both bat and ball, but it was with the ball that I was most impressed. The recent hard work is really paying off with all of the NCS bowlers hitting their mark. The accurate attack kept the CCCS scores down and allowed the NCS batters to reach their targets with relative ease. Three well-constructed wins was a superb way to start the season for the lower end of the school. Well done, boys.
Upcoming Events
Monday, 16 May 2022
National Walk to School Week
9.30 Whole School photos
Tuesday, 17 May 2022
16.00 U13A Tennis vs Cranford House, home
Wednesday, 18 May 2022
8.00 Orchestra rehearsal (Sports hall)
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Dr Zoe Waxman, Faculty of Oriental Studies
8.15 School Council Meeting, library
14.30 U13A & U11A Cricket vs Summer Fields, home
14.30 U13B & U11B Cricket vs Summer Fields, away
Thursday, 19 May 2022
All day Zoolab animal handling (Years 3-8/8S on rota)
14.00 U9 A-C Cricket vs Summer Fields, away
Monday, 23 May 2022
Charity week
Pre-Prep Reviews start; Years 3 & 4 form tests start
14.00 Yr 7&8 Cricket House Matches, Field
16.00 U11A Tennis vs MCS, venue TBC
Tuesday, 24 May 2022
All day Rehearsals (Sheldonian Theatre, whole school)
17.00 Sheldonian Concert
Wednesday, 25 May 2022
Orders in Years 3-8 issued
9.00 Chapel (pre-prep and Years 5-8). Speaker: Fr Benedict Manning, The Oratory of St Philip Neri
14.30 U13A Cricket vs Bruern Abbey, BNOCC
14.30 U13B Cricket vs Bruern Abbey, away
14.30 U11 A&B Cricket vs Bruern Abbey, home
17.30 Governors’ Meeting, McGregor Matthews Room
Friday, 27 May 2022
Home Clothes Day
Platinum Jubilee Event (pupils only)
13.00 Reception Class Vision Screening
Saturday, 28 May 2022
Start of Half Term