Caroline Ip, Class of 2017

Caroline was the worthy recipient of many prizes at Croydon High, including the 11+ Academic Scholarship, a Sixth Form Art Scholarship, the Margaret Adams Award for excellent GCSE results, the Senior Prefect Prize, the Isabel Wrightson Prize for Art, and the Friends of the Trust Prize for academic achievement and contribution.

The Spring Term of 2017 was a busy one for Caroline; as well as studying for her A-level exams, she took part in the Articulation London Regional Heat at the National Gallery, with only 30 of 5,000 applicants who did so. The adjudicator, Penny Huntsman, thanked Caroline for introducing a new artist whose work addressed identity.

Caroline also led the team that ran our International Women’s Day Conference in collaboration with the National Council of Young Women. The conference explored the topics of sexual and reproductive health rights worldwide with help from guest speakers from Brook, Amnesty International, Marie Stopes and UCL.

Caroline studied Art History and International Relations, Modern and Contemporary Art, and Postcolonial and Feminist Theory at the University of St Andrews, gaining a 1st Class degree. Following on, she took a Master of Arts – MA, Curating Art and Public Programmes at the Whitechapel Gallery and London South Bank University.

The Master of Arts degree in Curating Art and Public Programmes uniquely collaborates with London South Bank University (LSBU), training emerging curators over a one-year, full-time course. Focusing on curating art and public programmes and culminating in the students’ final exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery, it offers a unique curriculum that stands out from other curating courses. 

Caroline works at The Whitechapel Art Gallery, founded in 1901, to bring great art to the people of east London. Internationally acclaimed for its exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and its pioneering education and public events programmes, the Gallery has premiered international artists such as Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Nan Goldin and provided a showcase for Britain’s most significant artists from Gilbert & George to Lucian Freud, Peter Doig to Mark Wallinger.

Caroline is part of a team that curated the All Starts with a Thread Exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery. ‘A thread is both a connecting force leading us from one thing to the next and a material from which something is yet to be made. It can help us re-imagine and reconfigure our relationships with one another and the time and space we inhabit.’ Entry is free and lasts until 31 December 2023.

We caught up with Caroline this week for a Q&A session:

What aspects of Croydon High School did you enjoy and find most rewarding?

My favourite thing about Croydon High was our sense of community, both as a year group and as a school overall. The nurturing environment made me feel that we were all valued for our unique personalities and skills and that mutual support is valuable!

What did you aspire to whilst at school?

I didn’t have a dream job or specific aspirations at school (which I think is important to know is ok!) I loved art and had enjoyed beginning to read theory and art history books at school, supported by the fabulous art department. I knew I wanted to explore that further at university. I am a big fan of the Scottish university system, where you can explore different subjects within your degree, which enabled me to explore my interests in politics and continue learning about myself.

How did Croydon High School empower you for your future?

Looking back, I think Croydon High really empowered me to believe in myself. Whilst I am still learning and growing, the confidence that school encouraged us to have has helped me reach for opportunities, ask for help when needed, and have faith in my abilities.

What has been your proudest moment?

It might be a boring answer, but I think my proudest moment was when I handed in my undergrad dissertation, Remote Phenomenologies: Reimagining the Relationship Between Race and Art in Britain in the Time of COVID-19. Writing it during the pandemic was a tough project, but I was so proud to see it grow and come together! I look back at it if I’m having a low moment to remind myself of what I can achieve, and it is something that really feels like a part of me.

What are your hopes for the future?

I’m not entirely sure what lies ahead for me, but I’m enjoying exploring different opportunities and figuring out what suits me best. I would ultimately love to work in an arts space that is collaborative and community-focused, focusing on accessibility and care.

What would you say to your 15-year-old self?

It may be a bit cheesy, but if I could talk to my 15-year-old self today, I would tell younger Caroline that it’s ok not to have everything figured out! Take opportunities that come because these are the best ways to learn and grow and ask for help when needed because everyone needs help sometimes.

Great advice indeed; thank you, Caroline!

Mrs Karen Roe
Alumnae Relations Manager

Upon walking onto campus on Wednesday I was greeted by a cacophony of colour with the buzz of excitement and anticipation permeating the air.  There was a very different feel compared to a “normal” day as Wednesday 11 October was Croydon High School’s first ever Culture Day! 

This is an event that has been long in the making with the aim of celebrating the diverse range of cultures in our student body and our community as a whole. It is vital our students develop important life skills, such as empathy, critical thinking, and intercultural competence. It prepares them to thrive in a world where diversity is not just appreciated but celebrated. Alongside these goals our team of student organisers also wanted to show everyone that celebrating our cultures can be fun, to say they achieved this is a vast understatement!

The day started off with students gathered in their form rooms where they revelled in seeing the outfits their peers were wearing. As they explained the cultural significance of their attire they were introduced to our first activity of the day, cultural greetings. As fitting for the start of the day students were split into groups to research and learn different greetings from a wide range of places and societies including a handshake from Botswana, the 3 forms of the traditional Wai from Thailand, the Maori Hongi and even the correct version of what is mistakenly called the “Eskimo Kiss” which is the Inuit Kunik. They then shared their new greetings with the classmates and revelled in the wide ranges of ways people can say hello to each other!

During both registration and period 1 year groups assembled in the hall for photographs in their cultural dress. See below for just a small sample of the photographs taken during this session!

Back in classrooms we continued on our cultural journey by looking at definitions of the term culture that had been gathered from different world perspectives.  Our students broke these definitions down and highlighted what they felt was important and what surprised them about how much “culture” encompassed.  One particularly poignant definition was provided by anthropologist, Wade Davis, and led to some insightful discussions taking place.

Armed with the knowledge of what culture means, we then delved deeper into how cultural diversity is being impacted over the world.  This took the form of investigating and discussing the impact of globalisation and the unintended consequences of how it has promoted some cultures as being superior to others.  The students debated the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation and were able to recognise that it has had a hugely positive impact across the globe but hidden behind this it has led to the decline and, in some cases, loss of many important cultural norms and traditions.  To finish off this session the students were introduced to the Xhosa language, where 3 different clicks are incorporated into everyday speech, and Slybo which is an entirely whistled language used in the Canary Islands.  This led to a discussion on the effect of language on a culture and society and how it is predicted that over 50% of the world’s languages will no longer be spoken in just a few more years.

All of this happened before break time, when the students were able to interact with their peers from other forms and take in each other’s cultural outfits once more and talk about what they had learnt during the morning.

The day did not slow down there as there were two more sessions taking place before lunch.  For one, students split into their houses and experienced what it was like to interact with someone if they had no understanding of your cultural norms and traditions.  To do this each student was assigned a coloured sticker, each coloured sticker had a set of “cultural rules” that dictated how they greet people, a cultural taboo and an attitude towards another group!  The greetings and taboos were designed to conflict with each other, for example one culture greeted by simply crossing their arms, another by touching their thumbs to those of the person they were greeting, whilst some groups had a taboo where they could not touch anyone else and others touched the person they were speaking to every time they wanted to say anything.  After learning and practising their “rules” in their groups they were told to interact with as many people as possible, whilst their teachers observed their interactions.  After a few minutes of this they were led in a discussion by staff about how their interactions had gone, which group had they got on best with, which groups did they dislike and why?  As they discussed these questions the cultural rules of each group were revealed and shed light on how they had influenced their interactions.  By the end it was obvious to all that if you did not understand another culture it is all too easy to mistake the intention of their actions, that people can be polite in different ways, can greet in different ways and that we should stop and think before we make assumptions.

In our other session we had the honour of welcoming back four of our alumnae who kindly volunteered to come back and speak to the students about their views on culture.  They included Shermya Modupe who is currently studying for a BA in culture, media and creative industries at King’s College London.  She performed a heartfelt and emotional spoken word poem that addressed the cultural roots of her name and the history that was contained within it.  As she spoke the Hall fell silent and everyone hung on each word she spoke until her conclusion where the room erupted into applause!  Next up was Tasia-Jade Bogle who is currently reading Law at UCL, she addressed the audience on not only her heritage but also her experiences in joining the school at 6th form after having attended a state school until Year 11 and the differences in these experiences.

Following these inspirational talks were Larissa Kennedy and Chimmy Ngoma – you can read about them in their individual alumnae spotlights on our school website.  These two inspirational role models are currently actioning change in the world of diversity, inclusion and culture. Chimmy was able to introduce our students to examples she has used whilst training and speaking to leading global organisations whilst simultaneously being able to connect with our students on a more personal level having been a Croydon High student as well as Head Girl! One, of many, highlights in her address was speaking about the study of a tribe called the “nacirema” and their rituals, which seemed bizarre to the entire audience until Chimmy revealed that Nacirema is simply American spelt backwards!  The strange rituals she had described were actually everyday routines, such as brushing your teeth, all of which we do in the western world but when described a certain way, in a certain context seemed bizarre to us. Larissa spoke to us about the positive impact that culture can have on our world and her travels to Africa and South America. We were shown examples of their cultural norms and ways their culture has positively impacted the world around us. In particular it was fascinating to see how in Chile graffiti was used to send messages of solidarity around the community as opposed to some of the examples we tend to see in our local area. Sadly, Larissa’s talk was cut very slightly short by the fire alarm going off, evidently her speech had blown our minds and the fire alarm sensors must have picked up on this!

To end the day, we had the most amazing Cultural Showcase performed and organised by our very own students.  It was a mixture of song, dance, poetry, cultural fashion and everything in between.  I was particularly impressed by the confidence of our Junior pupils who performed on stage with such maturity. Our whole student body represented all of the continents of the world in one of the most uplifting and positive experiences I have been fortunate enough to witness over the course of my teaching career. It was so amazing that I cannot do it justice in this piece of writing.  So I will be asking some of our students to write a piece for a future edition of our newsletter and they will be able to tell you in their own words just how impactful it was.

I can however share some photographs of the event below and thank everyone who was involved in the organisation of the day.  It really was a whole school effort where everyone from students, support staff, teachers, alumnae and parents contributed to some unforgettable experiences.  I for one am extremely proud of our students and how well they received the day, it truly was one of the highlights of my teaching career.

Culture Day proved to be very memorable for all in The Junior School from the parade in the morning to the afternoon showcase, there was something for everyone to enjoy. The girls particularly enjoyed listening to guest speaker Millie Mensah, who attended Croydon High in the Junior and Senior School. Here are some photos from the parade on the field.

Look out for more details of Culture Day in the Junior School in the first NewsLinks after half-term.

Mr Kevin Murphy
Assistant Head (Digital Strategy)

On Tuesday 10 October, Jess from Shakespeare Schools Foundation led an acting workshop with Year 10 to help them ‘land their lines!’ through projection and articulation. The pupils learned to be bold in their actions and project their voices to ensure their lines can be heard in the farthest part of the room without strain. The warm-up was followed by the pupils getting more into their characters as they prepare to perform Othello as part of the renowned Shakespeare Schools Festival at Rada Studios Theatre on 9 November 2023 at 7pm.

Here is what some of our students had to say about the workshop:

“I learnt new ways to get into character so I can imagine how they feel during different scenes. I also learnt how to stay in character during a scene where I don’t say much or anything at all.” – Laila M

“I found the workshop very insightful and was given new perspectives on a lot of useful vocal exercises and warm ups before a rehearsal. In addition, the work we did helped me to understand how my character can be brought to life more in my physical attributes.” – Ava G

Mrs Morgan-Collins
Head of Drama

Ms Angela Rolle
Learning Resource & Innovation Hub Manager

A captivated audience gathered to enjoy an array of musical talents. The concert featured music scholars from Year 7-Sixth Form, performing in various styles and showcasing their skills. Some pupils were preparing for grade examinations, while others were perfecting pieces for their GCSE recitals. The diverse musical selection ranged from unaccompanied Bach to the melodies of Stevie Wonder and songs from popular musicals.

We extend our congratulations to all the performers who made the evening so enjoyable. We appreciate your dedication and passion for music. We would also like to express our gratitude to our instrumental teachers, whose hard work and guidance were essential in preparing the students for this concert. A special thanks to Mrs. Belson for her skill and support in accompanying the demanding pieces.

The first informal concert has set a high standard, and we eagerly await more musical experiences. The next performance will be the Autumn Concert on Thursday 23 November.

Mr Marcus Suranyi
Director of Music

Caroline showed us how the bassoon works and sounds. We listened to a variety of tunes; a piece by Bach, Dukas’s ‘The Sorceror’s Apprentice’, Grieg’s ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’ and even a bit of the Pink Panther! Everyone was very excited to find out more about this instrument and the girls were eager to say where they had heard each of the excerpts before. It was also wonderful to hear Amelia (Year 4) play her mini bassoon with Caroline and together they performed the ‘No Sweat Duet!’.

The bassoon is the lowest sounding member of the woodwind family and is perhaps the most versatile. We hope to be able to offer bassoon instrumental lessons to pupils within the Junior and Senior School. If you are interested to find out more, or if your daughter would like to learn the instrument, please do get in touch with Mr Suranyi or Miss Delany.

Find out some more about the bassoon.

Miss Sarah Delany
Head of Junior School Music

The masterclass was a cross-key stage collaboration, with poetry enthusiasts from Years 9-11 applying to attend. Current A Level English Literature students were on hand to support, offering a great opportunity for pupils to connect with older peers and get a taste of life in our vibrant Sixth Form.

The theme for this year was Refuge. After an initial exploration of the concept, and an introduction to some key poets who explore this idea, the pupils split into groups to complete a carousel of activities, each exploring and responding to a poem on the theme. Over the course of the masterclass, pupils encountered poets from diverse backgrounds, engaging with the concept of Refuge in different ways: Joelle Taylor, Wendell Berry and Roger Robinson. 

The masterclass concluded with an invitation to participate in a National Poetry competition; we look forward to reading any upcoming submissions!

And so to conclude the end of a busy half term in English, we leave you with a wonderful poem to enjoy by Roger Robinson, a British writer, musician and performer who lives between England and Trinidad.

A Portable Paradise

And if I speak of Paradise,
then I’m speaking of my grandmother
who told me to carry it always
on my person, concealed, so
no one else would know but me.
That way they can’t steal it, she’d say.
And if life puts you under pressure,
trace its ridges in your pocket,
smell its piney scent on your handkerchief,
hum its anthem under your breath.
And if your stresses are sustained and daily,
get yourself to an empty room – be it hotel,
hostel or hovel – find a lamp
and empty your paradise onto a desk:
your white sands, green hills and fresh fish.
Shine the lamp on it like the fresh hope
of morning, and keep staring at it till you sleep.

By Roger Robinson

Ms Alison Cotton
Head of English

Earlier this half term Ms Cotton and Ms Fenwick led a cross-curricular exploration of English and History in London.

Lower Sixth students of English Literature, English Language, History and Drama embarked on a jam-packed day in central London. The morning began at Dr Johnson’s House and museum in central London, for a fascinating workshop on the development of the English language; more particularly, on the evolution of the dictionary and Johnson’s renowned Dictionary of the English Language. This nearly 10-year labour of love not only shaped the form and role of the dictionary as we know it today, but also proved that language is, ultimately, impossible to ‘fix.’

The afternoon saw the group on a ‘Bloomsbury Blast’ literary walking you (courtesy of London Literary Tours), where two passionate tour guide-cum-actors enthralled us with tales of writers, romance and rebellion through the late 19th and 20th century literary world of London, including Ezra Pound, D.H.Lawrence and Virgina Woolf. 

The day culminated in an evening production of Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ at the Globe, where the performances were shining and the weather kind.

All-in-all, a stimulating day out and a wonderful start to Lower Sixth’s A Level studies! 

The English Department

Reception had a great, sunny day out. We had some wonderful talks from our keeper for the day who showed us up close a range of animals. We enjoyed our talk mostly on, Yoda the Tawny Owl and Snoop Hog the Hedgehog. The girls have been learning about nocturnal animals and how animals can camouflage themselves in the wild. In English, we have been focusing on the stories, Owl Babies and Peace at Last so the trip supported these texts nicely. We met a wide range of animals including, Scottish wild cats, frogs, red squirrels, foxes, otters, owls, weasel, and badgers. We hope the girls all had a great time.

Mrs Amanda-Jane D’Aranjo
Reception Class Teacher
Early Years Leader

Showcase – verb

1. to exhibit; display.

Academic Scholars in Key Stage Three have participated in two Stretch and Challenge showcases this half term where they have brought along a piece of work (or two, or three, or more!) from this half term which they are particularly proud of. They have spoken and read about their work and have socially shared their passions and curiosity for learning.

Year 8 did a brilliant job as role models to their younger Scholar Sisters in Year 7 by explaining how stretch and challenge works and how to balance it amongst other subjects. Younger pupils were very impressed by the stretch and challenge work which has already been completed and are now setting their sights on the academic challenge of the next half term… It has been brilliant to see how supportive the scholars are of one another: they celebrate each other’s successes and feel proud about their own and collective academic ambitions.

Please see below for a selection of work from the Year 9 Stretch and Challenge Showcase.
Subjects the girls chose to showcase include French, Spanish, Physics, History, English, Maths and REP.

Year 9 Stretch and challenge showcase

Thank you to Emily, Ahanaa, Anaiya, Anjelea, Arwa, Emma, and Lorelei in Year 9 for sharing your work publically! Well done.

Pride – abstract noun

1. a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
2. consciousness of one’s own dignity and self-worth.

Ms Kitty Howie
Academic Scholars’ Coordinator and Second in Charge of English

Each scholar independently researched and curated an exhibition on a topic of their choice. They needed to work to deadlines, encounter obstacles (and find solutions!) and communicate proactively to ensure their showcase was managed efficiently.

The Scholars did brilliantly: by presenting to staff, friends and family, they were able to develop their confidence and public speaking skills. They also inspired the younger whole school community of Academic Scholars who were encouraged to take notes and make links across the KS3 curriculum to KS4.

There was a huge range of subjects and interests – a testament to our driving ethos of being aspirational and celebrating Every Girl, Every Day – that you can find below.

Elsa: What is the history of Criminal Psychology?
Vania: What is the unseen Black experience?
Ayesha: How did the Mughal Empire shape Indian culture and society?
Hollie: What is the ACL crisis in women’s football and how does physiotherapy work?
Lillian: How is DNA used in forensic investigations?
Ella: Which laptop should you buy?
Harneka: What are traditional Indian medicines and how do they work?
Akshaya: Why do we need female empowerment?
Chloe: What was the opium crisis in the 19th century?
Ellie: What’s the difference between Old English, Middle English, Elizabethan English and Modern English?
Suraya: How does the media and bias impact representation of females?
Penelope: Why are literary prose retellings of ancient Greek myths so popular and how do they compare to the originals?
Adriel: Which parts of the brain impact how you feel?
Fox: How did the Hunger Games revolutionise YA Fiction?
Alice: To what extent was the USSR a communist or socialist state?
Lily-Belle: What is drama therapy and how can it help?
Evie: What is the history of vaccinations?
Darcie: What is neurodiversity?
Chloé: How have novels shaped social politics throughout history?

Alice said, “I thought it was really useful to be able to practise balancing my own passion and projects and research as well as other academic work because it will be good practice for an EPQ for A Level.”

Suraya said, “It was really nice to share knowledge with the younger years and they were very engaged. We don’t always get the opportunity to talk to younger years in school so this gave me the opportunity to connect and be proud of my achievements and interests.”Well done Scholars!

Tabitha and Shafia in Year 13 also rose to the challenge to showcase their impressive understanding of the hospitality world. Their project centred around the sustainability of two hotels in different territories and investigated the principles of corporate social responsibility. They gamified their exhibit, asking for visitors to make a choice as to where they would most like to stay based on the eco-credentials of each resort. Well done!

Ms Kitty Howie
Academic Scholars’ Coordinator and Second in Charge of English

This challenge, which is part of the Young Enterprise scheme, was launched by Mrs Serradilla, Head of Business and Economics, four weeks ago. Since then, every member of Year 10 has been busy researching and deciding on a product in which they should invest their £10.

In their groups, they then sourced their materials or products, prepared their sales pitches and planned and promoted their selling events. Tuesday’s trade show was a huge success with some beautiful and professional-looking stalls, with a wide range of impressive products and services available to order.

Congratulations to Crochains who were awarded Best Stall; the judges were impressed with their creativity and originality. This, however, was only one part of the Challenge; all groups will now prepare a presentation outlining their business plan, marketing strategy and sustainability. The five best groups will make it through to the Grand Final on Monday 6 November, with the eventual award winners going through to the national competition. At the end of the Challenge, pupils will decide how to spend their profit, with at least 10% going to charity. With tight deadlines and new skills to acquire, the pressure has been on, but the year group are certainly rising to the challenge; developing an enterprising mindset and learning key business skills. Many thanks to the judges, Kaine Patel and Neal Sumaria, who so kindly gave up their time to support the pupils and offer invaluable feedback.

We look forward to seeing them again at the final. And, of course, a huge thank you to Mrs Serradilla for being the inspiration behind this and the Year 10 tutors for their support.

Mrs Carmel Tooke
Head of Year 10
English & Latin Teacher

Last Friday saw pupils get off to an excellent start on Newsquest’s Young Reporter programme. This work experience programme offers a unique and exciting opportunity, writing for a live online newspaper alongside real journalists and publishing on This Is Local – London.

Our budding reporters from Years 10, 11 and Lower Sixth received their first mentoring session from Diana Jarvis, programme organiser and professional journalist, who launched the programme and briefed the group on their responsibilities as young journalists working for Newsquest.

Pupils received training how to research and structure articles, and where to find the best scoops! They also learnt about important elements of journalism such as libel and fact-checking. Diana introduced them to the online platforms and the team are now on their way.

It is a challenging, but rewarding programme, and excellent preparation for the world of work – we wish the 2023 cohort well and hope that they follow in the footsteps of our previous Award Winners – watch this space!

Ms Alison Cotton
Head of English

The GDST Lead Programme was designed to help pupils develop their entrepreneurial skills and create a network among their LSE mentors. The pupils said “It was inspiring listening to the stories and journeys of some very successful women” The GDST launch day was immensely fascinating and we look forward to our journey ahead in creating our sustainable business idea. A big thank you to the GDST team for organising the programme and for the staff who accompanied us.

“My favourite part of the day was when, as a team, we brainstormed possible ideas of a product or a service that could profit whilst having a positive impact on society. We all left with guidance and motivation to pursue our aspirational careers.”

Our GDST Lead team includes:

• Lucy M
• Lexi R
• Sofia G
• Alice C
• Milly C
• Beatrice P
• Prakruti S
• Isla M
• Aashka P
• Ananya V
• Anaya P
• Gisela C

Lexi R
Lower Sixth

We have had more students participating in the black Georgians activities, word search and black science trail. Also, some interesting conversations about black people in history and authors from across the world. 

Music played during break/lunchtimes and after school included blues and jazz, with educational videos on writers, poets and artists.

Visitors (adults and young people) to the Open Day on Saturday were interested in the range of books, displays and activities. Our reading lists, What’s On Black History Month Guide and Black Literature timeline proved popular!

The Big Black History Month Beat-The-Clock Quiz took place on Friday 13 October at 1pm. We had 5 teams including the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) which was incredibly exciting and slightly competitive (but healthy!). 

Ms Angela Rolle
Learning Resource & Innovation Hub Manager 

The Great Croydon High School Sixth Form Charity Fashion Show 2023

Croydon High School Senior School Hall
Croydon

Fri 3 Nov 2023, 7:00PM
Sat 4 Nov 2023, 7:00PM

Book your tickets online: ticketsource.co.uk/croydonhighschool

View the full list of raffle prizes – got to be in it to win it!

We are so pleased and grateful to Jemca Toyota Croydon for sponsoring our Netball and Hockey Tour of South Africa later this year.