THE LUDGROVIAN
‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might’ Ecclesiastes IX v.10
Contents
• Summer Term Highlights
• Awards news
• King’s Scholarships
• Sporting triumphs
• Trips’ review
• Farewell to Leavers
• OL News
Welcome from the Headmaster
In the back of our 2026 Leavers’ book, I came across the following proverb – ‘Teachers can open the door, but you must enter it yourself’, and this year our boys have done themselves, their parents and us proud. We aim to nurture the character, confidence and creativity of every boy, underpinned by kindness as well as ambition, and I hope these pages give you the sense of purpose, fun and achievement that courses through Ludgrove life.
We are ambitious for our boys and were delighted by the stellar set of results our Top Year were awarded by their future schools which are: 15 to Eton, 11 to Radley, five to Marlborough, four to Harrow, two each to Sherborne, Stowe and schools in Spain, and one each to Brighton College, Bryanston, Cheltenham, Milton Abbey, Oundle, St Edward’s, Viktor Rydberg and Wellington. Amongst them, we celebrated two King’s Scholarships to Eton, the Sewell (top academic) Scholarship to Radley as well as a Brighton Academic Scholarship and Music Scholarship, a Clay Prize at Harrow, a Radley Music Exhibition and a Sports Award to Marlborough – they are a talented bunch and huge congratulations to one and all.
Likewise, well done to the VIs, IVs, IIIs and IIs who are following in their footsteps. We are lucky being a small school that we are able to get to know our boys as individuals; the ‘spotlight’ shines on every chap, and
everything we do strives to ensure everyone is happy, keen to learn and has a sense of responsibility to themselves as well as to those around them - “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” – Aristotle. Happy boys are much easier to teach and in a challenging and changing world, if you can look after yourself, look after your friends and think for yourself, then you are in good shape.
The independent education sector has encountered some ‘ill winds’ over the last few years however we are able to look forward with confidence, investing in significant projects over the Summer and for that I thank the Governors of the School.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who makes Ludgrove such a special place to live and work. We have a
tremendous team dedicated to making us the best we can be, and every year we aim to get better!
I hope you enjoy this issue of The Ludgrovian and I wish you all a happy Summer.
Simon Barber, Headmaster
A selection of Summer Term highlights
Where has that 10 weeks gone? In the blink of an eye the Summer term has flashed before our eyes with a myriad of memories and milestones. As a reminder of the fun of the Summer months, here is a taste of the activities the boys enjoyed last term.
Putting Winners
Sets’ Cup Winners - Wellington
Cothill Jug Golf Tournament at Radley
Peer Mentoring Workshop for the IIs
Tudor History Day
VIs visit to Wellington Country Park
Celebrating National Brothers’ Day
IIs’ Geography trip
National Archives trip
Swimming Galas
U11s footballers at the ISFA Football Finals
1st at the IAPS Judo Champs
Parents & Sons’ Golf Competition
Ludgrove Leavers of 2026
Annual Ski Trip to Sestriere in the Easter holidays
Camping trip for the IVs
This year’s Captains of SchoolJamie, Kai and Rutger
IVs’ visit to the Titanic Exhibition Visit by illustrator George Butler
Mothers & Sons’ Tennis Competiton Wear Green for Mental Health Day
Ludgrove has been commended in the Independent School of the Year Awards in the Small Independent School category. The judging panel said: “It has been truly wonderful to receive so many nominations which clearly celebrate ‘excellence in education’ and showcase the myriad of activities in which our students have the opportunity to excel.”
Such twitish behaviour!
Mr and Mrs Twit, the Muggle-Wumps and the Roly-Poly Bird… worms in spaghetti, the ‘shrinks’ and being stuck upside down with Hug Tight Glue.
All the fun of the classic children’s book, The Twits, was played out by the IVs (Year 5) for a hugely appreciative and very compliant audience. Where else would you find a theatre full of adults holding their shoes
Awards News
Finalists will be announced in September - fingers crossed!
Ludgrove has also received a special mention in the Education Choices Awards for Opportunities in Art and Music and Developing School Partnerships. The judges said: “Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing for your students and the education sector.”
aloft because a 10-year old Roly-Poly Bird tells them to do it?!
The moral of the story - in the words of Roald Dahl, “If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on their face.” From the look of the parents (pictured left) they only had happy thoughts in the audience.
For one day only... Div 1 hosts Dibley
“No, no, no… yes!” For one day only, Ludgrove’s Chapel was transformed into Dibley parish church for Div 1’s hilarious performance of The Vicar of Dibley starring the village’s first lady vicar and the whole Parish Council. The cast had its audience rolling in the aisles with laughter as it delivered stand out performances and brilliant comic timing.
When we say the boys have a chance to grow and spread their wings at Ludgrove, we mean it academically, emotionally and physically! Our annual tradition of taking a photo of the smallest and tallest boy in the School is the perfect example of the transformation between Years 4 and 8.
Farewell to old friends
After two years of building friendships with the Year 8 girls at Downe House, it was time for our Top Year boys to say farewell before they move on to their senior schools.
Having enjoyed joint academic, pastoral and social events together, the boys marked the end of their current journey with an invitation to Ludgrove for an afternoon of mixed team sports and a BBQ.
The group had lots of fun, with plenty of
competitive spirit and laughter throughout the day. It is so lovely to see how these partnerships have blossomed since the start of Year 7 and hopefully their paths will cross again over the next few years.
Double King’s Scholarship delight
Ludgrove has ‘done the double’ in this year’s King’s Scholarship results; Adrian and Kai have been awarded the coveted scholarship by Eton College. It is a remarkable feat for one boy to achieve this distinction, so to be celebrating two recipients is beyond incredible. The last time we enjoyed double success was in 2004 with Messrs Garnier and Royle-Davies.
As Mr Barber told the whole School when he broke the news, these recipients are very rare indeed, with only a maximum of 14 scholarships awarded each year.
The boys will join the other Kings Scholars in College House, including OL Jacky who received the KS last year and Jaey in 2022. That’s four KSs in four years, and you don’t have to be a genius to know that is an impressive statistic!
The rain didn’t dampen Ludgrove’s sporting spirit
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain” (Vivian Greene).
With black clouds overhead and a forecast of wind and rain hanging over the event, you would be forgiven for thinking Sports Day was a washout. In fact the outcome was quite the opposite - competitors shrugged off the weather and families cheered the boys on from underneath umbrellas. Rain definitely did not stop play!
Regardless of the weather, all the usual excitement surrounded a packed programme of field and track events including fan favourites the Tug of War final, Cricketers’ race, Sibling races and the grand finale, the Sets’ relay.
National champs!
As always, the highlight of the day was the spirit of sportsmanship and friendship that was evident at every turn. There’s no doubt the boys love competing against each other for their Set but congratulating or commiserating with other competitors is just as important. The ability to win well and lose well is a priceless lesson.
The day was rounded off with the presentation of the Sets Shield which this year was lifted by Kai for Jellicoe. The Victor Ludorum for each age group was also awarded: Ola for the seniors, Nicko for the middle years and George for the juniors.
Well done to the winners of the Siblings’ Races (we hope you enjoyed your yummy fruit baskets)
There was a double cause for celebration when the athletics team brought home not one but two gold medals from the National Prep School Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Congratulations to Ola and Modupe (Year 7) who took top podium spots for the U13 100m and High Jump respectively.
And to top it all off, Modupe’s jump of 1m 58cm places him 1st in the country and Ola’s time of 12.12
seconds places him 2nd in the country (according to Power of 10, the national athlete ranking site).
With another year to go at Ludgrove, we are super excited to see what happens at the Championships next year!
Above Victor Ludorum winners from left: George for the juniors, Ola for the seniors, and Nicko for the middle years.
Right Set Captain, Kai, collected the Sets’ Sports Day Shield for Jellicoe.
Rain didn’t stop play... or any of the fun for spectators!
Exhibition showcases talent
Impressive performances weren’t limited to the track and field on Sports Day. There were also plenty of show-stopping displays in the Exploration Centre where the Summer Art, CDT & Ceramics exhibition laid out an amazing array of the boys’ creative work for families to admire. From colourful ceramics and ambitious art through to wonderful woodwork, seeing such a range of talent was truly impressive.
Pre Season Cricket Training Tour to Desert Springs in Spain
The annual Pre Season Cricket Training Tour saw 37 boys, five members of staff and former professional cricketer Andrew Wagner, travel to Desert Springs, Spain. The group was given exceptional access to first-class facilities, allowing the boys to immerse themselves fully in cricket and prepare for the season ahead. Mr Barber also joined the tour to see first-hand the tremendous opportunities it provides for our players.
Cheers to happy days
The annual Parents’ Drinks party brought the School family together at The Bluebird, Chelsea, to celebrate another successful year at Ludgrove. The gathering raised a glass to the School’s triumphs this year and looked forward to a bright future for the rest of the term and beyond.
Wagner’s words of wisdom
Andrew Wagner, former Cricket professional at Radley College, gave the boys on the Pre Season Cricket Training Tour a mantra for the Summer term:
“Get stuck in because you’ll never know if you surrender. If you just give up, you’ll never know if you can change the game. And games change quite rapidly if you stick in them.”
The IIs put their French skills to the test
The IIs’ visit to France this term saw the boys experience learning a language beyond the classroom. During the week in the heart of Burgundy, boys took part in a varied programme of activities that combined French language, local culture and outdoor pursuits.
The week offered plenty of opportunities to practise spoken French and it also gave the boys a chance to experience everyday life in a part of rural France off the beaten track for tourists.
During the trip the boys explored the history of Vézelay, bought ingredients in a French market and cooked a regional speciality. A highlight for many was the more
Musicians ‘give it their all’ at the Summer Concert
The Summer Concert had the audience clapping, toe tapping and even singing along with Ludgrove’s incredibly talented musicians.
To say there was something for everyone would be a real understatement. From the VIs and Chapel Choirs through to some brave solo performances and ensembles, brass band and string groups, the boys covered every genre of music.
Having only had just three weeks to put the performances together, the confidence and quality of the musicians is not only a testament to the boys’ talent but also to the dedication of the Music Department - bravo to you all.
adventurous opportunities - a circus skills workshop tested the boys’ coordination and balance, and a kayaking session saw many take to the water for the first time (and discovered it was not quite as easy as it looked!)
By the end of the visit all agreed that languages are best learned through experience, and what an experience they had enjoyed!
Mengze (above) added an Academic Scholarship to his Music award to Brighton College.
Jayden (below) received a Clay Prize from Harrow for top results in Greek and Latin in his scholarship exams.
Thanks for the memories
The Summer term was a game of two halves for the Top Year. The first half was spent preparing for scholarship and Common Entrance exams and afterwards they were free to enjoy their last few weeks.
And what wonderful memories they made with the friends with whom they have shared their Ludgrove journey! The residential trip to Wales... cricket at the Utilita Bowl... Leavers’ Showcase... Leavers’ Day shooting competition, BBQ and Parents’ and Sons’ cricket match... the boys enjoyed all these activities and so much more.
Good luck to our 49 leavers. As Mr Barber said: “You are all now Old Ludgrovians!”
Time to see who is boss...
It’s the opportunity the Top Year boys have been waiting for… the opportunity to show who is boss on the cricket pitch in the Fathers’ and Sons’ matches!
This highlight of Leavers’ Day saw dads (and a mum and younger and older OL brothers) pull on their gloves and pads for three separate matches against the
boys. Fast bowling, cracking catches and flying bails, the action was much appreciated by the cheering families that packed the boundary.
Thank you parents for being such good sports and making special memories with the boys in their last few days at Ludgrove - an experience to remember forever.
Squash stars shine brightly
Ludgrove’s budding squash stars shone brightly at the IAPs Squash Championships. Cub (right) claimed third place in the U13s competition and Patrick (left) won the Bowl in the U11s. Both boys’ performances are particularly impressive given it was Patrick’s first appearance at an IAPs competition and Cub, who was in the IIs, was playing up a year.
Congratulations to the Top Year boys who notched up a 100% pass rate for their Common Entrance exams!
Well done boys, as Mr Barber said: “You have worked hard and can go on to your senior school knowing you are ready for the next chapter.”
Ludgrove’s Superwoman
With hard work you can achieve your dreams. That was the message to the boys from Ludgrove Legend, Mrs Godwin -Clyde, the day after she completed the TCS London Marathon in a PB time of 2 hours and 58 minutes. Our amazing member of the Housekeeping team came 4th in her female age category, 206th in the mass female category and is one of just 1% of runners who broke the 3 hour barrier. And as if that wasn’t enough… she was in work as normal less than 24 hours after running 42kms! Our own Superwoman!
Save the date!
An important date for your diary - please make a note of Wednesday 7th October for Ludgrove’s annual Grandparents’ Day. Invitations for this ever popular event will follow at the beginning of next term. We look forward to welcoming our VIP guests to Ludgrove in October!
Time to say goodbye...
The end of the academic year is the time when we say a sad goodbye to boys and staff moving on to the next chapters in their lives. Join us in wishing the following staff many happy memories of Ludgrove and the best of luck for the future:
1. Simon Loup, Div Master IIL
2. Angela Bidgood, Librarian
3. Oliver Parker, Head of VIs and Assistant House Parent
4. Cara Parker, Assistant House Parent
5. Nicola Brown, Nurse
6. Henrietta Fraser, Classics
Goodbye and please keep in touch as ‘Old Ludgrovians’!
Parents’ ‘Peak’ performance
Twelve hours of trekking in driving rain and less than 10m of visibility. These were the awful conditions a team of Ludgrove parents took on to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for a Ludgrove coffee van.
The team conquered the classic 24 mile route with a total ascent of 1,600m with the help of our intrepid teacher and experienced adventurers Oli Parker and his father.
Organiser Mrs Salvato said: “Our aim was to fund a dedicated drinks van for parents and visiting supporters - a place for
a hot drink on a cold day whilst cheering the boys on from the sidelines. That has been achieved thanks to the generosity of the School community!”
The van will also be used to support events that Ludgrove hosts for our local state school partnerships and community projects.
Thank you to the mammoth efforts of the intrepid fundraising team:
Victoria A
Suzannah G
Amy G
Carolyn R
Jo H
Arabella J
Oli P
Phil P
Hen S
Theresa S
Ludgrove’s fundraisers open the new coffee van for business
Inaugural OL v Flashmen match
Ludgrove marked the start of the Summer holidays with the inaugural Old Ludgrovian v Flashmen CC cricket match. The OL team ranged in vintage from recent leavers (including Alex Burford who played 1st XI Eton College and George Reynolds, former 1st XI Radley College) to those who left the School over 30 years ago. Despite some spirited play, Flashmen won the day - a challenge to be answered next year.
Nice to see you
Below: Mr and Mrs Barber caught up with just a few OLs during their visit to Harrow.
Contact us:
For enquiries regarding registrations for OL events, to update your contact details, or to send us news, please visit the OL section on the website or use the email below
Telephone: 0118 978 9881
Email: development@ ludgroveschool.co.uk
www.ludgrove.net
Ludgrove’s seniors’ cricket team stepped up to the crease in the Charlie Waller Memorial Tournament at Bradfield College. The School fielded a team made up of current and past staff, OLs (including three brothers) and even saw Headmaster Mr Barber and Chair of the Ludgrove Foundation Mr Carter strap on their pads! After a fantastic day of cricket, and some fun but hotly contested matches, the Ludgrove XI proudly lifted the Plate in the annual event in support of this important mental health charity for children and young people.
OL update details
We love keeping in touch with Old Ludgrovians to keep them abreast of developments and news of events throughout the year. This is only possible, however, if address and email details are up-to-date. If you have moved or have changed email address, please email development@ludgroveschool.co.uk.
Charlie Waller Memorial Tournament
If you think Ludgrove is top of its class in the prep school world, please make sure you vote for us in the Tatler Schools Awards! To log your vote of confidence for Mr Barber and the team simply scan the QR code on the right. Voting closes on Saturday 29th August. Thank you for your support.
Left: Mr Barber supported OLs Peter and Alex in the Eton 1st XI v Harrow.
Right: An evening with OLs at Winchester.