Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents
We have been celebrating the Platinum Jubilee in school today to mark The Queen’s extraordinary 70 years on the throne. The cadets of the Combined Cadet Force put on a celebratory parade to which we welcomed Colonel Moore and Mark Beard, High Sheriff of Oxfordshire. Students and staff enjoyed a BBQ lunch in the sunshine and then we finished the day with appropriately patriotic jubilee cupcakes.
There was also an air of celebration in the Amey Theatre this week as the Lower School brought their production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to life. This was a terrific ensemble performance that had a great sense of pace and fun with some spectacular effects, courtesy of the Tech Crew. Many thanks to the production’s director, Mr McDonnell, for marshalling so successfully a large cast, including many Oompa Loompas.
Our Third Year rowers are out of school today participating in the National Schools Regatta at Eton Dorney, with events for other year groups unfolding over the weekend. I’m looking forward to supporting our crews tomorrow together with the Friends of Abingdon School Boat Club and wish all our oarsmen the very best for their events.
As I’m sure you’re aware, Abingdon is currently investing in the extension and renovation of our boarding accommodation and the construction of a new dining pavilion. Both these projects are due to open in September 2023 and have been brought to life in this specially commissioned film which I hope you will enjoy watching.
Finally, I hope students and staff enjoy a good break over half term. For many students, rest and recreation will be balanced with the need to do some revision but the key word here is ‘balance’ – and I hope that everyone will return to school refreshed for the second half of term on Monday 6 June.
Best wishes, Mike Windsor
UPPER SCHOOL
- A Level Results Day Thursday 18 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 Jekyll Garden (opposite the Sixth Form Centre).
● Several senior members of staff will be in attendance in person, including the Headmaster, Mr Windsor, and the Deputy Head Academic, Mr May.
● 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 so.
● Results envelopes that have not been collected by midday will be sent to home addresses in the post.
- ● 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.
- 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.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
- To Parents of Third Year pupils. The History Department will be running a Living History morning for 3rd Years in conjunction with Anglia Battlefield tours on the First World War on Wednesday 8 June. It will be based on school premises and will last from 9am-1pm so 3rd Year students will not be attending lessons that morning. Students will be asked to attend school in sports kit that day with a waterbottle and a snack (we will be having a break). Can students wear sunscreen too and bring a waterproof? It should be a really interesting morning. Students will have been told about it by tutors as well.
- GCSE Results Day Thursday 25 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 Jekyll Garden (opposite the Sixth Form Centre).
● Several senior members of staff will be in attendance in person, including the Headmaster, Mr Windsor. The Deputy Head Academic, Mr May, 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 so.
● Results envelopes that have not been collected by midday will be sent to home addresses in the post.
- ● 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.
- 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.
WHOLE SCHOOL
- Celebration of the Arts, Wednesday 29 June 2022. Abingdon school would like to invite you to a Celebration of the Arts. We will be showcasing the creativity of our students. The event includes The Futuristic Junk Art Festival which includes sculptural work exhibited from all of First to Third year pupils. The students will be providing a live rock and pop concert outside Beech Court. English students will also be presenting excerpts of their creative writing. Refreshments will be available and we hope that you that you will be able to attend. Our celebration starts at 5.30pm and finishes at 8.00pm. 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. Paul Williamson, Head of Art and Design / Event Coordinator.
- Residential Trips for academic year 2022-2023:
Attached is the updated trips matrix, though it has more provisional information than in pre-covid times, and may be less exhaustive than in earlier end-of-term issues. As usual, regrettably, with a plethora of trips available, avoiding clashes between trips is not always possible for each student, as there are many constraints to work with. Enquiries should be addressed to [email protected] please. - Annual Data Check – Reminder. Forms were sent to parents on Friday 20 May via isams email. The deadline to complete and submit forms is Friday 10 June. Even if your data has not changed, a form is still required to be completed please. The Data Check is an online process that takes a few minutes to complete.
- Music events in the second half of the Summer term:
- Lower School Gala Concert – Thursday 16 June 6pm, Amey Theatre
- Summer Concert – Friday 24 June 7pm, Amey Theatre
- “Anything but Classical” – Wednesday 29 June 6pm, Al fresco
- Music Society River Thames Musical Cruise Friday 1 July 6.30-9.30pm from Abingdon Bridge
- OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events – new additions: Geography Talk, Thursday 16 June.
- News from the week
- Food menu for the week after half term – Week 3
- School calendar
- Weekly mailing archive
- Box Office – no new additions. See other upcoming Box Office events.
