Dear Parents, Colleagues, Governors and Students of Abingdon,
This term has been extraordinarily eventful. When I last wrote to you I was sitting on the draft inspection report unable to divulge the contents. This was extremely frustrating! Now the final report is in the public arena and there for all to see. I hope that you all feel proud of Abingdon and this powerful endorsement of the education we offer our boys. May I thank everyone who has sent messages of congratulations or has taken the time to tell me how pleased they are with the report. What particularly delights me are the many references to the character of the boys: Abingdon is a school where boys can be themselves is the opening accolade and what a great way to start. They are unfailingly courteous, very relaxed in their own company and the company of their teachers and are engaging conversationalists and Whilst pupils are confident, their total lack of arrogance stems from strong individual self-understanding. What wonderful compliments for our boys. It will be six years before we undergo a full inspection again (there will be an interim visit after three to check regulatory standards) that is, unless the regulations change, so I am very pleased to have a report which reflects the excellence of Abingdon across the whole Foundation from which to carry the school into its next era.
Thinking of new eras, the new Head of Abingdon Preparatory School, Mr Crispin Hyde-Dunn, will take up the post when we return at the end of April. This is therefore a very good opportunity for me to thank Mr Mike Rees who stepped up as Acting Head for this term. Mike has done an excellent job and has been a welcome presence at our weekly Senior Leadership Team meetings. Many thanks are extended to Mike for all that he has done this term.
At this stage of the year there aren't likely to be many changes on the staff front. I must, however, acknowledge the retirement of my PA, Mrs Vanessa Fox. Vanessa was to retire at the end of the last academic year but, happily for me, she stayed on for two additional terms to see me in. She was appointed by Mark Turner in November 2004, so she's worked for two Heads. Vanessa has many strengths and has been an enormous help to me, not least because she knows Abingdon inside out and understands how the place ticks. She has many exciting adventures planned so I'm sure that retirement will soon become very busy. I wish her every happiness in the next stage of her life and thank her for her kindness.
Mrs Victoria Adams has already begun as my new PA and is settling in well. I hope that she will be very happy working alongside me. Also retiring is Mr David Soper from his position as Design and Technology Technician after eight years at Abingdon. I know that he will be much missed in the workshop and I thank him for his service. Mrs Lois Glenn-McKibbin gave birth to a daughter recently and we welcome Ms Kate Byrne to the Art Department as a part-time teacher.
At a recent assembly where the boys' achievements were recognized in so many areas, I was struck by the tremendous good run Abingdon is currently having on the sporting front and I felt this deserved a wider audience.
In recent weeks we have celebrated the success of our U16 badminton team, winning the County Championships and going on to fair incredibly well at their Regional rounds. Likewise, the U14 hockey side won their County Tournament, putting them through to the Regional rounds and performing so well there. In fact, our U14, U16 and U18 teams all qualified for the Regional finals, which is a wonderful achievement. Our U15 team took on the challenge of the Independent Schools Hockey League with great relish and conceded just two goals in winning all six of their matches to win the title. It is extraordinary to think that we have no fewer than 22 boys representing their Counties on the hockey pitch this season.
The Cross Country Club has once again enjoyed a hugely successful season, winning the County Championships at Junior, Intermediate and Senior level. Their success at the Knole Run this year is something to be celebrated. It is the first time that Abingdon have ever won medals at this National Competition, and it is interesting to note how much young talent there is in the Club, which bodes well for future years.
Taking into account the number of boys playing rugby in England, I am incredibly proud that not one, but two of our boys have made it through the rigorous selection process to represent England U16's. Tom Kynge (captain) and Peter Moore have worked so incredibly hard to achieve this wonderful accolade, and we wish them both the best as they participate in the International Festival to be played over the Easter holidays.
Our Rugby Sevens players have been enjoying competing in a number of tournaments, the highlight of which was a visit to QE Barnet where our U16 team narrowly lost 12-14 to Tonbridge School in the final, and our U14 team demolished Wellington College 41-0 in their final to win the tournament outright.
The Fencing Club have been in action at various tournaments throughout the term. At the South Regional Tournament, six fencers gained medals and qualified for the British Youth Championships.
To top it all off, our rowers are once again in the headlines, the 1st VIII not only winning the Head of the River, in a thrilling race to beat Eton, but the School, having posted the fastest three cumulative times of the day, brought home the team trophy. And since then we faced Eton once more, in the 1st XI hockey match, making it a double victory in the space of just over a week.
Out of sight but certainly not out of mind, the Rifle Club ply their trade in the range on the southern edge of the campus. Their success thus far says vast amounts about the enthusiasm and skill of the pupils. Ben Bryant, Matthew Allison, Daniel Belcher and Finn Ryley have all been selected for the GB Junior Squad to take part in the Junior International to take place at Bisley in August. Ben and Finn have also just returned from Dortmund in Germany, where, last week, they competed for the British Schools A Team. Finn and Matthew have also just received news that they won the recent trophy competing for the England Junior A Team against Ireland, Scotland and Wales. With the Juniors performing well in the local league, the strength of the Club looks to be secure for the coming years.
We welcomed back four Old Abingdonians to compete in the annual Road Relay, a wonderful whole school event. It is so encouraging to see old boys retain their affiliation with the School in this way, and of course seeing all of our boys from the 1st Year, all the way through to the Upper Sixth competing against each other in the same event.
Many of you have asked me about the introduction of football. I can assure you that planning is well under way. It is with great excitement that we have put into motion the introduction of Football, as a full sports option, into our Other Half programme from September 2011. It certainly takes time to break into existing fixture lists between other schools, but the response we have had so far has been positive. Football will be taking place in the Lent Term, and a number of enthusiastic staff have offered their services and expertise to assist with the development of the sport during this embryonic phase. I trust that the boys will relish this new found opportunity.
We have certainly notched up some wonderful successes this term but it would be wrong for us not to bear in mind that the fundamental reason for participation in sport is enjoyment. It is certainly clear from what I have seen that this is truly the case at Abingdon. I am certain that we will continue to be hugely successful and that sport will always be at the heart of the Abingdon experience.
Those of you who have changed your job will know that it's quite an experience. I'm now coming towards the end of my second term at Abingdon and I'm feeling relatively settled and that I'm getting to know you all. Each day continues to bring new experiences and challenges, there are always new people to meet, new things to learn about (I knew nothing about rowing or shooting before I came here, now I know quite a lot) and the constant test - just because something's been done in a certain way forever, doesn't mean that it should continue in that way.
Similarly, I've done lots of things in particular ways (probably forever) and I'm learning that this often has to change too. I am having to look at everything I do from different angles, at the same time as evaluating and understanding everything that is established practice here. It's like turning over stones in a pond, I shift one stone and the water ripples.
It reminds me how important and necessary it will be for the boys to be able to adapt and be responsive to changing circumstances throughout their lives. The one stop career is unlikely to be their path and it is predicted that this generation may change course more than six times during their working life, and retrain along the way too. The capacity to cope with change, the need to move base for work perhaps to other countries, learning new skills throughout life and keeping on top of the ever-increasing pace at which we live our lives are key important elements for success.
And life at school moves at a tremendous pace too. Over this Easter break I hope that everyone will take a little time to relax and rest. I am mindful, however, that many of the boys must use the time wisely and productively. Those in the fourth year have exams ten days into term. Boys studying for public examinations should expect to devote the equivalent of 90 hours over the break to well-organized revision time. When we return in April we will have a four-day weekend Friday 29 April until Monday 2 May. The royal couple may think that they've given the nation a bank holiday, but it is a good opportunity to use the time productively for revision. I hope that the boys will take advantage of this unexpected bonus.
Finally, I hope that mothers will find themselves indulged and appreciated by their sons on Sunday 3 April, and that everyone will enjoy a well-deserved Easter break. It's been a great term for Abingdon School and I thank you all for your contribution however you are connected with our school.
Yours sincerely,
Felicity Lusk