Principal 

From the foundation of the College in 1871, boarding has occupied a central place in our operations and in the culture of the school. Last week at Speech Day I was delighted to be able to introduce, in person, our incoming Director of Boarding, Mr Adam Treadaway. Adam was good enough to make the long journey from Dorset to spend a week with us to begin his induction and to meet a range of Boarding House staff, boarders and their parents. The schedule included a chance to meet boarders’ parents at a soirée on Sunday evening, and to spend time in the Boarding House on Monday and Tuesday. 

In his brief address on Speech Day, Adam reflected that:

One thing that was immediately apparent during my visit in April was the strength of the community here. There was a genuine sense of belonging, of people looking out for one another, and of a school that feels very much like a family. In any community, but especially within a boarding community, feeling that you belong is one of the most important things a person can experience. It is that sense of connection that enables people to overcome adversity with kindness, gentility, mutual respect and support.

One of the reasons I fell in love with education, and boarding in particular, is that it provides the opportunity to make a positive difference in people's lives every single day. 

I look forward to seeing many of you again during this week and, of course, at the beginning of the new school year, to continue creating a community where kindness is key, support is offered and accepted, and that every choice is made in the interest of enhancing such a superb boarding school community.

These sentiments show what a good fit Adam will be when he and his family arrive and he takes up this key position. I’m grateful again to Lisé Lowe and Maxine Baring for their continuing work to ensure that when we welcome Adam in December, he will be arriving to a Boarding House in good shape and one which continues that long tradition of contributing positively to the identity and culture of the school more broadly.