Student Heads of School 2024/25

We have been blessed with three amazing individuals as Heads of School this year and I have been extremely fortunate to have them by my side at two OW events. As we thank them for what they have given us, they share what Woodbridge has given them.

Mrs James, Alumni and Engagement Officer

James, Head Boy 24/25

It feels absolutely bizarre to be writing this article having finished my time at Woodbridge – it genuinely feels like yesterday that I took that first mildly terrifying walk into the front of assembly! It has been a pleasure to be Woodbridge’s Head Boy during the last year. Georgie and I have immensely enjoyed prioritising student voice – founding a student council, holding lunches with Year 7s and 8s, and visiting the Prep School to talk about senior school life.

In our Speech Day speech, Georgie and I talked continually about ‘fun’ in the Woodbridge community. Admittedly this could sound like some AI-generated ‘buzz word’, but this is far from the case. I will of course remember Woodbridge for stretching and developing me hugely academically, instilling within me a passion for Theatre and English which I know I will hold for the rest of my life, and for teaching me so many essential life skills that I will no doubt so often use as I head to university. Yet what I will remember most from my time here is the genuine fun I have had every single school day. Of course, much of this joy has stemmed from the lifelong friendships this school has given me – I have wonderful memories of surprisingly intense football matches in the valley, Year 7 manhunt in the old houserooms, and even (very foolishly) climbing into a sports cloakroom window with friends to retrieve a lost bag. Yet this fun has not just been confined to break times – teachers here at Woodbridge are so driven by a genuine passion for education and care for their students that lessons are certainly not the stereotypical boring lectures so often seen on tv. My mind immediately goes to Mr Edwards leading a class rendition of dystopia-related ‘Reach’ by S Club 7, and Miss Mayes staging multiple musical choral odes to learn about tragedy. It is this immense subject passion from teachers that makes me feel so enlivened when researching English, Drama and History. They inspire me every day.

Therefore, a kind of bittersweetness follows me as I leave what I have come to call my home. Woodbridge has made me feel as if I can truly achieve anything, and I am so excited to follow my passions into the real world. Yet I am also nervous and sad that I will no longer be spending time in this community on a daily basis. I am writing this article a month after finishing my exams and, though of course I am enjoying my newfound freedom of waking up at midday and rewatching The Office for the seventy-fifth time, I find myself already missing my morning chats with Miss Lockwood, the break time ‘one bounce’ games with my friends, and daily theatre gossip with Miss Mayes. Thankfully, I know that Woodbridge will always be there for me. This is far from goodbye to the school – I don’t think I will ever be ready for that. I hope that, in my 14 years at the school, I have left a positive mark; I certainly know that Woodbridge has had a perpetual impact on me. It has taught me to try my best to be kind, to never judge, to be resilient and determined, and passionate about what you love. Thank you to all members of this wonderful community. I will always carry some Woodbridge hard work, spirit, and fun wherever I go.

Georgie, Head Girl 24/25

As I sit down to write this, the realisation that my time at this school is drawing to a close still hasn’t quite sunk in. After fourteen years, it’s surreal to think this chapter is ending. From my first steps into year 1 with a Tupperware full of Babybells and Moshi Monsters to my final A level exams, this school has shaped so much of who I am. And it is without doubt that the major part in this has been played by my teachers. Their dedication, passion and enthusiasm truly shapes this special community.

Sadly, there is no way, in one article, that I can demonstrate how grateful I am to so many teachers, but I would like to say that the teachers here at Woodbridge are fundamentally inspirational. Whether that is Mrs Hillman’s quirky dances to remember mechanisms in Chemistry, Mrs Brown’s beautiful diagrams or my year 6 teacher Mr Smith’s sesquipedalian spelling challenges – I have found myself loving subjects that I would have never even have considered when I first started, due to teachers who genuinely adore their subjects. When such passion is present it really does become infectious and I am so grateful for every single teacher at Woodbridge.

To say the teachers at Woodbridge go above and beyond is a complete understatement. Throughout my time at Woodbridge there have been countless teachers who have used their own free time to help me in so many ways. For example, Miss Wright, the wonderful Oxbridge application advisor and beloved classics teacher who gave up hours to go over my personal statement, reference and interview skills. Or Dr Rickard and Mrs Brown who marked my many last-minute biology essays in my final weeks of A level revision. Or Mrs McNally who was always available to answer my absurd and stupid questions about Chemistry. And of course our iconic duo in Sixth Form, Miss Pilkington and Mr Beasant. They get to know every student’s quirks and passions remarkably quickly and start to treat each student as the adult they are becoming. I wish I could go on and on but sadly there is not enough room on this page.

This school has given me so much more than just an education. It’s where I found my confidence – on stage during musicals, in debates in the Model United Nations, or on a sports pitch in the freezing cold. It’s where I discovered the power of perseverance, learnt to laugh at myself, and realised that the best lessons often come outside the classroom. Like when in Year 3 my classmates adapted our daily game of ‘It’ into ‘walking it’ to accommodate me being on crutches. It has always been a place where students are intent on looking out for others.

In Sixth Form, I was lucky to be involved in leadership roles that pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me a brief glimpse at adult life. Whether it was attending heads of school conferences, welcoming prospective pupils, or setting up a student council, I’ve felt incredibly proud to represent a school that values kindness, community, character and excellence.

Of course, Woodbridge is rightly proud of its academic record but more than that, it’s a place that gives young people the courage to pursue their interests, no matter how weird, wonderful, or offbeat they may be. I’ve seen classmates bring down the house with West End-worthy vocals, dazzle on the saxophone and drums, and, most memorably, perform five minutes of animal impressions to What Does the Fox Say? — to thunderous applause. That moment, as ridiculous as it sounds, captures something important: the courage to be yourself, even when it’s a bit absurd.

That’s what Woodbridge has given me: the confidence to try, to fail, to laugh at myself, and to grow. At Woodbridge I have flown a plane, portrayed a drunken uncle in a Shakespeare production and a cheerleader in Grease the musical – despite the fact I cannot sing, dance or act. All of these opportunities were completely out of my comfort zone when I signed up for them but in every single one, I had a great time, met some amazing people, and developed skills in different areas. And if there is one thing I will take away from my time at Woodbridge it is the philosophy to always say yes to new opportunities no matter your natural ability or confidence in that area. It is an approach that I see in all of my peers and it is Woodbridge that has instilled this confidence to not find uncertainty and inexperience as a barrier to progression and opportunity.

So as I look towards university, I am of course extremely excited and feel well equipped for whatever life has to throw at me. But I will miss Woodbridge and the people here immensely. I consider myself extremely lucky to have been able to attend such a wonderful school and I can’t wait to return as an Old Woodbridgian.

Rose, Deputy Head Girl 24/25

I worry slightly that when the rest of the students of Woodbridge return in September, I will not be among them. I will not be in Sixth Form anymore; I won’t have lessons, I won’t sit in the dining hall, I won’t be on the sports field or in the theatre, I won’t spend my free periods at the sewing machine or my lunchtimes at choir practice and I won’t be alongside the people I have spent the better part of seven years with. All the things I have come to see as the everyday will have become a piece of my memory kept away in a folder in my brain, entitled Woodbridge.

If you know me, it is safe to assume that part of this file will be dedicated to the drama department, who have been the core of my Woodbridge experience. Before exams, Mr Williams and Ms Mayes rooted out an old video from Year 7 of me and James as superheroes and to no one’s surprise we have not changed a bit. Amongst my superhero persona is a host of characters from Mum in ‘A Monster Calls’ to a supreme in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and Elizabeth in ‘Frankenstein’. I have never known laughter like that in the rehearsal rooms for ‘Jack Absolute’ or the number of times I’ve heard James Brown’s I Feel Good in a drama lesson.

For most of the year I am by no means an athlete, however, in the Michaelmas term I grab my stick, lace up my boots and head down to the hockey pitch. Nothing gets my heart racing and competitive side going more than going in for a tackle or defending a short corner. The only downside is that by the time I’m finally fit enough the season is already over. Without the leadership from our 1st team captain Millie Johnson and the dedication from Ms Rix, my time as hockey player would not be the same. To connect with others through a shared passion and commitment is a skill Woodbridge has always encouraged, and I hope to carry into the future.

I feel sometimes we take the experiences and opportunities we are given for granted, not paying close enough attention to the people who make it possible. The teachers, the administrators, the heads of school, Georgie and James, and Ms Norman truly put their all into making Woodbridge the magical place it is. Behind my informative trip to Berlin and Krakow, there was a teacher who sawed off my broken suitcase handle; behind my countless art projects, there was a friend who tried on and posed for my creations; and behind the wonderful 50 Years of Girls at Woodbridge event was Mrs James and the administrative and marketing team who made sure everything ran smoothly. Without the efforts of the Woodbridge community, I would not have had even half of some of my most exciting experiences.

I’m sure, like me, my classmates as they begin this new chapter will be hesitant to close its predecessor, because despite its homework deadlines and exams, Woodbridge School is a truly wonderful place. It has allowed me to pursue my passions and has given me the drive and confidence to achieve them. It has become synonymous with the feeling of warmth and support, and I know even as I leave, now an Old Woodbridgian, this school will always be there beside me. So, if I am in my university accommodation or lying on a beach in Australia and I am feeling down, I will reach back into my library of memories, pull out this file and flick through its pages. And what I feel won’t be the worry for the future but the joy of the past.