2004-05
CHRIST’S HOSPITAL GCSE RESULTS 2005
The results gained by Christ’s Hospital’s Year 11 students in their GCSE examinations this year matched the high attainment pattern established in recent years, with a high proportion of top grades.
Peter Southern, Head Master, said “We are delighted with this year’s outstanding GCSE results. 99.2% of candidates were awarded grades A* - C grades, a further improvement on last year’s results, with 71% A* and A grades. 43% gained nine or more passes at grades A/A*. There was a significant improvement in candidates awarded A* with the percentage rising from 27% in 2004 to 34% this year”.
“Three of our candidates came in the top five pupils in the country in French, including Raffaele De Leon who gained ten A* overall and Magdalen Mannion-Daniels, who also came in the top five in the country in German”.
“We are very pleased and congratulate our GCSE pupils and staff for working so hard to achieve these excellent results”.
CHRIST’S HOSPITAL : A LEVEL EXAMINATION RESULTS 2005
Christ’s Hospital is delighted with this exceptional set of results. 46%* of our A level students gained A grades, with 80% getting A or B. This is 15% higher than our previous best results. 12 of our pupils have places at Oxford or Cambridge. Talented musician James Maddren gained three A grades, as well as being awarded the only place for Jazz Percussion at the Royal Academy of Music. Martin Batchelar was amongst the highest scoring candidates in Music Technology. He was within the Top Ten candidates who achieved the highest overall marks in this summer’s examination. James Tyler and Harriet Dillistone were both awarded certificates by the exam board for coming in the top five in the country in Archaeology.
Peter Southern, Head Master, said “We have a good record of attainment at Christ’s Hospital and this is another excellent year. It is particularly encouraging that this group of students who were fully involved in the extracurricular life of a busy boarding school, but still able to perform so well in their academic subjects. The pupils and staff have all worked extremely hard”.
*Grade A awards in the UK were 22.8% (source BBC Education)
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Christ's Hospital Hosts World Class Cricket
Christ’s Hospital hosted the match between the MCC Women’s Select X1 and Australia’s World Cup winning quad for the Women’s Ashes on Saturday, 6 August 2005. This was the warm-up before the First Test Match at Hove.
Howard Holdsworth, Master of Cricket at Christ’s Hospital said “It was a fantastic honour for Christ's Hospital to have been selected as the venue for the warm-up match. The groundstaff have been really motivated and have pulled out all of the stops in adverse conditions to provide an excellent wicket. As well as playing the 50 over match on Saturday 6th, the Australian tourists used our practice facilities on the preceding Thursday and on Sunday 7th. This prestigious game - the only one being played outside a first-class ground on the whole tour - puts the seal on a very busy time for cricket at Christ's Hospital”.
Last week, Christ’s Hospital also played host to the Southern region Championship for the National Girls County Under 15 competition with 8 counties competing on four pitches. In the week starting Monday 14th, the School is hosting another eight-county tournament, this time for Boys County Under 14 teams in conjunction with the London Schools Cricket Association, with sides coming from as far as Durham and Yorkshire. This tournament is followed by the London Regional Under 13 Competition in the week commencing Monday 21st.
Mr Holdsworth added “Having already hosted other local events such as the highly successful Southwater Lions 6-a-side tournament and various regional county junior matches, it is fair to say that the groundstaff will be looking forward to the comparative calm of the School's rugby and hockey seasons, which are just around the corner!"
Special Tradition marks end of School Year
Hundreds of visitors crowded into the Quadrangle at Christ’s Hospital to watch the marching and counter marching and listen to the music of the School’s famous Band as they performed the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony which marks the end of the academic year at Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, on Saturday, 9 July 2005.
Over 100 young instrumentalists in the Christ’s Hospital Band, led by Band Captain James Maddren (18, from Horsham), with Amanda Mazur (18, Bolney), Harwood Robinson (18, Horsham) and Tom Skinner (18, Kent) as Assistants. The Senior Drum Major was Jean-Thor MacDonald (18, Cowfold) and Senior Drummer, Catherine Williams (18, Horsham). This occasion was particularly special for them as it was their last day at School and their final performance in the Band.
The Band Master is Terry Whittingham, formerly a Bandmaster of the Grenadier Guards and the Queen’s own Highlanders.
The ceremony of Beating Retreat is an amalgamation of three different ceremonies. In garrison towns, the drummers would parade through the town to warn the soldiers that it was time to return to their barracks for the night (Beating Retreat). The soldiers would leave the taverns and fall in behind the drummers to march back to their billets. This custom is echoed in Christ’s Hospital’s ceremony. This parade of the drummers is still the central theme although it has been much enlarged to add to the entertainment value.
The whole event on Saturday, 9 July lasted about one hour and included music such as the Quick March ‘Eagle Squadron’, Slow March ‘By Hand and Sea’ and the March Off to ‘Sussex by the Sea and Auld Lang Syne.
Apart from this magnificent ceremony, the most poignant part of the day is the Leaving Service in Chapel for the Upper Sixth Formers, most have been fully boarding at Christ’s Hospital since the age of 11.
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'ROCK SCHOOL' - latest update 27.6.05
Christ’s Hospital’s musical adventure with Gene Simmons of US ‘Kiss’ fame has been extended to filming an additional programme. Now a seven part series, it is likely to be shown on Channel 4 towards the end of this September.
'ROCK SCHOOL' - Network Ten (Australia) and VH1 (US)
It is likely that 'Rock School' will be broadcast on Network Ten in Australia mid August. Transmission date on VH1 (US) has not yet been confirmed.
Christ's Hospital Cycling Enthusiasts Summer Expeditions
Over the summer, cycling enthusiasts will be covering thousands of miles both in the UK and across Europe. Tim Gauntlett and Andy Whittingham (both 15) are cycling from John o' Groats to Land's End, having planned the itinerary and booked the accommodation themselves; James Atkinson (17) and Ben Dowsett (an Old Blue) are cycling from Land's End to John o'Groats; and Rob Gauntlett (18) and Richard Lebon (an Old Blue) are cycling right across Europe, from Bilbao to Instanbul, passing through 10 countries on a 3000-mile route. For Rob, this will be part of his training for his attempt to be one of the youngest Europeans ever to climb Everest next spring.
Horsham District Twinning Association Language Competitions 2005
For the 6th consecutive year, CH won prizes in the senior German essay competition organised by the Horsham District Twinning Association. Jemma Batte won first prize and Jonathan Howard second. The prizes were awarded by the Chairman of Horsham Council on 17th June.
Christ's Hospital Band at Lord's on Tuesday 14 June
The famous Christ’s Hospital Band will perform at Lord’s during the interval of the MCC v International X1 match on Tuesday, 14th June.
This is Christ’s Hospital’s 11th appearance at Lord’s and the School is delighted to be invited to perform during this unique match to raise funds for the Tsunami Appeal when the best cricketers from Australia, West Indies, England will play against the MCC.
During the interval, between the innings, the highest bidder in an on-line auction will receive 15 minutes of one-to-one coaching from Indian batting legend, Sachin Tendulkar, before walking out to the middle at Lord’s to face an over from the world’s leading Test wicket-taker, Shane Warne. (More details about how you can bid in this auction can be found on www.cricketrelief.org.) The auction runs for three days – from Wednesday, 8th June to Saturday, 11th June at 3pm.
The Band is scheduled to entertain a crowd of 28,000 after this astonishing auction at around 2.15pm.
The whole event is likely to be covered by Sky TV and Radio London.
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Speech Day at Christ's Hospital
Friday, 27 May 2005
On Speech Day this year, Christ's Hospital was delighted to receive The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Michael Savory. Following a service in the School's Chapel, the pupils marched past the State party to the accompaniment of the Band and a junior pupil presented a posy of flowers to the Lady Mayoress, Fiona Savory.
After lunch, the Senior Grecian (Head Pupil), Tamas Lorinczy, gave an oration to which the Lord Mayor warmly responded.Prizes were also awarded to a number of pupils including:-
Grecians Academic Prizes| Archaeology | Harriet Dillstone |
| Biology | Tom Skinner |
| Drama | Jenny Harries |
| English | Mark Belassie |
| French | Tom Seligmann |
| Geography | Akua Twum-Barimah |
| German | Jemma Batte |
| Latin | Jonathan Howard |
| Mathematics | David Hayden |
| Music Performance | James Maddren |
| Physics | David Hayden |
| Religious Studies | Tom New |
| The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers' Prize | Alice Hattrick |
| The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers’ Prize (Art) | Lucie Dye |
| The Worshipful Company of Salters’ Prize (Chemistry) | Pandora Male |
| The Worshipful
Company of World Traders’ Prize (Economics) |
Tom New |
| The Barclay Hankin Prize (Design and Technology) | Bryony Crow |
| Cherniavsky Prize (History) | Isabella Gill |
| Masonic Bursaries | Jemma Batte and Joon-Soo Ha |
| The Worshipful Company of Carmen Prize | Luke Fanthome and Edward Hammond |
| The Susan Mitchell Prize | Amy Harris |
| CCF | Ben Vickery |
| Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award | Luke Hodson and Tom Skinner |
| Clive Kemp Trophy | James Atkinson |
| Maggie Williams' Trophy | Natalie Smith |
| Holder Trophy | James Maxwell and James Mitra |
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Romania Prime Minister appoints Teacher as a Chief Executive and Advisor for Romanian Children
A teacher of History and PE, Muir John Potter, has been invited by Calin Popescu–Tariceanu, Prime Minister of Romania, to become a Chief Executive of the High Level Group for Romanian Children, effective 1st April 2005. In addition to his teaching duties, Muir John will act as Personal Advisor to the Prime Minister of Romania on all matters relating to children’s rights, health, education and protection.
The appointment of Muir John Potter follows his work in helping to set up a community action programme in Romania, based on that at Christ’s Hospital when around 200 students voluntarily use their free time to go and help in Horsham’s local community.
The Christ’s Hospital Romania project began in 1992 and has since organised 12 consecutive annual projects involving 1500 Romanian children with special needs and over 400 Romania students and a team of Christ’s Hospital students and teachers. The project has run in seven different towns and cities with 12 different Special Needs Schools, Centres or Institutions. It involves Sport, Music, Art, Drama, Aromatherapy, Dance and Computing being organised into an educational programme of activities.
Muir John commented “A pilot study for Community Action in 2003 subsequently led to the implementation of a National Strategy for Community Action in Romania. From a position of no Community Action in Romania High School Curriculum at all, in only one year after the national strategy has been adopted, 12,000 student volunteers in High Schools and more than 600 High schools, Special Schools and Placement Centres for abandoned children, many of whom also have special needs, are now involved”.
The 14th consecutive Christ’s Hospital trip to Romania from 11th- 24th July will involve 40 CH pupils, staff and Old Blues working with children with Special Needs, the Elderly and those in Hospices in Brasov, Transylvannia.
More information can be found about Christ’s Hospital’s Community work both locally and in Romanian by visiting www.christs-hospital.org.uk/26.html.
Unique Music Award to Christ's Hospital Pupil
Following an extremely competitive audition at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, in London, the only Jazz Percussionist place in the country has been awarded to a Christ’s Hospital pupil, James Maddren, 18.
James’ interest in music stems from early childhood; he was six years old when he was given his first mini drum kit. The musical environment at Christ’s Hospital and being part of the School’s 100 strong marching Band nurtured his talent further, achieving Grade 8 on both Drum Kit and Orchestral Percussion with Distinction.
The daunting audition last November at the Royal College of Music, Britain’s senior music conservatoire, comprised a written paper covering two Jazz standards, sight reading and creating his own composition which was later performed at a concert at St John’s, Smith Square, London during the School’s annual showcase evening in February for talented young musicians.
“I found out that I won the place at the Royal Academy of Music just before Christmas and am delighted and very excited about starting this September. I think there were quite a few people fighting for the place on the course” said James
Bruce Grindlay, Director of Music commented “The success is so deserved. He is an extremely talented jazz musician and will, without a doubt, go far.”
James’ aim is to become a freelance jazz and session musician. He also hopes to teach music and encourage others.
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A Royal Visit to Christ's Hospital
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The Duke of Gloucester celebrated thirty years as President of Christ'sHospital by making a private visit to the School on Monday, March7th 2005, accompanied by HRH the Duchess of Gloucester. During thevisit, HRH was presented with a gift, met staff and pupils and watcheda special March Past. The visit provided an opportunity to mark formallythe retirement from the Council of Almoners of Old Blues, ChristopherBruce-Jones and Sir Richard Nichols, who have given some 12 years'and 18 years' distinguished service respectively as Almoners.
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(full report in the next issue of ‘Housey!')
Christ's Hospital Featured in Newbury Mosaic
A striking Mosaic depicting scenes in the history and evolution of Newbury is being created by over 1500 school children under the expert direction of designer, Paul Forsey. When it is finished, this large piece of art will measure 12.5m long x 1.5m wide and consist of 12 panels picturing scenes from 1096 through to modern day Newbury in 2005. It will be positioned in the pavement adjacent to the new library in Newbury.
One panel has been worked on by the pupils of Christ's Hospital and features the School's historic ‘West's' connection with Newbury which date back to the early part of the 18 th century through a connection with John and Frances West who had special links with the town. John West was a wealthy merchant and as they were childless, they bequeathed a charitable fund to Christ's Hospital to provide bursary income for children from Newbury, Reading and Twickenham. The Mosaic features John and Frances West and a Christ's Hospital boy, in his distinctive uniform of long blue coat and yellow stockings, by St Nicholas' Church in Newbury.
The project has been masterminded by the current Major of Newbury, Mike Roger, and is due to be unveiled later on in the spring who said “The Mosaic has more than realised my ambitions. Paul Forsey has done a stunning job and I am delighted that the whole project has involved so many school children. This has been so generously funded by voluntary contributions entirely from local businesses and local people of Newbury”.
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Showcase Concert at St. John's, Smith Square, London
For the ninth year in succession, Christ's Hospital's finest musicians, regardless of age, perform a showcase concert at a top London venue. This year, (4 February 05) the venue was the magnificent St John's, Smith Square, a converted church where the pupils' concert featured jazz, brass, wind and string embles, interspersed with some exceptional solo performers.
Over 40 musicians were showcased.
Nick Pritchard, 15, sang Handel's ‘Where're you walk' accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra, demonstrated that he has a very bright future. Aria Oram, 11, was a member of the second violins of chamber orchestra and she played her heart out and thoroughly enjoyed herself. Harriet Stubbs, 16, dazzled everyone with her sensitive and mature piano playing in the show-stopping Mendelssohn Piano Trio in D Minor. Other highlights included a performance of ‘Amazing Grace', arranged by the Swingle Singers, Martin Batchelar's rendition of Ravel's ‘Le Tombeau de Couperin' on the piano and the ever popular and energetic Percussion Ensemble led by James Maddren who also composed the last item in the concert, Jazz Ensemble ‘Queda Siempre' and is going to study jazz percussion at the Royal Academy of Music in September.
Bruce Grindlay, Director of Music at Christ's Hospital said “This year the young performers that were showcased did exceptionally well. St John's is a very different concert space and as a converted church has a real sense of grandeur and austerity about it as a building. Its acoustic is also fabulous and very generous to young musicians. There was a good turn out of over 500 which almost completely filled the Hall”.
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Disco Raises £1,500 for Tsunami Survivors
Christ's Hospital and Scolarest, the School's catering company, together raised £1,500 for the Tsunami Appeal Fund from a disco held at the School on Saturday, 29 th January 2005.
With popular music provided by Mark Forster, a sixth former at Christ's Hospital and atmospheric lighting from James Thurston, Theatre technician, the evening went off with a swing with music spanning the 60's, 70's and 80's for parents, staff and friends of Christ's Hospital.
A traditional fish and chip supper rounded off a successful evening.
Revd Munna Mitra, Christ's Hospital's Chaplain said “The people who work at Christ's Hospital were very moved by the events of Boxing Day in the Indian Ocean . By raising £1,500 for the relief of some of those left alive by the tidal wave, they have sent an unobtrusive signal to survivors that they remain in all our thoughts and prayers”.
Mike Blunden, General Manager for Scolarest expresses his thanks to all his staff and those who supported the event. “It demonstrated how touched the nation was by this tragedy”.
On Foot to the Pole
The Grecians Lecture, on Tuesday, 18 January at the School, entitled ‘On Foot to the Pole' by Tom Avery, 29, drew on Tom's own experience in the worlds of both exploration and business, describing how his team battled with the elements to become the youngest Briton to reach the South Pole in record breaking time.
Tom Avery also signed copies of his book ‘Pole Dance' published in September 2004 which is largely based on his Antarctic journal. His adventures were first inspired at the age of seven by Captain Robert Scott who in 1912 was the second person to reach the South Pole. By the age of 27 (in 2002), Tom had achieved his ambition to reach the South Pole – in 45 days. He is carrying out a similar expedition to the North Pole next month.
Two pupils, Rob Gauntlett and James Hooper, both 17, were particularly fascinated by this achievement as they are planning to climb Mount Everest in their gap year in 2006 and are currently gathering sponsorship. Recent amazing feats during the school holidays have included expeditions to climb Karakoram , Pakistan , one of the highest mountain ranges of Central Asia, Chamonix (Mt Blanc) and a cycling tour around Norway . Their aim is now to be the youngest Britons to climb Everest.Rob and James have set up a website about this expedition www.everest-2006.com.
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