It was a pleasure on Wednesday afternoon to walk down to the bottom field to watch our Sixth Form Boys’ Rugby team – the 1^st XV – playing The Downs School. It was a really competitive match played in just the right spirit and as a spectacle was a credit to both teams. It was also great that so many of our students were there to watch and support the team – as were a number of parents – and that says a lot about collegiality and friendships amongst our Sixth Form student body. This match followed last week’s mixed hockey match against Cranford School which was played in a similar spirit and with a County Cup football match to follow next week it is wonderful that the student numbers in our Sixth Form are allowing sport to flourish.

We are very proud of our Sixth Form students at Wallingford School. Examination results have been consistently very strong for a long time and this is wonderful but our pride also comes from the type of people they are and their mutual support and care for each other and the school community which are very special. It might be student ambassadors supporting younger students in lessons or reading buddies or peer mentors or our fantastic student leadership team – whatever it is they are excellent role models and they want to be part of something and to give something back. They lead the younger students in productions and bands and choirs and a whole lot more; they support them and mentor them and show them how things can and should be done.

Their maturity resonates throughout our school. The younger students don’t really see the study room in action but when I went in there at midday on Wednesday you could have heard a pin drop as 130 Year 12s and 13s worked on private study in silence – it is so impressive. In short, they consistently set the standards in our school and this is not to be underestimated.