Our new Headmaster, David Cresswell is re-starting his Barney journey leading our school and we are excited to see what this new chapter has in store for our fantastic Barnardian community. Here David shares a letter to all Old Barnardians. It is my great pleasure to formally introduce myself to you as Barnard Castle School's 11th Headmaster. As some of you may know, I previously served as the Deputy Head (in charge of Sixth Form) under Tony Jackson from 2017-2020. I have spent the past four years at Whitgift School, a large day and boarding school in South London, overseeing its operations. My wife and two children are delighted to return to a school that holds a special place in our hearts. Much like many of you, particularly those from military families, I grew up traveling around the world. My father was in the Foreign Office, and by the age of twelve, I had attended six different schools, primarily in Europe. This upbringing fostered my passion for languages and my love of connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. For secondary school, I settled as a boarder at Cranleigh School in the UK, where I thrived in the rich environment, engaging in drama and sports. I subsequently read Modern Languages at Oxford University, captaining the Men's 1st hockey team and playing in four varsity matches. My teaching career began at Cranleigh and then Radley College, where I first worked alongside Tony Jackson, managing the German Department and serving as a Deputy Housemaster. Tony then persuaded me to move to the North East, and I am grateful that he did. Since my appointment, I have received a very warm welcome back to Barney. Many parents and alumni have expressed interest in my vision for the School. I feel fortunate to return to a school I know intimately, one that is in excellent shape and embodies the culture and atmosphere fostered by Tony Jackson, his staff, and our students over the past seven years. I am in the enviable position of being able to take my time to listen to students, parents, staff, and alumni about the overall direction of the school before steering Barney towards the 2030s and our 150th anniversary in 2033. However, I do have an immediate goal concerning our alumni: I am very keen for you to either strengthen your ties with the school over the next few years or reconnect with us if you have been away for a while. It has already been a great privilege to meet some of our younger alumni in Germany and an inspiring range of Old Barnardians at the London OB drinks back in December. Dionne Saville, our Director of Development, and her assistant Jasmine Hooper, have done a magnificent job reconnecting with our wider community and organising entertaining and worthwhile events in the North East, Leeds, London, and further afield in Dubai, Hong Kong, and New York. If you can attend any of these events, We would be delighted to meet you and hear about your Barney journey and your current endeavours. In the current political landscape, your support and engagement are more crucial to us than ever. From January, we are required to charge 20% VAT on fees. To minimize the total fee increase, we would need to lower our current fee level rather than simply "absorbing" the VAT. While we may be able to reclaim VAT on some operational costs, about 70% of our expenses are staff-related, where VAT cannot be reclaimed. We are awaiting the conclusion of the Government Consultation on 15 September (to which we have contributed and will share our response) for more clarity on VAT recovery. Our goal is to inform our community as soon as we have a clearer understanding of the Government's position. As a lean operation, Barney has always focused on covering costs and investing sensibly rather than generating large surpluses. We remain committed to transparency and honesty, and any fee increase will be clearly communicated in pounds and pence. I firmly believe that our community is at the heart of everything we do. The connections that students form with our staff and each other often lead to better outcomes and lifelong friendships. Winston Churchill is reputed to have said, "education is what remains when you have forgotten everything you learned at school." While some of you might not recall every bit of content from your school days, I am certain you remember the life lessons from Barney that have served you well and the teachers who shaped your character. Nothing delights me more than hearing from former students about their achievements; it is the best part of being an educator. We have a cherished tradition at the school: students who serve as prefects have their names embroidered on the gowns they wear in chapel. These names accumulate over the years, symbolizing a legacy of responsibility and improvement. At the end of each year, during the "gown ceremony," outgoing Upper Sixth prefects pass their gowns to incoming Lower Sixth students, emphasizing their role as custodians of the school's values and traditions. I hope to be a worthy custodian of the Headmastership, continuing to uphold and enhance the legacy of our School. I look forward to meeting you at one of our events and will update you with news in due course. David Cresswell.