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SPRING 2018 ISSUE 16
Et Cetera
THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL
Et Cetera THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL
HEAD’S INTRODUCTION
Contents Saturday 3rd March. The snow is fast disappearing as I look
out of my study window over to Thorpe Lodge. Seeing
students these last few days in the snow was joyous. We
PAGE 3 had a debate: to let them out to throw snow or to keep
REGAL RIVALS: RICHARD II them in (these days of risk, health and safety!). We went for
Robert Orr as Henry Bolingbroke the innocence of snowballing and watched students have
fun, get wet and be children. I reflected that given the last
PAGE 4 and 5 serious weekday snow in London was a long time ago, that
our eleven year olds had hardly ever known it. Growing up
SHAKESPEARE REINVENTED in the 21st century is a serious business. The snow was thus
A post-production digestion a joyous moment, students playing with something simple
Nicholas Robson as Richard II and free. Of course we stayed open. Born in the north, I
regard London snow as very feeble! It was a late weather
episode and misleading given the proximity of examinations
PAGES 6 and 7 and another year in which to make their mark. Each year
the tasks are harder, and each year we worry that we will
A BIGGER BOOK not keep pace. Being in the top 3% of schools has its price.
The glorious Celia Birtwell Last Sunday I had the pleasure of watching eighty year 11
students come into school for a morning of mathematics
PAGES 8 and 9 with their teachers. Priceless: stunning effort from students
and breath-taking commitment from teachers. It has been
OTHER HAPPENINGS quite a term of fun. Our charity Shakespeare, Richard II, saw
At the movies Mr Orr (Bolingbroke) chase Mr Robson (Richard II), Mr Seed
Speaker speaks (Duke of York and John of Gaunt) for thespian talent. Ms
Surgical precision Nightingale and Ms Murray were perfect 1950s in their ‘new
look’ dresses (yes, this was a Netflix ‘The Crown’ inspired
production). Fun to one side, we have had the opportunity
PAGES 10 and 11 to mark a record: ten students have offers from Oxford
THE ART OF TEACHING and Cambridge. Mind you, there are offers from Durham,
A feast of ideas UCL and Imperial that are higher. It is as hard to get there
as it is Oxford and Cambridge. We have, as ever, been
well visited by other schools. I was fascinated by a visit
PAGES 12 and 13
from the Head of a school in a very big academy chain: an
SPACE AND TIME 08.00-17.00 teaching day, no February half term, an eight
Journeys through space and time day winter break, silent corridors, no talking over lunch.
WE Day 2018 Goodness. Schools are different. I am humbled daily by
New York children: there is a year 12 ‘A’ level history student who has
a younger brother, I have had some experience of both -
PAGES 14 and 15 their characters take me to all that is best in human nature;
I suspect that is an outdated feeling for the 21st century -
SNOW ETC.....
In the bright mid-winter
indeed - it is probably not even a politically correct thought.
Ah well, there it is, one day we will arrive at the notion of
The shortest and surest way of arriving at real knowledge is to unlearn
Cover shot: Tom Cruise
individuality, not labels. We might even return to the idea
that people’s values matter as much, if not more, than their
the lessons we have been taught, to mount the first principles, and take
Progress 8 score. nobody’s word about them. Henry Bolingbroke
2 3
Et Cetera THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL
RICHARD II
Allusions to treachery, the squandering of number of other exquisite performances, not
wealth, the destruction of England’s heritage, the least from our very talented student actors. The
celebration of its history, the promise of a renewed first year of our inclusion of students as part of
land and a restored dignity, the hope of our elevated this charity event, was a triumph that we are
place in a new world. There were no intended determined to repeat. Performances from Omar
political allusions in this year’s Shakespeare Ait El Caid, Tibor Kljajic and Alex Perez were deft,
Revisited production of Richard II, but – given the assured and kept the rest of us on our toes – not
subject matter – parallels are challenging to avoid. in competition, but trying at the very least not to
But this has been a long tradition in the play’s be entirely outdone! Perez’ Baggot was a wistful
history. Shortly after the play was written in 1595, and contemplative character, delivering the news
Queen Elizabeth II is reported to have said about of the Welsh Army’s disbandment with heartfelt
her own context of subterfuge, ‘I am Richard II, sorrow and moving naturalism. Omar and Tibor
know ye not that?’ and, as a play about rebellion offered a complementary energy and engagement
and king killing, its fierce political battles for just on stage that gave pace and interest to the play’s
and upright leadership dominate its narrative. action. Daniel Seed’s multiple parts (the Duke of
Our production, set in the 1950s accompanied by York and Gaunt), showcased his versatility and
Matt Monroe and images of vintage Ashes battles, his impassioned “Sceptred Isle” speech brought
drew on the richness of Netflix’s The Crown’s patriotism and loyalty to the fore in an otherwise
visual palette. Richard’s swagger, his defiance and farcical and foolhardy tragedy. Naina Nightingale
fury and his self-celebration captured the pitiful was characteristically charming on stage in her
posturing of Matt Smith’s portrayal of the Duke various guises and Vanessa Murray’s part of Queen
of Edinburgh. Robert Orr’s Bolingbroke had all of and Benjamin Arnold’s portrayal of Aumerle were
the principle, pragmatism and pathos that Claire deliciously and delectably doleful, drawing out the
Foy exhibits so well in her embodiment of the humanity of Richard’s closest relationships. This all
monarch. The raging of their rivalry, reverberating was much fun. And all carried out (from rehearsal to
across the body of the play, culminated in performance) in a week’s work for primary schools,
Richard’s infantile handover of the crown, rolled for our studious A Level English students studying
along the ground to settle at Bolingbroke’s feet. the text, for parents and Friends of the School,
It was a striking moment of drama. Aside from and all in aid of our fundraising efforts! Next year?
this centrepiece of the narrative, there were a Suggestions welcomed.
MR NICHOLAS ROBSON
ASSOCIATE HEAD
4 5
Et Cetera THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL
A BIGGER BOOK
On a freezing cold January morning, in the depths multi-camera video works, reflecting his endless
of west London, early birds could have observed passion for experimentation. Never before has
Mr Hall and myself struggle to lift a 66kg box into Hockney’s oeuvre been published in such scope.
a black cab. There was purpose to our endeavour This is a visual survey apart from a single page of
beyond human endurance or some attempt at 15 sentences handwritten by Hockney. It begins:
a shared physical fitness routine. A couple of “A book like this shouldn’t have much text …” The
days before, Celia Birtwell, the renowned textile absence of text encourages people to rely on their
designer, had called the school and offered us a own eyes, he believes. “I do think pictures should
copy of David Hockney’s signed, limited edition, speak for themselves.” The book had been gifted to
book, A Bigger Book. Published by Taschen as part Celia by Hockney. They have been friends for over
of its Sumo collection, it measures, when open, 50 years and he has painted, drawn and printed her
some 200 x 70cm. The book contains 450 prints innumerable times; most famously in 1971, in her
and begins in 1953, when Hockney, then 16, was Notting Hill flat with Ossie Clark, Mr and Mrs Clark
studying at Bradford School of Art. It includes his and Percy. The book has been placed, with Celia’s
breakthrough in 1960s swinging London, his life by approval and direction, in the school’s atrium, to
Los Angeles pools in the 1970s, his recent series of be seen, pondered and enjoyed by students. How
portraits, iPad drawings and Yorkshire landscapes. fortunate and richer we are to have such wonderful
There are also drawings, photo-composites, ‘friends’. We have written to David to thank him.
multi-perspective collages, stage designs and Might we even get him here.
DAVID CHAPPELL
ACADEMY HEAD
6 7
Et Cetera THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL
AT THE MOVIES SPEAKER SPEAKS
A quiet weekend in February saw our building once
again turned into a Hollywood film set. Actors,
Not for the first time John Bercow came to speak
to the Sixth Form. Witty, erudite, clever (so clever)
SURGICAL PRECISION
What do a squid, a rat, a rabbit and a frog all have in science began in earnest on Wednesday when
runners, grips, make-up artists, lights, cameras he began with entertainment and charmed the common? Ask a member of our dissection club and students took part in a project designed by Imperial
and many many extras, squashed into the school. students. Is there a more generous person? His the answer is simple: they have all been cut open Cancer Research, an institution with which we have
On this occasion we where hosting the crew of warmth, passion and generosity certainly struck and examined on a Monday evening by our intrepid growing links. On Thursday, our annual Science
Mission Impossible 6 - Fallout. Director Christopher a chord with students, a number of whom were band of aspiring surgeons. Dissection club has been Fair attracted record numbers of entries and
McQuarrie took his place and action pursued. minded to write to Mr Hall and say that Mr Becow’s running for three years and continues to be one of visitors. The entire Hall was taken over by a diverse
Cameras were poised and focussed in the atrium talk had inspired them. He spoke eloquently about our most popular extra-curricular activities. Each range of projects answering numerous questions,
on the fourth floor. Whilst I had hoped we might be his ‘life’ in parliament, about his role as speaker (and week, new animals and plants are procured and put ‘can a human generate truly random numbers?’
witnessing Tom Cruise crashing through the glass some of his predecessors). He commented on the under the scalpel. Ariana Alexander, Year 8, who is to, ‘which type of cat food makes my cat jump the
roof in pursuit of some heinous villain, it was not to tensions a MP feels (loyalty to party, to parliament, a stalwart at the club, is enthusiastic in her praise: highest?’ and, ‘can you spot scientifically spot a fake
be; though the possibility has not be ruled out for to constituents, to conscience) and how these “ I am considering being a surgeon, so from that smile?’. The quality and scientific discovery was
number seven! The film is scheduled to be released are variously reconciled. The Sixth Form felt that point of view I find the club just brilliant but more stronger than ever so it was difficult to choose a
on 27th July 2018, and will be the first in the series what shone through was his utter commitment importantly I simply find animals fascinating, so group of winners to take part in our annual visit
to be released in RealD 3D (whatever that might to fair-mindedness and equality; a driven passion this is a great way to learn more about them. What to London Zoo. The week ended with a bang on
be!). Avid readers of Et Cetera will recall Steven for justice and tolerance. All of these qualities diverse animals like a squid and a rabbit have in Friday as students took part in a parachute design
Spielberg filming in school a couple of summers laced by a potent capacity for public speaking. ‘A’ common is more surprising than the features they competition that involved throwing eggs off the
ago. This edition reaches you as a timely reminder Level English students took mental notes about don’t share!” Outside the laboratory, our annual 4th floor of the school’s atrium. The grand finale
that Ready Player One will be in a cinema near you sub clauses and sentences which, whilst infinitely science week ran from March 5th to 9th. It kicked was a giant implosion that was strong enough to
from 30th March. complex, were abundantly clear. off with a nod to International Women’s Day when crush a barrel in front of amazed students’ eyes.
we screened the film Hidden Figures on the Monday
MR DAVID CHAPPELL MS FAYE MULHOLLAND evening – the story of female mathematicians at MR DANIEL SEED
ACADEMY HEAD ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER NASA both surprised and inspired students. The
DEPUTY HEAD
8 9
Et Cetera THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL
A FEAST OF IDEAS
“Read, absorb, annotate, précis, pose questions. landowners profit from the land without lifting
Affix to your bedroom walls, or maybe the kitchen a finger. With their senses alert and their bodies
fridge.” Such were the instructions to Year 8 by transported to 1917, students debated justice and
Mr Hall as he presented them with eight sheets of fairness, the inevitable emerging resentment, and
dense prose on the 1917 Russian Revolution. “Think how rapid industrialisation combined with urban
of it not as a piece of homework”,he mused, “but crowding, led to increased political awareness and
as a feast of ideas!” The task was the conclusion to the emergence of social revolutionaries. There
a lesson that had relied on a silver gilded mirror, was little time to pause for breath. Teaching is
a carrot, some smoked salmon, a two day old about capturing hearts and minds, about making
sausage roll and a small jar containing just over the frequently uninteresting into something awe
six pounds in small change. Not what one might inspiring. In planning for learning, our teachers
immediately reach for when faced with the task of consider this very point in the construction of each
explaining to students how the Russian Revolution of their lesson plans - the ‘inspire and enthuse’
was in fact a series of revolutions in the Russian moment, making the lesson and (more importantly)
Empire during 1917; or how these events destroyed the facts recallable. So Mr Hall’s lesson was just one
the Tsar Nicholas II and the Tsarist autocracy and of a few cover lessons. Regardless, expectations
helped create the Soviet Union; but such were the remain the same, right down to who will be history
props relied on by Mr Hall. Students listened with star of the week. This week’s winner: Ajani - for his
eyes wide open, minds engaged and questions exceptional research and presentation on the part
abound as they took a journey looking through the the First World War played on the transformation of
eyes of an illiterate Russian peasant using out of the Russian Empire - neatly condensed in exquisite
date agricultural techniques, making redemption prose limited to 500 words!
payments to the state, whilst watching the rich
MR DAVID CHAPPELL
ACADEMY HEAD
10 11
Et Cetera THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL
WE DAY 2018 NEW YORK
JOURNEYS THROUGH SPACE AND TIME
The challenges faced by our students vary If the trace of the choir’s progress represents a
considerably in both nature and depth. One steady rise, singing in Carnegie Hall, New York,
element that unites all young people – perhaps marks an astronomic leap. In our most ambitious
On Wednesday 7th March GCSE History students long anticipated whistle-stop tour of the Belgian that should simply read ‘all people’ – is the need for venture yet, thirty representatives from the school
found themselves transported back three hundred battlefields of World War I. Having studied the affirmation. WE Day is concerned with providing choir and the music team are set to sing alongside
years to Restoration England and the foundation of events leading up to the conflict in Year 7, students just that: a life-affirming experience for the young the internationally acclaimed choral group The
the Royal Observatory. Wigs (and dubious French relished the opportunity to tread the same people who attend. WE Day is a powerful, life- King’s Singers as part of their 50th Anniversary
accents) in place, Mr Orr and Mr Holloway adeptly ground as those young men who had made the changing event that combines the energy of a concert on 23rd April 2018. The music is our hardest
captured the spirit of competition between Louis same journey to the continent one hundred years live concert with the inspiration of extraordinary yet: a specially-commissioned work by Nico Muhly
XIV and Charles II that prompted the construction ago. Poignant walks of the graveyards provoked stories of leadership and change. WE Day brings represents the most fiendish and frenzied of the
of the observatory in Greenwich. Ms Eades and reflections on the loss of youth detailed on the together world-renowned speakers and award- repertoire: cross rhythms, atonality and irregular
Ms Halfpenny donned their lab coats in the spirit headstones, whilst the reading of war poetry led winning performers with tens of thousands of compound time signatures (not to mention
of scientific discovery of the age and helped students to consider the realities the fields once young people to celebrate their contributions and quintuplets) across all of its one hundred pages.
place the developments in their wider historical witnessed. This was followed by a walk through of kick-start another year of change. Twelve of our But what an experience; what an opportunity;
context. The experience offered an opportunity to a section of the trenches still preserved, then to the students experienced the event at the SSE Arena in what a joy! We are so very grateful to all who have
refresh and consolidate students’ understanding excellently detailed Flanders Fields museum and March, which featured motivational speakers and supported the school choir and given so generously
of the historical environment that will feature on finally, with moods lifted, an obligatory stop at a celebrities focusing on building self-esteem within over the year at our various fundraising events, to
their examination paper this summer through a local Belgian chocolate shop. Home exhausted for young people. Attempting to get students to speak aid and assist our transatlantic journey. We look
humorous take on the events surrounding it. Two a Sunday to recoup energy. of anything other than the event was a considerable forward to sharing in our summer term edition of Et
days later, in the early hours of Friday morning, task for weeks afterward, such was the exhilaration Cetera some of the momentous memories we will
steeped in a slightly more sombre note, a group MR ROBERT ORR it generated. have inevitably made!
of excited Year 8 students set off by coach for a ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER
MR JOE HOLLOWAY MR NICHOLAS ROBSON
ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER ASSOCIATE HEAD
12 13
Et Cetera THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL
DEPARTING US TOO SOON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN
The school’s Leadership Team has been very stable Thursday 8th March was International Women’s
for years. My eighteenth year, David Chappell’s Day. The theme this year, #PressforProgress,
eighteenth year, Ross Wilson’s sixteenth year, aimed to motivate and unite communities to think,
Daniel Seed’s fourteenth year, Frances Hirst’s act and be more gender inclusive. Now, more
twentieth year, Richard Northover’s eleventh year, than ever, there’s a strong call-to-action to press
Nicholas Robson’s tenth year. Times move and forward and progress gender parity. First observed
it is with some trepidation that I announce here in 1909 in New York, the day commemorates
Mr Seed’s planned departure in May to another the movement for women’s rights. As part of
Deputy Headship near his home. Mr Seed plans this year’s commemorations, students led a
headship and is seeking a challenging school to number of whole school initiatives. Students in
widen his experience. Ms Hirst is obliged to leave to Years 12 and 13 planned and delivered a PSHCE
care for a number of her family and Mr Northover’s session exploring the feminist movement to all
circumstances have altered his long-intended tutor groups in school; students in Year 11-13
stay. I have been proud of all of these dedicated transformed classrooms at lunch time to celebrate
colleagues who have each brought something very intersectionality and cultural diversity; teachers
special to Holland Park. They are well-known to profiled women of significance in their lessons;
this school community and will be much missed by Mr. Curtis launched this month’s ‘Cultural Capital’
me and by many. contest themed around feminist literature with
the winners being accompanied to the ‘Votes for
WORLD BOOK DAY Women’ exhibition in the Museum of London; and
Sixth Form students were invited to a showing of
Thursday 1st March saw Holland Park celebrate the film ‘Ladybird’. Throughout all our activities
a very wintry World Book Day. With London we collected money with all contributions being
blanketed under a cover of fresh snow for some it donated to the Women’s Refuge.
may have been just the sort of day to curl up by a
fire with a good book. Not so the students and staff OXBRIDGE SUCCESS
of Holland Park who were in school and took time
IN THE BRIGHT MID-WINTER
in the day to celebrate the very best of the written Following the superb success of 10 students in
word. Students were encouraged to share their Year 13 securing offers to Oxford and Cambridge (a
favourite stories in their tutor groups while the bumper year - and not at all bad for a year group
After a lengthy journey by road and air to the crisp spring morning. In every direction we turned, considerable artistic talents of the student body of 70!), younger students thought they might
Southern Alps, sleepy morning eyes opened their the views were breath-taking, resulting in many were tested in the challenge to create their own also like a taste of the action. So, on Saturday 3rd
hotel curtains on Sunday morning to be welcomed photographic memories. After the slopes, students design for a National Book Token that could see its March, sixteen students from Years 11 and 12 were
by a picture perfect postcard of Pra-Loup ski resort returned to the hotel for some recuperation way into bookshops across the country. taken by Ms Mulholland on a visit to Cambridge
in France. Nestled some 2500m above sea-level at and sustenance. There were a variety of après University. Sidney Sussex College, hosted us for
Uvernet-Fours in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence,
the view was a thick blanket of bright white snow
ski activities to keep the students entertained.
From participating in an evening of ice-skating A SPORTS TOUR TO MALTA the day. Students talked to current undergraduates
about the life of a Cambridge student, the work
stretching across the resort to the mountains in followed by crepes, to challenging the staff at they undertake, the structure of courses, what
the distance. After a hearty buffet breakfast forty ten pin-bowling. There was even the opportunity The PE Team are assembling a squad of 30 of our
finest athletes for their European Sports tour to makes Cambridge unique, the admissions process
four adrenaline-fuelled students and six eager to witness a professional ski show and fire-work and the often-dreaded Cambridge interview.
members of staff began their daily 300m walk display after dinner at a local restaurant. At the Malta. They will be the beneficiaries of training
sessions during the day from elite coaches and Our students were taken on a tour of the city and
from the hotel to meet their instructors Julien and end of the week awards were given to Lizaveta visited the Fitzwilliam Museum to explore their
Florence. The four hour lessons were the perfect Kirkizh (Year 9) and Tommaso Gorini (Year 7) for they will use their newly acquired skills during
fixtures in the evenings against local club teams. permanent exhibitions. The (somewhat chilly)
opportunity to improve techniques and develop overall skiers of the week and the unsung ‘hero’ of afternoon was spent on a punting trip along the
skills from the snow-plough to the parallel turn. the trip went to Pavel Shaulko (Year 8) for his all- In preparation for their continental excursion our
students have undertaken additional training River Cam where we were treated to a brief history
These were put into practice on the picturesque round positive attitude, behaviour and approach of the city and its most prestigious colleges. The
mountain passes and exhilarating slopes. The to every element of the trip. And, it may be thanks sessions with their PE teachers to prepare them for
this challenge. Mr Mitchell and his team are feeling visit afforded students the chance to bust any
weather for the majority of the week was beautiful to Freddie Bercow’s lovely letter of thanks if a visit myths and preconceptions they might have had
sunshine and had the days had the feeling of a happens next year. confident about the opportunity to showcase the
talents of their teams abroad. We look forward to about the institution ahead of their applications to
seeing the silverware. university in the near future.
MR LUKE FULLER
14 LEAD PRACTITIONER 15
Designed and produced by
HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL
Maya Mortensen-Ramlill | Pencil on Paper | 2018
Airlie Gardens | Campden Hill Road | London | W8 7AF | 020 7908 1000
16 www.hollandparkschool.co.uk | Company Number 08588099
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