Archive for the ‘School News’ Category
May 2011 Headmaster’s Letter
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 May 2011
Dear Old Sulian,
The School officially became an Academy early in April and we are now in the position of being considered an independent school funded by central government. We hope that this will allow us the freedom to innovate and to utilise the sparse resources which exist to support the boys and students across the City. As you would expect we will continue to work with our partner school, Hayesfield Girls’ School, and our friends within the Bath Education Trust. Over time I hope to be able to bring you news of the work we undertake and its impact on the City.
On to much more important issues, I am pleased to inform you that the cricket season has officially begun and the early signs are very positive. The Under 12 boys are unbeaten after three matches, having dispatched Warminster School and two QEH teams. The Under 14 team has achieved the accolade of bowling out King Edward’s School for 50 runs before cantering home to victory with the loss of only one wicket. Their former coach takes all the credit for this great success and asks why he was demoted to the new boys team. The Under 15 team is currently in disgrace for failing to defeat Writhlington School in a recent Cup game.
We have recently competed in four Somerset Cup Football Finals but I am only able to report positively on one clear victory. The Under 16s team avenged a defeat by Chew Valley last year and ran out 5-1 winners in a well played game at Twerton Park. The Under 13s were edged out 4-2 by Wellsway School and the same opponents defeated our Under 14s 3-2 in a very closely fought contest. Despite being considered a ‘rugby school’, it is good to see our boys competing so well in this particular sport.
The Summer, of course, always sees the departure of two echelons from the school and we wish our Upper Sixth and Year 11 boys every success in the examinations to come. We anticipate a splendid crop of results and it is very pleasing to note that, yet again, our students will be taking up exceptional University offers, including Oxford and Cambridge, cementing our place as a premier provider of A Level courses for Bath. We are very pleased to note that, as well as 100 of our own boys joining the Lower Sixth in September, 100 external students will also being taking up places with us.
I am very much hoping that when you are able to take up the opportunity to visit the school you will be delighted to note one or two small improvements to our stock. The Music Block will be completed by the end of August and this will at last give accommodation which is an improvement over that in enjoyed by illustrious musicians since the time of Raymond Leppard. Some of you, of course, less illustrious in musical circles, will also have endured music practice in cold and draughty accommodation. There will, of course, be some who venture to suggest that the more miserable a room, the better the learning. I assume that future budgets will allow your philosophy to be realised! In addition to the Music Block we are very pleased to have had the support of many across the City to allow us to begin work on the new artificial surfaces which will allow our boys the opportunity to excel in a number of sports which previously needed specialist accommodation away from the school. These new surfaces are sited on the redgra and the old wasteland adjacent.
I mentioned Raymond Leppard earlier and many of you will know that he is in Bath to promote his new book and will also be visiting his old school on May 20. May I cordially extend an invitation to you to join us in the Main Hall from 2.30 p.m. for cream teas and some musical entertainment. You will also have the opportunity to visit the new Music facility, although, of course, in, as yet, an incomplete state. I hope that it will be an opportunity for you to catch up with old friends.
Yours sincerely,
A Davies
Headmaster
Headmasters Letter – February 2011
Monday, January 31st, 2011Dear Old Sulian,
A definite transformation is taking place in one or two ‘spots’ on the old site. The 1st XVs 1930’s – 1960’s rugby pitch will soon have a shining new Music Centre residing on the halfway line and ready for occupation in August. In addition we will also greet the summer with a new artificial playing surface on the site of the redgra. In some ways this is a shame as I was enjoying the variety of mosses and other flora and fauna which have developed on the site ….
The recent ‘league tables’ demonstrated again how well the school is doing in academic terms. Nationally around 9% of boys achieved the ‘baccalaureate’ which the Minister of Education has created. At Beechen Cliff the figure stands at 31% – not bad for a target we didn’t even know was expected of us! At both GCSE and A Level our pupils demonstrated their many talents again – scoring at, or near the top, of each of the key rankings for the county.
Sporting success has come ‘thick and fast’ over the last week. County wins in the rugby for our Under 13, Under 14 and Under 16 boyswere much welcomed, although a final defeat of our Under 15s to a strong St Gregory’s team was a disappointment. Hockey victories for our Under 13 against Millfield (4-0) and Monkton (2-1) have also been much appreciated. The trophy shelves in my study have been groaning under the weight of new additions – this week supplemented by trophies for indoor athletics (the Under 12 winners) and runners up in the Under 13 category at the County Indoor Championships.
The football season is now underway and I hope to bring you news of success in this area in the next newsletter, the rugby season having ended on something of a ‘damp squib’ with the cancellation of so many December games in the wake of snow and ice covering pitches so frequently.
Shakespeare House took the honours for the Autumn Term and it was the ‘blue flag’ which flew over the school for a fourth time out of five terms of competition. It is becoming quite a formidable House!
More success has been achieved in other fields of interest recently. The Craft Guild’s Young National Chef of the Year (at 23), Mark Stinchcombe, is an old boy of the school. He received an award from Heston Blumenthal recently and also came into school to open our newly refurbished food room. The Times also announced its photograph of the Year last week and we feature again! David Bebber, old boy (1998) was given the award for the quality of his work. When at Beechen Cliff he undertook a great deal of the photographic work for the school.
I hope to bring you news of other exciting developments and achievements in the next Old Sulians’ newsletter although I should extend an open invitation regarding the school play “Around the World in Eighty Days”, due to take place in March, along with the Spring Concert in the same month.
May I wish all Old Sulians’ well and thank you for your ongoing support of the school.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Davies
Headmaster
The Gryphon
Monday, May 31st, 2010Next week we publish the second edition of our school year book – ‘The Gryphon’. You will possibly have been given a copy at the Old Sulians’ dinner last October.
John Cruickshank, our Head of Economics, has worked tirelessly to bring together articles and photographs which have been assembled to create a publication which attempts to give an insight into the varied activities which make up an education at Beechen Cliff.
Alex Wood’s Systemagic has produced the piece, working on the design and arranging the printing. As you can appreciate it is important that parents and friends of the school purchase a copy to ensure that we can continue the fine tradition started many years ago with the production of “The Sulian”.
At £10 a copy it is an eighty-four page highly ‘professional’ soft-backed book, fit to grace any coffee table and a fitting tribute to another varied year at the school.
We would be very grateful if you could purchase a copy, helping the school meet its obligations to our suppliers (!) and also allowing you to see how much goes on at your old school.
In the PDF document at the end of this email there is a ‘tear off’ slip which can be completed and sent to the school, together with a cheque for £10, made payable to Beechen Cliff School. We will then send you a copy of ‘The Gryphon’ upon publication!
Thank you so much for your anticipated support.
Yours sincerely,
A Davies
Headmaster