Foreword from the Headmaster
It seems that not a day goes by when I am not seeing, reading or hearing about our pupils’ initiatives, achievements and involvement in such a wide range of curricular and co-curricular activities. Every day brings a smorgasbord of new success stories. It is, therefore, gratifying to be reminded of the highlights each month. I am, however, acutely aware this newsletter, as good as it is, only scratches the surface of life at Rydal Penrhos. Trophies, visiting sports celebrities and concerts dominate the news stories but they are no more important than the individual successes in the classroom and acts of kindness that take place each and every day. If we are not careful we can forget too the core business of academic progress and the pupils’ learning which, whilst less headline grabbing, remains our number one and even more so at this time of year.
In addition to enjoying the pupils’ successes my highlight, this month, was attending the Boarding Schools Association Heads’ Conference in York. The very full, two-day programme, including speakers such as the Archbishop of York John Sentamu, Clinical Psychologist Professor Tanya Byron, actor Tom Chambers and England Football Manager Gareth Southgate along with leading educationalists, provided a forum for us to discuss the challenges facing young people of today but also how we are incredibly well-placed and ideally suited to meet those challenges. We can, and do, offer a genuinely transformative experience for the young men and women in our care. I returned, I don’t mind admitting slightly fretful for our pupils and the pressures they face, but also confident in the professionalism of my staff, the strengths of our core values and the incredible ambition resilience of the student body.
The stories in this month’s newsletter are all testament to our pupils’ ability to juggle several demands, continue to succeed academically and perhaps most importantly remain remarkably upbeat. Of course many of these opportunities would not be possible were it not for similar stamina levels in my Staff. I am extremely grateful to those Staff who either organise events of their own volition or willingly implement the mad ideas of a Headmaster with nothing better to do than dream up endless interesting and exciting projects. I can take very little credit for what follows, in this newsletter, but I can certainly be appreciative and hope you enjoy, as I do, in following, supporting and celebrating our pupils’ endeavours and triumphs.