Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents
I’ve enjoyed welcoming everyone back to school this week. The place does feel rather quiet with two year groups involved in public exams and our Lower Sixth taking their end-of-year exams this week.
I had an interesting conversation with some of the 4th Year students who took part in the History trip to Berlin over the half term break. It had clearly been a packed few days as they focused on two key historical themes: the rise of Nazism after the First World War and then the division of Berlin during the Cold War. Their visit had clearly made a real impression upon the students and certainly helped bring their studies to life. I’m grateful to Mr Knowland, Head of History, for leading the trip and to my colleagues who accompanied the group.
Big news in school this week is the move to summer dress, which is generally popular with students. As soon as we announced it at the start of the week, the temperature plummeted but the sun is now out and it’s looking good for a packed programme of tennis, athletics and cricket over the weekend. I hope it won’t be too hot for the large number of 4th Year students who’ll be completing their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award expeditions starting on Sunday; I wish them all the best with this.
Best wishes, Mike Windsor
MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOWER SCHOOL
WHOLE SCHOOL
- Term dates for 2024-25 can be found here.
- Music: A reminder of the main music events of the second half of term:
- Lower School Gala Concert, Friday 16 June, 6pm, Amey Theatre, admission free. This concert is our annual celebration of music-making in the Lower School, involving our 1st and 2nd years. The items include a range of solo performances, ensembles bands and singing from all members of the Lower School.
- Summer Concert – Orchestras, Bands, Friday 23 June, 7pm, Amey Theatre. Tickets from the Box Office. Our Summer Concert provides the termly platform for the students to show their work in the larger ensembles that meet to rehearse weekly – the three orchestras, Concert and Big bands, the Gospel Choir and our close harmony group. This is also the concert when you can hear the Leavers for the final time in school, especially if you can’t attend the pre-tour concert at the Sheldonian Theatre the following week.
- Arts Celebration Concert, Wednesday 28 June, 6pm, admission free, al fresco if fine. The Arts Celebration is traditionally the “Anything but Classical” event of the year – though we hope that the Lent Term Rock Concert will also become a regular fixture. Weather permitting, the event will be held al fresco on the bricks in front of Big School. Refreshments will be available. Do join us.
- Pre-Tour Concert, Friday 30 June, 7.30pm, Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. Tickets (without charge) from the Box Office. Our Pre-Tour Concert gives us a chance to present the pieces that the Big Band and the Orchestra will be taking with us on tour to Abingdon’s twin towns in France and Belgium, Tuesday 4 – Thursday 13 July. As well as the touring orchestra and Big Band we will also be inviting our Second Orchestra to perform their pieces in this inspiring venue. We are delighted that we can hear some Poulenc played by a trio of our exceptional musical leavers.
- From the ASPA Chair, Richard Stone: ASPA – We need you! AGM, Wednesday 21 June 7.30pm (Avernus)
- The ASPA AGM will take place in Avernus (the room next to the Dining Hall) at 7.30pm on Wednesday 21 June. ASPA, the Abingdon School Parents Association, is the overarching parents group that all parents associated with the school are automatically part of. Our objective is to foster support for the school and provide opportunities for parents to come together socially. We organise events such as the drinks for new parents, a quiz night, dinners etc. Some of these are purely social, others seek to raise funds to contribute towards specific school projects.
- During Covid our activities were inevitably almost entirely curbed. We have been rebuilding since then and now, as many of the current committee have children coming towards the end of their time at Abingdon we need fresh enthusiastic volunteers to help take ASPA forward into the future. If this could be you please consider volunteering to help – the Association ultimately is, and will do, whatever we collectively are able to do. Please come along to our AGM and step forward if you would like to be part of shaping ASPA’s future. Kindly let me know if you are coming just so that we have some sense of numbers at [email protected]. Some cheese and wine will be provided! I hope to see you on Wednesday 21 June.
- Reminder: Henley Royal Regatta – Friday 30 June 2023. Current and former parents, staff, and governors, are invited to join OAs for the OA Club’s strawberries and Pimm’s event at the Friends of Abingdon School Boat Club marquee in Henley Cricket Club car park during the afternoon tea interval (usually between 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm) on Friday 30 June 2023. No RSVP required.
- OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events
- News from the week
- Food menu for the following week – Week 2
- School calendar
- Weekly mailing archive
- Box Office:
