I am sure your household has been as captivated as mine by the festival of world-class sport swirling all around us.

The excitement of the FIFA Women’s World Cup has been on our doorstep, and across the longitudes in South Africa, the Netball World Cup has just reached its conclusion. In recent weeks, we have been treated to the intense drama of the Tour de France, the Ashes, the Bledisloe. And, on a personal level, I must mention the NRL, which never fails to provide me solace on a Saturday night. Wherever we turn, whether in the street, the page of a newspaper, or a channel on the TV, there is a source of sporting inspiration in both words and pictures.

Even closer to home, at 6.00 am on a Monday, our sporting facilities are abuzz with activity, with our students spurred on by the same inspiration streaming through their social media stories and feeds. Swimmers stroke through the steam that rises from our pool in plumes; basketballers charge up and down the court, leaping and blocking; in the gym, boys and girls lift weights alongside each other, jump explosively onto plyometric boxes, and stretch methodically on mats. Without social barriers, they encourage and ‘spot’ each other when the weights and the challenge require. There is no hoo-ha, no whooping, and no jock antics; there are just young people connecting around a shared passion – with inspiration and aspiration – modelling what it takes to be the best version of themselves.

St Peter’s as a school must evolve as education and the interests and needs of our students evolve. As one example, in sporting terms, we have chosen to remodel our sports academies for 2024, to offer a high performance level of sport to a higher number of students. With thoughtful scheduling for 2024, we will include sport in the timetable for all students in Years 7 to 10 – alongside our PE and Health programmes – honouring our commitment to elevate the trajectory of the St Peter’s student journey and experience. Through our new approach to sport, we will not only ensure that the goals of our most aspirational athletes are supported, but more broadly, we will provide all students with the opportunity to benefit from the oversight and expert guidance of our most experienced sports leaders and coaches. In this regard, it will be an inclusive, educational, and developmental model and, importantly, one that will provide an equitable and enjoyable experience for our students. Please direct further queries about sport to our new Acting Director of Sport, Ms Ange Russek.

Unsurprisingly, the Arts have also been flourishing on campus in recent weeks. This week was filled with artistic and creative experiences with the Aspire Dance Show and the thought-provoking IB Art exhibition. Both events showcased the refined talents and dedicated efforts of our students, proving that exposure to the Arts – either as a performer or an audience member – teaches us the importance of human expression. Indeed, to be creative is a uniquely human quality, as no other species creates art with such purpose or meaning. Many agree that participation in the Arts provides the most powerful vehicle by which young people can develop those human skills which not only make us uniquely ourselves, but which are also valued so highly by employers; they are also skills that are desperately needed in a world where AI, robotics and machine learning will continue to do so much for us. As a school that embraces its responsibility to cultivate the next generation of citizens and leaders, it is imperative that, at St Peter’s, we continue to reflect on – and lean into – the purpose of a well-rounded and holistic education, and, through this, we continue to recognise the value of the Arts in the fundamental mission of education.

Finally, we received the sad news this week that Malcolm Waller, our longest-serving alumnus, passed away peacefully at his home in Auckland. Malcolm was a member of the 1936 cohort of students – the very first intake – who finished his years at St Peter’s, prestigiously, as Head Boy. I had the great privilege to visit Malcolm at his home this year, which remains a bright highlight of my time at St Peter’s. It was not just the warm hospitality of the Waller Family that made it so memorable, but also being in the company of a man of such virtuous character who could – quite spiritually – steady the room. It was delightful to look through old photos alongside Malcolm and to hear his stories. Unforgettably, when I asked Malcolm what he felt should be my focus as a new Head of School for St Peter’s – after some deep contemplation – he triumphantly declared, “Innovation!”. Overall, we send our deepest condolences to Malcolm’s wife, Barbara, and the wider Waller family, as we pause to remember a man who was so very proud to be a St Peter’s alumnus.

Marcus Blackburn - Head of School