Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 16 May 2025
Dear Parents,
Because I don’t seem to be able to escape education wherever I go, I spent my Easter vacation staying just a block from the Ministero Dell’Istruzione e del Merito in Rome. (Did I mention I spent my holiday in Rome? I don’t like to talk about it.) It’s an imposing and fairly tasteless edifice, built in 1928 to a design by Cesare Bazzani, who spent much of his career lending his architectural ‘talents’ to the fascist regime. There are quite a few remnants of fascist architecture still in Rome, and Bazzani’s building is one of them, because its original name is still inscribed in feet-high letters on the front: Ministero Della Pubblica Istruzione. Maybe I’m reading too much into the old name: but Ministry of Public Education sounds rather more 1984ish, sinister, and – well – fascist than Ministry of Education and Merit (Achievement?). Aside from the wording, the ministry’s architecture was enough to make me shudder daily as I walked past to go to the supermarket: an historic statement of assertive centralisation of education, and in this context for sinister purposes.
At around the same time, I read a short but wise piece in the media about the utilitarianisation of education. For those who are blissfully unaware of the debate, it boils down to the fact that some think it is the state’s job to get schools to solve all of society’s problems, including predicting what that society (and job market) will look like in X years time, thereby preparing young people for a society (and job market) that they hope they predicted correctly. Only, it doesn’t usually work that way, because the future is difficult to predict at the best of times, and it’s especially difficult to predict in 2025. The journalist in question noted that, just a few short years ago, schools were being told to produce the next generations of computer programmers, just for American programming jobs to decline by almost 30% when ChatGPT (which can write computer code) arrived on the scene. Their conclusion was difficult to disagree with: ‘a narrow, utilitarian approach to education designed to make young people economically useful will be counterproductive because the future is unknowable and the skills they learn will probably turn out to be useless’. It’s like an endless game of pedagogical whack-a-mole, where the moles win.
That sounds a bit alarming and just a tad pessimistic, unless we also read the second bit of the journalist’s quotation: ‘If we educate them to be bright, curious, decent and have a wide range of general knowledge, they will be able to cope with whatever the economy requires of them’. The problem with that, of course, is that curiosity and decency are notoriously difficult to quantify and to put in a spreadsheet, so many educational systems run shy from them. Even being ‘bright’ is wonderfully tricky to define and pin down, as many bright people will tell you, having gone through educational systems that didn’t notice or value their particular brand of brightness. That’s why, with the exception of some key things that do need to be centralised, ever-centralising systems make me nervous; education simply can’t be reduced in such a utilitarian way. And it’s why Bazzani’s building makes my stomach turn: an architectural edifice that proudly, if tastelessly, states that there is only one centralised way to teach and bring up young people, and that educators will be bludgeoned by neoclassical columns if they have the audacity to think otherwise.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
Many congratulations to Tristan (8S) who has been awarded a King’s Scholarship to Eton!
Well done to all those boys in Years 3-5 who performed in Monday evening’s junior recital. It was wonderful to see, and hear, how far they have progressed over the course of the year.
Many thanks to all those pupils, colleagues and parents who ran in last Sunday’s Town and Gown, and to the many NCS families who came along to support. There was a fantastic sense of NCS collegiality and the sunshine was enjoyed by all (well, perhaps by those spectating rather than running). A special thanks to Victoria Hayter who coordinated the NCS effort, and to all those colleagues who helped with logistics.
Thanks to all those parents who came to speak to prospective families at this morning’s open morning. As ever, there was a lovely buzz about the place, and it was great for families to see the school in purposeful and happy action. I would also like to thank those parents who attended the NCSPA meeting on Monday evening, which included some very fruitful discussion about future events. And those who attended Karl Hopwood’s talk on Wednesday about safer online use for children.
On Tuesday the Year 7s went out to an idyllic spot in the Cotswolds for a river study day. They studied Sars Brook in Sarsden, which is a tributary of the River Evenlode. After feeding two comical pigs living under an ancient oak tree, the boys spent the morning measuring velocity, depth and channel width of Sars Brook by sharing waders and other measuring equipment. They also explored the upstream catchment for signs of sustainable and unsustainable farming practices, evidence of medieval farming techniques, signs of wildlife and used the OS map to orientate themselves and practice navigation skills. After a picnic lunch back under the oak trees and drinking home-made apple juice from the orchard, the boys spent the afternoon investigating the ecosystem of a beautiful pond using nets and tray to examine insects and invertebrates surrounded by very noisy sheep, lambs and beautiful views. The boys had a lot of fun and were commended by the volunteers running the day for their curiosity, knowledge and excellent mature attitude. My thanks to Letty Peppiatt for organising the trip and to Nick Hanson for helping to accompany the boys.
Well done to the NCS Judo Team who attended IAPS 2025 last weekend. The boys were a credit to the school and fought with spirit, determination and respect. Maani (Year 7) was a silver medallist, while Tom D (Year 7), Jack (Year 8), Aaron (Year 6), Tassilo (Year 6) and Nicolas (Year 6) were all given bronze medals.
Charity Week 19 - 23 May: During Trinity, the Eco and Charity Committees are joining forces to support a cause that champions sustainability. This year, the boys have chosen to support the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), a charity well known to many in our community, especially those who participate in the annual birdwatch. We’ll be raising funds for the RSPB through a variety of fun and engaging activities: Bake Off Competition – Delicious treats will be on sale for £1 each; Home Clothes Day – Taking place on Thursday 22 May; Birdsong Competition (identifying not making hopefully) – Held during form time; Tennis Competition. Thank you in advance for your support and enthusiasm. A gentle reminder: we aim to be a nut-free school, so please ensure that all baked goods are nut-free and accompanied by a full list of ingredients to help us manage allergies safely.
On Saturday 24 May (19.30), Natalie Bath will be singing in the ‘Music in Quiet Places’ festival, at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Church Lane, Mursley, Bucks. The programme will include Mozart, Mahler, Haydn and Handel. Tickets are £15 and available from andrewcowell@hotmail.com.
A separate Parentmail has been sent regarding the arrangements for this year’s Wykeham Day on Saturday 14 June. The Wykeham Day Concert will feature the world-renowned tenor, and former NCS pupil, James Gilchrist, with our very own Robert Quinney at the piano. The concert will take place in the ‘New Space’ (in the basement of the College side of the new Gradel Quads) on Saturday 14 June, 11.00-12.00. Tickets are free for under 18s and £10 for over 18s, available via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1277884850989?aff=oddtdtcreator