The School ski trip returned from Aprica, Italy, a ski resort located close to the Italian/Swiss border, on the 22^nd February.  Aprica is now within the area of northern Italy covered by the government advice and information in respect of coronavirus.  In line with this advice, the School has requested that any young person who attended the trip and has a cough or a fever, however mild, remains at home and contacts the NHS 111 for further advice.  The School is in individual contact with all families of students who attended the trip to relay this advice.

Central Foundation Year 10 football team won through to the last 8 of the Schools National Football Cup.  They draw 2-2 after extra time, and won 5-4 on penalties.

Over 1,000 teams across the country have taken part in the competition. Following the heroics of the 7th round of the National Cup against Coopers’ Company and Coborn School, the Year 10 team travelled up to Welwyn Garden City to play against Chancellor’s School.

With what looked like a depleted squad at the beginning of the week due to some previous injuries, the boys were upbeat and ready to take on the challenge.

2-2 after extra time was certainly a fair reflection of what was an even game of football between two sides who deserved their place in the competition. Penalties decided on the result of the game.

Taking a penalty is always about confidence. Five boys put themselves forward and were confident about taking us through to the next round.

There were fantastic scenes on the pitch after the winning penalty as the fifth member of the team scored a goal and was bundled in the box before the boys shook hands with the opposition.

The Year 10 team’s incredible journey continues and let’s hope it continues for a couple more rounds. Another historic win for Central Foundation, who march into the quarter final (last 8 teams) of the cup for the first time in the School’s history. A huge well done to all the students involved in the game as well as those that have contributed towards getting to this stage.

Our Year 7 and 8 students studying Mandarin took part in a fifty-minute workshop in the week before half term. This workshop was aimed to celebrate Chinese New Year and increase students’ cultural awareness. In the workshop, the students watched lion dance performance first and then tried the lion dance and instruments themselves. Students enjoyed the workshop and they look forward to other cultural activities in the future.

On Monday 27^th January, Holocaust Memorial Day was commemorated to remember those who suffered in the Holocaust under Nazi persecution, and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

On Tuesday, Central Foundation school community marked this occasion with a whole school assembly led by our Year 13 students, who also attended the commemoration at the Islington Town Hall the previous day.

The Holocaust is the word that is most widely used to describe the Nazi persecution and mass murder of the Jews in Germany and the parts of Europe they conquered with the assistance of others in those countries. However, millions of other people were also killed including Poles, Russians, Romas, homosexual people, people the Nazis deemed to be disabled, either mentally or physically as well as political opponents, primarily communists, trade unionists and social democrats and those whose religious beliefs conflicted with Nazi ideology.

Holocaust Memorial Day is a time when we seek to learn the lessons of the past and recognise that genocide does not just take place on its own – it’s a steady process which can begin if discrimination, racism and hatred are not checked and prevented.

Poppy and James, Year 13 students, described their experience of visiting the concentration camp in Auschwitz in Poland last term. Their account was very moving and thought provoking.

The students passed on their reflections and their plea to the rest of the School community to be kind, respectful and open to one another in order to build a strong and tolerant society.

Poppy and James, Year 13 students, talking about their experience of visiting Auschwitz

Abubakar, Year 13 representative of Islington Youth Council, at the Holocaust Memorial Day event in Islington alongisde Islington South MP Emily Thornberry, Islington Council Executive Member for Community Cllr Una O’Halloran, Holocaust survivor Hana Kleiner and husband Cedric Isaac, Mayor of Islington Cllr Rakhia Ismail, Bosnian Genocide survivor Mevlida Lazibi, Camden and Islington LGBT forum Executive Tessa Havers-Strong, Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, Islington Council Migrants Champion Cllr Sue Lukes

Abubakar, Year 13 student, read an account by a former Central Foundation student, M R Silverberg, who was part of a medical team sent to Belsen Concentration Camp in Germany, two weeks after the camp was liberated. One of our School Captains, a member of our football team, and a medical student at UCL, Mr Silverberg wrote an account that captures an individual experience of the horrors of the Holocaust.

“On Monday 30^th April 1945, 96 London medical students, including myself, flew out from England to Belsen Concentration Camp, Germany. We were all volunteer members of a British Red Cross expedition, which was supposed to have gone to North Holland after its liberation to feed the starving. At Belsen we found the starving, certainly. When the British Army arrived to free the camp, there were approximately 50,000 people. When we arrived 13 days later there were about 38,000 living. All the dead had been removed and buried in mass graves holding 700 to 1,000 bodies. These mass graves had to be left open until they were filled. Each of us took charge of a hut, mine had 782 dead and alive in it. Approximately 100 were fit, by that I mean they could walk. The rest lay on the filthy floor, curled up because there was not the room to lie stretched out on their backs.

Our first and most important job was seeing that everybody received food. This was no easy task: just imagine a hundred starving women clamouring round a container of potato soup and one person trying to get the food to the sick first. After a few days had passed, some of the better and cleaner huts were evacuated and turned into hospitals. Patients were admitted, not as you may think, those people who were critically ill and near to death. The people admitted were those who we thought had more than a fifty percent chance of pulling round. The death rate remained very high – on the day we arrived 548 people died, 17 days later on 17^th May the total deaths was 97. I can only judge the camp by the standards in my hut. After such a short time the remaining people had begun to resume a civilised outlook on life again. Snatches of song were constantly heard throughout the day, and, miraculous as it seemed, they began to used to the idea of trying to wash themselves and comb what hair the Germans had left on their heads.

I have purposefully omitted the horror stories that I have witnesses and heard about. They comprise something which should be written about, but isolated from all things else. If this account has helped you form an impression of Belsen my aim is satisfied. One thing I would like to impress upon you all: nothing you have read or seen is adequate. It is impossible for any civilised being to be fully aware of what exactly did go on there until he sees it for himself.”

Students wishing to apply for a place at Central Foundation Boys’ School Sixth Form within the IC6 (Islington Sixth Form Consortium) for September 2020, please CLICK HERE.

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For more information regarding the IC6 schools and courses please visit the courses page or contact the IC6 Coordinator via email, administrator@ic6.co.uk, or phone 020 77017 3040.

On the last Thursday of term, Music School brought the autumn term to a close with their annual Winter Concert.

Twelve music ensembles performed over the course of the evening, playing a wide variety of genres to an audience comprising of students, staff, parents and friends of the School. The concert, opened with Partido Alto by Samba Band, was compered by the students.

The audience heard a jam session by the Jazz Band, Schubert’s Marche Militaire performed as a piano duet by Giannis in Year 13 and Ms Wild, Purcell’s Rondeau from Abdelazar by the strings ensemble and Jones’s Soul Bossa Nova by the brass ensemble and Samba Band.

There were several vocal performances from two of the four School choirs including Riu Riu Chiu sung in medieval Spanish and Lilly Allen’s Somewhere Only We Know.

Performances from the School bands, Hair, FretWrx and House Band, showcased both vocal and instrumental skills of their members.

The concert concluded with an orchestra’s performance of Mars from The Planets by Holst and A Christmas Festival by Anderson.

Orchestra performing A Christmas Festival

The 4th round of the National Cup saw a repeat of the 2018/19 Islington & Camden Cup Final as Central Foundation took on St Mary Magdalene Academy. The game started at a frantic pace with neither side getting a foot hold in the game. In tough weather conditions, it was Central Foundation who took the early lead. After a fine midfield exchange between Jordan and Teddy, Marley swept the ball out wide to Charlie who drove past 3 players scoring a goal. A fantastic finish from a student that has progressed phenomenally since Year 7. A period of control from Central Foundation followed the goal but it was St Mary Magdalene Academy who scored next (SMMA 1-2 CFBS at half time).

‘More of the same‘ was the message at half time and within 5 minutes of the second half, Marley got his second goal of the game to stretch our lead. A wonderful free kick that went up and over the wall leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. Ten minutes later and it was 1-4 to Central Foundation, a wonderful free kick to the back post from Teddy, was squared by Jahnyah and kicked in by Charlie, for his second goal of the game. An incredible score line which reflected a fantastic performance. St Mary Magdalene Academy scored another goal with a free kick late on, but Central Foundation managed to hold on to march into the last 64 of the National Cup.

Well done to all students involved who represented the school fantastically. Marley was voted ‘Man of the Match’ after his 2 goals secured the win.

Financial capability is a key life skill and as a school we recognise the importance of all young people having the ability, knowledge and confidence to manage their money well, now and in the future. In light of this, we are pleased to announce that Central Foundation Boys’ School are working towards becoming a Centre of Excellence for financial education. We are working in partnership with Young Money to achieve this within the next school year and then to maintain and share good practice. The school has been able to secure this programme thanks to its partnership with Allianz Global Investors, who have supported the school in a number of ways, including work experience and internships and now with an investment to make the school a Centre of Excellence.

We believe that regardless of background or income level, financially informed young adults are better able to take control of their circumstances, improve their quality of life, and ensure a stable future for themselves and their families. We, therefore, intend to provide our students with a programme of financial education to equip them with the confidence and competence to manage their money well. Our vision is to inspire educated financial decision making for our students – now and into their future.

Financial education for our pupils will mean that in addition to learning how to manage their money, they will also learn how to become critical consumers. They will consider the risks and emotions associated with money and understand the important role that money plays in our lives.

The school will be delivering this financial education through its curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13.

As is tradition, Founder’s Day took place on the last Friday in November in order to celebrate the School’s founder, William Rogers, and to commend our students’ successes in the last academic year. The ceremony opened with a performance by the brass ensemble of Fanfare by
Lewington.

Mr Brownhill, the Headteacher, addressed the school community gathered in the hall by referring to the School’s founding principles, focusing on the legacy of Edward Alleyn. Mr Gurney, the Chair of Governors, spoke about the work of the Governing Body while George, the School Captain, made remarks about his life at the School and the opportunities he has been offered to grow as a learner and an individual. In between the speeches, the strings orchestra performed Rondo from Abdelazer by Purcell.

Prizes were awarded to students in Year 13 and 11 who made the highest achievement and the most progress. The pupils who have the highest achievement and most progress across each Year group also received scholarship awards, as did the highest achiever in vocational subjects and STEM subjects. Special prizes were also given to those pupils who excelled in extra-curricular activities such as debating, music, sport, acting and art.

In line with the School’s tradition, one of Central Foundation’s alumni was invited to be a guest speaker at the ceremony. This year’s guest speaker was Idris Debrand.

After awarding prizes, Mr Debrand delivered his speech in which he recalled his time at the school and sought to inspire the students to pursue their dreams. Mr Debrand stressed the importance of hard work and perseverance in order to achieve one’s goals.

Idris Debrand (formally known as Idris Sobande) is an Actor and Motivational Speaker. Mr Debrand attended Central Foundation Boys’ School from 2006-2011, before moving on to study sixth form courses of Business, Film and Drama & Theatre Studies. He then attended the University of Hertfordshire where he obtained a BA (Hons) degree in Business Studies.

Mr Debrand also trained as an Actor at the Young Actors Theatre in Islington and Identity Drama School. He is now represented by one of the UK’s leading Talent Agencies, ‘United Agents’, home to Tom Hardy, Kate Winslet and many more.

Some of Mr Debrand’s acting credits include BBC’s ’MotherFatherSon’ with Richard Gere and Helen McCrory , ’Holby City’, ‘Informer’, the BBC Radio 4 Drama Oliver Twist, and will star in the upcoming feature film ‘Kat & The Band’ released next year (2020).

The ceremony ended with a performance by the brass ensemble and the samba band of Soul Bossa Nova by Quincy Jones.

On Monday 11^th November, Central Foundation marked the 101^st anniversary of Armistice Day with a whole school Remembrance Day assembly.

The assembly saw an address from the Headteacher, explaining the significance of Remembrance Day and the sacrifice of those who fought in the wars. Mr Brownhill mentioned the fact that the first two-minute silence in Britain was held a hundred years ago, on 11 November 1919, when King George V asked the public to observe a silence at 11am.

The Headteacher’s address was followed by a reading from Yacoub in Year 13 of the Gift of India by Sarojini Naidu.

Remembrance Day Assembly

The Chamber Choir sang Only Remembered and the strings ensemble performed Ashokan Farewell.

The two minutes’ silence commenced with an extract from The Fallen by Lawrence Binyon read out by George, a Year 7 student. After this, Tommy, from Year 11, played The Last Post to begin the silence. During the two minutes’ silence, which commenced at 11am, two wreaths were laid at the school’s War Memorial, which displays the names of all former pupils who lost their lives in the First and Second World War.

One wreath was laid on behalf of the Old Cowperians by Mr Paxi-Cato and Mr Santos. The other wreath was laid on behalf of students and staff by George Petters, the School Captain, and Ms Harrison.

The ceremony finished with a reading of an inscription from the Kohima Memorial:

‘When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,

For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today”.

First and Second World War Memorial