Bedales and Bohunt work together on Oxbridge preparation day

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

Getting into Oxford and Cambridge involves lots of work. Students have to get their applications in early. They also usually have to send samples of work, and often have to take challenging admissions tests. In the next month, candidates from Bedales and Bohunt will be off to interviews, and last Wednesday, the two schools organised an interview preparation day together.

In the morning, the sessions were run in collaboration between Rowena Hammal, Assistant Head of Sixth Form (Progress and Guidance) at Bohunt, Clare Jarmy from Bedales and Ioanna Tsakiropoulou (Old Bedalian), who completed both her undergraduate and postgraduate work in History at Oxford, and now works at DEFRA.

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New Sport BTEC Level 3 Diploma launching September 2020

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By Spencer Leach, Director of Sport

Sport BTEC Level 3 Diploma is set to be introduced in September 2020, extending the Sport department’s offer to Bedales’ Sixth Form students.

The course will provide an introduction to the sport and active leisure sector by developing a broad range of knowledge and skills in a variety of sport related areas. BTECs are made up of a number of units that have a practical focus with supporting knowledge and understanding that is assessed through ongoing coursework. This allows students to build their qualification in stages and take responsibility for their own learning by planning their work, completing research and reviewing their progress under the supervision of departmental staff.

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‘Uplifting’ annual Cecilia Concert

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By Annia Grey and Jonny Greenfield, 6.2

On Wednesday night, Bedales musicians embarked on their annual Cecilia Concert, which this year took place in the Lupton Hall. It was a night of uplifting and challenging choral and instrumental music, covering a multitude of musical styles ranging from Renaissance to modern jazz, showcasing the sheer volume of talent at Bedales.

The concert commenced with the Orchestra boldly and sensitively performing the first movement of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony (pictured above during rehearsals), which was conducted brilliantly by the Director of Music, Doug McIlwraith.

This was followed by the Student Orchestra, directed by Sampson Keung and Mary Wang, who demonstrated impressive leadership and conducting skills. Weeks of rehearsals and hard work paid off when they performed Elgar’s famous Chanson de Matin and Chanson de Nuit with much conviction and energy.

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Second phase of new student studies underway

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By Richard Lushington, Bursar

The first phase of the refurbishment of the old Art and Design buildings to create new student studies is complete, and 80 study spaces (pictured above) were opened just after the start of this term.

Designed by Richard Griffiths Architects, with the interior completed in consultation with Old Bedalian and current Governor Anna Keay, the second phase started immediately after the first. The old Art buildings were stripped of anything that could be recycled ahead of their demolition at half term, when we also took the opportunity to remove the first two of the Academic Village buildings. A new building – a timber-framed structure clad in oak – will be built on the footprint of the old Art building; once complete it will offer our students excellent facilities in which to learn and spend time.

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Bedales marks Remembrance Day

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By Clare Jarmy, Head of Able, Gifted & Talented, Oxbridge and Academic Scholars & Philosophy, Religious Studies & Ethics

On Remembrance Day, students and staff gathered outside the Memorial Library – which was built in 1921 in tribute to the students who were killed in World War I – to reflect. In Remembrance Jaw, a few  days before, we heard about three Old Bedalians – Lance Newman, Ferenc Bekassy and Sadie Bonnell – who had in one way or another been overlooked. I am immensely grateful to the Librarians Ian Douglas and Matilda McMorrow, who undertook hours of research, both within our own Archive and in national archives.

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Match report: Girls’ First XI Hockey in the U18 Hampshire Trophy Tournament, 13.11.2019

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By Kevin Boniface, Head of Hockey

Having won the U18 Hampshire Trophy Tournament a couple of weeks ago, the girls’ first XI travelled to Woking Hockey Club on Wednesday to play in the regional rounds.

Bedales were placed in a group with Stowe, Alleyns and Reading Blue Coat. All games were incredibly tight, with three 1-0 scorelines. Two results went against Bedales and they had one win, which included a well-worked short corner routine, finished off calmly by Amber Pearson. This result ensured that Bedales squeezed into the play-off rounds, but a combination of three very tough games and the cold weather proved too much for Bedales, as they lost 4-0 to St Mary’s, Ascot.

The team are the first to represent Bedales at this regional level, so they should be incredibly proud of their achievement, and the manner in which they represented Bedales Hockey was exemplary.

Students visit the National Portrait Gallery

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By Eloise Cooper, 6.1

Last Saturday, a group of students – accompanied by Mary-Liz Houghton and Jo Mayhook-Walker – to see the Pre-Raphaelite Sisters exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

There, we were blown away by the richness of the art and the stories behind the famous paintings that defined the Pre-Raphaelite era of 1850-1900. Seeing the women of the Pre-Raphaelite movement’s stories being focused on was both a moving and fascinating experience. The realisation of how much poetry, art and inspiration these women contributed to the movement was incredible.

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Christmas gifts and produce now available from Outdoor Work

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By Andrew Martin, Head of Outdoor Work

Now the end of term is only four weeks away, Christmas is very nearly upon us. As ever, we have been busy creating a whole range of homemade products to help your celebrations go with a bang.

Last Friday, 6.2 students made 97 Christmas puddings in the Bakehouse, plus a hundred or so mince pies to keep us going on the night. Our traditional fire-pit and singalong enhance the festive mood, in fact we’re sure you’ll be able to taste all the extra goodwill in these very special puddings! They are available now in the shop, so please do call in as soon as you can, as they fly off the shelves.

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New Music Technology A Level launching September 2020

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By Neil Hornsby, Head of Contemporary Music

From September 2020, students in 6.1 will be able to choose Music Technology as one of their A Level options.

Bedales has a rich tradition of students successfully following career paths into the music industry – from major label recording artists, instrumentalists and producers, to record label bosses, musical directors, music managers, A&R and sound engineers.

The Music Technology A Level course will teach students how great music is produced and give them the skills to create compelling music of their own. Delivered within Bedales’ successful and innovative Contemporary Music department, the course will provide the scope and framework for students to develop key skills and prepare them to work independently through personal and collaborative projects.

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Match report: U14 Girls’ Hockey in the UKSA 7-A-Side Hockey Tournament, 7.11.2019

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By Mariela Walton, Teacher of Girls’ PE & Games

On Thursday the U14 girls’ hockey team made the long trip to Burgess Hill to participate in the UKSA 7-A-Side Hockey Tournament.

Looking at our opposing teams, we knew it would be a tough day, and our first game saw us facing Benenden School. Bedales dominated the game from the outset and an early goal from Ottilie Douglas gave us the lead we needed. A brief lapse in concentration gave Benenden all the opportunity they needed to sneak a quick goal, which saw the scores tied. Our second goal came from an excellent short corner strike from Sage Bidwell, which she hammered into the bottom left corner, giving us our first win of the day.

After a brief rest, we then faced Caterham, who were also strong. An extremely even end-to-end game was played with both teams trying – but failing – to convert numerous goal scoring opportunities. In the final minutes of the game, Izzy Land gave us our winning goal, with a textbook strike from the right post.

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