Head's Highlights

January marks the beginning of the Spring Term at Abbotsholme. With snow, cold temperatures and even a little flooding greeting us on our return, it is a title that never fails to make me smile. This being my family's first winter back in the UK after several years spent in much warmer climates, it has certainly been something of a shock to the system. 

While we are still reacquainting ourselves with coats, scarves and the art of defrosting cars, the pupils of Abbotsholme have been entirely unfazed. From riding out in the rain to playing sport in single-digit temperatures, they have embraced the conditions with characteristic good humour and determination. Recent weeks have seen excellent netball wins against Repton and Denstone, alongside strong performances at Prep inter-schools cross country events and the highlight performance - our U16 boys’ hockey team who battled the cold to become Staffordshire County Champions in the first round of the Midlands tournament! 

Add to this Outdoor Education adventures, interschools climbing competitions, and prep school stem activities in the dingle – puddle suits on and wellies firmly in place – and it is hard not to be impressed by the resilience and enthusiasm that so clearly define an Abbotsholme pupil.

But spring is just around the corner, and with it comes the excitement of new growth. This sense of renewal has been reflected in recent conversations with colleagues from Harper Adam's, where we have been exploring ideas around regenerative farming, sustainability and how we might make even greater educational use of the remarkable outdoor spaces Abbotsholme is fortunate to have. These discussions have centred on working with the land, nurturing biodiversity, improving soil health and thinking creatively about how our landscape can support learning, wellbeing and environmental responsibility. It is an exciting prospect, and one that aligns perfectly with our ethos of purposeful education rooted in the natural world.

Some early ideas that have been shared include:

• Bringing a disused pond area back to life, encouraging more wildlife and using it across the curriculum, from Science to Forest School and Outdoor Education.
  
  
• Refreshing the Dingle area and Prep Mud Kitchen, making the most of these spaces for outdoor learning and play.
  
  
• Reintroducing bees to the school grounds, along with more insect-friendly planting to support biodiversity.
  
  

We’re incredibly lucky to have so much knowledge and experience within our community - among our families and Old Abbotsholmians, many of whom work in agriculture and related fields. We’d really welcome ideas and support as these plans begin to take shape.

Fewer than 1% of schools nationally have a working farm, and fewer than 1% have an equestrian centre – at Abbotsholme, we have both. Building on this, we are excited to be introducing a new Veterinary and Animal Science pathway, supported by a specialist summer school. Recent webinars have generated strong interest, and we are currently putting the finishing touches to this unique programme with input from practising vets and university lecturers. Launching in September, we hope it will fully utilise our facilities while offering students with animal-related career aspirations a truly distinctive experience.

This focus on aspiration is reflected in the achievements of our current Year 13 cohort. We are incredibly proud to have seen over 30 applications to G5 universities and nearly 70 to Russell Group institutions, with offers across a broad range of subjects from universities including University College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Bath, University of York, University of Manchester, University of Birmingham, Cardiff University, Harper Adams University and University of Bristol. These outcomes reflect the ambition and commitment shown by our students, qualities once again evident during the January mock examinations. These outcomes reflect the ambition and commitment shown by our students, qualities once again evident during the January mock examinations.

February brings with it the promise of brighter days (we can hope!) and the familiar bustle of life at Abbotsholme. One of the things I am most looking forward to is lambing - a much-loved Abbotsholme tradition - and I am especially excited to be involved for the first time. 

As we move further into this term, I would like to thank you sincerely for your continued support of the school. We are excited for all that lies ahead and look forward to sharing many more achievements, muddy wellies and memorable moments with you in the months ahead.