Friday 12 June 2026
Head’s Weekly Update
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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Join us on Friday 19 June for a relaxed and enjoyable evening of live music performed by Pangbourne pupils. The event will be held on Devitt Lawn with stunning views across the beautiful North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
This family-friendly concert is the perfect way to spend a summer evening: bring a picnic, unwind with friends and family, and enjoy live performances that highlight the musical life of the College. This year we are delighted that some of our Trinity Drama pupils will also be performing as part of this event. It promises to be a fabulous evening.
Tickets are £15 per adult (under 18s free). Doors open at 18:00 and performances start at 19:00. To purchase your tickets please click on the link here.
Mr Don Gillthorpe, Director of Music
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Our Junior School (Years 7-9) Performance of Alice in Wonderland will be taking place on Monday 29 June at 19:00 - 20:00.
Join us to jump down the rabbit hole for a magical production of Alice in Wonderland. Join Alice as she meets the delightfully mad Hatter, the grinning Cheshire Cat, and the commanding Queen of Hearts in a topsy-turvy adventure that is sure to delight audiences of all ages. The theatrical treat is free of charge and there is no need to book tickets. Please do just come along for the evening with a picnic blanket or foldaway chairs at hand.
Ms Rebecca Atack, Head of Drama & PSHCE
All Parents:
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The Hideaways Club is offering one lucky winner a three-night stay in Île Saint-Louis in Paris. You will be staying in a gorgeous two-bed apartment, with beautiful views of the arcade of Hotel de Bretonvilliers and close to some of the city's most important and beloved historical sites, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the elegant Place des Vosges. To enter, simply visit Pangbournian Benefits and claim the prize draw offer!
Follow the link here to access these offers!
Mrs Lucinda Grafton, Director of Development and Community
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We are looking for interviewers to join us on Thursday 25 June for the Pangbourne Interview Day. This forms part of the Taking Responsibility Week and is an opportunity for the Lower Sixth to be interviewed by professionals to give them the experience and confidence in future interviews.
The day runs from 09:00 to 15:30 and lunch is included! Please fill in the Google Form here if you are able to give up your time to be an interviewer for the day. We would be very grateful for your support. Thank you.
Mr Werner Nel, Head of Careers
Year 7 - 8 (Dunbar)
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Please see the letter here about the Residential trip which will be taking place in September 2026 when your child will be in Year 9.
Mr Andy Crossley, Head of Outdoor Education
Year 9 - 11
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Please complete this form by Thursday 18 June so your child can take part in the Year 10 Flag Values Activities Day on Wednesday 24 June.
(awaiting write up)
Mrs Abbie Stephenson, Head of KS4
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(awaiting write up)
Mrs Abbie Stephenson, Head of KS4
Sixth Form
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A reminder that Lower Sixth Trials are week commencing 15 June - see the Trials timetable here and exam guidance here.
After the Trials, the year group will be off timetable as they take part in Taking Responsibility Week. There are a number of activities planned for the week including sailing, paddle-boarding, situational awareness, UCAS preparation, leadership tasks and community work.
Please complete the google form here confirming your child’s participation.
Ms Indy Kaur, Head of Sixth Form
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With just over 2 weeks to go until the final A Level exam on 22 June - the finish line is in sight!
I have been really proud of how the Upper Sixth have conducted themselves over the last few weeks and have everything crossed for this Summer.
Upper Sixth are expected back in College on Thursday 2 July to participate in Divisional events and prepare for Founders’ Day.
Ms Indy Kaur, Head of Sixth Form
Friday 12 June, 19:00 - 22:30
Illawarra Parents’ Divisional Dinner
Goring & Streatley Golf Club, Community
Sunday 14 June, 09:00 - 14:00
Falkland Islands Memorial Service 2026
Chapel, Community
Sunday 14 June, 09:00 - 14:00
Falkland Islands Memorial Service 2026
Chapel, Community
Monday 15 June - Friday 19 June
Year 10 and Lower Sixth Exams
Academic, Pupil
Thursday 18 June, 14:00 - 17:10
New Joiners 2026 Welcome Event
Admissions
Friday 19 June, 16:45 - 19:30
Year 7/8 Parents’ & Guardians’ Meeting
Academic
Friday 19 June, 19:00 - 21:30
Pangbourne Proms
Community
UPCOMING EVENTS
COLLEGE NEWS THIS WEEK
Englefield Schools Days 2026
On Wednesday and Thursday, groups of our Lower Sixth pupils went to Englefield Estate’s annual Schools Days. This two day event welcomes thousands of children and features over 25 activities and demonstrations. Our students ran an activity all about trees and timber. This is a great opportunity for our students to work in teams and lead an educational session with children from local primary schools.
Year 7 Create Footprint Tunnels in their Adventure Session
This week, Year 7 pupils developed their understanding of our natural environment on campus. Inspired by our recent discovery of 5 Barn Owlets nesting in the fields overlooking Devitt Lawn. Pupils understood how to track and identify local wildlife by their tracks and then constructed their very own footprint tunnels. Using animal safe products students set 3 footprint tunnels in Hesperus woods last Friday in the hope to capture the footprints left behind of our local wildlife as they pass through the trails. We are excited to see what we uncover next week when we retrieve the tunnels. To learn more about the wildlife in your garden or local area follow this link provided via the natural history website to construct your very own footprint tunnel.
Mr Alex Unsworth, Director of Adventure
Year 8 Camping Trip
Rectory Farm
The riders enjoyed a good level of success at the weekend.
There were educational rounds of jumping for our grassroots riders. Lola making her debut for Pangbourne with two super double clears. Lizzie also rode two lovely rounds, both gaining many compliments from spectators. Our team of Sophie, Izzy and Pip took 5th place in the 90cm.
Three of our riders gained their tickets to the National Championships at Addington Manor in October - just the top four riders qualify in each class. Izzy narrowly missed out on the win in the 80cm to take 2nd place, Pip placed 4th, just less than a second separated the top four riders! Olivia placed 4th in the 1.10m class, also qualifying her for the Nationals.
Our senior riders now look forward to the Hurstpierpoint Showjumping Championships at Hickstead at the end of June - the title they proudly won last year!
Mrs Stacey Donnison, Director of Riding
SPORT
Dunbar compete in District Athletics Event
Last Friday, Dunbar took part in the local athletics event, competing against schools from across Reading and Newbury in the district championships. With big smiles on their faces and plenty of enthusiasm, the team settled into the stands, ready for an exciting day ahead. After some time practising throws and relay baton handovers, our athletes were prepared to give their best.
Dunbar had an absolutely fantastic day, achieving some outstanding results across a range of events.
In the boys' competitions, Jago F and Alex C delivered an impressive performance in the 600m, finishing 1st and 2nd respectively. Noah M claimed 1st place in the 1000m, with Seb A securing a well-deserved 3rd place finish. Christian had an exceptional day, taking 1st place in the Long Jump and 2nd place in the 100m Sprint. JJ put in a tremendous effort in his long-distance race and also helped secure victory in his relay heat. George K stepped up to compete in both the Shot Put and 100m Sprint, narrowly missing out on a medal position in the Shot Put.
The girls also represented Dunbar brilliantly throughout the day. Ruby worked incredibly hard in the 1000m, finishing just outside the medal positions. Yaz, Ruth and Alexa all competed in the sprint events, with Ruth and Alexa progressing through their heats to reach the finals. Although they narrowly missed out on medals, they should be very proud of their performances.
To round off the day, both the girls' and boys' relay teams qualified for their respective finals, finishing in 4th and 6th place and bringing an exciting conclusion to a successful competition.
A huge thank you to all the parents who came along to support the team. Your encouragement throughout the day was greatly appreciated. Well done to all our athletes for their effort, determination and excellent sportsmanship.
Miss Izzy Peacock, Teacher of PE
DIVISIONAL UPDATES
Macquarie
As we approach the end of the exam season the division has been especially quiet with lots of Upper Sixth and Year 11 students finishing or coming to the end of their exams. We are so proud of them as they have all tried so hard. We are all excited to see them back in Macquarie when they return at the end of term.
Although the external exam season is coming to a close, internal exams have just begun for our remaining years in Macquarie with our Year 9 pupils having done theirs this week. Next week we have the Year 10 and Lower Sixth GCSE and A Level Trials, with all our students working really hard in the run up to them. We wish everyone good luck!
It has been fun and lively in house this week especially with our year 9 students returning from Llangorse on their week long expedition they went on last half term. We have also started our Macquarie sweepstake for the world cup with people in all years picking a team and adding it to the list.
Grace, Chief Cadet Captain of Macquarie
Hesperus
As the academic year progresses, Lower Sixth students will begin their exams on Monday 15 June, while Year 11 students continue their exam period; we extend our best wishes to all candidates for success in their exams. Last Friday, Hesperus held our Divisional Dinner, a memorable occasion marking an important milestone for the Upper Sixth students who will leave later this year following their final parade on Founders’ Day. In addition, Hesperus is currently preparing for the Divisional Drama production, which will feature performances inspired by Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia. Pupils and staff alike are looking forward to the event with great excitement. Finally, the Falkland Islands Service will take place this Sunday the 14 June, and all members of the community are warmly welcome to attend and share in the experience.
Phoebe, Chief Cadet Captain of Illawarra
The next boarding update will be on Friday 19 June.
BOARDING UPDATES
Boarding House Email Addresses
stgeorge@pangbourne.com
portjackson@pangbourne.com
adelaide@pangbourne.com