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HIGHPRIORITY6THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOLOn Saturday, 6th May a very special and rare event is happening where the King is going to be crowned at Westminster Abbey. We interviewed Miss Bailey, our history teacher, about the coronation events that we are holding. At the Priory we are are wearing mufti clothes in white, red and blue because they are the colours of the British ﬂag. Miss Bailey said “history is studying about good and bad Kings and Queens “. Prince Charles wants to be Defender of Faiths rather than Defender of the Faith in order to include all the faiths that are represented in the UK.Prince Charles wants to protect the environment and wants the coronation to be the most sustainable coronation ever.Miss Bailey said, “Street parties are a traditional British Celebration.” We are going to hold tea parties in tutor time on Friday. Leo Watkins said someone in his tutor group is going to bring in a jack russell themed cake because Prince Charles has them not corgies like the Queen.We interviewed Mr Taylor, our Food Technology teacher, who spoke to us about the dishes that were designed for the coronations and various jubilees. At the Goring hotel in London they still serve the original coronation chicken in a sandwich for afternoon tea which was the late Queen Mother’s favourite hotel.Mr Taylor talked about the coronation quiche. He said his friend knew the Head chef of the Palace, Mark Flanigan, who created the recipe. It contains broad beans, spinach and tarragon baked in a half lard half butter pastry. The cheese used was half gruyere half emmental. Mr Taylor thought the recipe should be “more affordable for anyone and more representative of the different countries of the United Kingdom”.His idea would be to have a take on beef Wellington and maybe make it into a chicken tikka wellington. Alﬁe Bates suggested we should have a coronation pot noodle. Oscar Howard thought we should have a salt and vinegar crisp sandwich.A group of us have been looking at symbols in coats of arms seeing as the Queen consort Camilla has had hers redesigned as she becomes Queen. We have been designing our own incorporating parts of life which are important to us. Alex Parker drew a picture of his dog and Leo drew the British ﬂag in the corner of his. We have also looked at Picasso’s line drawing style and attempted to draw dragons and strawberries with the pens staying on the paper all the time with simpliﬁed lines.Finally we have interviewed Miss Browne who has shown us how to use the software package called InDesign which professional publishers use for their newspapers. We had a very interesting demonstration about how it works.The Big Event: What we learnt about the CoronationBy Leo Watkins and Alex Parker, Y7

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HIGHPRIORITY10THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOLUncovering the Haunting Legend of Silent Pool Silent Pool is a place shrouded in mystery and legend. Even the famous writer Agatha Christie was rumoured to have faked her own death here in the early 20th century! But the story I want to share with you today dates all the way back to the 1200s.Legend has it that a woodcutter’s daughter named Emma used to bathe in the Silent Pool regularly. One fateful evening, a man on horseback saw her and became interested in her. Emma was frightened by him and retreated, but unfortunately, she fell into a deep part of the pool and drowned. The man, who was reportedly Prince John, the future King John the First of England (also known as the evil King John in Robin Hood), ﬂed the scene in fear.When the woodcutter went searching for his daughter, he found her ﬂoating lifeless in the water. And that’s not all he found - he also spotted the royal crest of Prince John on the bank of the pool. Fast forward to today, and you will notice something interesting on a bottle of Silent Pool Gin. Look closely, and you’ll see Emma, Prince John, and a crown representing his royal crest intertwined amongst the botanicals. (See photos on the right).The Silent Pool is a hauntingly beautiful spot, and this story only adds to its intrigue. It’s a reminder of the rich history and folklore that surrounds us, even in our own backyard. So next time you pass by the Silent Pool, take a moment to appreciate the legend and the woodcutter’s daughter who met her untimely end there.You may have heard of Silent Pool gin, but did you know there’s a haunting legend behind the bottle? Get ready to be spooked.By Oscar Howard, Y7CULTURE

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HIGHPRIORITY11THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOLCHOCOLATE AND CARAMEL MUFFIN (Mia’s opinion)‘Finish your interview quicker I can’t wait to ﬁnish it’. The price was worth it, great quality - I would buy it again, as it has a good balance of dry brownie and caramel cream inside. Highly recommend it if you like sweet food, and it is amazing. 4.5/5What are the best drinks this season? Are you getting your money’s worth? And which ﬂavours were most shocking?By Gerta Pirani Manco, Y10It’s fair to say, most of us love a good Starbucks drink. Yet, with so much on the menu, what is best to choose? What is worth your money? Mia Georgina and I bought some Starbucks treats - here are our opinions.WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE (Mine and Mia’s opinion)We were very disappointed. It tastes exactly like a regular hot chocolate, just with more milk and a little bit more sugar (if you ask for added sugar). It was sweet, and nicely made, yet it is mostly just advertising to earn more money - deﬁnitely not worth the price. Better to buy a different seasonal drink for the same price, or just a classic hot chocolate, and ask for extra milk. Would not recommend it. 1.5/5PRALINE COOKIE HOT CHOCOLATE (Georgina’s opinion)This was deﬁnitely worth my money. I think I would give it a 4/5, because I burnt my tongue on it as they made it too hot. However, I would buy it again because it is nice and fes-tive. Recommending this to people that love chocolate and want a nice warm drink, perfect for winter.CARAMEL CREAM FRAPPUCCINO (My opinion)I thought the price of £3 was worth it, and I wouldn’t mind having it again (although it isn’t the best frappuccino ﬂavour in my opin-ion). I highly recommend it for anyone who has a sweet tooth, or wants a drink with clas-sic ﬂavours. Good for any time of the year. 3/5STARBUCKS DRINKS REVIEWSREVIEW

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HIGHPRIORITY12THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOLThe UK’s response to the Climate CrisisFor decades now, global warming has been taking a slow but steady toll on the very planet we call home. Centuries of rapid and widespread commercial and industrialization have led to richer, more powerful countries emitting devastating quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and inﬂuencing less developed countries to act in a similar manner; ripping holes in the ever-fragile ozone layer, burning forests to the ground in blazing wild-ﬁres, endangering species after species of wonderful terrestrial creatures and pushing the global temperature further upwards every year… action must be taken, and it’s crucial that it’s rapid.The UK makes up just one percent of the world’s carbon emissions per annum, however it is still an incredibly inﬂuential country, holding one of the world’s most important world cities: London, alongside the thriving culture capital of Edinburgh. Due to its status as a well-developed and wealthy country, it wouldn’t be without valid reason that one would assume the best when thinking about the United Kingdom’s research into, and action taken against, climate change, and one would not be far from the truth. It is obliged to follow the guidelines set by the 2015 Paris Agreement (a treaty that aims to prevent global temperatures increasing further than 1 - 1.5 degrees), and it is host to a number of brilliant and dedicated groups that care greatly about the wellbeing of the environment and the denizens of this Earth, the most accredited likely being the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). Since the 2008 Climate Change Act — being the point at which it became the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure the net carbon account for 2050 is 100% lower than that of 1990 — the government, more speciﬁcally the CCC, have been required to publish UK-wide CCRAs (Climate Change Risk Assessments) every ﬁve years, alongside a carbon budget for the time period in between. In the past 15 years, there have been three such reports: one in 2012, 2017 and 2022. The CCRA of 2017 presented six immediate priority areas for further research and action, these being: risks of ﬂooding and coastal change, impacts of high temperatures on health and wellbeing, risks to natural capital (a measurement system for the quantity of wildlife in an ecosystem using economic terminology), risks of future water shortages, impacts on the global food system and risks arising from new and emerging pests and diseases.The synthesis report offered further information into the statistics behind these areas: in recent years there has been a signiﬁcant upward trend of rainfall in Scotland, seeing an increase of above 10% from the averages of the early 20th century. The rest of the countries, however, saw a near negligible increase, but leading researchers agree that their numbers could be an understatement of extreme rainfall already and to be experienced throughout the UK; global sea levels have undergone an accelerated rate of change in the years since 1990, now averaging at an increase above three millimetres per year. In combination with the UK’s case of isostatic rebound (the tipping of the island upwards in the north and downwards in the south due to the previous weight of glaciation having been lifted) this could prove devastating for southern coastal cities like Portsmouth, Brighton and even London; all ten warmest years have occurred post 1990, with eight of those happening since 2002. This is direct proof that our planet is heating up, and this warming directly correlates to the quantities of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere each year; ﬁnally, there’s evidence to suggest that there is a long-term shift in the distribution of some terrestrial, freshwater and marine species. A shift such as this can cause possibly irreversible damage to ecosystems around the country.In 2022, the third CCRA was released. This report details an updated list of concerns, alongside analysing action already being and to be taken by the government and other related bodies such as Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). For instance, it comments on the total of over £750 million to be invested in peat restoration and woodland creation and management by 2025; Defra’s work towards limiting the threat of invasive species to UK biodiversity through initiatives such as “Invasive Species Week”, “Check, Clean, Dry” and “Be Plant Wise”; and the government’s commitment to the Nature Recovery Network (the NRC). This is an expanded network of wildlife rich places that are to become protected and restored in a plan to support Defra’s goals of biodiversity loss prevention. By 2042, the NRC is expected to have progressed the goal of restoring 75% of the area of protected sites to favourable condition. It also lists the severe cost of soil erosion, having reached a total of £620 million in both England and Wales. To Combat this, it is recommended that the government invests in soil monitoring, improved water management on agricultural and forested land to keep soil moisture in balance, and a further push for soil-friendly farming practices such as “no-till” and “precision” farming; the certainty of government action on climate change under Sunak’s leadership is wavering, after his “ﬂip-ﬂop” approach to attending COP27. He certainly does not hold the trust of leading climate scientists, although he has publicly stated his ambitions to achieve clean growth and new eco-friendly jobs.Aside from government action, many initiatives have taken large steps to aid the climate. Rewilding (the practice of restoring a certain geographical area to a state of wilderness) is thriving in the UK; estates such as the 10,000 acre “Trees for Life” in Dundreggan, Wild Ennerdale in Cumbria and even more locally, Knepp Castle in West Sussex. Litter is an issue that we can all personally help with. Disposable trash should be carried to the nearest bin instead of dumped in the surrounding area. ENVIRONMENTBy Alﬁe Duerden, Y11

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HIGHPRIORITY14THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOLFor years, society has forced people of all ages to act and think a certain way, to please others and build a reputation for themselves. However, school settings may contribute to this matter, as many young teens are put together in one space, to fend for themselves, make new friends and gain status.Societal pressures are expectations that affect speciﬁc parts or the entire community - it can affect us by complying with a group we may not otherwise go along with, against our better judgements. This can be often related to inﬂuencing bullying, drug use, alcohol misuse and poor self image. Socioeconomic, academic and peer pressures are the main categories.Research shows that only 10% of teenagers say that they have not been inﬂuenced by peer pressure, with 28% of those surveyed agreeing their social status improved, when giving in.I decided to interview year 10s about their thoughts on the statement (Societal pressure and what that does to adolescents in a school setting), each from different social circles and different backgrounds. Here are the questions:1. What is your reputation/how are you known amongst peers and teachers?2. What are your opinions on the education system?3. Do you ever feel pressure to act a certain way, if so, how often and why?4. Do you wish to remain anonymous and why?5. Any other comments?Societal pressure, and what that does to adolescents in a school settingBy Gerta Pirani Manco, Y10Anonymous1. I’m probably known as a quiet kid who is smart and nice (this is what I hope anyway)2. I don’t think it suits the individual person very well as it tends to look at the general views of children. Also, it doesn’t teach kids to be good people and help them for the future. 3. Yes, very often, you feel pressured not to be a certain way, otherwise people will judge, particularly when meeting new people4. Yes, because I don’t want to be under social pressure when people read it5. It sucks because you have to act a certain way to become popular or to not be dislikedAnonymous1. I am quite quiet in class and prefer not to put my hand up unless called on. I don’t speak to so many people except my close friends, so most people think of me as quiet.2. There are always certain people who speak up more in class and some who speak less. A few subjects don’t really help me (e.g. PS). I dislike the concept of homework. In my opinion, work is just for school. 3. Around certain people I feel uncomfortable speaking up/fully being myself. Don’t want to be judged, but I am ok to be myself around a few friends, more elsewhere4. Yes as I prefer keeping to myself/only sharing with people I’m sure won’t judgeGeorgina, Y101. I’m quiet and no one talks to me much (though everyone calls me by my surname) and I’m hardworking if I enjoy the lesson2. It’s not very good, as they educate you about the wrong things - not educated about taxes, life skills, etc, just unnecessary maths and lessons. The students that want to do well in life won’t get what they need, just useless information they won’t need later.3. You always have to act a certain way, otherwise people think of you as weird and different - you have to be nice, a good student, etc, and always have to be nice to popular people otherwise everyone thinks you are weird4. I’m ﬁne with not being anonymous as I don’t care what people think of meAll of these interviews share one common thing - everything you do affects how you are perceived in society, and how everyone will come to think of you. Everyone is expected to follow a certain role, and a certain standard to please others. Either that or be labelled as ‘weird’. Our history has always been set up to pressure people of all ages, whether it was forced marriages, money, work or who to associate with - it is always easier to comply with these expectations, to not speak up, and not do anything, due to fear of rejection, fear of being outcasted or even our natural survival instincts, to blend in with the crowds to make it through a certain situation/event. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 in 7 ten to nineteen year olds will experience a mental health disorder. This statistic makes it rather worrying, when you realise an estimated 75% of people (all ages) will not have access to the needed treatment, and people do not feel comfortable enough to reach out. In our modern world, more is being done to tackle societal pressures. From parades, campaigns, protests and spreading the word that it is ok to be different, people are beginning to take action, to make a better and more prospective future for us all, a world with no judgement and no fear to be yourselves.OPINIONDoes school aid societal pressureBy Gerta Pirani Manco, Y10

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HIGHPRIORITY18THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOLWhat were you like in school?I was a real ‘goody goody’ - in school, I was always polite to my teachers, I always did my schoolwork and homework. I never got into trouble, ever. I only failed one exam, and that was history!Any funny school memories?In primary school, it was sports day, and my best friend and I had made a promise to each other, that if one of us was in front of the other in a race we would stop and wait, and I was way ahead of her - actually, I was absolutely way ahead of my competition, but I stopped to wait for her! My parents were screaming at me to keep running, because I was going to win, but I wouldn’t. I waited until she caught up with me and then we crossed the line together. I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about, I had never been interested in sports!Did you have any previous jobs? If so, what were they?I worked in a bookshop one summer,and worked at an Oxford and Cambridge exam syndicate (quite a few summers after that) when I was doing my A levels, and when I was in university. It was really boring work. Just adding up numbers and chasing down lost exam papers (as sometimes they do go missing)!Mrs Flanders (art department) left the school at the end of last term! Before she left, I decided to interview her about her life before/in school…What inspired you to become an art teacher?Art was by far my favourite subject! Although it wasn’t the subject I did best at, as biology was my best. My mum was a teacher, and so being a teacher was always something I had considered.Have you ever taught anyone famous?Yes, I taught Andrew Garﬁeld, when he was at City of London Freemen’s school when I was teaching him! He plays the role of spiderman.When you leave, what are your plans?My plan is to set up my own business, teaching art to adults, and maybe doing an after school session for secondary age pupils as well.GOODBYE MRS FLANDERSThe sad goodbye of a beloved member of staff - Mrs FlandersBy Gerta Pirani Manco, Y10INTERVIEW

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HIGHPRIORITY19THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOLIn today’s music scene, young British musicians are often drawn to a standard set of genres; Drill, Alternative Rock, Indie Pop etc. While these categories provide perfectly respectable and enjoyable music for our ever-hungry brains, they don’t satiate a certain societal need for a very particular form of art that is felt possibly by a very small demographic. Avant-Garde Music.Often overlooked by the general public, this experimental genre of music aims to raze the traditional structure of music, ascribing a new non-conformist “ruleset” in its place. One of the more famous examples of these boundary-breaking musicians is Frank Zappa, having essentially dominated that music scene in the late 70s to 80s. Zappa commonly used his music to critique certain societal functions such as religion, governance and certain politics of the music industry. Primarily though, he enjoyed making his songs as strange and funky as possible.Despite the difﬁculty of creating enjoyable songs in this genre, two students from the Priory school in Dorking have taken up the challenge out of passion for the weird and wacky side of music; and they’re known as Himalayan Salt Lamp. In this article the members will be referenced by Thing 1 and Thing 2 (out of respect for their desire for privacy and their undying silliness)Is there any meaning behind the name?The original name of Himalayan Salt Lamp, has now been applied to their debut album, with the new name having been the ﬁrst, frankly quite obscure, thing to have popped into their minds. “I just thought they were pretty cool…” said Thing 1.When did you meet?Both members met while in primary school, but properly became friends between their ﬁnal year there and their ﬁrst in secondary. Thing 2 claims that this happened because he was “paid to become friends with thing 2, but eventually grew close” although it’s rumored that he still takes payments to this day.When did you come up with the idea for the band?Thing 2 says “The concept came about in the summer of year 9 [2021], but we only got started with recording in late 2022” Is there an underlying story?Some may assume that Himalayan Salt Lamp’s whimsical assortment of songs bear no correlation to one another, but you’d be surprised to hear that Thing 1’s intention is to sneak in a story amidst a selection of their debut’s tracklist. To sum it up without entirely spoiling the experience, it follows two men as they unfortunately perish in a multi-car pileup and ﬁnd themselves wandering the foreign lands of heaven. Thing 1 has gone as far as to dub certain selections of songs a “rock opera”, although their partner strongly disagrees. It’s clear that a lot of this band’s work is up to interpretation.InspirationsThing 1 has cited much of their inspiration as breakcore and fellow avant garde artists. Two examples of such are Italo Vegliante and Machine Girl (both of which’s inﬂuences can be found strong within certain songs) Thing 2 - Italo Vegliante, traditional scandinavian funk and punk, classic german and victorian fairy and nursery rhymes.Thing number 2 shares a love for Italo Vegliante, however leans more towards the slightly obscure side of traditional scandinavian funk, punk and classic german nursery rhymes. You may be wondering how nursery rhymes can work their way into expressionist music, but I’m sure you’ll ﬁnd entertainment in how they’ve done it upon release.Themes related to the storyIt is up to your personal interpretation to decide whether the story presented through HSL’s songs is an abstract critique of religious fanaticism, a subtle jab at U.K road laws, or just two very confused individuals cracking fun at certain topics with instruments in hand. As thing 2 comments, “there is no story, thing 1 lies”; thing 1’s rebuttal simply stated the complete opposite saying “I can assure you there’s a story, the other one just doesn’t know it yet”. When is new album coming outHimalayan Salt Lamp’s debut album is said to release in late summer this year (2023)Himalayan Salt Lamp can be found on soundcloud and instagram, and post fairly regular updates as to the progress of their ﬁrst major album, alongside whatever singles they release throughout the year.https://soundcloud.com/grunky-wunkyHimalayan Salt Band: Revolutionalising the Music Scene with Avant-Garde Sounds By Alﬁe Duerden, Y11MUSIC

High Priority

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