Fifth Year

This academic year has flown by for the Fifth Year. Their resilience, hard work, and determination to succeed is even more impressive given the previous two years of disruption they experienced as a result of Covid. This year group have excelled through the various challenges that the GCSE year poses, and they should all be very proud of their achievements. Despite the additional stress that the exam year poses, our pupils have not let this affect their devotion to extracurricular activities! On stage, many participated as actors, musicians, or technical crew in the Senior Production ‘1722: The Musical’. Our musicians and singers also performed beautifully at the Christmas Carol Service, and wowed audiences at Senior Cabaret in the Spring. On the sports fields, the Fifth Year have continued to be model Churcherians in their success and sporting attitude. This year group has been particularly successful on the hockey pitch, with several players being selected for Performance Centre and playing for their club teams at the National Tier 2 Championship. The girls have done Mrs Higgins proud with their ferocious play during the netball season, and the U16 7s rugby squad won the Hampshire Rugby 7s Plate during the Spring Term; a fantastic end to the season.

A return to a more normal school year has enabled the resumption of trips. Students celebrated the end of their mock exams in January with a bowling trip, topped off by a very generous supply of cupcakes in honour of a birthday. A highlight of the year has to be the giant ‘final football match’ of the year between 50 or so of the Fifth Year boys, watched with fascination

by all the younger year groups! In a change to the normal routine, pupils voted to celebrate their official last day of school with a trip to Thorpe Park after enjoying a full English breakfast at school. Both pupils and staff made the most of it being a less busy day to visit by cramming in as many rides as possible.

We have been hugely impressed with the dedication and hard work from the Committee volunteers this year. They have ensured that all the year groups were represented and had their voice heard, with regards to all the activities and support put in place. They have also improved the comfort and aesthetics of the Pavilion, by designing a special neon sign and ordering eight ‘FatBoy’ beanbags, which pupils have been able to use both inside and outside the Pavilion to relax on during breaks and lunchtimes. A special thank you must also go to the Committee and Prom set-up volunteers, who helped to ensure that the Prom at Lythe Hill Hotel was a huge success. It was fantastic to see all of you dressed so smartly and enjoying spending one final evening as a year group. Most of you were surprisingly good at trying your luck on the casino tables, and it was also great to see the majority of you take to the dance floor at the end of the evening.

Congratulations to all for getting through a tough academic year and doing so with such aplomb. We very much look forward to seeing your success continue as you head into the Sixth Form and beyond. Ben Skirving