Message from the Headmaster
Mr Guy Sanderson
Dear Parents,
First of all, may I extend a warm welcome to all those who are new to Eltham College; to those returning, welcome back! It is always such a delight, after the long summer break, once again to have our classrooms and corridors abuzz and to hear the school field and Quad alive with the chatter of friends, whether long-established or brand-new. I know there will have been many first-day nerves and a few wrong turns taken as those new to Eltham (students and staff alike) learn to navigate our site, but as this first week draws to a close, I hope all are settling in and enjoying becoming part of this vibrant, busy community.
It was a pleasure to bring everyone together at the start of term for our welcome assembly, marking a new era, with every year group this year being co-educational. Later in the week, we could not resist recreating, with our current cohort, a photograph that was taken in September 2020 to celebrate our first intake of girls into Years 3 and 7. It was quite breathtaking to see the girls across Years 3 to 13 gather in their hundreds in the Quad on Wednesday, underlining the enormity of the change the last four years has brought, and I am pleased to share with you the contrasting images here.
Our rich co-curricular programme is getting underway, with a host of music and drama auditions taking place this week and all ensembles due to commence next. It was wonderful to welcome students back onto site for pre-season girls’ hockey, rugby and netball, and we send the best of luck to girls’ hockey against St Dunstan’s and the 1st XV rugby against Gravesend this Saturday.
Next Saturday (14th), we will hold our annual Whole School Open Day. Following the superb A Level and GCSE results we were able to announce over the summer, we have received a surge in additional bookings, and Saturday’s event is set to draw in a large number of visitors. Open Day is hugely important to us as a means of recruiting the next generation of Eltham students, and we look forward to welcoming many hundreds of families to both our Junior and Senior Schools. We are also extremely grateful to the current students across many year groups who will be coming in on the day to represent the school (as already communicated to you by Mr Martin, Senior Deputy Head), whether acting as guides or helping in classroom or co-curricular activities. Their contribution is vital to us, and they always make an immensely positive impression on prospective families. As ever, we thank you, and them, for this invaluable support.
Saturday will also be our first chance to show to the outside world the tremendous transformation that has been fashioned at the heart of our school, with the completion of our new Science Centre. The extended building has truly brought our provision into the 21st century, offering outstanding teaching and learning facilities to inspire our scientists of the future. Though by far the most dramatic of our new developments, the Science Centre is only one of many improvements made over the summer months across the Eltham College Family of Schools. A programme of investment has seen, amongst others, extension and refurbishment of the Junior School’s Hall as well as the building of a new tennis court, while at Blackheath Prep the Reception classrooms and playground have been refurbished, along with the IT suite and DT classroom. Full details can be found here.
Amongst so much excellent news, sadly I must also tell you that Mrs Ann Massey, the Senior School’s superb Deputy Head Pastoral, will be leaving us at the end of the spring term 2025, as she moves to become Head of the Senior School at St Albans High School for Girls. We send our enormous congratulations to her on her appointment, though she will, of course, be greatly missed by us all. We will bring news of her replacement in due course.
I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming months and in the meantime wish you a fine weekend.
Best wishes,
Guy Sanderson
Headmaster
