Friends’ School holds annual speech day

The Guest of Honour at Friends’ School Speech day was Will Haire, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Social Development.
The Evita cast delivered a preview to the production, which will take place in November.The Evita cast delivered a preview to the production, which will take place in November.
The Evita cast delivered a preview to the production, which will take place in November.

Mr Haire, a former Chairman of the Board of Governors at Friends’, congratulated the young people present on their excellent results. However, he told them that academic excellence in itself was not enough in the workplace, saying that “however intelligent we may or may not be, a key difference – perhaps the key difference - is in what we call the softer skills – the skills of communication, of empathy, of integrity, of care and 
team building”.

The Chairman of the Board of Governors, Margrit Grey, paid tribute to the work of her fellow Governors and noted how their diverse skills brought much to the leadership of the School.

She emphasised also that the recent Inspection report grading the School as Outstanding was a reflection of the efforts of all in the community – pupils, teaching and non-teaching staff, parents and Governors.

Friends A level students Joshua Alexander and Emily Joyce received the Greer Cup and the Manly Haughton Cup for top performance in their A Level examinations.Friends A level students Joshua Alexander and Emily Joyce received the Greer Cup and the Manly Haughton Cup for top performance in their A Level examinations.
Friends A level students Joshua Alexander and Emily Joyce received the Greer Cup and the Manly Haughton Cup for top performance in their A Level examinations.

Elizabeth Dickson, Principal, spoke of the essential character of the School.

She noted the shared responsibility taken for the environment and highlighted also the importance of the School’s strong links with the community - with local schools, the South Eastern Regional College, sports clubs and businesses.

The Principal highlighted the School’s strong academic performance. She said: “At School we have high expectations of all our pupils. Indeed, those who took GCSE exams last summer set new standards.

“Ten of their number gained ten or more passes at Grade A* and 92% of all grades were at A* to B, the best performance 
to date in School.

Linda Heggarty (Vice-Principal), Margrit Grey (Chairman of the Board of Governors), Elizabeth Dickson (Principal), Will Haire (Permanent Secretary, Department of Social Development), Bronwen Haire, Stephen Moore (Vice-Principal) and Aidin Collins (Vice-Principal).Linda Heggarty (Vice-Principal), Margrit Grey (Chairman of the Board of Governors), Elizabeth Dickson (Principal), Will Haire (Permanent Secretary, Department of Social Development), Bronwen Haire, Stephen Moore (Vice-Principal) and Aidin Collins (Vice-Principal).
Linda Heggarty (Vice-Principal), Margrit Grey (Chairman of the Board of Governors), Elizabeth Dickson (Principal), Will Haire (Permanent Secretary, Department of Social Development), Bronwen Haire, Stephen Moore (Vice-Principal) and Aidin Collins (Vice-Principal).

“We recognise today the achievements of all of those who took AS level exams this summer by presenting certificates to each one. Amongst our subject prizewinners, Emily Bayliss and Brooke Watson each gained full marks in AS Economics, as did Molly Harte and Jason Steenson in AS Further Maths.

“All our Sixth Formers deserve credit for how well they have done so far and, whilst not underestimating the challenge ahead, can look forward to 
tremendous opportunity.”

Mrs Dickson added: “Our academic strength is important but what the School is can’t be reduced to a set of exam statistics, or indeed even to the ‘Outstanding’ grading we received for each of the areas examined in our whole school Inspection earlier in the year, affirming though that was to the valued role all play in our school community.

“The School’s character is instead formed by our values, centred on the worth of each individual, and shaped by a shared commitment amongst pupils, parents, staff and governors to our aim of excellence within a caring, 
supportive community.”