Rhubarb 2021

Last October The Olivier Hall opened next door to the Christie Centre. Named after Laurence Olivier OSE, this 1,000-seater auditorium is a bright, wood-lined space with state of the art audio and visual equipment that enables the whole school to come together for events and performances.We have already seen carol services, drama productions and presentations benefit from its excellent layout and acoustics and the Dance Show at the cumulation of Gaudy week worked brilliantly in this fantastic new venue. Both the Christie Centre and Olivier Hall were designed by TSH Architects.

Over 50 prep school heads and academic directors attended a seminar in May run by St Edward’s academic staff to discuss our new Pathways and Perspectives courses, as well as wider developments in assessment. Our staff explained how our courses fit into the national and international conversation about the future of education, the educational research upon which the programme is built, and howTeddies is leading the way in the delivery of a curriculum for the 21st century.

At the end of the Summer Term, Gaudy week shone brightly with concerts, drama productions and cricket, with pupils involved in performing, watching or supporting music, dance, drama and art all week long. Highlights were the Gaudy Concert with our Concert band and Choirs performing individual pieces and four Upper Sixth pupils showcasing their solo talents; the Shell performance of TheWardrobe that took spectators on a tour around the Quad side of School to watch a series of vignettes performed in four enormous wardrobes in choice locations on a sunny summer’s evening; and the Dance Show, the first full production show in the Olivier Hall where energetic and thrilling dance moves combined with a spell-binding light show and soundtrack. Despite restrictions, we even managed a marquee with Speeches and Prize-Givings to mark the end of a very busy year at the School of which pupils, parents and staff can be rightly proud.

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