The aim of this initiative is for the Headmaster to make a weekly contribution which contains community news and sometimes will contain important information of more than an ephemeral nature. If you wish to comment about anything contained in the Headmaster’s Blog please e-mail headmaster@wellingboroughschool.org and head your comment “Head’s Blog”.

A letter received from a parent who had experienced practical difficulties in managing a recent teenage party perhaps reminded us that, with today’s start to the examination season, there are post-GCSE and A Level parties in the planning stage already. One wonders if our recent correspondence or party experiences have influenced the views of parents or indeed their willingness to host such parties. The 6th form have been negotiating with venues for a function on June 1st  and have settled on Brampton Heath Golf Centre. Although this is not a School event one is allowed to comment that it would appear that the sorts of security measures one would expect have been set out for that particular event but not even the professionals can guarantee that everything will run smoothly so we will be planning for another Information Evening on the whole question of the teenage party culture and its management.

Last Thursday’s Headmaster’s Assembly (as the current Heads of School Blog relates) witnessed the announcement of Ellie Lancastle-Smith and Alex Linnell as successors to Rory and Georgina with Will Merry and Imogen Tanqueray as the new Deputy Heads of School. On Friday Housmasters and Housemistresses announced next year’s Heads of House before they all too disappear on Examination study leave.

Saturday’s lunchtime gathering of former Heads of School was an unqualified success; the oldest attendee, Chris Staffurth, was Head of School in 1942 and one’s heart is always warmed by the fond memories which OW visitors hold for their old School and the characters whom they recall.

The week ahead includes interviews for Head of History and an Evaluation Week involving Year 9 where it would seem that the honeymoon period of the Senior School experience has worn off and the current reports too often  refer to the necessity for what one might refer to as either “gentle coaxing”  or more euphemistically as “a kick up the backside”. The Parental Drop-In in the Coffee Shop which we always time to coincide with a specific year group provides another opportunity to share ideas and observations.

This afternoon’s meeting to plan for next year’s centenary of the Prep School’s main building threw up some interesting ideas for events both celebratory and with a fundraising bent. The Jubilee Walk in September is highlighted on the website as just one of the events which is planned to mark this historic occasion in the School’s history. 

Today, of course, marked a new era in the School’s history with the closing of the Prep and Senior School Drives and the opening of the Jubilee Gates off London Road. A considerable amount of planning of traffic flows, layouts of parking bays and signposting was undertaken. However, no amount of preparation can factor in the mistake which saw a car mount the kerb and become wedged across half of the entrance lanes a matter of two metres inside the Gates! The Estates team is deserving of the highest praise for the way in which they managed this situation and the unfamiliarity of drivers throughout the day. Teething problems will persist for some time no doubt yet numerous constructive comments have come from  parents and these will be taken into account as we review the parking, traffic and related security matters.