Life @ EA
Rector’s Blog
Thursday 16 January
It really does not seem that long ago that we ushered in the New Year and watched 2019 disappear to the sound of fireworks. Already in that short time, however, much has been achieved in this new decade. Our 6ths and 7ths will almost have put their Prelim exams behind them and, hopefully, will have learned a good deal about the stresses and strains that await them in April/May. Prelim exams are by their very nature the best exams to get wrong, as long as there is a learning process that follows, the mistakes are then not repeated and strategies are put in place (and followed) to ensure success. We all look forward to welcoming our seniors back into school properly next week.
As we look towards April/May and the examination process it is worth mentioning that the exam season in the first half of term will take place in the Junior School Sports Hall – due to the refurbishment of the SLT into two new science labs, the exams will be held in the Sports Hall at Arboretum Road until Half Term in May. Further details about this process will come out nearer to the time. For our 7ths too, today (Wednesday) marks the deadline for UCAS applications and thankfully, as I write this, we are down to the final handful of those who have held out to the very last minute before submitting their applications (despite numerous encouragements to do otherwise!) I have to signal my sincere thanks to the 7ths’ Classteachers, Year Head and Mrs Slavin, as well as the Careers Team, who have overseen the process. Their superb work and support have helped our candidates enormously throughout this process and the wonderful offers that many have received are a good refection of the system that we have in operation. We are awaiting Oxbridge offers this week and I wish all our Oxbridge candidates the very best of luck while they have to go through this nerve-wracking wait. While I am on the topic of nerves, Monday saw our Admissions Testing Day, with all our candidates who are hoping to join the school coming to sit their entrance tests. Well over 100 students enjoyed their day with us and now comes the very difficult process of awarding places for next year. We have not had that many applicants for a long time and I have to also thank all those who were involved in the process throughout Monday. We met some truly sensational young people and I look forward to welcoming many of them to the school in August.
Following a disrupted weekend of sport last weekend due to weather, it is with anticipation that we look forward to the first games of 2020 at New Field on Saturday. Following the refurbishment of the North Astro we can get back to hosting on both pitches this weekend. You will see a fair bit of groundwork has also been undertaken to try and keep this astro as free from mud as we can. This weekend is a particularly busy weekend of sport, as we also welcome the Jesters’ Fives Tournament to Edinburgh this weekend. Mr McFarlane is yet again masterminding a wonderful weekend of Fives and games are held at the Fives Courts at both EA and Fettes from 1:40pm on Friday 17th January.
This morning in assembly Mrs Cutress set a wonderful reading challenge for all those in the Main Hall (including the Rector!) Her ‘20 books for 2020’ is a great idea and the challenge has been set, using a simple but very effective criteria for selecting reading material. Details will be available soon on Firefly and, anticipating summer, Ben Stokes’ recent cricketing book ‘On fire’ will be my chosen autobiography!
Given the current roadworks in Stockbridge and the diversion route that I imagine many of you will now be taking, could I please make a plea to all our EA parents to be particularly sensitive to traffic conditions and the residents along Glenogle Road. EA parents and their children are very obvious and we are already hearing concerns from Glenogle residents about the increase in traffic and EA parents using driveways and parking bays for their convenience. Please be sensitive about the very restricted nature of Glenogle Road.
With best wishes
Barry Welsh
Rector
