The start of the Spring Term has brought welcome news for many of our U6th university applicants, 75% of whom are now holding offers from at least one Russell Group university. Oxbridge offers have included two for Law at Cambridge. Matthias Nichols has received an offer from Oxford to read English with a choral award at Exeter College. All will be considering their options with care in the weeks ahead and some may decide to favour universities which do not enjoy Russell Group status for good reasons: Bath University, which I visited earlier this week, is amongst the most popular destinations with our pupils. Although it does not belong to the Russell Group, it features at the top of student satisfaction surveys and its courses in Engineering, Science and the social sciences are amongst the best on offer nationally. We will continue to support all our 6th Form pupils in their university aspirations.
Meanwhile Year 11 pupils have been sitting mock GCSE examinations over the last two weeks. We shall review the results with particular interest this year, following the pupils’ engagement with the Tougher Minds programme since the start of the academic year. On a related point, I am grateful to Mr Foster, Mrs Cobbin, Ms Paull and other colleagues who gave up time in the second week of the Christmas holiday to supervise revision sessions in the school library.
Much of my own time recently has been spent meeting Year 6 parents following the senior school entrance examination last Saturday. The field of candidates was strong and numerous, with an almost equal number of boys and girls. Feedback from the parents whom I have met about their experience in the school hitherto has been unfailingly positive, for which I have my colleagues in the Prep School to thank.
Prep School parents know that Mrs Marsh will be departing on maternity leave later this term. I am delighted to report that I have appointed Mr Gordon James as the interim Head of Prep for the period of Mrs Marsh’s absence. Mr James is a very experienced Prep School Head whom I have known for many years. He retired last summer from St Aubyn’s Prep School in Woodford Green after 20 years of highly successful leadership. He is looking forward to meeting Colfe’s Prep parents between now and Easter. Mr James will also oversee the running of the Pre-prep and Nursery for the period of Mrs Redman’s absence.
The sporting year has started well with a successful block football fixture against Brighton College, involving boys in Year 9 and above. The 1st X1 were amongst the victorious teams in the matches, all of which were played in good spirit. Other noteworthy sporting successes have included that of the U15A girls’ hockey team which defeated Alleyn’s in a particularly close contest and, in swimming, Millie Bach who won a silver medal in the 100m freestyle in the Kent Schools’ Championships, less than two years after an injury which rendered her unable to walk- a remarkable achievement indeed.
Our sporting prowess will doubtless be enhanced by the return of Old Colfeian, Susie Rowe whose success at national level in both hockey and cricket will inspire the next generation of Colfe's pupils who will benefit from her coaching in both sports. We are also delighted to welcome Mark Wilson to the PE and Games department. Mark joins us from Cape Town in South Africa, having represented the Western Province in rugby, cricket, hockey and water polo. He is currently getting to grips with the rules of association football. Both Mark and Susie will be teaching games in the senior and prep schools.
Although the term is only two weeks old I am delighted to congratulate the following pupils on a range of outstanding achievements:
- Matthew Walker (Year 8) who has been selected for the Kent U13 cricket squad.
- Leonardo Bertocchi (Year 11) who has made it into the England Judo Squad after performing outstandingly well throughout 2013.
- Tobi Ogunjimi, also Year 11, who is currently ranked number 2 for his age in the UK in Athletics for the 200m sprint after winning the New Year Athletics Competition at Lee Valley.
- Nancy Pilkington in Year 3 who won a Bronze Medal in the London Regional Gymnastics Competition in Floor and Vault.
- Tom Simpson (Year 8) who may have secured a place in the Kent team for the UK inter-counties Championships, after coming seventh at the Kent Cross Country Championships.
- James Maby (U6th) a member of the London Youth Choir and a choral scholar, who took part in a world premiere ‘staging’ of Haydn’s ‘Creation,’ organised by the charity Vocal Futures.
Further details of these achievements are on the school website.
We have much to look forward to as we wait for the rain to stop. The new Nursery Building will be ready for occupation after half term and the remainder of the Pre-prep extension is on schedule for completion later this year. Work on the new Sixth Form complex will commence at Easter. Dawn Bennett, who continues to work so tirelessly for the benefit of the school, has asked me to let you know that the plans for that development will be presented by the school architects at the forthcoming PAFA meeting.
With best wishes for the term ahead
Richard Russell