On Thursday 5 October, the Harrodian Community hosted its first ever networking event. Students, teachers and parents past and present joined together at Refettorio Felix. It was a buzzy evening filled with music, conversation and canapés in support of the Felix Project, a charity that distributes surplus food to vulnerable people.

A year 10 student from another independent school with siblings at Harrodian, Markos B, played piano as guests arrived for the evening. He then went on to do an impromptu accompaniment for 15s student, Olivia W, who won Battle of the Bands last term. As her prize, Olivia played a set at the Isle of Wight festival this summer, including her original song Starbucks that she performed on the night. 

While guests sipped on glasses of prosecco and snacked on a delicious selection of canapés, James Hooke and David Sanders (Head of Curriculum and Assessment for 11s to Upper Sixth) invited them to celebrate the evening’s potential for forming exciting networks.

“Walk around the Harrodian school, and you will see happy children and teachers who know the names of their charges. You will see a strong community,” David Sanders said. “Our intention is that this event and consequent events of this type can help to strengthen the community even further.”

Please click on the image below to watch a REEL made on @harrodiannews official instagram account:

Schools are the ideal scenario for students to form connections that will last for the rest of their lives, as the group of 2013 Harrodian alumni in attendance can attest to. Between a performance of ABBA's Thank You For the Music by Head Boy, Julian S, and Head Girl, Alex F-S, the rest of the community were given the chance to form personal and professional connections outside the school grounds for the first time.

Thanks to current parent Mrs Elizabeth Beebe, who connected the school with Refettorio Felix and has been supporting the Felix Project for over five years. Also to David Sanders, Chloe Warren and Rachel Snaith for organising this event and all attendees and staff who helped to make the night a wonderful evening. 

We hope to host more events to provide a support network for members of the community. Please encourage fellow alumni and parents to join the Harrodian Community site to keep up to date with events going forward. As David Sanders said on the night: “Let’s make this a highlight of the Harrodian calendar for the future!"

Please find a flyer that was produced on the evening, explaining how we can all support the Harrodian Community: