Headmaster’s Extra

It is good to end this half-term on a high with the formal opening of the new Science and Drama building by Professor David Phillips from Imperial College, London. All our many visitors on Open Day remarked on the quality of the new building and it is certainly much appreciated by teachers and pupils. We have had an excellent start to the year. Enjoy the break with your boys.

Kevin Riley

Heads of School Conference

For the third year running, Wellington College opened its doors on 26 September to the Head Boys and Girls from across the country to meet, debate, listen to keynote speakers and network over dinner. James Corcut, Milan Shah and myself, Heads of School for the current academic year, were offered the opportunity to attend. The agenda included seminars from Headmasters and Headmistresses from various schools on issues such as how student leaders can help to develop and manage the school community; the joys and perils of working with pupil leaders and motivating their monitors; improving interaction between our schools and the art of public speaking. Much time was spent discussing how the student voice can be better heard by staff and key decision makers in schools. It was quite surprising how many schools did not provide their students with a forum for discussion right across the age range - it was clear that School Councils were integral to this goal. At The John Lyon School, the School Council is structured according to section (Oldfield & Lower School, Upper School and Sixth Form) with meetings taking place every week chaired by Upper Sixth Monitor, Pierre McIlwee. It was tremendous to have an opportunity to meet Head Boys and Girls from other schools outside of our local area. The Heads of School from JLS, Northwood College, Heathfield, Merchant Taylors and St. Helens are regularly in contact; however, the chance to exchange ideas with delegates from other institutions was invaluable. There have been several things to take away from the conference, with many new initiatives for JLS being put in place over the coming months. A particular focus will be given to effective communication throughout our School. We shall further develop the School Council and the prominence of the pupil voice, hearing from those who really matter is the best way to ensure JLS retains and improves its ever-thriving community of students.

James Caldecourt, Head of School

Heavy Metal Workshop

We were fortunate to welcome the educational group ‘Heavy Metal’ to do a workshop for Year 7 in the Boyd Campbell Hall on 3 October. We were joined by Year 6 students from Marlborough Middle School, Roxeth Middle School and St George’s Primary School. Consisting of three tubas and percussion, the group treated us to a particularly interesting rendition of ‘The Joker’ played on a hosepipe! A particular thank you should go to Anna Wilby, Director of Music, who organised the afternoon.

Jo Rowley-Jones, Head of Expressive Arts

Commemoration Concert

The annual joint concert between JLS and Harrow School in commemoration of their founder John Lyon, took place on Saturday 4 October. The concert started with the combined orchestra performing an exciting rendition of Glinka’s overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla. This was followed by our excellent Male Voice Choir singing ‘Oh my love is like a red, red rose’ featuring one of our Upper Sixth singing stars, Harry Thatcher. The mood was then changed as they went into ‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing’. The audience were very appreciative in their applause and it was great to see our boys making the school so proud. After a moving performance from the Harrow String Ensemble it was the turn of the combined Big Band who got everybody’s toes tapping. Following this was the combined choir, directed by David Woodcock. They performed Haydn’s Little Organ Mass and this was an exciting introduction to singing for some of our new Year 7 boys who equipped themselves brilliantly. Chris Grey then directed our New Music Ensemble in two pieces which he arranged specially for the occasion and this was a perfect opportunity to show off some of our talented music scholars. The concert finished with the combined orchestra playing the slow movement from Vaughan Williams’ ‘London Symphony’. This was a great celebration and was enjoyed by all who were there.

Anna Wilby, Director of Music

Sport Report

JLS U15’s have progressed into the last 16 of the ISFA cup after beating Aldenham in a thrilling penalty shoot out. Oliver Marsh was the hero of the match as he saved three spot kicks to send the boys into wild scenes of jubilation. The School Cross Country took place on Monday 6 October. This year was the first time that we used Harrow School’s 3km route which proved to be a real success. The competition was held during school time this year so the number of competitors was very high. The hilly terrain was a tough challenge for our boys but they all showed themselves off in a good light and spirit as they competed for their houses. Congratulations to the winning Houses: Seniors – Norwood, Colts – Moore, Juniors –Vaughan, Oldfield – Norwood and the winning competitors: Seniors – Harry Thatcher, Colts – Oscar Crehan, Juniors – Bhavesh Soneji, Oldfield – Jake Lamour Johnson. Senior Badminton v Haileybury – a competitive match finishing
2-2. However, on a countback of games JLS won 6-4 overall. Wins by Mapara and Khan and Kahai and Sawhney.

Arthur Brammer, PE Department

Headmaster’s Extra

The Commemoration Concert and Service take place this weekend. The Concert is a marvellous showcase for the musical talent within the schools and Speech Room is an inspiring venue. I always enjoy the service because it reminds me that great enterprises often have very humble beginnings; John Lyon did not live to see either school come into existence but his generosity resulted in the opportunities the boys enjoy today.

Kevin Riley

JLS wins awards for Drama and English

The John Lyon School has won two awards from the well respected publication, the Good Schools Guide: one is for boys taking Drama and Theatre Studies at A Level at an English independent school and the other for AS English Language and Literature, also for boys at an independent school. The GSG offers the awards on the basis of excellent examination results, and in particular on the basis of the popularity of each subject relative to similar schools, and of the success that pupils achieve relative to the other examinations that they take. Their aim is to highlight excellent teaching within individual subjects. The Headmaster congratulated Deborah Gibbs, Head of Drama, and Dom Roy, Head of English, and their respective teams. He added: ”Drama is a growing strength of JLS and this accolade is a timely vindication of our decision to invest heavily in two new Drama studios.” (The GSG awards relate to examinations taken in 2007 and have been published later than usual because GSG has been rebuilding its website and systems.)

 

Sport Report

After a highly spirited and determined performance from the JLS 1st XI in the Boodles Cup first round they were unable to claw back a 1 goal deficit against Cheadle Hulme and it was a long, sad journey back from Stockport for all involved. An excellent day of football in the Orley Farm Tournament saw JLS go from a likely 5th v 6th playoff to score two very late goals, sending them straight into the semis. After a 0-0 scoreline the game was settled from the penalty spot. Credit must go to the three fine saves from Josh Banks to send JLS through to the final with one penalty still in hand. Following a long days play in the sun, fatigue set in and we narrowly lost out in the final 1-0 to Belmont School. Overall a very pleasing team performance as this was only the second 11 a-side fixture the boys had ever played together. Plenty of promise for the future.

PE Department

Battlefields

Despite a Channel Tunnel fire, leading to an unscheduled trip across the English Channel, courtesy of Sea France, the Year 11 Battlefields trip finally reached their destination a mere three hours later than scheduled. We headed straight out to complete our itinerary, making our first stop at Langemark German cemetery followed by Tyne Cot Allied cemetery. All were shocked by the differences between how the dead of the victors were buried compared to those of the defeated. Sanctuary Wood British trench line was then our next stop. Despite the ground being very muddy and the trenches being inches thick in water, several boys braved the underground tunnels. There were craters which had been blown into the ground that had filled with water giving us all an idea of what life must have been like for the soldiers of the First World War. The trenches were simply dug into the earth and re-enforced to some extent by corrugated iron. It became very apparent how easy it would have been to get trench foot. On Saturday we headed towards the site of the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest encounters of the First World War. We looked at the Theipval Monument which records the names of those who died in the battle, but who have no known graves. Matthew Nelson’s great, great Grandfather died in 1916 and is recorded on the memorial. We also visited Newfoundland Park which commemorates the Battle of the Somme and discovered some interesting facts on why the battle was not a success. We were also lucky enough to be able to visit the Canadian trench line at Vimy. These trenches are re-enforced with concrete as they acted as communication tunnels and protected the high point in the area – the ridge itself. Adolf Hitler fought for the German army in this area and was responsible for running messages between the trenches and the officers. The whole group attended the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate which commemorates those who died on the Ypres Salient and have no known graves. The bugles are always played at this ceremony and a wreath is laid for the dead soldiers. We rounded our trip off with a visit to the ‘Flanders Field Museum’ in Ypres. This is an interactive museum which took us through the stories of some of the people who lived and fought in the Ypres area during the war.

Anna Armstrong, Head of History

Headmaster’s Extra

STOP PRESS: I am sure you will be delighted to know that five of our boys are in the top ten nationally for a subject at GCSE:

• Shabbir Merali – IGCSE Maths & Spanish
• Hannes Pardo – Spanish
• Freddie Herman – Drama
• Karan Kapoor – Spanish
• Farhan Zubair – Religious Studies

These are outstanding achievements - there are many thousands of entries in each of these subjects at GCSE. The boys have set about this term with great energy and enthusiasm. The new L6 enjoyed their week in Scotland and learned much about themselves; they have much to look forward to in the next two years. Despite the fire in the Channel Tunnel the Year 11 historians managed to get to the 1st WW Battlefields and found the experience moving and enlightening. The new boys in the school seem to have settled well and I am delighted to see them enjoying the extra play space available with the removal of the Temporary Building. The Science building is a wonderful addition to our facilities; the boys are very appreciative of the opportunities for learning in such excellent laboratories and the new Drama studios. I look forward to seeing many of you at forthcoming events during the term.

Kevin Riley