Letter from the Headmaster

Dear former pupil

I am writing to let you know that after what will have been eight extremely happy years at Alleyn’s and nearly 20 years of headship I have decided to take early retirement in August 2010. After a period as Acting Head and then 11 years as Headmaster at Latymer Upper School I was appointed Headmaster of Alleyn’s in 2002.

Advertisements for my successor have appeared in the press and details are on the School website. I shall of course be working closely with the Chairman, Governors and Senior Management Team to ensure that there is a smooth handover next summer.

Sue and I have been incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed being part of the wonderful Alleyn’s community, receiving tremendous support and making many friends. Alleyn’s is a truly outstanding school with a rich history, a unique friendly and supportive ethos and atmosphere, remarkably talented and friendly pupils and staff and it undoubtedly has an exciting future. My successor will be very fortunate to be joining such a thriving and supportive school community, with such a strong Edward Alleyn Club, Governing Body and Common Room. Alleyn’s is particularly fortunate in having such a supportive and thriving alumni association and Sue and I greatly enjoy working closely with you all. Clearly the School and the Edward Alleyn Club will continue to flourish, with a very exciting future ahead.

Sue and I have had the most amazing time in HMC schools over the past 34 years (Manchester Grammar; St Paul’s; Merchant Taylors’, Northwood; Latymer Upper; Alleyn’s) and in Headship spanning 20 academic years. We are now very much looking forward to spending more time with and supporting our three married children, with a second grandchild due next month.

However, there is of course another academic year before we leave, during which we will be as committed, as ever, to doing everything possible to ensure that Alleyn’s, its pupils and the Edward Alleyn Club continue to thrive.

With kind regards and sincere best wishes,

Dr Colin Diggory

Exam results

This summer’s exam results harvested yet another bumper crop of record-breaking exam results for Alleyn’s. Students and staff deserve the highest praise for achieving all this in the context of the past year which saw two whole-school closures due to snow and swine 'flu. To see a summary of results, please follow this link; to see further details, please refer to the School’s website.

At GCSE, we have had record results by any measure, so warmest congratulations to Year 11.

• 58% of all grades were A*, significantly higher than all previous years
• 87% of all grades were A*/A, our highest ever
• 98% were all A*/A/B, also our highest ever

What matters, of course, is the students’ individual results and they were outstanding – with 80 GCSE students, more than half (59%), achieving all A*/As.

At A level, we have also had superb record results.

• 91% all A and B grades is our highest ever
• 73% all A grades is our second highest ever score, by a considerable margin

Dr Diggory comments that ‘I truly believe that such increases in the exam performances, and in particular the significant increases in the proportions of top grades showing evidence of stretching our gifted and talented pupils, reflect superb teaching and learning and exam preparation. I know therefore that you will share in my pride in our pupils and staff who have achieved all this.

‘Academic success is quite rightly of primary importance but Alleyn’s is concerned with far more than just academic results; our wide and inclusive co-curricular programme, judged by the inspectors last year to be ‘outstanding’, is a much-valued part of life here.’

New staff

We welcome seven new teachers to Alleyn’s: Matthew Eastmond to teach Mathematics; Stephanie Kingston, Art; Angus Murray, Biology; Kate Pryse-Lloyd, Physics; Chloe Tostevin, Chemistry and Louise van der Valk as Learning Support Co-ordinator. Georgina Anderson will be teaching English this year, covering maternity leave.

Alleyn’s International Concert Series: Wednesday 4 November

Alleyn’s is holding its third event in its International Concert Series this term. This time we are delighted to welcome violinist Ning Kam and pianist Carole Presland for what promises to be an exciting evening of music-making.

After winning the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition as a Junior and Third Prize in the Pablo Sarasate International Competition, Ning (right) went on to achieve national and international acclaim in 2001 when she was awarded Second Prize in the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition of Belgium along with the Flemish Radio and Television Audience Prize. Since then she has performed worldwide as concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician, releasing several recordings, including two with pianist Carole Presland (pictured left, photo credit Geoffrey Smith), to wide critical acclaim.

Tickets are priced at: £12 (Adults) & £6 (Concessions). Cheques payable to ‘Alleyn’s School’. Click here to download a ticket application form.

Development Office Assistant

The School seeks to appoint a Development Office Assistant to provide office management and all round support for David Young, the Director of Development and Finance (Deputy Bursar) working five half-days per week for 42 weeks per year.

Applications are invited from committed and enthusiastic individuals who are able to work independently and as part of a team. The salary will be in the region of £22-24,000 per annum (full-time equivalent).

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced CRB check.

Full job description and application form available on 020 8557 1450 or by email at rickardh@alleyns.org.uk. Closing date for applications is Friday 25 September, 2009.

Matthew Parris visits School

A leading Times columnist since 1988 and former parliamentary sketchwriter, diplomat, author and Conservative MP, Matthew Parris kickstarted this year's VI form series of Enrichment talks with an insightful presentation and Q&A focussed on what is the 'real' news and how what makes the front pages is often symptomatic of an underlying rolling story.

Students were given the opportunity to hear the former Member of Parliament speak openly and answer their questions on a range of issues from the recent Diplomatic developments with Libya to how to get a dangerous dog into the national press.

Unicef UK Young Filmmaker Award

Year 13 [upper sixth] pupil Harry Lindley (Roper's) won the Unicef UK Young Filmmaker Award in July for a film he directed, filmed and edited called 'This Is It' with a cast and crew made up of five students from Alleyn's: Barney Eliot, Jackson Clive, Joe Boylan, Hugo Greenhalgh and Barney Geddes. The Unicef UK Awards is an international competition for short films which look at the rights of children and young people. The short-listed films were shown in the Showcomotion Young People’s Film Festival in Sheffield. 'This Is It' was voted the winner from the twenty films that were selected to be screened from an open submission.

Art exhibition at Alleyn’s

Following the success of last year’s private view of the art exhibition which was installed for the Gala Opening of the Edward Alleyn Building, the School hopes to hold another art exhibition in 2010. If you are interested in having your work on show at this exhibition, please contact me.

Trip to battlefields Northern France

I hope to organise a trip to visit World War I and World War II battlefields and cemeteries in Northern France next year. Before I plan in earnest, I would like to measure what interest there would be from alumni and former staff in such a trip. At this stage, it is envisaged that the trip would involve a return coach journey from Alleyn’s School, overnight accommodation, visits to various battlefields, museums and memorials, as well as a formal dinner.

The next issue will be due in the Lent Term. Please send in short items
(no longer than 100 words) and photos (jpgs) by 31 January 2010 to me

Alleyn's School and the Edward Alleyn Club are not responsible
for the content of external internet sites.

© Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, London SE22 8SU