JUDDIAN N ISSUE 193 The 2024
Contents Editorial 1 Page of Contents 2-3 Editorial Features 4 Judd Research Institute 5-6 Y7 Firsts 7 James Kingston GB tour 8 Mock Election 9 MUNGA Oxford 10 MUNGA Internal Trips 11 Y8 Ski Canada 12 Trip to Belgium 13 Farewell Mr Singh 14 Y9 Battlefields Trip English Work 15-17 Classics Italy 18-19 German Exchange 20 Y10 Thorpe Park 21 Y9 Latin Bath Trip, Y8 Globe Theatre Trip 22-23 French Exchange 24 Classics & Philosophy Greece 25 Biology Dale Fort 26 Geogaphy Fieldwork, Snowdonia 27 Geography, Iceland 28 Herstmonceux 29 Y12 Paris 2024 30 Y12 Berlin Trip 31 Y10 British Museum Trip 32 Kenya 2024 33 Cricket Dubai 2024 34 Washington & New York 35 Conference Politics 36 Economic Conference 37 Y9 DofE Bronze 38 Y10 DofE Bronze Words from the artist: Hello to all who read this! This year, I was given the amazing opportunity to create the cover art for the Juddian. It’s a nice little send off to my time at Judd, as this is my last year here and I can safely say that it’s been a wonderful time.With that in mind, I wanted the cover to reflect what was most important to me at Judd. I decided that it was not the exams, nor the grades I achieved, but the people that I’d met. Hence I gathered my friends and we sat and talked. What you see are real friends enjoying each other’s company before we all go our separate ways. I hope my painting has captured that feeling for you, as it did for me. - Alex Whawel l
39 Adventure Bude 40 A Level Trip to The French Institute in London, Y10 BFI Trip Academic 41 Judd Greenpower & Soapbox Race 42-43 Drama Department Overview 44 Ancient Greek Club 45 TTC, Phone Repair Club MakerLab 46 German Society, Biology Society Flylab 47 PEACAS 48 Junior Prizegiving Winners 49 Senior Prize Giving, Y11 50 Senior Prize Giving, Y12, Y13 51 Experience AI & Apps for Good 52 Anthea Bell Prize, French Play 53 German Play - Der Babysitter 54 Y9 Magistrate Mock Trial CCF 55 Army Section 56 Photos: Pippingford Park, CCF Gliding 57 Stem Camp RAF Wittering 58 RIAT 59 New Recruit Ex, Remembrance Parade 60 RAST (Regionals and Nationals) 61 Summer Camp(s) 62 Field Excercise Art 63-65 Art Department Overview 66-69 Art Photos Music & Performing Arts 70-71 Music Department Overview 72-73 Music Clubs Overview 74 Winter Concert, Carol Service 75 Spring Concert 76 Battle of the Bands 77 Organ Recital 1 78 ‘Millions’ School Play 79 Summer Concert 80 Sports Review 81 Rugby Review 82 2nd XV Rugby 83 U16A Rugby 84 U15A Rugby 85 U15B Rugby 86 U14A Rugby 87 U14B Rugby, U14C Rugby 88 U13A Rugby, U13B Rugby 89 U13C Rugby, U13D Rugby 90 U12A Rugby, U12B Rugby 91 U12C Rugby, U12D Rugby U12E Rugby 92 U13F Rugby, U13G Rugby 93 Cross Country Review 94 Senior Cross Country 95 Junior Cross Country 96 U15A Football, U15B Football 97 U14A Football, U14B Football 98 U13A Football, U13B Football 99 U12A Football, U12B Football 100 Basketball, Netball 101 Girls' Rugby 102 1st XI Cricket , U15A Cricket 103 U15B Cricket 104 U14A Cricket, U14B Cricket U13A Cricket, 105 U13B Cricket 106 U12A Cricket 107 Athletics Review 108 Intermediate Athletics, Junior Athletics 109 Sports Day Community 110-111 JPA 112-117 House Pages 118-119 Old Juddian Society, 100th Annual Dinner 120-127 Staff Notes 128 Starminster 129 Final Word
This year has been, for much of my editorial team, a GCSE exam year, and predictably that makes the production of the edition a bit challenging. Indeed the previous edition (2023, obviously…— if you haven’t read it, do. Always best to read in order when it comes to a gripping book series, eh?) was only delivered to the School on the last day of lessons for Year 11, and so we couldn’t make much of a start at all until mid-June. Naturally, we were all off taking advantage of cheaper flights and so were otherwise indisposed. Or in my case, knocking on people’s doors on the campaign trail for a good few weeks before the General Election. I think I drew the long straw there anyway… it was hot enough here. So, once I’d enjoyed getting shouted at on the doorstep and then recovered from a stressful and long night, I was glad to reconvene and get going on this. Credit is due in vast quantities to my dedicated team, who have worked tirelessly since our two writing days, and sacrificed a few days of their long summer to attend to my whim, and I think this packed edition shows that our efforts have not been wasted. In that regard, I think it’s worth noting that the contents of this year’s magazine demonstrate, better than either of my previous two editions, the sheer scale of opportunity offered to students at Judd. In particular, the depth of the Trips chapter is a testament to our dedication to learning in all its forms outside the classroom, and also reminds me that I really ought to pay that extra carbon offsetting thing to British Airways next time I fly, as the number of international school trips made by Juddians this year was well beyond that in the already packed programme of years gone by, and I do like keeping polar bears alive, contrary to popular belief.The Sports section at the end of the magazine also makes a welcome resurgence, including the most articles ever under my tenure, including the traditional report from the U12F and G Rugby teams! We are grateful for their contribution towards the most complete magazine for Rugby since Editorial 2
Thank you to all staff, students, parents, OJs and friends of the school who contributed to this magazine in any way.Thank you to the Headteacher for his support. Any feedback on this magazine would be welcome; contact - juddian@judd.kent.sch.uk 2018! And I am grateful to Mr Taylor for taking on a great deal of work in what is typically the most tricky chapter to realise, not least because of its size. I’m also grateful to Tyler Smith, who has joined the team for this edition and has shown a brilliant enthusiasm for the magazine. It is so incredibly satisfying to see that the younger years see the magazine as an exciting project to get involved in, and I know that when the time comes my successor will have a great team to work with. Interestingly, I taught Tyler a bit a couple of years ago as part of the scheme to get a younger group studying Classical Greek, which means that he had to listen to me for half a year and still thought he’d like to do it again (those who know me will understand how surprising that is…). Whilst I’m at it, I should also thank Sam Lumley, Ed Hurst, Isaac Clarke, Conor Winspear and James Bretz for once again remaining in-post for my third edition at the helm.Their work has been exemplary and their commitment to this tradition unwavering. Without them there would be no magazine. Their unrelenting and unquestioning patience with my incessant rantings and fumblings is appreciated. Sam Lumley also steps up as honorary Second-in-Edit this year. Also, to Mrs Porter for her design work: it is a huge burden, and we couldn’t get this done without her. And her patience as above. Mr Taylor also deserves a thankful mention for his support, editing work and liaising with the wider school. His ride will have been the most difficult, as he now teaches me again as well. I can’t apologise enough for how sick he must be of me. But, on a serious note, I’d like to remind younger students with an interest in editing, writing, journalism and anything related to get in contact with me. I’ll need to build a younger team up so that there is something to hand over to after the upsettingly short time myself and much of my team have left here is up... And whilst you go off to email me, I’ll welcome you The Juddian 2024, and see you at the other end! Aaron Watts Editor in Chief, Sept 2022 - present 3 Editors Conor Winspear James Bretz Tyler Smith Editor-in-Chief Teacher-in-Charge Aaron Watts Mr J Taylor Isaac Clarke Edward Hurst Sam Lumley Production Design & Artworking Mrs J Porter Conor Winspear Printer The Hoppress, Marden
make your day-to-day life significantly better, all the way down to media content.The groups have been very useful in doing just that.The areas of research that we have explored as of 2024 are: Features The areas we are focusing on next year are: But what are the outcomes and benefits of being a Student Researcher? Well, research will likely play a key part in your occupational life. Working at a bank, marketing team or investment firm requires you to research the market thoroughly as one wrong move could result in significant losses to your business. But not only does research apply to the financial sector, but also your personal life. Being able to make a verdict • Booklets • Oracy • Optimising Memory • Maximising Participation on the reliability of your information is vital to avoid accidents. Research is also a skill that is considered when you are finding an occupation. You also learn life skills, such as efficient collaboration! The Judd Research Institute is available to all students, led mainly by Mr Davies, but with other teachers assisting. You will get an opportunity to interact with new students and staff across the school. It is unique for its flexibility. Whenever a Forum meeting is held, they are usually every half term and occur two times. You can attend any one of them, allowing you to fit these meetings into your schedule. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Research Institute, and I highly recommend it to you. V Kedia &MRensman It has been a busy year in the Judd Research Institute. Since we joined in Year 7, we have successfully completed many projects that require us to undertake the complex yet fascinating concept of research. One particularly successful part of the Institute was the first edition of the Judd ‘Impact’ Magazine. It consisted of a lot of members writing an article about a topic that interested them and would impact the world in the long term. We then had a few writing days and a wide board of editors and designers. We were able to finish the magazine by the end of last year and is currently pending to be printed or published online. As part of the student research groups we encounter a variety of different topics.This can be from making changes to the school that • Assessment in Lessons • Consistency in Behaviour • Effective Student/Teacher Relationships • ITTools for Learning • Student Motivation • Student Participation in Lessons institute Judd Research Features 4
My first day at Judd was jam-packed. First we had an assembly from Mr Wood, telling us about our new school and how things were going to run. After that, we went to our form rooms and met our new form tutors who would take us through the next 2 years. We were told about our timetables and more about the school, then they gave us the school tour, showing us where we had our classes and explaining how the naming system of the classrooms works. My form tutor was Mr Fraser, and he told us a lot about the PE/games curriculum and how it works: 3 PE lessons every fortnight and 2 periods of games every week. This included the rota of sports, starting with rugby in the first term, then moving on to football and finally cricket in the summer term. We then got familiar with our designated play area, which is the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA). Afterwards, we filled out parts of our planner including the timetables for week A and B. We then got to have lunch 20 minutes earlier than all the other years so we could see how to get lunch in the canteen. There was a wide variety of options for lunch, including pasta, a main meal or sandwiches. We then went to the MUGA to play football for a while before the bell went and then we went to our first lesson of the day which was French with Madame Figureau. We decorated our books in that lesson, putting French people, landmarks and food on the front cover. Next up was biology with Dr Dunn where we learnt about cells and bacteria. We then finished the day at 3:45 and it was time for everyone to go home. W Ford My first day at Judd Features 5 Y7 FIRSTS
Looking back, my first year at Judd was packed full with fun activities including school trips, sport, musical productions and workshops. We began the year playing rugby in PE and Games. I was in the C team, and we kicked off the season by beating Ravenswood 55-5. We kept up our great form until our first loss 4 games later in a competitive 35-10 loss. Our next game was very close, with us barely losing 25-20 in a brutal match. We picked up our form in the next match and this continued till the end of the season winning our last game against our rivals, Skinners, 50-0 with a fantastic performance from the team. Half way through the term we switched to cross country on the bottom field. In the second term we switched to football, in which I changed teams a lot, starting out in the D’s and ending up in the C’s, making appearances in the E’s after an injury, and even in the B’s. We started the season with a 5-3 loss to Brentwood but then had a great game winning 7-0 and continuing this form throughout the season, only losing 1 more game. Then was the cricket season, in which I played one match where we won by 47 runs. At the end of the year, we of course had Sports Day in which I did the 200 metres dash, high jump, dodgeball and a 4x300m relay. Despite my house's best efforts, we didn’t win. I really like the breadth of sports offered at Judd and all of the opportunities to get involved. Over the course of Year 7 we had 2 school trips. The first one was in Tonbridge high street for a geography project, surveying people about why they were there and which town they live in. The other was a physics trip to Herstmonceux to learn more about the historic telescope used for finding South America by John Cadbury. I partook in most musical productions throughout the year, playing the violin for the concert orchestra and singing for the junior singers and the school choir. There were many, including the winter concert, the carol service, the spring concert and the summer concert, and each one of them was really fun and the music was very lively! Overall my first year at Judd was immensely fun and challenging at the same time, with a huge range of opportunities to seize. Thanks to everyone who was so welcoming and kind, and I can’t wait for what the next year will bring! W Ford My First Year at Judd Y7 FIRSTS Features 6
James Kingston, the School Cross Country Captain in 2019/20, has progressed to the highest level yet seen by an OJ runner. We are delighted to present his season review in The Juddian, which included his international championship debut: The 2023/24 cross season was an extremely successful one for me in which I was selected to represent Great Britain at both the European CrossCountry Championships and the World Cross-Country Championships. The trials for Europeans were held at Sefton Park in Liverpool, and despite struggling with illness in the week prior I managed to finish as 6th under-23, which, after a few days of nervous waiting, was enough for me to gain the final spot in the GB team at the European Champs. Two weeks later, I travelled with the rest of the Great Britain team to Brussels, where the championships were being held. We arrived on the Friday for a Sunday race which gave us the opportunity to walk the course and relax before race day. My race was competed over 7km, consisting of one 1km lap and four 1.5km laps, which is slightly shorter than I would’ve liked, however, fortunately for me, it was extremely muddy underfoot, which suited me as a cross-country specialist. The race started off at a blistering pace, so I settled in towards the back before moving through the field on the middle laps. With three members of the team in the front group at around halfway, we were looking favourites for the team gold. However, just after halfway one of the race favourites in the British team dropped out, and with the French team going well, the team standings were getting closer. Helped by the support around the course, I finished in 21st position and 3rd Brit, which was enough to secure the team gold. A few months later, the trials for the World Cross-Country Champs were held at Wollaton Park in Nottingham. This time there was no under-23 age group, so I was racing in the senior age group. After a race that was run fast from gun to tape, I finished in 4th place which was enough to secure me the final sport in the British team for the World Champs. The race was held in Belgrade over a blisteringly hot Easter weekend, where temperatures reached a record 28 degrees. The course was flat and dry, very different to traditional British cross-country, and had man made obstacles including a mud patch, bridges and a ‘hay maze’. I was competing against some of the best athletes in the world including world 10,000m record holder Joshua Cheptegei, so it was undoubtedly the highest quality race I had ever competed in. Unsurprisingly the race was extremely fast throughout, but after a steady start I moved past a few athletes to finish 68th and 4th Brit, beating one of my teammates who had beaten me a few weeks prior at the trials. It was by far the hardest race I have ever done, compounded by the heat. Both championships were fantastic experiences and I hope to have the opportunity to represent Britain on the international stage again. I am extremely grateful for my time in the cross-country team at Judd gave me a great platform to enjoy my running and set me up for all the successes I have had recently with hopefully many more to come. J Kingston (OJ 2013-20) Features 7 James Kingston’s GB Cross Country Tour
The Judd Mock Election 2024 CANDIDATE SELECTION: The candidates in the mock election were selected through a rigorous grilling. Candidates gave speeches to groups of party members and were then asked questions about their political perspectives and party policies. Gaining selection is a numbers game, and all the candidates did their best to pack the room with their supporters! The Conservative selection was won 13 votes to 7, whilst the Labour selection resulted in a tie. The Lib Dem victor won unanimously, whilst the Reform candidate was uncontested. Candidate Comments: Oscar Moore (Conservative) writes: “Standing as a candidate was a fantastic experience that taught me lots about the art of political campaigning. In particular, we had great fun as a team making our Party Political Broadcast and designing posters to put up around the school. The debate was a thrilling event, and we all benef ited from having three of the Tonbridge candidates accept our invitation to come in to speak to students. I’d like to say a huge thank you to my campaign manager and agent, and to all the organising team for their work making the mock election a success.” The Hustings A few weeks after the candidate selection and talks from most of the candidates for the real election in Tonbridge, the time came for our candidates to battle it out in the schoolroom in our hustings debate. The format was simple: a selection of questions from the audience posed to all 5 candidates, with a session of political ping pong on particular issues of debate such as immigration. There was intense competition between the candidates, with emotions running high, and the crowd infected by the electric atmosphere. The Reform UK candidate had particularly strong grassroots support. Occasionally, the crowd applauded when prompted. Principally, the debate centred around the candidates criticising the Conservative, then the Conservative rebutting, however the occasional barb was thrown at Labour and Reform UK. Results The Green candidate won the election with a solid share of the vote, followed by Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, the Labour Party and then the Conservative Party. Ms Galvin would like to thank all the staff and students who made this a fabulous experience, especially, Ms Wong and Herr Dabbs for queue control at the polling station and Mrs Kendall and Ms Berry for printing and formatting so much election literature. Also Lucy Titchener year 12 for running special rosette making workshops. It was great to see so many staff members and students questioning the Tonbridge constituency candidates in our lunchtime meetings. We thank Anna Cope (The Green candidate), Lewis Bailey (The Labour Party candidate) and John Woolecombe (and his Liberal Democrat team) who all accepted our invitation to spend the afternoon with us. YEAR Total VOTES CAST TURNOUT SPOILT BALLOT PAPERS CONSERVATIVE PARTY CANDIDATE GREEN PARTY LABOUR LIBERAL DEMOCRAT REFORM UK % 7 112 58% 0 10 45 19 26 12 8 111 58% 3 5 54 7 21 24 9 158 82% 1 4 70 2 5 58 10 74 40% 1 3 28 2 1 38 12 155 57% 2 14 46 27 34 32 TOTAL 610 59% 7 36 243 57 87 164 TOTAL % OF VOTE 1% 6% 40% 9% 14% 27% Features 8
On Friday 3rd November, we headed to Oxford University with 17 Year 13 students to take part in the Oxford Global Model United Nations.This is the first time that Judd School have ever had a team competing and on arrival, it quickly became clear what a truly international event this was; alongside some well-known UK public schools, students were attending from countries including India, Japan, Colombia, Canada and the United Arab Emirates. Over 950 students took on the roles of country delegates in mock United Nations committees, discussing some of the most pressing issues affecting the world today including climate change, combatting medical misinformation, the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the use of advanced warfare equipment. Oxford Global Model United Nations Following an inspiring opening address on the importance of advocacy by Natalie Samarasinghe, Global Director of Open Society and some orientation talks, students relocated to the Oxford University Examination Halls. Here they began the serious business of working on behalf of their countries to debate the topics concerning each committee and to work towards a meaningful resolution on each issue. From the outset, our students threw themselves into their roles and were quickly negotiating agreements with other countries while grappling with the sometimes frustrating bureaucracy that so often slows things down! As well as the committee sessions, students had a walking tour of Oxford, time to independently explore and the opportunity for a very memorable late-night social event at the Museum of Natural History. With a dance floor next to a skeleton parade of large mammals and marble busts of various eminent natural scientists, it was quite a setting. While some eager delegates continued high-level negotiations in quiet museum corners, most were keen to put international diplomacy on hold for a couple of hours. At the end of the weekend and following hours of discussion, frantic resolution drafting and numerous unmoderated caucuses, most committees managed to arrive at some resolution with Judd students playing a critical role in each committee room. Spirits were high as we entered the Sheldonian Theatre for the closing ceremony and we were absolutely thrilled that three of our students won awards for their performances: Emma R for Afghanistan was named Best Delegate for CSW and Will H and Alexander B for Pakistan received an honourable mention for DISEC. We could not be prouder of each and every one of our students who performed exceptionally well.They all showed determination, wit, humour, outstanding knowledge of global issues and ability to work alongside and build friendships with students from around the world. MYarham Secretary-General, Judd MUN. Disarmament & International Security Committee (DISEC) • Carys F and Isabella H ( Japan) • Alex S and Jasper G (New Zealand) • Reggie B and Harry B (France) • Alexander B and Will H (Pakistan) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) • Ivan D (Philippines) • Amulya S (Russia) World Health Organisation (WHO) • Lulu M (Sudan) • Isobel H (New Zealand) United Nations Security Council (UNSC) • Satvik K (Brazil) Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) • Bella B ( Japan) • Emma R (Afghanistan) • Parth T (Russia) Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) • James P (Austria) Features 9
On Wednesday 31st January, Judd held its third annual meeting of the Model United Nations General Assembly (MUNGA). Over 70 students from the Sixth Form took part in roles including country delegates, members of the secretariat and members of the press. For most students, this was their first experience of Model UN, but we were also delighted to welcome back some MUN veterans from Year 13, including some who had taken part in the Oxford Global MUN Conference in November last year. Model UN gives students the opportunity to participate in a formal assembly, aiming to simulate the structure, procedures and resolutionmaking of the United Nations. Students representing countries are tasked with researching the perspective of their country on particular world issues and to use advocacy and diplomacy to foster international relations with other delegations. All political interactions must be in character for that country and delegations have to be prepared to defend their positions on certain issues while attempting to agree on a carefully-worded resolution. The day commenced with an opening address from our President, reflecting on the international events of the last few months and encouraging delegates not to be intimidated by the challenges facing the world today, but to be hopeful and ambitious that change is possible.The assembly then proceeded to opening addresses given by each delegation. While some addresses took a more conciliatory tone, others were suitably direct in their critique of the regimes of certain member states (particularly ‘the West’)! Following a period of lobbying, delegations split into two separate committees.The Human Rights committee considered the question of capital punishment and whether it is inconsistent with the human right to life and the right to live free from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Meanwhile, the Security and Surveillance Committee discussed how personal information on citizens is acquired, shared and used, a particularly pertinent issue in light of the rapid development of artificial intelligence and surveillance technologies. Following three committee sessions, delegates recovened for an emergency debate, discussing the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the funding of UNRWA. Students took to the challenge exceptionally well and were quickly engaged in some very tricky diplomatic wrangling while delivering some outstanding speeches in each committee session. Working alongside each committee was a superb secretariat team who supported the chair in managing the discussions, passing diplomatic messages and ensuring that votes and resolutions were accurately recorded. We were also delighted to welcome our first ever press team who were actively working on a publication throughout the day. We are excited to see what they produce. Congratulations to the Prize-Winners: Best opening address: Harry B and Ivan D (North Korea). Runners-up: Oli P and Josh T (UK) and Noah B and Albert K (India) Best delegate for Security & Surveillance: Niamh M (Israel). Runners-up: Max P (Brazil) and Owen M (Syria). Best delegate for Human Rights: Oscar M (USA). Runners-up: Diya B (Namibia) and Siobhan A (Sierra Leone). Outstanding member of the Secretariat: Himanshu U. Best overall delegation: Shreya N and Isabella U (Russia). My personal thanks to my colleagues who were instrumental in the running of a very academically challenging and enjoyable day: Mr Burnie (President), Mrs Emmerson (Human Rights Chair), Mr Davies (Security and Surveillance Chair) and Mrs Beck (Secretariat). We look forward to our next event. MYarham Secretary-General, Judd MUN. MUNGA Internal Features 10
This year’s trip to Jasper, Canada was truly amazing. From the heat of the bus to the cold of the mountain I think we all had a great time. We stayed in the Lobstick Lodge in the beautiful little town of Jasper, Alberta, Canada. The Hotel was amazing as they could tolerate the shenanigans of a Y8 school class. The Town itself was also stunning. The origins of it lie in the ancient roots of the indigenous Americans with totem poles everywhere. The shops were also amazing as everyone wanted to bring home some special gifts for their family from another continent (there was a very large amount of maple syrup purchased from all the little shops in the town, although I personally bought sunglasses). The food in the town was great, although I regret not trying poutine while I was there. Every lunchtime we ate in the marmot basin lodge. There was the best mountain food i’ve ever had from spaghetti bolognaise to burgers. The skiing was by far and away the best part. I have skied in the alps for a vast majority of my skiing experience, but now that I have skied in the Rockies, I realise how amazing it is. The weather was truly perfect because there was a snowstorm every day. There were constantly loads of powder on all the runs and I won’t even mention the off-piste. The ski groups that we were in were based on ability. On the first day we were split into people who had skied and people who had only skied on dry slopes or not at all. I was in the group who could ski and we were taken up the lifts to the nursery run. We were to ski down at the best of our ability and then see what group we were put in. From the first turn - even though I only had about an hour sleep to run on- I found that the slopes were in better condition than any of the ones I had skied in the alps. I was very happy to see that I had been put in the top group. Our instructor, Monet, realised that we were very tired and so we only did the blue runs for the morning. For the intermediate group, we spent most of the morning being checked on the magic carpet before swiftly progressing to the beginner slope. This was our opportunity to practise using the ski lift before progressing onto the main slopes. Every evening (well, almost) We went on a trip to a local attraction. My favourite one was the visit to the lake next to Mount Edith Cavell. Our guide told us the story about Edith and how she changed so many people’s lives. Then he brought out some of the best animal prints I have ever seen. The first thing he showed us was the impressions of bear prints that he had found on the trail routes that he had walked. He showed us an impression of a grizzly bear print and one of a black bear. The difference is truly staggering. Then he whipped out a pair of elk, caribou, moose and ram antlers. The ram antlers - as they attach to the sheep’s brain - had imprints of it on it. They are very light but extremely strong. The next one was the planetarium. We were welcomed into a dome where a map of the solar system was projected into the ceiling from where we were in Jasper. The guide explained to us where the planets were and what they did for the stars etc etc.. After the dome we were shown the moon rocks collected from steroids and space missions from Canada. Then the most interesting part was by far the telescope that they had. The pictures that they showed us were amazing.The final activity was the pizza night. We went into a restaurant and were led into a seemingly strange basement where we actually ate some of the best Detroit style pizza I have ever had. Overall this one of the best trips I’ve been on. A big thank you To Mr Davies, Mrs Manketlow, Mrs Jayne, Mr Brooks and an even bigger one to Mr Kemp, for organising the whole thing. J Chandler Y8 Ski Canada Trips Trips 11
The Trip to Belgium It’s early morning as we depart The Judd School to Belgium. Our journey through the haunting memories of World War I is about to begin, and I feel a mix of excitement and respect as our bus travels through the beautiful Belgian countryside.The golden fields and small villages seemed to tell quiet stories of a time long past. Our first stop is the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, a vast expanse of neatly aligned graves that seem to stretch endlessly towards the horizon.This cemetery, the second largest Commonwealth cemetery in Belgium, is a ceremonial illustration to the scale of the war. Walking through the rows of headstones, each inscribed with the name, rank, and regiment of fallen soldiers, I feel an overwhelming sense of respect. A cool breeze rustles through the trees, and in the silence, I imagine the whispers of history echoing through time.The pristine white headstones stand as silent sentinels, guarding the memories of those who paid the ultimate price. Our journey continues to a preserved German trench, a relic of the enemy lines.This trench, a deep and narrow cut into the earth, offers a glimpse into the life of the German soldiers who once occupied it. Descending into the trench, the narrow walls rise above me, creating a sense of confinement. I imagine the brave soldiers huddling in these cramped spaces, facing the elements and the constant threat of enemy fire. I run my fingers along the rough edges of the trench, imagining the anxiety and anticipation that must have crowded the air.The trench’s construction, with its zigzag pattern and fortified sections, reveals the methods used during the war. Yet, it also displays the harsh reality of life on the front lines - constant vigilance, fear, and the looming danger of death. Our next destination, the Passchendaele Museum, is a treasure trove of World War I history.The museum's exhibits are immersive, with reconstructed trenches, bunkers, and dugouts providing a visceral experience. As I wander through these reconstructions, the sights and sounds of war come alive - footsteps echoing in the dark tunnels, the distant rumble of artillery, and the whispered conversations of soldiers. A section dedicated to personal artefacts and letters is particularly moving. Reading the words of soldiers who fought and died in this battle brings a sense of sympathy to the historical accounts.Their hopes, fears, and dreams are displayed in these fragile pieces of paper, bridging the gap between past and present. Our penultimate stop is the Langemark Cemetery, a German war cemetery that contrasts sharply with the Commonwealth cemeteries we have visited.The dark stone and sombre architecture reflect the sorrow and gravity of loss.The misery of the place weighed on me.The sun was the same, so was the sky. Yet somehow everyone there felt the same way. Here, mass graves contain the remains of tens of thousands of soldiers, their identities often unknown. Our final stop in Ypres is the Leonidas Chocolate Shop, a delightful respite from the heavy history we have encountered.The shop, filled with the rich aroma of cocoa and sugar, offers an array of exquisite Belgian chocolates. The sweetness of the chocolate provides a comforting contrast to the bitter memories of conflict. S Ho Trips 12
Out of the 12 hours of hours of gruelling tiredness, one hour hit me the most. In the middle of the bare fields lay those who had fallen. Fallen in a war, a great war in fact.These soldiers each had a life of their own. However, they died for a greater cause. Some died for retribution, some died for patriotism.They may all have one goal and all lay together in the middle of the Belgian countryside. As the tour guide told us some facts about the area and the soldiers, I couldn’t help but wonder. I wondered about the lives of each soldier. I wondered why they fought in the war. Yet, most of all, I wondered if they had all been visited. I know it may sound trivial but I believe if one has had an honourable death, that should be respected. The guide told us about a variety of soldiers and the lives they had led but when he told us about Mr. Singh, I knew I had to visit him. It's a feeling I cannot describe, as if I had a ‘pulling’ towards him.This wasn’t about race, religion or culture.This sheer act of kindness - to sacrifice one’s life for the benefit of others- that had to be rewarded or even just acknowledged. As the guide finished his speech we were allowed to wander off. From the card, I managed to decipher his location and quickly found him. On his grave were the words ‘Shri Waheguru Ki Fateh’.This was a religious saying equivalent to ‘Rest In Peace’ in English. Due to this, a sudden feeling overwhelmed me. I was overwhelmed with nothing, deafened with silence, blinded with light. I closed my eyes and meditated. I spoke to whichever God or deity wanted to listen, ‘Please let Mr. Singh live an honourable next life’ whether it be in Heaven or on Earth. I opened my eyes and uttered the words, ‘Farewell, Mr. Singh.’ H Rathod Farewell Mr Singh Trips 13
Trips 14 Battlefields Trip Waking up at 3AM is not something people usually look forward to. But on Friday, I was simply too excited to care. I’d like to share with you some highlights from our trip to Belgium that stuck out to me personally and which you will hopefully find interesting too. One of my favourite moments came between the Passchendaele Museum and Langemark Cemetery, when our guide chose me to demonstrate British WWI-era uniform.The woollen coat was bulky, stifling and itchy. Even after just five minutes, I was already feeling stuffy and hot.Then came a poorly fitting, precarious metal helmet that felt like I was balancing a stack of plates on my head. Soldiers were also issued cotton webbing for utility, which was refreshingly ergonomic, and had pockets for all the ammo and equipment one might need on the battlefield. Finally, a heavy bolt-action rifle was slung over my left shoulder and a mean-looking bayonet hung at my waist to round off the wartime garb. Just spending a short while in that cumbersome get-up was awkward enough, so I can only imagine how unpleasant it must have been for those poor servicemen who had to spend all day wearing it (their clothes probably stank, too). At least it was coloured khaki for camouflage though, unlike the French Army which wore blue overcoats for the sky and red trousers for blood. Naturally, they were quick to phase that one out. A little later, I saw something quite exciting — an unexploded artillery shell from WWI that a local farmer had recently ploughed up. Now, this was a little bit worrying, but at the same time, it was fascinating to see a real, tangible piece of history just a few feet in front of me. It served as a poignant reminder of the lasting effects of the “War To End All Wars” (and the war immediately after it) even over a century later. Finally, we entered the Langemark Cemetery, a graveyard containing upwards of 44,000 German soldiers, many of whom are unidentified.The site was calm and the weather was pleasant, offering a stark contrast to the horrors surrounding the place. We learned about how Hitler propagandised the legend of Langemark, not to memorialise the achievements of the German soldiers who died there, but simply to encourage more young men to throw themselves into battle to serve Hitler’s power fantasy. May those men rest in peace. Overall, our day out was an intriguing look into the inner workings of WWI, and an opportunity to reflect on the rich history of the Great War. I highly recommend visiting the area, especially Langemark Cemetery, and taking the time to pay respects to those brave men and women who now lie in Flanders Fields. E Chovet
We left for the airport early in the morning, arriving at around 6am at Gatwick. Our flight departed at around 9, and we flew around 2 ½ hours to Rome, landing in Fiumicino airport at around 12:30 pm local time; we were greeted with a lovely 25ºC sunshine- a far cry from the overcast England! After a brief wait for our coach, we left for Rome, arriving at around 3pm. We entered through the Aurelian Gates, constructed in the 270s AD, by emperor Aurelian. Passing the Triclinium Leoninum (Tomb of Pope Leo III) and the Piazza della Repubblica, with its famous fountain, we soon came to a stop outside our hotel, Hotel Noto, at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. After unpacking, we headed to Trajan’s Markets.This Roman equivalent of a ‘shopping centre’ built in the early 100s AD, featured 6 floors with up to 150 separate shops! As well as the Trajan Markets, we visited the nearby Trajan’s Column, a 38m tall structure made from marble, with depictions illustrating Trajan’s Dacian Wars. The bottom half corresponds to the first of these wars, and the top the second. On the top of the column, oddly, stands St. Peter, who was put there by a renaissance pope.This was apparently done to ‘sanctify the ancient artefact’. After our first excursion, we returned to the hotel and then had dinner at a local restaurant. The next morning we left the hotel for Ostia, the ancient port of Rome. Ancus Marcius, the fourth king of Rome, constructed the port as a naval base at the mouth of the Tiber, providing quick access to the Tyrrhenian Sea, and therefore also the Mediterranean. However, due to the build up of silt in the area, the town is now 3 km inland. We explored the ruins of the old city, walking down one of the two main roads, the decumanus maximus, which ran east-west through the city (Roman cities usually had two roads; as well as the aforementioned one, there is also the cardo maximus, which runs north-south). We first saw the Ostian baths (the ‘thermae’), and then went to the amphitheatre, situated a little further west. What I found particularly interesting was the ‘Square of the Corporations’, a marketplace selling various goods, such as wood, ropes and furs, which adjoined the amphitheatre.There were a total of 61 rooms, each 4x4 m in area.These shops were all decorated with mosaics on the floor, depicting different animals/items, showing the customers what the shop sold. Surprisingly, many of these mosaics were still in excellent condition, and some even bore Year 10 Classics Trip to Italy Trips 15
legible inscriptions. Having looked around a little more, including seeing the famous ‘forica’ (public toilets), we returned to Rome for lunch, and then took the train to the Vatican City, where we stood in a queue for 1 ½ hours to visit St. Peters’ Basilica. Despite the wait, we were rewarded with the grandeur of one of the most beautiful buildings in the world; ornate paintings and intricate statues lined the walls, and the most exquisitely decorated dome arched overhead. We also paid to climb to the top of the dome, a total of 551 steps, for an impressive view over Rome; from which we could see many ancient structures, such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon.This was my favourite part of the trip as far as culture goes, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone ‘when in Rome’. After dinner we went to visit the Trevi Fountain, buying some ice cream, before making our way to the Pantheon. On Day 3 we visited the Ara Pacis (‘Altar of Peace’).This structure was built by the Roman Senate in honour of Augustus’ triumphs in Hispania and Gaul (modern-day Spain and France/Western-Central Europe respectively), where he had fought off the various Germanic and Hispanic tribes to permanently establish Rome’s control over the areas. Interestingly, the place where the altar originally resided- the Campus Martius, known also as the Field of Mars (in particular to anyone who has read Robert Harris’ Cicero trilogy, it was where consular voting was held) contained a structure called the ‘Horologium Augusti’ (Augustus’ sundial), which would cast a shadow in the direction of the Ara Pacis exactly on Augustus’ birthday, the 23rd of September. After this, we had lunch nearby and went to visit the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum, the Forum Romanum and the Palatine Hill, all of which were (of course) incredible in both scale and impressiveness.The Palatine Hill itself contains the remains of the residences of many emperors, including Augustus, Tiberius and Nero.The word ‘Palatine’ is likely to have stemmed from the Etruscan word for sky, ‘falad’, and the hill is the most ancient of the hills; with archaeological evidence dating back to the 10th Century BC. In mythology, Romulus and Remus were found in a cave called the Lupercal, on the southwest end of the hill, which is why the hill has such strong ties to both Rome and its most important rulers. On Monday, we left Rome for Sorrento, known for its incredible views and obsession with lemons. On our way, we visited the Catacombs of San Callisto, the largest catacombs in Rome.They span roughly 90 acres- a network of galleries stretching 12 miles, with roughly half a million people buried inside; 16 of Rome’s popes are buried inside! Although we weren’t permitted to take photos, it was still an incredible experience. After checking into the hotel in Sorrento, we explored the town, which was beautiful, walking through the main shopping streets and buying some traditional gelato. The next day, we caught an early train to Pompeii for a self-guided tour of the ancient city. We began by visiting the amphitheatre, which was the first known amphitheatre to be built out of stone (as opposed to wood). It hosted all of the gladiatorial combat, holding up to (an estimated) 12,000 spectators. During the day, there was to be a photo competition.There were 5 categories: entertainment, religion, business, domestic, and Spirit of Pompeii.The city was vast, a total of 12 km²; fully exploring it took us about 4-5 hours. My favourite parts of the trip were the advertisements/ graffiti, which had been really well preserved in most areas, campaigning for certain candidates to hold office.The day was busy, but at the same time really interesting, and I learned a lot of things, especially about Roman culture. On the 22nd, we visited the Island of Capri, in particular to visit Tiberius’ villa, named the Villa Jovis (villa of Jupiter). As we arrived, the area around the port was very busy; the island is well-known as a tourist Trips 16
hotspot. We made our way up part of the island on the well-known funicular railway, but had to walk the rest of the way. As we reached the top, we saw a herd of goats being kept by the surrounding locals, as has been done for thousands of years. Augustus, during his visit to Capri in 29 BC, likely named it so for this reason, after the Latin word for goats, ‘capreae’. It is likely Tiberius also kept goats on the island.The villa itself, a combined 7000 m², was still surprisingly wellpreserved, although most of it was inaccessible. We empathised with the slaves who had been tasked with transporting the building materials up the whole island! After exploring some more, we made our way back to the town centre, where we enjoyed some traditional pizza and browsed the shops, before making our way back to Sorrento and the hotel. On our last ‘full’ day, we left at 09:00 for Mt Vesuvius.The climb was dusty and steep, but in the end we made it to the top.The view, both into the volcano and over the surrounding countryside, was incredible.We walked around the whole edge of the crater, before gradually making our way back down. After a quick stop for lunch at a restaurant nearby, we went on our final tour to Herculaneum, described to us as the ‘Bel Air’ of Rome, due to its popularity with wealthy landowners, who gradually turned it into a ‘luxury resort’.Though less well-known than Pompeii, I would argue Herculaneum is much better preserved.This is due to Herculaneum being covered in a much deeper layer of pyroclastic flows, causing a more rapid burial. While Pompeii was covered mostly in ash, Herculaneum was buried in a combination of volcanic mud and lava, which hardened and preserved structures to a much greater extent than the ash did. Surprisingly, due to the eruption, the town, which formerly lay on the coast and bordered the sea, was now approximately 400 metres in land.The port was still evidently visible, right at the edge of the town However, the most astonishing part was that the eruption had preserved (carbonised) many wooden structures, such as a screw press (known in latin as a ‘torcular’ or ‘pressorium’), which was used to iron clothes, a wooden partition used to separate the study (‘tablinum’) from the main atrium and allowed for a more quiet space to work, a bed and even a staircase. Some of the images are shown. Artwork on the walls was also very well preserved. To the left is a photo of Vesuvius from Herculaneum. Overall, the trip was an incredible experience unlike anything the school had offered to me before, and I would definitely recommend it/similar trips to anyone interested in Ancient Rome. W Law Trips 17
We arrived at school at 9:15 for a prompt departure at 9:30 to go to Heathrow Terminal 5. A few days prior to the trip we were given our light blue exchange hoodies so that we could all be recognised in the airport and outings in Germany. We had arrived too early to the airport due to there being none of the usual traffic on the M25.This gave us some time to buy some snacks in the airport for the journey ahead of us. All of the formalities were done and we had a very smooth flight to Frankfurt.There was a fairly long queue at border control however time flew by as most of us were excited to meet our host families. We were greeted by very friendly families, at the exit of the airport, who made all the anxiousness go away. I was paired with Lennox who ended up having many of the same hobbies as I did. After a short drive home, I dropped my luggage off at their house and we were already off to Lennox’s aunt’s doctorate party.This was the warmest welcome I had ever received.They all wanted to know about England. In addition to this, I also learnt that both of Lennox’s cousins played rugby for Germany. This match was perfect, I never knew that so much rugby could happen in one family, especially in Germany as it was not a very popular sport. After this great dinner, I was brought to the host mum’s friend’s birthday party. Once again I received a warm welcome. I also learnt that the friend’s husband played rugby against Tonbridge Juddians many years prior to the exchange. Just before heading back home, we got told by the friends that we could use their pool anytime that we wanted.This came in handy on a very warm Sunday. The next morning we met at 7:50 in the school courtyard to receive a tour of the school which was followed by a tour of Heusenstamm. We were given questionnaires on different shops and iconic buildings in the town. We also needed to take selfies in front of some buildings. My group ended up winning overall and we received a prize. Whilst doing the questionnaire, my group went into the bakery and we asked the baker serving us what he recommended we should buy. I just ended up buying a Pretzel as I saw that there was a Butcher shop (Metzgerei) very close by. It smelled amazing and most of our group also bought a cooked Bratwurst. They both tasted amazing. In the afternoon we had some free time and in the evening we met up with some friends. The following day, everyone went to Würzburg. Once there, we visited the fortress, which gave us a beautiful view of the city and later we had a tour of the city. In the afternoon, we had some free time and ended up, once again, going to a bakery to try even more delicious specialities. We returned home, and that evening, I went to watch Lennox’s handball game.This was really fun to watch as this is not a common sport in England. On Thursday and Friday we went to school and joined in with the lessons, even though we struggled understanding some of the content. The German school system is very different from the UK and I enjoy it far more as the school day is shorter as well as most of the lessons being in the same classroom. On Friday afternoon we were kindly received at the town hall (Rathaus) by the mayor. We were dismissed for lunch time and once again I went to visit Lennox’s grandmother for their weekly lunch. In the afternoon we had some free time. During this time, we prepared for a barbecue with the other exchange friends that we made.This was a great evening. Later we went out again which was great fun. On Saturday, the host family kindly brought me to Frankfurt where we took part in an axe throwing challenge. Following this, we visited the town and they showed me all of the key buildings such as the Dom or the Main Tower. At the Main Tower, we went all the way to the top, at the viewing platform, where we had a beautiful view of the whole city. We were even able to see the stadium. At 18:00, we had a reservation at a traditional German restaurant in the heart of Frankfurt. Once there, the family ordered for me and I got a Schnitzel with green sauce. The green sauce ingredients were grown just outside the city and we were able to see them whilst on the train journey there. I was intrigued by a cheese called Harzerkäse. I was told that this cheese has 30g of protein per 100g and nearly no fat. On Sunday we went to Rüdesheim and took a chairlift to the Niederwald monument.This is a monument to commemorate the founding of the German Empire in 1871 after the end of the Franco-Prussian War. After this we had a boat trip back up to Rüdesheim on the Rhine. We picked up Will from Wiesbaden and headed Y10 GERMAN EXCHANGE: German Leg Trips 18
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