This year, the Sixth Form hosted their first Winter Ball with great success. A room at the Old Silhillians’ Sports Club was hired for the evening and transformed, with the enthusiastic help of Benchers, into a festive grotto that ignited 2015’s Christmas celebrations.  As with the barbeque that had taken place earlier in the term, the Heads of School team hoped that the Winter Ball would provide another opportunity for the two years to interact and get to know one another. Moreover, it also allowed reflection upon the term so far, a slightly premature farewell for Mr Sandford-Smith, and a chance to simply dress up and enjoy oneself, especially with the thought of mock exams looming!

By 8pm, most guests had arrived and were enjoying a glass of wine (with parental permission, of course). A feature of the night was admiring the beautiful dresses and black-tie dinner jackets that all looked particularly glamorous in comparison to our Sixth Form suits. With Mr Cureton’s hidden piano skills amazing many students, the atmosphere was relaxed and festive. A parent’s generous offer of photographer for the evening enabled us to capture this mood, with group photos against a warming backdrop of fairy lights and tinsel. After initial exchanges and welcomes, we sat down at long tables, sprinkled with fake snow, for a three-course meal that we had all previously chosen from a list of gourmet options. This was an ideal chance to catch up with friends away from the busy buzz of Sixth Form life or without a bell ringing to indicate the end of break.

Once the crumbs of banoffee pie and chocolate fudge cake had been cleared away, we made way for a small dance floor that became busier as our food digested. Cheesy Christmas songs replaced the smooth piano and the evening regrettably flew by. To conclude the night, we were able to give a brief vote of thanks to Mr Sandford Smith for all that he has brought to the Sixth Form, as well as to Tisha, Head Girl, for helping to organize an event that was so thoroughly enjoyed by both teachers and pupils. We hope that following year groups decide to continue with this special event, forming a new Sixth Form tradition that grows and develops each year.