Head Master’s Welcome In fictional thriller Different Class Joanne Harris revisits St Oswald’s Grammar School in the fictional town of Malbry. The Headmaster, Dr Shakeshafte, is described as spending “the best part of his day in his inner sanctum, engaged in headmasterly activities as vital as they were unfathomable”. It is the question pupils always ask me – “what do you do all day Sir?” My answer invariably focuses on the sheer delight I get in seeing the pupils engaged in the dizzying array of activities on offer. This year has been no exception and the Westminsters of today continue to impress me with all that they achieve.
I
was thinking of this recently when I was part of a panel of Heads at a prep school, talking to a sizeable audience of potential parents. Each of the panel had to speak for three minutes before questions. By the time my turn came, it was difficult to think of anything distinct to say… In typically impressive style, my colleagues had eloquently espoused the values underpinning their schools, the achievements of their pupils and the virtues of an all-round liberating education. It struck me that a way of getting across something slightly
different about the distinctive nature of Westminster was to talk about place, three places in fact, to give a flavour of what life was like here on a day-to-day basis. I talked about Abbey. We gather there twice a week in the most majestic of school chapels and hear from an array of speakers who stimulate and challenge in equal measure. The undoubted highlight this year was the induction of the first girls as Queen’s Scholars, a wonderful moment in Westminster’s History.
I talked about School. Here we see so much that encapsulates the very essence of Westminster. I spoke about the weekly Latin Prayers, the Greaze, talks and some wonderful music. I could also have mentioned OW and Parents’ Committee events including the Quiz which the staff team won and much else besides. I talked about the Boathouse. Our rowers continue to excel and I am writing this straight after National Schools Regatta where we won four medals including two Gold ➽ ISSUE 2017/18
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