LWC News

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Riding High at Hickstead

Five LWC equestrian teams put in a fantastic performance at The National Schools Equestrian Association Championships at Hickstead during half-term.

Our dressage team of Serena, Will, Immy and Lucie finished seventh out of all schools competing from across the country. 4^th Former, Lucie took sixth place at preliminary level, with 5^th Former, Will finishing second in elementary.

LWC was also represented in the 70cm Showjumping, 80cm Showjumping and both 70cm and 90cm Arena Eventing.

LWC’s Head of Riding, Camilla Read reflected, “All ten riders represented LWC with so much pride and determination over a long and busy weekend. This sport requires a great deal of background support and we’re hugely grateful to the parents, siblings and grandparents who made this weekend possible.”

You can read more about Camilla and LWC’s largest and most successful riding team below.

Tested to the Limit at St George’s

Ahead of England’s World Cup qualifier against Andorra tomorrow evening…

LWC’s Lower Sixth Form A-level and BTEC PE students can watch, knowing that they’ve faced tough physical tests in the very same surroundings as the national team.

Their three-day trip to St George’s Park and Alton Towers enabled them to experience fitness testing at the England team’s training facility in Staffordshire, along with learning about the benefits of temperature-controlled rehabilitation and hydrotherapy.  

This was all followed by a day at Alton Towers, where students were fitted with monitors to test their anxiety levels on a variety of rides.

Seeing Double

It’s the story with more twists and turns than a soap opera…

LWC’s colony of bees has certainly seen its fair share of drama over the last few weeks.

A regular hive check revealed that the all-important queen bee wasn’t laying, after indications that she had been injured.

A new Carniolan queen was bred to maintain the health of the hive, but when she arrived to join the colony, it was discovered that the bees had self-produced a new queen.

“We’ve now created a second hive and introduced the bred queen to that one,” explained LWC Catering Manager, Iain Hedley who is leading the project.

“The original hive is really healthy and there is capped honey in there, which is a sign that the bees are happy. We’re confident that this hive will yield its first harvest around August. The second hive should now see bee numbers soar as it grows with the new queen.”

Out of adversity…..

LWC Netballers Excel

This academic year has been extraordinary for LWC’s netballers.

The U13A, U15A and U15B teams have all been crowned District Champions, with the U14As taking second place in their respective league.

Head of Girls’ Sport and Head of Netball, Poppy Lake said, “I’m really proud of how the teams did this year in the District League. This was the first time LWC had entered the league for a number of years. Three out of our four teams gained promotion and we’re looking to enter more of our development teams next year, to give as many girls a chance to experience a competitive league.”

Wise Words

We’re entering the final fortnight of exams and the end is in sight.

Throughout this time, we’ve been offering a few useful tips from staff and students who’ve been through the process.

From focusing on healthy sleep routines, to how to block the noise around you, they’ve offered some useful insights.

This week’s comes courtesy of Head of College, Alice.

“The pre-exam walk to the exam hall is just as important as the revision,” she offers. “Find your exam buddy to walk with and make a pact not to discuss any last-minute revision that will simply cause you to panic. Remind yourself that you have put in the work and there is nothing you can’t do! When you enter the hall, practice some mindful breathing to get control of your thoughts (sounds silly but it works). Dont forget to take your time, back yourself and read the question!”

Soaring Above the Skyline

Cadets from LWC’s CCF contingent have been seeing the world from a different perspective.

Flying from Boscombe Down near Salisbury, they’ve been taking the controls of a two-seater aircraft as part of another CCF Air Experience Day.

Contingent Commander, Alex Hamilton explained, “They performed aerobatic manoeuvres as well as practising the basic turns, climbs and descents. We had a mixture of LWC and Costello cadets enjoying their first flights.”

Bid to be Blue

Blue zones are areas of the world where people consistently lead long, healthy lives as a result of diet, physical activity and social connection (amongst other things).

LWC’s ongoing mission to turn the 1200 blue continued this week, with the arrival of nutritional therapist, Polly Webb.

Polly is a regular visitor to LWC and was tempting student and staff diners in Julyans, with healthy, tasty treats featuring a secret plant food.

Everyone was invited to guess what the secret ingredient was in her super food granola bar (quinoa), brownies (beetroot) and summer smoothie (fresh spinach).

Polly was also keen to talk about the need for hydration, which not only increases physical performance but boosts brain function, digestive health, promotes healthy skin and improves mood.

Exploring the 1200

There’s still time to register for LWC’s Summer Open Evening on Tuesday, 17^th June.

If you know someone who’s keen to explore the opportunities offered here, this is the perfect way to get a taste of what could be to come.

Tour the 1200, join in with creative workshops, enjoy sports and outdoor adventures and meet our staff in a relaxed atmosphere.

It all gets underway at 6.30pm and places can be booked here.

SSGT Golf

East Berkshire Golf Club has been frequented by golfing greats such as Sandy Lyle and Gary Player.

This week, 3^rd Former Evan and 4^th Former, Seb got to grace their greens as part of the Swifts Strokeplay Golf Tournament.

LWC’s Head of Golf, Craig O’nions revealed, “Due to the dry months recently, the fairways were running fast and the greens, known locally for being slick on a wet day, were difficult. Both players showed maturity in their game and made great improvements. This competition was the final SSGT event that LWC will attend this year. These competitions have created great opportunities for junior golfers to play against an incredibly skilled field. We look forward to attending more of these next season, when we plan to enter teams in both the U15 and U18 categories.”

Feeling the Pressure?

With a few weeks of exam season still to go, maybe it’s time to change the way we think about the inevitable stress they bring.

In a blog on the LWC website, Head of Psychology, Lottie Howes is encouraging a shift in mindset.

“Start by giving a name to what you’re feeling,” she argues. “Butterflies, a racing heart, even nausea. Then remind yourself — these are the same physical sensations as excitement. Say it out loud, or in your head: “This is my body preparing me to focus and perform.” That small shift in language helps to redirect your brain from threat mode to challenge mode.”

Lottie regularly talks to her students about so-called ‘cognitive reframing’. It’s well worth reading her thoughts on the benefits here, even if you’re heading nowhere near an exam hall this summer.