Mobile News Blog

Cultural Olympians Book Launch

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

A new book Cultural Olympians, Rugby School’s Cultural Leaders has just been published.

Edited by Head Master Patrick Derham and Head of Philosophy John Taylor, the book explores how leading Rugbeians were influenced by their time at Rugby and the effect these leaders had on the cultural life of the nation.

It features the pioneering religious leaders, educators, authors and philosophers, whose impact has been felt in spheres ranging from the Olympic Games to education.

Contributors include historians, philosophers, social and religious commentators writing today, such as John Witheridge, John Clarke, Anthony Kenny, David Urquhart, Robin Le Poidevin, A N Wilson, Andrew Vincent, A C Grayling, Jay Winter, Ian Hesketh and David Boucher.

The foreword is by Rowan Williams.

Scholarship Awards

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School is delighted to announce the following pupils have been successful in their Scholarship exams:

13+ Scholarship Examination 2013

Awards have been offered to the following:

Academic

Henry Anton SF Moor Park School; Matthew Bestwick SH Dragon School; Kitty Bulmer RB Moor Park School; Isobel Ferry D Dragon School; Alexey Kapustin M Bilton Grange; Oscar Marchant Sh Orwell Park School; Freddie Ogilvie T Bilton Grange; Alice Payne G Kingshott School; Toby Rowlands SH Dragon School; Hannah Sainty Tu Dragon School; Jack Salvesen K Spratton Hall School; Peter Spens SH The Elms School and Amelia Tennant RB Packwood Haugh.

Academic and Music

Jamie Marshall T Bilton Grange and Alicia Middleton Tu Clifton College Preparatory School

Academic and Sport

Mille Hughes G Maidwell Hall and Cliodhna McKibbin Tu Ashfold School.

Foundation Award

Alexander Chow T (home schooled); Rhian Kerslake S Rugby School and Thomas Love T Lawrence Sheriff School.

Art

Hannah Bruneau RB Belhaven Hill and Matilda Ponsonby RB Dragon School.

Design and Technology

Jack Clifford K Ashfold School and William Willcocks M Swanbourne House School.

Music

Robert Arthur SH Lockers Park School; Brigitte Wear B Zhong Shan School, China; George Jackson Sh Bilton Grange; Georgia Geary Tu Holmwood House and Emilia Beere Tu Bilton. Grange.

Sport

Anastasia De Clermont S Bilton Grange; Georgina Erhardt D Orwell Park School; Ellie Kennedy RB Windlesham School; Hebe Morley Fletcher G Port Regis and Hannah Swaby RB Bilton Grange.

Cricket Victories for the XI

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s XI cricketers have continued their excellent start to the season with two recent and emphatic victories over Oundle and Stowe.

Oundle were bowled out for 96, with Matthew Karslake taking five for 18 off 18 overs, and Rugby won by eight wickets.

On Saturday (18 May), a very strong Stowe XI were bowled out for 79 at Rugby when Karslake was again the pick of the bowlers taking another five wickets for 10 off 14 overs.

Rugby won by five wickets.

State Pupils Success at Rugby

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The London Evening Standard has featured the innovative scheme which gives city state school pupils a public school education.

The article, which focusses on 19-year-old Marcus Kerr, who benefitted from a place at Rugby School, highlights the success of the Eastside Young Leaders' Academy (EYLA), an institution that aims to raise the game for black boys academically.

Funded by the School’s Arnold Foundation, seven boys have taken advantage of Rugby’s outreach programme since 2007 – three are still pupils, four have moved on to higher education and another is due to start in September.

To read the interview with Marcus and Ray Lewis, Head of the EYLA, click here.

Ray Lewis (head of Eastside Young Leaders' Academy) pictured with Head Master, Patrick Derham

TV Presenter and Biologist Returns

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

National Geographic TV presenter Dr Mike Leahy made his fourth visit to Rugby School this month.

Dr Leahy, who has a BSc in Ecology and a doctorate from Oxford University in Virology and Molecular Biology, gave lectures to all age groups including his Gross Diseases and Killer Bugs lecture to 130 pupils from Rugby High School, Spratton Hall School and Princethorpe College.

A very engaging speaker, in his lecture to the sixth form Biologists he discussed non-biological factors affecting diseases, including the political, economic and social events that have accelerated epidemics.

An incredibly interesting man, much of Dr Leahy’s work on television aims to create awareness about diseases. He does this, however, without exploiting the sick but by infecting himself with different parasites and pathogens.

In his lectures to the School he managed to excite and enthral everyone with his gruesome stories, yet provide thought-provoking talks, utilising his vast experience. We hope to see him again soon with his new venture, the ZooBus.

BBC Tribute to Music Teacher

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

A former, influential music teacher at Rugby School became the subject of BBC Radio 2's 'Pause for Thought' last week.

Alan Broadbent, who taught strings at the School and was the founder of Rugby Sinfonia in 1973, was given a tribute by his daughter-in-law, the presenter of The Sunday Hour, Diane Louise Jordan. Diane is married to Alan's son, Giles, a member of the talented all-family strings quartet 'Stringfever'.

A transcript of Diane's tribute follows:

"My father-in-law Alan spent all his working life teaching music at Rugby School.

Driven by his passion to nurture a love of music in everyone and, in particular, to widen his students life experiences, he set up a youth orchestra - the Rugby Sinfonia!

This provided budding musicians at the School and those from the local town a rare opportunity to play together. Every summer Alan, and his wife Jenny, would organise a two week summer music course in places like mid Wales, the Norfolk Broads, and even Venice(!) in order for his students to experience different parts of the world. During the fortnight young people of all abilities and from different backgrounds came together as an orchestra.

Thanks to Alan's legendary musical arrangements, students were able to tackle exciting, challenging classical pieces, as well as experience new places and new people. Alan emboldened his students to be adventurous both musically and socially. Consequently many students relished their experience so much, that at its 35th anniversary over 150 ex pupils returned to perform in a specially formed orchestra in honour of the teacher who used music to bring out their best and extend social boundaries.

Two students extended boundaries even further by marrying one another - she was from the town, he the public school. Now there's a line in the bible which says: Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back.

That's what Alan encouraged in his students - not to hold back, but instead to expand the 'place of their tents,' to widen their horizons, and mostly they did just that. Radio 2's marvellous showcase, 2Day, is also about experiencing the new and broadening our horizons. So maybe, as we enjoy all that's on offer throughout Radio2 today, perhaps we may be personally encouraged to consider expanding our own tents in unexpected areas of our lives as well."

Rugby Sinfonia playing in Venice

Met Film New Summer Camps

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The world-renowned Met Film School is running a residential summer camp at Rugby School.

Usually based in the heart of the industry at London’s Ealing Studios, Met Film will bring its skills and expertise to Rugby with two, two-week residential courses.

The camps, aimed at 14 to 17-year-olds, have been highlighted as four of the UK’s best in a recent ‘Daily Telegraph’ travel feature. Students will be taught and mentored by industry professionals and given the chance to try their hand at writing scripts, using a camera, editing and directing actors.

The course will culminate in the production of a short film. The full board residential courses will run from 8 to 21 July and 12 to 25 August.

For further information contact www.metfilmschool.co.uk

Baroness Grey Thompson Lecture

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE gave a lecture ‘Seize the Day’ at Rugby School yesterday (Thursday).

The School was thrilled one of Great Britain's most successful Paralympians, the Baroness kindly agreed to speak as a guest of the Arnold Foundation, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Introduced by Chairman of the Arnold Foundation Board, Peter Bennett-Jones, the Baroness gave an inspirational speech drawing on aspects of her sporting and political career to an audience, which included pupils, staff Rugbeians and parents.

Baroness Grey-Thompson is the winner of 11 gold, four silver and one bronze medals, as well as the first woman in the world to break one minute in the 400m. She is also six times winner of the Women’s London Wheelchair Marathon and the first British woman to break two hours in the marathon.

After the lecture, Arnold Foundation pupils joined the Baroness for more questions and political debate over dinner.

Baroness Grey-Thompson

Baroness Grey-Thompson pictured with Chairman of the Arnold Foundation, Peter Bennett Jones (left) and Rugby School Head Master, Patrick Derham

Rugby School pupils with the Baroness

Crystal Lecture by Top Scientist

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

An Imperial College professor and top scientist delivered a high level lecture to Rugby School students focussing on his fascination with crystals.

Professor Adrian Sutton’s lecture ‘Crystals are like People – It’s the Defects that Make Them Interesting’ included the science and mathematics behind the quasicrystalline state.

Prof Sutton FRS, who has ten PhD students in his research group, and informed the audience that he gets paid to do his ‘hobby’.

His work involves collaborations with engineers, mathematicians, as well as physicists.

He quoted Francis Bacon, who said “the main purpose of Science, is to improve the lot of humanity.” Major civilisations have been dependent upon materials people use and as we are in the silicon age, it was no surprise to learn that the Professor is collaborating with Rolls Royce.

It was interesting to learn the science and mathematics behind the quasicrystalline state, which resulted in the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry by Danny Shechtman. Prof Sutton had evidence for these crystals in his own PhD.

His talk included liquid crystals, the Golden Ratio by Euclid, Einstein’s 1905 Brownian Motion and one slide which summarised quantum mechanics. It was clear to the audience Prof Sutton is a world class expert in crystals and their applications.

Head of Science Dr Mike Thompson said: “Students wishing to study science at the highest level are fortunate this School is able to attract so many top scientists.

“Once again the message was clear that researchers need to have a deep understanding of all the sciences, and in particular mathematics.”

Professor Sutton’s final words of wisdom to students were: ‘study physics, engineering or chemistry as a first degree, then proceed to a PhD in Materials Science’ as this is where the heart of the economy will be driven.

Sailing Victory for Rugby Team

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s Sailing Team First VI celebrated their first win of the season with a 1-2 victory against Stowe.

Team captain James Lorimer Turner said his team won the series convincingly and were the dominant side throughout the day.

“Each race consisted of a triangle, one windward mark, one gybe mark on the downwind and the pin acting as a downwind mark,” he said.

“There were confusions of the course and this cost Rugby the second race, but in races one and three the fleet finished first, second and third, although we were facing a side not as experienced as us.”

For the Captain’s full race report, click here.

Middlesex Cricket Record for Maia

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

A 14-year-old Rugby School girl cricketer was part of a record breaking partnership for Middlesex County Cricket Club on Saturday.

Maia Bouchier and her cricketing partner Anna Nicholls played for Middlesex U15s against Surrey batting through the full 40 overs with a score of 237.

Both girls also scored centuries (Maia 107) creating record girls partnership for Middlesex.

Maia (pictured left)

Natural History Inspires Exhibition

Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

An exhibition inspired by Rugby School’s natural history collection featuring work by the School’s artist in residence opens on Monday.

‘Inglorious Speciesism’, is an exhibition by resident artist, Robyn Brandrick, sculptor Karen O’Toole and ceramicist Sara MacCallum, and also features artwork by pupils.

Throughout Robyn’s residency at the School, she has been inspired by its natural history collection and her work suggests human interference with animal status and form represented through narrative. This is expressed by a variation of mediums such as dry point etchings, drawings, photograms and instillation pieces.

Sculptor Karen O’Toole’s work questions the human condition expressed through anthropomorphic creatures. Her work uses sheep fleece to create life size sculptures.

Ceramicist Sara MacCallum creates small pots which encapsulate the essence of the day.

The exhibition is showing at the School’s Lewis Gallery in the Design Centre from 7 to 15 May, 2pm to 5pm.

University Success for Art Students

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The Art & Design Department at Rugby School has achieved outstanding results this year with nine students being offered places to top universities.

Head of the Design Faculty, Chris John, said he was delighted with yet another successful year within the department.

“The Art & Design Departments have always had success with students moving on to Higher education courses,” he said.

“This year is no exception with nine Rugbeians being offered places to further their studies in their chosen disciplines at top universities.

“Particular congratulations go to Phoebe Dunstan, Gev Barton, Emily Post and Hannah Hawkesley, who have all been offered a place at the University of the Arts London.

Gev said she was looking forward to studying at Central Saint Martins.

“I have accepted a place on a Foundation course, which exactly what I hoped to achieve,” she said.

Gev Barton

Phoebe Dunstan

Cambridge Classic Essay Win

Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

A Rugby School Sixth Former has won the Percival Maitland Laurence Essay Competition, set by Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Nathaniel Hess wrote an essay entitled: "Tongues, like governments, have a tendency to degeneration" (Samuel Johnson) Does the linguistic change exhibited by Greek or Latin support or refute this claim?’

He received his prize at the college open day in April.

Arnold Singers on Radio 4

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s Arnold Singers performed live on BBC Radio 4 today (Monday).

Led by Rugby School's Director of Music, Richard Tanner, they were part of the Daily Service broadcast every morning from Emmanuel Church in Didsbury, Manchester.

Music for this service is usually led by 'The BBC Daily Service Singers', a professional group of musicians for whom MrTanner, is a Musical Director.

To listen to the broadcast, please click here.

National Fives Success for Girls

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Girls Fives players at Rugby School have won a national title for the third year running.

The eight-strong group competed in the National Girls’ Rugby Fives Championships at Marlborough when Kate Broad and Milly Richards triumphed in the U16 doubles competition.

The pair fought off strong opposition from Christ’s Hospital School and emerged narrow winners in the final. In the open category singles, Eliza Talbot Williams and Milly Browne came second and third respectively and only beaten in the doubles final by a strong Eastbourne pair.

At both U16 and U14 level, the School also had success in the Plate competitions for losers from the pool rounds. Kirsty Martin and Nush Mehta won the U16 Plate and Hattie Byrne and Kirti Mehta took the U14 plate.

Every year since the rebuilding of the School’s courts a team of girls has attended these championships to become one of the strongest groups in the country.

Kate Broad (left) and Milly Richards

Strong Start for XI Cricketers

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The XI cricketers at Rugby School have enjoyed a very successful start to the season by winning three matches in the first week.

An 80 run victory over Oundle, with Robbie Povey top scoring with 91 not out and Will Briggs making 72, was followed by a six wicket win over MCC, with Jacob Gilder taking four wickets, Will Briggs scoring 65 and Kit Goodfellow unbeaten on 88.

XI v MCC

Praise for Geographic Magazine

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Pupils have published the second edition of the Rugby School Geographic magazine.

Entirely produced and edited by the pupils, teachers have commended students on the outstanding quality of the academic writing and photography.

This issue features a hugely eclectic mix of topics from rainforests in Borneo, through to the E14 Iceland volcano, while Year 9 has worked on the growth and subsequent decline of Rugby Town Centre.

Geography staff say they also had a tough time trying to choose the photograph of the month, the quality of images was so exceptional.

Teacher of Geography Jonathan Pitt said he was proud of his students’ work: “The quality of writing and photographs contained within these pages speak huge volumes about what these students are capable of achieving.

“The editorial team of James Bateson, Olivia Stock and James Lorimer Turner should be very proud of what they have achieved here,” he added.

Miller Wins Fives U16 National

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s Joe Miller has won the National U16 Boys' Plate competition for Rugby Fives.

This is the same trophy another pupil, Marcus Hunter, won two years ago - the only trophy won by Rugby since their recent return to the Boys' Nationals.

Miller finished second in his pool after the first round losing narrowly to the eventual winner of his pool. But this turned out to be his only defeat and he cruised to victory in the competition for the second place competitors and won the Plate. The margin of his victory in the final, 11-1, 11-1 against an opponent from Whitgift School indicates that he was rather unlucky not to make the last 16 and the main competition.

Hunter also performed creditably in the senior competition where he won his pool and proceeded to the last 16. Sadly, as happened last year, he met one of the top seeds in his first knock out match and received a lesson in all round court play and consistency.

Arnold Singers on BBC Radio 4

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s Arnold Singers are to broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 next week.

The choir will perform live as part of the Daily Service which is broadcast every morning from Emmanuel Church in Didsbury, Manchester.

Music for this service is usually led by 'The BBC Daily Service Singers', a professional group of musicians for whom Rugby School's Director of Music, Richard Tanner, is a Musical Director. From time to time visiting choirs lead the music for the services.

The Arnold Singers will perform on the Monday, 29 April programme, which lasts from 9.45am to 10.00am. Click here for details of the service.

The Daily Service was first broadcast in 1928 from a BBC studio in Savoy Hill. It was to last for 15 minutes a day, throughout that year. It was so popular that it was given a regular slot with a format which is very little changed to this day. After 80 years of continuous broadcasting, the Daily Service is the longest-running programme of its kind anywhere in the world. Coming regularly from All Souls, Langham Place in London for many years, the Daily Service took up residence at Emmanuel Church in 1993. It is led by one of the team of about 25 presenters drawn from the many Christian denominations in this country. In recent years, the ability to listen online has given the listening 'congregation' the added flexibility to hear the service in whichever country they happen to be and at whatever time.

Ticket Launch for t20 Match

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Tickets are now on sale for Warwickshire Bears’ first ever Friends Life t20 fixture in Rugby.

Rugby School has been chosen as the only out ground venue to host a fixture for this t20 match when the Bears will face the Glamorgan Dragons on 6 July.

This will be the first time the club has played a home match away from Edgbaston since 2005. Glamorgan will also celebrate its 125th anniversary at the match in their first ever visit to the School.

Head Master Patrick Derham said: “Hosting the County Champions in a t20 fixture is a great honour for Rugby School and an opportunity that I’m sure that local cricket fans will relish.

“Having hosted several Warwickshire Second XI matches, the cricket square and outfield has won us many plaudits in the past. We hope that a great first match on 6 July will lead to this becoming an annual event, where we host the best cricketers in the country and establish Rugby as a venue on the domestic cricket map.”

Colin Povey, Chief Executive of Warwickshire, added: “As County Champions we’re aware that there’s a massive interest in Warwickshire at the moment, so we were keen to reward the supporters in the south of the County with a match on their doorstep.

“The facilities at Rugby School are great and the town of Rugby is currently a major focus for the Warwickshire Cricket Board, who recently co-ordinated a volunteering day at Rugby CC as part of the NatWest CricketForce initiative. However, they’re also putting more coaches into schools, setting up winter leagues and this match could be a springboard to propel cricket’s interest in the town.

“Friends Life t20 is of particular importance to the Club this year, as Edgbaston hosts Finals Day on 17 August. With this in mind we’re looking forward to kick-starting our group campaign at this fantastic venue.".

Tickets for the Bears v Dragons at Rugby School are priced at £15 for Adults (£5 for Under 16s) or £25 if additionally purchasing the Warwickshire v Worcestershire Royals at Edgbaston on Friday, 26 July. To buy, log on to www.edgbaston.com or call the Club’s 24-hour ticket hotline on 0844 847 1902.

Left to right: Patrick Derham, The Bears' Steffan Piolet and Colin Povey mark the ticket launch at Rugby School

Independent Letter by Head Master

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

In his letter to The Independent, Head Master, Patrick Derham has outlined how working-class boys should receive more support in order to access higher education.

Click here to read Mr Derham's full letter published on the Independent Voices section of the newspaper's website.

Dubai Cricket Tour Success

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Young Rugby School cricketers have enjoyed an excellent pre-season tour to Dubai.

The 14-strong team, which included one girl, competed against a variety of schools and academies in sweltering heat.

The tour was a great success both on and off the field when the cricketers were treated to generous hospitality and some exciting cricket matches.

Even though results are often not as important as the performances on such a tour, Rugby won three matches, lost one and played some superb cricket.

Click here to read the full tour report.

School Hosts Smallpeice Event

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School hosted a residential Smallpeice Trust ‘Physics in Engineering Course’ during three days of the Easter break.

The course was attended by 50 Year 10 students from across the UK with the aim of demonstraing the links between Physics and Engineering. In addition to a number of lectures and workshops headed up by the Universities of Warwick and Leicester, and the National Space Centre, the students worked on practical engineering projects run by the National Nuclear Laboratories and the First Group.

Rugby’s Head of Physics, Dr Andy Davies, also contributed with a practical workshop which involved modelling how the mass of astronauts can be determined, via oscillations, in the weightless conditions of the international space station.

The course was sponsored by Warwick University, The Ogden Trust, The Royal Commission Exhibition of 1851 and the Ferreras Willets Family.

More information about the work being done by the Smallpeice Trust can be found at www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/

Pointon Plays in Ireland Match

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s Ben Pointon played in the England Clubs & Schools Under 18s match against Ireland at Ashbourne RFC in Dublin.

Although the England side earned praise for their overall performance from coach Dave Reed, the home side emerged victorious.

A match observer reported: “Pointon started the game on the bench, but was called on with 20 minutes remaining.

“He did an excellent job in upping the tempo of England's game, passing well and quickly while also looking to take tapped penalties.

“This period did see England dominate the territory and possession, but the Irish defence remained strong and the game had already gone - it was 13-20 when Pointon came on and remained so to the end.

“Despite the result, he said he enjoyed the experience and now joins his elder brother Sam as a 'full' schools international."

For a full RFU match report click here

Meanwhile, pupil Kit Goodfellow was part of the unbeaten IS Lambs Easter tour of Ireland. The team defeated two Lienster sides, Connacht and Ulster. Goodfellow played the full game against Connacht and scored a try. He also came on for the second-half in one of the Leinster matches.

Ben Pointon

Extreme Physics Success

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Two popular Extreme Physics residential courses for Year 10 students took place at Rugby School during the Easter break for the fourth year running.

The course, which aims to excite students about Physics and encourage them to take the subject in the Sixth Form, attracted nearly 100 students and their teachers, from more than 20 different schools located all over the country.

Students were set a series of seven team challenges, ranging from remote control car racing to trebuchets, and finally delivered a presentation to a packed audience on a physics topic. Teams were marked on achievement, physics knowledge, teamwork and creativity during the courses.

In addition, they all experienced rock climbing and indoor skydiving in a wind tunnel as part of the programme. Lectures included ‘The Physics of Non-Lethal Weapons’ delivered by David Wilkinson of the Institute of Physics and ‘Powering the Future with Nuclear Fusion’ presented by Melanie Windridge of Imperial College.

The events were led by enthusiastic physics teachers alongside Physics and Engineering undergraduates as well as Sixth Formers studying A Level Physics. Whilst the students enjoyed the activities, their teachers received professional development courses led by Richard Bonella of the Institute of Physics.

These courses held at the School are heavily subsidised through the generous sponsorship of the Willetts family, whose son Jonathan left Rugby last year, and the Ogden Trust.

In addition to the courses at Rugby, five other Extreme Physics courses took place at Stowe, Lancaster Grammar School and Dallam School. These were also sponsored by the Odgen Trust and assisted through administrative support from Rugby School. Approximately 80 schools and 320 Year 10 pupils participated in this year’s events.

A masterclass is planned in July at St Anne’s College Oxford for the winning teams from each course from the events held last year.

Pupils Become Romans

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School classicists experienced a morning studying Roman weapons and warfare at the end of the Lent Term.

The sessions started with stories about Roman battles illustrated by demonstrations of typical weapons and armour from the era.

The Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation students were then invited to try on any of the armour in the huge collection followed by a ‘battle’ on The Close, where after being drilled as if Roman soldiers, they were invited to charge at their teachers!

Finally it was time for the ‘Gladiators’ and pairs of pupils fought it out while the audience decided the fate of the losers.

Captivating Talk by Theologian

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Christian theologian, Professor John Milbank, visited Rugby School to speak on a matter which combined politics, philosophy and liberalism: a wide range of topics which he covered with impressive aplomb.

The main focus of Prof Milbank's talk was the battle between economic liberals on the right and cultural liberals on the left. He spoke of the difference between the generic definition of liberalism as concerning generosity and freedom, and the political definition which involves the promotion of the freedom of the individual.

The Professor argued that the celebration of freedom for its own sake seems to have no future. Liberalism ends up as a form of utilitarianism, creating a kind of order where agreement is based solely on self-interest, he said.

Whereas liberalism undermines trust and, because based on arbitrary values, ultimately undermines itself, social bonding is created not by egoism or altruism, but by gift-exchange. Otherwise, he said, it obeys the law of diminishing returns and becomes a race to keep growth going by producing new objects of ever decreasing value.

With the concluding words of Heidegger, ‘Only God can save us now’, Professor Milbank finished a gripping talk which held the audience captivated. Even those with little knowledge or interest in economics or political liberalism were fascinated by his stance as 'a philosophically romantic pessimist' (in his own words).

Oxford Professor at Essay Final

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The final of the annual Foxcroft Partnership Essay Competition was held at Rugby School last week.

From the 21 entries, five students – two each from Lawrence Sheriff and Rugby High School, and one from Rugby School, were invited to give a ten minute presentation on their essay followed by questions from last year’s winner, Elissa Foord (Rugby School), this year’s academic judge Professor John Foord (Oxford University) and teachers from Lawrence Sheriff and Rugby High Schools.

Judges were unanimous in their decision that this year’s winner was James Price from Lawrence Sheriff School, with his essay on Does the 2012 Nobel Prize in Medicine Solve the Controversy Surrounding Stem Cell Research?

Head of Science at Rugby School, Dr Mike Thompson, said James delivered a thought provoking lecture and had clearly looked deeply into the issues surrounding stem cell research.

“He touched on the use of retroviral vectors, tissue ownership, paradigm shifts, extending life times and the ethics behind the latest news that it is possible to now have three parents, he said.

“What is particularly remarkable about this year’s winner is that he is not taking any Science at A Level,” added Dr Thompson.

In second place was Bethanie Pelloquin from Rugby High School, with her essay on The 2012 Nobel Prize in Medicine and in joint third place, Ptolemy Jenkins from Rugby School, on What is the Higgs Boson?

Ptolemy wishes to read Natural Sciences at Cambridge and it was clear that his understanding of Physics and Mathematics will help him to realise his ambition.

Professor John Foord delivered a stunning lecture on his research in the field of nanotechnology at Oxford University. More than 50 pupils attended the lecture and chemists in the audience were surprised to learn the professor and his team are making nano-sized particles of silicon to generate hydrogen gas for fuel cells. He finished his lecture with some wonderful slides explaining how to become a research scientist. Interest, enthusiasm and dedication are keys to successful careers in Science.

It is predicted that nanotechnology will become the first trillion dollar market and no doubt many Rugbeians will become involved around the world with this future industry.

Prof John Foord (left of winner) and Dr Mike Thompson with the finalists of this year's Foxcroft Partnership Essay Competition and winner James Price (centre)

Barby Runners Tough Race

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Pupils competing in Rugby School’s annual Barby Run endured some of the toughest route conditions ever.

Thick mud and chin-deep water were just a few of the challenges faced by the Lower School students in the 6.8 mile run, which was revived in 1983.

This year’s winner was Cosmo Wellings, who was the first boy back in a time of 45 minutes and 4 seconds, with the runner up, Alex Winter, just 21 seconds behind him. Simon Waterhouse, who was third, also competed in the English Schools Cross Country event the day before.

The Barby runners’ arrivals was synchronised with the historic Crick Run to enable them to see their finish time on the race clock.

Click here for a full run report by Andrew Siggers

Goodfellow on Lambs Tour

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School XV player, Kit Goodfellow represented the ISRFC Lambs this month against Welsh Boys’ Clubs at Maidenhead RFC.

Goodfellow enjoyed a good game in the first half creating one try and scoring another – the only tries scored by the team.

However, he received a yellow card 10 minutes before the end of the match and Lambs eventually lost 12-20.

Goodfellow was one of 33 players chosen for the squad after a long and tough process of selection and will no embark on a tour of Ireland during the Easter holidays.

Chemistry Final Success

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

A team of four Rugby School students reached the finals of the West Midlands Chemistry Quiz.

Hugh Campbell, Emily Lauterpacht, Anna Farquhar and Bex Capewell-Sailsbury travelled to Birmingham University where they made it through to the quarter final before losing to Newport Girls High School by just two points.

The students were supported by Chemistry Department teachers Raminda Dhanda, Dr James Bendall and Dr Mike Thompson.

Dr Bendall, the newest member of staff, said he is now looking forward to coaching next year’s team along with other members of the department.

“We were unlucky to get the hardest questions,” he said, “but still showed how brilliant our students are at problem solving under extreme time pressures."

And a second Rugby School team achieved a third place against 11 other school teams competing at the Uppingham Chemistry Quiz this week. Jack White, Hugh Campbell, Anna Farquhar and Bex Capewell-Salisbury were just four points behind the winners in a closely fought contest.

Midland U15 Fives Triumph

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School pupils dominated in the inaugural Midlands U15 Fives Championships.

The team of George Romain, Freddie Evans, Rory Hunter and Myles McKay produced an excellent standard of Rugby Fives and were rewarded with plenty of silverware.

Pupils from Oundle, Bedford, Bedford Modern and Derby Moor found the Rugby pupils a little too difficult to match.

Romain won the Old Oundelian Cup (U15 singles) beating an opponent from Derby Moor in the final 11-5. Romain had defeated Evans in the semi-final and Evans went on to win the third place play off and was presented with the Singles Plate for his efforts.

In the doubles, Romain and Evans won in a tense final against the Derby Moor first pair and received the Quarry Cup as a reward.

The fact all four boys reached the quarter finals of the singles competition, and both pairs reached the semi-finals of the doubles competition, reflects the healthy state of the junior players at the School.

Romain (left) and Evans

Georgian Squad Visits School

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The Georgian U18 Rugby squad made their first ever visit to Rugby School last week.

The 30-strong tour party used the School’s sports facilities to prepare for their international against England U17’s on Sunday.

The former Gloucester centre, Don Caskie, now the National Academy and High Performance Manager for the Georgian Rugby Union, presented Director of Sport, Simon Brown, with a signed team shirt.

“The facilities and surroundings are fantastic,” said Mr Caskie. “The boys really enjoyed visiting the School and seeing the birthplace of rugby football.”

The Georgia U18 Squad at Rugby School

Hew Strachan Speaks at OR Event

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Professor Sir Hew Strachan was guest speaker at the annual party for the Scottish Friends of Rugby School in Edinburgh this month.

Old Rugbeian (OR) and former Rugby School governor, Prof Strachan who was recently appointed Knight Bachelor, delivered an engaging talk entitled ‘From Syria to Scotland: Idealism versus Self interest in the world today’ reflecting on modern conflicts and overseas intervention.

Head Master Patrick Derham spoke about the School and the innovative work of the Arnold Foundation, and OR Angus Crichton-Miller gave an update on the current Scottish fundraising challenge.

The Scottish Friends agreed to reconvene in Edinburgh early next year.

Professor Sir Hew Strachan (centre) with Head Master Patrick Derham (left) and Angus Crichton-Miller at the Scottish Reception

Lions Hero Visits School

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

British and Irish Lions sporting hero Finlay Calder visited Rugby School last week.

The only 20th century captain to lead the Lions team to a series victory after losing the opening Test, the former Scotland flanker was keen to visit the birthplace of the game.

He enjoyed a tour around the School with Director of Sport, Simon Brown, and paid homage to William Webb Ellis at the commemorative plaque on the Doctor’s Wall.

For more information about Finlay Calder, click here.

Finlay Calder at the Doctor's Wall

175th Crick Run Success

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School pupils, ORs and staff competed in the 175th Crick Run on Sunday in one of the most successful and challenging events ever.

The highlight of the cross country calendar, this historical run of 10.4 miles begins in Crick and covers Barby and Kilsby villages before ending on the School's Close.

There were 170 finishers, the same number who passed the finishing line in the 150th anniversary race in 1988.

More than 80 Old Rugbeians and staff joined the 88 students in the race ploughing through wet and muddy conditions from the very start.

Leader throughout, pupil Ben Sutherland was first across the finishing line, smashing the record by more than three minutes in a winning time of 64 minutes 12 seconds.

Second place was taken by Charlie Bruce who came in seven minutes later, shortly followed by Harrison Anton. Last year’s winner, Pete Style finished fourth. Last year’s runner up, Charli Sweet, was the first girl to finish in 80 minutes three seconds with an 11 minute lead of the runner up, Caroline Cieslewicz, who was closely followed by Emma Matthews who had an excellent run.

First staff member in was Dr James Bendall leading the way to finish in 74 minutes, while Mike Shervington was the first Rugbeian across the line.

Click here for the results of the Rugbeian Race.

Pupils at the start of the 175th Crick Run

Ben Sutherland

Charli Sweet

Crick Run finishers

Staff and Rugbeians at the start of the Crick Run

School Hosts RFC Championships

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School played host to the Independent Schools RFC Prep Schools Regional Championships on Sunday.

More than 200 U13 and U11 prep school pupils took the opportunity to play at the birthplace of the game of Rugby Football. In the U11 competition, the South East was triumphant with the North winning the U13 competition.

Head Master, Patrick Derham, and the former New Zealand All Blacks Captain Zinzan Brook, presented the Uttley (U13) and the Greenwood (U11) cups to the winning sides.

City Reception at St Barts

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugbeians, parents and guests gathered in the fabulous surroundings of St Bart’s Great Hall in London for a splendid City Reception this week.

150 people enjoyed the event which was part of the 10th Anniversary celebrations for the Arnold Foundation, the School’s pioneering bursary scheme.

Robert Swannell, Chairman of the School’s Governing Body and Chairman of Marks & Spencer, spoke passionately about ‘Raising aspirations and why this matters’ and the life transforming work of the Arnold Foundation.

Peter Bennett-Jones, Chairman of the Arnold Foundation Board, followed with a direct plea for support to sustain Rugby School’s ground breaking work in providing fully funded bursaries for pupils from some of the country’s most deprived communities.

Peter Bennett-Jones speaking at the City Reception at St Barts in London

Over £800 raised for Amnesty

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Amnesty supporters at Rugby School have raised more than £800 for Amnesty International.

The eight-strong group of sixth formers organised fundraising events and set up money boxes around the School which raised £855 for the cause.

The pupils, who meet each week as part of their Thursday afternoon activities, take turns to research a human rights issue and present to the rest of the group.

Group member, Neel Shah, said pupils can choose to support the action suggested by Amnesty International.

“This action might be signing a petition or writing a letter. In recent weeks, our efforts have been directed at planning a fundraising event and writing a presentation given in Chapel to help raise awareness of the work of Amnesty International,” he said.

“For this latest fund raising event, we helped organise social events for the Upper and Lower School and asked pupils and teachers to make a donation. This was collected with the use of money boxes set up in Houses and prominent areas around the School, such as the library and the senior common room.

“The amount raised demonstrates the effort of the whole School and we would like to thank all those who gave donations, the social levée, for their help with planning, and staff for their support in Houses and with the social and bar events.

“We would like to give a special thank you to Southfield House which raised the highest amount of £92.00,” added Neel.

Skydive for Physics Students

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

More than 20 sixth formers experienced the concepts of terminal velocity and lift first hand last week.

Following a training session, the Physics students entered the indoor wind tunnel at Airkix in Milton Keynes and were initiated in the art of skydiving.

The School’s newest Physics teacher, Rebecca Lambert also braved the skydiving experience, while Head of Physics Dr Andy Davies watched from a safe viewing distance!

The Physics skydiving team!

Visit by Biomedical Researcher

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

A well-known biomedical researcher gave a talk at Rugby School last week at the invitation of a keen student.

Pupil Alice Miller invited Dr Matthew Hickman, the Education Project Manager at the NOWGEN centre in Manchester, to deliver a lecture to more than 60 School biologists. Members of the Bateson Society heard about Dr Hickman’s work at Southampton and Bristol Universities in the first part of the lecture.

He focussed on Huntington’s disease, which relates to CAG repeats in the autosomal dominant gene.

Head of Science Dr Mike Thompson said the lecture was punctuated with superb questions from an attentive audience.

“It showed Rugby’s biologists at their very best,” he said. “Inevitably the lecture, which was entitled, “There is no such thing as a disease for a gene”, led on to ethical questions and the audience was surprised to learn that it costs $3000 to map a gene for a particular disease and only $7000 to map an individual’s entire genome,” he added.

Once again the need for an understanding of all three sciences was brought home to the audience as the boundaries are forever blurred once students embark on a scientific pathway at university.

For more information about Dr Matthew Hickman and NOWGEN, click here.

OR Paralympian Forum Talk

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s first ever Paralympian, Sam Ruddock, was the inspirational guest speaker at the Old Rugbeian’s Spring Business Forum last month.

Speaking on ‘A Fast Track to London 2012: the trials and tribulations of the (disabled) academic athlete’, Sam is a former Town House (day House) scholarship pupil who was given the chance to join the School’s sixth form in 2006.

Sam competed in the 2012 Olympics and ran the race of his life on 26 September in the 200m when he achieved a personal best. An unknown on the world athletic stage, within six months of being spotted, his rapid progress achieved him a place on the GB Paralympian team in both the 100m and 200m in the T35 class.

He recently achieved a first class honours degree in Internal Relations at Loughborough University and said he is proud to be an Olympian.

Forum guest, Jane Phelps, a former Housemistress at Rugby and now Director of External Relations at New College of the Humanities, said Sam’s talk was a real treat.

“It isn’t often you get the chance to hear a truly inspirational talk,” she said. “No one who heard Sam’s talk, as he described the Olympic experience and his ambition for the future and Rio, could fail to find enormous pride that he is a Rugbeian.”

Sam at the finish line

Languages Magazine Launched

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Students at Rugby School have created their own Modern Languages magazine.

And the headline story in the first edition of Page Polyglotte was the launch of the School’s impressive, new Modern Languages building.

Features across the magazine include regular columnists, fascinating information from inside the department, a culture focus, interviews and more.

Click here to access a copy of the new Page Polyglotte.

Rugby School's new Modern Languages Department building in Horton Crescent

ORs in winning Blues side

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Old Rugbeians Will Rowlands and Will Darby were part of the winning Blues side when they beat the Navy last month.

The resulting match report (click here for full details) highlighted Darby as a stalwart of the Under 21’s who made a strong debut and looks set to enjoy a distinguished career in the senior Oxford University RFC team.

Rowlands, who was elected 2013 Oxford University RFC Team Secretary, was also selected to play in the England Students Team which played France Universities at Richmond Athletic ground last week. (For the full RFC match report click here).

And current Rugby School sixth former, Ben Pointon, has been selected for the England U18 Clubs and Schools Squad to play against Ireland U18 on Saturday, 30 March at Coolmine RFC near Dublin.

Ben Pointon in South West game

William Darby in action

Molecule of the Month Success

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The Head of Science at Rugby School and a sixth form pupil have once again had an article published on Bristol University’s chemistry department website.

Mike Thompson and student Jess Abel focussed on the important reducing agent called lithal, for the latest ‘Molecule of the Month’. It is the second article the pair have had featured.

This is Dr Thompson's eleventh Molecule of the Month since his first on Dettol back in 2002, and his third written with a sixth former at Rugby School.

“The article will be useful to Pre-U and A Level chemists as they prepare for summer exams,” he said.

“I also have another article in the pipeline, written with another Rugby student who will be going on to read chemistry at university at the end of this year,” he added.

In recent years, Professor May, the webmaster at Bristol University, has given work experience to a Rugbeian and also delivered a superb lecture on making diamonds to the School’s 59 Club.

To read the latest Thompson/Abel article log on to: http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/lithal/lithal.htm

Mike Thompson and Jess Abel

London Trip for Physicists

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Sixth form physicists at Rugby School enjoyed a productive half term at the Institute of Physics ‘Perspectives in Physics’ course held at University College and the Royal Institution.

Course highlights included lectures on ‘Five Things You Should Never Do with a Particle Accelerator’, which looked at the Physics behind putting your pet in the particle beam to its potential use as a lethal weapon, along with ‘Dambusters: The Engineering Behind the Bouncing Bomb’.

This gave students a chance to not only learn about the physics of rolling and bouncing bombs, but also to get the inside story into a recent Channel 4 documentary which recreated this famous event.

In addition to some excellent lectures and a tour of the world famous Royal Institution, students also relaxed on the London Eye and enjoyed ‘We Will Rock You’, the musical.

Students enjoy a ride on the London Eye...

Dutch Hockey Tour Success

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Sixth Form hockey players at Rugby School, who spent their half term touring the Netherlands, returned victorious from all matches.

The trip for the team of 13 was made in a bid to continue the progress being made by the senior hockey sides.

The boys arrived at Noordwijk before playing Klein Zwitserland Hockey Club, one of the oldest, largest and most famous clubs in Holland. Rugby took the lead only to be pegged back with the last touch of the ball before half time, but the game ended with a 4-2 win for Rugby.

Next stop was Almeerse Hockey Club with its seven astroturf pitches, when Rugby won again 4-1.

The boys enjoyed a day touring Amsterdam before the final match at Rotterdam Hockey Club, when their 6-1 win completed an unbeaten tour run.

Head Master TES Letter

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Sir: Martin Stephen paints a bleak and inaccurate picture of the independent sector. Far from being overpriced, uninspiring institutions, many of our public schools are setting the educational pace.

My own school of Rugby has taken the lead in extending bursaries to underprivileged pupils through its Arnold Foundation access scheme, and has made a decisive contribution to qualification reform through pioneering the Extended Project.

At the same time, a number of our counterparts are pursuing radical engagement with academies, working in partnership with the state sector. A narrative of decline and fall simply does not square with all that we are doing today.

Patrick Derham, Headmaster, Rugby School.

Hockey Camp for Rogerson

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

A talented Rugby School hockey player has been selected to train at England Hockey’s U15 camp in May.

Ollie Rogerson is one of 20 young players invited for further assessment at the camp at Lilleshall National Sports Centre.

Rogerson, who trains with Mercia Lynx, will attend the two-day camp on 18 and 19 May when the Head Coach will be Charlie Bannister.

Ollie Rogerson in action...

Students Create Achievement Tree

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Students at Rugby School have created a 7ft wooden ‘I can do it’ tree to help encourage children with special needs to be proud of their achievements.

Brooke School, a community which provides quality learning experiences for children and teenagers with a wide range of individual needs, approached Rugby to ask if pupils would like to assist with the ‘tree’ project.

The idea was for a 3D tree that could hold ‘I Can Do It’ leaves to encourage and celebrate the children’s achievements such as, ‘I can tie my shoelaces’ or ‘I can write my name’.

Rugby School’s Design and Technology teacher, Paul Shelley, was delighted to take on the challenge and he assigned eight pupils, who take ‘workshop activities’ for their community service afternoon option.

The sixth form boys designed and manufactured the 7ft plywood tree to fit a specific area within a courtyard at Brooke School, fixing in 190 hooks to hold the ‘leaves’.

Mr Shelley said most of the group had never studied Design and Technology as a qualification subject before.

“This tree will be used with pupils and parents to promote the individual successes of Brooke School’s pupils,” he said.

“Although outside in a courtyard, it will also be visible from many of the rooms and corridors within the school,” he added.

Rugby School students and Paul Shelley (back row, second from right) with the 'I Can do It' tree and some of Brooke School's pupils.

Bursaries Letter to Economist

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Private education

SIR – The bursaries offered by private schools to poorer pupils are not face-saving exercises designed to “salve consciences” (“Pride and prejudice”, February 2nd). Many independent schools have established programmes that are making a substantive difference in some of the most deprived parts of Britain.

At Rugby the Arnold Foundation offers full financial support to 10% of pupils, all of whom come from disadvantaged areas and would not be able to pay for their education. The National Foundation for Educational Research has acclaimed our efforts and we have joined forces with others to form a national bursary foundation that will place hundreds of children from poorer backgrounds at independent and state boarding schools by the end of the next decade.

Anyone who truly cares about breaking down social barriers in this country should welcome these sorts of efforts, not carp from the sidelines.

Patrick Derham
Head Master
Rugby School

http://www.economist.com/news/letters/21571848-nordic-countries-private-schools-immigration-sandhurst-ed-koch-richard-iii

Head Master, Patrick Derham, Rugby School

Fives Courts Officially Named

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The new Fives Courts at Rugby School were officially named after an Old Rugbeian last week.

President of the Rugbeian Society Fiona Hughes-D’Aeth, was joined by guests to name the courts after the 1957 Captain of the Fives, the late Mr Ian Anderson.

The party, who included Mr Anderson’s brother Jonathan and his nephew Julian Anderson, were treated to a Fives match between former and current Rugbeians.

To find out more about the Five Courts at Rugby School and the history of the game, click on the link below:

Fives History PDF

Left to right: Neil Payne, Julian Anderson, Fiona Hughes-D’Aeth, Jonathan Anderson and Peter Lusty

School Now on Twitter

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School has entered the world of Twitter.

Lecture by Chemistry Expert

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The professor of Chemistry at Warwick University delivered two outstanding lectures on 'The Elements of Life and Medicines' at Rugby School last week.

Prof Peter Sadler and his post doctorial assistant, Isolda Romero-Canelón combined a lovely blend of humour with interesting demonstrations and detailed science which crossed the three major subjects as he filled in a blank periodic table from memory.

He reinforced the need for 21st century scientists to have a deep understanding of their subject as well as needing to engage to a high level with overlapping subjects.

Pupils were given one or two numbers which corresponded to particular elements on the periodic table. Prof Sadler was very impressed by the students’ knowledge and throughout the lecture rewarded them with ‘prizes’ of Warwick University branded items.

Secretary of the School’s Science Mosaic Society, Izaak Williams, who introduced Prof Sadler and concluded the lecture, is to study Chemistry at university.

The School’s upper sixth form chemists will be spending a day in the labs at Warwick University in June.

Warwick University has two isotopes of Lithium on its crest, an element which is used successfully to treat bi-polar disorder.

Some of the interesting facts from the lecture included:

wherever you meet ATP, you will have magnesium ions
bismuth, the heaviest stable element in the periodic table, is used as bismuth citrate to kill bacteria (heliobacter pylori) that live in ulcers
fluoride can be given to children up to the age of 12, to strengthen their teeth, forming the compound fluorapatite
colloidal gold can be made by adding citric acid to gold which has been dissolved in aqua regia (this was a demonstration)
zinc is needed to control the reading of DNA and for the development of sex organs ·
you would have to eat 181 oysters to get the same amount of zinc as found in an adult human
the unstable isotope found in bananas (potassium-40) emits beta rays and our bodies repair any damage using enzymes
xenon can be used as an anaesthetic
there are 20 million injections of gadolinium (III) per year as it is used as a contrasting agent in MRI scans
silver is used as an antibacterial coating in bandages and washing machines

Prof Sadler will spend next month at a university in Hong Kong and it is hoped he will return to Rugby School to give another lecture in the near future.

Prof Peter Sadler (left) with Rugby School Head of Science, Mike Thompson

Arnold Foundation in Telegraph

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

An article in the Daily Telegraph this week highlights Rugby School Arnold Foundation’s ‘pioneering work’ in helping the UK’s boarding figures to remain steady despite the economic downturn.

Written by Eton teacher Jonathan Noakes, the article states that in 2012, ‘a third of all students at Independent Schools Council member establishments received financial assistance’.

Mr Noakes writes: “Following the pioneering work of the Arnold Foundation at Rugby School, the SpringBoard Bursary Foundation is currently setting up a nationwide scheme which will provide bursaries for disadvantaged children to attend independent boarding schools. The foundation aims “to have a profound effect on social mobility and the ethos of the boarding sector”.

The scheme has widespread support from schools. It also has cross-party political approval.”

Read the full article at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/9857562/Boarding-schools-moving-with-the-times.html#disqus_thread

OR Photographer Gallery Shortlist

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

A talented Old Rugbeian photographer has been shortlisted for the 2012 Taylor Wessing Photographic Prize at London’s National Gallery.

Marco Kesseler studied at Rugby School and recently graduated with a First Class Honours Degree (BA) Press & Editorial Photography from University College Falmouth.

His work focuses on long term, in depth studies relating to social and political issues, which has seen him travelling to The Balkans and the Middle East.

Marco’s website can be found at http://marcokesseler.com

Marco Kesseler - self portrait

Charity Canyon Hike by Pupil

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School pupil Chris Wright has achieved his goal to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon raising more than £500 for charity.

Chris, who took on the challenge with his father to raise money for Help the Heroes, hiked for two and-a-half days including a camp in the Canyon base and also at the ‘Indian Gardens’ on the way back up.

He is a member of the CCF Army section at the School and his father was an RAF pilot. Help for Heroes supports injured servicemen and women while recovering from war injuries, and also helps families of the victims.

Chris is still receiving donations on line at http://www.bmycharity.com/helpforheroeshike where he has also posted photographs from his trip.

First Musician of Year Event

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Young musicians took part in Rugby School’s first ever Prep School Musician of the Year last week.

The fun filled day full of vibrant music making included workshops, a competition and the opportunity to experience musical life at the School.

Children performed in solo heats for piano, brass, woodwind, strings and voice, and received feedback from the School’s expert staff.

Existing school ensembles were also invited to perform along with a massed instrumental ensemble for all students, as well as a choral workshop.

In the final concert children performed to their parents in both the massed ensemble as well as the choir, with solo winners chosen by adjudicator Paul Harris, who enjoys an international reputation as one of the UK's leading music educationalists.

Students were also treated to a private concert by Rugby School musicians and given the chance to ask questions of current music scholars to give them an insight into musical life at Rugby.

Violin category winner, Darya Sutton of Crescent School

Adjudicator Paul Harris

Abbot's Temple Society Lecture

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s Lent address visitor Abbot Stuart Burns delivered a lecture to members of the Temple Society this week.

Abbot Burns, who is from Mucknall Abbey, spoke on ‘How Big is God’ followed by a question and answer session with the pupils.

Please click on the link below to read Secretary to the Temple Society Francesca Davie’s full report of the evening:

Abbot Stuart Burns - How Big is God?

From left: Eleanor Robertson, Dr Jonathan Smith, Abbot Burns and Francesca Davie

Students Enjoy Light Fantastic

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

One of the world’s leading ‘light and colour’ scientists entertained Rugby School students with his fascinating physics-based lecture last week.

Professor Peter Vukusik from Exeter University treated the pupils to his eye catching presentation - ‘Light Fantastic: the Science of Light and Colour’.

Prof Vukusic’s speciality is looking at how colour effects are produced in nature. His lecture included a number of eye catching demonstrations on chemical luminescence and flourescence. He is head of the research team in natural photonics at Exeter, which has studied optical effects in nature, such as the iridescence of butterflies, and has translated their findings into novel technologies such as fabrics and cosmetics.

Students from the local Lawrence Sheriff and Rugby High Schools also enjoyed Prof Vukusic’s lecture during a separate event.

The Professor will return to Rugby School in June to lecture at the annual Institute of Physics teachers meeting, the largest such meeting in England, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

Professor Vukusic

ARTiculation Success for Student

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

An impressive art history public speaking performance by a Rugby School pupil has been recognised in a national competition.

Polly Creed competed in the regional finals of the ARTiculation Prize, a public speaking competition for sixth form students, which encourages critical opinion and expression through the arts, while developing oral presentation skills.

Orgnaised by the Roche Court Educational Trust, entrants give a 10-minute presentation on a work of art, artefact or architecture of their choice.

Polly entered the regional finals at the IKON Gallery in Birmingham and was placed runner-up for her paper ‘Picasso’sThe Charnel House, 1945: Is the paintbrush mightier than the sword?’

Her Art History teacher, Jerry Rayner, said it was a large heat with eight schools competing. “Entrants are assessed on their presentation as a whole, looking at content, structure and delivery,” said Miss Rayner.

“Both the director of the gallery and Madeline Bessborough, a trustee of the Roche Court Educational Trust, commented how very impressive Polly’s paper and performance were,” she added.

OR's Latest Play at Royal Court

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Old Rugbeian and award-winning playwright, Polly Stenham’s third play ‘No Quarter’ opened in London earlier this month (January).

The 26-year-old, who left Rugby School in 2007, won critical acclaim for her debut play ‘That Face’ which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in Chelsea, and starred the current ‘Dr Who’ Matt Smith.

The production won Stenham numerous awards including the Evening Standard’s 2007 Charles Wintour Award and the Critics’ Circle Award for the Most Promising Playwright.

She is currently adapting both That Face and her second play Tusk Tusk for the screen.

Her third play, No Quarter, directed by Jeremy Herrin and starring Tom Sturridge , is showing at the Royal Court until 9 February.

Hockey Internationals to Visit

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Four current international hockey players are visiting Rugby School tomorrow (Tuesday).

Top players David Ames, Adam Dixon, Sophie Robinson and Harry Martin are to help with coaching at the School’s hockey club. ·

David, who is the School’s Hockey Development Officer, has 64 caps for Ireland ·
Adam is an England and GB international and captain of the top English Premier League side, Beeston, ·
Sophie is a Welsh International and current top goal scorer in the ladies' National League and ·
Harry was the youngest player in the GB squad at London 2012.

The star players visit has generated plenty of excitement among the School’s own hockey players and it is hoped they will help with coaching again during the Lent Term.

Students Rise to Olympiad Challenge

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Four Rugby School sixth formers have achieved certificates in the national Physics Olympiad Competition.

Designed to challenge the most able physics students, this annual event attracts more than 1800 entrants. Michael Varley was awarded a Gold Certificate placing him in the top 150 students nationally, Richard Watkins and Joy Au achieved Silver Certificates while Kaamil Walilay received a Bronze Division I.

Top student Michael said the Physics Olympiad provided candidates with a fantastic opportunity to tackle challenging numerical physics questions.

“The paper was very enjoyable, precisely because the questions are so much more involved and less formulaic than those found in standard qualifications,” he said.

“Personally, I get a tremendous feeling of satisfaction and sense of achievement from solving the challenging, convoluted brain-teasers found in Olympiad papers.

"I am very pleased to have attained a Gold Certificate, and am confident the skills gained from tackling demanding questions will stand me in good sted for my physics degree, which I hope to start later this year at Oxford University."

Left to right: Kaamil Walilay, Michael Varley, Joy Au and Richard Watkins with their Physics Olympiad Certificates

Goodfellow to Play for Lambs

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School XV player, Kit Goodfellow, has been selected for the ISRFC Lambs National XV squad.

The squad was announced following the successful Northern XV v Southern XV trial game on 13 January.

Goodfellow was one of 33 players chosen for the squad after a long and tough process of selection, and will represent the Lambs in several matches from now until Easter before touring Ireland during the Easter holidays.

The selection process, which began in November, started with coaches of each independent school nominating players suited to the Lambs ‘fast and free’ model. Players were divided into four regions, North, Midlands, South East and South West, before taking part in trial games in order to make the squad to represent that region.

Those who made it through to the regional squad then played their neighbouring region, South East v South West and North v Midlands, in a trial for the Northern and Southern combined squads.

On the ISRFC Lams website Goodfellow was referred to as ‘a talented and exciting full back, who will represent the home of rugby, Rugby School.’

For further details, log on to:

http://www.fifteenrugby.com/school-rugby/blog/isrfc-lambs-national-rugby-squad-selected/

Goodfellow in action at the South Schools Scotland match at Rugby School in September last year

Masterclass With Space Centre's Anu

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

For the fourth year running, Upper Sixth form students at Rugby School took part in an astrophysics masterclass with a Director of the National Space Centre last week.

Anu Ojha, Director of Education and Space Communications at the Centre in Leicester, spent a day with the pupils before delivering an evening lecture ‘Space So What?’ to an enthralled audience of more than 70 students from across all year groups.

The Pre U Upper Sixth Physics students were also involved in an intensive tutorial analysing satellite data with Anu the following morning.

Anu, who is also Director of the National Space Academy programme, was awarded Advanced Skills Teacher status by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2003. He teaches A Level physics as part of the Academy’s new post-16 Space Engineering programme in partnership with Loughborough College. He is also developing the new National Framework for Space Engineering Higher Apprenticeships for the UK space sector. Log on to The UK Space Agency website http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency/careers/i-work-in-space/anu-ohja to find out more about Anu.

He also hopes to return to the School soon to deliver his latest lecture‘Skydiving from the Edge of Space’; Anu was recently involved with the world record jump made by Felix Baumgartner.

The 2013 Physics Masterclass brave the snow...

hello

OR is Oxford RFC Secretary

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Old Rugbeian William Rowlands has been elected 2013 Oxford University RFC Team Secretary.

Second year undergraduate (Pembroke) William has taken over from Jonathan Hudson. He said he is looking forward to working with Captain John Carter, the players, coaches and the committee to ensure another successful year both on and off the pitch.

William played in the Rugby School XV.

Cross Country Success

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Pupils from Rugby School took part in the Warwickshire County Championships for cross country this month with some excellent results.

In the senior girls section Charli Sweet achieved a first, while in the senior boys, Ben Sutherland was placed second. The intermediate boys class saw Josh Cara in third place and Simon Waterhouse was fourth in the junior boys section. And the School’s youngest competitor, Angharad Wylie achieved a fourth place in the minor girls class.

Full results follow below:

Senior Boys:
- Ben Sutherland 2nd
- James Thomas 13th
- Harrison Anton 15th
Senior Girls:
- Charli Sweet 1st
Inter Boys:
- Josh Cara 3rd
- Cosmo Wellings 16th
Junior Boys:
- Simon Waterhouse 4th
- Aiden Mcguirk 12th
Junior Girls:
- Emma Thomas 7th
- Ellie Shephard 36th
Minor Girls:
- Angharad Wylie 4th

Decade of Fantastic Plastics

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Professor Averil MacDonald (Reading University) has delivered her tenth, legendary ‘Fantastic Plastics’ lecture to Rugby School pupils.

Head of Science, Dr Mike Thompson, presented the professor with the School book ‘With a Fine Disregard’ signed by the chemistry staff to show their appreciation for her excellent collaboration for more than a decade.

As always, Prof MacDonald enthralled her audience with a journey through polymers, when she not only challenged the pupils’ knowledge, but also revealed new areas where they can use their original ideas to create business opportunities.

Such ideas included athletes using augmented reality on specially adapted contact lenses to improve their personal bests, as well as RFID (smart clothing) and OLED (roll-up televisions).

Pupils were also encouraged to experiment at home by mixing liquid rubber (latex) with lemon juice to create a bouncy ball.

Local schools benefitted from repeat performance of Prof MacDonald’s talk, and in total, Reading Universities outreach was delivered to nearly 400 pupils.

Letter to the 'Sunday Times'

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Gaining the advantage

Sir: I hope David Willetts and Les Ebdon will embrace Little’s efforts to offer working-class boys the most appropriate form of education, but intervention from an early age is needed if more are to make it to university.

The independent charity Eastside Young Leaders Academy has helped many young males— including some who have come through Rugby — keep up with their studies and dream big. It is now expanding this work as a partner of the SpringBoard Bursary Foundation, which aims to place those from deprived backgrounds at independent and state boarding schools.

Disadvantaged young men deserve academic support in their formative years — not long after the horse has bolted.

Patrick Derham, Head Master, Rugby School

Head Master's Magazine Article

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

'The London Magazine' has featured an article on Rugby School’s successful Extended Projects qualification.

In an exclusive article by Head Master, Patrick Derham, the national magazine highlights why Michael Gove is paying attention to the results achieved from what began as an academic experiment 10 years ago.

To read the full article, click on the link below:

Patrick Derham in The London Magazine PDF

Physics Olympiad Success

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Four Rugby School sixth formers have achieved certificates in the national Physics Olympiad Competition.

Designed to challenge the most able physics students, this annual event attracts more than 1800 entrants.

Michael Varley was awarded a Gold Certificate placing him in the top 150 students nationally, Richard Watkins and Joy Au achieved Silver Certificates while Kaamil Walilay received a Bronze Division I.

XI India Tour Success

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The XI returned just before Christmas after a very successful tour of India. Although the cricket was very competitive and the boys played against a number of current 1st Class cricketers, out of the seven games played, four were won and there was a very exciting tie.

All 16 tourists played their part and the spinners won several games, but Will Briggs was the pick topping both the batting and bowling averages.

Off the field, the touring party travelled more than 1,000 miles by bus and overnight train, saw the Taj Mahal, spent time on a tiger safari, stayed in an old Maharaja’s palace and were entertained in great style wherever they went.

But the highlight of the trip was probably the game at the famous Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, the home of the Cricket Club of India, which is India’s equivalent of Lords.

For further details about the tour please read the tour blog which can be accessed through the link below:

http://lwtlrugbyschool.wordpress.com/

The Team at the Taj Mahal

Bowling in Mumbai

Waiting to bat at the CCI

Team talk at the CCI

Watching in the stands at the CCI

Elephant ride

Freddie Embleton

Hanging on...

Master Woodhead in trouble...

On safari...

On the train...

The blog writers

The Captain with an Indian test cricketer

Toby Latham

1st XI Leave for India Tour

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The 1st XI cricket team at Rugby School leaves for Mumbai tomorrow to start the squad's two-week India tour.

With the benefit of a last minute coaching session from England T20 Head Coach, Ashley Giles, the boys will play seven matches in an exciting intinerary, which includes onward travel to Dehli and Jaipur.

Click here to download the full Cricket Tour of India 2012 brochure.

Rugby 1st XI squad pictured in India in 2009

Charities Receive Cheques

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Two charities were presented with more than £67,000 between them raised from a sponsored walk earlier in the term.

The whole School participated in the walk round Draycote Reservoir in September to raise the impressive amount, which was presented to Future Hope and Hope 4 at the end of term assembly this morning (Friday).

Future Hope, a charity set up in India to provide street children with a home and education, is supported by the School on an ongoing basis, while Hope 4 is a charity that helps the needy and homeless in Rugby.

Cheques were presented to Pete Wayman from Hope 4 by pupil Charlotte Coombes, and Tim Grandage received the cheque on behalf of Future Hope from pupil Zach Chadwick.

Left to right: Charlotte Coombes, Pete Wayman, Tim Grandage and Zach Chadwick

Design Students' WWT Project

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Design and technology students at Rugby School have used their creative skills to develop a range of tables and chairs for Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT).

The 10 A Level pupils worked with local cabinet maker N E J Stevenson Ltd to create the outside furniture for use by young children at the WWT’s Parkridge Centre in Solihull.

Design and Technology teacher, Paul Shelley, said the Trust was in desperate need of some new furniture, while Neil Stevenson was keen to encourage young designers make the transition from education to industry.

“This project enabled our students to work with a real client and gave them a fabulous opportunity to use their creative design skills to develop this range of furniture, while benefitting a local charity.

“We would like to thank Neil for all his help and expertise, and for supplying materials for this worthwhile project,” he added.

Mr Stevenson said it had been an absolute delight to work with the School’s staff and pupils: "They really embraced the project and produced some excellent work.”

Volunteer Manager at WWT, Amanda Evans, said the young children will love the new furniture.

“They’re great fun, well constructed and child friendly – as a local charity, we simply would not have been able to buy such high quality furniture without the help of N E J Stevenson and Rugby School,” she added.

A Level pupils at the School are now in the initial design stages of developing park benches and picnic tables for the WWT, ready for manufacture next year.

Harry's Pentathlon Triumph

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School athlete Harry Sutherland has won the Schools International U16 Pentathlon.

Harry came home with the prestigious title after competing at the Scottish Schools' Athletics Association Schools International Pentathlon at the Emirates Arena on Saturday (1 December).

Log on to the Power of 10 website below to see the full results: http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=72726&event=PenIU15MNS&venue=Emirates+Arena&date=1-Dec-12

Geographic Magazine Launched

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Geography students at Rugby School have created their own version of ‘National Geographic’ magazine.

Rugby School Geographic features the pupils’ worldwide photography and articles on international issues ranging from use of ‘fold mountains’, to investigations into the effects of earthquakes.

The magazine has been researched and created entirely by pupils at the School and the high standard of articles and photography has impressed Geography teacher, Jonathan Pitt.

“After my first term at the School, I have been amazed by the standard of some of the work that has been produced in Geography and this magazine is testament to what Rugby pupils can achieve,” said Mr Pitt.

“The editorial team should be very proud of what they have achieved,” he added.

To view the new Rugby School Geographic - click here

OR in Varsity Match

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Old Rugbeian William Rowlands has been named in the Oxford University starting XV that will play against Cambridge University in the 131st Varsity match at Twickenham on Thursday.

It is the first time an OR has played in the match since 1991 when Richard Given was a Rugby Football Blue.

And William Darby, another former Rugby School pupil, is on the bench for the Oxford University U21 team that play their Varsity match against Cambridge University as a curtain raiser before the main fixture.

Both pupils played in the Rugby School XV during their time at the School.

William Darby playing for Rugby School

For further information about the match, log on to:

http://www.ourfc.org/NewsItem.aspx?ID=956

http://email.rfumail.com/public/read_message.jsp;jsessionid=0;apw62?sigreq=1288596296

New Centre for Languages

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s impressive new Modern Languages Building was officially opened last week by Robert Swannell, Chairman of the Governors.

On target to achieve an 'excellent' green rating from world environmental assessors BREEAM*, the new language centre follows a strict sustainability strategy covering all aspects of environmental excellence, from health and well-being to ecology.

The building in Horton Crescent has 11 classrooms, two language labs and a sixth form linguists’ common room with 3D European television, along with four interview rooms for work with foreign language assistants.

The state-of-the-art language labs feature software that allows students to join sessions from any networked school computer.

Head of the Modern Languages Department, David Gillett, said he couldn’t have hoped for better teaching accommodation.

“The classrooms are spacious and light, thanks to 500m2 of glass, and because the building is designed specifically for language teaching, the sound insulation in each room is fantastic.

“Students and staff love the new centre, which provides the perfect environment for learning,” he added.

The attractive courtyard, with landscaping completed by students, will soon be home to some exciting art work.

*’BREEAM’ is the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings and this new languages centre is likely to be one of the UK’s few buildings to achieve an 'excellent' rating.
The assessment began at the initial planning stage and checks continued right through the early stages of how the building is used.
Main areas of focus have been sustainability, ecology, energy efficiency, reducing CO2 emissions, health and well-being, as well as the indoor environment.
Click here to find out more about the building

England Cricket Coach at Rugby

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Recently appointed England ODI and T20 Head Coach, Ashley Giles, visited Rugby yesterday (Sunday).

The former England international and Warwickshire Director of Cricket spent three hours coaching the School’s 1st XI cricketers in advance of their tour to India which begins on Saturday (8 December).

Ashley chatted to the players providing valuable tips on playing in India with a focus on spin

Only appointed to his new role last week, Ashley oversaw Warwickshire’s championship triumph this year and will now take charge of the England side for the first time on the tour of India and New Zealand at the beginning of next year.

Master in charge of cricket, Mark Semmence, said Ashley's coaching was invaluable.

"We were honoured to host Ashley and the timing couldn't have been better," he added.

The Rugby School team will play seven matches during the tour when they will visit Mumbai, Dehli and Jaipur.

Ashley Giles with Rugby School 1st XI team

Maths Olympiad Selection Success

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Six Rugby School mathematicians have made it through to the next level of the British Mathematics Olympiad selection process.

And five more pupils are through to the ‘Senior Kangaroo’ challenge, the next stage down from the Olympiad competition.

Maths teacher, Mark Hennings said: “To have this number of pupils selected for the next stages of this process is very gratifying.”

The next stage of both competitions will be held tomorrow (Friday).

British Olympiad candidates are: Richard Watkins; Christopher Palmer; Michael Varley; Richard Brumpton; Guy Lough and Boris van den Belt.

Senior Kangaroo candidates are: Tom Radley; Thomas Ribaroff; Godfrey Chan; Edward Hutchinson and Julia Hewitt.

School to Mentor for Diocese

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Pupils across Coventry and Warwickshire will receive a boost after a ground breaking mentoring agreement was signed this week between Rugby School and the Coventry Diocesan Board of Education (CDBE).

On Tuesday, Rugby and Diocesan Board, which comprises 74 schools in Coventry and Warwickshire, formally launched the partnership that will see members of the independent school volunteer throughout the region. During the next two to three years, pupils from Rugby will mentor children at CDBE schools, with members of Rugby’s wider community becoming governors of schools under the Board’s umbrella.

The first of its kind, the agreement is designed to raise aspirations across the diocese. Rugby students will assist pupils at CDBE schools – many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds – with basic skills like numeracy and literacy, while encouraging them to aim higher. A pilot scheme has already seen 21 Rugbeians help out at nearby Oakfield Primary School which is similar in makeup to those in the Diocese.

Rugby School Head Master, Patrick Derham, said he was delighted with the agreement. “Rugby is a national and international school in terms of outlook, but has always been proud of its roots. This agreement reminds us of the importance of our role in the local community. It is also about lifting aspirations, something that is very much part of our DNA.”

Coventry Diocesan Director of Education Linda Wainscot added: “It is a privilege to be working in partnership with Rugby School, which shares our desire to make a real difference in the lives of deprived young people.

“Through this scheme we will provide a broader range of opportunities to children living in disadvantaged parts of the region that are sometimes forgotten about.”

Rugby School Chairman of Governors Robert Swannell (right) signs the agreement with Rex Pogson

Bears to Play T20 at Rugby School

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School has been chosen as the only out ground venue to host a fixture for the Friends Life t20 match next year.

The Bears will face the Welsh Dragons at the School on 6 July – the first time an out ground has been used since 2005. Glamorgan will also celebrate its 125th anniversary at the match in their first ever visit to the School.

Colin Povey, Chief Executive of Edgbaston, said the club had looked to reintroduce one out ground venue for the first home fixture in the group stages of the FLt20.

“The match at Rugby School will give our fans in Coventry and to the east of the county in particular the chance to experience the action in what we believe is a picturesque and atmospheric setting.

“The School has done a great job in hosting several 2nd XI fixtures over recent seasons and the Club will reveal more details in due course at www.edgabston.com.”

For further details about the FLt20, log on to:

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/20496932

www.edgbaston.com/1193/bears-start-championship-defence-at-home-to-derbyshire.html

School Features on Radio 4

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School is to feature in the first episode of Radio 4’s Touchline Tales to be broadcast on Friday.

Old friends Des Lynam and Christopher Matthew return with a third series of the programme in which they head to sporting venues, in order to enjoy, observe, reminisce and trade tales about some of the greatest pleasures in their lives.

Entirely broadcast on location, this first of three episodes begins with a Rugby School rugby match and the pair muse over why William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it back in 1823.

The programme will go out on 30 November at 11am. For more details, log on to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0134zl4

Christopher Matthew and Des Lynam at Rugby School

Praise for SpringBoard Charity

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Conservative Home website has urged Councils to seize the chance of boarding school placements for disadvantaged children.

Responding to the launch of the Springboard Bursary Foundation, the new charity based on Rugby School’s Arnold Foundation, Conservative Home has praised the scheme as a fantastic opportunity for children in care.

It urges Local Government to seize the chance of boarding school placements for these children. Rugby School has joined forces with SpringBoard, which will work with state schools and charities, such as IntoUniversity, with the aim of securing 2,000 boarding places for disadvantaged children within a decade.

Read the full Conservative Home article at: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/localgovernment/2012/11/councils-should-seize-chance-for-boarding-school-placements-for-children-in-care.html

Dr Taylor's 'Times' Blog

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s Head of Philosophy and Director of Critical Skills has written an article published on ‘The Times’ School Gate Blog.

Dr John Taylor, who is also an Edexcel EPQ Chief Examiner, has given his advice on ‘10 Ways to Save the Assessment System’.

His article can be read at: http://blogs.thetimes.co.uk/section/school-gate/93787/10-ways-to-save-the-assessment-system/

Dr Taylor’s most recent book ‘Think Again: A Philosophical Approach to Teaching’ is now available via Amazon at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Again-Philosophical-Approach-Teaching/dp/1441187758

Dr John Taylor

Pupil's Charity Canyon Trek

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

A Rugby School pupil is braving the depths of the Grand Canyon to raise money for charity.

Chris Wright and his father are hiking to the bottom of the famous landmark and camping next to the river for the night to raise funds for Help the Heroes.

The pair are flying out to the USA to make the special trip during the first week of the Christmas holidays.

“Hiking down should take around four to five hours,” said Chris, “and hiking back will be about nine hours.”

Chris is a member of the CCF Army section at the School and his father was an RAF pilot. Help for Heroes supports injured servicemen and women while recovering from war injuries, and also helps families of the victims.

If you would like to give Chris a donation, you can do so at: http://www.bmycharity.com/helpforheroeshike

School Hosts 'Energy' Expert

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School pupils were very lucky to have Professor Peter Atkins deliver a lecture on the nature of energy, a topic on which he is a world renowned expert.

Professor Atkins had worked as a physical chemistry lecturer at Oxford University before ‘retiring’ in 2007 when he is became a professor at Lincoln College Oxford. He is also the founding chairman of the IUPAC Committee on Chemistry Education and holds honorary doctorates from universities in the Netherlands, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Rugby School’s Head of Science, Dr Mike Thompson, was inspired by the writings of Professor Atkins when working on his chapter on energy and entropy for the Pre-U chemistry course. Professor Atkins has also written more than 70 well known texts including ‘Atkins’ Molecules’ and ‘Galileo’s Finger’.

The main focuses of his lecture were the 0th, 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics, which was brilliantly pitched for the School’s Oxbridge chemists, physicists and natural scientists.

Pudsey Cafe Raises £3,000

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School’s Pudsey Bear Café raised an impressive £3,000 in just one afternoon.

Organised by Marshall House, the School’s entry house for 11-13-year-olds, the annual Café is a fun event with games, tombola, cake stalls, musical performances and once again, sumo wrestling.

Pupils, staff and members of the public turned out in force to support the Café which certainly helped to brighten a cold November afternoon.

Staff and pupils also braved the heady heights of the School Chapel ceiling in a sponsored abseil, which boosted the funds even further.

Lottie Wins a GB Bronze

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School pupil Lottie Harbottle has won a bronze medal for Great Britain in the World Wakeboarding Championships.

The 13-year-old jetted off to the competition in The Philippines last week when her team competed against 32 other countries.

Even though Lottie was drawn in a difficult qualifying heat, with both the favourite from Australia and the current European champion, she went straight through to the final.

Her delighted mother Helen Harbottle, who travelled out to Angeles City with her husband to support their daughter, said only two from each heat were guaranteed a place in the final.

“Lottie was good enough to go straight through to the final and achieved her third place after the first round, so she was able to enjoy her final lap, knowing she was on the podium.

“We are so proud of her and she is proud of her achievement, and very grateful for the time and support the School has given her,” she added.

Foundation Inspires SpringBoard

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

SpringBoard, a new charity launched today (Tuesday) based on Rugby School’s Arnold Foundation scheme, will offer hundreds of boarding places to disadvantaged pupils.

The Arnold Foundation has provided fully funded boarding places for the past nine years and works in partnership with educational charities to reach out to boys and girls from some of the country's most deprived communities.

The School has now joined forces with SpringBoard, which will work with state schools and charities, such as IntoUniversity, with the aim of securing 2,000 boarding places for disadvantaged children within a decade.

The launch of the charity has been highlighted in ‘The Times’ columnist section by former Labour education minister and Life Peer, Lord Andrew Adonis, who is on the advisory panel of the SpringBoard Foundation.

Author of ‘Education, Education, Education’, Lord Adonis benefitted from a largely funded place at a small boarding school in Oxfordshire, which he says ‘transformed his life’.

“My life was turned around by being sent to board,” he said, “and other poor children deserve the same chance.”

To read Lord Adonis’s column, please log on to: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article3598173.ece

Top Psychiatrist Lectures

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Rugby School medics and biologists were privileged to host the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists for a lecture entitled, Medicine: the Art of Science, Ways of Seeing and Ways of Being.

In one of the best lectures Head of Science Dr Mike Thompson said he had experienced at the School, Professor Susan Bailey talked about her journey into medicine and how new technologies will give current medics a very different career.

She acknowledged medics need to consider difficult ethical questions, such as which patient will get the expensive treatment, how you treat an obese individual and relationships with pharmaceutical firms.

The audience were shocked to learn that mental illness can reduce life expectancy by 20 years. Caring is the core business in medicine and Prof Bailey said those entering the profession should see it as a vocation.

With dementia and depression predicted to be the biggest disease burden within the next 20 years, she urged School medics to consider psychiatry as a career in medicine.

Prof Bailey also revealed that rather than spending billions developing new drugs, there will be the repurposing of existing drugs. For example, in India the antibiotic tetracycline is being used to treat patients with schizophrenia.

She encouraged pupils to pursue a PhD believing that medicine should continue to attract the best and brightest people with a good bedside manner, who are also good listeners and able to give their patients hope. Medics, she said, should never forget “they need to treat the whole person” and that in the future, they will require more general skills.

During dinner, students and teachers learned Prof Bailey has interviewed infamous psychopaths in high profile cases.

Pupil Laura Gordon-Lennox with Prof Susan Bailey

Girls Make Hockey History

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

All three age group hockey teams at Rugby School have won the county titles in the same year for the first time ever.

With the U18 and U14 teams already having won their respective County Championship tournaments, the U16 team beat Bablake 2-1, King Henry VIII 3-1 and Princethorpe 1-0, therefore winning the title with a game to spare.

The final game against King's High showed the best of the girls as they moved the ball beautifully and created plenty of chances, eventually winning 3-0 and securing their 100 per cent record.

The U16 team now joins the U18 and U14 teams in the next round of the National Schools Championships, to be played this month (November).

Follow the teams on Twitter: @rugbysch_hockey

New Building Supports Wildlife

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The finishing touches are being put to Rugby School’s Modern Languages Building ready for its official opening in November.

Pupils, who are members of the Gardening Club, have worked with the School’s Head Gardener, Paul Thornton, to design, plan and plant the flower beds at the new building in Horton Crescent.

The School is aiming for the highly prized and tough to achieve BEEAM Excellent rating for the impressive new building.

An independent measure of how sustainable a building is, one of the key criteria is to demonstrate that species diversity has been improved as a result of the development. An ecologists report was obtained before construction began, which recorded the number of species present on the site, and once the work is finished, there will be a further review to assess the changes.

Pupils used a variety of native species and wildlife friendly plants in their scheme to encourage the greatest possible diversity. Other measures include bird, bat and insect boxes on the site and in surrounding areas in a bid to provide a perfect habitat for wildlife.

To find out more about the building, follow this link:

http://www.rugbyschool.net/Modern-Languages-Building--

Extended Projects Lead the Way

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The education secretary’s recent proposal for a new A Level Baccalaureate features changes similar to those pioneered at Rugby School.

Michael Gove’s shake-up of the A Level system will feature voluntary work and an extended project, similar to the Extended Project which Rugby has pioneered in recent years.

Commenting on the new proposal, Dr John Taylor, Rugby School’s Head of Philosophy and Director of Critical Skills, said: “It is encouraging to see such high-level endorsement of the value of extended project work at sixth form level, as a preparation for university study.

“The Extended Project has also recently been endorsed by the Chief Executive of UCAS, Mary Curnock Cook,” he added.

If the changes go ahead, students aiming for a place at the elite Russell Group of universities would be expected to write dissertations of up to 5,000 words and to show an academic breadth of knowledge.

Rugby School's Dr John Taylor

Baroness Warnock Lecture

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Pre-eminent British philosopher Baroness Warnock visited Rugby School last week to deliver the Scholars’ Lecture.

The Baroness presented her ideas on the importance of ‘keeping religion out of politics’, which form the basis of her most recent book. She provided a considered viewpoint, explaining why, although she had social and aesthetic sympathies with religion, it can have no superior moral authority, and should therefore enjoy no superior prestige in governance.

This is inextricably connected to the origin of human morality; she suggested that morals are not determined by religion, or derived from law, but are an innate force within the human being. Thus nobody can be defined as ‘a moral expert’.

This provided fascinating context for looking at the varying degrees of religious input admitted by different present day governments, and the current and future implications of this.

It was a thought-provoking evening, raising questions about what standards should define the values in our society, values that Baroness Warnock suggests do not proceed from religion, or any external provenance, but ultimately lie within us all.

The Scholars' lecturer Baroness Warnock with Keeper of the Scholars, Dr Jonatham Smith

Rugby Trophy Returns 'Home'

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Webb Ellis Cup returned to Rugby last month for the first time since Clive Woodward and members of the victorious England team visited in 2004.

This time the trophy was in the safe hands of Will Greenwood, ambassador of England Rugby 2015, who had chosen the ‘home of the game’ as the starting point of their journey to Budapest, stopping off in Paris, Webb Ellis’s grave in Menton, Monaco and Milan, to raise awareness ahead of the Rugby World Cup in three years’ time.

Will Greenwood began his journey round the School (shadowed by cameras from Total Rugby who produce the IRB’s Sky show) with photographs at the Green Pavilion, went on to lunch at Michell House, where 50 mobile phones spontaneously appeared to record the occasion, continued at the James Pavilion, where he chatted at length with members of the XV, and finished, again with photographs, at the Webb Ellis plaque.

Will said: “It is quite special for the School to have [Webb Ellis’s] name on the trophy, and no doubt in the build-up to the 2015 tournament, Rugby will be mobbed by tourists from all over the world.”

If the run-up to the last two World Cups is anything to go by, Will need have no doubt at all.

Will Greenwood with members of Rugby School's XV

Oscar Wilde Expert Visits School

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Peter Raby, one of the country’s leading authorities on the works of Victorian playwright and wit Oscar Wilde, spoke to a packed meeting of the English Society on Tuesday evening on Wilde and the idea of the dandy.

Centering his talk largely around two of Wilde’s most popular works – The Picture of Dorian Gray and An Ideal Husband, which a number of pupils have been reading – Dr Raby showed how Wilde attempted to define the dandy alongside the artistic values of his age as a man at once both exquisite in appearance and dedicated to a life entirely of pleasure and sensation.

Skipping deftly across the two texts, and other works, Dr Raby also showed how Wilde used the dandy to subvert expected patterns of behaviour and morality – something which was used in evidence against him at his famous trials in 1895.

In bringing his talk to a close, Raby staked a claim for Wilde as perhaps the first modern writer: in his belief in the necessity of individual freedom his viewpoint is really not much different from our own – and that makes him worth reading.

Dr Raby stayed for dinner with members of the Upper School, who took the opportunity to find out more about Wilde and the Victorians.