Headmaster's Newsletter
Friday 3 July 2026
Dear Parents,
We are very lucky that we get to work with a lot of talent here at NCS, and our Year 8 leavers embody that talent. They have been excellent company, mutually supportive, kind and good humoured. They have taken full advantage of the broad and creative education they get at NCS, applying their curiosity and talents in so many different areas. They have experienced notable success in academic exams, in music, in sport, and in their excellent performance of ‘Richard II’ in Michaelmas. But in this morning’s prizegiving ceremony I also talked about them getting the right balance between pride in one’s talents and achievements and humility.
We live in what is often called an ‘attention economy’ – human attention is treated as a scarce commodity and, if people want to make money out of us, they need to capture that attention to then sell us things. That is why we are bombarded with institutions telling us how ‘thrilled’ they are with their achievements, or the achievements of people that work within them. I’m afraid this does extend to schools, and we are not immune – say – from highlighting achievements like being listed as ‘Best for Music’ and the best boys’ city prep school in The Week’s Independent Schools Guide. Whenever I see such achievements posted, and then posted again, on social media, I wonder how exhausted these institutions must be at being ‘thrilled’ the whole time.
Humility is one of the quiet strengths that shapes not only successful pupils, but decent human beings. It is the ability to recognise that no matter how much we achieve, there is always more to learn, more ways to develop, and more people who help us along the way. Humility reminds us to stay grounded, to listen carefully, and to treat others with respect. It encourages us to accept both praise and criticism with grace, understanding that neither defines us completely.
At a prizegiving, it is easy to focus only on achievement, but being humble gives those achievements deeper meaning. It allows us to celebrate success without arrogance and to support others without envy. Truly humble individuals lift those around them: they share credit, show kindness, and lead by example. Humility does not hold us back; it carries us further, helping us build character, earn respect, and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
So while it is perfectly acceptable and healthy to have quiet pride in our achievements, we need to be careful that this does not lead to showing off. There are some very practical reasons for this: we have to coexist in society, in our workplaces, in our friendship groups, and few people want to spend time with people who boast the whole time. They do want to be around talented and interesting people, but it is not for individuals themselves to tell those around them how talented and interesting they are. The most interesting people we will meet in our lives will be the ones who don’t brag about their achievements; some of those people won’t even mention their successes. They will not spend their whole time saying that they are better than Person X at Subject, Instrument or Sport Y. They will just get on with it, and let their accomplishments quietly speak for themselves. But, as I say, this becomes more and more challenging in a world where an achievement can’t just happen, it has to be broadcast loudly, usually on social media.
So as our Year 8s leave NCS and begin their lives at secondary school, then university, and then the workplace, I encourage them to hold close the values that they have experienced and learnt here – at the school that will probably end up being the most formative institution in their lives. The importance of respect and kindness, the appreciation of beauty, of curiosity and creativity, and of high standards balanced with humility in their many and significant achievements. They are always welcome back here on Savile Road, to let us know how they are getting on, or to ask our advice. That goes for their parents too! At the same time, they should look forward with excitement and optimism at all that stretches out ahead.
Thank you for everything you have done for the NCS community this year, and I look forward to seeing you back at the gate in September. Have a wonderful summer vacation.
Matt Jenkinson
We have had a very busy final week of term! Our Year 8s enjoyed playing their parents at cricket on Monday. Many congratulations to the choristers for their beautiful concert on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday morning we had our Year’s End service in chapel, with music and readings from across the school; then in the evening we had our leavers’ concert, taking place in the New Space in Gradel Quad. Yesterday pre-prep put on their Summer Show before, at the other end of the school, our Year 8s took their final bow as they performed a play-reading of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the cloisters over in College. Many thanks to all my colleagues who prepared and supported the boys over rather a large number of special end-of-year events!
The end of Trinity 2026 sees Miles Young come to the end of his ten-year term as the NCS Chair of Governors, as he retires as Warden of New College. Miles has been a resolute and passionate supporter of all that NCS does, especially its importance as an integral part of William of Wykeham’s original foundation, and its vital part of the New College operation. Miles has always taken seriously his commitment to the school and I am sure the boys will especially miss the very generous prizes he has given during his chapel address ‘quizzes’.
James Hodgson also steps down from NCS governance, as he boards his flight to Rome to become the founding Head of the new Brighton College outpost there. James’s wisdom, as one of the best senior Heads in the country, has been much-valued, as have his cheerful and committed support of NCS.
Our violin teacher, Gabi Maas, will be leaving NCS at the end of this academic year while Sarah Brown, our visiting drama teacher who has worked at NCS for the past six years, will also be departing. We would like to thank them both for lending us their considerable talents, and for enthusing the boys so energetically in the creative arts. Sarah’s record in LAMDA exams, in particular, has been spectacular.
From September 2026 the NCS Chair of Governors will be the new Warden of New College, Sir Robin Niblett. Until 2022, Sir Robin was Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Institute for International Affairs, Chatham House, and prior to this was Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. Currently, he is the Director of Ledwell Advisory and a member of the International Advisory Board of Brown Advisory, the US investment firm. He is a Distinguished Fellow of both Chatham House and the Asia Society Policy Institute and a Senior Adviser with CSIS. He is also a member of the Board of Overseers of the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
Robin has previously held policy advisory positions with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, and chaired the 2014 NATO Experts Group. A leading expert on the relations between Europe, the US, and Asia, he is the author most recently of The New Cold War: How the Contest Between the US and China Will Shape Our Century, which was published by Atlantic Books in 2024. In 2022, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael & St George for services to international relations and British foreign policy. He read Modern Languages (French and German) at New College as an undergraduate and returned there for an MPhil and DPhil in International Relations.
James Hodgson’s successor at Bedford, Michael Sloan, will be joining the NCS governors from September 2026. Michael studied Ancient History at Newcastle, before attending Sandhurst and serving for six years as an infantry officer, during which time he was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. Following his teacher training at Bristol, Michael taught at Emanuel School in London. He was then Deputy Head at Brighton College before being appointed Head of King’s, Taunton, in 2022. Michael has also been a governor of a number of prep schools and is an ISI inspector.
In Michaelmas our School Counsellor, Susie Galbraith, will reduce her NCS duties to one day per week. Joining her at NCS will be Bethan Illman. Bethan is currently School Counsellor at Matthew Arnold School, having also been School Counsellor at The Grey Coat Hospital School in London and Pastoral Lead at Oxford Spires. She studied at Queen Mary and Goldsmiths, University of London, before reading for her MSc in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling for Children and Adolescents at Birkbeck. Bethan is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead for a small charity.
Ken Campbell will be joining us as a Teaching Assistant at NCS from September 2026. Ken read for his PGCE at Oxford having read Philosophy and German at Oriel College. He has since accumulated educational experience in roles at Gillotts School, The Marlborough School, Wood Green School, Emmanuel School, and as a tutor in a children’s home. Ken has also been a children’s football coach for Oxford United, the Oxfordshire Football Association, and Smart Soccer International in the USA. More recently, Ken has been working in the Academic Office and Careers Service at the University of Oxford.
Finally, Josh Law will be our new violin teacher from September. Josh is currently studying on the Orchestral Artistry MMus at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra, having previously graduated from Guildhall with a BMus in Classical Viola. As a performer, Josh has worked with ensembles including English National Ballet, Orion Orchestra, Young Musicians’ Symphony Orchestra, Giardino Strings, Lumos Live and the Imogen Quartet. He was formerly principal viola of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Chamber Orchestra. Josh also currently teaches violin and viola at Beachborough School and privately; he has previously taught at Swanbourne House School. He has also worked with Wells Cathedral School, the LSO East London Academy, Guildhall Young Artists, Music in Offices and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
There will be a slight change to our form tutor teams from September. Jan Alden will become form tutor for Year 5, while Natalie Bath will move to become assistant form tutor for Year 3.
We will run our usual Reading in Interesting Places competition over the summer. If your son wishes to submit a photo of himself reading in an interesting place, please do so by sending a high-resolution JPG to office@newcollegeschool.org by Monday 7 September. I would love to read what the boys have been up to over the summer, so if any of them keep holiday diaries please do send these in via the school office at the start of the new academic year.
The theme for our annual SHTEAM Festival next Hilary will be ‘Communication and Connection’. We will be exploring this theme from many different angles across all our subjects, running talks and workshops, as well as incorporating the theme in our day-to-day lessons. If there are any parents, taking into account their specialist knowledge, who would like to offer a talk or workshop to the boys on an aspect of ‘Communication and Connection’, do please contact emma.krebs@newcollegeschool.org.
Our (at least) annual reminder that the school’s Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) policy is always available to view via the drop-down menu at https://www.newcollegeschool.org/wellbeing-and-happiness. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact either Brett Morrison on brett.morrison@newcollegeschool.org or myself via office@newcollegeschool.org. Meanwhile, the school’s Attendance and Registration policy is always available at https://www.newcollegeschool.org/attendance-and-registration The Oxford Children’s Book Group is hosting ‘Snarks, Rhymes and Riddles’ at the Treacle Well, St Margaret’s Church in Binsey on 5 July, 14.00-16.00. This is a free family event to celebrate Alice’s Day 2026, with crafts, games, book stalls and storytelling.
Upcoming Events
Monday 07 September 2026 INSET for Staff, 9.00-16.00 Tuesday 08 September 2026 INSET for Staff, 9.00-16.00 Wednesday 09 September 2026 Start of Term After School Enrichment Activities start (pre-prep and prep) 9.00 Chapel. Speaker: The Headmaster Thursday 10 September 2026 9.00 Portrait photos Saturday 12 September 2026 9.30 OCCO INSET (staff only) Monday 14 September 2026 18.00 Reception and Year 1 form tutor information evening, Form Rooms, followed by drinks in Dining Room 18.30 18.00 Years 2-3 form tutor information evening and introduction to the prep school, Auditorium 18.30 Year 2 & 3 meetings with form tutors in form rooms, followed by drinks in the Dining Room 19.00 Tuesday 15 September 2026 18.00 Years 4-6 form tutor information evening, internet safety and 13+ destinations briefing Wednesday 16 September 2026 VMT Music lessons begin 9.00 Chapel. Speaker: The Chaplain Thursday 17 September 2026 9.00 Reception assessments for September 2027 18.00 Years 7-8 form tutor information evening and PSB briefing Friday 18 September 2026 9.00 Reception assessments for September 2027 9.00 Year 3 and 4 Wittenham Clumps all day Saturday 19 September 2026 9.00 OCCO commences