Headmaster’s Blog 10.12.21

I hope that this finds you all well. This week has had a very ‘advent-like’ feel to it; with one full week to go of term, we have been dividing our time between the business of cracking on with lessons and activities, but also ramping up the planning for next week.

One exciting feature of this week has been seeing boys in the meeting room opposite my office having their interviews for Oxford and Cambridge university places. For them to have been offered an interview is testament to their hard work, and the quality of support they have received. Ms Zaman is our Head of Scholarship and she has worked tirelessly this term to support boys in their preparation for a wide range of competitive universities. Layered on top of this is Mrs Deedat’s oversight of the higher education process, her focussed support and knowledge of universities both here and abroad means that boys are very well looked after indeed. I am expecting this year to be the third successive year of offers from some of the best universities in the world, and a summer of superb results that are the culmination of hard work from the boys, but also their dedicated teachers.

Tickets are still being sold for the Christmas hamper raffle and I am grateful to the members of the PTA who have organised this. There are now hampers for boys and for adults, and you have until Tuesday to buy a ticket. I will be drawing the winning tickets live on Instagram which will be a first for me!

The music department were out this week, having visited The Gower School in Islington to perform for the staff and pupils there. I am told that the performance went very well indeed and the pupils there were delighted. My thanks go to Messrs Martin and Repa for organising the trip, and thanks also to those pupils who performed.

For those of you coming to the Christmas Concert next Tuesday, tickets are not required and all are welcome. The concert starts at 6pm and will take place in Hinde Street Methodist Church. In keeping with mitigation measures in place for events, you will see that we have asked you to RSVP to an invite sent via School Post so that we have a record of who has attended. We would request that you take a lateral flow test before attending and wear a mask during the performance. The church itself is a large and airy space which is well ventilated.  These measures notwithstanding, I know that the musicians are rehearsing hard and very much looking forward to performing for you!

With best wishes for the weekend.