As I write this, I imagine Year 5 and Year 6 donning their blue coats to celebrate, with pride and confidence, the history of our great school. Yes, today we all celebrate Founders’ Day, in the august surroundings of St Philip’s Cathedral. 

And later today we hope to be ‘in the pink’; to build on what has been a momentous episode in Blue Coat’s sporting history. We wish our Year 5 and Year 6 footballers good luck in the final of the Harborne Cup competition. This prestigious match, in which we take on Our Lady of Fatima, will take place at Lordswood Boys School at 4.30pm.

These talented soccer players will have something to live up to, with our Under 11 cricketers having underlined their potential last weekend at Malvern College.

At the group stage in the Eight8 competition, we were unbeaten winning all four games, having had close-run matches against Packwood Haugh and St Hugh’s. In the semi-final we reduced Prestfelde to 30 in their eight overs and chased this total down in three. 

Tension mounted, and in the final we set Packwood 77 to win thanks to some impressive batting from Toby W and Aditya S. With impressively tight bowling performances from James, Hugo, Ismaeel, Toby, and Vidur. BCS won by a significant margin of 17 runs. Toby and Aditya were both named Batters of the Tournament for their impressive displays and the AJ Murtagh trophy returned to Blue Coat with a delighted bunch of boys.

Variety being the spice of sporting life – and even though we are in Spring – the BCS ski team was in action on Monday competing in the IAPS Indoor Ski Championships. 

Fresh from their exploits in Italy earlier in the season, our team skied well and with impressive determination. They should all be commended on their efforts.

Still on the sporting theme, Emily in Year 6 will this weekend compete at Millfield School in the IAPS Nationals for fencing. This is a sport Emily trains for out of school. We wish her every success in this event and we look forward to her report in next week’s Update.

It’s lovely to win, but we cannot always come out on top. On Monday, when I had the pleasure of addressing the school during the weekly Pause for Thought assembly, I discussed the importance of encouragement, both of yourself and of others. 

It is so important that we treat others as we wish to be treated and that, while ensuring that we are the best version of ourselves that we can be, we are kind to ourselves. It was gratifying afterwards to amplify this topic, discussing it around school with a number of girls and boys.

Last week Year 4 gave an excellent recital, filled with superb musicianship, and Year 3 followed suit this week, delivering a first rate recital themselves. I must congratulate both years on their work ethic. This is further proof that music at BCS is in great hands. Well done all.

It was wonderful to welcome the Heads of English from KEHS and KES this week to discuss English at their Schools. This will help us plan and further develop our already high expectations. Like Mr Brown, our Assistant Head Learning and Teaching, Mrs Ayub felt that this was a most beneficial meeting, not least because it will enhance the relationship between our schools.

By now you should be in receipt of our exciting and innovating plans for the future here at BCS. The innovations will prove invaluable in your child’s learning in the 21st century, and I am very grateful for the wonderful support we have already received from many parents.

Meanwhile, a happy weekend to all.