Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 4th November 2022
Dear Parents,
We aim for a variety when we invite people to speak to the boys in our Wednesday chapel services. The most obvious, perhaps, are the representatives from the Anglican church, as well as different faiths in and around Oxford. Then we have NCS alumni, sometimes still in their teens, who come back and pass on their words of wisdom to the current generations of pupils. A third category includes heads from the local area – or, indeed, sometimes from a little further afield.
It was great to welcome, this Wednesday, the head of Burford School, Matthew Albrighton. Matthew knows NCS well having formerly been on the SLT at St Edward’s, and an enthusiastic support of the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate, the group of like-minded schools that we joined five or six years ago. He has also been at the forefront of innovation in education around the GCSE years: an area which, arguably, could do with some fresh thought. On Wednesday, Matthew spoke to the boys about the fact that sometimes, however much we may plan, matters are not always in our hands – based on the story of his abortive family trip to Sicily this half-term break.
This can sometimes be an unsettling theme, especially to those of us who like to plan, double-check the plan, and then plan again. When I was at school, there was an underlying assumption that if we applied our talents and worked hard, then the line graph of life would be a pleasant upward 45-degree line. This can, quite often, be the case. But I suspect most of those reading this newsletter will be able to think of times when it has not been. Curve balls come, and they sometimes come thick and fast. It is a valuable and, indeed, positive lesson for the boys to learn this, to make peace with the idea, and to become flexible and nimble thinkers to deal with those curve balls when they appear. The alternative is cosy smugness, dangerous ossification, stubborn stultification, and constantly being wrong-footed. Things change; how we live our lives changes; and sometimes what might look like an unpleasant change can in fact open up new positive opportunities. Embracing that uncertainty can be disconcerting at first, but if there’s anything that national and international events have shown us recently, it isn’t going to go away – it’s how we respond to it that matters.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
Our special Remembrance service will take place next Wednesday in chapel; our preacher will be Dr Tim Hands, Headmaster of Winchester College. Poppies from the Royal British Legion will be available via the school office for the boys to wear, in exchange for a small donation to the RBL. The RBL suggests a donation of up to £2 for each poppy, which helps to cover the costs of the poppy campaign and provides vital funds to support service men and women, veterans and their families. Those of you who will be watching the Festival of Remembrance from the Royal Albert Hall on 12 November, do keep an ear out for the Lord’s Prayer at the end of the ceremony. The beautiful a cappella arrangement was composed by William Petter, former NCS pupil, composer, musician and conductor, who very sadly passed away in October 2016, a month before his 34th birthday.
On Monday we were privileged to enjoy a visit by representatives from our partner school in Nepal, Nalang Model Academy. They spent the whole day with us, speaking to the boys in assembly about their school, talking about the ICAL (International Centre for Accelerative Learning) curriculum in our staff meeting, and observing lessons and enrichment activities throughout the day. My thanks to Miss Rose for organising the visit and nurturing our partnership with NMA so well.
Parents and boys may be interested in watching this BBC masterclass on 5 November: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0d6z52p. It features two NCS alumni, from the band Low Island, discussing self-managing and self-releasing music, as part of BBC Introducing Live.
A reminder from Miss Rose that enrichment activities for Hilary 2023 will be available to book online via Schoolbase from 8am on Monday 7 November. Booking will close at 8am on Monday 14 November.
Music Academy Orchestra will be performing in Chapel next week prior to the Remembrance Service. Please can all boys involved in Orchestra remember to bring their instruments on Wednesday 9 November. Thank you.
Tickets are now on sale for the Choral Society’s annual Christmas concert, which this year takes place on Sunday 11 December at 7pm in New College Chapel. A special concessionary rate is available for NCS parents; children are free. Book now to avoid disappointment!
Dr Gausden has sent a Parentmail to Year 7 and 8 parents outlining plans for our final rehearsals for Henry V, alongside the special (free) aftercare we will be putting on for Year 7-8 boys involved in the play next Monday and Wednesday. We are looking forward to our performances in New College chapel on Monday 7 November at 19.45 and Wednesday 9 November at 18.00. Please could audience members enter the chapel via the Song Room (there will be signs) approximately twenty minutes before the start time? This will give us time to set up the chapel ready for the performance. Pick-up after each performance (c.20.45 and c.19.00) will be from the undercroft, at the base of the College hall steps; we will happily direct those who need assistance. Our Wednesday performance will be filmed for the NCS website and some of the camera angles will capture audience members. If you would not like to be included in the filming, please sit in the back row in chapel, especially to the right of the organ loft (as you look at the organ).
You will have seen what great progress our new building has made over the summer. It is really beginning to take shape now ready for opening next academic year. As you know, this is part of a once-in-a-100-years renewal of the College/School Savile Road site, enabled by the generosity of a College alumnus. But we also want to do our bit by raising money for our bursary fund so that we can continue to offer the opportunities of NCS as widely as possible. So, as the building fast nears completion, we are continuing to offer parents the opportunity to name a seat in the new auditorium for £1,000 in support of the bursary fund. And remember that an outlay of £800 with gift aid will make up the £1,000. We’re very grateful to all those who have already contributed to the campaign, and it would be wonderful to be able to name all 120+ seats. You may want to name one in honour of your family or perhaps in memory of a loved one. Or perhaps a group of you may wish to get together to contribute and name a particular year group. Giving is easily done by filling in the Gift Aid form on this link https://www.newcollegeschool.org/_site/data/files/documents/DB58EB7AE291339DCB46774056A170A0.pdf and emailing it back the Director of the NCS Foundation robert.gullifer@newcollegeschool.org Many thanks!
From Mr Bishop: We have had a great return to the football pitches after the half term break, with the U8 and U9 teams in action on Tuesday afternoon. A short trip over to The Manor Prep saw all of the Year 3 and 4 boys playing in some cracking games of football. I am pleased to say that each and every boy played some superb football and showed not only skill and determination but, more importantly, wonderful team spirit and team work. Four very impressive wins was the result of all their hard work and a bus full of happy boys travelled back to NCS! On Wednesday afternoon the U11 teams played host to Summer Fields and on this occasion the games the NCS boys were in a determined mood. Mr Rose tells me that the A team were extremely unlucky to lose 4-2 and, despite the score line, were the dominant force in the second half. Mr Morrison tells me that the C team were part of a fantastic game and his following words go someway to describing the excitement of the day: “The Under 11C team had a narrow 2-1 loss to Summer Fields. A thrilling game was kept within reach by a truly outstanding performance by Hugo C between the posts. He made a plethora of high-quality strikes and his enthusiastic ball distribution was appreciated by his team mates. The whole U11 C team squad should be proud of their efforts. Peter K played a crucial role as a holding midfielder and Toby C scored a goal from a lovely Jack D corner kick. Well done to all involved.”
Mme Phillips also had some kind words to reflect upon the fantastic performance of the U11 team who recorded their first 1-1 draw of the season. “From front to back, Laurence PA was again brilliant in goal and showed agility and cat-like powers as he made save after save, keeping his team in the game. Laurence K was instrumental in attack and scored a great goal on his way to the player of the match award.” I was lucky enough to be on the coach away to Summer Fields and to witness the fantastic 2-2 draw the second XI earned, thanks to Benji’s player of the match performance that also included a fantastic goal. Even more action unfolded on the first team pitch. The NCS boys took the lead thanks to a fantastic goal that was expertly struck home by our captain, Rishaan, but it was the assist from George W that was the most breathtaking part of the attack; his drop of the shoulder and determined run was sublime – almost as good as the cross the met Rishaan with accuracy and expertise. It was the second goal scored by NCS that had the crowd stood open mouthed: a true team effort with virtually every member of the team involved before Isaac W struck home a shot of pure beauty! A contender for goal of the season I feel. A final score of 3-2 to NCS was a fantastic result and capped off a super week for NCS football.
Saturday, 5 November 2022
13.00 Henry V rehearsal, Years 7-8, chapel (end 15.30)
Monday, 7 November 2022
19.45 Henry V performance, Years 7-8, chapel
Tuesday, 8 November 2022
All day Orchestra workshop and concert, Radley College
14:30 U8 A-C Football vs Summer Fields, Away
14:30 U9 A-C Football vs Summer Fields, Home
9.45 - 11.45 Year 2 Trip to The Ashmolean
Wednesday, 9 November 2022
9.00 Remembrance Day Service, Chapel. Speaker: Dr Tim Hands, Headmaster, Winchester College
14:30 U11 A-E Football vs MCS, Away
18.00 Henry V performance, Years 7-8, chapel
Monday, 14 November 2022
9.00 Languages Ambassadors to St Michael's (Year 8)
UK Parliament Week begins
National Anti-Bullying Week begins
18:00 Pre-Prep Chorister Information Evening (Virtual)
Wednesday, 16 November 2022
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Mr Mike Windsor, Headmaster, Abingdon School
8.15 School Council Meeting, library
17.30 Senior Recital (Years 6, 7 & 8), Sports Hall
Refreshments beforehand at 17.15
Friday, 18 November 2022
09:00 Flu Vaccinations (Rec-Yr6)