Dear Parents and Guardians,
RE: FROM THE RECTOR’S DESK
Unusually, this letter is not coming from Peterhouse and is being written from somewhere over Central Africa as I fly to the United Kingdom to attend the annual HMC conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Peterhouse has, for many years, been a member of the HMC, though this will be the first time in my tenure as Rector that I have attended the conference. HMC consists of Heads from top independent schools in the United Kingdom, coupled with an international division, which hosts like-minded schools globally. The conference programme, which starts on Sunday 29 September, runs through until Wednesday 2 October, covering a range of topics, from AI in education, to ensuring future sustainability in independent schools. Whilst in the UK, I will also be attending two Petrean functions. I will, on arrival, be meeting for lunch with a group of Petreans who were, for the most part, leavers in the 1960s. With our Platinum Jubilee next year, the school will be networking with our broad Petrean community with a desire to bring that community closer to the school and to recognize the importance of Petreans worldwide in the future development of the school. Similarly, on my return from Northern Ireland, I will be attending the annual London Petrean Dinner at the Cavalry and Guards Club in central London. This formal function will see over 70 Petreans celebrating their ongoing connection to the school. I return to Peterhouse on 7 October.
It was with considerable delight that the school made two significant appointments this week. At Peterhouse Girls, Mrs Hough announced the appointment of her new Deputy Head in the wake of the announcement of Ms Nellie Nyeke having been appointed as Head of Lomagundi College. Our congratulations to Ms Nyeke on her appointment and we look forward to our ongoing relationship with her, albeit in a different capacity, as a member of CHISZ. In her place, Ms Miriam Shumba has been appointed as the new Deputy Head. Ms Shumba has extensive educational experience both nationally and internationally and we look forward to her joining the staff in January 2025. At the Boys’ School, Mr Ian Brooke has been appointed the new Housemaster of Grinham. He takes over from Mr Kevan Barbour who retires from this role. Mr Barbour and Mrs Barbour have both been long-time influences and mentors in Grinham and their contribution to the house, over many years, has been immense. I am pleased to say that both Mr and Mrs Barbour will continue to fulfil other roles in the school. Mr Brooke, a second generation Petrean and former member of Grinham House, will take over the reins of the House in January. Mr Brooke has taught both locally and internationally, experience which will be invaluable in his new role in Grinham.
As this letter arrives in your inbox, our pupils will be starting a weekend without normal sporting fixtures. Nevertheless, teams from the top boys’ water polo playing schools will be moving into Peterhouse for the Crusader Shield. As one of the oldest inter-schools sporting festivals in the country, it is with considerable pleasure that we can host this event in our new facilities. It will offer a fantastic weekend of competition, highlighting the very best in Zimbabwean Schools’ water polo.
Next week heralds the start of the 2024 October/November Cambridge examination cycle. A considerable amount of work has gone into ensuring that all our candidates have been given every chance at success. Whilst the examinations have started, we will run a “Summer School” which will provide a strongly supportive, supervised, and conducive environment for all candidates to consolidate their final examination preparations. Director of Academics, Heads of Department, and teaching staff have invested considerable energy into giving every pupil the best opportunity in achieving examination success this year. Obviously, the final stretch is very much pupil focused and to ensure that they do the work at achieving their examination goals. We wish every candidate all the very best in writing this year’s public examinations.
In closing, please note that the laundry, in an endeavour to ensure efficiency, has issued new laundry books to all pupils. This, in essence, is only one part of the equation as it is vitally important that all items of clothing are clearly marked so that they can be returned to their owner. We continue to battle with piles of unmarked clothing in lost property, items which, in many cases, are reported as “stolen”. Similarly, the Estates Department pick up a fair amount of clothing and property belonging to pupils which is left lying around the campus daily. As part of our campaign to teach responsibility, please can I ask parents to be more demanding on your children with respect to looking after their belongings?
With warm regards for the upcoming weekend,
Jon Trafford
Rector
