4th September 2008
Dear Parents,
In a summer which has seen record results in the Olympic team, the School has itself established record results, both at Advanced Level and GCSE. The AS results were a slight improvement with AB grades moving up slightly to 72%.
Last year, at Advanced Level, the percentage of A & B grades for the first time ever broke the 80% barrier; it has now moved up to a new record of 85%, with over half of all grades being grade A. Four students achieved 5 A grades, and no fewer than 52 students achieved 3 or more As.
At GCSE we have also achieved record results. The percentage of A*/A grades has shot up from 60% to 72%, our best ever. More dramatic still was our performance A*. Our previous record was 25% A* established 3 years ago; the last two years A* grades have languished at 17% and 20%. They have now improved dramatically to 34%. It is greatly encouraging that over a third of our GCSE grades are A*, and members of the Lower Sixth who contributed to these magnificent results should be pleased with their endeavours.
Some excelled. No fewer than 13 students achieved 10 or more A*s. James Henderson & Dominic Newman achieved 12 A*s, Dominic also having the distinction of being in the top 10 students from over 47,000 in French. Joseph Ayoola and James Trimm each gained an impressive 13 A*s
One other notable record is a GCSE A* achieved by a boy whilst in Year 7; Thomas Micallef was awarded an A* in Japanese.
I am pleased that a number of new colleagues of considerable calibre have augmented the staff.
Miss Boquet has been appointed as Subject Leader for Modern Foreign Languages. A French national, Miss Boquet studied English and Spanish at the Université du Havre before completing a PGCE at St. Mary’s College, Twickenham. She taught French for four years at St. Catherine’s R.C. School for Girls in Bexleyheath and then was promoted and established a thriving department at Bishop Justus C of E School in Bromley for three years. Miss Boquet’s interests include sport, European film and literature, and travel; she has led several school parties abroad.
Miss Cooper has been appointed as teacher of English. She studied English with Education & Employment at St. Mary’s College, Twickenham before undertaking a PGCE at the Institute of Education, London. Besides a passion for fantasy novels and for poetry, Miss Cooper plays rugby, initially for her college and more recently for the Barnes Ladies RFC.
Miss Gabriele has been appointed as a teacher of French. After five years’ study at the University of Chieti, Italy, she was awarded a First Class degree in Foreign Languages and Literature before completing a year’s course at the Primary Teacher’s Training College in her home town of Lanciano. She then undertook an MA in Literature, Culture and Modernity at Queen Mary, University of London and an MSc in Tourism Management at Luton Business School before working for some years in tourism, including some years with P & O Cruises, Citalia/The Real Spain Holidays and Gullivers Travels Associates, which involved long stays in France. Miss Gabriele has completed a PGCE at the Institute of Education, London. Fluent in Italian, French, Spanish and English, Miss Gabriele has interests in music, dance, theatre, cinema and photography and is an assiduous traveller.
Mr. Jackson has been appointed as Subject Leader for Physics. He studied at King’s College, London University, and was awarded a BSc in Physics and Astrophysics and an MPhil in Theoretical Physics. He then embarked on a varied career as a physicist and in ICT. He was a consultant calculating in hydrodynamics for North Sea oil companies and a researcher for the Solid State Physics Group. He wrote computer simulation programs for the teaching of radioactivity. He worked for British Airways writing and analysing programs before working in sales demonstrating debugging and network software for an American IT consultancy. In 2002 he returned to King’s College to train to teach, taking a PGCE and subsequently a part time MA in Science Education. He taught at Queen Elizabeth Boys’ School in Barnet and then at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School in Elstree. Mr. Jackson is an amateur astronomer; his students won a national competition designing a Mars Lander and he has organised many trips including a trip to CERN in Geneva. Interested in the history of science, he is a committee member of the History Group at the Institute of Physics. Mr. Jackson has competed internationally at Chess and will take over as Master i/c Chess.
Mr. Marlow has been appointed as Director of Citizenship. From John Ruskin Sixth Form College in Croydon, Mr. Marlow studied Politics at the University of Nottingham before undertaking a PGCE at the Institute of Education, London. He began teaching Citizenship at Crown Woods School, Eltham, later becoming Head of Department. He worked for a year at the Phil Edwards Pupil Referral Unit in Croydon before resuming the role of Head of Citizenship at Little Ilford School, East London. Acting in extra-curricular activities, including active citizenship, Mr. Marlow has run a debating club, football and a film appreciation society. He is a long-standing member of the British Film Institute and has helped organise film festivals. Mr. Marlow is a dedicated roadrunner, who has competed in a number of marathons.
Mr. Marsh has been appointed as a teacher of Chemistry. He studied for five years at the University of Surrey, completing a Chemical Process Engineering Course and a year in industry before graduating with a Master’s degree in Chemistry. He joined the Graduate Scheme for Fujitsu and worked for two years as a Process Chemist at Proctor and Gamble. Alongside this he qualified as a driving instructor and ran his own business; he is the Surrey County Staff Officer for Driving Standards for St. John Ambulance. He holds the prestigious Chief Scout Award and Chief Scout Challenge Award. He undertook a PGCE at Reading University. Mr. Marsh has had many articles published. He holds qualifications in Sailing and as a Fencing Instructor. Among his other leisure activities, he plays the accordion, dances salsa and jive, and has a long term involvement in Karate and Aikido.
Mrs. Mugga has been appointed as a teacher of Mathematics. She studied in Makerere University, Uganda for a BSc in Mathematics and worked as a web developer. She then undertook a Certificate in Further Education Teaching at South Bank University, and completed a Graduate Training Programme at Ashburton Community School, Croydon ratified by Goldsmiths College, University of London. Mrs. Mugga has taught for the last two years at Oxted School.
Mr. Quinn has been appointed as a part time (0.2) teacher of History. He won a scholarship to read History and also read Classics at Pembroke College, Oxford. He was awarded a soccer “blue” in a match against Cambridge at Wembley. Mr. Quinn embarked on a distinguished career in industry, culminating in working as Customer Marketing Director for Scottish Courage, for whom he continues to do consultancy work. In 2004 he undertook a PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University College. He taught here part time in 2005-2006, making a significant contribution also to school sports.
Mr. Redding has been appointed as Assistant Subject Leader for Physics. A member of St. John’s College, Mr. Redding completed a BA in Natural Science, a MSc (1st class) in Physics and a PGCE at Cambridge University. He has taught at Impington Village College, Cambridge and Greenshaw High School. Mr. Redding has much experience in organising summer camps, taking overall leadership of 6 week camps involving 200 children and 120 volunteer leaders.
Mr. Rickner has been appointed as a Games Coach and Cover Assistant. An Old Boy, Mr. Rickner has just completed a degree in Theology at the University of Exeter and has has RFU Level One and Two Coaching Awards. As a schoolboy, he served as Captain of Rugby, Vice-Captain of Cricket and School Captain. He captained the Surrey U18 squad and represented London, South-East England and England U18. At university, he captained the Athletic Union team and the 1st XV; he also captained the England Students Rugby Squad.
Mr. Rous has been appointed as a part time (0.6) Teacher of Music. From grammar school in Kent, Mr. Rous studied for four years at the Royal College of Music before undertaking a part time Masters degree in Music at King’s College, London. A composer and pianist, he specialised in conducting under Brian Wright. Mr. Rous’ compositions have been sung by the East Malling Singers and perfomed by the Maidstone Symphony Orchestra; he has played at the Bath Festival, Eden Project and Glastonbury Festival; he has conducted the Blackheath String Ensemble, Piros Ensemble (at
St. James, Piccadilly), the Rochester Choral Society and the Maidstone Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Rous taught for some years at The Conservatoire, Blackhead and at St. Dunstan’s College, and has been much involved in school music in Kent, and is the conductor of Kent Youth Singers.
Mrs. Simpson is appointed as a part time (0.4) School Sport Co-ordinator. Mrs. Simpson gained a BEd at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has many coaching qualifications in Swimming, Tennis, Sailing, Lacrosse, Hockey and Football. Most recently Mrs. Simpson has been Head of Sport at Laleham Lea School and previously taught at John Fisher School and Royal Russell School.
Mr. Teague has been appointed as Director of Mathematics. Mr. Teague worked for some years as a policeman. Following a First Class degree in Mathematics Sciences at the Open University, he taught at an independent boarding school near Newbury for five years and then served six years at Magdelen College School, Oxford, where he became Head of Mathematics. During his leadership the percentage of A* grades at GCSE moved from 22% to 60%, and half of the Sixth Form did A Levels not only in Mathematics but in Further Mathematics; his department was singled out for special praise when his school was named Independent School of the Year. During the past year Mr. Teague has served as Headmaster at Oliver House Preparatory School in Clapham but he wishes to return to teaching in a secondary context, and mathematics in particular. Keen on Chess, Mr. Teague has taken cricket teams and football teams, and trained as a UEFA coach.
Dr. Young has been appointed teacher of Religious Studies. Following a First Class degree in Philosophy at Cardiff University, Dr. Young completed an MA at Bristol University and a PhD at Reading University, researching the roles of faith and reason in practical deliberation and teaching students. He then undertook a PGCE in RE at King’s College, London. Dr. Young has a keen interest in debating and plays the classical and electric guitar.
We are also pleased to welcome Mrs. Round, who will support teachers and Mr. O’Shea, PA to the Head of Sixth Form.
All my colleagues are looking forward to what we believe will be our best year yet.
