Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 14 March 2025
Dear Parents,
Over the past twenty or so years I have had the privilege of introducing talks by various interesting and eminent speakers: journalists, politicians, podcasters, former hostages (!), scientists, economists, historians. But I never thought I’d be typing these words: this week I got to introduce an astronaut. On Monday lunchtime the whole school came together for a Q and A session with Colonel Chris Hadfield, who joined us online from his home in Canada. Hadfield, many of you will already know, was Commander of the International Space Station in 2013, as well as NASA’s Director of Operations. He has also been a fighter pilot and became even more famous when he released a video of himself covering David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’, playing the guitar and singing in space. Yes, that was this week’s Artwork of the Week.
In case you hadn’t noticed, this week has witnessed our annual NCS SHTEAM Festival: an interdisciplinary celebration of all subjects and disciplines and how they can speak to, and learn from, each other. (For those of you wondering why it isn’t just STEM: the Humanities and Arts are vital too!). This festival’s theme was ‘Space’ and the boys got to explore it from a number of different angles across the curriculum, both in day-to-day lessons and in special workshops and speaker events. Wednesday’s brilliant Holloway Lecture, for example, was given by Professor Katherine Blundell, the 38th Gresham Professor of Astronomy. (Christopher Wren, who used to potter about in Wadham garden behind NCS, was the 9th.) Actually, the 39th Gresham Professor, Chris Lintott, also came to talk to some of the boys, as did the current Savilian Professor, Steven Balbus. (Wren was also, between 1661 and 1673, Savilian Professor – busy man.) I enjoyed talking to the boys about Mae Jemison, our person of the week, the first African-American woman to travel into space, before teaching Year 8 about the wonderfully irascible first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed. Veterans of former newsletters may remember my former musings on Flamsteed as a perfectionist autodidact; this week Year 8 got to read some of his correspondence and to see what it was like to be at the forefront of the Royal Society’s astronomical research in the seventeenth century. Essentially, they got to see someone moaning about his competitors’ research (too fast, too flimsy, bit of plagiarism); about how his overlords wanted too much too quickly; about how day-to-day maladies got in the way of his research; and how teaching kept providing too much of a distraction from the work he wanted to pursue. I’ll leave it to our academic parents to decide whether much has changed.
I can’t list all of the dozens of activities which took place over the course of the week, but if you haven’t already perused the brochure designed by Jemma Kilkenny, I recommend that you do so. I hope, too, that the boys have returned home buzzing about the space-related activities in which they have been engaging. I am lucky to work with talented and interesting colleagues who enjoy approaching the curriculum in stimulating and engaging ways, and I would like to thank them all for taking on the theme of ‘space’ with such enthusiasm. Masterminding the SHTEAM festival, as ever, has been Emma Krebs who has brought together the various strands and organised and hosted many of the events. I guess the only problem she has now is that, next year, she has to beat getting an astronaut. Anyone know George Clooney?
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
I am pleased to announce some more Year 8 scholarships to add to our honours boards. Well done to Thomas, Max and Ethan for being awarded academic scholarships to MCS, and to Laurence who has been awarded an academic scholarship to Abingdon!
Very well done to Thomas in Year 6, who over the Christmas vacation wrote a piece for the Classical Association’s 2025 competition on ‘Why is Classics Important?’. Thomas has been awarded third place in the Junior Category for his entry, which had this rousing conclusion: ‘It is the thrill of looking and finding, of asking questions, hearing the stories, learning the history and imagining the lives of the people who have left us these wonders. It is the possibility of being part of new discoveries about the past. It is making this thrilling connection with the past and holding a piece of the classical world in my hand, that I find most exciting of all. Obstupefactus est! In the words of Euripides, we “should leave no stone unturned” to find the treasure that Classics offers to each of us and appreciate how valuable it is. If every child, like me, could hold this treasure in their hands too, this would be a remarkable and life changing discovery for them too.’
We are looking forward to our senior recital, next Monday, at 17.15. Parking will be available once the playground is clear of pupils after their enrichment activities (c.17.00). Then, on Tuesday, Year 6 will be hosting an evening of French cabaret entertainment alongside a delicious four-course French meal, provided by our caterers Thomas Franks. Catherine Phillips has sent a separate Parentmail to Year 6 families, outlining details of how to sign up for this event.
I am pleased to announce that this year’s 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
Looking ahead to the last week of term, do join us for our very special Spring Service in the chapel on Wednesday 26 March from 9.00. We will have a selection of music and readings, hopefully ushering in the joys of the new season. Then (from around 9.45) the boys will spend the remainder of the morning over the road for our annual College Day, with a series of special College-based events, including lunch in the medieval dining hall.
The Next Generation Soccer School will be running again over the Easter holidays, from Monday 31 March to Friday 4 April (9.30-16.00). It is open to NCS pupils in Years 3-8 and their siblings. The cost is £45 per day and it is run by FA-licensed coaches. Sessions will focus on skill development, teamwork, and having fun. Whether your child is a beginner or a budding star, they will have a fantastic time improving their game. You can book via: https://campscui.active.com/orgs/NextGenerationSoccerSchool?season=3611442
To book using tax-free childcare accounts or childcare vouchers please contact stephenpotts@btinternet.com. Please note that, while Next Generation Soccer School uses New College School premises, it is a separate company; it is not being run by NCS.
Sport Roundup: As the younger boys took a break from matches and honed their skills in training sessions and lessons this week, we have seen the U13 teams in action. On Monday afternoon, the A to D teams all played Christ Church. In four very entertaining games, the NCS teams managed to concede only 2 goals on their way to recording 4 wins out of 4. However, the highlight of the sporting week was the U13 A team’s trip away to Merchant Taylors' School for the IAPS National Hockey Finals. After an early start and a nervous wait for our first game, the boys were eager to get going. The first game was extremely entertaining, and after the 20-minute encounter, the boys managed a 2-1 win and got 3 points on the board. After the group stages, those 3 points plus our other goals scored meant we had earned a place in the “vase” section of the competition. A semi-final against the Scottish Champions, Cargilfield Prep from Edinburgh, was looming after the lunch break. An amazing game was played out with both teams having chances to take the win; however, it was NCS that held their nerve and won 2-1! In the final of the vase, NCS were up against “The New Beacon”, a hard-fighting team that played with high intensity. We raised our game once again and matched them in every department. With only 2 minutes to go, the scores were locked at 1-1 thanks to an amazing reverse stick strike from the top of the circle; in the final minute, our opponents scored from a penalty corner and with only seconds left, NCS could not quite score that elusive equalising goal. After an amazing day, the NCS team finished in 10th place, meaning we hold our heads high as one of the top hockey-playing prep schools in the country. A feat we should all be very proud of!
Upcoming Events
Saturday, 15 March 2025
End of University Term
10.30 Tosca reheasal (16.30 finish)
Monday, 17 March 2025
Food Waste Action Week
10-12.30 Year 4 Trip to Ashmolean (Islamic Art Workshop)
8.30 Year 8 Language Ambassadors visit to St Michael's
14.00 U13 All Hockey House Matches, St Edward's
17.15 Senior Recital (Auditorium; parking from 17.00)
Tuesday, 18 March 2025
14.00 Year 6-8 Careers Talks, Auditorium, ends 3.45
14.00 U1 & U9 (All) Hockey vs Beachborough, Iffley Road
18.00 French Café and Entertainment (Year 6) (Dining Hall; parking from 17.30)
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
8.15 Eco Committee meeting, CLC
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Fr John Saward, SS. Gregory and Augustine Catholic Church
10.00 Year 7 visit to OU Physics department for talk on The Extremely Large Telescope (ends 11.30)
14.00 U11 A-D Hockey vs Dragon, Away
14.00 U13 A-D Hockey vs Dragon, St Edward's
17.30 Pre-Prep Parents' evening
Thursday, 20 March 2025
9.45 Year 6 Science trip to Natural History Museum (ends 11.30)
14.30 Pre-Prep Spring Concert
Friday, 21 March 2025
Provisional date for ABRSM exams
14.00 U11 Pre-season Cricket, St Edward's
Saturday, 22 March 2025
10.30 Tosca reheasal (16.30 finish)
Monday, 24 March 2025
9.30 Year 3 trip to Ashmolean Egyptians 9.30
14.00 U13 Pre-season Cricket, St Edward's
Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Last day of VMT 1:1 Music Lessons (pre-prep and prep)
Last day of After-school Enrichment Activities (pre-prep and prep)
14.00 U8 A-C Hockey vs Summer Fields, Away
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
College Day
9.00 Spring Service
14.00 U11 & U 13 Pre-season Cricket, St Edward's
Thursday, 27 March 2025
16.00 Tosca technical rehearsal (Oxford Playhouse)
Friday, 28 March 2025
Easter House Brunch
12.00 End of term (12 noon)
16.00 Tosca rehearsal and performance (Oxford Playhouse)
Saturday, 29 March 2025
13.00 Choral Society/Chamber Choir rehearsal (New College Chapel)
18.00 Choral Society/Chamber Choir concert (New College Chapel)