The Chronicle - 2021 - St Dunstan's College

Page 4

WELCOME

from the Chair of Governors The Governing Body of St Dunstan’s Educational Foundation would like to take the opportunity to mark its sincere thanks to the whole community of St Dunstan’s for the grit, creativity and compassion shown over these last 12 months, as we have all navigated our way out of the pandemic and back into the on-site routine. There have been unparalleled challenges presented to staff, pupils and parents, but the extraordinary efforts that have been invested by our community have ensured that we not only got through it, but that we thrived. Particular mention must of course go to the most ambitious building project undertaken by the Foundation since 1888; to have delivered on this on time and to budget, within the context of a pandemic, is a remarkable achievement and was without doubt a risk worth taking. But my recognition and thanks is for far more than just buildings, it is for finding the strength of character as an organisation to respond so effectively to each and every challenge thrown its way; from the uncertainty of exams, to virtual and then hybrid learning, to bubbles and vaccinations, to the need for increased pastoral intervention and support. An enormous amount has been asked from so many. St Dunstan’s cannot afford to stand still. We stand at an extremely exciting point in our history. Unprecedented demand for places at the school, significantly improved facilities and exciting academic outcomes could all lead to complacency and self-satisfaction which we must avoid. It is with this in mind that at the end of this year the Board and the Executive team of the Foundation met to agree its next phase of strategy for the next 10 years, agreeing our educational, commercial and charitable objectives and desired outcomes, as well as the infrastructural and property masterplan that will underpin them. Hopefully you will be excited by the course on which we are setting. I have no doubt that the Headmaster and others will want to share the details of this with you across the next academic year and to draw upon your support in helping further forge the unique, forward-thinking and ambitious independent school that was in the minds of those founding governors in the late 19th Century.

4

S T D U N S TA N ’ S C O L L EG E

I must of course thank those governors who give so willingly and freely of their time in formulating and supporting the strategic goals of the charity through the various committees that structure our work. We welcomed two new governors to the board this year. Dr Andrew Cairns is currently a research fellow and lecturer in Materials Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, with particular interests in EDI, STEM and mental health support for students. Ms Rosie Meredith is a current parent at St Dunstan’s and comes with a wealth of experience in the field of philanthropic giving in educational settings. We are sure that these two additions will bring important additional skills complementing the rest of the Board as we set out on our next phase. The other notable change to the governing body is that after a number of years of service to the role of Safeguarding governor, Ms Victoria Alexander steps down and hands over this important baton to Ms Judy Clements. It has been particularly rewarding to see the return of various governor visits to the College in order to keep apprised of current risks and mitigations, to both support and challenge the executive team, and to ensure that governors remain rooted to the community they are positioned to provide stewardship for. The return of the annual St Dunstan’s Festival this year was very welcome; it was particularly moving to see the pupils able to perform in person again after such a protracted period of disruption. I look forward to the coming year and I am very grateful to the whole community of St Dunstan’s for their ongoing belief and trust in the College. Mr P Durgan Chair of Governors


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Articles inside

Salvete

7min
pages 170-173

Valete

14min
pages 164-169

Friends of St Dunstan’s

0
pages 160-161

Bursary update

2min
page 163

Then & Now – St Dunstan’s from the Air

1min
page 156

Welcome from the Chair

3min
page 154

Spotlight on Martin Preston

2min
page 155

Charity

0
page 151

Community Service

1min
page 150

Sustainability

2min
pages 152-153

Performing Arts Centre – list of Donors

0
page 149

Opening of our New Buildings

1min
page 148

Topping Out Ceremony

1min
pages 146-147

St Dunstan’s Festival

2min
pages 132-135

Anti-Bullying Week

1min
pages 122-123

Commemoration Day

1min
pages 130-131

Mental Health Awareness Week

2min
pages 120-121

LGBTQ+ Week

0
page 127

Black History Month

1min
page 119

International Week of Languages

0
page 118

Opening Minds Lectures

1min
pages 116-117

Albam Exorna Award

1min
page 112

Head of School’s statement

2min
page 107

Year 13 Symposium

2min
pages 110-111

Diploma Journeys

4min
pages 108-109

Head of Sixth Form’s statement

1min
page 106

Adventure Week

2min
pages 104-105

Adventurous Activities

2min
pages 102-103

Strength & Conditioning

1min
pages 96-97

DofE

2min
pages 100-101

Netball

3min
pages 92-93

CCF

2min
pages 98-99

Swimming

3min
pages 94-95

Football

2min
pages 90-91

Cricket

1min
pages 88-89

Hockey

2min
pages 86-87

Design Engineering Sport

1min
pages 80-81

Overview

5min
pages 82-83

Music

4min
pages 74-77

Rugby

2min
pages 84-85

Drama and Dance

2min
pages 72-73

Overview

3min
pages 68-71

Special Events

7min
pages 54-61

Year 6

1min
pages 52-53

Year 5

2min
pages 50-51

Year 4

1min
pages 48-49

Year 1

3min
pages 42-43

Year 3

2min
pages 46-47

Reception

1min
pages 40-41

Year 2

2min
pages 44-45

Nursery

2min
pages 38-39

Sport

12min
pages 28-37

Head of Junior School’s statement

1min
page 9

Headmaster’s Statement

9min
pages 5-8

Drama and Dance

2min
pages 22-23

Music

2min
pages 24-25

Welcome from the Chair of Governors

3min
page 4

Art and Design Technology

2min
pages 26-27

Overview

6min
pages 18-21
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