12 May 2025
Mr Phil Abbot, Head of Sixth Form
What a week it was as the Upper Sixth counted down their ‘last evers’ – last tutor time, last House assembly, last lesson - until it really was their last ever, last ever at Woldingham.
They led their final whole school assembly, raising the roof of the auditorium with Shine Jesus Shine and closing with a rousing performance from High School Musical, accompanied by photos and video clips from their journey that provided an early test for my ability not to get all leaky eyed around leavers’ events.
On Friday 9 May, the leavers’ day to close the week was the perfect mixture of formality and fun that I hope has left them with a new batch of forever memories. After a very fancy brunch, students entered the chapel clutching white roses for a lovely Mass, celebrated by Bishop Richard Moth. He wished them every success for what he described as the “little tests” they had coming up, and the Upper Sixth students who have done so much for the chaplaincy over the years - reading, serving, singing or playing instruments – gave us one last memorable service to enjoy together.
The day closed with an altogether less reflective and serene event on Pergola Lawn, as the students enjoyed a carefree afternoon in the sunshine, bouncing on inflatables, enjoying ice cream, adorning themselves with face paints and consuming vast amounts of candy floss – or at least as much of it as I could get on the stick and not my arm. It was lovely to see them able to park the worries of the weeks ahead and enjoy these final moments of friendship and joy together in the valley.
We look forward to seeing them all together again for Speech Day and the Leavers’ Ceremony and Ball but, for now, we wish them every success in their exams and thank them for everything they have done and everything they have been – an absolute bundle of positivity and fun. We are going to miss them very much.