Update from the Head Master

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

I hope you have all enjoyed a restful Half Term after what was a busy and celebratory final week of school and it was a pleasure to welcome so many of you to the College during this time.  

Arts Week, which showcases the remarkable creative talent across our community, built beautifully to the highlight of the calendar: Founder’s Day itself, with Prizegiving and Sports Day bringing together so many familiar faces in celebration of all that Lancing is and does. This annual occasion always carries a particular quality: the bittersweet pride of watching the Upper Sixth contemplate their final weeks here, alongside the joy of prize-giving and the wholly unrestrained competitiveness of Sports Day. It is one of the highlights of the Lancing calendar, and this year was no exception. 

Our thoughts at this time of year turn particularly to those pupils sitting public examinations. GCSE and A Level exams place real demands not just on students but on the whole family, and I want to acknowledge the support that parents and guardians provide during what can be an intense and anxious period. Please be assured that the school is doing everything it can to support your children through this time. We wish them all the very best. 

You will have seen that the College made two significant announcements over the Half Term break, both of which are covered in more detail in this newsletter. I spent part of the break in Japan, meeting with the partners with whom we hope to establish Lancing’s first overseas school. This is a long-term project, the fruit of months of careful relationship-building, and I came away genuinely excited by what we might create together. Our prospective partners are deeply impressed by the College’s academic and pastoral programme, and I believe there is a real opportunity to build something outstanding and enduring. 

Equally exciting is our planned investment in sports. Independent schools are navigating challenging times, and it is a mark of our Governors’ confidence in Lancing’s future that they are committing £6.5 million to modernise our sports infrastructure. This is a significant investment and a clear statement of intent. I am grateful to our outgoing Chair, Martin Slumbers, and the full Board for their continued focus on ensuring that Lancing invests in what will genuinely benefit our pupils for years to come. 

Looking back over the second half of last term, the arrival of better weather brought with it a welcome change of pace for pupils outside the exam years, with more time spent on the sports fields and in our wonderful outdoor spaces. Tennis, cricket and athletics have all featured prominently in our weekly assemblies, and the standard across team and individual sports has been impressive. A particular mention must go to the U16A boys football team, who travelled to compete in the ESFA Schools Cup Final, a remarkable achievement and a testament to their commitment throughout the season. 

Scholarly life has been equally active. The annual House Debating Competition was keenly contested, with Handford taking the prize and Teme as runners up. These occasions build a confidence and connection that pupils carry with them long after they leave. We have also been fortunate to welcome Professor Chris Howe from Corpus Christi College Cambridge as part of our Head Master’s Lecture Series. Two further distinguished speakers join us in this final half of term, and parents are warmly invited to attend. 

Founder’s Day Arts Week showcased the breadth of creative talent across the College. The production of Arabian Nights involved 34 pupils and played to packed audiences across three performances. The Art and Design exhibition was outstanding, with much of the work forming part of GCSE and A Level portfolios. And an audience of three hundred gathered in the Chapel to hear Mozart’s Requiem performed by the Lancing College Choir and Lancing Singers. 

As I approach the end of my first year as Head Master, I find myself continually struck by the innovation, curiosity and excellence that emerges from every corner of this community. It is, quite simply, a privilege to be part of it. 

There are a number of events in the final four weeks of term to which parents are warmly invited, and I do hope you will be able to join us. 

With all best wishes, 

Dr Scott Crawford
Head Master