Friday 6 June 2025

Head’s Weekly Update

COLLEGE NEWS THIS WEEK

Pangbourne College Classic Car Show

What an incredible day it turned out to be! We welcomed over 500 display cars and nearly 3500 visitors which is the most we've ever had at this event. It has also been a record-breaking year for The Footsteps Foundation, the charity this event supports. This incredible organisation provides life-changing physiotherapy for children, so it means a great deal to us to support them in any way we can.

It was made extra special this year as we welcomed celebrity Jodie Kidd to the College which was very exciting indeed! A big thank you to Sporting Bears, who made it possible for so many visitors to enjoy their dream car rides. We also cannot forget about the spine-tingling Spitfire flypast by RAF Benson.

A massive thank you to the live performers and market stalls that attended, including Pangbourne Silver Band and Roy Bailey Big Band. Finally, we must not forget our generous supporters who without them we would not be able to raise nearly as much for charity as we have. Thank you to: Kingdom Coffee, DCL Lubricants, PR Motors, Howden Insurance, Waxxed Detailing and Mammoth.

Next year’s car show is already in the pipeline - and we’re not quite sure how we’re going to top this one!

Taking Responsibility Week for Lower Sixth

Trinity Drama Showcase

On Wednesday 4 June, our Trinity Drama pupils performed an array of work based on their recent  exam pieces for the Drama Summer Showcase. Pupils from Year 7 through to Year 10 performed impressive monologues and duologues, both contemporary and classical pieces to their families and peers. It was a lovely occasion and great for their hard work throughout this academic year to be showcased. Very well done to all involved and a big thank you to their incredible Trinity Drama teacher, Mrs Fallon, for all her support and guidance when helping them to prepare for the exams.

Saturday 07 June, 10:00 - 16:00
Dunbar Family Fun Day
Community

Saturday 07 June, 19:00 - 22:30
Harbinger Divisional Dinner
Community

Monday 09 June - Friday 13 June
Year 9 Exams
Academic

Wednesday 11 June, 08:30 - 17:45
Year 10 Challenge Day at Longridge Activity Centre
Academic

Wednesday 11 June, 16:45 - 20:00
Lower Sixth Parents’ and Guardians’ Meeting
Academic

Friday 13 June, 18:30 - 20:00
Sports Celebration Picnic
Big Side

Saturday 14 June, 08:30 - 10:30
PPA Committee Meeting
DDR, Community

Sunday 15 June, 09:00 - 14:00
Falkland Islands Memorial Service 2025
Chapel

Tuesday 17 June, All Day
Divisional Team Building Day
Community

Wednesday 18 June, 19:00 - 21:00
Scholars’ BBQ Event
Big Side

Friday 20 June, 16:45 - 20:00
Year 7 & 8 Parents’ and Guardians’ Meeting
Classrooms

Friday 20 June, 19:00 - 21:30
Pangbourne Proms
Devitt Lawn


UPCOMING EVENTS

NOTICES

  • The Sports Celebration and Rowing Dinner have been consolidated into one event this year and will be taking place on Friday 13 June. The evening will start at 18:30  and will take place at the Anthony Hudson Pavilion on Big Side. Families are invited to bring their own food and picnic rugs or chairs  and there will be various speeches and awards presented to celebrate the sporting success of the pupils throughout this year. The dress code is smart casual and it will be an alcohol-free event. This event will be free of charge to all pupils and parents. 


    Please RSVP by completing the online form here by Monday 9 June.

  • The PPA will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Saturday 14th June at 08:30 in Devitt House.  Any parents who would like to, are welcome to attend.

  • Year 9 Bronze DofE Assessed Expedition will depart on Friday 27 June.

    Year 11 Silver DofE Assessed Expedition departs on Monday 30 June.

    Year 12 Gold Assessed Expedition departs on Sunday 6 July.

  • Monday 2 June - Sunday 8 June
    Rowing will happen as normal. The opportunity for rowing in the mornings from 06:30 - 07:30 is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, run by Mr Brightmore.

    The goal is to keep mileage up, easy training, with one to ones available for technique.


    Monday 9 June - Sunday 15 June
    Morning sessions continue. On Saturday 14 June, there is a fixture with Bryanston School, and on the Sunday, some of the J14 squad will race at Reading Amateur Regatta. Any pupils not racing at RAR, will compete in the Bryanston fixtures, which will be held from 13:00 - 16:00 - please be aware of this time change!

    Monday 16 June - Sunday 22 June
    Main dates to note here are Marlow Regatta on the Saturday 21 June, and mainly, the Henley Women's Regatta, which will run from Friday to Sunday. These will be events for Seniors, although we may well include some of the J15s, if they are of a sufficient calibre. 

  • Join us on Friday 20 June at 18:00 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 our surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

    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 event will be an opportunity for Pangbournians, past and present, to come together and to celebrate the College's positive community impact. It promises to be a fabulous end of year celebration.

    Tickets are £15 per adult (under 18s free). To purchase your tickets please click on the link here.

  • Parents and guardians attending HRR on Thursday 3 July are invited to join the College at the Pangbourne College gazebo in Lions Meadow from 12:30 - 14:00.

  • During the summer holidays, a group of Lower Sixth students are going out to Uganda to work in Nabugabo, our partnership primary school.

    They will not only be taking out teaching and learning resources which they will make as part of the Taking Responsibility course, but other donations as well.

    This year we are focussing on collecting boys' boxers and girls' pants, ages 6 - 14. Please can they be new and in their original packaging. Your donations will make a huge difference to the children. Mrs Bond will be collating the donations, so please leave them in Reception or give them to your son or daughter to give to her.

    Thank you very much.

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  • In Pride month we are joining in with the rainbow laces campaign aimed at promoting LGBTQ+ participation and visibility in sport. For the whole month pupils will be able to wear rainbow laces on non-naval uniform (sports kit or Sixth Form suits). The proceeds from the sale of the rainbow laces will go to SupportU, a LGBTQ+ charity running support groups in Berkshire. A pair of laces will cost £5 and can be collected from the College after half term. If you would like to participate then please complete the form here.

Years 7-8

  • This will take place on Friday 20 June. Bookings for this will be available shortly.

  • The Junior College Production will be performed from 19.00-20.30 on Monday 23 June 2025 at Piggeries (behind Dunbar). It is BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic). If you would like to sit on blankets, this area will be closer to the stage, but those that would like to sit on chairs will have to sit slightly further back, behind those on blankets. You can enter the performance area via...(tbc) and feel free to park on the grass behind the DT department, left of mini-roundabout. Should you attend and BYOP, please could we ask that you dispose of your own rubbish and do not bring dogs to the performance.

    Many thanks and we look forward to seeing you then.

Years 9 -11

  • Exams for Year 9 will be held in the week commencing 9 June. These are important exams which give us an indication of pupil progress through the year and will inform setting as they move into Year 10.

    The exams will take place in the Sports Hall and pupils should take revision with them. This revision should be in hard copy, pupils will not be allowed to bring their own devices into the exam hall apart from the Progress Test sessions. Where pupils have an access arrangement for PC use, they will be provided with a College device.

    Support for the pupils:

    • Revision guidance documents will be shared on Google Classroom, which tell pupils what content they need to revise and where they can find revision materials. This document is also available for Parents on the School Portal by clicking here and then the 'Academic - Exams' category.

    • Pupils have been learning about memory and effective revision strategies during their Theory of Learning lessons during the year.

  • Year 11 pupils who are involved in the DofE Silver Expedition must be in school at 08.15 on Monday 30 June in order to head off.  Anyone else in Year 11 not doing DofE is expected to be in school at 08.15 on the morning of Thursday 3 July (Boarders may return from 19:00 Wednesday 2 July). 

  • I have booked a day of water-based activities at the Dolphin centre in Pangbourne on Thursday 26 June for all of Year 10.  This replaces the trip at Longridge activity centre in Marlow on 10 June.  The trip to Dolphin will be far more cost effective, working out at approximately £35 per student. 

    Students should register in school at the normal time of 08.15. We should be back at school by 16.00 and students will be free to head home at this point if they wish. 

SIXTH FORM

  • Please book your appointments here.

SPORT

SUCCESS AT THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS’ REGATTA IN NOTTINGHAM

The 23rd - 25th May marks a key date in the rowing calendar, the National Schools Regatta. Pangbourne College attended in force in what is one of the largest and most competitive junior rowing events in the world.

On the Friday, Pangbourne had a J14 Girls Octuple and a J14 Boys Coxed Quad racing. Both crews successfully managed to earn their place into a final, with the Boy's Coxed Quad claiming 6th in the D final, and the Girls Octuple storming to a 2nd place finish in the C final.

Saturday opened the account for the J15s and the Seniors. Windy conditions made the course challenging, but the performances from the Year 10s saw the J15 Boys Eight race into 6th place in the C final, and the J15 Girls Eight gain a 4th place finish in the B final. Our Senior Boys Coxed Four set down the second fastest time in the time trial, but recognised the need to step on, and had to fight bowball to bowball with Kings College School to earn a silver medal in the event.

Unfortunately, due to the wind speed increasing over the weekend, the Sunday's racing was cancelled. Despite this, we should celebrate the incredible work put in by our Senior Girls Coxless Four, the Senior Girls Double, and the Boys Coxless Four. They have trained hard to showcase their skill on the National level, but will have all eyes on competing at Henley Royal Regatta in a month's time.

SUCCESS FOR OUR RIDERS AT HICKSTEAD

Following on from their podium finish at The Royal Windsor Horse Show, our Equestrian Team took again took silver, this time at The All England Jumping Course in the 1m Hickstead Elite. The team of Lottie, Maisie, Olivia and Sophie rode superbly amongst some of the best schools teams in the country to take second place.

The three day Championship Show also saw our team of Amy, Lois and Lucy placed 9th in the Preliminary County Dressage Finals.

The Berkshire County Champions, Lottie, Lucy, Olivia and Sophie placed 4th in the County Finals with Lottie also placing 4th individually.

Lottie continued her weekend with success with the fastest final in the 1.10m, just one rail prevented the win though still enough to place 4th in a fiercely competitive jump off.

CAITLIN AND GRACIE PLAY AT THE U14 SUPRA LEAGUE NATIONAL FINALS

Year 9 pupils, Caitlin and Gracie played at the U14 Supra League National finals a few weeks ago with the Reading Lynx team and managed to come a very close 2nd place.

The team made it through to the final of competition with draws against Beeston and Surbiton and a win against Bath. Falling only to a shoot-out after a 2-2 draw against Knole Park in an incredibly tense final.

We are very proud of the girls and looking forward to seeing where the next season takes them!

DIVISIONAL UPDATES

Divisional updates will be fortnightly. Next update on Friday 13 June.