Autumn Term 2022

Our School’s new academic year began following exam success over the summer, with a string of top GCSE and A Level grades, meaning Wetherby Senior alumni are now studying at world-class institutions around the globe. Of those staying in the UK, 76% of our Class of 22 joined Russell Group universities but, with ever larger numbers applying overseas, we saw 9 alumni join US colleges (including our first at an Ivy League institution), 5 join Canadian colleges, and 4 join institutions in Spain, Italy or The Netherlands.

To help our newest pupils settle into secondary school life at Wetherby Senior, we arranged two residential trips for boys to get to know each other better and have fun. Our Year 7 headed to West Sussex to enjoy raft building, abseiling, zip wires and more during their three-day stay, while Year 9 explored the surprisingly sunny coastline of Dorset.

A number of other trips took place during our Autumn Term, with Model United Nations participants successfully building their public speaking skills at debates across and outside London, while Duke of Edinburgh Award participants camped in the Chiltern Hills to practice their outdoor skills. In early December, our boys also took part in a busy Field Day, with year groups visiting locations that included the Natural History Museum, Bletchley Park, and Regent’s Park.

While Field Day events extend learning beyond the classroom setting, further co-curricular activities and opportunities at Wetherby Senior help boys develop important key skills, like leadership and communication. For example, boys applied to become Middle School Ambassadors, taking on a range of leadership roles across our School to support our community.

Our sixth formers continue to be supported in their higher education and career ambitions with our innovative Sixth Form lecture series. This term alone, they have been encouraged to aim for the stars by a speaker from the UK Space Agency, have explored careers in banking with leaders from the industry, and have heard from a university representative applying to McGill University, Canada. Alongside this, our School’s dedicated team of university advisors work closely with each boy, ensuring they are well-prepared when applying to study in the UK and overseas. Indeed, early indications for our current Year 13 are tremendous, with a number of boys having already secured offers from top US institutions like New York University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Notre Dame. We expect further good news in 2023, as our sixth formers hear more about their applications to world-class universities across the UK, continental Europe, and North America.

Sports fixtures saw success for our School’s football and rugby teams, with weekly matches taking place against other schools. Our Trib events also provided an opportunity for healthy and fun competition, with our Trib Rowing Competition proving popular. However, there was also a relay race with a difference before half-term, thanks to our Maths Department. Instead of sprinting down the track with a baton, 70 mathematicians, from all years, answered a series of challenging maths questions with prefects, other boys, Heads of Tribs, and our Maths Department cheering them on!

Then, in early December, our Upper School play took place at RADA, with our young actors performing a piece co-written and directed by Ms Twomey, our Head of Drama. Our term then ended with staff taking to the stage for another successful Staff Christmas Pantomime.

Throughout this term, our pupils have undertaken important volunteering activities. Wetherby Senior now works regularly with two local primary schools, with each visited weekly by a group from Year 12 to support children’s learning. Fundraising events have included numerous bake sales and a group of Year 8 boys, with the help of Geoffrey the Gorilla, have launched a coffee sales business with Safi Coffee, raising funds to educate children in Uganda. Our Autumn Term ended with our boys supporting West London Mission’s shoebox appeal, donating around 100 gifts towards some of London’s most vulnerable. In addition, on the penultimate day of term, staff took to the stage for another successful Staff Christmas Pantomime, raising over £1200 for charity and providing entertainment for all – actors and audience!

Our Headmaster, Mr Silvester, said: “Following a busy and brilliant Autumn Term, I’d like to wish all in our community a peaceful Christmas. I look forward to more good news and successful events at Wetherby Senior in 2023.”