Speech Day

Mr Chairman, Mr Fraser, Ladies and Gentlemen and members of the School, in 1903 the Governors timed Speech Day so skilfully as to prevent the school from entering candidates in the Higher Certificate examination. I have to apologise to this year's external examination candidates for failing to resurrect such an interesting tradition this year. On a day when the gardens and grounds look so splendid and are a real credit to the dedicated team which looks after them it is particularly apt to quote Pope John XXIII, speaking ofhis mission, said"I am not here to guard a museum but rather to cultivate a garden". His late Holiness was, perhaps, being a little hard on museums, which can be lively, exciting institutions, but the wisdom ofhis metaphor is contained within the idea that a Garden is a living and ever-changing place: a skilful gardener will show instinctive sympathy forthe existing contours ofthe terrain and ofthe character ofthe soil, but will not be dissuaded from innovation or rejuvenation as they are both are necessary processes. Vision, when supported by sheer hard work, can transform a garden, as can neglect. We, the current guardians of Sutton Valence School, must see ourselves as gardeners rather than curators and be prepared to work hard in orderto achieve ourvision ofthe future whilst respecting the strengths ofourtradition and heritage. Indeed, this has been a memorable year in the history of Sutton Valence School for our territory has been extended. On the first of September, 1995 Underhill became the Junior School to Sutton Valence and, this new structure offers us the opportunity to build a dynamic and innovative programme of education for children between the ages of three and eighteen. Links between the school's two sites are evolving. Much remains to be done if we are to realise our ambition ofa school which is proud ofits tradition and history yet is sufficiently flexible to adapt to the challenges ofa rapidly-changing world, a place which can foster the pursuit of academic excellence at the same time as providing cultural breadth, an environment which welcomes diversity and promotes the Christian values of consideration for our friends, our neighbours and our environment: we have, however, made a beginning, and all elements ofthe combined community will continue to work to secure this ambition. It is particularly fitting to welcome Mr Fraser to be our guest today for the history of the school demonstrates that the world of commerce played a large part in determining the character of our school. For well over 300 years the Clothworkers' Company administered the school of Sutton Valence, only surrendering this function in 1910: there was, of course, no drive towards vocational initiatives within the academic curriculum in those days as the philosophical value of education for its own sake was universally prized, even by the entrepreneurs ofthe City of London! It is fitting that in this momentous year in the school's history we will, with the aid ofa generous grant from the Clothworkers' Company, be celebrating the Guild's contribution by restoring the two courtyards which abut the Almshouse building. The retiring Chairman ofthe United Westminster Schools' Foundation, Peter Piper, worked extraordinarily hard on our halfin a characteristically selfeffacing fashion, to secure this grant and we are grateful to him. We are also looking to build more practical contemporary bridges with local commerce and industry. The programme ofwork experience is an established feature ofthe school year and allows young people the opportunity to sample the atmosphere within a broad range of local businesses. This year, for the first time, the school has, in partnership with one ofthe clearing banks, enjoyed having its own school bank which has been run on professional lines by members ofthe Sixth Form. In conjunction with the Old Suttonians' Association, we are seeking to encourage young Suttonians to talk to their older counterparts who are practising in a field of common interest. We are also seeking to make a place within the curriculum forthe teaching of skills and leadership qualities necessary forsuccess in business. It is a prized result ofthe size ofthe school that young people can maintain quite striking breadths in theirportfolios of activities and interests: this leads to a calm confidence and self-beliefwhich must be major strengths when facing a world in which traditional paths are closing and young people should expect to change careers a number of times during their working lives. The experienceofleading an expedition, ofparticipating in a dramatic performance,ofcontributingto a musical concert: allofthese are desirable in pure educational terms but also valuable and valid exercises in promoting sense of worth and clear communication skills. They are the common ground between education and industry. We have also to recognise the increasing pressures upon both pupils at school and those

fortunate to be in work in the community at large. The predictions of twenty years ago that the "new technology" would lead to lighter workloads and more leisure time for all have not come to pass and, indeed, Information Technology and mobile phones can all too often lead to the stresses ofthe workplace following through to affect life athome. Ourcontinuing programme of investment in IT aims to enable young people to make the technology work for them and to take advantage ofthe tremendous possibilities on offer. Some ofthe work you will have seen today demonstrates how pupils can now produce documents once the preserve ofpublishing firms and well-established authors. When considering the nation's interests it is vital to remember that we have with us as members ofthe Suttonian community children from overtwenty different countries: they have chosen to invest in BritainthroughjoiningaBritishschool. Formanyof them it is a brave step: far away from their families, they are studying in their second language. It is not j ustthe appeal ofEnglish as the world's predominant language of business which attracts them: it is the balanced programme offered by the British independent sector and a respect for the quality ofboth teaching and course content at `A' level. They leave school possessing an inherent fondness for this country and a knowledge of the way in which we do things. They bring with them valuable experience of othercountries andcultures and they enrich us: those of us who have enjoyed watching Magdalena Wieckiewicz act or Christoph Lindenschmidtjuggle, Mihoko Igawa play the piano or seen the marvellouspaintingofNinaTalimonovawouldvouch for the quality oftheir contribution to community life. The Governors' policy is that a maximum of 15% of the School's population can come from overseas and, thus, the culture ofthe school can be described as British with acosmopolitan dash. Louis MacNeice observed that the `World is crazier and more of it than we think, incorrigibly plural' These young people remind us of the excitement offered by intemational partnership, the healthy intoxication of the drunkenness ofthings being various'. (I do hope that the global respect for the British system and for the opportunities for specialised learning offered at Advanced Level will be borne in mind when reforms to the Sixth Form curriculum are considered by Parliament. Britain is a market leader in this field). The heritage of Sutton Valence is an extremely rich and interesting one. Throughout the year, several initiatives have been undertaken in order to recognise this aspect ofthe school's life: I do hope that earlier this morning you took the opportunity to see magnificent new classrooms which now house the History Department. These are contained within the very oldest buildings on the school site, the Elizabethan Almshouses which formed a part ofthe original charitable foundation endowed by William Lambe. Similarly, the Victorian Lambe's building, which stands on the site of the original Elizabethan construction, is gradually being opened up forteaching and other educational purposes. The school is, therefore, movingto be closerto the village community, both physically and, it is to be hoped, socially. William Lambe was very much a local man and, earlier this year, we took the opportunity of celebrating his life through re-creating a Tudor Mass in the local parish church. We hope that this will become a regular feature of the school's annual calendar. We are, then, strengthening our appreciation ofthe past whilst pursuing innovation. The past year has been another exciting and successful one for the school. Academic standards have continued to rise. On the sports front, this term I have already presented cricket bats to two young cricketers, Matthew Day and Richard Bradstock, who have scored maiden centuries for school teams. Indeed Matthew's achievement is all the more remarkable for, as a Fourth Former and a 15 year old, he scored his hundred in a 1st X1 match. Equally worthy of praise was George Horton's decision, having scored 90, to chance his arm for the good of the side: he lost his wicket, and missed his century, but he demonstrated the fine spirit ofthis year's First Eleven. All in all, the boys' sports results have improved considerably over the disappointments suffered last year: the benefits of team work and enthusiastic and committed coaching have been obvious. The impact ofPaul Collins' contribution to the preparation of the 1st XV has mirrored that of Vernon Sirananayake on the preparation of Suttonian cricketers: we are importing know-how and commitment from around the globe in order to strengthen sport here. The girls, however, continue to lead the way and we are in danger offalling into complacency and expecting convincing wins against larger schools as the norm. In a spirit of equality, it is good to note that two of our sports scholars, Catherine Birch and Tom Sisley, have scored hat-tricks whilst representing Kent at hockey. The cultural life of the school continues to flourish: the Art Department has produced some

work of quite astonishing maturity and talent whilst the school's musicians have performed a wide repertoire and achieved pleasing standards in a number of memorable concerts. It is always invidious to isolate individual performances but those ofus present at the Maidstone Young Musician of the Year concert will long remember the performances of Olivia Piper and Jonathan Cowell. The Chapel choir have just finished recording a CD and it was heartening to hear the comments ofthe sound engineers that elements of the choir were the best they had encountered from a schools group. Community Service has continued to push young people to look outside the school and to understand people of different backgrounds and problems. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme has attracted growing interest and several pupils are attempting to win the Gold Award. The CCF have continued to excel and, already this term, have achieved some remarkable placings in competitions. Drama at Sutton Valence has also continued to offer a rich diversity of entertainment. The most recent production stands as an excellent example of all that is best about the school: the Summer Review harnessed the creativity of members of staff and the parent body, depended upon the hard work and self-discipline of members of the school who performed the duties of Stage Manager, Lighting Director and Caterers and gave forty pupils the opportunity to perform material ranging from Europides to Richmal Crompton. It was an evening of impressive variety and equally impressive talent: it was genuinely heartening to see young people rising to the challenges and enjoyments of performance. All of these activities promote involvement, activity and self-confidence through building team work and a sense of community: these qualities provide a healthy counterbalance to the materialistic values urged by a world where all too often `power and greed and corruptible seed seems to be all that there is'. I very much hope that current members ofthe school will reflect upon the long and fulfilling life ofRaymond Wickham, OS and former Governor ofthe school and President of the Old Suttonians Association who, sadly, died earlier this year in his ninety-fifth year. A wonderful man, he tookalively interest in the school and its pupils, ringing regularly tokeep in touch. The school's grounds and gardens were his particular love: he leaves us Wickham's Walk as a physical reminderofhis long and unselfish contribution through service. We will be saying goodbye to some important members of our community at the end of this academic year. Peter Grafton has retired as a Governor, having been a thoughtful and supportive Chairman for many years. Luckily for us he will continue to be involved with the school as President ofthe Old Suttonians Association. Joan Norton has been working at the school for over twenty years: as school secretary she has performed a bewildering variety oftasks with efficiency, equanimity and strong common sense. I am glad to report that she is not lost to us altogether but will, continue to work on a parttime basis with us. Dr Ian Gray arrived at Sutton Valence three years ago and quickly impressed all of us with his enthusiasm for, and knowledge of his subject. He is a first-rate teacher but has become much more also. The boys in Westminster House will testify to his own generosity with his time: he has shown a genuine interest in pupils' welfare and has kindled a love of science in the hearts of many. He faces a very bright future in the teaching profession and we wish him every success. Julian Bell has served three years as Head of English and has achieved remarkable academic results. He, too, demonstrates, wholehearted love for his subject and has built up a strong, co-operative spirit within the English Department. Perhaps his strongest achievement has been the encouragement of creative writing in the sixth form: giving his students the opportunity to work with professional writers has led them to compose quite astounding works. He has also spearheaded the Creative Arts Committee and has been largely responsible for the success ofthe Arts Newsletter. He fulfils along-term ambition in returning to London and lam sure that his new department will prosper under his leadership. Caroline Midwood has been called away by her husband's re-location to the United States. She will be much missed: a respected teacher of mathematics, she has also made a major contribution to many facets of school life. She has been a quite outstanding Housemistress, first ofCornwallis and, subsequently, ofValence, the largest House in the school. She has borne her heavy workload whilst maintaining a valuable sense of humour. She has also been a fund of good advice and a champion of the rights of girls and women at Sutton Valence. She hopes to return to us before too long and we share that hope. It is difficult to find words to encapsulate the massive contribution to the life ofthe school made by Dr Sabine over the past sixteen years. Appointed as Head of Science, he soon established himself as an extremely talented teacher whose natural skills are

always buttressed by efficiency and high professionalism. He has been an inspiring I st XV coach and a highly-valued officer in the CCF. Nine years ago he was promoted to become Deputy Headmaster: this appointment has proved to be a brilliant success. His knowledge ofthe school is encyclopaedic and his administration ofa complex organisation calm, clear and well-ordered. He has taken responsibility for disciplinary matters and has worked tirelessly to promote high standards ofpersonal and professional behaviour. Above all, he is a community man who has always been ready to plunge his energies into the task in hand, whether it be the formulation of longterm policy or acting as Quizmaster in a Wine and Wisdom evening. His new post will allow him to return to his first love, teaching Chemistry, and to leave the stresses and strains of administration behind. We shall miss him and wish him and Wendy every possible success and happiness forthe future. Historians and ecclesiastics present will recognise the problem I encountered when searching for the opening quotation by Pope John XXIII - there have, in fact, been two Popes of that title and number. The first, Edward Gibbon tells us, was arrested and `brought back a prisoner: the most scandalous charges were suppressed'; the vicar of Christ was merely accused of piracy, murder, rape, sodomy and incest. He pleaded guilty and, after having been declared that most exotic of creatures, an Anti-pope and enduring a short imprisonment, reemerged as a Cardinal. Perhaps the current debate upon standards in public life is not so novel. It is, perhaps, with some relief that I turn back to the genuine John XXIII, a man who sought regeneration, reconciliation and tolerance without diluting his strong personal faith. Its rich history and fascinating archives notwithstanding, Sutton Valence School is not a museum. It is a place full ofvitality, creativity and potential. It is not Eden: it is, however, a garden of fascinating possibilities and those ofus charged with its care are looking forward to the next phase of the school's history with optimism.