Arnold School

Sixth Form Leavers' Celebration Evening

The leavers’ celebration was an evening of many parts, all of them exceedingly enjoyable. The event brought together a brilliant group of students for the very last time in the presence of their parents and teaching staff. Guest speaker Mr Peter Thomson OA returned to school and provided advice, at times sensible and at times amusing, on how to get the most from university life, the world of work, and personal relationships; early marriages were discouraged!

A pupil at our Junior School, Peter ‘crossed the road’ in 1977 and is remembered as an enthusiastic Senior Cadet, Liston’s House Captain, School Prefect and talented hockey player. In his university reference, then Headmaster Richard Rhodes, described him as “one of the outstanding members of the school!” He progressed from the Royal Navy to a life in business and is currently Managing Director of M2M, a media agency specialising in premium and luxury brands with clients that include Estée Lauder, Clinique and DKNY.

The Principal’s illustrated address provided a review of another outstandingly successful year, and he highlighted triumphs academic, sporting and cultural. The strength of our Music and Drama Departments was illustrated by brief performances from both of these highly successful aspects of school life. Together with Mr Wooding, Chairman of Governors, Mr Hughes gave insights into the future of Arnold as part of the United Church Schools Trust (UCST) and how the school is poised to make a very significant move forward in terms of its facilities whilst maintaining the ethos and standards that have made it the leading school in the area.

Mr McKeown, a Head of Sixth Form with a wicked sense of humour, finished proceedings in the Memorial Hall with images of the class of 2008 as they have progressed through school. As one embarrassing photograph followed another the audience, through tears of sadness and joy, glimpsed something of the rapport that this much respected colleague has with those in his care.

Students retaliated with a preview of their own DVD organised by Jessica Gulati and Curtis Stanier in the Sixth Form Centre. A sequence of video clips of staff and images of students kept the laughter rolling until the final fade out and it was time to say goodbye. It would be true to say that many parents left on their own with our students heading off to continue their celebration of friendship and achievement in their own way.

Posted by: CFD White
Date: Friday 23/05/2008

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