Friday 4 October 2024

Head’s Welcome

Phew, it has certainly been a busy few weeks here at Pangbourne and I think we are all looking forward to the October half-term break. College Sunday, Open Morning, Div Music and a tranche of sports fixtures has meant the new term has started with a bang!

This busyness and sense of purpose; maximising the moment and immersing ourselves in the present is at the centre of Pangbourne, and our naval heritage draws upon these notions of growth and perseverance. It has been wonderful to spend time in lessons, on the sports fields, in the Mess Hall and during activities; seeing the students make the most of all that life at Pangbourne has to offer. It is the accumulation of these moments over time that lead to the development of a complete person.

It is with this in mind that we are drafting our Campus Masterplan. How can we maximise the site to the benefit of current and future Pangbournians; what experiences do they need to thrive and grow? Whilst still in its infancy, the recent drafting of our Five Year Education Strategy has provided a focus for the campus planning and I look forward to sharing our ambition with families once we have a document ready for publication.

As an early start to the wider project, I am delighted to confirm that we should have the new High Ropes, Low Ropes and Obstacle Courses ready by March 2025. This will not only enhance our current adventure and activities curriculum, but enable us to design a sequence of experiences that help take our students into areas of uncertainty. These more challenging pursuits will enable them to see that with a positive mindset and a bit of perseverance, they are capable of overcoming their doubts and fears and can, in turn, achieve great things.

Best wishes

Oliver Knight

COLLEGE NEWS THIS WEEK

HOCKEY SUCCESS

On Wednesday 2 October, the girls U16 hockey team’s outstanding performance won the Berkshire championships. The triumphant team was made up of Year 10s and Year 11s, winning on P-flicks in the final against Downe House. What an excellent achievement for our girls, especially considering the quality of the opposition they faced throughout the day. Congratulations to the team, Louise Tremlett (Director of Hockey) and the rest of the coaching staff. This success qualifies the girls for the regional championships on 21 November.

STRETCH AND CHALLENGE IN MATHS

Our Sixth Form Further Mathematicians have been stretched a little bit further in a preparation lesson for Oxbridge entrance exams. Lower Sixth students currently benefit from a weekly lesson devoted to the Cambridge STEP Programme, exposing them to the very highest levels in diverse topics, and sharpening their exactitude in presentation and argumentation. The Upper Sixth group have been studying Oxford's MAT papers in readiness for the imminent exams. This year, we will be cheering Freddie on as he aspires to read Computer Science at Oxford.

Saturday 5 October, 09:45
Whole School Open Morning

Tuesday 8 October, 18:45-19:45
Sport Nutrition Talk for Year 11 and Sixth Form
College Café

Wednesday 9 October, 18:30-20:30
Sixth Form Information Evening
Year 11 students and their parents are invited.

Wednesday 9 October, 10:00-22:00
Annual National Service for Seafarers
St Paul’s Cathedral

Friday 11 October, 08:30
Informal Pastoral Gathering for Parents
College Café

Sunday 13 October, 09:00
College Sunday
Inspecting Officer: Detective Superintendent Lis Knight (Head of Specialist Operations, Thames Valley Police

Monday 14 October, 19:00
WEBINAR: Supporting Revision at Home
Link for webinar

Friday 18 October, 08:25
Sixth Form Taster Day
For Year 11 students.

Friday 18 October, 16:45
Half Term Break
Returning from Sunday 3 November, 19:00

UPCOMING EVENTS

NOTICES

  • To welcome all younger girls to the College, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Society, Nino and Emma, warmly invite all girls to a movie night on Thursday 10 October. We will be screening 'Hidden Figures' in Drama 1 and sharing popcorn and snacks. We aim to start the movie just after Supper at 18:45 and we aim to finish by 21:00.

    The movie is open to all girls in Years 7-13.

    If you would like to attend, please contact Elly Hayward by Wednesday 9 October so that we can buy enough popcorn.

  • The College Choir, Chief Cadets and Division Chiefs, along with a select representative of the Guard, will be representing the College at this national service in St Paul’s Cathedral, London on Wednesday 9 October.

    The Pangbourne Choir will join with choirs from four other nautical school foundations to provide the music for the service with the congregation comprising of representatives from every naval and nautical organisation in the UK. The Guest of Honour at this year’s service is HRH The Princess Royal.

    Any parents wishing to attend the service and who have yet to book tickets can do so by visiting the Seafarers' Charity: (www.theseafarerscharity.org) and clicking the Eventbrite link. The ticket code is GenNave. All information is provided on the Seafarers' website.

  • Creating an environment that nurtures pupil mental health and wellbeing is a key priority for us at Pangbourne. To help us to achieve this, we have invested in a ‘Wellbeing Hub’ which has been developed byTeen Tips who are experts in child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing.

    This is an interactive online portal, designed to help you understand and meet your child’s social and emotional needs. We believe it will be an invaluable source of information and support for our whole school community.

    Accessing the Wellbeing Hub and further information

    All parents are entitled to free access to the Parent Hub and we highly recommend you take the opportunity to register, using the link below:

    https://club.teentips.co.uk/register/parents/?ca=ec8859936e5d84e2258eaf6f40395345

    The up-to-date tour video of the Wellbeing Hub for parents can be found here:

    https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1003650703/3a75b1d035

    If you have any questions about the Wellbeing Hub, please do not hesitate to contact Caroline Bond, Assistant Pupil Mental Health: caroline.bond@pangbourne.com


  • On Friday 11 October, after drop off, there is an opportunity to join Mark Skidmore, Deputy Head Pastoral, and Caroline Bond, Assistant Head, Pupil Mental Health in the College Café at 08:30 for a relaxed and informal chat over coffee.

    It is also an opportunity to meet other parents, as well as the key pastoral staff.

    We really hope to see you there.

    Caroline Bond and Mark Skidmore

  • The FIRST DRAFT writing will take place over 4 lessons Monday 7 - Friday 11 October.

    FIRST DRAFT feedback from class teacher by Wednesday 27 November 2024 (post Trials).

    Improvements to writing made over five lessons (between 27 Nov and 6 December)

    FINAL draft of Macbeth coursework due by Friday 6 December 2024.

    Pupil marks will be returned to them at the beginning of Lent Term.

    The second piece of Literature Coursework will take place in Lent Term 2 after February Trials (dates to follow).

    Elly Hayward

  • Wednesday 9 October, 18:30-20.30

    Event: Sixth Form Information Evening

    Registration is still open for this on site event for Year 11 students and their parents, where you will be able to discover more about Sixth Form at Pangbourne. The subject departments will be open for you to explore the Sixth Form curriculum and the courses on offer.

    Please register your attendance at:

    www.pangbourne.com/visit

  • If you have not done so already, please ensure you register for the second upcoming information event designed to support the pathway to Sixth Form.:

    Monday 14 October, 19:00

    Webinar : Supporting revision at home

    This webinar is focused on supporting revision at home in advance of the November Trials and upcoming GCSEs.

    Please register for the event using the link below.

    https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pBZhFYhySaOpN-WodstVFg

    You can view a recording of last night's webinar, Making Sixth Form Choices, via this link.

    Passcode = ^3SZZ4BB

Years 9 -11

SIXTH FORM

DIVISIONAL UPDATES

Divisional updates will be fortnightly. Next update on Friday 11 October.

SPORT

Football Match Reports - Dunbar

Despite an excellent performance, Dunbar A football team lost their fixture this week against a strong footballing side, St Joseph's College, Reading.

Pangbourne started very well and took an early lead from a great freekick, from distance, by Nate. But after a good battle back from the opposition, they found themselves 3-1 up at half-time. Shortly after the break, Pangbourne scored a great team goal, finished by Nate again, but it was not enough and the game finished 5-2 to the opposition. The boys can still be proud of themselves, giving it their all until the very end with their brilliant work rate and attitude.

Dunbar B football team won their second game out of three this term against a determined Reddam House side. Pangbourne defended bravely at the back, with some good play by not only the defenders, but also the midfielders and attackers. With Pangbourne controlling the game well in the first half with some good passes and dribbling around the pitch, Pangbourne were 3-0 up at the break.

With Reddam House putting the pressure back on in the second half, they scored a really good goal to get back into the game and could have scored more, but Joseph, who started for the first time in goal, did a brilliant job with some excellent saves. In the end the boys can be very proud of their efforts and how they worked well as a team.