That’s A Wrap!

That’s A Wrap!

17/07/2026

Blog, Headteacher Mr Steve Mills 5 Comments

In my head, I had planned to write a much shorter blog – as a treat to my dad – as my last ever one. Something along the lines of, ‘And that’s a wrap!’ But given the nature of this week where we have been just as busy and also given the amazing present I received last Friday from the Friends’ Association, I thought I better make an effort.

Thank you to everyone who attended last Friday’s Summer Social organised by our wonderful Friends’ Association. The weather was perfect (OK… slightly on the warm side…) and it appeared a good time was had by all. I loved chatting to a great many parents and grandparents about times gone by and the future. I also chatted to a former pupil of mine who, if I had been staying, would have been sending their son to Whitehill in a year’s time.

Thanks to all of your amazing support, the Friends’ Association raised an amazing £4379 which will be shared as part of the pot with the schools in September after the AGM.

I want to thank the Friends for my lovely gift. The fact that the book only represents approximately one seventh of all my blogs from 2013 is slightly scary but it has been a talking point all week.

It appears some of my first blogs have ‘dropped off’ the website now but out of curiosity I did look back at the drafts to see what they were like. Short, is the answer. Don’t tell my dad! Here is a quote from the blog, week ending 27^th September 2013:

‘Later in the week, the football team were in action again and played the first-round match of the Wix Cup. This is a county-wide competition culminating in a finals’ night at the home of St Albans City FC in May. The game was away at Breachwood Green and I am grateful to Mrs Little and Mr Gentle who took the team on my behalf. Listening to the match report in our ‘Achievers’ Assembly’ this morning, it was clearly a very exciting game. The final score was 6-3 to us, and therefore we can look forward to finding out who we will play in round 2. Well done to Finley in Year 5 who was awarded the ‘Man of the Match’ trophy by his peers.’

Finley is now 23!

Much of Monday was taken up with Year 6 Enterprise Day. Even though the weather was not conducive to me getting drenched by Year 5s and Year 4s, thanks to Alfie’s powers of persuasion, I didn’t mind and if it made the boys a little more money on their stall, then I am glad that I did it. The evil looks on the faces of those who had a go was slightly worrying and Ada’s (Year 4) laugh was extremely sinister.

The Year 6s worked so hard to set up their stalls and entertain the pupils. Of course, thank you to all who sent money in with the children so that the day was a resounding success. The total raised was just under £1100. The most that has ever been raised and it means we have been able to increase the amount we are sending to our chosen charity.

I wasn’t able to stay until the end of the day, as I had to head off into London for my final discussion meeting with the Farmington Institute. The venue for our last session was the Tower of London and they certainly did save the best until last. The venue was everything I expected it to be. To be able to have a tour of the Tower after hours made for some incredible photos and we even pretended that the soldiers who were clearly rehearsing for something, were there to greet us.

Dinner was in the private dining room of The Reverend Canon Roer Hall LVO MBE who is the chaplain to the Chapels Royal. Again, what an extremely privileged thing for us to be able to do. I was lucky enough to be able to sit next to him over dinner and once I found out about his love for theatre, educational discussion took a back seat. Interestingly, the room we were in has seen at least three heads sewn back onto their original bodies post execution – one being Anne Boleyn!

As if that experience wasn’t enough this week, on Tuesday morning, we welcomed Dr Nicola Fox, who is a Science Mission Director for NASA, to Whitehill. Accompanying her was Katherine Rohloff, her press secretary.

Those of you who have children in Year 5 or Year 6 will know that Dr Fox has ‘zoomed in’ to our Year 5 Space Weeks this year and last, to inspire a future generation of space enthusiasts and physicists. The connection was first made possible by Thomas (Year 6) who is currently in the school’s Junior Leadership Team.  More recently, his sister, Charlotte (Year 5), took up the reins and it was lovely for the two of them to have a private conversation first before we ventured out to see the rest of the school.

Dr Fox loved her time with us and referenced that it was a perfect start to what will be a very hectic few days back in the UK. She has many, many engagements including receiving another honorary doctorate (she joked that she is now technically, Dr Dr Dr Dr Nicola Fox), and dinner with the King. We really were very lucky to have her visit. She has promised that she will continue to keep the link with the school so that next year’s Year 5 cohort can have a zoomed Q&A as part of their Space Week.

Of course, Tuesday was also the day we held our sports day and so the pupils were very keen to find out which House Dr Fox thought would win. Her diplomatic answer pleased everyone.

No sooner had she left, than I was sent for to take part in a whole school photograph to mark the halfway point in Tuesday’s sporting events. Not thinking anything other than, ‘what a great idea on my last sports day,’ I was completely shocked when I turned around and saw the staff team ‘coming over the horizon’ for a special staff race as entertainment for the pupils. It was amusing to note that the film we posted on Instagram received the most likes and the most views of any we have posted. We now know what floats your boats!

Thank you to everyone who came along to support the afternoon’s track events. The cloud cover was actually welcome, meaning we only started to cook towards the very end. I think our sports days are a perfect mix of competition and support and it was lovely to see the pupils just getting on with it and giving it their best. Well done to Water House who triumphed, with Fire finishing second, Earth second and Air bringing up the rear this year.

It was a shame we weren’t able to enjoy Hitchin Fire Station’s traditional end of event sprinkler but with the hosepipe ban coming into play this week, it was absolutely the right decision.

In my thank you speech at the end, I forgot to mention one very special group of people – our Year 6 Sports Leaders. They all worked so hard making sure all the equipment was where it needed to be at the start of each race and then had to race themselves, before returning to their jobs. They were all awesome.

A job for Wednesday morning was burying the time capsule which has been a project of the Junior Leadership Team. It was sealed and placed in the ground under the supervision of the whole school and instructions have been put in the school safe. We hope that it will be dug up again in 2044 when the school (and I) will be 75 years old.

Wednesday afternoon was perfect! I had received an invite to An Afternoon at the Musicals from the school and was treated to a concert featuring some of my favourite songs from musicals I have visited on, not surprisingly, more than one occasion. (Operation Mincemeat is currently 33)

I was joined by my wife and daughter from HGS and so it was a lovely treat to listen to each class, the choirs, some soloists and Miss McConnell Smith perform so beautifully. There was also the additional surprise of a message from the actor, Ben Whishaw, to start the ball rolling. I couldn’t have wished for a better way to celebrate my time at Whitehill coming to an end. A huge thank you to the whole school community and in particular Mrs Jarman and Mrs Wells for their subterfuge!

As the Year 6s headed off into the town centre on Thursday morning for their end of year swimming trip, I was online downloading their SATs results (finally ready after a nine-day delay).

Both events were extremely successful. The pupils had a great time in the pool and then enjoyed the trip to Fabio’s for an ice-cream. The SATs results, which were handed to the pupils upon their return, were extremely pleasing and highlight just what an incredible cohort this group of pupils is. I am certainly going out on a high in terms of outcomes!

Despite being out of the office for much of Friday with another hospital run for my dad, I was in first thing to be able to lead the Achievers’ Assembly.

The House Cup was awarded to Water House, and the Class of Week trophy went to Wilde Class. With only one more presentation to make, I wonder who will ultimately win House and Class of the Year?

As it was the final full week of the year, we presented our Wall of Fame certificates for one more time. Well done to all the recipients, whose photographs will be displayed on the Wall of Fame from September.

The music this week was provided by Thomas (Year 6) who played his guitar for us and then Cecily and Esme (Year 6) who sang another musical number from the Greatest Showman. I am being so spoiled at the moment.

We also celebrated some gymnastics awards, scouting awards, swimming medals and a netball trophy. A packed but enjoyable assembly.

As already referenced, I am putting the finishing touches to this blog at UCHL again. So as not to worry Mrs Kealey and Mrs Richards, I brought everything I needed to ensure it is, one, posted, and two, posted at the right time. I hope the surgeons work extra quickly today as I am hoping to get back to Whitehill later for the Year 6 leavers’ party. Mrs Burniston is manning the organisation for me in my absence but with my wife ready to receive the patient at a random train station between St Pancras and Harpenden, I hope to make it.

Next week is relatively straight forward with the main event being our leavers’ assembly on Wednesday. This will be my final Achievers’ Assembly and one in which I present our Core Purpose awards. As I won’t be writing a blog next week, please look out on social media for our winners of these and other end of year awards.

Now, that is it. I really can use the words that I had planned all along…

That’s a wrap!

Have a great summer break and I won’t see you in September. For those moving on, I wish you all the very best in your new schools. For those returning to Whitehill, I hope you continue to impress and continue to enjoy many incredible experiences.

Best wishes,

Steve Mills
Headteacher