Dear Parents and Guardians,
It is an enormous pleasure to write to you as Whitgift’s 30th Headmaster. I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to all members of the Whitgift community who have welcomed me so very warmly over the past year and a half. It’s hard to believe that it was back in March 2024 when I attended my final interview for this remarkable role and, since then, I’ve had the great privilege of reacquainting myself with Whitgift in a number of ways.
Over the past eighteen months, I have visited the School on several occasions and had the opportunity to meet boys, colleagues, parents, Governors, and alumni at a range of formal and informal events. I have also greatly benefited from the wise counsel and unwavering support of Mr Andrew Halls, whose contribution in his year as Headmaster has been immense. I know the whole community joins me in thanking Andrew for his superb leadership and in wishing him well for the future. I am personally very grateful to him for facilitating such a thoughtful, generous and thorough handover.
I say I am reacquainting myself with Whitgift because my first visit was as a young boy, playing cricket for my school’s U12A team. I would love to say we left victorious – but sadly not. Deposited at the bottom of Brighton Road, we were both daunted by the hill and overwhelmed by the view; I suspect we lost the match before stepping onto the square. I’m hopeful that from now on, I’ll find myself on the winning side more often!
My family and I are thrilled to be back in South London. I was born in Beckenham and, aside from periods spent overseas, I’ve lived most of my life in this wonderful part of the world. With family and close friends nearby, alongside all that the capital has to offer, it has been a real joy to begin rediscovering London after thirteen years away.
Along with my experience in London schools for the first part of my career, those thirteen years were professionally formative and have shaped the educational philosophy I now bring to Whitgift. My beliefs balance high academic ambition with the broadest possible opportunities beyond the classroom. Whether music, drama, sport, trips, or other co-curricular pursuits, it is often these experiences that pupils remember most vividly, and which shape them most profoundly. I am certain that academic commitment combined with meaningful co-curricular engagement is of mutual benefit to both areas.
I also believe that character and curriculum matter equally. Integrity, empathy, and self-awareness are as essential as academic credentials, especially for young men navigating an increasingly complex world. These qualities are nurtured in countless ways – in a corridor conversation, on a school trip, in a classroom debate, a piece of independent study, or through the simple act of welcoming a visitor. Every moment counts in shaping not just pupils’ intellect, but their sense of self and their place in the world.
It’s already clear to me that these values are deeply embedded in the culture of Whitgift. From the School’s impressive academic outcomes – such as this summer’s GCSE, IB and A-level results – to the recognition of Whitgift’s co-curricular programme as a “significant strength” in the recent ISI report, Whitgift feels like a community committed to excellence, integrity and care.
I would particularly like to congratulate last year’s leavers, whose exceptional results provide a strong platform for the future. With IB scores included, this year’s cohort achieved outstanding A* / IB equivalent outcomes, with over 26% of grades in this category. In addition, 62% of all grades were at A* or A and 44% of boys secured three or more of these very top grades. Their university destinations were similarly impressive, with 72% of students securing their first-choice institution, 84% attending a Russell Group university, five students heading off to study Medicine, and nine going to Imperial College London. Highly competitive course applications have been very successful this year.
Equally deserving of praise are the young men who received their GCSE results and are now stepping into the Sixth Form. It was a pleasure to celebrate with you on results day, and with nearly 42% of grades at level 9, 18 students achieving a clean sweep of 9s and 35 boys attaining at least nine GCSEs at grade 9, there was a huge amount in which to rejoice. Whatever your results, I wholeheartedly encourage you to carry that same sense of positivity, determination and ambition into your final two years at school.
All these achievements are reflective of tremendously hard work, and I thank colleagues for their outstanding support of our pupils throughout the year and for their advice and guidance offered on both summer results days. I have been hugely impressed by the colleagues I have met to date and am so looking forward to getting to know all those who work in support of our equally impressive young men.
Of course, results are only one part of a much broader picture that make up a Whitgiftian. Over the summer, many of our pupils and staff took part in an array of enriching trips and events. From Canada for the Senior Rugby Tour, to water sports in Greece, two language and cultural exchanges in Germany, Gold Duke of Edinburgh in Corsica, cricket at Oakham, shooting in Ashburton and over recent days, sport has already restarted at Whitgift – the spirit of adventure and engagement has been alive and well. I was fortunate enough to keep up with the boys’ adventures via various social media feeds and I encourage you to follow my own accounts on Instagram and X (both available via @whitgifthead). I hope they will give you some insight into my personal take on Whitgift life. For an even more in-depth scrutiny of our pupils’ astonishing achievements, I strongly suggest you dip into The Whitgiftian. Hot off the press and entirely student-led, it is a quite remarkable piece of work.
The strength of Whitgift’s local and global community was very much on show and active throughout the summer holidays through both the International Summer School and Community Summer School programmes. These two projects are of great importance to the School, the John Whitgift Foundation and of course our local community in Croydon and so I offer both thanks and congratulations to all colleagues and pupils involved in these hugely beneficial schemes. I was fortunate enough to see both in action and particularly enjoyed hearing from one parent of a Community Summer School attendee who told us: “My son has had an amazing week… he’s enjoyed it so much he doesn’t want it to end.” That sentiment captures exactly what we hope for all Whitgift pupils.
My thanks go to all staff involved in these events, as well as to those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes this summer, to prepare the School for the year ahead. From improvements to the estate, a major refurbishment of the Music Block, the installation of a new hybrid grass surface and drainage for the Edridge football pitch, to the many unseen tasks in departmental teams, the School is primed to welcome pupils back to this inspiring and dynamic environment.
To all boys returning to Whitgift – and especially those joining for the first time, like me – I encourage you to take these last few days to rest, reflect, and think about the year ahead. What do you want to achieve? What might you approach differently? It needn’t be a grand change – it could be something as simple as embracing a new opportunity, building stronger relationships with your peers or teachers, or trying something completely outside your comfort zone. One of the things that strikes me as uniquely special about school academic years is the dual sense of newness and familiarity: every year is new, full of fresh opportunities to try new things and discover new interests. Equally, every year builds a sense of safety and community; a framework within which pupils can all take measured risks, challenge themselves and experiment with the knowledge that there will be someone there to support and guide them. Within that enveloping framework of care, our boarders are of course a special part of our community who benefit even further from our on-site provision and I extend a particularly warm welcome and welcome-back to these boys. I hope your travels are smooth; Founder’s House is ready, waiting and excited for your arrival.
Whatever your goals for the 2025/26 year, I look forward to welcoming you back in just a few days’ time, for what promises to be a fulfilling and exciting time at Whitgift. To parents and guardians, thank you for your support and for entrusting us with your sons’ education: I very much look forward to meeting you.
With warmest wishes
Toby Seth
Headmaster
