2nd March 2012 - Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

 

My admiration for the achievements of our young people sometimes knows no bounds. (What are you doing this weekend?) As I write, 7 intrepid 16 year olds (five girls and two boys), are about to set off for an 80 kilometre hike over Dartmoor, watched remotely but essentially on their own, in unfamiliar territory. They will carry 50lb packs on their shoulders, camp out in whatever weather Dartmoor throws at them and then return to AS Chemistry practicals, performances in the Hastings Festival, participation in the last rehearsals of this term’s musical and much more. This major undertaking is merely the practice for the real thing – the Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition. In preparation for the Bronze equivalent, last weekend another 19 Year 10 pupils were learning the skills of campcraft and navigation. They gave up the whole of their weekend and will have much more training yet, before they too will undertake their Bronze expedition in June.

 

I am extremely proud of all these youngsters and very grateful to the teachers, Aaron Eckhoff and Charlotte Bryant, who are facilitating this.

 

As I survey this short period of school history (2 weeks), there is evidence all around me of teachers giving many hours more than I could reasonably expect, of pupils driving themselves physically and mentally to perform beyond expectation and of a resultant sense of success, achievement and endeavour in which we all should take quiet pride. Whether it be our recent victorious rugby and hockey teams; the Year 10 Maths medallists; those who rehearse hours upon hours for their drama and music performances; the evidence in almost every corner of the school of high quality art and textiles; the determined hard work being put in daily by our exam candidates; the many staff who are laying on extra revision classes; the opportunities next week for pupils to go to see "Warhorse"; the 60 pupils who will be going to hear the Last Post at the Menin Gate on Friday – it all adds up to a very positive picture. To accompany all of this, there are the daily smiles and laughter that make up a largely happy and hardworking school community and I am very pleased that the inspection report captured at least some of this.

 

I would like to finish by sharing with you, somewhat immodestly, what one parent wrote to Mrs Maslin and I. He captured the essence of the report, in just the way that I would hope it would be interpreted:

 

" Whilst I don’t think I needed a formal Report to tell me what a good start BAS is giving my children, it’s nice to see the core strengths properly recorded and acknowledged. These reports are inadequate in many ways and one should be wary of straying from Kipling’s mantra (treating triumph and disaster just the same..); but I think you should both allow yourselves a congratulatory pat on the back – particularly in relation to the quality of your pupils’ personal development. When all is said and done and exam results long forgotten, such is the true measure and legacy of the learning experience you deliver. Outstanding!"

 

Best wishes

 
Roger Clark Headmaster

24th February 2012 - Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

I was delighted to see many of the Lower Sixth pupils and parents at our second Preparing for University Evening on Thursday.   There are all kinds of markers along the road when young people are growing up.   Last night saw a roomful of our pupils concentrating their thoughts on leaving school, a few short months after taking their GCSE examinations.  There will be at least three other whole days devoted to helping the Lower Sixth choose the right course at the right University.  Later this term they will be spending a day at a Universities Fair in Surrey and after completing their AS levels  there will be days devoted to  the writing of personal statements, an  introduction to which took place last night.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Zofia Malewicz our Head of Sixth Form for all that she does to help prepare our young people for the next stage of their education. 

Our top five Year 10 Mathematicians all achieved awards this year in the National Maths Challenge with Sophie Adams and Jean-Jacques  Choron achieving gold awards.  Jean -Jacques will now also proceed to the European leg of the competition, bizarrely called “The Pink Kangaroo” well done to Mr Roberts and the Maths Department for all they do to encourage excellence in their subject.

I do hope that many of you will take the opportunity to come and see ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ on March 14th to 16th and also to attend our first Centenary Concert which this year will take place at The Memorial Hall in Battle on Tuesday, 20th March.

Best wishes

Roger Clark

10th Feb 2012 - Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

If you have never been to a whole school disco and seen the House Masters and Mistresses dancing at 08.45, you have missed a treat.  As we enter half-term, it is “Mufti-Day”. Inspired by the request of one pupil in Year 13, Oliver Rowlatt, we have all been asked to come to school in casual clothes, wear something yellow and donate £2 to St Michael’s Hospice. Cakes will be sold at break and prefects will clean pupils’ shoes. On top of organising this special fund raising day, Oliver Rowlatt, Sam Bunday and Tom Collins are all going to
attempt the arduous “3 Peaks Challenge” in April. These young men will attempt to climb the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales (Scafell Pike 978 metres, Ben Nevis 1344 metres and Snowden 1085) in a 24 hour period. The money they raise by doing this will go to help support the vitally important work that St Michael’s Hospice do within our community.  One of their staff will be speaking to the school in the second half of term.

After all the excitement of the final day, half-term offers our
examination candidates an opportunity to revise and consolidate. Parents of pupils in year 11 – 13, please help your children keep focussed on their academic work. There are just 8 teaching weeks left till the public exams start and 5 weeks available for revision.

Have a good break!

Best wishes

Roger Clark
Headmaster

3rd February 2012 - Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

You will appreciate, I am sure,  that part of achieving the excellent things your children do achieve here involves self discipline and training and I thought this week I would emphasise that the school cares greatly about  your children’s behaviour and the way that they respond to the rules of the school.  I was delighted to congratulate the school this morning on how smart they were all looking.  Many, many children automatically have their top button done up all day long, their tie straight, their shirts tucked in and those who push to flex their teenage muscles are constantly reminded by staff here of the need to take pride in their appearance.  We remind them, as I am sure you do, that when they are in Battle High Street or on public transport, wearing their school uniform, people make judgements about their appearance.  
 
Going back to my school days I remember being taught the maxim “judgements of great importance are often based on very superficial evidence”, which ties in with the other rather trite saying: “you only have one chance to make a first impression.”  On a very regular basis as prospective parents walk round the school for the first time they comment on the good manners of our children, the welcome afforded to them by the teachers and the friendly atmosphere that they perceive exists within the community.  This apparently lucky balance of relaxed, good behaviour is achieved as a result of
constant effort.  The rigid discipline, commonly associated with military life, is not something I have ever wanted to be associated with a school, that I have been in charge of.  I believe in high standards of behaviour, I believe in good discipline but in the ideal world these are achieved as a result of mutual respect which actually lies deeper than the threat of punishment or reprimand and is more difficult to achieve.
 
So we will continue, just as you do, to remind your children about their behaviour and we will pull them up if they break the school rules but, as I have just said, the easy charm and natural good
manners that so many of our pupils and your children have in abundance, comes, I believe, because they care about each other and we care about them in the family of the school.

Best wishes

Roger Clark
Headmaster

27th January - Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

 

I spent much of last weekend in the Boarding House. I was delighted and almost humbled by the determination displayed by the Senior Boarders to make the most of their academic opportunity at our school. A member of the boarding team walks round every half hour to ensure all is well. It was clear that the Upper Sixth and Lower Sixth students were studying very hard and taking sensible short breaks as well. Nearly all of them have faced AS or A level papers this week. Their work ethic is admirable, and will be the reason for their future success. (I am sure that many day parents are witnessing the same levels of application at the moment).

 
It is also the custom in the Boarding House for the senior boarders to tutor the Junior boarders both in academic subjects but also in some cases the acquisition of the English Language – an aspect much admired by our recent Inspectors.
 
At the end of the weekend, Mr Patel had arranged for the boarders to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a special meal and the excellent catering team swung into action. I was honoured to be asked to present all boarders with a small red purse with money in and to wish them happiness and prosperity for the year ahead.
 
It is the Year of the Dragon, the king of the animals. The dragon is not to be feared as in Western mythology but to be respected and seen as the bringer of good fortune.
 

I hope this year brings you all good fortune too, in the widest sense of the word.

 
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
 
Best wishes

Roger Clark Headmaster

20th January - Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

Much planning is going into the centenary events for this special year in the school’s history. The calendar of events is being
finalised and members of the various school’s communities are being mobilised.

For instance, Founders’ Day this year will see the return of former pupils from all over the world and we are looking forward to
performances from former pupils in our two special music concerts.
I look forward to sharing more news with you as we draw nearer to the various events and celebrations.

As we look back over one hundred years many interesting things are emerging. We have discovered that Battle Choral Society, aided by Battle Abbey School pupils performed the first ever live
broadcast of Mozart’s Requiem in St. Mary’s church in 1931 on BBC Radio. The then school Director of Music lead Battle Choral Society in the same way as John Langridge today leads our school music and Battle Choral Society. We will be performing extracts from Mozart’s Requiem in our Centenary Concert this term. John, coincidentally, used to be a music producer for BBC Radio.

Back to the present and I am aware that many of our senior pupils have been working very hard for the academic challenges of this term’s examinations and we are, of course, trying to support them in this and will continue to do so in the crucial months ahead.

I am also pleased to report that I am seeing many prospective
parents and pupils, who are seeking places here in September.

Best wishes

Roger Clark Headmaster

13th January 2012 - Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents
 
Happy 100th Birthday Battle Abbey School!
 
This is the beginning of the year in which we celebrate 100 years of the school’s existence. It is a year to look back with gratitude on all the pupils and staff who have made up that extraordinary tapestry which is our school. It is also a year in which to look forward to all the excitement of education on this ancient site in an ever-changing world. Gratitude and ambition can go hand-in-hand as we move through the year. We can be proud that we are centenarians and proud of the traditions, values and people who have delivered us safely here. We can be ambitious for the future as we work together to improve. No complacency here!
 
The school has needed to change and adapt to stay strong but we have also needed to maintain core values to stay upright and focused. The sense of family, with all that this implies, which lies at the heart of the school is still a guiding principle and the belief that each individual has it in them to succeed is there too in strong measure.
 
I have the privilege this year to teach both Year 7 and Year 9 and I know that the school’s future will be safe – what a great group of young people they are – disarmingly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (similar to the Upper Sixth Formers too!). Sharing in the development of these young people is what the school exists for, helping them to discover the very best of themselves and sharing in their awe and wonder, as they discover the world and go on to improve it. Sometimes they will need to stumble to grow but we will be there to pick them up and always there to celebrate their success.
  
Enough reflective and speculative romance and back to reality!

I hope the New Year brings you health, happiness and success in equal measure and I look forward to many opportunities to work with you and to meet up.

Best wishes
 
Roger Clark Headmaster