ACADEMICS

When I meet prospective parents with their babes in arms, I ask them what they are looking for and, quite rightly, they talk about their children being happy, with opportunities to pursue a range of interests and find out who they are. They nearly always go on to talk about the importance of keeping options open for secondary school. This is what I believe we do so very well and this year, the 22 members of our talented Form 7 have proved this to be true once again.

86% of the pupils who sat the Kent Test achieved grammar status and they secured 17 offers from independent secondary schools. Amongst these offers were 3 academic scholarships, a music scholarship, a choristership and a sports scholarship.

Our leaving pupils are heading to 14 different secondary schools, including independent and super-selective grammar schools

Mathematics

Mathematics is at the heart of so much in our everyday lives and we continue to relish making the subject accessible, challenging and fun. Everyone in Form 3 to Form 7 competed against more than a million pupils worldwide in a World Online Maths Day. Our Form 7 team placed an extraordinary 21st in the Hall of Fame.

Form 4 and Form 5 pupils took part in their First Maths Challenge and the Mathematical Association made special mention of Zachary Bourne for achieving full marks.

Teams from Form 5 and Form 6 took part in the highly competitive Beagle Maths Challenge. The Form 5 team came 6th from 58 teams all working at speed in this high-energy contest.

Form 6 and Form 7 competed in the Primary Maths Challenge and six of our Form 7 pupils were invited to compete in the finals. We achieved 3 bronze medals (Dakota Case, William Stanley and William Ford) and 1 silver for Ella Rae. Only 1.6% of the 58,000 pupils who entered from around the World achieved this honour.

Science and PSHE

Whilst we are very proud of our bespoke science lab facilities, we are firm believers in teaching science in context. Form 2 learned about livestock and arable farming at Kent Life. Form 3 and Form 5 spent a day in the sunshine, investigating habitats at Horton Kirby and Form 4 honed their geology skills, identifying rocks and soils under microscopes.

 

 

 

 

 

Form 6 were treated to a day out at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and, blessed with clear skies, spent a pleasant evening on the Paddock walking in the footsteps of Galileo to observe Jupiter and its four major moons.

Form 7 headed to The Science Museum with a focus on Electricity and in addition to the usual raft of hands-on exhibits they were also able to explore a variety of careers in the sciences.

Closer to home, at The Farm Form 2 planted magic beans, and Forms 5, 6 and 7 explored the mental, physical and environmental benefits of working the land together to grow potatoes, parsnips, carrots, broccoli and onions, to be shared by all.

Humanities and Modern Foreign Languages

To understand this complex world, children need to understand the humanities subjects.

We teach humanities in a multidisciplinary way combining history, geography and religious studies. Again, this is also often done most effectively offsite with Form 2 and Form 3 experiencing the world of the Victorians at Kent Life and the Egyptians at Maidstone Museum. Locally, Form 4 examined the Roman Villa in Lullingstone and Form 6 conducted fieldwork on the river Darent.

We believe the learning of languages is important and we continue to welcome children into our language clubs, providing opportunities to discover Mandarin, Spanish and German. However, French remains at the core of our language learning and we continue to develop our speaking skills both in the classroom or on trips to France.

English and Drama

The English and Drama department is always a hive of activity, inspiring a love of reading and writing. During Book Week, we were treated to visits from the energetic Gareth P. Jones and the seaside fanatic, Thomas Taylor, as well as book-based scavenger hunts, code crackers and the sharing of stories around the school.

This year's Form 7 Public Speaking Competition was a wonderful demonstration of the ability of our Leavers to make their voices heard on a number of topical issues. The research, debate and presentation skills they have gleaned throughout their time at Russell House are certainly ready to be put into action at secondary school.

I marvel at the quality of this year's drama with penguins and snowmen gracing our stage at Christmas, an Ocean Commotion and Scheherazade double-header from Forms 4 and 5 and our extraordinary Summer Production, the fairytale mash-up, Sherlock and Cinders. The enthusiasm of the children and their commitment to making their play the best it can be has been especially inspiring this year.

Part of this success is due to the support that our Speech Club provides and the LAMDA exam results are always a favourite of mine with this year being no exception. There were 86 entries into various categories and a whopping 80% gained a distinction, with the remaining 20% achieving the merit class.

These academic achievements make us all very proud and we congratulate the children and their teachers on all of these successes.

SPORTS

Russell House sport begins in earnest in the autumn term with football, hockey and several cross-country events to keep us busy.

The U8 and U9 football teams battled hard through the season and there were many notable performances from teams and individuals alike.

The U11 boys finished third at the Futsal tournament at Sevenoaks School and they continued this good form in local fixtures where they ended just two wins shy of an unbeaten season. The A team found the competition fierce at the Independent Schools’ Association (or ISA) regional event, missing out on pool victories by a solitary goal on numerous occasions. Suitably riled, they bounced back to convincingly win at a local quadrangular tournament, helped by the fact that we could rely upon two goalkeepers that could kick the ball the length of the football pitch, swiftly turning defence into attack.

The U8s had a wonderful first season of competitive hockey, with the A Team winning most of their matches, and we have identified some very promising players amongst the ranks. The U9s won some and lost some, but they kept their fighting spirit throughout.

The U11 girls had an outstanding hockey season, with the A Team unbeaten domestically and enjoying enormous tournament success. At the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) Regional Qualifier, they won the final of the Plate competition and made it through to the cup playoffs in the ISA National Championships.

Come the Spring Term, the boys' attention turned to rugby. All the boys fronted up and embraced the physicality of tackling, rucking and mauling. There were some very high scoring matches which provided excellent entertainment for the hardy parents who came out in all weather to lend support, for which we are always grateful.

At the same time, the girls moved onto netball. The U8s continued to show what excellent athletes they are and they won many of their matches, again, with some players showing outstanding movement across the court and skills in defence. The U9s played good netball and were always fine ambassadors for their school.

The U11s continued to go from strength to strength. The C Team were unbeaten and our A team won a local tournament, finished third in the IAPS Plate final and third at the ISA Regional Championships, which saw us qualify for the UK National Finals, but sadly the winter weather intervened at that point.

At the ISA regional cross-country race, Ella Rae and Charlie Reilly both made it through to the nationals after finishing 3rd and 4th respectively.

Gymnastics has returned to be a key strength of our school and we celebrated that return at the Regional Floor and Vault Championships, where our mixed U11 gymnasts came away with the bronze medal. We now have many promising young gymnasts moving through the school which ensures that our future is bright.

Speaking of bright, our summer weather arrived later than usual this year, but our cricket whites were dusted off nevertheless. As well as the availability of playing mixed cricket, competing in traditional hardball matches was a first for the school this year.

The girls had great success, with the U9B team going unbeaten and both the U8A and U8B teams winning all but one of their matches. Indeed, so too the U10 and U11 boys enjoyed undefeated seasons, whilst the U8 and U9 teams were triumphant more often than not.

Pupils across Forms 4 upwards represented the school at the Kent Schools Tennis Championships. 45 schools entered this county event with over 400 children competing. Georgie Hinh and Isabelle Francis made it through to finals day where they battled hard to earn a remarkable third place.

At home, Cavell picked up the honours on Sports Day with most of the Inter-House silverware shared between Johnson and Nightingale. But all the Houses provided spectators with wonderful entertainment.

ARTS

It has been another jam-packed year for the musicians of Russell House. More music exams than ever before were taken this year; 62 in all with two thirds of them performed at merit and distinction level. We also enjoyed an increase in the numbers reaching Grade 4 and 5, including two distinctions at Grade 5 for William Stanley and Niah Thomas. As Grade 5 is traditionally the 'recommended' performance level to be considered for GCSE music, this is a wonderful development and a testament to the ambition of the department and the tenacity of the pupils when it comes to their all important practice routines.

The Chamber Choir performed supremely at the Sevenoaks Three Arts Festival. In the solo event, William Stanley and Connie Fry were awarded distinctions and placed 1st and 2nd respectively.

The Spring Term heralds one of my favourite events, Inter-House Music which this year was won by Fry.

CHARITIES

Russell House is no stranger to giving and the children have once again been instrumental in supporting local charities. Form 6 helped out for an afternoon collecting and boxing up groceries at our local food bank, to help local families battling with the cost of living crisis.

Other charities the children supported this year include:

• The Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Save The Children
• Hospice in the Weald (the choice of School Council)
• The Book Trust

The RHPA has made additional contributions. I would like to thank the Parent Association, who have been so instrumental in driving the parent community with outstanding results. The extra sense of fun that has been injected into proceedings is very welcome and reflective of the school’s ethos. Well done to all and thank you for your support.

LEAVERS

Looking at Form 7 on the stage in Sherlock and Cinders last week, acting their socks off, I was struck by their collective presence and maturity. They have laughed and cried together. They have successfully navigated their way through all manner of scraped knees and friendship issues. They have excelled in sport, the girls particularly, and in music, the gentlemen have been at the vanguard of making boys’ singing cool.

Having known most of the children since their second birthdays, I am immensely proud of these young men and women. They are ready to move and we look forward with them, full of anticipation for their futures. As Robert Kennedy said:

“This world demands the qualities of youth; not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the life of ease.”

Form 7 you have demonstrated these qualities time and time again so go with courage. We will miss you, but we know that you will all be successful according to your gifts and may return to say hello again in the not too distant future.

To your parents I say this, and as a father of two grown up boys I can see now see just how true this is, consider the advice of German polymath Johann von Goethe;

“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.”

So that is the year in review. I thank the entire Russell House family; the pupils, the staff who work in grounds, administration, catering, teaching or management, for their continued belief in the vision and for their tireless work to deliver the excellent experience that is Russell House.

Craig McCarthy
HEADMASTER