Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents
This is the final weekly mailing of the academic year and I’d like to thank you for your support of the School over the preceding months. I’ve enjoyed catching up with many of you in recent weeks as we’ve marked the end of the year with Prize Giving and Leavers’ events, as well as concerts, productions and fixtures. Our students can be very proud of their collective achievements this year. They’ve worked hard and contributed positively to the wider life of the School and I hope they enjoy a good break.
I always look forward to having more time to read when it comes to the holidays and I am keen to encourage our students to make the most of this opportunity too. They might want to take up the Summer Reading Challenge which is being coordinated by the English department and the library. There are chocolate incentives being offered to those who read four or more books over the break and prizes for those who read the most in each year group. I’m going to start my reading over the summer with The Secret History by Donna Tartt on my daughter’s recommendation.
I hope you are able to enjoy some downtime together with your families over the summer and thank you again for your support.
Best wishes, Mike Windsor
UPPER SCHOOL
- Reminder – 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
- Reminder – 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.
- For parents of 3rd year pupils opting to take IGCSE History, here is a list of films books and websites they can access over the summer in preparation for September. Any pupil who writes a full book review of one of the books, having read it, will be rewarded in September. Enjoy! Mr Knowland
WHOLE SCHOOL
- Term Dates. Students will be given a hard copy of the calendar at the start of term if they wish, 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’.
- Parents’ Evenings 2023-24
- Summer Reading Challenge – from Dr Gardner and Mr Coolin. If you’re looking to encourage reading over the summer, why not take advantage of the reading lists offered by the English Department and the Library? Divided between Lower School, Third Year, Fourth & Fifth Year and Sixth Form, each list features ten great books. The English Department and the Library are also inviting all pupils to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge 2023. The challenge is to read between four and eight books, ideally across four or eight literary genres respectively. Instructions and a reading record form are attached here. Please do encourage your child to take part and to use the relevant reading list for inspiration. At the start of the Michaelmas term, your child can hand in their form to their English teacher to receive a chocolate prize. The most committed reader in each year group will also receive a more substantial prize!
- Music:
- Reminder: Michaelmas Term Music Calendar – dates for your diary. Please click here to see the music diary planned for the Michaelmas Term 2023
- See other upcoming Music Events
- Second Hand Uniform Shop (SUS). SUS will be open on Monday 4 September (induction day) between 9am and 4pm. Thereafter it will be open every Wednesday (12.30-1.30pm) and Saturday (11am-12pm) during term time (with the exception of the final week of each term). Dates and times are available here. When visiting the shop, please park at Faringdon Lodge Reception. The postcode for this is OX14 1BQ.
- From the Chair of ASPA, Richard Stone:
- It is hard to believe another school year is ending. ASPA held our AGM at the end of last month and set out our plans for the next school year. In particular please note in your diaries that we will be hosting a Burns Night for all parents on Saturday 27 January in the new Pavilion facility – details will follow next term. We will also be hosting a free cheese and wine evening for new parents in the Lower School and 3rd year on Tuesday 10 and Thursday 12 October respectively. We will also be hosting another ASPA quiz in the summer term.
- The current ASPA committee comprises parents whose children are heading (too rapidly!) towards the end of their time at Abingdon. We would really welcome some new volunteers, either to help with specific events or, even better, to join the committee and in due course perhaps take on one of the roles running the Association. If you would like to volunteer please e-mail at [email protected]. Our next ASPA meeting will be at school on Monday 18 September. I wish you all an enjoyable summer break and look forward to seeing many of you at our events next year.
- OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events
- News from the week
- School calendar
- Weekly mailing archive
- Box Office: We are looking forward to hosting an array of dance and theatre shows over the summer at the Amey Theatre. From musical showcases and dance shows, to musical theatre workshops, there is something to keep the whole family entertained during the holidays.
- Early next term we have The Budapest Cafe Orchestra performing their “folk and gypsy-flavourer music’ here – tickets are now on sale!
- Fans of A Little Life, the million-copy bestseller by Hanya Yanagihara, will be pleased to hear that we will be screening the stage production here on Friday 29 September. Visit our website for tickets and details.
- We wish you all a pleasant Summer and look forward to welcoming you back to the Amey Theatre soon!
- Last chance to book summer sports camps at Abingdon School:
- Development Level Tennis Academy – pupils aged 11-15 years. This summer, Abingdon School’s Head Tennis Coach, Martin Butler, will run a development-level tennis camp that promises an enjoyable week full of skill development, gameplay and tactical aspects. This academy is aimed at development-level players who understand the basics of technique and can play competitive points. Available dates: Monday 24 – Friday 28 July 2023 – Click here to book. Monday 21 – Friday 25 August 2023 – Click here to book.
- High Performance Rugby, Athletic Development and Wellness Camp – pupils aged 8 to 15 years. This camp is designed to teach aspiring young athletes to move correctly, efficiently and safely, while building full body strength and balance. The camp is led by Sy Wiggall, a Strength and Mental Performance Coach with Oxford Harlequins and founder of the Oxford Youth Strength and Conditioning Academy. Pupils will be shown how to fuel themselves with the correct nutrition, breathe correctly and help them achieve a mindset for a happy, positive and successful sporting career. Available dates: Monday 24 July – Thursday 27 July – Click here to book.
- Performance Rugby Camp with OYSCA and Oxford Harlequins Coaches – pupils aged 8-15 years. The Performance Rugby Camp will allow players to fine-tune all aspects of their game, from the basics of catch, pass, and kicking, and the tactical elements of attack and defence. Each player will have access to a coach specialising in forward and back plays with experience coaching and playing in schools and senior men’s 1st XV environments. This camp will be led by Joe Winnpenny, who is head of Rugby at St. Edwards School and the scrum coach at Oxford Harlequins, he will be supported by Oxford Harlequins 1st XV players. Available dates: Monday 21 – Thursday 24 August 2023 – Click here to book.
- Please click here to browse the full range of courses and holiday camps available. Childcare vouchers are accepted as payment.
- We look forward to school beginning for all pupils on Tuesday 5 September. The timetable will be an A week. Best wishes for the holiday. The next weekly mailing will be on Thursday 31 August.
