Full Blast

Published on: Friday, February 25, 2022

Following a week’s break where we all got blasted by the weather, this week for me has been full blast on various admin and operational matters. A good deal of engine room maintenance takes place at this time of year including considerations for next year even though we are only just approaching Spring.

King’s Loopers had a spring in their step today, partly due to the lovely running conditions in the sun but also because they had a little pent up adrenaline to burn before the off as they waited with anticipation for Mr Halls – my fault as I delayed him by a minute or two.  54 children ran today – which is 1 in 3 of those who could, and remember this is entirely voluntary.

A week of fully normal activity, gatherings and endeavours has been bloomin’ brilliant.  And with the weather kinder as the days have gone by it is terrific to be looking forward to the rest of term with a big smile on our faces. Let’s hope it can remain in place for a good long while.

Have a good weekend.

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A week in the life...

Published on: Friday, February 4, 2022

Last Sunday, after spending a fun morning with the non-isolating boarders lighting fires and playing around in the woods, Claire and I decided to head off for a good walk in the afternoon – Meg, our spaniel, was particularly thrilled.  We had a glorious time around Crowcombe Park Gate, Lady’s Combe, Holford Combe, Frog Combe, Higher Hare Knap etc. Part of the reason for this was that due to diary entries converging I knew the week ahead was largely going to be indoors and full of meetings both physical and online – and so it has proved. It has been a very productive week but I really haven’t seen much of what has actually been happening in school for the last four days.

As well as meeting prospective families, on Monday and Tuesday I spent a good amount of time on Teams interviewing for the Founding Principal of King’s College Cairo which is due to open in September 2023. Whilst not being able to share their name at this stage, we have made an exciting appointment and look forward to working closely with them as this project moves through pre-ops phase and fledges as a school. The plans for the school as part of the new Bloomfields development in the Mostakbal City area of New Cairo are quite stunning.

Wednesday brought a full day with the School Council (Governors) discussing and understanding more deeply the strategic factors, influences and opportunities at play here in our one school, two site educational model. A very helpful day for all at which Michael Sloan, the Headmaster at the College from September, was present, too.

Yesterday we welcomed eight candidates to the long list round of our search for a new Deputy Head Academic here at King’s Hall and, as ever, it is always fascinating, enlightening and instructive to meet other practitioners from other settings.

In amongst this, as with Sunday’s time with the boarders being the result of boarding staff isolating, I was lucky to be asked to take our Chinese pupils across to the College on Tuesday night for the annual Chinese New Year celebration supper.  After speeches in Mandarin, Cantonese and then English they eagerly tucked in – and went back for seconds!

Today has been something of a chance to get out and breathe fresher air and spend more time with children and staff – apart from sitting here typing this, what is now quite a long piece! Tomorrow I am on the cookery activity in the morning and after lunch, whilst watching the odd match or two, I will also hope to keep up with the cricket Under 19 World Cup final in the afternoon.  Not just one, but two former King’s Hall and College pupils are playing and we wish George Thomas and James Rew the very best of luck as they take on the Indian side in the Caribbean.  Quite a thing to have two of the eleven from the same school.

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