Friday 05 September 2025
Head’s Weekly Update
Role of the weekly newsletter
Please note that this newsletter is the primary source of communication from the College and it contains all the key information for families. We aim to disseminate this information as far in advance as possible so please do read the newsletter each week. As with last year, the first few newsletters will have longer pieces from me as we get everyone on the same page for the year ahead.
We have repositioned the key notices section nearer to the top so that key information is easy to access for busy parents and the newsletter replaces the need for multiple emails and missives from the College and forms a one-stop shop for upcoming events and detail.
Please also note that whilst WhatsApp groups may exist for certain groups within the College, these are not official College channels and they do not form part of the College communications strategy. The College plays no part in any WhatsApp group and is not responsible for any content or opinions shared on them. Please be aware that information on WhatsApp groups cannot be relied upon and the newsletter is the most accurate source of information.
Celebrating the academic uplift
We have been delighted by the recent exam success of our students and securing 90% first choice University destinations. (Other schools below only managed 77%.)
These results break all previous records and help set our young people up well for the future and provide them with the currency they need to live a life of choice and opportunity. Our aim this year is to move to number 1 spot in this table.
These results however only constitute half of what a great education entails and what our students need if they are to flourish in an uncertain and unpredictable world.
Our focus for the year ahead
The aim this year is to build on our academic uplift and apply the same rigour and attention to our adventure and co-curricular programme that we applied last year to our classrooms.
Mr Hewick has been central to developing our 5 year sports strategy and has laid the incredible groundwork needed to realise our student’s potential. It is with sadness that we announce that Mr Hewick is relocating to Brecon with his family in January 2026 and he leaves us with our very best wishes and thanks for all his hard work and commitment to the College as both a student and member of staff. There will be time later in the term to say a proper thank you.
These are big shoes to fill and we are delighted to announce that after a highly competitive recruitment process we have appointed Mr Joe Mills as Director of Sport from January 2026. Joe joins us from Rugby School Thailand where he is the Head of Academic PE. Mr Mills holds over a decade of leadership experience across high performing UK and International Schools and brings a wealth of expertise in developing a curriculum and sports programme to inspire participation, promote physical activity and drive performance. Mr Mills will be central to executing our vision and ensuring every student participates in competitive sport and develops a lifelong passion for sport and exercise.
Coupled to this I am delighted to announce that Mr Tom Poynter has been appointed as Assistant Head Co-Curricular, leading all aspects of co-curricular, including sport. Mr Poynter lives and breathes adventure and will bring a renewed energy and enthusiasm to our co-curricular offer. I am excited to see this central part of College life grow over the coming years.
Campus development
It is perhaps worth reiterating that the new Divisional model is the best ecosystem we have for enabling a fully co-educational and integrated experience for all students, both day and boarding. Other schools have separate day houses and boarding houses and, although very simple to implement, a separate model pulls in the opposite direction and degrades the sense of community and esprit de corps we aim to develop. We know that these changes will enhance the community and enable all students to feel equally part of the College. It is initially more complex but ultimately more valuable and we will always prioritise long-term success over short-term simplicity.
Divisions: We have been delighted with what we have achieved in eight weeks in developing Phase 1 of Campus 2030 and our Divisional offer. This was always going to be an extremely ambitious project given the timeframe and as with any building project, we are not yet finished and a phased completion is in place. Thank you to all parents who have provided useful feedback on the first two days back. Now term has started we will continue to develop the spaces in the Divisions over the coming months, with the immediate next steps being quiet study spaces for exam groups. Perhaps I might ask that parents with feedback on the spaces wait a few weeks before emailing as I am confident that what you feel your child needs will materialise in the next phase of work as we have planned this out very intentionally.
Boarding: Over the final three weeks of the holiday we were inundated with applications and enquiries, particularly for boarding under our improved model. As a result we are underway with recruiting a new Boarding House Team to enable us to open a second Boys’ boarding house, hopefully by October half-term. This is really exciting and shows the increasing demand for a Pangbourne education and why we are the most exciting school in the country. Our roll increased by 30 students over that time and we are delighted to welcome these new families to the Pangbourne community.
Sixth Form Centre: Alongside the changes to boarding and the new Divisions we have launched our brand new Sixth Form Centre. As with the Divisions, this was an ambitious project for the summer holiday and we are delighted with the work carried out by our own team. Running three large projects concurrently stretched us to the limit but will deliver excellence for our students more quickly; which will always be my priority. Now term has started we can continue our planned expansion into the available space the building offers and grow the facilities available to the Sixth Form. The next phase for the weeks ahead is to double the amount of study space and recruit a dedicated Careers Adviser and Study Support Officer to help the Sixth Formers thrive as they prepare for their first set of trial exams. We are also developing dedicated changing facilities for boys and girls in the Centre to enable them to make the most of the time available to them.
So my message is perhaps deceptively simple - we have a very clear plan and are implementing it step by step. We love feedback but perhaps wait a week or two and see if the feedback is still relevant.
We look forward to seeing the students enjoying these new spaces and applying themselves fully to everything the College offers.
Best wishes,
Oliver Knight
Notices
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Please see the full list of Leadership, Academic and Co-Curricular staff for the new academic year here.
Any pastoral, day-to-day logistics or information should be sent to your child’s Divisional email address or tutor. Contact addresses for both can be found on the portal by clicking on 'My Children'.
Pastoral Divisional Leads (PDL), Head of Junior House and Deputies can be contacted on:
Dunbar@pangbourne.com
Harbinger@pangbourne.com
Hesperus@pangbourne.com
Illawarra@pangbourne.com
Macquarie@pangbourne.com
Boarding Head of House and Deputy Head of House can be contacted on:
Stgeorge@pangbourne.com (girls)
Portjackson@pangbourne.com (boys)
Any ad hoc boarding requests should be sent to the above, relevant addresses.
Tutors
Each pupil is allocated a tutor whose role is wide-ranging but their most important function is to oversee each of our pupils’ academic, intellectual and personal development. Tutors manage the transitions into Year 7, into Year 9 and into the Sixth Form. They advise and guide on GCSE and A Level choices and university courses. Tutors meet their tutees regularly and are the first people to see and discuss grades and reports. They help their tutees manage their prep and study time, and also share the delivery of the Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education programme.
Your child’s tutor is referenced on the Portal and their contact address can be found on the portal by clicking on 'My Children'.
Other useful contact email addresses:
admissions@pangbourne.com - for any prospective pupil enquiries
hc@pangbourne.com - Health Centre
shop@pangbourne.com - School Uniform Shop
billing@pangbourne.com - for any billing queries
reception@pangbourne.com - for any general enquiries
pangbourne@vectare.co.uk - for any bus booking queries
amanda.james@pangbourne.com - EA to The Head for appointments with the Head
ceri.king@pangbourne.com - PA to the Bursar for appointments with the Bursar
martin.palfrey@pangbourne.com - Network Systems and Data Manager, for any change of contact or address details once you have joined the College.
bursaryadmin@pangbourne.com - if you are interested in lift sharing with other parents, please email with the general direction you are travelling from and the College will put interested parties in touch with each other.
questions@pangbourne.com - please use this email if you have a question or any feedback that you would like to share.
Reception Opening Hours:
The Main Reception in Devitt House is staffed from 08:00-16:00
The Bursary Reception is staffed from 08:30-18:00.
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The timetable timings for 2025-26 can be found here.
Independent schools are now being held to the same standards of pupil attendance as the maintained sector. Of all the independent schools that failed their inspection last academic year (of which there were many), the majority were due to a lack of compliance with the latest legislation. The following protocols ensure we are compliant and know where every child is and ensures they are properly supervised.
Morning Arrivals
Registration - this is for all pupils including boarders and Sixth Form students and takes place in their Division between 08:00 - 08:20. Divisions will open at 08:00.
Parking - all drop-offs in the morning and collections in the evening should be on the Parade Ground or the Café car park and vehicles should not drive down the small roads to the Divisions.
Early Arrivals - any pupils wishing to arrive on site before the Divisions open at 08:00, may go to the Mess Hall from 07:30. Pupils may also book in for breakfast via their Pastoral Divisional Lead. This ensures proper supervision of all students who are onsite.
After School Departures and Prep
Due to the distance many of our students travel, the school day has a flexible end to prevent late arrival home followed by mountains of prep. It should be noted that the 30 minute prep slot at the end of the day is not sufficient for prep to be meaningful for students in Year 10 and above.
To realise the academic potential of our students they will be completing between 8-10 hours of prep a week in Years 10 and 11 and far more in the Sixth Form. This is built into the boarders’ programme in the evenings with additional prep times after dinner. As day pupils will also have extra prep to do whilst home in the evenings, the earlier bus departure time will enable academic success to be secured. This change also reflects parental feedback from last academic year.
Parents may pick up at 17:15 or 17:45 from the Parade Ground.
College minibuses will depart the campus at 17:25.
In addition there will be a shuttle service to Pangbourne Train Station at 17:20 and 17:50.On-site prep will run from 17:15 to 17:45 in a silent and fully supervised space. Pupils wishing to stay for prep must sign up with their Pastoral Divisional Lead.
Divisions will close at 17:30.
For any pupils wishing to stay later than 17:45, parents will need to book their child into dinner via their Pastoral Divisional Lead and they can then be picked up from outside the Mess Hall at 18:30 having been fed.
Please note that pupils must either leave at 17:15 or be signed in for supervised prep by their PDL. Pupils who remain on site must be accounted for from a safeguarding and fire safety perspective.
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My School Portal is the main communications method we use at Pangbourne and, once you have registered, you will be able to access most College systems using the same email address and password.
To register:
Click the link 'Forgot your password'.
Enter the email address we have for you.
Choose a suitable password.
The portal offers access to SOCS [Sport fixtures and results], Attendance, College Reports, Parent Evenings and much more. You will also be able to view your child’s timetable and see who his teachers are for each subject.
We will be launching the My School Portal app soon too, which will provide an even easier means to access College information.
If you do experience any problem registering, please let me know. You do not need to re-register if you have other children at Pangbourne and have accessed the portal before.
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As the new Academic year commences, we would like to remind all parents about the process for absence requests. Please make sure read Appendix 1 Section 8 of the Attendance Policy here, in particular:
Applications for authorised leaves of absence during the School day will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, these should be made at least a week in advance and will only be permitted if made in writing via My School Portal. To find this: from the menu, please select ‘My Children’ and then ‘Pupil Absence from School Request’.
Please also note that pupils should sign in and out as appropriate at the Bursary (far end of the Parade Ground) when arriving or leaving site for an authorised absence that is not a full school day. Any such absence will need to have been pre-authorised.
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Monday Activities will start on 29 September.
Monday afternoons prior to this will be used in preparation for Divisional Music: our interdivisional music competition which will take place on the evening of Thursday 25 September.
All pupils in Years 9–13 will compete for their Divisions as part of Div Song, with each Division also fielding a solo instrumentalist and a solo singer.
The Pangbourne Choristers will also be singing on the night and parents are warmly invited to join the audience. More information about this will come out in next week's newsletter.
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Gillman and Soame will be visiting the College next Thursday 11 September to take portrait photographs of pupils in years 7, 9 and Lower Sixth. New pupils joining in other year groups will also have their photograph taken. Please ensure all eligible pupils have the correct uniform or a business suit (Lower Sixth) for the event.
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Please see the letter here with more information about this re-structure.
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Please view the letter for all riding parents regarding costs here.
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Mouthguard fittings will take place on Thursday 11 September from 15:00.
They will take place in the PE classroom and pupils can still be signed up via this link.
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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 the 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 will be served on our return. Dogs are very welcome on leads please. We kindly ask for a donation of £5 on the day to cover catering costs (cash is preferred).
We look forward to welcoming both new and current parents as well as members of staff, Old Pangbournians (OPs) and Parents of OPs (POPs) who are all part of the Pangbournian Community.
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All pupils have been provided with mini whiteboards, a pen and a board eraser. These should be brought to each lesson and will be used in a number of ways within the classroom. They are an excellent way for teachers to check the understanding of the whole class and also for pupils to draft answers. If pupils lose their board, they can get another by going to see Mrs Woolridge. A small recharge to cover the cost of the replacement board will be added.
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Following a very successful couple of terms of the parents training sessions with Frazer from FDM Fitness each Thursday, we are looking forward to continuing these sessions this year.
Since some of the parents that previously took part do not have children at Pangbourne anymore, some more spaces have become available for new attendees.
For the session we will meet at Bowden Field each Thursday 08:15 - 08:55. The sessions are 40 minutes in duration and are fun and friendly fitness sessions suitable for all. Each week is different and all equipment is provided.
Attendees pay for the term. The Sept to Dec term is 13 x sessions.
Anyone interested in trying a session can contact Frazer on his email: frazer@fdmfitnesstraining.co.uk or by messaging / calling 07557 053343.
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It has been a pleasure to welcome our new Year 9 pupils as well as welcoming back those who have come through Dunbar this week. I have been so impressed with how the Year 9's have adapted to College life during the first few days, from academic testing and immersing themselves in our new Adventure Race. This afternoon, the year group are beginning their journey on The Duke Edinburgh's Award which will be an experience they will remember for life as well as developing so many vital leadership skills. The award is also a wonderful way to make new connections and friendships with peers. In my assembly on Thursday we focused on the importance of kindness as one of the College Flag Values. We explored the much publicised example of the CEO snatching a signed hat from a young fan at the US Open which shows that even adults can get it wrong in the heat of the moment. I'd like to finish by wishing both our U14 girls hockey team every success in their fixture this weekend against Downe House and the training match, as well as a productive training session for our U14 boys rugby players.
Best wishes,
Anthony Hammond
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I have been impressed by the start that Year 10 have made to the term. They look very smart (in most cases!), seem ready to hit the ground running and staff running the adventure race on Wednesday commended their great behaviour and enthusiasm.
We also talked about the 'two-year-plan' on Wednesday and the key message which I gave to them all, besides kindness underpinning everything they do, is that effort goes a very long way for GCSEs. They are all capable of great things. The mood in the College is very positive at the moment, so I hope they feel confident as they start on their GCSE journey.
Please find linked here Year 10 Key dates and the Year 10 homework timetable.
I hope your child is getting settled in and used to the routines of school life again. I am really looking forward to supporting them as they embark on their GCSE journey.
Abbie Stephenson, Head of KS4
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Year 11 have started year 11 with a bang, 'locked in' and purposeful. They impressed all the staff who supervised them during their adventure race on Wednesday.
I was really pleased to hear that some of the work we did last term on flag values came into play during this.
I've given Year 11 two key messages this week:
1. As ever, kindness tops everything and is king.
2.That all their teachers here are hugely excited and positive about their potential and they should be confident in aiming really high as long as they put in the effort.
Please find linked here the key dates document - this might be worth sticking on the fridge!
In due course I shall send you a more detailed academic calendar. The first date which I should flag to you is the Sixth Form Open Evening on Thursday 18 September.
This will be a chance for you to see the new Sixth Form Centre as well as hear from subject Heads of Department about the subjects on offer as part of our A Level and BTEC curriculum.
Please also find linked here the Year 11 homework timetable.
Some changes which I am very pleased to announce are that all students may now wear PE kit all day on days when they are doing sport (they will still need to come into school in number 2s on Wednesdays for parade practice). The Head has given his permission for Year 11s to use umbrellas (small ones please) around school and perhaps most excitingly of all, if they attain an effort grade average of 4 on their first grade card, they are welcome to use the café (card payments only as they will not have their phones with them!) during breaks and lunchtimes.
I hope these changes will be welcomed by students as they move into the senior part of the school and start to carry more responsibility as role models to the younger students.
I hope your child is starting to settle into their new divisions and that they are quickly getting back into the rhythms and routines of school life. Along with all the staff and especially their tutors, I am really looking forward to working with them this year.
Abbie Stephenson, Head of KS4
Year 9 - 11
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It has been a pleasure to welcome back the Sixth Form for a new term. They are starting to settle into a routine now and I look forward to conversations about UCAS and future pathways with the Upper Sixth and helping the Lower Sixth to settle in over the coming weeks.
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It has been a pleasure to welcome back the Sixth Form for a new term. They are starting to settle into a routine now and I look forward to conversations about UCAS and future pathways with the Upper Sixth and helping the Lower Sixth to settle in over the coming weeks.
Please see here for Upper Sixth Key Dates for 2025-26. Please use the link here for a pdf version.
Sixth Form
Friday 5 September, 17:30 - 19:30
Divisional Welcome
Pupils, Parents, Devitt Lawn
Saturday 6 September, 08:30 - 10:30
PPA Committee Meeting
Pupils, Parents, Sixth Form Café
Wednesday 10 September, 08:50 - 10:45
Head’s Introduction to Pangbourne
Prospective Families, Old Library
Thursday 11 September, 09:00 - 12:00
Gillman and Soame Portrait Photographs
Students, Drake Hall
Thursday 11 September, 15:00 - 17:30
Mouthguard Fittings
Pupils, Sport, SP1
Friday 12 September
Deadline for post-results requests for GCSE, A Level and BTEC exams
Academic, Pupils
Friday 12 September, 08:30 - 09:30
SENCo/ New Parents Coffee Morning
Parents, Old Library
Saturday 13 September, 08:30 - 11:00
Community Welcome Walk
Parents
UPCOMING EVENTS
COLLEGE NEWS THIS WEEK
Sixth Form Centre Open House
On Wednesday 3 September, all current Lower and Upper Sixth parents were invited to an Open House event to view the brand new Sixth Form Centre for the first time. It was a lovely morning and we hope the Sixth Form enjoy using their new space this year.
First Day of Term
The first day of term involved many fun activities which encouraged the pupils to work together and communicate . All pupils arrived in the morning and went straight to their brand new divisions. One of the main activities in which pupils from Year 9 to Upper Sixth took part in was the ‘Adventure Race’. This involved a handful of activities, ranging from problem solving tasks to archery, first aid and the assault course. Teams were scored on each activity and winners were announced at the end.
SPORT
Watch this space for Sports updates.
DIVISIONAL UPDATES
Divisional updates will begin shortly.