AIM HIGH WITH INTEGRITY | BE ADVENTUROUS | SERVE OTHERS
ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT BERKHAMSTED
HORIZONS
CONTENTS
Art6-7
Biology8-10
Chemistry11-13
Classics14-16
Drama18-21
Economics22-23
English24-27
Geography28-29
History30-31
ICT32
11
CHEMISTRY
Mathematics34-35
Media Studies
36-37
Modern Foreign Languages
38-43
Music44-47
Outdoor Education
48-51
Physics52-53
Politics54
Product Design
55
Psychology56
30
HISTORY
Sociology57
Clubs & Societies
62-71
18
DRAMA
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MFL
2 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
44
MUSIC
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 3
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
BE ADVENTUROUS
We have to continually be jumping off cliffs
and developing our wings on the way down.
Kurt Vonnegut
4 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 5
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
Sixth Form
ART
Venice Trip
We run a fantastic biannual trip to
Venice for Year 11-13, where you
will benefit from the incredible
opportunity to spend a whole day in
the Venice Biennale, the oldest and
biggest contemporary art exhibition
in the world. You will make several site
visits, such as St Mark’s Basilica, not
to mention enjoying the experience
of spending a few days in such an
incredible city.
Senior School
Open Studios
Open Studios sessions take place after
school throughout each term (Kings:
Tuesday and Thursday; Castle Tuesday
– Thursday Inclusive). These give you
the brilliant opportunity to spend time
in the department working on your
project or separate work, with the help
and advice of a member of the art
staff.
Open Studios is a
relaxed environment
where you can find help
and finish off work.
Photography Club
A large number of boys in Year 7-9 opt
for the Photography Club. Here you
will get the opportunity to develop
your own film in the extremely well
equipped dark room as well as
experimenting with photograms and
working on the Macs using digital
photography and Photoshop.
Jewellery Making Club
Jewellery Making Club at Kings is a
popular option where you can learn
to make beautiful and unique items
using a wide range of materials and
the expertise of Miss Gent.
Resident Artists
The department is lucky to have a
Resident Artist Technician scheme,
where a 2 year rolling residency
programme gives you first-hand
experience of working with a
professional artist. As an Art Scholar,
you work closely with this artist
within your various projects, getting
together weekly to exchange ideas,
6 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
once at Castle and once at Kings.
There is another opportunity to work
with the Resident Artist Technician as
part of a co-curricular Club, this time
focusing on pattern. Here you will be
developing your own patterns and
using lino to print on both paper and
fabric. This club will explore different
contexts of pattern-making in Art,
Craft and Design.
Extended Curriculum Week
Towards the end of the year in extra
curriculum week, there is a half day
art activity delivered to Year 7. Here
you need to work collaboratively as
part of a team, as well as developing
your skills artistically throughout
the afternoon while working on an
exciting project.
Trips
In Year 10 and Year 11 you will benefit
from day trips to top London galleries,
where you are given the opportunity
to conduct individual research towards
your GCSE project.
In Year 10 you are taken to a London
gallery in Extra Curriculum Week
to supplement your second GCSE
Coursework project.
In Year 11 you may also have the
amazing opportunity to come on our
biannual Year 11-13 trip to Venice. If
you decide to come you will be able
to experience the magnificent Venice
Biennale, the oldest and largest
contemporary art fair in the world.
Life class was different
to what I expected, but
was really fun and very
useful for proportion and
drawing feet and hands.
Life Class
You have a lot of
freedom in KS4 to go
where you want to
with your work while
improving artistic skills.
In both Year 12 and Year 13, you are
given the valuable opportunity to take
part in life class every week of the
Michaelmas term. Here we experiment
with a wide range of media and
techniques to broaden your visual
vocabulary.
Open Studio
Upstairs Gallery
Open Studio sessions, which take
place on Tuesday – Thursday evenings
every week of term, give you the
brilliant opportunity to spend time in
the department working on your own
project or separate work, with the
help and advice of a member of the
Art staff.
Each year there is the chance to
be selected by the Upstairs Gallery
in Berkhamsted to present your
work in a professional context the
following September. This really is an
outstanding opportunity as organising
an exhibition requires a huge number
of skills.
London Photography Trip
Dacorum Young Painter’s
Award
As a Year 12 artist or photographer
you will have a day trip to London in
the calendar, but in both Year 12 and
Year 13 you are very much encouraged
to take advantage of our excellent
location by visiting London galleries
as much as you can when not in
school. This allows you to deepen your
exploration into your chosen artists or
topic.
Work Experience
Our Year 13 artists have the chance
to do a week’s work experience in a
local primary school, the culmination
of which involves you delivering a half
day activity, in pairs, to pupils between
Reception and Year 5.
A number of students per year apply
for the Dacorum Young Painter’s
award, a prestigious local prize for
those over the age of 17. If you are
shortlisted your work will be included
in an exhibition and the winner is
presented with their prize on the night
of the Private View.
Sixth Form Art Commission
Regardless of whether you are taking
Art or Photography A Level, all Sixth
Form students are invited to apply for
the Sixth Form Art Commission, the
lucky winner of which will have access
to a professional studio for one month
of the summer holidays. You will
work on a project of your own design
based on a changing cross curricular
theme devised by Mr Petty and Mrs
Ferguson. The school purchases and
frames your work (if appropriate) so it
is quite an honour.
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 7
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
BIOLOGY
Senior School
What is true for E. coli is also true for the elephant.
Jacques Lucien Monod (9 February 1910 – 31 May 1976), a French biologist, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1965,
sharing it with François Jacob and Andre Lwoff “for their discoveries concerning genetic control of enzyme and virus synthesis”.
Year 9 Skern Lodge
Year 10 Biology Challenge
In Rear 9 you will have wonderful
opportunity to foster a positive
relationship with the environment
at the start of the IGCSE Biology
course. Fours days at start of the
Easter vacation are spent on the North
Devonshire coast where fun outdoor
activities are interspersed with a
study of the coast habitats. Spaces
are limited for this adventure which is
available to a mixed group from both
Castle and Kings.
Biology Challenge is open to all Year
10 Biologists and aims to nurture your
interest in biology beyond the school
curriculum as well as stimulate an
interest in the natural world. Biology
Challenge is an online competition
which takes place in school. Questions
will be set on the school curriculum
but the Biology Challenge will also
reward your knowledge of the subject
that has been increased by reading
books and magazines, watching
natural history programmes, taking
notice of the news media for items
of biological interest, and by being
generally aware of our natural flora
and fauna. The Challenge consists of
two 30 minute papers. Bronze, Silver
or Gold certificate are awarded.
The Nancy Rothwell Award
Age Category 12-14 and 15-18
If you are a talented artist this award
is for you. It celebrates specimen
drawings in schools and highlights the
benefits of combining art and science.
Click on the winning images to find
out about the specimens and view the
last year’s shortlist on Facebook.
Independent reading
Reading the following online
magazines available in the library is
highly recommended:
Catalyst: The science magazine for
students aged 14-19 years. This topical
magazine will bring your science to
life, with insights into cutting-edge
research and practical applications of
complex science in the world around
us. Catalyst is published 4 times each
8 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
academic year: October, December,
February and April.
www.stem.org.uk/catalyst
How it works: How It Works is the
science and technology magazine that
feeds your eager mind and hopefully
inspires a sense of awe and wonder in
the world around you.
www.howitworksdaily.com
Local Independent Visits that
we encourage you to visit:
stars of their free galleries and find out
how one man built a world-leading
private collection that formed the
basis of the Museum at Tring - See
more at: www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/tring
College Lake
Once a chalk quarry, College Lake
is now one of the Berks, Bucks &
Oxon Wildlife Trust’s flagship nature
reserves. This thriving nature reserve
now supports more than 1,000
different wildlife species. An eco
visitor centre offers stunning views of
the lakes.
Tring : Natural History Museum
From anglerfish to zebras, meet the
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 9
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Sixth Form
Dr. Ikemoto repeatedly told me that we should not perform research that simply
reproduced somebody else’s results. Rather, we should do something unique.
Shinya Yamanaka (4 September 1962 – Present), a Stem Cell Biologist to whom The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 was
awarded jointly with Sir John B. Gurdon “for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent”
British Biology Olympiad
Year 13 students are encouraged
to enter this competition which
challenges and stimulates students
with an interest in biology to expand
and extend their talents. In offering a
wider syllabus than A level, it allows
you to demonstrate your knowledge
and to be suitably rewarded and
publicly recognised by the award of
certificates. It is hoped that competing
in the Olympiad will encourage those
of you already interested in this
valuable, wide-ranging and rewarding
subject to continue your study beyond
A level.
Intermediate Biology
Olympiad
The new competition is open to all of
you in Year 12. The online paper will
consist of multiple choice questions.
Questions will be set on topics you are
likely to have covered at GCSE and in
your first year of A level.
The Nancy Rothwell Award
(Age Category 15-18)
If you are a talented artist this award
is for you. It celebrates specimen
drawings in schools and highlights the
benefits of combining art and science.
Click on the winning images to find
out about the specimens and view the
last year’s shortlist on Facebook.
Biology Lecture Programme
A varied programme of 4/5 lectures
delivered by academic and research
scientists is run after school over the
course of the year. The purpose of
the lecture is to stretch and challenge
you whilst making you aware of the
relevance and changing nature of
biology.
10 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
Peterhouse Cambridge
Essay Competition
Medical Research Centre at
Harwell
(Kelvin Science Prize) (2000-4000
words)
Year 13 Biology students who
are interested in pursuing a career in
medicine or scientific research, have
the opportunity to visit the Medical
Research Council facility at Harwell,
near Oxford which specialises in
Mouse Genetic Research. You get
to see the animal housing units and
some of the high tech equipment
used within the laboratories to transfer
nuclei from one cell to another. If you
are lucky enough you may even to see
nuclear implantation and the creation
of chimeras.
The competition is only open to Year
12. Your essay must be submitted
as PDF document online but it must
first be verified by a member of the
Biology Department that it conforms
to the guidelines given in terms of
length and content. There is a limit of
2 entries per school.
NIMR Essay Competition
(1000 words)
This essay competition is run by the
Nuffield Foundation and Berkhamsted
School has a proud record of entry
to this competition. Ask your Biology
teacher for further details.
Nuffield Research
Placements
A four to six week research placement
in a university, research institute
or company where you will have
responsibility for your own research
project. With expert supervision, you’ll
work on a project that will be useful
to professional scientists, engineers,
technologists or mathematicians.
You’ll write a project report, receive a
certificate of achievement, and have
plenty to tell your friends when you
get back to school. You will also get
the chance to enter your project for
a British Science Association CREST
Award, and could attend regional,
national and international science
fairs - giving you the chance of being
named UK Young Scientist or Engineer
of the Year.
Independent Visits that we
encourage:
Wellcome Collection
Wellcome Collection is the free
visitor destination for the incurably
curious. Located at 183 Euston Road,
London (opposite Euston Station),
you can explore the connections
between medicine, life and art in
the past, present and future. The
venue offers you contemporary and
historic exhibitions and collections,
lively public events. Together with
the permanent exhibitions; Medicine
Man and Medicine Now, there is
always something new and exciting on
exhibition.
International Biology Field Trip
This trip is available every 2 to 3
years and has afforded Sixth Form
students the unparalleled opportunity
to experience a variety of flora and
fauna in their natural habitats. Some of
the places visited in the past include
the rainforests of Honduras and
Costa Rica, the savanna plains of the
Serengeti (Tanzania), the bushveld of
the Kruger Park (South Africa) and the
Namib Desert of Namibia. Keep a look
out for information on future trips.
CHEMISTRY
Chemistry, unlike other sciences, sprang originally from delusions
and superstitions, and was at its commencement exactly on a par with
magic and astrology.
Thomas Thomson, 1773 to 1852
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Senior School
Chemistry, unlike
other sciences, sprang
originally from delusions
and superstitions, and
was at its commencement
exactly on a par with
magic and astrology.
Thomas Thomson, 1773 to 1852
Institute of Education
Lectures
Five sessions from leading chemists
in academia and industry will inspire
the scientists of the future. From
the elements to energy, poisons to
perfume, this programme is engaging,
challenging and entertaining. A
special session on examination
success will ensure that you are
equipped with the tools to excel. All
Year 12 Chemists are invited to this
exciting and informative lecture series
and often exposes students to careers
in Chemistry that they have not yet
considered.
Top of the Bench
Competition
This annual regional and national
competition run by the Royal Society
of Chemistry is an inter school
Chemistry competition. It pits teams
of 4 chemists from Years 9, 10 and
11 against each other with use and
knowledge of the Periodic Table,
problem solving tasks and wider
questioning outside of the standard
curriculum. The local regional event is
held at St Benedicts’ School, Ealing in
November, with the top teams going
to the national finals. Berkhamsted has
entered this competition for years and
now we enter 2 teams to pit the boys
against the girls. Last year the boys
just pipped the girls, so will the scores
be drawn back level this year?
12 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
Sixth Form
Science Club
Year 7, 8 and 9 Science Club members
have been doing some fun Science
at Castle and Kings. If you join the
club you will make ‘Ferro Liquid’, an
amazing liquid that when subjected
to a magnet and behaves like a solid
in that it has a defined shape. You
will also have the opportunity to carry
out electrolysis of sliver ions to create
really cool fractal patterns in silver
metal. When we did this experiment
last time, we had to be careful to
dispose of our reagents as there is
a risk of explosions if they are left!
The Chemistry laboratory provides
excellent conditions for growing
crystals as our ‘Alum’ Crystal Garden
showed us all. Back to electrolysis, this
time electroplating copper on to brass
plates. Would you like to protect
some of the brass in patterns? Choose
two tone patterns – they could make
great gifts. Finally, we know that
stalactites and stalagmites take may
thousands of years to form in nature
but in Science Club we can shorten
that process to less than a week.
House Chemistry
Competition
The Year 8 Chemistry Festival is an
inter house competition which takes
place every April. Two students
from each House compete to win a
handsome trophy for their House.
There are two competitions; one
at the Girls’ school and one at the
Boys. In the competition, the you
must research new tests that haven’t
been seen before and use these to
identify 4 unknown compounds. You
must also balance equations and write
chemical formulae. The competition
ends with a series of demonstrations
and explosions just before the awards
ceremony when the School Head
presents the trophy.
Henry Kitchener Prize
Whatever year you are in, there may
be an opportunity to enter a national
competition like, ‘The Henry Kitchener
Competition,’ which was entered by
Year 8 in 2015. This challenge was won
by David Saunders (Tilman) for an
essay on how our changing diets have
affected brain development.
Ben Topolczy: What I do at
University.
University is often considered to be
a big step up for students, especially
compared to the transition from
GCSEs to A-levels, and while this is
true, it is still definitely manageable.
By far and away the most dramatic
change is the independence required
and loss of structured timetables,
though this is less obvious in subjects
like Chemistry due to higher levels
of contact time. You can literally do
whatever you want to, with hundreds
of different clubs and societies
available outside of your course, but
this doesn’t necessarily mean you
can slack off of work (as easy as it is
to do). The most important thing is
finding a balance between work and
leisure, and speaking from both my
own and my friends’ experiences, the
universities should give you lots of
time to try and work this out; the most
important thing is to not overstretch
yourself too much, and of course have
fun.
With regard to Chemistry, the
biggest change outside of the A-level
syllabus is the ability to actually test,
question and debate the theory
you’ve previously learnt, as well as
actually using your own ideas to
explain trends. At the university level,
a much greater emphasis is placed
on lab-work and report writing, with
the major focus being on whether you
can suggest possible explanations
for the findings you make from your
own experiment. Instead of learning
the theory and then performing the
experiment to prove it, you do your
own experiment first then research
to find a possible explanation for the
results you have seen. There aren’t
any right or wrong answers, as long
as you can find evidence to back your
findings and ensure your theories
are relatively comparable to previous
work.
From my own personal experience,
this shift in teaching style has allowed
for a much more interesting breadth
of practical work application into
Chemistry; from my first week learning
how to code in Python (a requirement
at Imperial College London), to
creating a UV-Vis Spectrometer out
of Lego, and even investigating and
changing the ‘click’ reaction in the
synthesis of 1-Benzyl-4-phenyl-1H1,2,3-triazole (which sounds a lot
more complicated than it really is!),
all of these experiments have had a
level of personal involvement and
investigation previously undiscovered
in Chemistry at school. These
experiments can and do inevitably go
wrong, but if you can explain why and
evaluate to improve your experimental
technique, that is what the lecturers
and lab-coordinators are really looking
for in the report.
sometimes be obscured, the same
principle of applying and evaluating
what you already know will always
be present, no matter what level of
Chemistry you are working at. Besides,
a lot of the stuff you actually cover,
such as Quantum Mechanics, sounds a
lot scarier (and cooler) than it actually
is.
Chemistry Olympiad
The Chemistry Olympiad is offered
to a select group of students in
Year 13 and to some exceptional
Year 12 students. It is a great way
to increase problem solving skills
and will challenge the way you think
about Chemistry. The paper includes
synoptic questions, so that knowledge
that has been gleaned over Year 12
and 13 can be used to solve problems.
It is an extremely valuable way to
stretch and challenge thinking in
Chemistry and can lead to prizes
and travel for competition, as far as
California.
Overall, while the examples can
get a lot more complicated, and
the Chemistry behind them can
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 13
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CLASSICS
Senior School
Italy Trip
Italy trip for Year 7 Latin pupils. Each
year we organise a trip to Rome and
the bay of Naples. This trip is offered
to pupils who study Latin and it is
organised to widen understanding of
the ancient Roman world. “Must see”
places include the Colosseum and
the Roman Forum in the city of Rome
as well as the House of Caecilius in
Pompeii. It is a great trip and the
educational value of it is enormous. Be
warned that we limit numbers to forty
pupils maximum.
An Informal Evening of
Classical Entertainment
We hold this event in Old Hall each
year and we invite participation from
classes which are learning Latin or
Classical Civilisation. Everyone is
welcomed to attend and to show in
an informal setting one aspect of their
work. It could be a short presentation
or PowerPoint on a topic of interest or
perhaps a chance to dress up in a toga
and present a short play in English or
indeed in Latin. A great occasion for
younger pupils to see what is going on
in the lessons of older groups. Parents
love it too.
JACT Latin Summer Camp
This is a residential summer
school held each year at Wells
Cathedral School and students from
Berkhamsted are invited to attend.
Not only is there excellent preparation
and revision for GCSE Latin students,
but there is also a wealth of fun
activities to join. The focus is Latin
language, literature and culture,
but after that there are organised
excursions to Bath and Wales,
followed by an informal Classical
drama production and workshops on
Roman cookery.
Greece Trip
Older pupils in Year 11 are able to
participate in the Classics Trip to
Greece held every two years in the
October half-term. The group flies
to Athens and then tours the main
archaeological sites of Greece. You
will have a chance to visit amazing
sites, such as Delphi, Olympia and
Mycenae. The trip lasts for a week
and is a fantastic way to extend
your knowledge of the ancient
Greek world.
London Trip
In Year 8 we often take our Classical
Civilisation students on a lightning trip
to London to visit the British Museum
and the National Gallery. The theme
is Classical mythology and we look
at a small selection of art to see how
ancient myths are depicted through
the ages. A central theme for us is the
Trojan War.
14 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
Cambridge Ancient World
Film Competition
Win fame and a (small) fortune in
the Cambridge Ancient World Film
Competition. You are invited to form
a team of up to four members in Years
9-13, that is aged between 13/14 and
19. You then need to select an object
or a topic to focus on, and consider
how best to present it. Remember
that film is a visual thing, so it has
to look interesting as well as sound
interesting. Even 4 minutes seems
like hours if your video doesn’t have
some visual interest and variety in it!
This is a national competition with a
£500 prize fund. Have a look at www.
greeksromansus.classics.cam.ac.uk to
see the amazing quality of last year’s
entries.
Golden Sponge Stick
Competition
The golden Sponge Stick Competition
is open to Latin pupils in Year 7. This
is a creative writing competition with
a very special prize for the winner. If
you have read anything by Caroline
Lawrence, you will know what a great
writing she is. Her Roman mysteries
series is set in the ancient Roman
world. Have a look at her website
here: www.romanmysteries.com/
You will not be disappointed. The task
is to write in English a mystery story
or an exciting thriller set in ancient
Pompeii. The more you include
references to topics you have studied
in class, the better. Why not try to put
in short Latin phrases like “salvete!”
Useful links
www.quia.com
(Great for testing your Latin
vocabulary)
www.quizlet.com
(Another great site for testing yourself)
www.cambridgescp.com/Upage
The most important website for Latin
students at Berkhamsted. Here you
can use the online tester, see the
iPad textbooks for all stages of the
Cambridge Latin Course and access
e-learning resources. It is also great for
GCSE Classical Civilisation students,
as there is much on the OCR City Life:
Rome topic as well.
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 15
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
Sixth Form
Omnibus
Both libraries subscribe to the
Classics’ sixth form magazine
“Omnibus”. The latest magazine
is the seventy-first issue, so it has
been going for some considerable
time. It contains articles on the
Classical world, including an update
of competitions to enter. Interesting
articles in this edition include “Did
the Romans love their children?” and
“The role of the gods in the Odyssey”.
The magazine is very much to be
recommended to you. Here is a link
to follow: www.jact.org/publications/
omnibus.htm
Informal Evening of Classical
Entertainment
The Informal Evening of Classical
Entertainment usually takes place
in March in Old Hall. It is a great
opportunity to show younger pupils
what goes on in sixth form lessons.
You are warmly invited to be involved.
Perhaps we can prepare you to recite
a small section of one of your Latin
set texts – always a high point in the
evening. Alternatively, you could form
a small group with others and present
a short scene from a Greek tragedy
or ancient comedy you are reading
16 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
– Aristophanes’ Frogs tends to go
down extremely well. The audience
comprises of interested parents and
plenty of younger pupils.
Homer’s Odyssey, but there are also
other courses which could well interest
us on Latin set texts. Here is the link:
www.sovereigneducation.co.uk/
The British Museum
The Greek Trip
The British Museum is an important
London location for all A-Level
students of Latin and Classical
Civilisation. The department
encourages you to visit it regularly
to ensure that you can widen your
exposure to the ancient world.
The website here can be used to
see whether there are relevant or
imminent exhibitions to interest you.
Getting to the British Museum could
not be easier: a train journey for 30
minutes, followed by a ten-minute
walk. All very easy and a very useful
place indeed! www.britishmuseum.
org/whats_on.aspx
The Greek Trip is a great way to
widen your knowledge of the ancient
world especially as it allows you to
give depth of understanding to your
studies, so instead of just talking
about the oracle at Delphi, you can
actually see for yourselves where the
Pythia sat and gained her inspiration
in the sanctuary of Apollo.
A Level Study Days
Sovereign Education offers a series
of A Level study days on parts of your
Classical Civilisation or Latin syllabus.
These tend to take place in a venue
that is very close to Euston Station,
so access from Berkhamsted is very
easy. In recent years we have attended
courses on Greek tragedy and
Other useful links:
twitter@berkoclassics
kahoot.it
Kahoot is a free game based learning
platform that makes it fun to learn –
try quizzes on Greek art and Greek
tragedy.
Access to the OCR website is very
important, as both Latin and Classical
Civilisation courses in the sixth form
follow OCR specifications:
www.ocr.org.uk/
AIM HIGH WITH
INTEGRITY
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 17
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
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There are very many opportunities
for you to get involved in Drama at
Berkhamsted beyond the classroom
and we hope you will be encouraged
to join one or more of the events or
activities available during the year.
School Productions
Everyone has the opportunity to be
in the cast for one of our co-curricular
productions each year. Sometimes our
productions are ‘straight’ plays, whilst
others are musicals, so there is usually
something for everyone! Whether
you are an experienced performer or
someone who is considering acting
in a school show for the first time,
we hope you will come and join in.
The atmosphere is always warm,
friendly and rehearsals are a lot of
fun. Performances are high budget
and usually staged in the Centenary
Theatre to take full advantage of all its
facilities, equipment and staff.
Directors, Musical Directors
& Choreographers
Some of our co-curricular productions
are musicals and these offer
further opportunities for you to try
your hand at musical direction or
choreography. There are also positions
in the orchestra/band for competent
musicians to provide the live music
in productions. Some students
appreciate the chance to learn how
to direct a play and it is not unusual
for staff directors to work alongside
student directors in our plays.
Technical Theatre Club
DRAMA
18 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
If performing is not your thing,
then do consider getting involved
in a backstage role. No previous
experience is necessary as training
is given either during rehearsals or
as a part of the Clubs and Societies
programme. Our brilliant Theatre
Manager and Theatre Technician run
training sessions in stage lighting,
theatre sound and stage management
so that you can enjoy a hands-on role
during productions for a particular
area and learn to use all the latest
equipment in our theatre.
Costume – Volunteering
Digital Theatre Club
In addition to the Technical Theatre
Club, our Head of Theatre Wardrobe
is able to mentor any pupils who
are interested in costume design,
costume making or dressing in
performance. Whilst pupils from all
years are welcome, please note that if
you are in Year 10 or 12, you may use
this as your ‘volunteering’ section for
the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze/Gold
award. We always need an army of
pupils to help with make-up and hair,
so please consider getting involved if
you are creative and enjoy working as
part of a team.
This is run by one of the curriculum
staff as part of the Clubs and Societies
programme and is open to pupils from
across the age range. You will get the
chance to watch filmed productions
and discuss them with your peers in a
relaxed and friendly forum.
Musical Theatre Club
This club runs either for boys or for
girls in the Senior School as a part of
the Clubs and Societies programme.
You will have the chance to learn
to sing, dance and stage the best
numbers from your favourite musicals.
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 19
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Summer Residential Trips To
The Edinburgh Festival
This arts festival is the largest in the
world and takes place across four
weeks in August each year. Every
two years, all sixth formers have the
chance to perform at the festival as a
part of a professional-style company,
which is a very special opportunity.
In recent years, all Berkhamsted’s
productions have all attracted 5-star
reviews, which are highly coveted. In
the interim years, sixth form drama
students may enjoy a ‘revel’ trip, to
experience the festival as audience
members. This trip allows you take
in the wonderful array of dramatic,
dance and musical performances by
companies from around the world.
Either way, performing or reveling, you
will not quickly forget your ‘Edinburgh’
experience.
Theatre Visits and
Workshops
Each term, we organise a number
of trips to the theatre for various
year groups. These may range from
mainstream plays and musicals in
the West End to smaller productions
in fringe venues or local theatres.
We have also arranged for theatre
20 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
companies to perform in our own
Centenary Theatre, some of which are
supported by workshops run by the
company for you as well as standalone
workshops led by top professionals.
Occasionally we take advantage
of some of the ‘digital theatre’
screenings shown in local cinemas,
which have also been excellent.
Speech and Drama Lessons
Private extra drama lessons are
available to all pupils at Berkhamsted
to enable you to explore texts
(acting) or songs (musical theatre),
to devise drama and/or hone
your communication and public
speaking skills in very small groups
or individually. Participants have the
opportunity to take exams validated
by LAMDA (London Academy of
Music and Drama Art) in all disciplines
up to Grade 8. These are highly
valued by employers and universities
and enhance your academic profile.
For example, if you were to pass
Grade 8 with a Merit (or more), that is
equivalent to an A Grade at AS Level
for your university entrance application
(UCAS). Each discipline (e.g. Acting,
Devising, Public Speaking) is counted
as a separate subject so it is possible
to rack up a lot of UCAS points in a
number of subjects. When you sign
up for lessons, you do not start with
Grade 1: new starters in Year 7 usually
start at Grade 3 level, whilst those in
Year 12 start at Grade 6 or 7. Those
who have been studying LAMDA
throughout the Senior School usually
manage to achieve their Grade 8 by
Year 12.
Berkhamsted Actor of the
Year Competition
This is an evening during which
actors from across the Senior Schools
and Sixth Form (Year 7 – 13) sign up
and perform a short scene, either
individually or in a pair. The audience
is made up of fellow performers,
their friends and parents and is
always highly enjoyable. The night
finishes with feedback from a visiting
adjudicator who also presents
a number of awards for the star
performers of the night.
the cast. At the end of the event, an
external adjudicator decides on prizes
and awards, which contribute to the
House Cup. The next House Drama
event is due to be October 2017.
House Drama Competition
This is a hugely exciting biennial event
for all pupils in the Senior School
houses. Each house presents a short
dramatic programme at the end of the
first half term of the academic year,
in which all members of your house
are involved. The quality of drama is
extremely high, with the day of the
competition providing a wonderful
opportunity to see old and new faces
in each house. You may have the
opportunity to work in a backstage
capacity as well as, or instead of, in
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 21
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ECONOMICS
Bank of England Target Two
Point Zero Interest Rate
Challenge
This is a competition that gives teams
of Sixth Form students the chance
to take on the role of the Bank of
England’s Monetary Policy Committee.
Each team will assess economic
conditions and the outlook for
inflation and then set the interest
rate that will meet the government’s
inflation target of 2.0%. The teams will
present their analysis and monetary
policy decision to a panel of judges
from the Bank.
A Berkhamsted School team of Omar
Hatteea, Robert Barrow, Stuart Frame,
and Ben Van Vlyman came third in
their semi-final in February 2016.
Economics Club
Investment Club
Students meet each week and take it
in turns to deliver a presentation on an
area of Economics in which they have
an interest. This then forms the basis
of a question and answer session with
the rest of the students.
Students meet each week and, by
investing £100,000 in UK listed shares,
attempt to earn a profit. The club is
run for and by the students.
There is also an opportunity to
conduct debates about current
economic issues such as Brexit,
globalisation, and the rise of China.
There may also be the possibility
of conducting some experimental
economics.
For the serious academics:
In addition, films such as The Big Short
can be watched and discussed.
The club is run for and by the
students.
National Essay Competitions
•
T
he RES/Tutor2u essay
competition
•
T
he Marshall Society essay
competition
•
T
he Institute of Economic Affairs
essay competition
Young Enterprise
The Young Enterprise Company
programme is for Year 12 students
at the School. Pupils in groups of
roughly 10-12 form companies for
a whole academic year and are
insured to trade in public such as
on Berkhamsted High Street. They
develop their own products, assign
roles within the company and raise
share capital in order to buy stock and
develop goods and services. Students
are given the opportunity to sell in
various locations outside Berkhamsted
such as the Watford INTU centre and
Hemel Old Town. It is competition
based and groups have made it to the
East of England finals at the University
of Cambridge as well as the national
finals in London. Typically they
learn the importance of teamwork,
communication skills as well as
problem solving and entrepreneurial
abilities during the process, keeping
profits if they make any.
Young Enterprise Handout
How many boxes does your
new business idea tick?
Timeline
Form a company groupsof10-12
Brainstorm
businessideas
Is it truly innovative?
Doesitmeetarealneedthathasn’tyetbeenmet?
Willitreallybepossibletobothdevelopandsell
your product or service in time for Christmas?
Willyoubeabletogetsupportandadviceforthis
idea from your friends and family?
Doyouknowwhowillbuytheproductorservice,
how much they will pay for it and if the potential
marketislargeenough(atleast£500ofsales)?
Willyoubeabletoselltheproductorservice
tothegeneralpublicinadditiontotheSchool,
family and friends?
Willyoubeabletoprovidetheproductorservice
toahighenoughqualitystandard?
Does the idea meet environmental or local
community needs?
Areyousurethatyouwillbeabletosellthe
productorserviceatagoodprofit?
Finalise company
nameandregister
company
Appoint directors
Developproduct(s)
or services
Designcompany
logoandmarketing
materials
- OCT
First Trade sales
event at Festival of
Light,Berkhamsted
- NOV
More sales events
includingSaturday
Markets to exploit
Christmas Trade
-DEC
Last sales event at
Watford
- JAN
Prepare and write
report of your
‘businessyear’and
submitforjudging
-FEB
LocalAreafinals
at Ricksmansworth.
TradeStandand
slide presentation
- MAR
S C H O O L
22 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
2015-16
Every new business starts with a great idea!
products or services that your company could market and sell.
s Beforeyoustartbrainstormingideasit’simportantto
The school run the Young Enterprise ‘Company programme’ and more details
can be found at:
http://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/what-we-do/secondary-programmes/
company-programme/
BERKHAMSTED
6
2015-1
Appoint aboardofdirectors.
Market a product or service of your choice and
sellittothepublic.
Develop yourenterpriseknowledge,andskillsin
abusinesscontext.
Learn bydoing.Copewithachangingand
evolvingbusiness.Developessentialskillssuchas
teamwork,communication,problemsolving,
managingrisk,creativity,innovationand
leadership.
s ...andyou’llget help and support from a
volunteeradvisorfrombusiness.
s AttheendofyourbusinessyearYoungEnterprise
companiescompeteintheHSBCEnterprise
Innovation Awards.
s
s
s
s
s Overthesummerholidaystrytothinkofsomegoodideasfor
For more information about the role of a business advisor please contact
Victor Fung (In charge of Young Enterprise at Berkhamsted School)
on 07584 213513
or by email [email protected]
CompanyProgramme
forYear12
ED
MST
KHA
B E R SCHOOL
e
m
ogram
anyPr
Comp Year12
for
Decide on product/
service to develop
Carry out market
research
Will your potential customers like your product or
service idea?
s Set up and run your own real company.
-SEPT
understand the parameters your idea should fall within:
s Youhavealimitedtime-SeptembertoNovember-
togetyourideareadyforChristmasmarkets.
s Complicated or expensive products/services are
goingtobedifficulttoproduceinsuchashorttime.
s Focusonsimple,easytoproduceorsourceitems.
Somethingyoucanmakeyourselvesoraddvaluetobyrepackaging.
s Here are some product/service areas you could consider:
sNEED-Isthereaproductyoucanthinkofthatdoesn’texistatthemoment?
sTREND-Isthereatrendorfashionthatyourproductcouldfitinto?
sSKILL-Canyoumakeuseofaskillwithinyourgroupthatyoucouldsell?
sECO-FRIENDLY-Isthereaneco-friendlyalternativetoanexistingproduct?
sIMPROVE - Can you improve a product/service that already exists?
s Recentwinnershaveincluded:Bowls,cakestandsandclocksmadefrom oldvinylrecords;Growyourownherbkits-seeds,compost,plantpotsin apack;Cheeseboardsfromflattenedglassbottles;Woodendesktidies; Healthdrinks;Specialityteas;Hand-madescentedcandles.
On the back page there’s a timeline of your ‘business year’ and a check list to help you turn
your ideas into business propositions. You’ll find more help on brainstorming ideas in the
YE Company Brochure.
Aboveallenjoytheexperienceandhavefun.You’lllearnhowarealcompanyworks,make
somemoney(thatyoucankeep!!)andhaveaworthwhileadditiontoyourUCASformorCV.
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 23
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ENGLISH
Senior School
Great literature is
simply language charged
with meaning to the
utmost possible degree.
Poetry By Heart
Theatre Trips
Key Stage 3 Spelling Bee
Poetry By Heart is a national
competition designed to encourage
pupils aged 14-18 and at school and
college in England to learn and to
recite poems by heart. Not in an armwaving, props-supported thespian
extravaganza, but as the outward and
audible manifestation of an inwardlyunderstood and enjoyed poem.
From Year 9 upwards, you will have
opportunities to take part in theatre
trips. Often these trips will be
organised to give you the chance
to see the production of a text you
have been studying, but theatre trips
will also introduce you to texts you
have not studied in class and these
can be a great way to enhance your
appreciation of the subject.
We shall be launching a new venture
for those students who have a gift for
spelling. If you have a photographic
memory for words or you are a linguist
who draws on the patterns and
idiosyncrasies of the English language,
this is a chance for you to shine on
stage.
The Old Berkhamstedians’
Public Reading Competition
BBC Writing Competitions
All students in Year 7 to 11 are
encouraged to enter this annual
public reading competition. The first
rounds take place in lessons, during
Trinity term; the best reader from each
class moves forward to the semi-final
and three students from each Key
Stage are then selected for the grand
final. Reading with understanding is
essential, as are poise, confidence and
clear diction. Simply choose a piece
of prose or a favourite poem and
practise reading aloud.
Ezra Pound
Whether you are a voracious reader,
an aspiring writer, a debater, a
public speaker, a theatre-goer or just
someone who loves the subject, the
English Department provides many
avenues for you to explore.
Go for Gold
A wider reading opportunity for all
Year 7 students! Challenge yourself
to read 5 books to achieve a Bronze
Award. Keep going through Silver and
Gold until you have read 50 books for those who reach these dizzying
heights, a much coveted (but rarely
bestowed) Platinum Award awaits!
The English Department is committed
to showcasing the best of your writing
talent in national competitions. Year
7 and Year 8 students may choose
to enter the BBC’s 500 Word short
story competition. We have enjoyed
success in promoting pupils through
the rounds in this prestigious contest
for budding wordsmiths. For Year
9 students, you can enter the BBC
Comedy Classroom competition in
which you are invited to produce
entertaining sketches and stand-up
speeches to be reviewed by the BBC
Entertainment Team.
Bibliotech
Building on the Year 7 Go for Gold
scheme, students in Year 8 share their
reading recommendations through the
creation of their own websites. If you
enjoy fusing a love of literature with
digital exploration, this is a superb
opportunity for you to publicise your
talents.
Creative Writing
Competition
Students in Years 7 to 9 are
encouraged to enter the annual
Creative Writing Competition. An
imaginative response of around 500
words on a given theme is all that is
required to be crowed Creative Queen
or King.
Rotary Essay Competition
Run by the local Rotarians, this is a
competition open to all students in
Berkhamsted. Submit an essay (either
analytical or creative) to a panel of
judges and see how you get on.
Both prize money and prestige are
available!
What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re
all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was
a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the
phone whenever you felt like it.
J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
24 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
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Sixth Form
Fiction is like a spider’s
web, attached ever so
lightly perhaps, but still
attached to life at all four
corners.
Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own
In the Sixth, enrichment opportunities
are designed to enhance your A
Level studies and to prepare you for
studying English Literature, English
Language, Creative Writing or even
Linguistics at university level. For a
successful applicant, wide reading is
essential; enrichment opportunities
in the Sixth will help you to explore
the English literary canon and will
encourage you to discover where your
passions lie.
Weekly Extension Classes
The English Department offers weekly
extension classes for all A Level
students. You will be encouraged
to sign up for at least two sessions
per half term (although if you are
intending to apply for a university
course we suggest that you attend
more regularly.) In the Michaelmas
26 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
Term, sessions will be run by members
of the English Department, but from
the Trinity Term onwards, you will
be encouraged to lead sessions - an
excellent way to develop specialist
knowledge of a particular writer, genre
or period.
AS Level Creative Writing
As part of the Clubs and Societies
programme, we offer you the
opportunity to study towards an AS
Level in Creative Writing.
The Thomas Campion
English Prize
Run by Peterhouse College,
Cambridge, this is a prestigious annual
competition which requires applicants
to research and write an extended
essay on an aspect of literature. If you
wish to study English at university, we
will encourage you to tackle one of the
set questions, all of which require high
level critical skills. The best two essays
will be put forward for the Thomas
Campion Prize. Over the past few
years, three of our students have gone
on to study at Oxford or Cambridge,
having impressed the judges with their
submissions for this award.
The Arnold Poetry Prize
This is an annual competition run by
the English Department which aims
to encourage aspiring poets. Entries
in response to a given theme will be
welcomed by all A Level students.
With the chance of a prize on Speech
Day up for grabs, this is well worth a
punt!
The Old Berkhamstedians’
Public Reading Competition
Five students from each A Level class
enter this pubic reading competition
every year. The competition takes
place at the start of Michaelmas Term
and gives you the opportunity to
either develop or to showcase your
reading skills. Although you enter
as a team, individual prizes are also
available for the best male and the
best female reader - again with prizes
to be presented on Speech Day.
Examples of past questions from the
Peterhouse Thomas Campion English Prize
Write an essay of between 1,500 and 2,500 words on one of
the following questions. Include
a Bibliography and, if necessary, a Web-ography.
1. “
Nuns fret not at their convent’s narrow room;
And hermits are contented with their cells…
…In truth the prison, unto which we doom
Ourselves, no prison is: and hence for me,
In sundry moods, ‘twas pastime to be bound
Within the Sonnet’s scanty plot of ground…”
(Wordsworth)
Consider the possibilities and constraints of poetic form.
2. “
I ent have no gun
I ent have no knife
but mugging de Queen’s English
is the story of my life.” (John Agard, from ‘Listen Mr
Oxford Don’)
Bodkin by Vona Groarke A word from a dream, or several, spiked on it
like old receipts. Something akin to a clavicle’s
bold airs; a measurement of antique land;
a keepsake brooch on a quilted silk bodice;
a firkin, filled to the brink with mead or milk;
a bobbin spinning like a back-road drunken bumpkin;
borrowed, half-baked prophesies in a foreign tongue;
a debunked uncle’s thin bloodline; a Balkan
fairy story, all broken bones poked inside out;
a bespoke book blacked in with Indian ink;
a bobolink in a buckeye or a bare-backed oak;
a barren spindle, choked ankle-high with lichen;
a fistful of ball bearings dropped on a bodhrán
Body skin. Kith and kin. Other buckled things.
Write 500 words in response to this poem.
Send your response to Mr Grant.
Is it important for postcolonial writers to mug the
Queen’s English?
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 27
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GEOGRAPHY
Senior School
Without Geography,
you’re nowhere
Whether you are an avid traveller,
someone who is fascinated by
landscape or an individual concerned
with global issues, Geography offers
many chances to tackle problems,
seek explanations and explore new
environments.
Exploring New Environments
Over the course of the Senior School
Years you will be invited to participate
in a variety of trips both local and
further afield. In Year 7 you might take
a boat along the Thames to look at
how the capital tries to protect itself
in times of potential flooding. In
other years there are visits to Kew
Gardens, an action packed trip to
explore caves, quarries and tourism in
the Peak District in Year 9 and finally
in year 11, a field study along the
Dorset coastline, looking at dramatic
landforms near to the World Heritage
Site at Swanage.
Selfie Photo Competition
Last year the challenge was put out to
Senior School Geographers to enter
their most geographical selfie, in a
competition that received popular
support. A fun and entertaining event,
the winner is shown here. If you feel
you have a rival offering, then enter
the competition.
examination tips and comment on
many different topics, it will help
to inform you and broaden your
understanding of what Geography is
all about.
Geographical Association:
Senior Lectures
Following the success of the lectures
that we have been holding for many
years for the Sixth Form we intend to
roll these talks out to you as student
geographers in the Senior School.
Often breaking new ground and
certain to inform, we hope to look
at Global Warming and how it could
affect us all.
Sixth Form
In the Sixth, enrichment opportunities
are designed to broaden your
geographical understanding and to
prepare you for the challenges of
Geography at Undergraduate level.
Geography is a synoptic subject,
where making links between various
components enables us to understand
the complex realities of landscape and
society relationships.
Geographical Association
Lectures
On at least two occasions in the year,
you will be invited to participate
in lectures offered by subject
specialists. Berkhamsted School is the
regional centre for the Geographical
Association, one of the national
associations of Geographers. Over the
years, we have been able to attract
a variety of high profile personalities
including Stephen Sackur, Nick Crane
and Prof Iain Stewart. Lectures are
chosen to be complimentary to the A
level course and extend geographical
understanding.
Geography Review
Magazine
Geography Review is a colourful
and dynamic publication specifically
produced for you as A level
geographers. Full of in depth articles
on a variety of topics, it aims to
compliment your studies at School
but also to broaden your background
knowledge of the subject with upto-date examples and skills. There is
always something new and interesting
here to learn about!
Field Trips
Essay Competitions
Whether local or far afield, these
aim to intrigue and promote your
knowledge of places and issues. Every
other year, geographers visit Iceland,
one of Europe’s most inspiring and
different landscapes. Glaciation,
plate tectonics, marine processes and
ecology, leisure, tourism, energy and
economics as well as a landscape with
a true wow factor, all are encompassed
in this excursion. Locally the
impact of HS2 proves to be equally
controversial with divided opinions
and environmental consequences.
Have a go at the chance to win a
prize and show your expertise. The
Geographical Association Essay
Competition was a popular addition
to our extension activities last year.
Potential Oxbridge Candidates also
enter the Trinity College Geography
Competition with a prize of £300 for
the winning entry.
The Geography Travellers
Club
A new club for you as a sixth former to
plan your Gap Year Travel Destination.
Web Link : www.rgs.org
Wideworld Publication
In Years 10 and 11 you will receive your
own copy of the Wideworld magazine
which is published five times a year.
Wideworld is a really good way to
keep up with the latest developments
in Geography. Modern case studies,
28 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
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Sixth Form
HISTORY
Senior School
Historical Research Club
What happened to the US Marines
in Faluja? Were the Vikings terrifying
warriors or peace loving traders and
farmers misrepresented by their Saxon
foes? Was Anne Boleyn more than just
Henry’s lover? Whether it is something
that there just wasn’t time to discuss
in class or a curiosity about something
you have never studied then Historical
Research Club may be just the
opportunity you are looking for. Pick
a topic, delve deep and see what you
can discover.
First World War
Commemoration Activities
Are you interested in people? Do
you care about the reasons the
world around you is the way it is?
Do you want to know more about
the way things were? Whether you
are awed by the Americas, excited
by the Elizabethans or fascinated by
the French Revolution, the History
Department has something for you.
With the centennial of the First World
War well underway there are a number
of programs taking place around
the school to commemorate the
conflict. Whether you are a researcher,
cinematographer, musician, actor,
designer or debater there are
opportunities for all to take part.
Please contact Mr Falder for more
information.
Challenges and
Competitions
The department runs various
competitions throughout the year.
These are designed to increase
interest in the subject. Please watch
noticeboards on either campus for
details.
Trips
From Years 7-11, the History
Department offers trips to a range of
locations:
•
Y
ear 8 Hampton Court
•
Y
ear 9 Normandy in France to
remember D-Day Landings of
1944. This happens in May halfterm.
•
Y
ear 10 Annual trip to Berlin in the
Easter Holidays to link to IGCSE
studies on Nazi Germany and The
Cold War.
•
Y
ear 11 Annual trip to The First
World War Battlefields in Belgium
and France in October half-term.
These trips offer a great opportunity
to engage more deeply with some
of the topics studied in class and
to experience some really special
historical landscapes. Of course it’s
not all hard work and there will be
plenty of time to unwind with your
friends, perhaps with an evening spent
bowling or playing in the sun on a
Normandy beach.
With so much focus on the curriculum
in class the enrichment opportunities
provided by the History department
are designed to give you a chance
to explore further afield and pursue
your own passions and interests from
reading and seminars, essay and
competitions.
Oxbridge groups
A passion for the subject is what
brings many people to study history
and these sessions provide a chance
for students and staff to share that
passion in an informal environment.
Sessions will be run by a member
of staff but students will also be
encouraged to put forward ideas
for topics and to lead seminars on
subjects that interest them. A must
for those looking to study History at
university, these sessions are a great
way to indulge a personal interest or
find out about a period you may never
have thought to look at. Contact Mr
Savill for more information.
all students in sixth form, enthusiasm
is mandatory, popcorn encouraged.
For more information contact Mr
Bridle.
Essay competitions
Our students regularly enter for
prestigious competitions set up by
the University of Cambridge. This is a
marvelous opportunity to complete an
extended essay on any topic of your
choice.
There is also the annual Holocaust
essay competition set up by Roger
Moorhouse, an historian and old boy
of the school, where you can write an
historical essay, fiction or reflective
piece on this wide-ranging topic.
Trips
The History Department offers a
number of trips to students in years 12
and 13 ranging from the biennial visit
to Russia to smaller visits to historical
sites and museums in London. These
trips are a valuable opportunity to get
a deeper insight to the people and
cultures you will be studying as well as
a fun way to improve your knowledge
and understanding.
Lecture Program
Each year the History Department
hosts the annual Dingwall History
Lecture which sees a prominent
historian visiting the school to talk to
students about a range of topics that
are not covered in the curriculum.
We also regularly have experts visit
to provide a different perspective on
the topics you will be studying. All of
these lectures are an enjoyable way to
improve your historical knowledge and
understanding with the added bonus
of a chance to pose your questions at
the end.
History Film Club
Whilst some would suggest that
Hollywood never let the truth get
in the way of a good story, cinema
provides an interesting insight into
our attitudes to the past and how they
have changed. History Film Club meet
after school to watch a series of films
focusing on a new theme each term
with films and themes being proposed
by club members. The club is open to
30 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 31
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
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ICT
In Year 7 students follow a very broad
and varied curriculum while in Year
8 and 9 students focus on improving
their skills and gaining qualifications
in Microsoft Office applications.
There is plenty of scope however, for
developing your interest further.
Movie Making
Movie making is a club that runs
for Years 7-9 and uses iMovie on
the iPad that allows you to initially
create entertaining ‘Trailer’ movies to
developing your filming and editing
skills.
Animation
Animation club is a creative and fun
opportunity for students in Years
7-9 to work on group stop-motion
animation projects using iPads. We
make short films with 2D and 3D
materials including paper, plasticine
and playmobil toys!
Scratch
In Year 7 you will learn how to code
with Scratch. You can take this further
at Scratch club, Scratch helps you to
think creatively, reason systematically,
and work collaboratively — essential
skills for life in the 21st century.
Coding
As well as coding in Scratch, in Year
7 you will extend the coding that
you may have done at Prep School
by working on the Hour of Code
website. This website contains enough
challenges for even the keenest
coder!
Micro:Bits & PI-eces
Students from across years 7 - 9 will
have the opportunity to experience
programming and computing during
an exciting and interactive Club
32 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
entitled: “Pi and Bits”
Using the new BBC Microbit and
Raspberry Pi micro-computers,
students will learn the basics of
programming and even have the
opportunity to design an experimental
project that may take to Space as part
of the payload on the Berkhamsted
School Space Agency(BSSA) High
Altitude Balloon(BerkoHAB).
A Day Out
A visit to the National Museum
of Computing at Bletchley Park is
recommended!
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 33
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
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MATHEMATICS
Senior School
Pure mathematics is,
in its way, the poetry of
logical ideas.
Albert Einstein
Whether you are a budding Emmy
Neother, Richard Feynman, Isambard
Kingdom Brunel, or someone who
just enjoys tackling puzzles, the
Mathematics Department offers a
host of opportunities to explore
mathematical ideas and develop
reasoning skills.
In the sixth, enrichment opportunities
in Mathematics are designed to
build upon the A-level curriculum in
Mathematics and Further Mathematics
and develop your interest in the
subject. You will be aiming to develop
the essential reasoning skills that are
required for studying Mathematics,
Science, Technology, Engineering or
Economics at university.
Students have the opportunity to take
the UK-wide Individual Mathematics
Challenge, a one-hour multiplechoice test designed to test your
problem solving skills beyond the
syllabus. Students in Years 7 and 8
take the Junior Challenge and those
in years 9, 10 and 11 the Intermediate
Challenge, aiming to achieve gold,
silver or bronze certificates. Highscoring candidates each year take part
in the follow-on rounds including the
Mathematical Olympiad paper. Past
papers can be found here.
Hans Woyda Team
Competition
This is an annual Mathematics
competition against other schools in
the London area. The competition
requires a team of four students to
work both individually and as a team
on challenging problems against the
clock, covering a wide range of topics.
The team comprises one student from
Year 9, one from Year 11 and two from
the sixth form. See Dr Khare if you are
interested in being part of the team
and getting involved in the training.
34 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
To those who do not
know mathematics it is
difficult to get across a real
feeling as to the beauty,
the deepest beauty, of
nature. …If you want to
learn about nature, to
appreciate nature, it is
necessary to understand
the language that she
speaks in.
Richard Feynman
Individual Maths Challenges
What’s the angle?
Sixth Form
Computer Science or Engineering,
or the Oxford Physics Aptitude Test.
The papers are more similar in style
to the type of Mathematics that you
will encounter in your undergraduate
studies. Please speak to your
Mathematics teacher at the earliest
opportunity for more details.
le.
es,#each#an#equilateral#triang
A#tetrahedron#has#four#fac
es?
f#fac
air#o
lled#")#between#any#p
How#big# is#the#angle#(labe
Emmental Cube
Hans Woyda Team
Competition
Sixth-form Mathematics students are
encouraged to put themselves forward
to represent the school in the Hans
Woyda Mathematics Competition (see
above). Two places in the team are
available to sixth form students, but all
students with an interest in developing
their Mathematical skills have the
chance to get involved in training and
pit their skills against the clock.
What#proportion#of#the#cube#has#b
een#removed#by#the#
cylinder?
UKMT Individual Senior
Maths Challenge
Whenever allowed by term timings,
students get the opportunity to sit
the ninety-minute individual Senior
Challenge and the follow-on rounds if
they score particularly well.
Mathematics Extension
Problems
Extension Problems
Maths Clubs
Each term you can challenge yourself
to solve a set of mathematical brain
teasers set by the Mathematics
Department. These are designed
to stretch your thinking and
communication skills. To succeed, you
will need to submit written solutions
which demonstrate clear mathematical
reasoning. The problems will be
available online to all students and
there will be prizes for the most
elegant solutions. Speak to your
Mathematics teacher for more details.
A variety of clubs run by members of
the department are open to students
each term. These offer an opportunity
to explore extension problems that
you will encounter on the department
website, on Nrich.org and in the
various competitions. Board games
involving the use of Mathematics are
also available for Years 7-9.
The department offers materials and
support sessions for students wanting
to challenge themselves on extension
problems. These will be designed
to test and improve your skills in
reasoning and proof, and are strongly
recommended for those wishing to
study STEM subjects at university.
There is plenty of opportunity for Sixth
Form leadership, and students will
be encouraged to contribute ideas
or lead discussions on Mathematics
that they have read about in their own
time.
STEP (Sixth Term
Examination Papers)
Mentoring and help are available for
those students who are required (or
encouraged) to sit either the STEP in
Mathematics as part of a university
undergraduate offer in Mathematics,
Web Links
Here are a few web sites with Mathematics enrichment activities and articles
to help develop your interest in the subject:
www.nrich.maths.org
www.plus.maths.org
www.mathworld.wolfram.com
Here is the website for the UK Mathematics Trust individual Maths
Challenges. Follow the links for past papers and solutions. You can test your
skills for fun and practice for the coming year’s challenge:
www.ukmt.org.uk/individual-competitions
TED Talks
Here are some links to interesting TED talks on mathematics:
Maths is Forever
Symmetry: Reality’s Riddle
The beautiful mathematics of coral
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 35
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
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MEDIA STUDIES
Research And Reflect
It is important to be engage with
a range of media texts that go
beyond your own personal interest.
By doing this you will gain a greater
understanding of context and of
debates linked to the industry itself
and the impact that may have on
other industries. A valuable starting
point is to follow us on twitter @
Berkhamsted Media where you will
find links to current articles which will
educate, inform and direct to you
further independent research.
Share Your Experiences
Whether you are looking to pursue a
career in one of the most diverse and
popular industries in the UK or you
just have an interest in the media and
enjoy being creative, you will find an
abundance of opportunities, both in
and out of school, that will enable you
to enrich and develop your knowledge
and interest.
House Media Competition –
Years 7-10
The House Media Competition is an
opportunity for budding producers,
directors, camera operators,
performers etc. to showcase their skills
and passion.
The aim to engage as many students
in each house to get involved in in the
creation of media text for a specific
audience. The competition involves
planning, collaborating and reviewing
and so provides a great opportunity
for a shared learning experience. It is
also a great way to display your skills
to your peers and to staff.
The House Media Competition takes
place every other year starting Lent
term – 2016.
36 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
Join Surreel Media And
Marketing Club
One of the most important ways
to show universities and future
employees that you have a passion for
the media is to make media products.
It is even more valuable to be part of
a team as this shows a wider range of
skills such as the ability to collaborate
and to meet deadlines.
With these goals in mind, the Media
Department has introduced SURREEL,
a new and exciting Media Marketing
and Production Company open to
students from Years 11-13. SURREEL
offers a range of services within the
school including the filming of events,
the creation of video content as
requested, promotional videos as well
as promotional artwork.
If you have an interest in the media
and are keen to develop your
production and marketing skills, this
is the club for you. Examples of roles
available include:
Script writers
Our creative industries
are a real success story.
They are worth more
than £36 billion a year;
they generate £70,000
every minute for the
UK economy; and they
employ 1.5 million people
in the UK.
GOV.UK - Department for Media
and Sport
Reporters
Presenters
Film crew
Editors
Artwork editor
If you are in Years 7-10 and would be
interested in getting involved then
please contact Ms Bohitige as there
may be other ways in which you can
be involved.
We are always keen to see how
students engage with the media so
share your work with us. Whether you
have made a film, game, documentary,
photographed an event or written
a review of something you have
enjoyed, please share it with me, Ms
Bohitige – jdb@berkhamstedschool.
net. See a range of examples of
students work on our YouTube site –
Berkhamsted Media.
Take Time To Explore
Warner Bros Studio Tour is almost
on our doorstep (Leavesden,
Hertfordshire) so why not book a visit
to the making of Harry Potter. Visit the
site to book your tickets - Warner Bros
Studio Tour
Watch a film on the big screen. The
BFI IMAX at Waterloo has the biggest
cinema screen in England and is
great cinematic experience so make
it an even more amazing experience
the next time you see the latest
blockbuster.
The Cinema Museum in Kensington
gives an insight into how movies have
changed and costs £10 and under.
This is great if you have an interest in
film and technology.
National Media Museum in Bradford is
free and has seven floors of galleries,
research facilities and three cinemas.
Watch A Show Being Filmed
Be an audience member for a
television show. This is a great way
to see how a stage is set, cameras
are positioned and how filming
happens. When the programme is
aired on television, you will be able
to reflect on the editing process and
how meaning is made. Some shows
have age restrictions but all tickets
are free. Once you sign up to the
company you can apply for a range of
shows including X Factor, Top Gear,
The Graham Norton Show and Strictly
Come Dancing. Do make sure you
arrive early as the ticket confirmation
does not guarantee entry (they will
have over offered tickets to ensure all
seats are filled on the day).
BBC Shows and Tours offer a 90
minute behind the scenes tour and
costs under £10 per person. The
London studios are currently closed
but the studio tours in Birmingham are
open.
The main companies to sign up
with are:
BFI Southbank has a library and
cinema with various events running
through the year – Check out the
website for a range of information and
lists of upcoming events.
BBC Shows
Applause Store
SRO Audiences
Lost In TV
Take A Summer Course
If you are really interested in building
up your knowledge and experience
then look at taking a masterclass
for 14-18 year olds. Creative Media
Skills run a number of non-residential
courses at Pinewood Studios so if you
want to be a film producer / director
or writer, a costume designer, a special
effects make-up artist, a hair stylist, a
screen actor or stuntman, then book in
for a course this summer.
Young Film Academy is an official
London delivery partner for the BFI
Film Academy and they run a range
of courses throughout the year so it is
worth looking at their website to see
what courses are coming up.
The Media Magazine
Competition - Sixth Form
The English and Media Centre run
an annual national competition
entitled, Media Magazine Production
Competition. You have an opportunity
to enter your coursework or a
production piece created for your
own interest. As you can imagine,
the standard for this is very high so
we are very proud that in 2015 one
of our own students, Cameron Perry,
won a special award for creativity for
his music video, Geekin by will.i.am.
This year an impressive three students
(Matt Tam, Jordan Hooper-Shearme
and Molly Thoma) have been
shortlisted for their production work judging takes place in July.
Moving Image Awards Sixth Form
Run by WJEC examination board
in partnership with the British Film
Institute, this annual competition
recognises the most talented young
filmmakers. Once again, this is an
annual competition and is only open
to students who are taking the WJEC
examination.
Media Drop-In Clinics - Sixth
Form
If you are studying Media at A level,
we offer weekly drop-in clinics where
you can discuss and extend your
learning. This is a great opportunity
to further your debating skills or to
enhance your production skills
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 37
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Senior School
Here are our top 8 reasons why
languages are great:
• E
nglish is not enough! How many
people do you know that speak
another language? 75% of the
world’s population doesn’t speak
English at all!
• A
language at whatever level will
always be useful, no matter what
you do. You could be the next
James Bond, J K Rowling or even
an international athlete.
You get to study a wide range of
topics through the medium of
books, films, songs and poetry to
broaden your understanding of the
international world. Remember “The
limits of my language are the limits of
my world.” – Ludwig Wittgenstein
•
•
•
•
•
L anguages are the ‘business’ being able to speak a language
will make you really stand out.
If you were to use a second
language at work it could raise
your salary from 8-20%.
T
hey’re good for your health!
Speaking more than one language
increases your brain’s capacity,
improves your memory skills and
you’ll be at less risk of developing
Alzheimer’s in later life.
It’s really impressive to be able to
speak a foreign language and can
help you make friends across the
globe.
“
He/she who knows no foreign
language knows nothing of his/
her own!” – Johann Wolfgang von
Goethe
Competitions
Year 7 Spelling Bee competition
French and Spanish to improve
pronunciation, memorisation along
with spelling skills.
Years 7 and 8 Vocab Express Global
Challenge where you get to show off
your vocabulary learning skills at a
national level.
The HSBC and British Council
National Mandarin Speaking
Competition allows you to compete
either individually or as part of a group
performance. Participation will help
raise your confidence for oral exams,
inspire you to learn more about
Chinese culture, while developing
vocabulary and pronunciation.
The Oxford German
Olympiad
The UK National Chinese Essay
Writing Competition allows you to
practise your Chinese characters
by writing a short essay on one of
a number of topics. These essays
are assessed against other learners
of Chinese of a similar age and
experience across the country.
For all of you in Years 9 –11, you have
an account for ‘This is Language’
in French, German and Spanish
where you are able to watch
videos of real young people using
authentic language in a natural
setting. A fantastic resource to
work independently on listening,
expand your range of idioms and
grammatical skills. Watch out for the
intense and highly engaging ‘Nutty
Tilez’ competition for a chance to win
i-Tunes vouchers and compete on a
national scale.
Cross curricular opportunities on both
sites include:
The Oxford University Film
Competition
MODERN FOREIGN
LANGUAGES
38 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
writing in French and incorrect French
grammar will not be penalised as this
is an exercise in creativity, rather than
language! The judges are looking for
plausible yet imaginative new endings.
There are no restrictions as to the form
the entry might consist of: a screenplay, a play-script, prose, a prose with
illustrations. Feel free to experiment!
A number of prizes are available,
including the first prize of £100.
The Oxford University Film
Competition is looking for budding
film enthusiasts in Years 7-11 to
embrace the world of French cinema.
To enter the competition, you need
to re-write the ending of a film in
no more than 1500 words. Entries
can be in English or in French. No
additional credit will be given for
The Oxford German Olympiad is a
series of challenges for all age groups
organised by the Oxford German
Network, where you can compete
nationally against other individuals
and groups.
Foreign Film Club
This club runs weekly to help increase
your cultural awareness and to
develop every important listening
skills.
The Language Leader
In Year 9 you can take part in The
Language Leader co-curricular club
in both French and Spanish. You
will be taught how to deliver a short
lesson, work as a team, reflect on your
progress and eventually get to teach
some of the prep school pupils. Not
only will it develop leadership skills
and help you grow in confidence but
this is a great way to enhance your
future careers.
We also host the following events:
Languages Read Fest
Our very own Languages Read Fest is
open to all students in all languages
from Years 7-11 where students get to
study in depth various texts of poetry
and prose in the target language
in class. This then culminates in an
inter class competition followed by a
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 39
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
closely contested soirée final. A host
of prizes are on offer for the lucky
winners.
European Day of Languages
Annually we celebrate the European
Day of Languages on 26th September
focusing on a different European
country each year. You will be involved
in a range of carousel activities across
the school to further enable your
global awareness.
Languages Conference
The ‘Biannual Languages Conference’
is an exciting opportunity for you
in Years 9-11, to gain an insight
into the importance of language
learning in the modern world and
how languages can enhance career
opportunities. Speakers have included
representatives from the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, GCHQ and
universities such as SOAS and Imperial
College, as well as former students
currently studying Modern Languages
at university. There is also a workshop
where you can learn some basic skills
in languages that are not commonly
taught in the UK.
Trips
In the Department, you will have the
opportunity to take part in a range of
exciting trips.
In Years 7 & 8
You can spend five days in La Loire
Valley visiting historical sites like
Blois and Chenonceau where you will
learn all about the French Royals and
magic tricks in the House of Magic
as well as staying in a typical French
hotel. In the evenings, there will be
a host of evening entertainments
on offer including discovering the
tantalising French Cuisine in local
restaurants. You will also get a
chance to go on the track of the
very famous F1 circuit in Le Mans
and experience Go Karting on the
Alain Prost Circuit. As well as visits
to Le Futuroscope Theme Park and
the Bayeux Tapestry where you can
investigate the French version of the
story of William The Conqueror.
40 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
In 2018, The MFL department will
organise its first Trip to China. You will
be able to immerse yourself in the
sights, sounds and tastes of China
in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai
and Xian. This 10 day trip will give
you a truly unique and authentic life
enhancing experience of Chinese
culture while using your Mandarin
skills. Travel from the capital, Beijing,
to the historical wonder of Xi’an
before going on to visit the modern
miracle that is Shanghai. It includes a
wide variety of educational, cultural,
social and outdoor activities ranging
from seeing the “un-missable”
attractions such as The Great Wall and
The Terracotta Warriors in the larger
cities to visiting an orphanage and a
typical Chinese school.
The tour to Cantabria in Northern
Spain is a unique chance for you to
immerse yourself fully into the Spanish
culture and lifestyle. You will explore
the city of Santander where you will
enjoy a bay cruise and some time on
the Sardinero beach close to one of
the Spanish Royal family’s Palaces. This
may also be the first time you will eat
some delicious tapas and the world
famous “churros con chocolate”. If
you like trying new things, you may
discover “flamenco” is for you! You
will also visit the UNESCO world
heritage prehistoric caves of Altamira,
one of Spain’s most breath-taking
national parks, “Los Picos de Europa”
as well the world famous Guggenheim
Museum in Bilbao.
In Years 10 &11
To truly boost your study of French
at IGCSE you are thoroughly
recommended to visit the beautiful
capital city of Paris. This will be an
exclusive occasion where you can use
your language skills in a true setting
e.g. navigating through the Paris
Metro! You will stroll around markets,
lead surveys, visit traditional sites
such as the catacombs and explore
your theatrical skills during a drama
workshop experience and many more
fun activities including a visit to Disney
Land on the last day. You will definitely
want to return again to ‘La Belle
France’!
The IGCSE Spanish Homestay
in Andalucía will give you a clear
insight into the culture, history and
traditions of Spain. You will stay with
host families and visit some of the
best sights in the whole of Spain: the
Alhambra in Granada, the Giralda
Cathedral in Sevilla, the Mezquita
and Moorish castle and gardens in
Cordoba. Imagine sampling tasty
tapas, learning to dance flamenco
style, not to mention some trendy
shopping plus lots more. A trip you
will remember for years after. The
Andalusians will give you a warm and
very friendly welcome and you will
leave as a more confident Spanish
speaker!
Sixth Form
There are no restrictions as to the form
the entry might consist of: a screenplay, a play-script, prose, a prose with
illustrations. Feel free to experiment!
A number of prizes are available,
including the first prize of £100.
Y13 Best Spanish Student in
the UK
In the Sixth Form, enrichment
opportunities are designed to
enhance not only your A Level studies
and to prepare you for studying
Languages at university level but
to enhance your potential as a
competitor in the global arena as well
as your future careers. Languages
will also help you with travel,
communication, appreciation of other
cultures and much more throughout
your life. In a world where technology
has made communicating across the
globe simple, language skills open up
endless possibilities.
A plethora of competitions are on
offer such as:
A level French Drama
Festival
The King Alfred School kindly
organises a French Speaking Theatre
Festival. If you are a keen linguist and
actor and would like to perform an
extract of a French play, written by a
French speaking playwright (or even
by yourself). Please get in touch with
your teacher for more details.
Y13 French and Spanish
Debating Competitions
You have the option to be selected
and invited to participate in the North
London Debating Competition. If
selected you will get to compete
in two debates in a pool where
you will gain points and the
chance to progress to the semifinals and ultimately the final. The
debating competition will be an
excellent preparatory tool for public
examinations and will provide with a
truly stimulating experience. A host
of prizes will be awarded for the lucky
finalists!
A level French Film
Competition
The Oxford University Film
Competition is looking for budding
film enthusiasts in Years 12-13 to
embrace the world of French cinema.
To enter the competition, students
from each age group are asked to rewrite the ending of a film in no more
than 1500 words.
Entries can be in English or in French.
No additional credit will be given for
writing in French and incorrect French
grammar will not be penalised as this
is an exercise in creativity, rather than
language! The judges are looking for
plausible yet imaginative new endings.
Do you have the Spanish edge? If so
and your teacher is suitably impressed
with your level of Spanish you may be
nominated to represent the school in
the Spanish Embassy in London. On
the day you get to battle it out against
other pupils from the country with a
series of linguistic tests and have the
chance of scooping the top prize.
The prize consists of a three day visit
for you and a friend to the region of
Castilla y León, renowned as an area
of outstanding beauty and rich cultural
heritage, which includes transport,
accommodation and visits.
The Cambridge University
Essay Prize in Modern
Languages
If you are considering applying to
study Languages University this is
a great opportunity to write about
a literary or cinematic works in a
modern foreign language and will
help develop your independent study
skills. This competition will carry a top
prize of £200, a second prize of £100,
and a third prize of £50; several further
essays will be highly commended.
Trips
You will have the opportunity to
embark on an intense but exciting
language immersion course in
Valladolid which consists of you
studying Spanish in ‘la casa del
español’ language school whilst
staying with a Spanish host family in
the historic city of Valladolid. Activities
include a whistle stop tour of Madrid,
gaining special access into a Spanish
bullring and museum, sampling some
world famous tapas dishes, taking
part in a Spanish cookery lesson from
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 41
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
a professional chef amongst other
educational and cultural activities. You
will quickly reap the benefits and your
spoken Spanish skills, in particular,
will greatly improve. A unique and
thoroughly rewarding experience
that will most definitely broaden your
horizons in the heartland of Spain.
Similarly, the trip to Nice will help to
expand and develop your knowledge
of the French language via language
lessons each morning. Key topics in
the A-level syllabus will be discussed
and vocabulary will be developed in
the classroom, but also more handson tasks will be included such as
posing questions from a questionnaire
to local French people and singing
along to famous French songs. The
trip will also provide you with the
chance to experience French culture
whilst staying with a host family. There
will be no shortage of activities during
42 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
the week, with afternoon trips to the
staggeringly beautiful city of Monaco
and the classic old town of Nice.
Other events and opportunities
include:
Languages Read Fest
Our very own Languages ‘Read Fest’
is open to all students in all languages
from Years 12-13 where students
get to study in depth various texts
of poetry and prose in the target
language in class. This then culminates
in an inter class competition followed
by a closely contested soirée final. A
host of prizes are on offer for the lucky
winners.
Languages Conference
The ‘Biannual Languages Conference’
is an exciting opportunity for you
in Years 12-13, to gain an insight
into the importance of language
learning in the modern world and
how languages can enhance career
opportunities. Speakers have included
representatives from the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, GCHQ and
universities such as SOAS and Imperial
College, as well as former students
currently studying Modern Languages
at university. There is also a workshop
where you can learn some basic skills
in languages that are not commonly
taught in the UK.
If you fancy a slightly different type of
work experience why not improve your
language skills and job prospects by
working abroad? A perfect choice for
A-level modern language students.
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MUSIC
The Music Department prides itself in helping to further the personal development
of individual pupils by encouraging self-awareness and self-confidence through
a spirit of enquiry and towards the pursuit of excellence and achievement that is
unique to each member of the school community
and campus and may require certain
standards or auditioned entry most of
our groups are open to all pupils from
Year 7 to 13 and are non-auditioned.
A full list of current ensembles
and rehearsal times are regularly
updated and displayed on the Music
Department boards.
Performance opportunities
We are fortunate in being able to offer
you regularly performing opportunities
both within the school and in the local
community. Major ensembles are
showcased in our main events such as
St. Cecilia’s Concert, Spring Concert,
Carol Services, Choir Concerts, Gala
Evening and Proms in the Quad whilst
our soloists and smaller ensembles
We aim to provide a programme
that meets your individual needs
and develop your knowledge,
understanding and appreciation of
Music and of its role in Society. Our
team of visiting staff are able to offer
a wide range of individual tuition and
ensemble participation to promote
your key skills and enhance your own
individual insight into the Expression
of Music and its constantly evolving
nature as an art form. Whether you
consider yourself as being at the start
of a journey of exploration of your
musical skills or as a more advanced
performer and musician you can
always find help and advice from us
both informally and also through
formal lessons and coaching.
44 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
Instrumental, Vocal and
Theory Tuition
Whether you consider yourself as
being at the start of a journey of
exploration of your musical skills or
as a more advanced performer and
musician you can always find help
and advice from us both informally
and also through formal lessons and
coaching. Tuition on all orchestral
instruments (including harp), drums,
guitars, keyboard instruments and
singing can be taken at school and
where appropriate teachers will advise
and agree with you on performance
and ABRSM or TG examination
opportunities. There are also
theory classes designed for anyone
wishing to improve on their general
musical understanding as well as
those needing to reach examination
standard in order to progress further
through instrumental and singing
graded examinations.
Ensemble Participation
Several large and small ensembles
rehearse regularly each week. If you
are looking for an opportunity to
play or sing with others then these
ensembles offer excellent vehicles for
you to expand your skillset, tackle a
variety of music and styles and also
meet others with similar interests.
Although some ensembles are
based on particular year groups or/
are catered for via informal and formal
recitals. Workshops are held each
term and focus on different areas such
as accompanying skills, examination
skills, improvisation and ‘preparing
for your first performance’, etc. Those
of you looking for more advanced
challenges can also experience
performing as soloists with local
groups and at key events. Regular
Trips and Tours, such as Choir and Big
Band tours, are also available for you
to consider taking part in.
Festivals and Competitions
Our House Music competitions are
usually not only highly enjoyable and
inclusive but also very competitive!
Sixth Form House Music Competitions
are held annually whilst Senior House
Music competitions are bi-annual
events. If you wish to enter external
competitions there are several very
good local opportunities such as
Watford Festival (www.watfordfestival.
co.uk/music) and Milton Keynes Arts
Festival (www.miltonkeynesfestival.
org) , both of which have produced
successes and winners from
Berkhamsted. Entries into practical
and compositional competitions at
national level are also encouraged and
accompanists and coaching sessions
can be provided.
Festival of Music
This year many of you have enjoyed
taking part in the Festival Week’s
performances, workshops and
educational events led by professional
guest musicians and staff and we
aim to be able to offer this week
of education musical experiences
again. Future programme will include
Film and Game Music Composition,
Percussion Workshop, Musical Career
Paths and ‘Top of the Pops’ (pupil
presentation on the most famous
composers and musicians of various
genres).
Year 7 Samba Workshop
Professional percussionist Jez Wiles
will lead workshops for all Year 7
Students on the basics of playing in a
Samba band and the Carnival culture
of Brazil. You will be introduced to
such instruments as a Surdo, Caixa,
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Tamborim and Agogos. This will
supplement the ‘Latino Music’ Unit
which you study in the Lent term.
Twilight Composition
Workshops
GCSE & A Level
Performance Concert
These are opportunities for you to
take advantage of extended time
composing and receive advice and
critique from a range of perspectives
from music department receiving staff.
This concert is an opportunity for all
GCSE and A Level Students. Perform
your chosen Solo and/or Ensemble
Performance programme to an
appreciative audience of parents,
friends and teachers.
GCSE & A Level
Composition Concert
As GCSE and A Level students, you
will have the opportunity to introduce
and present your GCSE and A Level
compositions to an audience and at
the end of the performance there
will be a discussion, questions asked
by listeners and feedback given.
Compositions presented vary and
include a diversity of styles from
Club Dance, West African Fusion,
Contemporary Rock, Minimalist and
Classical traditions.
46 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
Concert Visits
In the Lent term there will be a trip
to London to watch a live concert
performed by a professional
symphony orchestra.
LSO St. Luke’s
GCSE students will visit LSO St. Luke’s
in London participating in a variety of
workshops in music technology and
creative composition.
West African Drums, Balafon
& Vocals Workshop
In this workshop, you gain an insight
into community music-making in West
African countries and learn ensemble
skills in a large performance using
various drums, balafons and callresponse solos.
Composer Masterclass
For 2016-17, all GCSE and A Level
students will benefit from a talk
and workshop with a professional
composer. Through this you will gain
insights into the real world of the
creative industries and some of you
will have the opportunity to have your
piece workshopped.
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OUTDOOR
EDUCATION
Senior School
It’s not the mountain we
conquer but ourselves.
Edmund Hillary – mountaineer
and explorer
arrive groups must find a camp, light
a fire, build a shelter and cook for
themselves. Year 7 leave at the end of
the day whilst Year 9 get the chance to
sleep in their shelter.
High Ropes
Outdoor Education, like all
experiential education, is based on
the philosophy that individuals learn
best through direct experience. The
problems and projects that rise out
of working and learning through the
outdoors engages you in the use of
effective communication, leadership,
practical reasoning, problem solving,
team work and risk management. To
achieve this we deliver a wide range of
activities for all years.
Duke of Edinburgh award
In Year 9 you can sign up to the
DofE Bronze award. The award is
internationally recognised, as it
demonstrates commitment to society,
a small team and to yourself. At
Bronze you are coached through
the award and are encouraged to
step outside your comfort zone
and try something new. All Bronze
expeditions are local and run in house
48 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
by the Outdoor Education team with
the support of the school community.
4000m peaks. It is an inspiring place to
start your alpine adventure.
Expedition Club: Year 8
Snowdonia
Climbing Club
May Half term gives Year 8 the chance
to join the action packed expedition
to Snowdonia National Park for a five
day multi-activity trip where you will
climb Snowdon (the tallest mountain
in England and Wales), scramble a
classic route over Tryfan, abseil into
a slate quarry and experience gorge
scrambling.
The school climbing club meets
weekly and takes numerous trips to
outdoor crags during the summer
months. Trips away give you the
chance to test yourself on the iconic
gritstone edges of Derbyshire, scale
the limestone cliffs of Dorset, climb
your way through the Paklenica
National Park in Croatia or test your
head for heights in the El Chorro
region of southern Spain.
Expedition Club: Year 11
French Alps
Bushcraft: Year 7 & Year 9
In Year 11 you will have the
opportunity to spend six days
climbing and hiking in the French
Alps. This trip is based in St Jean de
Sixt and is surround by snowcapped
Five climbing walls, a vertical
challenge course, crate stack,
leap of faith, head rush, tree-top
journeying course and a zip wire
gives you the chance to test your
own self-confidence, team work
and communication skills all whilst
balancing metres above the ground!
High Rope sessions run during games
and after school for house or team
building social events.
Mountain Biking
Fancy exploring miles of accessible
off road routes? The Ashridge Estate
and Chiltern Hills provide endless
opportunities to develop your core
mountain biking skills, such as agility,
balance and coordination. This is an
alternative option for junior and senior
games.
Skiing
The Junior Ski Trip gives you the
opportunity to have fun and learn a
new skill with friends in an exhilarating
alpine environment. During the day
you will be guided around the resort
by fully qualified ski or snow board
instructor, who will work with you
all week to increase your personal
technique, confidence and skill.
Diving
Ever wondered what it’s like to breath
under water? We can offer you the
opportunity to undertake a PADI
open water qualification. We have the
ability to run the training, on site in
our school pool, and qualifying dives
at Wraysbury dive centre. In previous
years international trips have run to
various locations across the globe.
At the beginning of the academic
year, you will be joining the Outdoor
Education department in the woods
at our Pre-Prep site and spend a day
or two learning basic Bushcraft and
honing you survival skills. When you
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Sixth Form
Duke of Edinburgh
expeditions
At 16, those who have completed
Bronze, are encouraged to sign up
to the DofE Gold award. Achieving a
Gold award helps to bridge the gap
between education and employment.
Many external organisations view
the award as the most important
extracurricular activity young people
could do at school.
Hiking
Every year the Outdoor Education
department runs DofE hiking
expeditions around the UK. Students
can chose to complete their final
and practice expedition in the Lake
District, Brecon Beacons and Yorkshire
Dales.
Expedition Club
Ski Trip
If you would like to continue to
develop your personal skills in the
mountains you can join our expedition
club and participate in any of our trips.
Senior students have the chance
to take the trip of a lifetime to the
Snowbasin in Utah, where guaranteed
conditions, pristine runs, challenging
off-piste and an array of American
après-ski delights await.
Mentoring
To help develop leadership skills,
we have set up a DofE mentoring
scheme. In Sixth you can choose to
mentor Bronze participants through
their award. Having gone through the
Bronze award, you will be responsible
for the training of the younger
students.
Kayaking
DofE Gold participants can choose to
complete their expedition, journeying,
down the river Wye and then
across the Adriatic Sea. Groups will
undertake their practice expedition
down in south Wales, learning basic
paddle skills before heading off to
Croatia where you will island hop in
the Adriatic Sea.
I regard it as the
foremost task of
education to insure
the survival of these
qualities: an enterprising
curiosity, an undefeatable
spirit, tenacity in pursuit,
readiness for sensible
self denial, and above all,
compassion.
Kurt Hahn – Education
philosopher and founder of
Outward Bound, the Duke of
Edinburgh award and the United
World Colleges.
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Sixth Form
PHYSICS
Senior School
Physics (noun): Definition ‘the
physical properties and phenomena
of something’. Or put another way,
everything in the physical universe!
From stars to sub-atomic particles.
The Physics enrichment programme
has something for you. Enjoy diverse
activities from devilishly difficult
problem solving and challenging
engineering solutions to broader
discussions on some of the biggest
questions facing today’s scientists.
Sign up and stretch yourself, you’ll be
surprised what you discover.
Activities
Robot Revolution
Year 8 Science Day
Careers Speed Dating
“How to Survive in
Space!” – working with
Berkhamsted School
Space Agency (BSSA)
this is a question that
Year 8 will attempt
to answer through a day of mission
based challenges, experiments, and
quizzes taking place during Extended
Curriculum Week. Students will have
a chance to work together in mixed
teams, using their leadership, team
and communication skills to complete
all the challenges and learn about
the hostile environment of Space,
and what a truly amazing engineering
achievement manned space flight is.
Targeting all three Science disciplines,
which team will win the overall prize
and the honour of being promoted to
Berkonauts.
A wide range of careers will be
represented at this fast paced Q&A
evening. Students in Year 11 will have
the chance to learn about the world
of work and the exciting opportunities
that await them beyond A-Level. This
invaluable evening offers an insight
during Michaelmas term, before
A-Level options have been chosen.
Junior STEM clubs
Robotics is forecast to be a massive
growth technological sector in
the near future. During Extended
Curriculum week, as well as getting
hands-on with some impressive
robotics kit, Year 7 students will learn
about robots, their origin, how to
build them, how to operate them, how
to code them and, most importantly,
how to control them.
University of Oxford: Physics
Poster Competition
During Trinity term, Year 7-9 students
have the opportunity to create
a public information poster or a
scientific poster and experiment in
this annual themed competition.
Winners are invited to a garden party
and a prize giving ceremony at the
university.
52 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
The KS3 STEM co-curricular club
offers the chance to try your hand
at a little coding with BBC:microbit
and Raspberry Pi and may allow you
to include your device on the High
Altitude Balloon payload that the sixth
form HAB team launch every year. In
KS4 STEM club you may find yourself
building gas powered cars and rockets
amongst other engineering projects.
Physics Meets Philosophy
Who hasn’t thought about a Big
Question? How big is the universe?
Does the universe have an end or a
beginning? Could we travel through
time? Is space empty? Is there life out
there? Through a series of debates
in the Trinity term, we will look to
enrich your knowledge on these big
questions by looking at the physics,
the history and the philosophy behind
them.
GCSE Science Live!
This Lent term day will be fast-moving,
exciting, thought provoking and will
give Year 10 students the chance
to see and hear five of Britain’s top
scientists, all working at the cutting
edge of their specialisms. You will
receive top tips on examination
success from an experienced science
examiner and a booklet with details
about each scientist, the lectures and
some general articles about studying
science and working as scientists.
Physics Challenge
The University of Oxford offers this
competition to challenge students
and recognise excellence in young
physicists. From January, students in
Year 11 will be invited to attend the
Olympians after school club where
demanding problem-solving will
prepare them for this competition,
which takes place in early March. Are
you prepared to be challenged?
The important thing is
to not stop questioning.
Curiosity has its own
reason for existence. One
cannot help but be in awe
when he contemplates
the mysteries of eternity,
of life, of the marvellous
structure of reality. It is
enough if one tries merely
to comprehend a little of
this mystery each day.
Albert Einstein
Physics is at the heart of everything
and is a highly rewarding discipline
to study at school, university and
beyond. In the Sixth, there are myriad
opportunities for you to get involved
with something a little different and
have a lot of fun, while making yourself
stand out from the crowd on your
curriculum vitae. Choose challenge!
You may like to follow Berko Physics
6th: @BerkoPhysics for interesting
articles and events.
Activities
Physics Review
Physics Review makes an excellent
read to extend and enrich your
knowledge of A-Level Physics and
its applications. The libraries hold a
paper copy and you have access to
online editions too.
Sixth Form Evening
I think nature’s
imagination is so much
greater than man’s, she’s
never going to let us
relax
Richard Feynman
Is there any ‘fun’ in physics? A
controversial question! But it can be
answered simply in four words – Sixth
Form Physics Evening. This annual
event in the Lent term is where we
bring to life just how amazing and
diverse Physics can be. We scour the
country to bring you the best (and
most entertaining) career physicists
to talk about their ground breaking
research and passion for the subject,
followed by a competitive (usually
messy) design and build challenge.
We even throw in dinner and drinks.
What more could you ask for?!
British Physics Olympiad
(BPhO)
The University of Oxford offers a
range of competitions designed
to stretch and challenge the minds
of young physicists and recognise
excellence. In the Michaelmas
term of Year 12 you may like to take
part in the Experimental Project
and find your own way around an
interesting practical problem. In the
Lent term you might like to try your
hand at problem solving and enter
the AS Challenge. In Year 13, you
will be ready for the demanding A2
Challenge and, if successful, you
have the full British Physics Olympiad
(BPhO) to look forward to, following
in the footsteps of Patrick KennedyHunt; Patrick gained a place on the
International Physics Olympiad British
team. To discover challenges out
of this world, why not consider the
British Astronomy and Astrophysics
Olympiad (BAAO)?
Isaac Physics and I Want To
Be An Engineer
Another way you may like to put
yourself through your paces is by
enrolling on these MOOCs (Massive
Open Online Course). Isaac Physics
has levels 1 – 6 which will provide
challenge to any of you that wishes
to show initiative and get ahead
at any time during you’re A-Level
Physics career. You may also get the
opportunity to attend an Isaac Physics
Masterclass or two during the school
year. I Want To Be An Engineer does
the same for budding engineers.
High Altitude Ballooning
Get involved with STEM co-curricular
club in the Sixth and you can design
your own payload to be transported
to the stratosphere. As part of
the Berkhamsted School Space
Agency (BSSA), you will also have
the opportunity to take on roles of
responsibility and leadership as you
liaise with the junior STEM clubs. You
will be involved during the entire year
to achieve successful launch in the
summer term.
Year 12 trip to Physics in
Action lectures
Sign up to this trip in your first term
of A-level Physics and you will see
five sessions of phenomenal physics,
brought to you by the brightest lights
in the field. From the Big Bang to
Formula E racing cars, rock guitar
to astronomy, you will hear from the
physicists who go above and beyond
science as we know it.
Year 13 trip to Culham
Fusion Research Centre
Culham Centre for Fusion Energy
(CCFE) is the UK’s national laboratory
for fusion research and hosts the
world’s largest magnetic fusion
experiment, JET (Joint European
Torus). A visit to Culham, normally
toward the end of Michaelmas
term, gives an appreciation of the
scale of scientific research and is an
opportunity to apply the Physics you
have learned in your A-level course so
far.
Year 13 trip to CERN
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is
the world’s largest and most powerful
particle collider, the largest, most
complex experimental facility ever
built, and the largest single machine
in the world. It was built by the
European Organization for Nuclear
Research (CERN) between 1998 and
2008 in collaboration with over 10,000
scientists and engineers from over 100
countries. No doubt you would wish
to witness this triumph of Physics and
Engineering, so join us on the Year 13
Physics trip to Geneva, Switzerland at
October half term.
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POLITICS
PRODUCT DESIGN
Senior School
‘Books of Work’
Government & Politics is a nontraditional discipline, only available
to study formally in the Sixth Form. In
the Sixth, enrichment opportunities
are designed to enhance your A
Level studies and to prepare you for
studying Government & Politics and/
or ‘Politics-and?’ in Higher Education.
Students are encouraged to read
widely beyond contact hours, and
we hold debates, both ‘informal’
and ‘formal’. In April-May 2015 the
students organized a mock General
Election, at which there were hustings,
and different candidates stood
for election by peers. As regards
the impending referendum on EU
membership, the issue has been
widely discussed, both within and
beyond lessons, and the department
was involved in organizing a wider
school ‘mock referendum’, at the end
of the Lent term 2016, in anticipation
of the real one.
[an exercise in Independent Learning]
Students in Politics have long been
encouraged to apply themselves
to finding information for essay
questions from outside the classroom,
as well as they are furnished with
information within it (obviously).
Successive generations of students
have produced impressive ‘Books
of Work’, compendiums of research
which have sought to address the
bulk of questions in past papers, both
for the AS British papers and the A2
international politics papers. These
are marked by tutors and then copied
back to the wider groups as exemplars
of ‘how to do it’ (but exceptionally,
‘how not to do it’! The latter can be
as useful for examination preparation
work as is the former).
As a school we are members of the
Political Studies Association; as
students you can enter any of the
competitions or attend any of the
events on their site:
Green Power
Food Prep and Nutrition
The Design Technology department
offers you a co-curricular activity that
reflects your interest in all things
technical by engaging with the
Greenpower Trust. This organisation
offers you the opportunity to design,
build and race electric cars on a
national scale at many prestigious
venues including Rockingham and
Goodwood. The challenge actively
enables a group of you to work on
green cars - from the mechanical
systems through electronics and
aerodynamics - in order to make
them as competitive as possible for
an hour and a half endurance race
involving driver changes, pit to car
communications and data logging. We
have been very successful and came
3rd in our class at the international
final last year.
Cooking gives you the opportunity to
do more for yourself and learn more
about yourself!
In learning about the further joys of
food, you will learn a skill for life while
others will wonder at the abilities you
take for granted.
Opportunities are being developed
for you to participate in school
Young Chef Competitions as well as
externally run ones like the Rotary
Young Chef. You will find clubs
One cannot think well,
love well, sleep well, if
one has not dined well.
Virginia Woolf
40% of what I’ve done
was a mistake. I now call
it R&D
Jamie Oliver
that focus on Heston Blumenthal’s
molecular gastronomy and the
‘science’ behind foods so that you can
see first-hand what all of these new
food ‘things’ mean and what they can
do for your food.
You will have opportunities to
participate in country visits at GCSE
level, food production factories along
with chef visits to the school.
You will find a wide range of activities
that will stir your creative, and salivary,
juices!!!
www.psa.ac.uk/psa-communities/
specialist-groups/schools/psa-schoolscompetitions
www.psa.ac.uk/events
Crawford Society:
The Politics Department encourages
its students to present to the school’s
Crawford Society, and a number have
done so in recent years.
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PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology cannot
tell people how they
ought to live their lives,
it can, however, provide
them with the means for
effecting personal and
social change.
Albert Bandura
From split-brain patients and autism
to whistle blowers and the language
of psychopaths, Psychology will
provide you with a unique opportunity
to scientifically explore the boundaries
of diverse human behaviours, from the
mundane to the highly unusual.
Year 12 Science and Pseudoscience
Conference Michaelmas Term
This annual Year 12 conference
playfully immerses you in the worlds
of visual and auditory illusions, magic
and hypnosis. It is a highly interactive
day in which key writers in the subject
encourage you to be sceptical of the
‘big claims’ made by researchers. The
day builds to an exciting conclusion
with a live hypnosis session.
Ultimately, the audience are forced to
question the credentials of what they
are seeing: science or pseudoscience?
Year 13 Crimiknowledge
Conference Lent Term
This conference gives you the
opportunity to engage with the big
debate in Forensic Psychology: Are
criminals born or made? What better
way to make sense of this conundrum
then gaining access to the latest
research in the field and participating
in a Q&A with a speaker formally
diagnosed with psychopathic traits
according to the Revised Psychopath
Checklist – PCL-R.
Extension Activities
Throughout the year, a dedicated
Psychology and Criminology Film
Society is offered as part of the
co-curricular programme for Years
11-13. As a budding psychologist you
can nurture your love of the subject
and dip into the classics like ‘One
SOCIOLOGY
flew over the cuckoo’s nest’ to more
contemporary offerings like ‘Inside
out’. What better way to access
complex behaviours.
In Year 12, you will also have an
opportunity to meet with Dr Jeremy
Monsen, a clinical psychologist with a
wealth of experience in dealing with
psychological issues affecting children.
A careers lunch is offered as well as
Q&A workshop after school to discuss
recent developments in Psychology.
Twitter
A dedicated Twitter feed,
@BerkoPsych can also be followed
to help you access the most recent
articles in the field of Psychology.
Opportunities also exist to participate
in actual undergraduate research. This
year, students were able to participate
in two projects about learning styles
and memory for faces. Getting
involved in research will not only give
you an invaluable insight into research
design, ethics, data analysis but it may
also reinforce your ambitions to read
Psychology at university.
Minds are like
parachutes. They only
function when they are
open
Sir James Dewar
If you are keen to delve into a range
of controversial social issues or just
understand how your behaviour has
been shaped by the environments
you find yourself in, then Sociology
is the subject for you. Anyone afraid
of shocking discoveries about society
should stay away from Sociology.
Year 12 Michaelmas Term
Conference
As a Year 12 student you will be
immersed in a range of lectures
covering key topic areas of the
course: Crime and Deviance, Beliefs
in Society, Families and Households
and Education. This will be your first
opportunity to absorb sociological
issues as presented by leading
researchers in the field. Lectures can
56 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
be on a diverse range of topics like,
‘should public schools be banned?’,
‘Are women more deviant than man’
or ‘Are we becoming less religious
as a society?’ You will certainly come
away with a broader and deeper
appreciation of the subject.
Year 13 Visit to St Albans
Crown Court
As a Year 13 student, you will be
engaging with current issues in
Criminology and what better way
of bringing your studies to life than
by spending a day in court. Part of
your visit will involve a Q&A session
with a judge and learning about the
processes within court. You will then
get the opportunity to sit in on a
range of cases in the public gallery.
This day is guaranteed to give you a
real insight into the Criminal Justice
System and perhaps an ever greater
respect for the law.
Extension Activities
A dedicated Twitter feed,
@BerkoSocio can also be followed
to help you access the most recent
developments in the fields of
Sociology and Criminology. The
Sociology Click View collections
offer an extensive range of films and
documentaries to support and boost
your passion for the subject. There
are also opportunities to meet with
representatives of the Police at a
careers lunch or engage in a Law Day
should you be inspired by the study of
Criminology.
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 57
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
SERVE OTHERS
58 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 59
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
CAREERS
Senior School
There will be plenty of opportunity for
you to find out about a wide range of
potential careers as well as the chance
to develop your employability skills
and learn more about yourself - your
strengths, weaknesses and values.
You can’t connect the
dots looking forward, you
can only connect them
looking backwards. So
you have to trust that
the dots will somehow
connect in your future.
Steve Jobs
SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
Careers Lunches
On Fridays during the Michaelmas
and Lent terms, a series of different
external guests are invited to give
an insight into their careers and their
individual journeys leading to those
careers. You are free to sign up for as
many of these as you wish, giving you
the chance to hear first-hand about
careers as diverse as Art, Marketing
and Politics within a working lunch
format.
Law & Healthcare Taster
Days
Aimed at those of you interested
in finding out in more detail about
careers and entry routes into law and
healthcare (medicine, dentistry, physio,
veterinary). These day-long events are
run at the school by specialist external
facilitators.
Higher Education, Careers &
Gap Year Fair
All sixth form students are invited
to attend this annual event hosted
by the school. It offers a “one-stop
shop” to introduce you to as wide a
range of higher education and careers
opportunities as possible in a single
evening. Advice and guidance will be
available from around 50 universities
/ higher education establishments
as well as employers and gap year
providers.
Mini-MBA
In the first term, all Year 12 students
participate in the Personal Impact
& Presence module, through a
combination of online delivery, group
work, practical tasks and presentations
from industry experts. The module
helps with understanding yourself
and dealing with others e.g. difficult
conversations and giving feedback.
You will then be given the opportunity
to continue the Mini-MBA course and
learn more about 3 different aspects
of business – business performance,
marketing and strategy.
holidays and are residential, so can
count towards your Gold DoE. Entry is
via application during the Lent term.
Futurewise Career Courses
and Events
You will be given details of a range of
one-day insight events taking place in
the holidays covering a large number
of different careers from Artificial
Intelligence & Robotics, TV & Film to
Financial Careers.
SCHOOL AWARDS
Each year, the Old Berkhamstedians
kindly offer the opportunity for Year 12
students to apply for a Travel Award
towards the cost of trips which will
develop individual skills and broaden
minds. There is also the chance to
apply for a fully funded 7-10 Day Tall
Ships trip in the summer holidays
through the Knox-Johnston Award.
OPPORTUNITIES WE
ENCOURAGE
Headstart Courses
Headstart courses are open to Year
12 students and offer the opportunity
to find out more about studying and
working in STEM subjects. The courses
run during at universities during the
With the stalls set up, it was clear to see that there
is an abundance of future prospects to be pursued by
students for their time after Sixth Form
Student
60 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 61
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
Animation Club
CLUBS &
SOCIETIES
(Boys And Girls, 7 To 9)
Nash-Harris (LMK)
In Animation Club, you will get to
work collaboratively to create fun
stop motion animation films using
and iPad. Working in groups, you will
use paper, drawing, modelling clay
and toys to bring your own stories to
life. You will plan and organise your
own filming and you can learn editing
techniques to create a final polished
product.
606 Club
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (HRM)
Backgammon Club
Analyse the weekend’s results
from the beautiful game. Was it
offside? Was it a penalty? Tell us
your views on the current state of
your team. What would you do if
you were the manager? Did they
spend well in the transfer window?
Should there be a winter break? Is
FIFA still a joke? Are you proud or
embarrassed by your national team?
Whatever your opinions on the above
issues, come and share them on a
Monday afternoon in 606 club, the
home of football punditry. Watch
footage, listen to speakers, test your
knowledge of football in quizzes and
indulge in some epic soccer banter!
Amnesty Club
(Boys and Girls, 12 and 13)
Old Hall (SA)
Amnesty’s aim is to ‘protect the
human’, so if you join the group,
you will be shining a light on the
dark area of human rights violations
worldwide. You might be writing
directly to government leaders to
secure the release of prisoners of
conscience or campaigning on issues
such as the death penalty. Each year,
you get the chance to ‘write for rights’,
which means standing up for the
most vulnerable individuals in their
hour of need.
62 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
(Boys And Girls, 11 To 13)
Old Hall (GRD)
In Backgammon Club you will have
the chance to play one the best
board games invented. Backgammon
is a game which relies on skill and
the ability to judge risk, while also
embracing a certain amount of luck.
You will learn to develop and use
different strategies and enjoy a lot
of competition.
Ancient Greek
Club
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (RKM)
In Ancient Greek Club you will have a
basic introduction to ancient Greek,
mastering the alphabet, the basic
grammar and sentence structure, and
a target vocabulary. 10% of the English
language comes from Greek, but that
10% is located in the highest language
registers. It is a means to unlocking
some of our most challenging
scientific, philosophical, mathematical
and cultural language, and will act as a
stimulus to learning something about
those fields.
Ancient World
Fun Club
(Girls, 7 To 9)
Nash-Harris (IRS)
In the Ancient World Fun Club, you
will be given the opportunity to
experience a taste of the ancient
worlds thorough model making and
fun games. If you enjoy greek myths
and like Percy Jackson, this is a great
club for you!
Bank of England
Competition
(Boys And Girls By Invitation)
(PCC)
You will be a member, selected by Mr
Cowie, of a team that will be entered
for the Bank of England interest rate
challenge. You will work together
to produce a presentation about
economic policy and will explain
this to a panel of bank staff. You will
analyse and evaluate economic data
and come to a conclusion as to what
the bank’s interest rate policy should
be. Note - meetings will not always
take place on a Monday and you are
free to join another society.
Berkhamsted
Radio Club
(Boys And Girls, 11 To 13)
Nash-Harris (CJA)
As a member of the Berkhamsted
Radio Club you will have the
opportunity to express your creative
talents through the media of
broadcast. The club offers you a wide
range of roles which work towards
the production of radio podcasts and
the occasional live broadcast to your
fellow students. Working in a group
to a deadline could enhance your
time-management and organisational
skills. If you have an interest in it and
the technical aspects of broadcasting
there is definitely a place for you in the
Radio Club.
Berkhamsted
Remembers
(Boys and Girls, 11 and 12)
Deans’ Hall (SJER)
The local town cemetery behind
the Rex Cinema holds a number
of Commonwealth War Grave
headstones. Berkhamsted
Remembers will give you the
opportunity to do some research on
some of the men and women, from
Berkhamsted, who lost their lives in
the First World War and the Second
World War.
Berko Belles
Acappella Group (
Girls, 11 to 13)
Nash-Harris (HMcC)
The Berko Belles Acappella Group
for girls in Year 10 and above is unlike
any traditional type of choir you have
experienced before. You will learn to
stretch yourself and have fun singing
A-cappella style (with no musical
accompaniment) in harmony. You
don’t have to be able to read music
but you DO have to be able to hold
a tune when someone else next to
you is singing something different.
The music will range from modern
ballads (e.g. Adele’s “Skyfall”) to more
upbeat jazzy tunes and there will be
opportunities to perform at various
school concerts throughout the
year, in a completely fresh and
different way.
Black and White
Movie Classics
Club
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Nash-Harris (SB)
In the Black and White Movie Classics
Club you will have the opportunity to
watch and discuss old black and white
movies considered to be classics in
their day.
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 63
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
Board Games Club Book Club (Castle
(Castle)
and Kings)
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (ALYL/NJC)
“Bored games?!” I hear you groan.
No! Board Games Club. Get on
board (pun intended) as we take the
monopoly of students at club time.
All your favourites from the past
including Cluedo, Chinese Checkers,
Uno and the cause of every Christmas
argument, Monopoly. Not sold? We’ve
got new games too: Game of Thrones,
Bucket of Doom, Jumanji!!!
Board Games Club
(Kings)
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 11)
Nash-Harris (AJC/SAP)
In the Board Games Club (Kings),
you will have the opportunity to play
games such as Scrabble, Boggle and
Maths games. These are fun activities
that will help develop your strategic
thinking and your vocabulary, as well
as, giving you the opportunity to
mix with people from different year
groups and campuses in a relaxed
environment, with a bit of competition
thrown in.
(Boys at Castle, Girls at
Kings, 7 to 11)
Deans’ Hall (KET) and
Nash-Harris (GP-K)
In Book Club you can extend your
experience of reading for pleasure.
You might discuss what makes a
good book and which writers are the
best. You can choose which genres
and writers you’d like to read more
of (and which you want to avoid).
Previous discussions have included
banned books (i.e. did you know
Potter was banned in some parts of
the USA?), graphic novels and books
adapted to film.
Carpet Bowls
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13
DEANS’HALL (TDL)
In the Carpet Bowls Club, you will
learn how to play and enjoy a great
strategic game as well as collaborate
with and compete against boys and
girls from other year groups.
Chemistry Society
(Boys and Girls, 11 and 13)
Nash-Harris (TAK)
In the Chemistry Society Year 13s will
mentor students in Year 11. You will
develop team building skills and use
practical skills that are a challenging
part of the A level Chemistry course.
You will develop planning skills and
manual dexterity as you use complex
equipment to make chemicals.
64 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
Chess Clubs
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 9, 12 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (RMa and SAW)
In the Chess Club you will develop
your strategic thinking and compete
in a league against boys and girls from
your own and other year groups.
Christian Union
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Nash-Harris (AML)
The Christian Union is open to all but
is particularly geared towards those
who express a Christian faith and want
to meet with other Christian students
in School. Through discussion, debate,
games, and bible study there will be
the opportunity to reflect, question
and explore the key issues of life.
Classical Film
Society
(Boys and Girls, 11 to 13)
DEANS’HALL (AJH)
In the Classical Film Society, you will
have the opportunity to watch and
discuss films which depict events in
the Ancient World.
Craft Club
(Girls, 7 to 9)
Nash-Harris (KH)
In the Craft Club you will be able to
learn a new skill or refine an existing
one. You will have the opportunity to
learn how to cut fabric using a pattern,
pin, tack and use a sewing machine to
make a cushion cover, a pencil case
or make-up bag. Alternatively, you
could choose to learn how to knit and
use garter and stocking stitches to
make an ‘Innocent’ hat. If you prefer
needlecraft, try a cross stich design. As
well as having a relaxing time you will
develop hand eye coordination skills,
perseverance and a sense of pride in
your achievements.
Crawford Society
(Boys and Girls, 12 and 13)
Old Hall (RWDC)
The Crawford Society is a learned
society for learning people. You
will be given the opportunity to
present a paper to your peers and
discuss a wide variety of issues.
Topics presented last year included
‘Equality’, ‘The Science of Attraction’,
‘Psychology and Magic’ and
‘Consciousness – the hard problem’
Creative
Composing using
Technology
(Boys and Girls, 9 and 11)
Nash-Harris (RAJC)
In this club you will learn how to
compose music using GarageBand,
Logic and Sibelius Software. You
will learn how to create, manipulate,
mix and edit sounds to create
contemporary pieces. This will be
of particular interest to GCSE Music
Students.
Creative Writing
AS Level
(Boys and Girls, by invitation)
(AGH/HJR)
This club is open to Year 13 students
who are already enrolled on the
course. Here, you will explore different
forms of writing, express yourself,
develop drafting and editing skills
and build on the critical skills from the
foundation year. Upon completion of
your coursework portfolio, you will be
preparing for the ‘Writing on Demand’
examination paper.
Cross-Stitch Club
(Girls, 7 to 13)
Nash-Harris (HAAG)
To join the Cross Stitch Club, it does
not matter if you have never picked
up a needle and thread before, or
if you are a very competent ‘cross
stitcher’. The aim of the club is
to introduce you to how to begin
stitching and then how to develop
your skills so that you can create
something beautiful – whether it is
a bookmark, greetings card or just a
simple design. The club has a relaxed
atmosphere where students can
progress at their own pace.
Debating Society
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (GA)
Nash-Harris (JS)
Digital Theatre
Club
(Boys and Girls, 9 to 13)
Nash-Harris (OWP)
Come and enjoy pre-recorded live
theatre productions and discuss what
you have seen. This club will be of
particular interest to those who enjoy
the theatre or want to find out more.
Duolingo Club
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (LCB)
In the Duolingo online club you will
have the opportunity to review your
language learning, or learn any one of
19 new languages online. Earn points
for correct answers, race against the
clock and level up. Addictive, highly
motivating and masses of fun. Beat
your friends! Check in your browser to
see how Duolingo works.
Economics Society
(Boys and Girls, 12 and 13)
Old Hall (ARO)
In the Economics Society you will
be tasked with preparing short
presentations on an economic topic
of your choosing. It will be taken from
outside the A-Level specification and
it should promote discussion amongst
the group. You will be encouraged to
research your topics thoroughly. There
will also be ample opportunity to
participate in debates.
The Debating Society will teach you
the skills of persuasion in a friendly
but competitive environment. You will
take part in debates on the Economic,
Social, Ethical and Political issues of
the day. This will help you analyse
your material as well as defeat others!
You will be trained in the British
Parliamentary style and given the
opportunity to represent the school at
Universities across the country.
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 65
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
Fives for Girls
Hans Woyda Club
(Girls, 7 to 13)
Nash-Harris (RP)
(Boys and Girls, 9 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (DGR)
This club will give you the opportunity
to have a go at a game that you may
or may not have played before. It will
take place at the Prep School Courts
and is for girls of all abilities.
Fives for Boys
(Boys, by invitation) (AST)
This club will give you the opportunity
to play Fives and develop your
existing skills. It will take place at the
Boys’ School Courts.
Focus on Current
Affairs (FOCA)
(Boys, 11 to 13)
Old Hall (PTR)
In FOCA you will analyse and discuss a
range of current affairs and issues. This
will be of particular interest to those
who read and/or watch the news.
Football for Girls
(Girls, 7 to 9)
Nash-Harris (ML)
This club will give you the opportunity
to experience Girls’ Football and is
open to all girls of any age and ability.
You will learn skills and tactics and
learn how to play the game with an
Arsenal Academy Football Coach!
Foreign Film
Society
(Boys, 8 and 9)
Deans’ Hall (CJM)
The Foreign Film Society will raise
your awareness of classic foreign
films - you will listen to the foreign
language but have the English
subtitles available to read. The aim is
to help you to appreciate and discuss
the themes, styles, use of music, film
techniques, type of language used,
and setting etc. A further objective
is to expose you to other cultures
and customs as part of your broader
education and by so doing help
you to become more discerning in
your choice of viewing in the future.
Films will typically be from European
countries but might also come from
the Hispanic World or the Middle or
Far East.
GAP and Travel
Club
(Boys and Girls, 12 and 13)
Old Hall (SJD)
In the GAP and Travel Club you will
be given the opportunity to discover
destinations globally, look at the
possibilities for travel, GAP year
opportunities and much more! You will
also be given some useful hints
on planning, organisation, money
and safety.
66 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
Gardening Club
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Nash-Harris (AM)
In Gardening Club, you will spend
time in the fresh air making the
School grounds more attractive. You
will learn gardening skills such as
planting, landscape maintenance and
garden design as well as working in
a team and planning. Ideas for this
year include designing and planting
a coppice of trees, spring bulbs, a
wildflower garden and herb garden,
and experimenting with vertical
gardening.
GreenPower
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (SRH)
In the GreenPower Club you will
design, build and eventually race an
electric car. This will be of particular
interest to those of you who are
interested in design, green energy,
mechanical engineering or electronics.
In the Hans Woyda Club you will
have the opportunity to tackle
some unusual and more difficult
mathematical problems and learn
some additional techniques. You
will have to work quickly, sometimes
on your own and sometimes
collaborating with others. The
problems are fun but challenging so
you will have to persevere and be
prepared to try out your own ideas.
Humanist and
Secular Society
(Boys and Girls, 12 and 13)
Old Hall (DWB)
Secularism is the principle of
separation of the state from religious
institutions. Humanism refers to a nontheistic life stance centred on human
agency and looking to science rather
than revelation from a supernatural
source to understand the world. You
will be part of a student led group that
will discuss issues such as Free Speech
and Blasphemy, religious privilege and
discrimination.
Historical Research
INK
Club
(Boys, 7 to 9)
Deans’ Hall (RM)
The Historical Research Club
will give you the opportunity to
choose, research and present on
historical subjects not studied on the
curriculum. Periods can cover anything
from the Stone Age up to yesterday’s
news. The club takes place in a
computer room and there is also
access to the History Department’s
books and websites.
(Boys and Girls, 11 to 13)
Nash-Harris (AAI/IRC)
As a member of INK you will be part
of the team that puts together the
content of our School’s high profile
student magazine. You will be offered
journalism training to provide you with
the skills you need to write compelling
articles that students, teachers and the
wider school community will want to
read. Finally, you will be rewarded by
seeing your articles published in the
magazine – in print and online – with
your name attached.
Intermediate
Maths Challenge
(Boys and Girls, 9 and 11)
Deans’ Hall (DJ)
This club offers you the opportunity
to tackle some difficult and unusual
mathematical problems and prepare
for the Intermediate Maths Challenge
which will take place on 2nd February
2017. If you sign up for this club
you will be guaranteed an entry for
this competition regardless of your
Maths set.
Investment
Society
(Boys and Girls, 9 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (VF/DRP)
In the Investment Society you will
take part in stockbroking (buying
and selling virtual shares on the
London Stock Exchange), using the
Bullbearings website. Your success
in growing your portfolio will be
reflected in our School league table.
We will also discuss other investment
related activities and try other
business related simulation games.
iThink Society
(Boys and Girls, 9 to 13)
Nash-Harris (GCF/ARW/GAM)
Is it better to kill one to save many?
Do we all experience colour in the
same way? Why is there something
rather than nothing? Do we really have
free will? These are just some of the
questions that you will get a chance
to explore and discuss as a member
of iThink. A typical session might
involve watching clips and videos to
stimulate philosophical discussion, or
puzzling over thought experiments
that have confounded philosophers
for centuries.
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 67
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
Journal
Writing Club
(Boys and Girls, 12 and 13)
Old Hall (RK)
In the Journal Writing Club you will
have the opportunity to spend some
quiet time to reflect on all your life
experiences over the previous week.
By keeping a personal diary, you will
have the opportunity to think about
your achievements and celebrate
what is working well in your life,
whilst learning to really appreciate
everything you have to be grateful for;
one of the key elements in achieving
ultimate happiness! As you record the
narrative of your successes, you will
develop the mind-set to understand
the value of each event in developing
your self-esteem and confidence, and
learn to see failure, as an opportunity
to improve your performance and
become the best version of yourself
that you can possibly be!
Jungle
Canopy Club
(Boys and Girls 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (SPH)
Your creative skills will help create a
home for a group of orphans living in
squalor in the Calais jungle. Working
together you will help renovate a
caravan which will then become their
new home. Use your imagination, DT
and Art skills to interior decorate and
problem solve - this rewarding, life
changing club would also count as
volunteer work towards your DofE.
68 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
Language
Leaders Club
(Boys and Girls, 9)
Deans’ Hall (EHL/AMA)
In the Language Leaders Club, you
will be given the opportunity to plan
and prepare a Modern Foreign Lesson
to be delivered in a primary school.
You will then reflect on feedback
and redeliver with appropriate
amendments.
Mandarin for
Beginners
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 9)
Deans’ Hall (NJHe)
In the Mandarin Beginner’s Club,
you will learn to speak and listen to
short passages in Mandarin about
family and friends. You will have
the opportunity to learn the rules
of Chinese character writing and
challenge yourself to reading and
writing in one of the world’s oldest
scripts. Character writing is fun,
and with perseverance you will be
amazed at how quickly you notice links
between characters.
Magic:
The Gathering
(Boys and Girls, 9 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (BMW)
Magic: The Gathering was the world’s
first trading card game: created in
1993. It now has around twenty million
players worldwide. Set on a variety of
fantasy worlds and something like a
cross between chess and poker, Magic
will appeal to students who enjoy
testing their brainpower. Although
Magic is a trading card game, starter
decks will be provided so that no
money needs to be committed.
Modern
Languages
Film Club
(Girls, 8 and 9)
Nash-Harris (CAG)
In the Modern Language Film Club
your cultural and language knowledge
will be developed and enriched by
watching films in different languages.
Movie
Making Club
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 9)
Nash-Harris (SJR)
In the Movie Making Club you will be
using iMovie on the iPad to create and
edit entertaining movie videos.
Music Society
(Boys and Girls, by invitation)
Nash-Harris (BN)
These workshops aim to introduce
you to areas of practical and creative
music-making that are of benefit to
performers, composers and musicians,
including ‘how to prepare for your first
public performance’, ‘improvisation
skills’, ‘conducting techniques for
beginners’, ‘advanced performers’
masterclass’, ‘writing music for film
and television’, ‘extended instrumental
techniques’, etc. The sessions will be
advertised in advance so that if a topic
is of particular interest to you then you
can contact Mr Noithip to arrange to
attend either in an interactive capacity
or simply as part of the audience.
Musical Theatre
for Boys
(Boys, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (DW)
Musical Theatre is a joyous fusion of
two amazing art forms. In the Musical
Theatre (boys) club you will enjoy
learning, rehearsing and performing
a variety of musical theatre songs
and scenes with a particular focus on
characterisation and acting through
song. We will explore all sub-genres
from comedy to tragedy to juke box
musicals and will be wonderfully
tuneful along the way. Nail Art Club
(Girls, 7 to 9)
Nash-Harris(AEB)
In the Nail Art Club, you will be given
the opportunity to create inspirational
fake nails using various forms of
nail art techniques. You will not be
decorating your own nails.
Papercutting Club Psychology
Film Club
(Boys and Girls, 12 and 13)
Old Hall (JEB)
In the Papercutting Club you will be
able to create anything from simple
graphic designs to three-dimensional
images. Beginners will have all the
knowledge they need to get started:
from basic techniques to creative
step-by-step projects. It’s also a great
resource for the more advanced
paper-cutter: materials, techniques,
and inspirational projects all feature.
Photography Club
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (RBG)
In the Photography Club you
will link traditional photographic
processes with contemporary digital
practice and have the opportunity
to work creatively and imaginatively
whilst taking and editing your own
photographs.
(Boys and Girls, 11 to 13)
Old Hall (ABA)
The Psychology Film Club will give
you the opportunity to watch films
and documentaries centred on
Psychology and discuss key themes
arising from them.
Sandi Group
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (MG)
Sandi is our link school in South Africa
and if you are interested in visiting
Sandi in the summer of 2017 you are
strongly encouraged to attend this
club and help to plan the visit. You
will also contribute to maintaining the
friendship link between our schools,
help with fundraising initiatives, make
cards and write letters. You will also
learn more about Sandi and South
Africa - the history of the country,
apartheid, Nelson Mandela, the
language of Xhosa (as spoken by
our friends at Sandi), Geography
and nature.
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 69
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
Science Clubs
(Boys at Castle, Girls at Kings,
7 to 9)
Deans’ Hall (LH) and
Nash-Harris (MRDN)
In the Science Club you will do
practical experiments to explore
Science. From making ‘magnetic’
liquids to growing silver foil in amazing
patterns using electricity. You will
grow crystals into amazing shapes
and colours and create compounds
that give out light as they are formed.
You will have a go at exploring
combustion – reacting compounds
with oxygen – with spectacular results
– and much more.
Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Film Club
(Boys and Girls, 11 to 13)
Old Hall (RMB)
In the Sci-Fi Fantasy Film Club, you
will have the opportunity to look at
the growth of this film and television
genre over the last 50 years and
consider why it is so successful. You
will develop critical skills as you
analyse the content, design and
appeal of the films. You will, in some
cases, compare the literary originals to
the screen adaptations, and consider
how the written word has been
brought to life on the screen.
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
Scratch
Spoken Word
Programming Club Performance Club
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (SGF)
In the Scratch Programming Club,
you will get a chance to develop your
own simple computer games. Each
week, you will also be introduced to
a new concept or idea to improve
your programming, which you might
choose to build into your games.
You’ll certainly learn from your
mistakes, as well as learning to
plan ahead, think logically and
consider problems from a number
of different angles.
Snooker
(Boys, 7 and 8)
Deans’ Hall (GRB)
In the Snooker Club you will have
the opportunity to play snooker and
learn the rules of the game. Most of
the time you will be playing as part
of a team so you will have to discuss
your strategy with your partner.
Playing the game will help to develop
your manual dexterity, hand-eye
coordination and your judgement of
angles.
Sounding Board
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Deans’ Hall (MCG)
Meta-learning and the ability to ‘learn
how we learn’ are skills that you will
need for jobs and careers that have not
even been thought of yet. The pace of
change in technology means that you
will need to be flexible in your thinking
in the workplace. The Sounding Board
provides an outlet where you can
discuss ways to promote this theme
throughout the school on the wings
of Building Learning Power. It is a
forum where you will have your say on
how you develop as students and can
become powerful thinkers.
70 BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 9)
Nash-Harris (RJR)
Spoken Word is an oral art that
focuses on the aesthetics of word
play and intonation and voice
inflection. It is a ‘catchall’ that includes
any kind of poetry recited aloud,
including hip-hop, jazz poetry, poetry
slams, traditional poetry readings
and can include comedy routines and
‘prose monologues’. In this club you
will work on creating some written
work and developing the performance
of the piece.
Sports
Performance
Analysis
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Nash-Harris (LC)
The Sports Performance Analysis
Club will give you the opportunity to
develop an understanding of your
own sporting performance, and that
of others with the use of cutting edge
performance technology. You will
utilise video analysis and learn to use
statistical data in order to enhance
your performance and improve your
decision making within your own
sporting field.
STEM KS3 Club Micro: Bits &
PI-eces
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 9)
Nash-Harris (VH/JJS)
The STEM KS3 Club will give you
the opportunity to try your hand at
a little coding with BBC:microbit
and Raspberry Pi and may allow you
to include your device on the High
Altitude Balloon payload that the sixth
form HAB team launches every year.
STEM KS4 Club
(Boys and Girls, 9 and 11)
Deans’ Hall (IMV)
Always fancied yourself as an
engineer? Consider yourself
ingenious and imaginative? In the
STEM KS4 Club you will be given
the opportunity to design, build and
run a variety of hands-on projects,
such as gas powered cars and rockets,
and take your practical skills to the
next level.
STEM KS5 Club
- High Altitude
Balloon
(Boys and Girls, 12 and 13)
Old Hall (SAR/DHy)
Get involved with the STEM KS5 Club
and you can design your own payload
to be transported to the stratosphere.
As part of the Berkhamsted School
Space Agency (BSSA), you will also
have the opportunity to take on roles
of responsibility and leadership as you
liaise with the junior STEM clubs. You
will be involved during the entire year
to achieve a successful launch in the
summer term.
Student
Consultancy
(Boys and Girls, by invitation)
(NAVP)
In the Student Consultancy you will
be trained and work closely as part
of a Management Consultancy Team
to develop your skills and explore
solutions to a particular real business
issue facing a local charitable or
council organisation.
SURREEL
(Boys and Girls, 11 to 13)
Nash-Harris (JDB)
SURREEL is a marketing and
production club. In the field of
production you need to be able to
plan, listen, imagine and collaborate in
order to meet deadlines and produce
high quality products so be ready for
an action packed experience which
will develop these skills. Available
roles include scriptwriters, reporters,
presenters, film crew and video
and artwork editors. This is a 1 year
commitment.
VATS
(Boys and Girls, 12 and 13)
Old Hall (TAG)
In VATS you will have the opportunity
to explore the basics of DJ-ing and
listen to and discuss some of the great
records which have helped to shape
this art-form.
Vintage Fabric
Flower Jewellery
(Boys and Girls, 7 to 13)
Nash-Harris (ELG)
In the dark days of World War 2,
production of jewellery ceased as
materials and expertise were needed
for the War Effort. However this did
not stop girls and young women from
indulging in their love of personal
adornment. From scraps of fabric they
fashioned beautiful items to wear and
to give as gifts. Revisit the 1940s days
of “make do and mend!” In this club,
you will learn how to create stunning
vintage style jewellery from fabric
scraps and odds and ends.
Technical Theatre
Club
(Boys and Girls, 9 to 13)
Nash-Harris (AI)
This club will give you the opportunity
to learn about working behind the
scenes on a musical or dramatic event.
With Drama productions throughout
the year as well as a number of big
music events, there will be lots for
everyone to do!
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL 71
BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL
CASTLE CAMPUS, CASTLE ST, BERKHAMSTED HP4 2BB
01442 358000