RGS became National Champions in the Land Rover Challenge last Friday and now move on to the World Championship in the competition. Full details are in the RGS Times this week and I would like to congratulate the Team of Year Eleven pupils and Mr Howard and the Design Technology department for all their hard work. We would also like to thank the AOOEs who supported the preparation work for the Finals with some welcome additional funds.
As public examinations start to take place, the atmosphere at RGS is one of academic endeavour and we wish all the pupils every success as they prepare for their examinations. Pupils in other Year groups are also starting to focus upon their internal exams which are a very important preparation for when they, too, face GCSEs and A Levels. It was heartening to hear of the success of the Year Ten pupils in the Biology Challenge during their first year of GCSE study – for more details read on.
The RGS Times this week includes reports on the recent alumni event in London, the German Exchange and the Debating Society Dinner - all events much enjoyed by participants.
Our Prep Schools have their Open Mornings coming up with RGS The Grange on Saturday 7 May and RGS Springfield on Saturday 14 May. If you have friends or family with children then please do encourage them to go along and see all the exciting events and activities; I am certain you will receive a warm RGS welcome!
John Pitt
Headmaster
RGS - National Winners of Land Rover in Schools 4x4 Technology Challenge
Team Ascent, comprising Alec Berry, Jack Beet, George Mann, Harry Smith, Ed Lawson and Faiz Ibrar (Year Eleven), has won the National Land Rover in Schools 4x4 Technology Challenge, beating rivals from around the Country. The boys picked up a total of five Awards at the competition including, Best Rookie Team, Best Engineered Vehicle, English Champions and UK Champions (for which they were awarded two trophies). Read more here.
London Calls Former Pupils
The Development Office organised an informal drinks reception in London last Thursday for alumni who are now based in the South East. It was the first such gathering to be held and was very well received by the 60 guests who attended. Stef Porter (1999-06) very kindly hosted the event in his new wine bar, Porter at Embassy Gardens, and the Development Office was offered exclusive use for former pupils of RGS Worcester. Interest ahead of the event had been growing including through the RGS Alumni LinkedIn group. Read more here.
Dining out on Debating
On Friday, the Senior Debating Society enjoyed their now traditional end of year celebration at a black tie dinner in Main Hall. The students looked magnificent, the boys resplendent in suits or black tie and the girls elegant in their evening dresses. The meal, organised by Chartwells, was delicious – butternut squash soup, chicken or risotto, ending with the very on-trend vanilla parfait with banana jam and salted caramel sauce. Read more here.
Biology Olympiad Challenge Success
The Biology Department has been celebrating the recent success of 45 of our Year Ten students in the national Biology Challenge competition. This is run by the Royal Society of Biology and the Challenge is taken online in schools during March; it is the Middle School equivalent of the Biology Olympiad, (which is open to Sixth Form students). Many of the questions are pitched at basic A Level standard and the grade boundaries are set very high. In spite of this, RGS pupils achieved 10 Commendations, 12 Highly Commended certificates, 7 Bronze medals, 8 Silver medals and a superb 8 Gold medals, which is a new record for the School.
Congratulations to Jonathan Burman, Harry Chaplin, Gemma Collins, Felix Haynes, Blake Parker, Amy Rogers, Imogen Sinclair and Amber Warner-Warr on their outstanding Gold achievement.
German Exchange 2016
Seven pupils from Year Ten took a plane from Birmingham to Düsseldorf in the Easter Holiday to begin their German Exchange in Kleve. “We arrived at Kleve station late in the evening and met the families, who we would be staying with for the next week. After a good night’s sleep, we met our fellow school pupils and teachers and boarded a bus to the town of Münster. We visited many attractions there including the Cathedral, the Town Hall and of course, McDonalds! After an inordinate amount of shopping we got back on the bus, and made our way back to Kleve. Read more here.
Earth Day
Last Friday, the Humanities Faculty celebrated Earth Day, which is held worldwide to promote environmental protection. With the historic Paris Agreement being signed on the same day, the Faculty focused on the issue of sustainability (SUSTAIN being one of the Faculty watchwords). The Geography Department led the way, with Miss Deval-Reid’s inspirational video, streamed over the School website, reminding us of the fragility of our planet. Read more here.
Rugby Vipers Wipe the Board
Congratulations to Year Seven boys, Benjamin Williams (Captain), Jacob Morgan-Iqbal, Jack Hodgson, Freddie Griffiths and Will Walker who are part of the Worcester Vipers team which has won all three of their recent Rugby Tournaments, at Banbury, North Midlands and Luctonians, beating sides such as Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Wolverhampton, Evesham, Solihull, and many other teams. The Luctonian tournament is an Anglo-Welsh tournament pitching the top sides from both the Midlands and Wales. The boys then beat a strong Bridgend team in the final to win the cup.
