Headmasters Letter – February 2011
January 31, 2011 – 7:02 pmDear 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
