It has been an exceptionally busy term and I think it is fair to say that we have now found the “rhythm” of the school for this academic year. Timetables are known, routines established and expectations clear as we prepare to head in to the winter.

As ever, as we pause for a holiday there is so much to celebrate about the school. There is a huge amount of things which I could write about but for today it is extra-curricular sport.

The range of sports clubs and teams which Wallingford School offers is simply fantastic. We are fortunate to have excellent facilities but they are nothing without the commitment and dedication of our staff and students to participating and competing across a broad range of sports. I have written about the culture of the school and this emphasis on participation and competition is engrained within the school’s identity.

Being part of a team is an important element of growing up. In sport this will mean winning together and losing together; getting soaked to the skin together and sitting on long minibus journeys to far-flung places together; sometimes being the substitute who plays for ten minutes, at other times enjoying the glory of scoring the winning try, goal or basket. All of these things are important. They are formative and involve empathy, tolerance, appreciation and understanding of your team-mates. Equally, respecting one’s opponent, congratulating them regardless of the result at the end of the match and understanding that “it is just a game” could not be more important in the society in which we live.

A great many of us enjoy sport. It may be watching or playing but there is something so compelling about the uncertainty of the outcome and the curiosity and adrenalin this engenders within us. Sport is complex and multi-faceted and arouses many passions. Professional sport can be problematic at times as the power of money and the media are so integral to it.

There is something wonderfully pure about school sport. Something precious about the memories which are created and the experiences which are shared. We are fortunate at Wallingford to have such dedicated staff who are committed to our students having the very best sporting experiences and I would like to thank them for this dedication to our young people.