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NEWSLETTER – 7 February 2025
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We have been delighted with the number of applications to our Sixth Form for next year from our Year 11 pupils. I am sure this was in part inspired by their Sixth Form taster day where the pupils got hands-on experience of life in the Sixth Form and a feel for the true value of the International Baccalaureate.
So many of our Stannites are so passionate about their time at Windermere and it was wonderful to have recent Stannite, Jon Harwood, speak to the pupils about his successful career in television. He is absolutely clear about how much his time in the Sixth Form helped him to pursue his career in television.
Leadership is one of the Round Square IDEALS and we are focusing on developing pupil leadership further, particularly at Sixth Form level. As we begin the process of selecting the new Senior Council, the current council members helped me deliver a training afternoon on leadership to Year 12. I was impressed with how well all the pupils listened to each other during the exercises, as well as with their desire to serve the school community. We will have a second session next week, focusing on values and styles of leadership.
We hope that by first learning about leadership, this will then encourage the pupils in Year 12 to think more clearly about what they can achieve as a young leaders and to put themselves forward to be of service.
I wish you a happy and restful weekend.
Kind regards,
Frank Thompson
Head of Windermere School
LATEST NEWS
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Monday 3 February – Performing Arts Week begins
Saturday 8 February – Performing Arts Competition & Showcase
Wednesday 12 February – NSPCC Number Day
Thursday 13 February – Year 8, 9 & 12 Onsite Parents Evening, 4:30pm – 7pm
Friday 14 February – Year 12 TOK trip, 10am – 4:05pm
Friday 14 February – Half Term begins, 5:30pm
Monday 24 February – Half Term Ends, 8:30am
STANNITE NEWS
Stannite Spotlight: Jon Harwood Returns to Windermere School
On Wednesday, 22 January, we were delighted to welcome back one of our esteemed Stannites, Jon Harwood, to Windermere School. Jon, who now enjoys a successful career in television, returned to speak to our Year 11 pupils as part of their Sixth Form taster day.
Jon’s own journey with Windermere began when he joined the Sixth Form. Drawn to the school for its International Baccalaureate (IB) programme and diverse range of subjects, Jon admits that, at the time, he wasn’t entirely sure of his future path. However, his experiences at Windermere and the breadth of opportunities offered by the IB helped him carve out his career and led him to where he is today.
During his visit, Jon spoke candidly to our Year 11 pupils, sharing insights into his own Sixth Form experience, including both the challenges and triumphs. His heartfelt advice and honest reflections resonated with the pupils, who appreciated the opportunity to ask him questions and learn from his journey.
As a passionate advocate for the IB, Jon encouraged our pupils to embrace its unique advantages and the countless pathways it can open. His story stands as a shining example of how Windermere School and the IB can inspire and equip pupils to achieve their dreams.
We are incredibly grateful to Jon for taking the time to visit and for sharing his wealth of experience and knowledge. His words left a lasting impression, and we hope his story inspires our pupils to dream big and embrace the opportunities ahead.
Immersing in the World of Obstacle Course Racing
Last week, I had the privilege of traveling to Milton Keynes with Megan Ellery, our Head of PE, to dive into the exciting and rapidly growing sport of Obstacle Course Racing (OCR). The day was an incredible learning experience, made even more special by spending it with two OCR experts: Stannite and GB OCR competitor Jonny Hunter, and Dave Peters, one of the UK’s leading OCR coaches.
We explored the intricacies of OCR, from training techniques to the sport’s potential for building resilience and teamwork. We even stepped into the training gym ourselves, putting our strength and agility to the test! While the challenges were tough, the laughter, camaraderie and inspiration made it a truly memorable day.
This introduction to OCR was just the beginning. Following our visit, we were thrilled to welcome Jonny to Windermere School, where he ran a series of dynamic workshops for our pupils and Stannites. These sessions gave participants hands-on experience with the fundamentals of OCR, encouraging them to push their limits and discover new strengths.
The workshops were met with great enthusiasm and energy, and we couldn’t be more excited about the potential OCR holds for our school community. This is more than just a sport—it’s an opportunity to develop confidence, resilience and teamwork, which align perfectly with the Windermere School ethos. A huge thank you to Jonny and Dave for their time, expertise and passion, which has truly inspired us all.
Here’s to the start of a fantastic OCR journey at Windermere School!
