What’s New? Independent School End of Year Traditions

As another school year draws to a close, we round up some of the best end of year traditions at independent schools around the country.

Best UK School End of Year Traditions

Inspirational Speaker at Port Regis Speech Day

Port Regis were delighted to welcome Debra Searle MVO, MBE to speak and present the prizes at their annual Speech Day on Friday 8 July. Debra is a professional adventurer and motivational speaker. She first hit the headlines when she set out to row across the Atlantic with her husband, but was forced to continue alone when disaster struck. Despite being a novice rower she made it: rowing 3,000 miles from Tenerife to Barbados, battling 30 foot waves, sharks and Force 8 squalls. She has also launched five companies, won World Championship medals for Great Britain, presented over 40 programmes for the BBC, had two books published, become the youngest ever trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and is the founder of the Business Network Forum.

A truly inspirational woman, Debra encouraged both Port Regis pupils and their parents to ‘choose the right attitude’. With the right mindset, we can all transform our work and personal lives and ‘kick the can’t out of life’.

To find out more about Port Regis, click here, or go to the Port Regis’ website.

‘All Together Now!’ Tonbridge School Community Day

More than 600 primary school children took part in a wide range of activities during Tonbridge School’s Community Day on Wednesday 3 July.

Boys and staff teamed up with children from 16 primary schools, special schools and community groups, encouraging them to try their hand at something new and have fun along the way.

A total of 29 activities were on offer, including performance poetry, arts and crafts, climbing, science classes, model-making, a book fair, various sports, photography, creative writing, dance, drama, wheelchair basketball, digital creativity and music.

This popular event is a key part of the school’s commitment to social responsibility. Schools and community groups were looked after by the school’s first year boys, while the activities were run by sixth formers and school staff. 

On the same day, Tonbridge’s 2nd and 3rd years raised more than £14,000 by walking a half-marathon circular route from the school in support of Child Action Lanka, raising funds for the charity’s new Education Centre in Batticaloa. The centre will transform the educational provision provided to more than 800 children in six communities in the Batticaloa (east coast) region of Sri Lanka. 

Juliet Burnett, Tonbridge School’s Community Action Manager, said: ‘Whole School Community Day is our flagship event in a busy year of community, volunteering and charitable activities. It’s one of the most important days in the school calendar and, we hope, delivers lasting benefits for all involved – for our boys and staff, and for our local and wider community.’

To find out more about Tunbridge School, click here,or visit the Tonbridge School website.

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