School Profile – Whitgift School

At the foundation of Whitgift’s educational ambition for its boys are far-reaching academic and social values which will impact their lives and the lives of those with whom they will come into contact, both now and in the future.

Headmaster Chris Ramsey comments, “We want our boys to be thought leaders, giving back to society and embracing diversity. We celebrate our values of diversity, respect for difference and equality, understanding that we become stronger by listening and learning together.”

In a year that has seen not only a pandemic but also major movement for social change and justice, Whitgift is well positioned to effect change. The school is made up of a wide cross-section of society from a wide catchment area, with pupils from all backgrounds.

“Based on where we are and what we can offer to potential pupils including many bursaries and scholarships, it is natural for us to attract diversity, but we mustn’t be complacent. It is important to work on inclusion and to keep conversations and actions happening,” continues Ramsey.

The school runs a range of societies, many of them student-initiated and led, including the Afro-Caribbean Society and QueerSoc. Teachers are happy to be approached with new suggestions and will gladly set up inspiring forums for boys to meet, discuss and debate the important issues of today. “The groups talk frankly about current and historical issues, about Black Lives Matter for instance; there’s always an open door to talk,” says Alistair Osborne, Whitgift Assistant Head.

Staff have a great desire to effect change and, working alongside parents, see it as their role to support developing the whole boy. Clearly there is a great deal going on in the world – discussions are happening, there is action and there is cultural change. Whitgift is keen to help change the story.

Giving back to the community is a fundamental aspect of being a Whitgiftian. Director of Partnerships and Community, Andy Marlow has created an incredible number of relationships with the local community, many of which involve the boys directly, such as sixth formers volunteering at local schools.

“What we can do, we are doing or are busy planning. Our vision is that every boy in school should be involved in some form of ‘giving back’. Boys appreciate the privilege of being at Whitgift and understand that they need to ‘look outside’ their own immediate world.”

This summer saw another Community School for Year 5s from local primaries, something that was instigated in 2020 to support the loss of learning brought about by the first lockdown.

Despite the difficulties of recent times, Whitgift’s Vision 2025 is on track, even fast forwarded in many areas. The laptop roll- out is now complete for the first four years with other year groups following soon, and exciting plans for the Sixth Form Centre have been brought forward, planning permission permitting. Boys at the top of the school will benefit from a state-of- the-art space on campus to call their own, to inspire learning with one eye on their higher education and future careers.

Above all, boys have learnt to appreciate more than ever before the opportunity that being a Whitgiftian brings, with its strong ethos of values to carry them forward, outward looking, in life.