This week’s Year 11 Parent Teacher evening highlighted just how focussed all of the team are to ensure the boys achieve the best outcomes possible from their GCSE courses. Innocent bystanders will know that we have seen a considerable increase in both content to the GCSE programme and an uplift in the difficulty of questions posed by the examiners. What those in the front line can see is the challenge this places on the shoulders of young learners, and I am immensely proud that the boys are in the main managing this increased challenge with courage and much good humour.

This week has seen two firsts at Senior Boys; the U14 Hockey team won the ISA National Hockey tournament at Ballard School, Hampshire - our first national hockey trophy win for men.  The U16 squad added to the medal haul by winning the plate tournament at the same event. The other absolute first was the performance of the boys’ dance “Into the hood” to the music of TNGHT by Higher Ground - hopefully we’ll get full film shortly, though here’s an early rush from the event - http://schl.cc/4m.

Thursday’s awards assembly included the sports presentations above, together with major awards of Gold Key Values to Ewan Ballard, Bilal Khan, Sam Metcalf, Luke Scarborough and Leo West. Mr Bretherton was fulsome in his praise for the immense contribution these five boys have made to school life, further indication of the high expectations we have for our young school leaders. The efforts of Sailors, musicians, academics and even cake builders were also recognised - http://schl.cc/4n.

And finally, shortly after half-term, we say farewell to Mrs Juliana Myers, Head of Mathematics. Mrs Myers joined our Maths department in September 2006, and over many years now has led it to become the remarkable department we see today, with its outstanding GCSE higher grade pass standards, and offering Maths and Further Maths in the Sixth Form with equal success. In addition to her considerable personal success as a teacher, she has also mentored many teachers into the profession under her watchful eyes.  As Chair of Common Room she won the respect of all other staff here, and she commences her retirement to assist in the care of her grandchild in Horsham. Mr Blakeley returns to cover her teacher load in March, and we welcome Mrs Joscelin Lothian, currently assistant subject leader at Chesham Grammar school to lead the Boys’ Maths department from the start of the Summer term.