Friday 12 December 2025
Carol Service
We were extremely disappointed to have to end the term without our Carol Service. This is a mainstay of the College calendar and the choir and band have put an awful lot of work into preparing for it. As such, we have decided to have an Epiphany Carol Service on Friday 9 January. This service will start at 16:30 and run through to 17:15. This will be a shortened service and is primarily to recognise the hard work of the students and staff.
Pupils will be in No 2s or suits. Given the timeframe available to us, we cannot set up and run a booking system so we will provide seating for Upper Sixth parents and guardians only. Upper Sixth parents and guardians can turn up, there is no need to book. We will livestream the service on YouTube and a recording will be made available in the following week's newsletter.
The service will finish at 17:15 and buses and pick-up will run as normal.
As we round off a busy Michaelmas Term, a term interspersed with flu and sickness, but nonetheless a term where an awful lot of great things have taken place. There are many reasons for us all to be proud of the term:
Reasons to be proud of Pangbourne
Our academic provision is gaining national recognition. No other independent school in the country has improved their results so quickly. Such that the Head’s of some of the biggest independent schools in the country have come to visit us and ask what we are doing to be so great. This has been a particularly joyful experience!
Sport is on the up and we are looking like having our best year for over a decade. For girls’ hockey across all teams this is their 2nd best season ever, with last year being the best on record. For boys’ rugby, this has been our best season post Covid and overall, this is the best (in terms of results) Michaelmas Term we have had in 10 years and the 2nd best in the records we have.
Some notable sports achievements this term include:
U15A girls’ hockey - unbeaten for 2 years.
Both 1st XV rugby and 1st XI hockey teams won their night games. Thrilling hockey fixture and the first boys’ night game we’ve ever hosted.
1st XV rugby getting to a national QF.
U14A rugby having a great win v The Oratory.
Rowing having a renewed focus and quality of coaching.
OP Mia Moore representing England U21 in the Hockey World Cup.
OP Eve Allen being selected for GB J18 in rowing.
Continued increasing number of rugby players being selected for Ealing Academy and Bath Academy.
Strong start to riding this year with Sophie Simpson and Connie Mumby qualifying for Eventers Challenge Championships at Hickstead.
Pangbourne Equestrian are once again Berkshire County Champions, congratulations to Olivia, Sophie, and Connie. Connie took the individual title too. The team has also qualified for the Hickstead Elite Finals.
Alice Cochrane has qualified for the Regional Points League Finals.
Olivia represented Pangbourne for the first time in the Cadet Forces Military Equitation Competition earning a respectable 6th place.
Our Co-curricular is booming:
The College led the choirs at the Annual National Seafarers Service in St Paul’s Cathedral.
Twelve Dunbar Choristers enjoyed an Opera Workshop.
Dunbar enjoyed Salsa Dancing.
Tom Gwinnell has been made Cadet Sergeant Major, the most senior rank in the Cadet Force in the country and first time in more than a decade that the College has been able to promote a student to the rank.
Our new Guest Speaker series has launched: It started with an evening with Sir John Madejski, and it is a new series of termly inspirational and pioneering speakers from all walks of life, from business leaders to adventurers. We are very much looking forward to having OP Jess Rowe back in February to talk about her 6 month row across the Pacific.
So it has been a busy term, but also a highly successful one. Please take the time to enjoy the festive season and we can't wait to welcome the students back on Tuesday 6 January for the start of a new term.
Best wishes,
Oliver Knight
Head’s Weekly Update
Notices (Please click on the + sign to expand for full information)
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The Drama department are delighted to be performing The Addams Family as our College Production this year. There will be three showings taking place on Monday 9 February, Tuesday 10 February and Wednesday 11 February 2026.
Tickets are free and are available now. We politely ask for everyone to book a ticket before attending so we know how many people to expect on the night. There will be no walk ins available.
Doors will open at 19:00 with the show starting at 19:30 and finishing at around 21:45. There will be a 15 minute interval and refreshments will be available to purchase.
Monday 9 February - Book your tickets here.
Tuesday 10 February - Book your tickets here.
Wednesday 11 February - Book your tickets here.
Ms Rebecca Atack, Head of Drama
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Next Level Camps are running a holiday camp for children aged 4-14 at St Andrew’s, Berskhire. They already have students from Pangbourne signed up and would love to have more if this is of interest to anyone.
The camps will run next week: Monday 15 December - Friday 19 December.
Please see the poster here for more details or visit their website here.
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Easy4U News
Printing on Easy4U Machines
Following a parental request we have modified the management profile of Easy4U machines to allow the installation of home printers. The change in policy is communicated when the Easy4U device checks in, which is normally every 24 – 48 hours.
New Management Tier For Easy4U Machines
In January 2026 we will be adding an additional layer of management to Easy4U machines. This service will allow IT Support and our technical partners to provide more in-depth help, reducing the need for pupils to leave the classroom. Greater visibility of device compliance with College security policies is also provided. We already use this service with teacher machines and think this will enhance the support we can offer to pupils enrolled in the Easy4U scheme.
Supporting Teachers and Learners in the Classroom
Also in January, we will launch Securly Classroom. This service is available to all pupils in the College and provide visibility of device displays when in the classroom. As well as helping teachers keep the learning focus it provides the ability to share student work and improve classroom collaboration.
Mr Martin Palfrey, Network, Systems and Data Manager
All Pupils & Parents - Years 7- Upper Sixth
All Pupils - Years 7- Upper Sixth
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We hope that Santa brings lots of nice things. If he could make sure to replenish academic supplies as well, that would be very helpful. We will be doing a lot of work on revision skills next term and a set of coloured highlighters are essential.
Mr Mark Seccombe, Senior Deputy Head (Academic)
Year 7 - 8 (Dunbar)
The next Dunbar update will be on Friday 9 January 2026.
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'Year 9 pupils have been selecting their initial GCSE choices this week and will be hearing from every subject option in the New Year to find out more about the GCSE courses. Thank you also for all of your feedback on the Wednesday webinars this term and we hope these have been helpful and informative. Wishing all the Year 9 pupils and families a restful Christmas holiday!
Mr Anthony Hammond, Head of Key Stage 3
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It has been a long term for Year 10 and they have likely already covered a fifth of their GCSE course content in most subjects by now. They have been asked to consolidate this content over the holidays in various ways depending on the subject, in order to be ready for the Year 10 assessments which come in week 2 next term. All students have been set around 3 hours per subject of focused tasks in order to prepare for these assessments (or in the case of English, to prepare for their imaginative writing coursework which they will start next term as they have already done their assessment). Please see the Year 10 assessment timetable here and the assessment information sheet here. This sheet will help clarify what topics are being assessed and where students should focus their revision.
To be clear, students are expected in school even when they do not have an assessment as they will be in rooms for revision time, and they will have sport and all activities as normal during the week. Please remember the revision guides which your child will have brought home, if in doubt, the content of these will help secure vital core knowledge.
Finally, please also find some time for rest and fun as the rigours of the GCSE courses and homework in term time can be quite relentless! I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and New Year!
Mrs Abbie Stephenson, Head of KS4
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It has been a long and hard term for Year 11 in many ways, but not least as they were the year group hit hardest by the virus. I hope they can have a good break at some point over the holidays to allow themselves to recover fully. Alongside rest, they should aim to cover 3 hours work per subject, which largely will be based around preparing them for work next half term and in the lead up to Trials 2. We have packed a lot in this term; besides thinking about nearing the culmination of their two year project, we are also looking further into the future with chats about their Sixth Form choices and possible future pathways thereafter, as well as exploring Sixth Form life and experiences.
With this in mind, on Monday the Head of Future Pathways and Careers, Mr Nel, introduced Year 11 to the fantastic Unifrog platform. Please encourage your child to show you this as there are so many different areas within it to explore: from quizzes to suggestions for possible careers, to videos about being a dentist, to the grade requirements for every single degree or apprenticeship in the country. I wish I had had access to that when I was making university applications a hundred years ago, as it is worlds apart from the weighty and unwieldy UCAS tome of yesteryear! These discussions will, of course, be ongoing as we prepare and work with students for the exciting and best stage of their education ahead.
Have a lovely holiday, a brilliant Christmas and an even better New Year!
Mrs Abbie Stephenson, Head of KS4
Year 9 - 11
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Many of the BTEC subjects for both Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth have external assessments in January. The schedule for these assessments can be found here.
Ms Indy Kaur, Head of Sixth Form
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Lower Sixth will have assessments in most of their subjects during the week of Monday 12 January to Friday 16 January 2026. They will be off-timetable for the week, so at times when they do not have an assessment they will have revision time. Our guidance is that students should spend at least eight hours per subject over the Christmas holidays preparing for these.
These will focus on retention of core knowledge covered so far in the course. Please find the timetable and helpful revision guidance here.
Ms Indy Kaur, Head of Sixth Form
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Pupil Progress is the system we have adopted this year to improve our academic tracking. Instead of the usual grade card, Upper Sixth pupils will have the more detailed reports uploaded to the Portal (in the 'My Child's Documents' section). These include a wealth of information in relation to performance so far and should be used to target those areas where there are gaps.
At the top of the report, you will be able to see the Average Unit Grade (the average of all of the test and prep information which has been added) along with the Trials Grade and the Teacher predicted grade. Underneath, you will see a summary of performance in the various assessments which have been used. These are colour coded to help direct review towards the topics which need it most.
Mr Mark Seccombe, Senior Deputy Head (Academic)
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Wishing all of the Sixth Form students and families a lovely break after a busy Michaelmas term. We look forward to welcoming them back in 2026!
Ms Indy Kaur, Head of Sixth Form
Sixth Form
Friday 12 December, 12:30
End of Term
Whole School
Saturday 13 December, 12:00 - Friday 19 December, 20:30
Ski Trip
Trip
Thursday 25 December, 09:30 - 10:15
Christmas Day Service
Community, Chapel
Monday 5 January, 12:00 - 17:00
College Production Rehearsal - Full Cast
Drama, Drake Hall
Monday 5 January, 19:00
Boarders Return
Boarding
Tuesday 6 January, 08:10
Start of Lent Term
Whole School
UPCOMING EVENTS
Div Ergo
On Thursday, each division competed in the ultimate Div Ergo competition. This competition saw a junior relay race for Year 9 and 10 where they raced for 15 minutes and then the senior race went on for 20 minutes. New for this year, a staff team entered to compete against the senior teams. Both races were extremely close throughout, however, Hesperus were the champions in both races, with the staff team taking second place. The competition ended with individual sprints. The support and participation from every single person was brilliant to see!
COLLEGE NEWS THIS WEEK
Div Hockey & Div Rugby
On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon our pupils took part in a highly competitive Hockey and Rugby competition between their Divisions. It was great to see such a high number of participation across both sports and also to see a great number of students supporting those playing. The competition was extremely close throughout and the overall winners will be announced in the final assembly today.
SPORT
Michaelmas Term Rugby Summary
The rugby club have enjoyed a standout season, with the 1st XV boosting their win percentage by 31% to secure their best record since 2014 and reaching the National Bowl quarter-finals. The 2nd XV also delivered their strongest campaign since 2020, contributing to the club’s highest overall win rate in five years. New block fixtures against Ryde, Hereford Cathedral School and Embley broadened the programme and added valuable competitive depth. Starting the term off with a full block victory over Ryde School with Upper Chine was a highlight for me.
Mr Ben Sainsbury, Director of Rugby
Michaelmas Term Hockey Summary
This was our second best season ever with our U15s going unbeaten again — that’s two years in a row. We had our historic night-game win, which we hosted at home for the first time in years. Our U14 and U16 teams both won the LWC Super 7s tournament which we had great fun attending. Overall, it was a fun and competitive season for all the teams.
Miss Georgia Jones, Director of Hockey
OP Mia Moore takes Player of the Match for England U21 Hockey
On Saturday, Mia Moore was awarded Player of the Match by Ultramar from England’s victory over Austria for the third match date of Group D at the FIH Women’s Junior World Cup Santiago 2025. Mia left Pangbourne last summer and is currently playing in the first team at Loughborough University whilst also training with England U21 Hockey squad.
BOARDING UPDATES
As the Lent Term drew to a close, Port Jackson has been buzzing with activity, energy and an unmistakable sense of anticipation as the boys counted down the days to Christmas leave. The second half of term has brought plenty of memorable moments, from festive outings to sporting highlights, all helping to round off the term in true PJ style.
One of the standout events of this half-term was our much-anticipated trip to the Christmas Market. The boys embraced the full festive spirit - sampling seasonal treats, picking up early presents, and soaking in the lights and atmosphere. For many, it was the first real sign that Christmas was just around the corner, and the sense of excitement was infectious. With hot chocolates in hand (and perhaps the occasional oversized pretzel), the boys enjoyed a relaxed afternoon away from the College, returning with bags slightly fuller and spirits noticeably higher.
Another highlight was our visit to Gloucester Rugby. The boys relished the chance to experience top-flight rugby up close, and the match did not disappoint. Whether they were seasoned supporters or first-time spectators, everyone was swept up in the energy of Kingsholm. There was plenty of chatter on the way home - match analysis, favourite plays, and a few ambitious comparisons between professional athletes and our own teams! It was a brilliant opportunity for the boys to see teamwork, resilience and passion in action.
As the end of term approached, the house took on its familiar December rhythm—prep mixed with festive music, secretive discussions about gifts, and the gradual appearance of Christmas jumpers. The boys have shown great enthusiasm, both in their academic efforts and in the traditions that make this time of year feel so special. From decorations going up to the Christmas Carol Service, the sense of community in Port Jackson has been as strong as ever.
The countdown itself has been filled with good humour and an infectious laughter and energy, as the boys look forward to a well-earned rest, family time, and (for some) the promise of snow. Their positivity and camaraderie throughout this half-term have been a credit to them, and the house staff are incredibly proud of all they have achieved.
Mr Paul Radford, Head of Port Jackson
It has been a busy couple of weeks in Adelaide. On Saturday, we hosted a coffee morning for our parents which was lovely and some of the boys enjoyed sushi making in the Mess Hall. On Sunday, some of the boys enjoyed a trip to watch the Gloucester vs Castres rugby match at the Kingsholm Stadium. Then on Tuesday evening, we enjoyed our House Christmas Dinner which included KFC (chosen by the boys) in the Adelaide common room, on Wednesday we visited St George for a range of Christmas activities and last night the boys attended the boarders’ silent disco.
Our pool table has finally arrived which the boys have very much enjoyed using it. The inter-house table tennis competition was a lot of fun with the winners being announced yesterday.
Mr Olly Metcalfe, Head of Adelaide
In St George we loved hosting both Port Jackson and Adelaide students on Wednesday for an evening of all things Christmas; we played pass the parcel, and enjoyed musical chairs, karaoke and a pub quiz before having a disco with snacks. On Thursday, we celebrated our students who will sadly be leaving us at the end of this term, as well as enjoying a silent disco. We wish all of our boarders and their families a very happy Christmas and New Year and look forward to their return in January.
Ms Shannon Flynn, Head of St George
DIVISIONAL UPDATES
The next Divisional update will be on Friday 9 January 2026.
