Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 20 September 2024
Dear Parents,
Last Saturday, as part of Oxford’s Open Doors weekend, I wandered over to Jericho to look at the new Schwarzmann Centre for the Humanities. ‘But it hasn’t been finished yet!’, I hear you cry. I had the same thought, but I was curious as to how open its ‘open doors’ were going to be. ‘Not very’, was the answer. There was a two-minute video (an excellent one) with fly-through animations of what it will look like when it does finally open, late in 2025. There was also a viewing platform, which had only one real problem: the construction is so far advanced that there’s a very large wall about twenty feet in front of said platform. So I stood looking at a wall for a few minutes, to make the journey worthwhile, before returning home.
It was clear, though, that the Schwarzmann Centre is going to be phenomenal when it opens: £185+ million worth of libraries, teaching spaces, a cinema, concert hall, bar, cafeteria etc etc etc. It will bring together into one building the faculties of English, history, linguistics, philology and phonetics, and theology. Twenty-five per cent of students at Oxford are in the humanities, and this will be a fitting home for them and their tutors. It’s that rare thing in the humanities these days: a good news story, a statement of investment and commitment, and a sign that these subjects are not frivolities, but core to the question plastered on the hoarding outside the building site: ‘What does it mean to be human?’. Of course, I would say all this: I’m an historian who has made a career out of teaching history and English, who writes (and tries to sell, not all-that-successfully) books about history and English. I run a school with a profound sense of its long history, with very obvious commitment to the arts alongside the humanities, which unashamedly keeps its curriculum broad and stimulating, at a time when external pressures constantly encourage us to narrow that curriculum until education becomes little more than a stump of Verbal Reasoning.
There is an understandable pressure on young people, especially at university age, to pursue direct-route courses that lead more obviously to decently paid jobs. No one would deny the importance of having a really good mathematical and scientific education, and a solid grounding in the technology that is clearly going to have a tremendous impact on our lives and workplaces in the coming years. Education is not a zero-sum-game, though. It is entirely possible to invest in, value and celebrate, many different subjects across the curriculum spectrum. The humanities are low-hanging fruit for harried administrators looking to reduce costs (even if, rather ironically, the humanities are often relatively cheap to run). We don’t need to look very far to see these short-sighted cuts being made in educational institutions locally, in a pattern replicated nationally and internationally. We also don’t need to look very far to see what happens in societies that don’t teach, say, their history properly – or, indeed, sometimes at all. Happy, active, well-rounded, positive citizens are made, in part, through healthy exposure to the humanities, in school and beyond. The Schwarzmann Centre is, therefore, excellent news – and it’s only a fifteen-minute walk from NCS. If only such projects could be replicated in a more widespread way beyond the lucky and privileged environs within which we are fortunate to learn.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
Well done to the Year 7-8 choristers who experienced a bit of glamour on Tuesday evening, taking part in some filming for a forthcoming Netflix film. More anon!
Our next Open Morning is on Saturday 5 October at 10.00-12.00. If any boys from Years 3-8 would like to be guides on that morning, please could their parents email office@newcollegeschool.org. Please note that all pupils attending school that morning (including OCCO pupils) should wear full school uniform. Prospective parents are asked to register at https://www.newcollegeschool.org/open-day-booking -- do please pass on this link if you know of any families who would be interested in joining our wonderful community. You should also soon be receiving, via your son's schoolbag, a poster and a leaflet advertising the event. Although the morning is primarily for prospective parents, current parents, especially those from the Pre-Prep, are most welcome to get a further insight into the upper part of the school. We would really appreciate it if you could display the poster in a prominent place such as on notice boards at: nurseries and girls' schools (so as not to offend other local boys’ schools); Oxford colleges, Brookes University and other educational institutions; hospitals and health centres; churches, local shops and community centres; your car or house window. Please pass the smaller leaflet onto any friends who may be interested. Please also feel free to share/retweet the schools social media posts about the open morning:
https://www.instagram.com/newcollegeschool/
https://www.facebook.com/newcollegeschool
The NCS Parents’ Association will be meeting for its AGM in the Creative Learning Centre (CLC) on Monday 30 September at 19.00. Please note that this is a week later than originally advertised. We are pleased to welcome any parents to join the meeting. We hope that this year will bring plenty of opportunities to come together and fundraise. We will be discussing potential events and also electing officers at the AGM. Please email ncspa@newcollegeschool.org for more information. As in previous years, if parents have any specific queries or concerns, by far the best first port of call is the teacher or SLT member concerned. Our email addresses are all available at https://www.newcollegeschool.org/who-we-are
This Harvest Festival NCS will again be supporting the Community Emergency Foodbank (CEF) https://www.cefoxford.co.uk/. The CEF is an independent charity that aims to help people in Oxford or the surrounding area who are suffering from financial hardship and finding it difficult to provide food for themselves, their family or dependants. If pupils and families would like to support this worthy cause, they can do so by donating at our Harvest Festival. The service will be held in Chapel on Wednesday 2 October at 9.00. Pupils can bring in non-perishable food items (canned or dried) along with toiletries, which will be collected and donated to the CEF. We thank the NCS community for their support of this worthy cause.
Join the internationally acclaimed Drakensberg Boys Choir for a concert of exceptional music in the beautiful setting of New College Chapel. Known for their unique blend of classical choral works and Afro-Pop vibes, the choir promises a diverse and engaging repertoire highlighting South African music's best. UK audiences can look forward to experiencing a captivating blend of classical masterpieces and infectious pop hits. The repertoire will range from the timeless compositions of Carl Orff and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to the vibrant rhythms of Afro-pop and traditional African contemporary works, promising to enchant audiences of all tastes. The Drakies, as the choir is also affectionately known, will offer the melodic genius of Ola Gjeilo, Knut Nystedt, and works from other celebrated composers during the tour. The Drakensberg Boys Choir will perform live in Oxford, featuring their signature choral works and Afro-Pop music. They will be joined for some items by the choristers of New College Choir, and the Chamber Choir of New College School on Monday, 23 September 2024 at 16.30. Tickets are on sale from £25 and available for purchase here
We recently received information about a wonderful opportunity for anybody in Years 7 -8 at NCS (up to Year 10 for older siblings) offered by the charity We Solve Problems. Their ‘maths circles’ are offered free of charge on Sundays from 13.00-14.30 at Keble College. These are maths-based training sessions that promote the art of problem-solving and structured thinking. They encompass an extensive array of subjects spanning Algebra, Calculus, Combinatorics, Game Theory, Euclidean Geometry, and Graph Theory. For more information please see https://wesolveproblems.org.uk/maths-circles-at-keble-college-university-of-oxford/. To register for participation, parents need to fill in the following form: https://forms.gle/WWwMLtENWVkDa85MA
Parents may also be interested in an upcoming talk titled 'What Do We Do About Smartphones and Children?', on 24 September at 19:30: 74-77 Magdalen Road, Oxford (£5, to book tickets: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML2NMXXMTK08F/checkout/4ZUK27ZO4ZUUETJWLRCA7V6H%20).
The music department at Abingdon invites NCS families to a concert which is being given by Abingdon musicians at the Holywell Music Room in Oxford on Thursday 3 October at 19.30. They would especially like to welcome any parents or pupils who are interested in Abingdon but principally have a musical focus or interest. The concert will give a flavour of the musical opportunities, experiences and interests of the music department at the school. Tickets can be booked here and are free of charge.
From Professor Barbara Rossi: Commedia dell’arte. I’m thrilled to invite you to be part of something special: a brand-new theatre troupe that’s all about fun, creativity, and self-expression! Have you ever been mesmerized by Charlie Chaplin’s genius? Do you find yourself fascinated by theatrical characters, masks, or even fake noses? Whether you’ve dreamt of exploring your hidden talents or just want to try something new, this is your chance. Personally, I’m looking to improve my body awareness, challenge myself, and discover my new performance skills. How about you? Have you dreamed of expressing yourself in ways you never imagined were possible? What can you expect? A relaxed, welcoming space where we can all learn to use our bodies, voices, and eyes to tell stories, express emotions, and, most importantly, have fun together! I’m inspired by authors like Dario Fo, Bertolt Brecht, and Roberto Benigni (a modern-day Arlecchino!). Who inspires you? What do you read, and what makes you laugh, cry, or want to shout out your feelings? How will we do it? With a mix of games, exercises, and scene work to sharpen our stage presence, listening, and rhythm. It’s all about discovering the magic of physical theatre—no previous experience necessary! Who’s it for? Everyone! Whether you’ve never stepped on a stage before or you’re looking to hone your skills, there’s a place for you. And if acting isn’t your thing, there are so many other ways to get involved and share your talents. No auditions—just come as you are. When? First Date: 02/10/2024; Location: Clore Music Studio, Mansfield Road, Studio 7 (Depending on Studio 7’s availability, sessions will take place on Wednesdays at 19:30); Time: 19:30-21:00; Wear comfy clothes, bring water, and be ready to move! Please register your interest by emailing office@newcollegeschool.org. Cost: None—just bring your enthusiasm! Looking forward to creating something magical together!
Upcoming Events
Monday, 23 September 2024
15.00 Drakensberg Boys' Choir Workshop/Rehearsal & Concert (with choristers and Chamber Choir), Chapel
14.30 U13 A-C Football vs d'Overbroeck's, Home
Wednesday, 25 September 2024
14.30 U11 A-D Football vs Summer Fields, Home
14.30 U13 A-D Football vs Summer Fields, Away
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Mr Matthew Albrighton, Headmaster, Burford School
Monday, 30 October 2024
19.00 NCSPA AGM, CLC
Wednesday, 2 October 2024
8.15 Eco-Committee meeting, CLC
8.15 Charity Committee meeting, Geography Room
14.30 U11 A-D Football vs MCS, Away
14.30 U13 A-C Football vs Cranford House, Away
9.00 Chapel (Harvest Festival). Speaker: Dr Meera Sabaratnam, Tutorial Fellow in Politics, New College
18.00 Year 7 Parents' Evening, Sports Hall
Thursday, 3 October 2024
1400.00 U8&9 Football House Matches, Field
Saturday, 5 October 2024
10.00 Open Morning