22 Sep 2022

WEEKLY MAILING

Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

I enjoyed meeting many of you at the first block fixtures of the term against Marlborough on Saturday. It was fantastic to see so many students representing the School and putting in some exceptional performances. I’m grateful to the Touchliners for organising lunch for parents of U16 players before the fixture and I’m looking forward to meeting other year group’s parents at similar occasions over the course of the term.

This coming weekend other activities take priority over sport. This includes a first weekend away for our new batch of CCF recruits, who will be led in their training by senior students and officers. I’m sure this will give our Third Year cadets a great insight into the adventures that the CCF offers, alongside significant opportunities for the development of leadership and teamwork.

I’d also like to highlight two further opportunities for you to come into school to meet Housemasters and tutors, as well as other parents. We are keen to ensure that parents get the opportunity to come into school and meet face-to-face, not least as parents’ evenings over the course of the year will take place online, so I do hope you will be able to join us.

Firstly, we’ll be welcoming First Year parents to lunch at 12.30pm on Saturday 24 September in the Sports Hospitality Suite (after the First Year team building morning).

Then we are looking forward to meeting Lower Sixth parents at the Meet the Tutor evening on Thursday 29 September.  If you would like to attend this event and have not yet signed up, please do so via this link.  The event runs from 7pm until 8.30pm and parking is available on Lower Field on Park Road.  This event is for parents only, so students should not attend.

Best wishes, Mike Windsor

 

UPPER SCHOOL

 

WHOLE SCHOOL

  • Responding to parental concerns
    • We pride ourselves on the quality of education we provide at Abingdon but we recognise that on occasion parents may wish to raise concerns about their child’s experience.
    • We handle these concerns in line with the Complaints Procedure which you can find here, together with other policies. In the first instance, we ask parents to raise any concerns they have with their child’s tutor or Housemaster. They can then escalate these concerns as required. The vast majority of concerns can be resolved swiftly and satisfactorily. The Complaints Procedure provides guidance if this is not the case.
    • We also urge parents to contact us immediately if they have any concerns relating to safeguarding and the welfare of the young people in our care. If such an instance should arise, please contact the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mr Hindley ([email protected]), or the Headmaster ([email protected]). You can read more about our approach to safeguarding in our Safeguarding Policy, also available on the Policies page of the website.
  • Letter from Mr Hindley re School rules on hair
  • Reminder – Arrangements for Open Day: Saturday 1 October – 9.00am-1.30pm.  Bookings for Open Day are almost at full capacity and, as a result, we regret it will not be possible to invite current parents (unless they have booked to visit with a sibling who is a prospective pupil).  However, all parents are most welcome to join us at sports fixtures, year group socials and all other events planned for the Michaelmas Term, a full list of which can be found on the calendar.  We thank you for your understanding.
  • Term Dates and Key Dates Reminder. Students were given a hard copy of the calendar at the start of term if they wished, but, for information for new parents, there is an online calendar which is kept regularly up to date.  It is available from the front page of the website under ‘What’s On’ then ‘Calendar’. In addition, there is a Term and Key dates page. This page highlights events such as social evenings and parents’ evenings.
  • Music: 
    • Solo Platform No 1 (preceded by ASMS AGM) – Tuesday 27 September at 6pm (AGM at 5.45pm). Please join us for the first solo platform of the academic year. Expect a variety of solo instruments played by pupils at different stages of development and year group. The concert is preceded by a short AGM of the School’s parental Music Society (new members are always welcome to join the committee).
    • Piano Masterclass with Anthony Williams – Wednesday 28 September at 6pm.  Our first masterclass of the year is for our pianists. Six of our more advanced pianists will be put through their paces by a distinguished pianist and teacher, Anthony Williams. This should be a really fascinating occasion for our pianists and their parents. Please do join us – admission is free.
    • Abingdon Twinning Concert – Friday 7 October at 6.30-8.30pm.  Please join us for a musical celebration that will feature musicians from schools and amateur groups across Abingdon and streamed to our twin towns in Europe and across the world. Our own chamber orchestra will be performing from Warlock’s Capriol Suite. Tickets are available here from the school’s Box Office.
    •  See other upcoming Music events.
  • OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events.
  • News from the week
  • Food menu for the following week – Week 1
  • School calendar
  • Weekly mailing archive
  • Box Office: