Students are nominated to receive a Head’s Praise for exceptional achievements and contribution to school life.
Headmaster’s Praise – 8 December 2021
8 December 2021
Today 11 pupils received Headmaster’s praise:
- Alex Smith for outstanding play in National Schools Squash Competition.
- Felix Loeffen for outstanding play in National Schools Squash Competition.
- Eoin Chippendale for planning and delivering the house assembly last week on the importance of resilience. He also receives Headmaster’s Praise for excellent leadership and mentoring at the Primary School Business Challenge. Helping a primary school team to design a product.
- Tom Morgan for planning and delivering the house assembly last week on the importance of kindness.
- Quinn Miell-Ingram for being in the winning team of the Regional round of the English Schools XC Cup competition. As a result of this performance the senior team have qualified for the National final.
- Thom Denning for being in the winning team of the Regional round of the English Schools XC Cup competition. As a result of this performance the senior team have qualified for the National final.
- Will d’Arcy for being the second individual and team winner of the Regional round of the English Schools XC Cup competition. As a result of this performance the senior team have qualified for the National final.
- Johnny James for being in the winning team of the Regional round of the English Schools XC Cup competition. As a result of this performance the senior team have qualified for the National final.
- Henry Channon for being in the winning team of the Regional round of the English Schools XC Cup competition. As a result of this performance the senior team have qualified for the National final.
- Oliver Sherratt for being in the winning team of the Regional round of the English Schools XC Cup competition. As a result of this performance the intermediate team have qualified for the National final.
- Oliver Veal for being in the winning team of the Regional round of the English Schools XC Cup competition. As a result of this performance the intermediate team have qualified for the National final.
Headmaster’s Praise – 3 December 2021
3 December 2021
Today 15 pupils received Headmaster’s praise:
- Rory King for his 50 FS in the medley and the FS relay were consistently in the 26s, invaluable, helped team to two bronze medals. Good company and good role model on pool side.
- Chester Shen for helping and supporting a friend after his recent bereavement. While there were many of his friends and peers in the House who could be mentioned, Chester in particular stood out for his kindness and care in what was an extremely difficult time.
- James Deng for helping and supporting a friend after his recent bereavement. While there were many of his friends and peers in the House who could be mentioned, James in particular stood out for his kindness and care in what was an extremely difficult time.
- Tunmise Adebutu for helping and supporting a friend after his recent bereavement. While there were many of his friends and peers in the House who could be mentioned, Tunmise in particular stood out for his kindness and care in what was an extremely difficult time.
- Harry Gale for continuing to set the highest standards with his golf both in terms of application and attitude.
- Ed Saunders for a being superb ambassador for the school at the launch of the OX14 Learning Partnership.
- Andrey Gerasimov for being a superb ambassador for the school at the launch of the OX14 Learning Partnership.
- Harvey Bell for being superb a ambassador for the school at the launch of the OX14 Learning Partnership.
- Oscar Bennett for being an outstanding vocal soloist in the JCS Concert performance of Pirates of Penzance, playing the Major-General.
- Jamie Robson for being an outstanding vocal soloist in the JCS Concert performance of Pirates of Penzance, playing The Pirate King.
- Aidan Chan for being an outstanding vocal soloist in the JCS Concert performance of Pirates of Penzance, playing the part of Samuel.
- Edward Bennett for being an outstanding vocal soloist in the JCS Concert performance of Pirates of Penzance, playing the part of Frederic.
- Tony Luo for his outstanding GCES drawing. Tony completes amazing drawings and project work during his time while boarding.
- Arthur Strong for his tag rugby coaching as part of the Partnership initiative with local Primary Schools. He has excellent enthusiasm and control, and pupils love his approach and input.
- Tom Mennie for his tag rugby coaching as part of the Partnership initiative with local Primary Schools. He has excellent enthusiasm and control, and pupils love his approach and input.
Headmaster’s Praise – 1 December 2021
1 December 2021
Today 10 pupils received Headmaster’s praise:
- Torsten Ayerst for solving all the daily puzzles set so far for the Ritangle competition aimed at sixth form students and preparing for the final stage at the end of term. All completed with energy and enthusiasm.
- Nelson Chan for solving all the daily puzzles set so far for the Ritangle competition aimed at sixth form students and preparing for the final stage at the end of term. All completed with energy and enthusiasm.
- Joseph Conway for solving all the daily puzzles set so far for the Ritangle competition aimed at sixth form students and preparing for the final stage at the end of term. All completed with energy and enthusiasm.
- Jack Gao for solving all the daily puzzles set so far for the Ritangle competition aimed at sixth form students and preparing for the final stage at the end of term. All completed with energy and enthusiasm.
- Renyu Li for solving all the daily puzzles set so far for the Ritangle competition aimed at sixth form students and preparing for the final stage at the end of term. All completed with energy and enthusiasm.
- Rupert Matthews for solving all the daily puzzles set so far for the Ritangle competition aimed at sixth form students and preparing for the final stage at the end of term. All completed with energy and enthusiasm.
- Takumi Parker for solving all the daily puzzles set so far for the Ritangle competition aimed at sixth form students and preparing for the final stage at the end of term. All completed with energy and enthusiasm.
- Jack Rickman for solving all the daily puzzles set so far for the Ritangle competition aimed at sixth form students and preparing for the final stage at the end of term. All completed with energy and enthusiasm.
- Luke Turnyanskiy for solving all the daily puzzles set so far for the Ritangle competition aimed at sixth form students and preparing for the final stage at the end of term. All completed with energy and enthusiasm.
- Daniel Whittenbury for solving all the daily puzzles set so far for the Ritangle competition aimed at sixth form students and preparing for the final stage at the end of term. All completed with energy and enthusiasm.
Headmaster’s Praise – 30 November 2021
30 November 2021
Today 11 pupils received Headmaster’s praise:
- Samuel Turner for his excellent leadership during the Taster Morning event.
- Archie Kind for pursuing his dream of starting a new Other Half Model Rocket Club which starts on Thursday.
- Sean Hanlon for writing the winning entry in our Spanish microstory fiction writing competition. Great use of language and an imaginative, atmospheric story.
- Can Tugcetin for outstanding BRS on the medley relay, and a good effort to go under 28 on the FS – great attitude! Helped the team win FS relay and second in the medley.
- Chung Nam Tam who turned around a bit of a relaxed performance in the heats to get the win for the U16 swimming team in the FS relay. He swam very well in the medley relay helping us get a second place.
- Ralph Allen for his great effort against older and bigger competitors. Solid backstroke in the relay helped us get 2nd, but swam a brilliant 28 on the FS to help us win the FS relay!
- Ethan Richards-Knight for an insanely fast 50 FS time, and amazing fly, and helped the U16 team win 2nd and 1st in relay competition.
- Alex Cooper Marcos for his epic 50 fly swims and brilliant sub 26 times on the 50 FS. He helped the team get two bronzes against older and more experienced opposition.
- Chris Skelton for a solid effort on the 50 BK on the medley relay, 50 FS on the final leg of the FS relay. His efforts helped the U18 team to win two bronzes. Great leadership and attitude throughout.
- Joe Watkiss for his 50 BRS which was essential to helping us get a third in the medley relay. A great showing in the 50 FS relay, going under 26 seconds! Two bronzes, invaluable swims and good humour on pool side.
- Walter Liu who has been awarded a Scholars Tie.
Headmaster’s Praise – 26 November 2021
26 November 2021
Today 10 pupils received Headmaster’s praise:
- Andrew Emefiele for his quick thinking and excellent judgement when stepping in to help an Abingdon School parent who was choking outside the Dining Hall on Saturday evening. Using the skills he had learned from first aid at CCF, he performed the Heimlich manoeuvre, and was able to resolve the situation. He should be extremely proud of himself.
- Laurence Peverall for winning the Senior Solo Instrumental Competition and for his outstanding playing of the Last Post at the School’s Armistice Day.
- Yubo Gao for volunteering to be the pianist at the Donors’ Drinks event – playing Schubert.
- James Deng for volunteering to be the pianist at the Donors’ Drinks event – playing Rachmaninov
- Thomas Zhang for volunteering to be the pianist at the Donors’ Drinks event – playing Burgmuller.
- Freddy Chelsom for giving an excellent research presentation on Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray to the English at University group.
- Thomas Long for successfully recovering several laptops destined for an Other Half activity, making them usable and valuable resources.
- Cameron Gouldstone for his outstanding playing of the Last Post and the Reveille at the School’s Armistice Day.
- Oliver Hobbs for his outstanding playing of the Last Post at the School’s Armistice Day.
- Lachlan Keene for his outstanding playing of the Last Post at the School’s Armistice Day.
Headmaster’s Praise – 19 November 2021
19 November 2021
Today 11 pupils received Headmaster’s praise:
- Oliver Kirk for being the first in his year to complete Gold DofE.
- Eoin Chippendale for producing an excellent video advertising the role of the Peer Support Leads.
- Joe Hannigan for producing an excellent video advertising the role of the Peer Support Leads.
- Joe Betts for the editing of and production of Timeline magazine.
- Jamie Robson for stepping up to direct the Chapel Choir at Mercers Hall Evensong at short notice following news that the Choir Director would be absent. He did well and it was an impressive example of leadership.
- Thomas Chorley for creating an excellent debut documentary and presenting it with aplomb at the AFU’s recent annual screening.
- Arth Gupta for creating a highly accomplished debut film despite the challenges of lockdown & remote learning (with a mobile phone in Dubai!) and presenting it with aplomb at the AFU’s recent annual screening. An excellent effort.
- Alexander Lees for creating an excellent, thought-provoking documentary about the Oxfordshire Search and Rescue organisation (in the face of considerable difficulties – not least lockdown – and presenting it with aplomb at the recent AFU screening.
- Alex Heffernan for creating an exceptional film portrait of Hinksey Rowing Club and presenting it with aplomb at the AFU’s recent screening, at the end of which Alex was awarded the Michael Grigsby Young Filmmaker of the Year Award.
- Charles Kum for creating a charming and whimsically comic debut fiction film – shot partly in Hong Kong with his dad’s mobile phone, and partly in Abingdon once lockdown ended – and presenting it with aplomb at the AFU’s recent screening. This film was one of the popular favourites of the evening, at the end of which Charles was jointly awarded the Spirit of Grigsby Trophy.
- Theo Shorrocks for creating a superb fiction film, shot largely at home and featuring his father and sister, and presenting it with aplomb at the AFU’s recent screening. This was a highly sophisticated piece of work, and Theo was jointly awarded the Spirit of Grigsby Trophy.
Headmaster’s Praise – 12 November 2021
12 November 2021
Today eight pupils received Headmaster’s praise:
- George Crosthwaite for speaking at Open Day.
- Will Haynes for dressing up as a Roman soldier and helping at Topic and Place primary school morning.
- Arun Sahota for helping with Philosophy at Topic and Place primary school morning.
- Angus Riach for helping with Philosophy at Topic and Place primary school morning.
- Tom Long for helping with Geology at Topic and Place primary school morning.
- Oskar Muller for dressing up as a Victorian policeman and helping at Topic and Place primary school morning.
- Harvey Bell for being outstanding on Open Day. Harvey particularly stood out as he literally stood out in the rain! He showed great leadership and problem-solving skills. He was a great role model to the middle school students. The way he spoke to the younger students and directed them was excellent.
- Nicholas Ng for exemplary leadership of the Science Ambassador team at Saturday Science Club.
Headmaster’s Praise – 5 November 2021
5 November 2021
Today eight pupils received Headmaster’s praise:
- Josef O’Connor for giving an excellent talk at the Summer Term Extension Programme evening.
- Nick Chorbadzhiev for giving an excellent talk at the Summer Term Extension Programme evening and for reading from the Bulgarian Bible in chapel.
- Ed Saunders for organising a medical conference on his own in collaboration with Imperial College in London for all budding medical applicants across the OX14 partnership.
- Sean Fitzgerald for speaking at Open Day.
- Ari Ioannou for speaking at Open Day.
- Daniel Chamberlin for spending five hours sorting boats for sailing club last Sunday. With Daniel’s help we got another four boats ready to be sailed and a list of missing parts!
- Julien Rohart for spending five hours sorting boats for sailing club last Sunday. With Julien’s help we got another four boats ready to be sailed and had a good clean up!
- Archie Leishman for outstanding captaincy of the U16 A rugby team. Exemplary leadership in practice and matches, leading from the front. The opposition coach complimented him on his sportsmanship post Sherborne match.
Headmaster’s Praise – 15 October 2021
15 October 2021
Today five pupils received Headmaster’s praise:
- Freddy Chelsom for giving an excellent talk at the Summer Term Extension Programme evening.
- Laurence Peverall for giving an excellent talk at the Summer Term Extension Programme evening.
- Matthew Rolfe for giving an excellent talk at the Summer Term Extension Programme evening.
- Magnus Taylor for giving an excellent talk at the Summer Term Extension Programme evening.
- Rowan Miell-Ingram for breaking two course records over the last two weeks. Longworth 10km 33:22 and Abingdon Parkrun 15:16. He also gave up his time to be the team manager at the junior Abingdon relays as well as presenting the winning teams with their medals.
Headmaster’s Praise – 6 October 2021
6 October 2021
Today nine pupils received Headmaster’s praise:
- Cameron Khoo for a strong piece of work entered into this year’s summer research project competition. He wrote extensively about the biology of the different covid variants. He took on this project whilst working remotely all year – very self motivated and keen.
- Luc Tucker for a strong History essay entered into this year’s summer research project competition. It focused on Maoism in Nepal. Plenty of effort and a tenacious approach to learning and improvement.
- David Haar for the best entry into this year’s summer research project competition. A fine essay on the classical romantic poets.
- Fab Dal Ben for reading from the Italian Bible in chapel.
- Jonathan Watcham for reading from the Mandarin Bible in chapel.
- Paul Fowler for reading from the Russian Bible in chapel.
- Jamie Robson for an outstanding performance of a Handel aria from Messiah performed on the Rodolfus Choral Course and shared as a video with the Abingdon community.
- Bertie Cassell for outstanding leadership on Silver DofE.
- Aryann Gupta for excellent organisational skills in helping the Economics Department put on the Vince Cable talk.
