Thursday 25 September 2025
Dear Parents and Guardians,
RE: FROM THE RECTOR’S DESK
The examination season is upon us, and as we go into this weekend’s break the first of the Cambridge examinations
will have been written. Over the course of the last three weeks the focus has been on examination preparation,
during which time a considerable amount of revision work has been done. Adjustments to our academic routine at
the Boys’ School have further reinforced our intention of providing a solid examination platform for all our
Cambridge candidates. This year’s examination cycle runs through to 13 November with AS Chemistry being the
last paper. The A Level examinations end on 10 November followed by the IGCSE examinations on 12 November.
Please note some important changes to the school calendar. On account of the Bishop’s very congested diary the
2025 Confirmation Service will now take place at 10h30 on Tuesday 21 October. In another change the 2025
PHB Leavers’ Service is at 09h00 on Sunday 2 November and not on Saturday as published.
During the course of the Michaelmas holiday there were a good number of sporting and cultural tours and events.
The holiday kicked off with the school hosting both the Golden Girls and Super 12 Hockey Festivals. Both
tournaments bring together the best of schools’ hockey in Zimbabwe. We were treated to some outstanding hockey.
We are grateful to all the teams for travelling to Marondera and providing the Country Districts with some exciting
and competitive hockey. Whilst on the topic of hockey, the lights for the Astro turf have arrived and they will be
installed in the coming week. This will add another dimension to our hockey facilities.
Our cricketers were also hard at work and returned, mid-holiday, to participate in the St George’s T20 Festival. In
the run up to the festival we enjoyed considerable success. The festival provided some excellent competition which
offered the team an opportunity to hone their skills in preparation for the Michaelmas Term fixtures. Whilst on the
cricket front, we extend a very warm welcome to Sean Ervine who joins our Sports Department as the Peterhouse
Group High Performance Cricket Coach. Sean joins the school from the UK where he oversaw the Hampshire
Junior Cricket Academy; he will be well known to us for his achievements as a Zimbabwean international cricketer.
The tennis players headed south for the annual Sun City Tennis Festival where they played alongside some strong
South African Schools. While younger than their opponents, in many cases, the teams acquitted themselves well
and returned to Zimbabwe having gained much from their tour. On an individual basis a number of our pupils have
done particularly well in international competitions. Jason Mulder gained a fourth place in the singles and mixed
doubles rowing competition at the All Africa Schools Games in Algeria. Jude Moss, Connor Grist, and Shingai
Shumba represented Zimbabwe at the Zone 4 Swimming Championships in Eswatini, Jude returning with a clutch
of medals, including 3 golds.
In the cultural space, our debaters headed to Zanzibar for the Tanzanian International Debating Championships.
Taremekedzwa Zihumo and Adrian Mudekunye were judged to be the second-best Junior Team of the Tournament
and Tinashe Lewanika came 2nd in the Senior Public Speaking category.
Further to the recent introduction of our Digital Policy, Emma Sadleir hosted, for school management, an online
workshop highlighting the measures needed to reinforce controls in school digital spaces. There can be little doubt
that our new policy is very much aligned to “best practice”. In essence, her most recent message centred on four
basic principles of digital management namely:
- No Smart phones in Primary Schools, ideally not before 16.
- No Social media access before the age of 16
- Schools should become phone free.
- Reduced phone access reinforces a better learning environment.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the whole Peterhouse community for embracing our new policy and
hope that we will start realizing the anticipated positive outcomes.
During the course of the last week, the school took its first major steps in developing energy sustainability. The first
large solar array which feeds into Peterhouse Boys was connected to our transmission system. This significant
investment will add much to the school’s desire to develop power self-reliance. The Peterhouse Girls system was
also switched on this week. The solar arrays which serve the workshops, Springvale House, housing, and our water
supplies, will all be completed within the next fortnight.
Many of you will have seen, in recent months, work taking place in the Chapel. A number of the side windows
have been removed and boarded up. This has been in preparation for the delivery of new stained-glass windows
from France. This project is the culmination of a project started in 2005 with the instillation of the Jubilee Window.
The first four of the side-window stained-glass arrived this week. Work on the installation will commence next
week. Over the course of the next year, all 12 side windows will be installed. Made in France, the Herve Loire
designed windows will reflect the life of Christ, St Peter, and the history and values of the school in our unique
place in Zimbabwe.
Additionally, during the holiday, the school’s celebration of its 70th Jubilee, continued in the United Kingdom.
Hosted in Oxford, Petreans gathered for a number of functions which included an update on the school from the
Rector, a full Evensong in Christ Church Cathedral, followed by a formal Dinner in the Great Hall of Christ
Church. Peter Godwin, award winning author and journalist. was the Guest Speaker. The weekend’s celebration
closed off with a cricket match between The Petreans and Old Falconians at Oxford Cricket Club. I am pleased to
report the Petreans won this game. This event brought generations of Petreans together from around the world in a
wonderful celebration of the school’s history. Special thanks go to Chris Paterson (Governor) and The UK Petrean
Branch for their contribution to the success of the weekend.
In closing, we wish all our public examination candidates every success in their upcoming academic endeavours.
With warm regards,
Jon Trafford
Rector