Headmaster's End of Term Letter - Birkenhead School

From: The HeadmasterD J Clark MAEmail: headmaster@birkenheadschool.co.uk5 July 2013Dear ParentsIt has been a great pleasure over the last three years to host the “Welcome Back” dinnersfor Old Birkonians. We recently held the dinner for the leavers of pre 1955, the oldest ofwhom left School in 1940. Former students enjoy the opportunity to catch up with oldfriends and to share the many memories they have of their schooldays. As they walkaround the campus, they are reassured to see and hear that much of what was familiar tothem remains to this day. Young students still sing enthusiastically in Chapel, longcricket matches fill afternoons on School Field, prefects stroll around in their ‘wings’ andan ethos of building character alongside academic rigour is as strong now as it was then.Of course, much has also changed. We are, I think, a kinder, more tolerant communitythan we once were and dynamic lessons with interactive whiteboards were beyond eventhe imaginings of science fiction.How well did a 1940s Birkenhead School education equip students then for modern lifenow, with undreamed of changes in society, globalisation and technology? There are OldBirkonians exercising leadership, influence and expertise across almost every sphere ofthe professions, commerce and the arts. I am quite sure that, whilst Latin grammar andquadratic equations played their part, it was the inculcation of an appetite for learning,skills of reasoning and the development of independence of mind and integrity which haveformed the bedrock of their successful contribution to society.We still face the same challenge in preparing students for a world which will be verydifferent in 20 or 30 years time. What technologies will they be using? What newchallenges will society face? We have been asking ourselves these and other questions,and considering how best to prepare our students for what the future will hold. We wouldlike you to join in this debate and, as part of our five year strategic plan, will be askingyou to contribute some thoughts later on this summer.One focus of our discussion has been independence, a theme I spoke about in my speech atprize-giving. We work hard at drawing out from students a breadth and depth of talentsand skills which will stand alongside their qualifications in preparing them for adult life.Our Beyond the Curriculum programme has developed in recent years to include Years 7,10 and the Sixth Form. Next year, Mr FitzHerbert, our new Head of Prep, and his teamare introducing a Future Skills Development course in Years 3 to 6, and there will also bea new Leadership module in Year 8.

Some of the careers which we need to prepare our current students for probably don’teven exist yet. Experience of working outside the School environment is, however, alwaysvaluable and I am very grateful to those parents who have already offered to help us infinding placements for the Year 11 Take a student to work days on Thursday 12 th andFriday 13 th September. We aim to match pupils’ interests as closely as possible to theoffers we receive. If you are able to help, please let our Head of Careers, Mrs Reeve know;her email address is er@birkenheadschool.co.ukWhatever the food scientists of the future may bring, people will continue to enjoy goodfreshly cooked food and I am delighted that our catering team have reached new heightsthis year – there can be few schools in the country where students are able to eat as wellas ours. Students from Years 7, 10 and the Sixth Form have also been learning to cook –I and other colleagues have been treated this year to various lunches cooked entirely bythe students, who also waited on and even arranged the background music! The Year 10meal a few weeks ago was indistinguishable from one you would be served in arestaurant. Year 6 will also be having cookery lessons next year so I am looking forwardto a few more invitations!Healthy Eating has been the focus of a group of colleagues and parents recently and MarkTurner, our new Bursar, is planning an open forum on this theme one evening next term.This follows on from our recent parents’ forum on Cyber Safety and we are looking atcreating more opportunities for engaging with parents on pastoral and other issues overthe course of the next academic year. If you have any ideas for topics you would like to beincluded, do let me know.Healthy Eating and Cyber Safety will also be two important strands within our extendedPSHE programme in Seniors next year. This will be delivered in a session on Fridaymornings, with the lessons until lunchtime all being 10 minutes later than they are now.The programme is designed and overseen by our School Nurse, Mrs Pizer, along with theHeads of Year, many of whom will be new in post in September:Ms Smeaton is moving from Overdale to be Head of Sixth Form and Mr Parry movingfrom Year 10 to be Assistant Head of Sixth Form. Mr Hendry remains Head of Year 11,Mr Rule becomes Head of Year 10 and Mr Murdoch Head of Year 9. The Head ofOverdale will be Mr Rimmer and Mrs Salter will take on the role of Assistant Head ofOverdale.This year, it seems more than ever before, has been packed full of opportunities forstudents beyond the classroom. The summer edition of In Focus, which you shouldreceive by post shortly, highlights both the variety of experiences pupils have and thesuperb standards they reach in Sports, Music, Drama and so much more. The activitydoes not stop over the summer and the next few weeks see the Chapel Choir singingservices for a week in Truro Cathedral, the CCF competing at the Bisley Schools ShootingCompetition and the senior rugby team setting off on their tour to Namibia & SouthAfrica. Looking forward to next year, we will be putting on our first large-scale musical inSeniors for a while - Les Misérables will run from Wednesday 12 th to Saturday 15 th Marchso do make a note in your diaries. After the fabulous Year 6 production of The Pied Piper,there is a lot to live up to!Next term starts on Monday 2 nd September at 8.30am. There will be a service for allSenior School pupils in St Saviour’s Church at 9am, when we will be addressed by the RtRevd Peter Forster, Bishop of Chester. Parents are welcome at this service; please do letmy PA, Debbie Roberts, know if you will be attending. Members of Chapel Choir shouldreport straight to St Saviour’s at 8:30 on this day.

This letter started with the oldest of our Old Birkonians; as the academic year draws to aclose, we will be welcoming our Upper Sixth leavers as the youngest alumni. We do notknow what challenges and opportunities lie ahead, but I am proud to see these young menand women leave us with the character and confidence to face them. As we wish themevery future happiness, may I also wish you and your family a very restful and enjoyablesummer.Yours sincerely