Dear Parents and Guardians,
RE: FROM THE RECTOR’S DESK
The end of term has rushed up and is now upon us. It has been a long and demanding term, but I am sure, once the dust has settled, there will be many positives to reflect upon. In all spheres of school life, we have been able to push boundaries, to excel and to seek ways in which we can broaden horizons. In the classroom, the mid-year examinations have come and gone, and the term end reports will have as many accolades as there will be suggestions where academic consolidation can be effected. On the sports fields our teams have been highly competitive and, both at an individual and team level, there have been some notable successes. The PHG 1st XI hockey enjoyed another very good run at Golden Girls, only to lose out in the final to Chisipite by a single goal. Equally, the basketball and soccer teams have had good seasons. On the boys’ side, all our winter sports have enjoyed success with the 1st XI hockey playing some of their best games in the recent Super 12 competition. The rugby season ended on a high with a cliff hanger of a game against St George’s, while soccer’s season ends this week with the CHISZ play offs in Kwekwe. At Springvale House, this last weekend was a real festival of sport with both the interprovincial hockey and rugby (Owen Davies) Zimbabwe trials taking place. This, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the “re-opening” of Springvale House as part of the Peterhouse Group in 1984.
Culturally, the highlight of the term was the school drama production, “This Murder was Staged”. This was the culmination of four months of hard work. A witty, thought-provoking production, it certainly captured the audience’s imagination and had them guessing throughout as to who had committed the crime. There were some outstanding performances on stage, ably supported by a very professional backstage crew. It is a great pity that distance often prevents larger audiences from attending as, had it been staged closer to home, I am certain many parents would have enjoyed a very good evening of theatre.
Looking ahead, and having finalised the calendar for the Michaelmas Term, the most dominant feature of the term is the start of the October/November Cambridge Examinations cycle. The first examinations start in the last week of September, which allows for about four weeks of formal lesson time. In October, once the examinations have started, the school will, as a first, be operating a “Summer School”. This two week period will focus on the final preparation for examinations for the IGCSE, AS, and A level classes. This will be a timetabled, focused, and intensive revision period, with teachers highlighting the key examination techniques that will help our candidates realise their full academic potential. With that said, the August holiday will also provide a valuable time for examination preparation and consolidation. While appreciating the need for all our pupils to have a break from the expectations of school, equally, for the public examination candidates, this is an important time for them to consolidate their revision. There is, in their reports, some excellent advice on what needs to be done between now and the start of the examinations.
Whilst on the subject of rigour, please may I remind parents of the importance of the integrity of our term dates. The academic calendar is published well in advance of the year. The 2025 calendar will be published by the Ministry of Education early in the Michaelmas Term. The end of this term has, in all three schools, been marked by an early “rush for the door”. The last week of the term is an important one in that it will contain a lot of consolidation work and outlines for holiday revision, all of which takes place alongside some important Interhouse activities. My appeal to you is not to make any travel plans or appointments in the last week of a school term as it has a disruptive impact on your child’s education.
Looking further ahead, 2025 heralds the Platinum (70th) Anniversary of the founding of Peterhouse in 1955. Work has started on a calendar of events to mark this significant milestone of the school’s history. We will be publishing a calendar of save the dates during the course of next term. We are looking forward to an incredible year in which we can highlight and profile the traditions, successes and achievements of the school. The planned events will be designed to bring the whole Peterhouse community together in tribute of the founders and generations of Petreans who have contributed so much to our vision and success. Interestingly, the 2025 D Block will be in VIth Form when the school will celebrate its 75th Anniversary in 2030.
This letter will arrive in your inbox as your sons and daughters get ready to go home for a well-deserved break. It has been a good term and I hope that they will all reflect on a task well done this term. Equally, can I thank you, our parents, for your ongoing support of the school; it is greatly valued and appreciated.
With warm regards,
Jon Trafford
Rector
