Students are nominated to receive a Head’s Praise for exceptional achievements and contribution to school life.
Headmaster’s Praise – 5 July 2023
5 July 2023
Today 12 pupils received praise:
- Ned Holt for being super engaged throughout the Berlin trip, constantly asking questions and he conducted himself very well throughout.
- Enoch Wang for being super engaged throughout the Berlin trip, constantly asking questions and he conducted himself very well throughout. Enoch also receives praise for making a superb contribution as a member of the Abingdon Academicals to a recent arts partnership assembly at Carswell Primary School.
- William Walters for being super engaged throughout the Berlin trip, constantly asking questions and he conducted himself very well throughout.
- Fynn Ratcliffe for being super engaged throughout the Berlin trip, constantly asking questions and he conducted himself very well throughout.
- Jack Christie for running activities for residents with dementia at a care home. Jack and another pupil organised a quiz and dominoes with up to 12 residents without any help from older students.
- Tino Bidwell for running the reading club at Carswell Primary School. Several of the Carswell pupils who have joined our group this term are neurodiverse and Tino has created a safe and inclusive space where the pupils have enjoyed reading.
- Jolyon Bidwell for running the reading club at Carswell Primary School. Several of the Carswell pupils who have joined our group this term are neurodiverse and Jolyon has created a safe and inclusive space where the pupils have enjoyed reading.
- Ares Lam for running the reading club at Carswell Primary School. Several of the Carswell pupils who have joined our group this term are neurodiverse and Ares has created a safe and inclusive space where the pupils have enjoyed reading.
- Oscar Chan for editing Evolve Biology Magazine. He wrote an excellent ariticle on how orienteering treats dementia and interviewed Martin Landray. This was an outstanding contribution.
- Clement Tsoi for running the reading club at Carswell Primary school. Several of the Carswell pupils who have joined our group this term are neurodiverse and Clement has created a safe and inclusive space where the pupils have enjoyed reading. Clement has also attended every week despite the fact that he has been taking his GCSEs.
- Nicholas Lau for running the reading club at Carswell Primary School. Several of the Carswell pupils who have joined our group this term are neurodiverse and Nicholas has created a safe and inclusive space where the pupils have enjoyed reading. Nicholas also receives praise for making a superb contribution as a member of the Ng Quartet to a recent arts partnership assembly at Carswell Primary School
- Papa Twum-Asare for running activities for residents with dementia at a care home. Papa and another pupil organised a quiz and dominoes with up to 12 residents without any help from older students.
Headmaster’s Praise – 29 June 2023
29 June 2023
Today 16 pupils received praise:
- Alfie Stevenson for helping to lead the body language workshop at the primary school partnership Let’s Communicate morning.
- Charlie Burland for winning a Gold medal at the National Schools’ Regatta as part of the J15B crew. This makes them national champions at their level. The race itself was very exciting with Abingdon leading by a quarter length until the last 150m, when the top Radley crew made a sprint for the line. The verdict was initially given to Abingdon, but the official result was a dead heat between Abingdon and Radley – the only dead heat that I know of for the gold at NSR.
- Thomas Chorley for helping to lead the German workshop at the primary school partnership Let’s Communicate morning.
- Luca Centazzo-Hammersley for winning a Gold medal at the National Schools’ Regatta as part of the J15B crew. This makes them national champions at their level. The race itself was very exciting with Abingdon leading by a quarter length until the last 150m, when the top Radley crew made a sprint for the line. The verdict was initially given to Abingdon, but the official result was a dead heat between Abingdon and Radley – the only dead heat that I know of for the gold at NSR.
- Freddie Beneat for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term. Taking on leadership of the elite bridge squad. Freddie is an excellent bridge player, having played at national level. There was no one else in the club who could play at his level. With Freddie’s prompting and the help of Mr Litchfield (senior), a squad has been formed. Freddie trained the pupils to use the RealBridge software. He also coordinated a trip to Leicester, taking the lead on transport arrangements and even organising the sandwiches. Thanks to Freddie, we now have some competitive younger players who will be able to carry on what he began.
- Samuel Price for helping to lead the German workshop at the primary school partnership Let’s Communicate morning.
- Jonathan Ochero for helping to lead the German workshop at the primary school partnership Let’s Communicate morning.
- Luke Hooper for helping to lead the Linguistics workshop at the primary school partnership Let’s Communicate morning.
- Edward Zhan for winning a Gold medal at the National Schools’ Regatta as part of the J15B crew. This makes them national champions at their level. The race itself was very exciting with Abingdon leading by a quarter length until the last 150m, when the top Radley crew made a sprint for the line. The verdict was initially given to Abingdon, but the official result was a dead heat between Abingdon and Radley – the only dead heat that I know of for the gold at NSR.
- James Waggett for winning a Gold medal at the National Schools’ Regatta as part of the J15B crew. This makes them national champions at their level. The race itself was very exciting with Abingdon leading by a quarter length until the last 150m, when the top Radley crew made a sprint for the line. The verdict was initially given to Abingdon, but the official result was a dead heat between Abingdon and Radley – the only dead heat that I know of for the gold at NSR.
- Will Beer for winning a Gold medal at the National Schools’ Regatta as part of the J15B crew. This makes them national champions at their level. The race itself was very exciting with Abingdon leading by a quarter length until the last 150m, when the top Radley crew made a sprint for the line. The verdict was initially given to Abingdon, but the official result was a dead heat between Abingdon and Radley – the only dead heat that I know of for the gold at NSR.
- Jacob Fannon for winning a Gold medal at the National Schools’ Regatta as part of the J15B crew. This makes them national champions at their level. The race itself was very exciting with Abingdon leading by a quarter length until the last 150m, when the top Radley crew made a sprint for the line. The verdict was initially given to Abingdon, but the official result was a dead heat between Abingdon and Radley – the only dead heat that I know of for the gold at NSR.
- Sammy Kleinknecht for winning a Gold medal at the National Schools’ Regatta as part of the J15B crew. This makes them national champions at their level. The race itself was very exciting with Abingdon leading by a quarter length until the last 150m, when the top Radley crew made a sprint for the line. The verdict was initially given to Abingdon, but the official result was a dead heat between Abingdon and Radley – the only dead heat that I know of for the gold at NSR.
- Harold Lethaby for winning a Gold medal at the National Schools’ Regatta as part of the J15B crew. This makes them national champions at their level. The race itself was very exciting with Abingdon leading by a quarter length until the last 150m, when the top Radley crew made a sprint for the line. The verdict was initially given to Abingdon, but the official result was a dead heat between Abingdon and Radley – the only dead heat that I know of for the gold at NSR.
- Lochie Gore for winning a Gold medal at the National Schools’ Regatta as part of the J15B crew. This makes them national champions at their level. The race itself was very exciting with Abingdon leading by a quarter length until the last 150m, when the top Radley crew made a sprint for the line. The verdict was initially given to Abingdon, but the official result was a dead heat between Abingdon and Radley – the only dead heat that I know of for the gold at NSR.
- Kajan Sivakumar for being Highly Commended in the Minds Underground essay competition for his essay looking at the effects of a significant loss of blood on blood pressure. This essay referenced classical understandings of physiology, as well as bringing in recent, referenced, developments in our understanding of medicine.
Headmaster’s Praise – 20 June 2023
20 June 2023
Today eight pupils received praise:
- Adrian Chiu for being in the top ten in 4th year exams.
- Ryan Ng Top for being in the ten in 4th year exams. Ryan has also demonstrated excellent study skills throughout the year in English, both in and out of lessons and getting 9s in his exams.
- Steven Song for being in the top ten in 4th year exams.
- Patrick Bowden for helping to lead the body language workshop at the primary school partnership ‘Let’s Communicate’ morning. Patrick was also super engaged throughout the Berlin trip, constantly asking questions and he conducted himself very well throughout.
- James Darbishire for helping to lead the body language workshop at the primary school partnership ‘Let’s Communicate’ morning.
- Thomas Mennie for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term. Thomas has provided exemplary leadership in his role as Chair of the Charities Committee. He has organised the tuck shop rota and co-ordinated getting students to open it to raise funds for our charities. He has been an invaluable asset.
- Thomas Jackson for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term for his increasingly mature approach to school life. Since injuring his shoulder he’s been advised not to play water polo (which he loves) so he has taken it upon himself to attend all the 6th form and after school training sessions and has just started running the sessions too. He is doing drills, techniques and working with the other players and coaching on poolside. He’s also started lifeguarding for the school and is refereeing the Lower School water polo tournament. On top of this, he will be running an ‘introduction to water polo’ afternoon for Abingdon Prep, Lower School, and some visiting prep schools.
- Nathan Shestopal for winning Student Leader of the Half Term for being the Logistics Manager / Deputy Lead student librarian (Library Guild). This half of term, in his unglamorous but very important role, Nathan has been particularly energetic, consistent and rigorous in maintaining and updating the records that chart student progression through the different tiers of Library Guild, enabling the Librarian to quickly identify priority areas for development and to promote and reward individual students appropriately.
Headmaster’s Praise – 13 June 2023
13 June 2023
Today 11 pupils received praise:
- Dilan Mandalia for playing for the music teacher interviews last term.
- Jasper Furniss for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term as Joint Secretary General of Model United Nations. Jasper lead the Model United Nations group to victory at the Haileybury Conference. He helped the whole group to prepare resolutions in advance and gave support and encouragement to all the younger, less experienced delegates during the weekend.
- Philip Kimber for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term as Joint Secretary General of Model United Nations. Philip lead the Model United Nations group to victory at the Haileybury Conference. He helped the whole group to prepare resolutions in advance and gave support and encouragement to all the younger, less experienced delegates during the weekend.
- Harish Sivakumar for submitting three audio reviews for the Lower School ‘Desert Island Books’ challenge, all of them of exceptional quality: informative, witty and generally entertaining. This was an ‘above and beyond’ response to a challenge, in which Harish pushed himself to excel.
- Ryan Ng for an outstanding performance of Ravel’s Tsigane at the solo concert platform which showed exceptional virtuosity and an immensely mature engagement with the piece and with his performance of it. Ryan was also nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term for being a committed and enthusiastic leader of our Second Orchestra throughout the year. Ryan is always there on time and helps get the Ingham Room set up. Thanks to his committed leadership and fine playing, the Second Orchestra has reached new heights. Ryan has adopted a much more mature attitude to his music this year and presents a fine example to the younger students.
- Jamie Ross for representing their Young Enterprise team at the Area final. He delivered a very effective presentation and answered the judges questions on their visit to the trade stand. The team won the marketing prize (3rd place) and an innovation prize.
- James Henderson for representing their Young Enterprise team at the Area final. He delivered a very effective presentation and answered the judges questions on their visit to the trade stand. The team won the marketing prize (3rd place) and an innovation prize.
- Callum Alderman for representing their Young Enterprise team at the Area final. He delivered a very effective presentation and answered the judges questions on their visit to the trade stand. The team won the marketing prize (3rd place) and an innovation prize.
- Lachlan Marshall for undertaking substantial work outside of lessons to develop and finesse his 3D architectural structure.
- Russell Cespedes for undertaking substantial work outside of lessons to develop and finesse his 3D architectural structure.
- Matteo Bignone for an absolutely outstanding essay in Spanish on the film Volver. Beyond school level. Demonstrating a deep understanding of and sensitivity to the work, all expressed in a beautiful fluent and accurate Spanish.
Headmaster’s Praise – 8 June 2023
8 June 2023
Today nine pupils received praise:
- Rory McLaren for winning Student Leader of the Half Term. Running a new Dungeons and Dragons activity for Lower School pupils. Rory responded very positively to the idea of setting this up. He has done all the planning for it himself and runs the weekly sessions very effectively to the obvious delight of those who have been attending. Rory has been an excellent DungeonMaster!
- Tobias Chapman for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term for coxing J14 A Crew. Tobias has shown great leadership and management of the crew he has been coxing this term. He has been calm and sensible, is able to keep his crew in order and has shown discipline and maturity.
- Joshua Costello for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term for Stroke Man of the J14 A crew. Josh has shown exceptional leadership, he has been able to calm a noisy and panicking crew and always has calm head. What is particularly impressive is how the other pupils respond to his leadership, he is able to bring the crew together in a way that show maturity and emotional intelligence.
- Sam Wormald for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term for Young Enterprise, Team Ox Enterprises. As well as driving the team forward, they have been looking into a new product range (Tote bags) which has required meetings with School marketing department and the submission of a number of redesigns. Sam also represented the Young Enterprise team at the Area final. Delivering a very effective presentation and answering the judges questions on their visit to the trade stand. The team won the marketing prise (3rd place) and an innovation prize.
- Angus Kwok for huge success in playing in the 3rd Year cello trio, gaining a place in the finals of the U14 category of the Pro Corda National Chamber Music Festival for Schools.
- Harrison Wong for huge success in playing in the 3rd Year cello trio, gaining a place in the finals of the U14 category of the Pro Corda National Chamber Music Festival for Schools.
- Kayden Wong for huge success in playing in the 3rd Year cello trio, gaining a place in the finals of the U14 category of the Pro Corda National Chamber Music Festival for Schools.
- Edgar Hughes Achieved a bronze medal for epee in the Mount Haes class in the Public Schools Fencing Championships 2023
- Daniel Zhang for playing for the interviews of the new music assistant, as well as competing in the Abingdon Concert Competition on Sunday at Radley.
Headmaster’s Praise – 25 May 2023
25 May 2023
Today 21 pupils received praise:
- Ollie Thompson for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Daniel Harrison for winning the U16 individual gold medal at the Independent School Climbing Championships; he also made the bouldering final and came second but most impressively was the only climber at the event to top out on the hardest lead climb of the day.
- Jim Allen for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Sammy Jarvis for working with SHSK students on a series of RSE items responding to Andrew Tate including running assemblies at both schools and producing RSE materials.
- Burhaan Haider for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Asher Zamler for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- David You for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Fin Rhodes for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Kajan Sivakumar for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Jay Cabell for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Samson Morris for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Josh Sharff for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Oliver Bury for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Rupert Matthews for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Pedro Vasconcelos for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Bertie Cassell for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Jack Summerley for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Toby Clarke for excellent participation in the OX14 academic coaching programme.
- Barnaby Hindley for the Lent Term Politics Prize.
- Hussain Khan for the Lent Term Politics Prize.
- Tunmise Adebutu for the Lent Term Politics Prize.
Headmaster’s Praise – 16 May 2023
16 May 2023
Today seven pupils received praise:
- Harry Litchfield for working with SHSK students on a series of RSE items responding to Andrew Tate including running assemblies at both schools and producing RSE materials.
- Freddie Stanford for working with SHSK students on a series of RSE items responding to Andrew Tate including running assemblies at both schools and producing RSE materials.
- Arran Bell for submitting a series of excellent book reviews for the Lower School Reading Challenge, ‘Desert Island Books’. The three reviews were in very different and creative styles: one written, one videoed and one audio. Each of them combined passion, precision and critical analysis, but the third review, in which Arran interviews himself about Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone in the style of Desert Island Discs, complete with theme music and interviewer voice, is truly outstanding. Arran’s efforts show independence of thought, a commitment to achieving excellence, and an element of fearlessness – being prepared to take on new challenges and push himself out of his comfort zone.
- Zach Broad for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Ben Simons for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Daniel Whittenbury for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Sam Corbett for taking ownership of the robot software for RoboCon Oxfordshire. Sam rebuilt the software solving numerous complex bugs and making it work with the new hardware and liaised with an electronic engineer from Cambridge to deliver working network.
Headmaster’s Praise – 11 May 2023
11 May 2023
Today 18 pupils received praise:
- Tunmise Adebutu for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Freddie Badcock for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Alex Cooper Marcos for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Rory Middlemiss for winning the prestigious Institute of Economic Affairs national prize.
- Tom Perrott for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Chester Shen for giving an ‘Open Book’ assembly to 3rd & 4th Year – an audience of almost 400 pupils and staff!
- Shawn Xu for being the Technical Director for RoboCon Oxfordshire. Shawn organised the roles for the pink shirts, safety checks for all robots, chief judge and technical problem solver for teams. Essential to the success of the event.
- Josef O’Connor for receiving third prize at the Abingdon Concerto Competition at Radley College, for his Von Webern Bassoon Concerto.
- William Riddell for being responsible for network building, management and running on the RoboCon Oxfordshire weekend. William built a network linking all the robots competing to give live video updates.
- Joseph Watkiss for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term as the Swimming Captain. Finishing 4th and 2nd in a national competition with the team, Joseph swam his heart out and was instrumental in the day being a success. He motivated the team and it meant a lot to him, he was visibly emotional after they came 2nd in the final, an achievement the school has never had.
- Fran Trotter for receiving Full Colours.
- Louis Trotter for receiving Full Colours.
- Max Struthers for receiving Full Colours.
- Alexander Smit for receiving Full Colours.
- Henry Beer for receiving Full Colours.
- Barney Fox for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Rohan Chandrasekaran for creating and delivering a recorded revision skills presentation for tutor groups across 3rd Year to Upper 6th with excellent tips and advice on self-care during the Easter revision period. Rohan was also nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term. Stepping up time and again to make presentations for PSLs.
- Arthur Monaghan for receiving Full Colours.
Headmaster’s Praise – 10 May 2023
10 May 2023
Today five pupils received praise:
- Nick Chan for achieving a bronze medal for epee in the Seniors Class in the Public Schools Fencing Championships 2023.
- Mark Taylor for working with SHSK students on a series of RSE items responding to Andrew Tate including running assemblies at both schools and producing RSE materials.
- Rufus Cox for winning the Individual gold medal at the Independent Schools Climbing Championships. Rufus also won the individual bouldering final; he has been an inspiration to many young climbers at Abingdon and has certainly helped to place Abingdon on the national map within schools.
- Josh Mensah for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
- Thomas Wilson for outstanding effort at Rosslyn Park U18 7s Tournament. The entire squad did themselves proud and reached Day 2, meaning they are in the top 21 teams of over 270 that entered.
Headmaster’s Praise – 4 May 2023
4 May 2023
Today 11 pupils received praise:
- Archie Leishman for achieving a Bronze medal in UK Linguistics Olympiad.
- Ollie Sutton for consistent, committed and sensitive 1-1 peer mentoring of students in the Middle School. Ollie has also been working with SHSK students on a series of RSE items responding to Andrew Tate, including running assemblies at both schools and producing RSE materials.
- Clement Tsoi for achieving a Bronze medal in UK Linguistics Olympiad.
- Fran Trotter for achieving a Silver medal in UK Linguistics Olympiad. Fran has also represented the school at the Independent Schools Climbing Championships and managed to rank 1 in the bouldering competition through the qualifiers and was placed 5th overall.
- Louis Trotter for achieving a Silver medal in UK Linguistics Olympiad.
- Oliver Glover for an outstanding Oboe Concerto performance of the Kughardt Concertino at the Lent Term Concert.
- Barnaby Hindley for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term for Touch American Football. Barnaby has taken the initiative to set up this new OH activity, sorting a location and equipment, found staff to ‘run’ it and leads the session each week. He has taught complete novices to now play touch football effectively with minimal input from staff.
- Oliver Harvey for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term. Stepping up time and again to make presentations for PSLs. Oliver has also been creating and delivering a recorded revision skills presentation for tutor groups across 3rd Year to Upper Sixth with excellent tips and advice on self-care during the Easter revision period.
- Fin Bennet for achieved a bronze medal for epee in the Juniors Class of the Public Schools Fencing Championships 2023.
- Ben MacLennan for reaching the final 8 in the Epee Seniors Class of the Public Schools Fencing Championship 2023.
- Finn Gregory for being nominated for Student Leader of the Half Term as U16A Football Captain. Finn leads the team not only by example on the pitch but in every warm up and training session; he has lead with passion, compassion and a very mature approach.
