Report for the School 2007 to 2008

Click here is you wish to see the Annual Report for the Junior School

Speech Day address by the Head,Graham Wigley, at Friends and Families Day 10th May 2008

Friends, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, members of the school, I am delighted to be able to add my own welcome to you to Friends and Families Day.

Writing in the ‘Sunday Times’ two weeks ago Ed Balls commented, ‘I fully support the role that faith schools play and indeed want them to play a wider role.’ He was, of course, primarily talking about maintained sector faith schools as part of the debate about their admissions policies and as an independent sector faith school Friends’ does not face the same pressures that our maintained sector counterparts do. There is another significant difference between us, however, which I heard neatly summarised earlier this week. We are a faith school, but not solely a school for Quaker children, but a Quaker school for children. The distinction is a significant one.

We hold a unique position, in that pupils can come from a wide range of backgrounds, yet by the time they come to leave they will be acutely aware, I am sure, that they have been fortunate to have attended a school which will shape the way they think and the way in which they approach their lives, their careers and their relationships for years to come.

We are justifiably proud of last summer’s academic results and it is good to see some of those exam candidates back here again this morning. Almost without exception they achieved highly and were able to progress to their next stage of education with confidence and a well-deserved sense of achievement, yet I hope they left with much, much more, having experienced several years of life at Friends’.

This year has been just as busy as ever, with girls’ hockey teams touring in the Netherlands, GCSE historians visiting First World War Battlefields, overseas students enjoying cultural visits to London and a residential trip to Edinburgh. Students taking GSCE French have been to Paris and, looking further back, during Activities Week, the sixth form went to Krakow and Auschwitz and Year 9 to Normandy.

I am pleased that we have been able to bring the Duke of Edinburgh’s award more closely under our own control with well over half of Year 9 joining the scheme this year. The PTA have generously donated £1000 towards D of E equipment. The PTA committee do a wonderful job supporting the school and I would like to thank them for their hard work. We enjoyed a terrifically entertaining Quiz Night earlier this year and the forthcoming wine-tasting evening (tickets now on sale!) looks set to be equally as enjoyable. If I can digress, I would dearly love to see more parents getting involved in organising our PTA events: I know the committee feel the same, so please come forward - don’t be shy!

I am also grateful to the Old Scholars’ Association who have bought four splendid flat screen televisions for the boarding houses and the school library. Thank you, too, for your generosity. I hope that all returning Old Scholars of whatever age or era have a most enjoyable day today and reunion meal this evening.

Sport is always a prominent feature of life at Friends’, week in, week out and it continues to be a source of pleasure to know that so many of our pupils are involved in a team at some time through the year. Especial congratulations to all those who have represented the county at rugby, cross-country, hockey and tennis, or who have achieved success in such diverse areas as karate and horse-riding. Such is their natural modesty that these pupils would die of embarrassment if named individually.

Our dancers have danced, our musicians played and entertained us, for instance at Cabaret Evening, and our drama students have performed thought-provoking plays; all of which has been enjoyed this year by appreciative audiences.

We are not an inward-looking school, however, and pupils have raised a total of £4400 for a wide range of charities, both local, such as the Teenage Cancer Trust at Addenbrookes, national, such as Quaker Homeless Action and Children in Need; and international, such as the Mercy Ships, that sail off the west coast of Africa offering life-changing operations to those for whom medical treatment would otherwise be impossible. Sixth form students, to their credit, have become more involved in local community work. Male staff have grown beards for charity, which was much easier than the way that Head of English Gill Kinnear raised over £500 for Christian Aid by skydiving, or Stephany Chaplin who raised £2000 for the MEDICS charity by completing the London Marathon.

There is much more to celebrate, but if you wish to be out of here before 3.30pm I urge you to read through the booklet that you have been given today which captures a flavour of some of the other events that have taken place since last Friends and Families Day. And yet it is impossible to capture in words and images what the true essence of a Friends’ School education is.

Fortunately for us, we entertained (if that is the right word) a team of eight school inspectors last February, who scrutinised every aspect of school life for four days. They looked at the characteristics of the school, the quality of the education provided, pupils’ learning and achievements, the quality of teaching, the quality of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, the quality of care, the quality of links with parents and the community, and the effectiveness of management and governance. They interviewed governors and teachers, bursarial and boarding staff. They interviewed pupils, they scrutinised work, they attended lessons, they reviewed policies and procedures, all the time making judgements about the school as a whole.

To be perfectly honest, we were glad to see the back of them!

Nonetheless, I am delighted to be able to summarise their findings for you this morning since, showing impeccable timing, the ISI inspection report on Friends’ school arrived yesterday.

To start at the end with the inspectors’ conclusions, what strikes me most is the enormous degree of similarity between the junior and senior schools. To quote the reporting inspector, ‘Friends’ School prepares pupils well for the next stages of their education and lives. Junior and senior schools are very well integrated and share a well-conceived and managed breadth of educational experience attuned to its range of pupils and strong academic and pastoral support for pupils.’ ‘Junior and Senior schools very largely share their most distinctive strengths; the variety, freedom and vigour of their speaking and writing across many subjects; their abililty to apply mathematical concepts to a range of subjects; pupils’ aesthetic, practical and physical development.’

The inspectors found that ‘the personal development of the pupils was judged to be a strength of the school and remains an outstanding feature of the whole school. The school fulfils its central aim of ‘enabling each individual to embrace the values of tolerance, understanding, equality and compassion’. In both junior and senior school pupils show strong social development.’

Parents will be delighted to hear that ‘throughout the junior school pupils work hard and enthusiastically’. In the senior school ‘at their best and particularly in the aesthetic, practical and physical areas of the curriculum students achieve high standards.’ As you would expect, ‘students achieve much outside the curriculum’. Those parents of senior school pupils who are waiting anxiously will be relieved to hear that ‘the great majority of students enjoy their work and apply themselves diligently.’

None of what I have spoken about is possible without the skill and dedication of a thoroughly professional teaching staff. I should like to thank them not only on my own behalf, but also on behalf of the pupils with whom they work so conscientiously to provide the incredible breadth of educational experience that Andrew Holmes and I see on a daily basis and which was so evident to the inspecting body when they visited.

In the junior school ‘staff care devotedly for their pupils’ well being and development’, while in the senior school it was noted that ‘staff at all stages know their students well and look after them supportively.’

We must admit, however, to a degree of nerves at having the inspectors around, but at least I did not find myself in the same predicament as the Headmistress of a terribly well-to-do girls’ school which is probably located somewhere in the Home Counties when three of the inspection team arrived to see what went on at school assembly. The Headmistress introduced the visitors to the assembled pupil body and went through the usual courtesies of saying how she hoped the girls would help to make them feel at home, and, she said, with barely a sideways glance, tell them where to go if they got lost. Just after she had invited the school to be seated she noticed, to her horror, that the inspectors were still standing and had nothing on which to sit. Somewhat flummoxed, she blurted out, ‘Girls! Girls! Three chairs for the inspectors!’ To which the school, as one replied, ‘Hip-Hip Hurrah!’

I have already expressed my gratitude to the teaching staff for all that they have done and continue to do. There are, however, some each year that leave us.

Each year we benefit greatly from the energy and enthusiasm of our young ‘Gap’ students and we were sorry to see Marianna and James return to Australia last Christmas following their year with us; both are now studying to become doctors. Their departure, however, provides opportunities for others and we were pleased to welcome Kirah and Dimitri in January. Katie Stephens has been a wholly supportive Drama Assistant in Residence and we have enjoyed watching her dance routines throughout the year. Maria Derrick has been a delightful and talented Artist in Residence.

John Cowell joined Friends’ in September 2000 as a part-time teacher of Design Technology; he built the department – quite literally in some respects – to become one of the most popular and successful in the school. I know John was extremely frustrated that ill-health over the past 10 months meant that he was not able to take DT into the new areas that he had planned. However, John is far more than a subject specialist, as many pupils throughout the school to whom he was a supportive mentor will testify. We all wish him well in his retirement.

Also retiring this year is Len Mead, who has taught chemistry here since 1995. Len came to teaching following a very successful career in industry. We’ll remember not only his teaching but also his unique school assemblies and the way he threw himself into ‘non-uniform days’. I am personally very grateful for the way in which he took on the role of Acting Head of Science for the latter part of this year.

Colin McCrea leaves after two years as Head of Maths. Colin is another teacher who quickly earned a reputation as being something of a character. I appreciate very much all that Colin has contributed as Head of Maths, particularly the endless amount of time that he has been prepared to give to pupils throughout the school. Not many people know, however, that Colin was arrested as a potential terrorist at Stansted last summer. He was found to have in his hand luggage a small plastic box containing a set square, a protractor and a set of compasses, suggesting he was a member of the dangerous ‘Al-Gebra Set’. He was charged with possessing ‘weapons of maths instruction’ but was subsequently released.

Vivien Spencer retires this year from the Study Support Centre, where a huge number of pupils have been fortunate enough to receive care and attention from Vivien. They, like us, will miss her thoughtful, patient and kind nature.
Jane Corwin left at Easter after twelve years at Friends’, nine of which were as Bursar. Parents and staff alike appreciated her good sense and her compassion just as much as her business acumen. Before she left Jane told me that, two years ago when scrutinising the list for the final round of interviews for the Headship, she read down the names – Mr Long, Mr Wilde, Mr Savage and Mr Wigley and wondered if it was the shortlist for the new Head or the titles of a new series of Mister Men books.

Ann Livesey and Sharon Rose left the Medical Centre and their jobs as School Nurses, Ann to join a local Practice and Sharon to further her plans to emigrate to Australia. Their places have been taken by Louise Burgess and Helen Martin, both of whom joined us from Finchingfield surgery, who have consequently crossed us off their Christmas card list.

There are four people who will leave this year who have also made their mark on the school this year and they are last year’s Quartet; Lisa Kumamoto, Adam King, Sandie Dickinson and Leo Cunningham-Baily, and I invite them to address you now.

I have almost finished my time at Friends’ School. I came here just over 3 years ago and my English was ‘yes’, ‘no’ and I laughed a lot because I couldn’t understand anyone. Everyone was really friendly and helpful, especially Ailidh, she helped me to learn English because she never stops talking!!!!

Being in the boarding house has given me the chance to make strong friendships, with Mrs Askew taking care of us. Three friends I’m really going to miss are Ro, Joe and Adam.

I want to thank Adam, Leo and Sandie for the time we’ve enjoyed working together in the Quartet doing things like selling all the students pizza, cakes and donuts when you are like hungry monkeys queuing up for food.

My biggest worry in the Quartet has been what to wear every morning to sit in front of everyone in assembly.

I’d like to thank my teachers, Mr Searle-Barnes who we all call JSB, thank you for many embarrassing moments in Film Studies lessons, five girls and you, watching those 18 certificate films. Thanks to you I understand things I would never have seen in films.

Finally, my three ESOL teachers, Mrs Gillmore, Ms Hemphry and Mrs Joseph. You’ve taught me English but you have been more than teachers for me. You have been there for me like friends when I needed you.

I’m hoping to go to university I London in September to study Events Management for three years. I hope this will lead me to an exciting and interesting working life, somewhere in the world.

One thing that seems to be a recurring theme with all those I speak to about the school is the atmosphere it has. This atmosphere is not because it is a private school or any other factor for that matter - it is the pupils that make it what it is. But it seems to be something intangible that makes it that way. It is something that you can’t see, smell, hear or touch, but something that seems to exist all around you, and I think it is this which is missed by Old Scholars once they leave. It feeds into the relationships of the pupils, and I’ve found as I have entered the 6th form, the staff as well.

My personal experience of Friends’, aside from the academic Aspects, centres around two areas which I believe have affected me in a way that can be attributed to the atmosphere of the school: The boarding experience and my friends.

When I first arrived I did not enjoy boarding. It was my first real time away from home and was very strange. But now in retrospect I consider it a valuable experience as it has helped me to grow and learn to have responsibility for myself. Sometimes part of that is the latitude to be irresponsible. Way back in year 8 one of my roommates decided it would be a great idea to eat 2 packets of cream crackers at 9:30 at night. Then when the sugar took hold he began to jump up and down on his bed for about ten minutes, before promptly declaring he felt unwell and depositing the remnants on his pillow.

As I said before, the school has an atmosphere which feeds into the relationships between the pupils. This, and being in a small year group has meant that my friendships with contemporaries have become very strong, and in their own way, very individual. Friends may be a faith school, but at no point did I feel that Quakerism was forced upon me. The structure of the school allows for a liberal (with a small L) approach, in that it allows each person to develop as they want to, even if it does not totally agree with the school itself. This teaches pupils to become accepting of differences and eventually not to see them as differences but as quirks, which add to an individual’s character.

Next year I intend to take a gap year working in London for 6 months, then travelling abroad, probably in North America. After which I will go on to study Geography at Reading University. Finally I would like to say thank you my fellow Quartet members Leo, Sandie and Lisa, to my mentor John Cowell, sports coach Nick Batcheler, Head of 6th form John Searle-Barnes and although he’s not here today my old housemaster Brian Thompson, as well as saying good luck to this years quartet Joe, Ailidh, Reggie and Daisy.

I joined Friends’ School in the sixth form. Previously I was at an all girls school for seven years, so it was a whole new experience,…. boarding, getting to know new staff and new friends, even finding my way round the school……. not to mention lessons with boys! The Bowles weekend was an opportunity to get to know my year group…..after this I realized it was all going to be okay.
It was such a relief to only have to work at subjects I had chosen, Art, Drama and Music. I started film studies as well, but gave it up after an ambulance rushed me to hospital ….perhaps a dramatic way to give up a subject… But, at this point I must say, I don’t think it was JSB’s teaching that caused me to feel unwell! I have been ill a number of times and I am grateful to staff and friends for all their help and support…I hope I haven’t freighted you all too much.

I was amazed and delighted when Graham Wigley asked me to join the Quartet, …I’d only been in the school a short time. At the time I didn’t realize that I’d have to make this speech, if I had I might have said no. I am grateful to Graham for the opportunity I have had for a first class management training, the responsibilities…and an opportunity to boss people around.

I would like to thank Richard Smith, an outstanding drama teacher as well as my mentor. Richard helped me write this speech, he came up with the word and yes outstanding to describe his teaching skills. Thank you, Martin Wilson for everything you have done for me, and my thanks to Edward Dodge for all his support. Most of all I would like thank someone who’s a friend, an inspiration and who is always willing to give up their time this person is Phil Richardson. Phil and Serena O’Connor have given me the confidence to study foundation pre-degree in fine art next year.

Life throws up many challenges and it is important to meet them face on. Two years ago Friends’ School was a new challenge, now it is time to leave. My ‘new’ school has become my ‘old’ school, but like all good old Friends they are never forgotten. I will look back on these two years at Friends’ with tremendous affection…..I would like to take this opportunity to wish the new quartet, staff and pupils the very best for next year. …….

I think that the reason I was chosen for the Quartet is because everyone knows how comfortable I am with public speaking!

I came to Friends’ Junior School when I was eight. I asked my dad how much it had cost us in fees over the 10 years. He didn’t answer me – just poured himself a large drink. I reckon it works out at about 10p a minute so I shall keep this speech short to avoid my parents any further expenditure.

It is very difficult after all this time to remember what it was that so impressed
me about the school when I came for a taster day in 1998. Last summer I went on the Quaker Pilgrimage to the area of the Lake District where George Fox had his convincement. We met up with pupils from many other Quaker schools and talked about what that all our schools had in common. It certainly wasn’t academia or athletic prowess. We all talked of the sense of “community” at Quaker schools – how people can come from miles and miles
away from their families and feel at home within a few hours of arriving. It is
difficult to pinpoint what creates this sense of community. I have been able to
visit other Quaker schools at Sidcot and at Leighton Park – both schools were very different to ours but had the same strong sense of community.

One part of that community is the friends you make here. When I moved into
sixth form I had the opportunity to move to a larger school like Hills Road or County High where I would have got to know a lot more people but not particularly well. Instead I chose a small year group at Friends and had the
opportunity to know a few people very well.

The other part of this community is the staff – be they cleaners, catering staff,
groundskeepers, receptionists or teaching staff. They have always been friendly and gone out of their way to help me. I don’t really want to name names in case I leave someone out but I would like to particularly thank the following. Alison Ainsworth, Guy Martin, Gavin Greenway, Martin Hugall, Anne Fear, Barbara Askew, Leonard Mead, JSB and Helen Golden.

It will be this sense of community that I will miss most when I leave next month. I had wanted to go on a gap year but my parents were afraid I would laze around the place, drinking and playing guitar. But then I realised I could go to university and do that - so everyone is happy.

For A-levels I am doing Chemistry, Biology and Geography and I hope to go to
Sheffield University to study Geography and Town Planning. If my time at university is anything like my time at Friends I know I will be happy. If this
school had taught me only one thing it’s the importance of friends. In the words of the Quaker poet Walt Whitman, “I have learnt that to be with those I like is enough”.

.............

Thank you, Lisa, Adam, Sandie, and Leo. Congatulations to Joe Bloomfield, Reggie Chong, Daisy Johnson and Ailidh Ross on being chosen as this year’s Quartet.

As I said at the beginning of this address, we are a Quaker school – a school not just for Quaker children, but a Quaker school for children. Our inspection concludes that ‘the high quality of relationships between staff and pupils is promoted by the Quaker ethos whereby ever member of the school community is felt respected and valued.’ Long may it continue. I am under no illusion that we are the finished article, but I am confident that we are well down the right path.

I close my address this year by saying how thoroughly delighted I was when Pat Langham accepted my invitation to join us today. I know that she is tremendously busy and has an important engagement in Leeds this evening and another in London early tomorrow. I learned an enormous amount while I worked with Pat for seven years as her Academic Deputy and owe her a huge debt of gratitude.

As we made our way across to the Sports Hall a little earlier, my chest swelling with pride, I turned to her and said, ‘Pat, I bet you never thought in your wildest dreams that you would see me make a speech to parents as Head of a school like this.

She replied, ‘Graham, you never appear in my wildest dreams!’

Graham Wigley
10 May 2008