From the Headmaster's Study
23 March 2024
Gradually increasing daylight hours, (slightly) warmer weather, and the imminent prospect of a new brood of Hampton ducklings arriving on the scene, have combined to put a spring in everyone’s step during the final days before the Easter break.
This has been the shortest term of the academic year, but it has been remarkable to witness just how much Hamptonians have crammed into their energetic School lives ̶ something amply demonstrated by this e-newsletter and the digital edition of News from Hampton (NfH). From French debating national champions to rugby and rowing successes; to music masterclasses with celebrated pianists and a Dickensian drama production; to an inspiring programme of Talk! speakers (including a leading evolutionary biochemist, a distinguished UK ambassador, and two of the creative minds behind Doctor Who) ‒ we’ve experienced an action-packed 10 weeks, even by Hampton standards. The current presence in the Cloisters of our own version of the TARDIS makes me wonder if we’ve all been bending time and space to fit everything in!
During the past fortnight alone, members of our Genocide Awareness campaign group have been invited to the Rwandan High Commission in London to launch a book arising from their collaboration with genocide-survivor Sophie Masereka. This very powerful, poignant and enlightening memoir can be accessed via a link in the accompanying e-newsletter. Over the same period, Third Year Hamptonians have visited the WWI battlefields of Flanders and the Somme with our History department. It was a privilege to accompany them on the first of these trips, with attending the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate being a particular highlight (before our boys were unleashed upon Ypres’s chocolate shops!). Meanwhile, Hampton’s Model United Nations (MUN) delegates were eloquently debating contemporary global issues at the Haileybury MUN Conference and winning a host of awards. We also welcomed over 50 of our alumni back for the annual Walter Bailey and Alex Green Cup memorial football fixtures. And in the oval ball game, another former pupil, Louis Lynagh OH (2019), made a tremendous start to his Italian international rugby career as gli Azzurri recorded back-to-back Six Nations wins in Rome and Cardiff!
As is customary during the final days of the spring term, our rowers and rugby players have been competing in much-anticipated national sports competitions. From my traditional vantage point at Hammersmith Bridge, it was great to see our Boat Club record a strong set of performances at the School’s Head of the River Race last Wednesday and maintain the momentum generated by their notable medal haul at the recent Hampton Head races (see NfH for details). Elsewhere in South West London, our First VII, U16, U14 and U13 Rugby squads acquitted themselves admirably at the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens competition. We also wish our senior rugby players and their coaches well as they head up to Cumbria this weekend for the Sedbergh Tens tournament – a prestigious event that attracts the country’s best schoolboy sides for a fitting season finale. In Football, it has been another highly successful year for Hampton sides across the age groups and… hot off the press… our First XI squad are Surrey Cup winners after prevailing over Epsom College in yesterday’s final. Our Second and Third XIs have their own cup finals – in the London Independent School and Trinity Cups respectively – to look forward to in April.
Particular end-of-term plaudits are due for our Music department, which has excelled itself since January by hosting nine events involving over 500 Hamptonians and partner school pupils. Additionally, Mr Roland and his colleagues have overseen a new Keyboard Festival and run an impressive series of masterclasses with professional pianists and jazz musicians. Last Thursday’s Spring Concert was superb and culminated with 100 musicians on stage performing John Miles’ Music: two choirs, three soloists, a rock band, and the full symphony orchestra!
Our Upper Sixth pupils can look ahead to the public exam season with renewed vigour having received a record number of offers at this stage from leading UK and overseas universities. Thus far, they are collectively in receipt of no fewer than 717 offers across a wide range of degree courses, including 60 from global top-ten universities and 23 from Oxford and Cambridge. We wish our talented Class of 2024, and indeed Fifth Year Hamptonians approaching summer GCSEs, every success in the assessments due next term.
Well-earned holidays may have arrived for pupils and teaching staff, but Hampton life will continue apace over the next three weeks and I cannot recall an Easter period featuring so many trips, tours, and training camps. Up to 500 members of our community are heading off to destinations including Munich, Vienna, Prague, Athens, Delphi, Ronda, Seville, Nice, Snowdonia and Slapton Sands. We wish all those involved bon voyage, gute Reise, buen viaje etc.
Many grateful thanks to Hamptonians, parents and colleagues for playing their respective parts in another vibrant and hugely enjoyable term – I wish everyone a relaxing and restful time over the Easter break.
With kind regards
