Headmaster’s Commendations Nov 2015
The Headmaster is pleased to commend the following pupils for their entries into this summer’s Headmaster’s Challenge 2015.
Year 9 Winner Highly Commended
Benjamin Kremer (R) Tatyana Goodwin (Wt)
Harry Jachuck (R)
The adjudicator wrote: “A lot of work went into the production of these book reviews. It was particularly interesting to compare different reviews of the same book. In general, the most successful were those which summarised the book’s story and sub-plots concisely, explored the themes successfully but imaginatively, gave some insight into the author and his/her intentions and, above all, left me enlightened and inspired to find out more for myself.”
Year 10 Winner Highly Commended
India Wood (Wt) Euan McGreevy (C)
The adjudicator wrote: “All participants should be encouraged for their efforts, but the most successful entries were those which met the brief; identified genuine turning points in history which had a palpable effect on this country and those who live in it; didn’t invent or overplay non-existent or tenuous connections between events which just happened to occur in the same year; made claims that were properly substantiated by facts and reference to relevant examples; achieved a balance between confidence and thoughtfulness and demonstrated a command of the subject matter, but with enthusiasm and a lightness of touch.”
Year 11 Winner Highly Commended
Isabella Ripley (Wt) Lia Dunn (Wt)
Joseph Pagram (C)
The adjudicator wrote: “Regardless of marks achieved, all reviewers should be encouraged for their efforts and for tackling serious works seriously. The most successful were those which summarised the book’s subject matter/story and sub-plots concisely; explored the themes successfully but imaginatively; gave some insight into the author and his/her intentions; offered reasoned arguments (supported by evidence/examples) for their judgements and comments and left me enlightened and inspired to find out more for myself.”
The Headmaster is also pleased to commend the following Year 9 pupils for their creative responses to a new challenge where they were asked by the English department to read one of 5 novels over the summer holidays and then produce a creative response to one particular book.
Sophie Nicholles (Watt) – a scrapbook (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Ashraf Owasil (Powell) – a poem (Molesworth)
Megan Terry (Wattt) – a crime map (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time)
Tom Watkins (Powell) – a video news report (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time)
Maisie Williams (Arnold) – a painting and commentary (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time)
