1646 – Issue 2

What’s been happening at RBC 2019 1. In early April, after numerous training events, countless emails and many a kit check, our team of 16 intrepid Year 8 and 9 boys set off on their Junior Expedition to Morocco . 2. In May, the School hosted its annual Race for Life . A grand total of £3560.10 was raised by members of the Reading Blue Coat community, and the Race was won by Headmaster Jesse Elzinga. 3. Swing Into Summertime was another roaring success, and saw members of the Reading Blue Coat family come together for a perfect June evening of music, comedy and community. 4. July saw Blue Coat make history at Henley Royal Regatta as the first VIII won the first round of the Princess Elizabeth Cup against Boston College High School from the USA. They were unfortunately knocked out by Shiplake College in the second round. 5. The Class of 2019 achieved record-breaking A Level Results in August, with a 98.9% pass rate and 41.4% of all grades awarded being A*-A! 6. September saw the start of a new term, and with it came exciting new challenges. The Aldworth Partnership empowers pupils to give back to the community from which they are given so much. Here, pupils are spending time with youngsters from Highwood Primary in Woodley, and having a great time while doing so! 7. In October, the School opened its doors to the public for the biannual Open Morning . Headmaster Jesse Elzinga gave four talks to over 148 families throughout the morning. 8. The triennial visit of the Archbishop Laud Charitable Trust happened in November 2019, and members of the community gathered to sign the ledger of the Trust; a document that dates back to 1640! 9. Among the School’s Christmas celebrations was the annual Carol Service at St. Andrew’s Church in Sonning. In December, the service was led by our very own Rev Kate Toogood who is the School’s Chaplain. 2020 10. The New Year saw Year 7 pupils travel to Oxford for a day of discovery . In January, their stop was the Natural History Museum, followed shortly by the Museum of Science History! 11. February welcomed the Senior Production of Our House to Way Hall, which was worked on by over 60 members of the Blue Coat Community. The all-singing, all-dancing show was a true success. 12. Among our now 785 pupils, young Kaiden L (Year 7) worked hard to keep up with his remote workload. 13. Middle School pupils were taken off timetable to enjoy some time with their peers and tutors in the Autumn Term. 14. The socially distanced recording of the School Orchestra’s recital of the Reading Blue Coat Commemoration Hymn took place in time for the virtual Grand Concert . 15. Pupils and Staff gathered at the memorial for the School Remembrance Service . The service was streamed live to pupils in classrooms throughout the School and to the wider Blue Coat Community at home. (Year 13s Squadron Corporal Major Ben Y, Miguel N, Harvey R and Toby W, Year 12s Cpl Archie P and Finn W and Year 11 L Cpl Tytus M) 11 12 13 14 15 5