The President of the Old Southendian Association for 2025 is Clive Shiret (Athens, 1973-1975) who has written a message for Old Southendians below...
Dear Member,
It is such an honour to be elected as your President for 2025.
As many of you know I was the Chairman of the Association for 15 years and I am a great believer in change and tradition, which may seem conflicted, but in my mind there is perfect harmony in the two positions. Change what needs changing to keep the Association at the forefront of unfolding circumstances and relevant to its members and future members, while respecting past generations, achievements and traditions for new cohorts to follow.
We are at a defining crossroads in 2025 - will our beloved School survive the harsh challenges of a broken and blatantly unfair funding system?
We really are in a mess when Ofsted are reporting:
“The quality of education pupils experience is second to none. Pupils are challenged and supported to be their absolute best. They benefit from passionate and expert teachers who help ensure pupils consistently achieve the highest standards.”
Yet the Department for Education fund the school over 25% per pupil less than the national average in what appears to be a drive to promote mediocrity.
As a group, the Old Southendian Association, are a pretty resilient bunch and we must assist with all our will and resources to help keep the School as an independent island of excellence in this sea of mediocrity, bias and underachievement. I am wholeheartedly recommending that every member considers the start the School gave them and responds to the messages from the Southend High School for Boys Charitable Trust.
We owe it to current and future generations of students to allow them the same opportunities we had to flourish and achieve by supporting the Southend High School for Boys Charitable Trust.