Here is link to the full graduation speech by Roger Federer which I played in assemblies this week on the theme of ‘perseverance’. home.dartmouth.edu/news/2024/06...

Congratulations to our wonderful students and extra-ordinarily dedicated staff who make K.E.S. such a special place. Accolades are never the point, but I hope that all members of our community will feel a sense of pride in this recognition of what we do and what we aspire to achieve.

We are delighted to announce that in this weekend’s Sunday Times, K.E.S. will be named State School of the Year for the West Midlands, and as our students topped the rankings for A Level and GCSEs, we can also celebrate being named regional winners of the School of the Year for Academic Excellence.

So did we! Thank you for taking us there and huge congratulations to you all for such a brilliant performance.

On a bitterly cold night (I couldn’t feel my hands in my gloves), our netballers put on a brilliant display to finish runners-up in the county-championship for the second consecutive year. They once again progress to the regional finals in the New Year. Very proud.

Challenging conditions for the home games with Pate’s GS saw one win and loss for the Under 15s and 2nd XV, and a hard-fought victory for the 1st XV.

Glorious morning to conclude the week.

I enjoyed the best seat in the house refereeing the Under 12s vs Aylesbury GS today. Two well-matched teams with only one score separating them.

That was outstanding!

Huge thanks to SportKES, who reported at their AGM last night that a fantastic £22,887 was raised last year. They were also informed about the progress of the next big project they have funded, which will begin imminently. Watch this space…

Today we remember the 84 members of this School who died in the two great wars of the 20th Century.

A record 122 applications for Oxford and Cambridge colleges, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science have been processed by the early entry deadline. Thank you to all of my colleagues who have been involved in this significant undertaking.

Three wins and a hard-fought draw for the 1st XV at Manor Road this morning. As usual, fixtures played in the right spirit with Bishop Vesey’s.

A battling performance in difficult conditions by our young 1st XV today.

Thank you to FoKES and Mr Temple for an entertaining evening. A great turn-out too!

Congratulations and good luck to OE Sam Erskine (KES 2016-2023) on being appointed as Exeter University 1st XV Captain.

Thank you to our Guest of Honour Old Edwardian and Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse for a superb Speech Day address.

Thank you to SportKES for organising the hugely entertaining ‘Evening with Martin Bayfield’. What a great way to fund raise!

An enjoyable triangular fixture with KES Birmingham and Bablake for the U13 and U14 teams this morning. Good to see Mr Nobes’ magic bringing the pitches back to life too!

Thank you to all of the Old Edwardian rowers who returned for tonight’s Benefactors Regatta.

And unbelievably close race to complete the regatta was won by a canvas (a very small amount) by the @kesoea.bsky.social to level the score 4-4, resulting in a draw and therefore sealing an overall OEs victory, 4-3, after an unprecedented 4 draws across the series.

Beautiful morning in Stratford-upon-Avon

After two excellent staff training days and today’s induction days for Years 7 & 12, we’re ready to go!

Achieving over 90% of grades at 9 to 7 is quite an accomplishment and it is particularly pleasing for this year group who were so impacted by Covid, having to transition from primary school to Year 7 during the various restrictions. Congratulations!

Se casser une jambe @edwardsboys.bsky.social

‘Seijaku’, from Japanese, describes tranquillity in the midst of chaos; a stillness and calm. Have a good break everyone.

Thank you to the stalwarts of FoKES and those who answered the call for new committee members. Last night’s AGM confirmed a £31k donation to pay for the new computers in Area 51. Thank you!

Puddings and Performance was a fulfilling evening in more ways than one.

The sun shone on bustling Open Morning. Thank you all of our staff, student volunteers and the members of FoKES who kept our visitors fed and watered.

What a final hurrah for our musician Leavers! A concert of the highest quality of which everyone can be incredibly proud.

We were blessed with glorious weather as we said adieu and thank you to a fantastic year group and their parents at last night’s Leavers’ Reception

Good to see some familiar Old Edwardians busking in Stratford to raise money for their Edinburgh Fringe Festival performances this summer. #StringCheeseTheatre

Bravo!

The audience is ready too! Break a leg.

It’s a remarkable feat for every candidate to achieve a Distinction. Well done everyone (including Mrs Nightingale and Mr Mills)

Congratulations to Spender - our 2025 House Athletics Champions!

It really was superb. Good luck to Year 12 today.

My strongest XI (on paper) in the history of fixture lived up to the hype with a hard-fought victory to retain the Geoff Calcott Memorial Cup. Thanks to Vinupa (my Year 10 selection), the OEs, parents, staff, former staff and fellow Head who played for my team.

As always, was lovely to witness the palpable excitement of our newest Edwardians at the New Year 7 Parents Evening last night.

Dr Ben Spencer MP gives the opening address at the Grammar School Heads Association (GSHA) Conference 2025 at Skinners Hall.

Outreach in our local community.

Congratulations to Maisie Halstead in Year 12 who has achieved a string of remarkable golfing successes in recent weeks. She is the Midlands Schools Girls Champion (qualifying for the National Final), Warwickshire Ladies County Champion and has qualified for the European Final of the Faldo Series.

At the Gloucester Rugby end of season awards dinner and bumped into this man who, I claimed in Chapel, won the 2003 Rugby World Cup for England (and it’s not Jonny Wilkinson!)

Congratulations Laura and Sam!

Do I or don’t I? Year 7 Community Day 2025

Reception at Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall following this morning’s Civic Service at Holy Trinity Church.

It was a huge honour to be invited to the Civic Dinner and be asked to propose a toast to Dani Hunter, our Development Officer, who yesterday became the 480th Mayor Stratford-upon Avon.

Musical talents were in full flow. Thanks to all who entertained us.

Wishing our brilliant Year 13 a wonderful final day and best of luck in the A level examinations.