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College News
Despite national teaching shortages in certain subjects, the school was fortunate to be able to make the following quality appointments in September:-
Malcolm Ford took over as head of physics and head of ICT after the departure of Deborah Botham to Sheffield High School for Girls and Ian Patterson to Louth School. Both teachers contributed widely to extra-curricular activities and have been missed. Deborah also ran the public examinations and these have been taken over by Chris Wood. The school has begun to invest more in ICT and it is hoped that the whole site will be linked together by the end of the year.
Michael Debenham moved to Wisbech Grammar as head of physics and Neil Havard, who has helped out on many occasions in the past, became a permanent member of staff. Nicky Houghton, who also taught at Rendcomb before, returned to teach ICT. Sandy Westhead stepped down as head of girls' games and has thrown all her energy into the special needs department, following the departure of Sarah Cuthbert. Barbara Shiells is teaching PE and girls' games; in March there was an experimental afternoon of lacrosse, which may be introduced in the near future. Naomi Gibbons (OR.) took over from David Whitehead as assistant in the music department and already she has made her mark in the school. David is now head of music at Alice Ottley School, Worcester. Cath Forshaw joined the mathematics department while Beth Mang and Sarah White stood in for Rachel Fielding (née Houghton) during her maternity leave. Diana Dodd became assistant head and handed over Lawn House (3rd to 5th year girls) to Vicky Hayward (née Hatton). Vicky's husband, Darrell, has taken responsibility for all ICT, AV and lighting technical matters.
Paul Sykes wrote his last timetable recently and hands over the demanding post of director of studies to Paul Dodd.
The junior school has expanded still further to 150 and continues to be successful. The headmaster, Adrian Palmer, is moving on in September to Wycliffe junior and he will be replaced by Martin Watson from The Downs School, Bristol.
The school was inspected in November by the Independent Schools Inspectorate and, although the final report has not yet been published, the outcome is very pleasing. In particular the inspectors appreciated what makes Rendcomb so special, in contrast with the 1996 inspection.
Rendcomb sport continues to enjoy many successes and no team has bettered the record of the lst XV which won all of its matches and received a congratulatory letter from Jonny Wilkinson.
Many areas of the school are being refurbished. Recently the Arts Block clock faces were taken down for painting and the library is being given a long awaited make over.
The senior school consists of 148 boys and 104 girls, of whom 127 are boarders.
The following members of the society have children in the senior and junior schools:-
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