Headmaster’s Welcome – Simon Hawkes, Headmaster
Dear Parents and Guardians,
This has been a week filled with fun new experiences for those of us still in our first annual cycle at Wellingborough. The ink was barely dry on last week’s Friday letter before I joined parents and staff for a wonderful Gala Dinner evening in the Dining Hall. If you are yet to experience this very special event, then you’re in for a treat. Year 12 pupils host parents for a ‘posh’ meal, and by host, I mean plan, cook, wait on tables, dish up, man the bar – the whole nine yards. It was superb, and I could really see the year group pulling together and preparing themselves for leadership in September.
And then on Tuesday the whole school (including the Prep School, I’m pleased to say) enjoyed the serious business of the legendary Pancake Race. What an event: fierce House rivalry, impressive athleticism, finely honed flipping skills, and a fully engaged crowd of hundreds. I think Garne’s may have won, but what’s for sure is that Mr Medley was having almost as much fun on the megaphone as the pupils were on the racetrack.
I also want to highlight the more sophisticated charms of the Rock, Pop, and Blues concert, enjoyed by a big crowd in the Senior School Hall last night. There was an abundance of talent on display from pupils of all ages, with renditions of some stone-cold classics as well as some original compositions by pupils (and even a parent). It was an inspirational and enjoyable evening for everyone involved.
At the time of writing this, I’m looking ahead to lunchtime today and wondering with a little trepidation what the prefects have in store for us staff at the charity day event in the quad… I believe a pie-ing is in the offing, so I’m off now to change into old clothes and prepare for ritual humiliation, all in the name of a good cause, I’m sure. I do hope you all enjoy some family time over the half-term break. For some of the senior pupils the break will feature some carefully planned revision, but even if this is the case they are all due a rest – they’ve earned it!
Best wishes.
Gala to Gingerbread via Pancakes and Goldilocks – Richard Spiby, Deputy Head (Operations)
What an absolute treat of a week. Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching the Year 1 play, The Gingerbread Man, which was just wonderful. All the pupils were simply brilliant, and to see their enjoyment in performing in front of their families and the beaming smiles of parents themselves said it all. I might also have sneaked a peek at the very proud staff, so pleased for the children that it had gone well and perhaps looking forward to learning a new song in the weeks ahead. This of course came less than a week after the Year 12 Gala Dinner. Always a special night, and to see each Year 12 build on what has gone before and take charge of the cooking, waiting on, front of house, music and logistics is simply fantastic. The opportunity to take responsibility and make things happen are essential life skills which will serve them well.
Sandwiched in between these two events was the annual Pancake Race. This year, not only did we hear Chariots of Fire wafting across the Quad at the beginning (ok, you have to be of a certain age), but we had Prep School pupils watching as well, knowing before too long it will be their turn. It always brings a smile to see those ‘very cool’ teenagers all of a sudden become completely animated about flipping their pancakes correctly – perhaps there are not enough pancake-flipping events in life generally.
So what of Goldilocks? A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to chat to a prospective Year 8 student who, when asked, ‘Why Wellingborough?’ simply said, ‘Well, it’s a Goldilocks school.’ Intrigued, I asked them what they meant. The answer, ‘Well, it’s not too small and it’s not too big; it just feels right,’ did far more than simply make my day. It meant that a pupil visiting us could feel that warm family feel which makes Wellingborough School so special and where in any one week there can be a Gingerbread Man play, a Gala Dinner and a Pancake Race.
Computer Science Update – Mark Gamble, Head of Computer Science
In late 2025 our Computer Science students took part in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge. This is an international competition which takes place in schools over a two-week period every November. Last year, over 3 million students from more than 80 countries participated.
In the UK, the challenge is open to all young people aged 6 to 19. Each participant has 45 minutes to tackle a series of interactive tasks, designed to encourage logical thinking and problem-solving skills appropriate for their age group.
Gold certificates are awarded on a national basis and go to the top 10% across the country. This year we had 162 students participating in the competition from Year 7 to Year 13. Our students achieved 21 gold certificates – well above the national average.
In addition to our gold certificate winners, Wellingborough School students received 21 Distinction awards and 40 Merit awards. In total, 82 students achieved awards.
Wellingborough School Bebras gold certificate winners by year group:
Year 7
- Rupert S
- Seren S
Year 8
- Harrison B
- Dylan C
- Jacob E
- Leo M
Year 9
- Jasper H
- Oscar L
- Harry S
Year 10
- Tylar RB
- Jack W
Year 11
- Arthur A
- Thomas B
- Eddie M
- Dexter P
- George P
- Harry T
- Oliver W
Year 12
- Cameron C
Year 13
- William B
- Declan B
The Raspberry Pi Foundation Computing Challenge will run through the month of March this year; this is effectively the second stage of the Bebras Competition, replacing the Oxford University Computing Challenge from previous years.
As ever, the Lent Term is a busy time for the exam years, which for Computer Science includes Year 9 and Year 12 as well as Year 11 and Year 13.
Our Year 9 students are partway through their entry-level qualification; having already taken their Computer Systems exams they are now hard at work preparing for their Computational Thinking exams and working on their projects.
Year 11 are revising for their next and final set of mock exams, which take place after the half-term break, and are then on their final approach to GCSEs in June.
Our Year 12 students will be taking the Cambridge International AS level examination in May, followed by their A2 level examinations next year.
Year 13 are preparing to take their A-level examinations and working hard on practice exercises for the practical programming paper.
This term, Year 7 have been diving into coding, mastering key programming concepts like inputs, outputs, and decision-making.
Meanwhile, Year 8 have been tackling Python in their Introduction to Programming unit. They’ve been developing programmes like chatbots and calculators.
It has been a fantastic term of problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration.
Careers Weekly
This week’s newsletter focuses on Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse, which represents energy, tenacity, and an adventurous attitude. It is an excellent opportunity to investigate occupations related to global cultures, multinational industries, and the skills required in an increasingly interconnected world.
Read this week’s Careers newsletter here.
Football Results – Jonathan Dean, Head of Football
Please see the results below from our fixtures last week:
Quinton House
- 12A won 7-4 (MPA & MTW)
Oundle
- 1st XI won 4-2 (JAD & MTW)
- 2nd XI lost 2-3 (GEH)
- 3rd XI lost 0-6 (NPI)
- 15A cancelled due to waterlogged pitches
Bedford Modern
- 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 15A, 15B, 14A & 14B cancelled due to waterlogged pitches
- 13A drew 1-1 (MAF)
- 12A lost 2-9 (APA & MTW)
A really frustrating week with the heavy rainfall resulting in the cancellation of 8 fixtures. Fingers crossed for a drier week ahead so we can play the scheduled matches this side of half term.
A Wonderful Evening at Our Gala Dinner! – Sarah Baxby, Head of Sixth Form
Last Friday, our Year 12 students delivered the annual Gala Dinner, and what an evening it was. After last year’s success, it was always going to be a challenge for this cohort to reach the same standards. However, I need not have been concerned; not only did they meet expectations, but in several areas they even surpassed them.
The planning process was certainly not without its hurdles. Last‑minute seating plan changes and adjustments to the price list kept the team on their toes. Fortunately, a bottle of Estrella mistakenly priced at £18 was spotted and corrected in time; otherwise, it might have been an unexpectedly expensive evening for some! Despite these challenges, the students demonstrated impressive initiative and resilience, ensuring the event ran smoothly and professionally.
What struck me most was how much the students genuinely seemed to enjoy the occasion. Their teamwork, positivity and willingness to support one another throughout the evening were truly commendable. I was also particularly pleased by the way they acknowledged the contributions of everyone involved – not only their peers, but also the administration staff and the catering team, whose behind‑the‑scenes efforts were vital to the event’s success.
The Gala Dinner was very well received by the parents and staff who attended, and to top it all off, the students raised more than £1,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease charity. This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to their hard work and commitment.
Well done, Year 12 — you should be incredibly proud!
Parent comments:
“What a wonderful evening Friday was; we enjoyed the Gala Dinner immensely!”
“The hard work that the lower sixth put in was obvious, and it was a joy to see the camaraderie and satisfaction that they clearly got from it.”
“Delicious food, beautifully served with wonderful entertainment!”
“Well done, and thank you for all the hard work that must have gone on behind the scenes by the staff to make such a memorable evening for everyone.”
“I just wanted to express our thanks for a lovely evening on Friday at the Gala Dinner. We were so proud of all of year 12. They worked so hard to make it a wonderful evening, both on the night and in all the preparations beforehand. It was lovely to see them supporting each other, working together and enjoying themselves.”
Student comments:
“It was a lovely night; I wish we could do it again next year!” – Sid, Year 12
“I was a chef for our Year 12 Gala Dinner, and it was such an amazing experience that was filled with fun and laughter. At the same time, I learnt so much about cooking and what working in a kitchen is like. The experience taught me how to work well in a team whilst under pressure and how to plan effectively, as it was crucial on the night. Overall, it was one of my favourite parts of Year 12 so far, and I hope to take these skills forward with me as I move through the sixth form.” – Anna, Year 12
“This year’s Gala Dinner was an exceptional evening that was enjoyed by not only the parents and teachers but the Year 12s too. It was challenging at times to pull the last few things together, and being on our feet all night was tiring, but we managed to keep the event running smoothly, and the organising committee’s careful planning paid off. We had huge success in raising over £1000 for our charity, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, which exceeded our target. All of us gained valuable experiences, from organising and teamwork to learning how to cook, which will certainly be of use in the future. The Gala Dinner will undoubtedly be a highlight for all the Year 12s.” – Lauren R, Year 12
See below photos that were captured by Year 12 pupil, Phoebe:
Safeguarding Newsletter
This month’s newsletter celebrates Children’s Mental Health Week, which takes place from 9th to 15th February, and Safer Internet Day on 10th February.
It explores ways parents and carers can support their children if they are struggling, as well as how to keep your child safe online when using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Read the full safeguarding newsletter for this month here.
Parker Steyne’s House Charity Sleepout 2026
On Friday 13th March, pupils from years 7-13 and staff from Parker Steyne’s House will brave the elements, sleeping rough for the night in the top quad with nothing but a sleeping bag and some cardboard.
The purpose… to raise awareness and funds for “The Daylight Centre Fellowship” in Wellingborough and our chosen House charity, “Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis“.
Following last year’s successful sleepout, where we raised just under £5000, this year we are looking to smash the £5k barrier, making a valuable donation to those, many of whom, find themselves in a less fortunate situation than ourselves. It will be cold, it will be uncomfortable, but that is exactly the point of why we are embarking on this House event again!
My thanks go out to all of those boys and families from years 7-13, as well as House staff, who have supported this initiative; should you feel that you can spare any pennies towards supporting us later this term, your donation would be greatly received by us and our two chosen charities.
Click here to go to our fundraising page, where you can also find out more about how the money raised will be used by our two charities.
Wellingborough School Member of Staff Takes to the Stage
We are delighted to share that Mikaela Woodgates, a member of Wellingborough School staff, will be appearing on stage this Easter in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, performed at the Castle Theatre, Wellingborough.
This family-friendly production runs from Wednesday 1 to Saturday 4 April 2026, and tickets are available directly from the Castle Theatre.
See the flyer below for more information:
Whole School Open Day – Book Now
Join us on Saturday, 7th March, from 9am, to explore Wellingborough Prep, Senior and Sixth Form.
You will be able to meet with our specialist subject teachers and explore our facilities and nurturing environment. While gaining a better understanding of what makes a Wellingborough education so special.
Click here for more information and to book your place.
Additionally, if you are aware of families looking for school places in September, please share with them this link.
Sporty Scholars Championship Week Camp – Book Now!
Sporty Scholars will be running their February Half-Term Holiday Camp here at Wellingborough School from Monday 16th February until Friday 20th February, for children aged from 4 to 14.
Your child will participate in 5 days of sports, wellness, and activities that will help them gain confidence and face new challenges.
Places cost £23.50 per day.
For more information, click HERE.
To book your place please visit: Sporty Scholars at Wellingborough School
Current pupils: Informal Coffee Morning/Afternoon with the Head
An opportunity for current pupils and their families to speak directly with Mr Hawkes and other senior members of staff at Wellingborough School.
You will have the chance to hear about what the year has in store for their child’s year group and ask any questions you may have.
Please see below the upcoming dates for different year groups:
- Years 7-10: Tuesday 3rd March, 4:30-5:30pm
- Year 11: Tuesday 17th March, 8:30-9:30am
We would love to get to know you better and hear how your child is finding life at Wellingborough School.
Click here to RSVP your place.
Prospective Families: Meet the Head
An opportunity for prospective pupils and their families to visit Wellingborough School to meet our Headmaster, Mr Hawkes, and other senior members of staff.
You will also have the chance to ask questions you may have about your child attending Wellingborough School and speak to other families that are also considering joining.
Please see below the upcoming dates for different year groups:
- Year 11 pupils looking at joining our Sixth Form: Tuesday 17th March, 8:30-9:30am
- Years 8-10 pupils looking at joining our Senior School: Tuesday 24th February 4:30-5:30pm
- Year 6 pupils looking to join for Year 7: Monday 9th March, 8:30-9:30am
Please RSVP your place to admissions@wellingboroughschool.org.
If you can’t make these dates, but would like to have a chance to meet Mr Hawkes, click here to view the upcoming sessions until March.
Stay Connected
To see more of what’s happening at Wellingborough School, follow us on social media here.
You can also explore upcoming events and activities on our Events Page here.
Wellingborough School Business Directory
Please find the Business Directory at the following link: https://wellingboroughschool.org/community/business-directory/
