It’s funny what people notice and don’t notice about your appearance. A common remark these past few days from the boys has been, “have you got a new car Mr Baker?” Indeed I have with the Jaguar coming to the end of its PCP agreement, it was collected over the holidays. I had a love hate relationship with that car, particularly after some initial rather hairy ‘range anxiety’ issues, but once I got the hang of this new energy source and the car’s ludicrously wide turning circle, it was considered fondly as a member of our extended family. Just a piece of metal maybe but more than a tinge of sadness when the guy came to pick it up, gave it the once over and then drove off way too fast down Berkhamsted High Street to its new home at British Car Auctions in Bedford. As an EV convert and conscious that both of my sons now drive, I have replaced the Jag with an electric Renault 5, a much smaller car but nimble, fun to drive and, importantly for my two boys, a lot of tech toys built into the dashboard. It might be annoying for an experienced, aged driver like me but the constant noises and alerts when going over the speed limit and getting too close to the car in front is absolutely fine if it trains and conditions my two as they embark on their driving careers.
An event aimed principally at Years 4 and 5 but all interested parents are invited to our Guide to Senior Schools evening at 6pm on Monday 18 May. As a change this year, we will be holding this event online (link HERE) which hopefully will make this more convenient and accessible for parents. We will go through the senior school application process – independent and grammar school – and outline what you should consider when forming an application strategy. There will also be ample opportunity to ask questions during and following the event. Our guest speaker this year is Alastair Chirnside, Warden of St Edward’s; someone I have known throughout my career initially as House Master of Walpole House at Eton, where he was the absolute number one first choice HM for prospective parents to that school. The fact that he has gone on to become one of the pre-eminent Heads on the circuit is no surprise to me at all – truly one of the good guys in the sector.
Nick Baker