End of Academic Year Update - December 2015

Dear Parents,

It is my pleasure to report on an excellent Michaelmas term that has absolutely flown by. The new joiners to the House, thirteen Lower Fourth formers, two Lower Sixth formers and two members of the tutor team, settled quickly and all enjoyed a fine term. They hopefully all now feel firmly established as fully-fledged members of the Walters community.

The Unison Song competition, a highlight of any year, saw Walters perform Take That’s ‘Shine’ in this year’s weather-themed event. The House had plenty of fun in preparing for the competition, with excellent leadership from the Upper Sixth formers, in particular from David Elphinston who conducted superbly on the day. The boys sang very well, with fine accompaniment from Jude Wynter, George Bingham and Dan Johnson. The Upper Sixth also performed some very interesting ‘moves’ as part of the performance, which are well worth a look on the School’s official youtube page; www.youtube.com/bromsgroveschool

We are blessed with really good leadership at the top of the House. In October, the boys were delighted to hear that Deputy Head of House Ben Davis had been selected to be a School Monitor. Ben joins Archie Parker and Joe Morrice as one of the School’s pupil leadership team, giving Walters as many Monitors as we’ve had in a single year group for many years. At the end of term, Sam Gilbert was made up as a new House Monitor, having demonstrated a really proactive approach around the House since September. Walters’ remaining House Monitor, David Elphinston, was also selected during the term as the School’s 1st XI Football captain for this season; we look forward to him leading the School team to some real successes in the Lent term. We welcomed Mr Hallows down to the House in early October; Head of House Joe Morrice showed him around the studies and the boys were very proud to welcome him to Walters.

As we broke up for half term, around half of the boys in the House stayed behind to kick back, eat and learn; the quiz and pizza were hugely enjoyed by all. Many thanks to the PA for supporting this event, and, as always, for so many other House awards and treats for the boys that they help to sponsor. The boys really appreciate the prizes and extras that the PA provide, whilst the House community certainly benefits from the fundraising events that the committee put on. Many thanks to those who give up their time to help our lads and our extended family, whether organising or attending a Walters event.

In inter-House sport this term, the eagerly anticipated House Rugby competitions were called off due to inclement weather, although we hope that they may be rearranged for some point in the near future. In Junior Basketball, the team drew with School House but lost narrowly to WG. ‘Coach’ Edward Aston would have made a big difference on the court had he not been injured, but nonetheless gave the boys lots of advice and encouragement. The team was: Jack Stokes, Jack Peplow, Jake Lowe, Kieran Valley, Tom Reynolds, Will Upton, Joe Newbon, James Moody, Will Pearson, Harry Thompson and Mitchell Wise. In Junior Badminton, again, a team of Will Pearson, Peter Olley, Jude Wynter, Harry Thompson, Billy Dunlop and Ben Fitzmaurice played hard, without getting through to the final.

In Senior Swimming, a great effort from the team saw Walters narrowly miss out on the trophy, despite some excellent efforts in the pool from Tristan Bland, Jack Harding, Ben Davis, Daniel Johnson, Daniel Stokes, Jacob Matthews, Cameron Baxter, Archie Parker, Archie Freer, Sam Fitzmaurice, Sam Morrice, Joe Morrice and Kieran Walker. Similar excellent efforts came from the Junior team of Tom Reynolds, Harry Thompson, Morgan Hammond, Joe Newbon, James Moody, Jack Stokes, Alex Waplington, Peter Olley, Will Pearson, Max Campbell and Jake Lowe.

In Junior debating, Kieran Brinn and Louis English spoke with wit and eloquence to propose the difficult motion ‘This House Would Lower the School Leaving Age to 14’. Although they did not make it through to the final, their points were well thought-out and delivered with style.

In the Fourth Form assembly at the end of term, Max Campbell received an award for one of the best ELA History coursework pieces of the term. The following boys were also commended for their efforts for the School Rugby teams this term: Billy Dunlop and Kieran Valley (U14D), Tom Reynolds (U14B), Tom Siller, Christian Parris and Will Hayward (U15C) and Peter Olley and Harry Thompson (U15A).

At the final House assembly of the term, ‘House Colours’ - ties that are awarded to those who have gained sufficient commendations for academic and non-academic efforts to School life, were presented to those who had earned them over the term. It was a genuine pleasure to award Junior ties to James Beattie, Max Campbell, Billy Dunlop, Jake Lowe, Joe Newbon, Tom Reynolds, Jack Stokes, Will Upton, Kieran Valley and Jude Wynter, and Senior ties to Sam Fitzmaurice, Callum Ross, Nathan Buckley, Sam Morrice and Ben Payne. Well done to all. Many other pupils are very close to gaining their colours and I am sure that continued efforts will see them rewarded next term.

The commitment and endeavour awards are given to people who have given of their best, set the right example and gained good grades and who have also helped out and got involved in House competition and events. These termly awards saw Tom Reynolds awarded the Junior Commitment cup, with David Elphinston gaining the Senior Commitment Award. Peter Olley was presented with the Endeavour cup. All three have enjoyed a good term in the classroom, on the sports fields and in the wider community – well done lads. The best effort grades in the House this term in each year group were as follows: Upper Sixth, David Elphinston; Lower Sixth, Michael Petrakas (best in House); Fifth Form, Nathan Boothroyd; Upper Fourth, Zachary Ralph and Josh Cunningham; Lower Fourth, Jude Wynter. Well done to all.

As well as working exceptionally hard on his academic studies, Jude also found time to make it through the regional rounds of the prestigious BBC Young Musician of the Year award. Although not selected for the final, his achievement marks him out as one of the top few young pianists in the country, whilst it is worth remembering that he was competing against others who were four or five years older than him. A remarkable achievement; we look forward to witnessing many others.

At the end of term, the House bade farewell to Mr Banwell, who had joined Walters as a tutor in September, but has decided to leave Bromsgrove to pursue another career. We thank him for his efforts during his brief stay with us and wish him all the best for the future. We are delighted to welcome Ms McWilliams into the House as his replacement from January.

Many thanks to all the House staff for their support for the boys in Walters throughout the term, and in particular to Mr Evans, who has had a fantastic first term since joining us in September. Thanks also, as always, to Lesley Gibbs, who has continued to look after us all, and to Jackie Humphries, who stood in for Lesley for a few weeks during absence this term.

We look forward to next term, when a highlight will doubtlessly be the Walters Ball, planned for Saturday 19th March, at Grafton Manor. One can purchase tickets by emailing waltersball@hotmail.com – many thanks to the PA Committee for all of their time and efforts in organising this.

With best wishes to you all for a very happy 2016,

D.G.Wilkins