22nd January 2019 —

The current statutory guidance for the teaching of RSE has not changed since it was introduced in 2000 and, in many ways, is now completely outdated. In particular, the current guidelines fail to address the risks to children and young people that have grown in prevalence in recent years such as internet pornography, “sexting” and staying safe online.

Safety is a key issue, and the government is keen to stress that the new reforms to RSE go hand-in hand with updates to Keeping Children Safe in Education and, in particular, to the increased focus on peer-on-peer abuse. Young people face an ever-growing number of very real dangers. These include mental health issues, radicalisation, grooming and sexual abuse, violence against women, serious issues surrounding consent and sexual pressure. Recent research involving 2300 young people found that half have not learnt about grooming or how to get help if they are being sexually abused. A third know nothing about consent and many do not know what an abusive relationship looks like.

The governments reforms are an opportunity to modernise the teaching of this vital subject and to ensure that all children have access to relationships and sex education that is consistent, up-to date and inclusive. If children and young people are not given high quality, age-appropriate RSE then who can blame them if they turn to other sources for guidance including the fashion and entertainment industries and, of course, the internet. Love it or hate it, do we really want our young people to learn about relationships by watching Love Island?

Whatever your view, in a rapidly changing sexual landscape, we need, more than ever, to promote safe, equal and enjoyable relationships. This is every child’s right, not least because an ill-informed child is a vulnerable child.

The teaching of RSE is changing. Will you be you ready?

Join us on Wednesday 27th March at Kingston Grammar School. We so look forward to welcoming you.

Book you place here

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/conference-countdown-to-statutory-rse-independent-schools-tickets-51327398631https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/conference-countdown-to-statutory-rse-independent-schools-tickets-51327398631

Nick Forsyth

Head of Wellbeing

22nd January 2019 — Assistant Head Mr A Beard talks about the plastic revolution currently taking place at KGS.

Just over a year has passed since the BBC screened a seminal episode of its Blue Planet II documentary series. The Our Blue Planet episode addressed the impact of human anthropogenic activity on the oceans. In particular, it looked at how microplastics and pollution are an increasing problem for the world’s seas, not just threatening the lives of marine life but ultimately affecting the entire ecosystem. The impact of the programme was immense and it is perhaps fair to say that 2018 became the year of plastic (or rather anti-plastic) as a result, with an increasing number of people looking to reduce the amount of plastic waste that they generate because of the interest Blue Planet II generated.

In 2018, Kingston Grammar School (KGS), partially inspired by Blue Planet II and through a desire to commit to mirroring the ‘Plastic Free Parliament’ initiative launched in Westminster, set out to become ‘plastic free’ too.

In particular, the ‘Plastic-Free KGS’ initiative sought to eradicate the following items from use at the school: plastic cutlery and cups; plastic straws and stirrers; single-serve condiments; single-use water and soft drink bottles; polystyrene coffee cups. The degree of support for the initiative from the whole school community (students, parents, staff and alumni) has been heartening and, as a result, an encouraging degree of progress has been made both in terms of education and in reducing the amount of plastic waste generated.

Indeed, as a school much has already been done, including holding assemblies with multiple year groups to hosting lectures by marine biologists and environmentalists (to educate students and staff about the impact of plastic waste), issuing all of our new First Year entrants with reusable water bottles (so they get into good habits early and avoid single-use bottles) to addressing our staff use of plastics by removing polystyrene coffee cups from the staff room and replacing single-use water bottles for events throughout the year. In the place of plastic have come reusable coffee cups manufactured from sustainable bamboo, and refillable drinking bottles. As a result, KGS estimates that it has reduced its annual waste by around 50,000 polystyrene cups and around 2500 single-use water bottles. The School has also partnered with Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), a charity which looks to reduce plastic waste and other pollutants in our seas and rivers; KGS is now signed up to the SAS ‘Plastic Free Schools’ project, with the hope of undertaking a first ‘beach clean’ along the tidal Thames in 2019.

The School has also welcomed the support of alumni, in particular Sophie Dunster (class of 2010) a London-based designer and the founder of ethical fashion brand, Gung Ho designs which produces collections made using sustainable local fabrics which highlight environmental issues. From December 2018 through to February 2019, Sophie’s ‘Plastic Oceans’ collection is on show in the Baxter Gallery at KGS, alongside the installation of an art project crafted from single-use plastic bottles collated by KGS students. The designs are striking, not just because of the richness of their design and colours but also because in the words of Gung Ho, “they weave more meaning into the prints by illustrating particular environmental issues.”

As things stand, though, only about 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally and much of the remaining solid plastic waste generated since the 1950s, an estimated 4.9 billion tonnes, ends up in the world’s oceans. To put things in perspective, according to a paper published by Roland Geyer from the University of California in 2017, had this been dumped in a landfill site, this site would now be the size of Manhattan. With that said, reducing plastic waste alone is not going to resolve the environmental challenges which face the planet and critics have pointed out, for instance, that many supermarket shoppers have merely bought ‘bags for life’ each week rather than reusing them as intended, thereby suggesting that initiatives to reduce plastic bag waste may actually have been counter-productive. Other critics suggest that reducing plastic waste is a distraction from the more important issue of tackling the threat of climate change or species extinction and bio-diversity loss. They may well be right.

The reality, however, is that all of these issues are important and need addressing and that the drive to reduce plastic waste can be a useful tool via which schools and other institutions can use to educate people with a view to them becoming more environmentally conscious and generating a plastics revolution which might, one day soon, lead to an environmental revolution.

22nd January 2019 — Kingston Grammar School Assistant Head Mr A Beard talks about the plastic revolution currently taking place at KGS.

Just over a year has passed since the BBC screened a seminal episode of its Blue Planet II documentary series. The Our Blue Planet episode addressed the impact of human anthropogenic activity on the oceans. In particular, it looked at how microplastics and pollution are an increasing problem for the world’s seas, not just threatening the lives of marine life but ultimately affecting the entire ecosystem. The impact of the programme was immense and it is perhaps fair to say that 2018 became the year of plastic (or rather anti-plastic) as a result, with an increasing number of people looking to reduce the amount of plastic waste that they generate because of the interest Blue Planet II generated.

In 2018, Kingston Grammar School (KGS), partially inspired by Blue Planet II and through a desire to commit to mirroring the ‘Plastic Free Parliament’ initiative launched in Westminster, set out to become ‘plastic free’ too.

In particular, the ‘Plastic-Free KGS’ initiative sought to eradicate the following items from use at the school: plastic cutlery and cups; plastic straws and stirrers; single-serve condiments; single-use water and soft drink bottles; polystyrene coffee cups. The degree of support for the initiative from the whole school community (students, parents, staff and alumni) has been heartening and, as a result, an encouraging degree of progress has been made both in terms of education and in reducing the amount of plastic waste generated.

Indeed, as a school much has already been done, including holding assemblies with multiple year groups to hosting lectures by marine biologists and environmentalists (to educate students and staff about the impact of plastic waste), issuing all of our new First Year entrants with reusable water bottles (so they get into good habits early and avoid single-use bottles) to addressing our staff use of plastics by removing polystyrene coffee cups from the staff room and replacing single-use water bottles for events throughout the year. In the place of plastic have come reusable coffee cups manufactured from sustainable bamboo, and refillable drinking bottles. As a result, KGS estimates that it has reduced its annual waste by around 50,000 polystyrene cups and around 2500 single-use water bottles. The School has also partnered with Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), a charity which looks to reduce plastic waste and other pollutants in our seas and rivers; KGS is now signed up to the SAS ‘Plastic Free Schools’ project, with the hope of undertaking a first ‘beach clean’ along the tidal Thames in 2019.

The School has also welcomed the support of alumni, in particular Sophie Dunster (class of 2010) a London-based designer and the founder of ethical fashion brand, Gung Ho designs which produces collections made using sustainable local fabrics which highlight environmental issues. From December 2018 through to February 2019, Sophie’s ‘Plastic Oceans’ collection is on show in the Baxter Gallery at KGS, alongside the installation of an art project crafted from single-use plastic bottles collated by KGS students. The designs are striking, not just because of the richness of their design and colours but also because in the words of Gung Ho, “they weave more meaning into the prints by illustrating particular environmental issues.”

As things stand, though, only about 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally and much of the remaining solid plastic waste generated since the 1950s, an estimated 4.9 billion tonnes, ends up in the world’s oceans. To put things in perspective, according to a paper published by Roland Geyer from the University of California in 2017, had this been dumped in a landfill site, this site would now be the size of Manhattan. With that said, reducing plastic waste alone is not going to resolve the environmental challenges which face the planet and critics have pointed out, for instance, that many supermarket shoppers have merely bought ‘bags for life’ each week rather than reusing them as intended, thereby suggesting that initiatives to reduce plastic bag waste may actually have been counter-productive. Other critics suggest that reducing plastic waste is a distraction from the more important issue of tackling the threat of climate change or species extinction and bio-diversity loss. They may well be right.

The reality, however, is that all of these issues are important and need addressing and that the drive to reduce plastic waste can be a useful tool via which schools and other institutions can use to educate people with a view to them becoming more environmentally conscious and generating a plastics revolution which might, one day soon, lead to an environmental revolution.

22nd January 2019 — We are delighted that ten Upper Sixth students at Kingston Grammar School have received Oxbridge offers for 2019 entry, representing almost 10% of the year group.

Securing offers at Cambridge University are Yiorgos Karidis to read History at Fitzwilliam, Zoe Samama to read Law at Trinity Hall and Toby Fairhurst to read Geography at Girton.

Holding offers at Oxford University are Hamza Ahmad to read Biology at St Catherine’s, Max Cairney-Leeming to read Maths & Computer Science at Lady Margaret Hall, Reuben Cooper to read Classics at Jesus, Ellena Eley to read Classical Archaeology & Ancient History at St Hilda’s, Joe Young to read Chemistry at St Hugh’s, Katie Orrell to read Geography at Teddy Hall and Amelia Petersen to read History at Balliol.

Amelia Petersen (History at Balliol) commented: “I’m so pleased to be offered a place at Oxford to study History; I can’t wait to get started!” Toby Fairhurst (Geography, Girton) said: “Studying Geography at KGS has been pivotal in my choice to read it at university.”

Mr Anthony Fitzgerald, Director of Careers & Universities, said: “The students have done extremely well. Their offers from a broad spectrum of Oxbridge courses demonstrate what a well-rounded education they receive here at KGS. This is a great achievement for these particular students, and very much down to their hard work and absolute enthusiasm for their respective subject areas.”

Head Master Stephen Lehec commented: “Our students have worked incredibly hard and their success is well deserved. I am also very pleased for the staff who have worked closely with them over the past few years, instilling an intrinsic love of learning in their respective disciplines. It’s also important to remember that all our Upper Sixth students will not only succeed academically but that they have all made exceptional contributions to the School and the wider community during their time at Kingston Grammar School.”

Pictured from left to right are

Zoe Samama, Reuben Cooper, Yiorgos Karidis, Max Cairney-Leeming, Joe Young, Katie Orrell, Ellena Eley, Toby Fairhurst, Amelia Petersen, Hamza Ahmad

11th June 2018 — Kingston Grammar School's U15 and U17 rowing teams had the enormous honour of rowing Her Majesty The Queen’s rowbarge, Gloriana, on Friday morning as part of the BBC Radio 2 celebrations to mark the final of its annual ‘500 Words’ creative writing competition.

The 18 lucky students also met with a number of public figures including Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall who was the competition’s honorary judge for the fourth year running. Others in attendance included David Walliams, Dara O'Briain, Shobna Gulati, Jason Isaacs and Jim Broadbent.

KGS Head of Rowing, Ed Green, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as the Gloriana’s rowing crew on this very special occasion. The students did an incredible job and were highly commended by the Gloriana crew. Who knows - it may become a regular event for us!”

Inspired by ceremonial rowbarges from the 18th century, the Gloriana is a lasting legacy of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Made from British oak, iroko, sweet chestnut and specialist marine-grade plywood, the rowbarge is adorned with Regency-style gold leaf decoration.

8th June 2018 — Kingston Grammar School is proud to announce that eleven students from the Upper Sixth have been made conditional offers for medical and veterinary school this year. They represent 10% of the year group cohort, the highest proportion receiving such offers in recent years.

The up-and-coming medics and vets have received a sum total of 26 offers from the following medical schools: Oxford, Exeter, Edinburgh (3), Brighton & Sussex, Birmingham (2), St George’s (2), Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow (3), Southampton, King’s College London (2), Queen Mary London (2), University College London, Imperial, Sheffield and Nottingham. Offers have also been received from Surrey and Nottingham Veterinary Schools.

The students holding offers are Kate Jarvis, Tomos Morgan, Rebecca Holt, Thomas Sweeney, James Adshead, Anya Aziz, Joe Rona, Will Garside, Will Holman, Hakeem Shittu and Kate Scott-Taylor.

Anthony Fitzgerald, KGS Director of Careers & Universities commented, “It is a real achievement to be called to interview or even to achieve one offer for Medicine or Veterinary Medicine, however many of our students have generated multiple offers with several achieving the maximum four offers from the medical schools that they applied to, we are proud of their successes.”

Head Master Stephen Lehec added: “These medical and veterinary school offers are testimony to the hard work, determination and caring nature of our students.We are of course very proud of them all and wish them every success in the future.”