Dear Parents,
We often talk about The Beacon Values of Integrity, Respect, Courage, Well-Being and Achievement both in Assembly and in daily school life, and all were exemplified in abundance at today’s excellent Sports Day for boys in Year 3-8. My thanks to the Mr Robinson and the Games staff for putting on an epic day of sporting endeavour. Those Values define our boys in their time here, and it is immensely pleasing to hear they take these through to their later schooling. At the Prep School Heads’ Dinner at Harrow on Tuesday night, the Head, Alastair Land, awards a select number of prep schools with a bottle of Harrow Champagne if they had a predominant number of old boys in a certain area – most boys from a particular school in the 1st XV, Russell Group university offers etc. The top award though goes to the prep school whose old boys are to achieve more ‘Values Commendation’ Medals than any other – a recognition reserved for those boys across all year groups who exemplify Harrow’s school values which are broadly aligned with our own. That prep school, you will be delighted to know, was The Beacon; I proudly stepped forward to receive my bottle of champagne to sagacious and knowing applause from my prep school colleagues and Harrow staff. Parents may remember from my Speech Day address a few years ago that I never received any award from my own schooling, so you can imagine how chuffed I was to finally get a gong, even though it was the brilliant Beacon boys of recent history who had earned it for me. A Housemaster came up to me at the end and said “So pleased you got that – Beacon boys are always great boys.” He is, of course, absolutely right.
With a number of staff departures, happy pregnancies and changes in circumstances, we have the following staffing changes to announce for the new school year in the autumn.
Having joined us in 2017, our Head of Science Mrs Lynn Heath will be retiring at the end of this term. Her passion for the subject will be much missed by the school and she leaves behind one of the most impressively resourced departments I have seen in prep schools – we want for nothing in The Beacon’s Science Department and that is down to Lynn and her constant championing of the subject and wanting the best for our boys. We are fortunate to have a highly capable and ready-made successor in Mr Alex Horn who will relinquish his position of Head of Trinity to take on the leadership of the Department in September.
The Beacon’s dramatic performances define a boy’s experience at this school, and a large part of that is down to the skill, creativity, energy and good humour of Miss Bex Livermore who will be leaving us at the end of term to re-locate to Somerset. Bex is one of those colleagues that past pupils often ask after, and her legacy at the school will remain for a generation. Music teacher Mrs Alicja Knap has been with us for a short time but has had a profound influence and impact on the musicality of our very youngest boys. Having observed her weave her magic with Nursery this week, she will be a much missed talent but we are immensely proud of her Scholarship Award to study for her DPhil at Oxford in September – might even put her on the ‘Scholars’ Board’ in the Dining Room! We have appointed Mr Manley Gavich whose somewhat theatrical name is matched by his innate sense of enthusiasm and ability to engage with young people. At interview, he taught an outstanding observed lesson and I am sure he will have a strong impact on our Performing Arts provision next year.
Having trained here as a teacher, Miss Stephanie Beale will be leaving us to relocate with her family (her dad being my good friend Jonny Beale at Chesham Prep) to East Anglia. Stephanie is an outstanding and naturally gifted teacher and the boys in Year 2 have benefitted enormously from her calm demeanour and absolute commitment to their education and well-being. Also leaving us will be Mrs Lucy Brushwood-Smith who, having made a superb impression training with us this past year, has secured a teaching post at Charlotte House School. Mrs Gemma Watkins will also be leaving the job share in Reception though we maintain her excellent practice and warm, engaging personality in our Supply Bank going forward.
The spectrum of effectiveness of a Gap Student is traditionally a very wide one but Fraser Creighton and Will Curry (both Beacon alumni I might add) have been exceptional and contributed so much to the life of the school this year. Freddy Wright joins us as a Gap Student for 25/26 in September and is already known to us due to his work experience with the boys and staff over the course of the year.
In other internal moves, we look forward to welcoming Mrs Natalie Jones and Mrs Lisa Jackson back from maternity leave to their Beacon family in Years 4 and 2 respectively. Mr Ed Tenison shifts responsibilities to the new role of Assistant Head Co-Curricular, leaving his Assistant Head Upper School role to be filled by Mr Josh Porter who is excited to lead on the pastoral and educational experience in the round of our Year 7 and 8 boys. Miss Wendy Phillips will go on maternity leave after Half Term and the ever dependable and highly capable Mrs Ann Phipps will assume Wendy’s Deputy Head of Lower School role for the duration of the year. Currently teaching Maths to Years 5 and 6, Miss Charlotte Bassett will assume the Middle School Maths Co-ordinator role and Mr Mitch Mitcham and Mrs Erin Olhausen will bring their competitive spirt and enthusiasm for all things ‘House’ in their respective Heads of Trinity and Portland.
A few leavers, a few joiners, a bit of a restructure in certain areas, but essentially the same vibrant, invigorated Beacon Staff Community that typifies this school and promotes our Values that the boys embrace with their endless enthusiasm and energy. Half a term to go but looking forward to September already!
Have a great Half Term,
Nick Baker