BANCROFT'S SCHOOL GOVERNORS' MEETING 21 SEPTEMBER

Bancroft's School, founded in 1737 by the Drapers' Company as trustees of Francis Bancroft's will, is today a highly successful co-educational independent school.  See http://www.bancrofts.org/ for further details.

The close links between the between the school and the Company continue on many levels.  One small manifestation of these ties is that two governors' meetings a year are held at the Hall.  Traditionally the Master is in attendance at these meetings.  In the past the Master was styled as the Visitor.  However when Professor Graham Zellick was Master last year he pointed out that this title raised some interesting and probably unresolvable legal issues.  So this year I attend in an untitled, and possibly a little uncertain, capacity.

The Chairman of Governors, who is always a Draper, is currently Past Master Stephen Foakes.  I was chairman of governors from 2003 to 2008 immediately before him.  Caroline Bonnor-Moris, Dr Colette Bowe and Craig Tallents are also Drapers' governors out of a total of some fifteen also drawn from London Borough of Redbridge, Essex County Council, the Old Bancroftians and the local community, some of whom have sent children to the school.

I had not attended a Bancroft's School meeting since November 2008 when I stood down to devote my time to Drapers' Academy.  It was heartening to see that the school still makes excellent progress under the leadership of the Head, Mary Ireland, and a whole range of intiatives that will continue to improve the school are being actively and enthusiastically developed by the governors and the senior leadership team.

DRAPERS' ACADEMY OPENING PARTY 7 SEP

Drapers' Academy really got started on 7 September with a day of celebration before the term got underway on Wednesday. The afternoon saw a party for the children and families betwen midday and 3pm. Over three hundred people came. I am having difficulties in the remote part of Wiltshire getting images squeezed through the internet so a full description will have to wait until this is sorted out.

The party well under way

Colonel Mike Bryant, Deputy Lieutenant
London Borough of Havering and Colonel North East London Army Cadet Force with prefects

At 6.30pm there was another party to invite all those who had helped the Academy come into being. This not only included many of the staff but also local representatives and, of course, contingents from the Drapers' Company and Queen Mary. It was also great to see the newly appointed head girl and boy and the prefects with their families. The new uniforms looked great and seem to have gone down well.

Jane, Lady Dalton, Past Master Sir Geoffrey
Dalton and Nadia, Lady Jackson

Susan Jackson who has been with us
for the last two years mentoring and managing the Drapers' Academy programme. We are very grateful for all she has done for us.

Short speeches of welcome were made by myself, in the joint capacity of Master Draper and Chair of Governors, Professor Morag Shiach, Vice Chair of Governors from Queen Mary, and finally Councillor Michael White, Leader of Council. Matthew Slater the Principal gave a spirited introduction. It concluded with my giving a presentation from the Company to buy a clavicord and this was followed by the ceremonial cutting of a huge Drapers' Academy     cake and a toast to the success of the Academy.

Cllr Michael White, Leader
Havering Council and
myself

After a huge amount of preparation by Sue Monk, Vice Principal (Inclusion and Learning) and many helpers the whole day went off exceptionally well. The levels of interest, support and enthusiasm towards the Academy are highly gratifying and we now have high expectations to live up to.

Matthew Slater and a member of staff with very young recruit

A small disappointment was that the prefects had to hand in their badges of office at the end of the party to be re-awarded at assembly the next day.

Cllr Keth Wells, Gooshays Ward, Past Master and Academy Governor James Devereux and Liveryman Dr Colette Bowe, past Chair of Queen Mary Council. 

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

<>

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Prefects and cake