Head's Newsletter 22 April 2016

Dear Parents It's great to be back at the start of the summer term with so much look forward to. Grist’s is beginning to look great for the summer season of cricket, and it's fantastic to see the boys practising in the nets every lunchtime and after school. I do hope that we will have many excellent matches this term and the disruption from the weather will be minimal! It would also be good to see many parents down at Grist’s supporting the cricket teams: do come along and watch your sons play. As well as cricket, athletics is beginning to get into full swing, and tennis and other sports are up and running. On the music front we are looking forward to the concert next Thursday in the parish church, which promises to be an excellent occasion. The choir received fine reviews for the performances at the Barbican, and a number of boys are currently involved in the production of Tannhäuser at the Royal Opera House, another fantastic opportunity for our singers. Rehearsals for the Oratorio will start next week; this involves the whole Tiffin community, and any parents who wish to sing with the choir should read the notice further on in the newsletter. The boys who went away over Easter had a fantastic time. You can read about the great classics trip to Sardinia, and the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions; there will be a report on the basketball trip to Chicago next time.

Of course this is an extremely important time for many of the older boys in the school. Year 11 will be going on study leave in two weeks followed by Lower Sixth and finally Upper Sixth. The students are now working very hard in the final run-up to their exams and we wish them all the very best for their GCSEs, AS and A-levels. On the political front, the boys are engaged in their own referendum on whether to stay or leave the EU, and we look forward to robust and informed debate around the issue! As the Upper Sixth come to an end of their time at Tiffin we have recently appointed a new set of prefects. In particular, many congratulations go to Ali Fouladiasl who has been chosen as the new Head Boy. The prefect role is twofold: facilitating the smooth running of activities, and acting as role models and mentors to younger students. We thank Shane Jayakrishna for his leadership as Head Boy during this last year, and for the efforts and commitment of all the retiring prefects, as the new cohort takes over their duties. Finally, congratulations go to our fantastic Maths Department who have been shortlisted for Maths Department of the Year in the TES Awards! I wish all the boys an excellent term. Please do note the important dates below.

Yours, M D Gascoigne

IMPORTANT DATES

Thursday 28 April

Tiffin School Concert, Kingston Parish Church 7 pm

Monday 2 May

BANK HOLIDAY

Friday 6 May

Year 11 Study Leave commences 3.30 pm

Lower 6th Study Leave commences 3.30 pm

Wednesday 11 May

Upper 6th Study Leave commences 3.30 pm

Friday 13 May

Lower School exams

Friday 20—Thursday 26 May

Professional Development day; no boys in school

Friday 27 May

MATHEMATICS

project in conjunction with the British Institute of Human Rights and the University of Queen Mary's and were at Surbiton High to present their research and conclusions on different questions, in their groups of four. The four groups spoke outstandingly well, making sure that they were well-paced, clear and articulate too. Their efforts were richly rewarded with two awards on the evening: one for the best researched project, won by Will Robson, Charlie Dore, Ayaan Azizullah and Neil Majathia and one for the audience favourite, won by Philip Chilcote, Ajay Gill, Joseph Niblett and Aaron Thaker. These awards were very pleasing considering how much time and effort had been put in. However, all boys deserve credit, not just those who won acclaim, and all four groups could have won. All involved should feel proud of the extensive projects that they produced, and thanks must go to Surbiton High for their welcoming hosting of the event, and their girls for participating to such a high standard with our boys.

The Tiffin Maths Department has been shortlisted for ‘Maths Department of the Year’ in the Times Educational Supplement Teaching Awards 2016. These awards recognise exceptional teaching, student progress and innovation for schools across the UK. The department will be attending the awards ceremony at The Grosvenor House Hotel on June 24 th where the winner will be announced. You can find the shortlist here: http://www.tesawards.co.uk/ tessa2016/shortlist

NEW HEAD BOY

Shane Jayakrishna (right) officially handing over the Head Boy’s gown to Ali Fouladiasl, newly appointed as Head Boy.

Young Researchers Award On the evening of Monday 18 th April, 16 Year 9 students travelled to Surbiton High School to take part in a presentation evening with 16 of their school's students. They had spent three months working on a

CLASSICS TRIP TO SARDINIA

42 Tiffinians embarked upon an exciting trip to the unique island of Sardinia over the holidays. Boys from Years 8-13 were immersed in more than 6000 years of extraordinary history and culture. We explored Neolithic, Bronze Age settlements, towers (the mysterious and ubiquitous nuraghe) and necropolises, as well as more familiar Greek and Roman archaeological sites.

In addition to some astonishing sightseeing, students battled it out in various fields – a truly memorable tennis tournament, a photography competition and talent show.

The group gelled extremely well and were an excellent source of company to myself and the accompanying staff, to all of whom I am most grateful for their time, energy and enthusiasm. Mrs O’Connell

DUKE OF EDINBURGH EXPEDITIONS

On 6 th and 7 th April 47 Year 10 Boys successfully completed their Qualifying Bronze DofE Expeditions with Resilience Education and Adventure Ltd. Boys took part in a packed 3-day Training and Practice expedition in the Autumn to prepare them. On the Qualifying Bronze expedition participants must plan and carry out a 2 day self-sufficient journey as a team through a mixture of Woodland and open countryside in the Surrey Hills. Teams carried out independent aims of their choice, ranging from poetry, picture diaries and environmental studies. Another 42 pupils from Year 10 are looking forward to completing theirs on the 23 rd - 24 th April. Many participants are looking forward to participating in ‘wild-country’ Silver expeditions next year.

Twelve Tiffin Boys are participating in the GOLD DofE expedition programme this year. After completing a cold and challenging training weekend in early March, Tiffin Boys organised their own transport to Wales, planned routes, food and suitable equipment for a 4 day self- sufficient trek 80 km trek up and over the Black Mountains.

Participants were rewarded with fabulous ridge-walks, clear views and remote campsite locations. In review, participants felt that they were now well prepared for their Qualifying expedition in August.

MUSIC NEWS

Mahler 3 at The Barbican

the same piece with the London Symphony Orchestra under Bernard Haitink at the BBC Prom on 29 th July – book your tickets now! The Voice Festival UK The Tiffinians were crowned Youth Champions at the 2016 Festival Weekend held on 8 th -10 th April 2016 at Hampton School, for the second time since the Youth Competition began in 2014. In addition, they scooped the award for best outstanding arrangement with Edan Umrigar’s ‘Sunny Afternoon’.

Following their performance at the Royal Festival Hall in February with the London Philharmonia Orchestra, a larger group of trebles travelled to the Barbican for a repeat performance but this time with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel. This was the final concert in the LAP's London residency ending in the grandest of styles - with Mahler's huge Third Symphony.

‘The Morning Bells of the 5th movement chimed lustily thanks to the Tiffin Boys' Choir, turned out in their striped blazers; the Ladies of the LSO Chorus also in fine fettle’ Bachtrack 25/3/16 ‘In that latter brief but compelling episode, the Ladies of the London Symphony Chorus and the always wonderful Tiffin Boys’ Choir singing with their usual angelic charm … ’ Seen and Heard International 25/3/16

Tiffin Oratorio James Day, Director of Choral Music, has chosen Antonín Dvořák’s Stabat Mater for his debut as conductor of the Tiffin Oratorio this term. The performance will be on Sunday 10 July in the Tiffin School Sports Hall. Rehearsals will take place in the main school hall 7-9pm on Wednesdays, starting 27 April. The subscription cost is £35 and Novello scores will be available to purchase for £10 at the first few rehearsals. New parents at the School are warmly encouraged to join the choir, with the normal arrangement that they can sample a rehearsal or two before committing. You can follow Tiffin Oratorio at www.facebook.com/TiffinOratorio

The boys’ professionalism and fine singing was rewarded with an invitation to perform