Friday 18 September 2026
Head’s Update
It can often feel like we are standing on the last promontory of history, with the world in front of us unrecognisable and constantly changing. Much is currently being written about what schools are for and what we should be focusing on if we are preparing our students for jobs that don’t yet exist. This phrase first appeared almost a century ago and is constantly rolled out when trying to justify or explain some new teaching approach, curriculum design or ‘innovation centre’. I want to make an argument for something different at Pangbourne, an argument for what we believe will stand your children in good stead for the future. And that is character.
Nassim Taleb talks a lot about antifragility; the idea that some things need stress, setback and disorder in order to grow stronger; bone density, immune systems and character, all fall into this category. Taleb talks about the issues that arise when we prevent the friction a system needs in order to develop and he has labelled this naive intervention. The well intentioned fix that removes the friction. A student who never feels the consequence of a forgotten kit bag does not become more capable over time of remembering it. They become more dependent on someone else remembering it.
Jonathan Haidt (who is not met with universal acclaim) builds on this idea and applies it to children growing up today. He argues not that today’s children are somehow lazy, incapable or weaker, but that we have gradually, with the best of intentions, engineered risk and unsupervised struggle out of their lives. The raw experiences that build resilience, judgement and self-regulation.
This matters to us at Pangbourne as we are fairly secure in our prediction that we are living through the largest and fastest wave of cognitive automation in history. Whilst this may create a tension for students going out into the world, there are skills that remain distinctly human and are unautomatable: judgement under pressure, sustained attention, the ability to sit with a hard problem and work through it, comfort with genuine risk, the ability to operate as part of a diverse team. Development of these skills requires friction and uncertainty. Simon Sinek amplifies this further through his research on recent graduates in the workplace. He argues that many arrive capable and well qualified on a technical level but unable to cope with the slow, unglamorous and occasionally humiliating business of being a novice. This is not a slight on one’s character but more the outward manifestation of what happens when the rescue has arrived before the discomfort has done its work.
Part of my job is to design systems and processes now that will only bear fruit 5 years after a young person has left us. Success in school is pretty easy if you do what we say, success in life requires a slightly different model. So what will we try to do to ensure Pangbournians can thrive in life after school?
One concrete change we will be bringing in is for us to begin to stop telling you, as well as your son or daughter, exactly what kit is needed and when; what to wear on a certain day and what the regulations are. We send this out to you as it is quick, simple and convenient with modern technology and is designed to be helpful and remove friction from your day. The unforeseen outcome of this has been that it has placed the burden of responsibility onto the adults not the children and removed the need for them to remember, check, organise and plan ahead. Students will continue to be told in good time exactly what they need and when; what will change is that we will stop routinely relaying the same information to parents. This is the deliberate reversal of the naive intervention I described above. The email to parents that was intended to help but that ended up preventing self-management from developing. If something is forgotten, this is not a crisis and the very mild discomfort of getting it wrong is exactly how the habit of getting it right is built.
Beyond this specific change, the same principles apply to smaller decisions throughout the term:
Leaving an email to a tutor unsent for 24 hours, to see whether it is still needed once the immediate sting has passed and your child has solved the problem.
Allowing a disappointing grade to be disappointing, without an immediate audit of the marking.
Resisting the urge to mediate a friendship issue that two 14 year olds are capable of working out themselves, given time and space.
Treating boredom as something to be sat with rather than solved.
We will of course try on our side to uphold the same ideals; the challenge of a new school and unfamiliar routines, the discomfort of team selection, the managed risk of Duke of Edinburgh or the Year 9 trip to Dorset. In a world in which the routine will increasingly be done by machines, the premium will be on the human qualities that grow through discomfort and setback. Trust the struggle.
Best wishes,
Oliver Knight
Notices (Please click on the + sign to expand for full information)
All Pupils & Parents: Years 7- Upper Sixth
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Please see the timings and information here for College Parade which is taking place tomorrow, Saturday 19 September.
All students in Years 9 - 13 are expected to be at College Parades. Pupils in Year 7 & 8 are welcome to attend if they would like to watch. All parents are welcome to join the event.
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In preparation for tomorrow, please check that your No.1 uniform is clean and not creased.
Girls should have 40 denier tights without holes and jewellery should either be taken off or covered with tape. Hair should be in a neat bun, swept away from the face. Here is a YouTube tutorial if needed. Your shoes need to be polished and shiny, if you are unsure how to do this please ask your Chiefs of Division, myself, Isaac or Mr Radford. Thank you.
Eva - Chief Cadet Captain of College
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The Rowing Meeting from last Saturday has been rescheduled and will be hosted as a Webinar on Monday 21 September at 19:00. This presentation will be for parents of current and prospective rowers. This is an incredibly exciting time for Pangbourne Rowing and the Webinar will cover plans for the construction of the new Boathouse, how our training will look for the year ahead and key information regarding the Ground breaking Ceremony on 30 September.
Please sign up here. Zoom details will be sent to everyone who signs up on Monday afternoon.
Mrs Lucinda Grafton, Director of Development & Community
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Parents are reminded that the deadline for confirmation of participation in next April's proposed China Cultural Immersion Trip is this weekend - please ensure you sign up by Sunday 20 September. On Monday we will look to finalise the itinerary, confirm the flights held for us (4-14 April provisionally), and publish the schedule of payments.
Please also be reminded that whilst a visit to our friends at ULink Shanghai is included, the trip will take in a huge variety of aspects of Chinese life, culture, history and education across Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and will not be exclusively spent in ULink's classrooms - anecdotally some had not realised that ULink will feature alongside a wide range of other cultural activities including museum visits, the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Army, Beijing's Birds Nest Olympic stadium, calligraphy and Mandarin workshop lessons, kung fu and acrobatic evening shows, moonlit river cruises and much, much more.
As previously, any questions in the first instance should be addressed to ben.mcleod@pangbourne.com.
Mr Ben McLeod - Teacher of History
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Our whole School Open Morning is taking place next Saturday 26 September 2026.
It is really important to have the support of our students at the Open Morning to showcase the breadth of what Pangbourne has to offer to prospective families. You and your child will receive an email by the end of the day on Monday which details what job they will be doing or which department their help is needed in.
Please note, students are required to arrive on site between 09:15 and 09:30 to avoid congestion with our visitors. Pupils should go to the Divisions in the West Building (Illawarra & Hesperus) as the East Building (Macquarie & Harbinger) will not be open to pupils. There will be no access to the Parade ground after 09:30. The Open Morning will be running from 09:30 - 13:00.Thank you in advance for your support of this event.
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The Divisional Music Competition is fast approaching and will take place on Friday 2 October. This year we are thrilled to welcome Dunbar (Years 7 & 8) to the competition. While the Solo Voice, Solo Instrumental and Ensemble categories will remain open to students in Years 9 - Lower Sixth, Dunbar students will have the opportunity to participate in the Divisional Song event.
We are pleased to share that Dunbar will have its own music competition next year, allowing them to showcase their musical talents in a smaller-scale event.
All pupils are expected to attend and will be in rehearsals from 16:00. Dinner will be provided to all pupils before the competition. The event will start at 19.00 and is due to finish at 21:00. This is advance notice that arrangements will need to be made for your child to be picked up at the end of the event.
This will be a ticketed event for any parents who wish to attend, so please do look out for the link to book your ticket in the newsletter next week on Friday 25 September. Due to capacity in the Chapel, tickets will be issued on a first come, first served basis.
Ms Nichola Graham - Director of Music
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On Saturday 10 October (straight after College Parade), the College will be running a range day at the National Shooting Centre at Bisley in Surrey. This is the initiative of an Old Pangbournian who has been trying to make this happen for several years. He is a regular shooter and well-connected in the sport. Many schools regularly shoot competitively against each other and wider, it is from these competitions that County and National shooters can be selected. Pangbourne has not shot at Bisley or indeed competitively for many years and we are hoping that this day will set the tone for the College’s return to competitive shooting.
If you are interested in this opportunity please read the document here with more information. Please then use the form here to register your interest in this trip but also being a part of future shooting events with the school.
Dr Stephen Hennah - Teacher of Geography
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Students have been asked to complete the Children’s Commissioner’s Survey ‘The Big Future’ this week. Please do encourage your child to make sure they have participated and submitted their survey. Information about the Children’s Commissioner’s survey is as follows:
As Children’s Commissioner, I am writing to ask for your support in ensuring children and young people from your school take part here.
It is crucial that I hear from children in every school and college, in every community, across the country. Without hearing from your students, their experiences, views and aspirations risk being missing from the national picture that will help shape future policy.
At a time of significant change for children and young people, it is more important than ever that their views are reflected in policy making. Through this survey, I can take the voices of your students directly to the centre of government.
Please see the slide pack here for further information.
Schools and colleges with the highest response levels will be invited to attend my final Festival of Childhood, celebrating the voices and contributions of children and young people from across England.
As ever, thank you so much for your support.
Dame Rachel de Souza (Children’s Commissioner for England)
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Every Monday, students from Year 8 to Upper Sixth take part in our Academic Societies - an initiative designed to spark curiosity, deepen critical thinking, and foster academic rigour. Meanwhile, our Year 7 pupils spend the Michaelmas Term learning musical instruments, discovering new talents while strengthening the pipeline for our College Marching Band.
Last Monday, the campus was buzzing with energy. Students across different year groups collaborated on exciting new projects, while Sixth Formers took the lead - building rapport and guiding younger peers. Teachers also brought their personal passions to life outside the standard curriculum.
Discover this term’s full line up of options here and ask your child which society they selected. Look out for our first weekly society feature in next week's newsletter.
Mrs Elly Hayward, Assistant Head - Pupil Expertise
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We are excited to launch our new tutoring programme which develops and supports student learning for success. We kicked off the term with an introductory assembly on Mindset and how the VESPA platform will support students in their learning towards successful outcomes. The VESPA platform is a successful model used in over 600 Schools Internationally.
Based on the superb books The GCSE Mindset and The A Level Mindset, the programme is designed to support students in 5 key elements of their learning across all of our Key Stages.
A student's VISION, EFFORT, SYSTEMS, PRACTICE and ATTITUDE are measured, reflected on and coached by our academic tutoring team and throughout academic lessons.Further information will be included in upcoming webinars about how Parents and Guardians can support their child's learning at home through this model.
Mrs Elly Hayward, Assistant Head - Pupil Expertise
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Pangbourne College will be running six cricket sessions on Tuesday evenings starting on Tuesday 3 November. These sessions will be run by ECB Level 4 Cricket coach, Chris Ellison and will be aimed at all pupils interested in cricket. This will take place from 17:30 - 19:00.
If you’re interested, the booking deadline is Wednesday 30 September. Please see more information on the flyer here and via this link.
If you have any questions feel free to email the following contact: jeremy@performance-sports.org.uk
Mr Joe Mills - Director of Sport
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Some parents alerted us to a possible security breach of Reach Boarding, a system that Pangbourne uses to help manage pupils who board at the College.
The email has the subject, Invitation to Afternoon Trip to Guildford, followed by watching an Ice Hockey Guildford Flames vs Nottingham and the following content:
Student Name has been invited to Afternoon Trip to Guildford, followed by watching an Ice Hockey Guildford Flames vs Nottingham, you can register them for this event using the button below.
<Register> <Now Decline>
This message is genuine but should only have been sent to pupils who board and their parents. I can confirm that this is not a security breach and we offer our apologies to all recipients who have received this message in error.
Mr Martin Palfrey - Network, Systems and Data Manager
Martin.palfrey@pangbourne.com
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We would appreciate it if you could please read the following document here to understand the rules and guidelines around visiting the College site and using our public footpaths that go through our College grounds. Thank you.
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The College’s official photographer, Gillman and Soame are pleased to announce that portrait photographs are now available to order from their parent portal. If you are already registered, you should have been notified already. For new parents or those not yet registered, please look out for the portal registration email on Monday 21 September.
Martin Palfrey, Network, Systems and Data Manager
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Fancy a family escape? One lucky My School Benefits member could win a 3-night stay in a 2-bedroom lodge at Lakeshore Reserve, Lower Mill Estate.
Set in 550 acres of lakes, rivers and woodland in the heart of the Cotswold Water Park, it’s the perfect place to relax, explore nature and enjoy some quality family time.
Prize draw closes 30 September!
Visit our Pangbournian Benefits page for more details.
Mrs Lucinda Grafton, Director of Development and Community
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Please be advised that the M4 will be closed in both directions between J10 (Winnersh) and J11 (Reading) from 21:00 on Friday 18 September to 06:00 on Monday 21 September.
This essential closure is needed so Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) can safely run new high-voltage wires across the motorway.
The closure and associated diversion routes (A329M and B3270) are expected to increase traffic on local road across the area, therefore, if you are planning a journey over the weekend you are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time. Please ensure you follow the signed diversion routes rather than sat nav directions.
All Parents:
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For the first two weeks of term, Year 7 and Year 8 pupils have been receiving prep for the core subjects only. This is to help new pupils become used to the way in which prep is set using Google Classroom and recognise that especially in these first few weeks, the days can be tiring. From next week, Year 7 and Year 8 pupils will receive prep across their subjects. However, we stagger this carefully to ensure not too much is set on a single day.
We are trialling a communication system in Class Charts for Year 7 parents that allows them to contact key staff. This allows you to contact either the Tutor, the Head of Section or the Head of House (Dr Hart). Once you have logged into Class Charts, you will see a 'speech bubble' icon that allows you to do this.
May I also remind parents of the Welcome Webinar taking place for parents of Year 7, new joiners in Year 8 and indeed any Year 8 parent that would like a refresher! It takes place on Wednesday 30 September 18:00 - 18:45. The link will be in next week’s newsletter.
Mr Anthony Hammond - Head of KS3
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Next week, our Year 9 pupils go on their 3-day residential to Dorset. We completed our trip briefing this week and you should have received an email from Mr Unsworth about the logistical details and kit lists.
May I also remind Year 9 parents of the upcoming Welcome Webinar taking place on Wednesday 30 September 19:00 - 19:45. The link will be in next week’s newsletter.
Mr Anthony Hammond - Head of KS3
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We are counting down the days to our very first Adventure trip to Dorset. Pupils will be involved in coasteering, high ropes, water sports and much more. This will be a truly inspiring experience, giving pupils the opportunity to step outside their comfort zone, embrace new challenges and discover what they are capable of.
More than just an adventure, the trip is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to spend time together outside the classroom, build new friendships and strengthen the bonds within their year group. It’s a chance to celebrate the other half of what Pangbourne has to offer - developing confidence, resilience and camaraderie through shared experiences.
A perfect start to an exciting year ahead.
Mr Alex Unsworth - Head of Adventure
Year 7 - 9
Year 10 - 11
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Please do remember to join us for the ‘Welcome to Year 10’ webinar which is happening next Wednesday 23 September at 18:00. Please use the link here to access the meeting. Mrs Hayward will be talking about the brilliant VESPA programme and I shall be going through the mighty two year plan with you.
Please do also sign your child up for the 'Of Mice and Men' production on Saturday 3 October. This can be done via the notice below. This will be a brilliant support to their learning of this text which they are examined on for GCSE. It will really help cement the story in their minds.
Mrs Abbie Stephenson - Head of KS4
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It was wonderful to have so many of you at the ‘Welcome to Year 11’ webinar on Wednesday evening. Thank you for taking the time to learn about this critical year. A link to the recording is here for those of you who were unable to attend. The passcode is 8waO^!yT. I feel really positive that there was such a parent presence - it bodes well for a really successful year ahead. Thank you!
Please do also sign your child up for the 'Of Mice and Men' production on Saturday 3 October. This will be a brilliant support to their learning of this text which they are examined on for GCSE. It will really help cement the story in their minds.
Mrs Abbie Stephenson - Head of KS4
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We are delighted to have arranged for Makin Projects’ touring production of Of Mice and Men to visit Pangbourne College on Saturday 3 October. The performance will begin at 14:30, following the morning’s sports fixtures. Lunch will be available for pupils beforehand at an additional cost.
John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is the principal prose text studied for the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Literature examination. Watching the novel performed will deepen pupils’ understanding of its characters, relationships and central themes, while allowing them to experience the emotional power of Steinbeck’s story beyond the classroom.
I had the pleasure of seeing this production in 2025 and was particularly impressed by the way it brings the characters and their world vividly to life. It is a powerful, engaging and highly relevant interpretation of the novel.
We hope all Year 10 and Year 11 pupils will attend. We anticipate that tickets will cost approximately £10 per pupil, although the final price will depend on the number of pupils attending.
Please complete the form here by Monday 28 September to confirm your son/daughter’s attendance.
Mrs Sarah Kiernan Webb - Head of English
Sixth Form
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Please use the link here to access the ‘Welcome to Lower Sixth’ webinar which is being held on Wednesday 23 September at 19:00.
Ms Indy Kaur - Head of Sixth Form
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Please see the recording of the Welcome to Upper Sixth webinar that took place on Wednesday 16 September here. The passcode is pBF#4W*8
Ms Indy Kaur - Head of Sixth Form
Saturday 19 September, 09:00 - 12:00
College Parade
Parade Ground, Community
Monday 21 September, All Day
Three Rivers Challenge - River Thames Canoe Expedition
Sixth Form, Co-Curricular
Monday 21 September, 19:00 - 19:30
Rescheduled Rowing Zoom Meeting
Parents, Co-Curricular
Wednesday 23 September, 08:30 - Friday 25 September, 17:10
Year 9 Adventure Residential - Dorset
Swanage, Year 9, Trip
Wednesday 23 September, 18:00 - 18:45
Webinar Wednesday: Welcome to Year 10
Year 10, Parents, Academic
Wednesday 23 September, 19:00 - 19:45
Webinar Wednesday: Welcome to Lower Sixth
Lower Sixth, Parents, Academic
Saturday 26 September, 09:30 - 13:00
Open Morning
Whole School, Admissions
UPCOMING EVENTS
Every event we host is designed with intention, from the atmosphere we create to the way each session flows.
COLLEGE NEWS THIS WEEK
Community Grants Coffee Morning
We are proud to announce that Pangbourne College has awarded 11 grants through our 2026 Community Grant Programme, supporting charities, schools and community organisations across Berkshire and the surrounding region. Funded through the generosity and fundraising of the Pangbournian Community, the grants will support projects focused on education, wellbeing, life skills, sustainability and opportunities for young people.
This year’s recipients include organisations supporting literacy, bereaved children, young people experiencing homelessness, environmental education, mental health, outdoor learning and more.
We are delighted to support such a diverse range of inspiring projects and to help make a positive difference to young people and local communities.
Mrs Lucinda Grafton, Director of Development and Community
Canoe Training ahead of the Three Rivers Challenge
Earlier this week, students who will be taking part in the canoe element of the Three Rivers Challenge next week got some practice on the river. They worked as a team to canoe along the river, however, they didn’t manage to avoid getting wet.
We wish our sixteen Sixth Form students the very best as they set off on Monday for their Thames expedition as part of the Three Rivers Challenge - a 60km adventure triathlon taking place throughout the year between the Divisions.
We hope they enjoy the adventure, support one another throughout and make some fantastic memories along the way. Good luck to all sixteen of you – paddle hard, work together and enjoy the challenge!
Mr Tom Poynter, Assistant Head Co-Curricular
SPORT
Leo Robinson Racing Success at Silverstone
What a weekend for Upper Sixth student Leo in the LMP3 Pro/Am class. After being fastest in testing, a rear wing failure during qualifying meant the team had to start from the back of the grid. A great first part of the race saw the team make up several places, before Leo took over and put in some seriously quick laps, continuing to move through the field. Then the rain arrived and the team switched to wet tyres and Leo managed to get into the Pro/Am lead. They eventually finished in 6th position in their category. Leo hopes to be competing at the Le Mans 24 hour race next year in the LMP2 class. We are wishing Leo all the best in his upcoming training.
Hockey
Girls’ Hockey 1st XI vs Downe House
The 1st XI made a strong start to the game, putting Downe House under pressure from the first minute. The girls carried the ball into the space, and started to exploit the wide channels. Within the first few minutes the ball had flashed past the outside of the post on numerous occasions and the Downe House keeper had made some brilliant saves to keep the scores 0-0. Despite this, the girls continued to attack and create chances in the D. This led to the first goal of the day.
From this moment we settled into a great attacking rhythm and didn't allow Downe House any time to settle on the ball. They struggled to break down our well organised press, which led to us regaining the ball around the D and having more opportunities to score. At the half time break we were 2-0 ahead, having had most of the possession.
After the break, we were able to change our press, to challenge ourselves with a new system. This worked well as we continued to regain the ball quickly and create opportunities. We continued to move the ball well in the final third, resulting in four more goals in the second half. What a performance to take the win 6-0, well done girls.
Mr William Main - Hockey Coach
Girls’ Hockey U15A vs Downe House
Another fantastic performance from the U15A team, who showed resilience, quality and determination throughout a well-deserved 4–1 win.
We began the match with only 10 players, but that didn’t stop us making the perfect start. Within the opening minute, Amelia fired home a brilliant finish to give us an early lead. Despite being a player short, Pangbourne produced some excellent attacking hockey while remaining incredibly solid defensively. Switching to a back three (due to a lack of numbers) worked brilliantly, with Thea outstanding in her first game of the season as she tirelessly tracked their quickest attacker, making several crucial tackles and interceptions. Chloe was equally impressive at right-back, holding her position well and playing some lovely passes into attack.
Just before the end of the first third, Arya arrived and came straight onto the pitch, finally bringing us up to 11 players. She settled in immediately, making strong tackles and showing great composure by dribbling confidently through the opposition press when required. In midfield, Eva adapted brilliantly to playing in the centre, breaking up play and distributing the ball intelligently, while Darcey found good attacking positions and consistently looked to move the ball forward with purpose.
Our only setback came from a brief lapse in concentration at the back, allowing the opposition their first real chance of the game, which they converted to make it 1–1.
The final third belonged to our attack. Genny restored the lead with a well-taken goal before combining beautifully from a short corner, sliding the ball to Amelia, who finished with a reverse hit for her second goal of the match. Bea then completed the scoring, arriving at the back post to convert another excellent pass from Genny and seal a convincing 4–1 victory. It was a lovely first goal of the season, slapping the ball past their keeper.
A special mention goes to Bea and Molly, who responded brilliantly to the constant reminders to stay higher and wider in attack. Their movement created space and stretched the opposition, making a huge contribution to our attacking play. Molly also deserves credit for showing great resilience by playing for so long despite feeling unwell.
Huge praise must also go to Jessica, who stepped up to make her U15 debut. Facing very few shots, she remained calm and confident whenever called upon, showing tremendous character by volunteering to play up a year. I will also take responsibility for the goal conceded, as I gave her some new kickers which prevented her from being able to move without falling over – apologies for this! Ruby H also made a fantastic impact after a busy morning. She arrived expecting to play for the U14s but was dragged into action, making her debut for the U15s as we had no subs and were starting to tire. Coming on for the final 15 minutes, she looked completely at home, beating players with confidence and linking up brilliantly with Genny and Amelia.
Finally, my Player of the Match was Izzy P. She was exceptional at the heart of the defence, making countless recovery tackles, distributing the ball superbly and organising those around her with constant communication. A truly outstanding performance and a brilliant team effort from everyone involved.
Mr Otis Williams - Hockey Coach
Rugby
Boys’ Rugby U14A vs Hereford Cathedral School
Last Saturday, the U14A team played against Hereford Cathedral School. It was obvious from the start that the opposition had played together more and were better organised in attack, which meant that Pangbourne spent some time under their own posts. It was, however, great to see the fighting spirit and positive approach that the boys showed. During the second half of the match, Pangbourne came close to scoring tries twice due to hard work and strong running.
Players worth mentioning were Woody M and Charlie O, who never gave up and put in some big tackles. I look forward to the next match, which will give the U14s another opportunity to improve and learn.
Mr Werner Nel - Rugby Coach
Boys’ Rugby U15A vs Hereford Cathedral School
A really good afternoon of rugby for the U15A team, coming away with a 26-7 win against Hereford School in what was a seriously competitive game.
There was a bit of extra motivation going into this game after losing to Hereford last year; the boys were determined to put that right. From the first whistle, it was clear this was going to be a real battle, with both teams putting in a huge amount of work in defence and attacking play.
The tackling from both sides was outstanding, there were plenty of big hits and try-saving moments throughout the game, with neither team prepared to give anything away. Our boys defended really well, which was probably the difference in the end.
A few players really stood out. Otto T was excellent, making two absolutely crucial try-saving tackles when Hereford looked certain to score. Bear C was a constant threat with ball in hand, breaking the line time and time again and causing Hereford plenty of problems. Percy W was also superb, with his line speed putting Hereford under pressure all afternoon and helping us win the battle in defence.
We showed some really good attacking rugby and managed to put 26 points on the board however, it was the defensive effort that really impressed me. The boys worked incredibly hard for each other and showed plenty of character when Hereford came back at us.
A great result against a strong Hereford side and more importantly, a really good team performance. The boys can be proud of that one, especially after last year's result.
Mr Frankie Rogan - Rugby Coach
Boys’ Rugby U18B vs Hereford Cathedral School
Last Saturday, our U18B team produced a strong display against a good Hereford Cathedral School at Cheltenham Tigers.
After a strong start to the game, we were able to covert our dominance and went 7-0 up which was thoroughly deserved. Hereford responded well and reduced the deficit to 7-5 before we added another try and led 12-5 going into the break.
We started the second half in strong fashion and unfortunately couldn't convert two key moments within their 22. Hereford scored to reduce the deficit to 12-10 which set up a mouthwatering final 20 minutes. We defended resolutely but unfortunately conceded with just 4 minutes remaining to fall 15-12 behind and this remained the score for the remainder of the game.
A disappointing result but a strong team performance with some fantistic individual displays sets us up for an exciting season ahead. Well done to everyone involved.
Mr James Purdue - Rugby Coach
Divisional Updates
The next Divisional update will be on Friday 25 September.
Heads of Divisions and Email Addresses:
Harbinger: Mrs Candice Greenly - harbinger@pangbourne.com
Hesperus: Mrs Laura Besley-Piggott - hesperus@pangbourne.com
Illawarra: Mrs Dona Poitrat Rachmaninoff - illawarra@pangbourne.com
Macquarie: Mrs Steph Kingsland - macquarie@pangbourne.com
Dunbar: Dr Ian Hart dunbar@pangbourne.com
Boarding Updates
Adelaide
A somewhat belated welcome back to all our returning boarders, and a very warm welcome to the new pupils joining our boarding community this year. We hope everyone has had a fantastic summer, a restful break and is ready for an exciting term ahead. It’s a long one, but the plus side; we are already at the end of Week 3. The summer break saw a start to the process of removing the last remaining female touches left over from when the House was previously utilised by girls. Gone are the pink hearts on the cabin doors to be replaced by name plates, lots of new pictures, a magnetic world map, foliage and more of a games room element to the Common Room downstairs, so as to allow the ‘Bubble’ on the first floor to be our room for Muster meetings, general chilling out and movie nights with the new 65” TV. The Bubble continues to be a work in progress, but along with the Galley we should see further changes over Half Term. Around this planning, it has been wonderful to see the House coming back to life, with pupils quickly settling into routines, reconnecting with friends and making new ones.
We are delighted to congratulate George W on his selection for the 1st Rugby XV. This is a fantastic achievement and reflects George’s hard work, commitment and contribution. We wish him every success for the season ahead. Unfortunately George’s first game was abandoned in the first half due to an injury, so the big rugby story was with the Under 15A side, which had a convincing win with both Ben and Arki key cogs within the engine room of that side. I look forward to getting out on Saturday to watch the boys play their first home games.
Congratulations also go to Alex O, who this week has been awarded the position of 2nd in Command of the Guard (2IC) by Mr Radford. Alex will be quickly into action in his new role on Saturday Morning.
Finally, a huge well done to Leo R following his excellent motor racing success at the weekend. Many of you will know of Leo’s passion for the sport and the level at which he is racing. This last weekend Leo was at Silverstone racing in Round 5 of the Michelin Le Mans Cup. Leo’s achievement is a testament to his dedication, skill and enthusiasm for the sport. We are very proud of him not just in Adelaide but throughout the College. Let’s hope it's a name for the future and Leo does not forget his House staff when dishing out the free tickets!
Our opening motivation statements for the first two weeks of term have been:
“Start as you mean to go on”
and
“You don’t need to see the whole stairs, just take the first step"
Off the back of this, it is encouraging to see pupils applying themselves with focus and determination. That is all we ask: we give the best we can and be the best versions of ourselves. We wish all our boarders a happy, successful and enjoyable journey as we head into the first Parade of the year tomorrow and onwards into the next couple of weeks.
I look forward to seeing many of you at Parade on Saturday morning or on the touchline in the afternoon
Mr Ed Williams, Head of Adelaide
Port Jackson
It has been fantastic to welcome all the boys back to Port Jackson, along with some exciting new additions to the PJ family. It has been a very busy first few weeks but the boys have settled in brilliantly and it has been great to see the House already feeling so lively and connected.
The boys enjoyed a fantastic trip to go paintballing on Sunday, which was a great opportunity to get out, have some fun and build relationships across the House.
We are now looking forward to our first College Parade this Saturday, followed by the PJ House trip on Sunday. It promises to be another busy and exciting weekend, and we are looking forward to continuing what has been a fantastic start to the term.
Mr Paul Radford, Head of Port Jackson
St George
A new start for St George this September with myself, Ms Wang (Deputy) and Gosia (House Manager) working together to get the Boarding House ready for the girls to return after their summer break.
It was great to welcome the girls, a lot of them already familiar with St George and what a fabulous group of young people they all are. We have full, weekly and adhoc boarders across the years from Year 9 to Upper Sixth. They have been bonding over music, baking, sport on the Astro, ping pong and are really supporting one another as a busy term has started. Our visiting tutors (VT) are Ms Young and Ms Symons – a great asset to the House on a Tuesday and Thursday evening respectively and we are looking at what activities to host as a House when they are here. Ms Young is very keen for an Inter House quiz! The girls were asked on their first Musters how they wanted the House to feel and what activities they would like to do. This week, two of the girls have their 16th birthdays and next week we have our first 18th birthday – cake baking and decorating, singing happy birthday in Muster… a lot of fun!
One thing we ask of the girls (apart from always clearing up after themselves) is that every morning they make their beds – that is going well so far! Thank you girls for your great start to the term.
Mrs Debbie Atkins, Head of St George
Heads of Boarding Houses and Email Addresses:
St George - Mrs Debbie Atkins - stgeorge@pangbourne.com
Port Jackson (boys) - Mr Paul Radford - portjackson@pangbourne.com
Adelaide (boys) - Mr Ed Williams - adelaide@pangbourne.com