Headteacher’s Report: Andy H delivers his pupil-by-pupil verdict on season 2018/19

First of all, let me apologise if the tone of this year’s report is overly sentimental. Maybe it’s the bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 I confiscated from young McLean talking, but I feel that this year, more than any other in my 30+ years of teaching, I’ve had the time of my life. Yes, I’ve never felt this way before. I swear. It’s the truth. And I owe it all to “Yoof”.

Or at least partly.

But without further digression, our boys’ final grades for this year.

Krul, T. [ A- ]
Krul was one of the few boys recruited by Mr Webber that I had heard of before he arrived at the school. Despite a prodigious reputation it quickly became clear that young Krul had spent a lot of time away from classroom activities, and he made some early elementary errors as he struggled to keep pace with his classmates. However, the further the year progressed, the more confident and influential Krul became. A popular and likeable lad, he earned the respect of everyone with some excellent results when set the most strenuous of tests.

Aarons, M. [ A+ ]
Often when one of the juniors steps up to join the senior boys, they become overawed by the challenge. Even those that do well initially will face peaks and troughs in their performance, as they find it difficult to maintain a consistent level with their more mature peers. I have never seen a junior slot into a senior class so effortlessly. From the most challenging of first tests, all the way through to the final exams, Aarons has been, without a shadow of a doubt, the best junior in the country. An exceptional talent, calm, mature beyond his years, it has been a privilege watching this young man develop.

Pinto, I. [ C ]
Pinto is a young man with many fine traits, who has never given less than his all for this school, so it is with a heavy heart that we bid him goodbye. His opportunities to impress in class were severely limited this term and he deserves to find a school that can make the most of his talents.

Lewis, J. [ A ]
Very much an unsung hero amongst the class, he was not even mentioned as a front runner for valedictorian, such was the proliferation of candidates. He was however acknowledged nationally for his achievements and quite rightly so. Lewis quietly had himself an outstanding year, passing every test set for him with aplomb. Unlike last year, when he stepped up as a junior, his performance was not subject to losses of form, and this term he was the model of consistency. An incredibly impressive year.

Hanley, G. [ B- ]
Our Head Boy suffered health issues early in the year and after recuperating with Matron, he returned to class to find his place had been taken. A lesser boy would have taken umbrage at this and demanded reinstatement by Herr Farke, but instead, Hanley not only tolerated the decision but actively encouraged his colleagues to be all they could be, placing the school ahead of his own ego. In this way, Hanley has been as much a part of the school’s success as any of his classmates.

Klose, T. [ B+ ]
For the first half of the year, Klose was outstanding and a candidate for valedictorian. However, like his friend Hanley, he was supplanted in class after the briefest of absences and has been unable to re-establish himself in the pecking order since. One of the class clowns, and immensely popular with all, it is hoped that Klose will choose to continue his studies at our school next year. It certainly would not be the same without him.

Godfrey, B. [ A ]
Another young man to make the step up from the juniors, envious eyes around the country are being cast at one of our school’s shining talents. Whilst Godfrey has not been entirely faultless in his development, he has displayed that key ability to learn from his mistakes and not repeat them. Diligent and unflappable, Herr Farke’s trust in him was rewarded with increasingly mature displays as the year progressed. A wonderful breakthrough year, with the promise of more to come.

Zimmermann, C. [ A+ ]
Narrowly pipped to valedictorian, Zimmermann was a model of professionalism and consistency. Taking over Head Boy duties from Hanley did not faze him in the slightest, and if anything, it spurred him on to even greater heights. With the young boys around him needing guidance, despite being far from ready for graduation himself, Zimmermann took on the role of leader and his maturity shone through. Had he given up his studies early as he had once planned it would have been a tragic waste of a huge talent. This boy is special.

Tettey, A. [ B ]
Another who started the year at the heart of the class but found it difficult to return after absence, such was the competition for grades this year. Before his absence, Tettey was having a very good year. Those who believed that he would not thrive under Herr Farke’s teaching methods continued to be proved wrong by some sterling performances. Tettey has clearly reached the stage of his education where he knows which subjects he excels in and which he finds difficult, and he plots his studies accordingly very well, working with the other boys to accentuate his strengths. A last hurrah awaits next year and well deserved it will be too.

Trybull, T. [ A ]
Like Godfrey, Trybull had to wait for almost half the year for his chance to impress, but when he got the opportunity he took it with both hands. Trybull combines the neat efficiency that evokes his home nation with the spirit and tenacity of the British Bulldog. When Trybull is performing well, the whole class performs well, and he has cemented his place now ahead of next term at the heart of all we do. An exceptional half-season.

Thompson, L. [ B- ]
Matron and I have often joked that this boy must be her favourite as he tends to visit her every chance he gets. Herr Farke is always impressed with the way Thompson performs in class when he gets the opportunity, but, as with previous years, his issue has been remaining healthy enough to take part in lessons. To his credit, Thompson never ceases working to get back to full health, and he will hope to get his chance in class again next year.

Leitner, M. [ B+ ]
Sublimely talented, Leitner will be amongst those senior boys who will feel a little personally frustrated with their own involvement as the class were performing so well without them, but again, they can be extremely proud with the part they played regardless. Leitner has the ability to set the tempo for the rest of the class and this will be invaluable next year as our boys face far more difficult tests. We all expect him to be a key figure once again.

Vrancic, M. [ A ]
Little more can be asked of Vrancic than what he has given this year. The most effective student in the country in terms of scores per test, he took every opportunity given to him and made a difference every time. It was perhaps fitting that his results were key to the school’s final success this year. A key member of the class for next season.

McLean, K. [ B+ ]
Absent in sickbay for the first half of the year, McLean established himself in class and got better as the year progressed. Whilst his recent antics on the bus trip to City Hall were noted for their exuberance, he has earned the right to enjoy himself. A hard worker, McLean is also more talented than many give him credit for, and he is capable of some intricate technical work. It will be interesting to see how he maintains his progress next term.

Marshall, B. [ C ]
I was very excited by the arrival of Marshall at our school, but he failed to take advantage of his opportunities. Whilst he was willing to take on many different subjects, he did not excel in any of them. By half-term, he was not getting the attention he wanted in class and demanded the chance to temporarily transfer back to his old alma mater. Thankfully this failed to result in a situation that disadvantaged our school, but it was clearly not appreciated by Herr Farke or Mr Webber and I would be surprised if he remained here next year.

Buendia, E. [ A+ ]
An outrageously talented young man, he has been a breath of fresh air at the school. I expected him to be intelligent and technically skilled but when combined with tenacity and a voracious appetite for hard work you have all the ingredients for a world-class student. When Maddison transferred schools, we thought we’d lost our best student in years. It turns out that we not only replaced him but got an even better one. The stage shall be Buendia’s next year.

Hernandez, O. [ A- ]
Hopes were high coming into the new school year that Hernandez could build on an impressive opening six months and a full summer of preparation, to be the dynamic, exciting student we needed. He did not disappoint. At times he was inspirational and unstoppable. Even when he went through quieter times, particularly towards the end of year exams when nerves clearly affected him, his work rate remained prodigious. A joker and a favourite of his classmates, he will surely enjoy the opportunity he has helped create next year.

Cantwell, T. [ B+ ]
For a junior with virtually no previous experience of being in a senior class to have made the step up and appeared in class so many times is something that any other year would seem exceptional. In this year, however, it appears almost mundane. We should not lose sight of quite what a breakthrough young Cantwell has made, however, and how much a part of the class’s success he has been. Present for many of our most impressive test results, Cantwell is at his best when he is being impudent and trying the unexpected in class. He is maturing into a quality student, but I do hope he retains his sense of mischief and adventure too. It will be interesting to see what Herr Farke plans for him next year.

Stiepermann, M. [ A ]
A unique student, he has the talent and ability to succeed in so many different subjects. Herr Farke’s decision to move him closer to the front of the class has paid dividends. Stiepermann’s quiet strength and ability to help those around him has been essential to our progress as a class this year. Nobody fights harder or makes more from their talents than Stiepermann, and he deserves possibly more praise than he has been given. An inspirational journey was made this year.

Srbeny, D. [ B+ ]
Like Vrancic, his record of success per minutes in class was out of this world, and he is unlucky not to have been involved more in lessons. He has clearly adapted much better to the country and its style of education now, and he knows how to make an impact upon lessons when he is called for. He may be one who becomes a victim of the school’s immediate success, but if he does move on, he will be a better and more educated student as a result. As it is though, I would love to see him remain next year. His work and attitude deserve a place with us.

Rhodes, J. [ B+ ]
Rhodes has been a highly rated student at this level for many years and he in no way disappointed anyone this year. That he did not play the part that was envisaged for him is not down to him, but to the incredible and unexpected results of another boy who, unfortunately for Rhodes, rather stole his thunder. To his immense credit, Rhodes was a model student and accepted the situation without complaint, remaining available at a moment’s notice, ready and willing to be tested. I suspect there is a fair chance he will not return next year but he takes with him our thanks for all he did during his time at the school.

Pukki, T. [ A+ ]
When Mr Webber announced he was bringing this boy from Scandinavia to the school the best I could manage was an ignorant shrug. I had not heard of Master Pukki, and he seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. A year later and both I, and every school in the country are well aware of Master Pukki and what he can do. He has passed every conceivable test set for him this year and then raised the bar some more. He works hard, he is very professional and is willing to work just as hard to help his classmates as he does to help himself. Success as a team is built on individuals such as Master Pukki. A most worthy valedictorian.

Herr Farke. [ A+ ]
I freely admit that after the first month of the school year I was beginning to doubt whether Herr Farke was going to be able to produce the plans for the class he had laid out upon his arrival at the school. Whilst we liked our students and Herr Farke greatly, the total appeared less than the sum of its parts. However, once Herr Farke brought Buendia and Aarons to class for the first time, the previous lack of cohesion seemed to evaporate, and our test scores just got better and better. The students all rose to greater heights, both collectively and individually. Herr Farke’s real genius has been to keep the students riding the crest of this wave and supporting each other to climb greater heights still. He has proven to be an outstanding teacher and incredibly respected and beloved within the school community. All credit to Herr Farke for creating a truly memorable year for everyone.