THE LUDGROVIAN WINTER 2025
‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might’ Ecclesiastes IX v.10
Contents • • • • • • •
Michaelmas Term highlights The VIs’ Nativity ‘Newsies’ ISI Inspection Success We will remember them School News Old Ludgrovian News
Welcome from the Headmaster Welcome to the 2025 Michaelmas term edition of ‘The Ludgrovian’. The following pages can only give a flavour of what we have been up to since September, however I hope that you feel happiness and success radiate throughout the newsletter.
Every three years we are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and early this term, we welcomed an ISI team consisting of six inspectors. In our last inspection, October 2022, we were graded ‘excellent’ in all areas (the highest grade) and since then the inspection framework has changed somewhat, removing all ‘grading’; it’s now simply a robust process of meeting (passing) a set of standards. We met every standard and the feedback received from the ISI team was glowing: ‘The well-being and happiness of children is of the highest priority’… ‘There is a culture of high aspiration’… ‘Excellent teacher
Winter 2025
subject knowledge’… ‘Politeness, manners and respect run through the school like an invisible thread’. As I mentioned this time last year - ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit’ (Aristotle) - and we are delighted that the ISI team found the School to be in rude health. There have been many highlights of the term – the Poetry Recitations, the Autumn Concert, the Nativity Play, the Dramatic Society’s (D.S.) brilliant performance of ‘Newsies’, Sets’ Football and the Carol Service at the end of term in which the Chapel Choir was superb. There is a vibrant atmosphere around the School which enables the boys to thrive – my warmest thanks to everyone who works to make Ludgrove such a special place. I wish one and all a wonderful Christmas and prosperous 2026. Simon Barber Headmaster
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