From the Headmaster

It is an immense honour and privilege to be writing these notes as Headmaster of St Bees School and, as far as I can ascertain, the first Old St Beghian to take up this role.

I grew up in the village and was a pupil at the school for seven formative years. St Bees has always held a very special place in my heart and soul, and to have now the responsibility of leading the school that shaped me is something in which I take enormous pride. I approach the role with clear purposes: to work tirelessly to secure St Bees’ future; to reach break- even, move beyond it, and ensure the school is profitable, successful, and once again renowned for the quality of its education and the strength of its community.

At the start of this academic year, I said to staff about my upcoming year as Headmaster, half-jokingly but with complete honesty: “If you enjoy it, then enjoy it every day — because it’s only for three terms. And if you hate it, don’t worry, it will be over soon.” I can say without hesitation that I have enjoyed it immensely, and time has flown by at a remarkable pace.

Current Position and Direction
Like all independent schools, we continue to operate in a challenging economic and political climate. However, student numbers have remained steady at around 100, a slight dip, but one that was anticipated. Importantly, revenue is up, the deficit is down, and Full Circle continues to support the school as we move steadily towards long-term sustainability.
This year we have welcomed students from countries new to the school: Burundi, Czechia, Hungary, Morocco, Russia and Tajikistan, further enriching the international family that has long been central to St Bees’ identity.

We were delighted to welcome Sarah Wang, Principal of St Bees Dongguan, back to our campus, reinforcing the strength of our West-East partnership. This visit coincided with a visit from Roger Sinnett, former Headmaster and Local Advisory Council member responsible for Education. Our Dongguan immersion programme saw six students visit St Bees for two weeks — and I am especially pleased to say that one of those students will be returning permanently in January.

Looking ahead, I am also very pleased that Mr Oliver Wells, who will take up the post of Headmaster in August 2026, visited in October to get to know the school and its community. He and I are working closely together, alongside the Senior Leadership Team, particularly on marketing and recruitment in China and across Asia during the coming year.

Teaching, Learning and Outcomes
One of the great pleasures of my role is spending time in classrooms. When observing lessons this year, I have been consistently impressed by the quality of teaching, which is excellent across the school. Lessons are purposeful, engaging and ambitious, and this is reflected in both student confidence and outcomes.

Our staff work extremely hard and with real passion for the students in their care. Their commitment, professionalism and belief in St Bees, particularly during a challenging period for the sector, deserve enormous recognition and thanks.

Our current Year 13 (Upper Sixth) cohort have already secured offers from an impressive range of universities, including King’s College London, the University of Manchester, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Warwick, and other Russell Group institutions. Degree pathways include Biomedical Sciences, Data Science, Environmental and Sustainable Development, Film Studies, International Social and Public Policy and Social Sciences, a reflection of both academic breadth and aspiration. Our Mechanical Engineering applicant went for interview at King’s College, Cambridge in early December, and will find out if he has successfully obtained an offer in early January.

Pastoral Care, Welfare and Values
Safeguarding and student welfare remain front and centre in everything we do. This, combined with the efficiency of our pastoral systems, is one of St Bees’ defining strengths. Knowing our students well, supporting them holistically, and ensuring they feel safe, valued and listened-to underpins every decision we make.

Remembrance Day remains deeply important to St Bees School and to our Old St Beghian community. This year it felt especially close to home, as some of our families are directly affected by current global conflicts and have lost immediate relatives. We came together to honour those who served and to reflect on the enduring values of duty, sacrifice and peace that define St Bees.

Life Beyond the Classroom
Boarding remains the life and soul of the school, and a lot of work has gone into upgrading the boarding experience for both students and their families. Boarders are taking part in an enhanced onsite and offsite weekend activity programme, all students are doing prep in the library to focus on academic rigour, and student voice across the school is a real focus for my vision this year.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award continues to grow, with fantastic uptake, while the Wainwright Club has seen boarders and day students alike enjoying the fells and the spirit of adventure that is so deeply rooted in this part of the world.

Sport remains vibrant, with fixtures, as well as regional and national competitions in badminton, Eton Fives, football, netball and volleyball. Golf has returned to the curriculum and is being enjoyed by students of all ages, and we are excited to be launching fencing in January, with staff trained and a new programme ready to begin.

Our House competitions, from remote-control car-racing to gingerbread house building, have brought plenty of fun, camaraderie and healthy rivalry.

We have also launched Reader Leaders, creating Literature Ambassadors who peer-mentor younger students and support reading both within school and in the wider community. I am equally delighted that our School Choir has been re-established and is already performing, a much-missed tradition brought back to life.

Our environmental commitment has strengthened significantly. In the first quarter alone, we achieved a 21% reduction in electricity usage and a 26% decrease in gas consumption compared to last year. Food waste is down 5% since we began systematic measurement, tangible progress that reflects shared responsibility across the school.

This term finished with all the traditional aspects of the Christmas season: Christmas Fayre, the Carol Service, back in our own chapel, and Christmas Dinner, attended by our OSB President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Looking Ahead and Staying Connected
Marketing and admissions remain a major focus, with 2026 set to see several significant international recruitment drives, alongside continued engagement with our local market.

This year’s Activities Week will see the whole school take part in a residential in Scotland, bringing everyone together through outward-bound activities and a touch of “fancy camping” in pods.

We continue to value the role that Old St Beghians play in the life of the school, and I would very much like to see more OSBs sharing their journeys with current students. If you would be willing to give a talk, in person or via video call, please do contact me directly, or through Pam Rumney, as we would love to hear from you.

Finally, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Society officials for their continued support and hard work. Your commitment plays a vital role in keeping the St Bees community connected across generations.

I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the upcoming Society lunches and dinners, and I strongly encourage you to attend where you can, particularly St Beghians’ Day, which remains one of the highlights of our year.

Thank you, as ever, for your continued support of St Bees School. It truly matters.

With my warmest wishes to the Old St Beghian community for a happy and successful 2026.

Laurence Gribble,
Headmaster.

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk