18 May 2023

WEEKLY MAILING

Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

We enjoyed welcoming the team from the Independent Schools Inspectorate last week. A parental questionnaire formed part of the inspection process and I am grateful to the many of you who responded. The inspection team is now writing its report which will go through a quality assurance process before publication. These processes take some time so we expect the report to emerge towards the end of term at the earliest.

The inspectors were able to witness our Leavers’ Day last Friday as we wished the Upper Sixth all the best for their exams and beyond with a series of events, including some very enthusiastic singing in their final Chapel service. It was a very enjoyable day and our Leavers were excellent company as they reminisced about their school careers and looked forward to what is to come.

If you were out and about around Abingdon on Sunday and Monday you might have seen numerous groups of 14/15-year-olds carrying heavy packs as they navigated their way through their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award practice expedition. For many pupils, this was their first opportunity to put their navigational skills to the test, with varying degrees of success… It was good to see them returning to school tired but happy on Monday afternoon and I am sure that this experience will stand them in good stead for the real thing this summer. My thanks go to the many colleagues who supported the pupils in this expedition.

Best wishes, Mike Windsor

 

UPPER SCHOOL

  • A Level Results Day Thursday 17 August:
    • Students and parents will be welcome on site from 8.00am for students to pick up results in person from the ground floor of Beech Court (Sixth Form Centre). NB: Parents are not allowed to pick up results without the student’s permission.
    • For those not able to come into School, results will be available on My Abingdon from 8.00am.
    • There is no telephone results service available at School.
    • For those coming into School, there will be tea, coffee etc available in the Sixth Form Centre.
    • Several senior members of staff will be in attendance in person, including the Headmaster and the Acting Deputy Head Academic, Mr Ben Simmons.
    • Housemasters may be in attendance but, if not, they will be available via email/Zoom.
    • Heads of Department may also be in attendance in person but not necessarily.
    • Results envelopes that have not been collected by midday will be sent to home addresses in the post.
    • Priority Post Results will be available for candidates between Thursday 17 August and Wednesday 23 August, standard Post Results will be available until Thursday 28 September, more information to follow.
    • If you change your home address between now and results day please email the exams office and let them know on [email protected]

MIDDLE SCHOOL

  • GCSE Results Day Thursday 24 August:
    • Students and parents will be welcome on site from 8.00am for students to pick up results in person from the ground floor of Beech Court (Sixth Form Centre). NB: Parents are not allowed to pick up results without the student’s permission.
    • For those not able to come into School, results will be available on My Abingdon from 8.00am.
    • There is no telephone results service available at School.
    • For those coming into School, there will be tea, coffee etc available in the Sixth Form Centre.
    • Several senior members of staff will be in attendance in person, including the Headmaster. The Acting Deputy Head Academic, Mr Ben Simmons, will be available via Zoom.
    • Housemasters may be in attendance but, if not, they will be available via email/Zoom.
    • Heads of Department may also be in attendance in person but not necessarily.
    • Results envelopes that have not been collected by midday will be sent to home addresses in the post.
    • Post Result Services will be available on your return to school and the deadline for application is Thursday 28 September, more information to follow.

WHOLE SCHOOL

  • Parent Contract Terms and Conditions.  The School periodically reviews its terms and conditions. Two changes have recently been made:
    • A clarification has been made to the contract with the addition of clause 3.12 with regard to fees and supplemental charges to confirm that all fees and supplemental charges are exclusive of any taxes and that taxes will be added where applicable.
    • Clause 8.9 has been added to in order to clarify that if your child is studying in the UK on a visa that you must let the School know immediately if the category of visa or visa circumstances change in order that the School continues to remain compliant with UKVI reporting requirements.  A reminder to parents that the Parent Contract and other key school policies are available on the School’s website: https://www.abingdon.org.uk/about/school-policies/
  • Anything But Classical Concert, Wednesday 28 June 2023, 5.30pm.  Abingdon School would like to invite you to the Anything But Classical Concert on Wednesday 28 June. The students will be providing a live rock and pop concert outside Big School, weather permitting, and English students will also be presenting excerpts of their creative writing. This concert will feature acts from across the Abingdon community including SHSK, Larkmead, Fitzharry’s and John Mason School.  There will be an informal, festival-like atmosphere to the concert  with refreshments available.  We very much hope that you will be able to attend.  The Concert will start at 5.30pm and finish at 8.30pm. To allow us to have an idea of numbers, please book a free ticket via the Amey Theatre Box Office.  A link can be found here.  Jason Preece, Music Department.