Dear all,
I hope you had a wonderful and restorative summer; that the return to school is an exciting one and I wish you a superb term ahead.
This term is always such a particular one within the rhythms of the year. It is the real powerhouse of the academic year and it brings with it the dynamism of a new community forming, new bonds being forged, new starts embraced. There’s such an overlap between the flutter of anxiety and the flutter of excitement and it is always wonderful to see old faces returning and new faces joining in September. For those joining our Third Form from Prep Schools, we know they do so from a position of such security, careful preparation and the exercise of leadership – and that their success at Lancing has its foundations in all that you have enabled.
I hope that you enjoy the stories in the pages ahead. This summer has seen stellar A Level and GCSE results and Lancing students have gone on to take up their places at some of the best universities in the UK – and across the globe.
Dr Crawford starts his second year as our Head Master and he extends a warm welcome. Elsewhere, in addition to the exciting sports development plans and investment announced last term, we look at the improvements taking place to the campus over the months ahead.
From an Admissions perspective, we’d love to invite your pupils and their families to one of this term’s open mornings (3 October and 1 November), and we hope that your children and staff will be able to join us for some of the Prep School Events being hosted this term. As mentioned in my recent letter, we are always keen to support you in ways you actively find useful – so do please let us know if there are opportunities for engagement that you would welcome.
These are exciting times and at a time when the news seems full of rather gloomy stories about Independent Education, Lancing is thriving, blessed with inspiring teachers and a cohesive and splendid community of pupils. Your alumni play a huge part in this, and we very much look forward to future generations of your children joining and hope you enjoy this glimpse into our present.
With all best wishes
Hilary Dugdale
Director of Admissions
