A YEAR of academic and sporting success was reported at Kelly College?s Founder?s Day on Saturday. Headmaster Mark Steed gave his fourth Founder?s Day address in a marquee packed with parents, pupils, staff and special guests. Mr Steed outlined the school?s A-level and GCSE grades, saying there had been a significant improvement in the past two years, He also referred to the school?s sporting successes of the past year. He said: ?By my calculations, our pupils won 60 county titles, 21 south west titles and 31 national titles.? ?This year we broke one English Schools record, nine national senior records, five senior European records and two senior world records. Mr Steed also discussed the college?s dedication to culture and the arts and some of the activities in which pupils had participated over the past year, including ?Chinese Week? which coincided with the Chinese new year. A sad farewell was then said to a number of staff, two of whom had a combined innings of 60 years? teaching at Kelly. Deputy head academic Tim Jones, who is to retire at Christmas, joined the school in 1980 and took on the roles of of house tutor and maths teacher. Mr Steed said he would be missed for his ?quiet efficient approach? and ?wise counsel?. Also retiring this year is Christopher Kirwin who has held a number of positions at the school since being appointed in 1970, including head of chemistry, housemaster, coach and most recently registrar. The headmaster said his ?commitment and energy? was ?incredible?. Looking to the future, Mr Steed mentioned the New International Studies Centre which opens in September to assist students from overseas and the Performing Arts Centre for which £200,000 has already been raised. He rounded his speech off by giving thanks to the ?unsung heroes? of Kelly College ? staff, clergymen, pupils, governors and Old Kellians. Guest speaker Dennis Silk, awarded a CBE in 1995 for services to education, then took to the stage. Mr Silk, warden of Radley College from 1968 to 1991 and chairman of the Test and County Cricket Board, was well received by his audience from whom his anecdotes received rapturous applause. Mr Silk emphasised the need for teachers and parents to work together and urged pupils to develop hobbies while at school. He said: ?Don?t be a passive TV vegetable washed over by waves of pop music. Have at least one area in which you excel ? it is important that each one of you should know and be able to identify and appreciate what excellence means at first hand.? Mr Silk ended his speech with a quote from William Johnson Cory?s ?Letters and Journals? in which he said ?above all, you go to a great school for self-knowledge?. l Launch of Learning Lab South West at Kelly College ? see page 8.