Be the one who takes pupils along with you. Include everyone. Allow people to sit with you. Be the one who’s brave enough to check someone is ok. Senior students - a large part of this responsibility now lies with you. Your challenge is to look after our junior students. In this way, we can live out our Founder St John Henry Newman's motto 'Cor ad Cor Loquitur', meaning 'Heart Speaks to Heart', respecting and caring for everyone as an individual.

I want The Oratory School to be a community and family where we treat everyone with this respect. I always think of you as individuals deserving respect in this way.

We have many things to celebrate this academic year. With a strong girl/boy ratio, we have now moved to coeducational tutor groups, the final step of our coeducational journey. Our Founder, Saint John Henry Newman is to be made a Doctor of the Church, cementing his status as one of the most influential English theologians of our time. The new All-Weather Pitch and Padel Courts will be opening this term, and our 5th Form now have their own space with a common room in St John House.

I encourage you all to try new things and to take a good look at our Co-Curricular Fair this afternoon. These activities are not only enriching, they also help you to develop as a human being, so have a go at debating or Model United Nations, or join in at the next basketball game!

I look forward to celebrating this coming academic year's achievements with you all and wish you all good luck!