Friday 22 September 2017

Headmaster's Weekly Notes - 22 September 2017

The senseless terrorist attack last Friday at Parsons Green station in London formed the narrative of this week's 6th Form assembly. We asked the important question of whether we continue to be safe in our major towns and cities. The terrorist threat is still high on the agenda and it was an opportunity to reflect and remember those who had lost loved ones in attacks around the world since 7/7 and what we must do to stop this violence - education is the key and I hope our values will help reinforce this and empower the next generation of leaders and decision makers:
Those values were clearly demonstrated at the Lower School Open Evening this week which saw record numbers of prospective parents from far and wide come through the Sexey’s School gates. Parents commented on the maturity, enthusiasm and exemplary manners of our students and I hope we left them with a good impression. Thank you for promoting the event amongst your friends and our next Open Evening, which will be for our Sixth Form, takes place on Tuesday the 3rd of October. Do please keep banging that drum!
Plenty of activities this week, including rugby and Hockey fixtures against the likes of Clayesmore & Wells Cathedral, Sherborne Girls, The Park School & Bucklers Mead; Y13 EPQ trip to Southampton University and the Duke of Edinburgh Silver expedition to the Quantocks - I wish our intrepid explorers the very best and hope that the weather is kind to them - it has been good so far.
We also had the PSA AGM and Meeting yesterday in Walwin and it was our Chair's last one. Mrs Kit Pottow has dedicated her time, energy (and life it seems!) in making the Sexey's PSA what it is today and during her time, it has raised in excess of £35,000. The money raised through various events and activities is given to the school to improve and further enhance the education of our students. And this money has had a positive impact on the outcomes for our students. The work that Mrs Pottow and her committee have done over the past 8 years has been of tremendous value and we will miss her dynamism and passion for all things Sexey's as she retires for pastures new. My heartfelt thanks to Mrs Pottow and I wish the new committee every possible success. We are looking for volunteers (I know there are many new parents out there eager to support the outstanding work of the PSA). Do please get involved - it means so much to us, the school and ultimately our children. It is after all why we are all here.  

I wish you all a pleasant and restful exeat (good luck to the Equestrian team this weekend at Stonar) and I hope that the weather continues to be kind to us all… 

Headmaster's Weekly Notes - 15 September 2017

School is in full swing this week, with the Year 7s navigating the school site like old hands, Girls’ hockey and rugby practices, the Sixth Form pantomime rehearsals set to begin, preparation for the silver DoE, the China Trip, Cross Country Club, Geology Club, Army Cadet Force, Cooking Club, British Sign Language Club, Fencing Club…. Our boarders took time at the weekend to unwind at Splashdown in Poole (pun not intended) and to take part in the Glow in the Park Run at Longleat - a success by all accounts. I do wonder has it really only been 10 days since the start of term? 


During Friday’s Key Stage 3 assembly, Mr Darryl Carpenter, the Head of Key Stage 3, explored with the pupils what is good about the school. We had a number of responses from the quality of teaching to the range of activities on offer – sport, music, art and drama to the food. One student talked about the students and staff here, and that struck me. It is people that make a place special and how we treat each other speaks volumes about us as individuals, as a school, as a community and more importantly, as a family. It is only our second week back and I can see our values of tolerance, respect and kindness in abundance here at Sexey's. As we prepare to welcome students and parents at our Lower School Open Evening next Tuesday (please spread the word!) I reflect on how proud I am of the way in which our students have begun this new term, with enthusiasm and endeavour. Long may it last!