Welcome Back!

It has been wonderful to see all of the pupils back at Shiplake College today, and we would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12 pupils who joined the Shiplake Community yesterday. We hope you enjoy your first week with us.

Headmaster, Mr Howe, gave the College's first Whole School Assembly this morning, with pupils watching virtually across the College site.

He said: "The last six months have been a rollercoaster for us, which none of us could have predicted. We will probably have some challenges that lie ahead, but even more than any other year it is tremendous for me to be able to greet you all, even if it is remotely rather than in our sports hall at the start of a new academic year."

Mr Howe then handed over to Revd Chris Briggs who gave a prayer for the start of term, praying for excitement and fulfilment in our learning this term.

Mr Howe then invited Joint Heads of College, James Burgess and Trixie May to address the school.

They spoke about their aims for the Prefect Team, which includes the theme of 'making the most of opportunities'. They feel the pupils of Shiplake are lucky to have the Shiplake facilities and support on a daily basis, so they encouraged everyone to strive to try new things, with special pins to be awarded to those pupils who go above and beyond in their school day.

They also spoke about fundraising opportunities for the different charities they support, with the first fundraiser to be a mufti-day.

Mr Jones, Deputy Head Academic, then welcomed new pupils and reinforced the new classroom procedures and one way systems, as well as encouraging pupils to take this opportunity now they are back in school to set standards high and 'make every piece of work count'.

Mr Brown, Deputy Head Pastoral, spoke about the changes since lockdown and encouraged pupils to keep asking about things if they weren't sure of anything, making sure to be respectful of others along the way.

Finally Mr Howe summed up with a thank you to teachers during lockdown and a focus on his theme for this year, 'gratitude'.

He said: "Saying thank you is quite an amazing thing; sometimes it is the easiest thing to do and sometimes it is very hard to do and takes a lot of effort. But above all it's not just about you. Saying thank you makes the most enormous amount of difference to the people that you actually say it to. So, say thank you to your teachers because they do deserve it.

"Gratitude is the key to making this term the best term ever for Shiplake. This is the most unusual and unique time for Shiplake. I think you have wanted to get back to school more than ever. You are aware more than ever of what school offers you. You are grateful more than ever to be here.

"For some, you might have had a tricky time last year. This is the opportunity for a fresh start. Don't waste it.

"If you were bouncing along last year doing really well, your challenge is to get back as quickly as possible into that same routine and rhythm.

"The fuel for our motivation this term is gratitude. You will get support in person from your teachers. You are going to get proper routine and structure. You will be challenged and stretched in ways that you haven't been over recent months. You are going to be held to high standards and you are going to be held to account by people other than your parents.

"We have an opportunity to raise Shiplake to a level it has never been at before. Everybody has a role to play in this. From a new Year 7 pupil to our Heads of College. How exciting is that? We are going to have a brilliant time, work really hard and we are going to enjoy each other's company. So enjoy your first few days at Shiplake and let's grasp that opportunity."