Welcome to LWC News
In the blink of an eye, the first half of the summer term is over!
This last week at LWC has seen a plethora of activities sitting alongside a busy exam timetable.
We wish you a restful half-term break and look forward to welcoming you back for the final four and a half weeks of term.
Meanwhile, if you have any comments or contributions for LWC News, please let us know via stories@lordwandsworth.org
Calendar & Sports Schedule
The school calendar can be viewed using the link below:
LWC CalendarThe school sports calendar can be viewed using the link below:
LWC Sports CalendarPlease view the Sports Weekly Schedule here:
Sports Weekly ScheduleHere’s a guide to required kit per sport:
LWC SPORTS KIT LIST
News
Hello from the Heads of College: Alice
The last half-term has seen LWC’s new Heads of College, Deputy Heads and Prefect Team settling into their new roles.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to have a role in school,” explains Head of College, Alice. “I was keen to work with teachers and students to develop LWC to be the best possible version of itself.”
Alice is keen to put student voice at the heart of everything that she does.
“By the end of my time in the position, I would love for students to feel even more heard and recognised. The aim is to make everyone feel valued.”
William
Alice’s fellow Head of College, William is passionate about LWC and is determined to put something back into life here.
“The College has given me everything I could have asked for in school; friends for life, amazing sport and an excellent community which I believe has set me up perfectly for the future,” he explains.
“I loved seeing what Jensen and Grace (former Heads of College) were able to do; creating an enthusiastic, positive environment in which to grow and I would love to continue this growth.”
LWC Riders Saddle Up for Hickstead
It’s been quite the year so far for LWC’s achievements in national sporting competitions.
Now LWC’s riders are getting ready for their own ‘cup final’ this weekend.
The National Schools Equestrian Association Championships are taking place at the All England Jumping Course in West Sussex.
“Five LWC teams have qualified for Hickstead which is a huge achievement,” explains Head of Riding, Camilla Read.
“We have one dressage team, two show jumping teams and two arena eventing teams competing, which just goes to show the breadth of riding that we have at LWC. We have riders from 1st Form, all the way through to Lower Sixth, which is really exciting.”
Good luck to the 11 riders competing in the three-day event. There’ll be much more on them in the next edition of LWC News.
Erin’s Windsor Success
Meanwhile, 4th Former Erin may have been part of one of the youngest and smallest partnerships at this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show…
But that didn’t stop her from placing 8th in the Pony Club 110 Show Jumping Class, with her pony, Frank.
Last weekend’s event, in the Frogmore Enclosure Ring, saw riders having to tackle a technical and tricky course.
Both Erin and Frank held their nerve and put in a fantastic performance.
Creative Choreography
Last week’s inaugural Dance Choreography Evening showcased the wealth of LWC dance talent.
Students ranging from 1st Form through to Upper Sixth performed and in some cases, choreographed, a series of pieces.
Teacher of Dance, Molly Moffitt-McGrath revealed, “I’m incredibly proud of all the dancers, who have shown great dedication in class and personal time to rehearse the pieces. It was lovely to see their passion and confidence continue to flourish. Together with those performing, the technical team created fantastic lighting plots. Co-Head of Performing Arts, Elsa, choreographed an amazing street dance piece, which she used as a mental and physical break from A-level revision. We also watched final performances from two other members of the Upper Sixth: Lizzy who is Head of Dance and LWC’s first ever Dance Scholar and fellow scholar, Hattie.”
Smashing the Record
A twenty-year College record has been smashed by 4th Former, Martha.
She set a new triple jump distance whilst competing in the English Schools’ Athletic Association Track & Field Cup in Portsmouth.
The previous record of 8.99 metres has stood since 2005.
Martha recorded an impressive 9.19 metres.
LWC Girls Put On Determined Display
LWC’s U15A Girls’ Football Team showed resilience against tough opposition in the last 16 of the SnS Cup this week.
They faced Lingfield College on Monday and LWC’s Head of Football, Georgia Bowers admitted, “They pushed themselves for the full duration of the match and despite just falling short, can be incredibly proud of their performance. The girls have been outstanding throughout the season and have truly laid a strong foundation for the future of girls’ football at LWC.”
Wise Words
iGCSE and A-level exams continue across the College.
This week’s advice on how to navigate this tricky time comes courtesy of Lower Sixth Former, Charlie.
“My tip is to be consistent,” he explains.
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself in a short space of time. Stay steady, but during this time, enjoy some of the good things in life, like going out to a nice restaurant or something that you enjoy that takes your mind off exams. That way, it doesn’t feel too strenuous.”
Maisie Sets Sail
3rd Former, Maisie is gearing up for an intense half term on the water.
She’ll be competing in the RS Feva Nationals at Dalgety Bay Sailing Club in Scotland.
Maisie has been training with the RYA Feva Squad during the winter and will transition into the ILCA (Laser) boat after this competition.
“The Dad of one of my close friends sailed and I did a stage one course with them,” Maisie explains. “I just kept going after that!”
She admits to feeling both nervous and excited about the four-day challenge, which will certainly be physically demanding.
“There are four races each day, so I will be on the water for between four and six hours every day, without a break! To win you have to get the least amount of points overall.”
Junior House Heads Back in Time
The lords and ladies of Junior House dressed to impress for their Tudor Banquet last Friday.
The History Department hosted the event (for which no swans were harmed) in Julyans Dining Hall.
Head of History, Jonathon Lilley revealed, “A superb effort was made, with amazing costumes from the period. King Harry and Queen Connie were indeed royally dressed prize winners. All were entertained with a reading from Lord Shedden of Hazelveare as well as a Tudor quiz won by those competitive Lancastrians. It was Bosworth all over again.”
Speaking the Right Language
Congratulations to the LWC Modern Foreign Languages Department.
They’ve just been recognised for their work, by winning the Tandem Award for Best Language Department and Language Assistant.
The competition was open to all language departments across the UK, hosting a Spanish language assistant.
The prize is a five-day professional development course for Spanish teachers in Salamanca.
Immersive Learning in Somerset
From learning about the impact of tourism on local people, to wading in rivers and examining beaches.
LWC’s 4th Form geographers have just returned from a three-day trip to the Nettlecombe Field Studies Centre in Somerset.
“All of the activities directly supported their GCSE studies and brought learning to life in rich, meaningful ways,” explained Head of Geography, Jan Norgaard.
“One of the standout moments for students was carrying out questionnaires with locals and tourists; giving them the chance to interact beyond their immediate peer group and hear real perspectives. Trips like this are a core part of what makes an LWC education distinctive – deep, applied learning that opens minds and brings subject knowledge to life.”
Codebreaking at Bletchley
Few have the opportunity to use one of the so-called ‘unbreakable’ Enigma machines used by Germany’s military during World War ll.
But 3rd Form Digital Studies students were able to do just that on a visit to Bletchley Park, home of the famous codebreakers last week.
“They had a great time and were able to use one of only four remaining Enigma machines on the planet,” reveals Tom Bachelor, Teacher of Computer Science.
“They learned all about cyphers and the importance of the codebreakers. They also enjoyed the ice cream!”
The group also took part in a workshop and were given an insight into the top-secret work carried out by the huge team based at Bletchley, which went on to break the code used by German forces.
“It’s the Best Job in the World”
Students were given a glimpse of what life’s like working within the UK’s Intelligence Services this week.
As part of LWC’s regular Industry Roundtable series, interested students were invited to hear a fascinating talk from a former operative, about their top-secret career. Note: no official secrets were revealed.
LWC’s Head of Futures, Nicola Hirst explained, “The purpose of these events is to inspire pupils, by giving them meaningful exposure to a range of industries and real-world career paths. These sessions help pupils gain a clearer understanding of how different sectors operate and what opportunities may be available to them in the future. By connecting with the world beyond school, these sessions help students to see what’s possible and motivate them to think ambitiously about future choices.”
Introduce them to LWC!
Know of someone who would be right at home in the 1200?
Our annual Summer Open Evening is on Tuesday 17th June, between 6.30 and 8.30pm.
It offers an opportunity for prospective families to explore our campus, meet the team and get involved in a series of workshops and demonstrations which showcase LWC life.
There’ll also be keynote talks on academics and pastoral care, along with refreshments and live music.
Places are limited and can be booked here.
Festival Vibes
Speaking of summer nights in the rolling countryside..
LWC’s Summer Jazz Festival is now less than a month away.
Pack a picnic rug and enjoy some exceptional live music, set in our beautiful marquee, on Saturday, 21st June, from 6pm.
A range of food and drink will be available to purchase on the night.
Tickets are priced at £20 and are available here.
Half Term Travels
A series of trips are leaving from and returning to LWC over half-term.
Lower Sixth Form A-level and BTEC PE students are making their way back today from a three-day trip to the FA’s National Football Centre at St George’s Park, followed by a day at Alton Towers.
“The last few days have seen students learning about fitness testing, player profiling and the way that elite sport is run at the home of English football,” explained Head of Sports Science and Academic PE, James Rayner.
If you think the Alton Towers trip wasn’t designed with some useful learning in mind, then think again.
Students were asked to take part in a scientific investigation, which we’ll reveal more about in the next LWC News.
A Taste of Spain
Meanwhile, a group of 4th Form and Lower Sixth Spanish students have set off to immerse themselves in Spanish culture.
They’re staying with host families in the city of Valladolid, to the north of Madrid.
“They’ll have three mornings of language classes in a language school,” explains Head of Modern Foreign Languages, Zoe Wheddon. “They’ll also visit Segovia, El Escorial and Salamanca. Our objective is to improve the pupils’ language skills and enhance their cultural awareness; be it from eating churros and tapas to visiting historical monuments.”
To the Battlefields
The French and Belgian battlefields of World War One have been the destination for 3rd Form historians.
They return tomorrow (Saturday 24th) from a three-day trip around Ypres and the Somme, which has taken in The Lochnagar Crater, The Tunnels of Arras, Vimy Ridge and the Menin Gate amongst other significant locations.
Staying Digitally Safe
It’s a sad fact that one of the most concerning threats facing young people today is that of sextortion.
This is a form of online blackmail, in which individuals are coerced into sharing explicit images, which can then lead to threats or extortion.
In the next of our Parental Engagement Programme webinars, LWC’s Head of Boarding and member of the College Safeguarding Team, Tom Shedden, will lead a valuable insight into these incidents and explain how we, as parents, can try to prevent them.
The Digital Safety: Sextortion webinar will take place via Zoom on Wednesday 4th June, between 7.30 and 8.30pm. You can sign up here.
Drama Showcase
After half-term, there’s an opportunity to view the work of LWC’s talented actors.
The Drama Showcase on Thursday, 5th June will feature a variety of performances from across this academic year.
Head of Performing Arts, Gemma Reeks explains, “These will include work from LAMDA students, A-level Drama, Youth Theatre and 2nd Form presenting their ‘Play in a Week’. Performing to a live audience gives students a real sense of pride and self-confidence. It’s wonderful when a range of year groups are able to perform alongside each other, as they’re able to watch and learn from each other.”
The showcase will take place in the Nadine Uppal Theatre between 7 and 8.30pm. Tickets are available here.
An Informal Gathering
Magic happens at LWC’s regular Informal Lunchtime Music Concerts.
The intimate events give students the opportunity to try out new music and perform in a relaxed setting.
This week’s gathering in the Nadine Uppal Theatre included performances featuring Billie Eilish and Teddy Swims songs, alongside the work of Guns N’ Roses and Grieg.
Shooting for the Top
A group of Lower Sixth Form photographers and artists have been given an insight into careers in photography and the opportunities to study the subject this week.
Lecturer at Arts University Bournemouth, Rob Payne (who is also a successful advertising photographer) came to LWC to share his experiences.
Teacher of Art and Photography, Molly Webber revealed, “Students explored various pathways into photography and considered opportunities for studying it in higher education and beyond. As a result, they’ve been discussing art foundation courses and other exciting options for after A-levels. It was a great opportunity to see all the incredible places that photography has taken Rob and to get a behind-the-scenes look at how his work is created.”
Flower-tastic!
This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been catching the eye of the horticulturally handy this week.
But who needs the show gardens of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea when we have the glorious 1200 to gaze at most days?
Looking particularly stunning at the moment are the explosively stunning alliums, adding dashes of purple across campus.
We’d love to see your photos of the 1200 via stories@lordwandsworth.org
One Man, Two Guvnors is Coming
Comedy is a notoriously difficult genre to perform.
If you then consider that LWC’s summer play, One Man, Two Guvnors is a comedy based upon an 18th-century Italian production – focusing on a man employed by two different people who turn out to not be all they seem – you potentially have quite the challenge on your hands.
“Bringing a comedy to the stage is always a daunting task for all involved, as it’s quite a challenge to get right,” admits co-director and Teacher of Drama, Matt McGrath. “We’ve been so impressed with how the students have approached the play and taken this challenge in their stride.”
LWC’s One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean, will run for two nights this June on Wednesday, 11th and Thursday, 12th June, in Gavin Hall. 27 students make up the cast and crew, alongside two directors and host of staff supporting the production and helping to transform a small corner of the 1200 into 1960s Brighton.
The play focuses on musician, Francis who becomes employed by two different men. Francis is eager to keep his employers apart, but a much more complex plot lies beneath, along with a healthy dose of slapstick comedy.
Lower Sixth Former, Tilly plays Francis and admits, “When Mr McGrath told us that the summer play was One Man, Two Guvnors, I did some research into the characters and knew exactly who I wanted to audition for. Francis is a funny, quick-witted and chaotic character who I can’t wait to play. I love his humour and his child-like wonder is so fun to play every week.”
4th Former, Emilia similarly loves her character of Dolly (a feminist bookkeeper to a local mobster). “Dolly has a bold persona,” she explains, “and a northern accent which has been really fun but a bit challenging to play. I’m definitely looking forward to the performances!”
A number of the students involved in the production, were also part of LWC’s sellout run of Bugsy Malone at Basingstoke’s Haymarket in January.
“I absolutely loved every minute of it,” Tilly (who played Tallulah) explains. “It was the first time I’d performed at school and I was so nervous. I was backstage questioning if I could even go on! But as soon as we did the first number, I knew that this was something that I wanted to keep doing.”
You can read more about LWC’s production of One Man, Two Guvnors here. Tickets for the shows are available via the LWC Box Office.
Sports Team Photos
There’s still time to order your LWC sports team photos and take advantage of a special deal.
The School Photography Company is offering them at exclusive prices until tomorrow (Saturday, 24th May).
You can view and order them here.
Parental Engagement Programme
LWC’s Parental Engagement Programme aims to see the whole College community working together to provide the best development opportunities for our children.
Throughout the year, we offer a range of in-person and web-based sessions designed to complement our common goal of raising extraordinary young people.
Senior Deputy Head, Tom Hicks is seeking your views on this programme and what you would like to see incorporated in the future.
We would love you to fill in this short survey to help make this offering the best it can be.
Key Dates
Summer Term Resumes
Monday, 2nd June
GCSE Textiles & Design Technology Showcase, Gavin Hall
Ongoing until Monday 16th June
Drama Showcase, Nadine Uppal Theatre
7pm, Thursday, 5th June
One Man, Two Guvnors Summer Play, Gavin Hall
7pm, Wednesday, 11th & Thursday, 12th June
Junior Music Concert, Nadine Uppal Theatre
7pm, Friday, 13th June
LWC Summer Open Evening
6.30pm, Tuesday, 17th June
Sternian Saturday, LWC
Saturday, 21st June
Summer Jazz Festival, LWC
6pm, Saturday, 21st June
Speech Day, LWC
10am, Saturday, 28th June
End of Summer Term
Noon, Wednesday, 2nd July