Valete- (5) Mr Richard Atkins QC (Chair of the Governors)

As well as saying goodbye to teaching and support staff last term, we also bade farewell at the start of December to a key member of our Governing body, Mr Richard Atkins QC, who had served the Coventry School Foundation for the maximum number of years permissible since 1999. Of course, the final three years of his connection with the Foundation were as Chair of Governors.

Mr Atkins, in his final letter to parents, spoke of his pride in the quality of education offered at Bablake and the other schools in the Foundation. He went as far as complimenting the level of education provided as being on a par with the best in the country, while also praising the schools' vibrancy and facilities.

Headmaster Mr John Watson wrote in his penultimate bulletin of the Autumn term: 'We are very grateful to Mr Atkins for his dedication to the Foundation schools over the last 16 years. Despite leading a very busy life beyond the Foundation, he has given most generously of his time and expertise. We look forward to seeing him as a welcome visitor in the future.'

We thoroughly endorse the Headmaster's words and wish Mr Atkins all the very best for his new role as Leader of the Midland Circuit.