Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 15 November 2024
Dear Parents,
It doesn’t take much for the news to wind me up these days, but something was added to the mix last weekend that particularly irked me. It was, I’m sure, a well-intentioned piece by a Head of English in London reflecting on the state of the GCSE version of his subject. I agreed with much of what he said: many voracious readers are put off English if it becomes nothing more than paint-by-numbers comprehension exercises, or essays that aren’t reflection pieces but more a test of whether a pupil can answer the questions in a set way – that way set by an exam board, a pretty strict marking rubric, and then some pretty demoralised exam markers going through their x-hundredth script of the day. One of the many, many joys of not being in such a system as that we can keep subjects alive while still teaching how to get through exams effectively. The Head of English in question went on to consider the different ways in which GCSEs could be made more ‘relevant’, and this is when I got a bit more squeamish. Apparently exam tasks should take into account the TikTok/Instagram generation when presenting questions and demanding answers. So less letter-writing and creative writing, and more Instagram post-style pieces. We could argue forever about the extent to which schools and curricula should offer young people more qualitatively worthwhile literature than much of the bilge they get online, but you can guess which side I’ll be on. Otherwise, what are we here for? Linked to this issue of quality and ‘accessibility’ was the suggestion that maybe, just maybe, Shakespeare’s position on the curriculum should not be treated as quite so sacrosanct.
I know it shouldn’t take it personally, but I’ve spent quite a long time teaching Shakespeare to young people, and I’m rather nervous about his disappearance from the curriculum. There are, I know, lots of well-thought-through arguments about the difficulties with his plays, their context, and many of the characters. But it is quite possible to teach Shakespeare in that context, to navigate fallible (and sometimes downright nasty) characters within a flawed history. There are also arguments about Shakespeare’s language being alienating, too difficult, too off-putting. Which it is, if it’s not taught properly – and it won’t be taught properly in the future if we stop teaching it to young people today. I have wrestled with this issue for years, and have learnt to stop worrying about it quite so much. If we expect to understand every Shakespearean utterance from the get-go, we are setting ourselves up to fail. But if we present the language as a challenge to be mastered, something qualitatively beautiful to enjoy, music to be admired, then we make the task easier for ourselves and our children. And that’s before we get to Shakespeare dealing with timeless themes and issues that can reassure us that we aren’t the first generation to navigate those issues. And the shared language and references that help bind communities together. And the confidence, oracy and presentation skills that children learn by acting out such texts, as evidenced by the fabulous chapel address on Wednesday given by actor Alex Ansdell (check out his new Mercedes ad at https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=-gvGStzt4nM), who cut his teeth in Shakespeare productions when he was a pupil at NCS a decade or so ago.
I know it’s all very well me saying this, in my lovely well-resourced school with biddable pupils and parents, and highly educated and talented colleagues. But I don’t think that disqualifies me from having an opinion about the dangers of relegating probably the finest author ever to have written in the English language. This week in New College Chapel, Years 7 and 8 have been putting on their hour-long adaptation of The Tempest – the original Shakespearean language, just not all three hours of it. We’ve all loved it: the humour, the camaraderie, the inclusive nature of a project in which everyone’s involved. And we’ve also loved just spending time learning and hearing the most beautiful language, even if we don’t all understand every word or sentence that’s being uttered. To start discarding it because it’s a bit difficult, or might seem a bit challenging, seems like cultural desecration – and we’re already in a society with enough of that philistinism going on.
And scene.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
As above, many congratulations to all of Years 7 and 8 for their magnificent performances of The Tempest on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The boys really rose to the occasion and produced some memorable performances: confident, witty, and entertaining. My thanks to all NCS colleagues who supported the boys along the way, but especially to: Chris Gausden for masterminding the whole production and getting so much out of the boys; Emma Krebs and Elizabeth Hess for coordinating the costumes (quite a challenge when it comes to a play like The Tempest); Tom Neal for his evocative work on the music; Dave Bustin and Paul Mulford who built such a wonderful run-aground boat; and all those colleagues who helped to support and supervise the boys along the way. And thank you, of course, to all those NCS families who helped the boys with their line-learning!
We have noticed a few unhealthy breaktime snacks, including sweets, being brought into school recently. A gentle reminder that we are encouraging the boys to eat healthily, so it would be great if this could be backed up by the boys’ snacks from home.
Our Year 6 parents’ evening is on Wednesday 27 November. The official start time is 18.00 though a few colleagues may be available from slightly earlier if you would like to make an early start. Parking is available, first come first served, from 17.00; please be very careful when driving into the playground in case there are still one or two boys leaving their enrichment activities or aftercare. We would very much appreciate it if parents could arrive in good time to make their way around by 20.00, to enable colleagues to get home at a sensible time. If there are any appointments which might require a longer slot than c.5 minutes, please could separate arrangements be made with individual teachers? Many thanks.
Tickets are now available for Handel’s Messiah featuring the NCS Choral Society and Chamber Choir, and the Instruments of Time and Truth. New College Chapel, Sunday 15 December at 18.00. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/handel-messiah-tickets-1056646250379?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Next Generation Soccer Schools will be running Christmas sessions at NCS, running from Monday 16 December to Friday 20 December. Sessions will run from 9.30 to 16.00 and are open to pupils of NCS in Years 3-8 and their siblings. With places limited, don’t miss your chance to secure a spot for just £45 per day. Led by Stephen Potts, along with other FA/UEFA-qualified coaches, the children will enjoy top-notch training, skill development, and plenty of holiday cheer. To register or for more information, please use the link below. You are also able to pay via the gov.uk tax free childcare accounts or childcare vouchers. https://campscui.active.com/orgs/NextGenerationSoccerSchool?season=3559242. Please note that Next General Soccer School uses NCS facilities but is an independent company run entirely separately from the school’s operations.
For those NCS parents in the process of choosing the right 13+ school for their sons, Matt Smith, the author of the Attain Independent Schools' Guide 2025 (rrp £9.99), has very generously allowed NCS parents access to the book for free. The guide empowers parents to find the right school for their child, cutting through the marketing spin and erroneous league tables. It distils 25 years of experience for parents considering an independent senior school for their child. The book has been widely-praised by Heads from across the country, describing it as 'a terrific resource', 'sage, sensible and savvy' and 'the book that parents have been waiting for'. The Attain Guide 'helps parents cut through the branding, shiny PR and glitz' and is 'really well written, entirely from the perspective of supporting parents.' Just enter the discount code NEWCOLLEGE2025 to read the ebook free-of-charge at https://attain.guide.
Monday, 18 November 2024
8.30-10.00 Y8 Language Ambassadors to St Michael's
UK Parliament Week begins
14.30 U13 A-C Football vs d'Overbroeck's, Home
17.15 Junior Recital (Years 3-5), Hall (parking from 17.00)
Tuesday, 19 November 2024
14.00 U8 & U9 A*B Football vs Cothill, Away
Wednesday, 20 November 2024
8.15 Eco Committee meeting, Creative Learning Centre
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Revd Katie ('Kt') Tupling, Chaplain, St Hugh's College
14.30 U11 A-D Football vs Cranford House, Away
14.30 U13 A-C Football vs Cranford House, Home
14.00 Inter-Schools Debate (until 1600)
17.30 Governors' Meeting, McGregor Matthews Room
Thursday, 21 November 2024
14.45 U9 A-C Football vs Chandlings, Home
Friday, 22 November 2024
9.00 Flu Vaccinations (Rec - Year 8) Art Room
Monday, 25 November 2024
17.30 Senior Recital (Years 6-8), Hall (parking from 17.15)
9.00 Year 3 trip to Ashmolean Museum
Tuesday, 26 November 2024
14.30 U8 A&B Football vs CCCS, Home
14.30 U9 A&B Football vs CCCS, Home
Wednesday, 27 November 2024
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Mr Oliver Wright, ordinand, DPhil candidate, former NCS pupil
Wimbledon Tennis Trip all day (6 pupils involved)
14.30 U11 A-D Football vs CCCS, Away
14.30 U13 A-C Football vs CCCS, Home
18.00 Year 6 parents' evening
Thursday, 28 November 2024
14.45 U8 A-C Football vs Chandlings, Away
Friday, 29 November 2024
Years 3 & 4 to Sleeping Beauty at the Oxford Playhouse