Welcome to LWC News
It’s important to reflect on a week like this one.
In the space of a few days, LWC has delivered a remarkable run at The Haymarket in Basingstoke (which continues tonight), a glorious set of iGCSE English Language results and two more sports teams through to the latter stages of national competitions.
Our young people are extraordinary.
Have a restful Exeat weekend.
Contributions to LWC News are always welcome via stories@lordwandsworth.org.
News
There’s No Place Like… LWC
It’s taken months of preparation and this week’s LWC production of The Wizard of Oz at The Haymarket in Basingstoke has been a complete triumph.
The curtain comes down on the three-day run this evening, with one final performance (a few tickets remain).
3rd Former, Imogen and 5th Former, Harry were tasked with reviewing the show for LWC News. Here are their thoughts:
Imogen: “A masterclass performance full of joy, sparkle, theatre, music and dance, all delivered with outstanding set design. Dorothy’s multitasking of acting and dog-handling was a marvel to behold. I was impressed with the standard of the whole show, but my highlight has to be the humorous performance of the loveable lion! A mesmerising production that I didn’t want to end!”
Harry: “It was a captivating performance, immersing you in the Land of Oz. I was impressed by the entertaining musical numbers and wonderful dances. It was a cheerful and light-hearted production and I was swept away by the story.”
Strong iGCSE Results for LWC
LWC’s 5th Form have got their iGCSE campaign off to a strong start, demonstrating huge progress at the same time.
127 students collected early entry iGCSE English Language results yesterday morning.
More than 20% of results were a grade 9 (above an A* in the original grading structure), with 64% of the marks ranked 7-9 (A-A*).
The results place LWC in the top ten per cent of schools and colleges nationally, when it comes to progress made in GCSE English Language.
LWC’s Head of English, Chris Radmann added, “We were delighted by the many smiles and whoops of joy as students opened their envelopes this morning. This was their first experience of a public, ‘final’ examination. We are so proud of their hard work, it’s so satisfying! Grateful thanks to Team English for all of their hard work during the course.”
Read more here.
U14As Devonian Dream
The LWC U14A Boys’ Rugby Team are through to the quarter-finals of the School Sport Magazine National Schools Under 14 Cup.
Their fifth round tie with Ivybridge Community College on Wednesday resulted in the squad making a 332-mile-round trip to the southern edge of Dartmoor.
“The team put in an excellent performance – showing determination and a belief that they could progress together,” added coaches Eloise Shrimpton and Marcus Ruffell. “They thoroughly deserve their place in the final eight of the competition.”
LWC Netballers Reach Regional Semi
Meanwhile, LWC are through to the Sisters n Sport U14 Netball Trophy Regional Semi-Finals.
The U14A Girls’ Netball Team convincingly beat Harris Academy Chafford Hundred on Monday to book an away tie against Beaconsfield High School in the next round.
Last year, LWC’s U18As made it through to the final stages of the SnS Trophy competition, which sees the regional finals and national final played on the same day, at a central venue.
“The girls showed a dominant performance throughout the game and controlled each part of the court with really calm and composed play,” revealed Assistant Director of Sport and Head of Netball, Poppy Lake.
“The Foundation Changed My Life”
The Lord Wandsworth Foundation has helped to widen the worlds of around 2,500 young people since LWC first opened its doors in 1922.
One of them, is former England rugby international, Ugo Monye.
Last Saturday, Ugo joined us for Foundation Assessment Day, in his role as Patron of the Foundation.
He welcomed those hoping for a Foundation place, along with their parents and carers, before chatting and helping to put those awaiting interviews at ease.
“It was great to be able to come back, share my story and talk about how this school offered me an incredible opportunity that effectively changed my life,” Ugo revealed. “I’d never played rugby before and knew nothing about rugby….that opportunity has shaped my life for the last 30 years.”
LWC Makes Tatler’s Address Book
It offers a curated lifestyle directory for those looking for the very best.
Now, LWC has been selected to join an exclusive list of schools featuring in Tatler’s Address Book.
A small number of education providers are chosen for the annual publication, based upon excellence, quality and distinction.
Read more here, along with our other recent reviews.
Willow Wonderland
There’s a new addition to the landscape of the 1200 and it’s hoped that it’ll be enjoyed for years to come.
2nd Form have created a living Willow Dome as part of a Design and Technology Workshop.
Together with willow weaver, Molly and LWC gardeners, James and Adam, students spent the day enjoying a range of activities.
These were designed to develop creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills whilst building on the legacy of the Willow Tunnel – worked on by previous year group workshops.
Despite facing adversity in the form of some typical British weather, they emerged having learned about a remarkable material, together with contributing something sustainable to be proud of.
Willow is known for its resilience, flexibility and adaptability… Fits right at home at LWC.
Music for a Winter’s Night
There’s no rest for the LWC Performing Arts Department.
Despite The Wizard of Oz remaining in full flow, the next event already beckons.
Next Friday (30th January) sees one of our largest music concerts of the College year taking place in Gavin Hall.
The Winter Music Concert will feature a diverse range of performances from our talented Concert Band to some spine-tingling soloists.
Tickets for the show, which gets underway at 7.30pm, are available via the LWC Box Office, along with those for our Music Scholars’ Recital on Monday, 2nd February at 7pm in the Nadine Uppal Theatre.
Veganuary
The Veganuary movement has been inspiring millions to try a vegan diet every January since 2014.
In Julyans, the LWC Dining Hall, a vegan dish is offered at pretty much every service.
“Our most popular is the hot open tart with roasted peppers, herb pesto, spinach and vegan feta,” explains Head Chef, Adrian Culver. “This is closely followed by roasted aubergine and butterbean stew.
“On a Monday, we generally serve one meat dish and two vegetarian/vegan dishes, which is a great way of introducing students and staff to a very tasty and nutritious meat alternative, whilst also raising awareness around sustainability.
“All of this has seen a marked increase in numbers opting for vegan dishes.”
Ben Rallies in Real Tennis Final
LWC 2nd Former Ben and his father, Chris, finished runners-up in the T&RA National Parent & Child Championships in Leamington Spa.
Ben was the youngest entrant in the real tennis competition.
Real tennis is the original form of the sport, played on an indoor court, with wooden racquets and cork-cored balls. There’s an emphasis on strategy and a complex scoring system.
The Blakes won their quarter-finals, 6-4 against opposition from Canford, followed by a semi-final victory against another local pair, with some canny tactics and a change in serves.
They faced last year’s losing finalists in the latter stage, who proved too tricky to overcome. Both put in an extraordinary performance overall.
Cross-Country Qualification
Seven LWC athletes took on the bracing January temperatures for last weekend’s HSAA Senior Cross-Country Championships in Aldershot.
3rd Former, Lottie and 2nd Former, Flo (pictured) finished 8th and 16th respectively in the Junior Girls’ category – qualifying for the South East Schools Cross-Country Championships in Essex next Saturday.
Lower Sixth Former, Liv finished 11th in the Senior Girls’ group.
Congratulations also go to Jessica, Wills, Theo and James for their great performances.
Enterprise Students Immersed in Eden
Learning to live lightly and creating a legacy is at the heart of so much of what we do in the 1200.
In a series of virtual workshops run by The Eden Project, the eco visitor attraction in Cornwall, LWC’s Sixth Form BTEC Enterprise & Entrepreneurship students have been learning more about running a social enterprise.
Teacher of Business and E&E, Deborah Upham explained, “The Lower Sixth have been thinking about product design with a social cause. Meanwhile, the Upper Sixth will use the information from these sessions to run their own social enterprises after half-term.
“This is a great way for students to put their learning into context and use their curious minds to ask questions. They really enjoyed the sessions.”
Environment Leaders Challenge Food Waste
Meanwhile, Lower Sixth Formers, Tom and Harvey are beginning the process of making a difference at LWC.
As part of their studies for a Level 3 Qualification in Leading a Project for Positive Change (a programme developed by the Leadership Skills Foundation, in partnership with the WWF and the RSPB), they hope to reduce the amount of food waste in the 1200.
“We’ve been spending time behind the scenes, looking at how much food is left on plates and thrown away,” Tom revealed. “We believe that this is a conscious choice from students that we can change.”
“The scale of waste was shocking,” continued Harvey. “Most of the food left was extra and not main courses. I’m now looking at how the College can cut down on this problem.”
You can read more about LWC’s Environment Leaders here.
Spreading the Word About LWC Sixth Form
LWC sits in the top 1% of schools and colleges nationally, when it comes to progress made in Sixth Form.
When you add to that achievement, our extensive co-curricular offering, inspiring students to try over 100 different activities alongside their studies – it’s no surprise that our Sixth Form is record-breaking.
If you know someone who would love life in the 1200, the next Sixth Form Open Morning is on Monday, 2nd February from 9.30am.
Places can be reserved here.
Roman 1st Form
LWC’s 1st Form were transported back to Roman times last week.
Sutton Hall was transformed into a Roman schoolroom, in an immersive experience which aimed to bring learning to life.
“Students were given the opportunity to experience life in Ancient Rome,” explained Head of Classics, Alex Hamilton.
“They learned new skills including literature analysis and arithmetic using beads and boards, all whilst wearing Roman costume.”
Learning How to Learn
Last weekend’s Academic Parental Engagement Programme session on learning habits was a huge hit with those who attended.
Former teacher-turned-author, Richard Wheadon, shared what he’s learned during two decades of experience in the classroom, when it comes to giving our young people the best chance of learning effectively.
He tackled how learning occurs in the brain and how hindrances can be avoided. Parents and carers left with some practical strategies to help support our young people.
You can learn more about our Parental Engagement Programme on our website.
Bringing the Bard to Life
4th Form GCSE Drama students have been delving deeper into Shakespeare’s Macbeth this week.
They took part in a workshop with a leader from the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival, ahead of their performance at the event in March.
“The students worked through building further confidence in their characterisation and the ability to ‘play with a scene,’ in order to bring the piece to life,” explained Teacher of Drama, Matt McGrath.
“They presented a few sections of the play and wowed us with their emotive and engaging performance!
“Kat, who led the workshop, absolutely loved working with our students and is very excited about seeing the finished piece in a few months, when we head to The Haymarket alongside other schools from the local area. It’s always an incredible event and we are super excited to bring LWC’s version of Macbeth to the stage!”
Building up to the 3 Peaks
Three months from now, a group of LWC parents, staff and Sternians will be taking on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks as part of the first UK-based LWC Fundraising Challenge.
Last weekend, those already signed up took part in another practice walk at LWC.
The trek will take on the highest peaks in the rugged surrounds of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, in aid of the Lord Wandsworth Foundation.
Continue scrolling through this edition of LWC News to meet the former LWC parent sharing his reasons for getting involved in the third consecutive LWC Fundraising Challenge.
Interhouse Swimming
LWC’s House competition took to the pool last week for Interhouse Swimming.
Park put on a particularly strong display – winning all but one of their races.
Sutton House beat Summerfield to victory in the boys’ event.
LWC Life
Imagine paying half price for a hair styling or beauty treatment…
You can beat the January blues by claiming this very offer thanks to LWC Life.
The Colour Palette Salon in Crowthorne is currently offering a 50% discount on first visits to LWC Life members.
The multi-award-winning hair, beauty, nails and holistic salon is also providing a further 15% off all future appointments.
Simply show your LWC Life digital ID card or email voucher to redeem the offer.
LWC Life is our benefits scheme open to all LWC parents, staff and Sternians. You can sign up for free at any time.
Final Call…
Christmas may seem like a lifetime ago…
But if you still have those empty sweets and chocolate containers hanging around the house, this is a final reminder that we can help.
LWC is collecting empties for Greene King’s Tub2Pub initiative, which raises money for Macmillan Cancer Support by recycling the plastic.
You can drop them off at Grab & Go, located at Julyans Dining Hall, until Friday, 13th February.
Misty Starts
The last week has seen many of our mornings blanketed in mist across the 1200.
This shot of a moody-looking Wilkinson’s was captured by Senior Deputy Head, Tom Hicks.
Share your shots of LWC with us via stories@lordwandsworth.org.
During the Holidays at LWC…
Athlete Performance Lab returns to The Barn this half-term with another 3-day training series.
The sessions are designed for 12 to 18-year-olds who are keen to improve strength, power, endurance and mobility, whilst learning more about the science behind it all.
The sessions run between 10am and 1pm on Monday 16th, Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th February at a cost of £125 for all three days, £90 for two days or £50 for one.
Bookings can be made directly via email or the website.
Rugby Camp
If you’d prefer a focus on rugby, the next Long Sutton Sports Co Rugby Camp takes place at LWC on Monday 16th & Tuesday 17th February.
Open to anyone between the ages of 11 and 14, the camp is fun, inclusive and suitable for all abilities.
The half-term sessions will feature a timely focus on rugby 7s – with an emphasis on developing speed, evasion, decision making and an understanding of the game.
The cost is £60 for the two-day camp, which will run between 10am and 3pm.
Bookings and enquiries can be made by contacting Long Sutton Sports Co directly via email.
Activate Camps
Activate Camps are returning to LWC this year with cricket and hockey sessions.
Right now, they’re offering a 20% early bird discount on bookings for the Easter and summer holidays.
You can find a list of the camps on offer in the 1200, on their website.
Use the code EXTRA20 at the checkout. The offer ends next Saturday (31st January) and applies to all bookings, including single days.
Transformational Trekking
From the sand-sculpted beauty of the Sahara to the rugged snow-capped extremes of Iceland, the LWC Fundraising Challenge has been taking LWC parents, staff and Sternians on once-in-a-lifetime adventures since 2023.
The latest Challenge in aid of the Lord Wandsworth Foundation, will tackle the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, in the first of our UK-based journeys.
From 24th-27th April, our intrepid group will take on the rugged and windswept peaks of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Among them, will be former LWC parent, John Wallace, a veteran of the LWC Fundraising Challenge, having completed all of them to date.
Here, he gives an insight into why he’s keen to help widen worlds through these trips (including his own at the same time):
“After a 20-minute walk, we all reached the top of the sand dune. The darkness and cold were beginning to dissipate. There was absolute silence. A complete absence of any noise or other distraction. 30 LWC trekkers all waiting and watching. Each was alone with their thoughts, but not alone as a group – all pulling together when needed.
“Then, slowly, the sun began to appear over the dunes on the horizon. The rays gradually touching the distant peaks, wave-like in their appearance and rippling ever closer as light emerged from the darkness. Suddenly, it wasn’t so cold. It was a truly wonderful moment for all of us.
“Two years later and following a 20-minute walk, it started to sleet. The wind picked up, the route got narrower, steeper, slippier. Visibility had dropped and the group closed in. There was a rumble of encouragement and offers of help at pinch points, which were then accepted and passed on like batons in a relay race. True camaraderie and a memorable moment.
“The diverse nature of the people I have been lucky enough to meet on these trips is vast. From 20 to 70 years old. There are those for whom a marathon is a running event and those who remember it best as a chocolate bar. Never camped or youth hostelled? It doesn’t matter. Maybe you’re a veteran of both – you will still feel equally at home.”
You can find more of John’s LWC Fundraising Challenge blog on our website and if his words have inspired you to consider a place on this year’s Yorkshire 3 Peaks trek, there is more information here. To have a conversation about signing up, contact LWC Philanthropy Manager, Fran Reid.
Key Dates
Winter Music Concert, Gavin Hall
7.30pm, Friday, 30th January
Sixth Form Open Morning
9.30-11.30am, Monday, 2nd February
Music Scholars’ Recital, Nadine Uppal Theatre
7pm, Monday, 2nd February
LWC Connect Networking Breakfast (IT, Tech and AI), Zanetas
7-9am, Thursday, 5th February
Interhouse Dance, Sutton Hall
7pm, Friday, 6th February
Parental Engagement Programme Seminar: Chloe Combi, Gavin Hall
9.30-11am, Saturday, 7th February
Safer Internet Day
Tuesday, 10th February
Drama Scholars’ Evening, Nadine Uppal Theatre
7pm, Thursday, 12th February
Half Term Begins
4pm, Friday, 13th February
Spring Term Resumes
Monday, 23rd February
An Evening of Song, Nadine Uppal Theatre
7pm, Friday, 27th February
Cotterill Cup Music Festival Begins
Monday, 9th March
Cotterill Cup Prizewinners’ Concert, Nadine Uppal Theatre
7-9.3pm, Tuesday, 10th March
Futures Fair, Sutton Hall
Friday, 13th March
Cotterill Cup: Open Section Recital, Nadine Uppal Theatre
7pm, Monday, 16th March
Dance Show, Nadine Uppal Theatre
7pm, Wednesday, 18th & Thursday, 19th March
LWC Spring Open Morning
9am, Saturday, 21st March
Foundation Day
Thursday, 26th March
End of Spring Term
Noon, Friday 27th March
Useful Links
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