…..with our Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh expeditioners out in the wilderness around Hambledon on Monday and Tuesday this week, and our U14 and U15 Rugby squads off to Cardiff on tour this weekend. Wednesday saw our 60 new Year 7 boys attend their first day at Senior school on their own, to learn the ropes and find their way around. We lost one in the photo, so have redone it to capture everyone today!

I was delighted to present Senior Prefect ties to our Head Boy and Deputies at first assembly; Max (Head Boy), Joe and Govind (Deputy Head Boys), supported by Captains James (Academic), Theo (Arts), Ethan (House), Jonathan (Operations) and Will (Sports).

Details of Speech Day on 19 September can be found in the bulletin. Suffice to say that our GCSE results 2019 prove to be the best of the last decade, despite the enhanced difficulty of the new curriculum and examination papers. At the heart of the success inevitably we must celebrate the hard work of pupils, teachers and families involved. In addition, as Head, I salute my two deputies, Ronell Selzer (Academic) and Charlie Bretherton (Pastoral) for the incredible support structures for pupils’ learning and wellbeing they have developed for our Senior Boys over the past five years. 

Please do spare a thought for my brother Hugh, Administrative Principal; the wet roads on Saturday afternoon caused him to skid and crash on his bicycle by Goyals here in Maidenhead. No other vehicles were involved, fortunately, but the impact shattered his hip. Monday saw him be fitted with a new titanium version, and he is now back home recuperating and feeling very sore. He sends his best wishes to all, and normal service will resume as soon as his recovery permits.