“With a little help from my friends”

The Summer Term always brings the mixed feelings evoked by the arrival of the public examinations. All our Year 10s, Year 11s and Sixth Formers are heading into final preparations for their GCSE’s, AS and A Levels – I wish them every success and hope that all our students achieve their potential. For those that are leaving Abbey Gate College at the end of this term we wish them well in their future education and careers.

Last term finished on a very positive note with the exciting visit of Prince Charles to the village of Aldford where he met all our pupils and was presented with a bouquet by Eleanor Parker and Tiana Walton – a very exciting occasion for all the children and the staff too.  Our under 14 and under 16 football teams “did the double” and won their respective ISA League Competitions – a milestone achievement for the player and their coaches. Also out Year 7s performed superbly at the Chester Rotary Poetry Reading competition at Chester University with Abbey Gate College sweeping the board. Congratulations to Georgie Hook on winning the competition and well done to Rebecca Morris and Emma Morgan as runners up!  We were also treated to the agility and skill of performers aged 7 – 15 in an excellent Gymnastics Display last week – the first of what will be an annual event we hope!

This term at Aldford and in assemblies at the Senior School we have focussed upon the theme of friendship. Qualities such as loyalty, laughter, respect, trustfulness, kindness, consideration and supportive were suggested by the infant and junior children – they combined all of these to make a recipe for Friendship. Our outgoing Heads of College Lucy Francis and Alex Mathews also reflected on their fond memories and leaving Abbey Gate College and they mentioned a number of those same aspects.  We all do better with help and support from friends or teachers.  Ralph Waldo Emerson observed that, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.”  Schooldays should be a positive time for everyone whatever the challenge and friendship made her can last a lifetime.  I hope that we can all ensure that we support one another as friendship is indeed a valuable gift and an essential part of College life and experience.