Inside Ibstock - Senior school

Inside Ibstock Ibstock Place Senior School Termly Newsletter | Summer 2024

Inside this issue:

What’s new Academic 03 |

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Expressive Arts

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06

Co-Curricular Pastoral, Wellbeing, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Alumni and Careers Sport Trips | | | 08 10

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14

Community and Partnerships

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FIPS

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ISSUE 6

Inside Ibstock Headmaster‘s Welcome

Summer 2024

On the one hand, it’s when our academic programmes often reach their crescendo, most obviously with the taking of both public and internal examinations. On the other, though, it’s also when the School can explore most fully its commitment to a genuinely holistic view of education - one which opens its pupils’ minds to skills and knowledge which can only be acquired from outside of the classroom. So it is with Summer Term 2024, the details of which are held within this latest edition of Inside Ibstock. In the pages ahead, you will read of the very many special events which have punctuated the term, and of the impressive range of achievements which our pupils have registered through the course of them. From the sporting field to the stage, as well as all points in-between, it has been a termwhich will live long in the memory. I hope that you enjoy reading all about it. Welcome to ‘Inside Ibstock’ Ibstock is a “restless” school, bounding with energy. Never is this more apparent than it is during the Summer Term. The summer months offer a uniquely broad range of experience for our young people.

Last Day Before Study Leave

Our Senior 11 pupils enjoyed their last day before study leave with the all-important shirt signing ceremony followed by Ibstock doughnuts. Mr. Wolsey was on hand to distribute the doughnuts and personally wish each pupil best of luck. Our Upper Sixth Formers went out in style with fancy dress costumes, a staff vs pupils’ tug-of-war, a massive water fight on the field and to top it all off, a delicious barbecue. A wonderful occasion, it was a chance to celebrate all their hard work, friendships and reflect on their school journey.

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Inside Ibstock What’s New

Summer 2024

We celebrated our 130th Anniversary with a fantastic Festival, including electrifying performances, entertainment, music, activities, stalls and games as well as an array of delicious food and drink. The day was certainly one to remember and we thank all the staff, parent and pupil volunteers who made it possible. Ibstock 130 Festival

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Inside Ibstock Academic

Summer 2024

ESU Churchill Public Speaking Competition

Our Senior 11 public speaking team triumphed in the national final of the ESU Churchill Public Speaking Competition at the University of Cambridge. The competition is the largest and oldest public speaking competition of its kind in the UK with over 1500 pupils in 350 teams from schools across England andWales participating annually. Well done to Tallulah, Lorenza and Sebastian, our champions and to their coach, Dr Hazell. A truly considerable achievement!

Senior 9 Classicists Trip to Roman Baths

Our Senior 9 Classicists explored the Roman Baths as part of their lessons on Roman civilisation. Some pupils were even brave enough to taste the historic waters! They also visited Stonehenge to learn more about the Pre-Roman religious practises in Britain. The visit was a fantastic journey of exploration!

UK Linguistics Olympiad Winners

Congratulations to Alexander (Lower Sixth) and Benjy (Senior 11) who won Silver in the UK Linguistics Olympiad at both Advanced Level and Intermediate Level, Amelia (Lower Sixth), Finlay (Lower Sixth) and Oliver (Senior 11) who won Silver at Intermediate Level and Larissa (Senior 10) who won Bronze at Foundation Level. Our pupils had to tackle intricate problems in various languages, including Khmer, Xhosa and Georgian.

Great Big Green Week

Senior 10 pupils celebrated Great Big GreenWeek with a talk from Chris Hollister from Shipton Mill, the source of our Great Ibstock Bake Off’s flour. During a fascinating talk, Chris explored regenerative farming and howwe can all work towards a healthier future. Pupils also watched a film called Six Inches of Soil; spotlighting farmers who are fixing problems caused by industrialized farming. Later, pupils also had the opportunity to ask the producer of this incredible film, Claire Mackenzie, questions during a captivating Q&A session.

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Inside Ibstock Academic

Summer 2024

Senior 10 Takeover Day

Our Takeover Day gave Senior 10 pupils a sneak peek into Sixth Form life! It was a great opportunity to try out different A-Level subjects, experience Ibstock Sixth Form and even test their problem solving and lateral thinking skills with some fun team building activities! The day gave pupils a taste of the future and sparked some serious thoughts and conversations about their next big steps.

Chinese Tea Ceremony

Our Senior 10 pupils studying Chinese had the opportunity to learn about the traditional Chinese tea ceremony from two tea experts from Hong Kong, Mr. Lai and Mr. Mak. Through engaging their five senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, they were able to appreciate the essence and significance of the tea ceremony and connect with an important part of Chinese heritage.

Harry Potter Literary Tea Party The winners of the Senior 9 Summer Reading Project were treated to a Harry Potter-themed tea party. This annual prize is awarded to the class with the highest average number of books read and the most impressive reading portfolios. Pupils enjoyed the festivities alongside their English teacher, Mr. Elstub, with themed decorations and food adding to the magical atmosphere.

UK Rocketry Competition

Oliver, Finley, Sarai and Lilian (all Lower Sixth) made it through to the national finals of the UKROC (UK Rocketry Competition). Their rocket, called “the Milky Way”, competed alongside the top 20 teams in the country and came 8th overall. Congratulations!

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Summer 2024

Inside Ibstock Expressive Arts

Teachers’ Terrible Tales

Our Lower Senior Production 'Teachers' Terrible Tales' was full of surprising twists and turns! Packed with music, movement, laughter, scary surprises and creepy happenings, our Senior 7 to 9 pupils terrified and entertained the audience over two nights. The play, a brand-new piece written by Mrs Quick with original songs by Graham Lappin, tells the story of eight rogue children who push their parents to the limit and are sent to a correctional school run by the powerful Strict Sisters. Congratulations to the cast and everyone involved in making the production a success!

Evolve

‘Evolve’, Ibstock’s whole school dance show of 2024, was a huge triumph, showcasing a diverse range of styles including Acro, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Street Dance. The pupils performed to a sold-out audience, displaying remarkable artistry and talent.

The Berkeley Ensemble

Our music scholars worked with our professional ensemble-in-residence ‘The Berkeley Ensemble’. The pupils showed great professionalism and an exceptionally high level of musicianship throughout the rehearsal process, which culminated in a fabulous concert in the evening. Well done to everyone involved!

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Summer 2024

Inside Ibstock Expressive Arts

Lower Sixth Form Drama Congratulations to the Lower Sixth Dramatists who performed a reinterpretation of Samuel Beckett's ‘Waiting for Godot’ in the style of Steven Berkoff's Total Theatre. They created a disturbing and nightmarish world with a splattering of humour, which was utterly engaging throughout.

GCSE Drama

Our talented GCSE Drama pupils performed their final examination pieces to a live audience in the Studio Theatre. During a highly entertaining evening, they brought to life extracts from Sense and Sensibility, The Memory of Water, The Cat’s Mother, Be My Baby, Rope and Blithe Spirit.

Find Me

Senior 10 GCSE Dramatists performed the play ‘Find Me’ by OlwenWymark. The play tells the true story of Verity Taylor who suffers with mental health issues and was performed in the Studio Theatre, creating an intimate and immersive atmosphere with the audience. Congratulations to all pupils who sensitively told this powerful story.

A-Level and GCSE Art Exhibitions A-Level and GCSE Art pupils put on a brilliant exhibition of their work, displaying a rich variety of artistic approaches. Exploring themes such as ‘Concealment’ and ‘Surrealism’, pupils worked with traditional oil painting techniques, textiles, installation and sculpture to create unique, creative and ambitious pieces. Many pieces also featured in the Fashion Show earlier this year!

Schola Cantorum Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral

Schola Cantorum sang as the visiting choir at St Paul’s Cathedral for Choral Evensong. This was the climax of a busy April for Schola, having already sung in Southwark Cathedral earlier in the term. The choir sang beautifully and were great ambassadors for the School, performing in front of more than 500 members of the public.

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Inside Ibstock Trips

Summer 2024

Senior 8 and 9 Trip to Les Deux Alpes

Our Senior 8 and 9 pupils had a fantastic time skiing in Les Deux Alpes during the Easter holidays. Pupils made

remarkable progress in their skiing and built confidence as they found their ski legs. The fun continued off the slopes with activities including laser tag, bowling, board games, pool, table tennis and plenty of laughter. A wonderful few days filled with fresh mountain air, making memories, learning new skills and building snowmen!

Our Senior 10 historians travelled to theWWI battlefields of Ypres and the Somme as part of their GCSE History studies. Pupils walked the trenches at Hill 62, honoured the fallen at Thiepval, stood in awe at Lochnagar Crater, and reflected at Tyne Cot Cemetery. Dr. Cairns also paid tribute to poet Edward Thomas in Arras. Guides also provided insightful stories about inspiring individuals and battalions during what was a thought-provoking trip. Senior 10 Trip to Ypres and the Somme

Senior 9 and 10 Trip to Rouen

Senior 9 and 10 pupils enjoyed a wonderful trip to Rouen during the May Half Term. Staying with host families gave them the opportunity to hone their conversation skills around the dinner table, and language lessons every morning further improved their linguistic abilities. In the afternoons, pupils had a guided tour of Rouen's fine art museum, including many iconic Monet paintings of Rouen's beautiful cathedral, undertook a photography competition with scavenger hunt elements, learnt about the life of Joan of Arc (famously put to death in Rouen) and visited a confectionary factory where they made typical (and delicious!) Rouennais specialities.

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Inside Ibstock Trips

Summer 2024

Senior 7 Trip to Paris

During Activities Week, our Senior 7 pupils spent four days in France, taking in the sights and sounds of Paris and its surrounds. Taking the ferry and

coach to the PGL Chateau de Grande Romaine, they enjoyed excursions and activities such as swimming, football and basketball in the beautiful grounds. After climbing the Eiffel Tower, with its newly-added Olympic rings, they enjoyed a picnic lunch on a bateau parisien along the Seine, before learning to make crêpes. They also spent an afternoon in the medieval town of Provins, where they saw an acrobatic show of impressive birds of prey, and took a walk through the beautiful palace of Fontainebleau, as well as enjoying a visit to a small artisanal cheese factory to learn about and taste Brie cheeses.

Senior 9 Trip to Valencia

Senior 9 Spanish pupils were lucky enough to visit Valencia during HolyWeek or ‘Semana Santa’ over the Easter break. They tried flamenco dancing, took in the beautiful gothic architecture, learnt about bullfighting traditions, visited the Mestalla Stadium and experienced the stunning City of Arts and Sciences, a ‘broche de oro’ de Spring Term! They embraced the culture with gusto and put their language skills to the test ¡Que Viva España y que viva el Español!

Senior 9 Trip to Ullswater

Senior 9 pupils experienced the adventure of a lifetime at Outward Bound Ullswater! Venturing into the breathtaking Lake District, they embarked on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery and adventure. They participated in a variety of exhilarating activities designed to build teamwork, resilience, and independence with each group facing and conquering unique challenges. Pupils experienced the thrill of climbing gorges, sleeping under the stars atop Helvellyn, England's third-highest peak, and breathtaking sunsets and sunrises. This was more than just a trip; it was a transformative adventure that empowered young minds, made lifelong memories and inspired future leaders.

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Inside Ibstock Sport

Summer 2024

Congratulations to Ella (Senior 11) who was selected for the British Rowing Junior Inter Regional Regatta (JIRR), which was held in Nottingham. British Rowing Junior Inter-Regional Regatta

It is the top-tier junior annual regional event in the UK. Ella represented the Thames London region in theWomen’s Under 16 Single Scull and finished 3rd in the A-Final. It was an incredible race, where she was only 3 seconds behind the winner, and only 1 second behind second place!

10k Run for Ovarian Cancer Action

Congratulations to George, Andrew, Max (Upper Sixth) and Jasper (Lower Sixth) of the Ibstock Rugby Team who completed a 10K run at the Battersea Park Millennium Arena, raising more than £1,400 for Ovarian Cancer Action.

A huge congratulations to the U15 Football Girls’ team for securing victory in the 2024 ISFA Girls Shield finals with a 3-1 win against Rossall School! We are very proud of you! Thank you to Miss Graham for all her support and hard work. U15 Girls Football Victory at ISFA Shield Final

Congratulations to the 48 Ibstock athletes who participated at theWandsworth Borough Athletic Championships, bringing home a total of 33 medals (17 gold, 7 silver and 9 bronze medals). Special mention to Conor, Archie, Isabella, Emilia, Elyssa, Rosie, Soren, Winnie and Xander (Senior 9), Oscar, Finn, Emma and Jack (Senior 10) and Skye (Senior 11). Wandsworth Borough Championships

Trampoline European Championships Congratulations to Sebastian (Senior 11) who is now European Champion

Kick Boxing Achievement

Congratulations to Ayaan (Senior 7) who was recently awarded a black belt, the highest grade, in Kick Boxing!

after winning gold in the tumbling category at the 29th Trampoline European Championships!

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Inside Ibstock Sport

Summer 2024

Track and Field Day

Track and Field Day was truly unforgettable, marked by outstanding performances in every event and the breaking of several School records. Pupils dressed up in their House colours and enthusiastically supported each other. Congratulations to Brearley House, who emerged as the overall winners and proudly took home the Annual Sports Day Award. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to making this day a success!

A Cricket Hat-Trick! Three hugely successful cricket events brought together pupils, parents, staff and alumni. This year's FIPS Cricket Festival proved our most popular yet, with 24 mums signing up, a testament to both the School’s sense of community and the continued growth of girls’ cricket at Ibstock. Cricket Day saw yet more parent involvement but this time it was the dads’ turn. Boasting a breadth of experience between them, they prevailed over the 1st XI pupil team, but it wasn’t enough to win the day, with the Staff XI team finishing victorious! Lastly, the eagerly anticipated Senior XI v Old Ibstonians fixture was played as a 75 over declaration game. Both teams showcased strong performances with the 1st XI managing to claw their way back into the game despite the Old Ibstonians starting with 100 runs and only a wicket down. The game ended in a draw and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

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Inside Ibstock Co-Curricular

Summer 2024

Activities Weeks

A packed two weeks saw pupils engaging in a wide range of exciting on- and off-site activities. Highlights included circus skills, ‘It’s a Knockout’, cooking workshops and various trips including Oxford and Thorpe Park. Both weeks provided a wonderful opportunity to try new things, have fun with friends, and extend learning beyond the classroom. A much-anticipated highlight was The Great Ibstock Bake Off, which proved to be a spectacular success. Pupils donned their aprons and rolled up their sleeves to compete for the title of Ibstock’s ‘Star Bakers’. The competition was fierce, with each team bringing their A-game and a sprinkle of creativity to the table. Funds raised by pupils and parents went to the brilliant Rackets Cubed. A big thank you to our fantastic panel of judges!

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Inside Ibstock Co-Curricular

Summer 2024

The Feminist Society and Henna Club joined forces to celebrate Taylor Swift’s new album at a Tortured Poets Party! Inspired by the title song on the album, pupils had a chance to flex their lyrical ability on a second-hand typewriter. They sang Taylor’s latest hits, tackled a fun Taylor quiz, and crafted glitter origami cat bookmarks. Punctual attendees were gifted a limited-edition, custom-made badge featuring a special logo designed by Michaela (Senior 8). Takeaways included Taylor stickers and poetry postcards featuring top picks from the English Department and written by our school poet laureate Emily (Lower Sixth). We’re looking forward to launching our Tortured Poets Society next term to further explore songwriting and poetic brilliance across all genres and eras. Feminist Society Celebrates Taylor Swift’s New Album

House Chess Competition

Successful pupils from the House Chess Championships were invited to compete in the School Chess Championships. After a series of grueling knockout matches, reigning champion Robert (Senior 8) defeated Michael (Senior 9) in an exciting Caro-Kann to defend his crown as the two-time Ibstock School Chess Champion! Congratulations Robert!

House Table Tennis Competition

House Table Tennis traditionally concludes the race for the House Cup. Held over three sunny lunchtimes, more than 50 players participated in over 150 games to earn points for their Houses. The top players then advanced to the individual tournament. Kit (Senior 8) of Montefiore, last year's finalist, won a thrilling final against rising star Daniel (Senior 8) of Findlay. Kit's victory also secured Montefiore's overall win, with Findlay second, Brearley third, and Paget fourth. Congratulations to all players!

Ealing Dance Festival

The Ibstock Dance Companies recently participated in the Ealing Dance Festival and thoroughly enjoyed performing their Lyrical and Jazz pieces to the audience and adjudicator Craig Bartley. Congratulations to both Prep and Senior groups who came first and second respectively with excellent scores, including a distinction with a staggering 88 marks for the Prep jazz piece of ‘Zero to Hero’.

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Inside Ibstock Pastoral, Wellbeing, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Summer 2024

Pride Day

We celebrated Global Pride Day on June 27, embracing our values of kindness and inclusivity with musical performances on the Terrace. Pupils and staff were encouraged to wear colourful clothes for the day and contribute £1 to the akt charity, which provides support and training for vulnerable and homeless young people who identify as LGBTQ. Many proudly wore the Ibstock Pride 24 badge, designed by Alex (Senior 7), along with glitter henna tattoos. Our rugby first XV joined sixty other schools across the country in #ReadWithPride 2024 by celebrating Simon James Green’s new YA title ‘The Big Ask’. It’s a brilliant comedic prom tale of fun, friendship and facing your fears.

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Inside Ibstock Alumni and Careers

Summer 2024

Ibstock 130 Festival Alumni Sport Fixtures

We kicked off the Ibstock 130 Festival with some friendly alumni sports matches over on Cooper’s Campus. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces back at School and many stayed on after the matches to enjoy the Festival and catch up with friends, former classmates and teachers. Thank you to Mr Robinson and Mr Price for oganising the fixtures!

Activities Week Alumni Visit and Careers Talk We were delighted to welcome back eight alumni who spoke to our Lower Sixth pupils about their experiences at University. Pupils were given the chance to ask questions and talk to alumni in small groups. The ins and outs of placement years, the importance of joining societies and how to cook on a tight budget were all covered! Senior 10 pupils also listened to a talk by parent BenWalder on his book ‘The Visual Agile Coach Playbook’, all about the power of growth mindsets, psychological safety and creativity in the world of work. This was followed by pupils creating and pitching a business idea, using these very skills!

International Universities Fair

Where are they now?

At our International Universities Fair, pupils had the chance to speak to representatives from a wide range of universities and explore the opportunities available to study in the UK and abroad. Universities with campuses all over the world were there, from the USA, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, and Singapore.

Mr Robinson caught up with alumni Ben, Jessica and Caroline Steib who relocated to New York City in 2012. They popped in for a tour, reconnected with some of their teachers and shared many fond memories. It was lovely to see them and hear about howwell they are doing in their respective careers and studies!

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Inside Ibstock Community Partnerships

Summer 2024

Senior 10 Elderly Social

Elderly residents from different local sheltered housing residences were invited to Ibstock for an intergenerational tea party. Our Senior 10 pupils were in charge of running a quiz and a raffle, as well as providing musical entertainment and social interaction. Both guests and pupils had a brilliant time, chatting over tea and biscuits provided by our wonderful catering team. Ibstock also funded accessible transport for our guests to and from the party.

DofE Gardening

As a part of the volunteering section for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, some of our pupils helped our Head Gardener, Joe Rudd, with the grounds around school. Pupils learnt about horticulture, landscaping, plant nutrition and even the Latin names of some of the plants and flowers. Next time you enjoy the beautiful surroundings of our orchard, woodlands and rose gardens, remember that some of this came from the well guided hands of our own pupils!

Queen Mary’s Hospital Visit

Bringing Joy to the Community

During activities week, some of our Lower Sixth pupils ran a social event for long term patients at Queen Mary's Hospital. Pupils also hosted a quiz and a raffle, and entertained the patients with a good old chinwag. Other Lower Sixth pupils organised a fun sports day for year 5 and 6 pupils at Roehampton Church School to encourage their teamwork and perseverance.

Members of Ibstock's Impact Club visited a local sheltered housing facility in Roehampton to enjoy a chat and share some delicious sweet treats with the residents. The visit brought smiles and joy, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere that brightened the day of everyone involved.

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Summer 2024

Inside Ibstock Families of Ibstock Place School

Prize Giving

We celebrate our FIPS members who work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to plan so many wonderful events throughout the term, many of which could not happen without the support of parents and volunteers. On the last day of term, we held our annual prize giving ceremony, and celebrated our prize winners, Sixth Form Leavers and the whole Ibstock Community with a drinks reception on the Terrace. It was the perfect way to end another busy term!

Second-hand Uniform Sales

Thank you to Ms Mesrobian and the FIPS volunteers who organise and support our second-hand uniform sales over the school year. We are so grateful for the time and effort put into running these sales and know how valuable they are to parents.

Ibstock 130 Festival We thank the FIPS members and volunteers who made the Ibstock 130 Festival possible and to all the parents and families who attended and supported the event. It was a fantastic day and we hope everyone enjoyed it!

Interested in finding out more about FIPS? Whether it's attending events, volunteering or joining the committee, we welcome all enquiries at FIPS@ibstockplaceschool.co.uk

Keep up-to-date with news from Ibstock, follow us on

@ibstocksenior

@ibstockplaceschool

@IbstockSenior

Ibstock Place School , Clarence Lane, Roehampton, London , SW15 5PY Tel: 020 8876 9991 www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk

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