On Wednesday we held our Sixth Form Open Evening and as ever it was a real pleasure to be part of an event in which young people consider their futures, staff express their passion for their subjects and everyone comes together to begin planning for next year and beyond. It is always great to see our Year 11 students who have been with us for over four years considering their next steps and it was also really good to have so many young people who currently attend other schools having a look at Wallingford School and what we offer. As I mentioned when I spoke on Wednesday we are of course very proud of the consistently excellent results and the impressive destinations that characterise our Sixth Form but it also has a very special ethos and feel of which these two elements are parts but the broad and deep extra-curricular and enrichment offer and also the sense of community and support for each other from both staff and fellow students are prominent and highly valued. Wednesday is only the first step on a journey which ends when courses start next September but it felt like a very good start.

Elsewhere in school the rehearsals for the Year 7 promenade production of a Midsummer Night’s Dream which has been driven though the Merry Wanderers’ project continue apace and we very much look forward to the performance on Wednesday 27^th November. The Bigg Band was rehearsing its repertoire on Wednesday in preparation for the Christmas Concert on Tuesday 10^th December, rehearsals for January’s school production of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat roll on and there has been lots of sport with fixtures for boys and girls in rugby, hockey and football this week – and quite a few wins. We also look forward to next Friday’s WSA Quiz Night which promises to be a great event.

Finally, on Monday we paused for two minutes’ silence and a rendition of the last post to mark remembrance on Armistice Day. As ever, it was very moving and immaculately observed. I would particularly like to thank those students who played the last post at locations around the school – their composure and musicianship were remarkable.