Friday 27 June 2025

Head’s Weekly Update

Academic Rigour

Today we have the privilege of hosting the 2025 NACE  conference. For anyone who is not familiar with NACE, it is an independent charity founded 40 years ago and the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) works with schools, education leaders and practitioners to improve provision for more able learners and increase challenge for all. The conference is a day of CPD and networking dedicated to sharing effective ways to better serve all young people and as we are hosting the event this year, our staff are able to attend for free. It is a fantastic opportunity for all teachers to hear from inspiring keynote speakers and explore further removing barriers to learning. 

Young people are sadly spending a significant amount of time on their phones, with a study by Fluid Focus finding that they average 5.5 hours per day. This could lead to an estimated 25 years of screen time over their lifetime if habits don't change. The study also revealed that nearly three-quarters of students believe their phone usage negatively impacts their studies, and over 75% report adverse effects on their mental health. As noted in The Times,

“What’s powerful is how students feel that it’s damaging their academic performance. That awareness — that ‘I could do so much better if I managed this’ — is telling.”

But it’s not just academic performance at risk. Sleep, relationships, focus, and mental health are also being affected. It is with this in mind that I am reviewing further strengthening our mobile phone ban for next academic year and what devices can and can’t access when tethered to our network. 

Adventure & Exploration

We were blessed with glorious sunshine for the inaugural Pangbourne Proms on Devitt Lawn. The variety of music on offer was marvellous, with performances varying from voice, drums, piano solos to ensemble groups and our wonderful marching band. During the evening we also launched our brand new initiative, Transforming Futures - Pangbourne’s campaign to provide life-changing Sixth Form boarding bursaries for children from underserved communities. A huge thank you to everyone that was a part of this fantastic event. We are looking forward to bringing it back next year and will keep our fingers crossed that the weather will be kind to us again. 

On Monday, the Junior College production of the ‘Wind in the Willows’ took place at Piggeries and again they were blessed with lovely summer weather for the outdoor performance. Huge congratulations to all our budding young thespians who performed so brilliantly. You can see some pictures of the performers in the news section below. 

Community

On Wednesday, myself and Ms Kaur hosted a fantastic Introduction to Sixth Form event for all of our current Year 10 parents. Parents had the opportunity to hear from our newly appointed Chief Cadet Captains of the College, Faith and Ed, as well as chat to two of our Chief Cadet Captains, Emilie and Sam. It was a fantastic opportunity for parents to hear about what their child can expect of life in Sixth Form and the plans for the exciting new Sixth Form centre that will be opening in September. Thank you to all those parents who attended. If you were unable to attend on Wednesday, please see the notices section below for some key information. 

Yesterday, we held the last Head’s Introduction to Pangbourne of the academic year for our prospective parents. This was our busiest one yet this year and there was certainly a buzz. We already have two dates in the calendar at the start of Michaelmas term as well as our next whole school Open Morning on Saturday 4 October so please do spread the word to any families that you know who may be interested in their child joining the wonderful Pangbournian community. 

Leadership

In the big lead up to the Henley Regatta I wish all the crews the best of luck next week. Next week the College is going to be extremely busy with many Divisional events (both new and old Divisions) throughout the week and lots of preparation for Founders’ Day. I am thoroughly looking forward to experiencing all of this for the first time and seeing the College really come together in true Pangbourne community spirit.

Best wishes 

Oliver Knight 


COLLEGE NEWS THIS WEEK

Pangbourne Proms

What a fantastic evening we had last Friday for our first ever Pangbourne Proms. The musical talent was truly incredible to see with performances varying from voice, drums and piano solos to ensemble groups. During the evening we also launched our brand new initiative, Transforming Futures - Pangbourne’s campaign to provide life-changing Sixth Form boarding bursaries for children from underserved communities. You can read more about this important campaign via our news page on our website. A huge thank you to everyone that was a part of this new event. We are looking forward to bringing it back next year.

Junior College Production of Wind in the Willows

On a warm summer's evening at the back of Dunbar, junior students from Years 7 to 9 brought The Wind in the Willows to life in a charming outdoor production. With picnic blankets spread and the sun casting a golden glow, friends and families were treated to a delightful performance full of heart and humour.

The talented cast captivated the audience, with standout performances from Isla as the wise Badger, Freddie as the exuberant Toad, George as the loyal Rat, and Ruby as the gentle Mole. The remaining ensemble, including Maximus as Head Weasel and the Otterly-brilliant Leo, played all the additional roles including the cars, river and carol singers at Christmas. Kudos to Tom for his hilariously sarcastic horse clip-clopped to perfection.

The production was a wonderful blend of kitsch creativity, cute costumes, and clever staging, making imaginative use of the natural setting. From witty dialogue to energetic scenes, every moment reflected the dedication and joy of the young performers. Behind the scenes, many more students contributed to the magic, seizing a fantastic opportunity to be part of a collaborative and innovative theatrical experience. A huge thank you goes to Ms Atack, and Mr Kearney for their tireless support and guidance in making this memorable evening possible.

Wye Valley Rock Climbing Trip

On Saturday, a group of our keen rock climbers went on a day trip to Wye Valley to enjoy some outdoor rock climbing. Everyone got away promptly at 07:30 and the passengers made the most of the chance to catch up on some sleep as we crossed the Severn and made it to our meeting point near the Welsh border comfortably before our 10.00 start time. After practising abseiling horizontally, we did the real thing vertically. We then split into two teams of three and worked in our teams on a pair of climbs. Lunch came next and while we ate, the instructor set up the next pair of climbs. He raised the bar with a more challenging second pair of climbs, saying that we were the best group that he had worked with - our experience meant that we coped well with the challenge with a few of us managing the hardest climb. The chance of one last climb was too much to resist and we attempted to climb up the route that we had originally abseiled down.

Even though the heat would have been draining back in Berkshire, the tree canopy above us protected us from the worst of the sunshine as well as the occasional heavy rain.

We arrived back at Pangbourne at 18:30 having had a memorable, stretching and enjoyable day.

Year 10 Flag Values Activities Day

Flag values day actually took two days! On Tuesday each year 10 tutor group presented on one of our flag values. This was very successful and presentations included an impressive range of drama, role-play, quizzes videos and even a rap! We thought about the idea that if we practice our flag values then they can become our habits And ultimately part of our character. On Thursday we got the chance to practice these down at the Dolphin Centre in Pangbourne. There was some great resilience, industry, selflessness, respect, and kindness on show. The students had a lot of fun on and in the water and enjoyed some time to relax.

Year 8 Dinner

Thursday 26 June saw the highlight of the Dunbar social calendar, with the long-awaited Year 8 dinner. Commencing at 19:00 with a mojito mocktail drinks reception in Devitt, the girls and boys were resplendent in their evening dresses and dinner jackets and for many of those present this was their first experience of a 'Black Tie' event. Moving through to the Old Library for the meal, we began with speeches from the Michaelmas term Head Boy and Head Girl, Freddie and Chloe, who spoke eloquently and movingly about their time in Dunbar. Our starter was a combination of crispy spring rolls and sushi, accompanied by fresh prawn crackers, which went down extremely well and this was followed by two further speeches from Ben and Molly, our Head Boy and Head Girl from the Lent term. Once again, anecdotes and reminiscences were shared before we enjoyed the main course - a superb combination of sticky rice, bao buns, shredded pulled beef, chicken balls and crispy pork strips, all served with either teriyaki or sweet and sour sauce and a selection of stir-fried vegetables. Our final speeches were delivered by the current Head Boy and Head Girl, Will and Kate, who also spoke with poise and good humour. The meal was finished with some delightful mochi ice cream balls, deep-fried dough sticks and star anise delice.

Spilling out onto the veranda and the grass behind Devitt we were joined by the Year 8 parents who were able to take some memorable photographs at the end of a glorious evening.

Enormous thanks go to our wonderful catering team who planned, cooked and served such a culinary treat, and to my colleagues who joined us for the evening. I must also say thank you to the very kind gifts presented to Jehan, Miss Tremlett and me at the end of the evening - they were greatly appreciated.


UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday 30 June, 08:15 - Wednesday 2 July, 17:30
Year 11 DofE Silver Assessed Expeditions
Co-curricular, Trip

Monday 30 June, 18:30 - 21:00
Dunbar Boarders' Cosmo Trip
Boarding, Trip

Tuesday 1 July, 08:30 - 17:45
Divisional Drama
Pupils Only

Tuesday 1 July - Sunday 6 July, All day
Rowing: Henley Royal Regatta
Sport

Wednesday 2 July, 19:00 - 21:00
Dunbar Disco
Dunbar, Pupil

Wednesday 2 July, 19:00 - 21:00
Charlotte Drake Summer Formal
Old Library, Pupil

Thursday 3 July, 14:30 - 17:00
Divisional Athletics Competition
Sport, Pupils Only

Thursday 3 July, 17:30 - 21:30
Boarders Divisional BBQ
Pupils Only

Thursday 3 July, 20:30 - 22:30
Upper Sixth Evening Event
Pupils Only

Friday 4 July, 09:30 - 12:10
Divisional Swimming Competition
Sport, Pupils Only

Friday 4 July, 09:30 - 15:00
Dunbar Trip to Burghfield Water Park
Trip

Friday 4 July, 18:30
Upper Sixth Divisional Meals
Pupils Only

Saturday 5 July, 08:30 - 12:30
College Founders’ Day
Parade Ground, Community

Saturday 5 July, 19:00 - 23:30
Leavers’ Ball
Drake Hall, Community

NOTICES

  • On Wednesday 2 July, 19:00 - 21:00, we will be hosting our annual Charlotte Drake Summer Formal.

    This event is for any female students from Years 10-13 and will take place in the Old Library and weather permitting will also be on the terrace. We will be welcoming guest speakers to this event and there will be canapes and drinks throughout the evening. One of the guest speakers we are welcoming British paralympic skier, Shona Brownlee.

    Any student that is interested in attending must complete the Google Form they have been sent via email from Mrs Hayward. They may bring a +1 female friend, family member or supporter.

  • 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.

  • As a reminder, please view the Schedule for Founders' Day on Saturday 5 July. 

    Some important information to note on the morning: 

    Access and Parking

    Please note that the barriers will be closed at 08:30 and will re-open at 13:00. You will be able to drop your child on the Parade Ground prior to 08:30 but after this time, you will be directed to park on White’s in preparation for the Divisional lunches. 

    Refreshments 

    Coffee and tea will be available in the Mess Hall from 08:30.

    The café will also be open to purchase drinks from. 

    Refreshments will be provided on the Parade Ground at 11:15 after the parade and before Beat Retreat. 

    Art Exhibition 

    For anyone unable to attend the Art Exhibition last night, the art department will be open for visitors during the morning. 

    Prizegiving 

    Parents of Upper Sixth and parents of all prize winners, are invited to attend the prizegiving in the Chapel. 

    There will be a livestream in the Mess Hall for all other parents to watch the prizegiving. 

    Divisional Picnics

    These will take place on White’s after the end of the formal proceedings at 12:30. There will be coloured Divisional flags marking the area where each Division should set up their picnic. There will be rubbish bins and toilets available.

  • Year 11 and Upper Sixth students are expected back in College by the following dates:

    • Monday 30 June 08:15 - Year 11 Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award pupils

    • Wednesday 2 July 19:00 - Year 11 and Upper Sixth boarders to return

    • Thursday 3 July 08:15 - Year 11 and Upper Sixth day pupils to return

    Arrangements for the afternoon of Friday 4 July:

    • Prize winners' rehearsal will take place in Chapel at 16:00 - 17:50. All prize winners are expected to attend.

    • Any other pupils (excluding prize winners) may leave College at 16:00.

    • Buses will depart at the usual time 18:00.

    • Any pupils who are unable to leave at 16:00 will be supervised in College until buses depart.

    • Upper Sixth Final Service will be taking place in the Chapel at 18:00. Parents are warmly invited to attend. Students are expected to wear suits or No. 2s uniform.

  • Year 11 Silver DofE Assessed Expedition will depart on Monday 30 June.

    Year 12 Gold Assessed Expedition will depart on Sunday 6 July.

  • Please see the rugby and hockey pre- season training dates in the letter here.

  • On Wednesday 3 September, 08:15 - 08:45, we will be hosting an Open House event with light refreshments for our current Year 11 and 12 parents (who will be Year 12 and 13 in September respectively) to visit the new Sixth Form centre.

    If you would like to attend please complete the google form here.

  • Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances the Trail Run Challenge is going to have to be postponed until further notice.

    Please look out for updates in the parent newsletter at the start of the Michaelmas Term.

  • The Pangbourne Parents Association (PPA) would love to welcome all parents with or without your children, to our annual  welcome walk around the grounds of college on Saturday 13 September. It is a lovely way to meet other parents and to see some of the amazing grounds. 


    We will meet outside Port Jackson at 08:45 and refreshments are served on our return. Dogs are very welcome on leads please.  We kindly ask for a donation of £5 on the day.

    We look forward to welcoming both new and current parents and as well as members of staff, Old Pangbournians (OPs) and Parents of OPs (POPs) who are all part of the Pangbournian Community.

Years 7-8

No new notices this week.

Years 9 -11

  • Thank you to those parents who were able to join us on Wednesday evening for the Introduction to Sixth and special thank you to our newly appointed Chief Cadet Captains of the College and two of our Chief Cadet Captains who attended to share their experiences of life in Sixth Form. For any Year 10 Parents who were unable to make the session, please download a copy of the key facts here. 

    We also shared some further events that will take place during the next academic year: 

    • Sixth Form Open Evening - Thursday 18 September 2025

    • Sixth Form Taster Day - Friday 17 October 2025 

    • Sixth Form applications & interviews - second half Michaelmas 2025

    • Three Careers Networking Events - throughout the year in Sports, STEM, the Arts providing an insight into future career pathways

    • Careers Fair - March 2026

    Please look out for further information in the parents’ newsletter next year about these events. 

    The updated Guide to Choosing Subjects at Sixth Form will be included in next week’s parents’ newsletter. 

  • I hope they’ve been enjoying some downtime and holidays. I look forward to seeing them back next week, Monday 30 June for silver DofE students and Thursday 3 July for everyone else! - Mrs Stephenson

SIXTH FORM

  • With the last A Level exams this week now done, we would like to say how proud we are of the conduct and attitude of the Upper Sixth over the last few weeks.  We hope that they are now enjoying a restful break with family and friends. 

    Details about results day in August 2025 will be shared with them in Assembly next week.

  • As the Lower Sixth have now created their online UCAS accounts, they are encouraged to:


    • Do research on university courses

    • Do online MOOCs, virtual webinars and work experience

    • Do wider reading around their interests


    This will help them when drafting their personal statement. A first draft is to be submitted on Google Classroom by Wednesday 2 July.

    Please see the UCAS Parent Guide 2026 here.

  • Applications are open for a 2 day residential summer school. Priority places are given to those meeting certain criteria but an application should still be submitted if interested.

    Please find more information here.

SPORT

EVE SELECTED FOR TEAM GB ROWING TEAM

Eve has been invited to the final J18 GB trials which will take place over the summer holidays. We wish her the best of luck in these and will be cheering her on every step of the way! 

DIVISIONAL UPDATES

  • The final few days of term are always a very busy time in Dunbar, and there are a number of events to flag up.

    Last night the Year 8 Dinner took place in the Old Library. The pupils had decorated the room beautifully with Chinese themed decorations in Pangbourne red and blue. The evening was a fitting finale for our outgoing Year 8 pupils.

    On Monday evening we have our final boarders’ trip to Cosmo in Reading. The permission form for this will be sent separately to our boarders’ parents, and I am looking forward to what has become a termly tradition for Dunbar.

    On Wednesday 2 July we have the Dunbar Summer Disco. This will take place from 19:00 - 21:00 on the final Wednesday evening, and all Dunbar pupils are welcome to attend, although the event is entirely optional. There is no permission form to fill out for this event, and there will be no charge to attend. Please note: any day pupils who wish to join us should go home as usual on a Wednesday, before returning for 19:00, and the dress code is casual, ‘summer festival’.

    On the final Friday of term we will be taking all Dunbar pupils on a trip to the Andrew Simpson Water Sports Centre near Theale, for paddleboarding and kayaking. We will leave after a final Tutor period from 08:30 - 09:30, and we will be back in time for the Head’s Final Assembly at 15:00, after which all Dunbar pupils will be free to leave for the summer. The permission form for this trip is attached here .

    As always all the pupils' personal belongings must be taken home by the end of term so that the House can be thoroughly cleaned. With the exception of prize winners and the six Dunbar Head Boys and Head Girls, there is no expectation that Dunbar pupils or parents attend Founders’ Day, but you are all most welcome, and we usually have a contingent of Dunbar families down on White’s for the lunch afterwards. Parents of prize winners are invited to attend the service in the Chapel and for all other parents there will be a livestream in the Mess Hall. All parents are warmly invited to attend the Parade.

    The end of term this year marks a significant change for Dunbar in that from September all of our boarders in Years 7 and 8 will now board in either Port Jackson or St. George, our boys’ and girls’ Boarding Houses. It has been a privilege to have seen 8 years of pupils board in Dunbar, and I am sure they will thrive in their new Houses and Divisions.

    Ian Hart

  • We are now into the final week of term and there are a number of changes to the routine for the boys to be aware of. I have suggested that they keep themselves up to date by listening in musters and looking at our House Google Chat. This is where their Athletics and Swimming responsibilities are announced.

    The full plan for the final week of term has been shared with the boys. Some of the key points are below.

    Thursday - All pupils are to be in College for 08:15 registration, this is a full school day and normal uniform regulations apply until 17:45.

    • Sports kit needed for Div Athletics in the afternoon

    • No.1 white lids required for Parade practices

    In the evening, there will be a BBQ and games celebration and all pupils are invited to join in. Home clothes are required for this evening event. If pupils are not attending then please let me know so I can adjust catering numbers.

    Friday - All pupils are to be in College for 08:15 registration, this is a busy school day and normal uniform regulations apply until 16:30 when they are free to depart.

    • Swimming kit is required for Div Swimming.

    • No.1 white lids required for Parade practices

    • Upper Sixth Leavers/Parents service at 18:00 in the Chapel

    • Upper Sixth final dinner with HoM from 19:30 - details to follow.

    All possessions must be removed from Harbinger by the end of the day, renovations begin from Monday and nothing will be kept over the Summer.

    Saturday (Founders' Day - Students remain in No.1s all day)

    • 08:30 registration for all in Gunroom, uniform and shoes immaculate please. Uniform inspection and muster.

    • 09:30 - All students to Chapel for Prizegiving

    • 10:45 - Parade

    • 12:00 - Beat Retreat and Flag Ceremony

    • 12:45 - Lunch on White’s - Final Harbinger BBQ signup here - closes on Sunday 29 June.

    We are all looking forward to seeing you on White’s field, thank you so much for all your efforts in organising Founders’ day.

    Andy Sumner

  • I can’t believe we are already entering the final week of term, the year has sped by. The boys had the chance last week to experience being in their new Divisions with an afternoon full of activities and I am sure they have started to make new bonds. Next Tuesday they will have another opportunity to work in their new Divisions for Divisional Drama which is always a fantastic day of fun.

    As we enter the final week, the boys need to look out for notices and emails but below I have highlighted some of the key timings.

    Wednesday - All Year 11 and 13 boarders return after 19:00.

    Thursday - All pupils are to be in College for 08:15 registration, this is a full school day and normal uniform regulations apply until 17:45.

    • Sports kit needed for Div Athletics in the afternoon

    • No.1 white lids required for Parade practices

    In the evening there is a BBQ and games celebration and any day pupils wanting to join need to book in with Mr Cheney. Home clothes are required for this evening event.

    Friday - All pupils are to be in College for 08:15 registration, this is a busy school day and normal uniform regulations apply until 16:30 when they are free to depart. 

    • Swimming kit is required for Div Swimming

    • No.1 white lids required for Parade practices

    • Upper Sixth Leavers/Parents service at 18:00 in the Chapel

    • Upper Sixth final dinner with HoM from 19:30 - details to follow.

    Saturday (Founders' Day - Students remain in No.1s all day)

    1. 08:30 registration for all in Gunroom, uniform and shoes immaculate please. Uniform inspection and muster.

    2. 09:30 - All students to Chapel for Prizegiving

    3. 10:45 - Parade 

    4. 12:00 - Beat Retreat and Flag Ceremony

    5. 12:45 - Lunch on White’s - see link for Picnichere

    I look forward to seeing many of you on Founders’ day for what is always a very special day.

    Tom Cheney

  • It’s hard to believe we’re already entering the final week of term and indeed the final week of the academic year. The months have flown by, and it’s quite emotional to realise that this is our last week together as a full Illawarra House community before the summer break. As always, it’s been a year filled with growth, friendship, and plenty of unforgettable moments; I’m so proud of how the girls have supported each other and made the most of every opportunity.

    Last week, the girls had the chance to experience their new Divisions for September during an afternoon of activities. It was wonderful to see them stepping into new environments with confidence and positivity, and I’m sure the foundations of new friendships have already been laid. They’ll have another opportunity to build on these connections on Tuesday during the much-anticipated Divisional Drama day – a definite highlight of the end of term calendar.

    As we move into the final week, it’s important that the girls stay informed via notices and emails. However, here are the key events and timings to be aware of:

    Wednesday

    All Year 11 and Upper Sixth boarders return to House from 19:00.

    Thursday

    • All pupils in school for 08:15 registration – full school day.

    • Usual uniform (No.2s or suits) required until 17:45.

    • Sports kit needed for Divisional Athletics in the afternoon.

    • No.1 white lids required for Parade practices.

    Evening: BBQ and games celebration – home clothes required. Day pupils wishing to attend must sign up with House staff in advance.

    Friday

    • All pupils in school for 08:15 registration, another full and busy school day.

    • Swimming kit needed for Divisional Swimming.

    • No.1 white lids required for Parade practices.

    • Upper Sixth Leavers/Parents Service in Chapel at 18:00.

    • Upper Sixth Final Dinner with HoM at 19:30 – further details to follow.

    • All belongings must be taken home – nothing can be stored over summer.

    Saturday – Founders' Day

    • 08:30 Registration and uniform inspection – full No.1s required and to be worn all day.

    • 09:30 Chapel – Prizegiving

    • 10:45 Parade

    • 12:00 Beat Retreat and Flag Ceremony

    • 12:45 Picnic Lunch on Whites – sign-up link has been shared.

    I know this final week will be a whirlwind of events, emotions, and goodbyes. Please do remind the girls to be organised, prepared and to soak up every last moment. Founders’ Day is always a beautiful way to close the year, and I look forward to seeing many of you there to celebrate the incredible journey we’ve all shared.

    Rosie Jewell

  • With only a week left, we are quickly moving towards the end of the year. It is always a time of mixed emotions - excitement for the holiday, sadness as the end is in sight and tiredness as things only get busier.

    I am regularly communicating plans and expectations with the Division so hopefully they are aware of their role in the coming days. However, I have tried to consolidate it down into key information below.

    The full plan for next week (last week of term) has been shared with the pupils. However, just for general planning, please see some key information below.

    All students returning from Study Leave (Year 11 & Upper Sixth) are expected in school, full time, from Thursday morning. Boarders are welcome to come back in on Wednesday evening from 19:00.

    Thursday is a FULL school day, starting with registration at 08:15 and finishing at 17:45. Students will need to be in their usual uniform (No.2s or Suits). They will also need sports kit for the afternoon's Div Athletics competition. The boys will also need to bring in their No.1 Lids for the Parade practices. The day finishes at the normal time but all students are welcome to stay for our usual end of year celebration, BBQ and games on Thursday evening (scruff required). If students are NOT staying for the evening event, please let me know.

    Friday is another busy day. Again, registration is at 08:15 and students will need to be in their regular uniform (No.2s or Suits). They will also need to bring in swimming kit for the Div Swimming competition. The day will finish around 16:30 and students are welcome to depart at that point. Polite reminder that they are to take home EVERYTHING home - we have builders starting on Monday 7 July!

    For the Upper Sixth, their parents, and others who wish, there is a Leavers’ Service on Friday evening at 18:00 in Chapel. Following this, we are looking forward to taking the Upper Sixth out for one last supper (scruff required) - separate email to follow.

    Saturday (Founders' Day) starts at 08:30 with registration, inspection and muster in Macquarie. All students are expected in Chapel for Prizegiving (09:30), followed by Parade (10:45), a short break, Beat Retreat & the Flag Ceremony (12:00) followed by lunch on White’s (from 12:45). Students should be in No.1s for the entirety of the day.

    I look forward to celebrating the end of term with you all on Founders’ Day.

    David Metcalfe

  • With only one week remaining Pangbourne wouldn’t be Pangbourne if the pace of the day was to begin to wind down during this week. Last week the pupils had a taste of being with their new Divisions for September thanks to an activities afternoon organised by our very own Mr Hammond. I know the boys enjoyed themselves and I am sure new bonds will have already started to form. This coming week on Tuesday the boys will get another opportunity to reinforce these relationships as the annual Divisional Drama event returns.

    With regards to the final week, the boys must make sure that they are keeping tabs on all platforms in order to keep up to date with what is going on and the events taking place. However, here are the key headlines from the end of term routine:

    Wednesday- All boarders return after 19:00.

    Thursday- All pupils are to be in College for 08:15 registration, this is a full school day and normal uniform regulations apply until 17:45.

    • Sports kit needed for Div Athletics in the afternoon

    • No.1 white lids required for Parade practices

    In the evening is a BBQ and games celebration and all pupils are invited to join in. Home clothes are required for this evening event. If pupils are not attending, please let me know so I can adjust catering numbers.

    Friday - All pupils are to be in College for 08:15 registration, this is a busy school day and normal uniform regulations apply until 16:30 when they are free to depart. 

    • Swimming kit is required for Divisional Swimming competition

    • No.1 white lids required for Parade practices

    • Upper Sixth Leavers/Parents service at 18:00 in the Chapel

    • Upper Sixth final dinner with HoM from 19:30 - details to follow.

    Saturday (Founders' Day - Students remain in No.1s all day)

    • 08:30 - registration for all in Gunroom, uniform and shoes immaculate please. Uniform inspection and muster.

    • 09:30 - All students to Chapel for Prizegiving

    • 10:45 - Parade 

    • 12:00 - Beat Retreat and Flag Ceremony

    • 12:45 - Lunch on White’s - Sign up link here

      Payment link here

      We look forward to seeing everyone and celebrating for one last time as a Port Jackson family.

    Steve Thompson

  • The term is rushing towards the end and Founders’ day. Please check to see that No.1 uniform is clean and in good order and that the girls have 10 denier tights. It will be an emotional day as it is the last day of St George being a competitive division and so many of us are leaving this year.

    As I write this, the Year 9s are just setting off on their DofE expedition.

    I hope they have a good two days and don’t explore too far beyond their planned route.

    We are looking forward to welcoming back the Year 11 and Upper Sixth on Wednesday night or Thursday morning for their last few days with us. Can I just remind Upper Sixth that ideally they do not have cars on campus for the last week. Thank you.

    Here is a schedule for the final few days.

    Wednesday

    • All Year 11 and Upper Sixth boarders return to House from 19:00.

    Thursday

    • All pupils in school for 08:15 registration – full school day.

    • Usual uniform (No.2s or suits) required until 17:45.

    • Sports kit needed for Divisional Athletics in the afternoon.

    • No.1 white lids required for Parade practices.

    • Evening: BBQ and games celebration – home clothes required. Day pupils wishing to attend must sign up with House staff in advance.

    Friday

    • All pupils in school for 08:15 registration, another full and busy school day.

    • Swimming kit needed for Divisional Swimming.

    • No.1 white lids required for Parade practices.

    • Upper Sixth Leavers/Parents Service in Chapel at 18:00.

    • Upper Sixth Final Dinner with HoM at 19:30 – further details to follow.

    • All belongings must be taken home – nothing can be stored over summer.

    Saturday – Founders' Day

    • 08:30 Registration and uniform inspection – full No.1s required and to be worn all day.

    • 09:30 Chapel – Prizegiving

    • 10:45 Parade

    • 12:00 Beat Retreat and Flag Ceremony

    12:45 Picnic Lunch on White’s – sign-up link has been shared.


    Jenny Jones