Dear Parents
I always spend part of every day in the boarding house. I enjoy the company of these young people many of whom are a long way from home. They bring an important diversity to the school and they also allow the Abbott’s House to continue as a living building, more than just a school.
David and Prito Perry lead a dedicated team who care for the boarders and ensure their safety. This week’s inspection report will be published for all to see in about 6 weeks’ time and will report on regulatory compliance rather than make judgments of quality. I know that the boarders made our visitors welcome and were proud to talk about their school. There are always things that we can do better and inspections help us improve. So we look forward to their comments.
I see all the boarders at breakfast and I am flattered always by the friendly greeting I receive and from here comes my theme for next week. On Monday, I will ask all the pupils as they walk around during their busy school week to make a special effort always to remember to acknowledge one another, the adult community and visitors. A friendly greeting suggests mutual respect and it lies for me at the heart of good manners. I will repeat one of my favorite mantras at assembly: “Good manners cost you nothing and last you a life time.” The school have heard me say this before but good messages bear repetition. And, however charming your children are, we all benefit from being reminded to hold fast that which is good.
I can relax better this weekend because my Monday assembly is now planned. Inspired by the boarders, in particular, this week, I will talk about one of the several pillars that underpin the value system of the school and make it such a rewarding place to work.
Best wishes
Roger Clark
Friday, 25 January 2013
Friday, 18 January 2013
18th January 2013 - Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents
Once again, I am delighted to announce that one of our pupils has received yet another offer to study at Oxbridge. Dani Edmunds was thrilled to hear from Oxford University and to receive an offer to study Biological Sciences. Three offers from a class of 31 is a record for the school but I would add that there are plenty of other pupils who have received offers this year to study at this country’s leading universities. Equally, I would like to emphasise that we take great pride in all of our pupils’ achievements, whether academic or otherwise. We have a broad ability range at the school but assume that all children are talented and we share with you the task of helping to develop that talent, in whatever field it may lie.
James Young in Yr 10 has, for instance, just been selected for the Sussex Rugby squad and this reflects, as with all high achievements, hundreds of hours of dedicated work and determination.
Likewise, from Yr 9, Isobel Richardson has passed Grade 8 on the cello with Distinction. This means that Isobel is playing at top A Level standard already. She also achieved a Distinction in Recorder at Grade 6.
All three of these pupils mentioned above surely prove the old adage that high achievements are nearly always 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration! We know that the “Beatles” practised at great length and had endless performances before they became famous.
I take great pride in the fact that so many of your children are determined, hardworking and successful young people and it is a privilege to share in their triumphs when they come.
Next week form Tuesday to Thursday, we have inspectors looking at boarding in the school and all boarding parents are encouraged to reply to the questionnaire that has been sent to you.
I hope you all have some fun in the snow this weekend.
Best wishes,
Roger Clark
Once again, I am delighted to announce that one of our pupils has received yet another offer to study at Oxbridge. Dani Edmunds was thrilled to hear from Oxford University and to receive an offer to study Biological Sciences. Three offers from a class of 31 is a record for the school but I would add that there are plenty of other pupils who have received offers this year to study at this country’s leading universities. Equally, I would like to emphasise that we take great pride in all of our pupils’ achievements, whether academic or otherwise. We have a broad ability range at the school but assume that all children are talented and we share with you the task of helping to develop that talent, in whatever field it may lie.
James Young in Yr 10 has, for instance, just been selected for the Sussex Rugby squad and this reflects, as with all high achievements, hundreds of hours of dedicated work and determination.
Likewise, from Yr 9, Isobel Richardson has passed Grade 8 on the cello with Distinction. This means that Isobel is playing at top A Level standard already. She also achieved a Distinction in Recorder at Grade 6.
All three of these pupils mentioned above surely prove the old adage that high achievements are nearly always 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration! We know that the “Beatles” practised at great length and had endless performances before they became famous.
I take great pride in the fact that so many of your children are determined, hardworking and successful young people and it is a privilege to share in their triumphs when they come.
Next week form Tuesday to Thursday, we have inspectors looking at boarding in the school and all boarding parents are encouraged to reply to the questionnaire that has been sent to you.
I hope you all have some fun in the snow this weekend.
Best wishes,
Roger Clark
Friday, 11 January 2013
11th January 2013 - Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents
What better way to start the new school year than to hear that we had two pupils with offers at Cambridge University for October 2013? Max Maher has an unconditional offer to read English at Robinson College and Lily Lindon has a conditional offer also to read English at Magdalene College. We are all delighted, none more so than the English department.
On top of this we are also very pleased to be in top 50 co-educational, day and boarding schools in the country based on the Times and Daily Telegraph’s league table of schools with the highest percentage of A and A* grades at A Level.
Mr Payton is e-mailing you all separately to tell you about a much improved method of booking appointments for parents’ evenings and he also will be asking you to confirm your most current e-mail contact details.
We are building a new maintenance workshop on part of the imprint of the Abbey church and this has given rise to some sensitive planning considerations and , after some delays, this will soon be accomplished and completion of the new girls’ changing rooms will follow in short order. In addition, the pupils are helping in the planning of a major refurbishment of the Sixth Form area in preparation for the new school year in September.
The holidays also produced some interesting archeology on our site. English Heritage were very busy over Christmas following the discovery of some footings of the old Abbey infirmary, which have lain unnoticed for nearly 500 years by the walled garden.
So, the new term is under way and I hope that you will, as always, feel free to contact me with any concerns, that you may have, whilst also saying to you that positive feedback is also most welcome. We need to know what we are doing right and wrong in order to keep on improving!
Best wishes
Roger Clark
What better way to start the new school year than to hear that we had two pupils with offers at Cambridge University for October 2013? Max Maher has an unconditional offer to read English at Robinson College and Lily Lindon has a conditional offer also to read English at Magdalene College. We are all delighted, none more so than the English department.
On top of this we are also very pleased to be in top 50 co-educational, day and boarding schools in the country based on the Times and Daily Telegraph’s league table of schools with the highest percentage of A and A* grades at A Level.
Mr Payton is e-mailing you all separately to tell you about a much improved method of booking appointments for parents’ evenings and he also will be asking you to confirm your most current e-mail contact details.
We are building a new maintenance workshop on part of the imprint of the Abbey church and this has given rise to some sensitive planning considerations and , after some delays, this will soon be accomplished and completion of the new girls’ changing rooms will follow in short order. In addition, the pupils are helping in the planning of a major refurbishment of the Sixth Form area in preparation for the new school year in September.
The holidays also produced some interesting archeology on our site. English Heritage were very busy over Christmas following the discovery of some footings of the old Abbey infirmary, which have lain unnoticed for nearly 500 years by the walled garden.
So, the new term is under way and I hope that you will, as always, feel free to contact me with any concerns, that you may have, whilst also saying to you that positive feedback is also most welcome. We need to know what we are doing right and wrong in order to keep on improving!
Best wishes
Roger Clark
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