Headmaster's Letter - March 2007

Dear Parents,

This term Governors approved plans for a major programme of building development. This involves extensions on all seven secondary Boarding Houses to provide much greater ground-floor space and more computer facilities in each House. Albert and Elizabeth will be extended over the Summer holidays and will be ready for the beginning of September. The other Houses will then have extensions built over the next few years.

This is also in response to the growing demand for space for day boarders to do their prep in Houses and I am confident that the first two Houses will have the extra facilities that are needed as well as better storage space.

At the same time, Mr Jones, Head of Boarding, and Mr Daly, Director of Sport, have organised a working party to look at the provision of activities in the late afternoons and evening. While we currently offer a whole variety of sporting, musical and other activities, they all start at different times and can thus overlap or conflict, making it difficult for pupils to combine certain activities.

We are working towards the creation of an activities timetable with a first session from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm and then two sessions later in the evening. A wide variety of activities will be on offer including Army Cadets, Scouts and Cubs, which are already popular and successful. Almost a third of all senior pupils are already involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and over one hundred pupils take lessons in Dance, a slightly larger number learn a musical instrument and a similar number have riding lessons.

I know from many conversations with parents that you wish your children to participate in a variety of activities and this is also my expectation. The proposed activities programme will make it easier for pupils to take part and will also allow staff to encourage greater participation by the minority of pupils who do not take part in many activities.

With my best wishes for the holidays.
 

Paul D Spencer Ellis (Headmaster)