Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 28 February 2025
Dear Parents,
Welcome back after what I hope was a restorative half term break. I hesitate to use the word ‘restful’, because I appreciate that for many of you that won’t necessarily have been the case. I imagine that a fair few NCS families were rather active over the break, which is something we try to encourage – the right balance between rest and activity. It is tempting (and I am guilty of this) to use these breaks as opportunities to get under a blanket, on the sofa, in front of the TV. There is a value to this; we all need to get some rest. But this week our wellbeing theme has been ‘I look for opportunities to stay physically active when I am away from school and home’ – i.e. some physical activity is important among the vacation rest.
This was underlined on Tuesday in assembly when we got to hear about some half-term activities from Louise Brown and Year 5. Then again on Wednesday, when one of our new governors, Matthew Albrighton, came to speak to the boys in chapel. Matthew is the Head of Burford School and is our governor with specific oversight of inclusion (SEND) matters. Matthew thought back to last summer and the Olympics in Paris, and then back to the Olympics that we had in London in 2012. He noted that he had been lucky enough to go and see some live hockey, athletics, football and tennis. Indeed, he even got to see Andy Murray play alongside Laura Robson in the mixed doubles. Matthew pointed out that, among all of Murray’s successes and prize winnings, the Olympics stood out for him as being of particular importance. Why? Because the Olympics are about more than winning medals and money, they are about values: respect, mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity, fair play, respect for human dignity. Murray wanted to be a part of all of that, seeing sport as something much bigger and more important than the pursuit of individual success and wealth.
As we start this second half of Hilary, then, and as we hopefully head towards weather that is a bit more conducive to getting us outside, we will keep encouraging the boys to focus on these important aspects of sport and physical activity. It is important in terms of personal physical health, of course, and it is nice to win things. (I’m told this is the case but I’m an English Spurs fan so it doesn’t really come up.) But such activity brings with it so much more that makes us better us humans, and which – in an ideal world – makes society function more effectively.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
We are looking forward to our Year 8 parents’ evening on Wednesday 5 March at 18.00. My usual notices regarding parents’ evenings: some colleagues like to make an early start so do please arrive a little earlier than 18.00 if you are at a loose end. Please aim to arrive by 18.30 so you have enough time to get around every colleague by 20.00. Parking is available in the playground from 17.00 once the area is clear of boys departing after their enrichment activities. If there are any issues that you feel would need longer than a c.5-minute meeting, please contact the relevant teacher in advance to arrange a separate chat.
World Book Day is on Thursday 6 March. As ever, we will be joining schools around the country in encouraging boys to come in dressed as a literary character (though not one who looks, say, surprisingly like a prep school boy in home clothes). Please do not go to any great effort or expense for this; imaginative and recycled costumes are often the best ones!
Our SHTEAM Festival begins on Monday 10 March and runs all week. For those who are new to NCS – or to the concept of SHTEAM (STEM with the Arts and Humanities put back in) – this is an annual festival at the school during which we celebrate interdisciplinarity by taking a single theme and looking at it from as many different curricular dimensions as possible. This year’s theme is ‘Space’ and there are dozens of events happening across the year groups: special lessons, workshops and talks covering all manner of astronomical areas. Many thanks to all those who are contributing to the festival, and especially those NCS parents who are taking the time to come in to talk to the boys.
Sport round-up: NCS hockey teams have been extremely busy, with the whole prep school playing matches this week. Every available pupil from Years 3-8 has taken part in games against local schools, with some truly amazing results. The U8 boys made the short trip across town to MCS and enjoyed a cracking afternoon of hockey. With all three teams playing multiple matches against MCS, we were certain of some fun and exciting games. Steve Potts was certainly very proud of their efforts, and the results were outstanding, with New College winning or drawing all of the matches without suffering a single defeat. On the same afternoon, I had the pleasure of taking the U9s up to The Dragon along with Natalie Bath and Reuben McLusky. In the three hard-fought and very physical games, where rules were loosely interpreted, we recorded a 1-0 defeat in the A team game, a 3-3 draw in the B team, and an amazing 4-2 win in the C team game, with NB’s team remaining unbeaten!
At the top of the school, the previous week's fixtures against Ashfold School were a complete turnaround compared to last season. In the U13s, we had great success with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams all winning in fine style. Away from home, we almost matched this, with both the A and D teams winning, but on this occasion, the B and C teams just fell short of completing the clean sweep. Another great day for NCS hockey.
Upon our return to school on Monday, the U13 1st team were straight into action again with their trip to the annual Stowe School festival of hockey. Playing eight of the strongest hockey schools in the area, we knew we were likely to be facing a tough day. However, as the day began to unfold, the realisation that we were indeed one of the best teams in attendance was starting to dawn on the boys. Win after win, the confidence began to grow. From our eight games, we recorded seven wins and one draw, and to top it off, we had not conceded a single goal. Having played and beaten all comers, we found ourselves at the top of the league but were then asked to play a “final”. We duly did, but after such a high, the “final” did not go to plan, and the previous win over Winchester House School was undone as we lost 1-0. A result the boys did not deserve, but we were happy in the knowledge that we were indeed the best team there despite the silver medals!
The good work was continued on Wednesday afternoon, when a new U10 team played in the St Edward’s festival of hockey. The NCS team, made up of both Year 5 and Year 4 players, gave their absolute all on their way to recording four draws and only three losses during a very positive afternoon. This bodes well for next year when these boys are playing in the NCS U11 teams. Finally, this week, the U11s played the reverse fixture against Chandlings. We enjoyed an upturn in fortunes compared to the last time out before half term, and this time we shared the spoils with both schools recording two wins each. A standout game was Stephen Young’s B team, who came from behind to win 4-3 in the dying minutes of the game.
Upcoming Events
Monday, 3 March 2025
10.00 U13 A IAPS hockey, Bedford School (ends 15.00)
17.15 Junior Recital, Auditorium (parking from 17.00)
Tuesday, 4 March 2025
8.15 Tosca rehearsal, CLC
14.00 U9 A&B Hockey vs Winchester House, Away
Wednesday, 5 March 2025
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: The Chaplain
14.00 U11 A-D Hockey vs Winchester House, Away
14.00 U13 A-D Hockey vs Winchester House, Away
18.00 Year 8 parents' evening
Thursday, 6 March 2025
NCS Festival of Literature
World Book Day
14.30 U8 & U9 Hockey vs Chandlings, Away
Friday, 7 March 2025
8.15 Tosca rehearsal, CLC
14.00 U11 All Hockey House Matches, St Edward's
Saturday, 8 March 2025
14.15 Tosca rehearsal (17.00 finish)
Monday, 10 March 2025
SHTEAM Festival on 'Space' begins: see separate schedule for full event list
Pre-Prep QED Week
Rehearsals for Pre-Prep concert this week
14.30 U13 A-D Hockey vs CCCS, St Edward's
Wednesday, 12 March 2025
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: The Warden
14.00 U13 A & B Hockey vs Abingdon and Summer Fields, St Edward's
14.00 U11 A-D Hockey vs Beachborough, Stowe School
14.00 U13 C & D Hockey vs Summer Fields, St Edward's
18.00 Holloway Lecture, Prof. Katherine Blundell OBE, former Gresham Professor of Astronomy (Auditorium; sign-up only)
Saturday, 15 March 2025
End of University Term
10.30 Tosca rehearsal (16.30 finish)