'I promise not to keep you too long, so first, some thank yous, because this school does not function on its own.

Emma, our Head Girl… thank you for doing all of the work this year and allowing me to just stand next to you and simply need to look presentable. It’s been a privilege to do this alongside you, and I’m pleased to be able to call you a friend for life.

To my Mum, thank you for pushing me to put my all into everything I do, and allowing me the opportunity to thrive at Bradfield.

To the JCR, thank you for your time, your effort, and everything you’ve given to the school, thank you for making mine and Emma’s life that little easier. I think it wouldn’t be fair if we did not highlight the pinnacle of our weeks… JCR breakfasts...

A special thanks to both headmasters. Mr Quartermaine for his continued support, guidance and trust this year, but also to Dr Stevens who gave us the opportunity to represent Bradfield.

A thank you to all the staff: teachers, tutors, house staff, and everyone behind the scenes as you are what makes this place run.

And of course, to the Upper Sixth, and the rest of the school, thank you for making this year what it has been, a great ending to my life as a Bradfieldian.

It has been a genuine honour to have been your Head Boy. It’s something I’ll always be incredibly proud of, not because of the title although it did come with a few perks, but because it gave me the privilege to stand alongside you, to listen, and hopefully be your voice. I hope that I have fulfilled this role as Head boy to everyone, from both the students and the staff.

Upper 6th, congratulations. It’s been a journey to say the least. Starting year 9 with you all during COVID, being separated into bubbles and having to wear masks all day, was a difficult start to a new school but we managed to push through and here we all are today… well most of us. I think it’s fair to say we have had our share of disruptions, uncertainty, and moments where things didn’t quite go to plan, but we got through them and that in many ways is what has shaped who we are now.

... one of the most attractive things about Bradfield is not the beautiful views, but just how much it offers. This has been repeated throughout the years but the opportunities not just academically, but across sport, the arts or co-curricular means that there really is something for everyone, meaning everyone has had the chance to find something they care about.

But for me, what really makes this place special is the people. The relationships we build here, between students, between year groups, and just as important with staff. Not just teachers, but house staff, tutors, and the wider team because the small interactions matter... It reminded us that it’s often the everyday connections that shape our experience the most.

Another thing Bradfield does so well is recognising that everyone is different. It has this ability to understand people’s individual strengths and ambitions and then give them the opportunities to go and pursue them. For me, that’s been football.

Over the past five years, we’ve made four [ISFA] finals and won three of them, which I think is something the whole school can be proud of. What makes these moments special for the players in the squad is seeing the whole school fill the stadium. It’s incredible. A memory I will share with my own children will be scoring in the final and running directly towards the whole school in the stands and hearing my chant sung.

But beyond just myself, the school has supported so many people to achieve at a high level, whether that’s in football, hockey, cricket, or the arts. Of course, we’ll also miss the slightly more… comfortable parts of school life. Waking up to these grounds every day, and knowing a pain au chocolat, or two, is never too far away.

'On a more personal note, when I joined Bradfield having moved from a state school to join in Faulkner’s it was an immense change. People would often asked me what the biggest difference was, and honestly, it’s not something easily compared. As for me it wasn’t just a change of school, but a change of lifestyle, of environment, of expectations... it allowed me to figure out who I am, what matters to me and who I want to be.

Along the way, it gave me something I didn’t necessarily expect, an extended family, probably the thing I’ll take away the most.'

Of course, it hasn’t all been easy. I can vividly remember bawling my eyes on the phone in the first few weeks to my parents, thinking that it would be impossible to be away from my bed for a week, however Mr Fox with his laid-back reassurance made sure that I was supported. With Mr Fox’s aid along with the weekly assortment of treats I got EVERY weekend from my mother I quickly adapted to life at school.

This memory is something that Mr Fox may not remember as there are many of us that have probably experienced this, but to me the care, encouragement and familiarity, made a massive difference.

With this being said there are sacrifices that come with going to Bradfield. Time away from home and loved ones, leaving some of your previous friends behind and balancing work with everything else. But in many ways, that’s what Bradfield teaches you, how to find your balance, how to decide what matters most, and how to manage life beyond just academics.

And now Upper 6th… we’re at the end. As we leave, what we take with us isn’t just grades or achievements, it’s the people. The friendships we’ve built, the memories we’ve made, and the shared experiences that we’ll keep coming back to. We’ve become family. And like any family as we grow up, we’ll go our separate ways, but I hope we stay connected. Whether that’s through the occasional message, bumping into each other in the future, or sitting down years from now talking, just hopefully not about that trip to Zante... But whatever happens, I will hold on to these connections. Five years ago, Bradfield became our school.

Somewhere along the way, it became our home. So finally, thank you Bradfield. Thank you for everything you’ve given us. This is not goodbye, but a see you soon.'

Rio Bartley (D 21-26)