A word from the Principal This new monthly newsletter is a chance for my Senior School colleagues and I to keep parents up to date with events at the Senior School as term progresses. Within it we have included a round up of just some of the many activities and events to have taken place in this first half of term. I hope you find it accessible, interesting and informative and that it serves to provide some of the soft information that has perhaps been lacking in the previous twelve months as so much of our communication has necessarily focused on issues to do with the pandemic.
T
his autumn term began in stark and positive contrast to the last, with a full Senior School assembly in the sports hall. It was brilliant to be able to properly convene again as a community after the enforced social distancing measures of 2020-21. I used this first assembly to outline the mission, vision and values of the Foundation, as refined over the summer by the senior team. I was pleased to be able to outline the revised SPF mission statement: to educate and inspire the contributors to tomorrow’s world: intelligent young people with the creativity, compassion, confidence and conviction to question, evaluate and improve society. I also spoke about the vision and values of the Foundation emphasising the core values of scholarship, kindness, diligence, humility and social and environmental responsibility. One of our two Co-Captains of School, Connie, also addressed the assembly, encouraging the community to make the most of the post-lockdown re-found freedoms, to get involved in all there is on offer at school, and to reconnect as a community from the outset of the term. Connie’s message appears to have resonated with Senior School pupils and it has been hugely impressive to see our Year 11 student House Captains engaging with those in younger years and supporting the running of House events, as well as sixth formers visiting assemblies to promote involvement in activities like the Model United Nations. We will be continuing to create opportunities for greater vertical integration between pupils in different year groups in the months and years ahead - I see it as hugely important to provide our younger students with excellent role models, older pupils they can look up to and learn from, as they grow up with us at the Senior School. For the older pupils, such opportunities help them to develop important skills of communication and leadership that will serve them extraordinarily well in their time beyond school. We have also very much enjoyed welcoming parents back onto site for new parent events and for concerts. We look forward to seeing you at further events this term. A reminder of upcoming events in the second half of term, is included in this newsletter for your reference. In line with our revised mission, vision and values we are proud to be taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge for the first time this December. This will commence on #GivingTuesday, 30 November at midday and close on 7 December at midday. This event is to raise essential funding for bursaries to support students and families in our community. All donations made online at The Big Give, whilst the challenge is live, will be doubled! Please help us spread the word about The Big Give amongst your family, friends, colleagues and wider networks and remind everyone that one donation will make double the impact to our bursary fund this Christmas. We will send more information about how you can make a difference nearer the time and we are hopeful that this will become an annual fundraising event across the Foundation. - Richard Girvan, Principal
Issue 001 - October 2021
Sustainability drives at SPF With the Committee of Parties (COP 26) starting in a few weeks in Glasgow there has been a buzz around the school concerning sustainability and what the Foundation and students can undertake to work towards a more sustainable future. The SPF Student Sustainability Committee to which students from Year 7-12 were encouraged to apply, has been finalised after reviewing all applications. There are two students from each of those year groups who will be working across the Senior School and Sixth Form on student identified topics, lead by the Year 13 Student President. The President has a
passion to identify how consumers can be more sustainably focused in the lead up to the Christmas season. The Senior School, Dame Bradbury’s, and Rosedale House have all signed up to completing the Eco-Schools Green Flag environmental programme, in which students lead environmental actions at their respective schools and undertake various student identified projects. More information to follow on this work in the next half-term! - Chris Woodey, Head of Sustainability
Parent Events: second half of Autumn term Thursday 4 November 19:30 - 22:30
Sixth Form Cabaret, Year 10 - 13 students All parents and students welcome, tickets now available here
Monday 8 November 18:30 - 20:30
Joint Evensong with St John’s Voices, St Johns Chapel Year 10-13 Chamber Choir Open to All
Tuesday 9 November 18:30 - 20:30
Year 7 Remote Parents Evening Appointments will be live on ParentMail from 18:00 on Tuesday 2 November
Friday 12 November 12:30 - 13:00
Senior School Lunchtime Concert, St Paul’s Church Open to All
Wednesday 17 November 19:30 - 21:00
Senior School Autumn Concert, Senior School Hall Tickets will be available after half-term for parents of performers (Symphony Orchestra, Concert Strings, Big Band and Brass Ensemble)
Thursday 18 November 18:30 - 20:30
Year 11 Parents Evening, Senior School Hall Appointments will be scheduled through ParentMail nearer the time
Thursday 25 and Friday 26 November 19:30 - 22:00
Senior School and Sixth Form Play Metamorphoses, by Mary Zimmerman Performed by students in Year 10 - 13 All parents and students welcome, tickets now available here
Friday 26 November 19:30 - 22:00
Senior School Lunchtime Concert, St Paul’s Church Open to All
Wednesday 8 December 14:00 - 15:30
Carol Service, Great St Mary’s Church Year 7-13 parents are warmly invited to attend but please be aware seating is limited
Friday 10 December 12:00
Autumn term ends School buses depart between 12.10 - 12.50
Full school calendars can we viewed and subscribed to through our website here
Reconnecting in our assemblies People from BAME communities have been a fundamental part of British history for centuries. However, their contribution to society across the world isn’t as well known. Black History Month, which is celebrated in October in the UK, gives an opportunity to share, celebrate and develop a better understanding of the impact of black heritage and culture. At our school assembly last week, six Year 11 pupils and two sixth formers talked about inspirational people from the BAME community such as the heavyweight boxing
champion Muhammad Ali; the professional footballer Marcus Rashford and Maggie Aderin-Pocock, who is a British space scientist and a co-presenter of The Sky at Night TV programme. Most weeks there have also been year assemblies. A highlight was the Year 7 assembly, following the successful residential trip to Bournemouth, on Togetherness which brought in the work of Vivek Murthy, ex Surgeon General of America, who recognised the negative
effects of isolation on us as individuals. We discussed how Bournemouth had been an opportunity to spend more time encouraging and supporting one another and how we could bring that into our everyday encounters. Other year groups have held assemblies on roles and responsibilities, kindness, the power of words in communication and also the importance of recognising one's own progress/achievement.
Year 7 Enjoy Land and Wave The Year 7 trip to Bournemouth with Land and wave was a great success. This provided an excellent social experience and a great way for the year group to get to know each other.
“My favourite part of the trip was the jumbo paddleboarding and climbing. Though I was very nervous to do the leap of faith, I’m really glad I did it! I have made many new friends,” Hebe
Students had the opportunity to participate in woodland skills, climbing, archery, beach games, paddle sports and more.
“My favourite part of the trip was the woodlands because we got to make bread, fire and shelters.” Arseniy
“I have made many amazing memories including jumbo boarding, rock climbing, archery, woodlands and making new friends.” Josh
“One memory I will never forget is the disco because of all the lights, music and dancing even though I am losing my voice from singing! I extremely liked rock reef and I overcame some fears! I made lots of new friends and talked to people I hadn’t talked to before” - Nadia
Click here to see more photos of the Year 7 Land & Wave Residential
House Competitions Our House competitions kicked off the 14th October with a table tennis tournament for all year groups. House points will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each year group. After half-term the year groups will get the opportunity to compete against each other!
Duke of Edinburgh Award The Year 9 qualifying Bronze Duke of Edinburgh expedition took place on two consecutive weekends in Bromham. Students participated in 6 hours of activity a day, navigating, carrying equipment, pitching tents and cooking dinner. All students finished with a presentation on the second day to their Duke of Edinburgh Assessors - with a successful pass.
Sixth Form Entrepreneurs in Competition Sixth formers commenced the Young Enterprise Company Programme. The Company Programme empowers young people to set up and run a student company under the guidance of a business volunteer. Students make all the decisions about their business, from deciding on the company name, managing the company finances and selling to the public. Participants gain practical business experience and key skills.