Welcome to the Third Year Blog!
Hello hello. It’s blog time!
Today is International Women’s Day; a day Miss Embiricos and Miss Holt drew our attention to in this week’s assembly. While National Fruit Compote day has its merits (and sinister drawbacks), as covered in last week’s blog, this is in an entirely different league.
For centuries and centuries, the world was designed for men, and women were actively excluded from certain areas of life. Even in the UK, a seemingly civilised country, it’s incredible to look at a timeline of when certain changes were implemented:
1891 was the point at which the right for men to use corporal punishment against their wives was taken away.
1918 was the first year that women were allowed to vote (but only if they were over 30 and owned property because, heaven knows, they couldn’t be trusted otherwise!).
1920 was the first year that women were allowed to work in the law and accountancy professions.
1944 was the first year that a woman was allowed to be a teacher if she was also married.
1975 was the year that gender-based discrimination against women in the workplace, education and training was made illegal.
Beyond these obvious moments that, in making a change, demonstrate the awful reality of the situation beforehand, there are other more subtle ways in which the world is designed for men.
As an example, data taken from a book published in 2019 shows that if a woman is involved in a car crash, she is 47% more likely to be seriously injured than a man and 71% more likely to be moderately injured, even when researchers control for factors like height, weight, seat belt usage and crash intensity. A woman is 17% more likely to die in a car crash. Why?
Essentially, cars are designed with men in mind, even down to the point of safety. Of course, cars are rigorously tested for safety. We all know what a crash-test dummy looks like. However, if you’re picturing one in your head right now, you’ll be picturing one that is based on what the average male body shape looks like. This is because, for decades, there was no such thing as a female crash test dummy. The first one was developed in 2011. So up until that point there was no attempt to understand how a woman might be affected differently by the impact of a crash, meaning that they were more likely to die in one.
Thankfully, days like International Women’s Day make sure that the fight for equality carries on. This battle for equality is morally important, but it is also important for the world. Global research conducted in 2012 showed that ‘the very best predictor of a state’s peacefulness is not its level of wealth, its level of democracy, or its ethno-religious identity; the best predictor of a state’s peacefulness is how well its women are treated.’ (Hudson, Valerie et al. 2014, Sex & World Peace. Columbia University Press).
The fight for women’s equality is important for all of us and all of us can play a part in trying to help create a society where equality is celebrated when it is achieved and fought for when it is not.
Yes, an unexpectedly serious start to the Third Year blog, but sometimes we have to be serious. The world won’t be changed for better by gentle commentary on the weather, weak jokes about fruit compote and lengthy paeans to the importance of the Third Year Interform Williams Cup, prestigious though it is.
Time to see what the magnificent Third Years have been getting up to in the last week or so! We have a report from a dramatic ESFA quarter final football match for the U14A team. We then have two reports on Jazz performances. One is a from the Hampton Jazz Café event, while the other is an Arts Award review of a jazz concert at a London Jazz Club. Of course, we also have two truths and a lie with a contribution from a teaching legend of the Second Year and our usual connection corner.
Heads of Year message
We were delighted to receive a report that Forms 3A-3E were excellent ambassadors for the School on the first Battlefields Trip last weekend. Mr Roberts was impressed with the way the boys behaved, showed interest, and kept up the pace throughout the physically and emotionally demanding trip. Well done to all involved. We hope that Forms 3F-3J will reach the same standard on their Battlefields Trip next weekend (March 15-16).
Vaccinations
The Richmond Immunisation Team will attend school on Tuesday 12 March to administer DTP, Meningitis ACWY, and MMR (for anyone who has not already had two doses) booster vaccinations. The nursing team wrote to Third Year parents two weeks ago to share the letter containing the link to the parental consent form. The deadline for completing the consent form was Thursday 7 March. Please contact the School Nurses if you have any questions about the vaccinations: Nurse@hamptonschool.org.uk.
Form Charity Quiz
Well done to the many boys who made the trip across to LEH for the Form Charity Quiz on Thursday lunchtime. Thank you for the £2 donation per participant which goes towards our Form Charity fundraising effort. Form Charity raise funds for our three democratically selected charity partners each academic year, which you can read about here.
Co-Curricular
We encourage all boys to keep up their attendance at lunchtime co-curricular clubs and activities right through to the end of term. A reminder of what is available is linked here.
Behaviour & uniform notices
- School blazers must be worn to school as part of a full school uniform.
- Hampton sports kit should be worn on Thursdays, not assorted sportswear.
- Pupils should not run in the corridors.
- Pupils should attend morning registration (8.45am) and afternoon registration (1.50pm) promptly each day in their Form Room, in order to arrive on time for the start of period 1 (8.55am) and period 6 (2.00pm).
- Pupils should only use iPads under instructions during a lesson or with the express permission of a teacher. Third Year pupils are not permitted to use mobile phones in school without the express permission of a teacher.
Absences
For medical absences, please notify your son’s Form Tutors via email (cc’ing absence@hamptonschool.org.uk) on the morning of each day of absence by 8:45am, or complete the absence form via the parent portal. For planned absences and appointments, please contact Heads of Year requesting the absence with as much notice as possible.
Boys – Please remember to let us, your Form Tutors or the relevant subject teachers know if you are having any difficulties.
We hope you enjoy the weekend. Remember that it is Mother’s Day on Sunday!
Best wishes
Mr T Rigby & Mrs M Bedford
Form Charity Quiz
Yesterday saw lots of Third Year Hamptonians hot-footing it over to neighbouring school LEH for the Form Charity Quiz raising funds for this year’s form charity partners CARA, Woodland Trust and the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust. Well done to everyone who took part and especially 3C who buzzed their way to victory!
Super sevens
The coach arrived late, meaning we only had 15 minutes to warm up for our first game, against the hosts, Warwick. It showed that we had such little time as our first game against Warwick was our worst defeat of 22-7 but we moved on quickly making sure to bounce back in our next game against Bishop Wordsworth which we did winning 36-5 with tries by Olly M-H and Rafe M. Our next match after another long break was against RGS Worcester which we had to win in order to get through to the quarter finals and have a shot at the cup competition. At 7-5, it was still uncertain but tries by Olly M H and Ethan M secured the win and the qualification for the cup competition.
Next was the biggest game of the competition for Hampton so far. One of our biggest rivals, RGS High Wycombe. The first play of the match High Wycombe scored in the corner and at half time luckily Hampton had 5 points against the 19 due to a brilliant piece of football skills by Will B allowing Olly to run it in to the corner for our first points of the cup quarter final. Hampton kicked off and due to a brilliant kick by Bene B we managed to regain the ball and score under the posts which was quickly converted by Bene to make it 19–12. RGS then kicked off straight to Olly. A grave mistake. With lots of shouts of, ‘just run Olly,’ he did precisely that, dancing past every defender like they weren’t there. Another easy conversion for Bene. 19–19. After another build-up of play, Hampton ended up on their own try line in the last play of the game, the ball was distributed wide to Jake O’R who raced down the right wing with everyone sprinting forward to keep up with him. I then gave a pass to Bene to ran a good straight line, I then gave another pass to Olly who, as usual ran straight through the defence to claim the win for Hampton once again.
Our next game was the Semi Final, against one of the biggest teams in all of England, Sedbergh, unfortunately, we lost closely but it was very good to be competitive against such big teams and the tournament was all round a success.
Report by Xavier K (3C)
Football Update
The U14A’s round of 16 ESFA Cup game against Matthew Arnold School is a game that had everything and will live long in the memory of those involved. Set the scene; it’s a freezing, rainy Thursday afternoon on F1. A mix of nerves and excitement were buzzing in the air from both teams, who were each desperate for a quarter final spot in this prestigious schoolboy cup competition. Revved up and ready to go, we lined up in our infamous 4-3-3 formation energetically waiting for the starting whistle.
With nervous energy coursing through our bodies, we got off to a flying start with a perfectly weighted cross from Ben W off the left wing, which was guided into the net by our striker, Oliver K, in the 7th minute. Rattling the opposition, the whole team danced to the corner flag in celebration causing hope to rise and dreams to take shape in our heads. Within minutes Matthew Arnold responded sending shock through our ranks with a good team goal to make it 1-1. High on momentum Matthew Arnold snatched a second; a goal on the break in the last few minutes of the half causing a huge blow to Hampton’s hopes. A big team talk was going to be needed from Mr Hooper at half time.
With inspiration surging through our veins, we hurried back onto the pitch knowing a huge performance was needed if we were going to be victorious. Fans were beginning to emerge as the school day came to an end giving us a boost in morale. Hampton started the half strongly, dominating possession with the tempo being set by Leo N and Seb H in midfield. The breakthrough soon arrived with Ben W driving forward with the ball from the left wing and then producing a magnificent through ball which cut open the Matthew Arnold defence, leaving Oliver K a simple finish which he slotted into the back of the net. We were back in it…
As tension continued to rise, and with 20 minutes of the game remaining, Alex P slid a perfectly weighted through ball in behind the opposition defence for Oliver K to run on to and smash it into the top left corner. Cue utter bedlam as the team and supporters erupted in joy. The ESFA dream was alive and kicking!
We had 20 minutes to maintain our 3-2 lead. However, the script took a cruel twist in the dying minutes when the referee awarded a penalty to Matthew Arnold. Step forward the opposition striker. Could he score to keep his team in the Cup? Or could our goalkeeper Sam H keep the dream alive? As Sam dove to his right, he managed to keep the ball out of the net with his trailing leg. Sheer ecstasy. What a save. But why was the linesman flagging? Apparently, Sam had come off his line too early. The team and supporters were incredulous. The penalty was retaken. They levelled. Heartbreak. The full whistle blew and it was time for added time.
With both teams unsure whether to attack or play for penalties, extra time was a tight affair with defences holding firm. Minds were turning to the penalty shootout. Who would take one? Could Sam be our hero? And then disaster struck. A moment of magic from the Matthew Arnold striker with a jinking run and hard finish into the bottom corner made it 4-3 in the last kick of the game. We were distraught. Our cup run was over. We had been so close, a roller coaster of emotions throughout the 84 minutes of football. It is a day that none of the players will ever forget.
Report by Oliver K (3E)
Jazz Café
On Friday 1 March, I performed along with a number of other Hampton musicians in the Jazz Café as part of Swing Band. In it, we performed a number of classic swing songs including the ‘Peter Gunn Theme’ and ‘The Pink Panther’. Our performances were separated over two parts, which gave us a decent rest whilst Jazz Band performed. However, the most exciting part of the event was the fact that we were given the opportunity to perform with a professional jazz quintet which included Harry Baker OH (2015), an Old Hamptonian. We had spent the second half of lunch and most of our final three periods of the day practising improvisation and had even put together a piece of music to be performed entirely from memory in Jazz Café. It was a wonderful opportunity and everyone really enjoyed the improvisation and rose to the challenge of performing from memory. Once we had performed, the professionals took to the stage on their own. It was brilliant to watch. After that, the Jazz Band stepped up on stage and began doing their own group improvisations. The night went on until all the soloists had performed. By this point Swing Band had finished their performances and so I was able to sneak to the back of the Main Hall both to grab some pudding but also to watch the professionals and then Jazz Band. It was certainly a night to remember.
By Rory M (3A)
Concert Review
I watched an Anthony Strong concert in Pizza Express Jazz Club in London. I went there with my Dad and my brother. I attended the concert because I enjoy Anthony Strong’s music and I thought it would be a great inspiration for my Arts Award project. It was very good; he and his quartet performed his arrangements of numerous famous jazz standards. An example of which was a pop-ballad version of the Chet Baker standard, “Look for the Silver Lining.” I found it interesting because his songs were so unique but most of them, he hadn’t written; this is because his arrangements made the songs so different to the originals that they were hard to recognise.
If I were to point out any negatives, I would say that they could’ve had more people in the band, because the fact that there were only three of them restricted what they could play. I would recommend this to jazz fans, but not to people who don’t like jazz because they would likely find it boring. I would rate this a 9/10 – Overall, I really enjoyed it and I struggled to find negatives for it. I would definitely watch it again.
By Harry S (3G)
DISCOVER HAMPTON – STEppING BACK IN TIME WITH HISTORY
Mary, Mary, quite contrary! Step back in time to the Tudor period with Hamptonians investigating the five-year reign of Mary I – aka Bloody Mary – with Head of History Mr Roberts. Discussion and debate are warmly encouraged in the Hampton history classroom and, as you’ll hear, evaluating sources ranging from nursery rhymes to historical extracts, Second Year and Lower Sixth pupils question whether England’s first female monarch deserved all her bad press.
Click on the link below to listen.
Two truths and a lie
You may remember that last week, Mr Berezhnoi was the filthy liar.
- Mr Berezhnoi is fluent in Latin.
- Mr Berezhnoi won a white belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament last month.
- Mr Berezhnoi has an encyclopaedic knowledge of classical music.
Which was the lie?
Well, if it were possible for the two to meet, Mr Berezhnoi would be able to comfortably hold a conversation with Caecilius about the latest chat from the caldarium. If that conversation took a turn for the worse, his jiu-jitsu abilities would mean that Caecilius wouldn’t stand a chance if they came to blows. What this means is that Mr Berezhnoi does not have an encyclopaedic knowledge of classical music, though as the most dapper male member of staff (this is an unofficial title that may be disputed by some of other members of staff), he sort of looks like he should do if we are honest with ourselves.
This week, we have the legendary Mrs Owen, Head of Second Year, offering up a lie. Now that you are Third Years, she feels willing to make that moral decision.
So, which is these three offerings isn’t true?
- Mrs Owen went to school with Paddy McGuiness
- Mrs Owen is a lifelong Oldham Athletic supporter
- Mrs Owen used to play darts for her university darts team
Find out which is the lie next week!
CONNECTION CORNER
Well done to the everyone who had a go at last week’s Connection Corner. Merits go to all those who correctly guessed that the answers were all the first names of the four Gospel authors. Big shout out to Bailey HC, Ozan B, Kiran G, Hamoodi A-A, Huw P, Olly P, Luke F, Rory M, Svajan G and Oliver S.
Another tricky one this week, have a go over the weekend and see if you can spot the connection:
Who played Ferris Bueller in the iconic 1980s film? Matthew Broderick
Who founded Facebook and is still the Chief Executive of the company? Mark Zuckerberg
What is the name of the Man Utd defender who plays in the number 23 shirt? Luke Shaw
Which actor starred opposite Olivia Newton John in Grease? John Travolta
Connection: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – Four Evangelists, the authors attributed with the creation of the four canonical Gospel
