Monthly Archives: November 2019

Sixth Form physicists visit the Joint European Torus

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By Tobias Hardy, Head of Physics

To fend off the global warming crisis, we need to appeal to the hottest place on earth. The sun’s core is 10 million degrees, but in the Joint European Torus (JET) at Culham, the doughnut-shaped plasma in the reactor consistently reaches temperatures of over 100 million degrees to initiate nuclear fusion between hydrogen isotopes and release enormous quantities of energy. The hydrogen is sourced from seawater, and there are no harmful waste products. What is not to like? Unfortunately, it’s fiendishly difficult to achieve.

The Sixth Form physicists visited JET last week, for an inspiring tour and lectures. The scientists and engineers explained the current developments of this futuristic technology, which has come a long way since its inception in 1983, and has inspired the next generation of fusion reactors, driving the plasma science and fusion research. Ground-breaking and innovative engineering solutions are necessary for the magnetic containment, keeping the super-heated plasma just metres from the surrounding vacuum at almost zero, to harness this potentially limitless resource.

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Bedales student shortlisted for Harvest Short Film Competition

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By Jake Morris, 6.1

I was delighted to be shortlisted for the Harvest Short Film Competition 2019 recently. I have been making films for about five years now, and my most recent film – A Puffin’s Tale – has been one of the most enjoyable.

Going to Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire, Wales, has always been on my mind as somewhere I wanted to film, as it is jam packed full of puffins. I was fortunate enough to borrow a really great telephoto lens and a good, sturdy tripod from Old Bedalian Andrew Graham Brown, who went to school with my father. This made filming at Skomer Island challenging but enjoyable; trying out professional gear is always really exciting.

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Product Design students visit plastics manufacturer

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By Max Lobbenberg, 6.2 and Product Design Don

On 21 November, the 6.2 Product Design class visited Broanmain Ltd, a specialist technical plastics moulder. Broanmain is a family-owned company, which has been operating for over 60 years. They support a wide range of industries from aerospace, electronics and defence to the science sector and consumer goods.

After a presentation on how the injection moulding machines work, Broanmain’s Operations Director, Jo Davis, and Production Manager, Thomas Catinat, showed us around their factory.

Whilst the core of their business is focused on producing injection moulded polymer components, they are one of only 15 companies in the UK to operate specialist thermoset compressive moulding machines. The key difference with these to the usual thermoplastics is that the material is not re-mouldable, and is therefore non-recyclable.

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Ways to support the John Badley Foundation this Christmas

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The John Badley Foundation (JBF) offers financial support through bursaries, giving more young people a chance to benefit from the transformational opportunity a Bedales education can provide. With Christmas fast approaching, there are several ways you can support the JBF.

Swap Christmas cards for a donation this year

Instead of sending Christmas cards, please support a bursary child by donating the money you would have spent on cards to the JBF. You can download a donation and gift aid form here.

Buy Bedales presents for friends and family

Visit our fundraising shop to see a range of Bedales merchandise, including Emma Bridgewater pottery (from £15), Bedales tea towels (£10), and bespoke Bedales jigsaws (£30), with all proceeds going to the JBF.

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6.1 biologists hear from leading scientists

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Venki-Ramakrishnan

By Mary Shotter, Biology Technician

Biologists in 6.1 travelled to the Apollo Theatre in London to hear a series of lectures by some of the country’s leading scientists as part of A Level Biology Live.

First was 2009 Nobel Prize winner and President of the Royal Society, Professor Sir Venki Ramakrishnan (pictured above), whose many scientific contributions include his work on the atomic structure of ribosomes. Ribosomes exist in their millions in every cell, and are the site where genetic information is read to synthesise proteins from amino acids. He began work on ribosomes in the late 1970s and eventually discovered their complex three-dimensional structure in 2000, with the aid of X-ray crystallography.

Next, Professor Robert Winston – who was the Bedales Eckersley Lecture speaker in 2013 – spoke about manipulating human reproduction, from his work in vitro fertilisation, through to regenerative medicine such as stem cell research and epigenetics, which may turn out to be the most important biological development in the years to come. However, he warned that manipulating the human will always be dangerous, uncertain and unpredictable.

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Hands-on week in Classics

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It’s been a hands-on week in Classics classes this week. Block 4 students have been putting the finishing touches to their miniature triumphal arch (pictured above), which they made last week from the same sand and cement mix that was made to use the Pantheon and Colosseum in Rome. The class has been studying major monuments – from Stonehenge to the Romans – and this was an opportunity to try their hand at the Roman technique of making a mould and filling it. It seemed a fitting way of wrapping up this module of study before they produce their extended essays.

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Bedales votes in mock general election

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By Clare Jarmy, Head of Able, Gifted & Talented, Oxbridge, Academic Scholars & PRE

On 27 November, Bedales held a mock general election. We began with short speeches, outlining parties’ manifesto commitments. Five parties were represented: the Brexit Party (candidate: Alex Campbell, 6.1); the Conservative Party (candidate: Eben MacDonald, Block 4); the Green Party (candidate: Caitlin Nugent, 6.1); the Labour Party (candidate: Theo Sheridan, 6.2); and the Liberal Democrat Party (candidate: Connie Gillies, 6.2). Congratulations should be offered to all the candidates for an extremely high quality of speaking.

Following this, students and teachers came to vote. We had a proper electoral register, with student registrars signing off ballots, and there were no spares. Anyone who spoiled their ballots couldn’t vote. Students voted on paper, in booths. The ballot boxes then made it to our crack team of counters. Each tutor group was a constituency, each group of tutors was its own constituency, and house staff were another. Twenty-five constituencies were needed to make it ‘past the post’.

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Girls’ First XI Hockey v Christ’s Hospital, 20.11.2019

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By Mariela Walton, Teacher for Girls’ PE & Games

This week, the girls’ first XI travelled to Christ’s Hospital for the final game of the season. Arriving with only ten players, we knew we were already on the back foot. After a quick warm-up, the game got underway. It was clear from the outset that Christ’s Hospital were a strong side, and their attack down the right was extremely threatening.

Despite some excellent defending from Hannah Mazas and Bella Doyle, Christ’s Hospital managed to get the first goal, with an outstanding shot from the top of the D. Bedales worked exceptionally hard for the first half; Alisia Leach was excellent, and she controlled the play in the centre of the pitch, and her relentless defence distributed the ball brilliantly. However, time was against us, and we finished the first half 1-0 down.

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U16 Girls’ Hockey v Christ’s Hospital, 20.11.2019

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By Kevin Boniface, Head of Hockey

On 20 November, the girls’ U16 hockey team travelled away to play Christ’s Hospital. The first half was a very one-sided affair, with Christ’s Hospital dominating the attacking possession and only the occasional individual run from Nell Freeborough providing any respite for the Bedales defence.

However, at half time, Bedales were very much still in the game, finding themselves only 1-0 down thanks to some fantastic saves from goalkeeper Tilda Gellatly and some last ditch tackles and interceptions from Emma Nelson and Shanklin Mackillop-Hall.

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U16 Girls’ Hockey in the U16 Hampshire Trophy Tournament, 15.11.2019

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By Kevin Boniface, Head of Hockey

On 15 November, the girls’ U16 hockey side travelled to Southampton to take part in the U16 Hampshire Trophy Tournament. The girls got off to a slow start, losing their first game to the eventual finalists, which instantly put them on the back foot in terms of progressing to the next stage.

However, they rallied well, drawing with a strong Farnborough Hill side and beating the Churcher’s and Kings’ B teams 1-0 and 2-0 respectively. The semi-final tie was a well-matched affair against Embley Park. At the final whistle, the scores were level and the game went to penalty strokes.

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