7 May 2024
Mr Gary Outram, Head of Year 11
Despite the inclement weather last Friday, Year 11 revelled in a wonderful day of celebration ahead of embarking on study leave. We commenced with an assembly on the theme of "first and last", where students were treated to a retrospective of their Woldingham journey, featuring their first and most recent school photos, a reminder of our inaugural assembly as they joined me in Year 10, and a video of highlights from the past year, alongside cherished memories with adorable baby photos, both of students and their tutors, which made an already emotional assembly even more so.
After the assembly, Year 11 embarked on an exhilarating scavenger hunt around the school grounds, organised by some of the class reps. Tasks ranged from snapping selfies with the Science Department’s skeleton to belting out duets with Year 10 peers and executing dabs (for the uninitiated, that's a dance move) alongside members of the Senior Leadership Team. There were even bonus points for capturing memorable moments with computer science teachers on video.
Despite our planned rounders match being thwarted by the weather, Year 11s threw themselves into impromptu dance-offs and challenges within the auditorium. A standout moment was Year 11 tutor Mr O’Gorman's spirited portrayal of a Woldingham student, complete with pigtails and a skirt of appropriate length. Year 11 and I are very grateful to our dedicated theatre team of Mr Skelly and Mr Cooper for their invaluable assistance on this special day.
The morning concluded with a sumptuous BBQ (thank you to our catering team) and ice cream, before our Year 11s bid farewell, leaving behind a tranquil common room and a nostalgic Head of Year.
Special thanks to Year 11 parents for their contributions to the final assembly and, above all, to our Year 11 cohort. Their impeccable conduct and vibrant presence made the day truly memorable and enjoyable for everyone involved.
