Month: March 2024
Sedbergh School is thrilled to announce its feature on the brand-new Yorkshire Dales Edition of Monopoly, unveiled at the launch event held at the prestigious Devonshire Arms. Headmaster, Dan Harrison and Director of Marketing, David Milner represented the school at the event, expressing excitement at being part of this iconic board game.
Dan Harrison commented, “It is great to be featured on the new Yorkshire Dales Monopoly board. Our school has many links with businesses and landmarks in the region, and we are looking forward to sharing the boards across our boarding houses and with the wider Sedbergh community. This is just the beginning of some very special product launches and events as we approach our 500th anniversary in 2025.”
In collaboration with Winning Moves UK, the official Monopoly maker, the Yorkshire Dales Edition showcases bespoke property spaces and cards, with Sedbergh School securing a prominent position on the board.
John Keen-Tomlinson, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK, expressed gratitude to the public for their enthusiastic response to the game, which features over 30 Dales landmarks and organisations.
The new edition replaces traditional Monopoly tokens with custom ones, including a Craven ram and a slab of Wensleydale cheese, adding a unique charm to the gameplay.
This unique board will be available to purchase directly through Sedbergh School and by purchasing the board game directly a percentage of all sales will go towards supporting Roger Lupton Scholarships.
To register your interest in purchasing a Monopoly board please complete the following form.
The final week of Lent term, for many, is a spectacular rugby celebration as the season draws to a close. Having battled against schools up and down the country in the traditional 15-a-side format, Lent term sees the shorter formats of the game take centre stage – with all roads leading to the National Schools’ Sevens Championships at Rosslyn Park, and the National Tens held here at Sedbergh.
U14 claim plate victory in nail-biter
Following an impressive showing on Day 1, the U14 side headed in to Day 2 of competition at the National Sevens full of confidence. Successfully navigating their way through some tough fixtures in the quarter finals, this young Sedbergh side faced a familiar Warwick team in the semi-final. A school we’re familiar with and regularly play 15-a-side fixtures against. A commanding and convincing 24-12 victory, as well as their best performance of the tournament, sent Sedbergh into the final in high spirits. Standing between them and the Plate were Ipswich School, who had been equally impressive across the two days. Sedbergh were clinical in attack and held strong in defence to win a hard-fought contest 19-17 to the delight of coaches and parents in attendance and watching online via the fantastic coverage provided by Next Gen XV.
U16 showcase dominant performance to be crowned National Cup Champions
It was a tournament to remember for our U16 side, who went unbeaten across the two days of competition and only conceded ten tries on their way to the final on Thursday afternoon against a very talented Trinity College. In an astonishing first half performance, Sedbergh ran out to a 26-0 lead at half time and further extended that lead in the opening minutes of the second half to 38-0. Trinity continued to play expansive rugby and capitalised on a Sedbergh yellow card and scored two late tries to bring the full time score to 38-12. Celebrations continued as Year 11 pupil Adam (Evans House) was named player of the tournament.
U18 bounce back from RPNS7s disappointment to lift National Tens trophy in dramatic fashion
After a 100% win record on day one of RPNS7s (albeit with a scare from Eton College) Sedbergh were placed in a group the next day along with three other powerhouses of schoolboy rugby; Millfield, Wellington and Kirkham. In what many saw as the “group of death”, each of the four teams pushed and tested one another to their limits but ultimately, Sedbergh finished the day winless and exited the tournament.
In less than 48 hours, Sedbergh ran out onto Buskholme in the opening game of the National Tens and blew away any possible RPNS7s cobwebs with a 31-10 win against QEGS Wakefield. Under the clear blue skies and warm spring sunshine, Sedbergh continued to grow in confidence and finished the day unbeaten and into the next round of the cup, where they were grouped with Ipswich, King’s Macclesfield and Seaford College. Winning their opening two games was enough to see Sedbergh into the cup final for the third successive year. In the final, they met Brighton College, who had a brilliant run earlier in the week at RPNS7s, making it all the way to the plate final. Conditions on day 2 could not have been more different than day 1. Blue skies and sunshine were replaced by dark clouds and rain. Lots of rain. This had a dramatic effect on the pitch conditions, but that never dampened the spirit of the event, with schools producing some scintillating rugby. In a tense and tight affair, it was Brighton who took the lead late in the first half. Sedbergh’s uphill challenge got even steeper in the second half, as they were reduced to 9-men following a red card. As the clock turned to the final minute of the game, and deep inside the Brighton 22, Upper Sixth Pupil Tom (Sedgwick House) seized his opportunity and darted for the line to level the scores up at 5-5. Year 12 pupil Matthew (School House) composed himself to knock the conversion over which was followed by the blast of the full time whistle, cue pandemonium as Sedbergh erupted into celebration whilst it was heartbreak for Brighton College, who’s number 11, Harry, joined a list of illustrious names as player of the tournament.
Speaking to Angus Savage at NextGenXV after the game, Director of Rugby, Mr Mulholland said; “We’ve been through some tough times over the last 6 months or so, and I’m just so proud of them that we’ve made a memory there that’s going to forever.”
Archie (Powell House) left Sedbergh in 2023 and took up a place reading music at the University of Cambridge. At Cambridge, he has discovered an inspiring ‘home’ for his passion for music. Throughout his Cambridge application, he received invaluable support and guidance from Ms. Hartley, Mr. Seymour, and Mr. Allinson in the Music Department, while Ms. Roland, Head of Year 13, and other teachers provided essential interview practice.
Inspired by mentors like Current Director of Music, Archie envisions a future that integrates academia, research, and musical performance. After his undergraduate degree, he aims to pursue a Master’s and eventually a PhD.
A lot of pupils aspire to follow in your footsteps; what do you remember about the process of applying to Cambridge?
I started preparations around Easter of year 12 – so a good 16 months before the end of A levels. A lot of people helped with the process and steps. I was supported extensively by Ms. Hartley; she helped with the whole application process, taught me about interview technique and about the skills for first year music students which would be examined in the interview. Mr. Seymour and Mr. Allinson, among others, worked with me to hone my personal statement.
I had mock interviews set up by Ms. Roland – who was really helpful -as well as with other teachers who could advise me on the Cambridge applications. It was all really helpful. I had to write quite a great deal for my actual application itself; I had to submit quite a long essay and then small theory tasks which are short questions that test skills and knowledge of style. Two tasks were given to me, and had to be submitted on the day before the interview; a mere 24 hours after receiving the tasks!
The interview was in the December of 2022. I remember because it was the week before Jesus Christ Superstar and I was involved in that as Judas. The interview itself (there were actually two, half an hour apart) was really challenging and I took most of the day off to do it. It was at 2pm on a random Thursday and I came in at about eight in the morning and just prepared myself. The first interview was a practical discussion, talking about theory, my involvement here at Sedbergh and my instrumental skills and ambitions. The second interview was about half an hour later and they sent me a task to do in that half an hour. There was a long passage of quite dense reading, which I then had to discuss in the interview itself.
It was very intimidating, but it’s also a very friendly process. They don’t let you feel completely out of your depth; they really help you with guiding questions. They try their best to make you feel at home – even though it is practically impossible. I made some very silly errors and had to correct myself, but I think they expect that. After that second interview, I was so drained that I needed to zone out for about two and a half hours! Then the Christmas holiday rolled around and I basically forgot about my application until January. It was mock week and I was in my room in Powell House preparing for my chemistry exam and when I saw I’d been successful I was screaming and shouting in my room; I was over the moon.
You play multiple instruments and you sing; was there also an audition performance?
Cambridge doesn’t make that compulsory; it’s an academic application. You are invited to play if you want to, but I thought that since the application and interview was online I decided that I wasn’t going to gain anything from playing through my microphone. But at the end of the term, I auditioned for a spot as a choral scholar. I went down and I had four auditions in a day for different colleges; I gained a choral award at Trinity Hall and I met my new head of music.
What subjects did you study at A level?
I studied chemistry, maths, and music. I started with Latin, but I dropped it and I shouldn’t have done! For some reason, in year 12, part of me wasn’t completely sure on what I was going to do at uni. So I wanted to keep my options open. If I’d known I was definitely doing music, I would’ve kept going because now I’m doing a lot of language study as part of my degree.
How prepared did you feel for life at Cambridge?
I was kind of a step ahead of most other people with the whole experience of university due to boarding at Sedbergh. I remember everyone feeling very homesick and I was cruising.
It sounds weird to say this, but it’s strange to be studying the thing which you love the most! Some people will study maths (for example) and still be heavily involved in the choral scene and the orchestral scene and the whole music scene itself. But if you’re studying music and only doing music you are surrounded by the same people every day and in the same faculty every day. I learned you’ve got to draw the line between academic music and music for pleasure. Otherwise I’d feel like everything was work and I’d be burnt out.
You are kept very busy. The music course has lectures in the morning until 12 and the afternoon is free for practice or supervisions and the like. So, I’m normally done by 12 and then I will maybe have one supervision in the afternoon, which is at most three-on-one. Then several days a week I have choir and I sing evensong quite a lot; that love of choral music was definitely founded at Sedbergh, with no small thanks to Mr. Seymour. I then spend the rest of my day either writing, reading, conducting, playing and socialising.
You’ve talked about having to learn to keep music for pleasure and music for study separate; do you have different musical interests for pleasure versus study?
No, if I’m listening for pleasure, I’ll listen to pieces I’m studying, which is an issue because you start to think about it too much and you begin to interact with music a different way. That interaction with music is a large part of the course; how we interact with music and how we talk about music. I found, even in my first two weeks, that the music in the lecture halls and in the supervisions was exactly the thing I was interested in. So, I’ve had to counterbalance listening to course related and unrelated musics to stay intellectually curious – which for me is early music and music of the Renaissance.
I’ve started reading much more fiction since I’ve been at Cambridge. Last year [during A levels] I was reading lots of autobiographical stuff and history of analysis stuff and that was outside of the course, but now [at Cambridge] that is very much part of the whole course. In one way has been very helpful, because I was well prepared, but it meant I needed to find something else to read for intellectual escapism.
What would you like to do next; what’s your plan for after university?
I’d like to do a master’s and then a PhD. I’ve been very lucky to have lots of very good supervisors who have been very inspiring to me in terms of what they’re doing. Some of them are also directors of music. The Director of Music at Trinity, in particular, is a very big inspiration to me as he holds the position in college as a fellow and he researches early music, but he also holds a busy performing career. He’s very grounded in academia and teaching and conducting and student life as well.
What advice would you give to other pupils who are looking to go on and study music?
Read as much as you can; literally anything at all. If you have the skill to read quickly and formulate ideas and argue them, then you’ll be absolutely fine because if work is going to pile up, it’s going to be the reading and not the writing.
The other thing is being able to argue; being competent at summarising your arguments in a concise, clear, personal, and authentic way. Not being afraid to have your own view and being able to summarise your thoughts in a way which is clear to the reader. Of course the best way to learn to do that, of course, is to read.
Listen as well! Obtaining a rounded musical palette is essential to engaging with the course. You’d also do well to become familiar with the musical and extra-musical issue of the long 19th century.
The 2024 Wilson Run was won by Dan in 1:20:27 and Hannah in 1:41:02. The boys’ race winner, Dan of Sedgwick House, ran an incredibly strong race. After coming second in 2023, Dan delivered on his strategy to set off a bit quicker this year. Having taken the lead early, he held on to finish just under 4 minutes ahead of George (School House). The girls’ race was closer; Hannah was the first-ever winner from Carus House in the closest girls’ finish ever – finishing just 1 second ahead of Maddie (Robertson House). Overcoming injuries that interrupted race preparation earlier in the term, ahead of the race, Hannah was feeling ‘ready’ and, she admits, more than a little nervous!
While the weather was unusually kind for the race itself, the course was arguably the worst that the Race Director has ever seen. “Unprecedented rainfall over the past few weeks has meant that the course, Baugh Fell in particular, is completely saturated,” with the result that it was very difficult conditions – even for the notoriously difficult 10-mile course. The wet conditions mean that the race takes additional effort to run and is more brutal on runners’ legs.
Runners finished mired in mud and exhausted after battling the conditions, but the atmosphere leading to the finish line on Lupton field was electric! Current pupils were joined by parents, Old Sedberghians, School staff, and our prep School pupils. Watching the runners coming in over the finish line, incoming Director of Sport, Ms. Malings, was delighted by the pupils’ achievements – particularly the girls’ winner, Hannah, who improved on her 2023 time by over 30 minutes. “Pupils spend the term training and preparing for this challenging course, and the progress shown by pupils from the first Epic run in January to race day is incredible.” This year’s runners agree that the challenge of the Wilson Run is mental; most people can run the distance – but to go all out and even to win – that’s about resilience and mental toughness.
The current boys’ record holder, Fraser Sproul, loved the House camaraderie, and his advice to the 2024 runners matches that of other past winners; to really enjoy the race and run hard because you’ll remember the race forever. Past winners present at the race agree – get ahead early and start thinking about when you’re going to make your push.
The attendance of so many Old Sedberghians on race day is a testament to the enduring legacy of the race. Old Sedberghian and double Wilson Run winner (1958 and 1959), Peter Johnston, believes the race’s enduring legacy is due to the enormous motivation of a race that gives everybody who’s reasonably fit a chance to strive, to have a go, and to meet the challenge. Another past winner, Bill Graham (winner in 1961), describes race day as historic and coming back for the run as very emotional – he agrees that the magic is about taking part and enjoying the beautiful countryside. While not necessarily thinking about winning, Bill (Hart House) believes that the friendships he made and the memory of standing on the start line with his House mates contribute enormously to the race legacy for past runners.
Race Director, Richard Wells, is keen to emphasise the huge effort of all staff across the School to hold the race and support pupils. For 205 qualifiers (with 189 eventually running), the School had 100 marshals on the course – in addition to sweepers at the back of the course and medical and safety staff on standby in case of incidents. The School is also incredibly appreciative of the wider Sedbergh community, including the farmers whose land the race traverses. The Wilson Run, which has been described as the most arduous and complex school race in Great Britain, could not take place without the support of the community and the entire School body.
Headmaster, Dan Harrison, says the race has grown and grown; it’s a whole School event and one of the best days of the School calendar, “We should all have a sense of pride. It’s fantastic that we’ve got 191 runners out there in fairly testing conditions. The race’s legacy comes down to different things for different people but primarily the race endures because pupils remember it fondly due to the enormous sense of achievement they feel after finishing the race.”
See the 2024 race results
Download the programme
Learn more about the history of the Wilson Run
Race images:
Wilson Run 2024 Finish Line Photos
Wilson Run photos from Baugh Fell
This week, we hosted our annual Pathways Fair, a cornerstone event in the School’s commitment to supporting students with decision making throughout their time at Sedbergh. Year 11 and 12 pupils engaged with universities and employers directly, gaining invaluable insights to inform their future pathways.
During the course of the afternoon, pupils were able to meet with representatives from 23 respected universities and employers. The event aimed to empower pupils in making informed decisions regarding their academic and professional trajectories, aligning with the comprehensive educational approach championed by the school.
Throughout the afternoon, pupils could also attend invaluable talks delivered by university and employer representatives. Topics covered a wide spectrum, including apprenticeships, USA sports scholarships, crafting standout university applications, gap year opportunities, international study programmes, careers in STEM, rural courses, and practical guidance on selecting the most suitable educational paths.
Gemma McMullen, the Pathways Lead at Sedbergh School, expressed her delight with the success of the Fair, highlighting its significance in providing pupils with essential guidance and inspiration. The event extended the series of OS Pathways Presentations from areas including wealth management, law, medicine, land agency and tourism. Gemma remarked, “It was such a brilliant event, and the pupils clearly appreciated the invaluable tips and advice provided by the universities and employers. Offering our pupils the opportunity to explore diverse pathways is integral to their growth and future success.”
The Pathways Fair builds upon Sedbergh School’s existing educational framework, complementing the comprehensive Compass PSHE program – including extensive use of the Xello platform – as well as additional classroom activities. By facilitating direct engagement with higher education institutions and employers, Sedbergh School continues to equip its pupils with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
On March 6th, Sedbergh School hosted a remarkable London drinks reception at Covent Garden, bringing together over 50 agents, partners, and friends to celebrate the launch of our new Year 9 curriculum, 9 Inspire. The event also served as a platform to share the exciting plans for the School’s upcoming 500th anniversary in 2025.
Guests had the unique opportunity to meet with representatives from Sedbergh School, Sedbergh Prep School, and Sedbergh International Summer School, learning about the incredible opportunities on offer. The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the innovative Year 9 curriculum, 9 Inspire, by Headmaster Dan Harrison. The room buzzed with excitement as attendees gained insights into the progressive educational approach that Sedbergh School is introducing for the coming academic year. For more details on 9 Inspire, click here.
The event showcased the collaborative spirit of Sedbergh School, as well as the support and collaboration from the teams at Sedbergh Prep School, and Sedbergh International Summer School. Their presence contributed significantly to the success of the evening and further emphasised Sedbergh’s commitment to providing an unparalleled educational experience.
The London drinks reception proved to be an evening of inspirational networking, fostering connections among educators, partners, and supporters. It highlighted the vibrant community that Sedbergh is building to create a lasting impact on education.
This event marked the beginning of Sedbergh School’s UK Roadshow events. Stay tuned for more opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate as Sedbergh continues its journey towards the 500th-anniversary milestone in 2025.
For many years, Sedbergh has maintained a rich tradition of collaboration with agents from around the world, fostering a global community and welcoming international pupils seeking an authentic British boarding experience. This week, Sedbergh School and Sedbergh Prep School had the honour of hosting 15 esteemed international agents, providing them with an immersive insight into the renowned Sedbergh experience.
The two-day visit was thoughtfully curated to showcase the diverse offerings of both schools, featuring standout performances by our school choir, which recently secured the runner-up position in the prestigious 2024 Barnado’s National Choral Competition. The agents were also treated to engaging sessions in cricket, and demonstrations in food technology and design and technology at our Prep School, offering a glimpse into the dynamic, comprehensive and forward-thinking educational environment Sedbergh provides.
As the leading ‘full’ boarding school in the north of England, Sedbergh proudly holds the 2023 BSA award for supporting International Boarders. The international agents gained firsthand experience, understanding the factors that contribute to Sedbergh’s excellence in providing a nurturing and globally inclusive educational atmosphere.
Our exceptional pupils, serving as enthusiastic ambassadors, guided the agents through both schools, actively participating in interviews and sharing their personal, positive experiences of a Sedbergh education. The agents enjoyed an afternoon tea, meticulously prepared by our in-house catering team in our state-of-the-art hospitality suite, boasting breathtaking views over the fells. In the evening, our guests were accommodated in the comfort of our hotel in Sedbergh, The Black Bull. Here, they enjoyed a delectable menu crafted by the award-winning chef and star of the Great British Menu, Nina Matsunaga.
Sedbergh School remains committed to fostering global connections, providing a world-class education, and ensuring that every international pupil feels at home in the heart of the British boarding tradition.
Following a rigorous, two-day recruitment process, I am pleased to announce that Kate Martin has been appointed as the Head of Casterton, Sedbergh Prep School, from 1st January 2025.
Kate has been the Head at Mowden Hall School since 2020, an independent Prep School well known to the Sedbergh community, and will take over from Will Newman, who has led Sedbergh Prep School successfully since 2017.
Kate has over 25 years’ experience in the independent sector, in both day and boarding schools, including roles as Deputy Head and Director of Sport at Mowden and Head of Girls’ Games at both Oundle School and Ampleforth College.
The search for the new Prep School Head started before Christmas and attracted an extremely high calibre of candidates applying for the role. Kate impressed at all stages of the recruitment process. Her proven experience of providing children with excellent opportunities across every part of their education – academic, pastoral and co-curricular – really shone through and truly mirrors the values and ethos of the Prep School.
Sedbergh School’s Board of Governors and Senior Leadership Team look forward to working closely with Kate over the coming months to ensure a seamless transition. We have no doubt Kate will build upon the successes achieved under Will’s tenure, inspiring staff and pupils at the Prep School to an exciting future.
Kate is married to Simon and their son Ted joins School House in Year 9, in September. We will be arranging opportunities to introduce Kate to the School community throughout 2024 and will share information on these once arrangements have been made.
Richard Gledhill MA (Cantab), ACA
Chairman of Governors
Following a rigorous, two-day recruitment process, I am pleased to announce that Kate Martin has been appointed as the Head of Casterton, Sedbergh Prep School, from 1st January 2025.
Kate has been the Head at Mowden Hall School since 2020, an independent Prep School well known to the Sedbergh community, and will take over from Will Newman, who has led Sedbergh Prep School successfully since 2017.
Kate has over 25 years’ experience in the independent sector, in both day and boarding schools, including roles as Deputy Head and Director of Sport at Mowden and Head of Girls’ Games at both Oundle School and Ampleforth College.
The search for the new Prep School Head started before Christmas and attracted an extremely high calibre of candidates applying for the role. Kate impressed at all stages of the recruitment process. Her proven experience of providing children with excellent opportunities across every part of their education – academic, pastoral and co-curricular – really shone through and truly mirrors the values and ethos of the Prep School.
Sedbergh School’s Board of Governors and Senior Leadership Team look forward to working closely with Kate over the coming months to ensure a seamless transition. We have no doubt Kate will build upon the successes achieved under Will’s tenure, inspiring staff and pupils at the Prep School to an exciting future.
Kate is married to Simon and their son Ted joins School House in Year 9, in September. We will be arranging opportunities to introduce Kate to the School community throughout 2024 and will share information on these once arrangements have been made.
Richard Gledhill MA (Cantab), ACA
Chairman of Governors
Sedbergh School is absolutely delighted to have been awarded second place at Barnardo’s National Choral Competition, the largest youth choir competition in the UK.
The competition attracted initial entries from around 350 to 400 schools. From this, an eventual shortlist of just seven choirs (including Sedbergh) were invited to the final round, with just the top two choirs placed. In the end, just one mark separated Sedbergh from the winners in what was a competition of the highest standard, and our Chapel Choir were the highest-placed mixed choir in the competition.
Under the indefatigable and inspirational direction of Mr John Seymour, the choir worked tirelessly over the preceding weeks to prepare their entry, which was performed to five adjudicators. They sang two pieces – the first was one of Mr Seymour’s very own compositions and a choir favourite ‘I will lift up mine eyes. This setting of Psalm 121 was originally composed for the choir’s USA tour in 2019. This was followed by the infectious ‘It don’t mean a thing…’. For these contrasting pieces, the choir needed to work on a wide range of performance skills in addition to mastering the words. Many in the audience remarked that they felt that the choir really involved themselves in the music and truly conveyed the essence of the music.
With a capacity of over 2000, the hugely impressive Birmingham Symphony Hall was an inspirational venue. In the audience were a large number of Sedbergh parents – excellent supporters of the pupils (and staff!) and to whom we are extremely grateful.
The school has a rich and long history of singing and choral music, but with this result, and other exciting events to look forward to including a tour to Spain and a workshop with the BBC Singers in the summer term, it is certainly a rich vein of form that we are enjoying right now.
Mariella, recognised at a termly Commendation Lunch for her great start to the academic year, is also a talented participant in our LAMDA programme. Mariella started LAMDA when she joined Sedbergh’s Prep School in year 5 and has really enjoyed it, she hopes to reach the higher grades and credits it with having helped her to become a confident speaker. Looking back, Mariella remembers that the most challenging thing about moving from the Prep School to the senior school was that the Senior School is obviously so much bigger, “It’s all spread out and it took me time to learn how to find everything.”
Now in Year 9 Mariella is enthusiastic about how much she loves Senior School – her favourite moment being performing in the School’s production of Grease (November 2023). Mariella says that she’s looking forward to GCSEs next year because she can do more of the subjects that she likes most, like art, for example, “This year I can only do one lesson of art, but next year I can do more.”
I’m most excited about history this year. At the Senior School I’ve really discovered that I like history, History is a new interest for me.
My top ambition for the rest of the year is to stay focused. I don’t like it when I can’t be focused. I’ve always been a really organised person and I like to do really well at exams – I always try hard. Also, my teachers are all really kind and helpful when you’ve got a problem or something that you can’t work out.
I’ve really enjoyed making new friends at Senior School. There are lots of opportunities to meet new people – in your year, in LAMDA, in sports, in the house. There were a lot of people here too from prep school.
The School value that I identify with most is kindness because if you want to be friends with someone then you’ve got to be kind.
Mariella’s journey from Prep to Senior School is marked by growth and enthusiasm, with exciting prospects ahead for her GCSEs.