Mr Faasen (Head of Year 11) began the proceedings with words of congratulations to the most recent graduates of MHS. He expressed his pride at the way in which this group of students overcame such huge disruption to their learning during the Covid-19 epidemic. He praised their resilience, hard work and adaptability in the face of the unknown and expressed how truly impressive it is that, despite these challenges, they achieved remarkable academic and social success. We were reminded that many students had joined MHS as young boys, journeying through the school and are now ready to take on the world as confident young men, proud of their achievements and determined to succeed.

“Golly gosh gentlemen!  Didn’t you show the world what you are made of!”

 

Mr Clarkson (Deputy Head – Pastoral), was beamed in with a recorded message of congratulations to the Year 13 Class of 2024 for their extraordinary success and wished them the very best of luck with the next steps of their journey.

 

 

Whilst our Headmaster called each graduate to the stage, a proud smile filled each young man’s face as he shook hands with Mr Faasen and Miss Collington (Head of VI Form) and received his certificates, cheered on by the many parents, family and staff in the audience.

 

A MHS parent who came to accept his sons’ certificates on their behalf as they were unable to attend in person, asked to say a few words. This was unexpected but a very welcome addition to the evening’s proceedings. He spoke about how this celebration symbolised the end of an era in his sons’ education and being there to accept their certificates was testament to the school:

“The support and the ability to draw out of your children is something phenomenal in this school and everybody I speak to and everybody I discuss it with, who have children with dyslexia, I always highly recommend. My personal things are slightly different, I live and work [outside of the UK], so to send my children here was a great sacrifice but it’s highly worth it. Anybody that has the opportunity to bring their children here will only reap the benefits. Thank you very much.”

 

We are so grateful to have such a supportive community of parents and it is wonderful to hear first-hand that the MHS approach to teaching and learning and the support our students receive during their time at school has such a positive impact on their journey, transforming their futures.

 

Finally, the Headmaster took to the stage to end the formal celebrations, expressing his pride at the achievements of the young men who have completed their qualifications this year.

 

He reminded us that, so often, boys join MHS believing that the prospect of the future and facing the world after school is a frightening one. However, we see time and time again that it comes good. Every year students graduate from here confident and proud of themselves. They have control over their lives and the ability to choose pathways that are likely to yield success for them since they have so much a better understanding of themselves. Mr Hetherington also added that whilst the certificates awarded to the Year 11 and Year 13 students are important, they are not the sole point of education. We believe that education, and education at MHS in particular, is about so much more than that. Rather than representing the end of the journey, they should symbolise the start of a new one.

“It is the greatest privilege, the greatest honour, to be able to work with you, with those who have gone before you and with those who come after you… We are so proud of what you have achieved and we wish you the very, very best in the future.”