Friday 6 March 2026
Head’s Weekly Update
Academic Rigour
This term always looks gentle on paper but is a bit of a beast in reality as we try to squeeze in all of the work required to a shorter period of time. Each year the national exams start a few days earlier and we are pressed for time. The upside of this is that it ensures we make sure every second counts and are very intentional with the design of our model.
Year 11 and Upper Sixth parents and guardians received an email on Wednesday with the detail around optional study leave. As stated in that letter, we maintain a presumption against study leave and believe the evidence supports us in this. We will be taking the students through this on Monday 9 March after our assembly on International Women’s Day led by the brilliant Margot, Camilla and Niamh.
There are, as ever, a number of important upcoming academic dates for your diary:
Friday 13 March - Grade Card 7 published. Please do go through this at home and celebrate the wins and identify one or two areas to focus on. Year 11 Parents’ Evening. This is a chance to review subject by subject the latest Trials analysis and plan out the daily work required in the final few weeks before exams commence. Year 9 options choices due in. This is never an easy time for Year 9 as the GCSE programme necessitates a narrowing but the broad nature of our offer means the majority of post-16 pathways remain open regardless of GCSE choices.
Tuesday 17 March - Year 11 Sixth form subject choices submitted. This is a helpful metric for us as we build the timetable for next year. There is always a shake-out on results day in August as we look to finalise numbers and the total number of external candidates we are willing to accept.
Friday 20 March - Sixth form BTEC results. This date only concerns students studying for a BTEC but represents an important milestone for them.
Wednesday 25 March - Upper Sixth Parents’ Meeting.
Adventure
It was an incredible honour for the College to host Jess Rowe, OP and 4 x World Record Holder to come and talk to the community last Friday evening. Jess is at one and the same time an exceptional human being and very ordinary. She has achieved things few other people could dream of and yet remains humble, balanced and down to earth. Listening to her talk was at one and the same time terrifying and strangely calming. You could see that very little phases her and she would be the ideal companion to have in a crisis; when we are all panicking she would be singing!
It was a privilege to walk her around the site before the event and talk her through our adventure curriculum and enhanced facilities. What struck me was that during her time at Pangbourne, Jess threw herself into everything. She tried her hand at all that was on offer and through that, developed an incredible level of grit and resilience. She wasn’t the best at everything, but she was never put off by setback or failure. She is the very embodiment of what we are trying to achieve and it would be amazing in years to come to see a crew of Old Pangbournians breaking records and doing hard things. Jess is in the process of writing a book detailing her endeavours and we hope to have her back for the launch in the near future.
Staying with the theme of adventure, it is my deep desire that we can instil in Pangbournians a sense of adventure and the desire to go to remote places and do interesting things. Over the February Half Term I was fortunate to get up to Fort William for a few days and live in the remote CIC hut. The hut is situated at the foot of the North Face of Ben Nevis and is home to some of the wildest and most exciting ice and mixed climbing in the world. The hut has no running water, wind-powered electricity, is pretty chilly at night and sadly there is no shop nearby. Everything you need to survive from sleeping bag to food to all your climbing kit you must carry yourself on the 2½ hour walk uphill; normally accompanied by gale force winds and driving snow. The average winter climb on The Ben burns around 5,000 calories so you need to carry sufficient supplies with you. It is a deeply unpleasant experience but opens up a world of possibilities, even if you spend most of the walk up to the hut questioning your decision to come and trying to find an excuse to go home.
The beauty of a winter climb is that you cannot stop half-way and give up. You can’t ask the coach to sub you off and you can’t just let go. You will always climb yourself into a scenario where you are not sure you can carry on and where you don’t want to be; but you also find the resource within yourself to carry on, to commit to the experience and to come out the other side with a deeper knowledge of yourself and what you are capable of when you commit.
One of the routes we did was the thin seam of ice in the middle of the rock wall, that culminates in a slightly precarious series of 60m abseils back down to the ground, where you spend most of the time praying to only weigh 1kg.
So whilst there is obviously absolutely no comparison between a holiday in Scotland and rowing the Pacific, there is a common thread. That is my desire for Pangbourne to be synonymous with adventure and for us to know that it is through adventure that we develop the mindset to thrive in a complex and uncertain future.
At a time when the world of work is being thrown up into the air and many large companies are restructuring their workforce and automating elements of it, having an adventurous mindset, embracing hard things and remaining adaptable are deeply beneficial. I have sleepless nights worrying about Pangbournians and the future, about the need for grit, determination and bounce-back from failure. I worry that they are currently not as well prepared for the future as they need to be; that however well intentioned it might be, protecting our young people from setback, hardship, disappointment and having to delay gratification, is not in their long-term best interests and I am determined to ensure they are as well prepared as possible.
Community
At the start of the academic year, we were clear that we would wait to live in the Divisional spaces for a sustained period of time before reviewing them. Now that we have done a sustained period of time in the Divisions and understand the ebb and flow of life within them, we are going to carry out some additional works. In the first instance this will involve opening up more study rooms within each Division and converting the current larger study room into another comfy Common Room. Over the summer holiday, we will carry out more extensive internal works to reconfigure the spaces to provide three common rooms and separate study rooms within each Division. This will provide a great space for Pangbournians to relax, socialise and build strong habits alongside the existing large games room and galley space.
We are also hoping for a glorious summer and have purchased two volleyball nets to set up volleyball on Devitt Lawn. Our ambition is that students are outside socialising during break and lunch and enjoying the sunshine.
Mr Gillthorpe has written below about the brilliant Pangbourne Arts event held on Monday evening in the Chapel. It was an evening to nourish the soul and listen to world-class musicians perform in a space worthy of their talent. The most interesting element for me was having the music contextualised within the concept of exile. I am really looking forward to the next Pangbourne Arts event on Monday 11 May and highly recommend it to all.
One lesson we have learnt over the past two weeks is that if we are to ensure all our students can benefit from the visiting speakers and performers, we need to adapt our timetable accordingly on the day we have an evening event scheduled. So from now on, we are going to ensure that all students come to an afternoon showing of the lecture or performance before we hold the same event in the evening for the wider community. This ensures that all students, especially the ones who travel a significant distance to come to Pangbourne, can benefit from the wide array of events we are aiming to run.
Leadership
Our motto Fortiter ac Fideliter perfectly frames the Lower Sixth students who are currently going through the promotions process. We ran the first phase of our process to select the next Chief Cadet Captains of the College this week. This is nerve-wracking and highly pressured for the students but is also a great insight into their character and desire to fulfill the role. For a student to come into a room and be faced with a panel of four senior members of staff is quite terrifying. They all showed true bravery in confronting this fear head on and were faithful to the spirit of Pangbourne and their vision of its future. The panel were all blown away by their courage, calmness under pressure and love of the College. I look forward to the next round of the process and being in a position to announce the new student leadership team shortly.
Best wishes,
Oliver Knight
All Pupils & Parents: Years 7- Upper Sixth
Notices (Please click on the + sign to expand for full information)
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Our first Saturday College Parade will take place tomorrow, Saturday 7 March 2026. Please see the document here for more information including timings for the day.
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Join us on Wednesday 11 March at 18:30 for an engaging webinar led by Tom Poynter, Assistant Head Co-Curricular, as he explores the exciting Adventure Curriculum at Pangbourne.
Discover how the programme develops pupils throughout their time at the school: building resilience, teamwork, leadership, and confidence through a wide range of adventurous experiences.
During the session, Tom will:
Explain how the Adventure Curriculum supports pupils at each stage of their Pangbourne journey
Share examples of the activities and opportunities currently available
Reveal exciting future plans for expanding the programme
This is a great opportunity for parents and guardians to gain insight into one of the most dynamic aspects of life at Pangbourne.
For those wishing to join online please register through this Zoom link.
Mr Tom Poynter, Assistant Head Co-Curricular
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On Thursday 12 March at 19:00 in Chapel, we welcome James Cary's stand-up show, God, the Bible and Everything.
James has been one of Britain's leading comedy writers for the last 20 years, writing for Miranda Hart, My Family and Citizen Khan, his own series, Bluestone 42, as well as other series and episodes on BBC TV and Radio 4. We have previously hosted his plays, A Monk's Tale and The God Particle. According to James, his new show "explains the whole Bible, in one hour, with jokes, a big screen and a few props. And maybe even a song."
The event is open to students and staff, as well as parents and the wider community. Tickets will be £10 a head for parents and can be booked here.
The Reverend Neil Jeffers, College Chaplain
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This will be an opportunity for all members of the Pangbournian Community to hear more about the College Rowing programme and plans for the season ahead from the Director of Rowing, Ed Green. Further information about the new Boat Club development will also be shared by Lucinda Grafton, Director of Development & Community, at the meeting.
To sign up to attend the zoom meeting, please register here by Sunday 15 March. Zoom log in details will be shared ahead of the event. Thank you.
Lucinda Grafton, Director of Development & Community
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The much anticipated Pangbournian Community Quiz is back on 20 March at 19:30 in Mess Hall.
With Quizmaster Don Gilthorpe at the helm, it promises to be a fantastic night in aid of two great causes: Transforming Futures, the College's programme providing life-changing Sixth Form bursaries for young people who might not otherwise benefit from a Pangbourne education, and the College's partnership with the Nabugabo Community Learning Centre in Uganda.
Book your tickets here.
Mrs Lucinda Grafton, Director of Development
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We would like to provide an update regarding bus services on the last day of Lent Term, Friday 27 March 2026.
Due to the earlier finish of 16:45 on the final day of term and historically low pupil numbers using the evening bus services, our usual evening bus routes will not be operating on this date.
We wil, however, continue to run the station minibus service that evening for pupils travelling via train. If you require your child to travel home by bus on the evening of 27 March, please let us know in advance by contacting bursaryadmin@pangbourne.com
Should there be demand, we will arrange a bus (or buses) to accommodate those pupils. We kindly ask that parents contact us by 20 March to allow us to plan accordingly. -
Pangbourne offers solo and pair lessons in acting and communication courses with a specialist Trinity teacher and the are some spaces available to start in the Summer Term.
The Trinity Drama syllabus (comparable to LAMDA lessons) gives students professional style acting classes in a safe space to improve their theatrical technique, characterisation, vocal delivery, physical confidence and expression.
The Trinity Communication Skills syllabus teaches effective presentation and persuasive public speaking skills, articulate and engaging interview techniques, critical analysis and creativity. These lessons provide a perfect opportunity to help build confidence for personal and professional development.
Sign up now for the Summer Term (or September) and start a course that will give your child exceptional skills to stand out and be their best version of themselves.
Contact Mrs Dee Fallon, Head of Trinity, for more details, information on fees and to register your child.
Mrs Dee Fallon, Head of Trinity Drama
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Don’t forget to take full advantage of our school Library — a vibrant space full of exciting books, cosy reading corners, and learning resources for all ages. We’re proud to offer:
A rich catalogue of children’s fiction and non‑fiction
Graphic novels for every age and interest
Engaging audiobooks
Convenient e‑readers
The latest releases from popular and emerging authors
Curated reading recommendations to help your child discover new favourites
Our special Pangbourne Canoncollection, highlighting essential reads
Encourage Reading Conversations at Home:
Talking about books together is a great way to support your child’s reading development. Ask questions like “What was your favourite part?” or “Which character would you like to meet?” Share thoughts, predictions, and ideas about stories - it makes reading even more fun and meaningful!
Do you have a book to recommend?
We love hearing from parents! If you have a favourite book you’d like to suggest for our Library, please email us at vanessa.saunders@pangbourne.com.
Visit our Library page here.
Download the Library Booklet here.
Thank you for encouraging your child to explore new worlds through reading!
Happy Reading,
Mrs Sarah Kiernan-Webb, Head of English
Mrs Vanessa Saunders, Librarian
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Lions Sports Academy, one of the UK’s leading professional sports coaching academies, are hosting a 3 day rugby residential camp for boys aged 9-15 years old at Pangbourne College this Summer between Tuesday 18 - Thursday 20 August 2026.
The residential camps are designed to immerse young players in the life of a professional player and they focus on skill development, technical and tactical drills, physical fitness, and mental resilience. For more information, please see here.
Get 10% off by using the early bird code: Pangbourne10
Year 7 - 8 (Dunbar)
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This week in Dunbar we have launched our new competition with the four Watches. Each week, the Watches have an opportunity to score points in four ways:
Being the winner or runner up with the Watch uniform inspection
Being the winner or runner up with the most positives achieved by the Watch in the past 7 days
Head of Section prize - Each week, one Year 7 and Year 8 pupil are nominated by one subject (this week it was Science) for either outstanding performance or outstanding effort
Head of House prize - an award given to one Year 7 and one Year 8 for positive contribution to House culture
Pupils are shown the Watch standings every week. On the final assembly of this Lent Term (25 March), the final totals are calculated. The winning Watch will be able to enjoy their chosen reward at the beginning of the Summer Term.
In the first week of scoring, Forward achieved 10 points, Starboard 9 points, Port 6 points and Aft 1 point. Let's see if Aft can catch up next week!
Dr Ian Hart, Head of Dunbar (Junior House)
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Please do make a special effort to attend the parents' meeting next Friday. It is the last important touch point that we have to cement our approach in the final few weeks before exams. It is vital that both you and your child hear the messages which teachers will share about individual next steps in order to make as much progress as possible from now to when exams start in May. Time will start speeding up now, so making the most of every opportunity to improve is really important.
Booking opens today, Friday 6 March at 18:00 on School Cloud and a user guide can be found here, should you need it.
The easiest way to access School Cloud is via the College Portal here, then click the 'Parent Evenings' tile on the dashboard. You should be automatically logged in.In advance of the meeting, a report will be generated from the new Pupil Progress system which will give detailed feedback on Trials performance. This will be uploaded to the Portal and will be visible in the 'My Child's Documents' section. Teachers will also have hard copy versions at the meeting.
I teach a Year 11 English class myself, so I will have appointments with them, but please do feel free to catch me either at the start or end of the evening or in any gaps which I have, if there is something which you would like to chat about.
Mrs Abbie Stephenson, Head of KS3
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The Year 11 end of year celebration will be on Monday 15 June - straight after the whole cohort Physics exam finishes. I have asked Year 11s to volunteer themselves to be on the organising committee for this. Last year we had a BBQ, ice cream van, inflatables and mini-golf. We had a lovely relaxed time out on Big Side for a few hours - but it will be up to this year's cohort to determine what they would like!
Mrs Abbie Stephenson, Head of KS4
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We are delighted to offer two online literary lectures this March to enrich and extend our A Level Literature provision.
Monday 16 March, 16:00 – Keats’s Odes
Monday 23 March, 16:00 – Othello: Motiveless Malignity?These lectures will be delivered by Dr Diana Hallam, an Oxford graduate and highly experienced teacher and A Level examiner. Drawing on the latest scholarship, Dr Hallam offers engaging, critically sophisticated and contextually rich analysis designed to stretch students and elevate academic performance.
The first lecture explores the richness and development of Keats’s great odes, placing them in dialogue with one another and tracing his poetic voice through to To Autumn.
The second examines the nature of Iago’s evil in Othello, engaging with Coleridge’s famous phrase “motiveless malignity” while considering historical context, critical debate and changing interpretations of the play.
All A Level Literature students in Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth are expected to attend. The event is also open to Pangbourne Scholars and to Year 11 students who have chosen A Level Literature as an option.
Further details will be shared directly with students. The online event will take place in school during Monday activity time.
Mrs Sarah Kiernan-Webb, Head of English
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We are delighted to share details of an exciting opportunity for our Year 10 pupils to support their GCSE English Literature studies.
The Macbeth Revision Tour will be visiting Woking on 13 April. This performance is specially designed to support students in their understanding of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which is a key component of the Year 11 Literature course and an important part of their GCSE coursework.
The production focuses on key themes, characters, and relevant scenes, helping to deepen students’ knowledge and boost confidence ahead of their coursework. Seeing the play performed live can greatly enhance understanding of character motivations, dramatic techniques, and Shakespeare’s language.
We strongly encourage families to consider taking advantage of this valuable revision opportunity in preparation for the upcoming coursework during the Easter holidays.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Mrs Sarah Kiernan-Webb, Head of English
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I hope you found the Parents’/Guardians’ Meeting on Wednesday informative to gain both feedback on academic progress as a whole and the GCSE Options process.
I would like to remind all parents that I will be publishing the final GCSE Options choices form to pupils on Monday 9 March. Pupils are advised to complete this during their Tutor period on Monday morning, but if they do require additional time (if they are still deciding between a subject), the final deadline is Friday 13 March.
After this deadline, we will assess demand for each GCSE subject which enables us to plan for teaching and create appropriate sized classes for when your child begins their course in September. This planning begins immediately, which means that if there is a change of mind after Friday 13 March, we will always endeavour but cannot guarantee to accommodate a further change of subject choice.
Given the above, I would be grateful if this weekend, you would be able to have one final conversation with your child on their intended choices for when they come into school on Monday. We will be communicating your child's final subject choices with you as soon as we've confirmed the combination choice is acceptable.
Thank you for all your support.
Mr Anthony Hammond, Head of KS3
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Please take the time to read the Ulink Summer Immersion programme letter from Mr Knight.
This letter has also been sent to you by email.
Year 9 - 11
Sixth Form
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We are delighted to offer two online literary lectures this March to enrich and extend our A Level Literature provision.
Monday 16 March, 16:00 – Keats’s Odes
Monday 23 March, 16:00 – Othello: Motiveless Malignity?These lectures will be delivered by Dr Diana Hallam, an Oxford graduate and highly experienced teacher and A Level examiner. Drawing on the latest scholarship, Dr Hallam offers engaging, critically sophisticated and contextually rich analysis designed to stretch students and elevate academic performance.
The first lecture explores the richness and development of Keats’s great odes, placing them in dialogue with one another and tracing his poetic voice through to To Autumn.
The second examines the nature of Iago’s evil in Othello, engaging with Coleridge’s famous phrase “motiveless malignity” while considering historical context, critical debate and changing interpretations of the play.
All A Level Literature students in Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth are expected to attend. The event is also open to Pangbourne Scholars and to Year 11 students who have chosen A Level Literature as an option.
Further details will be shared directly with students. The online event will take place in school during Monday activity time.
Mrs Sarah Kiernan-Webb, Head of English -
There are a number of imminent deadlines that students are working towards over the coming weeks. They are being supported in the Sixth Form and by subject teachers. I am encouraging them to stay organised and manage competing demands on their time as they also prepare for the summer exams.
As they receive their Trial results, students will be encouraged to be reflective on their revision planning, exam techniques and how they are accessing support with attendance at clinics.
Ms Indy Kaur, Head of Sixth Form
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Please see the letter sent to Upper Sixth parents this week here.
Saturday 7 March, 08:30-09:30
Class of 2026 Upper Sixth Parents’ Celebration Breakfast
Mess Hall, Upper Sixth
Saturday 7 March, 09:00-11:40
Fifth College Parade of the Year
Chapel, Parade Ground
Tuesday 10 March, 08:50-10:50
New Joiner September 2026 Parent Information Event
Old Library, External, Admissions
Wednesday 11 March, 18:30-19:15
Webinar Wednesday: The Adventure Curriculum
Parent/Guardian, Online
Thursday 12 March, 16:30-21:00
District Final - Rotary Youth Speaks Competition
Academic, Competition
Thursday 12 March, 19:00-20:30
Stand Up Comedy Night - God, the Bible and Everything
Chapel, Community
Friday 13 March, 16:30-20:00
Year 11 Parents’ & Guardians’ Meeting
Drake Hall, Academic, Year 11
UPCOMING EVENTS
COLLEGE NEWS THIS WEEK
OP and Record-breaking Ocean Rower Jess Rowe Speaks to the Wider Community
On Friday 27 February, Old Pangbournian and record-breaking ocean rower Jess Rowe returned to Pangbourne College to share her extraordinary story of adventure, resilience and teamwork. Her visit included a full day engaging with students and a special evening talk open to the wider community.
During the day, Jess met pupils across all age groups, including pupils from Pangbourne Primary School and the College's senior rowers and delivered a keynote talk. She recounted her record-breaking six-month Pacific Ocean crossing with teammate Miriam Payne as part of the Seas The Day ocean rowing team.
The duo rowed non-stop and unsupported for over 165 days, covering more than 8,200 nautical miles from Peru to Cairns, Australia, becoming the first all-female team to complete a mainland-to-mainland Pacific crossing setting a Guinness World Record.
In the evening, a public talk welcomed the wider Pangbournian Community, providing a rare opportunity to hear first hand from a world-class adventurer whose journey made global headlines.
Mrs Lucinda Grafton, Director of Development & Community
A Level History Study Day at Hampton Court Palace
A visit to Hampton Court Palace is rarely a day wasted, especially in the glorious spring sunshine. On Wednesday our Sixth Form historians were lucky enough to attend an A Level Henrician Reformation Study Day with over 200 other students studying the Tudors. For our Upper Sixth students involved, it was a good opportunity to revisit one of the key events of the Tudor century in preparation for the fast-approaching summer exams, whilst for the Lower Sixth it was a chance to put their freshly-acquired knowledge about this particular period to the test in a setting where many of the main protagonists lived, walked and operated from.
The day started with a keynote speech on Thomas Cromwell by the self-declared Cromwell obsessive Tracy Borman, a highly-esteemed historian and author based at the Palace. Guided tours explaining the history of the site and exploring the root causes of the Reformation followed, along with the chance to have audiences with both Thomas Cromwell and Anne Boleyn themselves. In all, the day was a useful reminder to the students of the key debates surrounding this aspect of Tudor history, and a reminder that many other students are working hard towards the same exam goals.
In two weeks time on Thursday 19 March, Pangbourne hosts its own Tudor Symposium at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel. Saira MacNicol, who organised the Study Day at Hampton Court as head of their Schools team, has agreed to come to speak about the Tudor World. Alongside her we are welcoming two further Oxford academics and a church historian to provide four hours of expert lectures to send our students off into the Easter break inspired, refreshed and prepared to further secure the knowledge and understanding needed to flourish in their summer exams. With over 140 students from a range of local and not so local schools attending, it promises to be another fulfilling day of Tudor scholarship.
Mr Ben Mcleod, History Teacher
Pangbourne Arts
Pangbourne Arts launched its new professional concert series on Monday 2 March with a captivating lecture recital, The Landscape of Exile, held in the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel. Soprano Katy Thomson and pianist Rustam Khanmurzin gave wonderful performances, while a fascinating talk from musicologist Katy Hamilton brought to life the stories of the composers whose works we heard so brilliantly performed.
The next concert in the series will take place on Monday 11 May at 19:30, when the acclaimed all-female vocal ensemble Papagena presents their concert, Tomorrow is Today. Pangbourne families can purchase half-price tickets using the code PANGBOURNE50. Further details and tickets are available here.
(If you'd like a taster of the sort of thing to expect from Papagena, check out their YouTube channel here.
Mr Don Gillthorpe, Director of Music
Marching Band Outreach Afternoon
Our Marching Band enjoyed a fantastic afternoon on Tuesday as we welcomed visiting musicians from Eton End and Bishopsgate School to join us for a rehearsal in the Chapel and on the parade ground. The session gave the prep school pupils the chance to experience playing in a large ensemble whist also embracing the challenge of marching and playing at the same time.
Mr Nicholls was impressed by the visitors’ enthusiasm and their willingness to have a go at both the music and the drill. It was also wonderful also to see several of our senior pupils stepping up to help lead sections of the drill practice, supporting and encouraging the younger players throughout the afternoon.
Mr Don Gillthorpe, Director of Music
World Book Day
KS3 pupils and staff celebrated World Book Day this week in fantastic style by dressing up as their favourite book characters. From rabbits and pigs to witches, bears and even the occasional diva, the library was buzzing with many of our best-loved literary characters.
We were also delighted to announce the winner of our World Book Day “Design a Book Cover” competition. Congratulations to Hettie, whose winning design has been enlarged and displayed on the library doors for everyone to enjoy.
World Book Day is an important date in our school calendar, helping to highlight the many developmental and emotional benefits of reading for pleasure and encouraging our students to discover the joy of books.
Mrs Vanessa Saunders, Librarian
STEM Networking Event
Last night we hosted the latest in our Future Pathways Networking & Careers events, this time focusing on opportunities within the STEM industries. We were delighted to welcome an outstanding group of delegates who are leaders in their respective fields.
Throughout the evening, students had the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, clinical research and engineering. They also benefited from speaking directly with representatives from leading organisations such as Google, Microsoft, Williams Formula 1 and BAE Systems.
Events like these provide invaluable insight into future career pathways, allowing students to ask questions, hear first-hand experiences and gain a deeper understanding of the exciting opportunities within STEM.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of the delegates who so generously gave their time and shared their expertise in support of our Careers programme. Their contribution is greatly appreciated.
Mrs Sue Carpenter, Senior Development Officer
A Level RS Trip to London
Mr Jeffers and Ms Bond took the A Level RS students to London yesterday. It was a beautiful spring day in the capital. The Regent's Park mosque and British Museum enhanced our understanding and experience of Islam. The British Library had a special exhibition for the 500th anniversary of Tyndale's first New Testament in English, with one of only 3 remaining copies in the world of the original 1526 edition. We had lunch in Russell Square and dinner at Pizza Express which rounded the day off happily!
Reverand Neil Jeffers, Head of Religious Studies
Lottie’s Riding Success
Well done to Lottie who performed fantastically at the show jumping competition last weekend. Lottie has been working tirelessly all winter, training in all weather and dark evenings all to try to qualify to compete at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead in July. She’s been competing against the very top junior riders in the country every other weekend showing immense resilience, grit and determination and it finally paid off on Sunday when she took one of only two qualifying spots in an intense three round competition with two jump offs. What a great achievement.
Lottie will now be in training until July when the final competition is at the Royal International Horse Show with all the top show jumping talent from around the world.
SPORT
Boys U18A Football Fixture vs St Edward’s School
The 1st XI played St Edward’s at home on Saturday afternoon. We knew going into the game that this would be a tough test given the 8-0 defeat last year, however spirits were high given recent performances and improvements that have been made. We started the game strongly and created two key moments which could have led to us taking the lead. Having applied significant pressure in the first 25 minutes we conceded two disappointing goals and went in at half time 0-2 down. In the second half the response was magnificent and we halved the deficit (1-2) which led to an enthralling last 15 minutes. As we pushed for an equaliser we were caught out at the back and succumbed to a 1-3 defeat. Many positives to take from the game and I am sure there will be more victories in the coming weeks.
Mr James Purdue, Head of Football
Boys’ U18B Football Fixture vs St Edward’s School
The 2nd XI played St Edwards at home on Saturday afternoon, after a good start we went 1 down to a well worked St Edward’s goal. Our confidence thereafter seemed to drop and we stopped playing with the intensity and quality that we see in training. We had a couple of chances in the first half but could not capitalise. A couple of avoidable errors in key areas were punished by the opposition. We did manage to pull one goal back in the second half after some excellent pressure from Harry C. Well done to Will P for stepping up as our goalkeeper having already played in the morning for the U15s. A 3-1 defeat was on reflection a fair result against a team who did play better football together.
Mr Andy Sumner, Football Coach
Boys U18D Football Fixture vs Abingdon School
The Pangbourne U18D side delivered a display of pure grit in a narrow 2-1 defeat to Abingdon School. The match began with a mountain to climb after Abingdon converted a penalty following a tenacious, if slightly over-eager challenge from Albert in the box. A second goal soon followed - a mix of fancy footwork and fortune, leaving the ‘Mighty 4ths’ two goals down.
The second half, however, saw a total transformation. Pangbourne emerged as a relentless ‘iron wall’ in defence, winning individual battles through sheer persistence and a high press. The highlight of the comeback attempt was a ‘peach’ of a cross from Charlie J that found Will H at a full gallop; his strike narrowly whistled past the post, agonizingly close to a certain goal.
Pangbourne’s renewed energy eventually forced a mistake from Abingdon, leading to a clinical penalty to pull one back. While the clock eventually ran out on the comeback, the second-half performance showed a team in peak physical form and tactical sync.
Mr Joe Mills, Director of Sport
Boys U15A Football vs Abingdon School
The U15As faced a challenging Saturday morning away at Abingdon, falling behind early after a sluggish start. While the opening goal spurred the boys into gear, leading to flashes of improved possession and cohesive play, Abingdon remained clinical, adding a second just before the break. Pangbourne returned for the second half with renewed energy and several spells of sharp interplay, yet despite their persistent pressure and best efforts, they simply could not find the back of the net. Ultimately, Abingdon’s efficiency in front of goal ensured they came away as deserved winners on the day.
Mr Ben Sainsbury, Football Coach
Boys U14B Football vs Abingdon School
It was a very scrappy and contested game which ended in a 1-1 draw. The boys created the best chances of the game and with a bit more accuracy in front of the goals should have scored two or three more. Unfortunately, Abingdon managed to stay in the game and scored on one of their very few chances they created. Despite dominating the second half, the boys never managed to score the winning goal.
Mr Fabrice Vie, Football Coach
Girls’ 1st XI Football vs Charterhouse School
The Girls’ 1st XI travelled to Charterhouse this week for one of the most prestigious dates on the school football calendar. Competing in a massive 24-team field featuring the absolute titans of school girl football our squad didn’t just participate; they commanded respect.
The morning began in a highly competitive group of six. The girls showed their intent early, securing marquee victories against the likes of Bradfield and Bedales. The football was crisp, the energy high, and the tactical discipline evident. Despite the calibre of the opposition, we secured a 3rd-place finish in the group, comfortably qualifying for the Plate Quarter-Finals.
The Quarter-Final pitted us against the hosts, Charterhouse. It was a daunting task, but the girls were unfazed. Racing out of the blocks, we dominated the opening exchanges to take a clinical 2-0 lead. Having established dominance, the team showed a different side to their game sitting back and defending with absolute confidence to see out the win and punch a ticket to the Semi-Finals.
The Semi-Final provided the afternoon’s most heart-stopping drama. Trailing 1-0 with less than a minute on the clock, the girls refused to accept defeat. A late, surging equaliser forced the game into extra time, shifting the momentum entirely. In the added period, Laurel J found the back of the net to seal a sensational comeback victory and set up a final against the nation’s top sporting powerhouse: Millfield.
Facing Millfield, our girls produced their best performance of the day. They matched their opponents physically, winning 50/50 tackles and competing for every scrap of possession.
At the end of full-time, the deadlock remained at 0-0. It was a physical game and our girls stepped up to this. Deep into extra time, Millfield managed to scramble a goal home during a chaotic goalmouth scramble. While the match ended 1-0, the result hardly told the full story.
While the entire squad was magnificent, three players were particularly influential throughout the day:
Laila B: A constant threat whose vision kept the team moving.
Lillia H: A powerhouse in transition, breaking up play and driving us forward.
Laurel J: Clinical in the big moments and tireless in her work rate.
This tournament proved how far this programme has come. To compete week-in and week-out with the top schools in the country is a testament to the girls' growth.
Mr Frankie Rogan, Football Coach
Girls’ 2nd XI Football vs Charterhouse School
The girls’ 2nd XI attended the Charterhouse Girls Football Tournament on the weekend. Surrounded by some fantastic teams the girls were high in spirit and ready to play football. In our pool we played Bradfield 1st team, Millfield 1st team, Canford and Highgate. With some fantastic football on show and support from the side lines we were through to the bowl competition against our competitors…Wellington. The girls were ready to win and ready to go, with a superb overhead shot by Tiara we were 1-0 up in 7 minutes. With a last minute goal from Wellington, the end score was 1-1. This meant sudden death, with every 30 seconds a player had to be removed from the pitch! Daisy in goal, made some fantastic saves meaning the game kept going, taking a player off and carrying on. We were down to 1vs1 on the pitch, with a superb shot from Wellington the game was finished. This was one of the best competitive games I have experienced as a PE Teacher and on a whole was a fantastic day out. Big thank you to all the parents who came to support and watch, your cheering and positivity on the side lines was just what our team needed to make the day even more special.
Miss Izzy Peacock, Football Coach
Girls’ U15A Football vs Charterhouse School
A visit to the beautiful Charterhouse site was the venue for the U15A team on Saturday, and some of the first sunshine of the year granted us lovely conditions in which to play.
We were expecting strong opposition and the talk before the game focused on coming out of the traps quickly, competing hard for the ball, and ensuring we could allow ourselves the chance to make opportunities to score. However after a discussion with the opposition coach, it was clear that the Charterhouse team might not be as strong as expected, and they had come off the back of a dispiriting heavy loss in their previous match. We duly dominated possession and territory in the first half of the match, and generated plenty of shooting chances. We were 4-0 up at half-time with goals from Ori (x2), Amelia Q & Genny E, and it was clear that the second half needed managing to ensure a competitive fixture. The girls responded superbly, with Genny, who had been one of our most threatening players in the first 25 minutes, offering to take Annie W’s place in goal. We restructured the team slightly, and we also emphasised the importance of playing elegant passing football, getting the whole team involved rather than pressing directly towards the goal at every opportunity. We allowed the opposition to play additional players from their subs bench if they wished, and the second half was certainly a closer affair, with only the one additional goal for Pangbourne, coming from Chloe S.
The final score was 5-0, and it was a result and a performance to be proud of. Thanks to the many visiting parents who supported us, and well-done to the whole team.
Dr Ian Hart, Football Coach
Girls’ U13 In2Hockey Tournament
The U13 girls attended the In2Hockey tournament at Reading Hockey Club last Thursday. The girls were super excited to play some hockey as it had been a while! They played 8 games of 15 mins each so a lot of hockey for those who haven't picked up a stick since last term! Despite this, they played very well together and had a lot of fun. They displayed good sportsmanship despite a few losses but their determination to improve cannot be faulted. They won their last game which was testament to their hard work.
Miss Georgia Jones, Director of Hockey
DIVISIONAL UPDATES
The next Divisional update will be on Friday 13 March.
Date for your Diaries
The Divisional Dinners will be held on the below dates next term. Please do add these to your diaries. The booking form links will be sent out after half term to book your tickets. Parents from all year groups are welcome to attend.
Friday 17 April - Macquarie
Friday 5 June - Hesperus
Saturday 6 June - Harbinger
Friday 12 June - Illawarra
BOARDING UPDATES
Adelaide
The Half Term break was most welcomed by us all. I would say that the first six weeks of this term, with dark mornings and evenings, is the toughest time of the year and getting to half term puts that behind us as the days start to lengthen. A chance to recharge for some but for others there was no peace for the wicked.
Ben B and Alex O attended the rowing camp here at the College. Unfortunately there was no action on the river due to water levels being too high but instead an opportunity to put oneself to the test on the rowing machines, bikes and gym sessions. Well done to George W who completed his lifesaving qualification. Ed B and Jude R on the other hand went further afield to New York on the A Level Photography trip. You know a trip is successful when the talk is all about food and portion sizes and what better trip than to get photos of it as well! Harry B headed for Portugal to play rugby and his summary of his time is included below:
“During Half Term I went to Portugal to represent UR7s National Academy in an International 7s two day tournament. Many teams were in attendance including the National sides of Spain, Belgium and Monaco. We played three group stage games on the first day and won all three. We did not concede a point all day and managed to win each game by 50 points or more. On the second day, we played two teams in the morning and beat both convincingly. This put us through to the final against Joe's Rangers where we beat them 26-20.”
On returning for the second half of term, Upper Sixth and Year 11 faced the last round of Trials, whilst the rest of the year groups got back into the swing of things with the week ending in a fantastic and inspirational presentation by Old Pangbournian, Jess Rowe, for parents and boarders in the Chapel on Friday evening.
Adelaide took on new leadership for the second half of term with Mr Edward Williams stepping up to the role of Head of House and Mr Dan Atkins being appointed Deputy Head of House. For many of the boys, Dan is already a familiar and energetic presence; he spent much of January running the gym sessions for our boarders, where his enthusiasm and expertise were immediately evident.
Dan is an Old Pangbournian (OP) who left the College in 2019, so he understands the unique DNA of our community. Having been a boarder himself during his time at Pangbourne, he possesses a first-hand perspective on the joys and challenges of boarding life, making him an invaluable mentor for the boys.
Mr Edward Williams, Head of Adelaide
Port Jackson
The first two weeks of the second half of term in Port Jackson have been focused and productive, with many of our pupils fully immersed in study and revision as they prepare for their upcoming GCSE and A Level mock examinations. The house has had a purposeful atmosphere in the evenings, with boys making excellent use of prep time, supporting one another with revision, and working hard to put themselves in the best possible position for their mocks. It has been great to see such commitment and determination across the house.
Away from the desks, the competitive spirit has been alive and well with the Six Nations Fantasy Rugby league. The race to be crowned the number one team in Port Jackson continues to heat up, with Rounds 2 and 3 now complete. Each round winner has enjoyed their well-earned Thursday night feast, while those finishing at the bottom of the table have bravely faced the dreaded ice bucket challenge – much to the amusement of their housemates!
Looking ahead, all of our full boarders will be taking part in The Great Tommy Sleep Out 2026 on Saturday 21 March. This important event raises both awareness and funds to support homeless veterans, a cause that we are proud to stand behind as a house community. The boys will be spending the night sleeping outside in solidarity and to better understand the challenges faced by those who have served their country.
Our aim is to raise as much awareness and funding as possible for this fantastic cause. Any donation, big or small, will be gratefully received. If you would like to support the boys and contribute to this meaningful initiative, donations can be made via the following link here.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Port Jackson and the many opportunities our boys embrace both academically and as a community.
Mr Paul Radford, Head of Port Jackson
St George
We have enjoyed having the girls back in house and hearing about their Half Term breaks. Those that have undergone an exam week, have had a positive and mature attitude towards their exams and dedicated time towards revision, which we are very proud of. In the past two weeks, the girls have enjoyed a variety of activities from yoga, to a belated pancake day celebration, to a celebration of the 'Festival of Colours'. Over the upcoming week we will be playing dodgeball, tennis and preparing cards/gifts for Mother’s Day for the important women in our boarders' lives.
Ms Shannon Flynn, Head of St George
Boarding House Email Addresses
stgeorge@pangbourne.com
portjackson@pangbourne.com
adelaide@pangbourne.com