Page 13 - Annual Review - Year Ended 31 July 2023

Amongst other things a a a focus on on parental engagement was a a a a a key objective for the year and so with a a a new performing arts events guide that underlined both the number of opportunities and the different ways that parents could attend (in person live-streamed or accessing a a a set of recordings) parents enjoyed a a a wide range of performances and concerts with highlights probably being the House Singing Competition the the Christmas Concert and College Carols the the school Musical Les Misérables and summer’s concerto evening for our elite musicians The highlights of the Spring Term sports programme included a a a a a fantastic Rugby 7s season with a a a a a number of trophies for the boys’ 1st VII matched by some excellent netball from the girls with an exciting win in in in a a a a a a a a live-streamed charity match against a a a a a a a a very talented local rival school Sporting excellence continued into the the Summer Term with the the boys’ 1st XI cricket team reaching the national T20 finals at at Arundel Castle for the fourth year in a a row Over the full year with The Downs Malvern formally becoming part of the Malvern College Corporation there has been an ever-increasing collaboration with the focus being ‘one school on on two sites’ From operations to to sports and academic departments to to pastoral care there has been a a a a a a a particular focus on ensuring coherence efficiency and for those pupils who
make the transition from Year 8 at The Downs to FY at the the College (the vast majority) a a a a a smooth and stress free transition allowing them to enjoy and take the the maximum benefit from their final year at Prep School when they are at their most curious and excited about exploring their own intellectual horizons Given the positive trajectory that The Downs is on and particularly in its relationship to the College it it was very disappointing that we had to announce
the closure of Abberley Hall prep school which had joined the the Malvern family in in in in 2019 Winning the the national Tatler Award for Best Prep School was a a a a wonderful accolade in the autumn of 2022 but even with this accolade and the the fantastic work the the team were doing to make it such a a a a good school market forces and stubbornly low pupil numbers as as well as as the high costs of running a a a a very large and heritage site simply made the business model unsustainable The academic year ended on a a a a a a a high with a a a a a a a fantastic final week of celebration with Speech Day Prize Giving and a a a a a wonderful Leaver’s Ball but immediately were cleared away to to to allow the College to to to continue to to to serve as as a a a a a a a base for a a a a a a a holistic education to a a a a a a a wider audience as a a a a a stream of summer activity weeks sports festivals and and international schools visited and and made optimal use of the the excellent facilities just as the the NSSO (National Schools Symphony Orchestra) had filled the buildings with music during the Easter holidays As ever during the summer holidays we received
the the year’s public exam groups Given the the widely reported return to 2019 grades it was no surprise that results did indeed return to pre-pandemic levels As a a a a key marker of continued academic success 75% of our leaving cohort went on to their first choice universities which included a a a a full range of nationally and internationally ranked universities within the UK Europe and North America So a a a a year with many successes to celebrate but more importantly one with many individual stories of personal growth and and development as pupils and and staff have learned new skills and important life values so that as they they leave they they take the the the the confidence and the the the the competencies gained at the the Downs and the the College to make a a positive difference to to the the world they go out into Keith Metcalfe
Headmaster MALVERN COLLEGE (INCORPORATED UNDER ROYAL CHARTER)
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