Last week’s seasonal events included the Spring Concert, the prep school production of Wind in the Willows, the pre-prep Easter Assembly and a presentation to Year 11 pupils and parents from the Tougher Minds team on GCSE revision. The Spring Concert featured some particularly strong choral works, involving pupils of all ages. It was also the last performing opportunity for our Upper Sixth musicians who will be deep into their A level exams at the time of the Summer Concert next term. Wind in the Willows was an enormous triumph, courtesy of Mrs Welch and Year 5 pupils. The acting and singing were consistently excellent for an hour and a half, a fantastic sustained achievement for pupils of that age.
We also welcomed U6th pupils and parents to their last ever Colfe’s parents’ evening last week. As previously reported, many of our U6th pupils are holding offers from top UK universities this year. In the light of recent HEFCE research raising once again the spectre of positive discrimination in favour of state sector pupils, I wish to make it absolutely clear that we have detected no signs of hostility to our candidates in recent years. In common with other successful independent schools, we have seen our success rate with Russell Group universities rise consistently since the introduction of tuition fees. Having attended meetings with the Vice-Chancellors of eight Russell Group universities over the last three years, I have found them to be consistent in their desire to recruit applicants of high calibre, regardless of background.
In sport our Rugby Sevens across the school have finished a very successful season culminating in three pieces of silverware with wins for our U16s, 1st V11 and U13, all of whom played exceptionally well against formidable opponents like Judd, Sevenoaks, Skinners and Kings Rochester. The U12 netball team narrowly lost out on a gold medal at the Kent Schools Netball Tournament in Rainham by just one goal. This team have remained undefeated in league fixtures throughout the season, reinforcing the exceptional standard of netball in the school. Our younger swimmers in the Prep School performed very strongly in the Kent Primary Schools Final and finished amongst the top six schools in the competition.
A number of pupils, colleagues, parents and friends of the school have been training for the forthcoming London Marathon and its Mini counterpart. Please sponsor them if you have not already done so. On a related theme I was delighted to hear of the success of our cross country runners in Years 7 and 8 who performed particularly well in the Greenwich Championships. Best of luck also to Huw and Evan Olding who will be running three miles round Greenwich Park at the end of April to raise money for the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice.
Other recent beneficiaries of Colfe’s charity have been Sports Relief, The Rio Ferdinand Foundation and the Teenage Cancer Trust. Activities have included a sponsored swim (prep school) and the sports relief mile run (senior school). The single greatest generator of funds was a gala dinner, organized by Jeremiah St Fort (year 10) and other pupils who will be participating in the forthcoming Operation Wallacea expedition to Madagascar in July, raising an impressive £66,250.
Other recent Colfeian individual achievements include the following:
· Music Scholar Ruby Collins who received a personal invitation to join the prestigious Barbican Youth Orchestra featuring 54 of the top musicians in the country.
· Saxophonist Sam Barnett who played a 20 minute gig at the Ideal Home Exhibition in London including his own compositions. He is due to perform as the winner of the Mayor of London’s GIGs competition at Trafalgar Square over Easter.
· Eloise and Bea Hembrough who scored all three winning goals for Charlton Athletic FC in their recent league match against Brentford, earning them a special mention on Charlton’s official website.
· Leonardo Bertocchi consolidated his Judo ranking as 3rd in UK with a silver medal in his latest competition in Belfast
· Old Colfeian MiMi Aye who is due to release her first cookbook Noodle! next month.
Study trips to Bonn (German) and China (Geography) will be amongst the highlights of the Easter break, along with the CCF cadets’ visit to RAF Leeming. Sarah Marsh, Head of Prep goes on maternity leave today and we wish her well. Gordon James, interim Head of Prep, has been in school throughout this week and last. He is looking forward to taking over at the start of next term. I am confident that Mr James will bring the benefit of his considerable experience to Prep and Pre-prep alike, drawing on his many years of successful headship at St Aubyn’s School in Woodford Green.
Cricket teams of all ages (girls and boys) are already in training for next term and enabling works on the new Sixth Form complex will start during the break, coinciding with the removal of the temporary nursery accommodation. We have much to look forward to.
With best wishes for Easter
Richard Russell
Headmaster