Dear Parents and Guardians of boarding pupils,
‘The beginning is the most important part of the work’ is one of Plato’s more famous quotes, and what a beginning of the new academic year it has been! Schools are unique places in that they lie semi-dormant for weeks and then burst vibrantly into life with, in our case, young men eager to renew or establish acquaintances with school life.
For you, as parents of boarders, the start of term is even more significant. I had the honour of being Captain of Boarding at my own school and then worked in a number of boarding schools throughout my career so I know just what a milestone this represents for you and your sons. I have visited Founder’s House on several occasions already and am delighted to see how well the boys are settling. It is impossible not to compare our boarding here at Whitgift with my previous schools, and with those schools I have visited as a school inspector. My conclusion is that Whitgift’s boarding offering is of the very highest calibre, and I concur with the findings from our inspection report that ‘boarding pupils are fully integrated into the life of the School’ and that ‘boarding accommodation...has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.’ This hallmark is not the only thing that tells me boarders are happy here – those that I have already met are clearly well supported and comfortable in their environment. They are a special part of our community, quite literally at the heart of the School.
As I hope you are now well aware, school life at Whitgift, is astonishingly broad and full of opportunity. I have been hugely impressed at the way in which boys engage with this wide offering and have also noted the studious and focussed way they have started in their lessons. It is encouraging how quickly the noise between lessons and at breaks quietens as boys maturely turn their attention to their studies. Classrooms should not be silent, but the focus of our boys is to be applauded.
I have had the pleasure of seeing a few examples of this at this early stage and plan to visit more lessons, speak with more boys (and colleagues) and understand more of what Whitgift offers as the term progresses. With some trepidation of sounding like the current President of the United States, I have termed this period my first ‘100 days’. Whilst some political commentators attest that the first 100 days of any presidency are the only opportunity to achieve change and deliver against any agenda, I do not feel the same should necessarily be applied to a Headship tenure. However, I do agree that beginnings are important, and I congratulate your sons on the start they have made; I have certainly enjoyed my own start at Whitgift. My thanks go to all in our community for the support I have received to date.
One other quote I have mentioned to many parents comes from a more recent figure whose achievements were rather different to those of the esteemed Plato. Linford Christie, decorated and often maligned former Olympic champion, had a mantra that helped him make the best start possible out of the blocks and I have relayed this to every boy in the School through a series of assemblies. Christie said that his goal was to always ‘Go on the ‘B’ of the bang’; to make as fast and effective a start as possible in any race. I have challenged pupils to do the same here and am pleased to note several indicators that suggest they have done exactly that.
Turnout at clubs and societies has been high, the School Captain (a boarder himself!) and his team have made a flying start with various initiatives, we have already seen success in several sporting environments and boys are energetic and engaged in their learning both inside and outside the classroom. Our younger pupils are throwing themselves into all that Whitgift has to offer; the Junior House system is up and running with Elm winning the first competition to design a House Shield and motto. In their case they settled on the brilliant: “Above Us Only Sky”. Whilst the summer break has faded into the background (along with the summer weather), memories still reverberate from our first ever Whitgift Basketball Summer Camp, our Community Summer School and multitude of trips. Senior boys have quickly moved into their new routine of GCSEs / IB / A Level classes as they embark on the crucial next few years. Beyond their standard curriculum, boys are involved in projects such as the Economics World Cup (who knew such a thing existed!), the production of SPECTRA magazine and the Science in Medicine School Teams Prize. There is, of course, much more I could mention – much of which was on show at our Open Morning this past weekend.
My colleagues have made an equally positive start to the year, and I have had the great pleasure of sitting down with Heads of Department to further understand their teams and their excellent results from last year’s examinations. Indeed, on close scrutiny of these results, it is evident that boarding is one route to even more magical outcomes! The performance of Founder’s House boys has been high across the board and many students have achieved outstanding outcomes with a feature being the concentration of the highest grades. Boarders outperformed the School average at IB, A Level and GCSE at all levels. Boys should be delighted and proud of these results as they form the platform from which they can build their next steps – be they here at Whitgift or at destinations after Sixth Form.
Of course, there are some colleagues for whom the start of term does not represent such a change. Our grounds, estates, administrative and other support staff teams across the School have been in situ for the majority of the summer and have done a superb job in supporting what has been such a crisp start to term. Works completed over the break have now bedded in and we are looking forward to using the newly ‘stitched’ Edridge semi-artificial pitch after October half-term. I have been advised that the stitching machine that facilitates this type of pitch is a modern marvel, so I have high hopes that the quality of our football will mirror the quality of the playing surface! I was also hugely impressed at the quality of the refurbishment in Founder’s House. Having visited the setting before this work was carried out I was delighted to see such improvements.
New academic years inevitably come with new developments, and of course new arrivals, and I am pleased to welcome all our new pupils and new colleagues to our community. I trust you have settled well and are getting to know the inner workings of Whitgift. On the subject of ‘the new’ we have already launched a number of new changes in school, the highlight of which is without doubt our new Sixth Form curriculum: ‘The Whitgift 12’. This is a bold and forward-thinking programme designed to reflect the individuality, ambition, and diverse talents of our students. Rooted in academic excellence yet reaching far beyond the A Level syllabus, The Whitgift 12 offers a rich tapestry of opportunities for intellectual exploration, personal growth, and real-world engagement.
This innovative curriculum connects students with external organisations, local communities, and the professional world, ensuring that learning is both relevant and inspiring. It embraces the very best of what global education has to offer — from additional qualifications and bespoke courses to the unique passions and expertise of our own staff. Having now spent some time in the Sixth Form, I can attest that the Sixth Form experience at Whitgift is one of variety, vibrancy, and vision. Through The Whitgift 12, we will further empower our students to discover their potential, embrace opportunity, and enjoy every moment of their Sixth Form journey. We look forward to sharing more information on this exciting new project, slated for a September 2026 launch.
Other changes include the decision to run an additional training day at the start of term. This was well received by colleagues as it allowed a little more time to reflect and prepare prior to the return of pupils. I used our first INSET day to address colleagues about how we might harness the extraordinary talents of community here at Whitgift to ensure we are all pulling in the same direction and that we have a clear understanding of how and where we are going! As part of this we will redefine the School’s vision, establish a series of key strategic objectives and ensure all this is encapsulated within Whitgift’s precious identity. Pupils and parents will also have the opportunity to offer their views on these matters in due course, and we will be launching a parents’ survey around the time of October half-term. This will be supported and facilitated by a leading market research company, MTM, who have extensive and deep experience of the independent schools’ market (www.mtmconsulting.co.uk).
Colleagues will also be consulted towards the end of this Michaelmas Term, and we will present our plans to Governors and the John Whitgift Foundation in the first quarter of 2026, with a view to an initial rollout by the end of next academic year. This is a tremendously exciting opportunity for all in our community. We will be ambitious and innovative in our planning whilst also remaining conscious of the many aspects of Whitgift that already make it such a special place to live, learn and work.
Much also remains familiar here at Whitgift. The blessed return of routine (for parents, pupils and staff alike!) is, I think, welcomed by most and I sometimes feel that the start of a new academic year is infinitely more meaningful than the traditional January ‘New Year’. The return of music lessons, boarders’ breakfast and dinner, trips, drama rehearsals and auditions, CCF, the Corps of Drums and of course a plethora of exceptional sport is part and parcel of life at Whitgift. My thanks and congratulations go to all those who participate in and organise these events that form such a fundamental part of our identity. My thanks also go to parents who do so much to support our School. By way of example, the Whitgift School Parents’ Association (WSPA) have just provided funds for our new medical buggy; one item of equipment for which we are deeply grateful, but equally hope is rarely seen around site! Support comes in many forms, and whilst we recognise that for some boarding parents attending events is challenging, you are nevertheless most welcome and I hope that you might be on site at some point during the year. We are also holding a series of overseas events over the coming months; please keep an eye out if we are coming to your area.
Looking ahead, there is much to anticipate. The Sixth Form Charity Concert promises much, even if the last-minute preparations have a tendency to raise anxiety amongst those in charge. Saturday work sessions for senior boys start up, we celebrate National Poetry Day at the start of October and competitions abound in many areas. Music and Drama come to the fore with performances sprinkled liberally throughout the term, culminating in the Autumn Concert and Brahms’ Requiem and we await with great anticipation the Whitgift rendition of Dr Jekyll & Hyde. Finally, our annual Carol Service and Christmas Concert draw the term to a close and herald the arrival of the festive season. Trips include a Drama department excursion to Dracula, a Junior Years surf trip to Devon, and the whole of the Second Form visiting our local Buddhist Centre. Half-term holds even further delights: our regular exchange to Urawa, Japan, jets off and boys are also bound for Morocco, Naples, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Spain and Berlin. I suspect we all sometimes wish we could go ‘back to school’… For a summary of all that makes Whitgift special, you might wish to take a look at the latest edition of Whitgift Life, available here.
With that positive note ringing in your ears, I wish you all the very best for the rest of term and I look forward to meeting more of you and your sons over the coming weeks.
With very best wishes,
Toby Seth
Headmaster
