Excellence

Kinvara captivates judges with original story

Kinvara enthralled judges with her original story about mermaids as part of United Learning’s StorySLAM competition.  Participating in the annual story-telling competition, Prep 6 pupil Kinvara went head-to-head with Year 5 and 6 pupils from across the Group’s southern primary schools and was named Runner Up.

StorySLAM tasks pupils to write an original story and perform it in front of their peers, teachers and a panel of judges. Having performed her story in front of her classmates and teachers at The Royal School in the Autumn Term, Kinvara was selected to represent the school in United Learning’s Southern Final before half term.  Kinvara competed against pupils from across the Group’s southern schools and performed her piece in front of a judging panel which included children’s author Sarah Holding.

The judges were hugely impressed by Kinvara’s story and her dramatic telling of it.  She was named Runner Up and was presented with a certificate and several books.  Along with the other finalists, Kinvara will see her story published in United Learning’s StorySLAM Anthology.

Mrs Kerrie Daunter, Head of Prep School, said: “Kinvara represented The Royal with her fantastic story about some rather unsavoury mermaids! She took the stage by storm and came second in a very strong field. Naturally, we are all very proud of Kinvara!”

Inter-School Philosothon Success

Six schools (Battle Abbey School, Brighton College, Caterham School, Notre Dame School, The Royal School and Woldingham School) competed just before February half term in four rounds of respectful Community of Enquiry discussion and dialogue on texts ranging from extracts from Sartre to Jack and the Beanstalk! The aim of the Philosothon is to promote philosophical enquiry and rigour by bringing students from Years 9-13 together around stimulus material, which allows the group to move beyond discussion towards critical inquiry.

Each school was represented by two students from each year group (years 9-13). Although this was the first time that Royal School students had competed in a Community of Enquiry setting, they excelled! Peter achieved best in Year 9 and Angel was awarded best in Year 10. Congratulations to all the budding philosophers on The Royal School team: Ellie, Peter, Angel, Robin, Josh, Georgia, Princess, Georgie, Grace, Nell and Tilly; it was a fabulous effort by a very united team!

Netball

School netball captain and sports scholar, Maddy, has been selected to be part of the Surrey Storm West U17 Netball Academy. The coaches were so impressed with Maddy that she didn’t have to retrial and gained automatic re-entry! Maddy is a fantastic role model, she says: 'Helping out with the younger years' sports training has helped me develop good leadership skills and pass on my knowledge and experience.  I am also going to complete my Sports Leaders Programme to improve even more.'