Baker’s Beacon Blog – Week 10

Dear Parents

This time last year the football World Cup had just begun and just as we were getting excited for that tournament back then, we are similarly eagerly awaiting this Sunday, when our U11s take part in the National IAPS Finals in Millfield.  Tournament football is tough and looking at the list of schools who have made the finals, it reads like a ‘who’s who’ of the very best footballing schools in the country. We have a tricky group with Chigwell, Repton, Royal Russell and Downsend but none of the groups are easy and I am sure my colleagues in those schools are disappointed and fearful to see our name included in their groups – no-one wants to play The Beacon in the early stages of any sporting competition.  I have an early start and a long journey down on Sunday morning but I have a new Beacon branded coat to wear and I’m feeling positive for what promises to be a great day of prep school sporting drama.  Follow me on Instagram @thebeacon_head for some retro 1980s teletext style updates throughout the day…

A colleague said to me on Tuesday that it felt like The Beacon was putting on a wedding, such was the extensive planning, industry and excitement that has gone into the Year 6 performances of ‘Peter Pan Jr’ this week.  I know what they meant; the atmosphere across the site has been tangible and, just to add to the sense of occasion, my wife Brigid and mum Heather are coming along to see the boys in action – so no pressure 6B and 6G: Headmaster, Headmaster’s Wife and Headmaster’s Mother all in attendance tonight!  I have been assured it is a remarkable show from all who have seen the first two performances on Wednesday and Thursday and the three of us can’t wait to see it and tomorrow’s final performance by 6R and 6Y – a triumph for Director Bex Livermore and her Beacon Performing Arts Team of colleagues, parents, boys and friends of the school – if there was a production competition for prep schools, we would win the title convincingly, every year.

Have a good weekend

Nick Baker

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