Agenda item

Leavers’ Bibles

A Governor commented that he was surprised to learn that pupils leaving the School in the Upper Fifth and choosing not to stay on at Sixth Form were no longer receiving School bibles as a leaving gift, given that some of these pupils may have attended the School for some 8-9 years at this stage. He stated that it was his understanding that these pupils had always received the leavers’ bible and that they should also be invited to attend the leavers’ service.

The Headmaster stated that the leavers’ bibles were a gift from Governors and that it could be argued that, if these were given to pupils leaving the Upper Fifth, they should be given to those leaving at other stages too. He added that staff were also not always aware in advance of those who would be leaving at the end of the Upper Fifth as decisions were often based on GCSE results. He added that some of those who left at Upper Fifth also chose to return to the Sixth Form if they were not satisfied with their choices elsewhere. In terms of inviting those pupils leaving at Upper Fifth to attend the Leavers Ceremony, the Headmaster highlighted that there were timing issues with this.

The Governor put it to the Board that, as the bibles were gifts from Governors, they should re-commence the issuing of these to those pupils leaving the School at the end of the Upper Fifth.

The Chairman was of the view that there were two clear ‘milestones’ at which the leavers’ bibles should be awarded, at post-GCSE and post A-Level. He asked the Headmaster to look at the logistics of this and to find an appropriate occasion at which the leavers’ bibles could be issued to those leaving in the Upper Fifth.

RESOLVED – That those pupils leaving the School in the Upper Fifth be awarded with Leavers’ bibles as had been the practice previously.