As the new 2019/2020 academic year approaches, Head of School, Millie Crewe, has taken it upon herself to write to every new student at the Senior School introducing herself and the crucial support role of the incoming Prefect Team. In tailored letters to the different year groups, she offers heartfelt advice drawing on her own experience throughout her four years at Framlingham College.
Below is an extract of her letter to all Year 9 students:
I hope you are having a wonderful summer and looking forward to joining the College in September. As this year’s Head of School, I would like to introduce you to the 2019-2020 Prefect Team and explain our role within the College.
The Prefect Team is formed of fourteen Year 13 students. There are Senior College Prefects: Head of School, Head Boy and Head Girl; College Prefects: Heads of Academic, Co-Curricular, Operations and Pastoral, and seven Heads of Houses. Attached is a list of who we are alongside our photos, so you can recognise us from your first day.
Our main role is to be the link between pupils and staff. As such, we will take on board any ideas you may have to improve school life and present them to senior management for discussion. However, another vital part of being a Prefect is that we support the pupil body, particularly new students like yourselves, with any issues you may face. I can confidently speak on behalf of the Prefect Body when I say that we are here to help, so don’t hesitate to have a chat with us if you need – no matter how small or insignificant you may think the problem is. Your Head of House is a great first point of contact with any such issues as they will be in House most of the time.
All the Prefects, as well as the rest of Year 13, can still remember what it’s like to start a new Senior School. I want to stress that it is completely normal to be feeling a bit nervous, I know I definitely was when I first joined. However, I can assure you that the nerves will soon disappear. You’ll make lifelong friends and settle in to this fantastic community.
If – as I’m sure will be the case for some of you – this feels like it will be a huge change of environment and it seems a bit daunting, I encourage you to think of something that excites you about joining Fram. Whether it’s a certain subject that you can’t wait to try, the new uniform, boarding, a particular facility that you didn’t have in your previous school, or a fresh group of peers – try to keep this in the back of your mind when you think about the year ahead. The likelihood is that when you arrive there will be plenty of exciting things here that you never considered before you came!
Year 9 is when you find your friends, discover the subjects you enjoy and most of all have fun! It’s the ideal time to try new things as the structure of your timetable gives you the best chance to embrace everything on offer.
Believe me, your time at the College will fly by, so make the most of every opportunity you get. As I enter Year 13, I can’t believe it’s been four years since I was in your position. Whilst it’s sad that this is my final year, I’m excited for what it has in store and I can’t wait to meet you all.
I will be addressing the whole College soon after term begins to introduce you to Fram life and to set out the Prefect Team’s aims and goals for the year ahead. You may also see me around on your Year 9 induction day before term begins. I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer holiday and as ever, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Very best wishes,
Millie Crewe
Head of School
