Foreword from the Headmaster
Seven months on from first sitting in my Headmaster’s Study on 9th January, I can write of a magnificent Celebration Service, a busy activities week in the Senior School, the welcoming of our new Year 7 pupils ready for September and a memorable Prep School Speech Day during which we bid farewell to a wonderful colleague, Mr Roger McDuff. I want to thank all of my colleagues on the teaching and support staff for making all these moments possible.
We have had a glorious Summer Term with weather ranging from Mediterranean-like to a rather more familiar grey of a British January, but the weeks have been full of activity – not least by our pupils who, collectively, have taken well over a thousand public examinations. I do wish everyone involved the very best of outcomes.
Away from the exam hall, we have witnessed some tremendous occasions, of which there are too many to list here, but I must mention Speech Day, Sports Day, the Summer Fete, our Leavers’ Chapel Service, the Summer Concert and the events of National Boarding Week. All were delightful examples of pupils, parents, support staff and teaching staff working together for mutual benefit and long may that continue.
There are a number of projects taking place over the summer holidays and stretching into the next academic year.
I look forward to reporting on these in September, but you will notice a real difference in some key areas of the school.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Richard Smith, our Estates Manager, and his team for managing theses various projects whilst many of us are taking a break.
I would also like to bring to your attention that, as part of the Rydal Penrhos Strategic Development plan, over the coming months the School will be considering the disposal of a number of its underused and unused capital assets.
This is the start of a plan to revitalise and utilise the school facilities to their fullest extent and to reinvest in new projects. At the moment the future projects are in the consultation phase but I hope to bring you more news of this at the start of the next academic year.
I would like to thank all of you, as parents, for having faith in Rydal Penrhos.
I thank you too for your openness in communication with me, for taxiing your children around, the late pick-ups after rehearsals, encouragement with Prep, the early Saturday starts for sport fixtures, your generosity in supporting projects and attendance at the many, many events which take place throughout the academic year.
I hope I can count on such loyal support in the months and years to come. It is my sincere hope that you have found (and will find) your extraordinary investment in your children’s education to be one of the best decisions you have ever made.
For now, I must return to Hertfordshire to pack up our house and finally be reunited with my family as we prepare to move our home, at last, to Colwyn Bay. I wish you a restful summer and please do encourage your children to read at least one good book over the coming weeks!
I look forward to seeing your children returning happy, looking smart and ready to make real progress next year.
Cymerwch gyfle i ddarllen a mwynhewch eich gwyliau, gyda eich ffrindiau a'r teulu.