Welcome to LWC News
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We hope that you had a restful exeat.
LWC has swung back into action this week. Anyone in the vicinity of the Nadine Uppal Theatre will have heard the glorious sounds of our musicians in action.
Meanwhile, our CCF cadets have been soaring even higher, taking control of gliders at RAF Little Rissington.
You can read all about it here, along with other highlights from the LWC community.
Contributions and comments are always welcome via stories@lordwandsworth.org
Have a wonderful weekend.
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 ScheduleAs arrangements can sometimes change due to factors outside of our control, we recommend checking the calendar routinely.
News
Festival of Fun
Just as you thought a spectacular year of sport was wrapping up….brace yourself for the LWC Junior Sports Festival.
Hot on the heels of the Euro 2024 Championships, the Olympics and Paralympics comes this annual tournament which has been running for the last decade.
More than 400 players and coaches from schools across the area will descend on Lord Wandsworth tomorrow (5th October) between 9am and 1pm, for the Under 13’s extravaganza.
17 hockey teams and 12 rugby sides will go head to head (including LWC of course) and Director of Sport, Soma Singh believes the event has huge benefits: “It’s really important for us to run competitive, fun, festivals where there’s no pressure to win,” he explained. “It’s an opportunity to relax and play the game you enjoy in a friendly environment. I think players and coaches enjoy the atmosphere and teams return year after year.”
The annual dress-up theme contributes to the fun vibe of the event. “The warm-up dances by some teams also get better each year,” added Mr Singh. He believes that the festival also provides an opportunity for coaches to delegate decision-making. “We can let the players decide on positions, teams and styles of play. For some, it can spark a deeper interest in hockey or rugby.”
Good luck to all LWC sides taking part. There’ll be more in next week’s LWC News.
Flash, Bang, What a Picture!….
It’s that time of year again! The whole school photograph will take place next Thursday (10th October) alongside house groups, prefects and leavers shots. But what does it take to capture the perfect image that we often wistfully return to, decades later?
The School Photography Company will be tasked with this responsibility at LWC next week. Abby Gorton, National Photographic Manager told us, “We capture groups of up to 1500 people at a time for around 1400 schools. A whole school photo captures the spirit of the school community. It’s a special way to reflect the relationship between everyone involved.”
Marshalling just under a thousand LWC students and staff on the day apparently comes down to good planning. Ms Gorton added, “It’s all about organisation and timing. We always have to obtain accurate numbers of students and staff to plan the size of the staging and to finalise timings.”
As for the photographer, the most important thing is to keep a cool head. “The photographer must give clear instructions to everyone involved,” Abby explained. “Being calm and in control is the key to getting a good shot.”
And what if the weather doesn’t get the memo? Well, should the Hampshire October skies not play ball next week, all is not lost. “Good weather is always a bonus,” admitted Abby. “But lighting and environment play a big part. Surprisingly, cloudy days produce a more natural light to create a beautiful shot.”
Aiming High
“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds,-and done a hundred things.”
Our CCF cadets have been experiencing the thrill of soaring high, just as John Gillespie Magee Jr did (a Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot) who wrote about it in his sonnet, High Flight more than 80 years ago.
Members of the RAF Section went gliding at Little Rissington Airfield near Gloucester last weekend (and captured some stunning images whilst they were there).
They completed two flights each; doing most of the flying themselves. They learned the skills of the glider pilot and discovered how to use thermals to soar under the clouds.
The RAF cadets can look forward to another gliding opportunity later in the term.
You can discover more about the CCF on our website.
Pulse-ating Performance
Netball Superleague side, London Pulse have a new member of their academy squad and she’s from LWC!
Congratulations to Lower Sixth Former, EJ who will now train and play with the side, following two trials.
EJ said, “I’m most looking forward to playing with people who are of a higher ability than me; so I can learn and eventually play to a higher level. LWC have been really flexible which has allowed me to try out.”
Head of Girls’ Sport and Head of Netball at LWC, Poppy Lake added: “We are thrilled for EJ to be selected for the Pulse set-up. She works incredibly hard on and off the court and deserves this acknowledgement. She’s an incredibly committed sportswoman and we can’t wait to see how she progresses.”
Good luck EJ!
Out in the Field….
The CCF left LWC behind to embrace Field Day last week.
Army Section visited the Royal Engineers barracks at Tidworth and were able to view their weaponry and tanks close-up.
The RAF Section visited the bunker at the Battle of Britain Centre at RAF Uxbridge. They were able to see first-hand where the big decisions were made during the Battle of Britain in 1940.
Tabbing to the Top…
Last weekend’s exeat was a well-earned opportunity for rest and recharge…. Unless you’re LWC’s Director of Estates.
Lidia Pocock swapped the 1200 acres of Lord Wandsworth for the rolling hills of Catterick, North Yorkshire to compete in the PARAS’10. This is a gruelling ten-mile endurance race based on the ‘ten miler’ from the Parachute Regiment’s P Company test week.
In less than three hours, Lidia managed to ‘tab’ the course in boots, with a 35lb (2.5 stone) military rucksack strapped to her back.
She said, “Completing it in under three hours was the goal, though it was much harder-going than I expected! We are part of the Gone Tabbing community; a wonderful group, bound by a love of mountains and adventure. We support each other for the benefit of our mental health.”
The money raised by the PARAS’10 goes to the charity, Support Our Paras, which helps soldiers and their families. Lidia added, “This year we’re also supporting the Curtis Palmer programme, which raises money for serving and retired police staff.”
On reflection, she’s clear about the most challenging moment: “It was the final hill. With boots filled with water, my legs didn’t want to do what I asked of them.” But would she do it again? “Absolutely, although it’s the Roman Rampage in Colchester next Spring first!”
Well done Lidia!
Free Will-Writing…
Less than half of UK adults have a will and whilst conversations about future wishes may appear tricky, the overwhelming advice is to safeguard our loved ones by putting plans in place.
October is National Free Wills Month and LWC has partnered with Octopus Legacy to offer all parents and guardians the opportunity to write or update your will for free.
The opportunity applies to basic wills, which can often cost anywhere between £150 and £300. For more complicated instructions, the figure can vary up to £1000. Discounts are available for complex or bespoke wills.
Many LWC supporters have chosen to include a gift to Lord Wandsworth College in their will, to benefit generations to come. In fact, the College itself was founded on Sydney Stern’s legacy. There is no obligation to make a bequest to LWC if you use this free will-writing service, although we would be delighted if you considered doing so.
To take advantage of this offer, you can sign up online or call 020 45253605, quoting Lord Wandsworth College to book a phone or in-person appointment.
You can discover more about legacy giving at LWC, by visiting our website or by contacting LWC Legacy Manager, Kate Boyd.
Hitting the High Notes
Last week’s Lunchtime Music Concert in the Nadine Uppal Theatre was a fantastic showcase of our talented LWC performers.
Some (from our Junior House) were taking part for the first time and building their performance experience.
It was a great opportunity for all to flex their musical muscles before Interhouse Music next Friday (11th October).
More details on that to come in next week’s LWC News.
The Future’s Bright…
The next step after LWC can be in all kinds of different directions, which is why Upper Sixth students are invited to attend our Futures Day next Friday (11th October) in Gavin Hall.
Head of Futures, Nicola Hirst explained, “The day is focused on providing pupils with an understanding of alternative routes to university. There’ll be information about degree and medical apprenticeships. Current apprentices in business, law, fashion- buying and economics will also give insights.”
Shortlist Me will be running a practice interview session, a CV consultant will be helping students to build the most effective resumes and there’ll be information available on gap years.
The day gets underway from 9am.
Double the luck…
Following on from last week’s shot of a glorious rainbow beaming over the Flowers Science Centre…
Lower Sixth Former, Joshua has earned a pot of metaphorical gold for this stunning shot of the same double rainbow over West Green.
If you have a great picture of the 1200, we’d love to see it! Please email: stories@lordwandsworth.org
Mind Over Matter
One in six children between the ages of 5 and 16 is likely to be going through a mental health challenge, according to NHS figures.
Next Thursday (10th October) is World Mental Health Day, with the focus this year on workplace mental health.
LWC continues to be proactive in improving mental wellbeing across the College. Students have access to two youth workers, five counsellors and health centre professionals who can help when needed, alongside tutors and other school staff. But the Mental Health Committee, made up of 16 Lower Sixth Formers are also keen to spread the word about their role in safeguarding the mental health of fellow students.
“At our age, it’s common to be quite insecure about yourself in many different ways,” explained committee member, Maia. “The way you look, the way you act, the things you do and in a school environment, that can be enhanced quite a lot.” James (also on the committee) added, “There’s definitely always someone here to speak to. But sometimes the problem is not being confident enough to speak out.”
All members of the Mental Health Committee have the opportunity to become mental health first aid-trained. “If you’re not comfortable about coming forward, there are other more low-key ways of saying something,” explained member, Oli. “You can report how you’re feeling via the QR codes dotted around school. You don’t have to speak to a peer. You can speak to whoever you feel comfortable around.”
The committee sets targets and action plans for the school throughout the year and members are clear about the benefits of LWC life when it comes to boosting mood. “I think sport is great and getting outside, socialising with others is key,” suggested Hector. Maia added, “It’s good to normalise being able to talk about your mental health. It’s good to set it straight that not everyone’s always ok and sometimes people need people to talk to.”
Managing workloads, exam stress and friendship issues are some of the most likely triggers for mental health challenges in young people. Millie believes that achieving the right work/life balance is key: “It’s important to set yourself boundaries with work and step away from it when you need to. Sacrifice the work and not yourself.”
The committee meets regularly under the supervision of LWC’s Senior Mental Health Lead, Kirsty Jackman. All LWC pupils, staff and parents have access to The Wellbeing Hub from Teen Tips which provides a variety of resources to support mental health.
“I Want to Change People’s Worlds”
Performance psychologist, Charlie Unwin is a man on a mission and he’s keen to share the lessons learned from his extraordinary life experience, with the LWC community.
Charlie will be leading the next of our Parental Engagement Webinars on Monday 14th October, aimed at helping our children to build resilience in an increasingly challenging world.
He has much to draw on when it comes to what has shaped his thinking. He has spent time serving in Iraq and representing Great Britain in the modern pentathlon.
“I was the youngest platoon commander in Iraq at the time, back in 2004,” he explains. “So at the age of 23, I had 30 soldiers under my command and that was daunting, especially in that environment. I learned a lot about myself. It gave me a much more holistic understanding of performance”.
Since his days in Iraq, Charlie has moved into performance psychology, working with Team GB Olympians, elite football and rugby players, special forces and members of the Royal Household.
So how can he help the Lord Wandsworth community?
“I think there’s a lot of competition for our attention now,” he explains. “Technology is good at being able to command and demand attention, which means it’s more difficult to apply ourselves with the presence that we need for immersive experiences. When you sit down in an exam for several hours, that becomes an immersive experience. It’s something that we need to practice and prepare for and therefore requires us to self-regulate and self-discipline.”
Charlie’s approach acknowledges the existence of pressure on our young people, but he believes it can be harnessed for good. “Nerves provide a state of activation, where our energy increases and our heart rate increases. We shouldn’t be scared by that. The first thing to do is recognise those internal sensations and tell yourself that it’s your body doing what it does best; giving you energy. What we’re actually wired to do, is run around in the wild burning off that energy, but in an exam we have to be cleverer about how we use it. Channelled well, pressure can sharpen our focus.”
Learning from each life experience is something that Charlie is evangelical about; whether working with the World’s Strongest Man or the Gloucestershire County Cricket Team. The latter, a recent example of how he has helped an underdog to beat the odds. “They won the T20 Blast Title at Edgbaston,” he beams, “and they were fascinating to work with; a very young team, very inexperienced. The club doesn’t have as much money as some of the bigger ones and we worked really hard at what’s called Accelerated Learning; the ability to be able to make the most of every experience. We were going to get beaten by some better teams along the way, but what we needed to do was to make sure that with every experience we had, we got a little bit better. Seeing them lift that trophy was an amazing experience.”
So what does success look like to someone who spends his life helping others to be the best version of themselves?
“I want to change people’s worlds,” he admits. “Realistically, you can, if it strikes a real chord with someone and it changes the way they think….Sometimes you can deliver magic and sometimes it can just help someone go away a little bit more self-aware. To be honest, I’m comfortable with either.”
Charlie Unwin’s Parental Engagement Webinar “Building Resilience in a Results-Driven World” is open to all LWC parents and guardians. It takes place on Monday, October 14th at 7pm on Zoom and you can sign up here.
You can read more of Charlie’s personal story on our website.
Understanding the Sporting Calendar…
With the sports schedule well underway, LWC Director of Sport, Mr Singh and Head of Girls’ Sport, Miss Lake have put together a visual guide on how to navigate the information you need for the year ahead.
Here you will find details on how to view fixtures and team sheets, along with guidance on squad selection and kit requirements:
LWC Sport Guide for ParentsMeet the Headmaster….
Know someone who would love the LWC life?
We would be delighted to meet them at one of our Headmaster’s Receptions for prospective parents and children.
More information on dates and times can be found here.
Key Dates
Whole School. Prefects, Leavers and House Photos
Thursday, 10 October
Inter House Music Event
Friday, 11 October
Parental Engagement Programme Webinar with Olympic Performance Psychologist, Charlie Unwin
7pm Monday, 14 October
Half Term
4pm Friday, 18 October – Sunday, 3rd November
Remembrance Service
Monday, 11 November
Autumn Term Sports Photos
Wednesday, 13 November
Exeat Weekend and Non-Uniform Day
Exeat begins from 4pm Friday, 22 November
Carols and Christmas Market
Thursday, 12th December
End of Autumn Term
12pm Friday, 13th December