The ACE Team of players on the Harlequins/Gordon's Partnership Programme finished their most successful season ever with a 27-20 win against Beechen Cliff School today, to secure third place in the RFU's national ACE League, the pinnacle of schoolboy rugby. The boys have enjoyed a phenomenal run which has seen them top the ACE South Group and topple the unbeaten Hartpury College. Four of the team members have also received call ups for the England U18 Squad and one for the Wales U18 Squad.

Their illustrations of poetry have led to two students winning their year groups in an international competition. Kimmi Bellore’s pumpkins, painted in response to Frohliches Kurbisgedicht and Morgan Wery’s butterflies illustrating La Mariposa, came first in the UK's Year 8 and Year 10 categories of the Poesiae competition. Congratulations both!

Presenting the new Senior Student Leadership Team for 2024/25 of (left to right) Isabel Miles (Deputy Head Girl); Adaora Ambrose (Head Girl); Ned Hewson (Head Boy) and Fraser Bates (Deputy Head Boy). They are pictured below with (far left) Nerys Tullett (Colour Sergeant) and (far right) Thomas Allen (School Sergeant Major). All six students were required to write a letter of application and submit their CVs before being interviewed by a panel of three – Headmaster Andrew Moss, Deputy Head (Pastoral) Helen Carruthers and Chair of Gordon’s School Governors Jane Valner. Pictured are (left to right): Nerys Tullett (Colour Sergeant); Isabel Miles (Deputy Head Girl); Adaora Ambrose (Head Girl); Ned Hewson (Head Boy); Fraser Bates (Deputy Head Boy) and Thomas Allen (School Sergeant Major). The six will take on their new roles after Memorial Weekend. Congratulations and the best of luck to all of them!

When student Angus was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in the Summer, those in his boarding house rallied to his support, forming themselves into Angus’ Army. First they completed (along with Angus’ parents and school staff) the Oxford Half Marathon. Then they achieved a 100 mile run of the South Downs. Frankie Lewis, one of the founders of Angus’ Army collected a certificate from Headmaster Andrew Moss on behalf of Angus’ Army, from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, in recognition of the staggering £18,050 the group has raised for the charity.

A keen golfer from the age of five, who hit a hole in one by the age of six, Lewy Lawrence has only this year started lessons in the sport. However, In just one week, he has qualified for the National Schools Golf Finals in July after winning the Individual Stableford event with 38 points; helped the school team to win the Stableford Event in the same tournament at Moor Park; was appointed Junior Captain of the Royal Eastbourne Golf Club for this year and won the Junior Club Championship; Junior Challenge Trophy (lowest total score in all qualifying junior competitions); Golf Foundation, team competition of a Man, Lady and Junior and the Vaughan Cup, the Men’s Matchplay knockout competition! He is pictured with his Royal Eastbourne Golf Club Awards.

When her son came home from Gordon’s and said Major Robinson [the then Commanding Officer of the school CCF] needed help with the CCF, Jane Powell immediately put her name forward. That was over 20 years ago!

Now Mrs Powell, who is in the Army section of the cadets, has been presented with a Meritorious Service Award by the His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux in recognition of her contribution to the CCF.

The mother of three sons, two of whom were students at Gordon’s, Mrs Powell has volunteered with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and RAF Section at Gordon’s, joining the Army Section in 2007 and accompanying children since 1994 in the Ten Tors Challenge.

She had neither a military background nor experience of the CCF before volunteering at Gordon’s, and says: “I enjoy it, it has become part of my life”.

Every student in Year 10 joins the CCF at Gordon’s, which offers a tri-service of Army, Navy and Air Force. Mrs Powell commented that the most rewarding part of her work is seeing how much the students progress during the year and how they ‘come out of themselves’ when taking part. She added: “Winning awards at Army camp is always a highlight and the friendships made over the years. The CCF section has great staff who work hard for the cadets”.

Speaking of the Award, Mrs Powell said: “It was an honour to be recognised for doing what I am doing and very nice”.