School Matters 36

IBSTOCK PLACE SENIOR SCHOOL ISSUE 36, 06/2022

SCHOOL MATTERS

Niah Melomey and Peace Thompson, S8

Fleur Anderson MP with Tom and Saskia

COP26 SEES ECO-COMMITTEE LAUNCH

As world leaders gathered in Glasgow to make commitments to slow down Climate Change, the IPS community followed COP26 with great interest. Geography lessons focused attention on the conference and the newly appointed Sixth Form Cabinet Members for the Environment introduced themselves in a special assembly. Here, they explained the formation of a new Eco-Committee and a panel of Senior 8 speakers gave an excellent presentation which helped raise awareness of the issues under consideration at the conference. They challenged each of us to consider how we are going to make our contribution to the fight against Climate Change.

In Craft Club, pupils from Senior 7 and Senior 8 got busy under Miss Hemming’s supervision, making “Green Hearts” to support the Eco Committee in raising awareness for the Climate Coalition’s ‘Show the Love’ campaign. Pupils ripped up green sugar paper and scrap shredded paper, blended it to a pulp and added collected flowers and leaves, before using a Mould and Deckle to form sheets of recycled paper. Once dry, they cut out different shaped hearts to stick on the postcards provided by the campaign. Saskia Jenkins and Tom Welton were able to present these pupil-created Green Hearts to local MP Ms Fleur Anderson who was visiting IPS to address the Sixth

Form. In an accompanying letter sent on behalf of all involved, they wrote: ‘The pupils of Ibstock Place School have been busy making, baking and crafting “Green Hearts” to show we want to see further action from our government on climate change. Each heart represents our appreciation for our planet and all that it does for us. We have been inspired by the Climate Coalition’s “Show the Love” campaign and […] we hope very much that you will be able to use your position as a law maker and an influencer to press for further action on this critical matter.’ Well done to IPS pupils for leading from the front as together we seek to tackle the challenges of Climate Change.

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ACAAS IS FORMED

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: MADELAINE HELLEUR O’CONNOR SPEAKS TO IPS

The IPS Society for pupils of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage and their Allies was launched on Martin Luther King Day. Ms Bennett, Head of Montefiore House, introduced an online presentation given by PVI ACAAS Committee members Tireni Ajayi, who is of Nigerian heritage, Nuria Dhumale, Arin Gramopadhye, Rishabh Madhok, who are of Indian heritage, and Max Mahendra, whose heritage is half-Malay and half-British. Together they explained that the aims of the society are to: • run a weekly club providing educational opportunities to learn different languages and their associated cultures • develop a mentorship programme run by S10 and PVI pupils for Senior 7 and academically, and would prefer to talk to someone from a similar background • offer a place for pupils to share positive as well as negative feedback on experiences at IPS • build a community in which we all unify against racism, make our school inclusive and create a safe space for all • celebrate the rich diversity of pupil heritage at IPS • introduce a Speaker Programme once every half term featuring speakers from diverse heritages who will talk about their experiences and challenges from the perspective of being an ethnic minority in the UK Yeva Kebabdjian, an Ally of the society, emphasised that everyone was welcome to attend, regardless of heritage, religion, or background. We are very excited to see and support 8 pupils, especially those of diverse heritages who may be finding it difficult to settle in at IPS, either socially or

Madelaine is a Data and Technology Consultant at KPMG and a member of their Technology Inclusion and Diversity team. She very kindly recorded an assembly for IPS pupils in which she talked about Microagressions and Microresistance. Microaggressions are brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioural, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults toward people of colour and other marginalised groups. Perpetrators of microaggressions are often unaware that they have caused offence, but these constant slights can be hurtful and have long-lasting impact on those targeted. Madelaine gave us strategies to deal with or call out microagressions and called this microresistance. Her advice chimed with As part of Black History Month, S7 pupils investigated the contributions made by black individuals through time, right up to present day. Our task was not necessarily to focus on the well-known names, but to seek out those lesser-known and consider the contribution that they made to society. One of the individuals that we learnt about was CJ Walker, an African American woman who developed cosmetics for African American women. Walker’s early life was hard. Although orphaned at seven and later working as a domestic servant, by the time she died, aged 51, she was one of the wealthiest African Americans in the United States.

IPS expectations of how we interact with other people in our community: • Treat others as you wish to be treated – with Respect, Consideration and Empathy • Call Out rude, hurtful, or thoughtless comments or behaviour, in a calm and logical way • Be an Ally – stand up for others when they need our support Mrs Catherine McBride, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion In more recent history, several Senior 7s drew attention to the influence of Marcus Rashford, the footballer. His contribution was highlighting the plight of children during lockdown who were not getting enough to eat. Rashford started a campaign to raise money to feed poorer children and by the end of his campaign he had raised £20 million and provided three million meals for children in the UK. We also learnt about Guion S Bluford, who was the first black astronaut. Bluford fought in the Vietnam War and first went into space in August 1983. He was a veteran astronaut, participating in four Space Shuttle flights between 1983 and 1992, and he completed a PhD in aerospace engineering. We also enjoyed learning about the contribution of various black singers, including Whitney Houston. During her lifetime she won 415 awards, including six Grammy and two Emmy awards and her music is still enjoyed today. Black History Month may have drawn to a close, but we look forward to covering other elements of black history during the rest of the academic year. Dr Luc Martin, Head of Humanities

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Dr Guion S Bluford

the work of this group over the coming months.

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#IPSPARTNERSHIPS LVI Community Outreach We were excited to launch our LVI Leadership scheme, for the first time involving all in-person volunteering. All LVIs studying three A-levels take part, meaning that we now have 53 pupils completing a weekly activity designed to help our local community. The aim of the scheme is for pupils to have an opportunity to build their skills in resilience, communication, and teamwork, while providing valuable service to others. We intend for these links to continue for many years and are looking forward to seeing these partnerships develop. We are equally thrilled this year to have become a host site for the wonderful work of the charity Rackets Cubed. Founded in late 2016, Rackets Cubed currently serves more than 300 primary school children from Sacred Heart Roehampton, Alton, Airedale, Heathmere and Ellingham schools. It strives to provide them with significant extra- curricular support. The vision is driven by the increasing evidence that active children have higher school achievement and that nutritious foods improve classroom behaviour. It focuses on inner city schools with high IDACI ratings (Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index). Don Ng, who has been one of the IPS LVI volunteers with the programme, writes: “The programme has a three-pronged approach which includes Sports, Maths/ STEM and Nutrition. The program I participate in teaches Year 3 Maths and tennis. The aim is to increase the health and fitness of the children, educating them

and vegetables. Our latest mission has been building a polytunnel, in which we plan to grow plants through the spring and summertime. My favourite aspect of gardening is not only that I get to do it with my friends, but we are constantly learning new, niche skills that otherwise, I don’t think I ever would have learnt. For example, being able to build flower beds from simple wood planks, using a drill – and weeding! I also find it enjoyable being outside in the fresh air after long hours in a classroom, as well as the fulfilment it gives being able to help the local community and see a place transform.” In addition, we have several groups of Sixth Formers helping support activities at nearby Alton Primary School. Finnius Towle and Rosa Velasco write: “We have been helping pupils in Year 3. We have found their classroom a friendly, accommodating and uplifting learning environment in which we have been welcomed by pupils and teachers alike. The school’s flexible schedule allows for us to assist in a wide range of subjects such as English, Maths, Science and Computing. We either move around the room answering questions the pupils might have or we are assigned to a particular child for more targeted support. We also had the pleasure of assisting in presenting the year group’s assembly. The programme has helped us develop our skills of communication, creativity and collaboration. We have been able to develop connections with each and every pupil and have witnessed their progress over time, which has proven to be extremely gratifying. Not only are the pupils developing their academic skills, but the initiative has also benefited us both, as it has enabled us to improve our ability to interact with younger people and be able to accommodate

about nutrition, raising their academic achievement and improving their daily lives. As a volunteer, I must use skills such as empathy, leadership, teamwork and communication working alongside teachers.” We thank Don and the other pupil volunteers on the Rackets Cubed project and we look forward to this excellent partnership continuing to allow us further to support the charity’s work in the community. One of the most creative projects continues to be our Community Gardening project at the Alton Activity Centre on nearby Alton Estate. In some weeks, pupils also make over grounds around the sheltered housing areas on the estate, helping elderly residents who are not able to do this for themselves. The pupils are ably led by DT Teacher Mr Jeremiah O’Sullivan. Phoebe Groome writes: “The garden project that I am involved with is located within a playground on the estate and it brings many people joy when seeing it being transformed from an overgrown, unappealing patch of soil to an amazing space to grow flowers, fruit

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to their needs to make sure each pupil is making good progress with their learning. Volunteering has been an exceptionally rewarding experience, and the community spirit developed benefits all parties involved.” And of his own volunteering work at the Mosaic Jewish Primary School, Iain Kennedy writes: “Helping primary school pupils of various ages at Mosaic Jewish Primary School to read I find extremely rewarding. The pupils are always enthusiastic, and I am challenged to think of ways to explain words and concepts accessibly. I also enjoy how regular the weekly sessions are as you can see an individual pupil’s reading ability progress over time which is immensely gratifying. It is also interesting to listen to the ideas that the children have about the books they are reading and chatting about the best illustrations in the book is always entertaining! The volunteering is made even more of a pleasure by the welcoming and vibrant environment at the school. For any PVIs reading, who next year will be wondering what type of community outreach they would most enjoy, I encourage them to give reading at Mosaic Jewish Primary School a go!” We have also continued our concerted effort to open the wonderful buildings of IPS to the wider community. Pupils from nearby Alton Primary School have come in regularly to use our cookery room and swimming pool, with IPS pupil assistance. We also have pupils helping with curriculum support and two extra- curricular sports clubs at the Alton. A separate, smaller group attends Linden

Lodge School, Southfields, for the visually and multi-sensory impaired, to support in- class activities. Almina Agkun writes: “Working alongside visually impaired children of differing abilities, including those who are hearing impaired, is a unique experience. We assist children in a variety of learning environments such as sciences lessons and food tech – which I personally favour most! We cook together, play games, have sociable and lively discussions, and many laughs. Although only volunteering weekly, we have all made friends in the time we have spent so far. One key skill that we consistently had to put into play was our teamwork; being able to communicate with one another to complete tasks was crucial. Working closely with one girl in particular also

meant that I had to gain her trust. Guiding her through steps appeared challenging at first but was really pleasing and great fun! Being challenged is definitely useful and problem solving plays a huge role in working with children. I have enjoyed volunteering at Linden Lodge immensely. I adore socialising with others, as well as being able to help in any way to make the children’s lives the slightest bit easier and more enjoyable. I would greatly recommend Linden Lodge to anyone who loves a lively atmosphere with plenty of new people to meet and no two weeks the same!” Another strand of the programme involves pupils contributing to the work of the Over 60s Café, which works to help isolated elderly residents on the Alton Estate. Pupils are not only involved in serving

#IPSPARTNERSHIPS Medical School Application Day

IPS was thrilled to welcome several generous medical professionals who came into School to support pupils interested in pursuing a career as a medic. In addition to the 22 IPS pupils from PVI–UVI, we also hosted nearly 40 external pupils from nearby state schools: Christ’s School, St Cecilia’s School, and Richmond Park Academy, Pupils took part in four different workshops and were given the chance to grill working doctors in a Q&A session, practise their interview skills in a mock mini-medical-interview session, explore issues surrounding medical ethics, and discuss how best to use their time in the run up to sending off that all-important UCAS form. It was a busy afternoon and pupils gained so much from the experience. Our thanks go to, Dr Cousins, Dr Mayahi, Dr Oldfield, Dr Robinson and Dr Wilkerson for giving up their valuable time, as well as the many teaching staff who took part.

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food but also providing a friendly face and social stimulation to the residents. Madeleine Hathaway writes: “The Over 60s Café has been a wonderful experience for us to participate in. Having this opportunity has been more beneficial than we could have ever thought. The idea is that we offer our help to the other volunteers who run the occasion every week. This includes serving food and drinks, clearing tables, and socialising with the guests. However, it is safe to say that we get far more in return! Each week we find ourselves coming away with the most witty, wise, and fascinating stories from people who are truly passionate and sincerely keen to talk with us. Learning to be a good listener is a core life skill, and very helpful in School! We are also understanding the importance of taking care of those around us which is certainly what makes for a better society. It is so lovely to be involved in something that shows people spreading kindness, generosity, and warmth.” Finally, we have had a group working with DT teacher Mr Tatchell to make toys to be donated to children on the Alton Estate.

We hope these beautiful, hand-made toys will be very welcome to young children whose parents might struggle to provide such things. Melis Buberka writes: “We create toys in the DT workshop and design our ideas online. Whether it is sawing, sanding, or manipulating materials of all kinds, we know our effort and end result will put a smile on the face of a child who deserves happiness. So far this year, we have created toy boats from scratch as Christmas presents and continued with our designs for planes, keychains and more. I am enjoying my volunteering much more than I could imagine. Not only is this a great way to keep in touch with my artistic and creative side, but I am using my time for something greater than myself. As a team, we have worked well together to identify the best

choices of toys we should create. We laugh at our mistakes, and we enjoy our time when in the workshop. I highly recommend this choice to anyone who wants to help society whilst having fun!” All projects will continue until the end of the academic year. Whilst the benefits to the community around IPS are clear, we are sure that the LVI will reap the rewards from this scheme in their development of responsibility, communication and imagination. We also, of course, hope they enjoy these exciting opportunities and look forward to hearing more about how they develop. Miss Charlotte Rhead, Director of Outreach and Partnerships

#IPSPARTNERSHIPS – At Christmas

With the reliance on food banks rising rapidly during the periods of lockdown, School partnered with local charities Regenerate and Rackets Cubed and drew on the extraordinary generosity of the IPS community to make regular donations of provisions and supplies to reach over 200 local families. Nikki Rosner, Community Box Programme CEO reported: “Your financial support and, of course, all the food donations have helped keep us going. The Roehampton Community Box has given out nearly 15,000 food boxes, making up about 180,000 meals. It is very clear we would not still be going without your support.” We had a phenomenal response to our request for donated Christmas presents. These went to the same families who rely on the Rackets Cubed food banks, and via Ms Faka at the Alton’s ‘After School Rocks’ club. Thank you so much to all pupils, parents and staff who contributed. Gifts of song were also offered along with the wrapped presents. An intrepid sub-section of Schola Cantorum took its talents on tour around Roehampton as Christmas approached. After a chilly al fresco rehearsal on Front Drive, the carollers started with a performance for the residents of Minstead Gardens Sheltered Accommodation where a small but appreciative audience gathered in the communal garden to listen to the singers. The pupils then scampered up the hill to Queen Mary’s Hospital, where they brought festive cheer to the patients of the geriatric ward, singing outside their open windows, and to the staff coming and going through the main entrance. Lastly, the group sang to appreciative residents of Duchesne House, who gathered in their conservatory to hear the pupils outside on the lawn and participate joyfully with the carols.

Charlotte Glenister and Kit Thompson, LVI by the overflowing donations box so generously filled by IPS pupils, parents and staff.

Carollers head for Queen Mary’s

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DEBATING REPORT We congratulate all our IPS Debaters and Public Speakers who have entered several competitions over recent months and emerged with a string of resounding successes. Dr Matt Hazell, Teacher of Rhetoric and Debating provides the round up.

BIG WIN IN ESU CHURCHILL PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION

A trio of intrepid PVI Public Speakers competed in the London Regional Finals of the largest and most prestigious school public speaking competition in the UK held in the beautiful surroundings of Dartmouth House, the ESU’s impressive Mayfair headquarters. Olivia Arbour, Yeva Kebabdjian and Charlie Tebbutt had progressed through two

Igor, Yeva, Calum, Olivia and Matthew

SHHS SPRING PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION

Yeva, Charlie and Olivia

online preliminary rounds to get to this stage. They now faced seven London teams including Harrow, Notting Hill & Ealing, South Hampstead High. All teams had won two preliminary rounds to get here so standards were incredibly high. Yeva Kebabdjian spoke eloquently on Rudyard Kipling’s “Words are the powerful drug used by mankind”. Her soaring rhetoric dazzled the judges, arguing persuasively that the power of words to heal or harm far exceeded that of any pharmacological agent. Chair Charlie Tebbutt deftly handled proceedings with wit, charm and well-timed jokes. Questioner Olivia Arbour was highly commended for bringing out the best in the opposing speaker. After an agonisingly long wait, the judges returned. All teams were praised but there could only be one victor: IPS! Many congratulations and all the best for the National Finals!

In only the second in-person Debating trip since the pandemic, four pupils travelled to South Hampstead High School for its annual Spring Public Speaking Competition. Pupils had to deliver a prepared speech on a topic of their choosing, as well as introduce and question another speaker from a different school. Strong performances were recorded by Igor Elmanov, S10 and PVIs Olivia Arbour, Calum Brackenridge and Yeva Kebabdjian.

A field of nearly 60 competitors was narrowed down through two preliminary rounds to a grand final. Matthew Michelmore, LVI rightfully earned his place amongst the five finalists after winning both rounds. In front of a packed auditorium, he spoke eloquently and introspectively on the topic of “What is Religion’s place in the modern world”, narrowly losing to the eventual victor. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR YOUNG DEBATERS (ICYD)

Day, S9 ranked as the best overall team, while S10s Honor Lynn and Raya Grayde were hot on their heels in second. All four pupils will represent IPS at Oxford in the International Finals! IPS similarly swept the individual rankings: Igor was named Best Speaker, Imogen was second and Honor and Raya tied for third place. The remaining contingent did exceptionally well, narrowly missing out on qualification despite competing against others older than themselves. But, with youth on their side, we are confident that Hilary Hanslin, S8 and S9s Zara Quazi, Jasper Jenkin and Gabriele Menini will avenge their loss next year.

ICYD is a global debating competition for pupils up to Year 10, run jointly by the debating societies of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Preliminary online heats happen around the world, with a select number of well-performing teams then progressing to the grand finals hosted, in-person this year, at the Oxford Union. IPS pupils were challenged with motions ranging from political philosophy to the ethics of hactivism. Entering the final round, all four IPS teams were still in the running for qualification for the International Finals. After another round of exciting and enthralling debates, two IPS teams made it through: Igor Elmanov, S10 and Imogen

Imogen Day

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UNIVERSITY OFFERS We send every good wish to all our Upper Sixth Formers taking A-level and Pre-U public examinations this summer as they strive to convert offers to places at the UK’s leading universities, as well as several prestigious institutions overseas. At a time of tremendous competition for places, we are especially pleased and proud to report that three of our pupils hold offers to study either at the University of Oxford or at the University of Cambridge. Leonie Hay and Eoin Ware, UVI plan to be Oxford bound to read History at St Peter’s and Geography at Keble, respectively. Meanwhile, Head Girl Alex Mortimer hopes to take up a place at Christ’s College, Cambridge to read Geography. We congratulate Dr Luc Martin and colleagues in the School of Humanities this year for their sterling efforts to ensure the School’s impressive Oxbridge success record is maintained once more.

Leonie Hay, UVI

Alex Mortimer, UVI

Eoin Ware, UVI

more a close match throughout and, at the halfway stage, IPS led by a narrow point. JAGS produced an impressive final round, however, meaning that with only one question to go we still trailed by one point: we had to get it correct to secure the win. As the clock ticked down, it seemed like the solution had eluded our UVI pupil but, with five seconds left, Tom raised his hand to supply the correct answer and give IPS a victory of 35 points to 34! All pupils played a big part in the win and deserve much praise. Mr Matthew Smith, Teacher of Mathematics

HANS WOYDA COMPETITION

Representing IPS against Alleyns School in the first Hans Woyda match of the year were Ayman Saleh, S8, Matthew Croston, S10, Conor Ware, S10 and Daniil Eremeev, UVI. In a close match, both teams did well and all pupils participating scored points answering some tough questions under time pressure. Alleyns took an early lead and, despite our best efforts, including a haul of 10 points in the final Race Round, we could not quite catch them and ended up losing by 34 points to 29. Nevertheless, well done to all those who participated. A special mention goes to Conor Ware who, despite only being in S10, represented IPS in the LVI category, and did not drop a single point! It was a mightily impressive individual display. Representing IPS in its second Hans Woyda match of the year against JAGS were Ayman and Matthew, once again, this time joined by Rupert Hooper, S10 and Thomas Hall, UVI. It was once

The team that beat JAGS

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CHAUCER HERITAGE TRUST CREATIVE WRITING

Dr Cairns with Sebastian Onillon, S9

NATIONAL POETRY DAY Pupils in Senior 7 – Senior 9 studied poems in class about this year’s theme of ‘Choice’ before composing their own. After last year’s virtual celebration, we were delighted to be able to host an in-person poetry recital on the Terrace this year. In front of a gathered audience, finalists from each class performed their poems, which took us on a journey from Robert Frost’s America to the plight of women in nineteenth-century society, via katsu curry! Sebastian Onillon, S9 was crowned IPS National Poetry Day Poet of the Year with his poem ‘Lies Lead to Lies’, a philosophical exploration of choice, indebted to Frost himself. The judges were impressed by Sebastian’s sophisticated topic and vocabulary. He won a copy of the beautiful anthology A Poem for Every Night of the Year, from which we hope he will draw much poetic inspiration. Thank you to all participants and finalists. Dr Anna Cairns, Head of English LIES LEAD TO LIES by Sebastian Onillon The hard and the easy The rushed who choose One path laden and long The other light and short. For a time, I stood At the bend Staring at both ends: A sycamore, tall and proud, stout and strong, lay at the long one’s end A misty meet, mysterious yet seductive, lay at the short one’s end. Not wanting the long one’s journey, Ignorantly took the short one’s route. Yet, at the end, All I found Were brambles and another bend. Now and forevermore What was under that sycamore? For lies are easy and misleading, And truth will always remain the path not taken. A lone traveller, Tired and weary,

WORKSHOP Members of IPS’s creative writing club Inklings welcomed Dr Charles Farris from the Chaucer Heritage Trust. He provided an engaging introduction to the life and works of Geoffrey Chaucer, including exploring the differences in dialogue and language in Chaucer’s day compared to modern English. Inklings also had an opportunity to practise reading snippets from The Canterbury Tales aloud using the original pronunciation. Finally, Dr Farris introduced and invited Inklings to participate in this year’s Canterbury Tales Writing Competition; this year’s theme is ‘Prejudice and difference’. Pupils began working on their stories and poems, and all left excited and eager to enter the competition.

Alaina Khan with Theresa Lola

ALAINA IS CROWNED POET LAUREATE To conclude our National Poetry Day celebrations, we were joined by the former Young People’s Laureate for London Theresa Lola for a packed day of wonderful word play. Theresa led LVI English A-level pupils in a poetry writing masterclass, designed to help sharpen pupils’ critical appreciation as well as experimenting with crafting their own verse. At Morning Break Theresa was our special guest at the open-air crowning ceremony of our new School Poet Laureate, Alaina Khan, LVI on the Terrace. Pupils of all ages had the opportunity to hear Theresa perform a poem dedicated to Alaina. It was great to see former laureate Alex Mortimer present to support Alaina. Thank you, Alex, for your huge contribution in this role and many congratulations to Alaina. Year 7 and 8 pupils were treated to interactive performances in the Theatre during which they took part in activities to explore different ways of writing poetry and develop confidence in expressing themselves. Theresa’s visit concluded with a lunch- time Q&A session with a group of pupil journalists from The Wall and The Scoop who found out more about Theresa’s career as a professional writer and left with a plethora of insider top tips. Ms Helen Cleaves, Librarian

Dr Charles Farris

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ROTARY CLUB YOUNG WRITER COMPETITION: IPS WINNERS

Congratulations to two IPS pupils who achieved great success in the Rotary Club’s Young Writer Competition. Entrants were invited to

WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST YOUNG WRITERS’ COMPETITION WINNERS The show was set in modern-day Britain rather than sixteenth-century Verona, and because the actors were still using Shakespearean language, modernizing the performance via costume choices made it easier to follow. The play was shortened because we only had two hours for the whole session, but the actors kept the essential scenes in the plot. The performers did an excellent job in their roles, and the outfit changes occurred without a hitch, which is particularly impressive as the cast consisted of four actors who each portrayed two to three characters. The costumes themselves were contemporary, such as a t-shirt, shorts, cap, and trainers for Benvolio. Amusing costumes made an appearance during Lord Capulet’s party, such as Juliet’s nurse being dressed as a strawberry, and Romeo as Batman! There were also added musical aspects of the play, and as both the male actors could play the guitar, we enjoyed an acoustic version of ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ during Romeo and Juliet’s wedding. It was a most enjoyable morning, and we all left knowing the plot of Romeo and Juliet a little bit better! Rodelia Weng, S8 Competition. The pupils ranged from Senior 7 to UVI, submitting poems and stories on the theme of ‘My name is...’, and all were formally recognised by the judges. In the KS3 category, Anastazja Duda’s poem, Ciara Murphy’s poem, Evie Buckley’s story, Finlay Macleod’s story, and Honor Lynn’s story were all Commended. Sofia Caironi’s poem was also Highly Commended. In the KS4 category, Lilla Tulloch’s three stories all made it to the final, with one Commended and two Highly Commended. Melis Buberka’s poem was also Highly Commended. Finally, in KS5, both Polly Dunn’s story and Alex Mortimer’s poem were Highly Commended. All of the pupils received certificates and the Highly Commended entries appear in this year’s anthology, a copy of which is available from the Library. ROMEO AND JULIET Senior 8s watched a production of Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet performed in the IPS Theatre by the Young Shakespeare Company. There was an interactive workshop at the beginning of the show, and some Senior 8 pupils were chosen to be characters in the play, like Friar Lawrence, and Peter (the servant). Congratulations to the ten pupils who represented IPS at the finals of the Wimbledon BookFest Young Writers’

Lorenza Rees, S9

write a poem on the theme of ‘My happiest day’. Alex Mortimer, UVI won first place in both the Regional and District competitions for her imagery-rich, thoughtful poem in the Senior final. Lorenza Rees, S9 who won the Regional and District competitions at the Intermediate level, went on to place third in the National final, selected from young poets across the United Kingdom. The Rotary Club said of her poem: “The judges were taken by the cleverness of the piece as it challenged the stereotypes of a happiest day. The happiest day can be anything we choose, even today. We were very impressed.” A wedding, a miracle, Christmas, a celebration, What we associate as something ‘memorable’, But your happiest day can simply be today, And be even better tomorrow. “A happiest day comes with smiles”, “And laughter”, “Giggles and dancing”, Or does it? Maybe it’s simply breathing, hearing a lowering of cases on the news channels, a channel of truths we wish we could ignore, Maybe it’s a nurse finally getting some sleep, closing her eyes scarred with trauma from her day on the ward, maybe it’s a phone ringing, filling a silent house with some kind of company. A happiest day, Well to be honest, Can you remember the difference between this day and yesterday? Or have you become one with this unproductive cycle of life Covid has made for us, Maybe your happiest day will be breaking free of that mould life fits into these days. So yes, A happiest day isn’t a wedding, a miracle, Christmas or a celebration, Those things are a wishful memory of the past, stuck in an old calendar we can’t retrieve, No, you can make today your happiest day, By just making this day stand out. HAPPIEST DAY by Lorenza Rees A happiest day comes with stereotypes,

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WORLD BOOK DAY It was wonderful to be able to celebrate World Book Day together in person after being locked down this time last year. Pupils received a £1 book token, and many claimed a free mini thriller by Sophie McKenzie or Sharna Jackson. Over 50 pupils entered the World Book Day Treasure Hunt racing around outside to collect nine literary clues. Congratulations to Senior 7 pupils Elyssa Culligan, Gabriela De Wasseige, Chloe Downes and Katerina Margoni, the first to finish and solve the anagram to reveal IPS’ Book of 2021, Chinglish by Sue Cheung. A number of pupils discovered the calming joy of Zentangle, making a personalised bookmark or joined in with judging the Excelsior Book Award, the only graphic novel book award for children. This was just the first chapter: World Book Day kicked off our month-long festival of stories, ‘IPS Bookfest’. The programme continued with our Masked Reader Competition, followed by author events and creative competitions, Design a School Bookmark and Bookface. [For more on all those, see the next issue – Ed.] Happy reading! Ms Helen Cleaves, Librarian

THE SPEAKERS TRUST AT IPS The English Faculty was delighted to welcome Ore Ogungbayi from the Speakers Trust, to help build S10 pupils’ confidence in expressing themselves verbally. Ore explained that public speaking is not just an academic skill, it is a skill for life. From her extensive experience of working with pupils in schools, Ore inspired by assuring S10 that all young people have stories to tell the world, and that their words are powerful. Ore’s own personal story, which she recounts in her book Knocked 4 Six: Going from Hopeless to Hopeful , proves exactly this. Truly practising what she preaches, Ore’s talk was spellbinding. She built pupils’ confidence through her personal anecdotes, her warm humour, and her wise practical advice. With GCSE Spoken Language assessments on the horizon, pupils enjoyed an immediate opportunity to discover their own voice and purpose, energised by Ore’s uplifting message.

LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH IN ENGLISH To mark LGBT+ History Month, pupils in English lessons engaged with a wide range of activities to explore literary representations of gender and sexuality. Senior 7 devised an additional final scene to Shakespeare’s As You Like It , seeking to resolve the unsatisfactory ending given to Phoebe who was in love with Rosalind but has had to make do with Silvius. For inspiration, pupils explored Northern Broadsides’ queer presentation of the play, and discussed the importance of this representation and celebration within theatre. Senior 9 pupils did the same with Much Ado About Nothing : they were asked to imagine that they were theatre directors putting on a queer production. They devised character representations that challenged stereotypes of gender and sexuality. The groups also studied Shakespeare’s Sonnet 20, ‘A woman’s face with nature’s own hand painted’, which inspired conversations about the different forms of love. Discussion centred around androgyny, gender and homosexuality. The English Faculty was hugely impressed with pupils’ enthusiastic and engaged responses. Dr Anna Cairns, Head of English

Mrs McBride reports, “Rainbow laces for IPS boots and trainers have arrived!”

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LONDON LIBRARY VISITS SUPPORT EPQ RESEARCH Sixth Form pupils headed into town for twilight trips to the iconic Piccadilly institution otherwise known as the London Library.

‘Science and Miscellaneous’ section proved particularly fruitful! With over one million volumes to choose from it is hardly surprising that no-one came away empty- handed. There is now a rather impressive mini outpost of the London Library in the School library with an intriguing array of titles such as Why the Sky is Blue and Snake Oil Science . The pupils’ enthusiasm during the trips and stash of research spoils just shows that the printed word is most definitely not dead yet. Ms Helen Cleaves, Librarian

In addition to borrowing books by post and having access to its vast collection of digital resources such as JSTOR, our school membership means that we are also able to visit in person and benefit from research support from the London Library team. One of the librarians gave a brief introduction to the library and its unique classification system and explained the Humanities focus of the library’s holdings. The institution’s award-winning architecture did not fail to impress, and pupils snapped photos of the stunning design that incorporates the nineteenth-century building with the contemporary twenty-first- century development to accommodate the ever-expanding collection. Having established that no-one suffered from a fear of heights (the gaps in the floor can be rather dizzying) and having become accustomed to the slightly unnerving movement underfoot (the floor is not fixed but kept in place by the books!) pupils were let loose in the bookstacks. To help them get started, each pupil was provided with a list of relevant shelf-marks and titles based on their EPQ question. With research topics ranging from aeronautical engineering and Artificial Intelligence to porpoises, the wonderfully eclectic

IPS POTTERFEST There was magic in the air as Potter fans from Senior 7 – 10 convened after school for a celebration of all things Hogwarts, aka our belated ‘Harry Potter Book Night’. Given their extensive Potter knowledge, it was a case of fastest first in the Ultimate Potter Kahoot! quiz. Congratulations to Poppy Rendell, S9 who held on to the top spot throughout despite fierce competition from fellow super-fans. Well done to runners up Fleur Granier-Deferre, S8 and Bella Riad, LVI. After a brief lesson from Professor Trelawney, pupils attempted tasseography, seeking answers to the vital questions of the day such as ‘Will I get a dog?’ in their tea leaves. All were relieved that no ‘grims’ were found lurking at the bottom of their teacups although that could be a fair description of the not entirely popular hibiscus fruit tea! Along with an encouraging future ahead, every guest took home a handmade Patronus charm bracelet. Thank you to Miss Levesque, Bella and Joe Lee, VI for helping to run the event.

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TRILLION TREES TALK Saskia Jenkins from the Eco Committee warmly welcomed Mrs Melissa Annetts, Media and Communications Officer for the charity Trillion Trees. She explained that Trillion Trees is the united force of BirdLife International, Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF which together have the shared aim to protect and restore forests all over the world, for the benefit of people, nature, and the climate.

Mrs Annetts spoke about these recent encouraging commitments and the vital need to achieve the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, especially with regards to the preservation of intact forests. She explained in detail the multiple strategies of Trillion Trees in tackling the complex challenges of restoring and conserving trees globally. These include directing funds to crucial forest conservation projects across the world, supporting research into forest protection and actively advocating for policy changes that value and prioritise forests and help end the drivers of deforestation. We are hugely grateful to Mrs Annetts for

Trees are our planet’s natural air purifiers and the single most effective “device” we have to pull carbon out of the atmosphere. Tragically, we are losing trees at the very moment we need them most. Every six seconds, our planet loses a football pitch worth of tropical rainforest to deforestation. Forests in colder regions are losing millions of acres to drought, pests and wildfire worsened by climate change, and our growing cities are losing the natural cooling of trees. Forests were front and centre throughout the COP26 climate summit. Among the most significant announcements was the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, in which 137 countries

committed collectively to “halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.”

her time and expertise. Mrs Aleid Farnum-Ford

WHO MADE MY CLOTHES? “We may not be interested in Fashion, but we can’t avoid getting dressed, which means that every time we gaze into our wardrobe wondering what to wear, we could be making a choice that has a positive or a negative impact.” Orsola de Castro, Loved Clothes Last , 2021

Orsola de Castro visited IPS to speak to the Sixth Form about her career, campaign work and ethical consumerism. De Castro is the co-founder and creative director of Fashion Revolution, an organisation which works towards a sustainable fashion industry. At Fashion Revolution she has partnered with luminaries including Lily Cole, Stella McCartney, Lauren Laverne and Emma Watson. She is also an

Martins and a keynote speaker on fashion and sustainability. As part of the event, Orsola talked about her new book, Loved Clothes Last: How the Joy of Re-wearing and Repairing Your Clothes Can Be a Revolutionary Act , which was published earlier this year. The book is a guide to becoming a more conscious consumer in the world of the fashion industry. Following Orsola’s talk and hearing her practical tips and skills, we hope our Sixth Form can now have

the knowledge to make a more positive environmental choice and live on a healthier planet. We thank Orsola for inspiring us and for making everyone more aware of the variety of ways to repair, repurpose,

Associate Lecturer at University of the Arts London, Visiting Fellow at Central Saint ECO COMMITTEE WRAPS UP CPP

reclaim and re-wear clothes. Mrs Ilaria Harris, Teacher of Art

The Eco Committee led a green initiative that saw pupils gathering a mountain of clean and shiny crisp packets. These were bundled up and bundled off to the Crisp Packet Project Headquarters in St Leonards where CPP Founder Pen Huston and her team of dedicated volunteers will turn them into insulating sleeping bags for those sleeping on the streets or struggling to cover heating costs in their homes. The Eco Committee was thrilled by the way pupils across

the School contributed collectively to the project. Tutor Group Brearley P collected a whopping 246 bags, over half of our grand total of 482! Mr Lam’s crisp munching stars were rewarded with a box of delicious crisps from the innovative Two Farmers crisps company. (Two Farmers crisps come in packaging that is 100% compostable). Thank you all for your contributions and we look forward to rolling out our next green initiative soon. Mrs Aleid Farnum-Ford

Brearley P

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ENVIRONMENT- THEMED HOUSE DEBATING

repartee, Yeva “Yelfa” Kebabdjian and Olivia “Olivielf” Arbor won the day for Brearley. Finally, the VI debate considered perhaps the most fundamental question underpinning modern climate change debates: “This House believes that Environmentalism and Capitalism are inherently incompatible”. It was a cerebral affair, with complex economic and philosophical theory flying around the room. Yet at the end of it all, it was Leonie Hay, School Debating Captain, and Kirsty McMillan of Paget House who commanded the favour of the judges. Tremendous servants to the cause of IPS debating, they retire undefeated after seven consecutive years of House Debating victories. Our intrepid pupils put their public speaking skills to the test in the annual House Debating competition. This year’s theme was ‘The Environment’, and six excellent debates took place across the Senior School.

Senior 8 in action

The S7 debate was won by Findlay House, with Roscoe Jenkin and Stella Read successfully arguing against the motion “This House would become a vegetarian”. Findlay had further success in the S8 debate, held in a packed Library over lunchtime. Augustin Rallon and Hilary Hanslin convincingly proposed, “This House would ban cars from city centres”. The S9s broached the question of support for the environmental activism movement, with Montefiore’s Imogen Day and Lorenza Rees triumphing in their debate on this topic.

Senior 10 gathered in the Theatre for their debate, “This House supports the rising trend of celebrities and influencers taking key roles in environmental activism”. With a pair of outstanding speeches, Raya Grayde and Honor Lynn gave Brearley their first win. After the intensity of the Mock Examinations, PVI enjoyed the levity of the traditional lighter-hearted debate on the seasonally appropriate topic, “This House believes Santa should publish the ‘Naughty and Nice’ lists”. With precise argumentation and witty PUPILS LEAD THE WAY, BUT EUNICE WREAKS HAVOC ON CAMPUS Remarkably, when the final scores were added up and tie-breaks considered, it was a dead heat between Findlay and Brearley, who emerge as joint winners of House Debating 2022. Thank you to all the Pupils and Staff who generously gave their time and expertise competition. See you all next year! Dr Matt Hazell, Teacher of Debate and Rhetoric

As reported on the front page, members of the newly formed Eco-Committee, alongside an accomplished group of Senior 8 speakers, explained to pupils at an assembly organised by Mrs Newton, some of the issues under consideration at the COP26 conference and why they matter so much. Within just a few weeks, it was sad to see an elderly apple tree in the Orchard felled by the 80mph winds which accompanied Storm Eunice. The storm, one of three within the matter of a few days to hit the UK, swept through the School campus causing much damage. It was a timely, if unwelcome, reminder

Senior 8 in action

of the impact of changing global weather patterns on our climate.

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BRITISH PHYSICS OLYMPIAD

DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE Sixth Form Physicists had a virtual tour and talk from Diamond Light Source, the largest synchrotron in the UK. They found out how X-rays emitted by electrons travelling at near light speed help “shine a light” on the molecular structure of a variety of objects from viruses to chocolate. As well as getting a unique look into the internal structure of the synchrotron, they also heard about the variety of career opportunities available to the future engineers and scientists among them. Mr James Prestwich, Teacher of Physics

No fewer than four IPS pupils obtained the highest possible award of Merit in the British Physics Olympiad Challenge. The paper consists of solving challenging physics problems and requires ingenuity, skill and knowledge. Congratulations to Daniil Eremeev, Francesco Gallo, Oliver Simpson and Robbie Stephens. A super achievement! Mr Greg Kerr, Teacher of Physics

SCIENCE CLUB During a Science Club session run by Mrs Campione, the pupils made “rollercoasters”. Points were awarded for extra items such as loops, coils, jumps and the marble had to land into a container at the end of the run. Congratulations to all who participated.

CAPTAIN CAMPIONE SPEAKS TO SENIOR 8 PUPILS Senior 8 received a lecture by a commercial pilot. Captain Campione has been a pilot with British airways for 16 years flying the Airbus 320 series. He discussed the different forces a plane experiences and how he adjusts them to manoeuvre and allow for safe take off and landing. He finished by showing a glimpse into the future of design and possible fuel options. This all linked to Senior 8’s learning in Science this term and gave an insight into real life applications. We thank Captain Campione very much for coming into School to share his professional expertise with pupils.

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PVI AND UVI SUMMER SCHOOL

CLASSICAL MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 2022 More than 45 IPS pupils competed in the School’s most prestigious music competition in a bid to be declared Classical Musician of the Year 2022. After a packed day of heats, parents, pupils and staff gathered in the Theatre to learn who would proceed to the final and be given the chance to perform again and compete for the trophies. We were exceptionally lucky to welcome Ms Olivia Shotton, a singer and conductor and a Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music as our Adjudicator. After a short intermission whilst the judge deliberated, the category winners were announced: The overall winner was Lottie Sanderson, PVI who performed the first movement from Brahms’s Violin Sonata no.3 in D minor. Ms Shotton noted Lottie’s musical maturity, and the attention and care that was given to every single note. Many thanks to all the pupils who were brave enough to enter the event, the staff and parents who supported the concert, our extraordinary team of Visiting Music Teachers who prepared the competitors so well, and to Mr Oliver Chesser for accompanying so expertly. And most of all, thanks to Mrs Fennell for the seamless organisation of this complex day. Mr James Bartlett, Director of Music Piano Wind Alexander Lau, S8 Matilda Allard, S10 Nina Ribeaux, S7 Brooks Finkel, S10 Strings Voice

AUTUMN TERM CONCERT IPS’s first large-scale ensembles’ concert in two years took place in the Theatre with over 100 pupils performing in choirs, bands, jazz groups and various other chamber groups.

The concert began with the IPS Singers St Davids Tour participants performing a rousing rendition of ‘Calon Lan’. The evening proceeded through a most varied programme, from Handel to Duke Ellington. Perhaps the most original performance was that of the Percussion Ensemble, who combined a thumping dance mix with some seriously stylish special effects which truly brought the house down. Some of these ensembles had not performed together for two years, and some were making their debut. Bravo to all involved on a rousing and heartening evening of music-making.

MATILDA WINS LSO PLACE

Congratulations to Music Scholar Matilda Allard, S10 on being awarded a place in the Flute section of the London Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, beating off stiff competition from across the capital. Matilda, winner of the Woodwind category in last year’s IPS Classical Musician of the Year, is also a member of the Junior Royal Academy of Music where she studies Flute and Recorder. Following an intensive period of rehearsals over the Christmas holidays, Matilda joined the flute section of the highly competitive ensemble to perform an electric concert at the Barbican under the baton of Dominic Wheeler. The repertoire ranged from Stravinsky’s Firebird to Strauss’s extraordinary Four Last Songs . Bravo, Matilda.

Matilda Allard, S10

VI PERFORMERS’ PLATFORM This small-scale, informal concert saw some of our A-level musicians dry run their pieces in advance of their upcoming recitals, with LVIs performing one piece and UVIs performing two. First up was Amelie White, who performed across two instruments, demonstrating an enviable contrast of skills and styles. Maddy Hunter treated us to a musical theatre set: pieces from Waitress and Grease . Arthur Mellor rounded out the UVIs’ contribution to the evening with guitar performances of a Muse track alongside one of his own compositions. Arthur was supported by a good deal of technical wizardry of his own devising. Arthur Mellor, UVI

Lottie Sanderson, PVI