Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents
I’m writing this week from the annual HMC Conference, which takes place this year in the wonderful city of Edinburgh. The theme this year is ‘Enlightened Education’ and it’s a great opportunity to meet fellow Heads and to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that we face. This year’s conference is being held jointly with prep school Heads and I’ve enjoyed catching up with many Heads from our feeder schools.
I travelled to Edinburgh buoyed with enthusiasm after a successful Open Day last Saturday. I’m grateful to my colleagues and all the students who played such a crucial role in ensuring the day was a success. The students were brilliant ambassadors for the School and I enjoyed hearing some of their conversations with our visitors around the School where they gave thoughtful accounts of their experiences at Abingdon. I’m grateful to parents who ensured that students could get into school for this event.
Much as I am enjoying my time in Edinburgh, I’m also looking forward to getting back to Abingdon – notwithstanding train strikes – and hope to see some of you on the touch line at our fixtures on Saturday.
Best wishes, Mike Windsor
UPPER SCHOOL
- Parents of 6th Form Pupils: 6th Form Careers Evening with the Old Abingdonian Club, Friday 18 November 2022, 6-9pm, Yang Science Centre, Abingdon School
The Old Abingdonian Club, Abingdon School’s alumni association, will host its 9th annual 6th Form Careers Evening on Friday 18 November 2022, 6.00 to 9.00pm in the Yang Science Centre at Abingdon School (supper will be offered to all attending day students). Old Abingdonians (mostly at early and middle stages in their career) will provide insights and advice about their education and career journey to date. More than 25 different occupations will be represented. The event can help students decide what options to pursue after leaving Abingdon, and can inform longer-term career thinking and planning. Tomorrow, all 6th form students will hear about this event at 6th Form Assembly, and they will receive an email next week inviting them to register for the event. The deadline to register is Friday 4 November 2022. Please find a moment over the upcoming October half-term break to encourage them to register and attend. Please note that the event is for students only. Thank you for your support! Questions? Email [email protected]. - Parents of L6 Students: North American Universities Advice Evening Webinar – Thursday 1 December 2022. You and your L6 child are invited to attend the North American Universities Advice Evening Webinar on Thursday 1 December 2022, 6:30 to 8:15pm GMT on Zoom. Register here to get the webinar link and password. This webinar will provide detailed insights into all the important considerations required to decide whether or not to apply to—or attend—a uni in the USA or Canada. The focus of the webinar will be primarily on American universities, with some information on Canadian universities. Both North American options will also be compared to and contrasted with UK universities. There is much to consider! If you have any questions, email Michael Triff at [email protected].
- For parents of Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth pupils studying German – Oxford German Network: German Film Evening
MIDDLE SCHOOL
WHOLE SCHOOL
- World Mental Health Day Letter
- Hockey Club Ties. The new Hockey club ties can now be purchased from the Park Lodge reception. These are there for any student in the 3rd Year and above who has represented the school at Hockey. These will be available for purchase throughout the year so new students representing the Hockey Club for the first time can purchase at the start of the Lent term if needed.
- Sports Tours. This coming year there are a number of sports touring opportunities during the school holidays; if you require any further information on any of these planned trips please contact the Head of each sport. There will also be pre-season training in the holidays in advance of each season starting for many sports, this information can be found on the school calendar.
- Rugby: U14’s – October Half Term 2022 to Bath & Bristol; U15’s – October Half Term 2022 to the Langley Festival (Ipswich); Senior Squad – Summer 2023 to South Africa
- Hockey: Senior Squad – Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 December 2022, in country tour with the potential for fixture, location still to be confirmed. Unfortunately the Easter 2023 tour has been postponed until Easter 2024.
- Cricket: 4th Year & Lower Sixth; Monday 3 to Thursday 13 April to India
- Rowing: J16s & Senior Crews; Monday 10 – Saturday 15 April at Goring / Streatley (Training Camp)
- Fencing: Senior Squad – March 2023, Public Schools fencing in London
- Shooting: 2nd Years to Upper Sixth; Easter Holidays 2023 to Stade, Germany
- School Policies. Parents are reminded that all School Policies, including the Safeguarding Policy, are available under the “About” & then “Policies and Statements” menu of the website. They are reviewed and updated from time to time.
- Abingdon Michaelmas Fair Reminder: Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 October. Parents should expect that traffic flow in Abingdon will be severely disrupted by the Abingdon Fair. From 11pm on Saturday 8 October the entrance to the School is via the gate to the north of Park Crescent, on Faringdon Road. Gates at Victoria Road and Conduit Road will be locked until 6.30am on Wednesday 12 October. Please refer to this map showing alternative routes into Abingdon School during this period.
- Music:
- Abingdon and District Twinning Association Concert – Friday 7 October at 6.30pm in the Amey Theatre. Parents and friends are warmly invited to attend the above event which will be live-streamed to Abingdon’s twin towns in Europe and beyond. Our own chamber orchestra will be performing, together with an advanced senior piano trio playing some palm court music. Please consider joining us – tickets can be booked via the school’s website here.
- See other upcoming Music events.
- OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events.
- News from the week
- Food menu for the following week – Week 3
- School calendar
- Weekly mailing archive
- Development Level Tennis Academy – Places available during October Half Term – Monday 24 – Friday 28 October, (9.00am – 4.00pm on each day) for participants aged 11-14 years. This academy is an opportunity for players to take part in what promises to be 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. Led by Martin Butler, Abingdon School’s Head Tennis Coach. This academy includes:
- Before and after video analyses in order to measure improvement; Computer analyses of power, spin, contact point and serve motion; Tactical analysis; Match play with statistics after the match; Talks on mentality – how to constantly strive for the next level on the court; Talk through a professional recorded match. Learn what is happening technically and tactically to the top players
- Places are available immediately on a first come, first served basis. Please click here for more information and to book online.
- Box Office:
