Head Girl & Head Boy Reflections

Anisha Gofton, Head Girl

I joined this school towards the end of Year 7 and realised that it was where I belonged very quickly. I started off very nervous about playing hockey for example, but decided to take a challenge and play in goal in Year 8 and have worked my way up into the first team this year, playing hockey to a standard I could have only dreamed of back then and with a group of talented, determined people I love and look up to, with a coach who has really shaped my whole Kingswood journey.

You can’t underestimate the impact of the staff here because they give so much of their time and energy into teaching us skills in and out of the classroom in order to make us better people. The Geography Department has been a second home through the A Level period, and they demonstrate how good people make the best role models. Not only the teachers though, but all the support staff also make this community what it is. From the beautiful grounds we take so often for granted, to the clean facilities, and the tasty cakes we are spoiled with for tea, these people make coming to school here a hundred times better.

I am so lucky to have been surrounded by all the amazing people in our year. I’m so proud of how we have bounced back from the challenges that we have been confronted with. Whether it’s the group of us that have swum every Friday morning before school since year seven or Jamie, Emily, Alex, and I in our roles of responsibility, we have made such strong bonds within our teams. This last week of school will no doubt consist of a lot of emotion because of all the millions of memories, which have made up who we are today. Thank you so much Kingswood for believing in me.

Jamie Wright, Head Boy

It’s been fantastic to see the Kingswood community return to its usual action packed, nonstop schedule, especially for our final year. Being able to mix years, spending time together in our respective houses, and having a full range of sports fixtures have been just a few of the things that we have all enjoyed getting back to normal. Everyone that I have spoken to has said that this has been a great and really enjoyable year.

A few highlights have been the showcasing of the vast musical and dramatic talent the school has had to offer, my favourite being Antigone. There has also been House Music, House Cross Country, House Entertainment and of course sports day, which I’m very glad to say Upper and School won (obviously).

Kingswood is going to feel very different next year, with both the Opies and the Hollywells leaving, as well as other great teachers. Everyone would agree with me that they have all made such a difference to so many people’s lives in so many different ways, and at whatever stage of school they are in. They certainly received a fitting farewell from the school in Final Assembly, with many standing ovations, and I do hope they appreciate the positive impact they have had on so many.

A huge thank you must be said to the Heads of Houses for their tireless efforts around their houses, and the rest of the PR who have helped so much in the wider school with all the behind the scenes work this year. It’s been so great to work with them all this year, and I couldn’t have done any of it without Anisha. She really has been such a strong and confident Head Girl – the perfect person for this role. I am so thankful to have had such a caring person and a close friend, who has always gone above and beyond in everything she does, to work with.

And finally, thank you to all the leavers for making our final year such a great one, and for all the memories along the way. I have enjoyed it immensely. Good luck to all for next year, wherever the world takes you. And to those still at school, as I said in my final speech – get stuck in to all there is to do here. You will cherish those memories for years to come.

Up the wood.

...get stuck in to all there is to do here.

• HEAD BOY

Jamie Wright

• HEAD GIRL

Anisha Gofton

• DEPUTY HEAD BOY

Alex Kellagher

• DEPUTY HEAD GIRL

Emily Ardus

• PR: Grace Ardus Rose Bates Annie Davis Angus Duncan Rory Ferguson Oliver Lechmere Olivia Taylor Robert Wilson