Headmaster’s blog 09/09/22

Our first full week back in Marylebone ends on a sombre note, with news of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen. In our full School assembly today, at nearby St Marylebone Parish Church, I talked to boys about how this is an event of national significance and that, just as we come together for our assembly, the nation will come together to mark her long reign.

Although we conclude this week with some sadness, it has otherwise been wonderful to welcome everyone – returning pupils, sixth formers, and staff, plus new boys – to Wetherby Senior for a new academic year, and to hear lessons underway in our School buildings once again.

While my family holiday to France seems to have been a long time ago, I am delighted to report that the summer saw outstanding exam results for our Years 11 and 13. On A Level Results Day, 50% of our A Level grades were awarded at A* and A, and 79% at A* to B, meaning our alumni are now studying a range of courses at world class institutions around the globe. Of those staying in the UK, 76% start at Russell Group universities but, with 43% having applied outside the UK, I’m proud to say nine have joined a US college (including our first at an Ivy League institution), five are at a Canadian college, and a further four are studying at institutions across continental Europe.

In addition, GCSE Results Day saw our Year 11 achieve excellent outcomes, including a string of top grades which strongly bucked the national trend. Further details about all our A Level results, university destinations and GCSE grades can be found on our website and you can read an interview with Dan, who achieved grade 9 in all his GCSEs at Wetherby Senior and is now in our Sixth Form.

As a school, we have much to look forward to. Next week alone includes auditions for our Upper School Drama production (set to take place at RADA in December), the election of our new School Council, and residential trips for Years 7 and 9. Sports fixtures also start with both rugby and football matches against other schools. You’ll find further details of all these events in our weekly newsletter to parents.

Our weekly newsletter to parents will continue to land in your inbox every Friday, containing diary dates and latest news, and our School calendar can be found on our website. Do not forget that we also have active social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, plus a Wetherby Senior School LinkedIn page. Please do follow us on any or all of these channels to keep up-to-date.

At the time of sending this newsletter, we are still awaiting confirmation on a date for Her Majesty The Queen’s state funeral. Please note that we do anticipate Wetherby Senior being closed, should this fall on a school day, but we will update all within our community once this date is known..