A record eight teams competing in the Rosslyn Park National Schools Rugby 7s starting Monday, with the Pipes and Drums performing at the opening ceremony. This evening in front of the school on parade practice, the girls and boys U18 Cup teams were presented with their match tops by Headmaster Andrew Moss. Best of luck to all those taking part.
Triple success in the National Schools Golf competition at Crowborough Beacon GC for Gordon’s in the scratch, stableford and team events. Zach Mathews clinched the scratch tournament with a -1 round of 71 by two shots with Ben Lovell finishing runner up with a +1 round 73. In the stableford, Gordon’s came first (Jamie McNeil with 43 points), second (Will Unsworth 42 points), third (Cameron Moulsdale 40 points) and fourth with seven golfers making the top ten. And in the team stableford, the boys in green came away with first, second, fourth and eighth places. With just three more events and many golfers now qualifying for the national finals, the school looks set to have a record breaking field at the end of the season.
A chance for Year 10 scholars working on the Schools of Empire project to discuss their research with two of its architects Dr Thomas Smith and Dr Timothy Guard from Rugby School. In addition Year 8 were treated to a fascinating talk on Empire and Artefacts and Sixth Form historians learned about the benefits of studying a humanities degree. The Schools of Empire is an award-winning research project exploring the historical intersection between schools, class and colonialism.
Three new personal bests for Ned Hewson in Sunday’s Surrey Half Marathon! The former Head Boy, who is in training for the Brighton Marathon on 6th April, is now averaging 31.4km a week in readiness for the big day and has reached his fundraising target for mental health charity MIND of 2025!
The 17 year old, who will run the marathon shortly after his 18th birthday, set the following pbs on Sunday in the 21.3km course, which he completed in 1:38:55 - 15km (1:09:46); ten miles (1:15:03); 20km (1:33:51). He said: “With one month to go until the marathon we have officially reached my target of £2025. I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has donated and supported my training. It has now been 5 weeks since I set up my just giving page and have managed to run 178.26km, averaging 31.4km a week”.
Donations towards his fundraising for MIND can still be made here.
Exeat weekend for all but seven students who found themselves in Guildford Crown Court! However, the seven were acting as witnesses, defendants, magistrates and lawyers for the prosecution and defence as part of a Mock Trial. As well as visiting the court, the students toured the holding cells at Guildford Crown Court and were given the chance to engage with a wide range of legal and law enforcement professionals. For more information on Mock Trials at Gordon's, please click here.
Thousands of pounds were raised for bursaries for students at a glittering evening hosted by the Girdlers’ Company at Girdlers’ Hall in London. The event, in this the school’s 140th anniversary year, attended by Gordon Foundation Trustees, Governors, staff, parents and supporters of the school, included a live and silent auction with many of those present generously donating items, services and events.
Head of Careers, British soprano Augusta Kennedy, a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music performed for guests and was part of the live auction, offering to sing at a dinner party or event of the highest bidder’s choice! She raised £1,100 for bursaries! Other donations included a flying lesson, polo, golf and stays in Cornwall and Guernsey and a Eurostar break.
Angus Maitland Master of the Girdlers’ Company, spoke of the livery company’s support for Gordon’s bursary students stretching back some 40 years and past and present students described the opportunities their bursaries had given them.
Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell, Chairman of the Gordon Foundation Trustees declared that they were “…enormously important. They change lives”.
Donations to the school’s bursary fund can be made here.
A firm favourite on the Careers calendar – speed networking. Guess the profession of the person in front of you in just a few minutes! Thank you to our volunteers representing such a diverse range of industries and careers: Simply Dine Cafe and Events; Weyside Physiotheraphy; Kimberley Clark; Bristol Myers Squibb; Thales UK; AXA Health; Nationalwide Building Society; Cromwell Property Group Ltd; BP; Claire Seager Pilates; Mercedes Grand Prix; Nigel Unsworth Personal Car Brokers; Fridge Fallout.
Hip hop artist, poet and author, Karl Nova brought his unique style to Gordon’s students today as part of World Book Week. As well as providing an inspirational and engaging talk about his early life in London and Nigeria, Karl spoke about his journey into creative writing through rap music and word slam poetry. Thank you Karl Nova!
Gordon’s students struck gold on the greens of one of Europe’s top golf courses in the Daily Mail World Junior Championships.
The team of boys, playing the Villa Padierna Alferini Golf Course in Marbella were competing against 250 golfers from 36 countries in the tournament, in one of the largest and most prestigious junior golf tournaments to be played on European soil.
Jonnie Summerfield a Gordon’s golf scholar with a handicap of 0.8, was crowned U18 Daily Mail World Junior Champion!
After a practice round and three days of competition on the 54 hole WAGR event, Jonnie shot rounds of 75, 72 and 76 (+3, Even and +4) to finish +7 par, four shots clear of the runner up.
A golfer since the age of ten, Jonnie was modest about his win and said of his opponents: “They were really good players but did not play well because it was a really tight course. If your shot was just off target you weren’t going to score high”.
Successes in Marbella were also recorded by other Gordon’s students. Ben Lovell finished fifth with rounds of 76, 76 and 80; Fraser Brammall came 22nd and Barnaby Gough 25th in the 16-18 category.
Zach Mathews in the 14-15 years old category finished 11th, after a practice round which included five birdies and an eagle!
One hundred and fifty one students from six schools taking part in the Gordon's MUN (Model United Nations) Conference this weekend, representing nine different committees. Students will thrash out weighty topics such as the rise of political extremism; protection of human rights in war-torn areas; emergency healthcare in Israel/Palestine as well as in a special committee on the question of combatting the martian invasion! Guest of Honour is Surrey Heath’s newly-elected MP Al Pinkerton who will speak on his own experiences in international relations as an MP and as an Associate Professor in Geopolitics at the Royal Holloway University of London. Also speaking is Major Ali Bexton, who has extensive experience in Ukraine and is able to provide a unique and focused perspective on global affairs.
For all the action as it happens, follow Gordon’s MUN on Instagram - @gordonsmodelunitednations.
A once in a lifetime opportunity for Gordon’s pianists, four of whom took part in a Masterclass with Charles Owen, a leading British classical pianist at Steinway Hall, home of Steinway and Sons in Marylebone.
The students, who played a range of music from Chopin to Gershwin, were also able to take part in a question and answer session with Mr Owen, who is Professor of Piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Guest Professor at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Steinway & Sons’ UK Ambassador. During their visit they toured Steinway Hall. Afterwards Mr Owen said: "The staff and pupils from Gordon's School couldn’t have been more friendly or receptive. It was a pleasure to work with their four pianists and watch the improvement they all made".
The events were part of Gordon’s School’s intention to form a partnership with Steinway & Sons and become a Steinway School. Click here for further information.
Congratulations to netball scholar Emily Brownleader, selected for Northern Ireland’s U21 National Academy for 2025. In announcing their 20-strong squad, Netball Northern Ireland said the players had demonstrated ‘exceptional skill, commitment and determination’ to earn their place in the high-performance pathway as they work towards the World Youth Cup in Gibraltar this September.
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