Baker’s Beacon Blog – Week 15

Dear Parents,

One of my father-in-law’s favourite catchphrases is “Never leave the house without a hat in your pocket”, and I was reassured to see so many of our Beacon boys following the same mantra this week with the drop in temperature.  Though it’s true that some don’t seem to feel the cold (old Challoner’s friend of mine, old Beacon in fact, famously wears shorts and little more than a t-shirt in all weathers), young people will often underestimate the temperature outside and not appreciate the danger of exposure for long periods, so please do send the boys in ‘winter ready’.  The early threat of snow next week seems to have dissipated but it’s worth reminding parents through this term that the School closes in only the most extreme weather – if in doubt, always assume we are open.  Many years ago at my previous headship in Central London, there was one day when all schools closed in the capital as all public transport routes were down due to a sudden snowfall.  Trying to be a hero, I managed to drive all the way in and when I arrived at the school entrance there was one of my pupils and his father sitting on the step.   “Did you not get the message, the school is closed because of the snow”, I declared.  “Mr Baker, please, I grew up in New York, this isn’t snow.  You Brits need to toughen up!” the parent replied…

A seminal time in our household this weekend as older son Patrick prepares for his 18^th birthday on Monday and mock A-Level exams.  That 18 years has gone way too quickly and whilst it’s difficult to comprehend that he will become an adult and leave school this year, I am very proud of the man he has now become.  He can stand on his own two feet, knows his own mind, even has a girlfriend…he seems ready for the next stage of his life.  And, encouragingly, he seems ready for his mocks next week.  I popped in on him last night and he was busy working through some notes with not a phone or airpod in sight.  I gave him a pep talk on how important exam preparation was, regaling him with the story of me being completely stumped with the first question of my GCSE Physics exam which read, ‘Why do you have to push backwards to move forwards? (2 marks)’.  Patrick rolled his eyes, “That’s a basic question, it simply relates to Newton’s Third Law of Motion – don’t you know anything Dad?”  Well, yes, I do thanks very much Patrick, and I certainly know that this little boy who never took that much interest in academics, has, as his teachers always predicted, reached academic maturity and become a completely independent learner.  Our boys always get there in the end…

Have a good weekend,

Nick Baker

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