Welcome from the Headmaster

12 February 2010

The Headmaster's Concert on Tuesday was a disappointment only to the extent that the Mayor didn't wear his best jangly chain, but instead had a kind of ribbon with a kind of medal on the end of it, which wasn't quite so good; but it was lovely to see him and lovely to hear some immaculate performances from some of our instrumentalists and ensembles. I am really grateful to the Chaucer prefects who helped host the occasion and to all the children who performed so brilliantly.

The gymnastics competition on Friday afternoon was another wonderful display. It was a delight to see such controlled, skilled, balletic gymnasts doing their various routines.

As we approach half-term may I earnestly beseech parents of some of the boys to arrange for their hair to be savagely cut back? It's their eyesight I am concerned about, not their appearance - it's not good to look at the world through thatch.

Ed Fairey, Will Zeitlyn and Freddie McKibbin are going to a Northampton Saints talent ID day on 20th March for U12 rugby. Very well done to them for being selected!

Please may I reiterate to parents the importance of not telephoning or texting children on their mobile telephones during the day? Urgent messages should be telephoned to the Office. We had a lot of avoidable upset caused on Thursday by the selective communication of Leys scholarship and entry results to particular children.
The results themselves gave great pleasure to numbers of our candidates, however, with ten scholarships being awarded (three academic, one art, three D&T, one music and two sport scholarships). Congratulations all round, and to all those who have been offered places at The Leys in Year 9.

There was a trip to see the Year 10 production of Private Peaceful at The Leys last night. Mrs Dennis tells me that it was absolutely superb.

There was a trip to a Science demonstration at Bedford School yesterday afternoon. The children watched some exciting and entertaining experiments, which some of them got caught up in!

Don't forget Quiz Night - March 5th, book your places and don't be shy (if you think your general knowledge is shaky, you will be encouraged by my recent innocent enquiry: 'So who is this John Terry, in fact?').

We have had some terrific netball results against the Perse Prep School ('Now for girls as well as boys'). Well done, children!

The boys who went to Warwick played some good rugby, didn't quite lift any trophies but learned a good deal (which is what it's all about, after all, don't you know).

Stephen Drew
Headmaster