Headmaster’s Blog 05.11.21

I hope that you have all had a restful half term; after a busy first half term I was delighted to be able to get away with my family to Portugal for a few relaxing days of sunshine. Sitting on a plane for the first time in nearly three years certainly felt strange, but it was good to be able to travel again and continue to get back to something approaching normality.

Now that we are back up and running, it has been a busy week for both pupils and staff with lots to report on.

A number of boys sat their university admissions tests earlier this week and I wish them all the best for their results – a favourable result for a candidate means a likely invitation to interview at his chosen university. It is very much the case that those boys who are in Year 13 are applying for the very best universities here in the UK and also in Europe and further afield. The quality of support and guidance they receive throughout this process and also for their studies more broadly means that they are extremely well-positioned to be offered places. Following two years of boys not having public exams, but still progressing to excellent destinations, the boys in the current Year 13 will most likely have exams ‘as normal’ and I have every faith in them doing very well indeed. Later in the term, and early next term, I will keep you updated on the offers that they will be in receipt of.

Today is the Autumn Term ‘Field Day’, it is a day when the normal timetable is suspended to allow a terrific range of trips, visits, and workshops to take place. Mr Sullivan has worked very hard indeed alongside many different members of staff to ensure a varied and interesting programme for the day. Visits have been arranged to a diverse range of places, and I am looking forward to hearing about how things have been at the French Institute, The Globe, Tate Modern, Bletchley Park, the Royal Observatory, and for Year 7 (with a nod to Simon and Garfunkel) someone told me it’s all happening at the zoo!

For those families who have either celebrated Diwali this week, or are gathering together this weekend to mark the festival, I offer my best wishes and hope that you have had an enjoyable time.

With best wishes for the weekend.