Head Master Address

Hallfield School’s Head Master, Mr Morrow, delivered a celebratory and optimistic address at this years Speech and Prize Giving Day as Hallfield School continues to grow and flourish despite the challenges facing the independent sector. The sense of pride across the hall was palpable as we look to the future with optimism and excitement.

 

 Head Master’s Address

Children, parents, staff, governors, and distinguished guests – welcome to Hallfield’s Speech Day 2025.

I am delighted to stand before you at the close of this academic year, filled with pride for our school’s achievements and optimism for its future.

What a year it has been – a year of exploration, innovation, resilience, and community. Today, I’d like to celebrate some of our key milestones from this academic year, reflect on our progress toward Hallfield 150, and share a vision for the year ahead

One of the undeniable highlights of this year was our Iceland residential trip. In March, I had the pleasure of leading our Year 6 and Seniors pupils on a truly unforgettable adventure, exploring geysers, glaciers, and whale watching in the North Atlantic snow

(I can confirm that waking up at 2am for a flight with a group of excited pupils is its own adventure – one that required as much resilience from the Head Master as from the children!)

The trip offered our young Hallfieldians the chance to witness incredible natural wonders and bring their learning to life beyond the classroom.

Whether marvelling at a spouting geyser or standing at the foot of a waterfall, our pupils gained experiences they will remember for a lifetime – and I suspect more than a few are now aspiring volcanologists and geographers.

Most importantly, they demonstrated curiosity, good humour, and exemplary behaviour throughout.

This journey showed the very best of Hallfield – a school eager to venture beyond its comfort zone in pursuit of knowledge and character-building.

While our Year 4 pupils enjoyed an exciting and enriching residential at Cranedale, our Year 2 children made Hallfield history with their first-ever overnight trip to Gulliver’s Kingdom.

At Hallfield, we believe in nurturing independence from an early age — and this new residential is a wonderful example of that ethos in action. For many of the children, it was their very first night away from home. They showed remarkable confidence, resilience, and curiosity, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they embraced every moment.

Another transformative development this year has been our embrace of digital learning. Hallfield officially became a fully digital learning environment as we rolled out iPads to every pupil and teacher.

And ever since our classrooms have been buzzing with technology: opening up a world of personalised education.

From Reception to Year 8, children have been honing their skills with educational apps, interactive e-books, and even a dash of artificial intelligence in their lessons.

More than once I’ve had a Year 4 pupil expertly remind me where the mute button is on Zoom! 

This integration of technology has strengthened how we tailor learning to each child: our digital platforms monitor progress and help reinforce core skills like maths and spelling.

The result? Pupils are more engaged than ever, whether coding a simple game or collaborating on a digital art project.

By blending innovative tech with Hallfield’s traditional dedication to excellence, we ensure our children are fully prepared for the modern world (and perhaps ready to teach us a few tech tricks along the way).

This year we also launched The Hallfield Challenge, a new programme designed to build resilience, character, and broader life skills in our pupils.

The Hallfield Challenge is our bespoke junior Duke of Edinburgh–style award, and it has quickly become a beloved part of school life.

It involves four levels of awards and a range of activities that push our children beyond their usual comfort zones.

I’ve seen pupils learning first aid, volunteering in the community, picking up musical instruments, and conquering outdoor adventures as part of this challenge.   It was great to join the family walk in the Malvern Hills this term.

Through the Hallfield Challenge, our pupils have grown in confidence and grit: they’ve learned that whether you’re navigating a trail or learning to cook dinner for your family, perseverance and a positive attitude go a long way.

This programme has reinforced Hallfield’s commitment to “finding the brilliance in every child” by giving each pupil a chance to shine outside the classroom (as well as inside it), building skills and memories that will last well beyond their time here.

Finally, I must celebrate our wonderful community, especially as seen through the activities of our Parents’ Social Association (PSA).

This year the PSA has gone above and beyond to strengthen the bonds among Hallfield families – and they certainly know how to throw a party!

The inaugural Founders’ Day Ball in February was a sparkling success. Parents, teachers, and friends swapped the classroom for the dance floor at the Birmingham Hyatt, sharing laughter, good food, and perhaps a few questionable dance moves (I plead guilty for mine – despite having previously welcomed Amy Dowden to Speech Day I won’t be appearing on Strictly any time soon!).

More importantly, the evening raised over £700 for Edward’s Trust – a local charity supporting bereaved families – through the generosity of everyone who attended. What a fantastic example of Hallfield’s caring spirit.

There is a James Bond theme for our next ball, so any parents wanting to lend me their Aston Martin for the weekend, please see me after Speech Day !

Huge thanks to our PSA chair, Frances and vice-chairs Farrah and Sangeeta, and the entire committee for their hard work in making events like the ball, the family picnic, and our monthly parent breakfasts possible. These gatherings have forged new friendships and made our community feel closer than ever.  THANK YOU

In addition to these highlights, our children have continued to excel across academics and enrichment. From our Year 6 pupils “taking London by storm” on their residential, to a haul of trophies in regional chess, music and sporting competitions, to some truly creative writing successes, there has been so much to celebrate.

Every week, the Hallfield Newsletter and our termly Focus magazine has brimmed with stories of our pupils’ accomplishments – each one a reminder of the talent and enthusiasm flowing through this school.

WELL DONE to our children for their hard work and well-rounded successes. YOU ALL have made Hallfield very proud.

Amidst all this activity, we have also kept a keen eye on the future, making great strides with our Strategic Plan, HALLFIELD 150.

As many of you know, January 2029 will mark Hallfield’s 150th anniversary– an incredible milestone that we are preparing for with ambitious developments.

This year saw tangible progress toward that vision.

In September, we opened two new state-of-the-art classrooms – bright, modern spaces equipped with the latest technology – as part of a £1.2 million expansion of our facilities.

This project brought our total investment in the school’s infrastructure to £6 million over the past five years.

These new classrooms complement our already impressive facilities – from the dedicated Food Technology Suite to the Radio/Podcast Studio – and ensure that our teachers and pupils have the best-in-class environment they deserve.

Project 150 isn’t just about new classrooms, of course.

We are paving the way for an exciting future, with our ongoing commitment to improving our facilities, our resources and ultimately our pupils’ outcomes. 

This Summer we will be converting the Sports Hall into a multi-purpose space, incorporating retractable seating, sound proofing and lighting to provide a state-of-the-art theatre in which we can celebrate the wonderful music and drama in our school.

Only recently our Year 2 performed their spectacular Drama Showcase, incorporating The Elves and the Shoemaker (2NC), The Towering Turnip (2EB) and The Gingerbread Man and next week Year 6 will be performing an ambitious production of The Lion King.

In music we also continue to flourish with our many concerts and performances by our talented musicians.

Some of the highlights this year have included the wonderful saxophonists and their jSax concert, the Mid-Year Concert, House Music Competition, Music Scholars concert and many tea time concerts, culminating with our end of term Hallfield Prom in collaboration with our very own Orchestra in Residence, the Midland Chamber Orchestra. 

AND ALL THIS IS JUST A SMALL PART OF WHAT WE DO. 

We hope every member of our community will be part of this journey as we “build an even better Hallfield” in the lead-up to our 150th anniversary year. 

I want to thank all the parents and alumni who have supported our development campaigns so far – your generosity is literally building a brighter future for our children.

Many thanks to our parents and alumni who have contributed to our Visiting Speaker Programme.

Many here today whose inspiring words I am sure have ignited the ambition and passion in our pupils to follow in their footsteps; as future doctors, engineers, military officers, accountants, physiotherapists and IDB’s.

Hallfield is built on traditional values with the courage to evolve in an ever changing world.

We are fortunate to have St George’s Church as our neighbour, a multi-cultural and intergenerational church.

Here we can come together in prayer and reflection to acknowledge the Christian values by which we stand, and on which our core values are formed.

As we conclude this academic year and look to the next, I am filled with optimism and confidence for Hallfield as we continue moving forward.

In fact, my key message today is this:

Hallfield is a school that embraces change while holding tight to its core values, and that is why our children will continue to thrive.

We are a school rooted in 146 years of tradition and excellence, yet we are not standing still – we are innovating, expanding, and always improving for the future.

We were excited to share our expansion to Year 11, creating a Seniors School for those pupils who will thrive in a co-educational, nurturing and academic environment through to GCSE, welcoming our first Year 9 Form in September 2026 as we grow organically, embracing our core values in our Seniors school pupils.

We will, of course, continue to offer outstanding preparation for 11+ entrance exams to grammar and senior independent schools.

Our academic record is testament to that.

And finally, I want to acknowledge those who have made this year so special.

To our dedicated staff – teachers, teaching assistants, administrative and support staff – thank you. Your passion and hard work, in and out of the classroom, has helped each child here to flourish

To our parents and families – thank you for your unwavering support and involvement. Hallfield is a partnership, and this year you have shown exactly why our community is second to none.

From assisting with homework and projects, to cheering on sports days, to volunteering through the PSA, your commitment underpins everything we achieve.

To our Governors – thank you for placing your trust in me to lead this wonderful school

And of course, more importantly, TO OUR PUPILS – the reason we are all here – BRAVO!

You have worked hard, embraced new challenges, and looked out for each other every step of the way.

I often say that Hallfield pupils are Happy, Inspiring, and Purposeful – and this year you have proven it at every turn.

Thank you all for being a part of the Hallfield journey.

I wish our leavers: staff and pupils the very best as they embark on their next adventures

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

– you will always be part of the Hallfield family.

And to those returning in September, I look forward to seeing you refreshed and ready for another fantastic year.

Have a wonderful summer break, everyone, and congratulations once again on a truly remarkable year at Hallfield School!

Thank you.