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Head Master's Newsletter

Mr Mark Moore, the Head Master of Clifton College Upper School and Head of College, writes a regular newsletter about developments in the Upper School.

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Summer Term 2010

Dear Parents,

There are few events which challenge a school community more than the untimely death of one of its pupils. In the Easter holidays we were all shocked and saddened by the sudden death, from Meningitis B, of Ryan Bresnahan (MH), a very popular and gifted fifth former. Before the term began, a funeral service giving thanks for Ryan’s life took place in a packed chapel, and when the school returned, tribute was paid to him in the first chapel service. As a community we have witnessed the unstinting support and care which the pupils and staff have given to each other in their shared grief, along with the outstanding Housemastering skills of Alan and Cath O’Sullivan. I doubt that any school could have been better served by its Chaplain in its hour of need: Reverend Kim Taplin shepherds his flock with immense wisdom. There have already been, and will be, a number of fundraising events for “A Life for a Cure” in Ryan’s memory. As I said at Commem, sometimes adversity strengthens the collective soul and I have to say that the pupils have been remarkable this term. There was a really purposeful atmosphere during the exam period and we have every reason to believe that August will bring excellent results. In the final assembly of term there were no fewer than 110 academic prizes awarded: a measure of the way in which the pupils have applied themselves to their studies. But as ever, they have done so much more besides. Here is a selection of highlights.

Clifton competed in London on Monday 21st June 2010 in the final of the prestigious UK Teams Maths Challenge. 1450 schools entered the competition and 80 schools won a place in the final. After 5 hours of maths Clifton came third: a great achievement. The team comprised James Fraser and Gareth Jones from the Pre, and Emily Wright and Lizzie Powell from the Upper School.

The musical highlight of term was Commem weekend, when scores of pupils were involved in the Friday night Commemoration concert, Music and Fashion show in the marquee, Saturday service in chapel, music from Concert Big Band in the marquee, Kadoorie Cup and informal concerts in the music school. Serenade to Music performed by the chamber choir and Lana Trimmer’s winning performance in chapel at the Kadoorie Cup final were outstanding. At the OC dinner in Big School Oliver Gittings elicited the first standing ovation to have been witnessed at such an event. Oliver, along with numerous other talented pupils, also performed at the annual Summer Serenade in chapel. This attracted a large and very enthusiastic audience and was brilliantly directed by Martin Pring and included a world premier of Catrin Cox’s “Serenade for Harp”. The Tuesday lunchtime recital has embedded itself into the weekly routine and there were eight memorable performances over the course of the term. Of special mention were three evening recitals; Giles Nuttall, Lauren Gilmour and a joint vocal recital given by Elleri Hughes and Marienella Phillips. There were many highlights and what impressed most was the sheer depth of musical talent from girls and boys, spread evenly over all five year groups.

The outright stars of the summer term games programme were the tennis teams where both the boys and girls first teams were unbeaten. This achievement is made all the more remarkable considering the strength of the opposition, including new fixtures against Millfield (whom the boys beat 8-1) and Marlborough (whom we beat 7-2). Harry Davies and Freddie Kalfayan led the way, with Andre Vakilzadeh and Captain Cameron Brown second pair and James Johnson and Will Evans as third pair. This looked to be the strongest 1st VI the school had produced in the last decade and on occasions they did play like it. Highlights were certainly wins over the MCC, Monmouth, Sherborne and Bromsgrove. 2010 saw the start of a National HMC T20 competition. This provided the high point of the season as Clifton qualified for the West Final against Millfield having beaten BGS, QEH, Filton College and KES Bath. On the day, Millfield proved too strong and went on to win the competition. The Yearlings A side have shown a huge amount of promise for the future with Tom Smith and Hamish Matthews sharing the school partnership of the season at Blundells. In March the Clifton College golf team convincingly beat Malvern College in the Regional Final of the ISGA Match Play Tournament to secure one of 16 places in the National Finals. The team’s final score of 309 placed them 8th out of 114 schools who originally entered the competition from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The Sailing Club has had its busiest year for some time with all year round sailing and power boating and a longer list of racing fixtures. Thanks to investment by the school and the generosity of the OCs, September saw the arrival of three brand new, Rondar-built, matched, team-racing Fireflies with ‘Clifton College’ emblazoned across the hulls and the azure-blue sails. The racing season is getting longer than usual with ‘local’ fixtures against Millfield, Prior Park, Colstons and Sherborne to complement the Southern and Midland BSDRA events. Finally we have three internationals this term: Lily Owsley has made the U18 England squad for the UK school games in the summer; Murray Lidgitt will shoot for GB and Ryan Westley is in the Kayak team.

On Sunday 13th June, twenty-one candidates (10 from the Pre, 10 from the Upper School and one member of staff) were confirmed by Bishop Mike of Bristol in the Independent Schools Confirmation Service at Bristol Cathedral. Clifton was the only school represented this year, and we filled the nave as each pupil received excellent support from their families, godparents and friends.

Over 120 candidates have taken LAMDA examinations this year with more Distinctions than in any other year before. Seven 6th formers put on a production of Equus in the Fives Courts, which proved an effective setting indeed and thanks must go to David Fells for coming up with this innovative idea for the staging. The Junior play was Present Laughter by Noel Coward. The acting in both was superb giving audiences a taste of the talent present and to come.

Next term begins on Tuesday 7th September for all new pupils and boarders: lessons begin on Wednesday 8th. Sheridan Leech will be Head of School: his deputies will be George Kinsey and Lauren Gilmour.

Have a very good summer.

Mark Moore
Head of College and Head Master of the Upper School

3 July 2010

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