4
April 2016
Abingdon
News
At the Big Physics Quiz held at
Birmingham University all four third year
teams finished in the top half of the
100 teams participating with one team
finishing in an excellent third place.
Big Physics Quiz
In January, the entire First Year enjoyed a public speaking workshop run by two trainers
from the English Speaking Union. They took part in a range of activities designed to help
them understand how to deliver a good speech including content, linking arguments and
how to engage with their audience. The boys also considered how to act as a chairman, a
main speaker, and to give a vote of thanks - all of which will prove invaluable to them in the
Lower School Public Speaking Competition. The workshop was made possible thanks to a
donation to the Annual Fund from the Second-hand Uniform Shop.
Congratulations
to fifth year James
Hogge who finished
as runner-up in the
National Cipher
Challenge, run
by the University
of Southampton
Mathematics
Department and sponsored by Trinity
College, Cambridge. In the annual
Challenge, competitors attempt
to break cryptograms - a type of
puzzle that consists of a short piece
of encrypted text. James showed
enormous initiative and resourcefulness
in solving the challenges so quickly. He
is a member of the School’s Code
Breaking Club, which runs during the
Michaelmas term. James collected his
prize at an event at Bletchley Park at the
beginning of March.
Cryptogram King
Lower School
Public Speaking
IFS Student Investor
Challenge
The School’s economists showed great
potential in the Institute of Financial
Services Student Investor Challenge – a
UK wide investment game, where teams
are given a virtual £100,000 to invest.
Both Abingdon teams reached the semi
final and team ‘Tigers’ came in the top
eight (10,000 teams entered) and will
compete in the final on 27 April.
The Lower School Archaeology Club and
other classics students enjoyed a visit from
the Archaeology Department at Reading
University. The boys conducted an
archaeological geophysical survey of sites
around the school campus. Many thanks
to Dr Rob Fry and Dr Christine Milton who
made the day possible.
Classics
Geophys
Day
National Final Senior
Maths Challenge
In the national final of the Senior Maths
Team Challenge, Abingdon’s team of
Harry Lei, Jerry Yang, Ben Schneider and
Angus Shen came 21st out of 86 teams of
the top sixth form mathematicians in the
country. A very impressive result indeed.
The boys defeated 31 other teams in the
regional round held at Cherwell School to
reach the final, which was held at the Royal
Horticultural Halls at Westminster.
A team of six boys won through to the
national final of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants National Business Game,
BASE.
BASE is an ideal opportunity for
students to learn about careers in
accountancy, finance and business
and develops key skills required for
university, college or job applications.
The final is to be held in June.
BASE Success
