Dear parents,
Energy for good
What a joy it has been to be back here at Whitgift! What a privilege to be made so welcome! What a stunning school Whitgift is, has been, and forever shall be, with its fantastic teachers and support staff, and with such friendly, committed and talented students!
Please forgive the three exclamation marks – usually I think they are best avoided: they always look to me like tiny performing seals, standing on their fins and seeking attention. However, there is no other way to express the exuberant vitality of this generous community. I see boys coming on site at 7 in the morning, and others leaving clubs, sport, music and drama late in the evening. My colleagues and I watch teams play rugby, football, hockey and anything else you can mention – yes, that does include padel (where we are now national champions) – at the highest level. The boys often give me a friendly greeting or farewell, even though they hardly know me. How well that easy courtesy and openness reflects on your love and influence as parents, and, I hope, on Whitgift as a school – and how much it means to us as teachers and support staff.
On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of seeing my first Whitgift school play for 36 years, and it was most definitely worth the wait. It’s a Wonderful Life features a cast and crew of 50 pupils from Whitgift, Old Palace School, and WAVPA.
The imaginative and technical mastery of this multi-media, immersive production was obvious the moment we entered the theatre. From the moment the play began, so was the sensitivity and discipline of every member of the cast. The ensemble showed a tender understanding of their characters and the themes of hope, despair and redemption they explored. I would like to mention Felix Warren and Danny Montgomery as – respectively – the beloved father and citizen who has lost his sense of self-belief, and the sweet-natured angel who helps him rediscover it. They played their parts with such naturalness, as did so many others, that when you watched them on the screens around the venue, in authentic black and white, you really felt you were watching a Hollywood classic. The production benefited from an immensely inventive and skilfully crafted stage set, thanks to the imagination of Mr Hammond and his colleagues in the Drama department, and to our superb Audio-Visual department whom I constantly hear complimented and thanked by my colleagues for their professionalism, efficiency and support.
During this term, the Charity Concert showcased the talents not only of our own boys but girls from Croydon High, and Croydon High ran a very successful Fashion Show in which our boys played a key part too. We also enjoyed a Lower First and First Form Culture Day planned, organised and overseen by senior prefects; in fact, all three of these events, along with so much else, sprang from the energies and organisation of senior boys. I remember Whitgift prefects as unusually responsible and involved in the 1980s: amazing to find exactly the same energy for good among them in 2024.
Remembrance Day was especially moving. We were fortunate to have the former Bishop of Bath and Wells, The Right Reverend Peter Price, to lead our service and to hear the choristers in such good voice. Many thanks to the CCF and Corps of Drums for their support, and to Sam Warren who played The Last Post so beautifully on the bugle.
I have enjoyed chatting to boarders as they make their way to breakfast in the mornings or when I called in to meet a group of boys from every year. What a delight it is to talk to such lovely students. It was especially fun for my wife and I to be invited to the boarders’ fireworks.
Before I write another word, I want to say I am sorry that I know I will – within this very letter – fail to mention 137 things I absolutely ought to mention. I have now met Whitgift parents at all eight of the Meet the Tutor evenings, or dropping off injured sons in the carpark, or along the touchline, or helping out with the magical Winter Fair, or in the school shop, or even at a local prep school event, and from these friendly and engaging encounters, I feel confident you will forgive me. Every parent I have met has been so positive about the school and the teachers, and so welcoming of the “spare” Headmaster, that I think you will excuse the slips and omissions that my newness, and my short shelf-life, may produce. However, here I go with an attempt to mention at least some of the events and triumphs of this term.
Sport
Do you like numbers? I do, despite my disgraceful performance in O Level Maths fifty years ago. In any case, here are a few stats from Mr Osborne that cannot fail to impress: in the second half of term alone there have been over 440 school fixtures and more than 900 since September. This means 1,163 pupils have represented the school in fixtures – a 77% participation across the school. In the Junior Years participation rates are close to 90% in the Lower First, First and Second Form. Well done boys – and thank you, colleagues!
It has been eye-opening to watch the 1st XV who have been incredibly impressive in their disciplined, almost clinical, demolition of opposition teams throughout the season to date. On Wednesday, we played Harrow at home in the quarter finals of the Continental Tyres School Cup, and although we drew 10-10, it is the away team who go through. It was a very tough match with great skill on both sides, and I felt if we had only had another five minutes we would have scored again: it was very close! Well done, despite the outcome, to every boy who played.
The U16As and U14As have been equally impressive, and, like the 1sts, are also in the latter stages of their national tournaments. All our rugby teams have done incredibly well, and it has been exciting to host some fixtures under the floodlights on Big Side.
Hockey at Whitgift is outstanding, with remarkable success over the years. Congratulations to the U18 indoor hockey team who were again crowned National Indoor Champions: this is the third consecutive year the senior team has won this title. As I am sending this letter to you, the U16s are currently playing in their National Indoor Final and I wish them the very best of luck. I would also like to congratulate the U13 and U15 Indoor teams who were crowned Independent School Champions this term. We have five students selected to represent England U18s this year: what an honour that is; we are very proud of you all.
Our football teams are also performing very well, and many of our teams are progressing in the Independent and English Schools’ tournaments. Good luck to every one of these dedicated and skilful teams for the later stages.
Drama
I have referred to this year’s school play above, but drama at Whitgift extends beyond the school stage, with eight theatre trips taking several hundred pupils to a diverse array of productions, including War Horse at the New Wimbledon Theatre and Our Country’s Good at the Lyric Hammersmith. Our younger pupils shone brightly with the first two First Form plays of the year. These original works, created with the assistance of AI, explored the themes of technology and community through imaginative storytelling and ensemble performances, setting a high standard for the year ahead. Finally, the term was enriched by four Harcourt Williams Workshops, delivered by Squire Stage Combat and Ugly Bucket Theatre Company. These dynamic sessions offered pupils the chance to develop specialist skills, from clowning to stage combat, and reflected our commitment to broadening the creative horizons of every student involved.
Music
There have been a number of beautiful music moments this term. The new series of Teatime Concerts provided regular opportunities for our students to perform. Audiences have enjoyed ending the school day with brief concerts, so far given by woodwind, vocal, piano, brass and strings departments. I have just had the pleasure of hearing Cyrus Fong’s admirable trumpet recital. Look out for more in this series in the New Year.
A Night at the Movies took place in Big School. Over 140 students, as well as the whole of the Lower First Form, took part in this sold-out event. From the smell of popcorn wafting down the Headmaster’s corridor, to sweets and fizzy drinks, lighting, projection and smoke effects, this was truly a feast for the senses. The boys excelled once again in a host of polished orchestral, jazz and vocal performances. On Monday, there is the Christmas Concert in the Concert Hall, and, before that, our boys will sing carols at The Goring.
The carol service on Wednesday 11th December at 5pm in Croydon Minster will, I am sure, be beautiful and I am much looking forward to it.
Academic and other news
The Academic Enrichment programme has again been flourishing this term, providing students across the school with an opportunity to extend themselves academically beyond the classroom through student-led presentations and discussions. Particular highlights were presentations from Alfie Roberts on the History of the Middle East, and from Jayden Lawrence on little-known conflicts that have shaped the world.
The Visiting Speaker Lecture Series has treated students to lectures and seminars from a range of experts including a space scientist from Imperial and an Egyptologist from the British Museum. The sixth volume of The Journal, the annual publication featuring student academic essays and contributions, has been published. We are very fortunate to have award-winning TV and radio science presenter, Greg Foot, speaking on rainforests this week as part of our fantastic STEM fair.
At the top end of the school, Upper Sixth boys have been making their university applications this term with Oxbridge interview outcomes bringing its usual mixed news. I am very pleased for the boys who have been called, but would like to extend my best wishes to those who have been disappointed. Remember: Oxford and Cambridge receive vast numbers of applicants, many more from abroad than when I began my time as a Headmaster, and their selection process will never be perfect. If your son has missed out on an interview there is nothing to stop him trying again after his A Level or IB results, although I would usually suggest not applying to the same university after not being offered a place unless there is a change of subject or special reason to do so. I would also strongly emphasise the value of all the other universities available, and not allow this aim to take on undue significance. Sometimes over the years I have said to a very disappointed sixth former something like: “Forget this news. Do as well as you can in your mocks and then in your A Levels or IB - and show them what they missed! Go to X university and throw yourself into all that you can. You can apply to Oxford or Cambridge for a Masters if you really want to a few years later – but don’t be surprised if you fall in love with where you do actually study, and never think of Oxbridge again!” And that has been true more times than I can count.
Across all UK institutions, three quarters of our applicants have received at least one offer which is very promising at this stage in the cycle. We also have 18 students applying abroad to excellent overseas universities.
I would like to thank Ms Goldberg, Mrs Smithson and the rest of the Student Futures team for organising the very impressive Careers Convention earlier this term. It would not have been possible without more than 60 of our parents, many with high-flying and interesting careers, giving up an evening to talk to about 300 students who attended from our Fifth and Sixth Forms. A few weekends ago, Mr Alcock and Mr Nairac organised a day of interview preparation for Upper Sixth formers both from Whitgift and Old Palace. Visiting speaker, Simon Bucknall, talked effectively about communicating academic passion. This was followed by subject seminars, mostly led by Heads of Department, and a range of mock interviews with internal and external interviewers.
There have been many other events including an OWs’ dinner, superbly organised by Mr Marlow and our dedicated Development Office, where I had the pleasure of meeting “boys” – now in their fifties – whom I taught here in the ’80s – along with many from other notable vintages. Incidentally, please could I thank all OWs and parents who have supported the Whitgift For All bursary programme? How important that is now to us in these more difficult times!
Last week, a Library talk, Embracing Neurodiversity, featured our Head of SEND, Mrs Richardson, interviewing Whitgift parent, David Shindler, now Co-Chief Investment Officer with MFS, a $600bn asset manager, and OW Tom Campbell, a policy analyst and advisor at the Treasury. Before taking questions from the audience, they spoke with great passion and clarity about the ways that neurodivergence had provided them each with ways of thinking that proved fundamental to their success, despite the initial sense of challenge. I am grateful to Mrs Bauer, our dedicated Head Librarian, for hosting these regular events.
Some individual pupil achievements
Please note: these names are provided by colleagues. They start with the Sixth Form and go down through the years. If I have missed out your son, or someone you know, and I should not have done so, please do not feel upset: it is my mistake. Just drop me an email and I can correct this in the future.
Alex Corver achieved the following at the recent London Regional Swimming Championships:200m Breaststroke Gold, 100m Breaststroke Silver, 50m Breaststroke Silver, and 100m Individual Medley Silver. This week, Alex, Jeremiah Carnegie and Lachlan Myers all compete in the Swim England Winter Nationals in Sheffield.
In November, Whitgift competed at the ESSA School Team Relay Championships in Birmingham. Our U13, U15, and U18 teams took part in both the Freestyle and Medley relays, coming away with four top 10 finishes and breaking two school records.
Alex Nicholas has excelled in National Fencing tournaments with a gold medal at the British Epée championship Cadet (U17) and a bronze medal at the British Epée championship Junior (U20). Also representing Great Britain (U17) he finished 5th in the Budapest Epée international from a starting field of 375 fencers. Aidan Evans represented Canada U17 National Football Team in World Cup Qualifiers and won matches against Costa Rica and Mexico, scoring a goal in the process.
Last month, Joseph Gill took part in the Swiss Bench Press Championships. He broke the existing record by 2.5kg but because Federation rules require at least two international-level referees to be present to certify an international record, and only one was present, he had to be content with winning the event without officially breaking the record. Joseph tells me his next meet is the WPC World Cup in Egypt, where he will try to break the European Squat, Deadlift and Total records and formally break the Bench Press World Record.
Jack Murray recently competed for GB at the World Modern Pentathlon event in Lithuania and I wish both Jack and Oliver Shuttleworth well for all their preparations for upcoming selection events. Jacky Lee competed for Badminton England in the Junior World Championships in China before half term.
Congratulations to Obafemi Adisa and Jeremiah Ademola for their excellent planning and delivery of the assembly for Black History Month to the Lower Sixth; to Ison Milkias for his initiative and enthusiasm towards charitable events; and to Adham Ali who has co-founded the Business and Finance Society, giving presentations on various related topics.
Ishwar Sharma conducted a Yoga workshop for Diwali celebrations in Coventry; Huxley Ratcliff took part in the British Tumbling Championships in Telford; William Webster won U14 Keirin Gold in the Inter-Schools Track Cycling Championships; Ernest Darkin and Rishan Shankar swam in the ESSA Individual Championships; Taidgh Woodhead is part of the U17 Kent squash squad and will play in the ICC finals in Sheffield.
Ted Hornsby has been working with a charity helping neurodiverse children interested in 3D printing and STEM activities. He's been accepted as an 'SMF Star' and this has turbo-boosted his interest in 3D design. As such, he was awarded a 3D printer with which he has been designing, manufacturing and selling. Many parents will have seen his fantastic stall at the recent WSPA Winter Fair.
Tomisin Oguntola won the TruLittle Musician Hero (U18) 2024 Award; Jayden Wong is U12 Champion (Multiple Events) in the English Schools Swimming Association.
Jeriah Boateng received the Premier League’s Young Writer of the Year Award; Ellis Pang has been performing in Waiting For Godot at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Douglas Timms has been chosen to captain Team GB’s NFL flag football team at the World Championships in Florida in January 2025. Jacob Day has qualified for the National Cyclo-cross Trophy Series. Elliot Newman has qualified for the final of the First Lego League in February 2025.
What are we like?
No school can improve without self-analysis. Soon, we shall have an ISI inspection, and that will help us address this question. But I also asked all teaching and support staff to fill in questionnaires about the things they admire and enjoy here, and the things they wish could be different. We hope to use our in-service training day in January to begin to consider positive ideas for improvement arising from these returns, all of which I have now read.
The size of the school
The imposition of VAT on school fees, the loss of business rate relief, and now the increase in National Insurance with an unexpected lowering of the trigger point have all put great pressure on independent schools’ finances. Fortunately, Whitgift is a strongly built ship making its way through these unexpectedly rough waters. Nevertheless, it is not an easy time, and as parents know, I am focused on trying to ensure the school spends what it needs to, but not what it doesn’t. At the same time, we can see that the numbers applying for independent schools may well reduce for the next few years, partly because of the declining birthrate, but also because of costs. When I first taught at Whitgift there were under 800 boys on the campus; now it is over 1500. The governors are weighing up whether we could gradually reduce this number and help ensure the campus is optimal for the boys we educate here. With this in mind, one of our first steps will be to remove the temporary classrooms, and I am very hopeful we can do that this summer.
Next term’s mock exams: advice
Upper Sixth formers taking the IB and all Fifth formers have their mocks from the first day back. Upper Sixth formers taking A Levels have their mocks in February. All students need to ensure they have a good break during the Christmas holidays, but they must also allow sufficient time for thorough preparation for the mock examinations next term whether these are in January or February. Pupils can reduce the pressure of the public examinations in the summer enormously if they have made full use of the mocks. These upcoming examinations are a crucial opportunity for boys to practise exam technique, working under timed conditions, but an even more important point is this: material that is well-learned for the mocks is a great deal easier to revise for the real thing a few months later.
A new programme of revision guidance for every year group
Further to my points about revision above, our students have high expectation of themselves - this is one of the strengths of Whitgiftians. Part of the joy of teaching is to support students in fulfilling their potential and, in this regard, we must not assume that they all understand how to prepare for exams effectively. With this in mind, Mr Piggott (Director of Learning and Innovation) and Miss Morris (Assistant Director of Learning and Innovation) have designed revision training sessions and a centralised student revision hub on Firefly to support students in the area. The entire Fifth Form and the Upper Sixth IB cohort have had sessions ahead of their Mocks in January. The sessions will next be rolled out to the Upper Sixth A Level cohort, Lower Sixth and Fourth Forms in Lent Term, and the youngest four years in the Trinity Term.
Mr Piggott would also like to offer a version of these sessions to parents: if we can all be more informed about what impactful revision looks like, then this can only help ensure our children navigate future exams successfully. More details of the parent seminars, and the central revision hub on Firefly, will follow in early January. I would like to thank Mr Piggott and Miss Morris for all their excellent work: I think this is an invaluable initiative.
Mr Toby Seth, Whitgift’s Headmaster from September 2025
Mr Seth spent a day at Whitgift recently, meeting all teaching staff in the Common Room, and, in smaller groups, senior colleagues and the senior prefect team. The visit was very well-received by everyone. I have already found Mr Seth a pleasure to work with, and a great help as we make decisions in readiness for his first year. I attach a flyer Mr Seth has provided as an introduction.
A joyful and sacred time?
Now the holidays approach, and after the longest term, everyone deserves a really good break. I would like to wish every Whitgift boy, every parent, and all your families, the happiest possible holiday together over this joyful and sacred time. I do realise it isn’t joyful for countless people around the world, and even among our own community, and there is nothing sacred in violence, hunger and wickedness. But I think we have to counterbalance the cruelty that exists in our world, and try to share gladness in what we can see is good around us. This term at Whitgift has shown me there is much of that.
Once again, thank you for all you are doing to support your sons. They have impressed me in different ways every day this term. Believe me when I tell you we also have a magnificent staff body here – teachers and support staff – and I feel incredibly lucky to share the company of so many great boys and colleagues.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Halls
Headmaster
