Dear Parents,
A super moment in my Study yesterday as I handed out the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate and Common Entrance certificates to our Year 8 leavers. Even though the common perception of Year 8 boys might be that they are ‘too cool for school’ and 13 going on 18, there was more than a hint of emotion from many in this group, some of which have been with us since Reception. They are ready to go to senior school, their blazers around their lower arms are testimony to that, but their fondness and attachment to this school is clear; they will always be considered Beacon boys and their memories will last a lifetime.
Our exit this year is, as last year and the countless years before that, very typical for The Beacon. Great to see my alma mater, Dr Challoner’s, top the leaderboard for what I believe has perennially been the case since the 1970s. Grammar exit will always be strong from this school; not only do the boys perform very well at the 11+ but this year we supported eight boys who missed out on the qualifying score of 121 and secured a place for all of them through Selection Review. I am, however, more proud that we have retained the number and variety of schools that we feed. In total, there are 25 senior school destinations this year: grammar, comprehensive, independent, boarding, single sex, co-educational – all types of school are here, even an international tennis academy; well done and thank you to Vega for bringing an international flavour to our exit schools list this year! The Beacon is not a school that channels boys into any particular destination; our aim is merely to put as many options on the table as possible, and help parents and boys along what can often be seen to be a complex admissions journey.
Well done, boys – very proud of our 2025 exit group. As many of those before you have done, enjoy your senior schools and fly the flag for The Beacon and our reputation as being the very best at preparing young people in the fullest sense, for life at the next stage of their education and beyond.
Have a good weekend,
Nick Baker