cfc NEWS
December 2010
Summer Meeting July, 2010
Annus Mirabilis — Year of Wonders
W
by Alice Stanley, Principal
elcome to all of you. Whether you
are a parent or other relative, a
student, a former parent or student, a
governor, council member, staff member.
We are grateful you are here today. It is
an opportunity to celebrate another year of
wonders for Claremont.
In 1992 in her Christmas speech Queen
Elizabeth II referred to that year as an
Annus Horribilis. At the time I heard that, I
thought, “Gee how bad can it be? She is still
the queen!”
For those of you who are not current
on your Latin phrases, Annus Horribilis
means horrible year. For the queen, 1992
was the year two of her sons had failing
marriages, something that was not
supposed to happen in the royal family,
and her beloved Windsor Castle had a
serious fire. Still, she was the queen, and
had the resources to repair the damage and
move forward.
At the time, the queen’s comment got
me thinking. For a variety of reasons 1992
had not been a very good year for me
either. For instance, 1992 was the year
my mother passed away. And since I was
not the queen, I did not have the same
resources to put things right.
However, it did make me think about
what I did have. And looking at the
treasures of my life, although not on the
level of the crown jewels, I realized that
there were still blessings for which to be
grateful. In some ways the difficulties I
experienced made the good I had more
sweet and dear to my heart. I could go
forward with what I did have and expect
progress. In some ways the horrible year I
faced at that time set me on the road that
has led me here at this time.
What does this have to do with us
here today? Well, I suppose each one of
us at one time or another experiences a
difficult year. However, what we do about it
determines how our next year will go, and
the next, and the next, and the next. It is all
about perspective.
The term annus horribilis is actually
derived from what might be considered an
opposite term, annus mirabilis — or year of
wonders. John Dryden used that term in the
title of his epic poem in 1667 about the year
1666. On the surface, 1666 did not seem to be
a year of wonders. In fact, it probably could
easily have been described as a horrible
year. It was the year of the great fire of London.
The Great Plague was continuing during
that year.
However, Dryden did not seem to see
the horrible nature of the year. Instead, he
saw only opportunity. Much of London
was spared in the fire. King Charles II
was committed to a speedy rebuilding of
London for the parts that were destroyed.
While the plague had killed many, there
were many more people remaining, ready
to take on the future.
Also in that year, the English had
defeated the Dutch in a great naval battle.
Dryden saw this as both remarkable and
as a sign for the future. He felt such a
victory established the English as a world
power—a force to be reckoned with. He
saw the defeat of the Dutch as bringing
incredible opportunity for expanded trade
for England.
There were also important discoveries
in that year. Cambridge University was
closed due to the plague. One Cambridge
student, Isaac Newton, spent the time
he now had to work on discoveries and
ideas– like his three laws of motion, his
understanding of gravity, and to further
refine his invention of calculus. For those
of you who love mathematics, the elegance
of calculus is a wonder. For those of you
who do not thrive on mathematics, you
may see it as a wonder that anyone
understands it.
Was 1666 a horrible year, or a year
of wonders? Both! But it was the year of
wonders that took precedence.
Consider this quote from Voltaire about
Isaac Newton: “In a country where mortals
are canonized, his discoveries might very well
pass for miracles.”
Here is a quote from John Dryden in
another poem written in the 1680s: “Is it
not evident, in these last hundred years (when
the Study of Philosophy has been the business
of all the Virtuosi in Christendome) that almost
a new Nature has been revealed to us? that
more errours have been detected, more useful
Experiments in Philosophy have been made,
more Noble Secrets in Opticks, Medicine,
Anatomy, Astronomy, discover’d, than in all
those credulous and doting Ages from Aristotle
to us? So true it is that nothing spreads more
fast than Science, when rightly and generally
cultivated.”
Couldn’t some of this be said of
our own time as well? There have been
incredible discoveries and scientific
inventions in the last 100 years. What an
exciting time to live! In some ways, every
year is a year of wonders.
On the other hand, world conditions
might cause us to think that every year
could be considered a horrible year.
Economic conditions, crime, BP pipeline
problems, England’s failure in the World
Cup, all could be viewed as parts of a
difficult year. How do we determine what is a
horrible year and what is a year of wonders?
What was it that allowed Dryden to
look at a year that might have looked
devastating and instead see a year of
wonders?
Dryden looked past the difficulties of
1666 and saw promise and hope.
While it might seem that we do not
have a choice—that we are victims of what
happens to us—it is important to realize
that we always have a choice as to how
to respond to difficulties. We can become
victims or we can choose to be victors.
In sports, at least in the United States,
there is a concept called recovery time.
What is meant by that is once a player
makes a mistake, how long does it take
for the player to put it behind him and get
back in the game. Lots of players make
mistakes in a sports match. One thing
that distinguishes a good player from a
mediocre one is a short recovery time. If
a player consistently keeps reliving the
mistake—the missed shot, the less than
well-placed kick, the serve that did not
have the needed strength—, he does not
have his mind on the current state of play.
He can’t make the next goal if he keeps
thinking about the one he missed. In the
same way, once we have a difficult year, or
day, or month, how long does it take us to
shake it off and work toward the next goal
or point? Are we focusing on the negative
details that sometimes invade our lives,
or are we finding every day that there are
wonders to celebrate?
If we think about Dryden’s enthusiasm
for progress, we see another important
point — Faith in the future. When Dryden
wrote his poem it was 1667. What he termed
the year of wonders, 1666, was barely over
when he wrote about it. There was the
promise of London being rebuilt, yes, but it
was not accomplished yet. Still, he was able
to see the positive nature of what was taking
place. He was able to accept the promise,
have faith that there was reason for hope.
He did not dwell on the sad occurrences
and bemoan the fate of tough times.
One of the things I like best about
working in a school is that every year
provides a fresh start. Each and every year
is special. For a child, there is always a
new opportunity to have a good year in
Reception, or Year 1, or Year 2, or....well,
you get the idea.
Parents are in a position to encourage
children to always expect a year of
wonders. We never want children to have
a difficult year. Still, they will experience
challenges and it is important that we
help them use those challenges to become
stronger, to find new opportunities.
It is now many years since 1992 and
all the reasons that made that year a
difficult one for me. I am actually here in
the United Kingdom, something I would
never have imagined back in 1992. While
not a British citizen, I feel much closer to
the history of both the Queen and John
Dryden. I have visited some of the places
that have made Great Britain what it is
today. And I can’t help but notice that
many of the strengths of this country
have roots in troubled times. The discord
of the reign of Henry VIII gave us Queen
school NEWS
Summer Meeting Speech cont...
Elizabeth I. The lack of an heir in the early
1800s gave us Queen Victoria. The tyranny
of King John gave us the Magna Carta.
There is an old saying– What doesn’t
kill you makes you stronger. Having been
through a difficult time does make us
stronger. It tests our metal, so to speak. It
gives us the courage and confidence to take
on other challenges and be successful.
The first verse of a hymn in the
Christian Science hymnal says:
As gold by fire is tested,
Its purity shown forth,
So cleansing fires of Truth may prove
To man his native worth.
Your worth can be proven in a fire-like
experience. But that should be the least
of it. Even a difficult year should have
something in it to celebrate. What new
opportunities have come to you as a result
of the hard times?
Mary Baker Eddy wrote in her book
Science & Health on page 574: “The very
circumstance, which your suffering sense deems
wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel
entertained unawares.”
Sometimes the very situation in which
we find ourselves, that seems so difficult,
is the very situation that pushes us
forward, makes us try something else,
gives us a new view of the future.
Sometimes it is that very circumstance that
brings with it a blessing.
Perhaps not making a team gives us
the time to develop a new hobby. Maybe
a disappointment in one area means we
take the time to travel or develop other
experiences.
If we think back to the Great Fire of
London, can you imagine the London
skyline without Christopher Wren’s
incredible St. Paul’s Cathedral? Yet
without the fire we would not have that.
The old St. Paul’s was certainly prominent,
but Wren’s work is outstanding, a true
masterpiece.
Thinking about that cathedral rising
from the ashes, so to speak, from the old
one, I am reminded of the story of the
Phoenix—the mythical bird which is reborn
from the ashes of a fire. In some ways, fire,
whether real or metaphorical, can bring
that sense of purification and renewal.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote in Miscellany
on page 64: “A great sanity, a mighty
something buried in the depths of the unseen,
has wrought a resurrection among you,
and has leaped into living love. What is this
something, this phoenix fire, this pillar by day,
kindling, guiding, and guarding your way?
It is unity, the bond of perfectness, the
thousandfold expansion that will engirdle the
world, — unity, which unfolds the thought
most within us into the greater and better, the
sum of all reality and good.”
When speaking about rebuilding,
unity is certainly an important quality. It
is the strength of unity that helps rebuild.
That unity was certainly important as
London rebuilt after the fire.
Unity is an important quality to
Claremont as well. And I am grateful every
day for the unity expressed by various
people and groups who make up the school.
We are all united in forging a school that
gives our children a year of wonders, not
just this year, but year after year after year.
The PTA, our group of fantastic
parents, is certainly an important part
of that unity. You all support this school
in so many ways—the fund raising, the
volunteer work, but most of all, the
confidence you place in us to educate
your children. This is an important
partnership.
The staff is also a key piece of our united
fabric. I appreciate the camaraderie between
teachers, the diligence you show, your
dedication to education. And I don’t
want to leave out staff members who are
not teachers. We could not do without
the support of each of you, each individual
who works here whether it is as a secretary,
in Facilities, Marketing, development,
accounting, or any of the many important
positions throughout the school.
We also appreciate the role Governors
and Council members play. How important
you are in setting the policy for the school.
How generously you give of your time and
talents.
For those of you who have links to the
past, your continued support is a key role
as well. Your appreciation for your years
of wonder when you were here, or when
your children were here, help us all see the
promise of the future.
This unity can only bring new blessings
to the school. It can ensure that each year
is a year of wonders for each child at
Claremont Fan Court School.
I hope you will all agree with me that
this past year has been a year of wonders.
The children have learned, made progress,
grown in strength, spirit, and understanding.
Lessons have been learned and discoveries
made. And when challenges have come,
those challenges have made us stronger.
Yes, it truly has been a year of wonders, and
we look forward to many more progressive
years ahead.
n
Public Examination Results 2009/10
We are very pleased with A Level and GCSE grades for this year which are a result of both our students’ commitment to their studies
and the care our teachers take in their classes.
A LEVEL RESULTS
• 100% pass rate was achieved by our 27 Upper VI students • 70% of these results were at A*, A or B grades.
Particular mention should be made of the following students:
Euan Philip
Subjects and grades
Further Mathematics A*, Mathematics A* Physics A, Chemistry A University
Reading
Bath University (scholar)
Mathematics
Churchill College, Cambridge University
(Commonwealth scholar)
Mathematics
Further Mathematics A*, Mathematics A*
Physics B Imperial College, University of London
Mathematics
Textiles A*, Art B, English Language B
Bournemouth University
Events Management
Art A, English Literature A, Biology A
Southampton University Psychology
Samantha Gabriel
Art A, Biology A, Chemistry B, Mathematics B
Queen Mary, University of London
Medical Materials
Harry Insall-Reid
Art A, English Literature A, History B
Kent University
Architecture
Dapeng Wang
Further Mathematics A*, Mathematics A* Physics A
Daniel Na
Grace Clarke
Annie Kimber Michael Speer
Abigail Hughes Design and Technology A, Mathematics A Southampton University
Physics B
English Language A, Media Studies A, Photography C Gap year
Civil Engineering
Amish Patel
Geography A, Mathematics A, Economics C
Manchester University
Emma Ferguson Physical Education A, Biology B, History B Birmingham University Computer Science and
Business Management
Sport & Exercise Sciences
Charlotte Kydd
Tamsyn Neligan Michael Vipond
Lucy Hitchcock
Matthew Morton
Art A, Biology B, Physical Education B
Birmingham University
Sport & Exercise Sciences
Economics A, Mathematics B, History B Nottingham University American Studies
Media Studies A
Design and Technology B, Photography B Writtle College,
Landscape & Garden Design
University of Essex
English Language A, Media Studies B, Theatre Studies C Bournemouth University
Photography A, Biology B, Chemistry C
Southampton University
Communications & Media
Biology
The following students will also attend their university of choice:
Olivia Bell Oliver Cotterell Bryce Evans Gregory Forsyth Elly Gierhart
Sam Gierhart Georgia Morris Max Murgatroyd Alasdair Roberts George Smart
Olivia Taylor
University
Gloucestershire University Gap year
Cardiff University
Bolton University
Gloucestershire University
Birmingham University
Brighton University
Aberystwyth University
York St John University
Brunel University
Brighton University Reading
Events Management
Environmental Geoscience
Games Design
Events Management
Biological Sciences
International Event Management
Biochemistry
History
Industrial Design
International Event Management
GCSE RESULTS
• 100% of students achieved at least 5 A* - C GCSE grades.
• 73 students sat examinations in 23 subjects.
• 37% of the results were at A*/A grade and the overall pass rate was 98% (A*-C)
From 10th to 12th February the epic Rodgers and
Hammerstein musical, The King and I, will be getting the
‘Claremont spectacular’ treatment – at the Leatherhead
Theatre. Check your diary now and whether an ‘old girl/boy’
or a current/past parent or friend, please accept this very warm
invitation to support our present student performers and,
perhaps, meet up with old friends.
As you almost certainly know from the film, the
plot focuses upon a dramatic clash of cultures and personalities,
is both funny and touching. Alexis Affonso, our Musical
Director, has some super melodies to conjure up from cast
and orchestra, and Shereene Al-ard, an ex-CFCS student,
now professional choreographer, is busy creating a glittering “Siamese version of ‘Uncle
Tom’s Cabin’.”
Over 60 Senior School performers are about to be joined by a number of Juniors and
rehearsals are making excellent progress. We aim to have the whole show ‘blocked’ on
stage by Christmas. We won’t be able to tread the Leatherhead boards (a space about four
times larger than our own stage) until production week and so we’re working on the floor
of the whole JGC hall. This production will be on a scale not previously seen at the School.
We now just need to sell 1500 tickets! Given our past theatrical achievements, this
should be very possible, but success will largely depend on you. Please complete the
booking form below and return to it to Linda Braithwaite at the School as soon as
possible. If you are an ex-Claremont Fan Court student who took part in school
productions, we’d love you to join us on the Friday evening for a ‘Past Casts Blast’. Alan
Hitchcock and I, along with Alexis Affonso, our current Director of Music, will be hosting
a reunion buffet just for you at the Theatre from 6.30pm, on Friday 11th February. Let us
know if you would like to join us.
We are producing a superb Souvenir Brochure to accompany the production but need
to find advertisers. Therefore, if you own a business, or have business contacts who may
be interested in advertising, we really would like to hear from you. The brochure will not
only reach our immediate audiences, but will also be seen by several times that number:
extended families and friends, the Leatherhead public and prospective parents who will
‘come upon it’ long after our last night.
We are performing at Leatherhead to give as many students as possible the experience
of making and performing theatre on a scale that we just cannot manage at School. As a
result we have a ‘black hole’ of about £4000 in our projected budget, caused entirely by
the cost of theatre rental. If you, or anybody you know, felt in a position to be an “Angel”
(major sponsor) we would be more than delighted to hear from you. There could be
a number of “Angels” who could (if they so wished) have their names/businesses very
publicly associated with the production.
To book tickets, indicate an interest in brochure advertising or becoming an “Angel”,
please complete the form below and return it to us by Friday 17th December.
#
Kenneth Kimber
Director of Drama
Claremont Fan Court Sixth Form student
Jasper Tambini, has been representing Great
Britain in the World Youth Under 18 Chess
Championship. He was part of a team of 10
taking part in the competition in Greece held
in October.
Jasper was selected for the team by achieving
second place in a qualifying tournament.
In preparation for the Championship he
attended a training weekend at Wellington
College, led by two British Grand Masters,
Lorin d’Costa and Simon Williams.
Jasper started to play chess at the School
in the Chess Club and was encouraged
then to take part in competitions outside
school. He is the reigning School champion,
naturally enough! Jasper says he finds chess
exciting, tactical and as exhausting as a 100
metre sprint. He has enjoyed the possibilities
it has given him in terms of travel and
meeting interesting people.
CFCS confirmed again as one of the top Schools
in the country for Mathematics
On Wednesday 24 November, four pupils took part in the Regional Final of the UK
Senior Team Maths Challenge at Surrey University in Guildford. The CFCS team of Ming
Chen and Justin Baek from Year 12 with Jungwoo Rhee and Johnny Shin from Year 11 was
pitted against pupils from 23 other qualifying schools from all over Surrey. As in previous
years, the standard of competition was incredibly high, with the best young mathematicians
in the county straining every synapse to get the most problems solved in the time limit.
The contest is divided into three rounds, each requiring total accuracy, lightning quick
calculations and careful teamwork, and over two and a half hours the students’
perseverance and intellectual stamina was tested to the limit.
Announcing the results at the end of the contest, the organisers observed that although
most schools had done very well, with scores of 140 to 160 out of 200, the top three schools
stood head and shoulders above the rest. In first place, retaining the position they won last
year, was Royal Grammar School, Guildford, with an outstanding score of 194. In second
place, only a few points behind them, was the CFCS team, narrowly edging into third place
the team from the Royal School, Haslemere. Although they just missed out yet again on a
place in the national final, the boys were delighted with their performance and came home
in jubilant mood.
This was the School’s third appearance in this event, and our third podium place, thus
continuing to confirm CFCS’s reputation as one of the top schools in the county for mathematics.
Please enter number of tickets required per performance and
make your cheque payable to:
Leatherhead Theatre Co. Ltd
Feb 10
Feb 11
Feb 12
q
q
q
q
q
q
x Adult £10
x Adult £12
x Adult £12
q
q
q
x Child £6
x Child £8
x Child £8
I am past cast and would like to attend the Past Cast Event on Friday, February 11
Please tick if you are interested in advertising in the show programme
Please tick if you wish to be a sponsor of the show as an ‘angel’
Your Name ____________________________________________________________________
Your Address __________________________________________________________________
Contact No. _ __________________________________________________________________
Please return form to Linda Braithwaite, Senior School,
Claremont Fan Court School, Claremont Drive, Esher, Surrey KT10 9LY
CLAREMONT FAN COURT SCHOOL
An independent co-educational school for children aged 3-18
 01372 473624
THE TIMES
British Sodoku Champion
We offer our congratulations to past pupil
George Danker, who became The Times 2010
British Sudoku Champion. 19 year old George,
who attended Claremont Fan Court from 1995
to 2001 and sat his maths GCSE in Year 6, was
a member of the British Sudoku team who
came 6th in the World Sudoku Championships
in Philadelphia in April this year. He is currently
a maths undergraduate at Trinity college,
Cambridge.
www.claremont-school.co.uk
OPEN
MORNING
Spring 2011
Whole School
Saturday 12 February
Saturday 12 March
10:00am - 12:30pm
The Principal will speak at 10:00am
focus on Faculty of Science and Technology
An Interview
with
David Ridings
Head of Faculty for Science & Technology
BSc Hons (St Andrews), PGCE (Oxon)
Question: I understand that against the
national trend of fewer students taking a
science course at A level, at Claremont actually
a greater number of A level students take a
science class? Why do you suppose that
happens?
David: That is a good question. I would
like to think that is attributed to the
high quality of teaching and a very
successful programme. The Faculty of
Science and Technology is large, dynamic
and successful. Not only are the teachers
well-educated and well-prepared, but
they work very hard to make science
meaningful and interesting to students.
We have 14 teachers across the science
disciplines and we are also supported
by six specialist technicians who are very
much the backbone of a smooth running
system. The subjects offered are vast,
providing students with a rich and varied
curriculum. The Science Department teaches
challenging subjects in a friendly, fun and
supportive environment. Our Staff are very
committed and many extra hours are given
to help students succeed.
Do you offer more than just the standard
classroom instruction?
David: Yes! Many enrichment trips are on
offer to take the subjects outside of the
classroom. Last March Biologists had a day
of research visiting the Natural History
Museum and also visited the Darwin
Centre, a state-of-the-art science and
collections facility. The central display
provided a self-guided tour of worldleading scientists at work, incredible
specimens, exciting displays and interactive
activities. They also spent time at the Royal
College of Surgeons visiting the Hunterian
Museum and were treated to four centuries
of surgery, medicine, natural history and
the arts and were able to explore over 3,500
anatomical and pathological preparations,
fossils, paintings and drawings. London
Zoo was also visited to undertake an
ethnological study of primates, recording
observations and then mapping them to
ascertain hierarchical structure and activity
A student experiments with exploding methane
bubbles in Science Club
based behaviours.
The AS Chemistry students were
challenged at the University of Reading at
a spectroscopy workshop in which they
toured their chemical analysis facility and
learnt about nuclear magnetic resonance.
Physicists travelled to Bournemouth
to learn about the Physics of surfing. The
day really developed the students’ logic,
creativity and presentation skills. Sixth
Form Chemists and Physicists are soon off
to CERN in Geneva to learn about particle
physics and the Large Hadron Collider.
Lower down the School, Science Club
continues to grow with many students
being enthused by the lunchtime sessions.
The Faculty includes Technology as well, so
how popular is that?
David: Technology continues to be
very popular and successful offering an
impressive choice of study including Food,
Resistance Materials, Graphic Products,
Textiles, Media Studies and Information
Communication Technology. The specialised teaching staff are very experienced
and have a true passion for their subjects.
Many students who have studied A level
technology have gone into careers in
engineering and Product Design as a direct
result of their studies and welcome visit
from past pupils.
In fact, the Technology department
offers something to students before they
even enter the Senior School with the ever
popular Technology Day. Over the past
ten years Technology Day has allowed
many pupils from various feeder schools
to experience a day in the life of Claremont
Fan Court School. This year’s Technology
Day saw 44 prospective student creating a
range of products within the Technology
sphere based around the theme of Native
Americans and then showing off their days
work to their parents at the final afternoon
PowWow.
With all those real life activities across the Faculty
the students must do very well on exams.
David: There have been numerous
successes, too many to mention them all
here. Most notably, four of our students
have been awarded a prestigious
Arkwright Scholarship – only four percent
of five thousand applicants achieve this;
Douglas Mann (current Sixth Form Student)
is the latest student to achieve this. Prior
to this Ian Midgley (1995-2001), David
Hogg (1990-2004) and Stephen Clarke
(1995-2007) were winners of this award.
Textiles, a relatively new subject for
Claremont, saw Grace Clarke achieve an
A* for her A2 textile design. This is truly
commendable as Grace would have had
to achieve an A grade in ninety percent of
her final year work. In Food Technology
GCSE students were entered for their
module during year 10. All students
achieved either an A or A* grade, a real
credit to a hard-working department.
The practical work being produced in
the controlled assessment module of
the GCSE puts Junior Master Chef to
shame. All students in ICT study for
a Diploma in Digital Applications
(unit 1 – level 2). This qualification is
equivalent to one GCSE and is based
on active participation and is entirely
coursework based. Last year students
achieved 100% pass rate which is excellent.
Those are really impressive results, and I
notice you also spoke about GCSE level.
David: Well, I think part of the reason we
have so many students taking science or
technology courses at A level is because of
the high quality instruction we offer at the
Douglas Mann became the fourth Claremont Fan Court pupil to be awarded a prestigious
Arkwright Scholarship. Out of 5,000 applicants the Trust awarded just 175 scholarships, which
included an application form, where Dougie described his GCSE Technology Project, a bike cafe and
workshop, and explained how engineering is an interest in his life. Next was a competitive aptitude
test which focussed on the design stage of a system. Finally, Dougie spent a day at Imperial College,
a university renowned for engineering, taking part in problem-solving activities and being
interviewed. The award includes sponsorship money for the pupil and school. Douglas will also be given a
sponsor who will provide him with a link to industry with the possibility of continuing his
sponsorship for his time at university.
younger levels of the school. At GCSE most
students choose separate sciences, highlighting the passion in the school for these
subjects.
In this age of instant communication and mass
media can you tell us about the Media Studies
Programme?
David: Media Studies, also under the
umbrella of Technology, is an expanding
and well-liked choice at GCSE and A level,
with pupils embracing the challenges of
new technology in their own film, web
and print productions. The department’s
versatile Apple Macs with green screen
technology are taking pupils’ creativity to
new levels with easily integrated video,
stills and audio. Stunning examples at
GCSE include graphic novels, film posters,
DVD pack designs, thriller film openings
and romantic comedy, singled out by the
chief examiner for their imagination and
creativity. A Level students achieved very
high examination marks, having benefited
from study days at the British Film Institute
and Rich Mix Arts. Their creative portfolios
have broken new ground this year,
venturing into games programming (a
quest searching for Lord Clive of India’s
gold sovereigns) and creating idents for
new TV programmes as well as polished
websites, music videos, podcasts and
PowerPoints with embedded sound and
video, music digipacks and music magazines.
Film Club pupils of all ages frequent the
studio in free time to make and watch films.
It sounds like a very full curriculum. Do you
feel that the Faculty is now at its limit of
development?
David: No! We are always looking at ways
to enrich and expand the curriculum for
our pupils to stretch and enhance their
educational experience. For example a
challenging Food Technology GCSE
syllabus has recently been introduced for
Year 10 which will enable students not only to
demonstrate their creativity in making
food products to a very high standard
but also gain a greater knowledge about
the functional properties, manufacture
and production of food. Our key stage
3 pupils continue to amaze, regularly
producing dishes Jamie Oliver would be
proud of, helping to promote a healthy
eating lifestyle and encouraging them to
make positive food choices.
Last year students were offered the
option of Textiles in Year 9. They completed
a creative shoe design project producing a
ballerina shoe or a Van style trainer. The
main aim of the project was to encourage
pupils to be able to realise their design ideas
and has led to the option of GCSE Textiles
this year which is an exciting addition to
the faculty.
From what you have said Science and Technology
are truly thriving at the School. Is there anything
holding back further expansion and development?
David: At present due to the popularity
of Science and Technology in the School
space and accommodation is a problem.
Although we endeavour to accommodate
all our teaching and learning in specialised
learning environments some lessons
unfortunately have to be taught out of the
Faculty buildings. We hope to be applying
for planning permission for an extension to
the present facilities very soon to address
the shortage of space within the Faculty
area.
Technology Taster Day 2010 – creativity in the
workshop
Introducing the
Science and Technology
Teaching Staff
Lower Junior School Science Week
Science at Claremont Fan Court runs through every level of the School. During the
last academic year the Lower Juniors hosted an excellent Science Week with lots of visual
and hands-on experiences for the younger ones to expand their learning experience. Two
of the School’s own pupils participated in sharing their knowledge with all of the Lower
Junior pupils: Dexter Bird from Year 6 began the week bringing in his lizards for an
interesting assembly which all the children thoroughly enjoyed. He then took his lizards
round to show each class and pupils were able to see the lizards close up and touch
them; Cameron Williamson from Year 2 (see photo below) gave a wonderful and creative
Mr Anthony Boothe
Biology
assembly in which he showed and described four scientific experiments to all the Lower
and General Science Teacher
Junior children. As a result he was invited to sign the Book of Excellence in the Principal’s
BSc Hons (Northampton), PGCE
Office.
Mr Ron Bibby, the Surrey consultant for Science, visited the School and performed
scientific experiments with each class. There were also fascinating and informative visits
Mr Ian Ford
from many other experts, mostly our own Lower Junior Parents whose career areas span
Chemistry
from ophthalmic surgeon to astrophysicist to sound technician and gave so willingly of
and General Science Teacher
BSc Hons (Dundee), MRSC, PGCE their time.
Fun with Technology
This term the Year 6 technology lessons have
found pupils focusing on their technical,
creative design and programming skills,
using a specially designed on-screen logo
programming software ProBotix for Pro-Bot
which includes the programming of a bright
yellow car. This unit helps the students to
develop a deeper understanding of control
and the influence that ICT can have on
devices in the world around us. Using their
laptops, the students are discovering how to
programme the car using its virtual model
on screen, creating complex patterns and
challenging paths around obstacles. They
can then programme the advanced floor bot
(yellow car) to follow their own set route
around floor maps. The possibilities are
endless and they are all having colossal fun.
Mrs Susan Friend
Science Teacher
BSc Hons (Kingston)
Mr Paul Gladstone
Head of Technology
MA (Surrey), BEd (Middlesex),
Member of Chartered Society
of Designers
Mrs Tessa Hart
Teacher in Charge of Textiles
BA Hons (Liverpool), PGCE
Miss Kirsten Hinz
Biology
and General Science
BSc (Victoria, NZ), Teaching Dip
Miss Alison Jackson
Physics
and General Science Teacher
BSc (Durham), PGCE
Miss Leah Johnson
Technology Teacher
BA / BTeach (Tech), (Australia)
Mrs Susan Knight
Teacher in Charge of
Food Technology
NCHEE Dip
Mrs Jennifer Mann
Head of Media
MA (Open), BA Hons (Exeter),
PGCE
A Swell Day Out
On 14 October the Claremont AS
and A2 physicists, accompanied by
Mr Ridings and Miss Jackson, enjoyed
a fun-packed and physics-filled day of
learning on the beach by Boscombe Pier in
Bournemouth.
Run by Advanced Skills Teacher
Neil Atkin, and entitled Physics of Surfing,
the course involved a morning classroom session studying projectile motion
and learning about the physics of waves
(all important aspects of the Sixth Form
course), and an afternoon surfing lesson
with an instructor from Bournemouth
Surf School. The students were also set the
challenge of making a five minute video
about the famous “Monkey and Hunter”
thought experiment which challenged not
only their logic but also their team working and presentation skills.
The students thoroughly enjoyed this
memorable day, and we hope that we
will be able to make this activity a regular
feature in the physics course in future
years.
Cambridge University Physics Summer School
Mrs Patricia Ronksley
Teacher in Charge of Chemistry
BSc (Manchester), PGCE
Justin Scobie
Head of Science
MA Ed (Open), BSc Hons (Exeter),
CBiol, MIBiol, PGCE
Mrs Pippa Webb
Teacher in Charge of ICT
BA Hons (Brighton), PGCE
During the summer of 2009, Dapeng Wang, then a lower
sixth student, was accepted on the fourth Cambridge
University Senior Physics Challenge. He faced incredibly
tough competition for the residential summer school which
is designed for high achievers in the discipline.
Whilst at the Cavendish Laboratory he attended general
physics lectures, research lectures and attend laboratory
classes. The intensive tuition is designed to emphasise
the development of problem-solving and experimental
skills in physics. To be accepted on the challenge
Dapeng had to demonstrate his aptitude for physical and
mathematical thinking.
Dapeng was a joint recipient of the School’s Cooper Award
for Overall Excellence at the end of the 2010 Academic Year.
Introducing the
Science and Technology
Technicians
Mrs Tatiana Charlish
Science Technician
BA (Leningrad), PGCE
Mrs Kathleen Colquhoun
Senior Science Technician
AIMLT
Mrs Stephanie Sellings
Science Technician
BTech, NVQ 3
Mrs Gillian Winskell
Science Technician
BSc (Kingston)
Mrs S Kidd
Technology Technician
Mr Peter Fuller
Technology Technician
Cert Ed (London)
past pupil NEWS
1959 Claremont Boarder Returns to Plant a Tree
After boarding for just two years Susanna Davy
(1957-59) was so homesick she left Claremont
School much to her Mother’s sorrow. It took
many years to forgive her mother for sending
her away. It was her studies recently in America
which involved a section on landscape design
and the choice of Claremont as a special study
that brought Susanna to get in touch with the
School for photographs and information, and
then to visit and plant a tree. Now Susanna
Gilbert she was put in touch with The
Claremont Tree Society who had been given a
Blackjack Oak Quercus marilandica and were
thinking it would be pleasing to hear from
someone wishing to plant a tree. What synchronicity! On Thursday 14th October Kim Stapff,
Sara Fletcher, Eric
and Noelle Leigh
had the pleasure of
witnessing Susanna
making her peace
with Claremont and
planting her tree.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas
Past pupil Jill Bennett (1946-51) e-mailed us from Bath with beautiful photographs of her
miniature nativity scene to wish us all a very happy holiday season.
Jill Bennett started making dolls in the late 1970s and found they were an ideal vehicle for
her three great interests - story telling, the theatre and social history.
She tries to make each doll a person, with individual personality and clothes to match,
whether they are aristocrat, servant or street urchin. Jill Bennett makes small dolls. Most of
them are strictly 1 inch to the foot (1/12th scale is the international scale for dolls houses). But
from time to time she makes slightly larger ones up to 9 inches high.
The miniature dolls have porcelain heads and pewter bodies strung through with
twisted steel wire at the joints. This gives them considerable flexibility to stand or sit or
adopt other poses. The larger dolls have porcelain heads, hands and feet. Their bodies are
padded and wired to give some flexibility.
Jill Bennett has been drawing and painting all her life. As a child she wanted to be a
children’s book illustrator and indeed she worked as one for many years. Among the authors
she has illustrated are Roald Dahl, Dorothy Edwards, Dick King-Smith and Helen Cresswell.
Her other great love is the theatre. After leaving Claremont she studied theatre design
at Wimbledon School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art. So began a lifetime study of
historical clothes and the way of life of the people who wore them.
Jill’s dolls are frequently described as ‘exquisite’ - and exquisite they are. Whatever
period, they are accurately and beautifully dressed. But they are more than decorative
objects. Look into the faces and you will see a unique human being - adult or child, rich or
poor - with a distinct personality, and a life going on. Indeed, Jill says she can only dress
a doll when she knows who that person really is. The Comedie Humane of life, is the rich
subject present in all of Jill’s work, that will no doubt continue to inspire her, and her
audience into the future.
Claremont Pupils have the X-Factor
Back at the beginning of October, one of our parents, Graham Stack who is a music
producer for the X Factor, approached the Director of Music needing a backing track with
young teenagers singing for an upcoming show. The track was for Cheryl Cole’s act Cher
Lloyd who was singing her own rendition of Hard Knock Life by Jay-Z for the second live
show.
The School’s Music Hall was transformed into a studio and after several takes the job
was done. If you would like to have a listen to the end result, the section from the show
is available to view and listen to through youtube - search for Cher Lloyd. Goodie bags
were provided by Mr and Mrs Stack for all participating students and they found the whole
experience both exciting and worthwhile. It’s not every school that can appear on X Factor
but we are glad to say that Claremont Fan Court did!
Past Pupil is One Step Away From Performing at The 02
Surrey, 22 November 2010 – Twenty three year old singer/songwriter Lauren Casey,
from Esher, wowed the crowd and impressed the panel of judges at the Open Mic UK
regional finals gaining top marks and a place in the national semi-finals in November.
Lauren is now one step away from her dream to perform at the 02 in London!
Lauren attended Claremont Fan Court School from 1998 to 2004 and this is where she
found her passion for music. Over eight thousand acts entered the Open Mic UK 2010 and
the best unsigned singers from across the country were chosen to perform at the Regional
live finals. Lauren performed at the Princes Hall in Aldershot and through her beautiful
rendition of Alicia Keys Fallin and her own song Please from her EP album If Only..., Lauren
was invited to perform at the Aldershot Christmas lights switch on in November.
Lauren is now set to perform as one of the 100 solo artists who have got through to the
semi-finals across the UK. Lauren will be giving the performance of her life in Portsmouth
at the 1500 seat venue Portsmouth Guildhall, in front of a live audience and music industry
judging panel, to secure a place at the national grand final at the O2 in London on 15 January
2011.
Lauren expresses, “I am so excited about the next stage and I love the whole experience.
I have learned so much already and this has given me a much needed confidence boost. My
dream is to become a professional recording artist and to perform at the O2 would be an
incredible opportunity! I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me, including the
support from the local media.” She continues, “This is something I have always wanted and
I am so lucky to be given this opportunity and platform to share my passion for music. I am
looking forward to the semi finals and I am now preparing myself for the big event by doing
a few gigs and events across Surrey and Portsmouth.”
Open Mic UK is the exciting national talent competition which searches for the UK’s
best singers, singer/songwriters, rappers and vocalists. It’s open to all genres and acts can
perform a cover or original material. There’s over £50,000 in prizes up for grabs this year
and the overall winner will be offered a recording contract, with up to £30,000 investment!
They’ll also have the opportunity to tour across 100 venues in the UK.
One of the fantastic prizes is the ‘Extreme Exposure Award’, which is for the act that
shows the most enthusiasm and determination within the competition. This is judged
through their promotional activities across several platforms online and across the UK.
Lauren is the current leader for this prize and with her promotional activities extending
from Surrey to Portsmouth she could have a chance of winning.
A spokesperson for Open Mic UK commented “We are searching for an act that not only
has the live ability to impress an audience, industry judges and A&R associates, but an act
that has the potential to become a professional recording artist. The standard was high last
year and this year it has been even better. Acts that have made it through to the Semi Finals
will really need to give it their best performance because they could be performing at the
best live music venue in the country!”
The latter stages of the competition will also provide acts with the opportunity to
impress many guests from record labels, agencies and the entertainment industry as well as
judges from National Radio, BBC Introducing and Regional Press.
If you want to catch Lauren in person she will be performing on 11 December in the
Christmas Sounds Programme in Portsmouth from 2.30pm to 4pm.
For more information and to support Lauren visit www.myspace.com/laurencaseymusic.
Reunions
Two groups have been in touch with us recently for help to promote interest in upcoming
reunions. If you would like help in organising a reunion, finding friends or advertising your
reunion please contact [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.
Class reunion of Year 1972 - please contact Heather Pickerill (Johnstone) on
[email protected] or Jennie Wisher on [email protected]. We would
love to hear from any former class mates who are interested in getting together for a
class reunion.
Class reunion of Year 1986 – please contact [email protected]. Scheduled
for sometime around May 2011.
Past School Productions Cast Members - Friday 11 February at the Leatherhead
Theatre followed by the Senior School Production of The King and I. Please contact
[email protected]
the oldest of whom, Thomas Courtney, is
now serving with the Parachute Regiment
and is due to do a six months tour in
Afghanistan commencing in September.
Marriages
Holly Seaton-Wood 5th December 2009 (see
pic above)
Births
To Paul Woodhead (1977-90) and his wife
Tomoko, as son Shaun on 3rd July 2010
In Memoriam
Heather Saul (Past Staff)
Elizabeth MacGeagh (1997-2000)
News
Jane Shelton (Bayley 1943-47, past staff)
– I love living in Putney near my sons
and daughter (Susie, Claremont 1973-78)
and was happy to see my eldest grandson
married on October 30th in the Henry VII
chapel in Westminster Abbey. Often think
of my happy years teaching at Claremont
(74-89) and determined to visit the school
again sometime in 2011.
William Orchard (1947-50) – Sold house
moved into rented accommodation took
view housing in London overpriced. We
will see. Continue to be active with my
interest in using waste heat from electricity
generation to heat cities. Recent paper
given to IAEE conference in Vilnius on
reasons why when waste heat from
electricity generation heat from CHP
should be accorded “Renewable Status”
on the basis that both electric heat pumps
and Combined Heat and Power both use a
small amount of fossil electricity to upgrade
heat in the environment to heat buildings.
Continue to try to persuade UK to follow
the Danish example and retrofit our cities
with low temperature Clean Piped Heat
where in a city such as Odense the whole
city population over 175,000 is heated using
the waste heat from a large power station
that can burn either coal or gas or oil.
David Courtney (1947-51) – In March 2006
my wife, Nicky, very sadly died of cancer
after a very brave and courageous fight.
We had been married for 43 years and her
attitude at the end that the best tribute I
could give her was that I should carry on
with my life without being morbid even
though I would miss her, which I still do
despite my changed circumstances.
After about 9 months I met Margaret
who happens to be the sister of an old
friend of ours (my late wife and I) when
we lived in South Africa between 1970 and
1982. During that time I managed to meet
up with Malcolm North on a few occasions,
as we were both involved in the aerosol
industry in South Africa. I am now living
with Margaret in Cheadle having sold my
house in Kings Lynn.
Nicky and I returned to UK in 1982 and
I worked in the UK aerosol industry until
I retired in 2004. During that time our
two children Emma and Alexander were
married and I have three grand children,
Jean Mackintosh (McMicking, 1949-52)
– Although only at Claremont for a short
period it was a very happy time for me and
I value the friends I made there. Brian and
I and our two sons lived in Surrey for over
30 years until we retired and for the last 14
years have lived in Warsash on the River
Hamble in Hampshire where we have
enjoyed sailing until fairly recently and
now relish our almost daily walks along
the shore. I thought friends of my sister,
Sue Morrison (McMicking, 1950-55 and a
teacher in the Junior School 1983-97) would
be interested to know that she has written
a novel which is soon to published in a
limited edition. All the proceeds from the
sale of this book will be shared equally
between Ripley Parish Church and fund
raising for a new Ripley Village Hall. Sue
has lived in Ripley for nearly 50 years and
since she retired has been very active in
village affairs having served as Chairman of
Governors of the local Primary School and
Chairman of the Ripley Good Neighbours
Association in which she is still involved.
For further information do contact me
(01489 579497) or Sue (01483 224070).
Marilyn Mason (Blanchette, 1961-68) –
It’s been a good year, with success both in
illustrative work and photography. I always
feel humbled when people purchase my
work, and not a little delighted! A group
of us meet up yearly for lunch. We were
delighted that Meg Rowland (Sweet,
1963-67) visiting from Australia, joined us.
Most of us hadn’t seen her in over 40 years.
She remembered things I had long since
forgotten! We - Hilarie Taylor (MilesSharp, 1959-68), Monica King (Cooper,
1960-66), Barbara Beard (1961-66), Judy
Thompson (Blurton, 1961-68), Margaret
Kwee (Soden, 1963-68), Liz Russell (196468), Nora Down (Bagnald, 1961-66) had a
wonderful afternoon with her.
Glyn Aeppel (Ferguson, 1975-77) – My
husband and I are comfortably living in
Southport Connecticut. We are empty
nesters: Catherine (19 years) is studying
film at University of Southern California
(USC), and my son, Nicholas (17 years) is
doing a gap year in China and Africa before
going to Columbia University in the fall of
2011. My husband is the Deputy Economics
Editor for the Wall Street Journal in NYC.
I have started my own hotel investment
business called Glencove Capital and
should be closing on my first hotel
acquisition soon. I am loving being in
control of my own company, something
I have wanted to do for years. My family is
healthy and strong, and loving life!
Fiona Robertson-Snape (Pickup, 197784) – I continue to lecture in international
politics at Manchester Metropolitan
University and to plod on with the cottage
that we have been renovating - three and
a half years now, and still not finished.
It has been worth it, it is lovely here. My
two boys continue to flourish and to
do well at school. Hugo, the eldest, is
passionate about chickens (we have fifteen,
and are never short of eggs), and Hamish
the youngest, about football and rock
climbing. Andy (my husband) continues to
teach and to chop wood to keep us in heat
and hot water. Why pay for these things
when you can get them for free is our
motto! I took the boys to visit sister Emma and
her family in Singapore this summer. Her
life is clean, ordered, sophisticated and very
contemporary - the exact opposite of ours
- it was a wonderful change, not a dirty
welly, a pile of rubble or any chicken poo in
sight. Best of all, we enjoyed just spending
time with Emma and her family, especially
her absolutely beautiful baby daughter,
Amber. We miss them all, as we do our
wonderful Mum who sadly died last year.
Debbie Holden (Gooding, 1972-86 ) - In
July, I and my two children Emily and
Hugo, and mum Jill Gooding (Periton,
1946-53) moved into a magical Tudor house
in the centre of Ripley. On December 4th
we will open a shop there called “Nest”
(see details below). The shop will sell
beautiful antiques, gifts and Juliska
tableware (my brother Dave Gooding’s
(1978-89) products).
Petra Paleocrassas (1977-86) – After many
years of reading how some of my exschoolmates are doing, I figured it’s finally
my turn to provide my very first update for
CFC News! Many years have passed now
Joanna Brown (Hunter, 1972-79) – This is a
photo of me, my 14 year old daughter, Ailish
and Miss Audrey Grocer (former teacher
at Claremont from). Ailish and Miss Grocer
have been “penpals” for over a year now,
brought together by a shared love of
beautiful stationery. Miss Grocer taught me,
my mother, Jill Hunter (Hodge, 1950-55)
and my aunt, Susan Walton (Hodge, 195359) at Claremont and we were brought back
into contact through my mother. Although
now over 100 years of age, Miss Grocer is
an avid correspondent and story-teller.
She and Ailish have established a truly
wonderful relationship and delight in each
other’s news. This culminated in a lovely
visit we paid to Audrey at Christmas, 2009,
where we had a glorious welcome from
both Miss Grocer and her devoted friend
and carer, Sara. I am sure many other
former pupils will remember Miss Grocer
with fondness and be delighted to hear that
she is still alive and in good health.
vintage luxury for a warm welcome home
Home Accessories.
Tableware. Antiques. Gifts.
Now open in Ripley
Cedar House, High Street, Ripley,
Surrey GU23 6AE Tel (01483) 211933
www.nest-home.com
since I left Claremont, so in a nutshell... I
left in the Summer of 1986 and without
any idea what I wanted to do career-wise
my parents sent me off to do an intensive
year of secretarial studies at Leatherhead
Secretarial School. I entered the working
world immediately after that at the tender
age of 17; my first job was at Hamersley
Europe in London (ex CRA, now part of
the Rio Tinto group) as a secretary, and it is
there that my career in the mining industry
began. I spent 6 years with Hamersley,
as a secretary for a year and then as a
distribution officer on the shipping/
operations/chartering side of the business.
Then followed a role working the
Scandinavia/Middle East desk of a
Norwegian shipowner. After several happy
years there I re-joined the Rio Tinto fold,
where after a few years on the iron ore
team (in ship operations again) I moved
to the molybdenum team, where I was
promoted to the fabulous position of Sales
& Marketing Manager for Europe and
Asia at Kennecott Molybdenum Company
(its claim to fame is that it has the largest
open-pit mine in the world, being the only
one visible from outer space!). This job
entailed extensive travel across the globe
including Japan, Chile, the USA and much
of Europe, primarily to visit customers.
Without going into too much detail the
customers were steel mills, who bought our
molybdenum to put into their melts along
with iron ore, nickel, etc. It was a fantastic
opportunity and a job I totally immersed
myself in. That said, I have now decided
it’s time for a break and some much-needed
“me” time; there’s only so much travel and
stress that one can take! I left Rio Tinto in
July of this year and am looking to have up
to a year off. I am enjoying being away from
the rat-race and taking the time to catch up
on life and myself, as well as doing some volunteer work (oh, and lots of aqua aerobics
for my back!). As my friends will know, I
love animals with a passion and am mulling
over the prospect of a complete break away
from the corporate world to pursue a career
in animal welfare. On a personal level, I am
very happily engaged to Miles, who I have
been with for almost 5 years. We live in Surbiton with our furry feline brood of 4 Bengal
cats: Ellie, Oscar, Hiro and Reuben! I am still
in touch with Kristina Hellman, Della King
and Ilonka Slechte from my Claremont days,
and have returned from a great week spent in
Washington DC with Kristina, which is
where she has lived for many years now. It
would be great to read about some of my
other ex classmates though, so come on,
write in!
past pupil NEWS
Katie Rose (1995-2000) – I
have launched a new retail
concept locally. After
graduating from The London
College of Fashion in 2007
with a degree in fashion and
make up, Katie went straight
to management level at one
of the UK’s leading
luxury beauty
retailer. Following in
her grandmothers
footsteps, who
attended the
prestigious Central
St Martin’s college,
and whose design she
has used for her
corporate logo, Katie
has always had a passionate
interest in fashion trends of the past and set her heart on opening a vintage clothing shop.
Katie’s dream has been realised, and ‘That Vintage Shop’ opened on the very trendy Old
London Road in Kingston Upon Thames on June 17th. The store is the first of its kind
locally, will only stock good condition men’s and women’s clothing pre-dating 1980, and
has already generated an enormous buzz.
The Class of 1980
This summer marked 30 years since leaving Claremont, and so five of us decided to meet
up again for summer meeting. The group included Julie Dene (Tennant, 1970-78), Penny
Chick (Fuller, 1970-78), Susie Smith (Deeprose, 1973-79), Martine Stannard (Abbotts,
1970-80) and myself, Natalie Lang (Bishopp, 1974-80). We enjoyed seeing the changes in
the school and catching up with each other. Julie’s 2 children Jamie and Jemma started
Claremont in September 2010 and spent they first half term living with me while they sorted
out selling their home in Barnet and buying a place near the school.
Others from my year I am still in contact with include Jane Brown (Alesworth, 1970-80),
Suzanne March (Pleasant, 1973-78) and Janine Young (1973-78) who were unable to join us
on the day due to other commitments. I also keep in touch with Jacqueline Frazer (Gadd,
1978-80) on Facebook and I have been lucky enough to meet up with Jeriann Hirsch (Brady,
1975-78) in Northern California about once a year over the last few years. As we were unable
to get everyone together for summer meeting we are planning another reunion probably in
the new year (2011), so if anyone else would like to join us please let me know on Natalie.
[email protected] or find me on facebook under Natalie Bishopp.
On a personal note I joined British Airways 2 weeks after leaving school and 30 years later
(almost to the day) I left! I have spent the last few years working towards a degree in
psychology with the Open University and so decided to take some time out to see if I can
finish it in 2 years rather than 3 by doing 2 modules in 2011! Not sure what it will lead to yet,
but was looking for a change of direction.
Robert Bennett (2003-2006) – Wrote to Judith Engelhardt saying “I am writing because I
thought you might be interested to hear my degree results and what I’m up to next. I got a
first in the MPhys, with the highest overall mark in my year. As well as this, I got the prize
for best final year project and also for the best graduate in the School (which essentially
means Physics and Maths). The latter award means I’m eligible for the university-wide
award for best graduate this year, I’m still waiting to hear about that. I also now know my
next step(s) since I have been accepted for an EPSRC-funded PhD at Sussex, so I’ll be here
for the next 3+ years.”
Katie Klimaytys (1993-2008) – moved to Esher College after finishing my GCSE’s at
Claremont to study A-Levels in English Language, German Language and Business Studies
with Philosophy as an AS subject. I graduated in Summer 2010 and am currently on a gap
year whilst applying for a University place to study International Business Management.
During my gap year I am working in a new up and coming kitchen showroom in
Sunbury-on-Thames. This is owned by my parents who have gone into partnership with the
Gurr family, who are very close friends.
Keep in contact . . .
We ‘manage’ all our alumnae using webALUMNUS, a web–based database
system developed and hosted by WCBS. Fully compliant with the Data
Protection Act (1998), it provides a more secure and fully–featured environment
than anything that could readily be developed in–house. Wherever you happen
to be, webALUMNUS is available over the Internet to give you another way to
communicate and interact with us and with each other.
Who can join?
Anyone who is or was a bona fide
member of the Claremont Fan Court
School community is most warmly
invited to join us:
• old girls and old boys
• current members of the sixth form
• current or past members of staff
• current or past council
• current or past parents
• friends of the school
www.cfcs.org.uk
What are the main benefits of joining?
• Maintain contact with all your old friends
via the online Who’s Who and via a personal life-time e–mail address that
remains the same, no matter how often you
move location or change other e–mail
addresses.
• Ensure that details about you are accurate,
appropriate, comprehensive and completely
up to date.
• Keep informed about news, events and
issues relating to the school and
webALUMNUS members
• Manage, report and upload pictures about
your own news, events and activities.
Pic From left to Right Julie Dene, Penny Chick, Natalie Lang, Susie Smith and Martine Stannard
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Free design and quotation service when you
visit our showroom.
Opening Times: 9.30am - 5.00pm Monday to Saturday
Visit our showroom to find out more.
Wentworth Kitchens @ Sunbury Cross, 13b Sunbury Cross Shopping Centre, Staines Road West, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, TW16 7AZ
call: 01932 918282
email: [email protected] web: www.wentworthkitchens.co.uk
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Claremont Drive, Esher
Surrey KT10 9LY
+ 44 (0)1372 473625