Brentwood is secure in its identity, focused on its connections, confident in its culture

When Headmaster Michael Bond was interviewed for the Brentwood School post seven years ago, he was very much attracted by the emphasis placed by the Governors on helping every student to fulfill his or her potential. At Speech Day on June 28th, he told parents that this criterion remained at the core of the School’s approach to its students. “Helping people achieve something they thought they could not - an academic grade or a co-curricular milestone - is something we will celebrate as much as overall statistics.”

This was epitomised by the whole School Year Group, House assemblies, the Headmaster’s Academic Achievement Award, the Glimpses of Brilliance programme and Passports to Success, with students collecting merits for their approach to learning.

Developing the theme of ‘Championing Growth,’ Mr. Bond explained: “Education is one of the most rewarding vocations because we are tasked with helping young people discover and develop what it is that makes them the individuals they are and will become."

He drew upon the recent Richard Dimbleby lecture, delivered by the former England football team manager Sir Gareth Southgate. His subject: how to arrest the growing alienation of young people. He talked about creating, developing, and delivering an ‘antidote’ to the negative forces of polarisation, alienation and toxicity – variously amplified by social media. He advocated three ‘pillars’ on which communities should be based: Identity; Connection; Culture.

“These three pillars are “central to the work we do, in partnership with parents, here at Brentwood” reasoned Mr Bond.

Identity

“We are fortunate to be the custodians of a school that has been here for almost 500 years. Our deep roots give us stability. We follow routines and traditions that have been around for many years, from attending chapel services and assemblies to the blue gowns worn by our Praes. Virtue, Learning and Manners are the three aspirational pillars to guide our interactions with each other.”

Connection

“Feeling that we belong to a community - in the case of Brentwood, several communities within one school - is well established as an important part of well being and contentment.”

Sport, arts and community

For many, these connections came through sport via many highlights. This year’s national sporting successes had included the U15 boys' football team, who won the ISFA National Trophy final. The U13 boys' team also reached the final of that competition, while the U18 girls’ tennis team reached their national final. The U18A boys’ golf team finished second in the national Independent Schools Golf Association finals, for which the B team also qualified.

These achievements had been built on the platform of mass participation. Some 1,016 students represented at least one school team this year in 13 different sports. “Being part of those teams has given them opportunities to experience the camaraderie that comes from competing together.”

Attendees at the School’s concerts, plays and performances this year will have felt “the sense of belonging the students get from being part of one of the most successful performing arts faculties in the country,” continued Mr. Bond.

This was exemplified by the Winter musical Legally Blonde; the battle of the Big Bands; another spectacular dance show; a stunning choral and symphonic concert in Brentwood Cathedral; an excellent Middles production of Lord of the Flies; an ambitious Junior play Harry Potter and The Cursed Child; and another outstanding Prom Concert on the eve of Speech Day. The musical Grease was still to come.

The Specialist Music Programme for elite students aspiring to make a career in the industry had been successfully completed. All six took part in an outstanding Baroque concert in the School Chapel. The first international music competition had attracted applications from 28 highly talented young musicians from the USA, India, Australia, Bolivia, Ukraine, South Korea, Turkey, Romania and the UK. Seven were selected for the final in the Memorial Hall - a remarkable occasion, highlighting the global reputation of music at Brentwood.

The House system involved 50 competitions in the year, all contributing to the House Cup. House music was won by North and Hartswood on the 70th anniversary of the competition. House track and field was still to come.

The CCF helped students develop meaningful connections and leadership skills. A recent Ministry of Defence study analysed the value and impact of school-based cadet forces, citing a sense of belonging as one of the key benefits.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award continued to grow. Some 108 students took part over the past 12 months, with 24 collecting Gold Awards at Buckingham Palace. The Voluntary Service Association, Model United Nations, and Sir Antony Browne Societies further exemplified the connections students enjoyed.

A wider Brentwood

Under the aegis of the Brentwood School Association, the School maintains the closest connections with related organisations. With input from the Society of Old Brentwoods, the School Museum had launched SocialArchive, allowing former pupils to help expand the digitised library of photos. The growing calendar of Friends of Brentwood School events enabled parents to meet while raising funds for various projects. The Association had staged its first dinner; and welcomed parents, Old Brentwoods and local business leaders to workshops and networking events during National Careers Week.

The Parent Sounding Board had provided excellent advice and feedback in its termly meetings. The first annual forum had included a Q&A with Governors. There had been workshops on promoting the School’s values and helping pupils navigate the challenges and opportunities provided by technology.

Culture

Southgate had advocated respect for everyone, irrespective of role or status; and “living the values of courage, humility and integrity,” especially when challenged by someone or something. He talked about service and how giving is always better than taking, in terms of personal development and wellbeing. “Virtue, Learning, and Manners are as valid now as they were when first established in 1622. They provide a very high bar for everyone. Their purpose is to keep us grounded, to guide our actions, and to establish, in Gareth Southgate’s words, the way we do things here.”

The concept of service and giving was alive and well at Brentwood. “In a world where there is much that promotes taking from and belittling others, our students serve their peers and their community.” Over £18,000 had been raised for 17 different good causes this year.

An appeal through North and School Houses for toiletries to support the Marillac Neurological Centre had been overwhelmingly successful; a container with 73 boxes of clothing had been sent to a school in Gambia; Year 7 students brought an impressive and exemplary approach to their charity Field Day. VSA entertained people from the community organisations they have supported for afternoon tea at the School. In the Peer Mentor programme, 43 Year 11 and 48 Sixth Form students had supported younger peers.

Academic outcomes

The barometers of success lay in academic achievements. Last year, Brentwood’s IB results placed the School well within the top ten UK schools while the BTEC students achieved stellar outcomes that took them to top universities and workplaces. Overall, 81 per cent of sixth form results were graded at the equivalent of A*, A or B at A-level. “We congratulate students in every year group who have achieved high grades or maintained excellent effort and commitment”.

Governors, staff, parents, students

Success is only possible with the help of many people who very much deserved the Headmaster’s thanks.

Governors: these highly talented and busy people give their time and expertise freely. “Brentwood remains one of the most secure, ambitious and optimistic schools in the UK, due in no small part to their support.” He singled out the Chairman Lord Black.” He cares deeply for our school and has been a longstanding and steadfast supporter for many years.”

Staff: Over 400 who work here as teachers, coaches and in many functions to keep the School operating smoothly. This year there were 116 colleagues who’ve worked here for 10 years or more. Special thanks go to Wendy Juniper, Ros Bache and Liz Dedman who leave Brentwood after 28, 29 and 30 years’ service respectively.

State-of-the-art boarding

The boarders enjoyed a home-from-home in Hough and Mill Hill Houses, showing how people from across the world become a cohesive and supportive community within a school setting.

The new Boarding House will open in September, providing state-of-the-art facilities while retaining a family atmosphere. It will incorporate a sixth form café for older students as they prepare for university or workplace.

Mr Bond thanked Bursar Jeremy Blunden and the Estates team who had worked so hard to bring this project to life. “They are going to have a very busy summer prior to opening day.”

New School history on the way

A new history of Brentwood School is being edited and finalised. This project was started by Mike Willis, who taught History and Politics at Brentwood for 47 years. Sadly, he passed away in 2021. However, his good friend and colleague Ian Walton, who retired at Easter after working here for 31 years, has picked up the reins and completed the book, which should be published before Christmas. It will be a fitting tribute to a much-loved former colleague and a further reminder of our identity, the achievements of those who have gone before and of our responsibility to play our part in handing over to our successors.