Headmaster’s Welcome – Simon Hawkes, Headmaster
Dear Parents and Guardians,
My personal highlight this week was Tuesday’s much-anticipated Prefect Announcement Assembly. Years eleven to thirteen were present to hear my heartfelt thanks to the outgoing Prefects who have, every single one of them, been superb leaders and ambassadors for the School. They will be a hard act to follow. The process for selecting Prefects at Wellingborough is rigorous, and it’s worth highlighting the competitive nature and the high quality of applicants from which the choices were made. The new Prefect team have now begun their training and a period of shadowing the outgoing team, and I look forward to working with them next term.
As ever, we seem to accelerate towards the end of term, and the diary is jam-packed with special events and opportunities for pupils of all ages. Yesterday’s excellent Wellbeing Fair was followed by today’s brilliant STEM Fair, which included the Festival of Science Quiz and activities as varied as robotics challenges and insect handling, brilliantly organised and led by senior pupils, as you would expect. As if that wasn’t enough, I’ll be popping out this evening (and early tomorrow morning) to offer encouragement to the gentlemen of Parker Steyne’s as they take on the challenge of the annual charity sleepout in aid of Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis and the Daylight Centre. You can find out more and also donate using this link.
Finally, just a note to say that from next week we’ll be taking a slightly different approach to weekly newsletter comms, with the aim of bringing you relevant news stories about what’s going on in school in a more accessible format. We hope you’ll enjoy it!
Best wishes.
Cripps’ House Update – Jonathan Dean, Housemaster of Cripps’
I think it is fair to say that the Lent term is always a busy one, both in Cripps’ and across the school more widely. I have been really impressed with the way the Year 11 and Year 13 boys have conducted themselves both in the build-up to and during their mock examinations. They are now at the stage where they need to take on board the excellent feedback they will receive from their academic teachers and ensure they put in place a targeted revision programme ahead of the final examinations. It goes without saying that all the Cripps’ tutors and I wish the boys every success in their forthcoming GCSE and A-Level examinations.
It has also been a busy time for the boys in Year 12 as they have had the opportunity to apply for leadership roles within school for 2025-26. Six boys applied for Prefect and/or Head of House roles. The number of boys applying is a real indication to me about how passionate the boys are to be members of Cripps’ House and of the Wellingborough School community more widely.
As part of the Head of House application process, the boys have written a letter of application to the Headmaster, completed a written task, had a formal interview and gave a presentation to the whole house about “how they will contribute to the development of Cripps’ House during 26/27”. The outcome of decisions was formally announced by the Headmaster in assembly this week. It is amazing that all six boys achieved leadership roles either across the whole school or within the House. Congratulations to them all. Please see below:
- Oscar & George (School Prefects)
- Archie (Head of House)
- Elliott, Harry and Opulence (House Prefects)
Between the time of writing and the end of term, there will be a number of House competitions, including Cross Country, the General Knowledge Quiz and House Football. I am hoping for a trophy or two!
Shortly after the Easter break the boys will be taking part in the annual Overnight Row (Friday 24th into Saturday 25th April), which will raise funds for the House charity, Animals in Need. More details will be sent to Cripps’ parents.
I must finish by expressing my gratitude to Jude J for his sterling work as Head of House this year and to the other Year 13 House prefects for their support.
Religious Studies Update – Peter Low, Head of Religious Studies
It has been a busy and exciting term, so far, in the RS department.
Year 7 are currently exploring the rich and diverse traditions of Hinduism. They are discovering that one religion never equals a single point of view and that it is easy for an outsider to misunderstand a culture at first glance, so we need to work hard to understand what it means to the people on the inside. They have impressed us through their enthusiasm and their desire to deepen their understanding.
Year 8 is exploring ethics. They have looked at different ideas about how we decide right and wrong and whether there are rules that should never be broken or whether right and wrong are determined by each specific situation. They then turn to the specific issue of abortion, which requires a step up in maturity but is an issue where they quickly grasp why people have strong feelings on both sides of the debate.
Year 9 have been exploring debates around relationships and families, how social attitudes have changed and why people might have strong views on whether our society has moved in a positive or negative direction. They have explored how religious faith might inform people’s views but also why these issues produce diverse and conflicting views within religious traditions. This has produced some excellent classroom debates and some excellent written work as they hone their skills in delivering a persuasive argument.
The other exciting news for us is that we welcome Mrs Ovenden back from maternity leave later this month. We look forward to having her energy and enthusiasm in the classroom, as well as her skills in getting the most from pupils. GCSE and A Level groups will remain with their current teachers, but years 7-9 might have a change. Whoever they have, please rest assured that they will be in excellent hands.
Careers Weekly
This week’s newsletter spotlights the latest careers opportunities, student pathways, and helpful resources including the Unifrog Student Survey, insights into studying Medicine, and new work experience options. Click here to read more.
Read this week’s Careers newsletter here.
Netball Results – Jess Costello, Head of Netball
Results from last week are as follows:
Monday vs Spratton
- 13As loss
- 13Bs loss
- 12As loss
- 12Bs loss
Thursday County cup
- U14s 4th overall
- U15s 2nd
Kelly and Olivia couldn’t be prouder of the girls. Everybody worked extremely hard, and they all had a lovely day in the sun.
Saturday
The girls had a fantastic time being coached by Birmingham Panthers netball players. They really enjoyed the session and learned a lot from the players, who were supportive, encouraging, and full of energy. It was a great opportunity for the girls to develop their skills, build confidence, and have fun together.
Rugby News – Lester Williams, Head of Rugby
Congratulations to Vincent R (11CR) and Will O (11PS) who both represented Northampton Saints U16s against Gloucester this weekend. A fantastic effort from both our boys and a result of hours and hours of hard training. We are so proud of you both!
Safeguarding Newsletter
This month’s newsletter spotlights two key safeguarding themes affecting young people today, covering the new UK law that criminalises the creation of AI‑generated indecent or harmful images and offering practical guidance for families supporting children who may feel pressured to carry knives.
Read the full safeguarding newsletter for this month here.
Sixth Form Production of Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ – Booking Open!
Scan the QR code or click here to purchase your tickets.
Seedlings and Stories Stay and Play
Do you have children aged 2+ and are considering Nursery or Reception for them?
Join us on Wednesday, 18th March, 1:30 to 2:30pm, for fun and engaging activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity, while you experience our warm and nurturing Early Years environment.
Come meet our dedicated team and explore how Wellingborough School provides the ideal start to your child’s learning journey.
Click here to book your place.
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/
