ASSEMBLYWINTER 2010

Christmas Bazaar

Up and down the country Heads will have been frantically reading

through their pupils’ school reports prior to sending them off to parents. Of course, each school has its own way of doing things and what strikes me most about the Arnold House version of the school report is its scope; each and every aspect of a boy’s education here is recognised and commented upon.

On the academic side of course due regard is given to the curriculum subjects: English, Maths, Science, French, Latin, Greek, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Art & Design, Information Technology, PE & Games, Music, Drama and Library. And

We had a wonderful Bazaar with stalls ranging from Fairground Attractions

to fantastic gifts for Mums and Dads. There was a delicious BBQ and warming mulled wine. The boys’ stalls were very creative - chocolate fountains, airzooka, Persian food, home made race tracks, milkshakes and popcorn. The auction was led valiantly by Mr Hill with ‘Be Headmaster for the Day’ raising £700!

Everyone put so much effort into the afternoon and we were rewarded by perfect weather for the time of year which meant we could spread-out outside. A generous audience helped us to raise over £13,000 to fund a bursary place (more with gift aid) and over £3,000 for the boys’ chosen international charity this year, Hope and Homes for Children.

Tessa LawsChair of the Parent’s Association

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then, to obtain a more complete picture of a boy’s standing and overall well-being in the School, we look at his conduct in the classroom, his courtesy towards others and his contribution to the wider life of the School through participation in sports teams, concerts, plays, and extra-curricular activities.

The final piece of the jigsaw is gleaned from the report by the acknowledgement of special awards in the form of badges, bars and ties for industry, citizenship, high achievement and positions of responsibility.

Arnold House boys are renowned for being bright, articulate, confident, polite and well-rounded; all of which comes about

from placing real value on a broad and balanced education in its truest sense - as much today as has ever been the case in the School’s 105-year history.

Vivian ThomasHeadmaster

From the Headmaster

As I write, we only have a couple of days to go before we end the term with a flourish at our Carol Service, led by Fr. Anders Berquist, at St. John’s Wood Church.

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Tempora mutant, nos et mutamur in illis (Times change, and we change with the times.)

What the boys said:

One of the less-trumpeted ways in which fees are channelled is on Continuing

Professional Development (CPD). The Headmaster is always eager to send teachers on courses if some perceptible benefit can be shown. A teacher can broaden or refine their skill-base, while enriching the classroom experience of their charges. I was lucky to attend such a course in October 2009 at the sumptuous cliché that is the Travelodge, Warwick. The title was Assessment for Learning (AfL), under the aegis of the IAPs, course leader Robert Powell.

AfL is predicated on the creed that standards are raised by ‘empowering children to take charge of their learning.’ In non-teacherese: by stimulating lesson-planning and delivery, a diverse multi-sensory approach and such symbiosis between teacher and learner that the pupil is able to apply skills acquired - independently. AfL eschews teaching by monologue and cheap points-gathering. While championing these virtues, Robert used the opportunity to parade Activote. Each delegate was given a hand-held alpha-numeric device, the interface akin to a text-phone. The devices interact with a USB hub in a lap or desktop. They can be used to answer questions on any topic. The answers are sent to the computer, whence they can be displayed on a projector or white-board and analysed.

The data is then used to inform {the planning of } future lessons.Robert was also trialling ‘Racegame’, software pioneered by his own company to

play in tandem with the Activote devices. Each player is assigned a number. This corresponds to a numbered car on a grid. If you answer a question correctly, you go forward. If not, you stay still. In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by the speed of their responses.

Seduced by the power of advertising, I came back to Arnold House and set about hectoring Mr Thomas! After a brief trial period, the Activote devices and Racegame were duly purchased in September this year.

They are a gift for language-teaching, while not exclusively designed for such. Questions can be set, of greater or lesser sophistication, the answers logged, displayed and analysed. It is accurate, forensic and democratic. {Activote also neatly apes the ubiquitous technology boys use in their everyday lives}. No pupil is able to hide, or seems to want to.

This is especially true of the Race-game, the prospect of playing which elicits squeals of delight from young males clamouring for victory. It distils both the essence of sport and learning.

Joshing aside, it is an invaluable way to test knowledge or skills acquired from a chapter or module. The data is logged on Excel and provides the basis for revision. How much more effective and time-friendly in a congested world than an unfocussed trawl through the textbook.

Mark MaddocksHead of Classics

‘It makes you enthusiastic about getting answers. It can make the hardest the most fun ..’

‘The teacher can see where the class needs to improve and the results are displayed on the interactive whiteboard ...’

‘It is a different way of learning ... it makes things easier to remember ... you can see where you went wrong ...’

‘A high-tech way of learning {Latin} ... we learn from one another.’

‘It’s fun and educational. It also has those symbols which help us in Greek.’

‘Great for going over past vocab ... interactive and lively.’

‘Podding challenges your mind ... it gets your brain thinking.’

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Life in the Pre-PrepFor some boys, the autumn term in the

Pre-Prep is their first experience of school life. However they soon get to grips with being part of the Arnold House family, quickly making friends and fully involving themselves in the School. We learn about all their differing personalities and work hard to ensure they feel happy and secure in their new environment. A buddy system with Year 2 and shared reading with Year 3 always helps to break the ice and establish friendships outside their year group.

The broad curriculum we have offers the boys the opportunity to develop their

interests in a wide variety of subjects. Our goal is to help them to take those vital and important steps to developing their self-esteem and confidence with a love for learning.

The autumn concert provides a lovely platform for the boys to celebrate their first half of the term through singing songs and reciting class poems to their proud parents. Six weeks later they showcase their acting talents at the Nativity Play. It never fails to amaze me the difference in the two performances; from their ability to stand tall and proud, to clearly delivering their lines.

We consider our role in their development and happiness at such a young age to be a very privileged and crucial one. Lots of praise, love and encouragement is a vital ingredient and as the saying goes, “They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel”.

Susie DartHead of Pre-Prep

Pre-Prep Autumn Concert Pre-Prep Nativity Play

A family tradition of attending Arnold House

How many generations of your family have attended Arnold House and when?WF - 4 generations: My father Cecil Joseph Falk attended from the School’s inception in 1905 to 1911. Myself, William Edward Falk, 1949-56. My sons: Charles Morton James Falk 1975-82 and Robert Maxwell Falk 1978-79 and currently my grandson Michael David William Falk who joined Arnold House in 2008. GJ - 3 generations: My father Alan John Lawrence Jacobs from 1935, My brother, Keith Alfred Jacobs from 1965-73. Myself - Graham Jacobs Lawrence Jacobs from 1968-77 and my sons Jack Edward Jacobs who joined in 2009 and Louis Jacobs who will join the School in 2011. My aunt Jane Jacobs also attended the School with my father for a brief period before they were evacuated during the second world war - she was one of only two girls who have attended the School throughout its history.

Why has Arnold House remained as the School of choice for your family throughout the years?WF - Arnold House was a great influence on my development and on my son Charles, who chose it for his son Michael. I attribute my development to the Headmaster during my time, George Smart. In particular, I have maintained lifelong friendships with a number of my contemporaries for a period of over 60 years. Charles was particularly influenced by the Headmaster during his time; Jonathan Clegg. The School continues to instil the important values of kindness, compassion and courtesy in the boys as it has done for the last 100 years. It is a very happy environment where the staff cares about the boys’ development and thrive in their successes. GJ - My father, brother and I were all very happy there and while the School has changed over the years its principles and ethos has not.

Do you have any memorable anecdotes, stories about AH from any members of the family?WF - There is a wonderful story about my father and his brother when they were given a spelling test on their first day at school. My father would have been about six years old and his brother was about 14 months younger. They were asked to spell the words “Donkey” and “Monkey” respectively. My father spelt “Donkey” correctly. Unfortunately my uncle at about 5 years old spelt “Monkey”

The Falk and Jacobs families represent a long family tradition of attending Arnold House School dating back to 1905 and 1935 respectively. William Falk (1949-1956) and Graham Jacobs (1968-77) kindly share their history below.

Alan Jacobs and fellow Arnold House boys during the second world war evacuation

as “Munkey” and had to be corrected for this. We have always felt that it was unfair that the younger boy was given the harder of the two words to spell. This story has been passed down in our family ever since. Charles remembers how appalling a driver his mother was when picking him up from school, screeching to a halt outside No. 1 Loudoun Road at 3:30 every afternoon, causing chaos by her horizontal parking, and is convinced that that is the reason that Loudoun Road was made one-way!GJ - I remember when Mr John Smith left after something like 50 years of service; the whole school was in tears. It was a bit like Goodbye Mr Chips. The Headmaster also used to read out the sports report at assembly from the previous days school matches for both 1st XI and Under 11 ( the only two school teams in those days).

What are the notable achievements of your relatives following their AH education?WF - After leaving his public school in 1915, Cecil was commissioned into the Wiltshire Regiment early in 1916. During the First World War he served in Salonika and France and was awarded the Military Cross in November 1918. After the war he joined the family gas and electrical business in 1920. He also served in the Second World War and commanded the 2/7th Queens Royal Regiment. After the war he re-joined the family business and became chairman in 1962, retiring at the age of 71 in 1968. I became a chartered accountant and have spent the majority of my working life in public practice. Charles graduated as a barrister at law, specialising in Crime as a defence barrister. He describes himself as the “get out of jail free” card. Robert qualified as a certified chartered accountant and now works for a well known company in the West End of London.GJ - Keith is an associate professor at Hobart University Tasmania, having gained his MA and PHD in London. I myself am a

senior partner at St James’s Place Wealth Management since 1992. Prior to that I worked for Christies Auction House in New York and London. My father was Director of Times Furnishing until 1969 and then a 17th Century Dutch and Flemish Old Master Dealer in St James’s London (now retired) although he does write spiritual books.

What are the main changes that your family have seen at AH over the years?WF - The School has expanded and developed. There are new buildings and facilities such as state of the art Apple iMacs. In Charles’ day, the school had one ancient Apple 2e computer with a floppy disc drive. In my day we had an Abacus.

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Arnold House School 1 Loudoun Road St.John’s Wood, London NW8 0LHTelephone: 020 7266 4840 Facsimile: 020 7266 6994 Email: office@arnoldhouse.co.uk Website: www.arnoldhouse.co.uk

Arnold House School Ltd (Limited by Guarantee). Registered in London Number 889424. Educational Charitable Trust Number 312725

Cecil Falk circa 1965

Alan, Jack and Graham Jacobs at Grandparents’ Day

William, Michael and Charles Falk

Arnold House circa 1952 - (William Falk circled)

There is now a gym, built around 1981 and these days, instant text messaging letting parents know if sporting events have to be altered. GJ - Mainly structural changes between the Senior and Junior School and the name change of the classrooms. An additional House Brunel. We were all in Pitt but Jack is in Brunel. Prize giving used to take place in the winter at Seymour Hall with each class

singing a song and then cups and books presented. Also there was annual Boxing competition there and a swimming gala at Swiss Cottage. Finally the statue of St Michael is inside AH

What has stayed the same?WF - The high standard of the all-round education including excellent sporting, musical and articstic opportunities...and not forgetting the first rate school lunches.GJ - The principles, ethos and pastoral care and the winter uniform.

What advice have you given to the latest generation of AH boys?WF - The best advice that we can give is both enjoy and make the most of your time at AH, because unfortunately it is all over too soon. Friendships forged here are potentially with you for life.GJ - Enjoy every minute of every day at AH as one day you will look back and remember these days with great happiness.