The week just concluding witnessed two of the most enjoyable occasions in the school calendar: the Junior and Senior House Sports Days. There was a particularly lovely atmosphere this year as pupils participated in their heats, cheered on by parents, family members and staff. Physical activity and, specifically competitive Games, has been a mainstay of Independent schools since the reform in Public School education led by figures such as Rugby’s Thomas Arnold in the nineteenth century, and culminating in the Public Schools Act of 1868. Arthur Wellesley supposedly once declared that ‘the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.’ Strength, grit, fortitude, determination, discipline and comradeship are all characteristics associated with sporting achievement. It is often said that there is no letter i in team and this speaks to the values of service and working towards a common goal. The Director of the National Army Museum referenced these exact same qualities when he addressed the boys at assembly last week. The formation of character doesn’t just help boys in their careers but can be a matter of life and death. We live in a world of ‘box ticking’ where everything must be standardised and quantified. Whether by accident or design, this mindset is a manifesto for mediocrity. It is a gift for the risk averse and the plodders. Excellence in character is far harder to quantify or indeed define, although Frederik in Year 6 made a good fist of it at assembly today when he described a man of character as someone with a distinctive personality. Nothing could be a more apt description of a St Anthony’s boy.
2026 Ampleforth College...
Congratulations to Kamso and Alex in Year 7 for their success in the 2026 Ampleforth...
Debating this Year
The Debating Society enjoyed a successful programme of matches against Ivy House School...
Literary Success at the D...
On 27 June, two of our talented young writers, Ned and Andrew, attended the awards...
Academic Highlights of...
The boys have enjoyed a wealth of opportunities to participate in competitions and quizzes...
Notes from the Head - 3...
There has been a great deal of coverage recently about the Government’s proposal to ban...
Notes from the Head - 26...
It is often said that necessity is the mother of invention and the challenges presented by...
Notes from the Head - 19...
The week just concluding witnessed two of the most enjoyable occasions in the school...
Notes from the Head - 12...
Pope Leo’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitatis, offers the opportunity to reflect on...
St Anthony's Pupils...
We are delighted to share the success of two St Anthony's pupils in the D.H. Lawrence...
Notes from the Head - 05...
Of all the Church’s articles of faith, perhaps one of the most difficult to understand...
St Anthony's talks to...
Curious about life at St Anthony's? Richard was interviewed by educational consultants...
Notes from the Head - 22...
The 1970s was a decade marked by paradoxes. For many it was a time of fun and freedom...
Notes from the Head - 15...
It is true to say that not everything of value can be weighed, calibrated or measured...
An Assembly about the...
At Senior House Assembly, we had a talk from Monsignor Phelim, Parish Priest of St Mary’s...
Notes from the Head - 08...
St Anthony’s hosted a Senior Schools’ Information event yesterday morning. The Hall was...
Art Showcase
On Wednesday 29th of April we celebrated the creative talents of St Anthony’s with our...
Notes from the Head - 24...
The importance of gratitude
The theme of this morning’s Senior House assembly was the...
A Midsummer Night’s Dream...
"The course of true love never did run smooth"
Well done to both Year 6 classes for...
Year 6 visit Cambridge...
On Tuesday, Year 6 pupils attended the Cambridge Schools’ Festival, where they...
Science Week takes a trip...
Science week was elevated to the next level, as boys were given Virtual Reality workshops...