Altrincham Prep: A Letter from the Chairman
A message from Andrew Hill, the Chairman of Altrincham Preparatory School for Boys and a grandson of the founder of the school, at the beginning of the new academic year.
“The start of every school year brings excitement, opportunities and new friends. However, it also brings challenge and uncertainty. Every year of a pupil’s journey increases the challenge slightly, allowing them to grow and learn. Whether it is moving from Early Years to Year 1, or preparing for the Grammar School entrance exams, each year has that exciting feeling of being new, being different.
I wonder how our boys felt back in 1936 when my grandfather founded Altrincham Prep? I think that the same feelings of excitement and trepidation followed those boys back then. For almost 90 years we have been welcoming boys each September, and although technology and teaching trends have changed over the decades, the fundamental care that pupils need as they embark on each new school year remains the same. It’s that reassuring message from experienced teachers who have walked the road many times before – we’ve got this.
Today, it is even more vital for schools to provide the experience of traditional academic lessons but also, crucially, that extra breadth of experience and exposure of pupils to activities that might spark a lifelong passion.
Who knew that when we started teaching hockey, we would be nurturing a current England international goalkeeper? Maybe the brain behind a major technology breakthrough is currently learning in our Science Laboratory? When we complete our new climbing wall next month, will we ignite that fire in a future Everest explorer?
All schools have a duty to make sure that their pupils have the best, broadest and most engaging experience that they can provide. Our message to you as parents is the same as the one to our boys: with almost ninety years of experience – we’ve got this.
My best wishes to your family for the year ahead.“
