Head's Blog

Ask a member of the public about teenagers and they could be forgiven for thinking about ‘Kevin’ from Harry Enfield. The truth is that teenagers are remarkable people. They are so kind, thoughtful, resilient, collaborative, creative and passionate.

Perhaps the most remarkable result of last weekend was on Saturday evening when the quiz team I was on ended up winning. None of this was my fault I might add – just ask anyone on the same table.

At the excellent Year 6 careers evening, I spoke about being present for ourselves and thinking deeply about who we are. I challenged students to reflect on what they love doing, to have a mindset of exploration and discovery – getting out of their bubble to learn from difference and excellence in areas they might not normally be interested in – and going out of their way to make connections with the world around them.

The model of ‘Ikigai’, as I have mentioned before, is a Japanese concept that encourages us to discover our purpose rather than just think in silos about a job, a degree, money, or what society might define as ‘successful’.

To be able to really inspire others to flourish in a challenging world, broadening our own perspectives and learning from difference is something I feel is an important first step. 

I never quite know whether a Sunday evening is concluding the week or starting it in a boarding school, but I would gladly start and finish any week if it was to the wonderful sound of our Chapel Choir, as was the case this past weekend.

Our Sixth Form  receives outstanding support from our Head of Careers, Mrs Bailey. The number of enrichment events that she and the Sixth Form team enables for our students is quite astonishing and, alongside the personalised support and interview preparation, the stretch and challenge on offer each week is superb. 

The world is so full of possibility, and you deserve to think big. Whilst being aware of traditional routes and options, don’t be hemmed in by them or walk towards them without challenging them

It was superb to watch the girls in action with the first netball games of the season– there was some excellent netball on show, and I was particularly impressed with the physicality of the 2nd team.

Alongside morning tutor groups, I’ve continued visiting boarding houses this week and very much enjoyed my time in Beech on Monday evening and Willows on Tuesday. 

It has been a week of performance, with A Midsummer Night’s Dream showcased in Great Hall

I was delighted to see that Storm Bert didn’t put off our Ten Tors training expedition on Sunday.  Under the expert guidance of our Head of Outdoor Education, Mr Legg, and joined by many other staff and Year 13 helpers, we gathered on Sunday morning for the pre-training talk.

Our inaugural ‘Welly Under Lights’ has provided such joy on each night  and I am so looking forward to the last set of fixtures this evening.  My public thanks to Luke Foot (our visionary Director of Sport) and so many other staff members who have worked to make this a reality. 

It has been brilliant spending time with students this week and hearing about their half term breaks, and so lovely to hear that a well-deserved rest was taken.  Conversations uncovered that everyone chose to keep their brains active too, but – as I discovered from spending some time in the Year 11 common room on Thursday – so long as it mostly started after 10am (I think that’s pretty good for a teenager in 2024!).

It has been a wonderful first half term in post; I can’t quite believe how much has happened.  I’ve loved being out and about with the students and staff in as many different locations as possible, whether that has been up Mt Snowdon with our Year 9s, on the hockey and rugby pitches, in classrooms or in Forest School. 

House Cross Country had a beautiful festival feel; close to 700 senior school students mingling around charity stalls, dotted around chatting whilst recovering from or waiting for their run, some sat under trees knitting, and many lining the course cheering the community on

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was so good that – having already watched it in the Prep School - both my sons wanted to watch it again.  And so,  we went last night, and I watched it for the first time; it was such a great performance. 

And so another terrific week at Welly comes to a close and I can’t believe three weeks of term has gone already.  Our Year 9 team of students and staff did brilliantly on their trip to Snowdon last week and - as is so typical here - the experience was awash with individual stories of achievement.

I have continued to enjoy connecting with so many more of your wonderful children over the last few days too. I was particularly taken by the enthusiasm with which Callum, in Year 1, introduced himself during the Prep School Celebration Assembly last week; the sparkle in Daisy’s eyes in Year 10 when she spoke about her passion for climbing and ventriloquism (not at the same time) over lunch, and the way in which a Year 8 class taught me about the perfect tense in Latin. 

A particular highlight in recent days was a visit to our Forest School with Year 6, something that is used every week by our children in the Prep School.  What a fantastic space that is: an expanse of woodland, a meadow, trails to explore and a Gruffalo Pizza oven (who wouldn’t want one of those!). 

As I was walking back from lunch one day this week, I discovered one of the classroom doors was ajar and some students were in there.  ‘What’s going on in there’ I thought and decided to explore further.