Our overarching purpose: helping students to become the best version of themselves

Today is about celebrating the individual and collective achievements of all our students, from those who joined the Senior School in September to those leaving us in the summer. For our outgoing Upper Sixth students, today is really about beginnings as much as endings. I hope you are excited about the months and years to come, and that you feel that Brentwood has helped equip you with the values and character traits that will ensure you meet the challenges and take the opportunities that come your way. For those coming back in September, think about how you can be even better next year.

Addressing around 350 parents and 200 prizewinners in the Courage Hall in June, Headmaster Michael Bond emphasised the importance of legacy at Brentwood School. “Any successful community shares acceptance of a responsibility to ensure we leave (this school)
in a stronger place than we found it so that future generations can benefit from being part it.”

With an incoming Labour government doubling down on its intention to impose VAT on fees, there would be significant challenges over the coming months and years for independent schools. “We will face them from a position of strength. We will ensure the decisions we make are logical, fair and aligned with our values and vision. We will seek to turn challenges into opportunities that will make this school even stronger and better. We will need to draw on the collective strength of our community.”

It had been another busy and successful period at Brentwood, continued Mr. Bond. Academic highlights included excellent Upper Sixth exam results in August 2023. Combined across A-level, IB, and BTEC pathways, over 50 per cent of grades were the equivalent of
A* or A with over three-quarters gaining the equivalent of A*-B. As a result, 86 per cent of 2023 leavers secured their first choice destination, whether university course, apprenticeship or employment.

Forty students received a Headmaster’s Academic Achievement Award in 2023/24. The attainments of 250 individuals had been celebrated at academic breakfasts; some 72 Years 7 and 8 students had completed the revamped Headmaster’s Award, carrying out a series of academically-focused tasks over a sustained period.

A vast range of activities took place outside the classroom with students developing skillsand confidence from mastering something new. “They offer a core set of values and character traits that can sustain all who pass through our community for the rest of their
lives.”

Forging ahead in arts and sports

The performing arts calendar was the envy of most schools. “Such is the appetite of our students to perform that Florian Cooper and his team have again had to put on extra concerts and shows. “They do so selflessly and with a passion for seeing young people
challenging themselves.”

The many highlights had included the outstanding Baroque concert in the Chapel. ‘West Side Story’ was distinguished by the quality of the performances on stage and the musical accompaniment. “Very few schools in the country have an orchestra almost fully comprised
of current students accompanying major productions of this type,” enthused Mr. Bond.

The Year 6 production of ‘Joseph’ was also outstanding, as was ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ the junior musical. “Younger students, performing at our many concerts this year, suggest the future of performing arts Brentwood is very bright.”

In September, Brentwood School would be introducing a specialist music programme to the curriculum. Led by Grig Cuicic, as artistic director of Specialist Music, the programme will offer a similar quality of provision to that of specialist music schools, coupled with
Brentwood’s holistic education. “It will be a trailblazer in musical education in the UK.”

In preparing students (and the school) for a rapidly changing world, Brentwood had met Artificial Intelligence “head on.” AI posed challenges and opportunities for schools. “We hosted an AI conference in May that showcased the work we’ve been doing at Brentwood,
bringing together leading thinkers in education.”

On the sporting front, Brentwood had competed on the national stage in athletics, hockey, netball, fencing, cross-country, swimming and squash and won the Independent Schools Golf Association competition for the first time. The School had continued to dominate at the
regional level in the main team sports, including football and cricket.

Over 1,000 pupils had participated in Brentwood sports teams over the past 12 months. This reflected continued investment in facilities and personnel, notably in ex-professional sportsmen and women across the PE department.

“All these are the result of our efforts to achieve our overarching purpose: ‘To help our pupils become the best version of themselves by developing Virtue, Learning and Manners".

Power of community

"The theme for this Speech Day was ‘Community,’ which “comes from our roots. Everyone in this room belongs to a history that stretches back to 1557 and to values written down in 1622. We stand on the shoulders of the many generations that have gone before, which
allows us to be forward-looking.”

There were several communities within the school. “We have enjoyed another year of healthy competition and camaraderie across our ten Houses. An outstanding music competition was won by Thorndon and Merrymeade; the reading competition by Thorndon and ‘Brentwood’s Got Talent’ by School House. Some 46 house competitions concluded with the track and field event."

Other communities included the CCF, Voluntary Service, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Model United Nations, the Sir Anthony Browne Society, and a plethora of clubs and societies. Bonds were formed on 381 school trips this year, 83 of them residential. Brentwood was shortlisted as one of only eight in the Independent School of the Year category for the TES Awards.

Mr. Bond extended his thanks to “all those who work so hard to provide the environment that enables our students to thrive here:”

"Brentwood School governors who provided outstanding support and expertise, motivated by a desire to help the school be better tomorrow than today.” He singled out the Chairman Lord Black for his “wisdom, advice and guidance.”

"Colleagues, who “give so much to help our students find their spark and realise their potential, within and beyond the classroom.”

Jason Whiskerd, retiring after 13 years’ outstanding service as Head of Brentwood Prep School. “While the fruits of his work can be seen in the physical development of the Prep School, his contribution to our community has been much greater than the impressive
buildings. His commitment, energy, and enthusiasm have been constant. He has been utterly professional. I’ve always been able to rely on him as a calming and serious presence and for a sensible opinion, no matter what the challenge.”

*Parents and students. “There is very little a school like Brentwood can’t overcome or achieve when we have a strong partnership with parents. That is another reason why this is such a special community.”

All this led Mr Bond to conclude: “there is no school in the country or anywhere else in the world that I’d rather be part of. I’m immensely proud to be Headmaster of such a wonderful community.”

On the 350th anniversary of the school’s foundation in 1907, leavers were issued with a card that included the words of Evelyn Heseltine, then Chairman of Governors. 'I shall pass this way only once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let
me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.'

“That underlying mission - to teach our students to do good in the world - is as important now as it was then.”

What makes you tick?

Mr Bond told students that a most important ingredient of success was “to find what makes us tick: one thing or many; academic or co-curricular; or an ability to help other people that marks you out from your peers. Every single person has something that makes them special. If you’ve found it already, you’ve probably also found your tribe within one or more of the school’s communities. If you haven’t, keep looking and perhaps ask your friends what they think makes you, you.” He commended an observation by Governor of Illinois J B Pritzker, speaking to students at Northwestern University last year: “ the kindest person in the room is often the smartest."