In this week’s Bulletin, Headmaster Nicholas A T Eatough shares a heartfelt farewell message with the School Community. As he prepares to conclude his time at The Grange School, he reflects on memorable milestones, the progress achieved together, and the traditions that continue to give life to our School. It is both a look back at a meaningful journey and a message of hope for the exciting chapters yet to come.
Dear Members of The Grange School Community,
As you know, this Friday will be my last day as Headmaster of The Grange School. Over the past few days, I have had the chance to say goodbye to some of you. Such conversations with colleagues and friends are bittersweet. I am grateful to share memories, but they also encourage poignancy as I reflect on the wonderful experiences I’ve enjoyed here – ones I now have to leave behind. Mindful that I will have conversations with only a fraction of those in our Community in a School of this magnitude, I share a few words via the Weekly Bulletin.
My career in education began over twenty-five years ago in the United Kingdom (UK). Since then, I have been fortunate to work in some remarkable schools, both as a History teacher and in various leadership roles. Each stage of that journey has taught me something new and shaped how I see education. When I arrived at The Grange School, I felt I was joining a School with a proud tradition and enormous potential. It has been one of the great privileges of my professional life to have played a part in the next stage of its development since my appointment in July 2021.
Looking back, there has been much to celebrate. Our international outlook has grown steadily, with new agreements and exchange programmes allowing pupils to broaden their horizons, learn from peers overseas, and bring those experiences back into our Community. I am particularly proud of our burgeoning partnership with Cheltenham College, given the historic links with our School and the founding Headmaster, Mr John Jackson. The BSO accreditation processes have been demanding but invaluable, giving us the chance to hold a mirror up to ourselves, to test the quality of what we do against international benchmarks, and to emerge stronger for it. Recognition in Spears and The Carfax Index has been a source of pride, not simply as accolades but as external acknowledgement of the standards and ambitions we set for our pupils. The Graduate Assistants programme has brought fresh energy and enthusiasm into the School, while also giving recent graduates a unique opportunity to grow professionally within a vibrant and challenging environment.
Within leadership, restructuring the SLT and middle management has been an important step towards aligning the School more closely around a shared, whole-school vision — encouraging us to think less about separate sections and more as one Grange School Community. The creation of the Co-Curricular area has been equally significant, ensuring that all those experiences beyond the classroom — on the stage, the sports field, in service, or in leadership roles — are given the structure, recognition, and value they deserve. Together, these developments have helped strengthen both the breadth and the coherence of a Grange education.
There are also memories that, for me, capture the heart of life at The Grange. I will never forget our pupils proudly representing us at Rugby School in England for the 200 years of Rugby celebrations — a unique moment of history linking past and present. I think too of the joy of our Fiestas Patrias celebrations, at this time of year, the spectacular shows in Lower Prep, and the enjoyment of watching our pupils represent the School in a wide range of events, from this year’s inaugural Model United Nations event, to the passion shown on the sports fields at the annual ABSCh tournaments. The quality of The Grange School also comes to the fore at the various ceremonies each year; I have been privileged to address packed audiences of 800 on Founders` Day and at the Graduation Ceremony. I have also felt moved by our attention to the importance of Remembrance each November and the reverence we rightly pay to School members who bravely served in a conflict thousands of miles from home. Long may these traditions continue.
The weeks ahead also mark an exciting new chapter for The Grange School. The opening of the Centenary Library at the beginning of 2026 will be an excellent step forward. The School’s preparations for its 100th anniversary in 2028 will give future generations of pupils, parents, and Staff the chance to celebrate a remarkable history. I am confident that The Grange, with its rich heritage and dedicated community, will continue to thrive and inspire for many more years to come.
I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my colleagues — the teachers whose commitment and professionalism have sustained the School through challenges and opportunities alike. I also want to thank the Senior Leadership Team, which is leading the School with clarity and care. I wish my successor, Mrs Kate Ingamells, all the best as she takes up the baton as the School`s first female Head. The journey ahead will not always be straightforward, but I am sure all will work together to steer The Grange in the best possible direction.
A word too for our 4°EM pupils. I regret not being alongside you for your final stage at The Grange. But I do not doubt that you will embrace the opportunities ahead and leave your own mark on the School. I look forward to hearing of your successes in the months to come.
Although my next professional step will take me to my post as Headmaster at the English School in Cyprus, a part of me will remain in Santiago. The Grange School will always travel with me.
With my very best wishes,
Nicholas A T Eatough
Headmaster
