Dear Parents
The week began for me with an illustration of the rich variety of pupils that we have in the school. I sat talking through a translator to a parent from Samara in the southernmost part of Russia. Samara has a population of two million and is just a bit north of Kazakhstan. Of course, like any other mother the world over, she wanted to know how her son was behaving and whether he was trying hard. What a trust the world has in English boarding schools and what a responsibility this trust lays upon us! We try very hard to live up to the high expectations and are grateful for the privilege of educating young people from so many different backgrounds.
Several times this week I have talked to parents about the perennial problem of choosing options for Year 10 and fitting everything in that the pupils want to do. As a small school we tailor the timetable to the individual, which occasionally gives us huge challenges.
The Lower Sixth spent a day on the important process of personal statement writing in preparation for university application next term and were entertained by the Head of Admissions from Sussex University. This very witty gentleman is becoming a regular and welcome visitor to the school.
It has been a very constructive week, because I have met so many parents both present and prospective and shared their hopes and fears and thoughts about the future of their most precious possessions, their children. I am always delighted to meet parents and I urge you to remember that. All of us here have a deep vested interested in the education of your children and we are constantly seeking to exceed your expectations of us.
Last night at about 8pm there were still about twenty pupils deep in rehearsal for "Oh What a Lovely War." I spent an hour watching their final throes of rehearsal and wondered once again at the enormously diverse talents and opportunities there are at the school. There were still five teachers here after 9pm and two wonderful former pupils, Chris Rogers and Fergus Bruce, back from university and helping in the same way they always did whilst at school. Three other staff are currently in France with Year 7 and will be back at the end of the weekend.
It is a good opportunity for me to thank the teachers who are so committed to the education of your children that they give up so much of their extra time over and above what I can reasonably expect.
At the start of the week, it was very good to receive so much overwhelming support from parents following the publication of the article in the Observer last Friday – you will recall the newspaper had received an anonymous letter, concerned that I had not kept parents informed about changes to the governing body and furthermore, by implication, that the School was in financial difficulty. Several parents have since expressed an interest in becoming a governor and others have asked for further information about the role of our governing body. The Bursar, who is Clerk to the Governors, will be producing an article on the governing body for a forthcoming newsletter, which will provide you with more information. In the meantime, I extend my grateful thanks for the support you have shown over this matter.
I look forward to seeing many of you in the next four weeks. There will be many
opportunities to visit and, of course, if you want to come in for a chat, please do so.
Best wishes, Roger Clark
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