The Cholmeleian, Winter 2009

Head Master's Introduction

News broke this summer of the Charity Commissions’ assessment of the first schools to undergo the regulator’s scrutiny of their public benefit; of course, all schools, including Highgate, have studied the findings with interest. Planned some fifteen months before the date for the Commission’s report, this edition of The Cholmeleian surveys the charitable landscape in which schools rightly have a place: the historic charitable status of ancient foundations like ours; our mission to serve the community of which we are a part; the links which Highgate, through Cholmeleians of all generations, is forging with developing communities in Africa; the powerful impact of bursaries, be it through the Friends of Highgate School or the School’s bursarial funds, on pupils past and present; the work underway to ensure that Highgate can continue to do all this, and more, in the years to come. I think readers will quickly sense that we are going about this purposefully and with enthusiastic commitment!

Last autumn I mentioned the restoration projects which were underway. The North Road façade has emerged spick and span from its scaffolding; Central Hall, untouched since 1897, was unveiled at the beginning of this term, as sleek and crisp as a new pupil’s new blazer. In 2010 we will take possession of the refurbished Dyne House auditorium, together with its new, dedicated rehearsal and performance space for music. Plans for the conversion of Big School have been put back while we deal with the niceties of a planning process, but, while a tour of the old swimming pool shows that we still have much to do, Highgate can be pleased with the progress it has made on improving the ‘plant’.

In September, we launched the Knowledge Curriculum. Heralded in the summer edition of this magazine, this initiative will be profiled in the next edition and the Editors would like to hear from Cholmeleian readers about their experiences of lessons – preferably inspiring and memorable ones! – at Highgate: we believe we are re-capturing the best of the Highgate traditions by ensuring that today’s pupils are not boxed in by examinations and externally-imposed curricula.

Those who attended Theodore Mallinson’s memorial service will have heard the Chairman touch on the School’s plans to continue Theodore’s work to secure our long-term future. This requires investment in bursaries, public benefit partnerships and capital projects; that is why we will be writing to readers of this magazine with details of an appeal. The time is ripe for us to prepare for the future and I hope that many of you, pupils, parents, friends and OCs, will be interested in hearing about, and responding to, our plans.

Adam Pettitt

To read the Winter 2009 edition of The Cholmeleian, download a PDF copy.

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