Welcome to the Fifth Year Blog!
The Fifth Year have been busy this half term settling back into Hampton life after the summer holidays, which we are sure for them, must feel like a very long time ago! As expected from a Hampton half term, we have already seen many successes on and off the field, along with two interform competitions, subject clinics have started during lunch times and Elevate Education have been with us with their ever-useful revision tips. Our newsletter writers have been busy rounding up some of the key events, interviewing a new member of the Fifth Year team and investigating the lunch queue. From the success of the “Unsung Hero” awards at their Fourth Year Prizegiving event in the summer term, the Fifth Years have also been busy nominating their peers who they think deserve the award for this half term. We hope you enjoy reading our blog and we wish you an enjoyable half term break.
Interform Volleyball
Monty S (5A) tells us all about the exciting interform volleyball competition that took place this half term:
On Friday 5 October, squads of a minimum five players from each form made the brave decision to not sprint straight to lunch and came together to compete in one of the most prestigious tournaments of all time! Fifth Year Interform Volleyball. The event began with a tense group stage, with many different forms challenging to progress into the knockout rounds. From Group A, 5H won in dominant fashion with 5E winning Group B and 5C winning Group C. However, as there were only three groups, the best runner up out of all three groups would progress. With incredibly tight final qualifying matches 5A pulled up the knockout upset, as David did to Goliath, and eliminated the defending champs from Fourth Year 5G by goal difference! A fantastic start which would only build from here.
Unlike the facilities of the Champions League draw, but nevertheless just as tense and nerve-racking, the semi-finals were drawn with 5A playing 5C, and 5H playing 5E. The semi-finals did not disappoint, with all four forms taking the lead in each match, however almost poetically in both matches a last-minute winner was scored setting up the grand finale of 5A vs 5H and the third and fourth place playoff of 5E vs 5C. The final began and as they had done all tournament, 5H began dominating, however 5A did not give up clawing back at every opportunity, but 5H were just too good and won the Fifth Year interform volleyball final 19-14, the same score as the bronze medal match with 5C winning that.
A huge congratulations to Form 5H, who have now won both interform competitions having also won the Art Quiz this half term too. Hopefully other forms can try and beat them in the coming competitions and create an enthralling interform title race. Thank you to all teachers and members of staff who helped set up the Volleyball, we thoroughly enjoyed it!
Interform Arts Quiz
Assistant Head of Year, Mr Hall, tested the Fifth Years’ knowledge of the art world in this term’s cerebral Interform Art Quiz. Questions ranged from “Guess the Painter” to “Guess the Location” and our winners were Matthew and Thomas from Form 5H. Take a look at just some of the famous paintings that had Hamptonians scratching their heads.
Here are the results after the first two interform competitions of the year. More exciting competitions to follow after the half term break.
| Form | Arts Quiz position | Volleyball position |
| A | 2= | 2 |
| B | 8= | 7 |
| C | 8= | 3 |
| D | 6 | 8 |
| E | 4= | 4 |
| F | 2= | 6 |
| G | 4= | 9 |
| H | 1 | 1 |
| J | 7 | 5 |
Rugby round up
With the rugby season in full swing, Rajvir D (5F) gives us a flavour of how the U16A team have progressed his half term:
The U16s have had an eventful season so far, playing some exciting rugby with a fair mix of wins and losses. Despite facing some tough challenges (playing at the highest level of rugby), the players have shown unbelievable resilience and team spirit. Kicking off the season on home ground vs Seaford College, the team excelled as they won 25-0, showcasing some determined defending and great play in attack. Following on from this, came The Campion School and RGS High Wycombe, games in which the team gave it their all but came up just short of taking the victory. Finally, with a variety of injuries and illnesses the boys travelled down past Guildford to play Cranleigh School and returned with ways on how to raise their game. With this in mind, the team then headed to Wellington and accomplished a comfortable win against their B team before the half term break.
As they advance into the second half of term, they aim to further improve their performance and achieve even greater success. The team as well as all the coaching staff have recognised areas on which to improve by learning valuable skills and tactics from their past experiences and figuring out how to apply those in future games. The players have been working even harder to sharpen their skills by implementing three training sessions during and after school hours, on top of strength and conditioning work. The players are determined to give their best efforts on the field and are consistently training as a team as well as individually to showcase their desire to progress after half term.
Keep it up!
Football round up
Our footballers have also been busy this half term, Rohan P M (5E) gives us an update on the U16A team:
Last week, the Hampton U16A team played in their first round of the County Cup against Harris Academy Wimbledon. The final result was a 4-0 win for Hampton. The game was a fight in the first half. There was a constant battle over possession of the ball and both teams put up a strong contest. The Wimbledon keeper did a good job of keeping the ball out of the net after a few attempts to score from Hampton’s attackers with some shots just about missing the post leaving the score at 0-0.
The scores remained level with the strong contest for the ball continuing until players Dexter B and Nick A were substituted onto the field. This strategic tactic proved effective and within minutes Hampton scored their first goal, Nick sprinted down the wing and made a pass to Dexter who knocked in to Ollie who rolled the ball into the goal. This gave Hampton the energy required to finish the game. Goals came in a flurry with Ed M crossing the ball to Nick who scored a stupendous volley into the top right corner. Hampton supporters erupted in joy from the side lines. The Hampton U16A team were taking the opposition by storm, and to secure the game, Joe T scored an amazing finish into the top corner with Nick gaining the assist to put Hampton 3-0 up. Wimbledon made what could have been a key change in the last few minutes and swapped their keeper outfield. Dexter took this on as a challenge and took a risky shot which rolled past the keeper.
Overall, an unfortunate result for Wimbledon but Hampton progress to the next round of the County Cup. Up the Hampton!
Looking forward to hearing how you get on in the next round.
Social league round up
Social League football is a phenomenon that sees dozens of senior footballers take to the football pitch every Wednesday afternoon. Avi B (5E) explains more:
Many Fifth Years have taken up Social League football as their Wednesday sport option. Pupils travel to the nearby Power League football pitches, where they play 7-a-side matches and enjoy great football in the company of friends. The games, whilst not amounting to quite as much as some of the mainstream school football fixtures, are still intense, complete with ‘outrageous’ skills, and fuelled by mini rivalries between the four teams. Throughout the week, teams constantly search for the best new prospects to sign, and how they can all work towards the ultimate Social League title at the end of the season. All the players are grateful to the staff that supervise and referee games every week, with whom they can look forward to some more exciting football.
The Legendary Hampton Lunch Queue
Since arriving in England and at Hampton last year, Fedor A (5A) has been fascinated by the lunch queue. He decided to delve a bit deeper on his favourite food day of the week. Here is his sideways take on the experience:
The smell. The smell of fried potatoes begins to waft through every corner of the school an hour before lunch. It’s both torture (pupils must wait a whole lesson before starting the rush) and a reminder to the forgetful – it’s Friday! And aside from the delicious food in the Dining Hall, Friday is also characterised by the biggest queue of the week. The race for first place is also notable. After the fifth lesson, pupils rush like greyhounds for a tasty slice of pizza or a mouthful of burger. I interviewed several Hamptonians in the front of the queue, and they told me that for them the Friday race is partly a competition. Pupils stated that they enjoy the feeling of being amongst the lucky few who don’t have to wait to tuck into their viands.
I questioned the dejected-looking Hamptonians at the back of the queue. They quietly told me that they felt sad but hoped that the queue would soon clear, and they would take their rightful place at the dinner table. One respondent said that he had once found himself at the very back of the queue, round the corner. He described this feeling as “grief.” This is also a motivator. Today you are last but tomorrow you may be first and vice versa. For some pupils, this becomes an eternal principle. Others are more accepting of the need to queue: however quickly they arrive, someone else will always arrive faster. In the words of one “as if by teleport.”
I was interested in the opinion of the teachers who observe the queue and all its peculiarities every week. The teacher on duty told me that this was largely due to the English-speaking countries’ tradition of fried food on Friday. She was extremely pleased with the behaviour of the students. Another teacher commented that, since he is on duty during the second half of lunch, the queue is much quieter. After all, there is no need to rush to lunch at the start and there is always enough food to go around. The teacher declined to comment on my theory that the Friday queue is an allegory for Hampton School (with its idea of competition everywhere among students and the pursuit, not only of knowledge, but also of food). I will leave the reader with these thoughts and wish you a pleasant appetite.
Meet Mr Fakatou
Avi B (E) caught up with Psychology teacher and one half of 5E’s tutor team:
If you could only describe yourself using three words, what would they be?
Relaxed, optimistic and persevering.
How have your first few weeks teaching at Hampton been?
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my first few weeks teaching at Hampton. The boys are impressive and a delight to teach, and I have already noticed my own teaching practice improve because of it.
What do you enjoy most about being a teacher?
I enjoy teaching topics that I find fascinating and interesting e.g., why do people obey? Even though I teach the same content yearly, it’s always great to see each pupil experience it for the first time every year.
Could you reveal a bit more about psychology as a subject?
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. Predominantly we are looking at people, why they behave the way they do and the theories that seek to explain it. That’s what makes this subject so enjoyable to many – we get the chance to learn about ourselves.
Do you have any other big interests outside of School?
I enjoy playing and watching rugby and have done since I was a child. Also watching sitcom TV shows in my spare time (Sherlock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Modern Family are tmy current favourites).
If there’s one thing that you’re looking forward to in the upcoming weeks, what is it?
You can’t go wrong with Christmas; it’s a nice festive period of the year and always involves lots of family and food – my two favourite things!
Unsung heroes
Out of 50 nominations for the coveted “Unsung Heroes” award, we congratulate the pupils below on their kindness, friendly manner, and all-round embodiment of what it means to be a Hamptonian.
Eddie H (5G)
He always, no matter how busy, helps others with either small gestures like holding open the door or reminding someone to hand in some work or even helping others to understand tricky concepts. Overall, he is a kind and caring pupil who always puts others over himself.
Ewan M (5G)
He is very inspirational and always tries to motivate people. He always is kind and makes sure to check on people.
Fedor A (5A)
He is a very kind and interesting person to speak to. He led the volleyball team to an incredible second place.
Mikael N (5J)
Very kind and nice to everyone, the heart of 5J.
Nathaniel C (5A)
One of the nicest, most down to earth people I know who always has time to help me during my maths lessons.
Oliver D (5G)
Always kind to others and provides help both academically and socially when asked.
Samrath S (5E)
He is someone who always helps others no matter what. Most days, I see him waiting to hold the door for people coming in and out of school. In my opinion, there is no one in the school more selfless than he is. He is always positive and never fails to put a smile on someone’s face.
Xander B (5D)
He is always the first to help if someone is feeling down, and he is always helping others first.
Have a great half term holiday!
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