9th October 2018 — William Kelley, Captain of the 1st XV, turned the first turf using the same ceremonial spade that was used for the Project One Campus ground breaking ceremony last year. He was supported by Dr Deneal Smith, Head Master, Mr Tom Pierce, Director of Rugby at Warwick School and from Warwick Junior School U11 rugby player Thomas Whorrod.  

Dr Smith, Head Master said, “Thursday’s ground breaking marks the next chapter in Project One Campus for Warwick School. At this time of year we are benefitting from glorious grass pitches in excellent condition, but this top-quality, floodlit 3G surface will allow boys of all ages to continue playing rugby even in the muddy depths of mid-winter when the nights have drawn in. It will be an invaluable addition to our sporting facilities.”

Project One Campus sees the move of King’s High School to the Myton Road campus, joining Warwick Preparatory School and Warwick School on one spacious, green campus. The Foundation is unique in the Midlands, offering co-education for its pupils aged 3 to 7, and single-sex education from age 7 onwards. This offers the best of both worlds: teaching specifically tailored to their needs with extensive opportunities to collaborate outside the classroom.

13th July 2018 — The 2018 Warwick School Speeches and Prize-Giving evening was a very special event. Gus Lock gave his last address after five years as Head Master. In a warm and engaging speech, Gus finished with stressing the importance of creativity, appropriately leading on to the introduction of Old Warwickian Simon Lycett, world renowned floral decorator. Simon gave a refreshingly honest and hugely inspiring talk, whilst simultaneously creating the two most glorious hand- tied bouquets!

It was an evening which included valuable advice for us all 'Follow your passions' and 'treat everyone with kindness', as well as providing uplifting music from our wonderful Foundation Wind Orchestra, and which had the most spectacular flowers!

 

11th July 2018 — Warwick Junior School had a ‘Big Draw’ in their playground, producing portraits of themselves; they enjoyed mask making, drumming workshops, instrument making and learning about willow sculpture, making teeth for the kraken monster.

The Senior School pupils had some amazing opportunities too, with residencies from Birmingham Conservatoire, dance company Motionhouse and Two Circles Design.

Boys have learnt how to create music using sounds, html coding and voice. They have used the ‘Woofyt’ an amazing home-made musical instrument of wood and pipes, with valves and bellows. They have learnt that dancing is much more than it may appear on the surface and that core strength and physicality plays an important role. Two Circles Design have facilitated the most amazing kraken sea monster which all the boys have thoroughly enjoyed creating out of willow. It has grown progressively during the week and was unveiled on Saturday and enjoyed by the whole community.

Saturday’s finale was a day full of music, art, dance and drama across the school campus. There were drama performances from Warwick School boys including Lock Down and The Epic of Gilgamesh.

Music was played during the day from the Foundation Symphony Orchestra, The Wind Band, Jazz Band and a Year 7 music concert which is the culmination of a music scheme whereby all of the boys learn to play a musical instrument throughout their first year at Warwick.

Motionhouse performed ‘Underground’, an interesting insight as to what it may feel like to have your personal space invaded in an underground carriage.

Mike Perry, Director of Drama at Warwick School said “The arts team can all be very proud of the discoveries that were made by the Warwick School community last week. The months of planning paid off brilliantly and the challenges ignited powerful new skills and passions in many of the boys.”

The spirit of adventure was truly on show in this first Discovery Festival, which Warwick School anticipate to become a biennial event.

 

20th June 2018 — With the installation of a boat, Warwick School has launched its inaugural ‘Discovery Festival’. About as far away from the sea as you can get the boat will be at the helm of the festival and promises to turn a few heads.

The theme for this first year is aptly ‘Discovery’, encompassing the spirit of adventure to try something new. There will be the opportunity to experience new theatre, visual art, music, dance and much more, week commencing 1 July, 2018.

James Ramsay, Head of Art at Warwick School commented, “The boat, which is a Falmouth Pilot model from the 1960s, sourced from a dock on the south coast, arrived on a 40ft lorry back in May. Weighing in at 6 tonnes the boat had to be sunk 4 feet into the ground and so a trench was dug to accommodate its hull. The remaining earth was then piled into the cavities underneath and next to the hull on the surface to emulate lapping water.”

The boys at Warwick School are incredibly excited about this installation and being let loose to create a kraken, a legendary sea monster that will emerge up out of the ground to grab the boat. The students will be taught how to work with willow as a sculpture medium by visiting Artists, Mark and Rebecca Ford from ‘Two Circles Design’. They will facilitate the installation but the work will be created by the boys in a number of workshops across the week, to which everyone will have the opportunity to contribute.

Mark and Rebecca said “We are extremely excited with this forthcoming project, in bringing ancient traditions and sculptural techniques of willow craft to the students at Warwick School. Although some of the material is supplied from growers in Somerset much has been harvested by ourselves in the Sussex countryside. Art has the power to change the way we view the world and it questions our role within it.”

For further information please contact Liz Callan on 01926 776426 or email e.callan@warwickschool.org

 Discovery Festival - find out more

8th June 2018 — This very first Arts Festival at the school has the theme of DISCOVERY encompassing that unmistakeable spirit of adventure and the itch to try something new!

By day, the students will enjoy professional residencies with some of the country’s finest artists and performers.  By night, the campus will be open to a wider audience, with performances and events hosted in and around stunning venues including two performing arts venues, The Bridge House Theatre and Warwick Hall.

Highlights of the Discovery Festival include the brand-new show from comedy-legend Tom Stade, a regular on BBC One’s Live at the Apollo; Lock Down an immersive theatrical production devised by Foundations Youth Theatre and directed by Zoo Co; Before the Fringe, where audiences have a chance to see four productions that are on their way to the Edinburgh Festival; Leamington’s award-winning dance company Motionhouse with Underground a stunningly physical dance and aerial performance and for fans of Whose Line is it Anyway or Mock the Week there’s Intro to Impro’ for grown-ups! an introduction to comic improvisation led by Director of Drama Mike Perry.

At a time when the education system is facing much criticism over the emphasis of science at the expense the Arts, Warwick School is proud to be bucking the trend by running its first ever Arts Festival this summer.

Gus Lock, Head Master of Warwick School said “We are delighted to announce this exciting programme for our very first Festival here at Warwick School.  I am sure it will appeal to a wide audience with a range of brilliant events, many of them free.”

Gus added: “We seek to equip our students with the skills they need now, and in the future, and believe that creativity is vital in today’s society. Participation in the Arts develops many skills including self-expression, sociability and imagination. It is also hugely enjoyable. We hope that, alongside our students, many others will take part in our week of ‘Discovery’ and see, hear or try something new.”

The Discovery Festival also features Prof. Gerald Seaman OW, a pupil at Warwick School from 1945-1952 with a fascinating-talk recollecting private conversations with luminary figures including Shostakovich and Khachaturyan; a community sing of Mozart’s Requiem and an intriguing art installation in the grounds of Warwick School.

The school’s own talents will form a key thread of the Festival with drama and music performances from pupils aged 7-18 years.

The Discovery Festival