Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 07 November 2025
Dear parents, My old history teacher, Bernard Bentall – “BHB” – “Bernie” – died last week. He was part of a double-act with Keith Baker – “KHB” – who died a few years ago, in 2019. When Keith died I wrote an obituary for the Oxford Times which ended up with the headline ‘Farewell to the man who made us sit and listen’ – a rather two-dimensional summary of what I had actually written. But without this double-act, I think it is fair to say that I would not have read history at university, I would not have pursued a doctorate, I would not be writing history books, I would not have become a history teacher, I would not be a headmaster, and I would not be writing this now. The first, and main, thing to say about BHB is that he was unassuming. He was gentle. He was kind. He smiled a lot. He worked hard, marking well into his evenings. He taught from behind his desk from notes that looked like they may have been written twenty years ago. They had, let’s be honest, probably been written twenty years ago. But so what? He was thoughtful, and intelligent, and he cared. For the reasons just outlined, he was rather OFSTED-unfriendly, but he knew how to play the game. My classmates and I were amusingly surprised to find ourselves engaged in ‘groupwork’ when there was an inspector in the room, and we happily played along – knowing that it was all a game, and that the presence of inspectors bore little (sorry, no) relation to the learning that was actually happening, with or without them there. That no one blew the whistle during this task – “hang on, sir, we don’t usually do group work?!” – was surely testament to the fact that we wanted BHB to do well. Overall, he showed us that learning involved hard work: it involved listening, it involved taking some personal responsibility, and it involved patience. BHB taught me early modern European history at a time when schools did not do much before the rise of the Nazis, so a lot of what we were talking about – or he was talking about – sounded pretty alien. But after a few months of diligent note-taking, listening, things started to click. My understanding of the Reformation, say, owes a huge amount to BHB’s high expectations and his faith that learning is a long game. There is little point breaking everything down into tiny assessed chunks. That way, we just encourage short-term learning for short-term learning’s sake, and we can easily miss the importance of making connections over broad periods and topics. BHB took the risk in teaching in such a way that was slow-burn and deeply thoughtful: an education that was worth having. He would not survive an OFSTED inspection today, but I think that says volumes – and not good ones – about the bureaucratisation of education, the urge to assess anything that moves, the notion that everything can be quantified and plotted on some graph. I am deeply grateful that BHB lived and taught before such an approach to education, and I am in turn deeply grateful that I got to encounter his style of teaching before it was, in many areas, so unimaginatively kicked into touch.
When his long-term friend and peer, KHB, died, I wrote the following: ‘The best forms of education are ethereal – they are somewhere else, off the page. They are fun, sideways-glancing, pointing to a realm that can’t be assessed in a couple of essays. They are about the unspoken mutual admiration, the odd shared smirk, the sense of passing on a baton from one generation to another’. BHB was the quieter partner in this pedagogical double-act, but he was solid and knowledgeable and kind. He cared about us, and we in turn cared about him. In a world that seeks to overcomplicate education and to reduce it to its utilitarian parts, we should keep BHB and KHB in mind as the kind of people who encouraged people like me into education. And I worry that their approach and values are not, well, valued. I have no intention of giving up on them. Have a great weekend, Matt Jenkinson
Many congratulations to the choristers who performed brilliantly in the Chapel Royal at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday evening, alongside the Ensemble Marguerite Louise. Their ‘Royal Farewells and Triumphs’ tour reaches Smith Square Hall in London on Saturday at 19.00. In their science lesson today, Year 8 greatly enjoyed a visit from Dr Rene Bobe and two of his students, Kat and Rachel, who came over from the School of Anthropology to talk about human evolution. It was fascinating to hear how closely related humans are to chimpanzees and other apes. The boys learnt about the timescale of human evolution and were able to look at some skulls of various types of apes, as well as some belonging to early hominids. They also learnt about how tool use has evolved and how chimpanzees still use tools to help with feeding. Many thanks to Rene, Rachel and Kat. Next week marks National Anti-Bullying Week, with this year’s theme focusing on ‘The Power of Good’. At NCS, pupils are taught how to safeguard themselves and their peers against bullying, and to recognise the positive role they can play in influencing their friendships and peer groups. During the last half term, Year 7 and Year 8 pupils in particular explored a unit on risk-taking behaviours, in which they reflected on how they can act as upstanders rather than bystanders when faced with situations involving risk, including bullying. Pupils are encouraged throughout the year - not just during Anti-Bullying Week -to report any incidents of unkindness or bullying. This enables staff to work effectively to support and guide all pupils involved, promoting a safe and respectful school environment. As part of our activities, on Monday 10 November, pupils are invited to wear odd socks as a visible sign of support for Anti-Bullying Week. In addition, themed Wellbeing lessons will take place on Wednesday, reinforcing the importance of kindness, respect, and standing up for others. We are looking forward to our Years 7-8 performances of Richard II on Wednesday and Thursday, 12-13 November, 18.00-19.00. Please note that entry will be via the Song Room (it will be signposted), and that boys will be picked up from in the chapel itself after the performances (just after 19.00). Please do not use the antechapel entrance, but always use the Song Room door for entering and exiting. Thank you. On Sunday 14 December at 6pm, the New College School Chamber Choir and Choral Society will present their annual Christmas concert in New College Chapel. This year, we are performing alongside members of The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in a festive programme including Respighi's Lauda per la Natività del Signore and Britten's Ceremony of Carols. Tickets are now on sale via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ncs-christmas-concert-respighi-britten-tickets-1741687266499. Tickets at a discounted rate are available for NCS parents: simply use the promo code 'Respighi1379' at the checkout.
Upcoming Events
Sunday 9 November 2025 9.00 Year 8 Only, Richard II rehearsal, chapel (ends 11.30) Monday, November 10, 2025 National Anti-Bullying Week begins Switch Off Fortnight begins 14.00 Year 7 Only, Richard II rehearsal, chapel (ends 15.00) 18:00 Pre-Prep Chorister Information Evening (online) Tuesday, November 11, 2025 13.30 U8 & U9 Football vs St Michael's Primary, home Wednesday, November 12, 2025 8.15 School Council Meeting, Creative Learning Centre 9.00 ISEB pre-tests (tbc) 9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Mr Alastair Chirnside, Warden, St Edward's U11 A-D Football vs St Michael's Primary, home 14.15 U13 House cross country, uni parks 18.00 Richard II performance, Years 7-8, chapel (please enter via the Song Room) Thursday, November 13, 2025 9.00 Flu Vaccinations (Rec-Year 8) 18.00 Richard II performance, Years 7-8, chapel (please enter via the Song Room) Monday, November 17, 2025 UK Parliament Week begins U13 A-D Football vs MCS, venue TBC 17.15 Junior Recital (Years 3-5), Auditorium (parking from 17.00) Tuesday, November 18, 2025 14.00 U8 **** Football vs Summer Fields, home 14.15 U9 **** Football vs Cothill, away Wednesday, November 19, 2025 8.15 Eco Committee meeting, Creative Learning Centre 9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Mr Andy Shedden, Registrar, Winchester College 14.15 U11 A-D Football vs MCS away 14.00 ISEB pre-tests (tbc) 14.00 U13 Football training, home Thursday, November 20, 2025 14.15 U8 & 9 Cross country house matches, uni parks