Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 3rd December 2021
Dear Parents,
I have spent the past week or so reading through all the boys’ reports, in the final stage of their preparation for being issued next Wednesday. I know I’m biased, but I can still be very proud of all that the boys have achieved over the past few months, and wonder at the hugely varied, interesting and enjoyable curriculum that my colleagues put on. It is a world away from my own 4-13 education (which in itself was still rather good) and provides a stimulating and solid foundation for the boys’ 13+ schooling, which quite quickly begins to focus – and, if we’re not careful, narrow – as public exams approach. It is a perennial issue to make sure that we can fit everything in, but it is with collegiality, flexibility, nimbleness, and a sense of overall perspective that my colleagues do a huge amount to make it work.
When I give the older boys mock interviews in preparation for their 13+ schools, I often ask them to think about the fact that the timetable is a busy one, and to consider a subject they might remove from the curriculum if they were in charge and felt that there were too many things going on. I won’t give the most popular answers, but two things are heartening: the first is that it wouldn’t occur to them to give up any subjects (some of the most inventive answers try to get around the question and think of other ways to free up time); the second is that, if they come up with a subject, the boys tend to agonise over it. ‘I don’t want to give up anything, but if I really had to, it would be …’. To test the boys’ flexibility of thought, I then ask them what the Head of [insert subject here] would reply to defend their subject. Again, the answers vary somewhat, with just the odd suggestion that the reply would be: ‘I think we should keep X on the curriculum, because I’d like to keep my salary’.
Anyway, all of this is to say that the reports you will be receiving in the next week or so are testament to a huge amount of ingenuity and hard work. They are also reflective of what is so special about a 13+ prep school with no public exams: the ability to design a demanding, stimulating and varied curriculum that covers what we think are the most important areas for the boys. So often I get to experience schools that feel they have to contort themselves into one set definition of success, and the curriculum narrows and narrows until it fits that one set worldview. It is anathema to true education, and I count myself extremely lucky that it is not something that afflicts NCS. Yes, there are solid bases that we have to put down for the boys’ futures, but those bases are most successfully established when the curriculum is stimulating, interesting, varied, wide, fun, demanding, and with a wide-open view that looks at education with breathless fascination – not with just another round of practice papers.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
We have had some wonderful events to supplement our curriculum this week. Year 3 took a jaunt up the road to the Ashmolean to study Sumerian artefacts to complement their work in Great Civilisations. I received an email from one of the Ashmolean volunteers describing the boys as ‘totally engaged and impeccably behaved as always! Superb ambassadors’. On Tuesday afternoon we welcomed the Onatti Theatre Company, who performed a witty and entertaining piece for Years 7-8, before answering the boys’ questions about how things work behind the scenes. Thursday saw a heartwarming Winter Recital from the pre-prep boys, showcasing the foundations on which they build as the boys progress up the school and become soulful and proficient musicians by Year 8. (Our ABRSM results came through today, with 40% of results being distinction, another 40% merit – well done!). Then, just this afternoon, the lower school enjoyed a visit from Chaplins Entertainment, who brought a fantastic pantomime to us, rather than us taking the boys out to too many crowded public spaces. Thank you to all my colleagues who make these extras possible for the boys, and for enhancing what is already (see above) a stimulating curriculum.
As we look ahead to our planned events in the last week of term – with a close eye, as ever, on the Covid-19 situation – please could I remind parents and other potential visitors of our protocols: All attendees in Year 7 and up, and all adults, should plan their regular Lateral Flow Test for the morning of any public event they are planning to attend and, obviously, they should only attend if they obtain a negative test result. We will ventilate venues as much as we can; please note that, as the weather continues to cool, this will inevitably lead to some rather cold indoor spaces. Therefore please make sure you are dressed for outdoor weather, even if we are planning to be indoors. Unless exempt, please wear face coverings when indoors, and especially when sitting in close proximity to others for any length of time. If you have good reason to suspect that you might be endangering the health of others by attending events, please do not attend those events. Many thanks for your support and cooperation.
The choristers have made an excellent start to their Christmas schedule, with a magical Advent service last Sunday. Information about their Christmas events can be found at https://www.newcollegechoir.com. Services are streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/NewCollegeChoir. The choristers also feature in the Cathedral Music Trust’s online Advent Calendar, which you can enjoy here: https://www.cathedralmusictrust.org.uk/advent-calendar?utm_source=launch&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=christmas2021&utm_content=adventcalendar
Good luck to Thomas in Year 6 as he competes in the Indoor National Archery Championships this weekend!
From Mrs Brown: ‘There is no Monopoly on good ideas’ were the words of Baroness Barran, Minister for School Systems, at the ‘Celebrating Partnerships’ event at the House of Lords last Monday. Ministers from several parties, headteachers, partnership leads and CEOs of several charitable foundations were present and, as I was one, of the few prep school representatives it felt even more significant. Schools from both sectors can help with the levelling up agenda by building, offering or accepting support through partnerships. Real impact comes from mutually trusting relationships. The evidence shows numerous skills are being exchanged across the country to the clear benefit of those involved. Also, your huge generosity towards charities supported by NCS is really appreciated, and I just wondered if you might be able to source any of the following items for a group of asylum seekers in temporary accommodation local to me. I have a contact who is helping to make them feel welcome. She wants to stress this is a very low-key request. Useful items include: crafts/knitting /sewing and children's musical instruments so they can participate in activities being put on in January; lip salve/beauty products/lip stick/small treaty things and small boxes etc to fit in a shoe box. I will leave a box in the office for drop off or please do message me on louise.brown@newcollegeschool.org. Anything you can manage would be hugely appreciated.
We were incredibly lucky to receive a set of science dictionaries and science experiment workbooks in school this week. These were generously donated by BASF (a multinational chemical company) who sent them for our Year 3 boys to inspire them as they start their scientific studies in the prep school. The boys will no doubt enjoy trying out some of the experiments over the long break once term ends!
Thursday 9 December will be Christmas Jumper Day (taste optional). All boys are warmly encouraged to take part, wearing Christmas jumpers on top of their normal uniform. £2 pp will go to Save the Children – please follow the usual donation protocols for when we have home clothes days.
Please find attached to the newsletter Parentmail this year’s Christmas Quiz from Mrs Hess in the library. We hope you enjoy this little Christmas tradition; there is a chocolate Santa waiting for the winning family. The deadline is Friday 7 January. Enjoy!
Please note that there will be no afterschool activities in the final week of term (w/c 6 December) and that instrumental lessons will finish for the term at the end of the school day on Tuesday 7 December.
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.
We have some pleasing updates from the Judo boys: Judo High Achievement awards for outstanding overall performance were recently awarded to the following: Jack, Nicolas and Henry in Years 3-4; Jack, Edward and Herbie in Years 5-8. During Michaelmas the boys in Judo Club in Years 3-8 also worked towards their new Judo grades and were delighted to be presented with their respective belts for demonstrating a variety of skills and understanding the Japanese terminology which accompanied the sport. It has been a great term for these highly motivated boys!
Upcoming Events
Saturday, 4 December 2021
University Term ends
10 Music Scholars' Masterclass (Saturday Music School)
Monday, 6 December 2021
No after school activities in the last week of term
Tuesday, 7 December 2021
Final music lessons of Michaelmas term
14.15 U8 Football vs CCCS, Away
14.15 U9 Football vs CCCS, Home
Wednesday, 8 December 2021
9.00 Carol Service A in chapel
Christmas Lunch
14.00 Pre-Prep Dress Rehearsal
14.15 U11 A-E Football vs CCCS, Home
14.15 U13 A-C Football vs CCCS, Away
Thursday, 9 December 2021
14.00 Pre-Prep Nativity Play
14.00 NCSPA Christmas Fair, Sports Hall
Friday, 10 December 2021
9.00 End of term assembly
11.00 Carol Service B in Chapel
End of Term 12.00 noon