Music at Abbotsholme

Dear Parents

Further to a discussion at SMT, I have consulted with a selection of parents, Governors, pupils and staff and overwhelmingly their opinion of Summer Gathering is:

• Summer Gathering is a celebration of the whole year, as well as a fitting goodbye to the 6th form leavers. 
• It provides an opportunity for parents, particularly boarding parents, to meet and spend time with their children’s extended family in a relaxing and enjoyable environment. 
• It is more than the sum of the individual parts, just as an Abbotsholme education is more than the sum of its parts.

I have taken on board these views and I have changed my mind a number of times about the best format for this year’s Summer Gathering and arrived at the one below.  The weekend must be full.  Parents should be encouraged to come to the Governors’ briefing on Saturday: they are spending a lot of money on their children’s education and they deserve every access to those who spend that money. The Barn Dance is essential.  No swimming gala on Sunday morning, but replaced by a decent breakfast for those who were up late on Saturday night so they can talk about what a wonderful time they had.  Then a leisurely walk up to Reddie’s Grave for the last time for the leavers and their parents.

Some will say it’s the Abbotsholme hamster wheel and probably they are right!

This year we go back to a Summer Gathering which feels like the first one I attended in 2003, I can still remember how good it was!