Harrodian welcomed record numbers of visitors to its 11 Plus Open Days this month who enjoyed some very personal introductions from pupils young... and older
Our two 11 plus Open days in September are hugely popular with prospective Harrodian pupils and parents and this year was no exception, with record breaking numbers attending the events. Harrodian’s new Registrar Julie Foulkes-Hannam was hugely impressed by the enthusiasm displayed by Harrodian teachers and the maturity and poise of the Sixth Formers who acted as guides on the Open Day and she reserves special praise for the four pupils – Kira from the 11s and Tabetha the 12s, and Sixth Formers Jago and Poppy – who gave presentations to the assembled visitors. ‘I was so impressed,’ she says. ‘Imagine giving an introduction to a theatre packed with pupils and parents.’
Kira who joined the school at the start of this term was entirely unruffled by the challenge, speaking confidently about the new friendships she has been making and the clubs she has joined – football, netball and chess. ‘I feel that explaining your experience to people is the sort of challenge that’s good to take on when you start somewhere new,’ she says. ‘And I’ve never had a problem with stage fright.’
I feel that explaining your experience to people is the sort of challenge that’s good to take on when you start somewhere new....And I’ve never had a problem with stage fright
Kira, 11s pupil
Tabetha, who joined in 2022, also took the public speaking in her stride, talking amusingly about the fun she had had making friends on last year’s induction trip (see an article about this year's trip here) and explaining how the school welcomed new Harrodians and helped them settle in.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, given their nerveless stage performances, Kira and Tabetha have ambitions in common for the coming year. ‘I’m excited about taking part in drama classes and performances,’ says Kira. ‘It was one of the things that excited me when I was first learning about the school.’ With an extra year's experience under her belt, Tabetha feels the same way. ‘I’ve got a place in the chorus for the school production of Grease in February and rehearsals have already started,’ she enthuses. ‘I’m really excited about that.’