In his January - February update, Emil reflects on the final chapter of his six months at Future Hope, describing it as a deeply formative experience. He highlights the children’s challenging backgrounds and the school’s vital role in providing stability, care, and opportunity, while much of his own time was spent in the Resource Room, where he learnt the value of patience, adaptability, and persistence through daily work with the students. In his concluding reflections, Emil acknowledges the challenges of an unpredictable environment but emphasises how much he has learnt in return, with the experience becoming a deeply personal journey shaped by the children, the community, and the unexpected.

In his December update, Emil reflects on becoming more embedded in daily life at Future Hope. From working in the Resource Room to sharing music, sport and time in the boarding houses, he writes about the small moments that help build relationships. Teaching piano and cooking with the students have become particularly meaningful, and his reflections are filled with gratitude for the people and experiences shaping his time so far. Read Emil’s full reflection and see photo from December and the Christmas holidays at Future Hope below.

This distinction highlights schools showing exceptional momentum and impact, and reflects the strength of our unique ethos, the breadth of opportunity, and the confidence with which our pupils move into the future.

Thank you to our pupils, staff and wider community whose sense of mission and community shape the direction of Ampleforth. Being recognised on a global stage reflects the energy and purpose that define life here. Keep watching! 

Ampleforth has a strong sporting reputation and there have been notable successes and achievements under Will’s leadership. Sport is integral to life here for all our students, not only for those in the top teams or participating in national, regional, and county performance pathways. Will should be very proud of our 100% student participation rate and across such a broad range of sporting opportunities besides the long-established staples of rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, and tennis. Under his tenure, our students have enjoyed fixtures against other schools in everything from water polo to raft-racing, fencing to shooting, and squash to basketball. 

As a committed believer that sport is about personal fulfilment and wellbeing, as well as learning to work in teams and develop the resilience necessary to achieve goals, Will has made sure that sport is enjoyable for all through an enthusiastic and positive coaching approach. Often called the Big Man, behind the imposing and unmistakeable looks of a 2nd row rugby player, he is a gentle giant with a kindness and thoughtfulness which have earned him a huge following amongst students and staff alike. His sports tours – and not just the ones to Sri Lanka or South Africa – have never been more popular. 

Will, his wife Rose, and daughters Bethan (B20) and Loyce (B22) leave the Valley to return to their family home in Devon. They go with our very best wishes and with a great debt of gratitude.