Foreword from the Headmaster
It has been a wonderful 95 days in post so far, not that I am still counting, though it feels that we have done so much in those days that is must be longer - testament to the pupils and the whole school community. The pace hasn’t slackened since I previously wrote informing you of our mathematics and sporting successes.
Academic endeavour remains our number one priority and it has been a busy period of mocks, feedback, self-evaluation, revision and report writing. For those pupils with public examinations in the summer, I would encourage a judicious balance of rest and active revision. University offers have been coming in thick and fast and it is heart-warming to see our Upper Sixth being offered places to some of the country’s most prestigious universities to study on the most competitive of courses. I hope such opportunities inspire the pupils to great heights next term. Knowledge is important but so too is the ability to communicate it and I am delighted that our debating teams are through to the Rotary International Youth Speaks National Finals in May.
The holidays are also a good time to read and I hope you will encourage your children to invest time in a good book over the next two weeks; perhaps for those pupils in Lower School one or two from the Carnegie Medal Shortlist. Learning takes place in many guises and nowhere has this been more evident than in our recent Silver Duke of Edinburgh Expedition: in three days they covered 45km of demanding terrain with full pack, the equivalent of climbing Snowdon twice!
Leadership and teamwork is at the heart of our philosophy of education and our Year 11 pupils have demonstrated this in spades in completing this demanding assessment.
It has been a busy term of sport with Netball, Hockey and Rugby Sevens taking centre stage, but huge credit must be given to our girls’ Cross-Country team for making the Welsh National Finals. It always feels wrong to single out individual success in a school community, but we must acknowledge the outstanding achievement of Upper Sixth pupil Dan Owen in securing his first Welsh U18 Rugby Cap and helping Wales to victory over England last month.
Those who saw our rather superb production of Annie, will understand why I must single it out as the highlight of the term. There are not the words for me to truly express my admiration for the best school production I have seen in 20 years – I may be biased but it is true. The cast, crew, band, Art Department and audience all contributed to four magical nights in the Memorial Hall. My sadness at it coming to an end has been tempered by Mrs Crime’s plans for next year’s production already. Next term’s Summer Music Concert, as part of Music Week, and Art Exhibitions, are giving me, and I hope you too, a great deal to look forward to.
Community and family have been a recurring theme throughout the Spring Term. I have thoroughly enjoyed my teas and breakfast with you, the parents, this term and I look forward to more coffee, croissants and conversations next term.
Last weekend I enjoyed lunch with our alumni from the 1960s and 1970s. They were terrific company and I hope to have half the energy and vitality they do when I am of a similar age. Their pride in the school and warmth of feeling towards each other bode well, I hope, for the class of 2017 and beyond.
The FORPS Committee have, as ever, been busy raising funds and purchasing equipment for our pupils’ benefit. I thank them and you for all your support. Thanks too to those of you who have so far contributed to our Annual Development Fund and should you still wish to, the link can be found at https://rydalpenrhos.fluencycms.co.uk/Annual-Fund.
Our pupils have been leading by example in their fundraising. So far £875 has been raised by the Amnesty Group to support the Methodist “All We Can” campaign for refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan. Comic Relief saw some wonderful costumes, much merriment and more importantly £731.28 raised for this worthwhile cause.
If learning effectively, leading successfully and living joyfully are all at the heart of a good education, then our pupils have certainly delivered an outstanding term.
Mr Simon Smith