Head’s Highlights (Speech Day 2024)
In line with the College’s focus, we have developed free learning weeks across the year, including International Women’s Day, Mental Health Week, and Pride and Neurodiversity Weeks. Each year group has focussed on serving our community in different ways, and the afternoon’s fair for AFRiL is a particularly good example. In Sport, we have been inspired to see all the pupils enjoying all the matches and different sports they have tried and excelled at. The pupils have achieved significant victories and success in cricket, hockey, swimming, and all the other sports. In Dance and Drama (and we should always use those words together these days as they are so integrated), all the pupils have had their opportunities to sing, perform, move and dance at the front of many stages across the year, whether those are in significant productions or class assemblies. Our House competitions are a very significant part of our lives and the year. There are new and exciting competitions, and this year saw us introduce House Geography (‘Your favourite place on Earth’), House Art (a portrait of your mum for International Women’s Day) and, of course, Super-Sized House singing, amongst others. We have had trips across the country, with all of Year 4, 5 and 6 travelling to the revamped Field Centre and Year 3 enjoying camping overnight in Sussex. I was lucky enough to attend that trip, but I must remember to pack a full adult sleeping bag next year—I was a bit cold! Before we celebrate Year 6, I do want to mention that we have all missed one of our pupils this term, Jayden T, Year 6, who has been seriously ill (in and out of hospital). We wish him and his family the best of luck and a quick recovery. Finally, I would love to take this opportunity to recognise and thank the staff for all they have done this year. I always say to prospective parents how they have often chosen the school on the basis of the reputation, the buildings, the websites and the tours, but they find it very difficult to get to know the staff. However, it is the staff who make the College and the Junior School so successful. Personally, I would like to thank the SMT team and those in the Office who personally support me so much. Next year, we will reshuffle the teaching groups, and we know that will continue to evolve the school and make it even better. Sadly, we must say goodbye to a staff member after 25 years of dedicated service to the College and the Junior School. Richard Oubridge has had multiple roles as a form teacher in Years 4 to 6, as a hockey coach, maths, history and geography teacher, organised the timetable and the cover lessons and the trips coordinator. He has been selfless, dedicated and passionate about supporting all the pupils in his care. We wish him a relaxed and enjoyable retirement, though a little bird tells me we may see him back next year doing the odd bit of hockey and sports coaching. I leave my final words to the pupils. One of the pupil year group entries sums up so much of our year and what we all love about the Junior School. ‘It is a diverse and kind-hearted school. They encourage their students to be better than they already are, and they give us a sensational education’.
n Today, we come to the Great Hall to look back on our year in the Junior School and, in particular, to recognise and celebrate all that the Year 6s have achieved and become over their time before they move into the Lower School in September. They have recently received their Year Book, to which they have all contributed. Huge thanks to all the parent team (and staff) who have helped put that together. It has been lovely to read their reflections on their time. We have learned some fascinating facts from their entries. One of them was born on a sofa. One got stuck in a toilet, not realising they should pull the door when they thought it was push. In 20 years’ time, one of the pupils thought he would be … ‘taller’! Meanwhile, another boy, beautifully, hoped he would be travelling with a nice girlfriend around the world. Ahh. Looking at the year, we can see that, academically, we have had another bumper crop of 11+ scholarships, super results in the maths challenges (UKMT and PMC) and have really developed our focus on reading. Our Book Week and author visits across the year have been so impressive that they have included Eoin Colfer and AF Steadman – some of the leading children’s authors of the moment. Our Symposium on the theme of Connections and Communication was as deep and inspiring as ever, whilst the Great Exhibition brought out some stunning presentations and research as diverse as ‘The future of North Korea’, ‘Is technology affecting our Mental Health’ and ‘What is inflation and why does it matter?’ One of the huge successes this year has been implementing our co- education collaboration programme with Sydenham High and JAGS. We have ensured that each year group has had an event in each of the terms to promote diverse activities and bring the children together. Year 3 had collaborative art, team building and engineering. Year 4 were able to do a Forest School session, Philosophy and French. Year 5 worked together on an economics task, a puppetry activity and a multisports session. Finally, in Year 6, a modern tech workshop (including flying drones), Forest School and a Top of the Form quiz event. We have received some super feedback from all the children about the benefits these sessions have given them, and we will continue to build on those next year. Though, I have to say, some of the spellings of some French delicacies need to be improved (‘panachocala’, was my favourite). Pastorally, as I have just hinted at, we have increasingly brought in the power of ‘pupil voice’, where we ask the pupils for their input and opinions. We now have multiple committees for the pupils to provide leadership to their peers across the school. The School Council, the EDI committee, International Ambassadors and Eco Committees (along with the Prefects, Librarians and House Officers) have given us a rich input to evolve our community. One huge area of success this year has been Junior School music and, I would particularly like to highlight the effort of Ms Wilcox in developing this. All aspects of music engagement and participation have been at their highest ever in terms of the numbers in the orchestra, choirs, ensembles, quartets and amount of pupils taking individual lessons, along with the variety of concerts and participants in those concerts. Finally, the number of music scholarships to the Lower School have been at their highest levels. A couple of particular highlights should be the Wombat Stew performance by the Year 3 strings, and the breakfast beat percussion and drums concert, the Foundation Schools concert with JAGS and Alleyn’s in the Great Hall in addition to the Magic Flute Opera workshop with Dulwich Wood Primary. It was all spectacular and memorable.
Thank you, and well done for a fantastic year.
Dr Griffiths June 2024
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