5 minute read
Introduction and Welcome
gives me a very strong platform to proceed with the implementation of an ambitious strategic plan. As we seek to light a fire within every pupil, the governors have given their full support for our action plan which centres around 4 strategic priorities; Care for Each Individual, Educate for Life, Care for the Community and Live Sustainably. It was of course John Wesley who said that “an ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge” and we can’t go too far wrong if the value of love remains central in our School. That said, as I write, our Year 11 and 13 pupils have an opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills as they sit the first public exams since 2019. I feel confident that they will achieve great things, having been expertly taught by our generous and dedicated teachers.
I am pleased to update you that, through the generosity of alumni and other philanthropic donations, I have been able to offer four more places to students to join our Sixth Form on transformational bursaries; these impressive young people will be joining us from Ukraine, Iraq and from deprived areas of London. Closer to home, we have a strong and growing partnership with St Mark’s School in Larkhall with whom we are working on this and other initiatives. We are hoping that through a successful 275 campaign we will secure donations to enable us to continue with this work, as we seek to offer all of our sixth formers as diverse and inspiring experience as we are able.
My sincere thanks to Kirsty Allen for chairing the Old Kingswoodian Executive with such good cheer and for overseeing the generous donations from the Association to provide a few nice-to-haves for our pupils. The new Association Café in the Creed Room looks terrific and has been met with the universal approval of our sixth formers. Michele Greene is as busy as ever as our Alumni and Community manager, keeping us all breathless in her wake.
With our 275th anniversary plans taking shape, I look forward to a host of opportunities to connect with alumni in the forthcoming year. With our new easy access alumni database, it is easier than ever for us to stay in touch and, if you haven’t already done so, please get yourself registered (https://community.kingswood. bath.sch.uk).
As challenging as the last two years may have been, my life has been made immeasurably more manageable through the rock-solid support and guidance of our long-serving and most excellent Mr Opie. It is impossible to overstate the contribution that Gordon and Jen Opie have made to Kingswood, during their combined 62 years of service, and I am enormously grateful that I have had Gordon at my side as Senior Deputy during my first two years as Headmaster. They have both earned a long and happy retirement and I wish them every blessing on behalf of every member of the Old Kingswoodian Association.
Please stay in touch and do come and visit us in Bath if the opportunity arises.
Andrew Gordon-Brown Headmaster and Principal of the Kingswood Foundation
CHAIRWOMAN'S WELCOME
Welcome to the Old Kingswoodians, The impact of the pandemic has, and continues, to have, a profound effect to ‘normality’ and not least to the way global communities have had to adapt, the Kingswood community is no exception.
Kirsty Allen
However, over this period we have seen many exciting changes at Kingswood, including welcoming our new Headmaster, Mr Andrew Gordon-Brown and with numerous exciting new prospects for the school as a whole. I was therefore very honoured to be asked to take over the role of Chair of the Old Kingswoodians from Chester Lewis and an opportunity that I was excited about and to continue to positively contribute to the school. allocate money for items such as supplying an (augmented reality) sandbox for the Geography department, contributed to the new Sixth Form ‘Association Café’, and provided funds for the brilliant groundsmen to enhance the memorial garden, to name but a few.
When reunions have been able to occur, it has been lovely to see so many faces wanting to come back to school and reconnect with old friends and teachers. I’m looking forward to future events to continue broadening/strengthening the Kingswood community after the pause in activities we experienced.
A new website has been launched as a platform for Old Kingswoodians to communicate with the Association/Alumni network and provide an opportunity for potential work experience, graduate schemes, or simply to connect with someone within a field of interest. Former pupils are also able to view upcoming events on the website. We are hoping that this initiative will be invaluable to grow and communicate with this group for years to come.
On another note, it is with great sadness that we are saying goodbye to Mr Gordon Opie as Senior Deputy Head and his wife Jenny. Gordon has been both a pupil and member of staff at Kingswood since 1990 and his support and contribution to the school and Association has been invaluable. We wish them both lots of happiness on their retirement in Cornwall and very much look forward to welcoming them back in future reunions.
Personally, I’m looking forward to continuing my role as Chair with enthusiasm and I would like to make special mention to Michele Greene, who plays a huge role in bringing everything together and who I could not do this role without as well as the other members of the committee. A huge thank you to you all.
I look forward to seeing you at a reunion or lunch soon.
Through the generous donations we have received, we have been fortunate to be able to utilise these funds for the school broadly. Through an interactive process with both pupils and staff, we have been able to
