Headmaster's Weekly Reflection

I write this having just returned to my desk following the exhilarating experience of climbing, and then descending the tower of St Mary’s. The reason was to join our Chapel Choir as they sang May Madrigals from atop the church (don’t worry, I didn’t actually sing!). May Madrigals are an ancient tradition, believed to have originated in Oxford, in which choirs would sing from the tops of their local churches on the 1st May to welcome the transition from Spring to Summer. This is the third year we have done this at St Mary’s, and with some additional amplification and speakers this time around I am hopeful that the beautiful sound of the choir in full voice will have been heard by a good number of the local community as they went about their morning business. It is the first time that I personally have been up the church tower, and I have to say that the view from the top is little short of spectacular. It is not just the beauty of the countryside around us, although that is quite something, but also the sight of the town of Bruton nestled in its little dip in the land, and with its medieval street layout plain to see. It was a pretty special way to start the day.

On Thursday afternoon we held one of our major set-piece events of the year: the BTEC Hospitality Showcase event, in which families, friends, and members of the local community are invited into school for afternoon tea. Although ‘afternoon tea’ is really selling it short, for the food we were served was truly spectacular. From extravagant sandwiches to sumptuous scones and cakes, alongside a delicious selection of cocktails and mocktails, the common reaction from all of the guests was their genuine admiration for the remarkable quality of the food. ‘Restaurant quality’ is perhaps a cliché, but in this instance it is absolutely valid: everyone in attendance agreed that they would happily have paid good money for the food and drink that the pupils had prepared. Among the guests were the Head of Food at The Newt, and two chefs from Osip (one of whom was a former pupil at King’s, and who had been a participant in this exact event a few years ago). They spoke to me afterwards of how impressed they were by our pupils, and the food they had created, and also – as people who care deeply about the hospitality industry – their delight at the fact that there is clearly a pipeline of talented and motivated young people looking to move into the sector.

The term has started well on the sporting front, too. After a clean sweep of cricketing victories for both girls and boys last weekend, this past fortnight has also seen three victories for our teams in various National Cups. The 1st XI boys beat Wells Cathedral in the 1st Round of the National T20 Cup, while the U15 girls have had two victories to celebrate: beating Christ College Brecon in their T20 National Cup, and Badminton School in the National Super 8s competition, the latter victory taking them through to the last 16. Our tennis teams have also had a good week, with the boys seeing victory over King’s College Taunton, and the girls over Wells Cathedral. In addition, we enjoyed a high-quality concert on Friday afternoon; the latest in our series of ‘Informal Concerts’, with performances ranging from piano, to musical theatre and opera, through to rock drumming. A thoroughly enjoyable week, all-in-all.

Finally, do keep an eye out for a survey on the theme of screens and devices, which I intend to send out in the next week or so. In such a fast-moving technological world it is vital that we regularly review our approach in these areas, and I am keen to garner your views to help us to do just this.

Matt Radley

Headmaster