From the Head's Desk

September 2008 saw the first intake of primary school age pupils arriving at St. Bees, School. Following the announcement that Harecroft Hall, a local preparatory school, was closing at the end of the summer term, a group of parents from Harecroft Hall approached the School asking if St. Bees would consider establishing a Junior Department to provide an education for children of Key Stage 2 age (8 -11 years old). There are now thirteen pupils on roll and the class is taken by a newly appointed Key Stage 2 specialist teacher, Miss Tori Bird. Very quickly the School community has become used to seeing crocodile lines of small children moving between their classroom and the Dining Room or the Sports Hall. Staff from the Senior School have introduced their subjects to this young class - History, Information Technology, Science, Spanish and Games are just a few that have become a regular part of the Junior Department’s curriculum. Others have helped to provide an after-school activity programme that has included such offerings as Choir, Art Club and Fly Fishing! Several members of the class also took part in this term’s Lower School Play, Arabian Nights. One of the highlights of the Christmas term was undoubtedly the afternoon the class spent with Mr. Richard Butler, the Senior School's Adventure Activities instructor, on the local fells. One of the consequences of this change is that St. Bees School is now registered with the DfCSF as an independent school for 8-18 year old pupils.

Another new development this academic year has been the establishment of a Golf Academy within the School. The aim of the Academy is to provide an additional dimension to the education offered by St. Bees. A new staff position has been created - Director of the Golf Academy, and Stuart Hemmings, a PGA Professional, has been appointed to be the first Director of the St. Bees School Golf Academy. Besides the 5307 yard golf course, with which many of you will be familiar, the facilities of the Academy include an indoor studio located above the School House yard. The studio has been kitted out with the latest computer technology to allow video analysis of golf swings and putting shots for example. Thirteen students have presently signed up for the Academy's Advanced Programme, which provides pupils with a structured path to ensure they develop and reach their potential in this sport.

Maintenance of all the School buildings continues to occupy much of the Bursar’s time. However, steady progress continues to be made on the schedule of works drawn up after a survey of the site was carried out by the School architect two years ago. The majority of the scaffolding that encased School House has been removed now that the repairs to the roof, chimneys, guttering and drain-pipes have been completed. School House has been declared watertight and the swimming pool roof has been next in line to receive attention. The glass in the roof has been replaced by more efficient double glazed units and once the pool has been relined, it is hoped that this important School facility will reopen in February. Finally the School’s Reception office was relocated over the summer holidays so that it is now adjacent to the main entrance to the Foundation Building and readily accessible for all visitors.

I had a busy first two weeks in November when I had the pleasure of attending two Branch Dinners and one Sunday lunch hosted by the Scottish, North-East and Yorkshire regions respectively. The Scottish Dinner hosted on Seil Island by Nick and Bette Hunter was particularly memorable. On the first Saturday in February, Mark Liao is coordinating a ‘get-together’ for OSBs based in London at a central Chinese restaurant and I was hoping that the Manchester evening which was held last time at the Revolution Bar would be repeated. The venue is available, so we just need an OSB resident in the Manchester area willing to coordinate the event as Mark is doing in London. Any volunteers or if you just want more information about these events, please do not hesitate to contact the OSB office in School on 01946 828093. If you ring Monday to Thursday before 2.30 p.m. during term time, the telephone will be answered by Pam Rumney the OSB administrator.

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year,

Yours etc

Philip Capes

The St. Beghian Society,
St. Bees School, St. Bees, Cumbria, CA27 0DS
Tel: 01946 828093
osb@st-bees-school.co.uk