Becoming Reptonians

The beginning of a new School year is a unique combination of excitement and nerves, not least for those starting at senior school for the first time. It seems eons (yet simultaneously not at all long) ago that our new B Block arrived to their personalised New House mugs and began bonding over games of pool, hot chocolate comfortingly piping in the background. A very warm welcome to Gilbert, Charlie, Max, George, Kian, Alex, Tom, Dylan, Ren and Will, and to Stuart, who now joins his age-appropriate year group, A Block.

Hot chocolate and pool - the perfect way to start life as a Reptonian

Of course, we also welcomed our new L6th, who already look statesmanlike in their suits. There'll be more later about what a great impression last year's O Block are making as Lower Sixth, but in the meantime let's take a moment to welcome Harry, Chris, Simon and Stephen, who have made an absolutely brilliant start. It is often said but rarely more aptly; these guys seem like they have been part of the House far longer than mere weeks.

Leaders of the future?

Of course, the fact that Repton knows how to throw a party usually helps the lads feel welcome pretty quickly, and the 90s themed Sixth Form Icebreaker was no exception to that rule. Nor was the 'House Colours' social that was laid on for the Juniors a couple of weeks later (pyjama-wearing pre-school interlopers in the photo below did not attend!)

90s themed Senior Social off to a great start with a curry in the dining hall, funkily decorated by Mrs Wilton and Matron Emma

Juniors get ready to party (while Betsy throws shapes and Teddy looks suitably confused)

Emma Mabbott, Matron

It's not just the B Block, Lower Sixth and Wilton family who are fresh additions to the New House massive. Emma joins us as Matron and has already demonstrated the kind of slick organisational capacity that keeps a tribe of boys running smoothly (seriously, you should see how many notepads she gets through keeping track of everything!) She is a massive support to us and to the boys and we're sincerely glad to have her on board.

Alastair Couldrey

Another new member of the New House team is Alastair Couldrey, Head of Politics and now Resident Tutor. There's a bit of a family connection between Alastair and the Wilton clan, as he was at university with Mr Wilton's youngest brother, which makes Mr Wilton feel far older than he wishes to feel. A warm welcome to Alastair and his whippet puppy, Cooky, named after another fine Alistair who did rather well in this year's Ashes...

The First Sunday

For some the first taste of a Sunday service in Repton Chapel

Once all those Saturday fixtures and social engagmements are done with, the first Sunday can be a tricky one to get through for a new kid on the block. That's why the ever humorous Rev, Adam Watkinson, takes such care to make his first Sunday sermon so warm and fun, and this year's was no exception. It was an ideal way to enthuse everybody about Repton life before they embarked upon the hilarity of The Repton Factor...

George takes a leading role explaining jet propulsion (who knew?!)

The Repton Factor is a team based bonding experience which mingles Reptonians from all the ten Houses, encouraging them to form friendships and increase their sense of belonging at the School.

Ren and Dylan form part of the letter 'N' as their group spell out 'Repton' using only their bodies

Tom and co. having another pass at some tricky Repton-based trivia in the Library

The day included physical and mental challenges, all taking place in different areas on site, helping the new lads get their bearings before the first week of School.

Stuart and Max test their physical coordination on Mr De Rosa's obstacle course

Perhaps my favourite (maybe because Mr Wilton is not blessed with a great deal of practicality!) was the challenge to build the highest tower out of paper, one capable of balancing an egg at the top for as long as possible. As ever, designs were inventive, bizarre and often highly ineffective!

Alex and Tom puzzle out the issue of height vs. stability

Though such a day is hardly about winning or losing, it still brought a smile to our faces to see three New House B Block - Ren, Dylan and Will - in the overall winning team. The day was a brilliant one, and left all the new B Block feeling part of the fabric of the School. And to be honest, it must have worked, as what followed was a hugely successful first half term...

Look carefully and you'll see a certain New House boy attempting chicken nugget theft! It's okay George, that's what they're there for!

Honours Board

Let's begin in an arguably back to front manner, with the summative rewards given out to our boys this half term, both House and Academic.

Before term even started, New House boys were winning plaudits! The following boys have been made Honorary Scholars in recognition of their outstanding GCSE results:

• Matthew Clark
• Harry Griffiths
• Bradley Sharratt
• Max Sharratt

Ed Salisbury and Matthew Clark are also now Arkwright Scholars - a highly prestigious and competitive national award for Design Technology.

Harry Blach joins our excellent Prefect team in recognition of his hard work managing the House sports teams, his excellent contribution in touring prospective parents around the school and his all round positive support of the House.

Commendations for excellent Junior School MAs were given to the following New House boys:

• O Block: Max Gracie-Ainscough, Thomas Mueller, Gianni Singh
• A Block: Luke Brown, James Donegan, Will Needham, Alistair Westwood
• B Block: Charlie Furniss

And finally, on the back of the many and various things the boys have achieved in the first half of Michaelmas, the following lads acquired the necessary House Caps to be awarded House Colours and received their ties in the final week:

• L6: Cece Chukwumah
• O Block: Gianni Singh, George Shirley, Charlie Wilcock
• A Block: James Donegan

The coveted New House Tie

Congratulations all!

Junior Football

Junior Sixes cheerful despite narrowly missing out (Tandy smiling through considerable foot pain!)

Junior football got off to a flyer with the lads coming second in the House 6s. We were very close to a win there, and though we could wish it hadn't cost Luke Tandy his foot along the way, the boys played real heads-up football throughout.

Singh on the turn, playing up in the Senior Reserves

In the Junior House Football, shall we say we had a bit more trouble finding the space to play our game! 5th place on 3 points and a minus 5 GD doesn't tell the whole story, of course - the boys dug in well, and any of the three draws could have been victories with a touch more luck in the goal mouth.

New House Special One doing some hasty tactical reassessment, but Tom Owen had his back (is that even a working pun?)

Meanwhile, Junior League tells an altogether more promising story. So far unbeaten, with draws against Latham and Cross and a very sprightly victory against Priory, the team are on the rise and looking more and more cohesive. Looking forward to the Orchard game on the 3rd November, which could have significant bearing on our semi final hopes...

Senior Football

Sharratt ready to send one down the wing

Senior Football is in healthy form, only narrowly beaten to the final by Priory by a solitary point after three convincing wins. We were solid defensively and creative in midfield, perhaps not quite using the speed we had on the wing quite as successfully as we mightŷ have done. Third place ain't bad though, and then came the might Reserves...

Finnigan trying to find the terrier-like Bowen in the box

The Reserves dominated the House competition from the outset, and finished way out in front after the initial rounds, unbeaten with 15 points, +15 GD. This all led to a somewhat heartbreaking defeat to Orchard in the final, who really hadn't looked like threatening us until that point. They packed their defence and used a lot of lofted through balls to good effect, and though we had the better of the play, their keeper stalled our conversion rate in the box. 2-0 to Orchard and a pretty gutted group of Sixth Form later, the New House team can still be very proud of how they played and the dignity shown in defeat.

Wiltons Junior and Senior offer what tactical advice they can (Teddy's probably more useful)

Of course, softening the blow was the fact that most of these lads also play in the as yet unbeaten League squad, who face (you guessed it) Orchard in the final game of the preliminary rounds, after convincing victories over Cross, School, Priory and Latham. The boys will certainly be hungry for that victory - what temperature does one serve revenge at again?

Senior House Basketball

Top point-scorer Liam Karai goes for a decisive lay-up

The Senior House Basketball competition had been on Captain Liam Karai's mind for some time - he had been pondering tactics and team sheet as well as shooting baskets in the yard a fair bit in the build up. He also knew the danger players from the other Houses and adjusted his thinking accordingly. How magnificent, then, that it all went so perfectly according to plan...

This preceded an exceptional blind pass from Finnigan!

Matt Proudlove was a defensive rock throughout the tournament, with James Finnigan, Simon Butler and Cece Chukwumah seriously good midfield generals and Liam playing a full-court game.

Turns out lay-ups were a good idea in general...

The first game against Latham was a shut out - 22-0. A 7-1 victory over Priory was testament to the fine defensive play the lads were capable of delivering, and after watching Cross beat Orchard pretty narrowly in a high scoring game, it was clear the boys would need to bring good defensive nous as well as more in the way of scoring. Despite the promise Cece Chukwumah and the other boys had shown in long shots outside the D, a switch to more two-channel attacking with someone always there for the rebound was the right strategy for the final. Cross were excellent opponents - athletic, attacking and speedy, but it just seemed like New House had all the answers: 13-7 in a really tight final, and great to nab some more silverware. Happily, it wouldn't be the last...

Pretty impressive set of players - and no subs, so all five lads played every single minute of the tournament

Drama

Charlie Furniss in a genuinely laugh-out-loud funny sketch

The Junior Showreel was the first opportunity for New House's youngest Drama Scholar, Charlie Furniss to show his dramatic mettle. It's fair to say he is genuinely gifted, with a comic timing and versatility of physical and facial expression that will take him a long way on the stage.

Charlie joined known talents Frddie Holt and Henry Perks in an excellent short devised piece about Time, which was by turns contemplative and downright funny. By way of encore, the troupe gave a performance of traditional mask work, including basic and advanced masks portraying staple dramatic characters. Moving and jovial in equal measure, clearly these boys are building their onstage repertoire in ways that we shall see bear fruit on the main stage soon...

Nobody does bemusement quite like Freddie Holt

Speaking of which, to have three New House boys in the School's main production, Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, is really impressive. Liam Karai takes the role of Theseus, noble Duke of Athens, while George Shirley will play Philostrate, chief party and entertainments organiser for said Duke. Tom Snout, the Tinker, will be played by Henry Perks, and we thoroughly look forward to his performance of a wall in the closing scenes of the play! We are sure all these fine actors shall demonstrate more poise and control than Peter Quince does in his advert for their play:

All for your delight, we are not here!

Henry Perks doing some superb mask work

Music

Henry Blencowe plays one of the most impressively bizarre sax pieces this uneducated ear has heard, time signature wise!

New House boys have been taking the all the informal opportunities they can to hone their abilities as performers - all music to, well, everybody's ears. Early in the term Henry Blencowe gave a superb rendition of the rhythmically complex 'Wandering Sax' by Bullard, and Liam Karai was part of a truly beautiful performance of ‘An die ferne Geliebte’, the first song cycle ever written; one of Beethoven’s later works and a truly gorgeous one at that.

Yes, that's Nicola Benedetti getting the privilege of performing with Alistair Westwood

Meanwhile over at the Symphony Hall at Birmingham, Alistair Westwood had the enormous good fortune (though with his talent he made it himself) to play with Nicola Benedetti, alongside several other NCO players. A standing ovation was, I hear, the well deserved outcome of a memorable performance. It will be a memory that Alistair treasures, no doubt, and a very fine achievement.

Black Tie & Gold

Mrs Wilton, Maton Emma, the fabulous kitchen staff and the L6th beautifully decorated the dining hall

A lot of Housemasters told us before the event that the annual Sale of Work Dinner was an occasion where your new Lower Sixth can really step up. How right they were: their conduct went beyond what we could have expected, with the boys showing initiative, working hard and most of all contributing to the warm and entertaining atmosphere on what we felt was a super night in an excellent cause.

Brilliant team spirit throughout the night from the lads

New Futures Nepal

The boys did a cracking job tending bar, all profits to charity and al, offers of personal tips rejected - well done gents!

All Repton Sale of Work events raise money for the major charities the School supports each year. However, all Houses can, if they wish, nominate another charity to receive a portion of the funds Repton raises. In our case, when the House was asked to discuss it, one of our new joiners in the Lower Sixth, Chris Bowen, made a highly persuasive case for New Futures Nepal, a charity with whom he and his mother Angela (pictured below among those at one of the centres the charity funds) have a close connection. As Chris told us in his speech on the night, "New Futures Nepal empowers disadvantaged children and adults of Nepal by raising funds for initiatives that promote health, education and independence and supports social integration for children with disabilities to live in the community and within safe and loving homes." We shall be putting a strong case to the School Charity Committee to support the work of NFN, and thank Chris and Angela for bringing their excellent work to our attention.

Splendid Fare

Warming up with a game of 'Heads and Tails' - congratulations Mr Needham, on winning the first bottle of bubbly!

The night itself was really made by the good cheer and the willing spirits of all the parents and friends who attended. Of course, this was helped immeasurably by the fine food on offer, all prepared in-house by our wonderful chef Elaine and with capable assistance from lovely house staff Tracey and Sam.

Food, drink...

...and good cheer!

Icing on the evening's cake came in the form of musical interludes from Will Cooling and then the whole Lower Sixth, who gave a rendition of their Highly Commended Unison song to delighted applause. Also in the mix were two party games; a classic 'Heads and Tails' to start, then later a seriously competitive round of the After Eight game, where three of our Sixth Form represented a dining table each, who bet on them to win. They had to wriggle an After Eight mint from their forehead to their mouth using only their facial muscles - a fine challenge and a great fund raiser.

Looking good, ladies!

All that jollity led to great generosity in the silent auction - drum roll and total in a moment - let us take this opportunity to thank all those who donated lots to that auction, and to the kind and munificent parents who bought them (or, in one case, allowed their daughter to by most of them!) It would also be remiss not to thank Mrs Wilton and Matron Emma, who with the fine input of the Lower Sixth masterminded this event from the start, and without whom very little in the House would function - thank you both, as ever.

Thanks again to all the Lower Sixth who did such great work on the night, and to all who donated towards our fabulous total, approaching £1700 after expenses - incredibly generous of you all!