D ECEMBER 2014 F ORMER P UPIL N EWS
Old Wheatleyans Winter Newsletter
Welcome to the Winter edition of the former pupils’ newsletter... Dear Old Wheatleyan, There has, as ever, been much to celebrate at Bablake over the last few months! We have enjoyed record GCSE results for three out of the last four years, with 70% of grades in 2014 at A*/A. In 2013, a record 55% of A level grades were at A*/A, whilst 80% were at A*- B and a record 19% at A* in 2014. In case all these statistics appear meaningless, suffice it to say that our pupils consistently achieve very good academic results relative to their ability and that we rank amongst the very top co-educational independent schools in the Midlands! Such success stems from excellent teaching and shared high expectations, enabling pupils to proceed confidently to universities of their choice. We know that happy pupils are pupils who thrive, and we place great emphasis on our nurture of individuals within a caring and supportive community. We are also determined to offer the opportunities of a Bablake education to as many bright children as possible, regardless of income in a harsh economic climate.
December 2014
The Governors remain committed to the provision of excellent facilities to support our pupils’ learning, and plans for the enhancement and refurbishment of our Sixth Form Centre will be announced shortly. Following the complete refurbishment of our Sports Centre over the last five years, pupils have recently benefited from the renovation of our Astro Turf facility, with new playing surfaces and the improvement of the surrounding area. We intend to resurface and improve the on-site netball and tennis courts in the Summer of 2015, thereby ensuring that our pupils can continue to enjoy high-quality sports participation and success. OWs will no doubt look forward to using these facilities at future sports reunions! We were pleased to welcome a number of OWs to our Remembrance Day assembly, led by our new Chaplain, Revd Slavic. “Lest we forget”, Remembrance Day should make us all the more determined: to value the sanctity of each human life, wherever in the world; to play our part in resolving conflicts in our daily lives; to be a force for good in our relationships with others; and to bring peace and reconciliation to our families, to our schools and to our communities. That healing process should be part of education, but fundamentally it starts with you and me. My very best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year, John Watson Headmaster 1