From The Head We have had the usual mixed weather as spring has moved to early summer. Sadly a number of sports fixtures have fallen victim to the weather, but most school activities have continued as planned. There was even, unusually, some sunny weather for the Second Year Camp on Dartmoor. As I write our students are fully absorbed with examinations and a brief period of studious calm may be found throughout the School. However, as the end of term approaches, youthful exuberance will erupt with Sports Day, the Science and Technology Festival, the Endeavour programme and the Swimming Gala; all to pack in before the summer holidays begin. We are preparing for a number of developments over the summer break including refurbished medical room provision, a new reception area and, of course, the beginning of the new Theatre and Art Department, together with an expanded Sixth Form Concourse, to replace the old Dobson Theatre. Construction begins on July 11th with a view to completion by next summer term. Please note that access to certain parts of the School will be restricted during the construction period although the normal functions of the School will continue unimpeded. The number of trips that take place remains a very impressive part of the School’s provision with record levels of pupils involved. Over a third of the students were involved in activities over the spring and many of these are reported in this issue, including a very successful ski trip to Italy, exchange and language visits to Mutterstadt, Montpellier, AndalucĂa and Catalonia and various Duke of Edinburgh expeditions in the New Forest and at Lovaton, our base on Dartmoor. Our charity work remains very active with significant numbers involved in the Charity Commission as well as Summer Camp in the New Forest and our participation in the Goedgedacht Project outside Cape Town. Other students will be spending the summer holiday in southern France with the water sports trip and a group of biologists will be conducting field work in the Galapagos and Indonesia, while our cricket squad is touring in Sri Lanka. This has been a very active term but also a rather nostalgic one as we say farewell to a number of staff including the retirement of Mr Fitzpatrick, Mr Long, Mr Walter and Mr Patten after an extraordinary 141 years of combined service to the School. Miss Lindebringhs is moving to Spain and Dr Prowse retires after four years teaching Geography at KES. We thank them, and the other staff who are retiring or moving to other posts, and wish them all well.
A J Thould Head
King Edward VI School Wilton Road . Southampton . Hampshire SO15 5UQ Telephone: 023 8070 4561
www.kes.hants.sch.uk