Headmaster’s Blog 26.11.21

At the end of another week, I am conscious that the remaining weeks of term are speeding past. The boys continue to work hard, and I would urge them to ensure a balance of their time at weekends between the work they must do, and also making time for rest and relaxation as we approach the end of term.

For the Upper Sixth, this is an exciting time as university offers start to come in, and the boys are doing exceptionally well so far, with one pupil having already received five offers to read Business and Management. Two pupils have been invited to interview at Cambridge and a further pupil is interviewing next week at Manchester to read Maths with Finance. Of those boys who have applied to universities in the UK, 74% have received at least one offer. Offers will continue to come in and we wish the boys the best of luck. Beyond considering the next stage in their education, members of the Sixth Form continue to be great role models for the younger boys as they carry on with their prefect responsibilities and running of co-curricular clubs.

Many thanks to the PTA for the wonderful Curry and Quiz Night they hosted on Wednesday. Hannah House hall was transformed and I appreciate a huge amount of work went into the organisation and planning of this event. People had given generously for the auction, and some lucky bidders walked off with (amongst other things) a wonderful piece of art, a unique cashmere cape, football tickets, and an Apple watch. We are lucky to have such a committed parent body and they are a very important part of our Wetherby Senior community. On the night, there was fierce competition in the quiz, and some pained faces in the music rounds as people knew the tune but couldn’t name the artist! One important thing to note was how well the members of the Sixth Form, who were there to support the event, helped everything go so smoothly. In recognition of this, the staff table gallantly allowed the pupils to finish ahead of us…

I hope our American families are having a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, I know that some of you will host gatherings this weekend and I am sure you will have an enjoyable time. On Thursday afternoon, I was visited in my office at about 4.30 by a Year 11 boy who had come to offer me a Krispy Kreme doughnut as an act of sharing on thanksgiving. I was genuinely moved, and after enjoying my doughnut we chatted about how he was preparing for his GCSE mock exams. It was a lovely meeting and reminded me just why we hold kindness to be so important in our community.

The notable sporting success of the week was the first XI beating the DLD College first XI in their annual ‘local derby’. WSS carried away the Marylebone Cup with a score line of 8:2. Very well done to all players. I wish the 1st XV boys good luck in their fixture against Sevenoaks at Ealing Trailfinders this evening. As our first game under lights at an exceptional sport ground, this will be an experience the boys and the supporters will relish and good luck to the team.

With best wishes for the weekend.