Insight |

From the Headmaster
Armstrong, Bannister, Columbus,
an ABC of firsts, or rather those
who were first. History has always
reserved a special place for those
who were first, revered not only for
what they did but for doing it before
anyone else. The last term, much of
which you can read about in the
following pages, has been one of
several “Cobham firsts”. Quite where
they will sit in any global review of
firsts remains to be seen but they are
significant in our School’s
development.
In the spirit of adventure, in October
we held our first ever Inter-House
Cross-Country race. This built upon
the work on running and
fitness that Mrs Hooper
and the PE
Department have
been doing with
the girls over the
past eighteen
months, including
the introduction last
year of the two kilometre
“Hooper Run” that I often see girls
practising. Cross-Country is a sport
close to my heart and I enjoyed
working out the route almost as
much as watching the whole School
take on the three kilometre course.
One wonders what other firsts our
inaugural winner will go on to
achieve.
“I witnessed smart,
intelligent and eloquent
young women from all parts
of the School enjoy a
wonderful morning.”
In November we were again
adventurous but also embraced most
of the other Round Square IDEALS
too, as we held our first ever full
Model United Nations
Conference. Guided by
Miss Williams and Mrs
Gough, and with
help from several
other members of
staff, most of the
School was
involved. Pupils
became delegates
representing a whole
host of different
nations and examined the
highly topical issue of immigration.
The point of MUN, as it is usually
known, is that the pupils have to
research their particular assigned
countries’ stance and policies on a
particular issue and then defend and
promote them, regardless of how at
odds with their own personal views
they may be. Quite apart from
developing confidence, publicspeaking
and debating skills, one can
easily imagine the enhanced
understanding of other cultures
that this also develops. I witnessed
smart, intelligent and eloquent
young women from all parts of the
School enjoy a wonderful morning.
There was no shortage of volunteers
for the following MUN event at
Brentwood School and those
representing the
School impressed
again.
Also embracing
internationalism,
in November we held
our first ever GCSE
Modern Languages Conference.
Seventy boys and girls from a variety
of local schools joined Cobham Hall’s
Year 10 and 11 linguists to listen to
advice about, and practise, speaking
and writing both French and Spanish.
Comments on the day and postconference
indicate the first such
Conference will not be the last!
“In a School dedicated
to developing the
creative, social and
physical aspects of
our girls, as well as
their academic and
intellectual, it seems
the last term has
been a typical one.”
Our School Play is, of course, not a
new event but the fact that this
year’s school play, a musical, has
been written by one of our own
pupils certainly is.
“Starwalker” will be
performed on the
last three nights of
the Spring Term.
First performances
of any new play are
always special
events, let alone
one with all the
extra firsts this will
have.
In a School dedicated to
developing the creative, social and
physical aspects of our girls, as well
as their academic and intellectual, it
seems the last term has been a
typical one. Enjoy reading about it,
and look forward to this term’s
development of the same ideals.
Mr P Mitchell
Headmaster
Staff Changes
We’ve said a fond farewell to Mrs Pat
Gambell, from Accounts. She will be
dearly missed.
Joining our Domestic team this term
are Ms Wendy Harrington and Ms
Denise Wilkinson. We also have two
Language Assistants joining our
Modern Foreign Languages
Department: Ms Azahara Arjona
for Spanish and Laetitia Albarte for
French. A big welcome to you all!
Developments
There’s a new School Minibus route
which begins in Chislehurst and
travels via the A20 and M25. From
September 2016, this new service
will start in Blackheath.
A Taste of Life at Cobham Hall
The first weekend in October saw
Cobham Hall open its doors to
prospective new students and their
families for our Taster Afternoon and
Sleepover, and Open Morning.
Girls arrived in the early afternoon
and attended lessons in Languages
and Computing. French teacher Mrs
Russell taught two groups of very
enthusiastic girls. “There was a lovely
atmosphere in the room and the girls
were really keen to participate and
confidently interacted with each
other,” she commented. The girls
used basic greetings and undertook a
counting challenge and a role-play
activity. They finished the lesson
with a craft activity, making a puppet
from a cardboard plate, giving them
something they could take home
to finish. The girls also took part in
a computing lesson with Mr Eyers.
“Most of the girls seemed very
interested in the robots and were
keen to learn more.
Even those that said they
were not interested in
IT got very animated
when they managed
to programme a
robot to perform a
basic task.”
All in all, the taster
lessons went very well,
perhaps too quickly for the
girls! But there was more fun to be
had with a sleepover to experience
life as a Cobham Hall Boarder. The
girls enjoyed a dance activity with
Assistant Housemistress Miss Ebun-
Cole in the Dance Studio, before
becoming detectives to solve a
Murder Mystery organised by Head
of Lower School, Miss Williams. With
hot chocolate, biscuits and a chance
to gossip before settling down for
the night, it was a very entertaining
evening. Although, judging by the
bleary eyes the next day (and not
just of our Housemistresses!), we’re
not sure how much sleep was had!
Girls also took part in an additional
activity in Clifton Common Room
the next day, while their parents
met with Lower School tutors before
attending the Open Morning event.
This year, Open Morning had a few
changes to make for a more
“I am very envious
of them getting the
chance to
experience Cobham
from the beginning,
as I wish I could do
it all over again!”
- Olivia, Year 13
interactive tour and to allow current
students to take a more central role.
Girls from Years 8, 10 and 13 had
the opportunity to speak to visitors
during the Headmaster’s address,
and the three selected girls all did a
marvellous job. Britta, Year 10, spoke
of what makes Cobham Hall unique.
During a confident, friendly address,
she highlighted Cobham Hall’s
community feel, enhanced by the
opportunities for flexi-boarding,
“This makes Cobham Hall stand-out
because it’s not so much a school
as one big sleepover! I enjoy staying
over in the boarding houses and
always love to get away from home
for a bit of quality girl time at school
with friends.”
This was echoed by Year 13’s Olivia,
who commented, “I like to describe
Cobham Hall as a lifestyle rather than
a school, as Cobham life occupies
much more of your time, but
in a very positive and
beneficial way.” Olivia
went on to close her
speech by reflecting
on how she feels
about seeing young
girls looking to join
Cobham Hall in Year 7;
“I am very envious of
them getting the chance to
experience Cobham from the
beginning, as I wish I could do it all
over again!”
At the end of the Open Morning,
Headmaster Mr Mitchell said,
“Cobham Hall looked wonderful,
even in spite of the mist and fog, and
certainly the enthusiasm of staff and
girls, both much commented on by
our visitors, dispelled any thoughts
of gloom. Families left saying very
positive things about all aspects of
Cobham Hall. Well done, and a very
big thank you to all involved!”
Our Registrar, Mrs Shelley, was
equally positive, saying “It was a very
successful and enjoyable event. We
were pleased to welcome both new
and familiar faces. Our visitors liked
learning about Cobham life whilst
meeting with staff and students and
taking part in activities around the
School.”