Friday 8 May 2026
Best wishes,
Oliver Knight
Head’s Weekly Update
All Pupils & Parents: Years 7- Upper Sixth
Notices (Please click on the + sign to expand for full information)
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The hugely successful Pangbourne Classic Car Show is making its annual return on Saturday 30 May 2026 10:00 - 16:00.
Hosting a spectacular array of vintage, classic and rare vehicles, the event is open to the whole community to enjoy. The event is raising funds for the Footsteps Foundation, (which supports children with neurological issues) and the Pangbourne College Community Fund (support local educational and community projects as well as our partnership with the Nabugabo Community Learning Centre in Uganda).
The event is sponsored by local businesses including DCL Lubricants, Howden Insurance, Kingdom Coffee, Mammoth, PR Motors, Sporting Bears and Waxxed Detailing.
For further information and to book your tickets, please click here.
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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. 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.
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Please see the Library newsletter for the Summer Term here.
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The photographs taken in April are now available for you to view and purchase from Gillman and Soame. If you have registered on their portal, then you will be notified automatically. Alternatively, please log in to the college portal either directly and browsing for ‘My Children’ and ‘College Photographs’, or by using this link.
If you do have any queries, please contact Gillman & Soame directly via email, enquiries@gillmanandsoame.co.uk or by telephone. 01869 328200.
Year 7 - 8 (Dunbar)
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The exam week for Years 7 and 8 takes place Monday 1 - Friday 5 June. Pupils will be completing exams in:
Maths
Science
Computer Science
Religious Studies
Modern Languages
Geography
History
Drama
Online Progress Testing in English, Maths and Science
We will soon be publishing details of the exam timetable and revision resources to support pupils in their preparation for these exams. This a valuable opportunity for pupils to demonstrate their learning across the year and to assess progress. This also helps to build the resilience required in the future for the intensive period of the summer of Year 11.
Mr Anthony Hammond, Head of KS3
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Please see the letter here for more information.
Year 9 - 11
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And we're off! German and Drama have already happened, and on Monday everyone's in English Literature. There is a degree of tiredness among Year 11 this week, so please do make sure your children get to bed at a reasonable time each night over the weekend - there is no point trying to cram stuff in late into the night, a decent night's sleep will be far more effective in terms of performance on the day.
Here is a reminder of timings for your children when they have morning and afternoon exams:
AM exams:
8.00 register in division
8.15 exam walkthrough
8.45 outside exam venue
9.00 exam start
After their exam has finished students can have a 30 minute break. This will mean most should be going back into lessons at some point during period 4.
PM exams
If students have an exam in the afternoon they may go to the library for period 4 to revise. They should have lunch at 12.15.
1.00 exam walkthrough
1.20 outside exam venue
1.30 exam start
The usual 30 minute break applies after the exam and then students should attend all activities/sport/lessons as normal.
Finally, on Friday 22 May from 2pm we shall have a student-planned, relaxed afternoon of fun on Big Side with inflatables, mini-golf, an ice-cream van and a BBQ to celebrate being half way through GCSEs and study leave starting. A google form will be coming out soon for you to give your consent for the cost of this to be added to the school bill - it will work out at approximately £25/head.
Mrs Abbie Stephenson, Head of KS4
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In a public announcement this week, Ofqual’s Chief Regulator Sir Ian Bauckham appealed directly to students not to take mobile phones or smart devices into exam halls.
Last summer, mobile phone and other smart device offences accounted for 2,225 cases (44.3% of all student malpractice), up from 2,140 cases (41.5%) in summer 2024.
Of those cases, 545 resulted in students being disqualified from some or all qualifications. Mobile phone and other smart device offences remain the most common category of student malpractice. -
We have updated the student portal to resolve a minor administrative error regarding English Literature unit grades; please refresh your page to view the corrected results. While these marks are useful benchmarks, we encourage you to look to the Teacher Predicted Grade as the most authentic and holistic reflection of your child’s progress and potential. It has been a pleasure to witness such impressive academic rigour this week as students navigate their coursework, and we are particularly heartened by the exceptional attendance at our lunchtime and after-school clinics - a testament to the dedication and scholarship of our pupils.
Mrs Sarah Kiernan-Webb, Head of English
Sixth Form
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With exams now underway, it has been great to see how all the students have been knuckling down to their revision but also collaboratively working in the Sixth Form Centre. They have been reminded that they do need to pace themselves over the next few weeks and make the most of all advice and support being provided by teachers.
A reminder that AM exams start at 09.00 and PM exams at 13.30. Students are advised to give themselves enough time in the morning, especially if driving in themselves, to ensure that they are not late. If there are any problems on the day they need to contact myself and also email exams@pangbourne.com.
Pre-exam blasts will be taking place before exams - though optional - attendance is recommended for those last minute tips and words of wisdom from staff.
Students have all now also confirmed their firm and insurance choices on UCAS so they have been reminded to apply for Student Finance if they have applied for 2026 entry. To ensure finance is in place for September the deadline is Friday 15 May.
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In a public announcement this week, Ofqual’s Chief Regulator Sir Ian Bauckham appealed directly to students not to take mobile phones or smart devices into exam halls.
Last summer, mobile phone and other smart device offences accounted for 2,225 cases (44.3% of all student malpractice), up from 2,140 cases (41.5%) in summer 2024.
Of those cases, 545 resulted in students being disqualified from some or all qualifications. Mobile phone and other smart device offences remain the most common category of student malpractice. -
Please book your tickets to the Upper Sixth Leavers’ Ball here. Please note, all students do need to be accompanied by a parent, guardian or an appointed responsible adult for the evening.
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It is exam time for a number of the Lower Sixth at the moment which is all good preparation for the Trials and beyond! It has been lovely to have also received feedback from recent visitors to the College about how impressed they have been with their Lower Sixth tour guides.
With 5 weeks until the Summer Trials, students are being asked to use their study periods constructively and bed in those study habits that will hold them in good stead next year. An outline of what they should be focused on will be shared next week.
Opportunities for work experience and general careers research continue to be shared on Google Classroom. They should also now be conducting research into University courses and locations.
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Grade Cards
During the year, we have gradually been transitioning our academic tracking into the Pupil Progress system. Printouts from this system were provided at the parents meeting in the Lent Term. This term, we are trialling using the system for Grade Cards and we hope that it provides more useful information and a clearer indication of areas of strength and development. The level of detail will build as we add more assessments into the system. You will be able to access the summary through the Portal from 16:00 today from the 'My Child's Documents' section. The top sheet contains the overview and then the subsequent pages go into more detail for each subject.
The terminology used in the report is:
Minimum Target Grade - this is determined by the CAT4 baseline assessments which have been sat by all of the pupils. This assessment suggests the minimum grade that the pupil should be targeting, based on the average outcomes of pupils with a similar baseline profile. We will always push the pupils to achieve the best grade they can but this grade represents a 'line in the sand' that we can use to check that good progress is being made.
Average Unit Grade - this is the average performance across the assessments which have been entered into the system.
Teacher Predicted Grade - this is a forecast by the teachers of a likely outcome if the current level of progress is maintained. A '+' or '-' after the grade indicates whether the pupil is projected to be towards the top of the grade and should push on to aim for something higher or at risk of falling to a lower grade if the level of effort wavers.
Sunday 17 May, 09:00 - Friday 22 May,13:00
Llangorse Adventure Training Week
Year 9, Trip
Thursday 21 May, 19:00 - 20:00
Live Lounge Recital
Co-curricular, Music
Friday 22 May, 16:45
End of Half Term
Year 9, Trip
UPCOMING EVENTS
COLLEGE NEWS THIS WEEK
Pangbourne Arts Concert
Rock Climbing Trip
Last Friday and Saturday, 11 pupils went rock climbing in Limestone quarries near Brecon in South Wales, staying overnight in the local Youth Hostel. Our climbing instructor, Nathan Hill from LifeChangingActivities.com, took us to a stretching set of climbs in two different quarries. We had to work hard to get to the top but all achieved some success including holding our nerve to descend a long abseil.
Well done to Zac, Rohan, Robyn, Arthur, Henry, Seb, Rhys, Max, Andrea, Otto and Charlie for getting in some fantastic climbing.
Mr Fergus Yuille
Year 10 RS Trip to Oxford
The year 10 RS class spent Tuesday in Oxford with Mr Jeffers and Dr Hennah. We enjoyed a tour of Christ Church, both the cathedral and the college (including the Harry Potter sites!) in the afternoon we spent time with the imam at the mosque in Cowley Road. It was a useful exercise to visualise what we’ve learned about in Christianity and Islam.
The Reverend Neil Jeffers, Head of Religious Studies
Golf Fixture Against The Oratory
Well done to our golf team yesterday, showing great resilience in both rain and hail, with even some hints of thunder. A narrow 2-1 loss to the Oratory, but a triumph over the conditions. Victory for George G and Tom H, but narrow losses for Isaac H, Archie C, George W and Charlie G. The Caversham golf course provided a serious challenge in high winds with hailstones covering the greens!
Mr Neil Jeffers, Golf Coach
SPORT
Tennis Fixtures Against The Oratory
Last Saturday, Pangbourne went head-to-head with The Oratory in 15 mixed doubles matches Our players did incredibly well winning 14 out of the 15 mixed doubles matches. It was a beautoful day on the grass courts. Looking forward to more fixtures to come.
Mr Frankie Rogan, Head of Tennis
DIVISIONAL UPDATES
Divisional Dinners
Hesperus - Friday 5 June at Goring and Streatley Golf Club. Please book your tickets here.
Harbinger - Saturday 6 June at Goring and Streatley Golf Club. Please book your tickets here.
Illawarra - Friday 12 June at Goring and Streatley Golf Club. Please book your tickets here.
The next Divisional update will be Friday 22 May.
Boarding House Email Addresses
stgeorge@pangbourne.com
portjackson@pangbourne.com
adelaide@pangbourne.com
Adelaide
The past two weeks in Adelaide have been full on as exam season has officially began for our GCSE, BTEC and A Level students. The house has been busy with revision sessions, late-night prep and plenty of determination as students tackle the first round of papers.
Away from the classroom, U-Link students made the most of the Bank Holiday with trips to Chessington World of Adventures on Saturday, Imperial College, Hyde Park and The Natural History Museum on Sunday and Silchester Roman Town on Monday, followed by an action-packed day at Thorpe Park last weekend.
Meanwhile, Ed and Alex represented the school at the Bedford rowing regatta, with Alex and his crew rowing superbly to reach the final - a fantastic achievement.
With just one week to go until Half Term, excitement is building for the Year 9 trip to Llangorse. What more can a boy ask for than a week in the promised land. They will be joined midweek by our U-Link students for what promises to be another memorable experience.
When it comes, we wish you all a fantastic and relaxing Half Term break.
Mr Ed Williams, Head of Adelaide
Port Jackson
Over the past two weeks, Port Jackson has remained busy, positive and full of energy as we continue through an important period of the academic year. A huge amount of focus has been placed on Year 11 and Upper Sixth examination preparation, with students working incredibly hard during prep sessions and supporting one another throughout the process. The atmosphere in the house has been purposeful and encouraging, and it has been wonderful to see the determination and resilience shown by so many of the boys.
For some of our Upper Sixth students, examinations have now been completed and they have returned home for some well-earned rest before coming back for the final week of term and preparations for their last Founders’ Day Parade. As they begin to look ahead to the next exciting chapter beyond school life, we thank them for the enormous contribution they have made to Port Jackson during their time with us and wish them every success for the future.
Meanwhile, our Year 9 pupils are eagerly anticipating their residential trip to Llangorse next week in the beautiful Welsh countryside. Excitement levels are certainly building, and no doubt they will return tired but full of fantastic memories, new experiences and plenty of stories to share with the rest of the house.
Our U-Link pupils continue to thrive within the boarding community, building strong relationships in house and growing in confidence each week. They have also enjoyed a number of excursions in and around London, making the most of the opportunities available to them and experiencing life beyond the College.
Port Jackson has also become something of a hive of activity during the evenings, with the girls from St George joining us during prep and enjoying the warm and welcoming atmosphere within PJ. They certainly bring a different dynamic to the house, one that has added even more laughter and liveliness to our evenings. In fact, it is often quite difficult to persuade them to leave at the end of the night — but thankfully, there is always tomorrow.
Mr Paul Radford, Head of Port Jackson
St George
As we move through a busy and exciting Half Term, there has been a great atmosphere around the house; Our Year 11 and Upper Sixth students have continued to make St George proud during the ongoing examination season. It has been particularly pleasing to see the calm, focused approach many students have taken towards revision, alongside the supportive and collaborative spirit they have shown one another. We are incredibly proud of the effort, determination and positivity they continue to show, and we wish them every success as exams continue over the coming months.
This week has also seen plenty of fun and creativity across the school as we marked National Mental Health Week. The theme of “green” has been woven throughout many of our activities, helping to promote wellbeing, connection and time outdoors. Students thoroughly enjoyed spending time in the woodlands building dens, before relaxing with some fresh fruit in their creations!
Another highlight of the week was our very own Bake Off competition! Students impressed staff with a range of delicious dishes, which were judged on both presentation and taste. Bonus points were awarded to those who cleverly incorporated the colour green into their dishes, to mark National Mental Health week!
Looking ahead to the weekend, our full boarders will enjoy a trip to Bristol. During the visit, students will have the opportunity to see the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, explore We The Curious and visit the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. They will also be treated to lunch out during the day. We hope this trip will provide a well-deserved opportunity for our boarders to relax, explore and enjoy some time together after such a busy few weeks.
There is still plenty to look forward to next week before we break for Half Term. We are excited to celebrate a Lower Sixth birthday, and enjoy a karaoke night!
Finally, next Thursday we will end the Half Term with lots of games, prizes and activities planned, it will be a fantastic way to celebrate the end of a successful half term together. We hope all families enjoy a restful and enjoyable Half Term break when it arrives.
Mrs Shannon Flynn, Head of St George