ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS STUDIES – THE ... - Epsom College

ISSUE 31 • SUMMER 2012
www.epsomcollege.org.uk
ECONOMICS
AND BUSINESS
STUDIES – THE
GROWTH OF A
CONTEMPORARY
SUBJECT – page 2
JUNIOR SCHOOL PLAY
– HOBSON’S CHOICE
REVIEWED – page 12
COLLEGE RUGBY
GOES FROM STRENGTH
TO STRENGTH – page 14

ACADEMIC EPSOM
Head of Department
Paul Gillespie with
6th Form students
Doing the
business
In the current recessionary climate, the economy and business
are big news, with regular media coverage and extensive
exposure in books and films.
The higher profile gained by the business sector in recent years
has seen Economics and Business Studies shake off their reputation
as somewhat pedestrian subjects taken mainly by budding
accountants or bankers.They are now seen as exciting areas of
study that provide a broad insight into the world of business and
are attracting more and more students nationwide into their ranks.
The College’s Economics and Business Studies Department
mirrors this trend with the number of students opting to study
A level Economics increasing by 50% over the past two years.
“It has been interesting to walk into bookshops and see the
bestseller lists full of economics and business books covering a huge
range of topics from How to Make Life Choices to The Banking Crises”,
said Head of Department Paul Gillespie. “When you also consider the
domination of the news by current economic affairs, not to mention
the success of TV programmes such as The Apprentice and Dragons’
Den, it is not surprising to see the surge of interest in these subjects.”
Exam results for Economics are outstanding with well over 60%
gaining an A grade and 90% either A or B grades at A2 last year.
Many go on to read Economics at university and the Department
has excellent results with Oxbridge applications.
A similar success story is evident in the case of Business Studies,
with 83% of entrants achieving A or B grades at A2 last year.
Interestingly, a large number of students studying Business Studies
in the 6th form go on to read a business-related degree at university.
For those with an appetite for investment and finance, there are
now even more opportunities to broaden their business horizons
in the shape of the Securities & Investment Institute’s Introduction
“When you also consider the domination of the news by current economic affairs,
not to mention the success of TV programmes such as The Apprentice
and Dragons’ Den, it is not surprising to see the surge of interest in these subjects.”
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ACADEMIC EPSOM
to Investment Award programme for students in the U6th.
Epsom is one of the first schools to offer this programme, which
is normally targeted at professionals in the financial services
sector.The challenging and innovative course investigates equities,
bonds, derivatives and other financial assets.
Also new is the Investment Club, run by Chemistry master
David Schofield, who spent 12 years working in the City in
investment banking before becoming a teacher. Open to L6th
students, the Investment Club takes part in the annual Shares4Schools
competition against other schools in the UK where participants are
provided with an investment pot of £1,500 and attempt to
maximise the value of their portfolio over an eight month period.
This competition, as well as the online IFS Student Investor
Challenge, which is entered by all L6th students, provides the
opportunity to develop analytical, team-working and business
skills, whilst bringing a “real world” approach to learning.
In addition,Young Enterprise (YE) is offered to L6th students as
an extra-curricular activity and one of this year’s YE companies,
Prism, has been particularly successful in winning the Best Marketing
Strategy trophy at the Surrey Finals of the YE competition.
Students also regularly attend Eton College’s Keynes Society
talks, while the Epsom College Economics and Enterprise Society,
organised by the students themselves, successfully arranges talks by
leading business luminaries. Recent speakers have included Jeff
Randall, former business editor at the BBC, Rob Shaw, joint
managing director of fashion chain Jack Wills, and Old Epsomian
Tony Fernandes, founder of AirAsia and the Tune Group.
COLLEGE YE COMPANY
BAGS MARKETING PRIZE
AT SURREY FINALS
A group of L6th formers took the trophy for
the Best Marketing Strategy at the Young
Enterprise Surrey Finals held at the School of
Management at Surrey University this term.
Prism, a company set up and run since last
September by 11 College students, was one
of nine finalists to win through from a field of
70 that competed in area competitions earlier
in the year.
The companies were judged on their trade
stand, company report and a presentation given
to a packed auditorium. At the beginning of
the evening, the students answered questions
from the judges while they manned their trade
stand and later told the audience about their
experiences and what they had learnt during
the year.
The standard of presentation was very high
and Prism was delighted to be awarded the Best
Marketing Strategy trophy, which was sponsored
by Proctor and Gamble.
The judges commended the enterprising
students on their approach to marketing the
company, which acts as a wholesaler to schools
in the area.
Prism has had a remarkably successful year
working on a variety of projects, including
selling friendship bracelets and candy canes and
importing “Onesies” from overseas. Well over
500 of the all-in-one tracksuits have now
been sold.
“The pupils have learnt a great deal about
innovation, business and the successful launching
of a company in an uncertain economic climate.
The fact that they were judged as having the
best marketing strategy out of 70 companies
speaks highly of the calibre of the pupils,” said
Head of YE, Lizzie Irvine.
www.epsomcollege.org.uk
3

ACADEMIC EPSOM
Best ever results at
Chemistry Olympiad
BACK ROW: Patrick Lewis,
Tom Williams and Jing Kua.
FRONT ROW: Theo Gibson,
Charmaine Tam and Andrew Lim
Six U6th form students have recorded the College’s
best ever results in this year's Chemistry Olympiad
organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
In the first round of the national competition that is
part of the process of selecting a UK team to compete in
the International Chemistry Olympiad,Tom Williams
became the first student at Epsom to be awarded a gold
certificate.Theo Gibson, Patrick Lewis, Jing Kua and
Andrew Lim were awarded silver certificates and
Charmaine Tan a bronze.
The Chemistry Olympiad is designed to inspire 6th
form chemists to think beyond the boundaries of the
syllabus. Over 3,000 students sat the first round paper,
which is a written test of chemical knowledge that
stretches the most able.
“I am delighted with the students’ approach to this
challenging paper. Only the top 7% of entrants are
awarded gold certificates and these excellent results are
testament to all their hard work,” said Tracy Muller,
Head of Chemistry.
All six students are holding places to study at leading
universities next year.Tom has been offered a place to
read Chemistry at Oxford, Patrick is planning to study at
Cambridge, Andrew at UCL, Jing at Imperial College,
Theo at Durham and Charmaine at Edinburgh.
LARGE GATHERING FOR
PHOTOGRAPY EXHIBITION
A photography exhibition held at the College this term provided students
from the L6th and U6th forms with an opportunity to showcase their work.
Parents, friends and members of the Common Room gathered in Main
Hall to enjoy a glass of wine and canapés whilst viewing the students’ AS
and A2 coursework and exam preparation portfolios.
The event was held following the moderation of A level work by the
examination board’s external
moderator and saw a high
standard of work on display.
Many of the students chose to
create a theme and ideas on the
topic of “experiences”, reflecting
such areas as identity, cultural
differences and consumerism.
Others chose to present their
work in new and interesting
ways, for example combining
family holidays abroad with their
photography topics to produce
interesting images from around the world.
“The standard of work on show this year was very high and it was clear
that the students had researched their subjects in depth,” said Angela
Drew, Deputy Head (Academic).
A level photography students have the use of a fully equipped photography
studio complete with Macintosh computers and a wide range of
software for post-production work.
TOP: Francesca Dakin-White L6th ABOVE: Alex Hinds U6th
4 www.epsomcollege.org.uk

ACADEMIC EPSOM
DT STUDENTS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE
Two teams of M4 pupils representing the
College’s Design Technology Department
were awarded second and third places at a
recent technology tournament organised by
the Rotary Club.
Held at Warlingham School,Technology
Tournament 2012 involved teams of four
students from local schools, who were set
a technology task to solve.The competition
provided an opportunity for team-building
and practising communication skills, as well
as problem solving.
This year’s event involved designing and
making a coin sorter, based around a
charitable theme, to sort 21 coins – 7 lots of
5p, 10p and 20p pieces.All the teams had a
set bag of materials and were instructed to
bring along specific tools and the competition
was judged on both the success of the coin
sorters and the design folios each team had
to complete.
Epsom College Team 1, comprising William
Hornby,William Murdock, Frances Payne and
Dilys Tambini-McGee, came a very close
second with their design based on the Help
for Heroes charity, equalling the number of
The two College teams with their designs (left to right):Thomas Egan,William Butterfield,William
Slough, Rebecca Nesbit, Frances Payne, Dilys Tambini-McGee,William Murdock and William Hornby
coins sorted by the eventual winners, which
was the maximum of 21.
Epsom College Team 2, made up of
William Butterfield,Thomas Egan, Rebecca
Nesbitt and William Slough, managed to sort
15 of the 21 coins successfully with their
design, based around a Breast Cancer
charity theme, and took third place.
The winning team came from Robert
May’s School in Odiham, Hampshire, which
specialises in Science, Mathematics and
Computing. Other schools competing included
Whitgift (two teams), Oasis Academy from
Enfield and Wallington High School for Girls.
LEFT: There was a large turnout for this
year’s Junior Dodd Speaking Competition
ECLECTIC TOPICS AIRED AT
JUNIOR DODD SPEAKING COMPETITION
This year’s Junior Dodd Speaking
Competition, once again offered younger
members of the College the opportunity to
develop and hone their public speaking
skills in front of a packed house of staff,
parents and peers.
Each team comprised three speakers –
one to introduce the chosen topic, one to
deliver the body of the argument and one
to sum up, with the objective being to
communicate their ideas in an effective,
engaging and informed manner.
The teams had dreamed up a somewhat
diverse set of topics, ranging from the
serious matter of Sweatshops to a lighthearted
exploration of Happiness, but every
group had clearly made a real effort to rise
to the challenge of the evening.
Amongst the M4s, some nerves were
understandably evident, but special
mention must go to Jonathan Pollard and
William Slough for their mature and
confident efforts. It was not easy to pick a
stand-out group, however, and although a
talk on Exploding Pigeons raised a few laughs,
the Headmaster, in his role of adjudicator,
ultimately settled on a rather provocative
effort by Juyeon Oh, Astrid Molke and
Catrine Gillies on the theme of Nudity.
The U4s certainly built on the successes
of last year and, again, it was difficult to
decide on a clear first place. George
Hancock delivered a masterful presentation
on Fundamentalism but the deserved winners
were Amy Bramworth, Aidan Smith and
Lewis Bizaoui for their impassioned plea to
parents to fix the economic mess the
country finds itself in.
“Congratulations go to all participants
for their hard work and impressive efforts
on what was a most successful evening,”
said English master Mark Zacharias, who
organised this year’s competition.
www.epsomcollege.org.uk
5

ACADEMIC EPSOM
WHAT IS THE FUTURE
for history teaching?
With the teaching of history in English schools coming in for some heavy
criticism recently, Dr Murray Tod, Head of the History and Politics
Department, outlines the College’s progressive approach to the subject
The teaching of history in secondary
schools, and the nature of the current
curriculum, has recently been at the
forefront of an intense media debate.
Academics such as Robert Tombs, a
History Fellow at St John’s College,
Cambridge, and think-tanks like Politeia,
have criticised the teaching of history in
England, claiming that, as a result of the
National Curriculum and the requirements
of certain Examination Boards, too many
schools are fixated on narrow specifications
with more attention often paid to skills
such as evaluating sources rather than
acquiring knowledge.
This is all, it is argued, at the expense of
a wider grounding in historical knowledge.
Indeed,Tombs has even proposed an
alternative curriculum requiring all history
students to have an appreciation of 36 key
events in British history, ranging from
Boadicea to the end of the British Empire.
Whilst acknowledging the validity of
many of these arguments, and partly as a
result of its modular approach, the Epsom
College History and Politics Department
has striven to avoid repetition in course
material throughout the year groups and
has actively sought to challenge students to
learn new and interesting information.
Although there is an inevitable focus
on World War 1 and World War 2 at points
in the M4/GCSE years, and indeed it is
important to have an awareness of these
fundamentally pivotal decades, courses of a
more unusual hue have been introduced.
At present, both History Early (HE) and
History Late (HL) courses are offered at
A-Level, comprising options such as Henry
VIII and the English Church (1529-47), the
reign of Louis XIV of France (1661-1715)
and the eighteenth century French and
American Revolutions.
In addition to A2 modules on Elizabeth I
(HE) and International Relations 1945-2004
(HL), students at Epsom are also prepared
for an independently-researched coursework
assignment consisting of a 4,000 word essay.
In the History Late option, the focus is on
Tsarist and Soviet Russia, circa 1850-1950,
with the influence of Lenin and Stalin
“It is illuminating to witness Epsom students grappling with, and coming to
appreciate, concepts that still gain little coverage in the more lofty university environs.”
6
www.epsomcollege.org.uk

ACADEMIC EPSOM
FAR LEFT: M4 pupils during a recent
visit to the Battlefields of Ypres
and the Somme. LEFT: Dr Murray
Tod, Head of the History and
Politics Department, teaching a
L6th form class. RIGHT: Dr Tod
with M4 pupils at the 51st
Highland Division Memorial at
Newfoundland Park in the
Somme. BELOW: M4 pupils were
able to learn about trench warfare
first hand on the Battlefields trip
forming central themes of investigation.
On the History Early side, coursework
centres on the much neglected subject of
European witch-hunting (circa 1450-1650),
which is as far removed from a repetitive,
narrow view of historical thinking as it is
possible to be.The introduction of this
course has proved to be a genuine success
and it is illuminating to witness Epsom
students grappling with, and coming to
appreciate, concepts that still gain little
coverage in the more lofty university
environs.
In the M4 year, the College is also bucking
the national trend. As noted, there is a
degree of specialisation in some twentieth
century material, but teachers also have the
latitude to introduce new areas of interest,
with the history of slavery being one such
notable example.
However, it is a matter of some personal
regret that recent overtures to cement the
history of the Scottish Wars of Independence
(circa 1280-1330) into the psyche of the
average Epsom M4 student have been firmly
rebuffed by the rest of the Department!
Nevertheless plans are afoot to further
tweak and mould the history covered at
M4 level, always with the aim of stretching
the ability and interest of pupils and
opening their eyes to the valuable lessons
to be learned from the past.
The 2012 M4 World War 1 Battlefields
Trip in early June is a case in point.This
was a hugely enjoyable experience in which
the students’ knowledge was enriched by
an experience they are unlikely to forget.
This was not “boring” or “repetitive”
history, but rather history at the coal-face,
allowing students to attain an appreciation
of the past by gaining insights and
inspiration from the experiences of Ypres
and the Somme.
This is surely a solid foundation upon
which to build the historical knowledge of
the current M4s, hopefully enticing them
to consider a wider spectrum of eras in
their forthcoming years of study.
www.epsomcollege.org.uk
7

EPSOM LIFE
Heading TO PASTURES NEW
Stephen Borthwick is retiring at the end of the summer term after 12 years as Headmaster of Epsom College
“A school’s pupils need to
achieve their personal
potential, be ambitious,
have flair, behave generously
and supportively towards
each other – this is
the key to happiness.”
Stephen Borthwick
in the Physics Lab
with M4 students
Stephen Borthwick took up the reins at
Epsom College at the start of the new
millennium and has led the school through a
period of extraordinary growth and change.
Notwithstanding the recession of the past few
years, pupil numbers are 10% higher today
than they were when he took over in 2000.
During his time, the College has gone
from strength to strength as Stephen has
successfully implemented improvements in
academic performance, pastoral care and
the extra-curricular programme.
He has also overseen the College’s
transition to a fully co-educational school,
which posed its own challenges, “not only in
terms of the cultural change that any school
has to make, but in the infrastructural
requirements necessary to accommodate a
larger number of girls,” he said.
Indeed, over £20 million has been
invested in enhancements to the College’s
facilities during his tenure.These projects
have ranged from numerous redevelopments
in the Houses, to the refurbishment of Big
School, which is now large enough to put
on opera and big shows, the building of the
Performing Arts Centre and the expansion
and refurbishment of Chapel to allow it to
accommodate the whole school.
New netball and tennis courts and a new
astroturf pitch have been built and the
original astroturf pitch has been completely
refurbished.
He has also had a central role in the
planning and development of Epsom
College in Malaysia, the school’s first
overseas venture, which is due to open its
doors in 2013.
The last Independent Schools Inspectorate
(ISI) report underlined the fact that Epsom
was outstanding in its personal development
of youngsters. Stephen has long believed
this to be of vital importance to a top school.
“A school’s pupils need to achieve their
personal potential, be ambitious, have flair,
behave generously and supportively towards
each other – this is the key to happiness,”
he said.
Stephen is particularly proud of the
College’s high standard of pastoral care.
“I have been delighted with the quality of
pastoral and academic support in the Houses.
There now exists a very substantial and
effective tutor team structure with virtually
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EPSOM LIFE
Stephen Borthwick
and Henry
every member of staff committed to a
boarding or day House with responsibility
for the academic and pastoral progress of
pupils,” he said.
The extra-curricular programme at the
College is also one of its strengths and
Stephen has been instrumental in its
continued development. “The extracurricular
programme is one of the main
life springs for us at Epsom. Broadening
that programme, organising it and getting
the mix right have been key all through my
time and it is now outstandingly effective,”
he said.
Part of being an effective Headmaster is
to understand the pupils and one of the
best ways to do that is to continue to be
involved in the classroom. Despite his
hectic schedule, Stephen has taught physics
to every M4 year group since he started at
the College, teaching nearly every pupil at
some stage.
“It is, of course, the only job I have ever
been trained to do; academically it has been
fun and I have met all the youngsters as they
have come into the school. It has allowed
me the sight and feel of sets of pupils vital
to our profession as teachers,” he said.
Will he miss being Headmaster of Epsom
College? “It is exciting to have your hand
on the tiller of a big ship and to experience
the sheer buzz of working with youngsters.
It has been a fantastic job and I will miss the
rhythm of life of a boarding school. I will
miss the stimulating challenge of youngsters
“It is exciting to
have your hand
on the tiller of
a big ship and
to experience
the sheer buzz
of working with
youngsters. It
has been a
fantastic job and
I will miss the
rhythm of life of
a boarding school.”
and their parents and the enormous
community of friends amongst the teaching
staff,” he said.
And what does the future hold for him?
Stephen is retiring on the eve of his 61st
birthday and he, his wife Glynis and their
dog, Henry, will live in Symonds Yat, a
house on the banks of the River Wye on the
edge of the Forest of Dean. In addition to
playing an active role in community affairs,
he is already committed to consulting to
educational institutions and schools’
governing bodies.
He will now also have the time to feed
his passion for live music, especially
international opera festivals, as well as to
pursue his lapsed interests in photography,
golf and hill walking.
NEW MAN AT THE HELM
Jay Piggot
James A (Jay) Piggot will become the 13th Headmaster of Epsom College from the
Michaelmas term 2012 following the retirement of Stephen Borthwick. He joins Epsom
from Campbell College in Belfast, where he has been Headmaster for the past seven years.
Jay studied for a BA in English Literature at Cardiff University before completing
a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
A keen rugby player and latterly supporter, he played rugby for the University 1st XV
during his time at Cambridge.
He went on to complete an MA in Renaissance Literature at the University of
Liverpool, before becoming a specialist English teacher, initially at Millfield School in
Somerset and then at Eton College, where he spent seven years as a Housemaster.
“I look forward to working closely with Jay over the coming years to continue to
build on the solid foundations that Stephen has established,” said Chairman of
Governors Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen.
www.epsomcollege.org.uk
9

EPSOM LIFE
College CCF at Diamond Jubilee Pageant
The College’s Combined Cadet Force was honoured to
be invited to support the Jubilee Pageant, one of the
highlights of Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee
celebrations.
On Sunday 3rd June, along with other volunteer uniformed
organisations, a total of 52 College cadets and officers were
invited into the VIP enclosure on Westminster Bridge where
they watched a flotilla of 1,000 boats sail along the Thames as
the Queen travelled the river on the royal barge.
Members of staff attending included Lieutanant Colonel
Mike Hampshire, Major Eric Huxter, Captain Roger Gill,
Flight Lieutenant Tracy Pearson, Lieutenant Lawrence
Matthews and Lieutenant Clare Jeens.
The Queen is Patron of Epsom College and Captain General
of the Combined Cadet Force. “It was a great privilege to be
able to attend this unique, historic occasion. I am sure the
cadets will remember this day for many years to come,” said
CCF Commanding Officer Mike Hampshire.
To celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, pupils and staff
enjoyed a special patriotic picnic lunch. Chefs and porters
dressed for the occasion in red white and blue, whilst serving
a large selection of picnic food decorated with Union Jack
flags. Special Union Jack plates, drinking bottles and hats were
provided for the occasion and the Dining Hall was decked out
with Union Jack bunting. All pupils received a Diamond
Jubilee mug and keyring as a souvenir of this special occasion.
TOP: A total of 52 College cadets and officers were invited into the VIP enclosure on Westminster Bridge. ABOVE: Pupils and staff enjoyed a special patriotic picnic lunch
Accompanied by Modern Languages teacher
Maurice Hynd, a group of L6th form students
travelled to Barcelona recently to brush up on
their language skills. They spent a week staying
with Spanish families and attended daily
lessons at a language school. They also had
time to visit the sights of Barcelona, including
La Rambla, La Barceloneta beach area, the
Sagrada Familia Cathedral and Gaudi’s amazing
structures in the Parc Guell
DESIGNS ON
THE OLYMPICS
Pupils taking part in the popular Fashion Design
and Textiles activity were set an interesting task
recently when they were challenged to design
a sportswear outfit using the London 2012
Olympics as the basis for their inspiration.
The 2012 M4 and U4 Fashion Design
Competition, organised by teacher in charge
Beth Day, tasked pupils to design a smartcasual,
everyday outfit reflecting the Olympic
colourways and Team GB.
Entrants had to submit their research of
the look, initial ideas and development of
the outfit using a figure template to ensure
correct proportions.
This year’s competition, judged by Crawfurd
Housemistress Helen Keevil and Carr Housemaster
Mike Day, produced a high standard of
inspirational designs.The M4 competition was
won by Zoe Olsen and Phoebe Gibson, with her
striking, but very wearable, design (left), won
both the U4 competition and the overall trophy.
Both prize winners won vouchers to spend at
the ASOS online fashion store.
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EPSOM LIFE
FORMER MASTER VISITS
SCHOOL IN KOSOVO
Former College master Peter Thompson travelled to Kosovo
recently to visit, for the first time, a project he spearheaded
some 12 years ago.
Launched in the year 2000, the ambitious project to build
a new school in the war-torn hillside village of Kopiliq
galvanised the College community and saw pupils, parents
and staff raise over £30,000 in funds in just one year.
The new facility, which opened in September 2001,
changed the lives of the village children who no longer
had to walk for hours to school each day.With five
classrooms and five teachers, the school educates children
from six to 10 years of age.
Peter, who retired from teaching maths at the College last
year, visited the school with his wife and was able to take a
number of bags of warm clothing for the children. Donated
surplus stock from school outfitters, Lester Bowden,
included track suits, jumpers and other accessories.
The school Charity Fund for this year has donated a
further £2,000 to the project, which will help with the
purchase of a new pump for the well to provide water for
the toilets and to decorate the classrooms.
Peter, who intended to visit the new school in 2001,
had his travel plans disrupted by the 9/11 terror attacks.
Peter Thompson speaks to pupils at the school in Kopiliq
Thanks to the generosity of Old
Epsomian Peter Dodd, girls in
Crawfurd House are now the
proud owners of a croquet set.
Having sought grounds
permission, the girls have been
playing the recreational lawn
game on most fine evenings on
the manicured lawns outside
Crawfurd House.They are
fortunate to have an expert
coach in Housemistress, Helen
Keevil, who played croquet
competitively at university.
The College offers croquet
as an extra-curricular activity
for students in the 6th form, but
this recent evening activity for
Crawfurd House is proving very
popular with the younger
members.
A challenging and intriguing
sport, croquet requires tactical
ability, judgment and skill but is
fun for all to play at any level.
“An advantage of the game,
and the reason for its success, is
that it is also a social activity
played on completely equal terms
by males and females, young and
old.The girls are enjoying
learning something new in the
company of their friends,” said
Helen Keevil.
ABOVE: Crawfurd girls are enjoying learning to play croquet
STUDENTS NETWORK AT LEGAL SOCIETY DINNER
OE Steven Kay QC, President of the Epsom
College Legal Society, hosted a dinner this term
for parents and OEs in the legal profession and
students considering a career in law.
Held in the Parliament Chamber at Inner
Temple, the well-supported event provided an
ideal opportunity for College students to
network with, and learn from, experienced
legal professionals.
“One of the main aims of this Society is for
those of us who are established in our practice
to lend a hand to those starting out,” said
Steven Kay in his welcoming remarks.
Pupils and veterans alike had something to
learn from the after-dinner speech entitled The
perils of litigating in the media spotlight: A personal
perspective by OE Ian Mill QC, who spoke about
Steven Kay QC with 6th Form students
his role in two high profile cases involving Nina
Wang in Hong Kong and Charlotte Church’s
former manager in the UK.
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, OE
Nick Hardwick, also attended the dinner as a
special guest of the Education Trust.
www.epsomcollege.org.uk
11

EPSOM LIFE
JUNIORS take centre stage
A review of this term’s Junior School Play by Drama and Theatre Studies master Paul Henson
TOP: A picture of family harmony and happiness from the final Act.
Elise Mather and Aiden Smith with Emily Oulton, Max Wildenberg and
Callum Watson (centre) and Lyndsey McJarrow and Tim Lazarus;
MIDDLE: Callum Watson as Horatio Hobson, discussing his troublesome
daughters with his drinking friend, Jim Heeler, played by William Slough;
Vicky (Elise Mather) and her sister Alice (Lyndsey McJarrow), fight
for their rights with eldest sister Maggie (Emily Oulton) centre
Big School became a time machine this term for the Junior
School Play, Harold Brighouse’s Hobson’s Choice.
The audience was taken back to the grimy, industrial
tapestry of Lancashire in the 1880s, with the strife and troubles
of Hobson’s shoe repairers serving as the background to a
commentary on many of the problems of the time, yet still
interlaced with a rich band of northern humour.
Serious issues, like poor education, poverty and the role of
women, are tackled in Brighouse’s multi-layered text and the
Junior actors more than did justice to its depth.There was a
small cast and all of them did the play proud, especially the
three central characters.
Callum Watson gave the audience a blustery, battered and
finally broken Horatio Hobson, while Max Wildenberg superbly
portrayed the gifted, and eventually self-assured,Will Mossop.
Superbly in charge of all she surveyed was Emily Oulton as
Maggie Hobson, who cajoled and coralled the male characters,
moulding them exactly as she wished.
There were excellent debuts from Elise Mather and Omar Said
and a measured performance from Jonathan Pollard, but the
whole company, which included Lyndsey McJarrow,Tim Lazarus,
Aiden Smith, Lucy Ward, Zoe Olsen and William Slough, gave
a consistent pace and rhythm to the performance, helped in no
small way by authentic and secure Lancashire accents.
Once more, it seems, Director, Kim Chandley, has unearthed
and begun the process of nurturing a rich vein of Junior talent
ready to grace the stage in future productions.
Technician Rob Anderson, in his first school play, created
a superbly versatile and atmospheric design and the stage
management team, led by Stephanie Boote, all helped to
produce a slick and enjoyable performance.
Towards the end of the play, as Hobson’s world crumbled
around him, the key message of the play – the power of
education – emerged. How appropriate, in a school such as
Epsom, to see that although walls may tremble and fall,
through education we all have within us the power to build a
better and brighter world.
12 www.epsomcollege.org.uk

EPSOM LIFE
After experiencing their first overnight
CCF exercise in Aldershot, putting their
campcraft skills to the test, as well as
learning some basic leadership skills, Field
Day held at the end of term saw the entire
M4 year group visit the Royal Military
Academy (RMA) Sandhurst.
On arrival, the cadets were split into
two groups with half touring the buildings
and, following a BBQ lunch, the other half
taking part in leadership-based activities.
Cadets were shown the famous parade
ground, were the senior NCOs of the
British Army were engaged in the Pace
M4 CADETS AT SANDHURST
Stick competition prior to the World
Championships.They sat on the steps of
Old College and were told about the
history of the foundation of the RMA that
led to training officers for the British Army
and how the Military Academy came to be
at Sandhurst. Before the RMAS, it was
possible to buy any rank, and lead an army
without training.
The group then entered Old College
and viewed the India Room, which was
originally the Chapel of the RMA, and
was consecrated in 1813. However, when
the number of Gentlemen Cadets rose
following the abolition of the purchase
system for commissions, it was no longer
big enough to act as a Chapel and became,
in turn, a model room, museum and later
a cadet dining room where Winston
Churchill dined while a Gentleman Cadet
in the 1890s. Afterwards, they visited
some of the rooms and saw old uniforms
and some of the gifts given to RMAS in
grateful thanks for training officers for
armies overseas.
The cadets finally moved on to the
Chapel, which was dedicated by King
George VI in 1937.The memorial stained
glass windows in the Chapel honour
various regiments and some memorials are
carved into the black marble flooring. On
panels devoted to the particular campaigns
in which they lost their lives, are the
names of ex-cadets killed in action.
Cadets were asked to remember the
motto of the RMAS (Serve To Lead) and
it was then explained what it meant to be
trained as an officer to lead soldiers,
hence the motto.
ABOVE: The entire M4 year group at the
Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
LEFT: Captain Fi Drinkall with M4 cadets
College prefects took part in a day-long training programme
during the last week of term to prepare them
for life in the U6th when they return at the start of
the Michaelmas term this September.The day, run by
an outside company,Team Thinking, covered a number
of topics including Effective Problem Solving, Human
Behaviour, Exploring the Situational Styles of Leadership
and Role Play, led by the College’s senior Housemistress,
Helen Keevil.There was also an opportunity for indoor
and outdoor team-building activities. Prefects are pictured
right tackling The Swamp, an exercise which tests
their team-working skills. George Hatfield from Fayrer
House has been appointed Head of School for the
Michaelmas Term.
www.epsomcollege.org.uk
13

EPSOM SPORT
The 1st XV in action against Oundle at the HAC ground in the City
of London. BELOW: RFU Level 4 coach Andy Wolstenholme has been
in charge of the College’s rugby programme for the past 15 years
RUGBY goes from strength to strength
Epsom College rugby has enjoyed significant success in recent years as a
succession of talented players has arrived from strong local prep schools.
Many have gone on to even greater success after leaving the College
Epsom’s growing reputation as a rugby
school is reflected in the fact that
the regular fixture list has strengthened
considerably in the last few seasons to
include some of the strongest rugby playing
schools on the circuit, including Wellington,
Dulwich and Tonbridge, as well as Eton
and Harrow.
More local rivals include St John’s
Leatherhead, Cranleigh and RGS Guildford,
and regular trips are made to the south coast
to play Eastbourne and Brighton.
The 1st XV also plays a special midweek
fixture at the historic Honourable Artillery
Company (HAC) ground in Moorgate in the
City of London. Last season, the College
took on Oundle, a strong Midlands school,
and won an entertaining game 24-12. Next
season the opposition will be Stowe School
from Buckinghamshire.
The College’s rugby programme has been
overseen for the last 15 years by Andy
Wolstenholme, an RFU level 4 coach, who
had experience of coaching at Leicester Tigers
before moving to Epsom and now coaches at
Blackheath in National League 1.
Some 30 members of staff give up their
time to coach and referee rugby each week,
a good number of whom have coached and
played at a high level themselves.
They are backed up by first class outside
coaches from local club Rosslyn Park, as
well as specialists from nutrition, strength
and conditioning and sports psychology
backgrounds.
The College has close links with
Premiership club Harlequins and a number
of Old Epsomians currently feature in the
club’s professional ranks.
George Lowe has been playing professionally
for Harlequins since he left the College in
2008 and was a member of the full England
squad on the 2012 tour to South Africa.
Chris York started eight premiership games
for Harlequins at No 8 this season and has
now signed for another Premiership club,
Newcastle Falcons.
Kyle Sinckler, who was a member of the
14 www.epsomcollege.org.uk

EPSOM SPORT
England U20s squad that played in the recent
Junior World Championship in South Africa, is
also on Harlequins’ books, as is Joe Trayfoot,
who has played for England at U18 level.
International honours have also been won
by a number of recent OEs whilst playing at
the College, including Tom Flynn, who
represented the USA and Ireland Clubs at
U16 and U18 levels,Tom Harty, who played
for England Clubs U18s and Ben Francis and
Cameron Jeffery, who both played for
Scotland U16s.
Current pupil James Francis has also
played for Scotland at U16 level, while Jordan
Burns represented England Clubs U18s this
season and has become the most recent
College player to secure a professional
contract with Harlequins.
WOMEN’S RUGBY FIRST
FOR COLLEGE PLAYER
“The desire to be successful
runs deep at Epsom but all
levels of ability are catered for
within the rugby programme,
from the budding international
star to the “social” player.”
Success in winning the Daily Mail U15 Cup
in the past has been matched by regular success
on the rugby 7s circuit in the Lent term.
The 7s squad benefits from specialist
sessions run by Mike Friday, the former
England 7s coach and members of the
Harlequins coaching team, led by Academy
coach, Howard Graham.
The Colts VII are past winners of the
National 7s competition at Rosslyn Park, while
the 1st VII have also regularly featured in the
final rounds of the national tournament.This
season, the 1st VII won the Reigate Charity 7s
title and were losing finalists at the Surrey 7s.
Touring is a regular and popular feature
of the rugby calendar.The senior squad have
alternated long haul trips to Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa and South America
with more local tours to Ireland and recently
to the Brian Ashton Academy in Normandy.
Junior squads have also made regular short
pre-season tours to Scotland and Northern
Ireland.
The desire to be successful runs deep at
Epsom but all levels of ability are catered for
within the rugby programme, from the
budding international star to the “social”
player who wants to keep fit and have fun
with his friends within a team environment.
The College runs teams from 1st XV to 6th
XV and all the way down to U14D.
Rugby success at Epsom College is not just
limited to the boys.The girls’ 1st VII has won the
Reigate Charity 7s for the past two years and
now a female College player has gained
international recognition for the first time.
Following recent trial matches, this season’s
captain of girls’ rugby, Rochelle Smith, has been
selected for the England Women’s U20 rugby
squad for the 2012-13 season. She will take part
in home and away games against France in the
spring internationals and the U20s Nations Cup
in England.
Rochelle has been playing rugby competitively
for the past four years. She started her playing
career aged 14 at Sutton & Epsom RFC and later
in her first season moved to London Irish where
a girls’ squad had just been formed.
Training has been key to Rochelle’s success and
as she has moved up the RFU player pathway, her
training load has increased from four hours to
12-14 hours a week.This includes club, county
and divisional training, as well as personal strength
and conditioning and fitness programmes.
Rochelle is keeping her feet firmly on the
ground, however, and is not letting her rugby
interfere with her studies.“My academic work is
my priority, but I believe if you manage your time
well, there is no reason why one thing must be
compromised for another,” she said.
Next year Rochelle will be doing a Pre-Med
course at Birkbeck, University of London, before
moving to Jamaica in September 2013 to pursue
a medical career.
During the year she does her Pre-Med course,
Rochelle will be playing for England and will also
be joining Premiership rugby club Saracens to play
a more intense, higher level of rugby. Whilst in
Jamaica, she plans to play rugby 7s with one eye
on a possible appearance at the Olympic Games.
TOP: The girls’ 1st VII has
won the Reigate Charity
7s for the past two years
running. Captain Rochelle
Smith, seen holding
the trophy, was named
Player of the Tournament
on both occasions.
ABOVE: Rochelle Smith is
the first female College
rugby player to be selected
to play for England
www.epsomcollege.org.uk
15

EPSOM SPORT
College athletes star at
County Championships
Alarge contingent of Epsom
College athletes represented
Central Surrey at the Surrey Schools
Track & Field Championships held
at the Kingsmeadow Athletics
Centre in June.
First places were achieved by
Kieran Findlay in the intermediate
high jump (1.80m), James Gibbons
in the senior shot (11.22m) and
Connor Findlay in the senior
hammer (24.26m).
Strong performances by Babu Ocan
(left) and Edafe Sowole-James at
the Surrey Schools Track & Field
Championships saw them selected
to represent Surrey at the
Inter-Counties Championships
Babu Ocan came second in the
junior long jump (5.43m) and Edafe
Sowole-James second in the junior
triple jump (11.75m) and both were
selected, along with Kieran Findlay,
to represent Surrey at this year’s
Inter-Counties Championships.
Other performances of note
included George Mount, who came
third in the intermediate shot
(11.36m), Damola Ibrahim fourth
in the intermediate discus (37.30m)
and Robert Aka fourth in
the junior triple jump
(11.43m). All of these
performances were
personal bests and all
three were selected as
reserves for the Surrey
Inter-Counties team.
In the senior boys’
event, second places went
to Luke Oldershaw in the
high jump (1.75m) and
Ben Grant in the long
jump (6.06m – just 1cm
behind the winner), while
Max Gathercole finished
third in the discus
(31.77m).
In the girls’ events, the
performances of the day
came from Jess Woodley,
who won the senior
100m, Leah Amin third in the senior
triple jump and Gabi Orlich fourth
in the intermediate discus.
SPORTS BRIEFS
Phoebe Gibson
in action at the
2012 British
Tumbling Finals
Competing against
some of the best tumblers
in the country, U4 pupil
Phoebe Gibson scooped
third place in the 2012
British NDP3 (13+)
Tumbling Finals held at
the Fenton Manor Sports
Centre in Stoke-on-Trent
in May. Phoebe qualified
for the national finals after
winning the gold medal at
the South East Regional
tumbling competition
earlier in the year.
The Epsom boys’ A team emerged as winners
of an outdoor volleyball tournament hosted at
the College in May. Two temporary courts were
set up on Wilson Pitch and another two outside
the Chapel as the College welcomed Rikkyo
School, Lancing College and St John’s to the annual
event.The Epsom A team beat Lancing 25-21 and
the Rikkyo B team 25-18 to reach the semi-final,
where they beat the Epsom B team 25-17. In a
tense final, the Epsom boys overturned the form
book to score a 25-20 victory over the Rikkyo A
team, a side that had already beaten them in four
previous matches this season.
The College Target Rifle team
with their Sawyer Cup trophies
Crawfurd Housemistress Helen
Keevil was bowled over following
the success of her girls in the
annual House Rounders Championships
this term. For the first
time in the history of the competition,
the talented Crawfurd
girls took all four trophies on
offer, winning the M4, U4, 5th
form and Seniors tournaments.
The annual competition always
produces friendly, yet competitive,
matches and this year was
no exception. To add an element of fun
to the proceedings, many of the girls
painted their faces in House colours.“I’m
delighted and very pleased for my girls.
The M4 and U4 girls benefitted from a
practice session run by U4 tutor Rebecca
Young the evening before the competition
and the purple and white face paint
adorned and possibly enhanced their
performance,” said Helen Keevil.
The College Target Rifle VIII won the prestigious
Sawyer Cup at Bisley this term, beating some of the
top shooting schools in the country.The Epsom VIII
scored 371.17 points to head the field, with RGS
Guildford second on 367.20 points and Wellington
third with 363.20 points. Ben Ross was the top
scorer on the range at 300 yards, with his excellent
34.3 point V-bull count retaining the individual
trophy won by William Broad last year.
Playing some of their best cricket of the season,
the 1st XI fought their way to a draw against the
MCC this term. Batting first, MCC posted a total of
197-7 with Stef Sander taking 3 wickets for 38 runs.
In reply, Epsom scored 178-7 with a half century
from Dan Bradshaw and Harry Allen not out on 70.
16
Epsom College, College Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 4JQ • Tel: 01372 821234 • Fax: 01372 821237 • e-mail: news@epsomcollege.org.uk
web: www.epsomcollege.org.uk • Editor: Corinne Munford • Design: Deborah Reader • Print: Summit Print