Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 10th December 2021
Dear Parents,
Christmas starts early in Oxford. For students, ‘Oxmas’ takes place on 25 November, to take into account the fact that most of them have gone home by early December. In prep schools like ours, Christmas necessarily begins in the first couple of weeks of December, so we all get to celebrate together and have the formative experiences that Christmas season at school brings, before we break up for actual Christmas. I have always found this to be a pleasant and reassuring pace – not so early that it seems silly (cf. mince pies in supermarkets, with Mariah Carey or Chris Rea over the tannoy, from October), but not so late that we can’t enjoy two ‘peaks’ of festive joy. It also means that the boys’ festive season covers about a twelfth of the year.
There has been a great deal of joy at NCS over the past week or so, with many of the traditional events that should live long in the boys’ memories. The boys in pre-prep have experienced, for some of them, their first pantomime. (‘What’s a pantomime?’, asked one of them, proving that we shouldn’t take all of this for granted.) The younger boys, as a whole, are experiencing one or two of the less mainstream carols for the first time. They all learn quickly, as you will have noticed in our two carol services this week – and how wonderful it was to be back in person for these in New College Chapel, even if masks and ventilation (and, therefore, coats) made it a little unusual. We are doing what we can in the circumstances, and part of the boys’ learning curve is clearly about being flexible and making compromises so we can get the most from the resources we have available, in a still challenging context.
Indeed, you don’t need me to tell you that we are entering the vacation with a degree of uncertainty about what the next few months will look and feel like. Although we knew something like this was coming at some point, it was perhaps tempting to be seduced into the old routines and the semblance of ‘normality’ that has characterised much of Michaelmas. We will, of course, keep a close eye on the situation over the next few weeks, and remain poised to do what we need to do in the new year. Before then, thank you for your positivity, support, good humour and excellent company over Michaelmas – a long term, but one that has been hugely enjoyable, and which reassuringly still has the boys with the broad smiles they had when they arrived in September.
Have a great Christmas and new year,
Matt Jenkinson
At the end of this term we say goodbye to Ms Harriet Cawood, who has been Head of Maths here for well over a decade. You will be hard-pushed to find a more passionate and dedicated Maths teacher, or one who takes such a keen interest in reading around their subject and marking in fine detail. During her time here, Ms Cawood has been a truly memorable teacher to generations of NCS boys who will, no doubt, always remember her lessons. She has been a most certainly committed teacher. Aside from her Maths commitments, Ms Cawood has been a Year 6 form tutor with a very keen interest in the lives of her tutees, and she has contributed to the Music department with her cello-playing skills. Ms Cawood has also previously coordinated our Charity Committee, with events ranging from cake sales to basketball tournaments, and the hugely successful postcard sale. In recent years she has also been a passionate supporter of the boys from the sidelines on Wednesday fixtures. We wish Ms Cawood well, and thank her for all her highly valued contributions, as she moves to become Head of Maths at Sarum Hall in London. As I mentioned in an earlier newsletter this term, from January our Head of Maths will be Mr Stephen Young. Mr Young studied at Stellenbosch University before teaching at Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory School in Cape Town and then becoming Head of Maths at Milnerton School, also in Cape Town. He has several years’ experience teaching across the key stages, in both the primary and secondary sectors, and he comes to us via the Oxford Academy, where he has been based since moving to the UK in 2020. Mr Young is also a passionate and accomplished sportsman, especially interested in rock climbing, tennis, cricket, hockey, football, fishing and trail running. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Mr Young and his family to the NCS community and I am sure that boys, parents and colleagues will make them very welcome.
Also at the end of this term we say thank you and farewell to one of our long-standing governors, Mrs Jane West. Mrs West has been the consummate governor: a friendly and reassuring presence on site, happily liaising with colleagues; an assiduous reader of school and government policies; wise counsel during a period of rather significant change; and a critical friend with the emphasis on the right word. We shall miss her, and it is not really farewell, as Mrs West will always be a welcome presence around NCS. I am pleased to announce that, in her stead, we will be welcoming Mrs Jessica Williams as our new safeguarding governor. Mrs Williams will be known to some of you already as the Head of the prep division of Oxford High School. She brings with her a wealth of experience, having formerly been Deputy Head of Ashfold School and Head of Boarding at Lucton School. We look forward to welcoming Mrs Williams to events in person in the new year, and we all wish her a very happy and fruitful time as governor.
Many congratulations to Mr Neal, whose newly composed carol, ‘Out of Your Sleep, Arise’, has won first prize in the over-19 category (yes, he’s over 19) in the Sir David Willcocks Carol Competition. There were almost 140 entries from around the world, including South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria and Japan. Mr Neal’s carol will be premiered at Cadogan Hall, sung by the Bach Choir, on Monday 20 December.
Congratulations, too, to alum Orlando Higginbottom (also known as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) for his recent Grammy nomination.
Thank you to all of those parents involved in the NCSPA who have worked tirelessly to put on our usual festive events. The Christmas fete, with bi-folds fully open for ventilation, was an especial highlight and I know that the boys really appreciated being able to attend it once again, after last year’s hiatus.
You may have noticed from reading the Eco-nomist that we are running a photography competition over the Christmas break. The theme is the natural world and we would especially love to see autumn and winter themed photographs. All entries should be submitted to Miss Krebs (emma.krebs@newcollegeschool.org) by Friday 6 January. The photographs will be judged in three categories based on age: Pre-Prep, Years 3-5 and Year 6-8.
Many of you will already have joined the thousands tuning in to the New College Advent and carol services over the past couple of weeks, featuring the choristers on very fine form. If you have not yet had the chance to enjoy these services, they are still available on the Choir’s YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/user/NewCollegeChoir) and I am sure they will make a fine addition to your Christmas celebrations.
You may already be aware of next term’s SHTEAM Festival, 14-18 March, celebrating interdisciplinarity through the theme of the natural world. We are very aware that many of our parents have expertise in this area, and if any of you would like to volunteer to take part in a talk or workshop or the like do please email emma.krebs@newcollegeschool.org.
At the start of next term, as soon as they arrive on the morning of Wednesday 5 January, boys in Year 7 and 8 will need to take an on-site Lateral Flow Test, then take another one at home three to four days later. It would also make sense for those boys to take a test before they return to school at the start of Hilary.
The next phase of our building project will commence in the new year, as the building starts to rise out of the ground. This will require some cabins to be installed on the pavement on the side of Savile Road adjacent to 1 Savile Road. A designated walkway will be maintained on that side of the road for the safety of the boys and their families. This will mean that Savile Road will narrow slightly in the middle. I am sure that parents will continue to drive carefully on Savile Road, taking into account this slight change.
From Mr Bishop: In this, the final week of term, I am happy to report on a stunning set of matches against Christ Church. In this traditional end of term fixture both schools played all seven games with superb spirit and the atmosphere was positively festive. First out of the blocks were the four U11 teams and, with all boys from, Years 5 and 6 playing, it was a great afternoon of sport. All four games were competitive from the first whistle right up to the final kick of the game. I was really pleased to see the boys running hard throughout the game and this means Mr Mainstone’s fitness classes are taking effect. The U11 A team managed a fine win to cap a challenging but worthwhile season. The U11 B team pulled off a great 1-1 draw with both teams coming close to finding the elusive winner. Both the C and D teams narrowly lost their games, but again by just the odd goal in each of the games. I have to give Monty L a special mention as he’s still coming back to full fitness but played a crucial role in his team’s performance. Michael S also deserves a mention thanks to his tireless tackling; a braver soul you’ll struggle to find.
Later on in the afternoon the U13 boys took to the pitches for their three games. It was fantastic to see so many supporters there watching the boys and also the U11 players who were having their match tea and watching their older peers in action. A lovely, busy afternoon on field was just right to finish off the term in style. In the C team game, it was a very tight and cagey affair with both teams really working hard to keep the opposition form scoring. In the end though the NCS doggedness paid off and Alexander C managed to smash the ball home to secure a 1-0 win for Mr Hanson’s Centurions. I had the pleasure of refereeing the A team game and the boys certainly put on a show for the last game of the season. It was a fine performance with each and every boy playing his part. Paddy A on debut was brilliant on the left of midfield. In the race for the Golden Boot Timon scored twice and could have had a couple more were it not for the heroism of the CCCS goal keeper. However, Leo M not to be outdone, secured his place at the top of the scoring charts with a brilliant hat-trick, scoring two with his left foot too. A 6-1 win was a solid reward for a top afternoon’s work and capped a season we should all be very proud of. If this was not enough, I was moved almost to tears when our wonderful first XI captain presented me with a signed ball from all the players in Year 8 in recognition of the brilliant term we’ve enjoyed together. Thank you, Benedict and the boys!
I have to leave the mighty Bees, our second XI, until last. The boys made Ms Cawood and indeed the school super proud as they secured a strong victory over our local rivals. The game was played out in front of a passionate crowd, and it was a pleasure to see Ben T score twice in front of proud family. This team have worked together since the very first game way back in September, and on the way they’ve enjoyed many ups and very few downs; the team have recorded wins at Cothill, Summer Fields, Thorngrove, and now at home to Christ Church! I could not think of a better way for this team to say goodbye to their inspiring coach. I wish you all a Happy Christmas and look forward to our return in January when we come back to play some hockey!
Upcoming Events
Monday, 3 January 2022
School and bank holiday
Tuesday, 4 January 2022
Staff INSET
13.00-14,15 Pre-season hockey training (Years 3-5), Iffley Road Sports Ground
14.30-15.45 Pre-season hockey training (Years 6-8), Iffley Road Sports Ground
Wednesday, 5 January 2022
Start of Term
After School Activities Start
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: the Headmaster
Monday, 10 January 2022
Internal Chorister Auditions
Tuesday, 11 January 2022
External Chorister Auditions
Wednesday, 12 January 2022
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: the Chaplain
8.15 School Council-Charity Meeting, library
10.30 Year 5 Zoom Presentations with Nalang Model Academy
14.00 U11 A-D Hockey v Winchester House, Away
14.00 U13 A-D Hockey v Winchester House, St Edward's
18.00 Year 3 and 8S parents' evening
Thursday, 13 January 2022
9.00 Year 8 HPV Vaccinations
Saturday, 15 January 2022
9.00 MCS Pretest, current Year 6 boys (Year 9 entry)
Sunday, 16 January 2022
Start of University Term