Year 4 arrived at NCS their usual time on the Wednesday of Activities Week but it was far from a normal day as all the boys had their suitcases with them.

Congratulations to Alex Smith on becoming the Oxford Squash club champion at U13 and U15, the five counties champion at U13 which includes Oxfordshire, Berkshire and beyond. This means he is the highest nationally-ranked player in NCS history with an U11 ranking of 21.

Alex also represent the school in the IAPS National Championships and managed to get all the way to the last sixteen players in the country.

Sicily is the perfect destination for our Year 8 leavers’ trip: the sun shines pretty much the whole time, there are plenty of fascinating ruins and buildings to keep us occupied, the food is fantastic, and the beaches are beautiful.

The rousing choruses of The Pirates of Penzance had been emanating from the open windows of the school for weeks when the Years 3&4 production finally took to the stage on 21 and 22 June.

The leavers’ playreading has established itself as an event at the heart of the events enjoyed by our Year 8 and 8S boys, their families and friends, just before they depart for pastures new.

Having already read the play in our English lessons, Year 8 and 8S were excited to see the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Romeo and Juliet.