From the Headmaster’s Study
As you are aware, the ISI were with us last week as we underwent a full compliance (FCI) and educational quality (EQI) Inspection. We most recently had a compliance inspection in 2016 and an educational quality inspection in 2011. The team of four inspectors worked through a full itinerary of (randomly selected) pupil interviews; staff interviews; lesson, activity and games observations; tours of boarding Houses; and rigorous inspections of paperwork, record keeping and policies. As you are aware, they also invited feedback from parents via their questionnaire. They asked the same of our staff and pupils via electronic questionnaires.
We received some confidential verbal feedback at the end of the inspection. As much as I would like to share feedback with you immediately, we will not receive our formal and full report for another 5 weeks, as the report needs to go through various channels first, including quality assurance. At that stage, we will know the full details and will be able to hear and read their “judgement” of us from a FCI and EQI perspective. We will then be in a position to share the report with you and other stakeholders.
We are very much looking forward to receiving their full report and sharing it with you. The inspectors thoroughly enjoyed their stay at Wellesley and all of their interactions with our pupils, staff and other members of our community. Thank you for your on-going support.
Gavin Franklin
Notices
School Photograph
The school photograph was taken last Thursday. The procedure for ordering copies will be sent out when we have the details from the photographers.
Half-Term Sports and Activities Week
Mr Longdon is running a Sport and Activites week at Wellesley from Tuesday 28th to Friday 31st May. Activities each day will run from 9.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. with great fun guaranteed. For further information visit: www.wellesleyhouse.org/news-events/camp/ or email Mr Longdon. Please pass the word on to friends and family.
Cardiac Risk in the Young
You may have heard of the charity CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young. They offer subsidised ECG screening to all people between the ages of 14-35, in a bid to help prevent sudden cardiac deaths in young people.
This week, Elizabeth Leonard (mother of Tom in Block 2) is hoping to complete the National Three Peaks Challenge and raise funds for CRY in memory of Tom’s grandfather Mark Sebba who died suddenly last July. The challenge, which involves climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, is usually completed in around 24 hours – she is hoping to do it in 20 hours.
Any donations to this worthy cause would be so gratefully received. Thank you.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/elizabeth-simon19
School Last Week
Inspire Talk
We were delighted to welcome Mrs Nina Dunbar Johnson (mother of Gigi in Block 1) to deliver our first INSPIRE talk to our Block 1 pupils. Mrs DJ is the Founder and Managing Director of Wizard Publicity – an award winning London PR and marketing consultancy.
In the informal setting of the Headmaster’s drawing room, surrounded by Block 1 pupils on beanbags and sofas (and a number of staff), Mrs DJ spoke with great energy, enthusiasm and passion of the need for determination, hard-work and taking responsibility in pursuit of your goals. She gave real life examples of successes and failures and the importance of resilience to help you through challenges in your professional life. She also spoke to the pupils about the importance of building strong relationships and how essential these are to success in the workplace.
Responding to a question about what career to follow, Mrs DJ urged the pupils to pursue their passions. She concluded the evening, much to the excitement of her audience, by giving away a plethora of super-cool products that she had received from her clients. Huge thanks to Mrs Dunbar Johnson for giving up her time to provide such a fun, informative and inspiring talk for our pupils. We look forward to the next instalment of the INSPIRE talks in due course.
Common Entrance
The first round of Common Entrance examinations took place last week for members of Block 1, with the Mental Arithmetic examination followed by listening and oral examinations in French and Spanish. The written papers will follow in the week immediately after half-term.
Maths Competition
The last of the Maths competitions scheduled for early in the term took place on Tuesday, with a team of four children from Block 4 going to Ashford School for their annual Year 5 Maths Competition. Our team enjoyed the event, even though they found the questions quite challenging. Team: Margot Grand, Alexander Long, Everett Olson and Stanislav Shatokhin.
Sunday Outings
Boarders had an energetic trip to Betteshanger Park on Sunday afternoon, where they enjoyed the cycling track and trails.
Royal St George’s Invitation Golf
Also on Sunday, a group of older children took part in this year’s Invitation Golf competition at Royal St George’s. Ella Yu, partnering Ines Vaes Solominos, excelled in the Ladies’ match, scoring points on every hole. Competition for the boys was tight, with the eventual winners only sealing victory on the eighteenth hole
1st | Jonjo Wylie and Mr Wylie | 38 points |
2nd | Jansci Motsi and Mr Franklin | 36 points |
3rd = | James Felton and Mrs Felton William Norton and Mr Norton | 34 points |
School This Week
The first marks of term have been given and the standings are as follows:
1st Danes
2nd Vikings
3rd Romans
4th Saxons
Special mention goes to the following pupils who have achieved the highest set of marks for their year: Felix Butterfill, Freddie Southorn, William Franklin, William Obee, Sylvia Olson, Heath Voisey-Stovell, Margot Grand, Paloma Llari de Sangenis, Jonjo Wylie and Catherine Ye.
The most improved pupils in each year group were India Ollivier, Rio Goddard, Sam Llewellyn, Robin Hu, Harry Heming and Catherine Ye, while the highest scoring tutor group was JS.
Music on Monday
Music on Monday was provided by Abraham Olson, who played Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ on the guitar. Well done, Abe.
Team Captain
Congratulations to James Felton, who has been selected as the Captain of Boys’ Tennis for this term.
Team of the Week
This week’s ‘Team of the Week’ are the Under 13 B Girls cricket team, for their progress and their excellent win on Saturday They will be rewarded with cookies and squash in the Headmaster’s drawing room during a morning break.
Block 3 Trip to France
On Tuesday Block 3 have a very early departure to spend the day in France. Among the activities planned are a visit to a shopping centre outside Boulogne, where they will be carrying out a survey in French, and an excursion to Nausicaa, the National Sea Centre, before heading home on the ferry.
Governors’ Day
We welcome the members of the school’s Governing Body on Wednesday for their annual Governors’ Day at Wellesley. In addition to their meeting, they will be touring the school and will be joining the children for lunch.
Team Photographs
Team photographs will be taken on Thursday. Would parents please ensure that pupils have all the necessary kit in school.
The procedure for ordering photographs will be e-mailed to parents when the photographs are ready to be viewed and purchased.
School Council
The School Council will hold its second meeting of the term on Friday during Morning Break.
Half Term
Half-term begins at 1.30 pm this Friday 24th May. Boarders will return at 8.00 pm on Sunday 2nd June and day pupils on the morning of Monday 3rd June.
Menu
This week the kitchen will be serving Menu 2.
Matches Last Week
Monday 13th May
Tennis v Junior King’s: U13 Girls – won 4 – 2
Tennis v Junior King’s: U13 Boys – won 5 – 1
Wednesday 15th May
Rounders v Duke of York’s RMS: U13 A – won 27 – 10
Rounders v Duke of York’s RMS: U13 B – lost 11.5 – 14
Cricket v Northbourne Park: U13 B – lost by 7 wickets
Cricket v Dover College: U12 – won by 9 wickets
Cricket v Dover College: Colts A – postponed until 5th June
Cricket v Northbourne Park: U9 A – won by 40 runs
Cricket v Northbourne Park: U9 B – lost by 12 runs
Thursday 16th May
Cricket v Junior King’s: U9 A – won
Cricket v Junior King’s: U9 B – lost
Tennis v Dane Court: U13 Girls – postponed until 21st May
Saturday 18th May
Cricket v Junior King’s: U13 A Girls – won 260 – 79
Cricket v Junior King’s: U13 B Girls – won 102 – 81
Cricket v Junior King’s B: U11 Girls – won 267 – 242
Cricket v Duke of York’s RMS: 2nd XI – won by 154 runs
Cricket v Duke of York’s RMS: 3rd XI – won by 48 runs
Cricket v Junior King’s: Colts A – lost by 20 runs
Cricket v Junior King’s: Colts B – cancelled
Live Cricket Scores
We are now using a live scoring system for some of our cricket matches. You can follow the action ball by ball by downloading the “Play-Cricket Live” app. Please use the links or scan the QR code. Once you have installed the app, search for “Wellesley Haddon Dene”, and any upcoming matches that are being live scored will appear.
Matches This Week
Please always refer to the website calendar as it is the most up-to-date place to check for fixture changes and locations.
Monday 20th May
Cricket v St Lawrence: U13 A Girls & U13 B Girls (h) (Note: 3.30 p.m. start)
Tuesday 21st May
Tennis v Dane Court: U13 Girls (h) (Note: 4.00 p.m. start)
Wednesday 22nd May
Rounders v Dover College: U13 (a)
Cricket v Sutton Valence: 1st XI (h)
Cricket v Sutton Valence: 2nd XI (a)
Cricket v Kent College J.S.: Colts A (h)
Cricket v Lorenden: Colts B (a)
Cricket v Northbourne Park: U9 A & B (a)
Thursday 23rd May
Cricket v Lorenden: U9 A & B (h) (Note: Cancelled)