HITCHIN BOYS’ SCHOOL A Specialist Technology & Language College

NEWS LETTER July 2010

Dear Parents

As always at the end of the school year there are a number of colleagues to whom we have to say farewell.

Unusually, even before we reached the end of a term, we had to say goodbye to a colleague who I met just over two years ago in Australia. One of the teacher supply agencies invited me to interview teachers there who were looking to work in the UK and one of the people I interviewed I decided would be a good person to have here at HBS. As a result Mr Kidd joined our maths department. He joined us a little after the beginning of the Autumn term but unfortunately his visa did not allow him to remain working here through to the end of this term. So, via various European destinations, he is on his way back to Aus. I thanked him most sincerely for his teaching and his generous commitment to the school, despite knowing that he was only here for a limited time. He really was a pleasure to know and have as a colleague. We wish him a safe and enjoyable journey home and every success in the future.

Also from the maths department we say goodbye to Mr de la Forde. Last year he was here on supply for a while and when we needed a mathematician this year I was grateful that he was prepared to stay longer. A scientist by trade, as it were, I am grateful to him for taking on the maths teaching and we wish him all the best in his next post.

Mr Rees has been with us teaching Geography and he too knew that it would be for just a short time so I am really grateful to him for his teaching and the way he has become an integral part of the school in such a very short space of time. We wish him well in whatever he moves on to. Ms Walton has been teaching some English and Drama for us for the last few months and we are really grateful to her for her work and wish her every success in whatever she does next.

There are people who work here who most of the boys are unlikely to come across in the normal run of things. Ms Martinelli and Ms Patston have been working this year as Learning Support Assistants and we wish them both well in their next ventures and thank them for the work they have done here. Mrs Clewes-Garner worked in the office and she too has moved on and we are grateful for her work.

I should tell you of two other pieces of news regarding staff: Mrs Aldin-Burnett, Head of Art, will be on maternity leave next term and we wish her every happiness with her new arrival. Mrs Lowles- Hourigan will become Mrs Anderson and we wish her a wonderful wedding day. She will be acting head of department for Mrs Aldin-Burnett’s leave.

Mr Morgan, Head of History for many years, and a teacher here for 37, is retiring as Head of Department but remaining here to teach for the time being – and I am glad of that. I will leave final

Head Teacher: Mr K.S.Wadsworth

Grammar School Walk, Hitchin, . SG5 1JB Tel: 01462 432181 Fax: 01462 440172 e-mail: [email protected] www.hbs.herts.sch.uk farewells to him for when he actually retires but I would like to take the opportunity to say how much this school has valued his remarkable long service, his outstanding teaching and his leadership of a very successful department. I hope he really enjoys the opportunity once again to teach without the very significant responsibilities of being the department head.

Finally Mr Wilson is retiring having been at the school for 22 years. Teaching Economics and Business Studies has meant that, for the most part, only those specialising in those subjects at GCSE or A Level have been taught by Mr Wilson but over the years he has turned his hand to a variety of subjects to help out. He is, indeed, a man of many parts and his practical knowledge of business and politics is something I know he has used in his teaching. A number of students over the years have gone on to university to study economics or business and Mr Wilson knows of former students who have established businesses of their own. A number of students over the years have enjoyed a trip to Paris for a European business convention and Mr Wilson has arranged a number of other trips related to the subjects.

We wish Mr Wilson a long and happy retirement. No doubt he will be very busy in all sorts of activities: I know he has a great many hobbies and skills which he will be able to indulge more with more time available and we wish him continued success in all those. Our thanks to Mr Wilson for his work here over such a long time and our very best wishes for the future.

Music The Summer Concert was as delightful a celebration of music in the school as ever. New talent is moving up the school and it is good to know that the reputation we have for music in so many forms and styles will continue. It was also a very special concert for me and I am most grateful to the former students who returned to perform and to the staff who also contributed with items from the sublime to bordering on the ridiculous! It was great fun and I was really touched.

Founders’ Day is always special but this year particularly so for me. The music was exceptional and the opportunity to wish our leavers goodbye and good luck in such style is a rare thing. It was a particular pleasure to have Andrew Parr, former Deputy Head, deliver the address – the boys leaving were, after all, beneficiaries of his wisdom and kindness for the early years of their time at HBS and his words proved that he has lost none of that wisdom.

House results With one half-term to go the event winners so far are as follows:

Junior Winners Senior Winners Badminton Pierson Mattocke Chess Mattocke Skynner Rugby Mattocke Skynner/Pierson Table Tennis Skynner Skynner/Pierson

Unfortunately, Hockey and Year 7 Rugby never did take place at the end of last term due to a week of very inclement and unpleasant weather. As I write the House Cricket and Athletics are either in progress or about to take place and the results for all the events this year will appear in the House Section of the Learning Platform shortly after the end of term.

The Times Shield is still very much up for grabs and the final result will be announced in our end of term assembly.

Mr Bashford, who has been co-ordinating the House events writes: “As always it has been an incredibly close competition and thank you and well done to all the students who have taken part and the staff who have organised and run the events.” I would like to thank Mr Bashford for his work: he is stepping down as House Co-ordinator and a new person will be appointed.

Sport Mr McPherson writes…. Yet again, the school has excelled in a range of sports during this summer term, illustrating the strength in depth that we have. This success continues to highlight the fact that Hitchin Boys’ School is now ranked amongst the best schools in Hertfordshire for its sports provision and sporting success. This tremendous achievement is not only due to the commitment and talent of our pupils but also due to the enthusiasm and commitment of all the members of staff who give up their time willingly to help with the sports teams.

Athletics It was another successful summer term, starting with the North Herts & District Athletics Championship with teams winning two out of four of the boys’ trophies in Year 8 and Year 10. This is in addition to winning the senior boys’ earlier in the season.

From this the junior team went one step further and qualified in the U’13 Hertfordshire Schools Athletics Final where the top eight schools in Hertfordshire compete for the coveted trophy. As we were the holders, we were initially slightly disappointed to finish only 4th. But when you take into account the prestigious state and independent schools that we have beaten along the way then this result is an excellent achievement and illustrates the strength in depth we have in athletics at Hitchin Boys’.

County League Winners: Kim Sobotie 200m & Long Jump Dominic Stevens 800m Max Schopp Hurdles

Individually, there have been some excellent performances this year:

Hertfordshire Schools Individual Athletics Championships:

1st Shot Yr 7 Boys’ Colin Bugg 1st 200m Inter Boys Billy Vernon-Hamilton

2nd 200m Junior Boys’ Kim Sobotie 2nd High Jump Yr 7 Boys’ Christian De Trafford 2nd High Jump Junior Boys’ William Ridgway

3rd Shot Junior Boys’ Aaron Pryce

4th 800m Junior Boys’ William Ridgway 4th Javelin Inter Boys’ Billy Vernon-Hamilton 4th Steeplechase Inter Boys’ Callum McRobbie

Congratulations to Billy Vernon-Hamilton who represented Hertfordshire at the Regional Multi- Events and was placed a very creditable 14th.

Tennis It has been another successful year for Hitchin Boys’ on the tennis courts. The Year 7 team, consisting of Liam Nicholson, Max Burrows, Dan Cowell and Ben Cowell, showed promise as they represented the school in a district competition at Letchworth Tennis Club. Congratulations to Max Burrows and Dan Cowell who won the Year 8 doubles tournament a year young!

Our Year 8 team of Toby Nicholson, Seb Walton-Adams, Christian Farrugia and Harvey Walton- Adams showed yet again how strong a team they make. They had a very difficult quarter-final match against St Albans Boys’ which they won 4-2. In the semi-final they had a slightly easier game, beating Bishop’s Stortford High School 6-0. This meant we would face once again in the Hertfordshire Schools County Final. Last year, we narrowly became champions 10-1 in a championship tie-break and were hoping for a repeat performance.

The game started with the singles matches, with Toby Nicholson, Christian Farrugia and Seb Walton-Adams all winning, to give us a 3-1 advantage going into the doubles. Aldwickbury came back to win both doubles matches to make it an overall 3-3 draw. Another championship tie-break!

At this stage, Seb Walton-Adams had to pull out due to an injury and so Christian Farrugia and Toby Nicholson went on to the court to play for the title. It was a very close tie-break, but we came out as champions winning 15-13.

Congratulations to those boys and good luck in the regional knock-out in September.

Cricket The school cricket teams have, yet again, achieved considerable success this year. The Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 teams have all won their District Leagues respectively but were unfortunate to be knocked out of the Hertfordshire Schools County Cup competition in the Quarter Final round.

This year, however, praise must go to the Year 7 cricket team who were undefeated in their District League, won the District Cup and managed to qualify for the Hertfordshire Schools U’12 cricket final. Here they bowled School out for 47 runs and achieved the winning total with the loss of only one wicket. Man of the match Ben Cowell demonstrated why he has been chosen to represent Hertfordshire this season as wicket-keeper with five stumpings (which must be a record). Further congratulations must go to Harry Cruttenden and Dan Cowell for being selected for Hertfordshire Schools U’12 cricket team as well.

School tracksuit reminder For all sports fixtures, either home or away, we would like all pupils to arrive at school in a tracksuit or school hooded top. All Hitchin Boys’ tracksuits can now be purchased online at www.tylers-sportswear.co.uk. From here click on Your School in the bottom left hand corner of the home page and then click on Hitchin Boys’. The advantage of using this company is that the lead time for delivery will be five working days and you are able to personalise the tracksuit with a name or initials. Additionally, the top and bottoms can be purchased as a set or individually. The cost of a combined top and bottom is £42.50.

Sports teams and Parentmail To enable greater communication between the PE Department and home, and identify, at the earliest opportunity any possible clashes or unavailability, we will this year be using Parent Mail to email out the respective Saturday team list to parents with all the relevant information on them regarding meeting and return times. (If you are not registered on Parent Mail, please go to the school learning platform where a form is available for you to download). All team lists will be sent out on Wednesday afternoons.

Former student Tom Jubb is currently in South Africa on tour with the U’18 rugby union team. They play three matches against Namibia, France and South Africa in East London, George and Port Elizabeth respectively. In addition to this he has been invited to attend the RFU England U’18 Performance Camp at the end of August with a view to squad selection for next year. Congratulations to Tom.

Calendar All the dates you need are on the school website at www.hbs.herts.sch.uk but remember that the new Year 7, 10, 12 and 13 students start the Autumn Term on Monday September 6th and the rest of the school on Tuesday 7th.

ParentMail Around two-thirds of parents have now signed up to receive letters and messages from school by email, via ParentMail, and feedback has been very positive. If you have not yet signed up and would like to take advantage of this service, please paste this link into your web browser: http://www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupHomepage.asp?GroupId=897318 Click on the ‘ParentMail Form’ heading on the left, then print and complete the form and return it to Reception. Once your ParentMail account has been set up, you will be sent a password so that you can amend your email and mobile details online. However, if you subsequently wish to add a second parent/guardian to the account, or you would just like to check whether you have been set up already, please email Caroline Hope on [email protected].

Absence It is a requirement that every student absence is explained by parents so that it can be authorised by the school. Some parents telephone the school and some explain by email. We prefer not to receive emails because there is a possibility of a student acquiring their parents’ address and sending it on their own behalf – heaven forbid! But if you choose to email to let us know that your son will not be in school please now use the following address: [email protected]. This will minimise the risk of a message about absence being delayed in general email. We will keep the messages so that if any concerns develop about authenticity it can be tracked back but we hope this new address will make the process more efficient and reliable.

Trips I hope that the putting the list of proposed trips on our website has been helpful to you. This summer trips set off for Borneo and South Africa. I hope the boys have a wonderful time and I thank all those staff who give up so much time to organise these amazing opportunities.

And finally….. And finally….. goodbye. This now really does feel very final: after a few weeks of doing things for the last time, tying loose ends and handing over, a final goodbye.

It has been an honour and a privilege to have been the Head of Hitchin Boys’ School for the last eleven years. I have been so fortunate to work with brilliant teachers, amazing non-teaching staff and the best students one could ever wish to find. I thank everyone for their support, their ideas and their energy, all of which has been devoted to the benefit of the students. I thank the Governors for their support and interest in the school and the Parents’ Society for their work in forging a more informal relationship between the school and parents.

I could not even begin to write a summary of the highlights of my time here because I would miss so much out. But some of the best times have been the ones which don’t feature in reports and league tables and are more about young people growing up and discovering things about themselves in a safe and happy place. Indeed, I think anyone visiting the school would hear a lot of laughter and see a majority of happy people (as much as you can be at work!) and I am glad that is so. It was most important to me that both OfSTED inspection reports while I have been here have commented on the good relationships between students and staff. I am glad of that, too. But we get a fair bit of work done as well and it has been pleasing that our results have, for the most part, steadily improved over the years. It is a nice place to be and I think it is a good school.

I have enjoyed my work here and I will miss it (well, most of it!). I wish every one associated with the school the very best of luck and every success in the future. I know everyone will make my successor feel welcome and support him in taking the school on to still greater levels of achievement.

Have a wonderful summer and farewell.

Yours sincerely

K S Wadsworth Head Teacher